Nutrition legislation also targets school food, seed oils
BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer
Louisiana is preparing to join a national effort bubbling up to ban soft drink purchases under SNAP, the federal food assistance program for low-income residents, as part of a larger push to reshape food policy led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr
Gov Jeff Landry announced on social media last week that the state will request a federal waiver to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for soft drinks.
“Louisiana will lead the way in the MAHA movement,” Landry posted, referring to Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again initiative, the growing movement championed by Kennedy, head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, that focuses on personal choice and nutrition-based health reform
“We’re constantly surrounded by poison. It’s why we’re by far and away the most unhealthy nation in the world and the most unhealthy state within that nation.”
STATE SEN. PATRICK McMATH, R-Covington
over public health care programs.
The soda ban is part of a sweeping nutrition bill filed by state Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, who also introduced separate legislation this session to remove fluoride from Louisiana’s drinking water Senate Bill 14 would also ban ultraprocessed ingredients in public schools, such as those in shelf-stable breads, Little Debbie snacks and sports drinks that contain certain dyes. It would also require physi-
cians to complete continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health, and mandate that restaurants clearly disclose if they cook with seed oils such as canola, soybean or corn oil.
“We’re constantly surrounded by poison,” McMath said in an interview “It’s why we’re by far and away the most unhealthy nation in the world and the most unhealthy state within that nation.”
Roughly 850,000 Louisiana residents — about 20% of the state’s population receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Nearly 390,000 of them are children.
The program launched as food stamps in the 1930s and was formalized in the 1960s to reduce hunger and support farmers. Today, lowincome residents get a pre-loaded
ä See SODA, page 3A
Officials brace for loss
BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer
The Louisiana Department of Health, which runs the state’s Medicaid program and scores of initiatives aimed at improving public health, may lose tens of millions of dollars in funding due to federal program cuts initiated by the Trump administration through its Department of Government Efficiency
According to DOGE’s public “wall of receipts,” which billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading the cost-cutting endeavor, has posted in an effort to show how he is reshaping federal spending, Louisiana is expected to lose at least $128.5 million in federal funding overall through the efforts of DOGE, with the largest share attributed to the Health Department.
DOGE’s savings estimates have not always proven reliable, however, and Health Department spokesperson Emma Herrock said internal projections suggest the losses will not exceed $86 million.
“The total funding amount canceled should not exceed $86 million, but we will not have a final total until we receive and process all final invoices from contractors,” Herrock said in an email, adding that the department expects the total amount to be “much less” and more accurate projections
Group challenges La. social media restrictions
Lawmakers say measure designed to protect teens
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
A looming state law could mean Louisiana teenagers will soon be forced to prove their age and get their parents’ permission before they can log onto popular social media apps like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.
But a legal battle is underway to block the restrictions, which were slated to take effect this summer
State lawmakers enacted the Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation Act in 2023.
ä See SOCIAL, page 3A
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Proposed legislation in Louisiana would ban soft drink purchases from the federal food assistance program for lowincome residents.
BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS
Myanmar’s earthquake death toll hits 3,600
BANGKOK Long-shot efforts to find survivors from Myanmar’s devastating March 28 earthquake were winding down Monday as rescue efforts were supplanted by increasing relief and recovery activity The death toll surpassed 3,600 and was still climbing.
A situation report issued late Monday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than 17.2 million people are living in affected areas, and need food, drinking water, health care, cash assistance and emergency shelter
In the capital, Naypyitaw people cleared debris and collected wood from their damaged houses under drizzling rain, and soldiers removed wreckage at some Buddhist monasteries.
Myanmar Fire Services Department said Monday that rescue teams had recovered 10 bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building in Mandalay Myanmar’s second biggest city It said international rescuers from Singapore, Malaysia and India had returned to their countries after their work to find survivors was considered completed. The number of rescue teams operating in the residential areas of Naypyitaw has been steadily decreasing.
Judge dismisses former Miss. governor’s lawsuit
JACKSON, Miss. — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by former Mississippi Gov Phil Bryant that claimed a local news outlet defamed him in public comments about its Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting on the misspending of $77 million in federal welfare funds.
The one-page ruling Friday by Madison County Circuit Court Judge Bradley Mills sided with lawyers for Mississippi Today, who had argued that the news outlet engaged in constitutionally protected speech.
“For the past 22 months, we’ve vigorously defended our Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting and our characterizations of Bryant’s role in the Mississippi welfare scandal,” Mississippi Today said in a statement on its website. “We are grateful today that the court, after careful deliberation, dismissed the case.” Bryant filed suit in 2023, weeks after Mississippi Today and one of its reporters, Anna Wolfe, won a Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of how welfare funds intended for poor Mississippians — some of the most impoverished people in the U.S. — were diverted to the rich and powerful.
Bishops end
partnership with U.S., citing aid cuts
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced Monday that it is ending a half-century of partnerships with the federal government to serve refugees and children, saying the “heartbreaking” decision follows the Trump administration’s abrupt halt to funding for refugee resettlement. The break will inevitably result in fewer services than what Catholic agencies were able to offer in the past to the needy, the bishops said.
“As a national effort, we simply cannot sustain the work on our own at current levels or in current form,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB. “We will work to identify alternative means of support for the people the federal government has already admitted to these programs. We ask your prayers for the many staff and refugees impacted.”
The decision means the bishops won’t be renewing existing agreements with the federal government, the bishops said. The announcement did not say how long current agreements were scheduled to last.
Catholic bishops sued President Donald Trump’s administration in February over its abrupt halt to the funding of aid provided to newly arrived refugees, saying they are owed millions already allocated by Congress to carry out resettlement aid under agreement with the federal government. But a federal judge ruled that he couldn’t order the government to pay money due on a contract, saying a contractual dispute belongs before the Court of Federal Claims. The bishops have appealed that ruling.
Trump threatens more tariffs on China
BY CHRIS MEGERIAN and JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Undeterred by a panicked stock market, President Donald Trump threatened additional tariffs on China on Monday, raising fresh concerns that his drive to rebalance the global economy could intensify a financially destructive trade war
Trump’s threat came after China said it would retaliate against U.S. tariffs he announced last week.
Global markets continue to shudder ä Stocks have manic day before slump.
“If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!”
The U.S. president has shown few signs of backing down on tariffs despite the mounting pressure in the financial markets. His commitment to tariffs could have devastating effects for the global economy, even though Trump is banking that it will ultimately pay off with manufacturing jobs.
Asked Monday if he would consider a pause on his widespread tariffs,
Trump said, “We’re not looking at that.” The U.S. president said he was open to negotiations “if we can make a really fair deal and a good deal for the United States.” Trump added that it’s possible to have both negotiated settlements with other countries and permanent tariffs.
Even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would take its tariffs against U.S. goods to zero, Trump was noncommittal about removing the new import taxes placed on an ally
The White House also said Monday that Trump would veto a Senate bill that would mandate congressional approval for new tariffs, a bet that the critical mass of Republican lawmakers will loyally back him despite the economic and political risks.
If Trump implements his
new taxes on imports from China, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods would reach a combined 104%. The new taxes would be on top of the 20% tariffs announced as punishment for fentanyl trafficking and his separate 34% tariffs announced last week Not only could that increase prices for American consumers, it could also give China an incentive to flood other countries with cheaper goods and seek deeper relationships with other trading partners.
The Chinese Embassy in the U.S on Monday responded to Trump’s latest tariff threat by saying his bluster would not help him resolve any trade disputes.
“We have stressed more than once that pressuring or threatening China is not a right way to engage with us,” said Liu Pengyu, the embassy spokesperson.
“China will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
After sell-offs on the prior two days of trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average on Monday fell 0.9%.
The S&P 500 slumped 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite was down 0.1%.
Tr ump fr equently bragged about stock market gains during his first term, and the threat of losses on Wall Street was viewed as a potential guardrail on risky economic policies in his second term. But that hasn’t been the case, and Trump has described days of financial pain as necessary
“I don’t mind going through it because I see a beautiful picture at the end,” he said.
Trump officials have frequently appeared on television to make the case for his policies, but none of their explanations have
calmed the markets. The only improvement came from a false report that top economic adviser Kevin Hassett said Trump was considering a pause on all tariffs except for China. Stock prices spiked before the White House denied it was true by calling the post “fake news.”
The Republican president has remained defiant despite fears that he could be pushing the U.S. toward a recession, insisting that his tariffs are necessary for rebuilding domestic manufacturing and resetting trade relationships with other countries.
But his aggressive push has scrambled U.S. economic policy Even though inflation remains elevated, Trump has called on the Federal Reserve to lower its benchmark interest rates that were increased to constrain price increases.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned Friday that the tariffs could increase inflation, and he said, “There’s a lot of waiting and seeing going on, including by us,” before any decisions would be made.
European Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union would focus on trade with other countries besides the United States, saying there are “vast opportunities” elsewhere.
Trump said he spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to start trade negotiations He complained on Truth Social “they have treated the U.S. very poorly on Trade” and “they don’t take our cars, but we take MILLIONS of theirs.”
Swollen rivers flooding towns in the South
BY BRUCE SCHREINER and KRISTIN M. HALL
Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. Days of unrelenting downpours swelled rivers to near record levels across Kentucky on Monday, submerging neighborhoods and threatening a famed bourbon distillery in the state capital.
Inundated rivers posed the latest threat from persistent storms that have killed at least 23 people — 10 in Tennessee since last week as they doused the region with heavy rain and spawned destructive tornadoes. Though the storms have finally moved on, the flood danger likewise remains high in several other states, including parts of Tennessee, Arkansas and Indiana
Cities ordered evacuations and rescue crews in inflatable boats checked on residents in Kentucky and Tennessee, while utilities shut off power and gas in a region stretching from Texas to Ohio. Floodwaters forced the closure of the
historic Buffalo Trace Distillery, close to the banks of the swollen Kentucky River near downtown Frankfort, Kentucky
Salon owner Jessica Tuggle watched Monday as murky brown water approached her Frankfort business. She and her friends had moved her salon gear — styling chairs, hair products and electronics — up the hill to a nearby taproom.
“Everybody was just, ‘stop raining, stop raining,’ so we could get an idea of what the worst situation would be,” she said.
Officials diverted traffic and turned off utilities to businesses in Frankfort as the river crested just short of a record Monday More than 500 state roads across Kentucky were still closed Monday morning, Gov Andy Beshear said.
Ashley Welsh, her husband and four children along with their pets — had to leave their Frankfort home along the river Saturday evening, abandoning a lifetime of belongings to the floodwaters.
When she checked her house’s cameras Sunday morning, the water had risen to the second floor “My stuff was floating around in the living room. I was just heartbroken. Our life is up there,” Welsh said.
Twenty-three deaths have been reported since the storms began Wednesday Among the four confirmed killed in Kentucky, 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, police said.
A 16-year-old volunteer Missouri firefighter died in a crash while seeking to rescue people caught in the storm.
Kentucky State Police said Monday they recovered the body of a McCracken County man swept away by floodwaters Sunday while trying to retrieve his boat. And Beshear on Monday reported the flood-related death of a Trigg County man.
The Arkansas Division of Emergency confirmed the
Roberts halts deadline for return of mistakenly deported Md. man
BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON Chief Justice John Roberts agreed Monday to pause a midnight deadline for the Trump administration to return a Maryland man mistakenly deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador The temporary order comes hours after a Justice Department emergency appeal to the Supreme Court arguing U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis overstepped her authority when she ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia returned to the United States.
The administration has conceded that Abrego Garcia should not have been sent to El Salvador because an immigration judge found he likely would face persecution by local gangs. But he is no longer in U.S. custody and the government has no way to get him back, the administration argued.
Xinis gave the administration until just before midnight to “facilitate and effectuate” Abrego Garcia’s return. “The district court’s in-
junction — which requires Abrego Garcia’s release from the custody of a foreign sovereign and return to the United States by midnight on Monday — is patently unlawful,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in court papers, casting the order as one in “a deluge of unlawful injunctions” judges have issued to slow President Donald Trump’s agenda. The Justice Department appeal was directed to Roberts because he handles appeals from Maryland.
death of a man found by the Sherwood Fire Department in a submerged vehicle.
Two men sitting in a golf cart, a father and son, were killed when a tree fell on them at a golf course in Columbus, Georgia, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan.
The Kentucky River was cresting at Frankfort Lock at 48.27 feet on Monday
morning, just shy of the record of 48.5 feet set there on Dec. 10, 1978, according to CJ Padgett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Louisville, Kentucky, office. Beshear said more than 1,000 people had no access to water and nearly 3,000 were under boil water advisories. He said at least 20 water systems were affected.
President Donald Trump waves Sunday as he arrives on Marine One at the White House in Washington.
La. farmers in limbo after funds frozen
Trump halts $363M in reimbursements
BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer
DeRidder corn and wheat farmer
David Smith said he wanted to try out something new this year on his farm. He started tinkering with the idea of adding cover crops over small acreages but wanted to expand it to hundreds of acres.
“It is not a moneymaking thing. In fact, you spend money You just want to improve your soil,” Smith said. He couldn’t justify the cost in the current agricultural economy with its high input costs and low commodity prices. So he looked at applying for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service program that would have partly covered the cost of seed. The agency helps farmers identify conservation concerns on their operations and works to ensure availability of resources for future generations.
Smith would have been one of the hundreds of Louisiana farmers who participate every year in
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are expected at the end of April.
The cuts come as the state department is navigating the Trump administration’s rapid-fire changes to federal funding and public health, and how it will affect the agency’s mission and programs. The department is the state’s largest agency, with an annual budget of around $20 billion. Nearly 90% of its overall funding is used to administer Louisiana’s Medicaid program, which insures low-income residents and children and provides support for the elderly and people with disabilities. The rest of its budget is mostly used to support public health initiatives
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The bill invokes an age-verification mandate upon social media companies with more than 5 million account holders worldwide. That means major online players like X, YouTube and Reddit have to make “commercially reasonable efforts” to confirm the ages of users across the state who are suspected of being 16 or younger. Those underage users will need parental consent to create a profile or log onto social media sites in Louisiana
The law was originally set to take effect in July 2024. But another bill that passed during last year’s legislative session amended the reforms and pushed the date for enforcement to begin. The changes are now set to take effect July 1 Now, the start could be further delayed as legal drama plays out in court.
Netchoice, a social media trade association based in the nation’s capital, has challenged the law in federal court. In a petition filed March 18 in the U.S. Middle District Court of Louisiana, the online free-speech advocacy group is asking a federal judge to strike down the looming state law before it takes effect and eventually grant a permanent injunction
Netchoice argues that restricting minors’ access to protected online speech is unconstitutional and says the age-verification requirement is a First Amendment violation because it forces users to give up too much personal information just to gain access. Their lawsuit also contends Louisiana lawmakers failed
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debit card to use at grocery and convenience stores and farmers markets.
It is administered at the federal level by the U.S Department of Agriculture and locally through the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. While Louisiana has not yet submitted its waiver, the bill aligns the state with more than two dozen other states that have taken similar steps. Supporters argue that allowing sugary sodas to be purchased with taxpayer-funded benefits drives poor health outcomes and increases health care costs over time. Soda and other sugary snacks
GETTy IMAGES
Louisiana farmers were expected to receive around $363 million from fiscal year 2025 to 2031 through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Steward Program and other programs, according to data collected by the Policy Design Lab
federal programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Steward Program, among others. But a sweeping freeze by President Donald Trump put all current and future contracts on hold as the administration evaluates that programs are “focused on supporting farmers and ranchers, not DEIA programs or far-left climate programs,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
Louisiana farmers were expected
across the state. Congress is considering deep cuts to Medicaid, which could deal a heavy blow to poor states like Louisiana. One in three Louisiana residents relies on the program, and House Republicans are looking at the possibility of slashing federal spending by $880 billion as part of efforts to offset the cost of extending President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. Democrats expect those cuts to fall heavily on federal Medicaid spending, though GOP leaders have said they aim to achieve cost savings through cutting waste rather than direct benefit reductions.
In addition to Medicaid, the Health Department oversees services like mental health care, nursing homes, vaccination programs and clean drinking water initia-
to clearly define which social media companies are subject to the regulatory demands.
The group has filed its petition on behalf of 38 social media platforms that are part of its trade association. Among them are titans of the digital world like X, the company formerly known as Twitter, Snapchat, Google, Lyft and Meta, the conglomerate that owns Facebook and Instagram.
“If the government is concerned about minors accessing social media websites due to particular purported risks or harms of doing so, it makes no sense to allow minors to be exposed to such alleged harms so long as that exposure occurs on websites that have less than five million account holders, or so long as they have a single parent’s consent,” Netchoice’s lawsuit states.
Louisiana joins about a dozen other states that have sought to tighten the reins on social media companies with laws that force them to invoke more-rigorous regulations for underage users, according to a list compiled by the Age Verification Providers Association.
In addition to the age-verification and parental consent provisions, Louisiana’s law intends to restrict targeted marketing aimed at minors. Sites’ algorithms would not be allowed to use any of a teen’s personal data other than their age and location — in determining what ads to display on their feeds.
Adult users on the social media sites will also be prohibited from sending direct messages to teens unless they’re already connected on the platforms In addition, social media companies must give parents and guardians tools to monitor and supervise their kids’ online activity
have been a point of contention in the program for decades. In Louisiana, a previous attempt to restrict soda purchases through SNAP stalled last year The USDA has been reluctant to approve such waivers in the past because it’s hard to implement. Defining which beverages count as soda has proven difficult as beverage makers have moved to make healthier carbonated drinks, such as prebiotic sodas, carbonated water and energy drinks. Anti-hunger groups have opposed earlier efforts, saying there’s limited evidence that such bans lead to better health outcomes. Banning sugary drinks is a “slippery slope” that opens the door to other banned foods, said Lindsay Hendrix, chief impact officer at Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
ipate in include improving water quality and retention, reducing soil runoff, and improving soil health by installing fencing for livestock.
But the main goal is to help improve efficiency in farming, Michael Deliberto, associate professor in agricultural policy at LSU, said.
The number of farmers who apply for these programs vastly outweighs the money available.
In 2023, Louisiana received $25 million in EQIP funds and $28 million in CSP funds distributed across 825 contracts. But more than 3,700 farmers applied.
in business,” he said.
While Smith did not enter a contract for his cover crops, other farmers across the state and nation made improvements to their land with the belief they would be reimbursed. The federal government reneging on those contracts could erode trust in the USDA and government programs, said John Coppess, a professor at the University of Illinois and author of the Policy Design Lab’s data collection
to receive around $363 million from fiscal year 2025 to 2031 through EQIP, CSP and other programs, according to data collected by the Policy Design Lab. EQIP and CSP are partly funded through the Farm Bill. Former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act added nearly $20 billion in investments to the USDA conservation programs over a fiveyear period, with many focused on climate-friendly initiatives.
The projects farmers can partic-
tives. It’s not clear how the cuts initiated by DOGE may impact those programs. Department officials did not respond to questions about which programs or contracts may be affected.
During a March 25 budget hearing, department officials initially said they expected a loss of $10 million based on “a series of emails that were slightly difficult to interpret” that they received the night before, according to Karen Stubbs, assistant secretary of the Office of Behavioral Health, who answered questions about the cuts during a state Senate Finance Committee meeting.
At that time, the cuts were predicted to mostly impact mental health and substance use programs.
The DOGE cuts to Health De-
The Louisiana Department of Justice’s Public Protection Division can impose administrative fines up to $2,500 on social media companies that violate the law And Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office can dole out civil penalties up to $10,000 for sites with over a million account holders that violate the target marketing restrictions.
The lawsuit names Murrill and Mike Dupree, director of the division, as defendants. According to federal court records, Netchoice and attorneys for the two state agencies reached a case management schedule for discovery and expert reports that extends to Dec. 19. Louisiana officials have agreed to delay enforcement of the new law until then, according to the joint order between the plaintiff and defendants.
Netchoice has challenged similar laws in other states. In its recent filing here, the plaintiff argued Louisiana’s law is too broad, redundant and vaguely defines which social media sites have to comply with the regulatory mandates.
“The state cannot demonstrate what purported problem this provision responds to, how the provision is necessary to solve the problem, or why the existing and plentiful choices of private tools available to parents are insufficient to address any purported problem,” their lawsuit stresses.
The House bill cited an American Academy of Pediatrics study that indicated the quest for likes and clicks can contribute to poor mental and physical health in teens, causes cyberbullying, depression, body-image issues, eating disorders and leads to higher rates of suicide. Legislators said the law
“It never feels good or dignified to have someone tell you what to do with how you’re feeding yourself or your family,” Hendrix said. There is little research on whether removing soda from SNAP benefits makes people healthier, said Chen Zhen, a professor of food choice, obesity and health at the University of Georgia. Zhen said it’s possible that such restrictions could complicate access to food benefits or encourage them to reach for other less healthy choices.
“Would that restriction make the program so unfavorable that people stop enrolling?” said Zhen. “How will people substitute?”
But with growing support from national figures, the issue is gaining momentum. Last week, Kennedy told states to submit their waivers. While he does not have jurisdiction over SNAP, USDA
The programs have become an essential part of incentivizing the improvement of Louisiana’s farmland, experts say Farmers, now faced with an uncertain future and increasing costs, will be more likely to push off or forgo those improvements to their land.
Deliberto added that practices are beneficial to beginner underserved and veteran farming operations.
“The producers I talk to, they rely on these programs. It really is the epitome of what a partnership is when you think of about the USDA’s role in helping our producers remain productive and really remain
partment programs and other Louisiana institutions are part of a broader push to trim federal spending. They do not include recent layoffs at the federal Department of Health and Human Services or freezes to other programs the Trump administration is evaluating, such as those administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s assistance programs for Louisiana farmers. But through DOGE, the Trump administration has also identified cuts to contracts or programs at several other Louisiana entities. According to the DOGE website, the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry is set to lose $18.2 million, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will lose $3 million, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center will lose
would help stave off the detrimental impacts of social media.
“Technological advances over the past ten years and the advent of social media have opened the door to children for learning and exposure to cultures and interests worldwide,” the bill states. “Unfortunately, data shows that over that same ten-year period, American teenagers, ages twelve through fifteen, who use social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptoms.”
Most major platforms like TikTok and Facebook ban users under the age of 13 and take measures to verify teens’ birth dates. Instagram and YouTube require parental consent for certain features for subscribers under the age of 18.
Critics say the verifications aren’t robust enough and teens manage to easily circumvent the age restrictions. According to a University of California-San Francisco study published in January, nearly 70% of early adolescents between the ages of 11 and 15 reported having an account on at least one social media platform and many had multiple accounts. About 64% of children under the age of 13 were on social media, the study revealed.
“The children of Louisiana deserve better and since the federal government has failed to take the necessary action to stop data sharing, selling and targeted advertising, it is incumbent upon Louisiana to protect our children and hold the major social media platforms accountable,” the Louisiana measure states.
Ensuring that the law stands could be a rigorous battle. Federal
Secretary Brooke Rollins has indicated support for the movement.
In response to Landry’s announcement, Kennedy said he plans to visit Louisiana soon.
“I’m coming to see you, Jeff. You have been with MAHA from when it took pure courage!” he wrote on social media site X, formerly Twitter Kennedy was a guest of Landry’s at a legislative hearing in 2021, when Landry opposed then-Gov John Bel Edwards’ proposal to add the COVID-19 vaccine to Louisiana’s school immunization schedule. During testimony, Kennedy falsely claimed that the COVID-19 vaccine “is the deadliest vaccine ever made.” McMath acknowledged that his bill would take time and money to implement, especially for schools. But he said the market would adjust, pointing to other countries
“You have a farmer that signed a contract, put his own money into the practice and expects a reimbursement. It really shocked me when they froze that reimbursement, essentially breaching the contract,” Coppess said.
He added that it’s unclear how much money is currently owed to Louisiana farmers but said that EQIP alone already obligated north of $1 billion for fiscal year 2024.
On Feb. 20, the USDA announced the release of $20 million in IRA funding for contracts under EQIP, CSP, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. The money which Rollins said would be released in portions, only represents 0.35% of the NRCS’s $5.7 billion budget.
$550,000, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana will lose $258,655 and the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana will lose over $193,000.
The funding for UL was slated for the Grow Your Own program, which addresses teacher shortages and was expected to impact more than 69,000 students James Savage, UL spokesperson, said the university is appealing the decision.
The Coushatta Tribe was using the now-canceled funds to support the local crawfish market during a difficult post-drought season in 2024. A second distribution planned for 2025 has now been called off.
“The cuts are hard to grasp,” Coushatta Tribe Secretary-Treasurer Kristian Poncho wrote in an email to federal officials.
judges have found that restrictions imposed by other states create too great a burden on young people’s online speech and are often “hopelessly vague.” Critics say state legislators also fail to specify how the social media companies can comply with the laws.
“In most cases where these social media laws have been adopted, they have been enjoined by the courts and are not going into effect,” said Bob Corn-Revere, chief counsel for the Foundation of Individual Rights and Expression, a Philadelphiabased freedom-of-speech advocacy organization.
The civil liberties nonprofit has fought to block social media restrictions across the country and convinced a judge to shut down provisions of a Texas law in February Corn-Revere, a longtime First Amendment attorney, pointed to similar injunctions in California, Ohio, Indiana and Mississippi.
On March 31, a federal judge ruled that Arkansas’ social media safety law was unconstitutional and granted a permanent injunction. That case stemmed from a constitutional challenge Netchoice filed in June 2023, about two months before Arkansas’ protections were set to start The law never went into effect.
“At some point, states are going to realize that drafting unconstitutional laws can be very expensive,” Corn-Revere said. “Because when states lose these constitutional battles, they end up paying the legal fees of the people challenging them. So violating the Constitution isn’t cheap.”
Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.
that have banned certain ingredients.
“They are huge adjustments,” said McMath. “But other countries have operated this way and so it’s it is absolutely possible to do this.” Hendrix noted that the school portion of the bill would be costly and “challenging” to roll out. McMath said that part of his rationale for the bill is to pressure food companies to negotiate with the Trump administration and Kennedy, giving them leverage to push for ingredient changes in ultraprocessed foods. He said his bill was crafted with input from Calley Means, a health care entrepreneur and adviser to Kennedy
“What you’ll end up with is a patchwork of laws and regulations that will force the food companies to the table,” McMath said.
Justices allowTrump to deport underwartime law
SupremeCourt mandates judges’ review in process
BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to usean18th-century wartime law to deport Venezuelan migrants, but said they must get acourt hearing before they are taken from the United States.
In abitterly divided decision, the court said the administration must give Venezuelans who it claims are gang members “reasonable time” to go to court.
But the conservative majority said the legal challenges must take place in Texas, instead of aWashington courtroom.
In dissent, the three liberal justicessaidthe administration has sought to avoid judicial review in this case
Trump: U.S. will hold talks with Iran
BY AAMER MADHANI, TIA GOLDENBERG and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump saidMonday the U.S. will hold direct talks with Iran about its nuclear program, while warning the Iranians they would be in “great danger” if the talks don’tsucceed in persuading them to abandon their nuclear weapons program.
The president, in comments to reportersafter meeting with Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, said the talks will start Saturday.Heinsisted Tehran can’tget nuclear weapons
“We’re dealing with them directly andmaybeadeal is goingtobemade,” Trump said. He added that “doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious.”
Asked if he would commit to military action against Iran should his negotiators be unable to come to terms withTehran, Trump responded that “Iran is goingtobe in great danger,and Ihateto say it.”
“If the talks aren’tsuccessful,Ithink it’sgoing to be avery bad day for Iran,” Trump said.
Iran’smission at the United Nations had no immediate comment Monday Trump recently sent alet-
andthe court “now rewards the government forits behavior.” Justice Amy Coney Barrettjoinedportionsofthe dissent.
The justices acted on the administration’semergency appeal after the federal appeals court in Washington left in place an order temporarilyprohibiting deportationsofthe migrantsaccused of being gang membersunderthe rarely usedAlien EnemiesAct
“For all the rhetoric of the dissents,” the court wrote in an unsigned opinion,the high court order confirms “that thedetaineessubjecttoremovalordersunderthe AEA areentitledtonotice and an opportunity to challenge their removal.”
Thecase has become a flashpoint amid escalating tension between the White Houseand the federal courts.
Attorney GeneralPam Bondicalled thecourt’sruling “a landmarkvictory for the rule of law.”
“An activistjudge in Wash-
Prisonguardstransfer
ington, D.C., does nothave the jurisdiction to seize control of President Trump’s authority to conductforeign policy and keep theAmerican people safe,” Bondi wroteinasocial media post.
Theoriginal orderblocking the deportations to El
tertoIran’ssupreme leader callingfor direct negotiationswiththe United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. But Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said late last month that Iran had rejected Trump’s entreaty while leavingopen the possibility of indirect negotiations withWashington.
But Trumphas consistently called on Iran,which is the chief sponsor of Hamasin Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthimilitants in Yemen, to abandonits nuclear program or face areckoning.
“If they don’tmakea deal, there will be bombing,” Trump told NBC Newsinlate March. “Itwill be bombing the likesofwhich they have neverseen before.”
Tehran’schief envoyto the U.N., AmbassadorAmir Saeid Iravani, has calledon membersofthe Security Councilinaseries of letters to condemn Trump’sthreats of bombing Iran.
Trumpduring hisfirst White House term withdrew theU.S.fromthe landmark nuclear accord withIran negotiated by Democratic President BarackObama’s administration.
Netanyahu saidhesupports Trump’sdiplomatic efforts to reach asettlement with Iran, adding that Israel and the U.S. share thesame goal of ensuring that Iran does not develop anuclear weapon.
The Israeli leader,known forhis hawkishviews on Iran andpastcalls formilitary pressure,said he would welcome adiplomatic agreement along the lines of Libya’s deal with the international communityin2003.
“I think thatwould be a good thing,” he said. “But whatever happens, we have to make sure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons.”
Trump said the talks would happen“at almostthe highest level,” but declined to say where thenegotiations would take place or who he was dispatching for the sensitive diplomacy
He announced plansfor thesurpriseengagement as Netanyahu madeahastily arranged visit to theWhite House —his second in just over twomonths —todiscuss the tariffs Trump has unleashed on countries aroundthe world, Iran’snuclear program and the IsraelHamas war
Appealscourt restores DOGE access to sensitiveinformation at agencies
By The Associated Press
BALTIMORE An appeals court on Monday cleared the way for billionaire Elon Musk’sDepartment of Government Efficiency to once again access people’sprivate data at three federal agencies, awin for the Trump administration as the underlying lawsuit plays out. In asplit ruling, the threejudge panel blocked alower court decision that halted DOGE accessatthe Education Department, the Treasury Department and the Office of PersonnelManagement. U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman issued apreliminary injunction last month in federal courtin Baltimore,sayingthe government failed to adequately explain why DOGE needed the information to perform its job duties.
Led by the American Federation of Teachers, theplaintiffs allege the Trumpadministration violated federal privacylawswhenitgave DOGE accesstosystems withpersonal information on tens of millions of Americans without their consent, including people’sincome and asset information,Social Security numbers, birthdates, home addressesand marital and citizenship status.
Salvador was issuedbyU.S.
DistrictJudge James E. Boasberg, the chief judge at the federal courthouse in Washington. President DonaldTrump invokedthe Alien Enemies Actfor the firsttimesince WorldWar II to justify the
deportation of hundreds of people underapresidential proclamation calling the Tren de Aragua gang an invading force. Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelan nonciti-
zens who were being held in Texas, hours after the proclamation was made public and as immigration authorities were shepherding hundreds of migrants to waiting airplanes.
Boasberg imposed atemporary halt on deportations and also ordered planeloads of Venezuelan immigrants to return to the U.S. Thatdid not happen. The judge held ahearing last week over whetherthe government defied his order to turn the planesaround. The administrationhas invokeda “state secrets privilege” and refused to give Boasberg any additional information about the deportations. Trump andhis allieshave called for impeaching Boasberg. In arare statement, Chief Justice John Roberts said “impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.” Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this report.
RFKJr. planstotellCDC to stop recommending fluoride in water
BY HANNAH SCHOENBAUM and MIKE STOBBE Associated Press
SALTLAKE CITY U.S. Health
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.onMonday saidheplans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention soon to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide.Kennedy also said he’sassembling atask force to focus on the issue. Also on Monday,the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agencyannounced it is reviewing“new scientific information”onpotential health risks of fluoride in drinking water Kennedy toldThe Associated Pressofhis plans after anewsconferenceinSalt Lake City. Utah last month became thefirst statetoban fluoride in public drinking water, pushingpastopposition from dentists andnational health organizations who warned the move would lead to medical problems that disproportionately affect low-incomecommunities RepublicanGov.Spencer
Coxsigned legislation barring cities and communities from deciding whether to add the cavity-preventing mineral to their water systems. Water systems across the state must shut down theirfluoridation systems by May 7. Kennedy praised Utah for emerging as “the leader in making America healthy again.”Hewas flanked by Utahlegislative leaders and thesponsor of the state’s fluoride law.“I’m very,very proud of this state for being the first state to ban it, and Ihope many more will,” he said.
EPAAdministrator Lee Zeldin, whoappeared with Kennedy at thenews conference, said his agency was launching arenewed examinationofscientific studies on the potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water to help inform any changes to the national standards.
“When this evaluationis completed,wewill have an updatedfoundationalscientific evaluation thatwill inform the agency’s future steps,”Zeldin said. “Sec-
retary Kennedy has long been at the forefront of this issue.His advocacy was instrumental in our decision to reviewfluoride exposure risks and we are committed to working alongside him, utilizingsound scienceas we advance our missionof protecting human health and the environment.” Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear,according to the CDC. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay,and in 1962 set guidelines for how much should be added to water Kennedy,aformer environmental lawyer,has called fluoride a“dangerous neurotoxin” and said also it’s been associated with arthritis, bonebreaks, andthyroid disease. Somestudies have suggested such links might exist,usually at higher-thanrecommended fluoride levels, though some reviewers have questioned the quality of available evidence and saidnodefinitiveconclusions can be drawn.
PHOTO PROVIDED By EL SALVADOR PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE
deportees from the U.S.,alleged to be Venezuelan gang members,to the Terrorism Confinement CenteronMarch 16 in Tecoluca, El Salvador
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN
President DonaldTrump, left, shakes handswith Israel’s PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu Mondayasheleaves theWest Wing of the White House in Washington.
Israeli strike hits near charity kitchen in Gaza
Officials say Palestinians were gathered at facility to get food
BY WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip An Israeli strike on Monday hit next to a charity kitchen where Palestinians crowded to receive cooked meals as food supplies dwindle under Israel’s monthlong blockade of the Gaza Strip, one of a string of attacks in the territory that killed more than 30 people, mostly women and children, hospital officials said.
Another strike hit a media tent outside a hospital, killing two people, including a local reporter, and wounding six other journalists, medics said. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a man whom it identified as a Hamas militant posing as a journalist.
Video footage showed people carrying the body of a little girl, her face covered with blood, from the blast that witnesses said hit a tent next to the charity kitchen
outside the southern city of Khan Younis. Six other people were killed, including two women, and at least 10 people were wounded, hospital officials said.
The strike hit around noon as the kitchen was distributing meals to displaced people living in tent camps Samah Abu Jamie said her nephew was among those killed and her young daughter was wounded as they waited with their pots to collect meals for their families.
“They were going to get food. I told her ‘Daughter don’t go’,” she said. “These were children, and they had nothing with them but a pot. Is a pot a weapon?”
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the strike.
Charity kitchens have been drawing bigger crowds of Palestinians because other sources of food are running out More than a month ago, Israeli cut off all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies for Gaza’s population of more than 2 million people, forcing aid groups to ration their stocks.
The World Food Program has warned that its supplies to keep kitchens going could be depleted by next week. It had to stop distributing
boxes of food staples directly to families last week, spokesperson Abeer Etefa said Monday The bakeries it ran have also shut down for lack of flour, ending a main source of bread for hundreds of thousands of people.
Since it ended its ceasefire with Hamas last month, Israel has carried out bombardments across Gaza, killing hundreds of people, and ground forces have carved out new military zones. Israel
says it is pressuring Hamas to free its remaining hostages, disarm and leave the territory Under the ceasefire deal, it had agreed to negotiate for the hostages’ release.
The heads of six U.N. agencies operating in Gaza said in a joint statement Monday that the blockade has left Gaza’s population “trapped, bombed and starved again.”
They said Israeli claims that enough supplies entered during the ceasefire “are
far from the reality on the ground, and commodities are running extremely low.”
“We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life,” they said. “Protect civilians. Facilitate aid. Release hostages Renew a ceasefire.”
The strike outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis about 2 a.m. set the media tent ablaze, killing Yousef al-Faqawi, a reporter for the
Palestine Today news website, and another man, according to hospital officials.
The military said the strike targeted Hassan Eslaiah, claiming he was a Hamas militant who took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that ignited the war Eslaiah was among six journalists who were wounded in the strike, according to the hospital. Eslaiah had occasionally contributed images to The Associated Press and other international media outlets as a freelance journalist, including on Oct. 7. The AP has not worked with him for over a year A strike that hit a street in Gaza City killed an emergency room doctor, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Israel’s campaign has killed more than 1,000 health workers and at least 173 journalists, according to the U.N. and the Committee to Protect Journalists. Hospitals in Khan Younis and the central town of Deir al-Balah said they received the bodies of 33 people, 19 of them women and children, from strikes overnight and into the day on Monday, including those from the kitchen and the media tent attack.
Ukrainian city mourns children killed by Russian missile
BY YEHOR KONOVALOV and ILLIA NOVIKOV
Associated Press
KRYVYI RIH, Ukraine Anger and outrage gripped the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday as it held funerals for some of the 20 people, including nine children, killed by a Russian missile that tore through apartment buildings and blasted a playground
More than 70 were wounded in the attack last Friday evening on Kryvyi Rih. The children were playing on swings and in a sandbox in a tree-lined park at the time Bodies were strewn across the grass.
“We are not asking for pity,” Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the city administration, wrote on Telegram as Kryvyi Rih mourned. “We demand the world’s outrage.”
The U.N. Human Rights Office in Ukraine said it was the deadliest single verified strike harming children since the start of Russia’s
and toys
memorial Saturday for victims killed in Russia’s missile attack on Friday in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine.
full-scale invasion in February 2022. It was also one of the deadliest attacks so far this year.
Ukraine has consented to a ceasefire proposed weeks ago by Washington But Russia is still negotiating with the United States its terms for accepting a truce in the more than three-year war
U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the continued fighting, and Ukrai-
nian officials want him to compel Putin to stop. Trump vowed during his election campaign last year to bring a swift end to the war
“We’re talking to Russia. We’d like them to stop,” Trump told reporters Sunday. “I don’t like the bombing.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Monday that Putin supports a ceasefire proposed by Trump but wants Russian conditions to be met
“President Putin indeed
U.S. YouTuber arrested for trying to contact isolated tribe on Indian island
BY RAJESH ROY Associated Press
NEW DELHI Indian police have arrested a 24-year-old American Youtuber who visited an off-limits island in the Indian ocean and left an offering of a Diet Coke can and a coconut in an attempt to make contact with an isolated tribe known for attacking intruders.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, from Scottsdale, Arizona, was arrested on March 31, two days after he set foot on the restricted territory of North Sentinel Is-
land — part of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands — in a bid to meet people from the reclusive Sentinelese tribe, police said. A local court last week sent Polyakov to a 14-day judicial custody and he is set to appear again in the court on April 17. The charges carry a possible sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine. Indian authorities said they had informed the U.S. Embassy about the case. Visitors are banned from traveling within 3 miles of the island, whose population has been isolated from the
rest of the world for thousands of years. The inhabitants use spears and bows and arrows to hunt the animals that roam the small, heavily forested island. Deeply suspicious of outsiders, they attack anyone who lands onto their beaches. In 2018, an American missionary who landed illegally on the beach was killed by North Sentinel islanders who apparently shot him with arrows and then buried his body on the beach. In 2006, the Sentinelese had killed two fishermen who had accidentally landed on the shore.
backs the ceasefire idea, but it’s necessary to first answer quite a few questions,” Peskov said.
In Kryvyi Rih, teacher Iryna Kholod, 59, remembered Arina and Radyslav, both 7 years old and killed in Friday’s strike, as being “like little suns in the classroom.”
Radyslav, she said, was proud to be part of a school campaign collecting pet food for stray animals. “He held the bag like it was treasure. He wanted to help,” she told The Associated Press.
After Friday evening, “two desks in my classroom were empty forever,” Kholod said, adding that she still has unopened birthday gifts for them.
“How do I tell parents to return their textbooks? How do I teach without them?” she asked.
Russian missile and drone tactics continue to evolve, making it harder to shoot them down, Yurii Ihnat, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian air force command, said on national television.
Russia’s Shahed drones have undergone significant upgrades, while Moscow is also modernizing its ballistic missiles, he said. Only the U.S. Patriot missile defense system can help prevent attacks like the one in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy said late Sunday He said he had instructed his defense and foreign affairs ministers to “work bilaterally on air defense, especially with the United States, which has sufficient potential to help stop any terror.”
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Trump administration is having early discussions about a grand military parade in the nation’s capital this summer, something that is a long-held dream of President Donald Trump.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday that the administration had reached out to the city about holding a parade on June 14 that would stretch from Arlington, Virginia, where the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery are located, across
the Potomac River and into Washington, D.C. The Army is in early discussions about potentially adding a parade to the Army’s 250th birthday festival, which is being held June 14, according to a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are ongoing and no decisions have been made. June 14 is also Trump’s 79th birthday The White House in a statement said that “no military parade has been scheduled.”
The Army birthday festival, which has been in the planning stages for about two years, is to include an array of activities and displays on the National Mall, including Army Stryker armored vehicles, Humvees, helicopters and other equipment In a statement, Col David Butler, an Army spokesperson, said that “it’s too early to say yet whether or not we’re having a parade but we’re working with the White House as well as several government agencies to make the celebration a national level event.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA
Palestinians inspect the site hit by an Israeli strike on Monday in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO Flowers
fill a makeshift
BRIEFS FROM STAFFAND WIRE REPORTS
Longtime Baton Rouge
toy store up for sale
Victoria’sToy Station, alongtime Government Street business,isupfor sale with a$1.2 million asking price.
The deal includes the business and the property at 5466 Government St.
DeeDee Culotta, thelongtime owner of Victoria’s, said she put the business up for sale because she wants to retire. The plan is forVictoria’stostay in business until abuyer can be found, aprocess she said she hopes is completedbefore the holiday season rolls around.
“We’ve had the store for 41 years, and we just feel like it’s time forustomove on,” she said. “We’re hoping someone buys the storesowecontinue to have a wonderful toy store for children in Baton Rouge.”
Beau Box, who has the listing for Victoria’s, said the offering gives thebuyer the opportunity to purchase abusiness and real estate on the busy Government Street corridor
Victoria’sToy Stationwas founded in 1984. It was originally located in the Catfish Town development downtown, before moving to Government Streetin1987. Tariffs, low oil prices
squeeze some nations
Middle East stock markets tumbled Monday as theystruggledwith the dual hit of the United States’ newtariffpolicy and asharp decline in oil prices, squeezing energy-producingnationsthat rely on those sales to power their economies and government spending.
Benchmark Brent crude is down by nearly 15% over the last fivedaysoftrading, with abarrel of oil costing just over$64. That’s downnearly 30% from ayear ago when abarrel cost over $90. That cost per barrel is far lower than the estimated break-even price for Saudi Arabia and most othercountries producingenergy in theMiddle East. That’scoupled with the new tariffs, which saw the Gulf Cooperation Council states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates hit with 10% tariffs. Other Middle Eastern nations face higher tariffs, likeIraq at 39% and Syria at 41%.
“With these measures andthe expected retaliatory measures that could be adopted by other countries, the stability and predictability of internationaltrade could be undermined,” the accounting firm PwC said in an advisory to its Mideast clients.
Last week, OPEC+ members Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait,Oman, Russia,Saudi Arabia and the UAE agreed to speed up the introduction of more oil into the market. This month marks the first oil production increase by the group since 2022.
Flood closes Buffalo Trace Distillery
The historic Buffalo Trace Distillery has temporarily closed after deadly flooding ravaging Kentucky swept into its facilities,forcing the popular bourbon company to turn away the public and staff.
In astatement released Sunday, the Frankfort, Kentucky-based distillery said it would remain closed through Thursday but warned that date couldchange. It was not immediately known how much of Buffalo Trace’sinventory—ranging from barrels, bottlesorother items —may have been damaged. Aspokesperson for Buffalo Trace declined to comment further.
BuffaloTrace is farfromthe only distillery in Kentucky,the home of bourbon country,but it is one of the closest to the banks of the Kentucky River.Notably,the distillery has markersofseveral high-water marks from previous floods inside itsFrankfort buildings,with the most recentbeing the1978 flood.
Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American, family-owned companythat has operated for more than 200 years. Its products include theholy grail forbourbon fanatics: Pappy VanWinkle 23-year-old, which can sell for tens of thousands of dollars on resale markets.
Stocks have manicday before slump
Trumpagain threatenstocrank tariffshigher
BY STAN CHOE,ELAINE KURTENBACH and DAVIDMcHUGH AP business writers
NEW YORK U.S. stocks careened througha manic Monday after President Donald Trump threatened to crank his tariffs higher, despite astunning display showing how dearly Wall Street wants him to do theopposite.
The S&P 500 closed lower after a dayfullofheart-racing reversals as battered financialmarketstry to figure out what Trump’sultimate goal isfor histrade war. If
it’stoget other countries to agree to tradedeals, he could lower his tariffs and avoid apossible recession. Butifit’storemake the economy and stickwithtariffs for the longhaul,stock prices mayneed to fall further
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell and the Nasdaq composite edged up.
All threeindexes started the day sharply lower,and the Dow plungedasmanyas1,700 points followingevenworse losses elsewhere in the world. But it suddenly surged to again of nearly
900 points in the late morning. The S&P500, meanwhile, went from aloss of 4.7% to aleap of 3.4%, which would have been its biggest jump in years.
The sudden rise followed afalse rumor that Trump was considering a90-day pauseonhis tariffs, one that aWhite House account on Xquickly labeledas“fake news.”
That arumorcould move trillions of dollars’ worth of investments shows how much investors are hoping to seesigns that Trump may let up on tariffs.
Stocks quickly turned back down, and shortlyafterward, Trump dug in further andsaidhe may raise tariffs moreagainst Chi-
na after the world’s second-largest economy retaliated last weekwith its own set of tariffs on U.S. products. It’s aslapinthe face to Wall Street because it suggests Trump may not care how much pain he inflicts on the market. Many professional investorshad long thought that apresident who used to crow about records reached under his watch would pull back on policies if they sent the Dowreeling. Indexes nevertheless did keep swinging between lossesand gains Monday after Trump’slatest tariff threat, in part because hope still remains in markets that negotiations may still come.
bear market
hurt all economies involved.
BY STAN CHOE and ALEX VEIGA AP business writers
NEW YORK Wall Street could soon be in the clawsofanother bear market as theTrump administration’stariff blitzfuels fears that the added taxesonimportedgoods from aroundthe world will sink theglobaleconomy. The last bear market happenedin2022, but this decline feels more likethe sudden, turbulent bearmarket of 2020, when the benchmark S&P500 indextumbled34% in aonemonthperiod, the shortest bear market ever Abear market is aterm usedbyWall Street when an index suchasthe S&P 500 or the Dow JonesIndustrial Average hasfallen 20%ormorefroma recent high forasustainedperiod of time.
Whyuse abear to refer to amarket slump? Bears hibernate, so they represent astock market that’sretreating. In contrast,Wall Street’s nicknamefor asurging marketisa bull market, because bulls charge.
TheS&P 500, Wall Street’smain barometer of health, closed lower Monday.It’snow 17.6% below the all-time high it setonFeb. 19.
The tradewar has ratcheted up fear and uncertainty on Wall Street over how businesses and consumers will respond.
President Donald Trump followed through on tariff threats last week by declaring a 10% baseline taxonimports from all countries and higher tariff rates on dozensof nations thatrun trade surpluseswith the United States Global markets cratered thenext day,and the sell-offdeepened afterChina announced it would retaliate withtariffs equaltothe ones from the U.S. Tariffs cause economic pain in part because they’rea taxpaidbyimporters that often gets passed along to consumers, adding to inflationary pressure. They also provoke trading partners into retaliating, which can
Import taxes can also cause economic damage by complicating the decisions businesses have to make, including which suppliers to use, where to locate factories and what prices to charge.And that uncertainty can cause them to delay or cancel investments that help drive economic growth.
The tariffs come at atime when the U.S. economy is already showing signs of slowing. Markets are also worried that tariffs couldfuel inflation,whichrecentlyticked higher On average,bearmarkets havetaken 13 months to go from peak to trough and 27 monthstoget back to breakevensince World WarII. The S&P500 indexhas fallenanaverage of 33% during bear markets in that time. The biggest decline since 1945 occurred in the 2007-2009 bear market, when the S&P 500 fell 57%.
History shows that the faster an index enters into abear market, the shallowerthey tendtobe. Historically,stockshave taken 251 days to fall into abear market. Whenthe S&P 500 hasfallen20% at afaster clip, the index has averaged aloss of 28%.
Weed killer makerasksSupreme Courttoblock
Claims areRoundup couldcasecancer
BY DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY,Mo. Global agrochemical manufacturerBayer has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whetherfederallaw preempts thousands of statelawsuits alleging it failed to warnpeople that itspopular weed killer could causecancer. Bayer’snew request to thenation’s highest court comes as it is simultaneously pursing legislation in several states seeking to erect alegal shieldagainst lawsuitstargeting Roundup, acommonly used
weed killerfor both farms and homes.Bayer disputes the cancer claims but hasset aside$16 billion to settle cases and asserted Monday that thefuture of American agriculture is at stake.
In acourt filing Friday, Bayer urgedthe Supreme Court to take up aMissouri case that awarded $1.25million to aman whodeveloped non-Hodgkin’slymphoma aftersprayingRoundup on a community garden in St. Louis The federally approved labelfor Roundup includesnowarning of cancer. Bayercontends federal pesticide lawspreempt states from adopting additional labeling for products and thus prohibits failure-to-warn lawsuits brought under statelaws.
TheSupremeCourt in 2022 declinedtohear asimilar claim from Bayerina California case that awarded more than $86million to amarried couple.
ButGermany-basedBayer, whichacquiredRoundup maker Monsanto in 2018, contends the Supreme Court should intervene now because lower courts have issued conflicting rulings. The 3rd U.S Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Bayer’sfavor last year,while the 9thand 11th Circuits have ruled against its stance.
An attorney representingthe St Louis gardener said Bayer is “really grasping at straws.”
“The reality is they don’twant to put the warning on it because they’re afraid” that if people “real-
ize it’sunsafe, it will reduce sales,” said attorney JimOnder, whose firmhas more than 20,000 clients with failure-to-warn claims regarding Roundup.
Bayerfaces about181,000 Roundup claims, mostly from residential users. Because of that, Bayer stopped using thekey ingredient glyphosate in Roundup sold for home use. But glyphosate remains in agricultural products. It’sdesigned to be used with genetically modifiedseedsthatcan resist theweed killer’sdeadly effect, thus allowing farmers to producemore while conserving thesoilbytilling it less Monsanto’sLuling plant is the largest U.S. producer of glyphosate.
James Lambworks on the floor at the Newyork Stock ExchangeinNew york on Monday
WASHINGTON Collegesaround the country are reporting some of their international students’ visas are being revoked unexpectedly expressing alarm over whatappears to be anew level of government scrutiny Visas can be canceled for anumber of reasons, but college leaders say the government has been quietly terminating students’ legal residency status with little notice to students or schools. That marks ashift from past practiceand leaves students vulnerable to detention and deportation.
The list of collegesthathave discovered students have had their legalstatus terminatedincludes Harvard, Stanford,Michigan, UCLA and Ohio State University.
TheTrumpadministration has targeted students who had been involved with pro-Palestinian activism or speech, with afew highprofile detentions of students includingMahmoud Khalil, agreen card holderwho wasa leader of protests at Columbia University. But more schools are seeing visas stripped from studentswith no known connection to protests. In some cases, past infractions such as traffic violations have been cited. Some colleges say the reasons remain unclear to them —and they are seeking answers.
“What you’re seeing happening with international students is really apiece of the much greater scrutiny thatthe Trump administration is bringing to bear on immigrantsofall differentcategories,” said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at theMigration PolicyInstitute.
Many collegeofficials andstudents have only found out about the changes when they have checked afederal database and seen changes to an individual’simmigration status.
Studentsinother countries must meet aseries of requirements to obtain astudent visa, usually an F-1. After gaining admission to aschool in the U.S.,students go through an application and interviewprocess ataU.S. embassy or consulate abroad
Studentson an F-1 visamust show they have enough financial support for their course of study in the U.S.Theyhavetoremain in good standingwiththeir academic program and are generally limited in their ability to work off-campus during their academic program. Entryvisas are managedbythe State Department. Once they’re in theU.S., international students’ legal statusisoverseen bythe Student and ExchangeVisitor Program under the Department of HomelandSecurity.
Leaders at many colleges learned the legal status of some
of theirinternational students had been terminated when they checked adatabase managed by Homeland Security. In thepast, collegeofficialssay,visastypically were revoked after schools updated the government when students fell out of status. Historically,students who had theirvisas revoked were allowed to keep theirlegal residencystatus and complete their studies.
The lack of avalid visa only limited their abilitytoleave the U.S. andreturn,somethingthey could reapply for withthe StateDepartment. But if astudent has lost residencystatus, they must leave immediately or risk detention by immigration authorities.
Higher education leaders worry the arrestsand revocations could have achilling effect on international educationinthe United States.
The lack of clarity of what is leading to revocations can create a sense of fear among students, said SarahSpreitzer,vicepresident of government relationsatthe American Council on Education.
“The very public actions that are being taken by ICE and the Department of HomelandSecurity around some of thesestudents, where they
Colleges around the countryare reporting someof theirinternational students’ visas are being revoked unexpectedly, expressing alarmoverwhat appears to be anew levelof government scrutiny
are removing these students from their homes or from their streets, that’snot usually done unless there is asecurity issue whenastudent visa is revoked,”she said.“The threat of this very quickremoval is something that’snew.”
In messages to their campuses, collegeshavesaidtheyare asking thefederal government for answers on whatled to the terminations. Othershavere-emphasized travel precautions to students, recommending they carry their passport andother immigration documentswith them.
College leaders spoke of agrowing sense of uncertainty and anxiety.
“These are unprecedented times, andour normal guiding principles for living in ademocratic society are being challenged,” University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco wrote in an email. “Withthe rate anddepth of changes occurring, we must be thoughtful in how we best prepare, protect, and respond.”
Suárez-Orozco said the legal residency status had been canceled for two students and“five othermembers of our university community including recent graduates participating in training programs.”
JayNorth, TV’s Dennis theMenace, dies at 73
by The Associated Press
LAKE BUTLER,Fla. JayNorth, who starred as thetowheaded mischief maker on TV’s“Dennis the Menace” for four seasons starting in 1959, has died. He was 73. North diedSunday at his home in Lake Butler,Florida, after battling colon cancer,saidLaurie Jacobson, alongtimefriend, and Bonnie Vent,who washis booking agent.
“He hadaheart as bigasa mountain, lovedhis friends deeply.Hecalled us frequently and ended every conversation with ‘I loveyou with allmyheart, Jacobson wrote in atribute on Facebook.
North was 6when he was cast as the smiling troublemaker in the CBSsitcom adaptation of Hank Ketcham’spopular comic strip that took place in an idyllic American suburb.
Often wearing astriped shirt and overalls, Dennis’ mischievous anticsfrequentlyfrustrated his retired next-door neighbor George Wilson, played by Joseph Kearns. After Kearns died, Gale Gordon played Wilson’sbrother Dennis’ patientparents were played by Herbert Anderson and Gloria Henry The show ran on Sunday nights until it wascanceled in 1963. After that it wasafixture fordecades in syndication.
to
Advocatefor publication:
TOWN OF ADDIS MINUTES JANUARY14, 2025 –REGULAR MEETING
The regular meeting of the Mayor and Town Council for the Town of Addis was called to order by Mayor David Toups at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday January 14, 2025, at the Addis Municipal Center.The Pledge to the flag was led by Councilor Hebert. Amoment of silence washeld for Officer Adam Gillis and all families involved in the tragic vehicle accident that occurred on January 10th.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Toups; CouncilorsRusty Parrish, Bliss Bernard, Rhonda Kelley,KevinLeBlanc,Dustin Hebert Absent: None
MINUTES: The minutes of December 10, 2024, regularmeetingwereapproved on a motion by Councilor Hebert; seconded by Councilor Kelley and adopted unanimously.The minutesofDecember 17, 2024, special meeting were approved on amotion by Councilor Kelley; seconded by Councilor Bernardand adopted unanimously
ADDITIONS TO AGENDA Amotion to amend the agenda to add the appointment of the Public Works Director,was made by Councilor LeBlanc;seconded by Councilor Parrish and adoptedunanimously
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
CORRESPONDENCE
62ND ANNUAL ADDIS FIREMEN’S MARDI GRAS PARADE: Mayor Toups advised that the 62nd Annual Parade is scheduled for Saturday February 22nd at 1:00 pm.Ifanyone is interested in participating, please contact Mary Tullier at 225-362-4028 or by email at marymagruder113@ yahoo.com.
ADDIS MARDI GRAS MAMBO &MARKET: Mayor Toups advised that in addition to the annual parade, the Town of Addis along with Amber Gatlin, owner of Oak &Clay Co is planning the first Mardi Gras Mambo &Market event. The event will include avendor market from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm as well as live music by John Foster Benoit from2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
SPRING ROCKIN’ ON THE RAILROAD: Mayor Toups advised that the Spring 2025 dates areFriday,April 25th and Friday,May 9th.
LMA MID WINTER CONFERENCE: Mayor Toups advised that he is planning to attend theconference. Councilor Hebertstated that he will attend also.
OLD BUSINESS None
NEW BUSINESS
DUTIES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS: Town Attorney,Mr. Dana Larpenteur reported the duties of theMayor,Police Chief and Council.
ELECT MAYOR PRO TEMPORE: After brief discussion, amotion to elect Russell “Rusty” Parrishtoserve as Mayor ProTemporefor the Town of Addis, was made by Councilor Kelley; seconded by Councilor Lejeune andadopted unanimously.
AUTHORIZEMAYOR TO REVISE SIGNERS ON BANK BUSINESS AS NEEDED: Mayor Toups stated that since Councilor Parrish was re-elected to serve as Mayo Protempore, then no action is needed as signers do not needtoberevised.
APPOINT TOWN ATTORNEY: Mayor Toups made arecommendation to appoint Mr.Dana Larpenteur as the Town Attorney.Amotion to appoint Mr.Dana Larpenteur as Attorney for the Town of Addis was made by Councilor Bernard; secondedbyCouncilor LeBlanc and adopted unanimously
APPOINT TOWN CLERK: Mayor Toups made arecommendation to appoint Jade Simpson as theTown Clerk. Amotion to appoint Mrs. Jade Simpson as theTown Clerk for the Town of Addis was made by Councilor Kelley; seconded by Councilor Parrish and adopted unanimously APPOINT
NOTICELEGALNOTICE NOTICE IS GIVENthat Melvin LouisCarter, Ad‐ministrator of theSuc‐cession of HattieMae Carter Marine,Probate No. 116,119, Div. 25, 19th JDC,EastBaton Rouge Parish, Louisianais applying forauthority to sellatprivate sale,the decedent’simmovable property locatedinEast i h d
BAXLEY &ASSOCIATES, LLC. –2024 AUDIT ENGAGEMENT: The
2024 audit engagement for Baxley &Associates, LLC. was reviewed and approved on amotion by Councilor LeBlanc; seconded by Councilor Kelley and adopted unanimously
2024 ADDIS ROAD REHAB PROJECT:
•Change Order No.2:A motiontoratify MayorToups signatureand approve ChangeOrder No.2,decreasing the contract amount by $19,123.30, which brings the contract price to $584,206.60, was made by Councilor Bernard; seconded by Councilor LeBlanc and adopted unanimously
• •Pay Application No.1:A motion to ratify Mayor Toups signatureand approve pay app no. 1inthe amount of $554,996.27 was made by Councilor Kelley; seconded by Councilor Parrish and adopted unanimously
•Substantial Completion: Amotiontoratify Mayor Toups signature and approve the Substantial Completion for the 2024 AddisRoad Rehab Project, was made by Councilor Bernard; seconded by Councilor LeBlanc and adopted unanimously
ARPAPROJECTPHASE I(LIFT STATION IMPROVEMENTS) –PAY
APPLICATION NO. 1: Amotion to approve pay app no. 1inthe amount of $214,884.00 for First Street Pump Station and pay app no. 1inthe amount of $194,130.00 for AddisLane Pump Station, was made by Councilor Kelley; seconded by Councilor Parrish and adopted unanimously.
SUGAR MILL DRAINAGE FAILUREREPAIRS– COST PROPOSALS: Mayor Toups advised that TravisBourgoyne contacted threecompanies to obtainquotes for the project. Tullier Services was unabletoprovide a quote. The two quotes obtained werereviewed. After further discussion, a motion to approve the proposal from Southern Underground of Louisiana LLC for atotal project cost not to exceed $246,610.00 based on the identified issues and required scope of work, was made by Councilor Bernard; seconded by Councilor LeBlanc and adopted unanimously.
POLICE SURPLUS PROPERTY –RESOLUTION 2025-1: Councilor Hebert moved the following resolution, seconded by Councilor LeBlanc:
WHEREAS the Town of Addisowns the following movableproperty which is no longer needed for public purposes:
DESCRIPTION VIN/MODEL NO.BRAND DEPARTMENT
2014 CHEVY TAHOE–BROWN (SSV)
1GNLC2EC4FR294405 CHEVROLET POLICE
2015 CHEVY TAHOE–SILVER (PPV) 1GNSK2E04DR30109 CHEVROLET POLICE
WHEREAS, the moveableproperty will be assigned to the LPS Municipal Surplus Property Program, 6767 Perkins Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70808 to be listed and auctioned/soldonline “as is; whereis” at https://lamats. net/surplus, at the highest bid which shall be subject to acceptance or rejectionbythe Town of Addissaid bidding to last aminimum of 7 days, commencing 15 days after publication of an advertisement in the municipal journal of record. The itemsmay be prelisted online prior to the official newspaper publication, The Advocate.
WHEREAS, the Town of Addisreserves the right to reject all bids that are not deemed to represent the fair market value of the surplus item at the timesold, and to relist same online until sold or withdrawn; THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHERRESOLVED, that the Town of Addishas hereby declared the above-mentioned movable property as surplus, to be sold through online auction at https://lamats.net/surplus.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION HAVING BEEN READ SECTION BY
SECTION,ataregular meeting of the AddisTown Councilonthe 14th day of January 2025, was adopted by the following yea and nay votes on the roll call: YEAS: Bernard, LeBlanc, Kelley,Hebert, Parrish; NAYS: None; ABSENT: None
MONTHLYREPORTS
Engineer Report: No report.
Planning &Zoning Commission: No business. Parish Council Report: No report.
gram on April22, 2025, no laterthan9:00AM(CST) APre-Conference mandatory meetingwill be held at 10:00 AM (CST) on April15, 2025, at Dio‐cese of BatonRouge Child Nutritionoffice lo‐catedat3300 Hundreds OakAve.Baton Rouge, LA 70808. No RFPwillbeac‐cepted from anyvendor whodid notattendand sign-inatthe Pre-Confer‐ence meeting. RFPmay be returned by mail,handdelivered,or emailed. Mail or hand de‐liveredRFP to Dioceseof BatonRouge Child Nutri‐tion Program, 3300 Hun‐dredsOak Ave. Baton Rouge, LA 70808. Email
Police Report: The December 2024 police report, given by Chief Langlois, consistedof123 trafficcitations issued; 189 calls for service; 6misdemeanorarrests; 2felony arrests; and15auto accidents. The felony arrest wasfor Narcotics/AGG Flight from an Officer.Areview of the currentFirework ordinancewas also discussed.
Public Works and Sewer Report: The December 2024 sewer report, given by Mayor Toups,included42residential andcommercialequipment calls; 33 residential andcommercialtankissues; 5collection system issues; 1sewer plant issue;2new inspectionsand 50 one-calltickets completed.
PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION ON INTRODUCED ORDINANCES None
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES
ORDINANCE 2025-1(MAYOR TOUPS 2025 SALARY): Amotion to introduceOrdinance2025-1, “AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHINGTHE YEARLYSALARYFOR DAVID H. TOUPS, MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF ADDIS FOR 2025 AT AFOUR (4%) PERCENTINCREASE FROM HIS 2024 SALARYAND COMMENCING JANUARY1,2025”,was made by Councilor LeBlanc; seconded by Councilor Bernardand adopted unanimously
ORDINANCE 2025-2(CHIEF OF POLICE 2025 SALARY): Amotion to introduceOrdinance2025-2, “AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHINGTHE YEARLYSALARYFOR JASON P. LANGLOIS, CHIEFOFPOLICE OF THE TOWN OF ADDIS FOR 2025 AT AFOUR (4%) PERCENTINCREASE FROM HIS 2024 SALARYAND COMMENCING JANUARY1,2025” wasmade by Councilor LeBlanc; seconded by Councilor Bernard and adopted unanimously
COMMITTEE REPORTS
FINANCE: i. Pay Bills Found in Order: Amotion to pay bills found in orderwas made by Councilor Kelley; seconded by Councilor Hebert and adopted unanimously ii. MonthlyBudget to Actual Reports: The monthly budget to actual reports were reviewed with no comments.
POLICE: No report.
PERSONNEL: No report.
SEWER: No report.
DRAINAGE: No report.
BUILDINGS: Areminderwas givenabout the building tour taking place at The First Bankannexbuilding on Wednesday,January 15th.
STREETSAND ROADS: Mayor Toups reported thatthe Town of Addis wasfeatured in the 2024 issue of Build ABetterMousetrap, aNational Recognition Programfor Transportation Innovation magazine. The Town of Addis received the Smart Transformation Honorable Mention
EXECUTIVESESSION Amotion to go into executive session to discuss police personnel andpending litigation wasmade by Councilor Kelley; seconded by Councilor Hebert andadopted unanimously.A motion to return to regular session wasmade by Councilor Kelley; seconded by Councilor Bernard andadopted unanimously.Asaresult of the executive session and recommendation by ChiefLanglois, amotion to promote Ray Lejeune to Captain with the title of
andadopted unanimously
ANY OTHER BUSINESS Acitizen brought up aconcernwith speeding on Foret Street.A suggestion wasmadetomove the speed trailertothatarea. ADJOURN The
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Manreceiveslifesentence
Defendantremains
defiant over
fatalshootingofneighbor
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
Aman who terrorized his Baton Rouge neighborhood for months was sentenced to life in prison for killing his neighbor in 2022 after showingnosigns of remorse Monday as he stood beforeajudge
Henry Williams III, 37, killed Ronald LeDuff, 25, in broad daylight late the afternoon of May 14, 2022, in the 500block of West Chalfont Drive. Afterward,he barricadedhimselfinsidehis house and armed himself to the teeth,firing shotsatSWATofficers whoresponded during acha-
otic standoff.
Ajury found Williamsguilty of the charges Nov.11after listening to threedaysoftestimony at his murder trial.
Williams railed againstLeDuff as his relatives satinthe courtroom. He accused the victim of being athief who attacked him andsaid he was forced to shoot LeDuff in self-defense. Prosecutorscalled Williams’ claims “completely inaccurate” and asked for themaximum sentence.
“I thinkMr. Williams’ statement
is self-serving,”AssistantDistrict AttorneyMorgan Johnson saidafter Williams spoke fornearly five minutes. “Itgave us aglimpse into his stateofmind. He hasno regard for human life.” District Judge Fred Crifasi, who presidedover the trial, gave Williams amandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for his second-degree murder conviction. The judge ordered him to serve another 25 years
See SHOOTING, page 2B
RAISINGTHE BAR
ABOVE: Gerry Lane operations
manager Tyler Lane hands Zaniah
Lee the keys to anew car that was part of Judge WilsonE.Fields’
‘Raise the Bar,Win aCar’ initiative on Friday at Liberty High School in Baton Rouge.
RIGHT: Zaniah Leeenters her new car
Juniors and seniors with a3.0 GPAor higher were eligibletoparticipate in thegiveaway
JOHNSON
Driver involved in hit-and-run turnsherself
in,policesay
CRIME BLOTTER staff reports
The driverinahit-and-run that killed one person and injuredthree others turned herself in to Baton Rouge police Monday morning. Taquencya Lashaun Harris, 34, was booked on two counts of felony hit-and-run (deadly or serious bodily injury), two misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run driving, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of careless driving.
About 3:15 a.m. March 30, Harris was reportedlydriving ablue Chevrolet Trailblazer when she struck four pedestrians attempting to cross Plank Road near Brady
Street, killing 22-year-old Laderica Stewart andseriously injuring another person. The twootherpedestrianssuffered minor injuries. Policesaid Harris was driving 52 mphina 40 mphzoneatthe time of theimpact. Harris fled the sceneinher SUV, which she later dropped off at a body shop,police said.The owner told police Harris told him “she had struck adeer,” accordingto an affidavit provided by the Baton Rouge Police Department. Detectives were later able to matchdebrisfromthe scene to the vehicle dropped off at the body shop.
Rock theCountry music festival packsLivingston
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD and JANRISHER Staff writers
Tens of thousands of Louisiana residentsconvened in Livingston this past weekendtorock outto Nickelback,Kid Rock andother country artists. Butfor abig festival in asmall town, there were bound to be some complaints —and notjust the ones over the $66 six-pack of beer The Rock the Country two-day festival kickedoff its national tourinthe small town of Livingston on Friday.Itwas afirst for Livingston Parish,but not the Ba-
ton Rouge region after theAscension Parish city of Gonzales had hosted it last year
The festival wasthe largest event the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Officehas ever handled, according to Sheriff Jason Ard. Early rough estimates showFriday having about12,000 attendees andSaturdayhavingjustunder 16,000. Traffic on Friday had people stopped in theircars forhours waitingtoget into the festival, but it was much improved on the second dayofshows when officials opened up parking earlier
Findingjoy in disc golf with peoplewho love thegame
Last fall, at theSolomon Episcopal Conference Center on a women’sretreat, Inoticed two young men playing discgolfonthe center’s18-hole course, situated around itslakeand grounds.They were eager to tellmeall aboutit andshowmehow to best throw the discintothe basket.
Andrew Meister andKyle Granat’senthusiasm fordiscgolf, paired withtheir kindness and willingnesstoshare thegame with acomplete stranger, touched me. Theywere notonly game but excited forustomeet months later forafull round of discgolf. Meister is alicensed practical nurse andlivesinPonchatoula Granat is aphysical therapist who livesinAmite, buttheyare both practiced teachers as they teach a newperson to play disc golfevery couple of months.
“It’sextremelyrewarding to teach someoneabout something youenjoy,” Granat saidmonths later when we metagainatthe samespot.
He describes disc golfasacommunity-driven“accessiblesport that you can getintofor avery low amount of money.Historically, there hasbeen alot of support for people meeting newpeople.”
To playaround at mostplaces, thecost is free in someparksor around $5 to $10 in other,more tendedcourses.
Thatchilly afternoon of discgolf taught me plenty.
First, discgolfing is notaseasy as it looks.
Meister andGranat have developed skills.Theyplaydiscgolf together nearlyevery week and travel throughout theregionand neighboring states to playtournaments. They’ve been friends as far back as both can remember, meeting whenMeister was born and Granat was 1.
“Discgolfhas brought us closer as friends because we do trust each other,” Granat said.
Theyoften do well in thetournaments— mostrecentlywinning the 18th annualNew OrleansDoubles Championship in November. Theyalsohaveall thegear,including hundredsofdiscs (which Igrew up calling Frisbees) anda handy-dandyrollingcart.
For theuninitiated, disc golf works likeregular golf—pars, birdies, bogeys andeagles. There are fairways,hazards and tees. The course at Solomon is well-designed andbeautiful, offering avariety of terrainand challenges.
Theyshared withmedgcoursereview.com, an easy-to-navigate websitethatlists courses, andthey toldmeabout an appcallUDisc, another source of disc golfinformation.
Meister’sgirlfriend,Andee Poche, joined ourdiscgolfing foursome. She cheered Meister on as he birdied five holes, parred eight holesand bogeyedfive holes. He finishedthe round even at 57. Granat was twostrokes behind him. Theysay they’re generally nip andtuckontheir scoring. Keeping up withmyscore required moreseriouscalculations. Itook nearlytwice thenumber of throwsthatMeister andGranat took,110. The next day,I could barelylift my Yeti filledwithsparkling water —myarm was so sore. Evenso, Iget theattraction of thesport.
The experience was such agreat reminder of the goodness of being outside and thekindness people have within them.These twoyoung men went to great lengths to try to teach me avariety of techniques to help me do my best and enjoy the experience.
JanRisher
LOUISIANA AT LARGE
Judgerejects challengetoEntergy data center plan
BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer
ABaton Rougejudge has dismissed asecond challenge to Entergy’splan to power Meta’s$10 billion artificial intelligence data center in northeast Louisiana, ruling that the tech giant does not need tocome to the table as aparty in the proposal before state regulators.
Agroup of environmentaland consumer nonprofits had argued that key information about job creation and sustainability was absent from Entergy’sproposal andcould only be addressed if Meta joins the proceedings. But administrative law JudgeMelanie Verzwyvelt sided with Entergy on Friday,arguing that there is not enough justification or legal precedent for Meta —and subsidiary companyLaidley LLC to join the process.
Whether Entergy’srequest to power the data center with three new gas plants is in the public interest will havetobeproven when state utility regulators at the PublicService Commission issue afinal ruling on the application.
Verzwyvelt also wrotethatthe advocacy groups still had other avenues to try to obtain information from Meta, such as subpoenas or depositions
“The commission has multiple
SHOOTING
Continued from page1B
apiece forthe two counts of attempted first-degree murder and absorbed 10 years into the sentence for illegal use of aweapon during aviolent crime.
Family members said LeDuff had weatheredthe loss of his father,who died in afour-wheeleraccidentin 2017. He became aprofessional welder at theTurner Industries plant in Port Allen and had purchased his own home by the time he turned 25. He was doingsowell there his supervisor gave him a promotion hours before the fatal shooting.
“You didn’teven know him; he didn’tknow you,” LeDuff’s mother,Katreesa, told his killer during Monday’shearing. “You couldn’ttake seeing his smile because you didn’t have yours. He had alot going for himself. Youwere angry because you chose not to do anything with your life, so you wanted to end his. It wasn’this fault that you were unhappy and miserable.”
Neighbors testified that Williams insulted LeDuff with what sounded like agrowlas he arrived home from work that afternoon. Video surveillance showed the man walk
FESTIVAL
Continued from page1B
Marcy Trentecosta,ofCovington, and her daughter left their home at 1:15 p.m. and said they ended up sitting on Florida Boulevard forabout five hourswaitingtoget to the venue.
Trentecosta said law enforcementwas notconducting traffic properly,and said no onewith thefestival checkedher nearly$100 parking pass and were just letting anyone parkon-site. Without aparking pass, a two-day general admission ticket costalittle over $200. Higher tiers had higher prices.
“I skipped the second day altogether,” she said. “The venue wasn’tbig enough for the amount of people.”
Jennifer Karr Sullivan, of Mandeville, waited in five hours of traffic and misseda good chunkofthe show Friday.She said she also prepaid
RISHER
Continued frompage1B
Some instructions were technical.
“Wheneveryou’re throwing, you don’twant to have, uh, wear gloves ’cause it’ll mess up the integrity or the grip of your disc,” Meister said. “And it might slip out early or it might slip out late, and it could be adisaster.” Other bits wereabout new techniques.
“I’m about to throw anew
regulatory remedies at its disposals, and since we believe that the commission has the tools necessary to take whatever actionitdeems appropriate under the circumstances, Laidley and Meta are not necessary parties to this proceeding,” Verzwyvelt wrote in her decision.
Following aMarch hearing on the case, Logan Burke, the executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy,which has intervened in the case, saidthe advocacy group would likely pursuedepositions to unearth more information.
Entergy wants to build three gasfired power plants at acost of more than $3 billion to powerMeta’s4 million-square-foot Richland Parish data center project, which would be the company’slargest.
In January,Meta founder and CEOMarkZuckerbergtoutedthe Louisiana project in aFacebook post as acentral componentofthe company’sAIexpansion.
“Topower this, Meta is building a 2GW+ datacenter that is so large it would cover asignificant portion of Manhattan,” Zuckerberg wrote.
The tech billionaire said it will bring around halfofthis expected generation online in 2025. The electricity demands Zuckerberg describes are steep —the amount to power around 2million homes.
Alawyerrepresentingthe advo-
across thestreet to the edge of LeDuff’sdriveway afew minuteslaterwhenLeDuff came out to checkhis roadsidemailbox.The confrontation escalated quicklyand the two men beganfighting.Williams, dressed in ablack ski mask, tank top and Kevlar ballistics vest, unholstered his gun from his hip when LeDuff began getting the upper hand in the altercation. Williams fired sevenshots that struck LeDuff in the back as he retreated across his neighbor’sfrontyard, scrambling for his life. The man collapsed under his neighbor’s carport and later died in ahospital.
“You shot him down likea dog because he got the best of you in abattle that you started,” Katreesa LeDuff said.“Youcouldn’t take your lump of losing thefight so you killed him instead. Just like a coward would do.”
Surveillancefootage from Ronald LeDuff’s driveway showed Williams pick up his ski mask andcasually walk across the street back to his property after gunning the victim down.
Once there, helocked himself inside his home and refused to come out for hours when EastBaton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies responded to the shooting.
During the standoff, Wil-
for parking, which the concert ran out of.
“Wehad to park about 2 milesaway,spend $60to park in somebody’syardand thenwalk the rest of the way That’s theonlyway we saw thelast two bands,” she said. Matt O’Keefe,ofLivingston, livesless than amile from the Livingston Parish Fairgrounds and was able to beat the traffic by walking —but witnessed others who weren’tso lucky
Aside from trafficwoes,he had other complaints for the first day due to prices,sound and theoverallsetup of the concert.
“Thefirst daywas just aboutthe worst experience I’ve ever had at amusical festival,and Ihave been to countless festivalsinmy43 years,” he said.
However, hisexperience turned aroundthe secondday
“The wholething went smoothly on day two from start to finish,” O’Keefe said. “Traffic waseven well-handled leaving.”
shot, aforehand roller,and Kyle is going to explain what thatis,” Meister said. He went on to show me how to hold the disc vertically,and put it at acertain angle and toss it onto the ground to make it roll forward, ideally toward the basket. He did it and the move produced the exact results he had explained. Itried the same move. It did not go as planned. My marginally successful results with theforehand roller were much of my effortswith the wholeof disc
cacy groups in aMarch hearing argued thatEntergy’sproposallacks keyinformation,including an analysis supporting Meta’s claims thatthe data center will provide 300 to500 jobs, details of the tech company’s sustainability commitmentsand an explanation of itsneed for “urgent” power.Skepticsofthe project are broadly concerned aboutalack of public information —such as the actual contract between Entergy and Meta —thatensuresaverage ratepayers will notbeforced to cover the costsofthe facility.
Partly for thatreason, AriPeskoe, thedirector of theelectricity law initiative at Harvard Law School, said the caseis“possiblythe worst deal for ratepayers in the country withregard to these data centers.” Peskoe, who is notaffiliated with the case, questioned whether ratepayers would ultimately be on the hook for some of the costs.
In its filings, Entergy states that Meta is paying for the full annual revenue of the generators for 15 yearsand that the tech company “will contribute alargepercentage of the coststhatwould otherwise be borne by allof(Entergy’s) customers.”
Thelifeofone suchplantcan exceed 30 years, advocates have noted. During the hearing on whether Metaneeded to join the case, En-
liams fired his assault rifle at parishSWATofficers Kade Babin andJeremy Yantis, wounding bothdeputies.
OfficerscapturedWilliams as he triedtoescape his home through abackdoor.Hewas shot by apprehending officers during themelee and lost part of his armasaresultofthe wound.
ButWilliamssaid Ronald LeDuff cuthim during their scuffle —a claim notcorroborated by surveillance footage or other evidence in thecase —and blamed him for losing the limb.
While Williams expressed regret for thestandoff that led to two deputies being wounded, he offered no apologies for killing Ronald LeDuff.
“Whatever they’re saying about me …it’sa lie,” Williams said. “Thisguy wasn’t who y’all say he is.” Crifasi stoppedWilliams afterhe spoke for more thanfour minutes.
“I sat through thistrial. I understandyour position. But there was nothing—nothing —thatisgoing to substantiate the cold shooting of aperson,” Crifasi said before imposing thesentence. “Mr.LeDuff wasa good man. He was just coming homefrom work that dayand checking his mail, which turnedintoanargument. It’sreally pathetic.”
Ard,the sheriff, saidthe only comparable eventwas the homecoming parade and concert for Laine Hardy when he was named afinalist on “American Idol” in 2019. Ard estimated there were about 10,000people in attendancethen. Therewere three arrests Friday for misdemeanor counts and several otherpeoplewereescorted outofthe concert, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Ard said the vast majorityofthe festival attendeesand the public cooperated and were understanding of someofthe challenges.
“It’s excitingtohave this event —they picked us,” Ard said.
Livingston ParishConvention andVisitors Bureau Executive Director Eric Edwardssaid he believes it went well, despiteFriday’straffic problems, considering it was the first time LivingstonParish hosted the concert “Welook forwardtopossibly hosting them again next year,” he said.
golf. In the giant open fairway where the twoofthem did their ballet-dance style steps to release the disc, it would fly nearly the full lengthof afootball field. Meanwhile, Iwould throwmyheart out, making asuccession of first downs. Even still, Ikept moving it down the field. Watching these twodo their thing and try their best to share their joywith me was incredibly wonderful. Overall, the experience left me withalot of hope.
tergy stressed that the issue before regulators is notabout approving a data center, but approving electricity generation,saidSkylarRosenbloom, alawyer representing the utility Dana Shelton, alawyer for the Public ServiceCommissionstaff, arguedthatthe advocacy groups wereusing the case to advance theircampaignfor renewableenergy sources. Thegroups had filed aprevious unsuccessful motion arguing thatEntergydidn’tshowthat the threefossilfuel-powered plants were the mostcost-effective option “(The Alliance for Affordable Energy) does seem to also want to advance clean energy technologies andadvance those technologies over fossil fuel resources,” Shelton said to the judge during theMarch hearing. “Thatisanagenda, your honor,that is notconsistentwiththe majority of Louisiana’selectorate.”
‘Disincentive’
The day before the judge’sruling, Entergy CEO Phillip May submitted aletter to regulators stressing the significance of the “world-class data center” in Richland Parish, whichhas been touted as awin for along-strugglingarea of thestate. May said there is no ruleorpolicy mandating itscustomers to jointhe application to regulators.
“In (Entergy’s) experience, such arequirementisunprecedented and wouldcreate adisincentive for newindustry to select Louisiana as aplace to makeinvestment,” May wrote.
May attached an April 2letter fromMeta supporting Entergy’s applicationand thebenefitsthe company will bring to Louisiana.
In thelettersigned by PaulKelly, the company representative said the data center will support 500 operationaljobsand up to 5,000construction workers, adding that efforts would be made to hire locally Meta is also promising $200 million in infrastructure improvements andsays it is matchingall data center electricity use with clean and renewableenergy, theletter states.
“Because we are working diligently to construct the project for immediate use, it is important that (Entergy) received timely approval,” Kelly wrote. “Weare growing more and more confident that (Entergy) will ultimately receivethe necessary approvals to keep our project on track.”
The letter also echoed Entergy’s arguments on the need for urgent power,saying that without commitments on infrastructure “Meta would have been forced to select another location outside Louisiana forthe project.”
CRIME
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Additionally,awitness provided police withavideo showing Harrisinthe driver’sseat of the SUVinthe parking lot of aclub near the site of the crash. Timestamps confirmed the video was taken shortly before the fatal crash. Harris will be booked in the East BatonRouge Parish Prison.
One booked on suspicion of DWI Oneperson was booked into the East BatonRouge Parish Prison on Monday for suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Kortland Dandridge, 26, of Baton Rouge, wasbooked on acount each of operating avehicle while intoxicated, reckless driving and speeding.
Man found shot multiple times Aman was found fatally shot in aGeronimo Street home Sunday night, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department.
Kevin Evans Jr., 40, died of multiple gunshot wounds in aresidence in the3900 block of Geronimo Street. His friends were making a welfare check on him shortly before 7p.m. when they foundhis body and called 911, police said in anews release. The investigation is ongoing.
Alexander, Karen'Diane'
Karen "Diane" Stewart
Alexander, aloving wife, mother, and grandmother departed from her earthly home on April 6, 2025 at the age of 75.
She is survived by her daughter Lindsey Alexander Falcon (Jody Falcon); son Jamie Alexander; grandchildren, Haleigh Hunt (William), Davin Alexander, OliviaCarter (Christian), NoahAlexander, Alexis Falcon, and Avery Falcon; great grandchildrenKaden Hunt, Thomas Hunt, and Baby Carter. Shewas preceded in death by her husband Michael Alexander Sr; son Michael Alexander Jr; parents Polly and Randolph Stewart; in laws James and Lela Alexander; and brother Rand Stewart. The family would liketo thank Landmark South of Baton Rouge for their wonderful care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association in her honor at https://www.lbda.org/don ate. Aprivate celebration of life will be held in her honor.
Armstrong, Dr.Willie Clifford 'Doc'
Dr.WillieClifford “Doc” Armstrongentered into eternalrestatThe Lodge at Lane on April1,2025. He wasan89-year oldnative of Montgomery, Alabama; aresidentofBaker, Louisiana; andretired Di‐rector of Academic Ser‐vicesand Testingand Pro‐fessor of Educationat Southern University and A&MCollege.Viewing at CamphorMemorialUnited MethodistChurchon Wednesday, April9,2025 at 9:00 am until Celebrationof Life Serviceat11:00 am conductedbyRev.Bryan Dalco; intermentatSouth‐ernMemorialGardens Survivorsinclude hisde‐votedwifeofover64years, Dr.PrinceW.Armstrong; daughters, Dr.Kim E. Arm‐strong,Clovis, California andDr. Jada L. Armstrong, BatonRouge,Louisiana;12 siblings;grandchildren JaleaJackson,Atlanta, Georgiaand Troy Saenz NewYorkCity, NewYork; otherrelatives andfriends; preceded in deathbyhis parents; asisterand a brother. Arrangements en‐trustedtoMiller &Daugh‐terMortuary.
tually retired. Walter was a Scout Master and the YIndianGuides. He spent his time tinkeringwithIT Technology; like phones, computers,and weather stations and enjoyed watchingLSU football. Walter is survived by his wife, Cathy Boudreaux; son, Shannon Boudreaux (Dawn); daughter, Jolee Boudreaux; step-daughters, Kim Fortinberry (Greg) and KelliOulman (Mark); along with 8grandchildren, 7great-grandchildrenand 1onthe way. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Josi Boudreaux; parents, WalterBoudreaux Sr. and AureliaBoudreaux; step-mother, Judy Boudreaux and brothers, Nelson and Adam Boudreaux.A visitation willbeheld on April10th at Rabenhorst Funeral Home on Florida Blvd. from 9AM to 11:30AM; with afuneral service beginning at 11:30AM, officiated by Pastor Matt Gazzaway.Burial willfollow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.Pallbearers will be Cole Fortinberry, Jacob Smith, Jacob Oulman, TylerBoudreaux, Brycen Boudreaux and Austin Fortinberry. Honorary pallbearers areGregFortinberry, Mark Oulman, Kali Smith and Mikala Oulman. The family wouldliketo thankDanaHendry and BatonRouge Hospice for their care and compassion.
Charles Leon Davis, Jr "Punch"a resident of BatonRougeand native of Woodville,Mississippi, passedawayonThursday, March 13, 2025, at 75. Charleswas bornonJanuary13, 1950, to the late Charles Leon and Dora MaeWhite-Davis. He graduated from Capitol Senior High School Class of 1968. He leavestocherishhis memory: his highschool sweetheart and now former wifeCarolyn Domingue Davisand their four beloved children Heidi Davis-Glynn(Emmitt), CharlaDavis,Patrice Davis -Reams (Harris),Charles L. Davis,III (Bri'Ana). Along with two additionalchildren, Lindsay Pfister and CharlesWest(Zoya); a goddaughterKiyomisha Davis;a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his sistersBrenda Hickman (Leon), Gloria Jean Hayward (James), Rhonda Moore (Fredrick), anda sister-in-law Mary Davis.Heissurvivedbya host of nieces, nephews, relatives,and friends who willforever cherishhis memory. He was preceded indeath by his parents Charles LeonDavis and Dora MaeWhite-Davis;his son Seth Pfister; hisbrothersStafford Joseph Davis and HiltonSullivan Davis and maternaland paternal grandparents. Arrangements: Graveside Service Friday, April 11, 2025, at 10:30a.m., Southern Memorial Gardens
Foster,Skylar 'Sky'
Skylar “Sky” Foster passedawayonWednes‐day, April2,2025, at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX at thetender ageof7 months.Visitation on Wednesday, April9, 2025, at Bright Morning Star BaptistChurch from 11:00am to religiousser‐vicesat12:00pm.Inter‐ment in thechurch ceme‐tery.Arrangementsby Williams &SouthallFuneral Home,5414 Hwy1 Napoleonville, LA (985)3697231. To sign theguest book or offercondolences, visitour websiteatwww
williamsandsouthallfune
Foster,Warren Gregory'Greg'
Warren GregoryFoster, lovingly knownasGreg, passedawayonThursday April3,2025. He was68 yearsold andwas retired from LouisianaState Peni‐tentiary at Angola, with 38 yearsofservice.Visitation will be at CharletFuneral Home,Inc.inZachary on Wednesday, April9,2025 from 9amuntil serviceat 12pm. Burial will be in Mt Carmel Catholic Church Cemetery,St. Francisville He is survivedbyhis daughters, Kelly Foster and husband,Scott andLaney Foster.A brother, Calvin Foster andwife, Trish. 2 sisters-in-law,Kathy Blythe andJanie Deville. 3grand‐children,hewas devoted to,KeaganFoster, Avery Foster andSlayton Loupe andnumerousniecesand nephews. He is preceded in deathbyhis wife of 34 years, FrancesFoster, par‐ents,Bud andValarie Fos‐ter. Brothers,Sheldon and Emmett Foster andbroth‐ers-in-law,Ray Devilleand DonBlythe. Pallbearerswill be Will Foster,Lance Dev‐ille,Richard LeePeabody TrentBarton, Leonard Hollinsand Leonard Hollins, Jr.Honorarypall‐bearerswillbeAvery Thomas Foster andSlayton GregoryLoupe.Heloved deer huntingand enjoyed cooking. He lovedhis girls andhis grandchildrenwere hisworld.Gregwas dedi‐catedtohelping theel‐derlyinWestFeliciana.He wasa member of theTriad Program forover13years Memorial Donationsmay be made to West Feliciana Parish TriadProgram,PO box1844, St.Francisville, LA 70775. Sharesympa‐thies, condolences, and memories at www.Charlet FuneralHome.com.
Frost Jr., Lawrence N. 'Larry'
It is withdeepsorrow that we announce the passing of Lawrence N. "Larry" FrostJr. Larry was born in NewOrleans on March 28,1947 and passed away on April4,2025, at theage of 78. He is preceded in death by his mother, Adeline Embry Frost,and his father Lawrence N. Frost Sr.Heis survivedbyFrances, his cherished wife of 57 years, his son Dr. Lawrence N. Frost,III (Samantha), his son Christopher M. Frost (Vivian), daughter LauraA Frost (Phillip Barker) and hisgrandchildren, Charles N. Frost, Katharine A. Frost He is also survived by his sister, Dianna F. Underhill (Lee). Abeloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and activemember of the community.Larry's legacy is one of passion, dedica-
tion, and leadership, leaving an enduring mark on thelives of allwho knew him. Atrue loverofthe outdoors, Larry found peace and joy in nature, whether on thewater or in thewoods.Hecherished hunting and fishing trips with friendsand family, where laughter and camaraderie created moments that willbetreasured forever. Forover 40 years, he was an integral part of the Lightning Class sailing community,where he not onlyhonedhis skills butalso builtlifelong friendships and shared hislovefor the sportwith others. Larry wasa dedicated legacy member of the Southern YachtClub in NewOrleans for over 50 years, where he found bothfellowship and inspiration. Hiscontributions to theclub and his commitment to thesailing community willberemembered with deep gratitude. Larry devoted more than 40 years as thePresident and CEOofFrost-Barber Inc.,where his vision and leadership helpedshape thecompany'ssuccess. Known and respected throughout thebusiness community,hewas admiredfor his integrity, commitment,and abilityto bring people together. His presence in the industry and his contributions to thelocal economy will not be forgotten. Withpride as aRotarian, he proudly served as theSergeant at Arms and remained an active member formorethan 30 years. Visitation willbe on Friday, April 11 from 11am to 2pmatRabenhorstFuneral Home, 825 Government Street. Interment willtakeplace at a laterdate.
Louise "Celeste" Lorio Gremillion, anative of BatonRouge and resident of Gonzales, Louisiana died on April5,2025 peacefully surrounded by thelove and support of her family She was 90 years old. She was a1952 graduateofSt. Anthony High School in BatonRouge.She was awonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother. As alifelong Catholic, her devotion to God and faithguided her every step.Her life was rooted in love forher family,and she madeita point to attend every event and celebration, especially her kids and grandkids' college games, where she was abeloved fixturein thestands. She had an extraordinary ability to make everyone feellovedand cared for, and her prayers willcontinue to surround us all.She is survivedby her four daughters and one son, Donna Buuck (Lou), Connie Gremillion, Sandra Gremillionand Stacie Gremillion, Ken Gremillion (Claudia); 10 grandchildren,Rebecca Gafford, JasonGremillion, Lou, Matt & Christopher Buuck, Kara, Kourtney, Beau &Bailey Gremillionand Alaina Vacanteand 8greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 53 years, James A. Gremillion, III, twosons, Stephen "Bo"and Randy Gremillion, an infant great grandson, Cohen Buuck, her parents, Daniel J. Lorio, Sr.and Mary Louise GremillionLorio,and her twobrothers, James Carl and Daniel J. Lorio,Jr. Visitation willbeheldatMost Blessed Sacrament CatholicChurch Wednes-
When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe news
day April 9, 2025 from 10 am untilMass of Christian burialatnoon. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be herson-in-law Louis Buuck, grandsons Lou,Matt, Landon& Hayden Buuck andBeau Gremillion. In lieu of flowers, memorial donationsmay be made to MBS Catholic Church.The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Audubon Hospice andthosewho caredfor herinthe end.
Griffith,Angela Wascom 'Noel'
Angela “Noel”Wascom Griffith,a resident of Slaughter, passedaway peacefully surrounded by herfamilyather home on Wednesday, April2,2025. Shewas aPet Groomer for over 55 years. Memorial Visitation will be on Thurs‐day, April10, 2025 at St John theBaptist Catholic Church in Zacharyfrom10 am until Mass of Christian Burial at 12 pm conducted by Fr.Lamar Partin.Burial will be on Friday,April 11, 2025 at Greenoaks Memor‐ialParkinBaton Rouge. Meet in theLobby no later than 9:45 am.She is sur‐vivedbyher husband of 24 years, George Griffith.3 daughters, Jennifer Nor‐mand Sweeney (Scott), Madeline Comeaux(Jay), andCatherine Normand. 2 stepsons Mark Griffith (Christine), BrettGriffith ((Becky).7 grandchildren, CameronNormand,Jordan Comeaux, andJude Comeaux, DylanGriffith BrookeGriffith,Lucas Grif‐fith,and KellerGriffith.A sister,Terri Oehmichen (Mark).Noelwas along‐time dogtrainer competing in Agility. Shewas CoFounder of RedStick Agility within theLouisiana Capi‐talCityObedience Club Shewas an active member of St.Johnthe Baptist Catholic Church.Inlieuof flowers, please make ado‐nation to oneofthe follow‐ingnon-profits who have been vitaltoher comfort andjoys, RedStick Agility Club,LCCOC, 10115 Tams Drive, BatonRouge,LA 70815, or FreshStart SheltieRescuewww mysheltie.comorThe Hos‐pice of BatonRouge,www hospicebr.org. Sharesym‐pathies, condolencesand memories at www.Charlet FuneralHome.com.
"Dot, MawMaw Dot, or Mrs. Dot" KleinpeterGunby passedaway at age 103 on April 5, 2025. Dotwas adevoted wife, mother,grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great- grandmother. Sheloved to sew for her familyand friends. Dot lovedher familydeeply.
Shenevermet astranger andalways made everyonefeelwelcome when they enteredher home Many lives were touched by this wonderful woman Dotlived along,full life andwill be missed by all whoknewher.Dot is survivedbytwo sons, Byron Gunby,and Jeff Gunby (Joycelyn); grandchildren, Christopher(Shannon) Whitaker,ScottGunby, CarolineGunby andCandice Sanders, Kyle (Kelsey) Gunby, Bailey Gunbyand futuregrandson-in-law, Logan Gifford; numerous great grandchildren,greatgreat grandchildren, nieces andnephews. Sheis preceded in death in death by herhusband, Clifton "Sonny" Gunby; daughter, Judith "Judy" Whitaker; son, Edward "Eddie"Gunby; grandson, Chad Whitaker;great-granddaughter, Mercedes Sanders; longtime friend, PeggyVoth; parents,Edward B. Kleinpeterand Louisa IreneCarmena; and siblings, NoraK.Erwin,JuliaKleinpeter, Mary KleinpeterHill, Edward B. Kleinpeter, Jr., HagenKleinpeter, Adeline Kleinpeter Bargas, Helena Kleinpeter Barron,Thomas Kleinpeter. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 8th, at Greenoaks FuneralHome from 4:00-8:00 pm andcontinues Wednesday morningat10am until religiousservicesat11:00 am. Shewillbelaidtorest next to herhusbandand daughter, in Greenoaks FuneralHome &Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be ChristopherWhitaker,Kyle Gunby, John Harris, Andy Wheat,Jimmy Hall and Bret Hall, Sr
Major,Kaylee
Shewas amother daughtersister nannyand afriendtoeveryone To know herwas to love hershe was abeautiful soul taken to soon she leaves behind threebeautiful childrenNicholas Raylee andRileySimmons herlong time partner of 21 years StevenSimmons she leaves herdad Irvin(poncho) Majorher sister ChristyMajor hergodchild Isabella (Tbelle) Lagrange nephew DevinWesthis wife Emilyand theirthree childrenKyndallPercy and babyEzraWestshe will proceedindeathbyher mom SharonReien Major andher oldest sister WendyMajor hergrandparents Adolf(straw) Majorand Effie of Ventress Robert (Bob) Reienand Mary of Morganza along with hercousin Brad Major ourlives will neverbethe same withoutour Kaylee here may herlight shine down on herkids
IN LOVING MEMORY OF Braxton Smith Nov23, 1982 -Apr 08,2024
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4Toeverything there is aseason, and atime to every purpose underthe heaven: Atime to be born,a time to die; atime to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;a time to kill, and atime to heal; atime to breakdown, and atime to build up; atime to weep, and atime to laugh; atime to mourn,and atime to dance.
Braxton DouglasSmith, Sr. who was affectionately called "Big Brax" wasa belovedson, father, husband, brother, and friend It has beenone yearsince his passing and he is deeply and sincerely missed Since he has beengone hisloved oneshavejourneyed throughseasons of: breaking downfrom the reality of hisunexpected departure, then picking up the pieces throughthe restoration of our hope throughthe comforting Word of God; hurting from the emptiness of hispresence, then healing through our faith in God; weeping in
moments of sadness, then findingjoy in the memories of alife well lived; and mourningthe sorrowful void of his absence, then rejoicing in the blessed assurance of his salvation
Braxton Douglas Smith, Sr. you will always be loved, you are trulymissed, and you will be forever remembered.
We Love You! Mom, Dad,B.J., and Caron
Reien'LeeLee'
Gremillion,Louise
Gunby, Dorothy 'Dot'
Dorothy
DavisJr., CharlesL.
Boudreaux, Walter Joseph
Walter Joseph Boudreaux Jr. "Poppette", age 79,passed away on April 6, 2025. He was aresident of Baton Rouge. He served 2tours of duty on in Vietnam with the U.S. Navy. He also worked at IBM and the State of Louisiana, where he even-
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Amid the furor over the Trump administration’stariff proposals that went into effect last week, other,more direct economicmoves received less attention butcould also have abig impact in Louisiana.
At the end of last month, the USDA frozepaymentsmadethrough the Environmental Quality Incentives Program andthe Conservation Steward Program, programs that assistedfarmerswho wanted to upgrade their operations by improving sustainability.Farmerscould use the money to improve theirwaterretentionand slow soil erosion, among other things.
The Trump administration stoppedall payments under the programs, ostensibly as away of ensuring that the money was not being used for DEI programs or otherinitiatives with which it disagrees. Administration officials havesaid they want to make sure themoney spent is actually helpingfarmers.
The programs may not have generatedalot of headlines, but they were popular:In2023, for instance, more than 3,700 Louisiana agriculture producers applied for grants underthe two programs,according to reporting by StephenMarcantel for this newspaper.Only afraction— 825 of those applications weresuccessful,but those provided more than $50 milliontolocalfarmsto make improvements.
Between 2025 and 2031,the programs were expected to send more than$360 milliontoLouisianaproducers.
Some farmers aroundthe country wereleft having already completed the upgradesand awaiting reimbursementsthatare nowuncertain Thosefreezes came on top of the suspension of other programs that providedfunding to local foodbanks and school systems to enable them to buy locally grown food fordistribution to the hungry or to students. Those programs sent about $1 billion per year to farms around the nation, includingmillionstoLouisiana food banks andschools.
And as of early December,the state hadspent about $3.4 million gettinglocally grown foodinto schools in the current fiscalyear
The program stops come as farmersinLouisiana and the United States arecontendingwith the cuts to the U.S. Agency forInternational Development, or USAID, whichpurchasedmillions of dollars’ worth of Americanfarm produce every year to send to othercountries as part of theUnitedStates’ goodwill programs Louisiana farmers havehad aroughcoupleof years. Heavy rains in 2022killedsomecrops, drought hammered manyothers the next year Low commodity prices and high costs for diesel andfertilizer have ramped up the uncertainty for many farmers.
Ask farmers and they will tell youthatarobust domestic agricultural industry is necessary to make sure Americans are fed. It’salso akey element of national security Rapid and haphazard cuts to the programs that many producers have come torely on do nothing to improve either worthy aim. We urge our congressional delegation,especially its Republican leadership, to work diligently with the administration to make sure Louisiana farmersare able to keep harvesting.
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Iamanindependent documentary filmmaker and alaw student at LSU. I have been heavily involved in regulatory matters with the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and have seen firsthand how theFDA’s regulatoryframeworkoften favors industry interests over consumer safety and transparency Oneglaring issue is how FDA regulations are often developed under a privatecorporation’sumbrella rather than through public rule-making. When Ichallenged this practice, astate regulator in Indianaadmitted, “It’s just easier.” Worse, public regulators claim their private corporation “owns” these regulations and even copyrightsthem. The FDA-CVM refuses to provide them through FOIA or publish them in its public reading room, yet they are considered “Generally Recognized As Safe” and adopted intostate laws. When Ichallenged federal and state regulatorstostop makingregulations
The recent incident at Rollins Place Elementary in Zachary, wherea6-yearold child witha known milk allergy was given milk and thenforced to clean up her feces after experiencing areaction, is aglaring example of negligence and mistreatment.Asa former ABA therapist with seven years of experience working with children with complex medical and developmental needs, Iam deeply disturbed —not justbythe incident itself, but by thejustification being offered in its defense.
Fecal smearing is adocumented symptom in children experiencing gastrointestinal distress, often linked to medical conditions, developmental delays or sensory processing challenges. It is not an act of defiance; it is asignal thatsomething is wrong. In this case, the child’sallergic reaction led to an involuntary loss of bowel control —some-
Youran afascinating, long story about the destruction of Louisiana’s coast by nutria, an invasive species with no natural predators, and the creative ways people in Venice are drawing attention to the problem —and reducing thenumber of nutria. It made me wonder if anyone is investigating thegrowing population of nutria in Baton Rouge. We see them daily in LSU’sUniver-
in private, FDA responded by creating two internal processes that accomplish thesame thing. These processes allow regulations tobedeemed GRAS, making them exempt from meaningful review,especially public oversight. Why are stateand federal regulators so determined to operate in secrecy? Well, one example is the FDAopenly allowing pet food to contain “animals that have died other than by slaughter.” Years ago, aproduct labeled organic beef turned out to be euthanized horse meat tainted with pentobarbital. No one knew until animals eating the food died.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’schallenge to theFDA’s GRAS system is acrucial step toward fixing this broken process. The American public deserves aregulatory process that prioritizes transparency and safety over industry self-policing.
KOHL HARRINGTON Baton Rouge
thing no six-year-old should be punished for.Instead of receiving care and support,she was subjected to humiliation.
Defending this as alesson in “accountability” is not only harmful but entirely ignores the medical and developmental realities of children with disabilities. Schools should be trained to recognize and respond appropriately to medical symptoms,not usethem as abasis for punishment.This case is notabout a single lapse in judgment; it is about a systemic failuretoprovide asafe and supportive environment forall students.
Neglecting achild’smedical needs and thenforcing them to endure further distress is not discipline —itiscruelty.The focus now must be on ensuring accountability,not for the child, but forthose responsible for her mistreatment.
TIA FIELDS Baton Rouge
sityLake. Iwonder if anyone at LSU is doing research on what kindofdamage they might be doing. Arethe varmints helping or hurting the massively expensive dredging project going on in the lake? Maybe sororities and fraternities could have anutria rodeo similar to the contests in Venice.
MONICA BRADSHER
Baton Rouge
In response to the recent commentary defending the LNG export industry in Louisiana, it is critical to address this issue’s misinformation and one-sided portrayal. Advocates forthe industry are attacking people across the Gulf whoare focused on simply fighting forour right to clean air, clean water and asustainable future —just like anyone else would if you were threatened by massive, polluting LNGexport facilities. Lake Charles and the Gulf South residents deserve a fact-based discussion about the industry’sactual economic and environmental costs.
When you look at the facts, you’ll see that the costs of LNG exports aren’tworth it. Unchecked LNG exports are increasing financial burdens on American households and businesses rather than bringing widespread prosperity The commentary dismisses local activists as “paid” operatives, ignoring the genuine concerns of people living with the consequences of industrial expansion. Other community leaders and I are advocating fortransparency, accountability and aseat at the table forthose mostimpacted. We are fighting forour families and our communities. To ensure an open and fact-based dialogue, I plan to organize debates and town hall meetings with mayoral and city council candidates to speak directly about these issues. These public forumswill provide aplatform forcommunity members to voice their concerns, hear directly from policymakers, and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of Lake Charles.
Discrediting local activists and dismissing valid concerns does a disservice to the community.The people of Lake Charles deserve an honest conversation about the economic, health, and environmental implications of LNG expansion not industry propaganda designed to silence opposition. The fight for clean air,fair energy prices, and public health is not extremism; it is anecessity
At least, not if you wanttowin at the polls in Louisiana.
That’sone of the takeaways from the March 29 election, which most notably saw the stern defeat of four constitutional amendments that were heartily endorsed by Gov.Jeff Landry
There has been plenty of Monday morning quarterbacking about the reasons behind the amendments’ flaccid performance before voters who had previously seemed to be largely in lockstep with Landry andhis allies on this one.
That’sright, voters in the parish once proudly known as “St. Slammany” shut the door on more funding for criminaljustice at the same time that they were making sure library doors stayed open.
But beyond the amendments, votersinmany parishes faced dozens of other races andpropositions. Anda look at how they fared lendsitself to a fewquick conclusions.Caveatsgalore —these issues wereintensely local, turnout will change, etc., etc. —the results may teach us athingortwo about voters’ overallmood.
That brings me back to buildings filled with books.
Libraries flexedatthe polls on March 29,going 3-for-4inparishes spread across the state. Mostnotable was theresultinSt. Tammany,one ofthe parishes where controversies over book content have flared in recent years. There, the parish’straditionally conservative electorate approved the library’s4.35-mill, 15-year renewal in a comfortable 55-45win.
That win is evenmore impressive given what St. Tammany voters did on the same ballot. They rejected the rededication of a2%sales taxto allow thefunds to be spent to supportthe district attorney and the judges.
Elsewhere, library taxes in Ouachita andIberia parishes also passed. The lone loss came in West Baton Rouge, where voters rejected alibrary tax renewal alongwith everything else on their ballot
In other words, library voters aroundthe stateshouted rather than whispered: Hands off thelibrary’s money!
Thesecondtakeaway is that many Louisianans like backing the blue, but notwith their green. In two significant examples, voters rejected taxes that would have supportedtheirlocal sheriff’s office. The biggestofthosewas in Tangipahoa, where first-term Sheriff Gerald Sticker proposed repealing the current 11-mill property tax —which won’texpire until2031 —and replacing it withathreequarter centsales tax.
Thenew tax would have brought in significantly morethan thecurrent property tax: almost $25 million vs. $8 million —but Sticker argued thatitwas needed to upgrade deputypay,improve equipment and shorten response times
“We’vehad the same number of deputies on the street for the last 20 years,” hesaid. “The parish has grown by 30%.” Voters didn’tbuy it,and themeasure failed 53-47.
He wasn’tthe only sheriff to taste defeat. In northern Louisiana, Jackson Parishvotersrejected atax from Sher-
iff Andy Brown, who sought to extend an existing 9.23-mill property tax for 10 years. With almost 25% voter turnout, 61% of the parish’svoters said no. It wasn’tall bad for sheriffs, though. VotersinSt. James Parish easily approved a12.5-mill tax renewal to support thesheriff’s office.
That brings me to my final lesson from March 29: Taxes need an expiration date.
Sticker’stax in Tangipahoa Parish may have been doomed in part because he sought to replace a10-year property millagewith aperpetual sales tax.Residents in some municipalities would be paying sales tax near 12% under the plan, and there was no mechanism for them to go back to thepolls in 10 years or so and reevaluate.
Sticker wasn’tthe only one who tried this move. Twofire districtsinCaddo Parishalso saw perpetual sales taxes fail at theballot box, even as votersin that parish approved 10-year school tax renewals. Butlike theother lessons, there was an exception: New Iberia voters approved aquarter-cent sales tax with no sunset Ithink it’s fair to say Louisianans don’tlike taxes, but they really hate them when they never end.
Sticker said he’slistening, but won’t give up. He plans to get back out in the community and meet with Tangipahoa residentstofind out what they will approve. He has no choice —his agency is “behind the 8-ball” and simply needs morerevenue.
He just shouldn’ttry to get it from thelibrary Faimon A. RobertsIII can be reached at froberts@theadvocate.com.
Lord, liberate us from President Donald Trump’s“Liberation Day,”as Trump has christened last Wednesday Trump has already “liberated”his country from theinconvenience of due process or expectationsofcivil rights. But his freedom crusade escalated April 2, when he also “liberated” America from affordable cars, astable economy andits closest allies.
Trump unleashed anew round of globaltrade wars. Days before announcing sweeping, once-in-a-century tariffs, even the White House apparently didn’tknow what they would cover.) Separately,hehas singled out worldwide automobile importsfor tariffs —first on finished vehicles and then on auto parts.
The auto tariffs alonecould becatastrophic. They willraisepricesfor consumers, to the tune of 13.5%(an average of $6,400 for each new car), the Yale Budget Lab estimates. Trump told NBC News that he was indifferent to —perhaps even rooting for —sharp hikes.
“I couldn’tcare less, because if the prices on foreign cars go up, they’re going to buy American cars,” Trump said. “I hope they raise their prices, because if they do, people are gonnabuy American-made cars.”
It’sanodd political message from a guy who promised to lower thecost of living. And, if he thinks his tariffs will only raise prices of foreigncars, he’s dead wrong —for at least tworeasons.
First, many of the parts that go into “American-made” cars comefrom abroad (electrical components from Asia, engines from Germany,steel from Canada, steering wheels from Mexico, etc.). This means costswill rise for U.S. auto plants’ inputs. Some of those costs willbepassed alongto American consumers. Some might also be absorbed by automakers themselves, which could in turn mean less investment and fewer manufacturing jobs.
Second, when foreign product prices go up, domestic producers typically raise their prices, too. That’sbecause they face less competition(which is usually the explicit point of tariffs).
For example, after Trump raised import taxes on foreign-madewashing machines in 2018, domestically produced washing machines got much more expensive as well New cars aren’tthe only productsexpected to grow more expensive if higher auto tariffs persist. Prices for used vehicles will likely rise, too. So will
auto insurance since it will cost more to repair or replace cars damaged in accidents. There’ssome evidence that auto loanscould also get costlier Trumpand his economic advisers crow that his tariff agenda will bring in eye-poppingamounts of revenue —upward of$6trillionover thenext decade,claims WhiteHouse aide Peter Navarro. This number seems impossible since it assumes consumers will continuespending as much as they do now (which they likely won’tonce confronted with higher prices).
But if it were correct, this would represent the largest tax hike on Americanssince World WarII. It would also be aregressive tax since lower-income households disproportionately bear tariff costs. In other words, poor peoplewill suffer mostfrom Trump’s supposed liberation agenda. Already, American consumers of all income classes (andpolitical persuasions) are souring on the Trump economy
The University of Michigan’slatest consumer sentiment survey data were ugly,and reflected rising risks of “stagflation,”asmycolleague Heather Long noted.Two-thirds of consumers expect unemployment to rise in the yearahead.That’sthe highest reading since 2009 (when, you may recall, the country was in the depths of aglobal
financial crisis)
This is despite thefact that Trumpinherited an economythat was the envy of the world. The United States outpaced its peers on growth and hiring, and appeared to be wrestling inflation under control. Now,Trump’seconomic policies are not only sabotagingthat progress; they’re dragging down the global economy, too. Butthere do appear to be somewinners.
Not long ago, China seemed on the verge of itsown economic self-destruction. The WhiteHouse’smistakes have since given thecountry asecond wind. Beijinghas begun recruiting disaffected and discarded American scientists, who have historically been theU.S. economy’sgolden goose. And, China announced aregional trade pact with South Korea and Japan, forged in responsetoTrump’stariffs.
In just over two months, Trumphas driven two of our most important economic and military allies intoChina’s arms. In fact, Sunday marked thetrio’s first economic dialogue in five years. Meanwhile, Europe and Canada are banding together against the United States as well.
This Trump-style “liberation” is gettingawfully expensive —and lonely Email Catherine Rampell at crampell@ washpost.com.
The White House Correspondents’ Association abruptly canceled the performance of comedian Amber Ruffin, originally scheduled for the organization’sApril 26 annual dinner.Oncea celebrity-filled pageant of Washington journalists and politicians, the dinner has struggled to find equilibrium and meaning since the first election of President Donald Trump in 2016. Trump, the target of years of overwhelmingly hostile coverage from many of the dinner’sattendees, has never attended the event as president and does not plan to go this year
Ruffin had promised to make the dinner a Trump-hating extravaganza. In an interview with CNN on Feb. 28, she said she did notwant Trump to attend. “No one wants that,” Ruffin said. “I don’tknow that anyone’slooking forward to being in the same room as him.”
Ruffin also said that whenshe talked to other show business types, they advised her, “You have to make fun of everybody.You can’tjust make fun of the people you disagreewith. You have to spread it out evenly.” Ruffin said she considered their words but decided “I’m notgoing to do that.”
That was OK with the WHCA, or at leastitwas OK with it in February.When the organization’s president, Eugene Daniels, who has recently becomeanMSNBC host, chose Ruffin for the job, he said her “unique talents are the ideal fit for this current political and cultural climate.” Ruffin was at the “top of my list,” Daniels said. Clearly something happened between Feb. 4, whenDaniels issued that statement, and March 29, when the WHCA announced thatRuffin would no longerperform.
Recently,Ruffin appeared on apodcast produced by the anti-Trump publication Daily Beast. She wasasked if she knows which, if any, Trump administration officials might attend the dinner.She said she did not really care, because she cared about more important things, like that the Trump administration is “kind of abunchof murderers.”
Taylor Budowich, asenior White House official, saw Ruffin’scomments and posteda response: “This year’sWhite House Correspondents’ Association dinner will be hostedbya second-rate comedian who is previewing the event by calling this administration ‘murderers’ who want to ‘feel like human beings, but they shouldn’tget to feel that way,because you’re not.’ What kind of responsible, sensible journalist would attend something like this? More importantly,what kind of company would sponsor such ahate-filled and violence-inspiring event?”
The next day,Daniels sent anote to WHCA members. Ruffin was out, and the dinneritself was being re-thought. “As afirst step, Iwanted to share that the WHCA board has unanimously decided we are no longer featuring acomedic performance this year.Atthis consequential moment for journalism, Iwant to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists.”
The incident was obviously the latest in the dinner’s, and the media’s, very troubledrelationship with Trump. But more specifically,these particular events threatened many journalists’ cherished view that their reporting is fair
When Daniels first announced the Ruffin hire on Feb. 4, in addition to saying she was the “ideal fit,” he also said that her perspective “will fit right in with the dinner’stradition of honoring the freedom of the press while roasting the most powerful people on all sides of the aisle and the journalists who cover them.”
Then Ruffin camealong and said —publicly, definitively and on multiple occasions —that she would noteven pretend to be fair and balanced. With that, Ruffin took abig swing at the media’ssacred notion that it does its job fairly and without political bias. If the WHCA kept her on the program, it would be giving Trump one more data point for his very long andvery persuasive case that the media is biased against him. Better to cut her loose and hang on,however tenuously,tothe self-image of an impartial press. What will happen now? Well, at least the dinner won’thave acomedian, which, givensome performances in the past, might be agood thing. But the event will raise afundamentalquestion for the media: Why are we doing this? Long before Trump, there were critics who advocated ending the dinner,calling it an unseemly and borderline-appropriate Washington ritual. That was true —perhaps especially so —ata time whenjournalists mostly loved the president, like the Obama years. Then the dinner wasa train wreckfor the four years of Trump’sfirst administration. Nowitpromises to be more of the same. Why go through it?
Email York at byork@washingtonexaminer.com.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
President Donald Trumparrives on Air Force OneatMiami International Airporton Thursday.
Byron York
Catherine Rampell
Faimon Roberts
Baton Rouge Weather
SWAMPKINGS
Gators rallyfrom 12 points down to topple Cougars
BY EDDIEPELLS AP national writer
SAN ANTONIO— Florida and Walter Clayton somehow overcame Houston’sspiritcrushing defense Mondaynight to will out a65-63 victoryinanNCAA titlegame thriller not decideduntil Clayton’sown defense stopped the Cougars from taking agame-winningshot atthe buzzer
Clayton finished with 11 points, all in the second half, but whathe’ll be remembered for most was gettingHouston’s Emanuel Sharp to stop inthe middleof his motion as he tried to go up for the game-winning 3inthe final seconds.
Clayton ran at him, Sharp dropped the ball and —unable to pick it up lest he get called for traveling —watched it bounce there while the clock ticked to zero.
Will Richard had 18 points to keep the Gators (36-4) in it,and they wontheir third overall title and first since2007, this time led by third-year coach Todd
Golden. TheCougars(35-5)and coach Kelvin Sampson were deniedtheir first championship. This was adefensive brawl, and for most of thenight,Clayton got the worst of it. He was 0for 4fromthe field without apoint throughthe first half. He didn’t
score until14:57 remained in thegame. He finished withone 3-pointer and, before that, apairofthree-point playsthat kept theGators within striking range. It was the Florida defense, not Houston, that controlled the final minute.
Difficultylevel to increase forLSU softball
BY JIM KLEINPETER
Contributing writer
The No. 5LSU softball team is coming off amissed opportunity for asweep against No. 24 Alabama but can consoleitself with the idea that it won the series. As the Tigers move intothe second half of the schedule, winning aseries will be causefor larger celebrations.
Theschedule getsdecidedly toughermoving forward.After anonconference game against Louisiana Tech at 6p.m. Wednesday at TigerPark, the Tigers visit No. 4Texas A&M andNo. 1Texas on back-tobackweekends. LSU returns home to face No. 3Florida and finishes the regular season at No. 12 Arkansas.
“It’salwaysgoodtowin the series, especially when you’re playing ateam in the Top25, a team like Alabama,”LSU coach Beth Torina said tersely after Sunday’s game.“Ithought we hadanopportunity to win this game.”
Torina limited her comments, but it was clear her team’sten-
dency to not play its best ball on Sundays is aconcern. LSU has lostfour consecutive Sunday games over the last three weeks, including adoubleheader loss to SouthCarolina, with opportunities to sweep.
LSU is fightingfor one of the topeight national seeds that
LSUwomen land covetedforward on second try
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
The LSU women’sbasketball team missed out on one of the nation’stop recruits when shewas weighing offers in high school.
But Kim Mulkey and her staff landed her with asecondswing in the transfer portal.
On Monday,Kate Koval —a 6-foot-5 forward and aformer top-five national recruit from the 2024 freshman class —announced that she had committed to the Tigers, becoming their first transfer addition of the 2025 cycle. Shespent herfreshmanseason at Notre Dame, then entered the transfer portal on April 1in searchofa place where she could play her sophomore year “Having recruited (Koval) out of high school,” Mulkey saidina
statement, “we are very aligned in our vision for her personal development and the impact she can have on our program. Tiger fans will lovethe skill, physicalityand passion that Kate will bring withher to Baton Rouge.”
Koval wasthe fifth-bestrecruit in the country, according to ESPN, before shebegan her collegiatecareer.The only two post players in herclass who were slotted above her in those rankings wereUConn forward SarahStrongand South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards. Both played keyrolesonteams that reached this season’s national titlegame.
Like both Strong andEdwards, Koval considered LSUasahigh school prospect.InSeptember
Masters memories canfill whole course
AUGUSTA, Ga. The rain pelting onto my brand-new sneakers Monday as Iwalked from the media building from the media parking lot was an unworthy start to my 18th Masters tournament.
Alittle morerespect, please, for such amilestone.
Thee are so manymemories since my first Masters way back in 2002. So hard to choose. But here’sone per hole from what hopefully will be a drier Augusta National Golf Club the rest of the week: No. 1, Par4: In 2016, Arnold Palmer attended his last Masters. Toofrail to hit a ceremonial tee shot, he sat in achair on the first tee as Jack Nicklaus and GaryPlayer teed off. Nicklaus had to wipe away atear He wasn’talone. Arnie died that September No. 2, Par5: Younever know what celebrity you’ll see at Augusta. In 2018, my son Nick got up the nerve to speak to actor John Hammalong the second fairway.Hamm’sfriendliness madeabig impression on us. All most people really wantisfor you to be kind to them No. 3, Par4: Playing to the tiny third green is like trying to stop aball on your roof.Inthe final round in 2022, Scottie Scheffler missed short and leftand below the green but hit adart of apitch shot right in the hole for birdie. Cameron Smith —one stroke back, his ball about afoot away from Scheffler’spitch mark—hit about 20 feet long, madebogey,fell behind by three and finished five back of Scheffler No. 4, Par3: Another spot foracelebrity sighting: Joe Montana by the tee here acouple of years ago on a motorized scooter,I suppose after a recent surgery.How he navigated the hills and tree roots to get there, I’ll never know No. 5, Par4: Before they added 40 yards to No. 5in2019, the tee was right behind the fourth green. In 2014, Adam Scott was about to drive on 5when Rory McIlroy’stee shot on 4airmailed the green, nearly coldcocked Scott and dove into ahuge bush. Maybe that’swhy they made No.5longer No. 6, Par3: Aforecaddie wasabout to dumpFreddie Couples’ divot into atrash can next to the tee when apatron asked whether he could have it. The man immediately marched off, cradling the divot like ababy bird. I wonder whether he points to atiny patch in his yard and tells people, “You see that grass there? That’s from Augusta.” No. 7, Par4: Another Palmer memory. Arnie’slast Masters was2004. As I waswalking past the seventh green, a ball rattled out of atree. Word quickly spread: “It’sArnie’sball! It’s Arnie’sball!” Palmer asked foraruling because of amuddy ball. He marked the spot with atee, turning to the crowd saying, “That’saPennzoil, tee, folks.” The King of endorsements. No. 8, Par5: One year,Phil Mickelson wasincontention and Igot awild idea to follow him all the way around and write acolumn on his charge. I gave up the chase here, gasping on this steeply uphill par-5. No. 9, Par4: When Tiger Woods was dating skier Lindsay Vonn, she came out to watch him putt on 9. Abunch of photographers wereaimed down the nearby 18th, but when they saw Vonn in her big sun hat and huge knee brace, they whipped around their $10,000 lenses and began snapping shots of her.Practically ignored Tiger No. 10, Par4: This hole is famous for the place where in 2012 Bubba Watson hooked awedge from 164 yards about 50 yards around a100-foot tall magnolia onto the green to beat Louis Oosthuizen in aplayoff. Fans go down there looking foraplaque. No plaque. Augusta doesn’tdoplaques. No. 11, Par4: At the tee in 2012, I
Scott Rabalais
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By CHUCK BURTON California guard KaylaWilliams, left, drives against Notre Dame forward Kate Kovalduring agameinthe quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C on March 7.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOSByERIC GAy
Florida celebrates after beating Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of theNCAATournament on Monday in San Antonio.
Florida’s Will Richard drives to the basket as Houston’sLJCryer defendsduring the firsthalf in the national championship game at theFinal Four of the NCAA Tournament on Monday in SanAntonio.
BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS
McMahon shakes up staff, hires a GM
BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer
The LSU men’s basketball program is bringing in some new leadership in the form of a former player with experience in an NBA front office.
The Tigers have hired Ronald Dupree, 44, to become the program’s first general manager
A six-year NBA veteran, Dupree previously had worked on the college level as an assistant coach at LSU and Nevada. Most recently, he has worked in the front office of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Since 2021, Dupree has served as the director of global scouting for the Bucks. He had worked as a scout for the organization prior to his promotion.
A Biloxi, Mississippi, native, Dupree averaged 13.4 points 7.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game with the Tigers from 1999-2003 under coach John Brady He was an All-SEC second-team member in both his junior and senior seasons. As a sophomore, he led the SEC in scoring by averaging 17.3 points per game and was second in rebounding with 8.8 rebounds per night. He ended his college career eighth all-time on LSU’s career scoring and sixth in total rebounds.
Dupree’s six years in the NBA were split among the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Seattle SuperSonics and Toronto Raptors. He ended his playing career with the Hapoel Jerusalem team of the Israeli Basketball Super League
Georgia in 2014 and at Alabama in 2017. Last offseason, he helped Indiana bring in the second-ranked transfer portal class, according to 247Sports.
One of those commitments was Oumar Ballo who was a twotime all-conference player at Arizona before averaging 13.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks for the Hoosiers, where he was a Big Ten honorable mention.
Rosemond, 47, helped Indiana improve by nine wins in his first season and become the toprated defense in the Big Ten, according to KenPom (22nd nationally). That season in 202122, he coached All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis, who is on the Golden State Warriors after being drafted 57th overall two seasons ago.
Other NBA players he coached at Indiana were Kel’el Ware, the 15th pick for the Miami Heat last season, and the Philadelphia 76ers’ Jalen Hood-Schifino, who was the Los Angeles Lakers’ 17th pick in 2023.
Blue Jays, 1B Guerrero agree to $500M contract
Vladimir Guerrero Jr and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a $500 million, 14-year contract that starts in 2026, a deal that removes what would have been the biggest star from next offseason’s freeagent market. Guerrero’s deal does not include any deferred money Guerrero gets the third-largest contract in total dollars behind outfielder Juan Soto’s $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets that started this season, and two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers that began last year and is heavily deferred. Guerrero is a .277 career hitter with 160 homers and 511 RBIs. He’s batting .256 with no homers and four RBIs in the first 10 games this season.
Cardinals put red-hot catcher Herrera on IL
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera was placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday because of a bone bruise in his left knee. Pedro Pages is expected to get the bulk of the action behind the plate with Herrera out. Catcher Yohel Pozo was brought up from Triple-A Memphis, and he was in the starting lineup for the Cardinals’ game at Pittsburgh on Monday
The 24-year-old Herrera got hurt Sunday in the opener of a doubleheader at Boston. He is expected to be sidelined for four weeks. Herrera was off to a hot start in his first season as a full-time starter batting 381 with four homers and 11 RBIs in seven games.
The LSU men’s basketball program has made an addition to head coach Matt McMahon’s coaching staff.
Indiana basketball associate head coach Yasir Rosemond is the newest assistant coach at LSU. He spent the last four seasons with the Hoosiers and has about 20 years of collegiate coaching experience.
“I am really excited to welcome
Yasir Rosemond to our coaching staff,” McMahon said in a release. “He is a talented coach, proven developer of players, and a terrific recruiter Yasir has recruited and coached multiple NBA players throughout his successful career.” LSU assistant coaches Tim Kaine and Ronrico White who both were with McMahon at Murray State, will not remain on the coaching staff for the 2025-26 season. Rosemond was an assistant in the Southeastern Conference at
During the 2023-24 season, Indiana attracted five-star freshman Mackenzie Mgbako, who was the coBig Ten Freshman of the Year Rosemond’s first college job was in 2003 at Redlands Community College in Oklahoma, where his team reached the national junior college championship game. He became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Oregon, in 2007 and in his time coached three NBA draft picks — Aaron Brooks, and Malik and Maarty Leunen Rosemond’s coaching stops also include Seattle University and Samford.
LSU gym learns path in NCAA championships
BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer
The LSU gymnastics team will be a prime-time player in next week’s NCAA championships semifinals.
The No. 1-seeded Tigers will be in the evening session starting at 8 p.m. April 17 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, along with No. 4 Utah, No. 5 UCLA and No. 8 Michigan State.
The other semifinal will be an allSoutheastern Conference affair at 3:30 p.m. with No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 3 Florida, No 7 Missouri and No 11 Alabama.
Both semifinals will be on ESPN2. The top two teams from each session advance to the national championship meet at 3 p.m. April 19 on ABC.
Two teams from each of four regionals advanced to the eightteam championship round. LSU and Michigan State were the survivors from last week’s regional at Penn State.
The Tigers, coming off their first-ever NCAA championship
NCAA championships at Fort Worth, Texas April 17 Session I, 3:30 p.m. Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma Session II, 8 p.m. LSU, Michigan State, UCLA, Utah April 19 National championship final (top two from each session advance)
in 2024, qualified for nationals for the 34th time in program history, going 198.100 to win their regional semifinal and 198.050 to win the final. Michigan State (198.000) advanced for the first time since 1988.
Though a traditional power, Alabama is the only team at nationals to qualify as a surprise.
The Crimson Tide posted a season-high 197.675 in a regional at Tuscaloosa to finish just behind Florida (197.700) and just ahead of California (197.575), last year’s runner-up to LSU.
Oklahoma won a regional in Seattle, advancing with Missouri on a score of 198.450, the highest of the regional round (Missouri was at 197.425). The Sooners are seeking to atone for their surprising flameout in last year’s national semifinals.
LSU gymnast Haleigh
makes her approach on the vault table during her attempt in the vault on February 28 at the Raising
River Center in Baton Rouge.
Utah won a regional on its home floor in Salt Lake City with a 197.825, advancing to nationals for the 49th time alongside UCLA (197.625).
The pedigrees of the teams in Fort Worth are strong. The only ones without a national championship banner are Missouri and Michigan State.
Dodgers southpaw Snell believes he’ll miss 2 weeks
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell expects to be out for two weeks while he recovers from shoulder inflammation.
Snell, who agreed to a $182 million, five-year contract with Los Angeles in November, said the shoulder issue has been lingering for three weeks. The two-time Cy Young Award winner had an MRI that came back clean, and he was placed on the 10-day IL on Sunday “I thought I could pitch through it,” Snell said. “But when I got to Philly, played long toss, catch, tried to throw it, I just couldn’t. It’s inflammation.”
Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw had a bullpen session on Monday as he nurses a left toe injury
The three-time Cy Young Award winner hasn’t pitched since Aug. 30.
Commanders add former WR Welker to front office
Wes Welker is joining the Washington Commanders as a personnel analyst for the front office and coaching staff, according to a person familiar with the move. Welker, a two-time All-Pro wide receiver during his playing days, has coached for Houston, San Francisco and Miami since retiring from the NFL. He was an offensive assistant for the Texans in 2017-18, and coached receivers for the 49ers from 2019-21 and the Dolphins from 2022-24. The 43-year-old joins the Commanders after they acquired receiver Deebo Samuel from the Niners to pair him and Terry McLaurin as options for standout quarterback Jayden Daniels in his second pro season. Washington now has legitimate contending aspirations after surprisingly reaching the NFC championship game in Daniels’ rookie year
BY WILSON ALEXANDER
Staff writer
LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne objected to a potential landmark settlement in college sports raising her issues Monday during an approval hearing.
Dunne
Dunne — who has become one of the most well-known athletes in the name, image and likeness era — opposed the distribution of back-pay damages, which mostly would go to men. Reading a prepared speech over Zoom to Northern District of California judge Claudia Wilken, Dunne said female athletes, including herself, will not receive enough money in the House v. NCAA settlement to match their value. She cited her own back-pay
projection, saying it was significantly lower than her actual NIL earnings.
The proposed settlement of three federal antitrust lawsuits would offer $2.8 billion to athletes who could not earn NIL money before NCAA rules changed in 2021 Most of the damages (90%) would be given to former power-conference football and men’s basketball players because of the revenue generated by their sports. The settlement also would set up a new system that lets schools pay their athletes.
“This settlement uses old logic to calculate modern value,” Dunne said. “It takes a narrow snapshot of a still maturing market and freezes it ignoring the trajectory we were on.”
Dunne claimed she is “the highest-earning female athlete since the NIL rules changed,” though she did not specify how much she has made She has millions of fol-
lowers across her social-media platforms and has signed numerous endorsement deals while competing for LSU since the 2021 season. Dunne said all of the NIL projections about her have “underestimated” her real earnings.
“This settlement doesn’t come close to recognizing the value I lost,” Dunne said.
Dunne noted the website that athletes use to opt into the settlement did not initially work. Later, she had to opt-in to view how much money she would receive, a decision she did not yet want to make. Dunne said “that wasn’t meaningful consent” and believed the process lacked transparency When she got her projected number, which she did not disclose, Dunne said it was much less than her worth. She submitted NIL data in an effort to object to the estimate, but she said she did
not hear back from the administrator overseeing the system.
“This entire process defines athlete value based on the sport you played in and how much revenue your team brought in,” Dunne said “But NIL is about more than wins and revenue.”
In response, Wilken said if the settlement is approved, Dunne’s questions can be answered by reaching out to the plaintiff attorneys and the administrator of the back payments. Wilken gave a similar response to another athlete who objected to how the estimates were calculated. Later, Wilken said the formula “seemed reasonable.”
Wilken said she would not rule from the bench Monday A final decision is expected in the coming weeks.
“Your honor, I ask the settlement not be approved as it stands,” Dunne said. “We deserve more than an estimate. We deserve to be compensated at the value we deserve.”
Cavaliers guard Mitchell to sit with ankle sprain
Donovan Mitchell will miss the Cleveland Cavaliers’ game against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night after the All-Star guard sprained his left ankle during the second half of Sunday’s game against Sacramento. Mitchell stepped on the foot of Sacramento’s Keon Ellis near midcourt before losing his balance and rolling his left ankle. The 6-foot-3 guard was writhing in pain while being looked at by trainers before limping to the locker room. Mitchell eventually returned after missing nearly seven minutes of game action. He played the final 15:02 of the Cavaliers’ 120-113 loss. He was limping around the locker room after the game. Mitchell leads the Cavaliers in scoring, averaging 24 points per game, despite playing fewer than 32 minutes a game.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Bryant
Cane’s
Shuffling assistants
STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
LSU head coach Matt McMahon, right, listens while coaching against South Carolina on Feb 18 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center McMahon has hired Ronald Dupree as the team’s general manager
DelRosario enters portal aftertwo LSUseasons
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
The LSU women’sbasketball team is losing one of itssophomores to the transfer portal.
Asource confirmed Monday that Aalyah Del Rosario —a6-foot-6 center who signed with the Tigers as part of their top-ranked 2023 freshman class —isnow looking for aplace to play her junior season. DelRosario wasthe seventh-best recruit in her signing class, according to ESPN. But she neverfound her footing across the two years she spent at LSU.
As afreshman,the native of the Dominican Republic appeared in all 37 games the Tigers played after aseason-ending injury to starter Sa’Myah Smith thrust DelRosario into akey role off of thebench. She ended up loggingaround 11 minutes pergamethat year
Then Del Rosario’splaying time dwindled once her sophomore season began.
Smith returnedtothe floor,and transfer forward Jersey Wolfenbarger earned aroleasLSU’s top reserve post player.Her emergence left little roominside coach Kim Mulkey’srotation for Del Rosario, the former top recruitwho sawatleast 10 minutesofrun in only three gamesagainst South-
NCAA women’shoops lookingfor next star
BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer
TAMPA, Fla. Women’scollegebasketball has been on the rise these last few years, riding the wave of iconic players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins.
Now,with Clark and Reese in the WNBA, Bueckers headed to the league and Watkins sidelined forthe foreseeable future with an ACL injury,itraises the question of who will pick up the torch and continue that momentum. There may be no clear candidate to become the face of the game, though there’snoshortage of talented players, including UCLA’s Lauren Betts, UConn freshman Sarah Strong and South Carolina freshman JoyceEdwards. And there are more looming on the horizon, like high school sensation Aaliyah Chavez willbe making her collegiate debut at Oklahoma next season. The ratings for the women’s NCAA Tournament leading into the title game Sunday didn’t match last year’srecord numbers, though they were better than nearly every other year in NCAA history
“It’sagreat sign that without Caitlin we’re still certainly on the ascent,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said. “Hopefully,that’sthe same even without the star power next year of Paige Bueckers and JuJu. Thegame is at place where it can still grow.”
The talent pool continues to get stronger, as wasevident in the title game performances by Strong(24 points and 15 rebounds) and Edwards (10 points, fiverebounds). As expected, both impacted the game though UConn cameaway with its12th national championship, endinga nine-yeardrought with an 82-59 victory over South Carolina.
“Runs like this make you still feel relevant, you still havean impact. Kids still respond,” Huskies
LSU WOMEN
Continued from page1C
2023, she took an officialvisit the weekend of theLSU football home opener against Grambling. She ultimately chose the Fighting Irish. This season,the Ukrainianforward appeared in 32 gamesand started 10. While playing18minutes percontest, sheaveraged 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and1.7 blocks,which were tied forthe fourth-highest rate among Division Ifreshmen. In ACC play,Koval scored in double figures three times.She also tallied six points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks across three women’sNCAA Tournament games. She can carve out asignificant role on an LSU team that must replace both Aneesah Morrow and Sa’Myah Smith,its two frontcourt starters. Morrow exhausted her eligibility,and Smith decided to
“I’m excited for what our team will look likenext year.I am, because Idothink they’ll be talented enough to gethere, especiallywith getting in the transfer portal and getting some experienced pieces that can help with this young group.”
DAWN STALEy,SouthCarolina coach
coachGenoAuriemma said. “Our coaching staff is really,really goodatwhat they do.And I’m fortunateenoughtocoachgreat kids who want to win for each other.”
Even though UConn was back on top at theend,moreteams showed this season theycould compete with the best. UCLA, which held the No. 1spot in theAP pollfor 14 weeks, had no seniors on its team and coming off its first NCAA Final Four ever,could go a step further next season.
South Carolina will be back too with ayoungnucleus ledbyEdwards andMiLaysia Fulwiley
“I’m excited for what ourteam will look like next year,” South Carolina coachDawn Staleysaid
“I am, because Idothink they’ll be talented enoughtoget here,especially with getting in the transfer portal andgetting some experienced pieces that can help with this young group.”
Women’sbasketball, like other college sports, has changedthe last few years with the transfer portal. Thereare over 1,200players currently in the portal, aperson with access toitshared with The Associated Press.
Where some ofthose impact players —OliviaMiles, Cotie McMahonand Ta’NiyaLatson— end up could not only shape which teamsriseuptochallenge UConn and South Carolina next season, but also which player separates herselffrom the rest.
enter her name into thetransfer portal
So far,LSU has lost Smith, senior point guard Last-Tear Poa and sophomore center Aalyah Del Rosario to the portal. Twoother contributors (Morrow and point guard Shayeann Day-Wilson) have run out of eligibility
TheTigers now have signedfour freshmen and one transfer so far to help themreplace the talent they’relosing. LSU’s incoming freshmanclass, agroup of three guards and aforward, is the No. 1 haul in thecountry Thetransfer portalisopenuntil April 23. Koval —anative of Kyiv, Ukraine, who moved to New York in 2021 to pursue college basketball— hasthreemore years of eligibility
Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up forour newsletter at theadvocate. com/lsunewsletter
Lastoffseason, Janae Kent transferred to Texas A&M and
cuse.Bothweretop-75 prospects, according to ESPN. DelRosario wasamore highly ratedrecruit, andbecause she too is in search of anew home, Mikaylah Williamsisnow the only player from that classstillonthe roster. But LSU hasreinforcements on the way.InNovember,itsigned another No. 1freshman class with four recruits —forward Grace Knox, and guards ZaKiyah Johnson, Divine Bourrage andBella Hines —slotted insidethe top30of ESPN’s2025 recruiting rankings. And on Monday, the Tigers signed6-5 Notre Dame transfer forwardKateKoval, atop-five recruit fromthe 2024 freshman class.
Thatgroup of additions will try to helpthe Tigers climb back over the Elite Eight hump next season. Wolfenbarger is the only incumbent frontcourtplayerwho can return to LSUfor thatrun. Smith enteredthe portalMarch 31. Three LSU players have decided to transfer out: DelRosario, Smith and veteran point guard Last-Tear Poa.
EmailReed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter
Pels want onemorefor road
This time ayear ago, the New OrleansPelicanswerethe best road team in the NBA.
Their 28-14 record away from the Smoothie King Center was even better than the road recordof the BostonCeltics, theteam that finished withthe best overall record in the league and went on to win the NBAchampionship.
Fastforwardtonow,and the Pelicans areone of the worst road teams in the NBA. (Well, actually, theyare one of the worst teams in the NBA, period)
The Pelicans packed their bags for one last road trip Monday They’ll play theBrooklyn Nets on Tuesday at Barclays Center and thenthe Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday at FiservForum.
The Pelicans,7-32 on the road this season, will need to winone of those to avoid tying themark for the worst road recordinfranchisehistory.The 2004-05 team finished 7-34 in games played away from what was then called New Orleans Arena
This will be just thethird time in franchise history thePelicans (formerly the Hornets) won’t reach double-digit road wins.The 2015-16 team team went 9-32 on the road.
The Pelicans’bestchance of getting one moreroad victory comes Tuesday against the Nets (32-50), whohave been eliminated from postseason play.The Bucks are still jockeying for playoff position and likely will have Giannis Antetokounmpo back after he missed Sunday’s game in theSmoothie King Center
The road woes didn’tseem like they’d be like this when the season started.The Pelicans won their first road game of the season,erasing a16-point deficit and beating thePortland Trail Blazers when Brandon Ingram buried agame-winning jumper with 4.9 seconds left
Butthen things went south
The Pelicans losttheir next 15 road games.They ended their skid withawin over the Washington Wizards, one of justthree teamsinthe NBA with arecord worse than thePelicans. The next road wincame against the Philadelphia 76ersinagame
FLORIDA
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After Alijah Martinmade two free throws to put Florida ahead 64-63 with 46 seconds remaining —its first lead since 8-6 —the Gators luredSharp into atripleteam in thecorner,where Richard gothim to dribble the ball off his legand outofbounds. Florida made one freethrowon thenextpossessiontoset up the finale. The ball first went to LJ Cryer,who led theCougarswith 19 points. Blanketed by Richard, he threwtoSharp, who was moving to spotupfor a3when
ä Pelicans at Nets, 6:30 P.M.TUESDAy,GSN
Zion Williamson missedafter being suspended for being late for aflight. There was aroad win against the Chicago Bulls, one of fourteamsthe Pels swept this season along with the 76ers, Wizardsand Utah Jazz. Williamson recorded his first career tripledouble in awin over the Phoenix Suns at PHX Arena. Those were the road wins against teamsthat are mediocre at best.
The Pelicans have just one road win this season against a team that currently has awinning record. That was the last time they’ve won aroad game, stunning the Minnesota Timberwolves119-115 on March 19. Williamson scored 29 points, dished outeightassists and had five rebounds that night.
Thatwas Williamson’slast game of the season. He had a lower back contusion after taking afall that night, and aweek later he was shut down for the remainder of the season. CJ McCollum was shut down, too, leaving the injury-riddled Pelicans with askeleton crew for the final stretch. Willie Green’sstarting lineup for Sunday night’shomeloss to the Bucks had Elfrid Payton, Bruce Brown, Antonio Reeves, Keion Brooks and Yves Missi. It
Clayton ranathim. Thatleft him with no choice but to let the ball go. Sampson, who designedadefense that heldFlorida under70 points for only the second time this season,looked on in shock Instead of the 69-year-old becoming the oldest coach to win thetitle,the 39-year-old Golden becomes theyoungest sinceN.C State’sJim Valvano in 1983 to win it all. The Gators trailedby12points early in the second half, and Clayton wasn’tthe only onegetting frustrated. The Florida benchgot atechnical during aquickspan of three foul calls in less than a minute.Later in thesecond half,
was the 44th different starting lineup Green has used this season, which tells you all you need to know about just how muchthe injury bug has bitten.
“These are great opportunities,” Green said. “This is going to pay off for some of these guys in the long run. This sucks not to win the game. They step on the floor because they are all competitors and they all want to win. These are growing pains for some of our young guys.” All five starters produced in Sunday’sloss to Milwaukee.
Reeves scored agame-high 23 points.
Brown scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half and had nine assists.
Missi recorded his 14th doubledouble (18 points, 12 rebounds) and became the first rookie since Blake Griffin in the 2010-11 season to reach 250 or more offensive rebounds in aseason.
Payton finished with 10 assists. And Brooks had his first career double-double, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Asimilar collective effort Tuesday night at Barclays Center would give the Pels achance to get past the Nets. It also could give the Pelicans a road wininaseason where those have been hard to come by Email RodWalker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.
Houston’ssmothering defense baited Rueben Chinyelu into a technical after committing afoul. But that wasn’tenough. Houston ends up at the same place as the Phi Slama Jamateamsof the 1980s —insecond place, but memorable This gut-wrenching loss came two nights after the Cougars fashioneda wild comeback of their own,from14down against Duke in thefinaleight minutes of thegame. The Gators’ comeback Mondayistiedfor the third-biggest comeback in championship game history All three Final Four games were decided down thestretch none by morethansix.
eastern Conference opponents in 2025. Four recruits comprised the Ti-
gers’ No. 12023 freshman class.
Threeofthem nowhave leftLSU via the transfer portal
Angelica Velez enrolled at Syra-
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
against
forward Cali Clark in the
Rod Walker
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD Pelicans head coachWillie Green, left,talks with guard ElfridPayton during the first halfagainst the Milwaukee Bucks at the Smoothie King Center on Sunday
this time an Achillestendon rupture, is keeping five-timeMasters champion TigerWoods outofthis year’stournament.
But Woods’presenceisstill being felt here. Masters and Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley announcedMondaythat the club and Woods’ TGR Foundation are teaming up for aSTEAM learning facility in Augusta, and that he is designing anew short course adjacent to the city’s beloved Augusta MunicipalGolf Course.
Woods’ short coursewill be known as The Loop at The Patch, the latter being the nickname locals have for Augusta Municipal. The main course, long agathering place for Augusta National caddies who workedthe Masters, is being redesigned as well and will reopen before the 2026 Masters.
Augusta National is helping foot the bill for all three projects.
Woods reportedly willnot attend Tuesday’sChampions Dinner at Augusta National.
ChampionsDinner
90 YEARSAGO
Trailing Craig Wood by three shots in 1935,GeneSarazen came to the par-515thhole andfaced a235-yard second shot over acreek fronting the green (the pond wasn’tcreated until 1949).As Sarazen debatedwhat club to hit withhis caddie, John “Stovepipe” Gordon, playingpartnerWalter Hagen badgeredhim to hurryupbecause he hada dinner date. Sarazen finally chose a4-wood,hitting ashot that landed just shortofthe green, then bounced on and intothe holefor a double-eagle 2. Sarazen beat Wood thenextday in a36-hole playoff. No onehas made adoubleeagleon15 since.
Scott Rabalais
ters, withdrew Monday citing an injury Singh, 62, had started 31 consecutive Masters since 1994.
Rainydaysand Mondays
Persistent rainand the threat of lightning drove playersand patrons off the course early Monday afternoon, with well more than an inchofrainexpected to have fallen throughout theday Fans whopurchasedMonday practice-round ticketswill be sent refunds in May and given theopportunity to purchase Monday practice-round tickets in 2026.
The weather forecastfor the rest of the week is mostly better,with temperatures in the 60s and 70s but achance of rain Friday
Langer’s last
Two-time Masterschampion Bernhard Langer (1985, 1993) is playinginhis 41st andfinalMasters.
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
LSUbaseball is still working toward getting junior right-hander Gavin Guidry back on the mound this year,coach Jay Johnson said Monday Johnson is hopeful Guidry can returnfrom hisback injury for this weekend’sseries against Auburn. Butwhenaskedifthere was achanceGuidry could sit outand preserve his redshirt this season, Johnson didn’trule it out “If it comes to apoint where that’swhat we need to look at, thenwe’ll do that,” Johnson said. “Andthere’sabalance of doing right by the player (and) doing what’s best forthe program.”
Guidry has not pitched in a gamethis season after suffering aback injury after LSU’sfourth game. Johnson said last week thatthe goal for Guidry was to return forthisweekend’sseries against Auburn.
“There’sbenchmarks every day,and he has to hit the benchmarks to go to the next step,” Johnson said. “And that’sbeen a little bit of whyit’s, ‘Hey,maybe
it’sbeen here, and it turns into this.’
“I’mnot going to put him in a position where we go out one time andgobackwards, especially now,atthis point in the season.”
Guidry wasexpectedtobe oneofLSU’stop relievers this season. He posted a3.77 ERA as afreshmanbeforeputting up a2.59ERA last year in 241/3 innings.
LSU SOFTBALL
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would give the Tigers the right to host asuper regional in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers (34-5, 8-4 SEC) are in fourth placeinthe SEC behind Texas (10-2), Oklahoma (93) and Texas A&M(8-3).They have the nation’sNo. 4RPI and No. 16 strength of schedule, thelatter of which will improve in the next three weeks.
First baseman Tori Edwards is especially happy to return to her home state. The redshirtfreshman from Flower Mound, Texas, near Dallas, hit her team-best 14th home run in Sunday’sloss. She had three hitstoraise her battingaverage to .434,and is tied forsecond in homers in the SEC and ranked fourth with 53 RBIs.
“I’m excited. These are two places Ispent alot of time aroundin travel ball and living, being from Texas,” Edwards saidofthe looming road trip. “Back to my home state. Iknow it’sgoing to be adogfight. Those are two really competitive programs.It’sgoing to be good softball.”
Themeal will feature Scheffler’sdown-home favorites, including cheeseburger sliders, his father’s recipe for meatball andraviolibites,Texas-style chili, and ribeyes or redfish.
Former champwithdraws
VijaySingh,who wonthe 2000 Mas-
Reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler recently revealed the menu for the exclusive ChampionsDinner, whichisattended by only past champions and the current club chairman.
The 67-year-old German was supposed to bid farewell in 2024, but an Achilles tendon tear while playing pickleball kept him outof last year’sMasters.
“It’stimetoquit,” Langersaid. “I’mjust not competitive on this courseanymore. I’m hitting hybrids where theother kids are hitting 9-irons and8-irons, maybe even wedges.”
First,the Tigershave to takeona formidable in-stateprogram. Louisiana Tech (23-15, 10-5) trailsonly Liberty in the Conference USA standings. Shortstop Nicole Hammoude leads the way with a.398batting average, six homers and 32 RBIs. Leadoff hitter and left fielder ElenaHengisbatting.365with
and
RABALAIS
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asked agallery marshal, “Everyonebehaving today?” He replied,“Everyone but the guy who ran under the rope on 10, jumped in abunker and started making asand angel.” That sort of thing is, ahem, frowned upon at The National. They’ll lock you in aroom and throw away theroom.
No. 12, Par3: Ihave aphoto of me and my father at that 2004 Masters right here, in the heart of Amen Corner.Mydad, who mademelove this crazy game, died in 2022. Youcan’tbuy a memory like that.
No. 13, Par5: The media enters a lottery to play here the day after thetournament. My number came up in 2021. This is the only hole Iparred. The rest, well, I don’twant to describe the horror.But I’ll tell you about 13. Want to see the schematic drawing of my shots? No. 14, Par4: How fast are Augusta National’sgreens? I watched former LSU golfer David Toms hit his second shot here onto thegreen atop ahuge mound that looks like it hides a buried elephant. As he walked up, agust of wind blew his ball back downthe fairway.Wedge. Bogey No. 15, Par5: Tiger putting for eagle. The marshals allowed
the crowd, including myself, to stand in the crosswalk as he putted. There must have been 7,000 people ringing that green all the wayover to 16. He missed, and the collective groan probably registered on the Richter scale.
No. 16, Par3: Former University High golfer Patrick Reed won the 2018 Masters, but let’ssay he hasn’tbeen the mostbeloved green jacket recipient. The next year Iwas watching him next to twoguys. “Who’sthat?” one asked. “Oh, that’sjust Patrick Reed,” the other said. “Let’sgo find someone else.” Isaid, “He can hear you.” They didn’tstop. No. 17, Par4: President Eisenhower,anAugusta National member with the power to order airstrikes, lobbied foryears to cut downatree here that snared manyofhis tee shots. He never succeeded. Mother Nature did. It split the tree with an ice storm in 2014, prompting its removal.
No. 18, Par4: After Mickelson wonhis first Masters in 2004, ending an 0-for-46 streak in the majors, he hugged one of his daughters behind the 18th green and exclaimed, “Daddy won! Can you believe it?” After all that time, even Phil needed to be convinced.
For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
shortstop Danieca Coffeyraces to second in the first inning of the game against Alabama on
Park.
AP PHOTO By MATT SLOCUM
Patrick Reed helps TigerWoods with hisgreen jacketafter Woods won the Masters tournament on April 14, 2019, in Augusta, Ga.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By DAVIDJ.PHILLIP
TigerWoods reacts as he winsthe Masters golf tournament at AugustaNational in Augusta, Ga
THE VARSITY ZONE
Kennison to speak at 39th Star of Stars
BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH
Staff writer
Things are set for The Ad-
vocate’s 39th Star of Stars high school sports awards, and former LSU/NFL football star Eddie Kennison is scheduled to play a key role.
Kennison, a two-sport star at Washington-Marion High School in Lake Charles, is the guest speaker for the Star of Stars event set for 7 p.m. on Monday, May 19, at the L’Auberge Events Center
“When I go back and think about playing high school sports one word comes to mind — fun. Playing high school sports was fun,” Kennison said. “You’re talking
about getting to play sports we all played through childhood for your school.
“From the age of seven, to the age of 35 when I retired from my professional career sports were always a big part of who I was and who I am still today
“I look forward to being part of this event, which honors high school athletes.”
Kennison was a Parade AllAmerican in football and track as a senior at Washington-Marion.
At LSU, He caught 98 passes for 1,554 yards and 10 touchdowns as a wide receiver to go along with 75 punt returns for a school record 947 yards.
Kennison also earned six All-
American honors as a sprinter and helped LSU win the 1996 NCAA outdoor track title.
From there, Kennison went on to play 13 NFL seasons. He was the No. 18 pick of the then St. Louis Rams in 1996. Kennison also played one season each with the Saints, Bears and Broncos before spending seven seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kennison finished his NFL career with 548 catches for 8,345 yards and 42 TDs that also featured one final year with the Rams.
The Advocate’s annual Star of Stars event honors top athletes in each LHSAA- sanctioned sport. This spring, girls wrestling, a firstyear varsity sport, joins the list of
Zachary’s McClure named Class 5A coach of the year
Written for the LSWA Ruston sophomore Ahmad Hudson and Huntington senior Carley Hamilton are the boys and girls basketball outstanding players on the Class 5A all-state team, as selected by a statewide panel of reporters on behalf of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
The 6-foot-8 Hudson became a two-time first-team all-state selection after averaging 21 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots per game.
The District 2-5A MVP played for a team that lost in the state quarterfinals He holds offers from 17 power conference schools. Hamilton led fourth-seeded Huntington to a Division I select state championship as she averaged 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, four assists and four steals. She scored 27 points in the title game against Woodlawn-Baton Rouge and was selected as the game’s outstanding player State championship winning
Zachary head coach Tami Reynolds McClure gives instructions to her team during the Division I nonselect championship game against Parkway on March 8 at the University Center in Hammond.
coaches Wade Mason of St. Augustine and Tami Reynolds McClure of Zachary were selected as the boys and girls coaches of the year Mason guided St. Augustine to the state title in his first season as head coach. He played on the 1995
team at
sports included. Awards for each sport are selected by The Advocate sports staff. Nominations are being accepted for our feature awards — Boys/ Girls Athlete of the Year Boys/ Girls Coach of the Year, Boys/Girls Team of the Year, Spirit and Courage Awards.
The nomination process for the feature awards continues through April 16. Go to starofstars.net to submit a nomination. Tickets also can be purchased at starofstars.net for an early-bird price of $10 each through April 19. The cost is $18 on April 20.
Email Robin Fambrough at rfambrough@theadvocate.com
U-High’s Vice named Newman football coach
BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer
Aaron Vice has been hired by Newman to coach football.
Vice, 41, spent the past three seasons at University High in Baton Rouge as the offensive coordinator, and he was a graduate assistant coach while at LSU. Other coaching stops included stints at Central-Baton Rouge and at Denham Springs.
But most important might have been the two schools he coached at while he lived in Houston – at St. John’s School for five seasons and The Kinkaid School for one.
Both schools, like Newman, are independent private schools that offer a K-through-12 curriculum.
“I’m a big believer in Kthrough-12 schools and the relationships that you build,” Vice said “How cool is it that your junior quarterback’s sister might be in your third-grade P.E. class. That’s not normal That’s how you build those relationships and that foundation of trust.
“It’s not all about football — it’s
about the whole student and the whole experience. That’s why independent schools and the Newmans of the world are very different.
And that’s why I’m interested in the job.”
Newman selected Vice from among four finalists and 56 total candidates who submitted materials, the school said Monday in a letter to Newman families that announced the hire.
Newman hired Vice after a national search that included help from The Finney Search Group, the letter said. The search “engaged directly with more than 30 candidates from neighboring states, as well as Ohio, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Florida and New England,” the letter said.
Vice will replace former coach Nelson Stewart, who accepted a head coaching position at Westminster School in Georgia. Stewart will leave Newman, his alma mater, when the school year ends.
Vice will begin his new job May 1.
Vice and Stewart have a friend-
ship that dates to the early 2010s, when Vice was a graduate assistant for two seasons at LSU. It was Stewart who called Vice and asked if he would be interested in the job soon after Stewart told the school he had accepted another coaching job.
Vice said he and Stewart have similar approaches to coaching offense.
“It’s a multiple approach,” Vice said. “We’re not afraid to use the tight end. We’re not scared to throw it if we got to throw it We’re not scared to run it if we got to run it. It’s the same plays with different presentation and finding what fits our kids.”
Vice was a head coach early in his career at now-defunct alma mater Redemptorist, where his team went 4-7 in his lone season in 2011. That proved to be a learning experience, he said.
Vice, who attended LSU as an undergraduate, enrolled back at LSU after the 2011 season to get his mater’s degree and became a graduate assistant for more than a year – first hired by the late Steve
Kragthorpe when he coached quarterbacks.
Vice went from LSU to Denham Springs for two years. He moved to Houston to coach at St. John’s and then Kinkaid.
He returned to Louisiana to coach for two seasons at Central under his former high school coach, Sid Edwards – now the Baton Rouge mayor
Vice has spent the past three seasons at U-High, where he also has served as the bowling head coach.
His bowling team will compete this week at the LHSAA Division II state tournament on Thursday in Gonzales. Asked if he might bring a bowling program to Newman, Vice deadpanned that it was “not part of the discussion.”
“This is a destination job,” Vice said. “It’s not a, I’m coming here for three years to get another job. It’s where you want to be. There’s a reason why there’s been, maybe I’m the fourth football coach, or maybe the fifth, football coach in 40-something years. It’s pretty incredible.”
U-High, Parkview set for another showdown
BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer
The baseball teams have not played each other in 11 months.
That’s when third-seeded University claimed an emotional 2-1 win over No. 2 Parkview Baptist in a Division III select semifinal game played in Sulphur U-High went on to win the Division III title, while the Eagles seized motivation for 2025.
“That one hurt,” Parkview coach Phillip Hawke said “And from that point on, the offseason was a push to get back to this point
“You’ve got coaching staffs that respect each other and players who grew up together That also makes it fun.”
The fact that Parkview (24-6) is No. 1 in the latest LHSAA Di-
vision III select power ratings and U-High (20-7) sits at No. 2 is lagniappe as the District 6-3A season and regular season wind down. The Cubs host Parkview at 6 p.m. Tuesday They meet again Thursday at Parkview
The Eagles call on familiar faces, including aces Sam Mitchell (4-0) or Cade Durbin (4-0) on the mound. For U-High, many things have changed.
Longtime assistant Jon Ramsey is the first-year head coach. Brody Mayeux is the top returning pitcher for the Cubs, who have just three position players back. Only one of those players, Jake McCann, plays the same position.
“This is a totally different team,” Ramsey said. “We came into the season young and the guys bought into what we wanted
to do. We’ve got knocked down a couple of times and got back up.
“Right now, I feel like we’re where we need to be. (Parkview) is a good team. If we overlook them in any way, they’ll kick our butt. If we don’t do our job, they’ll kick our butt. But if we do our job, it’s a great game.”
Parkview has a .353 team batting average and a 1.54 earned run average. Sophomore outfielder Clayton Fontenot is hitting .500 with three homers and 26 RBI. Shortstop Kelan Guidry is batting .390. Mayeux (4-2) gets the start for U-High. McCann is hitting .372 with 29 runs scored and 18 RBI. Third baseman Lane Mixon (.333) is another statistical leader for the junior-laden Cubs.
“Every year we come together and there are new faces,” Hawke
said. “But it’s still two quality teams. It’s an iron sharpens iron matchup.”
Broncos surging
With a 2-0 win over Central on Saturday, Zachary (21-10) faces the Wildcats (19-9) again Tuesday with a chance to set up big twogame finale with reigning Division I select champion Catholic later this week in District 4-5A. Game time is 6:30 p.m. at Zachary “If we win, it gives us a shot at a district title,” Zachary coach Jacob Fisher said. “The senior leadership and the work ethic have made the difference.” Noah Sullivan (6-1) gets the
for Zachary Outfielders Skyler Andrews (.432) and Zach Williams (.371) are the top hitters.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Eddie Kennison runs after a catch against the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 16, 2007, in Kansas City, Mo.
Aren’t azaleas great?
Yes, this staple of Southern gardensisone of 2025’s Louisiana SuperPlants
GARDEN NEWS
Every year,LSU AgCenter horticulturists select four plants to add to the Louisiana Super Plant program. Plants don’tcome by this designation easily.They must prove they can be beautiful and tough in the face of Louisiana’schallenging growing conditions. If ever there was a plant that has shown itself to be areliable performer in Louisiana landscapes, it’sthe Southern Indica azalea —one of the AgCenter’s2025 Super Plant picks. This general group of plants is sometimes referred to as Southern Indian hybrids. This species of azalea (Rhododendron indicum) hasbeen astaple of Southerngardens since the 1800s, when it was introduced to the United States from its native Japan. They also can be found growingas understory plants in the woods, especially beneath pine trees
These large evergreen shrubs are vigorous and heat tolerant. They are reliable springbloomers withawide range of flower colors. You’re sure to have seen three of the most common cultivars: lavender Formosa, which is ubiquitous in Louisiana and has vibrant purple-to-magenta blooms; George L. Taber,which displays soft pink blooms; and Mrs. G.G. Gerbing, whosepure white flowers stand out especially well in shadier areas. Like many good things, azaleas’ stunning spring show of flowers doesn’tlast long Blooms usually begin to appear in mid-Marchinsouth Louisiana and aweek or two later in the northern partofthe state. Bloom times can vary depending on the cultivarand site-specific conditions, but most shrubs will spend only two weeks in full bloom. Fortunately,there’smoreto azaleas than just flowers. With their dense, evergreen foliage, azaleas provide visual interest in the garden year-round. They can reach 6feet to 8feet tall and 4feet to 6feet wide, making them agreat choice for foundation plantings that give structure to the landscape. Some cultivars in the Southern Indica azalea group are abit smaller All sizes of azaleas are attractive in masses or used individually as specimen plantings. Azaleas also are tough,often living for many decades, especiallyifthey’re given all the right conditions. They’ll have the most flower power in full sun, but you can still enjoy plenty of blooms in part sun and even part shade. While these shrubsprefer acidic soils, they’re quite
THEBIGGEST SALE YET
BY MARGARETDELANEY
writer
Staff
In need of vintage record players? Wooden cutting boards?A new wardrobe? Picture frames or anew dining room table?
Attic Trash andTreasure, aBaton Rouge nonprofit thatsells secondhand items to donatetolocal charities, is back.
DianaRaffray,the public relations coordinator for AtticTrash andTreasure,has been with the group fornearlyfour years and says this is their biggest sale yet It took the organization months to find aspot that could fit all of the great stuff BatonRougeans donated throughout the year,which left them with two weeks to sort through 30,000 boxes —inaspace that fills over 43,000 square feet.
Kay Nelson, avolunteerinthe antiquesand collectibles section, has sorted through items and organized the section for the nonprofit for seven years.
“It’shardwork,”Nelsonsaid, “but it’sa blast.”
Every silver platter has been polished, each linen setmeasured and grouped by size andcolor,each piece of jewelryanalyzed, all technologies (coffee makers, speakers, recordplayers, etc.) have been tested to see that they work.
Allinthe nameofquality, second-
hand treasures.
The sale will be held April 11, 12 and 13 at Town and Country Furniture on 6545 Airline Highway,Baton Rouge.The second-hand sale is free and will beginat9 a.m. and endatnoon each day
Crystal, candlesticks andmore!
The Boom Boom Shrimp at the Blue Iguana which opened in Baton Rougein March2025 is arecommended appetizer according to the general manager
Authentic oriental rugs, Waterford Crystal, brass candlesticks, copper pots, large dining room tables, barstools, living room rugs, china cabinets, an eclecticcollectionofsalt andpeppershakers andmuch,much moreare availableatthe sale.
Alarge warehouseinthe back includes people fixing up woodwork (a worn legona chair, or aquick fix on thebaseofa largecabinet). Everything is being accomplished before opening day
SERENA PUANG Staff writer
PROVIDED PHOTOByDIANA RAFFRAy
Jess Shaffett, from left, MarilynGrake, MaeShaffett and Tara Radoni, at Attics Trash and Treasure, polish silver until it shines ahead of the annual Baton Rougesale for local charities.
STAFF PHOTO By MARGARET DELANEy
LSU AGCENTERPHOTO
By OLIVIA McCLURE
Lavender Formosa is apopular SouthernIndica azalea cultivar
BY
Trythese handy uses forkitchen tools
Dear Heloise: For years, I’vebeen using various kitchen tools to help me in the kitchen and do jobs that they weren’toriginally designed for.Ithought I’d share some of these with you and your readers:
n Iuse atea strainer filled with herbs and spices to flavor soups and stews. Youjust have to remove the strainer before serving. Youcan also fill astrainer with powdered sugar and use it to sprinkle sugar over pastries such as cakes and muffins.
in the oven this way to cook afrozen pizza —D.F., in Pennsylvania Microchipped pets
Aggressive tippersoverlookrules
Dear Heloise: We recently were out on apicnic, and ourdog got away from us andwent running after a squirrel. We stayed until after dark looking for our beloveddog. Finally,we had to go home.
n Iuse an old potatomasher to separate ground beef andsausage while it’scooking.
n Iuse an egg slicer to cut small, firm tomatoes, eggsand strawberries
n Iuse amilkfrother to mix other small batches of things. I recently mixed whippingcream with my frother to add on top of apudding that Imade.
n Itenderize chicken and meat by wrapping it in cling wrap, then using my metal rolling pin to poundthe meat.
n I’ve known anumber of people who use apastry slicer to blend or chop up eggs for an egg salad, or to chop up potatoes to make hash browns
n Afriend of mine gave me this hint: Take acast-iron skillet, turn it upside down so that the flat bottom is right side up, and place it
Aday later,aman called to say that he’d found ourdog. Ourdog had been microchipped, which is what saved himfrom ending up atashelter or thecity pound, or from wanderingoff to never be found again. Pleaseurge all your readerstoget their pets microchipped. Andhave them wear atag that says they are microchipped —M.Y., in Georgia
Disinfecting wipes
Dear Heloise: Iuse disinfecting wipes that comeina tall, round plastic container.When all the wipes are gone, there is still some liquid in the bottom, so I put afew half-sized paper towels in the bottom and use them after they have soakedupthe liquid. I usually do this several times until all the liquid has been used. With today’s prices, we need to do whatever we cantosave money. —A.H., via email Send ahint to heloise@heloise. com.
TODAYINHISTORY
By The Associated Press
Today is Tuesday,April 8, the 98th day of 2025. There are 267 days left in the year
Todayinhistory: On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run in agame against the Los Angeles Dodgers, breaking Babe Ruth’shomerun record that had stood since 1935
On this date: In 1820, the Venus de Milo statue, likely dating to the 2nd century B.C., was discovered by afarmer on the Greek islandof Milos
In 1864, the U.S. Senate passed, 38-6, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery.(The House of Representatives passed it in January 1865; the amendment was ratified and adopted in December 1865.)
In 1911, an explosion at the Banner Coal Mine in Littleton, Alabama, claimed the lives of 128 men, most of them convicts leased out from prisons
In 1913, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, providing for election of U.S senatorsbystate residents as opposed to state legislatures. In 1962, Cuba announced that 1,200 Cuban exiles tried for their roles in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion were convicted of treason and sentenced to
30 years in prison. In 1990, Ryan White, theteenager whose battle with AIDS drewnational attention and led to greater understanding and destigmatization of those suffering from thedisease, died in Indianapolis at age 18.
In 1992, tennis great Arthur Ashe announced ata New York news conference that he had AIDS, havingcontracted HIV from ablood transfusion in 1983.
In 2010, PresidentBarack Obama and RussianPresident Dmitry Medvedev signed the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty in Prague.
In 2020, a76-day lockdown was lifted in the Chinesecity of Wuhan, where the global COVID-19 pandemic began.
Today’sbirthdays: Journalist Seymour Hersh is 88. Songwriterproducer Leon Huffis83. Rock musician Steve Howe (Yes)is 78. Sports broadcaster Jim Lampleyis76. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, is 70. Author Barbara Kingsolver is 70. Actor John Schneider is 65. Guitarist Izzy Stradlin (Guns N’ Roses) is 63. Singer Julian Lennon is 62. Actor Dean Norris is 62. Actor Robin Wright is 59.
Actor PatriciaArquette is 57.
Actor TaylorKitsch is 44. Boxer
GennadyGolovkin is 43. NFL wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is 26. Actor Skai Jackson is 23.
AZALEAS
Continued from page1D
adaptable and will tolerateneutral pH soils, too —aslongas the area has decent drainage. Mulching with pine straw or composted pine bark will help with soil pH, and in locations with alkaline soils, addingelemental sulfur may be required everyfew years.
Fertilize azaleas in late winter or very early spring each year before you see blooms start to emerge.
Pruning is fairly easyand doesn’tneed to be done every year.When it is time to prune, however,make sure to do it as soon as the bloom cycle is
Dear Miss Manners: Iwork as an usher at apopular field house that hostsa large number of sporting and entertainment events (concerts, comedy shows, etc.). Oneofthe rules is that we are not allowed to accept tips.
On occasion, aguest will offer atip, usually for something Ihave done above and beyond simply helping them find their seat.Inthose instances, Ipolitely thank them for their kindness but let them know that it is against thepolicy of the venue. Most of thetime that is sufficient,but on occasion, apatron will insist that Itake the money, frequently commenting that “No one will know.”
over.Azaleas set thenext year’s bloomsinsummer, so pruning too late will eliminate most flower production for thefollowing spring.
Shearing orhedging is not recommended, as it takes away from theazalea’snatural woodland appearance. If you’re interested in adding azaleas to yourlandscape this spring, try to plant them soon. While it’sbest to plant shrubs in the cooler temperatures of fall and winter,you can successfully establish azaleas in thespring, too. Just don’twait until the heat of summer,whichwill put too muchstressonnewly planted shrubs.
To learn more about Louisiana SuperPlants, visitwww.LSUAgCenter.com/SuperPlants
Judith Martin MISS MANNERS
Iamnot sure what to say when they continue to push. Icertainly do not wish to be rude (and Idosincerely appreciate theirgenerosity), but neither do Iwant to violate therules and accept the money.What do you recommend Isay to people who demand that Iaccept atip?
Gentle reader: No doubt such people think they are conferring abenevolence on you in advising you to defy your employer sneakily.And they are unlikely to imagine any reason for refusing money other than the fear of getting caught. As Miss Manners has observed, thetipping system brings out the
worst in everyone. Well, not everyone; not you. The response to “Noone will know”should be aregretful little smile and the comment, “But I would know.”
Dear Miss Manners: What is your opinion of sprinkle parties?
Gentle reader: That much as she appreciates toning downthe usual shower,Miss Manners finds the nameunfortunately vivid in connection with babies.
Send questions to Miss Manners at herwebsite,www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.
TREASURE
Continuedfrom page1D
Thereare women in chargeof pricingjewelry,peopleincharge of frames, one exclusively in charge of lamps, crewsmoving and staging largerfurniture and carpets with buggies and wheelies constantly moving about the space to get ready for future customers.
Nancy LeBlanchas been in charge of the gardening section for eight years. For thelast two weeks,she hung up gardening craftsonthe walls, staged handpainted birdhouses with magnolias and strawberries and sorted many bitsand bobs in her section.
LeBlanc’sdesignated area is next to the sports and outdoors section that features kids’ baseball gloves, golf clubs and caddies, large water bottles and hunting gear
The room all the way to the back is filled withbothmen’sand women’sclothing items: patterned scarves, vintage fur jackets, cowboy hats, luxury and frilled purses (including aLouis Vuitton bag) silky patterned tops, ’80s and ’90s wedding dresses and bedazzled, floor-length gowns.
Each holiday has adedicated spaceatthe sale:Mardi Gras, Christmas, Valentine’sDay,St. Patrick’sDay,LSU gameday —that counts in Louisiana, right? —Easter and more.
Acharitablecause
Attic Trashand Treasure started in 1988 and has continued to grow since. Keigh Ballard, the first president of theAttic Trash and Treasure organization, whose 89th birthday was on April 3, continues to show up to help volunteerssort through thetrinkets.
Once part of theInner Wheel Women’sGroup, anational charitable organization, Attic Trashand Treasure is now acompletely local and self-sustaining charity for Baton Rouge programs.
All of the proceedsfrom the sale are split betweenfive Baton
IGUANA
Continuedfrom page1D
On Friday and Saturday nights from 8p.m. to 9p.m., there’sa fire show by thehead bartender
“He spits fire out of his mouth,” saidOseguera. “I typically don’t look because it gets me nervous, but it’s very exciting.”
The location that is nowBlue Iguana wasformerly 225-Crab Seafood &Bar,but the space has
Rouge charities (with avery small amount of the proceedstaken out to provide boxes, tape and supplies for thefollowing year’ssale).
In 2024, the sale raised$250,000 that theorganization split evenly to Louisiana MentalHealth Association, Alzheimer’sServicesof theCapital Area, The Arc Baton Rouge,Providence Road Outreach Mission, and St. Lillian Academy (that’s$50,000 per charity).
TheArc of BatonRougewas able to buy avan with the donated funds to transport many in their community to various events and activities.
Each year,the charity board meets to decide whichfive charitiestodonate the profits from the large sale
“It breaksour heart to say no to anyone,”saidJulieTerrell, the 2025Attic Trash and Treasure president. “But we want to make sureeach charity gets as muchas possible.”
This year,the proceeds will go to these charities:
n Baton Rouge Children’sAdvocacy Center,a program that helps children and families after physical abuse,sexualabuse or aviolent crime;
been converted to the Tex-Mex restaurantchain. “We’vereally changed alot of things on themenutonot be the same as theother Blue Iguanas,” Oseguera said.
This includes expanding menu offerings to include seafood. For acustomer’sfirsttime, he recommends chicken wingsorboom-boom shrimp as appetizers, andcarne asada or fajitas for main courses. He loves the Cuban sandwiches. “I’ve been having them pretty much every day,”hesaid. “It’sa
n Brave Heart of Louisiana, a nonprofit program that helps youth transition out of foster care;
n Providence Road Outreach Mission, agroup thatworks with underservedyouth by nurturing relationships, encouraging character development and providing trauma-informed care;
n St. Lillian Academy, afull-time school founded by professionals and parents, educating children whohave communication and learning challenges;
n The ArcofBaton Rouge,a programthatserves individuals with developmental disabilities and their families with access to education, opportunities and community Those whowould like to contribute money to the local nonprofits are advised to mail checks to P.O. Box 84306, Baton Rouge, LA 70884. All visitors are encouraged to carpool to the saleormake arrangements to pick up larger items at alater date. Attic Trash andTreasure takes cashand credit cards at checkout.
Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.
great lunch option.”
Blue Iguana’s signature drink is the Beso de Iguana, acocktail with mint,watermelonsyrup,lemon juice and your choice of liquor —tequila, mezcal, rum or vodka. Each drink comes in afun animalthemed cocktail cup and is served on atray with dry ice.
“We’re trying ourbest to make sure we stand up,” Oseguera said of the over-the-top additions. Email SerenaPuang at serena. puang@theadvocate.com.
LSU AGCENTER PHOTO By OLIVIA MCCLURE Azaleas are long-lived andcan grow quite large
STAFFPHOTOSByMARGARETDELANEy
From posters to flagstomini tigers, there is plenty of LSUfan regalia availableatAttics Trash and Treasure sale in Baton Rouge.
Hand-painted birdhouses with magnolias and strawberries are available at the Attics Trash and Treasure saleinBaton Rouge.
Hints from Heloise
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) A change of attitude or to how you deal with institutions, money and superiors looks promising. Personal improvements will boost your confidence.
tAuRus (April 20-Ma y 20) If you want change, stop pontificating and start making things happen. Take control and be proud of who you are and what you achieve. Reject what isn't right for you and do your own thing.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Be careful what you promise or sign up for. If you want to help make a difference, contribute your energy, not your money. Make choices based on facts, not on your emotions.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Take a moment to observe, wait, watch and evaluate. Timing is essential to get the highest return from your effort. Keep the conversation going and the momentum flowing.
LEo (July 23-Aug 22) A last-minute change will cost you. Don't jeopardize your position. Work quietly behind the scenes; don't take a risk until you are prepared to go the distance.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Keep moving forward. A change will pump you up and encourage you to meet new people and engage in events and pursuits that grab your attention. Life is about living.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Being aware and prepared to counter anything that might have a negative impact on your
dreams will make it easier to turn your intentions into a reality. A passionate presentation will pay off
scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Get out into the field and see what's happening firsthand. Mingle, participate and actively contribute to whatever group, event or institution is suitable to help you have a positive impact and make a difference.
sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) You may want to keep your plans to yourself. Being too open will allow someone to take advantage of you. A networking event will lead to a valuable opportunity.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan 19) Positive change stemming from collaboration will be your calling card. Mix business with pleasure, and you'll create a path to victory.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Prioritize partnerships and diversity. Declutter your space, sell off what you no longer use and ease financial stress. It's up to you to find solutions.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Refrain from making uninformed decisions. Don't let your ego or emotions lead you down a slippery slope. Network, and you'll meet someone with valuable input
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
toDAy's cLuE: y EQuALs K
CeLebrItY CIpher
For better or For WorSe
And erneSt
SALLY Forth
beetLe bAILeY
Mother GooSe And GrIMM
SherMAn’S LAGoon dooneSbUrY
bIG nAte
Sudoku
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers1 to 9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s PuzzleAnswer
THe wiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS Hi and LoiS
Bridge
By PHILLIP ALDER
Virginia Gildersleeve was the only American woman at the 1945 San FranciscoconferencethatcreatedtheUnited Nations. She said, “Theabilitytothink straight, some knowledge of the past, some vision of the future, someskill to do useful service, some urge to fitthat service into the well-being of the community—thesearethemostvitalthings education musttry to produce.”
At thebridge table, it is important to thinkstraight,torememberthepastbids and plays, and to havesome idea of what you plan to do. In this deal, how should Southplayintwospades?Westleadsthe club ace, cashes the club king, and plays another club.
South, with five top losers (twohearts, one diamond and two clubs), needs to find the spade queen to get home.
Declarer mustremember that neither opponentcould openthe bidding. And Southhasalreadyseensevenpointsfrom West. However, before guessing how to play the trump suit, declarer should explore for more data. He should play on the red suitstolearn whoholds those honors.Thenhewillbesuretoknowwho has the spade queen At trick four,South leads aheart. Let’s assumeEasttakesthattrickandshiftsto
alow diamond. Declarer wins with his king and plays another heart. East wins andcasheshisdiamondace.Whohasthe spade queen?
Since East has produced 11 points, it must be West.
Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON
Previous answers:
word game
InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed toDAy’s WoRD LEuKEMIA: loo-KEE-me-uh: An acute disease characterized by an abnormal increase in white blood cells
Average mark19words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 24 or morewords in LEUKEMIA?
yEstERDAy’s WoRD —ADJuVAnts
adjust adjuvant aunt avast data daunt dust jaunt java junta just vast vaunt tuna sand sauna stand stud stun
wuzzles
loCKhorNs
This is one of the signs of real Christians. Areyou arealChristian? G.E. Dean
