JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 932

Denver — Federal prosecutors sentenced Colorado funeral-home owner Carie Hallford to 18 years in prison Monday after she admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud, mishandling nearly 190 bodies, and providing families with fake ashes. Court records show the Hallfords obtained about $882,300 in pandemic SBA relief through false applications and collected over $130,000 from customers for services not performed. Jon Hallford received a 20-year federal term in June 2025. Hallford pleaded guilty in August and sought leniency citing abuse. Victims await restitution while authorities continue national investigations. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame held a public Mass of Christian burial and procession Monday for former head coach Lou Holtz, who died March 4 at age 89. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart hosted the service at 1 p.m., with overflow livestreams in Washington Hall and Purcell Pavilion; seating was first-come, first-served. Hundreds attended a Sunday visitation, and thousands participated in Monday's mass and campus procession to Cedar Grove cemetery, where family requested a private burial. Officials closed Corby Drive and managed crowd lines beginning early Monday, and campus security coordinated. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Auburn, Alabama, USA — Auburn and other college teams will begin National Invitation Tournament play this week after missing or accepting postseason bids. The Tigers, second team out of the NCAA field, accepted a No. 1 seed and will host South Alabama Tuesday at Neville Arena. UNCW will travel to Yale Tuesday to open NIT play in the Winston-Salem region; the Seahawks last appeared in the NIT in 2001. The NIT first rounds are hosted by higher seeds, with quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship slated for Indianapolis in late March and early April. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Los Angeles: Michael B. Jordan won the Best Actor Oscar on March 16, 2026, at the 98th Academy Awards for his dual roles in Sinners. The blues-soaked supernatural period film set in 1930s Mississippi received wide recognition, earning a record 16 Academy Award nominations. Jordan portrayed twins Smoke and Stack and had won the SAG Actor Award two weeks earlier. He is the sixth Black man to win the lead actor trophy. The ceremony took place at the Dolby Theatre and featured a standing ovation during his acceptance speech, and international attention. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Los Angeles — Jessie Buckley won the Best Actress Academy Award on March 15 for her role in Hamnet, the film directed by Chloé Zhao. Buckley portrayed Agnes Hathaway, the mother whose grief anchors the drama adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's novel. She publicly dedicated the award to mothers and noted the ceremony coincided with Mother's Day in the U.K. The actress had previously won Critics' Choice, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards for the role and entered the Oscars as a frontrunner. Buckley became the first Irish performer to win the Best Actress Oscar. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

LOS ANGELES, Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' won best picture at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, and Anderson earned his first Academy Award for best director and adapted screenplay. Michael B. Jordan won best actor for 'Sinners,' which also led to Autumn Durald Arkapaw becoming the first female director of photography to win an Oscar. Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value' won best international film. Warner Bros., which produced the leading films, faces an impending sale to Paramount Skydance that is awaiting regulatory approval. The ceremony featured tributes and standing ovations. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Los Angeles — On March 16, Priyanka Chopra Jonas presented the Best International Feature Film Oscar alongside Javier Bardem at the Academy Awards ceremony. The pair announced Joachim Trier's Norwegian film Sentimental Value as the winner. Bardem spoke against war, saying "Free Palestine" and wore a "No a la Guerra" patch. Chopra arrived with husband Nick Jonas, wore a strapless white Dior gown on the red carpet, then changed into a metallic Stella McCartney dress at the Vanity Fair after-party. The ceremony, hosted by Conan O'Brien, attracted coverage. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Los Angeles — Paul Thomas Anderson won the Academy Award for Best Director on March 15 for One Battle After Another, which also earned him Best Adapted Screenplay and a producer credit on Best Picture. The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro and Teyana Taylor, led nominations and earned multiple trophies at the 98th Academy Awards. Anderson dedicated them to close collaborators. The film has drawn attention for its political themes and surpassed US$200 million globally. The awards and reactions were documented during the ceremony and reported by international outlets. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

MIAMI, Team USA defeated the Dominican Republic 2-1 in a World Baseball Classic semifinal on Sunday, advancing to its third straight title game. Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony hit solo home runs, and starter Paul Skenes allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings while the bullpen preserved the lead. Junior Caminero hit a solo homer for the Dominican Republic and set a tournament record with the nation's 15th home run. The United States will face the winner of Monday's semifinal between Italy and Venezuela in Tuesday's championship game. Box scores confirmed reports. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Afghan asylum-seeker Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal outside his Dallas home March 13; medical staff transported him to Parkland Hospital where he died on March 14. Paktyawal, 41, had worked with US forces and arrived under an evacuation program in 2021; his asylum case remained pending and family reported no chronic illness. ICE said staff observed acute tongue swelling during breakfast and that his death is already under active investigation; the agency noted no reported medical history at arrest. Family groups and advocates are calling for independent inquiries. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.