The Times-Picayune 11-17-2025

Next phaseofriverfront project‘up in theair’

Audubon officials rethinking design, cost of park plans

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Nearly nine months after the Audubon Nature Institute began converting two historicFrench Quarter wharves into adowntown riverfront park, the $30 million first phaseofthe project is on track to be completed in early 2026.

ButAudubon President andCEO Michael Sawaya said plansfor the second phase of the project, whichwill tackle the Esplanade Avenue Wharf,are now in flux, as Audubon officials rethink what it should look like, howmuch it willcostand how theycan “program” it to generate enough money topay for itself.

“Everything is up in the air,” said Sawaya after last week’sAudubon Commission meeting. “This has got to be the next greatdestination for our city,and we have to do it right.”

Sawaya’scommentscome nearly a year after he took thereinsatAudubon

from aretiring Ron Forman and underscore how he is putting his own stamp on theproject,which was conceived by hispredecessor more than adecadeago during Mayor Mitch Landrieu’sadministration.

Theproject calls forcreatingstreetlevel accessatEsplanade Avenue to

the river and redeveloping the two adjacentwharvesintoa park with amultiuse pathand space for entertainment and cultural attractions.

When completed, it will provide acrucial missing link between the

TheUSS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrierarrives in theCaribbean

Trumpsaysthe

U.S. ‘may be having some discussions’ with Maduro

BY BEN FINLEY and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida President Donald Trump saidSunday that the U.S. “may be having some discussions” with Venezuelan PresidentNicolás Maduro, apotential diplomatic avenue as the U.S. further builds up its military presencenear the South American country with the arrivalofits most advanced aircraft carrier Trump didn’toffer details about thepossible discussions with Maduro, but he said “Ven-

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JOHN CLARK

The arrivalofthe USS Gerald R. Ford and otherwarshipsinthe Caribbean marksamajor momentinwhat the Trumpadministration insists is acounterdrug operation.

ezuela would like to talk.”

The development comes as the Trumpadministrationhas carried out aseriesofmilitary strikes against vesselssuspected of transporting drugs.

The arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford andother warships, announced by the Navy in astatement,marks amajor moment

ä See CARIBBEAN, page 5A

No word on possible Guard deployment in Louisiana

Movement expected butshutdownmay have slowed things, sourcessay

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

Amonth anda half after Gov.JeffLandry askedthe federalgovernmenttosend 1,000 National Guard troops to Louisiana, there has been no wordfrom the state or President Donald Trump’s administration aboutwhen or whether that request will be approved.

People familiar with negotiations around the deploymentsay it is still likely to occur,but it may have stalled due to the federal governmentshutdown.

Last month, Landry said he hoped troops would arrive in New Orleans ahead of Thanksgiving New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said she expected the guard to arrive for the Bayou Classic football game and remain in the city through Mardi Gras. But on Friday, aPentagon spokesperson saidthere werenoupdates on the possible deployment, referring questions to the LouisianaNational Guard.

“Wehave not received wordthat anything’sbeen approved yet,” said Lt. Col. Noel Collins, aspokesperson for the agency Landry could activate the Guard himself, but he needs the Trumpadministration’s approval to secure federal funding for the deployment.

In the past, the Guard hasbeen used in Louisianatorespond to emergencieslike hurricanes andthe Jan. 1terrorist attack in New Orleans, and it has helped bulk up security at large events like the Super Bowl.

Trumphas madeacontroversial push to deploy the guard and other federal agents to citieslike Chicago and Washington, D.C., to crack downoncrimeand immigration. It is unclear what exactly the National Guard’srolewould be if Landry’srequest

ä See GUARD, page 4A

JimBernhard, executive whochanged Louisiana’s business landscape, dies at 71 Businessmanknown forphilanthropy across state

BY STEPHANIERIEGEL and TYLER BRIDGES Staff writers

Jim Bernhard, aBaton Rougebased business executive and civic leader whocreated and grew someofthe mostsuccessful companies to come outofLouisiana died Sunday afterabrief illness, his familyconfirmed. He was71. During acareer that spanned more than four decades,Bernhardwas perhapsbest known for founding andgrowing TheShaw Group from apipe fabrication company into apublicly traded, industrial services powerhouse

with aglobal footprint and aspot on theFortune 500 list. Afterselling the company in 2013, he founded Bernhard Capital Partners, aprivate equity firm that is now one of the largest in the Gulf South with more than $5.5 billion in assets under management and 21 companies across the country in the energyservices, industrial and utilities sector Along the way,Bernhard played aprominent role in state Democratic Party politics, engaged in south Louisiana civic and charitablecauses, andwas involved in the lives of his five children and

ä See BERNHARD, page 4A

Landry

Kirkpatrick

The original plan would have given Auduboncontrol of the riverfront from Woldenberg Park to the Bywater,with the exception of the Moon Walk.

STAFF PHOTOSByDAVID GRUNFELD

The Esplanade Avenue Wharf along withthe adjacent Gov. Nicholls Street Wharf is partofthe Riverfront for All projectled by the Audubon Nature Institute.

Bernhard

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Iran says it is no longer enrichinguranium

TEHRAN,Iran Iran’sforeign minister said Sunday that Tehranis no longer enriching uraniumat any site in the country,trying to signal to the West that it remains open to potential negotiations over its atomic program.

Answering aquestion from an Associated Press journalist visiting Iran, Foreign MinisterAbbas Araghchi offered the most direct response yetfrom theIranian governmentregardingits nuclear program following Israel and the United States’ bombing of its enrichment sites in June during a12-day war

“There is no undeclared nuclear enrichment in Iran. All of ourfacilities are under the safeguards and monitoring” of the International Atomic Energy Agency,Araghchi said. “There is no enrichment right now because our facilities —our enrichment facilities —have been attacked.”

Asked what it would take for Iran to continue negotiations with the U.S. and others,Araghchi said Iran’smessage on its nuclear program remains“clear.”

“Iran’sright for enrichment, for peaceful use of nucleartechnology,including enrichment, is undeniable,” the foreign minister continued. “Wehave this right, and we continue to exercisethat, and we hope that the international community,includingthe United States, recognize our rights andunderstand thatthisis an inalienable right of Iran.And we would never give up our rights.”

Flood risk lingersafter Calif.atmospheric river

LOS ANGELES Apowerful atmospheric river had mostly moved through California aftercausing at least six deaths and dousing much of the state, but lingering thunderstorms brought the risk of mudslides in areasofLos Angeles County that wererecently ravaged by wildfire.

Flood advisories remained in place through Sunday afternoon for Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, where localized showers were still possible after heavy downpourson Friday and Saturday

“Due to the abundant rainfall the past couple of days, it will not take as much rainfall to cause additional flooding/rockslide conditions,” the National Weather Service said in aSunday update Authorities on Sunday were still searching for a5-year-old girl who was swept into the ocean by 15-foot waves at astatebeach in Monterey County on Friday

The girl’sfather,39-year-old Yuji Hu, of Calgary,Alberta,was killed whiletryingtosavehis daughter,sheriff’s officialssaid In Sutter County north ofSacramento, a71-year-old man died Friday afterhis vehicle was sweptoff aflooded bridge,accordingtothe CaliforniaHighway Patrol.

Off the coast of San Diego, a wooden boat believed to have been ferryingmigrants toward theU.S. from Mexicocapsizedin stormy seas, leaving at least four people dead and four hospitalized, the Coast Guard said Saturday

Hundreds of sheep head through German city

BERLIN Pedestrians in the GermancityofNurembergmadeway for hundreds of bleating sheep on Sunday as aflock of the animals was herdedthrough downtown on its way to its winter quarters.

Curious bystanders, cellphones in hand to capture thesight, lined thestreetsasthe roughly 600 animalsinshepherdThomas Gackstatter’sflock hurried past in what has become apopularannual spectacle. The sheep were on theirway to winter pastures west of Nuremberg from the city,where Gackstatter’ssheep andother herds are used in variousmeadows over the summer to keep the grass neat.

It’s atripofjustover6 miles, which takes the flock through the central market square,the Hauptmarkt, German news agency dpa reported. Gackstatter says that, as far as he knows, Nuremberg is the only place in Germany where sheep cross the central square.

Ahead of their passage,city authorities asked people to keep the route clear and keep dogs away from the sheep. Drones weren’t allowed.

Border Patrol toutsN.C.arrests

Charlotte leadersobject to DHSactions

SOPHIA TAREEN, BRIAN WITTE and MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press

Atop Border Patrol commandertouted dozens of arrests in North Carolina’s largest city on Sunday as Charlotte residents reported encounters withfederal immigration agents near churches, apartment complexesand stores.

The Trump administration has made theDemocratic city of about950,000 people its latest target for an immigration enforcement surge it says will combatcrime,despite fierce objections from local leaders anddowntrending crime rates.

Gregory Bovino, who led hundreds of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in asimilar effort in Chicago, took to social media to document afew of themorethan80arrests he saidagents had made. He posted picturesofpeople the Trump administration commonlydubs “criminal illegalaliens,” meaning people living in the U.S. without legal permission whoallegedly have criminalrecords. Thatincluded oneofaman with an alleged history of drunk drivingconvictions. “Wearrested him, taking himoff thestreetsofChar-

lotte so he can’tcontinue to ignore our laws and drive intoxicated on the same roadsyou and yourloved ones are on,” Bovinowrote on X.

The effort was dubbed “Operation Charlotte’s Web” as aplay on thetitle of afamouschildren’sbook that isn’tabout NorthCarolina.

The flurry of activity promptedfear and questions, including where detainees would be held, how long theoperation would lastand what agents’ tactics —criticized elsewhere as aggressive and racist —would looklike in North Carolina. On Saturday, at leastone U.S. citizen said he was thrown to the ground and briefly detained.

At Camino,a nonprofit

group that offers services to Latino communities, some said they weretoo afraid to leave their homes to attendschool, medical appointments or work. A dentalclinic the groupruns hadnine cancellations on Friday, spokesperson Paola Garcia said.

“Latinos love thiscountry.They camehere to escapesocialism andcommunism, and they’re hard workersand people of faith,”Garcia said. “They love their family,and it’s just so sad to see that this community now has this target on their back.”

Bovino’soperations in Chicago and LosAngeles triggeredlawsuitsover the use of force, including widespread deployment of chemical agents.Democratic leaders in both cities

accused agents of inflaming community tensions. Federal agents fatally shot one suburban Chicago man during atraffic stop.

Bovino, head of aBorder Patrol sector in El Centro, California, and other Trump administration officialshave called theirtactics appropriate for growing threats on agents.

TheDepartment of Homeland Security,which oversees CBP, didnot respond to inquiries about the Charlotte arrests. Bovino’s spokesman did not return a request forcomment Sunday Elsewhere, DHS has not offered many details about itsarrests.Inthe Chicago area, the agency only providednames anddetails on ahandful of its more than 3,000 arrests in theregion

from September to last week. U.S. citizens were detained during several operations. Dozens of protesters were arrested. By Sunday,reports of CBPactivityaroundCharlotte were “overwhelming” and difficult to quantify, Greg Asciutto, executive director of the community development group CharlotteEast, said in an email.

“The past two hours we’ve received countless reports of CBP activity at churches, apartment complexes and ahardware store,” he said.

City Council memberelectJDMazuera Arias said federal agents appeared to be focused on churches and apartment buildings.

“Houses of worship. I mean, that’sjust awful,” he said. “These are sanctuaries for people who are looking forhope andfaith in dark times like these and who no longercan feel safe because of the gross violation of people’sright to worship.”

Twopeople were arrested during asmallprotest Sundayoutsidea DHSofficein Charlotte andtaken to alocalFBI office, said Xavier T. de Janon, an attorney who wasrepresenting them. He said it remained unclear what charges they faced.

DHS saiditwas focusing on North Carolina because of so-calledsanctuary policies, which limit cooperationbetween local authorities and immigration agents.

Netanyahusaysthere canbenoPalestinian state

U.N. to vote on resolution that leaves door open to statehood

BY MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

TEL AVIV,Israel Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahuvowed Sunday to oppose any attempt to establish aPalestinian state, aday before the U.N. Security Council plans to vote on aU.S.-drafted resolution on Gaza that leaves thedoor open to Palestinian independence Netanyahu has long ruled out Palestinian independence, asserting that creating aPalestinian state would reward Hamas and eventuallyleadtoaneven larger Hamas-run stateon Israel’s borders. But as the U.S.attempts to push forward with its Gaza ceasefire proposal, he faces heavy internationalpressure to show flexibility

The Security Council is expected to vote on aU.S. proposalfor aU.N. mandate that would establish an international stabilization force in Gaza despite opposition from Russia, China and some Arab countries.

The U.S., under pressure from countriesexpected to contribute troopstothe force, revised the resolutionwith stronger language about Palestinian self-determination. It now

says that PresidentDonald Trump’splan may create a “credible pathway”toPalestinian statehood.Arival Russianproposaluses even stronger language in favor of Palestinian statehood.

Thecreationofa Palestinianstatealongside Israel is seen internationally as the only realistic way to resolve theconflict for the long term Netanyahu’shard-line governing partners have urged him to takeatough

stand on the calls for Palestinian independence. Speaking to his Cabinet, Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel’s opposition to aPalestinian state has “not changed one bit.”

The Israelileader added that he has been staving off any advances toward aPalestinian state for decades, and is not threatened by external or internal pressure. “I do not need affirmations, tweets or lectures from anyone,” he said.

That pressure increased during thewar in Gaza. In September,after the U.K.,

Australia and Canada formally recognized aPalestinian state, Netanyahu blasted the countries for proffering a“prize” to Hamas. Netanyahu also notedSundaythatTrump’splancalls for Gaza to be demilitarized and Hamas to be disarmed. “Either this will happen the easy way, or it will happen the hard way,”hesaid. Meanwhile, Israel’smilitary said itstroopsonSunday killedsomeonewho crossed into territory they control in northern Gaza and “posed an immediate threat to them.”

BY SAMYAKULLAB Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine— Ukraine is working to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia that could bringhome 1,200 Ukrainian prisoners, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday,a day after hisnational security chief announced progress in negotiations

“Weare counting on the resumption of POW exchanges,”Zelenskyy wroteonX.“Many meetings, negotiations and calls are currently taking place to ensure this.” Rustem Umerov,SecretaryofUkraine’sNational Security and Defense Council, saidSaturday he held consultationsmediated by Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on resuming exchanges. He saidthe parties

agreed to activate prisoner exchange agreements brokered in Istanbul to release 1,200 Ukrainians. Moscow did notimmediatelycomment The Istanbul agreements refer to prisoner-exchange protocols established with Turkish mediation in 2022 that set rules for large, coordinated swaps. Since then, Russiaand Ukraine have traded thousandsof prisoners, though exchanges have been sporadic.

Umerovsaid technical consultations would be held soon to finalize procedural and organizational details, expressing hope that returning Ukrainians could “celebratethe New Year andChristmasholidays at home —atthe family table and next to their relatives.”

In other developments energy infrastructure

wasdamaged by Russian drone strikesovernight into SundayinUkraine’s Odesa region, Ukraine’s StateEmergency Service said. Asolar power plant was among the damaged sites.

Ukraine is desperately trying to fend off relentless Russianaerial attacks that have brought rolling blackoutsacross Ukraine on the brink of winter Combined missile and drone strikesonthe power grid have coincided with Ukraine’sefforts to hold back aRussian battlefield push aimed at capturing the eastern strongholdof Pokrovsk. Russia fireda total of 176 drones and one missile overnight, Ukraine’s air force said Sunday,adding that Ukrainian forces shot down or neutralized 139 drones.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByERIK VERDUZCO People protest against federal immigration enforcement SaturdayinCharlotte, N.C.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA

Palestinians grab sacks of flour from amoving truck carrying WorldFood Programme aid as it drives Saturday throughDeir al-Balah in central Gaza.

Lawmaker:Epstein filesbillmay getGOP support

Massie says many House Republicanswill back measure

BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON Lawmakers

seeking to force the release of files related to the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein are predicting abig win in the House this week with a“deluge of Republicans” voting for their bill and bucking the GOP leadership and President Donald Trump, who formonthshavedisparaged their effort.

The bill would forcethe Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in federal prison. Information aboutEpstein’s victims or ongoing federal investigations would be allowed to be redacted.

“There could be 100 or more” votes from Republicans, said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., among the lawmakers discussing the legislation on Sunday news show appearances. “I’m hoping to get aveto-proof majority on this legislation when it comes up for avote.”

Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced a

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speaks on Sept. 17 on Capitol

introduced the dischargepetition to release the JeffreyEpstein files,

will get‘100 or more’ Republican votes in the House.

dischargepetitioninJulyto force avote on their bill. That is ararely successful tool that allows amajority of members to bypass House leadership and force afloor vote.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, hadpanned the discharge petitioneffort and sent members home early for theirAugust recess when the GOP’slegislativeagenda was upended in the clamoring for an Epstein vote.

Democrats also contendthe seating of Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., wasstalled to delay her becoming the 218th member to sign the petition and gain the threshold needed to force avote. She became the 218th signature

moments after taking the oathofoffice last week.

Massie said Johnson, Trumpand others who have been critical of hisefforts would be “taking abig loss this week.”

“I’mnot tired of winning yet, but we are winning,” Massie said.

Johnson seems to expect theHousewill decisively back theEpstein bill.

“We’ll just getthis done andmoveiton. There’s nothing to hide,” adding that the House Oversight and GovernmentReform Committee hasbeen releasing “farmore information than thedischarge petition, their little gambit.”

The vote comes at atime when newdocuments are raising freshquestions about Epstein andhis associates, including a2019 email that Epstein wrote to ajournalistthatsaidTrump “knew aboutthe girls.” TheWhite Househas accused Democrats of selectively leaking the emails to smear the Republican president Johnsonsaid Trump“has nothing to hide from this.”

“They’re doing this to go after President Trump on this theorythat he has something to do with it. He does not,” Johnson said.

Trump’sassociation with Epsteiniswell-established and the president’sname was

included in records that his own JusticeDepartment released in February as part of an effort to satisfy public interest in information from the sex-traffickinginvestigation.

Trumphas never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and the mere inclusion of someone’s name in files from the investigation does not imply otherwise. Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial, also had many prominent acquaintances in political and celebrity circles besides Trump.

Khanna voiced more modest expectations on the vote count than Massie. Still, Khanna said he was hoping for 40 or more Republicans to join the effort.

“I don’teven know how involved Trump was,” Khanna said. “There are alot of other people involved who have to be held accountable.”

Khanna also asked Trump to meet with those who were abused.Some will be at the Capitol on Tuesday for a news conference, he said.

Massie said Republican lawmakers whofear losing Trump’sendorsement because of howtheyvote will have amark on their record, if they vote “no,” that could hurt their political prospects in the long term.

“The record of this vote will last longerthan Donald Trump’spresidency,” Massie said. On the Republican side,

threeRepublicans joined with Massie in signing the discharge petition: Reps. MarjorieTaylorGreene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Lauren Boebert of Colorado. Trumppubliclycalled it quits withGreene last week andsaid he wouldendorse achallenger against her in 2026 “if the right person runs.” Greeneattributed thefallout with Trump as “unfortunately,ithas all come down to the Epstein files.” She said thecountrydeserves transparencyonthe issueand that Trump’scriticism of her is confusing because the women she hastalked to say he did nothing wrong. “I havenoideawhat’sin the files. Ican’t even guess. But that is the questionseveryone is asking,is, whyfight this so hard?” Greenesaid. Even if the bill passes the House, there is no guarantee that Senate Republicans will go along. Massie said he just hopes Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.,“will do the right thing.”

“The pressure is going to be there if we get abig vote in the House,”Massiesaid, whothinks“we couldhavea deluge of Republicans.” Massie appeared on ABC’s “ThisWeek,” Johnson was on “Fox News Sunday,” Khanna spokeonNBC’s “Meet the Press” andGreenewas interviewed on CNN’s“State of the Union.”

BY RIO YAMAT and JOSH FUNK Associated Press

The Federal Aviation Administrationsaid Sunday it is lifting all restrictions on commercial flightsthat were imposed at 40 major airports during the country’s longest government shutdown. Airlines can resume their regular flight schedules beginning5 a.m. Monday,the agency said.

The announcementwas made in ajoint statement by

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAAAdministrator Bryan Bedford.

Citing safety concerns as staffing shortages grew at air traffic control facilities during theshutdown, theFAA issued an unprecedented order to limit traffic in the skies. It had been in placesince Nov.7,affecting thousands of flightsacross the country Impacted airports included large hubs in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

The flight cuts started at

4% and later grew to 6% before the FAAonFriday rolled therestrictions back to 3%, citing continued improvements in airtraffic controllerstaffing sincethe record 43-day shutdown ended.

The FAAstatement said an FAAsafety team recommended the orderbe rescinded after “detailed reviews of safetytrends andthe steadydecline of staffing-trigger events in air trafficcontrol facilities.”

The statementsaid the FAA“is awareofreports of

Pope returns62artifacts to Indigenous peoplesfromCanada

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

VATICAN CITY The Vatican on Saturday returned 62 artifacts from its vast ethnographic collection to Indigenous peoples from Canada, as part of the Catholic Church’sreckoning with its role in helping suppress Indigenous culture in the Americas.

Pope Leo XIV gave the artifacts, includinganiconic Inuitkayak, andsupporting documentation to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, which said it would return the items to Indigenous communities “as soon as possible.” Ajointstatement from theVatican and Canadian church described the pieces as a“gift” and a “concrete sign ofdialogue, respect andfraternity. The artifacts are expected to land in Montreal on Dec. 6and be takenfirstto the CanadianMuseumof History in Ottawa, which will arrange for themtobe “reunitedwith theiroriginating communities,”said PomelineMartinoski, director of communications for the Canadian bishops conference. For acentury,the items were part of the Vatican Museum’sethnographic col-

lection, known today as the Anima Mundi museum.The collection has been asource of controversy for the Vatican amid the broader museum debateover therestitutionofcultural goods taken from Indigenous peoples during colonial periods.

Mostofthe items in the Vatican collection were sent to Rome by Catholic missionaries for a1925 exhibition in the Vatican gardens.

TheVatican insists the items were “gifts” to Pope Pius XI, who wanted to celebrate the church’sglobal reach,its missionariesand the lives of theIndigenous peoples they evangelized.

noncompliance by carriers over the course of the emergency order.The agency is reviewing andassessing enforcementoptions.” It did not elaborate. Cancellations hit their highest point Nov.9,when airlines cut more than 2,900 flightsbecause of the FAA order, ongoingcontrollershortagesand severe

weather in parts of the country.But conditions begantoimprove throughout the week as more controllers returned to workamid news that Congress was close to adeal to end the shutdown. That progress also prompted the FAAto pause plans forfurtherrate increases

The agency had initially aimed for a10% reduction in flights. Duffy has said worrisome safety data showed the move wasnecessary to ease pressure on the aviation system and help manage worsening staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities as the shutdown enteredits second month and flight disruptions begantopile up.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Hill in Washington. Massie, who

predicts the measure

Continued from page 1A

were approved.

The governor submitted his request for troops in a Sept. 29 letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth citing crime in the Louisiana cities of Shreveport, Baton Rouge and New Orleans as justification.

On Friday, a spokesperson for Landry said she had no comment on deployment plans and was unaware of any updates.

Spokespeople for Baton Rouge and Shreveport had no updates on the situation.

East Baton Rouge Parish

Mayor-President Sid Edwards has said he does not oppose having Guard members in Louisiana’s capital city but does not want them engaging in aggressive policing tactics.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux previously said he does not think bringing in the National Guard is the best way to address crime but that he would welcome

their help in tearing down blighted properties. A spokesperson for New Orleans Mayor-elect Hel-

ena Moreno said Wednesday that Moreno declined to comment. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s

office and the New Orleans Police Department did not return press inquiries. Guard deployments elsewhere in the country have drawn sharp criticism from some locals and from Democratic politicians, who say they are not warranted, are overly militaristic and can escalate tensions in their communities.

In August, Landry sent 135 Louisiana guard members to aid Trump’s crackdown in D.C. Part of a contingent of more than 2,000 other troops, they remain stationed there but are tentatively scheduled to leave at the end of February, according to Collins, the Louisiana National Guard spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Chicago has taken center stage in Trump’s campaign to deport immigrants at record levels after the federal government sent Border Patrol agents there in September for “Operation Midway

Blitz.” They have been criticized for their aggressive tactics, including the use of chemical agents and a helicopter raid on an apartment building.

Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino has described those tactics as a necessary response to threats he says his agents have faced since arriving in the city

Some 3,200 people in the Chicago area have been arrested for alleged immigration violations as part of Operation Midway Blitz.

On Tuesday The New York Times reported that the Trump administration planned to bring the Border Patrol to New Orleans. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Border Patrol, has not publicly confirmed such a plan. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann@ theadvocate.com.

grandchildren.

“We are heartbroken by the unexpected passing of Jim Bernhard,” said Jeff Jenkins, who co-founded Bernhard Capital Partners and worked with Bernhard for 27 years. “Jim changed the business landscape of Louisiana like no one else. He created jobs, built companies and opened doors for families across our state in ways that will be felt for generations.”

Jenkins added: “He was also one of the most generous people I have ever known, always helping others, without any desire for attention or recognition.”

Gov Jeff Landry remembered Bernhard as one of Louisiana’s “most dynamic and visionary business leaders.”

“His hard work built companies that created jobs, strengthened our economy, and showcased the very best of Louisiana,” Landry said in a statement. “Louisiana has lost a giant, but I know his legacy will endure for generations.”

‘Tough to sell’

James Mitchell Bernhard Jr was born April 9, 1954, in Baton Rouge but raised in Lafayette, where his grandfather had started Bernhard Mechanical in 1919. Years later the company would become one of Bernhard Capital’s portfolio assets. He graduated from LSU in 1976 with a degree in construction management and joined Sunland Services, a pipe fabrication company In 1987, he ventured out on his own, acquiring the assets of a pipe fabrication company out of bankruptcy and founding The Shaw Group. Known for his tireless work ethic, he grew the company over the next 25 years into one of Louisiana’s largest and best-known, taking it public in the early 2000s. At the time of its sale to CB&I in 2013, The Shaw

Group had $5.9 billion in revenues and 27,000 employees, including 4,000 in Louisiana.

The Shaw Group was one of Louisiana’s few Fortune 500 companies at the time — today it has even fewer — and in the early 2000s, Bernhard built a gleaming corporate headquarters tower on Essen Lane in Baton Rouge, visible from Interstate 10, which became a point of pride for Baton Rouge and the state.

During a 2018 radio interview on “Talk Louisiana,” host Jim Engster asked Bernhard whether it was tough for him to sell The Shaw Group, a company he started with two others and $50,000.

“In a public arena, when someone offers you a 75% premium over the value you either sell the company to them or they get a new CEO,” he said. Nonetheless, he added, “It was tough to sell.”

As significant as The Shaw Group was for Louisiana’s economy and reputation, Bernhard’s more recent venture has been equally important. In 2013, he founded Bernhard Capital

Partners with Jenkins and a handful his former top executives from The Shaw Group. The firm began with a single investment fund and four companies focused narrowly on industrial services.

In the years since, Bernhard Capital has launched four additional funds that have raised $5.5 billion from large, institutional investors and created dozens of other companies, some of which it has since sold, in the energy services, industrial, environmental services and utility sector

It currently has 21 companies under management and is the largest private equity firm between Houston and Atlanta. It has been listed among the largest private equity firms in the world and has some of the highest returns in the U.S.

Tim Barfield, who worked under Bernhard at The Shaw Group in the early 2000s, remembered him as a powerful force in the lives of many business leaders today

“He provided opportunities to me and many others that changed the trajectories of our lives,” said

Barfield, who went on to head CSRS in Baton Rouge.

“He was so generous to our community and state. May he rest in peace.”

‘Louisiana committed’

While the owner of a major business, Bernhard chaired Kathleen Blanco’s gubernatorial campaign in 2003 and became chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party in January 2005 while she was governor

He resigned nine months later after Hurricane Katrina devastated metro New Orleans. Shaw secured contracts to become an important player in the rebuilding effort.

Still, he remained an active force in Louisiana Democratic politics and toyed with running for governor in 2015 and 2019. He deferred to fellow Democrat John Bel Edwards, who won both elections.

In a “Talk Louisiana” interview in 2018, Bernhard said people often asked him

to run for governor, saying he was “the perfect candidate” because he had the ability to fund the campaign himself.

He didn’t describe his political approach in partisan terms. Instead, he said, “We need to work to solve problems, to solve issues. Let’s work together, compromise and move the ball forward.”

Bernhard said he had plenty of offers to set up shop outside of Baton Rouge but said he stayed because he loved the city and LSU, his alma mater

He said his philosophy was “Baton Rouge proud and Louisiana committed.”

Philanthropy

Bernhard was known for his philanthropy across the state, though much of it was behind the scenes.

One prominent exception was The Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, a transformative project that helped revitalize the state capital’s downtown two de-

cades ago. The Shaw Group contributed $4 million to help fund the building’s construction.

Bernhard is survived by his wife, Dana Bernhard, and his children, Benjamin Bernhard (Jenna), Michael Bernhard (Rachel), Patrick Bernhard (Amelie), Kathryn Gerry (John Gerry) and Tres Bernhard; and eight grandchildren, Ella Bernhard, James Michael Bernhard IV, Blake Bernhard, Violet Bernhard, Jack Gerry, Remi Gerry, Sloane Gerry and Ainsley Bernhard.

“Jim’s greatest legacy is his love for Dana, his children and grandchildren,” Jenkins said. “Everything he built and gave came from a deep commitment to his family Our thoughts and prayers are with them.” Arrangements are pending.

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Soldiers with the Louisiana National Guard walk down Bourbon Street on Feb 5 ahead of the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

in what the administration insists is acounterdrug operation but has been seen as an escalating pressure tactic against Maduro.

When asked Sunday what he meant when he saidMaduro wants to talk, Trump simply said: “What does it mean?

Youtell me, Idon’t know.”

“I’ll talk to anybody,” he added a few moments later “We’ll see what happens.”

the boat being blown up, an attack it said took place Saturday in international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean and killed three men. The military did not immediately respondtoarequest for more information

Since early September, such strikes by the U.S. in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have now killed at least 83 people in 21 attacks.

Venezuela’sgovernment didn’timmediately reply to arequest forcomment.

The Ford rounds off the largest buildup of U.S. firepower in the region in generations. With its arrival,the “Operation SouthernSpear” missionincludes nearly a dozen Navy ships and about 12,000 sailors and Marines.

The carrier’sarrival came as the military announced its latest deadly strike on asmall boat it claims was engaged in ferrying illegal drugs. The military’sSouthern Command posted avideo on XonSunday showing

PROJECT

Continued from page1A

pedestrian-friendlyupriver side of the wharves —Spanish Plaza, the Algiers Ferry landing, Woldenberg Park and the Moon Walk —and Crescent Park on the downriver side, therebycreating 2.25 miles of contiguous, riverfront access.

Originallyestimatedto cost $15 million adecade ago, the project’s price tag had ballooned to $55million by the time Forman stepped down. Of that, $30 million alone was spent on the first phase, which involves redeveloping the Gov.Nicholls Street Wharf. Sawaya now says the second phase will cost “well north of that.”

The carrier strike group, which includes squadrons of fighter jets and guided-missile destroyers, transited theAnegada Passage nearthe British VirginIslandsonSunday morning, the Navysaid Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, who commands the strike group, said it will bolster an alreadylarge forceof American warshipsto“protect our nation’ssecurity andprosperity against narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.”

Adm. Alvin Holsey, the commander whooversees the Caribbean and Latin America, said in astatement that the American forces “standreadyto combat the transnational threatsthat seek to destabilize ourre-

saidcouldserve coffee and snacks during the day while also hostingcorporate events andparties.

“Wewant theoperator to come in, give us their ideas and tell us what they see there,” hesaid Sawaya hopes to lease the space for small-scaleconcerts, arts festivals andcorporate events about twice a month, which, along with a lease to afood-and-beverage operator,will helpgenerate revenue to support the park.

Audubonalso plans to sell naming rights to the shed as away to bringinmoney forthe park, which shouldbecompleted by late January but will make its public debut for theFrench Quarter Festival in April.

“When we get to that,wewill have amuch bigger footprint to fill,” he said, referring to the Esplanade Avenue Wharf, which is nearly 30% larger than Gov.Nicholls.

Changing plans

The first phase of theproject has involved shoring up the wharf anddemolishing most of the warehouse that was atop it, retaining asmall portion of the building as a “culturalshed” and installing alawn, playground and path.

Though similar to the plans for the upriver wharf first unveiled by Audubon in 2023, newdetailsabout what it will look like and how it will operate are taking shape. For instance, Audubon is soliciting proposals from vendors interested in running the commercial kitchen and concessions space that will be located inside the shed, which Sawaya

“Wewant to get peopleused togoing over there,” he said.

“French Quarter Fest will be aperfect way to do that.”

Up in theair Plans for Phase 2ofthe project envisionedpartially demolishing the Esplanade Avenue Wharf and also converting it toanopen-air shed,though it would be much larger than the Gov Nicholls shed. An enclosed portion could be usedfor a small “community center,” Forman saidatthe time Plans also showedareas designated for food trucks andother vendors. The path along the river would connect to Crescent Park and theBywater Plans for the Esplanade Avenue Wharf will now be changed,Sawayasaid last week, “different than what was originally proposed,a whole new concept,” though he couldn’tyet say what that might mean.

Audubon has long said it

gion.”

Holsey,who willretire next month after just ayear on the job, saidthe strike group’sdeployment is “a criticalstepinreinforcing our resolve to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere and the safetyofthe American Homeland.”

In Trinidad and Tobago, which is only 7miles from Venezuela at its closest point, government officials said troops have begun “training exercises” with the U.S. military that will run through muchofthe week.

MinisterofForeign Affairs Sean Sobers described the joint exercises as the second in lessthan amonth and said they areaimed at tackling violentcrime on theisland nation,which has becomeastopover point for drug shipmentsheaded to Europe andNorth America. The prime minister has been avocal supporter of the U.S. militarystrikes.

The exercises will include Marinesfrom the 22ndExpeditionary Unit who have been stationed aboard the Navy shipsthathave been loomingoff Venezuela’s coast for months.

Venezuela’sgovernment hasdescribed thetraining

exercises as an act of aggression. It had no immediate commentSunday on the arrivalofthe aircraft carrier

Meanwhile,Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said Sunday thatU.S. troops have been training in Panama, underscoring the administration’sincreasing focus on Latin America.

“We’rereactivating our jungle school in Panama. We would be ready to act on whatever” Trumpand Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth needed,he told CBS’ “Facethe Nation.”

ezuela. He did not offer details but said, “I sort of have madeupmymind.”

The U.S. has long used aircraftcarriers to pressure and deter aggression by othernations because their warplanescan strike targets deep inside another country

Some experts saythe Ford is ill-suited to fighting cartels, but it could be an effective instrument of intimidation for Maduro in apush to get him to step down.

Theadministrationhas insistedthatthe buildup of American forces in the region is focused on stopping the flow of drugs into the U.S.,but it has released no evidence to support its assertions that those killed in the boats were “narcoterrorists.”Trumphas indicatedmilitary action would expand beyond strikesby sea, saying the U.S. would “stopthe drugs coming in by land.”

On Friday, Trump was asked by reporters if he had made up his mind on what he intended todoabout Ven-

would need to develop the riverfront park in ways that would raise money for the institute. Forman, in 2018, originally proposed filling phasetwo of theproject with tourist attractions like agiant Ferris wheel, amphitheater andlive music venues.

That didn’tgoover so well with residents of Faubourg Marigny,concerned about noise, crowds and congestion in their historic neighborhood, which is one reason the plans were scaled down when rereleased in 2023.

It is unclear how residents might react to Audubon’s updated plans for Esplanade Avenue once they are unveiled. Sawayasaidhe hopesthe vendorthatis awarded the food and beverage concession for the Gov Nicholls Street Wharf will have an opportunitytohelp shape the future plans for Esplanade Avenue.

“Whoever is operating the concession will alreadybe there and can help us plan,” he said.

‘Not theright time’

Alsounclear is the future of Audubon’splans to take over management of CrescentParkdownriver of the wharves.That was origi-

nally part of Forman’s vision for Riverfrontfor All becauseitwould have given Audubon control of the riverfrontfrom Woldenberg Park to theBywater,with

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States does notrecognize Maduro, who was widely accused of stealing last year’selection, as Venezuela’slegitimate leader.Rubio has called Venezuela’s government a “transshipment organization” that openly cooperates withthose trafficking drugs.

Rubiosaid in astatement released Sunday evening that the State Department intends to designate Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, aforeign terrorist organization. Rubio said the cartel is headed by Maduro and other high-ranking members of his government and is among those “responsible for terrorist violence

throughout ourhemisphere as well as fortrafficking drugs into the United States andEurope.” Whenthe designation takes effect on Nov 24, it willbeacrimetoprovide “material support” to the cartel or its members.

Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S., has said the U.S. government is “fabricating” awar against him. On his Facebook page, Maduro wrote on Sunday that the “Venezuelan people are ready to defend their homeland against anycriminal aggression.”

Venezuela’sgovernment recently touted a“massive” mobilization of troops and civilians to defend against possible U.S. attacks. Maduro and otherofficials in Venezuela’s socialistparty also have been attending rallies this weekend to back thecreation of neighborhood committees that will be in chargeofincreasing membership in Venezuela’s socialist party,and promoting the party’spolicies.

Trumphas justified the attacks on drug boats by saying the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels while claiming the boats are operated by foreign terrorist organizations.

theexception of the Moon Walk, which comprises about four blocks in the FrenchQuarter.

When Forman stepped down last year,hesaid Audubon wasclose to finalizing adeal with the city to take over the park, which he saidwould cost $3 million a year. At the time,hesaidthe farthest downriver parcel had “a lot of untapped potential” forprogramming.

Some users of Crescent Park have complainedof late aboutits conditionand the lack of maintenance. Sawaya said he went to see it for himself last week and noticed trash andpotholes, but said the grass was mowed.

“It certainly makes sense to have one steward of the whole riverfront, but we want to do it right,” he said. “And we don’twant to take on something that willcost us money without away to pay forit.”

Nearly ayear later,the two sideshaveyet to reach an agreement.Sawayasaid Audubon is no longer in a hurry to take on Crescent Park. But he said Audubon’s price has comedown and he is now looking for somewhere between $1.5 million and$2milliontotakeon maintenance and upkeep of the park. “I think we will get back to the table,” he said. “But with the city’sbudgetsituation, it isn’tthe right time to look at that.” The Cantrelladministration did not respond to arequest forcomment.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVIDGRUNFELD

The Mississippi River Moon Walk connects Uptown with downtown NewOrleans on Sunday

Sawaya

OH, BOY!

Sarah Kennedy enjoys a po-boy from Jacques-Imo’s during the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival in New Orleans on Sunday Nearly 40 vendors lined Oak Street with traditional and creative sandwich offerings. The event included six music stages, with performances by George Porter Jr and his Runnin’ Pardners, Tony’s Boys with Tony Hall, and others. Admission was free as festivalgoers enjoyed a lively street scene and inventive po-boys.

ä See more on 2B

Carver High stadium clears final hurdles

Site will be hub for community events, economic boost for Upper 9th Ward

BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

Carver High School’s long-awaited “Field of Dreams” stadium is finally moving from vision to reality

After nearly two decades of fits and starts in which the project stalled, leadership fractured and early fundraising evaporated, the effort has cleared its final two hurdles: Voters on Saturday approved an infrastructure bond proposition that will provide the project with $3 million, and a multimillion-dollar naming rights deal with a major Louisiana restaurant brand has been finalized. These pieces push total funding to $15 million, enough to cover construction costs and bring the stadium to life.

“This is a really unique and incredible project,” said Arnie Fielkow, the former City Council member who refloated the dream six years ago after it had run aground. “It will give local youth the opportunity they deserve, spur economic development and improve the overall general health of the community.”

For the Upper 9th Ward, where promises have often foundered, the stadium represents a longoverdue homecoming for the Carver High School football Rams and is a symbol of resilience for the historic Desire neighborhood.

“We look at the stadium as a catalyst for economic growth and development in our community,” said Clarence “Chuck” Morse, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and executive director of the community development nonprofit Thrive, both of which are near the Carver High School campus.

“The construction, the programming at the stadium, and the business generated by visitors all can help support businesses and jobs,” he said. “But it will also mean more eyes on the opportunity that this community offers.”

For generations, the Rams played their “home” games across town at Pan American Stadium in City Park, traveling by bus under police escort. The dream of a home field was first launched in the wake of Hurricane Katrina by then-teacher Brian Bordainick, whose early campaign drew national attention and donors ranging from Saints players and coaches to philanthropists and local businesses.

Yet disagreements over scope and leadership combined with the challenges of construction financing stalled the project. By 2019, the stadium existed largely as an empty lot, a cautionary

Longtime antiques dealer to open second store in Aspen

Rau’s expansion to Colorado a draw for

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

M.S. Rau, the French Quarterbased dealer of jewelry, art and antiques, is expanding, with plans to open a second location in January in Aspen, Colorado.

The 113-year-old business, which expanded and renovated its Royal Street headquarters in 2019, has signed a long-term lease to open a new store in the heart of the tony ski resort’s commercial district.

The location, M.S. Rau’s first outside of New Orleans, is in a highend neighborhood near private homes with their own access to Aspen’s famed slopes.

The move comes after M.S. Rau operated its first “pop-up” shop

last year in the former mining town that transformed in the middle of the last century into a ski destination and arts community that attracts the wealthy, including dozens of billionaires, from around the world. That demographic is no doubt a draw for a dealer of high-end merchandise that can sell for millions, including the Winston Churchill painting that Brad Pitt bought for Angelina Jolie in 2011 from M.S. Rau’s New Orleans gallery

“The people in Aspen are our demographic,” said Andrew Fields, president of the family-owned company in an interview Friday

“It’s much more than a ski town, and people here care about culture, art, history.”

Fields has been the driving force to make the new store happen. After joining M.S Rau in 2003, he led regular trips to Aspen to participate in a weeklong antiques show, where the company generates an outsized number of sales. For the last decade, he and his family have

split time between New Orleans and the town 8,000 feet up in the Rocky Mountains.

Fields said last year’s five-month “pop-up” experiment paid for itself within the first month and created great buzz in Aspen, where passersby were startled to see an original Picasso painting displayed in the store’s front window and equally surprised by the store’s culture of openness.

“Sometimes you go into an expensive gallery and the staff won’t talk to you, or they have stanchions blocking the art on the walls,” he said. “We love to interact with people, let them put a ring on their finger so they can study the brilliance of a stone up close.”

M.S. Rau’s new 2,200-square-foot gallery will fill the street and lower levels of a Victorian brick building located within Aspen’s commer-

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

PROVIDED PHOTO French Quarter-based antiques dealer M.S Rau will open a location in Aspen, Colo., in January.

See STADIUM, page 2B

GOOD NOLA EATS

ANTIQUES

from page 1B

A gallery with price tags

M.S. Rau’s 40,000-square-foot New Orleans location, which spans several historic French Quarter buildings, looks like an art gallery or museum with a twist: everything, from antique walking canes with hidden daggers to a bona fide Norman Rockwell painting, is for sale.

On any given day, a visitor might find a painting by Renoir, Picasso or Magritte alongside collectibles and jewelry from Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, Fabergé and Cartier. The

STADIUM

Continued from page 1B

tale of good intentions gone awry It was then that Fielkow, former City Council member and NFL executive, saw a television report about the stalled project. He turned to his wife and said, “Oh my God, I’ve got to try and resurrect this project.” Within weeks, he assembled a team of New Orleans civic leaders — including developer Darryl Berger, architect Mark Ripple, who had been involved in previous efforts, and longtime school leader and coach Roy “Coach” Glapion — to rebuild governance, raise new funds and put the pieces of the project back together

The group incorporated 9th Ward Stadium Inc., a dedicated nonprofit that will oversee construction

Fire protection millages renewed

Abita Springs rejects recreation tax

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

store attracts casual visitors who want to see works from famous artists in person, along with serious collectors who buy rare objects as investments.

That Churchill painting that Pitt bought for $2.5 million? Jolie sold it a decade later for more than four times the price.

The global business, which has more than 80 employees in New Orleans and a small team in Europe, is led by third-generation owner Bill Rau, who recently built out the gallery’s first artificial intelligence division to help buyers acquire inventory from auctions worldwide.

The company has built a customer base of collectors through weekly ads in The New York Times and Wall Street Jour-

and early operations of the stadium to ensure it stays on track. The land remains owned by NOLA Public Schools, ensuring the facility is integrated with district athletics while remaining a community resource. Funding and the final push Even with a new leadership team, financing the stadium required multiple streams. U.S. Rep. Troy Carter secured $3 million in federal community project funding, while the Louisi-

ABOVE: Jason

Seither, of Seither’s Seafood, prepares po-boys during the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival in New Orleans on Sunday

Nearly 40 vendors lined Oak Street with traditional and creative sandwich offerings. The event included six music stages, with performances by George Porter Jr and his Runnin’ Pardners, Tony’s Boys with Tony Hall, and others.

LEFT: Peyton Boyle, of Gonzo’s Smokehouse and BBQ, prepares The Couyon po-boy during the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival.

nal, along with glossy print catalogs and its website. The company also participates in several antiques shows each year in the U.S. and Europe. Its team of salespeople stays in touch with buyers yearround through phone, email and text.

“I think of M.S. Rau as a very young 113-year-old company,” said Fields. “We’ve grown a lot over the last 25 years, but there’s a lot of passion and there are great opportunities going forward. I would be surprised if Aspen was our only new store location a few years from now.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

ana Legislature earmarked $3.8 million in capital outlay funds. Philanthropic commitments and private donations added to the tally, but the final $5 million came only with the bond vote and naming rights deal, bringing the total to the full $15 million necessary to proceed. With financing complete, Fielkow said the group now plans to solicit bids from construction firms so that work can begin early next year, with completion expected in spring 2027. A community stadium

The architectural vision, developed by John Williams and Curtis Laub, emphasizes flexibility and accessibility. The stadium will seat roughly 4,000, with a turf field, scoreboard, locker rooms, press box and 160-space parking lot. Families will enjoy sloped grass berm areas where kids can run and play while games and events are

Voters in two parts of St. Tammany Parish approved tax measures for their fire protection districts on Saturday But a recreation tax proposition in the Abita Springs area failed. In the Lacombe area, Fire Protection District No. 3 asked voters to approve a single 34.95-mill property tax and do away with an existing 25.01-mill tax and a 9.94mill tax. Complete but unofficial returns show 77% voting yes and 23% voting no. Voter turnout was a paltry 9%. The 34.95-mill tax is for 20 years and will bring in around $3.46 million annually to pay for

fire protection services in the district.

In east-central St. Tammany, voters in Fire Protection District No. 7 renewed the district’s 5.21-mill property tax. That tax, which is expected to bring in around $315,900 annually will begin in 2027 and run through 2036.

Complete but unofficial returns show 59% voting yes and 41% voting no. The unofficial voter turnout was 6%.

But while the fire taxes were approved, voters in the Abita Springs area shot down a 9.26-mill tax proposition for Recreation District No. 11 on Saturday That tax, which would have been for 20 years, would have replaced the current 10-year 10-mill property tax that voters approved in 2021. Complete but unofficial returns show 58% voting no and 42% voting yes. Turnout was 5.1%.

Man killed in shooting

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

Gretna police are investigating a shooting that left a 48-year-old man dead on Sunday morning.

Authorities have not released the name of the victim.

The shooting was reported about 6:30 a.m. at the Creekside Apartments in the 1400 block of Virgil Street, Gretna Police Deputy Chief Jason DiMarco said.

Officers and paramedics responded to the scene and found the man lying face up in the parking

lot. He’d been shot multiple times, DiMarco said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been arrested in the case, and no information was immediately available about a suspected motive in the killing. Those with information related to the shooting are asked to call Sgt. Cody Arabie with the Gretna Police Department at (504) 3664374.

Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate.com.

NOPD: Two killed in Tulane-Gravier shooting

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

Two men were shot and killed Sunday afternoon in the TulaneGravier neighborhood, according to the New Orleans Police Department. Authorities have not identified the victims.

The shooting was reported about 3:30 p.m. in the 100 block of North Johnson Street, police said. Officers dispatched to the area found the two men suffering from gunshot wounds.

underway, making the facility both a competitive venue and neighborhood gathering space.

The stadium is designed for multiple uses: Carver football games, citywide athletic events, graduations, concerts and community festivals. Morse emphasized the potential impact on local businesses: “The stadium brings economic activity, yes, but also attention — showing what this community has to offer,” he said.

For many in the Desire neighborhood, the stadium is more than a sports venue. It is a visible sign that longterm investments in the Upper 9th Ward are possible, even after decades of neglect and repeated setbacks.

Carver High students have grown up without a home field, shuttling across the city for games. For them, the stadium represents opportunity and pride. “This isn’t just about football,”

Though police initially said one victim was taken to a hospital, they said in an update issued Sunday evening that both men were declared dead on scene. One was immediately pronounced dead, and the other died despite efforts by responding paramedics, NOPD spokesperson Sgt. Barry Fletcher said. Illegal drugs were also found on the scene, police said. Police did not immediately release more information.

Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate.com.

Morse said. “It’s about kids seeing that the community believes in them, that they deserve the best facilities, and that their neighborhood matters.”

Fielkow and his team have maintained a steady presence, meeting every two weeks over the past six years to keep the project on track. By keeping 9th Ward Stadium Inc. in place through construction and the early operational years, they hope to avoid the organizational pitfalls that stalled the previous effort.

Looking forward

Once complete, the Field of Dreams will provide a permanent home for Carver football, a gathering place for the community and a platform for broader economic and social activity in eastern New Orleans.

Email Anthony McAuley

For Carver alumni, students and Upper 9th Ward residents, the countdown is on — not just to the first kickoff, but to a moment that has been decades in the making For this neighborhood, and the kids who call it home, the Field of Dreams may finally live up to its name.

STAFF PHOTOS By BRETT DUKE

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE Police investigate a shooting in the 100 block of North Johnson Street on Sunday.

entrustedtoMajesticMor‐tuary Service, Inc. (504) 523-5872.

Conrad,Kattie Dean,Virginia Passalaqua,Joseph Dean,VirginiaRobinson

Ruffins, Esther

Schloegel, Samuel EJefferson

Garden of Memories

Passalaqua,Joseph NewOrleans

Boyd Family

Dean,Virginia Charbonnet

Ruffins, Esther Greenwood

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Majestic Mortuary

Conrad,Kattie

Obituaries

Conrad,KattieM.

Ms.KattieM.Conraden‐tered hereternal rest on October 30, 2025, sur‐rounded by herlovingfam‐ily,atthe ageof75. Kattie was born on July 27, 1950 inAmite County, Liberty, Mississippi,tothe union of the late Leoand AnnieBell McKnight. Afterthe pass‐ing of herparents,Kattie moved to NewOrleans,LA, under theguardianshipof her late brother, Mason McKnight, andsister-inlaw,Lozetta McKnight

WhilelivinginNew Or‐leans,Kattiebecamea memberofNew St.Mark Baptist Church under the leadershipofthe late Rev‐erend Gasket.There she was united in Holy Matri‐monytothe late Willie “Stag”ConradonJuly27, 1968. Sister Conrad wased‐ucatedinthe NewOrleans PublicSchool System and workedasa packer at Dixie Produceand Packing, Inc. for32years.She also heldvarious security guard positions andlater worked atFedEx as apackage han‐dleruntil herretirementin June2015. Shewillbere‐memberedbyher family as a tireless provider,a bea‐con of kindness, anda great cook.She will cer‐tainlybemissed, butal‐waystreasured andre‐memberedinour hearts Kattieleavestocherish her lovingmemory: hergrand‐daughter, Corei’AnaCon‐rad;great-granddaughter Zaria Brown; godchildren, Jarin andKarin Castain; great-godchildren,Shania and Ja'Rea Gates; devoted friend, BruceM.Smith;sis‐ter-in-law, Lozetta McK‐night of McComb MS; brother,Willie(Dorothy) McKnightofNew Orleans, LA; threesisters,DoraKel‐ley,JoanMcKnight, and Sally Brumfield, allofNew Orleans,LA; anda host of nieces, nephews, friends, and otherfamilymembers She wasprecededindeath byher husband,WillieCon‐rad;daughter, FeliciaCon‐rad;brothers, Otis McK‐night andMason McK‐night;sister, Mattie Crocket;sister-in-law Betty McKnight;and broth‐ers-in-law, OscarJackson, Anthony Kelley Sr., and LutherBroomfieldSr. Rela‐tives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend the Memorial Serviceon Friday, November 21, 2025, at10a.m.atNew Home Ministries, 1616 Carondelet St.,New Orleans, LA 70130 Professional arrangements

Virginia Robinson Dean entered into internal rest onWednesday,November 5,2025, at theage of 77 withher sister,Joyce by her side.Virginiawas born onSeptember 17, 1948, to Irelia C. AndJoe Edwards RobinsonSr. Shewas ChristenedatStJoanof Arc Church by thelateFlo‐rence and DavidMcGee She wasa graduate of Booker T. Washington High School,and sheattended SouthernUniversityin Baton Rouge. Sheleavesto mourn andcherish her memoryher siblings:Joyce (John) Augillard, Audrey R. Henderson,Rosey (John) Brown, Anthony(Past offi‐cer of KPC/293CN), and Bernard Collins. Sister-inLaws: Myrtle Robinson and RuthCollins,16Niecesand Nephews,31great-nieces and nephews, and6 greatgreat nieces andnephews And ahostofcousins and godchildren.She waspre‐ceded in deathbyher par‐ents; JoeE.and Irelia C. RobinsonSr.,grandpar‐ents: Elijah Collins, Alonia Georgeand RosiaCollins; brothers: Willie Collins, TommieLee Robinson, RobertRobinsonSr, DwayneCollins,and Joe EdwardRobinsonJr. and Great nieceKelan Augillard.Familyand friends areinvited to at‐tendthe CelebrationofLife Service on WednesdayNo‐vember19, 2025, for10:00 amatThe Boyd Family Fu‐neral Home,5001 Chef Menteur Hwy, NewOr‐leans,LA70126. Visitation willbegin at 9:00 a.m. Fa‐therTom StehlikOfficiant ofSaint Joseph Catholic Church.Interment will fol‐low at Providence Memor‐ial Park andMausoleum 8200 AirlineHwy,Metairie, LA70003. Guestbook On‐line: www.anewtraditionbe gins.com(504)282-0600 LinearBrooksBoydand Donavin D. Boyd Own‐ers/FuneralDirectors

Passalaqua, Joseph David'Joe'

Joseph David(Joe) Pas‐salaqua,ArmyRetired CW2 andJPSORetired Col, of River Ridge,Louisiana, passedawayonMonday, November10, 2025, at the age of 93. He wasbornon May 11,1932, in Chicago, Illinois,toAntoninoPas‐salaqua andCarmela Loio‐canoPassalaqua. Joseph, known to allasJoe,grew upinHoxie,Arkansas. He was preceded in deathby his parents, his firstwife, JennieFerraro Passalaqua, his siblings,brothers: Ross Nicholas, Tom, Pete,Hank and Anthony, sisters: Mary Richardsonand Eleanor Clark,his daughter,Dar‐leneP.Schexnayder,sis‐ters-in-law,Theresa Fer‐raroand FrancesTaylor, and son-in-law,Kip Kreutz Joe is survived by hislov‐ing wife,Kim Bourgeois Passalaqua, for37years His children:Diann Kreutz, David Passalaqua,Kendall Passalaqua(Bailey), Megan Parker(JamesJr.), Brotherin-law, Ferdie Schexnayder, his grandchildren: Jason and ChristopherSchexnay‐der,NicholasKreutz, JamesParker, III, and

great-granddaughter, Hanah Bancovitch.Joe en‐listedinthe Army,on March 13, 1948, as asecre‐tive“under-ageboy of 15” Within his26years of ser‐vice, he wasa military po‐liceman,inoccupiedKobe, Kyoto,Japan.OnJuly4 1951 he became asoldier inthe Korean War. After, he was stationedatCamp Leroy Johnson, Kaiserse‐lautren,Germany andFt. Sam HoustoninSan Anto‐nio,Texas.InSan Antonio, heoccasionally haddetails protectingPresident Lyn‐don B. Johnson. He became anArmyCriminalInvesti‐gator,and then wassta‐tionedatCampRed Cloud, inUijongbu, SouthKorea There he drovePresident LyndonB.Johnson andalso helpedorganizeand sup‐porta localchildren’sor‐phanage.Joe wasthensta‐tionedatFortPolk, LA, where he earned hishigh school diploma, through WarrenEastonHighSchool and hiscollege degree. He was then appointedtothe CriminalInvestigation Divi‐sionand wassenttoWash‐ington, DC.There,heinves‐tigated theMiLai Mas‐sacre andthe JefferyMc‐Donald/Green Beretcases, tonamea few. Moving up inthe ranks, he wasas‐signedaspersonalsecu‐rityfor theSecretary of De‐fense,protectingbothEl‐liotRichardsonand Melvin Laird.Through hisdistin‐guished career in themili‐tary, he wasawarded the ArmyCommendation Medal andthe Meritorious Service Medal, as well as other medals andawards. Joe retiredfromthe mili‐taryin1973, as aChief Warrant Officer-2, at the age of 41. In 1974, Joe joinedthe JeffersonParish PoliceDepartmentand was assignedasa crimescene photographer. As part of his many investigations,he was part of theinvestiga‐tionand recovery at the crash site of PanAmFlight 759 in 1982. When he re‐tired from JPSO,onDec.31, 1999, he achieved therank of“Colonel” andwas in command of theentire Crime SceneServicesDivi‐sion. Joeenjoyed hunting, fishingand spending time withfamilyand friends. He loved beingathis summer homeonBayou Barataria, thatheand familymem‐bersbuilt.Heenjoyed watchingLSU andthe Saintsgames,aswellas woodworkingincluding makingcustomdesigned furniture,dollhouses, cas‐tles, andanythingthat sparked hisinterest. Joe was amemberofthe Lee 500 Club,St. Matthew Dads’ Club,and theLafitte Yacht Club.Heisalsoa memberofVUMS,where Joe is recognized in the VeteransofUnderageMili‐taryServicesbook,“AMER‐ICA’SYOUNGESTWAR‐RIORS”, volume II.Joe will berememberedfor hislove and devotion to familyand friends,his wisdom,disci‐pline,and humor.Heal‐wayshad time to listen to anyone. Thefamilywould liketothank thedoctors and nurseswho worked withJoe in hislastdays. Familyand friendsare in‐vited to attend theservice onTuesday,November18, 2025 at St.Matthew the Apostle Catholic church 10021 JeffersonHwy.River Ridge,LA. 70123. Visitation willbegin at 10:30 AM with Massat12:30 PM .Burial willbeimmediatelyafter atSt. John Memorial Gar‐dens, 2205 WAirline Hwy. LaPlace,LA. 70068. In lieu of flowers, thefamilyre‐quest donations, in Joe’s name, be sent to:Shriner’s Children’sHospital-Galve‐ston, Office of Philan‐thropy, 815 Market Street Galveston,TX77550 or St JudeResearchHospital, P. O.Box 50 Memphis, TN 38101-9927

Esther MaeRuffins,age 78, wascalledhometobe withthe Lord on Monday November10, 2025 in New Orleans,LA. Shewas born onMarch 3, 1947 to thelate Essie, Sr.and LoneyBecnel Williams.Estherleavesto cherish hermemory, three children, Kermit Hampton Ruffins,Lloyd Ruffins and ImaniNia Ruffins;siblings, EssieWilliams, Jr., Carolyn Hebert, PercyWilliams, MarionAllen andRoland Williams,aswellasa host ofnieces, nephews, grand‐children, otherrelatives and friends. ACelebration service honoring thelife and legacy of thelateEs‐therMae Ruffins will be heldinthe Chapel of Char‐bonnetLabat GlapionFu‐neral Home,1615 St.Philip Street,New Orleans, LA 70116 on Tuesday, Novem‐ber 18, 2025 at 11am. Visi‐tationwillbegin at 10 am inthe chapel.Pleasesign onlineguestbook at www charbonnetfuneralhome. com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504)581 4411.

Samuel

Samuel “Sammy”An‐thony Schloegelpassed awaypeacefullyathomein Lakeview, surrounded by his loving family, on No‐vember10, 2025. Born on June 6, 1961, in NewOr‐leans to LeeAnna Di‐Martino andHarold Schloegel,Sammy wasa trueNew Orleanian through andthrough.He grewupalong BayouSt. John, where hislifelong loveoffamily, food,and community firsttook root Sammy shared hislifewith his devotedwifeand best friend, Gina,for more than fourdecades.Together theybuilt notonlya home and afamily, buta warm and welcominggathering place in Sammy’sRestau‐rantonElysian Fields Av‐enue.For Sammy, cooking was neverjusta job, it was anact of love andway to bring people together.His dishescarried thesame heart andsoulhepoured into hisfamily, honoring

thegenerations before him who passeddowntheir loveoffood, laughter,and tradition.The kitchenwas where Sammycamealive. Whetherhewas perfecting a newrecipe, cookingSun‐day dinner forthe family, orfeedinganyonewho walkedthrough hisrestau‐rantdoors.His food told a story of hisheritage, his city, andhis belief that sharing agood meal could makepeoplefeel nurtured and connected. Sammy was most proudofhis fam‐ily:his beloveddaughters Katherine (Katie)and Samantha, who were the light of hislife. He wasa devoted husband,father, brother,uncle,and friend Sammy’s presence filleda room with warmth and humor that made anyone feel like family. Hisloyal shepherd, Lucy Lou, was never far from hisside. When Sammyleftthis world,hewas metwith openarmsinheavenbyhis mother, LeeAnnaDi‐Martino;his father,Harold Schloegel;his maternal grandparents, Samuel “Sam” andCatherine Katie” DiMartino; hispa‐ternalgrandparents, Haroldand Johanna Schloegel;his aunts, Mar‐leneKlein andConnie Shambra;his uncle, John Shambra andmanymore beloved friendsand family who went before him. There is comfortinknow‐ing he’s surrounded once again by thelovethat shapedhim.Heissurvived byhis wife,Regina(Gina) Hepburn Schloegel; his daughters,Katherine and SamanthaSchloegel;his sister, DarleneSchloegel (Raymond) Bretz; his nephews,Justin(Tiffanie JustinJr.,& Ava) andBran‐don(Alex Zeringue)

Hartenstein; hiscousin, Jim Schloegel(Carly& Can‐dice);his cousin LeeAnn LeBlanc (Samuel& Angela) and many more familyand friends who lovedhim dearly. Thefuneral will be heldatSt. DominicChurch (775 Harrison Ave.,New Or‐leans,LA70124) on Thurs‐day,November20that10 a.m., followed by aMassat 12p.m.The burial will fol‐low at Metairie Cemetery which will be ledbypolice escort. Sammy’slegacy willliveoninevery shared mealand everystory told around thetable.He taughtusthatlove, like good food, is meanttobe shared.

Ruffins,EstherMae

Schloegel,

Anthony'Sammy'

Mamdani’swin in NyChas

very limited relevance forLa.

Ifound Will Sutton’sanalysis of why Louisiana is not readyfor ademocratic socialist missed something rather crucial about Zohran Mamdani’svictory in New York. The election dynamics of the New York City mayoral race were aperfect storm. Mamdani was running against aRepublican, anonstarter for manyNew Yorkers, and Andrew Cuomo, a former governor who resigned amid asexual harassmentscandal. All against the backdrop of an incumbent mayor whohad to drop out of the race due toacorruption scandal with the Turkish government and asecondcorrupt deal with adespised president to avoid prosecutionfor thefirst. In New York, both the liberal and moderateprogressive factions have shownvoters that they are not responsibleenough to hold power.The only option left was an untested, yet unblemished, young socialist. The takeaway from the New York mayoral election should be that character and public trust still matter Perhaps Iam naive, butIdonot think such an “electoral strategy” will be effective outside of New York City,oreven outside of this particular New York City election. New Orleans’ moderateprogressives have not yet disqualified themselves like the other candidates in the New York City race.Additionally,the fact that a Democratic socialistdid not run, andthe democratic socialists of NewOrleans did not endorse a candidateinthe city’smayoral race, suggests somethingabout thepopularity of socialism in deep-blue New Orleans Thus, it is not just Louisiana that is not interested in aMamdani-style candidate; Louisiana Democrats, at least the New Orleanian variety,are not interested either EVAN YOUNG Gonzales

LSUneeds fans who will be true through dark times

Howtomakevotingbetter, from avoter’s perspective

Hooray for Lt. Gov.Billy Nungesser’sOct

24 Op-Ed piece presenting astoutdefense of open primaries. Open primaries allow the voters to choose theirrepresentatives, rather than having political parties limit those choices. Closed primaries are devices politiciansuse when they are nervous about their election legitimacy; their desire to serve eclipses thevoters’ right to choose.

There is currently agerrymandering arms race between the states. Gerrymandering is self-serving politicians’ way of putting a thumb onthe scale to tilt elections in their favor.Ihave some suggestions for what would befair to all parties.

First, redistricting should be done only once, andthen within the two-year period immediately following the national census every 10 years.

Second, redistricting should be accomplished by an independent non-political committeeusing appropriate tools to take into accountpopulation composition, including minority representation, compactness of boundaries and urbanand rural differences,

An electioncommissioner prepares voting booths as it gets readytoopen the gymatHynes Charter School in NewOrleans in 2024. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

as examples. Since there are thousands of ways to redistrict, thecommittee would choose the one that best fits. The Legislature’sfunction would be to debate the plan and, unless there is asizable supermajority to reject, theplan is ratified.

Third, if theopen primary does not have an outright majority winner,voting would proceed to arunoff election amongthe top four candidates.

The runoff result would be determined by ranked choice tabulation, winnowing down theworst performers until amajority winnerisdecided. This would encourage candidates toreach out to voters whoare not part of their true believer group.

The foregoing approach seems fair to all parties, especially the electorate, and guides thefinal result towards consensus. The current system tends towards political self-serving, polarization and extremes. The Legislature should give this thoughtful consideration.

LYNN PYKE NewOrleans

If Congress doesn’tact on health care subsidies, livescould be lost

If Congress doesn’tact now to continue the ACA Marketplace health care subsidies, millions of Americans —including thousands here in Louisiana —will lose their health insurance. Speaker Mike Johnson must call on House memberstodotheir jobsand protect the health of the people they serve.

This is not about politics —it’sabout life anddeath,about families and about basic humandecency

We are one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Surely we can ensure that all our neighbors have access to health care. Iknow from personal experience howdevastating serious illness can be —and how lifesaving insurance can makeall the difference between treatment and tragedy

This affects all of us —our families, our friends, our communities. Only billionaires will be untouched.

As an LSU alumnus and fan, I remember studying Thomas Paine when he penned “The American Crisis” in December 1776. The upstart Americans were losing on battlefields and economic times were hard on the home front. Paine’spamphlet called out the “sunshine patriots,” who were supportive in the good times but quickly turned negative and condemned Continental Army leaders, soldiers and “freedom’s cause” in the bad times. It’seasy to tear down; it’shard to build up.

The armchair critics who unceasingly criticize LSU football coaches and players are “sunshine fans.” No athletic team wins every game. Coaches and players can’t walk on water.The Continental Army,despite “sunshine patriots,” weathered the worst of times and eventually won anational championship called America. Championships honor the resilient spirit that has the will to see it through. “Sunshine fans” should look in the mirrorand ask if they’ve won at everything they’ve done. If the answer is “yes,” then they’ve lived aboring life.

GEORGE MIKELL

Charleston, South Carolina

Changesin Pell grants will help build health care workforce

Educational opportunities sometimes don’talign with our nation’s workforce needs, especially in health care. In addition to ashortage of nurses and doctors, there are also gaps in the allied health workforce that are essential to high-quality patient care and system efficiency

TO SEND US ALETTER, SCAN HERE

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

Let’sbeclear: Immigrants are not eligiblefor Marketplace insurance. That’s a harmful myth. This program helps working Americans—people who don’tget coverage through their jobs—afford health insurance for themselves and their families. We’retalking about people who have small companies, farmers, ranchers, etc. Without it, medical costs will skyrocket for everyone, emergency rooms will overflow and lives will be lost.

It’stime to stand up and demandthat our leaders act. Call, write, post andspeak up —because health care is ahuman right, and our nation must do better

Prayersfor health and well-being for Louisiana and our nation —that ourleaders will do their jobs with wisdom and compassion, working for thecommon good of all people.

MOLLYPHILLIPS Sunshine

Politiciansneedtorealize therewillbefutureafter Trump

Likeevery president,Donald Trumpwill be off the stage. If my senator or congressman were aDemocrat instead of aRepublican, Iwould write this sameletter The Republican Party needs to evolve into being more about building than destroying. Andthe Democratic Party needs to get more interested in what we can do next than preserving the status quo that’sbeing smashed to pieces.

This is what we need in our political leadership. It’suptothe people todemand this of our political leaders and to hold them accountable.

Republicans and Democrats need to learn from Trump’sdestructiveness and move forward tocontinue our journey to, as the founders said, “toform amore perfect union.”

PHILIP FRADY

NewOrleans

That’swhy I’mencouraged by Congress’ recent expansion of Pell Grant eligibility to include skillsbased credentialing programs, which include certification programsfor patient care technicians, EKGtechnicians, phlebotomytechnicians and more.

The traditional federal Pell Grant helps low-incomestudents afford tuition at colleges and universities, but this expanded workforce program would extend eligibility to people with ahigh school diploma or aGED to enroll in high-quality, short-term training certification programs. These grants help learners from all walks of lifegain critical skills forstarting acareer in these desperately needed roles, without incurring debt.

Iwant to thank U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy forhis leadership and steadfast support forworkforce Pell expansion. This investment will help build amore skilled and resilient health care workforce —one allied health career credential at atime. CLAIRE JACKLIN CEO,The NewOrleans Career Center

STAFF FILEPHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

TURKEY DAY

Folks all overthe countryare opening up their homes to friends andrelatives for Thanksgiving.Looks likethis Louisiana family hasaspecial guest dropping in for the big feast— and he looks hungry!

So, what’sgoing on in this cartoon? youtellme. Be witty,funny, crazy,absurd or snarky —just trytokeepitclean.There’snolimit on the number of entries

The winning punchline will be lettered into the word balloon andrun on Monday, Nov. 24 in our print editions and online. In addition, the winner will receivea signed print of the cartoon along with acool winner’sT-shirt! Somehonorable mentions will also be listed.

To enter,email entries to cartooncontest@theadvocate.com DON’T FORGET!All entries mustinclude your name, home address and phone number. Cell numbers are best.

The deadline for all entries is midnight on Thursday, Nov. 20. HappyThanksgiving,everyone!— Walt

History’sgears are lubricated by gore. Witness America’sRevolutionaryWar,whose continuing reverberationshave done more to improve the course of human eventsthan any other event in history

The war was fueled by crystallineideas couched in elegant prose authored by members of theColonial upper crust.But from 1777 on, most bleeding was done by “the poorest of the poor —jobless laborers and landless tenants, second and third sons without hope of an inheritance, debtors and British deserters, indentured servantsand apprentices, felons hoping towin pardons.”

Thecolonies’ 24 weekly newspapers agitated America’sunusually literatepopulation, as did Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense.” Washington, called to the colors after 16 years away from military matters, traveled with books on logistics,fortifications and artillery

so long before caving?

The government shutdownlasted 40 days before Senate Democrats abandoned the filibuster that closed offices, leftworkers without paychecks, threatened supplemental food benefits formillions, saw the beginning of agradual shutdownofthe commercial aviation system and much more. The question is: Why did those Democrats hold out forsolong? Why did they stubbornly play alosing hand even as millions of Americans suffered?

Carolina was back in thesecession business.

So says anew telling of America’s origin story,which is atapestry of suffering, viciousness, selflessness and nobility.Insix two-hour episodes on PBS, “TheAmerican Revolution” immerses viewers in an often bewildering, sometimes dismaying, but ultimately exhilarating documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. It is atutorial that teaches an appreciation of contingency: Things couldhaveturned out very differently than they did. And of pre-modernity: George Washington’sarmy wasthreatened by Britain’s, but more so by smallpox, which killed 100,000 Americans, soldiers and others, during the seven war years.

The war was, from Lexington Green to Yorktown, always acivil war(Washington: “A Brother’s Sword has been sheathed in aBrother’sbreast”), with approximately one-third of the population Loyalists (about 50,000 fought for the king), one-third Patriots, and one-third just wanting the war to go elsewhere. Benjamin Franklin’sson was a Loyalist. In some battles, almost everyone on the battlefield was an American

ThePatriots dragged 64 tons of artillery 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga across the Berkshire mountains to Boston, the documentary reports. Fighting against an empire, the motivated Patriots had an empire in their heads —the Ohio Valleyand beyond. TheContinental Congress called it the Continental Army for areason.

This is why the most tragic people swept intothe tornado of war were the150,000 Native Americans. They werecertain tolose everything including their land —nomatter which side won the war.Their westward trek of tears began before the warended. Pressured by Congress, in May 1779 Washington ordered “the totaldestruction and devastationof[Native American] settlements.… It will be essential to ruin their crops now in theground and prevent their planting more.”

Five thousand Black men and many Native Americans served in Continental Armyunitsmore integrated than U.S. forces would be until the late 1940s.

Amongthe war’stroubling paradoxes is this:

Thefinalfight for America’sfreedomtosecede from theBritish Empire was won in roughly 100 battles in SouthCarolinathat produced almost one-fifth of all thewar’sbattle deaths. Thatstate’svictorious militias had been created before the war as precautions against slave rebellions.And eight decades later,South

The fate of acontinent was determined by mostly brief and smallbattles. The largestwas the last, Yorktown,withnearly 20,000 American and French troops and 9,000 British engaged. Americans killed: 389. At Lexington: eight.Bunker Hill: 115. At Monmouth, the lastmajor battle in theNorth: 362. (On the first day of the Battleofthe Somme, July 1, 1916, almost 20,000 British soldiers were killed.)

In the20th century,the fates of other continents were shapedbythe material and moral resources our Revolution unleashed. AEuropean general aiding the Patriots discovered the secret of America’ssuccess, its inveterate individualism. To aEuropean friend he wrote: “You say to your soldier,‘Do this,’ and he does it; but [here] Iamobliged to say,‘This is thereason why you ought to do that,’ and then he does it.”

Andalways,more gore. In the middle of an operation to amputate (withoutanesthesia) asoldier’sleg, a cannonball removed the other

In his preface to thefilm’scompanion book, Burnssays Americans today are detached from the war’s “sometimes difficult truths.” There is,however,“comfort in complication,” when “thedistractions” of myths and nostalgia arereplaced notby“unforgiving revisionism” but by unblinking comprehension of thealways winding, often violent, course of human events.

Consider this documentarythe unofficial beginning of our 250th birthday party.Given today’s pandemic of crankiness, the party might trundle downhill from here. Butfor sixnights, theview from thehilltop is riveting.

Email George Will at georgewill@ washpost.com.

The short answer: because Obamacare was at stake. The Affordable Care Act is the Democratic Party’s premier policy achievement of the last half-century,and it is gradually sinking beneath rising costs, making “affordable” health coverage increasingly unaffordable. Without moretaxpayer-paid subsidies forrecipients, fewer and fewerpeople will be able to purchase coverage that Democrats once promised would be within everyone’sreach. So manyDemocrats have invested so much of their political identity on health care, and on their health care achievement —remember that Obamacare passed the Senate in 2010 without asingle Republican vote —that the prospect of its failure is unthinkable forthe Democratic Party

This is what happened. Back in 2010, Obamacare was acompromise between those Democrats who wanted to create anational single-payer health care system andthose who wanted amore market-based arrangement.But all Democrats agreed that the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which established taxpayer-paid subsidies with which millions of Americans could purchase health coverage, was the beginning of aprogram that would grow in the years to come.

The problem was, since Republicans unanimously opposed the system,any expansion of Obamacare or significant increase in its funding would have to come when Democrats controlled the House, Senate and White House. That timedid not come until early 2021, when President Joe Biden took office with aDemocratic House and Senate. Together, they immediately passed aset of new subsidies on top of the subsidies that already existed in the Affordable Care Act law

Democrats characterized their long-desired additional subsidies as an “emergency” measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. They would only last one year,expiring in 2022. But then, in 2022, Democrats renewed the additional subsidies —again, as an “emergency” measure —and extended them for three years, until Dec.31, 2025. In the meantime, Obamacare premium costs have gone up and up —anestimated 30% this year alone. So this was the situation Democrats faced: Even if the “emergency” subsidies were extended, millions of people would face big premium increases. And if the “emergency” subsidies were allowed to expire —and remember,in2022, every single Democrat in the Senate voted forthe subsidies to expire on Dec.31, 2025 —then people whopurchased coverage through Obamacare would face skyrocketing costs. By the way, the Biden administration declared the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023. Democrats extended the “emergency” additional subsidies until Dec. 31, 2025. Now,there is simply no “emergency” rationale for extending the additional subsidies.

But there is apolitical rationale, which is that the cost of Obamacare —contrary to Democrats’ predictions —isrising dramatically.Doing nothing —that is, not pumping moretaxpayer-paid subsidies into the system —could risk fewer and fewer Americans being able to afford health coverage through Obamacare.

So Democrats decided to block funding of the entire government unless Republicans would agree to extend the additional “emergency” subsidies. Republicans, whoproposed to keep the governmentfunded first and then discuss any Democratic Obamacare proposal, said no. The House GOP passed astraight, no-tricks government funding proposal. Senate Democrats used the filibuster to block it for40days, until the pain of the governmentshutdownproved too much for afew Democratic senators.

The big picture of what is happening is the failure of the Affordable Care Act. Indeed, someDemocrats have admitted that the reason they shut down the government was to hold out formore “emergency” subsidy money because the ACA has failed to makehealth coverage affordable. “I owe you an answer on whyitisI’m standing here today,asking to extend something that wastemporary,” Democratic Sen. Peter Welch said on the floor of the Senate afew days ago. “Wedid fail to bring downthe cost of health care.”

For Senate Democrats, the only waytodeal with that failure wastodemand moretaxpayer-paid premium subsidies to keep Obamacare afloat. Now, their shutdownhas failed, and they will no doubt search forother ways to pumpmoney into their struggling health care program Byron York is on X, @Bryon York

George Will

Byron York

We’ll starttoday having to dealwithsomeof the samepatchyfog we’vebeen dealingwith for the last coupleofdays. Otherwise, expect somemostlysunny, warmand humid conditions thisafternoon. Temperatures thisafternoon will rise to the low80s.Windswillbesoutheasterly at 5to10mph.Rain chances will remainat zero and won’t begin to rise until Thursday Afternoon temperatures will be in the low80s until Friday. There are twoweeks left until the end of hurricane season, and the AtlanticBasin remains quiet.

SPORTS

LSUlooks to keep hotstreak rollingvs. Tulane

Tigers on thehunttomatch arecordfromtitle team

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

STAR RISING

ä LSU at Tulane 6P.M. MONDAy,ESPNU

When LSU women’sbasketball finds itself in the early stages of blowout wins overmidmajor opponents,coach Kim Mulkey triesto find small sources of motivation for herteam Otherwise,thosegames could begin to feel atad monotonous. Mulkey doesn’t want theTigers to look at the score and losetheir focus. She wants to see sharp possessions throughout the contest instead, especially on the defensive end of thefloor “Just challengethem throughout agamelike this,” Mulkey said on Wednesday after a58-point winover Charlotte. “Give themlittle goals in the timeout. Give them little things to try to accomplish That’swhat you try to do.”

Here’ssomething Mulkey can pull out of her back pocket if LSU takes alargelead over Tulane in Fogelman Arena(6p.m., ESPNU) on Monday: Because the No. 5Tigers (4-0)havescoredatleast 100points in each of their first four games, they can now match astreak that only one SEC team has ever built beforeiftheyhit the century mark again in their matchup with theGreen Wave (2-1).

That group, coincidentally,isalso an LSU squad. The Tigers notched at least 100 points in each of their first five games of their national championship 2022-2023 campaign. According to Basketball Referencedata, no other SEC team has ever hit that mark in that many consecutivecontests—at any pointofa season. But this LSU team, Mulkey’sfifth,has a chance.

ä See LSU, page 5C

LSU guard

ZaKiyah Johnson

Tulane running back Jamauri McClure runs into the end zone to score atouchdown—his first of the season —against Florida Atlantic duringthe secondhalf on Saturdayatyulman Stadium. McClure gained acareer-high 94 yardsin Saturday’swin.

BY GUERRYSMITH Contributingwriter

Tulane all-time great running back Matt Forte attended the homecominggame against Florida AtlanticonSaturday,and coach Jon Sumrall introduced him to his players in thelocker room. Forte might have witnessed the birth of the Green Wave’snext transcendent ball-carrier Promising redshirt freshman Jamauri McClure, who wasfifthstring at thebeginningofthe season,gaineda career-high 94 yards on 10 attempts and scored his first touchdown of the season as Tulane solidified its American Conference championship hopes with a35-24 victory at Yulman Stadium.

“I said he’strying to maybe become Matt Forte oneday,” Sumrall said. “We’ll see. He’s got along way to go.” The journey startedSaturday.Gettinghis first significant action when an outcome was in doubt,McClure ripped off a26-yard run that set up atouchdown catch on the next play by tight end Anthony Miller for a21-10 lead in the second quarter.Hefollowed withjauntsof11, 9and

Wilson’s first winasLSU’s

BY WILSON ALEXANDER

Staff writer

Four days before his first win as LSU’s interim coach, Frank Wilson spoke at afuneral. He had never done that before, butthis was for Shan P. Williams, alongtime administrator in theNew Orleanspublicschool system. Wilson dabbed his eyes. His voice cracked as he talked about the roleWilliams played in his life. Williams gave him achance to be ahigh school head coachwhen he was 26 years old. Wilson called him his mentor.He never made aprofessional decisionwithout talking to him.

“I wanted him to go into thatstadiumwith me,” Wilson said. “He will. He’ll look down. He’ll smile. Smilebig.”

ä WesternKentucky at LSU 6:45 P.M.

SATURDAy,SEC NETWORK

When LSU beat Arkansas 23-22 on Saturdayafternoon, the first thing Wilson did was point to the skyabove Tiger Stadium. Players dousedhim in Powerade, andstaff members hugged him. His voice caught when asked what thewin meant to him in atelevisedinterview,and he simply said, “Everything.”

Afew minutes later,Wilson spent aminutehugginghis family beforehewentto the locker room. During his postgame news conference, sophomore running back Caden Durham walked in to hug him

“He’sbeen working so hard for thepast fewweeks to get his first W,”Durham said. “It felt like agood team win, andmylovefor

8yards, exploding through the middle to the end zone on thelatter one to pad the Wave’sadvantage to 28-10. His final carry —a19-yard explosion over the right side —allowed the Wave to go into victory formation.

Thevictory vaulted Tulane to No. 24 in the Associated Press poll and No. 25 in the coaches’ poll —its first appearance of the season in either top 25. American Conference rivalNorth Texasistwo spots higherthanthe Wave in both McClure’sperformance wasnothing like Forte’sschoolrecord-shattering 2,127-yard year as asenior in 2007, but it was an impressive debut as alead runner after McClure waited forhis turn behind Maurice Turner (likely out for theseason with aleg injury), Javon Gordon, Zuberi Mobley and Arnold Barnes.

Teammates recognizeMcClure, a5-foot-10, 206-pound back whocombines good powerwithquick acceleration and explosiveness, has off-the-charts potential.

“I keep trying to encourage that guy to keep his head up,” quarterback Jake Retzlaff said. “He’s an emotional

coachFrank,I wassohappy.I hadtocongratulatehim in adifferent way.

The win was one of Wilson’sgreatest professional accomplishments. He’sa New Orleans native who started his career as a high school coach and worked his way up thecollege ranks,eventuallybecoming the head coach at UTSA and McNeese State. Wilson has always understood what LSU meanswithin the state. He returned forhis second stint withthe Tigers as oneofBrian Kelly’s first hires. WhenKelly was fired Oct. 26, LSU picked Wilson to lead the team through theend of the season

“He had the mindset of being thehead coach already,” sixth-year defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory said. “It wassecond nature to him. With the preparation we had last

ä See WILSON, page 3C

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON LSUinterimcoachFrank Wilson talks with the team before takingthe field against Arkansas on Saturday at TigerStadium.

STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

McIlroy loses playoff but wins Race to Dubai

By The Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy’s banner year in golf ended with fitting drama Sunday when he eagled the last hole in regulation to force a playoff but lost out to Matt Fitzpatrick, who won the season-closing World Tour Championship for a third time.

The consolation for McIlroy? A fourth straight Race to Dubai title — crowning him as the year’s No. 1 player on the European tour to add to his wins at the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam, The Players Championship and his home Irish Open. McIlroy also helped Team Europe win an away Ryder Cup.

All of his big individual victories came in playoffs but a final one proved just beyond the Northern Irishman, though, after he hit his drive into a creek on the first playoff hole – No. 18 – and made bogey. Fitzpatrick chipped to 3 feet and rolled in a par putt to win the title again at Jumeirah Golf Estates, after 2016 and 2020.

“You never like to see the way it ends, but obviously delighted,” Fitzpatrick said after sealing his first win in two years

McIlroy generated the biggest roar of the day when he poured in a 15-footer for eagle on No 18 to complete a round of 5-under 67 and join Fitzpatrick (66) on 18-under par for the week. He also eagled the last hole at the Irish Open in September to force a playoff before going on to beat Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren at The K Club

“In typical Rory fashion, he did it again,” said Fitzpatrick, who watched it unfold while sitting in the scorer’s hut. He met McIlroy outside, shaking his hand and giving his Ryder Cup teammate a hug. They did so again after the playoff which finished with both of them as winners.

Chasing Monty

For McIlroy, it’s a seventh Race to Dubai title, putting him one clear of the late Seve Ballesteros and one behind Colin Montgomerie’s record haul.

“I didn’t get this far in my dreams, so it’s very cool,” said McIlroy, who revealed that he spoke to Ballesteros’ wife, Carmen, before his round on Sunday “It seems within touching distance now,” he added about catching Montgomerie “I’d love to be the winningest European in terms of Order of Merits and season-

to force a

of

long races. You know, I’ve probably got a few more good years left in me, and hopefully I can catch him and surpass him.”

Wild finish

Nine players either led or held a share of the lead across a wild few hours at the Earth course that culminated in Fitzpatrick making three birdies in his final five holes to overtake McIlroy and overhaul a slew of Europe’s other stars, including Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Åberg.

A birdie putt from 6 feet at No. 18 took Fitzpatrick a stroke clear of Fleetwood (67), Åberg (66) and Laurie Canter (67) and two ahead of McIlroy who was waiting in the 18th fairway knowing he now needed to make eagle.

He hit a fairway wood from around 230 yards to the right of the pin, got a good read from play-

ing partner Rasmus NeergaardPetersen, who was a few feet further away, and drained the putt.

Neergaard-Petersen (68) made birdie to join the group on 17 under in a tie for third.

Season turnaround

Fitzpatrick, the U.S Open champion in 2022, started the season slowly but finished it strong, getting into the Ryder Cup team on the back of top-10 finishes at the British Masters in August and the European Masters and BMW PGA Championship in September He then won 21/2 points from his four matches at Bethpage Black.

“To turn it around in the summer like I did and have a Ryder Cup like I did, feel like it’s hard to top, given everything,” Fitzpatrick said.

“But the way that I played today, I feel like I really didn’t hit one

bad shot all day I’m so proud of myself, the effort that everyone puts in behind the scenes. Yeah, what a feeling.”

PGA Tour cards

Marco Penge might not have chased down McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings this week but he was still smiling after his round of 67.

It completed a breakthrough year that has seen him take one of the PGA Tour cards on offer for the top 10 players in the Race to Dubai standings who are not otherwise exempt. The other nine players wound up being Canter, Kristoffer Reitan, Adrien Saddier Alex Noren, John Parry, Li Haotong, Keita Nakajima, Jordan Smith and Neergaard-Petersen. They will be dual members of the two established tours.

Sweden’s Grant breezes to win at The Annika

BY DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press

BELLEAIR, Fla Linn Grant of Sweden had so much control of her game that she played 52 holes consecutive holes without a bogey, a streak that ended on the final hole Sunday when it no longer mattered. She closed with a 5-under 65 for a three-shot victory over Jennifer Kupcho in The Annika.

It was Grant’s second LPGA title, and the second time she received a trophy from Swedish great and tournament host Annika Sorenstam. Grant won the Scandinavian Mixed in Sweden when Sorenstam and Henrik Stenson were co-hosts.

“You made this course look easy It’s not easy,” Sorenstam told her on the 18th green. It must have felt that way to Grant, who was never under much stress. She finished at 19-under 261 and had a chance to set the tournament record until a bogey on the final hole, her first one since her opening hole Friday

“There are weeks where everyone feels like their game is really good and there could potentially be a win. It’s just really nice to like see it go all the way and to really walk off 18 and be able to pat yourself on the shoulder and feel like I actually did it this week,” Grant said. She is the first Swedish winner of the tournament that began in 2020, even more meaningful to Grant because she remembers going to clinics Sorenstam held in Sweden when she was a girl and

recalls watching Sorenstam hit wedges to someone catching them with a baseball glove.

“I started doing that with my dad, so thanks for that,” Grant told Sorenstam Kupcho birdied the first hole to tie for the lead, but only briefly Grant birdied the next hole and never trailed again. The Swede had to make a 15-foot birdie putt to stay one ahead through five holes, and then she seized control on the par-3 ninth.

Kupcho made her second bogey of the front nine, and Grant rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt to extend the lead to three shots. No one got any closer the rest of the way Kupcho also closed with a 65.

“I’m glad she was playing well because I think that really

pushed me to play better,” Grant said “And overall, I just had the thought of whoever wins is going to have a really good job.”

Gaby Lopez of Mexico birdied four of her last six holes for a 65 to finish third. Brooke Matthews also came away a winner in two respects. She made a hole-in-one with a 9-iron from 140 yards on the 12th hole to win a two-year lease on a Lamborghini Huracán. Two holes later, Matthews chipped in for eagle, and all those great shots mattered.

It added to a 65 — a card that included scores of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 — to tie for ninth, giving her enough points to move into the top 60 of the Race to the CME Globe. That qualifies her for next week’s

Jets CB critically wounded in Manhattan shooting

New York Jets cornerback and special teams standout Kris Boyd was critically injured in a shooting in midtown Manhattan early Sunday, according to Mayor Eric Adams’ office.

The shooting happened just after 2 a.m. outside a business on West 38th Street near 7th Avenue, according to the New York Police Department. A 29-year-old man was shot in the abdomen, police said The man was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was in critical but stable condition. There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing. Adams’ office said the man shot was Boyd.

Boyd hasn’t played this season after going on the season-ending injured reserve list on Aug. 18 with a shoulder injury that required surgery to repair

Sinner defeats Alcaraz to retain ATP Finals title

TURIN, Italy The final installment of the “Sincaraz” rivalry for 2025 went to Jannik Sinner

The second-ranked Sinner beat top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (4), 7-5 for the ATP Finals trophy on Sunday in the sixth meeting this year between the two players who are dominating men’s tennis.

Sinner defended the title before his home Italian fans for only his second victory over Alcaraz this year after also beating the Spaniard in the Wimbledon final.

“It was an incredible season,” Sinner said. “To finish it this way, before my Italian fans, is very special for me.”

Alcaraz had already secured the year-ending No. 1 ranking and was contesting his first final at the event for the year’s top eight players.

Schenk wins first PGA Tour title in his 243rd attempt

SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda Adam Schenk finally won when he least expected it, closing with an evenpar 71 in raging wind Sunday to hold on for a one-shot victory in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in his 243rd start on the PGA Tour Schenk was two tournaments away from having to return to Qschool at No. 134 in the FedEx Cup. Then he handled some of the toughest conditions he ever faced, making one birdie and four crucial par saves in gusts that topped 30 mph.

The last one was as difficult as any His approach to the par-4 18th at Port Royal went just over the green as Schenk clung to a one-shot lead. He gave that winning putt a light touch, relieved when it found the center of the cup to hold off Chandler Phillip, who also shot 71.

NFL’s Goodell says league plans to return to Spain

MADRID NFL commissioner

season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, where the winner gets $4 million.

“It was wild,” Matthews said. “All week I was like, ‘I want to win the Lamborghini.’ Just saw it bounce. I still can’t believe it. I blacked out I can’t wait to watch it on film because I still can’t really remember it.”

Nataliya Guseva had her own big moment. She holed out with a gap wedge from 109 yards on the final hole for birdie she had to lay up out of a fairway bunker — giving her a 68 that moved the Russian into the top 60.

Lucy Li also advances to next week down the coast in Naples

Her birdie on the final hole gave her a 66 and moved her up 13 spots to No. 58. Grant was running out of time to extend her streak of winning each year somewhere in the world dating to 2020, when she was still an amateur and won twice on the Nordic Golf League. She has won titles on the LPGA, Ladies European Tour, LET Access Series, Ladies Sunshine Tour, Nordic Golf League and even the European Tour, which co-sanctioned the Scandinavian Mixed.

“My dad is a man of good words,” she said. “When he looked at someone else’s career he always said, ‘If you have a win every year, that’s pretty solid.’ I guess that’s what it is.”

Defending champion Nelly Korda, a three-time winner at Pelican Golf Club, started six shots behind and couldn’t keep pace with Grant. She closed with a 69 and tied for 15th.

Roger Goodell praised this year’s international series and said Sunday that the league plans to return to Spain and will continue to study other possible markets.

Goodell spoke before the Washington Commanders faced the Miami Dolphins at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the seventh — and final — international game of the season, the most ever in one year for the NFL as it continues to expand globally

“We will be back, we are excited,” Goodell told Spanish media. “This has been a great opportunity for us. We always wait until we get through the games, but we want to be back here in Madrid (and) Spain. I think this is a great market for us.”

American Conference’s Sullivan dies at age 54

IRVING, Texas Chuck Sullivan, assistant commissioner and primary spokesman for the American Conference, has died after a long illness. He was 54. The conference announced Sunday that Sullivan died of melanoma Saturday night.

Sullivan joined the Big East as director of communications in 2007 and continued in that role when the football members of that conference broke off to form the American in 2013. He was promoted to assistant commissioner for communications in 2015.

“We are heartbroken at the loss of our friend and colleague Chuck Sullivan,” American Commissioner Tim Pernetti said. “He will be

missed and forever part of the American Conference family.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALTAF QADRI

Rory McIlroy reacts after putting for eagle on the 18th hole

playoff with Matt Fitzpatrick during the final round

World Tour Championship on Sunday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By WILLIE J ALLEN JR.

Linn Grant, left, and Annika Sorenstam hold the championship trophy after Grant’s win on the final day of The Annika on Sunday in Belleair, Fla.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By COLINHUBBARD

Georgia defensivelineman Christen Miller,left,and linebacker Gabe Harris, center,smile after defeating Texas on SaturdayinAthens, Ga. The Bulldogs movedupone spot in the AP Top25poll this week

Georgiaup to No.4inAP poll;TulanerankedNo. 24

BY ERIC OLSON Associated Press

Georgia moved up one spotto

No. 4inThe Associated Press poll

Sunday,Oklahoma returnedtothe top 10 and North Texas, ranked for the first time since 1959,is among three Group of Fiveteams in the Top25.

Ohio State, Indianaand Texas

A&M were the top three teams for the fifth straight week. Georgia earned its highest ranking since the first week of September,and Mississippi was back in thetop five after spending three weeks there at midseason.

Oregon and Texas Tech were tied for No. 6, and Oklahoma rose three spots to No. 8following its win at Alabama.

Notre Dame remained No. 9after a22-point win at Pittsburgh, and Alabama dropped six spots to No. 10 after the Soonersendedits eight-game win streak.

Ohio State, which rolled past UCLA to improve to 10-0for the fourthtimeinseven seasons, received 57 of 66 first-place votes

Texas A&M, whose comeback from a27-point deficit to beat South Carolina was its largest ever,got one first-place vote, three less than lastweek

Georgia’s35-10 win overTexas was its sixth straight and second over atop-10 opponent. Mississippi, which lost at Georgiaamonth ago, defeatedFlorida and is more than 100 points behind the Bulldogs at No. 5.

TheGroup of Five hadn’t had three teams in the Top25since four appeared in last season’s final poll.

The Sun Belt Conference’s James Madison blew out Appala-

WILSON

Continued from page1C

week versus this week, it shows you why he’sagood coach. We really,truly go out there andplay for him, and we love him.”

After he was named interim coach, Wilson triedtoget in touch with his mentor.Williamsmade him the head coach at O.P.Walker High in 2000,taking achance on someone who didn’tbelieve in himself yet. Williams “saw something in me no one else saw,”Wilson said. “Boy,you’re special,” Wilson recalled Williams telling him. They went to state championship games in the Superdome together, and Williams remained aclose friendeversince. They talked all the time. Wilson said allheever wanted was Williams’ approval.

But Wilson couldn’tget in touch with him after being named the interim coach. Finally,hereached out to Williams’ daughter.Williams was in the hospital, in and out of consciousness.

“Does he know?” Wilson asked her.“Does he know what’shappening?”

“He knows,” Wilson recalled her saying.

“What did he say?”

“‘Wedid it.’” Wilson nevergot achance totalk to him again before Williams, 77, died the night of Nov.1,aweek before Wilson coached his first game as LSU’sinterim coach against Alabama. On Tuesday morning, Wilson attended the funeral in New Orleans.

“I stood in the front of theroom, and Isaid Ispeak in front of people every day of my life routinely withoutissue,” Wilson recalled

chian Stateand moved up three spotstoNo. 21. North Texas is nextatNo. 22. TheMean Green of the American Conference clobbered UAB53-24 on the road and have matched its best startinprogram history

The last time UNT was 9-1 wasin1959, when theteam then known asthe Eagles was ranked two straight weeks in November, reaching No. 16. That team lost to New Mexico Stateinthe Sun Bowl to finish 9-2

This year’s UNTteamisinthe thick of the race for the Group of Five’sautomatic CFP bid.

In andout

n No. 22 NorthTexas’ first appearance in the poll in 66 years ends the longest drought by a Bowl Subdivision team.

n No. 23 Missouri returnedafter aone-week absence following

awin over Mississippi State in which AhmadHardy becamethe first player since 2022 torush for 300 yards.

n No. 24 Tulane has won two straight since losing toUTSA and is rankedfor thefirst time this season.

n No. 25 Houston,fifth among teamsalso receiving votes last week and idle, was ranked for one week in October Poll points

n Voters did what theCFP selection committee did last week, jumping Miami over Georgia Tech to make the Hurricanes the highest-ranked Atlantic Coast Conference team.Miamieasily beat North Carolina State and moved up twospots to No.14. Georgia Tech, which needed afield goal in thefinal seconds to edge one-win Boston College,slippeda spot to No.15.

n No. 13 Utah hasoutscored threeopponents by acombined 153-49 since losingatBYU andhas its highest ranking of theseason.

n No. 17 Texastook thebiggest plunge, dropping seven spots.

Ranked vs.ranked

n No. 16 Southern California (8-2, 6-1 BigTen,No. 17 CFP) at No.6Oregon(9-1, 6-1, No.8CFP): Thewinnerstrengthens itsposition for aCFP at-large bid and keeps alive slim hopes of sneaking into the BigTen championship game.

n No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3 SEC) at No. 8Oklahoma(8-2, 4-2, No. 11 CFP): TheSooners didwonders for their playoff resumeby knocking off Alabama on the road and now go for afifth win over a Top25opponent

Saturday afternoon.“It became very difficultbecause those words that she said meantsomuch.”

in aposition to be able to help this team earn victory.”

Near loss forTexas A&M createsshakeup atop poll

Despite there being ahandful of major results, Ididn’tmake too manydrasticchanges to my AP Top25pollthis week. Georgia taking downTexas with ease shouldn’tbeamajor surprise. Nor should Iowa’s crosscountry loss to Southern Cal. Even Alabama’sdefeat to Oklahomawasn’tshocking, given how theSooners’ strong defense could exploit the Tide’sone-dimensional attack.

However,I still madeanother shakeup at No.1togoalong with morechanges at the bottom of the poll. Here’swhere Ilanded with my AP Top25poll after Week 12 of the college football season.

My AP Top25pollafter Week 12

Indiana, 2. Texas A&M, 3. Ohio State, 4. Georgia, 5. Texas Tech, 6. Ole Miss, 7. Oklahoma, 8. Alabama, 9. Notre Dame, 10. Oregon, 11. BYU, 12. Utah, 13. Southern Cal, 14. Miami, 15. Texas, 16. Vanderbilt, 17. Michigan, 18. Tennessee, 19. Illinois, 20. Missouri, 21. Georgia Tech, 22. Virginia, 23. Iowa, 24. Louisville, 25. Washington Just missed: Houston, Arizona State, Arizona, James Madison Anew No.1 (again)

Iflip-flopped Texas A&M and Indiana again this week after theAggies needed to score 28 unanswered points in the second half to beat lowly South Carolina at home andthe Hoosiers easily took down Wisconsin in Bloomington.

The margins between Texas A&M,Indiana and Ohio State are razor thin. The Buckeyes have only played in one close game all year.The Aggies beat Notre Dame on the road and have a couple of dominant road victories. Indiana’swin at Oregon was arguably the mostimpressive win of the year, and the Hoosiers have routinely destroyed their Big Ten foes.

Iwouldn’thavea problem with any of these teams being No. 1. ButIlanded on Indiana as my No. 1this week because it hasa much strongerwin than anything Ohio State hasdoneand has been more dominant against its middle-of-the-road schedule than Texas A&M, especially after the Aggies barely beat South Carolina.

The margin between Texas A&M and Ohio State also shrank this week because the South Carolina result, but the Aggies still have thebest winwhen comparing the twosides. The Buckeyes’ seven-pointvictory over Texas is notable but doesn’thold the same weight as the Notre Dame win. WhereAlabama landed andwhy Alabama’sloss to Oklahomaexposed afew of the Crimson Tide’s flaws, particularlyonoffense. But Istill likethe Tide’sbody of work

TULANE

Continued from page1C

runner.Thattouchdown run, there was no way anybody was tackling him on that one. To watch him run the ball is awesome. His ceiling is so high.”

McClure, who ran a10.6 100-meter dash forhis high school track team in Goshen, Alabama, did not play organized football until his junior year there. His rawness when he arrived at Tulane trumped the natural talent he exhibitedwhen he rushed for 84 yards late in a 71-20 blowout of UAB last season.

“He’sabig, athletic dude and a good kid,” Sumrall said.“We all want these guys as freshmenand sophomores to be thestarter,but he’sa youngplayer in his developmental timeline.”

With the win against Arkansas, Wilson became the first Black headcoach to win agame in LSU footballhistory.Offensive line coach BradDaviswas theteam’s first Black head coach when he served as the interiminthe 2022 Texas Bowl.

“I recognize, Iacknowledge those who have knocked on the door and hoped for opportunities as African-American coaches for many years,” Wilson said. “I stand on theshoulders of those men who are giants. I’m very fortunate, I’m very proud, I’m very humble, to be

Wilson has three more games as theinterim head coach. LSU finishes theregular season against Western Kentucky and Oklahoma before playing abowl game. His future after thatisuncertain in the midst of acoaching change, though Wilson has often shown his value as arecruiterwith deep New Orleansconnections. After thegame, Wilson thought of Williams. “Forhim and for so many others, we did this,” Wilsonsaid. “I carry that with abadge of honor.Wedid this. My only resentmentisthat he’snot here to enjoy it with me.”

better than Notre Dame’s Yes, Alabama’sloss to Florida State is much worse than anything Notre Dame has done this season, but Alabamastill holds four wins over top-20 teams in my poll, including avictory on the road over No. 4Georgia. The Irish’sbest winisover my No. 13 team,and it’stheir only ranked win.

Duetothe Alabamaloss, Georgia and Texas Tech simply slid up aspot, but Idid somemore juggling after that. Ilanded on Ole Miss at No. 6and Oklahomaat No.7inlarge part due to the Rebels’ winover the Sooners back in Week 9. Ole Miss doesn’town manyimpressive wins besides that one, but the difference between its resumeand Oklahoma’s wasn’tenough to overcome that result.

Oklahomaholds an extra loss and still has areally shaky offense. The Rebels in my book are the morewell-rounded team, which is what we saw in that Week 9result.

Othernotes

Figuring out the bottom of my poll seemstobeanadventure every week. Ifeel good about every team from 21 on up being worthy of cracking my rankings, but after that things got really murky Virginia’s nicewin over Duke on the road gotitback in my poll, despite the Cavaliers losing to Wake Forest last weekend. Virginia’s lone ranked victory is over asuddenly struggling Louisville team, but it’shardtoleave a9-2 team outofthe poll at this point.

Iowa has four losses, but three of themcame against USC on the road,Indiana andOregon by a combined12points. The Hawkeyes passing attack is almost nonexistent andtheylack asignature win, but being one of two teams to lose to my No.1team by single digits should count for something.

Louisville nearly fell out of my poll entirely after falling to Clemson at homeonFriday.For now,its wins over Miami, James Madison and Pittsburgh (all top30ish caliber teams) are keeping them in.

Washington took the last spot over Houston because the Huskies beat Illinois. Both teamshold abad loss (Houston lost to West Virginia at homeand Washington dropped aroad gametoWisconsin), but Washington is the only one among them to have beaten a ranked team in my poll.

cameSaturday in front of a packed house.

“The crowd really brought alot of energy to me,” he said. “This wasmyfirsttimeplaying in the first half, anditjustmeant alot to me how manypeople were there to show what Ihave.”

Tulane’sother backs had off days. Gordon, afreshman, gained 14 yardsonfive carries. Mobley, an FAUtransfer facing his old team,picked up 13 yardsonfive attempts. Barnes rushed once for 6yards and dropped apass. McClure’sfour best runs were longer than any of theirs.

“The crowd really brought alot of energy to me.This wasmyfirst time playing in the first half, and it just meant alot to me howmany people were there to show what Ihave.”

JAMAURI McCLURE, Tulane running back

Until Saturday,McClure’s “highlight” this year wasgaining 19 yardsonthree carriesingarbage time versus Ole Miss. When he received arare early chance a week later against Tulsa, he fumbled in the red zone and dropped out of the rotation. He refused to get frustrated.

“I’vejust been trying to stay consistent, coming in every day andtrying to get better and not complainingabout notgetting playing time,” he said. “That would only bring me down,soI just kept positive.” The payoff forhis attitude

“WhatI’m most proud of with Jamauri was that he was alittle beat up this week,” Sumrall said. “He was limited in Wednesday’s practice with his reps. Forhim to fight through it and perform the way he did today, he’staking steps forward.” McCluremight give Tulane the finalpush it needstoreach theAmerican Conference championshipgame for aleague-record fourth consecutive year.Victories at Temple next Saturday —kickoff will be 2:45 p.m.onESPNU —and in theregular-season finaleagainst hapless Charlotte could assure theWaveaspotinthe title matchup, but he is not thinking that far ahead.

“Sometimes Idon’teven know who we are playing until coach says it,” he said. “I just try to get better every day and get ready forthe week.”

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU interim coachFrank Wilson talks withrunning back Caden Durham duringthe second quarter of agameagainst Arkansas on Saturdayat TigerStadium. Wilson became thefirst Black coach to win afootball game at LSU.

Koki Riley

PRO FOOTBALL

Dolphins beat Commanders in OT in Spain

By The Associated Press

MADRID Jack Jones had a fitting celebration after his overtime interception in the first NFL regularseason game in Spain.

The Miami Dolphins cornerback ran toward the sideline and stretched his arms wide after a twisting jump in front of his teammates. Jones was imitating Cristiano Ronaldo, the soccer great who used to celebrate like that at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium when he played for Real Madrid

“I had to bring that out,” he said. “I was talking to my friend and I’m like, ‘When I make a play, be ready for that celebration.’”

Jones intercepted Marcus Mariota on the first offensive play of overtime and Riley Patterson kicked a 29-yard field goal to give the Dolphins a 16-13 victory over the Washington Commanders.

Jones cut in front of Commanders tight end Zach Ertz and came away with the ball.

“They covered our first couple of options well,” Mariota said. “I tried to get back side to Zach. Guy undercut it and made a play Unfortunate there, and give credit to him. He made a good play.”

Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks said Jones told him moments earlier that he was going to come up with the interception, making “that moment a lot cooler.

“His exact words: Y’all stop the run. He’s going to throw me the ball, because he can’t throw,” Brooks said.

The Commanders (3-8) had a chance to win and end a five-game losing streak with 15 seconds left in regulation, but Matt Gay’s 56yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. Gay, who said ahead of the game he was thrilled to have the chance to play at the Bernabeu, missed two of his four field goal attempts.

PACKERS 27, GIANTS 20: In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love took a big hit to his left shoulder and jogged inside for further evaluation.

Love returned from the injury to throw two touchdown passes, Malik Willis had one of his own while filling in and the Packers ended their skid by defeating the New York Giants.

With Jameis Winston making his first start in 11 months and Mike Kafka debuting as interim coach after the firing of Brian Daboll, the

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Orchard Park, N.y

PHOTO By CAROLyN KASTER

Giants (2-9) lost their fifth game in a row despite two touchdown runs from Devin Singletary and a QB sneak touchdown by Winston.

TEXANS 16, TITANS 13: In Nashville, Tennessee, the Houston Texans keep digging early holes for themselves. With Davis Mills filling in while C.J. Stroud is in the concussion protocol, they’ve put together back-to-back comeback victories.

Mills threw for 274 yards and a touchdown, Matthew Wright kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired, and the Texans beat the Tennessee Titans 16-13 on Sunday to sweep the season series with their AFC South rivals.

Led by their backup quarterback, the Texans (5-5) reached 500 for the first time this season with their third win in four games. They also won their fifth straight over the Titans in Nashville despite playing without Stroud, safety Jalen Pitre and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn.

PANTHERS 30, FALCONS 27: In Atlanta, Bryce Young threw for 448 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions and Ryan Fitzgerald kicked a 28-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Carolina Panthers to a win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Young’s 54-yard pass to Tommy Tremble set up the winning kick for Carolina (6-5), which completed its sweep of reeling NFC South rival Atlanta.

Young completed 31 of 45 passes despite being escorted to the locker

Allen outduels Mayfield as Bills beat Buccaneers

BY JOHN WAWROW AP sportswriter

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y Josh Allen

wasn’t in an I-told-you-so mood after he threw three touchdown passes and ran for three scores. Following a few clunkers, the Buffalo Bills’ star quarterback led his team to a season high in points in Sunday’s 44-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — and afterward, Allen refused to fall into the trap of riding emotional peaks and valleys.

“Starting off 4-0 and we’re the best team in the world. And we lose two in a row and now we’re the worst team in the world,” Allen said “We don’t want to ride that. We want to stay here, stay consistent.” Either way, Allen brought the Bills’ offense out of a monthlong slump, overcame what he called a “boneheaded” interception on his second snap, and added another extraordinary stat line to a career full of them.

Allen became the first NFL’s first player with two games of three TDs passing and rushing. He did it last year in a 44-42 loss at the Los Angeles Rams. He also upped his career total to 290 touchdowns, the most by a quarterback before turning 30 — passing Peyton Manning’s 288 The reigning MVP did it this time with a retooled receiving group

that featured Gabe Davis and Mecole Hardman making their season debuts. And Allen outdueled fellow 2018 first-round draft pick Baker Mayfield in a back-andforth game that featured nine lead changes

“I think at the end of the first quarter, just the way how things were going, I’m just knowing that we’re gonna have to put our hard hats on and go to work,” Allen said.

“And I thought we made some plays today.”

A week after Buffalo was blanked through three quarters of a 30-13 loss at Miami, Allen came out firing, even with wind gusts of up to 30 mph off nearby Lake Erie. His three TD passes went for 25 yards or longer including a perfectly placed 43yard deep ball that Tyrell Shavers hauled in while tumbling into the end zone

And the dual-threat quarterback used his legs to score three times. The last was a 9-yard run in which Buffalo’s offensive linemen shoved him the final 2 yards to seal the victory with 2:35 remaining.

“High-level competition, two great quarterbacks, two great teams,” coach Sean McDermott said.

“Fun, yeah. My heart could have used a little bit different type of game,” he added. “This win right here showed me how tough we are.”

room late in the first quarter with a right ankle injury He missed only one snap.

BEARS 19, VIKINGS 17: In Minneapolis, Devin Duvernay’s 56-yard kickoff return in the final minute set up Cairo Santos for his fourth field goal of the game, a 48-yarder as time expired that gave the Chicago Bears a victory after the Minnesota Vikings scored the go-ahead touchdown with 50 seconds left. Over their seven wins, the Bears (7-3) are a stunning plus-20 in that column. Not coincidentally they’re 3-0 in games decided by two points or fewer and 5-1 when the margin is five or less.

After J.J. McCarthy ended another erratic performance with five straight completions that culminated with a 15-yard scoring strike to Jordan Addison, Duvernay delivered the clutch response after the Bears blew the 13-point lead they took into the fourth quarter

JAGUARS 35,CHARGERS 6: In Jacksonville, Florida, the Jaguars bounced back from the worst collapse in franchise history by thumping the Los Angeles Chargers behind rushing touchdowns from Travis Etienne, Trevor Lawrence and rookie Bhaysul Tuten.

Coming off a 36-29 debacle at Houston during which they blew a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars (6-4) showed no lingering effects from the crushing setback against a division rival.

Coach Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers were a complete no-show finishing with 135 yards and just eight first downs.

STEELERS 34, BENGALS 12: In Pittsburgh, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent the second half in the locker room dealing with an aching left wrist. And still the Pittsburgh Steelers found a way, and steadied their season in the process.

Mason Rudolph guided a pair of long scoring drives after replacing the injured Rodgers, and the Steelers surged past the Cincinnati Bengals 34-12 on Sunday to remain atop the AFC North while also playing without safety Jalen Ramsey, who was thrown out for throwing a punch at Cincinnati wide receiver

Ja’Marr Chase. Joe Flacco’s run of inspired play came to an abrupt end. The 40-yearold, who had not looked his age since taking over for an injured Joe Burrow and ineffective Jake Browning, delivered his worst performance since joining Cincinnati (3-7) last month. Flacco completed 23 of 40 passes for 199 yards with a touchdown and Kyle Dugger’s interception.

49ERS 41,CARDINALS 22: In Glendale, Arizona, Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes in his return from a toe injury, Christian McCaffrey had two rushing touchdowns and a receiving score, and the San Francisco 49ers beat the sloppy

Arizona Cardinals. McCaffrey extended his NFL record with his 17th career game with at least one running touchdown and a touchdown catch. Purdy completed 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards. Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett started his fifth straight game for the injured Kyler Murray and completed 47 of 57 passes for 452 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The 47 completions set an NFL record in the regular season.

RAMS 21,SEAHAWKS 19: In Inglewood, California, Kamren Kinchens had two of the Rams’ four interceptions, Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and Los Angeles hung on to beat the Seattle Seahawks for its fifth consecutive victory

Jason Myers was short on a 61yard field goal attempt as time expired, allowing the Rams (8-2) to survive the Seahawks’ furious late rally

RAVENS 23, BROWNS 16: In Cleveland, Ohio, tight end Mark Andrews ran 35 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:31 remaining, and the Baltimore Ravens rallied for a victory over the Cleveland Browns to spoil Shedeur Sanders’ NFL debut. On fourth-and-inches at the Browns 35, Baltimore (5-5) looked like it was going to run a tush push with Andrews lined up under center. Instead of going up the middle, Andrews ran left. Fullback Patrick Ricard got a kick-out block on Browns safety Grant Delpit, and Andrews was untouched as he scampered to the end zone for his first career rushing touchdown. The Ravens have won four straight since their nightmarish 1-5 start.

BRONCOS 22, CHIEFS 19: In Denver, Wil Lutz kicked five field goals, including a 35-yard game-winner as time expired, pushing Denver past Kansas City for its eighth straight victory

The Broncos (9-2) all but buried the Chiefs (5-5) in the AFC West, which Kansas City has won ever year since 2016. Chiefs coach Andy Reid fell to 27-5 following a bye week, counting the playoffs and his time with Philadelphia. Bo Nix set up the game-winning kick with a 32-yard pass to Troy Franklin that got Denver to the Kansas City 15 with under a minute remaining.

Raiders’ offense struggles under Kelly amid injuries and setbacks

BY MARK ANDERSON AP sportswriter

HENDERSON, Nev This wasn’t the kind of production expected out of the Las Vegas Raiders’ offense when they gave Chip Kelly $6 million to run it. But the offensive coordinator also likely didn’t expect to try to piece together a unit beset by injuries.

So even though the offensive numbers are far from pretty, how much of that falls on Kelly is difficult to tell.

For his part, Kelly isn’t making excuses for an offense that through 10 weeks ranked 30th in total yards (272.2 average), 29th in rushing (87.4), 27th in passing (185.2) and 31st in scoring (15.4).

“It’s just the NFL,” Kelly said. “I think everybody understands that. I don’t think there’s anybody in the league right now that hasn’t lost players that were starters for them. That’s just the nature of the game we play, and you have to be able to adjust and adapt. Your depth is going to get tested at all times, so you just have to adjust to it. You don’t sit there and say, ‘Boy, I wish we had him.’ ”

One of Pete Carroll’s first acts upon becoming Las Vegas’ coach in January was to hire Kelly, who had just been the offensive coordinator for Ohio State’s national championship team His reported $6 million contract is the highest for an NFL OC.

So much was expected from Kelly to improve an offense that also ranked toward the bottom in multiple categories last season.

Not expected? A knee injury to tight end Brock Bowers limited him in three games and took him out of three others, and offensive linemen Kolton Miller and Jackson Powers-Johnson landed on injured reserve with ankle injuries.

The Raiders also had higher hopes for veteran quarterback Geno Smith, but his 12 interceptions entering the weekend were second only to Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa.

“I’ve got to cut it loose,” Smith said. “Just don’t think too much. Just go out there and cut it loose, play your game. Protect the football, first and foremost. The last eight games of the season, I want to be the best in the league in terms of protecting the football.”

Las Vegas also hasn’t been able to get its running game going despite taking Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty with the sixth pick in this year’s draft. Much of Jeanty’s struggles trace back to the Raiders failing to adequately address their offensive line issues in the offseason.

So there is much working against Kelly that is largely out of his control and he can only do so much with what he’s given. But it’s also difficult to find much evidence in which he elevated the offense.

“He’s working hard at it, and he’s working with the guys he’s got and trying to make the very most of it,” Carroll said.

Perhaps Monday night’s home game against Dallas will be an opportunity for Kelly to get the offense going in the right direction The Cowboys allow 30.8 points per game, next to last in

the league.

But help is on the way The Cowboys traded for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson, capturing the Raiders’ attention that this might not be the easy-to-attack Dallas “D” other teams have taken advantage of this season. Dallas likely will focus its attention on Bowers and put the onus on a Raiders receiving group weakened by the trade of Jakobi Meyers just before the deadline. In the Raiders’ first game without Meyers, they had trouble getting anything going in a 10-7 loss at Denver on Nov 6.

“There’s a difference in terms of who you have out wide,” Kelly said. “Obviously, in the offensive line, there’s been some shuffling going on because you lost Kolton and then you lost JPJ, so just moving those guys around. I think our guys that have stepped up have done a nice job, but that’s an ongoing process, and that’s what happens in this league.”

It can be an unforgiving league.

The Raiders stand at 2-7, but special teams blunders cost them three legitimate chances at victories, which resulted in the firing of coordinator Tom McMahon on Nov 7.

A much more effective offense, however, also changes the narrative of this season.

No matter how the Raiders got to this point, it caught Carroll by surprise.

“How do I handle it? Not very well,” Carroll said. “It’s been crappy, and this is not what I expected to happen. I didn’t feel that we would be this far behind the start of the season. We’re just trying to keep driving the messages home and trying to get better each week and do some things that we can build from.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DOUG BENC

Miami Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson is congratulated after kicking the winning field goal in overtime against the Washington Commanders on Sunday in Madrid, Spain.

Kelly

The Tigers scored 108 points on 53% shooting in their seasonopening rout of Houston Christian, and they still haven’t cooled off. Their offensive numbers, in fact, have only improved since then.

LSU has scored at least 115 points seven times in program history Three of those outings have come in just the past 10 days in drummings of Southeastern Louisiana, Georgia Southern and Charlotte.

The Tigers have picked up four wins by an average margin of 62 points. They’re also shooting an efficient 56% from the field and a blistering 48% from 3-point range. Tulane has already hung with an

SCOREBOARD

Pelicans take on Warriors

WEST

Hawai’i 68, Utah Tech 62 Sacramento State 64, Presbyterian 62 Women’s state scores, schedule Saturday’s game No games scheduled Sunday’s games UL-Monroe 79, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 50 McNeese 49, Tarleton State 47 Arizona 85, Grambling 64 Monday’s game LSU at Tulane, 6 p.m. National scores EAST Brown 56, UMBC 54 Buffalo 67, Fordham 59 Cornell 62, Canisius 50 Dartmouth 65, Siena 55 Drexel 66, Loyola (MD) 57 Lafayette 69, St. Francis (PA) 55 Marist 78, Holy Cross 77, OT Maryland 84, Princeton 68 Navy 69, Florida 54 New Hampshire 76, New England College 29 Penn State 89, Saint Joseph’s 77 Rutgers 59, Fairleigh Dickinson 49 Scranton 69, Pittsburgh 63 Syracuse 78, Wagner 29 Towson 65, Coppin State 54 UConn 100, Ohio State 68 SOUTH Appalachian State 77, Wofford 50 Austin Peay 77, Indiana State 73 Davidson 82, Iona 52 Duke 71, Liberty 57 Eastern Kentucky 57, North Dakota 46 Gardner-Webb 55, Hampton

SEC team this season. On Nov 6, when it lost at home to Missouri, the Green Wave held the Tigers to 77 points on 39% shooting.

But LSU is on a different level And it usually rolls past its nonconference opponents. Since the 2021-2022 season, Mulkey’s first in Baton Rouge, no Division I team has more 100-point games than the Tigers (25), according to Basketball Reference data. Texas is the second SEC program on that list, and it’s hit the century mark only 13 times across those five seasons.

“We can score the ball,” Mulkey said. “We can score the ball at all positions.”

This LSU team has a few things in common with the one that took home the 2023 national title. That group, for instance, had nine newcomers. This one has eight. Both teams — through the first four games of their respective seasons — were also scoring at least 110

-11

10

-10

10

10

Whaley 68-68-68-70—274 -10

Rikuya Hoshino 68-68-67-72—275 9

Zac Blair 71-64-73-68—276 -8

Camilo Villegas 71-70-68-67—276 -8

Adam Hadwin 65-66-71-75—277 7

Seamus Power 69-68-67-73—277 -7

Doug Ghim 73-63-72-70—278 6

Jonathan Byrd 70-72-68-69—279 5

Noah Goodwin 66-67-71-75—279 -5

Niklas Norgaard Moller 70-69-67-73—279 5

Jesper Svensson 69-70-71-69—279 -5

Michael Brennan 71-69-68-72—280 4

Isaiah Salinda 67-70-73-70—280 4

Sami Valimaki 71-69-67-73—280 -4

Dylan Wu 71-69-68-72—280 4

Mason Andersen 70-70-70-71—281 -3

Pierceson Coody 69-68-74-70—281 -3

Rico Hoey 72-68-69-72—281 3

Chan Kim

-3 Hayden Springer 71-68-70-72—281 3 Braden Thornberry 67-65-69-80—281 3 Justin Hastings 71-68-72-70—281 -3 Steven Fisk 69-73-72-68—282 2

-2 Thorbjorn Olesen

2

2

The LSU reserves scored an average of only 16 points per game across the past three seasons, years in which the Tigers ranked 229th, 283rd and 94th among Division I teams in bench points per contest.

This season, LSU’s bench is chipping in 57 points per game — the most in the country

“I’ve been doing this

Slidell players holdthe championship trophy aftersweeping Dominican during the LHSAA Division Istate volleyball championship game on Saturdayatthe Cajundome in Lafayette.

TWICEASNICE

Slidellwinssecondstraighttitle in rematchagainst Dominican

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

LAFAYETTE Slidell facedDominican in the Division Ivolleyball state finals for the second year in arow andcameout on toponce again.

The third-seededTigers never trailed throughthe first two sets and trailed only briefly in the third set of a25-23, 25-23, 27-25 victory as coach Danny Tullis won his eighth LHSAA state championship Saturday at the Cajundome.

Outstanding player selection Ava Barduca had 21 kills and six blocks on the way to downingtop-seeded Dominican for the second year in a row after it won the previousfour consecutive state championships.

Slidell(36-7)wentahead forgood at 5-4 in the first set and opened to a6-0 lead in the second. Dominican (40-6) trailedthe second set 20-9 and drew within 24-23 before Slidell got the clinching pointona ball hit into the net.

The teams had another close finish in athird set that included seven ties until junior outside hitter Emma Pippenger (10 kills) broke the final tie.The match ended when aDominican kill attempt went long, sparking acelebration that had Slidell players piled on top of each other on the court.

Thematch wasa starkturnaround from when Slidell went to Dominican during the regular season and “they beat us like adrum,” said Tullis, who won asecondstate title while at Slidell after he won five while at Pope John Paul II and one at Fontainebleau.

Slidell senior AvaLabat ignited the offense with 46 assists inaddition to her six blocks and two kills. For Dominican, senior Mal-

Slidell players celebrate their sweep of Dominican during the LHSAA Division Istate volleyball championship game on Saturday

lie Mahoney (16 kills) fueled her team’s long scoring run in thesecond set, at one point scoring six consecutive pointsfrom multiple spots along the net

But it was the Slidell defense thatchallenged Dominican in the early going “They wereready for us to run quicktothe outsides andthey definitely tookcontrol of that,” Dominican coach Jessica Chatelliersaid.“ Ultimatelyinthe end we weren’tabletostopAva (Barduca). Shedid areallygreatjob of running the middle and we just couldn’t find an answer for her.”

Dominican made itsseventh consecutive state finals appearance and had contributions from Rani Smith (eight kills, fourblocks), Molly Baker(41 assists, 18 digs) and Aurore Tortorich (31 digs)

“This program hasdefinitely now set astandard to be here on this day,”Chatellier said. “I can say thisgroup fought so hard to upholdthatstandard everyday …Theydid everything they needed to do to getthemselves back in it,eveninthislastmatch We werehaving trouble getting stuff going but younever saw a lack of fight.”

Martin, MountCarmel

BY PETER SBLENDORIO Newyork Daily News (TNS)

NEWYORK MLB’soffseason is in full swing. The LosAngelesDodgers paraded as WorldSeries champions, baseball’sgeneral managers rolleduptoLas Vegas for the GM meetings, and the major awards have allbeen handed out.

Now,the real funbegins. Although free agency technically opened on Nov. 6, none of themarquee players have signed as themarketcontinues to develop. We’re lessthana month away from thewintermeetings in Orlando, Fla., whereoffseasondominoes always fall, but plenty could happen before then, too.

Here’salist of the top free agents as MLB’shot stovestarts to heat up.

Kyle Tucker: The five-tool outfielder didn’tdeliver his best numbers in his first —and possibly only—season with the Chicago Cubs, but Tucker still walked away with his fifth AllStar selection,his second Silver Slugger Award and an .841 OPS. Tucker,who turns 29 in January,would fit in the middle of any lineup with his lefty swing, and he could command acontract exceeding $400 million.

Bo Bichette: Bichette picked a great timefor abounce-back season, as his .311 average, 18 homeruns and 94 RBIsasaprimaryshortstop makehim the prize of this infield class.

The longtime Toronto Blue Jay was even better when he returned from aknee injury for theWorld Series, batting .348 with a.923 OPS. He turns 28 in March. Framber Valdez: This isn’tthe deepest class fortop-tier starting pitching, but the Houston Astros’ co-ace stands out as the top choice. Lastseason was the fourth in arow in which the left-handed Valdez madeatleast 28 starts, pitched at least 176 1/3 innings and posted an ERA no higher than 3.66. He turns 32 this week.

Kyle Schwarber:Schwarber,who turns 33 in March, is no more than adesignated hitter at this point,but he’sasgood of apower hitter as they come. His 56 homeruns led the National League, while his 132 RBIs were the mostinbaseball.

The Dodgers and Yankees won’tbeinterested given their commitment at DH,but Schwarber should have plenty of big-market suitors, including the incumbent Philadelphia Phillies.

Cody Bellinger:The do-it-all Bellinger was an excellent fit forthe Yankees, from his sturdiness in all three outfield positions to the lefty swing that excelled in the Bronx.

The Yankees wanttokeep him, but his versatility should make him attractive to manyteams, including the Mets, whoneed a center fielder Bellinger,30, could clear $150 million.

winter,and even though he’s now entering his age-31 season, the slugging first baseman figures to have amore robust market this timearound.

That’sbecause Alonso rebounded from arelatively down 2024 to hit 38 homers with 126 RBIsand an .871 OPS as Juan Soto’smain protector in the Mets’ lineup. Areunion with the Mets will always makesense but is far from guaranteed.

Edwin Diaz: Another Mets favorite primed forabig payday, Diaz wasasdominant as ever last season with a1.63 ERA, 28 saves and 98 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings.

The flame-throwing Diaz, who turns 32 in March, opted out of the final twoyears and $38 million of his contract and is surely looking to at least double both numbers.

Munetaka Murakami: Perhaps the mostintriguing free agent is Murakami, aJapanese corner infielder whose namehas been on the U.S. radar forafew years now In 2022, Murakamicrushed 56 homers as a22-year-old in Nippon Professional Baseball. But even with that prolific power,there are questions about how wellMurakami, 25, will fare against MLB pitching, considering his contact rate against NPB arms leftmuch to be desired.

TatsuyaImai: Poised foraneven bigger paycheck than Murakami is Imai, a5-10 left-hander whose slider,splitter and mid-90s fastball have scouts believing he could be amiddle-of-the-rotation starter,ifnot aNo. 2. Imai, 27, pitched to 1.92 ERA in his eighth NPBseason last year,and evaluators laud his deceptive delivery Dylan Cease: Cease is an established ace-type, yet he’scoming off of another up-and-downyear The San Diego Padres righthander pitched to a4.55 ERA, marking the second timein three seasons that his ERA exceeded 4.50. And his 168 innings werehis fewest in five years. Still, the workhorse Cease has madeatleast 32 starts in five straight seasons, and his 215 strikeouts suggest there’sroom forpositive regression as he enters his age 30-season.

MichaelKing:And then there’s King, aformer Yankees reliever whohas operated as afull-time starter the past twoand ahalf seasons.

King, 30, posted a2.95 ERA and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings over 173 2/3 innings in 2024 with the Padres, but his numbers dipped last season. Injuries limited King to 15 starts, and he finished with a 3.44 ERA and astrikeout rate of 9.3 per nine.

Ranger Suarez:Suarez, 30, isn’t sexy,but he is steady Last season marked the third timeinfour seasons that the left-hander madeatleast 26 starts, exceeded 150 innings and posted an ERA of 3.65 lower

DABE

BYCHRISTOPHER

Staff writer

Brady Monahan has high hopes for his Jesuit cross country teammates. The senior distance runner said after the District 9-5A championships last month that he believed the Blue Jays could “accomplish the most that the Jesuitcross country team has ever accomplished,” which is alofty standardfor a team that has made winning state titles seem routine.

Four-time reigning state champion Jesuit andthree-time runner-up

Brother Martin will seek another one-two finish between the two schools when they run Monday at the LHSAA state championships in Natchitoches. Monahan is atwo-time individual runner-up behind two-time state champion Brady Mullen, now at Harvard. Start timesfor the10races there are five divisionseach for boysand girls—will range between 9a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on the three-mile course at Northwestern State

TheDivision Igirls will run first as Mount Carmel seeks another

high placement after finishing as a runner-up behind nine-timereigning state winner St. Joseph’sthe past two seasons. Senior Stella Junius has three top-5 finishesover thepast four seasons.

Other top contenders among the girlsare Grace KeeneofNorthshore in Division Iand Emma Aldana of Willow in Division II. Country Day in Division IV and Christ Episcopal in Division Veach doubled up with boys andgirls team championships lastseason.

ContactChristopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com

Alex Bregman: Despite declining production,Bregman received his share of long-term offers last offseason, but he opted to join theBoston Red Sox on athreeyear,$120million contract with opt-outs.

The former LSU standout then delivered aresurgent season, which resulted in his first AllStar selection andhighest OPS (.821) since 2019.

The third baseman, who will be 32 on Opening Day, opted out and likely seeks alonger-term deal this winter,with Boston considered afavorite to retain him.

Pete Alonso: Alonso also endured aprolonged free agency last

The longtimePhiladelphia Phillie would fit on just about any staff.

Eugenio Suarez: The other Suarez, 34, is farfrom acomplete player,asevidenced by his .228 average and his subpar defense at third base.

But the righty-swinging Suarez totaled 49 homeruns forthe Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners last season, and teams arealways willing to payfor power

ZacGallen: Another right-hander with ace experience, Gallen pitched to acareer-worst 4.83 ERA last season with the DBacks, though he had a3.97 ERA after the All-Star break.

STAFF PHOTOSByBRADKEMP

ALZHEIMER’SQ&A

Take personal approach to dealingwith FTDapathy in patients

How can apathybemanaged inanindividual with frontotemporal dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia or frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) refers to arange of disorders that impact the brain’s frontal lobes (regions behind forehead) or its temporallobes (regions behind ears). These areasofthe brain arecommonly associated with personality, behavior and language.

Apathy in FTD is one of the most challenging aspects of the disorder for caregivers and health careprofessionals to manage. FTDaffects the individual enjoying everyday activities, participating in social events, performing household tasks and even personal hygiene and self-care. Managing apathy in those with FTD should be individually tailored and effective interventions and environmental strategies should be delivered and promoted with understanding and patience.

Caregivers canassist in the journey of FTD by learning all about the disease-related changes in the brain that are affecting their loved ones. Gettingeducated about FTD and its processes can help to maintain the caregiver’sempathetic connection to the individual and thus, reduce anger and frustration in the relationship of both parties. The individual with FTD feels apathetic most days, withno motivationand/or the ability to initiate anything. The needs and interests of the individual with FTD should be assessed and in that way,amore personcentered approach can be maintained. What motivates him or her? What brings joy? What music could be played? Cover all the individual’sbiography,including spiritual, emotional, physical,nutritional, intellectual and social interests. Develop activitiesbased on this biography and adaptthem accordingly as abilities change duringthe progression of the disorder

Eliminatingthe need to make decisions and having a planned structure are helpful and necessary ways to manage and reduce apathy.Individuals withFTD require alot of time to process information and instructions, so it is important not to rush communications or the prescribed activity. Externalcuing may be necessary to start an activity and keep the individual engaged Reliance just on verbal cuing will be less effective as FTD progresses, so caregivers may need to take more direct action or mimicthe action they want their loved ones to perform. Incorporate acustomized music playlist for the individual and promote physical activity like walking or dancing. Repetitive activities also work well, such as folding laundry,asthese are consistent with some of thebehavioral symptoms associated with FTD. Additionally,multisensoryactivities may overwhelm the individual, so these need to be introduced one sense at atime as to not distract the individual or cause him or her to lose interest. Overall, any

FURRY FRIENDS?

Even if you’re notnutsabout squirrels, remember they do help ourecosystems, supportplant growth

BY COLETTE DEAN

Contributing writer

It’s easy to have alove-hateopinion of squirrels.

These furry scamps are theclowns of our natural world and aside from entertaining antics, have alot to offer in ourmodern urban andsuburban settings. Squirrels benefit ecosystems by actingasseed dispersers, which helps plants and expand forests. They also aerate soiland spread fungal spores, which supports plant growth.

But the mischievousmammals also raid bird feeders, chew andgnaw through just about anything, anddart out in front of cars.

Dr.Jim LaCour, instructor for the LSUSchool of Animal Sciences, said Louisianaishome to three types of native squirrels, including asubspecies: the gray,fox and flying squirrels. Eastern graysquirrels are themost common and recognizable with gray fur,white belliesand bushy tails.A Southerngray subspecies is darker in

Agroup of squirrels is also called ascurry.

color and found in southern parishes.

Three subspecies of fox squirrels can vary in color from black to redand are less common. One subspecies in western Louisiana is the largest, lighter in coloring and with alarge skull.

Flying squirrelsare small, nocturnaland have skinflapsbetween their

front andback legs whichallowthem to glide.This mimics flying, hence the name. Not easily seen in the dark, LaCour says you can hear their highpitched squeaking noisescoming from the treetops.

See FRIENDS, page 2D STAFF

Starsshine at Macy’s Thanksgiving DayParade

Ciara, Foreigner, LilJon andKool& theGangleadthe waythisyear

BY MARKKENNEDY Associated Press

NEW YORK Ciara, Foreigner, Lil Jon, Kool &the Gang, Busta Rhymes, Mickey Guyton and Teyana Taylorwill featureinthis year’sMacy’sThanksgiving Day Parade, which will also cement “KPop Demon Hunters” as apop culture phenomenon withappearances by the movie’s singers on the groundand cute characters in balloonsoverhead. An eclectic groupofstars from ballet dancer Tiler Peck to YouTube’s“Hot Ones” host Sean Evans— will join the annual holiday kickoff, highlighted by Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami of HUNTR/X,the fictional girl

Parade performers

the startoflast year’sMacy’sThanksgivingDay

groupatthe heartofthe Netflix K-pop hit. Thetrioare behind thefilm’s soundtrack, which hit No. 1on the Billboard200 andrecently wentplatinum. Twocharacters from themovie —Derpy Tiger

and Sussie —will join the parade lineup as amid-sized balloon and theadorablynamed balloonicle. The parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Nov.27inall time zones and will feature 32 balloons,three ballonicles, 27 floats,

33 clown groups and11marching bands —all leading the way forSanta Claus.The familiarTV hosts —Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker fromthe “Today” show —will return on NBC andPeacock.Morestarswill be announced later Broadway will be represented by cast members from “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time” and “Ragtime,” while the Radio City Rockettes will be there and someseriousathletes —threetime U.S. nationalchampion figure skater Ilia Malinin and U.S Paralympian Jack Wallace. Every year,spectators line up a half-dozen deep alongthe routeto cheer the floats, entertainers and marching bands. Last year,more than 31 million people tuned in on NBC and Peacock, up 10% from the previous year and marking the biggest audience ever forthe parade. This year,fournew featured

ä See PARADE, page 2D

STAFFFILE

PHOTO By TRAVIS SPRADLING

FILE PHOTOByLESLIE WESTBROOK

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILEPHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA

leadthe TomTurkey float down Central Park West at

parade.

Blisters requiregentle, patientcare

Dear Doctors: Idoalot of hiking and camping,and when there is terrain that is rough, alot of times I’ll get ablister.How do you take care of that —are you supposed to pop it and drain it, or do you justcover it up? I’ve heard it’s easyfor ablister to get infected, and Iwant to avoid that.

Dear Reader: Ablister is afluidfilled sac that forms within the outermost layers of the skin.It can be caused by burns,frostbite, sunburn, disease, allergic reaction and, as you have experienced, repeated rubbing. Known as friction blisters, these are by far the most common form of this type of skin injury.They occur when shifting pressuregradually forces apart the top layers of the

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Monday,Nov.17, the 321st day of 2025. There are 44 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Nov.17, 1968, the last minutes of atense NFL matchupon NBC between the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiderswere preempted by the children’sfilm “Heidi.” The network received thousands of calls from angry viewersand formally apologized Also on this date:

In 1800, Congress held itsfirst session in the partially completed U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. In 1869, the Suez Canal opened in Egypt.

In 1973, President Richard Nixon told agathering of Associated Press managing editors at atelevised news conference in Orlando, Florida: “People have got to know whether or nottheir president is a crook. Well, I’m not acrook.”

In 1989, an estimated 10,00015,000 Czechoslovakian students demonstrated in Prague against Communist rule; hundreds of thousands joined the protests in the following days. Dubbed the“VelvetRevolution” for its nonviolent nature, the protests led to the resignation of the Communist Party’s leadership on Nov.28that year.

In 1997, 62 people, most of them foreign tourists, were killed when militantsopened fireatthe Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor Egypt; the attackerswere killed by police.

In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger,the Austrian-bornactor who had become one of America’s biggest movie stars of the1980s and’90s, was sworn in as the 38th governor of California.

In 2020, President Donald Trump fired the nation’stop election security official, Christopher Krebs, who had refuted Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud and vouched forthe integrity of the vote.

Today’sBirthdays: Film director Martin Scorsese is 83. Actor-model Lauren Hutton is 82. Actor-director Danny DeVito is 81. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim is 81. “Saturday Night Live”producerLorne Michaels is 81.Basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes is 80. Film director RolandJoffe is 80. Actor Stephen Root is 74. TV host-entertainer RuPaul is 65. Actor Dylan Walsh is 62. TV hostmodel Daisy Fuentes is 59. R&B singer Ronnie DeVoe (NewEdition; Bell Biv DeVoe) is 58. Actor Rachel McAdams is 47.

ALZHEIMER’S

Continued from page1D

engagement with the individual with FTD should be enjoyable, non-threatening and purposeful to generatemotivation andto garner more enthusiasm, pleasure and to maintain aquality of life. Many caregivers feel guilty about “not doing enough” for their loved ones which adds undue stress. Joining asupport group specifically for FTD caregiverscan help caregivers express their feelings,inadditionto learning more ways and suggestions to manage apathy in their loved ones. Contact the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (www.theaftd.org or (866) 5077222) for more information and resources.

Dana Territo is an Alzheimer’s advocate and author of “What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer’sDisease.” She hosts “The MemoryWhisperer.”Email her at thememorywhisperer@ gmail.com

Dr.Elizabeth Ko Dr.Eve Glazier ASK THE DOCTORS

skin. The fluid that seeps intoand fills the spacebetween the two separated layers is part of the body’shealingprocess.

Thesize and severity of ablister are influencedbyseveral factors. These include theintensity of thepressure, its duration and thepresence of moisture in the

FRIENDS

Continued from page1D

Squirrels are notendangered but the status of asubspecies, Sciurus nigerbachmani or Bachman’s fox squirrel, is of concern.

“Wedohave them on the LSU campus,”LaCour says.

Squirrel tails are fun to watch, actinglike signalflags. For instance, tail-shaking behavior is typical when asquirrel is alarmed by the approach of a person or other dangerous animal.The tails also warm them in frigid weather as theykeep the tail lying flat along their back, providing insulation. On an icy or rainy day,the tip of the tail can actas an umbrella they hold over their head.

One of asquirrel’smost important tools is its impressive nutcracking, seed-grinding teeth. Two pairs of sharp incisors protrude from thefront and continuously grow,which is why theycontinue to gnawonhardmaterials to keep teeth amanageable length.

“Theyare notorious for chewingwires,wood and fence ties,”

LaCour says

Foxand gray squirrels breed at 1yearofage duringtwo distinct breeding periods: mid-December to earlyJanuary and again in June. Squirrelsprefer to nest in tree cavities comprised of sticks and dry leaves, or if it’s convenient, they may find aspot to nest in your attic.

Having asquirrel make ahome in your home is what usually triggers hostility from humans.

“Atticsare very attractive to a squirrel wantingtofind awarm, dryplace to live,” LaCoursays.

TimothyBrowning is alicensed nuisance wildlife control operator who willoccasionally get calls

PARADE

Continued from page1D

character balloons will debut including Buzz Lightyear,PacMan, Mario from Super Mario Brothers and a32-foot-tall balloon onion carriage featuring eightcharacters from theworld of “Shrek.”

Ahead of next year’s100th anniversary of theparade, organizers are also including balloons from previousmarches, including Rainbow trout,the Happy Hippo Triple Stack, Wigglefoot and Freidathe Dachshund.

Six new floats will alsodebut this year,including from Holland

affected area. The architecture of the foot plays arole as well. Navigating rough terrain creates somethingknown as shear force, atype of pressurethat gradually nudges apart thetopmostlayers of skin. If your feet are sweating, or if you get them wet, the skin absorbs that moisture. This, in turn, causes the skin to swell. It becomes more fragile, less elastic and more vulnerable to thelateral stressorswementioned earlier When caring for ablister,resist theurge to pop it.You want to keep it intact.The fluid inside is amix of plasma, serum, proteins electrolytes and immune cells, and each has aspecific role in the healing process.The skin serves as abuilt-in bandage, protecting

theexposed tissues from infection.Startbywashing your hands. Then, carefully clean the surface of the blister.Gently pat it dry —never rub —and protect the area with anonstick bandage that won’tdamage the fragile skin. Change the bandage every day —more often if it gets dirty or becomes wet. If its size or location may cause it to burst on its own, or if the internal pressure is causing pain, it can be necessary to drain a blister.When you do so, you are exposing an open wound, which raises therisk of infection. That makes cleanliness imperative. Wash your hands, clean the skin and pat it dry.Use asharp, sterilized needle to pierce one or two

holes at the blister’sedge. Usea gauze pad to apply gentle pressure until mostofthe fluid is gone. Don’tdrain it completely and never remove the top layer of skin.

Keep the blister covered with aclean dressing and protect the area from pressure or friction until healing is complete. If you see signs of infection —redness, warmth, swelling or discharge please seek medical care.

Send yourquestions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla. edu, or write: Ask theDoctors c/oUCLA HealthSciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

from homeowners needing assistance in evicting squirrels.

“The first thing Idoisfind the access points in the house. Usually,there is ahole somewhere near thesoffit, eaves or gutters and once that is sealed,ittakes care of theproblem,” he advises.

TheLouisiana Departmentof Wildlifeand Fisheries website has alistbyparishoflicensed operatorsfor nuisance animals

For do-it-yourself folks, LaCour suggests checking outthe municode.com website to seewhat is legaltodoinyourparish regarding trapping, releasing or hunting them.

Cody Cedotal, LDWF small game and wild turkey manager, sayssquirrelsare not allowed to be released on public lands and permission mustbegivenfrom landowners before trapping and relocating them on privatelands.

America Line, Lego, Lindt chocolates, “Stranger Things” and a bunch of whimsical sheep trying to get to sleep courtesy of Serta. Someofthe stars on hand will be Debbie Gibson, Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw,Meg Donnelly,Christopher Jackson, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Calum Scott, Shaggy Lauren Spencer Smithand Luísa Sonza.

The marching bands will hail from SouthCarolina, California, Texas, Arizona, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Santiago, Panama. The New York Police Department’s marching band will also join.

LaCour warns,“Idon’t encourageputting out poison, as this does harm to other animals that prey on squirrels,” he said. Squirrels’ natural predators arenumerous, including bobcats, foxes, coyotes,snakes, owls, large hawks and cats. And don’tforget the gloves. LaCour also encourages wearing thick gloves as protectionfrom very sharp clawsand teeth if trapping is aconsideration.

If youfind keeping squirrels away fromyour bird feeders challenging, try using the “five, seven, nine” rule to guide feeder placement: n Five feet is the minimalheight from theground you want to hang your feeder n Space it 7feet away from launching points such as trees, fences or decks.

n Positionyour feeder 9feet away from treelimbs or otherfea-

turesfromabove to keep squirrels from dropping downonto the feeder

Weight-sensitive feeders and baffles installed on posts undera bird feeder can also act as adeterrent for keeping squirrels away

There are numerous sources online that offer hacks for containingordeterring squirrelsfrom becoming pests. Onething is universal:Battling backyard squirrelstakes patience, Browning can attest. “I tryall kinds of waystooutsmart them andthentheyoutsmart me. So far, Ithink we’re even,” Browning concedes. This columnisprovided by the Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater Baton Rouge, whichseeks to advance awareness, understanding and stewardshipofthe natural environment. For more information, email info@lmngbr.org.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: At adinner eventI attended at ahotel, the tables were 10-foot rounds with tableclothsthat wenttothe floor Thedinner was buffet style,but we were all wearingsemi-formal attire.

Thewoman sitting next to me pulled the tablecloth upfrom the floorand set it on herlap,proudly saying that shewasn’tgoing to getany food on her gown. If she hadn’tmade this announcement, Ilikely wouldn’thave noticed she did this. The tablecloth was black, aswere our napkins. WouldMiss Manners provide guidanceonthis practice?

GENTLE READER: George Washington already did! General Washington, as he correctly wished to be called after

his presidency,was amaster etiquetteer.Itwas he who issuedthe first rules of American protocol, so thatitwould be dignified without aping European courtlife. Much earlier in life, as aschoolboy,hehad copied down alist of etiquette rulescirculated by Jesuits. And Rule 100 had to do with the misuse of the tablecloth. True, it specifically prohibited using thetablecloth to clean one’s teeth,and your dinner companion was at least not guilty of that Nevertheless, therule should be understood in abroader sense: that the tablecloth should not be put to personal use. Itsjob is to cover the table. Acloth that may be used to protect the lap from spills, and for pattingcrumbs or sauces on the mouth, has been issued: thenapkin. That should settle theetiquette aspect. Youare surely not going to defy George Washington or,for that matter,argue witha bunch of 18th-century Jesuits.

Butyou have leftMiss Manners with thevision of atable laden with glassware, plates and food —and someone pulling on thetablecloth. Not agood idea.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We are a blended family.Iinvited our adult children to Thanksgiving. They responded by asking if “other people,” i.e. non-family members, might be there. Isaid possibly They approached my husband (their father), and emphasized thatthey want only family members at Thanksgiving. Is it rude to dictate the guest list when you’re not hosting the party?

GENTLE READER: Didn’tyou just say you were afamily? And now you are ahostess outraged about guests’ usurping your privileges? Surely the children of the family may ask if Thanksgiving dinner can be limited to relatives. Youand your husband should consider their reasons, which strike Miss Manners as apos-

sible interest in family bonding.

But they should also listen to your reasons —“But then our widowed neighbor will be alone” —ifyou decide to include others. And you will be pleased to know that you do, indeed, get to make the final decision —not merely as hosts, but as parents whohave weighed everyone’sfeelings.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: If you say, “Would you come forThanksgiving?,” is that an invitation or a demand?

GENTLE READER: An invitation, if you insert the word “please.” Otherwise, it sounds abit iffy,as in: “Would you come if Iasked you?”

Send questions to Miss Manners at herwebsite,www missmanners.com; to heremail, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St Kansas City MO 64106.

STAFFFILE PHOTOByHILARy SCHEINUK

An Easterngraysquirrel munches on afrench fryfresh fromatrashcan on the LSU ParadeGrounds.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILEPHOTO By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON

The Snoopyballoon soars down Sixth Avenue during the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving DayParade.

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

SCORPIO (Oct.24-Nov. 22) Diversify and see what happens. Taking the road less traveled will be eye-opening. You are overdue for achange that stimulates your mindand encourages greater confidence.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Adjust your livingquarters to suit your needs. It's timetobroaden your awareness regarding money and health issues to ensure you make the headway necessary to sustain your momentum. Embrace change.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Put your energy where it brings the highest return. Discipline, hard work and creative input will raise eyebrowsand encourage others to take note of what you aredoing

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Put more thought into how you can outdo anyone trying to competewith you. Preparationisvital, alongwith executing your skills with precisionand passion.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) It's what you do thatcounts. Don't waste time forcing your wantsonothers. Instead, take the initiative to move forward, and let your achievementsspeak for themselves.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Use your imagination and rethink your next professional or financialmove. Stay ahead engage in what's coming downthe pipeline and learn how you can market your skills to ensure you flourish.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Refuse to let emotions stand between you and what

you want. An innovative and dedicated approach to your next move will pave the way to greater opportunities.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Speak up,ask questions and dedicate time and ingenuity to fine-tuning how you move forward. Change can offer opportunities that give you aunique view of what's possible.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Take the initiative to participate in something that interests you. Anew look will be upliftingand encourage you to make thefirst move when you encounter someone intriguing.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Think matters through before making changes or a move that can disrupt your household. Addressemotional issues directly, and you'll gain insight into what's possible.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Do what comes naturally and what you do best, and success will be yours. Display your skills physically and give others achance to see firsthand the potential of what you have to offer.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct.23) Simplify your life. Take amoment to rearrange your day to ensure you address what's essential to you and your future. Target your goal and focus on results.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2025 by nEa, inc.,dist.Byandrews mcmeel syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

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

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

BY PHILLIPALDER

Wilson Mizner said, “Life’s atough proposition,and thefirst hundred years are thehardest.” At the bridge table, for most players thefirst trick is thehardest. They do not give it nearlyenough thought.

Today’s deal, for example, would defeat most players —although, to be honest, many would still makethe contract courtesy of amisdefense by East. Southisinthreeno-trump. West leads his fourth-highest spade and Eastputs up thenine. What shouldhappen?

IagreewithNorth’snotusingStayman with 4-3-3-3 distributionand honors in every suit.

South starts with eight top tricks:two spades (given the opening lead), four diamonds and two clubs. In addition, two more tricks canbeestablished in hearts.

Itlookssoeasytowinthefirsttrickand play aheart. However,Eastcan take that trick and return his secondspade. This establishes his partner’s suit, while West still has the heart king as an entry. South loses three spades and two hearts.

Abetter line fordeclarer is to crossto dummywithadiamondattricktwo,then to play aheart.

But if East is knowledgeable, he will takethe trick andleadback his remainingspade.(Remember, if you have only one card left in partner’s suit and it is onelead from beingestablished, do your utmost to win the next defensive trick, trying to save your partner’s entryfor use once his suit is ready to run.) So, what is the solution? South must duck the first trick. Yes, East will lead the spade six, but declarer still gets two spade tricks, and when Eastisinwithhis heartace,hewillnothaveaspadeleft.(If East had athird spade, South would lose onlytwo spades and two hearts.) ©2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrewsmcmeel syndication

wuzzles

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previousanswers:

word game

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

or

toDAY’sWoRD uncoILs: un-KOYLS:Unwinds.

Average mark 12 words Time limit 20 minutes

Can you find 17 or more words in UNCOILS?

sAtuRDAY’s WoRD —GREAtLY

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally 7-letter words get50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. allthe words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5thEdition. For more information on tournamentsand clubs, email naspa

ken ken

InstructIons: 1 -Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1thorugh 4(easy) or 1through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

info@scrabbleplayers.org.Visit

WiShinG Well

HErE is aplEasanT liTTlE gamEthat will give you

numerical puzzle designed to spell outyourfortune.Count

thenumber of letters is 6ormore, subtract4.ifthe

is your key number. start at the upperleft-hand corner and check

bers, left to right. Then read the messagethe checked figures

Scrabble GramS

Getfuzzy

roSe iS roSe

Anyone knowingthe

Louisiana. TheBureauofPurchas‐ingusescommodity codestonotifysuppliers of therelease of asourc‐ingevent andsubse‐quentmodificationsvia addendum. Note that you wouldreceive thosenoti‐ficationsifyou selected thefollowing commodity code(s) before there‐leaseofthe sourcing event: COMMODITYCODE(s): 947-84, 988-52

tracting opportunities pursuant to this solicita‐tion Formoreinformation aboutthissourcing event, go to www.nola. govand clickon“BRASS

SupplierPortal” under “BIDS& CONTRACTS” Once on theSupplierPor‐tal, search “Open Events.” Thankyou foryourinter‐estindoing business with theCityofNew Or‐leans.

JamesC Simmons,Jr. ChiefProcurement Officer

AdvertisingDates: November 10, 17 and24, 2025 NOCP 8760 166171-nov10-17-24-3t $110.31

PUBLIC NOTICE

ADVERTISEMENTTO INVITATION TO BID CITY OF NEWORLEANS

SPONSORING DEPARTMENT: Parksand Parkways TITLE: CPRG Reforestation: Tree Planting and Maintenance

SOURCING EVENTNO.: 4588 TYPE OF SOLICITATION: CONSTRUCTION

DBEOPPORTUNITY: YES(35%)

RELEASED ON: November 3, 2025

DEADLINETORESPOND: December 5, 2025

PRE-BIDCONFERENCE viaTEAMS: November 19, 2025

Datesare subjectto changesvia an adden‐dumpostedbythe Bu‐reau of Purchasing on theCity’ssupplierportal. If this solicitation is fed‐erally funded,prospec‐tive bidder/respondent must payparticularat‐tentiontoall applicable laws andregulations of theFederal government andthe Stateof LOTS FORSALE Knollwood Shores:GregoryDr. Gulfport,MS. Block27. Wooded area $5000. Offers Accepted 504-301-6693.

TheCityofNew Orleans strongly encourages mi‐nority-ownedand women-ownedbusi‐nesses, socially andeco‐nomicallydisadvantaged businesses andsmall businesses to respondto this solicitation,orto participateinsubcon‐tracting opportunities pursuant to this solicita‐tion Formoreinformation aboutthissourcing event, go to www.nola. govand clickon“BRASS SupplierPortal” under “BIDS& CONTRACTS” Once on theSupplierPor‐tal, search “Open Events.” Thankyou foryourinter‐estindoing business with theCityofNew Or‐leans.

JamesC.Simmons,Jr. ChiefProcurement Officer AdvertisingDates: November 3, 10 and17, 2025 NOCP 8750 165220-nov3-10-17-3t $107.31

PUBLIC NOTICE ORLEANSPARISH SCHOOL BOARD PROCUREMENTDEPART‐MENT 2401WestbendParkway FifthFloor NewOrleans,Louisiana 70114 Paul A. Lucius,Executive Director of Procurement ADVERTISEMENT INVITATION TO BIDNO. 26-CN-0062 FRESHFRUITS& VEGETA‐BLES (Grant forSelect Schools) Electronic Responsesto this solicitation relative to theabove,willbere‐ceived viaemail submis‐sion to thePurchasing Department forthe Or‐leansParishSchool Board(“OPSB” or “the District”) at 2401 West‐bend Parkway, Suite 5055, NewOrleans Louisiana70114, until: 11:00 A.M. (CST)onTues‐day, December 2, 2025. Detailed specifications, biddocuments andad‐dendum maybeob‐tained by visiting the NOLA Public Schools website: www.nolapub licschools.com

Apre-bid meetingwill notbescheduled forany of thebid specifications listed in this advertise‐ment.The deadline for submitting questions concerning thespecifica‐tionslistedinthissolici‐tation is Monday,Decem‐ber1 2025. Writtenre‐sponseswillbeprovided no laterthanthree (3) days,beforethe listed bidopening date(s)via addendum TheOrleans Parish School Boardreserves theright to reject anyor allbids, whenever such rejectionisinits best in‐terest in accordance with law. Theprovisionsand requirements of this ad‐vertisementshall notbe waived.Thisinstitution is an equalopportunity provider.For anyinfor‐mation concerning this advertisement, youmay emailthe Purchasing De‐partment at:procure‐ment@nolapublicschoo ls.com

ORLEANSPARISH SCHOOL BOARD

BY:PaulA.Lucius, ExecutiveDirectorof Procurement

to waiveany informalities. TomKetterer Director of State Procurement FAX(225) 342-8688 166745-nov17-1t $11.48

FIRSTINSERTION DATE: Monday,November17, 2025 SECOND INSERTIONDATE: Monday,November24, 2025 166985-NOV17-24-2T $89

Lona Hankins ChiefExecutive Officer Regional Transit Authority 166857-nov17-dec1-2t $695

P.M.,December15, 2025. ABid Openingwillbe held in theRTA Board Room locatedat2817 CanalStreet,New Or‐leans, LA 70119, on Mon‐day, December 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM.Any ques‐tionsorfurther informa‐tion concerning theIFB maybesubmitted Via https://norta. procureware.com/home beginningonNovember 17, 2025. RTAinaccordancewith 49 Code of FederalRegu‐lations(CFR) Part 26 has an obligationtoensure nondiscriminationofDis‐advantaged Business En‐terprises(DBEs)and to comply with allfederal stateand localregula‐tionsrelativetoutiliza‐tion of DBEs on publicly funded projects.The RTA is committedtoutiliza‐tion of DBEs on allfeder‐ally funded projects to‐ward attainment of the agency's established overallgoalof32%.No DBEgoalhas been estab‐lished forthisproject as thereare no subcon‐tracting opportunities on this project. Notice to allofferorsis hereby provided that in accordance with allap‐plicable federal, state andlocal laws theRTA will ensure thatDBEsare afforded full opportunity to submit offers andre‐sponsestothissolicita‐i d i i i p tion and to participate in anycontractconsum‐matedpursuanttothis advertisement. Addition‐ally,noofferorwillbe discriminatedagainst on thebasis of age, sex, race,color,religion, na‐tional origin,ethnicity or disability. Foradditional informationcontact the RTA’sSmallBusinessOf‐fice at 504-827-8301. TheRTA reserves the righttoacceptorreject anyand allproposals submitted.

ProjectDescription: The Regional TransitAuthor‐ityofNew Orleansseek‐ingqualified vendorsto providein-vehiclecellu‐larmodemsper specifi‐cationsinIFB 2025-041. Howtoobtain acopyof theIFB: Specifications andfurther information concerning theIFB may be obtained November 17, 2025, from theRTA’s Procurewarewebsite at https://norta. procureware.com/home Youwillberequiredto firstregisteronthisweb‐site.The IFBcan also be obtained at Regional TransitAuthority’s web‐site at http://www.norta com Clarification Deadline: Anyquestions or further informationconcerning this IFBmustbesubmit‐tedthrough https:// norta.procureware.com/ home by 1:00PM on De‐cember 5, 2025. Only writtenquestions sub‐mitted throughthe Pro‐cureware site shallbe considered official.All answerstoquestions shallbebyformalad‐dendapostedtothe websiteunder IFB2025041. Responding to IFB: Bids shallbesubmitted throughthe RTA’sPro‐cureware websiteorde‐liveredto2817 Canal Street,New Orleans, LA 70119 on or before 1:00 p for download on Novem‐ber3,2025,atthe follow‐ingwebsites: SWBNO: https://www2.swbno org/business_bidspecific ations.asp LAPAC: https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/OSP/ LaPAC/dspBid.cfm?sea rch=department&

of PublicHearings

Highways and

PUBLIC NOTICE SEWERAGE &WATER BOARDOFNEW ORLEANS OVERHAUL OF OLD CARROLLTONUNDERPASS PUMPINGSTATION CONTRACT NO.5264 SOLICITATIONNO. 2025-SWB-83 TheSewerageand Water BoardofNew Orleans, for: Construction of the Overhaul of OldCarroll‐tonUnderpass Pumping Station. BidDocuments andpro‐posal formsare available f d l d NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

METAIRIE ForLease

1204 SOUTHLAWNBLVD, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70114 TAXES OWED AREWITH ONE CERTAINLOT OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITHALL THEBUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON,AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS,PRIVI‐LEGES,SERVITUDES, AP‐PURTENANCES ANDAD‐VANTAGESTHEREUNTO BELONGING OR IN ANY‐WISEAPPERTAINING,SIT‐UATED IN THEFIFTH DIS‐TRICT OF THECITYOF NEW ORLEANS, IN SQUARE2,SOUTHLAWN SUBDIVISION,BOUNDED BYSOUTHLAWN BLVD GENERAL MEYERAV‐ENUE, TODD JOHNSON PROPERTYAND DIANA STREET,DESIGNATEDBY THE NO.14. LOTNO. 14 COMMENCES 37 FEET FROMTHE POINTOF CURVE AT THECORNER OFSOUTHLAWN BLVD AND DIANASTREET,AND MEASURES47FEET NO INCHES ANDNOLINES FRONT ON SOUTHLAWN BLVD.,SAMEWIDTH IN THE REAR,BYA DEPTH BETWEEN EQUALAND PARALLELLINES OF 106 FEET,NOINCHESAND NO LINES ALLIN ACCORDANCE WITHA SURVEY AND SUBDIVISION BY F. G. STEWART,C.E.& S. DATED FEBRUARY21, 1949, RE‐CERTIFIED JUNE 15, 1950, BEING ASUBDIVISION OF PORTION OF LOTS 9AND 10 OF THEPROSPER

MARIGNYPLANTATION ACCORDINGTOA PLAN OFBENJAMINHUISSON, DATED APRIL15, 1934. 1204-SOUTHLAWNBL LLOYDRICHARD 414HOMER ST,NEW OR‐LEANS,LA70114 TAXES OWEDARE WITH ACER‐TAINLOT OF GROUND

RIGHTS,WAYS, PRIVI‐LEGES,SERVITUDES, AD‐VANTAGESAND APPUR‐TENANCESTHEREUNTO

SITUATEDINTHE FIFTH DISTRICTOFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANSIN SQUARENO. 150 BOUNDED BY TECHE, NUNEZ,HOMER AND SLIDELLSTREETS, WHICH ACCORDINGTOSURVEY BYGILBERT &KELLY & COUTURIE, INC.,SURVEY‐ORS,DATED DECEMBER 26, 1979, IS DESIGNATED ASLOT “D”, ANDAC‐CORDING TO WHICHSAID LOT “D”COMMENCES NINETY-FOUR (94’)FEET FIVE(5”)INCHES, AND THREE (3’’’) LINES FROM THE CORNER OF TECHE AND HOMERSTREETS AND MEASURES THIRTYTHREE (33’)FEET,FIVE (5’)INCHESAND TWO (2”’) LINESFRONT ON HOMER STREET,SAME WIDTH IN THEREAR, BY A DEPTH BETWEEN EQUAL AND PARALLEL LINES OF ONE HUNDREDTWENTYSEVEN (127’)FEET,TEN (10”)INCHES, ANDFIVE (5’”) LINES LOT“D” IS COMPOSED OF ORIGINALLOT 19 ANDA PORTION OF ORIGINAL LOT 20. 414-HOMERST MITCHELL JOYCEALLEN 7539 ADVENTUREAVE NEW ORLEANS, LA 70129 TAXES OWED AREWITH THATCERTAIN LOTOF GROUND, TOGETHER WITHALL THEBUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, ANDALL THE

COMMENCES

AND

MEASURESTHENCE30 FEET FRONTONAPPLE STREET,THE SAME WIDTH

DEPTH

EQUAL AND

LINESOF

FEET;ALL SAID MEA‐SUREMENTS BEINGMORE ORLESS. 9205-APPLEST THOMAS ZELLA L 5001 MENDEZ ST,NEW ORLEANS,LA70126 TAXES OWED AREWITHA CERTAIN LOTOFGROUND, TOGETHERWITHALL THE BUILDINGS ANDIM‐PROVEMENTSTHEREON AND ALLTHE RIGHTS WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐NANCESAND ADVAN‐TAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING,ACCORD‐INGTOAPPROVEDMAPS OFSUBDIVISION BY F.C. GANDOLFO, JR.,SUR‐VEYOR,DATED SEPTEM‐BER 25, ANDSEPTEMBER 26, 1955, OF RECORD IN THE CONVEYANCE OFFICE IN THEPARISHOFOR‐LEANS,INBOOK607, FOLIO 508, SITUATED IN THE THIRDMUNICIPAL DISTRICTOFTHE

to actofpurchase, passedbeforeManuelI Fisher,NotaryPublic, on June 17, 1971; and, ac‐cordingtosaidsurvey said LOTS NOS. 4and 5 adjoin each other, and measure,together, 60 feet frontonEllis Park‐way, by adepth on the side line toward Rose‐wood Driveof164 feet,0 inches and3 lines, and a firstdepth on theoppo‐site side line,toward Ridgewood Drive, of 114 feet,0 inches and3 lines, thence narrowingat

Order. JONA.GEGENHEIMER CLERK Attorney:Charles N. Miller,Jr. 3114 CanalStreet NewOrleans,LA70119 Telephone(504) 529-4641 166894-nov17-dec8-2t

Questionspertainingto theauction canbesub‐mitted throughGovDeals portal or AllenUlrichat aulrich@swbno.org. 166746-NOV17-24-2T $47.34 PUBLIC NOTICE TheLouisiana Depart‐ment of Culture, Recre‐ation& Tourism, Office of StateParks is issuing a Requestfor Information (RFI)tosolicit anyand all projectideas to addor improvecabins, cot‐tages, andother lodging facilities at anypark within theLouisiana