The Times-Picayune 12-03-2025

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Stateunveils biggest marsh-buildingproject

Land rebuilt on theedge of Lake Borgne

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

Thestate’sbiggest marsh-building project ever completedwas unveiled Tuesday in St.BernardParish,where enough sediment to fillthe Superdome three times over wasusedtorebuild landrapidly washing away alongthe edge of Lake Borgne.

The ribbon-cutting for what is officially known as the Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project came withthe state facing scrutiny over its coastal restoration program following the cancellation of two high-profile river di-

version projects and looming funding shortfalls. Butthe completionofthe major marsh-buildingeffort in aspot frequented by legions of southeast Louisianafishermen and duck hunters was acelebratory moment despite the blustery,cold weather for the event

Located at acrossroads of the state’s coastal challenges, it also provided another lesson in Louisiana’scomplex land loss crisis, the Hurricane Katrina memorial crossatShell Beach rising

See PROJECT, page 7A

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Survivors of clergy sexabuse in the Archdiocese of New Orleans had their long-awaited day in court Tuesday,when they were givenanopportunity to share the horrific storiesofrape and molestation they suffered at the hands of local priests, deacons andnuns many years ago. In emotional statementsonthe stand in U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill’scourtroom, nearly two dozen abuse survivorsrecounted in often graphic, gut-wrenching detail the physical, psychological

In archdiocesebankruptcy case, nearly twodozen recountabuse ä See SURVIVORS, page 10A

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Trump: Guard heading to N.O.

Deployment planned in coming weeks

BY SOPHIEKASAKOVE Staff writer

NationalGuard members will arrive in New Orleans within weeks, President DonaldTrump said Tuesday, followingarequest by Louisiana Gov.Jeff Landry for a monthslong, federally funded deployment aimedattamping down on crimeinthe city Speaking at aCabinetmeeting, Trump confirmed that the National Guard would be deployed to NewOrleans“in acouple of weeks.”

“We’re going to New Orleans pretty soon,” Trump said. “Gov.Landry —great guy,great governor —he’sasked forhelp in New Orleans.”

Trumpconfirmed his plansafter Landry said on Monday that he had received acommitment from Trumptosend the National Guard to New Orleans“before Christmas.” “He said, ‘Don’tworry Jeff, we’ll have themthere in twoweeks,’” Landry said at an eventcommemorating victims of the vehicle-ramming attack on BourbonStreet on Jan. 1.

In September,Landry requested that the federal government pay for1,000 Louisiana National Guard members to support law enforcement in Louisiana cities through the end of fiscal year 2026. Neitherthe governornor the president saidhow manyGuard memberswould come to New Orleans, though Landry said Monday that they would remain in the city through Mardi Gras, which next year is Feb. 17. That’sless timethan Landry requested. The governor also said he expected to know how manyGuard members the government would pay for “within the next week or so.”

NoelCollins, aspokespersonfor the

ä See GUARD, page 5A

Sale of memberships paused aftercriticism

Amid fiercepublic criticism, the AudubonNatureInstitute is rethinking the new pricing strategy it rolled out last week, which nearly doubled the cost of zooand aquariummemberships In astatementlate Tuesday posted to its website and sent to local media, Audubonsaid, “We thankall those who have provided feedback on ourMember-

shippricing.Weare temporarily pausing the sale of Memberships in ordertodevelop more costeffective alternativesinaddition to the Audubon All Access Membership.”

Signed by the Audubon leadershipteam, the statementsaid Audubon is working to have the alternatives available by midDecember andwill communicate with existing members “once the solutions are confirmed and the system reconfigured.”

The about-face comes aday after CEO Michael Sawaya de-

ä See ZOO, page 6A

Visitors geta closer look at amarsh-creation area in LakeBorgne.

STAFF PHOTOSByBRETT DUKE

Birds take flightovera marsh-creation area of the Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project in St. BernardParish on Tuesday.

STAFF FILEPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Zookeeper Danielle Brennan givesFennessy treats during WorldGiraffe Dayatthe AudubonZoo on June 21.

Hasenfus, key figurein Iran-Contra affair,dies MADISON, Wis. Eugene Hasenfus,who playeda key role in unraveling theIran-Contraaffair after his CIA-backed supply plane was shot down over Nicaragua in 1986, has died. Hasenfus died on Nov.26 in Menominee, Michigan, after anine-year battle with cancer,according to his obituary He was 84.

Hasenfus was born Jan. 22 1941, in Marinette.Heserved with the Marines in Vietnam and continued aprivate career in aviation beforehe became akey figureinthe Cold War’s Iran-Contra scandal in 1986.

In 1981,President Ronald Reaganauthorized the CIA to support the anti-communist rightwing guerrilla force known as the Contras who were working against the Sandinistas in the Nicaraguan government. Congress cut off all military assistance to the Contras in 1984.

Months before the cutoff,top officials in Reagan’sadministration ramped up asecret White House-directed supply network to the Contras. The operation’s day-to-day activities were handled by National SecurityCouncil aide Oliver North. Thegoal was to keep the Contras operatinguntil Congresscould be persuaded to resume CIA funding.

The secrecy of North’snetwork unraveled after oneofits planes with Hasenfus on board was shot down over Nicaragua in October 1986. Three other crew members died, but Hasenfus parachuted into the jungle and evaded authorities for more than 24 hours.

Hasenfus said afterhis capture that the CIA was supervising the supply flights to the Contras. At first, Reagan administration officials lied by saying that the plane had no connection to the U.S. government.

Hasenfus was convicted in Nicaragua of charges related to his role in deliveringarms to the Contras and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega pardoned Hasenfus amonth later andhereturned to his home in northernWisconsin.

Man hurls Molotov cocktails at L.A. building

LOS ANGELES A54-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of throwing Molotov cocktails at the Los Angeles Federal Building, authorities said Tuesday. Nobody was hurt.

Security guards heard aman yelling derogatory comments about U.S. Immigration andCustoms Enforcement outside the downtown building on Monday, according toa statementbythe U.S. DepartmentofHomeland Security.Hethen hurled two incendiarydevices at the guards, the department said.

“Fortunately,the bottles were not lit and did not catch fire and there were no injuries or damage to federal property,” the DHS statement said.

FBI agents arrested Jose F. Jovel, of Los Angeles,saidbureau spokesperson Laura Eimiller Singer,publisher disavow use of work

WASHINGTON— Pop singer Sabrina Carpenterand the publisher of the beloved children’s character Franklin the Turtle are disavowing the Trump administration’s use of their musicand imagery to supportits agenda. Responding to the use of her song “Juno”inavideo montage depicting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, Carpenter tweetedTuesday: “this video is evil and disgusting.Donot ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”

In the caption for the clip, the WhiteHouse quoted Carpenter’s lyrics “Have you ever triedthis one? Bye-bye.” On Monday,Franklin the Turtle publisherKids Can Press condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’spost on Xfeaturingamanipulated image showing Franklin aiming abazooka at boats. Hegseth postedthe image with the caption “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.” BRIEFS

U.S.-Russiatalks on Ukraineproductive

Butworkremains, Putinadvisersays

By The Associated Press

Talks between Russia and the U.S. on ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine were productive, but muchwork remains,Yuri Ushakov,asenior adviser to President Vladimir Putin, told reporters.

Putin metU.S.President Donald Trump’senvoySteve Witkoffand son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Kremlinin talksthatbegan late Tuesdayaspartofa renewed push by the Trump administration to brokera peace deal. Bothsides agreed notto disclosethe substance of the talks.

Ushakov called the five-hour conversation “rather useful, constructive, rather substantive,” but added that the framework of the U.S. peace proposal was discussed rather than“specific wording.”

Putin’saide alsosaid that “so far, acompromise hasn’tbeen found” on the issue of territories, without which, he said,the Kremlin sees “noresolutiontothe crisis.”

“Some of the American proposals seem moreorless acceptable, but they needtobediscussed. Someof thewording that wasproposedto us doesn’tsuit us. So, theworkwill continue,” Ushakovsaid.

There were other points of disagreement, although Ushakov did not provide furtherdetails.“We could agree on somethings, andthe president confirmed this to his interlocutors.Other things provoked criticism, andthe president also didn’thide our critical and even negative attitude toward anumber of proposals,” he said.

Themeeting came days after U.S. officials held talks with a Ukrainian team in Florida and which U.S.Secretary of State Marco Rubio described in cautiously optimistic terms.

At thecenterofthe effort is Trump’speace plan that became public last monthand raisedconcernsabout being tilted heavily toward Moscow.The proposal granted some of the Kremlin’score demandsthatKyiv has rejected as nonstarters, suchasUkraine ceding the entire eastern region of the Donbas to Russiaand renouncing its bid to join NATO. Negotiators have indicated the framework has changed,but it’snot clear how On Tuesday,Putinaccused Kyiv’s Europeanallies of sabotaging

RussianPresidentVladimir Putin, right, and Russian Presidential foreign policy adviser yuri Ushakov,attend the talks withU.S.special envoy Steve Witkoff, back to acamera, at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin in MoscowonTuesday

U.S.-ledefforts to end the war in Ukraine.

“They don’thavea peace agenda, they’re on the side of the war,” Putin said of the Europeans.

Putin’saccusations appeared to be his latest attempt to sowdissension between Trump andEuropean countries and set thestagefor exemptingMoscow from blame for any lack of progress.

He accused Europe of amending peace proposals with “demands thatare absolutely unacceptable to Russia,”thus“blocking theentire peace process” and blaming Moscow for it.Healsoreiterated his long-held position that Russia has no planstoattackEurope— a concern regularly voiced by some European countries.

“But if Europe suddenly wants to wage awar withusand starts it, we are ready right away.There can be no doubt aboutthat,” Putin said.

Russia started thewar in 2022 with its full-scale invasionofa sovereignEuropean country,and European governmentshave since spent billions of dollars to support Ukraine financially andmilitarily, to wean themselves fromenergy dependenceonRussia,and to strengthen theirown militaries to deter Moscow from seizing more territory by force.

They worry that if Russia gets what it wants in Ukraine, it will have free reintothreaten or disrupt other European countries, which already have faced incursions from Russiandronesand fighter jets, and an alleged wide-

spread Russian sabotage campaign.

Trump’speace plan relies on Europe to provide the bulk of the financing andsecurity guarantees for apostwar Ukraine,even though no Europeansappear to have been consultedonthe originalplan.That’swhy European governmentshave pushed to ensure thatpeace efforts address their concerns, too.

CoincidingwithWitkoff’s trip, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyywent to Ireland, continuing hisvisits to European countries that have helped sustain his country’s fight against Russia’s invasion.

Zelenskyy said Tuesdayhewas expecting swift reports from the U.S. envoys in Moscow on whether talks could move forward, afterTrump’sinitial 28-point plan was whittled down to 20 items in Sunday’s talksbetween U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Florida.

“The future and the next steps depend on these signals. Such stepswill change throughout today,even hour by hour,I believe,” Zelenskyy saidatanews conference in Dublin with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin.

“If the signals showfairplay with our partners, we then might meet very soon, meet with the American delegation,” he said.

“Thereisalot of dialogue, but we need results. Our people are dying every day,”Zelenskyysaid. “I am ready to meet with President Trump. It alldepends on today’s talks.”

Former Honduras president freedafter Trumppardon

He wassentenced in drug traffickingoperation

BY CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN and MIKE CATALINI Associated Press

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras Former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández, sentenced last year to 45 years in prison for his role in adrug trafficking operation that movedhundreds of tons of cocainetothe United States,was released from prison following apardonfrom President Donald Trump,officials confirmedTuesday.

Hernándezwas released MondayfromU.S.PenitentiaryHazelton in West Virginia, aspokesperson for theFederal Bureau of Prisons told TheAssociated Press. The bureau’sonline inmate recordsalsoreflected hisrelease.

its of international law and amount toa pressure campaign on Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.

The Trumpadministration has carried out 21 known strikes on vessels accused of carrying drugs, killing at least 83 people.The administration hasjustifiedthe attacksasanecessary escalation to stem the flowofdrugs intothe United States and asserted the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict”with drug cartels,similar to the war against al-Qaida following theSept. 11 attacks.

Ana GarcíathankedTrump for pardoning her husband via the social platform Xearly Tuesday Speaking to reporters Tuesday outside herhome in Tegucigalpa, shethanked Trump for pardoning her husband and drew a parallel between the two men.

Mancharged in D.C. shooting pleads notguilty

2NationalGuard memberswereshot

BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON—

Aman accused of shooting twoNational Guard troops near the WhiteHouse pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to murder and assault charges during his first appearance before ajudge, appearing remotely by video from ahospital bed. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghannational whowas also shot during last Wednesday’sconfrontation, said through an interpreter that he was in pain and couldn’topen his eyes.A court-appointeddefense attorneyentered Lakanwal’spleaonhis behalf during abrief hearing in Washington, D.C. Lakanwalischargedwith first-degree murder,assault withintent to kill andillegalpossession of afirearm in the shooting that killedSpecialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, andwounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24. Another NationalGuard member heard gunshots and saw Beckstrom and Wolfe fall to the ground as Lakanwal fired agun andscreamed,“Allahu Akbar!” according to apolice report filed in court on Tuesday.Lakanwal chased after andshotatanother Guard member before troops detained himashetried to reload his gun, the report says. D.C. SuperiorCourt Judge Renee Raymond ordered Lakanwal held without bond. His case is due back in court on Jan. 14. Beckstrom and Wolfe were deployed with the West Virginia National Guard for President Donald Trump’slaw-enforcement surge in the nation’scapital, whichhas flooded the city with federal agents and troops since August. Authorities wereinvestigating apossible motive for what they described as an ambushstyle attack.

Aprosecutor,Ariel Dean, describedthe shooting as a “shocking crime” and said it appears that Lakanwal “traversed the city to some extent” before approaching the troops and shooting them.

The release of Hernández—aformer U.S. allywhose conviction prosecutors said exposed the depth of cartel influence in Honduras —comes just days after thecountry’s presidential election. Trumpdefended the decision aboard Air Force One on Sunday,saying Hondurans believed Hernández had been “setup,” even as prosecutorsarguedheprotected drug traffickers who moved hundreds of tons of cocaine through thecountry.

Thepardon also unfolds against the backdropofTrump’s aggressive counternarcotics push that hastriggered intense controversy across Latin America. In recent months, U.S. forces have repeatedly struck vessels theysay wereferrying drugs north,a seriesoflethalmaritime attacksthatthe administration argues are lawful acts of war againstdrug cartels —and that criticssay test thelim-

“Today the whole world realizes that, like they did with President Donald Trump, thesame SouthernDistrict, thesameprosecutor created apolitical case,” García said.

She said Hernández called her Monday evening to say he was in the office of the prison head and had been told he will be released. García said Hernández is in an undisclosedlocation forhis safety,but thatheplans to address the Honduran people on Wednesday Hernández’sattorneyRenatoStabile saidinanemailed statementhealso would not share the former president’s current location.

García said the process toseek apardon began several monthsago withapetitiontothe officeofpardons. Thenon Oct. 28, Hernández’sbirthday,hewrote aletter to Trump. He announced he was pardoning Hernández last Friday “Myhusband is thepresident who has done the most for Honduras in the fight against organized crime,” Garcia said.

Hasenfus

Hernández

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALEXANDER KAZAKOV

Hegsethcites ‘fog of war’ in defendingboatstrike

Lawmakersopen investigation

BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON Defense

Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday cited the “fog of war” in defending afollow-up strike on an alleged drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean Sea in early September

During aCabinet meeting at the White House, Hegseth said he did not see any survivorsinthe water,saying the vessel “exploded in fire, smoke, you can’tsee anything. This is called the fog of war.”

Hegseth also said he “didn’tstick around” for the remainder of the Sept. 2mission following the initial strike and the admiral in charge “made theright call” in ordering the second

President DonaldTrump listens as Defense SecretaryPete Hegsethspeaks duringaCabinet meeting at the White House on TuesdayinWashington, D.C.

hit, whichhe“hadcomplete authority to do.”

Lawmakers have opened investigations following a WashingtonPost report that Hegseth issued averbal

order to “kill everybody” on theboat, thefirstvessel hit in the Trump administration’s counterdrug campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that

Police testifyinMangionetrial

Bodycamfootage played in court

BY JENNIFERPELTZ

Associated Press

NEW YORK Video shown in

court Tuesday documented how police approached, arrested and searc hed Luigi Mangione at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s —momentsthat underlie key questi ons aboutwhat evidence can and can’t be used in the case surrounding the killingofUnitedHealthcare CEOBrian Thompson.

The footage was taken on Dec. 9, 2024, five days after Thompsonwas gunned down on aNew York City sidewalk. Officers’ body cameras captured the roughly20minutes

$6.25B

between policeapproaching Mangione at the restaurant and telling him he had the right to remain silent.

During that time,they asked his name, whether he’d been in New York recently andother questions,including:“Why are you nervous?”

The Altoona, Pennsylvania, officers were initially skepticalabout a911 callreporting that the much-publicized suspectinThompson’s killing might be at the McDonald’s— so dubious thatasupervisor offered to buy Officer Joseph Detwilera hoagieatalocal eatery if the tip panned out.

Yetonce he met Mangione andsaw his face, Detwiler was convinced, allthe more so after theman gavewhat police soon realized was a fake name and phony New Jersey driver’slicense. But police suggested they were simplyresponding to loitering concerns at the eatery, theymade conversation about asteak sandwich, and

Detwiler even whistledalong as “Jingle Bell Rock” played in the background.

“Just trying to keep things normal and calm, make him think that nothing was different about this call than anyother call,” Detwiler explained. But however casual the tone at times, officers also patted Mangione down and pushed his backpack away from him —out of “a safety concern”about what might be in it and what he might do, according to Detwiler

After about 15 minutes, with over ahalf-dozen officers in the restaurant, Detwiler warned Mangione that he was beinginvestigated, was believedtohavegiven a false nameand would be arrested if he repeated it.Mangione then disclosedhis true identity.Officersasked why he had lied.

“I clearlyshouldn’thave,” he responded, explainingthat “thatwas the ID Ihad in my wallet.”

donatedtoenhance ‘Trump Accounts’

BY THALIA BEATY Associated Press

NEW YORK Billionaires Michael and Susan Dellpledged

$6.25 billion Tuesday to provide 25 million American children 10 and under an incentive to claim the new investment accounts for children created as part of President Donald Trump’stax and spending legislation.

The historicgifthas little precedent, with few single charitable commitmentsin thepast25years exceeding $1 billion. Announced on GivingTuesday,the Dells believe it’sthe largest singleprivate commitment made to U.S children.

Itsstructureisalsounusual. Essentially,itbuilds on the “Trump Accounts” program, where the U.S. Department of the Treasury will deposit $1,000 into investment accounts it sets up for American children born between

AP PHOTO

Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion Tuesday to provide children 10 and under an incentive called ‘Trump Accounts.’

Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2028.The Dells’ gift will use the“Trump Accounts” infrastructure togive $250 to each qualifiedchildunder11.

“Webelieve that if every child can see afuture worth saving for,this programwill build something far greater than an account. It will build hope and opportunity and prosperityfor generations to come,”said Michael Dell,

thefounder and CEO of Dell Technologies whoseestimated networth is $148 billion, according to Forbes.

Though the “TrumpAccounts” became lawaspart of thepresident’s signature legislation in July,the Dells say theaccounts will not launch until July 4, 2026.

“Wewant these kids to know thatnot only do their families care, buttheircommunities care, their government,their countrycares aboutthem,”SusanDelltold The Associated Press.

Under the new law,“Trump Accounts” areavailable to any American child under 18 with aSocial Security number Account contributions mustbeinvested in an index fund thattracks the overall stock market. When the childrenturn 18, they can withdraw thefunds to put towardtheir education,tobuy ahome or to startabusiness.

hasgrown to over 20 known strikes andmorethan80 dead

TheU.S.alsohas built up itslargest militarypresence in the region in generations, and many see theactions as atactic to pressure VenezuelanPresident Nicolás Maduro to resign.

While several legal experts have told The Associated Press they believed the second strike violated peacetime laws and those governingarmed conflict, the Pentagon’sown manual on thelaws of armed conflict alsospecifically citesstriking survivors of asunken ship as being patently illegal.

“Orders to fire upon the shipwreckedwould be clearlyillegal,”the manual says.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday distanced himselffrom the secondary strike, which thenews re-

port said killed two survivors whowere clinging to the wreckage.

Trump said he “didn’t know anything” andthat he “still hasn’t gotten alot of informationbecause Irelyon Pete,” referencing Hegseth, when asked if he supported the secondstrike “I didn’tknow anything about people. Iwasn’tinvolvedinit,” he added.

Hegseth, sitting next to Trumpatthe Cabinetmeeting, said Trump hasempowered “commanders to do whatisnecessary,which is dark and difficultthings in thedead of night on behalf of the American people.”

Pentagon press secretary KingsleyWilson said earlierinthe daythatall of the strikeshavebeen “presidentially directed andthe chain of command functions as it should.”

“At the endofthe day, the secretary and the president

arethe ones directing these strikes,” Wilson said while speaking to handpickedoutlets at an event at the Pentagon. TheTrump administration has suggested that the admiral overseeing the operation made the actual decision to conduct asecond strike.Trump calledhim an “extraordinary person” on Tuesdayand said “I want those boats taken out, and if we have to, will attack on land also,just like we attack on sea.”

TheWhite Housesaid Monday that Navy Vice Adm.Frank “Mitch” Bradley acted “within his authority andthe law” when he ordered thesecond strike, while Hegseth said on social media that he stood by Bradley “and the combat decisions he hasmade.”

Bradley is expectedto provide aclassified briefingThursday to lawmakers overseeing themilitary

Mangione

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREENIKHINSON

LouisianaNational Guard, declined to comment.

Mayor-elect Helena Moreno said on Tuesday that the National Guard’s efforts would not address the city’s primary publicsafety needs.

“If we’re reallyworkingon the same goal of goingafter the very most violent offenders in the city of New Orleans, the National Guard does not help us for that,” Moreno said at anewsconference at the Greater New Orleans Foundation on Tuesday

Instead, Moreno said, the city needs more money for crime prevention efforts and to hire probation and parole officers and federal prosecutors.

Moreno also said that “it is important to recognize that we’ve had significant decreases in violent crimes” and said that she would “continue to havethat dialogue and conversation with the governor.”

Karen Boudrie, aspokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department, said that the department stands by a statement shared in October that referred to theLouisiana National Guard as “the sons and daughters of our state.”

“Wehave along-standing relationship builtontrust and ashared commitment to public safety.The National Guard has worked well withusinthe past, and we anticipate that same levelof strong collaboration as they join our ongoing efforts,” the statement said.

Trump has made acontroversial push in recent months to deploy the Guard andother federal agents to cities like Chicago and Washington, D.C., to crack down on crime and immigration. The president firstsug-

later, Landry officially requested that Trump’s administration fund the deployment of Guard members to multiple Louisiana parishes.

Louisiana National Guard members were recently in New Orleansfor the51st annual Bayou Classic, in what has become anew standard forsecuringsections of downtown duringmajor events. Guard members worked with state andlocal law enforcementtoestablish an “enhanced security zone” from Friday through Sunday including checkpoints, bagsearches anda banoncoolers.

Landry commended that effort on Monday.Underthe newfederally fundeddeployment, the Guard would operate daily “in New Orleans and other cities under which violent crime is causing citizensnot to feel safe in their communities,” he said.

also came as separate plans for immigration sweeps by U.S.Border Patrol have already sparked outcry in the New Orleans area. Landry discussedthe National Guard’s arrivalatanevent in theFrench Quarter on Monday as about 100 people gathered just half amile away to protest the impending immigration raids. It is unclear whereinthe city theNational Guard would focus, butthe Guard hastypicallyconcentrated its efforts on thetouristheavy French Quarter

Christian Pendleton, chair of the securitycommitteeand general manager of Brennan’sRestaurant, said thathebelievedthat

because“New Orleans has along history withthe Na-

tionalGuard …the sight of the National Guard is not as

shocking in NewOrleansas it is in other cities.”

Ideally,the deployment would liftpressure on the short-staffed New Orleans Police Department, Pendleton said. Erin Holmes, director of Vieux Carré Property Owners, Residentsand Associates,aFrenchQuarter neighborhood advocacy group, said she believes that the consistent presenceof Guard members in the neighborhood is unnecessary Holmes said that while “we want to be safe” she believesthe “physical presence of uniforms and guns is unnerving fora neighborhood that is knownfor letting your hair down and celebrating.”

“It doesn’tnot feel like New Orleansorthe French Quarter,” she said. Staff writer Blake Paterson contributed to this report.

Email SophieKasakove at sophie.kasakove@ theadvocate.com.

fended the steep price increases that sparked criticism last week, arguing that nearly doubling the annual cost for families puts the zoo in line with attractions in other cities.

In a statement late Monday, Sawaya, who took over from longtime CEO Ron Forman last year and has begun putting his stamp on Audubon, noted that several attractions are covered by the family memberships and that it is still a good value that quickly pays for itself with repeat trips.

“Audubon Nature Institute isn’t just one attraction, it’s a family of 10 world-class parks and attractions,” Sawaya said.

“After much research and consideration, we modified our pricing to allow membership to pay for itself in just two visits. This is lower than the 2.5 visit average for memberships at other accredited AZA facilities,” he said, referring to the national organization known as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “Unlike other zoos or aquariums that operate largely as stand-alone entities, an Audubon Nature Institute membership includes all of our parks and attractions.”

The statement from Sawaya came after hundreds of irate comments about Audubon’s family membership pricing flooded social media over the Thanksgiving holiday The scenario is a potential early test of how he will navigate controversy at the beloved New Orleans institution

Though potential changes to membership pricing were briefly discussed at recent Audubon Commission board meetings the size of the hikes only came to light after members began showing up on Audubon’s webpage to take advantage of a 15% off holiday sale for renewals. When they did, they found that the price of a family

membership had nearly doubled, to $425 for two adults and two children from $225 a year ago In its statement Tuesday

Audubon said it would reach out to members who purchased or renewed a membership since Nov 28, when the new pricing went into effect, “to allow you a different choice should you wish.”

The statement goes on to say, “If your membership expires before the system is again live, we welcome you to visit in the interim as our guest.”

Audubon’s new membership rates are among the priciest of other top-ranked zoos in the U.S. But the rates are comparable when the price of memberships to aquariums in those cities are added to zoo prices

For example, membership for a family of four to the Cincinnati Zoo costs $162 a year The metro area’s Newport Aquarium, located across the Ohio River in Kentucky, however, costs $260. Together, the two memberships, at $422, is comparable to Audubon’s new price of $424.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens costs $270 for an annual membership for a family of four

When a family membership to the nearby Florida Aquarium is added in at $250, the total jumps to $520.

Admission to the St. Louis Zoo is free, though an annual family membership, which buys access to rides and special attractions, costs $250. A family membership to the St Louis Aquarium costs $220 for a total of $470.

One outlier is Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, which are housed under a single roof and are among the top rated in the country. An annual membership for two adults and up to six children to both attractions and an affiliated Doorly Wildlife Park costs $233.75.

Sawaya said Audubon’s new membership pricing was designed to bring the institute’s parks and attractions more in line with the

national average of organizations that belong to the national Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

It also comes as the zoo has been looking at ways to improve its offerings while also raising revenue. Sawaya, the former head of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, was appointed to lead Audubon in November 2024. In the year since, he has begun to reshape the organization.

He hired Gilbert Montaño, formerly Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s chief administrative officer, as his chief of staff. He also created the new position of chief commercial officer, merging the senior vice president of business development and senior vice president of philanthropy positions, and naming Cara Banasch to the post.

A former hospitality executive, Banash unveiled the new “commercial strategy” at the Audubon Nature Institute board’s September meeting. According to minutes from the meeting, she explained that the strategy involves making changes to Audubon’s pricing, distribution, membership, special events, group business and philanthropy

With respect to pricing, the goal of the new strategy

is to “maximize revenue while supporting mission,” she told the board With respect to membership, the idea is to give members “more value in programming versus price.”

In his statement Monday,

Sawaya said that programming will include “an extensive calendar of more than 30 events and opportunities to attract and engage with their neighbors and friends based on their individual interests. “

Audubon has had a difficult year financially with attendance and revenues down from 2024. The institute is expected to finish the year with a $2.7 million loss, records from the board’s September meeting show

Sawaya has blamed the challenges on a slow start to 2025, with the Bourbon Street terrorist attack and January snowstorm adding to a downturn in the hospitality market that has affected museums, attractions and hotels across the city Audubon spokesperson Melissa Lee said those factors were not related to the decision to increase in the price of an annual membership, which had not gone up in nearly a decade.

Still, critics of the new pricing at Audubon say

while price increases may be needed after many years of remaining unchanged, they question the wisdom of shifting so much of the burden onto loyal local members.

“What is the point of a zoo that most people cannot afford to go to?” said Scott Howard, president of Parks for All, a local nonprofit that advocates for more accessible parks and recreational spaces around the city “Especially in a town as poor as ours?”

“Zoo pricing is not inelastic. It’s not like coffee,” he added. “This is not going to produce the desired results.” Lee said the zoo has a free Orleans Parish appreciation day every month and that SNAP beneficiaries can be admitted to the zoo for $3. Also, she said, the new price increases do not apply to school groups.

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

just behind the ceremony. Local and state officials highlightedthe newly built marsh’simportance as abuffer for storm surge among other ecosystem benefits.

“Over 3,000acres —3,170 acres to be exact —15million cubic yards,” Gordon Dove, chair of the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority,told an audience of local, state and federal officials of the project’ssize. “And it’sall about construction, construction, construction.”

Earlier estimates put the total cost of theproject at $115 million, paid for with funds related to the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill’sfines and settlements. Officials said thefinal amount wasslightly belowthat. Construction began around four years ago.

It is located along the southeastern shore of Lake Borgne, near the popular Campo’sMarina and Hopedale Marina, launching points for generations of anglers. In astark sign of how the areahas changed, remnants of what used to be aroad can still be seenalong one edge of the project, its path now atop sinkingmarsh andcut off from the mainland.

The project has been an important part of the state’s 50-year coastal master plan The marsh it addressed includes ahighly eroded section of shoreline between Lake Borgne and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet shipping channel.

The shipping channel, commonly known as the MRGO, cut through the marsh when it was dug and helped usher in saltwater intrusion. Those forces fused with other factors tearingat Louisiana’sfragile coastline, including subsidence and sea level rise. The channel, blamed for worsening storm surge during Katrina, is now closedoff with arock dam.

“By any measure —on scale, engineering complexity,environmental value

—this project stands as oneofthe greatest achievementstodate completed by CPRA,” said Michael Hare, the coastal authority’sexecutivedirector Design and engineering work forthe project was carried out by CovingtonbasedDuplantis Design Group, while Mike Hooks LLC, based in Westlake, handled construction.

Buildingthe newlandessentiallyinvolvedagiant hose spewing mudtoreplenish what has been lost.From aspot afew miles out in LakeBorgne, sediment was pumped by pipe between containment dikes outlining the project areas, the pipe movedthroughout theprocess to spread thesediment. After it settled, more sediment followed until the entire area reached the height of healthy marsh,explained Joe Guillory,ofDuplantis.

Green cordgrass has sprouted from the newlysettled mud, taking theshape of southLouisiana coastal marsh. Thedesign life of the project is 20 years —standard for such projectssince they erodelike the rest of

Louisiana’scoast —though it is expected to last significantly longer

To be sure,the project experienced somecomplications. One section of marsh had to be left out of the plans because the landowner declinedtoparticipate,Guillory said.

The state haslost around 2,000 square miles of land over thepastcentury, amounting to around afootball field every 100 minutes, or about the size of Delaware. In recent years, it has used billions in fines and settlement money related to theBPspill forlarge-scale restoration projects, but those dollars run dry at the end of 2031. More than half of the money forprojects in the state’s annualcoastalplanfor fiscal year 2026 comes from BP funds.

Dove said the state hopes to build projects with the remaining BP fundsthatwill last forseveral decades to come. He named projects such as constructionofa land bridge using dredged materialinBarataria Basin, where land loss has also

been extreme. But the coastal agency under Gov. JeffLandry hasfaced withering criticism from manycoastal advocates for canceling the $3 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion,which broke ground in 2023, and the companion Mid-Breton diversion. Both were intended to funnel Mississippi River water and sediment to rebuild lost wetlands, but faced strong opposition from the commercial fishing industry and others over the sharp changes they would bring to area waters.

Around $619 million in BP funds had already been spent on Mid-Barataria. Dove said he hopestorecoup aportion of the money by generating interest on remaining funds.

Landry and Dove say they preferprojectsusing dredgedsediment since they build land faster with more predictable results at alower cost.

Those favoring thediversions saytheymimic the way Louisiana was built in the first place, working with nature to address the state’s land loss.

Dove has spoken of replacing Mid-Barataria with asmaller-scale diversion that would cause less disruption to commercial fishing, accompanied by marsh building with dredged sediment. The idea would essentially revive an older state plan authorized in 2007, but wouldalmostsurelyneed to be updated to reflect new conditions.

Thecoastal agency has sent aletter of intent to the U.S. Army CorpsofEngineers on the project and is waiting for aresponse, Dove said. Corps spokesman RickyBoyett confirmedthe letter had been received, but said the agency wasanalyzing the next steps that must be taken given how dated the project is.

“Weare working to determine the necessary permissions and funding required to resume work under the program,” he said.“We currently do not have adecision timeline.”

As we head deeper into theholiday season,gatheringsand travel increase ourexposure to illnesses—especially theflu. This week marksNationalInfluenzaVaccination Week, atimelyreminderof howcriticalitistoprotect yourself andthose around you. Choosing theright placefor aflushotcan be overwhelming,but LCMC Health Urgent Care makes it easy

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STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Aribbon-cutting ceremony marks the completion of the LakeBorgne Marsh Creation Project in St. Bernard Parish on Tuesday.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIAGERMER

Aphoto from 2023 showsthe land where an earlier incarnation of Campo’s Marina near Shell Beach and Lake Borgne had been reduced to apatchwork of drowning marshgrass. The project unveiled Tuesdayaddressed partof the area.

Johnsonfaces roughmonth in Congress

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON Congress returned to Capitol Hill this week facing ahuge agenda with no easy solutions.

First, Congress has to figure out how to postponean end-of-the-month deadline that would double health insurancecosts for24million working Americans. It also needs to approve annual spending on military construction; consider sanctions on Russia; and regulate “name, image, and likeness” paymentsincollege sports.

And there are just 12 scheduled workdays—11 in the Senate —before this year’s session ends Dec. 18. Even once that’sdone, Congress must pass spending bills before Jan. 30 or the government could shut down —again.

At the center of it all is House Speaker Mike Johnson, aRepublicanfrom the Shreveport areawho leads aGOP majority of only two votes. And that majority includes unruly caucus memberswho aredefecting on issues ranging from releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files to sanctions on Russia.

Johnson says he is in “triage” mode every day

“I had my feelings surgically removed back in the ’80s, so they can’thurt my feelings,” Johnson said on apodcast last week hosted by Katie Miller,the wifeof Stephen Miller,atop aide to President Donald Trump

“That has been the key to this job because when you’re in atime as we are rightnow, when you have avery small margin, if Icarried grudges or if Ireturned fire to somebody who’scriticizing me, the agenda would grind to ahalt because at theend of theday,I gottoget every member to yes. Literally,I have aone- or two-vote margin on any given day,” Johnson said.

Some in the national media have begun to question whether Johnson is up to the job, with 11 months left before all 435 House members face election again on Nov.3

The Hill noted that the

abrupt resignation of MAGA firebrand Rep.Marjorie TaylorGreene, R-Ga., “setsoff a political grenade” forJohnson. Politicopublishedanarticle headlined, “WhyMike Johnson is losing control of the House.” Punchbowl News, an online news outlet for political insiders, calls it “the toughest stretch” of Johnson’s career

TheNew York Timesdescribed Johnson as “beleaguered” and overwhelmed by hisworkload Johnson disagrees.

“Despite the unrelenting stream of palaceintrigue stories that fill the pages of your publications, House Republicans remainunited and focusedon delivering results for our constituents,” Johnson toldreporters Tuesday

He pointed out that Republican majorities thisyear passed 331 pieces of legislation, including large tax cuts in theOne Big BeautifulBillAct,along with reduced business regulation and increased border security.Alsoapproved was legislation that cutappropriations already approved by Congress and codified 67 of Trump’sexecutiveorders.

This is not the first time in his twoyears holding the gavel that Johnson has been under fire.Hefendedoff an effort to remove him last year,and earlier this year,a group of HouseRepublicans tried to block Johnson’sreelection as speaker

One marker of current discontent is the numberof “discharge petitions” being circulated and approved.

Normally, Johnson and hisHouse leadership decide when floorvotes areheld. But if 218 House members signapetition,a vote must be held whether leadership wantsitornot.

The petitions areextremelyrare and almost always fail to find enough supporters willing to challenge leadership. But enough disgruntledRepublicans joinedthe Democratsbefore Thanksgiving to force Johnson to hold avoteon the public release of the Epstein files.

Aslate of other “dischargepetitions,” which represent rebellions against Johnson’s leadership, are being circulated thatwould require floor votes on punishing membersof Congress for alleged ethics

infractions, regulating how members trade stocks and bonds, sanctioning Russia and extending Affordable Care Actmarketplace tax credits.

HouseMinorityLeader HakeemJeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters Mondaythat all but twoDemocrats, 212 total, have signed adischargepetition on extending the Obamacare tax credits. Thatmeanssix more signaturesare necessary before Johnsonhas no choice but to hold avote for an issue on which Republicans ardently disagree.

Democrats wantathreeyear extension toavoid punishing so many people’s pocketbookswhile Congress addresses health care costs. Many conservative Republicans, however, have railed against the Affordable Care Act for 15 yearsand say theywanttouse this opportunitytorevamp Obamacare to lower health care costsratherthan extending subsidiesthatgotoinsurance companies.

Asignificant cadreof moderate Republicans, particularly those whosit in competitive districts, don’t want to wade intothe 2026 midtermelections witha significant portion of their constituentspaying twice as much, sometimes more, eachmonth forhealthin-

Moderates aresuggesting some concessionsbeadded to the extensions, such as putting acap on household incomes that qualify for the taxcredits.Thosesubsidies arepaid to insurance com-

panies to cover the gap between what they charge for policies and whatworkers whoseemployersdon’t offer insurance can afford.

TheTrump WhiteHouse last weekfloated the possibilityofextending the tax creditswithsomeconcessions but quickly dropped the idea after Johnson said that conservatives would never go along.

“So now Mike Johnson wants to act like he’s the speaker of theHouse?”

Jeffries said, adding that Trump’splanwas worthy of consideration.

House Majority Leader

SteveScalise,the Jefferson Republican who is second in command after Johnson, is meeting with committee chairs and GOP moderates to explore possible routes.

“We’regoing to continue to work on health care proposals to ensure that families have choices and lower premiums,” Scalise said Tuesday

Families, he said, “don’t have to be forced into a plan that the government tells them they have to be in that’stoo expensive for themand doesn’tworkfor their family.”

Meanwhile, theSenate hasscheduled avotenext week on extending theen-

hanced tax credits that help cover the cost of health insuranceonthe Affordable Care Act marketplace. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., acknowledged to reporters Monday that a small group of senators are negotiating apossible plan, but nothing yet has been agreed upon. Thunedoubted that the vote would getthe necessary support from 60 senators to pass the extension legislation on to the House. So muchwill fall on Johnson to find the combination of Obamacare changesand, perhaps, extensions that 218 representatives can support.

“When pressure gets turned up really high and then thestakes are so high and the votes are so tight, I just try to sit down and listen to everybody andfigure out whattheir primary need is and how we can meet that,” Johnson said on the podcast. “It’skind of aforeign thing on Capitol Hill, because people aren’tused to

surance.

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andemotional abuse they suffered as children and teens —and the scars they have carried with them in the decades since.

“What the trauma has donetouswill not ever end,”said Neil Duhon,who was abused and rapedas a15-year-old by one of the church’smostnotorious abusers, the late Lawrence Hecker.“It shaped our lives. It is ridiculous how muchit destroyed us.”

The survivor statements came on the second-to-last day of trial in the church bankruptcy case. At issuein thethree-week trial,technicallyknown as aconfirmation hearing, is whether a proposed settlement in the case has beennegotiated in goodfaith and is fair to the more than 600 creditors who filed credible abuse claims.

The settlement, whichis supported by asupermajority of survivorsaswell as commercial creditors, would create a$230 million trust to be distributed over several years to abuse survivors. It wouldalso create nonmonetary provisions outlining new child protectionmeasures and stricter reporting requirements. In their statements Tuesday,survivors weighed in on thoseprovisions, with some saying the measuresdon’t go far enoughtohold the church accountable. Others raged at leadersofthe local church, including Archbishop Gregory Aymond, who sat at the attorney’stable in the front of the packed courtroom afew feet from the witness stand.

“Greg, you are aliar,a fraud and deceiver,” said Aaron Hebert, who alsowas raped and abused by Hecker.“Youand the bishops goingbacktoPhilipHannan are just as guilty as the pedophile priests. Youharbored, abetted and protected these monsters,moving them from parish to parish.”

During abreak in thetes-

timony,Aymond saidhewas deeplymoved by the survivors’ statements “I feel very emotional about it,” Aymond said.“The pain they are going through is immense. No onecan take that away from them. Ipray for their healing ” The survivor remarks, which began shortly after9 a.m. and lasteduntil 5:30 p.m.,weredesignedas muchtosatisfy legal thresholdsnecessary for plan confirmation as to provide catharsis andhealing to those mostdirectlyaffectedby theabuse crisis. They also servedasa reminderofthe uglytruthsand dark secrets thatled tothe bankruptcy case in thefirst place. In recent weeks, attorneys for thechurch, abuse survivors, insurers and other creditorshave negotiated deals and resolved yearslong conflicts that seemingly softened the acrimony in what has been ahighly contentious case. The eight hours of gruelingstatements Tuesday underscored the pain that will continue long after the case is ended.

Before the statements began, Grabill urged the courtroompackedwithsurvivors and their supporters, attorneys,journalists and church officials to “take a deep breathand exhale.” A former social worker,Grabill acknowledged the difficult day that lay ahead for survivors.

“The conversations you and Iare going to have strikes atthe heart of vulnerability.We are allalittle bit on edge,” she said, adding that, “each of you has demonstrated an amazing amount of bravery just by walkingthrough that door.”

Those whochose to make statements held nothing back. Billy Cheramie described being raped and forced to perform oralsex on priests as an elementary school student in 1974.

“Fifty-one years ago, a little boy Iknew died,”Cheramie said.“Iamthatlittle boy.Idied. They killedme.”

TedPosner recalled how

his “favorite priest” and coach at LittleFlowerof Jesus Elementary School in the1970s, the Rev.Michael Landry,drove him to an empty houseand molested him on the sofa.

“I was ahappy 12-year-old boyone day,”Posner said. “The next day Iwasn’t.”

Richard Coon spoke of the excruciating physical pain he experienced being sodomized by apriest at St Philip Neri.

“I kept asking him to stop,” Coon said. “It hurt so bad. It seemed togoonforever.”

StephenSoldano recalled years of abuse and molestationbyDeacon George Brignac, one of the few local clerics to have faced criminalcharges. Brignacdied in prisonin2020awaiting charges on first-degree rape.

“I am still angry,” Soldano saidthroughtears. “Deacon Brignac terrorizedme for threeyears. My only regretinlife is not physically harming him.Ipray for peace butamnot ready to let goofmyanger.”

Some survivors shared stories that alluded to aring of abuse within the archdiocese, suggesting that the pattern was systemic and premeditated.

One Hecker victim described how thepriest gift-

ed him with abook that he was told to bring to another priest. Only later didhe realize it was asignalthat he was avulnerable child from atroubled family and, therefore, an easy mark for abuse.

Survivor Mark Vath also described being marked for abuse.

“I was givena cross in 1980 during my confirmation by Paul Calamari,”he said. “I now realize it was a signal to other priests.

Several victimsfaulted the churchhierarchy andAymond,inparticular, forwhat they say was adecades-long cover-upofunspeakable crimes against children.

“Aymond bears accountability,”saidTim Gioe,who was abused by PatWattingly in theearly 1980s. “The church prioritized protecting priests over safeguarding children. It did not take allegations seriously,instead transferring abusers from parishtoparish and placed vulnerable children in harm’sway.”

“The church is worse than the mafia,” Hebert said.

Following the hearing, Aymond said thechurchcould have donethings differently but that “wedidn’thavethe protocolsthatwehavenow …We’re living in adifferent age now.That’snot meantas an excuse,but we have different protocolstoday that we did then.”

Several times during the testimony,Grabill asked the survivoronthe stand what they think of theso-called nonmonetary provisions of the plan, which will implementnew stricter child protection measures and reporting protocols as well as create apublic database of past abuse incidents.

It’sa themeshe hasrepeatedly returned to during the confirmation hearing and has said she wants to ensure thatthe newmeasure, if theplanisconfirmed, is enforced.

Duhon said he doesn’t think theprovisions “have enough bite” to deter abusers from preying on chil-

dren.

Coon agreed.

“The Catholic Church in NewOrleans is so powerful, the fact they have to be court ordered to report when achild is abused and raped, Ifind it disgusting,” he said.

Following the testimony Grabill thanked the survivors forhavingthe “courage, strength and bravery to walk through these doors,” andopenthemselves to old wounds.

“I value the testimony,” she said. “I need to meditate over it, and we will meet back here to talk about confirmation.”

Outside thecourtroom, Aymond said what he had heard was “heart-wrenching andhorrific andtoldme very clearly of the pain that people wentthrough, and my heart really does go out to them.”

He added, “What has happened is evil. There is no waywecan do anything other than say I’msorry,but it is really evil.”

Pope LeoXIV reflects on

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

ABOARD THE PAPALPLANE

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday shared for the firsttime what he was thinking when the votes started going his way during the conclave that elected him, saying he resigned himself to the inevitable and putthe rest in God’shands.

“I took adeep breath. Isaid ‘Here we go Lord. You’re in charge andyou lead the way,’ ”Leo told reporters during awide-ranging airborne news conference coming home from his inaugural trip to Turkey and Lebanon Leo fielded questions for a half-hour,responding easily in English, Spanish and Italian about avariety of church and international news. He hinted at behind-the-scenes discussions about Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon, urged dialogue rather than U.S. military threatsonVenezuela and discussed his hopedfor future travels in Africa and South America, among other topics.

But it was his remarks about the conclaveand his papal learning curve that shed newlight on Leothe man and whatmakes him tick His responses, after seeming timid with the media early in his pontificate, showed he is much more comfortablenow,ispaying close attention to what is being reported about him,and that he has agoodsense of humor about it.

Leo was asked what he was thinking when he saw ahuge crowd of people at one of his events in Lebanon, where it seemed as if the size had taken him by surprise. Leo suggested that wasn’tnecessarily the case

“My face is very expressive but I’m oftentimes

to knowsomething aboutme, that’sbeenmyspirituality for many years,” he said.

of what it’slike to be apope on theroad, andhesaid the

enthusiasm of young Catholics was“awe-inspiring.”

“I think to myself, ‘These people are here because they wanttosee the pope.’ But Isay to myself,‘They’re here becausetheywantto see Jesus Christ and they want to see amessenger of peace,’”hesaid. “Just to listen to their enthusiasm and to hear their response to that message is something that I think is —that enthusiasm —isawe-inspiring.”

“I just hope Inever get tiredofappreciating everything that all these young people are showing,” he said.

On internationalissues

n Leo urged the United States to pursue dialogue andevenexert economic pressure on Venezuela’s leaders to achieve its goals, rather than threats of military action.

n “The voices coming from the United States

change, with acertain frequency at times,” he said. “I believe it’sbetter to look forwaysofdialogue,perhaps pressure —including economic pressure —but looking for other ways to change, if that’swhat the United States wants to do.” n Leosaidhehopes to make his secondtrip as pope to Africa next year,visiting several countries but especially Algeria because of its important role in ChristianMuslim relations and its significance to St.Augustine, who inspired his religious order

n Leo also said he hoped to visit three countries in Latin Americaineither2026 or 2027: Argentina, Uruguay and Peru, where he lived for two decades as amissionary.Argentina especially has been waiting forapapal visit after Pope Francis never went home after his 2013 election.

amused byhow thejournalists interpret my face,” he said.

“It’sinteresting.Sometimes Iget really great ideas fromall ofyou because you thinkyou can read my mind or my face.”

“You’re not always correct,” he added, to laughs. More instructive tounderstanding what he’sthinking, Leo said, would be toread up about his spirituality BeyondSt. Augustine,the fifth-centurytheologianwho inspired hisreligious order andisLeo’smost-frequently cited church father,Leo recommended abook “The Practiceofthe Presence of God,” by a17th-century Carmelite friar,Brother Lawrence.

“It describes, if you will, a type of prayer and spirituality whereone simply gives hislife to theLordand allows theLord to lead. If you want

“In midstofgreat challenges —living in Peruduring yearsofterrorism, being called to serviceinplaces where Inever thought I’d be called toserve —Itrust in God,” he said.

That held true in the May conclave, he said, when the former CardinalRobert Prevost was elected in aremarkably fast four ballots on the second day of voting. According to cardinals who participated, it was clear already by the third ballot that morning that the votes were going his way and that Prevost would be elected history’sfirst American pope.

“I resignedmyself to the fact when Isaw how things were going and Isaid‘This could be areality,’”Leo said.

Speaking to areporter who is about to retire,Leo said he hadhad differentplansfor his future.

“Just ayear or two ago, I too thought aboutretiring someday,” he said. “You’ve receivedthat gift apparently.Some of us will continue to work.”

In Lebanon, Leo had ataste

BRIEFS

Wall Street holds as bitcoin stabilizes

The U.S. stock market held steady on Tuesday as both bond yields and bitcoin stabilized. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% following its first loss in six days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 185 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6%.

Boeing soared 10.1% and was one of the strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. Chief Financial Officer Jay Malave said the plane maker expects growth next year in an underlying measure of how much cash it produces. MongoDB also helped lead the market and jumped 22.2% after the database company delivered stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. United Natural Foods climbed 4.6% after reporting a stronger profit than expected. They helped offset a 6.8% drop for Signet Jewelers, which gave a forecast for revenue in the holiday shopping season that fell short of analysts’ expectations. The jeweler said it’s expecting “a measured consumer environment.”

Another potential warning about U.S. shoppers’ strength came from the chief financial officer of Procter & Gamble, the giant behind Tide detergent and Ivory soap. Andre Schulten said the landscape for U.S. consumers is “volatile” at the moment, though still within the company’s expectations. Procter & Gamble slipped 1.1%. In the bond market, Treasury yields calmed following their jumps the day before The 10year yield edged down to 4.08% from 4.09% late Monday, while the two-year yield eased to 3.51% from 3.54%.

Bitcoin, which tumbled below $85,000 on Monday as bond yields worldwide marched higher, pulled back above $91,000. Ford sees dip in November sales

Ford Motor Co.’s U.S. sales fell almost 1% year-over-year in November as an aluminum shortage affected F-Series production and electric vehicle sales plummeted 61% without the federal plug-in vehicle tax credit.

Total sales declined 0.9% to 164,925 vehicles for the month. Dealer services provider Cox Automotive Inc. forecasted U.S. sales for the industry would fall to 1.27 million in November, down 7.8% from last year. Two fewer selling days, the end of the federal EV tax credit and higher vehicle prices from tariffs affected the total.

Sales of F-Series pickups, the country’s best-selling trucks and the Dearborn automaker’s profit engine, fell 9.6%. Multiple fires at an aluminum sheet plant in New York halted electric F-150 Lightning production and disrupted Super Duty and F-150 volumes. Ford expects to make up for the lost production next year with an added shift at Dearborn Truck Plant and additional workers at the Kentucky plant.

Global economy expected to grow

The world economy has proven surprisingly durable in the face of President Donald Trump’s trade wars, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Tuesday, upgrading its outlook for global and U.S. economic growth this year

The 38-country OECD now forecasts that the world economy will grow 3.2% this year, down a tick from 3.3% in 2024 but an improvement on the 2.9% it had predicted for 2025 back in June The organization, which does economic research and promotes international trade and prosperity expects global growth to slow to 2.9% next year. The OECD also raised its forecast for U.S. growth this year to 2%, up from the 1.6% it had forecast in June Still, even with the upgrade, the American economy — the world’s largest — would have grown considerably more slowly than it did in 2024 (2.8%)

BUSINESS

NOLA.COM/BIZ

Costco wants full refund on paid tariffs

It joins suit against Trump administration

BY PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writer

WASHINGTON Costco is joining other companies that aren’t waiting to see whether the Supreme Court strikes down President Donald Trump’s most sweeping import taxes. They’re going to court to demand refunds on the tariffs they’ve paid

The specialized U.S. Court of International Trade in New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington ruled earlier this year that Trump’s biggest and boldest import taxes

are illegal.

The case is now before the Supreme Court. In a Nov 5 hearing, several of the high court’s justices expressed doubts that the president had sweeping power to declare national emergencies to slap tariffs on goods from almost every country on earth.

If the court strikes down the tariffs, importers may be entitled to refunds on the levies they’ve paid.

“It’s uncertain whether refunds will be granted and, if so, how much,” said Brent Skorup, a legal fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute. “But the possibility has prompted many companies — including Costco to file actions in the U.S Court of International Trade to get in line, so to speak, for

potential refunds.”

Trump claims that he has an almost unlimited right to impose tariffs — a power the Constitution gives to Congress, under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act — but has now lost twice in court.

Trade lawyer Joyce Adetutu, a partner at the Vinson & Elkins law firm, said that Costco is trying to “make sure that if and when the Supreme Court overturns the IEEPA tariffs, which could come as late as the summertime, they have the judgment in place” and can collect a refund.

In a complaint filed last week with the trade court in New York, Costco said it is demanding the money back now “to ensure that its

right to a complete refund is not jeopardized.

The operator of warehouse-sized stores expressed concern that it might struggle to get a refund once its tariff bills have been finalized — a process called “liquidation” — by the Customs and Border Protection agency, a process Costco says will start Dec. 15.

Importers have 180 days after liquidation to protest the tariff bills. Costco worries that “their timeline might be whittled away depending on how long it takes to get a Supreme Court decision,” Adetutu said.

Revlon and canned seafood and chicken producer Bumble Bee Foods have made similar arguments in the trade court.

A SOLID START

Early data reveals shoppers are buying, but staying focused on what they want

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP retail writer

NEW YORK The nation’s shoppers may feel gloomy about the economy, but they certainly were in the mood to shop over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend that wrapped up on Cyber Monday As Wall Street analysts and retailers sift through the data from the weekend — the unofficial start to the season and a good barometer of shoppers’ financial health and the strength of the economy — the figures show that shoppers went online and in stores to scour for deals on everything from TVs to clothing. But all that economic uncertainty did affect spending. Shoppers were very focused and selective, some malls reported.

Of course, the weekend looks a lot different from 15 years ago, when shoppers camped out in the wee hours of the morning and fought in store aisles for doorbusters like TVs. Shoppers are still heading to stores, but the biggest growth is online, which now accounts for 30% of total holiday sales.

That’s up from 15% in 2012, according to the National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group.

Adobe Analytics reported Tuesday that so-called Cyber Week the five-day period from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday

— brought in $44.2 billion online overall, up 7.7% year-over-year, bolstered by record spending online during Black Friday

On Cyber Monday consumers spent $14.25 billion, up 7.1% and making it again the year’s biggest online shopping day

National Retail Federation’s CEO Matt Shay said Tuesday that shoppers wall off the winter holidays from all the economic noise, building a moat around the season.

“The holidays is really very much an emotional purchase,” Shay said. “Families plan for it. They invest in it. And as a component of the holidays, the five-day Thanksgiving weekend is really the psychological kickoff of the holidays.”

Based on the group’s survey of shoppers from the weekend, Shay called the period a “very solid beginning” to the holiday season.

The group still expects sales over November and December of between $1.01 trillion and $1.02 trillion That would be up 3.7% to 4.2% more than last year

Record traffic

Software company Salesforce reported that for Cyber Week — it measures from Nov 25 through Monday — global online sales increased to $336.6 billion, up 7% compared with the year-ago period U.S. online sales increased to $79.6 billion, up 5% year for that week, compared with the year-ago period.

The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, reported on Tuesday that more than

235,000 people visited the iconic center on Black Friday, making it the busiest Black Friday on record in the mall’s history The traffic number was up 8.5% compared with the same day on 2024 and nearly 2% above pre-pandemic 2019, the mall said.

Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks in-person and online spending, reported Saturday that overall Black Friday sales excluding automotive rose 4.1% from a year ago. The retail sales indicator, not adjusted for inflation, showed online sales jumped by double digits — 10.4% — while in-store purchases inched up 1.7%.

Still, shoppers were laser-focused.

William Lewis, marketing director of Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, noted on Black Friday that, “People are definitely buying.” But Lewis noted that shoppers are more targeted and have done their homework ahead of time on social media or store sites.

Generous discounts

Ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend, promotions didn’t come as early as last year or were more muted, according to some malls and analysts

But for the big weekend, retailers ramped up discounting to be in line with last year’s sales event, according to Adobe and big malls like Mall of America.

But if shoppers were dilly dallying about buying a specific sweater and waiting for the prices to go down after this weekend, that may not be the best strategy Discounts won’t improve on many items, and stores

came into the season with leaner inventory amid an uncertain economy, analysts said. Vivek Pandya, Adobe’s director of Adobe Digital Insights, noted that prior to the Thanksgiving weekend kickoff, discounts on average ranged from 10% to 17% and then accelerated to an average range of 18% to 30% for the holiday kickoff.

But he expects that retailers will likely pull back from those discounts and will hover a little above what shoppers saw to the runup of Black Friday. The exception would be poor-selling seasonal items, which need to be sold before Dec. 25, Pandya said.

AI tools

Shoppers are using AI tools to track prices or get gift recommendations, though the usage is still modest. On Cyber Monday AI traffic to U.S. retail sites — measured by shoppers clicking on a link — increased by nearly eightfold, according to Adobe. From Nov 1 through Dec. 1, AI traffic is up nearly ninefold, it said.

The services were used most in categories including video games, appliances, electronics, toys, and personal care products, according to Adobe.

Salesforce reported that across Cyber Week, AI and agents influenced 20% of all orders, accounting for $67 billion in global sales.

In the U.S., AI and agents drove 17% of orders, or $13.5 billion in sales. The figure encompasses everything from a ChatGPT query to AI-supplied gift suggestions on a retailer’s website.

Prada buys Milan fashion rival Versace for $1.4 billion

BY COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press

MILAN The Prada Group closed the purchase of Milan fashion rival Versace in a $1.375 billion cash deal that puts the fashion house known for its sexy silhouettes under the same roof as Prada’s “ugly chic” aesthetic and Miu Miu’s youth-driven appeal. The highly anticipated deal is expected to relaunch Versace’s fortunes, after middling post-pandemic performance as part of the U.S. luxury group Capri Holdings. Prada said in a one-line statement that the acquisition had been completed after receiving all regulatory clearances. Capri Hold-

ings, which owns Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo, said the money would be used to pay down debt.

Donatella Versace welcomed the deal in an Instagram post, which also marked the birthday of the brand’s late founder, her brother, Gianni Versace.

“Today is your day and the day Versace joins the Prada family I am thinking of the smile you would have had on your face,” she wrote in a post that also featured a 1996 photo of Gianni Versace with Miuccia Prada.

Prada heir Lorenzo Bertelli is set to steer Versace’s next phase as executive chairman, in addition to his roles as group marketing director and sustainability chief.

The son of co-creative director

Miuccia Prada and longtime Prada Group chairman Patrizio Bertelli has said he doesn’t expect to make any swift executive changes at Versace, although he also noted that the company, which is among the top 10 most recognized brands in the world, has long been underperforming in the market. Prada has underlined that the 47-year-old Versace brand offered “significant untapped growth potential.”

The appeal of the deal is that it combines “the minimalist Prada (with) a maximalist Versace,” said Luca Solca, managing director for the luxury sector at the Sanford C. Bernstein research firm, meaning

that the brands don’t compete for the same customers. Versace is “long past its heyday,” Solca said. “The challenge and the opportunity is to make it relevant again They are going to have to invent something which is going to make the brand attractive desirable and interesting again.”

Versace already has begun a creative relaunch under a new designer, Dario Vitale, who previewed his first collection during Milan Fashion Week in September

He was previously head of design at Miu Miu, but his move to Versace was unrelated to the Prada deal, executives have said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANGELINA KATSANIS

A man takes a photo of Rockefeller Center in front of Saks Fifth Avenue on Friday in New york.

Settleroutpostsspread amongWestBankvillages

Palestinianswarn of rise in rapid violentattacks

BY JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press

TURMUS AYYA,West Bank The fear is palpable in this Palestinian village. It’sclear in how farmers gather their harvests quickly,how they scan the valley for movement, how they dare not stray past certain roads.At any time, they say,armed Israeli settlers could descend.

“In amatterofminutes, they get on their phones. They gather themselves, and they surprise you,” said Yasser Alkam, aPalestinianAmerican lawyer and farmer from the village of Turmus Ayya. “They hide between the trees. They ambush people and beat them up severely.”

In recent months, Alkam says Turmus Ayya has weathered near-daily attacks by settlers, especially after theyset up an outpost that the anti-settlement watchdog group Peace Now says is on his village’sland.

Alkam says he can’treach his own fields for fearofbeing assaulted. In aparticularly gruesome attack, he watchedasettler beat aPalestinian woman unconscious with aspiky club.

The fear is sharedthroughout the West Bank. During October’solive harvest, settlers across the territory launched an average of eight attacks daily,according to the United Nations humanitarian office, the most since it began collectingdatain 2006. The attacks continued in November,with the U.N. recording at least 136 more by Nov.24.

Settlers burned cars desecrated mosques,ransacked industrial plants and destroyed cropland. Israeli authorities have done little beyond issuing occasional condemnations of the violence. Theattacks have surgedsince the warinGaza erupted two years ago.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attackers as aminority that did notrepresentmostsettlersin the West Bank, where settlements are considered illegal by mostofthe international community.But their con-

tinuedexpansionof outposts —conducted in public with seemingly few legal repercussions —and the violence have cemented afearfulstatus quo for their Palestinian neighbors.

While driving in fields east of Turmus Ayya on Oct. 19, Alkamsaw Afaf AbuAlia, a grandmother from anearby village, harvestinga grove of olive trees. They were loaned to her afterthe Israeli military bulldozedher own500 treesthis year,she said She workeduntil she heard yelling in Hebrew.Settlers descended on the road nearby.Suddenly,one rantoward herwith aclub.

“The monsters started beating me,” she toldThe Associated Press three weeks after the attack. “After that, my memories getall blurry.” Video of theattack obtainedbythe AP shows asettler beatingAliawiththe jagged club, even after shewas motionless. She washospitalized for fourdays, requiring 20 stitches on her head, she said Asked for comment on the attack, themilitary said its troopsand police had “defused” aconfrontation in which Israeli civilianswere torchingvehicles andusing violence

Police arrested aman namedAriel Dahari for beating Abu Alia. An Israeli courtchargedhim laterwith terrorism.

Dahariisbeing represented by Honenu, an organizationthat provides legal aid to settlers,who saythe West Bank is part of thebiblical

Jewish homeland and often castattacks as self-defense.

According to an article about Dahari on thegroup’s website, he hasreceived at least18administrative orders since 2016 that included house arrest andconfinement to his town in Israel.

He told the Israelinews site ArutzSheva in 2023 that he had been kicked out of the territorytwice. It is not clear how he was able to return.

Palestinians and human rights workerssay Israeli soldiersand police routinely fail to prosecute attacks by violentsettlers. Theirsense of impunityhas deepened under Israel’sfar-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir,a settler,and Defense Minister IsraelKatz, who in Januaryreleased settlers from administrative detention, Israel’s practice of detaining individuals without charge or trial.

Thenumberofinvestigations opened into settler violencesince2023, Ben-Gvir’s first year in office, has plummeted, according to areport by Israel’s Channel12TV thatcited official police data. Policeopenedonly 60 investigations into settler violence in 2024, compared with 150 cases in 2023 and235 cases in 2022, thereportsaid.

About 94% of all investigation files opened by Israeli police into settler violence from 2005 to 2024 ended without an indictment, according to Israeli rights group Yesh Din.

Since 2005, just 3% of those investigations led to convictions.

Israel receives remains handed over by militants

At leastfour killed in Gaza

BY WAFAA SHURAFA, MEGAN JANETSKY and SAMYMAGDY Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, GazaStrip Israel on Tuesday said it had received remains handed over by Palestinian militantsinGaza to the Red Cross. They were believed to be oneofthe two hostages still in theterritory: an Israeli and aThai national Israel’s government said the“findings” weretaken for forensics testing. Palestinianmedia said they were discovered in Gaza’snortherntown of Beit Lahiya.

The remains of 26 hostages taken in theHamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war have already been returned since aU.S.brokered ceasefire began on Oct. 10.

Israeli fire killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday,according to local hospitals.

An Israeli drone strike killed avideographer in the south, said officials at Nasser Hospital, which received the body MahmoudWadiwas killed

in Khan Younis, the hospital said. Wadi owned adrone photography company that once specialized in filming occasions likeweddings. More recently, it posted footageofGaza’sdestruction.

Another manwas shot dead near the Bureijrefugee camp in central Gaza, according to Al-Awda Hospital. Athird was killedby Israelifire in the GazaCity neighborhood of Zeitoun, anda boywas killedbyan artillery strike on ahouse east of GazaCity that also wounded 10 others, according to Al-Ahli Hospital.

The Israelimilitary said in astatement that troops operating in Gaza had killed three people it said posed a threat when they crossed intoareas Israel controls there. It said troops fired on twopeople in southern Gaza and one in northern Gaza. It wasnot immediately clear if they were the same casualties reported by hospitals.

The armyhad no immediatecommentonthe report of an artillery strike east of Gaza City

Gaza’sHealth Ministry saidmore than 350 Palestinianshave been killed acrossthe territory since

theceasefire. Both Hamas and Israel have accused the other of breaking the terms of the truce. The initial2023 Hamasled attack on southern Israel killed around1,200 people while 251 were takenhostage. Almost all of the hostages or their remains have been returned in ceasefires or other deals.

Gaza’sHealth Ministry says the Palestinian toll has topped 70,100. Its count does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry saysroughly half of those killed have been women and children. The ministry operates under the Hamas-run government.It is staffed by medical professionalsand maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community Israel’s military also pushed forward operations in the occupied West Bank, shooting andkilling twoPalestinians on Tuesday it accused of attacking soldiers. The military said troops shot and killed asuspect who stabbed and lightly wounded twosoldiers as they confronted him near an Israeli settlementinthe central West Bank.

Firstbig snowstorm strikesNortheast

Schoolsclose,traffic slows, causing disruption

BY PATRICK WHITTLE Associated Press

PORTLAND,Maine— The first major storm of the winter covered parts of the Northeastand mid-Atlantic with snow and ice Tuesday,making roads hazardous, disruptingtravel and closing schoolsassome areas braced for several inches of heavy snowfall.

Thestorm coulddeliver up to a foot of snow as well as wind and heavy rain to statesincluding Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Maine, although parts of the region were spared the predicted high totals.Storm warnings and weatheradvisories werein place throughout the day

“It looks like winter wonderland at the moment,” said JohnMarino in NewYork’sCatskill Mountains, which could get up to 8inches of snow.Asco-owner of aski shop he said he’sgrateful that several inches had already accumulated by Tuesday afternoon, awelcome bonus as the season gets intogear

Hundreds of flights were delayed and roads turned hazardous before sunrise, slowing commutes. In West Virginia, atractor-trailer driver wasrescued unhurt when hiscab dangled offa bridgefor several hours after losing control in snowy conditions early Tuesday, news outlets reported.

The storm came just as theMidwest began to escape the snow and ice that snarled travel afterthe Thanksgiving holiday. Chicago

O’Hare International Airport set arecord for its highest single calendarday snowfallinNovember, with more than 8inches, according to the weather service. The previous record was set in 1951.

“It’sgoing to be the firstsnowfall of the season for many of these areas, and it’sgoing to be rather significant,” said Andrew Orrison, ameteorologistatthe National Weather Service.

Meteorological winter,which covers December throughFebruary,isused by climatescientists forconsistent recordkeeping and differs from the astronomical sea-

sons foundonmost calendars. The National Weather Service warned that snow and ice would make travel dangerous in coastal Maine fromTuesdaymorning untilWednesday morning andurged residents to delay trips if possible. Several Northeaststates also shut schools and as thesnow began fallingbefore dawn, making roads

slippery duringthe morning commute. Numeroushighway crashes were reported. Thefirst wallop of December snowbrought back anew tradition inNew Hampshire, where residents were invitedtosubmit namesfor the state’ssecondannual name-a-plow competition.

“Wehave orange snowplows just

waiting for the perfect name,” the Department of Transportation saidonsocial media. Last year’s top name was Ctrl-Salt-Delete. This season’s winnerswillbeannounced in January

Thesnowstorm sweeping the mid-Atlantic and Northeast beganasaweaker system over the central U.S. but strengthened as it neared the coast, said Ashton Robinson Cook at the weather service’s Weather Prediction Center

Thesekinds of stormsare uncommon but not“toofar outof the realm of possibility,”hesaid. The next system could also bring winter weather to themid-Atlantic through Friday and Saturday Winter weatheradvisoriesremained across Ohio on Tuesday,as theicy conditionssnarledtraffic and shuttered schools. Snowfall overnight left accumulations of 3 to 5inches in somesouthern parts of thestate, according to the National Weather Service.

Aportion of Interstate 70 West through Cleveland had to be closed as acrash was cleared, while highways around Columbus saw dangerous slowdowns.

Raccoon goes on drunken rampage

Animal brokeinto closed liquor store

By The Associated Press

The masked burglar broke intothe closed Virginia liquor store early on Saturday and hit the bottomshelf, where the scotch and whisky were stored. The bandit wassomething of anocturnal menace:Bottles weresmashed, aceiling tile collapsed and alcohol pooled on the floor

The suspectacted like an animal because,infact,he’sa raccoon On Saturdaymorning, an employee at the Ashland, Virginia-area liquor store found the trash panda passed outonthe bathroom floor at the end of his drunkenescapade.

“I personally like raccoons,” said Samantha Martin, an officer who works at the local animal control.

“Theyare funny little critters. He fell through one of theceiling tilesand went on a full-blown rampage, drinking everything.

Martin said she took the raccoon back to the animal shelter, though she had her fair share of gigglesalong the way

“Anotherday in the life of an animalcontrolofficer,Iguess,” she said.

TheHanover County Animal Protectionand SheltercommendedMartinfor handling the break-in, andconfirmed the raccoon hadsobered up.

“After afew hours of sleep andzerosignsofinjury (other than maybe ahangover and poor life choices), he was safely released back to the wild, hopefully having learned that breaking and entering is not the answer,”the agency said.

dentalinsurance, there maybe an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.

Whenyou’re comparing plans

Medicare doesn’t pay fordental care.

Why you needdentalinsurance in retirement. Previous dentalwork canwear out.

That’s right.Asgood as Medicare is, it wasnever meanttocover everything. That means if you wantprotection, youneed to purchase individualinsurance.

Early detection canprevent smallproblems from becoming expensive ones.

The best way to preventlarge dental bills is preventivecare. TheAmerican Dental Association recommends checkups twice ayear.

Even if you’ve hadquality dental work in the past, you shouldn’ttakeyour dental health forgranted. In fact, your odds of having adental problem only go up as youage.2

Treatmentisexpensive— especially the services peopleover 50 often need

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ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CALEB JONES

Aperson walks adog in the snowinPortsmouth, N.H., on Tuesday

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByMATTROURKE

Vehicles slowly move during astorm on Interstate 78 in Kutztown,Pa., on Tuesday

Mayor-elect announces key hires

Moreno’s transition team prepares for January

BY BLAKE PATERSON

Staff writer

With six weeks to go until she takes the helm at City Hall, Mayorelect Helena Moreno on Tuesday announced her picks for chief administrative officer, city attorney, chief of staff and other key roles in her incoming administration

As expected, outgoing District A City Council member Joe Giar-

Moreno plans to cut mayor’s vehicles

Cantrell defends size of fleet

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE and BLAKE PATERSON Staff writers

Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Mayor-elect Helena Moreno have traded punches in recent days over the size of the mayor’s fleet of take-home vehicles, which Moreno says she plans to rein in as mayor In a meeting with Times-Picayune reporters last week, Moreno, who will assume office on Jan. 12, highlighted the vehicles as an unnecessary expense that she will cut, amid a range of efforts to claw the city out of a deep financial hole.

“I can tell you that I’m getting rid of three of the mayor’s cars,” said Moreno, saying that the mayor’s fleet included three vehicles used by Cantrell herself and one used by her senior adviser Julius Feltus “I don’t know why she needs four,” Moreno said.

Cantrell, who has recently kept a lower public profile, fired back at Moreno in emailed response Tuesday, her first direct comments to The Times-Picayune in months

“Unfortunately the Mayor-Elect doesn’t know what she doesn’t know and seems to lack humility to ask or care about the truth; all spin and very sad,” Cantrell said It’s the second spat to emerge between the outgoing mayor and incoming one in recent days: On Monday in a defiant but largely symbolic gesture, Cantrell refused to allow the city’s official revenue estimating body to adopt revenue measures proposed by Moreno to replace Cantrell’s former budget proposal. Cantrell said Moreno’s proposal hadn’t been properly vetted. In response to questions about her vehicles, Cantrell confirmed that she has three city vehicles — “two large vehicles and one sedan” but didn’t address whether Feltus also has a vehicle.

Cantrell defended the size of the fleet.

“I have a family Depending on the event, attire or who I may be hosting as a guest(s), the adaptability of the fleet has been useful. Every Mayor is different, along with their circumstances,” Cantrell said. She continued: “Safety and protection concerns can be an issue when the public is aware of the Mayor’s official vehicles. In addition, when wrong information is shared with the public, it has the potential to cause harm. I ask that you be mindful of this, as I know your publication has not in the past.” Cantrell did not identify any specific articles or examples.

“What do I even say to that?”

russo, chair of the council’s budget committee, will serve as Moreno’s first deputy mayor and chief administrative officer, supervising department heads, managing the budget and representing the administration before the council.

Moreno said she will nominate Charline Gipson, currently of counsel at Baker Donelson, to serve as city attorney a position that requires council confirmation.

Kevin Ferguson, vice president of New Orleans & Company, will be Moreno’s chief of staff and deputy mayor for communications policy and intergovernmental relationships.

Renée Lapeyrolerie, Moreno’s campaign manager and the executive director of her transition team, will be her deputy mayor for external affairs, working with civic groups and businesses.

Health Department Director Dr Jennifer Avegno, a longtime emergency room doctor at University Medical Center, will be Moreno’s deputy mayor of health and human services She will also serve as the city’s chief medical officer, oversee the city’s Emergency Medical Services and take on the duties of the Office of Homeless Services and Office of Youth and Families, Moreno said. And former New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison, who left the city in 2019 to take a

job in Baltimore but returned as a consultant for the District Attorney’s Office in 2023, will serve as Moreno’s deputy mayor for public safety, overseeing the work of NOPD, the Fire Department and the city’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

“Every single one of them works at my pace, and that’s with urgency,” Moreno said at a news conference Tuesday at the Greater New

ABOVE: As people zigzag around him throwing snowballs, Virgil Nystrom, center, hurriedly scoops up an armful at the Loyola University New Orleans annual holiday ‘Sneaux’ celebration

About 20 tons of man-made ice was brought in by truck and then sprayed across the lawn in front of Marquette Hall on Tuesday

The south Louisiana version of a wintry wonderland featured a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot chocolate, cookies, train rides and Christmas music.

RIGHT: Tom Chambers, center, who recently moved to New Orleans from Buffalo, New York, to be provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Loyola, said he missed cross-country skiing in upstate New York, so he decided to take advantage of the calm minutes prior to children taking over the ice patch

SNOW

MUCH FUN

Plumber accused of aiding escapees gets lower bail

Williams faces 11 counts in case

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

A judge in New Orleans lowered the bail this week for a jail plumber accused of helping 10 inmates break out of the parish lockup in a brazen May 16 escape. Judge Leon Roche reduced the bond for Sterling

escape, but no one else among the 10 escapees. He argued that the state has no evidence that Williams was aware of an escape plan. Groves, who faces a pair of life prison sentences for two murder convictions, was the last of the 10 men to be recaptured when he turned up in October in Atlanta. In an interview with investigators, Massey claimed that

Williams wasn’t involved in the escape. He also alleged that Sheriff Susan Hutson and District Attorney Jason Williams separately pushed for him to break out of jail, in competing conspiracies.

Prosecutors with Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office, which is prosecuting the escaped inmates, opposed the bail reduction for Williams, whose family was trying to gather money Tuesday for his release, Kennedy said. A status conference in the case is scheduled for Dec. 18.

ä See MORENO, page 2B

STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER

Womanfreed after17years

Courtsays

Hayden ‘factually innocent’ in fatal purse-snatching

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

Cheri Hayden stood up from her wheelchair as she left theJefferson Parish jail about noon on Tuesday,hugging her twochildren before she headed home to Marrero after 17 years in prison for a killingthatanappealscourt saysshe didn’tdo. With crowdsourcing help, the 62-year-old Hayden made a$250,000bailset last week by 24thJudicial District Judge Stephen Enright after the Louisiana Supreme Court agreed last month that shedeserves anew trial.

The court upheld anappeals court panel that found Hayden “factually innocent” in the 2008 death of agrandmother during abotched purse-snatching in the parking lot of Laborie’sGrocery Store in Marrero.

Patricia Landry was a 63-year-old civilian employee of the AirForce Reserve’s 926th Fighter Wing stationed in Belle Chasse when she was killed on Feb. 23, 2008. Prosecutors argued that Hayden was behind the wheel and Michael Coe was apassenger.Hayden and others, however, said she was attending agranddaughter’sbirthday party that day Hayden received a mandatory life sentence. Innocence Project New Orleans—now Innocence &Justice Louisiana —took up her case. It found contradictions andwitnesses who claimed that another woman, Jessica Billiot, confessed to driving the truck in the deadly crime.

Enright deniedHayden’s post-conviction claims, but an appealscourt disagreed, ruling in 2023 thather attorney fell woefully short at her trial. The state Supreme Court rejectedthatview butthe 5th Circuit Court of Appeal soonreturned to shredthe state’s case against Hayden.

The appeals court found that prosecutors elicited false testimonyfrom an investigator whosaid Billiot wasnever asuspect.Itwent on to findthat the evidence “established thatMs. Hayden is factually innocent of the crimefor which she stands convicted. Her conviction cannot stand under these circumstances.”

Enright setthe newbond forHayden lastweekpendinga decision by DistrictAttorneyPaulConnick’soffice on whether to retry her.Connick’s office did not comment Tuesday

Family members say Haydensuffers fromStage 4 lung cancer that has spread to her brain.

“It’spretty amazing. People were really movedbyher story,” Jee Park, executive director of Innocence &Justice Louisiana, said of the fundraising effortfor the$30,000 Hayden needed upfront for bail. “I’m just really glad she’shome. She’sreally fightingsome terrible things.”

Though Landry’sfamily would not commentabout the courtrulingorwhatthey hope to seehappen next, herson-in-law,Clyde Cutrer, saidthe ordeal “is alot to process.”

“It’sbeen 17 years andthis keeps coming up,” he said.

“It’sbeen hard on ourfamilytogothrough.She wasjust aspecial lady,” Cutrer added. “You gottoexplain things to yourchildren. We’ll see what happens. We just have to keep thefaith.”

AuthoritiesIDinmate whodiedincustody

Autopsyperformed on Jeffersonprisoner

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

The JeffersonParish Coroner’s Office has identified theinmatewho died while in custody at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center Kelvin Maxie, 68, of New Orleans, was pronounced dead Nov.27atthe jailinGretna.

An autopsy was conducted Monday,but Maxie’scause of death has notyet been determined, according to Coroner’sOffice. Further testing is required, but the office saidthat therewere no signs for trauma or foul play

Maxie hadbeen in custody at the jailsince Nov.21when he was arrestedasafugitive from another jurisdiction, according to Capt.Jason Rivarde, aspokesperson for the JeffersonParish Sheriff’s Office. No details were available aboutwhich jurisdiction sought his arrest or for what charge.

Deputies at the Gretna jail were conducting security checks about 4a.m. Nov.27when they discovered Maxie unresponsive in the facility’sintake booking area, Rivarde said. Medical personnelatthe jailcould notrevive him.

The additional testing by the Coroner’sOffice is expected to take several weeks. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

Suspectarrestedin Harvey homeinvasion

Victim identified in Nov. 13 fatalshooting

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives investigating adeadly home invasion in Harvey have arrested asuspect in thecase.

Sean Crosby,20, of Harvey,was booked on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated burglary, according to jail records.

He is accused in the Nov.13death of 25-year-oldTyreBrown.Brown diedinside his home in the 4200 block of Lac Couture Drive, authorities said.

Sheriff’s deputieswere sent to the residence just after 10 a.m. after receiving areport of aburglary with injury

Adeputy was directed to abathroom where Brown was lying against awall with agunshot wound tohis neck, according toauthorities. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.

Aresident toldinvestigators that he was upstairs in theapartment when he heard agunshot. The resident came downstairs to find an armed, “heavy-set” man clad in aski maskand all-black clothing, authorities said.

The man ordered the resident onto theground in the living room.The resident told investigatorshenoticed at least six similarly masked men inside theapartment.

The intrudersmade their way upstairs where they remained for several minutesbeforetheyfled,according to authorities.

It’snot clear how investigators identifiedCrosby as asuspect in the case. He was first arrested Nov.18 andbooked on charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary andobstruction of justice. Investigators added the murder charge two days later,according to jail records.

Crosby was being held Tuesday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. He was being held without bail on the murdercharge. Bailwas set at $120,000 on the other charges.

Golden Meadow mayoraccused of misconduct

BYJOSEPH CRANNEY

Staff writer

The tiny GoldenMeadow Police Department faces new allegations of lying, conspiracy and false arrest —all stemmingfrom asocial media fightovera woman’sphotos from her OnlyFans account.

Afederal lawsuit alleges that longtime GoldenMeadow Mayor Joey Bouziga leaned on the town’snewly elected police chief, Michelle Lafont, to arrest Lafourche Parish resident Dawn Pierce over her social media posts. It’sthe latest flare-up over thedepartmentthathas developed an outsized reputation for controversy in recent years. Before her arrest, Pierce quarreled online with the 22-year-old fiancée of aformer co-workerof Bouziga. The mayorthen ordered Pierce’sarrest despite Lafont’s initial objections, thelawsuit alleges. Pierce’slone offense: uploading some of the woman’sOnlyFans photos to Facebook,behavior the lawsuit alleges that Lafont knew wasn’tacrime. OnlyFans is awebsite where users can sell photos or videos, which are often sexually explicit,topaid subscribers. Nonetheless, GoldenMeadow

police OfficerTristin Gaspard anda Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy arrested Pierce a52-year-oldcustomer service agent —at her home July 8, the lawsuitalleges.Pierce posted a $10,000 bondlater that night.

The Lafourche Parish District Attorney’sOffice dropped the chargesagainstPierceabout a month later,according to the suit. Aspokesperson for thedistrict attorney didn’t return amessage seeking comment.

The suit, which was filed last month, accuses Lafont of submitting afalsestatement under oath when she sought awarrantfrom the district court for Pierce’sarrest. Bouziga is also accused of orchestratinga false arrest after Lafont initially said she “didn’t know if there was anything I couldcharge (Pierce) with,”accordingtothe lawsuit.

Attorney Keith Detweiler,representing Gaspard, Lafont and Bouziga, saidhis clients declined to comment, citingthe pending litigation

Chieftroubles

The lawsuitcontinues apattern of misconduct allegations in the Golden Meadow Police Department, andthe town is still reeling from the record tampering arrest in August of itslast police chief, Troy Dufrene.

Afterhelost an election to Lafont last year,Dufrene began systematically deleting computer records about the department’s casesand administration, ac-

cording to the Louisiana Attorney General’sOffice. He later apologized, saying he “felt the data belonged to him,” an investigator wrote Dufrenehad been appointed by theTown Council in 2021 to replace aformer chief who resigned after Golden Meadow settled afederal lawsuit that accused that chief of excessive force.

By the time of last year’selection, Dufrene’srelationshipwith Bouziga had also soured, andthe mayor’sbackingofLafont— a 53-year-old middleschool teacher with no recent experience in law enforcement —helped turn the tide of that race in herfavor Lafont wonbynine votes.

‘Outrageousand unlawful

Now,inPierce’s28-pagelawsuit, Bouziga is accused of exerting his influence over the 1,600-person town’sfive-person Police Department again, this time in amannermore nefarious Pierce’ssocial mediafight grew out of her “rocky relationship” with her26-year-old nephew,who also knows Bouzigaafter working withhim at aCut Offshipbuilding company,according to the suit.

After aroundofname-calling on Facebook, Pierce uploaded “lingerie” photos from the OnlyFans accountofher nephew’s fiancée.

Pierce’sattorney,HopePhelps, with NewOrleans-basedMost& Associates,arguesinthe suit that

Pierce’sactions didn’tconflict withstate law becausethe photosdon’t show genitalia or sexual conduct.

Thephotoswere also already publicly available,Phelpswrote, on the user’sOnlyFans homepage, with text inviting people to subscribe, “indicating that what is visible is not behind apaywall.”

Lafont,atleast initially, seemed to agree, according to the lawsuit. The court filings cite her texting Gaspard that she “didn’tknow if there wasanything Icould charge(Pierce) with.”

“This is ridiculous!!!!” Lafont wrote later in atext.

Pierce’snephew continued pressing theissue, however.The lawsuitincludes atext from the nephew saying, “I’ve been talking to Joey,” which the courtfilings cite as areference to Bouziga, adding that“we got something cooking.

“They could have simply refused (the nephew’s) request to arrestMrs.Pierce, as ChiefLafont didinitially,” Phelps wrote. “They could have acknowledged that Mrs. Piercedid notviolate the law,but offered to have themselves or Officer Gaspardmeet and mediate with her privately as part of their dutytokeep the peace. Instead, (Lafont andBouziga) chose the most extreme, outrageous, and unlawfulaction —tofalsely arrest and imprison Mrs. Pierce.”

Detweiler,the Golden Meadow attorney,has yet to file aresponse in the case.

Continued from page1B

Orleans Foundation. “They will do whatever possible to get the job done.”

Moreno,who takes office on Jan. 12, unveiled her leadership team as her transitionteam which includes morethan adozen policy subcommittees and 300 members —craftsa game plan for the her first term. Moreno’s transition team said she will hold public meetings to gather input on those suggestions aftershe takes office.

The mayor-elect’sdecision to utilize deputy mayors follows an approach taken by Landrieu, who shook up City Hall in 2010 by installing sixdeputymayors to oversee an array of government functions, including public safety,administration, infrastructure and finance. Cantrell didaway with the system when she took office.

“This is really just agood way to keep me organized, andso that everyone understands exactly who they should be going to on these differentissues and who is directly reporting to me,” Moreno said.

Moreno’stransition said it received 62 applicationsfor the role of chiefadministrative officer.But like several other positions Moreno announced on Tuesday, the mayor-elect didn’t havetolookfar to fill theposition.

“He is oneofthe hardest working people at City Hall,” Moreno said of Giarrusso, her longtime ally.“If IgotoJoe and I’m like, ‘Weneed to do this,’ he doesn’t say to me, ‘Well, that’sgonna be hard,’ or,‘I’m not sure if we can get that done.’ It’s, ‘Let’sfind that path.’”

Giarrusso promised better coordination between the administration and council under his watch. He said he’sheard from naysayers whobelieve that both he and the council deserve a greater share of the blame for thecity’srecentbudget woes but asked the public for“timeto winyour hearts and minds.”

Other leadership team members echoed Moreno’scampaign trail promise to restore trust in city government through transparencyand public participation.

“The Mayor’sOffice will not operate behind closed doors,” Lapeyrolerie said. “Wewill bring government closer to the people. Engagement will be proactive, notreactive,and therewillbea special focus on neighborhoods andcommunitieshistorically left out of policyconversations.”

According the transition team, Giarrusso will earna $325,000 salary —a significant bumpup from the $224,289 salary that Cantrell’scurrent chiefadministrative officer, Joe Threat makes.

Lapeyrolerie would receive $180,000. If confirmed, Gipson would earna $260,000 salary, up from the $200,563 salary that City Attorney Donesia Turner takes home.

Ferguson would receive $220,000, Harrison would receive $250,000 and Avegno would receive $225,000.

“The salaries align with competitive municipal benchmarks and are designed to ensure the city can recruit top-tiertalent with theexpertise necessary to oversee complex portfoliosand deliver results starting on Day One,” Moreno’stransition team said in arelease.

Moreno said last week she plans to eliminate 36 unclassified, at-will positions at City Hall, saving an estimated $4.16 million annually,though her team hasn’tyet detailed which positions it plans to do away with.

VEHICLES

Continued from page 1B

Moreno said in an interview Tuesday.“How many times can Isay ‘I’m disappointed?’” It is unclear what specific cars Cantrell currently uses,but according to city records obtained by The Times-Picayune in 2020, Cantrell was at that time assigned a2018Lincoln Continental, a2018 Chevrolet Suburban anda 2020 Chevrolet Suburban. Accordingtoadocument published by TheLens in 2010, then-

Mayor Mitch Landrieu hadjust one car —aFord Expedition. Morenosaidthatthe city’s vehicle fleet is excessive across the board, not just in theMayor’sOffice. “Wehaveway too manypeople withtake-homecars thatare nonpublic-safetyemployees,” said Moreno. Landrieu also targeted the size of thecity’sfleet when he inherited a nearly $100 million budget deficit from Mayor Ray Nagin’sadministration when he was elected in 2010. The large number of workers allowed to drive city vehicles and use city-purchased fuel became a

controversial issue during Nagin’s finalterm. Nagin himself hadat leasttwo vehicles, according to a 2008 Office of Inspector General report Within months of taking over as mayor,Landrieu’sadministration announced anew policy assigning take-home carsonly to full-time employees who need them “to carry outessential city services, notjustasaperktoupper management,”Landrieu’soffice said at the time.

Email Sophie Kasakove at sophie.kasakove@theadvocate. com.

MorenoonTuesday saidshe plans to cut in half the salary of the city’smedical director, whichcurrently makes $313,000, and put the position under the supervisionofEmergency Medical Services Director Bill Salmeron, whowill continue in his job. Moreno has said she’ll require all unclassified employees to reapplyfor theirpositions, andan email sent to city workers last month said hertransitionteam will follow up on those applications no later than Dec.12.

Sullivan,Doris

Estelle JWilson Shannon, Mattie Bezbak,Helen Greenwood Bland,Adele Buffone,Anthony Eumont,Susan Eumont,Susan Richardson Jr., Robert Ginart,Michael JacobSchoen HambackSr.,Charles Kontos,Chris Knecht, Warren Mounger, James Kontos,Chris Lake Lawn Metairie Lee, Kwong Bezbak,Helen MalozSr.,Timothy Buffone,Anthony McDougald,Lydia Knecht, Warren McRae, Robert Lee, Kwong Mounger, James McDougald,Lydia Richardson Jr., Robert St Bernard Robinson, Maedell St Bernard ScottJr.,William Sears, Kenneth Ginart,Michael Shannon, Mattie St Tammany

Smith,Theresa Honaker Stewart, Leah

MalozSr.,Timothy Sullivan,Doris

West Bank

TassinSr.,Richard DavisMortuary Thomas,Myrnell Stewart, Leah York,Logan Mothe EJefferson Hamback Sr., Charles

Garden of Memories Obituaries

TassinSr.,Richard NewOrleans

Boyd Family

ScottJr.,William Charbonnet

Thomas,Myrnell York,Logan

DW Rhodes

Robinson, Maedell Smith,Theresa

28, 2025, after acourageouseight-year battle with cancer. Bornon December 4, 1953, to Włodzimierz and Anna SchmidBezbak, Helen was thedaughterofa Polish father and an Austrian mother and was afirst-generation American. She remained deeplyconnected to thecommunity that shaped her from childhood throughher final days

Helen graduated from St.Mary's Dominican High School in 1971. She continuedher education at the University of NewOrleans before earning her medical degree from LSUHealth Sciences Center in New Orleans in 1982. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at LSU and went on to care for patientsacross theNew Orleans metro area for decades. She wasknown forher steadiness, sincerity, and thegenuine care she offered to every person she treated.

More than anything, Helen lovedbeing amotherand grandmother.She is survivedbyher daughter, Marissa Kuo (Jeffrey), and her treasuredgranddaughters, Stella and Natalia Uhlich. They were thecenterofher life and her greatest joy. She is also survivedbyher stepgrandsonSkyler, and by her nephews Bernard III, Eric, and JosephDesantis.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Peterand Mary.

Adevout Catholic, Helen livedher faith throughaction and community. She foundedHandmaidsofthe Lord,a prayer group that met weeklyinher home throughout Marissa's childhoodand remained activeinthe Catholiccommunityacross themetro area formany years. She cherished her time with thewomeninthe group, as wellastraveling and being with Marissa and thegirls.

Helen's life was defined by her resilience—strong determined,and unmistakable. She facedevery challenge, including her long illness, with alevelof strength that left an impact on everyone around her. Her endurance, her clarity, and her abilityto push forward through hardshipwere central to who she was.

Aboveall,Helen's greatest devotion was to Marissa, Stella, and Natalia. They were her heart,her purpose,and her greatest source of pride.

Everything she did—every sacrifice,every effort, everymoment of strength—was for them. Her legacy livesonmost powerfully in thelives they lead,the love they carry, and the strength she instilled in them. And in thatlove, she will alwaysremain.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Helen's funeral serviceson Thursday, December 4, 2025 at LakeLawn Metairie Funeral Home,5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124. Visitation begins at 12 noonlasting until her Funeral Mass at 2:00 PM Interment willbeprivate.A celebration of Helen's life, alongwitha gathering to honorthe birthday she shared withMarissa, will be held on Friday, December 5that6:00 PM at theKuo residence.

In lieu of flowers,please donateinHelen's memory to Catholic Charities USA, https://www.catholicchari tiesusa.org/ways-to-give/ give-now/ To view and sign theonline guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.co m.

Adele LivaudaisWadick Bland died November 27th, 2025, in Charleston,South Carolina at age 88. She was thedaughterofJames Kingsland Wadick and Adele LivaudaisWadick, both of NewOrleans, whereshe grew up and liveduntil her marriage. She was agraduateofthe Louise S. McGeheeSchool and Tulane University. Nicknamed "Dee" by her olderbrother, she was the widowofDr. Robert Purdy Bland, Jr.Following her marriagetoRobert in 1959, they livedinFrance, California, and Boston before returning to live in his hometown of Sumter

SouthCarolina. Upon Robert's retirement, they moved to Kiawah Island andthenlater to Charleston. In addition to enjoyingspendingtime with familyand friends, Deehad alifelonginterest in cooking and was an avid reader.

Deeissurvived by three sons: Robert PurdyBland III of Atlanta; MylesCurtis Perrin Bland(Susan), and Kingsland WadickBland (Rebie) andtwo grandchildren,Kingand Marlee, all of Charleston.She is also survived by abrother, JamesKingsland Wadick III,ofNew Orleans. Dee waspredeceased by an infantdaughter, Lauren Adele.The gravesidecelebration will be held at Magnolia Cemetery on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. The family invites you to join them for food andrefreshments followingthe service at the home of Kingsland W. Bland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Louise S. McGehee School of NewOrleans or to theLowcountryFood Bank.Arrangements by J. HenryStuhr,Inc Charleston Chapel.

Buffone,Anthony

Metairie, Louisiana, passed away at the age of 86, November 25, 2025. Born on May12, 1939, at Delacroix Island, St.BernardParish Louisiana, Tony wasthe belovedchild of Cecilia andOctave Buffone, Sr Tony is survived by hisdevotedwife,AgnesChaplain Buffone; his daughter, Judith Buffone; andhis cherished grandchildren, Lexis Nunez(Watter) and Lacey Schwab (Jared). Tony's legacyalso lives on through his great-grandchildren: Tyler and Katie Nunez, and Lola, Nora, and Jude Schwab. Tony wasprecededin death by hisparents, Cecilia andOctave Buffone, Sr.; as well as his siblings: Octave Buffone Jr JamesBuffone,Mabel Managno,and Samuel Buffone. An avidcommercial fisherman, Tonywas well known for his dedication to hisprofession and hispassion for the water. Acelebration of life will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 from 2 PM -5PMatR &O Restaurant, 216 MetairieHammond Hwy, Metairie, LA.

Anthony"Tony" Buffone, of Bucktown,

Eumont,Susan Saunders

SusanSaundersEu‐mont,a resident of Slidell, Bland, Adele

Christine Bezbak, MD, adevoted mother, grandmother, physician, and lifelong resident of Old Metairie, passedaway peacefully on November

4B ✦ Wednesday,December 3,2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ TheTimes-Picayune LA,borninNew Orleans, passedawaypeacefully on Tuesday,November25th, at the ageof79. Alovingwife, mother, andgrandmother She is survived by herhus‐bandof61years,Ernest Lucas Eumont Jr.; herthree children, Brett, Angele,and KenricEumont; herthree grandchildren,SarahBeth EumontCass, ZacharyJude Eumont, andAshleyBras‐hear; andtwo great-grand‐children, Lola Rita and LukeJudeCass. Watching bothher grandchildrenand great-grandchildren grow and accomplish milestones brought hergreat joy. After graduatingfromEastJef‐fersonHighSchool in 1963 she attended business schooland beganher ca‐reer in bookkeeping. Her life’sjourney also included modeling, coaching in per‐sonal development, inte‐riordesign, andsales for CretenHomes,earning the title of topsalesperson several times. Susan’s laughterand funspiritwill bemissed. Relativesand friends areinvited to visit Greenwood FuneralHome, 5200 CanalBlvd.,New Or‐leans,LA70124, on Satur‐day,December6,2025 startingat9:00AM. An Episcopal Servicewillfol‐low thevisitationat11:00 AM. Theburialwillbein Greenwood Cemetery.We alsoinviteyou to share yourthoughts, fond memo‐ries, andcondolences on‐lineatwww.greenwoodfh com.Yoursharedmemo‐rieswillhelpuscelebrate Susan’s life andkeep her memoryalive

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Michael Charles Ginart, Jr., lovingly known as Mike. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on November 26, 2025, at the age of 64. Born on September 10, 1961, in New Orleans, Louisiana Mike led an extraordinary and remarkable life filled with purpose, generosity, and unwavering strength. He is preceded in death by his parents, Michael Charles Ginart, Sr. and Cecelia "Celie" Ginart Tanet; his grandparents Anthony "Tony" Schiro and EllenDeCourcy Ginart Schiro; his treasured in laws, Howard "Bud" Johnson Jr. and Jane Cadella Johnson; his beloved brother, John Arthur Ginart; his brother in law, Howard "Buddy" Johnson III; his uncle, Rev. Arthur "Fr. Red" Ginart; his former law partner and friend, Richard "Rick" Tonry. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Alice JohnsonGinart; his children,John Claude Ginart (Ashley) and Jayne Cecelia Ginart (Jacob); and hischerished grandchildren, Michael, Averi, and Beau; his sisters, Debbie Ginart Mormino (Bart) and Julie Ginart (Steve); his step father Joseph Tanet; and by Jacqueline Johnson Caminita (Jack) whom he lovingly cared for as her guardian; along with his 13 Godchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends.

Mike attended Chalmette High School and earned afull athletic and academic scholarship to Northwestern State University where he excelled on the footballfield and became aproud firstgeneration college graduate. After completing his undergraduate degree in business and distributive education, Mike began working as ateacher with St. Bernard Parish School Board while attending Loyola Law School at night. Mike graduated with his Juris Doctor degree in 1988 He has been self employed in the practice of law since 1989. This marked abeginning of along, prosperous and deeply respected career serving the peopleof St. Bernard Parish as an attorney. Mike was afounding partner of Tonry & Ginart which over time evolved into Tonry & Ginart &Jones, Ginart & Jones, and most recently Ginart &Associates Trial Attorneys. Mike was apast president of St.Bernard Parish Bar Association and was nominated by Governor John Bel Edwards to be Chairman of the Louisiana State Public Defender Board in 2021.

Beyond his legalaccomplishments, Mike dedicated himself to the community which he loved.Mike was alittleleague coach forRebel Park pre-Katrina and continued on post Katrina for St. Bernard Parish Recreation.In2007, Mike was electedcouncilman of District Dwherehe continuedhis lifelong commitment to public service. He is afounding Board member of Chalmette High School AlumniAssociation and St. Bernard Parish Irish -Italian Islenosand Canary Island parade forwhich he served as King in 2010. Mike was also aproud member of the Knights of Nemesis Carnival club and servedasKing in 2019and he was honored as the 2003 King of Lourdes. Mike and his family arealso parishioners of Our Lady of Prompt SuccorCatholic Churchand previously St. Mark's CatholicChurch.

Growing up in atightknit family, Mike's grandparents taughthim the culture of NewOrleans and sparked his lovefor the city, its people, and the traditions it holds. Hisfather, awellrespectedcitizen as the SBFD Training Chief and longtime Rebel Park coach,inspired Mike's passion for community and serving others. His mothershapedhim into the man he became teaching him whatmatteredmost in life-God and family.His late brother Johnny, Mike's best friend and the source of endless laughter,helpedhim always see the goodinthe world. And his sisters were forever by his side, supporting him in everything he did and reminding him that family is the foundation of everyjoy

These rootsshapedeverypartofwho Mike was his personality, his passions, and the way he moved through life.Hecarried theirlessonsand traditions with him in everythingheloved to do. An avid Saints fanand loyal season ticket holder,he livedfor tailgating and cheering on the Black and Gold.OnFridaynights, you couldfindhim supporting the Chalmette High Fighting Owls, aritualhe rarely missed. He spent Mardi Gras on St. Charles Avenue, soakinginthe magic of the city with his family by his side. And he cherishedthe peace and laughterofearlymorning fishing trips with hisclosestfriends.Mike also loved horse racingmakingthe road trip to Kentuckyfor theDerby more than a dozen times, owning horses, and frequenting the Fair Grounds, he shared that tradition with hisfamilyand friends. Musicwas one of Mike's love languages, attending the first Friday of Jazz &Heritage Festivalreligiouslyfor over 30 years. Outside of Jazz Fest, Mike was afamiliar patron of Pat O'Brien'sand the House of Blues where he found goodmusic and goodcompany. Mike had theremarkableand innate abilityto make life better foranyone fortunate enough to meet him. He was trulya giftto this world, and will be deeply missedbyall, but his legacy willlive on through his family for generations to come. Some of Mike's last advicetohis family was to slow down and enjoy the cherished time with one another, we sharethis informationto you as well. Mike wouldhavebeenoverwhelmed with the outpouring of kindness, support, andlovethat hassurroundedhis familyinthis time.Inlieuofflowers, we askthat donations be made to one of Mike's belovedcauses:Covenant House New Orleans or The GinartFamily Scholarship, which willprovide an annualscholarshiptoa Chalmette High School student. To contribute to the scholarship, please maildonations to "The Spirit of St. Bernard Foundation," P.O.Box 212, Arabi, LA 70032. Relativesand friends areinvited to attend avisitationonFriday,December 5, 2025from5:00 PM -9:00 PM at ST.BERNARD MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 701 W. Virtue St., Chalmette,LA. Visitation on Saturday, December 6, 2025 willbe held at OUR LADY OF LOURDESCATHOLIC CHURCH, 2621 Colonial Blvd.,Violet, LA from 9:00 AM -11:00 AM. AFuneral Mass willbegin at 11:00 AM. He willbelaidto rest in St.BernardMemorial Gardens. To view and sign the Family Guestbook, please visit www.stbernar dmemorial.com.

HambackSr.,Charles

William

CharlesWilliam Ham‐back, Sr., affectionately known as Charlie, passed peacefullyonNovember 26, 2025, in Harvey Louisiana,shortly before his 83rdbirthday. Born on December9,1942, in New Orleans,Charlie liveda richand fulfillinglife filled withlove, laughter,and a deep commitment to his familyand community Charlie beganhis career at the TennecoRefinery be‐foremakinga significant markasthe ownerof Earhart ServiceStation formerlyEarhart Exxon,in New Orleans, where he dedicated 35 yearsofser‐vice. He earned therespect and trustofcountless cus‐tomersand friends, be‐cominganesteemed figure inthe localcommunity.His quick witand penchant for humor made hima beloved presence, always ready witha clever comeback or a good-natured joke that could lightenanyone'sday Anavid fisherman, Charlie created some of themost cherished memories at the family fishingcampaffec‐tionately named“The Buckethead.”His enthusi‐asm for fishingwas conta‐gious;heoften quoted “Earlyto fish,early to rise, fish like hell,and make up lies!"These timesspent on the waterwithfamily, ea‐gerly hoping to “catch somereds,”becamethe backdropfor thehappy moments that define so muchofhis legacy.Charlie was aproud graduate of CrescentCityChristian HighSchool andattended SoutheasternUniversity. His commitmenttoservice extendedbeyondhis pro‐fessional life,ashealso servedinthe LouisianaNa‐tionalGuard outofJackson BarracksinNew Orleans, reflecting hisdedicationto his country. Hisfamilywas Charlie’s proudest accom‐plishment.Heissurvived byhis belovedchildren: Charles HambackJr. (Brid‐gette), FaithHamback Fray (Jimmy),David Hamback (Lynn),and WilliamHam‐back(Kim).The joyCharlie experienced from beinga proud grandpatoVictoria, C.J., ChloeHamback,Jack and Alex Fray,James Cocu‐rullo,David HambackJr., Jeremyand Taylor (Eden) Makayla andTyler Ham‐back, andhis tengreatgrandchildren wasimmea‐surable.Eachone of them brought tremendous joyto his life,and he cherished every moment spentwith them. Charlieispreceded indeath by hisbeloved wifeof58years,Adine Kravet(Deanie)Hamback; his parents, Inez Clark Hamback andEdward Hamback;and hisbroth‐ers,EdwardHamback and James Talbert. Theirmem‐ories live on in thehearts ofall who knew andloved him.Familyand friendsare invited to celebrateChar‐lie’s life during visitation onFriday, December 5, 2025, at Harvey -Mothe Fu‐neral Home,2100 Westbank Expy.,Harvey, LA,begin‐ningat10:30 a.m.,followed bya funeralservice at 1:30 p.m.Interment Westlawn MemorialParkCemetery, Gretna, LA.Charlie Ham‐back'skindspirit, infec‐tious laughter,and love for his familywillforever re‐mainetchedinthe hearts ofall who were fortunate enoughtoknowhim.He leavesa legacy of love that willresonatefor genera‐tions to come.Inlieuof flowers, please consider a donationtoone of hisfa‐voritecharities.Coastal ConservationAssociation ofLouisiana or Wounded Warrior Project.

ment as an operator.He was very proud of his work and many look up to him for his expertise. He fulfilledhis military obligation in theUnited States Army, and served two years in Japan during the Korean Conflict. For 67 years he was married to RuthLemoine Knecht, his beloved wife and mother to theirchildren.Heissurvivedbyhis threechildren and their spouses:Sharonand Kyle Kline of Clinton, Kathy and John DeVun, DVM of Mandeville, and Robbyand Jeannine Knecht of New Orleans; grandchildren: Chip and Emily Kline, Kaylan and LeeLedet, Kameryn and Adam Fevella, Michael and Kathryn Devun, Justin and BrittanyDevun, Kristyn and MatthewSquyres, Caroline and Iggy Perrin Xander, August,Forrest, Andrew, Nickolas, and Ambrose Knecht.Hewas blessed with 15 great grandchildren. He stillhad his humor to theend.He was known forhis Italian Salute that we participated in at every family event There will be aprivate family burial serviceat Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home in New Orleans. Condolences may be expressed at LakeLawnMetairie.com.

Special thanks to his guardian angel,Mandy Brown, who lovingly took care of him for 4½ years. Her dedication and compassionwas untouched.

ChrisMichael Kontos, cherished by hisfamily and community,fellasleep inthe Lord on Sunday,No‐vember30, 2025. He passed peacefullyathome, sur‐rounded by hisloved ones BornonSeptember 6, 1927, inNew Orleans, Louisiana, toJulia andMikeKontosof Tripoli,Greece, Chrisdedi‐cated hislifetofaith,fam‐ily,and music. He gradu‐atedfromJesuitHigh School in 1945, earned his undergraduate degree fromLSU,and went on to completea master’s de‐greeinmusic at Loyola University. He also served inthe LouisianaNational Guard.A gifted musician Chris wasa master of any instrumenthepickedup and shared histalents gen‐erously.Hespent hisentire career as abanddirector, teachingthousands of stu‐dents theart of musicand leading thebandat Eleanor McMain High School formanyyears.Al‐thoughhis concerts con‐sistently amazed audi‐ences with hisband’s music proficiency,Chris was more than ateacher Heservedasa mentor leading many of hisformer studentstostayintouch withhim throughout his longlife. He also served for manyyears as choirdirec‐tor at theGreek Orthodox Cathedral of theHolyTrin‐ity,enriching thechurch he loved.Alongside hismusic, his quickwit andloveof laughterbrought joyto everyonearound him. On August28, 1960, Chrismar‐riedthe love of hislife, the lateMaryVlahosofBiloxi, Mississippi,and together theyraisedtheir threechil‐dren. He is also preceded indeath by hissisterGeor‐gette Zarafonetisand sur‐vived by hischildren Joanne Kontos Byrne (KevinByrne), Katherine KontosTadros, and Michael Kontos (Deirdre Ryan);his grandchildren Christopher Byrne(Court‐ney Raaz fiancé), Katie Byrne Brooks(Keagan Brooks),NicholasTadros (SarahTadros),Alexia Tadros, andChris Tadros; and hisgreat-grandchil‐drenCharlotte Brooksand Eleni Tadros.His legacy of love, faith,humor,and music livesonineachof them. Mayhis memory be eternal.Inlieuof flowers, memorialdonations may bemadetothe Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral ArchivesFund.Services: Visitation: Friday,Decem‐ber 5, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.Funeral: Friday,De‐cember5,2025, at 11:00 a.m.Location: Holy Trinity Cathedral,1200 Robert E. Lee, NewOrleans,LA.

KwongYet Lee, of New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away on Friday, November 21, 2025. He was98.

Kwongwas preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Eveline Lee; his parents, Mr.Lee Loy Poo and Mrs. Sien Ng; his sister,Pin LeeEng;his brother, King YetLee;and hisuncle,Lee Moon Sim"La SimNg"

He is survived by his four sons, HenryLee (Lena), Edward Lee (Linda), Thomas Lee, and Reuben Lee(Cindy); his fivegrandchildren, Leslie (James), Stephen(Megan), Daniel(Arianna), Jacob (Linh), and Joseph; andhis threegreat grandchildren, Emily, Will,and Ruth Kwongwas born in New OrleansonApril 4, 1927, and grew up in theFrench Quarter. He wasa graduate of WarrenEaston High School andDelgado Trade andTechnical Institute

Kwongwas aveteran of theU.S. Army National Guard of Louisiana and workedasa watchmaker andmachinist

He wasa member of the NRAand theAmerican WeldingSociety. Hishobbies included collecting watches,knives, andantique timepieces, andwas acigaraficionado. He also enjoyed discoveringthe intricaciesand details of complex machines.

Thefamilywould like to extendtheir gratitude to theNola Home Careteam, thewonderfulJeriminia of Nola, the entire staff at the InspiredLiving Center in Kenner,and to all of the medical staff at LCMCEast Jefferson, OchsnerKenner, andTulane.

Relativesand friends are invited to attendthe funeral service in the chapel of Lake Lawn MetairieFuneral Home 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd.in NewOrleans,onSaturday, December 6, 2025 at 1:00PM. Avisitation willbe held at thefuneral home beginningat11:00AM. The interment will follow the chapel service in Metairie Cemetery To view andsignthe online guest book, please visit LakeLawnMetairie.com

MalozSr.,Timothy Joseph 'Timmy'

Timothy“Timmy” JosephMaloz Sr age66, of Metairie, LA,after along battlewithcancer, sur‐rounded by lovedones, en‐tered eternalrest, on Sun‐day,November30, 2025. He issurvivedbyhis beloved wifeof25years Kristie Bar‐riosMaloz;two devoted children, Amanda Maloz Carman(Daniel), andTim‐othyJosephMaloz Jr and one adored grandson,Beau Wyatt Carman;fourcher‐ished siblings,Wilson Lewis MalozJr. (Karen George),MaryMaloz Richard,Michael Anthony Maloz (Michelle O’Daniels), Salvatricia “Sallie” Maloz Ragusa(VincentJr.). Also lefttotreasurehis memory are numerous nieces nephews,great nieces and nephews,extendedfamily, friends,and colleagues Timmy wasprecededin death by hisparents,Wil‐sonLewis MalozSr.,and

Shirley TheresaPatterson Maloz;his brotherClayAn‐thony Maloz; hissister, JeannineMaloz Rigney (Thomas Sr.);and his nephewRaymond Wilson Richard.Hewas born and raisedinthe IrishChannel inNew Orleans, Louisiana and wasalsoa resident of Metairie, Louisiana. Timmy workedprofessionally for manyyears as aSteamship Agent forGeneral Maritime TransportationServices. Hespent many yearsasa memberand Brother Knightofthe Knightsof ColumbusFatherFrancis X. SeelosCouncil 2878, and Sir Knight of Bishop Charles P. GrecoAssembly 2093 Fourth Degree Knights ofColumbus. Timmyhad a unique flarefor life and laughterand wasknown to bethe life of theparty.He found greatjoy in spending timewiththose he loved. Timmy wasa larger than lifeindividualwhose heart was even larger.Hewillbe dearlymissedbyall who knewand lovedhim.The familywould like to extend their sincerethanksand appreciation to everyone who caredfor Timmyat Touro Infirmaryand Pas‐sages Hospice. Relatives and friendsofthe family are invitedtoattend the visitationatLeitz-Eagan FuneralHome, 4747 Veter‐ans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, La.70006 on Fri‐day,December5,2025, from9:00a.m.until 11:00 a.m.followedbya Catholic FuneralMass. Intermentto beheldinSt. PatrickCeme‐tery#1, NewOrleans, Louisiana.Inlieuof flow‐ers,the familyrequest memorialdonations be madetoSt. Jude Children’s ResearchHospitalatwww stjude.org. Please visit www.honakerforestlawn. comtosignguestbook ArrangementsbyHonaker FuneralHome, Inc.,Slidell, LA.

Lydia Marciante McDougald passedaway peacefully surrounded by herfamilyonNovember 19, 2025, at theage of 99 years old.

Lydia, affectionately known as Lyd, wasbornin Ponchatoula, Louisianaon September 20, 1926. She is preceded in death by her parents Oscar A. Jenkins andSusan H. Jenkins. She wasa cherished mother, grandmother,great-grandmotherand friendwhose thoughtful naturetouched theheartsofall whoknew her. Shewas adevoted Catholic anda memberof St.Angela Merici Catholic Church Shewas amember of TheElenians, an Italian women's organization. Shewas also amember of theJeffersonParish Golden Age Club for12 years. Lydia'sfamilywas herpride andjoy.She was astay-at-home mom and wife, butafter herfirst husband's passing,she wantedtostay busy. She acceptedthe position of Director at Kindercastle Preschool andcontinued to work there for 27 years. Shewas aclassy red head anda true hostess with agift forcooking and entertaining. Shefilledher home with warmthand made almost everyeventa celebration. Lydianever letanyone leave hungry Shehad apassion for playingcards andhostedcard partiesfor friends and family. Theseparties were abig partofher social life then and for decades to come. Aboveall Lydia understood what trulymattered, family, love andthe joyof just being together. Her warmth, kindnessand zest

Lee,Kwong Yet

Ginart, Michael C.

Kontos,Chris Michael

McDougald, Lydia Marciante

Knecht,Warren George

Warren GeorgeKnecht passed away peacefully on Friday, November 28, 2025 at home surrounded by his family and care giver.He was one of threechildren, born on September23,

for life touched everyone who knew her. She will be missed but will hold aspecial place in our hearts forever Preceding herindeath were three wonderful men who were her husbands. She was the wife of the late Anthony J. Marciante for 23 years and Roy L. McDougald for 9years Thebeloved wife of Charles J. Montecino for17 years. Also preceded in death was her beloved son John A. Marciante and her cherished sister Benervey "Nabe" Smith-Watts. She leaves behind her sons Anthony J. Marciante Jr. (the late Connie Marciante) and Paul J. Marciante (Ann), Daughter -in-Law Sheryl Marciante Leblanc (Jim), her stepson Glenn McDougald (Elizabeth) and stepdaughter Mary Smith (Carl). She adored her grandchildren Michael Marciante (Ashley), Anthony Marciante III (Jenna), MichelleLanier (Eddie), Laura Berger (Richard), Christina Persand (Eddie), Lauren Day (Dustin), Devin McDougald (Brittany) and her great-grandchildren John Michael and Dylan Marciante, Parkerand London Lanier, Griffin and Emery Persand, Vivien and Audrey Marciante, James Berger, Dalton, Adalyn and Britton Day.

Relatives and friends are invited to the funeral mass to be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124, on Friday,December 5, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will begin at 12 noon for relatives and friends. Aprivate burial will follow.

McRae, Robert Scott

Robert Scott McRae died suddenly on Wednesday, November 12.

Scott grew up in Rockmart, GA and resided in Atlanta, GA for anumber of years, where he worked at the Heath Gallery and met his husband and partner of 40 years, Scott Vincent. The two moved to New Orleans in 1997 and found home. Scott was a 28-year resident of New Orleans. He worked fora number of years at the Tulane University Schoolof Public Health and Tropical Medicine and had recently retired. Scott was an avid gardener, who particularly enjoyed bringing anemic plants back from the brink. He lovingly cared for the community cats that lived in his courtyard, particularly the late Cow. Scott was unapologetically political and passionate about protecting civil rights. He is preceded in death by his partner and spouse of 40 years, Scott Vincent, his mother, Mary McRae, his sisters, Lane McRae and Frances McRae, and his brother, Rusty McRae. He is survived by abrother, Russell McRae, asister, Leigh Cagle,and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

Acelebration of Scott's life will be held at Bourbon Pub, 801 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116, at 5PMon Thursday, December 4. For those who wish, donations may be made either to Tomato Foster Club and Kitten Rescue or to the Human Rights Campaign in his name. You can also honor Scott's memory and passion for civil rights by writing to your state and federal officialsdemanding that they protect LGBTQIA+rights.

Mounger,James Allan

CentenaryCollege in 1965, and completedhis lawde‐gree at Southern Methodist University in 1968. He served in theNa‐tionalGuard from 1961 to 1965. Afterpassing thebar exam, Jimpracticed lawin Rayvillebeforemovingto New Orleans, where he would spendthe next five decades becoming oneof the city’s most respected and well-loved real estate attorneys.Hefounded and operatedGranite Title Agency, Inc. beginningin 1987, building aloyal client basethatincludedLiberty Bank, FirstAmericanTitle and real estate agencies acrossthe New Orleans metropolitanarea. His trusted business manager, Linda Palmisano, worked besidehim forover30 years.Professionally, Jim was knownfor hisbril‐liance, precision, andfair‐nessbut equallyfor his humor,warmth, andability toturneventhe most rou‐tinerealestateclosing into a memorableevent.Gener‐ationsofagents, buyers and sellerswould latersay thattheir most unforget‐table closingwas theone donewithJim.Hewas a mentortoyoung profes‐sionals,a steady advisorto colleagues, andthe person manycalledwhenthey needed help oftenrefusing payment,insisting that kindnesswas simply part ofthe job. Beyond hislegal work, Jimwas widely known forhis extraordi‐narydevotiontoart.What began with thepurchaseof anIda Kohlmeyerpiece early in hiscareer evolved intoone of themostdis‐tinctiveLouisiana-focused private artcollections in the region.His Uptown home, redesigned to dis‐playhis ever-growing col‐lection,showcased works byGeorgeDureau, Robert Gordy,Ida Kohlmeyer, Lin Emery,Douglas Bourgeois, MitchellGaudet, Nichole Charbonnet, FrancisPavy, and many more.His in‐stinctive taste, quickeye, and passionfor supporting artists earned himdeepre‐spect across theart com‐munity.Artists andgallery ownersrecallthatJim never bargained; he simply knewwhena piecemoved him.Jim’s generosity and hospitality were legendary. Neighbors knew himas “The MayorofNashville Avenue” anda welcoming presencewho kept an opendoor, offeredwineto visitors, anddelighted in conversation. Hishome was famous forits elabo‐rateholiday decorations, its warmth,and itscon‐stant hum of life,creativ‐ity,and community Whetherhewas inviting a strangerinsidetosee a new pieceofart,hosting a remarkable party filled withlaughterand music, eatinginany of oneofNew Orleans trendy restaurants orsimplychattingwith someone in acoffeeshop oroutside hishome, Jim madepeoplefeel seen welcomed, andappreci‐ated. Jimhad agiftfor bringingpeopletogether, fromyoung real-estate agentsstartingout,tomu‐sicians,neighbors,clients, artists,and themanypeo‐ple whose liveswere brightenedbyhis pres‐ence. Jimlived boldly and beautifully.His warmth,his eye forart,his generosity, and hisunmistakable spark will be deeply missedbythe many people whose liveshetouched Jim is survived by hiscom‐panion, TimothyRatchford; his former wife,FayeCan‐non;and hissister, Dianne Mounger Doty-Lopez,and nephews CharlesDavid Dotyand StephenWendell Doty. He is preceded in death by hisparents, Charles and Essie Mounger.The family wishestogivea special thankstoJim's caregivers Mariciana Bardwell and Karen Gatlin.A memorial service will be held Thurs‐day,December4,at5:00 p.m.atJacob Schoen &Son FuneralHome, 3827 Canal Street,New Orleans. Burial willbeprivate.Condo‐lencesmay be left at www schoenfh.com. Arrange‐ments by JacobSchoen& Son FuneralHome.

andFrances SigurRichard‐son;and hisbrother,Brian EdwardRichardson. He is survivedbyhis sister MaryEllen Richardson Landry; andbyhis four children, JeffreyRichard‐son (Tina),Kevin Richard‐son (Chris), Conner Richardson(Michelle), and Megan Pinto(Steve).His grandchildren,who meant the worldtohim,are An‐drew, Colin, Maggie, Brooke, Emma,Miles,Mila, Micah,and Sam. Along‐timeresidentofMetairie, Louisiana,Bob earned a degreeinarchitectureat the University of South‐western Louisiana(now the University of Louisiana atLafayette). He opened his ownarchitecture firm inthe 1970s. Hundreds of homes andother projects acrossthe NewOrleans areabearhis creative im‐print—fromstructuresat the former Pontchartrain Beach amusementparkto charmingresidencesinOld Metairie. Hisartistryalso spreadjoy throughthe lyricsand musichewrote and performedwithnu‐merousbands over the years,including four Friends Fest showsatRock N’ Bowl in NewOrleans withhis band,BeauSwank A FuneralMasswillbeheld Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the chapelatGreenwood Fu‐neral Home,5200 Canal Blvd.,New Orleans, Louisiana.A Celebrationof Lifeparty will follow at the school that he designed The Little RedSchoolhouse ofMetairie, 2055 Metairie Road, Metairie,Louisiana In lieu of flowers, please enjoy Bob’ssongs at BeauSwank.com,Apple Music,Spotify,orYouTube Nothing wouldmakeBob happier than knowinghis spiritlives on as people continue to enjoyhis music and lyrics.Relatives and friends areinvited to at‐tendthe FuneralMasson Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 1:00 PM in the ChapelofGreenwood Fu‐neral Home,5200 Canal Blvd.,New Orleans, LA 70124. We also invite youto share your thoughts,fond memories, andcondo‐lencesonlineatwww greenwoodfh.com.Your sharedmemorieswillhelp uscelebrate Bob’slifeand keep hismemoryalive.

Robinson,Maedell Sparrow

faith andservice ledtoher receiving theOrder of St Louis IX Medallionfromthe Archdiocese of NewOr‐leans.Thishonor is be‐stoweduponlaypersons who have devotedthem‐selvestothe work of the Catholic Church.Maedell was also amemberofthe Associates of theSisters of the BlessedSacrament founded by St.Katherine Drexel. Maedellleavesto cherish hermemory, her daughters,SharonBlair and husband Craig, Sr.of New Orleans, LA,Julie Pow‐ell of Washington,D.C.and Bryan Robinson andwife GwenofNew Orleans, LA; one brother, Roland J. Sparrow,Jr. of Opelousas, LA; nine grandchildren, AshleyBlair-Lee andhus‐band, Michael, Krysten Blair,Craig Blair, Jr.and Rachel, JaimeBlair,all of New Orleans, LA,Kayla Powelland NataliePowell, bothofWashington, D.C. BrynishaRobinsonofNew Orleans,LA, BryanW Robinson, andBrandon RobinsonofNew Orleans, LA; twogreat-grandchil‐dren, MadisynLee and BrooklynBlair,bothofNew Orleans,LA; onesister-inlaw,Lenette Sparrowof New Orleans, LA andone brother-in-law, RichardA LandryofNew Iberia,LA and ahostofnieces, nephews,other relatives, and friends. Shewas pre‐ceded in deathbyher hus‐band, Willie Robinson;her parents,Eva andRoland Sparrow;three sisters, Dorothy Sparrow, Verna Jones andRitaFaye Landry; threebrothers, Allen Sparrow, Jerome Sparrow,and MichaelSpar‐row,and herson-in-law, James Powell. Relatives and friendsofthe family are invitedtoattend A MassofChristian Burial at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December3,2025, at St RitaCatholicChurch,2729 Lowerline St.Visitationwill befrom9:30amuntil Mass Interment: St.Louis No.3 Cemetery. Arrangements byD.W.RhodesFuneral Home. Please visitwww rhodesfuneral.comto share online condolences.

Sears, Kenneth

KennethSears, affectionately knownas "Crash"tomany, departed this life on November 17, 2025, in NewOrleans,LA. Born on May27, 1968, Kennethwas aresident of NewOrleans,spending much of hislifeinSt. Rose, LA. He wasa dedicatedand valuedemployee of the Louisiana HealthSciences Center in NewOrleans Kenneth'scharismatic personality, strongworkethic, andthe manyfriendships he cultivatedthroughout hislifewill be remembered fondly.

DonavinD.BoydOwn‐ers/Funeral Directors. KeganLambert;six great grandchildren,Malia,An‐thony,Mason,Noah, Ar‐maniand Seven. Shealso leavesone brother, Thomas(Deloris) Shannon ofEastSt. Louis, onesister BarbraReeseofHazle‐hurst,MS, asister-in-law RosaShannon of Atlanta, GA. andtwo specialdaugh‐tersofthe heart, Irma Dixon andDebbieWare. She also leaves to cherish her memory ahostof nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Membersand friends of Second Baptist Church 6thDistrictare in‐vited to avisitationtobe heldonFriday, December 5, 2025, at Second Baptist Church 6thDistrict4218 LaurelStreet,New Orleans, LA. Rev. Dr.SamuelGibbs, Jr.,Pastor, officiating. Viewing from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with fu‐neral servicetofollow. A secondviewing will take place at Hazelhurst Funeral Home16130 Highway51 Hazlehurst,MS. 39083 on Saturday, December 6, 2025 from9:00a.m.until 10:30 a.m.followedbya grave‐sideservice at 11:00 a.m. at Greater NewZionMission‐ary BaptistChurch Ceme‐tery4063 AntiochRoad, Ha‐zlehurst, MS.39083. Estelle J.WilsonFuneral Home Inc.,New Orleans, LA.and Hazlehurst FuneralHome, Hazlehurst,MS. in charge ArrangementsEntrusted ToEstelle J. Wilson Funeral Home, Inc. 2715 Danneel Street,NOLA70113. Infor‐mation: (504)895-4903. To signonlineguest book pleasevisit www.estelle jwilsonfh.com

Kennethleaves to cherish hismemory aloving family, includinghis four children: LaKendrial Williams, Kenneth Nelson, KenitraNelson, andRyder McNair; eightgrandchildren;his sister,Sonora Thigpen(Don); hislongtime partner,Ieasha Johnson; andnumerous otherrelatives, lifelong friends, andacquaintances. He waspreceded in death by hismother, Shelane Sears;father,Ben Woods, Jr.; grandparents Rubinand Shirley (Johnson) Shell; andother belovedrelatives. ACelebrationofLife will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at New Macedonia Baptist Church, 8308 SheldonSt.,Metairie LA 70003. Visitation will take place from 12:00-1:00 PM, followed by the service at 1:00 PM,officiated by Bishop PercyMcCray Guestbook- https://www. jonesmemorialfuneralhom e.com/obituary/kennethsears

Shannon, MattieS

MaedellSparrow Robin‐son,90, Loving Mother, Grandmother,GreatGrandmother,Sister, Aunt, and Friend passedawayon Friday, November 14, 2025, atChateau Living Center in Kenner, LA.A longtime res‐ident of NewOrleans,LA and anativeofNew Iberia LA, MaedellMaedell was the second childbornto the union of Roland and Eva Malveaux Sparrowon July17, 1935. As achild, Maedell attended St.Ed‐wardCatholicChurch and graduated from St.Edward School in 1953. Herdesire tohelpthose in need led her to NewOrleans,where she attended nursing school at CharityHospital after attendingXavierUni‐versity fora fewyears Uponcompletinginstruc‐tion, shecared foryoung patientsatChildren’sHos‐pital andthrough private dutynursing.Maedell was joinedinmarriagetothe lateWillieRobinson, ana‐tiveofSummit, Mississippi Tothisunion,theywere blessedwiththree chil‐dren, Sharon,Bryan and Julie.Raisedina house‐holdrooted in faith Maedell wasa devout Catholic.She took great pride in servingSt. Rita Catholic Church as aRCIA teacher andeucharistic ministerwhere shewas a parishioner forover56 years. Herdevotiontoher

We celebratethe life of WilliamP.Scott, Jr., born June 26, 1947, to Audrey L. Williams andWilliam P. Scott, Sr., andlater nur‐tured by Raymond Williams.Hemoved with the pulseofNew Orleans and thesteadinessofSt. Charles Parish,a man formedbybothcitystreets and countryroots. An avid poetwriting as “Still,” he turnedhis thoughts into verse,his rhythmsinto rhymes. Retirement brought newjoy andnew workinthe roar of theSu‐perdome/SmoothieKing Center, where he became partofits landscape. William’slegacyshines through hischildren— Twyla Scott-Clary(Perry), Adell Scott-Brown (Cardell),William ScottIII (LaShawn),Derek George, Sr. (LaTasha)and Ashann Dorsey; hisgrandchildren, great-grandchildren,and his siblings:Jeraline Williams,Stephen Williams (Lyndean),GlendaRichard, and LaurienColeman (Craig, Sr.),along with god‐childrenCarmenSandolph and BraylenColeman.Fam‐ily andfriends areinvited tocelebrate hislifeonFri‐day,December5,2025, for 1:30p.m at TheBoydFam‐ily FuneralHome, 5001 Chef Menteur Hwy.,New Or‐leans,LA70126. Visitation willbegin at 12:30 p.m. Pri‐vateburialtofollowata later date.Guestbook On‐line: www.anewtraditionbe gins.com(504)282-0600 Linear BrooksBoydand

Mattie S. Shannonen‐tered eternalrestonTues‐day,November18, 2025, following alengthy illness, ather home surrounded by family. Shewas 90 years old.Mrs Shannonwas born inHazlehurst, MS andlived inNew Orleansfor thepast 74years.She wasa retired beautician. Survivorsin‐clude herson,Randolph (Donna)Shannon,her grandsonand adoptedson, EddieShannon,III anda stepson,Billy Wayne(Jen‐nifer); twograndchildren Angel Weston andSeth (Mariah)Shannon,two bonus grandchildrenMal‐lory (Alexander)Smith and

TheresaSmith,a life‐longresidentofNew Or‐leans,Louisiana,entered intoeternal rest on Tues‐day,November25, 2025 at the ageof75. Shewas the fifthchild born to theunion ofRev.WillieSmith and GertrudeElizabeth Smithin New Orleans, LA on Sep‐tember16, 1950. Theresa attended JamesLewis Ele‐mentary School,CarterG WoodsonMiddleSchool, and graduatedfrom Booker T. Washington Se‐niorHighSchool,Class of 1968. Shelater went on to attend andgraduatefrom Meadows-DraughonBusi‐nessCollege fortheir Busi‐nessAdministrator andAc‐countingprogram.Theresa workedmanyyears for WalkHaydel& Associates and then City Government and wasaffectionately known as “Ms. Tee” by coworkers and“Aunt Tee” by her nieces andnephews She enjoyedspendingtime withher great-great nephewand nieces Bent‐ley,Gisele, GiaVonni,and Mazi. Sheisprecededin death by herparents Rev. Willie andGertrudeSmith lifepartner JohnnyYoung, brothersHerbert “Pat” Lewis andSims“Bubba” Smith,sisterDawnMarie Freeman(Vernon). Sheis

JamesAllanMounger, 82, peacefully passed away athis home on November 24, 2025, with hislifelong partner of 26 years, Timo‐thy Ratchford, at hisside. A belovedNew Orleansat‐torney, mentor,neighbor, patronofthe arts,and un‐forgettable personality, Jim left an indeliblemark oneveryonefortunate enoughtoknowhim.Born onFebruary9,1943, in Rayville, Louisiana, Jim began life as an orphan be‐forebeing adoptedby Charles JamesMounger and EssieAdams Mounger Hegraduated from Rayville HighSchool,earnedhis un‐dergraduatedegreefrom Richardson Jr., Robert Glenn'Bob'

Robert “Bob”Glenn Richardson, Jr., passed awaypeacefully in his sleep at home on Novem‐ber 28,2025, aftera brief illness,atthe age of 78.He was preceded in deathby his wife,ConnieJean Richardson; hisparents Robert G. Richardson,Sr. Afullservice funeralhomeofferingtraditional funerals, direct burialand cremations Honoringall insurance policies andservicing allchurches andcemeteries. (504)208-2119• (504)208-2138 (504)358-4232 JEROME L. ROBINSON AND PERRILYNALEXIS-HARRIS, OWNERS 9611 HIGHWAY23, BELLE CHASSE,LOUISIANA 20 minutesfromdowntownNew Orleansand half ablock northofBelle ChasseNavalAir Station. CelebratingLife, One Family at aTime

Smith, Theresa

ScottJr.,William P.

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OUR VIEWS

We need anew approach to MississippiRiver management

The Mississippi River’sconnection toLouisiana is existential.

The river built the land on which many of us reside. As long as there have been humans here, it has been acrucial source of food and water as well as acritical conduit of commerce The last century saw Louisianans not just utilize the river,but attempt to control it through asystem of levees, gates and spillways aimed at preservingthe benefits of its might while mitigating the dangers.

And for the most part, those efforts paid off. The levees have held back high rivers, the gatesofthe Old River Control Structure have prevented the Mississippi from shifting its course west down the Atchafalaya Basin and the spillways have helped relieve pressure downstream when the water level gets too high.

But those structuresare aging. When they were built, theories and models of river behavior and hydrology were very different

And the unintended consequences have mounted.

The levee system, for example, has directed land-building sediment out into the deep Gulf of Mexico, speedingcoastal erosion and, ironically,worsening storm surge flooding.

And the increasingly frequent openings of the Bonnet Carre Spillway —including a record 123 days in 2019 when an estimated 10 trillion gallons of water poured through have created problems for fishers in Mississippi. There, freshwater from the river,along with its pollutants, has flowed through Lake Pontchartrain out the Rigolets and into the Mississippi Sound, killing dolphins and oysters and impacting the local economy

All of these issues are expertly and clearly laid out in aseries of stories in this newspaper by environmental reporter Mike Smith. His three-part series on the Mississippi River takes adeep and human-centric dive intothe benefits and challenges of living along one of the world’sgreat waterwaysinthe 21st century

One conclusion is inescapable: It’shigh time that the river’smanagement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewed and revised to be more comprehensive.

We hope to see the Corps resume a$25 million, five-year comprehensive river study despite apause created when the Trump Administration pulled funding for it. We have repeatedly emphasized its importance and called on our lawmakers to support it

The study is sorelyneeded, and we hope it will take into account the input of all the people who rely on the river fortheir livelihoods, from farmers to tugboatdeckhands and everyoneinbetween. But the study’sconclusions will be worth little if they are consigned to areport and then put on the shelf. They must be followed up with investment, commitmentand action to ensure maximum benefit for —and minimal impact on —the surrounding environment,people and industries.

The Mississippi River is not going anywhere, and neither are we. But that doesn’tmean we can’t improve the relationship.

LETTERSTOTHE

HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

AARP needsvolunteer taxprepcounselors

The three Orleans Parish sites of the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program are looking for volunteers to serve as tax counselors and adistrictwide technology coordinator for the upcoming tax season. The three sites in the OrleansParishdistrict are: AARP Resource Center,Algiers Regional Library and Milton H. Latter Memorial Library

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is thelargest free, volunteerbased tax preparation program in the U.S. and is offered in conjunction with theIRS.Itprovides free tax assistance to those who qualify,with aspecial focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income.

Youmight wonder,why does this matter?The U.S. tax code is complicated. As aresult, many taxpayers overpay,turn to services they cannot afford or simply do not file returns,potentially missing out on creditsand/or refunds to which they may be entitled.

The goal of theAARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is to help address that, but we need volunteers to do

In our clinical training as local medical students, we’ve metpatients whose lives could have been transformed by accesstosyringe service programs.

The teen with HIV whosebody shuts down when she gets acommon cold, the young man rebuilding his lifeafter aheartinfection from reusing dirty needles and the grandmother who swearsshe would rather die than go to ahospital due to thestigma of her addiction —each reminds us what’sat stake when accesstoclean needles is out of reach.

Syringe service programs are a simple,cost-effective solutionthat improve communityhealth and can decrease healthcarecosts by $7.58 for every$1spent

In 2023, Jefferson Parish had one of Louisiana’shighest rates of new hepatitis Cdiagnoses and anew HIV infectionrate36% higher than thenational average. Without access to clean needles, those struggling with drug addiction may share or reuse needles,increasing the spread of bloodborne diseases like HIV and hepatitis

so. Volunteers come from avariety of industries and have diverse backgrounds. All levels andtypes of experience are welcome.

Taxcounselor candidates receive on-line and in-person training, as well as comprehensive resource materials. During tax season, they prepare federal and Louisiana income tax returns onsite two days per week.

The districtwide technology coordinator manages computer equipment, ensures taxpayer data is secure and provides technical assistance to tax counselors.

Pleaseconsider getting engaged and making ameaningful difference in the lives of membersofour community Even modestrefunds, along with the elimination of costly tax preparation fees, can have significant positive impactsonthe lives of community members. If you are interested in volunteering, more information is available at aarpfoundation.org

SHIRLEYWILLIAMS

AARP Tax-Aide Orleans District Coordinator Metairie

Louisiana law allows each parish to authorizeits own syringe service programs, run via local nonprofits or healthdepartments.Orleans Parish has already done so; Jefferson Parish can do the same. Legalizing syringe services would reduceHIV,hepatitis Cand costly hospitalizations, while creating opportunitiestobuild trust with historically marginalized communities.

Evidence consistently shows SSPs do not increase drug use, neighborhood crime, or needle litter.

Instead, theyconnect people to care, treatment, and recovery,saving lives and public dollars

We urge Jefferson Parish officials to pass legislation permitting syringe serviceprograms,asfound in Orleans Parish, Shreveport and Baton Rouge. ParishPresident Cynthia Lee Sheng, we urge you and council members to provide this legal protection and make our communitysafer CAMERON BERNSTEIN,ANALIE FERNANDES,MAGGIE BENDERSKY, AND ZAIN TIRMIZI medical students

Ifound that James Finn’sNov.7 article, “Helena Moreno’sendorsementinclerk’srace showsfault lines in New Orleans politics,” totally missed the point. When Finn’sarticle waspublished, there was newsthat had just come out based on public records requests revealing that Darren Lombard’soffice, over the last year,had committed several serious errors jeopardizing criminal court records, holding defendants without bond in violation of their constitutional rights and failing to properly notifydefendants about court dates. This newshas never been reported by any newsoutlet. And yet, even if the article did mention these issues, it did not treat them as newsinaway that would alert your readers about the importance of these issues. Instead, the article described these issues merely as asubtext to the mainfocus of the article: that Helena Moreno had decided to endorse Lombard, and Jason Williams had decided not to do so. This kind of reporting on the “horse race” of politics and not the actual issues in away that informs voters is simply bad journalism.Your newspaper has aresponsibility to take newsthat is relevant to voters’ decisions about political candidates and present that newsinaway that actually informs voters. Iurge you to do better in the future.

JARED MILLER NewOrleans

Iwas able to attend arecent St. TammanyParish Council meeting. While he is not over my district, I was quite impressed with council member Jerry Binder.Heconsidered both sides and offered thoughtful, sound responses. We need more wise leaders like him whotruly act in the best interest of the public. I wasvery impressed.

SARAH RICHARD Mandeville

Burnsiswrong aboutthe Iroquois

Fewdocumentary filmshavethe natural authorityofaKen Burns production.

The narrator of his works, Peter Coyote, is as close as we havetoday to “the voice of God,” the phrase once associated withlegendary CBS anchor Walter Cronkite at the height of broadcast news. This makes it especially outrageous that Burns feeds the viewers of his new epic documentary,

“The American Revolution,”achildish canardatthe outset.

Burns implies thatthe Iroquois Confederacy, aunion of sixIndiantribes in New York State, crucially influenced the founding of the United States. This is anice fairy tale, but hasnoconnection to reality,and Burns andhis colleagues —who worked on their project foradecade —had time to verify the claim.

At the beginning of the film, the narrator intones that “long before 13 British colonies made themselves into theUnited States,” the Iroquois had“a union of their own that theycalled the Haudenosaunee —ademocracy that had flourished for centuries.

We are told that Benjamin Franklin “proposed that the British colonies form asimilar union,” the so-called Albany Plan.

He printed afamous cartoon of a chopped-up snake illustratinghis point with the legend, “Join or Die.” Thenarrator continues, “Twenty years later, ‘Join or Die’ would be arallyingcry in themost consequentialrevolution in history.”

There’smuch to unpack in thispassage, which is carefully constructed to be misleading without being flagrantly false (although it doesn’tquitesucceed).

It is true that the Iroquois forged an enduring confederacy,but this was hardly aunique contribution to political practice. History is littered with other examples. Greek city-states forged aconfederacy against Persia in 478 B.C.

The film suggests aconnectionbetween astatement made by Iroquois leader Canassatego recommending a union, on the one hand, and Franklin,

on theother,but this is will-o’-the-wisp stuff.

Canassatego sharedhis opinion at a1744 conference over the Treaty of Lancaster, anegotiation between the Iroquois andseveral colonies. For his part, Franklin cited the Iroquois having aconfederacy in one sentence in a1751 letter about the possibilityofacolonial union. That’sit.

It’snot truethat the 1754 Albany meeting,bythe way,was the prelude to the world-historical events 20 years later.The conference was not formed in opposition to Britain.Rather,itwas afunction of British colonial policy, which sought to keep theIroquois from allyingwith France in what would becomethe Seven Years’ War. The idea was that by uniting thecolonies, it’d bepossible to better regulate, andsmooth over,colonial relations with the Iroquois. Regardless, theIroquois had no role in our constitutional history.Asthe scholar Robert Natelson has noted, the Iroquois don’tshow up as amodel in the 34-volume “Journals of the Continental Congress,” thethree-volume collection “The Records of the Federal Convention” (inother words, theCon-

stitutional Convention),orthe more than 40-volume “Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution.”

As for theIroquois confederation being ademocracy,it’slaughable agitprop. There were no elections;leaders were selected by women elders, whose status was hereditary

In an interview with theTVprogram “Amanpour &Company,” Burns said that the contribution of the Iroquois led him to believe he had “tocenter” the story of Native Americans. Surely,it’s theopposite—hewanted to center the Native Americans, so he played up the Iroquois story It’sbad history one way or the other “The American Revolution” has been praised by The New York Times for seeking tostrip away what Burns calls “the barnacles of sentimentalityand nostalgia” around the event. Actually, thefilm creates new barnacles more congenial to an audience that wants romanticized history about oppressed groups, but not about our own story So it goes in eliteopinion two hundred and fiftyyears after the greatest event in the modern era.

Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry

Dick Cheney,alwaysunintimidated

The word that bestdescribes how formerVice President Dick Cheney, who wielded the responsibilities he undertook in public affairs over along career begunimprobablyearly inlife and extended into years of repudiation by his fellow partisans, is “unintimidated.”

He was unintimidated by his rise to become White House chief of staff at age 34 in 1975, after flunkingout of Yale University and not finishing his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin (while his wife, Lynne Cheney,earned hers).

Cheney,who died lastmonth and was eulogized in aceremony to which the current president and vice president were not invited, rose after being awarded an American Political Science Association fellowship in Washington. There, he favorably impressed two bosses who were elected to Congress at ages 28 and 30 William Steiger,who, before his death at age 40, pushed acapital gains tax cut through a2-1 Democratic House, and Donald Rumsfeld, who became former PresidentRichard Nixon’santipoverty program chief and former President Gerald Ford’s chief of staff. Still in his 30s, Cheney remained unintimidated by the travails of his patrons and his country —the forced resignationofNixon in August1974, the evacuation of U.S. troops from the embassy in Saigon in April 1975, the unveiling of Ford’sWIN (WhipInflation Now) buttons in October 1974. He seemednomore impressed than intimidated by hisWest Wing office near the president’s, nor his dutiesdealingwith eminences such as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger He was undaunted as well by what many regarded as inevitable American decline.Iremember aconversation shortly after President Ronald Reagan’sinauguration in 1981, in which he expressedworry aboutovercoming Soviet advancesabroad andbudget

LETTERS TO

On April 23, 2020, aman poured gasoline around the Illinois state government building in Chicago and set it on fire. The man,identified as Lawrence Reed, age 44, wassaid to be angry because he had not received his monthly government Supplemental Security Income check.

deficits and stagflation at home. As a Reagan backer,during theIran-Contra affair,hedefended the administration’s right to conduct foreign policy —aharbinger offuturestands in future controversies —and he was elected House minority whip after former President GeorgeH.W.Bush was elected in 1988. Bush’sunexpected failure to get John Tower, afellow Texan, confirmed as defensesecretaryhad twopivotal consequences. One was the naming of Cheney, at age48, as defensesecretary The other was the election by an 87-85 margin of Newt Gingrich, 46, to succeed Cheney as whip, which put him in line to push aside former MinorityLeader

Robert Michel and lead Republicans to their first House majority in 40 years in 1994. Whether Cheney’stalentswould have produced thatresult is uncertain; in any case, Republicans have won House majorities in threequarters of the elections since.

More immediately consequential was Cheney’sappointment. Unintimidated, despite his lack of military service, he assembled Operation Desert Shield and coolly fired theAir Force chiefofstaff for an unauthorized interview on the eve of Operation Desert Storm. His White House, congressional andnational security experience made himanatural choice as head of former President George W. Bush’s vice presidential selection committee and,after dueconsultation, for the vice presidential nomination itself. Only fourmen served eight years as vicepresident before1950; three made well-known comments about the insignificance of the office, andthe fourth was known for his alcoholism. But since 1950, there have been five vice presidents whoserved eight years; three of them (Nixon, H.W.Bush and Joe Biden)were later elected president in their own right, and afourth (Al Gore) won thepopular votefor the office Cheney was theodd man out, yet he was arguably the most consequential

vice president of the five. After the9/11 attacks, he pressed hard for aggressive measures to protect America from terrorism,arguing that enhanced interrogations and military action to remove theSaddam Hussein regime in Iraq were justified if there was even a1% chance of preventing aterrorist attack that, in anuclear age, could have been orders of magnitude greater than 9/11. He acted on this conviction, unintimidated by theprospect of widespread opposition and of adecline that, in fact, occurred in his job approval. In most ideological quarters, Cheney’srecommendations, implemented with W. Bush’ssubstantial but not total approval, were, if not acrime, then ablunder.But even if, as in all wars, mistakes weremade, “regime change in Baghdad also brought blessings,” wrote The Wall Street Journal’s Barton Swaim Buildingonthose blessings has been, ironically,President Donald Trump, who has routinely called the Iraq Wara mistakeand has been full of scorn for Cheney.Yet it is impossible to imagine thesuccess of Trump’sAbraham Accords and bombing of Iran’snuclear facilities if theHussein regimewere still in place; history may record it was necessary to takeout theterrorist regimeinIraq before taking out the terrorist regimeinIran. Trump’ssuccessful foreign policies may owe more to Cheney than either would feel comfortable admitting. Let me closeonapersonal note. When Iran into Cheney,heoften recalled playing high school football for Casper against Worland quarterback Grant Ujifusa, who later created “The Almanac of American Politics”and enlisted me as aco-author.With both now gone, Ican’thelp thinking that playing high school football on cold —maybe freezing —Wyoming fall Friday evenings may leave you unintimidated by anything you face later Michael Barone is on X, @MichaelBarone.

According to the Chicago news site CWB Chicago, Reed went inside the building, knownasthe Thompson Center,and asked a worker at atrain kiosk where his check was. Reed leftand came back about an hour later and asked the samething. Then, according to CWB Chicago, Reed “allegedly returned athird time at 2:10 p.m.with twored containers. Witnesses reported seeing him walkalong the north wall of the Thompson Center while pouring aliquid from the containers. Fire investigators later determined the liquid wasgasoline Reed set the liquid on fire while people were plainly visible inside the building.”

Even then, police and the larger justice system in Chicago were very familiar with Lawrence Reed. CWB Chicago reported that Reed was“on probation fortwo criminal damage to property convictions” and had “seven felony and 11 misdemeanor convictions as well as two pending misdemeanor cases.” He was also “awaiting trial forallegedly punching two womeninthe face at random in the Loop on Feb. 28, 2020.”

Even with that record, Reed did not receive any time behind bars forsetting the fire at the Thompson Center.Instead, he was sentenced to mental health probation.

Fast-forward to Aug. 19, 2025, just three months ago. Reed wasreceiving treatments in the psychiatric wing of MacNeal Hospital in the suburbs of Chicago. He approached a social worker at anurse’sstation. This, again, is from CWB Chicago: “As asurveillance camera recorded everything, the social worker wasspeaking with Reed when he became irate and slapped the victim in the face with an open palm.Her vision wentblack, and she lost consciousness forseveral seconds. One of the victim’s co-workers rushed over and helped the victim walk downtoher office, and the victim wasthen taken to the emergency room.”

The social worker wasdiagnosed with a corneal abrasion, aserious concussion and a chipped tooth. Later,doctors determined she had “optic nerve bruising” and was“experiencing headaches and nausea daily and has been experiencing memoryissues,” in the words of a prosecutor quoted by CWB Chicago.

So what to do with the suspect? By 2025, Reed had amuch longer criminal record than his already extensive record from 2020. Prosecutors laid it out forCook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez: 72 arrests, eight felony convictions, seven misdemeanor convictions —a total of 32 years in and out of the criminal justice system

“The defendant poses areal and present threat to the safety of, especially this victim [the social worker], whoever else wasworking in the hospital that day,and the community as awhole,” the prosecutor told Molina-Gonzalez, whoappeared to be leaning toward setting Reed free again, this time with an ankle monitor

The prosecutor was practically begging Molina-Gonzalez to put Reed behind bars. But the judge wasunmoved. “Thank you,” she said. “I understand your position, but Ican’tkeep everybody in jail because the state’sattorney wants me to.” And so Reed walked free, again, after another violent crime.

Fast-forward to today.Reed is finally in jail, charged in aNov.17attack in which police say he doused ayoung woman with gasoline while on board aChicago Ltrain. Police say Reed then lit her on fire, all the while shouting, “Burn alive, bitch!” The woman, 26-year-old Bethany McGee, suffered severe burns and is in critical condition. If she survives, she will face years of painful rehabilitation.

What to makeofall this? Molina-Gonzalez got her way; Reed wasfree to board the train with his bottle of gasoline, ready to attack. And the public wasleft to contemplate the obvious fact that Reed should have been incarcerated long ago, and also the fact that Molina-Gonzalez represents something that has gone terribly wrong in the American system of justice. Asociety that will not take Lawrence Reed off the streets will not protect the public.

Byron York is on X, @Bryon York.Email him at byronyork@yorkcomm.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO By STEPHANIE BERGER

Filmmakersfromleft, DavidSchmidt, Sarah Botstein and Ken Burns directed ‘The AmericanRevolution’ for PBS

Byron York

Michael Barone

Rich Lowry

with meteorologistDamon Singleton

survived by heronlychild and loving daughter RhondaSmith.She is also survivedbyher sistersIra JeanAddisonRobinson (Lanis),WillieMae Winding (Otis), nephewsWilliam “Bill”HarveyAddisonJr. Hillery Addison, Sr., Horace GainesJr.,and nieces Erica Hollowayand Erin Free‐man.Relatives andfriends ofthe family, membersof Delta SigmaTheta Sorority New OrleansAlumnae Chapter,employees of DeepSouth Center forEn‐vironmental Justice, staff ofMICUOchsner Medical CenterMainCampus, and members of Rising Star Baptist Church areinvited toattend aChristian Ser‐viceonFriday, December 5, 2025 at 10:00a.m.atD.W RhodesFuneral Home,3933 WashingtonAve., NewOr‐leans,LA70125. Visitation willbegin at 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Offi‐ciant Bishop Karl V. Perry ofNew JourneyWord Church. Interment: Provi‐dence Memorial Park Cemetery, 8200 Airline Drive,Metairie, LA 70003 Arrangement entrustedto D.W.RhodesFuneral Home, 3933Washington Ave.Pleasevisit www.rho desfuneral.comtosignthe onlineguestbook.Funeral willbelive-streamed at www.facebook.com/D.W RhodesFuneralHome/live

DEATHS continued from manJ.(Catherline)Stew‐art,Alfred(Kimberlyn) Stewart,GailStewart Charles Stewart, andthe lateEdwardStewart,Jr. StepmotherofOwenStew‐art andthe late Corlissand MaryAnn Stewart. Grand‐motherofthe late Edward KeishaStewart.Daughter ofthe late Samuel Chopin and FelicieMitchellChopin. Sisterofthe late Charles, Marshall, andJoseph Chopin, Archange Chopin Raphael,Augustine Chopin Thompson, Jane Chopin Gaither,NoelieChopinFlo‐rence,SamuelChopin, and Phillip Chopin.Alsocher‐ishingher memories are9 grandchildren,12great grandchildren,and ahost ofnieces, nephews, cousins,other relatives and friends. Relativesand friends of thefamily, also pastors,officers, and members of MorningStar MissionaryBaptist Church and allneighboring churches areinvited to at‐tendthe HomegoingCele‐bration at MorningStar MissionaryBaptist Church, 1000 Walkertown Way, Mar‐rero, LA on Thursday,De‐cember4,2025, at 10:00a.m. Pastor Thomas J. Brown, Jr., officiating. Viewing will be held from 8:00a.m.-9:50a.m. ONLY at the church.Interment: RestlawnParkCemeteryAvondale, LA.Arrange‐ments by DavisMortuary Service,230 Monroe St Gretna, LA.Toview and signthe guestbook, please gotowww.davismortus ryservice.com.FaceMasks Are Recommended

Leah Chopin Stewart, age 94, enteredpeacefully intoeternal rest at herres‐idenceonWednesday,No‐vember19, 2025. Shewas a nativeofWallace,LAand a residentofMarrero,LA. Leahwas afaithfulmem‐ber of MorningStarMis‐sionary BaptistChurch, where sheservedasa Dea‐conessfor 58 years. She loved to cook andenjoyed telling jokes. Belovedwife ofthe late Edward Stewart, Sr.LovingmotherofSher‐

Sullivan,Doris Barnes With sadnessweshare the passingofDoris Barnes Sullivan, on November 19 2025. Please visitwww.rho desfuneral.comtoview service information, sign onlineguestbook,send flowersand sharecondo‐lences.

TassinSr.,Richard Joseph

RichardJosephTassin, Sr.,a devotedhusband,fa‐ther, grandfather, andser‐vantofChrist, passed peacefullyfromthislifeon November28, 2025, leaving behinda legacy builton faith,humility, andunwa‐veringlove. Born in Gretna, Louisiana on March13, 1945, Richardwas the beloved sonofAntoine JosephTassinofSt. Rose LA, andMarjorieSmith TassinofNew Orleans, LA For 62 blessedyears, Richard wasmarried to the loveofhis life,Victoria CarterTassin, with whom heshareda lifetime of steadfastcompanionship laughter, hard work,and devotion. Together they raiseda familythat brought himimmeasurable joy:Richard (Michele) Tassin,Jr., Kevin(Amy) Tassin, Eric Tassin, and Kristen (Jason)Williams. Richard wasthe proud grandfather of Ashley (Matthew)Miller,Courtney (Richard) Edwards, Bren‐don (Brittany)Tassin, Bradley (Kady) Tassin, Tyler Tassin, SarahTassin, Lauren(Timothy) May, ColeWilliams, Samuel Tassin, Carter Williams and ChaseWilliams, and the adoringgreat-grandfa‐therofIsabelle, Jackson, Bryleigh, Cason, Sadie James,Riley, Levi,Blake, Lane, Rylan, Brooks, Cameron,BabyTassin, Charlotte,Eliza,Parker, and Reed.Eachone of themcarried apiece of his heart.Heissurvivedbyhis siblingsCharles Tassinand Darlene (John) Whitney, and preceded in deathby Laverne (Cob)Crespo, Florine Tassin, andMarve‐lyn Dauzat.Richard is also rememberedwithloveby manyniecesand nephews who were dear to him. A man of deep andgenuine faith,Richard spenthis life caringfor hischurch—not for recognition, butout of devotion. Whethermain‐taining thegrounds, repair‐ing whatneeded fixing,or simplyensuringthe doors openedtoa warm andwel‐coming place, he served

quietlyand faithfully.His lovefor hischurch family and neighborswas lived out throughsmall acts of kindness, steady service, and ahumbleheart that reflectedChristinall he did.Richard worked for mostofhis life as aMaster Plumber andthe proud ownerofTassinPlumbing & Heating, knownfor his craftsmanship,integrity, and dedication to thepeo‐ple he served.Outside of work, he found joyintrav‐eling with hiswife—espe‐cially during thecrisp beautyoffall, hisfavorite season—andinadmiring the splendor of sunsets, moments in which he saw God’s handiworkmadevis‐ible. Hisfavoritepastime was fishing, asimpleplea‐surethatbrought him peace.Whether castinga lineinquiet solitude or alongside familyand friends,hetreasured the rhythmofthe water, the anticipation, andthe sto‐riesshared. Thosemo‐ments taught himpa‐tience, gratitude, andjoy lessons he carriedinto every part of hislife. Above all,Richard’s greatest de‐votionwas to hisfamily. Hedelighted in everyday moments:quiet evenings athome, mealsshared around atable full of laughter, andthe simple joy of beingtogether.His homewas aplace of warmth, wisdom,and un‐waveringsupport—anan‐chorfor thoseheloved Richard’s absencewillbe deeply felt,but hislegacy lives on in thelives of his family, thechurch he faith‐fully served,and thecount‐lesspeoplewho were touched by hiskindness. A Celebration of Life will be heldonFriday, December 5, 2025 at RioVista Baptist Church,3800 Jefferson Hwy,Jefferson,LA70121 for 12PM. Visitation begins at10AM. Intermentwillfol‐low at Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4900 AirlineDr. Metairie, LA 70001. In lieu of flowers, thefamilyre‐queststhatdonations be madetothe LottieMoon Christmas Offering through thewww.imb.org May hismemorybea blessingtoall who knew and lovedhim

MyrnellDelores Thomas crossedoverpeacefullyon Friday, November 21, 2025, surrounded by herloving family. Born on June 16, 1940 in Laurel,MS, Sheis the beloveddaughterof Grady andArchbishopAl‐freda Dixon. Myrnell, alov‐ing mother of five children dedicated herlifetomak‐ing sure they experienced everythingneeded in life to becomegood humanbe‐ings, while also making suretheyknewthe word of God.Fromdance school archery,karate, ballet,the arts, pianoand fashion modeling, to band prac‐tices,she wanted,like every parent,the best for her kids.She dedicated over40years of herlife, nurturing andinspiring countless young minds withher patience,kind‐nessand love of life.Myr‐nellwas atalentedbeauti‐cianinher younger years and aloving“Mimi”toher grandchildren.A mother figure to allthe children in the neighborhood andalso someadultswho called her mom. Myrnellwas a devoted member of Saint Maria Goretti Church.Sur‐vivorsinclude herchildren, David Thomas,Sandra Broussard-Thomas, Debo‐rah Thomas,Pamela Thomas, MichaelThomas and PatrickCarter; grand‐children, Adrienne Cheyenne Jasmine, Ju‐lianne,Christopher,Derek, Raven,ErnestJunior, Aaron Carterand Darren Carter.A Massofcelebration honor‐ing thelifeand legacy of thelateMyrnell Delores

Thomas will be held at St Maria Goretti Catholic Church,7300 Crowder Blvd.,New Orleans, LA 70127 on Friday,December 5,2025 at 11 am.Interment ProvidenceMemorialPark. Visitation10aminthe church.A repass will follow inthe Charbonnet Family Center, 1615 St.Philip Street,New Orleans, LA 70116. Please sign online guestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet LabatGlapion, Directors (504) 581-4411.

York,LoganXavier FuneralServicesfor LoganXavierYorkwillbe heldinthe Chapel of Char‐bonnetLabat GlapionFu‐neral Home,1615 St.Philip Street,New Orleans, LA 70116 on Thursday,Decem‐ber 4, 2025 at 10 am.Inter‐mentPrivate.Visitation9 aminthe chapel.Please signonlineguestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504) 581-4411.

Mugs, shirts, hats, posters,books. Something for everyone at the T-PStore!

Thomas,Myrnell Delores

Stewart, Leah Chopin

SIGNINGS OF TIMES

With acoachingstaff in flux,LSU settoink firstrecruitsunder Kiffin

BY KOKI RILEY and WILSONALEXANDER Staff writers

Alot was revealed during Lane Kiffin’s introductory news conference Monday Kiffinchanneledhis innerEdOrgeron, hinted that Nick Sabantoldhim to take the LSU job and said on numerous occasions the job is the best in America.

He even disclosed aconversationhe had with Gov.Jeff Landry,a discussion that helped seal the former Ole Misscoach’s decision to leave the Rebels just before the start of their College Football Playoff run and take over LSU, abitter conference rival.

“I cansum it up by saying this: This

place is different,” Kiffin said.“Having watched this place fora long time,havingbeen on theother sidelines in this stadium, this place is different,and that’s whywe’re here.Wehavealot of work to do with that, butI’m very grateful for the opportunity to lead one of the elite programs in all of sports.”

Whatwasn’tclarified during his 36-minute news conference was apressing deadline that will go along way in shaping the long-term future of LSU under Kiffin.

Whoisincharge of constructing LSU’s 2026 recruiting class leading intothe start of the earlysigning period Wednesday? Andwhatinfrastructureisinplace to sign the Tigers’ 15 commitments or bring in

additional players to their small recruiting class?

“That is our number one focus right now,” Kiffin said, “istosign the best class that we possibly can Wednesday.”

To saythat LSU’sfrontoffice andcoaching staff areinflux is an understatement. Alongwiththe coachingstaff it already has in place from the previous regimeunderBrian Kelly,Kiffin also hasbrought in multipleoffensive assistant coaches and staff members from Oxford to Baton Rouge

Six of those former Ole Miss employees signed term sheets with LSUonMonday,

Zion expected to miss multiple weeks

Staff report

New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson has been hit with yet another injury Williamson has been diagnosed with aGrade 2right hipadductor strain, the team announced late Tuesday afternoon.

According to an ESPN report, Williamson will miss“an extended amount of time” and will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

It’sunclear when Williamson suffered the injury Prior to Tuesday night’sgame against the Minnesota Timberwolves,Pelicans interimcoach James Borrego was askedwhen the injury occurred.

“I don’thave any more informationasfar as when it happened,” Borrego said. “I can say I learned of it this morning as well. The information was brought to

me this morning. We haditimagedand weall knowthe results of that. Beyond that,I don’thave any moreinformation. We are takingthis hour by hour,day by day.

TheDuke product missed Sunday’sloss to the Los Angeles Lakers for what theteam listed as left hamstringinjury management.Thatabsence was expected consideringthe Pelicans playedthe GoldenState Warriors the night before and Williamson hasn’tplayed in back-to-back gamessince October of last season. Williamson didn’t appear on Monday’sinjury report, but he appearedonitTuesday afternoon with this latest injury

It’s the latest blowfor the Pelicans, whofired coach Willie

ä See ZION, page 4C

Saints need Shough to findconsistency

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

This is not rocketscience: The New Orleans Saints offense goes as quarterback Tyler Shough goes. There were moments of brilliance from the rookieSunday against the Miami Dolphins, and those cannot be dismissed because those flashesofhighlevel traits are evidence thatthe Saints can build around him. But momentsare not enoughtowin NFL gamesconsistently. The Saints entered halftime

FILM REVIEW

with 63 net yards of offense. They went three andout on their first three drives, Shough wassacked and lost afumble on the fourth play of their fourth drive, then they went threeand outagain on their fifth drive. It took 32 minutes of game time for the Saints to gain more than 10 yards on anoffensiveplay

Thesluggish startcertainly wasn’tall on Shough, who did not get much help from his teammatesorhis play-callinghead

coach —the strip-sack,for instance, came on aplaywhere the Saintshad asix-man protection, plus receiver Devaughn Vele chipping at theline of scrimmage —but Shough played an important role when it came to thedrives stallingout. Therewere two clear opportunities early in the gamefor Shough to connect on passesthat would move the chains on third downs,but poor ball placement cost the Saints both chances. Facing athird and 7onthe opening drive, Shough madethe right decision from aclean pock-

et to throw to Mason Tipton, who was running apivot route to the field side of theformation.But the throwcame in low,forcing Tiptontogotothe ground to catchit. He wastouched down 2yardsshy of the marker On theensuing drive, Shough againmadethe correct read when he sawtight endJuwan Johnson sit down in ahole in theDolphins’ zonecoverage on third and 4. This time the ball sailed high and toward the middle of the field, allowing

ä See SAINTS, page 4C

Vergeof despair

NewLSU AD Ausberry helped save potentially disastrous coaching search

Scott Rabalais

National ridicule That’swhatLSU andLouisiana was subjected to in the wake of the Brian Kelly firing. Not because of Kelly’s firing, but because of the chaos that ensued. The governor made inflammatory statements. The newLUS president castdoubt as to whether the newathletic directorwas in fact going to be the AD moving forward. Then, as things seemed to be calming down, the school announced it wastrying to fire Kelly for cause, thus trying to nullify his enormous buyout.

Pundits andmessage boardposters from coasttocoastlaughed at the Louisiana wayofdoing things and opinedthatLSU never would be able to land atop-shelf coach. What highpoweredcandidate would want to subject themselves to such meddling anduncertainty? Thatobservation may have been acorrect oneatthe time, but circumstances change.Acoaching search,like ateamatthe start of a long season,isnot aphotograph of a moment in time unchanging. If that was the case, the LSU team that won at Clemson to open the season would have wound up in the College Football Playoff andKelly would still be the coach Whatchanged? Well, Gov.Jeff Landry went quietwith public comments aboutthe LSU football situation, though he did talk to and apparently reassured new coach Lane Kiffin during the hiring process. New LSU president Wade Rousse clarified his positiononnew athletic director Verge Ausberry,saying he wasthe full-time AD going forward. LSU reversedits untenable plan to try to fire Kelly for cause,saying instead that he was indeed fired without cause (translation: he didn’twin enough) and that it would owehim his full $54 million buyout. LSU also said it will hold Kelly’sfeet to the fire in that he must make allattempts to find employment, but thatdoesn’tchange the buyout situation. Personally,Idoubt Kelly ever will coach again, and not because as his lawyers claimed LSU made it impossible forhim to do so But finally,LSU landedits man in Kiffin, the toptargetofthe entire 2025 coaching carousel.

Thatofcourse launchedanother uproar with Kiffin leaving Ole Miss on the cusp of acertain appearance in the CFP,but that’snot LSU’sfault. NCAA schoolscould get together andcreatearule that says schools can’t hire coaches from ateam until the season is over,aswas the case when the Saints hadtowaittohire then-Philadelphia Eaglesoffensive coordinatorKellenMooreafter the SuperBowl. But NCAA schools won’t do that, because that means ceding powertoacommissioner or some governing body Ausberry was askedMondayat Kiffin’sintroductory news conference aboutLSU plucking the Ole Miss coach in such asituation. He answeredasthe LSU athletic director should.

“That’snot ourfault,” Ausberry said. “I hadtoprotect LSU’sinterests. It was the best forLSU.” Five weeks elapsedfrom when LSU firedKelly to hiring Kiffin. Five weeks may be ablink in most of our lives, but in coaching search terms it’salmost an eternity.Five weeks allowedLSU to go fromdisarray and dysfunctiontolanding the coach Florida wantedtohire and Ole Miss badly wanted to retain. Kiffin intimated there was afourth team in his mix. WasitAuburn? Penn State? An NFL team? He declined to say. It doesn’tmatternow.Kiffin is at LSU, andAusberry landed him. From where LSU startedthis process, it seemed impossible,but Ausberry wasn’tdeterred.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

NewLSU football coach Lane Kiffinpumps his fist while talking about his response to LSU fans cheering along theroute from the airporttofootball operations on MondayatTigerStadium.

Ausberry

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD Pelicans forward Zion Williamson watches the game against the Boston Celtics from the bench at the Smoothie King Center on Oct. 27. Williamson is expected to miss multiple weeks because of an injury.

Tackle’s influence on Dallas defenseundeniable

BY SCHUYLER DIXON Associated Press

FRISCO,Texas Quinnen Williams

disregardsthe notion that the standout defensive tackle’sarrival in atrade is the best explanation for adramaticturnaround by the defense of the Dallas Cowboys. Teammates and coaches agree —to a point.

“When you open up the personnel report and you see Quinnen Williams’ name, you’re like, ‘Ah... What am Igoing to do about this?’ ”said coach Brian Schottenheimer,going silent while mouthing the expletive in his thought.“I thinkthat’sreal. When you pay a lot of attention to him, it gives alot of other guys alot of opportunities to showcasetheir talent.”

Here’sthe reality

Dallas is 3-0 since giving the New York Jets a2027 first-round draft pick, asecond-rounder next year and underperforming defensive tackle Mazi Smith toacquire Williams at the trade deadline.

On top of that,the Cowboys (65-1) go into Thursday night’svisit to Detroit having given up 21.7 points per game (essentially a touchdownbelow theiraverage) and 69.7 yards rushing per game (not much more than half their average).

Dallas beat both of last season’s Super Bowl teams back-to-back, first 24-21 over reigning champion and NFC East rival Philadelphia when the defense gave the Cowboys three fourth-quarter chances to take the lead and the offense finally cashed in with a game-ending field goal. The winning drive came after Osa Odighizuwa’sthird-down sack of Jalen Hurts.

Theother pieces

The defensive revival isn’t as simple as Williams coming aboard.

The returns from injury for starting safeties MalikHooker and Donovan Wilsonalong with the season debuts of linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and rookie cornerback Shavon Revel coming off 2024 knee surgeries have helped. So has the other trade dead-

line addition, former Cincinnati linebacker LoganWilson, whose veteran presence has improved the communication of first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ calls.

Those are among thereminders Williams has for anyone suggesting his arrivalchanged everythingfor theDallas defense.

“I wasn’there before. Idon’t really know what was going on before Igot here,” Williams said. “But since I’ve been here, everybody’sjust been firing on allcylinders when it comes down to doing their jobtothe best of their ability and feeding off each other,learningfrom each other,pushing each other,holdingeach other accountable.”

Immediate impact

Still, theeffect of Williams has beenundeniable,right from the start. In the first half of his Dallas

debut at LasVegas, Williamshad five pressures,the most in ahalf by aCowboys defensive tackle in at least seven years, according to NFLNextGen Stats.Hehad 1 1/2 sacks against theRaiders.

“Justwatch him play.Simple as that,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “Guy that Iknow, as Isaid before, playing against, he’sa game-wrecker and now being on the same team as him and getting an opportunity when I do watch those guys over there, it’snodifferent. The rest of the guys arestepping up and making playswhenhe’sgetting doubleteamed.”

Williams joined Dallas after spending allofhis first six seasons with the Jets, who drafted him thirdoverall in 2019. Jadeveon Clowney,a12-year veteran who sacked Patrick Mahomes twice in last week’s31-28 Thanksgiving win over Kansas City,signed as a

free agent early in the season. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark wasthe player Dallas gotinthe tradethat ultimately led to the Williams deal, when the Cowboys sentstar passrusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay fortwo firstround picks aweek before the season started. Clark hadspent all of his first nine seasons with thePackers.

AddOdighizuwa, afifth-year player who signed an $80 million contract extensioninthe offseason, and Dallasnow leansona strong core of veterans to go with promising edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku.

“Myplan wastocome here and play great football and executeand just learn the defense and learnthe guys around me,” Clowney said. “Getting Quinnen just made it that muchmore special. He came in from Day One, been leading since he got here.”

Parsonsmakinghistory in first season with Packers

BY STEVE MEGARGEE Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. MicahParsons has pressured quarterbacks at a rate to rivalany playerinthe NFL in his first season with the Green Bay Packers. Now his sack totals are starting to reflect that.

Parsons enters Green Bay’s Sunday showdown against the NFC North-leadingChicago Bears (9-3) with six sacks during the Packers’ three-game win streak, bringing his season total to121/2 He’sthe first player with at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons since at least 1982, when the NFL made sacks an official stat. Parsons remains focused on reaching his next milestone.

“How Ican get to six?”Parsons said. “That’sthe mindset. Once you do six, how do you gettoseven?How do we keep improving? HowdoIcontinue to getbetter? Understanding how teams are goingto come out and attack me and howdoIsay,‘It don’tmatter.’” That approach has Parsons doingeverything the Packers (83-1) could have imaginedwhen they landed him from Dallas for twofirst-round picksand threetime Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark. The Packers gave Parsons afour-year,$188 million contract with $136 millionguaranteed, making him the highestpaid non-quarterback inleague history Parsons has respondedbybothering quarterbacks no matter how opponents try to contain him. He leads the league with 70 quarterback pressures, accordingtoNFL Next Gen Stats.

“He’sa special, specialfootball player,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “I haven’tseen too many

guys like him.” While Parsons has been botheringquarterbacks consistently all season, it wasn’tnecessarily apparent fromhis sack totals early on Parsons had21/2 sacks through hisfirst five games. He had acareer-high three sacks in a27-23 victoryatArizona on Oct. 19, then hadjustone over Green Bay’s next three games. Sacks have come in bunches lately.Hehad 11/2 against the New York Giants, two against Minnesota and21/2 at Detroit. Parsonsranks thirdinthe league in sacks, behind Cleveland’sMylesGarrett (19) andthe New York Giants’ Brian Burns (13).Healready has the highest single-season sack total for any Packer since Za’Darius Smith also had 121/2 in 2020. TimHarris has thePackers’ single-season record with 191/2 sacks in 1989. Measuringhimself against the greatest players drives Parsons, who hates losing.

“I used to wrestle and Iused to always breakdowncryingwhen Ilost thesewrestling matches, Parsons said. “My dad’slike, ‘It’s OK.You’regoing to get another match.’ And Iwas like, ‘No, it’s not, Dad! Youdon’t understand.’ We work so hard. We have goals and dreams. If I’mgoing intothis wrestling tournament, Iwant to be No. 1. Idon’t wanttobethird placeonthe podium.I want to smile and look down at the rest.” Parsons maintains that competitiveness even when he’s off the field. Parsons says the only time he’saprimadonna is when it comes to board games.

“I’ve gotcertain family members thatdon’teven want to play unless they’re on my team because they eithermight get kicked out or excluded from the rest of the activities for the week if they go againstme,” Parsons said.

Parsons’ favoriteboard games include Scattergories, Codenames,Connect 4and Taboo. “I probably haven’tlost in Con-

LSU women top initial NCAA NET rankings

TheNCAAreleased itsfirst NET rankings this week andthe No. 5 LSU women’sbasketball team is leading the way

The predictive system doesn’t take opponents into account, and the Tigers haven’tplayed astrong scheduletostart theseason,with seven of their eight games coming against Quad4 teams(the lowestranked group). KimMulkey’s squad set an NCAA record by scoring morethan100 points in each of itsfirst eight games,which has inflated the numbers. There’s alot of basketballleft to be played, and LSU could face achallenge Thursday when the Tigers visitDuke. LSUalsowill surely get tested in the Southeastern Conference. UConn, Texas and UCLA are behind LSU in the NET.

Serena Williams denies she’sreturning to tennis

Serena Williams threw cold water on the idea that she might be preparing to return to tennis,writing on social media Tuesday that she is “NOT coming back” after a spokesman for theInternational Tennis Integrity Agencysaidthe 23-timeGrand Slam champion had registered with the sport’sdrugtesting body That is the first step that would be required by aplayer seeking to come out of retirement.

The 44-year-old Williamshas not competed sincebidding farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. It was not clear whenorwhere —orevenif—Williams actually will play again, and she later posted:“Omg yall I’mNOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”

RelieverWilliams signs three-year deal with Mets Free agentrelieverDevin Williamsagreed to athree-year contract with the NewYork Mets late Monday night. Williams spent last season with the New York Yankees, going 4-6 witha career-worst4.79 ERAand 18 saves in 22 chances. He lost the closer’sjob, regained it and lost it againbeforefinishing the year with four scoreless outings during the American League playoffs The 31-year-old right-hander is atwo-timeAll-Star whotwice won the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of theYear Award with theMilwaukeeBrewers while Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns was running that team Milwaukee traded Williamsto theYankees for pitcher Nestor Cortesand infielder Caleb Durbin last December

Steelerspickuprecently released receiver Thielen

nect 4inlike five years,” Parsons said.

Parsons draws inspiration from athletes in other sports suchas basketball players Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett and boxer Andre Ward.

At leastone sport apparently remains amystery to him Packers defensive coordinator

Jeff Hafley brought up the idea of Lambeau Field playing Metallica’s“EnterSandman” when Green Bay’sdefense takes the fieldlate in games, just as the NewYork Yankees did forHall of Fame reliever Mariano Rivera.

Hafley said the parallel works because both Parsons and Rivera areoutstanding closers. Parsons has eight sacksinthe fourth quarterorovertime,the most of any NFLplayer this season.

“(Rivera) walkedout of the bullpen, and everybody started screaming and going crazy,and youknewthe game was over,” Hafleysaid. “Whetheritwas three outs or one out or whatever it was, he was going to put them down.”

When Hafley brought up the idea to Parsons, the star pass rusher needed ahistory lesson on Rivera.

“Honestly,the only person I knew was thegreatest closer was Iron Mike (Tyson),” Parsons said. “Baseball was neverreally my thing.” Parsons has warmed up to the idea. He likes being seen as an elitecloser because he prides himself on staying strong and beingready to make one more play at theend of games.

“You’vegot to trickyourself to be like, ‘I’ve got one more,’”Parsonssaid. “And Ithink that’skind of what life’sabout, the consistent growth to like, ‘I gotone morein me.Ican keep going, one more.’

Adam Thielen didn’tstay out of work long. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed the veteran wide receiver to theirpractice squadTuesday,a day after he wasreleased by the Minnesota Vikings so he could pursue moreplaying timeelsewhere. Thielen, 35, had just eight catches for 69 yards in his return to Minnesota, where he starred from 2014-22 before atwo-year stint with Carolina.

TheSteelers(6-6) have struggled in thepassing game withneither Roman Wilson norCalvin Austin becoming consistent contributors alongside DK Metcalf

Pittsburgh also promoted cornerbackAsanteSamuelJr. from thepractice squadand released six-timePro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay

Ex-Saints KGrupe signed to Colts practicesquad

Blake Grupe is getting asecond chance.

The formerNew OrleansSaints kicker was signed Tuesday to the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad, the NFLNetwork reported. Grupe reportedly impressed in aworkout, and Indianapolis neededa new kicker after waiving Michael Badgley NewOrleans released Grupe after he missed twocostly kicks in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Grupe is 18 of 26 on field goals this year The Saints replaced Grupe with Charlie Smyth, the Ireland native whoresided on their practice squad and beat out Cade York to kick Sunday Smyth had anotable debut, making a56-yard field goal and attempting an onside kickthatNew Orleans recovered.

AP FILE PHOTOByDAVID BECKER

Cowboysdefensivetackle Quinnen Williams looks on before agameagainst the Raiders on Nov. 17 in Las Vegas.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PAUL SANCyA Packers defensivelinemen Micah Parsons,right, and KingsleyEnagbare celebrate asack against the Lions during agame on ThursdayinDetroit.

OleMissmoves

BY EDDIE PELLS Associated Press

Ole Miss lost acoach but gained aspot in the College Football Playoff rankingsreleasedTuesday, moving to No. 6despite the sudden departure of Lane Kiffin toLSU. Undefeated Ohio State and Indiana remained at 1and 2in the rankings, while Georgia moved to third and Texas Tech rosetoNo. 4. The rest of the top 12:Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama, Notre Dame, BYU and Miami, with the flip-flop between the Tide and Irish an eyebrowraiserasthe season headsintoits

final week before the playoffs.

The final rankings comeout Sunday,the day after aslate of conference title games determines the five automatic qualifiers for the12-team bracket. Theplayoffs start Dec. 19 and end amonthlater with the title game outsideMiami.

As newsy as the selection committee’sdecision was not to dock Ole Miss for losing its coach something it hasthe latitude to do —was Alabama’smove up one to No. 9atthe expense of Notre Dame, which fell to 10. Both teams

Irish beat 49-20 over the weekend.

are 10-2.

Committeechair HunterYurachek called the decision the productof“oneofthe strongest debates we’ve had in the room since Ibe-

came amember of the committee.”

One keyfactor,hesaid, was Alabama’s 27-20 winatarchrival Auburn on Saturday— atougher opponent than Stanford, which the

“Thatwas enough to changethe minds of acouple committee members,” Yurachek said.

Themove givesAlabamaa better chance to makethe 12-team bracket even with aloss Saturday to Georgia in the SEC title game,

which would be the Tide’sthird this season. And now, Notre Dame finds itself in aprecarious position on the bubble despite a10-game winning streak. But not as precarious as Miami, which remains at No. 12, still behind Notre Dame despite awin over the Irish in the season opener In another movethat could have ahuge impact, the committeeput James Madison of the Sun Belt ConferenceatNo. 25 —higher than unranked Duke, whichplays No.17Virginiafor theAtlantic Coast Conference title. If Duke and James Madison win, then James Madison could deny the ACC an automatic bid. Those go to the five best-ranked conferencetitlists, with no guarantee to the Power Four leagues. The SEC, Big Tenand Big 12 will earn spots, whilethe American from the Group of Five seems to have aholdonone of those, withNo. 20 Tulane and No. 24 North Texas slated forthat title gameFriday It meansthe fifth andfinalwillei-

Michigan Statehires Fitzgerald with 5-year,$30Mcontract

BY LARRYLAGE Associated Press

EAST LANSING, Mich. Pat Fitzgerald spoke with eight schools about potentiallycoaching their football teams, looking for the best place to resume his career,beforechoosing Michigan State

The former Northwestern coach and All-America linebacker signed an incentive-laden, five-year,$30 million contract to leadthe Spartans back to relevance.

“It was almost ano-brainer for me when the opportunity was presented,” the 51-year-old Fitzgerald said Tuesday Fitzgerald willmake $5 million guaranteed in his firstyearand will be paid at least $500,000 more in each of the following four seasons. If he helps Michigan State win seven games in any of his first three

seasons, an extra yearand $500,000 will be added to his contract. If the Spartans simply win six games or more in the regular season, he will earn a$500,000 bonus; seven wins would give him an additional $1 million, and an eightwinseason wouldtriggera$1.5 millionbonus.

Fitzgerald would make more than $1 million in bonuses if Michigan State wins anational championship —for thefirsttimesince 1952, accordingtoThe Associated Presspoll —and $400,000 forleading theschool to its first Big Ten championship since 2016. It won’tbeeasy to reach any of those incentives.

Michigan State fired Jonathan SmithonSunday after he was 9-15 and 4-14 in theBig Ten, giving him more than $30 million to buy out the rest of his contract. Twotop play-

ers, standoutreceiver Nick Marsh and running back Makhi Frazier, plan to enter the portal.

Fitzgerald lost his job at Northwestern in July 2023 after a17year run at his almamater due to ahazing scandal.

“That knocked me down,”he said.“That rocked me to thecore.”

Fitzgerald sued theschool for $130 million for wrongful termination and reached asettlement in August after theschool said “there was no direct evidence that Coach Fitzgerald was aware of the hazing” in its investigation.

On what he called asabbatical, Fitzgerald visited with NFLand collegeteams to prepare for his next opportunity

“I’ve been dreaming about this day for along time,” he said, choking up. “There will be no moremotivated coach.”

Kentucky hiresOregonOCStein

By The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky Kentucky

has hired Oregon offensive coordinatorWill Stein as its new coach, bringing home someonewhose father played for the Wildcats and who grew up watching them play Athletic director Mitch Barnhart announcedthe hiring Monday nighthours after Kentucky fired Mark Stoops,who had been the Southeastern Conference’s longest-tenured coach at13 seasons with the Wildcats until Monday morning.

“Will Stein brings an outstanding track recordof developing elite quarterbacks and leading some of the most dynamic and successful offenses in college football,” Barnhart said in astatement late Monday night.

The statement noted Stein and his familysat in section 128, row 13, at the football stadium now called Kroger Field.

“His deep connection to Kentucky,having grown up attending games in our stadium, gives him aunique passion for this program and this community,” Barnhart said. “Weare thrilledto have him leading the Wildcats onto the field next fall.” This will be the first head coaching job for Stein, 36. The Louisvillenative won three Kentucky high school titles at Trinity and walked on at Louisvilletoplay quarterback. His father,Matt, played at Kentucky for coach Jerry Claiborne.

Stein recalled growing up in Kentucky and sitting in the stands for Wildcats gameswith this jobonly a dream now come true. He thanked Oregon coachDan Lanning and the Ducks staff for their mentorship and the trust placed in him by Kentucky officials.

“Now,Ican’twait to get started andmake Kentucky proud,” Stein said.

Stein has spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator and quarter-

backs coach at Oregon. Steinplans to coach with thefourth-rankedDucks (11-1) at No. 6inthe latest CFPrankings with thefinal bracket announcedSunday Oregon’s offense with Stein ranks ninth in the nation scoring38.2 pointsa game. The Ducks are 13th in total offense with 465.2 yards per game witha nice balance averaging 218.4 yards rushing and 246.8 passing yards per game

Kentuckytargeted Stein not just because of his ties to thestate or theuniversity through hisfamily. Stein has worked with aHeisman Trophy finalisteach of thepast two seasonsinquarterbacks Bo Nix and DillonGabriel. Both started games in the NFL as rookies.

“He is an outstandingdeveloper and coach of young talent, somethinghehas provenrepeatedlyinhis career already as aquarterbacks coach andoffensive coordinator at an elite level,” Kentucky president Eli Capilouto said. “And he has a deepand abiding passionfor this place. It runs deep with himand hisfamily.” Barnhart said Monday morningthatKentucky had started anational search for Stoops’replacement, and

it wrappedvery quickly Barnhart also promised Kentucky will be investing to recruit notonly an elite head coach but playersand support staff along withfully funding revenue-sharing and facilities.

Stein walked on at Louisville for Steve Kragthorpe between 2008 and 2009 and Charlie Strong from 20102012, capping histenure with aSugarBowl winover Florida.

He went into coaching as agraduate assistant in 2013 at Louisville helping with quarterbacks before working withwidereceivers as aquality control coach in 2014. He joined Strong at Texasasa qualitycontrol coach in 2015 and 2016, then coached quarterbacks in 2017.

Stein was offensive coordinator and assistanthead coach at LakeTravis High School in 2018 in 2019 before going to UTSA. He was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and coached quarterbacks in 2022, helping UTSA rank ninthnationally in total offense.

Kentucky is the sixth SEC program to change coaches this season,joiningAuburn, Arkansas, Florida,LSU and Ole Miss.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByROBIN BUCKSON Michigan State president Kevin M. Guskiewicz, fromleft, newfootball coach PatFitzgerald and athletic director J. Batt pose with ajerseyduring anewsconference on TuesdayinEast Lansing,Mich.

AP FILEPHOTO

Will Stein, pictured in 2011 when he was aquarterback at Louisville, washired as Kentucky’snew football coach after Mark Stoops was fired Monday

Weighing how good LSU men are after 7-0 start

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

With four weeks of the college basketball season complete, LSU is off to one of the best starts in the country LSU (7-0) is 19th in the first release of the NET rankings, which is a tool that the NCAA Tournament selection committee uses. The Tigers face Boston College at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday With LSU playing better than it has in four years under coach Matt McMahon, it’s only fair for fans to have questions Questions were sent to @tj3rd on X.

How effective will we be without the services of (Jalen) Reed? Seems like the system we were running was most effective when he was in. @Yofrenchbread

After this question was sent, the program announced Tuesday that Jalen Reed suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. This happened Friday during the second half of LSU’s win over Drake

This was to his left leg, which isn’t the same one that had a torn ACL last season.

Reed will be sorely missed because he has the best face-up driving game in the frontcourt. He was doing an excellent job rebounding and is a fine defender He also is one of the team’s main leaders, as he’s been with the program longer than anyone. Not having his presence makes the team worse, no matter how you slice it.

As devastating as this news is, LSU does have the most depth at his position. Mike Nwoko, Pablo Tamba and Robert Miller are all off to solid starts and have the requisite size to battle good competition. They will all have to level up their games and be ready for more minutes. Marquel Sutton is another option who can play

LSU Q&A

more power forward with his solid 6-foot-9 frame.

If they lose to (Texas) Tech and beat SMU, do you think they can still get in the Top 25?

@propeaceful Assuming LSU beats Boston College on Wednesday, the Tigers would be in a prime position to make the AP Top 25. No. 19 Texas Tech (6-2) is the most talented nonconference team LSU will face and SMU (8-0) is a legit top-45 team on KenPom.

The straightforward answer is that LSU is likely to miss the cut if that scenario were to happen. Usually, when a team makes the Top 25 for the first time, it has an overwhelmingly strong week.

The more nuanced answer is that voters might be more lenient if LSU falls to Texas Tech in a close game played at a neutral site in Texas. The case also would be helped by a double-digit win against SMU in a neutral-site game in New Orleans.

Are they a tournament team in your opinion? —

@larry_thigpen

Before answering, it has to be acknowledged that LSU’s schedule has been easy It hasn’t faced a top-100 team yet on KenPom. Also, the Reed injury is a major hit.

With that being said, the way the Tigers have beaten lowerlevel teams has been impressive. Their fatal flaws from last year — lack of size and weak point guard play — have become the team’s biggest strengths. There is too much season left to guarantee a tournament berth. But as of right now, LSU certainly has the talent.

Tulane nips Grambling on late free throws

BY GUERRY SMITH

Contributing writer

Josiah Moore was not the Tulane men’s basketball team’s highest profile transfer, but he played by far the most minutes last year at Oral Roberts.

His experience paid off on Tuesday night in the Green Wave’ latest second-half comeback victory, this time 65-63 against Grambling at Devlin Fieldhouse in a game that was not settled until the final seconds.

With Tulane trailing 44-37 and doing very little right early in the second half, he took over off the bench, coming up with backto-back steals that led to his own driving bank shot and a free throw from Curtis Williams that started a scoreless stretch of more than six minutes for Grambling.

“I was going to do anything to help our team win,” Moore said “It was as simple as that.”

Moore was not finished He scored on a driving dunk, grabbed an offensive rebound and tipped another ball that Williams recovered to keep the same possession alive, hounded Tigers players into difficult, errant 3-point shots and had a third steal he finished with another layup as Tulane went ahead 52-49 with 6:21 left.

The energy he provided was contagious, and Tulane held on to win after a very ragged first 25 minutes. Rowan Brumbaugh sank two free throws after drawing a foul with 8.0 seconds left to break a tie at 64 then harassed Grambling’s Devyn Franklin into a doubleclutch, air-ball 3 at the buzzer

“The last couple of games he has played really well,” Tulane coach Ron Hunter said of Moore. “His energy defensively just kind of turned the game for us.”

Tulane (6-2) has rallied from second-half deficits in its past five victories.

Who’s gonna end up being the playmaker when (Dedan) Thomas sits for a rest? Do you think freshman PG Jalen Reece is ready for that role? How do you think he’s doing so far as backup PG?

@larry_thigpen

Jalen Reece is LSU’s clear backup point guard. His start was shaky, but he picked it up a ton against DePaul with 13 points and six assists on Saturday Reece’s role is to keep the offense above water when Thomas isn’t playing. The freshman has been solid overall. His specialty is limiting turnovers, as he has 17 assists to just five turnovers.

If he can maintain that type of ball security, he will be good enough as a backup floor general. The real test will come when he sees better defenses in the Southeastern Conference.

Thoughts on what the rotation at the wing positions will look like come SEC play?

@LSUfanChristian

The wings in the rotation are Max Mackinnon, Rashad King and PJ Carter You could also include Sutton, but he’s more of a pure forward with 3-point range. When SEC play arrives, Carter and King will battle for minutes off the bench since Mackinnon has done enough to be a 25-minute-per-game player

It seems King’s varied scoring package and defense are more equipped to affect the game than Carter’s. But if LSU is starved for 3-pointers, Carter is a dead-eye shooter that McMahon will keep on the floor They can also play together, so it’s too early to predict what will happen.

Email Toyloy Brown III at Toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com

REED INJURES ACHILLES, OUT FOR REST OF SEASON

LSU announced Tuesday that redshirt junior Jalen Reed will miss the remainder of the season with an Achilles tendon injury that he suffered in the second half against Drake on Friday in the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Florida.

“Jalen Reed suffered a seasonending (left) Achilles tendon injury during last Friday night’s game versus Drake,” coach Matt McMahon said in a statement “He underwent successful surgery this morning in Baton Rouge. We are absolutely heartbroken and devastated for Jalen. His journey back to the court has been inspiring to everyone in our program. Reed suffered a season-ending

ACL tear during the eighth game of last season.The 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward played six games this season and was averaging 9.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and shooting 57.1% from the field in 18 minutes per game.

“Jalen is a team captain and leader as well as a soon to be LSU Graduate,” McMahon said. “He represents everything that is great about college athletics.While I cannot convey the depth of my disappointment for Jalen, I remain in admiration of his spirit and mental toughness.We look forward to supporting him in his recovery and cannot wait to see him back on the basketball court.”

Pelicans fall in OT to Timberwolves

Continued from page 1C

Green on Nov 15 after a 2-10 start to the season. With a 3-18 overall mark, the team was 1-8 under Borrego before Tuesday night’s game.

After missing eight games with a strained left hamstring earlier this season, Williamson returned to action on Nov 19 in a 125-118 loss to the Denver Nuggets. He had been productive in the five games played since returning from the injury, including 25 points and seven

Derrius Ward of Grambling paced all scorers with 18 points, including an uncontested layup that tied the score at 63 with 2:07 left. Grambling never led for the final seven minutes, but Tulane could not get comfortable before the last errant shot.

Tulane could not buy a basket for almost all of the first half against Grambling The good news for the Green Wave is the Tigers struggled just as much offensively Tulane missed 10 of its first 11 shots in a glacial offensive start, and Grambling committed a spate of turnovers that left the score tied at 6-6 with 11:46 left in the half. When the game resumed, the Wave’s Tyler Ringgold missed a wild shot that hit the bottom of the backboard and went out of bounds off a drive. The Tigers’ Roderick Coffee matched him at the other end, losing control of the ball on his out-of-control drive and watching it carom off the back of the backboard at nearly the same spot as Ringgold’s Back and forth it went before Brumbaugh and KJ Greene hit consecutive 3-pointers to give Tulane a 28-22 lead with 3:10 left. Grambling responded with a 7-2 run to go ahead 31-30 at the break, getting a trey from Ward at the 20-second mark. When Woods missed a 3 before the buzzer, it left the Wave 10 of 31 from the floor and an even more dreadful 4 of 17 inside the arc.

“That’s the best defense we’ve seen (from an opponent) all year,” Hunter said. “We won the game defensively, which we hadn’t been doing a great job of this year.”

Grambling (3-5), which beat Southern Miss earlier this year, lost its fourth in a row Curtis Williams led the Wave with 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Brumbaugh also had 17 points, including the two winning free throws after a close call in the lane that Grambling coach Patrick Crarey protested furiously Asher Woods added 13 points for Tulane, hitting all six of his free throws.

rebounds in Saturday’s 104-96 loss to the Warriors. The adductor muscles are a group of three muscles located in the inner thigh, providing stability for the pelvis during activities such as running and jumping.

“Nobody wants to be on the floor more than Zion,” Borrego said.

“He’s got love for the game, loves this city wears this logo with pride as a badge. He wants to be out there battling with his teammates more than anybody More than anything right now, he’s disappointed. He’s here to support us and we are here to support him.”

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

Miami linebacker Tyrel Dodson to make a play on the ball.

Dissecting ball placement is nitpicky but those third-down plays are critical even without the benefit of hindsight. Better throws in either scenario would have given the Saints a new set of downs near midfield, and who knows what happens then?

Because once Shough got rolling, he made some exceptional plays, both within the structure of the offense and in the scramble phase

This is how Shough’s first six pass attempts went in the second half: A 14-yard sideline throw to Vele from the pocket, a 14-yard sideline missile to Vele thrown on the run while scrambling, a 17-yard touchdown to Chris Olave (also made possible by Shough extending the play with his legs), another 14-yard strike to Vele from the pocket with pass rusher Bradley Chubb bearing down on him, a ripped 12-yarder into a tight window to Vele again, and finally an on-time, on-target throw on an inbreaker to Johnson that allowed him to gain yards after the catch for an 11-yard gain. Shough has the tools at his disposal to be a really good starting

quarterback in the NFL, but it’s on both him and the Saints to unlock those tools more consistently

Numbers to know

56 — Charlie Smyth’s 56-yard field goal is the second longest ever by an NFL kicker on his first career attempt The record belongs to former Falcons punter Michael Koenen, who hit a 58-yarder in 2005 and also famously had a punt blocked by Steve Gleason a year later

-0.82 — The Saints offense had a -0.82

Expected Points Added per play in the first quarter against Miami. Put another way, every play they ran decreased their chances of scoring by almost a full point.

7/8 After recording just 81 net rushing yards on 27 carries against Miami, the Saints now have failed to top 90 yards rushing as a team in seven of their last eight games (the lone outlier being a 122-yard day against Carolina). On the season, the Saints are averaging just 90.7 yards per game on the ground, worse than all but three teams.

Observations

• Growth isn’t linear and that’s something to keep in mind with Kool-Aid McKinstry, who has had his share of ups and downs in his second season. But the highs are really really good He was excellent against Miami, catching as

many Dolphins passes as the receivers he covered, and his chasedown tackle on fourth down late in the game was a phenomenal effort on his part.

• Loved the call from Kellen Moore with the game on the line to run four verticals on second and 1 and give Olave a chance to win the game, loved the throw from Shough and after watching the replays, I thought Olave should have come down with that pass even if there was an added degree of difficulty navigating the defensive back. Did not love the execution on the next play on third down from Shough, who bailed too early and then made a panicked throw Hated the fourth-down sneak call.

• Vele was a real differencemaker, which begs the question: Why weren’t the Saints giving him these opportunities all year? It’s a question the team hasn’t had a good answer for despite having had many chances at answering it. Vele was doing all the things everyone thought he could add as a big-bodied weapon who can make difficult, contested catches.

• The Saints really need to take a look under the hood of their rushing offense this offseason. The backs haven’t had much of a chance to break off explosive runs.

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU guard Jalen Reece thanks the students after a win over Florida International on Nov. 13 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center

Toyloy Brown III

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Pelicans forward Trey Murphy dunks the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday at the Smoothie King Center Murphy scored 33 points, but Minnesota won 149-142 in overtime. For complete game coverage, visit nola.com.

Agents:LSU’s toptwo recruits won’tsignearly

Staff report

The top two prospects committed to LSU football’s2026 recruiting class have decided not tosign during the NCAA’s earlysigning period, their agent told Rivals on Tuesday night.

Both University High star Lamar Brown andEdnaKarrstandout Richard Anderson —the pair of five-star defensive linemen who could serve as the pillars of coach Lane Kiffin‘s first LSU freshman class —are still committed to the Tigers. Rivals reported, however,that they want to see Kiffinfinalize his staff before they officially sign.

“They’re staying committed to them,” their unnamedagent told Rivals, “and they want to see how committed they are. They’re staying committed, butwedon’t know what the future holds.”

Kiffin hasmost of hisoffensive staff in place.But it’sunclear, as of Tuesday evening, if Kiffin will retain interim coach Frank Wilson, defensive coordinator BlakeBaker or any of the other defensive coaches from Brian Kelly‘s staff. Wilson is akey recruiter,especially for New Orleans-area prospects.

“They had relationshipswith the oldstaff,withBlake (Baker)and Frank (Wilson). They wanttoget a chance to build arelationship with the new staff,” Brown and Anderson’sagent told Rivals.

Weis to coachOle Miss

LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr will lead the Ole Miss offense during the College Football Playoff, it was announced Tuesday Weis, who hasbeen the Rebels offensive coordinator since 2022, wasamongseveral assistantsto follow head coach Kiffin to LSU. He will returntoOle Miss for the CFP to help new head coach Pete Golding and theremaining staff there.

OleMiss wasNo. 6inthe CFP rankings released Tuesday night after finishing the regular season with an 11-1 record.

“With the playoff committee releasing updated rankings (Tuesday night), Iwanted ittobe known that after conversations with LSU, we areallowing Charlie to return to Ole Miss to coach the team during the playoffs,” Kiffin said in astatementbefore the CFP rankings release.

Weis already has signed a three-year,$6million deal to become the LSU offensive coordinator,according to acopyof his term sheet obtained Monday by The Advocate. He would owe an estimated $5.7 million if he left LSU before March31because of aclause in his deal.

More coachesjoin

LSU is hiring Ole Miss offensive analyst Dane Stevens as its quarterbacks coach and expects to pull several other staff members away from the Rebels, according to multiple reports Tuesday Stevens spent this season as a passing game specialist with Ole

LSU

Continued frompage1C

including offensivecoordinator and quarterbacks coach Charlie Weis Jr., co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coachJoe Cox,wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator George McDonald, seniorexecutive director of player personnel Mike Williams, head of strength and conditioning Nick Savage and offensive analyst SawyerJordan. Besides Williams, none of those names are likely to drastically shapeLSU’s 2026 recruitingclass but McDonald and Cox may bring in arecruit or two of their own. Cox was the lead recruiter in landing four-star tight endJCAnderson’spledge for the Rebels, and he flipped Tuesday to LSU amid Cox’smove.

Corey Barber,afour-star wide receiver,decommitted from OleMiss the same day Kiffin announced his decision to come to LSU. Barber, per On3 Sports, has emergedasa target forLSU afterMcDonald, his lead recruiter at Ole Miss, came to

Tulane puts 13 on all-conference team

BY GUERRYSMITH Contributingwriter

Miss. He worked underKiffin from 2022-23 as asenioranalystand assistantquarterbacks coach, helping coach future first-round pick Jaxson Dart.He then spent ayear as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at West Georgia before returningtoOle Miss.

It’sunclear who will play quarterback for LSU next year.LSU has to find anew starter to replace senior Garrett Nussmeier,who is out of eligibility Michael VanBuren,a sophomore who started the past three games,has said he wants to returntoLSU.Redshirt freshman Colin Hurley was away from the team the last month of the regular season.

LSU does not have aquarterbackcommitted in the2026 recruitingclass ahead of the beginning of theearlysigning period Wednesday. It is expected to look for at least one quarterback in the transfer portal

LSU is also expected to bring over defensiveanalyst Lou Spanos andanalyst Donnie Both for roles on the staff, LouisianaSports.net reportedTuesday. Spanoshas worked at Ole Miss for thepast three seasons. He has experience as thedefensivecoordinatorat UCLA and UConn, where he also served as interim coach in 2021.

Recruiting roundup

Three-star offensive lineman Ryan Miret and four-star tight end JC Anderson have flippedtheir commitment from Ole Miss to LSU,both recruits revealed on social media Tuesday Anderson attends Mt. Zion High in Illinois and is the No. 11 tight end in thenation, per the 247Sports Composite. He had beencommitted to Ole Miss since July

Then-Ole Miss tight ends coach JoeCox was his lead recruiter.Cox, who hassince made themove to Baton Rouge with Kiffin, now brings acoveted tightend recruit withhim. Miret attends Miami Southridge High in Miami and is the No. 69 offensive linemen in thecountry,according to the 247Sports Composite.

LSU lost pledges from fourstar wide receiver KennyDarby, three-star offensive lineman Jalan Chapman and three-star wide receiver Kervin Johnson on Tuesday

All three recruits are from Louisiana and confirmed their intentionstodecommit from theTigers on Tuesday.Darby is theNo. 9playerinLouisiana, perthe 247Sports Composite, andhad beencommitted to LSU since June. Chapman is the No 30 player in the state, and Johnson flipped his pledge from LSU to Ole Miss.

Johnson andDarby were two of three LSU commitments at widereceiver.The Tigers still have apledgefrom four-star wideoutand Destrehan High star JabariMack

Staff writers Wilson Alexander, KokiRileyand Reed Darcey contributed to this report.

Baton Rouge. Anderson is the first tight end committed to this LSU class, and the Tigers are losinga lot of wide receivers this offseason while having just two freshman wideouts on its current roster

Kiffinalso broughtgeneral manager Billy Glasscock, senior associate athletic directorfor football operationsThaddeus Rivers and defensive analyst Chris Kiffinwith himonthe flight to Baton Rouge Glasscock, Rivers and Chris Kiffin haven’tsigned deals with LSU yet, butGlasscock and Rivers will likely play abig role in LSU rebuilding its roster around Kiffin’simage.

How do those new faces, signed or soon to be signed, mesh with what LSU already has in place from acoaching and front office perspective? That’s aquestion that has yet to be answered.

“(Kiffin) brought his general manager, and they’re putting that together rightnow,” LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry said. “…

My jobistohelp him manageand get the win, and give him theresources. That’s(with) all our coaches (that) we have in our building.

That’smyjob as athletic director.”

Tulane placed aleague-high 13 playersonthe American AllConference team on Tuesday reflecting its status as the highest-ranked Group of Five team in theCollege Football Playoff rankings.

Redshirtfreshman kicker

Notebook

Patrick Durkin was named special teams playerofthe year after connecting on 22 of 24 field goals while also producing touchbacks on 63 of 71 kickoffs, more than justifying the staff’s decision to award hima scholarship in theoffseason. He went4 of 5onfield goals of 50 or more yards after no Tulane kicker hadmade one from that distance since Cairo Santos in 2013.

Joining Durkin as first-team selections were junior guard Shadre Hurst,redshirtjunior defensive lineman Santana Hopper,redshirt sophomore safety Jack Tchienchou andpunter Alec Clark Hurst, oneoftwo returning starters on offense, has started every game. Hopper has26tackles and 71/2 stopsfor loss as an interior lineman. Tchienchou is tied for the team lead with 68 tackles. Clark leads the league with aschool-record average of 47.7 yards on his punts.

Tulane had two second-team selections in defensive lineman Tre’VonMcAlpine and linebacker Sam Howard Offensive tackle Derrick Graham, the other returning offensive starter, made thethirdteamalong with outside linebacker Harvey Dyson,nickelback Javion White,return specialist TJ Smith and deep snapper Jason Arredondo Cornerback Jahiem Johnson was an honorable mention selection. Hurst and Howard are repeat selections on the first team and the second team, respectively. North Texas, Tulane’sopponent in theAmerican championship game on Friday, hadfourfirstteam, second-team and third-team picksplus coach of theyear Eric Morris.The Mean Green also had offensive player of the year Drew Mestemaker,the FBS passing leader and rookie of the year Caleb Hawkins, whorushedfor aleague-high 1,216 yards and an NCAA-best 23 touchdowns.

Emotionalcoach

Tulane coach JonSumrall choked up morethan once during his weekly Tuesday interview session as he talked about what theteam

RABALAIS

Continuedfrom page1C

“LSU,” Ausberry saidOct. 31, “isnot broken. Ourjob is to get thebest footballcoach there is. Whatever it takes to getthat personhere, we will do.”

Thatday,after LSUfor the first time since 1955 parted with its footballcoach and athletic director in the same week,Ausberry’swords sounded empty.But, with the experienceoffour priorLSU coaching searches behind him, he navigated through the tur-

The most notable holdover staff memberwhenitcomestorecruiting is Frank Wilson. Wilson has helpedlead thecharge in landing LSU’stop commitments for its 2026 class, including five-star defensive linemenLamar Brown and Richard Anderson Wilson’s recruitingexpertise and understanding of Louisiana high schoolsmakehim astrong candidatetoremain on Kiffin’s staff. He workedunderKiffinas awide receiverscoach at Tennessee and was seen meeting withthe new coach Sunday night. Kiffin alsoneeds to hire arunning backs coach,and Wilsoneasily could slide intothat open role.

Therehasn’t been any indication of whether Corey Raymond, the secondary coach and akey recruiter fromthe last staff, will stayin Baton Rouge and workunder Kiffin. Butbesides Chris Kiffin, no defensive staffmembers madetheir waytoLSU fromOle Miss,paving theway for much of Kelly’sdefensive staff —including defensive coordinator Blake Baker —tostay and work underKiffin.

As forLSU’s existing player personnel staff, Kiffinalreadyhas

he will leave behind means to him. Sumrall, who accepted the Florida jobSunday and flewinfor an introductory news conference Monday,willcoachthe Green Wave as long as its season continues, including potentialCFP games.

“They handled it better than maybe you would expect,” he said of hisplayers’ reactiontohim tellingthemSundayhewas going to Florida. “There’s been alot of hugs andhigh-fives and acouple of tears shed. Imean, Ilove these guys. His voice trailed off in the middleofthatlastsentence, and he paused to compose himself Alittle later,hewas asked what he would missaboutNew Orleans and Tulane.Hestartedwith his players, then moved to the restaurants, Mardi Gras,JazzFestand Hogs for the Cause.

“There’sa lotI’m goingtomiss aboutthis place,” he said.“My twooldest kids wereborn here. This has been like ahometoour family.Love it here.”

He was beginning to become emotional again when another question spared him from getting even morechokedup. Clearly, the opportunity to finish what he started this year means everything to himina matchupof teams with departing coaches.

“It’savery unique situation,” he said. “It’sawesomethat both administrationsare understanding

bulenceand landedthe Lane plane.

Kiffinwas askedwhat Ausberry saidintheir initial80-minute meeting thathelpedsell him on thefact thatLSU waswhere he needed to be

“‘I’m going to leaveyou alone andlet you coach theteam,’ “ Kiffinsaid. “‘We’regoing to give you everything to win, andI’m going to leaveyou aloneand go coach theteam andbring us championships.’

“Verge isn’treally longwindedinthose meetings, as some other people (are). He gets right to thepoint.I really like that. He sparkedmyinter-

worked with two key members of the Tigers’ front office. General manager Austin Thomas and assistant general manager Kevin Bolden both workedatOle Miss under Kiffin. Thomas worked for Kiffinat Tennessee and Southern Cal before he was the Ole Miss chief of staff in 2022 and 2023. Bolden was the coordinator of recruiting strategy from 2022-24 at Ole Miss.

Both men, at least on the surface, seem like natural fitstowork underKiffin. However,Thomas and Kiffin’srelationship soured after Thomas left Ole Miss for LSU, sources told The Advocate, and the additions of Glasscock,Williams andRivers would make fora very crowded front office if Thomas or Bolden stayed.

“He’sgoing to put agreat staff together,and (when) he finalizes (the)staff, whoever it is, Idon’t knowthat yet,” Ausberry said. “He’sgoing to getthose names to us andworkwiththeir representativesand get the best people in here,have thebest staffout there to compete.”

Some of these questionsfor Kiffin,particularly withhis frontoffice, won’thave to be answered un-

and allowing us to do what we’re doing.”

The feeling amonghis players is mutual.

“Not having him coach us was not an option,”saidHoward, the Wave’sspiritual leader.“Iknew it wasn’tanoption forhim,and it definitely wasn’tanoption forus. He lovesus, we love him, and we would not have it any other way.”

Still on top

Tulane moved up four spots to No. 20 in Tuesday’sCFP rankings release, confirming what already was obvious —the Green Wave can lock up aspot in the 12-team field by beating NorthTexas on Friday night.

North Texas entered the ranking forthe first time at No. 24, followedbyJames Madisonat No. 25.

The No. 5team was Oregon and the No. 6team was Ole Miss, both of which have finished the regular season. If they remain in those spots next week, Tulane witha win against NorthTexas —likely would play at Oregon as the No. 12 seed if Virginia beats Duke in theACC championship game Saturday night. The Wave would play at Ole Miss as the No. 11 seed if Duke beats Virginia andJames Madisonwins at home againstTroy in theSun Belt title game because James Madison (11-1) would beat out Duke (7-5) forthe No. 12 seed.

estfromthe first time Italked to him.”

Ausberry is thefirst LSUathleticdirector who playedfootball forLSU, someone who actually bledonthe fieldinTiger Stadium. Someone withwhom Kiffincould relate, especially withhis passionfor LSU. There is no guarantee Kiffin will win championships at LSU. Every coaching hire is aspin of theroulette wheel.

Butit’sfar better than the chance LSU would getacoach of his caliberwhenthis process started. Forthat, Ausberry deservesa tremendous amount of credit.

tilthe transfer portal opensJan.2

On Monday, his exuberance about theportalopeninginamonth was more than apparent.

“I have zero concern about the interestofplayers withthat, because Iknow whatthe interest was of players nationally to come play for us where we were just at,” Kiffin said, “and now when youput that with this stadium and withthatlogo, Imean,(it)makes me want to getonthe phone right now.”

LSU has one more game left in 2025,a bowlgame that will be announced Sunday.But the construction of the2026 roster begins with Wednesday’searly signing period.

“Wehave big-picture thinking, too. We’re not reaching, or we’re notsigning kids becausethey’re fromthis school or that school or anyofthatstuff, OK?” Kiffinsaid. “We’re going to sign thebestplayers that we can on Wednesday.”

EmailKoki Riley at koki.riley@ theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tulane kicker Patrick Durkin kicks the ballduring agame against the Charlotte49ers on Saturday at yulmanStadium.

UNO baseball to host annual tournament

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

UNO announced it will host an annual Division I baseball tournament at Maestri Field beginning in 2026. The tournament was named the Maestri Classic in honor of legendary UNO baseball coach Ron Maestri UNO partnered with New Orleans & Co. to host the 2026 tournament, with play beginning Friday, Feb. 20 and concluding Sunday, Feb 22.

UL-Monroe is among the inaugural Maestri Classic participants along with Northern Kentucky and Alabama A&M.

“I am honored to have my name on the Maestri Classic,” Ron Maestri said in a statement. “The University of New Orleans and the baseball program mean the world to me. I am looking forward to the first tournament and seeing it grow It will be a great event for UNO and the city as we bring three other schools and their fans to the city.”

Events surrounding the tournament include a welcome celebration on Thursday, Feb. 19 hosted by Backyard Sports and an exhibition game through the Miracle League of Greater New Orleans that will give children with disabilities an opportunity to take the field with players from UNO and Alabama A&M.

“This tournament is special for

a couple of reasons,” UNO baseball coach Andrew Gipson said in a statement. “The first is that we are getting to honor Coach Maestri through this tournament Additionally we are excited to partner with Miracle League of Greater New Orleans and Backyard Sports All of this is about serving and bringing a community together.”

The 2027 Maestri Classic lineup will include Arkansas State, Villanova and Yale.

UNO GM addresses recruiting UNO baseball first-year general manager Johnny Giavotella has stated his intentions of prioritizing in-state recruiting, especially in the New Orleans area.

Giavotella posted those feelings on X recently, stating that “as far as we are concerned at UNO, Louisiana kids — New Orleans in particular — will be of heavy focus while building our roster!”

The former MLB second baseman and UNO alum went on to say, “We will turn over every rock to find quality ball players who will help us win on a national scale and will be out recruiting diligently to get local boys and their families a part of our family in New Orleans!”

UNO announced seven new baseball signees last week, which included a pair of Louisiana players in Covenant Christian senior Owen Trosclair and Teurlings senior William Power

Reigning champ South Plaquemines on cusp

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

South Plaquemines has reached the Division IV nonselect semifinals for the second straight year and knows what it takes to win a state championship having won it last season. Several senior leaders graduated from last year’s championship team, but South Plaquemines reloaded and is now just one win away from having a shot at backto-back state titles. Senior quarterback Rod Parker leads the way as a returning fifth-year starter No. 3-seeded South Plaquemines (9-2) won a pair of home playoff games after a first-round bye. A road test against No. 2-seeded Mangham (10-2) awaits the Hurricanes in the semifinals on Friday

“We’re excited,” South Plaquemines coach Lyle Fitte said. “Mangham is a well-coached and gritty team. We expect for it to be a very hard-fought game.”

Parker completed 9 of 12 passes for 109 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions last week in a 27-12 quarterfinals win over No. 6-seeded North Iberville Freshman Raymontae Jackson ran in the Hurricanes’ first touchdown from 25 yards out.

Parker’s three touchdown passes went to three different receivers, which included a 15-yard touchdown pass to eighth grader Eyan Taylor, a 40-yard pass to Jackson and an 18-yard pass to junior Sharonski Prout.

“It’s very important to have a quarterback with that experience,” Fitte said. “(Parker) is an extension of the coaching staff. He understands looks and puts us in the best position offensively

“It’s a new skill group. Raymontae (Jackson) and Eyan (Taylor) get production in the rushing and

receiving games as well as the return game. They can do damage anywhere on the field and play on defense as well.”

South Plaquemines once again has several two-way contributors.

Senior Hilry Thomas is an anchor starting along the offensive and defensive lines, and seniors Dean Ancalade and Josh Barthelemy start at linebacker while seeing time at running back.

South Plaquemines defeated Mangham last season in the quarterfinals at home. The Hurricanes are traveling to northeast Louisiana this time around and will be tasked with containing a Dragons offense led by sophomore quarterback Colby Casey “(Casey) leads and is a great athlete,” Fitte said. “He can beat you with his arm and his legs. (Mang-

ham) has great athletes on both sides of the ball. We’ll need to limit big plays and play good, sound defense.”

Fitte played for the South Plaquemines teams that won back-to-back state titles in 2007 and 2008. This year’s team is just one win away from having a shot at a repeat.

“We don’t want to take this opportunity for granted,” Fitte said. “This was supposed to be a down year for us, but we’ve exceeded expectations. There’s a will to win.”

The Division IV nonselect state championship game is scheduled for noon Dec. 11, the first of eight LHSAA state titles game at the Caesars Superdome.

Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@theadvocate.com.

FOOTBALL STATE SEMIFINALS PAIRINGS

SCOREBOARD

Time of Possession

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—N.Y. Giants, Singletary 12-68 Tracy 10-36, Dart 4-20, Gillan 1-(minus 13) New England, Henderson 11-67, Stevenson 12-40, Maye 6-12. PASSING—N.Y. Giants, Dart

New England, Maye 24-31-0-282. RECEIVING—N.Y. Giants, Robinson

Singletary 3-34, T.Johnson 3-29, Slayton 2-41, Hodgins 1-4, Tracy 1-(minus

New England, Henry 4-73, Boutte

Stevenson 3-40, Douglas 3-33, Diggs

Henderson 3-19, K.Williams

MISSED FIELD GOALS—New England, Borregales 45. Pro basketball

at Jacksonville, Ala., 6 p.m.

Madison (11-1) vs. Troy (8-4), Sun Belt Championship at Harrisonburg, Va., 6 p.m.

(10-2) vs. North Texas (11-1), American Athletic Conference Championship at New Orleans, 7 p.m. FAR WEST Boise St. (8-4) vs. UNLV (10-2), Mountain West Championship at Boise, Idaho, 7 p.m. Saturday’s games

SOUTH Jackson St. (9-2) vs. Prairie View (9-3), SWAC Championship at Jackson, Miss., 1 p.m. Alabama (10-2) vs. Georgia (11-1), SEC Championship at Atlanta, 3 p.m. Virginia (10-2) vs. Duke (7-5), ACC Championship at Charlotte, N.C., 7 p.m. MIDWEST W. Michigan (8-4) vs. Miami (Ohio) (7-5), MAC Championship at Detroit, 11 a.m. Ohio St. (12-0) vs. Indiana (12-0), Big Ten Championship at Indianapolis, 7 p.m. SOUTHWEST Texas Tech (11-1) vs. BYU (11-1), Big 12 Championship at Arlington, Texas, 11 a.m. FCS Playoff Glance

Borregales 28, :00 Fourth Quarter

(Slayton

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

South Plaquemines coach Lyle Fitte celebrates after the team defeated Haynesville in the Division IV nonselect state championship game last season at the Caesars Superdome. South Plaquemines won 20-7.

Better together

TWOCHEFS REUNITE FORA SEDUCTIVE, NEW MARIGNYRESTAURANT

BY IAN McNULTY Staff writer

Evviva is like the restaurant you visitedinItaly,the neighborhood spot that speaks softlyand that youcouldn’t stop talking about afterward. It’sthe one withthe menu that reads simply,overdeliversinfresh and vivid flavors, and changes constantly with the marketand the catch of theday.You swore that after that yourtrip you’d keep eatinglikethis backhome, and now you can againatEvviva.

The restaurant opened last spring in theMarigny address that hadbeen theFranklin for morethan 10 years.

The space is darkly stylish andsexy, with afew nooks for larger tables and acollection of contemporary art. Abig Lshapedbar is the centerpiece, and it’sa great eating bar too. Behind it, glasscolumns of golden bubble patterns rise like fizztothe top of aglass, strongly suggesting around of prosecco or crémant, which hereare affordably accessible.

Twochefs,one style

Thefood is the result of twochefswho have fed us well in thepast Rebecca Wilcomb and MarcusJacobs. They once cooked together at Herbsaint and are back together at this newrestaurant, runbyHeather Lolleyand Humberto Suazo (who also have Galaxie Tacos nearby). At Evviva, thetwo chefs are like flipsides of each other’scoin,with

BYIAN McNULTY Staff writer

different styles that make aconsistentwhole. Youmightpickup aflickerofJacobs’ oldrestaurant Marjie’sGrill in the fireroasted meats, andthere’s no missing Wilcomb’slove of rustic Italian cooking throughout.

Happyhoureating

Happy hour shows the approach in miniature. The happy hour food is notsimply snacks for the early shift drinkers; it is playground foringredients the chefs are excited about but might not have in enough abundance forthe mainmenu.

Most recently, that meant abatch of soft-shellshrimp (not crab, but shrimp), abit of dockside exoticathatI’vealways heard you need afisherman hookup to find. Apparently that’saseasy as going to the CrescentCity Farmers Market and asking at the Anna Marie Shrimp van. So there’syour hookup. When fried,the shellbecomes abrittle layer of crunch, accentuated in this version by some Calabrian chili butter andwisps of ginger

On earliervisits, happy hour hadporgy brandade,awhipof salty fish and potato under a

ä See EVVIVA, page 2D

Grilled shrimp, anchovy toast, endiveand radicchiosalad and roasted mussels fill atable at EvvivainNew Orleans

Theglowing bar is a centerpiece of the dining room at Evviva.

The Saunterer is acocktailwith Scotch,Lillet androsemary

ABOVE: Chefs Rebecca Wilcomb,right, and Marcus Jacobs together runthe kitchen at Evvivarestaurant.

Amartini is partofthe happy hour offerings at Evviva.

STAFFPHOTOSByCHRIS GRANGER

STAFF

Dear Heloise: Ihave ahint for reusing Christmas cards. When my children were young, we would take the Christmas cardsthat we had received, and they would cut out circles using awidemouthed canning ring. Then we would put them on clear contact paper and cut them to the size of aplace mat (overlapping them so that there was no space showing).Then we put on another layer of contact paper We could enjoy the beautiful cards every time we used them. We did the samething withbirthday

ing how manywehave used in our over 50 years of marriage! Keepupthe great work. —LoisP., in Michigan’sUpperPeninsula Arrive alive

Dear Heloise: Iwanted to write in about drivers’ attitudes and distractions. I wasdriving on I-95 when abig pickup truck passed me. As soon as his rear bumper cleared my front bumper,hestarted pulling in, completely forgetting that he had a20-foot flatbed trailer closely following him.I wassuddenly driving at 70 mphonthe on their cellphones, reading the newspaper,and turning around to talk to someone in the back seat. Iknow that along drive can be exhausting at times, but if it’sboring, stop somewhere foracup of coffee, or pull over and get out of the car.Walk around if there’senough room somewhere before starting to drive again. —Heloise Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

n Wine Time!

The Emeril Lagasse Foundation presented its annual Carnivale du Vin, abenefitfor the foundation and its works, at the Four Seasons Hotel. Words from Emeril and his wife, Alden, stated that the foundation provides opportunities for youths across the nation, havinginvested over $22 million in them “to support culinary,nutrition and arts programs.” Brian Kish presides overthe 16-person foundation.

At 5p.m., the program was opened by the extensivesilent auction and gala reception featuring Perrier-Jouët Champagne, cocktails by Pernod Ricard, and cuisine by guest chefs MegBickford,AnaCastro,Ashley Christensen, Kristen Kish, Gail Simmons and Emilie VanDyke, who worked with studentsfrom Café Reconcile, Café Hope, NOCCA, and LRAEF/ProStart to prepare the specialty dishes. Recognition also tapped four vintners.

This year’stheme, “Women Leading Food &Wine,” celebrated theremarkable women shaping the world of food and wine, and inspired thelook of thelevity Credit and kudos hailed Lori Reed of Reed Creative, Kellie Mathas Events &Design, Flowers by John Kent,Element, and FancyFaces. Their collective vision provided vibrant color palettes, dynamic textures, and statement-making visual elements. Trixie Minx Productions welcomed guests with models in butterfly-themed costumes. Adding more vibrancy,musical and otherwise, were the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) Drumline& Dance Team; Golden Eagle Mardi Gras Indian Tribe, and The Soul Rebels, whose spirited entertainment at 10 p.m. capped the program.

For the main event,guests were invited to be seated at approximately 7:15 p.m.with Melissa Sawyer (YEP executive director) as the emcee.

Under the leadership of NOCCA’s chef Dana Tuohy,studentscollaborated with chefs David Slater,Dario Montelvere and Aleksandre Nadirashvili to develop theKrewe du Vindinner menu. They also studied wine pairing with Aaron Benjamin of The Emeril Group. Pickled Gulf shrimp and mirliton, salmon, short rib, cheeses, and Piety &Desire chocolate bonbons pleased the palate. The wines came from women-ledorwomenpowered wineries.

Always ahighlight, the auction then commenced, along with words from host Emeril DawnMarie Kotsonis ignited the action and foundation boardvice chair Mark C. Romig was the auction reader. Twenty-one live auction items enticed the comely crowd with art, jewelry,trips,tastings anddeluxe packages. Onewas lotnumber four,“ATaste of History,” which included aNapa Valley, California, stay;French Laundry restaurant dinner;and wine tastings of two 1973 vintages featured in the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris, when California wines beat out the Gallic ones in acompetition. Next was the Paddle Raise. The goal of $1 million was exceeded through donor support.

The who’swho was extensive and included ahost of notables who came in from other parts of thecountry for theoccasion. Closer to home were

Jones Walker Managing Partner andEmeril Lagasse Foundation Board Member Bill Hines with wife Mary,Mayor-elect Helena Moreno with husband Chris Meeks, Ochsner Health President and CEO Pete November and Stephanie,Pan-American Life Insurance Group Board Chairman andCEO Jose Suquet andIleana IMTT Chairman and CEO Carlin Conner and Karen,David Briggs withMark Romig, Garyand Martha Solomon, GarySolomon Jr.and Seth Bloom, Andrew andKaitlyn Yeates, Maria and Andy Wisdom,Shelley Massengale,Aaron Sanchez (Impact Fund), Price and Ali Cushing Butcher, Gail Simmons, andfrom the Lagasse family,Emeril and Alden and their children, Meril and E.J They were regaled with complimentsconcerning recent Michelin starsfor Emeril’s(two stars andhailing E.J. as the chef) and American South 2025 Recommended recognitionfor 34 Restaurant &Bar With theLagasse largesse and the proceeds from the foundation’sCarnivale du Vin, the marqueed opportunities, “Inspire, Mentor &Enable,” will grant funding to ahost of young people. And, no doubt, future culinary cynosures.

n Designing Women

ThePreservation Resource Center held its recent Design Luncheon, asold-out event!, at the Audubon TeaRoom and featured acclaimed interior designer Caroline Gidiere. After theluncheon of salad,pan-seared drum, and crème brûlée, she discussed her work and her first book “InteriorsFor ALife In Good Taste.”

Nell Nolan SOCIETY

Contact: nnolan@theadvocate.com

PHOTOSByJEFFSTROUT

SOCIAL CLIPS

n Ready for Close-Ups

“For the Love of Film,” was the enticement extendedbythe New OrleansFilm Society forits gala chaired by Stephen Rehage,produced by Nicki Gilbert and held at theCivic Theatre. Society interim executive director Dodd Loomis described thecelebration as “not only atributetogreat cinema (but also as) an investment in thefuture of Southern storytelling.” Describing film as perhaps themost important art form on earth, Loomis credited the role of thesociety in educating and empowering the next generation of voices. Old Hollywood glamourpermeated the premises, thanks to the black, gold and cinematic red palette; film-reel lighting projections on the historic theater; abranded red carpet step-and-repeat that welcomed guests; and interior tables with luxurious linens and floral arrangements by pameladennis (Pamela Georges). All décor was generously provided by Element. Film friends first assembled forthe patron cocktail hour and red carpet experience presented by Liberty Bank. Then it wasinto the confines of the theater and seating at tables fordinner Ahigh-profile trio of host Judith Owen,board president LauraAshley and Dodd Loomis engaged the cinematic crowd. All relisheda soulful performanceby Nathaniel Rateliff thatwas presented by Positive Vibrations and brought guests to their feet; the presentation of the Lumière Award to DarcyMcKinnon,acclaimed NewOrleansproducer and Southern storytelling advocate; the presentation of the LifetimeAchievement Award: Music in Film to Lucinda Williams,singer, songwriter,storyteller; and alive auction of must-haves hosted by Mark Romig, including the “VIP experience at the Bahamas International Film Festival.” Topbidders were Larry Dorfman from Atlanta, Lonnie Cooper from Austin, Rob Steinberg from Los Angeles, and our town’s James Douglas Hislop,who copped the Bahamas trek.

Food and beverage acknowledged AltimaCaviar,Buffalo Trace Distillery,and 10 contributing restaurants, whose dishes showcased the Crescent City’srich culinary heritage. Within the social cast of hundreds were Jason Aidoo,Alden McDonald, Monique Pyle,Alexa Georges and JerryArmatis, Lucinda Williams,Ann MengeLoomis (Dodd’s mom), Harry Shearer with star Judith Owen, Taylor McFadden with Nathaniel Rateliff, James Michalopoulos,Ayeshaand AaronMotwani, Frederick “Wood”Delahoussaye, Jason Waguespack,JessieHaynes,and others, whoare motivated by movies.

Teamed to co-chair the event, for which Jones Walker and Kid Gloves served as Presenting Sponsors, were Odom Heebe Jr., Maryand BillHines and daughter MaryWyatt Milano, Denise and Paul Morse,Anne andEdmund Redd,and sisters E. Lee JahnckeMead and Carter JahnckePerrilliat.A Champagnereception took place on the eve of the luncheon in the Garden District homeof Sally and John Simkiss. For the luncheon’stable decor,pameladennis did the center floral arrangement,while the PRC’s Leah Tubbs created individual centerpieces of greensand purple flowers. At 12:15 p.m.,PRC executive director

introduced the guest speaker,Caroline Gidiere.

Relishingall the midday excitement were Amanda Berger,Mrs. RobertH.Boh

Hymel, Margaret Jones and David Isganitis, Donna KayBerger,Susan Johnson, HoltKolb,Suzieand

Kristin Gisleson Palmer approached the lectern, welcomed everyone and

(Katherine Boh), Patricia Brinson, Hattie Collins, PennyFrancis, Mirell Gallo, Erin

Pierre Villere,Alma Dunlap,Alma Pettit, Harriet Nelson,sisters Ruthie Frierson and Jackie Derks, Diane Huber,Julie McCollam,MuffinBalart,Anita Hymel, Nancy Rathborne, Libby Hoefer,Beverly Katz,Anne Goliwas, ReginaMolony,Ann Fuselier, JennyVorhoff andscores more who madebeelines for the book.

Mark Romig,Lisa Ramsay, GeorgeBrannon

E.J.Lagasse, Emeril Lagasse

Aaron Sanchez, Alden Lagasse, Meril Lagasse, Gary Solomon Jr

WendyWeigand,Brian Kish, Meredith Griffin

Dodd Loomis, AlexaGeorges, DarcyMcKinnon

Greg Lucas, Sabrina Clark, C.C. Adcock

Bill Goldring,Melissa Townsend

Stephen Rehage, Anna Siradze, Laura Ashley, Nathaniel Rateliff

E. Lee Mead, Carter Perrilliat

Denise and Paul Morse, Jennifer Lauscha

KristinPalmer,Anne Redd, Caroline Gidiere, OdomHeebe

MaryHines, MaryWyatt Milano

Youcan find full menus and holiday service schedulesat neworleans.com.

Turducken, tradition

At any point through the year, Imight field thequestion of where to get turducken.The answer is abutcher shop for preparation at home —unless it’sRéveillon, when this medieval oddity sometimes turns up at the table.

This year,the turducken trail leads to Gabrielle (four courses, $65), whereit’s served along with daube glacé,the jellied Creole beef dish spread, and rabbit with smothered purple hull peas, evoking this restaurant’s ties to rustic Louisiana cooking. If some old restaurants go more contemporary,some modern restaurants go more traditional for Réveillon. Gris-Gris, for instance, is giving abig ole hug to the holiday motif (four courses, $85) with an entire platter of baked ham, green bean casserole, dirty rice and gravy …and that’safter the gumbo and the baked macaroni pie. Gris-Gris has anumber of holiday cocktails this season too.

Italian fish feasts

Avo’sRéveillon menu (four courses, $77) is amore condensed read on the feast of thesevenfishes, aholiday tradition in some Italian families. This one has seven types of seafood embedded in three dishes,plus adessert (thankfullyseafoodfree).

While it’snot pitched this way,Pascal’sManale is serving an all-seafood menu that could be a“feast of four fishes.”

The historic Creole-Italian restaurant, now run by Dickie Brennan &Co., is showing more of its progressive revamp, including this gently modernized holiday menu (four courses, $65) with salmon crostini, oyster dressing cannelloni and shrimp and crabgnocchi. I recommend doubling down on the bivavles at the standup oyster bar Along these lines, Domenica has a“feast of three fishes” on its all-seafood Réveillon menu (four courses, $70). If you think of Domenica mainly for salumi and pizza, this could be afuller picture, and it’sright by the glitter-

ing, Sazerac-soaked holiday wonderland lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel.

Bringa bear

The city’sold linehistoric restaurants are custom cut forthe nostalgia of the season,while Réveillon brings different dishes from their FrenchCreole set pieces. That goes for thelobster thermidor among the choices at Antoine’s(four courses, $72), and theshortribswith truffledgritsatGalatorie’s (four courses, $58) Arnaud’sdelves intoits own culinary traditions for Réveillon (fourcourses, $70) andfoldsinanewer holiday tradition —its annual Teddy Bear Drive, in partnership with theNew OrleansPolice &JusticeFoundation.

The program collectsnew teddy bears, which are donated to the police department for officers to give to children in the course of their work. Bring anew bear along when you dine for Réveillon or visit its French 75 barfor cocktails. The drivecontinues through Dec. 31.

Goingbig,$100and up

SomeRéveillon are lavish, and thisyear more restaurants are really swinging for the fences.

At the topisRestaurant August, whereRéveillon is a$200 dinner over seven courses, plus somelagniappe dishes, for ameal that includes afruits de mer with four chilled dishes all on its own, acaviar course and bothseafood and meat courses before gettingtothe desserts(plural) In the same category count Commander’sPalace, which always putson

ashowfor Réveillonand thisyearhas five courses at $135,withoysters,a fivehour egg, marrow and escargot,sweetbreads and portsoaked sponge cake.

Others in theC-notemenu club thisyear include Saint John (four courses, $110), Seawitch(four courses, $100, or $145 with wine pairing), MBistro(fivecourses, $115) in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel andMissRiver (five courses, $125) in the Four Seasons, where the hotel’s Chandelier Bar is also on the Réveillon map for holiday cocktails.

Holidaycocktailcrawls

In addition to Réveillon menus, acollection of restaurants andbars takepart in amore casual cocktailoffshoot. Theserun thegamut from acclaimed cocktail destinations Cure and Revel Café andBar to theneighborhood barroom Rendezvous Tavern andthe Frenchmen Street music club d.b.a. In theFrench Quarter,for instance, youcan romp from the White Christmas martini at Mr.B’s Bistro (part of alargerholiday cocktail menu) to Cane &Table across the neighborhood for theGilded Dream (a take on aPaper Plane) with stops in between for aflame-licked Trial by Fire at High Grace or atraditional eggnogdaiquiri at Manolito,part of this hidden gem’s winter cocktail program That is enough for more than one crawl, perhaps, but theholiday calendaropens many invitations for outings.

Email Ian McNulty at imcnulty@theadvocate. com.

By The Associated Press

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 3, the 337th day of 2025. There are 28 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Dec. 3, 1984, acloud of methyl isocyanate gas escaped from apesticide plant operated by aUnion Carbide subsidiary in Bhopal, India, causing an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 deaths and more than 500,000 injuries.

Also on this date: In 1947, theTennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire” opened on Broadway

In 1967, asurgical team in Cape Town, SouthAfrica, led by Dr Christiaan Barnard, performed the first human heart transplant on Louis Washkansky,who lived 18 days with the donated organ from a25-year-old woman who had died in a

traffic accident. In 1979, 11 people were killed in acrush of fans at Cincinnati’sRiverfront Coliseum,where the British rock group The Who wasperforming.

In 1989, U.S. President George H.W.Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev concluded two days of positive bilateral discussions in Malta in a symbolic end to the Cold War.

In 1991, American hostage Alann Steen was freed by Shiite Muslim extremists in Lebanon. Steen was kidnapped from Beirut University College in January 1987. (He died in 2018.)

In 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the armed services to open all military jobs to women, removing the final barriers that had kept women from serving in combat. In 2024, South Korean

The Times-Picayune will publish storiesabout Carnival season balls, typically on the day after the event, in the newspaper and online at nola.com.The upcoming Carnival season runs through Mardi Gras, Feb.17, 2026 Email us at the address below:the name of the krewe,the dateand location of the ball, and the best contactand cell phone for information on the organization as soon as possible. Forquestions or additional information, emailVictor Andrews at neworleanscarnival@ theadvocate.comorcall (504) 262-9525.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Selfimprovement projects will be uplifting. Consider how you want to present yourself to others and what new look will boost your confidence and help you achieve it.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Push forward. Reaching out to a cause that concerns you will open doors and promote opportunities to connect with those who can help you achieve your longterm goals.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Be honest with yourself and others. Don't hide from reality when it's necessary to face facts to rectify problems. Set high standards and do your utmost to live up to them.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Put everything in place before you begin. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and don't hesitate to call in an expert when necessary. You'll achieve your desired results if you are conscientious.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Tally up what you owe and make a point to pay down debt. Lifestyle changes that promote good health, positive relationships and enriching experiences are favored.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) You may crave change, but first put a solid plan in place to ensure you aren't wasting time or money. Do your due diligence, and you'll put your mind at ease and feel confident following through with your plans.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Distance yourself from people trying to pressure you into something you don't want to do. Communication is your best route forward if you want to get things done.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Engage in conversations, interviews, networking and getting your word out there. Life is about doing, enjoying and rewarding yourself for doing things your way.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) What you learn and engageintodaywillhelpyoureachyour chosen destination. Nurture meaningful relationships using communication, kind gestures and compromise.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Money, contracts and getting what you want in writing are essential. Impatience, neglect or letting your emotions lead you astray will be costly.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Keep doing the work until you discover the right balance mentally, physically and financially. Timing is crucial, along with experience and showmanship.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Go ahead and show off, but first make sure you know what you're doing. Use a unique approach, and rewards for your creative input will be yours.

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

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

toDAy's cLuE: s EQuALs B

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

peAnUtS

zItS

FrAnK And erneSt

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon

bIG nAte

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers1 to 9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s PuzzleAnswer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

Nathan Myhrvold is amultitalented person. He used to be the chief technologyofficeratMicrosoft,isco-founderof Intellectual Ventures,and is the principalauthorof“ModernistCuisine.”When discussingplanning ahead, he said,“Fail to meet your responsibilities at work, and you get fired. Ignore your car’s gas gauge, and you get stranded.”

If you don’t watch your entries, you mayget stranded —asthe original declarer did in this deal. South was in fourhearts. West led the diamond ace: five, nine, three. Next, West cashed the diamondking:eight,six,jack.Then,West continuedwiththediamondqueen.What shoulddeclarer have done now?

Southseems to havenumerous winners: one spade, six hearts and six clubs. What couldpossibly go wrong?

DespitehavingseenEastplayhigh-low to show adoubleton, declarer ruffed the third diamond on the board. East overruffed and accurately shifted to the spade queen. Southwon withdummy’s ace, but suddenly realized that he was stranded on the board. He couldnot get back to his hand to draw trumps without conceding aspade trick, whichwould have been his fourth loser. Even playing on clubs could nothavehelped, unless East had started with all six missing heartsand at leastthree clubs

Too late, declarer realized that he shouldhave discarded from the dummy attrickthree.EvenifWesthadswitched to aspade, South couldhave wononthe board, drawntrumps, and runthe clubs Have you ever runout of gas?Have you ever run out of entries? If so, you have lots of company, including me.

©2025 by nEa,inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

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

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed toDAy’s WoRD unsEEInG: un-SEE-ing: Failing to observe something.

Average mark 17 words

Timelimit 40 minutes

Can you find 30 or more words in UNSEEING?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —cHRonIc

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

GramS Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

ken ken

InstructIons: 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 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. HErE is a

WiShinG Well

Scrabble

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe

DuStin

luann

Anyone

168964-12/3-4-5-3t $97.00

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of Joeylynn G. McCarthy,contact KarliCarpenter,Atty (225) 513-8100. 169008-Dec3-5,3t $73 Anyone with knowledgeofthe whereaboutsofDuvalle Rene Minor, please contactAtty.A.J.Bellowat 504-544-4055. 168818-Dec2-4,3t $85

ManhattanLiquorStore LLC, is applying to the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Controlofthe

Note:

and Curran Boule‐vard.According to asurvey made by ErrolE Kelly,Surveyor, datedJuly31, 1965, acopyof which is an‐nexedtoanact passedbefore Robert J. Oster, Notary Public, on October8,1965, registered in COB673, folio3

TheN.O.Advo‐

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 7718 MERCIERST, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTERENTI‐TLED: AP DIRECT LLCVERSUS GREGORY LAWRENCE HARVEY C. LAWRENCE,JR., JEFFREY B. LAWRENCE, STATEOF LOUISIANAAND STATEOF LOUISIANA, DI‐VISIONOFAD‐MINISTRATION, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-1573

By virtue of a CourtOrder di‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trict of theCity on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐ertytowit:

Allinaccor‐dancewith a survey certified correctbyDad‐ing, Marques& Associates,Inc., dated 2291, acopyof which is an‐nexedtoanact passedbefore KatherineL Richardson, No‐tary Public,dated 24 91, filed2 13 91 in MIN123571; except that he commencement distance should read 119 .11' (Title)and 119.11.0( Ac‐tual)fromthe corner of Mercier(late Mokoma) Street andCur‐ranBoulevard

Allasmorefully shownona re‐certified copy of survey by Dad‐ing, Marques& Associates,Inc:, 12492

Thebuilding andimprove‐mentsthereon bear theMunici‐palNo. 7718 MercierStreet, New Orleans, Louisiana70128

(the "Property') free from allin‐terests, claims andencum‐branceswhich maybeas‐serted by DefendantHar‐veyC Lawrence,Jr.

AppointedNo‐tary Public Keith Doley

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- 100% CASH AT THE MOMENTOFAD‐JUDICATION

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: ACERTAIN LOT OF GROUND,to‐gether with all of thebuildings and improve‐mentsthereon andall of the rights., ways, privileges servitudes,ap‐purtenances andadvantages thereunto belongingorin anywiseapper‐taining,situated in theFIFTH DIS‐TRICT of the City of New Orleans, in Square No.210, bounded by Lamarque, Belleville, DeAr‐mas andElmira Streets, andaccording to asketchof survey made by GuyJ.Seghers datedMay 16, 1938,a blue print whereof is an‐nexed to an act passedbefore NirmaKeenan, Notary Public datedOctober 14, 1938,saidlot being desig‐nated as Lot"C" commences at a distance of 88 feet from the corner of Elmira and Lamarque Streetsand measures 30 feet fronton Lamarque Street,by a depth between equal andparallel linesof64feet Sinchesand 2 lines, with a width in the rear of 30 feet

Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear Municipal No. 82628 Lamarque Street

for the Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 5315

TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2022-1876

LAFAYE STREET, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTER ENTI‐TLED:ADMINIS‐TRATOR,U.S SMALLBUSI‐NESS ADMINIS‐TRATION, AN AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOV‐ERNMENTVER‐SUSOSCAR AR‐MANDOREYES, A/K/AOSCAR A. REYESA/K/A OSCARREYES AND CHAUNCEY DESMOND PACKER A/K/A CHAUNCEY D. PACKER A/K/A CHAUNCEY PACKER

GH TREVATHAN LAWFIRM, APLC 225 334 9222 ALLISON BEASLEY

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $132

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2023-5050

TWOCERTAIN LOTS OF GROUND,to‐getherwithall thebuildings andimprove‐ments thereon, andall the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes,ap‐purtenances andadvantages thereunto belongingorin anywiseapper‐taining,situated in theTHIRD DISTRICT of the City of New Orleans, Parish of Orleans, Stateof Louisiana, in SQUARE NO.69, of EDGELAKE SUBDIVISION, bounded by CURRAN BOULE‐VARD, MERCIER (lateMokoma), WALESand MARQUIS STREETSand whichlotsare designated as LOTNOS.7 & 8 on asurvey made by Gandolfo,Kuhn andWalker, Sur‐veyors, dated October15, 1964, andac‐cording ,thereto said lots measure each 25 feet (50 feet total) front on Mercier(late Mokoma) Street,the same width in therear, by a depth between equaland paral‐lellines of 120 feet.Lot No.7 lies closer to and commences at a distance of 119.11 feet from thecoinerof Mercier(late Mokoma)Street and

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans BD 6 BREAZEALE, SACHSE &WIL‐SON, L.L.P. 504 6805244 WESLEY M. PLAISSANCE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025& 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $160

PUBLICNOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 826 28 LAMARQUEST, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTERENTI‐TLED:APDIRECT LLCVERSUS SOLIDARITY EN‐TERPRISE LLC, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ANDU.S.SMALL BUSINESS AD‐MINISTRATION

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-1623

AppointedNo‐taryPublic –Rachel Silvers Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS-100% CASH AT THE MOMENT OF AD‐JUDICATION Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans BD 5 BREAZEALE, SACHSE &WIL‐SON,LLP 504584 5471 WESLEYPLAI‐SANCE

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $118

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐ING MUNICIPAL NUMBER 815 17 HOMERSTREET, THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:APDI‐RECT LLCVER‐SUSFLOYD L. REEVES,ALMO‐NIA CLARKAND REPUBLIC FINANCELLC

THAT PORTION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon, and alltherights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances andad‐vantages there‐untobelonging or in anywise appertaining situated in the Parish of Or‐leans, Stateof Louisiana, in the Fifth District of the City of NewOr‐leans, desig‐natedasLot 24 AofSquareNo. 159 (SquareNo. 150 by title) accord‐ingtoa survey by Gilbert, Kelly &Couturie, Sur‐veyors,dated October18, 1969. Square 159 is bounded by Homer, Belleville, New‐tonand Elmira Streets, andLot 24 A commences at a distance of 110 feet from the corner of Homer andBelleville Streetsand measures thence 40 feet frontonHomer Street with a width in the rear of 30 feet by adepth on thesideline nearer Elmira Street of 128 feet,10inches and5 lines (128’10’’5’’’) with a first depth on the opposite side line of 96 feet,7 inches and4 lines(96’7"4'’’) title, 96 feet,7 inches and5 lines (96'7"5'") ac‐tual;thence10 feet parallel to HomerStreet runningtoward Elmira Street anda fur‐ther depth to therearlineof 32 feet,3 inches and0 lines (32'3"0’’’).Lot 24 Ais composed of all of original Lot 24 andthe rear 10 feet of origi‐nalLots1,2 and 3.

Improvements bear Municipal Nos. 815 17 HomerStreet

AppointedNo‐tary KeithA Doley

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- 100% CASH AT THE MOMENT OF AD‐JUDICATION

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

BD 4 BREAZEALE, SACHSE &WIL‐SON, L.L.P. 504 680 5244

WESLEY M. PLAISANCE

TheN.O.Advo‐

cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orable Judges of CivilDistrict Courtfor the Parish of Or‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: ACERTAIN LOT OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLTHE BUILD‐INGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALLOFTHE RIGHTS,WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES ANDADVAN‐TAGESTHERE‐UNTO BELONG‐INGORINANY‐WISE APPERTAINING, SITUATED IN THETHIRD DIS‐TRICTOFTHIS CITY,INSQUARE 4066, BOUNDEDBAC‐CICH (LATERAB‐BITS), MITHRA FILMORE(LATE ST.JAMES), AND LAFAYE (LATE DEER) STREETS, ANDWHICH SAID LOTOF GROUND IN AC‐CORDANCE WITH APLANOF SURVEY MADE BY J.J. KREBS, C.E. &S., DATED MARCH18, 1942, IS DISIGNATED AS LOT“M”,AND COMMENCING AT ADISTANCE OF ONEHUN‐DRED AND FIFTEENFEET, TENINCHES, TWOLINES (115’10”2”’) FROM THECOR‐NEROFLAFAYE (LATEDEERS) STREET AND MITHRA STREET MEASURES THENCE THIRTY (30”)FEET FRONTON LAFAYE (DEERS) STREET,THE SAME WIDTHIN THEREAR, BY A DEPTH BETWEEN EQUALAND PARALLEL LINES OF ONEHUN‐DRED TWENTY (120’)FEET.SAID LOTOFGROUND BEINGCOM‐POSEDOF WHOLEAND ORIGINAL LOT 8 ANDFIVE(5”0 FEET OF ORIGI‐NALLOT 9. WRIT AMOUNT: $135,004.60

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 5462 TULLIS DRIVE, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTERENTI‐TLED:COMPULINKCORPORA‐TION,DBA CELINKVERSUS JOEL M. SHALLERHORN CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-7076

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8, 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 5462 TULLIS DR NEWORLEANS LA 70131 LOT: 97 SQUARE:202 FIFTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, ACQMIN: 938010 WRIT AMOUNT: $134,700.40

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 11 JACKSON& MCPHERSON, L.L.C. KATE A. SOTO‐LONGO

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026 DEC3-JAN 7-2T

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orableJudgesof CivilDistrict Courtfor the Parish of Or‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 6045 PINES BOULEVARD LOT16, SQUARE 4, THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, PINESVILLAGE SUBDIVISION ACQUIRED MIN 1383896 WRIT AMOUNT: $17,915.00

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

BD 2 CITY OF NEW ORLEANS(504) 658-4346 ANNA T. LEE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026

DEC3-JAN 7-2T

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND,BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NO.6801 MAYO ROAD,CITYOF NEWORLEANS, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:CITY OF NEWOR‐LEANSVERSUS SIDNEY PAYNE, JR. ANDLOVE‐TOUCH MINISTRIES,INC CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2019-7912

TERMS CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

BD 4

THECITYOF NEWORLEANS (504) 658-4346

LATEEFAH HAR‐RIS

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026

DEC3-JAN 7-2T

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 7020 CONVENTRYST, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUSTCOM‐PANY,NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FKATHE BANK OF NEWYORK TRUSTCOM‐PANY,N.A.AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,AS TRUSTEEFOR RESIDENTIAL ASSETMORT‐GAGE PROD‐UCTS,INC., MORTGAGE ASSET-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-RP1 VERSUS LU‐MENA TRUFANT SANDERS, (A/K/A LUMENA TRUFANT, LU‐MENA GREEN, LUMENA SCOTT, LUMENA T. SCOTT, LUMENA TRUFANTSCOTT, LUMENA SANDERS)

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2022-3386 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8, 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 7020 COVENTRY ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70126 LOT13- SQUARE 17 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 699930 WRIT AMOUNT: $149,402.57

ARE REQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 15 LOGS LEGAL GROUPLLP 504838-7535 EMILYA MUELLER

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026

DEC3-JAN 7-2T

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2201 DELERY ST,THIS CITY,INTHE MATTERENTI‐TLED:CITYOF NEWORLEANS VERSUS THE LOFT (A/K/A THELOFTINC.) ANDSANDRAP MARTIN CI

AN S Case No: 2023-10235

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orable Judges of CivilDistrict Courtfor the Parish of Or‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2201 DELERY ST NEWORLEANS, LA 70117 LOT9 -SQUARE 1 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1382643 WRIT AMOUNT: $1,710.00

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

By virtue of a CourtOrder di‐rected to me by the Honorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, h d

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-1484

By virtue of a CourtOrder di‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil DistrictCourt forthe Parish of

oct29-dec3-2t $129

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN O O O

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check,Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND,BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NO.6045 PINES BOULEVARD, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:CITYOF NEWORLEANS VERSUS THE SUCCESSION OF MARY SUE ALEXANDER MARINO AND JOHN MARINO, JR

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orable Judges of CivilDistrict Courtfor the Parish of Or‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8, 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 6801 MAYO ROAD LOT28-A, SQUARE 1, THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, PARC BRITTANY SUBDIVISION ACQUIRED MIN 1249615 WRIT AMOUNT: $40,231.46

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED

RB 5 CITY OF NEW ORLEANS504658-4346 ANNA T. LEE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026 DEC3-JAN 7-2T

Case No: 2023-13437

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the above entitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground

floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City onJanuary 8, 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

1329-1335-1335 1/2BEHRMAN AV NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70114 LOTS 20, 21 &22 -SQUARE14

FIFTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1426927 NATIONAL TER‐RACE SUBDIVI‐SION WRIT AMOUNT:

$78,402.36

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment ofadjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 27 TITLEMANAGE‐MENT GROUP INC504-834-2977 MICHAELD TROENDLE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026

DEC3-JAN 7-2T

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1819 DELSONDE STREET,THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:FIRST HORIZONBANK VERSUS TINEKA SANDRELL WEST (A/K/A TINEKA S. WEST, TINEKA WEST)

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-2006 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the

at the moment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

BD 18 LOGS LEGAL GROUPLLP 504838-7535 EMILYE.HOLLEY

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026

DEC3-JAN 7-2T

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIO OF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2122-22 1/2SECOND STREET,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:MID‐FIRSTBANK VERSUS MONTY WADE ANDER‐SON

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-5424

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floorofthe Civil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8, 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2122-22 1/2SEC‐ONDSTNEW ORLEANS, LA 70113 SQUARE 302, LOT17 FOURTH MUNIC‐IPAL DISTRICT ACQ MIN:1429968 WRIT AMOUNT: $166,516.95

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 16 LOGS LEGAL GROUPLLP 504838-7535 EMILYA MUELLER

PORTION OF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 8234 BELFAST STREET,THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:WILM‐INGTON SAV‐INGS FUND SO‐CIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEEOFDIS‐COVERY MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST VERSUS BRENDA HAYESHAY‐WOOD,INHER CAPACITY AS ADMINISTRA‐TRIX OF THESUCCES‐SION OF CATHERINE WOODSIDE HAYESA/K/A CATHERINE WOODSIDE HAYESA/K/A CATHERINE W. HAYESA/K/A CATHERINE HAYES

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-2729

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trict of theCity on January8, 2026,at12:00 o'clock noon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 8234 BELFASTST NEWORLEANS, LA 70118

LOT: B, SQUARE 379 SEVENTHMU‐NICIPALDIS‐TRICT ACQMIN: 927213 WRIT AMOUNT: $58,985.10

Seized in the above suit TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser at themoment ofadjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 13 LAWOFFICESOF HERSCHEL C. ADCOCK,JR. LLC (225) 756-0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026 DEC3-JAN 7-2T

PUBLIC NOTICE

KAY CHARLOT PITTMAN, ALLENJOSEPH COLLINS,HOWAR CHRISTOPHER COLLINS, 4K'S PROPERTIES & CONSTRUCTION, LLC, ANDNOIR INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-1159

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8, 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

ACERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLTHE BUILD‐INGS AN IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALLTHE RIGHTS, WAYS,PRIVI‐LEGES, SERVI‐TUDES, APPURTE‐NANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTO BE‐LONGINGORIN ANYWISE APPERTAINING SITUATED IN THETHIRD DIS‐TRICTOFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, STATEOF LOUISIANA, IN THAT PART THEREOF KNOWNAS"RE‐GENCYPARK TOWN HOMES,"RE‐GENCYPARK SUBDIVISION PHASEII, AS SHOWNONA PLAN OF BEN‐JAMIN L. CARTER DATEDMARCH 29, 1967, AND RECORDED IN C.O.B. 684, FOLIO 114, AND ALSO AS SHOWNONA PLAN OF GAN‐GOLFO, KUHN ANDASSOCI‐ATES,CERTIFIED CORRECT MAY 24, 1979, ACOPY OF WHICHISAT‐TACHED TO ACT OF RESTATE‐MENT ANDREVISION OF SERVITUDES, RESTRICTIONS ANDPRIVILEGES PASSEDBEFORE LOUISB.GRA‐HAM, N.P., DATEDMAY 29, 1979, ANDREG‐ISTEREDIN C.O.B. 763C, FOLIOS233 274, ANDACCORD‐INGTOWHICH SAID LOTISDES‐IGNATEDASLOT BLOCK4 OF THE SUBDIVISION KNOWNASRE‐GENCYPARK TOWN HOMES, ANDALSO BEARSUNITNO 5713 COUNT LANE

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 26

THELAW OF‐FICESOFHER‐SCHELC.AD‐COCK,JR.,L.L.C (225) 756 0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026 DEC3-JAN 7-2T

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 4734

SAINTBERNARD AVENUE,THIS CITY,INTHE MATTER ENTI‐TLED:NEWREZ LLCDBA SHELL‐POINTMORT‐GAGE SERVIC‐INGVERSUSES‐TATE OF MILTON BURNSAND ES‐TATE OF MARY WILLIAMS BURNSA/K/A MARY W. BURNS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-1617

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 4734 ST BERNARDAV NEWORLEANS, LA 70122 LOT: 110, SQUARE:D THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1299021 WRIT AMOUNT: $292,022.56

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

IN ITS INDIVID UAL CAPACITY,BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS TRUSTEEFOR THEBENEFIT OF THEHOLDERS OF THE CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY FLAGSTAR MORTGAGE TRUST2021-8 VERSUS GRE‐GORY JPULVER ANDREHAB WITHUSLLC CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-662

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 5519 BACCICH ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70122 LOT3 -SQUARE 4267 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 693306 WRIT AMOUNT: $252,629.93

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans RB 11 DEAN MORRIS LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $91

described prop erty to wit: 5467 ST CLAUDE AV NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70117 LOT: 2-A, SQUARE:428 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1404628 WRIT AMOUNT: $259,619.51 Seizedinthe abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 10 LUGENBUHL, WHEATON, PECK,RANKIN& HUBBARD504568-1990 COLEMANL TORRANS

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025

oct29-dec3-2t $91

TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 9 LAWOFFICESOF HERSCHEL C. ADCOCK,JR. LLC (225) 756-0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $91

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 5901 ALFRED STREET, THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:LIBERTY BANK AND TRUSTCOM‐PANY VERSUS CBAHOME BUILDERS,INC A/K/ACBS HOME BUILDERS,INC ANDLIONELJ NELSON CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-7168

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orable Judges of CivilDistrict Courtfor the Parish of Or‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 5901 ALFRED ST NEWORLEANS, LA 70122 LOT: 20, SQUARE:41 THIRD MUNICI‐PALDISTRICT WRIT AMOUNT: $450,000.00

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

FARM ACCEP TANCEVEN‐TURES, L.L.C. VERSUS REGINA LEBLANCMOR‐GANWIFE OF/AND RYAN J. MORGAN,SR. CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-5888 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by the Honorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 6710 DORIAN ST NEWORLEANS, LA 70126 LOT: 17, SQUARE:8 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1378518 WRIT AMOUNT: $9,466.17

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026 DEC3-JAN 7-2T

PUBLICNOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 5713 COUNTLN, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTER EN‐TITLED:WILM‐INGTON SAV‐INGS FUND SO‐CIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UAL CAPACITY,BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEEONBE‐HALF FORCSMC 2018 RPL12 TRUSTVERSUS RAYMOND PITTMAN, DARIN ALPHONSE COLLINS,INDI‐VIDUALLY,AND IN HISCAPACITY AS ADMINIS‐TRATOR OF THE SUCCESSION OF KAYCHARLOT

ALLASMORE FULLYSHOWN ON CURRENT SURVEY BY GANDOLFO, KUHN AND ASSOCIATES, C.E. ANDS DATEDMAY 9, 1980.

WRIT AMOUNT: $59,628.68

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 17 JACKSON& MCPHERSON, L.L.C. CRIS R. JACK‐SON

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $91

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 5467 SAINTCLAUDE AVENUE,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:B1 BANK VERSUS VITO THEGOD INVESTMENTS LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUNF BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 3026 S. SARATOGA ST, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:FED‐ERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE AS‐SOCIATIONVER‐SUSTREVOR JAMESMORRIS A/K/ATREVORJ MORRISA/K/A TREVOR MORRIS ANDJENNIFER MARIEGROSSO A/K/A JENNIFER M. GROSSO A/K/A JENNIFER GROSSO CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF O RL EA NS Case No: 2024-9671 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 3026 S SARATOGA ST NEWORLEANS, LA 70115 LOTA -SQUARE 281 FOURTH MUNIC‐IPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1380535 WRIT AMOUNT: $390,961.58

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 14 NEWMAN MATHIS BRADY &SPEDALE A PROFESSIONAL LAWCORPORA‐TION 504-8379040 WAYNEA.MAIO‐RANA,JR

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 12 NEWMAN, MATHIS,BRADY &SPEDALE 504837-9040 JOSHUA P. MATHEWS

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $91

NUMBER 1829 HENDEE ST,THIS CITY,INTHE MATTERENTI‐TLED:U.S.BANK TRUSTNA‐TIONAL ASSOCI‐ATION, NOTIN ITSINDIVIDUAL CAPACITY,BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEEFOR TREATY OAK MORTGAGE TRUSTVERSUS ELGINMATHIS CI VI L

OF OR

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 5519 BACCICH ST CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:WILM‐INGTON TRUST, NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATION, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐

S Case No: 2024-10270 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing described prop‐i

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $91

PUBLICNOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 6710 DORIAN STREET, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTER ENTI‐TLED:STATEFARM ACCEP‐

AN S Case No: 2023-10341 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 1829 HENDEE ST

1829 HENDEE ST NEWORLEANS, LA 70114

LOT30- SQUARE

60-A

FIFTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT

ACQ

MIN:1350782

TRUMANPARK NO.1 SUBDIVI‐SION WRIT AMOUNT:

$77,913.00

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty daysthereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 7 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ASHLEY E. MOR‐RIS

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s):

10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025

oct29-dec3-2t $91

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2112 BENTON STREET, THIS CITY,IN

THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:GITSIT SOLUTIONS,LLC, NOTINITS INDI‐VIDUAL CAPAC‐ITYBUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEEOFGIT‐SITMORTGAGE LOAN TRUSTBB‐PLC1 VERSUS A.C. FIELDS,SR. ANDORA LEE BROOKS FIELDS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-3561

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2112 BENTON ST NEWORLEANS, LA 70117 LOT: 23, SQUARE:1106 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1056725 WRIT AMOUNT: $408,881.36

Susan

Hutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 3 DEAN MORRIS LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025& 12/3/2025

oct29-dec3-2t $91

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1300 ALVARSTREET THIS CITY,IN THE MATTERENTI‐TLED:CAMPUS FEDERALCREDIT UNION VERSUS CHRIST TEMPLE OF NEWOR‐LEANS, INC. ANDONASSIS F. JONES

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-3105

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable JudgesofCivil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: FOUR CERTAIN LOTS OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLTHE BUILD‐INGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND RIGHTS,WAYS, SERVITUDES AP‐PURTENANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGINGORIN ANYWISEAP‐PERTAINING, SITUATED IN THETHIRD DIS‐TRICTOFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, PARISH,STATE OF LOUISIANA, SQUARE 532, BOUNDEDBY ALVAR, URQUHART, PAULINEAND N. VILLERE STREETS, DESIGNATED AS LOTS 19,20, 21 AND22ONTHE SURVEY MADE BY GILBERT, KELLY& COUTURIE,INC SURVEYING & ENGINEERING, DATEDDECEM‐BER31, 1997, ACCORDING TO WHIH LOTS 19, 20,21AND 22 ADJOIN EACH OTHERAND MEASUREAS FOLLOWS:

SURES 31 FEET FRONTON ALVARSTREET SAME WIDTHIN THEREAR, BY ADEPTH OF 118 FEET,5 INCHES, 5LINES,ON THE SIDELINEAD‐JOININGLOT 22, ANDA DEPTHOF118 FEET,5 INCHES, 7LINES ON THE SIDELINEAD‐JOININGLOT 20. LOT22FORMS THECORNEROF ALVARAND URQUHART STREETSAND MEASURES 31 FEET,2 INCHES, 6LINES,FRONT ON ALVAR STREET,SAME WIDTHINTHE REAR, BY DEPTHAND FRONTON URQUHART STREET OF 118 FEET,5 INCHES 3LINES,BYA DEPTHONTHE SIDELINEAD‐JOININGLOT 21 OF 118FEET, 5 INCHES,5 LINES. WRIT AMOUNT: $490,638.42

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 1 ALEXANDER SIDESSPAHT & MULLINS,LLC 225 7610001 STACYG.BUT‐LER

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025

oct29-dec3-2t $151

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2720-22 WISTERIA STREET,THIS CITY IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:MCLP ASSETCOM‐PANY,INC.VER‐SUSSELES FEL‐TON, JR. AND TREVAFELTON NUMA

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-3886

at the moment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 2 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYG YOUNG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $91

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1326 SAINTMAURICE AVENUE,THIS CITY,INTHE MATTER ENTI‐TLED:FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION VERSUS BRAN‐DONJAMAL DAVIS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-7489

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil DistrictCourt forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 1326 ST MAU‐RICE AV NEW ORLEANS, LA 70117 LOT: 19, SQUARE:558 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1400303 WRIT AMOUNT: $393,458.04

ADVERTISE MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2737 PARISAVENUE, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTER ENTI‐TLED:CITIBANK, N.A.,NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CA‐PACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER

TRUSTEEFOR NEWRESIDEN‐TIAL MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2024-RPL1 VER‐SUSNICOLEK

MACK LASSAIR

A/K/ANICOLEK

MACK MARTIN

LASSAIR

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-6469

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

2737 PARISAV NEWORLEANS, LA 70119 LOT: A, SQUARE: 1576 ACQMIN: 760568

THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT WRIT AMOUNT:

$139,011.98

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 18 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 CANDACEA COURTEAU

District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

THAT CERTAIN LOTORPARCEL OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLOFTHE BUILDINGS ANDIMPROVE‐MENTSHEREON, AND ALLOFTH RIGTS, AS, MEANS, OVI‐LEGES SERVTIUDES, APPURTE‐NANCES,AD‐VANTAGES AND COMPONENT PARTSTHER‐ENTO BELONGING, OR IN ANYWISEAP‐PERTAINING THERETO, LYING ANDBEING SIT‐UATED IN THEFIFTH DISTRICT,OF THECITYOF NEWORLEANS, PARISH OF OR‐LEANS, STATE OF LOUISIANA, KNOWNASAL‐GIERSRIVER‐POINTSUBDIVI‐SION,ASDELIN‐EATEDONA PLAN OF SUBDI‐VISION BY GILBER,KELLY ANDCOUTURIE, INC.,SURVEYING AND ENGINEERIN DATEDNOBEM‐BER21, 2000, APPROVED BY THECTY PLAN‐NING COMMISSIONOF THECITYOF NEWORLEANS ON JAUARY 23 2001 UNDERS/D NO 137/00, RECORDED IN CIN216766, AC‐CORDINGTO WHICHPLANIS DESIGNATED AS LOT54, SQUARE AR 3. THEIMPROVE‐MENTS THEREONBEAR THEMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2MON‐PLAISER, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70114

WRIT AMOUNT:

$4,373.24

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

P A R I S H O F OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-5743

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8, 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2000 SCLAI‐BORNEAVNEW ORLEANS, LA 70125 LOTA -SQUARE 397 4THMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1423416 WRIT AMOUNT: $294,000.00

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans RB 21 MCCABE LAW FIRM,LLC 504782-3436 RYAN M. MC‐CABE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026 DEC3-JAN 7-2T

WRIT AMOUNT: $148,973.19

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- 100% CASH AT THE MOMENT OF AD‐JUDICATION Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 20 MCCABE LAW FIRM,LLC 504782-3436 RYAN M. MC‐CABE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026 DEC3-JAN 7-2T

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 4942 MUSIC STREET, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTER ENTI‐TLED:CFIN2022RTL1 ISSUER LLC VERSUS FULL CIRCLE HOME LLC CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-8975

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8, 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 4942 MUSIC ST NEWORLEANS, LA 70122

LOTS:11AND 12, SQUARE:55 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1382448 GENTILLY TER‐RACE WRIT AMOUNT: $166,600.00

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 6019 PAULINEDRIVE, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTERENTI‐TLED:REGIONS BANK D/B/ARE‐GIONSMORT‐GAGE VERSUS JUANAPETERS PARKER (A/K/A JUANAA.PE‐TERS,JUANA A. OLIVER)

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-7699 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8, 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 6019 PAULINE DR NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70126 LOT: 18, SQUARE:6 THIRDMINICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQ MIN:1357524 PONTCHAR‐TRAINPARK SUBDIVISION, SECTIONONE WRIT AMOUNT: $360,705.54

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty daysthereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order.NoPer‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING SusanHutson

LOT19MEA‐SURES31FEET FRONTON ALVARSTREET, SAME WIDTHIN THEREAR, BY ADEPTH OF 118 FEET,6 INCHES 2LINES,ON THE SIDELINEAD‐JOININGLOT 20, ANDA DEPTHOF118

FEET,6 INCHES, 4LINES ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE‐LINE.

LOT20MEA‐SURES31FEET FRONTON ALVARSTREET, SAME WIDTHIN THEREAR, BY ADEPTH OF 118 FEET,5 INCHES 7LINES,ONTHE SIDELINEAD‐JOININGLOT 21, ANDA DEPTHOF118 FEET,6 INCHES 2LINES ON THE SIDELINEAD‐JOININGLOT 19

LOT21MEA‐SURES31FEET

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on December 4, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2720-22 WISTE‐RIASTNEW OR‐LEANS, LA 70122 LOTS:5 AND6, SQUARE:35 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 829352 WRIT AMOUNT: $82,367.32

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 19 JACKSON& MCPHERSON, L.L.C. CRIS R. JACK‐SON

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $91

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH GARRISON, YOUNT, FORTE, &MULCAHY,LLC NATHAN M. CHI‐ANTELLA

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $120

TITLED:ALGIERS

ASSOCIATION,

VERSUS LOUISW.NOAH

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 7322 MORRISON ROAD,THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:U.S BANK TRUST COMPANY, NA‐TIONAL ASSOCI‐ATION, AS TRUSTEEFOR VELOCITY COMMERCIAL CAPITALLOAN TRUST2023-1 VERSUS J. PAUL HOLDINGS LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-5740

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson

Sheriff Parish of Or‐leans GH 23 ADAMSAND REESELLP 504581-3234 SCOTTR

CHEATHAM

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 17 LOGS LEGAL GROUPLLP 504838-7535 EMILYA MUELLER

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026 DEC3-JAN 7-2T

PUBLIC NOTICE

Seized in the above suit TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 10/29/2025 & 12/3/2025 oct29-dec3-2t $91

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 7322 MORRISON RD NEWOR‐LEANS,LA70126 LOT: 7, SQUARE: B THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1411915 LAKE FOREST SUBDIVISION NO.1 WRIT AMOUNT:

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026

DEC3-JAN 7-2T

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 7860 MEANSAVENUE, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTER ENTI‐TLED:U.S.BANK TRUSTCOM‐PANY,NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEEFOR VELOCITY COMMERCIAL CAPITALLOAN TRUST2023-1 VERSUS J. PAUL HOLDINGS LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR

floor

BD 22

MCCABE LAW FIRM,LLC 504782-3436

RYAN M. MC‐CABE GH 20TheN.O Advocate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026

DEC3-JAN 7-2T O R L

2025-372

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on January8 2026, at 12:00 o'clock noon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 4719 WADAMS CT NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70128 SQUARE B, LOT 26 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQ MIN:1445571 WRIT AMOUNT: $146,384.52

Seized in the above suit TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment

to make a de positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 9 GRAHAM, ARCE‐NEAUX& ALLEN, LLC504-5228256

LOUISG.ARCE‐NEAUX

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026

DEC3-JAN 7-2T

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 3322 ROBERTSON STREET,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:U.S BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEEFOR VELOCITY COM‐MERCIAL CAPITALLOAN TRUST2019-3 VERSUS THEUN‐OPENED SUC‐CESSION OF ACHILLEP DURONSLET

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-761

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421

in the First Dis trictofthe City on January8 2026, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 3322 NROBERT‐SONSTNEW OR‐LEANS, LA 70117 LOT: 4, SQUARE: 602 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1269439 WRIT AMOUNT: $112,068.83

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

Sheriff Parish of Or‐leans GH 19 MCCABE LAW FIRM,LLC 504782-3436 RYAN M. MC‐CABE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 12/3/2025 & 1/7/2026 DEC3-JAN 7-2T

records of the Clerk of Courtfor theParishof Jefferson, Stateof Louisiana, purchased property at taxsale; WHEREAS, ICA22, L.L.C. hasappliedtothisHon‐orable Courtfor aMoni‐