Three vice presidential positions at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette have been eliminated and two others were given temporary salary cuts as the school continues to deal with a financial deficit.
Interim president also initiates temporary salary reductions
BY MEGAN WYATT and ASHLEY WHITE Staff writers
High-paying vice presidential positions were among those cut at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette this week as the school’s new interim president works to close a financial deficit he inherited.
The changes were announced Friday in an email from interim President Ramesh Kolluru to faculty and staff.
Three positions — VP for enrollment management, VP for student affairs and VP for university advancement were eliminated, and two positions — VP for academic affairs and VP for intercollegiate athletics — will take temporary 15%
salary cuts.
DeWayne Bowie, who oversaw enrollment, will retire, according to the email.
Patricia Cottonham, who oversaw student affairs, will become the dean of students. John Blohm, who was over university advancement, will solely focus on overseeing the UL Foundation.
The changes are part of an organizational restructuring Kolluru said in the email and are “focused on improving efficiency and streamlining administrative functions” while ensuring “our structure aligns with
our financial realities while furthering our academic and R1 mission, positioning us for sustainable future growth.”
Kolluru said he asked that his interim president’s salary only be $1 more than when he served as vice president of research, innovation and economic development.
Former UL President Joseph Savoie’s most recent compensation package included an annual salary of $510,500, housing on campus and the use of a vehicle or a vehicle allowance of $1,000 per month.
The university’s 2025-26 budget showed: n Kolluru’s annual salary of $331,001 as
ä See CUTS, page 5A
Carbon-capture project may emit more than planned
BY DAVID J MITCHELL Staff writer
A controversial plan to store CO2 deep under Lake Maurepas was intended to greatly limit greenhouse gas emissions from a nearby industrial plant, but a new proposal raises the possibility that significantly less will be sequestered. The company’s revised proposal to state regulators has the potential to allow the hydrogen and ammonia plant in Ascension Parish to become one of the largest industrial emitters of greenhouse gases in Louisiana during its first years of operation Air Products, the company behind the project, has battled nearly four years of
ä See CARBON, page 5A
Panel calls for end to hepatitis B vaccine for babies
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON U.S. Sen Bill Cas-
sidy, R-Baton Rouge, criticized a decision Friday by an influential advisory panel to stop the threedecade-old practice of recommending all newborns get the hepatitis B vaccine, issuing weaker guidance for some children.
Supporters of the hepatitis B vaccinations — including Cassidy, a medical doctor who has extensive experience with the inoculation — say the practice has led to a near elimination of an infection that untreated mothers pass to their babies and that sometimes leads to fatal liver disease later in life. Since 1991, physicians have given infants their first hepatitis B shot within 24 hours of birth. The babies then receive two more doses that are sometimes administered with other vaccinations to children.
A majority of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, whose members were hand-picked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., found that “vaccine safety risks are not well understood and were never assessed appropriately.”
ACIP voted on the proposals, which were rewritten several times, during the second day of their meeting in Atlanta.
The panel of physicians and scientists recommended that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention keep vaccinating newborns of mothers who test positive for hepatitis B. Mothers who don’t
Cassidy says decision ‘makes America sicker’ ä See VACCINE, page 4A
Officials seek info on immigration sweeps
Border Patrol operation in N.O raises concerns
BY JOHN SIMERMAN, BEN MYERS and LARA NICHOLSON Staff writers
As New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno called out Trump administration officials over their secrecy surrounding the immigration sweeps that have gripped the region, U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino was busy ordering cracklins and smiling for selfies on Friday afternoon inside a Kenner convenience store. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, meanwhile, was warning New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick in a letter that an NOPD policy
that limits support for immigration agents could open her up to a criminal charge. The third day of “Operation Catahoula Crunch,” the latest round of immigration sweeps from President Donald Trump’s administration after similar campaigns in Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina, brought a rise of political tensions amid more sightings of masked agents but few official details on the number of people detained or for what. Moreno led the calls for transparency, joined Friday by U.S.
ä See SWEEPS, page 4A
STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Kolluru
STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, right, talks with U.S Rep.Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, in a hallway at City Hall following a Friday news conference she hosted about the U.S Border Patrol sweeps in the metro area.
Education Department
workers ordered back
WASHINGTON The Trump administration is bringing back dozens of Education Department staffers who were slated to be laid off, saying their help is needed to tackle a mounting backlog of discrimination complaints from students and families.
The staffers had been on administrative leave while the department faced lawsuits challenging layoffs in the agency’s Office for Civil Rights, which investigates possible discrimination in the nation’s schools and colleges. But in a Friday letter, department officials ordered the workers back to duty starting Dec. 15 to help clear civil rights cases
More than 200 workers from the Office for Civil Rights were targeted in mass layoffs at the department, but the firings have been tied up in legal battles since March. An appeals court cleared the way for the cuts in September, but they’re again on hold because of a separate lawsuit. In all, the Education Department workforce has shrunk from 4,100 when President Donald Trump took office to roughly half that size now, as the president vows to wind down the agency
The department did not say how many workers are returning to duty Some who have been on administrative leave for months have since left.
The backlog has grown to more than 25,000 discrimination cases, AP reporting has shown using department data.
Vanity Fair, Nuzzi split amid RFK Jr. controversy
NEW YORK Vanity Fair is parting ways with West Coast editor Olivia Nuzzi amid ongoing controversy over her relationship with profile subject Robert F. Kennedy Jr while she was the Washington correspondent for New York magazine. She had been hired as its West Coast editor in September Nuzzi, 32, had been a star reporter for New York magazine known for colorfully written political profiles until last fall, when it was revealed she had an intense personal relationship with Kennedy, now head of the Department of Health and Human Services. Nuzzi was fired by New York for not disclosing her relationship.
This fall, she wrote a memoir, “American Canto,” that refers to Kennedy as “The Politician.” It was excerpted in Vanity Fair but simultaneously, Nuzzi’s former fiancé, journalist Ryan Lizza, wrote a series of Substack posts with embarrassing revelations.
The case gripped media insiders as Lizza alleged that Nuzzi had an affair with another profile subject and had given Kennedy political advice, both considered off limits for journalists.
Swallowed pendant recovered in the end
WELLINGTON, New Zealand New Zealand Police said Friday they have recovered a stolen James Bond-inspired Fabergé pendant after six days of closely watching the man accused of swallowing the jewelry in an Auckland store.
They said the pendant was recovered Thursday night after it exited the suspect’s gastrointestinal tract naturally without medical intervention.
The limited-edition, Fabergé egg pendant was inspired by the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy,” in which a jewel-smuggling operation involves a fake Fabergé egg.
A photo supplied by New Zealand’s police Friday showed a gloved hand holding the recovered pendant and its long, gold chain with an intact price tag showing the jewelry’s $19,000 value.
The man was arrested inside Partridge Jewelers in Auckland on Nov. 28 shortly after the alleged theft.
The store’s website says the egg, one of only 50 made, was crafted from gold, painted with green enamel and encrusted with 183 diamonds and two sapphires. The pendant is 3.3 inches
Epstein transcripts may be public
Judge gives DOJ permission to release proceedings from grand jury
BY MIKE SCHNEIDER and MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press.
ORLANDO Fla A federal judge on Friday gave the Justice Department permission to release transcripts of a grand jury investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of underage girls in Florida — a case that ultimately ended without any federal charges being filed against the millionaire sex offender
U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith said a recently passed federal law ordering the release of records related to Epstein overrode the usual rules about grand jury secrecy
The law signed in November by President Donald Trump compels the Justice Department, FBI and federal prosecutors to release later this month the vast troves of material they have amassed during investigations into Epstein that
date back at least two decades.
Friday’s court ruling dealt with the earliest known federal inquiry
In 2005, police in Palm Beach, Florida, where Epstein had a mansion, began interviewing teenage girls who told of being hired to give the financier sexualized massages. The FBI later joined the investigation.
Federal prosecutors in Florida prepared an indictment in 2007, but Epstein’s lawyers attacked the credibility of his accusers publicly while secretly negotiating a plea bargain that would let him avoid serious jail time.
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to relatively minor state charges of soliciting prostitution from someone under age 18. He served most of his 18-month sentence in a work release program that let him spend his days in his office.
The U.S. attorney in Miami at the time, Alex Acosta, agreed not
to prosecute Epstein on federal charges — a decision that outraged Epstein’s accusers. After the Miami Herald reexamined the unusual plea bargain in a series of stories in 2018, public outrage over Epstein’s light sentence led to Acosta’s resignation as Trump’s labor secretary
A Justice Department report in 2020 found that Acosta exercised “poor judgment” in handling the investigation, but it also said he did not engage in professional misconduct.
A different federal prosecutor, in New York, brought a sex trafficking indictment against Epstein in 2019, mirroring some of the same allegations involving underage girls that had been the subject of the aborted investigation.
Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial His longtime confidant and ex-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was then tried on similar
charges, convicted and sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison.
Transcripts of the grand jury proceedings from the aborted federal case in Florida could shed more light on federal prosecutors’ decision not to go forward with it. When the documents will be released is unknown. The Justice Department asked the court to unseal them so they could be released with other records required to be disclosed under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The Justice Department hasn’t set a timetable for when it plans to start releasing information, but the law set a deadline of Dec. 19.
The law also allows the Justice Department to withhold files that it says could jeopardize an active federal investigation. Files can also be withheld if they’re found to be classified or if they pertain to national defense or foreign policy
One of the federal prosecutors on the Florida case did not answer a phone call Friday and the other declined to answer questions.
FIFA gives Trump inaugural peace prize
BY SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump was awarded the new FIFA peace prize on Friday at the 2026 World Cup draw — giving the spectacle to set matchups for the quadrennial soccer tournament even more of a Trumpian flair Trump, who had openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, had been heavily expected to receive the newly created FIFA prize.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a close ally of Trump, has said he thought Trump should have won the Nobel for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. In awarding the prize, Infantino told Trump it was a “beautiful medal for you that you can wear everywhere you want to go.”
Trump promptly placed the medal around his neck. The certificate that Infantino handed Trump recognizes the U.S. president for his actions to “promote peace and unity around the world.”
Infantino also presented Trump with a gold trophy with his name on it that depicts hands holding up the world
“You definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action, for what you have obtained in your way,” said Infantino, who spoke after a video was played that showed images of Trump meeting with world leaders from countries whose conflicts he has taken credit for resolving.
Trump thanked his fam-
ily, including his wife, first lady Melania Trump, and praised the leaders of the other two host nations Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum — in his brief remarks, saying the coordination with the countries has been “outstanding.”
quent visitor to the Oval Office, including in November when the administration announced new efforts to expedite visa processing for World Cup visitors. Infantino had a prime seat at Trump’s January inauguration and FIFA has established an office at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
FIFA has given no details about the process for choosing a winner When Infantino first announced last month that the organization would give out a peace prize, some of its senior officials were caught off guard, learning about it through reports in the media.
“This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” Trump said, adding that “most important, I just want to thank everybody The world is a safer place now.”
U.S., Ukraine officials say there’s progress on security framework
BY ILLIA NOVIKOV and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine President Donald Trump’s advisers and Ukrainian officials said Friday they’ll meet for a third day of talks after making progress on creating a security framework for postwar Ukraine and are urging Russia to commit to peace.
The officials, who met for a second day in Florida on Friday, issued a joint statement that offered broad brushstrokes about the progress they say that’s been made as Trump pushes Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a U.S.-mediated proposal to end nearly four years of war
“Both parties agreed that real progress toward any agreement depends on Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace, including steps toward de-escalation and cessation of killings,” the statement said. “Parties also separately reviewed the future prosperity agenda which aims to support Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction, joint U.S.-Ukraine economic initiatives, and long-term recovery projects.”
U.S special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s talks in Florida with Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s lead negotiator, follow discussions between President Vladimir Putin and the U.S. envoys at the Kremlin on Tuesday
Friday’s session took place at the Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach, Florida, a high-end private golf and lifestyle destination owned by Witkoff’s real estate development company Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country’s delegation in Florida wanted to hear from the U.S. side about the talks at the Kremlin.
Zelenskyy, as well as European leaders backing him, have repeatedly accused Putin of stalling in peace talks while the
Russian army tries to press forward with its invasion. Zelenskyy said in a video address late Thursday that officials wanted to know “what other pretexts Putin has come up with to drag out the war and to pressure Ukraine.”
Speaking to Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin on Friday, Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov praised Kushner as potentially playing an important role in ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ushakov also took part in Tuesday’s talks at the Kremlin.
Putin has sought to sow division between Trump and Ukraine and Europe at a moment when Trump’s impatience with the conflict is mounting. Putin said his five-hour talks this week with Witkoff and Kushner were “necessary” and “useful,” but some proposals were unacceptable.
Ushakov, who accompanied Putin on a visit to India on Friday repeated the Russian president’s recent criticism of Europe’s stance on the peace talks Kyiv’s European allies are concerned about possible Russian aggression beyond Ukraine and want a prospective peace deal to include strong security guarantees.
Kyiv’s allies in Europe are “constantly putting forward demands that are unacceptable to Moscow,” Ushakov told Russia’s state-owned Zvezda TV “Putting it mildly, the Europeans don’t help Washington and Moscow reach a settlement on the Ukrainian issues.”
Russian drones struck a house in central Ukraine, killing a 12-year-old boy, officials said, while long-range Ukrainian strikes reportedly targeted a Russian port and an oil refinery
The Russian attack on Thursday night in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region destroyed the house where the boy was killed and also two women were injured, according to the head of the regional military administration.
Infantino has often spoken about soccer as a unifier for the world, but the prize is a departure from the federation’s traditional focus on sport.
Infantino has been a fre-
The FIFA president was also on hand Thursday at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, where Trump and the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a deal aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Congo. The Nobel for peace was awarded this year to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who said shortly after the prize was announced that she was dedicating it in part to Trump for “his decisive support of our cause.”
President Donald Trump is presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Justices will take up birthright citizenship
BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court agreed on Friday to take up the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’sorder onbirthright citizenship declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are notAmerican citizens.
Thejustices will hear Trump’s appeal of alower-court ruling that struck down thecitizenship restrictions. They have not taken effect anywhere in the country
The case will be argued in the spring. Adefinitive ruling is expected by early summer
The birthright citizenship order, which Trump signed Jan. 20,the first day of his second term, is part of his Republican administration’s broadimmigration crackdown Other actions include immigration
enforcementsurges in several cities and the first peacetime invocation of the18th-centuryAlienEnemies Act.
The administration is facing multiple courtchallenges,and the high court has sent mixed signals in emergency orders it has issued.
The justiceseffectively stopped the use of the Alien Enemies Act to rapidly deport alleged Venezuelan gangmembers without court hearings.But theSupreme Court allowed the resumptionofsweeping immigrationstops in theLos Angelesarea afteralower court blocked thepractice of stopping people solely basedontheir race, language, job or location.
Thejusticesalsoare weighing the administration’semergency appeal to beallowedtodeploy National Guard troopsinthe Chicago area forimmigration enforcement actions. Alower court has indefi-
nitely prevented the deployment Birthright citizenship is thefirst Trumpimmigration-related policy to reach the court forafinalruling. Hisorder would upend more than 125 years of understanding that the Constitution’s14thAmendment confers citizenship on everyone born on American soil,with narrowexceptionsfor thechildren of foreign diplomats and those born to aforeign occupying force.
In aseries of decisions, lower courts have struck down theexecutive order as unconstitutional, or likely so, even after aSupreme Court ruling in lateJune thatlimited judges’use of nationwide injunctions.
TheSupreme Court, however, did not rule out other court orders that couldhavenationwide effects, including in class-actionlawsuits and those brought by states. The justices did not decide at that time
911calls from floods reveal chaoticand desperatepleas
Rushing waters strandedcampers in attics andonroofs
BY JIM VERTUNO Associated Press
KERRVILLE, Texas In an instant, frantic voices overwhelmed the two county emergency dispatchers on duty in the Texas Hill Country as catastrophic flooding inundated cabins and youth camps along the Guadalupe River
Afirefighter clinging to atree who watched his wife be swept away.Afamily breakingthrough their roof, hoping for rescue. A woman calling from an all-girls camp, watersswirling around and unsure how to escape.
Their panic-stricken pleas were among more than 400 calls for help across Kerr County lastsummer when unimaginable floods hit during the overnight hours on the July Fourth holiday,accordingto recordingsofthe calls released Friday
“There’swater filling up super fast, we can’tget out of our cabin,” acamp counselor tolda dispatcher abovethe screams of campers in the background. “We can’t get out of ourcabin,sohow do we get to the boats?”
Amazingly,everyone in the cabin andthe rest of campers at Camp La Junta were rescued
The flooding killed at least 136 people statewide duringthe holiday weekend, including 117 in Kerr County alone. Most were from Texas, but others came from Alabama, California and Florida, according to alist released by county officials.
One woman called for helpas the water closed in on her house near Camp Mystic, acentury-old summer camp for girls,where 25 campers and two teenagecounselors died.
“We’re OK, but we live amile down the road from Camp Mystic and we had two little girls come down the river.And we’ve gotten to them, but I’m not sure how many others are out there,” she said in ashaky voice.
Aspokesperson for theparents of the children and counselors who died at Camp Mystic declined to comment on therelease of the recordings.
People on rooftops andintrees
Many residents in the hard-hit Texas Hill Countryhave said they were caught off guard and didn’t receive any warning when the floods overtopped the Guadalupe River.Kerr County leaders have faced scrutiny aboutwhether they did enough right away. Two officials told Texas legislators this summer that they were asleep
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By ERICGAy Rain falls as Irene Valdez visits amakeshift memorial for floodvictims along the Guadalupe RiveronJuly 13 in Kerrville,Texas
duringthe initialhours of the flooding, and athird was out of town.
Using recordings of first responder communications, weather service warnings, survivor videos andofficial testimony,The Associated Press assembled a chronology of the chaotic rescue effort. TheAP was oneofthe media outlets that filed public information requests forrecordingsof the 911 calls to bereleased.
Many people were rescued by boatsand emergency vehicles. A few desperate pleas came from people floatingaway in RVs. Some survivors werefound in trees and on rooftops.
Butsome of thecalls released Friday camefrom people who did not survive,saidKerrville Police Chief Chris McCall, who warned that the audioisunsettling
“The tree I’m in is starting to lean andit’sgoingtofall. Is there ahelicopter close?” Bradley Perry,afirefighter,calmly told adispatcher,adding that he saw hiswife, Tina,and theirRVwash away
“I’ve probably got maybe five minutes left,” he said. Bradley Perrydid not survive. His wife was later found clinging to atree, still alive.
Moving higher andhigher
In another heartbreaking call, a woman staying in acommunity of riverside cabins told adispatcher thewater was inundating their building
“Weare flooding, and we have people in cabins we can’t getto,” she said. “Weare flooding almost all theway to thetop.”
Thecaller speaks slowly and deliberately.The faint voicesof what sounds like children can be heard in the background.
Some people called back multiple times, climbing higher and higher in houses to let rescuers know where theywereand that theirsituations were getting
more dire. Families called from second floors, then attics,then roofs sometimesinthe course of 30 or 40 minutes, revealing how fast andhow high the waters rose.
As daylight began to break, the call volume increased, with people reporting survivors in trees or stuck on roofs, or cars floating down theriver Britt Eastland, the co-director of Camp Mystic,asked for search and rescueand the National Guardtobecalled, saying as many as 40 people therewere missing. “We’re out of power.We hardly have anycellservice,” he said.
The911 recordings show that relatives andfriends outside of the unfolding disaster andthose whohad madeittosafety had calledtoget help for loved ones trapped in the flooding.
One woman said afriend, an elderly man, was trapped in his home with water up to hishead She had realized his phone cut out as she was trying to relayinstructionsfroma911 operator Dispatchers’ advice,comfort
Overwhelmed by the endless calls, dispatchers triedtocomfortthe panic-stricken callers yet were forced to move on to the next one. Theyadvisedmanyof those who weretrapped to get to their rooftops or run to higher ground. In some calls, children could be heard screaming in the background.
“Thereiswater everywhere, we cannot move. We are upstairs in a room and the water is rising,” said awoman whocalledfromCamp Mystic.
The samewoman calledback later.“How do we get to theroof if thewater is so high?”she asked.
“Can you already send someone here? With theboats?”
She asked the dispatcher when help would arrive.
“I don’tknow,” the dispatcher said. “I don’tknow.”
whetherthe underlyingcitizenship order was constitutional.
Every lower court that has looked at the issue has concluded thatTrump’sorder violates or likely violates the 14th Amendment, which was intended to ensure that Black people, includingformer slaves, hadcitizenship. Birthright citizenship automatically makes anyone born in the UnitedStates an American citizen, including children born to mothers who are in the country illegally,underlongstanding rules.
The case under review comes from New Hampshire. Afederal judge in July blocked the citizenship order in aclass-action lawsuit including allchildren who would be affected. TheAmerican Civil LibertiesUnion is leading the legalteam representing thechildren andtheir parentswho challenged Trump’sorder
“No president can change the 14th Amendment’sfundamental promiseofcitizenship,”Cecillia Wang, the ACLU’snationallegal director,said in astatement, adding, “Welook forward to putting this issue to rest once and for all in the SupremeCourt this term.”
The administration has asserted that children of noncitizensare not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore not entitled to citizenship.
“The Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause was adopted to grantcitizenshiptonewly freed slavesand their children —not to the children of aliens illegally or temporarily in the UnitedStates,” top administration top Supreme Court lawyer,D.JohnSauer,wrote in urging the high court’sreview Twenty-four Republican-led states and 27 Republican lawmakers are backing the administration.
Pipe bomb case suspect is said to have confessed
BY ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHERand MICHAELKUNZELMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON The man accused of planting apairofpipebombs outside theheadquarters of the Republican and Democratic national partiesinWashington on the eve of theU.S.Capitol attack confessed to theact during an hourslong interview with investigators, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Brian Cole Jr.spoke to law enforcementofficersfor more than four hours after his arrest, afederal prosecutor,Charles Jones, said Fridayduring Cole’sinitial court appearance.
The prosecutor did not elaborate on what Cole said to investigators, buttwo people familiar with the matter told the AP he confessed to planting the devices on Jan. 5, 2021. Cole also indicated that he believed conspiracy theories around the 2020 election that President Donald Trumphas insisted wasstolen and expressed views supportive of Trump, said the people, who were not authorized to discuss by name
an ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity
The details add to astill-emerging portrait of the 30-year-old suspect from Woodbridge, Virginia, and it was not immediately clear what other information or perspectives he may have shared while cooperating withlaw enforcement following his arrest on Thursday U.S. Magistrate Moxila Upadhyaya ordered Cole to remain in jail. He did not enter aplea and is due backincourtDec. 15 foradetention hearing.
An FBI affidavit saysinvestigators identified Cole as asuspect through analysis of creditcard charges related to the purchase of pipe bomb components, information from cellphone towers and a license plate reader Nobody washurtbeforethe bombs were rendered safe, but the FBI has said both devices could have been lethal.
Federalauthorities have not publicly disclosed anyinformation abouta possible motive or whether there is anyconnection to the attack on the Capitol the following day by Trumpsupporters.
BY FATIMAHUSSEIN Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Social Security Administrationishoping to cut visitstoits field offices in half next year,amove that advocates forthe agency fear signals moreclosures are coming.
Field offices have long been community-based branches that serve as the public face of the SSA,which provide in-person help for people applying for retirement anddisability benefits, getting Social Security cards andother important services.
ANovember internal field office operating plan shared with The Associated Press outlines aproposedtarget of 50% fewer field office visitors in fiscal year 2026 compared to fiscal year 2025, or no morethan 15 million field office visitsbymembers of the public Agency field offices sawmorethan 31.6 million field office visits from SSArecipients from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, according to the agency document.
Barton Mackey,a Social Securityspokesperson, said “field offices are, and will always remain, our front-line, providing in-person servicestothe approximately75 millionAmericans whoreceive monthlypayments and more than 330 millionAmericans with Social Security numbers, which the Commissionerhas reiterated countless times since his confirmation.”
“The Social Security Administration under President Trump’s leadership is serving moreAmericansthaneverbefore at quicker speeds, andmeeting customers where they want to be served,” Mackey said.
Nextgov/FCWfirst reported on the agency’splan to reduce field office foot traffic.
At least 7,000 SSA workers have been laid off from the agency this year as theTrump administration has proposed anumber of plans to streamline services at the SSA.
In March, after outcry from lawmakers and the public, SSA leadership partially backtrackedon aplanthatwould require allnew and existing beneficiaries whoare unable to use the agency’s online portal to travel to aSocial Security field office to verifytheir identity Several field offices in ruralareas of the U.S. have already closed this year because of alack of staffing.
The Social Security website lists several office closures as well as offices thatare only able to assist by phone untilfurther notice. The agencysays theclosures arenot permanent, rather,the offices are closed due to maintenance or facilities issues that the agency is working to resolve, the agency says. The 2026 operating plan also calls forall requested appointments to be scheduledwithin 30 days, instead of the current rate of 78.3% of allappointmentsscheduled within 30 days.
Social Security Administration to cutfield office visits by 50% port
Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, and former Mayor MarcMorial, among others. Moreno said at a news conference that she’d sent a letter to Bovino demanding basic informationabout the stops and arrests his agents are making, their legalbases,any criminal charges and warrants.
She also demanded that agents remove masks and show clear identification, andprobable cause for arrests.
“Our points are just very simple,” she said. “I don’tbelievethat we’re asking for too much here.” Bovino demurred, however,as he strode armed down Martinique Avenue in Kenner withmasked agents, in search of asuspect.
“I think this is about as transparent as it gets right here,” hesaid DepartmentofHomeland Security officialshave repeatedly declined to share specifics on peopledetainedintheir immigration sweeps, though they’ve said dozens have been arrested in theNew Orleans areasofar
Asked if the goal remained 5,000 arrests from the operation, as previously stated, Bovino responded: “The goal is as many as we possibly can. It could be 100,000, you never know.”
He said they were in the area targeting someone with “a significant immigration history” but declined details.
“You know what? Nothingtofear if you’re an Americancitizen,” Bovino told areporter.“If you’re not an American citizen,thenlookout Legal residents tend to know that we’re friends.We’refriendswith all legal residents.”
While DHS has not provided a full list of thosewho they’vedetained, they have touted some of the arrests. On social media Friday, forexample, DHSposteda photo of aman in avehicle.
“Another sicko off thestreets of New Orleans, Louisiana,” the department’saccount posted on the social media website X, without naming him. “This criminal illegal alien from Hondurashas arap sheet that includes charges for strangulation, simple battery, domestic abuse,child endangerment, and simple battery.Hewill be REMOVED from our country! In recent Border Patrol sweeps in
VACCINE
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test positive should consult their physician to decide if andwhen the vaccinations are scheduled. The panel recommended a“dose is administered no earlier than 2months of age.” The panel’sfindings don’t carrythe force of law but are recommendations that the CDC leadership can adopt. Private insurance, Medicaid and child health programs rely on the CDC rulings to decide which vaccinations will be covered.
“Thelanguagewill have no impact on availabilityof coveredvaccines,” saidDr. Robert W. Malone, ACIP deputy chairand an adjunct professor at the LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center Malone said he was concerned that children receive so many vaccinations that the common componentsin vaccines could prove risky when all are added together during ashort time.That situation has not been researched well.
“This topic has merit,” he said.
The decision enraged many in the medical community,including Cassidy,who chairs the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee. Cassidy recommended that the CDC not accept the new recommendations but instead retainthe current approach.
“Asaliverdoctor who has treated patients with hepatitis Bfor decades, this change to the vaccine schedule is amistake,” Cassidy wrote on X. “The hepatitis Bvaccine is safe and effective. Thebirth dose is arecommendation, NOT a mandate.” Cassidy continued:“Before the birth dose was recommended, 20,000 newborns ayear were infected withhepatitis B. Now,it’s fewer than 20. Ending the recommendation for newborns makes it more likely the number of cases will be-
Customs andBorder Patrol
Commander GregoryBovino,
Chicago and North Carolina, avast majority of detainees had no criminal backgrounds. Since the operationlaunched Wednesday in Louisiana, allegations have mounted of agents detaining people with work permits and American citizenship. Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy,which provides free legalassistance,has been contacted by loved ones of 15 detainees, said HomeroLopez,the group’sdirector.Hesaid amajority of those clients either havelegal status or are in the process of obtaining it.
“What we are hearing from our clientsisexactly what we have seen happen in other cities. Folks arebeingarrested indiscriminately,targeted for the color of their skin, the language they speak, the location where they are working,” Lopezsaid.
“What we are hearing from our clients is exactly what we have seen happen in other cities. Folks are being arrested indiscriminately, targeted for the color of their skin, the languagethey speak, the location where they are working.”
HOMEROLOPEZ, Immigration Services and LegalAdvocacydirector
theft and convicted of illegal possession of stolen property.” She’d matched the description of the wanted subject, and the agents identified themselves, DHSsaid.
“Agents immediately stopped upon reaching the property,determined the individualinquestion was not thetarget, and all agents departed the area,” the agency said. “No arrests weremade.”
But the mother of the Marrero woman rejected the agency’sexplanation
to mask themselves,” he said. “If they’re insisting on wearing a mask, they can ride in Rex, Zulu or Endymion.”
Onevideothat spread nationwide showed a23-year-old mother fleeing to her West Bankhome as agents chased her.The woman told The Times-Picayune that an agent asked her to cometoward him as morebegan to approach. She said she twice toldthem shewas acitizen before running to her Marrero home.
In astatementFriday,the Department of Homeland Security called its pursuit of the woman part of atargeted operation against “a criminal illegal alien previously charged withfelony
Dr.RobertW.Malone, deputy chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, is an adjunct professor atthe LSUPennington Biomedical Research Center
gin to increase again. This makes America sicker.”
Some ACIP members expressed doubts about the majority’sdecision
“Weare doing harm by changing this wording,” said Dr.H.Cody Meissner, of TuftsMedical Center and apanelistwho voted no. “We will see hepatitis Bcome back.”
“I simply hope that the committeewill accept its responsibilitywhenthisharm is caused,” said Dr.Joseph R. Hibbeln, an ACIP memberfrom the National Institutes of Healthand another no vote.
Adults oftenare infected with hepatitis Bfromsharing needlesorhaving sex. More often thannot,adults survivethe liver infection.
Infants areofteninfected by theiruntreated mothers. Infected babies have a90% chance that more serious problemswill develop later in life, such as cancer or cirrhosis.
One in 4people whodie of liver diseasewereinfected as newborns.
ACIPmemberspointed to what they called uncertainty about true rates of incidence andtransmission from mother to child. Others said the impact of the vaccine hasn’tbeen thoroughly researched.
VickyPebsworth,anACIP member and Pacific Region director for the National Associationof Catholic Nurses,
noted that many parentshad expresseddissatisfaction withtheir babies getting vaccinated.
Somecommittee members questioned vaccinating all newborns when drug users andthe sexually promiscuous are responsible forthe spread of hepatitis Band don’tget tested or inoculated.
Part of the dramaticincreaseincases was also linked to immigrantsmoving to thecountry from countrieswith ahighincidence of the infection.
Dr.Evelyn Griffin, amember of ACIPand an obstetrician in Baton Rouge who immigrated from Poland as achild, said more needs to be done to screen people moving into thecountry and mothers whodon’tget tested for hepatitis Binfections.
“Wehaveproblems that adults need to solve with other resources” rather than give newborns vaccinations, Griffin said.“Idohavea problem of treating our babies as asafety net.”
Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.
“We’ve seen this, andthey’rejust trying to cover their a**** because they did not identify themselves or askher,” said Ramona Anglin. Morial, who headsthe National Urban League, said the tactics of the masked federal agents remindedhim of those of the Ku Klux Klan.
“I do not suggest that ICE are theKuKlux Klan, but in this country,there are zero precedents for sworn law enforcement officers
Bovino’s agents appeared to focus theirattention Fridayoutside of New Orleans. In Kenner, some locals blew whistles, recorded theagentsand yelledfor people to stay inside theirhomes. Atrail of cars followed Border Patrol agents. Some formed ablockade on Friday Bovino said roughly 30 carsin all “were harassing Border Patrol andcausing severe trafficproblems.” But Kenner police soon intervened, halting traffic on West Esplanade Avenue to help he and his agents clear out.
Bovino was soon praising Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley on social media, calling themove“the first that haseverhappenedbya state or local (agency).”
Staff writer James Finn contributed to this report.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE
left, greets asupporter at agas station in Kenner on Friday.
Continued from page 1A
VP for research, innovation and economic development
n Blohm’s annual salary of $287,088 as VP for university advancement
n Bowie’s annual salary of $241,384 as VP for enrollment management
n Cottonham’s annual salary of $204,569 as VP for student affairs. The 2025-26 budgeted salary for Bryan Maggard, who oversees intercollegiate athletics, was $472,962 A 15% salary cut would bring his pay to about $402,000 As provost and VP of academic affairs, Jaimie Hebert’s salary was budgeted at $312,344. A 15% pay cut would bring his salary to about $265,500. It was not immediately clear
CARBON
Continued from page 1A
community opposition over plans to inject and permanently store CO2 and other greenhouse gases from the complex under Lake Maurepas. It says the injection would prevent 95% of those greenhouse gases from reaching the atmosphere, where they would otherwise add to climate change But, just months after receiving the state’s blessing for air emissions based on that low-carbon vision, Air Products has asked for a doover The proposed change could allow the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex to become among the top 25 industrial emitters of greenhouse gases in the state, based on LSU and federal annual emissions tallies since 2012.
The company says the new proposal would merely give the plant the flexibility it needs to operate, adding that its carbon-capture goals remain the same.
But it comes at a time of deep uncertainty for the emerging carbon-capture industry Louisiana has paused new permit applications in the face of residents’ opposition, and criticism has grown louder over lucrative federal tax credits for the projects.
Some environmental groups, which have opposed carbon-capture projects because they claim they won’t live up to the storage rates being promised, speculated the air permit changes indicate the company is trying to hedge its bets.
The company has already delayed the complex’s startup by two years to 2028 or 2029 for financial reasons, according to a report from RBN Energy, an industry consulting and analytics
firm. Air Products has said it is trying to “derisk” the $4.5 billion complex by finding buyers for its low-carbon products before new spending commitments. It also wants to sell the complex’s proposed ammonia plant and carbon-capture pieces and potentially the company’s rights to state-owned underground storage areas.
“These personnel actions affect colleagues and campus leaders who have contributed to
RAMESH
what cost savings would come from Cottonham moving into the role of dean of students or Blohm focusing solely on his role as CEO of the UL Foundation. The university did not immediately respond to The Acadiana Advocate’s request for this information.
In addition to the staffing changes, Kolluru said in his email that there must be reduced spending through the end of June, when the fiscal year ends. Without that
“It’s all about making it a more valuable property for them to sell off,” said Darryl Malek-Wiley, a senior organizer for the Sierra Club’s environmental justice program in Louisiana.
In the new permit request filed in late September, Air Products wants permission to emit up to 2.16 million tons of greenhouse gases per year, along with increases in some toxic chemicals
The maximum estimate is nearly half of the total that Air Products had planned to inject under Lake Maurepas annually, or more than 5.5 million tons per year
Depending on the year, the projected maximum greenhouse gas emissions in the air would be on par with the ExxonMobil refinery and chemical complex power plant in Baton Rouge, Entergy’s power plant in St. Charles Parish and Dow Chemical in Plaquemine, the LSU and federal emissions tallies show Air Products told the state Department of Environmental Quality that when the company is commissioning the plant it won’t be able to inject CO2 underground for up to 25% of the time and that this inability could last in the first few years. For the other 75% of the time, the company says it will be able to inject under Lake Maurepas, as promised
In a statement, an Air Products spokesperson said the permit alterations don’t reflect a change in the complex’s design. It’s an effort to create “additional operational flexibility for the facility, ensuring a more reliable supply of low-carbon ammonia and low-carbon hydrogen products,” even in the event “the off-site carbon-capture operation is unavailable.”
“The 25% would be the maximum downtime allowed under the new permit for the carbon sequestration operation,” said Christina Stephens, the company spokeswoman. “Our intention is to operate the facility with carbon capture operational to the maximum extent possible, capturing 95% of our emissions.”
She added the changes would “also account for the possibility that various aspects of the facility may
reduced spending, he threatened that “additional budget reductions may be required.”
Kolluru said he and other UL leaders are developing a “comprehensive revenue generation plan and exploring additional strategies to strengthen our financial position.” More information about that plan will be released in a meeting scheduled for next week, he said.
“These personnel actions affect colleagues and campus leaders who have contributed to our University in meaningful ways, and I am deeply grateful for their service,” Kolluru said in his email.
“These changes are difficult — but they are necessary to ensure that our University emerges stronger and is positioned for long-term success.”
This week’s cuts are the latest in a series of position eliminations, retirements, resignations and re-
start up on slightly different schedules.”
Greg Upton, executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, said he could not comment directly on Air Products, but said such companies often see economic value in ensuring options remain available.
“These large capital investments are made spanning decades, and so because there’s uncertainty over lots of factors, companies think of what’s called a ‘real option.’ And a ‘real option’ is simply the following: I’m going to build into my capital plans the ability to do things in the future, even if I might or might not exercise that option,” he said.
Despite industry enthusiasm for carbon capture and scientific backing of its safety, the concept has faced resistance from landowners, residents and local leaders.
For Air Products’ plans, a mix of environmentalists, Lake Maurepas fishermen and crabbers, residents, legislators and some parish council members have opposed the project for safety, aesthetic and environmental reasons Those include the visual impact of platforms and well sites on the lake’s surface, lake-bottom dredging, wetlands destruction and what they see as groundwater threats.
The company and industry advocates say they are the victims of misinformation, defending carbon capture as safe and effective, with minimal disruption to Lake Maurepas and no real threat to drinking water sources because of the depth of the wells.
In a recent hearing for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state coastal permits, local legislators called for an extensive environmental analysis that would include not only Air Products’ plans but also the cumulative impact of other carbon capture projects in the region. The work could take two years.
These officials also pointed to recent Southeastern Louisiana University research showing that lake waters have heavy metal contamination that’s likely also in lake sediments. They said that could be stirred up by dredging for the under-
assignments that have happened since July, when Savoie stepped down before his contract was up.
Since then, the university’s bleak financial reality has come to public light along with faculty and staff frustration over the lack of transparency surrounding cuts and the search for a new president.
The first wave of positions was eliminated under Hebert, who served as interim president from Aug. 1 to Nov 13, when he asked the UL system board to return to his role as provost of the university That’s when Kolluru took on the role of interim president.
While serving as interim president, Hebert announced that the university had a $25 million deficit on top of a $25 million recurring annual budget shortfall.
Layoffs, position eliminations and shuffling of staff to help alleviate the university’s budget issues have been ongoing since Septem-
water pipeline network.
On land, the lines would also destroy a few hundred acres of high-value cypress and tupelo swamps in the Maurepas Wildlife Management Area.
The company says it has taken steps to minimize the impact of the well and pipeline network through the use of the same right of way for multiple lines and with a curtain to limit the spread of dredged sediments.
Gov Jeff Landry has also instituted a temporary moratorium on new underground carbon injection permit applications to prioritize a review of existing applications. Six projects were fasttracked under the order, but Air Products’ permit wasn’t one of them.
Earthjustice senior attorney Lauren Godshall noted that Air Products is having to “passionately defend the project” amid these headwinds, while also looking to sell off pieces of the complex. She added that “it feels like cheating, in a way, to promise blue/clean energy” and then pursue an air permit that would allow options for so much CO2 emission.
In a Nov 6 earnings call, Air Products CEO Eduardo
ber, when six positions were eliminated and the Office of Sustainability closed. In October, another 51 people were laid off, and 19 positions were eliminated. Among those laid off were professors, assistant coaches and police officers whose annual salaries ranged from $16,153 to $171,600.
However signs of financial issues surfaced earlier in the year
In January, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office released its annual audit for UL’s athletics department and noted a $12.6 million deficit for the department. And in March, the office released its annual audit for the university as a whole and noted four findings mostly related to timely billing and proper controls surrounding grants.
Two months later then-Vice President for Administration and Finance Jerry Luke LeBlanc resigned from his position.
Menezes said a permit with the ability to emit CO2 is a key to negotiations to find partners for the carbon capture and ammonia pieces of the complex.
The company’s “potential counterparts asked us to have the flexibility of running the plant on a gray mode if something happens with the CO2 sequestration that we did not expect to do or still do not expect to do because the CO2 is a big contributor for the project,” Menezes said. “Gray mode” means emitting waste carbon dioxide into the air
In an October 2021 deal with the state, Air Products gained exclusive rights to nearly 122,500 acres of underground storage beneath Lake Maurepas, the nearby Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area in St. James Parish and Lake Sabine in Cameron Parish. Lake Maurepas and the wildlife management area are nearest to Air Products’ complex proposed for Sorrento.
In the earnings call, Menezes said Air Products started out trying to develop its own CO2 storage space underground so the company
could benefit from federal 45Q tax credits. The company is now trying to effectively contract out the carbon capture and storage portion of the project, he said. That would mean selling the storage area — known as “pore space” — and have that company provide the service of sequestering the CO2 under Lake Maurepas or elsewhere.
Even if the project falls through, the CEO said, the company could try to “monetize” the pore space in some other way Under the state deal, Air Products can transfer its rights but only after approval from the State Mineral and Energy Board or the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Patrick Courreges, a spokesman for the state Department of Conservation and Energy, said no company has approached the department or the Mineral Board about such a transfer A key concern for the state will be who pays what’s owed under the deal and who will be responsible if a problem occurs.
“Such transfers have been relatively routine for decades,” he said.
FrankGehry,the
BY JOHN ROGERS Associated Press
LOS ANGELES Frank Gehry,who designed some of the most imaginative buildings everconstructed and achieved alevel of worldwide acclaim seldom afforded any architect, has died. He was 96 Gehry diedFriday in hishome in Santa Monica after abrief respiratory illness, said Meaghan Lloyd, chief of staff at Gehry Partners LLP
Gehry’sfascination with modern pop art led to the creation of distinctive, striking buildings. Among his many masterpieces are the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; The Walt Disney Concert Hall in LosAngeles;and Berlin’sDZBank Building
Gehry was awarded every major prize architecture has to offer, including the field’stop honor,the Pritzker Prize, for what has been described as “refreshingly original and totally American” work Other honors include the Royal Institute of British Architects gold medal, the Americans for theArts
lifetime achievement award, and hisnativecountry’s highest honor the Companion of theOrder of Canada.
Startofcareerinarchitecture
After earning adegree in architecture from theUniversityof Southern California in 1954 and serving in the Army,Gehry studiedurban planning at Harvard University
But his career got off to aslow start. He struggled for years to make endsmeet, designing public housingprojects,shoppingcenters and even driving adelivery truck for atime. Eventually,hegot the chance to design amodern shopping mall overlooking the Santa Monica Pier
He wasdetermined to playitsafe andcameupwith drawings for an enclosed shoppingmall that looked similar to others in the United States in the1980s.
To celebrateits completion, themall’s developer droppedby Gehry’shouseand was stunned by whathesaw: Thearchitect had transformed amodest 1920s-era bungalow into an inventive abode by remodeling it withchain-link fencing, exposed wood and corrugated metal.
SteveCropper,guitarist
BY ADRIAN SAINZ Associated Press
MEMPHIS,Tenn.— Steve Cropper,the lean, soulfulguitarist and songwriter who helped anchor the celebrated Memphis backing band Booker T. andthe M.G.’s at Stax Records and co-wrote the classics “Green Onions,”
“(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” and “In the Midnight Hour,” has died. He was 84 Pat Mitchell Worley,president and CEO of the SoulsvilleFoundation, said Cropper’sfamily told her that Cropper died on Wednesday in Nashville. The foundation operates the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, located at the site of the former Stax Records, where Cropper workedfor years.
Acause of death was not immediately known. The guitarist, songwriter and record producer was
not known for flashy playing, but his spare, catchy licksand solidrhythmchops helped define Memphis soul music. At atime when it was common for white musicians to co-opt thework of Black artists and make more money from their songs, Cropper was that rare white artist willingtokeep alower profileand collaborate.
‘Playit, Steve! Cropper’sveryname was immortalizedinthe 1967 smash“Soul Man,” recorded bySam &Dave. Midway, singer Sam Moore calls out “Play it, Steve!” as Cropper pulls off atight, ringing riff, aslide sound that Cropper used aZippo lighter to create. Theexchangewas reenacted in thelate 1970s when Cropper joined theJohn Belushi-DanAykroyd act “The Blues Brothers” and played ontheir hitcover of “SoulMan.”
Asked why he hadn’tproposed something similar for themall, Gehry replied, “Because Ihave to makealiving.”
If he really wanted tomake a statement as an architect,hewas told, he should dropthatattitude and follow his creative vision. Gehry would do just that for the rest of his life, working into his 90s to create buildings that doubled as stunning works of art
As his acclaim grew,Gehry Partners LLP,the architectural firm he founded in 1962, grewwith it. But as big as it got, Gehry insisted on personally overseeing every project it took on.
Designsdrewcriticism,praise
Not everyone was afan of Gehry’swork.Some naysayers dismisseditasnot muchmore than gigantic,lopsided reincarnations of the little scrap-wood cities he said he spent hours building when he was growing up in the mining town of Timmins, Ontario.
Princeton artcriticHal Foster dismissedmanyofhis later efforts as “oppressive,” arguing they were designedprimarily to be tourist attractions.Somedenounced the Disney Hall as lookinglikea collection of cardboardboxes that
In a2020 interview with The Associated Press, Cropper discussed his career and howhemastered theart of filling gaps withanessential lick or two.
had been leftout in the rain.
Still other critics included Dwight D. Eisenhower’sfamily, whoobjected to Gehry’sboldproposal for amemorial to honorthe nation’s34th president. Although the family said it wanted asimple memorial and not the one Gehry hadproposed, with itsmultiple statues and billowing metal tapestries depicting Eisenhower’slife, thearchitect declinedtochange his design significantly
If the words of his criticsannoyed Gehry,herarely let on. Indeed, he even sometimes played along. He appeared as himself in a2005 episodeof“The Simpsons” cartoon show, in which he agreed to design aconcert hall that was later converted into aprison. He cameupwith the ideafor the design, whichlooked alot like the Disney Hall, after crumpling Marge Simpson’sletter to him and throwing it on the ground. After taking alookatit, he declared, “FrankGehry,you’ve done it again!”
“Somepeople think Iactually do that,” he would later tell the AP Lastinglegacyaroundthe world
Ephraim Owen Goldberg was born in Toronto on Feb. 28, 1929,
and moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1947, eventually becoming aU.S.citizen. As an adult, he changed his nameatthe suggestion of his first wife, who told him antisemitismmightbeholding back his career Although he had enjoyed drawingand building model cities as a child, Gehry said it wasn’tuntil he was 20 that he pondered the possibility of pursuing acareer in architecture, after acollege ceramics teacher recognized his talent.
“It waslike the first thing in my lifethat I’ddone well in,” he said. Gehry steadfastly denied being an artist though.
“Yes,architectsinthe past have been both sculptors andarchitects,” he declared in a2006 interview with The Associated Press. “But Istill think I’mdoing buildings,and it’s different fromwhat they do.”
His words reflected both alifelong shyness and an insecurity that stayed with Gehry long after he’d been declared the greatest architect of his time.
“I’m totallyflabbergastedthatI gottowhereI’vegotten,” he told the AP in 2001. “Now it seemsinevitable, but at the time it seemed very problematic.”
“I listen tothe other musicians and the singer,”Cropper said. “I’m not listening to just me. Imakesure I’msounding OK before we start the session. Once we’ve prese nte d thesong, then Ilisten to the song and the way they interpretit. AndI play around all that stuff. That’s what Ido. That’smystyle.” Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, asked once aboutCropper,saidsimply, “Perfect,man.” He gothis firstguitarat14 Cropperwas born near
Dora, Missouri, but moved withhis family to Memphis when he was 9and gothis first mail-order guitar at age 14, according to his website, playitsteve.com.Chuck Berry,Jimmy Reed and ChetAtkins wereamonghis early influences. Cropper was aStax artist before thelabelwas even called Stax, which Jim Stewart andEstelle Axton had foundedasSatellite Records in 1957. In the early 1960s, SatellitesignedupCropper and his instrumental band theRoyalsSpades. Theband soon changedits name to the Mar-Keys and had ahit with “Last Night.”
Satellite was later renamed Stax, where someofthe Mar-Keys became thelabel’s horn section while Cropper and other Mar-Keys formed Booker T. and theM.G.’s. Featuring Cropper,keyboard playerBooker T. Jones, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn and
drummerAlJackson,they were knownfor their hit instrumentals“Green Onions,” “Hang ‘Em High” and “Time Is Tight.”
Theracially integrated band, ararityinits day, was so admired that even nonStax artists recorded with them,notably Wilson Pickett. Jones, who is the only surviving memberofthe band, and Jackson are Black.Dunn and Cropper are white.
“When you walked in the door at Stax, there was absolutely no color,” Cropper said in the AP interview “Wewereall there for the samereason —toget ahit record.”
Inspired by gospel song
In the mid-1960s, Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler brought Pickett to work with the Staxmusicians. During a2015 gathering with the National Music Publishers Association,
Cropperacknowledgedhe had never heard of Pickett before working with him.He found somegospel recordings by Pickett,was taken by the line “I’ll see my Jesus in the midnight hour” and with aslight change helped write asecular standard. “The man up there has been forgiving me for this ever since!” he said. Cropper was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as amember of Booker T. and the M.G.’s. Rolling Stone magazine rankedCropper39th on its 100 Greatest Guitarists list,callinghim “the secret ingredient in some of thegreatest rock and soul songs.” Cropper was in the 1980 movie “The Blues Brothers” and its follow-up, “Blues Brothers 2000,” portraying “The Colonel” in the Blues Brothers band. In real life he toured with them
Gehry
Life expectancy in La.onthe rise
BY EMILYWOODRUFF Staff writer
Life expectancyinLouisiana is rising, rebounding from the deadliest early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new federal data that shows the state still
has far to go in catching up to the average life span for the rest of the U.S. Achild born in Louisianaisexpected tolive73.8 years, accordingtoareport released Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that used
data from2022. Thatfigure is up 1.6 years from theprevious year’s report,outpacing the national average increase of 1.1 years. Despite thegain, Louisiana still ranks 48th amongthe 50 states and the District of Columbia. Only Kentucky,Mississippi and West Virginia reported lowerlife expectancy,according to state life tables released by theNational Center for Health Statistics on Thursday The U.S.averageis77.5, andstates such as Hawaii, Massachusetts and New Jersey are around 80 years. Thomas LaVeist, dean of the Tulane SchoolofPublicHealth, said the improvementisgood news, even if it may be due to starting at such alow point.
“The statesthathave hadthe biggest improvementare thestates in the southeast, which are the states that have the worst health profile in the nation,” LaVeist said.
The gains reflect adecline in COVID-19deaths alongwith fewer drug overdose deaths, said report
COVIDrecoveryboostsrates,according to federaldata ä See RISE, page 2B
SNEAUX
ABOVE: University of Louisiana at Lafayette students competing in the gingerbread house competition work diligently on their houses during the Sneaux Dayfestivities in the ballroom of the UL Student Union on Wednesday.
LEFT: Jaci Daigle, left, and Sophie Bourque showoff their Christmas ornaments during the Sneaux Dayfestivities at UL on Wednesday.
RIGHT: Riythvika Chowdhuryposes for pictures in her Christmas outfit during the Sneaux Day festivities.
PHOTOSByROBIN MAy
ACLU dropsenforcement lawsuit
One of three escapeesfrom the St. Landry Parish Jail is dead after astandoff with aSWATteam in Port Barre, according to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. Joseph Harrington, 26,ofMelville,isbelieved to have been the focus of the SWAT team’sefforts. He was being held on countsof home invasion and aggravated assault with agun.Authori-
U.S. Border Patrol agentsgather outside of their vehicles as Chief PatrolAgent of U.S. Customs and Border Protection GregoryBovino, center, travels throughMetairie and Kenner on dayone of the‘Catahoula Crunch’ sweeps on Wednesday.
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer
STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
Boardchair:Southernneeds leader with business ties
Shake-up comes amid shiftinLa. leadership
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
The weekofThanksgiving, the Southern University BoardofSupervisors made clear its intention to part ways with current President Dennis Shields with a line on the second page of its upcoming meeting agenda
“Selection of Interim President for Southern University System commencing on January 1, 2026, until a permanent President is selected,” the item read. It was the first time many in the Southern University community learned the board would be seekinga new president. Some alumni had questions about why Shields,who oversaw enrollment increases across thesystem, wasnolonger seen as the best fit for the university
“I know that Iserve at the pleasure of the board, and if the board wants to go in a different direction, at least the way Ifeel is that’stheir prerogative,” Shields said in an interview.“I’m not going to object to that.”
The conversations about his departure commenced in mid-October, Shields said Leadership did not tell him
ACLU
Continued from page1B
But the ACLU also painted the development as avictory because of alegalfiling from Murrill’soffice that said the law was directed toward conduct, not speech.
“With the AG’sconcession in hand, we’ve secured assurance that Act 399 will not target speech or protected First Amendment actions,” the organization
RISE
authors. Louisiana, as one of the states with higher COVID deaths and soaring overdose deaths, had much lost ground to makeupfor Still, the gains did not erase long-standing health disadvantages. Louisiana’s life expectancy remains
BLOTTER
Continued from page1B
Wednesday’sescape involved three inmates who broke out of the jail by creating an opening through adeteriorated concrete wall on the third floor.Theyused bed sheets to lower themselves to the ground, authorities said. The other escapeeshave been identified as Keith Eli, 24, of Opelousas, who was beingheld on attempted murder counts and Johnathon Joseph, 24, also of Opelousas, who faced counts of rape and weapons violations.
Sheriff’s Office officials have suggested the St Landry Parish government hasfailed to maintain the 45-year-oldjail adequately
However,Parish President Jessie Bellard has denied the claim.
In December 2024, Bellard sued the Sheriff’s Office over inmate expenses, accusing Sheriff Bobby Guidrozof “enrichment” of hisdepartment by taking in state inmates and billing the parish government forunnecessary transfers.
In the lawsuit, Bellard said the parish could be spending nearly $530,000 yearlyoninmates’ daily expenses.
Lafayette man faces animal cruelty counts
the newdirectionthey envisioned for theuniversity he said
But BoardofSupervisors
Chair Tony Clayton, who was appointed by Gov. Jeff Landry in Novemberoflast year,saidhe hasaclearidea of who the university needs to takethe helm: Someone focused on industry partnerships and fundraising, with less of an emphasis on diversity,equity andinclusion initiatives
“President Shields made good contributions to Southern,” Clayton said. “But Southern funding DEI initiativeshurtusinterms of grants. We’re looking for aperson whocan help us breakinto thatarea of bringing in more grants, bringing in more research dollars. That’swhere Southern has to be in order forit to be competitivein thefuture.”
The next president must have an “outstanding reputation”for fundraising, Claytonsaid. The Southern University system budgeted $191.9 million in revenue for the fiscal year 2025-26, $22.9 million less than the previous fiscal year, according to the operatingbudget. Southern Universityisone of just over 100historically Blackcollegesand universitiesinthe U.S. It was established by the Louisiana Legislature in 1880toprovide a placeofhigherlearningfor
said in astatement. “For that reason,we’re happy to announce that we are dismissing our lawsuit without prejudice.”
The full scope of the law remains unclear.Murrill’s office has declined to take astance on whether the law would make it illegal to share information about the locationofImmigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents, or whether it would be a crime to warn someonenot to go to acertain location
nearly four years lower than theU.S. average and more than six yearsbehind states with the longest life spans.
MeninLouisiana continue to fare worse thanwomen when it comes to life span. In 2022, Louisiana men had alife expectancy of 70.6 years, ranking second to last nationally.
Women had an average lifeexpectancy of 77.2
fayette ParishCorrectional Center on charges unrelated to thecrueltycase, according to theDuson Police Department.
The animalcruelty charges were filedafterpolice were told Touchethad not arranged for anyone tocare for his dogs while he was in jail.
When officials checked on the dogs, they found Touchet had zip-tied the back of apit bull, according to the Humane Society of Louisiana. The dogs were rescued andtaken to an emergency veterinaryclinic. Lafayette AnimalShelter and Care Center is now in custodyof the two dogs.
After completing his 30dayterm, he’ll be requiredto post a$10,000 bail, $5,000 for each cruelty count before he can appear in 15th Judicial District Court for the new allegations, according to police In astatement, the Duson Police Department described the treatment of the two dogs as “nothing less than brutal” and said the agency expects accountability forthe animals’suffering. “Maythese twoanimals find the loving, caring homes and humans they so deserve.”
Woman accusedof sharing illicit images
people of color Shields said the question of state andfederal funding —inaddition to backlash against DEIand what that meansfor ahistorically Black university —is a“continuing issue”thathis successor will face as well.
“We’reahistorically Black university system,” Shields said. “Weexistbecause historically the Southwas segregated.That’swhatwe sprang outof. Us andall HBCUs have been open to whoever comes,and that should continue.”
Theshake-up at Southern Universitycomesamida broader shift in Louisiana higher education leadership, with several universities hiring new presidents in thepast few months who stress theneedfor strong connections withindustry It also follows monthsof national turbulence as the Trump administration curtailsfederal research fundingand targets DEI efforts at colleges anduniversities.
Weeks before theSouthernannouncement, theLSU BoardofSupervisors named as itssystem’snextpresident former McNeeseState UniversityPresident Wade Rousse,who pitched himself as thebusiness-savvy candidateand advocatedfor increased corporatepartnerships to fund research Clayton saidhewill appoint acommittee in Janu-
becauseofapossible immigration arrest. Passed this year,Act 399 expands the definitionofobstruction of justice to include any act “intended tohinder, delay,prevent, or otherwise interfere withorthwart federal immigration enforcement efforts.”
It drew attention afterthe U.S.BorderPatrol launched operation “Catahoula Crunch” in the New Orleans area, part of President DonaldTrump’s campaign to detain and deport immigrants
years. Thesix-and-a-halfyear gapbetween menand womeninLouisiana mirrors broader patternsinthe South tiedtohigher rates of chronic disease, injuries, violence and preventable deaths among men. Men in states like Louisianatendtowork jobswith more health risks, said LaVeist, like manufacturing, oil refinery jobs and agricultural positions.
Continued from page1B LOTTERY THURSDAY,DEC. 4, 2025
ALafayette man is facing two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals following an investigation into the treatment of hisdogs Randy Touchet had previously been sentenced on Nov 22 to serve 30 days in the La-
An Iota woman has been arrested, accused of possessing child sexual abuse materials, as well as images and videos of sexual abuse of an animal
Cassie Nichole John,37, wasarrested Thursday on three felony countsofpossessionofchild sexualabuse materials and sevenfelony
ary to lead Southern’s search for its next president. He expects the committee to present finalists to the board within five to six months after that, he said “I’m looking fora person whohas an educational background that’sinextricably intertwined with business,” Clayton said. “Tooperate this system, we need a more general philosophy in terms of movingthis school to ahigherlevel.”
Thenext president will have amandate to getSouthern “a seat at thetable”with Louisiana industry and Fortune 500 companies, as wellasattract morestate andfederal dollars,Clayton said.
“Weare notruling out the likes of going to theCondoleezza Rices of the world, people of that ilktorun this university,”Clayton said. Clayton said he wants the next presidenttoaim high to boost funding, including pursuing contractswiththe U.S. Department of Defense. The DOD should “consider Southern as ageographic jewel in terms of bringing in defense contractssothat we can train thefuture military leadersand first responders, not only forpeoplein the state of Louisiana,but to protect this entire country with that corridor of chemical plantsthere,” Clayton said. “Wewill be lookingfor military contracts.”
in massive numbers.
Ahead of the operation, the ACLU said,Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy, the main plaintiff in thelawsuit,stopped offering workshops advising immigrants of their legal rights for fear theywould violate Act399 Lawyersarguedthe law violated the First Amendment right to free speech.
In acourt filing, Murrill’s office said thelaw did not prohibit such activity and was geared toward “conduct, especially violent conduct.”
Overall, higherrates of poverty seem to shape how long residents live, said LaVeist, pointing outthat thestatesatthe bottom of thelistare thepoorest.
The gains seen in 2022 represent arebound rather than an upwardtrajectory
Life expectancy fell in Louisiana during theheight of the pandemic, from almost 76 yearsin2019 to 72 yearsin2021.
counts of sexual abuseof an animal, according to the Louisiana AttorneyGeneral’s Office.
Authorities initially gota tip from theNational Center forMissing andExploited Children,accordingtoa newsreleasefromAttorney General Liz Murrell.
Officials said Johnwas sharing the illicit images andvideos via online social media platformsand was arrested in ajoint investigation involving the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crime Unit, theAcadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Officeand Homeland Security Investigations.
John was booked into an Acadia Parish jail. Her bail was setat$85,000. The investigation is ongoing.
NewIberia woman dies in car crash
New Iberia woman dies in acar crashonLa. 96 after suffering serious injuries, according to police. The crashultimately claimedthe life of Kongkham Phommachanh, 61,of New Iberia.
William “Willie” Fontenot somehow became an environmental activist with real power in Louisiana —no smallfeat in astate that has long embraced theoil and petrochemical industries. Thatpower was eventually takenaway,but notbefore Fontenot forged alasting legacy working on behalfof Louisiana communities. He is now being remembered forthose efforts, with therenowned environmental activist who held a unique role in state government having died on Nov. 23 at his home in Baton Rouge.Hewas 82.
on Christmas Eve in 1989, killing two workers and injuring four others. For years, Fontenot led tours near industry sites in Louisiana. Butthat day, guards confrontedthe group and told Fontenottocollect the students’ driver’slicenses. He refused.
Twoweeks later,the attorneygeneral, Charles Foti Jr gave Fontenot a choice: He could retire or face disciplinary hearings thatwould lead to his firing.
Hiscareer intersected witha period of Louisiana’shistory when,under an environmentally minded attorney general,Fontenot was tasked with organizing community groups and helpingthemleveragestate powerstoconfrontpolluting industries.Thatwas a position that was created for Fontenot, and one that would notbefilled after he was forced out of his job in 2005 following atense interaction with law enforcement outside an Exxonrefinery
“As farasI can tell, Ihave the only job in any governmental agency where part of my jobistogoout andhelp organize citizens,” Fontenot saidinarecorded interview. “It sounds like maybe it’sthe only job like it in theworld. He found community andcommon cause in the environmental movement, which was his political home for morethanfive decades. He gothis startwiththe Sierra Club’schapter in New Orleans, where he focused on issues relatedtocoastal wetlands. In BatonRouge, he worked with theLouisianaWildlife Federation, starting in 1975.
Then, underLouisiana Attorney General William Guste, he workedasanenvironmental community liaison —a job that was created in 1978 specificallyfor Fontenot —organizing communitiesfacing environmental problems.
“Attorney General Guste said, ‘The citizens need some help dealing with environmental problems, how to file acomplaint, how to figure out what their problems are, how to work with public officialsand thenews media,’”Fontenot told The Times-Picayune in 2005.
“He was such an effective advocate and community organizer,” said Billy Goodell, an attorneywho worked alongside Fontenot at the Attorney General’sOffice. His firing was “pure politics,” he added. The role Fontenotvacated would notbefilled. It existed for him, and only him. He hadservedinthe roleunder three attorneys general.
“Wedon’thave anybody likeWillie now in government.Wehaven’thad anyone likethatfor along time,” said Audrey Evans, whoworked alongside Fontenot as acommunity outreach coordinator with the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic.
“Whatwelosewith him, if we don’tremember that there ever wassomeone like Willie Fontenot in the state government, is the conceptthat the governmentcould even servethe function of helpingpeople to understand what to do when they’re faced with an environmental situation.”
‘Focused on solutions’
But neither his firing fromthe Attorney General’sOffice nor the loss of his sight kept Fontenot from environmental justice work. The Opelousas native continued to advocate alongside theSierraClub andLEAN, andadvised communities that sought his expertise. Indeed, for the last three decades of his life, Fontenot was legally blind, suffering from acondition that caused him to lose sight in the centerofhis field of vision. But somehow,he always seemed to know exactly where he was, his family and friends said.
After Fontenot could no longer drive, his son, Jacques, got aspecial driver’slicense at 13 that allowed him to ferry his father to and from community meetings.
3: 1-2-7
4: 8-3-5-9
5: 1-1-1-4-6
vehicle crash on La. 96 near La.345 in St. Martin Parish. Preliminary investigation revealed that Phommachanh was driving a2002 Toyota Tundra west on La. 96. For reasons still under investigation,the Tundra failed to negotiate acurve,ran off the roadway,and thenoverturned.
Phommachanh, whowas properly restrained at the time of the crash, suffered serious injuries,according to police. She was taken toa nearby hospital, where she later died.
Astandard toxicology sample wascollected from Phommachanh and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
“He put his whole heart intohis work,” saidMarylee Orr,the executive director anda co-founderwith Fontenotofthe Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN).
He seemed to know everyoneinthe environmental space andeverything about local environmental issues.
“He was like Wikipedia before they had such athing,” Orr said.
‘Aneffective advocate’
Butthe political tides shifted, and in 2005, Fontenot was pushed out of the position he had held for 27 years.
He had recently taken agroup of students on a community tour near the ExxonMobil refinery in Baton Rouge that exploded
“Wewere driving over the Atchafalaya Spillway on the interstate —you know, along that road, everything looks the same, right?” said Jacques Fontenot. “He said, ‘In amile, there’sgoing to be acypress tree off to the right with asquare cutin it.’”
Someone, years prior,had cut into it to make ajewelry box, Fontenot told his son. “In one mile,there it was,” his sonsaid. “People would getlost, andthink, ‘Man,I wishwehad that blind guy around to direct us.’”
Acelebrationoflife will be held from 1p.m.to3 p.m.Dec. 28 at The Guru, in theCirca1857 complexat the corner of Government and 19th streets in Baton Rouge.
Fontenot
Fed’s preferred inflation gauge elevated in Sept.
WASHINGTON The Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation changed little in September
Prices rose 0.3% in September from August, the Commerce Department said Friday, in a report that was delayed five weeks by the government shutdown. It matched the increase recorded during the previous month. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 0.2% in September from August, the same as August, and a pace that if it continued for a year would bring inflation closer to the Fed’s 2% target.
Compared with a year ago, overall prices rose 2.8%, up slightly from 2.7% in August. Core prices also rose 2.8% from a year earlier, a small decline from the previous month’s figure of 2.9%.
The data indicate that core inflation was muted in September and will bolster the case for a cut to the Fed’s key interest rate at its next meeting Dec 9-10. Inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target, partly because of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but many Fed officials argue that weak hiring, modest economic growth, and slowing wage gains will steadily reduce price gains in the coming months.
Chicago Tribune sues Perplexity AI
The Chicago Tribune filed a copyright infringement lawsuit Thursday in New York federal court against Perplexity AI alleging the California-based startup has been unlawfully profiting off the newspaper’s content in building its AI-driven search engine.
The complaint challenges the unauthorized use of often fully reproduced Tribune reporting to provide answers on the Perplexity AI platforms, essentially bypassing the need to link to the newspaper’s website “Perplexity’s GenAI Products generate outputs that are identical or substantially similar to the Chicago Tribune’s content,” the lawsuit states “Upon information and belief, Perplexity has unlawfully copied millions of copyrighted Chicago Tribune stories, videos, images, and other works to power its products and tools.” A spokesperson for Perplexity AI did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday
In addition to lifting content verbatim, Perplexity is also prone to “hallucinations,” creating inaccurate results and attributing them to the Tribune, which the lawsuit alleges is likely to tarnish the newspaper’s brand and cause “serious damage to its worldwide reputation” as a truthful and accurate news source.
Wall Street rises to the edge of its all-time high
NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market rose to the edge of its all-time high on Friday
The S&P 500 added 0.2% and finished just 0.3% shy of its record closing level, which was set in October.
Ulta Beauty helped lead the market and jumped 12.7% after the retailer reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than expected. CEO Kecia Steelman said its customers are broadly feeling pressure, but Ulta saw growth across its categories, particularly in e-commerce.
Another encouraging signal for the holiday shopping season came from Victoria’s Secret & Co. It delivered a milder loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected, and it likewise raised its forecast for sales over the full year Its stock rallied 18%. On the losing end of Wall Street was SoFi Technologies The financial technology company fell 6.1% to $27.78 after saying it would add $1.5 billion worth of its stock into the market in order to raise cash. It’s selling the stock at a price of $27.50 per share.
BY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS and MATT OTT
AP business writers
NEWYORK Netflix struck a deal Friday to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, the Hollywood giant behind “Harry Potter” and HBO Max, in a $72 billion deal that would bring together two of the biggest players in television and film and potentially reshape the entertainment industry If approved by regulators, the merger would put two of the world’s biggest streaming services under the same ownership — and join Warner’s television and motion picture division, including DC Studios, with Netflix’s vast library and its production arm which has released popular titles such as “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game.”
The proposal could draw intense antitrust scrutiny, particularly for its effects on movie making and streaming subscriptions.
“Netflix is the top streaming service today Now combined with HBO Max, it will absolutely cement itself as the Goliath in the streaming industry,” said Mike Proulx, vice president and research director at Forrester, a market research company
The cash and stock deal is valued at $27.75 per Warner share, giving it a total enterprise value of $82.7 billion, including debt. The transaction is expected to close in the next 12 to 18 months, after Warner completes its previously announced separation of its cable operations Not included in the deal are networks such as CNN and Discovery
Will streaming services combine?
One of the big unanswered questions, Proulx added, is whether HBO Max and Netflix would “stay as separate streaming services or combine into a mega streaming service.”
But either way he said, customers could see some price relief in the form of a single subscription bill or bundle promotions, which would be a welcome change as streaming prices continue to rise and consumers feel the pinch of paying for multiple services.
Of course, that all depends on whether the deal goes through. Netflix on Friday maintained that the addition of HBO and HBO Max programming will give its members “even more high-quality titles” and “optimize its plans for consumers.”
Others warned that a Netflix-Warner combo could create an even bigger entertainment titan with ramifications for both consumers and people working across the film and TV industry Critics said the consequences could include job losses and a reduced variety of content.
Gaining Warner’s legacy studios would mark a notable shift for Netflix, particularly its presence in theaters. Under the proposed acquisition, Netflix has promised to continue theatrical releases for Warner’s studio films, honoring Warner’s contractual agreements. Netflix has kept most of its original content
within its core online platform. But there have been exceptions, including qualifying runs for its awards contenders, including this year’s “Frankenstein,” limited theater screenings of a “KPop Demon Hunters” sing-a-long and its coming “Stranger Things” series finale. Effect on theaters and filmmakers
Critics said a Netflix-Warner combo would be bad news for moviegoers and for people who work in theaters. Cinema United — a trade association that represents more than 30,000 movie screens in the U.S. and another 26,000 screens internationally — was quick to oppose the deal, which it said “poses an unprecedented threat to the global exhibition business.”
“Netflix’s stated business model does not support theatrical exhibition. In fact, it is the opposite,” Michael O’Leary, CEO of Cinema United, said Friday “Theaters will close, communities will suffer, jobs will be lost.”
The Writers Guild of America sounded a similar alarm and called for the merger to be blocked.
The Producers Guild of America said the Netflix deal must prove that it protects workers’ livelihoods and theatrical distribution. “Legacy studios are more than content libraries — within their vaults are the character and culture of our nation,” the union added. Warner Bros., which is 102 years old, is one of the “big five” studios left in Hollywood. If the Netflix sale goes through, the remaining legacy studios would be Disney, Paramount, Sony Pictures and Universal.
The Netflix-Warner deal also sent shock waves through Washington, on both sides of the aisle.
Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a longtime antitrust hawk, said the proposed merger “looks like an anti-monopoly nightmare.” And Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican and close Trump ally, said the deal “raises serious red flags for consumers, creators, movie theaters and local businesses alike.”
Trump urged to drop plan for drilling off Florida coast
Congressional delegation cites threat to tourism
BY MATTHEW DALY Associated Press
WASHINGTON Florida’s Republican-dominated congressional delegation is urging the Trump administration to drop a plan that would allow new oil drilling for the first time in decades off the state’s coast.
A letter signed by Republican Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody — as well as by all 28 House members from Florida — says the Interior Department plan would put the state’s thriving tourism industry at risk and disrupt military operations in a key training area.
“In 2020, you made the right decision to use executive action to extend the moratorium on oil and gas leasing off Florida’s Gulf and east coasts through 2032, recognizing the incredible value Florida’s pristine coasts have to our state’s economy, environ-
ment and military community,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter Thursday to President Donald Trump.
The letter represents a rare pushback against the Republican president by GOP lawmakers and demonstrates how important the state’s beaches and coastal waters are to Florida’s economy
The letter does not criticize Trump, whose Mara-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida would not be affected by the drilling plan. Instead lawmakers praised Trump’s action during his first term, when he imposed a moratorium on drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico through 2032 after similar pushback from Florida lawmakers to an earlier drilling plan.
The moratorium received overwhelming bipartisan support, the lawmakers noted.
“We urge you to uphold your existing moratorium and keep Florida’s coasts off the table for oil and gas leasing. Florida’s economy, environment and military readiness depend on this commitment,” they wrote.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced a five-year offshore drilling plan last month that includes new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts for the first time in decades. The plan, which critics say could harm coastal communities and ecosystems, comes as Trump seeks to expand U.S. oil production to achieve what he calls “energy dominance” in the global market.
The oil industry has been seeking access to new offshore areas, including Southern California and off the Florida coast, as a way to boost U.S. energy security and jobs. The federal government has not allowed drilling in federal waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which includes offshore Florida and part of offshore Alabama, since 1995, because of concerns about oil spills. California has some offshore oil rigs, but there has been no new leasing in federal waters since the mid-1980s.
Two lease sales are proposed near Florida, in 2029 and 2030, the Interior Department said.
Friday’s announcement followed a monthslong bidding war for Warner Rumors of interest from Netflix, as well as NBC owner Comcast, started bubbling up in the fall. Skydance-owned Paramount, which completed its own $8 billion merger in August, also reportedly made several all-cash offers.
While Netflix’s bid won over Warner’s approval, experts stressed that a bumpy regulatory road lies ahead.
“No doubt politics are going to come into play,” Proulx said. He pointed particularly to the Trump administration’s relationship with the family of Larry Ellison, whose son David runs Paramount, and reports of that company’s frustrations over Warner’s sale process — both of which, he noted, “can’t be ignored as part of the calculus as to the outcome of all of this.”
Christina DePasquale, a Johns Hopkins University professor who specializes in antitrust issues, said the government might be skeptical of a streaming behemoth controlling both the production and distribution of content Warner Bros. Discovery, which was formed just three and a half years ago, announced its intention to split its streaming and studio operations from its cable business back in June. The move arrived as more and more consumers continue to “cut the cord” and rely almost entirely on streaming.
The company outlined plans for HBO, HBO Max, as well as Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group and DC Studios, to become part of a new streaming and studios company That is what Netflix is now acquiring. Meanwhile, networks such as CNN, Discovery and TNT Sports and other digital products will make up a separate cable counterpart called Discovery Global. Warner signaled that it was open to a sale of all of parts of its business back in October, citing “unsolicited interest” it had received. Now that it’s agreed to Netflix’s bid, Discovery Global is set to become a new publicly traded company by the third quarter of 2026.
BY KELVIN CHAN Associated Press
LONDON European Union regulators on Friday fined X, Elon Musk’s social media platform, $140 million for breaches of the bloc’s digital regulations, in a move that risks rekindling tensions with Washington over free speech.
It’s the first time that the EU has issued a so-called non-compliance decision since rolling out the Digital Services Act. The sweeping rulebook requires platforms to take more responsibility for protecting European users and cleaning up harmful or illegal content and products on their sites, under threat of hefty fines.
The Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s executive arm, said it was punishing X because of three different breaches of the DSA’s transparency requirements.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on his X account that the Commission’s fine was akin to an attack on the American people. Musk later agreed with Rubio’s sentiment
“The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on @X, it’s an
attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments,” Rubio wrote “The days of censoring Americans online are over.” Vice President JD Vance, posting on X ahead of the decision, accused the Commission of seeking to fine X “for not engaging in censorship.”
“The EU should be supporting free speech not attacking American companies over garbage,” he wrote.
Regulators said X’s blue checkmarks broke the rules because on “deceptive design practices” and could expose users to scams and manipulation. Before Musk acquired X, when it was previously known as Twitter, the checkmarks mirrored verification badges common on social media
After Musk bought the site, it started issuing the badges to anyone who wanted to pay $8 per month. That means X does not meaningfully verify who’s behind the account, “making it difficult for users to judge the authenticity of accounts and content they engage with,” the Commission said in its announcement
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JAE C. HONG
The Warner Bros. water tower is seen at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif., on Friday.
flix struck a deal Friday to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, the Hollywood giant behind ‘Harry Potter’ and HBO Max, in a $72 billion deal that would bring together two of the biggest players in television
reshape the entertainment industry.
OPINION
ANOTHERVIEW
Mamdanicould ease Trump’s return to N.Y.
There’snomysterywhy ZohranMamdani wanted to getalong with DonaldTrump. Thepresident threatened New York City with fundingcuts, deployment of federal forces and other unpleasantriesifits voters elected theself-described democratic socialist as mayor.But why after calling Mamdani all kinds of names, even warning of his possible arrest,did Trump later smother themayor-elect with flamboyant affection?
Froma Harrop
An explanation:The MAGA show is closing —asisTrump’stime in the White House. Trump needs anew forum on which to stagehis dramas. New York may seem anatural placefor theman who, beforebecoming president, styledhimself as Mr.New York. He already has real estate thereand, as abuilder,might want to cozy up to amayor who vows to build thousands of apartments. Butfirst, he has to get past the fact that many NewYorkersloathe him.
Mamdanicould ease Trump’sway backin. The charismatic new mayor could play defense to make hisreturn smooth
Of course, Trump has other places to go after the White House. Mar-a-Lago would be an obviouschoice. Problem is, Palm Beach will be muchlesslively once Trump can no longer dispense government favors to rich hangers-on. Furthermore, oncehe’snolonger president, the cameras will move on. There’s “Trump Country,” onesupposes. Theproblem there is he’sleaving much of Trumpcountry in shambles. The tariffs are bankrupting farmers, and theimmigration crackdown is takingtheir workforce. Meanwhile, most of rural America will be hurt by Medicaid cuts.
Besides, wild horsescouldn’t drag Trumpto the places that most loved him. Notenough models.Not enough monied nightspots. Not enoughmoney,ingeneral. And above all, not enoughcameras
The cameras never left Manhattan. Trump may again want to “play the Palace.” Theexpression refers to the 1913 Palace Theatre, then themostfamous vaudeville theater in America. For performers, to play thePalace wasproof they had truly made it.
But Trump will be 82 when he leavesoffice. He’sno longer the swinging youngbuck who gamboled his wayontotabloidcovers. New Yorkersdidn’tparticularly hate Trump in the old days. They regarded him as an amusing rogue. Mamdani is also acagey guyand unlikelytolet Trump play him. Trump’soffer tohelphim “Make New York Great Again” didn’tplay so well in Gotham. NewYork already regardsitself as great. It’smuchof the MAGA heartland thatdoesn’t seem to be doing so great. On the other hand, as longasTrumpcontrolsthe federal government, he has carrots to dangle. New York Gov.Kathy Hochul has pretty much shotdown Mamdani’splan for free buses. The state runs the region’stransportation system, andshe is notkeento provide the $800 million thatwould be needed.
But didn’t Trump offer towork with thenext mayor for the betterment of New York City? Considerthat $800 million is nothing in Washington. Trumpcould do the free buses in return for something personal. Now,becomingbros withTrump would be problematic for Mamdani, who had vowedtobethe president’s“worst nightmare.” Is it really in his interests to participate in arehabilitation of DonaldTrump? But Trump may figure, what goes down can also go up.In2015, he cinematically launched his first presidential run by coming down the TrumpTower escalator as actors reportedly paid $50each applauded. Trump may now want to take theupescalator,back to the glittery New York life he once well knew. But he would probably find,asthe expression goes, that “the past is aforeign country.”
Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop.Email herat fharrop@gmail.com.
Letters are published identifyingname, occupation and/ortitle and the writer’scity of residence.TheAdvocate |The TimesPicayune require astreet address and phone number for verification purposes, but thatinformation is notpublished. Letters arenot to exceed 300 words. Letterstothe Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.
YOUR VIEWS
Accusationsabout LNG’s environmentalimpact should be questioned
The recent guest column, “Dredge spill in Cameron Parishhighlights worries with LNG megaprojects,” paintsanincompletepicture of dredging activityinLouisiana’swaterways.
The word “spill” may sound alarming, but thereality is that dredging is acarefully managed, routine and essential process for our environment.
The redistribution of sediment is anatural occurrence that supports biodiversity and plays an important role in keeping the deltasystem healthy.This ultimately benefits fishermen, shrimpers and the communities that rely on Louisiana’s working coast. The faster the dredging is completed, the less disruption there will be.
Iurge my neighbors to exercise caution when presented withthe alarmist explanations. We should absolutely hold companies accountable to existing environmental regulations, but the issue presented by theauthors is simply not one.
The work being done by manufacturing plantsand LNG export facilitiesisstrengthening the economy
along Louisiana’scoastline, not causing the calamity presented by theenvironmental activists. Natural gas companies in the region have even taken steps to preserve the coastline’slongevity by investing in restoration efforts. When environmental activists continue to raise false alarms about Louisiana’seconomic powerhouses, they distract from the real progress being madetooffset reliance on Russian oil and gas overseas and bolster international security here at home.
According to Loren Scott’s LouisianaEconomic Forecast, LNG export facilities will bring tens of thousands of jobs to the state over thenext two years. And further,the development of theLNG export industry has “radically” increased the growthprospects of theregion. We should be applauding efforts to untether the world from Russian gas and creating good-paying jobs here in Louisiana, not actively working against them
CHARLIE MELANCON spokesman forLouisiana EnergyExport Partners (LEEP)Coalition
Spending on LITdevelopment should be examined
The powerful Port of New Orleans,inits claimed zeal to stay competitive with container ship operations along the Mississippi River,has spent and wasted at or over $100 million of state coffers.
Ourgovernor,who claims to be afiscal conservative, jumped onto that trainand has promoted the Louisiana International Terminal development in St.Bernard Parish, despitethe unified opposition by parishgovernment, the St. Bernard school district andpractically every elected official in the parish.
In addition to thepublic opposition,acommunity advocacy group has initiated lawsuits to prevent thedevelopment of the project that would destroy an entire community
Now,itisevident that the LIT is at astandstill, and there are major legal and infrastructure problems that cannot be overcome anytime in
theforeseeable future.
The executive director of the PortofNew Orleans and the board of directors have clearlybreached their fiduciaryresponsibilities and forged forward as aresult of their complete incompetence. Someone must be held accountable for this wanton waste of public money.Where is the Louisiana Legislative Auditor? How is it that the PortofNew Orleans has so much surplus money that it could justify spending these public funds on such apurely “speculative project,” according to Port of New Orleans Executive Director Beth Branch in court testimony?
Gov.Jeff Landry should pull the plug on this debacleashedid on theMid-Barataria and Mid-Breton diversions.
PHILLIP DIFATTA
formercommissioner,St. Bernard Port Harbor and Terminal District
When will we admithurricane season forecasts areunreliable?
Hurricane season came to an end on Nov. 30. Since then, Ihave been waiting foranarticle to be written apologizing to the readers because the doom and gloom from major hurricanes impacting the United States, as predicted by weather forecasters and NOAA, never came to be. No hurricanes entered the Gulf of Mexico this year that could impact the United States. Each year,prior to and during the hurricane season, articles are written about the crisis and destruction sure to come soon.
Reality is that forecasters cannot predict what will happen from year to year,and Mother Nature is in complete control of what is to happen. It is adisservice to readers to constantly use unreliable forecasts to scare people. It is timetochange your ways and stop using the socalled experts whoare guessing at best as reliable newssources.
BRYANHALE
Metairie
Time to changea broken system
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy finally proposed something Ican agree with. Yes, all congressional pay should stop during ashutdown. But how manyofhis fellow senators or representatives agree?
We,the ordinary people, find ourselves in asad situation, but one that is not different from what the colonists found. Our early colonists fought forindependence from a king whowas not listening to them
Our representatives, through their parties, have invented new kings. Our so-called representatives have ignored the people’s needs, and one party has madea king of our present president. Maybe we should follow the example we have been given, get rid of our kings and kingmakers. Let us find another way.This system is not working forus, the people.
Our early colonists changed things when the system wasn’t working forthem.Maybe it is time forustodothe same!
MERLE T. HARRIS
MORE ME S ST L SPORTS
CFPhas diminished some conference titlegames,but notinthe SEC
To some, collegefootball’sconferencechampionship games need to become arelic of thepast,like singlebarfacemasks or players beingtrue amateurs.
Remember that version of college football?
The College Football Playoff is taking up more and more of theair in the room —atleast the airnot reserved forbombast overLaneKiffin’s move from Ole Miss to LSU. Theplayoffwentfrom four teams to 12 in 2024, may expandto14or16teams in January,and there are reports the Big Tenwants it to grow to 24 to 28 teams.
That said, when the firstSaturday in December comes ‘round, it’sthe SECchampionshipgame— the original conference championship gamestarted way back in 1992,the grandaddy of them all in that realm that still takes center stage. OK, maybe not quitecenter stageonthis first SaturdayinDecember. There isthat littletussle up in India-
napolis on Saturday night when No. 1Ohio Statesquares off with No. 2 Indiana (still can’tbelieve I’m typing that) for the Big Tenchampionship. Butthis gameinAtlanta between CFP No. 3Georgia (11-1) and No. 9 Alabama (10-2) is still mightyimportant. Not just for theplayoff implicationsbut for theprize.
They’re playing for theS-E-C championship, and when it comes to conference titles, it is still the toughest one to win.
“You start theseason —and this is the best conference in college football —and to be playing in this game, Itell our guys they earned this,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “This is what our program’sbeen built on, is winning championships.Itstarts with an SEC championship. No teams in SEC history have won more conference
It’saquestion that’s beingasked alot in recent weeks.
“What in the world is going on withthe UL basketball programs?”
Burgess readyfor ‘second chance’
Saints safety setto startvs. Buccaneers
BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer
ä Saints at Bucs NOON SUNDAy,CBS
TerrellBurgess hadbeenout of football foralmost ayear when he receiveda call from the New OrleansSaintsthis past offseason. Having coached the safety when Burgess was arookie, defensivecoordinatorBrandon Staley wasn’tconcerned about the inactivity. He wasn’t bothered by howBurgess had gotten “lost,” bouncing fromteam to team since they last worked togetheronthe Los Angeles Rams.Staleyinsteadthought back to his initial impression of the former 2020 thirdround pick.
Staley remembered aversatile rookie with great coverage skills who easily fit in on oneofthe bestdefensesincollege at Utahand then again forthe league’stoprated defense in Los Angeles.
“Sometimes, youjust need asecond chance at it,” Staley said. “And going to the right fit. …Hewas hungry.Hewas humble.” Burgess’ second chance with Staleyhas led him to Sunday,when he’sset to start in place of an injured Justin Reid (knee) on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’ll be just the sixth start of his career in 54 games, ajourney that has now spanned five teams.
His opportunity,too, marks anotherway the Saints have had to adapt at safety this season. Originally,the Saints signed Reid to athree-year,$31.5 milliondeal and expected to pair him withTyrann Mathieu. But once
Mathieuunexpectedly retired beforetrainingcamp, theSaints brought in veteran Julian Blackmon —who lastedjust one gamebefore suffering a ä See SAINTS, page 3C
It’scertainly alegitimateconcern.Going into the weekend, the UL men areoff to a 1-8 start to theseason while the women’s squad is 0-8. The worst combined basketball season in school history was 1995 when the men suffered througha 7-22 record andthe womenwere in the middle of anightmare decade at 4-23. That’s acombined 11 wins.
The men face ahuge uphill climb in Saturday’s3 p.m. home game against UNCWilmington. The Seahawks are 8-1 and on a seven-game winning streak, including wins over Southeastern Louisiana70-57 and Marshall 70-69. The UL women returntothe court at 4p.m. Sunday againstMorehead State (3-5) in theCajundome Analyzing eachteam’spoor start
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
LSU’s2026 recruiting class wasbuilt through the defensive trenches,and it was up to LaneKiffin to keep it that way That’swhat Kiffinand his staff accomplishedFriday,the finalday of the early signing period. LSUsigned five-stardefensive lineman Lamar Brown, four-star edge rusher Trenton Henderson and four-star defensive lineman Deuce Geralds, three of the70best players in the nation, according to the247Sports Composite rankings.
The headliner on Fridaywas Brown, the No. 2playerinAmericaand the top recruitinLouisiana.The University High star planned to sign withLSU on Wednesday, butBrown andfive-stardefensive lineman Richard Anderson’sagent told On3 Sports that both recruits would not sign their letters of intent withLSU during theearly signing period. Anderson—who is an Edna Karr star and the No. 29 player in thenation and No. 2recruit in Louisiana— changed course WednesdaybeforeLSU madehis signing official Thursday.Brown waited five days
to sign after his face-to-face meeting with KiffinonSunday night.
Brown’sdelay in signingwithLSU mostly had to do with the uncertainty surrounding the defensive coaching staffafter Kiffin’sarrival.
The former Ole Miss coach brought most of his offensive staff from Oxford to Baton Rouge, but questions remained as to the futures of defensive coordinator Blake Baker, secondary coachCorey Raymondand others as of Friday evening. Baker has taken interviews for the open head coaching jobs at Tulane and Memphis, per WVUE-TV Along with the defensive staff, LSU interim coach/recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson’sfuture with the programisalsoup in the air.Wilson, who built astrong rapport with Brown, workedunderKiffin at Tennessee and was seen meeting with him when he first arrivedSunday.
“Our program here at LSUwill be designed top to bottom to be the No. 1destination forelite players in all of America,” Kiffin said. “That’swhy we’re here. Our immediate priority is assembling the best
STAFF PHOTO By BRADKEMP UL men’sbasketball coach Quannas White remains optimistic about his first season, despite
start.
Kevin Foote Scott Rabalais
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Penn State in talks to hire
Iowa St. coach Campbell
Penn State is in talks to name Iowa State’s Matt Campbell as its next head football coach according to reports.
Multiple outlets, citing anonymous sources, reported talks between Campbell and the Nittany Lions were progressing.
The potential hire comes nearly two months after the firing of longtime coach James Franklin midway through his 12th season following an 0-3 start in Big Ten play
a.m.Flamengo
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LSU star Johnson proves point vs. Duke
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
Flau’jae Johnson scored a gamehigh 18 points on Thursday in the LSU women’s 93-77 win over Duke — a game she’s been looking forward to since July
That’s because Johnson had something to prove to sixth-year Blue Devils coach Kara Lawson
Over the summer, the LSU senior guard was one of 12 college basketball stars who played on the USA Basketball team that Lawson coached to gold at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup in Chile.
Except Johnson couldn’t crack Lawson’s rotation in the games that mattered most, losing “a lot of confidence” as a result, coach Kim Mulkey said Thursday “I was happy for Flau’jae,” Mulkey said. “She didn’t have a good experience with USA Basketball with (Lawson) this summer, and so she’s had this date circled.
“You get nervous, right? You get nervous because you think she’s gonna try to come in here and do too much, and I was proud of how she handled herself.”
Johnson scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to help LSU preserve its come-from-behind win on Thursday Duke raced out to a 17-3 lead, but the Tigers battled back, becoming just the second team to score more than 90 points against the Blue Devils since Lawson took over the program in 2020 This season, Johnson is averaging 17.1 points per game on 55% shooting. She’s also drained 18 of 31 attempts from 3-point range (58%). But Lawson could not find meaningful minutes for Johnson last summer in Team USA’s 65-52 semifinal win over Canada or its 92-84 final victory over Brazil. She logged only three minutes in both matchups, ceding playing time to
guards such as Notre Dame junior Hannah Hidalgo, TCU senior Olivia Miles, Vanderbilt sophomore Mikayla Blakes and UCLA senior Gianna Kneepkens.
“(Lawson’s) done a lot of wonderful things in her career,”
Mulkey said, “and when you become a coach, whether it’s (with) USA Basketball, whether it’s at LSU, whether it’s at Duke, players aren’t going to always be happy and content.”
Lawson was asked about Mulkey’s comments on Johnson’s summer She said that her experience coaching Team USA “was a good one.”
“Not just coaching Flau’jae but coaching all the players,” Lawson said. “All 12 players. Putting a team together and practicing within 10 days and then going to play a tournament. And our college players did an incredible job playing against teams that had pro players on (them) and were able to win the gold. So just really proud of that group.”
Duke has played stout defense for most of Lawson’s tenure, but on Thursday it couldn’t figure out how to slow LSU down. The Tigers entered the matchup their first against a high-major team this season with an NCAA-record eight-game streak of 100-point performances.
LSU didn’t hit the century mark against Duke, but it came close.
The Tigers shot 60% from the field 5 of 11 from 3-point range and 14 of 16 at the free-throw line.
Six of the nine players who saw the floor scored in double figures, including star guards MiLaysia Fulwiley (16 points) and Mikaylah Williams (14 points).
Fulwiley scored 14 points in the first half, then ceded control of the offense to Williams. She added 10 points in the third quarter after hitting a series of tough mid-range looks.
LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson races up the court after a turnover during a game on Nov 6 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center
The fourth belonged to Johnson, who played LSU’s first true test of the season with a chip on her shoulder and a renewed sense of confidence.
“It was my job when I got (Johnson) back on campus,” Mulkey said, “to bring her (confidence) back to where she can help us do what we need to do at LSU.
“I just winked at her, and I said, ‘Just be you. Do what you do for LSU. Don’t make it personal. Don’t try to be somebody you’re not. Just you in that purple uniform with those three letters speaks volumes.’
Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.
Ohio State, Indiana clash for Big Ten title
BY MICHAEL MAROT AP sportswriter
INDIANAPOLIS Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has been here before. Twice. His second-ranked Hoosiers, just like first-ranked Ohio State, have not. For the first time in more than a decade and just the third time since conference championship games were standardized, the nation’s topranked teams will play for a title.
The two previous top-ranked conference title games were in the Southeastern Conference in 200809 when Florida and Alabama went back to back. Cignetti was on Nick Saban’s Alabama coaching staff. And, yes, experience could matter.
“A year late,” Cignetti joked after Indiana punched its ticket by routing Purdue “I had the opportunity to be part of a couple of those at Alabama when we played Florida and (Tim) Tebow and Urban (Meyer) two years in a row It’s going to be a great atmosphere. I think — no I know — you’re playing this game for a reason. A Big Ten championship means an awful lot.”
The Buckeyes (12-0) and Hoosiers (12-0) are in similar positions. They are playoff locks, with good chances at a first-round bye no matter what happens in Indianapolis on
ä Indiana vs. Ohio State.
SATURDAy 7 P.M.,FOX
Saturday
But the contrast between these programs couldn’t be starker
Ohio State owns eight national championships, is closing in on program win No. 1,000 and has claimed at least three Big Ten crowns in every decade from the 1930s through 2010s.
Despite the steady parade of players from Columbus to the NFL, the Buckeyes watched the last four Big Ten title games from home — a drought that coincided with their four-game losing streak to dreaded Michigan. That streak ended last week and this week the defending national champs hope to fulfill another preseason goal by hoisting their first Big Ten trophy in five years.
“We’re excited we put ourselves in a position to have a chance to play for the Big Ten championship,” All-American Caleb Downs said. “We’re going to go at it with a lot of energy and put everything into it this week and then go play as well as we can Saturday.”
As a program, the Hoosiers are relative newcomers to the big stage. They finally shed the label of the
FBS’ losingest program last month then completed the first perfect regular season in school history and are now seeking their third Big Ten title. The first came in 1945, the last in 1967, leaving Indiana tied with Minnesota for the conference’s longest active title drought.
The Hoosiers have an experienced roster with key players who have played for championships in previous stops and, oh yeah, Cignetti. They also can rely on the lessons learned from their only losses last season — at Ohio State and at national runner-up Notre Dame.
“We fell short in the moment,” first team all-conference linebacker Aiden Fisher said, reflecting on those defeats. “Coach Cignetti said it kind of got a little too big for us, and I think we went in with too much of an underdog mentality
This year every single game we’ve been in there’s been no doubt at all It’s never crept in that, ‘Oh, we might lose this game.’”
There’s no reason to change that philosophy now in a contest that features the nation’s two stingiest scoring defenses, two of the nation’s top-15 scoring offenses, the nation’s two most efficient quarterbacks and major college football’s last two unbeaten teams
“I don’t expect any handouts,” Cignetti said. “We’ve earned everything up to this point, and we’ve got
to earn it on Saturday.”
Heisman battle
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin are going head to head as top Heisman Trophy contenders. Some believe this game could determine the trophy’s winner Though nobody wants to talk about the race, there is some mutual admiration between the two.
“Julian Sayin and I never officially met, however through high school we used a similar quarterback coach,” Mendoza said. “And this year we had a lot of overlap games, and we were able to watch their film. I really respect Julian, he is effective and he fits the offense perfectly.”
On the move
Buckeyes offensive coordinator
coach Brian Hartline accepted his first head coaching job, at South Florida, on Wednesday But unlike other coaches, Hartline isn’t going anywhere yet. Coach Ryan Day said Wednesday that Hartline would stay with his alma mater through the playoffs.
“The timing isn’t great, but that’s not Brian’s fault. Instead of being upset about it, we’re going to embrace it,” Day said. “I’m really happy for he and his family He’s put in a lot of hard work here.”
The Nittany Lions began the year ranked No. 2 after advancing to last year’s CFP semifinals. They went 3-3 under interim coach Terry Smith and are currently awaiting a bowl assignment.
Campbell signed a contract extension at Iowa State in August worth $5 million per year until 2032, with a buyout of $2 million.
LeBron’s double-digit scoring record now over
LeBron James’ NBA-record run of 1,297 consecutive regularseason games with at least 10 points ended Thursday night at Toronto and he was the one who made the decision to have it end Instead of trying to score to win the game and extend his streak — he set up Rui Hachimura for the final shot.
Hachimura connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer, James got the game-winning assist, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Raptors 123-120.
James’ streak started Jan. 6, 2007, and lasted nearly two decades. It was, by far the longest such streak in NBA history, the next being Michael Jordan, who had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games
Commanders’ QB Daniels to start against Vikings
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will start Sunday at Minnesota after missing three games with a dislocated left elbow Daniels, the 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, got hurt in the final minutes of Washington’s 38-14 home loss against Seattle on Nov 2. Though the television replay prompted fear of a longterm concern, subsequent tests revealed Daniels did not suffer any significant structural damage.
The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner returned to practice on a limited basis last week and practiced in full on Thursday and Friday Coach Dan Quinn said Friday that the QB “threw a great week of practice” and has been cleared to play
Lions safety Branch has reportedly torn his Achilles DETROIT Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch tore his left Achilles tendon against the Dallas Cowboys, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Tests revealed the significant injury on Friday, the person told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the results were not announced.
Branch was hurt late in Detroit’s 44-30 win over Dallas on Thursday.
The injury is a major setback for the Lions, whose secondary is very banged up.
Free safety Thomas Harper, filling in for injured Kerby Joseph, suffered a concussion in the first quarter and wasn’t cleared to return and cornerback Terrion Arnold went on injured reserve earlier this week.
Young, Spaun part of 5-way tie in the Bahamas NASSAU,Bahamas U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun converted two of his three eagle chances, Cameron Young shot 30 on the back nine and Hideki Matsuyama was bogeyfree, all of them part of another five-way tie for the lead Friday in the Hero World Challenge.
Akshay Bhatia birdied the 18th for a 68 to join former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark (68), Spaun (68), Matsuyama (66) and Young (64). They were at 10-under 134 at Albany Golf Club, where nearly half of the 20-man field was separated by two shots going into the weekend.
Spaun made only five eagles all season and then seized on the scoring holes. “Didn’t get
but salvaged a
round,” Spaun said.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Georgia aims to overcome its one bugaboo: Alabama
BY CHARLES ODUM AP sportswriter
ATLANTA After No 3 Georgia
closed an 11-1 regular season with its eighth straight win over Georgia Tech last week, coach Kirby Smart was asked about his senior class dominating its top rivals through four seasons Smart replied with a reminder that Georgia Tech, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee do not form a complete list of the Bulldogs’ biggest rivals.
“You know, there’s other ones out there we haven’t beat,” Smart said Smart didn’t mention No. 10 Alabama, but he didn’t have to Georgia players understand there’s unfinished business waiting in Saturday’s Southeastern Conference championship game A win over Alabama (10-2, No. 9 CFP) is the glaring omission on the Georgia seniors’ four-year 50-5 record that includes the 2022 national championship and two SEC titles.
“Everybody knows the history of Georgia-Alabama,” Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton said. “I mean, it’s there.” There are reminders everywhere. Even in the pregame media notes prepared by Georgia (No. 3 CFP), there is a recap of the series titled “The Elephant In The Room.”
Alabama casts a shadow Georgia has struggled to escape.
“Like, the team is pretty aware,” linebacker Raylen Wilson said.
With each team trying to improve its national championship hopes as well as claim the SEC title, there is more on the line than just the series history between the conference powers.
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requires surveying two very different paths. Naturally, there were huge questions entering the season for both teams.
For the men, this is coach Quannas White’s first head coaching job with a team full of new players. Only two players from last year’s squad remain after Zeke Cook left the team.
On the women’s side, not a single player on the roster played at UL last season. Three coaches left for other jobs and two of them weren’t replaced. The Cajuns really started from scratch
The men’s team began intense, in-depth offseason workouts in June. The women didn’t really have a true offseason.
All of these new women’s players weren’t conditioned or drilled properly and that’s shown up on the court. Coach Garry Brodhead repeatedly has said his team hadn’t spent enough time in the gym because of the chaotic offseason.
Brodhead also has been transparent about mistakes made prior to that stage. Like so many coaches in all sports across the country, the NIL and revenuesharing process were new to Brodhead. Handling that while his coaching staff shrank didn’t go well.
“I thought our process was to offer minimal and then go from there and it didn’t work,” he said. “It’s what is the going rate. The players know when they come in, and they would leave here looking like we were going to be able to sign them and then they would go on one more recruiting trip and get offered more money
“I could have gotten two really good players with the money we had. That’s what I should have done. I think the really hard thing for me is I’ve recruited better players without having to pay them that’s just the way it is now.”
The truth is even if the staff was complete early on and a legitimate offseason happened, the transition still would have been massive for the women because of all the new players and three true freshmen being among the top-seven players. This is a true rebuilding process filled with youth.
Four highly touted players already have been signed for next season, so it’s easy to see how the women can improve quickly with some maturity. It’s a little harder to explain the men’s side.
Perhaps White was just selling himself and his new venture, but he sounded awfully confident in the roster he signed. When interviewing these new players who had been in other successful programs, every one of them seemed sold on how the offseason was going and the prospects for this season.
But upon reviewing each new
“It’s definitely going to be a great battle, one for the centuries, like it always is when Alabama and Georgia play,” Alabama nose tackle Tim Keenan said
Alabama will play for its first title with coach Kalen DeBoer Alabama beat Georgia for its seventh SEC championship in 2023 with former coach Nick Saban.
player’s credentials, the same question kept arising: “Who is going to score on this team?”
So far, that answer is elusive.
UL enters the weekend ranked No. 361 — or dead last — in scoring nationally No. 352 in fastbreak points, No. 359 in assist-toturnover ratio, No. 360 in assists, No. 353 in field-goal percentage and No. 347 in 3-point shooting.
The most troubling part of those statistics are the fastbreak points. The consolation to not seeing much scoring potential was the notion that the Houstonstyle defense would produce a lot of easy buckets to compensate for a lack of shooters.
In Wednesday’s loss at Lamar, the Cardinals outscored UL 14-3 in fastbreak points
We’ve got to continue to just be better at ball movement and getting to the basket,” White said
The Lamar game showed signs of promise with a season-high 15 assists, but the Cajuns still shot only eight free throws.
“We got to get to the foul line more, and then we got to make our foul shots,” White said.
Before getting too depressed, UL fans should factor in the injury issues. The player White brought in to lead his first team was Oklahoma State point guard Jamyron Keller, who played two games but has been sidelined since then with a foot injury
Also, backup point guard Karris Bilal a Vanderbilt transfer has been out all season with a foot injury
As for the scoring punch, Louisiana Tech transfer Sean Elkinton should help greatly with the 3-point shooting, but he hasn’t played yet, either
So yes, the first potential solution to the disappointing 1-8 start is getting that trio back on the court. Theoretically, Keller’s return should increase the assists, limit the turnovers and provide more scoring.
As the defense improves, perhaps the easy buckets will come as well.
The truth is White’s repeated reminder is correct — it’s still very early and it will take time.
“Hey man, this is life,” White said. “A lot of what you go through in basketball, you can relate to life. We’ll be fine. This is just the time that we’re going through, and a turnaround is coming. I believe that.”
Georgia fell to 1-7 against Alabama under Smart with a 24-21 loss on Sept. 27. It was the Bulldogs’ first home loss in six years. The Bulldogs are 0-3 in the series in the last four years, including a 27-24 loss in the 2023 SEC championship game when Georgia was No. 1, undefeated and coming off backto-back national championships.
A win Saturday would give Ala-
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championships than these two schools: Alabama with 30, Georgia with 15. In fact, stack up their 45 trophies and it’s only a slightly smaller pile than the rest of the SEC combined with 51 (LSU ranks fourth with 12).
Yes, everyone wants to make it into the CFP and that is the overriding goal. But if you don’t think Kiffin and Krewe at LSU aren’t making this game a goal as well, you don’t know Trinidad Chambliss from former Atlanta Braves hitter Chris Chambliss.
“It’s been a great honor to play in” the SEC title game, Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “I mean, to win SEC championships are one of the hardest things to do. You look how elusive they’ve been, how few programs have been able to win them across the SEC.”
Winning SEC titles hasn’t been that hard for Georgia under Smart; they’ve done it three times, including last year’s dramatic 22-19 overtime victory against a Texas team making its maiden conference voyage. Winning against Alabama has been hard. For all of its success
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season-ending injury that paved the way for rookie Jonas Sanker Burgess has been ready through it all.
Despite not making the team’s initial 53-man roster, the safety had a strong training camp that was slowed by his own hamstring injury After joining the practice squad following cuts, Burgess didn’t have to wait long before he was signed to the active roster two weeks into the season.
Until the Miami game, when he replaced Reid, Burgess had played sparingly but always seemed to make a positive impact.
At the lectern this week, coach Kellen Moore said that’s a reflection of the veteran’s preparation. He pointed to Burgess’ lone snap two weeks ago against the Atlanta Falcons, when he broke up a pass on third down to force a punt. And how Burgess came off the bench for a pivotal pass breakup on a flea flicker in New Orleans’ Week 5 win over the New York Giants.
“Yeah, it’s a 53-man roster — we really saw him, viewed him as (player) 54 then,” Moore said. “Because he was ready to go from the beginning. He’s just the ultimate pro, the ultimate vet.”
Told of Moore’s comments, Burgess’ eyes lit up at his locker That’s how he felt throughout camp, the safety said. Even though he was initially part of cuts, Burgess was excited for any role with the Saints.
He admitted he didn’t know whether he’d receive another opportunity after the Buffalo Bills released him with an injury settle-
son Tide since a 33-18 win in the 2021 national championship game for its first title in 41 years.
Each team enters Saturday’s game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium motivated to improve its chances in this year’s College Football Playoff.
Georgia will be playing to protect its position for a first-round bye.
Alabama wants to avoid a third loss that could endanger its spot in the 12-team field. The Crimson Tide’s move up one spot in this week’s CFP ranking may mean Alabama will make the playoff field even with a loss to Georgia, but why make the committee make that call?
bama a two-game sweep of the Bulldogs this season, with both games in the state of Georgia.
“We’re not even worried about having bragging rights or anything,” Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson said. “We just know this is another steppingstone on our way to get to where we want to go. That’s really our main focus.”
Georgia has not topped the Crim-
under Smart 116 total victories, those three SEC titles and two national championships — beating Alabama has been exceedingly rare. Smart’s Dawgs are only 1-7 against the Crimson Tide.
Yes, you can say he was 1-5 against Nick Saban’s Alabama teams. Join the club. But his teams are also 0-2 against DeBoer’s Bammers, including a 24-21 loss on Sept. 27 in Athens in which Georgia never led.
Georgia is also 0-4 against Alabama in this game. Three of the four have been decided by a touchdown or less, but that doesn’t make the stone wall the Bulldogs have been bashing themselves against any less hard. Smart downplayed the advantages/disadvantages of a rematch from the regular season.
“Both teams have the same tape,” he said. “Both teams have a common thread that we played each other I think sometimes coaches overdo it, overthink it.
I just think it boils down to who blocks, who tackles, who prepares the best, who mentally prepares the best, who handles it the best.”
When the season began, Alabama looked like anything but a championship contender The Crimson Tide was left crimson with embarrassment after get-
“Man, I feel like honestly we’ve kind of had that mindset ever since our first loss,” Lawson said. “I don’t really think anything would change in our mindset or anything. We know that we don’t want to put it in no one else’s hands. Just control what we can control, and that’s doing our best to win the game, leave nothing up for chance.” Georgia will be playing for its fourth SEC championship under Smart after last year’s 22-19 overtime win over Texas in Atlanta The Bulldogs have an eight-game winning streak since the early season home loss to Alabama. Smart said Thursday that center Drew Bobo (foot, ankle) will miss the game and said his status for the playoff is uncertain. Options at center include Cortez Smith, Malachi Toliver and Dontrell Glover DeBoer said starting defensive end LT Overton will miss the game and running back Jam Miller (lower leg) is questionable. DeBoer earlier said he did not expect tight end Josh Cuevas to be available.
ting run off the field 31-17 by a Florida State team that went 2-10 in 2024 — and would wind up 5-7 this season. DeBoer’s bunch looked soft, and his rail was being prepared for him to be run out of Tuscaloosa on.
But Bama bounced back. The Tide went 4-1 against ranked teams — losing somewhat inexplicably 23-21 to an Oklahoma team it outgained 406-212. Only a blowout loss to Georgia, which appears unlikely is likely to keep Alabama out of the CFP
“All of our experiences that have shaped what this team is, how we’ve come through, only make us believe even more, give us that much more confidence,” DeBoer said.
There was a distraction earlier in the week that DeBoer was being sized up for the Penn State job, though that search ended Friday with the announcement of Iowa State coach Matt Campbell to the Nittany Lions. DeBoer doesn’t want to be the first Alabama coach to lose to Georgia in this particular game.
That’s because it’s for the SEC championship.
“I believe there still is validity” in this game, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said.
You’d better believe it.
ment just before the start of the 2024 season. The Saints called in May to request a tryout. Burgess would have worked out for any team, but there was something extra meaningful about reuniting with Staley He credited the coordinator for helping him grow as a player, saying he learned to play quarters coverage in the NFL because of Staley He hadn’t played the concept at all in Utah, he said. The Utes primarily ran a man-to-man defense.
“He’s definitely somebody that always had belief in me,” Burgess said. “As athletes, from when
you’re a kid to when you’re up at the highest level now, I think (there’s) something about a coach believing in you that’s going to help you play better.”
Burgess was one of a handful of players with ties to Staley that the Saints brought in before the season, joining edge rusher Chris Rumph and defensive tackles Jonathan Bullard and Jonah Williams. All of them have carved out roles throughout the year — with Burgess being the latest.
“He’s performed exactly like he did back then (with the Rams),” Staley said. “We’re glad we have him.”
STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD Saints safety Terrell Burgess warms up before a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 7 at the Caesars Superdome. Burgess will start in place of injured Justin Reid on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’ll be just the sixth start of his career in 54 games.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VASHA HUNT Georgia coach Kirby Smart, left, and Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer meet at midfield before a game on Sept. 28 2024, in Tuscaloosa,Ala. Both coaches will face each other again on Saturday at the SEC championship
U.S. will face Paraguay in Wold Cupopener
BY RONALD BLUM, HOWARD
FENDRICH AND NOAH TRISTER AP sportswriters
WASHINGTON With eyes across the globe focused on 48 balls being plucked from four bowls, next year’sWorld Cup came into focus Fridaywhen adraw determined Argentina andLionelMessi will start their title defense against Algeria and the U.S. will open against Paraguay Teams from five-time champion Brazil to newcomers Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan learned their group stage opponents in the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament that starts June 11in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“Exciting for the island, for the people there. They’re soproud,” said Dick Advocaat, the 78-yearold Dutchman leading Curaçao, aCaribbean island countrywith apopulation of 150,000, into an opener against four-timechampion Germany
The ceremony included U.S President Donald Trumpreceiving apeace prize awardedby FIFA. Trump, Mexican President ClaudiaSheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney selected the balls of their own countries from bowls during a ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Sheinbaum drew more applause than Trump.
Scott Bessent, United States Secretaryofthe Treasury, arrives to attend thedrawfor the 2026 soccer WorldCup at the KennedyCente on Friday in Washington.
The lead-in show wasalmost as long as asoccer match, with the actual draw for the expanded 48-nationtournament startinginthe 87th minute.Balls with team names were plucked by famous North American athletes TomBrady,Shaquille O’Neal, Aaron Judge and Wayne Gretzky
“Just watching Americans on stage and the president giving speeches and performances,it made it feel like an American event already,” said U.S. midfielderTylerAdams,who watched from England,where he plays for Premier League club Bournemouth. “And Ithink we know the expectation of what it’s going to be like when we go thereand there’sgoing to be halftimeshows and there’sgoing tobecelebrities and the big draw of, what America brings to sports.”
Three-time champion Argentina opensonJune 16 at either Kansas City, Missouri,orSanta Clara, California.Specific sites for all group stage gamesand kickofftimes were to be announced Saturday.The Albicelestethen face Austriaand Jordan
in Group J. Argentina surprisingly lost its 2022 opener to Saudi Arabia before going on to win the final over France on penalty kicks.
The U.S., which reached the semifinals at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and thequarterfinals in 2002, starts GroupD against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California.The Americansplay Australia sixdayslater at Seattle, then face Turkey,Romania, SlovakiaorKosovo on June 25 back at SoFiStadium.
TheAmericans hadfriendlies against Turkey in June, Australia in October and Paraguay last month
“Weknowthem but they know us,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said.“Themost importantisthe evolution and keep improving.”
LSU
Continued from page1C
staff in the country and securing toptalent.”
With Anderson, Brown, Geralds andHenderson, LSUhas adefensive lineclass that is likely the most talented in modern program history Anderson and Brown markthe first time LSU has landed apair of five-star recruits on the defensive lineinthe same classsince 247Sports began tracking recruiting rankings in 1999. The 2026 class is also the first LSU class to have four defensive linemen ranked amongthe top-100 players in the nation Brown and Anderson were the big names, but Henderson and Geralds were also key additions. LSU reportedly fended off late recruiting surges fromOle Miss and GeorgiaTech to land Geralds’ signature, perOn3.WithHenderson, Auburn allegedlymadealate push.
Henderson,a toprecruit at Pine Forest High in Pensacola, Florida, is the No. 8edge rusher in the nation andthe No. 7recruit in the state. Geralds is the No.56player in thenationand the No. 7recruit in Georgia.Heattends Collins Hill High in Suwanee, Georgia.
LSU finished the early signing periodwiththe13th-bestrecruiting class in thenation,but no school in thecountry had ahigher average rating perrecruit.Signing only 14 players held it back from cracking the top 10 of the national rankings.
LSU went into Wednesday with 15 commitments, losing two pledges and adding one morebefore theend of the period. The Tigers lost four-star offensive lineman Bryson Cooley to Alabama and four-star safety Dylan Purter to Florida, but they also signed former Ole Miss commitment and four-star wide receiver Corey Barber. Additionally,just before the signing period started, LSU flipped three commitments and
SCOREBOARD
game Southern ClassicChickenKickoff Boys at Comeaux High Thursday’sGames Acadiana 56, Franklin 41 Carencro46, Rayne 40 Lafayette High 53, West St. Mary 33 Patterson 51, Comeaux 41 Friday’s Games 3:30 p.m. –Acadianavs. West St. Mary 5p.m.–Patterson vs.Rayne 6:30 p.m. –Carencro vs. Franklin 8p.m.–Comeauxvs. Lafayette High Saturday’s Games 10 a.m. –Rayne vs.West St. Mary 11:30 a.m. –Comeauxvs. Acadiana 1p.m.–Lafayette vs.Franklin 2:30 p.m. –Carencro vs. Patterson Dog Pound Classic Boys,girls at Cecilia High
Saturday’sGames
10:30 a.m. –St. Martinville vs.SouthernLab
Boys Noon –Catholic-NI vs.Breaux Bridge (Girls) 1:30 p.m. –St. Martinville vs.Cecilia (Girls) 3p.m.–JSClark vs.Breaux Bridge (Boys) 4:30 p.m. –Church Point vs.Cecilia (Boys) Other boys games
Carencro57, Westgate 46 Northside 51, Lafayette High 49 Teurlings60, New Iberia 53 Liberty 64, Southside 34 Church Point 50, West St. Mary 14 North Vermilion 40, Opelousas 29
E.D.White 40, St. Thomas More37 Crowley Girls Tournament Iota 52, Beau Chene 28 LakeCharles College Prep 50,Eunice 37 Other girls scores Bolton 36, Lafayette Renaissance 32 Midland 61, Iowa 58
CONFERENCE
p.m. Saturday’s Games New Orleans at Brooklyn, 4p.m. Atlanta at Washington, 6p.m.
Golden State at Cleveland, 6:30 p.m. Milwaukee at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Minnesota, 7p.m.
Sacramento at Miami,7 p.m. Houston at Dallas,7:30 p.m.
Late Thursday Minnesota125, NewOrleans 116 FG FT Reb MIN MinM-A M-AO-T APFPTS
New England, Carolina, N.Y. Giants, San Francisco Monday’s Games Philadelphia at L.A. Chargers, 7:15 p.m. Late Thursday Detroit 44, Dallas 30 Dallas 36 10 11 —30 Detroit 10 10 717— 44
First Quarter Det_FGBates 38, 10:46. Dal_FGAubrey 57, 8:07. Det_Gibbs 1run (Bateskick), 2:14. Second Quarter Dal_FGAubrey 42, 9:23. Det_Montgomery 35 run (Bates kick),4:27. Dal_FGAubrey 55, :50. Det_FGBates 47, :00. ThirdQuarter Det_TeSlaa 12 pass from Goff (Bates kick), 14:14. Dal_Jav.Williams 1run (Aubrey kick),10:41. Dal_FGAubrey 63, 2:49. Fourth Quarter Det_FGBates 46, 11:50. Dal_Flournoy42passfromPrescott (Ferguson pass from Prescott), 9:52. Det_Gibbs 10 run (Bateskick), 7:17. Dal_FGAubrey 29, 3:42. Det_Gibbs 13 run (Bateskick), 2:19. A_64,028. DalDet First downs 25 20 Total Net Yards417 408 Rushes-yards24-91 22-109 Passing 326 299 Punt Returns 0-01-21 Kickoff Returns7-176 8-261 InterceptionsRet.0-0 2-23 Comp-Att-Int 31-47-225-34-0 Sacked-YardsLost5-501-10 Punts 1-62.0 2-42.0 Fumbles-Lost 3-10-0
Penalties-Yards 7-76 8-50 Time of Possession31:23 28:37
LSUfootballseasonticketswill cost the same in 2026 as they didthispast season, the boardofsupervisors and athletic department announced Friday. It’s areversal from an Octoberpricehike. “LSU has the best fans in the nation who arepassionate,loyal and loud. Becauseofthat support, the LSU Board of Supervisors
lost three pledges. Four-star tight endJCAnderson, four-star wide receiver Brayden Allen and three-star offensive lineman Ryan Miret changedtheir commitments to come to LSU. Anderson andMiret hadbeen committedtoKiffinatOle Miss, while Allen was an Oklahomapledge. The pledges LSU lost included four-star wide receiver Kenny Darby,three-star offensive lineman Jalan Chapman and threestar wideout Kervin Johnson. Darby signedwith Kentucky on Friday,while Chapman and Johnson both signed with Ole Miss. Thereisstill alot of work to be done before Kiffin’steam is set for his first season in Baton Rouge. The transferportal doesn’topen until Jan. 2, and his coaching staff has not been finalized.
But forKiffin,signing the No.2 player in the nation and four top70 recruits on the defensive line wasanice start.
“Wehave big-picture thinking, too,” KiffinsaidMonday. “We’re not reaching (and) we’re not signing kids because they’re from this school or that school or any of that stuff,OK?
“I have zero concernabout the interest of players with that, becauseIknowwhatthe interest was of players nationally to come play foruswhere we were just at, and now when you put that with this stadium and with that logo, I mean,(it)makes me want to get on the phone right now.”
FARWEST
Boise St. vs.UNLV, n Saturday’s games EAST FCSSecond Round -Game3atBethlehem, Pa.: Lehigh (12-0) vs.Villanova (10-2),Noon SOUTH FCSSecond Round -Game6atMacon, Ga.: Mercer (9-2)vs. South Dakota (9-4), Noon Jackson St. (9-2)vs. Prairie View (9-3),SWAC Championship at Jackson, Miss., 2p.m. Alabama (10-2) vs.Georgia (11-1),SEC Championship at Atlanta, 4p.m. Virginia(10-2) vs.Duke(7-5),ACC ChampionshipatCharlotte, N.C., 8p.m. MIDWEST W. Michigan (8-4)vs. Miami (Ohio) (7-5) MACChampionshipatDetroit, Noon FCSSecond Round -Game1atFargo, N.D.: N. Dakota St. (12-0) vs.IllinoisSt. (9-4), 1 p.m. Ohio St. (12-0) vs.Indiana (12-0),Big Ten Championship at Indianapolis, 8p.m. SOUTHWEST TexasTech (11-1) vs.BYU (11-1), Big 12 Championship at Arlington, Texas, Noon FCSSecond Round -Game4atStephenville Texas: Tarleton St. (11-1) vs.North Dakota (8-5), 1p.m. FCSSecond Round -Game7atNacogdoches, Texas: StephenF.Austin(10-2) vs Abilene Christian (9-4), 2p.m. FARWEST FCSSecond Round -Game5atMissoula, Mont.: Montana (11-1) vs.S.Dakota St.(9-4) 2p.m. FCSSecond Round -Game8atBozeman, Mont.: Montana St.(10-2) vs.Yale (9-2), 2p.m. FCSSecond Round -Game2atDavis, Calif.: UC Davis (8-3)vs. Rhode Island (11-2), 10 p.m. FCSPlayoff Glance Second Round Second RoundSaturday, December6 North Dakota St. vs.IllinoisSt., 1p.m. UC
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA
DEMAREENIKHINSON
Helping teenshelp theirfriends
When teens struggle, they almost always turn to their friends first.
As mental health concerns rise and resiliencedeclines, more adolescents feel pressured to be “the strong one” or the unofficial therapist in their friend group. Teens often ask me, “What do Isay when my friend tells me they don’t want to live anymore?” Parents ask similar questions: “How do I support my daughter when her friends constantly unload on her? Ican see how muchit weighs on her.”
Here are practical ways adults can support teens who feel responsiblefor helping struggling friends:
n Ask your teen directly Teens rarely volunteer that they feel overwhelmed. A simple question —“Do your friends ever come to you about tough things?” —opens the door.You’ll often senserelief that someone finally noticed.
n Validate their role. Let them know it’sanhonor to be trusted with sensitive information. Ask what feels good about being someone their friends turn to. This helps them recognize the strengths that draw others to them.
n Listen and reflect. Mirror back what you hear:“It sounds likeyourfriends see you as caring and trustworthy.” Your calm admiration helps them feel supported without feeling pressured to do more than they can handle.
n Ask about the burden.Once you affirm the meaningful parts, gently ask, “Is it ever stressful for you?” Most teens will say yes —quickly.
n Explore what’shardest Many teens fear saying the “wrong thing,” or they feel their friend’spain and don’t know how to help. Let them name the stress instead of rushing to fix it.
n Reflect their sense of responsibility.Say,“Ican see how powerless you might feel when afriend expects youto help them feel better.” Many teens secretly believe they’re supposed to fix the situation. Naming this reduces shame and normalizes the tension they feel.
n Ask what they need when they open up. “When you goto afriend with something hard, what do you really need —advice, or someone who listens?” Most teens realize that being heardmatters more than being fixed. This insight gives them permission to offer presence rather than solutions.
n Teach the differencebetween being responsiblefor someone and responsible to them. Tell your teen, “No one is responsible for another person’slife. But we can be responsible to people by caring, listening, and helping them find support.” This distinction often brings tremendous relief. If there’srisk of self-harm, prepare your teen for theemotional cost of telling an adult.
Acknowledge that it may feel like betrayal and that their friend may be upset initially But help them consider the alternative: “If things got worse and no one knew,how would that feel?” Reassurethemthat truefriendship sometimes means making hard, loving choices. Counselors and other safe adults canstepinwhile protecting confidentiality.
n Help them brainstorm healthy options. Ask, “Besides listening, what elsecould help your friend? Who elsecould they talk to?” Your teen may
ä See TEENS, page 6C
95-year-oldlay missionary shares herjourney of faithand serviceinLouisiana andGuatemala
Answering thecall
BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer
Barbara Bahlingerdips her spoon into acup of gumbo.
It’s seafood, herfavorite,made by her favoriteMandeville restaurant, Mandina’s, where shehuddles at acornertable with herniece and nephew,Bruceand Mary Gay Bahlinger The95-year-old laymissionary lives in theCovington retirement community St. Anthony’sGardens, but her conversation driftstoBatonRouge,where, on the previous Sunday,St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Churchrededicated its devotionalgardeninher andher sister’snames.
Barbara Bahlinger bonded with the church while serving as amissionary in northBaton Rouge. Specific yearsescapeher when looking back now,but details are vivid. Her sister,Kathleen Bahlinger, whodiedin2013, was anun in the Congregation of St. Joseph. Barbara Bahlinger chose adifferent ministerialpath as alay missionary for the Catholic Church.
Barbara Bahlinger shows off a fish she caught at Madonna Pines, the
their
“The ministry was calledCaritas, which meansGod’slove,” she said. “Wehad to take vows of poverty in
order to serve.”
And Barbara Bahlinger didn’t
flinch when the ministry later sent hertoGuatemala despitenot being fluent in the country’snative Spanish. If that was where God wanted her to go, she wouldn’thesitate. And she didn’t.
Oneofninekids
“Aunt Barbara was one of nine childreninher family,” nieceNanette Bahlinger said after the St. Paul’sgarden dedication. “And she wasone of twogirls. Her sister, Kathleen, wasthe youngest.”
She stands in the devotional garden looking up at the centerpiece statue of Mary holding baby Jesus. Both characters are painted as African Americans, abrass plaque dedicated to her aunts is embedded at the bottom
“I spentweeks repainting the statue,” NanetteBahlingersaid
“I’d comehere in the mornings and work to get it ready forthe dedication ceremony.”
The Bahlingersisters’ niece,
ä See MISSIONARY, page 6C
writer BatonRouge locals have been driving past the Legend Pot sign on Staring Lanefor aboutthe past eight months, many wondering when it’ll open. The timeisalmost
RoyPetitfils
PROVIDED PHOTO By NANETTE BAHLINGER
old Bahlinger family home in Jackson. Bahlinger’snieces often organize ‘girls’ weekends’ with
aunt at the homeplace.
PROVIDED PHOTOByBARBARA BAHLINGER
Barbara Bahlinger,left, works withsome students in Guatemala. Bahlinger served20years in the countryasa Caritas missionary.
BYMADDIE SCOTT Staff
STAFF PHOTO By MADDIE SCOTT
Keep alistofprescriptionmedications handy
Dear Heloise: I’m alongtime reader of your column and Ihave ahint that I’d like to pass along: Ihave ahabit of keeping alist of my prescriptions in my wallet because wheneverIvisit anew doctororspecialist, the first thing they ask is which medications I’m taking. This came in very handy recently when Iwas involved in asevere car accident, and the
EMTs asked me thesame question in the ambulance. Iwas able to give them thelist, and they radioed this to the ER, saving everybody’s precious time! Thanks! Parker,via email BOGO sales
Hints from Heloise
Dear Heloise: In response to Charles H., Ican relate to the complaints about a BOGO sale.When Iwas raising four children, Iloved the oppor-
RELIGION BRIEFS FROM STAFFREPORTS
Event on tap for thoseinneed
Voices of Virtue invitesthe communityto “Holidays H.O.P.E. for the Homeless” at 2p.m. Saturday,Dec.20, at 1233 Government St., BatonRouge. This event —Helping OtherPeople Emerge will offer gumbo, cocoa, cookies, speakers, haircuts, musicand local vendors, all to uplift and support those in need during the holiday season.
Donation requests include blankets, coats, caps and gloves. For more information, call/text (225) 241-8132, (225) 337-4111 or (225) 2238709.
‘The Jesus Experience’
Baton Rouge creatives
Aaron and Jency Hogan will present an immersive art experience, “The Jesus Experience,” at Eye Wander studio, 7964 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge, from 2p.m. to 4p.m. Sunday The presentations, which last 10 minutes, will include
awalk-through of Jesus paintings by Jency Hogan along with Aaron Hogan’s photography Justicetospeakat FairviewBaptist
Fairview Baptist Church, 1636 Braddock St., Baton Rouge, will welcome LouisianaSupreme Court Associate Justice JohnM Guidryasthe guestspeaker during its 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday. All are invited Music program at St.Luke’s St. Luke’sEpiscopal Church, 8833 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, will host the Baton Rouge Music Club Auxiliary’sDecember meetingat7:30p.m. Friday in the church’sWitter Hall. The evening will offer aprogram of holiday anthems andcarols performed by several members of theSt. Luke’s Choir This event is free and open to the public,and light refreshmentswill be served followingthe program.
TODAYINHISTORY
By The Associated Press
Today is Saturday, Dec. 6, the 340th day of 2025. There are 25 days left in the year
Todayinhistory:
On Dec. 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, abolishing slavery,was ratified as Georgia became the 27th state to endorse it.
Also on this date:
In 1907, at least 361 men and boys died in acoal mine explosion in Monongah, West Virginia; it was the worst mining disaster in U.S. history In 1917, more than 1,700 people were killed when an explosives-laden French cargo ship, the Mont Blanc, collided with the Norwegian merchant vessel SS Imo in the harbor in Halifax, Nova Scotia, setting off ablast that devastated the Canadian city In 1957, America’sfirst attempted satellite launch failed as VanguardTV3 roseaboutfour feet off aCape Canaverallaunch pad before crashing down and exploding.
In 1969, afree concert by The Rolling Stones at the Altamont Speedway in Alameda County,California, was marred by the deaths of four people, including one who was stabbed by amember of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club that was hired to provide concert security
TEENS
Continued from page5C
even be willing to go with their friend to make the initial contact with another person.
n Reassure them they are not alone. Say,“I’m in this with you.” Knowing they have backup reduces fear and prevents them from feeling like the sole lifeline.
n Keep checking in. Gently follow up: “How’syour friend? And how are you doing with it?” Consistent check-ins help teens feel supported and seen.
In 1973, Republican House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as vice presidentafter he wasselected by President Richard Nixon to replace Spiro T. Agnew,who resigned amid an extortion and tax evasion scandal. In 1998, in Venezuela, former Lt. Col. Hugo Chávez, who had staged abloody coup attempt against thegovernment six years earlier,was elected president. In 2017, President Donald Trumpofficially recognizedJerusalemasIsrael’s capital, announcingplans to move theU.S. Embassy there from TelAviv In 2021, ousted Myanmarleader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to four years (later reduced to two) for inciting public unrest andbreaching COVID-19 protocols; she is currently serving a27yearprisonsentence after aseries of cases brought by the military that had seized power from her elected government Today’sbirthdays: Actor JoBeth Williams is 77. Craigslist founder Craig Newmark is 73. Actor Tom Hulce is 72. Comedian Steven Wright is 70. Rock musician Peter Buck (R.E.M.) is 69. Animator Nick Park is 67. Actor Janine Turner is 63. Writer-director Judd Apatow is 58. Actor Sarah Raffertyis53. NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo is 31.
Teens are compassionate and loyal, but they’restill learning their limits. When adults guide them with empathy,clarity and steadiness, teensdiscover they can care deeply for their friends without carrying the full weight of their struggles. By teaching them what healthy support looks like,we protect their emotionalwell-being and empower themtobecome thekind of friends who listen, careand help others connect with thesupport they truly need.
Petitfils is alicensed professional counselorin Youngsville.
tunitytoget these sales. However,being asenior and living in asenior community with less need and space for extra food/ supplies,Istill like to hunt for a bargain. When Ifind aBOGO or another good sale, Idonate the extra items to aneighbor in need or to thelocal food bank. If Ineed the items on sale, Idon’tmind getting extra to donate. There’salways someonewho can use them or possibly need them.
MISSIONARY
Continuedfrom page5C
who lives in BatonRouge, is one among Barbara Bahlinger’smany grown nieces and nephews, some of whom traveled from other states for theceremony.They stay in contact with their aunt, the nieces planning random family “girls’ weekends” with theirauntatMadonna Pines,the old Bahlinger family home in Jackson.
NanetteBahlinger jokes about church rector,the Rev Arockiam Arockiam, checking on her while she painted thegarden statue, saying that herwhite skin would become as dark as his and St. Paul’scongregation’sif shecontinued working in the sun. Arockiam is from India, and his congregates are predominately Black,which wasa cause of concern for Barbara Bahlinger’sfather in earlier years.
Barbara Bahlinger was a young, single Whitewoman, and she chose to live, work and attend church at St.Paul’sinnorth Baton Rouge’spredominantly BlackEdenParkneighborhood.She remembers her father’sworry,how some people viewed thearea as unsafe. She wasn’tbothered. She saw people, not color And sheknewbad and good wasn’texclusive to anyone place. She’d been called to serve, whichprompted her to leave ajob teaching secondgradeinnorth Baton Rougetotake vows for her ministry
“She came to St. Paul’sin September 1960, with Eunice Royal, Rita Lombardo andLoisDeslondasmembersofCaritas,” her niece said. “Theylived together in ahouse on North 38th Street.”
Deslond was African American and then arecent graduateofXavier University in New Orleans. St. Paul’s wasa newlyformed parish on GusYoung Road, andthe threemissionaries’ housestood directly across thestreet.
“Weslept in bunk beds,” Barbara Bahlingersaid. “Mybrother,Julius,located this house for the Caritas. He was in the real estate business.”
Meanwhile, she and her fellow missionaries went straight to workorganizing thechurch’scatechetical program toprepare children for First Communion.
“Wealsoworked to prepare childrentobeprepared forConfirmation,”she said. “And we prepared familieswho wereinterested in becoming Catholics —we
BARBECUE
Continuedfrom page5C
cook food at their table using the built-in stove.There’s also aself-serve bar with dipping sauces,appetizers and desserts. The Korean barbecue menu has aselection of about27meat options, including beef bulgogi, spicy pork belly,salmon, shrimp, curry chickenand cumin lamb. Thereare also 10 vegetable options, including eggplant,sweet potato, enoki mushroom and bell peppers. If customers want hot pot, they can choose from one of the eight soupbases like Thai tom yum, mushroom andSzechuanspicy. Once thepot warms up, ingredients are cooked in the broth, like sliced pork belly,beef tongue, squidand dumplings. The hot pot menualso
Another suggestion is BOGO meals from restaurants. Friends can go out together,enjoy the BOGO meal, and split the bill. Maggie R., in Florida Gardeningcleanliness
Dear Heloise: Ijust read areader who suggested wearing singleuse “rubber” gloves to keep their fingernails clean when gardening. It’sfar better to keep abar of soap with your gardening gear and simply scrape your finger-
nails over the soap bar to pack soap under your fingernails. This obviously goes forboth womenand men.Itkeeps your fingernails from getting dirty and stained; plus it slightly reinforces the nail so that they don’tbend or break as easily.It’sinexpensive, super easy and environmentally friendly,and it works! —Becky Esbaum, in Eldridge, Iowa Send ahinttoheloise@heloise com.
prepared themfor the sacramentofBaptism.”
Andthough themissionaries were happy in their work at St. Paul’s,PopeJohn XXIII put outa call for more Catholic missionaries in Latin America.
“This inspired ourfounder,BerthaMugrauer, to send us to Guatemala,” Barbara Bahlinger said.
So, theCaritas missionaries answered the call.
Learning anew language
“All Ihad to remember in learningSpanish wassubject, verb, object,” the nonagenarian said,emphasizing each word in the sentence structure withatap on the restaurant table. “Itwasn’t hard. Ilearned Spanishby talking to thekids in the town.”
That’sthe beginning of her story of Guatemala. Niece Mary Gay Bahlinger,who also is her goddaughter,fills in afew blanks, rememberinghow shetraveled tothe impoverished country while in college to help her aunt, who drove aVolkswagen van back then.
“I remember how,when it was time for me to go back to school, she drove me all the way from Guatemala through Mexico and up to Austin, Texas, where Iwas going to school,” said this niece, whodrove in from her homeinColorado. “Aunt Barbara didn’t let anything
stop her.”
Even when resourceswere scarce, heraunt teamed up with fellow Caritas missionariestoorganize aMontessori school in the townofEsquipulas, where cardboard boxes served as desks in thebeginning. But it didn’t matter,because school was in session, and the local kids were hungry foreducation.
“After several years of work, all was going very well when we received a knock on our door in Esquipulas,” the missionary said. “Itwas apriest who told us, ‘I have three villages to take careof.’Wechose the poorest village of thethree, San Jacinto, to workwith. We would go out into the ‘aldeas,’ whichweresmall settlements, andteach religious educationand reading, writing and math.” San Jacinto lacked its own priest, so the BatonRouge woman quickly found asolution.
“I called my brother Donald,” she said. “Hewas a priest, and he was given permission by the Jesuits to be the pastor of the church in San Jacinto. We had Mass every day,and Donald would go to the aldeas to offer Mass.
Back in Louisiana
The Caritasmissionaries would work 20 years in Guatemala before moving back to Louisiana.
offers noodles, several tofu optionsand 20 differentvegetables. Thesushi menu includes aselection of classicand specialty rolls, sashimiand hibachi. There’salso abar that’ll serve cocktails, sake and
draftbeer, which will likely open amonth or twoafter the restaurant’sinitial opening, Chen said. Nonalcoholic beverage options include sodas, house lemonade, fruit and herbal teas andRamune Japanese sodas. There will also be a
“Everything wasgoing well, and it was just time to come back,” she said. The missionaries moved into ahouse in Abita Springs donated by aNew Orleans family,eventually setting up apreschool with funds, volunteers andfood provided, this time, by local Lutheran and Episcopal churches. Then came afamily emergency Kathleen Bahlinger needed akidney.This was thesame sister she shared achildhood bed with, the younger sister whom shelooked up to —her only sister Onceagain, Barbara Bahlinger knew she was being called. She donated oneof her own kidneys, which extended hersister’s life another 25 years. The Caritasmissionaries later moved to Covington, and the elder Bahlinger eventually retiredtoSt. Anthony’s, where her nephew often picks her up forlunches at Mandina’s, as he’sdone on this day, withMaryGay Bahlinger joining them And though they know her story,theycan’t hide their admirationwhile hearing it againbetween bites of gumbo andshrimppo-boys They’re happy to see her happy,proud of her life welllived.
Email RobinMillerat romiller@theadvocate. com.
selectionoftea latteswith toppings like tapioca. “I have seen some people from here, Americans, once they try it, they do love it,” Chen said about tealattes and boba. “So Iwas like, ‘That’sgood. I’ll add it to the menu.’”
STAFF PHOTO By MADDIE SCOTT
Legend Pot, 2159 Staring Lane, hopes to open mid-to-late December
STAFFPHOTO By ROBIN MILLER
Barbara Bahlinger,center,front, poses foraphoto with her familyinSt. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church’sdevotional garden after aceremonydedicating the garden in honor of her and her late sister,Kathleen Bahlinger
sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Asteady pace is the best way to reach your goal Do what works best for you and refuse to take on others'responsibilities at a cost that dampens personal gains and satisfaction.
cAPRIcoRn(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Select your path and turn your aspirations into a reality. Invest time and money in your future, and apositive lifestyle change will be yours. If you believe it and dream about it, you can make it happen.
AQuARIus (Jan.20-Feb. 19) Achange at home may not initially delight you, but once it starts to unfold,you will see the benefits. Utilize your skills to your advantage, and channel your energy into helping those who need your support.
PIscEs(Feb. 20-March 20) Confusion will set in if you let outsiders interfere in the choices you make. Take advantage of an opportunity to socialize, learn something neworexpand your interests and circle of friends.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Emotions and overreacting will lead to trouble. Use your intelligence and imaginationto pursue people, places andpastimes that put asmile on your face.
TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Nurturing connections with those who can help you advance or improve your lifestyle will pay off. Be sure to abide by the rules and regulations to avoid setbacks.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Pay attention to howyou present yourself to others.
Anew look will attract attention and boost your ego.Let your intelligence prevail when dealing with concerns.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Your emotions will be front and center. Gauge how you respond to avoid revealing your feelings. Don't be shy about showing what you can do. Demonstrate your skills.
LEo(July 23-Aug. 22) Sign up for something you enjoy, and you'll meet someone special. It's time to enhance your lifethrough connections, pastimes or self-improvement projectsthat boost your confidence.
VIRGo(Aug. 23-sept.22) Observe and learn. Not everyone will be upfront with you. Take your time, notice any discrepancies and ask questions to clarify information. You are overdue for achange, even if you don't want it initially.
LIBRA(sept. 23-oct. 23) Apick-me-up will brighten your day. Distance yourselffrom anyone trying to upset or take advantage of you. Clear aspace to house aproject you want to pursue. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Speak up; be honest and bold about howyou feel, what your intentions are and where your plans will take you. Refusetolet someone elsecontrol or dictate the outcome.
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placingpuzzle basedona9x9 grid with several given numbers The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increasesfrom Monday to Sunday
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
THewiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS
CurTiS
By PHILLIP ALDER
In “Rosencrantzand Guildenstern Are Dead,” Tom Stoppard (myfavorite playwright)pointedout:“Eternity’saterrible thought.I mean, where’s it all going to end?” In today’s deal, the trump split is terrible and seems to end declarer’s chance of making six hearts. But he can survive. West leads the spade queen. Southwins with his ace andcashes theheartace to get thebad news. How mustdeclarer continue?
It is rare that an auction starting one of amajor -two of amajorends in aslam. However,that South hand is very strong. When South rebid threeclubs, North assumed this was ahelp-suit game-try andjumpedtofour hearts because he hadagood club holding and amaximum —aces are wonderful. South thencarefully employed Blackwood before bidding the small slam. It seems as though Southmust lose two trump tricks. But if Southcan reach an ending with the king-jackofhearts and aloser, while West still has his last three trumps, West can be trapped.
Toachievethisending,Southmustruff threediamondsinhishandandfindWest with exactly 3-4-4-2 distribution At trick three, declarer plays adiamondtodummy’sace.Hecontinueswith adiamond ruff in his hand, the club king, aclub to dummy’s ace, another diamond ruff, the spade king, aspade ruff on the board, and, at trick10, thethirddiamond ruff.
Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase,name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON
Previous answers:
word game
InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.
