East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards, right, speaks with Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Jeff LeDuff before Tuesday’s
Edwards says ‘this has been grueling, hard, gritty work’
BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER
Staff writer
The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council has approved Mayor-President Sid Edwards’ 2026 budget, which makes significant cuts to city-parish departments — including the district attorney, public defender and others — to fill a $15.5 million deficit.
Though council members made a few minor amendments, the budget was passed Tuesday night with no cuts to the
Baton Rouge Police Department or the Baton Rouge Fire Department.
To spare those agencies, the mayor brought cuts of at least 11% to nearly every other city-parish department.
Edwards called the budget approval “bittersweet,” knowing what is coming next.
“No one feels good with all the cuts we have to do,” Edwards said “It’s hard when people are losing jobs or losing services.”
Around 200 city-parish workers have been or will be laid off in the next few
months, he said, and more than 200 additional unfilled positions will be eliminated to account for the cuts.
Edwards began laying off members of his own team days after his Thrive tax rededication initiative failed in November
“This has been grueling, hard, gritty work,” he said.
Edwards said residents in all parts of the parish, even other incorporated cities, will feel the impact of these cuts on
ä See BUDGET, page 8A
Border Patrol sweeps come to BR area
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
Border Patrol agents have started detaining people in the capital region a week after the start of the “Catahoula Crunch” immigration enforcement operation that sent hundreds of federal agents to the New Orleans region. At least two people were detained Tuesday by several federal agents near a food truck in Walker. Agents were also seen detaining at least one person in front of a group of children as they waited for the school bus Tuesday morning at a Denham Springs trailer park, according to eyewitnesses and vid-
eos of the incidents. The detainments mark the first reported sightings of U.S. Border Patrol agents in the greater Baton Rouge area after the launch of the south Louisiana immigration operation in New Orleans.
The immigration sweeps in Louisiana have come after similar raids in Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina, in recent months. No end date has been announced for the large-scale immigration operation in Louisiana, which could also extend more broadly Planning documents ahead of the operation said federal agents planned to detain 5,000 people stretching from Baton Rouge to Mississippi.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials did not respond by the time of publication to a request for the number of people detained in the area on Tuesday. So far, they also have not released a full tally of those detained in New Orleans and have said they’ve made dozens of arrests.
Witnesses said they saw agents driving around Denham Springs neighborhoods within the past few days near Bass Pro Shops.
At least seven Border Patrol agents detained Candido Cano Castro, 19, and Cristal Cano Castro, 21, around noon Tuesday in
ä See SWEEPS, page 8A
Louisiana yanks a Medicaid contract
330,000 people pushed to other plans
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
Louisiana has halted a contract with United Healthcare to provide Medicaid coverage for roughly 333,000 people in Louisiana, less than a month before next year’s agreement was set to take effect. People on the United Healthcare plan will be redistributed to other plans, the Louisiana Department of Health said.
“LDH will begin the transition process of moving your Medicaid members to other contracted Medicaid Managed Care Plans for a January 1, 2026 effective date,” Medicaid Director Seth Gold wrote to United in a letter dated Dec. 2. “We expect United to continue to abide by all of the terms of its current contract with LDH through the expiration date. We also expect your full cooperation with transitioning your members to their new Medicaid Managed Care Plans.”
“The immediate impact is the chaos and confusion.” SEN. GERALD BOUDREAUX, D-Lafayette
Some state leaders said they were concerned the abrupt change could cause confusion or disruptions for the thousands of people who rely on that Medicaid health plan, like requiring them to find new doctors.
“The immediate impact is the chaos and confusion,” said Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette, a longtime member of the Senate health committee. He also sits on the budget oversight committee
ä See MEDICAID, page 9A
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
A manager of Pannu Mobile Home Park, who did not want to be identified, inspects a passport found inside the car that was driven by two people who were detained by Border Patrol agents outside Sabor A La Mexicana in Walker on Tuesday.
STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
meeting of the Metro Council.
Shooting in Kentucky leaves 1 dead, 1 hurt
FRANKFORT Ky One student was killed and another was critically wounded in a shooting at a residence hall at Kentucky State University on Tuesday, and a suspect who is not a student at the school has been arrested, officials said.
The shooting happened around 3 p.m. and was an “isolated incident,” Scott Tracy, assistant chief of police for Frankfort, said during a news conference Tuesday evening. Tracy said police swiftly responded to the shooting.
Frankfort police said Jacob Lee Bard was booked into jail on murder and first-degree assault charges in connection with the shooting. Police said Bard is from Evansville, Indiana, which is about 150 miles west of Frankfort
One student who was shot at the residence hall, Whitney M. Young Jr Hall, is in critical condition but is stable, according to the university The school is not immediately releasing the names of the students.
Classes, final exams and campus activities at the university have been canceled for the rest of the week, according to the school University President Koffi C Akakpo called it a “senseless tragedy.”
“We’re mourning the loss of one of our students,” he said during the news conference Tuesday evening “As a parent I cannot imagine receiving the call I placed today to the parents.” Kentucky State is a public historically Black university with about 2,200 students. Lawmakers authorized the school’s creation in 1886.
San Diego approves $30 million settlement
SAN DIEGO The San Diego City Council on Tuesday approved a $30 million payment to the family of a 16-year-old killed by police in one of the largest such settlements in U.S. history
The settlement exceeds the $27 million the city of Minneapolis agreed to pay the family of George Floyd, whose May 2020 murder by a police officer who knelt on his neck sparked a nationwide racial reckoning Surveillance and body-worn camera footage from Jan. 28 showed Konoa Wilson running away from someone who pulled a gun and fired at him in a downtown train station. As he exited the station, Wilson encountered San Diego Police Officer Daniel Gold.
In the lawsuit against the city and Gold, the family alleged the officer “instantly, without any warning,” fired two shots at Wilson as he ran by, striking him in the upper body. The lawsuit identified Wilson as Black The lawsuit said Gold did not announce he was a police officer until after shooting him in the back. It said Wilson was running past the officer “in an attempt to get to a place of safety.”
TV producer on ‘Most Wanted’ list for fraud
SANTA ANA, Calif. — The former head of a California company that produced true crime TV shows has been added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list years after being charged with portraying herself as an heiress to get millions of dollars from lenders.
Mary Carole McDonnell, 73, is believed to be in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the FBI said Friday McDonnell is the former chief executive at Bellum Entertainment LLC, based in Burbank, California, which produced shows such as “It Takes a Killer” and “I Married a Murderer.”
Bellum was having financial problems in 2017 McDonnell was able to get a $14.7 million loan from a bank after falsely claiming she was related to the founders of McDonnell Douglas, a leading aviation and aerospace company, and had $28 million in a trust account, according to court documents.
“It is alleged that McDonnell also defrauded additional financial institutions in a similar fashion, with an estimated loss of over $15 million,” the FBI said. A grand jury indicted McDonnell in 2018 on charges of fraud and identity theft. She has not been found.
Zelenskyy reaffirms refusal to cede land
BY PAOLO SANTALUCIA and ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press
ROME Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy has reaffirmed his strong refusal to cede any territory, resisting U.S. pressure for painful concessions to Russia as he moved ahead Tuesday to rally more European support for his country “Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, don’t want to give up anything. That’s what we are fighting for,” Zelenskyy told reporters in a WhatsApp chat late Monday “Do we consider ceding any territories? According to the law we don’t have such right,” he said. “According to Ukraine’s law, our constitution, international law, and to be frank, we don’t have a moral right either.”
In an interview with Politico released Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Zelenskyy to accept the U.S. proposal that Ukraine cede territory to Russia arguing Moscow has the “upper hand” in its nearly 4-year-old invasion, and that Zelenskyy’s government must “play ball.”
Zelenskyy met in Rome with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, discussing the progress of the peace process, her office said. They emphasized the importance of U.S. and European unity and of solutions “that will have repercussions on the continent’s security,” the statement said. They also discussed “developing robust security guarantees to prevent future aggression and maintaining pressure on Russia to join the negotiating table in good faith,” it said.
Earlier, Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, a papal residence outside Rome. The Vatican said Leo reiterated the need for continuing dialogue and “expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace.”
The Holy See has tried to stay neutral in the war while offering solidarity and assistance to what it calls the “martyred” people of Ukraine. Leo has met three times with Zelenskyy and has spoken by telephone at least once with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for a ceasefire and urging Moscow to make gestures promoting peace.
On Monday, Zelenskyy held talks in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to strengthen Ukraine’s hand amid mounting impatience from Trump.
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the Trump administration’s peace proposal.
A major sticking point is the suggestion that Kyiv must give up control of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine to Russia, which occupies most but not all of the territory Ukraine and its Europe-
an allies firmly resist the idea of handing over land.
“You know a lot of people are dying,”
Trump told Politico on Monday, claiming that other Ukrainian officials that he identified only as Zelenskyy’s “lieutenants, his top people” agree with the U.S. administration.
Other than Zelenskyy’s comments Monday, Ukrainian negotiators have said little in public about the content of the U.S. proposal or their attitude toward it
Speaking to reporters again Tuesday on WhatsApp, Zelenskyy said three documents were being discussed with American and European partners a 20-point framework document that is constantly changing, a document on security guarantees and a document about Ukraine’s recovery.
Zelenskyy told reporters that Ukraine’s updated version of the proposal would be given to the U.S. on Wednesday Russia, Trump said, is too powerful for Ukraine to continue fighting.
“I give the people of Ukraine and the military of Ukraine tremendous credit for the, you know, bravery and for the fighting and all of that,” he said. “But you know, at some point, size will win, generally.”
Trump also repeated his call for Ukraine to hold a presidential election even though martial law doesn’t allow it and Zelenskyy, elected in 2019, had his five-year term extended because of the war Trump’s position on Ukraine’s failure to hold an election mirrors frequent statements on the subject by Putin.
Responding to Trump’s remarks, Zelenskyy asked for help from the U.S. and possibly Europe “to ensure security for the elections” and suggested that Ukraine could be ready to hold balloting in 60 to 90 days.
In past comments, Zelenskyy has declined to hold elections until a ceasefire is declared and martial law lifted, and Ukrainians have largely supported that decision.
Court questions limits on political party spending in federal elections
Conservative justices appear to back drive to overturn precedent
BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON Conservative Supreme Court justices on Tuesday appeared to back a Republican-led drive that would erase limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates for Congress and president and overturn a quarter-century-old decision.
A day after the justices indicated they would reverse a 90-year-old precedent limiting the president’s power to fire independent agency heads, the court took up a 2001 decision that upheld a provision of federal election law that is more than 50 years old
The lawsuit, which originated in Ohio, includes Vice President JD Vance, who joined in the Republican challenge to the limits when he was a senator from Ohio
The arguments touched on whether Vance would run for president in 2028, and whether his plans should figure in the outcome.
The case is the latest in which the conservative majority could upend congressionally enacted limits on raising and spending money to influence elections.
The court’s 2010 Citizens United decision opened the door to unlimited independent spending in federal elections.
Two hours of arguments showed entrenched divisions between the liberal and conservative justices over campaign finance restrictions.
“Every time we interfere with the congressional design, we make matters worse,” said Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a dissenter in Citizens United and the court’s other campaign money cases.
By contrast, Justice Samuel Alito, a member of the Citizens United majority, described the decision as “much maligned, I think unfairly maligned.” The effect of the decision was to ”level the playing field,” Alito said, by expanding the right to spend freely that had previously belonged only to media companies.
The limits on party spending stem from a desire to prevent large donors from skirting caps on individual contributions to a candidate by directing unlimited sums to the party, with the understanding that the money will be spent on behalf of the candidate.
The Republican committees for House and Senate candidates filed the lawsuit in Ohio in 2022, joined by Vance and thenRep. Steve Chabot.
The court should cast a skeptical eye on the limits because they are “at war” with recent high court decisions, lawyer Noel Francisco said, representing Republican interests. The Federal Election Commission, which changed its view on the issue after Trump took office, also argued that the limits should be struck down.
Democrats are calling on the court to uphold the law, even though there is wide agreement that the spending limits have hurt political parties in an era of unlimited spending by other organizations.
“That’s the real source of the disadvantage, right?” Justice Brett Kavanaugh said. “You can give huge money to the outside group, but you can’t give huge money to the party And so the parties are very much weakened compared to the outside group.”
Alito, Kavanaugh and Justice Clarence Thomas all voiced skepticism about the limits, while the three liberal justices signaled they would vote to uphold them. The other three members of the court either said nothing during the arguments or not enough to indicate how they might vote.
Pope insists on Europe role in Ukraine peace
BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press
ROME Pope Leo XIV insisted Tuesday that Europe must have a role in any Ukraine peace deal and criticized what he said was the Trump administration’s effort to “break apart” the long-standing U.S.-European alliance. Leo spoke to reporters after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is on another tour to rally European support for Kyiv The American pope said they discussed the need for a ceasefire and the Vatican’s efforts to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities.
Leo was asked about the U.S. peace proposal and the seeming sidelining of European powers in the process. Speaking as he left his vacation home in Castel Gandolfo, Leo insisted that Europe’s role was crucial to any deal.
“Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic, given the war is in Europe,” he said. “Guarantees are also being sought for security today and in the future. Europe must be part of this, and unfortunately not everyone understands this, but I think there is a great opportunity for European leaders to unite and seek a solution together.”
Zelenskyy has said there are three documents in the peace agreement being discussed with U.S. and European partners, a framework document of 20 points, a second document with security guarantees, and a third document about Ukraine’s recovery Leo was asked about the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine but appeared to respond to a broader question about the Trump administration’s views on the U.S.-Europe alliance. Just last week, the Trump administration released its U.S. national security strategy, which questions the U.S.-European alliance and stresses a desire to improve U.S.Russia relations.
Leo said what he had read would “make a huge change in what was for many many years a true alliance between Europe and the United States.” Additionally, some comments by U.S President Donald Trump suggest an effort “trying to break apart what I think needs to be an alliance today and in the future.”
While some people in the United States may agree with that effort, “I think many others would see things in a different way,” Leo said. The Holy See has tried to remain neutral in Russia’s war while offering solidarity and concrete assistance to what it calls the “martyred” people of Ukraine.
AP PHOTO By GREGORIO BORGIA
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, is received Tuesday at Chigi Palace by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANDREW MEDICHINI Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Pope Leo XIV wave to journalists Tuesday at Castel Gandolfo, Italy
Speech on affordabilityturns into list of grievances
them down.”
BY MARC LEVY and JOSH BOAK
Associated Press
MOUNT POCONO,Pa. On the road in Pennsylvania on Tuesday,President Donald Trump tried to emphasize his focus on combating inflation, yet the issue that has damaged his popularitycouldn’t quite command his full attention. The president toldthe crowd gathered at acasinoand resort in Mount Pocono that inflation was no longer aproblem and that Democrats had used the term “affordability” as a“hoax” to hurt his reputation. But his remarks weaved wildly to include grievances he first raised behindclosed doors in his first term in 2018 andlater denied saying —asking why the U.S. doesn’thave more immigrants from Scandinavia.
“Why is it we only take people from s***hole countries, right?” Trump said onstage. “Whycan’twe have some people from Norway, Sweden, just afew?”
Trump said he objected to taking immigrants from “hellholes like Afghanistan, Haiti,Somalia and many other countries.” He added for emphasis that those places “are adisaster,right? Filthy,dirty, disgusting, ridden with crime.”
Tuesday’s gathering in theswing state— andinacompetitive House district—was an officialWhite House event, yet it seemed more like oneofhis signature campaign rallies that his chief of staff said he would hold regularly ahead of next year’smidterms. But instead of being held in an arenathatcould draw several thousand attendees, it was held in aconference center ballroom at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, asmall town of about3,000 residents.
Following dismal results for Republicans in last month’soffcycleelections, the White House
has sought to convince voters that theeconomy will emerge stronger next year and that any anxieties over inflation have nothing to do with Trump.
He displayed achart comparing price increases underhis predecessor, Joe Biden, to prices under his ownwatch, but theinflationratehas only climbedsince he announced broad tariffs in April and left many Americans worried about their grocery, utilityand housing bills.
“I have no higherpriority than making America affordable again,” Trump said. “They caused thehigh prices and we’re bringing
As the president spoke,his party’spolitical vulnerabilities were further seen as Miami voters chose Eileen Higgins to be their first Democraticmayor in nearly 30 years. Higgins defeated the Trump-endorsed Republican Emilio Gonzalez.
The president’sreception in the county hosting his Tuesday rally showed he could still appeal to the base, but it wasunabletosettle questions of whetherhecouldhold togetherhis 2024 coalition. MonroeCounty flipped to Trumplast year after having backed Biden in 2020, helping the Republican win the swing state of Pennsylvania andreturn to theWhiteHouse after afour-year hiatus.
As home to the PoconoMountains, thecounty has largely relied on tourism for skiing, hiking, hunting and other activities as asource of jobs. Its proximity to New York City —under twohours by car has alsoattractedpeople seeking moreaffordable housing.
Butwhatseems undeniable —even to Trumpsupporters in MonroeCounty— is that inflation seemstobehere to stay LouHeddy,a retiredmaintenance mechanic who voted for Trump last year,saidhe’snoticed in thepast month alone thathis and his wife’sgrocerybills have risen from $175 to $200, and he’snot sure Trump can bring food prices down.
“Once the prices get up forfood, they don’tevercome back down. That’sjustthe way Ifeel.I don’t know how the hell he would do it,” said Heddy,72. But Suzanne Vena, aDemocratic voter,blames Trump’stariffs for making life more expensive,as she struggles with rising bills for food, rent and electricity on afixed income. She remembersTrump saying that he would stop inflation.
NickRiley,38, said he’scutting back on luxuries, like going out to eat, as he absorbs higherbills for food and electricityand is having ahard timefinding agood deal on a used car.Riley voted forTrumpin 2020, but he sat outthe 2024 election and plans to do so again next year
“We’re all broke. It doesn’tmatterwhetheryou supportRepublicans or support Democrats,” Riley said. “We’re all broke, and we’re all feeling it.”
The challenge forTrump is how to address the concerns of voters aboutthe economy while simultaneously claiming that the economy is enjoying ahistoric boom Asked on aPolitico podcast how he’d rate the economy,Trump leaned into grade inflationbyanswering “A-plus,” only to then amend his answer to “A-plus-plusplus-plus-plus.”
Raul Malo,60, Grammy-winning frontman of TheMavericks,dies
By The Associated Press
NEW YORK Raul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of the genredefying, Grammy-winning band The Mavericks, has died. He was 60. Malo died Monday night, his wife, Betty Malo, postedonhis Facebook page. He had been battling cancer.The frontman of The Mavericks had documented his health journeyonsocial media since he disclosed in June 2024 that he wasreceivingtreatment for colon cancer. In September 2025, Malo said on Instagram that he wasbattling LMD, or leptomeningeal disease,
arare complication when cancer spreads to membranes thatsurround the brain andspinal cord.
Malo left home in Nashville, Tennessee, toseek treatmentin Houston, keeping his fans updated alonghis health journey
“He was called to do another gig —thistimeinthe sky—and he’s flying high like an eagle,” Betty Malo wrote. “No one embodied life and love, joy and passion, family, friends, music, and adventure the way our beloved Raul did. Now he will look down on us with allthat heavenwill allow,lighting theway and reminding us to savorevery moment.”
Born Raul FranciscoMartínez-
Malo Jr.inMiami to Cubanparents,heco-founded The Mavericks in 1989 with drummerPaulDeakin andbass guitarist Robert Reynolds. Their self-titled debut album was released the following year on the independent, Miami-based label Y&T Music.
Some call the band alt-country Others describe it as Americana, roots, Latin, Tejano or swing. It’s all of the above andmore,drivenby songs written by Malo, his expansive guitarstyle and his broad vocal range,froma soaring, velvety baritone to operatichigh notes. His musical prowess was in the blend, also incorporating rock, traditional country and surf. In the
earlydays in Miami, The Mavericks played punk and rock clubs to get their sound out there.
“I grew up in ahousehold where we listened to all kinds of music,” Malo said in a2020 NPRinterview “I just remember it was acelebration of all these cultures.”
In 2002, Malo released an allSpanish album forchildren, “el Cancionero de la Familia Volume 1,” featuring vocals from his sister,Carol, wife,Betty,and mother, Norma, along with other guests.
The band has taken on various iterations over the years as some memberscame and went. The Mavericks also disbanded acouple of times. Malo put outadozen or so
solo albumsand collaboration projectsaswell, includinghis instrumental “Say Less,” “You’re Only Lonely” and “Sinners &Saints.”
The Mavericks released their 13thstudio album, “Moon &Stars,” in 2024. Between that and their debut, the band received aGrammy, twoCountry Music Association awards and three Academy of Country Music Awards.
Raulhas aBMI award forsongwriting, for “All YouEverDoIs Bring Me Down,” and was nominated forseveral solo Grammys. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Betty; sons Dino,Victor, and Max, mother Norma and sister Carol.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT ROURKE
President DonaldTrump speaks at the Mount AiryCasino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pa., on Tuesday.
Senate to vote on Cassidy’s health proposal
Republicans push back on tax credit extension
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON U.S Senate
leaders said Tuesday the chamber will vote Thursday on U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy’s health care legislation, calling it the Republican response to a Democratic proposal to extend tax credits that 24.3 million working Americans and small businesses — nearly 300,000 of whom live in Louisiana — use to buy health insurance. The legislation, which was officially released Tuesday, is cosponsored by Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, and Sen. Mike Crapo R-Idaho.
Cassidy chairs the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee and Crapo chairs the Senate Finance Committee, the two panels that oversee the Affordable Care Act.
Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Monday that he favored the Cassidy-Crapo proposal as the Republicans’ entrée into the extension debate.
The subsidies, which go directly from the federal government to insurance companies, expire Dec. 31 — meaning people who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace will have to pay the policy’s entire amount. That would cause their premiums to double, on average, beginning in three weeks on Jan 1.
Thune promised Democratic senators a vote on extending for three years the tax credits that are designed to cover the gap between what insurance companies charge for their policies and what people can afford to pay on their own. A vote on the Cassidy-Crapo legislation will be teed up as soon as the Democratic vote finishes.
The Cassidy-Crapo measure wouldn’t extend the tax credits. Instead, the bill proposes giving the money that had gone to insurance companies as subsidies to pay policy premiums, directly to beneficiaries in the form of a health savings account
that could be used solely for medical expenses.
Cassidy said people could decide on their own if they want to use the money to buy the more expensive policy with lower deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses or purchase a less-expensive policy and use the savings to pay for the higher deductibles and expenses when care is sought.
“Instead of 100% of this money going to insurance companies, let’s give it to patients,” Cassidy said Tuesday “By giving them an account that they control, we give them the power We make health care affordable again.”
Cassidy said the legislation requires policy prices to decrease by 11% over the next few years.
The proposals need 60 votes to succeed. Fifty-three Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the Democrats sit in the Senate. Senators are expected to vote along party lines, so neither the Democratic nor the Republican measure is expected to succeed.
If one does attract 60 votes, the instrument will head to the House, whose
Texas launches plan to open chapters of
Turning Point USA in every high school
BY JADEN EDISON The Texas Tribune
Texas has launched a partnership with Turning Point USA to create chapters of the right-wing organization on every high school campus in the state
Gov Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov Dan Patrick and Turning Point USA Senior Director Josh Thifault revealed the initiative during a news conference at the Governor’s Mansion on Monday They did not outline any plans that would require schools to initiate the clubs, but Abbott said that he expects “meaningful disciplinary action” to take place against “any stoppage of TPUSA in the great state of Texas.”
“Let me be clear: Any school that stands in the way of a Club America program in their school should be reported immediately to the Texas Education Agency,” the governor said, referring to the name of the high school clubs.
The announcement comes after Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who stood behind Abbott at Monday’s gathering, privately met with Thifault in early November to discuss expanding the organization’s presence in the state’s schools, which was first reported by The Texas Tribune. Four days after that meeting, Patrick said he would commit $1 million in campaign funds to help bring the project to fruition Turning Point USA was founded by Charlie Kirk, the late right-wing activist who was often praised by conservatives as a champion of free speech and criticized for comments that many other Americans found hateful. Kirk was killed in early September while speaking on a college campus in Utah Kirk’s organization has traditionally operated on college campuses, promoting itself as a hub for young people committed to conservative values. The group is also known for having created a so-called professor watchlist, which allows users to search for educators perceived as supporting and promoting liberal viewpoints in the classroom.
Turning Point’s work has at times caused tension, particularly among students and faculty members who have reported being harassed because of the negative spotlight placed on them by the organization. The group’s “Club America” chapters, meanwhile, operate in high schools. The clubs aim to “build strong networks, spearhead impactful initiatives, help students register to vote, and inspire meaningful conversations about the foundations of a free society,” ac-
cording to their website.
Point organizers say they have received
Republican-majority members are trying to come up with their own version to compete with the Democratic three-year extension. Democratic insistence that the Republican-dominated House and Senate extend the tax credits led to the historically long federal government shutdown a few weeks ago.
Republicans have spent the last 15 years trying to scuttle the Affordable Care
Act and have portrayed the extension as a Democratic effort to cover up skyrocketing insurance costs.
The tax credits were enhanced during the COVID pandemic as people returned to work, often for employers who didn’t offer insurance. Though these beneficiaries no longer qualified for Medicaid, they still couldn’t afford the policies on the private market.
Democrats don’t disagree
that costs have risen but argue that changes required by Republicans and the courts diminished the effectiveness of plan. They agreed that changes are necessary but wanted the extension to avoid people suffering while Congress leans into a health care debate.
Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.
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Hegseth weighing release of boat strike video
BY STEPHEN GROVES and LISA MASCARO Associated Press
WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told congressional leaders Tuesday that he was still weighing whether to release the full video of an attack on an alleged drug boat that killed two survivors, even as he faced intensifying demands from Congress for disclosure.
to key lawmakers overseeing the U.S. military The classified video call between Adm. Alvin Holsey, who will be retiring from U.S. Southern Command in the coming days, and the GOP chair and ranking Democrat of the Senate Armed Services Committee represented another determined step by lawmakers to get answers about the operation
American country, including the largest U.S. aircraft carrier
On Tuesday, the U.S. military flew a pair of fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela in what appears to be the closest American warplanes have come to the country’s airspace since the start of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign.
“We need an all-member briefing for the House of Representatives,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y told The Associated Press.
For the last several months, the Trump administration has brandished videos of the strikes black and white footage of boats exploding into flames — on social media.
people who are the equivalent of corner dealers,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. Lawmakers are also questioning what intelligence the military is using to determine whether the boats’ cargo is headed for the U.S.
leader to do so, according to two people familiar with the private session who spoke on the condition of anonymity Johnson’s absence was notable from the speaker, who is second in line of succession to the president, especially as Congress is expected to have the final say on the military’s use of the nation’s war powers.
Hegseth provided a classified briefing for congressional leaders alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top national security officials. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said that when he asked the defense secretary whether he would allow every member of Congr ess to view the video of the attack from September, Hegseth’s response was:
“We have to study it.”
But lawmakers are demanding a full accounting from the Department of Defense on the strikes that killed two people who were clinging to the wreckage of an initial strike. Legal experts say that action may have violated the laws governing the use of deadly military force. The situation has awakened the Republicancontrolled Congress to its oversight role after months of frustration about the trickle of information from the Pentagon. Schumer described the briefing as “very unsatisfying” and added that “Democrats and Republicans had a right to see it, wanted to see it, and should see it.”
Separately Tuesday, the U.S. Navy admiral who is retiring early from command of the campaign to destroy vessels allegedly carrying drugs near Venezuela spoke
Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declined to discuss the specifics of the call, but described Holsey as a “great public servant.” He also said that the Pentagon is weighing whether releasing the video would disclose classified information.
In its annual defense authorization bill, which was crafted by both Republicans and Democrats, Congress is demanding that the Pentagon turn over unedited video of the strikes as well as the orders authorizing the attacks. The legislation threatens to withhold a quarter of Hegseth’s travel budget if he refuses.
“There is a growing demand that everyone get a right in the Senate to see it,” said Sen Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
He added that Holsey answered the senators’ questions but also said that “there are still many questions to be answered.” Reed later added that Holsey did not give a reason for his retirement other than saying it was a personal decision.
Lawmakers are trying to understand the purpose and parameters of President Donald Trump’s campaign, which has struck 22 boats and killed at least 87 people since it started in September Trump has also been making threats against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, sending a fleet of warships near the South
Holsey became the leader of U.S Southern Command just over one year ago, but in October, Hegseth announced that Holsey would be retiring early from his post. As commander of U.S. forces in the region, Holsey oversaw a command structure that has in recent years been mostly focused on building stability and cooperation across much of the region.
Trump’s drug boat campaign, however, has added a new, deadly dynamic to its mission. Rather than trying to interdict drug-carrying vessels, as forces like the U.S. Coast Guard have traditionally done, the Trump administration asserts that the drugs and drug-smugglers are posing a direct threat to American lives. Officials say they are applying the same rules as the global war on terror to kill drug smugglers.
Trump this week justified the strike by claiming that the two suspected drug smugglers were trying to right the part of the boat after it had capsized in the initial attack. However, Adm Frank “Mitch” Bradley the special operations commander who ordered the second strike, told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing last week that he ordered the second strike to ensure that the cocaine in the boat could not be picked up later by cartel members.
The entire House Armed Services Committee will also hear from Bradley next week said Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the panel.
Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called it a “little strange” for officials to now claim that full, unedited video of the strike is classified and cannot be released even to members of Congress. He and other Democrats also say that the logic underpinning the entire operation is deeply problematic.
“They are using expensive, exquisite American military capabilities to kill
As they have looked closer at the Sept. 2 strike, lawmakers learned that the destroyed boat was heading south at the time of the attack and that military intelligence showed it was headed toward another vessel that was bound for Suriname.
Still, it remains to be seen whether the Republicancontrolled Congress will push back on the Trump administration’s campaign.
Many have so far stood behind it, but worry is also growing about the prospect of war House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, missed the classified briefing — the only
A group of senators three Democrats and one Republican is also preparing to force a vote on legislation as soon as next week that would halt Trump’s ability to use military force against Venezuela directly without congressional approval. The senators have already tried unsuccessfully to pass a similar resolution, but almost
Hegseth
front of the Sabor A La Mexicana food truck in Walker, according to eyewitnesses.
Agents bashed the front windows of a car while detaining the pair, said Mayra Moreno, the owner of the food truck, who recorded the incident.
Moreno said multiple cars and agents came to detain the pair
“They were hurting them a lot,” Moreno said.
Chunks of the car window shards of glass, blood stains and the car were left in the wake of the raid near the food truck.
Moreno, friends and residents from the Pannu Mobile Home Park next door, where the pair lived, cleaned up the scene afterward and looked for the pair’s papers in the broken car
“That’s the first time they come over here in this area,” said Herlinda Barajas, who works at Envios Jalisco, a convenience store next to the taco truck.
Residents of Plantation Oaks Trailer Park, which is right outside the East Baton Rouge Parish line in Denham Springs, also said they witnessed several Border Patrol agents detain a man Tuesday morning.
Several masked agents in at least
five cars drove into the trailer park around 8 a.m., while at least a dozen children were waiting for the school bus, according to eyewitnesses and videos
Kelly Griffith, a Plantation Oaks resident who was waiting for the school bus with her 6-year-old granddaughter, saw the vehicles quickly approach the trailer park, sirens blaring, as they chased an air-conditioning work truck into the neighborhood.
Griffith said she watched agents detain a Hispanic man and alleged that they beat him up after grab-
bing him from the truck in front of the children
“These kids literally had to run out of the way,” Griffith said “They were crying; they were terrified.”
Griffith and other residents said they believed the man had legal immigration status and documentation to prove it. According to residents and videos, a helicopter flew around the area for about an hour after the detainment.
Kevin Melton, another Plantation Oaks resident, said he witnessed the detainment but does not believe the man lived in the trailer park.
“It all happened right in front of me. I’ve seen the beating. I’ve seen him slammed on the ground,” Melton said. “His face was the first thing that hit the ground.”
Melton works at a local J&J Con-
struction site and said that in the past week, many workers have been too scared to come to work.
Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lori Steele said the office had not heard anything about the reported Plantation Oaks incident.
Until Tuesday, Border Patrol agents were mostly stationed in Kenner, home to the highest num-
ber of immigrants in the state.
DHS has touted some arrests in the New Orleans region of people with criminal histories, but the vast majority of those arrested in Chicago and Charlotte had no criminal records.
Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@theadvocate. com.
Continued from page 1A
services in some way
All 12 Metro Council members decided to give up some of their own budgets to help ease the burden on various city-parish agencies bracing for layoffs
Though a small amount of the collective budget, more than 19% of the $2.9 million originally proposed for council budgets next year was given to departments including the 19th Judicial Court, the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office and others. The district attorney’s budget, which is set to get cut by 11%, will get a $116,566 boost from council funds. The public defender, whose city-parish funds are getting cut by more than 21%, will receive $120,377 from council budgets.
“I’m very very pleased with our council,” Edwards said. “The council came together on the amendments to find some monies for some of the entities that are sorely needed.”
It is unclear if the amount is enough to stop District Attorney Hillar Moore from taking action in court. Moore said earlier this year that his office cannot function properly if additional cuts come. It is unclear if the extra dollars could impact whether his office files a suit in court to try and have a judge give an opinion on how much funding the city-parish is responsible to give his office. Edwards said he has had conversations with Moore about it, and would take no offense if a suit is filed.
Numbness, Burning, Tingling?
“It would be a friendly lawsuit,” he said. “We’re working on other things to help Hillar, as well as everyone from the public defender to (Department of Public Works).”
Email Patrick Sloan-Turner at patrick.sloan-turner@ theadvocate.com.
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
A manager of Pannu Mobile Home Park, who did not want to be identified, sweeps up the broken glass of a car window left behind after two people were detained by Border Patrol agents outside Sabor A La Mexicana in Walker on Tuesday
that approves the contracts.
The letter from the Health Department did not provide areason for the decision, but Attorney General Liz Murrill said it was aresult of an ongoing legal battle with United Healthcare over a separate issue relatedtoits management of pharmacy benefits for the state.
“This is very simple Iexpecta companythat makes millions of dollars off the state to comply with our lawstoremain eligible for that contract,” Murrill said Tuesday
AUnited Healthcare spokesperson disputed Murrill’sclaims, but acknowledged it was losing the contract.
“Weremaincommitted to working with the Louisiana Department of Health through this transition,” the company’sstatement said “Wevalue the longstanding relationship with the State of Louisiana that has allowed us to provide access to high quality care and coverageto more than 300,000 Medicaid members.”
Six companies provide health insurance to about 1.4million people as part of Louisiana’sMedicaid program. The United Healthcare contract is the second largest. The plan served 333,246 plan members as of Nov. 1, and the contract for the upcoming 2026 calendar year was projected to be worth about $4.2 billion, according to the Health Department Three-year contractsfor all six companies end on Dec. 31. On Nov.20, state Health Department officials asked lawmakers to approve aone-year extensionfor 2026 —including for United Healthcare.
“This is the fourth year of an expected five-year contract,” Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein said during ahearing on the request Greenstein at the time told lawmakers that state health officials felt “very good” and
had undergone akind of reset with “our plansand their leadershiptohavea true partnership.”
There was no mentionthat any of thecontracts would not be extended, and Tuesday’snews surprisedmany lawmakers.
“Wehad noideathere was any problems with renewals,” said Boudreaux
The contract change was first reported by theLouisiana Illuminator
The department earlier this month was also preparedtoend its Medicaid contract with Aetna, which is ownedbyhealthgiant CVS.Inanearlyidentical Dec. 2letter,Gold informed the company it would not be renewing its Medicaid contract expiringatthe endofthe yearand would transition members to other health plans.
The Aetna plan covers 157,730 people, andits oneyear agreement is worth about$1.9 billion,according to theHealth Department.
Butinastatement Tues-
day,healthofficials announced they nowplanto renew the agreement with Aetna.
On Dec. 2, Murrill sent alettertothe department saying United Healthcare had failed to cooperate with the state’s“pharmacy benefit managementoversight.” Pharmacy benefit managers negotiate drug prices between drugmakers and large institutions.
Shesaid thestate had asked United Healthcare to provide copies of itssubcontracts with its pharmacy benefit manager,OptumRx. The company in 2022 only provided “partial and largely redacted materials,” Murrill said, whichprompted a lawsuit that year,which is ongoing.
“Because United has been out of contractual compliance since at least fall 2021, has failed to provide complete, unredacted access to necessary documentsand data, and has not submitted acredible plan to curethese systemic deficiencies, it is
the opinion of the Attorney General thatUnited is not eligible for an extension or renewal,” Murrill wrote to theHealth Department earlier this month
United Healthcare in a statementsaid it “has always maintained compliance with Louisiana law and our Medicaidcontract andhavebeen consistently responsive to the State’s requestfor data recordsand documentation.”
“Wewill continue to demonstrate ourcompliance withthe state,” the company said.
Murrill raised similar concernswith Aetna, which is part of theCVS family of companiesthatinclude a pharmacy benefits manager The state has multiple active lawsuits against CVS over allegations that it distorted the drug market and drove up prescription drug costs.
But the attorney general said MondaythatCVS was engaged in settlement talks with Louisiana. In astatementTuesday,
CVS said, “Weare operating business as usual in support of ourmembersand provider relationships. We thank LDH fortheir collaboration.”
Louisiana health officials on Tuesday did not respond to questions about howthe impending end to United Healthcare’sMedicaid contract will impact members who have health insurance through that plan.
However,state legislators raised that question.
“The timing of it couldn’t be at amore inconvenient time,” said Boudreaux, noting that the decision came with justweeks left in December.“Health care is complicated andpeople don’t understand it, andwhen we have more variablestoit, that further complicates it.”
Boudreauxsaidthere’s arisk that someone who switches insurers will no longer be covered by the doctors andhealthcare providers they are already seeing.
“That’sreality —that there are gonna be some where they’re not covered,”
he said.
State leaders needtomake sure that Medicaid patients who have been on the United Healthcareplanwill still be able to be seen by their doctors, he said.
Senate health committee Chair state Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, said he and insurance committee Chair state Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, are considering holding ajoint hearing about “the termination of these contracts and the potential impacts.”
“Politicsaside,asa legislator and as chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee,myforemost responsibility is protecting thehealth andsafety of all Louisiana residents,” McMath said.
“I want to assure those who maybeaffected, the Legislature will workwithin its limitedauthority to prevent disruptions in access to health care services, and that ensuring continuity of care will remain our top priority,” he said.
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Trumpthreatenedtovetodefense actoverbasenames
SpeakerJohnson removedlanguage from bill
BY JOHN M. DONNELLY CQ-Roll Call (TNS)
WASHINGTON White House officials told lawmakers in recent days that the president would veto the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization ActifCongress did not delete House- and Senate-passed language ensuring U.S. military bases do not bear names associated with Confederate officers, the sponsor of one of those provisions said Monday
TheTrump administration also told senior lawmakers the president would veto the NDAA over its collective bargaining protections for Pentagon civilians, aknowledgeable source said Monday
The provisions on the Confederacy that were apart of both theHouse andSenate bills were retained in the compromise NDAA thatwas agreed upon by Republican and Democratic Armed Ser-
vices leaders and was recentlysent to congressional leaders for finishing touches,knowledgeable sources said.Sotoo were thecollective bargaining provisions, they said.
But Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, did as Trump wished and removed both sets of provisions in the last days oftalks over thefinal NDAA text, which wasfinalized Sunday,lawmakers confirmedonMonday
Army base names
On the CivilWar issue, Trump had vetoedthe fiscal 2021 NDAA over its creation of acommission to rename military facilities andassets that have borne thenames of Confederate officersor otherwise paid homage to the Confederacy.Congress overrodethat veto.
Nine major Army bases were renamed in 2023 using thecommission’srecommendations.
But this year theTrump administration undid the commission’s work
TheWhite House veto threats in recentdays, which
have notpreviously been reported, show theConfederacy issuestill matters to Trump, not to mention the subject of control over the federal civilian workforce.
“The President’sthreat to veto the bill over this amendment —ashehas done before —onlyproves that the President and this administration aim to politicize anddemoralize every servicememberwho chooses to puttheir life on the line while serving their country,” Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash.,the author of theHouse provision on base names, said viaemail.
“SpeakerJohnsonand the President killedmybipartisan amendment that passed in committee— at thelast minute. They arechoosing to honor Confederate traitors, who fought to uphold the institution of slavery and lostawar,rather than supporting ourservicemembers —40% of whom are people of color.”
The White House, asked last week if it would veto theNDAA if it contained the provisions requiring that the
commission’snon-Confederate names be used, referred areporter to statements of administration policy on the House and SenateNDAAs that expressed “strong”opposition to theprovisions but did not threaten aveto.
AJohnson spokesperson didnot immediately reply to arequest for comment on whether the speaker had removed the base-naming provision at the WhiteHouse’s request Bipartisan votes
Earlier this year,Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moved to change the names of nine Army bases that two years before had seen their nameschangedinaccordance withcommissionrecommendationsbacktotheirformer Confederatehomages.
Hegsethsaid, though, that the names now would be honoring non-Confederate military heroes who hap-
pened to share last names with the Confederates.
For example, Fort Gordon in Georgiawas renamed Fort Eisenhower in 2023, but thispast Junethe base name reverted to Fort Gordon— this time,Hegseth said,in honor of MedalofHonor recipient Master Sergeant Gary Gordon.
Eight other bases followed similar patterns. Their formerly Confederate-aligned names, now restored in indirect fashion, are: Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, Fort A.P Hill, Fort Hood, Fort Lee, Fort Pickett, Fort Polk and Fort Rucker
The GOP majority Armed Services Committees in both chambers voted earlier this year forNDAAs that would restore in whole or in part the Naming Commission’s recommendations.
The HouseArmedServices Committee adopted an amendment to its NDAA by
Strickland to require allthe base names to change to the commission’srecommendations. TheSenate’sversionincluded language backed by Sen. TimKaine, D-Va., to restore the bases in Virginia Forts A.P.Hill, Lee and Pickett —tothe names chosen by thecommission.Both provisions made it into the final measure, lawmakers said. Rep.AdamSmith, DWash., theranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, expressed concern in astatement Mondayabout “howanumber of issues were handled by the Speaker andthe White House during final negotiations, disregarding input from committees of jurisdiction and forcing in provisions without four-corner agreement,” which he said “goes against the longstanding traditionofthe NDAA negotiations process.”
BY ERIC TUCKER Associated Press
WASHINGTON— The Justice Department on Tuesday challenged acourt order that complicated efforts to seek anew indictment against former FBI Director James Comey by makinga trove of evidence off-limits to prosecutors. An order issued over the weekend by afederal judge in Washington barred the Justice Department at least temporarily from accessing computer filesbelonging to Daniel Richman, aclose Comey friend and Columbia University lawprofessor who prosecutors see as a central playerinany potentialcase against the former FBI director Prosecutors moved Tuesdaytoquash that order,calling Richman’srequest forthe return of hisfilesa “strategic tool to obstructthe investigation and potential prosecution.” They said the judge had overstepped her bounds by ordering Richman’sproperty returned to him andsaid the ruling hadimpededtheir ability to proceed witha case againstComey The Justice Department alleges that Comey used Richman to share information with thenews media about his decision-making during the FBI’sinvestiga-
tioninto Hillary Clinton’s use of aprivateemail server.Prosecutors charged the former FBI directorinSeptember with lying to Congressbydenying that he had authorized an associate to serveasananonymous source for the media. That indictment was dismissed lastmonth after a federal judge in Virginia ruled that theprosecutor whobrought the case, LindseyHalligan, wasunlawfully appointed by theTrump administration. Butthe ruling left open thepossibility that the government could try again to seek charges againstComey.Comey has pleaded not guilty.
Accused killer’s to-do list, plans released
Luigi Mangione’s lawyers argue to bar evidence found in backpack
BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press
NEW YORK Pluck eyebrows. Buy less conspicuous shoes. Take a bus or a train west toward Cincinnati and St. Louis. Move around late at night. Stay away from surveillance cameras.
A to-do list and travel plans found during Luigi Mangione’s arrest and revealed in court this week shed new light on the steps he may have taken — or planned to take — to avoid capture after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killing last year
“Keep momentum, FBI slower overnight,” said one note. “Change hat, shoes, pluck eyebrows,” said another
The notes, including a handdrawn map and tactics for surviving on the lam, were shown on Monday at a pretrial hearing as Mangione’s bid to prevent prosecutors from using evidence seized during his Dec. 9, 2024, arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Excerpts of body-worn camera footage of the arrest, previously unseen by the press or the public, were released on Tuesday Police said they discovered the notes in Mangione’s backpack, along with a 9 mm handgun that prosecutors said matches the one used to kill Thompson five days earlier; a loaded gun magazine and silencer; and a notebook in similar handwriting which he purportedly described his intent to “wack” a health insurance executive
Mangione’s lawyers haven’t disputed the authenticity of the notes or the provenance of the gun, pocket knife, fake ID, driver’s license, passport, credit cards, AirPods, protein bar travel toothpaste, flash drives and other items seized from him and his backpack. But they argue that anything found in the bag should be barred because police didn’t have a search warrant and lacked the grounds to justify a warrantless
search. Prosecutors contend the search was legal — officers said they were checking for a bomb and that police eventually obtained a warrant.
The notes, along with other evidence highlighted at the pretrial hearing, underscore that Mangione’s stop in Altoona, a city of about 44,000 people about 230 miles west of Manhattan, was only meant to be temporary
One note said to check for “red eyes” from Pittsburgh to Columbus, Ohio, or partway to Cincinnati (“get off early,” it reads). The map drawn below shows lines linking those cities, as well as other possible destinations, including Detroit, Indianapolis and St. Louis. Thompson, 50, was killed as he walked to a Manhattan hotel for his company’s investor conference on Dec. 4, 2024. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting him from behind and then fleeing the area. Over the next hours and days, police released photos of a suspect first showing him in a mask and hooded coat and then his face and thick
eyebrows.
Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to state and federal murder charges The pretrial hearing which resumes for a sixth day on Thursday, applies only to the state case. His lawyers are making a similar push to exclude the evidence from his federal case, where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty
Among the notes revealed this week was one with a heading “12/5” and a starred entry that said: “buy black shoes (white stripes too distinctive).”
Another also written in to-do list style, suggested spending more than three hours away from surveillance cameras and using different modes of transportation to “Break CAM continuity” and avoid tracking. Below that, it said: “check reports for current situation,” a possible reference to news reports about the search for Thompson’s killer According to prosecutors, Mangione fled to Newark, New Jersey, immediately after the shooting and took a train to Philadelphia. Among the evidence shown at the pretrial hearing was a Philadelphia transit pass purchased at 1:06 p.m. a little more than six hours after the shooting — and a ticket for a Greyhound
bus, booked under the name Sam Dawson, leaving Philadelphia at 6:30 p.m. and arriving in Pittsburgh at 11:55 p.m.
A note with the heading “12/8” lists a number of tasks, including an apparent trip to Best Buy to purchase a digital camera and accessories, “hot meal + water bottles,” and “trash bag(s).” Under “12/9,” the day of Mangione’s arrest, the note lists tasks including “Sheetz,” an Altoona-based convenience store chain, “masks” and “AAA bats.” Under “Future TO DO,” it listed “intel checkin” and “survival kit.”
Mangione had a Sheetz hoagie in his backpack when he was arrested, along with a loaf of Italian bread from a local deli, according to police officers testifying Monday and Tuesday It had been raining, and the bag and items inside it were wet, the officers said. They were heard on body-worn camera footage played in court theorizing that Mangione had gotten soaked walking from the city’s bus station.
Police responded to the McDonald’s after a manager called 911 to relay concerns from customers who thought that Mangione, eating breakfast in a back corner, resembled the man wanted for killing Thompson. On the call, played in court, the manager could be heard saying that because Mangione was wearing a medical mask, she could only see his eyebrows and that she searched online for a photo of the suspect for comparison.
Altoona Police Officer Stephen Fox testified on Tuesday that Mangione, the Ivy League-educated scion of a wealthy Maryland family, expressed concern for the 911 caller’s well-being. Fox said Mangione asked if police had planned on releasing her name, which they didn’t The officer recalled him saying: “It would be bad for her” and “there would be a lot of people that would be upset.”
At another point, Fox said, a shackled Mangione stumbled while trying to keep up with the brisk-moving officer Fox said he apologized and said, “I forgot you were shackled.”
He said Mangione responded: “It’s OK, I’m going to have to get used to it.”
BY DAVID MATTHEWS New york Daily News (TNS)
LOS ANGELES Jubilant Sykes, a renowned opera and gospel singer who was also a Grammy nominee, was stabbed to death inside his Los Angeles-area home on Monday He was 71 years old.
His 31-year-old son, Micah Sykes, has since been arrested and booked by the Santa Monica Police Department on suspicion of homicide. Police in Santa Monica responded to a home around 9:20 p.m. Monday following a report of an assault in progress. Upon arriving to the scene, officers entered the home and located the older Sykes suffering from “critical injuries consistent with a stabbing,” police said in a news release Tuesday
Sykes was pronounced dead at the scene, while his son, who was found inside the residence, was taken into custody without incident. A weapon recovered at the scene and other evidence are currently being processed by forensic specialists.
The probable murder remains under investigation but appears to be an isolated incident. Authorities have not released any details on a possible motive.
Micah Sykes remained in custody Tuesday on $2 million bail, according on online jail records. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Thursday A baritone, Sykes performed in many of the world’s biggest venues during his heralded career, including Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera and the Apollo Theater in New York City, as well as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and several international stages. He “collaborated with such artists as Julie Andrews, Terence Blanchard, John Beasley, Renée Fleming, Josh Groban, Christopher Parkening, Patrice Rushen, Carlos Santana, Jennifer Warren and Brian Wilson,” according to a biography on his website.
Mangione (bodycam image)
UPI POOL PHOTO By JOHN ANGELILLO
Luigi Mangione, lower right, appears in Manhattan Criminal Court for an evidence hearing Tuesday in New york.
TwoofTrump’s peacedeals at risk as fighting surges
BY MATTHEW LEE AP diplomatic writer
WASHINGTON At least two of several agreements aimed at ending global conflicts that President DonaldTrump hashailedas evidence of his negotiating prowess are in trouble and at risk of collapsing.
Lessthan aweek after Congo and Rwanda signed adeal in Trump’spresence in Washington meant to halt fighting in eastern Congo and less than two months after he witnessed Cambodia and Thailand sign aceasefire pact in Malaysia to end their borderconflict, fighting has surged in both places.
The developments have caused international alarm that on Tuesday resulted in urgent calls to halt the renewed violence from countries involved in the African Great Lakes region and from U.S. SecretaryofState
Marco Rubio. In each case, the statementsurged thecombatants to live up to their commitmentsinthe deals that Trump has touted in part as the rationale for casting himself as the“president of peace.”
Violence flaringinCongo
Ajointstatementreleased by theInternational Contact Groupfor theGreat Lakes expressed “profound concern” over the situation in Congo’sSouth Kivu region, where newdeadlyviolence blamed on theRwandanbackedM23 militia group has exploded in recent days.
“The ICG urges the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to immediately halt their offensive operations in eastern DRC, in particularinSouth Kivu, and calls on the RDF towithdrawfromeastern DRC and on M23 to return to its posi-
tions” as stipulated in multiple agreementsthat culminated in the signing of adeal in Washington on Thursday with Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
The White House had touted it as a“historic”agreement brokered by Trump following monthslong peace efforts by the U.S. and its partners, including theAfrican Union and Qatar,finalizinganearlier deal signed in June.
“It’sa great dayfor Africa, agreat day for the world,” Trumpsaidthen. He added, “Today,we’re succeeding where so manyothers have failed.”
The Great Lakes contact group —which includes Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and the European Union urgedall sides“to uphold
Canada’s ambassador to U.S. will resign before review of free tradeagreement
BY ROBGILLIES Associated Press
TORONTO— Canada’sambas-
sador to the U.S. for the last six years said Tuesday she’s resigningnextyearasthe two major trading partners plan to review the free trade agreement.
Ambassador Kirsten Hillman said in aletteritisthe right time to put in place someone who will oversee talks about the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that is up for review in 2026.
CanadianPrime Minister Mark Carney said Hillman “prepared the foundations for Canada in the upcoming review”ofthe agreement.
Carney noted she’sone of the longest-serving ambassadors to the United States in Canada’shistory
Former Canadian Prime Minister JustinTrudeau appointed Hillmanin2017. Shewas thefirstwoman appointedto the role.
Hillman helped lead the trade negot i ations during U.S. President Donald Trump’sfirst term andworked with U.S. and Chinese officials to win therelease of two Canadians detained inChina. DominicLeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, andHillman had been leading trade talkswith U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer U.S. Ambassador to Cana-
da PeteHoekstra said on social media that Hillmanhas been an “awesome andwellrespected” contributortothe U.S.-Canada relationship.
Trump endedtrade talks with Carney in October after the Ontario provincialgovernment ran an anti-tariff advertisement in theU.S., which upsetthe U.S. president.That followed aspring of acrimony,since abated, over Trump’sinsistence that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. Asked this weekwhen tradetalks would resume, Trumpsaid, “we’ll see.” Canadaisone of themost trade-dependent countries in theworld, and more than 75% of Canada’sexports go to theU.S. Most exports to the U.S. areexempted by the USMCA trade agreement but thatdeal is up for review
their commitments” under the deal signed last week and“immediately deescalate thesituation.”
TheState Department, using an acronym for the Democratic Republic of Congo,saidthe U.S.“is deeply concerned by the ongoingviolenceineastern DRC, driving displacement and inflicting suffering on countless families.”
“The Trump administration continuestoadvance its diplomatic engagement on this important issue, working to ensure the full implementation of the recently signed agreements andrestorestabilityonthe ground,”itsaid. “Weare workingclosely with regional partnerstouphold the commitments made and reinforce theceasefire.”
Thai-Cambodian border
In aseparate statement, Rubio said the U.S.iscon-
cerned by an uptick in fighting between Cambodiaand Thailand alongtheir contested border,justover a month after the two countries signed an agreement in Malaysia that was pushed forbyTrump.
“Westrongly urge theimmediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and forboth sides to return to the de-escalatory measures outlined in the October 26 Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords,” Rubio said in astatement.
The Cambodia-Thailand deal has been faltering for weeks, but took abig hit whenfighting broke out following aweekendskirmish in whichtwo Thai soldiers were injured. Five days of fighting since has left dozens dead on both sides and forced the evacuationof over 100,000 civilians.
Asenior Trumpadministrationofficial, whowas not
authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity,said the president expected Thailand and Cambodia as well as Rwanda and Congo to “honor their commitments” to halt the violence. Theofficialsays the administration is monitoring the situation in Congo closelyand that Trump has told both sidesheisexpecting “immediate results.” Trump has repeatedly citedseven or eightagreements, including these two, as proof of his successin ending conflicts, although another one —aninternationally endorsed plan to end theIsrael-Hamas war in Gaza —isstill unfinalized and in limbo with sporadic fighting continuing while acritical second phase remains awork in progress. His efforts to halt the fighting between Russia and Ukraine have so farproven unsuccessful.
Hillman
Baton RougeWeather
Library Board approves raises
Livingston Parish employees to receive 3% cost-of-living adjustment
tently has lower starting pay
“It makes service quality decline,” she told the board.
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
The Livingston Parish Library
Board on Monday approved a cost-of-living adjustment for library employees after rejecting the proposal at its last meeting.
Library employees will receive a 3% COLA in 2026 after it passed unanimously with no debate from the board or public.
Students present projects during AI Showcase
Industry leaders reflect on changing technology at LSU
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
Overlooking Tiger Stadium and the Mississippi River, students in LSU’s artificial intelligence capstone course presented their business-focused AI solutions to industry partners in the Baton Rouge area.
One project envisioned an AIdriven career mapping tool for Entergy employees. Another proposed a single entry point for Our Lady of the Lake’s AI tools, embedded in Microsoft Teams. A third presentation called for Generative Engine Optimization enabling businesses to structure their online presence to maximize visibility in AI-generated answers.
“If AI can’t find you, your customers won’t be able to, either,” LSU junior Reese King summarized for the crowd.
In lieu of a final exam, the students explained their semesterlong projects as part of the LSU College of Engineering AI Showcase, which took place Monday night before an audience of peers, alumni and industry professionals. LSU partnered with BASF, Entergy, Our Lady of the Lake and Performance Contractors Inc. for this cohort of the capstone class.
The students also heard from university and private-sector leaders about entering a job market destabilized by the mass adoption of AI across industries.
“AI’s not going to take your job unless you don’t know how to use AI,” said Roy Martin, CEO of the timber company RoyOMartin, during a panel discussion. “That’s my advice.”
As it stands, AI has mostly taken over redundant, tedious tasks in their respective industries, the business leaders said. Other panelists included Art Favre, founder of Performance Contractors Inc., and Steve Webb, CEO of Neighbors Federal Credit Union It’s going to be a great opportunity, and I think it will be very, very gratifying to the ones that really get into it and stick to it and become very good in their field,” Favre said.
LSU has offered the capstone course for five semesters, working with 10 sponsors and teaching 114 students since its inception, said James Ghawaly, assistant professor of computer science.
University officials stressed the course as evidence of LSU’s competitiveness in AI education The LSU Student Senate passed legislation in November requesting an
The move comes after the board rejected the item in November, opting to wait for a comprehensive salary study, which was presented to the board on Monday
The COLA and salary study come after high turnover rates for Livingston Parish Library employees over the past few years.
The Livingston Parish Library
Alliance wrote on social media prior to the meeting, urging the board to approve the adjustment.
“Our library workers have endured constant stress from repeated attacks on our library, yet they continue to provide award-winning service,” the alliance wrote “They deserve a fair raise.”
“We’re basically becoming a training facility,” Taylor said.
Taylor compared salaries with other library systems in the region and found that, across all positions, especially entry-level, the Livingston Parish library consis-
Library human resources manager Shelley Taylor presented the employee salary study to the board and said that, because of wages, they train new employees who ultimately leave for higherpaying jobs.
Board member Patricia Wilson, who heads the finance committee, suggested dedicating a team to look at improving wages without “overextending ourselves financially.”
“My personal goal is to really look at this and see where we can go,” Wilson said. “Turnover is very expensive.”
Windshield work
Study offers steps to boost downtown BR
Parking enforcement, events coordinator among suggestions
BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer
To draw retailers and shoppers to downtown Baton Rouge, a consultant suggested stricter parking enforcement, hiring a full-time events coordinator and
securing anchor tenants. Mukul Verma, owner of consulting firm Throughline, presented his recommendations on encouraging downtown retail at the Downtown Development District meeting Tuesday With a growing residential population and more than 1,000 events each year, the area has an opportunity to boost the number of retailers, he said.
BR killer sentenced to life imprisonment
Judge condemns brutal Instagram Live murder
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
A Baton Rouge judge minced no words Tuesday as he sent a man convicted of killing a woman on Instagram Live to prison for the rest of his life.
“I’ve seen an awful lot in 35 years. But I have to tell you you committed one of the most shocking murders that I’ve ever heard of, or had to see on video,” District Judge Carson Marcantel told Earl Lee Johnson Jr A jury found Johnson, 39, guilty of first-degree murder Sept. 12 at the end of a five-day trial inside the 19th Judicial District Courthouse. He held Janice David hostage in his car, the beat the 34-year-old Baton Rouge woman with a tire iron, tied her up with jumper cables and tortured her Johnson recorded portions of himself stabbing the bloodied, beaten and battered woman 42 times and livestreamed it online. He then torched his car with David still inside, clinging to the last vestiges of life. During Tuesday’s hearing, Marcantel imposed a mandatory life sentence on Johnson without
the possibility of parole.
“When you get to Angola, I hope that in the time you’re there that you find redemption — spiritually speaking,” he said. “I hope that you truly find forgiveness for your deeds here going into your next life, if that’s possible. Because I can assure you, the state of Louisiana will not forgive you in this life.”
The gruesome attack happened the afternoon of April 18, 2022. Johnson and David spent days together in his white BMW binging on drugs, according to trial testimony Prosecutors said Johnson fronted the woman $5,000 worth of drugs, and she agreed to repay him with her income tax returns He became enraged when, at some point, David tried to escape the vehicle without paying him for the drugs.
Johnson pulled the woman back into the car and stripped her nearly naked, prosecutors said. He tied her hands and drove to an office complex parking lot in the 3600 block of South Sherwood Forest Boulevard. It was there that Johnson beat and tortured David. He then turned on Instagram Live and spoke to hundreds of online viewers as he taunted a crying David and repeatedly stabbed her
STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
According to a recent report, there are 680 businesses in downtown Baton Rouge, mainly in the service industry, with 25,000 daily visitors. The area has also seen a population growth.
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Casey Rose, master tech with Professional PGW Glass Works, pipes sealant onto a new windshield before securing it to a client’s vehicle recently at City Park.
Studentattendancedrops amid immigrationsweeps
Some parents seek assuranceof children’s safety
BY PATRICK WALL,
ELYSE CARMOSINOand
MARIE FAZIO Staff writers
Student absencesatschools in the New Orleans region spiked last week as U.S. Border Patrol agents launched sweeps in the area,with teachers saying that some parents in immigrant communities are keeping kids home out of fear of what might happen if they venture out. In the JeffersonParish schoolsystem, whichhas the largest Hispanic population of any Louisiana district, about 5,400 students —or nearly 12% of the total were absent the day after the immigration crackdown started,according to data provided by the district Thursday’sabsenteeism rate was more than twice thedistrict’stypical rate of about 5% this school year
Attendance fell even more sharplyatschools with large shares of students still learning English —a group that includes many immigrants. At the20Jefferson Parish schools with the most Eng-
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Board member Trey Cowellsaid the library needs to remember “where the revenueiscoming from”and that the parish library’smillagetax looks different from other parishes.
“I definitely think on the lower end of our structure here, thereiswork to be done,” he said.
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AI fundamentalscertificate available to all students.
“It’sgenerally an approach to AI education and training that Ithink is emblematic of where LSUisgoing,” College of Engineering Dean Vicki Colvin said. “What we’ve really been able to do here is think about how we’re going to solve problems in industry,create solutions through AI, not just toys.”
Ghawaly said the college is also developinga bachelor’sdegreeinAI, an increasinglypopular offering. Mississippi State University offers aBachelor of Science in artificial intelligence.
“Thisisreallyrigorous, hard stuff,” Ghawaly said. “This is the stuff where we’re teaching students how to build AI systems, not just use them. LSU is going great places in this industry.”
lish learners,the average attendance rate Thursday was80%, about 16 percentage pointsbelow the schools’ pre-December average. More students thanusual also were missing from New Orleans’ public schools after theBorderPatrol operation beganlast Wednesday At KIPP New Orleans, the city’slargest charterschool network with about 6,000 students, attendance rates at itsnineschools ranged from76% to 84% Thursday, an average of 11 percentage points below typicalrates,according to datasharedbythe network.AtInspireNOLA, which educates about4,000 students, an average of 86% of students attended school last week —6 percentage points lowerthanthe same time last year,according to the network.
At four smaller charter school operators that provided attendance data,which collectively educate about 6,500 students, more than 1in 5studentsdid notshowupto school after the immigration sweeps started. That put the attendance rate below 80% at those networks, wheretypical rates are above 90%. At a fifth network, attendance fell below 90%
Whileanexact count of thenumber of studentswho missed school was not avail-
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Prosecutors played the 16-minute Instagram Live videoduring thetrial, which showed portions of the actualkilling. Johnson pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity,and his attorneys tried to provethat a“mental defect” coupled with the excessive drug use rendered himincapableofdecipher-
able,Sharon Latten Clark,a state Board of Elementary and SecondaryEducation member who also leads Sophie B. WrightHigh School in New Orleans, said during astate boardmeeting Tuesday that attendancehas been down by about 15% across schools in New Orleans and JeffersonParish
“Students who are afraid of beingpickedupbyICE agents are not comingto school,” she said in astatement. “This will impactattendanceacross the state.”
In astatement, aDepartment of Homeland Security spokesperson said federal agents are enforcing the nation’simmigration laws and arenot raiding schools or arrestingchildren.
“Those blaming ICE or Border Patrol for lowattendance at schools are creating aclimate offear and smearing law enforcement,” spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said The overall attendance pictureisstill incomplete, as some New Orleans charter school operators have not publicly released any attendance data. Theincrease in absences could also be related in parttolast week’srainy weather andapost-Thanksgiving attendance slump, school leaders said.
“Attendance can fluctuate
ingright from wrongduring the fatal attack.
Heather David,the victim’ssister, wrote aletter that described how the“torturous and brutal” murder devastated their family
“She didn’tdeservethis,” theletterstated. “The nightmaresofthatday have lingeredwithall of us foraverylongtime. Today, we will getjustice for Janice.”
Johnsondid notmakea statement. Several of the victim’s
NEWORLEANS
for many reasons,” KIPP
New Orleansspokesperson Ashley Daniels-Hall said in astatement, “but ourpriority is consistent: supporting families and helping students stayengagedand on track.”
Still, the preliminary data aligns with school attendance drops in other cities where federal agents have deployed thisyear as part of President DonaldTrump’s immigration crackdown.And localeducators, advocates and students said that it appears to confirm their experience in schools, wherethey’ve seen how the high-profile arrestsofpeople accused of being in the country illegally hasdrivenmany immigrant parents to stay home andkeep their children out of school
“They’re scared,”said KayleishaWatkins,aseniorat Bonnabel Magnet Academy HighSchool in Kenner,aNew Orleanssuburbwitha large Hispanic community
“Even the ones that arelegal,” Watkins said about her classmates’ parents,“they’re just keeping them home because they’re scared.
After U.S. Border Patrol sweeps in Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina, student absences shot up. In Charlotte, about30,000students
loved ones huddled together in the courtroom and bawled as Marcantel recounted the details of thekillingjustbefore doling outthe sentence. He described it as one of the most “completelysenseless” killings he has encountered in his career “This womandidn’thaveto die,” the judge said. “Particularly, she didn’thave to dieinthe mannershe died.”
After issuing the life sentence, Marcantel sentJohn-
missed school the day after an initial wave of arrests, dropping districtwide attendance to 79%, down from a 93% average. Kimberly Lichtenberger an English language teacher at Bridgedale Elementary in Metairie, told theJefferson Parish School Board during a meeting last week thatshe’s worried students could face consequences forstaying home. Under state policy,students who miss more than 15 school days cannot advance to the next grade
Educatorsalsoworry that students’ learningand their mental healthcould suffer if they miss too much school during the immigration crackdown.
“When youhavechildren who can’tcome to schoolbecause they don’tfeel that it’s safe, there’slearning loss,” saidJennieMoctezuma, a former New Orleansschool administrator who volunteers with the immigrant advocacy groupUnión Migrante
Before theBorder Patrol arrived on Dec. 3, school leaders in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish tried to forestall amajor attendance decline by assuring families that their children would be safeatschool. While saying they will comply with the law, they also promised to protect
nious fashion before deputies whiskedhim outofthe courtroom “Most of thetime whenI sentence somebody,I sincerely wish them goodbye and good luck, because I’m always hopeful that perhaps something will change,” the judge said. “Withregard to you, just go.”
solveaproblem Mondayduring the College of Engineering’s AI Showcase
students’privacyand only allow federal agents onto campus if they have proper warrants.
But as videos circulate showing federal agentson residentialstreets andpatrolling in unmarkedcars, some parents aren’tletting their childrenout of sight.
“Parents literallycalled me and said theirkids are notcoming back until all this is over,” said an English language coordinator at aNew Orleans school who asked to remain anonymous because of fear his school couldsee additional enforcement actions. He estimated that about halfofhis Hispanic students stayed home last week. In recent days, federal agents have detaineddozens of people at restaurants and job sites across the New Orleans region. Rosamund Looney,amaster teacher at WilliamHart ElementarySchool in Gretna, asked theJefferson Parish School Board to work with schools to support families whoare wary of sending their kids.
STAFFPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
down the artifi
cial intelligence programs incorporated to help
at TigerStadium inBaton Rouge.
PepsiCo to cut prices, eliminate products
PepsiCo plans to cut prices and eliminate some of its products under a deal with an activist investor announced Monday
The Purchase, New York-based company, which makes Cheetos, Tostitos and other Frito-Lay products as well as beverages, said it will cut nearly 20% of its product offerings by early next year. PepsiCo said it will use the savings to invest in marketing and improved value for consumers. It didn’t disclose which products or how much it would cut prices.
PepsiCo said it also plans to accelerate the introduction of new offerings with simpler and more functional ingredients, including Doritos Protein and Simply NKD Cheetos and Doritos, which contain no artificial flavors or colors. The company also recently introduced a prebiotic version of its signature cola.
PepsiCo is making the changes after prodding from Elliott Investment Management, which took a $4 billion stake in the company in September In a letter to PepsiCo’s board, Elliott said the company is being hurt by a lack of strategic clarity, decelerating growth and eroding profitability in its North American food and beverage businesses.
U.S. stocks stable ahead of Reserve meeting
NEW YORK U.S. stocks largely held in place on Tuesday as Wall Street waits to hear what the Federal Reserve will say Wednesday about where interest rates are heading.
JPMorgan Chase was the heaviest weight on the market after a top executive, Marianne Lake, said the bank’s expenses could rise to $105 billion next year. That would be up 9% from an estimated $95.9 billion in expenses this year, though Lake also said JPMorgan Chase is “feeling pretty good about the underlying financial health of the borrowers in our portfolio.” Its stock fell 4.7%.
Another drop came from Toll Brothers, which lost 2.4% after the homebuilder reported weaker results for the latest quarter than analysts expected.
CEO Douglas Yearley Jr said demand for new homes remains soft across many markets, and he talked about “affordability pressures” that could be affecting potential homebuyers.
One big factor in that affordability question is mortgage rates. They’re cheaper than they were at the start of the year, though they perked up a bit after October. That’s largely because of questions in the bond market about how much more the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate.
The widespread expectation is that the Fed will cut interest rates Wednesday afternoon, which would be the third such easing of the year Lower interest rates can give the economy and prices for investments a boost, though the downside is they can worsen inflation.
Oreo adds zero-sugar cookie options
Mondelez said Tuesday that Oreo Zero Sugar and Oreo Double Stuf Zero Sugar will go on sale in the U.S. in January They’re a permanent addition to the company’s Oreo lineup.
It’s the first time Mondelez has sold sugar-free Oreos in the U.S. They’re already sold in Europe and China, the company said.
Mondelez said consumers are increasingly seeking what it calls “mindful indulgence,” and the new Oreos will fill an existing gap in the market for sugar-free sandwich cookies.
Others have also noted the trend toward healthier snacks. In a report earlier this year, the market research company Circana found that a majority of Americans are seeking out snacks they consider “good for them.”
Snack giant Mondelez said it spent four years developing nosugar Oreos so it could ensure the cookies still tasted like the originals. For sweetening, the Oreos contain maltitol, a type of sugar alcohol that’s also found in some fruits and vegetables; polydextrose, a soluble fiber; sucralose, a sweetener derived from sugar; and acesulfame potassium, a synthetic sweetener.
WASHINGTON The Environmental Protection Agency has removed any mention of fossil fuels the main driver of global warming — from its popular online page explaining the causes of climate change. Now it only mentions natural phenomena, even though scientists calculate that nearly all of the warming is due to human activity
Sometime in the past few days or weeks, EPA altered some but not all of its climate change webpages, de-emphasizing and even deleting references to the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, which scientists say is the overwhelming cause of climate change. The website’s causes of climate change page mentions changes in Earth’s orbit, solar activity Earth’s reflectivity volcanoes and natural carbon dioxide changes, but not the burning of fossil fuels. Seven scientists and three former EPA officials tell The Associated Press that this is misleading and harmful.
“Now it is completely wrong,” said University of California climate scientist Daniel Swain, who also noted that impacts, risks and indicators of climate change on the EPA site are now broken links “This was a tool that I know for a fact that a lot of educators used and a lot of people. It was actually one of the best designed easy access climate change information websites for the U.S.”
Earlier this year, the Trump administration removed the national climate assessment from government websites.
“It is outrageous that our government is hiding information and lying,” said former Obama National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief and Oregon State oceanographer Jane Lubchenco.
“People have a right to know the truth about the things that affect their health and safety, and the government has a responsibility to tell the truth.”
An October version of the same EPA page, saved by the internet Wayback Machine, said: “Since the Industrial Revolution, human activ-
The Environmental Protection Agency has removed any mention of fossil fuels — the main driver of global warming — from its popular online page explaining the causes of
ities have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which has changed the earth’s climate. Natural processes, such as changes in the sun’s energy and volcanic eruptions, also affect the Earth’s climate. However, they do not explain the warming that we have observed over the last century.”
That now reads: “Natural processes are always influencing the earth’s climate and can explain climate changes prior to the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s. However, recent climate changes cannot be explained by natural causes alone.”
“Unlike the previous administration, the Trump EPA is focused on protecting human health and the environment while Powering the Great American Comeback, not left-wing political agendas,” said Brigit Hirsch, EPA spokesperson, in an email. “As such, this agency no longer takes marching orders from the climate cult. Plus, for all the pearl-clutchers out there, the website is archived and available to the public.”
Clicking on “explore climate change resources” on the EPA archived website leads to an error message that says: “This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it.”
Democratic EPA chief Gina McCarthy blasted current EPA chief Lee Zeldin, calling him “a wolf in
sheep’s clothing, actively spiking any attempt to protect our health, well-being and precious natural resources.”
Nearly 100% of the warming the world is now experiencing is from human activity, and without that, the Earth would be cooling and dropping in temperatures until the Industrial Revolution, Swain and other scientists said. The EPA listed natural causes “might be causing a very tiny amount of warming or cooling at the moment,” he said.
Marcia McNutt, a geophysicist and president of the National Academy of Sciences, said that there is consensus among experts from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, or NASEM, on the causes of climate change.
“Numerous NASEM reports from the nation’s leading scientists confirm that the climate is changing as a result of human activities,” McNutt said. “Even the EPA acknowledges that natural causes cannot explain the current changes in climate. It is important that the public be presented with all of the facts.”
Former EPA climate adviser Jeremy Symons, now a senior adviser for Environmental Protection Network of former EPA officials, said: Ignoring fossil fuel pollution as the driving force behind the climate changes we have seen in our lifetime is like pretending cigarettes don’t cause lung cancer.”
Judge overturns wind energy block
BY MATTHEW DALY and JENNIFER MCDERMOTT Associated Press
WASHINGTON A federal judge on Monday struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects, saying the effort to halt virtually all leasing of wind farms on federal lands and waters was “arbitrary and capricious” and violates U.S. law
Judge Patti Saris of the U.S District Court for the District of Massachusetts, vacated Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order blocking wind energy projects and declared it unlawful.
Saris ruled in favor of a coalition of state attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, that challenged Trump’s Day One order that paused leasing and permitting for wind energy projects.
Trump has been hostile to renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, and prioritizes fossil fuels to produce electricity
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell hailed the ruling as a victory for green jobs and renewable energy
“Massachusetts has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into offshore wind, and today, we successfully protected those important investments from the Trump administration’s unlawful order,” Campbell said in a statement
James said she was grateful the court stepped in “to block the administration’s reckless and unlawful crusade against clean energy.”
ASSOCIATED
Judge Patti Saris, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, vacated the Trump administration’s Jan. 20 executive order blocking wind energy projects and declared it unlawful.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said Monday night that offshore wind projects were given unfair, preferential treatment during the Biden administration while the rest of the energy industry was hindered by burdensome regulations.
“President Trump has ended Joe Biden’s war on American energy and unleashed America’s energy dominance to protect our economic and national security,” Rogers said in a statement to The Associated Press.
The coalition that opposed Trump’s order argued that Trump doesn’t have the authority to halt project permitting, and that doing
so jeopardizes the states’ economies, energy mix, public health and climate goals.
States in the coalition say they’ve invested hundreds of millions of dollars collectively to develop wind energy and even more on upgrading transmission lines to bring wind energy to the electrical grid.
The government argued that the states’ claims amount to nothing more than a policy disagreement over preferences for wind versus fossil fuel energy development that is outside the federal court’s jurisdiction. Justice Department lawyer Michael Robertson said in court that the wind order paused permitting, but didn’t halt it, while Interior Secretary Doug Burgum reviews the environmental impact of wind projects.
The executive order said there were “alleged legal deficiencies underlying the federal government’s leasing and permitting” of wind projects under the Biden administration.
A previous judge in the case allowed it to proceed against Burgum, but dismissed an action against Trump and other Cabinet secretaries. Judge William Young allowed the states to proceed with claims that blocking permits for wind energy projects violates the Administrative Procedure Act, which outlines a detailed process for enacting regulations, but not the Constitution.
Wind is the United States’ largest source of renewable energy, providing about 10% of the electricity generated in the nation, according to the American Clean Power Association.
Trump OKs Nvidia sales to China
BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Monday that he would allow Nvidia to sell an advanced type of computer chip used in the development of artificial intelligence to “approved customers” in China.
There have been concerns about allowing advanced computer chips to be sold to China as it could help the country better compete against the U.S. in building out AI capabilities, but there has also been a desire to develop the AI ecosystem with American companies such as chipmaker Nvidia
The chip, known as the H200, is not Nvidia’s most advanced product. Those chips, called Blackwell and the upcoming Rubin, were not part of what Trump approved.
Trump said on social media that he had informed China’s leader Xi Jinping about his decision and “President Xi responded positively!”
“This policy will support American Jobs, strengthen U.S. Manufacturing, and benefit American Taxpayers,” Trump said in his post.
Nvidia said in a statement that it applauded Trump’s decision, saying the choice would support domestic manufacturing and that by allowing the Commerce Department to vet commercial customers it would “strike a thoughtful balance” on economic and national security priorities.
But a group of Democratic senators objected to the chip sales.
“Access to these chips would give China’s military transformational technology to make its weapons more lethal, carry out more effective cyberattacks against American businesses and critical infrastructure, and strengthen their economic and manufacturing sector,” said the statement.
The group included Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Michael Bennet of Colorado and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan.
The senators noted that Chinese AI company DeepSeek recently said the lack of access to advanced American-designed chip was their biggest challenge in competing with U.S. companies involved in AI. Trump said the Commerce Department was “finalizing the details” for other chipmakers such as AMD and Intel to sell their technologies abroad.
The approval of the licenses to sell Nvidia H200 chips reflects the increasing power and close relationship that the company’s founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, enjoys with the president. But there have been concerns that China will find ways to use the chips to develop its own AI products in ways that could pose national security risks for the U.S., a primary concern of the Biden administration that sought to limit exports.
PRESS FILE PHOTO
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOSHUA A. BICKEL
climate change.
Authorities: Fentanyl deaths plummetinN.O.area
BY JAMES FINN Staff writer
Fentanyl overdose deaths plummeted across three New Orleansarea parishes in recent years, law enforcement officialssaidMonday as they touted progress by a federally-led task force targeting distributors of the powerful synthetic opioid.
Thetask force, led by agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration who partnered with sheriff’s offices, police departmentsand prosecutors across the north and south shores, reported as high as a70% drop in overdose deaths between 2023 and 2025 in St. Tammany Parish. Washington Parish registered a58.5% reduction over the same period, while Tangipahoa Parish also saw its number of deaths cut in half.
The steep drop in fentanyl deaths in the region mirrors national trends. Overdose deaths dropped nationally by 24% in the 12 months ending in September 2024,accordingtothe Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention
In St. Tammany Parish,the number of people who died fromfentanyl overdoses was120 just two years ago, and has since dropped to 36. The data for eachofthe three parishes came fromlocal coroners’ offices, officials said Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s NewOrleans Division described theprogress as stemming from athree-tiered strategy: asweeping national effort by federal agents to disrupt cartel-fueled drug trafficking; regional partnerships between the DEA and local agencies; and efforts by local prosecutorsto
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Verma and the DDD consulted retailers and property owners through interviews, surveys and focus groups to form the study.Vermasaid he researched retailstrategies of cities similar to Baton Rouge in population and demographics, including Birmingham, Alabama; Mobile, Alabama; and Fort Myers, Florida. DDD Assistant Director Casey Tate said in OctoberthatBaton Rouge hasfewer retailers than its peer cities, and retailers are discouraged from setting up shop downtown due to high rent and limited parking
The downtown population grew 16.4% from 2012to 2021, according to the DDD’s 2025 Toolkit. The report states that thereare 680 businesses downtown, mainly in the service industry,with 25,000daily visitors
Verma’sstrategy includes drawing more shoppers downtown, alleviating some barriers to entry for retailers and planning for long-term retailgrowth. He suggested increased policing during peak hours and LED lighting to help consumers feel safer comingdowntown to shop and eat, as well as identifying funding for a“Clean &Safe program,aninitiative some cities use to deep clean and
Thatapproach hasturned the tide on astorythat“fortoo long has been one of overwhelming loss,” Hofer said in anews conference Monday Federal officials have connected the progress toregional success indismantling drug cartels. WDSU-TV reported last month thataDEA-ledprobe has yielded seizures of $10 million in assets and20kilos of fentanyl, plus other drugs, since January.
On Monday, Hofer declined to comment further on thatprobe’s progress. Buthesaidthat boththe percentageofpills containing lethal quantities of fentanyl and the purityofthe drugs seizedbylaw enforcementhavedecreased over the same period that overdose deathshave fallen
Diminished overdoses locally are also likely part of abroader, national trend that experts have struggled to explain.
Public health and addiction experts have linkedanationwide dropindrugoverdose deaths to many potentialfactors,including the widespread public health response of the COVID-19 pandemic and signsthatthe ingredients in street fentanyl have weakened, alongwithlaw enforcementefforts. They’ve also cited increased access to naloxone, which can reverseopioid overdose effects and became available over-the-counter in 2023.
Fentanyl had ravaged communitiesacross Louisiana for several years leadinguptotime frame in which officials on Monday noted reduced overdose deaths, particularly during and after theCOVID-19 pandemic.
From New Orleans to Shreveport, communities have grappled with widespread loss inflicted by the potent synthetic opioid. The
hire safetyambassadorsfor theirurban areas
He said stricter parking enforcement can increase the number of consumers downtown. Currently,people park downtown all daywith little accountability for adhering to timelimits andpayment, Vermasaid,stymieing theturnoverthat allows others to take aspot oncea driver has left. Moneycollectedfrom parking can then be used for other downtown improvements Afull-time eventscoordinator could streamline and boost event organizing downtown, Vermasaid “Whenyou have more events, morepeoplecometo see you, and then they stay,” he said
To ease the process of launchingbusinessesfor retailers, Verma’sstudy suggests startingfunds to cover infrastructure costs, façade and signage, and asubsidy of upto$500per monthfor new retailers in “key corridors.” He also recommended abusiness incubator for startupstolaunch their operationsdowntown and grow into their space Downtown needs anchor tenants to draw customers there and bring their attention to neighboring retailers, he said. Verma suggested thearea invest in one to two retail blocks with multiple businesses so customers can parkinone spot and
center,holdstightly to aportrait of her son, Jacob,who died in October from afentanyl-related overdose, as sheand her husband,Chris, left, and JayPlatt,
losses have hadrippleeffects, with increased numbers of children being born with opioid dependence andoverdose becoming the leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum women in the state.
Louisiana state lawmakers have respondedtothe epidemic by passing punitive new laws, including onethatmadedealing fentanyl punishable by up to lifeinprison —apush thatfaced criticismfrom somepublic healthexperts.
At the DEA’sfield office Monday in Metairie, prosecutors from Louisiana’s21stand 22nd judicial
visit multiple stores, pointing to the Main Street Market, which is reopening with fourrestaurants anda coffee shop, as aprime location for aretail cluster “There’sanopportunity to put them right in the center and build community,” Verma said.
LincolnTheater reopening
The Lincoln Theater is set to have asoft opening on Dec. 20 with acommunity open house andtour. The historic venue,whichonce hosted stars like Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole, is being renovated into amuseum and cultural center,while maintaining itsoriginalstage for performances.
Anna Daniel, the theater’s funding development director,said at the meetingthat the theater’s yearly operating costswill total $750,000, and the Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame, which owns andoperates the theater,islooking at fundraising, grants andcorporate sponsorships to sustain the venue.
“Sustainabilityisour main goal right now,” Danielsaid. “Wewant to make sure that the organization can be around for yearstocome.”
DDD updates
DDD ExecutiveDirector
Whitney Hoffman Sayal said theDDD faces an 11%cut in itsallocation from thecity-
districts described how they have sought to punish people who deal fentanyl that leads to fatal overdoses with even an even tougher charge: second-degree murder
“Wehaveabout adozen individuals pending trial right nowin St.Tammany formurder charges, because you know what you’re doing,” said22nd Judicial DistrictAttorney Collin Sims.
Another task force member, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker,describedworking with prosecutors on “alternative measures” to stem overdose deaths.
Forinstance, Sticker said,his of-
fice has worked to allow someTangipahoa Parish Prison detainees struggling with substance use to bond out of jail on the condition they check into rehab facilities. Hofer noted how fentanyl, which is synthetically produced in labs, presents athreat to drug agents distinct from other narcotics that relyona growing season,suchas heroin.
ForHammond coupleMonique andChrisMassi,its threat struck homethisfall. Their son, Jacob Massi, an avid fisherman and New Orleans Saints fan,diedofanoverdose on Oct. 5. He was28.
parish following the failure to pass Thrive EBR, MayorPresident Sid Edward’splan to rededicatesome taxes to relievethe city-parish from financial pressures. The Department of Public Works andthe Arts Council of Greater BatonRouge,which work closely with the DDD on downtown improvements and programming respectively,are also facing cuts, she said.
DDD Commissioner Eric Dexter saidthe organization will receive afinaldraftof Plan Baton Rouge III from consulting firm Sasaki by the end of the year.Hesaid the planhad 5,000 public contributions through open houses, focusgroups and communityadvisory groups. At the beginning of 2026, the public will be able to comment on the draftplan. “Thiswas trulybuilt based on what the community wants,” Dexter said.
STAFFPHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
Monique Massi,
Anderson,Annie
Greater PhiladelphiaBaptistChurch at 11am
Davis, Henry
HouseholdofFaith Church-Mt. Zion Campus,17683 LA-933, Prairieville LAat 2pm
Lawrence, Kathleen
SealeFuneralHome.,1720South RangeAve. at 11:00am. Manzullo,Thomas
St.GeorgeCatholicChurch,7808 St George DriveinBaton Rouge at 10am.
McCleary, Barbara
ResthavenGardens of Memory
Zachary, LA. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December11, at Wordof TruthNew LifeCenter in BayouGoulaat8 AM until the memorial service beginsat11AM. She is survived by her daughter, Dinez (Derrick) Westly; grandsons, Kendrell,Kobe, and Caden Green, Derrick Westly, Jr., bonus grandson,Jamarcus Banks, and bonus daughter, Karen Allen.
Memorialservices entrusted toHall Davis and Sons Funeral Service.
11817 JeffersonHighway,Baton Rouge LAat 11am Mack-McKinley, Joanna D
Polozola,Ronald
SealeFuneralHome, Denham Springs at 11am
Sanders,Joel
IstroumaBaptistChurch at 11am
Sheets, Blaine
OurLadyofthe Holy Rosary Catholic Church in St.Amant at noon. Vance, Wanda BakerFuneralHome, 6401 Groom Road,Baker,LAat10am.
Obituaries
Clouatre, Linda Albert Linda Albert Clouatre passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at her home in White Castle surrounded by her family,at the age 75. She was anative of Plaquemine and a homemaker.Visitation will be at Wilbert Funeral Home in Plaquemine on Friday, Dec 12th,from 10 a.m. untilRite of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., conducted by Rev. Martin
Lawrence. Burial will follow in Grace Memorial Park.Linda is survived by her husband of 57 years, Francis F. Clouatre, Jr.; theirthree children, Tommy Clouatre and wife Jeannie, Stephanie Clouatre Glynn and husband Larry, Rachel Clouatre Acosta and husband Shannon; nine grandchildren, Trista Medine, Amber Gates, Duran Medine, Tyler Clouatre, Ryan Clouatre, Lauren Glynn, Kyle Glynn, Jarod Acosta, Emily Acosta; four great-grandchildren, Karsyn, Connor, Kamryn, Violet; siblings, Lorraine "Beatsie" Adams, Lois Tureau and Lucille "Lou Lou" Edgarly; sister-in-law, Judy Albert; brother-inlaw, Curtis Clouatre and wife Evelyn. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Linzey "Snag" P. Albert Sr and Lillian Gonzales Albert; two brothers, Linzey PAlbert III and Lucien "Teedy" Albert; mother-in-law, Mary Saurage Stewart, father-in-law, Frances F. "Tenue" Clouatre, Sr. Linda enjoyed her puzzle books, her trips to Walmart, her Western shows, cooking for her family, but her true joy were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Please share memories at www.wilbertservices.com.
Joanna was born on December 3, 1961,tothe union of James Sr. and Lillian GillsMack. Sheentered eternal rest on December1,2025, surrounded by thelove of her family. She leavestocherish her memoryher husband, Milelon McKinley; threechildren,Ebony Brady(Anthony), Kenneth Mack,and Willie Mack;five grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren; and two sisters, Ernestine Spencer (Rafe) and Virginia Burrell (Alvin). She is also lovingly rememberedbya host of nieces, nephews,other relatives,and friends.
Manzullo,Thomas 'Tommy'
Thomas "Tommy"Manzullo,beloved husband,fa‐ther, grandfather, and friend, passedawayonFri‐day,December5,2025, at the ageof83. Tommywas bornonJanuary 6, 1942, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, son of thelateAnthony JosephManzullo andJanie LiuzzaCangelosi.Hewas a devoutmemberofSt. GeorgeCatholicChurch and aproud member of the ItalianMarchers. In hisfree time, Tommyenjoyed fish‐ing, golfing,and cheering
on theLSU Tigers.Above all,hecherished time spent with hisfamily, never missinga Sunday Dinner. Tommyispreceded indeath by hisparents,An‐thony Joseph Manzullo and Janie Liuzza Cangelosi; his daughter, Tara Marie Manzullo;sister, Evelyn Corsentino, andShirley Pecoraro; andbrother, Frank Cangelosi. He is sur‐vived by hisbeloved wife of62years,Marie "Mary" Montz Manzullo;his son, Michael Manzullo andwife FranMessina Manzullo; and grandchildren, Do‐minickMichael Manzullo and Isabella Hope Manzullo.The familywould liketoinviteall who knew and lovedTommy to join themaswecommemorate his life.A visitation will be heldatSt. George Catholic Church,7808 St.George Drive in BatonRouge,on Wednesday,December10, 2025, from 8:30 AM until MassofChristian Burial at 10:00 AM,withgraveside servicestofollow. Family and friendsmay sign the onlineguestbook or leave a personal note to thefam‐ily at www.resthavenba tonrouge.com.
Jarett JosephPicou, a resident of Maurepas, Louisiana, was born in Hammond on February 16, 1986, to Dawson Picou Jr and Mona CouvillierPicou. On December 2, 2025, at theage of 39, Jarett passed away, leaving behindmany who lovedhim dearly. Jarett was an Ironworker and Rigger with Postel SteelServices based in Houston, Texas,most recently working in Austin He took greatpride in his craft. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mona CouvillierPicou, and his grandparents Dawson Picou Sr.and PatriciaAnn Picou. Jarett is survived by his father, Dawson Picou Jr.; his grandparents, Ray CouvillierSr. and Lola Mae "La-La" Couvillier; and his brother, Joshua Picou, with whom he shared aclose and special bond.Heisalso survivedbynumerous aunts, uncles, and cousins
who willforever cherish his memory. Services will be held on Thursday,December 11, 2025, at St. Stephen'sCatholic Church in Whitehall, Louisiana. Visitationwilltakeplace from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM with Mass beginning at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Maurepas Cemetery in Maurepas, Louisiana. Arrangements are entrusted to Church Funeral Services and Crematory,St. Amant, Louisiana.
Poole Murphy, EthelMay
Alife-long resident of Maringouin, LA passed away peacefullyfrom her earthly home on December 1, 2025 at theage of 88. Survived by twosons; Charles D. Allenand Mark Murphy (Contina Davis), granddaughter;April Allen, greatgrandson; Caelum Wishom, godson; Coy Smith,other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by her parents; Elnora Hicks Poole and Ben Poole, Sr.,seven brothers and nine sisters.Visitation on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 4pm-7pm, A. Wesley Funeral Home,10810 Ventress Drive,Maringouin, LA 70757. Visitation resumes on Thursday,December 11, 2025, 9:30am until Rosary at 10am, followedbyFuneral Mass at 11am, Father Galaji Mulupuri, officiating. Interment in church Cemetery
Dorothy Brown"Dot" Thomas enteredinto eternal life on December 3, 2025 at herresidencein Zachary, Louisiana. Shewas an 86-year old native of Ethel, Louisiana. Avisitation willbeheldat Greater NewHope Baptist Church on Thursday, December 11, 2025 from 5-7 pm; resumingatthe church on Friday, December12, 2025 at 9:00 am until Celebration of Life Service at 10:00 conductedbyPastor GeofreySykes; eulo-
gized by herson, Rev. Fabian N. Thomas;intermentat Louisiana National Cemetery. Survivors include her children, Rev. Thomas(Cynthia), Navarre, Florida andGigiThomas Robertson, St.Francisville, Louisiana; siblings, George Brown,Jr.(Laverne) and Sarah B. Hayes, Zachary; sisters-in-law, Margaret Judson and Mildred Brown; uncle, William Henry Wilson, Zachary; four grandchildren; threegreatgrandchildren; nieces, nephews, otherrelatives andfriends; preceded in death by herhusband, Rev. NathanielThomas; parents, George,Sr. andSelena WilsonBrown;grandson, Larry Banks, Jr.; siblings, AnnieLee,Hattie Mae, Edward andWillie. Arrangements entrusted to Miller &Daughter Mortuary.
out-of-pocketcan comeasa shock, leading people to put offorevengowithout care.
Simply put—without dentalinsurance, there maybe an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.
Medicare doesn’t pay fordental care.
That’s right.Asgood as Medicare is, it wasnever meanttocover everything. That means if you wantprotection, youneed to purchase individualinsurance.
Early detection canprevent smallproblems from becoming expensive ones.
The best way to preventlarge dental bills is preventivecare. TheAmerican Dental Association recommends checkups twice ayear.
Thomas, DorothyB.
Picou, JarettJoseph
Newface, same story on La. public health leadership
Louisiana has anew face of public health, but unfortunately,itlooks like more of the same. Gov.Jeff Landry appointed Dr.Evelyn Griffin to be the state’ssurgeon general this week after Dr.Ralph Abraham departed for ajob at theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.
An OB-GYN in Baton Rouge, Griffin, like Abraham, has been avocal skeptic about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. We suspect that is her primary qualification for the job. While the announcementofher appointment mentions her work on maternal mortality,a grave problem in our state, the governor’soffice gave few details and did not make Griffin available for an interview
Fromher resume, though, we can see that she ticks all the boxes on hot-button issues. In 2021, she testified beforeastate Senate committee in favor of aban on medical interventions for transgender youth. She serves on the CDC’sAdvisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP,which, despiteanuproar from the medical community, voted last week to end the recommendation that all children receive the Hepatitis Bvaccine.
At atime when the effects of cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies are still to be felt, there are many serious challenges facing our health care system in Louisiana, especially in rural areas. We wish we could say with confidence that our public health system had serious people at the helm who are ready to respond to these challenges. But this surgeon general pick seems driven more by the same, tired old debates, rather than aforwardlooking vision. When Abraham became the first person to hold the newly created position of surgeon general in Louisiana in 2024, we expressed concern that he was anoted vaccine skeptic who had recommended the unproven drug ivermectin to treat COVID.
So it was no surprise when Abraham disparaged the state’sresponsetoCOVID before a House committee shortly after being named. It was no surprise when it was announced that the Louisiana Department of Health would end mass vaccination efforts. It was no surprise when flu and RSV cases spiked. It was no surprise when hospitalswent on alert this springfor cases of measles, adisease once thought eradicated in this country It was no surprise that thestate’s child vaccinationrates continued toslip, and in some parishes are now below the threshold for herd immunity
And now,itisnosurprise that Abraham has been tapped to be second in command at the CDC, which itself is being remade by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.tofollow an anti-vaccine and even anti-science agenda.
It is perhaps Abraham’sreward for sticking to the well-worn script. But Louisiana needs more than aregurgitation of stalerhetoric. It needs arobust public healthadvocateprepared to address some of the nation’sworst health care outcomes. All we can say is we hope Griffin surprises us.
LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE
WELCOME. HERE AREOUR
GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence
TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.
TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE
People came from all over theworld. Thank you, Ken Burns, for reminding us thatthe colonies became aliving experiment in government. Iamsoproud of being an American. However,Idonot like what my country is doing with immigrants today
My hope is to give themafair chance to become documented. The crimerate among migrants is lessthan therate among average citizens Giving themafair chance means helping themtobecomecitizens. The Trump administration wantsto give priority to White South Africans, and not all fit in that category. Who are theseimmigrants the pres-
Ihad to leave thecityIlove because the systemfailed me.
For six years, Ilived in terrorofa person determined topunish me for leaving our relationship. When the protection order that had kept me safe eventually expired, therewas no meaningful protection left
Leaving New Orleans broke my heart. As Ipacked glitteryshoes, sequined outfitsand feather boas into boxes —things that only make sense in the Gulf South —Ikept wondering: How will Irebuild?
Ithink about New Orleans every single day. Astory from afriend who visited or afew barsofbrass music, all of it feels like missing someone you love but cannot see. Becauseit’sa place Ican never return. This is what it looks like when asystemfails domestic violence survivors.
Ajudge granted me aprotection order.The police, however,often said there was nothing theycould do.
“I’msosorry,ma’am,” Iheardagain
Ifollow the newspaper’sOpinion section.
Why has themainstream media not honestly presented the facts on health care costs? There are over 300 million residentsinthe U.S.,not just the24 million on Obamacare.
Why not provide graphics on normal privatehealth insurance costs vs. Obamacare subsidizedcosts with deductibles of both?
Afamily of four on private insur-
ent administration is fighting to deport? They are part of thefabric of our society. They help us build our houses; they pick our crops; they staff our hotels; they tend our elderly and infirm. They arepartofour America.
Do we send them back to where they came from? Or do we offer to give themachance to stay,becomevetted, perhaps become citizens, so they are given the chance to call this great country home?
Please, my friends and neighbors, help to do what is right and American for those being dealt with as criminals.
BETSY KYLEBURKE NewOrleans
and again.
“Yes,theyshouldn’thave followed you, but theynever gotout of the car.”
And all the while Iwas working as asocial worker,helping families navigate systems that Imyself couldn’t rely on to keep me alive.How do you protect your clientswhen you cannot protect yourself?
For six years, Ichose silence, only because theretaliation was so relentless thatspeaking out felt unsafe. Iam asocial worker,trained to navigate complex systems. And even Icould notnavigate our legal system well enough to protect myself. Whathappens to victims who don’thave the money,the time, the resources or the emotional stamina to fight asystem built on technicalities and loopholes? We have to do better. This starts by raising awarenessofsystems that aren’tworking.
KAYTEE GILLIS Michigan
ance pays upwards of $2,000 per month for thesame coverage Obamacare participants get forbelow $250. Agraphic of the subsidies’ amount per income range would clarify the need for help for all people, not just the 24 million on Obamacare, which is the root of the problem Does the newspaper have the courage to publish this information?
ROBERT WEILER Destrehan
How the newspaper continues to allow Quin Hillyer to spew a revisionist narrative of social commentary is beyond comprehension. In his opinion piece published on Nov. 16, he claims Zohran Mamdani to be a“nearly-radically Islamic, essentially proto-socialist.” Beyond Hillyer’sbasic hatred forany worldview that isn’this own, it should go with basic comprehension that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being Muslim.Asthe fastest-growing religion in the world, millions would agree.
Hillyer continues to flamethe fire of alarmism forthe boogeyman of “help thy fellow neighbor,” by attempting to demonize socialist ideals. His failed landing? Mamdani identifies proudly as ademocratic socialist.
Congratulations to Hillyer forgoing on to reject the sad existence of Nick Fuentes. However,before he writes another piece, maybe Hillyer should examine how his basic lack of understanding of how the fundamental foundation of U.S. ideals is rooted in asystem of suppression that continues to disenfranchise individuals whowere never apart of our Founding Fathers’ definitions of aperson. He goes on to attack ayounger generation untimely fedupwith the economy his generation has leftthem —but particularly young White men whohestates whine about how tough their lives are. Never once does Hillyer take the time to self-reflect that his writing contributes to the samerise in Christian nationalism he claims is too extreme forhis views.
Hillyer’sviewsare centered on a “pick yourself up by the bootstraps” mentality that is an absolute myth constructed by Hillyer’sgeneration, whoinherited massive economic wealth but voted foreconomically oppressive systemsthat are eliminating the middle class as we know it, preventing these youth from accessing the samebountiful economic opportunities he inherited. No wonder the kids are fedup.
CAITLIN SHEEHAN
NewOrleans
Boat attack should angerAmericans
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to be awar criminal. Without a war. An interesting achievement. In 1967, novelist Gwyn Griffin published aWorld WarIInovel, “An Operational Necessity,” that 58 years later is again pertinent. According to the laws of war,survivors of a sunk ship cannotbeattacked. But aGerman submarine captain, after sinkingaFrench ship, orders the machine-gunning of the ship’screw, lest their survival endanger his men by revealing where his boat is operating. In the book’sdramatic climax, a postwar tribunal examines the German commander’smoral calculus No operational necessity justified Hegseth’sdefacto order to kill two survivors clinging to the wreckage of oneofthe supposed drug boats obliterated by U.S. forces near Venezuela. His order was reported by The Washington Post from two sources (“The orderwas to kill everybody,” one said), and has not been explicitly deniedbyHegseth President Donald Trump says Hegseth told him that he (Hegseth)“said he did notsay that.” If Trump is telling the truth aboutHegseth,and Hegseth is telling the truth to Trump, it is strange that (per the Post report) the commander of the boat-destroying operationsaid he ordered the attack on the survivors to comply with Hegseth’s order
Forty-four days after the survivors were killed, the four-star admiral who headed the U.S. Southern Command announced that he would be leaving that position just ayear into what is usually athree-year stint. He did notsay why. Inferences are, however,permitted. The killing of the survivorsbythis moral slum of an administrationshould nauseate Americans. Anationincapable of shame is dangerous, notleast to itself. As the recent “peace plan” for Ukraine demonstrated.
Marco Rubio, who is secretary of state and Trump’snationalsecurity adviser,seemed to be neitherwhen the president released his28-point plan for Ukraine’sdismemberment. The plan wascobbled together by Trump administration and Russian officials, with no Ukrainians participating.Itreads like a
wish-list letterfromVladimir Putin to Santa Claus:Ukraine to cedeland that Russia has failed to capture in almost four years of aggression; Russia to have avetooverNATO’scomposition, peacekeeping forces in Ukraine and the size of Ukraine’s armed forces. And more. Rubio,whose well-known versatility of convictions is perhaps not infinite, told some of his alarmed former Senate colleagues thatthe plan was just an opening gambit from Russia —although Trump demanded that Ukraine accept it within days.South Dakota Republican Sen. Mike Rounds, apreciseand measured speaker,reportedthat, in a conference call with abipartisan group of senators,Rubio said theplan was aRussian proposal: “He made it very clear to us that we arethe recipientsof aproposalthat was delivered to one of our representatives.Itisnot our recommendation. It is not our peace plan.” Hours later, however,Rubio reversed himself,saying on social media that the UnitedStates “authored” theplan. The administration’sfloundering might reflect morethan itscharacteristicincompetence. In adarkening world, systemicweaknesses of prosperous democracies are becoming clearer Harvard sociologist Daniel Bell’s1976 book, “The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism,” argued that capitalism’s successundermines capitalism’smoral andbehavioral prerequisites. Affluence producesa cultureofpresent-mindedness and laxity; this undermines thrift,
industriousness, discipline and thedeferral of gratification.
Today’scultural contradictions of democracy are: Majorities vote themselvesgovernment benefitsfunded by deficits, which conscript the wealth of future generations who will inherit the national debt.Entitlements crowd out provisions for national security. And an anesthetizing dependency on governmentproduces an inward-turning obliviousnesstoexternal dangers, anda flinching from hard truths.
Twoweeks ago, the chief of staff of the French army said: “Wehave the know-how,and we have theeconomic and demographic strengthtodissuade the regime in Moscow.What we are lacking …isthe spirit which accepts thatwewill have to sufferifwe are to protect what we are. If our country waversbecauseitisnot ready to lose its children …ortosuffer economically because thepriorityhas to be military production, then we areindeed at risk.” Putin has surely savored theFrench recoil from thesewords.And he has noticed that, concerning Ukraine and the attacks on boats near Venezuela, the Trumpadministration cannot keep its stories straight.This probably is for reasons Sir Walter Scottunderstood: “Oh, what atangled web we weave,/ when first we practise to deceive!” Americans arethe deceived.
Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com.
Closingthe door on immigration? Notyet.
Canthe United States come up with an immigration policy that will prove sustainable? Twowriterswhom I respect and take delight inreading, despite their widely differingviews, Tyler Cowen, who favors more immigration, and Christopher Caldwell, who favors less, have their doubts. Both, incidentally,are writing forThe Free Press, Bari Weiss’ eclectic startup They are writing at atime when President Donald Trump’sexecutive branch is splashily and aggressively enforcing supposedlyunenforceable immigration laws, and Congress still has Trumpish Republican majorities. Illegal immigration hasbeen reduced toward zero, and the political stars seem in alignment, at least theoretically, for reductions in legal immigration as well. But that seems unlikely. And not just because of timidity of lawmakers but because the twowriters take too mechanical aview of mass immigration. For people don’t uproot themselves and head for unfamiliar lands for just marginal economic gain
In the contentionover the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, the Europeans are in their accustomed role —carping from the sidelines. Not only can the once-great European powers no longerdictate the fate of far-flung parts of the world, theycan’t even dictate the endofa war involving aEuropean country whose fate theydeem crucialtotheir own future.
We’re alongway from the British controlling about aquarterofthe globe’s territory in the early 20th century; alongway from British and French diplomats, Mark Sykes and François GeorgesPicot respectively,drawing the lines in 1916 to divide up the OttomanEmpire;alongway from Napoleon sitting with Tsar Alexander in Tilsit in 1807 andrearranging the map of Europe
Francewas once so diplomatically central thatthere aredozensofTreatiesofParis, whether in 1259 (between King Louis IX of Franceand King Henry III of England) or in 1951 (setting up the European Coal and Steel Community).
Now,Francescurriesaround with its European counterparts to react to whatever the American president is doing.
It’sgottensobad that some European analysts speak of apotential “scramble for Europe,” or attempts by richer, more powerful outside countriestoinfluence the course of Europe
The late conservative commentatorCharles Krauthammer maintained of the U.S., “decline is achoice.”
This isn’tquite right with regard to Europe, whose great powers were kneecapped by the cataclysms of the early 20th century.France bore the brunt of World WarI,suffering 1.4 million dead and4.3 millionwounded and aruinous economiccost.
As for Britain, stretched to the max, it got steadily eclipsedinpower andinfluencebythe United States as World WarIIprogressed. The less said aboutGermany’srole in all this, of course,the better And thenthe European colonial empires inevitably dissolved.
In my 2013 book, “ShapingOur Nation: How Surges of Migration TransformedAmerica andIts Politics,” I argued that the unusual phenomenon of mass migration only occurs when large numbers of people are pursuing dreams or escaping nightmares. Cowen, amarket-friendly economist, sees it differently.Lookingback,he thinks that America had “a fine policy” before2016, “keep(ing) borders nominally restricted but allow(ing) immigration, both legal and illegal, to become increasinglyattractivetopeople around the world.” Mordantly, he adds, “I call this ‘asymptotically approaching open borders.”’
To which voters, as he points out, react negatively as they do to mention of an explicit open-borders policy. They’refearful that some largeproportion of the 95% of human beingswho don’tlive in the U.S. would like to come here. The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act imposed limits, for the first time, on immigration from Latin America, andfew Mexicans arrived in the stagflationary 1970s. Butmasschain migration to Ronald Reagan’ssunny California began in the 1980s and crested in the2000s as banks, incentivized to loan to Hispanics, issued $300,000 mortgages to borrowers with no money down, no W-2s, no assets. That led to the 2007 housing market collapse, which turned immigrants’ dreams of unloadingtheir houses for $600,000 into bankruptcy nightmares. Netmigration from Mexico turned negative for adecade, andthe Biden-era surge of illegal immigrants came not so much from Mexicans but from Central Americansand assorted others, crossing Mexico to be welcomed acrossthe Rio Grande. The Trumpadministration’ssuccess in border and internal enforcement will, for atime, disincentivize illegal migration by turningwould-be migrants’ dreams into nightmares. While Cowen thinks that’scruel, Caldwell hails it as astep toward “America’sthird great slammingofthe Golden Door.” The first, he dates from 1775 to 1815. Butthose were mostly wartime years —the American Revolution up through 1783, theworld war between revolutionaryand Napoleonic France and parliamentaryand commercial Britain for all but one year from 1793 to 1815. Thesecondstarted with passage of theImmigration Act of 1924, which virtually eliminated immigration from eastern andsouthern Europe, dominant in the Ellis Island era (1892-1914, 191924). Butthe law’seffect was limited. It blocked several million migrants in the prosperous 1920s but very few (though, tragically,some refugees) in thedepression 1930s, when there was little migration, internal or international. And world war,in1939-45, as it hadin1914-18,cut immigration to essentially zero. The1924 law remained in effect till
1965 and limited postwar immigration from Italy and Greece, but many prewar immigrants from those countries returned home, and many southern Europeans postwar headed to newly prosperous northern Europe. Andof course, there was no substantial postwar immigration from Eastern Europe, behind theIron Curtain.
Caldwell credits the“pause” in immigration following 1924 for encouraging assimilation into an American mainstream Butthat was furthered more by the sudden appearance of mass media —radio, movies, television —and by World WarII, which put 16 million men in anation of 131 million into the military, puttingliterally in uniform Americansofall origins.
They partook of acommon popular culture transmitted by universal media and established anational consensus that dismantled the separate segregation system established and maintained in the South for 75 years. That,perhaps as much as changes in the 1965 law, mayhave made the dream of life in the United States seem achievable to millionsinLatin America and Asia during thegreat immigration surge in thequarter-century from 1982 to 2007. If theforces of assimilation were not as strong in those years as they were in the 1940s military or theNew York City public schools acentury ago, that’s somethingtoworkonnow
In themeantime, it’sanexaggeration to say that America is closing its doors when it swears in about 800,000 new American citizens every year.There are arguments for changing our legal immigration system to prioritize highskill migrants, as well as toreduce or (as Iwould prefer) increase thetotal flow of immigrants. Butthere are limits on what the law can do when, despiteeconomic incentives, people only take the unusual step of uprooting themselves to pursue dreams or escape nightmares
Michael Barone is on X, @MichaelBarone.
So,Europe wasgoing to be diminishedcomparedtoits glory days. Its current fecklessness, though, hasindeed been achoice, borne of strategic fantasy and economic incompetence.
Strong militaries were deemed as athing of the past, or something unnecessary as long as Uncle Sam wasaround. The Brits, for instance, arehard-pressed to maintain a 73,000-strong army,and the size of its oncestoriedsurface fleet is at ahistoric low.
Europe imagined itself “a diplomatic superpower,”but haslearned to regretthat“soft power” notbacked up by hard powerisoflimitedutility
Both the Nobel Committeeand Amnesty Internationalhaveconsiderable soft power,too, but no onepaysattention to them regarding high-level geopolitical questions.
Economically,the EU “regulatory superpower” hashobbled growth —over the last 30 yearsWestern European labor productivity declinedfrom95% of the U.S. level to 80% —while Europe’s commitment to “net zero” greenhouse emissions has driven insane energy priorities. Yearsinto the Ukraine war,Europe is still dependent on gasimports from Russia
None of this means that the U.S. should go outofits way to give Europe the back of its hand. Whatever its otherfailings, Europe has collectively givenUkraine more aidthanthe United States, andwas justifiably furious at the initial28-point Ukraine proposal. That plan hadthe embattled country handing over to Moscow strategically important territory that is still in Ukrainianhands; agreeing to alimit on the size of its military; and the U.S. taking currently frozen Russianassets in Europe to rebuild Ukraine (getting 50% of any profits) andtopursue joint investment projects with Russia
Negotiations with the Ukrainians have reportedly produced amorereasonable version, but it is Washingtonand Moscow that matter most here
The analyst Robert Kagan famously wrote yearsago that, in their divergent approaches to the world, “Americans are from Mars and Europeansare from Venus.” Having long outsourced powerpoliticstoMars, it turns out thatVenus haslimited influence even in her ownbackyard.
Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry.
George Will
Rich Lowry
Michael Barone
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREENIKHINSON
President Donald Trumpspeaks during aCabinet meetingatthe White House on Dec.2 in Washington, as SecretaryofState Marco Rubio,left, and Defense SecretaryPeteHegseth, look on.
BY ALLEN SIEGLER Mississippi Today
While telling the Legislature how the Mississippi Opioid Settlement Advisory Council recommends spending statelawsuit money,Council Chair and AttorneyGeneral Lynn Fitchsaidshe and the other committee members would be reviewingtheir internal processes and may change howthey oversee hundreds of millions of dollars.
It’sone of the firsttimes Fitch has publicly acknowledged there may be better waysfor Mississippi to manage themoney it’swon in the national opioid lawsuits, casesthatcharged some of the country’sbiggest companies with contributing to apublic health crisis that’s killed over 10,000 Mississippians since 2000.
The Attorney General’sOffice sent an email addressed to Lt. Gov.Delbert Hosemann and Speaker of the HouseJason White
lateFriday afternoonwithtwo attachments: afinalizedlistofapplications seeking to spend some of the state’sopioid settlement money,and aletter authored by Fitch to the Legislature.
The list, areflection of the council’sworksoliciting and scoring project applications looking to address Mississippi’s addictioncrisis, tiers the 127 applications into five categories.
Thecouncil recommended about $40 million of grant fundingin the highest priority category and about $41 million for applications in thesecondhighest group.
Fitch’slettersummarizesthe recommendation list and adds additionalmessages the council agreed to tell theLegislature. Toward the end of it, she acknowledges thatshe and the other membersmay need additional help to make sure funds arespent appropriately.
“As we prepare forthe second round of applications, the Council
will be reviewing its processand maydetermine the need to utilize services to assist in evaluation of applications, tracking of public funds, andotherstoensurethat the Legislature’spriorities for accountability, transparency,and public involvement are fulfilled,” shewrote.
TheLegislature created the council lastspring to recommend how lawmakers should spend most of Mississippi’sopioid settlement money and appointed Fitch’soffice to lead theeffort. Lawmakers gavecouncil members aboutfive months to create application materials, review completed proposalsand assess howwell they believeapplicant organizations will addressthe addiction epidemic.
Thecouncil completed these tasks in that time period, but the process wasfilled with avariety of issues that concerned overdose prevention advocatesboth on and outside of the council. From missing application materi-
als in the summer to conflictsof interests and grading discrepancies in the fall, Mississippi Today reported on challenges that led overdoseprevention advocates to worry whetherthe fundswould help those whostruggle with addiction.
In the past, Fitch has often respondedtothe newsroom asking questions about these concerns without proposals to address them.When Mississippi Today askedher about the councilconflicts of interest in November, herChief of Staff Michelle Williams wrotebackthat themembers are state leadersataddressingaddiction and arepositioned well to addressthe public health crisis.
Herideainthe lettertoseek out additional services echoes fellow council memberJames Moore’smessage at ameeting last week.Justbeforethe members left, he asked thecommittee to consider reaching out to groups with expertise in helping
states manage opioid settlement funds in the future. Also in the letter,Fitch said the state has just over $90 million in opioid settlement money that must be spenttoaddress addiction. There’sanadditional roughly $15 million in state coffers that her office and the Legislature allow lawmakers to spend the same as any public money The setup for that $15 million mirrors the one Fitch created for the settlement money sent to Mississippi’scities and counties Elected leaders can spend the
SPORTS
Wilson focusing on bowl, not future at LSU
BY WILSON ALEXANDER
Staff writer
LSU interim coach Frank Wilson has had conversations about his future with new coach Lane Kiffin, but he does not expect clarity until after the Texas Bowl.
LSU plays No. 21 Houston on Dec. 27 inside NRG Stadium in Houston and Kiffin said last week in his introductory news conference that Wilson will serve as the interim coach through the bowl game Wilson has expressed a desire to stay at LSU.
ä Texas Bowl LSU vs: Houston 8:15 P.M. DEC.
“We’ve had conversations, and for me and for coach Kiffin, it’s let’s play this game on the 27th and we’ll go into those details later,” Wilson said Tuesday “We just want to finish what we’ve started with this football team, give them our undivided attention before transition happens.
“Until then, nothing will necessarily happen in that regard There will be opportunity
ä See LSU, page 4C
Hall not apologizing for Tulane promotion
BY GUERRY SMITH
Contributing writer
Will Hall is not the surefire, home-run hire that Jon Sumrall was two years ago as the Tulane football coach. No one could have been. The similarities between the two, though, start with the confidence they projected in their introductory news conferences with the Green Wave.
Two days short of two years from Sumrall’s opening salvo in New Orleans Hall 45 was unapologetic Tuesday for not being the fans’ top preference to take over a program that will face Ole Miss on Dec. 20 in the first round of the College Football Playoff. “I know I wasn’t the first choice for some people in here, but I can promise you this — I am the best choice and the right choice for this place at this time,” he said in front of an audience at the Glazer Family Center connected to Yulman Stadium. “The power of belief is so strong. I believe in me, and I believe in Tulane, and I believe in these players, and I believe in where we’re going.” Sumrall talked openly about reaching the CFP in December 2023 when no one expected it. Hall, whom Sumrall hired as the Tulane passing game coordinator this year,
ä See TULANE, page 4C
SA TS STINGIER
Defense turning more stubborn when foes try to score touchdowns
BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer
Brandon Staley loves the “silent tape.”
The silent tape, or the All-22 copy of each game, tells the truth. It provides the entire picture, angles of what can’t be captured on the broadcast And there’s no commentary to influence the New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator, not that he’d be tempted in the first place. The answers Staley needs are right there, ready to watch. Lately, for those bothering to watch, the silent tape is sending a clear message: His defense has improved vastly
The unit is far from perfect, but it is approaching top10 territory in a number of categories — and already broken through at a few spots.
After holding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 3 of 13 on third down in Sunday’s upset win, the Saints rank sixth (35.5%) in third-down defense. That’s 15 spots better, and six percentage points lower, than they ranked a year ago.
The defense is now 12th in yards allowed per game, sixth in passing yards allowed per game and tied for 11th in expected points added per play — a stat that measures efficiency
What’s even more apparent is the Saints may bend but the defense doesn’t break often.
Slow starts remain a significant issue for New Orleans as the black and gold has allowed opening-drive touchdowns in four of the last five games, bringing its total to a league-high eight such scores.
ä See SAINTS,
BY ROD WALKER Staff writer
Derik Queen turns 21 in less than three weeks. Players his age aren’t supposed to be this good this soon. They aren’t supposed to put up numbers like the ones he put up Monday night at the Smoothie King Center Queen finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocked shots in a 135-132 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
“It means a lot,” Queen said. “Pretty good for a person who didn’t have a preseason and was hurt A lot of people doubted. I even had a little bit of doubt myself with my first time being injured and how things have been going this season.” Games like this one should remove any doubt about the guy Joe Dumars traded up for in
“He played his a** off tonight,” teammate DeAndre Jordan said. Queen filled up the stat sheet in a way that few have. Only LeBron James, Luka Doncic, De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama have recorded a 30-point triple-double before their 21st birthday Queen is the first center with a 30-point triple-double as a rookie because Wembanyama’s came in his second season. Queen’s came in just the 25th game of the season. Queen is also the first player to have a 30-point triple-double with four blocked shots since 1973-74 when the league first began keeping track of blocked shots. (Yeah, Wilt Chamberlain probably did it before then.)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin carries the ball against Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor in the first half of their game on Sunday in Tampa, Fla. As the season has progressed, the Saints have started to do a better job of holding teams to field goals when they reach scoring territory. AP PHOTO By JASON BEHNKEN
STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON LSU interim coach Frank Wilson talks with running back Caden Durham during a game against Arkansas on Nov 15 at Tiger Stadium.
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ColtssignRivers, 44,topracticesquad
QB retiredafter 2020 season,helping Indy with depthatposition
BY MICHAEL MAROT Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS The Indianapolis Colts bolstered their injury-depleted quarterbackcorpsTuesday by bringing 44-year-oldPhilipRivers out of retirement and signing him to the practicesquad, aperson with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
Themove comes less than 24 hours after Colts coach Shane Steichen confirmed Indy’sstarter, Daniel Jones, would missthe rest of this season after tearing his rightAchillestendonand backup Riley Leonard injured his right knee during Sunday’sloss at Jacksonville.
Rivers hasn’ttaken asnapsince
finishing his career with aplayoff loss following the Colts’ 2020 season. That was the last time Indy (8-5) made the postseason. The eight-time Pro Bowler announced hisretirementinJanuary 2021 and has been coaching St. Michael High School in Fairhope, Alabama, ever since.
But it’snot clear how longitwill take Rivers to learn Indy’s playbook —orwork his way into game shape —asthe reeling Colts try to snap athree-game losing streak next weekend at Seattle (10-3)
“Things happen, wacky stuff has happenedinthis league, your depth gets tested, your resolve gets tested as you get thrown into some adversity as aunit, as acoaching staff, as aposition group,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said, declining to
FormerChargersquarterback Philip Riverswatches warmups beforea game between theChargers and the DenverBroncos on Dec.10, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. Rivers cameout of retirement and wassigned to the injury-depleted Indianapolis Colts practice squad this week.
takespecific questions about Rivers. “We’vebeen through some fire out there, but our coaching staff’s excited to draw aplan up andteach it.”
Neither Steichen norplayers were made available because the Colts typically take Tuesday off. Rivers rejoinsateam desperately tryingto rebound from its worst stretch of the season,four lossesinfive games. The result: Indy has fallenout of the race for the AFC’stop seed andistied for second in the AFC South with Houston(8-5),one game behind divisionleader Jacksonville (9-4). Rivers ranked among theNFL’s career leaders in yards passing with63,440, 421touchdown passes and 12 4,000-yard seasons when he retired and was asemifinalist in his first year of eligibility for thePro Football Hall of Fame last month.
So,the questionis, how much does Rivers have left in thetank?
In his first and only season with Indy,itappeared his arm strength already was diminishedthough he masterfully navigated the Colts through aseason unlike any other —playing in front of emptyor sparsely-populatedstadiums because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also unclear is whether the Colts will need him this weekend. Jones was having acareer year and had entered the midseason MVP discussionbut hadstruggled over the last five games. He also played through alower left leg injurythat impeded his mobility during each of Indy’slast three losses.
Then Sunday,hecrumpledto thegroundand grabbedtoward his lower right leg on aplay he did not takeahit. He slammed his helmet intothe ground before
limping off thefield. Jones later returned to the rainy sideline in a protective walking boot.
“He’ll have surgery within the week,” Steichen said Monday “Obviously,just really feel for him, just an unfortunatesituation. The work he puts in, the grind, a team captain for us. One of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around. Just praying foraspeedy recovery for him.”
Leonarddid asolid job in relief of Jones,going 18 of 29 for 145 yards and one interceptioninhis most extensive action sinceNotre Dame lostlastyear’snational championshipgame. When he reported to theteam headquarters Monday, they found out Leonard also had been hurt during the game.
The orbital bone injury to Anthony Richardson, the No.4draft pickin2023, only compounded theproblem. He still has not been activated from injured reserve to practice, and SteichensaidMonday he did not expect Richardson’sstatustochange this week, either
That left the Colts with only oneotheroption—veteran Brett Rypien,who hasnot been elevated from thepractice squad to the activeroster since he wassigned in mid-October —ifLeonardcan’t play this weekend.
So theyadded Rivers,who was with theSan Diego/LosAngeles Chargers when Steichen was servingasthe team’squarterbacks coachand interimoffensive coordinator.Oddly,Leonard played prepball at adifferent high school in Fairhope.
And now all three will be working together to try to help Indy turn things around as it enters a brutal final four-gamestretch to salvage itsplayoffhopes.
Stefanski, Reid make head-scratching, late-gamecalls
Browns,Chiefslose closegames after questionable play callsinfourthquarter
BY ARNIE STAPLETON Associated Press
Kevin Stefanski has seen enough of Shedeur Sandersto make the fifth-round rookie the Cleveland Browns’starting quarterback over the final month of another lost season.
The question is whether Sanders will be under center for the biggest moments down the stretch.
Analysis
He wasonthe sideline Sunday when theBrowns were going for atwo-point conversion to tie their game against Tennessee with aminute remaining after Sanders had just engineered hisfourth touchdown drive and thrown for nearly 400 yards.
Sanders rallied the Browns (310) from a31-17 deficit with two late touchdowns, but after running it in for a7-yard touchdown, he fumbled the exchange from backupcenter LukeWypler, who had replaced starter EthanPocic (Achilles) in the third quarter Sanders didn’tevenget the chance to atone for that after throwinga7-yard touchdown pass to Harold Fannin withjust over aminute remaining to pull the Browns to 31-29 as Stefanski decided on aWildcat formation for the potential tying two-point conversion. Running back Quinshon Judkins took the direct snap but mishandled the ball and failed to pitchit to wide receiver Gage Larvadain on an end around. Judkins ran backward andlaunched apass across the field to Larvadain that was batted away as theTitans held on for their second win of the season. Stefanski, the Browns’ sixthyear head coach, took responsibility for the failed two-point play at the end, but he didn’texplain why he chose to run the Wildcat with the game on the line rather than leaving in Sanders, who threwfor three touchdowns and ran for another in his best game of the three
TitansquarterbackCam Ward, left, and BrownsQBShedeur Sanders greet each other after theirgame on SundayinCleveland. Brownscoach Kevin Stefanski opted nottouse Sanders on atwo-point conversion withjust more thanaminute to go after Sanders had rallied the Browns from 14 points down to within two.
he’sstarted Sanders, who fell to the fifth round inthe draft after being projected as atop Day 1pick, threw for 364 yards, the second most by arookiequarterback picked144th overallorlater since1966. Jacksonville’sGardner Minshew,the 178th pick in 2019, passedfor 374 yards against Carolina. Sanders also joinedformer LSU standout and Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow as theonlyrookieQBs with at least 350 passingyards, threetouchdownpasses anda rushing score in agame. But with the game on theline, Sanders was on the sideline. “I would wishI would always have theball in my hand, but that’snot what football is,” Sanders said.“Iknowwepracticed something, and we executed it in practice, and we just didn’tseem to this day.So, Iwould never go against, you know, kind of like what the call was or anything.”
Stefanski’s two-pointdecisions weren’t the only head-scratchers in Week 14. One of the biggest blunders came from the league’swinningestactiveheadcoach,Kan-
sas City’sAndy Reid,who went foritonfourth-and-1fromthe Chiefs’31inagame that was tied at 10 with just under 11 minutes remaining. Patrick Mahomes’ pass to Rashee Rice was incomplete and theHouston Texans got theball already in field-goal range.They scored ago-aheadtouchdown, andthe Chiefs couldn’trecover in a20-10 loss thatdethroned the reigning nine-timechamps in the AFC West.
“I was confident we could”convert, Reidsaid. “I thought it was an opportunity.Iwas wrongin hindsight.Itwas wrong. We’ve been pretty good on fourthdowns. Imessed that one up. Reid was actually playing the odds. TheChiefs were the13th team since 2000 togofor it on fourth down inside theirown 35 in the fourth quarter of atied game. Others were 8for 12, with the Bucs the last to do it in the 2023 opener againstthe Vikings with aconversion thatled to agamewinning field goal. Their 10 pointsmarked the Chiefs’ lowest output at Arrow-
Philliestokeepslugger
Schwarber on 5-year deal
Kyle Schwarber is going back to Philadelphia, agreeing to a$150 million, five-year contract withthe Phillies, aperson familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday Schwarber is coming off aterrific season with the Phillies, setting career-highs with an NL-best 56 homers anda major league-high 132 RBIs. He also scored acareer-high 111runswhile leadingthe club to its second straight NL East title. Schwarber’s23homersagainst left-handed pitching set amajorleague recordfor alefty batter passing Stan Musial(1949) and Matt Olson (2021) at 22. Schwarber finished second in the NL MVP race behind Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. The 32-year-old Schwarber rejected a$22,025,000 qualifying offerfrom PhiladelphiainNovember
Philliesextend
manager Thomson through 2027
The Philadelphia Phillies signed managerRob Thomsontoaoneyear contract extensionthrough the2027 season after he ledthe team to four straight trips to the playoffs
The 62-year-old Thomson guided the Phillies to the 2022 World Series and the 2023 National League Championship Series, and led them in 2024and 2025 to NL East titles
The Phillieswere eliminated in four games by the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL DivisionSeries.
Thomson has led the Phillies to the second-most wins (346) and second-best winning percentage (.580) amongall teams in MLB, behind only the Dodgers (368 wins, .616). He replaced Joe Girardi as Phillies manager on June 3, 2022.
DodgerssignMets
closer Diaz to $69M contract
Closer Edwin Díaz has agreed to a$69 million, three-year contract with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, aperson familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. Díaz’sagreement includes deferred payments by the Dodgers, whoalready owed $1.051 billion in deferred paytoeight playersfrom 2028-46.
Athree-time All-Star who turns 32 on March 22, Díaz joins aDodgersbullpenthatstruggledlast season, causing the team to shift rookie starterRoki Sasaki to closer in the postseason. Los Angeles relievers had a4.27 ERA. Díaz had28saves in 31 chances last season witha 6-3recordand 1.63 ERAfor theNew York Mets He struck out 98 in 661/3 innings.
Steelersthink WR Metcalf will play on Monday night
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Metcalfwas hit in theabdomen at some point during Pittsburgh’s 27-22 victory in Baltimore on Sundayand remained behind when the issue persisted after Metcalf wastreated with over-the-counter remedies during the game.
Metcalf finished with season highs in receptions (seven) and yards (148) as Pittsburgh regained control of the AFC North.
head Stadiumwith Mahomes undercenter
So, the Chiefs (6-7) will not win a10th straight AFC West title. After reaching the Super Bowl five times in thepast six years, winning threetimes, they’ll need to winout andget alot of help just to reach the playoffs.
The Denver Broncos (11-2), winners of 10 straight, weren’t in acelebratory mood —atleast not publicly —after the Chiefs were eliminated from AFC West contention
“Everything right nowhas that ‘work in progress’ sign,” Broncos coach Sean PaytonsaidMonday.
“I recognizethe question in that theChiefs’ loss last night eliminated them from winning the division, and yet we have astretch here with some real good football teams coming in andfocusing on what we can do to win thedivision. The Chargers are very much aliveinthat battle.”
The Chargers beat theslumping Philadelphia Eagles 22-19 Monday night to stay two games behind the Broncos, whom they playintheirregular-season finale in Denvernext month.
Tomlin said Metcalf is “moving in the right direction,” and he doesn’tanticipate theissuejeopardizing Metcalf’s availability when the Steelerstry to win their 23rd straight homeMonday night game.
Messi honored as MLS’ firstback-to-backMVP
Inter Miamistar Lionel Messi is the unquestioned force in Major League Soccer right now,ona run like nobody else the league has ever seen.
The38-year-old Argentine star and captain of the MLS Cup champions has become the first back-toback MVPinMLS history,asthe honor wasannounced Tuesday The back-to-back MVPs represent another first for Messi in what seems like anever-ending list of his career accomplishments and was widely expected,almost assumed after he had aleague-best 29 goalsalong with 19 assists during the regular season.
He also becomes just the second two-time MVP the league has ever seen, joining Preki, thewinnerof the award in 1997 and 2003.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SUE OGROCKI
BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter
PHILADELPHIA Jalen Hurts
had five turnovers that doomed the Eagles against the Chargers — as many turnovers as losses for the Super Bowl champs this season — that raised the panic level in Philly to “break glass and insert the backup QB” levels. The more the Eagles flounder offensively, the more questions are raised about Hurts and why he’s been largely ineffective this season only months after he earned Super Bowl MVP honors. While embattled offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has absorbed his share of criticism for the anemic point totals, the blame finger suddenly has shifted to Hurts and his inability to lead the offense to any kind of explosive output.
The Eagles have failed to score more than 21 points in five straight games, their longest stretch since 2005.
“We’ve got to go out there and put it together,” Hurts said. “The we, I look at it as it’s ‘I’ and it starts with me It starts with me and how I play, how I lead. That’s my ability to go out there and
SAINTS
Continued from page 1C
But as the season has progressed, the Saints have started to do a much better job of holding teams to field goals when they reach scoring territory In the last four games, the Saints have allowed nine field goals compared to just six touchdowns. The latter is tied with the Miami Dolphins — winners of four straight — for the fewest touchdowns allowed in the league during that span.
“Not all 3-10 (records) look the same,” linebacker Demario Davis said. “What I mean by that is nobody wants to be in adversity but you can either lay down in those times or you can show up. And I think if you look at how we play the game defensively what it shows is you would not think you’re looking at a 3-10 defense.” There are many reasons behind New Orleans’ growth. Rookies such as safety Quincy Riley and Jonas Sanker are starting to benefit from their heavy amount of reps The defense, as a whole, has gotten more comfortable with Staley’s scheme, which relies on a lot of zone to prevent opposing offenses from going over the top. And players and coaches have said they’ve improved after facing many of the league’s top teams early on. But the Saints’ turnaround alsocentersaroundamindset
figure it out.”
The Eagles (8-5) are fortunate the rest of the NFC East is in such dire straits that even three straight losses haven’t toppled them from first place.
Hurts may have topped the short list of worst starts of his career in the 22-19 overtime loss at Los Angeles on Monday Hurts threw four interceptions and lost a fumble improbably he had one of each on the same play — and his last pick was the fatal one.
Hurts threw deep to Jahan Dotson in double coverage only to have safety Tony Jefferson keep his feet in bounds and make the interception at the 1-yard line on the game-ending play
“I didn’t play well enough,” Hurts said. “Too many turnovers. Lots of opportunities, especially when we get on the other side of the 50, and I wasn’t able to get us in the box.”
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni stuck by Patullo and gave him public votes of confidence even as outside pressure mounted to make a change. As much as Philly sports fans love a backup QB — often with good reason, such as Nick Foles and his Super Bowl win — it
seems improbable Sirianni would bench Hurts for Tanner McKee.
Hurts has thrown five interceptions in the last two games after he threw just one in the first 11 games. He has only three touchdown passes (none against the Chargers) in the last three games after throwing as many as seven combined in consecutive October games against the Giants and Vikings.
The Eagles will go as far as Hurts will take them, and as much as the Super Bowl win means to the franchise, the team is on the brink of their second collapse in three seasons. The Eagles started 10-1 in 2023 before they lost three straight and five of six overall down the stretch and were bounced in their lone playoff game. Sirianni and Hurts have talked about lessons learned everything from tamping down hubris at the fast start to staying together and focused on small details — and vowed they would not be repeated.
The Eagles still have a division title, a possible home playoff game and, yes, even a shot at the Super Bowl ahead even if questions about Hurts grow louder
end Jonathan Bullard before a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept 7 at the Caesars Superdome.
“One thing about our defense is we keep coming back,” cornerback Alontae Taylor said. “Our number is called and we go out there and play.”
Stats to know
9.4%: The Saints are also much better at limiting explosive plays this season. The Saints have allowed explosives to happen on only 9.4% of their plays, the eighth-best mark in football. Last year, the Saints ranked 23rd at 11.7%. 28: Chase Young has played in only eight games, but he leads the Saints in pressures with 28, according to Next Gen Stats The defensive end’s strong play is another reason New Orleans has gotten better over the course of the season He missed the first five weeks with a calf injury
The Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Chicago White Sox won Major League Baseball’s amateur draft lottery Tuesday and will have the top selection for the first time since taking Harold Baines in 1977. Coming off a 102-loss season, Chicago had the highest odds to win the weighted lottery at 27.73%. The White Sox will have the No. 1 selection for the third time when the draft starts on July 11 in Philadelphia ahead of the All-Star Game.
Baines became a six-time All-Star and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. Chicago selected first baseman Danny Goodwin with the top pick in 1971, and he played in parts of seven major-league seasons.
Baines represented the White Sox on stage for the lottery at baseball’s winter meetings.
“I’m still learning more and more about the draft. I’m getting familiar with
some of the top names,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said in an interview on MLB Network. “It looks like, at the top of the draft, that it’s a really impressive one.
“But on top of that, when you look at the pool space that you’re given and a chance to really walk away from a draft class and do some damage, bring in some real talent. I’m just excited for our fan base and the people that are working for the Chicago White Sox.”
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is currently projected as the top selection, followed by Fort Worth Christian High School shortstop Grady Emerson. Tampa Bay will pick second, followed by Minnesota, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore, the Athletics, Atlanta and Colorado.
MLB and the players’ association established the lottery in the March 2022 collective bargaining agreement. The union pushed for the innovation to encourage teams to compete for wins rather than trade off players at the deadline in an attempt to get a higher draft
choice. Pittsburgh won the lottery the first year and chose right-hander Paul Skenes, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner, out of LSU. Cleveland went first in 2024 and selected second baseman Travis Bazzana, and Washington picked shortstop Eli Willits in July Colorado, the Los Angeles Angels and Washington were not eligible for this lottery. The Rockies, a big league-worst 43-119, were excluded because a team can’t receive a lottery pick in three consecutive years. The Angels and Nationals were blocked because teams that receive revenuesharing money can’t get a lottery pick in two straight years. After the White Sox, Minnesota had the second-highest odds of the top pick at 22.18%, followed by Pittsburgh (16.81%), Baltimore (9.24%) and the Athletics (6.55%).
The New York Mets, the second-biggest spenders this year behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a 0.67% chance and will wind
QUEEN
Continued from page 1C
to win Rookie of the Year behind only Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) and Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets). Not bad for a player selected with the 13th pick.
It is only fitting that another rookie that some doubted (New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough) was sitting courtside Monday night witnessing his first Pelicans game. It’s early, but both Queen and Shough look like they could be on their way to becoming the faces of their respective franchises.
Queen showed some of everything, scoring at will while also getting his teammates open looks and rebounding.
“That was impressive,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said. “I
don’t know how to say it
other than that. It was a special performance on his part to make plays, pass the ball create for others and get to the rim. He made timely plays, too. In clutch moments, for him to have that poise at this young age is special. You don’t see that too often.”
Even more impressive is that Queen’s big night came despite a slow start. His stats at halftime were four points, six rebounds and three assists.
Then he got going, scoring 21 points to go with four rebounds and five assists in the third quarter
“I started off with a dunk and that got me going,” Queen said “Everything was just flowing.”
It also helped that he got some lectures from veteran teammates Jordan and Kevon Looney
“There was no excuse why he can’t do that the whole
4%: According to The Athletic’s projected draft order, the Saints now have a 4% chance of landing the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft after upsetting the Buccaneers The Saints will take wins where they can get them, however Up next
It’s a rematch with the Carolina Panthers.
The Saints have another chance to play spoiler as Carolina (7-6) is now tied with Tampa Bay for the NFC South lead. The Panthers have had two impressive wins since their humiliating loss to New Orleans last month. Bryce Young threw for 448 yards against the Atlanta Falcons and then helped pull off an upset over the Los Angeles Rams.
The Saints last swept the Panthers in 2023.
game,” Jordan said “I think that’s the next challenge for him. Being able to turn that motor on from the tip to start the game. It’s just growth. But he played amazing in the second half.” Queen shot 11 of 15 from the floor One of his few misses came on the final shot he took as he missed a 3-pointer with seven seconds left that would have given the Pelicans a lead. As Queen walked to the other end of the court after the miss, he dropped his head. Jose Alvarado walked up to him, put his hand on Queen’s chin and picked his head up. The missed shot was about the only thing that went wrong for Queen on this night.
“I wanted that shot to go in,” Queen said. “The next one is definitely going to go in.”
Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE Sants defensive coordinator Brandon Staley greets defensive
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Still smarting, Notre Dame AD calls for 16-team CFP
BY MICHAEL MAROT AP sportswriter
Notre Dame athletic director
Pete Bevacqua thinks there’s a simple solution to politicking for College Football Playoff spots — expansion.
He was still upset Tuesday about the selection committee’s decision to bypass the Fighting Irish from the 12-team playoff field and the ACC’s public campaigning to get full-time league member Miami a spot. He then called a 16-team format the perfect number “It should be 16 teams in my opinion, with five automatic qualifiers
and 11 at-large teams,” Bevacqua said, fielding questions for nearly 40 minutes. “What I like about 16 is it creates more opportunity, more narratives around schools and yet it preserves the integrity and importance of the regular season.”
Bevacqua did not back off the complaints that have permeated the college football world ever since Sunday’s selections were revealed.
He still thinks the committee should be more transparent with its selection process to ensure schools, coaches, players and fans know how decisions are made and where they actually stand in the rankings.
He also reiterated the notion the ACC’s actions have created “real damage” with Notre Dame. But two days after Notre Dame decided to skip the bowl season all together, he also tempered his words.
“I would tell you, at this point, we haven’t given all that a ton of thought,” Bevacqua said when asked what he expects the ACC to do next. “Are we looking for an apology? Quite frankly I don’t think an apology does much of anything or unwinds what has happened. But we’ll, at the right time, sit down with the ACC leadership and I think hopefully have a very
Vanderbilt tries to quantify QB Pavia’s worth to program
BY TERESA M. WALKER
AP sportswriter
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Clark Lea can’t
tick off all of the statistics Diego Pavia piled up while leading the Vanderbilt Commodores to their best season ever as the quarterback put himself all over the program’s record books.
Defining what Pavia means to the Commodores is much simpler
“This guy deserves all the attention, all the credit, all the accolades that are coming his way because he has been such an important part of the heartbeat of our team,” Lea said.
Pavia has gone from unrecruited out of high school to junior college, New Mexico State and finally Vanderbilt in 2024 through the transfer portal to become the first Heisman Trophy finalist for the charter Southeastern Conference program. Brash and confident to the point of cockiness, Pavia is the guy rival fans hate and begrudgingly respect while the Commodores and their faithful couldn’t love him more.
“I just feel like I’m a chip on the shoulder guy,” Pavia said.
Generously listed as 6 feet tall, Pavia led Vanderbilt to its first 10win season along with six SEC wins. That includes four wins over ranked programs, including three in the top
TULANE
Continued from page 1C
doubled down on that prediction now that Sumrall turned his bold statement into a reality on his way to the coaching job at Florida.
“Sometimes when you promote from within, there’s a feeling of aw, let’s hug each other and hold hands and be all lovey-dovey and everybody feels good about it,” Hall said. “That’s not what this is. This is about one thing winning. I was promoted because I have the best chance to win here right now. I fully expect to be in here next year celebrating another CFP selection show.”
The outside skepticism comes from recent history Sumrall arrived off back-to-back Sun Belt Conference championships at Troy in his first two years as a head coach. Hall, from Amory, Mississippi, returned for his second stint as a Tulane assistant this past spring after being fired midway through 2024 at Southern Mississippi with a 14-30 record as the head coach.
In a search that hit a speed bump when LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker decided to stay with the Tigers rather than accept an offer from Tulane, Hall beat out everyone else after an impressive
15 when the game was played, and a No. 9 ranking that was Vanderbilt’s highest in The Associated Press Top 25 poll since 1937.
The two losses came on the road to ranked opponents.
Pavia made quite the impression on Texas coach Steve Sarkisian after a three-point loss to his Longhorns.
Sarkisian said Pavia has a knack for making plays at critical moments and deserves all the praise he gets.
“One thing about playing quarterback, it’s not always about the passes you throw. It’s not always about the runs you made,” Sarkisian said.
“It’s about instilling belief in teammates, and instilling belief in your organization, and instilling belief in your fan base. Diego Pavia has done that for that program.”
Cornerback Martel Hight said
Pavia walked into Vanderbilt with so much confidence that it spread “throughout the entire program.”
Pavia ranks second nationally with 334.8 yards of total offense per game and third averaging 9.39 yards per pass attempt. He threw for 3,192 yards while completing 71.2% of his passes, and he led the SEC with 27 touchdown passes. He also led Vanderbilt with 826 yards rushing and nine more TDs.
He became the first Vanderbilt player with at least 300 yards pass-
opening interview
“His passion was just evident,” said athletic director David Harris, who was the primary decisionmaker with assistance from Tulane chief operating officer Patrick Norton and deputy athletic director Justin Schemmel. “The fact he knew and understood what it meant to win here, that he cared very deeply for our student-athletes, that he is an excellent recruiter, we understood he was the exact right person for this position.” Hall overcame his failure at Southern Miss because of his track record everywhere else. During his two years as the Tulane offensive coordinator under former coach Willie Fritz, the Wave averaged the third-most points and the third-most yards in school history (2019), then upped its scoring average the following season (2020). He recruited record-setting quarterback Michael Pratt, who started for him in 2020 as a true freshman and led the Wave to the American Conference championship two years later
Earlier in Hall’s career, he went 25-11 as the coach at Division II West Alabama from 2011-13 and 31-9 at Division II West Georgia from 2014-16.
“What happened at Southern Miss was certainly something we paid attention to but it wasn’t a disqualifying factor,” Harris said.
frank, honest, productive conversation. But that time is not now
“All things can be healed. I’m not going to be overly dramatic here, right? But it strained the relationship.”
Bevacqua said he was texting with ACC commissioner Jim Phillips last week after the conference began what he considered a second round of campaigning on behalf of Miami.
The league had been clear it was in steady communication with the CFP committee, supplying data that made the case for its teams leading up to the selection show
The ESPN-partnered ACC Network also repeatedly showed a re-
LSU
Continued from page 1C
there. Where that lies, I’m not sure. But the priority is our current football team.”
Now in his second stint at LSU, Wilson has been the running backs coach for the past four seasons, and he was promoted to interim head coach after the firing of Brian Kelly Wilson worked on Kiffin’s staff as the wide receivers coach at Tennessee in 2009.
Kiffin already has put most of the LSU offensive staff in place, but it still has an opening for a running backs coach. It’s unclear whether Wilson will be retained in that capacity
Ole Miss running backs coach
Kevin Smith coached with Kiffin for eight of the past nine seasons, but he has not yet followed him to LSU.
Wilson said the offensive coaches that finished the season with LSU will coach the team through the Texas Bowl, even though they are not expected to be retained.
“I’ve done it before, so it’s not totally strange for me, individually,”
play of the season-opening Notre Dame-Miami game last week — including four times on Thursday’s schedule and five more Friday Miami won the game 27-24 on a last-second field goal, a head-tohead result that clearly had an impact on how the final teams were chosen.
“I charged the committee members to go back and watch that game,” CFP selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek said.
“We got some interesting debate on what that game looked like. With that in mind, we gave Miami the nod over Notre Dame into that 10 spot.”
4, and he had to push through the end of the regular season. He did not play against Western Kentucky, but he returned to start a week later against Oklahoma. Delane, a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, is projected as a first-round NFL draft pick. Nussmeier did not play the last three games after aggravating an abdominal injury, Wilson previously said. Without him, sophomore quarterback MichaelVan Buren is expected to make his fourth straight start.
Weeks returned from a broken ankle to play in the last two games of the regular season, but he has been dealing with ankle pain all season. There are ongoing conversations about Weeks’ future at LSU with one more season of eligibility remaining.
LSU players are also beginning to enter the transfer portal Wilson said sophomore defensive lineman Ahmad Breaux will play in the Texas Bowl before he enters the portal.
“I think we’ll have the guys that we finished the season with,” Wilson said. “We’re still working through it. We have a couple of young guys that have entered the portal. Some will play Some may not, necessarily.”
ing and at least 100 yards rushing in the same game with 377 yards passing and 112 yards rushing in a win over Auburn.
Then he became the first SEC player since 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels to throw for more than 250 yards and run for at least 150 in a 45-24 rout of then-No. 18 Tennessee. Pavia threw for 268 yards and ran for a career-high 165 yards in that win.
“Diego Pavia is a great quarterback, we knew that coming into this game,” Tennessee linebacker Jeremiah Telander said.
This season, his impact went beyond the games themselves.
Vanderbilt sold out six home games, hosted a rare visit from ESPN’s “College GameDay” and had people at games from comedian and podcaster Theo Von to actress, producer and writer Reese Witherspoon.
Pavia also has worked to ensure the Commodores can build on this season, helping Vanderbilt flip five-star quarterback Jared Curtis from his verbal commitment to Georgia. Curtis signed with the Commodores last week.
Lea hopes that Pavia isn’t hurt in Heisman voting by Vanderbilt not playing in the Southeastern Conference title game or missing the CFP
Wilson said of coaching through the bowl game without clarity “There’s a 2025 football team that I’ve been a part of — we’ve been a part of — since inception, the beginning of the season that has one more game to finish. That’s very natural for us. Because of my relationship with coach Kiff, it allows us to have smooth transition, interaction in the building.”
Texas Bowl roster
LSU will be without several starters in the Texas Bowl.
Wilson said Tuesday that cornerback Mansoor Delane, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and linebacker Whit Weeks will not play because of injuries.
Wide receiver Aaron Anderson‘s status is in doubt, and center Braelin Moore has a chance to play. Defensive end Jack Pyburn and others may opt out, Wilson said, but that has not been finalized.
“We are in discussion with some of those veteran players who may opt out,” Wilson said. “We’re anticipating having the lion’s share of our team in quantity and in quality to be able to participate.”
LSU begins practicing for the bowl Thursday Delane has played through a core muscle injury since Week
“It was something we needed him to answer for, and he did answer for it. We were satisfied with what he shared with us.”
Neither Harris nor Hall would go into specifics about what went wrong for him at Southern Miss, but Hall gave what he admitted openly was a vague explanation.
“I’ve got to be me,” he said. “Being me works. It’s worked everywhere else I’ve been, so I will be unapologetically me every minute of every day.”
Being himself certainly won over the Tulane players. Harris recounted how a bunch of them went to his office unannounced and made the case for Hall’s promotion, praising him for 30 minutes.
“That was powerful,” Harris said. “It was not just because he’s a great coach and not even because they liked him as a person, but they talked about how he challenged them to be the best versions of themselves. It really caught my attention that he was finding a way
Perkins to the NFL?
LSU linebacker Harold Perkins accepted an invitation to the EastWest Shrine Bowl, the game announced Tuesday morning, another indication that he will enter the 2026 NFL Draft. Perkins has one more year of eligibility as a redshirt junior after suffering a torn ACL four games into the 2024 season, but he was also honored on LSU’s senior night last month.
Though players can back out of postseason showcases after accepting an invitation, they cannot return to school if they play in the game. Perkins has not formally announced his plans as of Tuesday
Often playing the Star position, which is a hybrid linebacker/ safety role, Perkins has recorded 56 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, one forced fumble and seven quarterback hurries this season. After coming to LSU as a fivestar recruit in the 2022 class, Perkins said he intended to leave for the NFL in three years. His plan changed because of the injury, but he returned to LSU this year with the intention of turning pro after the season.
to show love as well as to challenge them. It’s rare you have a coach who finds that balance.”
As passing game coordinator, Hall spent his time in the receivers’ meeting room. Anthony Brown-Stephens, a redshirt junior wideout with 35 catches for 466 yards, expects few defections to the transfer portal after Hall’s promotion.
“He loves the players and we love him,” Brown-Stephens said. “When they announced it, it was surreal. He’s going to bring the grit. He’s going to bring us another playoff run. He’s going to bring it all.”
How many coaches Hall retains from the current staff is unclear He said he would not call plays but would run his offense, which will be a pro-style system similar to what Tulane has now with a little more tempo added.
“I knew I’d be a head coach again,” he said. “I believe that’s what God put me on this Earth to do. I’m blessed to be here right now I also feel like I deserve to be here right now for everything I’ve been through.” He offered a final reply to anyone who envisioned another name as coach a week ago.
“Pete Carroll was USC’s fourth choice when they hired him,” he said. “Everybody there is pretty excited (about what he did).”
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
New Tulane football coach Will Hall and his family second-line into his introductory news conference on Tuesday at the Glazer Family Center connected to yulman Stadium.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By WADE PAyNE
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia warms up before a game against Tennessee on Nov. 29 in Knoxville, Tenn
Dunham,Ascension Catholic look to bringhomestate titles
Tigers look to avenge last year’s loss; Bulldogshappy to be back in Dome
BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer
TwoBaton Rouge-areahigh schools looktobring home afootball state title.
No. 5Ascension Catholic (11-2) faces No. 2Riverside Academy (11-1) in the Division IV select state championship at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Caesars Superdome.
No. 5Dunham (12-1)will take on No.6Calvary Baptist (12-1) in the Division III select state championshipat7 p.m. on Thursday,also at the Dome. Dunham returnstothe Dome
The Superdome is familiar territory for the Tigers, who made it to the state title game last year Dunham fell to Catholic-NI 31-28 in the 2024 state championship. Awin in the state title game would mark the school’sfirst since 2004. The path back to the Dome started in the offseason. Offensive coordinator Jeff Hand said theteam has taken the year one step at atime.
“Wefocus as ateamonthe process,” Hand said. “Wehave to have the best springpractice. We have to have the best summer workouts we’ve ever had.Week by week and really,practice by practice, we say,‘Best is the standard.’ Dunham wants to be the best at everything the team does,all in an effort to get backtothe state title.
The Tigers have excelled on both sides of the ball, and the offense has been hard to slow down by nearly every defense they’ve faced. Dunham averages 48.2
Football state championships At CaesarsSuperdome
Thursday Division IV nonselect: No. 1Haynesville (130) vs.No. 2Mangham (11-2), noon Division IV select: No. 2Riverside (11-1) vs No. 5Ascension Catholic (11-2), 3:30 p.m. Division III select: No. 5Dunham (12-1) vs No. 6Calvary Baptist (12-1),7p.m. Friday Division II nonselect: No. 1North Desoto (13-0) vs.No. 2Iowa(13-0),noon Division III nonselect: No. 1Jena(12-1)vs. No. 2Sterlington (11-2), 3:30 p.m. Division II select: No. 1St. Charles(12-1)vs. No. 7Shaw(9-4), 7p.m. Saturday Division Inonselect: No. 1Ruston (11-2) vs No. 14 Ouachita Parish (10-4),noon Division Iselect: No. 1Edna Karr (13-0) vs No. 3St. Augustine (12-1), 3:30 p.m.
points per game this year
Theoffense is ledbystarquarterback Elijah Haven. The junior hasthrownfor 3,638 yards and59 touchdownsand only six interceptions this year
Haven’s 59 passingtouchdowns tied the state record for mostin aseason,set by former Evangel Christian quarterback DezDuron in 2008.
One of his favorite targets is senior receiver Jarvis Washington. He tallied 981 receiving yards and18total touchdowns in the regular season.Washingtoncaught sevenpassesfor 182 yards and four touchdowns in Dunham’s49-48 semifinalwin over No. 1Lafayette Christian Academy.
Thedefense has also suffocated opposing offenses. Dunham hasallowed just 14.6 points per game this year
While thegoal isastate title, coach Neil Weiner saidwinning is arare topic of discussion with histeam. His team is focusedon giving its best effort.
“You’ve got to do what’snecessary to win in order to win,” Weiner said. “If you focus on those things,the resultstake care of themselves.”
Bulldogs relish themoment
After years of falling short, the Bulldogs are back in the state title game for the first time since 2018. No.5 AscensionCatholic will
facea familiaropponentinNo.
2Riverside Academy.The Bulldogs faced the Rebels in last year’sDivision IV select quarterfinals and won 40-35. Awin in thestate championship wouldmarkAscension Catholic’s first state titlesince 1992.
The game willtakeall of star running back Trevin Simon. The senior set state recordsfor most rushing yards and rushing touchdownsinasingleseason. Simon has run for 3,765 yards and 57 rushing touchdowns
He ranfor 364yards andsix touchdowns on 34 carriesinthe Bulldogs’dominant45-14 win over No.1WestminsterChristian in theDivision IV select semifinals
First-year coach Taylor James knowsthere can be alot of distractions and excitement surrounding the gameafter the school missed outonastate title appearance for six years. Butfor James,hestill wants histeam to enjoy the moment.
“You workway toohardtoget to this point to not have that,” James said. “But like Itold the kids, just understand, with all that, there is stillthe game that allthisisabout comingThursday That’sgot to be the best game we’ve played all year.”
James knows there needs to be abalance between relishing the achievement, while notletting it consume his team.
Thecoachingstaff has emphasizedthat aspect this week in practice and in film.
“We’vestrived through just repetition, to stay focused on the process,” James said. “When you get outthere Thursday, playyour best.”
Hismessage for the team, headingintoits biggestgamein years, is simple.
“Don’tlook up until it’sover, and then soak it all in,” James said. “Play your best for thefour quarters you’reout there, andlet thechips fall wherethey may.”
Dodgerssuperstar Ohtani ties record with fourth AP nod
Duplantis finishes second in voting for Male Athleteofyear
BY BETH HARRIS Associated Press
PASADENA, Calif. Shohei Ohtani is catching up with morelegends.
The baseball superstar ends 2025 by winning The Associated Press MaleAthlete of the Year for thefourth time, tying him with Lance Armstrong, LeBron James andTiger Woodsfor most among male honorees.
“Receiving this awardmultiple times is something truly special,” Ohtani said in Japaneseinanexclusive interview with the AP Ohtanireceived 29 of 47 votes in balloting amongsports journalists from the AP andits members after his two-way dominance culminated in arepeat World Series title for his Los AngelesDodgers —delivering perhaps the greatest singlegame individualperformancein sports history along the way.He previously wonthe award in 2024, hisfirstseasonwiththe Dodgers, and in 2023 and 2021, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. TheAPhonor hasbeengiven out since1931. Multisport standout BabeDidrikson Zaharias won six times over the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, themost by aman or woman Ohtani’slatest win brokea tie with Michael Jordan, who along with Woods, he followed while growing up in Japan.
“Last year,I said Iwanted to win this award again, and Iwill work hard so that Ican winitagain next year as well,” he said.
Swedish-American pole vaulter andLafayette native Mondo Duplantis, who wonhis third consecutive world title and hasset theworld record 14 times, includingfour times in 2025, was second withfive votes in balloting announced Tuesday.Carlos Alcaraz, the world’stop-ranked tennis player whowon titlesatthe Frenchand U.S. Opens, wasthird with four The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Wednesday Two-waysupremacy
Ohtani, 31, has shown remarkable consistency sincejoining the Los Angeles Dodgers on athen-record $700 million, 10-year contract in December 2023.
He won his fourth career Most Valuable Player award (second withthe Dodgers) by unanimous vote, the first player in major league history to do so.
This year,heposted a1.014 OPS and hit 55 home runs. Returning to the moundfor thefirsttime since 2023, he had a2.87 ERA and 62 strikeoutsin47innings in 14 starts. Ohtani saved his best for the postseason. In Game 4ofthe
National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, he pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and hitthree home runs to earn MVP honors. He said it washis greatest gameinacareer full of incredible feats.
“Ifyou think about it in termsof asingle game, I’d say that’sprobably true,” he said. “It wasacrucial game in the postseason, and I personally feel Iplayed quite well in that game.”
Does he surprise himself?
“Well, yes, there are times when Ifeel thatway about myself, and of course thereare timeswhenI think I’m notgood enough,” he said, “so Isuppose athletes experience both kinds of feelings.”
Anotheryear, anotherring
Ohtani showed he’shuman in Game 7ofthe WorldSeries.He singled in the first inning and then took the mound on short rest, but he struggled with his command. He gave up athree-run homer to Toronto’sBoBichette alongwith five hits in 21/3 innings.
But he and the Dodgers raised a secondstraight World Series trophy after outlasting the Blue Jays in the most scintillating Series in recent memory.
“Shohei obviously has the weight of the world on his shoulders as far as expectations, being probably the face of baseball, certainly when you’re talking about the world,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Game 7. “It’sjust really special what he’s done. Just agreat person and agreat competitor.” Ohtani’spresence has been transformative forMLB’s global reach.Game 7ofthis World Series averaged 13.1 million viewers in Japan, the most-watched World Series game on asingle network there ever,and 51 million watched worldwide to makeitthe mostviewed sinceGame 7ofthe 1991 World Series.
Howdoeshedoit?
“I think the higher your goals are, themore you have to do, and the moreyou wanttodo,” he said. “Ifyou’re satisfied with where you are now,I don’tthinkit’spossible to achieve your goals without putting in the effort. So, setting goals high is what Ibelieve is mostimportant.”
The Dodgers carefully managed Ohtani’sreturn to pitching this year by gradually increasing his workload after rehabbing from elbow surgery in September 2023.
“Whenitcomes to feelingnervous,being on themound definitelymakes me more tense,” he said. “It’saposition where you can single-handedly ruin agame, and at the same time,it’salso aposition where you can contribute to awin. So, in my mind, Ifeel that being a pitcher is truly aspecial role.”
BYWILLIAM WEATHERS Contributing writer
The sense of urgency theSt. Michael boys soccer team showed in the second half of Tuesday’s match with Episcopal remedied atwo-goal deficit. It just wasn’tquite enough for the Warriors to get the result they ultimately wanted.
Episcopal built atwo-goal lead by scoring agoal in each half until St. Michael stormed back, tying the game with back-toback scores with 11 minutesremaining, before the teams had to settle for a2-2 tie at St. Michael’s Warrior Field.
“We’ve been down afew times this year and have come back in alot of games,” St. Michael coach Jordan Perret said. “It was good to see them react that way.It’s just unfortunate we were unable to get that final ball.” St. Michael (2-1-2) finally broke through during afurious one-minute stretch with Raylen
Parker’s first goalofthe season igniting his team’s offense that made it 2-all.
The two teams combined for three goals during an eight-minute stretch, with Episcopal’s2-0 lead turning intoa2-2 deadlock.
St.Michael’s first goal in the 68thminute was arebound shot from Jackson Heimann. Aminute later,acrisp pass from Riley Wilson to Parkerinthe 6-yard box led to aheader
“Weprobably felt we could have dominated this game,” Perret said. “Wefailed to put together afullgamethis year,itfeels. It’s been agame of two halves for us.”
St.Michael,the No.5teamin DivisionIII, built an advantage in thesecond half with nine of its10shots on goal, continuing its aggressive playinthe lastsix minutes for the possible gamewinning goal.
Nate Babin sent an attempt wideona break down theright side in the 74th minute andhis
25-yard attempt from the middle field wassecuredbyEpiscopal goalie Luke Mendoza (9 saves)
Both teamshad set pieces in stoppage time that wentawry
“It’s2-0 with 20 minutesleft, it’salwaysa tough one,” said Episcopal coach Kiran Booluck, whose team had seven of its nine shotsongoal. “St.Michael’sis verygood. They playwith alot of heart and alot of fight at the end. For neutral people, it was a fantastic game. For coaches as well.”
Episcopal (1-1-2) grabbed a1-0 lead in the24thminute, convertinga counterattackintoa goal after along runfrom Wynn Turner, who beathis defender and the goalie Matthew Goff (4 saves).
TheKnights,rankedNo. 4inDivision IV,increased theirlead to 2-0inthe 61stminuteona25yardshot from Christian Tucker
“I thought we played agood, solid game,”Perret said, “and when we gotdown by two, we had to pick it up theintensity.
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByJAE HONG Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani shares alaugh with his translator during an interview with The Associated Press on Nov. 26 in Pasadena, Calif. The AP named Ohtani its MaleAthlete of the year
STAFF PHOTO By BRADBOWIE
Dunham quarterback Elijah Haven, right,looksfor areceiver in astate semifinal game against Lafayette Christian on FridayinLafayette.
LIVING
Lauren Cheramie BONVIVANT
Trythese culinary delights and holidaymenus around BR
Bon vi·vant /noun/ asociable personwho has cultivatedand refined tastes, especially with respect to food and drink
Newfood on theblock
Say hello to sushi petit fours at Rock-n-Sake,3043 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge. The bite-sized sushi creationsare finished with garnishes and packaged in share-ready boxes for theholidays. Call (225) 6157940 to place an order Through Jan. 5, the holiday menuisavailable at Sullivan’s Steakhouse,5252 Corporate Blvd.,Baton Rouge, featuring North Atlantic whole lobster, beef bordelaise, lobster basilstuffed shrimp, braised short rib, lobster risotto and more. Speaking of holidaymenus get prime rib sandwiches, candied bacon mac and cheese and cinnamon apple bread pudding at Sonny’sBBQ,12475 Florida Blvd.
PROVIDED PHOTO By ANDREW CEBULKA
Through Dec. 31, The Frenchie is available at ViciousBiscuit, 333 St. Christopher Ave., Gonzales.
Through Dec. 31, try the peppermint mocha latte and The Frenchie at Vicious Biscuit,333 St. Christopher Ave., Gonzales. The Frenchie is abuttermilk biscuit sandwich made with roast beef and white cheddar cheese, served with au jus for dipping. Also available through Dec. 31 at CC’sCoffee House is the salted caramel mocha and peppermint mocha drinks, salted caramel cookie and toffee crunch blondie. There are several CC’sCoffee House locations in the city In theknow Raising Cane’s,with several locations in BatonRouge,has releasedits holiday plush puppies that benefit local animal shelters. The plush puppies, each $10.99 and availableat all locations, are dressed and inspired by scenes from “A Christmas Story.” In Baton Rouge, the proceeds will goto the Denham Springs Animal Shelter,Friends of the Animals BR, Must Luv Dogs Rescue and Mercy Search&Rescue. Champagne holidaybrunch: 10 a.m. to 2p.m. Sunday at 18 Steak, 777 L’Auberge Ave., Baton Rouge The annual Champagne holiday brunch at 18 Steak will include carving stations, Gulf seafood selections, breakfast items, salads and desserts. Tickets are $65 per person available for purchasebycalling (225) 224-4142. Reservations are required.
Teddy Bear Tea: 2p.m. to 4p.m. Sunday at The 121 Venue, 121 Convention St., Baton Rouge Celebrate the holidays while supporting the OchsnerBaton Rouge Pediatric Super Clinic with Teddy Bear Tea. The festive tea service includeslive performances, an on-site toy drive, keepsake photos and more. Each child receives a commemorative teddy bear to take home, while adults receive aglass of sparkling
ATOAST TO THESEASON
BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer
It’sthe merriest time of year, and cocktails are once againbest sipped with acinnamon stick garnish and Michael Bublé’sChristmasalbum playing in the background.
Lucky for Baton Rougelocals, the city has no shortage of seasonal cocktail menus. The options are plentiful, from collectible holiday tiki mugs to mocktails to whiskey drinksserved hot.
Here are nine places to graba festive cocktailona chilly evening:
13
Social
This spot has amenu of six beverages ranging from fruitytofiery
Starting sweet,there’sthe Sugar Cookie Martini with whippedvodka, Irishcream andamaretto in asprinkle-rimmed glass. Coffee drinkers might like the Peppermint Mocha Espresso with chocolate vodka,coffee liqueur and espresso with acool peppermint touch.
ice. The vodka-based Winter Wonderland gives arefreshing, crisp taste with white cranberry,lime and ahint of orange.
TheMainLobby
This holidaycocktailmenufeaturesfive $12 drinks, including aChocco-Latte madewithwhite chocolate liquor,Sugarfield coffee and cream,Frangelico and Martell cognac. The Winter Wonderland has Gentilly gin, peppermint syrup, lime anda touchofwhite chocolate liquor
Thosewho like rum mayappreciate both the Spiked Hot Chocolate and the Coquito, which feature Oxbow Estate DarkRum.And last but notleast, there’s arosemary old-fashioned forthose wanting a classic.
PelicantoMars
On the smoother side is the Gingerbread House,abourbondrink with gingerbread spice, ahit of chocolate, shaken and servedover
This Government Street spot has 11 cocktails, all in collectible tropical, holiday-themed mugs available forpurchase.
ClassicAmericanfaretopsour
PROVIDED PHOTO
Designated Sledder from Pelican to Mars
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
BoozyHot Cocoa, SugarCookie Martini and Santa’sEggnog to help
downtown bar in BatonRouge.
COCKTAILS
One drink that incorporates holiday spirit, Louisianaculture andtropical theming is the Jingle Bird —bourbon, pineapple rum, Campari, lime and jingle mix, coming in atiki-esque 14-ounce mug with apelican wearing aSanta hat. The menu lists acocktail called Secret Santa, with no description other than instructing readers to aska staff member for details —a Christmas mystery!
There’salso some nonalcoholicoptions: Designated Sledderwith lime, coconut, pineapple, pandan syrupand tonic water,and Have aVery Merry MockTai with Wiki Wiki mai tai mix, lime and club soda.
HayrideScandal
With the weather getting colder,Hayride Scandal may be the place for awarm, cozy cocktail. Coming hot, there’sthe Hot Buttered Rum with brown sugar batter and spices. There’salso aclassic Hot Toddy anda Mulled Wine. For acooler sip, there are six seasonal beverages like the ÁLaMode with vodka, pandan, pistachio cream and coconut —and the Chimney Sweep withscotch, sherry, apricot and more served on the rocks.
Cecelia’sCreoleBistro
This bistro is serving the Frosted Berry Fizz with Gentilly gin, blackberry liqueur, cranberryjuice, house-made blackberry purée, topped with Champagne and garnished with asugarcoated cherry and rosemary sprig.
Chow Yum
Called APuerto Rican Christmas, this frozen delight is comprised of coco-
nut rum, white rum, pistachiocream liqueur with a cinnamon sprinkle garnish.
The seasonal cocktail menu hasfive other drinks, includinga drink called Bye Buddy!HopeYou Find Your Dad, which hasapple brandy,grenadine, lemon and cinnamon syrup. There’s also 3Kings Hoedown, served inside ofa discoball with house sangria for two.
TheQueen BatonRouge
Located in the Loft (above 1717 Kitchen +Cocktails) is acozy corner decked to the halls in holiday joy.The loungebar serves afew seasonal cocktails, aBourbon Milk Punch with egg-free eggnog and athemedespresso martiniflight (a playon the three wise men) with caramel, pumpkin spiceor hazelnut flavors,served on acocktail board with cookies and cookie butter.
ZeeZee’s
This bar and restaurant his eight seasonal sips, includinga PeppermintPatty Espresso Martini withTito’s vodka, coffee liqueur, local
cold brew and peppermint
The Santa Clausmopolitan has Smirnoff Red,White and Merry vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry
There’salso Baylee’sAppleCiderMule with Tito’s, apple cider,lime, brown sugar,cinnamon and ginger beer
Mocktails are also available —like the Cindy Lou Who with RitualZeroProof Gin Alternative, cranberry, lime and rosemary
Colonel’sClub
TheLaPoire 76 is asparkling, sophisticated twist on aFrench 75: Absolut Pear vodka, fresh lemon, allspice syrup,elderflower champagne foam. There’salso the Midnight Mule with Reyka Vodka, Amaro Montenegro, blackberrypurée, fresh lime, gingerbeer,sageand black peppercorn.
The Fireside Fig is arich, fall-forward take on aManhattan:brown butter rye whiskey,WoodfordReserve Bourbon, Carpano sweet vermouth, fig and clove syrup, black walnut
By The Associated Press
Today is Wednesday, Dec. 10, the 344th day of 2025. There are 21 days left in theyear Todayinhistory: On Dec. 10, 1906, President TheodoreRoosevelt became thefirst American to winaNobel Prize, winning theNobel Peace Prize for helping to negotiate peace in theRusso-JapaneseWar
Also on this date:
In 1861, theConfederacy admitted Kentucky as it recognized apro-Southern shadow state government that was acting without theauthorityofthe proUnion government in Frankfort.
In 1898, atreaty was signed in Paris officially ending the Spanish-American War.
In 1964, Martin Luther King Jr.received his Nobel Peace PrizeinOslo,
saying he acceptedit “with an abiding faith in Americaand an audacious faith in the future of mankind.”
In 1967, singerOtis Redding, 26, andsix others were killed when their plane crashedinto aWisconsin lake;trumpeter BenCauley, amember of the group the Bar-Kays, was the only survivor
In 1994, YasserArafat, ShimonPeres and YitzhakRabin were jointly awardedthe NobelPeace Prize for their efforts to advancethe Middle East peace process.
In 2007, former Vice President Al Gore accepted the Nobel PeacePrize with acalltoconfront human-causedclimate change andstopwaging war on the environment.
In 2021, atwo-day outbreak of tornadoesinthe U.S. Midwest andSouth killedmorethan90people
acrossfive states, including 77 in Kentucky.The National WeatherServicerecordedmore than 40 twisters Dec. 10 and Dec. 11. In 2022, Morocco became the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals by beating Portugal 1-0. Today’sbirthdays: Actor Fionnula Flanagan is 84. Actor-singerGloria Loring is 79. Republican Sen. JohnBoozman of Arkansasis75. ActorSusan Dey is 73. Jazzmusician Diane Schuur is 72.Actordirector Kenneth Branagh is 65. ActorNia Peeples is 64. TV chef Bobby Flay is 61. Rock musicianMeg White (The White Stripes) is 51. ActorEmmanuelle Chriqui is 50. Actor Raven-Symone is 40.Actor/ singerTeyanaTaylor is 35. ActorKiki Layne is 34. Cyclist Jonas Vingegaard is 29.
bittersand smoked brandied cherry
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Brad Johnson, the Queen’sdirector of food and beverage, poursahazelnut expresso martini at the Loft barabove 1717 Kitchen +Cocktails. The three holiday martini options at the Loft are hazelnut,caramel and pumpkin spice.
Dear Harriette: My boyfriend really upset me recently We made plans to go out to arestaurant that I’ve been looking forward to for weeks; it wasspecial to me, and he knew how excited Iwas. The day before our reservation, he canceled because he “forgot”hehad plans with afriend to go to some EDM event. Not only did he cancel at the last minute, but he didn’tmake any effort to reschedule or acknowledge how disappointing that was. Now it’sbeen four days with no communication at all, and I’m sitting here feeling like an afterthought.
is for me. —IsHeWorth It?
Weddingfee concerns
Harriette Cole
SENSE AND SENSITIVITy
I’m awoman in my 30s, and I’m too old to date aman who acts like he barely likes me or can’tprioritize our relationship. Idon’t want to waste my time on someone who doesn’tshow up emotionally or follow through. If he doesreach out, I’m torn. Should Ighost himand protect my peace? Should Ihave areal conversation about how hisbehavior made me feel and see if there’sany hope in fixing things? Or should Ibeclear that I’m no longer interested and walk away for good? I’m struggling to figure out what the healthiest option
Dear Is He WorthIt?: Be the adult here and make the effort to nip it in thebud. Reach out and tell him you need to talk.When you speak —preferably in person —tell him how disappointed you are in how he treated you. Go for thebig picture. Ask him what he wants from your relationship. Tell him what you want.Ifheisunwilling or unable to step up, that’s your cue towalk.
Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.
The Chicken CordonBleu sandwich at Maxwell’sMarket
BEST
Continued from page1D
Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich
n Maxwell’s Market,6241Perkins Road, Baton Rouge
I’ve been on the hunt for agood delicatessen in Baton Rouge. Imagine my surprise when afriend told me of along-standing staple, Maxwell’sMarket. Now that Iknow Maxwell’s exists, Ican’tseem to stop ordering their sandwiches. My favorite so far has been the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich. My first thoughts were notably skeptical —how did they plan to make arenowned French dish fit between bread? But wow,did theydo it well. The fried chicken is aboneless thigh that is perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle. The star of the show is paired with ahealthy stack of salted ham, amelted thin slice
BONVIVANT
Continued from page1D
wine. Tickets are $78.75 for adults and $53 for children, available for purchase at www.tickettailor.com/ events/the121/1911406 Feast of the Seven Fishes: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday,Dec. 16 and 17, at Carrabba’sItalian Grill, 7275 Corporate Blvd., Baton Rouge
of Swiss cheese, creamy yet tangy honey mustard anda fluffy brioche bun. Addaside of sweet potato fries and asideCaesar salad and it becomes the perfectlunch.
—Margaret DeLaney health coordinator
Wing combo
n Lee’s Chicken and Cracklins, 320 LeeDrive, Baton Rouge Iwas on West Lee Drive for an assignment and found myself hungry and right by Lee’sChicken and Cracklins, which just opened about amonthago. Themenufeels pretty similar to Blue Store Chicken’smenu. The
Enjoy afive-course menu that celebrates the Italian American Christmas Eve tradition. The large, seafood-focused dinner stems fromthe RomanCatholic tradition of abstaining from meat on ChristmasEve.At Carrabba’s,the menu will includecrabcakebruschetta pairedwith Santa Margherita pinot grigio,fritto misto pairedwith Tormaresca chardonnay,Linguine Di Mare with shrimp and scallops paired with Cecchi Chi-
cashier told me about a three-wing combofor $6.69, which Ididn’tsee on the menu but sounded perfect.The wings came with shrimp fried rice and achoice of potatowedges or aHawaiian roll. The shrimp fried rice impressed me, coming from somebody who is largely indifferent to fried rice. The taste of shrimp was embedded in the dish, making everybitepacked with flavor.The chicken came hot and well seasoned. If I’m by LSU’scampus, this’ll be my new go-to for quick-service fried chicken.
—Maddie Scott, features reporter
antiClassico, Salmon Nino withlobster ravioli paired withAllegrini Valpolicella, and strawberry cheesecake paired with Il Borro Pian di Nova Super Tuscan. Tickets are$60 per person, available for purchase at www carrabbas.com/offers/winedinner/experience.
If you have an upcoming food event or akitchen question, emaillauren. cheramie@theadvocate. com. Cheers!
Dear readers: We’ve received hundreds of letters concerning weddings where thebride and groom want to charge people to attend. Apparently,this is now atrend in America where thehappy couple want to have thewedding of their dreamsbut can’t afford alavish celebration. The reaction from the public was more than I had expected, but below are afew of theresponses we received. —Heloise Weddingfees
they want, they should start saving foritasyoung as they can. —Mary, in The Villages, Florida Weddingfeescont’d
includes the bridesmaids and groomsmen the night before the wedding?
Dear Heloise: Iread your letter this morning about couples who want to charge their guests to attend. No way,nohow! It’s totally presumptuous and tremendously rude. If a lavish wedding is what
Dear Heloise: Ihate lavish weddings. They’re usually too loud, too crowded and too expensive. Asking people to pay to see this kind of spectacle is stressful for family and friends, especially if money is tight as it is for mostpeople these days.
Sarah M., in Lansing,Michigan
Paid presence
Dear Heloise: Ithink asking people to pay to attend awedding is ridiculous! What happened to the parents of the bride paying forthe wedding and the groom’s family paying forthe dinner that
However,when you are the grandma, Iamsure that you wanttogo. So, pay forthe wedding, but don’t give them agift. Your paid presence is enough of a gift. —Grandma, in TheVillages, Florida Weddingfeesbackfire
Dear Heloise: My oldest sister tried this pay-toattend approach with her wedding, and no one responded. Noteven our two grandmothers wholove us. They found her request for“donations of $250” to be tacky and tasteless. My sister got married at city hall and was divorced 15 months later! —CarolynB., in Yorktown, New York
Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.
24 concerts 7 venues 75+ musicia
support. Local impact. TheAmerican RedCross in Louisiana serves4.65millionresidentsacrossall64parishesandextendshopeto communitiesacrossthenationandaroundtheworld.Whenyousupportyour localRedCross,youmakeadirectimpactinyourcommunity Poweredbygenerosity. TheRedCrossisnotagovernmentagency.Wearea501(c)(3) nonprofitthatreliesonthepowerofvolunteersandthegenerosity ofdonorstocarryoutourhumanitarianmission. RedCrosssupportersprovideabeaconofhope.Fromhelping duringdisasters,toprovidinglifesavingtrainingandsupporting militarycommunities,theRedCrossistherewhenhelpcan’twait.
Hints from Heloise
STAFF PHOTO By MADDIESCOTT
Chicken wings, potato wedges and shrimp fried rice from Lee’s Chicken and Cracklins
PHOTO By MARGARET DELANEy
sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Be clear regarding your expectations to avoid disappointment. Communication requires thought, detail and verification to ensure you get the most out of each encounter today.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Your situation is looking up. Let go of the past and what holds you back, and embrace what excites you most. Distance yourself from confinement and people who want to suppress you.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Address matters that are clouding your vision. Once you clear a path, you'll recognize the possibilities. A domestic change is overdue and will offer peace of mind, mental stimulation and profitable prospects.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Research, educate and check out your options. A change of scenery will offer insight into the possibilities. Map out a plan that won't jeopardize your finances but will provide an affordable and sustainable future.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Put your energy where it counts. Learn and hone skills through repetition. If you take shortcuts you'll cheat yourself and are unlikely to achieve the results you desire.
tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Consider sticking close to home and doing things that make your life easier. Sometimes it's best to put yourself first. Address what others want head-on and take care of your needs.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Impulsive choices will cost you. It's the result, not the
process, that requires your undivided attention. Stop looking for instant gratification when persistence is necessary to reach your goal.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Discipline and novel plans will help you conquer what you set out to do. Common sense will bring higher returns if you are patient. Put your energy into planning, building, promotion and getting things done.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) It's what you do that will make a difference. Participation is the name of the game; stop talking and start doing. Be a leader and start a movement, and your gestures will pave the way.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) You can make a difference if you pitch in and help. Go where the action is and do your part The people you meet will enrich your life. Be clear about what you are willing to do and put up with.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) You know what you must do, so stop procrastinating and start the process. Research, expand your knowledge and engage in activities that will make a difference.
scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Channel your energy into something creative you wish to pursue. Exploration, expansion and experience will all play a part in how you advance and move into a new phase or lifestyle.
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
toDAy's cLuE: V EQuALs P
FAMILY CIrCUS
CeLebrItY CIpher
beetLe bAILeY
Mother GooSe And GrIMM
LAGoon
bIG nAte
Sudoku
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
nea CroSSwordS La TimeS CroSSword
THewiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS CurTiS
By PHILLIP ALDER
Andre Maurois, a French author who was born Emile Salomon Wilhelm Herzog and died in 1967, said, “Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.”
Themeaningofresponder’sfirst-round bid in today’s deal is not known by some of my students. I have mentioned it a few times,butperhapsitisforgottenbecause it comes up rarely.
After opener bids one of a major and the next player makes a takeout double, a response of two no-trump guarantees at least four-card support for partner’s suit and game-invitational or better values (at most eight losers).
In borderline cases, this gives the opener space to make a help-suit gametry at the three-level (which would be impossible after a three-heart limit raise if the intervenor had passed). This use of two no-trump also permits a jump raise tothreeheartstoshowfour-cardsupport and a weaker hand, which responder hopes will effectively inconvenience the opponents. Finally, if responder has a big balanced hand, he starts with a redouble. Against four hearts, West leads the diamond queen. How should South plan the play?
Declarer should see that he might lose one trick in each suit. If he takes the first trick and plays a trump, West wins with his ace and returns a diamond, condemning South to defeat. Instead, declarer should lead his club at trick two. East wins and plays back a diamond,butSouthwins,leads
Average mark 20 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 25 or more words in MESQUITE?
yEstERDAy’s WoRD — FIctItIous
By Andrews McMeel Syndication
loCKhorNs
marmaduKe
Bizarro
hagar the horriBle
Pearls Before swiNe
garfield
B.C.
PiCKles hidato mallard
recent financial state‐ments filedwiththe LouisianaDepartmentof Insurance. TheBond shallbesignedbythe surety’s agentorattor‐ney-in-fact. APRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD Tuesday January 6 2026 10:00AM LSUSchoolof Veterinary Medicine Building(Main Lobby) Skip Bertman Drive Baton Rouge LA70803 Bids shallbeaccepted from Contractorswho arelicensedunder LA R.S. 37:2150-2163 forthe classification of BUILD‐INGCONSTRUCTION.Bid‐derisrequiredtocomply with provisions andre‐quirementsofLAR.S ( )( )( ) bid
q 38:2212 (A)(1)(c).No bid maybewithdrawn for a period of thirty (30) days after receiptofbids, ex‐cept under theprovi‐sionsofLA. R.S. 38:2214. TheOwner reserves the righttorejectany andall bids forjustcause.Inac‐cordance with La.R.S 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), thepro‐visionsand requirements of this Section, those stated in theadvertise‐ment forbids, andthose required on thebid form shallnot be considered as informalitiesand shall notbewaivedbyany public entity When this projectis fi‐nanced either partiallyor entirely with StateBonds or federalfunds, the awardofthisContractis contingent upon the granting of linesof credit,the sale of bonds by theBondCommission or the commitmentof federalfunds. TheUni‐versityshall incurno obligationtothe Con‐tractoruntil theContract Between Ownerand Con‐tractorisfully executed AD RUNDATES: December 10 and17, 2025 January5,2026 169535 Dec. 10, 17, 2025 Jan. 5, 2026, 3t $203.37
PUBLIC NOTICE
ADVERTISEMENTFOR BIDS
Sealed bids will be re‐ceived forthe Stateof Louisianabythe Division of Administration and shallbedirectedtothe Office of Facility Planning andControl,1201 North ThirdStreet,Claiborne Office Building,Suite 7160, BatonRouge Louisiana, 70802 or P.O. Box94095, BatonRouge Louisiana, 70804-9095. Thedeadlinefor receipt of bids is 2:00 PM on Thursday,January 08, 2026, at which time bids will be opened andread aloudina public meeting in theClaiborne Office Building,Conference Room 1-145. FOR: Militaryand Secu‐rity Sciences Renovation LouisianaState Univer‐sity BatonRouge,Louisiana PROJECTNUMBER: 19-601-22-01, F.19002499 Complete BiddingDocu‐mentsfor this projectare availableinelectronic form.Theymay be ob‐tained withoutcharge andwithout depositfrom www.centerlinebidco nnect.com Printed copies arenot available from theDesignerbut arrangements canbe made to obtain them throughmostrepro‐graphic firms. Plan hold‐ersare responsiblefor theirown reproduction
costs. Questionsabout this pro‐cedure shallbedirected to theDesignerat: ColemanPartners Architects,LLC 3377 NorthBlvd. BatonRouge,LA70806 Telephone: 225-387-4414 E-mail: jheltz@cparch.com Allbidsshall be accom‐panied by bidsecurityin an amount of five per‐cent (5.0%) of thesum of thebasebid andall al‐ternates.The form of this security shallbeas stated in theInstructions to Biddersincludedin theBid Documentsfor this project. ThesuccessfulBidder shallberequiredtofur‐nish aPerformance and PaymentBondwrittenas describedinthe Instruc‐tionstoBidders included in theBid Documentsfor
10:00 AM on Friday December 12, 2025 at LouisianaState University,Louisiana Emerging Technology Center (LETCBuilding) Conference Room #0301, 495 E. Parker Blvd BatonRouge,LA70808. Bids shallbeaccepted from Contractorswho arelicensedunder LA R.S. 37:2150-2192 forthe classification of Building Construction.Bidderis required to comply with provisions andrequire‐
TheOwnerreservesthe
Following thesuccessful negotiation of fees with the Sponsor, thesuc‐cessful firm will be re‐quiredtoexecute astan‐dardcontractwiththe Airport District No.1 of Jefferson DavisParish.
TheAirport District No.1 ofJefferson DavisParish encouragesparticipation byDisadvantaged Busi‐nessEnterprise firmsin all proposalstothe maxi‐mum extent possible
NOTICE Please take notice that KyleScafide,Administra‐tor of theSuccessionof Michael LloydHardie, pending in theCivil Dis‐trict Courtfor theParish ofOrleans under Probate Number2023-03911, re‐spectfully filesherewith thisFinal TableauofDis‐
evaluatingresponses will beasfollows: Resumesofthe
projectteam( weightvalue of 4)
tions (weightvalue of
Firm
(weight valueof4) KnowledgeofFAA and LDOTD Aviation proce‐dures,policiesand regu‐lations (weightvalue of 4) Theselection criteria shall be basedona nu‐merical scaleof1 to 5, with5 beingthe highest possiblescore and1 being thelowestpossible score.The scorefor each criterion will be multi‐plied by itsweightfactor, which indicatesthe im‐portanceofeachcrite‐rionasitrelates to this contract. Followingthe evaluation ofqualified applicants the Sponsorwillplace the applicants in a final ranking basedonqualifi‐cations.The sponsorwill thenenter feenegotia‐tions with thetop-ranked firm forthe contract withthe unsuccessful firmsbeing notified ac‐cordingly.Shouldthese negotiationsbeunsuc‐cessful,the Sponsor shall enternegotiations withthe next-highestranked firm,and so on The Sponsorreservesthe right to reject allappli‐cants andre-advertise for the contract
Thestatement of qualifi‐cations form SF-330, shall bemailedtothe Jen‐nings Airport, P.O. Box 745, Jennings,Louisiana 70546 or deliveredto900 Airport Rd Jennings,LA 70546. Statementofqualifica‐tions will be accepted until 2:00 PM on January 14, 2026. Questionsregarding this project should be ad‐dressedtoMr. Dwayne Bebee,
cy of waterbottomsmay be displaced by lineremoval activitiesinState Wa‐ters. Approx.1.22acres ofwaterbottommay be impactedbythe pro‐posed activity 169907-dec10-1t $31.20
HEARING: CONDEMNA‐TION Pursuant to Parish Code Chapter109-42 “Derelict Structures”, thefollow‐ingpropertieshavebeen condemnedbythe Parish President. Address: 1316 RevMan‐ualSt Owner: Albertha Wilson c/oDebra Richardson LegalDescription:LOT 7 MARIONNEAUXSUBD 53A-50CB196 E77CB229 E44& E45(MAPFILED IN ORGINALCB61E111) (PLATMAP 69) APUBLICHEARING will be held by theWest BatonRouge PARISH COUNCILtoratifythe condemnation order. The ownerofthe structure mayappeal thedecision of theParishPresident by appearingatthis meetingofthe PARISH COUNCILtoshowcause whythe structureshould notbecondemned Date:Thursday,Decem‐ber11th, 2025 Time: 5:30pm Public hearings will be held at theWestBaton
