The Advocate 12-11-2025 by The Advocate

La.’s Medicaid contract decision has deep roots

Dispute stems from drug prices, pharmacy benefit managers

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Louisiana’s last-minute decision this month not to renew a $4.2 billion contract with UnitedHealthcare to provide Medicaid benefits for roughly 330,000 people is the latest front in a larger battle some state ofﬁcials are waging against major health companies over prescription drug prices.

That decision, made weeks before new health policies are set to take effect, caught legislators off guard and raised concerns about disruptions for patients The Louisiana Department of Health has said it will transition recipients to one of the

ﬁve other existing companies providing Medicaid services

The problem does not appear to be with the UnitedHealthcare contract itself in fact, the Health Department asked lawmakers last month to renew it — Attorney General Liz Murrill has tied it to another issue: a lawsuit over pharmacy beneﬁt managers.

Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, negotiate drug prices on behalf of health plans. OptumRx has provided that service for the state government, and its parent company UnitedHealth Group, also owns UnitedHealthcare.

Gov Jeff Landry, who was then attorney general, sued UnitedHealth-

care and OptumRx in April 2022, alleging they used the complexity of their business model to inﬂate the prices of drugs. The company denies the allegations. Landry also alleged the companies violated the terms of their contracts with the state by not providing documents the state requested, which UnitedHealth Group also denies. The lawsuit has been mired for years in procedural ﬁghts.

It’s that dispute that spurred Murrill on Dec. 2 to write a letter to the Department of Health urging it not to renew UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid contract.

ä See CONTRACT, page 6A

5 indicted in Southern hazing death

Police say Caleb Wilson died during fraternity ritual

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

Five men were indicted by an East Baton Rouge grand jury Wednesday on charges in connection with the hazing death of Southern University engineering student Caleb Wilson.

Isaiah Earl Smith, 29, Caleb McCray, 24, and Kyle Thurman, 25, were arrested in March following an investigation into the Feb 27 incident The three Baton Rouge men were each indicted on felony hazing charges. In addition, McCray was indicted on a charge of manslaughter, Smith was indicted for principal to manslaughter and obstruction of justice, and Thurman was indicted for obstruction of justice.

Winston Craig Sanders, 22, and Jaydn Landrum, 24, were indicted on principal to felony hazing and obstruction of justice. Sanders, of Monroe, and Landrum, a Texas man, have yet to be arrested. Nineteenth Judicial District Commissioner Nicole Robinson issued arrest warrants for their respective charges on Wednesday

The grand jury also indicted Smith, Thurman, Sanders and Landrum on nine misdemeanor counts of hazing apiece. McCray received seven of the misdemeanor indictments.

The panel determined there wasn’t sufﬁcient evidence to pass down indictments for Jaylen Grissom, a 21-year-old Houston-area man Prosecutors sought to charge him with principal to felony criminal hazing for aiding and abetting in Wilson’s fatal beating. The state also aimed to

La. Supreme Court ﬁnds no corruption at Family Court

But one justice pushes back on report

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

If the state’s only dedicated fam-

ily court is the den of corruption some leaders fear, the Louisiana

Supreme Court didn’t ﬁnd it, according to a long-awaited report released to lawmakers this week on the Family Court of East Baton Rouge.

But one Supreme Court justice says his colleagues didn’t look nearly hard enough.

Justice Jefferson Hughes III, who has led an unusual probe of

the family court, issued a scathing retort Monday Hughes alleges the family court is led by a runaway cabal of lawyers and judges who wield abusive tactics upon “unfavored” litigants at will.

The court often wrings litigants dry and smears them, its judges prone to abusing their contempt powers to “beat the nonfavored

parent into submission,” Hughes wrote in a letter to state Rep Kathy Edmonston, R-Gonzales, who helped spur the court review

The court’s 14-page report and Hughes’ incendiary reply have put two opposing spins on a downtown Baton Rouge courthouse that handles divorce and custody matters in Louisiana’s most populous

parish. What comes of it is uncertain. In his letter, Hughes suggests the Legislature could disband the family court altogether

The dispute comes more than a year after the Supreme Court, in response to a state Senate

ä See COURT, page 4A

164

PHOTO PROVIDED By SOUTHERN UNIVERSITy Caleb Wilson, who played trumpet with Southern University’s Human Jukebox, died after an alleged off-campus hazing ritual at a Baton Rouge warehouse.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill have been embroiled in a legal battle with major health companies over prescription drug prices.

ä See HAZING, page 6A

Miss. man ordered freed after illegal sentence

A man illegally sentenced to 15 years in prison for a crime that carries a maximum penalty of ﬁve years behind bars is set to walk free, after Mississippi Gov Tate Reeves granted him clemency on Wednesday.

The Mississippi Court of Appeals ruled in May that Marcus Taylor’s sentence was illegal, but did not commute his sentence because Taylor had missed the deadline to apply for post-conviction relief. After rehearing the case last month, the court reversed course, ordering Taylor’s release.

Taylor accepted a plea deal in February 2015 for conspiracy to sell a Schedule III controlled substance. Both the trial court and Taylor’s plea petition incorrectly listed the maximum sentence as 20 years, according to the appeals court. Upon the state’s recommendation, a judge sentenced Taylor to 15 years.

“This is about justice, not mercy,” Reeves said in a statement.

“Mr Taylor has served more than 10 years of his sentence, and further service of this sentence in excess of the ﬁve-year statutory maximum constitutes a mischarge of justice.”

San Francisco woman gives birth in a Waymo

SAN FRANCISCO Self-driving Waymo taxis have gone viral for negative reasons involving the death of a beloved San Francisco bodega cat and pulling an illegal U-turn in front of police who were unable to issue a ticket to a nonexistent driver.

But this week, the self-driving taxis are the bearer of happier news after a San Francisco woman gave birth in a Waymo.

The mother was on her way to the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco medical center Monday when she delivered inside the robotaxi, said a Waymo spokesperson in a statement Wednesday The company said its rider support team detected “unusual activity” inside the vehicle and called to check on the rider as well as alert 911.

Waymo, which is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, declined to elaborate on how the vehicle knew something was amiss.

The taxi and its passengers arrived safely at the hospital ahead of emergency services. Jess Berthold, a UCSF spokesperson, confirmed the mother and child were brought to the hospital. She said the mother was not available for interviews. 2 buildings collapse in Fez, Morocco, killing 22

RABAT, Morocco Two adjacent four-story buildings collapsed overnight in the Moroccan city of Fez, killing 22 people in the second fatal collapse there this year, authorities said Wednesday. Morocco’s state news agency, MAP, reported that the two buildings housed eight families. Sixteen people were injured and taken to the hospital Authorities said the neighborhood had been evacuated and search and rescue efforts continued.

It was unclear what caused the collapse or how many people were unaccounted for MAP reported that the structures were built in 2006 during an initiative called “City Without Slums.”

Fez is Morocco’s third-largest city and one of the hosts of this month’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup. It is best known for its walled city packed with medieval souks. It’s also one of the country’s poorest urban centers, where aging infrastructure is common Though the buildings that collapsed Wednesday had been built according to code, the Hespress news outlet reported, additional ﬂoors had been added to the structures.

CORRECTION

A story Nov 22 about a hearing for a carbon capture test well incorrectly said Ascension Parish Justice of the Peace Tamiko Francis Garrison opposed the test well. She asked two questions about the well and said she agreed with another council member’s comments but did not say she opposed it. The Advocate regrets the error

Aid into Gaza falls short, figures show

Amount agreed upon in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire hasn’t come, according to analysis

BY JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press

JERUSALEM Aid deliveries into Gaza are falling far short of the amount called for under the U.S.brokered ceaseﬁre, according to an Associated Press analysis of the Israeli military’s ﬁgures as humanitarian groups say the shortfall is severely impacting the strip’s 2 million people.

Under the October ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, Israel agreed to allow 600 trucks of aid into Gaza a day

However, Israel’s own figures suggest that an average of only 459 trucks a day have entered the Gaza Strip between Oct. 12, when the flow of the aid restarted, and Sunday, according to an AP analysis. COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of coordinating aid entry, provided the figures.

COGAT said that roughly 18,000 trucks of food aid had entered Gaza from when the ceaseﬁre took effect until Sunday, amounting to 70% of all aid that had entered the territory since the truce.

This means that COGAT estimates that including the rest of the aid items that are not food, such as tents and medicines — a total of just over 25,700 trucks have entered Gaza. That is well under the 33,600 trucks that should have gone in by Sunday, under the terms of the ceaseﬁre.

In response to the AP analysis, COGAT insisted Wednesday the number of trucks entering Gaza each day was above the 600 mark but refused to elaborate why the ﬁgures don’t match or provide raw data on truck entry

COGAT used to give daily ﬁgures of trucks entering Gaza during the war but stopped doing so

when the ceaseﬁre began. Rights groups say that is because it controls the crossings and has sole access to track how much aid and commercial goods are entering Gaza.

The United Nations and aid groups have often said the amount of aid entering Gaza is far lower than COGAT claims.

The U.N. says only 6,545 trucks have been offloaded at Gaza crossings between the ceasefire and Dec 7, amounting to about 113 trucks a day. That’s according to its online database. The U.N. figures do not include aid trucks sent by organizations not working through the U.N. network.

A Hamas document on Saturday provided to the AP put the amount of total aid trucks that have entered since the truce at 7,333.

This week, the U.N ofﬁce for humanitarian affairs, known as OCHA, stressed a “dire” need for more aid for Gaza, saying Israeli restrictions on aid have bottlenecked recovery efforts.

Humanitarian groups say lack of aid has had harsh effects on much of Gaza’s residents, most of whom were forcibly displaced by war Food remains scarce as the Palestinian territory struggles to bounce back from famine, which hit parts of Gaza during the war

Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire began on Oct. 10, the price for a 26.5-pound cylinder of cooking gas has shot up to $406, about 18 times what it was before the war

That has left many residents relying on ﬁrewood for both cooking and to stay warm as temperatures plunge ahead of winter including the 23-member Abed family in the northern city of Jabaliya.

“We are living under the rubble and sleeping on torn sheets We collect some firewood, and cut sponges to start a fire,” Marwan Abed 62 told the AP from under the crumbling concrete of his house. He said firewood is the only way “to keep the children warm” and to prepare coffee.

Rwanda-backed rebels say they’ve seized strategic city

BY WILSON McMAKIN Associated Press

DAKAR, Senegal Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 said that it had taken control of the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Congo on Wednesday afternoon, following a rapid offensive since the start of the month and on the heels of a U.S. attempt to quell violence from the conﬂict

The announcement, made on social platform X by M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka encouraged citizens who ﬂed to return to their homes. Uvira is an important port city on the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika and is directly across from neighboring Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura.

M23’s latest offensive comes despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed last week by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington. The accord didn’t include the rebel group, which is negotiating separately with Congo and agreed earlier this year to a ceaseﬁre that both sides accuse the other of violating. However, it obliges Rwanda to halt support for armed groups and work to end hostilities.

Residents of Uvira reported a chaotic night where Congolese army troops ﬂed, and gunﬁre was reported throughout the city

Congo Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya said in a speech that more than 100 people had died in the latest offensive, while not explicitly acknowledging the rebel takeover of the city

Congo, the United States and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of backing the M23, which had hundreds of members in 2021 Now, according to the U.N., the group has around 6,500 ﬁghters.

While Rwanda denies that claim, it acknowledged last year that it has troops

police

and missile systems in eastern Congo, allegedly to safeguard its security U.N. experts estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan forces in Congo.

In a statement Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa urged M23 and Rwandan troops to cease all offensive operations and for the Rwandan Defense Forces to withdraw to Rwanda.

On Wednesday morning, the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs blamed the Congolese armed forces for the recent ceaseﬁre violations in a statement on X.

“The DRC has openly stated that it would not observe any ceasefire, and was ﬁghting to recapture territories lost to AFC/M23, even as the peace process unfolded,” the statement said.

Earlier this year, M23 seized Goma and Bukavu, two key cities in eastern Congo, in a major escalation of the yearslong conﬂict.

Musk says DOGE only ‘somewhat successful’

BY BILL BARROW Associated Press

Mega billionaire Elon Musk, in a friend-

ly interview with his aide and conservative inﬂuencer Katie Miller, said his efforts leading the Department of Government Efﬁciency were only “somewhat successful” and he would not do it over again.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who also owns the social media platform X, still broadly defended President Donald Trump’s controversial pop-up agency that Musk left in the spring before it shuttered ofﬁcially last month. Yet Musk bemoaned how difﬁcult it is to remake the federal government quickly and he acknowledged how much his businesses suffered because of his DOGE work and its lack of popularity

“We were a little bit successful. We were somewhat successful,” he told Miller, who once worked as a DOGE spokeswoman charged with selling the agency’s work to the public.

When Miller pressed Musk on whether he would do it all over again, he said: “I don’t think so. Instead of doing DOGE, I would have, basically, built worked on my companies.”

Almost wistfully, Musk added, “They wouldn’t have been burning the cars” — a reference to consumer protests against Tesla.

Still, things certainly have turned up for Musk since his departure from Trump’s administration. Tesla shareholders approved a pay package that could make Musk the world’s ﬁrst trillionaire. Musk was speaking as a guest on the “Katie Miller Podcast,” which Miller, who is married to top Trump adviser Stephen Miller launched after leaving government employment to work for Musk in the private sector The two sat in chairs facing each other for a conversation that lasted more than 50 minutes and spanned topics from DOGE to Musk’s thoughts on AI, social media, conspiracy theories and fashion.

Miller did not press Musk on the inner workings of DOGE and the controversial manner in which it took over federal agencies and data systems.

Musk credited the agency with saving as much as $200 billion annually in “zombie payments” that he said can be avoided with better automated systems and coding for federal payouts. But that number is dwarfed by Musk’s ambitious promises at one time that an efﬁciency commission could measure savings in the trillions. Miller has not responded to an Associated Press request for comment.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

M23 rebels escort government soldiers and

who surrendered to an undisclosed location in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jan. 30.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEHAD ALSHRAFI

Displaced Palestinians repair their tents at a tent camp on the beach Wednesday after stormy weather in Gaza City, Gaza Strip.

resolution supported by Edmonston and others,appointed aretiredjudgeto study the Baton Rouge family court and reportback Basedinpartonthatreview,Monday’sreport from Judicial AdministratorSandra Vujnovich on behalf of the Supreme Court largely absolves the family court’s four judges of dirty dealing. It describe s am ostly smoo th op er at io n beset by some funding needs and other areasto shore up doubts over favoritism.

“Most importantly,there were no signs of unethical or illegal actions or egregious misconduct or mismanagement,” the report states

Thecourt said it arrived at its view based on an earlier report from the appointed judge, James Kuhn, along with aresponse and interviews with the family court judges.

Edmonston and Hughes. Their involvement has drawn criticism and at least onecomplaintofjudicial misconduct against Hughes, whohas shown up at least four court proceedings in Diamond’scase, speaking up at two of them. Hugheshas an ongoing defamationlawsuitagainst The Times-Picayune |The Advocate, former editors andits lawyer about reportingin2019 related to his past conduct asadistrictcourt judge decadesago

He has described himself in court as amember of a committee to study the familycourt that alsoincludes Edmonston Critics, includingthe family court judges, have suggested Kuhn wasmore interested in stepping into Diamond’scase and ahandfulofothers than he was in studying court operations. Thefamilycourtjudges flatly denied Kuhn’sclaim thatheinterviewedthem andtheir staffs In its reportMonday, the Supreme Courtlargelysided with those judges.

The high court rejected Kuhn’srecommendation that thecourt adoptthe use of hearing ofﬁcers to speed along cases, for instance,

standardizing court transcript fees across thestate, thereport states. Hughes panned theSupreme Court’spositiveappraisalofthe family courtin his six-page letter.Though his redrawn district no longerincludesthe family court,Hugheswrote thathis “study” of thefamily court continuedafter Kuhn left thepost.

If the Supreme Court found Kuhn’scriticisms to be too harsh, Hughesargued that his former colleague didn’tgonearly far enough.

“While Judge Kuhn cites a public perception of favoritism, Ibelievethe line has crossed to actual favoritism,” Hughes wrote.

He describeda klatch of family courtlawyers and judges prone to hashing out cases over drinks.

“Those in the ‘club’ receive efﬁcientservice, while those notinthe club, especially proselitigants who have run out of options for representation, are treated as pariahs,” Hughes wrote.

“Staff smirk, roll their eyes, andcall out, ‘Security, Security!’ when they approach.”

Hughes described coercion, bloated contempt-of-

court judgments and other economic arm-twisting from thefamily court’sjudges.

“Another tactic is the closing of thecourtroom to isolate andintimidate,” Hughes wrote.“Thenonfavored litigant can be screamed at and threatened withjail when no one is there to witness.”

He added: “Itiswell known that when acertain lawyer appears before acertain judge, that lawyernever loses”inthe family court. Hughes did not namethem.

Diamond said Wednesday that Kuhndidn’tdig hard enough, andthat theSupreme Court downplayed the ﬁndings he made.

“I believe that Hughes’ report is just thetip of the iceberg. Ithink the investigation should be broadened,” she said.

Baker,who recused herself in Diamond’scase in 2023,acknowledgedthat Hughes was likely referring to her as the “certain judge” in his letter.She declinedto comment on it.

Baker has resigned her post effectiveatthe endof the year over what she has describedasunfairscrutiny spurredbyunhinged litigants. On Tuesday,she called theSupremeCourt’s

report “very fair.”

“I would have thought it ended things and that we would all do what we always do —work together to try to improveour courts,” Baker said. She said Hughes’ letter leftthat in doubt.

Hughesrecommended thatbeginningnextyear, all of the family court’sproceedings be livestreamed. Currently,that’snot allowed in Louisiana courts.

Edmonston embraced Hughes’ report while downplaying the Supreme Court’s assessment.She said Wednesday that she expects to introducelegislation for

cameras in the family court.

“Absolutely that would solve so muchofthe problem, just because there are so manythings that have been going on that have been absolute atrocities,”

Edmonston said.

She said she also plans to take aim at the court transcript fees, but stopped short of embracing Hughes’ point regarding disbanding the family court entirely Edmonston saidshe thought little of the Supreme Court’sassessment.

“I don’tknowthatthey know awhole lot about what’sgoing on,” she said.

Ifyouhaveeverwantedtoeliminateworrybecauseyoudon’thaveaprograminplace to protect yourestateand family,withouta slew of untimely legaland taxproblems, then this will be one of themostimportant workshopsyou ever attend. Iamgoing to show you howtobulletproof what youhavetoday, andwhatyou leaveyour kids tomorrow. You’ll be able to take advantageofmyestateplanning legalstrategies without you or your lovedoneshavingtodeal with Succession Courts,long estate settlementdelays,Medicaidliens,nursinghomepoverty,anddeathtax.ButbeforeIdo that,letmetellyouastoryofhowwehelpedMary Mary’sStory

“Asa couplewith an onlychild,wethought aWillwas allweneeded.WRONG! My husband died,and Ihad to go through Probate –a nightmare,and very costly.Italso took over9 months.I didn’twantour child to go throughthat, so Igaveher an ad to a Poche’LawFirmworkshop,andsheandherhusbandwereimpressed.TheyhadLaura setupa particular kind of Trustthattookcareoftheir estate planning, but what about me?I decidedtogotoa workshop,and made my appointment.Laura answered allof my questions,and even got my financialadvisorinona conference call. Icouldnot havebeenmoremorepleasedandrelievedthatmyestateplanisnowinorder.Kudosto Lauraandherprofessionalstaff.Ihighlyrecommendherforallestateplanningneeds.” Mary,BatonRouge,LA

•HowcanIkeepthegovernmentoutofmyestatesettlement?

•Whatare thetwo biggest andmostexpensivemistakesfamiliesmakewhentryingto avoidnursinghomepoverty?

•How can Ikeep my not-quite perfect son-in-law andmyover-controlling daughter-in-lawfromhavinginfluenceovermyestatesettlement?

•How can my family avoidestatetax,and othertaxes they mightface when Ipass away?

•HowdoIstartthefive-yearlookbackperiodfornursinghomeswithouthavingtogive everythingawaytomyfamilywhileIamalive?

•WhydomostlawyersloveProbate,andwantmyestatetogothroughit?

•ShouldIhaveaWillorTrust(orboth)?

•Can my patchworkquilt of Wills,PowersofAttorney,LivingWills,and Beneficiary Designationsactuallybeatimebombwaitingtoexplode?

•How do Ikeep my estate plan up-to-datewithoutitcostinga fortune when my life circumstanceschangeorwhenthelawchanges?

•HowdoIensurethatmyestatewon’tincurlegalexpensewhenIdie,preserving100% ofmyassetsformyfamily?

Joinone of our workshopstosee foryourself whyLaura Poche’sthe right lawyer that canhelpyouunderstandyouroptionssoyoucanmakethebestchoicesforyourfamily. PEACEOFMINDISWITHINREACH---ANDITONLYTAKESABOUT2HOURS OFYOURTIME!

BATONROUGE

Monday,December15

PocheLaw Office

4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 10:00am- 12:30pm LunchProvidedAfter

BATONROUGE

Tuesday, December16

PocheLaw Office

4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 12:00pm- 2:30pm LunchProvidedAfter

Thursday,December18

PocheLaw Office

4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 2:00pm- 4:30pm Refreshments Provided After

IMPORTANT GUIDELINESFOR OURWORKSHOPS: Allofour learning workshopsemploystrictsocialdistancingstandardsfor everyone’s safety.Workshops areopentoFIRST-TIMEATTENDEES ONLYand aregeared towardspeoplewho want or need your legalestateplaninplace quickly.(*) Pleasehaveyour personal calendarhandyattheworkshopsoyoucanchoosetostartyourplanNOW!Ifmarried, bothspousesmustattendaworkshoptoensurethatalldecision-makersareinvolvedin yourfamily’scoordinatedplan.AllpeoplewhoattendwillreceiveaFREEcopyofthe Second EditionofLaura Poché’sbook, “EstatePlanning Advice by aWoman for LouisianaWomen:A Guidefor Both Menand WomenAbout Wills,Trusts, Probate, PowersofAttorney,Medicaid,LivingWillsandTaxes.” (*)Non-Louisianaresidentsmayattendforanominalfee.

HAZING

Continued from page1A

convince the grand jury to indict Grissom on nine counts of misdemeanorhazing, to no avail. According to police, thealleged hazing took place at awarehouse in the 3400 block of Woodcrest Drive, just off Greenwell Springs Road. Wilson andeight other Omega Psi Phi pledges linedup in orderofheightfor afraternity ritual. During the ritual, McCray and company took turns punching the pledges in the chest four times with apair of black boxinggloves, according to policereports. Wilson, a20-year-oldKenner

native,collapsed after he was punched and experienced amedicalepisode.Instead of calling 911, fraternity members waited to take Wilson to ahospital and initially told authoritieshecollapsed at a local park.

The case was assignedto19th

JDCChief District Judge Donald Johnson. The ﬁve men areset to be arraigned in his courtroom Jan. 15.

Outside the courthouse, District Attorney HillarMoore described the56-count indictment as “very long and very thorough” and said hisinvestigators continue to seek more information

“We’restill looking at evidence; we’re looking at cellphones,” he said.“We hope that we will recover more information. We may re-

“We’re stilllooking at evidence; we’re looking at cellphones.We hope that we willrecover more information. We mayreturnback to agrand jury for some more indictmentsifthat information ever comes forward. So this is an ongoingmatter.But at this point, the substantial players have been indicted.”

DISTRICT ATTORNEy HILLAR MOORE

turn back toagrand jury for some more indictments if that informationever comes forward. So this is an ongoing matter.But at this point,the substantial players have been indicted. Prosecutors,inthe indictments, allegefraternity members endangered thepledges and some of the defendantstriedtopersuade witnesses to give false information to

investigators to avoid arrest.

Wilson, aformer trumpet player for Southern University’sfamed Human Jukebox marching band, was honored in the Legislature this year during aceremony in the House chambers. State lawmakers also proposed an anti-hazing house bill in Wilson’sname.

Moore announced that Baton Rouge willhost anational anti-haz-

ing conference next year.Wilson’s family is expected to attend, as well as loved ones of former LSU student Max Gruver,an18-yearold freshman whodied of alcohol poisoning from ahazing ritual in September 2017.

Several organizations will converge to map out prevention plans to deter hazing on college campuses and at universities nationwide. “I’m impressed with theevidencethatwehaveinthis case. Ithink it will be substantial, and when anyone across the United States sees theinformation that we have, they will be extremely madand upsetthatthese kidswere subject to this type of activity.And that thisyoung man diedbecause of that,” Moore said.

“This is very simple Iexpectacompany that makes millions of dollarsoff the state to comply with our laws to remain eligible for that contract,” Murrill said in aTuesday statement.

The lawsuit and axed contract are only two ways Landry and Murrill are ﬁghting overdrug beneﬁts. Landry recently pushed for legislation restricting PBM ownership of pharmacies, and Murrill is prosecuting multiple other lawsuits related to that issue.

Landry’s2022 lawsuit accuses United Healthcare and OptumRx, one of the largest PBMs in the country, of exploiting thecomplex prescription drugsupply chain to inflate prices and overcharge Louisiana’s Medicaid program for those drugs.

“Defendants not only know that their business models generate overpayments, they count on the complexity of the system to get away with it,” Landry argued in the lawsuit. “Defendants have caused the State to grossly overpay for Medicaid services in Louisiana by measures of billions of dollars.”

UnitedHealthcare and OptumRx said in response that they “speciﬁcally deny the existence of, or their participation in, any scheme, deceptive or unfair practice, or any other wrongdoing.”

Landry,inhis initial court ﬁling, said the prices paid or charged for drugs as they move through the supply chain arelargely asecret. That secrecy,heargued,allows PBMs to “unlawfully” extract proﬁts and increase “the costs for theparty that

proved renewing UnitedHealthcare’sMedicaid contract —and 10 days before Murrill sent aletter telling the Health Department not to moveforward.

Both Murrill andLandry this year have picked other public ﬁghtswith PBMs.

In thefinal daysofthe legislative session in June, Landry pushed for aban on vertical integration of pharmacy benefit managers, which would have madeit illegal for pharmacy beneﬁt managerstoown pharmacies in Louisiana.

tage of patients and pushing smaller, independent pharmacies out of the market.

The governor’smoveelicited aquick and aggressive lobbying campaign against the proposal by CVS, which said its more than 100 Louisiana pharmacies would have been forced to close.

Thecompanyinitiated a text messagecampaign to customers, calling on them to contact theirelected ofﬁcialstooppose PBM vertical integration ban.

rill and Landry announced Louisiana wasbringing three lawsuits against CVS. The Louisiana ofﬁcials alleged CVSimproperlyused customer data for political lobbying, abused its market power to increasedrug costs and caused economic harm to independent pharmacies. CVS has denied the allegations,and the lawsuits are ongoing.

ends up paying the ﬁnal bill —inthis case the Medicaid Program.”

He argued that, under the state’sMedicaidcontract with UnitedHealthcare,the HealthDepartmentand the AttorneyGeneral’sOffice have theright to audit or inspect records related to it Landry’sofﬁce had begun a yearearlier reviewing the state’sMedicaid contracts with UnitedHealthcare and OptumRx for potential fraud, waste and abuse.

He alleged that, months later,the companieshad only provided some of the data requested,and the state lacked the necessary information to determine if drug costswere being inflated He argued that represented afailure to abideby the termsofthe agreement and abreach of contract UnitedHealthcare, ina statement Tuesday,saidit has “been consistently responsive to theState’s request for data, recordsand documentation.”

Murrill, who servedasthe state’ssolicitor general duringLandry’stenure as AG, took over thecase when she

became attorney general and Landry became governor in 2024.

Thecase is ongoing, but it’stiedupinprocedural battles.OnNov.12, the Louisiana SupremeCourt issued aruling telling the state appealscourt it was required to revisit an earlier decision in the case regarding attorney fees, which United hasasked the high court to rehear.That request is currently pending. In aseparate issue, the healthcompanies argued that theLouisiana Constitution forbids thestate from hiring aprivatefirm on a contingency-fee basis unlessithas authorization from the Legislature. They argued the state’s 2023 contract with the private ﬁrm Salim-Beasleywas invalid under that law

Thedistrict court initially threw out the health companies’ claim,but the1st Circuit Court of Appeallast month overruled that decision, saying that the claim is legitimate and returned the issue to the lower court. That decision came the day after legislatorsap-

Landry drummedupsupport for thevertical integration ban from dozens of state lawmakers, who argued health care giantsand their PBMs weretaking advan-

Murrill, in response, begananinvestigation into CVSoverthe text campaign

The vertical integration measure failed to advance on the last day of the legislative session. But two weeks later,Mur-

The Health Department earlierthis month was also set to end its Medicaid contract with Aetna, which is owned by CVS. But on Tues-

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Stocks rise after the Fedcuts rates

NEW YORK The U.S. stock market rose to theedgeofits record on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve cut its main interest rate to bolster the job market, and hopes strengthened formore cuts to come in 2026.

The S&P 500 climbed 0.7% and finished just shy of its all-time high, which was set in October.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 497 points, or 1%,and the Nasdaq composite rose0.3% Wall Streetloves lowerinterest ratesbecause they can boost the economy and send prices for investments higher, even if they potentially make inﬂation worse.

Traders are now bettingon a 71%chance that the Fedwill cut the federal funds rate at least twice next year

That’supfrom the 64% chance seen shortly before the Fed announced its decision, according to data from CME Group. The Fed also announced a program where it will buy shorter-term Treasurys to help keep the ﬁnancial system running smoothly

It’snot alarge-scale programlike past efforts by the Fed to buy bonds to keep interest rates low and stimulate theeconomy,but it helps keep shorter-termrates lowerthan they otherwise would be

On Wall Street, GE Vernova flew 15.6% higher after the energy company raised its forecast for revenue by 2028, doubled its dividend and increasedits program to buy back its own stock.

Palantir Technologiesadded 3.3% after saying theU.S. Navywill use its artiﬁcial-intelligence platform as part of a$448 million program.

On thelosingend of Wall Street was GameStop, which fell4.3% after reporting weaker revenuefor the latestquarterthananalystsexpected The video-game retailer’s profit topped forecasts, though. Alltold,the S&P500 rose 46.17 points to 6,886.68. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped497.46 to 48,057.75, and the Nasdaq composite gained 77.67 to 23,654.16. In stock markets abroad, indexesweremixed amid mostly modest movements across Europe and Asia.

Cracker Barrellowers revenue forecast

Cracker Barrel posted lowerthan-expected sales in its ﬁscal ﬁrst quarter and trimmed its revenue forecast for the year as it continued to feel the fallout from abotched plan to revamp its logo and restaurants. The Lebanon, Tennesseebased restaurantchainsaid Tuesday its revenue fell 5.7% to $797.2 million in thethree months ending Oct. 31.That was lower than the $800 millionWall Street anticipated, according to analysts polled by FactSet.

Cracker Barrelsaid it now expects totalrevenueof$3.2 billion to $3.3 billion in its 2026 ﬁscal year.That’sdown from $3.35 billion to $3.45 billion previously Cracker Barrel announced in August that it was simplifying thechain’slogoaspart of alarger plan to modernize the chain’s dark, antique-ﬁlled restaurants. But the move had disastrous consequences. Fans didn’tlike that thenew logo didn’tinclude Cracker Barrel’slongtime mascot, an overall-clad man leaning on a barrel, or the words “Old Country Store.” They also rebelled against the store redesigns. Cracker Barrelbacktracked aweek later,saying it would keepthe logo In September, the company also suspended its planstoremodel stores. The chain operates around 650 restaurantsnationwide, with many in Texas, Florida and Tennessee.

FederalReserve cuts keyrate

Butitsignals higher barfor future reductions

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON The Federal Reserve reduced its key interest rate by aquarter-point for the third time in arow Wednesday but signaled that it may leaveratesunchanged in thecoming months, amovethat could attract ire from President Donald Trump, who has demanded steepreductionstoborrowing costs.

In astatement released after a two-day meeting, the Fed’srate-setting committee suggestedfurther

rate cuts would depend on signs that the economy is faltering. And in aset of quarterly economic projections,Fed ofﬁcials signaledthey expect to lower rates just once next year Wednesday’scut reducedthe rate to about 3.6%, thelowest it hasbeen in nearlythreeyears. Lower rates from theFed can bring down borrowingcostsfor mortgages,auto loans,and credit cards over time, though market forces can also affect those rates

ThreeFed officialsdissented from the move, the most dissents in sixyears and asign of deep divisions on acommittee that traditionally worksbyconsensus. Two ofﬁcialsvoted to keep the Fed’s rate unchanged, while StephenMiran, whom Trump appointed in Septem-

ber,voted for ahalf-point cut. December’s meeting could usher in amore contentious period for the Fed. Officials aresplit between those whosupport reducingrates to bolsterhiring and those who’d prefer to keep rates unchanged because inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target. Unless inflation shows clear signs of coming fully undercontrol,orunemployment worsens, those divisions will likely remain.

At anews conference following the announcement of the rate cut, Powell signaled thatthe Fed’skey rate was closetoalevel that neither restricts or stimulates theeconomy As aresult, ofﬁcials can now take a

step back and evaluate where the economy heads next. Powelldid,however,rule out an increase in rates. And Trump could name anew Fed chair as soon as later this month to replace Powell when his term ends in May.Trump’snew chair is likely to push for sharper rate cuts than many ofﬁcials maysupport.

Astark sign of the Fed’sdivisions was the wide range of cuts that the 19 members of the Fed’sratesetting committee penciledinfor 2026. Seven projected no cuts next year,while eight forecast that the central bank would implement two or morereductions. Four supported just one. Only 12 out of 19 members vote on rate decisions.

Offshore drilling bids double in valueinﬁrstround of leasesales

BY MARKBALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON —Winningbids for offshore oil and natural gas rightsWednesday were twice as high asthe average price of the last lease sale —setting up Louisianatoreceive hundreds ofmillions of dollars forcoastal restoration andhurricane protection projects

Thewinning bidsgenerated $279.4 million at an averageof$1.5 million each, according to theU.S. Department of the Interior’sBureauofOcean Energy Management, which oversaw the sale for the rightstoexploreand exploit oil and gas reserves under theGulf’s sea ﬂoor.Thatcompares with an $842,817 average in March 2023, the last time rights were leased in the Gulf.

Thirty companies submitted 219 bids for tracts off the coasts from Texas to Alabama.

But the lion’sshare of bids were clustered 120 to 140 miles south of MorganCityand Houma in waters thatare about 265 feet deep.

Chevron USAInc.and BP Exploration made themost bids overall, mostlyinthis area. Both companies already have existing leases in the region.

“It’sagreat day forAmerican energy independence,” HouseMajority Leader Steve

BY MEG JAMES Los Angeles Times (TNS)

Congressional Democrats are sounding alarms over the deep involvementofSaudi Arabian and other Middle Eastern royal families in Paramount’sproposed bid forWarner Bros. Discovery Warner Bros. Discovery owns CNN, HBOand thehistoric WarnerBros. ﬁlm and television studiosinBurbank.

Latelast week, the Larry Ellison-controlled Paramount came up short in the bidding for Warner Bros., in part, over the Warner board’sconcernsabout Paramount’sdeal ﬁnancing. On Monday,Paramountlaunched ahostile

Scalise,R-Jefferson, saidWednesday. “We saw astrong interest in today’slease sale, andI’m proud that millionsofdollarsfrom this sale will go directly to Louisiana’scoastal restoration andhurricane protection efforts.”

Louisiana receivedabout $156 millionin 2024 from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. The state should receive morerevenues this year under GoMESA, in which the federal government shares aportion of its revenues from energy production with states bordering the federal waters. Scalise recently got thecap increased for theparticipating states.

“The new law ﬁnally increases the amount of revenue sharing dollars Louisiana is eligible to receive from offshore lease sales, like the oneheld today,that will result in millions in newfunding forour state’svital coastal restoration efforts,” said KristiTrail, executive director of the PontchartrainConservancy,based in New Orleans.

The Governor’sOfﬁce reports that 15% of thestate’stotal employment —306,750 jobs —issupportedbythe energysector.That work generates about $25.5 billion in annual statewide earnings.

“These leasesales put Louisiana to work andputs ourstate at the forefrontoffurtheringAmerica’senergy dominance,” saidTommy Faucheux, president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil &Gas Association. “We are creating jobs, strengthening energy security,and delivering vital fundingtore-

takeover of Warner Bros., appealingdirectly to Warnershareholders— askingthemtosell their Warner stock to Paramount for $30 ashare.

Paramount’s gambit hasthrown the auction,and Warner board’s selectionofNetflix’s$72 billion deal, into doubt. Paramount has long insisted that it represents the bestpartner for Warner Bros., in part,because of theEllison family’scozy relationswith President Trump. Thecompanyhas trumpeted itsabilitytogain the blessing of theTrumpadministration.

Paramount’s bid is heavily backed by Saudi Arabia, AbuDhabi and Qatar’ssovereign wealth funds. Thethreeroyal families

store Louisiana’scoastline.”

Wednesday’sBig Beautiful Gulf 1lease sale wasthe ﬁrst of 30 scheduled to take place over the next decade.

Erik Milito, president of National Ocean Industries Association,a Washington-based trade group foroilﬁeldservices industry, said energy producersneed aregularcadence of lease sales to plan properly

“Knowing that BigBeautiful Gulf 2is coming in March 2026 allows companiesto plan, study and reﬁne their bids,” Milito said. “Lease sales are foundational to U.S. energy production.”

Annual lease sales slowed under the Biden administration as part of an effort to lower carbon emissions that contribute to global warming.

Conservationists argue that increasedoil andgas activityisbad forthe environment both on and offshore.

“The Gulf is alreadyoverwhelmedwith thousands of oil rigs and pipelines, and oil companies are doing aterrible job of cleaning up after themselves,” said Rachel Mathews, asenior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity,anadvocacy nonproﬁt based in Washington.

“There’snothing remotely beautiful about selling off more of our public waters to the fossil fuel industry and putting Gulf wildlife at an even higher risk of dying in oil spills.”

Email Mark Ballardatmballard@ theadvocate.com.

have agreed to contribute$24 billion —twice the amount the Larry Ellisonfamily hasagreed to provide in financing for Paramount’s proposed $78 billiontakeover of Warner Bros. Discovery,according to regulatory filings. Trump son-in-lawJared Kushner’sprivate equity firm, Affinity Partners, would also have an ownership stake. On Wednesday,U.S. Reps. Sam Liccardo, D-Calif.,and Ayanna Pressley,D-Mass., called on WarnerBros.’board to recognize the consequences of selling the legendary company,which includes news organization CNN, to foreign governments. “This transaction raises national

security concernsbecause it could transfer substantial inﬂuence over one of the largest American mediacompanies to foreign-backed ﬁnanciers,” Liccardo and Pressley wrote.

Transactions “foreigninvestors with governance rights, access to non-public data,orindirect inﬂuence over content distribution creates vulnerabilities that foreign governments could exploit,” the lawmakers wrote. Paramount, in its regulatory ﬁlings, said the threeMiddle Eastern families had agreed to give up voting rights and arole in the company’sdecision-making —despite contributing more than half the equity needed forthe deal.

Powell

STAFFFILE PHOTOBy SOPHIA GERMER

Trump says U.S. has seized oil tanker

BY AAMER MADHANI, KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, JOSHUA GOODMAN and REGINA GARCIA CANO Associated Press

WASHINGTON President President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as tensions mount with the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

ers at the White House, later adding that “it was seized for a very good reason.”

Trump did not offer additional details When asked what would happen to the oil aboard the tanker, Trump said, “Well, we keep it, I guess.”

ed States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.”

Venezuela’s government said in a statement that the seizure “constitutes a blatant theft and an act of international piracy.”

belonging to a sophisticated network of shadow tankers that smuggled crude oil on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group.

Using U.S forces to take control of a merchant ship is incredibly unusual and marks the Trump administration’s latest push to increase pressure on Maduro, who has been charged with narcoterrorism in the United States. The U.S. has built up the largest military presence in the region in decades and launched a series of deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Paciﬁc Ocean The campaign is facing growing scrutiny from Congress

“We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually,” Trump told report-

BY STEPHEN GROVES and BEN FINLEY Associated Press

WASHINGTON The House voted to pass a sweeping defense policy bill Wednesday that authorizes $900 billion in military programs, including a pay raise for troops and an overhaul of how the Department of Defense buys weapons

The bill’s passage comes at a time of increasing friction between the Republicancontrolled Congress and President Donald Trump’s administration over the management of the military

The annual National Defense Authorization Act typically gained bipartisan backing, and the White House has signaled “strong support” for the must-pass legislation, saying it is in line with Trump’s national security agenda. Yet tucked into the over-3,000-page bill are several measures that push back against the Department of Defense, including a demand for more information on boat strikes in the Caribbean and support for allies in Europe, such as Ukraine. Overall, the sweeping bill calls for a 3.8% pay raise for many military members as well as housing and facility improvements on military bases. It also strikes a compromise between the political parties — cutting climate and diversity efforts in line with Trump’s agenda, while also boosting congressional oversight of the Pentagon. Still, hard-line conservatives said they were frustrated that the bill does not do more

The seizure was led by the U.S. Coast Guard and supported by the Navy, according to a U.S. ofﬁcial who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that it was conducted under U.S. law enforcement authority

The Coast Guard members were taken to the oil tanker by helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the ofﬁcial said. The Ford is in the Caribbean Sea after arriving last month in a major show of force, joining a ﬂeet of other warships.

Video posted to social media by Attorney General Pam Bondi shows people fast-roping from one of the helicopters involved in the operation as it hovers just feet from the deck.

The Coast Guard members can be seen later in the video moving throughout the superstructure of the ship with their weapons drawn Bondi wrote that “for multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the Unit-

to cut U.S. commitments overseas.

“We need a ready, capable and lethal ﬁghting force because the threats to our nation, especially those from China, are more complex and challenging than at any point in the last 40 years,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, the GOP chair of the House Armed Services Committee.

Lawmakers overseeing the military said the bill would change how the Pentagon buys weapons, with an emphasis on speed after years of delay by the defense industry It’s also a key priority for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the armed services panel, called the bill “the most ambitious swing at acquisition reform that we’ve taken.”

The legislation next heads to the Senate, where leaders are working to pass the bill before the holiday break.

Several senators on both sides of the aisle have criticized the bill for not doing enough to restrict military flights over Washington. They had pushed for reforms after a midair collision this year between an Army helicopter and a jetliner killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board has also voiced opposition to that section of the bill.

Lawmakers included a provision that would cut Hegseth’s travel budget by a quarter until the Pentagon provides Congress with un-

“Under these circumstances, the true reasons for the prolonged aggression against Venezuela have ﬁnally been revealed. It has always been about our natural resources, our oil, our energy, the resources that belong exclusively to the Venezuelan people,” the statement said.

The U.S official identiﬁed the seized tanker as the Skipper

The ship departed Venezuela around Dec. 2 with about 2 million barrels of heavy crude, roughly half of it belonging to a Cuban state-run oil importer, according to documents from the stateowned company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., commonly known as PDVSA, that were provided on the condition of anonymity because the person did not have permission to share them.

The Skipper was previously known as the M/T Adisa, according to ship tracking data. The Adisa was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 over accusations of

edited video of the strikes against alleged drug boats near Venezuela. Lawmakers are asserting their oversight role after a Sept. 2 strike where the U.S. military ﬁred on two survivors who were holding on to a boat that had partially been destroyed.

The defense bill requires the Pentagon to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment stationed in Europe unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S interests. Around 80,000 to 100,000 U.S. troops are usually present on European soil. It also authorizes $400 million for each of the next two years to manufacture weapons to be sent to Ukraine.

Additionally, there is a provision to keep U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, setting the minimum requirement at 28,500.

The bill makes $1.6 billion in cuts to climate changerelated spending, the House Armed Services Committee said. U.S. military assessments have long found that climate change is a threat to national security, with bases being pummeled by hurricanes or routinely ﬂooded.

The bill also would save $40 million by repealing diversity, equity and inclusion ofﬁces, programs and trainings, the committee said. The position of chief diversity ofﬁcer would be cut, for example.

Congress is putting an ofﬁcial end to the war in Iraq by repealing the authorization for the 2003 invasion. Supporters in both the House

The network was reportedly run by a Switzerlandbased Ukrainian oil trader, the U.S. Treasury Department said at the time.

Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves and produces about 1 million barrels a day PDVSA is the backbone of the country’s economy Its reliance on intermediaries increased in 2020, when the ﬁrst Trump administration expanded its maximumpressure campaign on Venezuela with sanctions that threaten to lock out of the U.S. economy any individual or company that does business with Maduro’s government. Longtime allies Russia and Iran, both also sanctioned, have helped Venezuela skirt restrictions.

The transactions usually involve a complex network of shadowy intermediaries. Many are shell companies, registered in jurisdictions known for secrecy The buyers deploy so-called ghost tankers that hide their location and hand off their valuable cargoes in the middle of the ocean before they reach their ﬁnal destination.

and Senate say the repeal is crucial to prevent future abuses and to reinforce that Iraq is now a strategic partner of the U.S. Democrats criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, for stripping a provision from the bill to expand coverage of in vitro fertilization for active duty personnel An earlier version covered the medical procedure, known as IVF, which helps people facing infertility have children.

Maduro did not address the seizure during a speech before a ruling-party organized demonstration in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital. But he told supporters that the country is “prepared to break the teeth of the North American empire if necessary.”

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the U.S. seizing the oil tanker cast doubt on

the administration’s stated reasons for the military buildup and boat strikes. “This shows that their whole cover story that this is about interdicting drugs — is a big lie,” the senator said. “This is just one more piece of evidence that this is really about regime change — by force.” The Coast Guard referred a request for comment about the tanker seizure to the White House.

Northwest U.S. getting trillions of gallons of rainfall

BY SETH BORENSTEIN

AP science writer

Warm water and air and unusual weather conditions

tracing back as far as tropical cyclone ﬂooding in Indonesia helped supercharge stubborn atmospheric rivers that have drenched Washington state with almost 5 trillion gallons of rain in the past seven days, threatening record flood levels, meteorologists said.

The worst and most persistent of the heavy rains will linger to douse the same location through late Thursday and early Friday morning before the river of moisture should lessen and move around a bit. But the West Coast likely won’t see an end to the ﬁrehose” of moisture until the week of Christmas, said Matt Jeglum acting science chief for the National Weather Service’s western region.

Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands of wa-

BY JILL LAWLESS and ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press

ter vapor that form over an ocean and flow through the sky, transporting moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes. The Pacific Northwest gets a couple dozen each year, more than other parts of the West Coast, meteorologists said. But they’re not usually this big Wednesday’s downpours coupled with Monday’s rains have led to forecasts of record-setting flooding, particularly on the Skagit River, which flows through northern Washington and empties into the Puget Sound, said Washington state climatologist Guillaume Mauger

“The atmospheric rivers, the ARs, are continually reloading,” said former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue, now a private meteorologist.

“The amount of rainfall in the three-week period could be, you know, 20 to 30 inches. That’s quite extreme.”

is a couple degrees warmer than normal. That fuels the atmospheric river even more and then warmer air adds to that, said meteorologist Jeff Masters co-founder of Weather Underground and now at Yale Climate Connections Because it’s so warm, a lot more of that moisture is falling as rain than snow, he said.

These storms “have been supercharged by the chain of events that began two weeks ago” much farther west than Hawaii, Maue said.

toward the Americas A high-pressure ridge off the California coast pushed the atmospheric river system north, further funneled by unusual warmth over Russia and cold over Alaska. And Washington became the bullseye.

Maue added: “I wouldn’t want to live there. Not right now.”

LONDON Writer Sophie Kinsella, whose effervescent rom-com “Confessions of a Shopaholic” sparked a millions-selling series, died Wednesday, her family said She was 55 and had been diagnosed with brain cancer

The family said in a statement on Kinsella’s Instagram account that “she died peacefully, with her ﬁnal days ﬁlled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy

“We can’t imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life,” the family said Kinsella, who also published under her real name, Madeleine Wickham, announced in April 2024 that she had been diagnosed more than a year earlier with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

“I did not share this before because I wanted to make sure that

Using rain gauge observations, Maue estimated almost 5 trillion gallons more than enough to ﬁll Oregon’s Crater Lake or more than 18,000 Empire State Buildings — fell in the area over the past week. One

weather station at Mount Rainier measured 21 inches of rain since Thursday, Jeglum said.

“Those numbers are big, but are not unheard of,” Mauger said.

The moisture originated a few hundred miles north of Hawaii, where the Pacific

He pointed to an area near Indonesia that saw deadly flooding from tropical cyclones. That coincided with a natural season weather pattern that moves around every 30 days or so the Madden Julian Oscillation — which Maue said was the strongest it has been this time of year in decades.

It sent out waves that helped carry an “unbroken line of moisture” and energy from the Indonesia event

In a world made warmer by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, atmospheric river storms will be bigger and wetter according to studies, computer models and meteorologists. A study earlier this year found that may already be happening. Looking at events since 1980, researchers calculated that the storms have increased in the area they soak by 6% to 9%, increased in frequency by 2% to 6% and are slightly wetter than before. Air temperatures in the Paciﬁc Northwest are much warmer than normal, and that’s four to ﬁve times more likely because of climate change, said Climate Central meteorologist Shel Winkley

my children were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our ‘new normal,’ ” she said at the time.

childhood ambition. I wasn’t the child walking around saying, ‘I’m going to write a novel one day.’”

Kinsella enrolled at Oxford University to study music but switched to the politics, philosophy and economics program after one year

Kinsella published 10 “Shopaholic” novels starting in 2000 with “The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic,” titled “Confessions of a Shopaholic” in the United States, as well as other ﬁction. Her books have sold more than 45 million copies worldwide and have been translated into dozens of languages.

Kinsella did not grow up intending to be a writer One of three girls born to teachers in London, she played piano and violin as a child and also composed music. She told author-publisher Zibby Owens on her podcast, “Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books,” that the idea of writing never crossed her mind. “It wasn’t my

While at college, she met musician Henry Wickham and fell in love. The couple had four sons and a daughter

After graduating, Kinsella began working as a financial journalist and spent her commute reading. The idea to write ﬁction herself began to take shape on the train, and she worked on her ﬁrst novel during her lunch hours.

She published her first novel, “The Tennis Party,” in 1995, as Madeleine Wickham. Soon after, she left her journalism job to focus on writing. Six other books followed.

An otherwise normal shopping excursion sparked the idea for writing her ﬁrst “Shopaholic” novel “I remember looking around

me and thinking ‘We all shop We talk about it. We do it. We rejoice in it. We make bad decisions. Why hasn’t anybody written about this?’” Kinsella said in 2019 on “The Sunday Salon with AliceAzania Jarvis” podcast.

Kinsella created a story about Becky Bloomwood, a 20-something ﬁnancial journalist in debt from a shopping habit she can’t (or won’t) kick. The novel contained hilarious back-and-forth correspondence with bill collectors and banks, where she would make excuses for late payments. There was also a love story with a handsome businessman whom Becky met while on assignment. She went on to marry and have a mini-shopaholic daughter in future books.

The humorous tone of “Confessions of a Shopaholic” was a change from her earlier books, so she decided to submit it to her publishers under a pen name. Her middle name was Sophie and Kinsella was

her mother’s maiden name. The publishers said yes, and “Shopaholic” was published in 2000 under her pseudonym. The novel, blending humor with a cautionary tale about getting in over your head with debt, was an immediate success. Kinsella said Becky was a modern everywoman whose behavior was “what you wouldn’t do yourself, but maybe you would if you were in absolute extreme circumstances. And that’s what she ﬁnds herself in all the time.” Bloomwood’s further adventures followed in books including “Shopaholic Takes Manhattan,” “Shopaholic Ties the Knot” and “Shopaholic & Sister.”

The ﬁrst two “Shopaholic” books were adapted into the 2009 film “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy Kinsella also wrote “The Undomestic Goddess,” “Remember Me?” and “Twenties Girl.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON

Maery Schine, 11, is helped out of a rescue boat by rescue workers with Chehalis Fire after evacuating with her father Patric, second from left, following flooding after heavy rains in the region Tuesday in Chehalis, Wash.

ResidentspushbackonDEMCO fees

St.GeorgeCityCouncil delays vote on ordinancethatwould raisebills

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

Some St.George residentsare

voicing frustration over aproposed city ordinance that could raise their energybills.In response, the City Council voted

unanimously Tuesday to postpone adecision on the measure —which wouldlevy a5%fee on the electric utility company DEMCO —until its January meeting.

Theproposal would affect only asmall numberofratepayers,but could set aprecedent for increases

for other utilities.

DEMCO serves more than 7,000 customers in St. George, according to the company,most of whom are residents in District 4. By comparison, Entergypowersroughly 30,000 customers in thecity District 5council member An-

drew Murrell notedthe council plans to discuss similar feeagreements with other utilitiesinearly 2026.

“Entergywould be on the list.

REV (formerly EATEL), AT&T,“ he said.

The proposedcharge stemsfrom

Quad project, which is adding twonew

Wednesday.

LSUbreaksgroundon $200Mfreshmandorm

Growingenrollmenthas putpressure on studenthousing

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

LSU broke ground on the newSouthQuadfreshman dorm Wednesday,keeping the project on track to welcome students in fall 2027.

The $200 million project will add 1,266 beds between two residence halls, located across from the Business Education Complex on South Quad Drive. They will house students in the College of Engineeringand the E.J. Ourso College of Business.

The additional residential space is long anticipated as LSU struggles to meet housingand parkingdemand due to an increasing number of students. Last fall, enrollment increasedbyaround4% at the ﬂagship campus in Baton Rouge, system President Wade Rousse said at the groundbreaking ceremony

“The South Quadproject ensures that as more students choose LSU, we are ready for them with the infrastructure that enables them to focus on learning and the student experience that keeps them engaged, supported and connected,” Rousse said.

The proposal to the Board of Supervisors in the summer described the dorm as essential to maintaining thefreshman residency requirement.In 2024, LSU offered a$3,000 bonus for incoming Baton Rougearea students if they chose to live at home instead of in the dorms.

South Quad is part of the multiyear public-privatepartnership strategytoincrease

Students Felice Ezejiofo, left, and Emma Jimenez examine the rendering of LSU’snew residencehall during the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday.

autilityfranchiseagreement—a contract with local governments allowing utility companies to operate on public property in exchange for afee. For electric providers like DEMCO or Entergy,that includes paying forthe use of city streets and alleyways forpoles, wires and underground lines.

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

Though her responsibilities will remain the same, the top lieutenant for East Baton Rouge MayorPresident Sid Edwards will soon have adifferent title.

On Wednesday,the East Baton Rouge MetroCouncilapproved a contract forChristel Slaughter,who has served as Mayor-President Sid Edwards’ acting chief administrative officer since September Starting next year,Slaughter will have adifferent title —which hasyet to be determined —but will keep the same responsibilities, said Mason Batts, executive director of theMayor’s Ofﬁce.

Underthe one-year contract, Slaughter will be paid $180,000 to guide“public relationsactivities, and the research and analysis of administrative practices performed by operating departments.”

BYPATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

“The real point is what those beds represent,” said Jeremy Doss, senior vicepresident at RISE Real Estate. “Thisisn’t just housing, as we’ve heard. It’sthe front door to theLSU experience.”

residential capacity across campus. Other projectsincluded Nicholson Gateway, SpruceHall, Cedar Hall and theGreenhouse District. The university is partnering with RISERealEstate and The Lemoine Co. on delivering the SouthQuad project

Pete Trentacoste,executive director of residential life, saidLSU wanted to emphasize “living andlearning here on campus” withthe South Quad design. The dorms will be communalwith spaces for students to gather,and will feature small workoutfacilities, he said. The dorms appear to match the traditional LSU architectural style, with red-tileroofs andstucco walls, according to renderings.

“We’re all about the livinglearning environment,” Trentacoste said. “It’s not just a cool place to live. We want to

be that place that takes you from whereyou are and gets youacross thefinishline at graduation.”

At the groundbreaking Wednesday,LSU leaders calledSouthQuadacritical investment based on the growingenrollment numbers. The newresidence halls are“a reﬂection of the vision” forthe future of LSU,Chair of Properties and Facilities Committee Supervisor Laurie Lipsey Aronson said.

“Weare experiencing historicinterestfromstudents who want to be part of the LSUstory,” Aronson said.

“That demand is atestament notonly to thestrengthofour academicprograms but to the expanding reputation at LSU as anational leader.These new residence halls embodythat momentum.”

STAFF PHOTOSByJAVIER GALLEGOS

LSU Chancellor James Dalton, far right, and President Wade Rousse, second from right, donhardhatsand readytheir shovels during the groundbreaking ceremonyfor LSU’sSouth

residencehalls for freshman, on

Sweeps netfewer arrest in NewOrleans

Protests of immigration enforcement also milder

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

When U.S. Border Patrol agents descended onto New Orleans one week ago as part of President Donald Trump’sfederal immigration crackdown,localorganizers and Democratic officials braced for mass arrests.

Images from Chicago andCharlotte, North Carolina,foreshadowed whatcouldhappen. Border Patrol agents in recent months made thousands of arrests, wielded aggressive tacticsand clashed with protesters in both cities.

But so far in Louisiana, where the Border Patrol operation is dubbed “Catahoula Crunch,” agents appear to have netted fewer arrests —with theU.S.DepartmentofHomeland Security citing the overall number as dozens without giving specifics. They’ve targeted home improvement store parking lots, worksites and acar wash. Some U.S. citizens and permit-holders have been taken for questioning and then released. And despite criticism from advocates and some local Democratic officials, the scope of the arrests around New Orleans —and the intensity of responsive demonstrations —has remainedmore muted than in other cities, wheremassarrests and protests flared up.

“Strictly from an enforcement standpoint, there has not been anywhere near the same increase in enforcementwe’ve seen elsewhere,” said Jeff Asher, aNew Orleans-based crimeanalyst.

Federal officials have repeatedly declinedtoprovide afull tally of people detained in the operation that commenced on Dec.3,and the total number remains murky.But basedonreportsfrom acombination of U.S. officials, immigration attorneys, advocacygroups and media citations, Border Patrol agents appear to havedetainedjust afew dozen people in theNew Orleans metro area in the operation’s first week. Alaw enforcement memo re-

viewed SundaybyThe Associated Press said agents hadarrested 38 people in two days. Federal agents in Chicago,incontrast, arrested about1,900people from early September through mid-October, accordingto Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest data from the University of California, Berkeley Deportation Data Project. In Charlotte,where agents operated in force for ﬁve days,DHS said 425peopleweredetained. Immigration attorneys and local ofﬁcials citea bevyoffactorsinexplaining why the New Orleans operationhas emerged, at leastsofar as relativelyquiet by thestandards of theTrumpadministration’sinterventionsinDemocratic-led cities.

New Orleanshas amuchsmaller immigrant population than those cities, leading local ofﬁcials to say the operation’sgoal of 5,000 arrests may be allbut impossible to achieve. Support for the operation from local police agencies, which have been at odds with federal agentsattimesinothercities, may also have limited clashes with federal agents. And sweeps in Charlotte and Chicago gave organizers

in New Orleans time to study Border Patrol’stactics

“The community hasdonean excellent job of protecting themselves andeach other,” said Jeremy Jong, aNew Orleans-based immigration attorney

Thereare still sureﬁre signs of theoperation’simpact: Businesses saythey’re struggling to hire workers, school attendance has declined and attendance at Spanish-language church services has dropped. Some businessleaders have calledRepublican state ofﬁcials to complain.

Lt. Gov.Billy Nungessersaid Wednesdayhehas received “a dozen calls” from business owners facing labor shortagesasstaff with valid workpermits stay home out of fear of being detainedbyimmigration agents.

BorderPatrol agents alsoappear to be expanding their footprint in south Louisianawhile detentions have continued.

Agents detained at least three morepeople early this week in the Baton Rouge area, according to eyewitnesses, twoofwhomwere pulled from acar after agents smashed their windows. AndBor-

Arrested BR developergets$500K bond

Bradly Brownfaces host of financial allegations

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER and MATTHEW ALBRIGHT Staff writers

Ajudge Wednesday set a$500,000 bond forthe developer of an $11 million housing project in Baton Rouge who is accused of ﬁnancial crimes.

Attorney General Liz Murrill’s officelast weekcharged Bradly Brownwiththeft over $25,000, bank fraud, illegal transferofmonetary funds, money laundering and ﬁling false public records. Brown’s ﬁrm, KMT Holdings and Develop-

CONTRACT

Continued from page 1B

ment LLC,was approvedfor $6 million in federalfunds through East Baton Rouge Parish to build affordable housing in Scotlandville.

TheEastBaton RougeMetro Council approved theproject, knownas“Housing for Heroes,” in 2021 Brown was arrested Tuesday.On Wednesday,Court Commissioner Kina Kimble ordered Brown released on bond.

Prosecutors askedKimble to require Brown to wear an anklemonitor,but shedeclined.

Thecharges against Brownallege that he stole funds from the parish government,defrauded three banks of more than $1.2 million, made moneyoff of criminal activity and lied in government documents

To date,lessthan$1million of theawarded funds have been paid to the developer.Constructionhas yet to begin on the project Courtrecords show Brown took out a$787,000 loan in 2021 andused land slated for theHousing for Heroes development as collateral. Less thansix months later,Brown defaulted on the loan, according to acivil suit ﬁled against him by the bank.

Federalauthorities issued subpoenas to city-parish officials in May 2024 about theproject. It’snot clear whether or howthe attorney general’scase relatestothe federal investigation.

Aspokesperson for the AG’s Ofﬁce declined to comment Wednesday,citingthe ongoing criminal investigation.

As acontracted employee, Slaughter cannot retain the titleof chief administrative officer,asthe plan of government states that the position-holder “shall be anunclassified employee.” Batts said the city-parishwill save about $70,000 each year with Slaughter under contract, because theMayor’sOffice willnot have to payfor her benefits, as she will receive them through hercompany, SSA Consultants. As an unclassified employee, the finance department said the CAO position as acity-parish employee costsmore than $250,000 withsalary and benefits Slaughter’sfirm was chosen to lead the search this year for LSU’s next president, ultimatelyresulting in the selection of Wade Rousse. Taking over as interim CAO in September after Charlie Davis stepped down from the top spot, Slaughterhas since earned endorsements for the top spotinthe Mayor’sOffice. Edwards announced his intention to give Slaughterthe job fulltime lastmonth

ARENA

Continued from page 1B

Hurst attempted to start. The council approved Racca’s motion. With acapacity around12,000, the arena would host LSUbasketball,gymnasticsand live events and concerts, thoseinvolved in the dealhave said. Supporters of the arena hope it would stimulate further growth in the district, including hotels, restaurants and more. Councilmember Carolyn Coleman, whose district would be home to the new arena, pointedto the recent excitement surrounding major acts performing at Tiger Stadium next yearasproof that the public is hungry for another entertainment venue.

“That lets you know that the

people want this, they don’thave to go to NewOrleansand Lafayette and all of these other surrounding places,” Coleman said. “And the great thing about all of this is that it is not costing us any existing money.”

The project hasyet to be ﬁnalized,but Visit BatonRouge President and CEOJillKiddersaidthe arena will have amajor positive impact on the parish.

“It’sgonnabehuge to be able to invite that kind ofentertainment, andhave the numbers of folks that will beattendingthese concerts, staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, ﬁllingupatour gasstations,” Kiddersaid. “It’sjustgoing to make ahuge difference in those tax collections and revenue for the city and thisparish.”

University officialshavenot givenanupdate onthe status of the arena since July, when thedevelopmentcompany’s then-president

was indicted on federal bid-rigging charges. That indictment appears to have been for naught,asPresident Donald Trump pardoned the developer last week on the pending charges. In July,officials confirmedthat OurLady of the Lake Hospital was the sole finalist for thearena’s naming rights. The nonprofithospital will pay $50millionover10years to have its name on “Our Ladyofthe Lake Arena,” if it is constructed. The council approveda 1-cent sales tax in the larger encompassingLSU Economic Development District in August,despite questionsand criticism from the public over whether thattax revenue would go to theproject’sdeveloper

Email PatrickSloan-Turner at patrick.sloan-turner@ theadvocate.com.

der Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, whoisleading theoperation, said Wednesday on the social media site Xthat his agents had made newarrests in Slidell and Covington.

ADHS spokespersondid not respond Wednesday to questions fromThe Times-Picayune |The Advocate. Bovino and other DHS ofﬁcials have touted the operation’s progress.

“Weare arresting criminal alien(s) across alarge swath of southern Louisiana,”Bovinosaid Wednesday on X. NewOrleanshas also notseen the kinds of volatile protests that became widespreadinChicago during the BorderPatrol’s operation there. In those, protesters and journalists at times faced tear gas and rubber bullets.

News reports about those incidentsprompted court ofﬁcials in New Orleans’ U.S. District Court forthe EasternDistrict to bracefor apotential wave of cases against demonstrators accused of assaultingfederallaw agents —charges that becamecommon in other citiesthe administration has targeted.

FEES

Continued from page1B

“The franchise feeisdesigned to cover all the costs for using that land forus,” Murrell said.

Utilities often pass at least part of those costsalong to customers Several residents at Tuesday’s meeting arguedthe proposal amounts to an indirect tax, violating earlier promises of no new taxesinthe newly incorporated city

“St.George was built on a promise that leaders could do more with what was already there and that there would be no newtaxes,” wrote one resident.

“The very firstyear, herewe come with atax, it’scoming in through the back door,” resident Gail Davis said. “Itshould be voted on by theresidents just like any other tax.”

But Murrellsaid such costs alreadyreach consumers through existing permit fees, comparing it to home construction.

“If you get ahouse built tomorrow, your homebuilder who givesyou theestimatefor buildingyour house is going to tack on the cost of every one of those permits,” he said.

He said the proposed agreementsimply streamlines that process: Instead of paying multiple permitfees, DEMCO would contribute 5% of its annual gross sales to the city

“Thatcovers all their permit fees, all the inspections, allthe work we have to do for that utility allyear long,” he said. “And that’s basically been the custom in the areaofthe state forever.”

Existing agreements

Steve Irving, an elected board member for DEMCO in St. George, told the council that East Baton Rouge Parish already has franchiseagreementswithDEMCO, but no associated fees.

“Thefranchisefee wasdonebecause it was aconvenience to the utilities,” Irving said.“It saved them the trouble of negotiating a right of way agreementwith each customer along the road.”

Under the current agreement, he arguedDEMCO alreadyhas accesstoparish roads and routinely works with subdivision developers to cover infrastructure costs for private property

“You don’treally have anything

Claude Kelly,the chieffederal public defenderinNew Orleans, said his ofﬁce had prepared to potentially represent an inﬂux of defendants facing charges stemming from clashes with federalagents.

“But to date, we have notseen those,” Kelly said. Demonstrators have gathered sincethe start of the operationin downtown New Orleans and Kenner,where Border Patrol agents have been the most active.

An entourage of protesters in the Jefferson Parish city blew whistles and shouted warnings to residents last week as Bovino and his agents moved through residentialareas. But there werenophysical confrontationsbetween agents and demonstrators.

Someresidents havewelcomed Bovino.Atthe closeofthe operation’s ﬁrst day,Bovino and his men strolled unencumbered through the CentralBusiness District. And on Friday, Bovino stopped to use therestroom andbuy snacksata gas station on Williams Boulevard in Kenner with agaggle of journalists in tow

He declared that the bag of pork cracklins he picked was “really good forthe keto diet.”Customers snappedselﬁes with him. Outside, aman hoisted asign thanking ICE. Bovino handed hima trinket in the shape of acoin and told him he “loved” himbeforegetting backin his unmarked SUV and riding to his next location.

Some critics have said theNew Orleans operation has led to more pageantry thanhuge numbers of arrests.

For those whohave been detained, the effect is “obviously horrible,” said Jong, the immigration attorney “But (Bovino) createsthisgiant spectacle where he goes through the CBD in New Orleans, promising to lock everyone up,” Jong said. “What does he have to showfor it? 19 people aday? With as much time,expense, planning,money and waste of taxpayer dollars they’ve expended,itdoesn’t seem like he’s achieved his stated aimshere.” Staff writers Lara Nicholsonand Sophie Kasakove contributed to this report.

OneWashington,D.C., man was chargedwithassaulting afederal agent forthrowinga sandwich at him. (He was acquitted.)

to sell, frankly,” he told the council.

Murrell said it is too early to estimate howmuch revenue the proposed DEMCO agreement might generate. He added that, beyond covering utility maintenance, funds from franchise fees would also help maintain St. George’sroadways and drainage systems. Currently, thecityreliesprimarily on a2%sales tax for its revenue.

The Public Service Commission must approve all such agreements. Murrellsaidthe cost is typically split evenly,with utilities absorbing 2.5% and homeowners paying the remaining 2.5% through their monthly energy bills.

Baton Rouge,Zachary,Central and Baker already have franchise feeagreements with Entergy.InDecember2024, theBaton Rouge Metro Council approved a contentious 5% Entergy fee for unincorporatedareas,increasing monthly bills by about$4for roughly 32,000 customers. AsimilarEntergy feeexisted in the St. George area before the city incorporated.

Email Aidan McCahill at aidan.mccahill@theadvocate. com.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Customsand BorderPatrol Commander GregoryBovino, center,walks withBorder Patrol agents in Kenner on Friday

Edgens,Velma

St.Alphonsus Catholic Church 14040 Greenwell SpringsRoadat11:30 am

Green,Marie

Word of TruthNew Life Center in Bayou Goulaat11am.

Picou, Jarett

St.Stephen’sCatholic Church in Whitehall, Louisianaat11am.

PooleMurphy, Ethel A. Wesley FuneralHome, 10810 VentressDrive,Maringouin, LA at 11am

Pruitt, Byron

ResthavenGardens of Memory at noon.

Thomassie, Louis Holy Rosary Catholic Church,44450 La-429 St.Amant,Laat11am.

Obituaries

Beshears Sr., Benjamin

Benjamin 'Ben' Beshears

Sr., entered into eternal rest at his residence in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 27, 2025 at the age of 87-years old. He was aMaster Carpenter and a gifted drummer and gospel singer. Aviewing will be held at Promise Land Baptist Church, Pastor Perry Wright on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 6:00 pm until aMusical Celebrationat 7:00 pm; Viewing resumes at Greater New Galilee Baptist Church on Saturday, December 13,2025 at 9:00 am until Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 am conducted by Pastor Mark Litt, Sr.; interment at Southern Memorial Gardens. Survivors include his loving wife, Ester Beshears; devoted daughters, Lillian Sanders and Pamela Warren; brother, RJ Beshears; five grandchildren and great-grandchildren; other relatives andfriends including, Henry "Hook" Williams. Arrangements entrusted to Miller &Daughter Mortuary.

Califf, Michael E.

Michael E. Califf was born in Bamberg, Germany on January 24, 1954 to Emory and Charlotte Califf He passed away peacefully on Thursday November 27, 2025 at his home in Prairieville, LA. He worked as an operator and consultant in the oil and gas industry for over 40 years. He was an avid LSU and Saints fan and golfer. He married Helen Mayeux Califf October 6, 1973 and remained married for 52 years. He is survived by his children: Eric Califfof LA and Michael W. Califf of MT; grandchildren: Emory and Nolan Califf of MT; siblings: Donald Califf of OK; Patricia Young and husband Jim Corley of CA, Ann Russo of FL, and James Loden of TX. He will be joining his parents, stepfatherJames C. Loden, and siblings Charles Califf and Sandra Kuykendallinheaven. He was aspecial man who always tried to bring a smile to everyone. He will be missed.

Cutrer, Joyce T. Joyce Tate Cutrer passed awaypeacefully on December 8, 2025, at her home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the age of 95. She was born on November 16, 1930, in Potts Camp, Mississippi and had lived in Baton Rouge for over 70 years. She was alongtime member of Florida Blvd. Baptist Church where she taught Alpha Sunday School Class for 25 years, a remarkablefeat because she lost her vision as a young adult. She wasa wonderful cook, known for her monthly luncheons with 16 to 20 of her closest

Joyce is survived by daughters Nancy Cutrer, Billie Staton and husband Edward Staton, sister Beverly Tate Cannon and husband Joe Cannon, brother Avrie Tate, grandsons Barrett McCarstle,

Dustin Cutrer, Adam Cutrer,and Blaine Staton. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and great grandchildren. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, A. B. Cutrer, son CliftonCutrer, parents L. K. Tate and Ruby Tate, siblings Thresa Watson, William Tate and James Tate.The familythanks Elsie Plain and Crystal Causeywhose loving care made it possible forher to remain inher home. All who knew Joyce willmiss her strength, intellect, wisdom and kindness. Visitation willtakeplace from 1:00PMuntil 2:00 PM at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 FloridaBlvd Baton Rouge, LA 70815onFriday, December12th, 2025. Burial willfollow in Greenoaks Memorial Park.

Endom, Franklin Vincent

Franklin "Frank" V. Endom Jr.passed away peacefully on December3, 2025,following complicationsfromsurgery. He was 87. Visitation willbeheld at St.Aloysius Catholic ChurchonFriday, December 12, 2025,from9:00 to 10:00am, followed by the Mass of Christian Burialat 10:00am. To view the obituary and signthe online guestbook, please visit www.churchfuneralservic es.com

CharlesC Griffinentered into eternal rest at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center on November 27, 2025 following abrief illness. He was a 38-year old native of Baker, Louisiana;a resident of Denham Springs, Louisiana;and owner of Griffin Vizion Photography. Viewingwillbeheldat Mount PilgrimBaptist Church Family Life Center, Dr.D.E. Chaney,pastor, 9700 Scenic Highway, Baton Rouge on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at noon until CelebrationofLife Service at 1:00 pm conducted by Rev. Gregory Coates;interment at Southern MemorialGardens. Survivors include his mother, Wanda Griffin; siblings, VernalGriffin and Christopher Griffin(Tina), Denham Springs;Alex Griffin and LaKishaGriffin, Baton Rouge,Louisiana;and Leroy Griffin, Jr., Baker; nieces,nephews,other relatives and friends.Arrangements entrusted to Miller &Daughter Mortuary

Hebert,Sylvia Turner

Sylvia T. Hebert, 93 yearsofage passed away on Friday, November 28, 2025,surrounded by her family. Shewas born in New Orleans to her late parents, Emile and OpheliaTurner. Shewas preceded in death by her lovinghusband of 71 years, Whitman Hebert, her daughter,Karen H. Spangler(lateDavid Spangler),her son David W. Hebertand great grandson,AustinBurroughs Sheissurvived by her son Phillip A. Hebert(Toby), herdaughter in lawMary Ann Hebert, her grandson, Daniel Schwab(Via), great granddaughters, Juliette, Aria &Avery. She is also survived by herbrother EmileTurner, Jr.(Jean)and ahost of nieces and nephews. Sheworked many years at Baptisthospitaland retired from Ochsner Hospital. Shewas afounding memberofSt. Benilde CatholicChurch.

Avisitation willbeheld from 11:00 AMto12:00PM on 2025-12-13 at St. Benilde CatholicChurch, 1901 DivisionSt.. Amassofchristian buri-

al willbeheldfrom12:00 PM to 1:00 PM on 2025-1213 at St.BenildeCatholic Church, 1901 Division St Interment will be private.

Landry, Genevieve 'Genie'

Genevieve "Genie"

Robert Landry, 84, anative and resident of Donaldsonville, LA,diedonTuesday, December 9, 2025.

Genie was adevout Catholicwho cherished her faith. Aproud parishioner of AscensionCatholic Church in Donaldsonville, she sang in thechoir served as aEucharistic Minister, was adedicated member of the Liturgical Committeeand Spiritual Motherhood. Herfaith remained persistent throughout her life.Genie and her former husband Gus, were theco-owners and founders of Landry Insurance Agency,Inc./ShelterInsurance. She was also asupportiveand active member of Al-Anon. Above all, Genie adored her family and treasured every moment spent with them. She hada remarkable gift for making everyone she met feelspecial and like family She leavesbehindtocherish her memory her three children; Brent Landry (Kristen), Pierre Landry (Holly),and Jeanne Landry Wright (Chad); nine grandchildren, Jacques Landry, JosephLandry (Carley), ChaseWright (Paige) Elaine Landry, AllieWright, Garrison Landry, Maggie Landry, Amy Wright, and John David Landry; three greatgrandchildren,Chandler Landry, Lila Landry and Wren Wright;foursiblings, John Robert (Priscilla), PeterRobert (Connie), CarolynMcCauley(Carol) and MarieHebert (Cleo); one sister-in-law, Winnie Robert and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family members. She is preceded in death by her husband, Clarence "Gus" Landry; twochildren,Amy Landry and Duane Landry; one grandson, Matthew Landry; parents, Octaveand RuthBrewertonRobert and her four siblings,Matthew Robert (Dorothea), Robert Robert, Paul Robert (Ouida)and Mary "Betty"Robert Avisitationwillbeheld at Ourso Funeral Home in Donaldsonville,LA, on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from8am until 11am. Following thevisitation, we willbegin arosaryat 11:30am at Ascension Catholic Church followed by Mass of ChristianBurial. Interment willbeheldin thechurch mausoleum.

Laura Shepherd Menard passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the ageof63. She wasborn September 1, 1962, in BatonRouge,Louisiana to Lawrence Henry Shepherd, Jr. and Betty Ann Janky Shepherd.Upon graduating fromBelaire High School, Laura receivedher accounting degree from Louisiana StateUniversity. Achance encounterata friend'swedding resulted in Gerald G. "Gerry" Menard and Laura later marrying in 1986. She brieflyentered theworkforce as acertified public accountant with theState of Louisiana, until she eagerlyretired to take on her most successful and belovedjob as amother. Laura is survivedbyher devoted husband of 39 years, Gerald G. "Gerry" Menard;their belovedchildren,John A. Menard and hiswife Katie,and Grace E. Menard;and their grandchildrenAnna C. Menard and Alex H. Menard.She is also survivedbyher mother, BettyJ.Shepherd;her sisterKathryn S. Zinna and her husband Randy; her mother-in-law, Yvonne M. Menard;aswellasnumerous other family and countless friends. The fam-

ilywouldliketoacknowledge theMDAnderson CancerCenter in Houston theNeuromedical Center in BatonRouge and her caregivers, who became like family of our own. She is preceded in death by her father, Larry H. Shepherd, Jr.; her father-in-law, Rodney L. Menard;and her aunt,Donna L. Janky. While there will never havebeen enough time together, we relish the time shared and thememories made. We willcarry youinour hearts forever. Relativesand friends are invitedtoattend theMemorial Visitation from5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December12, 2025, at Resthaven Funeral Home,11817 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge. AMemorial Service willbeheldat3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 17510 MonitorAvenue in Baton Rouge. The family willattend aprivateinurnment at alater date at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. For those so desiring,memorials in honor of Laura Shepherd Menard may be madetoSt. Jude Children's Research Center (Online Donations -St. JudeChildren's Research Hospital). Familyand friends may signthe online guestbookorleave apersonal notetothe family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com

St.Francisville/Jackson, LA -Mervin AllenMitchell, "The Master Domino Champion", entered into eternal rest at Zachary Manor, Zachary, Louisiana on December 5, 2025. He was a73-year-old native of St.Francisville, Louisiana who was born on February 29,1952 in St.Francisville, LA to parents Williamand Emily Reily. Mervin was baptized at an earlyage and served as adedicated deacon at his church for many years.

Earlierduring the course of his life he migrated to Chicago, Illinois where he worked as achef in his uncle's restaurant, which was located downtown Chicago. Upon returning to Louisiana, Mervin spent themajority of his life working forCrown Zeller Bach /Tembec Paper Company in St.Francisville, Louisiana as amachinist fromwhere he retired He was preceded in death by his spouse Mary W. Mitchell, his parents, William Morgan Reilyand Emily "Sadie"Reily, Grandmothers, Sarah Trey Mitchell andEva Reily, uncles LeroyMitchell,Andrew Roach, Morris Elvin and MelvinP.Jones, aunts Mamie Johnson and Viola Mitchell andbycousin, Darren Byrd Mitchell.

Survived by hisdaughter, Katie Mitchell, Jackson, Louisiana; 3grandchildren: AhniaMitchell,Brandon IrvinJr, BaleighIrvin;nine Siblings; Sarah, Ann Marie, Joseph"JW"(Elsa), Sylvia (Austin), Diana, Andrew, William Tyrone "Mickie (Amy), Morris (O'Neil) and Michelle;and ahost of

nieces, nephews, cousins, friends andextended family. Mervin wasa funny, happy, goofy guy. He Always had asmileonhis face. He wasalso a jokester, &noone was safe from hissarcasm.He calledhimself"The Master Domino Champion"& wouldchallenge anyone he met to agame of dominos. AlwaysWinning! Secondto hischild &grandchildren, Dominos& preparinghis specialty meals for others washis passion.Hewill always be remembered for hisremarkable memory of significate dates Agravesideservice is planned at Pilgrim'sRest Cemetery,8896 Myrtle Hill Dr,inSt. Francisvilleon Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 2pm wherehis ashes will be buriednear hismother's andotherdepartedrelatives.

We lost agreat man,father,brother,husbandand friend. He wasloyal to the people in hislife. He loved animals, especially his dogs, boats andjust about anythingonwheels. He wasanairplanepilot, sailor,could build just about anythingand afantastic chef. George lived hislifetothe fullest. He dedicatedmany hoursto hispassion of service to hisMasons andShrine Brotherhood. AMemorial honoringGeorge will be at theFortBraggMason Hall at afuturedate.

John DaleRopp, oneof Louisiana's most prolific footballcoaches, passed away on December 10, 2025, at theage of 95. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in NatchitochesonThursday, December 18, followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Aprivatefamilyburial service will be at the American Cemetery John was born on March13, 1930, in Natchitoches,toparents Dr.R.L. Ropp andEffie LeeJones Ropp.Hewas preceded in death by his belovedwife of 66 years, Quincy LincecumRopp, andbyhis brother, Col. Ralph L. Ropp andsister,Linda Lou Ropp John was oneofvery few to coach at theelementary, junior high,high school andcollegelevels. He wasthe first coach at Airline High School in Bossier Cityand coached theoffensivelineatNorthwestern State University for nine seasons. He was namedtothe Bossier Hall of Fame and also to the Northwestern GraduateN ClubHallofFame. During his20-plus years as a teacher and coach, John touched many young lives andstayedclosetoseveral of hisstudent-athletes, especially dear friend Russell Jones.

Following hisretirementfromNorthwestern, John was asuccessful businessmanselling hydraulic fitness equipment. In later life he enjoyed hobbies including poetry, magic andventriloquism. He delighteddifferent groups andorganizationswith his performances, and family events always included raucous callstobeentertainedbyUncle John. Although John and Quincy didn'thave children of their own, they were loving role models to nieces MegRoppMattei, Karen Green Cox, Kelley MayBingham and Kirkland Ropp Crosby,and to nephew R. LewisRopp. John is also survived by his sister-in-law FranMoses Ropp,and by 13 greatnieces and-nephews, and 17 great-great nieces and nephews, most of whom have been thrilledtosee UncleJohnmake adime disappear into asmall tattoo on hisarm andreappear behind yourear! We'renot sad that he's gonetobewiththe Lord; we'resad to be deprivedof hisfinecompany.

John enjoyed theChristian fellowship of hisSunday School class called CouplesToo andwas happy to be amember of the WalterLedet Coffee Club.

Thefamilysuggests memorialsinJohn'sremembrance be made to First Baptist Church of Natchitoches, 508 Second St,Natchitoches, LA 71457.

Young Bates, Birdean Mae On December 5, 2025 at 1:30 am, almighty God in hisinfinite

Naill, George

Mitchell, MervinAllen

Griffin, Charles

Ropp,JohnDale

Menard, Laura Shepherd

Lake Borgne marsh projecta good step

We were gratiﬁed to seethe completion earlier this month of the state’slargestmarshbuilding effortto date

The Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project in St. Bernard Parish, which ofﬁciallyhad a ribbon-cutting on Dec. 2, added more than3,000 acres of marshland to areas that had previouslybeenopenwater.Tobuild it,contractors dredged and deposited enoughsedimentto ﬁll theSuperdome three times over,about 15 million cubic yards.

The completion of the four-year,$115 million projectrepresents amajor winfor thestate’s coastal restoration efforts, which aim to combat Louisiana’s land loss crisis.

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

Executive Director Michael Hare hailedthe project.

“By any measure —onscale, engineering complexity,environmental value —thisproject stands as one of the greatest achievements to date completed by CPRA,” he said at theribboncutting.

Superlatives aside, the addition of thousands of new acres of marshland,some of which was alreadysproutingcordgrass, is agoodthing for Louisiana.

But sunny statements aboutthe project come at cloudy times for the state’scoastalfuture Overall ratesofsubsidence andland loss are not expected to slow.The state calculates that it loses about one football field of land every 100 minutes. Over the last century, about2,000 square miles of Louisiana land have been lost. Thosestark figures were thereasonsbehind the creation of the CPRA and itsproductionof anew master plan for coastal restoration every five years. But the funds to pay for projectssuch as Lake Borgne largely come from BP oilspill money, which will end in 2031.

In addition, earlier this year,the state officially canceled two centerpiece projects in the plan, the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton sediment diversions. Those projects would have diverted grit-laden river water into the marshesoneither side, attempting to mimic theprocesses that built the delta in the first place But they were both controversial, especially with local fisherman who feared thatthe impacts on their local waters would harm their livelihoods. Andinthe case of Mid-Barataria which broke ground in 2023 after yearsofstudies and planning, the cost had climbedfar beyond the original estimates.

CPRA chairman Gordon Doveand Gov. Jeff Landry believe that dredging, as wasdoneat Lake Borgne, is amore effective waytobuild landata lower cost. At Lake Borgne, the new acres lie along the southeastern shore of the lake, near two popular marinasthathave longprovided adeparture point for Louisiana ﬁshermen andduckhunters. Ofﬁcials hope the new marsh at Lake Borgne will last even longer thanits expectedlife span of 20 years. So do we. Theappearanceofnew marshland is awelcome sight, onewehope is repeatedmanytimes in thefuture.

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

CFIndustriesbenefits farawayshareholders

CF Industries’ impending “Blue Ammonia” project, thelargest in theworld, is one they announce with pride. In every press release, there are promises of good jobsand economic prosperity.

The same promises have been made since CF’s ﬁrst day in Donaldsonville. However,local residents have only struggled with rising taxes, theclosing of small businesses and the destruction of aonce vibrant culture that is now only amemory.The people are still waiting for CF’s prosperityto trickle down.

Meanwhile, CF does better every year.In2024, they reached proﬁts of $2.27 billion ($1.5 billion of which landed in the pockets of shareholders)

This begs thequestion: When local businesses can’tsurvive and nearly 50% of Donaldsonville live in poverty, who is CF’sdevelopment truly beneﬁting? The prosperity is reserved for theelite few —shareholders who have never even set foot on Donaldsonville soil. Their facilities neighbor our homes.

Although the existing voting machines work very well, the machines are very old and need to be replaced. Thenew system will be selected based on many requirements, including the requirementfor a“paper trail” to back up theaccuracy of the voting machine data. Amajor consideration of the selected system must be acomprehensive training component for three groups:

1. The staff at the state and local levels who will implement the new system;

2. The large cadre of citizen election commissioners who will work theelections;

Their practices emit thousands of tons of ammonia annually —pollution that only the residents are forced to inhale. How exactly does their growth beneﬁt thecommunities that they’re built on? As it turns out,itdoesn’t Evidently,they trytheir best to contribute as little as possible.

There’snopaper trail detailing CF’s tax contributions, but there’sample evidence of their many avenues to dodge taxes. Louisiana’sIndustrial TaxExemption Program, forexample, exempts CF from property taxes —in addition to many other tax-reducing incentives. On top of those exemptions are thebeneﬁts that CF receives from theLouisiana “Quality Jobs Program,” which offers severalmoreincentives in exchange for expanding operations in the state.

In reality,the proposed $2.1 billion investment in blue ammonia is not an investment in Donaldsonville or our people —it’saninvestmentintheir own shareholders.

KARALEIGH LOYA organizer in training, Step Up Louisiana

3. The general public whowill have to use thenew machines. Iamamember of the second group, which consists of many senior citizens who may not makethe transition to anew system. The recruitment and training of election commissioners will be amajor challenge forelection officials. The working hours on an election day are long and the compensation is not great.Hopefully,officials will be able to recruit asufficient number of citizens as commissioners to makeany new voting system work.

KENNETH A. PERRET Baton Rouge

Ourdemocracy must allowfor disagreement

Iamdeeply distressed by President Donald Trump’srecent statements about amember of Congresswho expressedaview he disagreed with. Ratherthan my words, consider the words of Armygeneral and President Dwight “Ike”Eisenhower: “If we allow ourselvestobepersuadedthat every individual, or party, thattakes issue

withour own convictions is necessarily wicked or treasonous, then indeed we areapproaching the end of freedom’s road. …Our dedication to truth and freedom, at home and abroad, does not require-and cannottolerate-fear, threat, hysteria and intimidation.”

ROBIN

MOULDER Baton Rouge

That’smy neighbor

That’smyneighbor ICEiscoming after

He painted my living room, Repaired the damaged sheetrock, Patched the leak in my roof

When he came back after months away (he went wherever he could ﬁnd work) He came over to console me about my wife’sdeath.

Yes, he is from Honduras, but Just like you and me he is here

Because he has adream of freedom Justice, equality and opportunity forhis family

He has his papers but that doesn’t seem to matter He looks brownsohemust be one of them.

Meanwhile, our president puts up moregold gilding; Tears downthe East Wing (he promised he wouldn’ttouch it)

By now we know he lies constantly He courts favor with People of the Lie.

Shaking hands with the Saudi murderer

Who lies just like him (“knew nothing about it”)

While his family brokers billiondollar deals.

Meanwhile, I’mwatching “The American Revolution,”

Seeing how desperately our ancestors suffered forfreedom What kept them ﬁghting through snow,ice and defeat?

Adream of freedom from tyranny Yet, now,that past seemsforgotten As just enough were deceived by the wannabe king And gave away their democracy to alying tyrant.

My sadness is so deep, but then up surges the outrage: Icannot, will not submit to this tyranny of lies.

JIM O’NEILL Metairie

Duetodaily

COMMENTARY

Murrill andLandryshould

notlimit Medicaid providers

AttorneyGeneral Liz Murrill is taking an animus againstpharmacy benefitmanagers way too far.Consequently, hundreds of thousands of Medicaid recipients might be moved into coverage they think is lessoptimal than their current plans. This is bad governance. And though Murrill self-identifies as arock-solid conservative, there is nothing conservative about it The whole scenario, as described below,might at first sound complicated, but bear withme. Theessential state of play will be clear soon enough. Here’sthe news: In concert with Murrill and apparently at her behest, newly appointed Louisiana Medicaid Director Seth Gold on Dec 2sent aletter to United Healthcare saying the state won’trenew the company’scontract that (asofNov 1) serves 333,246 LouisianaMedicaid enrollees. Louisiana HealthSecretary Bruce Greenstein told theLouisiana Illuminator,which firstbrokethe story, that his department intends to move United’senrollees to one of four other providers in the next two weeks, using acomputer algorithm to trymatching recipients with the company best able to handle their cases Gold originally sent asimilar dismissal letter to another provider Aetna, but this newspaper reportedon Tuesday that Aetna’scontract will be renewed after all. Murrill had told the Illuminator thather office was near a settlement with Aetna’sparent corporation, CVS, in amultipronged legal dispute she and Gov.Jeff Landry have waged against it and against United forhow they operate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

ingthe current decisions. She also said United is somehow not compliant with state law and “has engaged in frivolous attacks on the AG’scontracting authority as well.” She did not specify which laws allegedly are being broken. OK, after that convoluted background,here’swhere thesituation actually gets simple. Essentially,Murrill is cutting outUnited in a ﬁtofpique.

Here’show: As this newspaper reported, healthchief Greensteintold aNov.20state legislative hearing that theLandry administrationsupported extending the contractsfor all six companiescurrently providing Medicaid coverageinLouisiana. Greenstein speciﬁcally argued thatcutting the numberofproviders would be adisservice to recipients.Lawmakerscomplied by voting to extend the contracts

Thevery next day,the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal sided with United in the lawsuit Murrill is wagingagainst thecompany.Within 11 days, the administration completely reversed course andcanceled the very contract extension for which it had requested approval.

How,pray tell, could United Healthcare becompliant with state law on Nov. 20, then actually win alawsuit, andthenhave Murrill quickly adjudge it noncompliant? The court ruled against Murrill and for the company, so how is the company theone that’s noncompliant?

was President Donald Trump’s ﬁrst Commissioner of theAdministration on Disabilities and is afﬁliated with several national conservative outlets, said cutting the number of providers is inherently problematic. She said doctorsand pharmacies often accept Medicaid business from only one provider, and “algorithms aren’tpeople” with the ability to consider individual needs and “people with disabilities need to have relationships withnearby” pharmacies anddoctors.

It could mean life or death, she said: Even “an infected pressuresore” can “kill awheelchair user in 72 hours.” Moreover,why would aconservative administration try to limit competition?Isn’tacentral tenet of conservatismthat market competition is good, and the more thebetter?Indeed, one of Murrill’sown complaints in her three suitsagainst CVSisthat itsbusiness practices allegedly limit competition. How is it bad for CVS to limit competition,but OK for thestate to limit aseparate competition that 12 days earlier it had encouraged?

Readingbetween thelines, Murrill’s real beef, no matter how little legal relevance it has, seemstobethe “frivolous attacks” she says the company madeagainst her What,are her feelings hurt?

PBMs essentially are middlemen, for prescription drug coverage, between pharmaceutical companies and insurers. Murrill conﬁrmed to theIlluminator that the PBM-related lawsuits are driv-

GIFT GIVING TIME!

Meanwhile, why should anyone be conﬁdent the state healthdepartment can move 333,000 people to other plans in just two weeks? Granted, thestate is giving recipients 90 days to switch to yet anotherplan if they don’tlike theone the algorithm assigns. But whymoveenrollees at all? If they like United’sservices, why make them scramble?

MelissaOrtiz, awheelchair user who

Holidayoffice parties are happening,and gift swaps are apopular event at manyofthem. Itlookslikesomeone’s about to getanexciting present! So,what’sgoingonin this cartoon? youtell me. Be witty,funny, crazy,absurd or snarky —just trytokeep it clean.There’snolimit on the number of entries.

The winning punchline will be lettered into the word balloon and runonMondayinour printeditions and online.Inaddition, thewinnerwill receivea signedprint of thecartoon alongwith acool winner’sT-shirt! Some honorable mentions will alsobelisted. To enter,email entries to cartooncontest@theadvocate.com.

Allentries must include your name,home address and phone number.Cell numbersare best The deadline for all entriesismidnight on Thursday HappyHolidays, everyone!— Walt

This is quite consistent, though, with her earlier lawsuit against CVS, where one of her main complaints was that CVS dared send electronic messages opposing an anti-PBM law she was supporting. The First Amendment doesn’t seem tomean much to our attorney general. Enough is enough: The Landry administration should immediately re-reverse courseand keep United Healthcare as aprovider.Real lives are at risk.

Email QuinHillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

White House Chief of StaffSusie Wiles says she has aplanfor keeping Congress in Republican hands in next year’smidterm elections. In an interview with the onlineshow “The Mom View,” Wiles said she hasn’tinformed the president about her plan, but said it involves putting him on the roadto sell to voters what he believesto be his and the RepublicanCongress’spolicy successes.

goalofa continued GOP congressional majority

1. This is not about you, but about the nation. Stop bragging and displaysome humility.

The big question is whether more than the most dedicated Trump supporters will buy it.

One of those who claim Trump has not done as good ajob as he promised is the retiring (but farfrom shy) Rep. MarjorieTaylor Greene, R-Ga. She told Lesley Stahl on “60 Minutes” that Trump has failed to keep domestic policyashis top priority.Inher resignationvideo, Greene said the president has forsaken the MAGA base, speciﬁcally pointing to his support of the crypto and pharmaceutical industries. She alsodoesn’tlike his saber-rattling with Venezuela and what she regardsashis failure to put “America ﬁrst.”

As one who is also an experienced public speaker,Ioffer these suggestions which, based on past performance, he is unlikely to accept, but which in my judgment would help achieve his

writer’scity of

published. Letters are not

2. Stop the swearing and namecalling.Ithelps no one and turns offindependents(and perhaps some of the Christian base)who voted for you in past elections

3. Stick withthe economy and promise even more good news to come as gas and other prices decline. Tell voters nottochange horses in midstream when theother “bank” is so close

4. Featureateach one of your rallies people who have been helped by your policies. Select them carefully so they don’tengage in theworship of you as so oftenoccurs in your sycophantic “Cabinet meetings.”Personalstories are more persuasive than your often ramblingand repetitive speeches.

5. Remindthe audience of thepolicies of theBiden erathat resulted in high inﬂation, which led to high costsand theopenborder which has allowed so many criminals intothe country who have contributed to rising crime rates in major cities.

6. Keep raising thefraud issue which hascontributed to thedebt. Especially

hammer MinnesotaGov.Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar,D-Minn., for themassive fraud in COVIDspending, some of which allegedly was funneled to terrorist groups at home and overseas.

7. Ask voterswhy they would even consider voting for Democrats who caused the current problems and can be reliedontoperpetuatethemifthey win acongressionalmajority.

8. Tell voters that if Democrats do win acongressionalmajority,itwill mean moreinvestigations and more impeachment as before. Do votersreally wantto go down that dead-end road again, wasting timeand money on things that don’t affect their lives?

9. Keep the speeches short.Brevity makes people remember more of what you say than blathering on for an hour or more.

10. Stop repeating what you have said dozens of times before, unless it is to drive home important pointsonthe economy.Don’tever mention the “stolen election” of 2020.

11. Useagood speech writer and stick to the script.Noad-libbing. There’smy“top 10” (plus one) list. Youcan thank me later,ifyou ever read it, or use any of thesesuggestions. Email Cal Thomasattcaeditors@tribpub.com.HeisonX,@CalThomas

If you want to see whyPresident Donald Trumpisvisited Pennsylvania to talk about affordability,and whyheisplanning rallies on the topic around the country in coming weeks, just look at the simple question asked in the new Harvard CAPS Harris poll: “What would you say are the mostimportant issues facing the country today?” The question was open-ended, and respondents could name morethan one issue. The top concern, named by 36% of those surveyed, was price increases, inﬂation and affordability.The No. 2issue, named by 29%, was the economy and jobs. Put them together,and economic issues were by farthe mostimportant issue named by the voters in the poll.

After that came anumber of issues that rank high on the importance scale, but not as high as the economy: health care, immigration, corruption, crime and drugs, federal budget deﬁcits, terrorism and national security,taxes, guns and afew more.

Those are the major concerns. At the bottom of the list, that is, those issues named by fewer than 5% of respondents, were: foreign policy at 4%; political correctness and cancel culture at 4%; the Israel-Hamas-Iran conﬂict at 4%; defense at 3%; policing at 3%; Jan. 6at3%; antisemitism at 2%; and other,miscellaneous topics.

It is, of course, the world’sleast surprising newsthat the economy and affordability are at the top of voters’ concerns. The reason Trump is traveling to Pennsylvania and beyond to talk about affordability is that we are entering an election year,and asigniﬁcant number of voters, including someTrumpsupporters, believe the president has spent too much time paying attention to topics at the bottom of the voters’ list —namely foreign policy —and not enough timeonthe topic at the top of the list.

Americans elected Trumplast year,inpart, because former President Joe Biden had made such amess of the economy.Today,Trump points out, correctly,that he is dealing with the hangover of the inﬂation of the Biden years. “We’re bringing prices way down,” Trumpsaid on Monday.“Youcan call it ‘affordability’ or anything you want —but the Democrats caused the affordability problem,and we’re the ones that are ﬁxing it.”

But Trumpisstuck dealing with aparticularly sticky problem,explained by this simple statement: When inflation is going down, prices are still going up. Under Biden, inflation hit 9.1%, the worst in ageneration. But when the rate of inflation goes down, as it has —it’snow 3% —that meansprices are still going up, just at alower rate than during Biden’stimeinoffice. In Biden’slast year in office, he and other Democrats would often brag about inflation going down. That didn’tsit wellwith voters who knew,through their own painful experiences, that prices werestill rising. The wayout of the messwas not to makemisleading claims but to combine low inflation with rapidly increasing wages.

Trumpismaking real progress on that. “Wages are rising faster than prices —this is so important,” Fox Business’ Larry Kudlow, aformer Trumpeconomic adviser,said this week. “Wage incomefrom the latest numbers is plus 5.3%. Now,the core personal consumption deflator —that’sthe Fed’sinflation measure is 2.7%. That meansworking folks’ take-home pay is now ahead of prices by 2.6%. And there’s alot morecoming, with tax refunds next year and the One Big Beautiful Bill. In [Trump’s] first year,wages are already clobbering prices, and that’sthe way it should be.”

Still, it will take sometimefor wages to catch up with the cumulative effect of the Biden inﬂation. Plus, Trump’stariffs have raised some prices, although not nearly as much as predicted. With less than ayear until the 2026 midterm elections, Trumpwill depend on the economic beneﬁts that Kudlow predicted to actually become areality

Trump’seconomic program has always been pretty simple: Cut taxes, cut regulation and makeenergy cheaper.The energy part, where prices can go downdramatically,has always been the key to his plan to bring downinﬂation.

“Energy has come downincredibly,” Trump told Politico in an interview this week. “When energy comes down, everything because it’s so much bigger than any other subject. But energy has come downincredibly When that happens, everything comes down.”

So now Trumpispreparing for2026 with a new emphasis on affordability.Ofcourse, he still has to deal with other issues; no president can focus on just one thing. But when voting is less than ayear away,it’savery good idea to listen to the voters’ concerns.

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

Byron York

Cal Thomas

Quin Hillyer

Baton RougeWeather

Makesure to bundleupthe kids and the pets beforesending themoutside. Thursdaywillbechilly,withhighs rebounding to the low60s with abundant sunshine. On Friday, conditions willstartto warmupassoutherly winds takeoverand push highs back intothe 70s. Asubtle returnofmoisturetothe region could squeezeout some sprinkles or alight shower, but anyrainwouldbeverylight. Otherwise, skies will be partly sunny. The twoweekenddayswill be jarringly different.Saturdayisthe pick for outdoor plans with highs about 10 degrees above averageinthe low70s. There is aslight, 10% chance of ashower, but most of us will staycompletely dry. Averypotentcold front is slatedtosweep through on Sundaymorning

‘WHEELS’ UP

Saints’run game stretchesits legs with QB Shough as catalyst

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Nearly every time Tyler Shough went to hand off the ball in Sunday’swin over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the defense in front of him would pause for asplit second to see what the New Orleans Saints quarterback was going to do

Wasittruly asimple handoff? Would the rookie take it on his own?

TheSaints used the hesitationtotheir advantage.

“I thought Tylerhaving that ability to run the football obviously playeda factor into it,” coach Kellen Mooresaid

“It,” in this case, was aSaints rungame that had one of its better outings of the season, amuch-needed performance for agroup that was held to under90yards in seven of its previous eight gamesbefore beating its NFC South rival.

Shough was a“big part” of why the

“(There’san) element of keeping them honest. Being able to have the defense on their toes, not knowing who has the ball, and I’ve gottocontinue to do my job of that on certain plays. That’sanelementIfeel like Ican continuetogrow at and be good at.”

Saints ﬁnished with 139 yards rushing on 32 attempts,Moore said.Against Tampa Bay,the 26-year-old rookie racked up 58 yards on ﬁve attemptsbefore his two kneel downs. He also ran for two touchdowns.Beyondthe numbers, the mere threatofShough helped unlock theteam’s rushingattack

The Saints, for instance, used an 11-yard gain from Shough on their ﬁrst drive to set up their ﬁrst touchdown of the afternoon.

Just one play after the rookie quarterback’skeeper on arun-pass option, New Orleans ran the same conceptagain —but handed it off to rookie running back Devin

BY LARRYLAGE AP sportswriter

Neal instead for the touchdown.

Then in thethird quarter,Shoughtook off for a34-yard touchdown —again on an RPOwhere he ran to his left.

Keeping Shough involved maybea way to spark arun game that hasn’thad aton of successthis season.

“(There’s an) element of keeping them honest,” Shough said. “Being able to have thedefense on their toes, not knowing who has theball, and I’ve got to continue to do my job of that on certain plays. That’san element Ifeel like Ican continue to grow

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Michigan fired footballcoach Sherrone Mooreon Wednesdayafter finding evidence of an “inappropriate relationship with astaff member,” astunning endtohis short tenure thatsaw the Wolverinestakeastep back on the fieldafter winning the national championship andgetting punishedbythe NCAA.

“This conductconstitutes aclear violation of university policy, and UM maintains zero tolerance for suchbehavior,” athletic director Warde Manuelsaid in astatement.

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

LSU and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.struck an amended threeyear deal this week,accordingtoa copy of his updatedtermsheet included Wednesday in ameeting agenda forthe LSUboard of supervisors.The revised agreement cameafter Ole Miss expressed interest in keeping Weis past the College Football Playoff. Weis now will make $2.5 million peryear through 2028, and the deal includes an annual “look-in period” after every season designed to makehim the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the SEC. If necessary,LSU will give him araise so his salary exceeds the highest annual compensation of any other SEC offensive coordinator before incentives. The first look-in period will takeplace at theend of this season through March 1. At first, Weis signed athree-year,$6 million deal on Nov.30after coming to LSU with new head coach LaneKiffin, according to acopy of his original term sheet obtained by The Advocate through apublic records request. That was adjusted within the past week. After his departure withKiffin, Weis returned to Ole Miss last week to lead the Rebelsoffensethrough the CFP. Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding told reporters Sunday “and at the end of this thing, whetherthat’shim being the OC at LSU or him being the OC here, that’s up to him and his family.” Weis signed his new deal Monday,and Ole Miss hiredEastCarolina offensive coordinator John David Baker the next day The deal is set to be approved Thursdaybythe LSU boardofsupervisors along with term sheets for Kiffin,

didn’ttake long for Michael Arata to feel the effect of Tulane’s ﬁrst-ever College Football Playoff berth. He started receiving textmessages during his walkhome from Yulman Stadium on Fridaynight afterTulane qualiﬁed for thebig dance by beating North Texasin the American Conference championship game. Give me acall.

We’ve got to talk. What can Idotohelp? Normally,Arata is the onedoing the calling. The former Tulane

linebacker cofounded theFear the Wave collective, which assists the athletic department’sfundraising efforts. Now,he was on the receivingend of theoutreach.

The announcement did not include details of the alleged relationship. Moore, whoismarried with threeyoung daughters, did not return amessage from The Associated Press seeking comment. The 39-year-old Moorewas 9-3 this year after going8-5 in hisdebut season He signeda ﬁve-year contract with abaseannualsalary of $5.5 millionlast year.According to the terms of his deal, theuniversity will nothavetobuy out the remaining years of Moore’scontract because he was ﬁredfor cause.

College football’swinningest programissuddenlylookingfor a thirdcoach in four years, shortly after abusy cyclethatincluded Lane Kifﬁnleaving playoff-bound Mississippi for LSU.

“My phone was buzzing with texts, and you could feel it resonating all over thecity,” Arata said. “The excitement and energy

ä See DUNCAN, page 4C Jeff Duncan

Moore, theteam’sformer offensive coordinator,was promoted to lead the Wolverines after they won the 2023 national title. He succeededJim Harbaugh, whoreturned to theNFL to lead theLos

Angeles Chargers. The 18th-ranked Wolverines (93, 7-2 Big Ten) areset to play No 14 Texas on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl.Biff Poggi, who ﬁlled in for Moorewhen he was suspended earlierthis season, will serve as interim coach. Moore, in hissecondseason, was suspended for two games this year as part of self-imposed sanctions forNCAA violations related to asign-stealing scandal. The NCAA added athirdgame to the suspension, which would have kept Mooreoff thesideline for next year’sopener againstWestern Michigan. Moorepreviously deleted an entire 52-message text thread on his personal phone withformer staff member Connor Stalions, who led the team’ssign-sealing operation. Thetexts were later recovered andshared with the NCAA.

Just afew years ago, Moore was Harbaugh’stop assistant and regarded as arising star Moore, who is from Derby,Kansas, didn’tstart playing football until his junioryear of high school He played forButler County Community College in Kansas and as an offensive lineman for coach Bob Stoops at Oklahoma during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. His coaching career beganas agraduate assistant at Louisville before moving on to Central Michigan, where he caught Harbaugh’s attention. Harbaugh hired him in 2018 as tight ends coach. Moorewas promoted to offensive line coach andco-offensive coordinator in 2021, whenthe Wolverines bouncedbackfrom a2-4, pandemic-shortened season and began athree-year run

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at the Caesars Superdome on Nov. 23.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Tulane linebacker Chris Rodgersruns withthe ball aftera North Texas Mean Green turnoverduring the second half of theAmerican Conference championship game at yulman Stadium on Friday. TheGreen Wave will playOle Miss in theCFP on Dec. 20.

On TV

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7p.m. Iowa at Iowa St. FS1

8p.m.

6p.m.

7p.m.

6p.m.Vegas

8:30

11:40 a.m.Nottingham Forest at UtrechtCBSSN

2p.m.Roma

O-lineman Fuagabackatpractice

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

After missing lastweek’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Taliese Fuaga was back on the New Orleans Saints practice ﬁeld Wednesday

The right tackle has missed four games this yearfor variousreasons, having dealt with knee and back injuries as well as aninjury to his other ankle. If being back at practice is asignhecould be available this weekend against the Carolina Panthers, the timing works out for the Saints. Fuaga’sprimary backup at right tackle, Asim Richards,missed Wednesday’spractice because of an ankleinjuryhesufferedin the fourth quarter of lastweek’s game. New Orleans was down to third-string tackle WilliamSherman late in Sunday’swin. He was one of three starters who was ruled out becauseofan injurylastweek, but he wasthe only one of those three to practice Wednesday.Neitherrunning back Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle)nor safety Justin Reid (knee) participated. Reid waspresent forthe prac-

Continued from page1C

at and be good at.” Running the football always has been something that Shough insisted he could do.Itwas an element of his game at Oregon andTexas Tech, two colleges that relied on designed quarterback runs.In 2020 forOregonand thenin2022 for Texas Tech, Shough hadmore than 200 yards rushingineach season on more than 65 attempts. But then Shough’sinjury history —two broken collarbones and afractured leg —causeda shift When Shough transferredtoLouisville in 2024 for his ﬁnal collegiate season, the Cardinals placedlessof an emphasis on his legs. This was done partly to keep him healthy, butLouisville alsoran apro-style offense that asked Shough to stay in the pocket. The Saints aren’tasking Shough to run at thesame ratehedid at his ﬁrst two stops in college, but they aren’tafraid to use him, either The New Orleans coaching staff, like Shough, believes his injuries were more of abyproduct of unfortunate circumstances than a player pronetogettinghurt. The quarterback’sbroken collarbone in 2021, for instance,camewhen Shough landed awkwardly on a

tice. He workedoff to theside with the athletictraining staff and stood by to watch the rest of thesafeties go through positional drills. Reid injured his knee early in theSaints’ Week 13 loss to the Miami Dolphins

“He was able to do some work with those guys as he continues to build back up,” coach Kellen Moore said of Reid. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Kamarahas missed eachofthe last twogames since injuring his knee in the first quarterofthe Saints’Week 12 loss to the Atlanta Falcons

Asked whether there was apossibility Kamara would miss the remainder of the season, Moore declined to getintoany speciﬁcs other than noting the Saints did not place Kamara on injuredreserve.

“We’ll just see how this thing progresses,” Moore said. “You neverwant to throw timelines on these things to make them concrete. He’sdoingeverything he can.”

Rookie Devin Neal hasserved as the lead back in Kamara’sabsence, turning his 37 touches into

153 yards fromscrimmage and a touchdown in the last twogames Neal also was listed on Wednesday’sinjury report as alimited participant

ThePanthersare comingoff a bye andappear to be relatively healthy,with only two limited players listed on theirinjury report in linebacker CaludinCherelus and corner Jaycee Horn,bothof whom are recovering from concussions

Record watch

Saintsquarterback TylerShough could etch his name into thefranchise record booksinacouple of different spotsthis weekend against the Panthers. Because theSaints have not traditionally turned to rookie quarterbacks in starting roles, several franchise records for rookie quarterbacks arewithinrange for Shough despitethe fact that he is in line to make just his sixth career start

He needs 106 yards passingto break the Saints’ rookie passing yards record, which was set last season by SpencerRattler (1,317).

Shough also needs two touch-

dive to theend zone rather than a defendercrushinghim on the run. His 2023 season-ending leg injury occurred on ahip-drop tackle in the pocket. “There’s still timeswhenit’s advantageous,” Moore saidearlier this season. “Part of the component is (you’ve got to) pick and chooseyour opportunities.”

That decision extends to quarterbacks. The coachsaidsignal-callers have to be smart aboutwhen to ﬁghtfor extra yards andwhen to getout of bounds. Not countingkneel downs, the rookie has 23 rushing attempts in seven games. Nearly half

13 —have come on either RPOs or designedruns. The other 10 have come on Shough scrambling, which has been an effective weapon (including his18-yard,go-ahead scoreagainst Tampa Bay) Shough doesn’t seem to be putting himself in any extra danger when he runs.Heslides,gets out of bounds and gives himself up when appropriate.

On Wednesday, Shough recalled an instance when he opted toavoid Bucssafety Antoine Winﬁeld rather than try to “truck him” foran additional few yards “I think four years ago, Iprobably would’ve tried something stu-

Orioles sign former Mets sluggerAlonsofor 5years

The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a$155million, ﬁve-yeardealwith slugger Pete Alonso, aperson with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Wednesday

It’s amajor movefor aBaltimore team that vowed to be aggressive after alast-place ﬁnish in the AL East. Alonso hit .272 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs forthe New York Mets, posting an .871 OPS that was his highest since he hit 53 homeruns as arookie in 2019. Alonso, afirst baseman who turned 31 on Sunday,hit 264 homersoverseven seasonswiththe Mets. He’searned All-Star honors ﬁve times, including each of the past four years.

CommandersQBDaniels

to miss startvs. Giants

Quarterback Jayden Daniels will sit out the Washington Commanders’ game at the NewYork Giants on Sunday after aggravating his injured leftelbow last weekend.

Coach Dan Quinn said WednesdaythatDaniels did notre-dislocate the elbow —which originally washurt in aloss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov.2—when the reigning AP NFLOffensive Rookie of theYearwas knockedtothe ground after throwing an interception in Washington’s31-0 loss to the Vikings on Sunday “Landing on it, like full-on” was theissue,Quinn said, noting that an MRI exam Monday and further testing this weekshowed “no structural setbacks.”

He said team doctors advised him to keep Daniels off the ﬁeld againstthe Giants (2-11).Marcus Mariota will start for Washington.

Raidersquarterback Smith questionable vs. Eagles

downstobreak Archie Manning‘s record (six) set back in 1971.

Technically,both of those recordscould be claimed by Aaron Brooks (1,514 yards and nine touchdowns), who made his NFL debut in aSaintsuniform in 2000.But Brooks was not arookie, having spent the startofhis career with theGreen Bay Packers.

OldMan Rivers

Earlier this week, the Indianapolis Colts madenational headlines when theysigned44-year-old Philip Rivers to thepractice squad.

Rivers, wholast played in 2020 andwas recently named asemiﬁnalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is coming back to help a Colts team that lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to aseason-ending injury in the midst of aplayoff push.

Riversisnearly seven years older than Moore, who is in his ﬁrst season as the Saints head coach.

“I think it’sawesome for(Colts head coach Shane Steichen)and Philip to be back together,” Moore said. “It’s cool to see, and obviously gives them alittle bit of aboost in the situation they’re in.”

pid and tried to hurdle or truck him or whatever,and I’ve gotten hurt,” Shough said. “Butyou’re going to try andget the ﬁrst down, and I feel like I’ve had the opportunity to learnfromthatwhere .you’re notplaying scared,but you’re not playing dumb, either.”

Aquarterback’s mobility always has been an important part of Moore’soffense.

As an offensive coordinator,Moore called plays forDak Prescott, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts —all threats to take off and extendplays. Before Shough took over for the Saints this season, Spencer Rattler also used his legs afair amount. Moore liked to say thatthe second-year quarterback ranthe “fakest 4.9 ever.”

ButShough’sspeed has been forcing defenses to account for him. According to Next Gen Stats, the second-round pickhas the second-most carries(20) and thirdmost rushing yards (95) for his position over the last three games. Shough, whoran a4.63 40-yard dash at the combine, clocked 19.43 mphonhis 34-yard touchdownrun.

“Everyone kind of counts out his wheels,but …that’sanotherpart of hisgamethat’svery underrated,” Neal said of Shough. “People are, hopefully,starting to notice.”

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

HENDERSON, Nev.— Raiders quarterback Geno Smith did not practice Wednesday because of ashoulderinjury,placing hisstatusfor Sunday’s game at Philadelphia in question.

Coach Pete Carroll termed Smith’sstatusasday-to-day. Kenny Pickett, who wasJalen Hurts’ backup last season with theEagles, took ﬁrst-team snaps in practice. Smith injured his right (throwing) shoulder in the third quarterofSunday’s24-17 loss to Denver. He was not available for commentWednesday. Pickett replaced Smith and completed 8of11passesfor 97 yards and atouchdown.

“Coming in late, Ididn’tmuch workwiththe first-team guys at all,” Pickett said. “So the fact Ican go outthere andget some (Wednesday) would be huge.”

Keydefensiveplayer for Hoosierstomiss CFP

Defensive end Stephen Daley is expected to miss the College Football Playoff after getting injured during No. 1Indiana’sBig Ten championship celebration.

Coach Curt Cignetti made the announcement Wednesday

Asocial media video showed Daley landing awkwardly on his right leg while high-ﬁving fans after the Hoosiers completed a13-10 victory over Ohio State to capture their ﬁrst Big Tentitle since 1967.

Daley played akey role for the Hoosiers after transferringfrom KentState to Indiana this season. He had 38 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 51/2 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup this season, earning allBig Tenhonorable mention honors. The Hoosiers will face the winnerofNo. 8Oklahomaand No. 9 Alabama.

Mavericks centerLively to miss rest of season

Dallas Mavericks center Dereck

Lively is set forseason-ending surgery on his ailing right foot, another setback forthe promising but oft-injured player

Theteam saidWednesday the surgerywillbeperformed by Dr James CalderinLondon. The Maverickspreviously said Lively was seeking multiple medical opinions as discomfort in the foot lingered. Lively’s ﬁnal gameofthe season was a118-115 victory over New OrleansonNov.21. He then sat the second night of aback-to-back aftermissing 10 of the previous 14 gamesbecause of aknee injury.The foot issuearose after his return.

The 21-year-old Lively will have missed 148 of apossible 246 games by the end of his third season.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at the Caesars Superdome on Nov. 23.

STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE

NewOrleansSaints offensivetackle Taliese Fuaga, right, competes in the firsthalf against the NewEngland PatriotsonOct. 12 in the Caesars Superdome. Fuaga returnedto practiceWednesday and could playSundayagainst the Carolina Panthers

LSU’sthird-leading rusher enters portal

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU sophomorerunning back Ju’Juan Johnson is planning to enter the transfer portal, he conﬁrmed with The Advocate on Wednesday Johnson was third on the Tigers in rushing yards and carries while averaging 4 yards per attempt this season. He began the year as a clear part of LSU’srotation at running back with three or more carries in five of LSU’sfirstsix games, but he fadeddownthe stretch. He had only 10 carries over LSU’s ﬁnal six contests.

Johnson, afour-star recruit from Lafayette Christian in the 2024 class, arrived at LSU as asafety but moved to running back midway through his freshman year.Hethen transitioned to quarterbacktobegin this season, but moved back to the backﬁeld afterfreshman JT Lindsey wassuspended from the team.

Johnson ﬁnishes his LSU career with 259total yards from scrimmage. He had 17 catches for 72 yards to go along with 151 yards on the ground this season. He had

running back

from WesternKentuckylinebacker

36 total yards from scrimmage as afreshman Without Johnson, LSU still hasleading running backs HarlemBerry and Caden Durham set to return nextseason. Berry emerged as akey piece of therunning back rotation this season as afreshman. Durham has battled injuries, but the sophomore started as afreshman and has averaged more than 5 yardsper carryduringhis time at LSU LSU did not sign any running backs from the 2026 class, meaning that it will have to turn to the transfer portaltoadd more depthatthe position.

Napier aims to buildon JMU’sCFP momentum

BY MIKE BARBER Associated Press

HARRISONBURG, Va.— Billy Napier will be watching 12th-seeded James Madison’sCollege Football Playoff game against ﬁfthseeded Oregonwith an eye toward the future.

The former Florida coach was introduced Wednesday as the successor to Bob Chesney,who will leave James Madison for UCLA after the Dukes’ playoff run.

“This place continues to make history and it’sour job to continue that,” Napier said. “It’sinthe DNA here.” Napier agreed to afiveyear contract that will pay him aguaranteed $965,000 annually,adeal that ranks him in the top five among coaches in the Sun Belt Conference.

The contract includesa $2.5 million buyout if he leaves before the 2029 season. It goes down to $1.75 million if he leaves before the 2030 season, and $1.25 million if he leaves before the 2032 season.

LSU

Continued from page1C

defensivecoordinator Blake Baker,and eightother new coaches and staff members, according to the board’s agenda. The board is expectedto approve previously reported terms for Kifﬁn, Baker, head of strength and conditioning Nick Savage, cooffensive coordinator and tight ends coachJoe Cox, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach George McDonald, and director of playerpersonnel Mike Williams.

Athletic director Matt Roan saidinaddition to asalary in thetop endofthe conference, Napier will have high-level payfor his staff and arevenue-sharing percentage that is the highestin theSun Belt and competitive nationally

“Wecertainlyhave enoughresources to be competitive,”Napier said. “I wouldn’t be sitting here if that wasn’tthe case.”

Napier went 40-12 in four seasonsatUL, then2223 in his four years with the Gators. His run at UL saw him dominate the Sun Belt, making four appearances in the title game as West Divisionchamps and league titles in his ﬁnal two seasons there.

Napier never got things rolling at Florida, having just one winning season at 8-5 in 2024. He was 3-4 when he was ﬁred by the Gators this season.

Chesney has ledthe Dukes to a12-1record, theSun Belt championship and aspot in the CFP.UCLA hadbeen pursuing himsince it ﬁred

LSU is set to approve a two-year deal for new offensive line coach Eric Wolford that will pay him an averageof$937,500 peryear, and atwo-year deal for new quarterbacks coach Dane Stevensworth$350,000per year.With Wolford confirmed as the offensiveline coach, LSU needs onlya runningbacks coach to complete Kiffin’soffensive staff. Wolford has coached offensive lines in the SEC for the past nineseasons. He worked at South Carolina from 2017-20 before spending ayear at Kentucky.He then worked as the Alabama offensive line coach for two seasons until Nick Saban retired. Afterthat, Wolford returned to Kentucky for the past two years until head coach Mark Stoops was fired. Wolford will replaceLSU offensiveline coach Brad Davis, aBaton Rouge native who was with the Tigers for the past five years LSU also is hiring director of football operations Thaddeus Rivers to atwoyear deal worthanaverage of $312,500 and director of recruiting Dwike Wilson to atwo-year deal worth an average of $287,500 as several keystaff roles change under Kiffinand general manager Billy Glasscock. All the term sheets for the assistant coaches and staff members include aclause that requires them to pay 300% of their then-current salary if they terminatetheir agreement without causebefore theend ofMarch. All of themwouldowe 100% of their buyout after that date if theytake another college job. However,Weis would not have to payanything if he leavesafterthe 2026 season. Weis first overlapped with Kiffinasa graduate assistant at Alabama, and he worked with him at both Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss. They have to overhaul anLSU offense that ranks 108th in the countryinscoringat21.8 points per game. LSU fired offensive coordinator Joe

Pavia, Leawin topSEC awards;two Tigers honored

BY MARK LONG AP sportswriter

DeShaun Foster in Week 3.

“Where we’re at currently,weneed to maximize the momentum thatwehave,” Napiersaid. “Weneed to take full advantageofthese opportunities that come with the College FootballPlayoff.”

Calling thenext 90 days “critical,” Napier saidhe’ll be focused on meeting and retaining the current players and hiring hisstaff.

In Napier,James Madison may have found acoach whocan bring stabilityto aprogram that just hired its ﬁfth coach in the last 10 years.

“This could be theprice for success,” Roan said. But he believes Napier’s experience at UL and the ageofhis childrencould leadtoadesiretostick in one place.

“Thisisabout building a sustainable programthat can have continued success,” Napier said. “To whereIcan drive home everyday and feel good about the type of team we could have next year.”

Sloan in themiddle of the season after dismissing head coach BrianKelly LSU also temporarily adjustedthe compensation and incentives package for running backs coach Frank Wilson, who was named interim head coach after Kelly was fired.Wilson earned $1.05 million this year,which was paid through monthly installments. He will make $169,583 more per month in November andDecember whileheservesasinterim coach. Wilson received an additional $10,000 for his one regular-season SEC win against Arkansas and$50,000 for making a bowl game. He would earn $100,000 if LSU beats No. 21 Houstoninthe TexasBowl After the game,Wilson can leave beforeMarch without having to pay abuyout even though he has another year on his contract. Wilson’sfuture at LSUis unclear.Hehas expressed a desiretostay andhad conversations withKiffin, but he said Tuesday he does not expect clarity until after the Texas Bowl. On3 reported WednesdaythatWilsonis aname to know in Texas’ search for anew running backs coach. None of LSU’s other offensive coaches from this past season are expected to be retained.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, his coach Clark Lea and TexasA&M pass rusher Cashius Howell won top individual honorsfrom The Associated Press for the 2025 Southeastern Conference season. In resultsreleased Wednesday,the AP named Paviathe conference’soffensive player of theyear, Lea the coach of theyear for asecond straight season and Howell the defensive player of the year Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy,asophomore who transferredfrom ULMonroe,was namedthe league’snewcomer of the year.Tennessee receiver Braylon Staley wasnamed freshman of theyear LSU’sonly two representatives on thetwo all-SEC teams came fromthe defense. Both senior cornerback Mansoor Delaneand seniorsafety AJ Haulcy landedonthe ﬁrst-teamdefense.

Pavia, aHeisman Trophy finalistwho led theCommodores to their first 10win season in school history,completed 71% of his passes for 3,192 yards. He

First-team offense

QB —DiegoPavia, Vanderbilt, 6-0, 207, Gr. RB —Ahmad Hardy,Missouri, 5-10, 210, So. RB —Kewan Lacy,Ole Miss, 5-11 210, So. WR —Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee, 6-5, 200, R-Jr. WR —Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma, 5-10, 182, R-Jr. TE —Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt,6-4, 235, Gr. OT —Cayden Green, Missouri, 6-5, 324, Jr. OT —Kadyn Proctor,Alabama, 6-7, 366, Jr OT —Keagen Trost, Missouri, 6-4, 316, Gr. OG —DJCampbell, Texas, 6-3 321, Sr. OG —Wendell Moe Jr Tennessee, 6-2, 330, R-Jr. C—JakeSlaughter,Florida, 6-5, 303, R-Sr. First-team defense DE/Edge —Cashius Howell, Texas A&M, 6-2, 248, R-Sr. DE/Edge —Colin Simmons,Texas, 6-3, 240, So. DT —Will Echoles,Ole Miss, 6-3 310, So. DT —Christen Miller, Georgia, 6-4, 310, R-Jr. LB —CJAllen, Georgia, 6-1,235, Jr. LB —Xavier Atkins,Auburn, 6-0 210, So. LB —AnthonyHill Jr., Texas, 6-3, 238, Jr CB —Mansoor Delane, LSU,6-0, 190, Sr.

accounted for4,018 total yards and 36 touchdowns, including 27 passing. He ledthe SECand ranked fourthnationally witha 171.5passerrating.

Lea has been instrumental in Pavia’sdevelopment andthe rise of theprogram Vandy has17wins over the last two seasons —the team’sbest two-year stretch in nearly acentury —and have soldout games along the way.That success made Leaa candidate at otherprogramsand prompted acontract extension last month.

Lea also was named the SEC’scoach of the year

CB —Daylen Everette,Georgia,6-1 190, Sr. S—A.J. Haulcy,LSU,6-0,222, Sr S—BrayHubbard, Alabama, 6-2, 213, Jr. First-team specialists PK —Tate Sandell, Oklahoma,5-9, 182, R-Jr. P—Grayson Miller, Oklahoma 5-10, 200, Jr. All-purpose —KCConcepcion, TexasA&M, 5-11, 190, Jr. Second-team offense QB —TySimpson, Alabama, 6-2, 208, R-Jr. RB —Jadan Baugh, Florida,6-1, 231, So. RB —MikeWashington Jr., Arkansas, 6-2, 228, Sr WR —KCConcepcion, TexasA&M, 5-11, 190, Jr. WR —BrenenThompson, Texas A&M, 5-9, 170, Sr TE —Rohon Jones, Arkansas,6-3 242, Sr. OT —CaydenGreen,Missouri,6-5, 324, Jr. OT —TrevorGoosby,Texas,6-7, 312, So. OG —Ar’maj Reed-Adams,Texas A&M, 6-5, 325, Gr. OG —MicahMorris, Georgia, 6-4, 330, R-Sr. C—DrewBobo, Georgia, 6-5, 305, Jr. Second-team defense DE/Edge —QuincyRhodesJr., Arkansas,6-6,275, Jr. DE/Edge —RMason Thomas, Oklahoma, 6-2, 249, Sr

in 2024 afterleading the ‘Dores to a7-6 mark. Howell leads the league and is tied for fourth nationally with111/2 sacks. He has 151/2 sacks in two years with the Aggies. He spent his ﬁrst two seasons at Bowling Green. Hardy led the SEC with 1,560 yards rushing, including 300 against Mississippi State last month, and scored 16 touchdowns. Staley caught 64 passes for 806 yards and six TDs. The 2025 AP All-SEC team,asselected by media members who regularly cover the league.

DT —Gracen Halton, Oklahoma 6-2, 292, Sr. DT —ChrisMcClellan, Missouri, 6-4, 323, Sr. LB —JosiahTrotter, Missouri, 6-2, 237, R-So. LB —TaureanYork,Texas A&M, 5-10, 227, Jr. LB —OwenHeinecke, Oklahoma 6-1, 227, R-Jr. CB —Colton Hood, Tennessee, 6-0, 195, R-So. CB —Ellis Robinson IV,Georgia,6-0 180, R-Fr S—MichaelTaaffe,Texas,6-0 189, Sr. S—WydettWilliams Jr., Ole Miss, 6-2, 210, Sr. Second-team specialists PK —Peyton Woodring, Georgia, 5-10, 190 P—Brett Thorson, Georgia, 6-2, 235, Sr. All-purpose —RyanNiblett, Texas, 5-10, 187, So

Vanderbilt head coachClark Leawatches histeam warmupbefore agame against Kentucky on Nov. 22 in Nashville, Tenn.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU

Ju’JuanJohnson high-steps away

Jaylen Wester in the fourth quarter onNov.22atTiger Stadium.

Hall balances staff selections with preparation for CFP

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

Soon-to-be Tulane head coach

Will Hall knows how important it is to put a terriﬁc staff together, but he also understands nothing can get in the way of the Green Wave’s preparation for its Dec. 20 College Football Playoff game against Ole Miss.

It is a tricky combination as he fulﬁlls his role as passing game coordinator while also talking with assistants who will not accompany Jon Sumrall to Florida about staying in New Orleans.

“We’re in the middle of a College Football Playoff run, and you don’t want to mess that up because it’s a special scenario,” Hall said. “There’s a little bit more moving parts than normal, and we’re trying to manage both sides of that in the best way to give us the best opportunity to go up to Oxford (Mississippi) and put our best foot forward.”

Sumrall will not take offensive coordinator Joe Craddock or defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato to Florida, reportedly hiring Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White for the same roles with Florida.

Hall has praised Craddock repeatedly for wanting him to join the staff this year rather than balking at the addition of a former Tulane offensive coordinator

“I want what’s best for Joe, and whatever that is, we’ll ﬁnd out in the next few days,” Hall said Tuesday “He’s a great coach who has a lot of great opportunities he’s assessing right now He will be a head coach one day or a Power Four offensive coordinator making a whole lot of money, or he could stay here because he loves this place and we are so close.”

Hall said his first priority is naming a defensive coordinator, with Gasparato a possibility.

“Coach Gas is a phenomenal coach that has a lot of opportunities in front of him,” he said “He can be a head coach in the very near future as well. If he would like to be here, we’ll get that shored up just like with coach Craddock and the rest of the staff over the next few days.”

Crescent City connection

The lure of New Orleans was a huge factor in Hall joining Sumrall’s staff this year after being ﬁred by Southern Miss midway through the 2024 season, and he believes the same attraction will be pivotal to his success as coach. He realized the beneﬁt early in his tenure as former coach Willie Fritz‘s offensive coordinator in 2019-20.

“I told my wife after six

NOTEBOOK

months, recruiting here is different,” he said. “I believe when young men come here, it changes them Choosing to come here is a tremendous advantage that puts you in front.”

Hall, a devout Christian, still found a city known for its hedonistic pleasures to be a perfect ﬁt.

“It’s my favorite place we’ve ever lived,” he said “New Orleans wakes up happy, ready to attack the day If there’s not a party planned, there’s about to be one planned. I love that. I don’t think the good Lord wants us to not enjoy life.”

Institutional support

In a search that included several Zoom interviews and a few in-person interviews, Hall’s assuredness stood out to Tulane

athletic director David Harris

“We had a chance to sit down with him twice, and both times at the end of the interview he stood up, shook my hand and said, ‘David, I’m your guy,’ ” Harris said.

“And he was right He was and is my guy, and now he’s our guy.”

Harris added it was not just current players who endorsed Hall during the selection process but also staff members in and around the school, coaches and former players.

“While there is some science to these searches, there is also some art to it,” Harris said.

“Maybe there’s even a little bit of luck, but whatever it is, you’re just concerned that you have the right person for your program at the right time. I can’t remember a search where there were just so many people representing so many different groups coming forward saying we believe in this guy.”

No opinion

Hall’s sons, Tripp and Pete, have been back at John Curtis High since Hall returned to Tulane in the spring. They were third and ﬁfth graders in 2019. Now, Tripp is a junior defensive lineman and wrestler for the Patriots. Eighth grader Pete, who was an everyday presence at Tulane practices as an 8-year-old in 2019, is a quarterback and basketball player

Laughing, Hall refused to get involved in Friday night’s controversial ending of the Curtis-St. Augustine Division I select semiﬁnal game. Curtis coach J.T Curtis thought a Purple Knights player who was ruled out of bounds with four seconds left had landed inbounds. St. Augustine scored the winning touchdown as time ran out on the next play

“They’re both great programs,”

Hall said, intent on recruiting each

MICHIGAN

Continued from page 1C

of excellence that culminated in the school’s ﬁrst national title in 26 years. He worked his way up within the Wolverines staff and ﬁlled in as interim coach for four games during the 2023 championship season while Harbaugh served two suspensions for potential NCAA rules violations

Moore also served a one-game suspension during that year related to a recruiting infractions NCAA case.

Earlier in the 2023 season, Michigan State ﬁred coach Mel Tucker for cause after he engaged in what he described as consensual phone sex with an activist and rape survivor In 2012, Arkansas ﬁred coach Bobby Petrino because of a sordid scandal that involved a motorcycle crash, an affair with a woman who worked for him and being untruthful to his bosses.

Southern head coach

Carlos Funchess calls out a play in the first quarter of a game against Prairie View on Feb 15 at the F.G.

Southern women riding high after two huge road wins

BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer

How do you follow up one of the biggest nonconference road wins in program history? If you’re the Southern women’s basketball team, you back it up with another huge road win.

Last Sunday, on the heels of a 63-57 upset win over Arizona at the McKale Center, Southern turned the tables on Houston. The Jaguars defeated the Cougars 70-62 to cap off one of the biggest regular-season weeks in program history

“That hasn’t been done in the 20 years that I’ve been here,” Southern coach Carlos Funchess said after the Jaguars improved to 3-5 overall.

“To pick up two Power Four wins, let alone back-to-back, that’s huge. We’re not where we need to be yet, but we’re getting a better understanding of what it will take.”

The Jaguars had what it took last season when they won the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles. Their postseason run continued in the NCAA Tournament, where they became the ﬁrst SWAC team to post

DUNCAN

have been crazy.”

The impact from the historic achievement is still being felt by the team and school ofﬁcials. But the tangible and intangible beneﬁts are real, and many are already being realized on campus.

The ﬁnancial windfall alone is extraordinary Win or lose its Dec. 20 rematch with Ole Miss, Tulane will receive $8.1 million from the CFP most of which comes from its share of the CFP’s $8 million payout to the American Conference. Unlike most conferences, which divvy up postseason revenue equally among member schools, the American has a performance-based revenue-sharing system, which rewards programs for their individual success. As such, Tulane will receive $6.1 million of the CFP’s $8 million payout to the American and another $2 million for travel and operational expenses from the CFP

If Tulane upsets Ole Miss and advances to the quarterﬁnal round against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, it will mean another $6 million to $7 million payday for the Green Wave.

“Obviously, this is a huge thing for us,” Tulane athletic director David Harris said. “For our football program, for the department and the entire university to be in a position where we’re playing on the biggest stage that college football has to offer, it allows us to take another step as far as our significance as a football program and significance as a university I can’t think of anything that’s more significant than being able to have a chance to play in the College Football Playoff game.”

It remains to be seen how Tulane will utilize the extra resources, but much of it is expected to be reinvested into the football program, particularly the school’s Green Wave Talent Fund, which funds name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for the school’s athletes.

“Obviously, (the CFP berth) is

a win with a 68-56 victory over UC San Diego. Defense was the driving force of that team, but with nine new players this year, the Southern offense has begun to pick up.

Southern shot a combined 44% from the ﬁeld in the Arizona and Houston wins. Those numbers included an efﬁcient 11-of-24 showing from 3-point range and 22 for 28 at the free-throw line.

Against Arizona, Southern withstood every run the Wildcats threw at them. In the third quarter, Jestiny Dixon stepped up with back-to-back 3-pointers after Arizona had tied the game 37-37. Her efforts helped Southern take a 47-42 lead into the fourth, where its lead increased to 11. Arizona cut the margin to four late in the game, but Southern came up with two key defensive stops as it held on for the win.

Sophomore post player DeMya Porter led Southern with 16 points, and point guard MyKayla Cunningham handed out nine assists.

Southern controlled the Houston game from the outset. The Jaguars never trailed and took their largest lead of 16 points in the fourth quarter Zaria Hurston and Olivia Delancy were the scoring leaders with 11 points each, while Porter

had nine points and six rebounds.

“We did a really good job of controlling the pace and keeping some defensive pressure on,” Funchess said. “Most of all, we scored a few points. That’s been our Achilles’ heel in a lot of these games. I could see the light ﬂickering, and now its trying to turn on.”

On Friday, the light will shine on Southern when it hosts SouthernNew Orleans for an 11 a.m. contest at F.G. Clark Activity Center The early start is part of an outreach initiative in which Southern invites local schools to make field trips while allowing students to attend the game. Southern will ﬁnish off its December slate with a pair of road games — at No. 16 Baylor and at SMU. Funchess said the Jaguars need to stay focused as they prepare for the SWAC schedule, which begins New Year’s Day with a home game against Prairie View

“We can’t have any letdowns,” he said. “Like I told the young ladies after the Houston game, ‘You can’t be reading your own press clippings. People will be patting you on the back, telling you how great you are, but that didn’t get us to this point.’ As a coaching staff, our message is that they have to continue to work.”

something that you can’t necessarily plan for or budget for, from a ﬁnancial standpoint,” Harris said. “For us, it’s an unexpected beneﬁt that we’ll certainly put to good use as far as trying to continue the overall development of program.”

As great as the CFP payday is for Tulane, the ancillary beneﬁts of media exposure, prestige and Q rating enhancement might be even more signiﬁcant. As one of just 12 schools in the playoff, Tulane joins an exclusive club that includes, among others, college football bluebloods Alabama, Ohio State, Miami and Georgia. The game will be televised nationally on TNT/Tru TV in the 2:30 p.m. time slot on Dec. 20.

What’s more, the football program will receive two weeks of pregame publicity in the lead-up to the game. The value of the media exposure alone is expected to be in the millions.

“This is a moment of opportunity for us,” Tulane CFO Patrick Norton said Tuesday at the news conference to introduce Will Hall as the new football coach.

“Football has elevated the national proﬁle of our university and energized our community.”

It’s no coincidence, school ofﬁ cials say, that Tulane’s unprece-

dented recent run of success on the football ﬁeld has dovetailed with record-breaking student enrollment ﬁgures and growth in research, enterprise, and bold investments in innovation and infrastructure.

“The rise of Green Wave athletics very much reﬂects the state of the university as a whole,” Tulane president Michael Fitts said. “We are truly a university on the rise.”

Time will tell whether the CFP appearance is a one-off or the start of something bigger and more tangible for Tulane athletics. The truth is it might take years to fully quantify the residual effects. In the end, school ofﬁcials are optimistic it will have a similar or even greater impact on the school as the Green Wave’s milestone win over Southern Cal in the Cotton Bowl nearly three years ago.

“I grew up playing football and to look at the names on that list — Georgia, Alabama, Miami — all the great names of college football, and now Tulane University fits in there,” Arata said. “What that means for the profile of our athletics program and being in that number, I mean, we made it. This is a defining moment in Tulane athletics history.”

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Tulane linebacker Sam Howard reacts to a play against North Texas during the second half of the American Conference championship game at yulman Stadium on Friday. Tulane won 34-21.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

New Tulane football coach Will Hall speaks during an introductory news conference in the Glazer Family Center at yulman Stadium on Tuesday.

Clark Activity Center

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

THE VARSITYZONE

Blendoftalent

Dunham WR Washington does much more than catchpasses

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Dunham senior receiver

Jarvis Washington caught a19yard touchdown in the team’s semiﬁnalwin against No. 1Lafayette Christian last Friday

TheTigerstrailed 48-47 after the score, and the team prepared to run atwo-point conversion with Washington as the primary target. The team had practiced the play it chose for two years When it ﬁnally came time to run the play,Washington told his coaches during the timeout that he anticipated being double-teamed and suggested putting receiver Khris Thomas in his spot Washington told Thomas before the play that he could see it coming.

“I was just telling him,” Washington said, Man, I trust you to make that play.’

” The coaches listened, and when the play was run, Thomas made the catch to send Dunham backtothe Division III select state title game after a49-48win.

Dunham coachNeil Weiner said therearen’tmany playerswho don’t want the ball in their hands, regardless of the sport. But Washington does agood job of being agreat teammate

“Jarvis has alarge amount of conﬁdence in himself,but he really is aselﬂess player,” Weiner said. “That’sarare combination.”

Washington, aSouth Alabama signee, has tallied 981 yards receiving and 18 total touchdowns in the regular season. He had 182 yards receiving andfourtouchdowns on seven catches in the semiﬁnals.

Dunham now will face No.6 CalvaryBaptistinthe Division III select championship game.

Allabout confidence

Washington isn’taquiet person.

“He speaks alot of positivity to the players,” Weiner said. “He brings alot of energy.He’s atalker.He’stalking to himself. He’stalking to the opponents. He’stalking to his teammates.

He’salways talking.”

His big-play ability and unselﬁshness deﬁne what Weiner wants his program to be

“If you truly have heart,” Weiner said, “you care about your teammates so much that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to see them have success.”.”

PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON Dunham wide receiver Jarvis Washington races

past Live Oakdefensiveback Porter

Rutledgeafter the catchin the firstquarter on Sept. 11 at BREC’sOlympia Stadium.

Football state championships At CaesarsSuperdome Thursday Division IV nonselect: No. 1Haynesville (13-0) 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 (121), 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),7 p.m Saturday Division Inonselect: No. 1Ruston (11-2) vs.No. 14 Ouachita Parish (10-4), noon Division Iselect: No. 1EdnaKarr (13-0) vs.No. 3St. Augustine(12-1) 3:30 p.m.

Even when he’snot catching the ball, Washington ﬁnds ways to step up.

Whilehemade phenomenal catches against Lafayette Christian, defensive coordinator CalobLeindecker grabbedWashington and told him he neededtoplaysafety on thelast driveofthe game.

The first opportunityhe had, he nabbed theinterception that helped Dunham seal the victory

Builtdifferent

Washington is atalented player, butWeiner saidhe hits adifferent gear on game nights.

He might not winthe 100-meter dash in track and ﬁeld, butonafootball ﬁeld, he’sconstantly blazing past defenders.

His 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame gives himabigger catch radius. Weiner said he’s seen him make great catches vertically or reach out and grababallthatmostreceivers wouldn’tbe able to get.

Washington’smentality also helps him make highlight-worthycatches every week.Whenhe caughtthe touchdown pass to give his side an opportunitytowin the semiﬁnal game, he pointed to his mindset.

“We’re herefor areason,” Washington said. “Might as well make the most of the moment.”

He said his conﬁdencehas grown sincehis sophomore

year because he’scontinued training andfiguring himself out

“I trust myself alot with a lotofsituations,”Washingtonsaid. “Having thatconﬁdenceinmyself that Iam aballplayer. I’m aguy that you can depend on.”

He credited Dunham for helpinghim alignhis goals and show him what he was capable of doing as aperson and on the football ﬁeld.

Washington saidhe’ll always cherish his time as aTiger

Washington spent his ﬁrst two seasonsatMadison Prep before transferring to Dunham heading into his junior season. He instantly hit it off withthe players and coaches, which Weiner believes helped him contributeearly in his junior season.

“Sometimes atalented kid that comes into anew environment worksreally hard to trytoestablish himself as somebody special,” Weiner said. “He was very humble and accepting of everybody, and everyone was of him.”

Offensive coordinator Jeff HandknewWashington possessed talent whenheinitially joined Dunham,and last year he saw his conﬁdence blossom.

“By the endofthe season,you could see achange where he started believing like he’sreally good,” Hand said. “He took that belief and momentumand has used it to becomethe player he’sbeen throughout the 2025 campaign.”

Anotherchance

Last year,Dunhamreached the state title but lost to Catholic-New Iberia, 31-28.

Now Washington and the Tigersget asecond chance at astate title.

“It’sjust atestament to show how much work we’ve been putting in as ateam over these past two years,” Washington said. “Just wanting to getoverthe hump and just win astate championship.”

He knows how speciala championship would be,and he said nobody ever talks about the runner-up. He wants to come back to the school in 20 years andsee abanneron thewalltorepresent a2025 state title and the memories he made with his team.

While returning to the Superdomeisa chance at redemption, Washington is taking adifferent approach to thegame. His focus isn’t on the past, and he’slooking to embrace the moment.

“Can’t focusonthe present if you’re still living in the past,” Washingtonsaid “Weearned another chance to get another crack at this thing. Let’sjust go getthe job done this time.”

Former ACHS ball boys getashotatstate title

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

John RobDaigleremembers thelast time he was in theCaesars Superdome.

Ascension Catholic played Lafayette Christian in the2018 state championship game. Daigle was a ball boywho would carry around abig iPad.

“I was taking apicture of every little thing that happened,” Daigle said. “I thought it was the greatest experience ever.”

Daigle alsorecalls the heartbreak he felt after Ascension Catholic lost.Even as aball boy,hecried when the clock hit zero andthe team fell short of astate title.

“A team thatwas 10 years olderthanme,”Daiglesaid. “Still, Iwas devastated. I knewI wanted to be there oneday andprove everything, and be on the oppositeside.”

Sevenyears later,Daigle is ajunior on the 2025 Bulldogs team. Along with fellowformer ball boys —seniorKamryn Schexnayder, seniorAiden Hebert and junior Cole Cassard —they have achance to deliver another state title to their school.

AscensionCatholic will play Riverside Academy in the DivisionIVselectstate title gameonThursday Path back to Dome

Theformer ball boys rememberthe feeling of stepping ontothe turf of theSuperdomeand hoping they’d get thechance to play for a statetitle on the same ﬁeld.

“I just remember walking out as aball boy on the turf and thinking, ‘Oh, Iwish I can play here one day,’” Schexnayder said. “Now I’m here, my senior year.” Cassard said this team always has felt doubted. Now with atriptothe Dome imminent, he’staking time to soak it all in and workto bring homeatrophy

The path back to the Dome hasn’tbeen easy.AscensionCatholic reached thesemiﬁnals in 2022 and 2024and thequarterﬁnals in 2023, but fell short each time.

“Mywhole high school career felt like we were losingheartbreakersleftand

right,” Hebert said. “Now, we ﬁnally get to prove ourselves.”

Forthe community

The Ascension Catholic players arecompeting for morethan themselves. They’ve had family,friends andcoaches witness years of the team falling short andwanttogive them the feeling of atitle.

Kamryn Schexnayder’s father,Ryan Schexnayder, is theteam’sathletic trainer and has been apart of the program for18years.

“He nevergot to experience astate championship,” Kamryn Schexnayder said. “I want to bring it homefor him.”

Kamryn Schexnayder said he hopeshis teamcan shock everybody withhis dad and sister,Anna, whois an assistant trainer,onthe sidelines.

Ryan Schexnayder recalledthe excitement shared by him and his son when they ﬁrstmade it to the state title gamein2018. But by the end of the game, there was aletdown.

“That senior class told me thattheyweregoing to do everything they could to get us to where we’re going,”RyanSchexnayder said about this year’steam. “They ﬁnally have the opportunity to do something about that ending.”

This will be Ryan Schexnayder’slast year withthe team before he stepsaway from athletic training. He will cap off his tenure withhis daughter on thesidelinewithhim his sononthe ﬁeld and his youngest son as aball boy He’switnessed past teams comeclose, and he said that feeling of defeat givesthem an edge in the title game.

“Thisgroup’sbeen close manytimes,” Ryan Schexnayder said. “Now they get to ﬁnally get in the Dome andcomplete that chapter.”

Sharingthe experience

The former ball boys still share relationships with players from that 2018 team.Two former players, JohnMire andKevin Gautreau, now hope coach Ascension Catholic.

Gautreau said astate title

berth is asign of atrue brotherhood, andhesees similaritiesbetween his team and the 2025 squad that will play forachampionship.

“Their camaraderie is like no other,” Gautreau said. “Nothing more Iwant to see than these kids win this game.”

Mire knows whatits like to play in astate title game. He understands the feeling of ﬁnding friends and family in the crowd, the shine of the lights in the Superdome beaming downonhim

He’sdoing everything he can to offerthis team knowledge. Mire is excited to see the players whoused to bring him waterget a chance to achieve something he didn’t.

“Seeing them succeed as footballplayers anddoing what Igot to do as aplayer is thebest feelinginthe world,” Mire said. “I think we’ve gotsomeunﬁnished business as well.” Mire pointedtothe community rallying around the team. He said it’ssomething people in Donaldsonville love to see, andthey’ve relished their school being back in the Dome. He thoughtofhis father,who passed away three years ago.

“My dad, whowas avery, very passionate person about Ascension Catholic,” Mire said, “he would be proud to see this team back in the Dome. He would be jumping forjoy.”

Head coach Taylor James said the continuity of having the samepeople around theprogramisthe keyto building astable program at asmaller school.

“That’swhat small-school football is all about,” James said. “You have to have people thatgrowup, andthey eat, sleep, live and breathe Bulldogfootball. Youcut them open,and they bleed purple and gold.”

Twoofthe players’ little brothers are ball boys on the team.James described it as afull-circle moment, seeing his players go from ball boys in the state title game to contributors on the ﬁeld.

“That’swhatthe community is all about,” James said. “That’sthe way Iwant this program to be.”

BYCHARLES SALZER

Contributingwriter

The Holden girls stayed with Denham Springs for nearly two quarters, but the Yellow Jackets turned on the jets in the second half as they rolled to a75-43 winatthe midpoint of this week’sLivingston Parish basketball tournament hosted by Live Oak. The game was part of a busy slate Wednesday.Italso featured anightcap game between the Denham Springs and Holdenboys squads, which the Yellow Jackets won 64-22

The Denham Springs boys benefited from the recent addition of twins Da’Sean and Da’Jean Golmond, who had beenplaying football. Led by 14 points from Devin Kinchen,the Jackets took a47-11 halftime lead and coasted the rest of the way

In the ﬁrst girls game of the day,Springﬁeld improved to 7-0 on theseason with a65-57 overtime win over Albany Thegame was tied 55-55 be-

fore the extra period. TheLive Oakboys and French Settlement also needed extra time to settle their contest. The Lions had athree-point lead with a minute to play in regulation, butJordan Magee’ssteal set up Cash Davis for thetying 3-pointer.LiveOak quickly pulledahead in overtime and wentontoposta61-52win. The Holden girls gave DenhamSprings (6-3) plenty to thinkabout in theearly going. Blaize Foster scored seven points,includinga 3-pointer, andthe Rockets led by as many as six points in the ﬁrst quarter

DenhamSprings needed a6-0 runinthe final minute

to take a22-21 lead after one quarter

“That first quarter, we thought we were prepared for what they do,” Denham Springs coach Rudy Smith said.“Holden does agood jobofsetting the pace. They made us uncomfortable in that ﬁrst quarter.”

The ﬁrst half featuredfour ties and four lead changes until midway through the second quarter.After Holden used an 8-2surge to tie thegameat29-29,Denham Springs created separation. FourYellow Jackets got in on the scoring as Denham Springs outscored Holden 16-4 to close out thesecondquarter. Juliana Jones got therun started with a three-point play,and Kennedi Lindsey added ascoop shot in thelane. The Jackets went on to take a45-33 halftime lead In thethird quarter,Prai Nelson scored nine of her 18 points as Denham Springs putthe game outofreach

Sweet treats

Hopelessly devotedtocookies?

Trythisspicedtake on classicoatmeal

BY AMY DREW THOMPSON Orlando Sentinel (TNS)

Iampuzzling overwhatto call these cookies. For roughly 20 years,they’ve justbeen oatmeal cookies, becausethese are the ones we make. They have dried cranberries instead of raisins, because all of the people in the world who have been scarred by raisins have scarred me with their raisin trauma. Not really.I just like dried cranberries.

They’re colorful and fall-seasonal, and they go very nicely with the ginger that’salsobeen added to this warm, wonderful, seasonal cookie.

There’sanobvious namewe could give these cookies (hint: it rhymes with oatmeal-raisin), but sadly, that name is trademarked, and Idon’twant any trouble. And so, as Igoabout putting this story on the editorial budget, Iamstruggling. Iwant to call them cranberry-ginger oatmeal, but then it’spointed out to me that the oatmeal part should go ﬁrst. Because they are, ﬁrst and foremost, oatmeal cookies. And while oatmeal cookies, by any other name, still taste as sweet, the combination herein, to us, is perfection. Bake them alittle longer,and they’vegot more color and bite. Alittle less and they are chewy

They’re also wonderfully welcoming at their spicy,little cookie party.So, if you’re the sort who likes to meld the whole chocolate and oatmeal thing, might Isuggest some mini-dark or milk chocolate morsels?

Ginger is another thing.Iuse more than the below,which is a semi-neutralized recipe that I *think*, along time ago, came from acookbook. Ihonestly can’tremember.I just like them spicy.So, if you love ginger,use more. And if you like raisins, be loud and proud and use them, with or without the cranberries. And as Iamwrapping up this cute little blurb aboutcute little cookies, amighty bellow comes from the kitchen downstairs. Aclever one, too.

“How about CROATMEAL?!”

Ladies and gentlemen, we have awinner

GingeryCroatmeal Cookies (or whatever you want to call them) Makes roughly 30-35 cookies. Recipe is adapted by Amy DrewThompson. 1cup

1. Preheat

favorites glazed ham andBrussels sprouts gratin can feed afullhouse

December in New Orleans doesn’tarrive withawhisper; it crashes through the door like your favoritecousin who forgot to knock, arms full of presents and acooler of something inviting. The air turns crisp enough to makeyou reach for that jacket youswore you’d never need. Suddenly,the city transforms into something that feels like coming

THESEASON OF FOOD ANDLOVE THE SEASON

Kevin Belton

The holiday markets pop up like mushroomsafter rain —the French Market overﬂowing with handmade ornaments and the smell of hot beignets mixing with cinnamon and pine. Jackson Square ﬁlls with carolers who can’thelp but add alittle jazz to “Silent Night,” because even our Christmas songs need to swing. And everywhere, everywhere, Holiday

home, even if you’ve never left. This is themonth when New Orleansremembers what it does best:Gather people around tables that groan under theweight of love disguised as food. Walk through any neighborhood in December and you’ll catch it, that unmistakable scent of somebody’sgrandmother’skitchen working overtime. Pralines cooling on wax paper.Apot of gumbo that’sbeen simmering since dawn,

its roux dark as Mississippi mud and twice as rich. Red beans that have been talking to aham hock all day long, learning its secrets. This is the food that doesn’tjust ﬁll your stomach. It ﬁlls the spaces between people, the gaps that distance and time try to wedge between us.

ä See HOLIDAY, page 2D

PHOTO By MONICA BELTON

Sticky Sweet Glazed Ham

110-pound spiral cut ham

½cup brown sugar

1can regular Coca-Cola

1tablespoon cornstarch, optional Cooking spray

1. Preheat the oven to

350 F. Coat alarge roasting pan with cooking spray and place the ham in the pan.

2. Rub the brown sugar all over the ham, making sure to get it in between the slices

3tablespoons butter

¼cup shallots, sliced 2cloves garlic, minced 32 ounces fresh Brussels sprouts, cored and halved

¼teaspoon kosher salt

Pinch black pepper

¼teaspoon paprika

¾cup heavy cream

¾cup sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded ½cup Gruyere cheese, shredded 6slices cooked bacon, crumbled Minced fresh parsley,for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 375F Add butter to alarge ovensafe pan or skillet and heat overmedium heat. Add Brussels sprouts, shallots and garlic, seasoning with kosher salt, black pepper and paprika. Saute, stirring occasionally,about 5-8 minutes.

3. Pour thecan of CocaColaover the ham

4. Cover theham andbake for90minutes, basting every 30 minutes.

5. Uncover and bakefor 30 minutes more or until ham is browned and caramelized.

6. Remove the ham from the panand place on aserving platter.Spoon the glaze from thebottom of thepan over the ham.See optional

Brussels Sprouts Gratin

step below if youprefer a thicker glaze. TO THICKEN THE GLAZE: Pour theham glazefrom the bottom of the roasting paninto asmall pot and bring to a simmer.Whisk together the cornstarch with2 tablespoons of coldwater.Pour the cornstarch mixture into the pot, whisking constantly Bringtoa boil andcookfor 1minute or until glaze is thickened.

2. Remove pan from heat, pour in heavy cream. Sprinkle shredded cheddar and gruyere cheese all over the Brussels sprouts. Topwith crumbled bacon and bake about 12 minutes, until cheese is meltedand bubbly

HOLIDAY

Continued from page1D

tables are being set, chairs borrowed and extraleaves being added to accommodate one more, two more, however many show up. December is when the city stops pretending to be anything other than what it is: Abig, messy,beautiful family reunion that lasts all month long because food is just love you can taste. That’sthe thing about December in New Orleans There’salways room for one more at the table. This is the month when we pull out our mama’srecipes, written on index cards stained withdecades of use. When we argue goodnaturedly about whether

the potato salad needs more mustard (it does) and whether the greensneed more vinegar (they deﬁnitely do). When we let the kids lick the spoon from the cake batter and pretend we don’tsee them sneaking cookies before dinner

Therestaurants know what’sup, too. They’reservingRéveillon dinnersthat honor theold Creole tradition of late-night feasting after midnightMass. Turtle soup, oyster dressing, mirliton casserole —dishes that connect ustothe generationswho came before, who also gathered in December, who also understood that thebest gift you can give someone is aseat at your table and aplate piled high As we head toward the newyear,New Orleans doesn’tget quieter —itgets

with additional black pepper andminced parsley if desired.

fuller.Fuller of laughter, fuller of stories, fuller of thekind of memories that stick to your ribs better than any roux. Becausehere, we know the truth: December isn’t about the decorations or the presents. It’s about the people squeezed around your table, the food thatbrings themthere,and the love that keeps themcoming back.

Kevin Belton is resident chef of WWL-TV and has taught classes in Louisiana cooking for 30 years. The most recent of his four cookbooks, “KevinBelton’sCookin’ Louisiana: Flavors from the Parishes of the Pelican State,” was published in 2021. EmailChef at chefkevinbelton@gmail. com.

MiniatureChicken PotPies

squeezed betweenyour ﬁngers, but still looks alittle crumbly.Ifnecessary,add more water,a tablespoon at atime. (I used the full ½ cup.) Be carefulnot to overmix; it will make thedough tough.

3. Divide dough in half, turneach piece out onto a piece of plastic wrap and gentlyshape into adisk. Wrap it tightly in the plastic, then place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 20-30 minutes while youprepare the ﬁlling.

4. Preheat oven to 375 F.

5. In alarge sauce potor Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add carrots, celeryand onionand cook until vegetables are softened,about 5minutes, then stir in chopped mushrooms. Continue cookingfor another 2minutes

garnish

1. In afood processor, pulse together ﬂour,sugar andsalt. Add butter and pulse again until the mixture resembles coarse meal,with afew pea-size pieces of butter remaining.

2. Sprinklewith¼ cup ice water, then pulse until dough holds togetherwhen

POTPIES

Continued from page1D

because its ﬂaky and butterytexture goes well with both sweet and savory ﬁllings. Also, it’seasy to follow and requires only ahandful of ingredients. This dough is so forgiving that it’s pretty hard for even novice cooks to mess it up. While you can, and prob-

6. Add ﬂour and stir well to cover thevegetables, and cook for 1-2 minutes to eliminate raw ﬂour taste. Slowly pour in chicken brothand milk,a little at time, andstir occasionally untilitforms asmoothsauce. Let sauce simmer until it thickens, about 5minutes, then add herbs.Mix to combinewell andseason to taste withsalt

ably should,make chicken pot pieina9-inch crustfor an easy,one-dishfamily dinner,it’sjust as easyto make minipot pies using amuffintin —simply cut thedoughinto rounds large enoughtoline each muffin tin cup and divide the filling amongthem. Thehandy, single-serving packages can be enjoyed right away,warm from the pan, or frozen and reheated whenever theurgefor com-

Lemonjuice savesthe day

Dear Heloise: Ihave two thermal mugs. Oneisfor coffee, and one is for tea. They can’t be used in themicrowave or in the dishwasher.Toget thestainsout, Iboil somewater and put it in themugs. Ithen add acouple of squirts of lemon juice. Ilet it soak until thewater gets cold. Later when Iwash them with my other dishes, thestainsjust wipe away Ialso use this method to get therust out of my shower curtains. Iboil a pot of water withseveral squirtsoflemon juice. I movethe pot of water into thesink, add in the shower curtain (tamping it down

By The Associated Press

crust

and pepper

7. Stir in cubed chicken andParmesan cheese, if using. Set aside while you roll out dough.

8. Roll out dough on ﬂoured surface and cut out 24 circles with a4½-to-5-inchbiscuit cutter or glass. (I used a Tupperwarelid for thebottom anda slightly smaller pint glass for thetop layer.)

9. Lightly butterorspray a12-cup mufﬁntin with nonstick cooking spray.Place a rough round intoeach muffin cup, withside hanging over 10. Divide chicken mixture between the cups,place another round on top and fold theoverhang inward. Crimp theedge witha ﬂoured fork.

11. Cutafew vents in the top of the dough toallow steam toescape, sprinkle with alittlegrated Parmesanand place in the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until top is golden brown and ﬁlling is bubbling outaround theedges.

12. Allowpot pies to cool on thecounterfor about1015 minutes before serving, then gently run aplastic knife along the edges to lift each pie out without breaking the delicate crust.

fort food hits —say,after sportspractice or on movie night If you’re making thepot pies ahead of timefor later use, place unbaked pies in mufﬁncups, wrap the mufﬁnpan in foil, and freeze until solid (about 2hours). After ummolding, wrap theunbaked pies in plastic wrap, place them in alarge resealable freezer plastic bag and freeze them for up to 3months.

Hints from Heloise

occasionally), and launder it as usual after the water has gone cold. I admit Igot this hint from awoman’s magazine. It worked so well with the shower curtain that Itried it on the mugs, and it worked forthem,too. —Liz Nass, via email

Screw-on bottle caps

Dear Heloise: Somescrewon caps require one to press in and turn the cap, which can be daunting. Mouthwash bottles are just one example. What Ido after my ﬁrst use is to snip off the twoextension tabs, which lock the cap when it’stwisted. Iuse toenail clippers. Then Ireuse this

TODAYINHISTORY

aloft in the command module.

Today is Thursday, Dec. 11, the 345th day of 2025. There are 20 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Dec. 11, 1936, Britain’sKing Edward VIII abdicated the throne so he could marry American divorcee Wallis Warﬁeld Simpson; his brother, Prince Albert,became King George VI. Also on this date: In 1816, Indiana was admitted to theUnion as the 19th U.S. state.

In 1946, theUnited NationsInternational Children’sEmergency Fund (UNICEF) was established.

In 1972, Apollo 17 commander Gene Cernan guided lander Challenger to atouchdown on the moon,where he and Harrison “Jack” Schmittwould becomethe last two Apollo astronauts to walk on the lunar surface. They returned to Earth three days later with astronaut Ronald Evans, who remained

In 1978, nearly $6 million in cash and jewelry were stolen from the Lufthansa cargo terminal at New York’sJohn F. Kennedy Airport; the “Lufthansa Heist,” the largest cash robbery in history at the time, wasimmortalized in the ﬁlm “Goodfellas.”

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation creating a$1.6 billion environmental “Superfund” to pay forcleaning up hazardous chemical spills and toxic waste dumps.

In 1997, morethan 150 countries agreed at aglobal warming conference in Kyoto, Japan, to control the Earth’sgreenhouse gases.

In 1998, majority Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee pushed through three articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, over Democratic objections.

In 2008, former Nasdaq chairman Bernie Madoff was arrested, accused of

modiﬁed cap forfuture bottles so that Ionly have to wrestle with anew cap once with each purchase. TomDiNapoli,inBatonRouge Openingstuck-onlids

DearHeloise: Iwantedto write in regarding arecentletterfeaturing Mara Trotter’shint on opening lids on jars: Pleasetellher abetterway to open the lid on ajar is to taparound the lid with the handle of asilverware knife. Afew taps around the lid will make it easiertoopen, and youdon’t have to turn it upside down to tapiton the countertop! —Michele Cruz, via email

Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

running amultibilliondollar Ponzi scheme that wiped out the lifesavings of thousands of people and wrecked charities. (Madoff died in April 2021 while serving a150-year federal prison sentence.)

In 2020, the Supreme Court rejected alawsuit backed by President Donald Trumptooverturn Joe Biden’selection victory, ending an attempt to get legal issues that were rejected by state and federal judges before the nation’s highest court.

Today’sBirthdays: Actor Rita Moreno is 94. Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is 82. Singer Brenda Lee is 81. Singer Jermaine Jackson is 71. Rock musician Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe) is 67. Actor-comedian Mo’Nique is

3. Sprinkle

PHOTO By MONICA BELTON

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Visualization will have an impact on how you think and what you do next. Put your emotions aside and let common sense be your guide. Don't feel pressured; time is on your side.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) A change of scenery will be a wake-up call. Rethink what's brought you to the place you are now, and you'll discover how to replenish what's turned sour or led you astray.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Be a leader, not a follower. If you let someone manipulate you instead of following your heart, you'll end up backtracking. Life is about choices; do what's best for you.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Take your time; observe, plan and prepare to make your next move. Don't share too much information or leave yourself vulnerable to those eager to take credit for your ideas.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Question your motives; emotions can distort facts. Verify information before you act on it. It's vital to keep your plans and routine simple, doable and within budget.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) A change is within reach. Weigh the pros and cons when dealing with financial, health and legal matters. Consider how much you are paying for your lifestyle and how much you receive for your services.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Engage in something that raises your awareness. Cre-

ate a plan, engage in discussions with like-minded people and generate a stir that encourages doing something that makes you feel good about yourself.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Do what matters most to you. Your surroundings will influence your attitude and productivity. Make home improvements that put your mind at ease, and implement a sensible budget.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Socializing and entertainment don't have to break the bank. Get a makeover, formulate a plan for a healthy lifestyle or replace what's no longer of use with something that energizes you.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Check out subsidy offers that can lower your overhead. A change can have a positive impact on your life. It's time to shake things up and rethink your long-term strategy. LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Take a trip, mentally or physically, that will encourage positive change. Reviewing your options and considering your past, present and future will help you gain perspective regarding the possibilities.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Open the doors of communication; network, socialize and discuss your thoughts, feelings and potential agenda. Verify information before you begin.

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

ToDAy's cLuE: P EQuALs c

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM SherMAn’S LAGoon

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 Bridge

After aone-level suit opening and a takeout double, if the responder bids a suitattheone-level,itisnaturalandforcing (anddoes not deny10points). Anonjump new suit at the two-level is weak.

An example is the North hand in today’s diagram.Responder bids two diamonds over West’s double. Andafter East passes, South takes ashot at three no-trump.

Westleadshisfourth-highestheartand East puts up the 10. How shouldSouth proceed?

When in no-trump, always start by counting your top tricks —your immediatewinners. HereSouth has six:two hearts (given thelead), two diamonds and two clubs. If he is going to get three more tricks, he needstoestablishdummy’sdiamonds and get back into the dummy to cash the new winners.

What is declarer’sdummy entry?

Right—the heart queen. Butthat will be an entry only if South can lead twice toward the queen, oncetomakeWest take hiskingand once to winwiththe queen. So, declarer’s first key play is to win trickone with the heart ace.

Then he should cash thediamond ace and continue with the diamond nine. When West plays low twice, South must overtake with dummy’s10. If East could win the trick, the diamonds would be breaking3-2andallwouldbewell.Here,

though, when East discards,declarer continues with two more rounds of diamonds. And eventuallyhe will forcethat dummy entryinhearts to get home. In caseyou are wondering, if the responder had had, say, 11 high-card points, not five, he would have had to start witharedouble.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed

ToDAy’s WoRD BARLEy: BAR-lee: The seed of acereal grassusedespecially in malt beverages.

Average mark20words

Time limit 25 minutes

Can you find 25 or morewords in BARLEY?

yEsTERDAy’s WoRD —MEsQuITE

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

Pride cankeep us from the Lord.The Lord honorstrue humility. G.E. Dean

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard fillmore

0012 BATISTE, CLARISSA LYNN 11170 HWY 76 MARINGOUIN LA 70757 P PO BOX 400 MARINGOUIN LA 70757-0400 M 0013 BATISTE, XAIVIER MONTRELL 25150 DUBLIEUX ST PLAQUEMINELA70764-6008 MP

0014 BELLOT,STEVE GERARD 65720 JRDRPLAQUEMINE LA 70764-7308 MP

0015 BESS, LONNIE J1820 RAVIER LN SUNSHINELA70780-3516 P PO BOX 552 SUNSHINELA70780-0552 M 0016 BETHLY, CHARLOTTE WASHINGTON 56604 CPL HERMAN BROWN JR DR BAYOU GOULA LA 70788-3115 MP

0017BINGHAM, AVANTE JAYMON 58824 ANNEX ST PLAQUEMINELA70764-3044 MP 0018 BIRD, SHARON F950 ETTADRSTGABRIEL LA 70776-5621 MP 0019BOUDREAUX, JESSICA POOLE 57910 MCDANIELST#3 PLAQUEMINE LA 70764-2037 MP

0020BOUQUET,BRYCE MICHEAL 58955 ISLAND DR PLAQUEMINE LA 70764 P 23217 NADLER ST PLAQUEMINE

LA 70757-0889 M 0035 CONERLY, ASTRID BRIANA 22895 BLAKENEY LN PLAQUEMINE LA 70764-5233 MP 0036CORTEZ, DESIREE BRIEDEN 32365 LEONA AVEWHITE CASTLE LA 70788-2421 MP 0037 CRAIS, SUZANNE A30705 HWY 75 PLAQUEMINELA70764-6117 MP

CROCHET JR, JESSE JOSEPH 23057 JADE DR #2DPLAQUEMINELA70764-5265 MP

0039 CROCHET,SHANE MICHAEL 1380 HWY 75 SUNSHINELA70780-3110 MP

0040 DAVIS, CHARLITA PEARL 57831 LUCKEY ST PLAQUEMINE LA 70764-4368 MP

0041 DAVIS, EVAH 60375 BAYOU RD PLAQUEMINE LA 70764-6022 MP

0042 DAWKINS, DAKOTA JAMES 1513 RAVIERLNSUNSHINELA70780-3520 MP

0043 DEVILLIER, KEVIN PAUL 25925 WINTERSTPLAQUEMINELA70764-6326 MP 0044 DOMINGUE, KAMEE RENEA 62540 BAYOU JACOB RD PLAQUEMINE LA 70764-5526 MP

0045 DUFFER, WESLEY 65775 SHELBY KDRPLAQUEMINE LA 70764-7305 MP

0046 DUPONT,TYLER 58025 CHINN ST PLAQUEMINE LA 70764-3605 MP

0047 DUPREE, ALDA DEPRIEST 77410 COMSTOCK ST MARINGOUIN LA 70757 P PO BOX 161 MARINGOUIN LA 70757-0161 M

ALDRIANNA DENAY 11010 3RD ST MARINGOUIN LA 70757 P P.O. BOX 161 MARINGOUIN LA 70757 M

0049 DURAND, CATHERINE DEANNE 58125 RANDOLPHS DR PLAQUEMINE LA 70764-7430 MP

0050 DURHAM, JENNIFER LEIGH 7400 BAYOU PAUL LN ST GABRIEL LA 70776-5720 MP

0051 EASLEY,CHASITY BERTHELOT 38930 HWY 75 PLAQUEMINE LA 70764-7730 MP

0052 EDWARDS, TYWANDA JEAN 33630 BOWIE ST WHITE CASTLE LA 70788-2721 P PO BOX 424 WHITE CASTLE LA 70788-0424 M 0053 EVERHART, LANA M32765 BAYOU SORRELRDPLAQUEMINE LA 70764-7123 MP