Abicyclistrides through unfinishedroadwork on Plum Street on Friday. TheCantrell administration is settoissuestop-work ordersoncitywide road projects, some of which have languished for months and others that recently brokeground, despite funding uncertainties.
‘IT’SNOT
BY BEN MYERS Staff writer
New Orleans is preparingto pump the brakes on citywide road projects witha spendingdeadline for a$1.7 billion federal grantlooming at the end of the year, meaning dozens of city blocks in construction could be stuckinlimbo when Mayor-electHelenaMoreno takes officenext year
The city could forfeit around $500 million if the Federal Emergency Management Agency doesn’textend the deadline. Mayor LaToya Cantrell’sadministration requested
the extension in August, but there’s no telling when adecision might come.
The Cantrell administrationwill soon issue stop-work orders, according to adocument city officials shared with incoming Moreno administration officials and others on Wednesday Thesituation hasrankledleaders of acity that has long struggled with crackedand crumblingroads and whose residents andbusiness owners have beensubjected to excavators, closed streets and limited foot traffic for years as work continued.
“I’mreally,really concerned about it,”saidDistrict Acouncil memberelect Aimee McCarron, whoattended the meeting. “We’re in this situation of severe unknowns, that streets could be tornupfor six, seven, eight, nine, 10 months.”
The Cantrell administration declined to make anyone available for an interview and did not respond to requests forinformation aboutspecific projects.
Theroadsprogram— technically known as the Joint Infrastructure
ä See ROADS, page 8A
IrvinMayfieldtries forfresh startwithnew bar
Aftertimeinprison, trumpeterwants asecondchance
BYKEITH SPERA Staff writer
In New Orleans for amassive marine industry convention, Sue Hilger and her son were dining at Felix’sRestaurant &Oyster Bar on
Bourbon Street in early December when they were offered free ticketstothe new, all-ages music venue upstairs. Theyaccepted even though they’dnever heard of the venue, Mayfield’s 208, or itsproprietor, Irvin Mayfield. Perched on barstools notfar from thesmall corner stage, they were blown away as Mayfield alternated guitar,trumpet, piano andbanjo while bantering with his
band and audience. For two hours, he played and sang jazzstandards, originalcompositions,SteelyDan and Santana covers, and Jimi Hendrix’s“Little Wing.”
“You can feel the emotioninhis music,”gushed Hilger,who started postingabout Mayfield’sperformance even before it was over “He lives it and loves it.”
Alex Hilger, asoftwarecompany
ä See MAYFIELD, page 6A
BY JAMES FINN Staff writer
Like their predecessors in Chicago and North Carolina, the federalgovernment’ssouth Louisiana immigration sweeps set out to arrest violent criminals.Sincethe operation started,officials have toutedarrests of “murderers, rapists and pedophiles.”
But by the government’sown count, fewerthan 10% of people captured in the sweeps launched the first week of December around New Orleans have criminal histories of any kind.
On Thursday,eight days into the operation, the Department of Homeland Security issued the first comprehensive tally of people the sweeps have captured,saying250 people hadbeenarrested across Louisiana. Somedetails —including the geographic spread of where arrests were made —remain unclear But so far,the operation’stargets appear to be grouped in twomain categories.
Thesmallest, butmostvisible,group includes the 23 people who DHS says have criminal records —less than atenth of the overallnumber of detainees, based on the agency’sarrest figures. Those with criminal histories have convictions or arrests on charges that range from armed robbery to aggravated kidnapping, along with less severe offenses like driving under the influence and public urination.
Theother groupcomprises farmoredetainees —dozens, according to immigration attorneys representing them —who are accused of no violations aside fromliving in the country without permanent authorization to do so, such as agreen card or U.S. citizenship
Flight safely returns after engine failure at takeoff
DULLES Va A United Airlines
flight experienced an engine failure during takeoff from Dulles International Airport on Saturday before safely returning to the airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA said United flight 803 was traveling to Tokyo when the engine failed Saturday afternoon The plane, a Boeing 777-200, safely returned to the airport around 1:20 p.m.
The plane returned to the airport after losing power in one engine, according to the airline There were no reported injuries among the 275 passengers and 15 crew members, and a different aircraft was scheduled to continue the flight later Saturday Peter Greene, who was Zed in ‘Pulp Fiction,’ dies
NEW YORK Peter Greene, a character actor best known for his role as the iconic villain Zed in “Pulp Fiction,” has died. He was 60. He died in his home in New York City, his manager Gregg Edwards confirmed on Friday His cause of death was not immediately released.
“He was just a terrific guy,” said Edwards. “Arguably one of the greatest character actors on the planet; has worked with everybody.”
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene landed some of his first leading roles in “Laws of Gravity” in 1992 and “Clean, Shaven” in 1993, according to IMDb.
In 1994, he played the memorable villain in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction,” who is brought in to torture characters played by Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames. That same year, he played another leading villain opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in “The Mask.” U.S., Mexico settle Rio Grande water dispute
The U.S. and Mexico agreed to end a dispute over water at the border with Texas, days after President Donald Trump vowed to impose additional tariffs.
Both governments agreed that Mexico will deliver an additional 202,000 acre-feet of water beginning this week and finalize a broader distribution plan by the end of January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement on Friday
The agreement seeks to “strengthen water management in the Rio Grande basin” within the framework of the 1944 Water Treaty, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement on Saturday The treaty requires Mexico to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water over five years to the U.S. from the Rio Grande, while the U.S. is required to deliver 1.5 million acre-feet of water to Mexico from the Colorado River
The deal eases rising tension between the countries after Trump threatened to slap additional 5% tariffs on Mexican imports and set a deadline for water deliveries starting Dec. 31. Communities along the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas have been affected by water shortages, with the Trump administration pledging a $12 billion lifeline for farmers affected by U.S. tariffs. Talks between both administrations continued during the week.
By The Associated Press
Moscow pounded Ukrainian power infrastructure with drone and missile strikes on Saturday and Kyiv launched a deadly strike of its own on southwestern Russia, a day before talks involving senior European and U.S. officials aimed at ending the war were set to resume.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian, U.S. and European officials will hold a series of meetings in Berlin in the coming days, adding that he will personally meet with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys.
“Most importantly, I will be meeting with envoys of President Trump, and there will also be meetings with our European partners, with many leaders, concerning the foundation of peace — a political agreement to end the war,” Zelenskyy said in an address to the nation late Saturday
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are traveling to Berlin for the talks, according to a White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity
American officials have tried for months to navigate the demands of each side as Trump presses for a swift end to Russia’s war and grows increasingly exasperated by delays. The search for possible compromises has run into major obstacles, including which combatant will get control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, which is mostly occupied by Russian forces.
“The chance is considerable at this moment, and it matters for our every city, for our every Ukrainian community,” Zelenskyy said. “We are working to ensure that peace for Ukraine is dignified, and to secure a guarantee a guarantee above all — that Russia will not return to Ukraine for a third invasion.”
As diplomats push for peace, the war grinds on.
Russia attacked five Ukrainian regions overnight, targeting the country’s energy and port infrastructure. Zelenskyy said the attacks involved more than 450 drones and 30 missiles And with temperatures hovering around freezing, Ukraine’s interior min-
ister, Ihor Klymenko, said more than a million people were without electricity
An attack on Odesa caused grain silos to catch fire at the coastal city’s port, Ukrainian deputy prime minister and reconstruction minister Oleksiy Kuleba said. Two people were wounded in attacks on the wider Odesa region, according to regional head Oleh Kiper Kyiv and its allies say Russia is trying to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat, light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing” the cold.
The drone attack in Russia’s Saratov region damaged a residential building and killed two people, said the regional governor, Roman Busargin, who didn’t offer further details. Busragin said the attack also shattered windows at a kindergarten and clinic. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it shot down 41 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight.
On the front lines, Ukrainian forces said Saturday that the northern part of Pokrovsk was under
BY YURAS KARMANAU Associated Press
VILNIUS, Lithuania Belarus freed Nobel
Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, key opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova and dozens of other political prisoners on Saturday capping two days of talks with Washington aimed at improving ties and getting crippling U.S. sanctions lifted on a key Belarusian agricultural export
President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 123 prisoners, Belarus’ state news agency, Belta, reported In exchange, the U.S. said it was lifting sanctions on the Eastern European country’s potash sector.
A close ally of Russia, Minsk has faced Western isolation and sanctions for years. Lukashenko has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for more than three decades, and the country has been repeatedly sanctioned by the West for its crackdown on human rights and for allowing Moscow to use its territory during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
John Coale, the U.S. special envoy for Belarus who met with Lukashenko in Minsk on Friday and Saturday, described
the talks to reporters as “very productive” and said normalizing relations between the two countries was “our goal,” Belta reported.
“We’re lifting sanctions, releasing prisoners. We’re constantly talking to each other,” Coale said, adding that the relationship between the U.S. and Belarus was moving from “baby steps to more confident steps” as they increased dialogue, the Belarusian news agency reported.
Belarus has released hundreds of prisoners since July 2024. Among the 123 freed Saturday were a U.S. citizen, six citizens of U.S. allied countries, and five Ukrainian citizens, a U.S. official told The Associated Press in an email. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic negotiations, described the release as “a significant milestone in U.S.-Belarus engagement” and “yet another diplomatic victory” for U.S. President Donald Trump.
The official said Trump’s engagement so far “has led to the release of over 200 political prisoners in Belarus, including six unjustly detained U.S. citizens and over 60 citizens of U.S. Allies and partners.”
By The Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK,Ark. — The commission that oversees public television in Arkansas voted Thursday to sever ties with PBS, making it the first state to end its contract with the broadcast giant that provides popular television programs such as “Sesame Street,” “Nova” and “Antiques Roadshow.”
The eight-member Arkansas Educational Television Commission made up entirely of appointees of the governor, announced in a news release Thursday that it planned to disaffiliate from PBS effective July 1, citing annual membership dues of about $2.5 million it described as “not feasible.” The release also cited the unexpected loss of about that same amount of federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was targeted for closure earlier this year and defunded by Congress. PBS Arkansas is rebranding itself as Arkansas TV and will provide more local content, the agency’s Executive Director and CEO Carlton Wing said in a statement. Wing, a former Republican state representative, took the helm of the agency in September “Public television in Arkansas is not going away,” Wing said. “In fact, we invite you to join our vision for an increased focus on local programming, continuing to safeguard Arkansans in times of emergency and supporting our K-12 educators and students.” PBS confirmed in an email Thursday that Arkansas is the first state to definitively sever ties with the broadcaster Alabama considered similar action last month, but opted to continue paying its contract with PBS after public backlash from viewers and donors. “The commission’s decision to drop
PBS membership is a blow to Arkansans who will lose free, over the air access to quality PBS programming they know and love,” a PBS spokesperson wrote in an email to The Associated Press.
The demise of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a direct result of President Donald Trump’s targeting of public media, which he has repeatedly said is spreading political and cultural views antithetical to those the United States should be espousing. The closure is expected to have a profound impact on the journalistic and cultural landscape — in particular, public radio and TV stations in small communities nationwide.
Arkansas House Democratic Leader Rep. Andrew Collins called the demise of PBS in Arkansas sad. “It’s certainly a loss for Arkansas families who value the programming of PBS,” he said.
Ukrainian control, despite Russia’s claims this month that it had taken full control of the critical city The Associated Press was not able to independently verify the claims.
The latest attacks came after Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov reaffirmed Friday that Moscow will give its blessing to a ceasefire only after Ukraine’s forces have withdrawn from parts of the Donetsk region that they still control.
Ukraine has consistently refused to cede the remaining part of the region to Russia.
Ushakov told the business daily Kommersant that Russian police and national guard troops would stay in parts of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas even if they become a demilitarized zone under a prospective peace plan — a demand likely to be rejected by Ukraine as U.S.led negotiations drag on.
Ushakov warned that a search for compromise could take a long time, noting that the U.S. proposals that took into account Russian demands had been “worsened” by alterations proposed by Ukraine and its European allies.
Israel says it has killed a top Hamas commander
By The Associated Press
JERUSALEM Israel on Saturday said it killed a top Hamas commander in Gaza after an explosive device detonated and wounded two soldiers in the territory’s south. Hamas in a statement did not confirm the death of Raed Saad. It said a civilian vehicle had been struck outside Gaza City and asserted it was a violation of the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10. Saad served as the Hamas official in charge of manufacturing and previously led the militant group’s operations division. The Israeli statement described him as one of the architects of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war, and said that he had been “engaged in rebuilding the terrorist organization” in a violation of the ceasefire. The Israeli strike west of Gaza City killed four people, according to an Associated Press journalist who saw their bodies ar-
rive at Shifa Hospital Another three were wounded, according to Al-Awda hospital.
Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of truce violations. Israeli airstrikes and shootings in Gaza have killed at least 386 Palestinians since the ceasefire took hold, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel has said recent strikes are in retaliation for militant attacks against its soldiers, and that troops have fired on Palestinians who approached the “Yellow Line” between the Israeli-controlled majority of Gaza and the rest of the territory Israel has demanded that Palestinian militants return the remains of the final hostage, Ran Gvili, from Gaza and called it a condition of moving to the second and more complicated phase of the ceasefire. That lays out a vision for ending Hamas’ rule and seeing the rebuilding of a demilitarized Gaza under international supervision.
BY SAMAR KASSABALI, BASSEM MROUE and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press
DAMASCUS,Syria President Donald Trump said Saturday that “there will be very serious retaliation” after two U.S. service members and one American civilian were killed in an attack in Syria that the United States blames on the Islamic State group.
“This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them,” he saidina social media post.
The American president told reportersatthe White House that Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was “devastatedbywhat happened” and stressed that Syria was fighting alongside U.S. troops. Trump, in his post, said al-Sharaawas “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack.”
The two servicemembers
killed were members of the Iowa National Guard,according to aperson briefed on the situation who was granted anonymity because they did not have permission to speak publicly
U.S. CentralCommand said three service memberswere also woundedinthe ambush Saturdaybyalone IS memberincentral Syria. Trump said thethree “seem to be doingprettywell.”The U.S. military said the gunman was killed inthe attack. Syrianofficials said the attack wounded members of Syria’s security forces as well.
Theattack on U.S.troops in Syria was the first with fatalities since the fall of President Bashar Assad a yearago
ThePentagon’schief spokesman, Sean Parnell, said the civilian killed was aU.S. interpreter.Parnell said theattack targeted soldiers involved in the ongoingcounter-terrorismoperations in theregion andis underactive investigation.
The shooting took place near historicPalmyra, according to the state-run SANA news agency,which earlier said two members
BY NASSERKARIMIand JON GAMBRELL Associated Press
TEHRAN,Iran Iran introduced anew pricing tier Saturday for its nationally subsidized gasoline, attemptingtoreininspiraling costs for the first time since aprice hike in 2019 that sparked nationwide protestsand acrackdownthat reportedly killed over 300 people. Cheap gasoline has beenviewedfor generations as abirthright in Iran, sparking mass demonstrations as far backas1964 whena price increase forced the shah to put military vehicles on the streetstoreplace those of strikingtaxi drivers.
ButIran’stheocracyfaces agrowing squeeze from thecountry’s rapidly depreciatingrialcurrencyand economic sanctions imposed due to Tehran’snuclear program. That has made the cost of having some of the world’scheapestgasolineata fewpennies per gallon that muchmoreexpensive.
of Syria’ssecurity force and several U.S.service members had been wounded. The casualties were taken by helicopter to theal-Tanfgarrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan. Syria’sInterior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din alBaba said agunmanlinked to IS openedfire at thegate of amilitary post. He added that Syrianauthoritiesare looking into whether the gunman was an IS member or only carried its extreme ideology Later al-Babasaid that the attacker was amember of the Internal Securityforce in the desert adding that he “did not have any command post” within the forcesnor washea bodyguard forthe force commander Al-Babaadded in an interview withstate TV thatsome 5,000 members have joined Internal Security forces in thedesert and they get evaluated on weekly basis. He added that three days ago, an evaluation was made for the attacker that concluded he might have extremeideology and adecision was expected to be issuedregarding his case on Sunday but
“the attack occurred on a Saturdaywhich is aday off for state institutions.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X: “Let it be known, if you target Americans —anywhereinthe world —you will spend therestofyour brief, anxious life knowing theUnited States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.”
U.S. officials made no reference in their statements to
thegunmanbeing amember of the Syriansecurity forces. When asked about the matter,aPentagon official did not directly respond to the question butsaid, “This attack took place in an area where the Syrian President does not have control.”
The officialspoke on conditionofanonymity to discuss sensitive military issues.
IS wasdefeated on the battlefieldinSyria in 2019
but the group’ssleeper cells still carry outdeadly attacks in the country.The United Nations says thegroupstill has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq. U.S. troops, whichhave maintained apresencein differentparts of Syria— including Al-Tanfgarrison in thesoutheast —totrain other forces as part of a broad campaign against IS, have been targeted in the past.
However,the government’s hesitant move toward increasingprices likely signals it wants to avoid any confrontation with the nation’s exhausted public after Israel launcheda12daywar on thecountryinJune.
“Our discontenthas no result,” fumed Saeed Mohammadi, ateacher who works as ataxidriver in his spare time. “The government does whatever it likes. They don’task peopleifthey agree or not.”
Thenew pricing system implemented Saturday adds athird pricing level to the country’slong-running subsidy system.The revised structure allows motorists to continue receiving 60 liters per month at the subsidized rate of 15,000 rials perliter,or 1.25 U.S. cents,and the next 100liters will remain at 30,000 rials aliter,or2.5 cents. Anything purchased beyond that falls underthe new pricing scheme of 50,000 rials perliter,orabout 4cents.Iran introduced fuel rationing back in 2007, but that has yet to ease demand for theultracheap gasoline.
“The holidays area specialtimeofyearfor everyone Youcan almost feel it in theair,especiallyinthe NewOrleans area,” said Joseph Cancienne, Senior Director of EmergencyMedical Services (EMS) at West JeffersonMedical Center.“We stay ready year-round,but each season brings itsown unique challenges.”
LCMCHealth’sEMS,alongwithpartneredhospitals like West JeffersonMedical Center (WJMC),are well prepared to handle theemergencies that typically increase during theholiday season
“Thisisthe time of theyearwhenweget the busiest,”saidDr. JamesCallaghan,Chief Medical Officerand EmergencyDepartment (ED) Physician at WJMC.“We increase ourphysician hoursduring theholidays. We monitordaily patientvolumes,and once we begintosee theinflux of patients in early November,weadjustour staffing in accordance with thehospital’sneeds.”
Sharpchanges in humidity andtemperature cantrigger respiratoryemergencies in people with reactive airway disease, COPD,asthma, or other chroniclungconditions. Colder temperatures and occasional freezesalsocontribute to emergencies relatedtoexposuretothe elements—for example, elderlyresidents whomight slip andfalloutside or outdoorworkers unaccustomed to thedangers of laboring in thecold. Even children playingwith newtoyscan be at increasedriskifpropersafety precautionsaren’tfollowed.
“Inthe days followingChristmas,wealwayssee an uptick in injuries,especiallywithlittleonesplaying with theirgifts,” said Cancienne.“Whenever you’re purchasing presents for thekids, please remember to getthe appropriatesafetygeartogoalong with them so we cankeepour children safe andout of the hospital during theholidays.
Forindividuals with hypertension,heart disease, or health conditions requiringdietary restrictions, theabundance of rich holidayfoodand increased alcoholconsumption canraise theriskofheart attack stroke,orother medicalemergencies
“It’simportant to watchwhatweeat throughout the season,” Dr.Callaghan said.“We mightbetempted to say, ‘I’llget back on my diet afterthe holidays.’ Butthe problemisthatthe holidays startwithThanksgiving anddon’t enduntil afterNew Year’s—and then here we have MardiGras, too.
Whilestress- andemergency-freeholidaysare ideal, notall crises canbeprevented.Asthe 9-1-1
respondersfor JeffersonParish, LCMC Health’s EMS workshandinhandwithemergency departments throughout NewOrleans andJefferson Parish to ensure patients receiveoptimal care.LCMCHealth paramedics aretrained andcertifiedinAdvanced
Life Support(ALS),Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS),andPediatricAdvancedLifeSupport(PALS) “One waytolookatitisthatwefunctionasan extensionofthe ED,” said Cancienne.“We arethe first medicalpersonnel apatientencountersduring an emergency. If apatient reachesa certainacuity level, then we’rerequiredtoreach outtomedical controlvia phoneorradio.”
In prehospitalcare, medicalcontrol communicationsallow ED physicians to direct thetreatment of critically illorinjured patients,ensuringhigh-quality care whileenroute to thehospital. Paramedics relay updatesonthe patient’scondition,and physicians canaccess EKGresults andother data to make key decisionswhenevery second counts.Alertsare also sent to thedepartments that willreceive thepatient upon arrival.
“Weoperate under Region Oneprotocols,sowhen apatientmeets trauma criteria,wetransfertheir care to University MedicalCenter, wheremanaging traumaticinjuriesistheir specialty,” Cancienne said “For adultmedical patients whohavecriticalneeds that aren’t trauma-related,weutilize ourlocal ED that we work outofmostfrequently—which, here on theWestbank, is West JeffersonMedical Center.” From theinitial emergencycallthrough stabilization,treatment,and rehabilitation,LCMCHealth delivers seamless continuity of care at WJMC.The medicalcenterservesasapillarofcriticalcarefor the Westbank of JeffersonParishand NewOrleans,and thehospital’sprestigious accreditationbyThe Joint Commission as aComprehensive Stroke Center also makesitanessential resource for thecommunity “Sometimes people thinktheymight be having an emergencybut aren’t sure,sotheyput off gettingit checkedout.Ifyou thinkyou’rehavinganemergency go to theED. Don’t second-guess it.Don’t Google it Just go getitchecked out,”saidDr. Callaghan. Rain or shine—andeveninthe occasional New Orleanssnow—EMSparamedicsand ED physicians work tirelessly to keep thecommunity safe during this festiveseason. Although missingfamilygatheringsis oftenpartofworking in healthcare,the sacrifice does notgounnoticed.Whenholiday plansgosmoothly andloved ones remain healthy, gratitudeabounds; andwhenthingsdon’t go as planned, medicalprofessionalsoffer thecommunity ashouldertoleanon. “All my career,I’vemissedmanyholidays. We all take turns, andour families understand,” said Dr Callaghan. “It’sthe path we chose, andit’swhatwedo.” Formoreinformation on LCMC Health’s EMS andthe EmergencyDepartmentatWestJefferson MedicalCenter, visit: https://www.lcmchealth. org/west-jefferson-medical-center/our-services/ emergency-care/.
BY ALI SWENSON Associated Press
NEW YORK
For one Wiscon-
sincouple, thelossofgovernment-sponsored health subsidies next year means choosing alower-quality insurance plan with ahigher deductible. For aMichigan family,itmeans going without insurance altogether
For asingle mom in Nevada, the spiking costs mean fewer Christmas gifts this year.She is stretching her budget while she waitsto see if Congress willact.
Less than three weeks remain until the expiration of COVID-era enhanced tax credits that have helped millions of Americans pay their monthly fees for Affordable Care Act coverage for the past four years.
The Senate on Thursday rejected two proposals to address the problem and an emerging health care package from House Republicans does not include an extension, all but guaranteeing that many Americans will see much higher insurance costs in 2026.
Spending more on less Chad Bruns comes from a family of savers. That came
in handy when the 58-yearoldmilitary veteran had to leave his firefightingcareer early because of arm and backinjuries he incurred on the job.
He andhis wife, Kelley, 60, both retirees, cuttheirown firewood to reduce their electricity costs in their homeinSawyer County, Wisconsin. Theyrarelyeat out and hardly ever buy groceriesunless they are on sale.
Buttothe extent thatthey have always been frugal, they will be forced to be even more so now,Bruns said. That is because their coverage underthe health law enacted underformer PresidentBarack Obama is getting more expensive andfor worse coverage.
This year, the Brunses were paying $2 per month for atop-tier gold-level plan with less than a$4,000 deductible. Their income was low enough to help them qualifyfor alot of financial assistance.
Butin 2026, that same plan is rising to an unattainable $1,600 per month,forcingthemtodowngradetoa bronze plan with a$15,000 deductible.
KelleyBruns said she is
concerned that if something happenstotheir health in thenextyear, they could go bankrupt. While their monthly fees are low at about$25,their newout-ofpocket maximum at $21,000 amounts to nearly half their jointincome.
“Wehavetopray that we don’thave to have surgery or don’thave to have some medical procedure done that we’re notaware of,” she said. “It would be very devastating.”
Goingwithout insurance
Dave Roof’s family of four hasbeenonACA insurance since theprogram started in 2014. Back then, the accessibility of insurance on the marketplace helped him feel comfortable taking the leap to start asmall music production andperformance company in his hometown of Grand Blanc, Michigan. Hiswife, Kristin, is also selfemployed as atop seller on Etsy
The coverage has worked for themsofar,even when emergencies come up, such as an ATVaccidenttheir 21-year-old daughter had last year
But now,with the expirationofsubsidies thatkept
‘100 yearsisnot enough’for
By The Associated Press
Comedy icon Dick Van Dyke celebrated his 100th birthday Saturday,hitting thecentury mark somesix decades after he sang and danced with Julie Andrews in “Mary Poppins” and starred in his self-titled sitcom.
“The funniest thing is, it’s not enough,” VanDyke said in an interview with ABC News at his Malibu, California home. “A hundred years is not enough. Youwant to live more, which Iplan to.”
As part of the celebration of VanDyke’sbirthday this weekend, theaters around the country are showinga newdocumentary abouthis life, “Dick VanDyke: 100th Celebration.”
VanDyke became one of thebiggest actors of his era with “The Dick VanDyke Show,” which ranfrom 1961-66 on CBS; appeared with Andrews as achimney sweep in the 1964 Disney classic “Mary Poppins” and, in his 70s, played aphysician-sleuthon“Diagnosis: Murder.”
Also aBroadway star,Van Dyke won aTony Award for “Bye Bye Birdie” to go with aGrammy and four Primetime Emmys. In 1963, he starred in the filmversion of “Bye Bye Birdie.” Just lastyear, he became the oldest winner of aDaytime Emmy,for aguest role on the soap “Days of Our Lives.”
In the 1970s, he found sobriety after battling alcoholism, and spoke out about it at atime when that was uncommon to do.
Now that he has hit triple digits, VanDyke said he’s gotten some perspective on howheusedtoplayolder
DickVan Dykeacceptsthe awardfor outstandingguest performance in adaytime drama series for‘Days of Our Lives’ during the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards on June 7, 2024, at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles.
characters.
“You know,Iplayed old men alot,and Ialways played them as angry and cantankerous,” he told ABC News. “It’snot really that way.I don’tknowany other 100-year-olds, but Ican speak for myself.”
He recently imparted wisdomabout reachingthe centurymark in his book, “100 Rules for Livingto100: An Optimist’sGuide to aHappy Life.” He credited his wife, 54-year-old makeupartist and producer Arlene Silver, with keepinghim young “She givesmeenergy She givesmehumor, andall kinds of support,” he told ABC News.
VanDyke was born in West Plains, Missouri, in 1925,and grew up “the class clown” in Danville, Illinois,while admiringand imitating the silent film comedians.
He told ABC News he started acting when he was about4or5 yearsold in a
Christmaspageant.Hesaid he was the baby Jesus.
“I madesome kind of crack, Idon’tknow what Isaid, but it brokethe congregation up,”hesaid. “And Ilikedthe sound of that laughter.”
And what’s hard aboutbeing 100?
“I miss movement,” he toldABC News. “I’ve got one game leg from Idon’tknow what.
“I stilltry to dance,” he said withalaugh.
their premiums down, the 53-year-old Roof saidtheir $500 per month insurance planisjumping to at least $700 amonth,along with spiking deductibles and outof-pocket costs.
With their joint income of about $75,000 ayear,that increase is notmanageable,he said. So,they are planning to go without health insurance next year,paying cash for prescriptions, checkups and anything else that arises.
Roof saidhis family is already living cheaply andhas nottaken avacation together since 2021. As it is, they do not save money or add it to theirretirementaccounts. So even though forgoing insuranceisstressful,itis what they must do.
“The fear and anxietythat it’s goingtoput on my wife and Iisreally hard to measure,”Roof said. “But we can’t payfor what we can’t pay for.”
Single momstrains budget
If you ask Katelin Provost, theAmerican middle class has gone from experiencing asqueeze to a“full suffocation.”
The 37-year-old social worker in Henderson, Nevada, countsherselfinthat
category.Asasingle mom, she already keeps atight budget to cover housing, groceries andday care for her 4-year-old daughter
Next year,that is going to be even tougher
The monthly feeonher planisgoing up from $85 to nearly$750. She decidedshe is going to paythathigher cost forJanuary and reevaluate afterward, depending on whether lawmakers extend the subsidies, which as of now appears unlikely.She
hopes they will.
If Congress does not act, she will drop herself off the health insuranceand keep it only for her daughter because she cannot afford the higher feefor thetwo of them over the long term
The strain of one month aloneisenoughtohavean impact. “I’m going to have to reprioritize the next couple of months to rebalance that budget,” Provost said. “Christmas will be much smaller.”
founder from Florida, added, “I don’t see many trumpet players, but that was exceptional.”
Their opinion of Mayfield was based solely on what they saw and heard. They knew nothing of his backstory For seven years, he was the namesake of a different Bourbon Street lounge a block away: Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta Hotel. In 2016, the Sonesta cut ties with Mayfield and stripped his name from the Playhouse as controversy swirled around him. That controversy eventually led to his indictment and several months in a federal prison.
Since his release in early 2023, Mayfield has plunged back into work, creating new music and new opportunities for himself and others. His return to Bourbon Street alongside Cyril Neville, Kermit Ruffins, Jason Marsalis, Gerald French and other prominent musicians he’s added to the weekly Mayfield’s 208 schedule is another big step forward
He has no interest in looking back. But what would he say to locals who might be hesitant to support his latest venture?
A young Louis Armstrong, he noted, served time at a juvenile detention facility for firing a pistol but still became a beloved global icon of New Orleans jazz.
“We are a second-chance town,” Mayfield said. “I am determined to be the example of how a second chance is used well.”
Steep rise and fall
Mayfield, who turns 48 on Dec. 23, first gained fame in his early 20s as the co-founder and trumpeter of Latin jazz ensemble Los Hombres Calientes. His own albums and collaborations with the likes of Ellis Marsalis and Ruffins further established his musical bona fides
Ambitious, smart, prolific and not lacking in ego, he cultivated prominent business and political connections in New Orleans and beyond. He founded the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, which won a Grammy He received a mayoral appointment as New Orleans’ cultural ambassador and a presidential appointment to the National Council on the Arts.
Starting in 2015 WWLTV investigated Mayfield’s business dealings. He and Ronald Markham, his close friend and longtime business and musical partner, were eventually indicted by a federal grand jury for diverting $1.3 million from the nonprofit New Orleans Public Library Foundation, on whose board they served, to the Jazz Orchestra and falsifying records. They pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
“I accept 100% of responsibility for what happened,” Mayfield said. “The buck stops with me.”
Soon after his January 2023 release from federal custody, he performed at Zulu’s annual Lundi Gras festival in Woldenberg Park. Since then, he’s collaborated with local and international musicians everywhere from his pal Ruffins’ Mother-inLaw Lounge to a September concert at the Orpheum Theater with British singer and rapper Estelle.
“There’s all kinds of things happening,” he said. “It’s been fairly busy.”
Daniel Conwill, owner of the three Felix’s restaurants and a longtime friend of Mayfield’s, pursued a music venue partnership with him.
Mayfield was considering a different site before Conwill convinced him to set up atop the Felix’s in the French Quarter
“We put together a business deal that we’re both happy with,” Conwill said.
“When people come to Bourbon Street, they’re looking for jazz. Unfortunately you can’t find it. We’ve (had) to send them to the Marigny.
“I’ve got the space (above Felix’s) and thought for some time it would make an ideal spot for live music and jazz.”
Mayfield likes his new club’s location across Bourbon from Galatoire’s Restaurant He also likes partnering with a well-established restaurant Felix’s has served seafood since the 1940s.
“I don’t have to worry about if the gumbo is good; the gumbo was already good,” he said. “I can show up, be a musician and talk to the musicians about what we’re trying to do.”
The intimate second-floor Mayfield’s 208 space, previously used for special
events, is accessed directly from Bourbon Street via a staircase to the left of the restaurant.
It seats 80 patrons at small tables and the U-shaped bar that dominates the room. Four floor-to-ceiling windows open to a wrought iron balcony with additional seating. In keeping with the concept of a “live music and culinary experience,” patrons can order from the full Felix’s menu, which now includes Ruffins’ famous red beans on Mondays.
Mayfield made his name as a trumpeter But in the informal, living room-like environs of Mayfield’s 208, he favors a banjo named “Shirley” and an unnamed electric guitar
“You can’t play chords on a trumpet, so there’s a much larger landscape of music you can play on guitar,” he said. “It’s hard to play ‘Little Wing’ on trumpet. It’s hard to sing and play trumpet at the same time.”
Local support?
After a soft opening in November, the first full week of entertainment at Mayfield’s 208 got off to a slow start. Neville’s Dec. 1 show was canceled as a cold, hard rain rendered Bourbon Street all but empty
The cold persisted the next night, but a few dozen patrons, both locals and visitors, turned up for Mayfield’s 6 p.m. show
After a rousing introduction by comedian and actress Rita Kelly, Mayfield opened with a lush piano overture. He was joined by Markham on keyboards, Jamal Batiste on drums and Alexey Marti’s Cuban-style percussion. Between songs, Mayfield cracked jokes, told stories
and teased his bandmates, especially “Tight Pants” Markham. He showcased “Ethos” and other original songs. Rapper/poet Rodja Fields took a turn on the microphone.
An hour in, Mayfield asked, “Can I play a little trumpet for y’all? Let me see if I can make it sound like I’ve been doing it for 40 years.” A bevy of clear, rich notes followed.
Despite his recent focus on stringed instruments, Mayfield can still make a trumpet soar By the set’s conclusion, several patrons were dancing between the tables. The applause was long and loud.
To sustain success, Mayfield’s 208 needs not just tourists, but locals, willing to pay the cover charge.
“The visitors will come, but that ebbs and flows with the season,” Conwill said. “We really want to build a solid base of locals who can come
He introduced Ruffins as “the second-best trumpet player in New Orleans.” Setting down a bottle of beer with one hand while hoisting his trumpet with the other, Ruffins eased into “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South” accompanied by Mayfield on guitar During “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” Mayfield switched to trumpet and engaged Ruffins in a goodnatured cutting contest.
enjoy great music and great food in the same place.” Mayfield believes local support will materialize in this second-chance town.
“At the end of the day, this is about business,” he said. “Whether it be Gerald French, Jason Marsalis, Cyril Neville, Kermit everyone’s looking to make their careers a success. And Danny (Conwill), the waiters and bartenders, want it to be a success. “I am trying to create an environment, an opportunity, for success. That’s the goal of what we’re all trying to do.”
Email Keith Spera at kspera@theadvocate.com.
BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI, JENNIFER McDERMOTT and ALANNA DURKINRICHER Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. Ashooter
dressed in black killed at least two people and wounded eight others at Brown University on Saturday during final exams on the Ivy League campus, authorities said, and police were searching for the suspect.
Officers scattered across the campus and into an affluent neighborhood filled with historic and statelybrick homes, searching academic buildings, backyardsand porches for hours after the shooting erupted.
The suspect was amale in dark clothing who was last seen leaving the engineeringbuildingwhere the attack happened, said Timothy O’Hara, deputy chief of police.
Authorities believe the shooter used ahandgun, according to alaw enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity
Rhode Island has some of thestrictest gun laws in the U.S. Last spring the Democratic-controlled Legislature passed an assault weapon ban that will prohibit the sale and manufacturingof certain high-powered firearms, but not their possession, starting next July
“The unthinkable has happened,” Democratic Rhode Island Gov.Dan McKeesaid Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said ashelter-inplace was in effect and encouraged people living near the campus to stay inside and not to return home until it is lifted.
“Wehave all available resources” to find the suspect, Smiley said.
Emma Ferraro, achemical engineering student, wasin the engineering building’s lobby working on afinal project when she heard loud pops coming from the east side.
block away from the scene.
Mari Camara, 20, ajunior from New York City,was coming out of the library and rushed inside ataqueria to seek shelter.She spent more thanthreehours there, texting friendswhilepolice searched the campus.
“Everyone is thesameas me, shocked andterrified that something like this happened,” she said.
President Donald Trump told reporters that he had been briefed on the shooting and “all we can do right now is pray forthe victims.”
“It’sashame,” he said in briefremarksatthe White House.
The FBI said it was assist-
ing in the response. Brown, the seventh oldest highereducationinstitution in the U.S., is one of the nation’smost prestigious colleges, with roughly 7,300 undergraduates and more than 3,000 graduate students. Tuition, housing and other fees run to nearly $100,000 per year,according to the university Durkin Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press journalists Mike Balsamoand Seung Min Kim in Washington; Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City; Jack Dura in Bismarck, NorthDakota; and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed.
Once sherealizedthey were gunshots,she darted forthe doorand rantoa nearby building where she waited for acouple of hours.
Eight people with gunshot wounds were taken to Rhode Island Hospital,where six were in critical butstable condition, according to Kelly Brennan, aspokesperson for the hospital.Another was in critical condition and one was stable, she said University officials initially told studentsand staff that asuspectwas in custody,before later sayingthat was not the case. Themayor said aperson preliminarily thought to be involved was detained but waslater determined to have no involvement
Nearly five hours after the shooting, officers in tactical gear led studentsout of some campusbuildingsand into afitness center
The shootingoccurred in the Barus&Holleybuilding, aseven-storycomplex that houses the Schoolof Engineering andphysics department. According to the university’s website, the building includes morethan
100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms and offices.
Engineering design exams were underway therewhen theshooting occurred.
Brown senior biochemistry student Alex Bruce was working on afinal research project in hisdorm directly across the streetfrom the building when he heardsirens outside and received a text about an activeshooter shortly after 4p.m.
“I’mjust in here shaking,”
he said, watching through the window as ahalf-dozen armedofficers in tactical gear surrounded his dorm. He said he feared fora friend whohethoughtwas inside the engineeringbuilding at the time.
Students in anearby lab hid under desks and turned off the lights after receiving an alert about the shooting, saidChiangheng Chien, a doctoral studentinengineering who was abouta
Recovery Request program
— stems from a $1.7 billion Hurricane Katrina settlement negotiated by former Mayor Mitch Landrieu in 2015. The projects range from simple curb and sidewalk repairs to complete reconstruction with new underground sewer and drain pipes. Some of them have languished for months with cost overruns and construction delays; others recently broke ground.
The Cantrell administration has managed to complete more than half of some 200 projects with the help of several FEMA deadline extensions.
Whether construction continues past the end of this year depends on yet another extension as FEMA contends with revolving leadership, mass layoffs and a chaotic reorganization effort. The city may be able to cover some costs with capital funds from an upcoming bond sale, but that would shortchange other projects and the money would pale in comparison to unspent FEMA grant funds.
Moreno said on Friday she’s optimistic that FEMA will extend the deadline, with U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and others lobbying the Trump administration on the city’s behalf.
“We are very tenaciously pushing, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” Moreno said, adding that an unfavorable decision will complicate her first term.
“Unfortunately, at that point, there are projects that are underway that are going to have to close up, and we’ll have to reassess through the current bond proposition and future bond propositions as to what we’re able to do,” Moreno said.
Out-of-pocket expenses
The roads program, intended as a comprehensive fix for the city’s infamously pockmarked streets, was in its infancy when Cantrell inherited it in 2018. Costs quickly ballooned and projects stalled, setbacks the administration blamed on post-pandemic inflation. City officials eventually started requiring contractors to complete one section of a project before starting another in an attempt to ease public frustration over long gaps between when workers dug up a road and filled it back in. That led to fewer stranded projects, but it did not contain costs: Officials announced in 2024 that the program was $1 billion over budget, forcing them to shelve some designs.
The city applies for payments on the grant from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, which acts as a gatekeeper for the federal government to ensure the city’s documentation is in order Under an arrangement with GOHSEP, the city usually receives advance payments for anticipated costs, but state officials won’t release the money if
they don’t think it can be spent before the deadline.
Last year, the Cantrell administration requested a 2028 extension of the spending deadline, which at the time was set for March of this year FEMA took more than a year to respond, notifying the city in July that the deadline would only be extended through the end of 2025.
The city had trouble keeping up with invoices in the interim. A $120 million grant in 2024 was spent and another $96 million in costs had accumulated by the time FEMA allowed the end-ofyear extension according to a June 13 letter from Deputy Chief Administrative Officer LaNitrah Hasan to GOHSEP
The city dipped into its general and capital funds to cover those additional costs. Then, it replenished its accounts after the latest FEMA extension allowed for another $120 million grant payment in July, according to Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack, who is monitoring city finances.
Waguespack said the city has not used its own funds on the roads program since then, and the temporary outof-pocket expenses did not cause the city’s $160 million deficit this year or its recent cash shortfall that affected payroll.
“Getting these advances or this extension to the deadline does not change the city’s fiscal picture,” Waguespack said. “That did not create this problem.”
Still, the most recent $120 million grant payment was also quickly spent, and the city requested another advance in that amount on Sept 22. GOHSEP balked, reasoning the city couldn’t spend $120 million in three months But the state did allow for an additional $52 million based on invoices anticipated before the end of the year
The city has spent $21 million of that on the roads projects so far, according to Waguespack. Lacking a FEMA extension, the rest can only be spent on work performed in the next three weeks.
Outgoing City Council member and incoming city Chief Administrative Officer Joe Giarrusso, who was in the meeting on Wednesday, said he thinks the Cantrell administration is doing its best to secure project sites before leaving office. But with such little money to spread around, it’s unclear what will become of the roads program next month without a FEMA extension, he said
“The heart and intention is in the right place,” Giarrusso said of the outgoing administration. “What that means, I think, remains to be seen.”
Meanwhile, FEMA is on its third acting director since President Donald Trump took office this year, and the agency has seen hundreds of layoffs as part of Trump’s government-wide downsizing. The president appointed a spe-
cial council to recommend reforms at the agency, but Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem has been at odds with the council’s work. A meeting to vote on the recommendations was canceled on Thursday Expect work
Even as the city prepares to shut down projects, residents in areas with scheduled construction are being told that work will begin
soon. City officials held a pre-construction informational meeting with residents in Hollygrove on Monday and Pontchartrain Park residents recently received mailbox notices that work will begin there in January
And while some residents and business owners in construction zones worry about never-ending work, others are hoping to see their streets finally get repaired.
Pontchartrain Park resident Steven Parker’s house in the 6500 block of Pauline Drive a battered street scheduled for work — is separated from his parents’ place next door by a grass field where a sidewalk should be.
Parker’s wheelchair-bound father recently died, and his mother uses a walker Having them over for visits has been complicated.
“I would have actually had him over here much more. It would have been so simple to just roll him down the sidewalk,” Parker said of his father. “I’m prayerful the city will do it this time.”
Unfunded projects
Seven projects designated for FEMA funding with a combined cost of $95.4 million broke ground within the last six months, according to the Public Works Department website. That does not include others in progress that are encountering delays.
Visits to work sites on projects listed in the city’s recent payment request revealed at least 25 block closures, including some where work appeared close to finishing up. Other blocks were torn up with heavy equipment and large pieces of infrastructure scattered about.
The more intense construction sites include a half-mile stretch of General Diaz Street in Lakeview where work started in June with no guarantee of FEMA funding to finish it. The residential thoroughfare is now a mud road with parked excavators and construction fencing lining front yards.
Similar conditions are present along three blocks of Adams Street in East Carrollton, making it a hassle to get to the Adams Street Grocery & Deli. The owner, Richard Smith, said sales have dipped since the street closed more than six months ago.
“They (customers) don’t want to deal with all the blockage of the roads and the dirt pile in the ground,” Smith said. In the Tulane-Gravier neighborhood, a large section of sidewalk is missing in front of Fred Tharp’s house in the 300 block of North Tonti Street, where his blind family member lives. An orange cone and temporary fencing at the bottom of the front steps leave a narrow passage to the sidewalk Wide gaps run along the street in place of curbs, and the street is filled with obstacles.
The block has been that way for three months, even though the city sent a notice in July telling residents the work would take three weeks.
“There are individuals with disabilities throughout the city that have to live through this. It’s not just an inconvenience,” Tharp said.
A former Sewerage and Water Board executive, Tharp helped coordinate the roads program until he retired in 2023. Although city officials often blame cost overruns on inflation, Tharp said there are many other factors. He said contractors have discovered infrastructure in worse shape than designs anticipated, adding time and cost. And he said contractors have priced risk into their bids because of uncertainty over getting paid and city work plans.
“There is some waste in the program, some inefficiencies. There’s definitely overspending,” Tharp said. “There were a lot of early decisions made that said ‘We don’t know what we’re doing, let’s go ahead, and we’ll figure it out when we get there.’”
BY AMY MAXMEN KFF Health News (TNS)
The United States is poised to lose its measles-free status next year.Ifthat happens, the country will enter an era in which outbreaks are common again.
More children would be hospitalized because of this preventable disease. Some would lose their hearing. Some would die. Measles is also expensive. Anew study —not yet published in ascientific journal —estimates that the public health response to outbreaks with only acouple of cases costs about $244,000. When apatient requires hospital care, costs average $58,600per case. Thestudy’s estimates suggest that an outbreak the size of the one in West Texas earlier this year,with 762 cases and 99 hospitalizations, costs about$12.6 million.
America’sstatus hinges on whether the country’s main outbreaks this year stemmed from the big one in West Texasthatofficially began Jan. 20.Ifthese outbreaks are linked, and go on through Jan. 20 ofnext year,the U.S. willnolonger be among nations that have banishedthe disease.
“A lot of people worked very hard for avery long time to achieve elimination —years of figuring out how to make vaccinesavailable, getgood vaccine coverage, and have arapid response to outbreaks to limit their spread,” said Paul Rota, a microbiologist who recently retired from anearly 40-year career at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead of acting fast to prevent ameasles comeback, Robert F. Kennedy Jr alawyer who founded an anti-vaccine organization before taking the helm at the Department of Health and Human Services, has undermined the ability of public health officials to prevent and contain outbreaks by eroding trust in vaccines. The measles vaccine is safe and effective: Only4%of more than 1,800 confirmed U.S.cases of measles this year have been in people whohad receivedtwo doses Kennedy has fired experts on thevaccine advisory committee to the CDC and has said, without evidence, that vaccines may cause autism, brain swelling, and death. On Nov.19, scientific information on aCDC webpage about vaccines and autism was replaced with false claims. Kennedy told The New York Times that he ordered the change.
“Do we want to go back into aprevaccine era where 500 kids dieofmeasles each year?” asked Demetre Daskalakis, aformer director of the CDC’snational immunization center, who resigned in protest of Kennedy’s actions in August. He and other scientists said the Trump administration appears to be occupied more with down-
in ahousehold had arash and other measles symptoms,” Paviasaid, “but the same issues that make it difficult to get people to quarantine and vaccinate make this hard.”
playing the resurgence of measles thanwith curbing thedisease.
HHSspokespersonAndrew Nixon said in astatement that vaccination remains themost effective tool for preventing measles and that the “CDC and state and local health agencies continue to work together to assess transmissionpatterns and ensure an effective public health response.”
Lookingfor links
CDCscientists are indeed tracking measles, alongside researchers at health departmentsand universities. To learn whetheroutbreaks are linked, they’re looking at the genomesofmeasles viruses, which contain all their geneticinformation. Genomic analysescould help reveal the originofoutbreaks and their true size,and alert officials to undetected spread.
Scientists have conducted genomicanalysesofHIV,the flu, and COVID for years, but it’snew for measlesbecause the virus hasn’tbeen much of aproblem in the U.S.for decades, said Samuel Scarpino, apublichealth specialist at Northeastern University in Boston. “It’simportant to get asurveillance network into placesothat we couldscale up rapidly if andwhenwe needit,” he said.
“Weare working with the CDC and other statestodetermine whether whatwe’re seeing is onelargeoutbreak with continued spread from state to state,”said Kelly Oakeson, agenomics researcheratthe Utah Department ofHealthand Human Services.
At firstglance, theongoing outbreak inUtah and Arizona, with 258 cases as of Dec. 1, seems linked tothe one in Texas because they’re caused by the same strain of measles, D8-9171. But this strain is also spreadingthroughoutCanada and Mexico,whichmeans the outbreakscould have been sparked separately from people infected abroad. If that happened, this technicality couldsparethe U.S. from losing its status,Rota said. Being measles-free means thevirusisn’tcirculating in acountry continuously year-round Canadalost its measleselimination status inNovember because authorities couldn’t prove that various outbreaks from the D89171 strain were unrelated, said Daniel Salas, executive manager of the comprehen-
sive immunization program at the Pan American Health Organization. The group, which works with the World Health Organization, includes health officials from countries in North,South, andCentral America, and theCaribbean.
Early next year, PAHO will hear from U.S.scientists. If their analyses suggest that measles has spread continuously for ayear within the U.S., the organization’sdirector may revoke thecountry’sstatusasmeasles-free.
“Weexpect countries to be transparent about the information they have,” Salas said. “Wewill ask questions, like, ‘How did you determine your findings, anddid you consider other angles?’”
Althoughthe Texasand Utah outbreaks are caused by the same strain, Oakeson said, “more fine-grained details are leading us to believe they aren’t super closely related.” To learn just how differenttheyare fromeach other,scientists are comparing them with measles virus genomes from other states and countries.
Ideally scientists could pair genetic studies with shoe-leather investigations into howeach outbreak started. However, many investigations have come up dry because the first people infected haven’tsought care or contacted health departments. As in West Texas, theoutbreak in Utah and Arizona is concentrated in close-knit, undervaccinated communities that are leery of government authorities and mainstream medicine.
Researchersare also tryingtolearnhow manymeaslescases have gone undetected. “Confirmed cases require testing, and in some communities, there’sacost to going to the hospital to get tested:a tankofgas, finding ababysitter,missing work,” Andrew Pavia, an infectious disease doctor at theUniversity of Utah,said. “If your kidhas ameaslesrashbut isn’tvery sick, whywould you bother?”
Subtle surveillance
Pavia is part of anationwide outbreak surveillance networkled by theCDC Astraightforward way to figureout howlarge an outbreak is would be through surveys, butthat’scomplicated when communitiesdon’t trust public healthworkers “In acollaborative setting, we could administer questionnaires asking if anyone
Instead,Pavia andother researchers are analyzing genomes. Alot of variation suggestsanoutbreak spread for weeks or months before it was detected, infecting many morepeople thanknown. Aless intrusive mode of surveillanceisthrough wastewater.Thisyear,the CDCand state health departments havelaunched efforts to test sewage from households and buildings for measles viruses that infected peopleshed. Astudy in Texas found that this could function as an early warning system, alerting public health authoritiestoanoutbreakbefore people show up in hospitals. Thequietresearch of CDC scientists stands in stark contrast toits dearthofpublic-facing actions. The CDC hasn’theld asingle press briefing on measlessince President DonaldTrump took office, and itslast publication on measles in the agency’s Morbidity andMortality Weekly Report was in April Rather than act fast to limit the size of the Texasoutbreak, the Trump administrationimpeded the CDC’sability to communicate quickly with Texasofficials and slowed the release of federal emergencyfunds, according to investigations by KFF Health News.Meanwhile Kennedy broadcast mixed messages on vaccines and touted unproventreatments. Daskalakis saidthat as the outbreak in Texasworsened, his CDC team was met by silence when they asked to briefKennedy andother HHS officials. Nixon, theHHS spokesperson, said Kennedy responded strongly to the Texasoutbreak by directingthe CDC to help provide measles vaccinesand medications to communities, expediting measles testing, and advising doctors and healthofficials.
BY LYNRIDDLE The State (TNS)
COLUMBIA, S.C. Fifteen new cases of measles have been reported in the Upstate since Tuesday,more schoolshavehad infected students, 303 people are in quarantine and13inisolation, the South Carolina Department of Public Health reported Friday
The totalnumber of cases in South Carolina related to the Upstate outbreak is 126 and 129 this year
Quarantine involves staying home21days after aknownexposure to monitor symptom development
Students who arenot im-
munized and wereexposed to aknown case are not allowed to attend school. Isolation is indicated when an individual has the measlesand is infectious, whichisfour days after the rash appears. Six of the 11 schools affected reported immunization levels in the low 80s. The Department of Health said 95% offers herd immunity.Statewide, the immunization level has dropped to 90%.
Washingtonstate begins recovery from flooding
BY MARTHA BELLISLE Associated Press
MONROE, Wash. Ablastof arctic air swept south from Canada and spread into parts of the northern U.S., while residents of the Pacific Northwest braced for possible mudslidesand levee failures from floodwaters that are expected to be slow to recede.
The catastrophic flooding forced thousands of people to evacuate, including Eddie Wicks and his wife, who live amid sunflowers and Christmas trees on aWashington state farm next to the Snoqualmie River.Asthey moved their two donkeys to higher ground and their eightgoats to their outdoor kitchen, the water beganto rise much quickerthan anythingthey had experienced before.
As the water engulfed their home Thursday afternoon, deputies from the King County Sheriff’s Office marine rescue dive unit were able to rescue them and their dog, taking them on aboat the half-mile across theirfield, which had been transformed into alake. The rescue was captured on video.
Another round of rain and wind is in store for the region as early as late Sunday forecasters said.
“Bottom line at this point in time is we’re not done despite the sunny conditions that we have across western Washington at this point,” said Reid Wolcott, ameteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.
“There is yet more still to come in terms of in terms of wind, in terms of rain, in terms in terms of flooding,” he said. “And Washingtonians need to be prepared for additional impacts, additional flooding, tree damage,
power outages, etc.”
High winds expected at the endofthe weekendand into the first part of week are aconcern because the ground is extremely saturated, putting trees at risk of toppling,hesaid In Snohomish County Washington,north of Seattle, emergency officials on Saturday led federal,state andlocal officials on atour of thedevastation
“It’sobvious that thousands andthousands of Washingtoniansand communities all across our state are in the process of digging out, andthat’sgoingtobea challenging process,” Washington Gov.Bob Ferguson said.
“It’s goingtobeexpensive,” he said. “It’sgoing to be time consuming, andit’s going to be potentially dangerous at times. So Ithink we’re seeing hereinMonroe is what we’re going to be seeing all across the state, and that’swhat’sgot our focus rightnow.”
As the Pacific Northwest begins to recover from the deluge, aseparateweather system already brought dangerouswind-chill values— thecombination of cold air temperaturesand wind —to
partsofthe Upper Midwest
Shortly before noon Saturday,itwas minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit in Grand Forks North Dakota, wherethe wind-chill value meantthat it felt likeminus 33, theNational Weather Service said.
Forbig cities like Minneapolis andChicago,the coldesttemperatures were expected late Saturday night into Sunday morning. In the Minneapolis area, lowtemperatures were expected to droptoaround minus 15 by early Sunday morning. Lows in the Chicagoarea are projectedtobearound1 by early Sunday,the weather service said.
Thearcticair masswas expected to continue pushing south andeastoverthe weekend, expanding into Southern states by Sunday
The NationalWeather Service on Saturday issued cold weather advisories that stretched as far south as the Alabama state capital city of Montgomery,where temperatures late Sundaynight into Monday morning were expected to plummet to around 22. To the east, lows in Savannah, Georgia, were expected to droptoaround 24 during thesame time pe-
BY STEPHENGROVES
Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Republican chairofthe House OversightCommittee threatened Fridaytobegin contempt of Congress proceedings against formerPresident Bill Clinton and former Secretary of StateHillaryClinton if they refuse to appear for depositions as part of the committee’sinvestigationinto Jeffrey Epstein. Rep. JamesComer,R-Ky ,saidinastatement late Friday that the Clintons had “delayed, obstructed, and largely ignored the Committee staff’s efforts to scheduletheir testimony” for several months and said the committee wouldbegin proceedings to try to forcethem to testify if they don’tappear next week or schedule an appearanceinJanuary Comer’sstatement came just hoursafter Democratsonthe committee hadreleased dozens of photos they had receivedfrom Epstein’sestate,including images of Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump. Contemptisone of U.S.lawmakers’ politically messiest and, until recent years, leastused powers. But the way Congress hashan-
dled demands for disclosure in the investigation into Epstein has taken on new political significanceasthe Trump administration faces adeadline to release the Department of Justice’scasefiles on thelate financier.
Bill Clinton was amonga number of highpowered people connected toEpstein before the criminal investigation against him in Florida became public two decades ago. Clinton hasnever been accused of wrongdoing.
One of Epstein’svictims, Virginia Giuffre, once gave anewspaperinterview in which she described riding in ahelicopter with Clinton and flirting with Trump, but she latersaid in adepositionthatthose things hadn’tactually happened and weremistakes by the reporter.Clinton has previously said through aspokesperson that whilehetraveled on Epstein’sjet, he never visited his homesand had no knowledge of his crimes.
Multipleformerpresidents have voluntarily testified before Congress, but none hasbeen compelledtodoso. Thathistory wasinvoked by Trumpin2022, when he faced asubpoena by theHousecommittee investigating thedeadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot by amob of his supporters at theU.S. Capitol.
riod.
The cold weather freezing much of thecountry comes as residents in the Pacific Northwest endure more misery after several days of flooding. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate townsinthe region as an unusually strong atmospheric river dumped afoot or moreofraininparts of westernand central Washingtonoverseveral days and swelled rivers, inundating communities and prompting dramatic rescues from rooftops and vehicles
Many animals werealso evacuated as waters raged over horse pastures, barns andfarmland. At thepeak of evacuations, roughly 170 horses, 140 chickens and 90 goats saved from the floodwaterswerebeing cared foratacounty park north of Seattle, said Kara Underwood,divisionmanager of SnohomishCounty Parks. Most of those animals were still at the park on Saturday, she said.
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Federal officials have sought to highlight detainees with violent criminal histories in media releases, social media posts and video snippets promoted by conservative activists who have embedded with Border Patrol agents. “Operation Catahoula Crunch arrests even more criminal illegal alien rapists, thieves, gang members, human smugglers, and abusers,” one news release headline blared
Among the most notorious with criminal records: a Vietnamese man convicted of a slew of crimes in Dallas in 1989, including aggravated robbery and kidnapping, court records show He was released on parole after serving time in prison.
DHS said the man, Binh Van To, had been convicted of homicide, but Texas court records indicate that charge was dismissed.
Far larger than the number of detainees with criminal records is the number who have been accused of no wrongdoing, had applied for permanent legal residency and held papers authorizing them to live and work in the country while that process played out. Some people with no authorization also appear to have been detained.
Business owners, immigration attorneys and family members of detainees last week recounted multiple cases of loved ones or employees being taken into custody despite holding work permits.
HomeroLópez,animmigrationattorney whose Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy organization is representing dozens of people detained in the raids said a number of them held work permits or other protections granting them permission to live in the United States while awaiting the outcome of green card or asylum applications.
Many of those detainees had been granted deferred action — a discretionaryprotectionwherethefederal government agrees not to deport victims of parental abuse, crime, workplace mistreatment or other injustices while they complete the permanent residency process.
As President Donald Trump’s administrationexpandsitsdeportation agenda with shock-and-awe sweeps in Chicago, North Carolina and now Louisiana, the results of the operation officials are calling Catahoula Crunch highlight how the administration is increasingly focused on
jailing and deporting people once seen as safe from immigration enforcement. Those include people who had temporary permission to live and work in the country because the federal government had granted it to them.
“Policywise, it just doesn’t make sense — we don’t want to be locking anyone up who doesn’t pose threats to the community,” López said.
“This administration has decided to not exercise that discretion.”
A DHS spokesperson disputed the idea that the operation is falling short of its target of detaining criminals
“DHS is targeting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens — including murderers, rapists, gang members, pedophiles, and terrorists,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Permit holders detained
Before Border Patrol agents arrived in New Orleans, the agency gained notoriety in Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina, for targeting businesses and neighborhoods known as hubs for Hispanic residents Violent protests erupted
Louisiana has so far seen only peaceful demonstrations against Border Patrol’s presence, but the agency’s tactics have been similar: Through targeting home improvement store parking lots and worksites, agents have netted people with work permits, as well as some with U.S. citizenship or permanent legal resident status who have been held for questioning, then released.
Louisiana employers recounted numerous cases of people with work permits being detained. One man from Guatemala, 21-year-old Baltazar Jax Macario, had a work permit and has lived in the country since 2021, according to a person familiar with his case who asked to remain anonymous because they feared retaliation. Macario was detained along Williams Boulevard in
Kenner on the operation’s first day
In a viral Facebook post this week, Kenner roofing contractor Shane Mulkey said his company lost four employees who had work permits. He suggested that people who complain about Hispanic immigrants taking American jobs should apply for those openings.
“Our loss is your gain,” Mulkey said. “I see all the posts about Hispanics taking American jobs. Here is your chance, the moment you have been waiting for.”
McLaughlin in a statement to The Times-Picayune | The Advocate last week acknowledged that people who hold work permits are targets of the administration’s deportation agenda.
“Employment authorization does not confer legal status,” McLaughlin said.
It remains unclear exactly how many people with work permits and other forms of authorization have been picked up in sweeps, which recently expanded west to Baton Rouge.
Organizers with local advocacy group Mision Migrante estimated that between 60 and 75 people have been detained since Tuesday In the town of Walker, agents smashed a car window and physically restrained two men, according to eyewitnesses, leaving glass shards and blood on the ground in a parking lot. Their legal records were unclear, but they did not appear on DHS’ lists of people with criminal records.
Media outlets reported on two other cases last week of detained permit-holders. One, 38-year-old Kenner mother Vilma Cruz, had her car window smashed as Border Patrol agents moved to detain her, according to an interview with her son. Another, a Kenner auto shop worker Rosell Callejas, was swarmed by agents and taken away after arriving for a work shift, according to his boss.
Another man with a work permit and pending green card application, Darwin Padilla, in an interview described being followed home by Border Patrol agents in Kenner
After he spoke to the agents from inside his home and explained that he had documents, the agents left, according to interviews with Padilla and his wife, Leslie Padilla.
Later, agents returned to the house and posted a form on the door ordering Darwin Padilla to show up for an appointment Friday morning with documents to prove his status, Leslie Padilla said.
The family’s attorney went to the address listed on the form, she said, but the agents had given them the site of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s old Central Business District field office, which has relocated. No one was there to receive them.
Leslie Padilla said the demands for her husband’s documents feel like an intimidation tactic.
“This is definitely a low blow,” Leslie Padilla said. “We are doing everything that we need to. We have been diligent when it comes to his case — we have filed every form they’ve asked for, we have provided them with everything that we have been advised to.”
Who can be deported?
Of 23 people detained in the operation whom DHS said had criminal records — 22 men and one woman the agency identified 14 with arrests or convictions for violent acts or sex crimes. The remaining nine were accused of violations such as drug possession, vehicle theft, driving under the influence, reentering the country after having been deported and a traffic offense.
One man had been arrested for public urination and disturbing the peace.
To, who DHS described as a Vietnamese national with convictions for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and aggravated assault, had been living in Westwego after his release from a Texas state prison on parole years earlier, according to public records. He was rearrested by Border Patrol agents on the first day of the south Louisiana operation.
To told reporters after his arrest that he welcomed the idea of being deported to Vietnam, though he had little connection to the country
“I’d be grateful to go to Vietnam, even though I don’t know nothing,” he said. “I came over here when I was so young.”
A DHS news release said To had a previous homicide conviction A Dallas County, Texas court docket, however, says that his 1989 homicide charge was dropped around the time he was convicted of other counts. Dallas County court officials did not immediately respond to requests for detailed records of the case. To and people who know him could not be reached.
It was unclear whether U.S. officials would seek to deport To and another Vietnamese man detained in Louisiana, Hung Ngoc Tran, back to Vietnam. Vietnamese nationals are among those the administration has deported to “third” countries to which they have no connection as it seeks to accelerate deportations. McLaughlin, the DHS spokesperson, did not respond to an inquiry about the inconsistencies in To’s criminal record Asked about the agency’s plans to deport To and Tran, she defended the administration’s practice of third-country deportations without providing specifics on the men’s cases.
“If an illegal alien’s home country is not taking them, they’re not taking them for a reason: they are dangerous criminals That doesn’t mean they get to stay in the United States,” McLaughlin said. “That is why these third-country agreements, which ensure due process under the U.S. Constitution, are so essential to the safety of our homeland and the American people.”
One man touted by DHS as a detainee of the Border Patrol-led operation was swept up by a different agency, records show
A special agent from Homeland Security Investigations investigated Carlos Roberto GuardadoRamirez and ICE arrested him, the records say In an affidavit charging Guardado-Ramirez, of Honduras, with felony illegal reentry last week, an HSI agent wrote that Guardado-Ramirez had reentered the country after being deported in 2006.
He was arrested Dec. 3 — the same day Border Patrol launched its operation — by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers in LaPlace, according to the affidavit.
His mugshot appeared the next day in a DHS news release touting Border Patrol arrests.
Staff writers Sophie Kasakove and Quinn Coffman contributed to this report.
Email James Finn at jfinn@ theadvocate.com.
BY THOMAS BEAUMONT and ISABELLAVOLMERT Associated Press
If Indiana Republican senators had any doubt about what to do with President Donald Trump’sredistricting proposal, he helped them make up their mindsthe night before the vote.
In asocial media screed, Trump accused the state’s top senator of being “a bad guy,oravery stupid one.”
“That kind of language doesn’thelp,” saidSen. Travis Holdman, abanker and lawyer from near Fort Wayne who voted against the plan. He was among21Republican senators who dealt Trump one of the most significant political defeats of his second term by rejecting redistricting in Indiana. The decision undermined the president’snational campaign to redraw congressional maps to boost his party’s chances in the upcoming midterm elections.
In interviews after Thursday’svote, several Republican senators said they were leaning against the plan from the start because their constituents didn’tlike it. But in aMidwest nice rebuttal to America’sincreasingly coarse political discourse, somesaid they simply didn’t like the president’stone, like when he called senators “suckers.”
“I mean, that’spretty nasty,” said Sen. Jean Leising, a farm owner from Oldenburg
whoworksather daughter’s travel agency Trump didn’tseem to get themessage. Asked about the vote, the president once againtook aimatIndiana’s top senator,Rodric Bray “He’ll probably lose his next primary, whenever that is,” Trump said.“Ihope he does, because he’s done a tremendous disservice.”
Sen. Sue Glick, an attorney from La Grange who also opposed redistricting, brushed off Trump’sthreat to unseat lawmakers who defied him.
“I wouldthinkhe would have better thingstodo,” shesaid.“It would be money better spent electing theindi-
viduals he wants to represent his agenda in Congress.”
The president triedto brush off the defeat, telling reporters he “wasn’tworking on it very hard.”
But the White House had spent months engaged in what Republican Sen. Andy Zaydescribed as “a fullcourt press.”
Vice President JD Vance met with senatorstwice in Indiana andonceinWashington. White House aides frequently checked in over thephone.
Holdmansaidthe message behind thescenes was often moresoothing than Trump’s social media attacks.
“Wewere gettingmixed messages,” he said. “Two days before the vote, they wanted to declare atruce on Sen. Bray.And thenext day, there’sapost on Truth Social that didn’tsound liketruce language to me.”
SomeofTrump’s other comments caused backlash too. For example, he described Minnesota Gov.Tim Walz as “retarded,” which upsetSen. Mike Bohacek because his daughter has Down syndrome. Bohacek had been skeptical of redistricting anddecided to vote no in response.
The White Housedid not respondtoquestions about
outreach to senators, but it distanced itself fromconservative allieswho claimed Trumphad threatened to withhold money fromthe state.
“President Trump loves the great state of Indiana,” said spokesman Davis Ingle,who insisted Trump“has never threatened to cut federal funding andit’s100% fake news to claim otherwise.”
Regardless, Trump had struggled to get traction despite months of pressure.
Holdman said he turned down an invitationtothe White House lastmonth because he hada scheduling conflict. “Plus, by then it was alittle too late,” he said.
Mitch Daniels, aformer Indiana governor and aRepublican, had astraightforward explanation for what happened. “Folks in our state don’t reactwelltobeing bullied,” he said.
Daniels’ successor as governor, Mike Pence, fielded calls from senators during the redistricting debate, according to aperson with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity to disclose private conversations.
The persondeclinedto describe Pence’sadvice.
Pence has been at odds with Trump ever sincehe, while serving as his vice president, refused to help Trump overturn his electiondefeat to Joe Biden on Jan. 6, 2021.
Some Republicanslashed outatsenators fordefying
Trump. “His life was threatened —and he wasnearlyassassinated,” Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwithwrote on social media.“All forwhat? So that Indiana politicians could grow timid.”
The message to the president,Beckwithsaid, was “go to hell.”
But senators whoopposed redistricting said they were just listening to their constituents. Some believed the unusual push to redraw districts was theequivalent of politicalcheating. Others didn’tlike that Washington was telling Indiana whatto do.
The proposed mapwould have divided Indianapolis into four pieces, grafting pieces of thecityontoother districts to dilute the influence of Democratic voters. But in small towns near the borders with Kentucky and Ohio, residents feared the state’s biggest metropolitan area would gain influence at their expense.
“Constituents just didn’t wantit,” Holdman said. Sen. Greg Goode, whois from Terre Haute, saidhe hadspoken twice to Trump on the phone while weighing theredistricting plan.He declared his “love” for the president but decried “overthe-top pressure.” Goode said he wouldn’t vote forthe proposal.
“I’m confident my vote reflectsthe will of my constituents,” he said.
BY SCOTT BAUER Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. Apair of lawsuits seeking to redraw congressional boundary lines that currently favor Republicans in Wisconsin are on track to be resolved after the 2026 midterms, even as attorneys for one case argued Fridayincourt that there’sstill time to enact new maps for the November election. Court hearings in both cases came the day after Indiana Republicans soundly rejected President Donald Trump’sdemand that they redraw congressional lines in that deepred state. Trump is waging anational redis-
tricting battle as he tries to preserve aslim Republican majority in the House in next year’selections.
An attorney for Democrats who brought one of the Wisconsin challengesarguedfor the paneltoissue aruling by aroundMarch 1, the deadline givenbythe state elections commission in order to have newmapsinplace.
“It’sabsolutely possible,” Julie Zuckerbrod,anattorney with the liberal Elias Law Group, told athreejudge panelinsupport of the more aggressivetiming.
But Dane County Circuit Judge Julie Genovese pushed back on thepressure to act quickly.“We’ll decide them when we can decide
them,” she saidofthe pending motionstoissue aruling or dismissthe casewithout further arguments.
Attorneys for Wisconsin’s six Republican congressmen andother conservative defendantspushed for aschedule that would not result in a trial until March2027. “Seeking relief in time for the2026 election would be unfair,” saidKevin LeRoy,anattorney for the congressmen.
Thethree-judge panelin that case willfirst decide early next year whether to dismiss the case or rule in favorofthose whobrought it without further argument. Both of the Wisconsin cases arebeforenewly assigned three-judge panels,
thefirst time that process hasbeenused undera 2011 law enacted by Republicans.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court last month ordered that the redistricting cases be first heard by the threejudge paneloverobjections from Republicans.
The three-judge panel hearing the case brought by abipartisan coalitionof business leaders set apotential trial date for April5 2027, if the case survives a motion to dismiss.
Any final rulings of those panels on the merits of the cases can be appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is controlled4-3 by liberal justices.
TheWisconsinBusiness
Leaders for Democracy argues in its lawsuit that Wisconsin’scongressionalmaps are unconstitutional because they are an anti-competitive gerrymander. Thelawsuit notesthatthe medianmargin of victory for candidates in the eight districts since the maps wereenacted is close to 30 percentage points.
“Ina 50-50 state, it makes no sense that 75%ofWisconsin seats in theHouse of Representatives are controlled by one party,” Law Forward saidina summary of its lawsuit on its website. The other case, filed on behalf of Democraticvoters, contends the current maps discriminate againstDemocrats. They do so by packing
asubstantial numberofDemocrats intotwo districts while breaking up otherDemocratic areasinto six Republicanfavorable districts. In 2010, the year before Republicans redrew the congressionalmaps, Democrats held five seatscompared with threefor Republicans. Republicans hold six of the state’seight U.S. House seats, but only twoare considered competitive. The current congressional maps, which were based on the ones drawn in 2010, wereapproved by the state Supreme Courtwhenitwas controlled by conservative judges. The U.S. Supreme CourtinMarch 2022 declined to block them
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WASHINGTON —Congress enters itsfinal week of work before the holidays without aclear path on how to handle skyrocketing health care insurance premiums.
The U.S. Senate shot down competing plans —one Democratic and one Republican —onThursday
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, releaseda bill Friday that the GOP House majority plans to vote on vote this week. He says the bill will address increased costs across the board and not just for the 7% of Americans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. That specific group will see the cost of their policies double starting with the New Year in three weeks if Congress doesn’tact.
Democrats insist on extending ACA marketplace tax credits for three years to avoid afinancial slap that 24.3 million working Americans are about to feel and to allowtime to develop more systemic fixes.
Republicans, who have for 15 years tried unsuccessfully to get rid of Obamacare, oppose extendingthe tax credits, saying they do nothing to tamp down soaring health care costs.
They say Democrats are just looking for acampaign issue in the November 2026 midterm elections.
But some moderate Republicans fear enoughoftheir constituents, angered at the higher prices, will turn them out of office in their districts, which are more competitive than many of held by conservatives.
They’re pressing for accommodation with the Democrats.
Unless renewed by Congress, Obamacare tax credits expire Dec. 31. Democrats argue it’sa harbinger of the pain that will be caused by Republican changes to health care, particularly Medicaid, made overthe summer butdon’tgointo effect until after the midterms.
Militaryspendingbill includes money forLa.
Louisiana military facilities picked up about $20.2 million for construction and more than $1 5 billion for programs in the 3,000-plus-page National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
The Senate on Thursday began the process for final approval of the NDAA, which the House passed Wednesday night on avote of 312 to 112. Senators voted75-22 Thursday to set up the vote next week that will send the legislation to President Donald Trump for his signature into law
Enhanced ACA subsidies wereadded when Democrats held power during the COVID pandemic. The creditsare designed to cover thegap between what insurance costs and what the participants can afford to pay.How much in tax credits each policyholder receives is based on acomplex formula that includes annual income and thesizeofhouseholds.
Without that relief, nearly every ACA marketplace policyholder mustpay the full amount.
TheACA marketplace alsoreflects the growing number of people who workindependently or for companies that don’t offer health insurance.
Health insurance premiums,not just ACA, rose by historic proportions across the board in 2026.
Center
TheNDAA includes $931 million for thecontinued modernization of B-52 bombers,many of which are housed on thebase in northwest Louisiana. Another $607 million will continue development of aLong RangeStandoff Weapon, which will replace existing air-launched cruise missiles.
Policies for roughly 160 millionpeople
whoreceive their insurancethrough employerswent up nearly 10%, according to KFF,aWashington-based health care think tank. Employersreceive taxbenefits for picking up alion’sshareoftheir employees’policy costs.
Medicarecosts 67.3 million people over theage of 65 yearsnearly 10% more than lastyear
The increases arecaused by multiple factors, including inflation, higher prescription costs, and more people seeking care, according to many experts, suchas Mercer,aNew York-based asset management consulting firm.
Johnson’sproposal probably won’thave an extension of thetax credits forACA participants. Butthe bill is expected to
include limits on income levels, reduced cost-sharing with insurancecompanies andlargerhealth savings accounts for consumers —all efforts to lower prices for everyone,not just for the 7% of the ACA policyholders abouttosee their costs double,hesaid.
“Wehavesome low-hanging fruit. We have some things that every Republican agrees to,” Johnson told reporters Wednesday. “You’re going to seea packagecome together that will be on the floor next week thatwill actually reducepremiums for 100% of Americanswho areon health insurance.”
Still, some antsy Republicans are turning to aparliamentary procedure to circumvent Johnsonand forcea floor vote on extending ACA taxcredits for ayear or two.Discharge petitions arerareand an indicationthatJohnson’sholdonthe 220 House Republicans is getting more slippery Twoofthe petitions seeking extensions have attracted the signatures of nearly adozen Republicans. If the 213House Democrats sign on to either one —218 signaturesare necessary —then the discharge petitions will succeed. But the Democrats have their own discharge petitionfor abill thatextends the subsidies for threeyears.
Meanwhile, Johnson is in negotiations with the five Republicancliques in the House House Majority Leader Steve Scalise,of Jefferson andthe second-highest ranking Republican, said the GOP is working on proposals thatwould lower costs.
“Weare nowfocused on bringing a numberofthose bills to the floor thatwe have consensus on.There are still some areas thatwedon’t have full agreement upon, andwe’regoing to keep working on those,” Scalise said. “Nothing is affordable aboutthe Affordable Care Act, and Republicans want to fix that.” Email Mark Ballardatmballard@ theadvocate.com.
false claims that the election was rigged proliferated.
Now,the Secretary of State’soffice will either issue atraditional request for proposals or use a flexible procurement process called “invitation to negotiate” to purchase anew voting system
The secretary of state will announce which procurement method it will use “at the appropriatetime,” said spokesperson Joel Watson.
“The legislation improves the livelihoods of America’sbrave men and women in uniform by giving them awell-deserved pay raise,and ensures ourwarfighters have access to the best and mostinnovative military technologies,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, in a statement.
At Barksdale Air ForceBase in Bossier City, $18 million will go toward aWeaponsGeneration Facility Dormitory that supports the new $275 million Weapons Generation Facility,which iscurrently under construction
Another $2.2 million will gotoward building a13-room addition to the existing Child Development
Military spending accounted for $17 billion in economic output in Louisiana in fiscal year 2024, according to aJune 2025 Louisiana Economic Development report. More than 117,000 employees are associated with themilitary economy, which equates to approximately 5.4% of total state payroll employment and$700 million in state andlocal tax revenues.
at the Pentagon, securing the border,revitalizing the defense industrial base, and restoring the warrior ethos,” Johnson said. “It rootsout Biden-era wokeism in our military and restores meritbased promotions and admissions to service academies, prohibits contracts with partisan firms, counters antisemitism, and halts harmful, unnecessary programs like CRT(critical race theory), DEI, and climate initiatives.”
Planfor newvoting machines advances
dentialcandidate sparred on social media last week over Meta’s enormous data center planned for Louisiana
Capitol Buzz STAFF REPORTS Sanders
Six voting systemsLouisiana displayed for public testingthis summer have been certified to advance to the state’sbidding process, Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced Thursday Just one of those will ultimately replace Louisiana’scurrent, decades-old machines.
It’snot clear exactly how long thebidding process will take or when anew system will be selected, Watson said.
The new voting machines will eventually be implemented through a“phased rollout,” he said.
Trumpstronglybacked the ambitiousannual defense authorization bill, the headline features of which includea 3.8% payraise for servingmilitary and building more F-47 fighter aircraft, submarines and warships.
Additionally,Trump wanted to remove “diversity,equityand inclusion,” or DEI policies.
“This year’sNational Defense Authorization Act helps advance President Trumpand Republicans’ Peace Through StrengthAgenda by codifying 15 of PresidentTrump’sexecutive orders, endingwoke ideology
Companies can only compete for thestate contract if their voting system complies with dozens of standards, including using paper ballots, having tamperevident seals, and not connecting to theinternet,among many other requirements.
Previousefforts to replace the voting system have stumbled at multiple junctures in theface of bid-rigging allegations.
Louisianalawmakers imposed morestringent standards for new machines in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, when
“A new system will not be in place for the spring primaries,” Watson said. “Ifa new system is in place by November,itwill only be in place in afew parishes.”
The companies certified to compete forLouisiana’svoting system contract are: Clear Ballot, Democracy Live, ES&S, Hart InterCivic, Liberty Vote and VotingWorks.
The company Liberty Vote bought Dominion Voting Systems in October Sanders, Landryspar over data centers
Gov.Jeff Landry andBernie Sanders, the Vermont senator and former Democratic presi-
“Mark Zuckerberg is building adatacenterinLouisiana that will use 3x more electricity than allofNew Orleans,” Sanders wrote on X. “Oligarchs want YOU to payfor these data centers with higherwater & electric bills. Americansmust fight back against billionaires who put profits over people.”
Afew hours later, Landry shot back in arepost: “Bernie tweeting this knowing his state is missing outonbillions of dollars andthousands of jobs.”
He continued: “America must win the AI race andLouisiana is proud to be leading while others sit back andcomplain!”
The Richland Parish project, calledHyperion, is expected to cost$27 billion.
Landry andotherstate leaders have trumpeteditasatransformative economicwin that is expected to createhundreds of jobs. Some environmentaladvocates criticize the enormous amounts of powerthe plant will require, which theysay will require polluting powerplants andpotentially raise utility prices.
BY EMILY L. MAHONEY and MAX CHESNES
Tampa Bay Times (TNS)
TAMPA, Fla. — Richard Baker
remembers the feathers: bright white and striking.
Just 20 days earlier, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig had exploded, killing 11 people and igniting one of the worst environmental disasters in modern history
A pelican and a Northern gannet were the first two birds plucked by wildlife rescuers from the oily waters near the disaster zone. Once-regal feathers had been doused with dark, sticky oil.
After days of cleaning and rehabilitation, the avian duo was released into Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge on Florida’s east coast Baker recalls the oil-free feathers as a vivid streak in the sky as the birds flew away
“It was very impressive to me that we could do this,” said Baker, who as a local Audubon society leader released the pelican and gannet alongside federal veterinarians. “The birds seemed thankful for us.”
But not all birds were as lucky By some estimates, more than a million were killed by the spill. Their deaths added up to an enormous fine for BP: $100 million of its whopping $4 billion penalty was for killing birds protected by one of the nation’s oldest environmental laws, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
But now, the Trump administration has weakened that law’s protections, just as it proposes bringing oil drilling closer to Florida’s coasts.
The result: Gulf Coast birds could be more vulnerable than ever to the offshore oil industry
“We cannot let this happen again,” Baker said “It was awful.”
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act passed in 1918 — a time when species were
disappearing because of demand for feathers in fashion and hunting for sport. It prohibits the unauthorized harming of birds.
Regulators have used the law to penalize oil companies after spills, including Exxon after the 1989 spill in Valdez, Alaska, as well as BP. Members of more than 100 species were hurt by the Deepwater Horizon disaster, including black skimmers, brown pelicans, laughing gulls and terns.
But regulators don’t just use the law after the worst happens on a rig. The act also requires oil companies to get federal permits for the birds they will unintentionally hurt and kill through normal, day-to-day operations.
Scientists estimate hundreds of thousands of birds are burned, poisoned by oil or otherwise killed each year near drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. The birds will strike equipment, for example, after being attracted to lights or the prospect of human food.
The law’s power, said Tara Zuardo, a senior advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, comes from
its emphasis on prevention: The permit process encourages companies to improve practices and reduce bird deaths.
But earlier this year, the Trump administration announced it would change the way the federal government interprets the law so that oil companies won’t be penalized for birds they harm unintentionally
The change was a victory for the oil industry, which says bird protections remain strong.
“Our industry is committed to safe, responsible energy development in the Gulf of America and has taken significant steps to protect wildlife,” said the American Petroleum Institute, an industry lobbying group, in an emailed statement. “Operators are already subject to robust federal laws and oversight that hold companies accountable and ensure strong environmental protections remain in place.”
The administration is taking the opposite approach to renewable wind energy
In July, the U.S. Department of Interior announced the agency would review
bird death rates from wind energy projects to determine whether those deaths
violate the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, running counter to its softened stance on the law for the oil industry
Zuardo said it’s unlikely the administration’s watering down of the law would hold up in court, pointing to a 2020 legal decision.
“But at the same time, what matters here is enforcement,” she added, noting that the administration could try to weaken actions against fossil fuel companies.
This isn’t the first time the administration has taken this position on the bedrock bird protection law — it launched a similar rollback during President Donald Trump’s first term.
But this time, the move is coinciding with the federal government’s proposed expansion of offshore drilling into waters closer to Florida, despite heavy opposition from the state’s Republican
U.S. senators, all its members of Congress and Gov Ron DeSantis. Opposing offshore oil drilling has long been a point of bipartisan agreement in a state with an economy that depends on tourism and pristine beaches. Florida officials like DeSantis have also said offshore rigs would hamper military training efforts for bases in the Panhandle Ann Paul, president of the Tampa Audubon Society, remembers the images of birds covered in oil, and the ones who died after swallowing oil-slicked fish after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. She worries about rigs inching closer as wildlife protections wane “Are we willing to risk that along the coast of Florida?”
BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer
For three decades, Tulane University psychologyprofessor Stacy Overstreet has studied the impact of chronic stress and trauma on New Orleans children —from community violenceand poverty to devastating hurricanes and the COVID pandemic.
In 2015, she was one of several experts the New Orleans City Council recruited to help address crises that happen outside schools but affect student learning. That work evolved into helping schools support students who are dealing with chronic stress.
Overstreet defines trauma as an event that results in the harmful interruption of aperson’ssense of safety,agency,dignity and belonging. She says it can include economic insecurity and racism faced by many children of color, or fleeing violence and being separated from family members experienced by some childrenwho immigrated to the U.S. Trauma can leave young people with a“profound and persistent senseofdanger” and trigger “survival brain,” which makes it exceedingly difficulttolearn, she added. In astate of hypervigilance, students might respond impulsively or aggressively to perceived threats at school.
Now,asU.S. Border Patrol agents conduct immigration sweeps in the New Orleans area, Overstreet said she’sconcerned some students could face mental health and academicchallenges similar to the fallout from past traumatic events she’sstudied.
It’slikely some children’sparents were among the dozens of immigrants that federal agents have
arrestedinthe NewOrleans area over the pastweek,while other young people areworriedthat their loved oneswill be detained next. Agents do notappear to have entered anyschools, but some families areopting to keep their childrenhome outoffear,cutting students off from the social support and counseling they might get at school.
“WeknowfromKatrina and from COVID, the morekids are outofschool themore impact this is goingtohave,” Overstreet said. “These impacts can be long-lastingunless schoolshave supports in placetohelpkids navigate it.”
In arecent interview with The Times-Picayune |The Advocate, Overstreet discussed how trauma canplayout in students’ lives and how teachers and school staff can mitigatethe negative impacts.
This interview has been condensedand edited for clarity.
How does trauma affect young people?
It canhave wide-ranging impacts on learning and on mental health, but also oninterpersonal relationships.If you don’tfeel like you’re avaluedmember of acommunity,then youmay retreatand withdraw or havedifficultytrusting others.
It impactsall the domains of development —cognition, socialemotionalwell-being, interper-
rights and continue to makesure that schools themselves are safe places forstudents. That means understanding that unless there are proper warrants in place, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement doesn’thave aright to enter
Schools need to clearly communicate that to parents and educators so that everyone has avery clear and transparent understanding of school as asafe place. Couldthis also take atoll on educators?
Educators are worried about students’ learning, their mental health and their families being separated.
During COVID, when educators became very worried about their students and aware of all the challenges their students were facing, that took ahit on educators’ mental health. They’re experiencing their own stress and vicariously experiencing the stress of their students while being called on as kind of first responder.That’sa really heavy load to put on educators.
sonalrelationships,and ultimately health. Kids can develop chronic headaches and chronic stomachaches from experiencing all of those feelings on aday-to-day basis.
But Iwant to acknowledge that our kids arealso incredibly resilient and mostare able to find their way through thesechallenges to their safety, agency,dignityand belonging. Often times it just takes asingle caring adult to make thatresiliencehappen.
Howmight the recent immigration sweeps affect local kids?
Our kids in New Orleans do experience chronic trauma, so they’re already primed to look out for their own safetyand signs of danger.This massenforcement is turning on the alarmfor all of our kids, not just kids who arefrom immigrant families, who are seeing it on social media or thenews
When that fear takes over,itcan interferewith both engagement in academics as well as our ability to controlour emotions and our behaviors and be fully present and engaged.
What impact couldthis have on classrooms and learning?
The lack of attendance due to fear is one of the biggest, most immediateimpacts. If you’re not in school, then you can’tlearn.
For alot of kids, if you’re not in school thenyou don’thave the social connections where you get alot of your resiliencefrom. You don’thave those connections with your teachers or your friends. And some kids aren’tgetting the nutritionthat you might get from the school mealprogram.
What are somewaysteachers and schools can supportstudents?
The most important thing schools can do is know their
WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THESTATEHOW TO TACKLE THEBIGGEST CHALLENGES FACINGLOUISIANA SCHOOLS. HAVE AN IDEA?
Schools really need to be thinking about whatisinplace to support their staff. Transparent communication is important and access to mental health support and peer support so that there’sspace for them to get support from each other
What elsecan schoolsdointhis moment?
Schools are struggling —we can see from the attendance data —with actually getting kids into the building. They could create carpool structures or asystem where community members walk kids to school whose parents may not feel safe enough to comeout of their home. Then schools should be thinking about whenkids comeback to school. What kind of supports do they need to really process the complex emotions they’ve been having and really comeback to learning and reestablish asense of safety
BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Sun Herald
The young brothers killed in a tragic crash last week on Texas Flat Road in Hancock County are among 13 people who have died in car accidents there over the last three years, according to the coroner
The toll of fatal collisions on the two-lane route, often used by Louisiana drivers as an alternate route when Interstate 10 traffic is heavy near the state line, is raising new safety questions among county leaders and grieving families. The accident on Friday was the second deadly crash on Texas Flat Road this year Those wrecks killed four people, including two 14-year-olds.
Law enforcement officials say speeding is common on the straight, 13-mile thoroughfare between Kiln and Picayune. And some victims’ families are now leading a growing push for better policing on the road and pleading that leaders across the state do more to prevent future tragedies.
“It feels like a raceway,” said Richard Bouchard, whose grandson died on Texas Flat Road earlier this year “Now we’ve got more sad stories. We’re going to continue to have sad stories unless we do something.”
The road’s dangers are just one example of the problem in Mississippi, where the rate of fatal car crashes has long been among the nation’s highest.
Hancock County Sheriff Ricky Adam called the issues on Texas Flat Road “carelessness and speed.” But state law prohibits deputies from using radar, and sheriff’s departments rarely issue tickets that hold speeding drivers accountable.
“It’s virtually impossible,” Adam said.
Tragedies on road
In the last three years, crashes across rural Texas Flat Road have killed parents, working profession-
als, one pedestrian and at least five teenagers.
Last week authorities said a head-on collision with an 18-wheeler dump truck killed brothers from Pearl River County The sheriff called the crash an accident and said the department does not expect to file charges in the deaths of 21-year-old John Michael-David Foster and 14-year-old Rowdy Liam Foster Michael-David Foster was a hardworking and selfless older brother to Rowdy Foster, a talented golfer according to their obituaries Texas Flat Road has several dangers. Drivers pass other cars by accelerating into the opposite lane.
County Supervisor Greg Shaw said distracted driving is also a problem. He recalled a half-foot drop-
off on the road’s shoulders before the county began fixing them and resurfacing the asphalt this year
Drivers on Texas Flat Road also veer outside their lanes so often that a Gulf Regional Planning Commission analysis marked three spots on the road as among the Coast’s intersections with the highest rates of lane departure crashes.
Others say the road needs far better law enforcement patrols to at least deter speeding.
Bouchard’s grandson, 14-yearold Ayden Stockstill, died on Texas Flat Road last May His family said he was buckled up in the backseat on his way to soccer tryouts when a speeding driver hit his parents’ car
The driver and Stockstill both died, and Stockstill’s parents were
injured.
Bouchard and his family are now leading a push to change state law
They are asking the Legislature to strengthen the ranks of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, require proof of insurance for a car tag and let sheriff’s departments use radar
Sheriff’s agencies across the state have long asked for access to the technology, which Mississippi law only allows the Highway Patrol and some police departments to use. The push has failed for years because some lawmakers say deputies would abuse it and collect profits from barely speeding drivers.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol does not police Texas Flat Road, which is maintained by the county Troopers headed to Hancock or
Pearl River counties sometimes pass through and write tickets if they encounter problems, according to the agency
The responsibility of enforcement falls on the sheriff’s department, which says deputies ride the road but can do little else to ensure safety
Scotty Adam, president of the Board of Supervisors, said more deputies on the road could help deter speeding.
But “they can’t be everywhere all the time,” he said. “That’s the problem.”
‘Just horrible’
The issue grows when a crash snarls traffic on Interstate 10. Facing backups, many cars and 18-wheelers take Texas Flat Road instead.
“When you have oversized loads and you have big trucks that weigh 50,000 pounds or more, those roads usually aren’t equipped for that,” said state Sen. Philman Ladner
He said he would like the Mississippi Department of Transportation to work with Louisiana to one day add another bridge across the state line, where even minor crashes can stall traffic and send more drivers across Texas Flat.
“That’s just a possibility,” Ladner said. The road’s deadliest year in recent memory was 2023, according to the coroner Six people died on Texas Flat that year, including three teenagers from Diamondhead.
Three people died from car accidents on the road in 2024. Adam, the board of supervisors president, called the numbers “astounding.”
Bouchard is busy these days telling his grandson’s story and asking state leaders to help change the law
But he paused to consider the road’s 13 recent fatalities.
“That is worse than I thought,” he said. “That is just horrible, just horrible that we do that to ourselves.”
Editor’s note: This story contains graphic language.
BY STEVEN SLOAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON As he shook President Barack Obama’s hand and pulled him in for what he thought was a private aside, Vice President Joe Biden delivered an explicit message: “This is a big f****** deal.” The remark, overheard on live microphones at a 2010 ceremony for the Affordable Care Act, caused a sensation because open profanity from a national leader was unusual at the time. More than 15 years later, vulgarity is now in vogue.
During a political rally Tuesday night in Pennsylvania that was intended to focus on tackling inflation, President Donald Trump used profanity at least four times. At one point, he even admitted to disparaging Haiti and African nations as “s***hole countries” during a private 2018 meeting, a comment he denied at the time. And before a bank of cameras during a lengthy Cabinet meeting last week, the Republican president referred to alleged drug smugglers as “sons of b******.”
While the Biden incident was accidental, the frequency, sharpness and public nature of Trump’s comments are intentional. They build on his project to combat what he sees as pervasive political correctness. Leaders in both parties are seemingly in a race now to the verbal gutter
Vice President JD Vance
BY MEG KINNARD Associated Press
The Trump administration is arguing that requiring real-time American Sign Language interpretation of eventslikeWhiteHousenews
briefings “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public,” part of a lawsuit seeking to require the White House to provide the services.
Department of Justice attorneys haven’t elaborated on how doing so might hamper the portrayal President Donald Trump seeks to present to the public. But overturning policies encompassing diversity, equity and inclusion have become a hallmark of his second administration, starting with his very first week back in the White House.
The National Association for the Deaf sued the Trump administration in May, arguing that the cessation of American Sign Language interpretation which the Biden administration had used regularly — represented “denying hundreds
underscore an ever-coarsening political environment that often plays out on social media or other digital platforms where the posts or video clips that evoke the strongest emotions are rewarded with the most engagement.
called a podcast host a “dips***” in September In Thanksgiving remarks before troops, Vance joked that anyone who said they liked turkey was “full of s***.” After one National Guard member was killed in a shooting in Washington last month and a second was critically injured, top Trump aide Steven Cheung told a reporter on social media to “shut the f*** up” when she wrote that the deployment of troops in the nation’s capital was “for political show.”
Among Democrats, former Vice President Kamala Harris earned a roar of approval from her audience in September when she condemned the Trump administration by saying “these motherf****** are crazy.”
After Trump called for
of thousands of deaf Americans meaningful access to the White House’s real-time communications on various issues of national and international import.” The group also sued during Trump’s first administration, seeking ASL interpretation for briefings related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a June court filing opposing the association’s request for a preliminary injunction, reported Thursday by Politico, attorneys for the Justice Department argued that being required to provide sign language interpretation for news conferences “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public,” also writing that the president has “the prerogative to shape his Administration’s image and messaging as he sees fit.” Government attorneys also argued that it provides the hard of hearing or Deaf community with other ways to access the president’s statements, like online transcripts of events or closed captioning. The administration has also argued that it would be difficult to wrangle such services in the event that Trump spontaneously took questions from the press, rather than at a formal briefing.
A White House spokesper-
the execution of several Democratic members of Congress last month, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said it was time for people with influence to “pick a f****** side.” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said the administration cannot “f*** around” with the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who on Monday announced her Senate campaign in Texas, did not hold back earlier this year when asked what she would tell Elon Musk if given the chance: “F*** off.”
The volley of vulgarities
“If you want to be angry at someone, be angry at the social media companies,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said Tuesday night at Washington National Cathedral, where he spoke at an event focused on political civility “It’s not a fair fight. They’ve hijacked our brains. They understand these dopamine hits. Outrage sells.” Cox, whose national profile rose after calling for civility in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination in his state, approved an overhaul of social media laws meant to protect children. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the state law
Tough talk is nothing new
Tough talk is nothing new in politics, but leaders long avoided flaunting it.
Recordings from Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration, for instance, revealed a crude, profane side of his personality that was largely kept private. Republican Richard Nixon bemoaned the fact that the foul language he used in the Oval Office was captured on tape “Since neither I nor most other Presidents had ever used profanity in public, millions were shocked,” Nixon wrote in his book “In the Arena.”
“Politicians have always
sworn just behind closed doors,” said Benjamin Bergen, a professor at the University of CaliforniaSan Diego’s Department of Cognitive Science and the author of “What the F: What swearing reveals about our language, our brains, and ourselves.” “The big change is in the past 10 years or so, it’s been much more public.”
As both parties prepare for the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential campaign, the question is whether this language will become increasingly mainstream. Republicans who simply try to imitate Trump’s brash style do not always succeed with voters. Democrats who turn to vulgarities risk appearing inauthentic if their words feel forced.
For some, it is just a distraction.
“It’s not necessary,” said GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is retiring next year after winning five elections in one of the most competitive House districts.
“If that’s what it takes to get your point across, you’re not a good communicator.”
Risks of overuse
There also is a risk that if such language becomes overused, its utility as a way to shock and connect with audiences could be dulled.
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has talked about this problem, noting that he used swear words in his early routines but dropped them as his career progressed because he felt profanity yielded only cheap laughs.
“I felt like well I just got a laugh because I said f*** in
there,” he said in a 2020 interview on the WTF podcast with fellow comedian Marc Maron. “You didn’t find the gold.” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said Trump “doesn’t care about being politically correct, he cares about Making America Great Again. The American people love how authentic, transparent, and effective the President is.” But for Trump, the words that have generated the most controversy are often less centered in traditional profanity than slurs that can be interpreted as hurtful. The final weeks of his 2016 campaign were rocked when a tape emerged of him discussing grabbing women by their genitals, language he minimized as “locker room talk.” His “s***hole” remark in 2018 was widely condemned as racist. More recently, Trump called a female journalist “piggy,” comments that his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, defended as evidence of a president who is “very frank and honest.” On rare occasions, politicians express contrition for their choice of words. In an interview with The Atlantic published last week, Gov Josh Shapiro, D-Pa., dismissed Harris’ depiction of him in her book about last year’s presidential campaign by saying she was “trying to sell books and cover her ass.” He seemed to catch himself quickly “I shouldn’t say ‘cover her ass,’” he said. “I think that’s not appropriate.”
son did not immediately comment Friday on the ongoing lawsuit or answer questions about the administration’s argument regarding the damage of interpretation services to Trump’s “image.”
In their June filing, government attorneys questioned if other branches of government were being held to a similar standard if they didn’t provide the same interpretative services as sought by the association.
As home to Gallaudet University the world’s premier college for the deaf and hard of hearing, Washington likely has an ample pool of trained ASL interpreters into which the White House could tap.
Last month, a federal judge rejected that and other objections from the government, issuing an order requiring the White House to provide American Sign Language interpreting for Trump and Leavitt’s remarks in real time. The White House has appealed the ruling, and while the administration has begun providing American Sign Language interpreting at some events, there’s disagreement over what services it has to supply On his first week back in office, Trump signed a sweeping executive order putting a stop to diversity
equity and inclusion programs across the U.S. government. In putting his own imprint on the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in January issued an order stating that DEI policies
were “incompatible” with the department’s mission, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered diplomatic correspondence to return to the more traditional Times New Roman font, ar-
guing that the Biden administration’s 2023 shift to the sans serif Calibri font had emerged from misguided diversity, equity and inclusion policies pursued by his predecessor
-J.Morris
Sheriff’s Office has 19 on the streets
BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has a few dozen new sets of eyes hitting the streets to help deputies respond to 911 calls.
Sheriff Joseph Lopinto on Wednesday unveiled the Drone as First Responder program, a fleet of drones equipped with cameras and stationed throughout the parish, ready to launch at a moment’s notice.
“This new technology allows our eyes in the sky to arrive on the crime scene in seconds, Lopinto said.
The drones quickly provide authorities with critical information before deputies arrive on scene: descriptions of assailants or the vehicles being used, the direction an assailant may have fled, a bird’seye view of the scene or the hiding locations of perpetrators and even victims.
“This is a game changer for us,” Lopinto said, adding that the drones can increase apprehensions, improve officer safety and provide evidence, such as on-scene video that can be used in court.
Traditional drones require lineof-sight operation. But the department’s first responder drones are operated remotely by a crew of six licensed pilots working out of a control center in Harvey
The Sheriff’s Office received a special waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration to pilot them remotely, according to Sgt. David Lago, commander of the Drone as First Responder program As of Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office had 19 drones in service. The department will eventually deploy 23 drones, which are made by Skydio and cost about $1.5 million, Lopinto said.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto stands next to a docking station holding one of the Sheriff’s Office’s new first responder drones, which can be deployed to assist deputies on calls.
‘I’ve
A
Doll and Toy Fund has helped generations of families over 130 years of giving
BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer
One-year-old Moelani
Carter faced some tough decisions Saturday morning at the Xavier University Convocation Center There, Santa-hatted volunteers and Kriss Kringle himself bustled between tables stacked with roughly 10,000 toys as holiday music and ample cheer filled the air
“She might be getting a kitchen set. We got options,” said Moesha Carter, 22, holding her daughter in her arms as they looked over the offerings.
Already selected were a toy bear and a learning laptop. Carter said she had to rise early to be at the 130th annual Times-Picayune Doll and Toy Fund giveaway at 7:30 a.m., but it was worth it for the gifts and the chance to catch up with old school friends, continuing a multigenerational family tradition.
“I’ve been coming my whole life,” Carter said. Launched by The TimesPicayune in 1896, the Doll and Toy Fund is a nonprofit
organization with a mission to bring joy to children of New Orleans-area families in need. Each year, the charity event has thousands lining up outside the building in the
early morning hours.
“It’s been a wonderful day,” said board member Ron McClain, who first volunteered at the event more than 50 years ago as a Boy Scout.
He noted that crowds were thinner than in years past and less diverse. There were very few Latino families in
See FUND, page 2B
Enrollment struggling, costs high for first noncharter campus post-Katrina
BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer
School Board members have a choice: invest more in the school in hopes of turning it around or cut their losses and shut
Staff reductions part of larger trend, watchdog group says
BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer
Louisiana’s environmental agency has cut its staff by nearly a quarter over the past 15 years, one of the sharpest reductions for state pollution regulators nationwide, according to a new report from the watchdog group Environmental Integrity Project.
The state has also slashed funding for the agency by 26% over the same time period, according to the report, which warns of the growing risk of severely weakened environmental enforcement both locally and nationally
The reductions at the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality are part of a larger national trend, according to the report. The watchdog group examined budgets of environmental agencies across all 50 states from 2010 to 2024, and found that more than half cut budgets and nearly two-thirds reduced department staffing.
Louisiana’s pattern aligns with all of its Gulf Coast
Continued from page 1B
the toy line.
“We suspect we have some drop-off as a result of anxiety about the potential for (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to come out,” McClain said. “At one point last year, some 50% of the people who came through were Latino.”
Board member David Francis said leftover toys would be distributed through community leaders to families who stayed home
Quant’cha Bass’ 5-year-old son, Amais Bass, chose a Batman toy and dinosaur headphones. Her 9-year-old daughter, Nay Bass, chose bath bombs, a smartwatch and some sewing projects.
“Mama taught me a little bit (about sewing),” said Nay, who planned to stitch new outfits for her Barbie dolls.
“I used to get the toys, and now they’re getting the toys,” said Bass who drove in from LaPlace. “It’s a big help, because I have been struggling as a mother.”
The giveaway costs between $150,000 to $200,000, and McClain estimated about $120,000 of that total is spent on toys. Individual donors and sponsors, including Entergy, UPS, River Parish Disposal, Fox 8, Element, Fidelity Bank, Folgers, The Times-Picayune and Martin Management, foot the bill, and approximately 100 volunteers helped the event run smoothly Volunteers Phil Piediscalzo and Jack Gordon spent weeks gift-wrapping thousands of books. By 8:30 a.m., only a few stacks remained.
“I really feel blessed,” Gordon said. “I look forward to doing this all year.”
Christopher Torres, 11, a
Continued from page 1B
Zervigon noted at a meeting earlier this month to discuss the school’s future, the calls for a traditional public school have not translated into families enrolling their children there.
“I hear a lot of demand from community members, from advocates, from leaders, from neighbors for the idea of a direct-run school,” he said. “But when we think about it, the only demand that mattersistheparentsmaking the choice to go there.”
Turning the school around The School Board unanimously voted in February 2024 to replace a struggling charter school with a new arts-focused, district-run school the first permanent noncharter school to open in
neighbors Mississippi saw the nation’s biggest cuts, reducing its budget by more than 70% Coastal states from Texas to Florida all saw funding and staffing losses, though the report notes the trends didn’t fall entirely along traditional party lines. Connecticut, for example, cut funding at its state agency at nearly twice the rate of Louisiana.
The report frames these state agency losses in the context of a weakened federal environmental agency Over the last year the second Trump administration has shrunk the Environmental Protection Agency in size and capacity, rolling back pollution prevention measures as part of an “energy dominance” agenda highly favorable to oil, gas and petrochemical industries. The administration is pushing for further cuts to the federal agency, and Congress is scheduled to vote on EPA’s funding in January
“Not only will the federal pollution cop no longer be on the beat, state authorities may not show up either,” the watchdog report states.
Louisiana has been directly impacted by a number of Trump’s energy and environmental policies. In July, the administration exempted a dozen industrial plants from following a pollution rule
aimed at reducing health risks in the area called “Cancer Alley” by advocates. Top Trump officials touted their goals of removing red tape for industry during a visit to one of Louisiana’s biggest liquefied natural gas terminals in Plaquemines Parish in March.
Meagan Molter, press secretary for DEQ, said that the agency “continued to meet all federal grant requirements and performance expectations” by the EPA.
“Under the leadership of Gov Jeff Landry the administration remains fully committed to robust environmental protection efforts that promote the health, safety and welfare of the people of Louisiana,” Molter said.
‘Low staffing levels’
Over the last 15 years, Louisiana cut 222 positions from the state environmental agency out of a previous total of 933, according to state records cited in the report Louisiana ranked fourth in the nation for staffing cuts, following North Carolina, Connecticut and Arizona.
Most of these cuts came under the administration of Republican Gov Bobby Jindal, who lauded his deregulation efforts in the state as a key accomplishment during his
failed 2015 presidential campaign.
During Jindal’s administration, staffing at the department decreased by roughly a third and funding shrank by $92 million, when adjusted for inflation. Staffing and funding at LDEQ rose marginally under his successor, Democratic Gov John Bel Edwards, but not to pre-2008 levels.
The watchdog group points to a 2021 report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office that found DEQ “does not issue enforcement actions in a timely manner” to facilities that violate their pollution permits.
Louisiana had the highest toxic air emissions per square mile of any state, according to a 2014 EPA assessment, according to the audit. But jobs at DEQ related to air quality regulation decreased by around 15% between 2010 and 2019.
“We found as well that DEQ faces challenges related to low staffing levels, high workloads, frequent turnover of staff, and ineffective data systems that make it more difficult to perform its regulatory work,” Daryl G. Purpera, the auditor, wrote. LNG expansion
The Environmental Integrity Project notes the system of “shared responsibility”
student at A.C Alexander Elementary School in Kenner spent one of his four allotted gift tickets on a toy for his little cousin, who he said wasn’t able to come.
“He had a remote control car and I broke it,” said Christopher, who had chosen a drawing kit for himself. “I wanted to buy him a new one.”
It’s likely that Santa, who was pressing palms and taking pictures with children lined up outside the center had Christopher on his “nice” list However, “everybody is always nice when they meet Santa. I do have elves, and I figure out some of those aren’t accurate,” said Santa, who uses the alias Russ Wise, 79, when he is off Kringle duty Wise said the “fun” giveaway is “the earliest I get up all Santa season.”
For Francis, the reward is simple.
“The smiles on the kids’ faces — you’ll never forget that,” said Francis. “It’s just remarkable.”
the district since Katrina But since it opened six months later, Leah Chase has struggled to differentiate itself from local charter schools and attract students. A limited number of new students have selected the school, which serves kindergarten through sixth grade, as their first choice for next year Others have applied to leave the school. Now the School Board is debating what it would take to turn the school around — and whether it would be worth the risk.
Leah Chase does not offer its own sports and arts programs, which are provided by outside organizations. It would cost the district about $2 million to boost the school’s arts offerings and $3.5 million to do a fuller revamp that includes more arts and sports programs and staffers.
Fulmore has said those
funds would come at a cost to district operations, but she argued that is the price the School Board must be willing to pay if it wants to run its own school.
“I do not believe that our children should be thrown scraps and asked to eat it because we want a school,” she said at the December meeting about the school, adding that “excellence is not cheap.”
Zervigon cautioned against subsidizing the school with money from the district budget, which took a hit during a fiscal crisis this year. Instead the money could go toward providing special education services or supporting English language learners across the district
The Business Council of New Orleans and River Region, which represents more than 70 executives from local and regional companies, made a similar argument in
between the EPA and state departments. The federal agency sets the standard and provides oversight for pollution laws like the Clean Air Act, while state departments like LDEQ implement and enforce these rules on a routine basis.
“If both lines of defense fail, through harsh cuts to federal and state environmental agencies, public health, our natural ecosystems and the global climate will suffer serious and lasting harm,” said Jen Duggan, the executive director of the watchdog group.
She said Louisiana “provides a clear example” of state-level rollbacks in the midst of rapid industrial expansion. The number of industrial facilities that require air pollution control permits rose in the state by almost 30% between 2016 and 2024.
The liquefied natural gas industry is a centerpiece of Louisiana’s industrial growth — and controversy
The export industry has boomed in southwest Louisiana in the last decade and transformed the state into the global epicenter of LNG.
The technology at the massive LNG terminals converts natural gas into liquid form by supercooling it, allowing it to be loaded and exported around the world.
Proponents of LNG tout job creation, revenue and the importance of supplying U.S. allies with fuel long seen as burning cleaner than coal.
But making LNG is more energy-intensive than burning gas alone, leading to more emissions. An October report from the Environmental Integrity Project found that all operating LNG terminals in the country violated air pollution rules, and multiple Louisiana facilities were the top polluters.
Duggan said some of the on-the-ground impacts of a hobbled state agency dealing with this growing industry are fewer inspectors, fewer people to respond to community complaints and longer time periods resolving a violation.
Anne Rolfes, director of the environmental advocacy group Louisiana Bucket Brigade, also critiqued in the report DEQ’s Expedited Permit Program, where companies can pay the agency for costs incurred from employees working overtime to expedite a permit.
“When industry pays for the permitting process, they get what they pay for,” Rolfes said. “I’ve been doing this work, and I have never seen the Department of Environmental Quality deny a permit.”
a letter to the School Board on Dec. 3.
“Simply put, keeping (Leah Chase) in its current state is not sustainable, equitable, or fair,” wrote the group’s president, Vanessa Brown Claiborne, adding that closing the school is “best for the entire system.”
Data versus demand
For years, district officials and education experts have sounded the alarm about New Orleans’ shrinking school-aged population, arguing that the district must downsize.
Instead, the School Board opted to do the opposite last year — creating an entirely new school and building the central office infrastructure to run it.
The rationale for the Leah Chase School was that New Orleans residents were eager for an alternative to the city’s independently oper-
Continued from page 1B
The drones are housed in temperature-regulated docks on secure rooftops across the parish, including government buildings, according to Lopinto. Each docked drone has a 2-mile radius staged to cover almost the entirety of unincorporated Jefferson Parish as well as the cities of Gretna, Westwego and Harahan.
Kenner’s proximity to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and aircraft means the city isn’t covered by the drones. Neither Jean Lafitte nor Grand Isle have docks because of the low volume of calls for service there, Lopinto said. Since Nov 3, the first responder drones have taken 1,475 flights, assisted in 62 suspect apprehensions, helped recover nine stolen vehicles and assisted in cases involving eight firearms, according to the department.
ated charter schools.
Yet recent polling shows that most New Orleans parents feel neutral or positive about charter schools. And
Leah Chase’s symbolic significance as the city’s only traditional public school didn’t seem to be enough to sway parents, said board member Olin Parker
“This is a question about numbers, math, sustainability,” he said, “not ideology.”
But the school’s supporters say it was never given a fighting chance.
Board member Gabriela Biro, who said she hoped to eventually send her preschool-aged child to Leah Chase, said the district hadn’t effectively marketed the school to families who want a noncharter option.
A group of community members recently took matters into their own hands, putting signs around the neighborhood advertising
They’ve been deployed to a variety of calls, including reports of vehicle burglaries, suspicious persons and shoplifting.
“The stores usually call before the suspects have left the building,” Lopinto said.
“We’re able to make a stop before they get away.”
The Sheriff’s Office handles about 500 calls for service every day, according to Lopinto. In the first month of use, the first responder drones handled an average of 40 calls per day, and they were the first on scene about 46% of the time, Lopinto said. Jefferson Parish’s first responder drone program is the third largest in the country behind New York and Las Vegas, according to Lopinto. Other cities using the technology include Miami and Oklahoma City “Drones certainly don’t replace our men and women on the street. It supplements their response and makes their job significantly more efficient,” Lopinto said.
Leah Chase. Board member Leila Eames, one of the school’s most vocal supporters, said it should be given three years to gain its footing like charter schools, which are awarded an initial three-year contract.
“We’ve given this school one year,” she said “I don’t think it’s fair that we are trying to throw the towel in and surrender because we have not met the targets.”
AdamsJr.,Alvin
Autin, Bobby
Belsom,Patrick
Brown, Terrance
Cambias, Karen
Casanovas, Charles
Catoire, Mary
Charrier,Patricia
Cox, Clifton
Deadmond, Colin
Ecuyer, Laura
Ferguson, Edward
Fratello,Bernard
Harold,Gloria
Melvin,James
Palmer, Linda
Priestley, Vanus
Rabalais,James
RudigerSr.,Edward Terral, Lylen
Tillman, Erma
Tinto, Elizabeth
Westergard,Lilliankay
EJefferson
Garden of Memories
Belsom,Patrick Leitz-Eagan
Casanovas, Charles Catoire, Mary Priestley, Vanus
NewOrleans
Boyd Family
Harold,Gloria
DW Rhodes
Brown, Terrance
Greenwood
Fratello,Bernard
Rabalais,James Lake Lawn Metairie
Ferguson, Edward Melvin,James Palmer, Linda River Parish
HC Alexander Charrier,Patricia
Alvin“Al Paul AdamsJr.,a resi‐dent of Slidell, Louisiana, passed awayonDecember8,2025, atthe ageof76. Born Au‐gust10, 1949, in New Or‐leans,Louisiana,Alvin was known forhis greatgen‐erosity,warmth, andkind‐ness. He exhibited deep loveand admiration forhis familyand friends. Al en‐joyed comfortableengage‐mentinhis community;he generally "never meta stranger" andcalledevery‐one "Buddy". He immersed himself in hisworkand had alifelongdedicationto provide alovinghomefor his canine rescues. Alvin grewupinNew Orleans, imbuedwiththe love of his lateparents,Alvin “Whitey” Paul AdamsSr. and Juan "Jo" Reynolds Adams.Heissurvivedby his siblings,Cynthia Cindy” AdamsSeymour Pamela“Pam” Adams Bubeck(Butch),Gregory “Greg” CharlesAdams,and Terry Lester Adams(Mar‐garet), as well as his niecesand nephews, Mal‐colmand DavidSeymour (Cindy),JohnPitts (Pam), MathewAdams (Greg),Ce‐leste AdamsCrowder,and Andrew, Catherineand Jason Adams(Terry). A graduateofMarionAbram‐son High School's Classof 1969, Alvinfurthered his education at DelgadoCom‐munity Collegeuntil 1972 Alvin served honorablyin the United States Navyand chose amanagementca‐reer in shipping/trans‐portation at majorportlo‐cations across the U.S. withemployers that in‐cluded American President Lines CrowleyMarine Transportation, Pacific Crane Maintenance, Port of Miami Terminal,Puerto RicoMarineManagement, and XTRA Int’lMainte‐nance-IntermodalShip‐ping. Aparishioner of St Lukethe Evangelist Church,Alvin wasa "late laborer to thevineyard" His gift of faithbrought him graceand peacewhich amplified hiskindnessand patienceduringthe health challengesthatprogressed inhis last years. Alvin’s legacyofhopefor family, friends,and caregivers is thatwewillsee himagain The memory of hisgen‐erosity is oneofendear‐menttothose who knew him in this temporarylife. Relatives andfriends are invited to attend avisita‐tiononFriday, December 19, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at AudubonFu‐neral Home in Slidell. AFu‐neral Mass with Military Honorswillbegin in the chapelat11:30 a.m. Alvin willbelaidtorestinthe Southeast LouisianaVeter‐ans Cemetery at aprivate burial. In lieu of flowers, pleasedonatetothe NorthshoreHumaneSoci‐ety @https://www.nor thshorehumane.org/. Memories andcondo‐lencesmay be expressed atwww.AudubonFuneralH ome.com
St Tammany Autin, Bobby C.
Audubon AdamsJr.,Alvin
EJ Fielding
Autin, Bobby
RudigerSr.,Edward Terral, Lylen
Honaker Cox, Clifton
Deadmond, Colin
Obituaries
Bobby C. Autin,age 76, of Covington, Louisiana, passedawayonFriday December12, 2025.Hewas bornonSeptember28, 1949,inNew Orleans, Louisiana He was precededin death by his parents, Claude Joseph Autinand
RuthEllaMarieRials Autin.
Bobby is survivedbyhis wife of 35 years, Elizabeth Frances AmosAutin; children, BobbyConrad Autin II,Jason Michael Autin, Alexander EdwardsAutin and hiswife Rose SimoneauxAutin, Anna Autin Weilbaecherand her husband WyattOswald Weilbaecher, and Avery Autin Smith and her husband JacobWilliam Smith; as wellashis precious first grandchild,Alex and Rose's daughter, Genevieve CaillouetAutin. Bobby is also survivedby his sister-in-law, Lynda Leigh Rich; brother-in-law, Harold"Bo" Amos; nephews, Aaron Elseaand Daniel Elseaand his wife Katie; and numerous other relatives and closefriends. Bobby was raised in Lafitte, Westwego, and Gretna, graduated West JeffersonHighSchool, and attended Nicholls State University before founding Louisiana International Marine in 1974, acompany he builtalongsidehis father.Bobby was also an avid golfer, asharp pool player,and aman who lovedcooking and spending time at thebeach with his family.Hecertainly had hisown sense of style, including his purse,beret, and thelargest private collection of "LifeisGood" tshirts. He couldtalkto anyone, anywhere, and usually with astory that gotbigger every time he told it.Hewillbedeeply missed by allwho knew him. In lieu of flowers,please donatetoa cause close to your heart
Relatives and friends are invitedtoattend the funeral serviceson Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 2:00 PM at E. J. FieldingFuneral Home, 2260 West21st Avenue, Covington, Louisiana, with visitationbeginning at 12:00 PM.Interment will follow in theadjacent PinecrestMemorial Gardens. E. J. FieldingFuneral Home of Covington, Louisiana, is honoredtobe entrusted with Mr. Autin's funeral arrangements.His family invites youtoshare thoughts, memories,and condolences by signing an online guestbookat www.ejfieldingfh.com.
It is with deepestsor‐row that we announcethe passing of PatrickJohn Belsom, 79, of Metairie Louisiana.Hepeacefully passedawayonDecember 8,2025. Patwas born in New OrleansonJuly3 1946, to thelateSelma “Nene”Ponthieux Belsom and thelateLeon“Pat” Belsom. He is preceded in death by hiswifeRita MelanconBelsomand his children, DavidPatrick Bel‐som andLisaAnn Belsom Heissurvivedbyhis loving sisters,ElaineBelsom Craig (Michael)and Janice BelsomCorb(John) andhis bestfriendand uncle Gary Ponthieux (Sue). He is also survivedbyhis nieces and nephews,Becky Goodwin, JeffCraig,JaneneGoebel, JenniferCorb, JessicaCorb, JonathanCorb, andAdam Corb. Patwas amemberof the Classof1965 at Fortier HighSchool.After gradua‐tion, he served hiscountry inthe United States Army until 1969, whenhecame hometomarry hishigh school sweetheart, Rita.He thenjoinedthe NewOr‐leans Police Department where he dedicated30 years of servicetothe city ofNew Orleans. Afterretir‐ing from theNOPD, he brieflyworkedatthe Fed‐eralCourthouseand the New OrleansPassportOf‐fice.Hewas amemberof the FederalOrder of Police, CrescentCityLodge 2, AmericanLegionPost307 and theVeteransUmpire Association. Afterthe loss
of hiswifeand children,he began servinghis commu‐nitybyworking with spe‐cialneedschildrenand de‐liveringmeals to theel‐derly.Heenjoyed playing softball, shootingpool,at‐tending theFairgroundsto watch horseracing, and umpiringsoftballgames at local parks. What he most looked forwardtowere meals with friendsand family. He will be missed byall of hisbreakfastand lunchbuddies,and most importantly by hisloving family. Relativesand friends areinvited to at‐tendthe FuneralServices atGardenofMemoriesFu‐neral Home &Cemetery, 4900 AirlineDrive,Metairie, LA70001 on Tuesday, De‐cember16, 2025. Visitation willbegin at 10:00 am with Massat12:00 noon fol‐lowed by inurnment. To order flowersoroffercon‐dolences, please visit www.gardenofmemorie smetairie.com.
Terrance DevinBrown entered into eternalrest onSaturday, November 29 2025 at hisresidence in Grand Prairie, Texas. Ter‐rance wasborntoDiana W. Brown andthe late Vernon E.Brown in NewOrleans, Louisiana.Hewas 52. He is survivedbyhis beloved wifeof24years,AngelaM Brown; hismother, Diana W.Brown; 4sisters,An‐toinette McGill,Elana Tay‐lor (Rodney),Tiffani& Tiana Brown; 3Aunts, Cyn‐thiaHills (Arthur), Julie Walker(late Fred), and CherylGalle (Floyd); 2 niecesAdrianna and Mikayla;3 nephews, Dwayne, Cameron, and Rashawn; 5Godchildren TorreyBrown, Ryan Poindexter, Ariel& Jasmine Franklin, andAkela Dab‐ney;his father-in-law, War‐ren Dabney &mother-inlaw,Norma Dabney;a sis‐ter andbrother-in-law, Tiffany& Terry Stansbury. Healsoleavesbehinda hostoffamilyand friends who will continue to cher‐ish hismemory. Terrance was preceded in deathby his father,VernonE Brown; hismaternalgrand‐parents,LeonWalker, Sr.& EvelynGreen Walker;pa‐ternalgrandparents, ThomasBrown, Sr.& Gloria Simpson Brown; 2Aunts, ElaineWalker& Marguerite Robichaux;2 Uncles,Leon Walker, Jr.& Thomas Brown, Jr.Terrancewas ed‐ucatedinthe NewOrleans PublicSchool System where he graduatedfrom Sarah T. Reed High School in1991 andlater attended and graduatedfromSouth‐ern University A& MCol‐legeinBaton Rougeearn‐ing hisBachelorofScience inElectronicEngineering Technology.InMay 2025 hereceiveda Master of Ed‐ucation in Educational Leadershipfromthe Uni‐versity of NorthTexas at Dallasand he holdsa certi‐fication in PrincipalasIn‐structional Leader (Texas EC-12).Relatives and friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend afuneral service at St.Peter Claver Catholic Church,1923 St PhilipStreet,New Orleans, Louisiana 70116 on Tues‐day,December16, 2025 at 10:00 am.Visitationwill begin at 9:00 am until 10:00 am. Interment: Providence Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to D. W. Rhodes FuneralHome, 3933 Wash‐ingtonAvenue,New Or‐leans,LA. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.comto signthe online guestbook, share memories andcon‐dolenceswiththe family.
KarenAnn
Karen Ann Cambias March8,1944 -November 20, 2025. Endlessly curious, quietly witty, and deeply generous, Karen was thekindof person whomade things grow, gardens,friendships, meals, andmoments of beautyinunexpected places. Sheleaves behind aworld more full of care for havinghad herinit. Karen had an uncommon patiencefor tending to things,whetherinher gardenorinthe people andstories she loved. She often made bouquets with neighborsand friends, believing beautywas meant to be shared. Shecarried that same passion into the arts, usheringshows and attendingexhibits, plays, andfilms. Karen also loved adventureand discovering newplaces. Agraduate of St.Mary's Dominican High School andthe University of Houston, she built acareer around wordsasa talentedand prolific writer. Shewas an excellent cook, andoutside thekitchen, chocolateshakes were a rule,not atreat Karen is survived by her granddaughter, Katya Shmorhun, siblings, SydneyJeanHollinger, Michelle Riley(Charles), SidCambias (Cyndy) and Gloria Cambias. She was predeceased by her daughterLynnShmorhun, sister DonnaC.Robinson & parents George Sydney Cambias Jr.and Gloria Gaskins Cambias. Sheisalso survived by cousins Maggie Cambias Considine (Toby), HenryFolse (Joan) and othercousins.Karen is also survived by 11 nieces andnephews, 17 grand nieces andnephewsand 3 great grandnieces and1 great grandnephew Karen's lovedoneswill carry forward herstories andspirit Aservice celebrating herlifewill be held at The Church of St.Johnthe Divine2450 RiverOaks Blvd.Houston, Texas 77019 on December 19 2025 at 3 PM CST
Charles H. Casanovas, a cherished son, brother, uncle, andfriend, passed away on Friday, December 5, 2025, at the age of 62 in Metairie, Louisiana, dueto complications duringbrain tumor surgery Born on January16, 1963, in NewOrleans at MercyHospital,Charles wasthe belovedson of ClevelandPhillip Casanovas andthe late Adele JohnsonCasanovas. He grew up surrounded by love,humor, andthe steady presence of family alongside hissiblings, ChristopherCasanovas (favorite sil Donna Casanovas) andElizabeth Guidroz
Charles was adevoted unclewho treasured his nieces and nephew: Kacie Lehman(Jeff), Christopher Casanovas, Lauren Guidroz,and greatnephew,Easton Lehman. Hisgentlenature,warm smile, andunwavering support made him aconstant sourceofcomfort andpride to hisfamily.
Agraduate of Bonnabel High School's Class of 1983, Charles went on to attendJeffersonVo-Tech, wherehetrained as a
diesel mechanic.Hededicated over 40 years to the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) wherehenot only built arespectedcareer butalso formed deep and lastingfriendships. Charles enjoyed getting together with hisworkbuddies for crawfish boilsand other social events. Charles' life wasdefined by quietstrength, loyalty, anda deep love forthose closest to him. He will be remembered for his devotion to hismom andhis dad.Hetouched many lives with hishumble spirit andwill be dearlymissed by all whohad theprivilege of knowing him. Mayhis memory be a blessing anda source of comforttothosewho mourn hisloss. Relativesand friends are invited to attendthe visitation at OurLady of DivineProvidence, 8617 W. MetairieAve., Metairie, LA 70003 on Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 11:00 am until12:00 pm followedbya Memorial Mass. Intermentwill take place in AllSaintsMausoleum (located in Metairie Cemetery), 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd New Orleans, LA 70124. In lieu of flowers, the familyrequestsdonations to theOur Lady of Divine Providencefood pantry, 1000 Starrett Rd Metairie, LA 70003, (504-466-4511). Fond memories andexpressionsofsympathy may be sharedatwww.leit zeaganfuneralhome.com for thefamily.
Mary Gay Landry Catoire,age 89, passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in Kenner,LA. Mary wasborn in Reserve, LA on February 24, 1936. Mary waspreceded in death by herbeloved husband Edwin Joseph Catoire;her son, Eric JamesCatoire;her brothers, CF Landry, Mickey Landryand hiswife Marion, Ronald Landry, Robert Landryand his wife Irma, andRichard Landry; hersister,Leatrice Luminaisand herhusband Carlton; and herbrother-in -law,Monty Montegut. Survivors includeher loving children,Douglas Joseph Catoire and CharlotteCatoire Calico (David); hergrandchildren, Erica Stubbs (Bryan), Melissa Stigler(Matthew), Jessica Catoire,Vanessa Moskau (Tim), Abigail Calico, BenjaminCalico (Shyla), and Eyan Calico; hergreat grandchildren, Payton Stubbs,Ashton and CarsonStigler,and Olivia andLandryMoskau; her siblings, Sylvia Simoneaux (Moise),Sybil Montegut, RoyLandry(Pat), andIrene Moore (Glen). She is also survived by many nieces andnephewsonboth sides of herfamilywhom she loved andcherished Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA 70006. AFuneral Mass will follow in thefuneral home chapelat1:00 pm.
4B
Charrier, Patricia Surridge
Patricia "Pat" Surridge Charrier, 79, passed away December 6, 2025, surrounded by family. She was known for her kindness, resilience, and devotion to loved ones. She is survived by daughters Patricia "Trisha" Charrier Lorio (Duane) and Yvette Charrier; five grandchildren; and siblings Peggy Simoneaux (David) and Russell Surridge, Jr (MaryRose). She was preceded in death by her parents, Russelland Grace (née Sevin) Surridge, Sr. Agraduateof Redemptorist High School, Pat worked for many years at Thionville Laboratories. She lovedthe beach, cheering for her grandchildren, and sharing laughter with friends.
Services will be held Tuesday, December 16, at Holy FamilyCatholic Church, Luling. Visitation begins at 9:00 AM; Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM; inurnment at St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery, Destrehan. The family thanks Guardian Angel Hospice for their compassionate care.
Clifton“Cliff” Cox, 82, of Slidell, Louisiana, anda formerresidentofRiver Ridge,Louisiana,passed awaypeacefully on Satur‐day,December6,2025. Cliff was born December 21, 1942, in LeCompte, Louisiana,toEstus and Blanche Cox. He later moved to Clinton, Louisiana andthento Roseland, Louisiana, where heattended AmiteHigh and wasrecognizedasthe wittiestboy in hissenior class. In 1966, he married JoAnn Zundel in NewOr‐leans.After raisingtheir fourchildrenin River Ridge,Cliff andJoAnn moved to Slidellin1993 Cliff, affectionately known as“PawPaw”, wasa loving husband,father, and grandfather.Heloved boating,cruising, playing cards,livemusic,“passing a good time”, andany ac‐tivitythatinvolvedfamily and friends. Cliffderived energyfrombeing with othersand nevermet a stranger. He will foreverbe rememberedbyhis grand‐childrenfor hisrenditionof Pantsonthe Ground”dur‐ing afamilycruise. Cliff servedinthe United States Airforceand wasemployed for over 30 yearswithDelta Air Lineswhere he worked asanaircraft mechanic and analyst. Followingre‐tirementfromDelta,he workedfor theCityof Slidell as aconstructionin‐spector.Cliffloved to travel, andtraveledthe world by plane, cruise ship RV, andautomobile. He lived largeand wasalways ready fortravel, aparty and agood time.Cliffwas precededindeath by his wifeof59years,JoAnn, his parents EstusCox and Blanche (Forlouis) Cox, his brothersMilton andNelson Cox,niece June Cox, and nephewGlenn Cox. Cliffis survivedbyhis four chil‐dren, KarenHolden(Der‐rik), KathyNicolosi, Patti Broussard,Craig Cox; eight grandchildren,Patrick Holden, Benjamin Holden, Kenneth “Trey” Nicolosi Tyler Nicolosi,Kirsten Ni‐colosiRivers, Braden “Perry”Broussard,Bren‐nan Broussard, Peyton Broussard;six greatgrandchildren,Lucas and Avery Broussard, Daphne and EliseHolden, Krew Rivers, Stella Holden;and numerouslovingrelatives FuneralServiceswillbe heldatHonaker Funeral Home, 1751Gause Blvd West, SlidellLA70460 on Tuesday,December16, 2025. Visitation will begin at9:00amfollowedbyan 11amservice with military flag honors.Burialwillbe inForestLawnCemetery, adjacenttoHonaker Fu‐neral Home.Inlieuof flow‐ers,pleasesenddonations toThe Northshore Humane Society,20384Harrison Ave Covington, LA 70433 Pleasevisit www.honaker forestlawn.comtosignthe guestbook. Arrangements
Kansas and daughters
by HonakerFuneralHome, Inc.,Slidell, LA
ColinDeadmond, 75,of Slidell, Louisiana, passed awayonWednesday,No‐vember 5, 2025, in La‐combe,Louisiana.Colin was born May17, 1950, in LakeForest, Illinois,to Charles andJeanDead‐mond. In 1970 he joined the United States AirForce After leavingthe AirForce in1977, Colinmoved to New Orleans, workingfor the Department of Veter‐ans Affairs MedicalCenter, where he metSherryGun‐ther, whomhemarried in 1980. Thecoupleresided in St. BernardParishbefore movingtoSlidell in 2006 Colin wasprecededin death by ason,Colin WilliamDeadmond. Colinis survivedbyhis wife of 44 years,SherryGunther Deadmond; stepson, Michael John D’AntonioIV; and adaughter, Amanda JeanDeadmondMD. Grave‐sideFuneral Services will beheldat Southeast Louisiana Veterans Ceme‐tery, in Slidell, Louisiana, onFriday, December 19 2025, at 12:30 pm.Please visit www.honakerforestla wn.comtosignguestbook ArrangementsbyHonaker FuneralHome, Inc.,Slidell LA.
Laura Pauline Ecuyer December 15, 1965December5,2025. Laura Pauline Ecuyer was born on December 15, 1965inLubbock, Texas to Mary Pauline Dunlap Ecuyerand Richard Joseph Ecuyer. When Laura was 2 yearsold, her family moved to NewOrleans, Louisiana, herfather's birthplace.She graduated from Grace King High School in 1983, where she was amemberofthe color guard. Oneyear, she was excited to marchwith the Grace King rifle corps in the MardiGrasparadeon Veterans Highway. After highschool,Laura attended LSU in Baton Rouge,followed by LSU Nursing School in New Orleans. Shegraduated with a Bachelor of Sciencein Nursing in 1987. Laura movedwith her family to San Antonio, Texas in 1989. Lookingfor adventure,she joined the US Army Nurse Corps as a surgical nurse in 1993. Her first duty station was Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia, whereshe was selected to serve on the open-heartsurgery team. Her second duty station was BrookeArmyMedical Center at Fort Sam HoustoninSan Antonio, Texas. While on active duty, Lauraearned the Army Achievement Medalwith OakLeafCluster, the NationalDefense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. She was discharged in July 1999 She then wentonto teachinthe Clinical Skills Lab at theUTSAHealth Science Center.While teaching,Lauraattended OurLady of the Lake University in SanAntonio, receivingher Master's degree in Nursing Education. She retired after teaching 18 years. Laura had avery creative mind. In retirement,she enjoyedtraveling,painting and crafts. Throughout herlife, Laura was adevoutCatholic. Shewas so respectedasa Catholic that she and her father were selectedtobe godparents to Elizabeth Moore. She is survivedbyher sister, MaryElisabeth EcuyerofSan Antonio, cousins DebbieSmith (Frank) of Lampasas, Texas, Scotti George (Christopher)ofReeds Spring, Missouriand son Ryker,and Elizabeth Moore (Joshua)ofLansing
Caroline and Charlotte. The family willgather forvisitationatPorter
Loring Mortuaryon Sunday, December 14, 2025 beginning at 5:00 PM and a Rosary willstart at 6:00
PM.Afuneral mass will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 1:30 PM at St Pius XCatholicChurch, located at 3303 UrbanCrest Dr., San Antonio, Texas, 78209. Laura willbelaid to rest at Ft.Sam Houston NationalCemetery.
Youare invited to sign theGuestbook at www.porterloring.com ArrangementswithPorter Loring Mortuary,1101 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212 -(210) 227-8221
Ferguson,Edward Kenneth'Ken'
Edward Kenneth "Ken" Ferguson,69, passed away peacefully surrounded by lovedones on December 5, 2025, after abrief illness. Ken was borninNew Orleans on September 14, 1956, to thelateDr. Edward Bernard Fergusonand MarjorieClarke Ferguson. He was also preceded in death by his brother John Ferguson. Ken attended TrinityEpiscopalSchool and Isidore Newman High School and graduated from Southwestern College (now RhodesCollege)in Memphis, Tennessee. He received twobachelors' degrees(Historyand PoliticalScience). It was during this time in Memphis when Ken truly discovered his love of entertainment.Hebegan performing comicsketches for thecollege radio station, actingonstage,and entertaining in comedy clubsand at conventions. As atrue Renaissance man, loving knowledge for itsown sake, he immersed himself in various activities. He was an actor, comedian,impressionist, trivia enthusiast,history buff, and competitive 'Expert'chess player.His cousinTed taught him chess at averyyoung age. After Ken returned from college they played chess almost every weekright up to his hospitalization. Ken became an expertplayer then achess instructor for schoolsand individual students. He was also an attentive and kind godfather. Ken wasa member of Paul Morphy Chess Club,the Bienville Club,and several Carnival organizations including Bacchus. He was a charter member of the Legion of Mars krewe and was an iconic figure at the annualball. It can neither be confirmed nordenied that he was acharter member of Le Krewe d'Etat and one who greatlycontributed to thehumorous satirical themes and floats. It is rumored that he was d'Etat Dictator in 2009, but that also cannot be either confirmed or denied.Ken was aregularcontributor to thetalkshows on WGSO 990AMradio and member of theradio station's board of directors. He was enthusiastically involvedinlocal historicpreservationeffortsand in assisting military veterans. Those fortunate enoughtoknowKen personally found in him a kind,humble, intelligent and loyalfriend.Ken's wit and humoralways brought smiles to all. He was a sourceoflighthearted joy. Ken was atalented raconteur who wouldoftenregalehis friendswithhis wit, his abilitytospeak on any subject,his animated anecdotes, and hisability to impersonate virtually any voice.Ken was atrivia buff who regularly won local trivia night contestsat theDeutsches Haus, the Crown and Anchor, Finn McCool's,and Martine's. Ken leavesbehindtwo dogs, Josephand Mrs. Bojangles,aswellasmany loving friends. Familyand friends are invitedtoattend theFuneral Mass on Saturday, January3,2026 at 11 AM at Our Ladyofthe RosaryCatholicChurch (3368 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119). Visitation willbefrom9-11 AM at thechurch. Burial willbeatLake Lawn Metairie.Inlieuofflowers, donations can be madeto thefollowing non-profit organizations which Ken participated in over theyears: www.prytaniavet.com (Prytania Veterinary Hospital) www.wgso.com (WGSO radio) www.monumetaltask.or g(Monumental Task Committee)
www.releema.org (R. E. Lee Monumental Association) www.marsherofund.org (LegionofMars Hero Fund) www.ltrrtl.org (Le Krewe d'Etat Community Foundation)
BernardLukeFratello, a lifelongresidentofthe New Orleansarea, passed awaypeacefullyonDe‐cember2,2025, at theage of90. He wasprecededin death by hisparents,Luke Fratelloand Catherine Bruno Fratello;his beloved wifeofmorethan fifty years,Barbara Jeanette Wood Fratello;and hissis‐ter,RoseMargaretFratello Heissurvivedbyhis three daughters,Kimberlee Campbell(Bobby),Jamie Staub (Harold),and PamelaClark (Wesley);his brother,LukeFratello(Ser‐afin– dec.); andhis sisterin-law, Sheila Wood En‐clade (Kenny). He also leavesbehindtwo grand‐children, Justin Bernard Clark (Danielle)and Travis DonaldClark (Madison); one great-grandson Everett NolanClark;and his godchild, Stephanie FratelloAdams (Butch) Bernard wasdeeply loved and will be remembered fondlybymanynieces, nephews,cousins,and friends.Bernard wasa proud graduate of Saint MatthiasGrade School and DeLaSalle High School.In 1962, he founded hisown wholesale sewing-notion business, L. Fratello and Sons, which he success‐fully operated formore than fiftyyears.Through dedicationand hard work hefaithfully served depart‐mentstores, fabricshops dressmakers,and costume makersacrossthe south‐eastern United States.One ofBernard’s earliest and mosttreasured memories was building thefamily beach houseinWaveland, Mississippi,alongside his fatherand brother. That homebecamethe back‐dropofcountless joyful summers,a traditionthat continues todayasthe familystill gathersthere to enjoy thecoastal life he cherished.Anavidout‐doorsman,Bernard found great joyinhunting. He spent many fulfillingdays athis camp in Tylertown, Mississippi,pursuing doves,deer,and turkeys. In his younger years, he espe‐cially enjoyedsquirreland rabbithunting, andhealso loved duck huntingwith friends andfamilyathis campinVenice. He andhis wifewarmlywelcomed loved ones to theirhome for unforgettablewildgamedinners that show‐cased both hisskill andhis hospitality.Bernard was alsoanaccomplished skeet shooter,competing innumeroustournaments asa member of theSouth Louisiana GunClub. Apas‐sionate gardener,hewas known forsharing the abundance of hisharvest particularlyhis remarkable crops of cuccuzi, toma‐toes, eggplants, beans, peppers,corn, broccoli cabbage,and cauliflower Heevengrewthe fennel (finocchio) used in the family’straditional Pasta Milanisa fortheir St Josephcelebration.Heen‐joyed cooking, working crossword puzzles, and watchinghis favorite foot‐ballteams.The familyex‐tends heartfeltgratitude to PatriciaJohnson andher staff fortheir devoted care. Family andfriends are invitedtocelebrate Bernard’s life on Monday, December15, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Greenwood FuneralHome onCanal Boulevard. Inter‐mentwillfollowinGreen‐wood Cemetery.The family welcomesyourthoughts, memories, andcondo‐lencesonlineatwww greenwoodfh.com
Gloria D. Harold cher‐ished forher warmth, bossy senseofhumor and unconditional care,passed awayonDecember8,2025 inNew Orleans, LA,atthe age of 73. Born on January 18, 1952, in Jackson, Missis‐sippi.Gloria, alongwith their familyleftMississippi and eventually settledin New Orleans. Shewas pre‐ceded in deathbyher mother, VelmaDickerson and herbrothers: Sandy Ray Dickersonand James Louis Dickerson. Gloria leavesbehinda legacy of loveand dedication,sur‐vived by herhusband of 50 years,PastorAaron E. Harold; herchildren: Charles Dickerson(Co‐lette)and Rashad Harold (Lisa): andher adorable grandchildren:Ashley Brionne Dickerson, Chelsea Dickerson,Charles Dicker‐son,Jr.,Malachi McDougle RashadHaroldJr.,JustinR Harold, Jada Harold,Chaz Dickerson,Casey Dicker‐son.Her life wasfurther enriched, accompaniedby her father,Roy Marshall Dickerson,along with her siblings, Betty D. Williams, Ray Donnie Dickerson, GeorgeRonnieDickerson, EstherLouiseDickerson and Janice AnnDickerson: numerousextendedfamily members anda wise circle offriends.GloriaD.Harold led asuccessfultrans‐portation business for40 years.She wasa success‐ful entrepreneur andwellloved throughout thecity ofNew Orleansand the surroundingareas.Her passion extended to her homeand yard,which she transformed into her botanical oasis. Within Glo‐ria’s life,she wasdedi‐cated to alifefullofser‐viceasthe FirstLadyof New MillenniumMinistries, asshe served faithfullyas the FirstLadyfor 25 years alongside herhusband PastorAaron E. Harold Gloriaenjoyed herday chauffeuringher sweetie around thecityofNew Or‐leans.She broughtlove, wisdom, andjoy to who‐everwas around her. Glo‐ria always ledand livedby her personalized quote, “Love is agifttotreasure forever givenbyGod with‐out pricetag or measure.” Familyand friendsare in‐vited to attend herCele‐bration of Life Serviceon Monday, December 15, 2025, for11:00 a.m. at The BoydFamilyFuneralHome, 5001 Chef MenteurHigh‐way,New Orleans, LA 70126. Visitation will begin at10:00 a.m. Pastor Steven Hixton, Sr.officiating. In‐terment will follow at Mt OlivetCemetery, NewOr‐leans,LA. GuestbookOn‐line: www.anewtraditionbe gins.com(504)282-0600 LinearBrooksBoydand Donavin D. Boyd Own‐ers/FuneralDirectors
JamesEdward Melvin Sr.transitionedtoheaven on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at theage of 101 (1 day shy of 102). He was known as Dad, Papa, Uncle Edward, Ed, and Mr.Ed. He wasanamazing model of quietstrength,moral character,patience,generosity, kindness, grace, and love He offered wisdom using few words. He wasa hard worker, talentedelectrician, babywhisperer,and wasquick to laugh.Papa wasdevoted to God, family, country, fishing, gardening,and cards. He was born in Chipley,Florida on December 8, 1923. At 17 he joined thenavy to do his partfor hiscountryin WWII. When stationedfor training in San Diego, he wasasked wherehewould like to go. Hisresponse was"anywhere that is not cold". so they sent himto theAleutian Islands. After histour of duty, he worked for Military SeaTransport When he moved backto Louisiana he workedfor Avondale Shipyards until he retiredinMarchof1986. He then started hisown company, JEM's Marine Electrical Service.Here-
tiredagain 17 years later, this time to thebackyard raising vegetablesand flowers. Life wasgood. He wasprecededindeathby hiswife of 67 years, Ethel Leas Melvin -. He is survivedbyhis daughters Barbara Smith (Jeffrey) andDarleneTaylor (Kevin); hisson,James Melvin,Jr.; hisgrandchildrenMorgan Dore (JJ), Elsbet Hollywood (Tim), Evan Mickleberry Alison Smith, Erin Campbell(Adam), and Adam Taylor(Darlene); andhis great grandchildren Madison Campbell, HarrisonDore, Baker Hollywood, HarperDore, Knox Hollywood, Maui Taylor,and Beau Dore Relativesand friends are invited to attenda memorial service for Jameson Saturday, December 27, 2025 held at Lake Lawn MetairieFuneral Home 5100 PontchartrainBlvd NewOrleans,LA. Visitation will be from12:00pm until theservice begins at 2:00pm. Interment will followinLake LawnPark.
Linda, aspecial friend to all that knew her, passed away peacefullyon December 5, 2025 at the age of 73. Linda had away about herthatendeared all of herfriends andacquaintancestoher in amagical waythatfew canexplain. For over 30 years, Linda wasa loyal, committed, andvaluedmember of the administrative team of Legier &Companywhere hercontributionswereinvaluableand appreciated by all of those whoworked with herand the firm's clientsand vendors who hadthe opportunity to experience her. She will be dearlymissed. Many thanks go to all of Linda's caregivers at Laketown Village,where she resided in herrecentyears, and also to InterimHealth Care Hospice fortheir delicate care during the last month of herlife. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, Linda'sfavorite charity, are appreciated. Thefuneral arrangements will be private To view andsignthe online guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.co m
VanusJoseph Priestley, born on December 17, 1948, in NewOrleans,passed away on November 28, 2025, at theage of 76. He wasa resident of Metairie, Louisiana. Vanusattended St.Augustine High School andpursuedhighereducation at theUniversity of NewOrleans andNew York University. He dedicated25 years to theUnited States Coast Guard, rising to the rankofChief Warrant Officer4.After retiring, he returned to NewOrleans andworkedfor hisfather, eventually taking over PriestleyLandscaping Vanuswas marriedtohis loving wife, Ruth Mesker Priestley. He is survivedby hisson,Jonathan Mesker (Rebeka), daughter, Vanjia Priestley Thomas (Michael), andson,Vanus Priestley Jr.Hewas a proudgrandfatherto Cooper Mesker, Camryn Mesker, and Amanda Priestley. Vanusisalso survived by hissister, Laverne PriestleyFleming (Elwood),along with ahost of nieces, nephews, greatnieces, great-nephews,a great-great-nephew, along with many cousinsand friends. He is preceded in death by hismother, ShirleyWeberPriestley, father,Joseph Milton Priestley, sister,Jennifer Priestley Fernandez, and
his brother, Wayne Priestley. In his personal life, Vanus loved music, sing-alongs,and sports. He was known as the life of the party at family gatherings, often directing the music and sing-alongs. His love for his familyand theirs for him will leave them with many cherished memories. He will always be in our hearts and missed by us all. Vanus will be honoredbythe US Coast Guard with aBurial at Sea. ACelebration of Life will be held in the future.
Rabalais,James Joseph
JamesJosephRabalais (Jimmy, Jim-Bob) born De‐cember29, 1934,inNew Or‐leans,Louisiana passed awayonDecember2,2025, athomeinDenham Springs,Louisiana.Pre‐ceded in deathbyhis par‐entsWilliam (Willie) J. Ra‐balais, andLucille Bowers Rabalais. Preceded in death by his firstwifeCar‐ole Piazza Rabalais,and secondwifeJeanLipps Burke-Rabalais. Preceded indeath by hischildren Kim Rabalais McCants, and James J. Rabalais Jr.Sur‐vived by hisgrandchildren EricMcCants (Victoria),Fe‐licia McCantsGonzalez (Michael),and Chad Mc‐Cants (Crystal). Great Grandchildren Johnathon Scardina, Carole Scardina Catherine McCants, Seth Scardina, BraedenMc‐Cants,Michael Gonzalez Jr Elizabeth McCants, and HaileighMcCants.James willberememberedfor his loveoffood, fishing, danc‐ing,traveling,and hisoverall love of life with special enjoyment spending time withhis familyand friends. Memorialserviceswillbe heldatGreenwood Funeral Homeat5200 CanalBlvd. New Orleans, La 70124 on MondayDecember 15 2025, with Visitation from 10:00AM until servicetime at11:00 AM.Interment will immediatelyfollowat Greenwood Cemetery.A Reception will be held after the burial in Greenwood Funeral Home’s Boulevard Room
Rudiger Sr., Edward F. 'Ed'
Edward "Ed" F. Rudiger, Sr., went home to be with the Lord, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. He was born in New Orleans, LA, on October 29, 1935, an eighth generationNew Orleanian, and was adescendent of Jacques Julien Esnoul Francoisde Livaudais, one of the key figures in colonizing New Orleans. He lived alife marked by adeep love for his family and friends. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Elizabeth "Betty" Jane Grass Rudiger; he was honored to have his son, EdwardF.Rudiger, Jr (Laura), of Covington, Louisiana, carry on his name, as well as having several of his grandsons and great-grandsons being named in his honor. He is also survived by his daughter Heidi Rudiger LoCicero (Brian) of Destin, Florida; grandchildren, Peyton LoCicero Trist (Beau) and Andrew EdwardLoCicero (Ann Elizabeth); Patrick Robert Rudiger, and Thomas EdwardRudiger;Matthew Drachenberg (Eliece) and great-grandchildren Edward Grea LoCicero, Walker LoCicero, Elizabeth Blake Trist, James Trist, and Harvey Drachenberg. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Rudiger Galmiche, and was afavorite uncle to his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Alice Livaudais Rudiger and Otto J. Rudiger, Sr.; and his brother, Otto J. Rudiger,Jr. (MaryLynn); and his sister NancyR.Foley (Jack); and his brother-in-law, Paul Galmiche.
Ed graduated from St. Aloysius High School in New Orleans in 1954 and attended Southeastern
Louisiana University in Hammond.Heproudly servedinthe Louisiana Air National Guard. During his career he workedfor the National Aeronautical Space Administration at "NASA's"Michoud Facility, J. RayMcDermott, The Chrysler Corporation, and MechanicalEquipment Company (MECO). He retiredin1995
He and Betty Jane lived in Metairie fortwenty-two yearsand were parishioners of St. Christopher the Martyr Parish. He supportedvarious Catholic charities and schoolsover the years. In 1997,hebuilt their dream home on the Bogue Falaya Riverin Covington, Louisiana, to enjoy aslowerpace of life. Theyenjoyed cruising up and down the river, especially at sunset.Overthe years, Ed enjoyedboth freshwaterand saltwater fishing, birdwatching, astronomy, reading, and watching Saints football androotingonLSU.Heespeciallyloved attending his grandchildren'sevents. Two causes close to his heart wereThe Towers to TunnelsFoundation and St Jude Children's Hospital. He willbedeeply missedbyall who knew and loved him. In lieuof flowers, aMasscan be saidinhis name and/or a memorialgiftcan bemade inEd's honortothe Edward F. Rudiger Memorial Scholarshipat Destin High School:http:// www.DestinHighSchool.or g/RudigerScholarship.
Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at St. Peter CatholicChurch, 125 E. 19th Avenue, Covington, LAon Tuesday,December 16, 2025,with visitation in church at 9:30 A.M and mass at 11:00 A.M. Interment willfollow in St Joseph Abbey Cemeteryin Covington. ACelebration of Lifewillfollow at TchefuncteCountry Club in Covington, Louisiana E.J. FieldingFuneral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. The Rudiger family invites you to share thoughts,fondest memories,and condolences in the online guest book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
Terral,Lylen Albrecht 'Mitty'
Lylen Albrecht Terral, lovingly knownas"Mitty", age98, of New Orleans and Covington, Louisiana,devoted wife, mother, grandmother, philanthropist, communityvolunteer,civic leader and artist, died peacefully on December4, 2025.Born in New Orleans/ OldAlgiers, Louisiana,on September 5, 1927, the sixth of eight childrenof her parents, Ferdinand George Albrecht and Lillian Packard Albrecht. Shewas preceded in deathbyher husband, William C. Terral herdaughter and sonin law, Jann Terral Ferris and GreyFlowersFerris, her son, Mark Scott Terral, her granddaughters Shelby Ferris and Katherine Terral,and her great grandson, Teddy Legidakes. She was also preceded in death by her threebrothersand four sisters. She is survived by her sons, WilliamLyle "Buddy"Terral(Melody),
David Albrecht "Brett" Terral (Lizette), and Thomas Gregory Terral (Lori). She is also survived by twelvegrandchildren and fifteengreat-grandchildren, in addition to many nieces and nephews.
Mittybelievedinliving life to thefullest. Thiswas exemplified by her active involvement in many civic, community and political organizations including theMarch of Dimes ChapterofLouisiana (Past President), Louisiana Children's Medical Center, Louisiana StateMedical Auxiliary(Past President), NewOrleans Chamber of Commerce, Metropolitan Crime CommissionofNew Orleans (BoardMember), Louisiana Stateand NationalRepublican Party, Family Service of Greater NewOrleans, Isidore Newman School Parents Association(Past President), NewOrleans ArtAssociation(Past President), and theNew Orleans Philharmonic Symphony.
Never one to sit still, she enthusiastically pursued many personal interests including becoming an accomplishedairplane pilot, achieving her commercial pilotrating,multi-engine rating, and instrument rating.She was also atalented artist,witha particular passionfor sculptureand painting.Otherinterests included world travel, snow skiing, scubadiving, and,atage eighty, sky diving.
Beyond all of her accomplishments and endeavors, however,she always consideredher greatest achievements to be her family and her faith.
The family wouldliketo express gratitude to Mitty'scaregivers, Deb Ormsby, KellyVicari,Kathy Singleton, LindaManning, PatHarvey, TrolundaHart, and Hazel Barney.
Relatives and friends are invitedtofuneral services at HolyTrinity Lutheran Church, 1N Marigold Drive, Covington, Louisiana, at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 20, 2025, followedbya reception at thechurch. Private interment willbeheldfor thefamily at McDonoghvilleCemetery in Gretna. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be madetoTrinity Lutheran Ministries at the address above.
E.J. Fielding Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. The Terral family invitesyou to share thoughts, fondest memories,and condolences online at E.J.Fielding Funeral Home Guest Bookat www.ejfieldingfh.com.
Erma "Lee" Strickland Tillman, born May14, 1929, wasreceived intothe arms of our Lord on December 5, 2025. Lee was born in JacksboroCounty, Texas to AndrewLee and Effie Horn Strickland, and would become theeldestof eleven siblings.
Lee is predeceasedby her loving husband, Donald L. Tillman, Sr. She is survivedbyher children, Pam W. Doss (Gary), Donna S. Tillman, Donald L. Tillman,
Jr. (Patricia), CherryL Tillman, Julie M. Hope, Lillian T. Chamel (Kenneth). Leewas the proud grandmotherto twelvegrandchildren and twenty greatgrandchildren
She thought greatlyof her nieces, nephews and extended family in Texas Leelived in and raised her family in thecity of NewOrleans. She was a vibrantspirit who created infinite memories for her family and thosewho knew her. She willbe missed morethanwords can say.
Avisitationwillbeheld from10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at LakeLawn Funeral Home,5100 Pontchartrain Blvd.
Amemorial service will be held from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at Lake Lawn FuneralHome, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd
Elizabeth
Elizabeth"Boo"Tinto passed away peacefully and toosoononthe morning of Saturday, September 27, 2025. Anativeand nearly lifelong resident of New Orleans, she was known for her intelligence, warmth and razor-sharp wit.
Bornand raised in Pines Village in NewOrleans East, Boowas oneofnine childrenofLivingstonRae Tinto and Eleanor Weeks Tinto. She graduated from MarionAbramsonHigh School and Loyola University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicationsand Historywithdistinction. With alongand respected careerasa Director of Human Resources, Boo was known forher integrity, her abilitytosupport people throughtheir most difficultmoments, and her unwavering commitment to fairness and empathy in every professional setting. She waspreceded in death by her parents, Rae and EleanorTinto. She is survivedbyher husband
andbest friend, Bernard Moye, with whom she shared nearly 30 years of companionship,laughter, andmutual devotion.She is also survived by hersiblings: Ellie Tinto-Poitier, Anne Milner, BillTinto, JackTinto,Jane Edwards, LynnTinto,Amy Tinto, and Dede Tinto Williams, as well as numerous brothers -and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins andgodchildrenshe loved dearly. Allwill remember herasa constantsourceof support, wisdom andlevity. Boo wasanavidreader, askilledbaker andchef andapassionate advocate for thearts, equality and human rights. Sheapproached life with thoughtfulness, curiosity, and a deep dedication to education.Her Gentilly home wasa place of welcome for familyand friends,where conversation and good food were always in abundance
Aprivatecelebrationof herlifewillbeheld later this month with close friends and family. In lieu of flowers, the familyrequests that donationsbe made in hermemory to NPR/WWNO or WWOZ, reflectingher lifelongdedication to the freedom of thepress and herlove of NewOrleans'music,culture andcommunity. Boo willbedeeply missed by all whohad the privilegeofknowing and connecting withher.New Orleanswillmove forward with a'BooTinto'- shaped hole in itscommunity and heart.
Lilliankay Gertrude Duggan Westergard,born April 22, 1948, in New Orleans, LA, passed away peacefully at home on November 25, 2025, in Slidell,LA, at the ageof77. What brought herthe greatest joyinlifewas her family. Lilliankay wasprecededindeathbyher husband of 51 years, Alfred
Westergard Jr.and belovedbrother,Danny Michael Duggan.She is survived by herchildren, Shaun Marie Wilson(Marc) andTimothyMichael Westergard (Kate);She wasa proudand deeply loving grandmother to Katherine Isabelle, Grant Owsley,and William AndrewWilson, as well as PhilipDuggan and Arthur JamesWestergard. She wasthe daughterofthe lateMichael Walter Duggan andthe lateLucille CatherineDuggan.She is also survived by aniece,a nephew,and many cousins, all of whom held a special place in herheart. Shegraduatedfrom Annunciation Catholic School in NewOrleans and spent most of hercareerin theBirth Registrar's Office at Slidell Memorial Hospital, whereshe workedwith dedication untilher retirement in 2023. Alongtime member of St.Margaret Mary Catholic Church,Lilliankay lived herfaithdaily. She wasa loving wife, mother, andgrandmotherwhose gentle,caringspirit touched all whoknewher Shewill be deeply missed.
Relativesand friends are invited to attenda Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, December 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St Margaret Mary Catholic Church,1050 Robert Blvd., Slidell,LA. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the church.Private interment will be held at alater date.
Thefamilyextendsa heartfelt thanks to all who visitedand caredfor Lilliankay duringher final months. Theirfriendship, love,and compassion broughther great comfort.
Gregory Bovino, commander-at-largeofthe U.S. Border Patrol, saidashestrodethrough the streets of Kenner last weekend that “I think this is about as transparent as it getsright here.” We wish we could agree that’s thecase. Because well overaweek intowhat the feds are calling “Catahoula Crunch”— a deceptively playful name foracrackdown that’scausing seriousdisruption and fear across ourregion —we’re still notsurewhether BorderPatrol agents are meeting their stated goals. What we do know as of thiswritingisthis: In announcing the operation,the Departmentof Homeland Security saiditwould target “criminal illegal aliens roamingfree,” including “violent criminals who were released afterarrest for home invasion, armed robbery,grand theft auto, and rape.”
We also know that the Border Patrolisproviding too little information on how many of the people they are targetingare indeedthe “worst of the worst,” as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has put it.
The rest we can only piece together frompublic accounts and our paper’sreporting, andit’s deeply troubling. People at or heading to jobs have been detained. Many others, herelegally or not, are hiding at home in fear,unabletoshop forgroceries, missing days of schooland leavingrestaurants and other businessesthatrely on their work in dire straits.
We’re sad to say that we believe their fears are warranted, givenwidespread anecdotal evidence here and in other parts of thecountry that people here legally whoare accusedofno serious crime couldbehandcuffed and hauled away.Even those detained forashortperiod reportbeingshaken. Theoverall pictureisa chilling one.
And for what?
DHS announced Thursday that it had made 250 arrests in the operation’s first eightdays, or 5% of the 5,000 total officials initially said they’d seek. The announcement highlightedthe violent pasts of some of them. But by the government’s own tally,just 23 have previousconvictions or arrests on charges ranging from child sexual abuse to traffic violations. Immigrationattorneys tell our reporters that mostofthe arrestees have no criminal records, andthatmany hold valid work permits
All this raises serious questions about thepurpose of the overtly theatrical show of force.
We are not burying our heads in thesandhere. We know that acountry needs to protect its borders and that ours has often failed at thattask. Andwecertainly agree thatall dangerous criminals shouldface appropriateconsequences.
But we also know thatthe realityfor many immigrants is anuanced one, that legal status comes in many forms, that preexisting rules have been thrown into chaos by this administration’sdecisions and that punishmentfor anyoffense should be proportionate.
We are also troubled by thedismissive attitude of Border Patrol officials and theirsupporters, including Gov.Jeff Landry,toward those raising legitimatequestions.
We share the concernofLt. Gov.Billy Nungesser,alifelong Republican, that thecrackdown has disrupted Louisiana’slabor force.
“These people, alot of them haveplayedby the rules and have aworkvisa and noware fearful,”hesaid.
We find New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno’s request thatagents provide information about stops and arrests, their legal bases and any criminal warrants entirely reasonable We urge federal officials toengage with them, not act as if local authorities play no role in the safety andprotection of thepeople they represent. And that starts with being farmore upfront about what’sgoing on than they, to date, have been
cover up her actions.
Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts won’tbe on the bench in Baton Rouge anymore, and that’sa good thing
On Thursday,the LouisianaSupreme Court ruled, by a4-3 margin, that Foxworth-Roberts’ legions of lies during her 2020 campaign were not just shady politics, but disqualifying to her role.
Not only that, the court forbade FoxworthRoberts from qualifying to run for any judicial office for five years, and said she must be cleared by theSupremeCourt should she want todoso.
It was an extremely unusual move for thestate’shighest court, which last removed ajudge 16 years ago.
Foxworth-Roberts really gave them no choice.
During her campaign five years ago, she pitched herself to voters as theveteran of three wars who had obtained the rank of captain in the U.S. Army.She put out campaign materials that said she understood what it was to “stand on the front lines during the call of duty.”
It was all hogwash.
Foxworth-Roberts was just 16 when Desert Storm, one of the wars in which she claimed toserve, happened. She never obtained the rank of captain and, in two subsequent wars, she
served in postsinthe United States.
The justices also hammered Foxworth-Roberts for lying on insurance claims about $40,000 worth of jewelry she said was stolen from her car
When she was confronted with all of that, she refused to accept any responsibilityfor her actions. Laughably,she continued to insist she had not intentionally misled folks.
Ahearing officer charged to investigateher case determined that she had “little, if any credibility,” and said she had been “flagrant”inher attempts to
Even when confronted with her lies, she refused to back down.
The removal order,written by Chief Justice John L. Weimer,was unsparing.
Foxworth-Roberts’ defenses were “not credible, and she has not demonstrated acknowledgment of or accountability forher misconduct in any meaningful sense,” he wrote.
“This court is concerned that Respondent did not genuinely acknowledge or understand her misconduct.
Even before this court, no remorse was demonstrated and her excuse forher lack of candor was a‘lack of focus.’”
Three judges dissented from the majority opinion, though notably,none opposed removing her from the bench. Twoofthose argued she should be suspended without pay forthe rest of her term,and the third said she should be removed without the prohibition on running again. That sort of unanimity among the court is something worth noting. And now,the much-maligned Baton Rouge bench is better off without FoxworthRoberts on it.
Now, if only we could get the SupremeCourt to go after others wholie on the campaign trail.
Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.
We can’tprint all the letters we receive each week, but we generally get in about 25-30 of your letterson thefive days aweek that lettersappear in thenewspaper We do not publish letterson Friday,when guest columns are featured. Andwedonot publish letters on Sunday Avariety of factors determine when aletter is published. We trytoget the timeliest letters published when atopic is in the news, but that isn’talways possible. We know that sometimes thenews cycle moves quickly,and someletters are overtaken by events before getting to thepublication stage. If that happens, we invite readers to resubmit their letter to add updated information. We also find that if aletter refers to afuture event that has already taken place, it’ssometimes as simple as changing the verb tense to
makethe letter accurate. But unfortunately,some letters must be rejected because thefacts on the ground have changed so drastically that thepoint the writer is trying to makebecomes moot.Ifthat has happened to you, we apologize and urge you to continue sending in your opinions. Right now,wehave asked you to weighinonthe question of who should be the Louisianan of the Year.There are awide range of people who have madenews this year who hail from Louisiana. It doesn’thave to be apolitician or public figure. It could be someone whois working to improve your community We hope to get several good responses from readers in time to publish by the end of the year.Sotake the opportunitytowritetoustoday.Send your nomination to letters@theadvocate. com. Last time, we got someletters af-
ter the deadline, and we werenot able to get them in.
Turning to our letters inbox, Ican report that forthe week including Nov 20-27, we received 44 letters. That was less than usual, but as it was the week of Thanksgiving, it’snormal to see a dropoff.
We received four letters related to issues involving the U.S. military, mainly focused on the ad by lawmakers urging members of the military to refuse illegal orders. We received three letters on immigration, with two focused on the enforcement action in NewOrleans. We also received three letters on the Trumpadministration’s campaign against boats allegedly carrying smuggled drugs in the Caribbean.
Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | OpinionPageEditor.Emailher at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.
Quin Hillyer
This newspaper’seditorial boardwas absolutely righton Dec. 9tosuggest arenewal of annual football games between Tulane and LSU. The benefits could accrue not just to the two football programs, but to thewhole state. Let’sflesh out the “why” and the “how” of this idea, with some history and perspective thrown in. Start with how fun it could be again to haveamajor in-state rivalry To show what acrowd an annual game could attract, the editorial mentioned the then-record, and still astonishing, attendance of 86,598 at the LSU-Tulane game in Tulane Stadium on Dec. 1, 1973. Amazingly,that game came not on the heels of an evenly matched rivalry,but after 24 consecutive wins by LSU. If agame could mean so much even when ordinarily non-competitive, imagine whatarevival could mean if both teams are regular winners and if both schools hype it up. That huge amount of interest, by the way,wasn’taone-time thing: The prior year,whenthe game was played in Tiger Stadium and not on regularTV, a closed-circuit telecast (alas, of not very high quality) attracted an auditorium-filling audience at the old Rivergate buildingon the site that now hosts Caesars Casino. LSU held on in that game,
9-3, when its safetyFrank Racine tackled Tulane’sBill Huber one yard short ofatouchdown on the game’s final play
Adecadelater,when Tulane’s Reggie Reginelli tight-roped his way 31 yardsupthe sideline late in the fourth quarter for a31-28 Green Wave victory, it marked theculmination of 11 straight years of fierce, uber-competitive games. At some grade schools, students each year wore either Tulane or LSU colors the day before thebig match. There’sno reason that sort of atmosphere
can’treturn.
Imagine thepotential for TV ad sales and aparaphernalia market statewide that could grow up around ayearly Tulane-LSU scrum.Imagine, if both teams remain winning programs, some national coverage. Play the game afew weeks into the season, so thelosing squad could still recover in the rankings for theCollege Football Playoff, but where bothteams would garner more “strengthofschedule” points for playing each other than for playing, say,Western Kentucky
or South Alabama. Or perhaps Tulane could replace Ole Miss with LSU –one SEC opponent for another,but with fargreater statewide interest.
Play thegame in the Superdomewhich, now that Tulane’s own home games are at wonderful Yulman Stadium on campus, truly wouldbeaneutral field.
There surely are moreLSU fans in the greater NewOrleans area than Tulane fans, but LSU would have theslight inconvenience of a75-minute bus ride. Play it on a weekend when the Saints have an away game, so it would literally be “the onlygameintown.”
For that matter,anannual Superdomegame could be arecruiting tool for LSU. No venue in the country says “big timesports” morethan ourfamed arena.
Festoon the Dome all week with acolored-light show,purpleand-gold on one side and greenand-blue on the other.Generate somebuzz. Make it aspectacle, as southern Louisiana wellknows how to do.
As my colleague Jeff Duncan’s Dec. 11 column amply highlighted, the hoopla around big athletic contests can pay off in big ways beyond direct finances. For Tulane, for example, newfound gridiron prowess has “dovetailed with record-breaking student enrollment figures and growth in research, enterprise and bold investments in innovation and infrastructure.”
Isaw this sort of thing firsthand
in the early 1980s at Georgetown University.Always astrong academic institution, it nonetheless exploded in prestige and attention when Coach John Thompson’s Hoya team reached the highest echelon of college basketball. With Georgetown’sname in the national newsthrough hoops success, the TV networks suddenly began noticing the expertise of the school’sacademicians as well, so that rarely aweek passed without aGUfaculty member (or several) gracing anational news show as asubject expert. Student applications surged, as did alumni donations to what had been asurprisingly small endowment. Attention and success bred still moresuccess. If Louisiana’sreputations both athletically and academically could be enhanced, that would be ahuge win. Meanwhile, the extra cash mentioned earlier could do real good. Imagine if both schools announced that proceeds from all school paraphernalia sales the week of the Tulane-LSU game would go to academic scholarship funds. Imagine if area businesses got into the spirit and joined the colleges in Tulane-LSU productmarketing partnerships. The benefits could be enormous. For the state itself,along with both schools, it would feel like a game-winning touchdown.
Email Quin Hillyer at quin. hillyer@theadvocate.com
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump became President Donald Trump largely because he positioned himself as aman of the people, aman who understood their pain, aman whoclaimed that it was the Democratswho wereresponsible for their familyeconomicmiseries, aman who could improve their financial positions with tariffs and immediate deportations.
That’swhat he said.
foughtover what it would taketoend what became a43-day government shutdown. Republicans argued that the U.S. Congress should continue government operations, then discusswhether and how expiring tax credits might impact millions who rely on them for reduced health premiums.Democrats argued that it was time to resolve the matter,extending thetax credits before they expire on Dec. 31.
In 2016, when he was running for president the first time, he promised thathewould eliminate the nationaldebt in eight years. That isn’t happening. Just last year,when he was running for presidentathird time,Trumprefined his pitch to focus on immigration andthe economy.Itworked. Trumpedgedpast Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, winning 49.8% of thevote to her 48.3%
Will Sutton
Iadmit,Ididn’tlook deep enough to determine whether thepollsters included Louisianacitizens among those they surveyed. So Ichecked theU.S. Joint Economic Committee for context.
According to their state inflation tracker, the average Louisianahousehold was paying$890 moreeach month as of December 2024 than it was in January 2021. That’s a total of about $28,400 more.
insurance were the top concerns among those who live in this Pelican state, and by along shot. About 22% identified the economy as their top concern. About 20% said homeand auto insurance weretheir biggest concerns. Arethese affordabilityissues real? Is it fake news?
Apparently,Trumpthinks so. He called affordability aDemocratic “hoax” months ago, earlier this month and he’sstill at it.
Days ago, he said theDemocratic affordability message is ahoax, a“con job” and a“scam ”
Tell blue-collar workers at the paper mill in West Monroe that.Tell schoolteachers who deserve morepay in Shreveport that. Tell that to Acadiana agriculture workers who get their hands dirty growing crops for therest of us. Tell that to Baton Rouge and New Orleanscivil servants as their respective cities face budget cuts, meaning someofthem may lose their jobs.
Republicans and Democrats whothought he was too farleft.
They saw Democratic candidates win gubernatorial races in NewJersey and Virginia with affordability platforms. Just recently,aTennessee Democrat ran an affordability race and lost acongressional special election by only 9percentage points to aRepublican in district Trump won by 22 points.
Butvoters who asked for onething and got another are speaking outand up against the president andhis policies.
Just this month, aAP-NORC poll showed that while 69% of Republicans approve of the way the president is handlingthe economy,only 7% of Democratsagree. Overall, his economic approval rating fell from40% in March to 33% in November, and it continues to fall.
Nationally,Democratstook abig risk and challenged Republicans as the two parties
Another indicator shows that housing affordability in the state has declined by 4.2% since 2023 and by about 29% since 2021. That is achallenge for those selling homesand thosewho wanttobuy one.
We all know insurance in our state is a bigproblem.
How big? One indicator ranks Louisiana as theleast affordable state in the nation for personal vehicle insurance. It’sabout 40% higher than thenational average. It was earlier this year that the Pelican Institute for Public Policy released astatewide survey showing that the economy and
Ours is ablue state with moreregistered Democrats than Republicans but adeep red state when it comes to recent statewide voting history
LouisianaDemocrats have been watching their partycome close in races around thecountry that were considered easy Republican wins and seeing some easy Democratic wins where Republicans thought they had achance.
New York Cityelected anew Democratic mayor narrowly withastrong affordability platform, beating back opposition from
Cuban Republican Miamielected a Democratic mayor,with a59% margin of victory,for the first timein28years. Something’snot working nationally Something’snot working statewide. Something’sgotta change if we want real affordability If Louisiana Republicans and Republican-voting Democrats aren’twilling to challenge Trumponthe Epstein files that have evidence of his connections to the convicted pedophile and sex trafficker; if they aren’twilling to challenge Trumpon the inhumane treatment of people federal agents think are illegal immigrants based on their names, their skin color and their surnames; and if they aren’twilling to challenge the president because he’safoulmouthed man far from acting like agood Christian, maybe they’ll challenge him as their 401(k)s and bank accounts decline and as they lose incomeand jobs. Maybe.
Email Will Sutton at wsutton@theadvocate. com.
It seems half the country’spolitical figures have been instructed to grin like atheme-parkgreeter Supposedly,that makes them seem friendly,approachable, relatable. When Iwant humanoid patter,Iturn to chatbots. They’re more convincing. Why this epidemic of wax museum smiles? One reason, certainly,issocial media, where every sour look gets amplified. No politician wants to get caught with his grin down. The forced smiles of President Donald Trump’seconomic advisers really don’twork. As they’re pressed about grim economic news, their jolly best-is-yet-tocomedemeanor is painfulto watch.
tor is losing jobs. Would he care to comment? Lutnick’s voice is pure Coney Island barker.(Hisforced smile recalls the weird grin of Tillie, the amusementpark’scartoon face.)
“Next year,the numbers are goingtobefantastic! Lutnickexclaims.“Ithink you’regonna see GDP next yearsuperb! Over 4%!”
National Economic CouncilDirector Kevin Hassett on Fox News is asked about polls showing Americansare most unhappy about the economy.Face frozen in pure delight, Hassett blames Joe Biden, then turns to gaslighting. What the public thinks it sees isn’thappening, he insists.Wages are rising faster than inflation.
ACNBC anchor tells Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick what everyone knows: The private sec-
“Pardon me for interrupting,” theanchor said, “but thenumbers we looked at show that inflation
is still higher than wage growth.” Hassett’ssmile didn’tcrack. The king of thefossilized grin must be New York’snew mayor Zohran Mamdani. Hislook of unbridled joy lit upmanyadorable TikToks. In one, he emerges from theicy Atlantic waters in suit and tie, grinning as he promises to “freeze” rents. Mamdani wisely adopted a neutral face on announcing plans to end the sweep of homeless encampments. Three years ago, Mayor Eric Adams ordered the New York Police Departmentto start the removal of thesidewalk camps with their stretches of dampcardboard, garbage piles, drug marketsand menacingaddicts. The homeless commonly suffer aconstellation of mental problems, and many prefer risking the cold streets to ashelter Mamdani’ssunny view is that his
social workers can convince these disturbed souls that he has abetter offer without specifying what that may be. As it happens, the Adams administration had been pairing police with social workers, in part forthe social workers’ safety.
“The quality of life of the city will go backwardsagain,” retired NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said.
Onethingthat brought smiles to somelongtime New Yorkers alarmed at this proposal wasa darkly funny tweet from aMamdani critic at the Manhattan Institute. “The troubled can live on the free buses,” Nicole Gelinas wrote.
Just imagine how wellDemocrats might have done in Tennessee’s7th Congressional District race had their candidate not been AftynBehn. Her plastered smile bordered on thederanged, which only underscored the lunacy of
her past statements: Behn had said that she “hates Nashville,” acity she was to represent. She couldn’tstand country music. And she suggested abolishing the local police force. This is adistrict that last voted forTrumpby22percentage points. Growing discontent with Republican Washington was such that Behn’sopponent, Matt VanEpps, won by only about 9 percentage points. Think of the political earthquake Democrats could have set off with aserious contender All this frantic smiling is branding, not emotion. Or as Nietzsche might have put it, “Man learned to smile only after he learned to hide himself.” Politicians, drop your Joker smiles. They’re mostunpleasant. Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop.
A study tests vegetable growth under solar panels, which could help balance clean energy and agriculture
BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer
Hundreds of solar panels generate clean energy at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Louisiana Solar Energy Laboratory, but it’s what’s in between those panels that one researcher hopes will revolutionize Louisiana agriculture.
Vegetable crops have been planted in the shady areas between panels, with the hope that they can produce a strong yield. It’s a relatively new idea called agrivoltaics.
Agrivoltaics, or AV is the science of raising crops — whether livestock or row crops — alongside solar production. In states such as Texas and Arkansas, “solar grazing” has taken off in recent years, partly because livestock can use solar panels for shade while keeping vegetation under control.
Just last month, RWE Clean Energy completed building a solar farm outside Monroe that will generate enough electricity to power 17,000 homes. A flock of about 600 sheep will soon be grazing around the solar panels to keep the vegetation under control.
Virtually no research has been done into AV in Louisiana. Until now Caitlin deNux, a visiting professor at UL, is leading the university’s recent research into AV She formerly worked with the LSU AgCenter at its Crowley research station.
“We’re looking to see if agrivoltaics is viable for Louisiana’s climate and whether the specialty crops are as nutritious when grown in the shade,” deNux said.
But AV isn’t emerging in a vacuum.
Land-use tension
In the past five years, Louisiana has seen hundreds of acres of rural land often agricultural or pasture — converted into large-scale solar sites, with developers like D.E. Shaw and corporations such as Meta and Amazon driving the expansion.
That growth has collided with longstanding agricultural traditions — particularly in the state’s sugar cane belt — creating a new wave of land-use tension in rural communities.
Plans for solar farms in Iberville and St James parishes were scrapped following local pushback, in particular from sugar cane farmers who view the initiatives as an encroachment on their own economic viability In October, members of the Sunset community expressed similar frustrations at a town hall discussing a proposed solar farm on Hippolite Miller Road.
It’s happening nationwide: Farmland is disappearing, and solar development is expanding. The United States loses 2,000 acres of farmland a day to nonagricultural development, and by 2050, solar farms alone are expected to occupy more than 10 million acres — roughly 0.5% of the contiguous United States, according to American Farmland Trust.
With farmland disappearing and solar panels spreading across rural Louisiana, agrivoltaics could offer farmers a way to maintain production while also generating energy
“The whole premise is really looking at sustainability and dual sources of revenue
for producers, which comes from the energy they can sell back to the grid,” deNux said.
Some researchers counter that the expansion of agrivoltaics into Louisiana agriculture should be limited and would require a long-term investment for what is likely to be a small initial return.
“I don’t see being able to convert 500 acres of sugar cane into 500 acres of vegetable crops under solar panels, at least not without a major hit to the farmers or the producer,” said Kurt Guidry, an agribusiness researcher at the LSU AgCenter “You, as a producer would need to get in touch with a buyer willing to purchase at that scale. I’m skeptical of it It would likely need to be at a much smaller scale.”
Guidry has conducted previous research into the economic consequences of transitioning sugar cane fields into solar farms, warning of possible losses in revenue for the state’s economy Due to the size of the plants, sugar cane is not a viable crop for AV, and thus any transition of sugar cane farms into AV farms will require produce to come in the form of different crops.
“Most sugar cane farmers in Louisiana rent their land, and most of our farmers aren’t trained for vegetable crops. So when a landowner decides to transfer land from sugar cane into a solar farm even if they are growing crops under the panels, unless we’re specifically training those farmers for growing those crops, it’s putting people out of a job,” Guidry said.
‘Both sides can be happy’ At UL’s solar farm on Eraste Landry Road, re-
searchers and students under deNux’s guidance have planted 434 broccoli plants in between the solar panels already located there.
While not a major crop in the Louisiana agricultural industry, AV studies have shown broccoli to have a particular propensity for growth using the procedure, which deNux said influenced her decision in choosing the crop for the study
The study also aims to determine if members of the public prefer the look and taste of produce grown through AV or conventional means by use of a blind sample.
“There’s a South Korean study that showed that broccoli grown in AV plots were a more vibrant green. It’s very fresh-looking when compared with the more dullish green of conventionally grown plants. Customers there preferred the visual appeal and taste of AV-grown broccoli. That could increase consumer demand,” deNux said.
A sign explains the research underway in the agrivoltaics
“These plants take water from their roots and release it as vapor, which in turn creates a cooling effect under the panels. Solar panels don’t do as well when they’re overheated, so the plants also make the energy production more efficient.”
While still in its infancy, deNux is hopeful UL’s research will lead to increased exposure and viability for the emerging approach to farming and offer Louisiana’s economy a path toward reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
The additional source of revenue isn’t the only benefit of transitioning a traditional solar farm into an AV farm, either The presence of crops themselves can benefit energy production, according to deNux.
“It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve made massive changes in agriculture. I think this provides a way that both sides can be happy When I’ve presented research, I’ve gotten a lot of interest from people who want to know how they can implement this on their land. I do believe in sustainable energy, and with climate change getting more unpredictable here in the Gulf South, having reliable energy sources is important. If we train people, if we do it the right way, this will hopefully be a way of getting there while giving some farmers additional sources of revenue.”
BY GUERRYSMITH
Contributing writer
On ESPN’sCollege Football Playoff selection showlast Sunday,Tulane coach Jon Sumrallsaid his team would be playing withhouse money in its first-round matchup
ä Tulane at Ole Miss, 2:30 P.M. SATURDAy,TNT
with Ole Miss after losing 45-10 to the Rebels in September
He was right in one sense —almost no one outside of the program expectsthe Green Wave to win in Oxford,Mississippi —but fundamentally wrong in another If Tulane andJames Madison fare poorly as heavy underdogs on theroadinthe first roundofthe CFP, the opportunity for Groupof
Fiveconference schools in future playoff formats figures to be curtailed
The selection showfeatured intense criticism of aformat that allowed two teams outside of the Power Four leagues to qualify for the 12-teamfield while Notre Dame, andtoa lesser degree Texas and Vanderbilt,were left out. Former Alabama coach Nick
Saban, whorepeatedly has bashed the Group of Five schools, started thecarping.
“You are going to have two teams in the playoff —nodisrespect to the Group of Five —thatare nowherenearranked as highly as someotherteamsthatare much better than them,” Sabansaid.
“This has got to be devastating for Notre Dame’steam not to get an opportunity to play in the playoffs, and maybe we can learn something from this that will help us come up with alittlebetter criteria of try-
BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer
Let’stalk about some stuffthatdoesn’t matter
ing to make sure we can getthe best 12 teams in the playoff.” Tulane (11-2), whichwas 20th in the finalCFP ranking, qualifiedas the fourth-highest-ratedconference champion out of the American. James Madison (12-1), ranked 24th out of the Sun Belt, got in as the fifth-highest-rated league winner Notre Dame (10-2), ranked 11th, won its final 10 games by an averageof30points after losing by
Here’s where Kiffinmay attack when portal opens
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
Lane Kiffin became amaster of the transfer portal duringhis time at Ole Miss, landing top-four portal classes nationally in each of the last four seasons, according to 247Sports.
He’llneed to re-create that magic at LSU this offseason as the Tigers look to find new starters at almost every position on both sides of the ball. Here’s aposition-by-positionbreakdown of the work ahead for Kiffin and his new staff at LSU
Quarterback
Couldreturn: Michael VanBuren (So.), Colin Hurley (R-Fr.)
Breakdown: VanBuren started in LSU’s last three games andHurley was the last quarterbackrecruit to sign with LSU, but it’shard to imagine either one leadingKiffin’soffensein2026. Among all of LSU’spositional needs, this onewill be the mostimportant to get right. The Kiffin offensedoesn’t work without an accurate quarterback whocan consistently play on timeand within its structure.
Kiffin alreadyhas been aggressive at trying to bringinhis own man at the position. He reportedly made arun at four-starrecruit and top-10 quarterback prospectLandonDuckworth before he signed with South Carolina.
Runningback
Could return: Harlem Berry (Fr.), Caden Durham (So.)
Let’stalk aboutthe age. New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback TylerShough turned 26 in September.That makeshim olderthanJa’Marr Chase, Patrick Surtain Jr.and Penei Sewell, allofwhom are in their fifth NFL season and have at least one All-Pronod on their résumé. Shough’sage has been an easy punchline for many zingers.
Let’stalk about that throw.Ifthat does not ring any bells, just type “Worst throw in NFLcombine history” into an internet search engine. See it?The failed attempt at atrick-shot, off-platform throw to areceiver crossing over the middle,a
flapping duck thatfell incomplete when there was absolutely no pressure around him. That throwhas liveda long life on social media whenever Shough’sname is brought up. For good measure, let’sbring up the draftstatusand history that goes along withit. Shough was good enough to
ä See SHOUGH, page 5C
Breakdown: Running back is among LSU’sstronger position groups heading into next season, at least at the top. Berry showeda lotofpromise once he got acclimated to the speed and physicality of Southeastern Conference defenses. Durham was afreshman starter who has been asolid producer when healthy Without asignee from the 2026 class, LSU likely will dip into the transfer portal to add depth. Having multiple options on the ground will be important for Kiffin. Georgia,Missouri and Mississippi
Bryce McGowens played atotal of 31 minutes all of last season withthe Portland Trail Blazers. He spent more of thatseason withthe Rip CityRemix, theBlazers’ G-Leagueaffiliate. So no onewill blame you if you didn’tevennotice when the Pelicans signed McGowens to atwo-way contract in late July But now the 6-foot-6 guard is starting to make peopletakenotice. He’snow contributing big minutes for the strugglingPelicans. He tied acareer-high with 23 points in Thursday’svictory over the Blazers, showing his old team what they are missing out on “It was definitely huge beating my former team,” McGowens said. “Being with those group of
guys fora year and coachingstaff was definitely hugefor me.” McGowens went 5for 5on 3-pointers Thursday,anew career-highfor 3-pointers. He also hadsevenrebounds, two assists andtwo steals. He played 30 minutes, almost matching what he playedall of last season. His biggestcontributions came in the second half when he started in placeofHerbJones,who picked up two quicktechnical fouls and was ejected at theend of thefirst half. ThePels led 7068 at thebreak butoutscored the Blazers 73-52 in the second half to pullaway for an easy 143-120 victory “You lose Herb and you’re not sure where to go,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said.
“But Bryce has been steady all year.He’searned these minutes. He’snot been given this time. He’searned it. Every time he’son
thefloor,good things happen.” McGowens’splus/minus was ateam-best plus-19 against the Blazers. Notbad foraguy nobody
wastalking about when the season began.
He’sstarted five games and is averaging 8.8 points and 2.1 rebounds. Over the last six games, he’saveraging 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. “Defensively,onthe boards and in transition, you can just see his numbers are significant when he’s on the floor forus,” Borrego said. “Transition offense takes asignificant turn. I’mjust proud of him He just showsupevery day and works and does his job. He stays ready.Great competitor.” McGowens wasn’tsure what his role would be when he got to New Orleans, his third team in four years. But he appreciates the opportunity he’sbeen given.
“I’m super blessed to be in this position of being in an organization that believes and
and
On TV
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Noon Texas SouthernatMinnesota BTN
1p.m. Bethune-Cookman at Missouri SECN
2p.m. W. Michigan at Iowa BTN
2p.m. Troy at UABESPN2
6p.m. Jacksonville at Texas A&MSECN
6:30 p.m. Washington St. at SouthernCal FS1
WOMEN’S COLLEGEBASKETBALL
Noon Baylorvs.Texas ABC
2:30 p.m. Penn St. at South CarolinaESPN
2:30 p.m. Kansas St.atCreighton FS1
3p.m. Louisville at North CarolinaACCN
3p.m. Jackson St. at AlabamaSECN
4:30p.m. Michigan St. at DePaulFS1
WOMEN’S NCAA VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
2p.m. Texas A&M at NebraskaABC
6:30 p.m. WisconsinatTexasESPN NBA
6p.m. NewOrleans at ChicagoWVUE GOLF
3:30 a.m. Alfred Dunhill Championship Golf
Noon Grant Thornton Invitational Golf
1p.m. Q-School Golf
1p.m. Grant Thornton Invitational NBC HORSE RACING
Noon NyRA:America’sDay at the Races FS1
2:30 p.m. NyRA:America’sDay at the Races FS2 MEN’S LACROSSE
4p.m. NLL: Rochester at San DiegoESPN2 NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL
2p.m. Memphis at OsceolaNBATV
4p.m. WindyCity at Noblesville NBATV NFL
Noon Buffalo at NewEngland CBS
Noon Las VegasatPhiladelphia Fox
3:25 p.m.Green BayatDenverCBS
3:25 p.m.CarolinaatNew Orleans Fox
7:20 p.m.Minnesota at Dallas NBC, Peacock NHL
11:30a.m.Vancouver at NewJerseyNHLN
6p.m.Edmonton at MontrealNHLN SKIING/SNOWBOARDING
3p.m.FIS: WorldCup NBC MEN’S SOCCER
8a.m.NewcastleUnitedatSunderland USA
9:25 a.m. Celtic at St. MirrenCBSSN
10:30a.m.Leeds United at BrentfordUSA
1:45 p.m.Juventus at Bologna CBSSN
7p.m.Tigres UANL at Dep.Toluca CBSSN WOMEN’S SOCCER
5:55 a.m. Chelsea at Brighton &H.A. ESPN2
By TheAssociated Press
LOS ANGELES Azzi Fuddscored 17 points and No. 1UConnrouted 16th-ranked Southern California 79-51 on Saturday,snapping the Trojans’ 20-game home winning streak with their best player on the bench watching.
JuJu Watkins alsodidn’tplay when UConn beatUSC 78-64 in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in March. She tore her ACL in the second round and is sitting out this season while rehabbing
The Huskies (10-0) shut down USC star freshman Jazzy Davidson, whowas held to 10 points on 3of13shooting.
USC led 9-8 before UConn pulled away The reigning national champion Huskies ran off 15 straightpoints to end the first quarter as part of a 24-2 spurt that gave them a32-11 lead early in the second quarter Davidson’sjumper —her only one of the first half —was oneofjust seven field goals for the Trojans before halftime, when UConn led 39-17.
Watkins did her best to keep herteammates loose and confident during timeouts and as they came in and out of the game.But she couldn’tdoanything about the Trojans’ poor shooting and UConn’sswarming defense.
USChad no answerdefensively,either.Assoon as the Trojans packed the paint, UConn would burn them by hitting a3-pointer. And the Huskies didn’tevenhave their usual great game from longrange, hitting 7of19. Kennedy Smith had 16 points and seven rebounds to lead the Trojans (7-3), who alsolost to then-No. 2South Carolina 69-52 last month in LosAngeles. Their lonewin against aTop 10 opponent so farwas then-No. 9N.C State 69-68 in the second game of the season.
USC’sonly sustained run of thegame ended thethird quarter,with the Trojans outscoring UConn 18-9 to trail 69-39. Jana El
Alfy’sbasket gavethe Huskies their largest lead of 39 points earlier in the period.
Ashlynn Shade added15points and Sarah Strong had 14 points andseven reboundsfor UConn.
UConn alum Diana Taurasi and USCalum and Naismith Basketball HallofFamer Cheryl Miller shared apre-game hug wearing their respective school clothing.
NO.6 MICHIGAN85,AKRON 59: In Ann Arbor,Mich., Syla Swords and Ashley Sofilkanich both had 17 points to lead five Michigan players in double-digit scoring.
Sixth-rankedMichigan(9-1) pulled away for good early in the second quarter,fueled by its defense. In the first half, the Wolverines forced 16 turnovers andgenerated 17 points off them. Michigan’saverage of forcing 25.4 turnovers per game ranks eighth nationallyand first in the Big Ten.
Shaena Brew led the Zips (1-8) with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, addingfourrebounds and five assists.
The Wolverines took a48-30 halftime lead, shooting nearly 50%from the floor.Kendall Dud-
leyhit a3-pointerfrom the corner late in thefirst half, pushing Michigan’slead to 20 before the break.
NO.9 OKLAHOMA 92, NO.23OKLAHOMA
STATE70: In Oklahoma City, Raegan Beers scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds in Oklahoma’s10th straight win.
Sahara Williams scored 18 points and Aaliyah Chavez and ZyaVann added 15 each for the Sooners (11-1), whowon their seventhstraight in theseries.The in-state rivals played annually before Oklahoma left the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference ahead of last season. Oklahoma shot 51.3% from the field and scored at least 90 points for theeighthstraight game. All five Sooners starters scored in double figures. Micah Gray scored22points and Jadyn Wooten added15for the Cowgirls (10-2), who hadwon five straight. Oklahoma State shot just 37.8% from the field and 28.1% from 3-point range.
NO.11IOWA102,LINDENWOOD68: In Iowa City,Iowa, Hannah Stuelke scored aseason-high 29 points as Iowa took down Lindenwood.
The Hawkeyes (10-1, 1-0 Big Ten) reached thecentury mark for thethird timethis season, and trailed for just over one minute of gametime. They took the lead for good on ChazadiWright’s3-pointer 3:31 into regulationthatstarted a13-2 run.
Iowa led 50-34 at the half with Stuelke scoring 17 points. AvaHeiden (14 points), Layla Hays(11), and Journey Houston (10) each reched double digits for Iowa. Hays, Houston, and Stuelke each grabbed six rebounds, and Taylor McCabeled with seven assists.
NO.17OLE MISS 86, WOFFORD52: In Oxford, Miss., CotieMcMahon racked up 24 points andLatasha Lattimoreadded 18 as Ole Miss cruised past Wofford.
McMahon has scored 20 or more points in five of her first 10 games of the season and has reached double figures in every contest so far Lattimore andMcMahon each grabbed 11 rebounds. Sira Thienou led with 12 rebounds as Ole Miss was dominant on the boards, 53-27.
The Rebels (9-1) took the lead 21 seconds into the game on aMcMahon layup anddidn’ttrail the rest of the way.They took a41-24 lead into halftime.
NO.20WASHINGTON 79, GREEN BAY74: In Seattle, Sayvia Sellers matched her career-high with 30 points and Washington overcamean11-point fourth-quarterdeficit to defeat Green Bay Washington trailed 67-56 after Green Bay scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter but the Huskies outscored their visitors 23-7 therest of theway Sellers scored 30 points for the fourth time in her career and madeacareer-high seven 3-pointers. The last of her 3-pointers gave Washington a71-70 lead with 61/2 minutes remaining. Avery Howellhad 11 points and 12 rebounds forWashington (9-1). Elle Ladine added 11 points and Yulia Grabovskaia scored 10.
By the Associated Press
DALLAS TrevonBrazile scored 18 of his 24 points after halftime andfinished with 10 rebounds as No. 17 Arkansas overcameNo. 16 Texas Tech 93-86 on Saturday in a rematch of aSweet 16 game inlast season’sNCAA Tournament. Arkansas (8-2), which trailed by as many as 10 points before halftime,went ahead forgood on Brazile’sdriving layup that made it 78-77 with 5:20 left. Aminute after that, coming out of atimeout, he made amove near the baseline that got JT Toppin in the air and drove by the preseason APAllAmerican for an emphatic onehanded slam dunk.
Toppin had 30 points and 11 rebounds for the Red Raiders (7-3), while Christian Anderson had 26 points and 11 assists.
NO.6 PURDUE 79, MARQUETTE 59: In Indianapolis, Oscar Cluff made all nine of his shots and finished with aseason-high 22 points, and Braden Smith reached another milestone with 10 more assists. It took Smith only 12 secondsto find Fletcher Loyer for a3-pointer to become thesecond Division Imen’sbasketball player to join the 1,500-point, 850-assist,550-rebound club. D.J. Cooper was the first to do it during his career at Ohio from 2009-13.
Smith had seven points andfive rebounds to increase his career numbers to 1,515 points, 859assists and 759 rebounds.Cluff
had 11 rebounds for his second straight double-double. Loyer scored 15 points.
NO.7 HOUSTON 99, NEW ORLEANS 57: In Houston, Kingston Flemings Chris Cenac, Chase McCarty andMercyMiller eachscored 15 points,and Houston won its fourth straight.
Flemings and Cenac, bothfreshmen, combined to shoot 11 of 19 from the fieldfor Houston (101), which won its tenth straight at homeand haswon 22 straight nonconferencehome games.
NO.9 MICHIGANST. 76,PENN ST.72: In University Park,Pennsylvania, Divine Ugochukwu scored acareer-high 23 points andMichigan State overcame asloppy performancetobeat Penn State.
Jaxon Kohler posted his fifth double-double ofthe season with 10 pointsand 12 rebounds while Carson Cooper added 10 points for the Spartans(9-1, 2-0 Big Ten), who committeda season-high 17 turnoversand trailed for long stretches in both halves.
NO.11LOUISVILLE 99,MEMPHIS 73: In Louisville, Kentucky,Ryan Conwell had 17 pointsand reserve Adrian Wooley scored 15 as he and Kasean Pryor alternated making six of Louisville’s seven consecutive 3-pointers during a first-halfsurge that rocketed the Cardinals past Memphis.
The Cardinals (9-1) converted 18 of 35 attempts from long range, secondtotheir 20 made 3s against NJIT on Nov.26. Their total in-
cluded12of22from deep before halftime, during which Wooley (5 of 8) andPryor (3 of 3, 11 points) took turns knocking down shots to break thegame open.
NO.23NEBRASKA 83,NO.13ILLINOIS80: In Champaign, Illinois, Jamarques Lawrence hit a3-point shotwith less than asecond remaining Saturday to give Nebraska thewin. Theundefeated Huskers (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are off to the best start in program history.They won 10 in arow to start the197778 season. Lawrence finished with 14 points. Bryce Sandfortscored a career-high 32 points and Rienk Mast had 17 pointsand seven rebounds for theHuskers.
NO.14NORTHCAROLINA 80,SC-UPSTATE
62: In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Caleb Wilson had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead North Carolina to awin against USC Upstate. Wilson shot 6of7from thefloor anddidn’tmiss afield-goal attempt until therewas lessthana minutetoplay.The TarHeels (91) also got aboost fromJonathan Powell’s17points, which tiedacareer high. Luka Bogavac added 15 points andfive assists, and Henri Veesaar scored 14.
NO.15VANDERBILT83, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 72: In Nashville, Tennessee, Tyler Nickel scored acareer-high 30 points in Vanderbilt’swin. Tyler Tanner had 12 points, nine rebounds andseven assists for the Commodores, and Jalen Washington added 12 pointsand seven re-
S.C. State tops Prairie View in Celebration Bowl
ATLANTA Ryan Stubblefield found Jordan Smith on atwo-point pass in thefourth overtime andSouth Carolina State defeated Prairie View 40-38 on Saturday in the 10th CelebrationBowl,the matchupbetween the champions of the MEAC and SWAC. After both teamskicked field goalsinthe firstovertime, Cornelius Davis intercepted aStubblefield pass on the first possession of the second overtime. Prairie View, needing anyscore to win, setup Diego Alfaro for a31-yard field goal, but he missed.
South Carolina State trailed by 21 points at halftime but tied it in thethird quarter, scoringthree touchdowns,all on drives of less than 50 yards.
bounds. Devin McGlockton had a team-high 10 rebounds. TheCommodores (10-0) remained theonly undefeated team in the Southeastern Conference withtheir best start sinceopening the2007-08 season 16-0.
NO.18FLORIDA 80, GEORGE WASHINGTON70: In Sunrise, Florida, Xaivian Lee scored 24 points to lead Florida to avictory over George Washington in the second gameofthe Orange BowlBasketball Classic. Thomas Haugh had 19 points andseven rebounds.Boogie Fland finished with 12 points and five assistsfor thereigningchampion Gators (6-4).
NO.19KANSAS77, NC STATE76, OT: In Raleigh, North Carolina, Melvin Council had career highs of 36 points and nine 3-pointers to help Kansas win in overtime.
Kansas freshman star Darryn Peterson had 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. But he abruptly checked outwith2:15 left and didn’treturn, watching from the benchinanexit coming after he missedseven games with ahamstring strain.
NO.22ST. JOHN’S 91, IONA 64: In New York, Oziyah Sellers scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, ZubyEjiofor tied acareer-high by blocking eight shots forthe secondstraight game and St. John’s survived adifficult start. Ejioforalsohad sixpoints and 10 rebounds. Ian Jackson added 14 points in his return to the starting lineup.
SALTLAKE CITY Morgan Scalley was promotedfrom defensive coordinator to head coach at Utah on Saturday,succeeding Kyle Whittingham, who announced Friday he would stepdown after 21 seasons.
Scalley will take over after No 15 Utah plays Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31. He’sbeen thedefensivecoordinator under Whittinghamfor 10 seasonsand has been apart of the Utah coaching staffsince 2007.
Utah ranks in the top 20 nationally this season in passing efficiency defense, total interceptions (14) and scoring defense (18.7 points per game).
Scalley played safety for Utah from2001to2004. UrbanMeyer coached him over his final two seasons, and Scalley helped lead the Utes to the 2004 Fiesta Bowl.
Indiana keeps defensive coordinator Haines No. 1Indiana is keeping defensive coordinator Bryant Haines after he agreed to anew contract that will makehim one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the nation,a personwithknowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday Haines made$2.1 million this season, and this deal is said to include asignificant pay raise. Haines has been oneofcoach CurtCignetti’s mainstays. He has followedCignettifromIndiana University-Pennsylvania to Elon to James Madison and Indiana. The 40-year-old Hainesgrew up in central Ohio andplayedcollege footballatBallState before startinghis coaching careerat ManchesterUniversity,anNAIA school in northeastern Indiana. Utah promotes Scalley as Whittingham’ssuccessor
Michigan expands its probe after firing Moore
ANN ARBOR, Mich. The law firm hired by the University of Michigantoinvestigate former football coach Sherrone Moore’srelationship with astafferwill continue its probe of the program and is prepared to expand its inquiry throughout the athletic department, according to twopeople familiar with the situation.
Michigan fired Moore on Wednesday, when the school said an investigation uncovered his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. He is married with three daughters.
The 39-year-old Moore was charged with three crimes after prosecutors said on Friday he “barged his way”into the apartment of awoman he’d been having an affair with and threatened to kill himself
Vonn places second in WorldCup downhill
ST.MORITZ, Switzerland Lindsey Vonn nearly did it again. The American, 41, finished second in a World Cup downhill on Saturday,a day after becoming the oldest winner in the circuit’shistory
After winning the season’sopening downhill by nearly afull second on Friday,Vonn wasbeaten by only one racer this time: Emma AicherofGermany was0.24 seconds faster Vonn attributed amistakelandingajumpmidway down herrun for the gap, whenshe nearly lost her balance for an instant and leaned heavily on herleftleg to raise herself back up. “I’m alittlebit tiredfromyesterday,there wasa lot of emotion,” Vonn told Swiss broadcaster RTS.
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
The LSU women’sbasketball team got off to anuncharacteristicallycold start Saturday in the Smoothie King Center But because Mikaylah Williams helped them shake off that rough firstquarter,the No. 5Tigers(11-0) found their offensive groove and beat Louisiana Tech 87-61 in the Compete 4Cause Classic, winning only the second game Kim Mulkey has ever coached against her alma mater “LouisianaTechisa good basketball team,” Mulkey said. “Louisiana Tech was picked to winthatleague. Louisiana Tech runs some good stuff offensively,and they make you work. So give credit to (coach) Brooke (Stoehr) and her team.” Williams, ajunior,finished with aseason-high19 points, five rebounds and four assists after shooting 6 of 10 from the field. Flau’jae Johnson scored 13 points and grabbed 10 reboundsto post the 11th double-double of her career.Kate Koval, the Notre Dame transfer center who returned to the starting lineup Saturday scored 13 points and blocked four shots.
LSU did not score 100 points against the Lady Techsters (5-4) like it did in nine of its first 10 games of the season. Or even90likeit did on the road against Duke on Dec. 4. But the Tigers still won by 26 points andshotanefficient 48% fromthe field. From the second through fourth quarters, they converted 22 of the 42 shots they took. They also earned 35 trips to the free-throw line and pulled down 16 offensive rebounds, which they used to score 21 second-chance points.
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three at playoff-bound Miami on alate field goal and by one at home to playoffbound Texas A&M.
It is highly doubtful the Group of Five leagues will be excluded entirely from future playoffs —amove that almost certainlywould lead to antitrust lawsuits— but it is increasingly likely they will get exactly one spot while the power conferences plus Notre Dame are guaranteed the rest, evenif the field expands to 16 teams in 2026.
“This is abracket that’s going to be talked about forever,and not just because Notre Dame got excluded but because of the framework that created thechoicesthe committee had to make,” ESPN’s Chris Fowler said. “There’s going to be more than atweak going forward. Inclusivity sounds good until teams like Notre Dame and Texas and Vanderbilt get squeezed out. Then people have aserious problem with it.” Fowler noted even SEC
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putsmeinsituations,” McGowens said. “It feels good. Iworkhard. The coaches know me. My job is to get afteritand do whatever the team needs me to do so we canwin.” McGowenswas a5-star recruit coming out of high school. He originally committed to Florida State, but he changed his mind and went to Nebraska so he could play with his brother.McGowens was draftedinthe second round of the 2022 draft.
He got to Charlotte right after Borrego was fired by the Hornets, so Borrego never had workedwith him before this season.
“I think we didn’tcome out with the intensity that we neededtowhen the ball tipped off,” Williamssaid, “so Ithinkoncewepicked up our intensity,the game started to flow better, and we started to get those leakouts. We started to getthose transition buckets, and it kind of opened up thegame for us.”
Mulkey last coached against Louisiana Tech in December 2009. That night in Waco, Texas, one of her Baylor teams that eventually reached theFinal Four built a24-pointlead over the Lady Techsters, then coasted to a77-67 win On Saturday,LSU’slead climbed as highas33. Butthe Tigers first had to battle through some early defensive lapses beforethey couldstart building thatadvantage.
LSU allowed Louisiana Tech to find open looks from beyondthe 3-pointarc throughout thefirst quarter
commissioner GregSankey was in favor of Group of Five teams receiving one bid tothe playoffs,but the criticism will mountifTulane andJames Madison get blown out. Schools outside the power conferences are 0-2 all-time in the playoffs Cincinnatireached thefourteam field in 2021 from the American and lost27-6to Alabama while being outgained482-218.Boise State had abye as the No. 3seed from the Mountain West last season and lost 31-14 to No. 6 seed PennState. No. 6seed Ole Miss is favored by 171/2 points against No. 11 seed Tulane on Dec. 20 (2:30 p.m., TNT). Fifthseeded Oregon is a211/2-point favoriteagainstJames Madison later that day (6:30 p.m. TNT).
“I don’tthink anybodyhas aproblem with Group of Five teamsgetting in,” ESPN’sKirkHerbstreitsaid.
“I do think it would begreat if therewas some type of barometer for them to have to getuptobeable to qualify to get in.”
Tulane dominated bowlbound Northwestern of the BigTen and was one of five teams to beat ACC champion
Borregohas been pleasantly surprised “I don’tthinkanybody saw him playing these minutes,” Borregosaid. “… I’ve always liked him from afar.But give our frontoffice credit. They found this kidand believed in him, and he’s made the most of his opportunity.”
His teammates likewhat they have seen thus far “Bryce has beenplaying amazing,” guard Jordan Poole said.“He has such acalm demeanor andjust plays the right way.Extremely talented. Youcan trust him to go outthere anddohis thing andnot have to do too much but be aggressiveenough to make animpact. That’s hard to teach ” McGowens is the latest gemin what hasbeen a
Four of the Lady Techsters’ first seven field-goal makes were 3-pointers —afact that made it difficult for theTigers to take control of thegameasquickly as they have against most of their nonconference opponents this year
In thefirst quarter,LSU scored only 19 points— a season low for aquarter
The Tigers played sharper defenseinthe second quarter,which allowed them to createmoreopen shotsat theother endand take a3930 lead into halftime.
Williams then either scored or assisted on almost half of the buckets LSU made in thethird —the period in which its lead grew from amodest nine-point margin to the more commanding 17-point advantage it rode to the lopsided win.
“I’m not leaving here by any means disappointed,” Mulkey said, “but I’m gonna always leave ballgames wherewecould do things
Duke,which allowed James Madison to make the field instead of theBlue Devils Still, theWave’sschedule strength of 77 according to the College Football Power Index caused division, while James Madison’s123rdrated schedule created derision.
“Wetried to create an exception to include the Group of Five,” ESPN’sBooger McFarland said. “Wehave teamsonthe sideline that absolutely could win a championship right now No oneinAmerica aside from JMUand Tulanethink JMU and Tulane can win a championship. They arein it because we had to include them basedonthe parametersthat we were given, and Ithink that’sgoingtorub a lotofpeople thewrong way. It is not just the ESPN commentators with that viewpoint. YahooSports’ Josh Tate andFox Sports’ JoelKlatt offeredsimilar takes among many others. Fair or not, the nation will be watching andwaiting to pounce on Tulane and James Madison if they struggle.
James Madison coach Bob Chesney, whoisleaving for UCLA, pointed out the
promising core of newcomers brought in by Joe Dumars andTroy Weaver Theyhit on allthreedraft picks in Jeremiah Fears, DerikQueen andMicah Peavy.The trade that brought in Pooleand Saddiq Beyhas looked like a winaswell.
Now addMcGowens to the mix. Less than 30 games in, he’s beenbetter than most people would have guessed.
“My expectations were to come in hereand work and let the chips fall where they fall,” McGowens said. “Compete every day and give them areason to put you on the floor.That’s been my mindset since I stepped foot here.”
EmailRod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate. com.
BY GUERRYSMITH Contributing writer
With final exams done, Tulane conducted itsfirst practiceSaturdayinpreparation forits CollegeFootball Playoff game at Ole Miss next Saturday No interviews will be conducted until Monday,but Jon Sumrall is back in town after spending threefull days in Gainesville, Florida, as coach of the Gators. The GreenWavehad playerledworkouts duringexam week before taking off Friday entirely to ensure being fresh in its typical open-week plan.
better —always. I’ve never coached aperfect game. I’ve never had ateam play aperfect game, so we’ll be off, and we’ll get in thefilm room Monday,and 90% of it will be, ‘This is what we can do better.’ ” Louisiana Tech’sleading scorer was sophomore guard ParisBradley. She finished with 19 points after shooting 4of8from beyond the 3-point line.The Lady Techsters shotonly 31% from the field, but 10 of their 18 field goalswere 3s —a key reason why they kept pace with LSU for alarge chunk of the game.
The Tigers next will return to thePete Maravich Assembly Center to face Morgan Stateat11a.m. Tuesday.After that matchup, the annual field-tripgame that LSU plays for schoolchildren from theBaton Rouge metro area, the Tigers will have only two contests left before they open SEC play at home on Jan. 1against Kentucky
Dukes were tied with Louisville in thefourth quarter of their only loss and took care of the rest of theirschedule in dominant fashion.
“I think it would be really hard to look at agroup like us in theeye and say that you’re not deserving afterall the workand things we’vedone,” he said. “We can’tcontrol ourschedule. We canonlycontrol what we do on gameday,and we handled our business properly.” Sumrall, who is headed to Florida, was not worried about any ramificationsthat come from Tulane’sperformance. He just wanted the Wave to relish thechallenge
“You only get one shot at this,” he said. “Havenoregrets, let it all hang out and enjoy theopportunity,take it all in, give everything you’ve got, play as ateam andhavefun goingthrough this experience. There’s nothing we’re going to do other than give our absolute best effort ”
“I looked into whatother people have done (with twoweeks offbeforea big game) and researched what’s good for ourplayers’ bodies,” Sumrall saidlast Sundayright after Tulane learned its playoffmatchup. “You also have to consider we’re getting ready to play our 14th game,so while the work needs to be thework,you can also overdo it at this pointphysically.”
Ole Miss took adifferent tact undernew coach Pete Golding,who waspromoted from defensive coordinator when Lane Kiffin left for LSU.The Rebelspracticed in full pads on Tuesday, had alighter workout on Wednesday, awalk-through on Thursday andafaster practice on Friday before skipping Saturday
“Wedid all of our preparation this week from all the situational from third down and red zone and base downs,” Golding said Thursday.“And we’ll come back and rehit it again next week like we haven’thit it one time. So kids have been locked in and focused. It’s been areally good week up to this point.”
Tulane, the 11thseed in the 12-team field, and Ole Miss, theNo. 6seed, are making their first-ever CFP appearances. The winner will face No. 3seed Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
Double duty
While still serving as passing game coordinator in playoff preparation, new Tulane coach Will Hall also is working on assemblinga staff for 2026.
MattZenitz of 247Sports reported Friday that Hall had targeted Florida offensive coordinator Russ Callaway for thesameposition with theWave, although neither Hall norTulane sources have confirmed his impending hiring.
Callaway was adefensive intern for the Gators in 2022 under Billy Napier moved to tight ends coach in 2023,was co-offensive coordinator in 2024 and the soleoffensive coordinator this past season. Napier though, called the plays andretained plenty of control over the offense, which ranked 102nd in the FBS in yards and 108th in points. Before his stint at Florida, Callaway was offensive coordinatoratSamford
from 2016-19, producing thethird-, fifth- andNo. 1-ratedpassing offenses in the FCS during his first three years. His roots are in the Mike Leach Air Raid system,but he did notdirect that type of offense for Napier and wouldnot for Hall, who said Tuesday his coordinator would run hispro-style offense while calling the plays.
Callaway,who began his career as adefensive analyst for Nick Saban at Alabama, is theson of former UABcoach NeilCallaway.Healso spent ayear as an offensive analyst at LSU(2020) andanoffensive qualitycontrolcoach with the New York Giants (2021).
Double duty,partII
Although he is working nearly around the clock while performing two jobs, Sumrall appears to be enjoying the rush of his hectic schedule.OnTuesday, he postedanAIpicture of himself on Xwearing a shirt that was halfFlorida blue with aGator logo and half Tulane green with an Angry Wave logo,plus a cap that was divided in half the same way The caption above it read, “I’ve got 2Phones, 2Jobs & 2hours of sleep” with the hashtags GoGators and RollWave.
“I’m very grateful Iget to be where I’m at right now,” he said last Sunday as he talked about Tulane’splayoff opportunity.“The fact I’m getting to walk through this with these guys means the world to me.”
Bock back
Tulane offensive lineman John Bock,who wasslatedto start at right guard before getting injured during preseason camp, has agreed to return for his final season. Bock, atransfer from Florida international, started forthe Panthersin2022 and 2023 but was limited to threegames in 2024 after being suspended forthe rest of the season for the useofabannedingredient in asupplement. He has one year of eligibility left.
sideration suchfactorsasdown and distance, field position, home-field advantage and time remaining.
“The thing I’ve been impressed with is the improvement,” Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said. “Anytime we have had asetback or atough stretch, ourguys have bounced back and they’ve been resilient,and that shows agroup that’swired the right way.”
Like any good coach, Staley is quick to divert thepraise to his players. Butthe cerebral 43-year-old coordinator is being characteristically modest. While implementinganew scheme with ahodgepodge cast of rookies, aging veterans
(238.5) to sixth(182.6).
Andthe Saintshave doneitwithout any spectacular individual efforts. In fact, theunitmight nothave aPro Bowler in thebunch. The defense is aclassic example of the sum being greater than the individual parts.
“These guys have been fantastic,” Staley said. “They’re wired theright way When you have agroup that is wired the right way,you will see improvement. I love coaching these guys.” The secondary,inparticular,has come together.It’sa young group,with safety Justin Reid andfourth-year cornerback Alontae Taylor being the only veterans.
come around and now is clicking on all cylinders. Staley pointed to a26-14 loss to the Chicago Bears as aturning point. The defense started slowly that day,but the unit held the Bears and quarterback Caleb Williamstojust twofield goals in their final six drives to keep the Saints within shouting distance. “Our guys wereable
be taken40thoverall,which meant the rebuilding Saints felt good enough about him to spend one of their premium assets. That decision was roundly questioned, because historically,itmeant he was probably notactually good enough to be afranchise quarterback. Since 2000, 175 quarterbacks have beenselected after thefirst round. Farmore of them never started agame (40) than threw for 4,000 yards in aseason (11) He’stoo old. He had abad moment that went viral.His draft positioning made him abad bet. None of that seems to matter at the moment.
Shough will make his sixth career start for the Saints on Sunday againstthe Carolina Panthers, and the one thing thatdoesmatter —his play on the field —has been driving the talk lately.Thatisexactly the wayShough likes it.
“What Iput on tape, Iwant that to do the talking,” he said. Those whostill want to buy into the stuff that doesn’tmatter will point to the statistics. Shough has not lit the box scores on fireinhis first five starts. Since he took over as the starter in Week 9, he ranks 14th among NFL quarterbacks (minimum:75attempts) in passerrating (88.3) and 19th in success rate (43.7%). He has thrown fivetouchdowns in his five starts.
But those who really watch are starting to buy in, because the tape has spoken louder than the statistics.
Trent Green was one of those late-round success stories. His career began long enough agothathewas selected in the eighth round.Hewas 27 years old by thetimeheactually saw the field in an NFL game and made two Pro Bowls after turning33. Andhewas in the boothlastweek, broadcasting the game for CBS when Shough made magic happen in the fourth quarter against the Buccaneers. Green didn’tknow much about Shough going into last week’sgame and didn’twatch aton of himatLouisville last year,either.Hecan’tspeak on why Shough was available for the Saints in the second round, but after watching him in personlastweek, he thinksthe Saints “got the right one.”
“I was impressed,” Green said. “Everybody jokedabout his age before the draft,but thatisanadvantage for him. He talked to us (duringproduction meetings)about allthe different systems he played in in college and how it and Louisville’ssystem and coaches prepared him so well for the NFL. That’sarealthing, and it’sshowing right now.”
The age neverfactored into the Saints’ decision, at least not in anegative way.Like Green, they saw the advantages of bringing in aplayer who had experienced alot in his extend-
ed collegecareer
Shough playedatOregon, Texas Tech and Louisville, gaining exposuretodifferent styles andschemes. He also navigatedpersonal hardship, experiencing multiple seasonending injuries. They sawthis allas anet positive —especially considering the position he plays
The current NFLleaderin passing efficiency and touchdowns is 37-year-old Matthew Stafford. The leader in passing yards is 32-year-old Dak Prescott. AaronRodgers, at 42, ranks just outside thetop 10 in passer rating. TomBradyis theultimate quarterback outlierand is not fair to usefor comparison, but he did throw for 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns at 44.
“Quarterbacks in thisleague, there’s amaturity that goes much furtherthan other positionsjust because there’ssucha mentalcomponentofit,” Saints coach KellenMoore said. “You look at alot of quarterbacks that areplaying as good as anyone in this league,a bunchofthem are in their 30s …and stillgetting better.”
One badthrowat the combine makesfor potent social media fodder,especiallywhen mixed with afew other confounding clips from his college days. But it’salsowillfully ignoring thescores of high-level throws Shough made in game settings —throwsthathave carried over to the NFL. Take the touchdownhethrew to Devaughn Vele while nearly completing afourth-quarter comeback againstMiami two weeksago
Shough surveyed the field, looking right, then looking left, then swinging hishead back aroundtothe right. As he faded toward hisarm side, he chucked theballtothe back of the end zone forVele whereonly the 6-foot-5 receiver couldget it.
Former Saints quarterback Luke McCown saw everything he needed to seeonthat play
“There’snot five, six guys
in theNFL that canmakethat throw,”McCownsaid. “There’s guys thatwould attempt it, but notmany thatwouldcomplete it.Tobeabletohave that velocity to getitthere andget it up and down and over the defender in aspacewhere Vele can get his feet down in the end zone —that’sa Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford type of throw
“I was blown away.Iknewhe could throw.Iknew he could really rip. But that’sabigtime throw there.”
Shough still hasalongway to go to prove he’s an exception to thehistoricalruleabout a franchise quarterbackselected outside of thefirst round. But the early signs have been encouraging on severallevels
It’snot just the maturity,the highlight-reel playsortwo impressive wins. Thosesigns are visible in themob of teammatesrushing overtocelebrate the way they did after his 34-yard touchdown run in Tampa last week.
“Itlets youknowthatthe team has bought intothis rookie quarterback,” McCown said. “That tells you they believe this kid is bringing something to the table thatthey want to eat.”
This is thestuff that matters.
Shough won’t lie.There is partofhim that usesthe other stuff as motivation. He is ahumanbeing who relishesthe chance to prove people wrong, but that doesn’t make up the whole of it. Therehave been moments in his career when he’s leaned too far into proving himself,and he said it is nota healthy place to be.
So,his advice for college prospects who are about to enter the draft is refreshingly simple: Be authentic to who you are, and acknowledge your journey and your shortcomings.
Oh, and one lastbit.
“Don’t listentoanythingthat anyone is saying,”Shough said.
Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com
JEFF DUNCAN
PANTHERS 21,SAINTS20:
This wasadifficult call,given how thoroughly dominantthe Saints were againstthe Panthers just a fewweeks ago. ButCarolinahas played well sincethenand hasall of theintangiblefactors on itsside. Regardless,thisfeels like agame that will be decidedinthe final minutesand wonbythe team that makesthe fewest mistakes
LUKE JOHNSON
SAINTS 27,PANTHERS23: Ihavebeenhoodwinked by this team in this prediction spacea few timesthisseason, allowing agood performancethe previous week to change howIviewthe team.And Iam doingitagain.I do thinkthe Panthers arethe better team andhaveproven that by knocking offsomeofthe NFL’s best.Ialsobelieve we’reseeingthe startofsomethingwithTyler Shough
MATTHEWPARAS
PANTHERS 19,SAINTS16: Ihavenoideawhattodowiththis one. TheSaintsalwayshavetormented Bryceyoung,and thedefense has made meaningful stridesoverthe last month. Butthisgamemeans so much to thePanthers, andthey’re coming off awin over theLos AngelesRams. Isee them edging it out. Ihaven’t picked a Saints winright this year,sowhy start now?
SAINTS 24,PANTHERS16: TylerShoughis2-3 sincetaking over as thestarter.Bothwinscame on theroad. This will be hissecond startinthe Dome.Assuminghe
Pats looktowin AFCEast
TheNew EnglandPatriotscan clinch
theAFC East division titleand earn their firstplayoff berthsince the2021season when they host the BuffaloBills. The Patriots have won10 straight gamesand arecomingoff their byeweek. Buffalo comesinwinners of theirlasttwo gamesand havewon thelast five AFCEastdivisioncrowns. TheBills arealsotryingtoavoid beingswept by adivisionopponentfor the first time sincethe 2019 season.That wasTom Brady’slastseasoninNew England, when theBills lost both gamestothe Patriots
5 2 1 3
Rams,Lions used to scoring TheLos AngelesRamshostthe DetroitLions on Sunday in a showdown of twoofthe NFL’stop four scoringoffenses. TheRamsbounced back from asurprising loss in Carolina by pummelingthe Arizona Cardinals45-17 last weekend. TheLions overpoweredthe Dallas Cowboys 44-30topullwithinone game of an NFCwild-card spot,but they still have plenty of work to do to reach thepostseasonfor thethird straight year.Thiswillbethe fourth meeting betweenthe Rams andLions since theirblockbuster 2021 swap of quarterbacks Matthe
Chargers battle struggling Chiefs
TheLos AngelesChargersare settofacethe Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.The Chargers havea 9-4recordwhile theChiefsare at 6-7. TheChiefsare favoreddespite struggling mightily recently.Last week,the Chargers beat the Eagles andthe Chiefs lost to the Texans.Chargersquarterback Justin Herbertisclose to a majormilestone,needing just 19 yardspassing to pass Peyton Manningfor themostyards in a quarterback’s firstsix seasons. Chiefs quarterback PatrickMahomes is lookingtobouncebackafter a toughgame. TheChargerssnapped alosingstreak againstthe Chiefs in theseasonopenerinBrazil.
Cowboys, Vikingstoclash
TheDallasCowboys areset fora prime-time home matchupSundaynight againstthe Minnesota VikingswithDallas still clinging to playoff hopes. TheVikingsare playingfor next year in quarterbackJ.J.McCarthy’s first season as thestarter.The Cowboysare agameand ahalfbehindNFC EastleadingPhiladelphia. Dallas just hada three-game winning streak stoppedby Detroitwhile theEagleshavelostthree in arow.Cowboys quarterbackDak Prescott is theNFL’s leadingpasser andgoing forafourthconsecutive 300-yard game.McCarthyiscoming offhis best game
Ravens seek revengevs. Bengals
TheBaltimore Ravens face theCincinnatiBengals for thesecondtimeinthree weekswithbothteams still havingplayoff hopes. TheRavens havedropped twostraightand are onegamebehindPittsburghin theAFC North, whilethe Bengals need to winout andlotsofhelpto avoidmissing thepostseasonfor thethirdstraightyear. Baltimore quarterbackLamar Jacksonhas been somewhat quietlately. Alleyesremainonhim afterhis poor performanceagainst theBengals on Thanksgiving night. Cincinnati quarterbackJoe Burrowlooks to bounce back aftertwo costly interceptionsinlast week’s loss at Buffalo. 5 4
DENVER For the first time in a decade, the Denver Broncos (112) stand atop the AFC playoff race heading into the holidays.
They’re the league’s only unbeaten team at home. They’vewon 10 consecutive games, andthey’ve saddled their last 11 visitors witha loss going back 14 months. And they are still21/2-pointunderdogs at home against theGreen Bay Packers (9-3-1) on Sunday.
It’sthe NFL’s marquee Week 15 matchup, atussle featuring Micah Parsons and Nik Bonitto, Jordan Love and Bo Nix, and pittingteams withdevastatingdefenses and opportunistic offenses that could very well serve as aSuperBowl appetizer Oddsmakers, though,havejoined the legions of NFL fans who view the Broncos’ longest winning streak in the post-PeytonManning
era with equal doses of criticism andskepticism “I love it. It fuelsme, honestly,” Bonitto said. “I like when people doubt us. They can stay on that side. We’ll go outand prove what we’ve got to prove.”
Just likethey’ve been doing ever since theirlast-second loss at the Los Angeles ChargersinWeek 3, which followed awalk-off lossat Indianapolis. Sincethen, the Broncoshave setanNFL record with nine consecutive comebacks —a streak that ended lastweek with acomfortable win at Las Vegas andtied another markwith four straight wins by afield goal or less.
The Broncos havegrownaccustomed to all thedoubters who view their pile of close victories with more suspicion than admiration, andwho keep suggesting their liveon-the-edgehabitsdon’tmake for a sustainable winning recipe. “Personally,Icouldn’tcare less,” All-Prokickreturner Marvin Mims
said. “But Imean some guys feel disrespected by it.”
Nixisn’tamong those who feel offendedbythe national suspicion of the Broncos’ championship bona fides —orthose who install themas home underdogs.
“My mom thinks we’ll win,” the second-year quarterback said with alaugh. “So that’sall that matters.”
Packerswide receiver Christian Watson didn’tstart playing until Oct. 26 as he returned from atorn ACL, but the 2022 second-round pick still could end up having his best season.
Watsonhas scored five touchdowns, all in his last four games. He has 25 catches for 452 yards in sevengames.The TD totalishis highestsince hisrookieseason, when he had nine.
“He’s making plays, it feelslike, everytimethe ball comes his way,” Lovesaid. “I think he keeps elevating and getting better and better.”
NFLBRIEFS FROM STAFFAND WIRE REPORTS
Jan. 9, 2021, in Orchard Park,
Colts activate Rivers for Sunday’sgame
INDIANAPOLIS The Indianapolis Colts promoted 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to theactiveroster Saturday making him eligible to play —and perhaps start —inSunday’scrucial gameatSeattle.
Indy (8-5) brought the Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist out of retirement Tuesday when it signed himtothe practice squad.
Rivers practicedall week, but he hasn’ttaken asnap since what appeared to be the end of his career after the 2020 season.
Tworunning backs for Packers in doubt
The Green Bay Packers are unsure about the availability of either of theirtop two running backs for Sunday’sgame at Denver Green Bay added Emanuel Wilson to its injury report Saturday because of an illness and labeled him questionable. Josh Jacobs already had been listed as questionable Friday with a knee issue.
Jacobsdidn’tpractice Wednesday or Thursday though he did practice on alimited basis Friday
The NFCNorth-leading Packers (9-3-1) areseeking theirfifth straight victory Sunday when they visit the Broncos (11-2).
Aiyuk won’t returnthis season
TheSan Francisco 49ers placed receiver Brandon Aiyuk on the reserve/left squadlist, making him ineligible to return from aknee injury this season. The move comes after the Niners had voided $27 million guaranteed in his contract for next season forfailingtoparticipate in meetings and other team activities. It likely marks the end of his tenure in San Francisco. Aiyuk signeda four-year, $120 millionextension last year that included guaranteed money for 2026. The 49ers are expected to cut ties with him Raidersset to start Pickett at quarterback Kenny Pickett will start at quarterback forthe Raiders against his former team when Las Vegas visits Philadelphia on Sunday with Geno Smith out becauseofbackand shoulder injuries.
Smith injured his right shoulder and hand in the third quarter of last Sunday’s24-17 loss to Denver Pickettplayedwellinhis briefappearance against the Broncos, completing 8of11 passes for 97 yards. He led two fourth-quarter scoring drives totaling10pointsas theRaiders triedtorally down 24-7.
BY JOE MACALUSO
Contributing writer
Fishermen love this time of year mostly because the folks who fish and hunt are hunting, which cuts down on the competition in both freshwater and saltwater.
While there weren’t many complaints, that might change this coming weekend when the second segment of the duck season opens Saturday Cold fronts and frigid conditions up north and through the Midwest have given Louisiana hunters the chance to have a first-rate waterfowl season. Now, it’s up to the fishermen wanting to work the coastal marshes to give our wild waterfowl hunting friends the chance to enjoy this rare opportunity Let’s make an effort to avoid invading a duck hunter’s space. Give them time to take their best shots without having the added annoyance of someone coming into their hunting area.
Besides, with much colder December mornings than any in the last three years, the fish will be in the water long after sunrise — and long after duck hunters have had their chance to add to a duck gumbo. There are also reports coming in about speckled trout catches showing up best in the midday hours
While it’s common that tides moving water provides the top coastal fish-catching times, there’s been an uncommon uptick in topwater action after the sun warms shallow-water areas
True, the old patterns are working. Any number of soft-plastic colors worked slowly and deeply on jigheads, and VuDu Shrimp worked under poppin’
BY EVERETT MERRILL Associated Press
NEW YORK Fernando Mendoza, the enthusiastic quarterback of No. 1 Indiana, won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, becoming the first Hoosier to win college football’s most prestigious award since its inception in 1935.
Mendoza claimed 2,362 points, including 643 first-place votes. He beat Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (1,435 points), Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (719 points) and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (432 points).
Mendoza’s Heisman win was emphatic. He finished first in all six Heisman regions, the first to do so since Caleb Williams in 2022. He was named on 95.16% of all ballots, tying him with Marcus Mariota in 2014 for the second highest in the award’s history and he received 84.6% of total possible points, which is the seventh highest in Heisman history
“I haven’t seen the numbers yet,” said Mendoza, “but it’s such an honor to be mentioned with these guys (Pavia, Love and Sayin). It’s really a credit to our team. It’s a team award.”
Mendoza guided the Hoosiers to their first No. 1 ranking and the top seed in the 12-team College Football bracket, throwing for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdown passes while also running for six scores. Indiana, the last unbeaten team in major college football, will play a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Mendoza, the Hoosiers’ first-year starter after transferring from California, is the triggerman for
2026 ADVOCATE OUTDOORS CALENDAR
Jan. 5 is the deadline for submitting activities and events for The Advocate outdoors calendar scheduled to be published Jan 11.
Please include the event’s name/title, time date and location including the site, address and city Also include all fees age limits or skill requirements, beneficiaries for fundraising events, and full name of the contact person with the area code & phone number and/or email address.
Email: jmacaluso@ theadvocate.com
corks continue to produce trout, redfish and, on occasion, largemouth bass. Just bundle up and wear life jackets.
Shrimp
The end of the fall inshore shrimp season comes with a final day Monday in portions of waters of Zones 1 and 2 (the Louisiana-Mississippi line west to Freshwater Bayou) and all of Zone 3 (Freshwater Bayou to the Louisiana-Texas line)
Closures happen when Wildlife and Fisheries staff members determine the white shrimp are too small in these waters. The move allows the shrimp to grow to marketable sizes.
Areas remaining open in Zone 1 include Lake Pontchartrain, Chef Menteur
and Rigolets passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, a section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Orleans Parish, and the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds.
Zone 2’s closed areas include waters from Atchafalaya River Ship Channel to western shore of Freshwater Bayou Canal.
State “outside” waters also remain open.
Red snapper
Federal fisheries managers announced the reopening of the red snapper season for federally permitted charter operations through the end of the year
The move came after an estimate determined this sector had not reached its annual quota after a 107-day season.
The private recreational season remains closed in Louisiana.
Fishing for kids
The Louisiana Wildlife Federation is offering a second printing of the “First Time Fishing in the Atchafalaya Basin” activity booklet, a project of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area.
LWF director Rebecca Triche said the story follows a young girl, named Emma, on a fishing trip into the basin with her dad.
The pages include fishing basics such as baiting a hook, casting, learning fishing regulations such as catch-size minimums and daily creel limits, license regulations and the wonders of exploring our country’s largest overflow swamp. Games are included.
Go to lawildlifefed.org/resources to download a copy or to find a place stocking a copy of the booklet.
an offense that surpassed program records for touchdowns and points set during last season’s surprise run to the CFP A redshirt junior, the once lightly recruited Miami native is the second Heisman finalist in school history, joining 1989 runner-up Anthony Thompson. Mendoza is the seventh Indiana player to earn a top-10 finish in Heisman balloting and it marks another first in program history — having back-to-back players in the top 10. Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke was ninth last year With his teammates chanting “HeismanDoza” as he addressed the media, he said there felt like a realistic chance of winning the Heisman when the Hoosiers routed then No. 19 Illinois 63-10 on Sept. 20. “At that point my boys (teammates) said we might make it to New York (for the award ceremony),” he said. “It was lighthearted at the time, but that’s when it started. “ Quarterbacks have won the Heisman four of the last five years, with two-way
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Nathaniel Watts used this catch from the North Pass area in the Junior Southwest Bassmasters’ November tournament to take the club’s 2025 King Fisherman honor in the 7-10 age group. Others taking the club’s same title were Branson Sheraton in the 15-18 age group and Landin Sholty in the 11-14 age group. Rydge Hurd had the club’s big bass for the year, a 5.93-pounder For more about this Denham Springs-based youth fishing club, contact Jim Breaux at (225) 772-3026.
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY
STATE COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSE RE-
NEWAL: 8 a.m.-noon and 1-3:30 p.m., LDWF office, 468 Texas Gulf Road, Bourg. Call (225) 765-2898.
TUESDAY LAFAYETTE KAYAK FISHING
CLUB MEETING: 6 p.m., Pack & Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Call (337) 232-5854. Website: lafayettekayakfishing.com
WEDNESDAY
FLIES & FLIGHTS: 7 p.m., Rally Cap Brewing, 11212 Pennywood Avenue, Baton Rouge. Fly tying. Open to public. Spare tools, materials for novices. Email Chris Williams: thefatfingeredflytyer@gmail.com
THURSDAY
ACADIANA FLY RODDERS
PROGRAM: 6 p.m., Pack & Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Open to public. Email Darin Lee: cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: acadianaflyrodders.org
HUNTING SEASONS
GEESE/CONSERVATION
ORDER: East & West zones, through Dec. 19; Limited to take of blue, snow and Ross’ geese only. No daily nor possession limits. Hunters allowed to use electronic calls and shotguns capable of holding more than three shells.
WOODCOCK: Dec. 18-Jan. 31, statewide.
DOVES: North Zone, Dec. 20-
player Travis Hunter of Colorado ending the run last season.
Mendoza is the 43rd quarterback to win the Heisman and the second winner of Latin American descent to claim the trophy Stanford’s Jim Plunkett was the first in 1970.
“Although I grew up in America, my four grandparents are all from Cuba,” he said. “I had the opportunity to go there and that was important to me. I credit the love to my grandparents and the Hispanic community.”
The Heisman Trophy presentation came after a number of accolades were already awarded. Mendoza was named The Associated Press player of the year earlier this week and picked up the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards Friday night while Love won the Doak Walker Award. Mendoza and Pavia clearly exemplify the changing landscape of using the transfer portal in college football. Mendoza is the seventh transfer to win the award in the last nine years.
Jan. 18; South Zone, through Jan. 11.
DUCKS/WEST ZONE: Second segment, Dec. 20-Jan. 25, includes coots & mergansers.
DUCKS/EAST ZONE: Second segment, Dec. 20-Jan. 31, includes coots & mergansers.
GEESE/WEST ZONE: Second segment, Dec. 20-Feb. 1. Includes Canada, blue, snow & Ross’ & specklebellies. Take of Canada geese prohibited in portions of Cameron & Vermilion parishes.
GEESE/EAST ZONE: Second segment, Dec. 20-Feb. 7. Includes Canada, blue, snow & Ross’ & specklebellies
SNIPE: Dec. 20-Feb. 28, statewide.
DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 4, State Deer Areas 1, 3, 4, 7 & 8, with/without dogs.
RAILS/GALLINULES: Through Jan. 7, statewide.
DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 11, State Deer Area 2, with/without dogs.
DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 15, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8 & 10. Either-sex take allowed.
DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 18, State Deer Areas 5 & 9, with/without dogs, bucks only except either-sex take allowed Dec. 7 & Dec. 13-14.
DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 18, State Deer Areas 6, with/without dogs.
DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 31, State Deer Areas 1, 2 & 4. Either-sex take allowed.
DEER/ARCHERY: Through
Feb. 15, State Deer Areas 5, 6 & 9, either-sex take allowed. QUAIL, RABBITS & SQUIRRELS: Through Feb. 28, statewide, private lands only FISHING/SHRIMPING SHRIMP: Outside waters open statewide; fall inshore season closed in Zone 3 (Freshwater Bayou west to Louisiana/Texas line) & portions of Zones 1 & 2.
OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: For-hire red snapper season; flounder; gray triggerfish; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers & wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. CLOSED SEASONS: Red snapper (recreational & state charters); greater amberjack; bluefin tuna; gag, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed.
LDWF UPDATES CLOSED: Hope Canal Road/ boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction).
ROAD CLOSURE: Section of La. 975 through Sherburne WMA closed through June 12, 2026 (replace bridge) access from U.S. 190 and I-10 open.
DRAWDOWNS: Underway on Henderson Lake, Lake Bistineau, Saline, Kepler, Iatt, Black & Clear lakes, Clear-Smithport Lake & Lake Martin. Email: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com
Cougarswin another statetitle in dominant fashionoverSt. Aug
BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer
For Edna Karr,this was abusiness trip. Aride across the Crescent City Connection and into a place that felt like home.
The Caesars Superdome offered afamiliar surrounding for ateam that had been there just one year earlier in thestatechampionship
Once again, it was Karr that posted aresounding victory
The top-seeded Cougarsleaned on their defense the same waythey had allseason and complemented that with astrong groundgame on offense to beat No. 3-seeded St. Augustine 49-14 on Saturday in the Division Iselect state championship.
Karr (14-0) has won eight football state titles, six of them with Brice Brown as head coach St. Augustine (12-2) played fora state title in the Dome for thefirst time since it faced Jesuitin1978. Karr wonthankstocontributions from senior quarterback John Johnson with five touchdowns (four rushing,one passing), running back TreGarrison with 41 carries for 183 yards and atouchdown, and wideout Gregory Wilfred with atouchdownreception Karr had five takeaways, including along fumble return touchdown by Torrence Sanders in the fourth quarter.Junior defensive end Juelz Batiste had ahandin two turnovers in the first half, and junior linebacker Ian Gray picked off two passes.
“We’re so proud of how physical we played, because that’s whatour mantra this week was, to be the most physical and dominant football team,” Brown said.
Karr scored three touchdowns in the second quarter for a21-0 lead. St. Augustine cut into the lead when linebacker Chad Jones returned an
interception90yards for atouchdown, but Karr immediately responded with atouchdown drive that made it athree-score game.
St. Augustine narrowed thegap asecond time when Derrick Bennett returned theensuing kickoff 88 yards for atouchdown —areturn that was upheld after avideo review to see whether he stepped out of boundsalong the right sideline —to makeit28-14.
After aKarr punt, St. Augustine took possession near midfield but puntedafter along incompletion with standout defender Hayward Howard in close coverage.Then Johnson scored his fourthtouchdown on afourth-down keeper from just shy of thegoal line.
Thenext Karr touchdowncame on alongfumblereturnbySanders. Defensive endRomeo Brown forced the fumble.
TheKarr defenseled by LSU signees Richard Anderson (defensiveline) andAiden Hall (safety) allowedzeropointsasthe Cougars completed asecondconsecutive undefeated season that ran their winning streak to 27 games.
St. Augustine offered more resistanceagainst Karr than Alexandria did during theCougars’ 53-8 drubbing in thestate final last year
“Wegot to the point where it was 28-14, and we were trying to put ourselves in position to where we presseda littlebit,”St. Augustine coach Robert Valdez said, adding that“theygot some turnovers, and we can’tlet that happen.”
In theearly going, special teams and defense put Karr in position to score the first two of itsthree touchdowns before halftime.
TheKarr defenseforceda three-
and-out inside the St. Augustine 10yard line, which led to ashort punt anda return to the 18-yard line to setupthe first touchdown. The next Karr drive beganafterMaurice Williams snuffed out afake punt attempt at the St. Augustine 34, andKarr scored three plays later.AnthonyThomas caught a pass near the sideline fora gain of 32, and Garrison scored on second down from the 1. Karr drove the field for athird touchdown —afive-play drive that included three passes to Wilfred for10and 23 yards before his 13yard catch and run to the end zone. In the third quarter,Karr faced afourth and goal from the 3when Johnson brokeawayfrom apair of defendersinthe backfield, sprinted to his right and glided into the end zonefor a28-7 lead with just underfour minutesremaining in
the period.
When it wasdone, Karrplayers took amomenttobring the championship trophy to themother of former Karr standout Corey Adams, an all-state defensive lineman who was shot dead near Memphis, Tennessee, during the summer before he could begin his first season at Ole Miss.
Assistant coach Norman Randall spoke before the gameabout competing with her in mind.
Anderson,who playedtwo seasons with Adams next to him on the defensive line, recalled how Randall “said it at the beginning of the week, so that was the goal,” Anderson said.
Karrcompleted the mission and once againleftthe Dome as the best team in the state.
Contact Christopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com
Game wasn’t close,but it wasawin forAdams andthe city
football culture.”
The Edna Karr Cougars, like they so oftendo, hauled astate championshiptrophy from Caesars Superdome back across the Crescent City Connection to Algiers on Saturday But first, they made sure the hardware touched the hands of Chantrel Bernhart. Bernhart’sson, Corey Adams, was atwo-time all-state defensive end at Karr last season and enrolled at Ole Miss in January He was shot and killed in July, serving as an inspiration forthis year’s team.
“This goal was to bring his mom the state championship trophy, said Karr coach Brice Brown “Yeah, we have great players. That was one of the greatest Cougars. His passion. His drive for excellence. To dedicate awhole season to him was heavy on our hearts the wholeyear.Tofinish it against St. Aug in this venue,
he wouldn’thavehad it any other way.”
Adams surely would have been proud ofthe defense, which kept St.Augustine’soffense out of the endzoneinalopsided 49-14 victory
This was title No. 8for the Cougars. Thepast six of those, all underhead coach Brown,have come in thepast 10 years.
In thewordsofD’Angelo Barksdalefrom the classic television show “The Wire”: “The king stay theking.”
And when it comes to football in Louisiana,the Cougars are indeed the kings. They’vewon their past 27 games.
“These guys canplay anybody, anywhere,”Brown said. “I’mtalkingaboutany team in thenation. Because they are fearless.”
The game itself didn’t quitelive up to all the hype leading up to it.
Theatmosphere did though.
The LHSAA’s unofficial attendance for the game was 31,537, outdrawingthe Celebration Bowl held SaturdayinAtlanta between
SWAC champion Prairie View and MEACchampion SouthCarolina State.
For Karr, theDome has become asecond home in early December.But for St.Augustine, this was their first trip to thestate championship game since1979. It was also the50-year anniversary of the team’sfirst LHSAA title in 1975. Purple Knightsfromall over the world flew to New Orleans with thehopes that history would repeat itself.
ButKarr’sdefense wasn’thaving it. It didn’ttake away from aspecial day,though, especially for St. Aug’sChad Jones. His 90-yard interception return was thePurple Knights’first TD in atitle game in 46 years.His dad, aformerLSU starwho played in theNFL, is a 2007 St.Aug grad. His grandfatherAlJones is a1975 grad. They watched proudly from thesection in the oppositeend zone
“Just to be able towatch my son do something that my brother, my father or me have never done,
playing in astate championship game, is special,” the elder Chad Jones said.
St.Aug coach Robert Valdez was thinking one thing as he watched Jones sprint to the end zone.
“Don’trun out of gas,” Valdez said.
Jones didn’tonthe play
Butthe Purple Knights, like mostteams facing Karr,didn’t have enough gas in their tank.
The Cougars were just too much
Aulston Taylor,St. Aug’spresident and CEO, doesn’texpect his school tohave to waitanother 46 years to get back to the Dome.
“When you haven’tbeen involved in the big gamefor 46 years and you return to it, how can you not wanttomake it back?” Taylor said. “Now that we have been here, we are here to stay withintention to winitall. As theschool’sleader,I am grateful for Coach Valdez and (athletic director) Ryan Sims. Together, they have reignited our winning
That culture led to one of the mostanticipated high school football games in recent memory. But forBrown, Saturday wasabout morethan just football. And it was about morethan what the scoreboard said.
“This isn’tjust awin forKarr,” Brownsaid. “This is awin forSt. Aug, too. They should be proud. We should all be proud that we had afield at the Superdomefilled with Black men.Weare making this attractive to them to do something besides run to the streets where they have madeitattractive.”
Brownclosed his postgame press conference with this.
“Ifyou need ahome at Karr or St. Aug, that’sthe excellence there we are talking about. Either one, you can’tgowrong. This is the standard.”
Over 31,000 people in the stands would probably agree.
Email RodWalkeratrwalker@ theadvocate.com.
BYCHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer
St. Charles Catholicsenior Tyler
Milioto returned to the sideline and sat on the bench,thinking he had blown his team’schance at winning astate title.
He missed an extra point with 35 seconds left that let Shaw keep a one-point lead.
Afterthe recovery of an onside kick, the Eagles had achanceto kneel out the clock. Do that, and Shaw would repeat as LHSAA Division II select state champions, leaving top-seeded St. Charles as the runner-upina game it wasfavored to win.
“I was just thinking,” Milioto said, “it can’tget worse than what just happened.”
Then came thesequencethat led to Milioto’sredemptive44-yard field goal for a23-21 victory late Friday at Caesars Superdome, a moment that was hard to comprehend, even for those who lived it on the field.
Milioto did not see the Shaw football player who removed his helmet in celebration after the first kneel-down, thinking the game wasover—a mistakethatdrewan
unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and forced aclock stoppage that let St. Charles keep itstwo remainingtimeouts.
At that point, Milioto hadteammates telling him to getback on his feet,thathemight need to get readyto kickthe winning field goal.
“I thought the game was over because Isaw there wereonly two timeouts,” Milioto said, addingthat when he “sawthe timeout after third down,I was confused.”
“I’m sitting there, andthey’re all just screaminglike, ‘Get up,’ and I’m like,‘Why are theyscreaming?’”Milioto said.
Only after ashanked punt went outatthe Shaw 32-yard line did Miliototruly believehewould have achancetokick the gamewinner. Landree LeBlanc completed a5-yard pass to Jaden Gros near the right sideline, and he stepped outwith 10 seconds left.
St. Charles could have run another play to get closer to the goal posts, but “I didn’twant to risk it,” St.Charles coachWayne Stein said.“Itrusted, this is hisrange; thisishis hash. He’s aguy we have confidence in.” Back on thefieldagain after a quickwarmup on the sideline,
and with senior Dax Pregeant as hisholder,Milioto calmly booted theend-over-end kick that “for a second” looked like it was going to slicetoward the right, he said, “but it went straight down the middle.”
“I didn’tfeel muchpressure, Milioto said, already experienced at making winning field goals from when he was asophomore against Lutcher in theregular season and University High in the playoffs.
With 5seconds remaining, Shaw had one last-ditch chance with a hook-and-ladderplay that looked for amoment like it could create amiraclefinish until linebacker Brooks Monicapushedthe ballcarrierout of bounds to end the game.
Shaw coach Hank Tierney called it “absolutely the toughest loss I have taken as acoach,” adding that the player who threwhis helmet did so in celebration.
“It wasn’tamalicious, dirty penalty,” Tierney said. “The young man threw his helmet in the air because he thought the game was over.”
St.Charles has won four LHSAA state championships, thepast threewith Stein as thehead coach. This title came two years after
St. Charles was stopped inches shortfrom being able to runout the clock before Calvary Baptist scored alast-minute touchdown for the win. One year earlier, in 2022, St. Charlesscored two touchdowns sandwiched around an onside kickrecovery for atitle-game comeback against Dunham
“I feel for Shaw,for coach Tierneyand thekids,”Stein said “We’vebeenthere before. We’ve
BY NOAH TRISTER Associated Press
BALTIMORE Blake Horvath to Eli Heidenreich.
That’sthe connection that led Navy to such amemorable season—and the twoofthem came through again on the biggest play of the biggest game.
Horvath threw an 8-yard touchdownpass to Heidenreich with 6:32 remaining —onfourth-andgoal —and No. 22 Navy rallied to beat Army 17-16 on Saturday Heidenreich, the career and single-season leader in yardsreceivingfor the Midshipmen, caught six
of Horvath’s seven completions.
“Whowouldn’tgotohim?” Horvath said. “Talkabout an all-time Navy legend. You’re going to be talking about Eli Heidenreichfor years andyears and years.”
Althoughitwas clearly apassing situation, and Heidenreich was Navy’s top target, he wassingle covered over themiddle.
“Tried tobring somepressure on them,” Armycoach JeffMonken said.“Good throw and good catch.”
With President Donald Trump in attendance,Navy (10-2) got its second straight victory over Army (6-6), andthe Midshipmen won the
Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for asecondstraight season.The Black Knightshave not beaten aNavy team rankedbythe AP since 1955. Horvathwas fortunate to have thechance to throwthat decisive touchdown pass.Onsecond-andgoal from the 1, he lost the ball while attempting atush push. Army linebacker Eric Fordhad achance to scoop it up, but Navy running back Alex Tecza lunged over to prevent that, and Heidenreich eventually fell on the ball back at the 8.
“That’sprobablythe last thing you want to seeonthe 1-yard
line is youturn around andthe ball is just bouncing behind you,” Heidenreich said. “I wasblocking down.Ithought he had pushed in, and kind of out of my peripheral I saw it going behind me.”
On the next play, Horvath was nearly sacked,but he wasable to throw the ball toward Tecza as he went down. The ball fell incompleteinstead of being caught around the 15, which was just as well for Navy because it madegoingfor it on fourthdown amore viable option
“I kind of felt like we had to,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said.
“The nature of what they do offensively,despite how wellweplayed in the second half, you may not get the ball back.”
Navy kneeled out the clock, and Horvath appeared to wave goodbye at theArmy sideline.There wasabit of aruckus near midfield after the final kneel-down before things eventually calmed down.
“They want to talkall their crap during thegame andact like they’resotough,”Horvath said.
“The excuse last year was that they playedaconference championship game before us. This year, we’ll see what it is.”
State were the only schools in the SEC that ran the ball more often than Ole Miss during the regular season.
Wide receiver
Could return: Aaron Anderson (RJr.), Kyle Parker (R-So.), Nic Anderson (R-Jr.), Destyn Hill (R-So.), TaRon Francis (Fr.), Phillip Wright (Fr.)
Incoming freshmen: Corey Barber (4-star), BraydenAllen (4-star), Jabari Mack(4-star)
Breakdown: Astrong 2026recruitingclass has tamped down LSU’s need at the position in the long term, but expect the Tigers to add multiple wideouts in the portal next month, especiallyifAaron Anderson leaves for the NFL.Parker had some promising moments, but the rest of the room either underperformed or didn’tplay muchat all this season.
Kiffin isn’tastranger to adding immediate contributors at receiver.Ole Miss’ top three pass catchers alltransferredinto the program last offseason.
Tightend
Could return: Trey’Dez Green (So.), JD LaFleur (Fr.), Donovan Green (R-Jr.)
Incoming freshman: JC Anderson(4star)
Breakdown: Trey’Dez Green islikely to be afocalpoint in Kiffin’sfirst
offense at LSU. His size and athleticism will give Kiffinadimension that he never had at OleMiss. With LaFleur and Anderson, LSU has two prospectswho provide depth. Tightend maybeone of thefew positions on offense where Kiffin won’ttweak this offseason
Offensiveline
Could return: Braelin Moore (R-Jr.), Carius Curne (Fr.),Weston Davis(R-Fr.),Paul Mubenga (R-So.), TyreeAdams (R-So.), DJ Chester (R-So.), Coen Echols (R-Fr.), Ory Williams (R-Fr.), Solomon Thomas (Fr.), Tyler Miller (Fr.), EthanCalloway (R-Fr.), Khayree Lee (R-Fr.), Bo Bordelon (R-Jr.),Brett Bordelon (Fr.)
Incoming freshmen: Brysten Martinez(4-star), Ryan Miret (3-star)
Breakdown: LSU likely will replace most of its starters on the offensive line even if Moore decides not to head to the NFL. That’show porous the Tigers were upfront this season.LSU doesn’tlack young contributorswith achance to return under Kiffin. The question is, how many of them willactually stickaroundwithbig rolesin2026?
Kiffin startedtwo portaladditionsonthe line at Ole Miss this yearbut hadfour newstarters overall. An even greater rebuild maybeinstoreinBaton Rouge, with offensive line coach Brad Davis almost certainlyheading out the door
Defensivetackle
Could return: Dominick McKinley (So.), Walter Mathis (Fr.), Shone
Washington (R-Jr.), Brandon Brown (Fr.), Zion Williams (Fr.)
Incoming freshmen: Richard Anderson(5-star), Deuce Geralds (4star),
Breakdown: HowKiffin treats this positionmay come down to whether LSU coaches believe in Andersonand Geralds as immediate contributors.Ifbothtop-60 recruits are ready on Day 1, LSU may not add more thana player or two from theportal, as long as McKinley and Mathis stick around. But if Kiffin wants to give the incoming freshmen more time to marinate, he’ll need to rebuild much of the position through the portal.
Edge rusher
Could return: Gabriel Reliford(So.), Dylan Carpenter (R-So.), CJ Jackson(R-Fr.), Damien Shanklin(Fr.) Kolaj Cobbins (R-Fr.)
Incomingfreshmen: Lamar Brown (5star), Trenton Henderson(4-star)
Breakdown: LSU hastalentbut little experience returning at edge rusherheading into next year Kiffin may not need to reshape theroom if Reliford returns,and if he believesBrowncan make an immediate impact. Thereturn of edge rushers coach Kevin Peoples could signala willingness to stick with theyoung guns,especiallyif theycan providemoreexplosiveness off theedge thanwhat LSU gotout of its portaladditionsfrom last offseason
Linebacker
Could return: Whit Weeks (Jr.), Davhon Keys (So.),Tylen Singleton
(R-Fr.), Charles Ross (Fr.), Jaiden Braker(Fr.), Keylan Moses (Fr.), Zach Weeks (Fr.), CJ Jimcoily (Fr.)
Breakdown: LSU’sloaded 2025 linebacker classcould go alongway in shaping what the room looks likein2026. The Tigers already have speed andexplosiveness, but they lack experience outside of Keysand WhitWeeks.Weeks’ future may determine what Kiffin does withthis position. If he comes back,LSU might add only one veteran.Ifhedoesn’t, Kiffinwill probably get aggressive in adding experienced starters.
Safety
Could return: TamarcusCooley (RSo.), Dashawn Spears (So.), Jardin Gilbert (Sr.),Joel Rogers(R-Fr.), Javien Toviano (Jr.), Jacob Bradford (Fr.), Austin Ausberry (R-Jr.), JhaseThomas (Fr.)
Incoming freshmen: Aiden Hall (4star), Isaiah Washington (4-star)
Breakdown: How LSU acts in the portalwith this position rests on the staff’s beliefinSpears. The sophomore mostly played in just third-and-long situations this season, but he hasa clear chance to start in 2026.IfCooley decidesto stay anotheryear instead of headingtothe draft, the Tigers may have their starters set already Cornerback
Couldreturn: DJ Pickett (Fr.), PJ Woodland (So.), Ja’Keem Jackson (R-So.), Michael Turner (R-Fr.), AidanAnding (Fr.)
Incoming freshmen: Havon Finney (4star), Dez Ellis (4-star)
Breakdown: Despite losing thebest cornerback in the country in Mansoor Delane, the position maybean immediate strength next season. Pickett and Woodland excelled alongside Delaneand have the talent to step into even bigger roles. The return of secondary coach Corey Raymond also means that both contributors likely will stay in Baton Rouge.
LSUcouldadd another player from the portal, but with so much young depth, that may not be necessary
Kickinggame
Could return: Aeron Burrell(So.), Grant Chadwick (So.)
Breakdown: Chadwick had an upand-downfirst season in Baton Rouge. His average net yards per punt decreased fromhis freshman year at Middle Tennessee, but his average hang timeand yards per attempt increased. If Kiffin fixes the offense as expected,LSU won’tneed Chadwickas much.
Burrelltook astep back as the kickoff specialist after shining in theroleasa freshman. Don’t be surprised if Kiffin adds a veteran from the portal to push Burrell for the open spot at kicker.Burrell has the leg strength to hit60-yard field goals, but his accuracy still needs to improve.
EmailKoki Riley at koki.riley@ theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates,signupfor our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter
LSU had to exercise patience as its top coaching target mulled his options. But once the Tigers brought Kiffin into the fold, the new football coach wasted no time laying the foundation of his tenure in Baton Rouge
New LSU football coach Lane
of
offensive
gives an opening statement at an introductory news conference on Dec.
and
BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer
From the moment he got to LSU, Lane
Kiffin has worked quickly to put together his team. He spent his first night as the head coach in his new office talking to five-star recruit Lamar Brown and several staff members, conversations that took place within a day of a lengthy meeting with Ole Miss officials about his future and a messy departure from Oxford, Mississippi.
A week later, Kiffin has solidified most of his staff, including his offensive and defensive coordinators, and helped sign 14 recruits, some who flipped to LSU and others who had wavered during the early signing period but ultimately signed with the Tigers. The timing of the college football calendar necessitated the speed to a degree, and now LSU can turn its focus to the upcoming transfer portal.
“It hasn’t been easy,” LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker said. “I was talking to (Kiffin) the other day, and he was on like three hours of sleep. I give him a lot of credit just for his relentlessness and tireless approach. He knows, because of the timing of everything, it’s probably not ideal, but it takes what it takes, and he’s doing a hell of a job.”
After weeks of courtship, LSU signed Kiffin to a seven-year, $91 million deal the night before he left Ole Miss, and things were put in motion with his staff before he boarded a flight out of University-Oxford Airport. Several Ole Miss staff members flew with him, including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr and general manager Billy Glasscock. Since then, LSU has locked in almost its entire offensive staff, many of whom followed Kiffin from Ole Miss. The Tigers have already agreed to terms with Weis Jr., co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Joe Cox, passing-game coordinator and wide receivers coach George McDonald, quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens, inside receivers coach Sawyer Jordan and offensive line coach Eric Wolford, the one person in that group who was not at Ole Miss. Wolford coached offensive lines in the SEC for the past nine years at South Carolina, Alabama and Kentucky With Wolford confirmed as the offensive line
STAFF FILE PHOTO By
LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker speaks with his players during a game against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 6 at Tiger Stadium. Baker agreed to stay at LSU under a new three-year, $9.3 million deal.
coach, LSU only has one opening on the offensive staff. It needs to hire a running backs coach and longtime Kiffin
assistant Kevin Smith has not followed him from Ole Miss. The future of LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson may not be determined until after the Dec. 27 Texas Bowl
“He’s here early in the morning, (and) he’s here late in the evening evaluating, communicating everything from roster management to the things that will be necessary as he assembles his full staff,” Wilson said. “There’s constant evaluation of the organization in totality.”
Other than Wilson maybe staying on, none of LSU’s offensive coaches are expected to be retained after Kiffin brought so much of his staff with him. But Kiffin wanted to keep Baker, who had offers to be the head coach at Tulane and Memphis. After Baker met with representatives from both schools
at his home Thursday, he talked to Kiffin the next day
“Just needed clarity on certain things, whether it be current staff, how we practice, just everything from A to Z,” Baker said. “I had a bunch of questions that he did a great job answering, and that made me feel at ease.”
Baker agreed to stay at LSU later that night under a new three-year, $9.3 million deal With him remaining on staff, LSU is expected to retain edge rushers coach Kevin Peoples, cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond and safeties coach Jake Olsen. It is working through a role for Chris Kiffin, who coached linebackers at Ole Miss this past season, and is in the process of interviewing defensive line coaches.
Sources said there was an expectation last Saturday that LSU would hire Syracuse defensive line coach Elijah Robinson, but that feeling has since waned. LSU defensive line coach Kyle
Williams is expected to step away after one season as a college coach.
In the midst of making critical staff decisions, Kiffin and his new staff had to secure the 2026 recruiting class. LSU cut ties with some players while adding four-star wide receiver Corey Barber, four-star wide receiver Brayden Allen, four-star tight end JC Anderson and three-star offensive lineman Ryan Miret. Barber Anderson and Miret had been committed to Ole Miss, while Allen had been committed to Oklahoma. There was uncertainty going into the early signing period about LSU’s highly rated defensive line class, which has four top 75 overall prospects. Brown and five-star defensive lineman Richard Anderson considered waiting to sign and their representatives met with Kiffin, Glasscock and Baker to sort through any concerns. They both signed by the end of the week, as did four-star edge Trenton Henderson and four-star defensive lineman Deuce Geralds, both of whom were getting pushed to flip by other teams
“I think naming a head coach gave validity and stability to the class,” Wilson said. “I think coach Kiffin’s conversation with those young men helped solidify decisions that they had made, and collectively, we were able to close out on a class that predominantly was done years in advance with the addition of some key components to wrap it up.”
Still, Kiffin was not quite done at that point. LSU had to strike an amended three-year, $7.5 million deal with Weis after Ole Miss tried to keep him. Kiffin let Weis and the other offensive coaches return to Ole Miss for the College Football Playoff, but they are expected to return once the Rebels’ season ends. Things have slowed down for a moment before the team begins practicing for the Texas Bowl and the transfer portal opens from Jan. 2-16. LSU has to fill a few remaining holes on staff in the coming weeks, and now it is working through what the roster will look like in Kiffin’s first season He and his staff will be busy again soon.
“I think he’s been a tireless worker,” Baker said. “All of that takes time and effort, and I think he’s done an outstanding job spending the time and putting in the effort.”
I was talking to (Kiffin) the other day, and he was on like three hours of sleep. I give him a lot of credit just for his relentlessness and tireless approach. He knows, because of the timing of everything, it’s probably not ideal, but it takes what it takes, and he’s doing a hell of a job.”
New Tigers coach Kiffin, offensive coordinator Weis face significant project ahead
BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer
Before they became part of the same staff, LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker coached against Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr for the past two years. Baker had more success than most, holding Ole Miss to 26 points or less in both games, but he still saw the qualities that have made their offenses so difficult to defend.
“I think there’s a fearlessness to how he calls the game,” Baker said “I don’t think he’s reckless. It’s not reckless, but there’s a fearlessness, there’s an aggressiveness to it that keeps you on your toes as a defensive play caller, without a doubt.”
Kiffin’s offensive mind was one of the things that appealed to LSU about hiring him, and athletic director Verge Ausberry called him “an offensive innovator” in an introductory news conference. Kiffin has a long track record of productive offenses, and with Weis as his offensive coordinator, they have to rebuild the one at LSU.
LSU has averaged 21.8 points per game this season, which ranks 108th in the country, and it has yet to score more than 25 points against an FBS team going into the Dec. 27 Texas Bowl against Houston. The Tigers struggled to run the ball the last two years of the Brian Kelly era without dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels, and their passing game dropped off this fall.
Kiffin and Weis might be able to change that. Ole Miss scored at least 33 points per game and averaged 175 yards rushing per gameinKiffin’ssixyearsastheheadcoach
Even though it often had a prolific passing attack, the offensive system is built on being able to run the ball. When they could the Rebels were able to use tempo.
“I do think they do a good job of changing tempos,” Baker said. “You know, they don’t always go lightning fast, but they’re a very efficient offense, and that makes it tough.”
Baker added that Kiffin’s offense is “as good as it gets” in critical situations because he and his staff understand what the defense will likely do on third down, fourth down and in the red zone. He also agreed with the idea that Kiffin’s offense can be unpredictable because Ole Miss often broke its own tendencies.
“You might have broken down five
games, and when you play them in the sixth game, it’s nothing that you’ve seen before or completely different,” Baker said. “They do a really good job of mixing it up. Like I said, maybe going into the game, they’re very, very heavy run on this certain down and distance and then they’ll switch it up on you.”
A former Fresno State quarterback, Kiffin first built his reputation as an offensive assistant at USC in the early 2000s. After several stops as a head coach and in need of a job, he overhauled Alabama’s offense for Nick Saban, who called him “one of the brightest offensive minds and one of the best play callers I’ve ever been around” in a statement released by LSU.
Over the past decade, Kiffin’s offenses have ranked in the top 30 nationally in scoring all but one year Ole Miss was never worse than 29th, when it still averaged 33 points per game during the 2022 season. The Rebels had a top 15 offense in terms of yards every year he was there, including back-to-back seasons in the top three.
“I think that college football has changed a lot over the years, and I think that a thing that we do extremely well is
we don’t just think outside the box,” Kiffin said. “We create a new box.”
In part, Kiffin traced the success to bringing in talented players and learning from other coaches. He said he learned how to attack defenses by learning from three of his mentors, all of whom were defensive coaches: his father, Monte Kiffin, former USC coach Pete Carroll and Saban. He also adopted parts of the Art Briles scheme by having his son, Kendal Briles, in 2017 at Florida Atlantic.
“It’s been a great offensive run because of that,” Kiffin said, “and I’m not going to get up here and talk about individual numbers and stuff like that, but if you research them, I would say since we left Alabama, so that’s nine years, if you take points and yardage, that’s the No. 1 offense combined in all of college football.”
Kiffin will now try to extend that run at LSU, and he brought most of his offensive staff with him from Ole Miss. Weis was a priority They first overlapped when Weis was a graduate assistant at Alabama, and they reunited at FAU and Ole Miss, forming an offensive braintrust the past four seasons. Kiffin said once in 2023 that Weis calls the plays, but he will
“interject” when he sees the need.
Along with several other coaches, Weis flew with Kiffin to Baton Rouge the day he left Ole Miss. Weis signed a threeyear deal worth $6 million that day, according to the term sheet, but that was renegotiated after Ole Miss expressed interest in keeping him. LSU then struck a three-year, $7.5 million deal with him that includes an annual “look-in period” to always make Weis the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the SEC. Together, Kiffin and Weis will have to quickly overhaul the offense for LSU to be competitive in their first season. They have to find a new quarterback, improve the offensive line and install the offensive scheme they have become known for “The way that we do things is not traditional, and just because in the book of coaching this is how we do it or it was done that way before, we’re always looking for new ideas trying to figure things out,” Kiffin said. “That started years ago with the innovative offense and changing the style of offense that we played over the years, having a unique offense that I don’t feel like is anywhere else in America by the system that we have and how it’s run.”
LSUgot its man when it hiredLane Kiffin.
The enigmatic offensiveguru topped the Tigers’ Most Wanted Listfrom Day 1and wasunequivocally theschool’s first choice to succeed Brian Kelly and try to resurrect its moribund football program.
In landing Kiffin, athletic director Verge Ausberry and school officials priedhim fromthe clutchesofa longtime conferencerival and outmaneuvered fellow bluebloodslike Florida and Florida State during an intense two-week battle for hisservices Kiffin’shiring is atestament to the power of the LSU football program, which has undergone aspectacular transformation in the last two decades, blossoming into oneofthe most prestigious jobs in the sport after underachieving for years in the 1980s and 1990s.
Here’show Irank theschool’salltime football coaching hires, focusing solely on the impact, popularityand difficulty of the hire on the dayitwas made, rather than theresults:
10. Bernie Moore
The promotion of Moore, theschool’s head track coach, freshman football coachand scout, cameonly afterLSU had been rebuffed by Tulane’s Clark Shaughnessy and Alabama’sFrank Thomas. Turns out, Moore was ahit. He led LSU to nine-winseasons and Sugar Bowl berths in each of his first three years. His 13 teams finished83-39-6 and earned fivebowlinvites.
9. Gerry DiNardo
DiNardo earned thejob by default only after TCU’sPat Sullivan backed out of the job at the11thhour. DiNardo was considered ahot prospect afterleading perennialSEC doormat Vanderbilt to a5-6 record in hisfourth season, but not everyone was excited about his hire. Scores of the LSUfootball players were so upsetbythe ne that Tigers defensive coordinator Ph Bennett had to meet with them at th school’sathletic dormitory to calm them down. DiNardo was picked fro an underwhelming list of candidate that included Sullivan,Washington Redskins receivers coach Terry Rob iskie, Florida special teams coordin Ron Zook, Bennett andTexas A&M fensive coordinatorSteve Ensming
8. Charles McClendon
“Cholly Mac” was Paul Dietzel’sha picked successor in 1962 whenheleft to takethe head coaching job at Arm Duringhis assistant coaching tenure derDietzel at LSU, McClendon tutor the legendary “Chinese Bandits,” the defensiveunit that wasthe catalystf LSU’s1958 national championship se son. McClendon’steamswent137-59andmade 13 bowl appearances in his seasons. He was also NationalCoach the Year in 1970.
7. Charles ‘Bo’ Rein Ohio State coach Woody Hayes called Rein “probably the bestyoung coach in the country” when LSU hired himaway from N.C. State in 1980. Ar kansas coach Frank Broylescalled th precocious 34-year-old “ahighly edu cated overachiever.” Rein hadcomp
a27-18-1 recordinfour seasons at N.C. State, andDietzel,then the LSU AD, wasconvinced he had hired LSU’snext great young coach. But the story ended in tragic fashion just 42 days later,when Rein was killed in asmall plane crash.
6. Paul Dietzel Dietzel was acoveted assistant un-
coach RedBlaik, when LSU hired him to succeed Gus Tinsley and resurrect its football program in 1955. The LSU job attracted aslew of interested candidates, butthe school’sboard of supervisors shrewdly picked the handsome 31-yearoldline coach from alist of more heralded and experienced coaches. Dietzel quickly turnedthings around, leading
top 4inthe nation three times
5. Les Miles In luring the 51-year-old Bo Schembechler acolyte from Oklahoma State, the Tigers were following the Saban blueprint. Miles, like the manhewas replacing, had been successful at amajor program despite having to play second fiddle in the state in terms of resources and popularity.Onthe surface, the formerMichigan manseemed an odd cultural fit, but he quickly adjusted to the SEC and led the Tigers to double-digit wins in his first three seasons, capped by the 2007 national title. Miles’ teams went 114-34 and never won fewer than eight games in any of his 12 seasons.
4. Nick Saban Hindsight obviously helps here. By no meanswas Saban considered asure thing at the time of his hire. Many questioned Saban’sfitinBaton Rouge. Somewondered if he could coach and recruit in the SEC. Credit to thenchancellor Mark Emmert, whohad the vision and ambition to lure Saban away from Michigan State, when no one and Idomean no one —saw it coming. Miamihead coach Butch Davis, Minnesota head coach Glenn Mason, Marshall head coach Bob Pruett and Florida State offensive coordinator Mark Richt wereamongthe candidates. LSU certainly got the right guy
3. Bill Arnsparger
The hiring of Arnsparger was a major surprise and quite the coup for then-athletic director Bob Broadhead, whopoached Arnsparger from the MiamiDolphins. Arnsparger wasthe architect of the undefeated 1972 Dolphins’ famed No-Name Defense, and Miami head coach DonShula fought hard to keep him. He only coached at LSU for three years, but he immediately elevated the program. His LSU teams went 26-8-2 and never finished worse than second in the SEC. Arnsparger was twice named SEC Coach of the Year and considered by some to be the best ootball coach in LSU history
Brian Kelly bviously,itdidn’twork out, but in moment, this was ahomerun hire he Tigers, one that spoke to the lure lore of the LSU program. To coax yaway from Notre Dame,the bluest ueblood programs, required moxie, ing and, of course, anow infamous ear,$100 millioncontract. Kelly 34-14 but ultimately failed because mplacency and afaltering offense, he hire waswidely heralded at the it was made.
ane Kiffin U’s hiring of Kiffinwas the biggest in sports. Given the high demand sservices and the soap opera-like sthat led to his departure from iss, Kiffin’shire generated even er hoopla than the stunning acquiof Kelly.LSU never has hired a in greater demand than Kiffin. ury is still out on whether this will end up being the “best” or not. ,50, is abrilliant offensive mind roven SEC winner,but he will enerthe greatest expectations of his r in Baton Rouge.
Kiffin, LSUbrass don’thavetoapologize to anyone foranything
It’s impossibletobeneutralabout Lane Kiffin.
He’seither asaviorora sinner,depending on whether you’re pro-LSU or sympathetic to Ole Miss. Thefirst coach in the 12-team College Football Playoff era to leave his program beforethe playoffs begin, he’sspawned endless debate,venom,praise and even T-shirts in advance of the CFP first-round game between Tulane and Ole Miss worthy of the Tiger TrollKing himself.
“Tulane vs. No Lane, Dec. 20, 2025,” the shirts read. With afew taps online, you can also find aT-shirt that says “Merry Kiffmas” in purple and gold.
Afew more clicks bring you to plenty of anti-Kiffin flammable liquids.
The heat isn’tjust turned in Kiffin’s direction, either “All they care about is anational championship,” former CBSSports.com writer nowAtlanta radio hostBarrett Sallee said recently.“They’resellingtheirsoul foranational championship. LSU …is oneofthe most dysfunctional programs we’ve seen in avery long time.”
There were dysfunctional things about theLSU coaching searchinthe wake of Brian Kelly’sfiring on Oct. 26, no question. But the waves calmed down, LSU pursued the best coach available and Kiffin took the better job. Ajob where he felt he could compete for championships, not just be in the playoff this year —which he wanted to coach Ole Missin, butwas rebuffed.
Employers and employees do this millions of times ayear,every year: seek a better job, find the besttalent.For that reason, Kiffin doesn’towe anyone an apology Neither does LSU.
“That’snot ourfault,”LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry said of thetiming of Kiffin’shire. “I had to protectLSU’s interests. It was thebest for LSU.”
Yes, Kiffinleft OleMissataparticularlyfraught time,inthe midst of aCFP runand its best season since 1963, when the Rebels won their last Southeastern Conference championship.
But he gave OleMiss six successful seasons. Andhebuilt up the programto be aCFP contender, winning 55 games over that span, including 50 in the past fiveyears.
He gave the Rebelshis best. Now he wantssomething better What all the Kiffin/LSU critics failto acknowledge is that if he hadn’twon enough,Ole Miss would have long ago thrown himout on his ear.Noremorse. None of therampantsentimentality now being used as aweapon against Kiffin. Former ESPN broadcaster andNew Orleans nativeStan Verrett said it as well
AlookatLaneKif
as anyone: “Mississippihad acoach that loved the school, was an alumand might have stayed there forever.Matt Luke,” Verrett recently posted on X. “They fired himafter he went 15-21 in 3years…to hire Lane Kiffin, whowas then,whathe is now,acoach looking for the best opportunity for hisown career “It’sacold game.Can’t be upset when you feel thechill.”
Kiffincritics may be proven right. Maybe he won’twin as bigasTigerfans hope or that he willleavefor another opportunityone day,like anothercrack at theNFL. Iwrote the same thing about Nick Sabanwhen he wenttoAlabama in 2007, noting the fact that he hadn’t coached anywhere— including LSU more than five years. But Saban gottoa point in his career wherehedidn’twant to move anymore andstayed until he retired in 2023.
Here is the realissuewith LSU hiring
Kiffin: The rest of the country wants to think of Louisiana as the home to a bunchofbarefoot Bobby Bouchers. A place to visit forMardi Gras or fora SuperBowlora SugarBowl or JazzFest before flying home to resume having a good laugh at the state’s expense In the end, so what? It isn’tgoing to change.Everyone laughedatLes Miles forhis high hatand eating grass. They mocked Ed Orgeronbecause of his thick Cajun accent. Theyhated BrianKelly just because of his abrasive personality Now theywanttohateonKiffin. Whoever follows Kiffin will probably getsimilartreatment. Ihaven’t gottentoknow Kiffin personally,having only been with him for ahandful of news conferences over the years, including two Mondays ago at LSU.
Perhaps people have aright to be negative.But whoever Kiffin is, it didn’tkeep Blake Bakerfromturning down Tulane, his alma mater,tostayatLSU as its defensive coordinator. It didn’tkeep LSU’s toprecruits like Lamar Brown, Richard Anderson, TrentonHenderson, Deuce Geralds andHavon Finney, committed underKelly,itmust be said, fromsigning with the Tigers earlierthis month. I’ve writtenplenty over the years aboutwhatLSU hasdonewrong and whenitplayedbadly.The sexualharassment scandal. The abjectly awful 2023 defense.The equally awful 2025 offense This time, allisfairinloveand football. LSU gotits man, someone who has reportedly generated15,000 newseasonticketrequests andmorecorporate sponsorship anddonations sincehis hiring. Kiffin gota betterjob LSU andKiffin should simply quote BuckWeaver fromthe baseball movie “Eight MenOut” andwalkaway: “You just playyourballgame andI’llplay mine andwe’llsee howitcomes out.” There’s aT-shirt foryou
Lane Kiffin’slatest career move brings him to BatonRougeasLSU’s34thhead footballcoach,luring him away from SoutheasternConference rival Ole Miss.
Oneofthe most sought-after coaches in collegefootball, Kiffinleft for LSU at the conclusion of the2025 regular season despite leading Ole Misstoits first CollegeFootball Playoff appearance. Thedecision led to acontroversial exit from Oxford, Mississippi, which wasn’t the first time that Kiffinhas changed jobs, causing astir Theson of awell-knownNFL assistant in Monte Kiffin, Lane Kiffin’scoaching career has included sevendifferent DivisionIschools, along with twoNFL stints before making his waytoLSU
THEEARLY YEARS(1997-2000)
Lane Kiffinwas bornonMay 9, 1975, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and his coaching career began in 1997 as astudent assistant withFresno State. Kiffinwas just one year removedfrom playing quarterback at Fresno Stateand was partofthe coaching staff for twoyears before joining Colorado State in 1999 as agraduate assistant. He gothis first NFL experience ayear laterwiththe Jacksonville Jaguars, serving as aquality control assistant during the 2000 season under eventual Super Bowlwinninghead coachTom Coughlin.
FIRSTUSC STINT(2001-06)
Kiffin’sstint with the Jaguars lasted just one year,ashereturned to collegefootball with USC under head coach Pete Carroll as tightends coachfor the2001 season, arole he held for one year before becomingwidereceivers coach in 2002. Heserved as receivers coach for twoyears until becoming passing-game coordinatorin2004 and eventually offensivecoordinator in 2005,commandingone ofthe nation’smost explosiveoffenses that featuredHeisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush. Kiffinremained at USC through 2006 before earning his first head coaching opportunity with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders
JUMP TO THENFL (2007-08)
Kiffinbecame the youngest head coach in NFLhistoryat31 after being hired by the Oakland Raiders before the 2007 season.The Raiders were coming off adismal 2006 season, and Raidersowner Al Davis tasked ayoung offensivemind to turn around theonce-proud franchise. The Raiders held the first pick in the2007 NFL Draft and selected LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, adecision Kiffindisagreed with. Kiffin’sRaiders went 4-12 in his firstseason as an NFL head coach, and he was firedafter a1-3 starttothe 2008seasonthat includeda loss to the San DiegoChargersinwhich Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski attempted a 76-yard field goal that came up embarrassingly short. Davis held alengthynewsconference announcing the move,saying that Kiffin“conned me” and called him a“professional liar.”
Kiffinreturned to the Division Icoaching ranks in 2009 and was hired as Tennessee’shead coach. Kiffin’s firstseason in Knoxville resulted in a7-6 overall record,animprovement after adisappointing 5-7season in 2008. However, his time at Tennessee lasted just one year,asUSC’shead coaching job opened after Pete Carroll left to coach the Seattle Seahawks Kiffinleftfor USC, citing it as his “dream job,” but his exitoccurred not long before national signing dayand resulted in several hundred Tennessee studentsstaging an on-campus riot.
Kiffin’sUSC reunion marked areturntothe school where he had previously worked for six seasons.HeservedasUSC’shead coach forfour years, with the Trojans ineligible for abowlgame in his first twoyears because of atwo-year postseason ban stemming from violations during Carroll’stenure. His firstyear as USC head coach wasslightly underwhelming with an 8-5 record, but the Trojans improvedto10-2the following year.USC returnedtothe postseason in Kiffin’sthird season with a final record of 7-6, but the Trojans had athree-win drop from 2011. USC’spatience ran out in 2013 during Kiffin’sfourth year as head coach, as ablowout losstoArizona State led to his firing at the airportonce the team plane landed in Los Angeles after the game. Louisiana nativeEdOrgeron took over as USC’sinterim coach
Kiffinlanded back on his feet with Alabama’scoaching staff under legendarycoach Nick Saban for the 2014 season and served as offensivecoordinator and quarterbacks coach for three years Alabama had some of the best offenses in the countrywith Kiffin calling plays.Kiffin’s first season resulted in a12-2record and a Sugar Bowl berth, followedbytwo straight CollegeFootball Playoff championship appearances.The first national title berthwith
abounce-backyear in Kiffin’sthird and final season at FAU, with the Owls finishing 11-3 and winning both the conference championship game and the Boca Raton Bowl forthe second time in three years. Kiffin’ssuccess at FAUled to him getting anotherheadcoaching opportunity in the SEC, this time at OleMiss. OLEMISSCOACH (2020-25)
Ole Misshired Kiffinasits head coach before the2020 season. It was Kiffin’sfourth head coaching opportunity at theFBS leveland his first time back as ahead coach in the SEC since his one-year stint with Tennessee. Ole Missreached abowlgame everyyear under Kiffin, even after an underwhelming 5-5record during the shortened 2020 season. Ole Missbounced back in 2021 and was an SECtitle contender finishing 10-3and reaching theSugar Bowl. Ole Misswent 8-5,11-2 and 10-3 in the following three years under Kiffin, whodeveloped astrong reputation for recruiting transfersand earned the nickname “portal king.” Ole Missearned its first CFP bid after finishing 11-1thisseason. Kiffin’stimeinOxford came to an end after he accepted the LSUcoaching position. Kiffinwas prevented from leading the Rebels in theCFP,with athletic director KeithCarterdenying his request to stay on for the postseason runbecause he had alreadytaken theLSU job.Multiple Ole Missassistant coachesfollowedKiffintoLSU LSU’SNEW COACH(2026-) Kiffinwas hired by LSU on Sunday,Nov.30, andsigned a seven-year,$91 million contract to replace Brian Kelly,who was fired eight games into the2025 season after ablowout loss to Texas A&M. Frank Wilson became LSU’sinterim coach and will remain in that role through theTexas Bowl on Dec. 27 beforeKiffin and thenew LSUstaff members officially take over —SpencerUrquhart
Anew era begins at LSU,and Baton Rougeisready.
As CoachKiffintakes thefield, FMOL Health |Our Lady of theLake is proud tosupportLSU athletesand our state as Championship Health Partners— keeping athleteshealthy, teams strong and the focus on performance where it matters most.
When Baton Rouge calls, Champions answer.Together we roar!
Before theChristmas Evebonfires, here’s how Lutcher andGramercygot theirnames
BY RICHARD CAMPANELLA
Contributing writer
On Christmas Eve, thousands of people will enjoy the annual spectacle of bonfires on the levee in the St. James Parish towns of Lutcher and Gramercy
These River Roadcommunitiesexude asense of history, one in which colonists from France and Germany,aswell as enslaved West Africans and French Acadian refugees, settledover the course of the 1700s and created aplantation economy still discernible today. But agriculture development and town formation are two different processes, and historically along River Road, the latter was rather scarce. Only two sizable towns emerged between BatonRouge and greater New Orleans before theCivil War: Plaquemine and Donaldsonville,both of which formed at bayous (Plaquemine and Lafourche)forking offfromthe Mississippi River.Most other antebellum River Road communities were little more than hamlets or enclaves gathered around courthouses,churches or intersections.
This paucity of urbanism may be attributed to the plantations themselves, which, by forcing and coercing Black families to liveon-site, usurped social forces that otherwise would have spawned nucleatedcommunities. Plantations effectively replaced villages and towns, “providing” everythingfrom housing and food production to light industry and alanding on theriver.Thisiswhy plantationshad names —just like towns.
ä See BONFIRES, page 9E
This undated photo shows restoration work being done on the
‘People
Fans and residentsget sneakpeekas NewOrleans starsinnew Netflix film ‘PeopleWeMeet on Vacation’
Staff writer
BYJENNA ROSS
They arrivedatthe Prytania Theatre early,with glitter andblankets and friends from book club, for the first chance tosee aromance they’d loved on the page transformed for the screen. To them, and to the film and book industries courting them, the screening of “PeopleWeMeet on Vacation”this week in New Orleans was abig deal. The first of author Emily Henry’s wildly popular romance novels to be turned intoa movie. The first screening of that movie in any theater Thefanswerebrightand buzzing about the film,muchofitshot in New Orleans, even before Henry herself burst through thetheater’s
side doors.
“The reason we areall here, folks,”saidthe film’sdirector BrettHaley,asfansscreamed. Henry steppedonto the stage, waving, herlong, blondcurls bouncing “Omigosh, I’mso, so, so excited,” she said. “I’mshaking, I’m sweating, I’mwearing multiple of those
little sweat pad things. …” It wasthe first of manysurprises for the audience, mostly women manyofthem in their 20s and 30s, whohave helped make the34-yearold author astar.This film, to be released Jan. 9onNetflix, is just
“Just to hear peoplecheer,literally,multipletimes during arom-com. …Itwas like ‘Avengers: Endgame’ vibes, whichwas pretty cool.” BRETT HALEy,directorof“People We Meet on Vacation” ä See MOVIE, page 7E
BY RACHELMIPRO
pass with its ownwine bar. Ilove New Orleans.
More neighborhood spots
The neighborhood wine shop is an invaluableresource duringthe holiday season, aplace to drop in for ahost gift on the way to a party or get something special for your own events, and it’sall the better if they have their own wine bar to sip aglass while you shop. This combo wineshop/ wine bar concept has been growing in more neighborhoods lately Anew one feels like areal findinan unlikely location, where it’sbuilding its ownoffbeat neighborhood vibe.
Back Line Wine &Spirits (3928 Euphrosine St., 504-623-9463) is a shop and wine bar built in aGert Town warehouse that has new life as an art studio complex. Its bar is the warehouse’sold receiving office, its patio is the loading docks
Back Line is part of the ArtEgg Studios, avintage egg and dairy warehouse that’snow awarren of studios for artists and other creative businesses.
Whyhere?
This is the second act for a similar business that started here afew years back. That was called Next to Nothing, andits all-but-hidden location seemed ideal because initiallyits owners planned to base it aroundthe alcohol delivery market. Major in-city arteries that intersect nearbyput the shopineasy reach of many New Orleans neighborhoods.
But as the laws governing alcohol deliveries meandered through approval, Next to Nothingtransformed to serve itsown clientele at the shop and the bar
After Next to Nothing closed, Ashely and Michael Zabalaoui reopened the space as Back Line with asimilar concept, anew look and more programming
The snug retail shop now feels abit like areading room merged with atasting room.
The wine bar has the same small contours as before, witha contemporary style and asmall rotation of wines and spiritsfrom the retail racks available by the glass
That includes some spirits made in the same buildingbylo-
On one rainy recent night, the Sassyracks dance krewewere having their regular practice just upstairs, making this hidden corner feel like abehind-the-scenes glimpse of thecity’sCarnival culture.
And Ilove the growth of the wine shop that doubles as awine bar as aniche at the intersection of New Orleans’ epicurean obsession and social impulse.
They have their own character
While the Independent, noted above, is ahub forgourmet food, Really Really Nice Wines (3500 Magazine St.) serves enough dips, cheese, meat boards, oysters and snacks served on-site to qualify as atapas bar
Down the street, Patron Saint (1152 Magazine St.) can often double as the slice tasting room forthe New York-style pies of the adjacent (and related) restaurant St. Pizza.
The Little House (640 Bouny St.) is like the family-friendly patio version of Bacchanal from the old days (when Bacchanal was still awine shop).
When I’m at Swirl Wine Bar & Market (3143 Ponce de Leon St.) Ifeel like I’m at the wine-loving center of the neighborhood, and an extension of the delicious 1000 Figs next door,which served its Mediterranean menu in the wine bar
And when sitting at Faubourg Wines (2805 St. Claude Ave.), Ido catch myself rooting foryet another Press Street train crossing, as it will stop traffic
The
cal distiller Atelier Vie. Its gin, dubbed Euphrosine,name-checks thestreet address
The wineselection is wideranging,with afocus on small producers. There’salso asmall selection of tinned seafood and other gourmet food to go or to have atthe bar
More than meetsthe eye
Rumbling down that street past industrialbuildings while looking for awine bar may test one’s faith.But there is more going on in this area than meets theeye. Just under theBroad Street
overpass, there’sthe new FiveO ForeGolf +Entertainment driving range, while right next door is Ralph Brennan’sBakery,a wholesaler producer.And across Earhart Boulevard, past Restaurant Depot,there’sanother wellhidden wine shop/wine bar,the Independent Caveau NOLA, with its stylish interior and alush selection of cheese, charcuterie and gourmet foods.
Like Next to Nothing beforeit, Back Line can tap into amix of people and eventsbased out of the ArtEgg building for its own neighborhood vibe around the bar
The following Saturday,ArtEgg hosted an open studio day,when visitors could drop in on the artists and makers whocall the building their creative home.
With glassesofapproachable Portuguese redfromBack Line, aself-guided meanderwent from theClay CenterofNew Orleans (which is open as aceramics holiday marketthrough Dec. 23) to thenormally private studio of David Gamble, amultidisciplinary(andrestlessly creative) artist whose work hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London. And here he is in awarehousebythe Broad Street over-
comes to its rapid finale.
The bars add to the warmth and personality of the neighborhood shops, qualities that makelocal businesses like these the antidote to the blank coldness of big box retail and e-commerce. There’s moreofthem to explore, and Ido have somemore holiday shopping runs coming again, so cheers to that.
Back Line has aweekly free wine tasting on Thursdays from 5p.m. to 7p.m. and hosts local artists for exhibitions on its walls.
Email Ian McNultyat imcnulty@theadvocate.com.
The numbers were stupendous: 7.7million pounds of food distributed,180,000 hot meals served, and scores of graduates. And that’sjust aportion of what Giving Hope does as it “serves themost vulnerable among us by giving glorytoGod and by promoting human dignity.”The good works and 2025 Hope Heroes were showcased at the annual Hope Gala, which took place on arecent Saturday night in theHilton New Orleans Riverside. Marqueed as the 12th suchevent, it counted 44 generoussponsors and partners in its goal of bringing businesses andcommunity members together to help. Assurant was the Platinum Sponsor.Peoplewere invitedtoattend an “unforgettable evening of purpose,passion and powerfulimpact —all with astylish twist!” Giving Hope co-founder Troy Duhon greeted numerous arrivals.
Hundreds headed to theHilton forthe gala that began with acocktail hour and registration. Embellishing the area were Mardi GrasProductions (for the signature entrance of handsome whiteCorinthian columns thathad green fernsatthe bottom andfloral arrangementsatthe top) and Luminous Events of New Orleans. Within theGrand Ballroom were special lighting effects, red, among them, and eye-catchingcenterpieces. Some were candelabras, others were lighted-within globes atop aslender gold stand.
Thestage area was backed by ahuge screen on which the program’s principalswere projected. Tommy Tucker, of WWL Radio, was thegala’shost.
Special featureswere myriad andincluded an early procession bythe Zulu Tramps and The Jaywalkers Second LineBand;musicbyBean “N” The Boys; and an extraordinary speedpainting by Jared Emerson. Tapped as the 2025 Hope Hero awardees were Blaine Kern Jr., CharlesVetter and Francine Tebo, Edward Jones, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, Ivette and J.D. Enright,Joe Poidomani, LouisianaAutomotive Dealer Association (LADA), Lt. Gov Billy Nungesser,Cameron Jordan,The NewOrleans Achievement Foundation, Thomas MoranJr., andasWoman of the Year, ShirleyDeQuina-Booth, who was introduced by Tracy Duhon,GHco-founder.The Nancy Parker Scholarship Award was presented to Olivia Williams. In the liveand silent auctions, 103 items elicited bid business. Aking and queen package that was donated by Mardi Gras Made Easy produced John Garcia as the buyer
Adelicious meal pleased thegathering, who savored amenu by the Hilton Riverside with aseafood donation byLouisiana Seafood. It included awedge salad, braised beef short ribs with herbed garlic shrimp,and bourbonpraline cheesecake. Among the wines was aCanyon Road sauvignon blanc.
The who’swho included Mayor-elect Helena Moreno,who addressed thecrowd and recognized Betty Thomas,GHchief of operations; andguest speaker Percy“MasterP”Miller rapper, actor and entrepreneur,who talked about hisassociation withthe University of New Orleans and “his kids” from UNO basketball, saying “I’m doing what Ican. Iwant to help people.” He regaled his fans withhis renditionof“Fly Metothe Moon” and, in the spirit of the evening, “Get Together.”
Noted, too, were New OrleansSaints Linebacker Demario Davis and spouse Tamela,who are known and appreciated for their philanthropy; Judge Jayand JoyZainey;and stateSen. Patrick and Rhonda Connick. And, Shane Guidry, Brett Malbrough, Colleen Long,Ben Gormanand Lain, BrookeThomas, Patricia and Scott Joseph,Tracy and Andrew Kopfinger,Marvand Suna Ammari, Raymond Arroya and hundreds more who made Hope their happening.
The 2025 SoutheastLouisianaCouncil–Boy Scouts of America held itsDistinguished CitizenAwardreception anddinneratthe National WWII Museum’sU.S.Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center
The honoree was Gov Jeff Landry,who attended with his spouse, Sharon. “A veteran of Operation Desert Storm,former policeofficer, and successful small business owner, Landry went on to serve as aU.S. Congressmanand Louisiana Attorney General before being elected Governor.” In thelatter capacity,he “has prioritized pro-growthpolicies.”
Recent award recipients have been, starting in 2015, William H.“Bill” Hines, Jones Walker; Jose Suquet,Pan American Life; Warner L.Thomas, Ochsner (at that time); Raymond J. Brandt, now deceased, Ray Brandt Automotive Group; Gregory R. Rusovich,Transoceanic Shipping; Michael Hecht,Greater New Orleans Inc.; H. Merritt Lane III, Canal Barge; Gayle Benson, New Orleans Saints and Pelicans; JoeExnicios (now retired), Hancock Whitney Bank; andin2024, Paul Flower, Woodward Design +Build. Anumberattend-
ed,asdid former awardees. Michael Hecht and Greg Rusovich cochaired the event that included on the committee Austin Badon, Scott Ballard,Boysie Bollinger,Leon Cannizzaro, JimCook, PatDenechaud, Jeff Ehlinger,J.T.Hannan, Torrey Hayden, KenKlemm,Walt LegerIII, Jim Letten,Tommy Mitchell,Kyle Ruckert,Andrew Todd and Jim Tucker Most were spotted, as was Mayor-elect Helena Moreno Funds raised will provide Scouting to young peopleinnine Louisianaparishes.
Back again! Apopular event of the New Orleans Museum of Art, LOVE in the Garden, took ahiatus last year.Itreturned to the NOMA BesthoffSculpture Garden recently withalater date –inthe past, it’sbeen in September; an expanded celebration; and anew presenting sponsor.Itwas Frischhertz, an electrical contractor,which inspired the 2025 theme, “Light up the Night.” For adecade and a half, attendees have enjoyed thefun and festive casual event that features tasty Crescent City cuisine, spirits, entertainment, and the annual Cocktail Challenge focusing on the city’stop craft bartenders. The gala is arain-or-shine event and in the spirit of “garden partycasual” attire, even gents’ jackets were discouraged. Teamed to chair “Light up the Night” in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden were a Frischhertz sixsome: Ellenand Stephen, Janet and Jimmy,and Lori and Kevin. Additional headliners were Susan M.Taylor the Montine McDaniel Freeman Director,and NOMA Volunteer Committee Chair Taylor Schmidt Pospisil. Figuring on the event committee were Carla Adams, Natasha Alveshire,Anne Angelico,Ashley Floyd,Tully Forrester,Elizabeth Grimes, Catherine Hales, MarshallHevron,Jule Kindred, MillieKohn, CammieMayer, Jennifer Rowland, MargaretVillere, Diane Walmsley and Taylor Pospisil. Patrons assembled for an hour with the JavierOlondo Trio supplying the lively sounds. For the garden partyentertainment,Where Y’acht “sailed” into sonorous focus.
Principal purveyors —there were11total —counted CaféNOMA by Ralph Brennan, RalphBrennan Catering &Events, Louisiana Seafood and Napoleon House (since 1914). Presented by Sazerac New Orleans, the Love Cocktail Challengers and Variations of Lovelimelighted five bartenders. Each created a unique drink inspired by an aspect of love. (Thegalaitself,LOVE in the Garden is inspired by the iconic Robert Indiana sculpture). The challengers and their creations were Sho Shonna Jackson and Lust; Francisco Miralda and Love/Hate, Christina Ramirez and Forbidden Love, Jasmin Simmons-Edmond and Unconditional Love, and James Waiters,Unrequited Love. Special thanks wentout to JenniferO’Blenis of Spirit Guide Events. Event sponsorships tallied at morethan six dozen.
When all was sipped, supped and socialized, the repurposed revelry radiated, kindling enthusiasm galore for“Light up the Night.”
BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer
The film “Steel Magnolias” turned 36 years old this year
The Southern comedy that summoned laughter and tears was filmed in Natchitoches during the summer and fall of 1988. Tours of filming locations bring fans to the buildings used for exterior shots in the film. Natchitoches, known for itsChristmas Festival and Northwestern State University,entertainedHollywood royalty for afew months nearlyfour decadesago Themovie became aclassic, especially among Southern women. One enchanting way to experience Natchitoches as the home base of “Steel Magnolias” is by stayingin the Eatenton home, the Steel Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast, and taking atour of thelandmarks of the film. Not only is Natchitoches home to the film, but it is also home to playwright Robert Harling, who wrote the stage play “Steel Magnolias” after the death of his sister Susan HarlingRobinson. Many residents of the small town know Harling, who now owns Oaklawn Plantation, and the much-loved Harling family.During the tours, tour guides alsoshare their experiences with the Harlings as well as their memories of filming.
SteelMagnoliaHouse
dation puts on front porch walking tours of the “Steel Magnolia” filming locations on the third Thursday of December.The cost is $30 for adults. Children12and under are free.
The tour begins at The Historic Cunningham Law Office on 550 Second St. and ends at thePrud’hommeRoquier House on 446 Rue Jefferson. Theentire tour is approximately one and one-half milesand takes abouttwo hours, while being mostly outdoors.
The6 p.m. tour is divided into three staggered groups limited to 40 persons.
Ticket holders meet at thehistoric Cunningham Law Office forlight refreshments and then embark on a guided walking tour through Natchitoches’ National Landmark District, stopping at properties andsites featured in the movie “Steel Magnolias.”
she is amember of the Association forthe Preservation of Historic Natchitoches. Dawson or herguides meet theirvisitors and jumpinacar,van or bus with them foraprivate tour while driving through the city.The car ride stops at the sites for pictures and history.Ifsomeone is staying at the Steel Magnolias Bed and Breakfast, Tour Natchitoches withBarbara can give atour of the inside of the home.
Dawson, whowas an extra in the film, says she gets peoplefromall over wholove the movie and want to be up close and personal with the locations. She said many people watch themovie repeatedlywiththeirmothers, aunts, sisters and friends. The private car tour can take up to threehours and costs $45 per carload fora minimumoftwo hours.Prices may change according to season or size of group.
The tour makes various stops at select properties whereticketholdersenjoy movie trivia,Christmas decorations and history
Ado-it-yourselftour
If traveling to Natchitoches during Christmas isn’tpossible, another walking tour, offered by the Natchitoches Visitor’s Bureau, is available yearround, but it is self-guided.
Wheretoeat
The Steel Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast, on 320 Jefferson St., opened in 2014,offeringatraditional bed-and-breakfast experienceinthe main home used in the film with afull breakfast and true Southern hospitality
“Thehome is located on a portion of alandgrantgiven by theSpanish Government to Athanese De Meziere pri-
By ChristopherElliott
Irented acar from Avis for aquick7-hour trip between California airports.I returned the vehicle clean, with no odors or damage.
Aweek later,I received a$450cleaningfee for a“heavy smokesmell” —even though neither Inor my wife smoke. The company’s“proof” included photosof dust and aformdated three days after my return, with amileage reading one mile higher than at drop-off.
This tourisfree, but for more do-it-yourself types whowant to go on an adventure of their own with amap and an itinerary
Privatecar tour
One moreoption is the privatecar tour with Tour Natchitoches with Barbara. Jerry Dawson is the owner of this tourcompany, and
WhileinNatchitoches, dine at MerciBeaucoup Restaurant, 127 Church St., for somedelicious Louisiana cuisine in historic downtown. Anotherrestaurant that locals say can’t be missed is Lasyone’sMeat Pie Restaurant, 622 Second St., the homeofthe famous Natchitoches meat pies and manyother Southern comfort dishes. After atour of homes, churches and other locations from“Steel Magnolias,” soak up the history of Louisiana’s oldest European settlement andbaskinthe beauty of the Cane River Email Joy Holden at joy. holden@theadvocate.com.
Christopher Elliott
Ifought thecharge, sent time-stamped security footage of the car sitting unused in my driveway and escalated to the executives, but Avis still charged my card. How can acompanybill me for dam-
agethat didn’t happen? And how this right?—RandallLee,Los Gatos, Avis should have inspect vehicle immediately upon andnotifiedyou of any is away.Anything could have penedinthe three days bet dropping off the car and tion. Although California’ Code Section1936doesn’ rentalcompaniestoprovide tailed invoicesfor post-return charges,itstrictly regulates charges must be calculat closed,and justified. If you acharge,the burdenisont al company to prove itsv through itemizeddocumentation.
pretty honest about their uwere acareful renter looks like you were being forsomething you didn’t werealso the timeand iscrepancies, which problematic. you also appealed this case executive (I list the numbers and email adof theAvis executives on mer advocacy site, elAmanager should have your case and fixed it. advice? Document every melland mile on your .Ifyou catch even a impropriety,say somemmediately.Don’twait for
the car rental company to write it up, because at atimewhen car rental companies are monetizing everything, it probably will. Ithought Avis should take another look at this claim, given the inconsistencies in its files and the fact that you don’tsmoke. Avis agreed to reopen your case, and it refunded the $450 it had charged foryour car Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy,anonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on elliottadvocacy.org.
Leslie Cardé
The awards season is officially in full swing with this week’s Golden Globe nominations, and the Louisiana-shot film “Sinners” has risen to the top of the heap. With seven separate nods, director Ryan Coogler’s musical film about twin brothers who confrontthe supernatural is nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor in aMotion Picture,Best Director,Best Screenplay,Best Original Score, Best Original Song, and Cinematic Box Office Achievement. (And, the Critics Choice Awardsjust announced 17 nominationsfor “Sinners.”)
Only two films received more Globe nominations than “Sinners.”
“One Battle After Another,” from Academy-Award nominated director Paul Thomas Anderson, is the Leonardo DiCaprio/Benicio Del Toro vehicle about awashedup revolutionary who goesback into action when his daughter turns up missing. It received nine nominations, includingactornoms for both DiCaprio and Del Toro. With eight nominations is “Sentimental Value,” the story of two sisters who reunite with their estranged father,aonce-renowned director who offers his daughter arole in his comeback film. Critics have heapedpraise on this film, starring Elle Fanning and Stellan Skarsgard.
The competition is stiff this year in the one awards ceremony that honors both film and television. With so many film actors now crossing over intotelevision series, and so many new films going straight to streaming, it’s often hard to distinguish between atheatrical release and aseries that comes straight to yourhome screen. Still in theaters is the muchtalked-about “Hamnet,” receiving six nominations,including picture,actress, supportingactor, director, screenplay,and original score. For director and screenwriter Chloé Zhao, she joins the rarefied air surrounding Barbra Streisand, Jane Campion and Kathryn Bigelow who were the only female directorsever toearn
two Golden Globe nominations. Themovie’splotline is unique, telling thebehind-the-scenes story of William Shakespeare and the death of one of his twins, a boynamed Hamnet. This event was theimpetusbehind one of Shakespeare’smost famous works, Hamlet. Twelve-year-old actor JacobiJupeasHamnet steals the show.Bring your Kleenex for this one! Tied with fivenominations are the Guillermo Del Toro version of theclassic“Frankenstein,” starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, both nominated along with their director, and JonM.Chu’s “Wicked: For Good.” While omit-
ted in thebest film category,it did garner another nomination for Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba in this film and its predecessor,last year’s“Wicked,” along with ArianaGrande (also nominated) playing oppositeher as Glinda the Good Witch Twofan favorites at the recent New OrleansFilm Festival were George Clooney as atroubled movie star in “Jay Kelly,” and Tessa Thompson as the lively lead character in “Hedda,” areimaging of the Henrik Ibsen work, “Hedda Gabler ”Both actors are nominated for Golden Globes for their absorbing portrayals of outof-the-ordinary characters. Both
filmsare now streaming —“Jay Kelly” on Netflix, and “Hedda” on Prime Video.
Interestingly,actors Amanda Seyfried, Jacob Elordi and Jeremy Allen White are all double acting nominees. Seyfried stars in “The Testament of Ann Lee,” a musical aboutthe Shaker movement, as wellas“Long Bright River,” in which she portrays a police officer in Philadelphia during the opioid crisis.
Elordi is not only nominated for co-starring in “Frankenstein,” but he’supfor Best Actor in the limited series, “The Narrow Road to theDeep North,” where he plays thelead, Dr.Dorrigo Evans whois haunted by his past in aJapanese slave labor camp Whiteisbest knowntoaudiences for his starring role in the popular series “The Bear,” where he’s been nominated repeatedly,but he is also aphenomenal presence as rock legendBruce Springsteen in “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere.”
In thetelevision categories, longtime favorites led the way, with HBO’s“The White Lotus” scoring six nominations and Apple TV’s “Severance” along with “Only Murders in the Building” at four nominations apiece. Newcomer “Adolescence” on Netflix raked in an impressive five nominationsand delves into
the story behind a13-year-old boy whoisaccused of stabbing to death one of his female classmates. Teenager Owen Cooper, whoplays Jacob, is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in atelevision role. Up against “Adolescence” in the Best Television Limited Series category are abevy of psychological thrillers including Peacock’s “All Her Fault” about the devious tale behind achild gone missing, Netflix’s“The Beast in Me” concerning aPulitzer Prize-winning author whose lifebegins to unravel when anew neighbor inserts himself into her life, Netflix’s long-running “Black Mirror,” the British anthology series inspired by “The Twilight Zone” and Prime Video’s“The Girlfriend” about the troubled relationship between amother and her son’sgirlfriend. Then, there’s“Dying forSex” with Michelle Williamsasawoman dying of terminal breast cancer wholeaves her husband and sets out on ajourney of sexual self-discovery Nominees forBest Television Series in both the Drama and Comedy categories are a list of perpetual favorites like “Severance,” “The White Lotus,” “The Diplomat” and “The Pitt.” The just-released and alreadynominated Apple TV’s“Pluribus,” the post-apocalyptic science fiction series from Vince Gilligan (“Breaking Bad”) seemstobean immediate hit already An interesting factoid here twomarried couples are all up forawards in different vehicles. Kristen Bell, nominated for“Nobody Wants This” is married to Dax Shepard, whoisnominated forBest Podcast with “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard.” Meanwhile, Matthew Rhys whoisnominated forplaying the diabolical Nile Jarvis in “The Beast in Me” is married to KeriRussell, who as the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain is defusing one international crisis after another in “The Diplomat.” It will be astar-studded red carpet whenthe 83rd Golden Globes take place at 7p.m.Jan. 11 on CBS. For acomplete list of nominees, go to www.goldenglobes.com.
Email Leslie Cardé at lesliecardejournalist@gmail.com
‘I Don’tWishYou Well’tackles homophobia,secrets
young adultthrillerhas lead investigating aseriesofmurders
BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer
What would you do to uncover the truth? In the young adult novel, “I Don’tWish YouWell,” Jumata Emill explores this question withhis protagonist, Pryce Cummings, whoinvestigates aseries of murders that rocked his small town five years earlier Afreshman in college, Pryce utilizes his journalism training to find outif the masked killer was really who the police said it was. He setsout to make atrue crime podcastfor his university Over asummer in his south Louisiana town,Pryce revisits the past,and along the way,uncovers thetown’ssecrets and comes to term withhis own identity. Baton Rouge native, McKinley High School and Southern Universityalumnus JumataEmill has parlayed his own journalism career into writing captivating young adult thrillers. A former reporter at The Advocate, Emill covered both East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge parishes. His first two books, “The Black Queen”and “Wander in the Dark,” also take place in Louisiana and feature youngBlack sleuths who uncover mysteries.
”I Don’tWish YouWell”presentsa nuanced Louisiana small town where the cycle of trauma results in violence and murder.While acaptivatingpage turner,the difficult content means the novelisbest for older teensand adults. The novel comes out in print Jan.20, andEmill will be at Red Stick Reads, 3829 Government St., Baton Rouge, at 6p.m. that day for aQ&A discussion with Tere Hyfield and abook signing. This article was editedfor length and clarity What inspired you to write this novel?
I’m all for being in this space and providing books for Blackteensto be able to see themselves. Ialways wanted to be able to solve amystery. Ididn’thave that in my time growing up. But also, Iwant White kidstobe able to read my books and go, “Oh,this is what it’slike to be on the other side.”
Where Iused to report has influenced my writing. Ipulled so much from aformer source whoworked for the Sheriff’s Office. We would have very frank and honest conversations about the disparities within the area. He would tell me how thepolice solved crimes by using Snapchat,text messages andsocial media. And Ithought, “Kids can do this.” This book is also for Black queer boys who were told who they couldn’t be and they just wanted tobethemselves. There’s strength injustbeing whoyou areand not havingtocompromise to other people’sviews.
Can you tell me about incorporating the differentforms of media and primarysources in the novel that help Pryce solve the mystery?
Ialways have in the back of my mind, “How would this book beaccessible to kids and teachers?” This book would help kids understandhow journalism works and what we have to do. They need to learn how toread something and askquestions.
As akid, Ilovedepistolary storytelling. “Dracula” was my first example of anovel with letters, and it always made me feel like Iwas part of the story.Ialways loved that because they made me feel like Iwas getting the same thing that the characters are getting.
Iwondered, “How can Iget thereader to feel what the town wentthrough when the crime happened alongtime ago?”Then, Ithought about police re-
PROVIDED PHOTO By LANCE yOUNG
Jumata Emill, author of ‘I Don’t Wish youWell,’will be at Red Stick Readsin Baton RougeonJan. 20 to discuss his newbook.
cordsand social media, and Ithought it would be fun to have readers be able to see all of thethings that Pryce was gettinginthe book.
Whymakethis story for teens as ayoung adult book?
As aYAauthor,Ireally try to pull thereinsinsometimes, to realize that you don’twant to give kids too much information. Ialso feel like kids are way smarter than we give them credit for,soweneed to give them the proper tools. My books are always abouttopics that parentsdon’thave discussions with kids about. Iwant aparent to read this book, give it to their child and havediscussions.
Toooften we are afraid to have a toughconversation because we think
that our kids can’thandle it, but the truthis, they can handle it. We need them to be able to read and comprehend things, especially in theworld today,where so much fake stuff is online. Ialso want to create an environment like Ihave with my mother,where we always felt comfortable to talk about certain things with her How did your experiences as acrime reporter inform your writing process? After college, Iwas at Hattiesburg American for five years as apolice reporter.Ireally learned alot about crime reporting. Andthen Ialso did crime reporting when Icame to The Advocate, and it was areally great experience.
Irealized Icould go back to my old reporter notebook to get ideas from there. Ijust leaned on all of this knowledge that Ihad from journalism. Journalism really forced me out of my bubble, and Imet people and had experiences that Iwould have never had otherwise.
How did you capture the characters so vividly and create authentic dialogue?
Ilike writing complex people because Ifeel like people aren’tjust black and white. Everyone’snot all good. Everyone’snot all bad. There’s always this gray area that makes alot of people uncomfortable. It’salways about who’stelling the story.You’re thevillain in somebody else’sstory.
Ihave alove-hate relationship with theSouth. Ilove the culture and these larger-than-life, colorful people who are in powerful positions. At thesame time Ihate all the bigotry,the racism, thehomophobia and all those other thingsthat are alsotied toit.
I’ll probably always set my books here. There’ssomuch to write about. Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.
After my September column about Linda Lightfoot, aretired Louisiana journalist who’s kept arecord of her reading lifesince 2005, I heard from Tricia Day,who thought Ishould know about the reading journal kept by her late mother, Kitty Day, from 1937 until her death at 89 in 2007.
Kitty’slegacy lives on through Kitty’sBooks, abook club with half adozen members whoread and discuss titles from Kitty’sreading journal. The club meetsregularly in Baton Rouge, homebase formuch of the Dayfamily.Tricia Dayand her sister Susan Crowther are members, and they like to keep the group small to encourage good conversation. Another sister,Jane Edwards, might start her own version of the club where she lives in Montgomery,Alabama.
Irecently met Tricia, aretired dyslexia specialist, and Susan, aretired educator,atTricia’shome to talk about their mother’sjournal. Jane, aretired nurse, happened to be in town, so she joined us, too. Gathered around acoffee table with Kitty’sreading journal in the center,they recalled amother of 11 whocounted books as aruling passion.
“She didn’tcook,” Susan told me. “She didn’t garden. She didn’thave asewing machine. But she read all the time.”
Kitty’sother passion wasrecord-keeping. As Susan pointed out, her mother becamethe secretary of every club she joined.
“She kept ascrapbook of every trip she took,” Tricia added.
For Kitty,reading wasapart of, not apart from, an active life.
“She could strike up aconversation with anybody,” Jane mentioned. “She loved to travel. She was athletic. She was awonderful diver.She was the mosteclectic reader Ihave known.”
“She read everything,” Susan explained. Tricia told me that another sister,Beth Gerhart, had recently reminded her how Kitty’sreading journal got started. While living in Chicago as a young woman, Kitty took acollege class in which a professor assigned his students to begin ajournal of every book they read. That wasin1937. Kitty, whoeventually returned to Louisiana, worked as a teacher before her marriage to John Wilton Day, an engineer She kept up her reading journal forthe rest of her life.
“Most of the entries include abrief synopsis of the book,” Tricia noted. “She often reread books, and her favorite by farwas ‘Jane Eyre.’ She read fiction and nonfiction, lots of biographies, and, of course, manyclassics …it’salike ashort history of literature foranyone whoreads it.”
The journal, which chronicles thousands of books, includes everything from Zane Grey Westerns to John Grisham thrillers to Eudora Welty’s“The Optimist’sDaughter.”
Recently,Kitty’sBooks tackled “‘Goodbye, Mr Chips” by James Hilton, “read by my mom in 1940,” Tricia said.
What would Kitty think of the Kitty’sBooks?
“She’d be amember,for sure,” Tricia told me. Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman. com.
Tricia DayofBaton Rougeholds the reading journal her mother,Kitty,kept between 1937 and her death in 2007. The journal has inspired abook clubin which members read and discuss booksfrom Kitty Day’slong reading life
6. “Merry Christmas, YouFilthy Animal” by Meghan Quinn
7. “Housemaid” by Freida McFadden
8. “Quicksilver”byCallie Hart
9. “The Right Move”byLiz Tomforde
the first of Henry’sbooks to be turned into amovie. Four more are in the works
Everyone in that theater knew whether the story’s main charactersPoppy and Alex —best friends who, each summer,take atrip together —would fall in love.
The big will-they-or-won’tthey was whether this audience, devoted to those characters’ quirks, would celebrate the retelling of their story.Whether they, in abroader sense, would bring their passion and their dollars to the movies. Whether they might revive the romcom.
“Just to hear people cheer, literally,multiple times during arom-com. …” said Haley,the director,during an interview the next morning. “It was like ‘Avengers: Endgame’ vibes, which was pretty cool.”
Onstage and in conversation, Haley emphasized his love for rom-coms, including “When Harry Met Sally,” and his belief that they ought to be considered cinema.
“I think this is an underserved genre right now,and Ithink it’sanunderserved audience,” he said. “Watching the film last night and hearing them respond the way people respond to action movies or superhero movies tells me that we’re missing abig chunk of people who really love movies and want to see films that make them feel good in agrounded way,inaway that’sactually earned, that feels relatable.”
Thefilm, like the novel, takes place over adozen years, as Poppy and Alex, who grew up in the same small Ohio city,connect on aride home from college over —ordespite —their likes and dislikes.
As it turns out, responsible and reserved Alex dislikes most thingsthatwildand goofy Poppy loves, from saxophone to public displays of affection. Poppy doesn’t understandAlex’sloveof running, or of their hometown.
Early on in their unlikely friendship, they makea pledge: to travel each summer together.Sotheir love story plays out in Nashville and Montana, Palm Springs and New Orleans.
“NEW ORLEANS,” that chapter begins. “Alex is curious aboutthe architecture —all those oldCrayolacolored buildings with their wrought-iron balconies and the ancient trees writhing up right through the sidewalks, roots sprawling out for yards in every direction, breaking up cement like it’s nothing. The trees predate it, and they’ll outlastit.”
As for Poppy: “I’m excited for alcohol in slushy form and kitschy supernatural shops.” Haley,who is fromPensacola, Florida, grew up visiting New Orleans and counts himself as aSaints fan. When they were whittling the list of filming locations, he insisted on New Orleans In the end, they filmed more than half the movie here, he said, including much of the Ohio storyline.
During Wednesday night’s screening,the audience
Book Shop, for example, offered passes to folks who commented on their Instagram post,thenshowedup in persontogive abookseller the secret code, alinefrom thebook: “When Ithinkof home, Ithink of you.”
Within 24 hours, allthe passes were taken, said marketing manager Caroline Johnson.
make sure they gotgood seats. “It’sa very Taylor Swift vibe,” one of them explained.JodiLaidlaw, amanager at that bookstore, wore adisco ball headband and a floral dress.
By The Associated Press
Today is Sunday,Dec. 14, the 348th day of 2025. There are 17 days leftin the year
Todayinhistory: On Dec.14, 2012, agunman with asemiautomatic rifle killed 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, then took his own lifeas police arrived; the 20-yearold fatally shot his mother at their homebefore the school attack.
Also on this date:
In 1799, the first president of the United States, George Washington, died at his Mount Vernon, Virginia, homeatage 67.
In 1819, Alabamawas admitted to the Union as the 22nd U.S. state.
In 1903, Wilbur Wright madethe first attempt to fly the Wright Flyer but climbed steeply,stalled the aircraft and dove into the sand on North Carolina’sOuter Banks. Three days later on Dec. 17, his brother Orville would makehistory with the first successful controlled, powered flight.
Act of 1964 against racial discrimination by private businesses (in this case, a motel that refused to cater to Black people).
In 1995, the Dayton Accords were formally signed in Paris, ending the Bosnian war that had claimed over 200,000 lives and forced 2million people from their homes over three years. In 2020, the largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history began with health workers getting shots on the sameday the nation’s COVID-19 death toll hit 300,000.
In 2024, South Korea’s parliament impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his stunning and short-lived martial law decree, ending days of political paralysis as jubilant crowds celebrated the prodemocratic move. Today’sbirthdays: Tennis Hall of Famer Stan Smith is 79. Actor DeeWallace is 77. Rock musician Cliff Williams(AC/DC) is 76. Baseball Hall of Famer Craig Biggio is 60.
and comedian Miranda Hart is 53. Actor Natascha McElhone is 54. Actor
cheered when Poppy and Alexordered beignetsfrom Cafe du Monde and po-boys from Domilise’sPo-Boy & Bar.Theyscoffed when asidewalk, supposedly in Ohio, was so cracked and uneven it could only be from New Orleans. They laughed and they sighed and once, whenthe plot differed dramatically from thebook,they gasped.
“Just kiss!”one woman whispered, more than once Most fans had gotten free passes from afew local bookstores.The Garden District
Fans of “EmHen,”as they’vedubbed her,appreciate hersmart, snappy dialogue and her flawed, funnyheroines. Manycredit herwith igniting or reviving their love of romance. Mosthave not only read all hernovelsbut have them ranked,inorder,ontheir Goodreads.
“Especially on YouTube and Instagram, she’skind of like the queen,”said Chloe Lyons,21, who arrived at the screening witha Shakespeare and Company tote bag.
First in line forthe film was agroup from thewoman-runBlueCypress Books, who arrivedat5:30 p.m. for the 7p.m. screening to
“It’sPoppy-inspired,” she said, referencing thecharacter’slove of costumes, as she pointed her toe to show off her silver,sparkly boots. Laidlawwas once “a recovering Englishmajor,” too serious to read romance. Then, abook club “made me read ‘Beach Read,’” Henry’s firstadult novel, she said, “and scoldedmeappropriately,and Iundid someof themisogyny.”
Now,Laidlaw organizesa “Happily Ever After” book club at thestore, with hundreds on itslistserv and dozens at every meeting. Walking outofthe movie, Laidlaw and her friends laughed as they compared notes.“The trick with romance,” shesaid,“is taking its characters seriouslywithout taking itself too seriously “And Ithink it did that very well.”
In 1964, the U.S. SupremeCourt, in Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States, ruled Congress waswithin its authority to enforce the Civil Rights
At amidnight Mass as the choir was singing about peace and joy, Iwas witnessing apossible life anddeath moment.
It was aChristmas Eve inthe ’80s, the setting was the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Baronne Street, commonly known as Jesuit Church, across from the Roosevelt hotel. We weresitting in apew on the first row; ideal for whiffs of moodsetting incense and the fragrance of pine wreaths,also agood spot for seeing something unusual. Not acreature was stirring, except for, to my surprise,a frog who was hopping along theedge of the altar
How an amphibian worked hisway to the main stageofa church on the busiest night of the year was amystery.But then I noticed the row of potted poinsettias that lined the altar.Hemust have hopped in and gotten aride; now he was unsure of where to go andwhattodo.
Icould not tell if the other churchgoers saw him, butI was amused. However,a moment of reckoning was approaching. Soon it would be time forCommunion. Hundreds of shoes would plop near the altar.Could afroginawilderness of poinsettiassurvive arush of bootsand heels?
“O Holy Night,” the choir sang while afrog at floor level weaved his way through what must have appeared to be astampede, hopingand hopping for survival. And this on the night when the church is full and justabouteveryone is walking to the altar AfterCommunion, there would be hallelujahs and prayers. Iwas distracted, though. Iwas looking forthe frog. Iglanced back and forth across the line of plants —nofrog; maybe he had leaped back into apot and the security of apoinsettia.
By that Christmas Eve, Iwas aveteran of midnight masses.
My first time was when Iwas in grade school, and Iexperienced one of life’s first big surprises. Like any kid, Iwas getting
drowsy during themidnight hour andlulled by thesoft chants, but then Isuddenlyperked up as the choir began an improbable song. Iwas stunned. Were they actually saying, “Hark the Errol Angels sing”? Ilistenedcarefully and never wantedtobelieve otherwise. Several Christmas years later,I was well into the age of reason when Ifinally conceded thatthe choirs had been saying something else. Ihoped that at some church somewhere on the planet, there was akid namedHerald whose angels were singing.
For several years during the Christmas season, aritual for parentswas to takethe family for aride up Canal Street.At the intersection of South Murat Street, there was theCentanni House, famous for its elaborate yard decorations, themost memorable of which was agiant animated elephant giving Santa aride on its back. The lighting displays were dazzling.
There was so much foot traffic that vendor vehicles were parked on thenext block, purveying cotton candyand such. Fewlocals had ever seen a chestnut, nor anticipated abag of them roasted,and they still would not. This was peanut country.Also, it was the erabefore food trucks, so tacos and fried rice were not on themenu.
After theCentanni visit, the pathwould lead to downtown where thebiggest attraction was on thebalconyof D.H. Holmes Department Store. Santa Claus himselfsat on his throne, waving to all thenon-naughties below One year,Holmes was the site of apersonal childhood catharsis. With the Christmas season
approaching, someone —Idonot remember whom, but it might have been part of aschoolyard conversation —revealed to me that Santa Claus had been shot. I chose not to share that information with anyone, as though that would help makeitnot true.
Butthe momentofreckoning came the night of the Christmas ride after the Centanni House on the way to the bright lights of downtown. First cameMaison Blanche, Holmes’ rival departmentstorewhich had madeits markonChristmas with thecreation of Mr.Bingle, the world’s only elfin snowman.
The marionette, who became amajor local star,even had his own TV show each weekday during the season. The executives at Holmes obviously figured they had to go one better and contracted with the one person who could surpass Bingle in fame, the big guy himself.
Butthen there was the tragic secret that only Iseemed to know.How would people react when they saw just an empty throne?
Fortunately,that never happened. From Canal Street looking up at Claus, he seemed spry and happy.There were no signs of bandages or other indications of injury.The Secret Service was obviously not worried. No securityguards were flanking him Somehow,the news media missed thestory. There would be no mention in the day’scoverage of the nervous anticipation or the relief. The season continued. As for thefrog, later that Christmas Eve night, Iwondered about his fate. He had survived, but now he was locked in adark dimly lit building. He could possibly amuse himself, though. Nearby there was alarge Nativity scene with figures of other animals: sheep, donkeys, dogs and camels. For themoment, at least, he could pose as the little-known frog in themanger
All was calm; all was bright. Errol Laborde is aproducer and panelist on WYES Channel 12’s “Informed Sources.”Contact him at elabordenola@gmail com.
provided by the New Orleans City Archives, and in the state of U.S. postwar finances.
Fighting over andfunds needed
When the U.S. entered the fray of WWI in 1917, declaring waron Germany,the country needed a way to finance the war effort. The resulting idea wasacampaign to sell war bonds, branded the Liberty Loan Plan.
During the war, the U.S. had four rounds of bond selling. When Armistice Day came in November 1918, it wasgreeted with intense celebration —and followed by one last financial push.
In 1919, withfighting over and funds still needed,the fifthand final round of U.S. war bonds were sent out, titled the“Victory Liberty Loan.”New Orleanshad aVictory Loan quota of around $21 million to meet,and local Victory Liberty Loan committee Chair Henry E. Groffman washard at work.
Beforethe loan campaign launched the week of April 21, 1919, Groffman sent out apublic call asking forthe names of local Gold Stars through anewspaper notice. The Historic NewOrleans Collection estimated 74,103 Louisianans served in the U.S. armed forces during the war.Groffman asked for the names of locals who perished in this effort.
“What we want is the name of the man who died in the service,” Groffman is quoted in the April 11, 1919, issue of the NewOrleans Item.
“Add to this the service, whether the navy,marine corps infantry, field artillery,aviation, medical corps, or any other branch of thegovernment’sfighting force in which he wasengaged. Unless this information is forthcoming in theimmediate future, Iamafraid we will not be able to carry out fully one of the mostimpressive features of the Victory Liberty Loan declaration.”
Drumming up public enthusiasm
Fourdayslater,the newspaper described these impressive features: adisplay on Canal Street consisting of eight three-sided pylons, each between 18 and 20 feet tall. The design was obelisk-like, tapering upward from asquare base intoanarrow pinnacle and decorated with agold and ivory
color scheme. Each erected pylon held adifferent symbol of war,such as a cannon, tank and airship. Names of GoldStar soldiers wereplaced on plaques near the bottom
The pylons wereaccompanied by adisplay of electric lights and “novel displays of patriotic ideas,” including printed slogans from the Victory Loan Campaign, such as “Peace Insurance,” “Stampthe Bill Paid;” and “Make the Fifth Punch aKnockout,” all meanttodrum up public enthusiasm forbuying bonds over the weeks of the campaign.
The last mention of the display can be found in abrief note in the May 7, 1919, article of the New Orleans Item.
“Decorations on Canal which were placed forthe Fifth Victory Loan and forthe welcomeofLouisiana troops will remain intact until after the arrival of the Jennings boys,” the article reads. The pylons disappeared from public notice —given thelack of other evidence, they appear to have been taken down alongwith therest of thedecorationsafter the campaign ended. Evenstill, New Orleanians were afire withenthusiasm forcreating aproper war memorial. Debate over the form anddesign on this memorialbegan in thesummermonths of 1919, eventually resultinginthe creation of the9th Ward Victory Arch. The carved stone arch was originally located in the center of McCarty Square. It wasmoved in 1951 to the edge of the square. The arch is America’sfirst permanent tribute to WWI U.S. servicemen,according to The Historic NewOrleans Collection.
Do you have aquestion about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phonenumber andthe city where you live.
WhichbringsustoLutcher and Gramercy,the two communities most associated with the bonfire tradition, as well as nearby Garyville. None of theseincorporated towns existed in antebellum times; rather,they were products of northern industrialists of the Gilded Age who saw lucrative opportunities along the bucolic River Road. They speak to the fact that much of the blossoming of Louisiana’s villages, towns and smallcitiesoccurred after the Civil War, in what the historian Lawrence N.Powell hasdescribed as “post-emancipation micropolitanization.” That spurt of community formation came in part from the liberationof enslaved families, as they moved offformer plantations, and in part from out-of-stateindustrialists,who sawnew investment opportunities in post-bellum Louisiana.
In 1877, Pennsylvania timber tycoons Henry Jacob Lutcher and G. Bedell Moore built amill in Orange, Texas, to process cypress trees from the Sabine River basin
In the infamous tactic that would come to be known as “cut and run,” Lutcher and Mooresoon depleted this natural resource andsought a new supply elsewhere.They found one 200 miles to the east, in the Maurepas Basin, accesstowhich could be gained by layingrailroad tracks along the River Road and digging canal networks into the swamp.
In 1889, the Lutcher-Moore Company bought the Chenet Plantation in St. James Parish, and in 1892, established adepot in collaboration with the Mississippi Valley Railroad.The companythenconstructed what aPicayune journalistin1895 described as “the largest and most complete sawmill plant in the state …furnishing the beautiful crimson-heart Pontchartrain cypress to every state in the union, up into Canada.”
In an adjacent parcel, thecompany laid out “wide, regular streets andshaded avenues lined with pretty and commodious houses,” allwith“theair of athriving village,” and named it after cofounder Henry JacobLutcher. The quintessentialcompany town, Lutcher becamehometoover 700 people employed at the evergrowing complex of factories pro-
ducing lumber, shingles, sashes, doors andblinds.
While the workers and their families got by, the company and its investors prospered. “Ifwerich menofLouisianadid not show her wealth of productstothe world,” asked Henry Jacob Lutcher,“who would?”
As would happen elsewhere in Louisiana, however,the old-growth timber eventually grewscarce andinaccessible.The company shuttered its mill in 1931, leaving residents to return to farmingor fur-trapping, else find jobsinthe emerging oil-processing industry Today, what remainsofLutcher’s timber-town originsisanumber of old companyhouses,many still occupied,and awood hatchet on the town logo.
As Lutcher grew,competing companies also eyedMaurepas timberand surveyed the River Road for industrial perches. In 1903, theIllinois-based Lyon LumberCompany acquiredthe Glencoe, Emilie andHope plantations in St.John the Baptist Parish, which together extended deep into the Maurepas Basin
Claiming it owned the finest cypress tract in the world, the Lyon Cypress Lumber Company built a sawmillequal to the task of harvesting it, located 5miles downriver from Lutcher
Like itscompetitor,Lyonalso built housing for its workersand their families and named the town after itsdirector,JohnW.Gary Featuring stores, abank, theater, hotel, meetinghall, church and threetrain stations, Garyville exemplified the planned company town and rather quickly surpassed athousand residents.
Butaswould happen in Lutcher, the boom soon turned to bust.AfterLyon’scypress stands were all felled by 1915, the company switchedtoharvesting yellowpine on the northern side of the Maurepas Basin, whereitestablished another company town called Livingston.
As the pine begantodwindle, a series of firesdestroyed stacks of stored lumber,furtherundercutting profits. Operations ceased on both sides of the lake in 1931, same year as in Lutcher, and today, all that remains of Garyville’sraison d’être is the old Lyon Lumber Company headquarters, recentlya museum As Pennsylvania industrialists established Lutcher andgave it aGerman name, and as Illinois magnatesfounded Garyville and gave it an Anglo name,New York tycoonsestablishedanother industrial town in between and named it after,ofall things, their tony Manhattan neighborhood.
Their firm, Colonial Sugars, specialized in building centralized raillinked sugar plants to replace the smallplantation-basedmills from antebellum times. They teamed with theIllinois CentralRailroad, which ranits trains on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley tracks through thesugar parishes fromBaton Rouge down to New Orleans.
In 1894, Illinois Central executivesacquired the Golden Grove Plantation in St. James Parish and collaborated with Colonial Sugars in buildinga modern sugar plant to process caneraised on regional plantations. Because the president andvicepresident of Illinois Central —both of whomwere major stockholders in Colonial Sugars —lived in Manhattan’sGramercy Park,theynamed theirLouisiana investment after their faraway urban neighborhood In 1902,ColonialSugars greatly expandedits Gramercy operation by opening afull-scale refinery to granulatesugar fornational distribution,for which it built worker housing, aschool, church andrecreational facilities. As Gramercy grew,the refinery changed hands, becomingthe Cuban-American SugarCompany, SavannahFoods and Industry and Imperial Sugar Now jointly operated by Cargill and Louisiana SugarGrowers and Refiners, Inc., the Gramercy plant
is now second in size to the Domino refinery in St. Bernard Parish which, incidentally,played asimilar role in catalyzing Arabi and Chalmette following its opening in 1912. Unlike the long-gone timber mills of its neighbors, Gramercy’s raison d’être still dominates the townscapeand remains an important part of the local economy ThestoriesofLutcher, Gramercy andGaryville,now hometoover 8,000 people,serve to remind that River Road historical narratives often tend to elide the gritty circa-1900 industrial period,emphasizing instead the antebellum plantation era. The communitiesofAvondale, Norco,Reserve andWhiteCastle also trace their origins to industry (shipbuilding, oilprocessing, sugar processing and timber milling), while Plaquemine, established in 1819 as atransshipment point, reinvented itself in the 1890s by also becoming atimber town.
The late-1800s period of “micropolitanization” (town formation) also demonstrates that industry along the River Road did not begin with the modern petrochemical sector,but ratherwithprior investments in railroads, electrification, massproduction and nationalization of consumer markets. Like the petrochemical plants of today,these past industries also hadtheir share of environmental impacts. Next time you fly out of MSY,look westward toward PassManchac andthe Maurepas Swamp. Youcan still see thehuband-spoke patterns of the timberextraction canals, amida morass of second-grown vegetation and the occasional stump. Cut and run. Industry-drivenmicropolitanization may not tell aparticularly romanticstory,nor is it as poignant as the antebellumplantations or as spectacular as the Christmas bonfires. But it is amajor part of our history andgeography,along the River Road and statewide.
Richard Campanella,a geographerwiththe Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment, is the author of “Crossroads, Cutoffs, and Confluences:Origins of Louisiana Cities, Towns, and Villages”; “DrainingNew Orleans”; “BourbonStreet: AHistory”;and other books from LSUPress. He may be reached at richcampanella com, rcampane@tulane.edu,or @nolacampanella on X.
State’stechies help make oneofthe world’smostsuccessfulvideo games
BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer
Jessa Carlsonusuallystarts her workday by taking astroll in the blockssurrounding her 200-year-old Faubourg Marigny home.
When she heads upstairs for her first videoconferenceofthe day,she may have to step over the fabric for the “Underthe Sea”-themed costume she’s making for nextyear’s Mardi Gras. Then shegets to work buildinga world that’sasabout as far removed from historic downtown New Orleans as you can get
As astudio head of High Voltage Software, aChicago-based video game maker with aNew Orleans satellite office, Carlsonleads ateam of designers, artistsand computer programmers helping to build Fortnite, one of the world’smost success-
ful videogames.Sinceits 2017 release, the multiplayer platform has earned billions of dollars and has partnered with Disney LEGO andotherhuge companies.
Creating by North Carolina-based Epic Games, Fortnite is built andtestedbyhundredsofemployeesand many contractors worldwide,including twogroupsinNew Orleans.
The two companies —High Voltage and game testerDAQA— are partofLouisiana’ssmallvideo gameindustry,first conceived more than two decades ago when state economic development officials created incentives in the hopes of adding new sectors to the state economy.
The boosters’ efforts haven’ttranslated to thousands of high-tech workers filling
ä See PLAYERS, page 6F
Criticssay move points to industry’s lack of oversight
BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer
The lower Mississippi River’spilotage system underwent amajor shift this summer when the Crescent River Port Pilots’ Association quietly began assigning two pilots to certain large cargo vessels transiting the most congested stretch of the river
Thechange, implementedJuly 1, has drawn concern from some shippers and sparked questions abouttransparencyand oversightinasystem that plays acentral role in moving billions
of dollars of commerce through the Port of New Orleans each year Under thenew policy, the Crescent RiverPort Pilots’ Association now dispatches two pilots to vessels more than 950 feet long or 140 feet at its widest point. The dual-pilotrequirement applies only between Point Celeste and theNew Orleans harbor,the portion of theriver where pilots say they encounterthe highest concentration of traffic, industrial facilities andnavigational complexity Capt. E. Michael Bopp, president of theassociation, said the move followed theFrancis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. He said it was based on a recommendation from theRiver Port Pilots’ Safe Navigation Committee to the Board of River Port Pilot Commissioners, which concluded that risks on
the lower Mississippi have risen “significantly” over the past decade.
The committee cited increasing vessel size, shifting river conditions, new terminals and industrial facilities, and greater traffic densityasfactors that warranted the additional pilot support.
Boppsaid the two-pilot arrangement is already standard forcruise ships and LNG carriers operating on the river and mirrors established practices at other major Western Gulf ports, including Houstonand Mobile, Alabama.
Those ports routinely assign dual pilots to wide-beam tankers and container ships,aprecedent that Boppsaid supports the decision to extend similar requirements to thelargest cargo vessels entering New Orleans.
The followingpromotions and new hires have recently been announced by south Louisiana businesses.
NewOrleans
McGlinchey
Deirdre McGlinchey has joined Jones Walker as apartner after spending three decades at McGlinchey Stafford, her father’s namesake firm. Special counsel Rob Denny and associates Gillian Miculek McCarroll and Ryan Lavelle joined McGlinchey on the commercial disputes team. Jones Walker also announced seven new associates at its New Orleans office. Harrison Bond, Stephen Capella, Ahn Do and Dillon Knight joined the corporate team. Claire Dinwiddie has been added to thelabor and employment team, Madelyn Graves to litigation team and Ali Odermann to the maritime team.
Kristi App has been named thechief commercial officer of the PortofNew Orleans.App was previously chief operatingofficer of the freightforwarding, customs brokerage and globallogistics provider J.W.Allen &Co.
Eric Bosch,president of LaPorte CPAs &Business Advisors, has
Fool’sTake: The Vanguard Growth ETF
become regional market leader of theAtlanta-based certified public accountingand advisory firm Mauldin &Jenkins, whichhas 19 offices following the merger Mc Gl inc he y Stafford announced the hiring of Ryan Ginn as an associateatthe firm’senterprise litigation and investigationsteam.
Eli Larriviere has joined BlueWilliams to work as an associate.
Danita Beck Wickwire has been named the inaugural executive director of development for the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine. Wickwire,who previously worked as vice president of strategic and principal giving for the
National Audubon Society, will lead philanthropic for the college.
BatonRouge
Dr.RalphCorsetti has becomethe Mary BirdPerkins Cancer Center’s newest surgical oncologist. He will work closelywith the center’s breast specialtyprogram andpractice at its surgery clinic in Covington.
Nick D’Aquilla has been promoted to president of Counsel Financial. D’Aquilla, aBaton Rouge-based attorney and former civil defense litigator for the Louisiana Department of Justice, joined the Buffalo-based litigation finance firm as a managing director in 2024.
Many credit card issuers, banks and credit unions also offer free access to your credit score —what you get when much of the information above is consolidated into asingle number
Continuedfrom page 1F
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Youcan improve your report and/ or score by paying bills on timeand avoiding excessive use of your credit limit. Learn more about credit reports and how to disputeany errors at consumer.ftc.gov
Ask the Fool:High dividend yields in context
Is it smarttofocus only on stockswith highdividend yields and low price-to-earnings ratios? —T.P., Youngsville Not necessarily.Some dividend yields are steep simply because the stock price has fallen —perhaps due to troubles at the company.After all, a dividend yield is the result of dividing theannual dividend amount by the current stock price, so alower share price will result in ahigher yield. Yields of, say,2%to4%(or even more) can be solid, especially if the payout has been growing well, but dig deeper into any company sportinganoutsized dividend yield. Remember,too, thata fast-growing 2% dividendyield can be preferable to aslow-growing 3% yield.
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Compareacompany’srecent P/E with its own five-year average to see if it’snow relatively high or low.Compare it with peers in its industry,too. Youcan research companies and assess many other valuation measures at sites such as fool.com and finance. yahoo.com. When astock is said to be up $1.65 or down $4.22,from what price has it risenorfallen? —F.S., Westwood,New Jersey
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My Smartest Investment: Hertz vs. Greyhound
My smartest investment?Well,in the mid-1950s, when Iwas ateenager mowinglawns in awealthy suburb of Chicago,my father recommended investing the money I’dsaved.He suggestedI invest in a companycalled Hertz thatspecialized in car rentals,as he thought that more and moreAmericans would want to rent cars.Itook my father’s advice
The mainnegative in doingsowas that by thetime Igot to college in the late 1950s,I expectedall stocks to tripletheir valueormore every year! Fortunately,I wasalso investedinthe Greyhound bus companywith $100 from my grandfather.(My parentsmade that choice,reasoning that people would alwaysneed to ride buses.) So watching Greyhound slowly grow in the 1950s didgive me a reality check for my Hertz stock.— P.R.,San Jose, California
Youwere fortunate indeed to own shares of afast-growing company and also to realize that skyrocketing growth is not the norm.This is why it’s smart to spread your dollars across abunch of companies. Hertz now includes the Dollar,Thrifty and Firefly car-rental chains. Greyhound ended up filing for bankruptcy and is now owned by the German travel company Flix.
Do youhave asmart or regrettable investment move to sharewith us? Email it to tmfshare@fool.com.
Al James has been hired as director of the Keep Louisiana BeautifulFoundation. James, aRuston native, has more than aquarter centuryofexperience in thenonprofit sector,most recently as events and sponsorship director for Philanthropy Southwest.
The Lafayette-based bank also promoted Jim Lyons,aJenningsnative and Louisiana Economic Development board member,tochief executive officer
Jones Walker announced three new associates at its BatonRouge office. Blaine Jacob joined the corporate practice group, while Erin Alpandinar and Camille Webre joined the litigation practice group.
Acadiana
Rose Miller,apast board member of theLouisiana Bankers Association with morethan fourdecades of bankingindustry experience, has been promoted executive chair of the board of First National Bank of Louisiana.
The Safe Navigation Committee did notrecommend daylightonly restrictions or requiring escort tugs for these ships,Bopp added, making asecond pilot the appropriate tool to enhance safety withoutsignificantlyincreasing operational burdens By contrast, he said, having two pilotson the bridge improves situational awareness, strengthens communication andprovides alayer of redundancy during the river’smost challenging segment. That,hesaid, better protects“Louisiana’s people,environment andeconomy” alonga route that has grown more complex and congested over time.
when we have the downriver terminal built and more of the larger vessels.”
The reference was to the proposed Louisiana International Terminal, amultibillion-dollar containerfacilitythe Port of New Orleansisdeveloping in Violet, in St. BernardParish,alongside private-sector partners Ports America anda subsidiary of Mediterranean Shipping Co. The terminal is designed to handle the ultra-large
Sarah Davenport has been appointed the head of school forAscension Episcopal School. Davenport, who waspreviously the upper school division head at the Lafayette school, had been serving as interim head for the prior six months.
Around Louisiana
The River Parishes Tourist Commissionannounced the appointment of threenew officers: Chair Garrett Monti, of St. Charles Parish; Vice Chair Camella Landry, of St. James Parish; and Secretary/ Treasurer Noble Benoit, of St. Charles Parish.
Do you have personnel changes to shareorother ideas forour business coverage? Drop us a lineatbiztips@theadvocate. com.
also note that many major ports around the country andthe world operate with similarly insulated pilotage systems.
By contrast, Capt.E.Michael Bopp, president of the Crescent River Port Pilots’ Association, said, having twopilots on the bridgeimprovessituational awareness, strengthens communication and provides a layer of redundancy during theriver’s most challenging segment. That, he said, better protects “Louisiana’speople, environment and economy” along aroutethat has grown more complex and congested over time
Theassociation alsoemphasizedthat the financial impact of thechangeislimited. Pilotage fees constitute one of avessel’ssmallest routine operating costs,Bopp said, and the two-pilot requirement applies to only about3%oftotal rivertraffic. Because thedecision was rooted in safety andnavigation,itdid notrequire action by the Louisiana Pilotage Fee Commission, whichhas no jurisdiction over suchmatters.
“This is aboutensuring the safe anduninterruptedflow of commerce on oneofthe country’smost vitalwaterways,” Bopp said, adding that River Port Pilots looks“forward to continuing to honor that responsibility.”
Still, the shift has unsettled some maritime operators, many of whom view it as another example of the highly autonomous power that Louisiana’s river pilots wield in shaping the rules governing ship transits. Several shippers contacted for this story declined to speak on the record, saying they didnot want to publicly criticize the influential andpolitically well-connected pilot groupsthat control various stretches of the Mississippi from the Gulf to Baton Rouge
Aspokespersonfor the Port of New Orleans alsodeclined to comment
Privately,however,several industry executivessaid theJuly change reignitedlongstanding concerns about alack of consultation andoversight in major operational decisions.They argue that decisions affecting navigation, costsand port competitiveness should be made only after broad engagement withcarriers, terminal operators, port officials and exporters—something theysay did not occurin this case.
An independentoverseer
“The issue is that there is no oversight of decisions like these outside of the pilots themselves, no consultation with industryor the ports,” said one seniorexecutive,who requestedanonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly.“That could become areal costissue
container ships that currently bypass New Orleans for fastergrowing Gulf ports such as Mobile and Houston. Industry critics worry that if pilotage requirements continue to expand without broader stakeholder input, carriers could face higher operating costs that undermine the competitive advantages the new terminalismeant to deliver.While the two-pilot rule applies to a small numberofships today, theynote that the share of large vesselscalling on New Orleans is expected to grow substantially once the Violet terminal is complete.
Forthose shippers, the concern is not solely about the cost of an additionalpilot but about the structure of decision-making.Louisiana’s system —divided among four autonomous pilot groups, eachwith its own boardand statutoryauthorities —has long been apoint of frictionfor carriers who say they lack meaningful avenuesto weigh in on navigational policy or fee-setting. Pilotage is ahighly specialized and safety-critical function, they acknowledge, but they argue that the state’scurrent governanceframework gives pilots near-exclusive control over decisionsthatcan significantly affectport competitiveness and the cost of doing business on the lower Mississippi. In thepast, shippers have clashed withpilots over fee adjustments, staffing levels and trafficmanagement protocols, often arguing thatsuch decisions should be made by a broader commission or state agency.The LouisianaPilotage Fee Commission provides oversightonthe cost side, but its authority does not extend to safety or navigationpolicy—precisely the areas underwhichthe July change falls.
Deeper questions
Pilotgroups counter that their independence is essential to ensuring safety on ariver that is both economically vital and uniquely challenging. They pointout that pilots areonthe water every day and possess the firsthand experience needed to identify emerging risks. They
The tension between those positions is likely to sharpen as the Louisiana International Terminal project advances. The Port of New Orleans has pitched theterminalasthe state’smost important infrastructure investment in generations, one that could reassert the region’s relevanceinglobalshipping andallowittocompete more effectively for trans-Gulf trade. But achieving thatambition, port officials have repeatedly said, will require close coordination among pilots, carriers, exporters, and state regulators to ensure the lower Mississippi remains both safe and cost-competitive. For now,the two-pilot requirementremains in place, affecting only asliver of the ships that move along the river each year.But its rollout has underscored deeper questions about governance and influence on awaterway whose future —and whose costs —are tied to decisions made far from the public eye.
The Louisiana Chemical Association, atrade body,has been aleading critic of some of the riverpilots’ past actions, challenging rate increases through the courts as well as legislative efforts to changethe oversight system.
Core issues include the high salaries and expense reimbursements for pilots, someearning over $700,000 ayear,which shippers payfor.There have also been criticismsofalack of transparencyover rate-setting and internal operations of pilots. David Cresson, CEO of the LCA, said members recognize theneedfor safety andthe additional pilot costs haven’tyet affected chemical vessels.
“That said, we will monitor the situation and work with the pilot associationstoensure safeand competitive shipping conditions forchemical manufacturers in Louisiana,” he said.
EmailAnthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.
BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer
Associated Grocers President and CEO David Politz describes his company as “small” and “nimble.”
Politz
Since its founding in 1950, the Baton Rougebased company has kept its mission simple: Serve independent grocers. It provides support including procurement and accounting to more than 200 local retailers in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Mississippi
Politz said the company’s small size allows it to react quickly to industry challenges, but now Politz has his sights set on something bigger “As far as I’m concerned, I want to dominate the Gulf Coast,” he said. “I want AG to be the wholesaler of choice for anybody doing business along the Gulf Coast.”
Politz officially took over as the head of Associated Grocers in April, after 40 years with the company He started working for Associated Grocers part-time when he was a student at LSU and rose up through the corporate ranks. After spending the previous five years as senior vice president and chief information officer, he was named interim president and CEO in November 2024, when Manard M. Lagasse Jr stepped down.
In this week’s Talking Business, Politz discusses plans to grow the company, establishing the Associated Grocers brand and navigating industry challenges. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What have been your priorities in the first few months as CEO?
When all this first happened we were in the middle of a major system upgrade and putting automation in the warehouse. We were going into the holiday season and the last thing we want to do is have business disruption during the busiest time of year I was involved in that from the IT side, and we had to see that through before we could do anything else.
Any new leader coming in, you have to kind of establish your style, what you want to do differently There were some things I definitely wanted to do differently than what we were doing before. I value debate. I don’t want everybody in the room nodding their heads and agreeing with me, because if you’re agree-
ing with me, we’re in trouble. I don’t have all the answers in, but collectively I think we can solve most problems. The third thing we’re really still working on, but I feel, is incredibly important, is establishing the Associated Grocers brand. Historically, AG has always just been kind of behind the scenes. We’ve always wanted our retailers in the spotlight. And rightly, they should be. But things have changed. There are a lot of competitors in our marketplace now and the retailer has a lot of choices as to who’s going to supply them, and so we have to have a presence. We have to have an identity
You said you want to dominate the Gulf Coast. How exactly will you do that? I believe right now, very
clearly, that what we do, we do better than anyone else. I firmly believe that. I think a big part of being able to grow this thing is establishing AG as its own brand and having that identity in the marketplace. Getting even more involved in these communities is part of it and actively recruiting new members, which we’ve done in the past, but we’re applying much more resources and such to that. I’m not going to go into a lot of detail there. I want people to know who we are before we even walk in the door to talk to you. This is a time of high food prices.What has been Associated Grocers’ response to this so far and what more needs to be done? Ever since COVID, everything’s changed. Everything’s been different. The supply chain
got extremely challenging for a long time. I think we’ve done much better than most as far as overcoming the supply chain challenges to make sure that our retailers have product when they when they need it. Some of the rollbacks on tariffs would be helpful. There are things that are out of our control. Cocoa is imported. Coffee is imported. There’s a lot of produce that’s imported, and then a lot of supplies and containers that are used in packaging that’s used are all imported. We’ve just absorbed higher costs on everything, as everybody has since COVID. Many things have tripled in price, and so it’s been tough for business in general, tough on the consumer in general, right? We’re always looking at additional areas where we can make money, save money, squeeze money, so that we don’t go up on a cost of goods to the retailers, so important that we keep our retailers competitively priced.
We do our own freight management now All our inbound freight, we’ve got somebody that coordinates and negotiates all of that. Anytime we’re in an area making a delivery, we want to pick something up and bring it back so that we’re not coming back with an empty truck. We want to make sure that those miles are full of products, really optimizing all of those opportunities is making a big difference for us. We have not done any kind of price raising whatsoever since COVID. In fact, we’ve cut costs. It’s made things lean, but it’s the right thing to do, and we can’t lose sight of our why we’re here. We’re here to service those communities where our retailers are. We are not a profit-driven business. We’re not here to pad our bottom line and make as much as we can. We’re here to serve those communities.
BY LIZ SWAINE and TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writers
SLB said it will spend $30 million to expand its Shreveport advanced manufacturing operations, a move that will nearly double the number of employees in the former General Motors assembly plant.
The move will add about 600 workers at the plant, which currently has about 660 employees. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the expansion will create an additional 744 indirect jobs in northeast Louisiana.
SLB, which was formed in 2016 when Cameron International Corp. merged with Schlumberger, has said the Shreveport plant is its largest facility worldwide. After the expansion is complete, the company will take up 2 million square feet in the building.
SLB bills itself as a global technology company that works on “innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition.”
At the Shreveport plant, the company builds modular infrastructure used in data center construction, specifically power distribution and cooling equipment for the facilities, said Andrew Johnston, SLB’s director of data centers.
The demand for the components in data centers is booming; capital expenditures for data centers is expected to reach $7 trillion worldwide by 2030, according to consulting firm McKinsey & Co. Of that, about 40% of the spending is projected to take place in the U.S.
“It’s an industry that’s growing rapidly, and we’re here to capitalize on that growth,” Johnston said.
While the event last week announcing the expansion was held at SLB, it took place inside a tent Everything inside, Johnston said, is proprietary and off limits to the general public. Not because of SLB, he explained, but because its data center customers — who he could not name demand it to be so. SLB has already spent $18 million on the Shreveport facility
Johnston said the vast expanse of former GM assembly-line buildings drew the company to Shreveport.
“When SLB goes into a business, they want to do it at a large scale,
“When SLB goes into a business, they want to do it at a large scale, and when we kicked this project off, there were only four sites in the United States that had a manufacturing facility under a roof the size that we needed, and the local workforce that was able to scale up as quickly as we wanted.”
ANDREW JOHNSTON, SLB director of data centers
and when we kicked this project off, there were only four sites in the United States that had a manufacturing facility under a roof the size that we needed, and the local workforce that was able to scale up as quickly as we wanted,” Johnston said.
North Louisiana Economic Partnership CEO Justyn Dixon said that SLB had brought the long-vacant former GM plant back to life. “SLB, as several of you have mentioned, went into the old GM facility which basically had sat empty for the past 12 or 13 years,” Dixon said. “They came in and committed to 596 jobs 2.5 years ago As of this day, they’re at 660.” Work on the expansion is set to begin in January Staffing increases are planned throughout 2027 as new areas of the site become operational. SLB said it will hit its new employment projections by the end of 2027.
The expansion announcement came a few days after the Caddo Parish Commission approved a $3 million Performance Based Grant for “over 500 new High Impact Jobs.”
The High Impact Jobs program was launched by LED in July, as a way to incentivize higher state wages while slowing out-migration. Under the program, a business that creates a new job that pays 125% of the parish average wage can get an 18% grant. If it creates a job at 150% of the parish average wage, the grant jumps to 22%. In Caddo Parish, the average wage is $56,253. GM vacated the plant in 2012. At the height of operations, more than 3,000 people worked at the facility building pickups.
But the American auto manufacturing industry was nearly wiped out around 2008, thanks to the Great Recession and consumer demands for more fuel-efficient vehicles. That took a toll on the Shreveport plant, which made Hummers, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks. When GM announced in
BY EMMA NELSON
The Minnesota Star Tribune
(TNS)
From jobs to housing to grocery prices, the U.S. economy has been weakening for months.
But the stock market is telling a different story, thanks to a handful of companies called the Magnificent 7: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Nvidia and Tesla. These tech giants — which deal in everything from e-commerce to software to chip manufacturing — comprise a disproportionate share of the market and have pushed it to record highs in the artificial intelligence boom.
Without spending by the Mag 7 and other tech companies, the U.S economy “would have barely grown” in the first half of the year, Oxford Economics lead economist Adam Slater wrote in an Oct. 3 research briefing.
In other words, tech is helping keep the economy afloat. But if these companies’ fortunes change, the downstream impact could be severe.
Though economists aren’t forecasting an AI crash, they have acknowledged similarities between the AI boom and previous bubbles, from the dot-com bust of the early 2000s to the ultimately catastrophic bull market of the 1920s.
The fear is, if trillions of dollars in projected spending on AI infrastructure fail to generate revenue, there is potential for a downturn with global ramifications.
The Mag 7 for years have exceeded the rest of the S&P 500, the index that tracks the stock performance of the leading 500 public companies. The gap started widening after OpenAI released ChatGPT in 2022, launching the AI boom.
The impact of the Mag 7 on the markets is clear when those companies are out of the picture.
Between January 2020 and Nov 14 of this year, the S&P 500 outperformed the S&P 493 (the index minus the Mag 7) by a median an-
nual return of nearly 8 percentage points, according to analysis from Piper Sandler Technical Research.
The bull market has been good news for high-income Americans, who tend to hold more stocks than the average consumer and so benefit more from rising stock prices.
Those high-earners also tend to keep spending when economic headwinds cause lower-income consumers to pull back.
Higher-income earners are driving about half of U.S. consumer spending, said Anthony Saglimbene, vice president and chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial.
“With the market up right now, one of the things that we’ve been talking about is, markets and the economy stand on pretty narrow pillars, or at least they have so far
this year,” he said The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers reported in October that the economic sentiment of stockholders, especially those with the biggest portfolios, has improved since May Sentiment of nonstockholders has declined in that time, landing where it was in 2022 when post-pandemic inflation peaked at 9.1%.
Overall consumer sentiment has fallen this year in the face of rising prices, a frozen job market and anxiety over a possible recession. But how high-income consumers feel about the economy “may help buoy consumption spending even amid views of the economy that are relatively subdued from a historical perspective,” according to the survey The Federal Reserve’s November Beige Book, which outlines
economic conditions across the central bank’s 12 districts, reported an overall decline in consumer spending “while higher-end retail spending remained resilient.”
The Mag 7 account for more than a third of the value of the S&P 500. Nvidia, which last year skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot as the go-to chipmaker for powering AI data centers, makes up about 8% of the index.
For comparison, the companies in that top spot at the end of 1990 (IBM), 2000 (GE) and 2010 (Exxon Mobil) comprised about 3% to 4% of the S&P, according to research from Ameriprise
The weight toward the Mag 7 and other tech stocks means the fortunes of the average 401(k)- or pension-holder are tied disproportionately to the fate of a handful of companies in a single industry
“You have a market that is going to be very dependent upon the performance of those particular names,” said Craig Johnson, managing director and chief market technician at Piper Sandler.
Consider the week of Nov. 17, when investor anxiety about tech spending on CapEx capital expenditures, such as data centers led to a sell-off that produced a 1.9% drop in the S&P and a 2.7% drop in the more tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite.
Nvidia’s banner third-quarter earnings report allayed fears, and the markets ended the week on a positive note. CEO Jensen Huang, during the company’s Nov 19 earnings call, addressed investor concern head-on.
“There has been a lot of talk about an AI bubble,” he said.
“From our vantage point, we see something very different.”
The AI gold rush has prompted comparisons to the dot-com bubble, when CapEx spending on early internet infrastructure outstripped demand. Of respondents to Bank of America’s November Global Fund Manager Survey 45% said the biggest “tail risk” to the economy and the markets is the “AI bubble.”
Though the two moments rhyme, there are key differences. The Mag 7 includes established players like Microsoft, Apple and Amazon that have survived previous tech bubbles. And so far companies have been relying more on revenue for CapEx spending than debt, even though massive debt deals like Meta’s $27 billion to build a northeast Louisiana data center have made recent headlines.
“The starting point is that these companies don’t really have any debt; their balance sheets are very healthy,” said Daniel Grosvenor, director of equity strategy at Oxford Economics “It’s a risk that’s worth monitoring, but our view is that it’s not an immediate risk.”
Big Tech is expected to spend up to $7 trillion on capital investments by 2030, McKinsey estimated in April. Supporting the demand will require about $2 trillion in new revenue, according to a September report from Bain & Co.
What happens if the tech giants can’t deliver revenue to match their spending remains an open question investors are waiting to answer In a worst-case-scenario comparison, the increasingly deregulated U.S. economy could be riding its second Roaring Twenties high. A century ago, that era of financial speculation after the Spanish flu pandemic crashed into the Great Depression.
For now the stock market continues to power through headwinds, with the S&P 500 concluding its third consecutive year of double-digit returns.
But the markets’ record-setting rise means they have further to fall.
“The concentration, while it has been great on the way up, might also be painful in a corrective phase,” Piper Sandler’s Johnson said. “People forget that coming out of the overhang of the dot-com bubble, it took multiple years before you actually saw a lot of tech stocks doing well again.”
Louisiana’scoast supports awide variety of uses,including conservation, recreation, commercial fishing, energy,and shipping. Thedebate overmenhaden harvest andthe Louisiana Wildlifeand Fisheries Commission (LWFC)’sproposed Notice of Intent reflects howdifficult it is to balance thoseinterests using science-based decisionmaking. Recentcommentary has raised concerns about the sustainabilityofGulfmenhaden and the impact of modifying buffer zones.Some of this misleading pressurehas come from out-of-state advocacy groups unfamiliar with Louisiana’sworkingwaters.Ithas led people to ask howthe fishery is managedand whatthe proposed changes would meanonthe water. Louisiana’smenhaden fishery produces over $419 million in annual economic outputand provides livelihoods formorethan2,000 people in the industryand its supply chain. Menhaden alsoserveits ecosystemrole as forage for gamefish and recreational fisheries In adebate full of online noise, facts still matter most
Howthe Menhaden Fishery Is Managed Menhaden fishing in Louisiana is overseen by multiple layers of management, including the Louisiana DepartmentofWildlifeand Fisheries,Louisiana Wildlifeand Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries,and the Gulf StatesMarine FisheriesCommission. Season timing and duration, gear requirements catchreporting, and bycatchlimits are governed through state lawand regional managementplans
Theseoverlapping systems exist to ensure thatthe fishery operateswithin limits establishedbylong-term scientific monitoring
and stock assessments.While external groups sometimes weigh in on management decisions,the Louisiana Department of Wildlifeand Fisheries relies on local ecological expertise and decades of in-state data to guide regulations
This is nota free-for-all. Louisiana’s menhaden fishery is the most closely monitored fishery in Louisiana
Whatthe Bycatch StudyFound
Oneofthe main concerns raised in the currentdiscussion is bycatch, or the unintended captureofnon-targetspecies In 2024, Louisianafunded a$1million, independent, on-waterstudy to gather precise data on this issue.
Some out-of-state special interest groups have suggested thatbycatchlevels maybe higher thanreported; however, Louisiana’sdata indicates thatoverall bycatchremained below the 5percentlegal limit. Reddrum bycatch accountedfor only 3.4percentoftotalred drum landingsinLouisiana.Inareas identified forpossible limited reopening under the Notice of Intent,available data did not showa measurableimpact on reddrum recruitmentor overall population health.
The study alsohelped the state identify when and wherebycatchrisksare highest information nowusedtorefine fishing practices,timing, andlocation of harvest In short: the data does not support the alarm.
Whatthe Proposed Buffer Changes
Actually Do
The Notice of Intent does not simply remove nearshoreprotections.Instead, it refines and reorganizes buffer zones based on scientific
evidence. The total protected area would slightly increasefromroughly 264 squaremiles to approximately 276squaremiles
Additional protections arefocused on environmentally sensitiveareas such as the Chandeleur Islands and the Isles Dernieres Technical upgrades,including GPS coordinates and clarified zone boundaries,make enforcementclearer.Some historically fished areas whereecological risk is minimal could see limited accessrestored.
This represents ashift from uniform, broad stroked boundaries to moreprecise, location-specificmanagementthatbalances conservation and responsible fishing.
It’snot recklessexpansion –it’ssmarter science-driven precision.
Changes the Industry Has Already Made
In recentyears, the Louisiana menhaden fleet has invested heavily in updatedequipment and technologies.Theseinclude Spectraand Plateena nets,which aremoredurable and reduce accidental releaseevents, and hose-end cage systems,which have loweredred drum mortalityby24percent.
The fleet has alsoadopted newprotocols forrapid response, spill containment, crew training,and reporting.Theseinvestments total morethan $6.5 million and reflect ongoing adaptation to scientific findingsand environmental standards
This is an industry adapting, not one standing still.
Whythe Outcome Mattersfor Communities Farfromthe Coast
The menhaden fishery directly supports multiple coastal parishes.Jobstied to the
fishery include vessel crews, processors, mechanics,welders,truck drivers, and othersupport services.For communities whereother industries have declined, thesepositions provide stable, year-round employmentwith benefits Beyond employment,the industry purchases roughly $62 million in goods and services across32coastal parishes, supporting local businessesand suppliers thatdepend on the fleet’soperations.Menhadenproducts –including fishmeal and fish oil –are also essential to U.S. aquaculture, petfood, and animal feed supply chains,demonstrating the fishery’s broadereconomic significance Whathappens offshoreisfelt onshore, sustaining families and localeconomies acrossLouisiana ABroader Conversation AboutStewardship At its core, the menhaden debate is about managing ashared resource in away that protects ecosystems while supporting the people who depend on the coast.The Notice of Intent is ascience-guided compromise, reflecting Louisiana’scommitmenttoshared stewardship,transparency,and data-driven decision-making. Although advocacy from outside the state caninform discussions,the ultimate decisions rely on input from Louisiana scientists regulators,industry,and coastal communities The conversation is farfromover, but ongoing collaboration among regulators scientists,industry,and the public will shape the final approach. The real question isn’twho’sloudest –it’s who’sright.
office towers across Louisiana, but the state now is home to a few hundred video game pros, many employed by global companies that are increasingly relying on remote workers to create, update and test their products. It’s a small but scrappy community far from industry hubs on the country’s East and West coasts and Carlson is happy to be a part of it.
“New Orleans is such a cool city in so many ways that it’s spoiled me and my peers,” she said during a recent interview “Folks are putting down roots — buying homes, paying taxes — and even when some of our alumni join big-name companies, they stay here.”
‘Nose down’
Building a video game, especially one as complex as Fortnite, is a major undertaking that requires multiple skillsets.
Game designers dream up storylines and gameplay Art directors create the look and feel. Software engineers write the code required to bring the ideas to life on computers, video game consoles and smartphones. Production managers keep it all organized Together, these creatives contribute to a $200 billion-plus global industry that makes more money than movies and music combined. Carlson, who started as an artist but climbed the ladder over a two-decade career, now spends her days in high-level meetings overseeing activities in New Orleans; Austin, Texas; and Orlando, Florida. Her 16-person New Orleans team, meanwhile, is busy creating character art, game design and engineering for Epic’s frequent Fortnite updates.
Outsourcing and co-development are common in the industry because they allow companies to build teams quickly, save money and manage the inconsistent nature of project-based work, Carlson said.
“The big developers don’t want to hire a bunch of people and then fire them when the work comes to an end,” she said. “They can just contract with co-development studios, who know they eventually will be looking for work elsewhere.”
When Carlson arrived in New Orleans, the High Voltage team was working every day from its office in Place St. Charles, an office tower in the Central Business District After the pandemic, the company moved to a hybrid model.
As Carlson’s employees help build new Fortnite features, there’s another group in New Orleans that just might be checking their work.
From a fifth-floor office overlooking Lake Pontchartrain, a team of about 40 people working for video game testing company DAQA spend their days searching for software glitches. They document the bugs and report them to developers.
DAQA, originally a Californiabased company, opened an office at the University of New Orleans’ research and technology park last November and has moved twice to new offices in the complex as it has grown. A year later, it officially relocated its headquarters to New Orleans, where employees pursue an often-misunderstood line of work.
“People think we just play video games all day,” said DAQA partner Tim Hudson, who runs local operations. “The reality is we manage many complex test cases.”
In games with millions of lines of code, Hudson’s team finds all sorts of problems, from graphics glitches to downright malfunctions.
“One problem we found in Fortnite was if your character sat down in a certain car, you couldn’t get up. You became fused with it,” he said. “You had to actually quit the game
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and log back in to fix it.”
For a separate mobile phone game, called Star Sable, Hudson’s team found what the industry calls an “economy exploit,” a programming error players can use to avoid paying for upgrades. In this case, players could set the dates on their phones ahead to claim free rewards multiple times.
‘Nerdy developer’
In addition to High Voltage and DAQA, Louisiana is home to several other video game companies, the highest profile being California-based inXile, which opened an Uptown New Orleans office on Oak Street in 2016 Established in 2002, the company has 25 local employees.
In 2018, the well-regarded indie studio, known for its elaborate fantasy role-playing games, was acquired by an industry giant.
“We were a nerdy developer that caught the eye of Xbox, so Microsoft bought us,” said Matt Findley, who ran the company’s New Orleans office until his partial retirement last month. “That means there is an actual Xbox game studio in the city, which most people don’t know.”
A third Louisiana game studio, Pixel Dash, is headquartered in Baton Rouge. Unlike High Voltage and inXile, it’s a Louisiana-based busi-
ness, co-founded by Jason Tate and Evan Smith in 2010 to make games and other forms of digital media inXile is a frequent client.
Also in Baton Rouge, King Crow Studios began in 2015 as a game maker Now it builds virtual reality training tools, helping Air Force pilots practice cockpit safety procedures or industrial workers learn how to handle a crisis.
Back in New Orleans, between 20 and 30 former Turbosquid employees do work that’s adjacent to the game industry Turbosquid, a New Orleans company, was acquired by Shutterstock in 2021. Video game makers often rely on the 3D models, images and other tools available via the company’s online marketplace. These companies are joined by many part-time developers around the state hoping to make a hit game. The pros and part-timers often meet at events hosted by the New Orleans Game Developers and the Baton Rouge chapter of the International Game Developers Association.
Keepling a local presence Louisiana business boosters hoping to grow the video game industry have had their share of setbacks.
Jeff Strain, an industry icon with family ties to New Orleans, announced he was setting up shop in the city in 2021, teasing up to 75 local lobs, but the plan fizzled. In 2022, High Voltage ended its incentive contract with the state after failing to meet payroll goals. Industry giant Electronic Arts opened a testing facility on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge in 2008 but shut it down in 2023. Another testing company, Testronic, announced plans for a downtown New Orleans facility in 2019. The project has since quietly moved to an office building in Kenner, but it still has more than 100 employees, according to Grady Fitzpatrick, an executive at Greater New Orleans Inc. who has worked for years to grow the industry in the state.
Both High Voltage and inXile, meanwhile, have stuck around in New Orleans for a decade, albeit with smaller teams than expected. For Carlson, the reasons for staying go beyond business.
“After living in New Orleans, I don’t know where else I could live,” she said. “Where would you go after being here?”
Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.
HasEmerged as aPivotal Year forStrategic CharitableContributions
Thefederal tax code is widelyregardedas oneofthe most complexlegal frameworks in theworld. Spanningthousands of pages, it includesintricate rules, exceptions,and frequent updates that challenge even seasoned professionals.
Itscomplexitystems from overlappingprovisions,specialized deductions,and theneed to reconcilefederal, state, andlocal tax laws.Charitablegivingrules areparticularly convoluted
Recent legislation introduced majorchangestocharitable giving taxrules,startingin2026. To maximize benefitsbefore thenew limits take effect, 2025 is akey year forcharitable gift planning.Individualsshould consider taking action before theend of theyeartomaximizefederal incometax charitable contribution deductions
Jones Walker is proudtohelpleadthe wayforwardfor Louisianaindividuals andbusinessesnavigatinganevolving andcomplex tax environment.
BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer
Every month, up to 20 railcars, 500 tanker trucks and 2,000 freight shipments are loaded up with chemical products produced at Ecolab’s58-acre plant in St. John theBaptist Parish.
St John the Baptist Parish
Headedtodestinationsranging from nearby chemical plants to international clients, the Minnesota-based company ships about 227million pounds of finished productsfrom the Garyvillefacility
Some 800 in all, those products are used for water treatment,industrial chemical processes and thesystems used to cool power plants and artificial intelligence data centers, as well as in more familiar settings like the hospitality industry
Ecolab is thebiggest U.S.-based player spanning the cleaning, sanitation and water management business.Analysts estimate it controls nearly 10% of a$165 billion global market. And about 10% of its products are made only in Louisiana.
The petrochemical giant andits subsidiaries have faced criticism from environmentalists and paid out more than $2 million in finesto environmental regulators for violations in other states, though it hasa maintained relatively clean record at its Garyville plant.
Now,amid the rush to build massive data centers to support the AI industry,Ecolabispositionedto profit from the growing demand forits specialized treatments for coolingwater —both at thecenters themselves and the power plantsbeing built to electrify them.
“Those data centers are going to use atremendous amount of water in their processes,” plant manager ChrisRogerssaid. “Sothe chemicals that we use allow for waterto be used much moreefficientlyand effectively —and in environmentally friendly ways.”
Howit’smade
Chemicals manufactured at the
Garyville facility include polymers used in wastewater treatmentto help clump and removesolids, in paper processing to make more absorbent paper towelsorstronger cardboard and to keep contaminants and corrosionfrom building up in machinery.
Theplant alsoproduces biocides —chemicalsused to killbacteria and fungi —and salt-based chemicals.
Water-oil blends, used to improve fuel quality and refinery efficiency,comprise about 40% of the Garyville plant’soutput.Another 35% is made up of latex polymers and solutionpolymers for use in industrial wastewater treatment. Rawmaterials arrive at theplant in bulk on railcars,though some arrive in smaller containers on box trucks, Rogerssaid.
“The types of materials that we use are everything from monomer backbones that go into making polymers, to somepolymersthat are pre-producedthatweblend and mix with our polymers,” he said. “There are other salts andadditive chemicals that we use to perfect our product.”
Depending on thetype of productbeingmade, those raw materialsare taken to eitherreactorsor blenders, which can be as smallas acouple hundred gallons or as large as severalthousand gallons.
Some of its products are manufacturedthrough acontinuous reaction process, which involvesconstantly feeding materials intothe reactor as products flow out, Rogers explained
“As long as we wanttorun it, as longaswehaveaneed for that material, we could run for days, weeks, even months straight, where you’re puttingraw materials into the process andtaking finishedgoodsout,” he said
Other products made at theplant are produced in batches, which can take anywhere from minutesto three days.
Neighborsamong clients
The Garyville plant was built in 1970 by Nalco Water, whichbecame asubsidiaryofMinnesotabased publicly traded Ecolab in 2011. The following year,the new owners expandedthe facility with a300,000-square-foot polymer pro-
duction facility
Today,Ecolab has 110 manufacturing centers, 48,000 employees and operates across 170 countries and40differentindustries. In 2024, the publicly traded company earned $2.1 billion in profits on $15.7 billion in sales. Of its 1,400customers, more than half are based between Alabama and Texas, withnearly300 in Louisiana.
“We’ve gotanother facility next doortousthat we do business with,” Rogers said. “We’ve got facilities down theroad that we do business with.”
The plant’slocation along the Mississippi River affords it ahuge advantage,headded.
“Wepull the industrialwater we use outofthe Mississippi River, clean that water forusage within our facility.And then, once we use it in our facility,weclean it again before we put it back into the Mississippi,” he said.
Since 2018, the Garyville facility hasmaintained certification from theAlliance forWater Stewardship, an independentnonprofitmadeup of businesses, governmental, en-
vironmentaland academicinstitutions. The certification meansthe plant has metstandards for sustainable water management —reducing wateruse,ensuring waterquality and protecting local watersheds. Coolingthe boom
The rapid pace of growth in the AI data center sector —with$46 billion in construction spending projected for the year —means more potential customers forEcolab’s products that prevent scale and other residue from building up on the cooling equipment.
“Whenyou prevent that, it allows forlesselectricity to be used to circulate andre-cool thatcooling water,” Rogers said. “It also allows for that water to be used more efficiently itself.”
Large data centerscan go through severalmillions of gallons of water every day,and the massive Meta facility being built in Richland Parishisprojected to useeven more, raising concerns among environmentalists aboutthe impact on the area’swater supply
Cooling systems require makeup watertoreplace what escapes through evaporationand exhaust, and chemicals produced at the Garyville plant reduce the amount of replacementwater needed Looking to the future,Ecolab officials expect the AI boom will continuetobebig business for thecompany.This month, they announced planstosellanintegrated“cooling as aservice” programthatcontinuouslychecksthe health andtemperature of cooling liquid in real time
“Data centers are at the heart of an AI-drivenfuture,and their cooling needs are becoming increasingly complex,” Josh Magnuson, executive vice president and general manager for Ecolab’s GlobalWater Solutions sector,saidinastatement. “Cooling as aService is not just a platform but will be adynamic hub that integrates cooling and power infrastructure to providedatacenter operatorswiththe insightsto achieve best-in-class performance.” Email Jonah Meadows at Jonah. Meadows@theadvocate.com.
dentalinsurance, there maybe an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.
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Early detection canprevent smallproblems from becoming expensive ones. The best way to preventlarge dental bills is preventivecare. TheAmerican Dental Association recommends checkups twice ayear.
you shouldn’ttakeyour dental health forgranted. In fact, your odds of having adental problem only go up as youage.2
Treatmentisexpensive— especially the services peopleover 50 often need
Consider these national average costs of treatment. $222 foracheckup $190for
On the recent 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Gallagherteam has been looking backat theexperienceand howitshaped today’sinsurance industry.
NancySylvester is an area executive vice presidentatGallagher,based in Baton Rouge. Sherecentlysharedher story of Hurricane Katrina, the challenges the insuranceindustry facedand howresilienceshaped the path forward.
With damages exceeding USD200 billion, Katrina notonly altered the city’sphysical landscapebut alsoreshaped global perspectives on disasterpreparednessand response.Today, 20 yearsafter Hurricane Katrina struck NewOrleans, its impact remains deeply felt acrossthe affectedcommunities as the costliestand one of the fivedeadliesthurricanes in US history.
Q: Take us back to Augustof2005. Howdid youexperience the landfall of the hurricane?
IliveinBaton Rouge,70milesfromNew Orleans. That weekend, my oldestson wasfishing in the Gulf of Mexicoand when we urged him to come back inland, whatshould have been an hour’s drivetook about 12 hoursdue to the worseningconditions. The news reports initiallysaid things were under control, butby lunchtime on Monday, the levees began breaking and things quickly spiraled out of control.
Q: What were the firstdayslikewhen family andfriendssought shelter at your home,far from the mostaffectedareas?
Iwelcomed my family from NewOrleans,expectingittobe manageable,but soon found myselfhosting 26 people.Islept undermydining room table,the only privatespaceleft. Wandering into the kitchenatnight, I’dmeetstrangers saying, “I work foryour cousin. He said it would be OK.”Ireassured everyone,“Yeah, everything’s fine.”
Q: Howwas daily lifeimpactedinthe aftermath of Hurricane Katrina?
My usual 15-minutedrivetothe office would takehours due to the crowds seeking refuge in BatonRouge and justtrying to get somewhereelse. Schools also faceda suddensurge in students, andthe schoolofficeswould announcewherepeople could find food.
Blackhawk helicopterswereconstantly flying overhead, transporting the injured from NewOrleans to Louisiana State University(LSU), where the athletics departmentbecame a makeshift emergency hospital. TheLSU studentbody even donatedclothingtothose in need, and youcouldsee people wearing purple andgold, thecolorsofthe university. It wasa touching displayofhumanity after Hurricane Katrina, with everyone welcomed and cared forasbestaspossible
Q: Howhaveyour clients’ perspectives on extremeweather risks evolved since Hurricane Katrina?
BeforeKatrina, redundancies were oftenviewedasunnecessary expenses. Today, having backups is understood as essential. Clients nowprioritizestrengthening buildings to ensuretheir facilities can enduresevereweather,addressing all potential exposures on supply chains or backup power, forexample Everyoneisfocused on preventing businessinterruptionclaims and avoiding closingtheir doorsbecause, once theydo, theymay neveropen again. We knowthatFEMA [Federal Emergency ManagementAgency] has stated 40%ofcompanies don’t reopen after adisaster, and another 25% fail within oneyear
As acommunity, we’realso massively investing in roof resilience to withstand strong winds and preventpiercings. When damage or lossoccurs, my clientsaren’tinterestedinjustrebuilding what wastherebefore; they’refocused on constructing to newercodes and following thehighestbuildingstandards
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BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer
When Dr Mark Laperouse and his team at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center sat down to make plans for a renovation for the emergency department, they did not expect to turn to 16 LSU undergrads.
A $55 million renovation began in August 2025 at Our Lady of the Lake, the only Level 1 trauma center in the Baton Rouge area. The hospital cited two reasons for the refresh: to increase capacity and improve patient care.
BY SHANTELL GOMEZ Contributing writer
Louisiana embraces its brief cool season, but for most of the year, athletes train in heat that pushes the body hard from the first warm-up to the final whistle. High heat indexes, heavy humidity and packed tournament schedules drain fluid fast, raising the risk of fatigue and preventable injury
South Louisiana’s climate makes hydration a year-round priority
Even mild fluid loss can affect reaction time, endurance and overall safety
Early attention can prevent problems before muscle cramps appear Elliott
“We wanted the environment to match the quality of care inside the department so there’s nothing left for misinterpretation,” Laperouse said In 2019, Laperouse, the physician medical director of emergency services at the Lake, reached out to Julie Elliott, a professor of interior design at LSU’s College of Art & Design and a health care interior designer of 30 years. Elliott, who has worked on large projects with Our Lady of the Lake, Tulane, Ochsner and national projects, was the perfect fit for the job.
Laperouse and Elliott met at a coffee shop to discuss the basics of health care design.
“The emergency room and department didn’t feel warm and inviting,” Laperouse said of the old emergency department design. “It’s all the same color.”
Two months after their initial conver-
Students
sation, Laperouse proposed that Elliott work with her students at LSU to design the space.
Laperouse joined the students in one of their first classes of the semester to “pitch” them the prospective project to design Our Lady of the Lake’s new emergency room — including future plans for the waiting room, lobby and treatment rooms in the hospital.
“I told him, ‘You have to sell this health care design thing to them,’” Elliott said.
“They didn’t know they were going into health care when they signed up for the class.”
Laperouse won the students over, according to Elliott, and 16 students ended
up working on a 5-month-long project to learn, understand and reinvent the existing hospital space. Before designing a residential or business space, the typical interior designer considers purpose and function. A kitchen needs an oven. An office needs desk space. An office floor needs a break room for coffee and drinks. Hospitals, especially emergency rooms, need a bit more than that.
“It’s all about evidence-based design. You have to future-proof your space,” Elliott said. “Health care designs need to be able to take you into the next 30
JD Boudreaux, a physical therapist and director of sports performance at Ochsner Lafayette General, said early attention to hydration can prevent problems long before the first muscle cramp appears. Hydration plays a role far beyond sports. In adolescents and adults, low fluid intake may contribute to fatigue, dizziness and blood pressure swings. Symptoms such as nausea or headaches are often blamed on other causes when dehydration sits at the root.
For some athletes, caffeinated drinks add another layer Many people experience a mild diuretic effect after coffee which can increase the need for extra water on hot or high-activity days.
Reliable habits before, during and after activity help reduce the risk of cramping or overheating.
Fatigue rises as hydration drops. Lower fluid levels reduce blood volume and force the heart to work harder
“Dehydration raises cardiovascular strain, slows reaction time and reduces coordination,” Boudreaux said. “It also increases mental fatigue, which can lead to more technical mistakes and poor decisions late in games.”
Hydration-related losses in coordination may raise the risk of strains, poor landings and other noncontact injuries.
Younger athletes face even greater challenges because thirst cues often appear late. Performance in youth athletes can fall with as little as a 1% loss in body weight from fluid depletion.
Boudreaux recommends consistent intake.
“Provide water before, during and after activity and increase amounts on hot or active days,” he said.
Small sips every 10 to 20 minutes can help. Electrolyte drinks
See HYDRATION, page 3X
BY MORAYO OGUNBAYO Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS)
Nearly half of Americans are affected by cardiovascular disease, while about one in four lives with a mental health condition.
A newly released report from Emory University points to a deeper connection between these two growing health challenges. According to the findings, certain mental health conditions can increase the risk of developing heart disease by 50 to 100% and for those already diagnosed, the likelihood of severe outcomes in existing heart conditions
may rise by 60 to 170%.
“It’s not only important to realize that people with mental disorders are at higher risk, according to disease, but also people with cardiovascular disorders are more likely to show mental health problems,” lead researcher Viola Vaccarino said Vaccarino, a professor of cardiovascular research in Emory’s School of Public Health and School of Medicine, said the main goal of her team’s work was to provide an overview of research on cardiovascular health “with particular emphasis on the disparities that involve people with mental disorders.”
Depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and, more recently, PTSD are among the mental health conditions linked to a signif-
icantly higher risk of heart disease. Of these, schizophrenia — though relatively rare — shows the strongest association.
According to the report, these mental disorders can elevate the risk of heart disease for multiple reasons. First, the body may experience more inflammation, which takes a toll on heart health. Autonomic dysfunction, or what is essentially “amping up” the nervous system, can also be dangerous for the long-term care of your heart.
Certain behavioral aspects or social determinants of living with mental disorders can increase your general risk.
“We really want to emphasize that we need to improve health care and improve policies to allow for better
recognition of this commonality and better care for the people who have it,” Vaccarino said.
Reducing risk
There are ways you can reduce many of the behaviors that raise the risk of heart disease — even while managing a mental illness.
“Mental health really should be considered a mind-body disorder, not a mind disorder,” Emory professor JoEllen Schimmels said.
Schimmels, who served as a psychiatric nurse during combat for over 20 years and a psychiatric nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs, pointed to multiple negative effects poor mental health has on the body and how they can be mitigated. Poor sleeping habits are a
common symptom of mental illness that wreak havoc on the body and heart. Schimmels recommends people maintain a consistent sleep schedule and try to refrain from naps longer than 30 minutes as much as possible.
For people who struggle to fall asleep each night, try not to look at the bed as a negative place, she recommends. Instead, get out of bed and do something quiet or dull until you start to feel drowsy
Diet and exercise play a key role in decreasing inflammation. Schimmels notes that plant-based diets and Mediterranean-style diets are most beneficial. However, a person’s environment can significantly influence their access to healthy foods.
“When we look at some
of those behavioral risks, we also have to look a lot at the environment too,” she said. “We don’t always consider the interplay between access to care and some of the environmental factors.”
Overall, Schimmels recommends staying present and practicing mindfulness whenever you can, and practicing grounding techniques and breathing exercises to sustain those feelings.
“It’s really cool that our brains can function kind of in the past, present, and future at the same time, but that can also cause a lot of problems,” Schimmels said. “A lot of worrying about what’s happened yesterday or what’s happened in the past can really actually be overwhelming for your brain and your body.”
BY MATTHEW PERRONE AP health writer
WASHINGTON For many children, the experience of getting their first pair of glasses is an inevitable milestone, the first in a lifetime of visits to the eye doctor
But what if those lenses could actually help preserve the child’s vision and reduce the chances for more serious eye problems in adulthood?
That’s the promise of a new type of lens approved by the Food and Drug Administration in September While the technology has previously been available in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, it’s now rolling out in the U.S. Myopia, commonly called nearsightedness, is when people can clearly see objects at close range but struggle with distant objects, which often appear blurry or indistinct.
Studies conducted around the world have shown rising rates of myopia, which researchers have associated with increased time indoors looking at screens, books and other objects held close to the eyes
In the U.S., 30% to 40% of children will have myopia by the time they finish high school, according to Dr Michael Repka, a professor and pediatric ophthalmologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Until now, doctors had few options for treating the condition.
“It was typically and simply: ‘Your child needs to wear glasses and they’ll live with it,’ ” Repka said. “‘It will be lifelong and it will likely get worse over the next few years.’”
How it works
The specialized glasses, sold un-
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years — or 40 years — into the future.”
The Lake is one of three Level I trauma centers in Louisiana and the only one in metro Baton Rouge. It earned the designation in 2022. Level I trauma centers provide the highest level of trauma care. To earn the designation, a hospital must admit at least 1,200 trauma patients per year, or 240 patients with severe injuries, and provide 24-hour emergency care that includes operating room availability within 15 minutes and round-the-clock availability of specialists. They must also be national leaders in medical education and research.
“The emergency department is the front door of the hospital,” Laperouse said. “Of our patients, 60% to 70% start out in the emergency department.”
In the fall of 2019, Laperouse took all 16 students to the hospital, let them shadow staff in the emergency room and even took them to the helipad as part of their research. They looked at case studies, old emergency rooms and new emergency rooms to inform their design decisions.
Some design considerations that impact health outcomes include, according to Elliott: n Commuter stairs with access to natural daylight n Universally designed
der the brand Essilor Stellest, are approved by the FDA to slow nearsightedness in 6- to 12-year-olds.
The FDA said it cleared the lenses based on company data showing children experienced a 70% reduction in the progression of their myopia after two years.
Over time, myopia causes the eye to grow longer, worsening vision and increasing the risk of tears to the retina — the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that is essential for vision.
The new lenses use 11 concentric rings filled with tiny raised dots to refocus light onto the retina in a way that is believed to slow elon-
gation of the eye.
“Whether this hypothesis is ultimately proven to be true, of course, matters only in part,” Repka said, noting that the lenses appear to work regardless of how the underlying science works.
In the company study, children wearing the lens showed a 50% reduction in eye lengthening when measured after two years. Currently, researchers in the U.S. and other countries are conducting their own independent studies to confirm those results.
Ophthalmologists say the potential benefits go beyond preserving vision to heading off some long-
walkways and trails
n Convenient water bottle filling stations n Sit to stand desks n Access to outdoor spaces n Respite areas n Spaces that engage the senses n Access to fresh produce markets.
Students looked at how natural daylight calming colors and imagery can have positive impacts on health. They also looked at more practical components of design like hospital wayfinding — signage and directions for visitors to find their way — infection prevention designs and which materials can hold up to bleach cleaners. The goal was to put students in the shoes of a patient or a family member in order to make more informed decisions about the space.
“In the design, we wanted to ask ourselves: What does it feel like to be laying on a
stretcher and look at title windows? What does it feel like to be a family member searching for your loved one?” Laperouse said.
The students were divided into four groups, each with their own responsibility to present full design plans to Our Lady of the Lake and the Dallas-based architectural firm, Perkins & Will, who would implement their designs, by the end of the semester In December 2019, each group presented their prospective designs for the emergency room. One group had skylights. Another had a clear story One group used blue. Another used green. One group focused on Louisiana and local patterns. Another used geometric shapes.
The students worked together for four hours, three times a week on their project presentations, wanting their hard work to be reflected in their final presentation
term consequences of severe myopia, which can include cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment that can lead to blindness.
“Now we have a way to slow that down and maybe we can prevent kids from having that really elongated eye that puts them at risk for blindness,” said Dr. Rupa Wong, a Honolulu-based pediatric ophthalmologist.
Cost
The suggested retail price is $450, according to EssilorLuxottica, the company that makes the lenses.
Major U.S. vision insurance pro-
viders are expected to cover the lenses for children who meet the prescribing criteria.
The only other FDA-approved product to slow myopia are contact lenses made by a company called MiSight. The daily disposable lenses, approved in 2019, use a similar approach intended to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children ages 8 to 12.
But Gupta says many parents and physicians are likely to prefer the glasses.
“A lot of people might be hesitant to put a child as young as 8 in contact lenses, so the glasses offer a really nice alternative,” she said. Some doctors prescribe medicated eye drops intended to slow myopia, but those are not approved by the FDA.
Under the FDA’s approval decision, the lenses can be prescribed to any child with myopia who’s within the recommended age range. There were no serious side effects, according to FDA, although some children reported visual disturbances, such as halos around objects while wearing the lenses.
The studies that the FDA reviewed for approval were conducted in Asia. Repka said U.S. ophthalmologists and optometrists may want to see some additional research.
“I think before it becomes widely used, we will need some data in the United States” showing that the lenses work, said Repka, who is conducting a U.S.-based study of the new lenses supported by the National Institutes of Health.
with real stakeholders.
“At the time, I probably seemed demanding, but I pushed them,” Elliott said.
“When all is said in done, I wanted them to feel like they were actually doing something that matters.”
Our Lady of the Lake and Perkins & Will chose to mix all four design concepts together to use as their new emergency department
plans. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed construction, but the new emergency department is expected to be completed in 2027.
Elliott says the some of the students got interior design jobs because of the Our Lady of the Lake project.
“It’s rewarding to see students grow,” Elliott said. “It’s very meaningful work. You’re building a place to help people get better.”
Additional emergency medical services bays, exam rooms and treatment rooms will boost the emergency room capacity by 33%. With the expansion, hospital officials said the emergency department will be able to see an additional 25,000 patients a year — above the current volume of 85,000 patients annually
The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and reexamining tried and true methods on ways to live well.
Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana.
Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you.
Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.
Ifyou’veeverbeenthenon-drinker ataholidayparty,youknowhow easyitistofeeloutofstepwiththe celebration.Everyoneelseisswirling gorgeouscocktailsorsippingbubbly champagne,andyou’reholdingabasic cupoftapwater,orworse,acrinkly plasticwaterbottle.Wecandobetter.
Anditmattersmorethanwemay realize.Moreandmorepeopleare dialingbackonalcoholthesedaysfor theirhealth,sleep,mentalwell-being, recoveryorsimplybecausetheydon’t feellikedrinking.Thereasonsvary,and they’repersonal.Whattheyhavein commonisthatitcanfeelawkwardto betheonlyonewithoutsomethingfun inhand.
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BY THENUMBERS
Strokeswere the fifth leading cause of death in the United States in 2022, and one Louisiana parish ranks among the highestinthe nation for strokeprevalence.
Approximately 795,000 people —1 person every 40 seconds —has astrokeeach year in theUnited States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention
Louisiana had the third-higheststroke mortality rate per 100,000 in 2022with 2,724 deaths due to strokes.The state was proceeded in the national rankings by Mississippi withthe highest strokemortality rate and Alabamawith the second-highest.
East Carroll Parish had the fifth-highest percentageofadults whohavehad astrokein their lifetime compared to all 3,145countiesin the U.S. —Madison Parish was 15th-highest.
Strokes include both ischemic, when ablood vessel leading to the brain is blocked by aclot, andhemorrhagic strokes, when ablood vessel within the brain ruptures.
These parishes had the highest percentage of adults whohad astroke in their lifetime, according to CDC data, in descending order:
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become useful for longer or very sweaty sessions. Pale urine is often asign of good hydration. Before cramps or heat illness set in, the body often shows early signals. Dry mouth, reduced urine output, darker urine,irritability,nausea, headache,fatigueand decreased focus arecommon indicators. Heart rate may alsorise faster than expected and performance candip. South Louisiana’sheat raisesthe stakes.Competinginextreme heat or humidity wearing heavy gear or recovering from illness can all require additional fluids. Even amild fever can increase hydration needs. Some children or teenagers struggle with waterintake.Strategies that help include:
n Adding asplash of 100% juice or using low-sugar electrolyte tablets;
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AMerryLittleMocktail HeathrowLounge-HolidayEdition Forourholidaytwistonthis team-favoritezero-proofcocktail, we’veswappedtheoriginalorange blossomteaforhibiscusteatogive thedrinkafestive,jewel-toned makeover.Hibiscusaddsagorgeous, deep-redcoloralongwithtart, cranberry-likebrightness.It’ssimple, elegantandexactlythekindof thoughtfuldrinkthatmakesazeroproofoptionfeeljustascelebratory asthe“real”thing.
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n East Carroll Parish with 6.9%, n Madison Parish with 6.2%, n Claiborne Parish with 5.9% n Tensas Parish with 5.8% n Bienville, Evangelineand Morehouse parishes with 5.2%, n Avoyelles and Concordiaparishes with 5%, n WebsterParish with 4.9%, n Franklin Parish with 4.8%
These parishes had the lowest percentages of adults whohad astrokeintheirlifetime, according to CDCdata, in ascending order:
n Ascension Parish with 3.2%, n Livingston, St. Charles and St.Tammany parisheswith 3.3%, n Bossier Parish with 3.5%, n Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson and West Feliciana parishes with 3.6%, n Beauregard, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Plaquemines and Vernon parishes with 3.7%
According to the CDC and the American Heart Association, steps and strategies to prevent strokes startwith lifestyle choices likechoosing healthyfoods, keeping ahealthy weight, regular
n Usingbottles with measurement marks to track progress;
n Setting simplecheckpoints, suchas after waking or before outdoor play;
n Offering lightly flavored options for longer sessions;
n Using timers during outdoor activities to encourage regular sips. Shortpractices on mild days usually only require water.Extended practices, back-to-back games, travel tournaments and summer campslead to higher sweat rates that demand more support “For sessions longer than 60 to 90 minutes, extremely hot and humid environmentsorwhen excessive sweating occurs, an electrolyte drink becomes important,” Boudreaux said. Toomuchplain water can alsobecome dangerous. Drinking large amounts without replacing sodium can dilute blood sodium and cause exercise-associated hyponatremia, alow-risk condition overall,but asignificantrisk for certain athletes. Hyponatremia can lead to headaches, nausea, confusion or,inrare cases, seizures or even death.
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1cupwater
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BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer
For 35 years, Teach for America has brought thousands of college graduates to Louisiana classrooms with the promise of atwo-year commitment. Butthe organization’smost lasting impact may come from what happens afterward
Of the 4,004 corps members who have served in Louisiana over 35 years, more than 1,300 alumni have stayed. They plant roots. They lead schools, run nonprofits, start businesses, shape policy and build programs that endure long after their corps terms end.
Lucas Spielfogel graduated from Yale and cametoLouisiana in 2010 as asocial studies teacher at Baker Middle School. Since 2012, he’s been leadingthe Baton Rouge Youth Coalition. He’shelped theorganization grow from supporting50high school students to serving nearly 500 eighth through 12thgraders and 920 alumni.
Spielfogel has led apartnershipwithEast Baton Rouge Parish Schools to launch an in-school program serving 183 juniors and seniors through ACT preparation classes and 150seniors through their in-school advising program.
Teach for America alumni, Dan Kahn and Sam Joel, had started the organizationin2008 with thegoal of helping driven students from difficultbackgrounds get into college and succeed there.Through these Teach for America alumni’sleadership, more than 900 Baton Rouge students have pursued their dreams of afour-year university education.
‘Power of leadership’
Teach For America, which is partofAmeriCorps, has arigorous interviewprocess and setshighstandards for candidates, with annual admissions rates as lowas12%, accordingtoEducation Next
The interview process is designed to identify talented individuals whowill make the two-year commitmentto teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to ensure educational excellence for all children, according to Laura Vinsant, executive director of Teach for AmericaGreater Baton Rouge.
John White,former Louisiana state superintendent of education and current CEOofGreat Minds in NewOrleans, explains what kept him in education after serving with Teach for America in Jersey City,New Jersey
“Teach for America calledmetoeducation as acivil rights issue,principally.And it kept me in educationbyshowing me the powerofleadership to affect the lives of children,” Whitesaid.
Whitethought he would pursue journalismafter college, but his timewith Teach for America altered his career trajectory Educational leadership became his focus.
“The most obvious and evident value is that teach America recruits outstandingindividuals to serveyoung people,” Whitesaid.“They have agreat effectonthe learning of those kids and on the schools where they work, but more than that, Teach for America is aforce.”
White has observed how senses of consciences are shaped by the experience Teach for America alumni had in schools. He says these corpsmembers aredestined to go on to be change makers in theworld on behalf of abet-
ORGANIZATIONS FOUNDED BY TEACH FOR AMERICA ALUMNI
MORE THAN 20 ORGANIZATIONS FOUNDEDORCO-FOUNDED BY ALUMNI, INCLUDING:
n Baton Rougeyouth Coalition (Dan Kahn, Sam Joel; led today by Lucas Spielfogel ’10)
n NewSchoolsfor NewOrleans (Sarah Usdin ‘92)
n NewSchoolsfor Baton Rouge(Chris Meyer’04) &(Catherine Pozniak ‘04)
n Thrive Academy(Sarah Broome’08)
n TreStreet Kitchen (Kristen Smith-Devine’14)
n Watershed Advisors (Jessica Baghian ’06; Kunjan Narechania ’00)
n unCommon Construction (Aaron Frumin ’11)
n youth Run NOLA (multiple ’09 alumni)
n youthForceNOLA (Cate Swinburn’00)
n youth EmpowermentProject (Melissa Sawyer ’98)
n Propeller (Andrea Chen ’04)
n Next LevelNOLA (Rhonda Dale’99)
ter abetter country
“Andweneed that in our society,” White said. “Weneed people whohaveanunabashedcommitment to abetter future and whoare willingtowork on behalf of their country and their community.”
Living in Louisiana
From cane fieldsinPointeCoupeeParishtobustling streets in New Orleans, Louisiana offers rural and urban school environments that college graduates from all over the country come to in ordertolearnhow to teach, build relationships and improve education.
Along the way,manyembrace the spirit of Louisiana, not only thestate’sunique culture, but also the difficult challenges that many face.
The organization’s competitive selection process works to identify candidates with their leadership potential. In Louisiana,inmanycases, corps members build on that potential to grow.They end up working to solve problems and assist others.
AsyaHowlette, originally from Colorado Springs, came to Louisiana in 2012 toteach math at Pointe Coupee Central. Fromthe mountains to False River, Howlette recognizesspecific things she lovesabout the Pelican State, particularly itsculture.
“The way the air feels during Mardi Gras,the music playing on the way to tailgate, my neighbors, thefood, the festivals,” shesaid. “Living in Louisiana is truly abeautiful experience in living and being present.”
Howlette is now thedirector of theOffice of Youth and Families for the City of New Orleans.She says raising adaughterwho goes to the oldest all-girls school in the country —Ursuline Academy —isanexample of how legacy and family rundeep here.
‘Makinglasting change’
In 1990, Wendy Kopp founded Teach for America.Baton Rouge was the first city shechosetosend corps member. Therewas aclear need for teachers andwhenKopp met with community leaders, they were supportive. Vinsant, anative of Arlington,Texas, knows firsthand
ä See BEYOND, page 2Y
Long road trips are good for my soul for reasons Idon’tfully understand.
Last week, my husband and Ileft Louisiana to head to El Paso, on the far western edge of Texas. With all the hubbub of flying, airports and missedconnections, we decided to drive.
Driving all the way across Texas takes time. Watching the sometimes gradual and sometimes sudden changes of landscape helps me connect the dots between more than places on amap.
We’ve made the long drive from Louisiana to El Paso several times. When we’re heading west, Iappreciate the way the skies get bigger and the horizon broadens. Expansive horizons make me calmer —like the world isn’tquite as hectic as it was when everything wascrowding in.
On this particular road trip, my husband and Iwere driving toward afuneral for our beloved nephew.There was something cathartic in taking so long to get to El Paso —inwatching the trees, landscapes and even the food shift along the way Maybe putting distance between everyday life and responsibilities helped, too. But maybe aroad trip also helps create a more balanced perspective, as poet David Whyte describes when he writes about horizons: “Horizons between the known and the unknown are everywhere in our human lives, even when we refuse to lift our heads and our eyes to see them….” Lifting my own eyes to see the sun —or even shielding them from the late-afternoon, low-hanging wintersun —gave me time to contemplate the known and unknown, especially the mysteries of grief. In looking back at the trip, East Texas was still full of green and noise, like the chaos of the early days of grief.
West Texas was spare, honest and uncluttered. It reminded me of the way grief can strip life down to the barest of bones. Youcan’thurry West Texas, just like you can’thurry grief.
When we hit the mountains near El Paso, Ifelt like we were climbing to say goodbye.
We took our timetoget to El Paso. We turned whatcould have been abrutal oneday haul into three gentle days —visiting with people we love and staying in surprising places along the way We stopped in Big Spring, Texas, aplace we hadnever been —adusty,overlooked town to many —but there we found a hotel with rooms as gorgeous as any I’ve ever seen. The Settles Hotel surprised me.Itwas like this little oasis of comfort and care. In the middle of ahard trip, that unexpected beauty felt like akindness. So muchofmyadult life has been about proving that places that aren’tbig, fancy cities can still be wonderful, and The Settles Hotel is evidence of that.
Looking out from our 10th-floor room in Big Spring gave me more time to consider horizons and be grateful for the chance to be there —and for the time and distance between where we were and where we’d been.
While Iappreciate the wonderthat is air travel, flying can be so jarring in the sense of walking into one place and stepping out somewhere completely different. Driving across the whole of Texas is the opposite of that.
Road trips are so good for my heart, mind and spirit. Every time, they remind me that we are small and the world is still vast.
Idon’tknow exactly why road trips help with healing, but this one did.
The milesgave our grief someplace to stretch its legs —and gave us abroader horizon to bear it.
BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer
Josh Edmond, theassistantmanager of maintenance and repair for facilities at the University of Louisiana Lafayette, is cofounder and president of All4One Foundation which works to uplift and rebuild of people in Lafayette communities they serve.
All4Oneworks with other local civic andreligious groups on avariety of fronts, including antiviolence campaigns, building Little Free Libraries in at-risk areas and mentoring programs for teens.The nonprofit organization strivesto promote and exemplify community service, spiritual leadership and educational guidance. Edmond is also aboard member for Habitat for Humanity, thevice presidentfor 100 Black MenofLafayette, acertified life coach and aLafayette Parish School Board Member for District 3. Edmond is married to Linda Edmond. Together they share eight kids and 12 grandchildren.
how being aTeach for America corps member is life changing. As acorps member, she taughtsecondgrade and third grade in north Baton Rouge from 2007 to 2009. She’sbeen working with theorganization professionally for 16 years. Shevalues that the organization builds leaders who invest in their communities after their terms end.
“It’sabout connecting leaders with purpose-driven work,” Vinsant said. “I cannot actually think of an alum whoisnot connected somehow to working to improve the lives of our students and families, whether they’re working in law, serving on anumber of different boards or working in nonprofits.”
New Iberia native Ge’ron Tatum, the executive director of Teach For America in Greater NewOrleans, says that theorganization’s foundation of making lasting change motivates corps members to stay involved in the work after their contracts expire.
He says one common misconception about Teach For America is that college graduates come intoschools and communities and leave after two years. He says the numbers showotherwise.
“Our theory at Teach For America really is about creating lasting change,” Tatum said. “They’re going to
Canyou describethe mission of your All4One Foundationand the community needs it aims to address in Lafayette?
OursloganatAll4One is “Answeringthe CALL.” CALL is an acronym for community,awareness, love andliteracy
We arefocusedonmakingsure our communityisbeing served the wayitshouldbe, understanding theneeds of our communityand understanding that every resident of our communityhas adifferent need —not assumingeveryone has the same needs.
Theawareness part of it is to make sure that people know what we have forseniors,for elections andfor kids
The love piece,wefeed our community.Every year, we host acommunity feeding, whether it’s barbecue with all the trimmings, po-boys, red beans and rice or hot dogs,wefeed our community.
The reason we started is because there was akid who was riding his bike in front of my house, and his chain popped.The kid flipped, and he scraped hisknee. We didn’t knowwho he belongedto. So I took that as inspiration to help our whole community get out and meet their neighbors.
What has yourcommunity work taught you about leadership? Do you have anyadvice for young people who aspire to be in positions of
leadership?
I’ll give you three nuggets on leadership:
n If you don’thave thickskin, don’tget in.
n As aleader,you can’tbeeverywhere.
n Beingaleader is lonely
What do you think wouldhelp to combat that loneliness?
For me, Iwent to life coaching
The Kitchen Table Counseling and Life Coaching —inLafayette. It is counseling with aChristian twist to it. You’re able to learn certaintools that you pick up through coaching. So Iknow what type of tools to use on myself if Iget frustrated.
I’llgoand pull outone of my favorite cigars.I’m notcondoning smoking, but I’ll pull out one of my cigars and relax. Then Ithink myself out of situations.
Howcan residents playabigger role in keeping the city thriving?
My community shouldn’treinvent the wheel. If there’s an organization that’sdoing something that’sneeded,and doing it successfully,weshouldn’ttry to duplicate that. We should add to the organization tomake it even greater
Toomany timeswesee mul-
Teach ForAmerica alumni in Louisiana
Thepercentageofcareers forTeach forAmerica’s 1,300+ alumni who currentlyliveand work across more than 30 parishes in Louisiana.
Source:Laura Vinsant, the executive director of TeachFor AmericaGreater BatonRouge
applythat across multiple sectors, across communities.”
For those corps members whoexiteducation completely,Tatum says they continue to carry that classroom experience into every single area that they move into
Building resilience
Teach for America alumna, Alicia Carelus Fairbrother,a NewYorker, has carried her classroom experienceinto being a managing director of leadership developmentfor Teach for America in Baton Rouge.
Fairbrother came to Louisiana in 2018 with Teach for America andtaught Spanish at East Feliciana High Schoolin Jackson. She met her husband here, also a Teach For America corps member. She completeda master’sdegreeatLouisiana StateUniversity —for free. With this LSU partnership, corps members who stayand teachfor two
tiple organizations pushing for the same cause, and they get watereddown because there’stoo manypeople involved. We don’t know whichorganization is doing theproper processes, and sometimes some of the cries fall down on deaf ears. We have morebang
workingtogetherinstead of five of us trying to fight for the same wgrant cycle. If we allget together,it’sall going to the samecause. If it’sall going to the same cause,itshouldn’t matter who gets it —aslong as people are being served.
more years in Louisiana can earn amaster’sdegree forfree.
Fairbrother says Teach For America develops leadership through shaping the corps members from the inside out.
Many alumni saythat teaching was the hardest jobthey ever had.
“I always tell them,‘Every morning, before you get out of your car,recite your why before you go intothe building, because it’salways just going to reground you,’ ”she said.
“Sometimes thosehard days outweigh the good days. But if you continue to recite your whyand reground yourself,it’sgoing to makethoseharddays become betterdays.”
Thewhy andthe purpose
Minnesota native Lori Halvorson, seniorvice president and executive directorofCityYearBatonRouge, taught French at Baker High School from 2010 to 2012. Aftera
year teachinginNigeria, Halvorson returnedtoBaton Rouge and has been with City Year since.
Although beinginthe classroom long term was not for her,the Teach for America experience did affirm that she wanted to remainina space that was fighting for educationalequity
One level of support is active mentoring across alumni and corps mem-
bers. Tatum says that regular alumni-hosted dinners offer atwo-way mentoring relationship. Not only do the alumni coach the corps members, but the corps membersbring energy and new ideas to theveteran teachers.
“While we have along waytogoregarding education in Louisiana,” said Halvorson, “there are alot of incredible people doing incrediblework, making
strides and really doing everything they can for students.Ifone wants to do educational equitywork, this is the place to do it.”
Atwo-year commitment may be where the story begins formanyTeach for America corps members butfor more than 1,300 of them,Louisiana becomes the next chapter
Email Joy Holdenatjoy holden@theadvocate.com.
World-classarts center in St.Charles transforms lives
BY MATT HAINES
Contributing writer
Venturing out to Luling, onthe west bank of the Mississippi River and opposite from Destrehan, many are surprised to find amultistory,$30 million buildingwith amosaic of windows stretching from ground to roof. The building, ahalf-hour from New Orleans,is decorated with four large letters displayed vertically: A, R, Tand S. This is St. CharlesParish’sDr. Rodney R. Lafon PerformingArts Center,aone-of-a-kind facility that immerses the parishschool district’snearly 10,000 studentsin the arts.
On school days, the building is full of children,bused in from across thedistrict whoare engaging in classrooms with state-of-theart technology: aTVbroadcasting class is taught by aformer WDSU producer in anewsstudioreplica; asculpture andceramicslesson makes use of two fully functioning kilns —and apiano classroom features students preparing for their semester recital, which they will perform on abeautiful Steinway pianothathas starredinconcerts around the world andhas been signed by icons like Randy Newman and Tony Bennett.
But the Lafon Arts Center isn’t satisfied with glitz, glamour and cutting edge. It has aseriousgoal: to positively impact the lives of St. Charles’ students by providing them opportunities in the arts.
Aimee Braud, mother to 16-yearoldEva,saidshe has definitely seen achange in her daughter since she began attending Lafon, both during the school year and through the Center’ssummer camps.
“Eva’sfather and Iwere both into athletics when we werein school, and that was never 100% Eva’sthing,” Braud said.“But, through Lafon, she learned that theater is her sport.”
Braud says she’swatched the school and theater program help transform her daughter
“Notjust as aperformer,but in
the way she interacts with new peopleand newsituations,” Braud said. “Her experience here has made her courageous.”
Cutting-edge
The education wing is rounded out with classrooms teaching graphic design, photography,3D printing, marketing, technical theater and dance.
But theeducation doesn’tstop in those classrooms.
TheLafon Performing Arts Center’smost impressive areas are its performance spaces. A sleekand intimate,150-seattheater is perfect forcommunity events such as evening comedy shows, but the center’scrown jewel is its 1,300-seat auditorium with alarge stage, LEDtheatrical lighting— and asound system that supports everything from rockconcerts to Broadway-level productions.
Lafon’sexecutive director,Ned Moore, said these spaces host more than55schoolproductions each year,including choirand band concerts, theater productions, dance/piano recitals, art galleries, workshops and joint performances with visiting artists from aroundthe world
“We’re inspiring St.Charles Parishstudentsthrough the arts,” Moore said. “That includesgiving them opportunities to perform, but also bringing in talent from across theglobe.”
Recently,for example, 800 second grade students watched a performancebythe puppeteers of MermaidTheatre from Nova Scotia, Canada. Fifty sixth graders had the opportunity to perform alongside the Sharpe Family Singers, previously featured on “American Idol” and“America’s Got Talent.”
Tennational tours come through St. Charles each year,thanks to the center,and it all begsthe question: howdoesa performing arts center like this exist in an American school district?
“Dr.Rodney Lafon was this gregarious, larger-than-life guy,” Moore said of the jazz trumpeter, music teacher and eventual St Charles Parish district superintendent forwho the Lafon Center was named. “He caredfor his students
andhewas beloved —alwaysinvitedintopeople’shomes fordinner.This center was his dream.”
When Lafon passed away in 2014, ayear after retiring from the district, afund was created in hisname. When atax millage was up for renewal, the people of St. Charles Parish voted to fund the construction of theirformer superintendent’s dream
That school district funding, alongsidea$5millionendowment by Shell Norco and donations from Hancock Whitney Bank and the St. Charles ParishHospital, all help to ensure giving the community a world-class art center that will exist long into thefuture.
“Honestly,Ithink abouthim every day,” Moore said, “about what he gave this blue-collar town.People comeuptomeall the time and say, ‘This is exactly what he envisioned.’”
The Lafon Arts Center first opened in 2018. Since then, it has left an impact on countless stu-
dents, such as 22-year-old Diavian Ceaser
“I was asophomorebackthen, andIcouldn’tbelieve Ihad this opportunity to act in plays in this big, beautifultheater,” Ceasar said. “And to take classes in dance, andtolearn howtobeona stage crew as atechnician with all of this equipment.”
She said that the community’s willingness to invest in itschildren “sayssomuchabout the community.”
Caesar said her time at thecenter filled her with confidence and gave heropportunities she never imagined werepossiblefor herself.
Then, whenher LoyolaUniversity musical theatereducation became too expensive to continue, shewas welcomed back to thecenter that she had always thought of as “a second home.”
“Two years ago, they hired me to work behind thescenes on productions, and now I’m aproductioncoordinator,” Caesar said. “I gettoworkwithand learnfrom
someofthe best technicians in the country when they cometoLafon on tour.”
Moore said several of the center’sstudents whofound apassion in stagecrew—working on the technical side of productions as a spotlight operator,stage manager, or deck hand, forexample —have transitioned to jobs at the center operating its world-class equipment. This upcoming semester,alineup of talent will once again be coming through Lafon —including Broadway starMandy Gonzalezsinging the music of “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Gonzalez will be accompanied by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
“It’sanincredible opportunity for our students, but not only for our students,” Moore said. “Everyone is invited. Make the short drive from New Orleans or Baton Rouge. We have plenty of parking, world-class talent every month—and the ticket you buy will support the dreamsofLouisianachildren.”
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BY PRIYADARSHINI SEN
Contributing writer
Five years after riots swept through her neighborhood in northeast Delhi, the region around India’s capital 18-year-old Anam Sa still wakes up in the middle of the night flushed, breathing fast, arms shaking.
Sa recalls most clearly how her father collapsed when he saw their three-storied house set on fire by Hindu rioters.
In February 2020, after the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi passed the Citizenship Amendment Act, which would exclude many Muslims from a fast-track to citizenship, Delhi witnessed a deadly, dayslong wave of violence in which Muslims saw their properties destroyed, mosques and prayer books set on fire. Hundreds of homes and shops were set ablaze by mobs wearing saffron headbands to signify their faith, and more than 50 people were killed.
As rioters stormed into dense and overcrowded neighborhoods in northeast Delhi, the epicenter of the riots, residents fled to their ancestral villages with little on their backs. When the flames subsided, most residents returned without homes, jobs or social security, haunted by memories of smoke, gas cylinders and petrol bombs.
Today Sa is a frequent visitor to Sabaat, a safe space on the outer fringes of Delhi for women survivors of religious hate and violence, where she has begun to heal “In the last six months, I’ve learnt how to stitch dresses and trousers,” she said, her light-brown eyes kohl-lined. “We stitch fabric here,
share our traumas and help each other heal.”
“It’s the women who suffer most in the aftermath of riots,” says Aasif Mujtaba, a social activist and engineer who initiated the women’s empowerment center in the riot-affected area two years ago.
“I wanted a place where women could express themselves freely and rebuild their identities.”
Sabaat the name means ”endurance” — also provides women rare personal space in a largely working-class neighborhood densely packed with one-room tenements. In these houses, lower middle-class Hindus and Muslims coexisted peacefully until the riots wrecked their communal harmony
In Sabaat’s three-story building, with rooms for stitching and other crafts, Hindu and Muslim survivors of the riots turn fabric into outfits, handicraft and tote bags and draw patterns on magnets and tumblers.
“Each stitch carries a story of resilience and healing,” said Shehnaz Bano, a 19-year-old student who survived an attack in which rioters broke into her house with sticks, cylinders and ammunition. “Those memories still haunt me, but my faith in Allah has grown stronger.”
Fearing for their personal safety Bano and her family fled in the middle of the night for the nearby town of Gorakhpur, where their people have lived for generations. Their faith in humanity, they said, was badly jolted.
At Sabaat, Bano turns fabric into abayas — loose robe-like dresses worn by Muslim women to forefront their religious identity — in a two-hour morning class dedicated
to embroidery, sewing and design. The instructor, Farheen Ansari, said her classes have swelled as families, at first reluctant to send their girls out of their homes, were persuaded through house-to-house visits, counseling and conversations on bridging community divides.
“From trauma and suffering we’re seeing so many vulnerable women achieve financial independence,” said Ansari, who instructs her students on ways to start small garment manufacturing units at home after completing their sixmonth course. They eventually supplement their family incomes by supplying uniforms to schools, selling them online or at local boutiques.
Ansari at times serves as more than a teacher, but as a comforter of her students when memories of the horror five years ago overwhelms them.
Sangeeta, a devout Hindu who sheltered Muslim families during the riots, said working with other survivors has restored the women’s faith in Allah and Hindu goddesses like Durga and Kali, who emphasize the power of women
“The rioters tore mosques down, stamped on prayer books and defaced our holy places,” said Sangeeta, her thin voice recalling past horrors. “But see how we are weaving our gods and goddesses into our work and rising above petty religious divisions.” By creating items for a greater
purpose, they see a deep “spiritual connection” developing among them, allowing them to process their emotions.
“It’s God’s hand at work,” said Islamuddin Mansoori, the chief coordinator at the safe house who has been watching closely the psychological toll of the riots.
After Mansoori’s own college education was disrupted by the riots’ effect on his family he resolved to promote interfaith harmony and education in areas most vulnerable to communal tensions.
In the aftermath of the violence, he said, some women were so traumatized that the loud chanting of a religious procession could keep them from leaving their houses “Women’s mental health has taken a major hit,” said Mansoori. “That’s why we felt the need to build a center that could support them socially financially and spiritually.”
Their work offers a measure of hope to families still recovering from their losses and those caught up in the long-drawn and complicated struggles for justice and compensation. Sabaat’s founder, Mujtaba, calls it “sabr” active self-restraint and thoughtful action by women who’ve remained spiritually steadfast against all oppressions and injustices.
The riots may have driven a wedge between Hindus and Muslims, but Mujtaba believes it has also allowed communities to endure hardship while maintaining their faith. “People are more resilient and their faith has got stronger,” he said. “At Sabaat, women are stepping forward as guides for spiritual renewal of affected communities.”
Practice revives soil and strengthens local food systems
BY NOELLE FUJII-ORIDE
Contributing writer
Editor’s note: This story, created by Noelle Fujii-Oride for Overstory is part of the Solutions Story Tracker from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous reporting about responses to social problems Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world
The sound of squealing pigs reverberates as Daniel Anthony points to a variety of verdant crops around his Windward O‘ahu farm, from kukui nut to milo, avocado, noni and star fruit.
It’s a marked contrast to when Anthony got the land over a decade ago. It was covered in weeds and had no topsoil left, having been depleted by harsh chemicals after being used for sugar, pine, cut flowers, vegetables and cattle.
In the years since, he’s fed the land with biochar from his imu, plus compost, mulch, dust from his pig pens and papa ku‘i‘ai (wood kalo board) and p haku ku‘i‘ai (stone kalo pounder) workshops. He’s also relied on a variety of solutions made from plants seawater, fish guts and everyday ingredients like brown sugar and vinegar, rather than chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
His goal has been to cultivate and harness the indigenous microorganisms — bacteria and fungi — naturally in the soil to build ‘Aina momona, or fertile and abundant land.
“When the land is abundant, anything you grow just grows so much easier and it’s not a struggle and the quality of what you’re growing is also reflected in that,” he said Anthony has been practicing a type of regenerative agriculture called Korean Natural Farming (KNF), or simply Natural Farming. The approach has been gaining traction around the world and in Hawai‘i as more food producers seek to reduce their reliance on imported fertilizers and pesticides — or forgo harmful chemicals altogether and better nurture the lands they care for Principles of natural farming Natural Farming is based on centuries-old farming practices used in Asia and elsewhere and was
systematized in the ’60s in Japan.
South Korean farmer Cho Han Kyu retrofitted it to Korea.
Today, longtime local advocates estimate there’s 2,000 growers using Natural Farming around the state.
One local training site is Hawai‘i Community College’s agriculture program, which has taught nearly 100 students the method since 2016. Assistant Professor Lew Nakamura said some of his students stick with Natural Farming after graduation because of its regenerative approach
“We just abused the land with herbicides, pesticides, heavy chemicals, so it’s really rebuilding the soil out there,” he said. “So, to me, this is the perfect example of how you can do it.”
Natural Farming also aligns with traditional Hawaiian practices.
David Fuertes, executive director of Kahua Pa‘a Mua, said both focus on creating vibrant, healthy soil ecosystems and working in harmony with nature.
Kahua Pa‘a Mua is a Kohala nonprofit that blends traditional Hawaiian farming practices with Natural Farming, aquaponics and other contemporary methods to teach residents to cultivate their own food and achieve self-reliance.
In addition to cultivating indigenous microorganisms, Natural Farming involves creating and applying a series of nutrient-rich mixtures made from locally available, organic materials.
“You’re not trying to, like, juice the plant or make the plant, like, big or anything,” said Drake Weinert, a Hawai‘i Island farmer who teaches the method through Natural Farming Hawai‘i. “You’re just trying to unlock its natural potential. And every plant has just like inert natural potential, just like a
child you feed them well and, brah, they’re gonna just be great.”
For example, spraying fermented plant juice made from guava on an ‘ulu tree growing in a grassy orchard essentially tricks the tree into thinking it’s in a forest, where it’ll thrive from the diversity of plants and microbes, he said.
‘All the crops just thrived’
Local farmers note many successful results from Natural Farming efforts.
Weinert revitalized a strip of dead land in downtown Hilo by amending the soil with biochar, indigenous microorganisms and halved coconuts. The microorganisms helped break down the toxins in the soil, while the biochar gave them a place to hold nutrients and created a stabilizing buffer, he said. At the same time, they grew kalo, ‘uala, papaya, and mai‘a.
“We ended up feeding 200 people right out of this ground that was just, you know, dead, and all the crops just thrived and did amazing,” he said Some farmers use Natural Farming to raise animals, using its deep-litter system. Indigenous microorganisms inoculate the system so that beneficial microbes suppress odor and deter flies. The system is then naturally ventilated and oriented for sunlight to encourage microbial fermentation of the animals’ waste.
Mike DuPonte, a retired Hawai‘i Island livestock extension agent, said there are 66 such systems across the state. They’re also in 29 countries.
In Wai‘anae, David Wong of Mountain View Farms, uses that system for his nearly 1,000 pigs. He also grows moringa, beets, green onions, lettuce and other crops. While the farm is organic-
certified, Natural Farming has enabled it to eliminate the use of herbicides and pesticides and use 60% less water, he said.
He believes that Natural Farming is one way to help the islands become more food secure. With Hawai‘i importing 90% of its food, it’s estimated that Hawai‘i only has enough food supply to last five to seven days, according to the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency
Island Harvest, an organiccertified farm in North Kohala, formerly used Natural Farming across its 750 acres of macadamia nut and some ‘ulu for six years, said Chris Trump, whose family owns Island Harvest. During that time, the farm saw increases in fruit size and yield, and macadamia trees usually considered lost to disease ended up thriving.
Trump teaches others in Hawai‘i and around the world about Natural Farming through his company, Biomei Natural Farming Solutions. Creating a sprayable, liquid version of indigenous microorganisms and using tractor-pulled sprayers enables Natural Farming to be done at scale, he said.
While Island Harvest isn’t currently using Natural Farming due to labor and equipment limitations on its farm, it hopes to one day restart it.
Not a farming panacea
Scientific evidence of Natural Farming’s effectiveness is limited because the approach depends on local conditions and resources, said DuPonte, who helped bring Natural Farming to Hawai‘i nearly 20 years ago while he was with the University of Hawai‘i’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience
In India, Natural Farming resulted in cowpeas with longer shoot and root lengths, larger leaf areas and seed weights, and more pods per plant and seeds per pod, according to a 2023 article in the International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research. The field experiment compared Natural Farming to a type of brown seaweed and a fermented liquid organic manure.
Locally, two UH field trials found that Natural Farming led to a higher abundance and diversity of beneficial bacteria in vegetable crop soil compared with conventional farming, according to a 2021 paper
Other research evaluated three P hoa farms in 2011-12, comparing Natural Farming to conventional farming — where synthetic inputs are used — or organic permaculture. Results varied. One farmer
growing soybeans saw improved soil health, slightly higher yields, and leaves with higher nitrogen content. Another farmer who grew kabocha saw little difference, though the crop had a powdery mildew infestation. The third farmer which grew kale, beet, broccoli, onion and leek — saw an eventual increase in plant biomass but no significant soil-health change.
Two farmers reported costs and said they spent less on materials for Natural Farming. However, their labor costs were higher in the first year due to the time it takes to make and apply the inputs.
Today, farmers can use a drone spraying service or other technology to make that application process more cost efficient, Weinert said. Producing inputs, though, is still a challenge because growers don’t always want to make them, said DuPonte, who is a board member of Cho Global Natural Farming Hawai‘i. While some of the mixtures can be made in a week, others can take up to six months.
Anthony, also a board member of Cho Global Natural Farming Hawai‘i, creates and sells his inputs through his nonprofit, Aloha Organic. DuPonte said a couple others sell inputs too, but he’d love to see each island have an organization, like an agricultural co-operative, that can make and distribute the solutions at scale.
‘Agriculture of the future’
With farm costs rising, especially for synthetic inputs, DuPonte said, Natural Farming can help make operations more economically viable.
“We are at disadvantage. We’re out here in the islands and we need to figure out how we can survive if the boats don’t come to Hawai‘i anymore,” he said. “And one of the methods is Master Cho taught us is you try to make your own amenities for farming in Hawai‘i using what you have on the islands to create the means to grow profitable crops.”
For Anthony, Natural Farming has given him tools to move his land’s previously unhealthy soil toward a state suitable for traditional Hawaiian farming practices. Traditional practices, he said, were based on a healthy ecosystem.
He believes that Natural Farming is not just a trend or fad.
“This is the agriculture of the future,” he said. “And who knows? Maybe in 30 years, they’ll call KNF conventional because that’s what everybody is doing.”
SUNDAY, December 14, 2025
directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.
instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 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 words are not allowed.
todAY's Word — HArBored: HARberd: Gave shelter or refuge to. Average mark 49 words Time limit 60 minutes
Can you find 69 or more words in HARBORED?
instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner
instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
South won the opening spade lead with his ace and he regretted his timid bidding. 13 tricks seemed like a “can of corn”, needing only a 3-2 diamond split or for the jack of hearts to fall in one, two,orthreerounds Heexpected that quite a few of the other pairs in the game would bid a grand slam on this deal and that he was doomed to get a poor score. He cashed the ace of hearts, followed by a diamond to the ace. He discarded a spade and a club on the king and queen of hearts. When the jack did not fall, he led a diamond to his king. When the suit failed to split 3-2, he could no longer make his contract.
Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.
SUBJECT: HISTORICAL FILMS
the clue to identify the film title. (e.g., Vivien Leigh stars as Scarlett O’Hara. Answer: “Gone with the Wind.”)
FRESHMAN LEVEL
A German industrialist saves many refugees from the Holocaust.
A group of soldiers are on a mission to locate a private. Answer________
Judah becomes a cham-
The future King
with a stammer
The title character, played by Russell Crowe,
Assuming that South was correct in thinking that he would get a poor score if 13 tricks were available, he should have played as if 13 tricks were not available. Aftercashingtheaceofhearts,he shouldhaveplayedalowdiamond from both hands! East would win andreturnaspadetoSouth’sking.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take time to reflect on the past, present and future, and the direction you see yourself heading. It’s time to dream a little bigger, and to trust and believe in yourself and what you can achieve CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Proceed with a plan in place. Refuse to let anyone talk you into something you don’t need or want. Review any rules or regulations before you commit to avoid hidden costs. Take control and breathe easy.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Use your power of persuasion, intelligence and energy to turn your thoughts
Now South can lead a diamond to dummy’s ace and take his two discards. A club to his ace would be followed by a claim, knowing that all his remaining diamonds were good.
Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency
into a reality. Say no to emotional spending and yes to a budget and plan that’s within your means. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Protect your reputation. Don’t share personal information or your plans. Do your research and eliminate unnecessary steps that eat up your time and money
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Rethink your pursuits, consider who you are trying to please and choose a path that leads to satisfaction and gratitude. Find balance in relationships. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Use your time and energy wisely Set a
budget to accommodate the home improvement changes you require to further your agenda. Joining forces with someone who shares your agenda looks promising.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Pursue your dream, stop procrastinating and make a move. Consider your attributes and how best to use them to manufacture what gives you hope for a brighter future.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Refuse to let emotional mayhem stand in the way. Focus on what you enjoy doing most and engage in activities that bring you in touch with likeminded people. Explore the possi-
bilities, but stick to the basics and a budget.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Opportunity is within reach, but it’s up to you to make things happen. Be the one to start a movement or to engage others in your plans.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Be careful how you handle domestic situations and emotional issues. Shared expenses, medical concerns and unexpected changes will leave you questioning your next move.
SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22) An event that addresses causes and concerns will broaden your perspective about what you can or cannot do. Use your intelligence, make changes on the fly and pledge only what’s within your means.
The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact.
© 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Dream big, but refrain from taking on too much. Stick to your budget and capabilities to ensure you enjoy the outcome instead of stressing over it. Put your time and energy into home improvement and peace of mind.
Answers to puzzles
1. "Schindler's List." 2. "Saving PrivateRyan." 3. "Ben-Hur." 4. "The King's Speech." 5. "Gladiator." 6. "Patton." 7. "Lawrence of Arabia." 8. "Apollo 13."9."DasBoot." 10."The Bridgeon the River Kwai." 11. "Dances withWolves " 12. "TheLast of theMohicans."13. "Braveheart." 14. "Gettysburg."15. "The Patriot."
SCORING: 24 to 30 points —congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points—honorsgraduate; 13 to 17 points —you’replenty smart, but no grind; 5to12points —you really shouldhit the booksharder;1point to 4points —enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0points who reads thequestions to you?
Saturday's Cryptoquote: Shadows cannot see themselves in the mirror of thesun. —Eva Peron
