The Times-Picayune 12-18-2025

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Trump touts first year

Audubon backs off fee hike for now

In speech, president pledges $1,776 bonuses for military

New prices and membership levels set to be offered on March 1

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

“Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it,” Trump said.

Biden, whom Trump continues to lambaste regularly, figured prominently at the start of his address. Trump pointed to the immigration situation under Biden’s presidency, as well as inflation and culture issues.

His remarks are coming at a crucial time as he tries to rebuild his popularity.

Public polling shows most U.S. adults are frustrated with his handling of the economy as inflation picked up after his tariffs raised prices and hiring slowed.

Trump has previously said he thinks

Two weeks after deciding to temporarily pause a widely unpopular price increase on annual memberships to the zoo and aquarium, the Audubon Nature Institute will go back to its old prices — for now — while it continues to study new membership levels and pricing.

“We Beginning March 1, new prices and didn’t just membership levels, arbitrarily that could include increase a zoo-only memberprices.

We ship option, will be studied it offered for sale, Audubon President and did a and CEO Michael lot of due Sawaya said in an indiligence.” terview Wednesday.

The move comes MICHAEL after Audubon ofSAWAyA, ficials convened a Audubon focus group to study president and the issue in the wake CEO of the recent price hike controversy.

T h e t a k e a w a y, Sawaya said, is that the increases introduced in late November were too steep and that locals want a zoo-only membership level, an option that hasn’t been available since the 1990s.

“We didn’t just arbitrarily increase prices. We studied it and did a lot of due diligence,” Sawaya said. “But we put it out there and got feedback

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ä See AUDUBON, page 8A

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DOUG MILLS

President Donald Trump speaks during an address to the nation from the White House on Wednesday.

By The Associated Press President Donald Trump said in a White House speech Wednesday night that he was sending a $1,776 bonus check to U.S. troops for Christmas, indicating that tariffs were funding the payments as he tried to reassure a worried public about the health of the economy.

Trump said 1.45 million military service members would get the “warrior dividend before Christmas.”

“The checks are already on the way,” he said.

“We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs, and the bill helped us along,” Trump said, refer-

ring to the GOP’s major tax cuts legislation it passed earlier this year. “Nobody deserves it more than our military, and I say congratulations.”

Yet his bonus payments for the troops come as millions of Americans are fretting about the costs of groceries, housing, utilities and their holiday gifts as inflation remains elevated and the labor market has meaningfully weakened in recent months.

Flanked by two Christmas trees with a portrait of George Washington behind him in the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room, Trump sought to pin any worries about high inflation on his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.

Former IberiaBank executives acquiring M C Bank Move expected to shake up banking across Gulf South

City-based M C Bank, a move that promises to shake up the banking industry across the Gulf South.

MC Bancshares, the holding company for M C Bank & Trust Company, announced the deal on Wednesday. A sale price was not

BY RICH COLLINS disclosed.

Staff writer M C Bank has nearly $480 milLouisiana banker Daryl Byrd, lion in assets and 10 branches who grew IberiaBank over two around south Louisiana. It will redecades from a small Lafayette- tain its name and its Morgan City area lender into a regional pow- headquarters, though most of its erhouse, has assembled a team of top executives will be based in former IberiaBank executives and New Orleans.

Byrd, 71, said in an interview finalized a deal to acquire Morgan

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Tuesday that he plans to grow the bank quickly by targeting small and mid-sized business customers across the Gulf South and also through potential acquisitions. “ We b e l i e v e there’s an absence in the market for Byrd a relationshiporiented commercial bank,” Byrd said. “We’re proud of the client-oriented focus we had at Iberia and believe we can create that magic

again.”

Byrd and his team will be squaring off against a host of competitors with a presence in south Louisiana, including major money-center banks like JPMorgan Chase and Capital One, along with regional rivals like Hancock Whitney, First Horizon, Gulf Coast Bank and b1Bank.

“We’re going to pay a certain premium over their tangible book value, part cash and part stock,” Byrd said. “We’ll raise the money to do that over the next 100 days, and we’ll close the transaction

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once we get regulatory approval.”

Byrd said M C Bancshares’ existing shareholders will wind up owning about 25% of the new franchise, and the new shareholders will own the rest.

He estimates the deal will close in the first quarter of next year.

The acquisition comes a little over five years after IberiaBank, where Byrd spent two decades as CEO, was acquired by Memphisbased First Horizon Bank in a $3.9 billion deal.

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2A ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Isaacman confirmed as NASA administrator

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator on Wednesday, placing him atop the agency after a monthslong saga where President Donald Trump revoked his nomination as part of a feud with tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Isaacman, who has promised to bring a business-minded approach to the space agency, Isaacman was confirmed in a bipartisan vote, 67-30.

He will take over after an unusual confirmation process upended by the Republican president’s oscillating and at times tumultuous relationship with prominent tech leaders who backed his campaign, most notably Musk, the Tesla CEO who is a close ally of Isaacman.

Trump picked Isaacman last year but withdrew the nomination in May after feuding with Musk over the administration’s policies on issues such as electric vehicles and the performance of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

Energy watchdog will audit cuts of grants An internal watchdog in the U.S. Department of Energy will investigate the Trump administration’s termination of $7.6 billion in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects across 16 states that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

The move is especially welcome for Democrats who said that the cuts — part of broader attacks from President Donald Trump on climate programs and clean energy funding — would slash projects boosting the electric grid, threaten thousands of manufacturing and construction jobs, and send Americans’ energy costs soaring.

Sarah Nelson, assistant inspector general for the Energy Department’s Office of Inspector General, said in a letter to members of Congress on Wednesday that the audit of the canceled funds will review “whether those cancellations were in accordance with established criteria.”

In October, the Energy Department announced that 321 funding awards across 223 projects were terminated, saying that after review, they “did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs, were not economically viable, and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.”

Doctor sentenced in Perry overdose death LOS ANGELES — A doctor who pleaded guilty in a scheme to supply ketamine to actor Matthew Perry before his overdose death was sentenced Tuesday to eight months of home confinement.

Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett handed down the sentence that included three years of supervised release to Mark Chavez in a federal courtroom.

Chavez, 55, acquired ketamine and gave it to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who was sentenced to 2½ years in prison earlier this month for selling ketamine to Perry in the months leading up to his death.

Chavez’s attorneys emphasized the difference between the two doctors and said that Chavez “accepted responsibility early” by cooperating with investigators and voluntarily giving up his medical license ahead of his detention hearing.

Perry had been taking the surgical anesthetic ketamine legally as a treatment for depression. But when his regular doctor wouldn’t provide it in the amounts he wanted, he turned to Plasencia.

Plasencia texted Chavez that Perry was a “moron” who could be exploited for money, according to court filings.

Chavez admitted to obtaining the ketamine from a wholesale distributor on false pretenses and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He has not been in custody.

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FBI’s Bongino says he will resign

BY ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON — FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Wednesday that he will resign from the bureau next month, ending a brief and tumultuous tenure in which he clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and was forced to reconcile the realities of his law enforcement job with provocative claims he made in his prior role as a popular podcast host.

Bongino announced his departure, which had been expected, in a post on X. in which he said he was grateful for the “opportunity to serve with purpose.” He did not reveal his future plans, but Presi-

dent Donald Trump, in response to a question earlier in the day about Bongino’s fate, said: “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.”

Bongino was installed in the role in March by Trump after years as a conservative podcast host, where he used his platform to repeatedly rail against FBI leadership and to encourage conspiracy theories related to the Epstein sex-trafficking case and pipe bombs discovered in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.

Once in the job, he used social media to communicate directly to Trump supporters restless over a perceived lack of action by the new FBI leadership to address their concerns. He reassured them the FBI under his watch was giv-

ing renewed attention to issues like the pipe bomb case, the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion in 2022 and the discovery of cocaine in the White House during the Biden administration.

Yet he struggled to placate elements of Trump’s base who expected him to quickly deliver the reform he had long said was needed at the FBI and to uncover the truths he claimed had been hidden by the federal government.

On the Epstein case, for instance, he had previously challenged the official ruling that the wealthy financier had taken his own life in a New York jail soon after his 2019 arrest. But after his arrival in the bureau, he said in a Fox News interview: “I’ve seen the whole file.

He killed himself.”

Bongino had separately speculated as recently as last year that the pipe bombs placed on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot were an “inside job.” He was presented with those same comments when the FBI earlier this month arrested a 30-yearold Virginia man with no evident connection to the federal government, promoting skepticism from some that investigators had actually arrested the right person.

“I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions, that’s clear,” Bongino said in a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity. “And one day, I’ll be back in that space but that’s not what I’m paid for now. I’m paid to be your deputy director and we base investigations on facts.”

Guard deployment in D.C. can continue for now

BY GARY FIELDS Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled that the National Guard deployment in the nation’s capital can continue for now, staying a lower-court ruling that had ordered an end to the troops’ presence.

The three-judge panel for U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that Donald Trump may prevail in his argument that the president “possesses a unique power” to mobilize the Guard in Washington, which is a federal district.

The ruling stops the implementation of U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb’s Nov. 20 opinion and order, and reaffirms that residents and visitors to Washington will routinely see Guard members well into 2026.

Cobb had ruled that the deployment illegally intrudes on local officials’ authority to direct law enforcement in the District of Columbia.

Wednesday’s unanimous 32-page ruling went on to say that other factors also favored the Republican administration, including the “disruption to the lives of thousands of service members,” as well as what it said was the president’s interest “in the protection of federal governmental functions and property within the Nation’s capital.”

The judges found that the district “has not identified any ongoing injury to its statutory interests.”

The ruling acknowledged that the administration has a strong case for its appeal.

The deployment began in August after Trump issued an executive

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAHMAT GUL

National Guard members patrol on the Mall near the Capitol in Washington on Dec. 11. order declaring a crime emergency in Washington. Within a month, more than 2,300 National Guard troops from eight states and the district were patrolling the city under the command of the Army secretary. Trump also deployed hundreds of federal agents to assist.

The city’s attorney general, Brian Schwalb, sued to challenge the Guard deployments. He asked that the White House be barred from deploying Guard troops without the mayor’s consent while the lawsuit played out.

A spokesperson with Schwalb’s office said the stay was a “prelimi-

nary ruling that does not resolve the merits.”

In a posting on X, Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the ruling, saying, “Our federal surge in D.C. has saved countless lives, removed hundreds of illegal guns off the streets, and led to a dramatic drop in crime in our nation’s capital city.”

Cobb had found that while the president did have authority to protect federal functions and property, he could not unilaterally deploy the D.C. National Guard to help with crime control as he saw fit or call in troops from other states. She called for the troops to

Survey: Teen drug use remains low

BY MIKE STOBBE Associated Press

NEW YORK — Teen use of alcohol, nicotine and marijuana remains at record lows, according to national survey results released Wednesday.

They consume a lot of energy drinks, though. And there are slight, but concerning, increases in heroin and cocaine use.

But overall, the findings indicate teens are drinking, smoking and using substances at much lower rates than in the past.

Two-thirds of 12th graders this year said they hadn’t used alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes or electronic cigarettes in the previous 30 days. Thirty years ago — before the advent of e-cigarettes — the figure was closer to about one-third.

Among 10th graders, 82% said they hadn’t used any of those substances recently. Among eighth graders, 91% didn’t use any of them. Both are records for those ages in the annual survey.

The findings also seem to echo other surveys that show continued declines in teen sexual activity, which experts say is at least partly due to teens connecting through smartphones and social media instead of in person.

“Online connections don’t create the same opportunities for experimenting with sex, alcohol or marijuana as unsupervised time face-to-face,” said Laura Lindberg, a Rutgers University professor who researches adolescent sexual behavior.

Douglas Smith, a University of Illinois researcher, noted earlier generations seemed more likely to “go to the woods and drink, or go to a party where there were no parents” to socialize. “Now teenagers can be in constant communication with their friends and can live a life with their friends in virtual space — without using substances,” Smith added.

The new results come from the federally funded Monitoring the Future survey, run by the University of Michigan. The annual survey has been operating since

1975 and has long been considered a top source of national data on teen substance abuse. This year’s findings are based on responses from about 24,000 students in grades 8, 10 and 12 in schools across the country. It was conducted from February to June this year.

Teen drug use has been gradually declining for decades, and fell dramatically at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when students across the country were told not to go to schools and to avoid parties or other gatherings.

Experts expected at least a bit of a rebound as pandemic restrictions eased, but that hasn’t happened.

The 2025 results show no increases in teens’ use of alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes or nicotine vapes in any of the three grade levels. In 2024, researchers had noted an uptick in the use of nicotine pouches, but that too held steady this year, the survey found.

Energy drinks are as popular as ever, with daily consumption reported by 23% of 12th graders, 20% of 10th graders and 18% of eighth graders.

The survey also found a striking increase in heroin use.

Use by 12th graders in the previous 12 months rose to 0.9% in 2025, from 0.2% the year before. Use by 10th graders hit 0.5%, up from 0.1%. And use by eighth graders also rose to 0.5%, up from 0.2%.

Cocaine use held steady for 10th graders, but rose for eighth graders — to 0.6% — and 12th graders — to 1.4%.

Teen heroin and cocaine use are “leagues below what they were decades ago,” but the increases warrant close monitoring, said Richard Miech, survey team lead at the University of Michigan.

There are other possible factors for the overall decline in teen substance use: efforts to curb youth vaping, taxes on some substances, and the fact that teenagers are less likely to drive than in the past.

“Adolescents’ lives are complicated, and these changes don’t have a single explanation,” Lindberg said in an email.

be sent home after her ruling but put her order on hold for 21 days to allow the appeal by the administration.

The appeals court issued an administrative stay of Cobb’s ruling Dec. 4. Wednesday’s action lifts that order.

The court action comes three weeks after two members of the West Virginia National Guard were ambushed as they patrolled a subway station three blocks from the White House.

The administration has called for an additional 500 National Guard members to be deployed to Washington as a result of the shooting.

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Centrists force House vote on ACA subsidies

BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Four centrist Republicans broke with Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans.

The stunning move comes after House Republican leaders pushed ahead with a health care bill that does not address the soaring monthly premiums that millions of people will soon endure when the tax credits for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act expire at year’s end. The action sets the stage for a renewed intraparty clash over health care in January, something Republican leaders had been working to avoid, just weeks before another government funding deadline at the end of that month.

The moderate Republicans were able to force the issue by signing a petition, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to vote on a bill that would extend the subsides for three years.

Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all from Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York signed on Wednesday morning, pushing it to the magic number. A vote on the subsidy bill could come as soon as January under House rules.

“Unfortunately, it is House leadership themselves that have forced this outcome,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

Johnson told reporters Wednesday that “I have not lost control of the House” and he noted that Republicans have a razor-thin majority Johnson that allows a small number of members to employ procedures that would not usually be successful in getting around leadership.

“These are not normal times,” said Johnson, R-Benton.

more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers a chance to vote on bills that would temporarily extend the subsidies while also adding changes such as income caps for beneficiaries. But after days of discussions, the leadership sided with the more conservative wing of the party’s conference, which has assailed the subsidies as propping up a failed marketplace through the ACA, which is widely known as “Obamacare.”

House Republicans pushed ahead Wednesday on a 100-pluspage health care package without the subsidies. Instead, the measure focused on long-sought GOP proposals designed to expand insurance coverage options for small businesses and the selfemployed. The bill passed on a mostly party-line vote of 216-211.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., joined with Democrats in voting against the measure.

Fitzpatrick and Lawler tried to add a temporary extension of the subsidies to the bill, but were deOrigins of a Republican revolt nied.

Lawler, in a social media post, The revolt against GOP leadership came after days of talks cen- similarly said that “the failure of tered on the health care subsidies. leadership” to permit a vote had Johnson had discussed allowing left him with “no choice” but to

sign the petition. He urged Johnson to bring the plan up for an immediate floor vote.

Jeffries, for several weeks, had called on Republicans to sign his discharge petition. He particularly challenged Republicans in competitive congressional districts to join the effort if they really wanted to prevent premium increases for their constituents.

The GOP holds a 220-213 majority in the House, which means defections from just a sliver of the conference can upend leadership’s plans. Johnson has been able to negotiate that challenge largely by making accommodations to the more conservative wing of his conference. This time, it was the moderates who revolted.

The defectors largely represent districts that Democrats have targeted in their bid to retake the majority, with Democrats promising to make health insurance costs a central issue in next year’s midterms.

can-led Senate.

Republicans last week voted down a three-year extension of the subsidies and proposed an alternative that also failed. But in an encouraging sign for Democrats, four Republican senators crossed party lines to support their proposal.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., argued against the Democratic extension as “an attempt to disguise the real impact of Obamacare’s spiraling health care costs.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that the 218th signature for the Democrats’ bill showed that the demand from the American people for an extension is undeniable, but “the damage has now been done, no matter what happens.”

“Because at this point Republicans have made it impossible to prevent many Americans from paying more on their monthly premiums on Jan. 1. And Republicans can’t even say they tried to stop it,” Schumer said.

Path ahead is uncertain House Majority Leader Steve Even if the Democrats’ subsidy Scalise, R-Jefferson, said leaderbill were to pass the House, which ship would continue to have disis far from assured, it would face cussions with members “about a an arduous climb in the Republi- few different options.”

Senate passes $901B defense bill that pushes for boat strike video

BY STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Senate gave final passage Wednesday to an annual military policy bill that will authorize $901 billion in defense programs while pressuring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide lawmakers with video of strikes on alleged drug boats in international water near Venezuela.

The annual National Defense Authorization Act, which raises troop pay by 3.8%, gained bipartisan backing as it moved through Congress. It passed the Senate on a 7720 vote before lawmakers planned to leave Washington for a holiday break. Two Republicans — Sens.

Rand Paul and Mike Lee — and 18 Democrats voted against the bill.

The White House has indicated that it is in line with President Donald Trump’s national security priorities. However, the legisla-

tion, which ran over 3,000 pages, revealed some points of friction between Congress and the Pentagon as the Trump administration reorients its focus away from security in Europe and toward Central and South America.

The bill pushes back on recent moves by the Pentagon. It demands more information on boat strikes in the Caribbean, requires that the U.S. keep its troop levels in Europe at current levels and sends some military aid to Ukraine.

But overall, the bill represents a compromise between the parties.

It implements many of Trump’s executive orders and proposals on eliminating diversity and inclusion efforts in the military and grants emergency military powers at the U.S. border with Mexico. It also enhances congressional oversight of the Department of Defense and seeks to overhaul how the Pentagon purchases weapons as the U.S.

tries to outpace China in developing the next generation of military technology.

Congress also is writing a closing chapter to the war in Iraq by repealing the authorization for the 2003 invasion. Now that Iraq is a strategic partner of the U.S., lawmakers in support of the provision say the repeal is crucial to prevent future abuses. The bill also repeals the 1991 authorization that sanctioned the U.S.-led Gulf War. Still, the sprawling bill did face objections from both Democratic and Republican leadership on the Senate Commerce Committee and the head of the National Transportation Safety Board. That’s because the legislation could allow military aircraft to obtain a waiver to operate without broadcasting their precise location, as an Army helicopter had done before a midair collision with an airliner over Washington, D.C., in January that

killed 67 people.

To address those concerns, the Senate advanced a bill to require all military and civilian aircraft to broadcast their locations. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said the tragedy might have been avoided had the Black Hawk been broadcasting its location before the crash.

That bill will now go to the House. Cruz said the White House supports it.

Boat strike videos Republicans and Democrats agreed to language in the defense bill that threatened to withhold a quarter of Hegseth’s travel budget until he provided unedited video of the strikes, as well as the orders authorizing them, to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services.

Hegseth was on Capitol Hill

Tuesday ahead of the bill’s passage to brief lawmakers on the U.S. military campaign in international waters near Venezuela.

The committees are investigating a Sept. 2 strike — the first of the campaign — that killed two people who had survived an initial attack on their boat. The Navy admiral who ordered the “doubletap” strike, Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, also appeared before the committees shortly before the vote Wednesday in a classified briefing that also included video of the strike in question.

Several Republican senators emerged from the meeting backing Hegseth and his decision not to release the video publicly, but other GOP lawmakers stayed silent on their opinion of the strike.

Democrats are calling for part of the video to be released publicly and for every member of Congress to have access to the full footage.

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Reiners’ son appears in court on murder charges

BY ANDREW DALTON and CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Nick Reiner made his first court appearance Wednesday in Los Angeles on two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, actor-director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner.

Nick Reiner, 32, did not enter a plea as he appeared from behind glass in a custody area. He was in shackles and wearing a blue, padded suicide prevention smock used in jail.

His arraignment was postponed until Jan. 7 at his at- N. Reiner torney’s request.

He spoke only to say “yes, your honor” to agree to the date. He is being held without bail.

His older brother Jake Reiner and younger sister Romy Reiner released their statement through

a family spokesperson.

“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” they said. “The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”

The brother and sister said they are “grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life. We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave.”

Also Wednesday, the L.A. County Medical Examiner listed the primary cause of death for both Rob and Michele Reiner as “multiple sharp force injuries” as the office released its investigators’ initial

findings.

The office said more investigation is needed before further details will be revealed, but the bodies can now be released to the family.

The cause of death was consistent with police describing the couple as having stab wounds.

After the court hearing, Nick Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson, said the proceedings will be very complex and asked that the circumstances be met “not with a rush to judgment, not with jumping to conclusions.”

Jackson has not addressed the guilt or innocence of his client.

Nick Reiner was charged Tuesday with killing Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70.

They were killed sometime in the early morning hours of Sunday, the District Attorney’s Office said. They were found dead late in the afternoon in their home in Los Angeles, authorities said.

The two counts of first-degree murder come with special cir-

cumstances of multiple murders and an allegation that the defendant used a dangerous weapon, a knife. The additions could mean a greater sentence.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Tuesday that his office has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.

Rob Reiner was the Emmywinning star of the sitcom “All in the Family” who went on to direct films including “When Harry Met Sally …,” whose star Meg Ryan paid tribute to the Reiners on Wednesday.

“Thank you, Rob and Michelle, for the way you believe in true love, in fairy tales, and in laughter. Thank you for your faith in the best in people, and for your profound love of our country,” Ryan said in an Instagram post. “I have to believe that their story will not end with this impossible tragedy.”

Rob Reiner met Michele Singer Reiner during the shooting of the classic rom-com, and he said the meeting inspired him to change

the film to have a happy ending.

Ryan’s co-star Billy Crystal, a close friend of Rob Reiner for decades, was part of a group that also included Albert Brooks, Martin Short and Larry David that released a statement mourning and celebrating the couple Tuesday night.

“They were a special force together — dynamic, unselfish and inspiring,” the statement said.

“We were their friends, and we will miss them forever.”

Nick Reiner’s attorney Jackson is a high-profile defense attorney and former L.A. County prosecutor who represented Harvey Weinstein at his Los Angeles trial and Karen Read at her intensely followed trials in Massachusetts. He was a central figure in the HBO documentary on the Read case.

On the other side will be Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian, whose recent cases included the Menendez brothers’ attempt at resentencing and the trial of Robert Durst.

Smith says team developed proof of 2020 Trump conspiracy

BY ERIC TUCKER and LISA MASCARO dent based on the same facts today, clear: Jack Smith, a career proseAssociated Press

WASHINGTON — Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers in a closeddoor interview Wednesday that his team of investigators “developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that President Donald Trump had criminally conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to portions of his opening statement obtained by The Associated Press.

Smith also said investigators had accrued “powerful evidence” Trump broke the law by hoarding classified documents from his first term as president at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Smith Florida, and by obstructing government efforts to recover the records.

“I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 election,” Smith said. “We took actions based on what the facts and the law required — the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor.”

He said that if asked whether he would “prosecute a former presi-

I would do so regardless of whether the president was a Republican or Democrat.”

The deposition before the House Judiciary Committee gave lawmakers of both parties their first chance, albeit in private, to question Smith about a pair of investigations into Trump that resulted in since-abandoned criminal charges between the Republican president’s first and second terms in office. Smith was subpoenaed by the Republican-led committee this month to provide testimony and documents as part of a GOP investigation into the Trump inquiries during the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden.

The former special counsel cooperated with the congressional demand, though his lawyers noted that he had been volunteered more than a month before the subpoena was issued to answer questions publicly before the committee — an overture they said was rebuffed

by Republicans. Trump had told reporters that he supported the idea of an open hearing.

“Testifying before this committee, Jack is showing tremendous courage in light of the remarkable and unprecedented retribution campaign against him by this administration and this White House,” Smith lawyer Lanny Breuer told reporters. “Let’s be

cutor, conducted this investigation based on the facts and based on the law and nothing more.”

Smith was appointed in 2022 to oversee the Justice Department investigations into Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Biden and Trump’s hoarding of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.

Smith’s team filed charges in both investigations but abandoned the cases after Trump was elected to the White House last year, citing Justice Department legal opinions that say a sitting president cannot be indicted.

Multiple prior Justice Department special counsels, including Robert Mueller, have testified publicly but Smith was summoned for just a private interview. Several Democrats who emerged from Smith’s interview said they could understand why Republicans did not want an open hearing based on the damaging testimony about Trump they said Smith offered.

The committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, said the Republican majority “made an excellent decision” in not allowing Jack Smith to testify publicly “because had he done so, it would have been absolutely devastating to the president and all the president’s men involved in the insurrectionary activities” of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

Democrats are demanding that Smith’s testimony be made public, along with his full report on the investigation.

“The American people should hear for themselves,” said Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y. The committee chairman, Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, told reporters, “I think we’ve learned some interesting things.”

He declined to discuss what was being said in the room, but reiterated his position about the investigations. “It’s political,” he said.

Smith’s interview is unfolding against the backdrop of a broader retribution campaign by the Trump administration against former officials involved in investigating Trump and his allies. The Office of Special Counsel, an independent political watchdog, said in August that it was investigating Smith, and the White House issued a presidential memorandum this year aimed at suspending security clearances of lawyers at the law firm that provided legal services to Smith.

The deposition also comes as Republicans in Congress, aided by current FBI leadership, look to undermine the investigations into Trump through the selective release of emails and other documents.

In recent weeks they have seized on revelations that the team, as part of its investigation, had analyzed

the phone records of select GOP lawmakers from on and around the Capitol siege, when pro-Trump rioters stormed the building to try to halt the certification of Trump’s election loss to Biden.

The records reviewed by prosecutors included details only about the incoming and outgoing phone numbers and the length of the call but not the contents of the conversation. Smith’s lawyers have said Republicans have mischaracterized the phone record analysis and implied something sinister about a routine investigative tactic.

On Tuesday, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a batch of internal FBI emails leading up to the August 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago. In one email, written weeks before the search, an agent wrote that the FBI’s Washington field office did not believe that probable cause existed to search the property.

But Republicans who trumpeted the emails as proof that the Biden Justice Department was out to get Trump omitted the fact that agents who later searched the property reported finding boxes of classified, even top-secret, documents.

In addition, the then-head of the Washington field office has testified to Congress that by the time of the search, the FBI believed probable caused existed to do it.

Investigators seek older video that might show Brown shooter days before attack

BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI and LEAH WILLINGHAM Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — With the search for the Brown University shooter in its fifth day Wednesday, authorities were asking the public to review any security or phone footage from the week before the attack in the hopes it might help investigators identify the person, believing the attacker may have cased the scene ahead of time.

The request Tuesday came after authorities released several videos from the hours and minutes before and after Saturday’s attack showing the person they’re seeking standing, walking and even running along streets just off campus, but always with a mask on or their head turned.

“I believe that this is probably the most intense investigation going on right now in this nation” Providence’s police chief, Col. Oscar Perez, said at a Wednesday news conference, noting that investigators have collected a lot of crime scene evidence and that student witnesses’ accounts of the shooter match the person in the video that authorities are seeking.

While Brown has installed 1,200 cameras on campus, the attack, which killed two students and wounded nine others, happened in a first-floor classroom in an older part of the engineering building that has “fewer, if any” cameras, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha noted. Investigators also believe the shooter entered and left the building through a door that faces a residential street

bordering campus. The building being right on the edge of campus also might explain why the cameras Brown does have didn’t capture footage of the person.

Yet lingering frustration about the lack of campus video of the shooter led President Donald Trump to accuse the Ivy League school of being unprepared, posting Wednesday on Truth Social: “Why did Brown University have so few Security Cameras? There can be no excuse for that. In the modern age, it just doesn’t get worse!!!”

Investigators have described the person they’re seeking as about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and stocky, but they’ve given no indication that they are close to zeroing in on their identity.

The attacker’s motives also remain a mystery, though Perez said

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investigators haven’t found any evidence to suggest that it was targeting a specific person.

Authorities have been canvassing the surrounding neighborhoods and have received hundreds of tips.

“There’s no discouragement among people who understand that not every case can be solved quickly,” the attorney general said Wednesday.

Asked why authorities haven’t released all of the footage they have from day of the attack — including video of students fleeing the section of the building where more cameras were installed — Neronha said it wouldn’t help the investigation.

“It does not advance our investigation to have reams of data out there that doesn’t help identify the

shooter,” he said.

Perez declined to say how many witnesses police had spoken to or how many people were in the classroom when the attack happened. But he said his department is being dogged and is hoping more students with information will come forward.

But the timing of the attack, coming just before the winter break, could complicate the investigation, as remaining classes and exams were canceled after the shooting and many students have already gone home.

Separately, Providence police on Wednesday released a new photo of a separate individual who they said was in “proximity of the person of interest” and asked the public to help identify that person so they could speak with them.

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15 counts of murder issued in Australia shooting

BY CHARLOTTE GRAHAMMCLAY, KRISTEN GELINEAU and ROD MCGUIRK Associated Press

SYDNEY — An accused gunman in Sydney’s Bondi Beach massacre was charged with 59 offenses including 15 charges of murder on Wednesday, as hundreds of mourners gathered in Sydney to begin funerals for the victims.

Two shooters slaughtered 15 people on Sunday in an antisemitic mass shooting targeting Jews celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach, and 17 people are still being treated in hospitals. All of those killed by the gunmen who have been identified so far were Jewish.

Health authorities said Thursday that one patient remained in a critical condition.

As investigations unfold, Australia faces a social and political reckoning about antisemitism, gun control and whether police protections for Jews at events such as

comment on behalf of clients. Akram is expected to remain under police guard in hospital until he is well enough to be transferred to a prison.

The news that the suspects were apparently inspired by the Islamic State group provoked more questions about whether Australia’s government had done enough to stem hate-fueled crimes, especially directed at Jews.

In Sydney and Melbourne, where 85% of Australia’s Jewish population lives, a wave of antisemitic attacks has been recorded in the past year.

After Jewish leaders and AAP PHOTO By MICK TSIKAS survivors of Sunday’s atSwimmers gather for a morning vigil in Sydney on Wednesday following Sunday’s shooting at Bondi Beach. tack lambasted the governThe charges include one intent to cause harm. his client’s release on bail ment for not heeding their Sunday’s were sufficient for count of murder for each fathe threats they faced.

Police said the Akrams’ during a video court appear- warnings of violence, Prime Naveed Akram, the tality and one count of com- car, which was found at the ance from his hospital bed, a Minister Anthony Albanese 24-year-old alleged shooter, mitting a terrorist act, police crime scene, contained im- court statement said. vowed Wednesday to take was charged on Wednesday said.

He is being represented by whatever government acprovised explosive devices. after waking from a coma in Akram was also charged Akram’s lawyer did not en- Legal Aid NSW, which has tion was needed to stamp out a Sydney hospital, where he with 40 counts of causing ter pleas and did not request a policy of refusing media antisemitism. has been since police shot harm with intent to murder him and his father at Bondi. in relation to the wounded His father Sajid Akram, 50, and with placing an explodied at the scene. sive near a building with

Putin: Russia will seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if talks fail

By The Associated Press Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday that Moscow will seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies reject the Kremlin’s demands in peace talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end nearly four years of fighting following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but Washington’s efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv.

Speaking at an annual meeting with top military officers, Putin said Moscow would prefer Putin to achieve its goals and “eliminate the root causes of the conflict” by diplomatic means, but he added that “if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.”

Putin was referring to Ukrainian territory seized

by Russia — action widely condemned in the West as a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and an unprovoked act of aggression.

Putin claimed that “the Russian army has seized and is firmly holding strategic initiative all along the front line” and warned that Moscow will move to expand a “buffer security zone” alongside the Russian border.

“Our troops are different now, they are battlehardened and there is no other such army in the world

now,” he said.

Putin praised Russia’s growing military might and particularly noted the modernization of its atomic arsenal, including the new nuclear-capable intermediate range Oreshnik ballistic missile that he said will officially enter combat duty this month.

Russia first tested a conventionally armed version of the Oreshnik to strike a Ukrainian factory in November 2024, and Putin has boasted that it’s impossible to intercept.

At the same time, he rejected European officials’ statements about Moscow’s purported plans to attack European nations as “lies and sheer nonsense ... driven by short-sighted personal or group political interests, not by the interests of their people.”

Putin’s tough statements follow several rounds of talks this week between Ukrainian, American and European officials on a U.S.drafted peace plan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after meeting with U.S. envoys in Berlin that the document could be finalized within days, after which U.S. envoys will present it to the Kremlin.

Putin wants all the areas in four key regions captured by his forces, as well as Crimea, which was illegally annexed in 2014, to be recognized as Russian territory.

He also has demanded that Ukraine withdraw from some areas in eastern Ukraine that Moscow’s forces have not captured yet.

The Kremlin also insists that Ukraine abandon its bid to join NATO and warns it won’t accept the deployment of any troops from NATO members and will

view them as “legitimate targets.”

Zelenskyy has expressed readiness to drop Ukraine’s bid to join NATO if the U.S. and other Western nations give Kyiv security guarantees similar to those offered to NATO members. But Ukraine’s preference remains NATO membership as the best security guarantee to prevent further Russian aggression.

At the same time, Zelenskyy has rejected Moscow’s demands that it pull back its troops from other areas that Russia has not been able to take by force.

The Ukrainian leader described the draft peace plan discussed with the U.S. during talks in Berlin on Monday as “not perfect” but “very workable,” noting that Kyiv and its allies were very close to a deal on “strong security guarantees.”

But he also emphasized that the key issue of control over territory remain unresolved and rejected the U.S. push for Ukraine to cede control over the eastern Donetsk region.

Putin on Wednesday again praised Trump’s settlement efforts and seconded Trump’s repeated claims that the war in Ukraine wouldn’t have erupted under his watch. He charged that the previous U.S. administration and some of the European allies he contemptuously called “piglings” had vainly expected Russia’s collapse.

The Russian leader said a dialogue with Europe “is unlikely to become possible with the current political elites, but in any case, it will be inevitable as we grow stronger if not with the current politicians, then with a change in political elites in Europe.”

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BUSINESS N O L A.C O M/BIZ

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Raising Cane’s set to expand to Mexico in ’26

Raising Cane’s will expand to Mexico, a move that will give the restaurant a presence in every North American country.

The Baton Rouge-based chicken tender company will open a restaurant in Monterrey, Mexico in late 2026. The expansion is through a franchise agreement with Mexico-based restaurant operator Alsea, whose portfolio includes other American chains including Starbucks, Chili’s and Burger King.

Raising Cane’s did not disclose how many restaurants it plans to open in Mexico. The company runs nearly 1,000 restaurants in 43 U.S. states and two in Ontario, Canada.

It’s the company’s second international endeavor it’s announced this year. In September, the chain said it will start opening restaurants in the United Kingdom next year, beginning in London’s Piccadilly Circus.

Raising Cane’s has operated restaurants in the Middle East for a decade, which cofounder and CEO Todd Graves said taught him how to operate the brand internationally. The company launched a Kuwait City restaurant in 2015, later expanding to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which amount to about 60 restaurants with restaurant operator Alshaya Group.

“We’re ready to go to the U.K. We’re ready to go to Mexico,” Graves said. “For me, it’s just having Cane’s down there influencing communities in a positive way. It’s just exciting.”

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AI stocks drag down Wall Street

more stocks rose within come Wall Street’s most influential lysts, though the rate continues to U.S. market has worst theSlightly S&P 500 than fell, but they got stock because of its tremendous rise. drowned out by the drops for com- size, fell 3.8% and was the day’s Progressive, meanwhile, fell 2% day in nearly a month panies after the insurer based in Mayfield in the artificial-intelligence heaviest weight on the S&P 500.

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK — More drops for AI stocks dragged the U.S. market lower Wednesday, and Wall Street sank to its fourth straight loss.

The S&P 500 fell 1.2% for its worst day in nearly a month, though it’s still not far from its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 228 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite dropped 1.8%.

industry.

Questions continue to dog the former superstars about whether their yearslong dominance of Wall Street meant their prices shot too high, as well as whether all the investment in AI will produce enough profit and productivity to prove worth the cost. Worries are also rising about the debt that some companies are taking on to pay for it all.

Broadcom dropped 4.5%, Oracle fell 5.4% and CoreWeave sank 7.1%.

Nvidia, the chip company that’s be-

Power companies that jumped earlier in the year on expectations for stronger demand from electricity-sucking data centers also lost some of their shine. Constellation Energy fell 6.7%.

Only 17% of respondents in a survey of relatively big businesses by UBS said they’re in production at scale with their AI projects. That could be “a reminder for tech investors to remain sober about the likely 2026 revenue growth uplift from AI products,” according to UBS ana-

Village, Ohio, said that its net income for November fell 5% from its year-ago level.

On the winning side of Wall Street were oil companies, after President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela. It’s Trump’s latest escalation against Venezuela, which may be sitting on more oil than any other country.

That sent the price of a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude higher by 1.2% to $55.94.

Warner Bros. board backs Netflix’s offer NEW YORK — Warner Bros. Discovery is recommending its shareholders reject an unsolicited buyout offer from Paramount Skydance in favor of a rival bid from Netflix it said will better serve their interests and the entertainment company’s audiences.

The Warner board said in a letter to shareholders on Wednesday that Paramount’s “inferior” offer carried “significant risks and costs,” in large part because it relies heavily on borrowed money — whereas the Netflix offer is backed by a company worth more than $400 billion.

Warner, which owns the Warner Bros. Pictures movie studio and HBO, agreed earlier this month to a cash-and-stock offer from Netflix valued at $72 billion. As part of that deal, Warner would first spin off its cable TV assets, including CNN and Discovery. Days later, Paramount made a hostile, all-cash offer for all of Warner’s properties valued at $77.9 billion.

Paramount has argued that its offer — coming from a smaller company — would face an easier road with regulators. Warner’s board disputed that claim in its letter to shareholders, who ultimately have the power to decide which offer to accept.

USPS plans to expand delivery network access The U.S. Postal Service said Wednesday it intends to open its “last-mile” delivery network, the most expensive part of the shipping process, to large and small shippers, expanding beyond current arrangements with giants such as Amazon and UPS. The goal is to diversify and boost revenue through the postal carriers’ final leg of delivery to millions of individual homes and businesses.

The postal service expects to accept bids in late January or early February from other shippers, which will propose their own mix of volume, price and delivery timing. The agency will award contracts later in 2026, based on where it can provide same- and next-day delivery service at a profit.

Under the new plan, shippers would have access to more than 18,000 postal service “delivery distribution units,” entry points throughout the network where mail and packages are sorted for delivery to a local area.

GETTy IMAGES/TNS FILE PHOTO By JON CHERRy

Lana Provost, a UPS package handler, loads packages into a truck at a hub in Louisville, Ky. UPS will deploy Pickle Robots in multiple facilities in the latter half of 2026 and into 2027, said sources who spoke on condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to share the details publicly.

UPS buys hundreds of robots to unload trucks in automation push

BY SPENCER SOPER and CAILLEY LAPARA

Bloomberg News (TNS)

United Parcel Service Inc. will invest $120 million in 400 robots used to unload trucks, according to people familiar with the matter, revealing new details on the logistics giant’s $9 billion automation plan that aims to boost profits by decreasing labor costs.

Unloading trucks and shipping containers at warehouse docks is mostly done by people and remains a key bottleneck in the shipping industry. The UPS order puts a spotlight on Pickle Robot Co., a Charlestown, Massachusetts-based startup already working with UPS that’s raised about $97 million since it began in 2018, according to Pitchbook.

Pickle makes a robotic arm on a mobile base that can drive into a shipping container, lift boxes weighing up to 50 pounds using suction and place them on conveyor belts. One robot can unload a typical truck in about two hours and the robot typically pays for itself in about 18 months through labor savings, according to Pickle’s website. The robots can be deployed in existing warehouses, which is a key selling point since the automation doesn’t require specially designed

facilities or extensive upgrades.

UPS will deploy Pickle Robots in multiple facilities in the latter half of 2026 and into 2027, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to share the details publicly. It’s common for large companies to experiment with automation through pilot projects and prototypes by startups eager to prove their technology works in the field.

The UPS purchase from Pickle follows years of experimenting to demonstrate the robots can help reduce labor costs, one of the people said.

UPS says its relationships with Pickle and other automation and robotics companies “helps reduce repetitive tasks and physical stress while promoting safety for UPS employees.” Additional purchases often depend on successful testing outcomes, the company said in an emailed statement, adding that contract details are private.

Through a spokesperson, Pickle declined to comment on the purchase.

In 2024, UPS announced a four-year plan to invest $9 billion in automation projects at more than 60 U.S. facilities with the goal of achieving $3 billion in cost savings by 2028.

The courier is taking on its biggest network reconfiguration in history as it seeks to lessen its dependency on labor, trim fixed costs and boost margins. The company has closed daily operations at 93 facilities and eliminated 34,000 jobs this year as part of the consolidation, driven by a move to reduce the number of low-profit e-commerce packages it handles for online retailer Amazon. com Inc. Amazon is a leader in warehouse automation. Its 2012 purchase of robot-maker Kiva Systems helped it speed online order fulfillment since the mop-bucket-sized robots can zip around warehouses to fetch products faster than people. Pickle Robot’s technology comes earlier in the flow of products, when trucks stuffed with inventory pull up to warehouse dock doors waiting to be emptied.

Pickle Robot uses artificial intelligence to maneuver in shipping containers and empty boxes, adjusting as the load gets smaller.

Its investors include the packaging materials company Ranpak Holdings Corp. and the venture investment arm of Toyota Motor Corp. Its competitors include Boston Dynamics, which makes a warehouse robot called “Stretch.”

Hyundai, Kia to repair millions of vehicles under deal Automakers to improve anti-theft technology

BY JACK DURA Associated Press

Automakers Hyundai and Kia must offer free repairs to millions of models under a settlement announced Tuesday by Minnesota’s attorney general, who led an effort by dozens of states that argued the vehicles weren’t equipped with proper anti-theft technology, leaving them vulnerable to thefts.

Under the nationwide settlement, the companies will offer a free repair to all eligible vehicles at a cost that could top $500 million, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. Hyundai and Kia must also outfit all future vehicles sold in the U.S. with a key piece of technology called an engine immobilizer and pay up to $4.5 million of restitution to people whose vehicles were damaged by thieves.

The settlement was reached by 35 states. The vehicles eligible for fixes date as far back as 2011 and as recently as 2022. About 9 million eligible vehicles were sold nationwide.

Thefts of Hyundai and Kia ve-

hicles soared in part because beginning in 2021, videos posted to TikTok and other social media demonstrated how someone could steal a car with just a screwdriver and a USB cable. Minneapolis reported an 836% increase in Hyundai and Kia thefts from 2021 to 2022. Ellison announced an investigation into the automakers in early 2023.

Ellison said the two companies installed engine immobilizers on cars sold in Mexico and Canada, but not widely in the U.S., leading to car thefts, crimes and crashes that injured and even killed people, including teenagers.

“This crisis that we’re talking

about today started in a boardroom, traveled through the internet and ended up in tragic results when somebody stole those cars,” Ellison said at a news conference.

He was joined by Twin Cities officials, a woman whose mother was killed when a stolen Kia crashed into her parents’ vehicle and a man whose car was stolen nine times — as recently as Monday night, and including seven times after a previous software fix.

Under the settlement, Hyundai and Kia will install a zinc sleeve to stop would-be thieves from cracking open a vehicle’s ignition cylinder and starting the car.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 7A

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TRUMP

Continued from page 1A more Americans would back him if they simply heard him describe his track record.

Wednesday night, he pointed to everyday essentials and luxuries whose costs had declined, such as cars, hotels, airfare and gas, but avoided going into specific prices.

Trump sidestepped continued inflation but is insisting that his tariffs are working and will deliver more benefits soon.

“My favorite word,” he said of “tariffs,” the levies that he has put on various foreign products from China, Canada, Mexico and other U.S. trading partners across the world.

“Nobody can believe what’s going on here,” Trump said. “It’s not done yet, but boy are we making progress.”

The president barely paused to take a breath as he made his way through his prepared remarks, much of which contained complaints about conditions in the country under Biden.

“One year ago, our country was dead. We were absolutely dead,” Trump said. “Our country was ready to fail — totally fail. Now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world.”

Trump used a chunk of the address to stress his immigration record, including tightening the border to deny entry to immigrants without legal authority to be in the U.S. He made a passing reference to mass deportation, saying his administration is removing criminals. Independent analyses have shown that some people without criminal records have been deported.

Trump also talked about making some of the “most dangerous cities” in America safe again as a

BANK

Continued from page 1A Now, Byrd will serve as CEO and chairman of M C Bank’s holding company.

Other former IberiaBank executives joining the M C Bank team include: Mark Tipton, who will serve as president; Michael Brown, chief operating officer; and Scott Price, chief financial officer; as well as Jack Deano, Ben Dupuy, Cleland Powell, Tommy Westervelt and Rob Worley.

M C Bank’s board members will remain on the board of directors. CEO Chris LeBato will serve on the executive committee as vice chairman and chief of staff.

Most of the team will be based in greater New Orleans, but Tipton will live and work in Atlanta and Price will be in Birmingham, Alabama.

Byrd said he, Brown and Tipton started thinking about starting another southeastern banking franchise after the expiration of their noncompete clauses with First Horizon.

“I badly failed at retirement,” Byrd said. “I thought I could go back to playing tennis and I wouldn’t be bored, but that didn’t work. I missed the engagement, relationships and excitement of being CEO, and I feel like I have a lot of energy left to spend.”

Gradual expansion M C Bank began in 1955 in Morgan City, the energy and seafood industry hub 70 miles southwest of New Orleans. The bank gradually expanded to its current number of locations, only moving into the New Orleans metro area this de-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DOUG MILLS

President Donald Trump finishes his remarks in an address to the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House on Wednesday. result of his aggressive approach to illegal immigration.

The president said he will put forward “some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history,” but he offered no details.

Energy prices, including for gasoline, have dropped, and they will continue to drop more, Trump

cade. It has two branches in Jefferson Parish and one in Lakeview.

M C Bank executives and the bank’s shareholders are betting the deal announced Wednesday will usher in an era of growth. The bank has a relatively small share of deposits in Louisiana, ranking 50th among banks doing business in the state, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

“The combination of our associates and the DMMS Equity team creates a powerful alignment of talent, experience and vision that will propel the bank forward,” said LeBato, the M C Bank CEO, in a statement that referred to the corporate entity Byrd is using for the purchase.

The bank is planning three new branches, including a second location in Covington, its first in Uptown New Orleans, and one in Houma.

Under the terms of the deal, M C Bank’s roughly 100 employees have all been invited to stay in their current positions, and all existing locations will remain open.

History of acquisitions The M C Bank acquisition is a continuation of what Byrd has done for the past 25 years.

After taking the reins at IberiaBank in 1999,

says. But they aren’t at the levels he claims.

Trump said the national average gas price of $2.50 per gallon.

The AAA average nationally is $2.90. Without providing evidence, Trump also said household energy costs have dropped by $3,000.

Trump promised that “within the next 12 months” the U.S. will have

he oversaw roughly two dozen bank buyouts that transformed a small, century-old institution into a multistate lender. In 2011, Iberia moved into the New Orleans market by acquiring Omni Bank.

“When I came to Iberia, we had around $1 billion in assets, 300 people and a market cap of $80 million,” Byrd said. “At the end, we had 3,500 people in markets all over the South.”

Over that same period, south Louisiana lost several of its major bank headquarters, including three in New Orleans.

In 2005, New Orleansbased Hibernia Bank was acquired by Capital One. Six years later, Mississippibased Hancock Bank acquired Whitney Bank. First NBC Bank was closed by regulators in 2017.

As his team gets to work, there will be a “David and Goliath” dynamic at work, as they lead a bank with less than $500 million in assets and about $380 million in deposits. By comparison, Capital One, the bank with the largest market share in New Orleans, has nearly $9 billion in deposits.

Tulane business professor Peter Ricchiuti said all those lenders are dealing with weak demand because of low oil prices and an unin-

opened 1,600 new electrical generating plants — reversing what he again called “the Democrat inflation disaster.”

The president sought to end the address on a high note, noting the Olympics and World Cup soccer matches that will take place in the U.S. next year.

Next year is also the 250th anni-

spiring housing market, but if the new M C Bank is looking to make acquisitions, it will be able to find favorable terms.

“There are a bunch of little banks that will say, ‘Quick, grab the doughnuts! Daryl Byrd is walking through the door,’” he said.

Like many smaller banks, M C Bank will have to grapple with the added technology costs of modern banking, where fraud protection is a major expense and customers expect conveniences like mobile accounts, 24/7 account access and real-time payments.

“The capital needed to operate and grow a bank is greater than it used to be because of demands of tech-

versary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Trump said, “There could be no more a fitting tribute to this epic milestone than to complete the comeback of America that began just one year ago.”

He closed by wishing viewers a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

nology,” said Gay LeBreton, managing director of investment banking firm Chaffe & Associates. “Regulators’ requirements for certain tech are higher than they used to be.”

But small banks have advantages, especially their ability to forge personal relationships with customers, said Guy Williams, president of Gulf Coast Bank.

“As New Orleans has become less of a headquarters city, there is a growing desire among local businesses to deal with a main office,” Williams said. “This is good news for New Orleans because it will lead to more local hiring.”

New York City-based Investment bank Keefe, Bruy-

ette & Woods Inc., a Stifel Company, and Chicagobased Performance Trust Capital Partners are serving as co-advisers in an equity capital offering of up to $250 million.

KBW also is serving as financial adviser on the deal, and Troutman Pepper Locke in Atlanta is a legal adviser to DMMS in the merger transaction.

The law firms Sterlington PLLC and Jones Walker LLP are also serving as legal advisers to DMMS. PT is serving as financial adviser and Baker Donelson as legal adviser to M C Bank in the merger transaction.

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

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8A ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Pennington Biomedical director to step down Leadership changes continue in LSU system

BY HALEY MILLER

two positions.

“As LSU welcomes new leadership under President Wade Rousse and Chancellor Jim Dalton, this is a natural moment for Pennington Biomedical to welcome fresh perspectives as well,” Kirwan wrote in a letter sent to employees Friday. “I’m committed to ensuring a seamless transition.”

Jennifer Rood will serve as interim executive director. An international search to fill the role will begin in early 2026.

This year, Pennington surpassed $100 million in annual revenue for the first time in its history, according to the letter.

“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built together,” Kirwan wrote.

“Because of this transformation, Pennington Biomedical is wellpositioned for continued growth and impact on an upward trajectory that will serve Louisiana for decades to come.”

Dalton visited Pennington and

Staff writer

John Kirwan will step down as Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s executive director when his contract ends Dec. 31, as leadership changes continue to ripple through the LSU system.

A scholar of obesity, diabetes and nutrition research, Kirwan directed the research center in Baton Rouge for eight years. The end of his tenure comes days after the LSU Board of Supervisors and system President Wade Rousse overhauled the structure of the public university system, making it so the heads of several specialized research units, including Pennington, are renamed “senior vice chancellor” and report to Executive Vice President and flagship Chancellor James Dalton.

Previously, those leaders reported to the LSU president, but the board last month split that job into

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

John Kirwan is stepping down after eight years as the executive director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. held a forum with employees on Monday, according to spokesperson Ernie Ballard. In an email sent to employees after his visit,

he said Kirwan will assume a faculty position and offered praise for his time in the executive director role.

AUDUBON

Continued from page 1A and now we are revisiting it.

That is what most good businesses do.”

Ahead of Black Friday holiday sales, Audubon upped the price for its annual memberships, which offer deep discounts off the admission price to the zoo and aquarium. Those who went online to renew their memberships, or buy new ones during the holiday weekend sale, found the price of an annual membership for a family of four had nearly doubled from $220 to $425.

After criticism on social media, Audubon paused the price hikes and said it would roll out a new deal in midDecember. But after hearing from the community and meeting with the focus group last week, Sawaya said Audubon needs more time still to make it sure it comes up with pricing levels that provide value while also helping to close the gap between rising costs and declining revenues.

“What we need people to understand is that it is not just a zoo,” he said. “We have 10 facilities, and all the revenue we generate has to cover the cost of that.”

Besides the Audubon Zoo and Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium, the Audubon Nature Institute owns and operates seven other facilities and attractions, including Audubon Park, Woldenberg Park, the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center and the Freeport McMoRan Audubon Wildlife Species Survival Center.

The issue underscores the challenges Sawaya faces as he tries to close what has been a stubbornly persistent budget gap in recent years between revenues and expenses, which have continued to escalate since the pandemic.

The organization will finish 2025 with a $3 million operating loss, the third year

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Visitors take photos of Fennessy during World Giraffe Day at the Audubon Zoo in June. in a row it has finished in the red, Sawaya said. It will make up this year’s shortfall by taking out a line of credit and reducing expenses, including a hiring freeze.

But raising prices also has to be part of the equation, he said.

“We have to address the post-pandemic realities of increased costs, and we had to build Audubon back from the pandemic downsizing if you will,” he said.

Memberships generated $4.6 million for Audubon this year — about 10% of its annual $46 million budget. That’s a relatively small piece of the pie compared with the nearly $24 million generated by regular ticket sales, which accounted for more than half of the budget.

But regular ticket sales come primarily from visitors to the city and are less predictable and more closely tied to the health of the local hospitality market. This year was not a strong year for tourism, so attendance at the Aquarium and Insectarium, which historically captures about 5% of all visitors to the city, was down.

In 2025, for instance, the

aquarium and insectarium had 55,000 fewer visitors than the year before.

“My contention is that we are too dependent on admissions at the gate, especially when the aquarium just doesn’t have that many people coming,” he said.

The zoo, on the other hand, tends to draw more heavily from locals, who have long recognized that an annual membership, under the existing pricing structure, is a great value. The price of a family membership is essentially equal to one visit each to the zoo and the aquarium for a family of four.

Zoo visits were slightly up in 2025 compared with 2024.

Sawaya said member-

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ships should pay for themselves after about 2.5 visits to the zoo and aquarium on average, not just one each,

“John has guided PBRC with focus, integrity, and ambition, strengthening its scientific reputation and expanding its impact nationally and internationally,” Dalton wrote. “Under his leadership, PBRC has continued to advance world-class research in metabolic health, nutrition, obesity, and diabetes, while sustaining a strong culture of collaboration and excellence.”

The restructuring led by Rousse and the board has caused some controversy. Senators from Shreveport expressed disapproval over how the changes could sideline LSU Health Shreveport.

“It’s incredibly disappointing that LSU chose to take away the Chancellor position of the Health Sciences Center in Shreveport without any conversation at all with the community, elected officials, business leaders, and even their own students and faculty about doing so,” Sen. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport, said in a release Monday.

according to industry standards, which is why Audubon initially raised prices on memberships and not on regular tickets.

Also, Sawaya said, Audubon has to keep its regular ticket prices in line with those of competing attractions like the National World War II Museum or Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours.

“The basis and the goal is to make sure you are competitively priced. If they move over time, then we can go up,” he said. “Our intention is always to be fairly priced, and the market determines that.”

In the weeks to come, Audubon officials will study pricing options and try to figure out how to create a zoo-only membership that provides value to members while also generating the revenues Audubon needs.

Though it’s too soon to say what that price point will be, Sawaya said it will likely be more expensive than cur-

rent membership prices but less than the much higher prices unveiled in November.

“By offering a zoo-only at a price point that makes sense, we hope and anticipate we will sell more of those because that seems to be what most people want,” he said. “We just have to figure out what the price point is.”

Audubon is also exploring several new ways of raising money, including more aggressively marketing Audubon facilities for private events and birthday parties. The organization is also getting more creative about throwing its own special ticketed events, like Sip and Dip, which have proven wildly popular.

“At the end of the day we have a plan that includes driving sales through all of our revenue streams,” Sawaya said. “We also are containing costs. We have a new eye on things.”

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1bN

Moreno’s banners pulled from Gallier Hall Cantrell orders inauguration signage removed

New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno and Mayor LaToya Cantrell are at odds over banners Moreno recently hung at New Orleans’ Gallier Hall to announce her inauguration.

BY JONI HESS

outgoing mayor and her successor and raised questions about whether city workers, or money, was used to remove them.

Mayor-elect Helena Moreno’s According to Todd Ragusa, transition team hung five masa spokesperson for Moreno’s sive banners at Gallier Hall to transition team, the incoming commemorate her January inadministration hired workers auguration, each of them danMoreno to put up the banners on Dec. 8 gling between the historic build- Cantrell ing’s pillars and touting the need work crews pulled them down. after the city’s Property ManThe move, which prompted agement department approved to be “all in” for New Orleans and some of the community’s a complaint of “score settling” their placement. Ragusa said from Moreno’s City Council they were paid for with private touchstones.

On Wednesday, under orders ally, JP Morrell, represented ä See BANNERS, page 2B from Mayor LaToya Cantrell, the latest squabble between the

Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO

By SOPHIA GERMER

A RAIL DELIGHT

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Passengers ride the miniature train through live oak trees draped in Spanish moss and holiday lights during Celebration in the Oaks at City Park in New Orleans on Tuesday. The annual holiday attraction features illuminated displays, amusement rides and seasonal activities throughout the park.

ST. TAMMANY PARISH

Cooper vetoes council’s budget changes Override vote looms on raises, Safe Haven

BY WILLIE SWETT

Staff writer

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper has vetoed two of the Parish Council’s major changes to his 2026 budget, saying in a letter to the council that he had eliminated the council’s cuts to parish employees’ raises and its cuts to Safe Haven mental health campus near Mandeville.

The parish currently rents out space on The Parish Council approved Cooper’s 2026 the campus to three tenants, including the budget on Dec. 5, but not St. Tammany Parish public school district, before cutting $620,000 to who have all expressed uncertainty about Safe Haven and eliminatwhat the cuts would mean for them. Some volunteers with another tenant, the Naing employees’ cost-ofliving-raises and merittional Alliance for Mental Illness’ Southbased raises on Dec. 4. east Louisiana chapter, spoke against the In his Dec. 15 letter, Cooper cuts at the Dec. 4 council meeting. The which was provided by third tenant, Florida Parishes Human Cooper’s office, Cooper said the proposed Services Authority, is planning to leave in $620,000 cuts to Safe Haven would “jeop- March. ardize” the campus and cause the parish ä See BUDGET, page 3B to lose revenue over time.

Candidates qualify for New Orleans election Three legislative seats are open for Feb. 7 vote

BY MARCO CARTOLANO and JESSICA WILLIAMS Staff writers

forcement agents standing outside a Breaux Mart grocery store as protesters accuse them of being with ICE or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

In the video, which had garnered 1.7 million views by Tuesday night, two agents deny being associated with ICE and say they are with the ICAC task force. The protesters express skepticism, with one woman saying, “I don’t really buy that,” as another

The first day of qualifying for a special election to fill three legislative seats representing New Orleans saw some familiar names in city politics, including the son of a former mayor, the father of a sitting City Council member and a longtime former clerk of Criminal District Court.

Qualifying for the Feb. 7 election runs through Friday. A runoff, if needed, will be held March 14.

The elections will round out a New Orleans delegation that is weathering losses as three members leave for new opportunities. The largely Democratic delegation has limited

ä See INCIDENT, page 3B

ä See CANDIDATES, page 2B

Comedy club staff confront law enforcement agents Incident was child porn arrest, not ICE

forcement agents whom they believed to be with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill later confirmed the agents to be members of

BY POET WOLFE the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Staff writer Force. The agents were in the area to arrest Sports Drink, a coffee shop and comedy a man on 120 counts of possession of child club just off Magazine Street in Uptown sexual abuse material involving children New Orleans, temporarily closed Tuesday under the age of 13.

The video, posted on X by Libs of TikTok, after a video circulated on social media showing employees confronting law en- a popular right-wing account, shows law en-

2B ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Anthropic to use West Feliciana data center Anthropic is a public benefit corParish expects job poration that does research and development on artificial intelligence growth from AI project and has created the Claude family

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL and IANNE SALVOSA

of large language models.

Fluidstack is a New York startup that develops and operates the tech Staff writers side of AI data centers.

Hut 8 is a publicly traded comThe company building an AI data center in West Feliciana Parish said pany that handles the real estate early Wednesday that Anthropic, and financial side of AI data center whose Claude chatbot is a rival to developments.

Chat GPT, has signed a long-term deal to use the facility, marking the Jobs and power second mega tech company to set The first phase of the project will up an AI data center in Louisiana in encompass 600,000 square feet of the past year. data center space on a 611-acre In a release Wednesday, Miami- campus and provide 330 megawatts based Hut 8 said it is partnering of power from a related power subwith Anthropic and another com- station already under construction pany, Fluidstack, to deliver AI data just south of La. 964.

It is expected to create 1,500 concenter infrastructure — power and equipment — over several years at struction jobs, according to West the 600-acre River Bend campus, Feliciana Parish President Kenny which is just south of St. Francis- Havard.

When completed, the center is ville.

Hut 8 said it has signed a 15-year, expected to create about 100 per$7 billion deal with Fluidstack to manent jobs. Under the terms of a provide AI data center capacity to deal Hut 8 recently finalized with Anthropic. the parish, the agreement will proIn a related announcement, Hut vide up to $90 million a year for the 8 said Google is backstopping the parish in tax revenues, Havard said.

Fluidstack lease, essentially guar“I am excited and our whole comanteeing that if Fluidstack defaults, munity has been excited about this Google will step in and take over. possibility for a year,” said Havard.

UL presidential search committee announced

of its board.

Timeline for 2026 set, meeting The inaugural search committee is scheduled for Jan. 14 website with updates meeting at UL. The committee is expected to meet again Feb. 19 to review launches applicant materials and select

BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer

The University of Louisiana system on Wednesday named members of a committee that will help to decide the next president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The committee includes UL system board members and Lafayette community members. UL system President Rick Gallot will serve as the chair but will not be able to vote.

“UL Lafayette plays a vital role in shaping the future of our state,” Gallot said in a statement Wednesday.

“This search is about leadership — finding a president who understands the responsibility of leading a major public research university and who values its people and its mission.”

Voting members of the committee include: n Steve Davison, member of the UL system board n Lee Jackson, member of the UL system board n Keith Myers, member of the UL system board n Maria Nechaeva, member of the UL system board n John Noble Jr., member of the UL system board n Dana Peterson, member of the UL system board n Mark Romero, chair of the UL system board n Kristine Russell, member of the UL system board n Leah Orr, president of the UL Lafayette Faculty Senate.

Nonvoting members of the committee include: n Georges Antoun, member of the UL Lafayette Foundation Board n Kimberly Billeaudeau, president of the UL Lafayette Staff Senate n State Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette n Jake Delhomme, former Ragin’ Cajuns football player and NFL quarterback n State Rep. Julie Emerson, RCarencro n Ryan Furby, founder of RAF Strategic Communications & Public Affairs n Bruce Greenstein, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health n State Rep. Dustin Miller, DOpelousas n Onyeka Nwaezeapu, president of the UL Lafayette Student Government Association n Allyson Pharr, executive vice president and chief legal officer of Acadian Ambulance n Dr. Kip Schumacher, founder of the emergency health care company Schumacher Group.

“Our focus is on fit and accountability,” said Romero in a statement. “UL Lafayette deserves a leader who understands the institution, respects its culture, and is prepared to lead with clarity and responsibility. The work of the search committee is essential to ensuring we select a president who can earn trust and deliver results.”

Last week, the UL system announced a timeline for the presidential search in early 2026 and launched a website dedicated to providing updates after a regular

semifinalists, conduct on-campus interviews Feb. 23-24 and conduct interviews with finalists Feb. 27.

Romero said the presidential job posting will not be public until after the committee approves it during its first meeting next month. In the meantime, he said an advertisement will be posted nationally to generate interest.

The timeline for the job came one month after a special meeting that addressed speculation that the board would forgo a search and install a president at the university without any input from faculty, staff or students.

After backlash from faculty members and others, the board announced Nov. 13 that it would form a search committee for the permanent job and named Ramesh Kolluru, UL’s vice president for research, innovation and economic development, as interim president of the university.

Kolluru’s appointment came at the recommendation of Jaimie Hebert, who had been serving as interim president since Aug. 1, and who asked to return to his former job as provost.

Both Kolluru and Hebert asked on Nov. 10 to be considered for the permanent presidential position, according to documents The Acadiana Advocate received through a public records request.

UL has been without a permanent leader since July, when longtime President Joseph Savoie stepped down as the university’s financial troubles came to public light.

During a Dec. 10 town hall, Kolluru outlined more steps to address the university’s financial woes.

Kolluru told hundreds of attendees that he and Hebert had taken steps to eliminate most of UL’s $25 million deficit and $25 million recurring annual budget shortfall.

The deficit for the current fiscal year has been reduced from $50 million to about $10.5 million, Kolluru said, through cost-cutting measures, including contract cancellations and position eliminations.

Getting to that financial position is, in part, contingent on departments cutting 10% of their spending.

The payroll reductions this fall included the elimination or consolidation of more than 80 positions, including vice presidents on campus.

While Hebert was leading the school, he announced the deficit and implemented a series of cuts and changes to address it.

UL’s financial woes surfaced in January when the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office released its annual audit for UL’s athletics department and noted a $12.6 million deficit for the department.

And in March, the office released its annual audit for the university as a whole and noted four findings mostly related to timely billing and proper controls surrounding grants. Two months later, thenVice President for Administration and Finance Jerry Luke LeBlanc resigned from his position.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Construction on the Hut 8 data center continues on La. 964 on Oct. 30 in St. Francisville.

“We have a blank canvas. This is a chance for us to be No. 1 in something.”

The deal underscores the increasingly complex way AI data centers are being developed around the world. Third party companies are now often involved at various levels of building and leasing the powerful computers and power generation to tech companies.

“This partnership is an expansion of our existing work with Fluidstack and marks a new opportunity to

CANDIDATES Continued from page 1B

power in the Republican-led state Legislature but has managed to score some wins for New Orleans in recent years, including funding for various local priorities.

All candidates who signed up Wednesday are Democrats.

Vying for the Senate District 3 seat are Sidney Barthelemy II, a builder and the son of the 58th mayor of New Orleans; former Criminal District Court Clerk and State Rep. Arthur Morrell; and former New Orleans council member and state Sen. Jon Johnson.

District 3 represents parts of Gentilly, New Orleans East, and riverfront neighborhoods from the Marigny to Holy Cross, the Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish. The seat was vacated after Joseph Bouie began his tenure as chancellor of Southern University at New Orleans in August.

In a statement, Barthelemy, a graduate of Brother Martin High School and Morehouse College, said he hopes to help make New Orleans more affordable and safe for families.

“I’m running for state Sen-

collaborate with Hut 8 to bring additional capacity online by early 2027,” said James Bradbury, head of compute at Anthropic, in a news release. “Hut 8’s ability to source and deliver infrastructure at scale provides the runway necessary to continue advancing the capabilities of our models.”

‘A major user’

ter would attract a major user. In September, the firm broke ground with Entergy on a substation that will power the facility. In late October, the parish Industrial Development Board finalized a taxing arrangement with the company.

Until Wednesday, however, no end user for the massive warehouse, which will house racks of powerful servers and systems to cool them, had been announced.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois said the project will generate high-wage jobs and create pathways for Louisiana to build longterm careers in the industries of the future.

“It’s a clear example of how aligning policy, partnership and people translates into lasting opportunity,” she said.

Last December, LED finalized a deal with Facebook and Instagram’s parent company Meta to build a data center in Richland Parish near Monroe. The Hut 8 facility is a fraction of the size of the Meta facility, currently slated to take up more than 4 million square feet and cost upward of $27 billion.

Hut 8 first announced its plans for West Feliciana Parish last De- Email Stephanie Riegel at cember and said its AI data cen- stephanie.riegel@theadvocate.com.

ate because working families in District 3 deserve better than stagnant growth, rising costs, and systems that leave too many behind,” he said. “Whether it’s rebuilding after Katrina, protecting our neighborhoods from harmful developments, or mentoring young people on the football field, I’ve always fought for the people I serve.”

Morrell’s focus would also be on affordability, he said in an earlier interview, and on funneling more tax dollars to New Orleans from Baton Rouge. Morrell, the father of New Orleans council President JP Morrell, is a graduate of George Washington Carver High School and Southern University at New Orleans and in Baton Rouge.

“We have good people here who are educated, and they can’t stay here because there’s no opportunity, or because the cost of living is starting to go up so much,” Morrell said on Dec. 8. “You’ve got to look for a job, and another place to live.”

Johnson, who launched a bid for the council’s District E seat this year only to withdraw from the race, is seeking a return to politics 13 years after he resigned from his council seat and pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal federal grants and submitting false

documents to the government.

Johnson could not be reached for comment on his candidacy.

Also up for grabs is House District 97, vacated by state Rep. Matt Willard after he was elected this fall to an at-large seat on the council.

Eugene Green III, a property management consultant and the son of council member Eugene Green II, was the only candidate as of 4:30 p.m. to sign up for Willard’s seat. Green is a graduate of St. Augustine High School and Tulane University.

“I’m running to bring pragmatic leadership, accountable governance, and a renewed focus on the priorities that matter most to the people of this District, the City of New Orleans, and the state of Louisiana,” Green said in a statement earlier this month announcing his candidacy.

If elected, Green would represent voters in Gentilly, Pontchartrain Park, parts of Bayou St. John, the Lakefront and Mid-City.

House District 100, representing New Orleans East, drew only one candidate on Wednesday: attorney Dana Henry, who is seeking replace state Rep. Jason Hughes. Hughes was elected to the council’s District E seat this year.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

A pedestrian walks past the banners on the front of Gallier Hall before they are removed in New Orleans on Wednesday.

BANNERS

Continued from page 1B funds associated with the transition and the inauguration.

But city Chief Administrative Officer Joe Threat, in an email to Property Management and other city officials Saturday evening, said Cantrell’s directive was to have the banners removed and reinstalled before the inauguration.

“I know a lot of funds are expended for the banners and would like the Solomon group to remove the banners ASAP,” Threat said, referring to the local event management company. He added that Property Management staff should not remove them.

On Wednesday morning, crews were spotted pulling the banners down, and Ragusa said that Moreno’s team did not remove them.

Cantrell spokesperson Terry Davis said on Wednesday that the mayor’s administration respects Moreno’s process for implementing inauguration plans, and that the mayor’s removal request is part of standard business practices at event venues across New Orleans that call for adding or removing certain elements to accommodate the event.

“Gallier Hall hosts a full calendar of events, and each event may request various uses of the historic city building that may or may not include exterior and interior signage for that particular event,” he said.

Davis did not respond to questions about whether the banners came down on the city’s dime, and it’s not clear who climbed into the cherry picker along St. Charles Avenue on Wednesday morning and pulled them down one by one.

In the email Wednesday, Ra-

gusa said the inauguration committee and the City Council do not believe the banners should come down and that it would be irresponsible to use public funds to do so.

“Moreno’s inauguration is being approached differently than in the past, with inclusive events that invest back into the city — from a volunteer day of service improving NORD playgrounds to a free festival for all New Orleanians to celebrate together.”

Council President JP Morrell, a Moreno ally, on Wednesday criticized Cantrell over the issue.

“She’s more concerned with settling petty scores than doing her actual job,” Morrell said of the mayor. “With the city in a financial crisis, it makes zero sense to waste taxpayer dollars to tear down banners.”

Moreno is set to take office on Jan. 12.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 3B

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New Orleans Area Deaths

Ruling upheld in D.R. Horton moldy homes case Lawsuit to remain in state court

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

An East Baton Rouge appellate court has upheld the decision to keep a Youngsville family’s moldy homes lawsuit against one of the nation’s largest developers out of arbitration.

For the past 31/2 years, Alicia and West Dixon have fought to win damages from D.R. Horton, a Texas-based company that touts itself as America’s No. 1 homebuilder. The Dixons claim the four-bedroom home they purchased from D.R. Horton in 2014 had a faulty HVAC system that was not built to withstand Louisiana’s relentless summer humidity.

The legal battle has largely played out in the 19th Judicial District Court since March 2022, when the Dixons filed their lawsuit.

In July, the Dixons won a key victory when 19th JDC Chief Judge Donald Johnson ruled that the case should remain in state court instead of being litigated in arbitration court as D.R. Horton’s attorneys insisted.

The 1st Circuit Court of Appeal upheld that ruling, rejecting D.R. Horton’s bid to overturn Johnson’s decision.

1st Circuit judges Mitchell Theriot, Allison Penzato and Kelly Balfour unanimously agreed to deny the company’s writ and issued their Dec. 11 order without a written ruling.

It is unclear if D.R. Horton intends to appeal the decision to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

“This ruling matters because thousands of Louisiana families are living in homes that are making them and their kids sick,” said Lance Unglesby, one of the Dixons’ attorneys. “These homes are unlivable. I’ve walked through hundreds of them. There’s mold everywhere. Anyone who could see it for themselves would be outraged. I’ve seen conditions so hazardous they threaten the health of children, the elderly and the immunocompromised. And

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Crews work on the roof of a new construction build by D.R. Horton on West Worthey Street in Gonzales in 2023.

I’ve listened to story after story, like the Dixons’, of families trapped in homes that make them sick.”

Plaintiff attorneys have teed the Dixons’ case up to become a class-action lawsuit involving hundreds of other homeowners who purchased homes from D.R. Horton in Louisiana with mold and water intrusion issues.

The Dixons’ legal team claims D.R. Horton knew the ventilation systems were faulty and would cause microbial growth and leakage issues. The company still built scores of homes with defective designs along the Interstate 10 corridor from Lake Charles to Slidell, the plaintiffs contend.

D.R. Horton refutes the allegations and continues to defend the integrity of its homes. During a Dec. 8 hearing in the 19th Judicial District Courthouse, an attorney for the company said D.R. Horton has built more than 18,000 homes in Louisiana since 2007.

James Brown, the New Orleans attorney representing D.R. Horton against the Dixons’ lawsuit, has insisted that the dispute should be settled in arbitration, and argues that the court has no legal jurisdiction over the matter. He has pointed to a sales contract that the Dixons signed twice as they prepared to close on the home — in April and June 2014. It included a binding arbitration clause that delegated any legal disputes into mediation to be settled under construction industry arbitration rules.

Arbitration is a forum with more restrictive evidentiary rules of disclosure and one that could cost the Dixons well over $10,000 in fees and filing costs to pursue, according to the plaintiff attorneys.

But the Dixons and other homebuyers testified during a July 8 evidentiary hearing that D.R. Horton sales reps pressured them to sign the contracts with the arbitration agreements when they were just looking to buy.

The homeowners said sales agents told them they were simply purchase agreements to secure the homes with a $1,000 deposit, because the houses were selling fast. The Dixons testified that D.R. Horton representatives never mentioned the arbitration or delegation clauses, or explained to them that the contract could later prevent them from taking legal action in court.

LSU law professor Kenya Smith testified that it was an adhesion contract that swayed heavily in D.R. Horton’s favor. Adhesion contracts exist when there is such disproportionate bargaining power between the two parties that there is no way the weaker side could negotiate a variation.

Unglesby argued that the Dixons were duped into the signing the sales contracts, and their signatures shouldn’t lock them into arbitration, claiming D.R. Horton uses the tactic to ward off lawsuits.

In his July 22 written ruling, Johnson determined neither of the contracts the Dixons signed were legally

but in a rare move, the Louisiana Supreme Court booted Foxworth-Roberts from the judicial bench Dec. 11 over misconduct.

It is not clear which judge will preside over the case now.

“The 19th Judicial District Court respects the ruling of our state’s highest court,” Johnson, the chief judge, said in a statement Friday from the district court.

“Court operations continue as normal. Every case will be heard by a duly assigned judge, and every person who comes before this Court can be assured that their matter will receive the full attention and impartial consideration that justice requires.”

Ebony Walker was one of the homeowners at this month’s hearing. She told the judge she had hesitations to buy from D.R. Horton, but a sales rep assured her there would be no mold issues. She had a two-story house built at a subdivision in Zachary and dreamed that it would be a staple for her family.

“I wanted them to have a foundation for generations to come,” she testified.

Walker and her husband picked their two sons up from school and surprised them with the new house after closing on it in 2022.

The children reveled in the larger residence, which afforded the family enough space for a game room and for the kids to have their own bedrooms.

“The excitement was on their faces, because they’d never had that,” she said.

“And then within six months, we had to take that excitement from them.”

Mold began to grow and has swarmed the second floor of the Walkers’ home.

The family now crams together in the same bedroom to sleep at night.

D.R. Horton denied the couple’s warranty claim, Walker testified. Both her sons became sick from the mold allergens. Walker said her husband had to pick up a night job so the family could afford to move into a rental property while they continue to pay their mortgage.

binding or enforceable, citing material differences between the two. He found credence to testimony that D.R. Horton and its representatives led the Dixons to believe the two contracts were “merely to reserve the home” they had paid a $1,000 deposit for in anticipation of buying.

He ruled that the terms lacked mutuality and found no “clear and unmistakable evidence” that it was the Dixons’ intent to delegate their legal claims to an arbitrator.

“Across Louisiana, no matter the subdivision, no matter the year, the stories are the same,” Unglesby said after last week’s appellate court ruling. “For almost two decades, these homes are being built the same way, failing the same way, and the company building them has shown little regard for the people living in them.

My team has spoken with thousands of homeowners.

I’ve been inside hundreds of their houses. And I can tell you: This isn’t an accident.

It’s not negligence. It’s a pattern.”

Johnson presided over the case until Aug. 11, when he swapped sections with Judge Eboni Johnson Rose and took over her largely criminal docket. Rose quickly recused herself, and the case was allotted to Judge Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts.

Foxworth-Roberts presided over a lengthy hearing Dec. 8 and listened to testimony from four more homeowners and two expert witnesses. She was set to listen Email Matt Bruce at matt. to more witnesses Thursday, bruce@theadvocate.com.

Anthony, Emma Barnes, Richette Batiste, Floy Braxton, Junius Coulon, Carolyn Crutchfield Jr., Johnny Davis Sr., Timothy Ellsworth, Doris Green, Bernell Johns, Connor Lemon, Deborah Lewis, Wayne Mackey, Otis Mills, Debra O'Brien, Mary Reine, Timothy Schoenberger, JoAnn Spahr, Margaret Talbert, Carolyn Vincent, Gene Walker, Robbie Williams, Martina Witherup, Arthur

New Orleans Boyd Family Lemon, Deborah Charbonnet Coulon, Carolyn Crutchfield Jr., Johnny Walker, Robbie DW Rhodes Braxton, Junius Davis Sr., Timothy Green, Bernell Lewis, Wayne Estelle J Wilson Williams, Martina Gertrude Geddes Barnes, Richette Ellsworth, Doris Jacob Schoen O'Brien, Mary

INCIDENT

Continued from page 1B person adds, “We don’t respect whatever you do.”

A screenshot shared in the comments shows Sports Drink responding to the video and mocking its appearance on the Libs of TikTok page. The business later released several statements on Instagram, writing that “pro-ICE sycophants are negatively reviewing us on Google” and encouraging followers to report the Murrill reviews and leave positive ones instead.

Hours later, Sports Drink announced on Instagram that it would temporarily close.

“We care about the safety of our employees, patrons, and community at large and want to operate with an abundance of caution,” the post reads. “Thank you to everyone who has shown us support and passion. We truly appreciate it.”

The business’ public Instagram and X accounts were later made private. The owner could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

In a news release dated Friday, Murrill alleged that the agents were “harassed, cursed, and chased through neighborhoods” by protesters during and after the execution of a search warrant for Jiaxin Tian, 29, who was arrested at his home on Coliseum Street in the Touro neighborhood.

Tian, a Chinese national who has been in the United States on an academic visa since 2021, was taken to the Orleans Parish jail for booking, according to Murrill’s office. His bail status was not immediately available,

and the investigation is ongoing.

“Our office will investigate any attempts to harm or obstruct our agents for doing their jobs in taking child sex predators off the streets,” Murrill said. “This behavior will not be tolerated.”

The confrontation occurred amid heightened tensions in New Orleans following the arrival of Border Patrol agents in early December as part of a federal enforcement effort known as “Catahoula Crunch,” an operation the Trump administration has said is intended to increase deportations nationwide.

Immigration advocates and some local officials, including Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, have criticized the sweeps and their tactics. The operation has also drawn criticism from state officials, including Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, a Republican, who said the enforcement actions have ignited fear among residents and disrupted the state’s labor force.

Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol commander overseeing the operation, said this week that the Louisiana sweeps had led to nearly 350 people being detained. The Department of Homeland Security said last week that the operation had so far resulted in 250 arrests.

Federal arrest records indicate that fewer than 10% of those detained have criminal histories. Those range from serious crimes, such as aggravated kidnapping, to less serious offenses like public urination.

Officials have said the goal of the operation is to detain 5,000 people. In recent days, the effort has expanded to Baton Rouge.

BUDGET

Continued from page 1B Cooper argued the 2% cost-of-living raise for employees, meanwhile, was necessary to keep pace with inflation and prevent employees from receiving an “effective pay cut,” while the 1% merit and wage increase was needed to hire and keep experienced employees.

The raises will cost the parish $955,103.82, according to the letter, but because of how the parish allocates costs, the cuts would only eliminate $21,000 from the general fund.

It would take 10 out of the 14 council members to override each of Cooper’s two line-item vetoes. Although Cooper has vetoed these two line items in the 2026 budget, the budget as a whole still stands.

In explaining the cuts to employee raises, some council members argued the parish should wait until later in the year when it has more information about expected increases to employees’ health insurance costs.

To explain the Safe Haven cuts, meanwhile, some council members have pointed to the 30% cuts to the northshore District Attorney’s Office, the northshore judges and the jail

are facing in the 2026 budget. Safe Haven, like those criminal justice offices, relies on the parish’s overburdened general fund.

The council budgeted the money from the approximately $620,000 in cuts to Safe Haven to go toward $244,000 in computer license costs for the Clerk of Court’s Office and $350,000 for the costs of pending litigation.

Cooper has proposed eliminating those expenditures in his veto.

In addition to the $620,000 cuts from the operating budget, the council also proposed $114,000 in cuts to the parish’s capital budget for Safe Haven, eliminating funding for new lawn mow-

ers, an air handler unit and retention pond irrigation.

But Cooper did not veto that cut.

The council will consider overriding Cooper’s veto during a special meeting Thursday.

“I’m sure there will be a lot of rigorous debate,” council member Joe Impastato said.

Impastato said he personally plans to vote to override the vetoes, explaining he hopes to continue to reevaluate cost-of-living raises and find a long-term funding solution for the Safe Haven campus.

Email Willie Swett at willie.swett@theadvocate. com.

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Obituaries Anthony, Emma

Emma Anthony transi‐ tioned into eternal life on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at the age of 66. She was born on September 14, 1959, to the late Dorothy Dordain; granddaughter of the late Randy Pauline Dor‐ dain and David Dordain.

Emma joined her late hus‐ band Sidney Anthony Sr., companion Jessie Williams and late companion Ronny Stokes. She was the oldest of four siblings, Wilbert Dordain and the late Melv‐ ina Johnson, and Bobby Marsh. She lived a life de‐ voted to caring for others.

She was educated in Or‐ leans Parish school system and was an alumnus of George Washington Carver Senior High. She leaves to cherish her life her chil‐ dren Shantyne, Sidney Jr., and Sidneeka, her beloved 10 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and Relatives and friends. friends are invited to help celebrate her life on Friday, December 19, 2025 at Little‐ john Funeral Home, 2163 Aubry St., New Orleans, LA. Parlor visitation at 9:00 am.

Service begins at 10:00 am.

Professional services en‐ trusted to Littlejohn Fu‐ neral Home, 2163 Aubry Street, Cal K. Johnson, Manager-Funeral Director.

Info: 504-940-0045.

Devoted parishioner of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in New Orleans East. Floy loved attending Broadway plays and jazz concerts.

Floy leaves to cherish her memory six grandchildren: Bernell Charles; Rhett (Tanya) Charles, Sr.; Floyd (Lashanda) Williams, Sr.; Edward (Chanel) Williams, Jr.; Chanel Armant; and Oran (Shontel) Williams; along with twenty-eight greatgrandchildren and thirtyeight great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Q. Batiste; daughters, Athalia WilliamsLewis and Janell Sanders; great-granddaughter, Jaylyn Castenada; brother, Morris H. Roberts; and sisters, Adlay Roberts, Marion Gooden, and Helois Blair.

Services will be held Saturday, December 20, 2025 at Davis Mortuary, 230 Monroe, St. Gretna, La 70053. Viewing is from 8:3010am, with services to follow. Internment at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 2050 Caton St. New Orleans, La. 70122.

Braxton, Junius

With sadness we share the passing of Junius Brax‐ ton, on December 12, 2025.

Please visit www.rhodesf uneral.com to view service information, sign online guestbook, send flowers and share condolences.

Coulon, Carolyn Pablo

lll

ingston and Gregory Mid‐ dle schools and St. Augus‐ tine High School, where he was a stellar athlete. After graduation, he enrolled in the United States Marines Corps and attended Imper‐ ial Valley Junior College in El Centro, CA. Johnny later entered the medical pro‐ fession, working for vari‐ ous medical institutions as a CNA and MHT. Through this compassionate work, he provided care to people in critical need. He was last employed by Perime‐ ter Behavioral Health. Mr. leaves to Crutchfield mourn, his loving wife, Raven Crutchfield; chil‐ dren, Johnny Crutchfield, III, Justin (Zainab) Crutch‐ field, Brittany Johnson, Jaune (Joel) Thomas and Sir Skylar Crutchfield; par‐ ents, Peggy (Darrell) Lewis and Johnny Crutchfield, Sr.; Brian (Anita) brothers, Crutchfield and Damon Crutchfield; nieces, Ari‐ anne Crutchfield Thomas, Robin Zaida Crutchfield and Malia Angel James; Jarius Ahlon nephews, Crutchfield, Asiah Jahlon Crutchfield, Damon Crutch‐ field, Jr. and Ian Michael Crutchfield; aunts, Bessie (Harrison) Crutchfield Minor and Louella Minor Crutchfield, as well as grandchildren, a host of cousins, other relatives friends.

Relatives, and friends and co workers are invited to attend the ser‐ vices. A funeral will be held in the Chapel of Charbon‐ net Labat Glapion Funeral Home, 1615 St. Philip Street, New Orleans, LA 70116 on Saturday, Decem‐ ber 20, 2025 at 10 am, with visitation at 9 am in the chapel. A Repast will follow at Crystal Palace, 10020 Chef Menteur Highway, New Orleans, LA 70127 after the service. Please sign online guestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion, Directors (504) 581-4411

Ellsworth, Doris 'Dottie'

Doris "Dottie" Ellsworth, age 63, was born on Octo‐ ber 4, 1962, in New Orleans, LA. She departed this earthly home on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Doris was the loving mother of Aquanilla Smith, Theota Smith (Irian), and Kentron Smith. Beloved sister of Mary Smith, Denise Parks (Milton) and Edward Wash‐ ington (Linda). Niece of Helen Valtine and Paul Toney (Trish). She was also survived by 18 grandchil‐ dren, 4 great-grandchil‐ dren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. She was pre‐ ceded in death by her hus‐ band Michael J. Ellsworth; her parents Earl Myers and BettyJ. Smith; her son Theodore McCullum, Jr; her stepfather Charles Dicker‐ son Smith; and her grand‐ son Kar'Nas Coleman. Rela‐ tives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Celebration of Life Ser‐ vice on Saturday, Decem‐ ber 20, 2025, at Gertrude Willis Funeral Geddes Home, 2120 Jackson Av‐ enue, New Orleans, LA 70113 at 10:00 a.m. Visita‐ tion from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Private Burial.

You may sign the guest book on http://www.ger trudegeddeswillis.com.

Gertrude Geddes Willis Fu‐ neral Home Inc., in charge (504) 522-2525.

Green, Bernell W. 'Bumpy'

Barnes, Richette Dickerson Davis Sr., Timothy Joseph

Richette Dickerson Barnes, age 69, was born on September 4, 1956 in New Orleans, LA. She de‐ parted this earthly life on Saturday, December 6, 2025 Baton Rouge, LA. in Richette was the loving mother of Chad Dickerson, Dickerson, Ariel Galen Olatubosun, Twyla Gayton, Timothy Gayton. and Beloved sister of Hazel Morris, Rhonda Dickerson, and Mario Henderson. She was also survived by 4 grandchildren, and a host nieces, nephews, of family and cousins, friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Freddie Barnes; her par‐ ents, Hazel Daniel Dicker‐ son and Leon Dickerson; her brothers, James H. Smith and Istvan Dicker‐ son; her nephews, Brad Dickerson, Leon Morris, and Kenny Ray Morris; and her great-nephews, LeMar Ellis III and Javon Gayton.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Celebration of Life Ser‐ vice on Friday, December 19, 2025 at Gertrude Ged‐ des Willis Funeral Home, 2120 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113 at 12:30 pm. Visitation from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Private Burial. You may sign the guest book on www.ger trudegeddeswillis.com.

Gertrude Geddes Willis Fu‐ neral Home, Inc., in charge (504) 522-2525.

Carolyn Pablo Coulon, passed away on Thursday, December 11, 2025. Daugh‐ ter of the late Isadore N. and Hazel Hymel Pablo.

Beloved wife of the late Alvin J. “Chappy” Coulon for 60 years. Mother of Dimitri C. (Jeffery) Win‐ chester, Denise C. (Oscar) Lewis and the late Keith G. Coulon. Grandmother of Chaun (Sterling) Fleury, Jason Winchester, Renee’ (Lawrence) Doublet, Nicole and Jarrid Winchester Lewis. Great grandmother of thirteen. Sister of Mary P. Woodfork, the late Helen P. Benjamin, Veronica P. Broyard, Norris P. Cousin and Hedy P. McKendell.

Daughter-in-law of the late and Mary B. Audrey Coulon. Also survived by sister in law, Donna C. Mar‐ tin; brothers in law, Dr. Gerard Coulon (Janet) and Albany McKendell. Also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, other rel‐ atives and friends. Pre‐ ceded in death by three sisters-in-law and nine brothers-in-law. Relatives and friends; employees of the USDA National Finance JCFA Charter Center, Schools, Sewerage & Water Board, Woodhouse Spa and Passages Hospice are in‐ vited to attend the funeral.

A Mass of Christian burial honoring the life and legacy of the late Carolyn Pablo Coulon will be held at St. Martin de Porres Church, 5621 Catholic Elysian Fields Ave., New Or‐ leans, LA on Saturday, De‐ cember 20, 2025 at 11 am, Rev. Sidney Speaks, Cele‐ brant. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 2050 Caton St, New Orleans, LA 70122. Vis‐ itation 9 am in the church.

Please sign online guest‐ book at www.Charbonnetf uneralhome.com. Charbon‐ net Labat Glapion, Direc‐ tors (504) 581-4411

Batiste, Floy A. Crutchfield Jr., Johnny

Floy A. Batiste, affectionately known by most as 'Mother Dear,' peacefully transitioned on November 30th at the great age of 97.

Born February 2,1928, to the late Morris and Gertrude Roberts. Floy attended Valena C. Jones Elementary School and Gilbert Academy and was a member of the graduating Class of 1946.

Johnny Crutchfield, Jr., passed away on Friday, De‐ cember 5, 2025 at the age of 60. Born to Johnny Crutchfield, Sr. and Peggy Guichard Crutchfield on June 14, 1965 in New Or‐ leans, LA, Johnny pos‐ sessed a charisma that could light up any room. He was raised and educated in New Orleans, attended Phillips Elementary, Liv‐

Timothy Joseph Davis, Sr. was born on July 10, 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana to the union of Leonard and Vivian Davis.

He grew up in Algiers, Louisiana. He was a proud graduate of L. B. Landry High School in 1961. He was voted Best Dressed for four years. He also at‐ tended Southern University at New Orleans, Louisiana.

Timothy (Tim) married his high school sweetheart in 1964. To this union, two children were born: Desmond and Timothy, Jr. Timothy loved to travel with his family. Timothy worked for Coke Cola for several years and retired from Avondale Shipyard.

Timothy departed this life on December 9, 2025. He was preceded in death by parents, Leonard Williams Davis and Vivian Lottie Trosclair; one sister, Lottie Pitre (Ivory); six brothers, Freddie, Warren (Juanita), Leonard (Carol), Leslie, Aaron and Roy Davis. He leaves to cherish his mem‐ ory, his loving wife of sixtyone years, Elaine Doyle Davis; two sons Desmond (Charmine) and Timothy Davis, Jr.; four grandchil‐ dren, Desmond Davis, Jr. Des’Rae (Bronson), Jayde and Jordyn; two great grandchildren, Mosi and Bastion; sisters-in-law, Anna, Semora, and Linda Davis and a host of nieces, nephews and a loving and Goddaughter, supportive Deidre.

Relatives and friends of the family, pas‐ tors, officers and members of Westbank United Sev‐ enth-day Adventist Church and surrounding Seventhday Adventist Churches are invited to attend the funeral service on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Westbank United Seventhday Adventist Church, 2401 General Meyer Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70114. Vis‐ itation will take place from 9:00AM – 10:00 AM, fol‐ lowed by the service at 10:00AM, officiated by Pas‐ tor Paul Lawrence.

Arrangements by D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 1020 Virgil St. Gretna, La. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral. com to sign the online guestbook.

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of our beloved father, Bernell W Green. At the age of 95, Bernell departed this life in New Orleans, LA, having touched the lives of many.

He passed away peacefully at University Medical Cen‐ ter on December 13, 2025, surrounded by those who loved him dearly. Bernell was born on November 3, 1930, as the only child to Willie I. Green and Gladys B. Dickerson. Throughout his life, he was known for his kindness and generos‐ ity, leaving a lasting im‐ pact on everyone he en‐ His profes‐ countered. sional journey began as a cook, where he demon‐ strated remarkable skill and dedication. Later, he transitioned to a career as a laborer, bringing an un‐ wavering commitment and a strong work ethic to every role he undertook.

Bernell’s innate curiosity and talent for problemsolving were evident in the way he approached his hobbies. He found great satisfaction in taking apart and repairing small appli‐ ances, always eager to un‐ how things derstand worked and to restore them to function. This hands-on interest was not limited to household items; Bernell’s true passion lay in working on cars. He ded‐ icated countless hours to automotive projects, im‐ mersing himself in the in‐ tricacies of engines and machinery. His remarkable ability to diagnose vehicle issues simply by listening to the sounds they made was a testament to his skill and intuition. Even after health challenges led to early retirement, his Bernell’s industrious spirit never diminish. His enthu‐ siasm for life and his dedi‐ cation to his interests con‐ tinued to inspire those around him, serving as a lasting example of perse‐ verance and joy in pursu‐ ing one’s passions. Bernell is survived by his daugh‐ ters, Joan D. Williams, San‐ dra G. Riley (Micheal), and Karen A. Green. In addition to his immediate family, a host of extended family members and friends will miss him dearly and cher‐ ish his memory always. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, his stepfather Daniel Dicker‐ son, his daughters Edith D. Bell and Manya G. Jordan, and his grandson Danton V. Holliday Jr. Their memories remain cherished within the family’s heart. Bernell’s legacy lives on through his family. He was a proud grandfather of five grand‐ children, and his family

continues with five greatgrandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, each carrying forward his memory and the values he instilled. The family would like to express their heart‐ felt gratitude to the med‐ ical team at University Medical Center. Their com‐ passion and care during Bernell’s time there were deeply appreciated. Spe‐ cial thanks are also ex‐ tended to the staff at St. Bernard Nursing Facility, formerly known as Good Samaritan. Their support and dedication provided comfort to Bernell. Bernell W. Green’s legacy of love, joy, and compassion will remain forever in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be deeply missed and fondly remem‐ by family and bered friends alike. May he rest in eternal peace. A celebra‐ tion honoring Bernell W. Green’s remarkable life will be held at D. W. Rhodes Fu‐ neral Home, located at 3933 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., (visitation starting at 8:00 a.m. until service). In‐ terment: Providence Park Cemetery.

Memorial by D.W. Arrangements Rhodes Funeral Home, New Orleans, LA. Family and friends are invited to gather, share memories, and pay tribute to the lov‐ ing life he lived by visiting www.rhodesfuneral.com.

Johns, Connor Michael

Connor Michael Johns, cloud-dwelling thinker, black-hole solver, rollercoaster devotee, slope enthusiast, movie buff, gaming fanatic, and fiercely loving big brother, died at 12 years old. He was born on October 18, 2013 in Metairie, Louisiana. Just as Connor insisted on truth and objectivity in all things, the telling of his life will honor him with the same honesty, specificity, and wonder he brought into ours.

Connor's mind lived miles above the ground, somewhere between the multiverse and the mountains he longed to ski. He was the most inquisitive soul, trying to unravel the mysteries of space while regularly forgetting where the dinner plates were kept. Brilliant, nerdy in the most endearing and enviable way, anxiously perfectionist, and kind to his core, Connor greeted the world with relentless curiosity. He couldn't wait to learn algebra, planned to be a scientist during the week and a doctor on the weekends, and respected Neil deGrasse Tyson and Mark Rober with a reverence typically reserved for superheroes.

He was a thrill-seeker who never said no to a roller coaster, a skier who chased first chair to last with his dad, and an impossibly difficult-to-follow storyteller who could turn a movie, book, or theory into an entire universe. His deepest connection with his dad was found on the slopes. He was coachable, joyful, and undeniably happy in the snow, counting down the days until he could ski the back bowls of Vail in March, his dad's favorite spot in the world.

His enthusiasm for fantasy (namely The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, and every Rick Riordan book ever written) was contagious.

With his dad, he watched Aragorn stride across Middle-earth and cheered during the ride of the Rohirrim. With his mom, he proudly embraced his Ravenclaw roots and practiced leviOsa, not leviosA. And with his siblings, he excitedly shared his gaming knowledge and his love for the Greek, Roman, Norse, and Egyptian mythologies found between the pages of his books.

Connor lived by an internal code of truth, logic, and fairness that far outpaced his years. When something went wrong (an unflushed toilet, a missing remote, a mysteriously empty roll of toilet paper, or an errant candy wrapper on the floor), Connor was always the unwaveringly honest one. He held everyone, especially himself, to the highest expectations. In the rare instances when consequences were needed, his own assessments of what was fair required softening from his parents.

Though his mind soared, his heart lived at home.

The deepest joys of his life were the five of us together: family movies every Friday night, games around the table, holidays planned with gleeful precision, and the rituals that made our home feel like the safest, happiest place on earth. He never went to bed without asking his mom to tuck him in, he never passed up a chess match with his dad (which he won), and he never missed an opportunity to hype up his beloved siblings: Adam, "a god at soccer," and Zoey, "a god at art and music." He made sure everyone in the family knew exactly what they excelled at, because Connor saw the best in everyone.

Connor had the appetite of a tiny, discerning food critic: salmon sashimi yuzu from Tokyo Grill, chargrilled oysters from Drago's, chicken tikka masala and garlic shrimp from Mantra, and anything cooked in the Johns family kitchen. He started helping his mom cook, worried about how he'd survive in college without knowing the recipes he loved most, namely loaded baked potatoes and meatballs and spaghetti. Together, they began writing a cookbook of his favorites to ensure he'd be prepared.

He also helped sort laundry and dishes with gusto, though he never fully understood that Adam and Eric wore different sizes, that Zoey did not (in fact) wear boxers, that his mom did not own Airline Park or Haynes polos, and that the utensils had the same place they called home for over a decade.

He tried so hard, but it was too simple. Not complex or interesting enough to keep his attention. It was impossible not to love him for it.

He adored his friends—a brilliant, quirky, loyal, welcoming group who made him feel at home in the world: Ishaan, Cameron, Aaron, Brody, Bennett, Dean, Leighton, Spencer, and many others he met at Airline Park and Haynes.

With them, he built worlds, solved problems, played Roblox, and cracked up at trends his parents never fully understood. His laugh was pure joy: bright, calming, irreplaceable...and its absence is deafening.

Connor dreamed big. He talked about college frequently, not to escape, but because he imagined himself coming home on weekends with new facts to unload on all of us. His convictions were ironclad; "vodka" was, in his view, the height of human recklessness, and cigarette smoke demanded immediate evacuation. Despite dreaming in galaxies, he was the most financially cautious twelve-year-old alive, needing parental intervention to spend money on anything, even when he deserved it.

He loved his room and the routines that grounded him, but even more, he loved the comfort of being exactly himself with the people he adored most. He reveled in our family traditions, our inside jokes, and even found joy in our ongoing argument over who had to take the back seat in the van instead of the captain's chairs (because more often than not, he was vindicated when incorrectly told it was his turn in the back).

He said "specifically" as "pacifically" and "obliterate" as "oblitherate." He answered 80% of our questions with "Huh?" not out of disinterest, but because he was usually off solving something cosmic. When he invited us to join him in tracing the various thought strands, they were always magnificent. He loved his dad's crawfish boils and steak, and his mom's salmon and butter chicken. He loved teaming up with Adam in video games, knowing the win was almost guaranteed, and he loved the way Zoey could awaken a creative side he insisted he didn't have. He cherished that we were a family of five: safe, complete, and deeply intertwined.

He adored us. And we adored him.

Connor was his mother's person in the way some children just are.

Drawn to her, anchored with her, and understood by her. While her grief holds a shape only he could fill, everyone who loved him carries their own version of that loss.

We were the luckiest people on earth to have been loved by this boy. He made us parents. He made us better. He made our family whole.

Connor lived with an in-

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tensity that made ordinary life feel extraordinary.

When he was joyful, the whole house brightened.

When he was curious, he tugged the entire family into the universe with him.

When he loved, he did it with a fullness adults spend lifetimes trying to achieve.

He thought often about life and death-not morbidly, but with the same scientific hunger he brought to black holes and multiverses. He feared losing his memories because he treasured them so fiercely.

But he also believed in stardust, in energy that persists, in the idea that nothing truly beautiful ever disappears.

And now we understand what he somehow knew all along: grief this big is proof of a love big enough to outlive him. His spark, his humor, his curiosity, his mind racing miles ahead of us, does not dim.

It expands.

Though his twelve years were heartbreakingly short, they were dazzling.

Every day with Connor mattered.

Every story.

Every question. Every hug and every "tuck me in, Mom." Every ski run. Every laugh. Every barely sharpened pencil and broken eraser he left in his wake.

Every memory he made with the people he loved most.

We will carry him in ours, permanent and unbreakable, like the constellations he adored. And though he feared losing his memories, he left us with enough for several lifetimes. Connor was, and will always be, our stardust.

Our light.

Our boy.

Connor Michael Johns was predeceased by his grandfathers, Gregory Johns and John Marcus, and his beloved furry brother, Strider. Connor is survived by his parents, Rachael and Eric; his siblings, Adam and Zoey; his grandmothers, Debbie Hastings and Julie Johns; his beloved aunts and uncles, Robert Johns, Madeleine Johns, Rebecca Palermo, and Stefano Palermo, and by many cousins, and friends. He is loved beyond measure and missed beyond comprehension. A celebration of life will be held from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on 2025-1219 at L.A. Muhleisen & Son Funeral Home - Kenner, 2607 Williams Boulevard.

Lemon, Deborah Ann

On December 7, 2025, at 1:58 p.m., the Almighty, in His infinite wisdom, called Deborah Ann Lemon from our midst. Deborah was born on January 22, 1956, in New Orleans, Louisiana to the late J.C. Howard, Sr. and the late Ernestine J. Affectionately Howard. known to family and friends as “Debbie,” she was a proud graduate of George Washington Carver Senior High School. Debo‐ rah accepted Christ early in life and was a faithful member of Evening Star Spiritual Church under the of Minister leadership Annie Mae Jackson. She later united with Chief Cor‐ nerstone Full Gospel Min‐ istries under the leader‐ ship of Apostle Gary Bailey, Sr. Deborah was employed by the Raddison Hotel and Popeyes Fried Chicken, where she was known for her strong work ethic and dedication. She truly loved cooking for her family and and cherished friends spending time laughing, celebrating, and creating memories with those she most.

Deborah loved leaves to cherish her loving of her son, memory Leonard Jones; five grand‐ children, Leshell, Leniyah, Lenaiye Jones, Sheldon Lemon and Shiloh Lemon; great-grandchildren, two LeNia Spence and Gianna Howard; three brothers, Rondell Jones (Larissa), Robert Jones (Sarenia), J.C. Howard, Jr, four sisters, Deidra Howard, Ernestine Williams (Elbert), Lynette Lunkins (Craig), and Patri‐ cia Patterson (Gary). All are welcome to attend the Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, December 20, 2025, for 10:00 a.m. at Abundant Life Church, 9900 Haynes Blvd., New Orleans, Louisiana 70127. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Apostle Gary Bailey, Sr., of‐ ficiating. Interment is Pri‐ vate. Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditionbegins.

com (504) 282-0600. Linear Brooks Boyd and Donavin D. Boyd Owners/Funeral Di‐ rectors.

Lewis, Wayne Watson

With sadness we share the passing of Wayne Wat‐ son Lewis, on December 7, 2025. Please visit www.rho desfuneral.com to view service information, sign online guestbook, send flowers and share condo‐ lences.

Mackey, Otis Kareem 'Dooby'

Otis Kareem "Dooby" Mackey departed this life on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at University Medical Center surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on December 8, 1973. He was 51 years old and was a long time resident of Port Sulphur, La., before relo‐ cating to Hammond, La. He employed with was Offshore of Leviathan Houma, La. Beloved son of the late Joann Parker Mackey and the late Paul Mackey and Theodore stepson of Sonia Mackey.

Devoted husband of Shan‐ non Mackey. Beloved fa‐ ther of Kelsey Mackey, Cor‐ Ducro, Lynnae, nelius Nashae, London, and Jace Williams. Father-in-law of Lacey Williams and Keiron Page. Brother of Ernest Mackey, Vicky (the late Thomas, Don Cornell) Mackey, Melissa (Wilbert) Christopher Richardson, (Sharkay) Mackey, Ursula (Bruce) McKinny, the late Christina Mackey, the late Detrice (Byron) Williams.

Godson of Sheila Camese Brian Davis, Sr. and Brother-in-law of Nelson (Angelle) Williams, Trevor (Trekira) Williams Jamie (Lionel) Scott and the late James (Shativa) Nickerson, Rodgers, Sher‐ Martha maine Barthelemy, Janiero (Gilya) Baxter. Deceased is also survived by 8 grand‐ sons, a host of aunts, un‐ nieces, nephews, cles, cousins, other relatives and devoted friends. Rela‐ tives and friends of the family, Leviathan Offshore, Riverbend Nursing and Rehab, C-Dive, PSC, Gibson Services are all invited to attend the funeral services on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 27954 High‐ way 23, Port Sulphur, La. 70083. The visitation will begin at 9 a.m., and the service will begin at 11 a.m. Pastor Allen Johnson officiating and interment will follow at Mt. Zion Memorial Park Cemetery in Empire, La. Funeral plan‐ ning entrusted to Robinson Family Funeral Home, 9611 LA-23, Belle Chasse, LA 70037, (504) 208-2119. For online condolences, please visit www.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com.

Mills, Debra Robicheaux

In Loving Memory of Debra Robicheaux Mills November 16, 1948 – De‐ cember 16, 2025. Debra Ro‐ bicheaux Mills, a devoted mother, grandmother, and caregiver, passed away peacefully after a life dedi‐ cated to family and ser‐ vice. Born on November 16, 1948, in Franklin, Louisiana, Debra grew up surrounded by the warmth of her close-knit community be‐ fore settling in the greater New Orleans area, where she resided in Marrero, Lafitte, and Gretna. Debra pursued her calling in healthcare, becoming a registered nurse and de‐ voting her life to patient care. Her compassion and touched professionalism countless lives throughout her career, which she concluded at proudly Ochsner Hospital. She was

the beloved mother of three sons—Blaize (Tessa), Beau (Kristin), and Brady (Christina)—and the cher‐ ished grandmother of six: Blair, Brennan, Bradley, Emerson, and Blaize, Hayes. Debra was pre‐ ceded in death by her lov‐ ing husband of 38 years, Melvin Leonard Mills Jr., who passed away in 2007.

She was the daughter of the late Harold and Wiley Landry Robicheaux and leaves behind her siblings Dale Robicheaux (Frances), Duffy Robicheaux (Cheryl), Dixie Robicheaux and Fontenot (Bobby), who, along with their children Corey, Ben, Dane, Cheli, Samuel, Courtni, Brandon and Mia, will forever trea‐ sure her memory. Debra also leaves behind sisters & brother-in-law Gretchel Mills King, Jann Mills Lamy (Ray), and P. Brechtel Mills.

Debra’s life was a testa‐ ment to love, resilience, and service. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of her family and all who were fortunate to know her. Fu‐ neral Services: Family and friends are invited to cele‐ brate Debra’s life at Mothe Funeral Home, located at 2100 Westbank Express‐ way, Harvey, LA, on Satur‐ day, December 20. Visita‐ tion begins at 9:00 a.m., Catholic Mass at 11:00 a.m. honoring her memory, fol‐ lowed by a Celebration of Life from 12:30 to 2:30 with details provided at her ser‐ vice. Interment will take place at a later date in Westlawn Cemetery. The family invites you to share thoughts, fond memories and condolences online at mothefunerals.com.

O’Brien, Mary Lynne Veith

Mary Lynne Veith O’Brien (May 25, 1946 – De‐ cember 5, 2025) was born and raised in New Orleans.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Fred‐ erick Veith and Mary Morse Veith, and her hus‐ band of 40 years, Richard E. O'Brien, as well as siblings William Ronald Maynard, Veith Smith, Martha Mimi Veith, Suzanne Charles Heartman Veith and sister-in-law Patricia Flynn Veith. She is survived by her daughters Mary O’Brien Dorsh, Pegeen Katie Meghan O’Brien and Hernandez, and Karen brother Dr. Robert Woody Veith, sisters-in-law Robin Gautreau Veith and Debo‐ rah Marchadie Maynard, as well as many nieces and nephews, and thirteen cats and various strays she fed.

After graduating in 1964 from Warren Easton High School in New Orleans, she attended LSUNO for a brief time. In later years, she set about taking classes on various subjects, such as pottery, French, and com‐ edy, where she excelled with her comedy routine, this being a favorite to refer to with various lines from her routine. For over 50 years, she worked in the maritime industry as an for several accountant agencies. At Barwil Ship‐ ping Agency, she began as an accounting clerk and worked her way up to ac‐ counting manager. She spent 24 years working as the accounting manager at Maritime Endeavors Ship‐ ping Agency, helmed by her beloved boss, Capt.

Elias Katseros, who also precedes her in death.

Since 2018, she worked for Maritech Commercial for the Gorowara family, who made her feel as one of their own family members.

In 1965, she met Richard E. O’Brien, and after a brief courtship, spent 40 years as a loving wife, until his death in 2006. Mary will be remembered for her wit, tremendous intellect, sense of humor and funny antics, her very long mem‐

ory, her motherly love for all those she came into contact with, her devotion to rescuing cats, her phil‐ anthropy and humanitari‐ anism, and her passion for astrology. She will be missed by many. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the visitation at Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal Street, on Saturday, December 20, 2025, 11:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m.

Reine, Timothy David

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 5B

the Saints games he cheered through, and the family and friends who will forever hold him close. Rel‐ atives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral service at Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd West (In Forest Lawn Cemetery), Slidell, LA on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. Deacon Chris Schnei‐ der officiating. Visitation on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Interment in For‐ est Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Slidell Po‐ lice Association Toys from Cops. For donation infor‐ mation, contact Detective Kelby Wuertz at kwuertz@ slidellpd.com

Schoenberger, JoAnn Brandon

Timothy David Reine passed away peacefully on December 13, 2025, at the age of 63, surrounded by his loving family. Born on June 13, 1962, Tim lived a life shaped by service, faith, family, and a joyful spirit that brought laughter wherever he went. Tim was preceded in death by his father, George E. Reine Jr.; his mother, Bertha Eliza‐ beth Miller Reine; his brothers, George E. Reine III and Glen William Reine; his nephew, Scott Ernest Reine; and his sister-inlaw, Brenda Reine Bertus, wife of Glen William Reine.

He is survived by his broth‐ ers Ronald Walter Reine (Sylvia), Michael Anthony Reine (Carol), and sister-inlaw Diane Reine Ciko (George); seven nieces and two nephews; numerous great-nieces, greatnephews, and great-great nieces and nephews; and many, many friends who loved him dearly. Tim dedi‐ cated much of his life to public service and law en‐ forcement. He served with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, attaining the rank of Corporal in Pa‐ trol and Special Operations and later serving as Cap‐ tain of the Reserve Divi‐ sion. He also served as a Police Officer with the Slidell Police Department in the Patrol Division. Tim’s career further included service as a Deputy Sheriff with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in the Florida Keys, where he worked in Patrol, District II (Key Vaca) and as a Crime Scene Detective, District III (Key Largo). At the state level, he served as an In‐ vestigator with the Louisiana Lottery Corpora‐ tion Security Division dur‐ ing its start-up operations, and later as Chief of En‐ forcement for Gaming Reg‐ ulation with the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation.

Tim also served the State of Louisiana as a Commis‐ sioner with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commis‐ sion, where he held a State Trooper commission and worked closely with law enforcement agencies. His service extended to na‐ tional and professional roles, including Past Presi‐ dent of the Fraternal Order of Police in the Florida Keys, commissioned mem‐ ber of the U.S. Customs Blue Lightning Strike Force and Special Agent with the Louisiana State Police. A graduate of Holy Redeemer in Lacombe, Tim studied Criminology at Louisiana State University and at‐ tended the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Acad‐ emy. Above all else, Tim was the jovial, fun-loving uncle and the beloved baby brother. Known for his quick wit, love of Christmas, and lifelong de‐ votion to the New Orleans Saints, he made every gathering brighter and every room warmer. Tim loved God, and his faith was a constant source of comfort, strength, and peace throughout his life.

Tim will be remembered for his warmth, quick wit, generous heart, deep faith, and the joy he brought to everyone around him. His legacy lives on in the laughter he shared, the holidays he made special,

tist Church until Hurricane Katrina and Charter Mem‐ ber of the Plaquemines Parish Fair & Orange Festi‐ val. In 1985, JoAnn was blessed with a grandson who was a source of im‐ mense joy to both her and Barney. They enjoyed many days with Schoeny around the house as well as week‐ ends to the Gulf Coast.

JoAnn is survived by her Bonnie Jo daughter Schoenberger Thomas and husband Robert L. “Bobby” Thomas; grandson Robert “Schoeny” Schoenberger Thomas and wife Brittain Brown Thomas and her granddaughter greatMarie Schoen‐ Browne berger Thomas; nephews, Brandon B. Matherne, wife Diana Matherne and Hec‐ tor “Bert” Matherne, wife Lana Matherne. She was predeceased by her hus‐ Herman Bernard band sister Schoenberger, Juanita Bonnie Brandon Matherne, and her parents, Frank Aaron Brandon and Bonnie Lee Rentfro Bran‐ don. A Family graveside service will be held at Nairn Cemetery. Mothe Fu‐ Homes handled neral arrangements.

Spahr, Margaret Horn

JoAnn Brandon Schoen‐ berger, a loving and dedi‐ cated wife, mother, grand‐ mother, and great-grand‐ mother passed on Decem‐ ber 13, 2025, at the age of 95. JoAnn was born on De‐ 28, 1929, in cember Missouri.

Deslodge, JoAnn’s family moved to Port Sulphur, LA when she was 3 years old, as her fa‐ ther was one of the first engineers to survey the fu‐ ture mine site for the Freeport Sulphur Company.

JoAnn graduated from Port High School, Sulphur where she was a member of the basketball team, a cheerleader, and a mem‐ ber of numerous clubs. She then attended Northwest‐ ern State University of Louisiana. In 1947, she married Herman “Barney” Schoenberger. They had a wonderful life in Buras, and they celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary be‐ fore Barney died in 2016, when he was 90 years old.

Together they raised their daughter Bonnie Jo. JoAnn was a wife who was al‐ ways at her husband’s side and a mother who made all things possible. For many years, she was a secretary at Barney’s law office and orange business. Deeply involved in Bonnie Jo’s ed‐ ucation, JoAnn was an ac‐ tive member of the PTA served as Room and Mother throughout her daughter’s school years.

Creatively, she came up with whatever was needed for Bonnie Jo’s school pro‐ jects. She was also a profi‐ seamstress.

She cient planned many great family as well as vacations packed to evacuate from numerous hurricanes but always returned to Buras.

She made dinners effort‐ lessly. She always looked forward to hosting holiday celebrations and birthday dinners at her house with the extended family. They always joined Barney in Baton Rouge during the Legislative sessions and supported him through his public service as Repre‐ sentative, Assessor, and Sheriff. She was a member of the Buras-Triumph Bap‐

Margaret Horn Spahr, born on September 16, 1939, in Mayfield, Kentucky, and daughter of the late Alton Horn and Lottie Hain‐ line Horn, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on December 4, 2025. She was also pre‐ ceded in death by her hus‐ band, Joseph A. Spahr Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah By‐ church (Shayne); her grandsons, Drew McKinney (Gabrielle) and Bryan By‐ church (Monica); and her beloved great-grandchil‐ dren, Brie Ann McKinney, Frankie Bychurch, Dayton McKinney, and Mae McKin‐ ney. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, whom she cher‐ ished deeply. Margaret was a devoted member of De Gaulle Drive Church of Christ, where she spent many years teaching Bible school and sharing her faith. She enjoyed a long and dedicated career as a supervisor at BellSouth, serving for over 30 years, and was an active member of the Pioneers, where she expressed her lifelong pas‐ sion for community ser‐ vice. A gifted gardener, Margaret found joy in tend‐ ing her yard and had a deep appreciation for all of God’s living creations. She loved to travel, explore new places, and make cherished memories with family and friends. Visita‐ tion will be held from 10:00–11:00 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Decem‐ ber 20, 2025, at De Gaulle Drive Church of Christ, 4700 General De Gaulle Dr., New Orleans, LA. Private burial to follow. In lieu of flowers,

See more DEATHS, page

Davis Mortuary Service, Inc Gretna, LA (504) 361-8649 Woodlawn Park Memorial Cemetery and Mausoleum (504) 362-3091

6B ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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OPINION N O L A.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

A strong message against hazing, but are students listening?

There is no joy in seeing young lives irrevocably altered due to poor decisions, but the indictments handed down in the hazing death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson send a strong message, one that we hope other young people are paying attention to.

Wilson died on Feb. 27 after a night where pledges from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc were lined up at a warehouse and fraternity members put on black boxing gloves and took turns punching them in them in the chest, according to police reports.

After Wilson, 20, a Kenner native, collapsed, fraternity members didn’t call 911 right away, waited to take him to a hospital and told authorities the medical issue happened at a local park.

Following an investigation, three people — Isaiah Earl Smith, 29, Caleb McCray, 24, and Kyle Thurman, 25 — were arrested in March.

Last week, an East Baton Rouge grand jury weighed in. Smith, McCray and Thurman, all of Baton Rouge, each face felony hazing charges.

In addition, McCray was indicted on a charge of manslaughter; Smith was indicted on charges of principal to manslaughter and obstruction of justice, and Thurman was indicted for obstruction of justice.

Two other fraternity members — Winston Craig Sanders, 22, of Monroe, and Jaydn Landrum, 24, of Grand Prairie, Texas, were indicted on principal to felony hazing and obstruction of justice.

We applaud the fraternity for swiftly expelling members who participated in the hazing.

Wilson’s family also deserves praise for its advocacy against hazing in the midst of tremendous grief and was honored by the Legislature earlier this year for their work. In June, the governor signed the Enough is Enough Act, which went into effect this fall and requires college students in Louisiana to take an anti-hazing course.

But it remains a mystery to us why hazing continues to be so hard to stamp out on college campuses. The last time Louisiana saw this much activity related to addressing the problem was after the 2017 death of LSU freshman Max Gruver. Gruver’s family helped pass the law that made criminal hazing a felony in Louisiana with increased penalties, including up to five years in prison for serious injury or death, which Wilson’s alleged attackers now face.

Wilson was a mechanical engineering student and member of the Southern University “Human Jukebox” band. He had a bright future ahead of him. But so did all of those now facing charges in his death.

It’s terrible to watch this story repeat every so often. So many lives ruined, so much pain inflicted, and for what? To join a group that claims to be a brotherhood or sisterhood. No one watching this tragedy play out can say they don’t understand the true costs of hazing. We shouldn’t have to relearn the same lessons each time a young person dies.

Let this be the last time.

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YOUR VIEWS

Tulane’s historic football season brings back good memories

When leaders create uncertainty, there’s a method to making us mad Edwin H. Friedman, discussing leadership, wrote that when anxiety is high, reason becomes ineffective.

True leaders work to bring anxiety down, so that thought, listening and complex problem solving can take place.

The current political environment is fostering anxiety, fear and reactivity through constant chaos. And citizens see daily anxiety-producing methods like demeaning and intimidating people, institutions and communities — through labeling, shouting, namecalling, sending in forces, threatening financial or other measures against some and sometimes acting on those threats when those threatened do not act as commanded.

Some heads of state use these tactics because they want citizens to listen only to them. When tariffs hurt the economy, citizens are directed to believe: “Not true. It is a con.” “We the People” are not supposed to observe reality and think independently.

What is greatness? Not gold and power, not vindictiveness and hatred.

Is it peace and defense or lethality and war?

Does it affirm citizens so that they want to give their best or demean them, causing hopelessness and then call them losers?

Does it produce leaders open to ideas and solutions from differing viewpoints or produce leaders who refuse to communicate because they are in power and can win even if the citizens lose?

Is America a place where aspiring citizens are considered in their totality or as net assets? (The greatest person I have ever known was materially poor.)

Are we a country that wants no allies unless they offer us wealth or resources along with military support?

In our peace negotiations, are we hurrying to close the deal or assessing the whole picture in light of history and considering if lasting peace is possible with one who is bent on absorption and war?

Not the way. Don’t walk it.

ANN GONZALES Baton Rouge

Hegseth’s inexperience rapidly becomes a liability The latest fiasco involving the poor judgment of the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth can’t really be a surprise to anyone who knows anything about the military and leadership. Hegseth was clearly unqualified for this hugely important office.

Hegseth’s mistakes won’t stop. His most recent — the order to “kill everyone” in another attack on a boat in the Caribbean — has gone too far.

If reports are correct and a “second attack” was conducted on helpless people after the initial attack, everyone from the person who gave the order, to the person who fired the shots are guilty of war crimes.

The America I served doesn’t kill helpless people — combatants or noncombatants.

But we are different now. This is what happens when you elect or appoint the incompetent.

Who can truly be surprised at these repeated missteps by Pete Hegseth?

Would anyone be surprised if Delta Air Lines put the person loading the snacks on a 757 into the captain’s seat and the aircraft crashed on the next flight?

I’m embarrassed by what we have become.

RICHARD WESTMORELAND New Orleans

Kiffin’s sweet deal with LSU more of the same I saw where Lane Kiffin’s contract with LSU includes a provision that will pay him a $1 million bonus if Ole Miss wins the CFP National Championship this year.

I sure am glad Gov. Jeff Landry promised that LSU wouldn’t enter into any more stupid contracts.

I am writing to congratulate the Tulane Green Wave team for rolling again to so many victories this year on their way to the CFP. What a revival!

And it brings back fond memories of the Foley Boys, Charlie Hall and when Tulane finally beat LSU after 25 years in 1973, 14-0!

And with LSU just having an underperforming season but now a hopeful future with Lane Kiffin, it is so cool to have a state team to root for.

And I love how they lately have turned up the green lights shining on the Superdome for both the Greenies and for the Christmas season.

It may be time now to schedule a renewed rival LSU v. Tulane game — like in the past — at the end of the year in the future?

My late dad was a Tulane grad and a perennial supporter of the Greenies.

How can I forget all those games I used to go with him at the old Tulane Stadium and in the Superdome, enjoying being with my late Uncle Vic Landry and others, especially at the Westfelt Club in the Dome for fun and fellowship.

Last year, it was so great to go to a Tulane Greenie game with my then VA social work supervisor, Michael Frederick, in the new Tulane Yulman Stadium, and I was able to go to the new Westfelt Club.

How can I forget the many years ago as a kid making some money parking cars for attendees of football games at the old famous Tulane Stadium when I lived uptown on Broadway and Spruce?

Roll Wave Roll!

And let’s hope your “waves” spill over into good luck for both Lane Kiffin and da Bayou Pussycats, as well as for Kellen Moore and da ’Aints!

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COMMENTARY Wise legislators secure reprieve for 333K Medicaid patients After trying to attack the messenger, Gov. Jeff Landry capitulated both to legislators and to common sense on Dec. 16 by reversing his administration’s reckless cancellation of a major Medicaid contract.

Legislators deserve credit for forcing his hand.

I had written last week about the bizarre nonrenewal of a contract with the state’s second-largest Medicaid insurance provider, UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana. On Nov. 20, Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein argued at Quin length before a legislaHillyer tive committee that United and five other providers all should have their contracts renewed. Just 11 days later, after Attorney General Liz Murrill lost a court decision in a procedural fight connected with her lawsuit against a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) also run by United, she suddenly said United was not in compliance with state law.

Immediately, the Landry administration, through Greenstein and Louisiana Medicaid Director Seth Gold, completely reversed course and announced that United’s contract — the one for which they had just argued in favor — would be pulled.

There was no reason for the Medicaid contract to be tied to the suit related to PBMs. And it was stunningly rash to pull the contract so late in the process, leaving Gold and his Medicaid agency just two weeks to move a whopping 333,000 people from United to another provider. As not all providers have agreements with all the same doctors and pharmacies, this could leave patients without their accustomed health care professionals, or even without any such professionals nearby.

And all with just weeks to figure out other arrangements — all during the Christmas season, no less.

The blowback against the sudden shift was fierce. Landry didn’t take kindly to the messenger (me) or to the blowback, as he used several social media outlets to attack me by name as “a shill for big corporations that prey upon consumers.” The Louisiana Republican Party followed up with multiple attacks on me in the same vein.

For the record, the question isn’t whether to support UnitedHealthcare or any other corporation (for which I care not at all). The question, as was amply noted by multiple advocates for the disabled and for indigent pa-

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Gov. Jeff Landry speaks during a news conference at the State Capitol. tients, is how the last-minute cancellation — of a company that Landry’s own team had supported just 11 days earlier! — would affect more than 333,000 patients.

It wasn’t just left-leaning groups that expressed widespread alarm about “gaps in coverage” that could result. President Donald Trump’s own first-term Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities, Melissa Ortiz — a frequent representative of conservative organizations on Fox News, no less — described to me at great length the problems, even lifethreatening ones, which could arise because of the Landry administration’s precipitous decision.

As it was, the attempt to deflect attention to alleged corporate shilling did not work. Showing admirable diligence and thoughtfulness, legislators of both parties continued to question the abandonment of United. Senate health committee chair Patrick McMath, R-Covington, and insurance committee chairman Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, pushed for a hearing about “the termination of these contracts and the potential impacts.”

Both Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, and Senate President Pro Tempore Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, expressed grave concern. So did numerous others, including key, longtime members of health and insurance committees.

After a Dec. 16 hearing, the admin-

istration finally backed down. In what amounted to a double reverse — approval of United on Nov. 20, cancellation on Dec. 2, and now reapproval on Dec. 16 — Greenstein announced that United’s contract would be renewed after all for at least 90 days, through March of 2026, at a cost of $561 million.

Hooray — sort of.

Greenstein and Murrill told the Louisiana Illuminator that if Murrill is able to reach a settlement of her suit against UnitedHealthcare during those 90 days, the contract might be extended for the full year.

Again, though, Murrill’s fight about PBMs should have nothing to do with the overall Medicaid contracts. Nor should her anger over losing a round in her lawsuit against United’s operation of a PBM. If United’s Medicaid coverage itself isn’t satisfactory, then use the next year to fix it or carefully plan how to replace it. But don’t hold patients hostage to Murrill’s only semi-related legal wrangling.

Repeat after me: What matters are the patients. What matters are the patients.

Meanwhile, kudos to the state legislators who showed there are some administration power plays for which they have no patience.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

Potential residents of Lockdown, U.S. “Just FYI if you’re seeing the news But there were the mayor and police right now, I’m totally safe,” a son enchief and governor — guys that you’d rolled at Brown University texted me. see at Starbucks — dominating na“I’ve been home for a few hours now tional TV. Furthermore, the media reand wasn’t there when stuff garded their news conferences started to happen. Seems to as so urgent that they broke off be some crazy shooting near commercials. brown.”

Americans, wherever reportWhat?! I turned on CNN and ers descend by parachute, must saw the quaint streets of Provialso note how often they get minor things wrong. They just dence’s College Hill — lined Froma don’t know the culture. with front porches — pulsing Harrop Several hours after the shootunder emergency lights that washed the cold night sky an ing in a Brown engineering eerie red. Nothing like this ever hapbuilding, which killed two students, a “person of interest” was in police cuspens around here.

Brown was put in lockdown, and so tody and the lockdown quickly lifted. were those of us living a few blocks Come late Sunday, the person of interaway on Providence’s East Side. est was deemed not the killer, and the “Shooter seems to be still at large search was back on. so lock your doors and turn off the When that POI “from Wisconsin” lights,” our student wrote. And we did, was identified at a motel in Coventry, as apparently did others on our treea semi-rural old mill town, a reporter lined street of single-family houses. noted that it was near the airport, It was so odd to see the world’s meimplying that he might be planning to flee. dia fixed on this compact city in the Coventry may be near the airport tiniest state. Rhode Island has one of

by Atlanta standards, but not in this the nation’s lowest homicide rates.

The relatively small number of violent village-oriented state. The joke goes: “In Rhode Island, a five-minute drive crimes is doubly remarkable in that is a road trip.” The Hampton Inn in Rhode Island is largely urban.

Some Brown shooting reports noted Coventry is a 15-minute drive from that Providence had only two murders the T.F. Green Airport.

With the perpetrator still at large, this year. They were both across town from College Hill. Having had a home the news anchors are hanging in. And in the East Side police district for over the story out of Providence continues to loop alongside the horrific mass 25 years, I can recall only two murders, and both were domestic killings. shooting of Hanukkah celebrants in

Sydney, Australia.

Brown students were sent home early for the holidays, and there was no new lockdown. The gunman is out there somewhere, but Rhode Islanders calculating their risks know that he seemed to target a group of students, not random people on the streets.

Sometimes law enforcement takes a while to capture the perpetrator.

Meanwhile, dogs must be walked.

Trash must be picked up. Holiday shopping and celebrations must resume, and they are, in low-key ways.

Public schools are open, and light traffic has returned to Thayer Street, a strip of pizza joints, cafes and chain stores that serves as Brown’s main street.

There have been shelter-in-place orders in bigger places: Austin, San Francisco, Boston. And smaller places: Ledgeview, Wisconsin, and Highlands Ranch, Colorado. They have now arrived in a nothing-terrible-everhappens place like the East Side of Providence.

And if they come here, they could come to most any city, town or hamlet in the country, or nowadays in the world.

Given the horrendous wave of mass shootings, we are all potential residents of Lockdown, USA. Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com.

Taking a closer look at MIT

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is unlike other large universities, and not just because, according to its inexplicably ebullient president, Sally Kornbluth, the football players “thank you for coming to the games.” (Yes, MIT has a team. Division III. So MIT does not play Texas Tech.) MIT’s nature and governance suggest that the Trump administration was not at its most lucid when it made the school a target of its blunderbuss animus against elite universities.

In October, MIT was one of nine such that the Education Department ordered to sign the Trump administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.”

George Kornbluth made MIT the first to reWill fuse to do so. She was in Washington trying to mitigate the damage that can be done to America’s meritocracy by policies motivated by hostility toward institutions vital to it.

The compact mandates promoting “equality in admissions” by having “all undergraduate applicants take a widely-used standardized test,” such as the SAT and ACT. After pausing this requirement during the pandemic, MIT in 2022 became the first university to restore it. MIT has never had legacy admissions. And two years ago, in Kornbluth’s second year as president, MIT ended the practice of requiring applicants for faculty positions to submit political statements pledging allegiance to diversity, equity and inclusion orthodoxies.

The compact correctly says that “too many young adults have become saddled with life-altering” student debts. MIT admissions decisions are “needblind,” and students from families with annual incomes under $200,000 pay no tuition. Almost 88% of the graduating class in 2024 left MIT with no debt, according to Kornbluth. Enrollment of undergraduates from other nations is capped at 10 percent.

Ninety-four percent of MIT undergraduate degrees are in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields. This explains the university’s astonishing economic multiplier effect: MIT graduates have founded companies that have generated almost $1.9 trillion in annual revenue (a sum almost equal to Russia’s GDP) and 4.6 million jobs.

MIT sits alongside Boston’s Charles River. Sixty years ago, the Charles was said to flow into the Potomac River because, beginning in the 1960s, many academic luminaries (Arthur Schlesinger Jr., John Kenneth Galbraith, McGeorge Bundy, Henry Kissinger, Daniel Patrick Moynihan and more) moved south to Washington. Perhaps the most consequential single move came, however, more than 80 years ago.

Vannevar Bush, with an electrical engineering joint doctorate from MIT and Harvard, was an MIT professor and dean before he was blown to Washington by the winds of World War II. There, he became crucial to laying the foundation for science-based modern warfare and national security. Having reviewed a 1942 Bush memo urging acceleration of a particular program, Franklin Roosevelt sent this memo: “V.B.: OK — returned — I think you had best keep this in your own safe.” The Manhattan Project was born.

This Trump administration originally favored the elimination of the Education Department, a defensible fate for something created in 1979 by Jimmy Carter as a gratuity for the National Education Association, the teachers union, which in 1976 gave him its first presidential endorsement. Now, however, Donald Trump’s Education Department is even more muscular toward universities than Barack Obama’s was in 2011.

Then, a menacing “Dear Colleague” letter pressured schools, under the threat of financial punishment, to adopt policies regarding sexual harassment accusations that eviscerated due process protections for the accused. Many people who today oppose financial threats coercing schools into compliance with Trump’s priorities applauded Obama’s actions.

The 8% tax on MIT’s endowment will cost the university $240 million annually that will not be available to make up for reductions in government research grants. Universities’ endowments fuel upward mobility and combat the stagnation of elites.

Taxing endowments mocks conservatism by enfeebling private sector alternatives to government’s domination of social resources.

Finally, it is almost sublimely hilarious that Trump’s compact forbids universities to “belittle” — wait for it — “conservative ideas.” Such as? Civility? Free trade? Fiscal continence? The separation of powers? The rule of law? Keeping the public and private sectors distinct by not conscripting corporations (Intel, U.S. Steel and others) into the public sector? Government too modest to decree that universities must be “safe spaces” for conservatives (who used to be proud of not being snowflakes)?

The Trump administration is today’s comprehensive belittler of conservative ideas. Its solicitude for “conservative ideas” will not encompass this one: Many things are beyond government’s proper scope and actual competence. Watching today’s politics toy with an institution of MIT’s complexity and importance is like watching a toddler play with Sèvres porcelain.

Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com.

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TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

8B ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

with meteorologist Damon Singleton

TODAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Mostly cloudy, a stray t-storm

Sunny, cooler and less humid

Mostly cloudy

Pleasant with sunny intervals

Partly sunny, a shower; warm

Sunshine and remaining warm

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

LOW

77°

52°

64° 47°

LOW

73° 60°

LOW

74° 59°

LOW

74° 57°

LOW

74° 61°

A Dense Fog Advisory is an effect until 9 a.m. this morning. Visibility of a quarter of a mile or less in parts of Southeast Louisiana are possible. Otherwise, expect a partly to mostly cloudy, warm, humid and breezy day today.

Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the mid-70s. Rain chances today are 40-50%, so expect scattered showers and storms, mainly during the morning hours. Skies should begin to clear mid- to late afternoon. Winds will increase tonight and temps will be lower tomorrow as winds become northerly.

YESTERDAY

TODAY

READING 48 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

New Orleans through 5 p.m. Wednesday

TEMPERATURE

Monroe 69/39

Shreveport 71/39 Longview 72/35

High/low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Jackson 72/40

FLOOD WED. 24-HOUR

Baton Rouge 79/45

Lafayette 78/46

Beaumont 78/45

New Orleans 77/52

Lake Charles 77/44

Port Arthur 74/47

Houma 78/51

Shown is today’s weather.

Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

City

Austin Boston Dallas Denver Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami

Hi

TODAY Lo

W

77 40 s 45 40 pc 68 37 s 47 35 pc -31 -38 pc 80 70 sh 69 46 s 59 26 r 81 70 pc

Hi

FRI. Lo

W

68 50 s 57 28 r 62 50 s 67 46 pc -30 -37 sn 80 71 sh 65 49 pc 35 30 s 85 68 pc

City

Nashville Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Raleigh St. Louis San Diego Tampa

Hi

TODAY

59 82 48 76 54 59 57 69 80

Lo

31 66 45 51 33 56 24 49 69

W

r pc pc s c r r pc t

Hi

44 80 59 80 40 62 38 70 76

FRI. Lo

30 53 29 54 23 29 33 53 51

W

s c r s sf s s s pc

MISSISSIPPI STAGE STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 -7.10 +0.71 Vidalia-Natchez 48 13.40 -0.49 Red River Landing 48 17.80 -0.61 Baton Rouge 35 6.40 -0.46 Donaldsonville 27 3.60 -0.42 Reserve 22 2.57 -0.56 New Orleans 17 1.80 +0.04 OHIO Cairo 40 9.48 -1.37 COMITE Near Olive 19 -1.30 -0.27 AMITE Near Darlington 18 -0.28 -0.26 Denham Springs 29 11.22 +0.07 Port Vincent 8 1.44 -0.22 TICKFAW Montpelier 13 2.27 -0.14 Holden 15 1.55 +0.15 ATCHAFALAYA Simmesport 47 5.26 +0.08 Melville 34 3.54 +0.19 Krotz Springs 29 3.37 +0.03 Butte La Rose 20 2.67 +0.14 Bayou Sorrel 12 1.80 -0.10 Morgan City 6 2.52 +0.15

Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

DEATHS continued from the family asks that dona‐ tions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospi‐ tal in her name. Mothe Fu‐ neral Homes handled arrangements, visit www. mothefunerals.com.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at Grace Funeral Home, 450 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington LA 70433 on Monday, December 22, 2025, at 11:00 AM with Visitation on Monday beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow the services at Sandhill Cemetery in Ponchatoula, LA.

Talbert, Carolyn Sullivan

membered by a host of nieces, nephews, other rel‐ atives and dear friends.

Robbie was preceded in death by her father, Millard Watler, Sr; sister, Waleta Brown and nephew, Darryl “Peanut” Brown. A funeral service honoring the life and legacy of the late Rob‐ bie Walker will be held in the Chapel of Charbonnet Funeral Labat Glapion Home, 1615St. Philip Street, New Orleans, LA 70116 on Friday, December 19, 2025 at 10 am. Visitation 9 am in the chapel. Please sign on‐ line guestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com.

Charbonnet Labat Glapion, Directors (504)581 4411.

Vincent, Gene Dennis

Carolyn Sullivan Talbert, age 87, of Metairie Louisiana passed away on December 10, 2025. Carolyn was born in Pensacola, Florida on May 23, 1938 to the late Arthur and Stella Sullivan. Carolyn was the devoted wife of sixty-eight years to the late Victor Talbert.

Carolyn is survived by her daughter, Patti Blackledge (Barry); her granddaughters Jennifer Lacoste (Stevin), Katelyn Kubacak (Ivan), Taylor Thibodeaux (Joseph); and great-grandchildren Abigail Jane Thibodeaux, Landon Wyatt Kubacak, and Charlotte Rose Thibodeaux. She is preceded in death by her daughter Peggy Talbert.

Carolyn dedicated over fifty-six years to her career in real estate, working alongside her daughter Peggy and granddaughter Jennifer. She worked with integrity and closed over one billion dollars in real estate. Her granddaughter Jennifer continues to carry on her legacy. Outside of her career, she was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She enjoyed working in the yard, and was a choir member at Celebration Church. Carolyn was extremely generous, and was always quick to remind others of what God had done for her.

Carolyn will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

24-hour total Month to date Normal month to date year to date Normal year to date

Trace 4.25” 2.38” 57.49” 60.91”

GOOD

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

Hattiesburg 74/44

Alexandria 74/41

Many 72/36

65°/54° 65° 48° 79° in 2024 25° in 1960

GOOD

PRECIPITATION

IBEW, Local Union 130, members of this union are invited to the Services of Gene D. Vincent on December 19, 2025, at Barataria Baptist Church, 2596 Jean Lafitte Blvd., Lafitte, LA. Visitation begins 9:00 a.m., service to follow at 11:00 a.m.

data as of 7 a.m. Wednesday

TODAY’S TIDES Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) Shell Beach South Point, Marsh Island Cypremort Point Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) Wine Island

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today FIRST

FULL

LAST

DEC 19

DEC 27

JAN 3

JAN 10

FT.

LOW

FT.

HIGH

---------------

FT.

---------------

LOW

---------------

FT.

---------------

The solunar period schedule allows planning days so you will be fishing in good territory or hunting in good cover during those times. Major periods begin at the times shown and last for 1.5 to 2 hours. The minor periods are shorter.

MAJOR MINOR MAJOR MINOR

Today 9:21a Friday 10:10a Saturday 11:02a Sunday 11:26a Monday 12:24a Tuesday 1:19a Wednesday 2:12a

3:09a 9:46p 3:57a 10:36p 4:49a 11:28p 5:42a ---6:37a 12:49p 7:31a 1:43p 8:24a 2:35p

3:34p 4:23p 5:15p 6:08p 7:02p 7:55p 8:47p

Forecasts and graphics, except Damon’s Outlook, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2025

nieces, nephews, cousins, close friends, and the de‐ voted congregation of Fifth African Baptist Church.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Ser‐ vice on Saturday, Decem‐ ber 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. and viewing from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at Fifth African Baptist Church, South Robertson 3419 Street, New Orleans, La. 70115. Rev. Dale J. Sanders, Sr. Interment: Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 4000 Norman Mayer Ave., New Orleans, La. 70122. Arrangements entrusted to Estelle J. Wil‐ son Funeral Home, Inc., 2715 Danneel Street, NOLA 70113. Information: (504) 895-4903. To sign online guest book please visit www.estellejwilsonfh.com.

Witherup, Arthur

Walker, Robbie

Robbie Walker, was born on July 30, 1957. She en‐ tered eternal rest on Satur‐ day, December 6, 2025 at the age of 68. A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Robbie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sis‐ ter and friend, whose life was marked by service, compassion and love for her family. Robbie was em‐ ployed with LCMC Man‐ ning’s Family Children’s Hospital, where she faith‐ fully served 23 years as an anesthesiologist techni‐ cian. Her dedication to car‐ ing for others reflected her generous spirit and com‐ mitment to helping those in need. She leaves to cher‐ ish precious memories, children, Bobby Crawford, Jr., Jezmon Walker and Jerlisa Walker; loving mother, Florence Larkins; siblings, Millard “Mickey” Watler, Jr. (Frances), Terry Watler (Lynette) and Jerri Guidry; grandchildren, Mylie Walker and Kweli Daniels. Also lovingly re‐

6:51 a.m.

5:04 p.m.

5:48 a.m.

3:50 p.m.

NEW

Williams, Martina Major

Martina Major Williams, age 82 of New Orleans, LA, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025 at East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, LA. Martina was preceded in death by her husband the Rev. Cleveland L. Williams Sr., her parents, Edgar and Betty Major, and her sister Catherine B. Brown. She was a graduate of Walter L. Cohen High School and a graduate of Southern Uni‐ versity and A&M College where she earned a Bache‐ lor of Science Degree, Mas‐ ters in Education, and a + 30. She was a teacher with Assumption Parish the Board in School LA. She Napoleonville, leaves to mourn her cher‐ memories, her ished daughters, Dwan W. Ven‐ tresca (Dean Ventresca), Chandra W. Buxton (James Buxton), her sons, Cleve‐ land L. Williams Jr., Shawn D. Williams, Rev. Tremayne G. Williams, Brandon G. Williams, Bevin C. Williams, and a bonus son Craig M. Nicholas. Two sisters-inlaw, Carrie Mae Jackson and Mary Dell Oates; forty grandchildren and fifteen a great-grandchildren, godchild, and a host of

HIGH

5:49a 0.6 5:44p -0.2 --- --- 11:07a -0.3 5:09p 1.7 6:50a -0.7 7:55p 1.7 10:42a -0.1 8:08p 1.0 6:55a -0.4 7:26p 1.4 5:10a -0.5 9:16p 1.3 7:57a -0.5

Arthur Witherup was born on November 8, 1947 in New Orleans and lived most of his life in the Al‐ giers Point neighborhood.

He attended Belleville Ele‐ mentary and graduated from Martin Behrman Ju‐ nior Senior High School in 1967. After joining the Army he was trained as a combat medic and was at‐ tached to a unit of the 82nd Airborne division engaged in action in South Vietnam.

While rendering aid under fire, he was seriously wounded. Following an ex‐ tensive recovery he was later trained in meteorol‐ ogy and assigned to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Upon discharge and more treat‐ ment, Arthur attended Tu‐ lane University and gradu‐ ated with a Bachelor’s de‐ gree in Business. For a brief while he worked in the film industry locally and would later often re‐ mark that it was the most fun he had on any job.

Arthur also attended the Digital Computer school and eventually worked in various capacities in that field. He also studied pho‐

tography and worked at it most of his life. On a quiet afternoon Arthur was out for a stroll in the lovely park near the Holy Name of Mary Church in Algiers with his dear friend and companion Judy Stringer, when an assailant sud‐ denly approached them and shot him in the face then snatching his friend’s purse. After an extensive recovery he went back to work, but was never quite the same. Later after an‐ other threatening incident, he moved to Mandeville, LA living there for a num‐ ber of years until hurricane Ida damaged his apart‐ ment complex. Also suffer‐ ing a head injury during evacuation, both the events resulted in his move to the Veterans Home.

Arthur loved New Orleans especially Algiers and Point. He was very civicminded. For years he would volunteer as a worker at the polls during elections in Mandeville. He was very involved with Vet‐ erans’ issues and belonged to or supported numerous including organizations, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Vet‐ erans, and various Purple Heart Groups among oth‐ ers. He also briefly served as Northshore Commander and Life Member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart USA 741. Arthur was son of Sanders the and Dorothy Witherup Wahl Witherup, both now deceased. He is survived

by a brother Jared T. Witherup; a sister Deborah Witherup Wactor; three Wendy Mores, nieces Brenda, and Jenny Norris, and her husband Russell Norris, Jr.; a nephew Drake; and many cousins. Arthur had a great sense of humor demonstrated by his frequent clever quips. really missed his He friends at the Park Lane Apartments, especially the owner Inge Japsen, who cared for his property dur‐ ing the move. The family would like to thank all those who tended to his medical requirements over the many years as well as to the friends he made at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home during his stay. Arthur was the joy and the humor of our fam‐ ily! He was 78. Family and friends are invited to gather at Mothe Funeral Home, 1300 Vallette St., Al‐ giers, LA, on Friday, De‐ cember 19, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The service will start at 11 a.m. fol‐ lowed by interment imme‐ after at Mc‐ diately Donoghville Cemetery, 520 Hancock St., Gretna, LA.

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OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

SPORTS

N O L A.C O M

|

T h u r s d ay, d e c e m b e r 18, 2025

1cN

Sumrall, Golding are frenemies in CFP Tulane, Ole Miss coaches can relate to each other

To appreciate the double life Jon Sumrall is living, you need to visit his socialmedia platforms.

The timeline tells the story. It’s a steady stream of posts, alternating between Florida Jeff and Tulane conDuncan tent, highlighted by wave and gator emojis and #RollWave and #GoGators.

One day, he’s conducting a

fireside chat with Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer in Gainesville, Florida. The next, he’s leading a Tulane practice at Yulman Stadium.

Sumrall Since being named the head coach at Florida on Nov. 30, Sumrall has been wearing hats as the head coach of two major football programs — the one he currently leads, Tulane, which is preparing for a first-round game against Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff, and the one in waiting, Florida, which he will join after Tulane’s CFP run.

“I’ve got two phones, two jobs and two hours of sleep,” Sumrall

ä Tulane at Ole Miss, 2:30 P.M. SATURDAy,TNT

tweeted Dec. 9 below a photoshopped image of him wearing split Florida and Tulane coaching gear.

Sumrall was only half-joking.

Last week was a vivid example of his hectic existence.

On Sunday, Dec. 7, he attended an on-campus watch party with his Tulane players and coaches to see the Green Wave’s first-round pairing in the CFP, then hopped on a plane to Gainesville for four days, where he began assembling his staff and managing his roster at Florida. He then returned to

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VASHA HUNT

Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding grins on the field before a ä See DUNCAN, page 6C game against LSU on Sept. 30, 2023, in Oxford, Miss.

JE T S AT SAIN T S • NOON SUNDAy • CBS

LSU defense has not met Mulkey’s expectations

BY REED DARCEY

Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave breaks free of Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn to score a late touchdown during the second half at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday.

Picking it up

Saints WR Olave responds to dropped pass with dominant closing stretch

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

As the New Orleans Saints were mounting their comeback against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Chris Olave was missing in action.

The Saints’ top receiver had been targeted just twice in the first three quarters, catching one of them for 7 yards.

New Orleans was pushing the ball into scoring range, and CBS commentator Robert Griffin III began speaking about Olave’s lack of opportunity in the game as New Orleans lined up for a second and

10 from the Panthers’ 32-yard line.

Right on time, Olave accelerated downfield and snapped off his route toward the sideline. Quarterback Tyler Shough threw the ball his way, with the pass sailing just high enough for Olave to leave his feet. It looked like they’d finally connected for a big play — until cornerback Mike Jackson arrived and jarred the ball free with a hard hit.

The play seemed to sum up Olave’s season, in which the many big plays he’s made often have been overshadowed by plays he did not make. That drive stalled out when Shough was stopped for no gain

on a fourth-down scramble two plays later, further magnifying Olave’s drop.

What ended up being important is what happened next.

“I told him I’d come right back to him,” Shough said.

Olave came to life in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. On the drive after his drop, with the Saints needing a touchdown to tie the game, Shough threw the ball his way on three consecutive plays, gaining 17, 18 and 16 yards. To cap it off, Olave beat inside leverage from

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

After the LSU women’s basketball team wrapped up its latest blowout win early Tuesday afternoon, coach Kim Mulkey said she wished that NCAA rules still allowed her to hold an impromptu practice that day.

Mulkey thinks the No. 5 Tigers (12-0) have plenty of room to improve on how they’re playing ä Texas-Arlington defense. They still at LSU, haven’t met her lofty standards at 1 P.M. SUNDAy, SECN that end of the floor.

Not even after they allowed Morgan State on Tuesday to convert only four field goals in the entire second half of a game they won by 58 points.

“If we don’t get better defensively,” Mulkey said, “(associate head coach) Bob Starkey is gonna have a coronary. I mean, he’s in charge of defense. He’s old school like I am, and he knows what our weaknesses are.”

LSU’s supposed deficiencies won’t show up on the stats sheet. The Tigers, according to Her Hoop Stats, are allowing their opponents to score only 68.5 points per 100 possessions — the second-best mark among Division I teams. They’ve also let just one of their first dozen opponents shoot at least 40% from the field.

Mulkey, however, thinks that LSU needs to spend less time chasing steals and more time defending the paint. She said Tuesday that the Tigers are still giving up too many drives to the rim and still letting opposing players cut past them too frequently.

In November and December, Mulkey doesn’t spend much time looking at the scoreboard. She instead focuses on individual possessions, monitoring how LSU defends its commanding leads over midmajor teams.

What Mulkey saw Tuesday did not look like “fundamentally good, disciplined defense.”

“We have to know the difference on when to gamble, when to stay in a stance,”

ä See LSU WOMEN, page 4C

Nwoko’s presence starting to match size

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Leonard Nwoko was shocked by the scene at the YMCA outside of Houston.

His 7-year-old son Mike Nwoko, a newcomer to basketball, was booed in his first game.

“He was getting all the rebounds, (but) he didn’t have any skills,” Leonard Nwoko said. “Parents, mothers were aggressive. They were mean. They’re like, ‘Oh, he’s too big. He can’t be 7, 8 years old.’ ” Frustrated spectators didn’t rattle Mike Nwoko. His passion for the sport already was cemented by watching a Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets game.

When his family moved from

ä Southeastern at LSU, 7 P.M. FRIDAy, SECN+

Houston to Canada when he was in the fourth grade, his basketball love followed. He begged his dad to drive him to the court on holidays. When temperatures were below freezing when the family lived in Calgary and Toronto, that’s when the most competitive basketball was played.

Nwoko’s passion for the game feels larger than his 6-foot-10, 261-pound presence on the court for LSU. The former four-star recruit’s confidence wasn’t shaken when he played just 8.9 minutes per game during his first year at Miami.

“I’m kind of delusional that way,” Nwoko said. “I still thought I was way better than what I was portrayed to be.”

That self-belief existed throughout his sophomore season at Mississippi State, where he started 32 games but played the ninth-most minutes (15.4).

Now Nwoko’s talent has met opportunity in his junior year at LSU (9-1). Everything he’s practiced with the help of his basketball skills trainer, Filip Music, has led to career bests at 15.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and shooting a Southeastern Conference-leading 70.8% from the field in 19.9 minutes.

“Great size and physicality, but

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

LSU center Mike Nwoko runs across the court during the second half of a game against SMU at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday. Nwoko has ä See LSU MEN, page 4C increased his playing time and production in his first season at LSU.

2C ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Chiefs QB Mahomes begins rehab

BY DAVE SKRETTA

AP sportswriter

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has begun rehab following surgery to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee, and the team is optimistic the twotime MVP could be back early next season — perhaps even by the time Kansas City plays Week 1.

Rick Burkholder, their vice president of sports medicine and performance, said Wednesday the procedure performed in Dallas by Dr. Dan Cooper on Monday night went well. The operation happened about 24 hours after Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in a loss to the Chargers.

The recovery time for such an injury is about ninth months, though it could vary by several months depending on various factors. Next season is expected to kick off on September 10, 2026, and the Chiefs could play their first game a few days later.

“Every player is different. Every sport is different. Every position is different,” Burkholder said. “(Mahomes) is so in tune to what he does, he does it a little quicker. Ballpark on this is nine months, but it could be a month or two more, a month or two less.”

The loss to the Chargers eliminated the Chiefs from postseason contention, ending that streak at a decade. They had also won the past nine AFC West titles, reached the previous seven conference championship games and played in the past three Super Bowls.

Now, backup Gardner Minshew will quarterback them through the final three games beginning Sunday at Tennessee.

“Quick turnaround from a very emotional game, and obviously the situation with Pat, the situation with our team’s playoff picture,” he said. “But you know what? You are where you’re at. We have to turn this around and get a win this weekend.”

AP sportswriter

RENTON, Wash. — Sam Darnold was far from his best the last time he and the Seattle Seahawks squared off against his hometown team and he is amply aware he will need to perform better than when he tossed four interceptions against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 16.

Darnold and the Seahawks’ rematch Thursday night with the Rams carries significant NFC West title implications. The Seahawks (11-3) and Rams (11-3) are tied atop the division and a game ahead of the 49ers, and a win for either team would put them in the driver’s seat to secure the title and potentially the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

“We’re excited about this challenge,” Darnold said. “Obviously, it’s a divisional game, and playing these guys last time wasn’t my best effort. I feel like as an offense, we’ve just got to continue to do what we’ve been practicing, stay on the details. But again, this team has a very good defense.”

The Rams defense, which ranks 13th in the NFL in total yards allowed, caused all sorts of issues for Darnold in November. The Seahawks offense has struggled at times since that game and hasn’t scored a first-quarter touchdown since Nov. 9.

Still, Seattle has a top-five defense and has allowed 25 total points over its last three games.

The way Rams coach Sean McVay sees it, Los Angeles will be challenged just as much as the Seahawks will be.

“There’s no weakness,” McVay said. “This is as complete of a football team as there is.”

Such an assessment wouldn’t be off base for the Rams, either, a team that has won eight of its last nine games and scored at least 40 points in three of its last seven games. The Seahawks may have the NFL’s leading receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but Los Angeles’ Puka Nacua isn’t far behind with

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks will not raise a banner at Madison Square Garden to commemorate their NBA Cup championship, a person with knowledge of the decision said Wednesday.

The Knicks do plan to celebrate the title in front of their fans Friday, when they play their first home game since winning the championship Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

But they won’t join the previous winners of the Cup in marking the achievement with a banner, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to lack of public announcement.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks both hung banners after winning the NBA Cup. However, the person said the Knicks are proud of the achievement but focused on bigger goals.

Ohio fires coach Smith over ‘professional misconduct’

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By REED HOFFMANN

Rick Burkholder, vice president of sports medicine and performance for the Chiefs, talks to quarterback Patrick Mahome after Mahomes was injured during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs could be missing several big names beyond their star quarterback.

Rashee Rice and fellow wide receiver Tyquan Thornton are in the concussion protocol after taking vicious hits in the game against Los Angeles, while left tackle Jaylon Moore remains out with a knee injury and right tackle Jawaan Taylor is out with an elbow issue.

On defense, cornerback Trent McDuffie is still dealing with a knee injury and linebacker Leo Chenal with a shoulder problem.

None of those players practiced Wednesday.

“We’ll see how they roll timewise for the game,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.

As for Mahomes, he plans to return to Kansas City by Friday, where he will continue rehabbing with Burkholder’s staff. Leading the effort will be Julie Frymyer, his assistant trainer and top physical

therapist, whose name made headlines during the 2022-23 playoffs for her role in helping Mahomes overcome a severe high-ankle sprain without having to miss a game.

Frymyer was even featured alongside Mahomes recently in a State Farm insurance commercial.

“I think you guys know, as a player, his mindset is a little different than most,” Burkholder said. “He’s so regimented in what he does. He’s in here at 6 a.m. He’s the last guy out at night. He’ll take the rehab like that. When you add up all the little things, that allows the player to get back faster. They don’t heal up faster, they just get back to performance faster.”

Reid said he’s spoken daily with Mahomes since the injury in the closing minutes of Sunday’s game.

“He’s so positive right now,” Reid said. “Like Rick said, he attacked this thing the day of. You wouldn’t

expect anything less. ‘Get me up, get me going,’ he’s basically saying, an hour after the game. ‘Brace me up and let me go.’ It’s not one of those injuries, obviously, but that’s his mindset. I think he’ll do great with the rehab. He’s a pretty fast healer that way. And his attitude is 90% of things, how you go about it.

How you’re willing to push through the pain to get right.”

Minshew acknowledged a strange feeling walking through the team facility without Mahomes this week. But the two QBs have been in touch, and the veteran of 46 starts across seven NFL seasons is looking forward to Mahomes’ input the rest of the way.

“He’s been great, man. Soon as he’s been figuring things out, he’s been texting the QB room,” Minshew said. “Very positive. Trying to get us fired up. That dude still wants us to win. That’s what he cares about.”

Stakes high for Rams, Seahawks matchup

BY ANDREW DESTIN

Kincks won’t hang their championship banner

ä Los Angeles at Seattle.

ATHENS, Ohio — Football coach Brian Smith was fired Wednesday by Ohio University, which cited “serious professional misconduct.”

Smith had been placed on indefinite leave on Dec. 1. The university said it terminated Smith’s contract for cause following an administrative review that found him “engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably” on the school. It did not provide specifics.

The 45-year-old Smith was named the head coach on Dec. 18, 2024.

Defensive coordinator John Hauser will serve as interim coach for the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 23 against UNLV. The search for a permanent coach is underway.

Jacksonville State wins Salute to Veterans Bowl

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Caden Creel threw a touchdown pass, Deondre Johnson had six receptions for 101 yards, and Jacksonville State beat Troy 17-13 on Tuesday night to win the Salute to Veterans Bowl.

Andrew Paul’s 1-yard run off a direct snap gave the Gamecocks a 17-13 lead with 5:44 remaining. With about a minute left, Tucker Kilcrease drove Troy past midfield but his passattempt to DJ Epps on the final play was knocked down in the end zone.

Troy had won the last seven games between the teams but it was the first meeting since 2001 for the schools located just 162 miles apart. The Trojans are 33-29-2 in the series that dates to 1924.

Jacksonville State has played in a bowl game in each of its three seasons at the FBS level.

THURSDAy 7:15 P.M., PRIME.

second-year defensive tackle “probably singlehandedly won us the football game on defense.”

Murphy, a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, has taken significant steps forward in 2025, tying for the team lead in sacks with seven and is tied for fourth in tackles for loss.

Defensive coordinator Aden Durde said he thinks Murphy has been playing at an elite level, especially on early downs.

“When he’s on,” Durde said, “he’s pretty much unblockable.”

Suspect secondary The Rams’ four-interception performance in their first meeting with the Seahawks was an unusually good game for a Los Angeles secondary that has frequently seemed to be this team’s weakest link. Cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. couldn’t do much to slow the Lions’ star ASSOCIATED PRES PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON receivers last week, and veteran Ahkello Witherspoon was Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold warms up before a game a healthy scratch. The Rams’ against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Seattle. pass rush frequently makes the secondary’s job easier, but the second-most receiving yards partly because McVay has em- it couldn’t sack Darnold in the in the league. braced three-tight-end sets to a teams’ first meeting, and it “They’ve been winning games surprising degree, but receivers struggled to touch Jared Goff and playing at a really high level, Tutu Atwell and rookie Konata until the Lions fell behind last as good as anybody in the league,” Mumpfield should get a bump in week.

McVay said. “Like I said, it’s going their meager playing time if Adto be a great challenge for us.” ams sits. The Seahawks are the Anemic run game only 10-win team that has thrown The Seahawks’ run game was No third wheels to its tertiary wide receivers even nearly nonexistent last week as If Davante Adams’ hamstring in- less than the Rams this season, they totaled just three yards on jury keeps him out Thursday, the but Rashid Shaheed’s role has in- nine carries before halftime.

Rams will be without the league creased since his midseason arriv- Seattle finished with a seasonleader in touchdown receptions al, and Darnold frequently targets low 50 yards rushing; Kenneth Walker III had 17 yards on nine and quarterback Matthew Staf- his tight ends as well. carries, both figures his fewest ford’s favorite short-yardage tarof the season. get. Even worse, the Rams don’t Immovable Murphy “I think it’s got to improve really have a third wide receiver, Byron Murphy II drew high with Stafford throwing just 58 praise from coach Mike Macdon- pretty quick,” said Seahawks times all season to wideouts not ald after Sunday’s game, with offensive coordinator Klint named Adams or Nacua. That’s Macdonald saying he thought the Kubiak.

Dolphins waive veteran Judon, sign LB Woodard

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins waived pass rusher Matthew Judon and signed linebacker Jackson Woodard to the active roster off Houston’s practice squad on Wednesday.

Miami also signed linebacker Andre Carter II to the practice squad and released tight end Tanner Conner from it.

With the Dolphins being eliminated from postseason contention with Monday night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, waiving Judon figures to give the veteran a chance to sign with a contender while allowing the Dolphins to turn their focus to the future with an eye toward younger talent.

Miami fell 28-15 at Pittsburgh, closing the door on its playoff hopes with three games left in the season.

Alcaraz ends seven-year partnership with coach

Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz is parting ways with his longtime coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, the man who guided him to the pinnacle of men’s tennis during a remarkably successful seven-year partnership.

Alcaraz announced the decision to end their collaboration on Wednesday in a message on his social networks. Ferrero, in a separate statement, thanked his protege and said he wished they “could have continued.”

With Ferrero, who has coached the Spaniard since he was 15 years old, Alcaraz claimed six Grand Slams: two French Open titles, two Wimbledon crowns and two U.S. Opens.

With Ferrero, Alcaraz became the youngest player to reach No. 1 in the ATP rankings.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 3C

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Saints won’t have 2 offensive cogs Sunday D’Marco-no!

BY MATTHEW PARAS AND LUKE JOHNSON Staff writers

The New Orleans Saints have been relatively healthy this season, but the injury bug might be catching up to them.

Coach Kellen Moore ruled out running back Devin Neal (ankle) and wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) ahead of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets as five players in total missed practice Wednesday.

Among them, running back Alvin Kamara still has not returned after missing the last three games with a knee and ankle injury. Guard Cesar Ruiz (ankle) and tackle Asim Richards (ankle) were also absent.

If Kamara cannot return this week, the Saints be espeNotebook would cially shorthanded at running back.

With Neal out, the team would be left with only two rushers (Audric Estime and Evan Hull) and utilityman Taysom Hill to run the ball against the Jets.

Vele’s injury is also notable as the second-year wideout had emerged as a key target for quarterback Tyler Shough in recent weeks. Dating back to a breakout performance in Miami, the 28-year-old has 16 catches for 202 yards in the last three games. But Vele got hurt in Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers and left the locker room in a sling.

Ruiz’s injury affects the offensive line. If the guard misses time, the Saints likely would turn to William Sherman, who has worked his way up the depth chart in recent weeks.

Safety Justin Reid (knee) and defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd (ankle/knee) were limited.

Demario Davis believes he has a “linebacker tree.”

Much like coaches get credit for having assistants hired away and thrive elsewhere, the New Orleans Saints linebacker has seen the same happen with his backups and those who have played beside him. There was Alex Anzalone, who stars for Detroit. Kaden Elliss became a consistent starter in Atlanta. And of course, there is Zack Baun — the former Saints third-round pick who became an All Pro and finished as a Defensive Player of the Year finalist last year with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Look at that linebacker tree, it’s pretty extensive,” Davis said with a grin last month. “I’d be willing to put that resume up against anybody.”

Davis now has another entry into the fold.

Former Saints linebacker D’Marco Jackson — who was most recently with the team in August — won NFC Defensive Player of the Week thanks to his performance against the Cleveland Browns. Now with the Chicago Bears, Jackson recorded seven tackles, two passes defended, a sack and an interception in a 31-3 win Sunday.

In Chicago, Jackson is playing again under Dennis Allen — the former Saints coach who is now the defensive coordinator for the Bears.

Jackson joined the Bears in late August when they claimed him off waivers after he failed to make the Saints’ 53-man roster.

The Saints drafted Jackson in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. He appeared in 27 games, mostly on special teams. Like Baun, he was stuck behind Davis and Pete Werner on the depth chart. He also dealt with injuries last year, as a calf and ankle injury limited him to 10 games. He

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele warms up before the start of the game against the Carolina Panthers at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday. The Saints have ruled Vele out of Sunday’s game against the New york Jets. finished the season on injured reserve, missing the last four games.

This summer, Jackson got lost in the shuffle in a deep linebacker room. The team opted to keep rookie Danny Stutsman, Jaylan Ford and Isaiah Stalbird as the options behind Davis and Werner. Stutsman and Stalbird have carved out utility role while Ford is a key special-teams contributor.

Cook had a rough debut as a starter last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, throwing three interceptions in a 48-20 loss. Negative plays have been a theme for him in his limited playing time this season, as he’s thrown five interceptions and taken nine sacks while playing 120 offensive snaps.

His only other playing time came against the Miami Dolphins in Week 14, when he completed 14 of 30 pass Rookie battle attempts for 163 yards.

Cook played college football at Shough won’t be the only rookie quarterback to start Sunday be- Missouri, where he threw for 8,591 tween the Saints and New York Jets. yards and 46 touchdowns in his Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Wednes- three seasons as a starter. day that undrafted rookie Brady Cook would earn his second straight Coach Ginn start. Glenn did not say which vetTed Ginn Jr. is adding a new chapter eran, Tyrod Taylor or Justin Fields, would to his football career.

The former Saints receiver was serve as the backup.

named the head coach of the Columbus Aviators, who will embark on their inaugural UFL season in March.

“Today marks a new milestone in my football journey,” Ginn said in a statement. “When I heard that the United Football League was going to have a football team in Columbus, I wanted to be a part of creating a new winning tradition in this city that is such an important part of my life.”

Ginn spent three of his 14 NFL seasons in New Orleans. A 2007 first-round pick, Ginn caught 100 passes for 1,417 yards and eight touchdowns from 2017-19 with the Saints.

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@ theadvocate.com.

Dolphins turn to backup Eliminated Bengals focused Ewers over QB Tagovailoa on building momentum for ’26

BY ALANIS THAMES AND ROB MAADDI AP sportswriters

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was unsure what his future with the team will look like following Wednesday’s benching for rookie Quinn Ewers.

For now, the former firstround draft pick said he will contribute in whatever way he can despite his disappointment with how this season has gone.

The decision came after Tagovailoa struggled in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which eliminated Miami (6-8) from postseason contention. Ewers, a seventh-round pick by Miami earlier this year, will make his first career start Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, McDaniel said Wednesday.

Zach Wilson, who has been Miami’s No. 2 quarterback most of the season, will back up Ewers.

Tagovailoa will be the emergency third quarterback.

“Naturally I’d say I’m disappointed,” Tagovailoa said. “I think it’s normal.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C premier cover cornerback JayCee Horn with a slant route to tie the game with a 12-yard touchdown on third and 6.

“We just had to make a play at the end of the day,” Olave said. “(Horn had) inside leverage, but (Shough) still threw the ball and he trusted me to win. He threw a great ball, a great placement. We made the play.”

Shough said he had “full confidence” Olave would make the play.

“That’s my guy — that’s our guy,” Shough said. “He’s going to win one-on-one no matter what, if I give him a chance — and I’ve got to continue to give him more chances. He made a huge play, a great route and a great catch. We got the look that we wanted on that, and it was just an unbelievable, unbelievable job.”

It’s a normal human emotion. But outside of that, I’ve got to do my part. My role here right now is to help whoever the quarterback is going to be for this team.”

McDaniel said the decision came down to who he felt gave the Dolphins the best chance to win.

Tagovailoa threw for just 65 yards through three quarters on Monday, and the areas in which he has appeared to regress were evident again, from questionable decisionmaking to a lack of mobility that has hampered him throughout the season.

He leads the NFL with 15 interceptions and hasn’t played up to his contract after signing a four-year, $212.4 million extension in July 2024.

Ewers was 5 for 8 for 53 yards in his only action this season in a lopsided loss to the Browns in October. He was the 231st player selected in the draft last April after starting three seasons at Texas.

“I’m super thankful that the staff believes in me to go out there and give us an opportunity to go win an

Olave has proven he can stay healthy this year, which was the big question coming into 2025 after his 2024 season was cut short by multiple concussions. But while he’s stayed on the field, his play has been defined by peaks and valleys.

He needs six more catches to eclipse his career high and just 104 yards in the final three weeks to record his third 1,000-yard season of his career. He is without question the top playmaker for the Saints.

But Olave also has had his share of drops this year. By Pro Football Reference’s charting, he’s dropped five passes. By Olave’s personal standards, that number is higher.

Which makes Shough coming right back to Olave after the drop so important. It is an example of what coach Kellen Moore calls “getting back to neutral.”

“There’s good plays, there’s bad plays, now you’ve gotta get back to neutral; you’ve

NFL football game,” Ewers said.

Tagovailoa was drafted

by Miami after winning a national championship during a successful college career at Alabama, and he was expected to be the key piece that would end years of disappointment for the Dolphins, who have the league’s longest playoff-win drought.

The 27-year-old Tagovailoa had started every game this season but has a history of concussions.

He missed six games last season because of a concussion and hip injury after playing 17 games in 2023. He led the NFL in yards passing that season, helped the Dolphins win 11 games to earn a wild-card spot and earned a big contract that included $167.2 million guaranteed.

Tagovailoa declined to say whether he felt this decision would affect his future with the team.

It’s unclear if the Dolphins will stick with Ewers beyond Sunday. They close the season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and at New England.

got to reset yourself each play,” Moore said. “It didn’t work out on second down, and then he responds a few plays later and gives him an opportunity as the next drive progresses.”

Olave had one catch on three targets through the first 55 minutes of game time.

When the Saints needed him late, he delivered five big receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown to help propel the winning effort. Afterward, the drop was an afterthought.

The start of the game was tough, Olave said, but he made a conscious effort not to let his emotions get in the way of his performance. The goal was to attack every play as if the ball was designed to come his way.

Eventually, it did. And Olave delivered.

“Somebody had to make a play,” Olave said. “I’m glad he kept coming to me.”

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate. com.

BY CHARLIE GOLDSMITH Associated Press

CINCINNATI — For the first time since 2020, the Cincinnati Bengals are playing out the string in late December and are eliminated from postseason contention with multiple games left to play.

The Bengals’ 4-10 record is a frustrating reality for a team that entered the year with playoff ambitions.

“It comes down to being able to win when we need to and showing up in these big games and these big moments,” captain and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. said. “I’ve been a part of those special teams. A lot of guys in this locker room were a part of it here in 2021 and 2022 being able to push to that point. It’s a lot of things that it’s going to take for us to get back in that position.”

While the Bengals are eliminated, coach Zac Taylor said that quarterback Joe Burrow will start the remaining games with an eye on competing.

Taylor said that there’s a lot that he’s hoping to get out of the Bengals’ final three games, beginning Sunday

in Miami. Burrow views the stretch run similarly.

“Any time you get the opportunity to strap up the pads and put the cleats on and go in front of the world and prove your worth through all the hard work that you’ve put in, prove that you’re improving week to week, that’s what we’re all trying to do,” Burrow said. “We’re trying to get better and better ourselves.

We have three opportunities to do that.”

Down the stretch, Burrow and the offense are looking to bounce back from last week’s shutout loss against the Baltimore Ravens. Also, there’s an opportunity to see continued progress from the young defense.

The Bengals have been relying on a lot of young pieces, including defensive end Myles Murphy, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr., linebackers Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter, safety Jordan Battle, and cornerbacks DJ Turner and Dax Hill. While the Bengals defense was on pace for a historically bad season a month ago, the unit has rebounded.

“There are some things

they’re improving on that we’re going to build off of,” Taylor said. “Anyone watching the game can see that’s an improvement being made, and there are a lot of young players participating in that.”

Defensive coordinator Al Golden said that encouraging signs include the strong performance from the defense since the bye week in early November on third downs and in the red zone. He said that Murphy, Knight, Carter, Turner and Battle have all made meaningful strides over the last few weeks, and Golden’s growing confidence in the young defense has helped him build game plans with more advanced concepts.

Still, a defense that ranks last in the NFL in points allowed and yards allowed this season needs to get much better in the big picture.

“You get callous to (criticism),” Golden said. “You get to a point where you don’t take it personal. You try to be professional. I get it. Third and 7, they scored a touchdown. I would be critical, too. And if I was a fan, I’d be angry, too.”

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4C ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Bucks insist major changes unnecessary Despite struggles, coach Rivers remains confident in team

BY STEVE MEGARGEE AP sportswriter

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU offensive lineman Carius Curne pushes back on Western Kentucky defensive lineman Elin Jones on Nov. 22 at Tiger Stadium. Curne intends to enter the portal when it officially opens on Jan. 2.

LSU players Curne, Hurley plan to enter the transfer portal

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Curne is the 10th LSU player to announce his plans of entering the portal this offseason, and is the first offensive lineman to do so. LSU could bring back four of its starters on the line from this past season, even if that likely won’t be the case given the unit’s struggles.

Hurley did not appear in a game in two seasons with the Tigers. After reclassifying into the 2024 recruiting class, he was the No. 25 quarterback in the nation and a four-star recruit, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

He attended Trinity Christian Academy in Florida and was the No. 49 player in the state.

He stepped away from the team for personal reasons ahead of LSU’s matchup against Alabama and did not return to the team for the remainder of the regular season. Without Hurley, LSU’s lone healthy scholarship quarterback over the final three weeks was sophomore Michael Van Buren.

Van Buren is now LSU’s lone scholarship quarterback heading into next season. LSU did not sign a quarterback from the high school ranks for a second consecutive cycle. The last quarterback it signed out of high school was Hurley.

A pair of LSU offensive players let it be known Wednesday they plan to enter the transfer portal.

LSU freshman offensive lineman Carius Curne intends to enter the portal when it officially opens on Jan. 2, according to On3 Sports. Redshirt freshman quarterback Colin Hurley also plans on entering the transfer portal, according to On3.

Curne started five games for the Tigers at both tackle spots this season, filling in for an injured Weston Davis against Ole Miss in Week 5 before taking the starting job at left tackle for a four-game stretch after redshirt sophomore Tyree Adams suffered an ankle injury.

Curne allowed three sacks and 11 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

He played 305 snaps on offense, which was sixth on the team among offensive linemen.

He was a four-star recruit and the No. 71 player in the nation, per the 247Sports Composite rankings, in the Class of 2025.

He was one of four freshman offensive linemen LSU signed to its 2025 recruiting class, but the only one among them who earned any Email Koki Riley at playing time. koki.riley@theadvocate.com.

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers remains confident in his team and doesn’t plan on making any major changes in the wake of a 45-point loss to Brooklyn that matched the Nets’ most lopsided win in franchise history.

The Bucks (11-16) haven’t won two straight games since Oct. 2830 as they struggle to deal with the absence of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has been out for the last two weeks with a right calf strain.

“We like our team,” Rivers said Wednesday after practice. “I really like this team. We’re not playing well. We’re not playing well for a lot of reasons. You don’t recreate the wheel. You just don’t.

Teams that do that, then they fail.

I’m just being honest. I’ve been around this long enough.”

Milwaukee won four of its first five games but has gone 7-15 since.

The Bucks haven’t played since falling 127-82 at Brooklyn on Sunday.

“It was just an embarrassing game for us, at the end of the day,” guard Ryan Rollins said.

The time off since has given the Bucks an opportunity to practice on back-to-back days, a rarity during an NBA regular season. The Bucks say they’ve used that time to try to make sure they correct what went wrong in Brooklyn.

Milwaukee returns to action Thursday by hosting the Toronto Raptors.

“I don’t think there’s many losses in NBA history like the one we just had last game,” guard Kevin Porter said. “I think a loss like that wakes you up, and you don’t ever want to be on the end of that stick. Having those days (off) and having to sit on that loss definitely makes it worse.

I think we all had an eye opener.”

But they apparently haven’t spent this time off pondering wholesale changes to the scheme or lineup.

“Yeah, we want to do things better,” Rivers said. “We want to tweak things. We like what we run. We like our defensive package overall.

We’ve just got to do it better. We’ve got to take care of the ball. But we like the parts of this team, and that

LSU MEN

Continued from page 1C he’s more skilled than I expected, quite frankly,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said. “He finishes well around the basket, finishes with either hand. He’s been a great rim threat as a ball-screen-androll player. You can’t say this about every player, but he really can be as good as he wants to be.”

The journey to becoming an ambidextrous jump-hook artist and an alley-oop magnet for LSU goes back to Nwoko’s days playing in the cold of Canada and his dad’s garage workouts.

He returned to the United States in eighth grade and didn’t play much during his high school freshman and sophomore seasons at St. Thomas More in Connecticut because of growing pains and the COVID-19 pandemic. He kept training and grew 5 inches to 6-foot-8 during that time frame.

A bigger Nwoko retained his explosiveness. Leonard Nwoko said foods such as fufu and jollof rice that he ate in his formative years in a Nigerian household might have helped. He also said that the strength to bully opponents probably comes from his maternal grandmother.

“My wife’s mom, she’s very strong. I heard when she was in high school, she used to beat up the boys,” Leonard Nwoko said with a laugh.

Mike Nwoko compiled more than 40 Division I offers, mostly during his junior year at The Burlington School in North Carolina and senior season at Prolific Prep in California after he followed his coach to his new job.

Nwoko’s college career before LSU did not allow him to show he’s more than a dunker.

“I felt like I had a lot more to show in my game than what I was able to show last year,” Nwoko said. “I definitely wanted to come to somewhere where they be-

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU center Mike Nwoko dunks over UNO center Churchill Abass in the second quarter on Nov. 10 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. lieved in me. And that’s all (LSU has) done, just instill confidence in me.”

LSU assistant coach Jalen Courtney-Williams has long been a fan of Nwoko. Courtney-Williams, a former LSU player, recruited Nwoko in high school when he worked at Creighton. He recruited him twice more in the transfer

portal and landed him last offseason, believing Nwoko could be an important piece of an NCAA Tournament puzzle.

Nwoko is still learning how to avoid foul trouble.

“It’s not lost on us that it’s a brand-new role,” Courtney-Williams said. “Up until now, he’s been a role player, rebounder,

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By HEATHER KHALIFA

Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis, left, and guard Andre Jackson, right, check on teammate Cole Anthony following a game against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday in New york. The Bucks lost to the Nets 127-82. has not changed. This is not, ‘OK, guys, we’re five games under .500, let’s blow it all up.’ This is not where we’re at. We’re not even thinking in those terms.”

Milwaukee’s slow start has led to increased speculation about Antetokounmpo’s future, though Rivers has disputed an ESPN report that the nine-time All-NBA selection was talking with Bucks officials about whether he’s best suited to stay in Milwaukee or get traded.

The Bucks have gone 2-8 when they don’t have Antetokounmpo, who was out with a left adductor strain before injuring his calf.

The Bucks can take comfort in the fact they have some impressive wins. They beat the Boston Celtics three nights before the debacle in Brooklyn. They defeated Golden State without Antetokounmpo early in the season. They beat the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 3 even after Antetokounmpo left with his calf injury just three minutes into the game.

But they also have fallen to Washington, Charlotte, Brooklyn and Sacramento, all of whom have lost more than twice as many

dunker.

“He wasn’t always relied on to be a game finisher ... and now, it’s the complete opposite. So that’s requiring different parts of him that he’s still kind of getting used to. And it’s a challenge that he’s really doing a good job at embracing.”

Music, who has worked with Nwoko since December of his high school junior season, knows that Nwoko is prepared for the moment.

The 31-year-old, who also trains other Canadian products such as Florida’s Xaivian Lee and Xavier’s Jovan Milicevic, said he thought Nwoko was capable of doing more early in his career.

That belief was reinforced by a strong performance at the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit, a prestigious high school all-star game featuring some of the best American and international players.

Nwoko had 17 points and eight rebounds for the world team.

Some current NBA players he shared the court with were Ron Holland, Isaiah Collier, Yves Missi and Zaccharie Risacher, the fi rst pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

“I kind of did myself justice, just going out there, just competing the hardest I could,” Nwoko said. “I just showed myself that I could compete with anyone in this world.”

When Music visited Nwoko at Miami and Mississippi State, he reminded Nwoko that he has the ability to thrive against elite competition. That pep talk will happen again later this season and be accompanied with the usual unfiltered truth about his game.

Leonard Nwoko also will tell his son the truth, but their daily conversations center more on his son’s enjoyment in Baton Rouge.

“Every time he calls, he talks about the team, coaches, he’s extremely happy with his teammates,” the older Nwoko said.

“When you’re happy, good things happen.”

games as they’ve won.

Myles Turner said this has become a “play-hard league” and noted the Bucks must consistently show the same effort and energy that was apparent in the NBA Cup games that took place the last few days. He believes the Bucks must recapture the joy they showed when they were playing well early in the season.

“When you start to lose, obviously it knocks your spirit a bit,” Turner said. “Again, it’s just really no time for excuses at this point. You have to go out there and perform.”

Rivers noted that it’s easy to simply say a team isn’t playing hard enough when it’s struggling, but he pointed out there are generally plenty of variables that are contributing to that. Rivers said a team that’s executing properly naturally looks as though it’s playing harder.

“It’s like the chicken and egg: Something has to go first,” Rivers said. “Something has to give you confidence to do it over and over again.

Put it like this: I’m far more focused on execution than I am about feelings and head space and all that stuff.

That’s just my opinion.”

LSU WOMEN Continued from page 1C

Mulkey said. “We’re just not there yet. I don’t know when we will get there, but certainly every day in practice, it’s just emphasized.”

After LSU beat Duke on Dec. 4, Mulkey emphasized transition defense. She said the Tigers let the Blue Devils beat them down the floor and score easy buckets too many times, especially in the first quarter.

Duke eventually finished with 77 points on 50% shooting, becoming only the third Mulkey-era regularseason nonconference LSU opponent to convert at least half of its shots. That scoring output is still the Blue Devils’ best in games they’ve played against power-conference teams.

“We were just looking,” Mulkey said. “We didn’t know who we were guarding. All of that was perfect stuff to teach. Just turn it on, slowmo it and make them tell you what they should’ve done. It was an outstanding film session.”

LSU since has given up 62 points to UNO, 61 to Louisiana Tech and only 33 to Morgan State. Those three teams turned the ball over 72 total times and combined to shoot just 29% from the field.

The Tigers have held their opponents to 35 or fewer points five times since Mulkey’s tenure began in 2021. Three of those instances have come this season in games against Southeastern Louisiana (26), Washington State (35) and Morgan State (33). Those teams are a combined 4-29 this season.

LSU soon will play a string of NCAA Tournament teams, starting Jan. 1 at home against No. 12 Kentucky. Mulkey plans to keep stressing the need to improve on the defensive end of the floor until then.

“They’ve got to keep people in front of them,” Mulkey said. “They can’t keep giving up straight-line drives. They can’t keep giving up face-cuts. It’s all of them. We have to get better defensively.”

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 5C

lll

NCAA volleyball becoming booming business

BY ALYCE BROWN AP sportswriter

In the booming world of NCAA volleyball, it’s Final Four time.

The championship tournament semifinals are Thursday, with Texas A&M facing Pittsburgh and Wisconsin against Kentucky.

The winners advance to Sunday’s championship match. The Aggies and Badgers knocked off No. 1 seeds Nebraska and Texas over the weekend, adding even more buzz to an event that has become one of the most palpable markers of the sport’s explosive growth.

Last year, the championship game had 1.3 million viewers to its live broadcast. It has set a new attendance record each year since 2019 (with the exception of the 2020 pandemic year) and reached more than 287,000 in overall attendance.

“What I have really seen in probably the last 4-5 years with the volleyball championship is it’s becoming more of an event,” said Kristin Fasbender, the director of championships and alliances for the NCAA. “Fans are buying their tickets early regardless of who is going to be there. And that, to me, is when you start to really see the excitement and growth of a championship.”

This year, the national championship will air live on ABC for the

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By AARON E. MARTINEZ

Texas A&M middle blocker Morgan Perkins, center, places the Texas A&M logo on an NCAA bracket after winning the NCAA Division I volleyball playoff game against TCU on Dec. 6 in College Station, Texas. third year in a row, with regionals and semifinals shown across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.

“It’s just a really fun and exciting time to be part of the sport,” said Cari Spears, a freshman standout

for the Longhorns.

Spears is the daughter of former WNBA player Aiysha Spears (nee Smith) and former NFL player and LSU great Marcus Spears. That has made her part of a growing

number of daughters of former professional athletes playing volleyball at the collegiate level and beyond. There’s Penn State’s Alexa Ewing, daughter of former NBA player Patrick Ewing; Stanford’s

Sidney Duncan, daughter of former NBA player Tim Duncan; and Penn State’s Ava and Caroline Jurevicius, daughters of former NFL player Joe Jurevicius.

Asjia O’Neal, daughter of former NBA player Jermaine O’Neal, plays for the League One Volleyball team in Austin, Texas. The daughters of all-time greats such as Candace Parker, Tom Brady and Steph Curry also have joined the sport.

“My parents never put any pressure on me to play sports or pick a certain sport or anything like that,” Spears said. “But they did always say if you do play a sport, they want us to try and do it to become really good at it, not just to do it.”

She said one of the most fun parts of starting her collegiate volleyball career this year has been seeing how much her dad has gotten into it: “He was in a full burnt orange outfit at our last game,” she said with a laugh.

As more stars continue to develop in NCAA volleyball — from famous families or not — the NCAA is looking forward to further growth.

“We continue to watch these buildings get fuller and more people coming to watch these amazing student athletes play,” Fasbender said. “And that’s really exciting to me.”

SCOREBOARD Odds NFL Thursday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U LA Rams 1½ 1½ (44½)

College Football

UNDERDOG at SEATTLE

Thursday

Friday

Myrtle Beach Bowl Conway, S.C. FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG W. Michigan 1½ 3½ (49½) Kenne. St Gasparilla Bowl Tampa, Fla. FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG NC State 1½ 4½ (58½) Memphis College Football Playoff First Round — Game 1 Norman, Okla.

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Alabama 2½ 1½ (40½)Oklahoma

Saturday

College Football Playoff First Round — Game 2 College Station, Texas FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Texas A&M 3½ 3½ (51½) Miami(FL) College Football Playoff First Round — Game 3 Oxford, Miss.

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Ole Miss 16½ 17½ (56½) Tulane College Football Playoff First Round — Game 4 Eugene, Ore. FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Oregon 20½ 21½ (49½)J. Madison

Monday

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Boise, Idaho FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Utah State 1½ 2½ (52½) Wash. St

Tuesday

Wednesday

Hawai’i Bowl Honolulu FAVORITE OPEN Cal 1½

NBA

TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 7½ (44½) Toledo TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 4½ (55½) Sou. Miss TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 4½ (62½) Ohio

TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 1½ (54½) Hawaii

Thursday

FAVORITE LINE Atlanta 5½ New York 4½ Miami 6 at OKC 15½ at S. ANTONIO 15½ Toronto 5½ Houston 9½ Detroit 5½ LA Lakers 6½ Golden State 1½ at DENVER 7½ at PORTLAND 9

+156 +115 +120 +143 +178

Pro football

New England Buffalo e-Miami e-N.Y. Jets South Jacksonville Houston Indianapolis e-Tennessee North Pittsburgh Baltimore e-Cincinnati e-Cleveland West x-Denver L.A. Chargers e-Kansas City e-Las Vegas

W 11 10 6 3

L 3 4 8 11

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .786 .714 .429 .214

PF 382 411 296 276

PA 276 324 324 397

W 10 9 8 2

L 4 5 6 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .714 .643 .571 .143

PF 376 323 392 225

PA 292 228 303 394

W 8 7 4 3

L 6 7 10 11

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .571 .500 .286 .214

PF 336 335 314 226

PA 326 320 437 332

W 12 10 6 2

L 2 4 8 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .857 .714 .429 .143

PF 342 315 328 196

PA 261 284 268 363

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East

Philadelphia Dallas e-Washington e-N.Y. Giants South

W 9 6 4 2

L 5 7 10 12

Thursday

NHL

UNDERDOG North Florida Coas. Car. at INDIANA ST. Temple W. Carolina Drake UMKC Oral Roberts

Pct .714 .679 .571 .429

PF 365 348 428 289

PA 338 281 345 307

W L T x-L.A. Rams 11 3 0 Seattle 11 3 0 San Francisco 10 4 0 e-Arizona 3 11 0 e-eliminated from playoffs x-clinched playoff spot

Pct .786 .786 .714 .214

PF 420 405 344 302

PA 261 242 293 388

Monday’s game

Pittsburgh 28, Miami 15

LINE +100 +135 +149 +158 +120

Tuesday’s games

UL at Southern Miss, 7:30 p.m.

Grambling vs. Norfolk State at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Friday’s games

Grambling vs. Hampton, at Atlanta, GA., 4 p.m.

Southeastern at LSU, 7 p.m.

Men’s national scores

State women’s schedule

UL-Monroe at Arkansas State, 2 p.m.

Rice 71, Grambling State 47 Alabama 81, Tulane 52 UL at Texas State, 5 p.m.

Central Arkansas at Louisiana Tech, 6:30 p.m.

Northwestern State at Texas, 8 p.m.

Thursday’s games

UIW at UNO, 6:30 p.m.

Houston Christian at Nicholls, 6:30 p.m.

Southern at Baylor, 7 p.m.

Women’s national scores EAST

La Salle 65, Delaware 48 Marshall 75, Appalachian State 62 New Hampshire 69, Central Connecticut 66 Stony Brook 75, Georgian Court 50

SOUTH

Charlotte 81, Winthrop 58 Clemson 78, Charleston Southern 52 East Carolina 80, Wofford 59 Florida 76, Florida A&M 51 Louisville 76, Eastern Kentucky 51 Mercer 91, Erskine 37 North Carolina Central 61, Queens 51 Ole Miss 102, Mississippi Valley State 34 Rice 71, Grambling State 47 Troy 81, Old Dominion 59 USC Upstate 112, Agnes Scott 39 West Georgia 116, Wesleyan College 21

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Salute to Veterans Bowl Montgomery, Ala. Jacksonville State 17, Troy 13 Cure Bowl Orlando, Fla. Old Dominion 24, South Florida 10

W 21 18 16 15 15 14 15 15 14 11 10 8 7 6 4

L 5 7 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 16 15 18 18 20 20

Pct .808 .720 .593 .577 .577 .560 .556 .556 .538 .407 .400 .308 .280 .231 .167

GB — 2½ 5½ 6 6 6½ 6½ 6½ 7 10½ 10½ 13 13½ 15 16

W Oklahoma City 24 Denver 19 L.A. Lakers 18

L 2 6 7

Pct .923 .760 .720

GB — 4½ 5½

Detroit New York Toronto Boston Orlando Philadelphia Cleveland Atlanta Miami Milwaukee Chicago Charlotte Brooklyn Indiana Washington

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Xbox Bowl Frisco, Texas Arkansas State vs. Missouri State, 8 p.m.

Wednesday’s games

EASTERN CONFERENCE GP 32 34 34 32 33 34 33 33 32 33 32 35 32 32 33 32

W 21 19 19 17 18 20 18 17 14 18 17 16 15 15 14 14

Pro golf PGA Tour Statistics FedExCup Season Points

1, Tommy Fleetwood, 2,923. 2 (tie), Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley, 1,661. 4 (tie), Scottie Scheffler, Corey Conners and Cameron Young, 7,456. 7 (tie), Justin Thomas, Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley, 2,477. 10, 2 tied with 1,414.

1, Scottie Scheffler, 68.131. 2, Rory McIlroy, 69.083. 3, Tommy Fleetwood, 69.357. 4, Ben Griffin, 69.692. 5, Russell Henley, 69.757. 6, Harry Hall, 69.764. 7, J.J. Spaun, 69.830. 8, Robert MacIntyre, 69.900. 9, Garrick Higgo, 70.032. 10, Sepp Straka, 70.047.

Thursday’s games

Carolina Detroit N.Y. Islanders Philadelphia Washington Boston Tampa Bay Montreal Pittsburgh New Jersey Florida N.Y. Rangers Toronto Ottawa Columbus Buffalo

Philadelphia at Buffalo, 6:30 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at St. Louis, 7 p.m.

Seattle at Calgary, 8 p.m.

Dallas at San Jose, 9 p.m.

Scoring Average

Cleveland at Chicago, n Memphis at Minnesota, n

L OT Pts 9 2 44 12 3 41 12 3 41 9 6 40 11 4 40 14 0 40 12 3 39 12 4 38 9 9 37 14 1 37 13 2 36 15 4 36 12 5 35 13 4 34 13 6 34 14 4 32

GF 108 107 102 96 106 113 106 106 103 97 103 89 105 101 100 98

Driving Distance

1, Aldrich Potgieter, 325. 2, Rory McIlroy, 323.

3, Nicolai Hojgaard, 318.8. 4, Jesper Svensson, 318.6. 5, Kurt Kitayama, 318. 6, Michael Thorbjornsen, 317.8. 7, Chris Gotterup, 316.7.

8, Joseph Bramlett, 316.4. 9, Trevor Cone, 315.4. 10, Niklas Norgaard, 315.3.

Driving Accuracy Percentage

GA 90 111 96 89 88 106 88 117 102 103 101 95 104 104 115 109

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Colorado 33 24 2 7 55 133 77 Dallas 34 22 7 5 49 115 90 Minnesota 34 20 9 5 45 104 87 Anaheim 34 20 12 2 42 121 112 Vegas 31 16 6 9 41 96 90 Edmonton 34 16 12 6 38 116 118 Los Angeles 32 14 9 9 37 84 86 San Jose 34 17 14 3 37 102 113 Utah 35 16 16 3 35 107 105 Winnipeg 32 15 15 2 32 98 99 Chicago 33 13 14 6 32 93 101 St. Louis 34 12 15 7 31 86 123 Seattle 31 12 13 6 30 77 98 Nashville 32 13 15 4 30 92 111 Calgary 34 13 17 4 30 87 103 Vancouver 33 13 17 3 29 92 112 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs.

Tuesday’s games

NBA Conference glance

College football

New York 124, San Antonio 113 (Championship Game)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Pro basketball

Tuesday’s game

5½ 6½ 7 10 11½ 12 13½ 14 14½ 18 18 19½

Pro hockey

LSU 91, Morgan State 33 Incarnate Word 54, Nicholls 52

North Dakota State 82, UT Rio Grande Valley 60 Utah Tech 69, Chicago State 55

San Francisco at Indianapolis, 7:15 p.m.

.720 .696 .654 .538 .481 .462 .400 .385 .370 .231 .231 .185

NHL Conference glance

Arkansas-Pine Bluff 138, Champion Christian College 73 Central Arkansas 102, Kansas Christian 47 Rice 94, Southwestern Christian 47

Texas Tech 76, Jacksonville 40

Monday’s game

Tuesday’s games

7 7 9 12 14 14 15 16 17 20 20 22

Wednesday’s games

SOUTHWEST

FAR WEST

Buffalo at Cleveland, noon Cincinnati at Miami, noon Kansas City at Tennessee, noon L.A. Chargers at Dallas, noon Minnesota at N.Y. Giants, noon N.Y. Jets at New Orleans, noon Tampa Bay at Carolina, noon Atlanta at Arizona, 3:05 p.m.

Jacksonville at Denver, 3:05 p.m.

Las Vegas at Houston, 3:25 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Detroit, 3:25 p.m.

New England at Baltimore, 7:20 p.m.

18 16 17 14 13 12 10 10 10 6 6 5

Tuesday’s games

Northern Iowa 60, UIC 54

SOUTHWEST

Sunday’s games

San Antonio Houston Minnesota Phoenix Golden State Memphis Utah Portland Dallas Sacramento L.A. Clippers New Orleans

Atlanta at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

New York at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Miami at Brooklyn, 6:30 p.m.

Houston at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Washington at San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Golden State at Phoenix, 8 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Utah, 8 p.m.

Orlando at Denver, 8 p.m.

Sacramento at Portland, 9 p.m.

Thursday’s games MIDWEST

Saint Louis 74, Jacksonville State 54

Philadelphia at Washington, 4 p.m.

Green Bay at Chicago, 7:20 p.m.

Thursday’s game

Thursday’s games

MIDWEST

Saturday’s games

Wednesday’s game

UNDERDOG at COLUMBUS Toronto Pittsburgh Chicago at BOSTON

PA 271 420 375 396

T 0 1 0 0

L 4 4 6 8

T 0 0 0 0

PF 320 407 291 300

PA 354 317 341 332

W 10 9 8 6

L 7 7 9 10

Pct .643 .464 .286 .143

PF 327 264 281 226

Chicago Green Bay Detroit e-Minnesota West

W 7 7 5 4

T 0 1 0 0

Pct .500 .500 .357 .286

Tampa Bay Carolina e-Atlanta e-New Orleans North

State men’s schedule California Baptist 75, Southern 67 Houston Christian at Nicholls, n Louisiana Tech at Tulane, n South Alabama at UL-Monroe, n

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

East

College basketball

Wednesday’s games

L.A. Rams at Seattle, 7:15 p.m.

O/U UNDERDOG (236½)at CHARLOTTE (224½) at INDIANA (227½) at BROOKLYN (223½) LA Clippers (241½) Washington (220½) at MILW. (233½) at NO (230½) at DALLAS (243½) at UTAH (230½) at PHOENIX (235½) Orlando (238½) Sacramento

FAVORITE LINE at C. SOUTHERN 10½ at APP. ST. 3½ Bradley 3½ at DAVIDSON 5½ at GEORGIA 35½ at MURRAY STATE 7½ at OKLAHOMA STATE 28½ at TCU 24½

Thursday

Los Angeles Philadelphia at ST. LOUIS Seattle at SAN JOSE

Thursday’s game

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

FAVORITE LINE Minnesota -120 at WASHINGTON -161 at OTTAWA -180 at MONTREAL -191 Edmonton -144

-189 -137 -143 -171 -217

NFL

XBox Bowl Frisco, Texas FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Arkansas St 2½ 1½ (54½) Miz St

Boca Raton Bowl Boca Raton, Fla. FAVORITE OPEN Louisville 9½ New Orleans Bowl New Orleans FAVORITE OPEN W. Kentucky 3½ Frisco Bowl Frisco, Texas FAVORITE OPEN UNLV 3½

at TAMPA BAY at BUFFALO New York at CALGARY Dallas

1, Takumi Kanaya, 74.07%. 2, Aaron Rai, 73.85%. 3, Paul Peterson, 73.15%. 4, Ben Kohles, 73.12%. 5, Andrew Putnam, 71.77%.

6, Joel Dahmen, 71.21%. 7, Collin Morikawa, 70.65%. 8, Brice Garnett, 69.39%. 9, Zach Johnson, 69.21%. 10, Brandt Snedeker, 69.03%.

Greens in Regulation Percentage 1, 10 tied with .00%.

Total Driving

1, Michael Thorbjornsen, 54. 2, Rico Hoey, 68. 3, Pierceson Coody, 82. 4 (tie), Luke List and Kevin Yu, 91. 6 (tie), Isaiah Salinda and Kris Ventura, 95. 8, Kevin Roy, 99. 9, 2 tied with 103.

SG-Putting

1, Sam Burns, .983. 2, Taylor Montgomery, .917. 3, Harry Hall, .881. 4, Denny McCarthy, .679. 5, Nico Echavarria, .666. 6, Garrick Higgo, .661. 7, Cameron Young, .642. 8, Sam Ryder, .626. 9, Rory McIlroy, .597. 10, Sami Valimaki, .548.

Birdie Average

1, Garrick Higgo, 4.96. 2, Scottie Scheffler, 4.7. 3, Harry Hall, 4.56. 4, Pierceson Coody, 4.48. 5, Justin Thomas, 4.46. 6, Keith Mitchell, 4.43. 7, Jake Knapp, 4.42. 8 (tie), Nicolai Hojgaard and Michael Thorbjornsen, 4.35.

10, 4 tied with 4.3.

Eagles (Holes per)

1, Alejandro Tosti, 66.9. 2, Rory McIlroy, 87.

3, Kurt Kitayama, 88.8. 4, Steven Fisk, 91.1.

5 (tie), Will Gordon and Karl Vilips, 93. 7, Michael Thorbjornsen, 93.4. 8, Rico Hoey, 94.7. 9, David Skinns, 96.4. 10, Scottie Scheffler, 102.9.

Sand Save Percentage 1, 10 tied with .00%.

All-Around Ranking

1, Scottie Scheffler, 221. 2, Keith Mitchell, 338. 3, Ben Griffin, 346. 4, Kevin Yu, 368. 5, Michael Thorbjornsen, 391. 6, Kurt Kitayama, 392. 7, Rory McIlroy, 397. 8, Alex Smalley, 412.

Transactions

Vancouver 3, N.Y. Rangers 0 Columbus 4, Anaheim 3, OT Detroit 3, N.Y. Islanders 2 Toronto 3, Chicago 2 Boston 4, Utah 1 Philadelphia 4, Montreal 1 Edmonton 6, Pittsburgh 4 Minnesota 5, Washington 0 San Jose 6, Calgary 3 Colorado 5, Seattle 3

BASEBALL

Major League Baseball American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Sent C Maverick Handley outright to Norfolk (IL). Agreed to terms on 2026 minor league contracts with RHP Albert Suarez and INF Willy Vasquez.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Named Bobby Hearn assistant pitching coach, Jose Leger first base and outfield coach, Chris Denorfia major league field coordinator, Bennett Markinson bullpen catcher and Tony Medina major league assistant.

DETROIT TIGERS — Agreed to terms with RHP Kenley Jansen on a one-year contract.

National League CHICAGO CUBS — Agreed to terms with LHP Caleb Thielbar on a one-year major league contract.

COLORADO ROCKIES — Named Jeff Pickler major league bench coach.

Wednesday’s games

Los Angeles at Florida, n Utah at Detroit, n Carolina at Nashville, n Winnipeg at St. Louis, n New Jersey at Vegas, n

Thursday’s games

Chicago at Montreal, 6 p.m.

Edmonton at Boston, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles at Tampa Bay, 6 p.m.

Minnesota at Columbus, 6 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Ottawa, 6 p.m.

Toronto at Washington, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS ENTRIES Post Time:12:45PM

First Race, $14,000, Claiming $5,000, 3 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) Six Furlongs

01 02 03 04 05

Madame Markievicz Menty B Little Bit O Storm Slim Causeway Maylen

(C Hernandez122 (B Curtis119 (M Pedroza, Jr.119 (J Mudd119 (D Cannon121

3-1 5-2 7-2 3-1 4-1

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Mallory Unbridled Factor of Time Ostrica Becky’sgottahaveit Sweet Thirteen Back Street Baby Moneyforwednesday Snazzy Gal Delightful Halo Vanna G

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8-1 4-1 3-1

Second Race, $20,000, Claiming $25,000, 3 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) One Mile

Third Race, $18,000, Claiming $15,000, 3 yo’s & up One Mile Seventy Yards

04 05 06

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5-2 8-1 3-1

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12-1 12-1 5-1 9-2 10-1 8-1 7-5 6-1

Fourth Race, $54,000, Maiden special weight, 2 yo, F (fillies) One Mile

Fifth Race, $54,000, Maiden special weight, 3 yo’s & up Six Furlongs

Sixth Race, $22,000, Maiden Claiming $30,000, 2 yo, F (fillies) One Mile

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10-1 4-1 9-2 8-1 6-1 7-5 10-1

Seventh Race, $56,000, AOC $50,000, 3 yo’s & up Six Furlongs

Eighth Race, $56,000, AOC $50,000,

3 yo’s & up Five And A Half Furlongs 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

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Ninth Race, $56,000, AOC $20,000, 3 yo’s & up Six Furlongs

6C ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Ex-DB Walker attends practice at Tulane

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

Tulane coach Jon Sumrall was an assistant on the 2012 staff of Curtis Johnson when safety Devon Walker was paralyzed from the neck down on a play against Tulsa.

Thirteen years later, Walker attended the Green Wave’s Wednesday practice at the Shrine on Airline in preparation for a t u r d a y ’s Notebook Sfirst-round College Football Playoff game at Ole Miss (2:30 p.m., TNT) and was presented gifts in a post-practice ceremony. Sumrall hugged him after he received two Tshirts with his jersey No. 18 on them along with American Conference championship game and CFP patches.

Mike Arata, co-founder of the Green Wave Collective, conducted the ceremony while quarterback Jake Retzlaff and linebacker Sam Howard stood next to Walker in his wheelchair on the middle of the field.

“Devon means a ton to this program,” Sumrall said in a video conference less than two hours later. “You can talk about family all you want, but that doesn’t mean you live it, and we live it with Devon.

Devon’s forever Tulane football family.”

Walker, a walk-on from Destrehan who rose to a scholarship starter as a senior, spent several months in hospitals after his injury before returning to Tulane to complete his undergraduate degree in cell and molecular biology and a master’s degree in neuroscience. Tulane still has a player carry a flag with Walker’s No. 18 on it when the team runs onto the field before every game.

The number was permanently retired in 2018.

“On the way back (to campus) to do a team picture, Devon texted me, ‘Great seeing you in practice, today, coach—RMFW,’ ” Sumrall said. “Devon is forever a Tulane family member with our program. Our team understands his story. The connectivity of what former players mean to a place matters. We love Devon.”

STAFF PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

Oklahoma Sooners players celebrate their 45-31 victory over Alabama on Jan. 2, 2014, in the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome. Oklahoma was a 17-point underdog.

STAFF PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

Tulane linebacker Harold Lawson waves Tulane’s No. 18 flag as the team takes the field against Rice at yulman Stadium on Oct. 19, 2024. The flag commemorates former safety Devon Walker, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a collision with a teammate at Tulsa in 2012.

for the 11th-seeded Wave and Kody as an analyst for No. 6-seeded Ole Miss.

The role is nothing new for the twins born two minutes apart. Kyle was a quarterback for Holy Cross and Kody was a punter for John Curtis as Catholic League rivals 10 years ago.

“It means a lot where we’re from and who we get to do it with,” Kyle said. “We’ve talked twice this week. I called him on Monday and we talked on Sunday night, and that will probably be it for the week.

I’ll see him on the field at the 50-yard line or so right before kickoff.”

Kyle began his career as an assistant at John Curtis, Kody’s old school, under split-back veer specialist J.T. Curtis before going to the other extreme and working for former Mississippi State coach Mike Leach in the Air Raid for two years. He joined Sumrall at Tulane shortly after Sumrall was hired in December 2023.

Kody has been at Ole Miss for three years after starting out at Austin Peay, moving to Arkansas State and spending a two-week stint at Oregon State.

Although close, the brothers always have chosen different paths, including their time in high school.

“It worked out for the best of us because it allowed us to be two different people,” Kyle said. “A lot of people classified us forever with each other.”

His initial reaction to TuTwin battle lane’s playoff matchup was Kyle and Kody Schexnayder will mixed.

“It was tough when I saw it be on opposite sides for the Tulane-Ole Miss CFP clash — at first,” he said. “I was talkKyle as director of recruiting ing to mom and dad when I

DUNCAN

Continued from page 1C Tulane to begin preparations for the team’s historic game against Ole Miss.

“At times, it’s been really hard,” Sumrall said.

“There’s been nights where I’ve slept a couple hours, and this past Friday and Saturday, I slept for seven hours each night and I woke up and I’m like, oh my gosh, this feels amazing.”

Sumrall joked that he has been subsisting on energy drinks and power bars. Meanwhile, the 200 unread text messages on his phone will remain unreturned until life returns to normal.

Despite the extraordinary circumstances, Tulane players and coaches say they haven’t noticed any dip in Sumrall’s intensity during the transition.

“He’s been unbelievable,” Tulane offensive coordinator Joe Craddock said. “I don’t know how he does it, to be honest. I don’t know how he sleeps. There’s a lot going on. But I’ll say this: Jon Sumrall is 100 percent focused on this job right now.”

Defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato said Sumrall has been a “rock star” during the hectic transition.

“He’s handled it as well as I think he can,” Gasparato said. “And our guys know that he genuinely cares for them and about them, and he is the ulti-

mate competitor. I promise you there’s nobody that wants to win this game more than he does.”

Most of new Ole Miss coach Pete Golding’s offensive coaching staff joined Lane Kiffin on a private jet to Baton Rouge and since has returned to Oxford to compile the game plan for Tulane. Many are expected to become members of Kiffin’s LSU staff after the Rebels end their CFP run.

During the transition, Golding and his staff have had to prepare for the Green Wave while also working to prevent players, recruits and coaches from being poached — especially by Kiffin at LSU. “A lot of lack of sleep,” is how Golding described his first week on the job. “Probably the least amount of sleep I’ve had since, like, Vegas in 2007.

It’s the kind of thing where you just hit the ground running, man. There really wasn’t much time to think about it.”

On Tuesday, news broke that longtime LSU assistant coach Frank Wilson plans to join Golding’s Ole Miss staff after the Tigers play in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 27. The hire would bring the total to 17 coaches and staff members swapped between the programs.

It’s a rare situation, but one that is becoming more common in the transient world of modern college football. Fourteen head coaches, coordinators or senior position coaches on

got home that night, and my mom said she was really hoping we’d be the 12th seed so she could see both of us win.

But it’s exciting. Everybody is going to be in the same place.”

Kyle Schexnayder’s stint at Tulane will continue under Will Hall, who was named as Sumrall’s successor last week, in a yet-to-be-determined role.

“I’m going to stay here,” he said. “I’m excited to stay in New Orleans and do this and build it up.”

Hailing Hall Asked for his thoughts about Hall succeeding him on the national video conference, Sumrall praised him.

Hall, who had a very successful two-year stint as Willie Fritz‘s offensive coordinator at Tulane in 2019-20, joined Sumrall’s staff last winter as passing game coordinator.

“I’m excited for him to have this opportunity here,” Sumrall said. “This is a great place. Will has seen the most recent historic rise and foundational buildup of this program from maybe out of the ashes to being in four conference championship games, and now he’ll get a chance to put his own spin on it. I think he’ll do really well.”

Tulane seeks 1 of sport’s most memorable upsets

BY ZACH EWING Staff writer

The history of college football is rife with famous upsets.

There’s Appalachian State over Michigan in 2007. Miami stopping Nebraska’s two-point conversion in the 1984 Orange Bowl. Boise State and the “Statue of Liberty” play in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma after the 2006 season.

What Tulane is attempting to pull off Saturday would rank with the best of them.

As of Wednesday, every major sportsbook listed the Green Wave as a 171/ 2-point underdog against Ole Miss for its 2:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Only one underdog of that magnitude has won a postseason game this century, although perhaps it is a good sign for Tulane that the previous example has New Orleans ties.

In the final postseason before the CFP started, No. 11 Oklahoma beat No. 3 Alabama 45-31 in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 2014. The Sooners were 17-point underdogs that day but won using many of the typical characteristics of an upset: They forced five Crimson Tide turnovers, got out to a lead, and converted a high

percentage of third and fourth downs.

The underdog that day was a power-conference team with national championship pedigree. If you go back to the 1998 Sun Bowl, there’s a situation more analogous with what Tulane will face Saturday.

On that New Year’s Eve, TCU — then a member of the Western Athletic Conference — faced a national power in USC and won 2819 as 171/ 2-point underdogs.

The Horned Frogs benefited from only one turnover but generally took it to the Trojans, scoring the first 14 points, leading 28-9 by the third quarter and controlling the clock for most of the fourth quarter.

It was TCU’s first bowl win in 41 years and launched the program into decades of relevance, including a move to the Big 12 and eventually a national championship game appearance in 2023.

Does that sound like something Tulane would be interested in?

It won’t be easy. Ole Miss was favored by only 121/ 2 points in the teams’ earlier meeting this season, but the Rebels covered easily with a 45-10 victory. And the postseason is a different animal when it comes to upsets.

According to the database at Odds Shark, which

has point spreads for most games dating to 1990, there actually haven’t been many postseason games with spreads this large. Oklahoma and TCU are the only underdogs of 17 or more points to pull off postseason upsets in 19 tries during that span.

And the big underdogs are only 7-12 against the spread in those games, which include conference championship games, bowl games and the playoff.

On the other hand, there have been plenty of regularseason upsets of this magnitude, including the aforementioned App State, which was a 33-point underdog the day it won at Michigan.

According to TeamRankings.com, underdogs of exactly 171/ 2 points are 23-202 since 2003 for a winning clip of 10.22%. That’s a better rate than underdogs of, say, 211/ 2 points (6.08%), which applies to James Madison at Oregon in the late CFP game Saturday.

The inclusion of a Group of Five team will provide more opportunities, but the CFP has been where big underdogs go to die in its 12-year history. Double-digit dogs are 0-11 straight up and only 3-8 against the spread.

If Tulane can buck that trend, it’ll join the short list of biggest upsets in the sport’s history.

Lagniappe Tulane senior guard Shadre Hurst was named second-team All-America by The Sporting News on Wednesday. …

Seen among other alums at Wednesdays’ practice were former Tulane wideouts Phat Watts and Lawrence Keys, who was wearing a 2022 Cotton Bowl Classic sweatshirt, and linebacker Tyler Grubbs.

eight CFP teams have accepted other jobs.

Two weeks ago, Sumrall encountered a similar situation in the American Conference championship game, where Tulane’s opponent, North Texas, was playing with departing head coach Eric Morris, who is headed to Oklahoma State after the Mean Green’s bowl game.

Sumrall and Golding have found support in each other. They are similar in age and have traveled similar paths in Gulf South coaching circles.

Golding, a 41-year-old Hammond native, had stops at Delta State, Tusculum, Southeastern Louisiana and Southern Miss before moving into the SEC ranks. Sumrall, 43, was raised in Huntsville, Alabama, and coached at Tulane and Troy before becoming an SEC assistant at Kentucky and Ole Miss.

If anyone can relate to the crazy transitions Sumrall and Golding are navigating, it’s each other.

The two have texted and Face-timed throughout the last few weeks.

“I love Pete,” Sumrall said. “I’m happy for him.

He’s a good guy. He’s a good football coach. He does things the right way, and he’s authentic. I think we’re wired similarly in that regard.”

Added Golding: “Jon and I go way back. I think the world of him.”

For Golding or Sumrall, the craziness is about to end. For the other, life will get more hectic.

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Sweet and spicy Korean fried chicken will fire you up

BY GRETCHEN McKAY

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) Bold, spicy flavors have never been more in demand, especially when they add a global element to a dish. One of my favorite foods these days is Korean fried chicken, which I ate twice on a recent trip to New York City.

Celebrated for its crispy exterior and tender interior, Korean fried chicken has been a staple late-night snack in South Korea since the late 1970s and early ’80s. It’s typically known as “drinking food,” or anju, though Koreans also enjoy the crispy pieces of meat with non-alcoholic drinks.

Sticky, gotta-lick-your-fingersafter-you-eat-it yangnyeom dak is especially popular. It’s glazed in a spicy-sweet sauce made with Korean chili paste, golden (corn) syrup, ketchup and sugar that give Korean fried chicken its fireworks.

It’s one of those dishes you order as an appetizer for the table, and after the first saucy taste, wish you could keep it all for yourself.

In Korea, the dish is most often made with bone-in chicken thighs or wings that have been coated in a cornstarch mixture.

Traditionally, the chicken is fried twice to take it to the next level of crunchiness.

I’ve adapted this recipe from my son Dan’s favorite cookbook, “The Korean Cookbook” by Junghyun Park and Jungyoon Choi

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T h u r s d ay, d e c e m b e r 18, 2025

FROM THE KITCHEN SIMPLE BROCCOLI CHEDDAR FRITTATA

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

ä See CHICKEN, page 2D

Herb and Shallot Compound Butter

Looking for a last-minute holiday gift? Look to your oven

BY APRIL HAMILTON

Fun cutting boards are a wonderful gift. Add a paring knife, cheese slicer or bread knife to go a little more upYou are not alone if your holiday gift scale. I scored the map of Louisiana list remains unwritten. cutting board — a popular trade at a Fear not, a gift for or from the kitch- neighborhood “white elephant” and en is always the first to get snapped up came out the winner. I use the underin the round robin gift exchange. I am side of the board for small chopping here with tried and true gifts for evjobs and display The Boot as wall art.

It’s hard to beat a dual-purpose gift, eryone, from the five-star chef to the and for a homemade accent, include a friend who is afraid to boil water. The ribboned roll of compound butter. bonus is that none of these will break the bank and can be purchased locally ä See KITCHEN, page 2D and in many cases in just one stop.

Contributing writer

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE/TNS PHOTO

By GRETCHEN MCKAy

Sweet and Spicy Korean Fried Chicken

1dN

This gift, flecked with festive pink and green, will delight the recipient at the holidays as a spread for toast, an addition to steamed potatoes or melted for sauteed mushrooms. The options are endless, and you can tuck in a note with serving suggestions.

1 stick (4 ounces) cold unsalted butter 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves 1 small shallot, finely minced 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt 1. Grate the butter into a large bowl using the large holes of a cheese grater. Add the thyme, shallot and salt and mix to blend using a rubber spatula.

2. Transfer the butter onto a sheet of parchment paper and roll it into a log, about 5 inches long and 11/2 inches in diameter. Roll it up in the paper to enclose, leaving a 1-inch allowance for tying the ends with ribbon of your choice.

3. Keep the butter refrigerated until gifting time. It can be made one week ahead.

Sheet pan snapper filet with broccoli, potatoes a quick fix

BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

Here’s a quick and easy sheet pan dinner that’s ready in just 10 minutes. Snapper filets broil alongside potatoes and broccoli for a complete meal.

To cut down on cooking time, I give the potatoes a quick head start in the microwave before transferring them to the pan to finish cooking and crisp up. The snapper is topped with a colorful mix of red bell peppers and onions, then drizzled with a tangy balsamic, horseradish, and garlic sauce that gives the dish a bold, flavorful finish.

Helpful hints: n Any type of fish filets such as tilapia, flounder or mahi mahi can be used instead of snapper. n Small red potatoes can be used instead of yellow potatoes.

Sheet Pan Snapper Filets, Broccoli and Potatoes Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer.

11/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided use 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 1 crushed garlic clove 1/4 cup diced onion 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper Olive oil spray 3/4 pound snapper fillets 3/4 pound small yellow potatoes, washed, unpeeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 21/2 cups) 4 cups broccoli florets Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1. Preheat broiler. Mix 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, vinegar, horseradish and garlic together until smooth.

2. In another small bowl, mix onion and red bell pepper together.

Spray a sheet pan with olive oil spray. Place snapper fillets, skin side down, on one side of the sheet pan.

Spread the pepper onion mixture on top of the fish and then the horseradish mixture.

3. Add potatoes to a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high 2 minutes. Add the potatoes and broccoli to the other side of the sheet pan. Broil 8 inches from heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove sheet pan from broiler.

4. Divide ingredients into two portions and place on two dinner plates.

Spoon the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over the potatoes and broccoli. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition info per serving: 458 calories (30 percent from fat), 15.5 g fat (2.2 g saturated, 6.7 g monounsaturated), 60 mg cholesterol, 43.5 g protein, 39.1 g carbohydrates, 7.2 g fiber, 213 mg sodium.

TNS PHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER

Sheet Pan Snapper Filets, Broccoli and Potatoes

2D ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Opting out of using perfume Dear Heloise: I am writing in response to your question regarding perfumes.

People are affected by smells differently, so I don’t use perfumes or scented lotions or soaps.

Having a history of Hints from migraines, Heloise I know that perfumes can truly set one off. My husband has a different reaction to perfumes.

Many give him a horrible metallic taste in his mouth. I like your method of a spritz on a cotton ball tucked away in your bra.

However, I also tend to think that many keep and use bottles for years after the perfume has gone “bad.” When people can react so differently, why risk it? Especially at work! Please be considerate of others. — Unscented Linda, via email

Two-in-one hint Dear Heloise: I watched a hospice nurse do this to dispose of medications: Take a gallon-sized zip-close plastic bag. Fill about one-third with cat litter. Pour liquid medication directly into litter.

Pull the capsules apart and dissolve them in water, then add them to the litter. Tablets can be crushed, dissolved and added. She then sealed the bag and placed it in the trash.

Also, if you have to drink a lot of liquid or something nasty-tasting, try using a straw. You can drink more and won’t taste it as much. — Charlotte Ervine, via email

Simple Broccoli Cheddar Frittata

STAFF PHOTOS By HILARy SCHEINUK

Pick up a small kitchen tool at Red Stick Spice and a set of their beautiful measuring spoons and/or a bottle of spice.

KITCHEN

MORE FUN GIFT IDEAS

Continued from page 1D The new local bookstore TBR Books and Tea on Highland Road has become my go-to for alloccasion gifts. No surprise here, cookbooks are always on my giving list. “The Vegetable Eater” by Cara Mangini is an award-winner and a delight of grand proportions. When I thumb through its pages, I am transported to the farmers market and into my kitchen, inspired to create magical dishes for family and friends.

Whip up Mangini’s broccoli frittata in a small cast-iron skillet and you have a gift that keeps on giving.

Handwrite the recipe on a notecard and include instructions for castiron care and your recipient will be all set.

On that note, the Red Stick Farmers Market is a one-size-fits-all emporium where you can gift one of their fun shopping totes with any amount of market tokens for a future shopping experience.

Their newly reopened Main Street Market also features a coffee shop

n Fresh herb plants, potted in handmade local pottery n Bookstore date invitation n Herb-infused salt in a pretty jar n Handmade pottery coffee mug n Garlic press and a head of fresh garlic n Bench scraper n Small kitchen scale n Gift card for a local coffee date n Favorite cookbook with pages marked with Post-it notes with kitchen gadgets, coffee beans and a reach-in fridge housing market produce all week long. My favorite coffee date is to stroll the market with a friend and it doesn’t cost extra.

Sharing the love of cooking is a perennial gift for anyone on your list and will be forever cherished.

Pick up a small kitchen tool (hello microplane) at Red Stick Spice and a set of their beautiful measuring spoons and/or a bottle of spice and pop the question: “When can we

An array of locally curated holiday gift ideas is seen at the home of April Hamilton. cook together?”

The recipient will glow and together you will create lasting memories. A printed towel makes reusable gift wrap and further perpetuates the fun.

In this era of one-click shopping, a leisurely visit to a local shop pays dividends, and you get to enjoy the holiday spirit in the process.

Their twinkle lights and festive tunes make the season bright. Happy Holidays to all, and especially happy gifting!

Serves 4. Recipe is adapted from “The Vegetable Butcher” by Cara Mangini. Gift this breakfast/brunch treat in a cast-iron skillet for the gift that keeps on giving. NOTE: I reduce some of the quantities in her recipe to make the 7-inch size skillet for gifting. I also topped mine with thinly sliced colorful sweet peppers from the farmers market to add a festive touch.

6 eggs 2 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, divided use 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Pinch of cayenne pepper 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup coarsely grated cheddar cheese 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic 3 cups chopped broccoli florets 1 tablespoon water Thinly sliced small sweet peppers for topping, optional 1. Heat the oven to 350 F with a rack positioned in the middle.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, black and cayenne pepper and the Parmesan and cheddar cheeses.

3. In a 7-inch cast-iron skillet, heat the oil and garlic over medium heat. When the oil begins to shimmer, cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

4. Add the broccoli and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes until just tender. Add the water to prevent burning and encourage steaming, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes more until the broccoli is tender and browning in places and all liquid has evaporated.

5. Give the egg mixture a stir and pour it into the skillet.

Reduce the heat to mediumlow and gently stir the top to evenly distribute the broccoli.

Scatter the sliced peppers on top, if using.

6. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the frittata puffs up, the edges are set, and the middle is just slightly firm, about 15 to 18 minutes.

7. Serve hot or cooled to room temperature.

The check engine light Dear Heloise: A while ago, your column mentioned what to do if the check engine light comes on in your vehicle. This is my experience: I have a vehicle with over 150,000 miles on it that runs very well, except when the check engine light came on. I made the assumption that it needed servicing but read in my owner’s manual to be sure to tighten the fuel cap at least three clicks.

With the vehicle in the garage, I opened the fuel cap, left it open for a few seconds, and tightened it at least three clicks. After using the vehicle a couple of times, the check engine light went off and has stayed off for many miles.

I feel like I have found at least one culprit to the problem. — Jim, via email Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

CHICKEN

Continued from page 1D (Phaidon Press, $54.95), to use chunks of boneless, skinless chicken breast instead of bone-in, skin-on pieces for easier eating. In a break from tradition, it’s only fried once before being tossed in the sauce.

So how did I achieve the thin, crispy texture that defines the dish? The coating is made with a packaged, cornstarch-based fried chicken mix commonly sold in Korea, which I bought on Amazon (but should also be available in well-stocked Asian markets).

You also can make the batter from scratch by mixing 1/ 2 cup cornstarch with 1/ 2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/ 2 cup allpurpose flour and 2 teaspoons kosher salt in a large bowl and whisking until it’s well-combined. Then, add enough cold

water (1/ 2 to 1 cup) until it has the consistency of thin paint.

My local grocery doesn’t stock Korean soy sauce, which is a little lighter and saltier than Japanese or Chinese soy sauce. But no worries, my trusty bottle of all-purpose Kikkoman is always at the ready.

The cookbook’s authors suggest eating half the chicken naked and the other half tossed in the sauce to enjoy the dish two different ways.

If you like, you can garnish it with toasted sesame seeds and serve it alongside kimchi, pickled radishes or a spicy cucumber salad.

At restaurants, Korean fried chicken is often served as an appetizer; for dinner, it’s great on a bed of steamed white rice.

Your mouth may burn a little after you take that first saucy bite, but it’s so good you’ll forget about it before reaching for another chunk.

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press Today is Thursday, Dec. 18, the 352nd day of 2025.

There are 13 days left in the year.

Today in history: On Dec. 18, 2019, the U.S. House impeached President Donald Trump on two charges, sending his case to the Senate for trial (It was the first of two Trump impeachment trials that would end in acquittal).

The articles of impeachment accused him of abuse of power to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden before the 2020 election and obstructing Congress’ investigation of the matter.

Also on this date: In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery was declared in effect by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

In 1892, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” publicly pre-

miered in St. Petersburg, Russia; although now considered a classic, it received a generally negative reception from critics.

In 1916, the Battle of Verdun, World War I’s longest at 10 months, ended between French and German forces; it led to nearly 1 million casualties.

In 1917, Congress proposed an amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting alcohol; the 18th Amendment was declared ratified in 1919 (Prohibition was repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment).

In 1972, with peace talks stalled, the U.S. launched Operation Linebacker II, its heaviest bombing of North Vietnam in the Vietnam War. The operation lasted 11 days (an agreement known as the Paris Peace Accords was signed in January 1973.

In 2011, the last convoy of heavily armored U.S. troops left Iraq in the final

moments of a nearly nineyear war.

In 2023, Pope Francis approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples under certain conditions, a radical shift in policy that aimed to make the church more inclusive while maintaining its strict ban on gay marriage.

Today’s birthdays: Chef Jacques Pépin is 90. Rock musician Keith Richards is 82. Filmmaker Alan Rudolph is 82. Filmmaker Steven Spielberg is 79. Filmmaker Gillian Armstrong is 75. Actor Brad Pitt is 62.

Singer Alejandro Sanz is 57. Tennis Hall of Famer Arantxa Sanchez Vicario is 54. Pop singer Sia is 50.

Country singer-songwriter Randy Houser is 50. Actor Katie Holmes is 47. Singer Christina Aguilera is 45.

MLB outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is 28. NFL quarterback Jayden Daniels is 25. Singer Billie Eilish is 24.

Sweet and Spicy Korean Fried Chicken

Recipe is adapted from “The Korean Cookbook” by Junghyun Park and Jungyoon Choi.

For the sauce: 3 tablespoons corn syrup 2 tablespoons ketchup 2 tablespoons gochujang (red chili paste) 2 tablespoons ganjang (Korean soy sauce) 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1/2 tablespoon fine gochugaru (red chili powder) 1 tablespoon sugar For the chicken: 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into chunks 1 tablespoon MSG 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Neutral cooking oil for deep frying 11/2 cups Korean seasoned fried chicken mix 1. In a small saucepan, combine corn syrup, ketchup, gochujang, soy sauce, gochugaru, garlic and sugar.

2. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Once it’s boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 3 minutes before removing from heat.

3. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. In a bowl, sprinkle chicken with MSG, sugar and black pepper and mix well. Let sit 15 minutes.

4. Pour 3 inches neutral oil into a large deep pot or deep fryer and heat to 355 F. 5. In a small bowl, stir together 61/2 tablespoons of the fried chicken mix and 4 tablespoons water to make a batter. Mix well until uniform. Add chicken pieces, and stir to combine.

6. Place the remaining 1 cup fried chicken mix in a large plastic bag.

Place half the chicken in the plastic bag and shake until well coated.

Let settle for 30 seconds before removing from the bag, shaking off any excess. Repeat with the rest of the chicken.

7. Set a wire rack in a sheet pan.

Once oil is up to temperature, reduce heat to medium-low. Add the chicken pieces and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove and set on the rack to cool for 3 minutes.

8. Sauce the chicken with the desired amount of sauce and toss well in a bowl.

Plate and serve immediately.

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Then, look forward to 12 new selections every three months and enjoy a $30 Omaha Steaks E-Reward Card with each future club case. You’ll also save 10% on every 12+ bottle purchase and get free delivery every time you order. There’s no commitment to continue and every bottle comes with our 100% guarantee.

Order now at GetOSWine.com/Sip317 or call 1.844.639.0738 and mention code AHNE001 Savings off retail price. Offer subject to availability and club enrollment. Omaha Steaks Wine is operated independently from Omaha Steaks, LLC. Full terms and conditions online. Void where prohibited by law.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 3D

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FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

zItS

For better or For WorSe

zodIAC sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Leave nothing to chance or up to others, and you will avoid disappointment. Trust, loyalty and progress go together when it comes to home, family and your closest associates. Read the room.

CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Refuse to let other people's obligations become your problem. Offer suggestions, but don't step in and take charge. The best lessons in life are those learned by doing things yourself.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pick up the slack and do what you do best. Spontaneity mixed with a genuine attitude and input will trigger positive results.

Be the glue, the enforcer and the comforter.

PIsCEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Focus on what needs to be done, and don't stop until your mission is complete. Refuse to let pettiness or emotional manipulation deter you from reaching your destination.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Don't let anger set in when action is required. Strive to surpass your own and others' expectations. Live, learn and laugh, and you'll find the happiness you desire. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Pay attention to cash flow. Rethink your festive strategy; kindness and respect will have positive impacts and lead to lasting memories. Your time is more valuable than any trinket.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Don't ignore the signs and signals you are receiv-

ing from people close to you. Be openhearted with relationships, shared expenses and promises you make to others.

CAnCER (June 21-July 22) Tidy up loose ends and call it a day. Forward thinking and a positive attitude will lead to fulfilling relationships and good times.

Change begins with a smile and a kind gesture.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Arrange a social get-together and spread joy to those you love without going into debt or expecting anything in return. Let your actions dictate your feelings.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Take a waitand-see approach and avoid situations that put you in a vulnerable position.

Examine what concerns you and make changes that put your mind at ease.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Attend events and take every opportunity to market your expertise. The fundamentals that accompany progress will help you recognize who is in your corner and who is not. sCoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Foolish spending or overpaying for something will cause worry and debt. A change of attitude that reflects peace of mind will help set you on the right path.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

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

toDAy's CLuE: s EQuALs F

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

4D ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

lll

Sudoku InstructIons: sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 5D

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B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Classic bridge books are usually republished, some several times. One such book that has reappeared was first printed in 1969. It is “The Secrets of Winning Bridge” by Jeff Rubens (Bridge World Books).

The book gives advice on hand evaluation in various situations, then considers the forms of the game: rubber bridge, Chicago, pairs and teams, and ways to be more successful in them, almost regardless of the bidding system being employed.

This deal highlights different declarerplay approaches. Look at just the North and South hands.

How would you plan the play in three no-trump if you care only about winning nine tricks, or you would like to maximize the overtricks?

Note North’s three-no-trump response.

With a probable seven winners, no singleton or void or thought of slam, it is right to go straight for the nine-trick game.

If nine tricks are sufficient, South should win the first trick, lead a low diamond, and, when West follows, play low from the board. This is necessary if diamonds are 4-0.

However, in a pairs event, where overtricks can be valuable, it is wrong to play for this 5 percent possibility. Instead, South should lead a diamond to dummy’s jack. Here, when the finesse wins,

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

declarer should take a heart finesse. It is highly unlikely that West has both heart honors, given his spade lead. And then South is in a position to take 12 tricks: two spades, two hearts, seven diamonds and one club. But even if the diamond finesse loses, the contract is still safe with at least one overtrick. © 2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD = gOOD aFTErnOOn

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game InstRuCtIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 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 — ECCEntRIC: ek-SEN-trik: Unconventional.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 21 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 29 or more words in ECCENTRIC? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — GnAtHIC gain gait ghat giant gnat nigh night aching acing acting anti

antic tang than thin thing ting hang hating hint inch itch

cant chai chain chant chat chia chin china chit

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:8-9 Don’t doubt that God loves you. He loved us when we were very unlovable. — G.E. Dean

6D ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

muttS

roSe iS roSe

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Scrabble GramS 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.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

jump Start

For more information on tournaments and clubs, email naspa – north american sCraBBlE players association: info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visit our website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzle inquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com.

Get fuzzy

Hasbro and its logo sCraBBlE associated logo, the design of the distinctive sCraBBlE brand game card, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarks of Hasbro in the United states and Canada. ©2021 Hasbro. all rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content agency, llC.

ken ken

animal crackerS

DuStin

InstructIons: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

2 - The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

Wallace the brave

Drabble

WiShinG Well breWSter rockit

luann

HErE is a plEasanT liTTlE gamE that will give you a message every day. it’s a numerical puzzle designed to spell out your fortune. Count the letters in your first name. if the number of letters is 6 or more, subtract 4. if the number is less than 6, add 3. The result is your key number. start at the upper left-hand corner and check each of your key numbers, left to right. Then read the message the checked figures give you.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 7D

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classifieds.nola.com Search & Place Ads Ads Onlines at classifieds.nola.com • Call Monday Us Monday - Friday 8AM - 5PMatat(504) (504)636-7435 636-7435 Search & Place Onlines at classifieds.nola.com - Friday 8AM - 5PM required. To learn more, email advertising@lapress.com or call 225-344-9309.

Announcements

Miscellaneous We Buy Houses for Cash AS-IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Call today for your fair cash offer: 1-225-545-1983

Seeking employees of the following between 1955-1995.

Please call Isaac Smith at 314-327-8429.

Struggling with debt? If you have over $15,000 in debt we help you be debt free in as little as 24-48 months. Pay nothing to enroll. Call Now: 1-877-773-1742

• Milwhite Mud Sales Co. • Rosson Richards Inc. • R&J Land Inc. • Vapor Honing Inc. • Ken Miller Inc. • Houston Contract Co. • Tom Hick Transfer Co. • Guardian Construction Co. Inc. • Bredero Price (a/k/a H.C. Price) • Plexco, (a/k/a Pipeline Services) • Brown and Root • Avondale Shipyards • Stanbridge Bros.

• Amsted Industries Inc. • Evans Cooperage • Tuboscope Vetco Int. • Vapor Houma • Intracoastal Tubular Servies Inc. • Alpha Technical Services • OFS, Inc.

Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans!

Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction!

Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-844-742-5188 today!

Health and Wellness Attention: VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-877-305-0196

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Danielle Boseman Maxwell a/k/a Danielle Maxwell a/k/a Danielle Boseman and/or Eugene Maxwell please contact Attorney Keith A. Doley 504-943-7071.

171038-12/18-19-20-3t $109.00 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Heirs of Robert Neal Sr. and/or Lilly Perkins please contact Attorney David J. Motter, 3500 N. Hullen Street, Metairie, LA 70002.

504-388-7005.

170895-Dec 18-20, 3t $109 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Jauronice Hayes, please contact Attorney Michael J Hall at 504-3835294 or mjhall@mjhalllaw.com.

170870-Dec 17-19, 3t $85

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Justin Nathaniel NAFF, last known residence, 3300 Upperline Street, New Orleans, LA 70125 and 3807 Octavia Street, New Orleans, LA. 70125, please contact, Diedre Pierce Kelly, 1515 Poydras Street, Ste. 780, New Orleans, LA. 70112 504-939-8260.

170848-12/17-18-19-3t $133.00 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the heirs of Pamela Ann Breaux, please contact Thomas P. Sanderson, Curator Ad Hoc, at (504) 586-0064, 4224 Canal St., NOLA 70119, or tps@boninlawfirm.com. Property rights involved.

171063-Dec 18-20, 3t $121 Advertising Looking to promote your services or find a new hire? Deliver your classified message statewide for as little as $265 per week through the Louisiana Press Association’s Classified Network. Pre-payment

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1-855-268-0108 www.dental50plus.com/morning #6258 Home and Garden No more cleaning out gutters.

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Home Services PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests.

Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! Have zip code of property ready when calling! 1-877728-0264 DIRECTV- All your entertainment.

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Call DIRECTV 1-866-734-0452 Dish Network: Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-855-654-8207

Employment MARINE Offshore Workers Needed. Must have TWIC. Hiring for positions of Utility Galley Hands, Tank Cleaners, Cooks & Riggers. Must also have PEC card and water survival T-Huet. Send resumes to tandnb16@gmail.com.

Prepare for power outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect (TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available.

Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-844512-5930.

2850 IDAHO AVENUE 1 Block to Vets & Williams All Amenities * Pool * Parking Studio/1 Bed Apt * Starting $650/Mo 504-236-1971 * 504-454-1333

METAIRIE

WANT TO BUY Old toy electric trains, any condition, Lionel Am. Flyer cash paid, 504-452-1000 CEMETERY PLOTS Westlawn Cemetery Mausoleum, in the Chapel. Corr IV, Tier A, holds 6 interments $18,000. 504-259-0505 COMPUTER/HOME OFC COMPUTER 2019 $100 504 418-2616 EXERCISE EQUIP teeter elliptical exercise bike gas pedal style pedals $500 504-295-4327

FURNITURE full size old carved wood bed with mattress sheets and comforter $150 504-295-4327 FURNITURE hex shaped end table has storage space all wood maple colored $50 504-295-4327 FURNITURE king size old bed maple wood with mattress topper sheets $300 504295-4327 FURNITURE lg chester drawer 7 draws wood maple good shape $100 504-295-4327

New Orleans Rental ALGIERS 5708 A-Tullis Dr., 4BR/2BA, ADA Compliant, w/d hkup, ref, stove, Off St. Pk, 504-454-3847 504-512-2814

WANT TO BUY I buy old bourbon bottles. Wild Turkey, Weller, Old Grand Dad etc.

Call or text $300 (225)456-3434

ESPLANADE RIDGE The Carson Company, Inc. 5900 Hayne Blvd., 1Bd/1Ba..........$695 2900 Third St. #10, 1Bd/1Ba.........$700 4425 Woodland (Up), 2Bds/2Bas.$895 1124 Columbus St., 3Bds/1Ba......$995 8904 Olive St., 3Bds/1Ba.............$1100 2441 N. Robertson St., 2/1...........$1200 2731 Bruxelles St., 3Bds/1Ba......$1250 753 S Genois St., 2/1 (Sec 8 Ok).$1384 2924 Mandeville 3/2 (Sec 8 OK).$1592 5737 Franklin Ave., 3/2 (Sngl)....$1795 821-1858 * 822-8432 * 427-4646 GENTILLY 2544 ALLEN TOUSSAINT BLVD. NEWLY RENOVATED!!!

1-2 Bdrm Apts * From $800/mo Parking * Sec Gate 504-250-1446 * 504-454-1333

Corinne Fox REALTOR®

“Connecting You to the Soul of New Orleans One Home, One Neighborhood, One Passion at a Time!”

504-466-3712

www.hurricanefenceneworleans.com All types of Fences Exclusive Pre-Stained Cedar Fences Hurricane Fence and Home Improvement is Your JellyFish Lighting Dealer All In One Exterior Lighting Solution Controlled from your smart device anywhere Security-Accent-Holiday-Game Day Lighting Trim - Patio - Landscaping FREE ESTIMATE • 504-466-3712 1 yr no interest financing

m 504.239.1481

o 504.861.7575

corinne.fox@compass.com www.compass.com/agents/corinne-fox

7934 Maple St. New Orleans, LA 70118 Licensed by the State of Louisiana

Over 30 Years Experience

Sand Home Improvement Roof Repair Specialist

Licensed, Bonded and Fully Insured

WE DO IT ALL!

Chris Sand/Owner 504-281-3977

Free Estimates Senior Discounts

METAIRIE

10,000 Apt Homes and 75 Locations with Studio, 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms Pools, Access Gates, Garages (504) 360-9347 METAIRIE 3201 RICHLAND AVENUE 1/2 Block off Vets * by Paretti Jaguar 1 Bed * Prkg * Pool * Rent $675/mo 504-320-6958 * 504-454-1333

518 N. LABARRE RD $1,600/Mo Precious Raised Cottage between Met Rd & railroad tracks.

2BD/1BA. Lrg Liv Rm w/wd flrs.

Wooden fence separating home f/ N. Labarre for privacy. Gated Yd. Refrig/Oven + W&D are available.

Sandy Ward * 504-259-2616.

Re/Max Living * 504-475-1011. Ea ofc indpntly owned & operated.

HAPPY HOLIDAY

The Classified Advertising Department will be closed on Thursday, December 25 to observe the Christmas holiday

EARLY DEADLINES FOR OUR ADVERTISEMENTS

DEADLINE..........RUN DATE Thurs., Dec 18 - 3pm .......... Wed., Dec 24 Fri., Dec 19 - 3pm............... Thurs., Dec 25 Fri., Dec 19 - 3pm............... Fri., Dec 26 Tues, Dec 23-3pm ............... Sat/Sun Dec 27, 28 Wed., Dec 24 - 3pm ............ Mon., Dec 29 Fri., Dec 26 - 3pm............... Tues., Dec 30

DISPLAY ADS 24 HOURS EARLIER

You may place your ad 7 days a week, 24 hours a day online at www.theadvocate.com or call Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

225-383-0111

CEMENT AND BRICK

CONTRACTOR NO JOB TOO SMALL!

SIDEWALKS & DRIVEWAYS

504-236-2375 TRIPLE BBB

CONSTRUCTION CO. INC. Pool Enclosures • Patio Covers • Roofing Siding • Glass Rooms • Screen Rooms Soffit • Fascia • Windows & Screens

JAMES H. BALL, SR.

P R ES I D E N T 2158 Kenner Ave. Kenner, LA 70062

504-467-6998 Fax 504-467-6708

o D e e ct o

r

Tr

GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS Make your holidays a lot easier with the Versa Lift Attic Elevator Prices start at $2795 12 month no interest financing available CALL 504-466-3712 Hurricane Fence and Home Improvement

METAIRIE 3513 EDENBORN AVENUE Lrg 2 Bed, 1 Bath * $925 * Off St Prkg Blocks from Lakeside 504-982-4040 * 504-885-8060 504-454-1333

WANT TO BUY Old Records 33's, 45's & 78's. All types of music. Call 985-259-1889

Merchandise

Home Improvement BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs.

Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 1-877-496-0371 Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material…steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer. Up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-582-6043

KENNER

Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-844-3352962 today to schedule a free quote.

It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

Tree Trimming & Removal • Stump Grinding 504 -570 - 6683

3030 Lausat Street, Metairie, Louisiana 70001 Website: twomenandatruck.com/neworleans Licensed, Bonded and fully Insured with a 96.5% approval rating

*Must Dial Area Code*

504-341-2006 FREE ESTIMATES

License and Insured and Professionally trained

Brenda H. Delle

Thoroughbred Horses and Racing Scenes Pastel and Pen and Ink

504.491.0103

bdelle@gmail.com | brendadelle.com

To advertise here, please call 225-383-0111

8D ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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WEST BANK New Chateau Apartments 1521 Ames Blvd. Marrero, La. 70072 (504) 348-0880

METAIRIE

Pets

We are Opening 1 Bedroom Waiting List on Monday, December 22, 2025 Applications Accepted from 10am-3pm Spacious 1 Bedroom Apartments ONLY 1 Bedroom/1 Bathroom Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave, Full Size Washer & Dryer in all units Ceiling Fans, Central Air & Heat and Patios Business Center ADA Units

For Lease...

1, 2, 3 Bedrooms 504-455-3939 MID CITY 2028 N. Broad St. Duplex, Liv. Rm, BR, BA, HW Flrs, A/H, Kit Furn, Wtr Pd, Sec 8 Ok, $1050/mo + Dep (504) 9471870

Income Restrictions Apply Bring: ID, Birth Certificate, Social Security Card & Proof of Income for ALL household members

Auctions

PUBLIC NOTICE --UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DIS‐ TRICT OF LOUISIANA, LBC FIXED INCOME FUND I 2020, LLC VERSUS WATKINS HEALTHCARE GROUP, LLC, W AND W STAFFING AND RECRUIT‐ ING SOLUTIONS LLC, AND ANIEZE M. WATKINS, CIVIL ACTION NO. 2024-8.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF SALE

BY UNITED STATES MAR‐ SHALS SERVICE. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Louisiana has been or‐ dered and directed to sell, individually, at pub‐ lic auctions to occur on the first floor of the United States District Court for the Eastern Dis‐ trict of Louisiana, 500 Poydras Street, New Or‐ leans, Louisiana 70130, Courthouse Lobby, on January 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. for following proper‐ ties, individually: (1) A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND THAT CERTAIN PAR‐ CEL OR TRACT OF LAND, situated in the City of New Orleans, Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, in the THIRD MUNICIPAL DISTRICT in Section 12, Groves 1 and 2, New Orleans Lakeshore Land Com‐ pany Tract, and in accor‐ dance with survey made

by Wilton J. Dufrene, Land Surveyor, dated January 31, 1974, resur‐ veyed to locate improve‐ ments, May 6, 1975, resurveyed and certified correct April 8, 1976, said parcel or tract of land is composed of Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, in that area bounded by Hayne Boulevard, Lamb (Drive‐ way) Road, Kuebel (Dri‐ veway) Drive and Down‐ man Road, and measures as follows: Said parcel or tract of land forms the corner of Hayne Boule‐ vard and Lamb (Drive‐ way) Road and the cor‐ ner of Lamb (Driveway) Road and Keubel (Drive‐ way) Drive, and mea‐ sures 300 feet front on Hayne Boulevard, 300 feet front on Lamb (Dri‐ veway) Road, 400 feet front on Keubel (Drive‐ way) and 300 feet on its sideline nearest Down‐ man Road, being esti‐ mated to contain approx‐ imately 2.07 acres, more or less. Tax Parcel Identi‐ fication Number: 39W014701. The property is located on 6400 Hayne Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70126; and (2) ONE CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUND, situated in Section 23, LaKratt Tract, Third Municipal District, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, desig‐ nated as Parcel 23-C-2, as per plan of resubdivision

by Richard T. Dading, dated February 7, 1983, approved by the City Planning Commission on February 21, 1983, and being more fully de‐ scribed as follows: Com‐ mence at the intersec‐ tion of the East right of way line of Bundy Road and the South right of way line of Lake Forest Boulevard and measure N78°59'40"E, along the south right of way line of Lake Forest Boulevard, a distance of 150.00° to a point; thence continue along the south right of way line of Lake Forest Boulevard, N77°01'51"E, a distance of 147.17' to the point of beginning, thence continue N77°01'51"E, along the south right of way line of Lake Forest Boulevard, a distance of 203.03 to a point; thence continue along the south right of way line of Lake Forest Boulevard, N78°59'40"E, a distance of 47.25' to a point; thence measure S29°05'35"W, a distance of 486.46' to a point; thence measure S61°59'40"W, (a distance of 240.00' to a point; thence measure N29°05°35"W,) (a dis‐ tance of 552.96' to the point of beginning). The said Parcel 23-C-2 con‐ tains a total of 124,873.01 square feet or 2.867 acres and is shown on the sur‐ vey of Dading, Marques & Associates, Inc., dated Sept. 26, 1989, attached to the Act of Sale recorded under CIN 11333 NA 818395. The property is located on 9660 Lake Forest Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70127 to the highest bidder at public auction, free and clear of all liens and en‐ cumbrances. The United States Marshal will re‐ quire the last and high‐ est bidder to whom the properties are adjudi‐ cated, respectively, to deposit a minimum of 10% of the bid, by certi‐ fied check, or cashier’s check on a local bank, and the balance, if any, of the purchase price must be paid by certified or cashier’s check on a local bank on or before confirmation of the sale by the Court and within ten (10) days of the adju‐ dication or dismissal of any opposition which may have been filed. The proceeds of the public sales shall be forthwith paid into the registry of the Court to be disposed of according to law. Said public auction and sale shall be conducted in ac‐ cordance with the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, all provisions of which are incorpo‐ rated herein as if set forth in their entirety.

DYLAN T. LEACH, JOVIAN V. SCAFATI, SMITH & FAWER, LLC, 201 ST. CHARLES AVENUE, SUITE 3702, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70170; PHONE: 504-525-2200; EMAIL: dleach@ smithfawer.com, js‐ cafati@smithfawer.com.

170699 Dec. 18, 2025, Jan 9, 16, 20, 3t $2,033.16

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --Audubon Commission in‐ vites bids from qualified suppliers for the supply and delivery of salts and chemicals to produce ar‐ ifi i l d l

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

p tificial seawater and pool chemicals to include Audubon Zoo located at 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, La. 70118, Audubon Aquarium lo‐ cated at 1 Canal Street, New Orleans, La. 70130 and Audubon Aquatic Center located at 14001 Patterson , New Orleans, La. 70131. Bids must be submitted at or before Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Bids may be secured on the first date of the adver‐ tisement from BidNet Di‐ rect at https://www.bid netdirect.com/louisiana/ audubonnatureinstitute.

Bids may be submitted electronically at https:// www.bidnetdirect.com/ louisiana/audubonnatu reinstitute or in a sealed envelope marked “Salt & Chemicals for Artificial Seawater and Pool Chemicals”. It is the ven‐ dors’ responsibility to contact BidNet Direct well in advance of the bid opening date if the bid is submitted elec‐ tronically to establish an account that will allow for secure bidding. Bids not submitted electroni‐ cally shall be delivered to: Audubon Nature Insti‐ tute, Procurement and Risk Management De‐ partment Attn: Denise LeBlanc, 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Bids will be opened and read aloud at the place and time that the bids are to be re‐ ceived. Bids, and amend‐ ments to bids received after the day and time specified above will be rejected as non-respon‐ sive and returned to the bidder unopened.

All questions regarding this bid invitation shall be ad‐ dressed in writing or by means of email to dle‐ blanc@auduboninstitute. org, seventy-two hours prior to bid opening.

y g CPRAcontracts@la.gov.

• Proposals must be re‐ ceived no later than 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on January 30, 2026, after which time and date they will not be ac‐ cepted.

PUBLIC NOTICE --Audubon Nature Institute is seeking a highly quali‐ fied, experienced firm to run Food & Beverage op‐ erations at the Goldring/Woldenberg Riverfront Park Event Pavilion a dynamic new venue in New Orleans.

The selected operator is expected to provide food and beverage for daily park operations as well as to flex capacity to de‐ liver food and beverage services for festivals and major corporate events.

The firm will serve as the exclusive operator for the GWRP Event Pavilion.

Opening in Spring 2026, the extended Goldring/Woldenberg Riverfront Park trans‐ forms the Governor Nicholls Wharf into a new riverfront park. The Park completes the first phase of Riverfront for All, an initiative to con‐ vert the last industrial wharves in downtown New Orleans into a nat‐ ural destination connect‐ ing over 2 miles of river‐ front park space—among the longest riverfront parks in the country.

Phase II, the Esplanade Wharf conversion, when completed, will fulfill a 40-year dream for visi‐ tors and residents to re‐ connect with the Missis‐ sippi River from the By‐ water neighborhood to Canal Street. Interested parties are invited to se‐ cure a qualification pack‐ age at www.bidnetdirect. com/louisiana/audubon natureinstitute There will be a non-mandatory site visit on January 7, 2026, at 8 am located at 1301 N. Peters, New Orleans, LA 70117. Proposals must be submitted at or before February 4, 2026, at 10:00 am. Proposals shall be submitted in sealed en‐ velopes marked “GWRP Event Pavillion Food & Beverage Operator”. Pro‐ posals must be submit‐ ted to the following: Audubon Nature Insti‐ tute, Attn: Cecilie H. Primeaux, 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70118. Proposals, and amendments to Propos‐ als received after the day and time specified above will be rejected by the Audubon Nature Institute as non-responsive and returned to the team un‐ opened.

170599-dec 18-23-29-3t $109.03 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS SP# 1664 Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Procure‐ ment Section of the Divi‐ sion of Administration, 1201 N. 3rd. St., 2nd.

Floor, Suite 2-160, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. for the follow‐ ing: RFx No. 3000025681, Li‐ brary Materials & Ser‐ vices – Statewide, 01/21/26 Bid proposal forms, in‐ formation and specifica‐ tions may be obtained by accessing the bid num‐ ber in LaPac at www.doa.

Louisiana.gov/osp or from the procurement section listed above. No bids will be received after the date and hour specified. The right is re‐ served to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities.

Tom Ketterer Director of State Procurement FAX (225) 342-8688 170844 Dec. 18, 1t $11.77

PUBLIC NOTICE --RFP No. 3000025750 The Coastal Protection and Restoration Author‐ ity (the CPRA) gives pub‐ lic notice that it is re‐ questing proposals from interested, qualified per‐ sons or firms (including public agencies and in‐ stitutions) for “Oyster Bi‐ ologist Services”.

• RFP available https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/osp/lapac/pubMain. cfm http://coastal.la. gov/resources/rfps-rsiqscontracts/contracts-andgrants/. It may also be obtained by e-mailing l

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170835-dec 18-1t PUBLIC NOTICE --RFP No. 3000025750 The Coastal Protection and Restoration Author‐ ity (the CPRA) gives pub‐ lic notice that it is re‐ questing proposals from interested, qualified per‐ sons or firms (including public agencies and in‐ stitutions) for “Oyster Bi‐ ologist Services”.

• RFP available https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/osp/lapac/pubMain. cfm http://coastal.la. gov/resources/rfps-rsiqscontracts/contracts-andgrants/. It may also be obtained by e-mailing CPRAcontracts@la.gov.

• Proposals must be re‐ ceived no later than 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on January 30, 2026, after which time and date they will not be ac‐ cepted.

170838-dec 18-1t $34.48

PUBLIC NOTICE --SEWERAGE & WATER BOARD OF NEW ORLEANS ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS REPAIRING FLUIDIZED BED INCERNERATOR REFRACTORY DOME AT THE EAST BANK OF NEW ORLEANS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT CONTRACT NO. 30274 SOLICITATION NO. 2025-SWB-95 The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans is requesting bids for im‐ provements repairing the Fluidized Bed Incinerator Dome at the East Bank of New Orleans Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Bid Documents and pro‐ posal forms are available for download on Decem‐ ber 04, 2025, at the fol‐ lowing websites: SWBNO: https://www2.swbno. org/business_bidspecific ations.asp LAPAC: https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/OSP/ LaPAC/dspBid.cfm?sea rch=department& term=181 All inquiries shall be di‐ rected to Kimberly Barnes, Procurement Specialist, at kbarnes@ swbno.org. The deadline for inquiries is on De‐ cember 19, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

Bids are due on January 06, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Any Bids received after the specified time will be re‐ jected.

Bids will then be publicly opened and read on Jan‐ uary 06, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Sewerage and Water Board of New Or‐ leans, 625 St. Joseph Street, Purchasing Con‐ ference Room 131, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Microsoft Teams Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 227 572 360 351 79 Passcode: h2xv93op Dial in by phone +1 504-224-8698,, 915906013# United States, New Orleans Find a local number Phone conference ID: 915 906 013# LATE BIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 169066-dec 4-11-18-3t $94.17

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --Be advised that Folsom Land Holdings, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company ("Folsom Land Holdings, LLC"), is dis‐ solving its limited liabil‐ ity company charter and is to be liquidated out of court. If any person has a claim against Folsom Land Holdings, LLC, the claimant must send no‐ tice to Scott T. Slatten, liquidator of Folsom Land Holdings, LLC with the following information: (1) claimant's full name; (2) claimant's mailing address; and (3) a de‐ scription of the events giving rise to such claim.

The claim must be mailed to c/o Folsom Land Holdings, LLC, 201 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 3600, New Orleans, LA 70170, Attention: Laura Walker Plunkett. A claim against Folsom Land Holdings, LLC, will be ex‐ tinguished by peremp‐ tion unless a proceeding to enforce the claim commenced within six months after publication of this notice.

171013-dec 18-1t $127.50

PUBLIC NOTICE --Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025 Time: 9:30 AM Meeting: Board of Building Standards and Appeals Location: 7th Floor Conference Room A - City Hall (1300 Perdido St) New Business: 1. BBSA No. 25-64 2001-2003 Saint Ann St Elridge Moore 2. BBSA No. 25-65 623 Orange St Zach Smith Consulting 3. BBSA No. 25-66 217 Norland Ave Alex Sorapuru Publication Date:

Legal Notices

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 NOCP 8821 170887-dec 17-18-2t $11.16 PUBLIC NOTICE ---

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BRYON R. EDWARDS CAUSE NO. 2024-0260 SUMMONS TO: Unknown Heirs at Law of BRYON R. ED‐ WARDS, deceased.

That Glenda Millet has been acknowledged to be the heir-at-law of Bryon R. Edwards, de‐ ceased. That Bryon R. Ed‐ wards was the child of Margie Edwards and Roderick Edwards, both deceased. Any other per‐ son claiming to be an heir of Bryon R. Edwards is hereby requested to be and appear before this Court on January 6, 2026, at 9:00 o’clock A.M. in the Chancery Courtroom of the Lincoln County Chancery Court in Brookhaven, Mississippi, to show cause, if any he can, why said individual should be included as an heir of this estate; other‐ wise, such claim or claims shall not be con‐ sidered by the Court in its adjudication of heir‐ ship in this estate.

You are not required to file an answer or other pleading, but you may do so if you desire.

Witness my hand and office seal this 1st day of December 2025.

ALISHA MCGEHEE, CHANCERY CLERK OF LINCOLN COUNTY BY: Sarah Ramshur, D.C.

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DOGS Miniature Dachshund - 1 M, 1 F, shots, wormed & reg. Ready 12/20. $600 504-390-1321

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Legal Notices

John Burns Estate & Elder Care Law, PLLC 109 W. Cherokee St., Brookhaven, MS 39601 601-748-8888 Solicitor 169093-dec 4-1t $539.26

IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

DOGS Teacup POODLES POMS MALTIPOOS YORKIES miniature/Toy GOLDENDOO‐ DLES CAVALIERS - 504-259-2222 2yr guarantee UTD S/W Tcups $995 up $495.00 up

DOGS CKC YORKIES or SHORKIES - (yorkies are with papers) all are vet checked w/shot and worming, will meet in Gulf‐ port $700 (334) 467-3416

DOGS AKC German Shepherd pups. Ready 12/23. $800 Kentwood 985 244-0173

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

170002-dec 11-18-2t $74.30

DOGS AKC Maltese puppies, Ready for Christ‐ mas 1-F. (225) 235-9433 or (225) 235-7619

CATS Young Male Cat, Gray Colors, Have too many cats, Looking for another home for him. Please call 504-861-9617 ($50)

NEW ORLEANS EAST LITTLE WOODS SPECIAL 7819 SANDS STREET * 3 BD/2 BA Central A & H * Fenced Backyard Sec 8 Welcome. No Deposit. $1,200 504-241-6189 * 504-430-1162

Public Notices

Automotive

Public Notices Successions

PUBLIC NOTICE --CIVIL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF OR‐ LEANS STATE OF LOUISIANA NO.: 2020-9131 DIVISION: I LINDA V. MAYER Versus WEST BANK OUTPATIENT SURGERY CENTER, LLC, CULICCHIA NEUROLOIGI‐ CAL CLINIC, LLC AND DR. STEPHEN RYNICK FILED: _____________________ _____________________ DEPUTY CLERK NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF ORDER TO SUMMON LEGAL SUCCESSORS OF DECEASED PLAINTIFF, LINDA V. MAYER NOTICE IS HEREBY given to the legal successor(s) of Linda V. Mayer, de‐ ceased, including but not limited to Mary Sonnier, Jean Stickney, Ann Dun‐ bar, Catherine Blanchard Villavaso, PhD, and Jack Blanchard, to appear and substitute themselves as party plaintiff in the above-captioned matters within sixty (60) days of the first publication of this notice. The Times Picayune Advocate will publish notice of this summons by two (2) pub‐ lications not less than fif‐

Public Notices Successions

teen (15) days apart. If the legal successor(s) fail(s) to appear and sub‐ stitute themselves for the deceased party, Linda V. Mayer, within sixty (60) days of first publication, on ex parte written motion, Defen‐ dant, West Bank Surgery Center, will move for dis‐ missal of this action as to the deceased party, Linda V. Mayer, with full prejudice.

Attorney: Kari D. Fleming Publication: The Times Picayune/ The Advocate Address: 1100 Poydras Street New Orleans, LA 70163 Suite 3700 Telephone: (504)599-8068 168379-NOV 27-dec 18-2t $75.64 PUBLIC NOTICE --CIVIL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF OR‐ LEANS STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 2020-9131 DIVISION “I” LINDA V. MAYER VERSUS WEST BANK OUTPATIENT SURGERY CENTER, LLC, CULICCHIA NEUROLOGICAL CLINIC, LLC, and DR. STEPHEN RYNICK FILED: _ DEPUTY CLERK NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF ORDER TO SUMMON LEGAL SUCCESSORS OF DECEASED PLAINTIFF, LINDA V. MAYER NOTICE IS HEREBY given to the legal successor(s) of Linda V. Mayer, de‐ ceased, including but not limited to Mary Sonnier, Jean Stickney, Ann Dun‐ bar, Catherine Blanchard Villavaso, PhD, and Jack Blanchard, to appear and substitute themselves as party plaintiff(s) in the above-captioned matter i hi i ( ) d f

RESOLUTION PROVIDING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($300,000,000) OF NEW ORLEANS AVIATION BOARD REVENUE AND REFUNDING BONDS IN ONE OR MORE SERIES TO PAY OFF AND DISCHARGE THE SERIES 2024 BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES; TO FINANCE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. WHEREAS, the New Orleans Aviation Board (the “Aviation Board”) through its Board of Commissioners (the “Commissioners”) is charged with the administration, operation, and maintenance of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (the “Airport”) pursuant to Article V, Chapter 6, Section 5-602 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana (the “City”); and WHEREAS, Part XIV of Chapter 4 of Subtitle II of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, particularly La. R.S. 39:1034 (D) and (F), together with the other constitutional and statutory authority supplemental thereto, including without limitation, the provisions of Chapter 13 of Subtitle III of Title 39, including La. R.S. 39:1430 and the provisions of Chapter 14-A of Title 39 (La. R.S. 39:1444 through 1456, inclusive) of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (collectively, the “Act”), authorize the issuance of revenue bonds by the Aviation Board in its own name payable out of the income, revenues, and receipts derived or to be derived from the properties or facilities administered, maintained, or operated by the Aviation Board, subject to the approval of such issuance by the Council of the City (the “Council”); and WHEREAS, the following designated general airport revenue bonds and subordinate obligations have been issued and are outstanding pursuant to the provisions of that General Revenue Bond Trust Indenture dated as of February 1, 2009 (the “General Indenture”) among the Board, the City, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., (the “Trustee”) as amended by their applicable Supplemental Indentures and remain outstanding as follows: (i) “Series 2017 Bonds” issued pursuant to a Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 2017 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”); (ii) “Series 2019 Bonds” issued pursuant to a Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2019 (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”); (iii) “Series 2023 Bonds” issued pursuant to a Seventh Supplemental Trust Indenture dated as of April, 2023 (the “Seventh Supplemental Indenture); (iv) “Draw-Down Bond Anticipation Notes Series 2024” (the “Series 2024 BANS”) issued pursuant to an Eight Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 1, 2024 (the “Eighth Supplemental Indenture”); (v) “Series 2024 Bonds” issued pursuant to a Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 1, 2024 (the “Ninth Supplemental Indenture”); (vi) “New Orleans Aviation Board General Airport Revenue Interim Drawdown Note (AMT) (North Terminal Project) Series 2025” issued pursuant to a Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 2025 (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture”); WHEREAS, the Aviation Board has determined to issue not to exceed Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000) of New Orleans Aviation Board Revenue and Refunding Bonds (the “Series 2025 Bonds”) in one or more series to pay off and discharge the Series 2024 BANS as planned and to finance capital improvements at the Airport identified in Exhibit “A” hereto (the “Capital Improvements”), including planning, architectural, engineering, and similar costs, for constructing and equipping the Capital Improvements; and WHEREAS, the Series 2025 Bonds will be issued in one or more series pursuant to an Eleventh Supplemental Indenture to the General Indenture to pay off and discharge all of the Series 2024 BANS, to pay for the costs of the Capital Improvements at the Airport, to pay capitalized interest with respect to the components of Capital Improvements through their placed in service dates, to pay for the costs of issuing the Series 2025 Bonds, and to fund a debt service reserve for the Series 2025 Bonds as required by the General Indenture; and WHEREAS, the Aviation Board anticipates that a portion of the costs (the “Original Expenditures”) of the Capital Improvements may be paid from the general fund or other available moneys prior to the issuance of the Series 2025 Bonds; and WHEREAS, the Aviation Board reasonably expects to reimburse the Original Expenditures with proceeds of the Series 2025 Bonds to be issued under the General Indenture; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: SECTION 1. The Aviation Board hereby incorporates and adopts the preamble clauses as is fully stated herein and hereby further authorizes and approves the Series 2025 Bonds in one or more series in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000) as described in the preamble clauses. This resolution also is the affirmative official action of the Aviation Board acting by and through its Commissioners towards the issuance of that portion of the Series 2025 Bonds to finance the Capital Improvements in accordance with the United States Treasury Department Regulations, Section 1.150-2.

SECTION 2. The Series 2025 Bonds are to be issued under the General Indenture at either fixed rates not exceeding eight percent (8.00%) per annum with maturities not exceeding thirty-one (31) years from the issue date of the Series 2025 Bonds. The Series 2025 Bonds

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Public Notices Successions p within sixty (60) days of the first publication of this notice. The Times Picayune Advocate will publish notice of this summons by two (2) pub‐ lications not less than fif‐ teen (15) days apart. If the legal successor(s) fail(s) to appear and sub‐ stitute themselves for the deceased party, Linda V. Mayer, within sixty (60) days of first publication, on ex parte written motion, Defen‐ dant, West Bank Surgery Center, will move for dis‐ missal of this action as to the deceased party, Linda V. Mayer, with full prejudice.

Attorney: John B. Cazale, V Publication: The Times Picayune/ The Advocate Address: 1100 Poydras Street Suite 3700 New Orleans, LA 70163 Telephone: (504) 599-8243 CLERK OF COURT 168410-NOV 27-DEC 18-2T $ PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC NOTICE - - CIVIL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF ORLEANS STATE OF LOUISIANA CASE NO. 24-10303 DIVI‐ SION “I” SUCCESSION OF‐ JENEVIEVE BROWN - NO‐ TICE IS GIVEN that Val‐ lerie Woods, Executrix of the Succession of Jenevieve Brown, is ap‐ plying for authority to sell at private sale, on terms of SIXTY THOU‐ SAND AND 10/100 ($60,000.00) DOLLARS the immovable property owned by The Succes‐ sion of Jenevieve Brown, described below.

TWO CERTAIN PIECES OR PORTION OF GROUND, to‐ gether with all the build‐ ing and improvements thereon and all the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes and advan‐

Public Notices Successions

tages thereunto belong‐ ing or in anywise apper‐ taining, situated in the THIRD DISTRICT of the CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, in SQUARE NO. 1385, which square is bounded

by FRANKLIN AVENUE, N. DORGENOIS STREET, PAINTERS STREET and LAW STREET, and accord‐ ing to the survey made

by J.J. Krebs and Sons, Surveyors, dated May 13, 1972, said lots are desig‐ nated as LOT NOS. 1 & 2 of Square 1385. Said Lot Nos. 1 and 2 adjoin each other and measure each thirty-one feet, eleven inches, five lines (31', 11"5" ' front on Franklin Avenue, with a combined measurement of sixtythree feet, eleven inches, two lines (63'11"2"', front on Franklin Avenue, same width in the rear, by a depth between equal and parallel lines of one hun‐ dred four feet, ten inches, two line (104',10", 2" ' ) said Lot No. 1 form‐ ing the corner of Law Street and Franklin Av‐ enue. All as per survey of Mandle Surveying, Inc., dated November 22, 1988, and as shown on a sur‐ vey of J.J. Krebs & Sons, Inc., dated May 13,1972, lots 1 & 2, measure 64' 11", 2 ", title (actual 63'11'2") .

The Improvements thereon bear the munici‐ pal no. 2534 Franklin Av‐ enue, New Orleans, LA 70117. Being the same property acquired by Jenevieve McCall Brown,

by Judgment of Posses‐ sion, dated 09/24/2012, and registered in CIN 519135 of the official records of Orleans Parish, Louisiana.

An order authorizing the Executrix to sell the property may be issued after twenty (20) days from the date of the pub‐ lication of this notice. An opposition to the appli‐ cation may be filed at any time prior to the is‐ suance of such an order

Public Notices Successions

or within seven days of the last publication. By attorney Michael Wins‐ berg, LSBA 19444, 829 Baronne Street, New Or‐ leans, LA 70113 (504) 5819322.

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shall be payable from the income, revenues, and receipts derived or to be derived from the properties or facilities administered, maintained, or operated by the Aviation Board at the Airport or such portion of such revenues as may be determined by the Aviation Board in a supplemental sale resolution.

SECTION 3. Upon issuance of the Series 2025 Bonds, Original Expenditures will be reimbursed from a portion of the proceeds of the Series 2025 Bonds during the reimbursement period as described in United States Treasury Department Regulations, Section 1.150-2(d)(2).

SECTION 4. Application is hereby made to the Louisiana State Bond Commission for consent, authority, and approval of the Series 2025 Bonds. The not-to-exceed costs of issuance attached hereto as Exhibit B for the Series 2025 Bonds and the Series 2025 are hereby approved.

By virtue of the Aviation Board’s application for, acceptance and utilization of the benefits of the Louisiana State Bond Commission’s approval(s) resolved and set forth herein, the Aviation Board resolves that it understands and agrees that such approval(s) are expressly conditioned upon, and it further resolves that it understands, agrees and binds itself, its successors and assigns to, full and continuing compliance with the “State Bond Commission Policy on Approval of Proposed Use of Swaps, or other forms of Derivative Products Hedges, Etc.”, adopted by the Commission on July 20, 2006, as to the borrowing(s) and other matter(s) subject to the approval(s), including subsequent application and approval under said Policy of the implementation or use of any swap(s) or other product(s) or enhancement(s) covered thereby.

SECTION 5. In order to satisfy the “Public Approval” requirement of Section 147(f) of the Code with respect to the Series 2025 Bonds which may be issued as qualified airport private activity tax-exempt bonds to finance the Capital Improvements, the Aviation Board will cause a public hearing to be held to afford all interested individuals a reasonable opportunity to express their views, both orally and in writing, concerning the intention of the Aviation Board to issue the Series 2025 Bonds. The Director of Aviation, or in his absence any proper officer of the Aviation Board is hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to (i) execute and publish a Notice of Public Hearing regarding the Intention to Issue the Series 2025 Bonds and a Notice of Public Hearing in the form approved

by Bond Counsel, in the Times-Picayune, a daily newspaper published in and of general circulation in the City and (ii) conduct one or more such public hearings on dates and times and at places to be selected by said officer with the concurrence of Bond Counsel as may be required under the circumstances.

SECTION 6. A copy of this resolution shall be published as soon as possible after its adoption in the official journal of the Aviation Board. For a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such publication any person in interest shall have the right to contest the legality of this resolution and of the Series 2025 Bonds to be issued pursuant hereto and the provisions securing the Series 2025 Bonds. After the expiration of said thirty (30) days, no one shall have any right of action to contest the validity of the Series 2025 Bonds or the provisions of this resolution, and the Series 2025 Bonds shall be conclusively presumed to be legal and no court shall thereafter have authority to inquire into such matters.

SECTION 7. The prior selection of Butler Snow LLP as Bond Counsel to the Aviation Board in accordance with the prior request for qualifications for Bond Counsel and evaluations of the responses thereto is hereby ratified.

Further the Commissioners do hereby ratify the retention of Auzenne & Associates, L.L.C., as SL-DBE Bond Counsel for the Aviation Board SECTION 8. The Aviation Board does hereby formally request of the City Council that it adopt a resolution approving the issuance, sale and delivery of the Series 2025 Refunding Bonds and the Series 2025 Bonds and authorizing the taking of all actions and execution of all documents needed to accomplish the purposes hereof.

This Resolution was offered by Thornton and seconded by Ogden and having been submitted to a vote, the vote hereon was as follows: Board Member

Yea

Hon. Michael G. Bagneris, Chairman

✓

J. Douglas Thornton, ViceChairman

✓

Nay

Absent

Recused

✓

Octave J. “Todd” Francis III Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson (Retired)

✓

Ruth Kullman

✓

Gregory W. Carroll

✓

Roger H. Ogden

✓

Gary L. Smith, Sr.

✓

Hon. Neil C. Abramson

✓

This resolution was adopted on the 20th day of November, 2025. /s/ Michael Bagneris Hon. Michael G. Bagneris, Chairman New Orleans Aviation Board EXHIBITS A AND D TO THIS RESOLUTION HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED. SAID EXHIBITS A AND B ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT THE OFFICES OF THE NEW ORLEANS AVIATION BOARD, 900 AIRLINE DRIVE, KENNER, LOUISIANA, MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. 170841-596497-Dec. 18-1t $ 2,387.50

THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Dec. 18, 2025

INSIDE

King cakes for Christmas?

Dong Phuong rising to the challenge page 3

PAGE 6

Nativity opera to perform at three area churches page 4

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caroling in jackson square Lift up those voices at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Vieux Carré for the annual holiday happening presented by the Patio Planters. Thousands gather for the singalong, with the Planters providing song books and candles to participants at the gates to the square starting at 6:30 p.m.

Earlier in the day, the French Quarter Holiday Home Tour, which helps fund the caroling, runs from noon to 4 p.m. patioplanters.net.

notes under the oaks Sights and sounds merge on Huey P. Long Avenue in Gretna when the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Band of Excellence presents an annual holiday concert at 6 p.m. Friday.

While listening to merry music, enjoy the lights along the promenade between Sixth and Seventh streets. facebook. com/jpsobandof excellence.

nola christmasfest For 10 days starting Saturday, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center becomes a winter wonderland with seasonal displays, a giant gingerbread house, ice slide zone, skating rink, rides, entertainment and special events on certain days. Ticket prices start at $25 with addons. Hours vary. nolachristmasfest.com.

bonfires on the levee Hundreds of bonfires flame into life at nightfall along the east and west banks of the River Parishes on Christmas Eve to guide Papa Noel visiting Cajun children’s homes. Traffic can be as thick as swamp fog so factor in travel time. festivalofthebonfires.org.

jefferson community band Second Harvest Food Bank will be the beneficiary of the Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Thursday at First English Lutheran Church, 3701 Cleary Ave., Metairie. Tickets are $10. jeffersoncommunityband.org.

jingle on the boulevard parade The seventh annual procession in New Orleans East starts at noon Saturday at 8400 Morrison Road, proceeds down Crowder Boulevard, turns right onto Hayne Boulevard, right again onto Read Boulevard and right again onto Lake Forest Boulevard, ending at the site of the former Lake Forest Plaza. Santa will be joined by a host of holiday characters, marching units, local bands and much more. jingleontheboulevard. com.

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 3

food

ABOUT LAGNIAPPE

The Lagniappe section is published each Thursday

by The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. All inquiries about Lagniappe should be directed to the editor.

LAGNIAPPE EDITOR: Lauren Walck, lauren. walck@theadvocate.com COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Victor Andrews, Marco Cartolano, Jake Clapp, Chelsea Shannon, Dean M. Shapiro, Keith Spera, John Wirt

Dong Phuong is making Christmas king cakes

BY MARCO CARTOLANO Staff writer

Dong Phuong’s legendary Mardi Gras king cakes have inspired a cult following, with the delicacy selling out in minutes wherever they are available.

For a limited time, the famously creamy and well-textured king cakes, are being dusted with red and green sugar for the Christmas season.

Linh Tran Garza, the bakery’s president, said the bakery has sold king cakes around Christmastime in recent years and that about 100 cakes will be available daily at the New Orleans East bakery, 14207 Chef Menteur Highway, from Dec. 19 through Christmas Eve, except for Dec. 23. They will be available in cin-

namon or cream cheese flavors on a firstcome, first-served basis.

She said they will also be available at two locations where they had previously been sold: Zuppardo’s Family Market, 5010 Veterans Memorial Blvd., in Metairie, and Waveland Pharmacy, 112 Auderer Blvd., in Waveland, Mississippi.

Cakes will be available at Zuppardo’s from Dec. 19 through Christmas Eve, except Dec. 23.

Waveland Pharmacy will be selling the cakes for four days: Dec. 19, 20, 22 and 24.

A longtime favorite in the Vietnamese community in New Orleans East, Dong Phuong started making king cakes in 2008. The cakes’ following started to grow not long after.

Brewed awakening: Congregation Coffee continues to expand

BY CHELSEA SHANNON

Staff writer

Congregation Coffee is continuing its expansion efforts into 2026 with plans to open up shop in the French Quarter.

The New Orleans coffee roaster has secured a space at 618 Conti St. on the edge of Exchange Alley.

The opening date for the coffee shop is not set in stone, but owner Patrick Brennan told Garden & Gun it would be after Mardi Gras.

Brennan acquired Congregation Coffee in 2023 and has since reopened its flagship coffee shop in Algiers and expanded Uptown to Magazine Street earlier this year.

Congregation Coffee, which opened in 2015, roasts at its Lower Garden District roastery on Tchoupitoulas Street.

The specialty coffee shop is one of the major wholesale suppliers for restaurants, hotels and other establishments, including Brennan’s Junebug,

STAFF FILE PHOTO

Congregation Coffee, the New Orleansbased roaster, is one of the major wholesale suppliers for restaurants, hotels and other establishments.

Audubon Clubhouse, Monteleone Hotel, Dorignac’s Food Center and Whole Foods.

GET LISTED IN LAGNIAPPE

Submit events to Lagniappe at least two weeks in advance by sending an email to events@theadvocate.com.

ON THE COVER

STAFF FILE PHOTO

Dong Phuong Bakery, the popular New Orleans East maker of the Carnival season confection, is selling king cakes for Christmas.

John Wirt writes some of these fresh Yuletide lyrics and melodies may become perennials. Photo from Getty Images. Story on Page 6.

4 ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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‘Steamrollers,’ ‘Nutcrackers’ round out the holidays Crescent City celebrations stay in full swing with a sleigh-full of shows opening and continuing to keep the stages in a merry state.

Plus, the “Nutcrackers” seem to multiply like the mice under the tree.

Now, where did that shoe Victor go. ...

Andrews But fear not, there’s more theater and entertainment on the horizon, from opera (see related story on “Amahl and the Night Visitors”).

Mannheim Steamroller performs its Christmas show at the Saenger Theatre on Dec. 28.

PROVIDED PHOTO By MATT CHRISTINE PHOTOGRAPHy

Can a ‘Steamroller’ be lagniappe?

To keep the joy of the season going strong, the Saenger Theatre again welcomes techno-music wizard Chip Davis for “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28.

Celebrating 40 years, the distinctive sights and sounds of Davis’ Mannheim show comes alive in the unique setting of the Canal Street theater, with multimedia effects and twists on traditional carols that are still fresh. Blending contemporary musical styles with ancient instrumentation and ambiance, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas is a mainstay in many holiday collections.

Despite early naysayers cautioning Davis against an all-Christmas show, the tour has now become one of the longest running concert tours. Two traveling ensembles bring the show on tour.

Tickets start at $49. saengernola.com.

In production “ANNIE”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21; Slidell Little Theatre, 2024 Nellie Drive. The Broadway smash, about a Depression-era orphan selected to spend the holidays with megarich “Daddy” Warbucks, is filled with singing orphans and memorable songs like “Tomorrow” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.”

Tickets start at $25. slidelllittletheatre. org.

“CHRISTMASTIME IN NEW ORLEANS”: 6 p.m.

Thursday; Historic BK House and Gardens in the French Quarter; and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Sunday; Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts in Kenner. The Big Easy Boys quartet, accompanied by the Big Easy Babes at the

Kenner shows, brings a bit of nostalgia and fun to the performances of tight harmonies and fond memories with just a touch of cool to keep the season merry and bright. The new holiday revue, backed by a live band, is a compilation of favorites and holiday hits. Tickets start at $30. bkhouse.org and rivertowntheaters.com.

“DIXIE’S HOLIDAY BAR”: The show is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Sunday, except Friday; Café Istanbul, 2732 St. Claude Ave. Marguerite “God Warrior” Perrin, of reality TV fame, stars in the show, created by Jason Derek North and Vaughn Trudeau and written by Quinn L. Bishop, set in 1956 for Miss Dixie’s Christmas Variety Show fundraiser to help restore the bar after a brawl.

A night of cocktails, carols and merry mayhem follows. Tickets start at $30. dixiesholidaybar.com.

“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: 1940S RADIO PLAY”: 6 p.m. Friday; BB’s Stage Door Canteen, National WWII Museum, 1945 Magazine St. One night only of the classic holiday movie of a man who sees what life would be like without him. Using Foley sound effects and a sizable company, the show brings the story to life as it would have been done in a radio studio during the war period. Tickets start at $27. nationalww2museum.org.

“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE Y’ALL”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Dec. 18, and 2 p.m.

Sundays through Dec. 21; Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts, 325 Minor St., Kenner. Local entertainment icon Ricky Graham has turned his focus to melding Crescent City character with a holiday hallmark in this takeoff of the 1946 film with New Orleans touches that will appeal to all ages. Tickets start at $43. rivertowntheaters.com.

And ‘Nutcrackers,’ too “THE NUTCRACKER”: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday to Tuesday; Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way. New Orleans Ballet Theatre will perform Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic.

Tickets start at $51.55. neworleansballettheatre.com “THE NUTCRACKER”: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Drive, Metairie. The Jefferson Ballet Theatre presents the ballet based on Hoffmann’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” with the JPA Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Dennis G. Assaf. The ballet is directed by Kenneth Beck and choreographed by Kimberly Matulich-Beck. Tickets start at $38.75 via Ticketmaster. jeffersonpac.com.

“THE NUTCRACKER”: 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin St. Delta Festival Ballet, with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, will present the story of Drosselmeyer’s gift to Clara, with Joseph Giacobbe as artistic director featuring Sarah Lane, of American Ballet Theatre, and Chun Wai Chan, of New York City Ballet. Tickets start at $54.90. mahaliajacksontheater.com.

“THE NUTCRACKER”: 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Ursuline Academy, 2635 State St. New Orleans School of Ballet presents the classic with guest artists Ingrid Silva and Caio Rodrigo, of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Louisiana touches will be part of the production, from pelicans and magnolias to a female Nutcracker. Tickets start at $28. nosb. ticketbud.com.

“NUTCRACKER! MAGICAL CHRISTMAS BALLET:” 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 26; Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St. The 33rd annual tour of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Christmas fantasy will include members of the touring company will be New Orleans children from Arabesque Ballet Theater International. Tickets start at $42. saengernola.com.

Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@ theadvocate.com.

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 5

stages

3 shows set for Nativity opera ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’

BY DEAN M. SHAPIRO Contributing writer

“Amahl and the Night Visitors,” Gian-Carlo Menotti’s beloved Christmas Nativity opera, will be performed in three different venues in and around New Orleans this weekend by the Opera Festa Singers under the direction of Robert Wagner.

Originally composed by Menotti for NBC Television in December 1951 and presented under license from G. Schirmer Inc., “Amahl and the Night Visitors” is the heartwarming story of a disabled boy who lives with his widowed mother and can only walk with a crutch.

One night, when a large star is shining brightly, three kings appear at their door, seeking

lodging on their way to greet the newborn Christ, for whom they are bringing gifts. Amahl is allowed to accompany them, and he is miraculously healed when he offers to give, as a gift, his most valuable possession — the crutch that has enabled him to walk.

Double cast as Amahl are Mia DiGiovanni and Cloud Gardside, and Maria Hefte and Sarah Mahoney trade off as the Mother.

The Three Kings are Richard Hobson, Luke Sirinides and Alfred Harper, and Ryan KellyMoore is the Page who accompanies them.

Dancers in the production are Jorden Majeau, Madyson Harris, Mailk Banks and Vieta Collins.

Majeau is the choreographer. Steven Edwards is the music director/pianist, assisted by Brandon

Banks. Production assistants are Taylor Witherspoon and Hallie Legendre.

Singers in the chorus include sopranos Jeanette Hofler, Marilyn Landiak, Suzanne Sievers-Bartlett and Taylor Witherspoon. Altos are Lark Fall, Emily Harville, Jane Hill and Hallie Legendre.

Tenors are Adriel Aviles, Craig Leydecker and Michael Robillard and basses are James Andrews, Tommy Bethune, Richard Bienvenu, Jim Grice, Richard Hofler, Rad Jennings and Seth Serpas.

Props and sets are provided

by Jefferson Performing Arts under the supervision of JPA Artistic Director Dennis Assaf. The piece will run between 45 and 50 minutes with no intermission. All performances are free, but an offering of $25 is suggested.

From left, Luke Sirinides, Robert Wagner, Alfred Harper and Sarah Mahoney rehearse for ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors.’

PROVIDED PHOTO

By ROBERT WAGNER

‘AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS’ n 7:30 p.m.

Friday, St. Dominic Catholic Church, 775 Harrison Ave., New Orleans

Celebrate the holidays at BB’s Stage Door Canteen as the Victory Belles bring the sounds of the season to life!

SELECT NIGHTS DECEMBER 10-30

Scan to purchase tickets

n 7 p.m.

Saturday, St. Angela Merici Church, 901 Beverly Garden Drive, Metairie

n 4 p.m. Sunday, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 7100 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans

6 ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

music

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UNES TTREE UNDER THE

Artists offer up festive and reflective albums for 2025 holiday season

BY JOHN WIRT

Contributing writer

A new slate of festive and reflective music arrived early this holiday season.

In the tradition of Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” and Louisiana’s Vince Vance & the Valiants’ and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” some of these fresh Yuletide lyrics and melodies may become perennials.

This year’s new songs include country star Lainey Wilson’s “Peace, Love, & Cowboys (Holiday Edition),” Willie Nelson’s “Christmas Love Song” and Norah Jones’ duet with Leon Bridges, “This Christmas I’m Coming Home.”

Also on Santa’s playlist are albums by the traditional jazz musicians of New Orleans’ Preservation Hall, 90-year-old trumpet

LAINEY WILSON ‘PEACE, LOVE, & BLESSING’

star Herb Alpert and a cappella group Straight No Chaser (with Acadiana singers Hunter Hayes and Marc Broussard). ä See TUNES, page 8

DAN+ SHAY ‘LONG LIVE CHRISTMAS’

‘JOy TO yOUR WORL

DREW BALDRI AND MICKEY G

LD’

DGE GUYTON

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ‘THE CHESS RECORDS CHRISTMAS ALBUM’

HERB ALPERT ‘CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE’

PARKER MCCOLLUM ‘SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN’

VARIOUS ARTISTS ‘VERVE // REMIXED HOLIDAy’

8 ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

music

TUNES

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One of Hollywood’s golden age film composers, Tiomkin scored the 1946 Continued from page 6 classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This soundtrack album’s 31 tracks include such pivotal scenes as “Uncle Billy’s Blunder” and “Potter’s Threat.”

Here’s a sampling of seasonal sounds: LAINEY WILSON, “Peace, Love, & Cowboys (HoliHERB ALPERT, “Christmas Time Is Here”: Alpday Edition)”: Country superstar and Louiert applies his signature sound to “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Rodgsiana native Wilson revamps “Peace, Love, & Cowboys” for Christmastime. ers and Hammerstein’s “My Favorite A duet with classic crooner Bing CrosThings,” Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time Is Here” and more. by of “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It DREW BALDRIDGE AND MICKEY GUYTON, “Joy Snow!” plus instrumental versions of to Your World”: Baldridge and Guyton sing the latter songs make it a four-track EP. this duet in the Hallmark Channel movTRISHA YEARWOOD, “Christmastime”: A symphony orchestra accompanies the counie “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas.”

ERIC BENET, “It’s Christmas”: The smooth try star for her 12-song holiday album, rhythm-and-blues singer interprets including “You’re a Mean One, Mr. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA Grinch” and “Blue Christmas.”

“Please Come Home for Christmas,” Laufey performs during the 93rd annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting “Christmas Time Is Here” and more VARIOUS ARTISTS, “The Chess Records Christclassics. mas Album”: Chicago’s Chess Records ceremony Dec. 3 in New york.

LUKE BRYAN, “Luke Bryan Christmas”: The released rock ’n’ roll hits and blues Man,” the zydeco-styled “All About a country star and “American Idol” judge album, the country quartet adds a new classics in the 1950s and ’60s and jazz Baby,” “Corn Whiskey Christmas” and duets with Ella Langley for “Winter and gospel music, too. Chuck Berry song to its holiday repertoire.

10 more. The group is currently on its Wonderland,” a new recording packheadlines this collection (“Run Rudoph DEAN MARTIN, “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It first “Holiday Hootenanny” tour.

Run” and two more), joining the Moonaged with his previously released “Run Snow!”: Pressed on a 7-inch white vinyl DOLLY PARTON, “A Holly Dolly Christmas”: The Run Rudolph” and “O Holy Night.” single, the classic crooner’s 1959 reglows (“Hey Santa Claus”), Ramsey picture disc fifth-anniversary edition of Lewis Trio (“Christmas Blues”), Sonny CELTIC WOMAN, “Nollaig — A Christmas Jourcording of “Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Parton’s hit holiday album from 2020.

Boy Williamson (“Santa Claus”), Salem Let It Snow!” pairs with B-side “Runey”: Includes standards plus the new Guests Miley and Billy Ray Cryus, Travelers (“Merry Christmas to You’) “Nollaig na mBan” (“Women’s Christdolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Michael Bublé, Willie Nelson and Rod and more.

PAUL MCCARTNEY, “Wonderful Christmastime”: mas”) and Irish tunes with a yuletide Stewart join the party.

VARIOUS ARTISTS, “A Strange Daisy Christmas”: His 1979 single reissued on 7-inch twist.

BRAD PAISLEY, “Snow Globe Town”: A 16This double album pressed in “lump white vinyl with B-side “Rudolph the BING CROSBY, ROSEMARY CLOONEY, DANNY song collection including the official of coal black” vinyl contains Louisiana Red-Nosed Reggae.”

KAYE, VERA-ELLEN, “White Christmas”: The theme song for the Hallmark Channel’s underground artists performing stanPARKER MCCOLLUM, “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To soundtrack to the 1954 movie musical “Countdown to Christmas” and two Town”: Inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s returns in vinyl LP format. dards and originals.

1975 rendition, the country singer takes songs from the Hallmark movie “A DAN + SHAY, “Long Live Christmas”: The VARIOUS ARTISTS, “Verve // Remixed Holiday”: Grand Ole Opry Christmas.” country duo follows its 2024 Christmas on “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.”

This expanded edition adds five new PRESERVATION HALL, “Preservation Hall Wishes tracks. DJs Tourist, Ginton, Bolden MELANIE, “Melanie’s Christmas Treasury”: album “It’s Officially Christmas: The You a Very Merry Creole Christmas”: New OrFolk-pop singer Melanie’s standardsDouble Album” with the new song and more put their spin on Louis Armfilled Christmas collection features “Long Live Christmas.” leans’ Preservation Hall community of strong, Dinah Washington, Nina Simrockabilly guests Danny B. Harvey and traditional jazz musicians plays holiday one, Ella Fitzgerald and more classic FLOWERVLOVE, “wishlist”: Twenty-year-old Slim Jim Phantom. flowervlove longs for romance in her classics.

Verve label artists.

BONEY JAMES, “ ’Tis The Season”: Combines first holiday song.

LEANN RIMES, “Greatest Hits Christmas”: More singles, EPs and albums NATALIE GRANT, “Christmas”: The Christian the smooth jazz saxophonist’s two Rimes sings Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ music singer’s holiday standards album previous holiday albums with his new Around the Christmas Tree,” Joni David Archuleta, “My Only Wish”; “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christfeatures a “Silent Night” duet with Mitchell’s “River,” the “Today” show’s Leon Bridges, “A Merry Black ChristMercyMe’s Bart Millard. holiday theme song “Today Is Christmas.” mas”; Bela Fleck, “Jingle All the Way”; THE JONAS BROTHERS, “A Very Jonas ChristKYLIE MINOGUE, “Kylie Christmas (Fully The Futureheads, “Christmas”; Coco mas” and more.

Wrapped)”: Pressed in transparent red viJones, “Skip MyTaylor Momsen (The STRAIGHT NO CHASER, “Holiday Road”: Acamas Movie”: Seven new songs plus the Pretty Reckless), “Pretty Reckless brothers’ 2019 holiday single “Like It’s diana singers Hunter Hayes and Marc nyl, this 10th anniversary edition adds Christmas”; Moring Jacket, “Does Christmas.”

Broussard and country singer Mickey new songs “Hot in December,” “Office LADY A, “On This Winter’s Night: Volume 2”: The Party” and “This Time of Year.”

Guyton make guest appearances on the Xmas Fiasco Style”; Penatonix, “Christcountry trio’s sequel to 2012’s “On This a cappella group’s latest Christmas col- mas In The City”; Meghan Trainor, WILLIE NELSON, “Christmas Love Song”: The Winter’s Night” features the new song 92-year-old Nelson keeps his seasonal “Gifts for Me”; Venice Beach Dub Club, lection.

“Wouldn’t Be Christmas.” sentiment sweet and simple. “It don’t “Good King Wenceslas”; John Waters, STRYPER, “The Greatest Gift of All”: The first LAUFEY, “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town”: The sparkle or shine, but it’s one of a kind,” “Little Cindy/A Pig Latin Visit From St. Christmas album from the head-bangpopular jazz singer adds another track he sings. “I put my whole heart into this ing Christian metal band.

Nicholas”; Debbie Wileman, “A Christto her 2022 EP “A Very Laufey HoliChristmas love song to you.”

THALIA, “SANTA (Crush on You/Tengo Un Crush mas Garland: Debbie Wileman as Judy OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, “OCMS Xmas”: Contigo)”: The Latin pop star continues Garland”; and various artists, “Punk day.” It can be seen and heard in a clayRootsy string band Old Crow Medicine her holiday streak of the past several Rock Christmas.” animation music video.

Show goes off the snowy path with the years.

LITTLE BIG TOWN, “The Innkeeper”: FollowDIMITRI TIOMKIN, “It’s a Wonderful Life”: ing last year’s “The Christmas Record” Mississippi John Hurt-inspired “Jolly Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn.com.

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music

Stink.

Stank.

Funk.

Ghost-Note holiday show set for N.O. Jazz & Blues Market

BY JAKE CLAPP Gambit Weekly

There have been a lot of words to describe good funk music.

Dirty.

Gritty.

Grimy.

When done right, funk should make your face scrunch up, your head nod and your body move in ways even you might not have expected.

So when Ghost-Note was searching for a way to describe one of their new songs, drummer Robert “Sput” Searight said, the band started searching for something that hadn’t been used before.

PROVIDED PHOTO By LAUREN JENKINS

Ghost-Note plays two sets Saturday at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market.

“We were going back to the Parliament days, and we were talking about all of the symbolism of funk. People cover their nose. People would use phrases like ‘stanky.’ So we were trying to figure out words that hadn’t been used in the groupings,” Searight said. “And we’re such foodies. I thought ‘mustard’ and ‘onions.’ ” It’s easy to imagine the smell of mustard and raw onions — and there it is, the stank face.

“Mustard n’Onions” was a good name for the track, and GhostNote decided to keep the title for its full-length album released in 2024. The album was well-received last year, and it has helped drive the funk-jazz-hip-hop collective into a busy 2025 touring, including an appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk in November.

Ghost-Note makes a stop in New Orleans on Saturday for two sets at the recently re-engineered New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market. The band will play songs from “Mustard n’Onions,” and it’s also the band’s last show before the holidays.

“We’re gonna have a Christmas funky good time,” Searight said.

Searight, who’s also a keys player, co-founded Ghost-Note in 2014 with percussionist Nate Werth while the two were members of the jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy. The duo released an album, “Fortified,” in 2015

GHOST-NOTE 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market, 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

Tickets $25.30 jazzandbluesmarket.com; ghost-note-official.com largely made with guest musicians, but with 2018’s “Swagism,” a more consistent band began to form with seasoned musicians who had played with Prince, Kendrick Lamar, Kirk Franklin, Erykah Badu and Herbie Hancock.

Along with Searight and Werth, the fluid Ghost-Note lineup includes bassist MonoNeon, guitarist Peter Knudsen, saxophonists and flautists Sylvester Onyejiaka, Jonathan Mones and Mike Jelani Brooks, trombonist Dany Wytanis and keyboardists Dominique Xavier Taplin and Vaughn Henry.

The band started working on what would become “Mustard n’Onions” in 2019 while touring off their “Swagism” release. Being on the road together helped the members steadily hone the Ghost-Note sound — an unstoppable groove and charismatic style — and every chance they could, the band would book studio time in different cities and record. The band ended up re-

cording around 30 songs during that stretch before the pandemic hit in 2020, Searight said.

Touring “led us into the direction, in my opinion, of where I thought we needed to go, and the music just evolved in the way that encompassed the band we had on the road,” Searight said. “When we got to ‘Mustard n’Onions,’ we knew our sound.

We knew our personalities. It was a fun record to do because we were all excited about this new sound we discovered.”

That sense of fun is all over “Mustard n’Onions,” which clocks in at 80 minutes, as well as in the band’s Tiny Desk appearance. There’s also a lot of joy on the album — although, for Searight, “maturity” is more the word he associates with this album.

“I think we kind grew up on this record,” he said. “The word ‘joy’ is fitting as well because we definitely play with joy. But I don’t think that would be a new addition to it. I think that’s one of the things our fanbase has always been mesmerized by: our sense of joy when we’re playing with each other on stage, where we’re supporting one another in a way that most bands don’t let the audience in on.”

Email Jake Clapp at jclapp@ gambitweekly.com.

10 ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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LPO’s HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR THURSDAY, ORPHEUM THEATER The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Holiday Spectacular” is just that: a seasonal medley of classical pieces and more contemporary holiday fare, all wrapped up in a narrated 90-minute program. Thursday’s concert at the LPO’s home base, the Orpheum, includes narration by Mark Romig, the Caesars Superdome announcer during Saints games.

Peter Rubhardt will conduct a setlist that spans “March of the Toys” from “Babes In Toyland,” “What a Wonderful World” and the Concert Suite from “The Polar Express.” Acclaimed New Orleans jazz trumpeter Leroy Jones is scheduled to sit in with the LPO for Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time Is Here” — best known as one of the main musical themes for the Charlie Brown Christmas special — and “Let It Snow.”

Powerhouse vocalist Alexis Marceaux, who recently belted her way through a soldout Alanis Morissette tribute at Tipitina’s, will give voice to Karen Carpenter’s “Merry Christmas, Darling,” the timeless “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and Dudley Brooks’ “(Everybody’s Waiting for) The Man With the Bag.” Showtime is 7:30 p.m. The program is approximately 90 minutes. Tickets start at $25.

Keith Spera SOUND CHECK

you’ll find some not-sosilent nights in New Orleans music venues this week in the run up to Christmas.

Flow Tribe Alexis Marceaux

Email Keith Spera at kspera@theadvocate.com.

FLOW TRIBE’S CHRISTMAS CRUNKTACULAR THURSDAY,TIPITINA’S Formed in New Orleans in 2004, Flow Tribe has spent 20 years evolving into one of New Orleans’ tightest bands, churning out airtight grooves spiked with surging horns and strong melodies. In 2024, Flow Tribe released its fifth album, “Garden of Earthly Delights,” featuring guest keyboardist and vocalist Ivan Neville on the opening cut, “Keep Pushing.”

The band and its trumpeter/vocalist frontman, K.C. O’Rorke, have never shied away from showing off their silly side.

That is especially evident during their annual Christmas Crunktacular, an open-tothe-public Christmas party at Tipitina’s.

If this year’s 16th annual Crunktacular

resembles past editions, expect a Christmas tree, tossed presents, an appearance

by Mrs. Claus and holiday standards — maybe Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” or Elvis Presley’s “It’s Christmas Time, Pretty Baby” — rendered with Flow Tribe flavor.

They may showcase “Hammered On Christmas,” an original, laid-back song from 2018 that eases along on a countrymeets-the-islands vibe, with the Revivalists’ Ed Williams draping pedal steel guitar across the entire arrangement.

Local rock band Zita opens the Christmas Crunktacular at 8 p.m. Thursday, followed by Flow Tribe. Tickets are $18 plus fees.

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OTHER NOTEWORTHY SHOWS THURSDAY Jazz vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa moved to New Orleans in 2017, worked with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and drummer/ singer Jamison Ross, released her self-titled debut album in 2020 and won the 2021 Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition. She became the first vocalist Cavassa featured on one of saxophonist Joshua Redman’s albums when she sang on his 2023 Blue Note Records debut, “Where Are We.” She then appeared on Redman’s next album, this year’s “Words Fall Short,” and was subsequently signed to Blue Note herself.

She’ll sing at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

Tickets are $35 plus fees.

The Iguanas team up with guitarist Tyron Benoit at Chickie Wah Wah at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 plus fees.

The fourth annual ”NOLA Noel: An Evening Celebrating The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic!,” a fundraiser at the Broadside hosted by Gregg Hill, features Erica Falls, Johnny Sansone, Susan Cowsill, Paul Sanchez, Lynn Drury,Alex McMurray, Mia Borders, Jamie Bernstein, Michael Paz, Lilli Lewis, Mark Carroll, Handmade Moments and John Rankin. Tickets start at $40.

FRIDAY Contemporary R&B quartet Jagged Edge, featuring founding members Brandon Casey, Brian Casey, Kyle Norman and Richard Wingo, brings its “The Cuffing Season Tour” to the Saenger Theatre. Eric Bellinger and Lloyd open the show. Tickets start at $61.

Southwest Louisiana “swamp soul” singer Marc Broussard holds court at Tipitina’s, with Joe Stark opening at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $38 plus fees.

Community Records and Bad Time Records present “Home for the Holidays 2025” featuring local ska band Fatter Than Albert — performing for the first time since 2023 — plus Bad Operation, Joystick and DJ sets between bands by Maddie Ruthless, who also likely will perform some songs live. The show starts at 8 p.m. and is all-ages. Tickets are $25.

New Orleans master drummer Herlin Riley, who for many years collaborated with Wynton Marsalis, leads his own quartet at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($45).

Jagged Edge

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ 11

Anders Osborne

yusa

Alexis & the Sanity, featuring vocalist Alexis TUESDAY Marceaux and multi-instrumentalist Sam Craft, are at Chickie Wah Wah with Olivia Acclaimed jazz/soul singer José James Barnes. Tickets are $35 plus fees. deploys his rich, velvety voice in a Local rock band Few Blue is at Rock ‘N’ show called “Merry Christmas from Bowl ($12).

José James” at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start SATURDAY at $31.

Trumpeter Kermit Ruffins presents “A New Orleans roots rock guitar hero Crazy Cool Christmas” at Chickie Wah Anders Osborne plugs in at Tipitina’s, with Wah at 8 p.m. ($25). fellow guitarist Ghalia Volt opening at Galactic drummer and Tipitina’s co9 p.m. Tickets are $40 plus fees.

Havana-born guitarist, bassist, vocal- owner Stanton Moore hosts a “Holiday Exist, tres player and composer Yusa relotravaganza” at Tip’s with a bunch of his musician friends, including Samantha Fish, cated to New Orleans in 2020 and has fostered many collaborations across genres. She’ll lead her World of Rhythms at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($35).

Jourdan Thibodeaux et les Rôdailleurs, fronted by its fiddle-wielding namesake, is at Chickie Wah Wah ($20).

Popular cover band the Chee-Weez is at Rock ‘N’ Bowl with opener Tin Star ($17).

Steel Panther rocks the House of Blues with the Violent Hour. Tickets start at $23.

Erica Falls,Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Brad Walker, David Torkanowsky, James Singleton and more.

A portion of proceeds benefits Ochsner Health’s Attack Breast Cancer Early Fund. Tickets are $25 general admission, $40 VIP balcony, plus fees.

For 30-plus years, saxophonist and clarinetist Victor Goines has worked with the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He’ll lead his own quartet at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor. Tickets are $35 plus fees.

Rock ‘N’ Bowl presents a tribute to Bryan Adams and Phil Collins ($17).

tis' the season wrap it in fur

SUNDAY Contemporary jazz singer-songwriter Lindsey Webster is at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $31.

Belgian-born, New Orleans-based cellist, singer and composer Helen Gillet intermingles Belgian poetry, French chansons and jazz and world music inspired by her album “ReBelle” at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30.

Cajun accordionist and singer Bruce Daigrepont and his band host their monthly, early-evening fais do-do at Tipitina’s starting at 5:15 p.m. Tickets are $15.

The Broadside hosts the Big Moni Luv Holiday Art and Gift Bizarre. Free and open to the public, it starts at 2 p.m. and includes ornament making and other activities, a New Orleans Klezmer Allstars show from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., a lighting of the Hanukkah menorah at sunset and then a screening of “Elf” on the outdoor big screen at 6 p.m.

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12 ✦ Thursday, December 18, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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