The Advocate 12-21-2025

OLE MISS CRUISES PAST TULANE AND INTO THE CFP QUARTERFINALS 1C O

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Meta details water needs for big AI data center

Concerns raised as state backs plan for millions of gallons daily

BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

John Manuel pokes at a sinker cypress log before securing it to the side of the boat using a rope and winch in the Tchefuncte River in St. Tammany on Dec. 11. Manuel spends his days hunting the rare wood on the Tchefuncte River. Sinker cypress isn’t just prized for both its durability and beauty, it’s a relic of Louisiana’s first major industry.

TREASURE

HUNTING

Searching for sinker cypress is an art, finding fortune in the lumber barons’ leftovers

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

John Manuel starts his workday on the Tchefuncte River, near its mouth at Lake Pontchartrain.

It’s a cloudless late morning, but as he accelerates past ritzy waterfront properties in Madisonville, the sun brings little relief from the December air. It’s one of those days that doesn’t feel like work to Manuel. With the boat running smoothly, his mind is free to focus on one thing: treasure hunting.

“God made me to do this,” he says. “This is what I enjoy; this is all the skill sets I was given.”

After turning a bend, only vegetation and the water he grew up on surround the homemade aluminum flatboat. He cuts the engine as it approaches a foam buoy near the bank — marking a discovery made in the shallow murk a week prior. With a metal pole, he fishes for a rope connected to the buoy, hoisting it over a winch-operated pulley that reluctantly pulls the rope, then wraps the slack around a cleat on the top of the hull.

Manuel guns the engine and the boat shakes violently. But eventually, the butt of a log breaks the water’s surface, liberated from the mud.

WEATHER HIGH 77 LOW 62

ä See META, page 12A

ICE deported La. detainees despite judges’ orders Trump administration blames system, errors

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

the birth of Christ.

By the Great Depression, most had been cut down. Manuel’s log likely sank on its way to the mill more than a century ago. Sinker cypress, as they are now called, are both the last remaining traces of the original swampland and relics of Louisiana’s first major extractive industry.

Now the rare wood is highly

The federal government has deported Louisiana ICE detainees against judges’ orders at least three times since August — and each time, lawyers for the agency have blamed the removals on delays in the system or administrative errors.

The people wrongly deported include a man sent to Haiti nearly a month after a judge ordered the government not to remove him from the country; a man sent to Laos following a similar order that officials said they did not receive until after his plane took off; and a transgender woman taken to Mexico despite a judge’s order blocking her return there because she was at risk of being tortured.

The cases illustrate how, in President Donald Trump’s rush to deport people in record numbers, immigration officials are prone to making

ä See TREASURE, page 10A

ä See DEPORTED, page 17A

A sinker cypress log is towed in the water in the Tchefuncte River in St. Tammany on Dec. 11.

“And we’re free,” Manuel says, with a laugh. “Y’all ain’t seen shaky. That was really not shaky.”

He is towing an old-growth bald cypress — Latin name Taxodium distichum, also known as “wood eternal” — a tree that once dominated south Louisiana’s swamps, making light barely penetrable through the canopy. Related to the sequoia and redwood, some grew 200 feet high and had towered over the landscape since before

Business ......................1E Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................6B Classified ..................... 4F Living............................1D Nation-World................2A Commentary ................7B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

© D. YURMAN 2024

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Meta has detailed for the first time the large amount of water its artificial intelligence data center being built in rural northeast Louisiana will require, estimating the average daily use for the massive facility will be comparable to what around 17,000 residents consume each day.

Water use by new data centers has become a major concern nationally as construction ramps up to feed the race to develop AI, with dwindling reserves blamed on the expansive computer warehouses in some states.

Meta says consumption for its Louisiana facility will be sustainable, and state officials have agreed, citing modeling that has not raised significant concerns.

Independent water researchers, however, caution that the facility’s actual use should be monitored closely, stressing the potential for negative effects if it consumes as much water as allowed.

They also note a lack of state monitoring related to such water use, a gap that Louisiana officials similarly pointed out.

The data center in Richland Parish is registered to consume more than 23 million gallons of water per day, or 8.4 billion gallons per year, according

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EPSTEIN FILES

At least 16 images disappear from website

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and DAVID B. CARUSO Associated Press

NEW YORK — At least 16 files disappeared from the Justice Department’s public webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein — including a photograph showing President Donald Trump — less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from the government and no notice to the public.

The missing files, which were available Friday and no longer accessible by Saturday, included images of paintings depicting nude women, and one showing a series of photographs along a credenza and in drawers. In that image, inside a drawer among other photos, was a photograph of Trump, alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

The Justice Department did not say why the files were removed or whether their disappearance was intentional. A spokesperson for the department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Online, the unexplained missing files fueled speculation about what was taken down and why the public was not notified, compounding long-standing intrigue about Epstein and the powerful figures who surrounded him. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee pointed to the missing image featuring a Trump photo in a post on X, writing: “What else is being covered

up? We need transparency for the American public.”

The episode deepened concerns that had already emerged from the Justice Department’s much-anticipated document release. The tens of thousands of pages made public offered little new insight into Epstein’s crimes or the prosecutorial decisions that allowed him to avoid serious federal charges for years, while omitting some of the most closely watched Epstein materials, including FBI interviews with victims and internal Justice Department memos on charging decisions.

Scant new insight in disclosures Some of the most consequential records expected about Epstein are nowhere to be found in the Justice Department’s initial disclosures, which span tens of thousands of pages.

Missing are FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memos examining charging decisions — records that could have helped explain how investigators viewed the case and why Epstein was allowed in 2008 to plead guilty to a relatively minor state-level prostitution charge.

The gaps go further.

The records, required to be released under a recent law passed

by Congress, hardly reference several powerful figures long as-

sociated with Epstein, including Britain’s former Prince Andrew, renewing questions about who was scrutinized, who was not, and how much the disclosures truly advance public accountability Among the fresh nuggets: insight into the Justice Department’s decision to abandon an investigation into Epstein in the 2000s, which enabled him to plead guilty to that state-level charge, and a previously unseen 1996 complaint accusing Epstein of stealing photographs of children.

The releases so far have been heavy on images of Epstein’s homes in New York City and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with some photos of celebrities and politicians.

There was a series of never-before-seen photos of former President Bill Clinton but fleetingly few of Trump. Both have been associated with Epstein, but both have since disowned those friendships.

Neither has been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and there was no indication the photos played a role in the criminal cases brought against him.

Despite a Friday deadline set by Congress to make everything public, the Justice Department said it plans to release records on a rolling basis. It blamed the delay on the time-consuming process of obscuring survivors’ names and other identifying information. The department has not given any notice when more records might arrive.

That approach angered some Epstein accusers and members of

Congress who fought to pass the law forcing the department to act.

Instead of marking the end of a yearslong battle for transparency, the document release Friday was merely the beginning of an indefinite wait for a complete picture of Epstein’s crimes and the steps taken to investigate them.

“I feel like again the DOJ, the justice system is failing us,” said Marina Lacerda, who alleges Epstein started sexually abusing her at his New York City mansion when she was 14.

Records redacted, lack context Federal prosecutors in New York brought sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, but he killed himself in jail after his arrest.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Manhattan federal prosecutors had more than 3.6 million records from sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, though many duplicated material already turned over by the FBI. Many of the records released so far had been made public in court filings, congressional releases or freedom of information requests, though, for the first time, they were all in one place and available for the public to search for free.

Ones that were new were often lacking necessary context or heavily blacked out. A 119-page document marked “Grand Jury-NY,” likely from one of the federal sex trafficking investigations that led to the charges against Epstein in

2019 or Maxwell in 2021, was entirely blacked out.

Trump’s Republican allies seized on the Clinton images, including photos of the Democrat with singers Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. There were also photos of Epstein with actors Chris Tucker and Kevin Spacey. But none of the photos had captions and no explanation was given for why any of them were together.

The meatiest records released so far showed that federal prosecutors had what appeared to be a strong case against Epstein in 2007 yet never charged him.

Transcripts of grand jury proceedings, released publicly for the first time, included testimony from FBI agents who described interviews they had with several girls and young women who described being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein. The youngest was 14 and in ninth grade.

One had told investigators about being sexually assaulted by Epstein when she initially resisted his advances during a massage.

Another, then 21, testified before the grand jury about how Epstein had hired her when she was 16 to perform a sexual massage and how she had gone on to recruit other girls to do the same.

“For every girl that I brought to the table he would give me $200,” she said. They were mostly people she knew from high school, she said. “I also told them that if they are under age, just lie about it and tell him that you are 18.”

Lawmakers weigh impeachment for Bondi over omissions in release

BY KEVIN RECTOR and MICHAEL WILNER Los Angeles Times (TNS)

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers unhappy with Justice Department decisions to heavily redact or withhold documents from a legally mandated release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein threatened Saturday to launch impeachment proceedings against those responsible, including Pam Bondi, the U.S. attorney general.

Democrats and Republicans alike criticized the omissions, while Democrats also accused the Justice Department of intentionally scrubbing the release of at least one image of President Donald Trump, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., suggesting it could portend “one of the biggest coverups in American history.”

Trump administration officials have said the release fully complied with the law, and that its redactions were crafted only to protect victims of Epstein, a disgraced financier and convicted sex offender accused of abusing hundreds of women and girls before his death in 2019.

Rep. Ro Khanna, DCalif., an author of the Bondi Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the release of the investigative trove, blasted Bondi in a social media video, accusing her of denying the existence of many of the records for months, only to push out “an incomplete release with too many redactions” in response to — and in violation of — the new law.

Khanna said he and the bill’s co-sponsor, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., were “exploring all options” for responding and forcing more disclosures, including by pursuing “the impeachment of people at Justice,” asking courts to hold officials blocking the release in contempt, and “referring for prosecution those who are obstructing justice.”

“We will work with the survivors to demand the full release of these files,” Khanna said. He later added in a CNN interview that he and Massie were drafting articles of impeachment against Bondi, though they had not decided whether to bring them forward.

Massie, in his own social media post, said Khanna was correct in rejecting the Friday release as insufficient, saying that it “grossly fails to comply with both the spir-

it and the letter of the law.”

The lawmakers’ view that the Justice Department’s document dump failed to comply with the law echoed similar complaints across the political spectrum Saturday, as the full scope of redactions and other withholdings came into focus.

The frustration had already sharply escalated late Friday, after Fox News Digital reported that the names and identifiers of not just victims but of “politically exposed individuals and government officials” had been redacted from the records — which would violate the law, and which Justice Department officials denied.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., cited the Fox reporting in an exasperated post late Friday to X. “The whole point was NOT to protect the ‘politically exposed individuals

and government officials.’

That’s exactly what MAGA has always wanted, that’s what drain the swamp actually means. It means expose them all, the rich powerful elites who are corrupt and commit crimes, NOT redact their names and protect them,” Greene wrote.

In a release of documents from the Epstein family estate by the House Oversight Committee this fall, Trump’s name was featured over 1,000 times — more than any other public figure.

“If they’re taking this down, just imagine how much more they’re trying to hide,” Schumer wrote on X. “This could be one of the biggest coverups in American history.”

Several victims also said the release was insufficient.

“It’s really kind of another slap in the face,” Alicia Arden, who went to the police

to report that Epstein had abused her in 1997, told CNN. “I wanted all the files to come out, like they said that they were going to.”

White House officials and Justice Department leaders rejected the notion that the release was incomplete or out of compliance with the law, or that the names of politicians had been redacted.

“The only redactions being applied to the documents are those required by law — full stop,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

“Consistent with the statute and applicable laws, we are not redacting the names of individuals or politicians unless they are a victim.”

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Oversight Committee, said the administration “is delivering unprecedented transparency in the Epstein case and will continue releasing documents.”

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U.S. stops oil tanker off coast of Venezuela

BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON — U.S. forces on Saturday stopped an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela for the second time in less than two weeks as President Donald Trump continues to ramp up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The pre-dawn operation comes days after Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of the South American country and follows the Dec. 10 seizure by American forces of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard with help from the Defense Department stopped the oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela. She also posted on social media an unclassified video of a U.S helicopter landing personnel on a vessel called Centuries.

A crude oil tanker flying under the flag of Panama operates under the name and was recently spotted near the Venezuelan coast, according to MarineTraffic, a project that tracks the movement of vessels around the globe using publicly available data. It was not immediately clear if the vessel was under U.S. sanctions.

“The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region,” Noem wrote on X. “We will find you, and we will stop you.”

The action was a “consented Trump boarding,” with the tanker stopping voluntarily and allowing U.S. forces to board it, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The reasoning for the seizure of the Centuries is far less clear than it was with the first tanker, the Skipper, which was known to be part of a shadow fleet Maduro of tankers that operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo and was not even flying a nation’s flag when it was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly claimed in an online post Saturday that the Centuries was a similarly “falsely flagged

vessel operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil” and that the oil it was carrying was sanctioned.

However, Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime historian and merchant shipping expert at Campbell University, said that according to several shipping industry databases, the Centuries appeared to be operating legally.

“Everything indicates that she is a properly registered vessel,” Mercogliano said, though he did note that it’s almost certain that the Centuries took on a load of sanctioned oil.

To Mercogliano, even despite the fact that the Centuries was carrying oil that was subject to sanctions, the seizure is “a big escalation.”

“This one is meant to scare other tankers away,” he added.

Venezuela’s government in a statement Saturday characterized the U.S. forces’ actions as “criminal” and vowed to not let them “go unpunished” by pursuing various legal avenues, including by filing complaints with the United Nations Security Council.

“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically denounces and rejects the theft and hijacking of another private vessel transporting Venezuelan oil, as well as

the enforced disappearance of its crew, perpetrated by United States military personnel in international waters,” according to the statement.

Trump following the first tanker seizure, of a vessel named the Skipper, this month vowed that the U.S. would carry out a blockade of Venezuela. Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric toward Maduro and warned that the Venezuelan leader’s days in power are numbered.

The president last week demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a “blockade” against oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country that face American sanctions.

Trump cited the lost U.S. investments in Venezuela when asked about his newest tactic in a pressure campaign against Maduro, suggesting the administration’s moves are at least somewhat motivated by disputes over oil investments, along with accusations of drug trafficking. Some sanctioned tankers already are diverting away from Venezuela.

“We’re not going to be letting anybody going through who shouldn’t be going through,” Trump told reporters last week. “You remember they took all of our en-

ergy rights. They took all of our oil not that long ago. And we want it back. They took it — they illegally took it.”

U.S. oil companies dominated Venezuela’s petroleum industry until the country’s leaders moved to nationalize the sector, first in the 1970s and again in the 21st century under Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez.

Compensation offered by Venezuela was deemed insufficient, and in 2014, an

international arbitration panel ordered the country’s socialist government to pay $1.6 billion to ExxonMobil.

Maduro has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from power.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in an interview with Vanity Fair published last week that Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.”

Russian strike on Odesa kills 8

By The Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine — A Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odesa in southern Ukraine killed eight people and wounded 27, Ukraine’s emergency service said Saturday, as a Kremlin envoy was set to travel to Florida for talks on a U.S.-proposed plan to end the nearly four-year war.

The discussions are part of the Trump administration’s monthslong push for peace that also included meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin earlier this week. Ukraine’s chief negotiator said late Friday that his delegation had completed separate meetings in the U.S. with American and European partners.

Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “the key question remains how the United States responds after consultations with Zelenskyy the Russians. At this point, I honestly don’t know, but I will know later today.”

Ukraine and Portugal signed an agreement to establish joint production of maritime drones, Zelenskyy said. “This is one of the most promising areas of defense cooperation. What matters now is delivering results, and all parts of Europe must have sufficient capabilities to counter any threats,” he said.

Some of those wounded in Odesa were on a bus at the center of the strike late Friday, the emergency service said in a Telegram post.

Trucks caught fire in the parking lot and cars were also damaged.

The port was struck with ballistic missiles, said Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region.

Moscow did not immediately acknowledge reports of the attack. The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that over the previous day, it had struck unspecified “transport and storage infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces,” along with energy facilities and those supplying Kyiv’s war effort.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian drones hit a Russian oil rig, the military patrol ship Okhotnik and other facilities, Ukraine’s General Staff said in a statement Saturday. It said the ship was patrolling

in the Caspian Sea near an oil and gas production platform. The extent of the damage was still being clarified, it said.

The drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field was also hit. The facility is operated by Russian oil giant Lukoil. Ukrainian drones also struck a radar system in the Krasnosilske area of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

There was no immediate comment from the Russian government or Lukoil.

The company is one of two Russian oil majors — alongside state-owned Gazprom — targeted by recent U.S. sanctions that aim to deprive Moscow of oil export revenue that helps it sustain the war.

Kyiv has used similar arguments to justify months of long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, which it says both funds and

directly fuels the Kremlin’s all-out invasion, soon to enter its fifth year.

U.S. President Donald Trump has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end the war, but his efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently signaled he is digging in on his maximalist demands on Ukraine, as Moscow’s troops inch forward on the battlefield despite huge losses.

On Friday, Putin voiced confidence that the Kremlin would achieve its goals militarily if Kyiv doesn’t agree to Russia’s conditions in peace talks.

European Union leaders on Friday agreed to provide $106 billion to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years, although they failed to bridge differences with Belgium that would have

allowed them to use frozen Russian assets to raise the funds. Instead, they were borrowed on capital markets.

The International Monetary Fund estimates that Ukraine will need $161 billion in 2026 and 2027. The government in Kyiv is on the verge of bankruptcy, and desperately needs the money by spring.

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The American Red Cross of Louisiana is here all year.

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Walk of Fame plaques praise Trump, deride his foes

BY MATT BROWN and BILL BARROW

Two plaques of explanatory text are seen beneath a framed portrait in the space for former President Joe Biden on the Presidential Walk of Fame.

The space where Biden’s portrait should be instead has a picture of an autopen.

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has affixed partisan plaques to the portraits of all U.S. commanders in chief, himself included, on his Presidential Walk of Fame at the White House, describing Joe Biden as “sleepy,” Barack Obama as “divisive” and Ronald Reagan as a fan of a young Trump.

The additions, first seen publicly Wednesday, mark Trump’s latest effort to remake the White House in his own image, while flouting the protocols of how presidents treat their predecessors and doubling down on his determination to reshape how U.S. history is told.

“The plaques are eloquently written descriptions of each President and the legacy they left behind,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement describing the installation in the colonnade that runs from the West Wing to the residence. “As a student of history, many were written directly by the President himself.”

Indeed, the Trumpian flourishes include the president’s typical bombastic language and haphazard capitalization. They also highlight Trump’s fraught relationships with his more recent predecessors.

An introductory plaque tells passersby that the exhibit was “conceived, built, and dedicated by President Donald J. Trump as a tribute to past Presidents, good, bad, and somewhere in the middle.”

Besides the Walk of Fame and its new plaques, Trump has adorned the Oval Office in gold and razed the East Wing in preparation for a massive ballroom.

Separately, his administration has pushed for an examination of how Smithsonian exhibits present the nation’s history, and he is

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON

New plaques of explanatory text have been placed underneath presidential portraits in the colonnade at the White House in Washington. playing a strong hand in how the federal government will recognize the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

Here’s a look at how Trump’s colonnade exhibit tells the presidential story.

Joe Biden Joe Biden is still the only president in the display not to be recognized with a gilded portrait. Instead, Trump chose an autopen, reflecting his mockery of Biden’s age and assertions that Biden was not up to the job.

Biden, who defeated Trump in the 2020 election and dropped out of the 2024 election before their pending rematch, is introduced as “Sleepy Joe” and “by far, the worst President in American History” who “brought our Nation to the brink of destruction.”

Two plaques blast Biden for inflation and his energy and immigration policy, among other things. The text also blames Biden for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and asserts falsely that Biden was elected fraudulently.

Biden’s post-White House

office had no comment on his plaque.

Barack Obama The 44th president is described as “a community organizer, one term Senator from Illinois, and one of the most divisive political figures in American History.”

The plaque calls Obama’s signature domestic achievement “the highly ineffective ‘Unaffordable Care Act.” And it notes that Trump nixed other major Obama achievements: “the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal … and “the one-sided Paris Climate Accords.”

An aide to Obama also declined comment.

George W. Bush George W. Bush, who notably did not speak to Trump when they were last together at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, appears to win approval for creating the Department of Homeland Security and leading the nation after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

But the plaque decries that Bush “started wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, both

of which should not have happened.”

An aide to Bush didn’t return a message seeking comment.

Bill Clinton The 42nd president, once a friend of Trump’s, gets faint praise for major crime legislation, an overhaul of the social safety net and balanced budgets.

But his plaque notes Clinton secured those achievements with a Republican Congress, the help of the 1990s “tech boom” and “despite the scandals that plagued his Presidency.”

Clinton’s recognition describes the North American Free Trade Agreement, another of his major achievements, as “bad for the United States” and something Trump would “terminate” during his first presidency.

(Trump actually renegotiated some terms with Mexico and Canada but did not scrap the fundamental deal.)

His plaque ends with the line: “In 2016, President Clinton’s wife, Hillary, lost the Presidency to President Donald J. Trump!”

An aide to Clinton did not return a message seeking comment.

Other notable plaques The broadsides dissipate

tion in 1968.

Democrat John F. Kennedy, the uncle of Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is credited as a World War II “war hero” who later used “stirring rhetoric” as president in opposition to communism.

Republican Richard Nixon’s plaque states plainly that the Watergate scandal led to his resignation.

While Trump spared most deceased presidents of harsh criticism, he jabbed at one of his regular targets, the media — this time across AP PHOTO By MARK multiple centuries: Andrew SCHIEFELBEIN Jackson’s plaque says the seventh president was “unjustifiably treated unfairly by the Press, but not as vithe further back into history ciously and unfairly as Presthe plaques go. ident Abraham Lincoln and Republican George H.W. President Donald J. Trump Bush, who died during would, in the future, be.”

Trump’s first term, is recognized for his lengthy résumé Donald Trump before becoming president, With two presidencies, along with legislation includ- Trump gets two displays. ing the Clean Air Act and Each is full of praise and suAmericans with Disabili- perlatives — “the Greatest ties Act — despite Trump’s Economy in the History of administration relaxing en- the World.” He calls his 2016 Electoral College margin of forcement of both.

The elder Bush’s plaque 304-227 a “landslide.”

Trump’s second-term does not note that he, not Clinton, first pushed the ma- plaque notes his popular jor trade law that became vote victory — something he did not achieve in 2016 NAFTA. Lyndon Johnson’s plaque — and concludes with “THE credits the Texas Democrat BEST IS YET TO COME.” Meanwhile, the introfor securing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting ductory plaque presumes Rights Act of 1965 (seminal Trump’s addition will be a laws that Trump’s adminis- White House fixture once he tration interprets different- is no longer president: “The ly than previous administra- Presidential Walk of Fame tions). It correctly notes that will long live as a testament discontent over Vietnam led and tribute to the Greatness to LBJ not seeking reelec- of America.”

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Judge nixes conviction of 1 of 2 men found guilty of killing Jam Master Jay

BY JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

NEW YORK — A judge Friday voided the conviction of one of the two men found guilty of the 2002 killing of RunD.M.C. star Jam Master Jay, ruling that there wasn’t enough evidence that the man had a motive to kill the hip-hop luminary.

The reversal marked another stunning and confounding turn in one of the hip-hop world’s most elusive cases.

It stymied investigators for nearly two decades before two arrests were made in 2020, and authorities had hailed the 2024 convictions as finally getting justice for one of rap’s pioneers.

Jam Master Jay, born Jason Mizell, worked the turntables in Run-D.M.C. as the group helped hip-hop gain mainstream popularity in

the 1980s with such hits as “It’s Tricky” and a fresh take on Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” Mizell was 37.

In Friday’s ruling, U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall granted Karl Jordan Jr. an acquittal on the murder charges — a request she had denied when his lawyers made it during the trial.

An eyewitness testified that he saw Jordan shoot the DJ — his own godfather — in his Queens recording studio on Oct. 30, 2002. A onetime tenant in Jordan’s home also testified that he overheard Jordan admit to the killing.

But during more than 18 months of post-verdict presentations, Jordan’s lawyers argued that the evidence didn’t support prosecutors’ claims about his alleged motive: revenge for a failed drug deal.

Jordan had not yet been

sentenced on the murder charges, but he remains behind bars awaiting trial on drug charges from many years after the killing.

Prosecutors said they were reviewing the ruling.

Separately, the judge denied co-defendant Ronald Washington’s bid for an acquittal or a new trial.

Witnesses testified that Washington blocked the door during the shooting and ordered one of the DJ’s aides to get on the ground.

But the judge concluded that the evidence about a drug-beef motive was stronger against Washington than against Jordan. There was testimony that bad blood between Washington and a Baltimore-based drug seller torpedoed a potential sixfigure cocaine deal involving Jordan, Washington and Mizell.

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Administration terminates climate research lab

BY HAYLEY SMITH and SUSANNE RUST

Los Angeles Times (TNS) The Trump administration is moving to dismantle one of the world’s leading climate and weather research institutions, the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, in a decision experts say will undermine U.S. scientific competitiveness and leave millions vulnerable to worsening climate hazards.

Russell Vought, director of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, made the surprise announcement in a Tuesday evening post on X. “This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country,” Vought wrote. “A comprehensive review is underway & any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location.”

The news sent shock waves through the scientific community. The center’s work is used by governments, universities, emergency planners and the private sector for forecasts and disaster response planning. Its sophisticated Community Earth System Model underpins international climate assessments and much of U.S. policy.

The federally funded research center employs about 830 staff, making it one of the largest consortia of scientists who study weather, climate and Earth systems using advanced models and supercomputers in the world.

“The Trump administration has put a bull’s-eye on one of the United States’ premier weather and climate research and modeling centers, threatening to destroy decades of public investment,” said Carlos Martinez, a former researcher at the center, now a senior climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Russell Vought, director of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, called the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s Mesa Lab in Boulder, Colo., ‘one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country.’

“Deliberately dismantling an institution so central to weather forecasting and climate change prediction would not only undermine scientific research, it would leave people across the nation less prepared for the dangers of a warming world.”

A senior White House official confirmed the plan to The Times, saying the National Science Foundation, which funds the center, will be breaking up the facility to “eliminate Green New Scam research activities.” As the largest federal research program on climate change, the center serves as the “premier research stronghold for left-wing climate lunacy,” the official said.

Officials with the National Science Foundation on Wednesday said the agency is “reviewing the structure of the research and observational capabilities” at the center, and is exploring options to transfer stewardship of its Wyoming Supercomputing Center to “an appropriate operator.”

The agency is also looking to divest two aircraft managed by the center and to “redefine the scope” of modeling and forecasting research and operations moving forward.

Although the White House official characterized the center’s work as “climate lunacy,” changes in the climate are coming faster than many scientists predicted.

The basic science of climate change has been well established through decades of research.

Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, said it is hard to overstate the importance of the center.

“There is no other institution like NCAR — not just in this country but really anywhere else in the world,” Swain said during a briefing Wednesday morning. He feared that no other global institution can absorb the entirety of its expertise.

Swain also described the administration’s decision as “nakedly politically parti-

san” in a manner that does not align with public interest. The center’s predictions “aren’t just helpful or convenient — they are life-saving and economy-saving,” he said, adding that shuttering the facility would be “an unbelievable, really genuinely shocking self-inflicted wound to American competitiveness.”

Indeed, the loss of the facility would leave millions of people vulnerable to worsening climate hazards such as wildfires, hurricanes, tropical cyclones and winter storms, Swain and other experts said. Its Wyoming Supercomputing Center provides massive computational resources to national and international scientists for running complex weather and climate models and simulations.

Data and tools from the center are also used directly and indirectly by the private sector.

For instance, the center provides large amounts of atmospheric data, via the Climate Data Guide and Community Earth System Model Large Ensemble Numerical Simulation, that researchers, insurance companies and even AI data scientists can access and use to train models, gauge risk and make forecasts.

The $700 billion reinsurance industry also relies on the center’s data, tools and climate models to create financial instruments, such as catastrophe bonds, that are directly tied to weather or natural disaster risks.

The decision to close the facility follows other efforts from the Trump administration to shut down scientific research and change the public view of climate change.

That includes laying off hundreds of staffers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration and slashing funding for its scientific research arm. Earlier this year, the Trump administration also fired hundreds

of scientists working to prepare the congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment and removed the website that housed previous assessments.

When asked why the administration is closing the facility, White House officials pointed to so-called “woke” programs at the center that they said “waste taxpayer funds” and “veer from strong or useful science,” such as its Rising

Voices Center aimed at joining Indigenous knowledge and Earth science, and an art series that explored the human relationship with water.

They also cited the center’s research into wind turbines that sought to better understand the impact of weather conditions on offshore wind production. Trump has been vocal about his opposition to offshore wind and other forms of renewable energy.

U.S. military to stop shooting Learn more. Laugh more. animals for medics’ training

BY BEN FINLEY Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military will stop its practice of shooting pigs and goats to help prepare medics for treating wounded troops in a combat zone, ending an exercise made obsolete by simulators that mimic battlefield injuries.

The prohibition on “live fire” training that includes animals is part of this year’s annual defense bill, although other uses of animals for wartime training will continue The ban was championed by Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican who often focuses on animal rights issues.

“With today’s advanced simulation technology, we can prepare our medics for the battlefield while reducing harm to animals,” Buchanan said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Buchanan’s office said the Defense Department will continue to allow training that involves stabbing, burning and using blunt instruments on animals, while also allowing “weapon wounding,” which is when the mili-

tary tests weapons on animals. Animal rights groups say the animals are supposed to be anesthetized during such training and testing.

The Defense Health Agency, which oversees the training, said in a statement Friday that the Defense Department “remains committed to replacement of animal models without compromising the quality of medical training.”

The agency cited the establishment of its Defense Medical Modeling and Simulation Office as a testament to those efforts, which include “realistic training scenarios to ensure medical providers are well-prepared to care for the combat-wounded.”

It’s unclear how often the military uses animals for training. Previous defense bills and other pieces of legislation have sought to reduce their use for trauma training, according to a 2022 report from the Government Accountability Office.

A 2018 statute required the secretary of defense to ensure the military used simulation technology “to the maximum extent practicable” or unless use of animals was deemed necessary by the medical chain of command.

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TREASURE

Continued from page 1A sought after, appearing in high-end New Orleans restaurants and on Pinterest boards alike. That demand has sparked a cottage industry across Louisiana’s swamps and rivers, one Manuel describes as “feast or famine” and, like the lumber barons before him learned too late, limited by finite supply.

“It’s a roller coaster. You could go three, four months with nothing,” Manuel said.

“If it is good and easy to get to, it’s already been gotten by me or someone else.”

Wood eternal Earlier in the morning, at his property in Folsom, an enthusiastic Manuel gives a tour of his inventory, beginning with a shed full of slabs.

“That’s the last stroke of an ax right there,” he said, pointing. “There are some old-timers that can still date when the tree fell by the type of ax used.”

The tastes of his buyers vary with time, he said. In vogue right now is pecky wood, distinctive for its meandering, cavelike grooves, created by fungi that grew in vertical spirals. Others prefer those peppered with shallow craters — the artistry of shipworm mollusks.

The bespectacled 45-yearold, sporting a goatee and camo fatigues, spent eight years as an Army combat engineer with deployments in Afghanistan. He returned home disillusioned and found solace in solitude and long days on the water.

Eventually, he sold his heavy equipment business to hunt sinker cypress full-time.

“It was borne out of just wanting to be away from folks and be in the wild, and it grew,” he said. “Before Katrina, there wasn’t anybody out here. I could go out into the lake (Pontchartrain), just walk to the shoreline and come across some ax-cut logs.”

Twenty years later, Manuel operates a dehumidifier

John Manuel shows off a board of sinker cypress at his property in St. Tammany on Dec. 11. kiln and a couple of industrial saws. He has amassed around 25,000 board feet of sinker cypress — industry lingo for 1 foot wide, 1 foot long and 1 inch thick. Depending on shape and quality, he prices it between $7.50 and $25 per board foot.

Richard Woods, as his name might suggest, owns Albany Woodworks, which sells reclaimed cypress about a half hour away in Tickfaw. He says the secret to the wood’s longevity is cypressene, a natural preservative oil that repels termites and protects the wood from rotting. But the oil doesn’t start accumulating until the tree is around 200 years old, he said. It also takes centuries for most of the cypress trunk to turn into dense heartwood, the tree’s “skeleton.” It is so sturdy that cypress logs carbon-dated to more than 50,000 years old have been found preserved off the coast of Alabama.

Most of Louisiana’s cypress trees growing today,

Swampers working for Jeanerette Lumber, taken from Jason Theriot’s ‘Cypress Logging in the Atchafalaya Basin: A Digital History.’

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

you rather the thing you throw in the garbage in 10 years like the Ikea crap?

Or have a $4,000 table, and when you die, your kids fight over who gets it?”

Yet the wood also has practical value. Baton Rouge is financing part of the LSU Lakes revitalization project by selling sinker cypress recovered from dredging.

Swampers and steam power

In his backyard, Manuel turns over an untreated log, revealing a carved Roman numeral.

“I’ve found everything up to about 20,” he said, speculating that the markings come from surveyors denoting their respective tracts.

According to Jason Theriot, a historian who has spent years conducting archival however, are less than 100 cypress flooring, beams and research and interviews on years old, made up mostly of doors — the latter beginning Louisiana’s logging industhe softer outer layer known at $2,200 — to people all over try, the federal and state the country. His customers government began opening as sapwood.

“New cypress has none of are “people that know the up Louisiana’s swamplands the characteristics of the old difference, that remember for sale in the mid-1800s. By virgin growth cypress,” said the heritage.”

1880, most of the lands that Manuel is blunter: “Would contained commercially viWoods, who sells old-growth PROVIDED PHOTO By THE MANCIL COLLECTION AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITy

able cypress and the less valuable, though still profitable Tupelo gum had been bought up by private companies, led by soon-to-be lumber tycoons F.B. Williams and R.N. Dowman.

Meanwhile, the second Industrial Revolution was in full swing. Railroads allowed sawmills to sell wood directly to places as far as Chicago, where it was used to fuel America’s urban and industrial expansion, according to Theriot, while steam-powered machinery descended onto the formerly impenetrable Louisiana swamps.

“That’s what allowed them to go into the middle of the swamp, particularly in the Atchafalaya Basin, in Manchac and other places like that, and be able to harvest at economies of scale,” he said.

Dredging companies constructed canals deep into the swamps, made wide enough to fit strategically-placed steam-powered-pull barges.

Smaller paths — about 100 yards long — were cleared in an outward, radial fashion from the barges.

At the end of the paths, cypress would have already been girdled (cut with a ring around the bark to slowly kill it) and later felled with axes, Theriot said. The work fell to “swampers,” poor men, many backwoods Cajuns, who lived in houseboat camps for weeks at a time, working around the clock in knee-deep water, braving alligators and mosquitoes as they traversed the thicket in shallow-bottomed pirogues.

“The actual felling of the cypress tree was the same in 1920 as it was in 1830. It was two guys with a passepar-tout — a 6-foot crosscut saw — going to town on it,” Theriot said.

Swampers would then drag a winch from the pullboat through the forest and chain the trees to the cable, which pulled them back to the canal.

“If you know anything about steam power, it doesn’t care,” added Manuel, him-

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TREASURE

Continued from page 10A self an amateur historian.

“It’s either going to get the log out, it’s gonna tear the log in half, or it’s going to rip up whatever it hits.”

Today, those with a keen eye traveling out of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport or perusing Google Earth may spot remnants of the technique — patterns in the marsh grass resembling the spokes of a wagon wheel.

“You can still see them; there are hundreds of them,” Theriot said. “If you have aerials from the 1950s, they pop out as clear as day.”

At the canal, a team would nudge the logs to deeper water, then assemble thousands into a raft using spiked chains, after which a steamboat would tow them to the nearest sawmill — the largest in the world at the time located in Patterson, near Morgan City.

Some trees were too waterlogged or sap-heavy to float. Others broke free. Still others were stored in ponds and lakes and forgotten.

But the resource seemed so plentiful that losses largely went unnoticed.

“You’re tying up a raft of a thousand trees,” Theriot said. “If you lose one, it’s like shaking that basket of crabs: A couple of big ones are gonna fall out; you’re not gonna jump in the water after them.”

Around World War I, at the height of production, a single crew could clear about 1 square mile a year, according to Theriot’s research.

Statewide, logging companies harvested around 1 billion board feet of cypress annually.

Shortly after the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, the last of Louisiana’s oldgrowth cypress forests had vanished — particularly devastating the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest wetland system in the U.S. — without a single chain saw being used.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

John Manuel happily shows off a log of sinker cypress at his property in St. Tammany on Dec. 11.

PHOTO PROVIDED By DON DAVIS

Cypress logs are towed to a Morgan City millsite, taken from Jason Theriot’s ‘Cypress Logging in the Atchafalaya Basin: A Digital History.’

“It only lasted 50 years, because that’s how efficient the entire system was,” Theriot said. “By 1929, the last cypress tree came up the gurney, and that was it. Guys went and found other jobs.”

Between heritage and ruin By noon, Manuel is idling back toward Lake Pontchartrain, where he will tie up the three sinkers now being towed behind his boat. Later, he will return with a pickup truck to drag them out. Between his existing inventory and the time it takes to dry and treat the trees, it could be years before they end up in someone’s living room.

When asked how he makes his initial discoveries, Manuel is cagey, like a fisherman guarding a honey hole. All

he reveals is that it involves side-scan sonar and GPS attached to his helm, years of accumulated river wisdom, and his buddy Rocky, a former Special Forces diver who attaches chokers to the submerged logs.

“There are only so many ways to skin a cat, but everybody has their own little technique,” he said.

Most believe Manuel’s trade began with the swampers who stayed behind after the sawmills closed, making use of what the lumber barons had lost.

“They fished and hunted in the basin their whole lives,” Theriot said. “It doesn’t take long for Cajun ingenuity to set in … and for that little cottage market to make its way up and down the bayou.”

Woods, who founded Albany Woodworks in 1980, began his business by selling reclaimed cypress torn from old buildings.

“When we ran out, we were looking for other sources,” he said. “We started learning from old swamp guys that there were a lot of logs still out in the swamp.”

Manuel lives about a half hour from Shelby Stanga, possibly the most famous sinker cypress hunter, thanks to the History Channel’s “Axe Men” and its spinoff “Legend of Shelby The Swamp Man,” which documented Stanga’s adventures in the 2010s.

“When the TV show came out with Shelby, everybody thought they were a swamplord,” said Manuel, a friend of Stanga’s. The show brought more customers but also a revolving door of hobbyists who gobbled up the easiest pickings but usually didn’t stick with it, Manuel said. Between the fuel and equipment costs, land access, knowledge required

and dwindling supply, he is adamant that the business isn’t for everyone.

“There are so many better ways to make a living than this,” he said, though he adds it has become enough to sustain him. “It’s treasure hunting. I’m excited about it. Half the time I don’t wear shoes.”

Being a good manager

too late for the cypress forests. Residential development, invasive nutria, sinking land, saltwater intrusion and altered hydrology in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers all threaten any noticeable comeback.

“Cypress trees are hit from every single direction,” said Manuel, adding, “without any trees, you don’t have any seeds.”

Pockets of old-growth cypress remain, having escaped the saw by standing in residential areas, being dismissed as hollow, or simple luck. For some, the old giants evoke a proud heritage. For others, they’re monuments to what Louisiana destroyed.

Manuel, caught between the two forces that define his work, remains conflicted.

“God gave us this planet to subdue it and manage it,” he said. “But if you tear it up, you are a poor manager of what God gave you.”

Beside Manuel’s boat, snowy egrets and cormorants search for their next meals. New-growth cypress draped in Spanish moss line the banks, meager in size and numbers compared to their ancestors. Despite a small resurgence of cypress logging — both legal and illegal during the housing boom in the mid-2000s — tens of thousands of acres of cypress forest have since been replanted.

Their massive aquatic root systems, which prevent erosion and absorb flood waters, are seen as critical buffers Email Aidan McCahill against hurricanes and land at aidan.mccahill@ loss. Still, it may be too little, theadvocate.com.

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12A ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

META

Continued from page 1A

to state records and the company itself. If it were to max out that allowed capacity for a year, it would use more than all of Google’s data centers combined in 2023.

But Meta says those limits are substantially higher than what it will actually use annually. According to the company, the data center will use between 500 to 600 million gallons per year once it is up and running in 2028, or an average of 1.5 million gallons per day.

While far less, it is still more than three times higher than the company’s most water-intensive data center, according to Meta’s 2024 sustainability report.

The company explains that its water use, necessary to cool the constantly running server network spread across the sprawling facility, will primarily occur in warmer months. For more than half the year, no water would be needed to cool the servers.

The higher figures are needed for especially hot times of year, when the most water will be used, Meta says.

The water will be drawn from the Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer, which also supplies communities and farms in the surrounding area, and it will be cycled through a “closedloop” system similar to a giant car radiator.

Meta has agreed to voluntarily submit its annual reports of water use for its first five years of operation, said Patrick Courreges, a spokesperson for the state’s energy department, Landry which registers the wells.

The company is pledging to stick to its promises, while Gov. Jeff Landry’s economic development agency says the jobs and revenue the project will bring to one of Louisiana’s most impoverished regions must be taken into account.

“Gov. Landry has made it clear that we do not pursue

projects that put our citizens at risk or disadvantage,” said Emma Wagner, a spokesperson for Louisiana’s economic development agency.

Water researchers at LSU, Tulane and elsewhere nonetheless expressed concern over the maximum amounts permitted for the facility.

They note that there is no state regulatory body tasked with monitoring Meta’s water usage or the condition of the aquifer over time.

“There’s no incentive for (Meta) to use less water because they don’t have to pay for it, and it’s not regulated or reported,” said Christopher Dalbom, director of the Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy.

‘They should be concerned’ Meta’s Louisiana data center, expected to cost $27 billion, will be the company’s biggest such facility worldwide and a centerpiece in its race to build “superintelligence” faster than competitors like Google and OpenAI. It is slated to create thousands of construction jobs and include up to 500 permanent workers.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has spoken of further expanding the data center to a size that would rival the footprint of Manhattan, though some analysts have expressed doubt over whether that is realistic. President Donald Trump also praised the massive size of the facility, called “Hyperion,” the father of the sun in Greek mythology.

In addition to its water requirements, its staggering energy demands will increase Entergy’s electricity needs by around 30% in Louisiana. That has been the subject of a separate heated debate.

Meta conducted a third-party study to evaluate groundwater availability and the impact of pumping on the aquifer, a company spokesperson said. It received approval from state officials confirming that the maximum pumping would not impact local systems.

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The company’s testing found that its water usage would not cause any land sinking, which would also be harmful to its own facility.

Courreges, the state Department of Conservation and Energy spokesperson, said the department’s models suggest there would be no serious environmental concern.

He said there may be some subsidence, but not to the point where it would be “detrimental” to residents and the water table, according to what has been presented so far.

“Everything has some impact,” Courreges said.

Frank Tsai, the director of the Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute at LSU, agreed that if Meta only used the lower amount it predicted — versus its maximum allowance — the aquifer would not likely be negatively impacted.

However, long-term pumping at the maximum registered 23 million gallons per day could harm the environment around the site, Tsai said. The facility will draw from one of the most-pumped aquifers in Louisiana, already vulnerable to overuse.

Tsai’s team ran a 17-year simulation assuming Meta withdrew the maximum daily allowable amount. It found that groundwater levels dropped over 65 feet beneath some areas of the facility.

Lower water levels can lead to permanent land sinking and salt water creeping into supplies. The threat of salty drinking water has been a longstanding issue in Baton Rouge, for example, due to overpumping of the aquifer used for that area.

In rural Richland Parish, there are scores of agricultural and domestic wells near the planned facility, including around 50 within a mile of Meta’s perimeter. Tsai’s preliminary data showed that the impacted area, called the “cone of depression,” extends beyond the data center’s 70-football-field size.

“If the groundwater level is lower, you need more energy to lift the water,” Tsai said, speaking of his analysis of the maximum levels allowed. “So

it will cost more money to the farmers.”

Agricultural wells are not predicted to run dry under the maximum scenario, Tsai said, though there are likely smaller, shallower domestic wells in the area that are not registered with the state.

Public records also note the possibility of unregistered wells near the facility.

Under the worst-case maximum scenario, those with some of the shallower wells “should be concerned about whether they are going to have enough water to drink or not,” Tsai said.

‘No actual scrutiny’ In Louisiana, water is less regulated than energy, and industrial users are not required to report how much they consume.

Meta is required to register new wells with the state energy department, and the oversight essentially stops there. Louisiana’s energy agency doesn’t maintain an inventory of water use in the state, and there is no local water authority in the area that regulates usage.

“There’s no actual scrutiny on the use of public resources,” said Tyler Gray, who was secretary of the state Department of Conservation and Energy until September.

Courreges, the department spokesman, confirmed the lack of regulatory power.

Gray said that Meta initially asked for “too much” water, so the company reduced the numbers.

From July to September 2024, Louisiana officials warned Meta’s subsidiary company, Laidley, that nine wells that would be used to cool the facility posed similar environmental risks to the surrounding areas that Tsai’s model found.

Those issues included acute water level decline, reduced water quality and possible land sinking. The state also noted the presence of existing water wells within a mile radius of Meta’s proposed wells.

“That’s the limit of our authority, saying: ‘We think there’s a concern; we see where you might want to do

this differently,’ ” Courreges said. “And they did scale it back.”

In May 2025, the state registered six of these wells, determining in a letter that they “should not adversely affect water withdrawal from other registered water wells in the area or to the sustainability of the aquifer.”

The pumping rates for these six wells totaled around 36 million gallons per day, but those figures have since been lowered to 23 million gallons per day. Meta maintains that even the 23 million per day maximum rate would not adversely affect the aquifer.

‘Massive amount of water’

from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Large facilities can use up to 5 million gallons per day.

Scanlan said that the water demands are unclear for a massive data center in the Great Lakes region, as part of OpenAI’s Stargate Program, but that one million gallons per day is “the highest figure” that has been reported for that project.

Another frequently cited example involves a Meta data center in Georgia. Families living next to it saw their taps go dry, and the surrounding county is on track for a water crisis, The New York Times reported. Meta cast doubt on whether it was to blame for the problems.

Mark Davis, director of the Tulane Center for Environmental Law, is worried about the cumulative impact of water-hungry industrial projects, including the data center. One facility might not wreak irreparable damage, he said, but building “facility after facility after facility” could lead to problems.

He pointed to Louisiana’s long history of environmental damage left behind by industry: timbering canals, oil and gas canals and abandoned oil wells, among others.

“Are we going to do it again?” he said.

Jesse Washington, the mayor of nearby Delhi, said residents in the 2,000-person town have expressed worry about the water supply, which draws from the same aquifer. To ensure that everyone has enough water, Washington said that Meta drilled another well around three months ago that connects to the town’s main line.

Based on analysis from engineers, he said he feels “pretty good” about the data center’s water demands and Delhi’s ongoing ability to serve its residents. But he wants to stay prepared as Meta’s project unfolds.

“We really don’t know what it’s going to do until it’s in full swing,” Washington said.

In Meta’s “closed-loop” system, liquid circulates through and minimizes the need for constant additions of water.

The servers are cooled further by air — essentially a system of fans. New water is only needed when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees and winds are gusting in a specific pattern, the company says. Meta predicts that no additional water will be used for over half of the year.

Data centers using closedloop systems consume less water than evaporative models that transform a steady influx of water into steam, ultimately vented out of the facility. But the less waterintensive method needs more energy, which means more water for the fossil fuelpowered gas plants running Meta’s data center in the first place. A spokesperson for Entergy said water for two of the electricity plants will come from the nearby town of Delhi.

“Ironically, you might be using more water,” said Melissa Scanlan, the director of the Center for Water Policy at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee and the author of a national analysis on data center water consumption.

In 2023, data centers in the U.S. directly used around 17 billion gallons of water to cool their servers, plus an additional 211 billion gallons of water for electricity Email Josie Abugov at generation powering the fa- josie.abugov@theadvocate. cilities, according to a report com.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 13A

lll

During this season of love and joy, of believing and giving, we wish you and your family a holiday filled with the spirit and compassion of Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate. Thank you to our team members for embodying the Spirit of Healing and showing the world how we healthcare joyfully and authentically all year long.

Merry Christmas!

FMOLHealth.org FMOL HEALTH OUR LADY OF THE LAKE | FMOL HEALTH OUR LADY OF LOURDES | FMOL HEALTH ST. DOMINIC | FMOL HEALTH ST. FRANCIS

14A ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

EDUCATION

Absences soar amid Texas measles outbreak It wasn’t just sick kids who were out

with measles, Seminole Superintendent Glen Teal said in a statement.

Beyond the students who were directed to stay home, it’s unclear how many families may have kept children out of school on their own as a precaution.

But there’s a good argument that parental concern played a role, said Jacob Kirksey, a Texas Tech University education policy professor who was not involved in the study but reviewed it.

“If you’re hearing on the news or you’re seeing that there is just an illness outbreak more broadly, the parents are going to be predispositioned to just be more hesitant to send their kids to school,” he said.

BY MAKIYA SEMINERA and DEVI SHASTRI Associated Press

When a measles outbreak hit West Texas this year, school absences surged to levels far beyond the number of children who likely became sick, according to a study, as students were excluded or kept home by their families to minimize the spread of the disease.

Absences in Seminole Independent School District, a school system that served students at the heart of the outbreak, climbed 41% across all grade levels compared with the same period the two previous years, according to the Stanford University study.

The preliminary study, which has not been published or finished a formal peer review, offers a glimpse at the toll on student learning from the spread of measles, a highly contagious disease that has crept up in communities around the U.S. with low vaccination rates.

In Texas and nationally, about two-thirds of measles cases have been among unvaccinated children. When measles is spreading, public health officials respond by excluding unvaccinated students from schools.

“The costs of that absenteeism are just not among the sick kids, but all the kids who are kept out of school as a precaution,” said Thomas Dee, a Stanford economist and education professor who co-authored the study.

Measles is airborne and poses severe risk for young children.

In 2000, the illness was declared eradicated in the U.S., thanks to the widespread usage of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

In recent years, more parents have sought exemptions to school requirements for the shots, and most states are below the 95% kindergarten vaccination rate that

Other states with outbreaks

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

In Texas and nationally, about two-thirds of measles cases have been among unvaccinated children. When measles is spreading, public health officials respond by excluding unvaccinated students from schools. experts say is needed to prevent outbreaks.

In Seminole Independent School District, only 77% of kindergartners were vaccinated against measles in the 2024-2025 school year, according to state health department data.

The measles upsurge there launched the United States’ worst measles year in more than three decades, sickening 762 people across Texas in seven months.

That number could have been even higher. The Texas Department of State Health Services says there were an additional 182

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potential measles cases reported in March 2025 among children in surrounding Gaines County that the state excluded from its count due to lack of information.

Absenteeism extended Using state data, the study estimated 141 Seminole district students had confirmed measles cases. It found the increase in school absences was approximately 10 times what would be expected from just those students missing class.

State health officials recommend that people sick with measles or

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suspected measles isolate at home until four days after they get the telltale rash. State guidance calls for unvaccinated or otherwise vulnerable students to be excluded from school for up to 21 days after exposure to measles.

Children from preschool to first grade had the most pronounced spike in absences — a 71% increase from the past two school years, according to the study.

Most student absences amid the outbreak were due to local health requirements for children to stay out of school if they may have been exposed to somebody diagnosed

Outbreaks in other states, such as South Carolina, also have produced spikes in school absenteeism.

More than 165 people, including 127 students from three schools, were in a 21-day quarantine as of Tuesday because they were unvaccinated or otherwise vulnerable to getting sick.

Some children have been quarantined twice due to new cases, said Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist for the South Carolina Department of Public Health.

“Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent the disruption that measles is causing to people’s education, to employment and other factors of people’s lives in our communities,” Bell said.

Missing out on learning time can have long-term implications for a child’s success.

Schools have been dealing with learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed also to elevated rates of chronic absenteeism.

More frequent absenteeism also puts a strain on teachers’ ability to educate their students. Most educators aren’t trained on how to handle instructional pacing when a large chunk of their students are absent, Kirksey said.

Rubio clear about challenges lll

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 15A

BY MATTHEW LEE and DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio was hopeful but clear about the challenges facing the Trump administration’s RussiaUkraine and Israel-Hamas peace efforts during a marathon end-of-year news conference Friday.

In a freewheeling exchange with reporters running more than two hours, Rubio offered no predictions for timing or success on any of those three issues.

He also said he was proud of President Donald Trump’s radical overhaul in foreign assistance and that the administration was working to reach a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan in time for the new year.

Rubio’s rare and lengthy appearance in the State Department briefing room came as key meetings on Gaza and Russia-Ukraine are being held in Miami this weekend after a tumultuous year in U.S. foreign policy.

Talks on Ukraine, Gaza Rubio spoke about peace efforts as national security officials from Britain, France and Germany were taking part in talks in Florida with Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss the latest iteration of Trump’s Ukraine-Russia peace proposal.

Progress on Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan has moved slowly since it was announced in October. U.S. officials have been pushing to get the plan implemented by setting up a “Board of Peace” that would oversee the territory after two years of war and create an international stabilization force that would police the area.

“I think we owe them a few

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks Friday during a news conference at the State Department in Washington. more answers before we get there,” Rubio said when asked about contributions to the stabilization force.

In a whirlwind of diplomacy, Witkoff and Kushner met Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s adviser Kirill Dmitriev in Miami.

Rubio said there would be no peace deal unless both Ukraine and Russia can agree to the terms, making it impossible for the U.S. to force a deal on anyone. Instead, the U.S. is trying to “figure out if we can nudge both sides to a common place.”

“We understand that you’re not going to have a deal unless both sides have to give, and both sides have to get,” Rubio said. “Both sides will have to make concessions if you’re going to have a deal.

You may not have a deal. We may not have a deal. It’s unfortunate.”

The U.S. proposal has been through numerous versions with Trump seesawing back and forth between offering

support and encouragement for Ukraine and then seemingly sympathizing with Putin’s hard-line stances by pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to agree to territorial concessions. Kyiv has rejected that concession in return for security guarantees intended to protect Ukraine from future Russian incursions.

Other peace efforts at risk Trump has spoken of wanting to be remembered as a “peacemaker,” but ceasefires his administration helped craft are already in trouble due to renewed military action between Cambodia and Thailand as well as Rwanda and Congo. Rubio, however, said those deals created a list of commitments that can now be used to push the parties back to peace.

“Those commitments today are not being kept,” Rubio said of the ThailandCambodia conflict, which now threatens to reignite following Thai airstrikes.

“The work now is to bring

Transportation secretary’s daughter calls TSA ‘unconstitutional’ after pat-down

By The Associated Press One of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s daughters said she experienced an “absurdly invasive” pat-down Thursday at an airport security checkpoint and suggested her father would limit or eliminate the Transportation Security Administration if it was under his authority.

Evita Duffy-Alfonso said on the social platform X that she nearly missed her flight after opting out of a body scan because she said she is pregnant and concerned about radiation exposure.

She said she waited 15 minutes for a pat-down and that TSA agents were “rude” and “tried to pressure” her into walking through the scanner.

“All this for an unconstitutional agency that isn’t even good at its job,” she said.

TSA said in a statement Friday it is aware of DuffyAlfonso’s complaint. “TSA takes complaints about

airport security screening procedures seriously and investigates complaints thoroughly to ensure the correct procedures are applied,” the agency said.

In another post, Duffy-Alfonso said her father would “radically limit” or “lobby Congress to abolish” TSA if it was under his control.

Duffy’s Department of Transportation controls the Federal Aviation Administration and is charged with setting and enforcing safety regulations for all major modes of transportation, including air travel. But TSA is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

TSA is responsible for screening passengers, bags and cargo for weapons or explosives. It was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“The ‘golden age of transportation’ cannot begin until the TSA is gone,” DuffyAlfonso said, a reference to her father’s broad campaign

to make travel more family friendly and revive what he calls “the golden age of travel,” including a recent push encouraging passengers to dress more formally while flying.

The Transportation Department declined Friday to comment on Duffy-Alfonso’s complaints.

In a follow-up post on X, Duffy-Alfonso clarified that she supports President Donald Trump and Homeland Security, “but there needs to be more common sense around how we treat Americans exercising their right to travel,” she said.

According to TSA, passengers can request a private screening as an alternative to the body scanner. The agency warns on its website that “sufficient pressure must be applied in order to ensure detection” because a “pat-down screening is conducted to determine whether prohibited items are concealed under clothing.”

them back to the table.”

In a departure from his predecessors who often limited questions to just four, Rubio responded to queries, including a handful in Spanish, from nearly every reporter seated in the 59-seat briefing room, which has not been used since the State Department ended its twice-weekly press briefings in August.

Since taking over the department, Rubio has moved swiftly to implement Trump’s “America First” agenda, helping dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development and reducing the size of the diplomatic corps through a significant reorganization.

Aviation careers take flight through SOWELA’s new paid apprenticeship model

By Amanda McElfresh, amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

A new partnership in Southwest Louisiana is demonstrating how colleges and employers can co-design programsthatmeetrealworldneedswhilegivingstudents a direct path to high-paying careers.

This year, SOWELA Technical Community College in Lake Charles and Citadel Completions received approval from the Louisiana Workforce Commission State Apprenticeship Council to launch the state’s first Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) two-year apprenticeship program. This innovative model allows students in SOWELA’s Aviation Maintenance program to attend classes in the mornings and work paid apprenticeships at Citadel in the afternoons.

“Having the ability for students to work while they go to school is a tremendous help to both the employer and the student,” said Steve Barding, a Citadel aircraft maintenance supervisor and an adjunct instructor at SOWELA. “I’ve had apprentices on the plane while I’m doing engine runs and maintenance checks. They have a whole tactile world of experiences that will hopefully inspire them to continue on this career path.”

The idea for the apprenticeship program came from students who spoke about balancing school with family responsibilities and financial obligations. Apprentices start at a pay rate of $22 per hour, with raises as they earn additional certifications through SOWELA’s Aviation Maintenance program. If offered a full-time position at Citadel after completing the program, new graduates can earn up to $29 per hour.

“This is another great example of industry partnering witheducationtodevelopaskilledandqualifiedworkforce,” said SOWELA Chancellor Dr. Neil Aspinwall. “As I always state, SOWELA is in the workforce development business, and this apprenticeship program provides our Aviation Program students a great opportunity to earn while they learn with the potential for a great career in the aviation industry.”

That opportunity was appealing to Titus Acoff, a studentinthefirstAMTapprenticeshipcohort.Acoffwas originally studying computer information systems, but grewconcernedwhenhesawhisroommatestruggletofind work in the field. Acoff attended an aviation convention and learned about the role of aircraft mechanics. He was quickly hooked on the idea.

“It was something I had never really looked into, but once I found out about what aircraft mechanics do and how much of a need there is, I knew I had found what I was looking for,” Acoff said. “It was truly by the grace of God that this opportunity was bestowed upon me. The program has been amazing, especially being able to put my hands on a plane and see the processes up close. Plus, I know I’ll always be able to get a job, so this is a career that comes with a lot of stability and opportunity for growth.”

Another student, Bryce Lee Chapman, was looking for a new career path after serving in the military. He had jumped out of dozens of helicopters and C-130s and had always admired the aircrafts’ capabilities. When he heard about the apprenticeship program, he felt it would be the next logical step for him.

“I’vealwaysbeenfascinatedwithmechanics,soIknew

this was for me from the moment I opened my first book in my first class,” he said. “It’s absolutely fascinating to me. I can’t tell you how fun and interesting it is to learn how these engines are moving people through the sky every day.”

David Linscomb, SOWELA’s aviation maintenance program coordinator, said the college’s partnership with Citadel has helped make the apprenticeship program so successful. In addition to giving students the chance to earnalivingwagewhileinschool,thecompany’sfeedback ensures that SOWELA is teaching relevant skills.

“I don’t know of any other school in the region that has as many live aircraft on site as we do,” Linscomb said. “Our main goal is to create a workforce pipeline so students have a place to work once they finish the program, so we go to Citadel and other industry partners when we’re making decisions about the curriculum and what we are teaching. Their input is valuable and their buy-in is very important.”

SOWELA’s associate degree program is a federally regulatedAviationTrainingSchoolcertifiedbytheFederal Aviation Administration. Once training is complete, students are prepared to sit for the FAA Airframe and Powerplant certifications. According to instructor surveys and industry partners, SOWELA’s placement rate for the program is 90% within the first six months.

Linscomb added that the apprenticeship program not only teaches students how to be an aircraft mechanic, but how to be a good employee – something that Citadel and other partners have emphasized is crucial to a person’s professional success. That well-rounded approach has helped make the program so successful that other companies have expressed interest in creating similar models.

“We spend a lot of time talking about how important it is to show up every day, show up on time, be ready to work, have a good work ethic and followthe rules,” he said.

According to the Aviation Technician Education Council, the U.S. is expected to have a shortage of about 25,000 certified aircraft mechanics by 2028. But, thanks to the success of the SOWELA program, Barding has renewed optimism that those positions will be filled by current students who will bring dedication and passion to their work.

“ThebiggesttakeawayIhaveseenfromthisapprenticeship program is hope,” Barding said. “We went through some dark times in aircraft maintenance four or five years ago because there weren’t people coming up to replace those who were retiring. Now, with the apprenticeships and involvement with SOWELA, our future is looking really bright. We have some great people in training. It has changed my outlook on the future of this industry.

I know we will be okay.”

Registration for SOWELA’s Aviation Maintenance program is open, with Spring 2026 classes starting January 12. For more information or to apply, visit www.sowela.edu/apply or contact onestop@sowela. edu. Scholarships and financial aid are available for those who qualify.

16A ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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LOUISIANA POLITICS GOP insurrection on Obamacare haunts Johnson WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson’s usual calm expression hardened last week after learning that a handful of Republicans had joined a Democratic effort to force a vote on extending for three years tax credits that help 24 million working Americans — 293,000 in Louisiana — pay for health insurance policies.

True, the Benton Mark Ballard Republican was doing what most of his GOP members wanted — let the Obamacare subsidies end Dec. 31 as scheduled — but his party’s majority is only two seats, so the defections amount to a challenge to his leadership.

“When you have a razor-thin margin, as we do, then all the procedures in the book people think are on the table, and that’s the difference,” Johnson said.

The sixth successful “discharge petition” during Johnson’s 26-month tenure as speaker circumvents his ability to set the House’s agenda.

It forces the full House to vote in January on extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies at a time leadership wants to focus on appropriations bills — or face another government shutdown come Jan. 30.

The speaker’s gambit was to focus attention on the legislative wins for Republicans earlier this year. He also wanted to avoid an extension of the enhanced tax credits on a plan most Republicans have tried to kill over the past 15 years.

Instead, Johnson forwarded legislation that didn’t include an extension but aimed at lower

Bill targets Chinese ‘seafood dumping’

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, wants to see more money collected from efforts to stop Chinese “seafood dumping” go directly to Louisiana seafood producers.

“Dumping” is a market tactic in which a country sells food products at prices lower than the cost of producing them, which can drive U.S. producers out of business, Cassidy’s office said in a news release. The U.S. collects “dumping duties” on food that Capitol comes from counBuzz tries that employ STAFF the tactic.

REPORTS In 2000, Congress passed a law that required Customs and Border Protection to give the money collected from those duties to American farmers and others who are affected by dumping, the release says. But due to various delays, much of that money has not been paid out — and has gathered significant interest.

Cassidy and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., have introduced a bill that would require CBP to pay $38.5 million in accrued interest to the U.S. ag-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, waits as Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, right, steps up to speak as Republicans discuss a plan to address growing health care costs on Tuesday in Washington. prices for everyone buying health care insurance, not just the 7% who bought their policies on the Affordable Care Act market-

place. The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act included ways to manage drug costs and a cost-sharing mecha-

ricultural sector, including $10.6 million for crawfish producers.

“Louisiana’s crawfish industry is more than just a business — it’s our culture. We’re standing up to China’s illegal attempts to hurt our producers, our processors, and our way of life,” Cassidy said in a news release.

It’s not just seafood. In the news release, Thune said South Dakota honey producers are also suffering from Chinese “dumping.”

“South Dakota honey producers deserve a level playing field,” Thune said in the release. “This bipartisan legislation helps ensure fair treatment for affected domestic producers and strengthens their ability to compete globally.”

cleanup, housing and rebuilding after disasters like hurricanes.

Kennedy’s Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt Response and Recovery Act, co-sponsored with Democratic Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, would allow contracts to last up to a year when needed.

The bill would also require a report from DHS to Congress on whether the change saves money and affects waste, fraud and abuse.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.

Senate passes John Kennedy’s FEMA bill The U.S. Senate last week passed a bill sponsored by Sen. John Kennedy, R-Madisonville, that changes rules for FEMA emergency contracts after disasters.

Currently, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the disaster response agency, has a rule that cuts off some emergency contracts after 150 days. That can interrupt federally-funded agreements for

UnitedHealthcare agrees to big Medicaid contract UnitedHealthcare has agreed to provide Medicaid coverage for over 300,000 people for 90 days through the first three months of the year, the Louisiana Department of Health announced Thursday.

The agreement came after the Health Department earlier this month abruptly decided against renewing a one-year contract with the company to provide Medicaid coverage. That contract had already been greenlit by legislators in late November and was set to take effect Jan. 1.

The decision blindsided state lawmakers, some of whom raised concerns that the sudden

nism to lower all health care premiums by 11% in 2027.

Republicans, even those who signed the discharge petition, narrowly passed the bill on a partyline vote Wednesday night.

Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, praised the plan Johnson backed.

“This bill is just a small correction. I supported the effort, but we have a tremendous amount of bad policy baked into the ACA,” he said.

But for Rep. Troy Carter, DNew Orleans, the GOP measure seemed more like talking points for Republicans to deflect attention onto Democrats.

“We’re just days away from the deadline and Republicans are scrambling to push through an unserious proposal at the 11th hour. People aren’t stupid; they can see this,” Carter said. “Without these extensions, their premiums will skyrocket. Health care is not a luxury; it is a fundamental human right.”

More telling, however, was Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley, of California, who took the unusual step of scolding Johnson on the floor of the House.

The legislation “does not address the problem immediately before us,” Kiley said. “I have been extremely critical of the House speaker for refusing to put any measure to extend these tax credits on the floor.”

Kiley also voted for the bill.

The mutiny began when moderates were denied an attempt to add a two-year extension to the legislation.

Three Pennsylvania Republicans and one from New York signed the Democratic discharge petition out of fear that enough of their constituents would be angered at the premium spike that they would lose in the November

2026 midterms.

Republicans, including those who back the discharge, contend that Democrats are interested in developing a political issue for the midterms in hopes of regaining the majority in the House and perhaps the Senate.

Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican who signed the petition, said the issue is to allow time to fix Obamacare without forcing his constituents to pay double.

Lawler’s district is along the Hudson River and includes the birthplace of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. About 11,400 people — 1.5% of his constituents — rely on enhanced credits to help pay for their Affordable Care Act marketplace policies.

Johnson has almost four times as many ACA constituents — 40,773 or 5.3%, according to KFF — in a district along the Sabine River that includes the birthplace of Gov. Huey Long.

But Johnson’s 4th Congressional District gave 50 percentage point margins to President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Vice President Kamala Harris barely won New York’s 17th Congressional District by 2 percentage points. Democrats have targeted Lawler for the midterms.

Lawler predicted the Democrats’ three-year extension will pass the House in January. The Senate then would come up with a bipartisan compromise with a shorter extension and some costsaving aspects.

“We’ll deal with it in January,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson. “These things take a lot of twists and turns.”

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

change would cause problems for patients. A legislative committee held a hearing on Tuesday to question Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and Health Department officials on why they wanted to cancel the contract with just weeks remaining in the year.

“Thank you to the legislators and our managed care plans for working together to put patients first,” Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein Greenstein said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “This extension gives us more time to take an even more thoughtful approach to transitioning members to new plans.”

“Continuity of care is our highest priority, so members can continue accessing their services without disruption,” Greenstein said.

UnitedHealthcare spokesperson Christina Witz said the company agreed to the arrangement at the Health Department’s request and with guidance from the Louisiana Legislature.

“This extension is for the sole purpose of allowing for a more orderly and seamless transition for our members to other Man-

aged Care Organizations to help prevent gaps in care and give health care providers a chance to enter into new contracts with these organizations,” Witz said.

The company is “disappointed” it can’t provide access to health care for Louisiana Medicaid participants after March 31, but it “will continue to work in partnership with the state throughout the transition process,” Witz said.

Senate health committee chair Patrick McMath, R-Covington, applauded the threemonth extension and said he has the “utmost faith” McMath in health officials’ ability to navigate the next 90 days and ensure people’s health care isn’t disrupted.

“It’s important that we make sure that we thank the legislative leadership, Secretary Greenstein, his team, the governor, the attorney general, as well as the team at United for, again, prioritizing Louisiana lives,” McMath said.

In addition to UnitedHealthcare, the state also contracts with five additional private health care companies to provide Medicaid coverage to about 1.4 million people.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 17A

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DEPORTED

Continued from page 1A mistakes, immigration lawyers say. Those lawyers report seeing removals occur against judges’ orders more frequently; in some cases, they have questioned the administration’s regard for the law.

“Unlawful removals like these, and at this rate, where they’re happening constantly across the country, betray an Executive that is completely unconstrained by the law, acting however it wants whenever it wants, with reckless disregard for people’s lives and safety,” said Bridget Pranzatelli, an attorney for the National Immigration Project who represents people being detained in Louisiana.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not respond to multiple requests for comment but has repeatedly said its deportation campaign is making the country safer by getting criminals out of the U.S. Many recent deportees and detainees, however, do not have criminal records.

Jeremy Jong, a New Orleans-based immigration attorney, said removing people against judges’ orders is happening “more than usual because there’s so much pressure from above to keep on moving people — to move people through the system faster and faster and faster.”

Some advocates also fear that the judiciary’s response to such removals has been too tepid to deter the Trump administration from continuing the practice.

“The government should not simply be allowed to decry inadvertence and escape all consequences for their illegal ‘errors,’ ” said Nora Ahmed, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, which has handled two such cases in the state. “What it shows is that such actions are worthy of nothing more than a slap on the wrist and so they will continue.”

Though it is not a border state, Louisiana is a key cog in Trump’s deportation machine due in part to its large detention capacity: The state has the secondmost ICE detainees behind Texas. It also has a holding facility near an airport in Alexandria, which has become a hub for deportation flights.

Louisiana cases In July, lawyers for a man from Haiti, who was being held in an ICE facility in Pine Prairie, filed a lawsuit arguing the man could not be legally deported or detained because he had temporary protected status.

That status is sometimes granted to immigrants from countries where conditions are unsafe. It allows them to work in the United States without being deported.

In response to the filings, federal Judge James D. Cain Jr., a Trump appointee in the Western District Court of Louisiana, blocked the man’s removal from Louisiana. Officials put the man on a removal flight but

halted his deportation the day Cain’s order was issued, according to court records.

One month later, he was deported to Haiti anyway.

Government lawyers said the man’s removal was a mistake, the result of a miscommunication between the Chicago ICE office, which scheduled his removal, and the New Orleans ICE office, which oversaw his deportation flight.

The government said it would return the man to the U.S. after he got a Haitian passport, and Cain declined to hold ICE in contempt of court because he did not believe officials purposely violated his order, he wrote in a Sept. 16 decision.

As of Oct. 6, the man had not been returned to the U.S., his attorneys said in a brief. They did not return multiple requests for comment on the status of the man’s case, and ICE did not say whether he was back in the country.

In the months after the man’s deportation, two other Louisiana cases emerged.

Chanthila Souvannarath was deported to Laos in October after federal Judge Shelly Dick, of Louisiana’s Middle District Court, a Barack Obama appointee, issued an order temporarily blocking his removal because of his claim to U.S. citizenship. Officials said they did not learn of the order until several hours after his flight left the country.

Lawyers for Souvannarath, who was initially held in a Laos jail and later released, fought for his return. Dick declined a motion to order him brought back because she found he could fight his case from Laos — still, she said, officials had violated her order, if not intentionally.

Then, in November, the U.S. deported a transgender woman to Mexico even though a judge had blocked her return there after finding she was at risk of being tortured due to her gender identity.

The government said Britania Uriostegui Rios was “inadvertently” removed.

Officials allowed her back into the U.S. about a week after she was deported, according to court records.

In court filings, Uriostegui Rios’ lawyers said she briefly went into hiding in Mexico and feared the trip back to the border. When she first made it to a checkpoint, officials turned her away, even after the U.S. had said she would be allowed back in, her lawyers said. She was allowed in the following day, according to court records.

A national drama The Louisiana deportations come as similar cases from across the country make national headlines, sometimes raising questions about whether the administration is intentionally defying the judiciary.

Late last month, a federal judge began a criminal contempt of court investigation after the administration in March left hundreds of Venezuelan migrants in El Salvador despite his order not to.

Attorneys for the govern-

ment argued they did not violate the judge’s order because his directive to turn the migrants’ flights around in midair was verbal and was not included in his written order.

The contempt investigation has been paused after an appeals court temporarily granted the Trump administration’s request to halt the proceedings.

On Dec. 5, a federal judge in Texas called a man’s deportation to Guatemala “blatant lawlessness” because, over a decade beforehand, an immigration judge had blocked the man’s return there. The judge, David Guaderrama, an Obama appointee, ordered the government to bring the man back to the U.S.; officials told Guaderrama the man returned on Dec. 11, according to a Dec. 16 ruling. The man’s attorney declined to comment.

Three other cases have also drawn national attention.

In March, the Trump administration sent Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a prison in El Salvador even though a judge had blocked his return to that country after finding he had a reasonable fear of gang persecution. Officials called his deportation an “administrative error” and ultimately returned him to the U.S. following a court order.

In June, a New York federal appeals court ordered the government to return Jordin Alexander MelgarSalmeron, who was deported to El Salvador about half an hour after the court canceled his removal order.

Melgar-Salmeron was briefly held in Louisiana ahead of his deportation flight, the Investigative Post, a New York-based news outlet, reported.

And in November, a 19-year-old college student who came to the U.S. at age 8 and was flying home to Texas to surprise her family for Thanksgiving was detained at Boston Logan International Airport. Two days later, Any Lucia Lopez Belloza was deported to Honduras after a judge ordered the government not to move her out of Massachusetts.

The government has argued the judge lacked jurisdiction because Lopez Belloza had already been removed from the state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., speaks while joined on a video call by a man who he said was a U.S. military veteran deported to South Korea during a hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 11.

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Parkview Baptist celebrates state championships rooted in teamwork, unity, faith and family

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Parkview Baptist School.

Parkview Baptist School marked the fall sports season with a remarkable accomplishment: state championships in volleyball and girls’ cross country, and a state runner-up finish in girls’ swimming. The achievements represent months of preparation, resilience and teamwork – and highlightthecultureofexcellenceacrossParkview Baptist athletics.

Kate Cramer, head cross country coach and assistantswimmingcoach,saidthechampionship moments were the culminations of long journeys that began well before the first races.

“We start summer training in the beginning of June, then the seasons go through November,” she said. “Because it is so long, you’ve got to add in some fun with the hard work. We’ll do games in the pool. We do boot camp weeks. We go out as a team to dinner, or to the movies, or to play pickleball. We’ll make a running practice a scavenger hunt. Those activities help the teams grow together.”

The Parkview Baptist girls’ cross country team won its first state title in more than 20 years in 2024. With six scoring runners returning from that lineup and an influx of motivated underclassmen, including two freshmen, Cramer said the team entered the season with confidence and determination.

“We knew that if we could get our young runners having success, we had a chance. They all bought in and put in the hard work,” she said.

Betsy Bernhard, assistant coach for girls’ cross country, said the success stemmed from a shared sense of purpose and commitment.

“What makes them a special group is their love for one another. They truly compete, not just for themselves. They run for each other,” Bernhard said. “The most rewarding part is seeing the girls set goals for themselves and achieve those through hard work and discipline. That will carry over to every aspect for them later in life.”

The same can be said for the girls’ swimming program, which Head Coach Billy Newport said was a combination of talented club swimmers, multisport athletes and high school seasonal swimmers.

“What made them special was their work ethic and competitive fire.Theyremaineddedicatedthroughouttheentireseason,”Newport said. “Practice attendance was steady. Coachability and adaptation to increased demand was excellent. The ability to handle academics and other sports or extracurricular activities did not waver.”

Newport also credited the program’s success to a collective effort, including Cramer, Faculty Liaison Caitlyn Klingman and parents who were ready to do anything that was asked.

“The combination of athletes of great character and all ancillary support all were part of the season’s success,” he said.

That theme extends across all Parkview Baptist athletics, where family involvement plays a central role. Bernhard said the cross country parents play a vital role in helping with transportation, event setups, snacks and drinks, and helping student-athletes maintain training and recovery schedules.

Cramer added that fellow Parkview Baptist students are also

key in the athletic support system. Even early childhood and elementary students got in on the action, giving the teams sendoffs to their state championship contests, while middle and high schoolers led pep rallies throughout the seasons.

“You have so many students who come to support us. We hope we’re inspiring those little ones to be on these teams one day,” she said.

Thatsupportwaskeyduringvolleyballseason, whereHeadCoachAllisonLeakeguidedtheteam to the program’s fourth state championship and its first since 2005. Leake was optimistic when the team played exceptionally well during a summer camp in Orange Beach. But, challenges emerged once the school year began.

“When you’re trying to get into a routine with classes and homework, it’s not as relaxing as the summer. The kids have more to think about.

That affected us a lot,” Leake said. “It was very evident that it was more mental than physical.”

At one point, the team was 8-8 and ranked 21st in its division – a disappointment for a team that entered the season with high expectations.

Leake knew coaches and players needed to pivot.

“I typically follow the power rankings and how the other schools are doing. I stopped doing that,” she said. “I needed to focus all of my attention on our team, our practices and our gameplay. It didn’t matter what anybody else was doing. That mantra took over our season.

I was constantly telling the girls that it didn’t matter who was on the other side. We had to take care of our side.”

Leake said coaches and players emphasized progress over perfection, encouraging aggressive play and resilience rather than the final outcome.

The team’s four senior starters bought in, leading their younger teammates and helping them grow in confidence.

“When you watch our games, you see the team holding hands on the court, hugging each other and talking to each other. Those little things really help to calm everybody’s nerves,” Leake said.

“We saw them start to play with each other and for each other.”

As Parkview Baptist celebrates its historic fall, coaches have an eye toward upcoming seasons. With strong returning rosters, committed families and a school culture that values effort and unity, the teams are positioned for continued success.

“I really feel like our programs have strong futures,” Cramer said. “It’s so fun to watch the kids who start in junior high or as freshmen and the progress they make once they are juniors and seniors. You see a real transformation in their mindset, leadership and maturity. It’s incredible to watch their growth and see them become young adults.”

Parkview Baptist has 17 varsity teams competing in 15 sports.

Coaches emphasize good sportsmanship, Christ-like attitudes and a servant spirit. At the end of the 2024-25 school year, 20 Parkview Baptist athletes signed on to play at the collegiate level. Parkview Baptist athletes have earned $33 million in scholarships in the last four years. Visit www.parkviewbaptist. com to learn more.

18A ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Surveillance technology, Reddit helped search for a killer

BY MATT O’BRIEN

self as the Reddit tipster the city that can read license least 14 times starting nearly Hampshire — because of migrant communities about — his information gave new plates as well as other iden- two weeks before the shoot- privacy restrictions on how more aggressive federal life to a stalled investigation. tifying details about a car, ing, according to a police long they can hold images — immigration enforcement.

With a known vehicle, such as make, color or side affidavit. Providence police doesn’t have any.

Flock says each of its cusPROVIDENCE, R.I. — More than It was a breakthrough tomers decides when to could then ask Flock-using a decade ago, a frenzied five- Providence police started damage.

The cameras, run by sur- police agencies in nearby Flock was happy to boast share camera data, and the day search for the Boston looking through the footage Marathon bombers left some from dozens of AI-powered veillance company Flock cities and states to look for about, especially as wariness city doesn’t share it with cameras positioned around Safety, spotted his vehicle at the same car, although New remains in Providence’s im- federal immigration agents. lessons in its aftermath.

One was that increasingly pervasive surveillance technology could help catch the culprits. Another was that amateur online sleuths on Reddit could not.

But the intense search for a suspect in a Brown University shooting that killed two students and wounded nine other people turned the tables on those expectations.

Sweeping surveillance, now found in doorbells, cars and a vast network of vehicle-tracking cameras, did eventually help track down the whereabouts of Claudio Neves Valente, the 48-yearold former Brown graduate student investigators believe was responsible for the Dec. 13 shooting and another killing two days later of an MIT professor in Brookline, Massachusetts.

But the latest artificial • An all-volunteer group that shares the gift of Christmas joy with intelligence-powered surthe neediest children in East Baton Rouge Schools veillance was of little use in Yes, I want to be a Good • Guidance counselors in participating elementary schools the early search for a gunevaluate every child’s family application Fellow-Good Samaritan! man who walked away from • Each eligible child receives clothing, an age appropriate the Brown campus after the All money you donate is used to purchase toys, clothes toy and a book shooting and slipped unnoand books for needy children: Infants to 12 year olds.

• Through the generous support of the good people of ticed into the surrounding Greater Baton Rouge, more than 1,000 needy kids were neighborhoods of Provigiven the gift of Christmas joy last year.

The Advocate will acknowledge your donations in the dence, Rhode Island. He • Unfortunately, more than 3,000 additional children are newspaper, unless you place an X on this line:________ evaded detection for days, estimated to remain in need.

NAME:______________________________________ using a hard-to-trace phone, • For 111 years, The Advocate has supported the Good avoiding facial recognition Fellows & Good Samaritans Christmas campaign. Thirty ADDRESS:___________________________________ one years ago The Sunrise Rotary Club of Baton Rouge software by obscuring his CITY:________________ STATE:______ZIP________ became the hands-on partner in this annual effort to face with a medical-type share the gift of Christmas joy! mask and switching the liDay time phone:_______________________________ cense plates on his rental Good Fellows cars.

I am enclosing a check for $___________________ To donate, PO Box 14821 It wasn’t until a local Redto purchase gifts for needy children.

Baton Rouge, LA mail coupon dit user “blew this case right open” with an old-fashioned Good Fellows-Good Samaritans is a 501 (c) 3 and check to: 70898 tip first posted on the social organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the or Scan QR code media platform that police to give via PayPal extent provided by law. were able to connect a car to https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=2A3FHQLMC3F96 Neves Valente, said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. They finally found the suspect dead Thursday in Salem, New Mrs. Randi Ellis Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Harry Philips Jr. Mrs. Sara Abercrombie Hampshire, days after he Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Ellis Mr. Stewart Abercrombie Mr. and Mrs. Michael Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Chad Pierce likely killed himself.

The Reddit tipster known Mr. and Mrs. Mark Emonet Mr. and Mrs. Brad Anderson Mr. James Joubert Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Pike only as John is “no less than Mr. and Mrs. James Englade Mr. and Mrs. Cornel Arceneaux Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Kappel Mr. and Mrs. James Pinell a hero,” Providence Mayor Mr. and Mrs. Brad Euggino Mr. and Mrs. Keith Arceneaux Mr. and Mrs. Charles Keaton II Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Plauche Brett Smiley wrote Friday Ms. Patricia Favaron Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ardoin Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kelly Mrs. Stephanie Player to FBI Director Kash Patel, Mr. John Ferguson Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ardoin asking for John to get the Mrs. Doris Kistler Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Pol FBI’s $50,000 reward for inMr. and Mrs. Robert Finley Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Argrave III Mr. and Mrs. Jon Kliebert Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ponder IV formation leading investigaMr. and Mrs. Lucas Firmin Mr. and Mrs. James Ayo Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David Koch Ms. Sharon Posey tors to the suspect.

Mr. Stephen Fisher Mrs. Judy Babin Mr. and Mrs. Brian Kurtz Mrs. Rose Powell Strangers have invited Mr. and Mrs. Jeffry Foil Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bankston Mr. Christian LaCouture Dr. and Mrs. David Prudhome him to Christmas dinner and Mr. Jack Foil suggested he get a “key to Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Barker Mr. Jason Landry Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Rabalias the city and free coffee and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Folse Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Barr Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Landry Mrs. Shannon Ragusa doughnuts for life,” accordMr. and Mrs. Todd Folse Mr. Michael Barrett Ms. Shelley Landry Mr. and Mrs. Rick Rambo ing to fellow contributors to Ms. Michelle Folse Mr. Steven Beachum Mr. and Mrs. David Lavergne Mrs. Karen Reed Reddit’s Providence forum.

Mrs. Carolyn Forbes Mr. and Mrs. James Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Lavigne It was a stark turn from Mr. and Mrs. Philip Robillard 2013 when commentators Mr. and Mrs. John Ford Beachum Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James Lee Ms. Tiffany Rogers on Reddit and other online Mr. Brandon Frederick Mrs. Frances Billeaud Mr. and Mrs. Hudson Lemoine Mr. and Mrs. Maximo Roman discussion boards falsely Mr. and Mrs. Joey Gammill Mr. and Mrs. F. Wayne Binning Ms. Mary Lewis Mrs. Ann Row smeared a Brown UniverMs. Bonnie Gaudin Mr. Stephen Binning Mr. Jesse Locke Mr. Benson Row sity student as a potential Mr. and Mrs. Donald Gauthreaux Mr. and Mrs. J. Reed Luneau Jr. Mrs. Betty Blaize suspect in the deadly attack Mr. and Mrs. James Sandlin Jr. at Boston’s famed maraMr. and Mrs. Louis Generes IV Mr. and Mrs. Charles Blaize Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Mainord Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Schexnayder thon, just an hour north of Mr. and Mrs. Warren George Ms. Fatemeh Malekian Mrs. Nicole Blanco George Dr. and Mrs. J. Kyle Schwab Providence, because of a Mr. and Mrs. Hossein Ghara Mr. and Mrs. Barry Mancuso Dr. and Mrs. David Blythe Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David Seeds supposed resemblance to a Mrs. Patricia Giamanco Mr. Jamie Manuel Mrs. Janet Boudreaux grainy suspect image.

Mr. and Mrs. Brady Sessums Mr. Glynn Gillespie Mr. and Mrs. Angelos Matt Mrs. Annie Bourgeois “Hey Reddit, enough BosMr. and Mrs. David Shelby II ton bombing vigilantism,” Mr. and Mrs. John Gipson Mr. Paul Mattingly Ms. Shelley Bourgeois Mr. and Mrs. David Soileau declared a headline in The Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCandless Mr. and Mrs. Brian Glover Mr. and Mrs. Tyra Bourgeois Mrs. Margaretta Spielman Atlantic at the time.

Mrs. Elizeh Gomez Ms. Sherian Mcgee Mrs. Sharon Bourque Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sullivan Harmful accusations were Mr. Joshua Gomez Mr. and Mrs. Elroy Brazile Mr. and Mrs. William McHie largely absent from Reddit’s Mrs. Marianne Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Breaux Mr. and Mrs. Frank Greely III Providence forum, in part Mr. and Mrs. W. Bland Mendolia Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Summers because volunteer moderaPastor and Mrs. Troy Brigalia Mrs. Phyllis Gremillion Mr. and Mrs. J. Troy Menier Mr. Matthew Sutton tors who manage Reddit’s Mr. and Mrs. Chase Brignac Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gros III Mr. and Mrs. Billy Michelli Miss Angela Tam subject matter forums — Mr. and Mrs. Michael Brignac Mr. and Mrs. J. Gene Guerin Mr. and Mrs. M. Scott Miller known as subreddits — are Mr. and Mrs. Chad A Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bryan Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Cayle Guillory Mr. and Mrs. Brian Miller largely responsible for Mr. and Mrs. Warren Taylor keeping the peace.

Mr. David Burge Mr. and Mrs. Michael Guillory Mrs. Suzanne Miller Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Tebbutt Reddit’s chief moderator Mr. and Mrs. Mark Burns Mrs. Jessica Hall Mr. and Mrs. L. Brice Millet Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Telich III for the Providence subredMr. and Mrs. Daniel Calongne Mrs. Joy Hammett Mrs. Cindy Millet Mr. and Mrs. C. Cory Thompson dit said in an interview that Mr. and Mrs. Roger Carlin Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Hand Mr. and Mrs. E. Keith Minton he’s been on the platform for Mrs. Vicki Thompson Mrs. Monica Case Mr. Bradley Harris Mr. and Mrs. Brian Miranda about 15 years and rememMr. and Mrs. Micheal Tolle bers the trauma that false Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chandler Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Hartley Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Mockler Dr. and Mrs. Sunil Vasanjee Boston Marathon report Mr. and Mrs. David Chaplin II Mr. and Mrs. Todd Hayden Mrs. Anna Molaison Mr. and Mrs. Tim Verkaik caused.

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Chaplin Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hayes Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morgan “The Providence subreddit Mr. and Mrs. Charles Villarreal Mrs. Marylyn Clemens Mr. and Mrs. Russell Hayes Miss Megan Mosley is very sensitive about (not) Mr. Robert Warr Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Clouatre II Mrs. Anne Hebert trying to go on a witch hunt Mr. and Mrs. W. Hunter Mosley Mr. and Mrs. Alan Watts or the mob mentality,” he Mrs. Patricia Cole Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hebert Mr. Greg Naquin Mr. and Mrs. Ben Welch said, speaking on condition Mr. and Mrs. William Collett Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Hebert Mr. and Mrs. R. Chris Nevils Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wendt of anonymity to avoid doxing Mrs. Charlotte Connor Mr. and Mrs. Tom Heflin II Ms. L. Rene Nevils and because of the platform’s Mr. and Mrs. J. Dennis Westbrook Mr. and Mrs. Michael Coon Mr. Jeffrey Helton Mrs. Sarah Dupree culture of anonymity.

Ms. Mandy Whitaker Mrs. Terese Crifasi The Associated Press also Mr. and Mrs. Howard Henderson Mr. Peter Newman Mr. and Mrs. Tim White reached out to the tipster Mr. William Cummings Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Herring Mr. and Mrs. C. Dean Newton Mr. and Mrs. Mark Wiggins on Tuesday, a day after he Mr. D. Chris Davis Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Hibbard Mr. and Mrs. Chris Nickens wrote on Reddit urging poMr. and Mrs. Horace Wilkinson V Mrs. Holly Davis Mr. and Mrs. Allen Hodgkins III Mr. Michael Nicolosi lice to look into a Nissan Ms. Virginia Wilkinson Mr. and Mrs. Troy Davis Mr. Albert Hoffmeister III sedan with Florida license Mrs. Lillia Noel Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Williamson plates. Fellow Redditors Mr. and Mrs. Travis Day Mr. and Mrs. John Holmes Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Ordonez Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Winters urged him to contact the Mr. and Mrs. W. Donald Dinning Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Holmes Mr. and Mrs. Albert Paula Mr. and Mrs. Jason Winters FBI, and he said he did.

Mr. Nathan Dixon Mrs. Linda Hull Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Pecoraro He didn’t respond to reMrs. Tara Wood Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Hustmyre Mr. Vincent Pecoraro quests for comment and Mr. Greg Wood Jr. Dobrowolski III Mr. and Mrs. Richard Huye Jr. later posted that he doesn’t Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pecue Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wooten plan to talk with media.

Dr. and Mrs. David Dragon Ms. Susan Hymel Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pecue III Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wright When he finally met with Mr. and Mrs. Gary Dunn Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Jackson Mr. Gary Penzato police on Wednesday — afMr. Joseph Zagar Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Edwards Mr. and Mrs. David Johnson Mr. Gerard Peters ter approaching them on the Mr. and Mrs. Philip Zimmerman Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Efferson street and identifying himAP technology writer

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Texas sanctuary aims to protect whooping cranes Goal is to create a habitat for endangered bird

BY DORANY PINEDA and JOHN LOCHER Associated Press

WOLFBERRY WHOOPING CRANE SANCTUARY, Texas — Carter Crouch has been fascinated by the whooping crane’s conservation story for as long as he can remember.

The white bird, named for its “whooping” call, is one of the rarest in North America and was among the first to be protected by the Endangered Species Act. It’s a story that began decades ago when they were on the brink of extinction.

Today, more than 550 whooping cranes migrate from Canada to Texas in the winter. It’s the last selfsustaining wild flock in the world.

A new sanctuary aims to further protect them. The International Crane Foundation, The Conservation Fund and the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program announced last week the acquisition of more than 3,300 acres of vital winter habitat for the whooping crane.

Only 16 of the birds existed in Texas in the early 1940s, but thanks to decades of conservation work, they’ve rebounded.

Still, more work remains as the birds face threats from urban development, climate change, infrastructure for planet-warming oil, gas and coal and more.

Crouch, director of Gulf Coast programs for the International Crane Foundation, said the crane’s story is complicated with many successes and some setbacks, but all in all, conservationists have come a long way.

“We have a long way to go still, so there’s a lot of story to be written, and I’m super excited to be a small part of that.”

aries Program buys it off and ultimately owns it.

The name is inspired by the Carolina wolfberry, a shrub that produces a small, red berry whooping cranes love to eat. It’s found here in the coastal habitats of Texas, along with the blue crabs, mollusks and fish they also eat.

Conservationists have a lot of work to do on the sanctuary. Much of the prairie has been overtaken by shrubs, so they’ll be using prescribed burns and other means to restore the grassland.

With the public’s help, they’ll also plant smooth cordgrass to improve the marshes and protect shorelines from erosion, which ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By JOHN LOCHER will also serve as storm buffers for nearby residents.

Standing at about 5 feet tall, the whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America with Volunteers will also assist wingspans of up to 7.5 feet wide, so they need large landscapes to live in. with the annual Christmas bird counts. And once the Poaching and poisons we’re throwing at them,” thanks to grants, fundrais- sanctuary is up and runthreaten some species, and Crouch said. ing and hundreds of dona- ning, they hope to add guidthe wetlands and grasslands ed tours and other educations. they need to survive are dis- A safe haven One property, named the tional events. appearing. Since the 1970s, On a recent morning, Wolfberry Whooping Crane 35% of the world’s wetlands after a thick fog cleared, Sanctuary, will be owned A reliable place to watch have been lost because of Crouch and a team of sci- and managed by the InterThese protected lands human activities, according entists roared a boat aptly national Crane Foundation, near Texas’ Aransas Nato the United Nations. The called Crane Seeker down and the other by The Con- tional Wildlife Refuge are Fish and Wildlife Service a channel along the Gulf of servation Fund until the the only place in the U.S. estimates the U.S. alone has Mexico to look for whoop- Coastal Bend Bays & Estu- where people can reliably lost at least 80% of its grass- ing cranes.

They anchored the boat, lands.

Climate change is worsen- pointed their spotting scope, and patiently obing the threats.

Sea level rise can wipe served the birds for nearly out the low-lying coastal an hour, diligently jotting wetlands in Texas, and loss down every minute what of permafrost due to warm- they were doing. Flying. ing is among their habitat Wading in shallow water. threats in Canada. Changing Eating crabs or wolfberries.

The federally endangered rain patterns mean there’s less wetland availability in aplomado falcon and the the Great Plains and other threatened black rail bird also call this region home. regions.

The new sanctuary south“Generally it’s just a really long-lived group of birds, so west of Houston is made up they’re pretty sensitive to of two properties purchased some of these threats that for just over $8.4 million

see whooping cranes, said Julie Shackelford, Texas director for The Conservation Fund.

It’s a destination for birders worldwide, with visitors boosting the economies of nearby communities like Rockport and Port Aransas.

In the winters, a “couple hundred people every day go out just to see the whooping crane” with their young, said Shackelford, a fellow bird enthusiast. She described helping to protect the land for future generations as “super gratifying.”

Mike Forsberg knows these birds intimately. As a conservation photographer, he’s spent countless hours over the years taking photos of North America’s cranes, even publishing books about them.

He has a podcast about whooping cranes, too, and just finished shooting a documentary. He calls himself a proud member of the growing “craniac community.”

“The heart of keeping anything on the Earth ... has to do with making it personal to you, and cranes are just a great doorway in,” said Forsberg, a faculty member at the University of Nebraska.

An imperiled species Standing at about 5 feet tall, the whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America with wingspans of up to 7.5 feet wide, so they need large landscapes to live in.

They’re snowy white as adults with black wing tips and a red forehead. It’s one of 15 crane species in the world across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America — 10 of which are threatened with extinction.

The last wild and self-sustaining flock of whooping cranes breeds and nests in the wetlands in and around Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park before beginning their 45-day 2,500-mile southern migration each winter to forage and roost in and near Texas’ Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

The birds, which can live more than 20 years in the wild, mate for life and spend much of their lives raising families.

Cranes around the world face numerous challenges.

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20A ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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THE GULF COAST Casino bringing Christmas to life

Hangout Fest’s cancellation about artists, mayor says

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Beau Rivage creates family-friendly holiday display

BY JUSTIN MITCHELL Staff writer

Mississippi Coast casinos have long been a tourist destination for gamblers looking to roll the dice or insert pennies in hopes of striking it rich.

The allure of the large, waterfront resorts with amenities like spas, nightclubs and fine dining restaurants mostly appeal to adults looking for a weekend getaway, a one-stop shop for a bachelor or bachelorette party or a place to host a Mardi Gras ball. In recent years, several Gulf Coast casinos have doubled down on adult-only fun, with some only allowing guests 21 or older into the pool or buffet.

But one Biloxi casino has garnered a reputation as a family destination in the month of December, just in time for Santa Claus to come to town.

The sprawling atrium at the Beau Rivage has transformed into a winter wonderland for years, becoming a popular — and free — spot for families during the holiday season.

The closer Christmas Day approaches, the busier the Beau Rivage gets with children taking selfies near the gingerbread toy factory and stressed parents wrangling a matching family and asking a stranger to snap a photo of their group in front of the larger-than-life nutcrackers or Christmas tree.

PROVIDED PHOTOS By BEAU RIVAGE

The 2025 Beau Rivage holiday display features a flying Santa Claus and reindeer.

The Beau Rivage Christmas atrium is full of Christmas trees.

Work on the holiday display begins before Thanksgiving, the casino said Thursday. The horticulture team fills the atrium with about 2,200 poinsettias. A life-sized St. Nick, along with his sleigh and reindeer, are hoisted in the air and appears to be flying at the entrance of the casino.

The focal point in this year’s display, the Beau Rivage said, is the gingerbread toy factory with a smoking chimney. There’s also a 10-foot gingerbread clock tower, animated elves, 12-foot toy soldiers, a 20-foot Christmas tree and oversized ornaments.

The atrium is open to guests of all ages to enjoy the holiday mag-

ic. The casino also pumps fresh pine scent during the holiday, so it smells of a fresh-cut Christmas tree.

Families can go on a self-guided tour of the holiday display and take as many photos and videos as desired.

The casino also offers other Christmas events for families this month, including multiple showings of “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” which features two actors from Louisiana. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased on Beau Rivage’s website.

Like all casinos, the Beau Rivage is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“We will refuse to let them go back to the acts we’ve had before, so they couldn’t do it,” Craft said.

“So, they canceled the 2026 event, but they’ve got time now to pursue the type of talent we want on our beaches, to invite the right audience that we want on our beaches.”

At a community meeting in June, Craft went further in contrasting the audiences the festivals attracted, saying that Hangout brought in “young kids with their daddy’s credit cards” who were on “a free leash,” according to a report by AL.com.

Compare that to 2025 when Wallen’s festival drew “an older group that had their own credit card,” Craft said.

“And you could certainly see that they were more disciplined,” he added in the AL.com report.

“There were less problems. … Really, it was a much better behaving crowd.”

Wallen’s edition likewise drew in “a little more mature of an audience, a little more disposable income, a little more discretionary income,” Brown said. He added there wasn’t any issue with Hangout itself, describing the concerts as safe and well-produced.

In the end, Brown said, the decision to seek a different slate of artists comes down to revenue.

“Sand in My Boots” generated a $70 million economic impact in South Baldwin County, home to Gulf Shores, according to local media reports, while previous Hangout Fest weekends usually bring in about $45 million for the Alabama Gulf Coast.

“Having people come to town and stay overnight and use this as a vacation, as well as a concert is really the big goal,” Brown said, “And the producers nailed it with that event that they brought here in 2025.”

At a Gulf Shores City Council meeting earlier this month, Mayor Robert Craft announced the cancellation of next year’s Hangout Music Festival, the three-day event each summer that transforms Alabama’s white sand beaches and generates tens of millions of dollars for the Alabama Gulf Coast.

The announcement comes more than six months after Morgan Wallen took over the festival, curating the “Sand in My Boots” edition as a showcase of Southern musical talent, including rap artists like 2 Chainz and Three 6 Mafia appearing alongside country singers including Riley Green and Hardy, with Wallen closing out the weekend.

Wallen’s takeover — and his presence as a polarizing figure after a video surfaced of him using a racial slur — stirred debate among festival fans, many of whom viewed the 2025 edition as a shift in the festival’s direction. Hangout Fest has long been known for its eclectic identity, mixing genres like EDM, rock and pop.

But it drew positive responses from some fans as well, with 40,000 tickets selling out in 90 minutes — a turnout the festival hadn’t seen in years, according to Grant Brown, the recreation and cultural affairs director for the city of Gulf Shores.

The 10-year franchise between the city and the festival’s producers, AEG Presents, expired after this year’s event. Although the City Council approved a two-year extension, the “really compressed timeline” made it difficult for producers “to start contracting with the type of artists they wanted to bring back for the 2026 festival,” Brown said.

Craft — who, along with AEG Presents, could not be reached for comment — expressed a similar Email Poet Wolfe at poet.wolfe@ sentiment at the meeting. theadvocate.com.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 21A

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Blue Origin flight includes wheelchair user

BY SANA PASHANKAR Bloomberg News (TNS)

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin completed a suborbital joyride Saturday with a six-person crew, including the first wheelchair user to reach space and one of SpaceX’s first engineers.

The flight took off at about 8:15 a.m., and the capsule landed roughly 11 minutes later in West Texas.

The launch marked the 16th human spaceflight for Bezos’ tourism company using New Shepard, a small craft built to send people on short trips to the edge of space, as well as to conduct research missions.

The passengers included Michaela Ben-

thaus, an aerospace engineer at the European Space Agency who was injured during a mountain biking accident in 2018.

Hans Koenigsmann worked at SpaceX for two decades, most recently as the company’s vice president of avionics, before retiring in 2021.

While Blue Origin doesn’t disclose its price for a seat on one of its tourism flights, rival space tourism company Virgin Galactic charges around $600,000 for a similar experience.

In April, pop star Katy Perry, Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sánchez and CBS News host Gayle King took the flight, becoming part of the first all-female crew to go to space in more than 60 years.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BRITTANy PETERSON

Tourists ride in a horse-pulled wagon in lieu of a sleigh Thursday in Edwards, Colo.

Warm weather, lack of snow bedevil Western ski resorts

BY MEAD GRUVER and BRITTANY PETERSON Associated Press

EDWARDS, Colo. — Ski resorts are struggling to open runs, walk-through ice palaces can’t be built, and the owner of a horse stable hopes that her customers will be satisfied with riding wagons instead of sleighs under majestic Rocky Mountain peaks. It’s just been too warm in the West with not enough snow.

Meanwhile, the Midwest and Northeast have been blanketed by record snow this December, a payday for skiers who usually covet conditions out West.

In the Western mountains where snow is crucial for ski tourism — not to mention water for millions of acres of crops and the daily needs of tens of millions of people — much less snow than usual has piled up.

“Mother Nature has been dealing a really hard deck,” said Kevin Cooper, president of the Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation, a ski racing

organization at Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada line.

Only a small percentage of lifts were open and snow depths were well below average at Lake Tahoe resorts, just one example of warm weather causing well-belowaverage snowpack in almost all of the West.

In Utah, warmth has indefinitely postponed this winter’s Midway Ice Castles, an attraction 45 minutes east of Salt Lake City that requires cold temperatures to freeze water into building-size, palatial features. Temperatures in the area that will host part of the 2034 Winter Olympics have averaged 7 to 10 degrees above normal in recent weeks, according to the National Weather Service.

Near Vail, Colorado, Bearcat Stables owner Nicole Godley hopes wagons will be a good-enough substitute for sleighs for rides through mountain scenery.

“It’s the same experience, the same ride, the same horses,” Godley said. “It’s more about, you know, just

these giant horses and the Western rustic feel.”

In the Northwest, torrential rain has washed out roads and bridges and flooded homes. Heavy mountain snow finally arrived late this week in Washington state but flood-damaged roads that might not be fixed for months now block access to some ski resorts.

In Oregon, the Upper Deschutes Basin has had the slowest start to snow accumulation in records dating to 1981. Oregon, Idaho and western Colorado had their warmest Novembers on record, with temperatures ranging from 6 to 8.5 degrees warmer than average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Continued warmth could bring yet another year of drought and wildfires to the West. Most of the region except large parts of Colorado and Oregon has seen decent precipitation but as rain instead of snow, pointed out NOAA drought information coordinator Jason Gerlich.

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A Grand Finale: Pelican Credit Union embraces the holiday spirit with an unforgettable car giveaway

BY ED WHITE

Associated Press DETROIT — A life ring and a piece of a lifeboat from the Edmund Fitzgerald were sold at auction Friday for $150,000, a month after the 50th anniversary of the famous ship’s sinking in Lake Superior with 29 men aboard.

The relics were discovered by a carpenter in 1975 along the shore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. There were no survivors when the ore carrier perished in a tremendous storm and plunged 535 feet to the lake bottom.

“I’m dumbfounded,” longtime owner Larry Orr, 77, said. “I never believed in a million years it would go for that much money.

Shocked.”

Orr was curious about the shipwreck and found the life ring and a wood piece from a lifeboat while taking a break from his job, eight days after the “Fitz,” as it was known, went down.

The sale was handled by DuMouchelles, a Detroit auction house and art gallery that sits a block away from Mariners’ Church, where a bell solemnly tolls on each anniversary of the sinking. The name of the buyer was not disclosed.

Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot memorialized the ship in 1976 with an iconic ballad, “The Wreck of the Edmund

By Stevie Cavalier Licciardi | stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Pelican Credit Union.

PHOTO PROVIDED By RANDAL SMITH From the day-to-day of helping member-owners reach their financial goals to witnessing how random acts of kindness can snowball into community-changing events, 2025 has been a year filled with growth, generosity, and memoFitzgerald.”

For decades, Orr, who lives in Yulee, Flor- rable experiences for the Pelican Credit Union ida, had allowed a Michigan museum to dis- family. To cap off the year with good tidings, play the artifacts. He said he decided to sell Pelican chose to celebrate with one very special surprise for their members—a car giveaway. them because he needed money.

“There is a lot of bad news in the world, and Orr recently had agreed to give them to the state of Michigan as part of a $600,000 Pelican is consistently planning initiatives settlement in a completely unrelated mis- like this to instill hope and positivity,” said conduct lawsuit against state police. But the Leigh Porta, Chief Growth Officer at Pelican state agreed to return them after The As- Credit Union. “The gift of a brand-new relisociated Press wrote about the strange deal. able vehicle can truly uplift a family, and we wanted to show our members appreciation by providing a life-changing prize during tough economic times.”

With nearly 12,000 member entries, anticipation for the giveaway of a 2026 Honda CR-V was buzzing throughout Louisiana. The contest was open for a little over a month and members of any of Pelican’s 18 branch locations could enter to win.

On the evening of December 15, 2025, the long-awaited announcement was scheduled to take place at Pelican’s Pineville branch.

Plans were in motion, and branch staff eagerly prepared for the celebration. The appointment time scheduled for the lucky member to arrive passed with no sign of him. After more than an hour of unanswered calls, disappointment settled in.

“Just as soon as we were about to give up, Terrance answered the phone,” Porta said, who was present for the giveaway. “He said he had been struggling to jump his car so he could take his wife to work.”

Overjoyed by the fortuitous timing, the Pelican staff sprang into action, bringing the winner to the branch and ensuring his wife made it to work. Upon his arrival at the Pineville Branch, confetti and applause erupted as Terrance Beauregard was announced as the winner of the new Honda CR-V. “This car giveaway was a perfect example of the heart of Pelican,” said Jeff Conrad, Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Credit Union. “We had no idea what Terrance and his wife were going through, but in the end, they were the perfect couple to win the car at an ideal time in their life.”

A rare life ring from the 1975 shipwreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is displayed Oct. 12.

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Beauregard joined Pelican Credit Union in July 2025 at the recommendation of his wife, who is a proud, longtime member. As a not-forprofit, member-owned financial institution, Pelican deeply values the integral role members play in the success of the credit union, as well as the interconnectedness that they champion across the state.

“The car giveaway is part of our #PelicanPays initiative, where we capture the generous spirit of the credit union and pay it forward in our communities,” said Porta. “Our team is proud to work here, and our members are proud to belong here. One of our core values is ownership, and these good deeds strengthen that pride for employees and members.” #PelicanPays began with a few small acts of kindness—a gas giveaway here, a free lunch there—and has taken on a life of its own. In 2025, Pelican hosted two community giveaways, partnering with local grocery stores to distribute $50 worth of groceries to shoppers. The credit union also offered a special opportunity over the summer, paying up to $10,000 of personal debts for winning members.

The joy of generosity is contagious, and Pelican is thankful to witness how the domino effect continues to lead to bigger and better ideas for giving back. Inspired by moments like this, the Pelican family looks ahead to 2026 with anticipation for the new and unexpected opportunities to come. Stay up to date on all of Pelican’s exciting initiatives by following the credit union – @pelicancu.

For more information on Pelican Credit Union, visit: www.pelicancu.com.

22A ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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she said. “All he needed was me.

I can’t sing, but I could talk to him, and I could read to him, and For Providers By Providers CEO I could make all of these things Rochelle Wilcox remembers the happen.”

About 20 years later, Wilcox first baby she cared for.

She was doing a work-study job owns three early childhood learnat a child care center to support ing centers across New Orleans, herself through college. A baby fulfilling her dream of serving boy at the center lit up when he young children and their families saw her. in a child’s most formative days “I didn’t have to be perfect,” of development. She studied ear-

Staff writer

ly childhood education at Delgado Community College and the University of New Orleans, but said she had to learn most of what she knows about running a child care business by “bumping her head,” struggling to pay herself a salary the first few years of owning her early learning center.

She founded the nonprofit For Providers By Providers to coach other early childhood educators

on how to run a type III child care center, which are state-licensed early learning businesses that receive public funding. This fall, she teamed up with Baton Rouge North Economic Development District to put on a series of training programs for child care providers in the Capital Region on how to keep their business afloat. ”They want to serve their community, and they often fall short,

or have to close their center, because they don’t have the business acumen,” she said.

Wilcox and For Providers By Providers business coaches taught a group of 15 current and prospective child care business owners in weekly sessions from October to November. The classes covered marketing, budgeting, understanding industry regulations and leveraging public funding.

ä See TRAINING, page 3B

Court says AG can hire husband’s law firm Attorneys would help defend death sentences

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office can employ the Baton Rouge law firm where her husband is a partner to help the agency defend death sentences, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

The decision in the case of condemned inmate Darrell Draughn of Caddo Parish clears the way for Murrill’s office to employ the Taylor Porter firm in other capital postconviction cases as well.

Murrill has stepped into a host of post-conviction cases involving death row prisoners Murrill since Louisiana resumed executions in the spring after a 15-year hiatus. The Republican attorney general has said she’s intent on speeding up their path to the execution chamber, and a recent state law that Murrill supported forces many longdormant challenges forward.

STAFF PHOTOS By HILARy SCHEINUK

Parishioners gather Wednesday during a celebration of Las Posadas at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in St. George.

LIGHTING THE WAy

ä See COURT, page 2B

ABOVE: The Rev. Tommy Dillon holds up a candle Wednesday as he reads from a program during a celebration of Las Posadas, a Christmas tradition reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem. LEFT: Parishioners hold candles as they sing.

Moody’s affirms BR bond rating despite budget gap

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

Despite Baton Rouge’s budget woes, Moody’s Ratings is keeping its strong bond rating for the city.

On Thursday, Mayor-President Sid Edwards’ office announced that Moody’s gave the city-parish an Aa2 rating, the secondä Fitch highest rating availdowngrades able. A higher bond rating means the cityN.O. bond will get better rating. PAGE 2B parish rates when it borrows money, ultimately saving money for taxpayers.

“Moody’s report is a very positive statement about Baton Rouge’s financial condition and future, especially contrasted with other major Louisiana cities that saw their ratings downgraded,” Edwards said in a news release.

ä See BOND, page 2B

Former inmate awarded $250K in damages Lawsuit stemmed from ‘extremely violent’ attack at Catahoula jail

At the end of a four-day trial at the U.S. Middle District of Louisiana courthouse, jurors found former Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc and Seth Smith, DOC’s operations chief, liable for the August 2022 attack on Robert Young.

BY MATT BRUCE Young was a detainee awaiting trial at Staff writer the Catahoula Correctional Center when he A jury recently awarded $250,000 to a was attacked by two convicted prisoners man who was stabbed, beaten and scalded housed at the jail to alleviate overcrowding with a hot liquid inside a Catahoula Parish at state-run DOC penitentiaries.

According to Young’s federal lawsuit, the jail after he proved that state prison officials failed to implement safety measures inmates stabbed Young five times in the to protect inmates from attacks by other back, then poured a boiling hot liquid on his face. He suffered first- and second-degree prisoners.

burns to an eye.

Young’s attorneys convinced a jury that LeBlanc and Smith violated the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment by creating conditions of confinement at the Catahoula Parish jail that “impermissibly punished” Young, and the prison officials failed to implement policies to prevent such a dangerous environment.

As part of its Dec. 11 verdict, the jury awarded Young $50,000 in compensatory fees for his injuries and ordered LeBlanc and Smith to pay him $100,000 apiece in punitive damages, court records show.

ä See ATTACK, page 3B

2B ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Fitch downgrades N.O. bond rating lll

City faces investor concern about financial stability

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

Another major ratings house downgraded New Orleans’ credit this week, signaling widening concern among investors about the city’s financial stability. The Fitch Ratings downgrade on Wednesday follows a similar action in October

by Moody’s Ratings, which cited a structurally imbalanced city budget, economic headwinds and other factors.

Despite the downgrades, Fitch and Moody’s both continue to rate the city’s bond issuances as worthy of investment, though they are also warning of future downgrades if the city doesn’t improve its fiscal management.

New Orleans now rates an A- on Fitch’s scale, meaning the city is seen having a strong ability to meet its financial commitments, but could “be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions,” according to Fitch’s website.

Any additional downgrade

would drop the city into Fitch’s middle tier, where the risk of default increases.

Fitch noted “a precipitous decline in New Orleans’ financial resilience,” evidenced by the city’s recent decision to issue $125 million in short-term debt to cover payroll expenses. The assessment also noted “an uncertain path to resolving a large structural imbalance and management instability.”

Fitch also assigned a negative rating watch, meaning an additional downgrade could be coming after further evaluation, which is expected in the next six months.

The negative outlook should concern city officials as much as the rating itself, said Rebecca Mowbray, CEO of the Bureau of Governmental Research, a nonpartisan public policy watchdog.

“They only downgraded it incrementally, but the language is quite strong and quite specific,” Mowbray said. “What they’re telling the city is they’re going to be watching closely, and so it

LaToya Cantrell’s administration hadn’t yet disclosed a cash shortage that led to the payroll crisis. The Moody’s report came just days after Cantrell proposed a significantly reduced 2026 city budget, which the council disregarded in favor of plan that Moreno advocated.

Cantrell vetoed the Moreno budget, citing concerns over $75 million in new revenue that Cantrell said hadn’t been verified. The council on Thursday voted unanimously to override the veto, and Moreno has said she will convene a meeting of the city’s Revenue Estimating Conference on her first day to formally evaluate the new revenue. Moreno takes office on Jan. 12.

Fitch highlighted the veto and noted Cantrell’s concerns, without opining on the budget the council passed — but it said further analysis is coming.

“Fitch will review details of the final adopted budget, the reasonableness of its underlying assumptions and the extent to which it establishes a path for the city to return to structural balance,” the Fitch report said.

is imperative that the city make sound financial decisions in the next six months.”

The city’s bond ratings determine the cost of borrowing, including an upcoming $510 million bond sale that voters approved in November for a range of infrastructure and housing projects.

Lower ratings can make it more difficult to attract investors and can lead to higher interest rates.

It’s not clear when the bond sale will take place, and Mowbray said the Moreno administration should carefully consider the timing.

“You’ve got these two ratings agencies that have downgraded.

But on the optimistic side, Fitch is saying they’re going to take another look in the next six months.

It’s a possibility that something could be better in six months,” Mowbray said.

Moody’s criticized the city’s use of reserves to balance the 2025 city budget in its October report. At that time, the extent of the city’s $160 million spending deficit wasn’t clear, and Mayor

COURT

SCENT-SATIONAL

Continued from page 1B

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Janssen Trahan sniffs an ‘Irresistible’ candle and smiles as Sweet Magnolia Candle Company owner Jamie Butler says it’s a big hit with the ladies during a recent local pop-up market at Electric Depot.

N.O. mayor-elect’s inauguration banners rehung after removal

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Mayor-elect Helena Moreno has hung up new banners in advance of her Jan. 12 inauguration, and this time, Mayor LaToya Cantrell can’t take them down.

After Cantrell earlier this week ordered the removal of banners Moreno’s inauguration committee hung up outside Gallier Hall, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said he called the mayor-elect and invited her to hang new banners on buildings he controls in the French Quarter.

On Friday, those banners, which included messages themed around the idea of being “all in” for New Orleans, started going up on the Presbytère and the Cabildo fronting Jackson Square.

“It’s time to lift up the new mayor and City Council and do everything we can to support their efforts,” Nungesser said in a phone interview.

Cantrell ordered the banners removed from Gallier Hall and that they be reinstalled sometime before Moreno’s Jan. 12 inauguration, according to an email from Cantrell’s Chief Administrative Officer Joe Threat.

Asked to provide the mayor’s rationale for having the banners removed, Cantrell’s spokesperson on Wednesday pointed to the schedule of events at the former City Hall building.

“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,” Terry Davis said, without citing a specific event.

Davis didn’t respond to a followup question asking how much it cost the city to remove the banners. Moreno’s inauguration committee put them up with private funds.

The banners saga is only the

latest spat between the outgoing mayor and her successor. It comes a few weeks after Moreno criticized the number of city-owned cars Cantrell uses, and Cantrell, in response, accused her of being ignorant and lacking humility.

Cantrell earlier this month also blasted Moreno’s proposed 2026 budget as being unvetted and lacking proper revenue sources, and vetoed it after the City Council approved it. The council overrode her veto this week.

Now, the new home for the banners is state buildings located on either side of St. Louis Cathedral, where the inauguration is holding a Mass on Jan. 11 featuring interfaith blessings and music.

Todd Ragusa, a spokesperson for the mayor-elect, said Moreno’s inauguration committee used private donations to pay for the production and installation of the new banners in the French Quarter, much like it did for the banners at Gallier Hall.

REASON 92

Because many of the communities that news organizations have left behind are the ones that need impact journalism the most.

With the ruling, Taylor Porter attorneys are expected to enroll in more capital post-conviction cases for the attorney general.

The firm currently represents the state in four such cases, according to Murrill’s office, under a contract that allows it to charge up to $350 hourly.

Among them is the case of former New Orleans Police Department officer Antoinette Frank, the only condemned woman in Louisiana.

Murrill’s husband, John Murrill, is one of about three dozen partners in the Taylor Porter firm. Capital defense advocates argued that the arrangement amounts to a conflict of interest.

Ethics experts say state law requires a higher stake than John Murrill’s 2.7% share of Taylor Porter to amount to a conflict.

The state Ethics Board agreed in an advisory opinion in June, which the high court cited in its opinion.

The Louisiana Supreme Court earlier this year cleared Murrill’s office to represent the state in capital post-conviction cases when a district attorney requests it. Its ruling on Tuesday makes clear that the attorney general can outsource the work.

“Taylor Porter has been selected by the Attorney General pursuant to her clear statutory authority to hire private counsel to defend the warden and state.

There is little as fundamental to a litigant as one’s ability to select the counsel of your choice,” the court stated.

Murrill says the government work done by Taylor Porter has

BOND

Continued from page 1B

In a statement, Moreno’s transition team said the Fitch report “largely reflects fiscal challenges that the incoming administration is confronting.”

“Mayor-elect Moreno has already taken steps to right the ship, including putting forward a balanced budget with increased revenue that was unanimously approved by the City Council,” the statement said. “We are committed to charting a more sustainable path forward for New Orleans.”

The Cantrell administration did not respond to a request for comment.

Council member Lesli Harris, who will chair the budget committee starting next year, said the downgrade “underscores the urgency of the work ahead.” Harris said she will maintain strict oversight of city payroll and other spending.

“I am confident that with disciplined budgeting, transparency and strong coordination, we are on track this year to improve our credit rating,” Harris said.

Email Ben Myers at bmyers@ theadvocate.com.

been carved out from their income since she took office early last year.

“Neither my husband nor I profit off of this work. We won’t be deterred from our mission to see that justice is served, despite frivolous bad faith attacks from anti-death penalty lawyers,” Murrill said Tuesday in a statement.

Defense advocates, however, point to reduced funding for capital defense and a higher workload under the deadlines of the new state law. They say the state is paying outside lawyers at three times the rate of capital appeals attorneys.

“It’s just outrageous,” said James Boren, immediate past president of the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

“What is absurd is after the attorney general and governor and Legislature decrease funding for capital defense, increase the workload, decrease the amount of time to do it, the attorney general’s husband’s law firm is awarded a contract for hundreds of thousands of dollars for less work.”

Prosecutors and capital defense attorneys both say it’s unusual to see a private law firm step into a post-conviction proceeding for the state. Taylor Porter is one of three contractors doing post-conviction work for Murrill’s office, according to state records.

While the court freed the firm, one of its lawyers remains barred from representing Murrill’s office on those cases. The ethics board found that Grant Willis, who previously led appeals for the attorney general, must sit out for two years. The blackout period for Willis ends next month.

pense reductions and conservative budget management will continue to serve Baton Rouge well.

Email Patrick Sloan-Turner While Baton Rouge affirmed its at patrick.sloan-turner@ high rating, other Louisiana cities theadvocate.com. were downgraded.

“It’s been a challenging year to manage a $50 million budget loss LOTTERY from the incorporation of the City of St. George, but Moody’s afFRIDAY, DEC. 19, 2025 firmed that our tough decisions have resulted in stable financial PICK 3: 5-3-5 operations,” Edwards said.

PICK 4: 4-0-5-2 In its rating opinion for Baton PICK 5: 2-6-1-1-9 Rouge, Moody’s said the cityMEGA MILLIONS: parish has a stable outlook ahead, 1-11-27-39-59 “even as the various operational impacts of the incorporation of St. MEGA BALL: 18 George remain ongoing.”

Unofficial notification, The ratings group added that keep your tickets. continued revenue growth, ex-

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lll

Ornaments add a little humor to trees

Shuttered Slidell landmarks get second life through artist’s pieces

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

Pity the mere artistic mortal who draws Matt Litchliter in the Christmas ornament exchange.

Litchliter, a Slidell artist, has trained his eye for current events — and a talent for satire — into a recent stable of ornaments that in their own clever way tell part of the Camellia City’s story. A funny part of it, anyway.

A pink strip club catches fire? A city wrestles with what to do with a defunct shopping mall? Some graffiti on a freeway overpass?

All’s fair in the Litchliter ornament game. To Litchliter, 45, the current events around the northshore city of 30,000 or so people make for a cooperative muse.

“We should laugh, right?” he said one recent morning.

“We can have some fun with this.”

A Slidell native and artist whose work includes a couple of large murals in Slidell’s Olde Towne district, Litchliter remembers how his ornament making evolved. Years ago, he had made a shotgun house ornament out of some scrap wood he had laying around.

Folks loved it and he made more.

But Litchliter said the shotgun house-making process became labor-intensive. And, honestly, kind of boring.

Taking a pass through Hobby Lobby in 2023, he came across a ready-made wooden house, just the right size to hang on a tree. The wooden house became his canvas, and a recent news story became his inspira-

TRAINING

Continued from page 1B The child care business trainings are the second class in BRNEDD’s Grow North Baton Rouge Initiative, a program to support the development of businesses in North Baton Rouge, funded by Louisiana Economic Development and state Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge.

The first class in fall 2024 focused on incubating small operations that are at such an early stage they may not be eligible to be a part of other local smallbusiness incubators.

BRNEDD Executive Director April Hawthorne said she was inspired to focus the second class of the Grow North Baton Rouge Initiative after lobbying for the School Readiness Tax Credit, a tax break for families and child care businesses, this past legislative session. She asked a few child care business owners who were a part of BRNEDD’s Facade and Signage Improvement program to support the credit alongside her, after learning they had not used it.

The tax credit aligned with the BRNEDD’s mission to increase the quality of life in North Baton Rouge, she said.

“The child care industry is an infrastructure embedded in the communities so that families can go to work,” Hawthorne said.

Wilcox said she was upfront with the program participants about the state of the child care industry, which she described as “a struggle.”

Many parents can’t afford child care, which makes it difficult for businesses to have enough money to pay their employees, creating high turnover rates in staffing and financial hardship for the center.

Low wages are also a problem. More than half of early childhood educators make less than $15 per hour, according to the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.

“We’re in, I call it an ear-

“We should laugh, right?

We can have some fun with this.”

MATT LITCHLITER tion. A fire had broken out at Scuttlebutt, the long-closed strip club on the service road along busy Interstate 10 through Slidell.

For years, northshore elected officials sought ways to make the club go away.

The bright pink exterior, which made it very hard not to see from the highway, further vexed those who thought the club wasn’t what the northshore needed. To Litchliter, it was just too ripe to not take a big bite.

The Scuttlebutt ornament, with its orange-yellow flames carved from spray foam, was the hit of the ornament exchange and made the rounds on social media.

It also put Litchliter in a tricky spot. After all, when you wow ’em in 2023, the crowd will wonder what’s coming in 2024.

“It’s like, ‘OK, what are you gonna do next year?’ ” he said.

A journey beneath an overpass on Interstate 12 just west of the city limits would provide the answer.

The overpass on Dixie Ranch Fire Tower Road has been closed to traffic for years. It also has been a target for graffiti, most recently displaying “THE Dirty D3LL,” the not-embracedby-everyone-in-Slidell nickname on one side, and “I LOVE U Sherry” on the other. Those messages became the twin Litchliter

ly learning teacher state of the emergency, because the fact is that because we can’t afford to pay teachers what they deserve, there’s such a high turnover rate and sometimes classes sit empty,” Wilcox said.

Less than 5% of economically disadvantaged children from newborn to 2 years old have access to child care in East Baton Rouge Parish, according to a Louisiana Department of Education report. Access trends up by age: 21% to 40% of economically disadvantaged 3-year-olds and at least 90% of 4-yearolds in the parish have child care access. Across all ages, more than half of children in publicly funded child cares are Black.

More than half of child care center staff in the state and nearly threequarters of child care workers in the capital region are Black, according to the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.

“It’s really steeped in the history of our country that women of color were the caregivers for children of other families, and so that’s really transcended into the business of child care,” said Libbie Sonnier, CEO of Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.

Bolstering the business side of an early childhood learning center supports the work they love, she said, which underscores the need for BRNEDD’s child care business training.

Sonnier said public funding creates accountability for child care providers, and the industry can benefit from more public funds.

Publicly funded child care centers must be licensed through a process that involves health, facility, curriculum and staff training inspections.

“We do need more public investment than we have right now in order to have stability in the market of child care, to serve more children and therefore ensure that we’re paying our educators a competitive compensation package,” she said.

ornaments in the 2024 swap.

“That’s one of the reasons I wanted to do that one,” Litchliter said of the nickname. “Some people don’t like it. But I think a lot of people have adopted it and own it now.”

This year’s idea came easily, Litchliter said.

Efforts by the city to do something with the nearly dormant North Shore Square Mall — or convince the mall owner to do something with it — commanded the headlines for much of the summer. It even became a big issue in Slidell’s mayoral race.

“Everybody was talking about it. Everybody had an opinion,” Litchliter said.

“I’m like, ‘Oh, I have to do something on this.’ ” So the 2025 Litchliter ornament is a model of one of the mall entrances, complete with the North Shore Square logo. One side of the ornament reads “PAS A’ VENDRE” (translated from French: “Not for Sale”) with “WE’RE CLOSED, EH” beneath it. The other side of the ornament is a bit more optimistic, perhaps: “COMING SOON! PICKLEBALL + CARWASH.” No, there have been no announcements of pickleball or a car wash at the old mall.

“It’s just an ornament,” Litchliter said with a chuckle.

Litchliter, a graduate of Slidell’s Pope John Paul II Catholic High School, holds PROVIDED PHOTO a degree in graphic design from Southeastern Loui- Slidell artist Matt Litchliter shows off his most recent Christmas tree ornaments, featuring siana University in Ham- Scuttlebutt, the long-closed strip club on the service road along busy Interstate 10 through mond. His day job is mak- Slidell, and overpass graffiti. ing graphics and logos for businesses.

But he keeps his eye ter all, “next Christmas” is “I already know what I’m said. “Unless something peeled for Slidell news. Af- never that far off. going to do next year,” he crazy happens.”

ATTACK

Continued from page 1B Young was represented by a team of New Orleans attorneys from the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center in New Orleans. They argued the attack unleashed on him was “part of a pattern of pervasive violence” at Catahoula Correctional Center due to insufficient policies for classifying inmates and housing them in a way to mitigate conflicts.

“Under the leadership of James LeBlanc and Seth Smith, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections heavily relies on a partnership with Louisiana sheriffs to hold over half of the people in the department’s legal custody in what they call local facilities,” said Elizabeth Cumming, one of the plaintiff’s lead attorneys. “These defendants walked away from their responsibilities to corrections staff, the public and prisoners under that partnership, despite knowing that the Catahoula facility was understaffed, overcrowded and extremely violent. Mr. Young got hurt as a result.”

The Catahoula Correctional Center already had a documented history of violence that included fatal stabbings and brutal beatings by the time Young arrived there in April 2022. That violence carried on even after Young’s arrival, his lawsuit noted.

In November 2022, Montrell Rogers was stabbed to death by as many as eight other inmates. Reports indicate Rogers told jail guards he would be killed if they placed him in the same housing dorm with the attackers, but staff ignored him. Minutes later, he was found dead in his cell.

Young’s attack happened Aug. 8, 2022. He was exercising in a housing dorm with 66 beds when at least two inmates rushed him. His attorneys said the attack was sudden and unprovoked.

After they stabbed and burned him, Young tried to signal for help, but no guards were monitoring the tier, according to the claims he made in his federal complaint.

Young went to the shower to wash away the blood from his wounds and two more inmates tried to attack him.

Young managed to escape the second wave of attackers and signaled for help again. This time, an officer removed him from the housing dorm, and he was taken to a local hospital to be treated. He spent several days in intensive care.

Shortly after the violent ordeal, he accepted a plea deal and was transferred to a work release facility.

LeBlanc and Smith were the final defendants left standing when the case went before a jury this month.

Federal court records show Young reached settlements with former Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office, Catahoula Sheriff Toney Edwards and seven guards and wardens on duty at the Catahoula Parish jail the day of Young’s attack.

According to the lawsuit, Young originally was arrested and booked on a nonviolent charge in Calcasieu

Parish. Damages from Hurricane Laura in 2020 forced Calacasieu Parish to send its inmates to other parish jails, which is how Young wound up awaiting his trial date at the Catahoula Correctional Center.

Catahoula was one of several sheriff-run and private local jails across Louisiana that DOC officials began partnering with in 1996 to house convicted prisoners who already had been sentenced to state penitentiaries. The so-called “outcamp” system was set up to alleviate overcrowding at state prisons that were at capacity.

But according to Young’s lawsuit, nearly half of Louisiana’s sentenced population is housed at non-DOC facilities.

While the outcamp partnerships tasked local jails with providing secure housing for pretrial detainees who had yet to be convicted, Young argued the Catahoula jail had no oversight, not enough staff or supervision to investigate alleged attacks and no efficient risk assessments to manage the inmate population.

What resulted was a sys-

tem where convicted prisoners were routinely mixed into the same dorms with pretrial inmates, the plaintiff argued.

Court filings indicate DOC placed the blame on negligence by the local jail, noting that neither LeBlanc nor Smith were involved in dayto-day operations at the Catahoula Correctional Center.

Young’s attorneys insisted that DOC and Catahoula jail officials allowed the inmates to foster an unchecked atmosphere of “rampant violence.”

They said authorities ignored the extreme levels of violence at Catahoula and took no action to devise a housing plan to safely classify inmates in custody, despite a string of severe beatings and deadly attacks.

“This case is all about responsibility and accountability,” Cumming said in her closing argument. “As you heard from Mr. Young and multiple witnesses who worked at Catahoula, in 2022 it was a facility in crisis. It was understaffed. It was overfilled.

There was no plan to hold prisoners safely. And it was extremely violent.”

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Funerals Today Jackson, Minnie

Zachary United Methodist Church in Zachary at 3 p.m.

Obituaries Cockrell, Larry Ross

Larry Ross Cockrell, 84, a resident of Bluff Creek, LA and native of Tulsa, OK, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. Known affectionately as "Mr. Larry", he owned and operated Clinton Drug Store on Main Street in Clinton between McKnight's and Log Cabin for 38 years.

He graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa OK in 1959, moving to Louisiana with his family thereafter. He attended Northeast University in Monroe completing a degree in Marketing followed by a Doctorate of Pharmacy. Upon completion, he was hired by Roche Pharmaceutical Company as their representative of the Baton Rouge region, including Clinton Infirmary. He met his wife, Essie Dee Scott, while training nurses on a new medical product. He needed a volunteer nurse for the leg blood pressure cuff and Essie Dee was the perfect model. They were married 6 months later.

They made their home in Bluff Creek, opening Clinton Drug Store shortly thereafter. They welcomed a son, Ross Cockrell, in 1980. Many coffee cups lauded him the "Greatest Dad Ever". And he was.

Larry held numerous community leadership positions and truly believed in community service. He was an active and devoted member of Bluff Creek Methodist Church. Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at Bluff Creek Baptist Church from 9:00 am until service time at 12:00 noon conducted by Cole Permenter. Burial will follow in Naul Cemetery.

Mr. Larry is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 54 years, Essie Scott Cockrell, son, Dr. Ross T. Cockrell and wife Dallas of Baton Rouge, grandson, Ross Tanner Cockrell Jr., brother, Jimmy Cockrell and wife Brenda of Pineville, brother in law, Lonnie Scott Jr. of Bluff Creek, and many nieces, nephews and extended family of Louisiana and Oklahoma.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Margine Cockrell, stepmother, Gerry Cockrell, father in law and mother in law, Lonnie "Scotty" and Myra Scott, two lifelong Oklahoma cousins that were like brothers, Tommy Joe Smith and Frankie Maher. Pallbearers will be TJ Davis, Wesley Breeden, Beau Greene, Collin Andrews, Micah Richards, Chip Kline, Jared Browning and Clay Olson. Honorary pallbearers are Lonnie Scott Jr., Mike Gerald, Mike Feduccia, Wayne Kent, Jimmy Cockrell and Langley Perry. Special thanks to Dr. Norman Deumite, Darryl and Julie Buhler and the Bluff Creek Fire Department, the Bluff Creek Community and longtime work family, Becky Cunningham, Nancy Covington and Barbara Collins. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to St.Jude's Children Research.

Dick Sr., Kelley Randlev

Kelley Randlev Dick, Sr., age 74, was called home to be with the Lord on December 11, 2025, surrounded by his three sons. Kelley was born in Alexandria, Louisiana and graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana ("USL") before making his home in Baton Rouge.

A loving father, grandfather, son, brother, cousin, and friend to so many, Kelley was loved and cherished by those who knew him as thoughtful, caring, gentle, and - above all else - kind. Kelley rarely met a stranger, and he treated everyone he encountered equally with friendliness and respect. For those who

knew him, Kelley made their world a better and brighter place.

Kelley had many interests and hobbies throughout his life, from hunting and fishing in his younger days to cheering on the LSU Tigers while enjoying a glass of red wine with a perfectly cooked "Big Red" ribeye later in life. Of his many interests, he loved none more than being "Papa D" to his five grandchildren - whom he affectionately called "my babies."

Even in the waning moments of his life, Kelley never missed the opportunity to share a cookie or to enjoy an "I-dot" (donut) with his babies.

He is reunited in heaven with his mother and father Jane Catherine Dick and William Hudson Dick, of Alexandria, Louisiana, mother-in-law Myrna J. Deckert of El Paso, Texas, his brother John Quentin Dick, Sr. and sister-in-law Frances Gunn Dick, and cousins Henry Bradbury and Catherine Brame.

Among the many other loved ones and family members lost before him were his faithful family dogs Bijou and Bella.

He will be sorely missed and always remembered by his three sons, Kelley Randlev Dick, Jr. and wife Taylor, William Barrett Dick and wife Alyssa, and Michael Austin Dick and wife Abigayle, his former wife of 35 years, Shelly D. Dick, his siblings William "Bill" H. Dick, Jr., Catherine "Kitty" D. Kimball and husband Clyde, and Austin L. Dick and wife Sambra, his many nieces and nephews, and his babies, Tripp, Mary Grace, Brooks, Cece, and Grady.

The family would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the Reverand Chris Andrews and the Jubilee Pioneers for their spiritual guidance and fellowship, to Dr. Louis Minsky for his treatment, advice, and friendship, and to his caregivers Rosemary and Nikki for their company, love, and care for Kelley in his final months.

Out of respect for Kelley's wishes, the family will hold a private celebration of life event. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Kelley's honor to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center or to Jubilee Pioneers c/o Reverend Chris Andrews.

For a glimpse into the depth of Kelley's soul, read the poem that he loved and shared with his sons, If by Rudyard Kipling.

Everson, Dr. Michael Paul

Dr. Michael Paul Everson of Ashburn, Virginia, passed away on Dec. 13, 2025. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM on Feb. 16, 2026, at St. James Episcopal Church, 205 N. 4th Street. Visitation with the family will take place at St. James before the service, starting at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fairfax CASA.

Green, Antonio 'Tony'

Antonio Green of Baton Rouge, Louisiana departed peacefully at his home;into eternal rest on December 14, 2025. Antonio was born on December 3, 1973. He was a devoted brother, friend, and neighbor. He will be remembered for his integrity, strong values,and quick wit. Antonio is survived by his sister Chrystal Brown niece Kennedi Brown ,nephew Christian Brown, God sister Kyra Allen-Brown, God brothers John Brown and Paul Brown. Antonio is preceded in death by his parents Willie Green & Tommie "Sue" Green. Antonio will be profoundly missed by all of his family and friends. Special thanks is given to the WilsonWoodale Funeral home in Baton Rouge,La. Calm and peaceful he is sleeping, Sweetest rest that follows pain; We who loved him sadly miss him; And trust in God to meet again.

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Hidalgo Jr., Jules 'Huleo'

Jules "Huleo" Hidalgo, Jr. age 81, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. He was born on December 18, 1943, to the late Mabel Laiche Hidalgo. He served our country in the United States Army. Jules dedicated 59 years of service with Local 198. He was a longtime Red Cross Volunteer, dedicating years of service to helping others.

He is survived by his two children, Kim Bolton and Joey Hidalgo; numerous grandchildren and greatgrandchildren; sisters, Martha Gaudin (Ronnie), Carolyn Martin (Grant); sisters-in-law, Dottie Hidalgo and Jill Hidalgo; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Jules was preceded in death by his mother, Mabel Laiche Hidalgo; grandmother, Caroline Laiche; brothers, Martin (Monk) Hidalgo, Louis (Chico) Hidalgo, and Elie (EJ) Hidalgo; and nephew, Randall Kevin Hidalgo. Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 23, 2025, from 9:00 am until the funeral service at 11:00 am at Ascension Funeral Home in Gonzales. The graveside service will be Tuesday at 1:00 pm at Louisiana National Cemetery in Zachary with military honors. Jules Hidalgo's memory will live on in the hearts of his family and all who were fortunate enough to share in his life.

wore, she was a devoted gardener known for cultivating beautiful red roses with care and pride. She loved to laugh, cook, and bring people together. Her rice dressing and crawfish etouffee were legendary, and her kitchen was always a place of warmth and welcome. She loved music, especially "The Little Drummer Boy" and "The 12th of Never." A faithful Christian, Evelyn lived with confidence in her salvation and often spoke with excitement about heaven. She looked forward to being with Jesus and reunited with those who had gone before her-and today, that hope has been fulfilled. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered for her strength, faith, generosity, humor, and unwavering love for her family. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at St. James Wellness Center and Baton Rouge Hospice for their compassionate and excellent care and a special thanks to Dr. Ubaid Abbasi for his devotion to his patients.

Relatives and friends are invited to St. Isidore Catholic Church on Saturday, December 27, 2025 for a visitation beginning at 9:00AM until the funeral mass beginning at 11:00AM. A burial is to follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Baker, LA.

Jarreau, Wayne James

Huval, Evelyn Faul

Evelyn Faul Huval, born July 6, 1938, passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on December 18, 2025, at the age of 87. She lived a full, faithful, and hardworking life centered on family. Faith and love.

She was married to the love of her life Ernest for 66 years. Together they built a strong and enduring marriage that remains a beautiful example to all who knew them. Ernest survives her. She was a devoted mother to three sons: Tony (Phyllis), Craig (Kellie), and Scott (Patti).

Her boys were the pride of her life. She loved them fiercely, encouraged them constantly, and expected the very best from them.

Through her example, she instilled a strong work ethic, a deep love for the Lord, and a great sense of humor in them. She was also a loving second mother to her niece and nephew Chris and Becky Porche, who were like children to her and held a special place in her heart. She was a proud grandmother to nine grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren, all of whom brought her immense joy. Evelyn was born in Church Point, Louisiana, to Valmont and Laura Faul. On of eighteen children, she grew up in a sharecropping family. She often spoke of how poor they were-though she always said they didn't know it at the time. There was always food on the table and plenty of friends in the form of brothers and sisters. She is survived by her two siblings. Her best friend was her beloved sister, Liera, who passed away in 2021.

She also cherished lifelong friendships with Rose Cormier and Maxine Tircuit. She and "Aunt" Rose- who wasn't really an aunt but felt like one- attended business school together, forming a bond that lasted a lifetime.

Maxine has been a friend since 1966.

For more than 50 years, she worked side by side with her husband running an actuarial consulting business.

While Ernest served as the actuary, Evelyn handled the bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, and most importantly- the raising of three boys. A tireless worker and the backbone of both the business and the family, she was also remarkably gifted with her hands- an outstanding seamstress who made many of her boys' clothes, including the unforgettable disco shirts they proudly h d d

Matthew 25:21, "The Lord said unto him, well done, thy good and faithful servant thou has been faithful." Wayne James Jarreau, age 77, a native of Jarreau, LA, passed away on December 17, 2025.

Wayne retired from Exxon Mobile as a machinist after 37 years. He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed a round of golf and hunting.

He loved spending his time surrounded by family and friends, of which he had many. He is going to be thoroughly missed by all who had the privilege to know him. Wayne is survived by his companion of 17 years, Patricia Magee; children, Wayne Jarreau, Jr. and Wendy Terry; four grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and his brother, Donald Jarreau and wife Julie. He is preceded in death by his parents, Aldo Jarreau and Hazel Olinde Jarreau. A visitation will be held Monday, December 22, 2025 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lakeland from 9AM until the memorial mass at 10AM. The burial will follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park in Baton Rouge at 1PM. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Michael Castine and his staff for caring for Wayne over the last few years.

Jones, John 'JJ'

John Robert Jones, affectionately known as JJ and Pawpaw JJ, was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on August 13, 1940, and passed away on December 10, 2025. John was a devoted husband, father, son, and friend. He was known for his integrity, strong values, and quick wit. He lived his life with honesty and believed deeply in keeping his word, a principle he demonstrated daily through his actions and relationships. A native of Denham Springs, Louisiana, John attended Denham Springs through the 10th grade and later graduated from Gonzales High School, class of 1958.

He proudly served in the United States Navy and was honored with a Letter of Honor from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal in recognition of his service.

John later resided in Galvez, Louisiana.

Throughout his working life, he was employed by Sunbeam Bread, Ethyl Corporation—where he earned recognition for perfect at-

tendance—and the United States Postal Service in Gonzales. John had a lifelong passion for bowling.

His legacy was honored on the Wall of Fame at Circle Bowl, recognizing a notable game achievement.

He was named Bowler of the Week while bowling in the Ethyl Corp league, alongside his lifelong friends Bubba and Margaret Wascom. He also competed in numerous tournaments locally and nationally, earning many awards and cash prizes.

He also bowled at Plank Bowl and Don Carter's as well. John is survived by his children: Cheryl JonesFontenot and husband Troy; Robbie Jones and wife Alisa; Paul Jones and wife Blanche (Chris) and Tom Jones and wife Laura; sister, Barbara Jones Stout and his beloved niece, Melody Stout Lewis; best friend and cousin, Donald Jones and wife Micheal and his beloved friend who became family, Simone Keller. Thirteen grandchildren, Larson Fontenot and wife Victoria, McKade and Jaron Fontenot, Britnee Straub and husband Darren, Ashley, Jonathan and Shelbi Jones, Sydni Minvielle and husband Micheal, Elsie and Michael Hanshew, Toxie Bercegeay and wife Taylor and Michael and Kayla Bercegeay.Thirteen great grandchildren, Emily and Torin Fontenot, Lukas and Lanie Straub, Marly Roddy, Roman Landaiche, Noah Minvielle, Jeremiah Bercegeay, Eric and A'aliyah Scott. He was preceded in death by his devoted and loving wife, Charlotte Cannon Jones; maternal grandparents, John W. Pearson and Alice Wascom Pearson; paternal grandparents, John Wesley Jones and Cora Evans Jones and sister Doris Jones Cavin and her husband Rodney Cavin.The family would like to extend their appreciation to Harvest Manor of Denham Springs, LA and Hospice with Life Source for the excellent and compassionate care y'all gave to our dad.

A committal service will be held on Thursday, January 8th at 1:00 PM at Louisiana National Cemetery, 303 W. Mount Pleasant Rd, Zachary, LA, 70807. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Folds of Honor (https://foldsofhonor.org/) , a nonprofit organization that provides life-changing educational scholarships for the spouses and children of America's fallen or disabled military service members and first responders.

Nahas, Margaret Ann 'Margie'

Margaret Ann "Margie" Nahas, 80, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 13, 2025.

Born on July 27, 1945, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, to Ernest and Mary Kleber, Margie grew up in a closeknit family before making her home in Louisiana. A dedicated professional, she enjoyed a rewarding career of more than 30 years at Exxon, retiring in 2010. After courageously surviving cancer in the early 2000s, Margie embraced life with renewed vigor and an infectious zest for adventure. She was renowned for her kind and generous heart, her unwavering patriotism, and her faith in the Lord.

Margie welcomed everyone she met as a friend—she truly never knew a stranger.

An avid scuba diver, Margie planned multiple dive trips each year, creating lasting memories with her cherished group of scuba buddies. A lifelong die-hard fan of America's Team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, she also found joy in simpler pleasures: spoiling her beloved Yorkie, Max; knitting beautiful creations; binge-watching crime dramas; and captivating listeners with vivid tales of her many adventures.

Margie was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Mary Kleber; and her brothers, Ernest "Ernie" and Gerald "Gerry" Kleber. She is survived by her son, David Nahas (Stacy); daughter, Anesa Nahas; grandchildren, Jenna and Ethan Sturgeon, and Seth Brumfield; and greatgrandson, Nolan Brumfield.

Though taken from us too soon, Margie's vibrant spirit, warmth, and love will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate to know her. She will be profoundly missed.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home, 9995 Hooper Road, Central, LA 70818.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Divers Alert Network (DAN) in Margie's memory at https://apps.dan.org/dona tions.

Liggins, Anita Theresa

Ogden, Ann Jackson

Died December 9th. Survived by children: Jamaar & Jené (fiancé, Terrence Lockett); sister, Walterene J. Whitfield; nephew raised by her parents, Walter Kenneth Williams; & a host of family & friends. Services December 23rd at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. 9AM visitation; 10AM rituals by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. & The Knights of Peter Claver, St. Francis Xavier Ladies Auxiliary; 11AM Mass. Interment at Green Oaks Cemetery. Arrangements by Desselle Funeral Home.

Ann Jackson Ogden, 84, went to be with her Lord peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of faith, love, and devoted service to her family and community.

Born on June 22, 1941, in Texarkana, Texas, Ann grew up in her hometown of Atlanta, Texas before later making Baton Rouge, Louisiana her lifelong home. It was there she built a life grounded in deep faith, strong family

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bonds, and meaningful community involvement.

Ann was devout in her faith and steadfast in her walk with the Lord. Her faith guided her life and was reflected in the kindness, grace, and compassion she showed to everyone she met. She was a devoted wife to her beloved husband, Randolph, a loving mother, a cherished grandmother, and a treasured friend. Committed to a life of service to others, Ann served as President of the JayCee Janes for many years as well as a former Inter-Civic Council of Baton Rouge member. She dedicated her time and leadership to bettering the community. Ann found great joy in the simple pleasures of life. She loved Christmas, painting, traveling, and playing the piano. You could always find her home filled with warmth, creativity, and love. Her joyful spirit and generous heart touched all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Onie Jackson, her daughter, Kenanne Dooley, her granddaughter, Kelli Varnado, her first husband, Rev. Kenneth D. Norton, and her beloved cat, Katrina. Ann is survived by her loving husband, Randolph Ogden, her son Russell Norton, her son -in-law Tom Dooley, her stepchildren Vondel Stone (Jeffrey), Coleen Powell (Wally), Fran Ogden, Randy Ogden, John Ogden (Marti), Natalie Raymond (John), Margaret Kidder (Chad), and her 34 grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of whom she loved fiercely with her whole heart and who brought her immense joy and pride. Ann's life was a testament to her faith and love for all of those in her life. Although she will be deeply missed, her spirit will live on through the many lives she touched. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge. A visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on 12/22/ 2025 at First United Methodist Church, 930 North Blvd. A funeral service will be held from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on 12/22/ 2025 at First United Methodist Church, 930 North Blvd.

Poirrier, Landis Paul

Landis Paul Poirrier Sr. passed away on December 17, 2025, at the age of 80.

He was a lifelong resident of Ascension Parish and a proud graduate of Gonzales High School (Class of '63) and Baton Rouge Vocational and Technical School. Landis also served in the National Guard. He was a member of Seniors and Law Enforcement Together ("SALT") and a devoted parishioner of St. Mark Catholic Church.

He leaves behind his wife, Veronica Watson Poirrier; their children, Rafe Poirrier (Elizabeth O'Neal), Paul Poirrier (Alice Townsend), and Janet Hattier (C.J. Hattier); 9 grandchildren, Sanders Poirrier, Ava Lynn Poirrier, Michael Poirrier, Katherine Townsend (Brock Hay), Alfonso Rodriguez (Alexx LeBlanc), Veronica Hattier, Caleb Hattier, Olivia Hattier and Julia Hattier and 3 great-grandchildren, Wallace Hay, Corrina Hay and James Rodriguez. He is also survived by his sistersin-law, Katherine Watson Groft (David Groft) and Ionne Evans Poirrier, and his brothers-in-law, Moran Bergeron Watson, Jr. (Judy Ficklin) and Floyd Ducote, and numerous family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ina Villar Poirrier and Dewey Poirrier, and his siblings, John Lionel Poirrier, Lucille Poirrier Ducote, and Helen Poirrier Templet (Lucian Templet).

Landis loved spending time with family and friends. He and his wife traveled all over the world, but some of his favorite trips were those with his children and grandchildren. He always enjoyed tending to his garden and spending time outside, enjoying the beautiful day.

He will be greatly missed by all of those who knew and loved him.

Special thanks to the nurses and staff of Holly Court Assisted Living and

Audubon Hospice for their care and compassion at the end of Landis' time with us.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mark Catholic Church, 42021 LA621, Gonzales, LA 70737, on Saturday, December 27, 2025. The visitation will begin at 9:00 AM with Mass starting at 11:00 AM. The burial will take place at a later date. Fond memories and words of condolences may be expressed at www.OursoFH.com for the Poirrier family.

Turner, Linda

Linda S. Turner, age 75, passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2025. She was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and a resident of Baker, Louisiana.

She is survived by her sisters Ruth Jackson and Beulah Jefferson, and her brother Levy Spears Jr..

She is also preceded in death by her parents Levy and Clara Spears and her sisters Mary Harris, Gloria Parker, and Eloise Spears.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Hall's Celebration Center, 9348 Scenic Highway, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from 1:00 p.m. until the funeral service at 2:00 p.m., with Pastor Wendell Parker officiating. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Gardens in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Services are entrusted to Hall Davis and Son Funeral Services.

Watts, Loretta Shaffer

Loretta Shaffer Watts, a lifelong pillar of the Central Community, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2025, at the age of 82. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Rena Mae Shaffer; her brother, Alvin Shaffer (Carol); and her beloved son, Mac Watts. She is survived by her devoted husband of 61 years, Shelton "Mac" Watts; her sister, Gwen Bergeron (Gerald); her son, Wes Watts (Jodie); and her daughter-in-law, Susan Watts Payton (Phil). She leaves behind five grandchildren, Travis Watts (Emily), Austin Watts (Jaci), Tyler Watts (Danielle), Kellie Watts, and Macee Watts (Shawn) and ten great grandchildren who brought her end-

less joy: Remi, Grayson, Mac, Annistyn, Myles, Reese, Caroline, Emmitt, Eli, and Noel. Born and raised in Central, Loretta's roots in the community ran deep. She graduated from Central High School in 1961 and later worked for several years as the Attendance Clerk at Central Middle School, where she was known for her warm smile and steady presence. She went on to own and operate AAS Company for more than 30 years alongside her son Mac, proudly serving customers until the business was sold in 2020.

Loretta's commitment to her community extended far beyond her work. She was a Founder and Board Member of Cooking in Central and served with grace and pride as First Lady during her husband Mac's nine year tenure as Mayor.

Her dedication, hospitality, and quiet leadership touched countless lives.

Above all, Loretta was a devoted wife, mother, Nanna, and great Nanna. She cherished attending school and community events, traveling, and playing golf with Mac and their friends.

In her later years, nothing brought her more happiness than time spent on

the family property surrounded by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Whether she was working a crossword puzzle, piecing together a jigsaw, or sitting outside watching the little ones play, Loretta found joy in life's simple, beautiful moments. Her legacy of love, service, and family devotion will continue to live on in all who knew her. Visitation will be on Monday, December 22, 2025 at Zoar Baptist Church, Central, from 9:00 am until service time at 12:00 noon. Share sympathies, condolences, and memories at www.Cha rletFuneralHome.com.

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OPINION

6B ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

Brighter state budget forecast bodes well for future Fiscal hawks in Louisiana got an early Christmas present last week when the Revenue Estimating Conference, a group that tracks the state budget, released its latest forecast. It shows that the state is on track to see $217 million more in tax revenue than state leaders anticipated when lawmakers put together the budget in the spring. Next year, the picture looks just as rosy, with the forecast adjusted upward by $214 million.

The new forecast means that rather than a shortfall of $131 million, the state should have a surplus of about $159 million when the new fiscal year starts July 1 and lawmakers begin hammering out a new budget.

With this increased ability to maneuver, we hope they look at shoring up some of the critical needs in our state, particularly investments in health care and higher education, which seem perennially under threat. But uncertainty around the national economy should lead them to act with restraint.

We note that a series of tax changes championed by Gov. Jeff Landry during his first year in office is largely responsible for this state of affairs. In November 2024, the Legislature passed a tax package that included getting rid of tax breaks once thought to be sacred cows, eliminating the state’s graduated income structure in favor of a flat 3% personal income tax rate and a flat 5.5% for corporations and raising the state sales tax to 5% for five years, after which it will drop to 4.75% The architect of this plan was former Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson, who has recently departed for a job as head of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. We have to say we watched with admiration as Nelson single-mindedly fought for a complete overhaul of the tax code he argued would help make Louisiana more competitive among Southern states.

And he bravely sought in this most recent session to hold the line as lawmakers let some tax exemptions creep back in.

While we supported the tax package, we had our concerns, primarily with the shift to more reliance on sales taxes, which generally affect the poorest the most. Louisiana has one of the highest sales taxes in the nation, so we hope that once revenues from the new tax structure become predictable, the Legislature will revisit the issue.

But there is no arguing with results. Even if income tax revenue is down, it’s not down by as much as predicted. Sales tax revenue is up more than expected. And growth in income and wages appears strong at 4%.

Landry and his administration have shown a willingness to tackle issues often thought to be intractable in our state, and for that, they should be congratulated. We are beginning to see some of the big bets they made pay off. That’s good news for the state’s bottom line and its future.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence.

The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

The struggle and hope of joy Joy has long been a component of the Those men who were lighting canretail landscape this time of year. I’ve dles in prayer — Hersh Goldberg-Poseen it on department store lin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Daniwindows in Manhattan — most no, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat amusingly nearby St. Francis and Almog Sarusi — were all of Assisi Church. Of course, ultimately murdered by Hamas. even if you are the easiest Evil may have taken their lives, person in the world to please, but they held on to joy. May that there is no consumer exchange Kathryn memory be a blessing to all who that will deliver true joy. And are left both righteously angry Jean yet, in the face of hardship and at their murder, now part of the Lopez torture, joy is possible. That chronicles of our world’s cruelty which is so casually referred to in to the Jewish people — and a challenge order to make a sale is one of the most to never let go of joy, and fight for the hard-fought and enduring treasures. freedom to pursue it for as long as we A video recently unearthed by the each have breath left in us.

Israeli Defense Forces shows Israeli A Catholic priest imprisoned by Nahostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack in zis in 1944 wrote about joy as well. His captivity holding a Hanukkah service. meditations would be smuggled out on In their suffering, there was a confistrips of paper.

“The conditions for true joy have dence in God, faith and even joy. There nothing to do with conditions of our exis a spirit of victory that lives in resilience — or makes resilience possible terior life, but consist of man’s interior — that insists on joy, because it’s what frame of mind and competence, which evil hates. And so, in the hostages’ make it possible now and again for insistence on community when they him to sense, even in adverse external were being physically inundated by circumstances, what life is basically darkness, there was a stubborn, aweabout,” Father Alfred Delp wrote from Tegel Prison, before he was executed some joy that even terrorism couldn’t by hanging in February 1945. kill.

“Is there any point in bothering about joy?” he wrote. “Is joy not among those luxury items of life that have no place in the meager private area tolerated in wartime conversations? Certainly it has no place in a prison cell where someone is pacing back and forth, his hands in irons, his heart swelled by all the winds of longing, his head filled with worries and questions.” As you may expect from a man who devoted his life to God and his service, Delp did contend that joy didn’t have to do with who was in political power or your purchasing power.

It’s all about relationship with God. “How should we live so that we are capable — or can become capable — of true joy? This question should occupy us more today than it has in the past,” Delp reflected.

Man’s earthly life may be exterminated, but joy does not die. Not with God. And you can’t buy that, even in December; you can only live it and be someone’s encounter with it in union with the perfection of the divine.

Email Kathryn Jean Lopez at klopez@ nationalreview.com.

’Tis the season to avoid holiday cliches The holidays are upon us, and at this are able to give a scathing critique in a single line. Some point to a contradictime of year, I’m always reminded of the admonition of one of my former tion or highlight a hypocrisy in a few bosses in the newspaper busishort paragraphs. That requires more skill sometimes than writness many years ago.

He vowed to rap anyone ing an essay on a topic. While I on the knuckles who used recognize that some topics need the phrase “‘tis the season” fuller exposition, here’s to tighter to describe anything that prose. happened in the month of That brings me to our great Arnessa retiring cartoonist Walt HandelsDecember. This was in the Garrett man. days before more strict HuImagine having a job where you man Resources departments had to fill a thimble out of a firehouse frowned upon corporal punishment in without spilling a drop. the workplace, and it was part of his That’s kind of like a political cartoonlarger crusade against cliches that he felt were the lazy writer’s crutch. It ist’s job. News keeps happening all the was also a reminder that good writtime, and the cartoonist has to select what to focus on, then what to say and ing requires precision, and choosing how to draw it in a fixed space. No one cliches may just mean you don’t have much to say. It also may mean it’s time did it better than Walt, and we will all miss him here. We cannot ever be to wrap up your story. grateful enough to work with such a I appreciate the letters that can say much in very few words. Some writers talent.

As the year comes to a close, we’ve asked you to send in your letters on who should be the Louisianan of the Year.

This project of the Editorial Board looks at who made the biggest contributions to the news this year. We will unveil our choices in the last week of the year, but we are eager to see your opinion as well. Send your responses to letters@theadvocate.com.

I do not have the count of letters for you this week, but we hope to before the year is done. In the meantime, have a happy holiday and don’t end up on the naughty list or get all lit up like a Christmas tree. Here’s wishing you peace on earth as you make merry and deck the halls — because ‘tis the season, after all.

Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor. Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

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ARNESSA GARRETT STEPHANIE GRACE WILL SUTTON QUIN HILLYER FAIMON ROBERTS

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 7B

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COMMENTARY Help me rediscover the best of Louisiana It soon will be time for a road trip. And, dear readers, I need your help.

Louisiana has so much to offer, so many attractions and unique cultural treasures and, yes, so many quirks as well, that it provides a cornucopia for columnists. Then again, because one need Quin not move around Hillyer much at all to find rich material for reporting and writing, it’s all too easy to remain relatively rooted.

I’ve been guilty of that. As this year nears its end and I considered stories I never got around to writing, I realized that it has been 11 long years since the last time I really toured Louisiana. The Interstate 10 corridor and points south have been my stomping grounds, but I admit I’ve been no more than a few miles north of the interstate (other than by electronic communication) in more than a decade.

That needs to change.

I hasten to say that changing that state of affairs should be a joy. The last time I really, consciously “did Louisiana” was a hoot. I’ve never had so much fun writing an article in my life.

The occasion was a magazine piece I was doing on the closing stretch of the 2014 U.S. Senate race between incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu and her Re-

publican challenger, Bill Cassidy.

I zipped back and forth across the Mississippi River, across the Atchafalaya Basin, across the interstate — across the state.

In Opelousas, Landrieu’s campaign — minus the candidate herself, who was campaigning elsewhere — hosted Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., at a huge meeting hall with a stage. Someone randomly drove up with a trailer with several live cows. Bands on the stage alternated between pure funk and Cajun/ zydeco/fais-do-do music as couples spun across the dance floor.

Booker looked and acted, for good reason, as if he had never had so much fun on a campaign trail.

The day before in New Iberia, New Orleans then-mayor Mitch Landrieu, representing his sister in what I remember as a Legion Hall or Lions Club, or something like that, had a packed luncheon crowd hanging on his every word.

There was a combination in his speech of easy theatricality and yet down-home realism that would surely be unfamiliar to political audiences in, say, Wyoming or Kentucky or just about any other state.

The next day, back across the marsh in Gonzales, Cassidy campaigned at a huge expo center amid dozens of livestock stalls (empty) as Native Americans celebrated some drum-accompanied ceremony two pavilions away. In the other direction, another pavilion hosted a gun show. And as the

having my email inbox overflow, I want your suggestions. I am looking for both newsworthy developments and events and for people or places that have uniquely Louisianan character. I want to know who I should talk to, where I should go, what I should see.

I know I want to make stops in Winnfield and Natchitoches, but apart from that, my itinerary is wide open.

Look at your town’s or parish’s calendars for the spring season, think of your area’s stories you think are undertold, consider local traditions outsiders may not understand. Then write me about them at the email that appears at the end of this column. Politics, culture, business: You decide. If you think it’s newsworthy, let me know.

Don’t send me huge tomes. Just FILE PHOTO By JOHN MCCUSKER send a paragraph or two, preferPrancing prawns groove to the Trombone Shorty Academy at the second ably complete with internet links with more information in case I Louisiana Shrimp Festival/Shrimp Aid held Oct. 18 in New Orleans. want to read more. Don’t spend a ton of time on it, as I probably won’t even be able to reply to all think, is there such a wonderful various juxtapositions of Indian the notes I receive. If I do not reagglomeration of food, music, princesses and guns and horse friendliness, literature, sports, ply, please do not be offended, as stalls and politics played out, my local customs and so much, so alsometimes emails get lost in the mind flashed back to a Gonzales shuffle. But please do know that I Jambalaya Festival, complete most infinitely, more. with an even-more-than-prototypAll of which leads to this, to how will attempt to read and consider each suggestion you send. ically vibrant small-town parade, you as readers can help me.

Louisiana, give me your best.

Sometime this spring, say bethat I had enjoyed years before.

It all was terrific. tween mid-March and mid-May, I I am eager for a new re-exploraThere’s more personality in will put together a trip of five or tion.

Louisiana than anywhere else in six days throughout Louisiana, to America. And that was all just reacclimate to the state’s heart Email Quin Hillyer at quin. for politics. Nowhere else, I truly and marrow. And, at the risk of hillyer@theadvocate.com

Let’s hear it for the rhetorical firefighters to talk about specific policies, inAfter conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered in cluding homelessness.

September, Adrian Bruneau, the The effort led to an invitation chair of the Orleans Parto speak to the Forum for Equality, an LGBTQ ish Republican Executive rights organization. In Committee, looked for a general, Bruneau said, the way to create something conversations were progood out of something awful. ductive and led to at least So he decided to post an shared understandStephanie some open invitation on social ing and connection.

Grace media, modeled on Kirk’s I thought of Bruneau’s frequent request to “ask personal initiative reme anything.” cently when I came across a post “As the leader of the Republisomewhere on the internet, comcan Party in New Orleans I invite paring those who engage in the anyone who wants to sit down ugly, divisive and dehumanizing and talk to contact me,” Bruneau rhetoric that dominates Ameriwrote. “It’s all about respect. We can political life these days to may agree on some things, we arsonists, and likening those who may disagree, we might find we are motivated to tamp down the have a lot in common.” division as firefighters. As a sociHe got a handful of takers, ety, the author of the post wrote, mostly acquaintances. Some “had we’re paying way too much ata lot of frustration with” Donald tention to the arsonists, when we Trump’s lack of civility. To them, should be lifting up the rhetoriBruneau said he tried to explain cal firefighters instead. the president’s “psychology,” And I have to say that Bruneau including his New York outer is far from the only such fireborough attitude. Others wanted fighter I’ve heard from lately. In

fact, here in Louisiana, they’re all around us.

For the last several years, a group of New Orleans civic leaders calling themselves “The Neutral Ground” has hosted several discussions on topics such as education and incarceration.

Members commit to “influence our discourse for the better,” to “think independently,” to “treat others who disagree with us with respect” and to “model this behavior for others.” (Note: I’ve moderated several of these sessions, and this newspaper is a partner).

This fall, there was a different but similarly themed gathering called “Pop the Bubble.” Held in New Orleans at “Beanlandia,” the headquarters of the Krewe of Red Beans (also moderated by me), the cheeky twist here was that organizer Devin De Wulf had cat videos ready to play, in case tensions rose too high.

A more formalized program has been underway since the summer in Baton Rouge, led by

the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs at LSU and the Public Affairs Research Council.

The “Common Ground Project” aims to offer opportunities for students and community members to engage constructively across ideological lines and viewpoints.

The project has hosted several gatherings and plans a survey to collect information on political polarization in the state.

Also looking to get in on the trend is Ellevate Louisiana, a nonpartisan women’s policy group founded by Julie Stokes, a former Republican legislator who experienced blowback firsthand when she sought to work with Democratic colleagues and then-Gov. John Bel Edwards to solve the state’s fiscal problems.

The group held a brainstorming session earlier this month.

I’m sure there are more out there, acting individually or collectively, because I’m quite sure there are more people in our state and in our country who see

value in coming together, rather than tearing ourselves apart.

Bruneau thinks so, too. In his view, it’s the internet’s algorithms that are stoking the polarizing tone.

“They set us up to act like babies, when we should be discussing, not dehumanizing,” he said. “I personally detest it when all we’re hearing is from the extremes.”

He noted that he grew up with another model, his Republican father, former state Rep. Peppi Bruneau, who worked with the Democrats who back then dominated state politics.

And he’s following in his father’s footsteps as a transition committee member for New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, a Democrat.

“Helena and I are a living example. We want the city to live up to its full potential,” he said.

There, does that sound so hard?

Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.

The reality of affordability is not a hoax “From the day I take the oath of ics” and failed badly. Reality is office, we’ll rapidly drive prices not a hoax. down and make America affordInflation is running at 3%, down from its peak under able again.” That was DonBiden, but still a burden ald Trump, speaking at a for working families. Galcampaign rally in Pennsylvania last year. But this lup’s latest economic conyear, he is denouncing risfidence index plummeted last month to its lowest ing costs as a “Democrat point since July of last hoax” and “Joe Biden’s Steve inflation crisis” and deRoberts year. Just 27% said the U.S. economy is improvclaring, “affordability is the greatest con job.” ing, while 68% said it’s Trump has always been a show- worsening.

In a Politico survey, almost half man, focused on the next episode say the cost of living in the U.S. is of his reality series. “the worst they can ever rememThat mindset works well when he’s the challenger, the outsider, ber it being,” and that view is held conducting a campaign that goes by 37% of 2024 Trump voters. from rally to podcast, from TikAbout 1 in 4 American households are living paycheck to paycheck.

Tok to Truth Social, employing The percentage of subprime borhis superb performance skills to win the day. rowers who are late on car loans But today he is the president, has doubled to an all-time high. the nation’s leader. He is responYet Trump seems focused on issible for the state of the economy, sues that don’t matter to the dayand blaming others for rising to-day lives of these struggling prices and strained budgets families — deporting immigrants, doesn’t work. He can’t talk — or bombing alleged drug runners, perform — his way out of trouble. building ballrooms, lusting after Biden tried that with “Bidenomthe Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump will never run for office again, but Republicans who will be on the ballot next year are increasingly worried about this disconnect between the president and the voting public.

“Any Republican who refuses to admit we have an affordability problem is not listening to the American people,” former House speaker Newt Gingrich, a Trump loyalist, said on CNN. “It’s real because the American people think it’s real. I cannot overstate that — in a free country — it’s the people who define what is real, not the politicians.”

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican defending a district Trump lost in 2024, says Trump is in denial about affordability anxiety. “Believe me — I hear it every day back home. It’s real,” he told CNN. Soon, those stresses could get even worse.

COVID-era subsidies that helped about 22 million Americans pay for health insurance are about to run out, and many face a doubling of their premiums. But the president and Republicans in

Congress seem incapable of devising any sort of remedy.

Trump has never been interested in the tedious business of policymaking, and when he does acknowledge the issue of affordability, he offers unworkable proposals reeking of showmanship and branded with his name — $2,000 rebate checks financed by tariff revenue or 50-year mortgages that would produce some short-term benefits but also create huge long-term burdens.

In a way, Trump is a victim of his own success. The president fills the national stage and screen.

He’s everywhere all the time — dominating TV and social media, closing agencies and firing workers, hosting visitors, posting memes and boasting about being the most powerful and successful president of all time.

But all that self-glorification can backfire when he tries to blame Biden for the most critical problem facing voters. It’s a profoundly mixed message. And it rings false.

“Voters aren’t going to go, ‘I

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the

voted for Trump to better the economy, but Biden just hamstrung (him) too much,’” Republican strategist Barrett Marson told Politico. “Voters are going to very quickly forget about Joe Biden and just as quickly turn their ire to Trump unless things get better.”

Trump’s a victim of another factor as well: his own ego, his refusal to admit any sort of weakness or failure, his intractable inability to identify with the suffering of others. Gingrich understands this flaw in Trump and explains: “Psychologically, he hates to admit being in a hole. His whole career is built around forcing the positive.”

Trump has now embarked on a campaign to generate a more upbeat public mood, starting with a rally in Pennsylvania in which he summarized his party’s message: “They caused the high prices, and we’re bringing them down.” But voters know that’s not true.

Email Steven Roberts at stevecokie@gmail.com.

writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

8B ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Baton Rouge Weather TODAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Scattered t-showers - 50%

Mostly cloudy 20%

Mostly sunny

Mostly sunny

Mostly sunny

Partly sunny

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

LOW

77° 62°

LOW

74° 57°

LOW

79° 56°

LOW

78° 55°

ALMANAC

LOW

HIGH

77° 55°

Weather News by Meteorologist Balin Rogers

LOW

77° 57°

AROUND THE REGION

THE NATION

BATON ROUGE THROUGH 5 P.M. SATURDAy

TEMPERATURE

High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

76°/35° 64°/43° 81° in 1967 18° in 1996

PRECIPITATION

Longview 61/55

TODAY

MODERATE

GOOD

READING 60 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

RIVER STAGES FLOOD STAGE 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 -7.50 -0.65 Vidalia-Natchez 48 11.80 -0.44 Red River Landing 48 17.10 +0.30 Baton Rouge 35 6.00 -0.60 Donaldsonville 27 3.70 -0.50 Reserve 22 2.33 -0.57 New Orleans 17 2.30 -0.19 MISSISSIPPI

OHIO 40

7.89

-1.09

19

-1.39

-0.01

18 29 8

-0.77 10.66 1.86

-0.06 -0.16 +0.10

13 15

2.87 1.20

-0.05 -0.08

47 34 29 20 12 6

5.23 3.59 3.33 2.60 2.60 2.17

+0.28 +0.14 -0.36 -0.21 +0.20 -0.83

COMITE

Near Olive AMITE

Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent TICKFAW

Montpelier Holden ATCHAFALAYA

Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

0s

10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s

Hattiesburg 74/60

Alexandria 72/59

Many 67/56

Baton Rouge 77/62

Lafayette 79/64

Beaumont 78/64

New Orleans 78/63

Lake Charles 79/63

Port Arthur 76/64

Shown are areas of precipitation and high temperatures for the day.

Houma 79/62

Forecasts and graphics, except WBRZ forecasts, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2025

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

TIDES HIGH

FT.

Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) 7:47a 0.6 Shell Beach 2:01a 1.5 South Point, Marsh Island 12:37a 1.5 Cypremort Point 10:08p 1.6 Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) 10:10p 1.1 Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) 9:24p 1.4 Wine Island 11:18p 1.3

LOW

FT.

7:43p -0.2 1:27p -0.3 8:30a -0.7 12:29p -0.2 8:59a -0.5 7:09a -0.6 10:01a -0.6

SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

HIGH

FT.

LOW

FT.

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

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

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

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

TODAY City

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Houston Las Vegas Louisville Miami Minneapolis

Hi

Lo W

67 52 s 45 23 pc 59 50 sh -26 -37 s 84 74 sh 79 65 pc 67 47 pc 43 28 s 83 72 sh 31 29 pc

MONDAY Hi

FULL

LAST

NEW

DEC 27

JAN 3

JAN 10

JAN 18

MAJOR

MINOR

MAJOR

TODAY City

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

MONDAY

Hi

Lo W

Hi

Lo W

52 78 80 46 81 32 59 43 67 79

31 pc 63 c 58 s 26 s 53 s 18 s 27 s 32 pc 54 pc 59 s

59 73 77 39 80 38 49 52 65 80

54 pc 58 c 61 pc 32 pc 57 s 32 pc 34 s 45 pc 55 c 64 s

67 51 46 72 31 34 67 53 61 39 66

46 s 45 sh 31 r 49 pc 12 sf 32 c 51 pc 45 r 46 pc 27 s 48 sh

70 51 44 67 22 34 68 52 61 34 53

51 pc 42 c 37 pc 49 pc 10 sn 13 c 53 pc 38 pc 52 c 27 c 39 pc

THE WORLD

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.

Today Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat.

Lo W

75 67 pc 35 29 s 72 64 pc -28 -37 s 82 72 sh 78 67 c 69 49 pc 55 48 pc 81 73 pc 39 27 c

SOLUNAR TABLE

6:58 a.m.

5:08 p.m.

8:27 a.m.

6:34 p.m.

FIRST

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

MINOR

11:30a 5:46a ---- 6:12p 12:28a 6:41a 12:53p 7:06p 1:23a 7:35a 1:47p 7:59p 2:16a 8:28a 2:39p 8:51p 3:07a 9:19a 3:30p 9:41p 3:56a 10:07a 4:18p 10:29p 4:43a 10:54a 5:05p 11:17p

Amsterdam Bangkok Barcelona Berlin Brussels Cairo Dublin Frankfurt Havana Hong Kong Jerusalem

50 91 61 44 53 75 49 46 84 80 59

40 c 73 s 44 pc 37 c 37 c 55 pc 44 c 35 pc 70 t 63 s 41 pc

44 91 52 41 45 72 50 43 82 74 60

37 pc 74 s 39 pc 32 c 33 pc 55 pc 41 sh 34 pc 69 s 64 s 42 pc

Kuwait City London Madrid Mexico City Montreal Moscow New Delhi Paris Rome Stockholm Tokyo

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

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24 hours through 5 p.m. Sat. 0.00” Month to date (normal) 5.89” (3.19”) year to date (normal) 59.19” (59.81”)

Cairo

If you are a fan of cold weather, this is not the forecast for you. After a mild morning start, highs will reach into the mid- to upper 70s.

Mostly cloudy conditions will be present as a cold front approaches from the north. This front will not reach us but will be close enough to drive scattered showers and a few thunderstorms throughout the day. Isolated showers will stay possible overnight with lows in the lower 60s. Rain chances will go back down to zero during the day Monday as slightly drier air filters in. The rest of the week will be characterized by a lot of sunshine and warm air. Lows will slip back down to the 50s thanks to drier air, but highs will stay in the mid- to upper 70s. Get ready for a warm Christmas!

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SPORTS

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

S u n d ay, d e c e m b e r 21, 2025

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

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints defensive end Chase young stops Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle during the first half of a game at the Caesars Superdome on Dec. 14.

Redirected Chase

1cn

Getting to know LSU’s bowl opponent Houston LSU faces Houston on Saturday in the Texas Bowl, a rare meeting between two relatively close schools.

Only 272 miles separate the two campuses, but this will be just the fourth game between Scott the Tigers and Cougars, Rabalais the first in a bowl and the first since 2000. LSU ä LSU vs. holds a 2-1 edge.

Chances are, you don’t Houston, know much about the 8:15 P.M. University of Houston SATURDAy, ESPN or the Cougars football program other than the names. Here’s eight things to get you acquainted:

1. The school

Saints DE young focuses on player he is now, not ‘generational’ hype

A relative newcomer compared to other major universities in Texas, the University of Houston was founded in 1927 as Houston Junior College.

Primarily a teachers college, it shared a campus with a local high school, not becoming UH until 1934, not having its own campus until 1939 and not becoming a state institution until 1963. These days, UH is booming with a record 48,972 students this fall on three campuses in the Houston area.

BY MATTHEW PARAS

2. Meet the Cougars

Staff writer

Chase Young insists he was labeled a bust four games into his career.

This seems highly unlikely, if not outright false. For one, the New Orleans Saints defensive end, then with Washington, doesn’t specify who wrote him off.

And at that point in the season, Young had racked up 21/2 sacks in his first three outings before a groin injury forced him out of the lineup in Week 4.

A bust? Who would jump to such conclusions so early on?

Memory can be a fickle thing. The closest thing that comes to meeting Young’s claim was a Washington Post column from weeks later that declared he wasn’t meeting expectations — written right be-

fore the seven-week surge that propelled Young to the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and helped push the Commanders into the playoffs.

But standing at his locker, days before Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, Young has a larger point to make about the narratives that follow him.

“I got hurt and they said I was terrible,” Young said. “Then I got a contract. Now, I’m good. So now what? You know what I’m saying? I could care less what anybody ever said.”

For a man who supposedly doesn’t hear or care about the “outside noise,” Young has heard it all.

He has heard the draft analysts who hyped him up as a “generational” prospect, a savior who would rescue his hometown team. He has heard the praise

that comes when delivering on that promise, only to have it disappear when such a horrific knee injury derailed his career. He has heard how his star status faded, how fans and media debated whether he was a bust — for real this time — after his unceremonious fall from the top.

He has been in the NFL long enough for the pendulum to swing back around quietly, now that he has become one of his team’s most important defenders — all while Young discovered what truly matters, like being a father and taking better care of his body.

“Just watch what happens in the next couple years,” Young said. “Then what (will they say)?”

ä See YOUNG, page 6C

Houston, led by second-year and former Tulane coach Willie Fritz, went 9-3 this season and tied for fourth in the Big 12 at 6-3. Houston athletic director Eddie Nunez, who arrived in 2024 from the University of New Mexico, worked at LSU for 14 years and rose to be deputy athletic director. The Cougars are led on offense by former Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman. A dual threat, he’s thrown for 2,475 yards and 21 touchdowns this season with nine interceptions, and he has rushed for 844 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wide receiver Amare Thomas was a first-team AllBig 12 selection with 59 catches for 906 yards and 10 TDs. Defensively,

ä See RABALAIS, page 9C

Ole Miss ends Tulane’s historic CFP run in dominant fashion

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

OXFORD,Miss.— About three months had passed, but very little changed between the Tulane and Ole Miss football teams in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

The rematch of a 45-10 loss in September played out in a very similar fashion as No. 6-seeded Ole Miss crushed the 11th-seeded Green Wave’s hopes of a massive upset on Saturday. A record crowd of 68,251 at Vaught Hemingway Stadium was treated to exactly what it expected to see in the firstever playoff appearance for both teams, a comprehensive 41-10 victory that never was in doubt on the way to a Sugar Bowl matchup with Georgia on Jan. 1.

Ole Miss (12-1), which suffered its only loss to Georgia, will have to hope its do-over goes much better than Tulane’s.

“This is not the way we wanted to finish,” said Jon Sumrall, who coached his last game for the Wave before taking over at Florida. “I’m grateful I got to finish with them, but it wasn’t up to the standard we had to play to make it competitive tonight. I’m heartbroken for them.”

The Rebels ripped through Tulane (11-3) for gains of 20 or more yards on their first five offensive snaps after first-time coach Pete Golding — the full-time replacement after Lane Kiffin departed for LSU — took the ball rather than deferring when Ole Miss won the coin toss.

De’Zhaun Stribling avoided a tackle from cornerback E’Zaiah Shine on a quick out and raced 30 yards down the sideline. Tight end Dae’Quan Wright was wide open for a 25-yard catch and run, setting up Kewan Lacy’s 20-yard touchdown jaunt through a massive hole for a quick Ole Miss lead.

Jake Retzlaff’s interception inside the 20 ended a promising opening drive for Tulane when cornerback Jaylon Braxton made a better play on the ball than wideout Tre Shackelford in one-on-one coverage. Lacy promptly raced through another gargantuan hole for 30 yards, then Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss hit receiver Duece Alexander for 26 yards against a flat-flooted defense, setting up a first and goal at the 4.

Two plays later, Chambliss ran to his left on a keeper and reached the end zone untouched.

“We looked a little slow, kind of similar to the first time we played this bunch,” Sumrall said. “They are very talented. The first two drives it’s like you blink and you look up and it’s 14-0.”

It was not exactly the same blueprint as the September beatdown

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tulane wide receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens runs down the field before getting tackled by Ole Miss at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, ä See TULANE, page 5C Miss., on Saturday.

COAC C OAC OA AC CH WELCOME MARSHALL FAULK HEAD COACH | FOOTBALL

JAGUAR FOOTBALL | GOJAGSPORTS.COM

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 11 a.m. Pittsburgh vs. Penn St. BTN Noon Vanderbilt at Wake Forest CW Noon Ole Miss vs. NC State ESPN Noon Southern U. at Baylor TNT 2 p.m.

Cincinnati at Clemson ESPN 2 p.m.

Oregon St. at Arizona St. ESPN2 3 p.m.

North Florida at Miami ACCN 3 p.m.

UC Santa Cruz at Southern Cal BTN 3 p.m.

La Salle at Michigan Peacock 3:30 p.m. UConn at DePaul FS1 5 p.m.

Campbell at Minnesota BTN 5 p.m.

Oregon vs. Gonzaga Peacock 7 p.m.

N. Dakota at Nebraska BTN WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 11 a.m. Kennesaw St. at Miami ACCN 11 a.m. NC State at Davidson CBSSN Noon Kansas at Iowa St. ESPN2

1 p.m.

North Florida at Clemson ACCN 1 p.m.

Texas at S. Dakota St. CBSSN 1 p.m.

Texas-Arlington at LSU SECN 5 p.m.

Oregon vs. Stanford ESPN 7:30 p.m. Southern Cal vs. California ESPN WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 2:30 p.m. NCAA Tourn.: Tex.A&M vs. Kentucky ABC COLLEGE WRESTLING 1 p.m.

Oklahoma St. at Nebraska BTN GOLF 10:30 a.m. PNC Championship Golf 12:30 p.m. PNC Championship NBC HORSE RACING 1:30 p.m. America’s Day at the Races FS1 3:30 p.m. America’s Day at the Races FS2 NBA G-LEAGUE 11 a.m. Austin vs. Maine NBATV Noon Grand Rapids vs. Raptors ESPNU 1:30 p.m. Greensboro vs. San Diego NBATV 2:30 p.m. Stockton vs. Salt Lake ESPNU

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

4 p.m.

Noblesville vs. Santa Cruz NBATV 5 p.m.

Wisconsin vs. South Bay ESPNU 7:30 p.m. Delaware vs. Texas ESPNEWS NFL Noon N.y. Jets at New Orleans CBS Noon L.A. Chargers at Dallas Fox 3:25 p.m. Pittsburgh at Detroit CBS 7:20 p.m. New England at Baltimore NBC NHL Noon Washington at Detroit NHLN 6 p.m.

Toronto at Dallas NHLN MEN’S SOCCER 5:30 a.m. Pisa SC at Cagliari CBSSN 7:25 a.m. Rangers at Heart of Midlothian CBSSN 7:35 a.m. AS Monaco FC at AJ Auxerre FS2 10:20 a.m. L.S. Vendée at Stade Rennais FS2 10:30 a.m. Man. United at Aston Villa NBC TENNIS 11 a.m. Next Gen Finals: Final Tennis

LSU receiver Anderson declares for NFL draft

LSU redshirt junior wide receiver Aaron Anderson declared for the NFL draft Saturday, making it official that he will not use his final year of eligibility.

The decision was expected after Anderson participated in LSU’s senior night ceremony and accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl. He announced the decision in social-media post.

Anderson, a New Orleans native, was one of LSU’s top wide receivers when healthy the past two years. He caught 106 passes for 1,341 yards and five touchdowns during his career.

As a five-star recruit in the 2022 recruiting class, Anderson signed with Alabama out of Edna Karr High. He spent one season with the Crimson Tide, but he did not play because of a knee injury.

Frontcourt starters not a given for Mulkey Kuchar team leads by 2 LSU has options to play matchups

at PNC Championship

ORLANDO, Fla. — Matt Kuchar and his college-bound son made birdie on all but three holes for a 15-under 57 to build a two-shot lead over John Daly and his college son in the PNC Championship on a gorgeous Saturday when both sons carried the load in a scramble format.

Cameron Kuchar, who is going to TCU next year, drilled a driver and hit wedge to a foot on the first hole for birdie. Matt Kuchar followed with a drive, wedge and a putt for birdie on the next. That’s when Cameron got the idea to keep track of “solo birdies” made on their own shots.

The game within a game — Cameron won — carried them to the low score at the Ritz-Carlton Club and a chance to win the Willie Park Trophy.

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

For each of her first four seasons at LSU, coach Kim Mulkey chose a group of starters and stuck to it. She set a starting lineup in November or December and hardly ever changed it once the Tigers crossed into January and February.

This year, that approach will change. Mulkey knows which guards will start — Jada Richard, Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams. But she’s less sure which post players will occupy the two frontcourt spots. All four of them — ZaKiyah Johnson, Grace Knox, Kate Koval and Amiya Joyner — will rotate in and out of the starting lineup throughout SEC play.

“I don’t know from game to game which ones I’m gonna start,” Mulkey said Tuesday, “so there’s no two that are gonna always play together.”

Mulkey already has used four different starting lineups. She could try out a fifth Sunday when LSU hosts Texas-Arlington at 1 p.m. (SEC Network) in the penultimate nonconference game of the season.

The two post players who start likely will play about the same number of minutes as the pair who come off the bench.

The No. 5 Tigers (12-0) are deep and balanced. Eleven contributors are playing more than 12 minutes per game, and no one is playing more than 25. Seven players are scoring at least 10 points per contest, and no one is scoring more than 16.

The balance is most evident in the frontcourt. Johnson, Koval, Knox and Joyner each see the floor for an average of 18 minutes per game.

“I feel like we can go in with each other,” Knox said, “and use different strengths and just be able to score the ball, whether we have two bigs or two smalls or one and one.

“I feel like it works out pretty

Paul says jaw is broken after KO loss to Joshua

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU forwards Amiya Joyner, left, and Grace Knox, back, fight for control of the ball against Charlotte on Nov. 12 at the PMAC. Joyner and Knox are part of a four-player frontcourt rotation. ä Texas-Arlington at LSU.

1 P.M. SUNDAy, SEC NETWORK

well with the style of play that we want.”

Koval and Joyner are the bruisers. Koval is a 6-foot-5 sophomore who transferred to LSU from Notre Dame. Joyner is a 6-2 senior who spent the first three years of her career at East Carolina.

They’re the Tigers’ two leading rebounders, and they’re each converting more than 60% of their field-goal attempts.

Johnson and Knox are the athletic freshmen. Both were highprofile recruits, and both have impressed in the first dozen games of their collegiate careers.

Knox has the third-best field-

goal percentage (72%) among Division I players who are taking at least five shots per game. Johnson has the highest scoring average among all of LSU’s post players (11.8 ppg). She and Knox are two of the nation’s eight freshmen who are both scoring at least 10 points and grabbing at least five rebounds per game for a powerconference team.

“We’re the smaller posts,” Johnson said, “and we can use our speed to our advantage. So I just think it helps a lot. You can look at different lineups and switch it up and just figure different things out.”

On Tuesday in a 58-point win over Morgan State, Mulkey started Johnson next to Joyner for the fifth time this season. The Tigers

outscored the Bears by 18 points across the 15 minutes in which they shared the floor.

Johnson has started next to both Koval and Joyner, while Knox has started next to both Johnson and Koval, but not Joyner.

Once LSU starts facing SEC opponents, Mulkey will let the matchup dictate which combination of post players she puts on the floor to begin games — something she hasn’t done since she began her tenure in Baton Rouge.

“That will change the entire year,” Mulkey said, “because all four of them can play, and they can all four help us. It will really depend on the scouting report.”

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

McMahon experiments with Tigers’ lineups

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Length and physicality.

Those are two traits that coach Matt McMahon has prioritized for his LSU men’s basketball team this season.

The team’s frontcourt of 6-foot10 Mike Nwoko and 6-9 Marquel Sutton epitomized that when they combined for 37 points on 13-of-15 shooting, 15 rebounds, two blocks and two steals in a 78-65 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Friday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Promising size among the wings also exists. LSU (10-1) has a pair of 6-6 seniors in Max Mackinnon and Rashad King, and 6-5 freshman Ron Zipper, 22, from Israel has received earlier playing time recently.

Another significant part of the Tigers’ winning formula is their 6-1 floor general Dedan Thomas.

McMahon entrusts the offense to the UNLV transfer. What’s been new is playing him alongside 6-foot backup point guard Jalen Reece.

Against Southeastern, McMahon played Reece 14 minutes, with about six of them coming alongside Thomas. McMahon started the season playing one of his lead

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU guard Dedan Thomas, right, passes the ball to Marquel Sutton against Southeastern on Friday at the PMAC. guards at a time. This is the third straight game where they joined forces for extended minutes, starting in the 24-point loss to No. 19 Texas Tech on Dec. 7.

McMahon said that part of the reason for going small in the backcourt against Southeastern was because the Lions were among the top-25 teams in the country

at forcing turnovers. The thought was that if LSU plays a couple of low-turnover players in Reece and Thomas, that issue would be mitigated. The Tigers finished with eight turnovers in the game.

McMahon is also implementing this wrinkle to see whether it’s another way for his team to run an efficient offense.

“Two point guards on the court at the same time, and they’re ballhandlers and decision-makers, so you hope it leads to good shot creation, ball security on your offensive end,” McMahon said.

While the pairing hasn’t produced obvious positive results the past few games, McMahon said it is something he’ll use if it makes sense from a matchup standpoint, as it did against SMU, who plays two guards under 6-3 together for long periods.

“Probably not the best lineup for us against teams with 6-7, 6-6 wings out there,” McMahon said. “But I think there’ll be opportunities for us to continue to experiment with that group, and I always have enjoyed having multiple playmakers on the floor at the same time.”

Unlocking ways for LSU to generate efficient offense is the hope before Southeastern Conference play begins in January.

MIAMI — Jake Paul’s jaw was broken in two places in his loss to former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in Miami.

Joshua scored a sixth-round knockout victory over Paul, who posted on Saturday an X-ray of his damaged jaw.

“Double broken jaw,” the YouTuber wrote on Instagram. “Give me Canelo in 10 days.” In a separate post from what appeared to be a hospital room, he added: “thanks for all the support I’m OK.” Joshua ended the heavyweight bout with a powerful punch to Paul’s jaw, sending the American to the canvas for the fourth and final time. Paul was counted out as he struggled to get to his feet.

Concerns were raised in the buildup due to the mismatch in size and skills. Paul weighed in at 216 pounds, and Joshua at 243.

Report: Southern to hire Sacramento St. assistant

Southern football coach Marshall Faulk is expected to hire Sacramento State offensive coordinator Ken Merchant as his offensive coordinator, according to a report from CBS Sports.

Merchant was previously an assistant coach at UNLV and Monroe College. He spent one season at Sacramento State, where he was also the quarterbacks coach.

Sacramento State (7-5) was third in the Big Sky Conference in points per game (36.4) and fourth in total yards (3,473).

CBS Sports also reported that Florida State graduate assistant Ben Miles, the son of former LSU head coach Les Miles, will be the team’s tight ends coach.

ASU coach Dillingham signs 5-year extension

TEMPE, Ariz. — Kenny Dillingham insisted he had no interest in leaving Arizona State. All he wanted was for his program and assistant coaches to get the resources they needed to be successful.

Dillingham got his wish on Saturday, signing a five-year contract extension that will raise his salary to an average of $7.5 million per year and increase the salary pool for his assistants to $11 million — one of the highest in the Big 12.

Dillingham, 35, had been reportedly in the mix for high-profile jobs, insisting after a win against West Virginia that he wasn’t going anywhere. The ASU alum became the youngest coach in the FBS when he was hired at 32 and, after an injury-plagued first season, led the Sun Devils to the Big 12 championship.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 3C

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Seniors shine 1 last time in Red Stick Bowl

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

For one last time in high school, Bulldogs quarterback Da’Jean Golmond stepped into the huddle to try and lead a game-winning drive for his team.

In the 22nd edition of the Red Stick Bowl, a high school football all-star game featuring Baton Rouge-area seniors, the Bulldogs trailed the Wolves 30-27 with less than five minutes to go.

Golmond guided his team down the field on a 12-play, 80-yard drive.

He completed passes of 20, 8 and 26 yards to get the Bulldogs into the red zone. On third and long, he delivered a pass to an outstretched Johnny McCarty, who held on for the touchdown with 1:53 left.

“In my head, I’m thinking, ‘You don’t have to force nothing,’ “ Golmond said. “Just take what they give you and try not to be too greedy. Play my cards right.”

The Bulldogs defeated the Wolves 34-30 on Saturday afternoon at Olympia Stadium. Golmond was awarded player of the game. He threw three touchdown passes, including one to his twin brother Da’Sean Golmond.

“It was fun playing with my brother again,” Da’Jean Golmond said. “Hopefully, we can go play at

the next level together.”

The Golmond twins from Denham Springs also played alongside three other Yellow Jackets and two Denham Springs coaches, including Carl DiJohn, who was designated as the Bulldogs head coach.

After capping off a historic season, running back Trevin Simon went to work for the Wolves to start the game. He carried the ball three times, breaking off a 20-yard run, and later punched it in on a 2-yard touchdown.

The Bulldogs reached into their bag of tricks on the opening play of the next drive.

Da’Jean Golmond threw a short pass to his brother along the sideline. He caught the ball and then pitched it back to running back Sage Ingram, who took off for an 80-yard touchdown.

Ingram said he felt blessed to get one more opportunity to represent his school, University High, and get a win.

“We didn’t end the way we wanted to,” Ingram said about U-High.

“Today, it was a redemption move for me and a lot of my teammates that got kicked out of the playoffs.”

The two sides traded field goals later in the first half.

Bulldogs quarterback Cooper Babin entered the game and drove his side down the field. He capped

off a 17-play, 88-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.

The Wolves answered after quarterback Genard Green found running back Brody Knapps late in the second quarter. Knapps caught a screen pass, and his outstretched arm crossed the pylon to make it 17-17 at the break.

Da’Jean Golmond started the second half with three completions of 10 or more yards. He capped it off with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Da’Sean Golmond.

Bulldogs kicker Ben Jones made it a 10-point game after nailing a 27-yard field goal late in the third.

On the ensuing kickoff, an 81-yard return moved the ball to the Bulldogs’ 11.

Two plays later, running back Nathan Burleigh punched it into the end zone on a 9-yard run to cut the deficit to three.

Midway through the fourth, the Wolves forced a three-and-out and got the ball at their own 43. On the first play, Green found tight end Chris Anthens on a seam route for STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK a 57-yard touchdown to put his side Denham Springs quarterback Da’Jean Golmond scrambles in the pocket in front 30-27.

The Bulldogs answered with a in the Red Stick Bowl on Saturday at BREC’s Olympia Stadium.

Da’Jean Golmond touchdown pass.

The Wolves reached the Bulldogs’ one last Hail Mary attempt, but the experience. “Getting to know them 45 with six seconds left. Green pass fell incomplete. on a personal level, and I made threw it out to Cale Alexander on “It was fun meeting everybody,” some bonds that I’ll continue to a double pass. Alexander heaved Da’Jean Golmond said about the build on.”

Simon among five Bulldogs named to 1A All-State team

BY JACKSON REYES

Staff writer

Five Ascension Catholic players received LSWA Class 1A all-state recognition after the Bulldogs’ season ended in a Division IV select state title appearance.

Ascension Catholic running back Trevin Simon and offensive lineman Vaughn Blanchard earned first-team honors from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Simon, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound senior, was named the outstanding offensive player after a recordsetting season.

Simon rushed for 3,915 yards and 58 touchdowns on 334 carries in his first season as a running back. His numbers were Louisiana high school state records, previously held by Leesville’s Xavier Ford in 2024.

Blanchard, a 6-3, 260-pound senior and three-year starter, helped pave the way for Simon’s historic season.

Senior defensive lineman Josh Barber, junior linebacker John Rob Daigle and junior defensive back Jacob Julien all earned allstate honorable mention status.

Barber was a four-year starter

LSWA CLASS 1A ALL-STATE TEAM Offense Pos. Player WR Eli Bullock WR Kenric Johnson WR Roderick Tezeno OL Vaughn Blanchard OL Dakota Davis OL Gabe Galvez OL Gregory Green OL Kabren Thomas QB Javon Vital RB Makelin Lemoine RB Jayden Obiekwe RB Trevin Simon PK Eli Bray ATH Owen Trosclair

School Montgomery Riverside Opelousas Catholic Ascension Catholic Haynesville Riverside Jeanerette Covenant Christian Hamilton Christian Elton Riverside Ascension Catholic Haynesville Covenant Christian

Wt. 130 159 180 250 255 285 265 212 185 185 180 160 190 165

Class So. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

Wt. 271 185 220 175 220 210 165 165 185 180 170 170 180 175 175

Class Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr.

Defense Pos. Player School Ht. DL Ahmad Cage Riverside 5-10 DL Cameron Joyce Hamilton Christian 5-8 DL Matt Lalonde Westminster-Opelousas 6-3 DL Wyatt Poland St. Frederick 5-11 LB Kyle Horde Westminster-Opelousas 6-2 LB Raymond Jack Jeanerette 6-2 LB Huntin Martin Logansport 5-9 LB Peyton Trosclair Covenant Christian 5-9 DB Damien Thomas Westminster-Opelousas 5-9 DB Jace Trosclair Riverside 5-9 DB Jaidon Ward Jeanerette 5-11 DB Isaiah Washington Haynesville 6-3 P Mac Proffitt Westminster-Opelousas 6-2 ATH L’Travious Brooks Haynesville 5-11 RS Kobe Gage Jeanerette 5-8 OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Trevin Simon, Ascension Catholic OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Isaiah Washington, Haynesville COACH OF THE YEAR: David Franklin, Haynesville

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Ascension Catholic running back Trevin Simon heads to the end zone for a touchdown against Riverside during the Division IV select state championship game on Dec. 11 at the Caesars Superdome. for the Bulldogs. He tallied 45 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Daigle tallied 130 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup and had one interception. Julien racked up 25 tack-

les, eight pass breakups, seven interceptions and had one forced fumble.

Catholic-Pointe Coupee senior quarterback Jude Morrison was an honorable mention choice after throwing for 24 touchdowns and rushing for 23.

Honorable mention

Logan Amidon, Cedar Creek; Josh Barber, Ascension Catholic; Andrea Brooks, Haynesville; Keaton Cason, Logansport; Romyn Cortez, Basile; John Rob Daigle, Ascension Catholic; Nathan Driggs, St. Edmund; Wyatt Dubois, St. Edmund; Jeremiah Evans, Haynesville; Michael French, St. Mary’s; Pierce Gable, Westminster-Lafayette; Kalon Gardner, West St. John; Gregory Green, Jeanerette; Sammy Griffin, Opelousas Catholic; JP Guerriero, St. Frederick; Payton Harris, Cedar Creek; Tucker Johnson, St. Mary’s; Mason Jordan, Montgomery; Jacob Julien, Ascension Catholic; Dakota Knox, Jonesboro-Hodge; Wyatt King, LaSalle; Jabari Levingston, Lincoln Prep; Maurice Marcel, Opelousas Catholic; Luke McLain, Vermilion Catholic; Branon Mitchell, Ascension Episcopal; Jude Morrison, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; Haiden Nelson, St. Mary’s; Myka Nipple, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; Owen O’Neil, St. Frederick; Conner Payne, Westminster-Opelousas; Brayden Percle, Covenant Christian; Ryan Randolph, Lincoln Prep; Julian Rideau, Hamilton Christian; Blake Robinson, Cedar Creek; Julian Rideau, Hamilton Christian; Gabe Savarese, St. Martin’s; Tyler Simpson, Delta Charter; Trey Spann, Lincoln Prep; Davin Simon, Elton; Drake Theriot, Central Catholic-MC; John Paul Thibodaux, St. Mary’s; Jax Tingler, Grand Lake; Benton Trosclair, Covenant Christian; Pacer Williams, Logansport; Patrick Williams, Covenant Christian; Braxton Woodring, Ascension Episcopal.

Zion sparks Pelicans to fourth win in a row

BY LES EAST

PREP REPORT Basketball Boys Saturday’s games

Contributing writer The New Orleans Pelicans won their previous game by charging back from a 25-point, third-quarter deficit to prevail in overtime.

They made things easier Saturday by never trailing, racing to a 17-point lead after one quarter and defeating the Indiana Pacers 128-109 in the Smoothie King Center for their fourth consecutive win.

Zion Williamson, who didn’t play during most of the comeback against Houston on Thursday, came off the bench to tie his season-high with 29 points for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey scored 18; Derik Queen had 17 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth doubledouble of the season; Trey Murphy scored 17; and Jordan Poole chipped in 16. Starting guard Herb Jones suffered a head injury in the first quarter, played the last half of the second quarter but did not leave the locker room after halftime.

The Pelicans (7-22) will play the Dallas Mavericks at 7 p.m. Monday in the Smoothie King Center.

Pascal Siakam scored 22 points, Johnny Furphy had 18, and T.J. McConnell recorded 16 to lead the Pacers (6-22).

Indiana began the third quarter with an 11-5 run that pulled it within 69-60. Williamson entered the game less than four minutes into the period and quickly scored seven straight New Orleans points to push the lead to 16.

The Pelicans extended the lead to as many as 21 points before holding a 98-79 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Ht. 5-6 5-9 6-3 6-3 5-10 6-0 6-2 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-9 6-1 5-9

Istrouma 68, Bolton 31 Dunham 67, St. Augustine 55 Catholic High 74, Ouachita Parish 65 St. Amant 57, Prairieville 38 Comeaux 53, East Iberville 51 Menard 62, Central Private 60 Patrick Taylor 39, St. John 37

Girls Saturday’s games Family Christian 49, Assumption 28 Dutchtown 63, Holden 55 Liberty 65, Tioga 57 Walker 64, Delhi 13 Lafayette Christian 47, Woodlawn 44 Zachary 65, Barbe 24 Acadiana 53, Cecilia 30 Madison Prep 67, Bell City 50 LaGrange 63, Madison Prep 41 Parkview Baptist 49, Chapelle 34 University 71, Vidalia 33 Teurlings Catholic 68, Episcopal 42 Central Lafourche 59, East Iberville 33

Friday Prairieville 57, South Lafourche 21 South Lafourche 2 10 7 2 -21 Prairieville 9 22 17 9 -57 SCORING: SOUTH LAFOURCHE: Kinsley Terrebonne 10, Nyla Lyons 4, Alayna Guidry 4, Kourtney Duet 2, Kami Pitre 1; PRAIRIEVILLE: Aubrey Theriot 16, Kailey Miles 11, KK Snyder Kemp 10, Marly Gaitlin 7, Rhian Comery 8, Cailyn Sheets 3, Whitney Kleibert 2 3-POINT GOALS: Prairieville (2) Miles, Sheets; South Lafourche: (1) Terrebonne.

RECORDS: Prairieville 10-3, South Lafourche 8-2.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson dunks against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday at the Smoothie King Center.

The Pacers trimmed the lead to nine early in the fourth quarter, but Bey made a layup and followed with a three-point play for a 107-93 lead. New Orleans expanded the lead to as many as 25 points.

The Pelicans had their highestscoring first quarter of the season, which led to their largest

lead at the end of a first quarter.

They shot 60.7% (17 of 28) from the floor and 44.4% (4 of 9) on 3-pointers to lead by as many as 19 points on their way to a 44-27 lead entering the second quarter.

Murphy led the way with 10 points, Williamson added 11, and six of their teammates had at least three points.

Indiana scored the first nine points of the second quarter to start a 14-2 run. New Orleans didn’t make a field goal until Queen had a layup with 6:46 left in the period. Queen had two more baskets and Williamson added eight points during an 18-8 run that gave the Pelicans a 64-49 halftime lead.

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Ole Miss 41, Tulane 10

BOX SCORE

THREE AND OUT: GUERRy SMITH’S TOP TAKEAWAyS FROM TULANE’S CFP LOSS IN OXFORD

No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10 Tulane Ole Miss

First quarter

0 14

3 3

0 10

7 14

— —

10 41

OLE MISS — Lacy 20 run (Carneiro kick), 14:01.

OLE MISS — Chambliss 4 run (Carneiro kick), 7:26.

Second quarter

TULANE — FG Durkin 39, 14:06.

OLE MISS — FG Carneiro 42, 3:38.

Third quarter

OLE MISS — Stribling 13 pass from Chambliss (Carneiro kick), 10:13.

OLE MISS — FG Carneiro 48, 4:57.

Fourth quarter

OLE MISS — Diggs 3 run (Carneiro kick), 14:55.

OLE MISS — Chambliss 8 run (Carneiro kick), 10:45.

TULANE — Reid 29 pass from Retzlaff (Durkin kick), 4:00.

A — 68,251 TULANE OLE MISS First downs 20 30 Total Net Yards 421 497 Rushes-yards 34-115 34-151 Passing 306 346 Punt Returns 1-3 0-0 Kickoff Returns 1-31 0-0 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-15 Comp-Att-Int 20-37-1 27-34-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-9 2-15 Punts 3-42.0 3-44.667 Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-1 Penalties-Yards 3-38 1-5 Time of Possession 31:01 28:59

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Tulane, McClure 15-84, Retzlaff 11-24, Gordon 6-11, Turner 1-0, BrownStephens 1-(minus 4). Ole Miss, Lacy 15-87, Chambliss 6-36, D.Taylor 4-25, Diggs 4-11, Alexander 1-0, (Team) 2-(minus 2), Simmons 2-(minus 6).

PASSING — Tulane, Retzlaff 20-35-1-306, Hayes 0-1-0-0, Sullivan 0-1-0-0. Ole Miss, Chambliss 23-29-0-282, Simmons 4-5-0-64.

RECEIVING — Tulane, Brown-Stephens 6-57, Preston 5-125, Hayes 4-52, Reid 1-29, Mmahat 1-18, Shackelford 1-9, Z.Lewis 1-8, Pascuzzi 1-8. Ole Miss, Alexander 7-87, Stribling 5-79, Wright 4-64, Diggs 2-25, Wallace 2-19, Odom 2-14, Lee 2-12, Price 1-35, Lacy 1-7, Hartrup 1-4.

MISSED FIELD GOALS — None.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS

SOLO TACKLES-ASSISTS-TOTAL, TFL/YARDS, SACKS/YARDS: TULANE: Kevin Adams (5-3-8); Bailey Despanie (6-2-8); Jack Tchienchou (5-1-6); Sam Howard (5-1-6); Chris Rodgers (2-3-5, 0.5-3, 0.5-3); Javion White (2-2-4); Jordan Horman (0-4-4); Jaheim Johnson (2-2-4); Isaiah Woadsword (3-0-3); E’zaiah Shine (3-0-3); Makai Williams (1-2-3); Joshua Moore (0-2-2); MO Westmoreland (0-1-1, 0.54, 0.5-4); Harvey Dyson (1-0-1, 1-8, 1-8). OLE MISS: TJ Dottery (2-4-6); Will Echoles (3-3-6.

1-4); Wydett Williams (1-4-5); Suntarine Perkins (3-1-4, 2.5-7); Kam Franklin (3-1-4, 0.5-3, 0.5-3); Kapena Gushkken (4-0-4); Da’Shawn Womack (3-1-4); tajh Chambers (2-2-4); Antonio Kite (2-1-3); Andrew Jones (1-2-3); Zxavian Harris (1-2-3, 0.5-1); Traylan Ray (2-0-2); Princewill Umanmielen (1-1-2, 1.5-6, 1.5-6); TJ Banks (2-0-2); Nick Cull (1-1-2).

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tulane wide receiver Shazz Preston tosses the ball to a referee after a reception near the sideline during the first half of Saturday’s game in Oxford, Miss.

Tulane schedule Date Opponent 8.30 Northwestern 9.6 at South Alabama 9.13 Duke 9.20 at Ole Miss 9.27 at Tulsa 10.9 East Carolina 10.18 Army 10.30 at UTSA 11.7 at Memphis 11.15 Florida Atlantic 11.22 at Temple 11.29 Charlotte 12.5 North Texas 12.20 at Ole Miss

Time/TV W, 23-3 W, 33-31 W, 34-27 L, 10-45 W, 31-14 W, 26-19 W, 24-7 L, 26-48 W, 38-32 W, 35-24 W, 37-13 W, 27-0 W, 34-21 L, 41-10

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WHAT WE LEARNED Tulane was no more prepared to hang with Ole Miss than in their September meeting, as Vaught Hemingway Stadium continued to be a house of horrors. Perhaps frozen by the momentous occasion, the defense gave up five consecutive gains of 20 or more yards to start the game before settling down for a while. In the 41-10 loss to the Rebels, the offense moved well in its own territory but was awful once it crossed midfield. Jake Retzlaff threw an early interception, lost two fumbles and overthrew wide-open receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens for what would have been a touchdown in the third quarter.

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TRENDING NOW Change. With coach Jon Sumrall off to Florida and passing game coordinator Will Hall replacing him, Tulane will see if it can maintain the incredible momentum it has generated in the past four years — first under Willie Fritz and then Sumrall. Five years ago, no one could have imagined the run of success the Wave was about to embark on — two American Conference championships, a Cotton Bowl win against USC and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and four straight appearances in the league title matchup. The Wave is better positioned for continued success than ever.

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FINAL THOUGHTS This was a bitterly disappointing performance for a team that was hellbent on proving its 45-10 September loss was not representative of the difference between the two teams. Turns out it absolutely was. The same mismatch on the perimeter reared up again, with cornerback E’Zaiah Shine struggling to make one-one-one tackles and the receivers rarely getting much separation. The score was eerily similar to the first meeting at the end of each quarter, with any hope being snuffed early in the third quarter when an opening drive produced no points.

NOTEBOOK

Win extra sweet for Golding

New Ole Miss head coach returning home to lead Rebels in Sugar Bowl

BY ZACH EWING Staff writer

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss denied Tulane the opportunity to play a College Football Playoff quarterfinal in its home city, but the Rebels bring their own New Orleans connections to the Sugar Bowl.

New head coach Pete Golding is from Hammond, and he revealed after Saturday’s 41-10 win over the Green Wave that he had an additional reason to be excited for his trip back to south Louisiana.

“I’m most excited that my brother had a second child last week who we have not seen yet in New Orleans, and so I get to see my nephew,” Golding said. “I’ve got a niece, but it’s my first nephew. I’m super pumped up about that.”

Ole Miss (12-1) will play No. 3 seed Georgia (12-1) in the CFP quarterfinals at the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day at the Caesars Superdome. Two regular Rebels’ contributors, running back Logan Diggs (Rummel) and linebacker Andrew Jones (John Ehret), are from the New Orleans area.

“We’ve got a lot of guys from Louisiana and south Mississippi, Mobile area and all of that,” Golding said. “So I think it’s really good for our players, and obviously our fans. … New Orleans is a place everybody enjoys going to visit. It’s a great venue; the Sugar Bowl does an unbelievable job.”

It’s a matchup of two of the most common programs to appear in the Sugar Bowl: It’s Georgia’s 13th appearance (and second consecutive), which is tied with LSU for the second-most behind Alabama’s 17. Fourth on the list is Ole Miss, which is making its 11th foray to the Sugar — but only the Rebels’ third since 1970. Ole Miss beat Oklahoma State in the 2016 Sugar Bowl and lost to Baylor in 2022.

Georgia handed Ole Miss its only loss of the season, a 43-35 setback on Oct. 18 in Athens, Georgia.

Despite all that history, it will be the first time the Bulldogs and Rebels face each other in the Sugar Bowl.

“We knew we would have a tremendous matchup no matter who won the CFP first-round game,” said Dottie Reese, the president

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ROGELIO V. SOLIS

Tulane coach Jon Sumrall, left, and Ole Miss coach Pete Golding talk before Saturday’s College Football Playoff game in Oxford, Miss. of the Sugar Bowl Committee.

“We’re confident that having two of the best teams from the SEC facing off here in the Sugar Bowl will be a memorable event for our local fans, the supporters of the schools, and college football fans across the country.”

plays.

“I had zero concern with Charlie Weis calling this game for just one reason,” Golding said. “Charlie Weis could not afford not to call a hell of a game. All he’s heard is, ‘It’s Lane Kiffin’s offense, it’s Lane Kiffin’s offense, it’s Lane Kiffin’s offense.’ This was his one The LSU connection opportunity for people to realize Both teams were dealing with Charlie Weis calls the offense, coaching transition in the lead-up just like he’s done all year. He to Saturday’s game. Tulane coach did a great job tonight, and I had Jon Sumrall took the head coaching no concern on that, because the job at Florida but vowed to stay last thing Charlie wanted to do is with the Green Wave until its come out here and lay an egg.” playoff run was over.

Ole Miss, on the other hand, Record attendance didn’t want Lane Kiffin to stick Ole Miss officials announced around after he left for LSU. But an overflow capacity crowd of the Rebels did invite back offen- 68,251, the largest in Vaught sive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., and Hemingway Stadium and school some of his staff to coach and call history. The previous record was from Ole Miss’ previous home plays for any playoff games.

Golding said he was confident game, when 68,138 saw the Rebels Weis would do a good job, a feel- beat Florida on Nov. 15.

Ole Miss handed out Santa hats ing that was validated by the Rebels’ lightning-quick start in which to all fans, later posting on social they scored two touchdowns and media that 68,002 Santa hats were gained 135 yards on just seven handed out and suggesting that it

was a world record.

The crowd was also the largest to watch a Tulane game since Sept. 14, 2024, when 83,325 attended the Green Wave’s game at Oklahoma.

Mannings make appearance Eli Manning, the New Orleans native and Ole Miss legend, was in attendance for Saturday’s game, as was his father, Saints Hall of Famer Archie Manning.

The two quarterbacks represent two of Ole Miss’ four retired numbers: Archie’s 18 and Eli’s 10.

Despite their ties to New Orleans, there was no doubt in the Mannings’ rooting interests; they were both decked out in Rebels red along with family in their suite. Eli Manning was on the field before the game when Golding emerged from the locker room to a huge ovation and was the first to greet him.

Archie Manning spoke to the Ole Miss players at practice Friday in a video the team shared on social media.

Tulane offense goes nowhere against Ole Miss

The litany of mistakes made it on second and 4 from the Ole Miss a hidden-ball trick.

Wave moves ball, but drives end in frustration 23 “I’ve got to call better plays,” impossible. on Tulane’s first series. Wideout

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

OXFORD, Miss. — Tulane’s only snap inside the Ole Miss 20 on Saturday was an unsuccessful reverse to wide receiver Anthony BrownStephens that knocked the Green Wave out of the red zone.

Brown-Stephens’ 4-yard loss was a microcosm of the gamelong struggles for an offense that moved the ball well until it really mattered. Almost never have 421 yards been more empty than in the Wave’s 41-10 first-round College Football Playoff defeat to the Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Six drives that crossed midfield produced a grand total of three points before a meaningless 29yard touchdown reception by tight end Justyn Reid late in the fourth quarter.

“The situational stuff wasn’t good for us,” coach Jon Sumrall said. “We just could not capitalize on opportunities to maybe get some momentum going to where we would have a fighting chance.”

Ole Miss, which came in averaging 37.3 points, always was going to score.

Tulane had to keep up and failed miserably.

The reverse to Brown-Stephens, which came on second and 2 from the Ole Miss 17 with a 14-0 deficit, was a prime example.

“Yeah, it should have worked,” Sumrall said. “We had leverage and didn’t get it. That’s the frustrating part.

“We had some big, explosive plays, but we stalled out too often after having drives.”

The list of missed opportunities was long, beginning with quarterback Jake Retzlaff’s interception

Omari Hayes dropped a contested catch on fourth and 2 from the Ole Miss 37 on the Wave’s next series.

Retzlaff was stuffed on tush pushes on third and fourth and 1 after the Wave reached the Ole Miss 47 while trailing 24-3 in the third quarter.

“Last game (a 45-10 loss to Ole Miss in September) I did a terrible job of sticking with quarterback sneak,” offensive coordinator Joe Craddock said. “It worked every single time, and we got away from it. We kind of felt like this game we could come back to that, and it probably was not a good idea by me.”

A little later, Tulane did go away from the sneak on fourth and 1 and put Retlzaff in the shotgun. He lost a fumble while trying to pick up the first down — his second in as many possessions after coughing it up at the end of a 7-yard gain on

Craddock said. “Execution has got to be better, all the things. I just think that when it mattered the most, I didn’t call a good enough game, and I’ve got to be better there.”

Retzlaff completed 20 of 35 passes for 306 yards, providing a massive contrast to his 5 of 17 for 56 yards in September. Redshirt freshman running back Jamauri McClure, who was fifth string in the first meeting, gained 84 yards on 15 carries.

Those numbers ultimate meant nothing when the Wave could not finish drives. Right before his third turnover, Retzlaff overthrew a wide-open Brown-Stephens for what would have been a 53-yard touchdown.

“We can’t turn the ball over like we did,” Sumrall said. “You can’t beat a team like this turning the football over that way.”

“All I can really say, we just weren’t executing when we really needed to,” McClure said. “That was really it.

“We were driving down the field, getting to the spots we needed them. We just didn’t finish. That’s the main thing.”

Instead of avenging the blowout loss in September, the Wave spent another three hours and 24 minutes of total frustration.

“There’s a lot of hurt people in that locker room right now because they love each other, and that’s something pretty special that coach (Sumrall) has built on this team,” Craddock said. “Our guys have gotten really close. I love those guys. It’s really hard to look at some of them knowing that it might be the last time they ever play college football or football in general and maybe the last time I get to coach them.”

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 5C

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF C

Freshman Toney lifts Miami past A&M WR redeems himself with late TD after fumble

BY KRISTIE RIEKEN AP sportswriter

COLLEGE STATION,Texas — Malachi Toney’s tiebreaking 11-yard touchdown reception with less than two minutes left lifted No. 10 seed Miami to a 10-3 victory over No. 7 Texas A&M on Saturday in the College Football Playoff.

Mark Fletcher had a career-high 172 yards rushing to help the Hurricanes (11-2) advance to the Cotton Bowl to face second-seeded Ohio State on Dec. 31.

Miami has won five straight since dropping two of three games.

“Forty-plus days ago, we were lower than low and found a way to just bring a different level of energy ev-

ery single day and lift each other and the program up,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said.

“And here we are with a chance to keep playing, and that’s all that matters now, 1-0.”

Toney’s big play came a series after what looked like a devastating mistake for the freshman. Toney made a reception, but Dalton Brooks knocked the ball out and Daymion Sanford recovered it on the Texas A&M 47 with about seven minutes to go.

Teammates surrounded a visibly upset Toney on the bench, encouraging him and trying to keep him positive.

“You saw the entire team just go right to him after

the fumble,” Cristobal said.

“Everybody trusts him. A lot of the reason we are here today is his playmaking ability. ... They knew that there was going to be some more football to be played, and he was going to be a big part of the reason we were going to have a chance to pull out the game.”

He and Miami’s offense got another chance when Rueben Bain sacked Marcel Reed on two of three plays on the ensuing drive to force a punt.

A career-long 56-yard run

by Fletcher on the first play of the next drive got the Hurricanes to the Texas A&M 30 with about three minutes to go.

Miami used four more runs by Fletcher to get

The Hurricanes used a suffocating defensive performance to stifle Texas A&M’s powerful offense, which entered the game averaging 36.3 points a game.

They harassed Reed into a mistake-filled performance that included a first-quarter fumble along with the interceptions.

They sacked him seven times and flushed him out of the pocket and forced him to try to make tough throws again and again.

He was 25 of 39 for 257 ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SAM CRAFT yards but was unable to get Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney returns a punt against the Aggies in the end zone Texas A&M during the second quarter Saturday in College for the first time this seaStation, Texas. Toney’s 11-yard touchdown reception with less son. than two minutes remaining gave the Hurricanes a 10-3 win.

“We thought this season obviously could have been into scoring position be- to tie it after that, but Bryce a lot better than what it fore Toney took the short Fitzgerald intercepted a ended at, but we’re proud toss from Carson Beck and pass for the second time — of what we accomplished,” dashed into the end zone. this time in the end zone — Reed said.

“We’re growing.”

The Aggies had a chance to end it.

No. 1 Indiana looks to defy its painful past against Bama

BY CLIFF BRUNT

ä Rose Bowl: Alabama

Alabama and Indiana couldn’t have more different football histories.

This Indiana team couldn’t be more unlike the program’s painful past.

Alabama will play No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in a national quarterfinal matchup between a blue blood and the ultimate upstart. Alabama is one of the most successful programs in college football, with six national titles this century. Indiana has never won a New Year’s Six game and has no bowl victories since 1991.

Alabama (11-3) is well aware that this Indiana team is different. The Hoosiers (13-0) feature Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has been AP Coach of the Year the past two seasons.

The Hoosiers beat previous No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game, showing they can handle a traditional power.

“We know they’re a special team and they’ve got a special season going, so it’ll be a great challenge for us,” DeBoer said.

Indiana looks forward to playing in the Rose Bowl, for years the assigned destination for the Big Ten champion.

“Obviously it’s the granddaddy of them all with a lot of great tradition involving the Big Ten, so we’re excited about that,” Cignetti said.

“At the end of the day, you know, it’s a football game.

“We’ll approach it like every other game.”

Both coaching staffs have been involved with the other program. Cignetti was an assistant at Alabama from 2007 to 2011. DeBoer was offensive coordinator at Indiana in 2019, and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack was a defensive assistant there for three seasons.

Alabama proved it doesn’t worry about opponent or situation when the ninthseeded Crimson Tide rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Oklahoma 34-24 on the road in the first round on Friday night.

“Man, I just think we’re a resilient team,” Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson said. “Even though we were down 17-0, we didn’t really look at the scoreboard. We know Coach DeBoer always says keep playing and the game will come back to you.

That’s been our mindset all year.”

Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said the comeback against Oklahoma shows that the Crimson Tide are ready for the next step.

“That’s the guys I know,” he said. “That’s the fight that I saw all the way back in August and in spring, and just seeing it come to life today, the last thing I told them was job not done. We’re still rolling.”

AP sportswriter

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tulane wide receiver Kellen Tasby, center, tries to block a kick by Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday.

TULANE

Continued from page 1C — Lacy’s longest run in that one was 12 yards — but Tulane was beaten badly on the perimeter each time.

“We just had to settle down,” Tulane linebacker Sam Howard said. “Emotions were high, but we didn’t execute at a high level. Once we got in the flow of the game, we started creating havoc plays.

We just had to find a way to start faster.”

The Wave held the Rebels to three points on their final four series of the first half. Mo Westmoreland’s second sack in as many games led to a three-andout on the third possession.

Harvey Dyson’s strip-sack of backup quarterback Austin Simmons, who briefly replaced an injured Chambliss late in the half, on first and goal from the 7 halted Ole Miss’ final drive.

That stop kept the highpowered Rebels from equaling or surpassing their 23-3 lead at the break in September. The issue was Tulane being stuck on three again.

Retzlaff’s early interception set the tone, coming after the Wave picked up three

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tulane wide receiver Garrett Mmahat runs along the side of the field with the ball against Ole Miss at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday. first downs to move to the Rebels’ 23.

“It’s obviously a really good defense,” said Retzlaff, who lost two fumbles in the second half. “It was kind of deja vu from earlier in the year when we moved the ball but couldn’t finish. It starts with me. I’ve got to be better.”

Tulane’s lone first-half points came courtesy of a 57-yard reception and run by wideout Shazz Preston on a floater down the sideline.

Even that play appeared dis-

jointed with two receivers in the same area, and the Wave settled for a 39-yard Patrick Durkin field goal that cut the deficit to 14-3.

The result became a formality when Tulane punted after three straight incomplete passes on its first drive of the second half before Ole Miss moved 80 yards in seven plays to go up 24-3 without facing a third down.

The Rebels, who scored on the first play of the fourth quarter to lead 31-3 in September, duplicated that feat

to move ahead 34-3 this time.

The only question the rest of the way was the margin of defeat.

“I told them it’s never OK to lose,” Sumrall said. “Anybody that tells you it’s OK to lose, get away from them for the rest of your life. I also told them that doesn’t change how I feel about them. I love this group. This team will walk together forever as champions because we won a conference championship.”

vs. Indiana, 3 P.M. JAN. 1, ESPN

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, right, and wide receiver Germie Bernard celebrate their 34-24 win against Oklahoma on Friday night in ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NATE BILLINGS Norman, Okla.

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6C ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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SAINTS GAMEDAY

ROSTERS

FOUR THINGS TO WATCH

SAINTS No. Player Pos Ht Wt Exp College 0 Ugo Amadi SAF 5-9 201 7 Oregon 1 Alontae Taylor CB 6-0 199 4 Tennessee 2 Spencer Rattler QB 6-0 211 2 South Carolina 4 Kool-Aid McKinstry CB 5-11 199 2 Alabama 6 Tyler Shough QB 6-5 219 0 Louisville 7 Taysom Hill QB 6-2 221 9 ByU 11 Dante Pettis WR 6-1 195 7 Washington 12 Chris Olave WR 6-0 187 4 Ohio State 15 Mason Tipton WR 5-11 187 2 yale 20 Pete Werner LB 6-3 242 5 Ohio State 21 Justin Reid SAF 6-1 207 8 Stanford 25 Rejzohn Wright CB 6-2 193 2 Oregon State 26 Terrell Burgess S 5-11 202 5 Utah 27 Isaac yiadom CB 6-1 188 8 Boston College 28 Danny Stutsman LB 6-3 236 0 Oklahoma 29 Quincy Riley CB 5-11 195 0 Louisville 30 Audric Estimé RB 5-11 227 2 Notre Dame 31 Jordan Howden DB 6-0 209 3 Minnesota 32 Kai Kroeger P 6-3 213 0 South Carolina 33 Jonas Sanker SAF 6-1 210 0 Virginia 34 Evan Hull RB 5-10 209 2 Northwestern 39 Charlie Smyth K 6-4 210 1 None 41 Alvin Kamara RB 5-10 215 9 Tennessee 43 Michael Davis CB 6-2 196 9 ByU 44 Isaiah Stalbird LB 6-1 215 1 SD State 49 Zach Wood LS 6-3 255 9 SMU 51 Cesar Ruiz OL 6-4 316 6 Michigan 53 Jaylan Ford LB 6-2 240 2 Texas 54 Jonah Williams DE 6-5 275 5 Weber State 56 Demario Davis LB 6-2 248 14 Arkansas State 58 Chris Rumph II DE 6-2 244 5 Duke 68 Torricelli Simpkins III OG 6-5 312 0 South Carolina 71 Kelvin Banks Jr. OT 6-5 315 0 Texas 72 Asim Richards OL 6-4 307 3 North Carolina 74 Xavier Truss OL 6-7 320 0 Georgia 75 Taliese Fuaga OT 6-6 324 2 Oregon State 77 Dillon Radunz OL 6-6 301 5 ND State 79 Luke Fortner OL 6-4 307 4 Kentucky 81 Kevin Austin Jr. WR 6-2 200 2 Notre Dame 83 Juwan Johnson TE 6-4 231 6 Oregon 87 Foster Moreau TE 6-4 250 7 LSU 88 Jack Stoll TE 6-4 247 5 Nebraska 90 Bryan Bresee DT 6-5 305 3 Clemson 92 Davon Godchaux DT 6-3 330 9 LSU 93 Nathan Shepherd DT 6-4 315 8 Fort Hays State 94 Cameron Jordan DE 6-4 287 15 California 95 John Ridgeway III DT 6-5 321 4 Arkansas 96 Carl Granderson DE 6-5 261 7 Wyoming 97 Khristian Boyd DT 6-2 320 2 Northern Iowa 98 Jonathan Bullard DE 6-3 290 10 Florida 99 Chase young DE 6-5 264 6 Ohio State

KEEP ON SHOUGHIN’

COOK ’EM

1

2

Rookie Tyler Shough has shown he’s the Saints’ quarterback of the future. He solidified that last week in the comeback victory over the Carolina Panthers when he completed 9 of 12 passes (that includes a spike to stop the clock) on the last two drives. Shough is 3-3 since taking over as the starter and has a chance to finish the season 6-3 with remaining games against the Jets, Titans and Falcons. Shough needs to keep building on what he’s done so far, especially against a defense that has zero interceptions this season.

While the Saints may have found their quarterback, the Jets are still searching. Undrafted rookie Brady Cook will make his second start Sunday because first-year coach Aaron Glenn wants to continue evaluating him. Cook completed 22 of 33 passes for 176 yards last week but also threw three interceptions and was sacked three times. Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley will try to make things uncomfortable for Cook.The Saints should be able to take advantage of an offense that ranks last in the league in passing (147 yards per game).

RUN IT

RIDE THE MOMENTUM

3

4

Neither team has been great at stopping the run. The Saints are yielding 130.6 yards per game, which ranks 26th in the league. The Jets are giving up 137.2 yards (29th in the NFL). The Saints could be down to their fourthstring back. Kendre Miller and Devin Neal are out for the season, while Alvin Kamara is still dealing with a knee/ankle injury. That leaves Audric Estime, Evan Hull and Taysom Hill. Shough was the leading rusher last week, finishing with 32 yards on eight carries. He may have to carry much of the load again Sunday.

The Saints have won two games in a row and three of their last five heading into their home finale. It’s a chance to end the season in the Dome on a high note and give fans something to be optimistic about for next season.The Saints have won just two home games this season and are 5-11 over the past two seasons. So getting backto-back wins in the Dome to close out the home schedule could build some much-needed momentum.

The Dome hasn’t roared this season like it used to, but another win could be the start of big things for 2026.

Rod Walker

JETS 2 Tyrod Taylor QB 6-1 217 15 3 John Metchie III WR 5-11 187 3 4 Brady Cook QB 6-2 215 0 6 Nick Folk K 6-1 222 18 7 Justin Fields QB 6-3 227 5 9 Will McDonald IV DE 6-4 245 3 11 Jermaine Johnson LB 6-5 254 4 14 Austin McNamara P 6-4 204 1 15 Adonai Mitchell WR 6-2 205 2 16 Tyler Johnson WR 6-1 208 5 18 Isaiah Williams WR 5-10 185 2 21 Brandon Stephens CB 6-1 215 5 25 Jarius Monroe SAF 6-2 205 1 27 Malachi Moore DB 5-11 196 0 29 Jarvis Brownlee Jr. CB 5-10 194 2 31 Khalil Herbert RB 5-9 212 5 32 Isaiah Davis RB 6-1 220 2 33 Jordan Clark CB 5-9 184 0 34 Kene Nwangwu RB 6-1 210 5 35 Dean Clark SAF 6-1 206 0 36 Ja’Sir Taylor CB 5-10 185 4 37 Qwan’tez Stiggers CB 6-0 197 2 42 Thomas Hennessy LS 6-2 246 9 43 Cam Jones LB 6-2 227 3 44 Jamien Sherwood LB 6-2 216 5 45 Kobe King LB 6-1 250 0 47 Andrew Beck FB 6-3 255 6 51 Kiko Mauigoa LB 6-2 233 0 53 Mykal Walker LB 6-3 230 6 55 Braiden McGregor DE 6-6 267 2 56 Quincy Williams LB 5-11 230 7 58 Mazi Smith DT 6-3 337 3 61 Max Mitchell OL 6-6 307 4 65 Xavier Newman OL 6-2 297 3 66 Joe Tippmann C 6-6 313 3 69 Payton Page DT 6-4 300 0 70 Armand Membou OT 6-4 332 0 71 Josh Myers C 6-5 310 5 72 Micheal Clemons DL 6-5 263 4 74 Olu Fashanu OL 6-6 312 2 75 Alijah Vera-Tucker G 6-5 308 5 76 John Simpson OL 6-4 330 6 78 Jay Tufele DT 6-3 305 5 79 Chukwuma Okorafor T 6-6 320 7 82 Arian Smith WR 6-0 179 0 84 Stone Smartt TE 6-4 226 4 85 Mason Taylor TE 6-5 251 0 86 Jelani Woods TE 6-7 253 4 89 Jeremy Ruckert TE 6-5 250 4 91 Jowon Briggs DT 6-1 313 2 95 Eric Watts DL 6-5 277 2 97 Harrison Phillips DL 6-3 307 8 99 Khalen Saunders Jr. DL 6-0 324 7

Virginia Tech Alabama Missouri Arizona Ohio State Iowa State Florida State Texas Tech Texas Minnesota Illinois SMU Tulane Alabama Louisville Virginia Tech S. Dakota State Notre Dame Iowa State Fresno State Wake Forest CFL Duke Indiana Auburn Penn State Texas Miami (FL) Fresno State Michigan Murray State Michigan Louisiana Baylor Wisconsin Clemson Missouri Ohio State Texas A&M Penn State USC Clemson USC W. Michigan Georgia Old Dominion LSU Virginia Ohio State Cincinnati UConn Stanford Western Illinois

INJURY REPORT SAINTS OUT: RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle), OL Asim Richards (ankle), C Cesar Ruiz (ankle) QUESTIONABLE: DT Nathan Shepherd (ankle/ knee),WR Mason Tipton (illness),TE Zaire MitchellPaden (knee)

JETS

OUT: LB Francisco Mauigoa (neck),TE Mason Taylor (neck), DE Eric Watts (concussion) QUESTIONABLE: QB Justin Fields (knee), QB Tyrod Taylor (groin/knee)

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints defensive end Chase young gets the crowd into the game against the Carolina Panthers during a game at the Caesars Superdome on Dec. 14.

YOUNG

Continued from page 1C

‘A tough tag’

When describing Young’s impact on the Saints this season, Carl Granderson uses a phrase that Young couldn’t escape in the pre-draft process.

“Chase Young, he’s just a generational player,” Granderson said.

Asked what makes the pass rusher once-in-a-generation, Granderson pointed to where most people would — his tape in college. At Ohio State, Young overwhelmed opponents on a weekly basis with a rare combination of speed, power and craftsmanship that resulted in a fourth-place finish for the Heisman Trophy.

He finished with 161/2 sacks in just 12 games, a total he said would have been even higher had he not been suspended for two games.

“That’s just crazy work,” Granderson said.

“I was unblockable that year,” Young said recently.

Even six years into Young’s NFL career, that kind of tape occasionally shows itself. Just look at last Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

To wreck Carolina’s secondto-last drive, Young lined up wide near tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. But as soon as the ball was snapped, and Sanders started to run his route, Young rushed toward left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and drove him straight back to knock over quarterback Bryce Young.

The first-down sack changed the game. Carolina got into such an unfavorable down-anddistance that it was forced to punt and set up New Orleans’

game-winning drive.

But here’s the thing about that play, and it speaks to why it’s hard for any player to live up to being labeled as generational: Young admitted he used the same move three other times throughout the game without much success.

“It worked that time,” he said.

The 26-year-old could have perhaps gotten away with using the same move over and over in college, where the athletes are smaller and slower than NFL players. But as a pro, Young has had to fine-tune his techniques. This year, the New Orleans coaching staff has emphasized being more precise with his hands at the top of his rush to turn his regular pressures into sacks.

Last season, Young began to develop a better feel for preparing a pass-rush plan.

In Washington, he relied too much on a stutter step that negated his power.

But that fine-tuning, not to mention the difference in talent, means Young hasn’t come close to replicating his numbers at Ohio State. He has yet to have a double-digit sack season as a pro.

The Saints still see him as a “premium” player, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said.

“Those types of words get thrown out far too regularly,” Staley said. “It’s definitely not fair to many, nearly impossible to live up to something like that. Everybody held Chase in the highest regard … but generational, that’s a tough tag for anybody to live up to.”

Staley will note how much Young has accomplished, despite that tag. There’s hardware from his rookie season

and then when the Commanders traded him in 2023, Young made the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco lost that game, but Young recorded a sack on the biggest stage.

And in a conversation with Young this year, Staley wanted to remind the pass rusher of something else: his age.

“He’s only 26 years old,” Staley said. “His best is in front of him. He’s just got to keep competing hard and believing in himself to get there.”

Fitting in In his second year with the Saints, months after re-signing on a three-year, $51 million contract, Young is on pace for the best year of his career, even after missing the first five weeks because of a calf injury that lingered far longer than initially anticipated.

Young has six sacks in nine games, putting him two away from a career-high with three games to play.

His 32 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats, lead the team. And his pressure percentage of 18.4% is not only a personal best but the fourth-best rate among edge rushers with at least 150 pass rushes. He’s even converting pressures into sacks at a better clip, which has long been the knock on him.

It might be tempting to suggest that this growth was the result of Young leaving his hometown. Young grew up in Upper Marlboro, Maryland — less than 30 minutes from where he’d play home games for the Commanders.

Drafting Young brought immediate excitement to the area, and then-coach Ron Rivera went as far as to tell fans

that he hoped the pass rusher could become the next Darrell Green — a Hall of Famer who spent 20 years with the franchise.

Did he just need to get away from it all?

Young chuckled.

“I was a Pro Bowler my rookie year,” he said. “Nah, I could play anywhere in the world and I’ll be fine.”

But anywhere turned out to be New Orleans, and that has left a positive impression on Young. He appreciated, for instance, the Saints’ patience as he worked his way back to full health earlier this season.

In October, as questions about Young’s absence lingered, coach Kellen Moore took an unusual step to rule out the edge rusher early in the week so he could “simplify” the recovery process.

Moore didn’t have to do that.

Beyond the tactical advantage that most coaches would try to gain by concealing a player’s status, the Saints also weren’t shy about their expectations entering the season for Young. Defensive end Cam Jordan said he wanted to see waves, not splashes. Linebacker Pete Werner, who was also Young’s college teammate, said the former Ohio State star had to be on “his game” come the fall.

If there was any frustration about Young’s rehab, it didn’t spill out publicly. That wasn’t the case in Washington, where Young’s approach to rehabbing his torn ACL away from the facility in Colorado before the 2022 season occasionally caused a stir.

“Sometimes you try and put timelines on everything;

ä See YOUNG, page 7C

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 7C

lll

JETS at SAINTS

Sign up for the

noon Sunday, Caesars Superdome Line: Saints by 6½ (Over/Under: 40½) TV: CBS | Radio: WWL-AM, 870; WWL-FM, 105.3

six-day-a-week newsletter

OFFENSIVE LEADERS Saints

Jets

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yds TD Int

Spencer Rattler Tyler Shough

174-256-68 144-216-66.7

1586 1484

8 6

RUSHING

Player

Att

Alvin Kamara Devin Neal Kendre Miller Spencer Rattler

Net

131 57 47 31

5 5

Avg TD

471 206 193 167

3.6 3.6 4.1 5.4

1 1 1 0

RECEIVING Player

Rec Yards Avg TD

Chris Olave Juwan Johnson Rashid Shaheed Alvin Kamara Devaughn Vele Brandin Cooks

82 62 44 33 25 19

896 644 499 186 293 165

10.9 10.4 11.3 5.6 11.7 8.7

6 3 2 0 2 0

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yds TD Int

Justin Fields

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Charlie Smyth

5

5

4

5

1259

RUSHING

Player Breece Hall Justin Fields Isaiah Davis

7

1

Att

Net

Avg TD

213 71 37

900 383 217

4.2 5.4 5.9

3 4 1

RECEIVING Player

Rec Yards Avg TD

Mason Taylor Garrett Wilson Breece Hall John Metchie Jeremy Ruckert Adonai Mitchell

44 36 32 22 20 18

369 395 323 191 163 236

8.4 11.0 10.1 8.7 8.2 13.1

1 4 1 2 1 2

KICKING

KICKING Player

128-204-62.7

Player

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Nick Folk

21

21

25

26

DEFENSIVE LEADERS TACKLES Player

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PHELAN M. EBENHACK

New york Jets quarterback Brady Cook runs with the ball against Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen during a game on Dec. 14 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Rebuilds collide as Jets visit Saints

BY BRETT MARTEL AP sportswriter

The New Orleans Saints and New York Jets have gone through major staff and roster changes in the past year, the result being seven victories between them 15 weeks into the season.

Their parallel rebuilding projects under first-year coaches — and now also featuring rookie quarterbacks — will occupy the same field Sunday when they meet in the Caesars Superdome.

“They’re somewhat similar to how we operated when they let some players go from that team, some veterans,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn, a former Saints secondary coach, said of the changes in New Orleans.

“They’re actually trying to build their core of young guys and get those guys a lot of playing time to see exactly how they’re going to operate for the future of that team — somewhat similar to us.”

The Saints (4-10) have seen more hopeful signs lately under first-year coach Kellen Moore. New Orleans has posted consecutive victories over division rivals Tampa Bay and Carolina, who are tied atop the NFC South.

“Obviously, they’ve been doing a pretty good job the last two weeks,” Glenn said, touching on Saints rookie Tyler Shough’s 3-3 record as a start-

YOUNG

Continued from page 6C everyone wants timelines, but sometimes that’s just not the way things work out,” Moore said.

“It makes you want to play for an organization when things like that happen,” Young said of the support.

Mom’s approval Young may say he doesn’t care about what people say, but that’s not completely true.

Case in point: Carla Young.

“I’d rather be recognized by my mom, who’s always in my corner,” he said.

That doesn’t mean she’s an easy grader. When he was a rookie, Carla famously gave her son a “C+” through the first half of the season because he didn’t lead the league in sacks.

She was pleased, though, when Young returned a fumble for a touchdown later that season.

In a charming moment, Young turned over his postgame

er. “This quarterback is really showing things that we saw on tape. They think that he can be a pretty good quarterback.”

Moore praised Shough’s “composure,” which “showed up a bunch” as the Saints scored 10 points in the final five minutes to pull out a 20-17 comeback victory over Carolina last Sunday.

The Jets (3-11) have lost four of five and this week fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks after allowing 48 points in a loss to Jacksonville.

Moore anticipates an effective response from the Jets, based on his memory of when he and Glenn squared off as coordinators in 2023. Moore was with the Los Angeles Chargers then and Glenn with Detroit.

“Always had a ton of respect for Aaron,” Moore said. “Obviously, we know he’s building something.”

The game marks the debut of Chris Harris as the interim defensive coordinator for the Jets.

Harris, a former NFL safety, was hired by Glenn as the defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator. Glenn noted that he spoke with Harris when he was considering defensive coordinator candidates before hiring Wilks.

“He did a really good job in that interview,” Glenn said.

“He’s more than capable.”

The Jets enter the game with

no interceptions, an NFL record for the most games without one to start a season.

New York also tied San Francisco, which ended its drought earlier this season, for the longest interception drought at any point of 14 games.

The Jets are also challenging the NFL mark for the fewest interceptions in a season. The 2018 49ers had only two in 16 games.

Jets QB Brady Cook has appeared in just two games — both losses — and will be making his second start. So far, not so good for the Missouri product. He’s completed 57.1% of his passes for 339 yards with one TD and five interceptions.

“It’s an opportunity for me to lead this team once again and try to go get a win on the road,” Cook said. “It’s really as simple as that.”

Some of Cook’s family and friends were shown in the stands throughout the CBS broadcast of the Jets’ previous game at Jacksonville. His parents were among those there to see his first NFL touchdown pass.

“That was awesome for them to have that moment and for me to see their live reaction,” Cook said. “That’s kind of rare. ... So, that was a pretty cool moment for me as well.”

Cook said his parents and other relatives will be in the Superdome on Sunday.

news conference to his mom — who just so happened to be on FaceTime with him during the session.

“Oh, my gosh, I’m just so worn out,” she said then.

“It was just outstanding. I couldn’t even believe it. I was in shock. He got it and kept trucking!”

Five years later, she’s still the same woman.

“Knowing Chase, he’s the right man to listen to a mom like his,” said Werner, whose parents are friends with the Youngs from their time tailgating at Ohio State games.

“She’s great. She comes to every single game. She’s always going to be his biggest fan and his biggest critic.”

Werner has seen how her son has changed in that time.

The linebacker noted back in August that Young had “matured a lot” as a player, someone who understood how his team needed him to perform.

But that maturity extends to Young’s personal life, as well. These days, he said he goes out less than he used to.

He only discovered “the other day” that Louisiana has opencontainer laws, two years after moving to the south.

“I think I’m at a different stage,” Young said. “I just go to work and go home, but I don’t need to be (anywhere else). I really don’t be doing too much outside of here.”

The birth of his son Ace, who is now 15 months old, had a lot to do with that. Becoming a father has been “cool,” Young said. He landed on the name after taking his own and removing the “Ch,” but went with the conventional spelling.

Ace, he said, has kept him grounded. Where he might have been tempted to hit “the streets” in the past, especially in a new city, Young has a better reason to stay in.

“I got to come home,” Young said. “If I was the only dude in the house, I wouldn’t have to.”

That’s the only generation that Young is concerned about living up to.

Email Matthew Paras at matt.paras@theadvocate.com

Demario Davis Peter Werner Jonas Sanker Alontae Taylor Kool-Aid McKinstry Justin Reid Carl Granderson Nathan Shepherd Chris Rumph II Davon Godchaux Danny Stutsman Bryan Bresee Cameron Jordan Jordan Howden Chase Young Quincy Riley Isaac Yiadom Isaiah Stalbird

TACKLES

Tot Solo Ast TFL Sk 123 72 69 63 62 60 43 41 41 39 39 36 34 28 26 25 23 22

61 45 41 43 49 33 29 19 23 12 17 15 23 17 15 22 17 11

62 27 28 20 13 27 14 22 18 27 22 21 11 11 11 3 6 11

5 4 3 5 3 1 8 3 2 2 0 5 9 1 7 0 1 1

0 2 0 1 0 0.5 4.5 2 1 0 0 2.5 6.5 0 6 0 0 1

Player

Jamien Sherwood Malachi Moore Brandon Stephens Quincy Williams Isaiah Oliver Tony Adams Harrison Phillips Francisco Mauigoa Andre Cisco Jermaine Johnson II Jarvis Brownlee Quinnen Williams Jowon Briggs Will McDonald M. McCrary-Ball Azareye’h Thomas Sauce Gardner Michael Clemons

Tot Solo Ast TFL Sk 129 76 66 63 55 49 46 45 41 37 36 32 28 26 23 22 20 20

58 44 45 31 29 31 17 16 26 18 24 17 14 16 11 13 15 9

71 32 21 32 26 18 29 29 15 19 12 15 14 10 12 9 5 11

6 2 4 8 0 3 4 0 1 4 1 7 6 10 1 2 0 3

1 0 0 3.5 0 1 0.5 0 0 3 0 1 3 7 0 0 0 1

INTERCEPTIONS Player

Tot Yards Avg

Kool-Aid McKinstry 3 Alontae Taylor 2 Justin Reid 1 Quincy Riley 1 Jonas Sanker 1

0 21 49 0 0

0.0 10.5 49.0 0.0 0.0

TD PD 0 0 1 0 0

10 7 4 8 4

TEAM STATS OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 296.8

OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 275.5

Plays: 60.0

Plays: 56.3

PASS 203.4

RUSH 93.4

PASS 34.2

RUSH 25.8

Turnovers: 1.43 INTERCEPTIONS 0.79

FUMBLES 0.64

PASS 147.9

RUSH 128.5

PASS 28.8

RUSH 27.5

Turnovers: 1.43 INTERCEPTIONS 0.79

FUMBLES 0.64

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 311.2

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 337.3

Turnovers forced: 1.14

Turnovers forced: 0.21

PASS 180.6

RUSH 130.6

INTERCEPTIONS 0.57

FUMBLES 0.57

SCORING PER GAME

SCORED ALLOWED

SCORED ALLOWED

23.7 16.1

RUSH 137.2

INTERCEPTIONS 0.00

FUMBLES 0.21

SCORING PER GAME

SCORED ALLOWED

SCORED ALLOWED

28.4

23.4

19.9

2025

PASS 200.1

19.7

2024

23.8

19.9

2025

2024

CONVERSION SUCCESS

CONVERSION SUCCESS

Third down

Third down

Fourth down

Fail

36.8%

34.5%

39.1% 60.9%

63.2%

65.5%

Convert

Fail

Fail

Convert

Convert

Fourth down

53.6%

Fail

46.4%

Convert

STAFF PREDICTIONS JEFF DUNCAN

MATTHEW PARAS

LUKE JOHNSON

ROD WALKER

SAINTS 21, JETS 13: I get the feeling this game might be closer than we expect, especially if the Saints start slowly again. But the Saints have a decided edge in two key areas: quarterback and defense. This might be the game Quincy Riley gets his first NFL picksix.

SAINTS 27, JETS 17: A few weeks ago, this game felt like a toss up.

Since then, Tyler Shough has the Saints feeling hopeful about the future, while the Jets are simply hoping the future gets here faster.

New york has the look and feel of a team that has waved the white flag.

SAINTS 27, JETS 10: The Jets may play better defensively than they have of late after firing defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. But they have a lot of injuries, not to mention they traded away their two best defensive players. The Saints have been playing well, so I’ll take them.

SAINTS 24, JETS 10: It’s been a while since I’ve felt this sure about a Saints win. The momentum they’ve built over the past two weeks will carry over. The defense dominates, and Tyler Shough continues to prove he’s the future, capping off the Saints’ home slate with a win.

8C ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

WEEK 16

ON TV THIS WEEK SUNDAy Jets at Saints noon, CBS

SUNDAy Chargers at Cowboys noon, FOX

SUNDAy Steelers at Lions 3:25 p.m., CBS

SUNDAy Patriots at Ravens 7:20 p.m., NBC

MONDAy 49ers at Colts 7:15 p.m., ABC

STANDINGS, SCORES & SCHEDULE AFC East

W L New England 11 3 Buffalo 10 4 e-Miami 6 8 e-N.Y. Jets 3 11

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .786 .714 .429 .214

PF 382 411 296 276

PA Home Away 276 5-3-0 6-0-0 324 6-1-0 4-3-0 324 4-3-0 2-5-0 397 2-6-0 1-5-0

AFC 6-3-0 7-3-0 3-7-0 2-8-0

NFC Div 5-0-0 3-1-0 3-1-0 3-2-0 3-1-0 3-2-0 1-3-0 0-4-0

Jacksonville Houston Indianapolis e-Tennessee

W L 10 4 9 5 8 6 2 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .714 .643 .571 .143

PF 376 323 392 225

PA Home Away 292 6-2-0 4-2-0 228 5-2-0 4-3-0 303 6-1-0 2-5-0 394 0-7-0 2-5-0

AFC 7-2-0 7-2-0 6-4-0 1-9-0

NFC Div 3-2-0 3-1-0 2-3-0 4-1-0 2-2-0 2-2-0 1-3-0 0-5-0

Pittsburgh Baltimore e-Cincinnati e-Cleveland

W L 8 6 7 7 4 10 3 11

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .571 .500 .286 .214

PF 336 335 314 226

PA Home Away 326 5-3-0 3-3-0 320 3-5-0 4-2-0 437 2-5-0 2-5-0 332 2-5-0 1-6-0

AFC 7-3-0 5-5-0 4-6-0 2-7-0

NFC Div 1-3-0 3-1-0 2-2-0 3-2-0 0-4-0 3-2-0 1-4-0 0-4-0

W L x-Denver 12 2 L.A. Chargers 10 4 e-Kansas City 6 8 e-Las Vegas 2 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .857 .714 .429 .143

PF 342 315 328 196

PA Home Away 261 7-0-0 5-2-0 284 6-2-0 4-2-0 268 5-3-0 1-5-0 363 1-6-0 1-6-0

AFC 7-2-0 8-2-0 3-6-0 2-8-0

NFC Div 5-0-0 3-1-0 2-2-0 5-0-0 3-2-0 1-3-0 0-4-0 0-5-0

W L y-Philadelphia 10 5 e-Dallas 6 7 e-Washington 4 11 e-N.Y. Giants 2 12

T 0 1 0 0

Pct .667 .464 .267 .143

PF 349 407 309 300

PA Home Away 289 5-2-0 5-3-0 420 4-2-1 2-5-0 404 2-5-0 2-6-0 396 2-4-0 0-8-0

AFC 2-2-0 3-1-0 2-3-0 1-3-0

NFC Div 8-3-0 3-2-0 3-6-1 3-1-0 2-8-0 2-2-0 1-9-0 1-4-0

Tampa Bay Carolina e-Atlanta e-New Orleans

W L 7 7 7 7 5 9 4 10

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .500 .500 .357 .286

PF 327 264 281 226

PA Home Away 354 3-4-0 4-3-0 317 4-2-0 3-5-0 341 2-4-0 3-5-0 332 2-5-0 2-5-0

AFC 2-2-0 2-3-0 1-4-0 0-3-0

NFC Div 5-5-0 2-2-0 5-4-0 2-2-0 4-5-0 2-3-0 4-7-0 3-2-0

Chicago Green Bay Detroit e-Minnesota

W 10 9 8 6

L 4 4 6 8

T 0 1 0 0

Pct .714 .679 .571 .429

PF 365 348 428 289

PA Home Away 338 5-1-0 5-3-0 281 5-2-0 4-2-1 345 5-2-0 3-4-0 307 2-4-0 4-4-0

AFC 4-1-0 2-2-0 3-1-0 2-3-0

NFC Div 6-3-0 1-3-0 7-2-1 4-0-0 5-5-0 1-3-0 4-5-0 2-2-0

W L x-Seattle 12 3 x-L.A. Rams 11 4 San Francisco 10 4 e-Arizona 3 11

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .733 .714 .214

PF 443 457 344 302

PA Home Away 279 6-2-0 6-1-0 299 6-1-0 5-3-0 293 4-2-0 6-2-0 388 1-6-0 2-5-0

AFC 5-0-0 5-0-0 2-2-0 0-4-0

NFC Div 7-3-0 3-2-0 6-4-0 3-2-0 8-2-0 4-1-0 3-7-0 0-5-0

South

North

West

NFC East

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHRIS O’MEARA

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield during the first half of a game on Dec. 11 in Tampa, Fla.

5

TOP TOPICS FOR WEEK 16

Panthers, Bucs battle for 1st The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are tied for first in the NFC South entering Sunday’s showdown.

Based on history, Mike Evans could play a huge role in the outcome. The wide receiver has tormented the Panthers during his 12-year career. In two matchups against Carolina in 2024, Evans combined for 16 receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns, and he has seven TDs in the past five games vs. the Panthers. Evans’ biggest game came on New year’s Day in 2023 when he caught 10 passes for 207 yards and three TDs. The Bucs have won fine in a row against the Panthers.

1

Steelers to challenge Lions The Los Angeles Rams host the The Pittsburgh Steelers face the Detroit Lions on Sunday with both teams sitting on an 8-6 record. The Steelers recently beat the Dolphins while the Lions lost to the Rams. Running back Kenneth Gainwell has become a key player for the Steelers, leading the team in receptions. For the Lions, running back Jahmyr Gibbs is a standout. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a strong history against Detroit but hasn’t won there in five years. Injuries will affect both teams, with key players such as T.J. Watt and Brian Branch sidelined.

2

Chargers nearing a playoff berth The Los Angeles Chargers will try to make it 2 for 2 in playoff trips under second-year coach Jim Harbaugh when they visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The Chargers will clinch a spot with a win and an Indianapolis loss or tie, or a Houston loss or tie. The Cowboys were eliminated from the playoff hunt for the second year in a row when the Eagles beat Washington on Saturday night. Dak Prescott is leading the NFL’s No. 1 offense for the Cowboys, but Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert gets a chance against the league’s worst passing defense. Points could be aplenty.

4

Patriots an unbeaten road team

New England is the NFL’s lone unbeaten team on the road at 6-0 entering Sunday night’s clash at

Baltimore. They can clinch a playoff berth with a victory or tie. The Ravens, meanwhile, are just 3-5 at home. That matches Baltimore’s worst mark in franchise history. The Ravens went 3-5 at home in 2015, but this year they have nine home games in the regular season. Baltimore is a game behind Pittsburgh atop the AFC North. Patriots QB Drake Maye is first in the NFL in completion percentage (70.9%), third in passer rating (109.1) and fifth in yards passing (3,567).

3

Dolphins start QB Ewers vs. Bengals Miami rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers is set to make his first career start when the Dolphins host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Ewers was promoted after coach Mike McDaniel decided to bench the struggling Tua Tagovailoa in hopes of sparking the Miami passing game. The Dolphins and Bengals were both eliminated from playoff contention after their Week 15 losses. It’s Miami’s second straight season being eliminated from the playoffs. Joe Burrow’s Bengals haven’t been back to the playoffs since reaching the AFC championship game in 2022.

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase is third in the league with 101 receptions and fourth in yards receiving (1,147).

DENVER — Denver is the hub of the sports world right now with the NBA’s Nuggets and NHL’s Avalanche off to historic starts as they seek to add some hardware to their trophy cases, and the Broncos are an NFL-best 12-2.

“I’ve had the chance to talk to a couple of Nuggets players and I told them it’s our turn to bring a parade to the city,” Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said, noting that both Nikola Jokic and Nathan MacKinnon have earned champaign showers and celebrations while the Broncos last won the Lombardi Trophy a decade ago. “And so we feel it’s our turn to do our part for the city in terms of keeping the winning tradition going. And I know people around the United States are definitely shocked that the state of Colorado is bumpin’ right now.”

To keep that going, the Broncos will have to fend off the Jackson-

West

WEEK 16

WEEK 17

Thursday’s games

Thursday Dec. 25

Seattle 38, L.A. Rams 37, OT

Dallas at Washington, noon Detroit at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.

Denver at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Philadelphia 29, Washington 18 Green Bay at Chicago, n

Saturday Dec. 27

Sunday’s games

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.

Monday’s game

San Francisco at Indianapolis, 7:15 p.m.

Houston at L.A. Chargers, 3:30 p.m.

Baltimore at Green Bay, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 28

Arizona at Cincinnati, noon Jacksonville at Indianapolis, noon New England at N.Y. Jets, noon New Orleans at Tennessee, noon Pittsburgh at Cleveland, noon Seattle at Carolina, noon Tampa Bay at Miami, noon N.Y. Giants at Las Vegas, 3:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Buffalo, 3:25 p.m.

Chicago at San Francisco, 7:20 p.m.

Monday Dec. 29

L.A. Rams at Atlanta, 7:15 p.m.

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

5

Broncos, Jaguars tussle as two of AFC’s best

BY ARNIE STAPLETON

North

NFL BRIEFS

GAME OF THE WEEK

AP pro football writer

South

ville Jaguars (10-4) on Sunday at Empower Field in the AFC’s premier Week 16 matchup, which pits division leaders in what may very well serve as a playoff preview.

With Trevor Lawrence playing the best football of his five-year NFL career, figuring out the nuances in coach Liam Coen’s offense and stoking his connection with deadline trade addition Jakobi Meyers, the Jaguars have won five in a row, outscoring their opponents by a cumulative 171-72.

“We’ve been on a roll for a while, just doing what we do best: executing our plays, minimizing mistakes and playing our brand of football,” Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis said. “We have faith in ourselves and are trying to go out there and trying to impose our will on our opponents.

It doesn’t matter who we play. Of course, they’re a really good team.

But it’s always about us.”

With Bo Nix emerging as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks (2210 as a starter) in Year 2 to complement an overpowering defense

that’s collected 58 sacks so far, the Broncos own their longest winning streak since 2012. They have mounted 10 come-from-behind wins and prevailed in 10 of 12 onescore games.

The Broncos ended an eight-year playoff drought last year as a wild card but are aiming to get the conference’s No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye this time. So, coach Sean Payton has insisted all week that despite clinching a playoff spot already, the Broncos haven’t accomplished any of their goals yet.

“I think that’s the biggest thing for us is making sure that we don’t become drunk of the situation of look what we’ve done and listen to the different people who do want us to give us the pat on the backs — which aren’t many,” Sutton said.

“We’ve been staying to ourselves, we’ve been showing up week in and week out, having great weeks of work, and then showing up on Sunday and just putting that on tape and we’ve been able to come out successful.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CANDICE WARD

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith passes against the Denver Broncos during the first half of a game on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas.

Raiders QB Smith to start vs. Texans

Niners WR Pearsall won’t play Monday

Quarterback Geno Smith will start for the Las Vegas Raiders when they visit Houston on Sunday.

He did not play in last Sunday’s 31-0 loss at Philadelphia because of back and shoulder injuries, but he practiced all week. Kenny Pickett got the start against the Eagles but passed for only 64 yards and was sacked four times.

Coach Pete Carroll confirmed that Smith not only will start against the Texans but also will be the quarterback — barring injury — to finish the season.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will miss Monday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts after reinjuring his knee last week.

Pearsall won’t travel with the 49ers for the game after leaving last week’s game against Tennessee in the fourth quarter when he aggravated a knee injury that had previously sidelined him for six games this season.

The 49ers (10-4) also ruled out starting cornerback Renardo Green. Darrell Luter likely will start in his place.

Lions safety Joseph put on injured reserve

Special teams coach gets let go by Rams

The Detroit Lions put AllPro safety Kerby Joseph on injured reserve Saturday, ending hope he could come back from a knee injury that limited him to six games this season.

The Lions (8-6) made the move a day before hosting the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6).

Detroit also activated guard Christian Mahogany from the injured list.

The Lions gave Joseph a four-year contract worth $86 million in April that makes him one of the NFL’s highestpaid safeties.

The Rams have fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn after his unit made several mistakes in Los Angeles’ loss at Seattle on Thursday.

Assistant Ben Kotwica is expected to replace Blackburn, who was in his third season in the job.

The Rams’ special teams have been generally poor all season, and the team already changed kickers and long snappers last month after Joshua Karty and his unit missed multiple opportunities to win games against Philadelphia and San Francisco.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 9C

lll

SCOREBOARD Odds

at NEW JRSEY -149 at EDMONTON -162

Sports Betting Line NFL

Pro basketball

Sunday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG at N.O. 2½ 4½ (40½) NY Jets at DALLAS 2½ 1½ (49½)LA Chargers Tampa Bay 2½ 3 (45½) at CAR Buffalo 8½ 10½ (42½) at CLE Cincinnati 2½ 1½ (50½) at MIAMI Minnesota 1½ 2½ (43½) at GIANTS Kansas City 11½ 3½ (37½) at TEN Atlanta 1½ 2½ (47½) at ARIZONA at DENVER 3 3 (45½) Jax at HOUSTON 11½ 14½ (37½) Las Vegas at DETROIT 6½ 6½ (50½) Pittsburgh at BAL 2½ 2½ (47½) New Eng

Monday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG San Francisco 6½ 5½ (46½) at IND

College Football

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG Utah State 1½ 2½ (52½) Wash St

Tuesday

Boca Raton Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG Louisville 9½ 7½ (44½) Toledo New Orleans Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG W. Kentucky 3½ 4½ (55½) S. Miss Frisco Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG UNLV 3½ 4½ (62½) Ohio

Wednesday

Hawai’i Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG Cal 1½ 1½ (54½) Hawaii

Friday

GameAbove Sports Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG Northwstrn 12½ 10½ (43½) C. Michigan Rate Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG Minnesota 3½ 2½ (47½)New Mexico First Responder Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG UTSA 8½ 8½ (59½) Florida Intl

NBA

FAVORITE at ATLANTA Toronto at NEW YORK at MINNESOTA San Antonio Houston SACRAMENTO

O-U (245½) (220½) (235½) (221½) (239½) (229½)

UNDERDOG Chicago at BRKLYN Miami Milwaukee at WASH at

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Sunday

FAVORITE at N. KENTUCKY Penn State at NC STATE Vanderbilt at OKLAHOMA ST at NOTRE DAME at BRADLEY at ALABAMA at ARIZONA ST at CLEMSON at MICHIGAN UConn at ILLINOIS ST at CAL Milwaukee at MINNESOTA at IOWA STATE at IDAHO STATE Gonzaga UC Irvine Idaho at NEBRASKA at UTEP

NHL

Atlantic Division New York Toronto Boston Philadelphia Brooklyn

Pct .704 .607 .593 .577 .269

GB — 2½ 3 3½ 11½

Orlando Miami Atlanta Charlotte Washington

W 15 15 15 9 4

L 12 13 14 18 21

Pct .556 .536 .517 .333 .160

GB — ½ 1 6 10

Detroit Cleveland Chicago Milwaukee Indiana

W 21 15 12 11 6

LINE UNDERDOG 2½ Charleston (SC) 1½ at PITTSBURGH 5½ Ole Miss 5½ at WAKE FOREST 19½ CSU Fullerton 15½ Purdue Fort Wayne 5½ Southern Illinois 21½ Kennesaw State 12½ Oregon State 6½ Cincinnati 38½ La Salle 14½ at DEPAUL 10½ Indiana State 8½ Columbia 7½ at CLEVELAND ST 13½ Campbell 37½ Long Beach State 3½ UC Davis 12½ at OREGON 1½at NORTH DAKOTA ST 2½ at CAL POLY 29½ North Dakota 5½ Norfolk State

Sunday

FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG Washington -113 at DETROIT Colorado -174 at MINNESTA at DALLAS -204 Toronto New York -119 at NASHVILLE at UTAH -120 Winnipeg Ottawa -137 at BOSTON at PITTSBRGH -114 Montreal

L 6 14 15 17 21

Pct .778 .517 .444 .393 .222

GB — 7 9 10½ 15

L 7 8 14 17 22

Pct .741 .667 .481 .393 .241

GB — 2½ 7 9½ 14

L 3 6 10 16 16

Pct .893 .769 .643 .407 .385

GB — 4 7 13½ 14

L 7 12 15 21 21

Pct .731 .556 .464 .222 .222

GB — 4½ 7 13½ 13½

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Southwest Division San Antonio Houston Memphis Dallas New Orleans

W 20 16 13 11 7

Northwest Division

W 25 20 18 11 10

Oklahoma City Denver Minnesota Portland Utah

Pacific Division L.A. Lakers Phoenix Golden State Sacramento L.A. Clippers

W 19 15 13 6 6

Boston 129, Miami Philadelphia, New York 107 San Antonio 126, Atlanta 98 Chicago 136, Cleveland 125 Minnesota 112, Oklahoma City 107

First round No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3 No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 17 Tulane 10 No. 19 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon, n

Monday’s game

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Boise, Idaho Utah St. vs. Washington St., 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Tuesday’s games Boca Raton Bowl

Boca Raton, Fla. Louisville vs. Toledo, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

State women’s schedule

New Orleans Bowl

New Orleans Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Frisco Bowl

Hawai’i Bowl

Honolulu Cal vs. Hawaii, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

GameAbove Sports Bowl

Detroit Central Michigan vs. Northwestern, noon (ESPN) Phoenix New Mexico vs. Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

First Responder Bowl

FCS Playoffs

Villanova (12-2) vs. Illinois St. (11-4), n Montana St. 48 Montana 23

College basketball State men’s schedule Southern Miss 62, UL 54 Grambling 80, Norfolk State 68

Northwestern State 108, SUNO 55 UL 76, UL-Monroe 62 Tulane 63, Portland State 61

Late Friday LSU 78, SELU 65

FG FT

Reb

Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS

Elyzee 28 3-9 1-2 2-5 1 4 7 Gaines 30 3-7 2-3 1-4 1 3 8 Booker 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Hmschmr 33 5-13 2-2 1-4 3 2 15 Pickett 18 3-5 1-2 0-0 1 3 7 Myles 33 5-10 3-4 2-6 0 2 15 Forrest 27 4-9 2-2 1-5 1 1 11 Etim 10 0-1 0-0 1-2 0 0 0 Lawrence 6 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 Shoemaker 6 1-2 0-0 1-1 0 1 2 Edison 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 200 24-5611-15 9-27 8 18 65 Percentages: FG .429, FT .733.

3-Point Goals: 6-25, .240 (Hemschemeier 3-9, Myles 2-7, Forrest 1-5, Pickett 0-1, Shoemaker 0-1, Elyzee 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 2. Team Turnovers: 1.

Blocked Shots: 2 (Hemschemeier, Myles).

Turnovers: 8 (Hemschemeier 3, Elyzee, Etim, Gaines, Pickett, Shoemaker).

Steals: 5 (Elyzee, Forrest, Gaines, Hemschemeier, Shoemaker).

Technical Fouls: None.

FG FT Reb

Chicago at Atlanta, 2:30 p.m.

Miami at New York, 5 p.m.

Toronto at Brooklyn, 5 p.m.

Milwaukee at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

San Antonio at Washington, 6 p.m.

Houston at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

College football Tuesday’s game Salute to Veterans Bowl

Jacksonville State 17, Troy 13

Wednesday’s games Cure Bowl

Old Dominion 24, South Florida 10

68 Ventures Bowl Delaware 20, UL 13

Xbox Bowl

Arkansas State 34, Missouri State 28

LSU

Friday’s games

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Kennesaw State 41, Western Michigan 6

Gasparilla Bowl

N.C. State 31, Memphis 7

Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS

Nwoko 24 Sutton 33 Tamba 22 Mackinnon 31 Thomas 32

6-6 7-9 1-2 4-8 4-9

GA 117 118 94 114 112 108 114 113

Carolina Washington N.Y. Islanders Philadelphia New Jersey N.Y. Rangers Pittsburgh Columbus

GP W L OT Pts GF 35 22 10 3 47 119 35 19 12 4 42 112 36 19 13 4 42 105 34 17 10 7 41 103 35 20 14 1 41 101 37 18 15 4 40 96 34 14 11 9 37 103 34 14 14 6 34 102

GA 101 93 103 99 105 100 110 120

Central Division

Southern at Baylor, noon Nicholls at Pacific, 6 p.m.

SELU

GP W L OT Pts GF 36 20 13 3 43 113 35 19 12 4 42 114 35 19 13 3 41 113 36 20 15 1 41 118 35 19 14 2 40 112 34 17 13 4 38 111 34 16 14 4 36 106 34 15 14 5 35 108

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Sunday’s games

Sunday’s Games

Detroit Montreal Tampa Bay Boston Florida Ottawa Buffalo Toronto

Metropolitan Division

Thursday’s games

Saturday’s games

Houston 115, Denver 101 Boston 112, Toronto 96 Philadelphia 121, Dallas 114 New Orleans 128, Indiana 109 Detroit 112, Charlotte 86 Washington 130, Memphis 122 Phoenix at Golden State, n Orlando at Utah, n Portland at Sacramento, n L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers, n

6-7 2-2 2-2 3-4 5-7

2-6 1-9 1-4 0-1 0-3

1 1 2 4 4

4 1 4 0 0

FOOTBALL

NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division

Dallas FIU vs. UTSA, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Grambling 81, Hampton 72 LSU 78, Southeastern 68

Saturday’s Games

Sunday’s ames

National Basketball Association NBA — Fined L.A. Lakers G Marcus Smart $35,000 dollars for an obscene gesture towards a game official during halftime of the Dec. 18th game at Utah.

Hockey

Rate Bowl

18 19 4 14 14

Transactions

BASKETBALL

Mercer-Detroit Mercy at Tulane, TBA Lamar at Northwestern State, TBA Texas-Arlington at LSU, 1 p.m.

Southern at Southern Methodist, 4 p.m

Dec. 26 games

Washington at Detroit, noon Colorado at Minnesota, 5 p.m.

Buffalo at New Jersey, 6 p.m.

Montreal at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at Nashville, 6 p.m.

Ottawa at Boston, 6 p.m.

Toronto at Dallas, 6 p.m.

Winnipeg at Utah, 6 p.m.

Vegas at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Tulane 76, Delaware State 44 Texas State 79, UL-Monroe 69 Southern Miss 76, UL 58 Memphis 70, Southeastern 66 Louisiana Tech 97, Central Baptist 42

Wednesday’s game

Sunday’s Games

American League CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Signed RF Stuart Fairchild to a minor league contract.

None scheduled.

Frisco, Texas Ohio vs. UNLV, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Montreal 4, Pittsburgh 0 Nashville 5, Toronto 3 Tampa Bay 6, Carolina 4 Vancouver 4, Boston 4, SO Columbus at Anaheim, 9 p.m.

Seattle at San Jose, 9 p.m.

Vegas at Calgary, 9 p.m.

Major League Baseball

Friday’s games

Friday’s games

Thursday’s games LINE -107 +145 +168 -101 +101 +115 -106

Miller 23 0-0 1-4 0-4 0 3 1 Reece 14 1-3 0-1 1-1 0 1 2 King 11 1-5 0-0 0-0 1 3 3 Zipper 6 1-4 0-0 0-0 0 0 3 Carter 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Totals 200 25-4619-27 5-28 13 17 78 Percentages: FG .543, FT .704.

3-Point Goals: 9-22, .409 (Sutton 3-4, Mackinnon 3-5, Thomas 1-3, Zipper 1-3, King 1-5, Reece 0-1, Tamba 0-1).

Team Rebounds: 1. Team Turnovers: None.

Blocked Shots: 3 (Miller, Nwoko, Sutton).

Turnovers: 8 (Thomas 3, Nwoko 2, Sutton 2, Mackinnon).

Steals: 8 (Reece 2, King, Mackinnon, Miller, Nwoko, Sutton, Tamba).

Technical Fouls: None.

SELU 36 29 — 65 LSU 50 28 — 78 A_7,479 (13,215).

First round No. 11 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24

Saturday’s games

L 8 11 11 11 19

Southeast Division

College Football Playoff

College Football Playoff

W 19 17 16 15 7

Friday’s Games

LINE 5 4½ 8½ 12 15½ 12

+125 +136

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE

Central Division

Monday

Sunday

Buffalo Vegas

Colorado Dallas Minnesota Utah St. Louis Winnipeg Nashville Chicago

GP W L OT Pts GF 34 25 2 7 57 136 36 24 7 5 53 128 36 22 9 5 49 114 37 17 17 3 37 112 37 14 15 8 36 94 34 15 17 2 32 100 34 14 16 4 32 98 35 13 16 6 32 98

Pacific Division

GA 79 96 91 108 127 103 118 111

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Vegas 32 16 6 10 42 97 92 Anaheim 35 20 13 2 42 124 120 Edmonton 36 17 13 6 40 121 124 Los Angeles 34 15 10 9 39 88 90 San Jose 35 17 15 3 37 105 118 Vancouver 35 15 17 3 33 101 117 Calgary 35 14 17 4 32 91 105 Seattle 32 12 14 6 30 79 102 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.

Friday’s Games

Vancouver 4, N.Y. Islanders 1 Florida 4, Carolina 3, SO Colorado 3, Winnipeg 2 New Jersey 2, Utah 1 Dallas 8, Anaheim 3

Saturday’s Games

Detroit 5, Washington 2 N.Y. Rangers 5, Philadelphia 4, SO Minnesota 5, Edmonton 2 Ottawa 6, Chicago 4 Buffalo 3, N.Y. Islanders 2, SO St. Louis 6, Florida 2

National Football League ATLANTA FALCONS — Waived WR-KR Jamal Agnew.

Signed CB C.J. Henderson to the active roster.

BALTIMORE RAVENS — Placed LB Teddye Buchanan on injured reserve.

BUFFALO BILLS — Signed DE Matt Judon to the practice squad. Released DE Morgan Fox. Activated WR Mecole Hardman Jr. from injured reserve.

CHICAGO BEARS — Activated LB Tremaine Edmunds from injured reserve.

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Placed RT Jack Conklin on injured reserve. Signed S Christopher Edmonds to the active roster.

DALLAS COWBOYS — Activated CB Trevon Diggs from injured reserve. Placed CB DaRon Bland on injured reserve.

DENVER BRONCOS — Activated LG Ben Powers from injured reserve.

DETROIT LIONS — Placed S Kerby Joseph on injured reserve. Activated G Christian Mahogany from injured reserve.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Signed OT Chukwuebuka Godrick and QB Chris Oladokun to the active roster. Signed RB Dameon Pierce to the active roster. Waived RB Elijah Mitchell. Placed LB Leo Chenal and OT Jawaan Taylor on injured reserve.

LOS ANGELES RAMS — Fired Special Teams coordinator Chase Blackburn.

MIAMI DOLPHINS — Signed CB Ethan Robinson to the active roster. Placed DB Elijah Campbell on injured reserve.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Signed CB Dwight McGlothern Jr. to the active roster.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Signed K Charlie Smyth to a three-year contract.

TENNESSEE TITANS — Signed DTs Cam Horsley and Shy Tuttle to the active roster.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League BUFFALO SABRES — Placed D Conor Timmins on injured reserve.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING — Placed F Brandon Hagel on injured reserve. Recalled F Jakob Pelletier from Syracuse (AHL). Recalled F Jack Finley from Syracuse (AHL).

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS — Recalled G Alexei Kolosov from Lehigh Valley (AHL) under emergency conditions.

MINNESOTA WILD — Activated F Vinnie Hinostroza, D Jacob Middleton, D Jonas Brodin and F Mats Zuccarello from injured reserve.

Placed D Zach Bogosian on injured reserve.

MONTREAL CANADIENS — Placed D Kaiden Guhle and F Kirby Dach on long-term injured reserve. Assigned F Jared Davidson to Laval (AHL).

NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Assigned F Xavier Parent and D Calen Addison to Utica (AHL).

Added F Timo Meier to the active roster.

OTTAWA SENATORS — Activated D Thomas Chabot from injured reserve.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer ORLANDO CITY SC — Signed F Tyrese Spicer to a contract extension through the 20272028 season, with an optional 1-year deal for 2028-2029 season.

SUNDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS ENTRIES Post Time: 12:45PM First Race, Purse $14,000, Claiming $5,000, 3 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) Six Furlongs-Dirt 01 Gold Plus (P Lopez) 5-2 02 Sister Saint (O Chavez) 9-2 03 Foxy Zorra (I Castillo) 3-1 04 She’s Extra (J Rodriguez) 8-1 05 Thisoneisforyou (M Pedroza, Jr.) 7-2 06 Spicy Italian (D Magnon) 9-2 Second Race, Purse $14,000, Claiming $5,000, 3 yo’s & up Six Furlongs-Dirt 01 Sir Mack (E Murray) 9-2 02 Cash Holiday (E Nieves) 6-1 03 Patek (O Chavez) 15-1 04 Catchin Drama (H Rea) 12-1 05 Pasketee (M Pedroza, Jr.) 5-2 06 Half Way There (M Murrill) 3-1

07 Queen’s Knight (K Kellenberger) 12-1 08 Tap the Tequila (I Castillo) 20-1 09 Seeking a Soldier (S Vives) 20-1 10 Righteous Freedom (J Mudd) 8-1 Third Race, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weight, 2 yo, F (fillies) Five And A Half Furlongs-Turf 01 Love Getaway (M Pedroza, Jr.) 7-2 02 Lil Bit Forgotten (E Murray) 20-1 03 Mo Simple (I Castillo) 20-1 04 Bistineau Beauty (J Graham) 8-1 05 Paradise Ridge (S Vives) 5-1 06 Bright Note (J Loveberry) 6-5 07 Geaux Crazy (B Hernandez, Jr.) 10-1 08 Annala (M Murrill) 20-1 09 Custom Value (J Mudd) 115 8-1 Fourth Race, Purse $22,000, Maiden Claiming $30,000, 3 yo’s & up Six Furlongs-Dirt

01 Mazilynn (H Rea) 9-2 02 Faith’s Spirit (I Castillo) 7-2 03 Somekinda Mischief (B Curtis) 4-1 04 Spielman (J Graham) 3-1 05 To the Chief (J Riquelme) 15-1 06 Lemon Sohn (A Concepcion) 8-1 07 One Grand Slam (E Nieves) 15-1 08 Wizard of Yester (J Ortiz) 5-1 Fifth Race, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weight, 3 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) Six Furlongs-Dirt 01 All You (A Concepcion) 6-1 02 Totally Mitole (M Pedroza, Jr.) 20-1 03 The Rain Is Gone (P Lopez) 6-1 04 Kin to the Wicked (J Ortiz) 5-2 05 My Other Half (C Hernandez) 4-1 06 Southern Queen (J Graham) 15-1 07 John’s June (M Murrill) 15-1

08 It’s Been Real (I Castillo) 3-1 09 Bronze Legacy (S Vives) 8-1 Sixth Race, Purse $30,000, Maiden optional claiming $50,000, 2 yo One Mile Seventy Yards-Dirt 01 Different Gravy (B Curtis) 8-1 02 Flash of Chaos (B Hernandez, Jr.) 5-2 03 Athletic Like (I Castillo) 15-1 04 Orville’s Map (P Lopez) 8-1 05 Improbable Dream (D Cannon) 15-1 06 One Tough Road (J Ortiz) 5-1 07 Graceful Standard (A Concepcion) 8-1 08 Liberty’s Champion (M Pedroza, Jr.) 5-1 09 Election Night (J Loveberry) 9-2 Seventh Race, Purse $60,000, Allowance, 3 yo’s & up Five And A Half Furlongs-Turf 01 Usually Wrong (I Castillo) 3-1 02 Champlin (B Hernandez, Jr.) 4-1

03 High Front (P Lopez) 7-2 04 Mondogetsbuckets (J Loveberry) 9-2 05 Henro (M Pedroza, Jr.) 12-1 06 Heart Headed (J Ortiz) 124 5-2 Eighth Race, Purse $15,000, Claiming $5,000, 3 yo’s & up Six Furlongs-Dirt 01 Drewmazing (J Loveberry) 4-1 02 Top Priority (J Rodriguez) 20-1 03 Flashy Premo (J Mudd) 30-1 04 Handsome Harold (I Castillo) 6-1 05 Country Guy (P Lopez) 6-1 06 Apriority Rocket (C Hernandez) 5-1 07 Samurai’s Grandson (E Nieves) 20-1 08 Cajun Cyclone (A Concepcion) 12-1 09 Bet On Bobby (H Rea) 12-1 10 Sonofaship (D Magnon) 8-1 11 Ampitup (B Curtis) 9-2 12 Hooray Austin (M Pedroza, Jr.) 10-1

SATURDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS RESULTS First Race - $55,000, Maiden special weight, 2 yo, Five And A Half Furlongs Hidden Map (McMhn) $25.40 $12.80 $6.40 Stellar Knickie (J. Mudd) $135.00 $40.80 Spare Me (L. Saez) $5.80 Finish Time: 1:04.15 Exacta (1-3) $720.70; Superfecta (1-3-4-6) $4,750.86; Trifecta (1-3-4) $3,493.95 Late Scratches: Angelic Katie, Sharp Mindset Second Race - $55,000, Maiden special weight, 2 yo, Six Furlongs Missin Missy (Pedrza) $4.20 $2.40 $2.20 Miss Super Mo (A. Concepcion) $3.20 $2.60 Restless Mind (I. Castillo) $4.20 Finish Time: 1:12.52 Daily Double (1-1) $28.10; Exacta (1-6) $6.40; Superfecta (1-6-2-9) $20.50; Trifecta (1-6-2) $13.15; Consolation Double (1-8) $11.90 Late Scratches: Miss Shane, Braken Poppa, Longshot Baby Third Race - $55,000, Maiden special weight, 2 yo, Six Furlongs Golden Tempo (J. Ortiz) $7.60 $4.60 $3.40 Fancy Fairlane (D. Cannon) $7.00 $6.20 Obelus (A. Concepcion) $5.20

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C the Cougars are led by All-Big 12 defensive lineman Carlos Allen (team-high 75 tackles) and cornerback Latrell McCutchin (46 tackles, nine PBUs).

3. Houston’s Heisman Born in Galveston, Texas, Andre Ware became the Cougars’ first and only Heisman Trophy winner in 1989. Ware went to UH in 1986 but was ruled academically ineligible, forcing him to attend nearby Alvin Community College where he worked two jobs to pay for tuition before rejoining the Cougars program in 1987. After a solid season in 1988 (2,507 yards passing, 25 touchdowns), Ware and Houston took off in 1989

Finish Time: 1:10.66 Daily Double (1-3) $8.00; Exacta (3-1) $23.50; Superfecta (3-1-7-10) $77.51; Trifecta (3-1-7) $68.30; Pic 3 (1-1-3) $85.70; (1-8-3) $30.70 Fourth Race - $55,000, Maiden special weight, 2 yo, Six Furlongs White Smoke (J. Ortiz) $5.20 $3.60 $3.00 Gerber Daisy (D. Cannon) $8.80 $5.80 Leedu (P. Lopez) $5.20 Finish Time: 1:11.04 Daily Double (3-6) $10.50; Exacta (6-9) $31.10; Superfecta (6-9-10-7) $88.73; Trifecta (6-9-10) $93.10; Pic 3 (1-3-6) $12.50 Late Scratches: Island Flower, Funny Bunny Fifth Race - $55,000, Maiden special weight, 3 yo’s & up, One And One Sixteenth Miles Lady Iva (A. Concepcion) $9.80 $5.40 $4.40 Awesomesauce (P. Lopez) $14.40 $10.60 Channel Check (GB) (I. Castillo) $8.00 Finish Time: 1:43.18 Daily Double (6-8) $16.10; Exacta (8-7) $61.80; Superfecta (8-7-6-12) $465.94; Trifecta (8-7-6) $205.80; Pic 3 (3-6-8) $74.10; Pic 4 (1-3-8-103-3-4-6-8) $134.80; Pic 5 (1-1-3-8-10-3-3-4-6-8) $3,517.85 Late Scratches: Eskenforave and Ak

Sixth Race - $55,000, Maiden special weight, 2 yo, Six Furlongs Sockdolager (P. Lopez) $11.80 $4.80 $3.40 Cowboy Roy (M. Pedroza, Jr.) $5.40 $3.80 Throttle (J. Graham) $5.20 Finish Time: 1:10.05 Daily Double (8-5) $30.00; Exacta (5-7) $26.00; Superfecta (5-7-2-3) $35.85; Trifecta (5-7-2) $66.25; Pic 3 (6-8-5) $52.60 Late Scratches: Barracks, Trouble Calling, Royal Seal Seventh Race - $55,000, Maiden special weight, 2 yo, One Mile Aces Honor (M. Pedroza) $39.40 $13.60 $7.00 Prepped (B. Hernandez, Jr.) $4.60 $3.20 Cruisin Chuck (S. Vives) $3.40 Finish Time: 1:36.68 Daily Double (5-4) $109.20; Exacta (4-3) $84.90; Superfecta (4-3-10-9) $591.25; Trifecta (4-3-10) $162.90; Pic 3 (8-5-4) $239.50 Late Scratches: Robert Lee, Shuggy Eighth Race - $100,000, Stakes, 3 yo’s & up, One And One Sixteenth Miles Not This Boy (J. Ortiz) $5.60 $3.20 $2.20 Sir Greylind (B. Hernandez, Jr.) $3.40 $2.40 Stowaway (J. Loveberry) $4.40

Finish Time: 1:42.69 Daily Double (4-7) $57.70; Exacta (7-6) $10.30; Superfecta (7-6-4-5) $17.59; Trifecta (7-6-4) $24.95; Pic 3 (5-4-7) $203.50 Late Scratches: Number One Dude, Just a Touch Ninth Race - $100,000, Stakes, 3 yo’s & up, One And One Sixteenth Miles Idratherbeblessed (Pedrza) $37.20 $9.00 $6.80 Kupuna (B. Curtis) $3.80 $3.00 Sand Pipes (P. Lopez) $5.00 Finish Time: 1:41.50 Daily Double (7-8) $80.90; Exacta (8-2) $65.90; Superfecta (8-2-4-1) $237.08; Trifecta (8-2-4) $175.10; Consolation Double (7-7) $2.60; Pic 3 (4-7-8) $996.25; (4-7-7) $34.35; Pic 4 (5-4-7-8) $11,360.80; Pic 5 (8-5-4-7-8) $19,324.25 Late Scratches: Secret Chat, Theismann Tenth Race - $100,000, Stakes, 2 yo, One Mile Seventy Yards Hit Parade (L. Saez) $6.60 $4.20 $3.20 Luv Your Neighbor (A. Concpcin) $8.00 $5.60 Pashmina (B. Curtis) $3.20 Finish Time: 1:42.97 Daily Double (8-3) $78.10; Exacta (3-1) $27.30;

Superfecta (3-1-7-2) $52.15; Trifecta (3-1-7) $72.10; Pic 3 (7-8-3) $202.00; (7-7-3) $4.60 Late Scratches: Hurricane Kate Eleventh Race - $100,000, Stakes, 2 yo, One And One Sixteenth Miles Chip Honcho (P. Lopez) $9.80 $4.40 $3.00 Liberty National (Hrnndz) $2.80 $2.20 Crown the Buckeye (J. Loveberry) $2.60 Finish Time: 1:44.76 Daily Double (3-2) $21.00; Exacta (2-3) $11.90; Superfecta (2-3-5-4) $12.91; Trifecta (2-3-5) $16.10; Pic 3 (8-3-2) $334.80 Late Scratches: Mesquite, Arabia Wild Twelfth Race - $55,000, Maiden special weight, 2 yo, One And One Sixteenth Miles Thunder Buck (L. Saez) $8.60 $5.40 $4.20 Ocelli (B. Curtis) $6.20 $4.40 Liberty Valance (A. Concepcion) $3.60 Finish Time: 1:44.83 Daily Double (2-3) $39.60; Exacta (3-6) $25.90; Superfecta (3-6-11-12) $60.47; Trifecta (3-611) $78.85; Pic 3 (3-2-3) $47.15; Pic 4 (8-3-4-23) $1,478.95; Pic 5 (7-8-3-4-2-3) $5,153.45; Pic 6 (4-7-8-3-4-2-3) $40,291.98

as he threw for 4,699 yards and 46 touchdowns while setting 26 NCAA records. The Cougars averaged 53.5 points per game in a 9-2 season that did not include a bowl because of NCAA probation. Ware won the Heisman by just 70 points over Indiana running back Anthony Thompson, 1,073-1,003.

Jabbar) 71-69. The Bruins got their revenge on the Cougars, however, routing Houston 101-69 in the national semifinals at that year’s Final Four in Los Angeles.

tradition calls for each graduating student’s class ring to spend a night inside a case placed in Shasta’s enclosure at the Houston Zoo before being distributed for that semester’s graduation ceremony.

8. Other famous alumni

4. Game of the century Say “Game of the century” to LSU football fans and they’ll probably recall the Tigers’ 2011 win at Alabama. To a Houston fan, that phrase refers to a landmark 1968 college basketball game between Houston and UCLA, the first nationally televised regular-season college basketball game ever.

Played before more than 52,000 fans in the Astrodome, No. 2 Houston and Elvin Hayes beat No. 1 UCLA and Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-

5. Cougar sign Like the Hook ‘em Horns hand sign Texas fans make, Houston fans make a cougar paw sign by folding in the ring finger and thumb of their right hand into the palm. The tradition began in 1953, when Houston’s first live cougar mascot, Shasta I, lost a toe in a cage door on the way to a game against Texas. According to UH, Texas fans mocked the cougar’s injury, but Houston fans soon adopted the gesture as a symbol of school pride.

6. Lord of the rings Houston’s current live cougar Mascot is Shasta VII. A school

7. Phi Slama Jama Basketball was showtime at Houston in the early 1980s, earning the nickname “Phi Slama Jama” from Houston Post sportswriter Thomas Bonk. Led by coach and Houston alum Guy Lewis, “Texas’ tallest fraternity” reached three straight Final Fours from 1982-84. Featuring future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, the Cougars went 88-16 but were denied a national championship when they fell in a stunning upset to NC State in the 1983 final.

Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry … Masters champions Nick Faldo, Fred Couples and Fuzzy Zoeller … Journalist Dan Rather … Singer Kenny Rogers … “Star Trek” actor Brent Spiner … Actor brothers Dennis Quaid and Randy Quaid … CBS sports announcer Jim Nantz … “The Big Bang Theory” actor Jim Parsons … Mary Kay cosmetics founder Mary Kay Ash … 10-time Olympic track and field medalist Carl Lewis …

Two-time Olympic gold medal gymnast Shannon Miller …

Landry’s restaurant chain owner and Houston megabooster Tilman Fertitta.

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OUTDOORS

CALENDAR HUNTING SEASONS

DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 4, State Deer Areas 1, 3, 4, 7 & 8, with/ without dogs.

RAILS/GALLINULES: Through Jan. 7, statewide.

DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 11, State Deer Area 2, with/without dogs.

DOVES: South Zone, through Jan. 11; North Zone, through Jan. 18;.

DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 15, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8 & 10. Either-sex take allowed.

DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 18, State Deer Areas 5 & 9, with/without dogs, bucks only.

DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 18, State Deer Areas 6, with/without dogs.

DUCKS/WEST ZONE: Through Jan. 25, includes coots & mergansers.

DUCKS/EAST ZONE: Through Jan. 31, includes coots & mergansers.

DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 31, State Deer Areas 1, 2 & 4. Either-sex take allowed.

WOODCOCK: Through Jan. 31, statewide.

GEESE/WEST ZONE: Through Feb. 1. Includes Canada, blue, snow & Ross’ & specklebellies. Take of Canada geese prohibited in portions of Cameron & Vermilion parishes.

GEESE/EAST ZONE: Through Feb. 7. Includes Canada, blue, snow & Ross’ & specklebellies DEER/ARCHERY: Through Feb. 15, State Deer Areas 5, 6 & 9, either-sex take allowed.

QUAIL, RABBITS & SQUIRRELS: Through Feb. 28, statewide, private lands only.

SNIPE: Through Feb. 28, statewide.

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Outside waters open statewide; fall inshore season closed in Zone 3 (Freshwater Bayou west to Louisiana/Texas line) & portions of Zones 1 & 2. All of Zone 2 will close at sunset Dec. 22.

OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: For-hire red snapper season; flounder; gray triggerfish; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers & wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

CLOSED SEASONS: Red snapper (recreational & state charters); greater amberjack; bluefin tuna; gag, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed.

LDWF UPDATES

WOODWORTH AND BODCAU SHOOTING RANGES CLOSED DEC. 25-26 &JAN. 1-2.

CLOSED: Hope Canal Road/ boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction).

OYSTER SEASON TO CLOSE ONE-HALF HOUR AFTER SUNSET DEC. 21 IN DRUM BAY. ROAD CLOSURE: Section of La. 975 through Sherburne WMA closed through June 12, 2026 (replace bridge) access from U.S. 190 and I-10 open.

DRAWDOWNS: Underway on Henderson Lake, Lake Bistineau, Saline, Kepler, Iatt, Black & Clear lakes, Clear-Smithport Lake & Lake Martin.

EMAIL: jmacaluso @theadvocate.com

CALENDAR DEADLINE Jan. 5 is the deadline for submitting activities and events for the 2026 Advocate Outdoors Calendar scheduled to be published Jan. 11.

Please include: Event’s name/title, time, date and location including the site, address and city.

Also include all fees, age limits or skill requirements, beneficiaries for fundraising events, and full name of the contact person with the area code & phone number and/ or e-mail address.

Email: jmacaluso@ theadvocate.com

Gifts that can save the day

Put focus on safety when buying Christmas presents for your favorite hunter, fisherman NOTEBOOK

BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer

Merry Christmas, and with that wish comes years of worry from readers about a present for their favorite outdoors folk.

Yes, calls and emails every year, usually from wives and daughters, come seeking advice about a can’t-miss gift under the tree.

What about thinking “safety” this year.

There are all sorts of items for hunters and fishers, things like safety harnesses and tree stands for hunters, a more serviceable life jacket and throwable life-saving object or a boat box for fishermen.

Boat box? Federal and state boating regulations require items for every boat of every size. A dry-storage boat box will contain things like a whistle or a signaling device like an air horn and flares. Because it’s a dry box, it’s a good place to stow boat registration papers, a charger for a cell phone, electrical tape and tools to make minor repairs.

All boats are required to have a working fire extinguisher, and you’d be surprised to find out how many extinguishers have expired.

They don’t last forever.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of “knowing” what your outdoors person wants or needs, and buying the wrong shotshells

or fishing reel or line, thus sending the recipient back to the store to get the exact “right” thing.

This is where a gift card comes into play. Sure, the big-box stores have gift cards, but local tackle and/ or hunting stores have gift certificates, too, and this will allow you to spend what you want and give your “fav” the chance to get the just-right item.

Ducks While state Waterfowl Study leader Jason Olszak was putting together the December aerial survey leading up to this weekend’s second-segment opening of our duck season, an ominous warning about avian flu came from Wildlife and Fisheries.

It’s H5N1 — the highly pathogenic avian influenza — that’s shown up in wild birds in our state. The report stated most of the dead birds haven been found in the state’s southwestern parishes.

The report stated, “This year’s fall migrations have created a resurgence of HPAI-induced disease in waterfowl and other birds … geese and other waterfowl are particularly susceptible to HPAI. Many wild birds recover from infection and develop immunity to a particular strain of

NFL

Hurts-led Eagles clinch NFC East

turnovers. He connected Philly takes down no with Smith from 5 yards in the first half and with Washington to out Dallas Goedert from 15 in third quarter to cap a 17repeat as division the play, 83-yard, 10 / -minute drive. champions “We’ve slowly been play1

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP national writer

LANDOVER, Md. — As the percussive horns of Steve Wonder’s “Sir Duke” filled the air, Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni — wearing a black T-shirt bearing the words, “Been there, won that” — made the rounds in the locker room, offering hand clasps and back slaps to his players after they accomplished something that hadn’t happened in two decades: win a second consecutive NFC East title.

“Gets better and better each time,” running back Saquon Barkley said as he walked through the scene Saturday night.

This was not a terrific performance by the reigning Super Bowl champions, from a fumble on the opening kickoff to a pair of penalties on the tush push to three wide-left field-goal tries to a halftime deficit. Still, Barkley, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles eventually got going in the right direction and clinched their division yet again by beating the Washington Commanders 29-18.

The game included a late brawl when Barkley tacked on a 2-point conversion that increased the Eagles’ lead to 19 points before the Commanders scored a meaningless TD. Starting plays under center far more frequently than he did earlier in the season, Hurts completed 22 of 30 throws — with 15 of those caught by A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith — for 185 yards, two touchdowns and

2

ing better and better on the offensive side of the ball,” said Goedert, whose 10th TD reception this season tied a record for Philadelphia tight ends that was first set in the 1960s.

Hurts also did plenty of damage on the ground, gaining 40 yards on seven carries for the Eagles (10-5), who have followed a threegame losing streak by winning two in a row. They are the first team to top the NFC East in back-to-back seasons since Philadelphia did it every year from 2001 to 2004; the gap since then was the longest drought without a repeat champ for any division in NFL history.

With the Commanders (4-11), now losers of nine of their past 10 contests, already eliminated from postseason contention, there was plenty of green in the stands.

Chants of “E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!” frequently rang out and cries of “Cooooop!” greeted Cooper DeJean’s interception of Josh Johnson, Washington’s third-string quarterback, who came in when Marcus Mariota went out after the opening drive in the third quarter with an injured right hand while Washington led 10-7.

Mariota started Saturday in place of Jayden Daniels, the reigning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year who led the Commanders to the NFC title game last season — where they lost 55-23 to Philadelphia — but has been shut down in 2025 after dealing with a series of injuries and appearing in only seven games.

DECEMBER AERIAL WATERFOWL SURVEY Department of Wildlife and Fisheries waterfowl biologists’ early December aerial surveys of the coastal (Southwest & Southeast) and Little River Basin (LRB Catahoula Lake) zones to estimate waterfowl populations compared to the November 2025 and December 2024 surveys in the same areas. * Fewer than 1,000 of that species seen in survey area.

DABBLING DUCKS Species

MALLARD Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

MOTTLED DUCKS

AI, but others may exhibit neurological symptoms, which ultimately lead to the death of the bird. Scavenging raptors, including vultures, are also susceptible to the disease.”

It also stated that public health officials consider this flu strain “to be of minimal threat to humans; sick birds should not be handled.” The statement warned that any wild birds appearing sickly should not be carried into places with domestic birds.

Wildlife and Fisheries also asked hunters to report sick or dead birds to regional offices in Hammond (985) 543-4777, Lake Charles (337) 491-2575, Lafayette (337) 262-2080, Minden (318) 371-3050, Monroe (318) 343-4044 and Pineville (318) 487-5885.

Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

Shrimp

Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

Come sunset Monday, all of Shrimp Zone 2 will be closed. The only remaining waters open in the fall inshore season are in a portion of Zone 1 and all state outside waters.

Enforcement academy The deadline to apply for Wildlife and Fisheries’ 38th Enforcement Academy is Monday. The academy will begin in late March.

To apply go to the state Civil Service website: governmentjobs.com/careers/ louisiana/jobs, then look for the “Wildlife Enforcement Cadet” position.

Southwest

Southeast

LRB

Total

11,000 2,000 17,000

* — 1,000

2,000 * —

13,000 2,000 18,000

11,000 9,000 7,000

12,000 7,000 10,000

— — —

23,000 16,000 17,000

244,000 233,000 367,000

59,000 22,000 47,000

3,000 20,000 *

306,000 275,000 414,000

7,000 4,000 3,000

* — *

* * —

7,000 4,000 3,000

165,000 81,000 104,000

44,000 2,000 49,000

* * *

209,000 83,000 153,000

157,000 116,000 75,000

41,000 75,000 103,000

— 4,000 *

198,000 195,000 178,000

104,000 92,000 202,000

— 4,000 *

* 10,000 *

104,000 106,000 202,000

341,000 101,000 170,000

14,000 — 63,000

79,000 60,000 *

434,000 161,000 233,000

1,040,000 638,000 945,000

170,000 110,000 273,000

84,000 94,000 *

1,294,000 842,000 1,218,000

Southwest

Southeast

LRB

Total

55,000 10,000 17,000

73,000 3,000 14,000

* * 1,000

128,000 13,000 32,000

29,000 55,000 147,000

14,000 301,000 127,000

54,000 26,000 7,000

97,000 382,000 281,000

— 1,000 —

58,000 — 6,000

78,000 * 24,000

136,000 1,000 30,000

84,000 66,000 164,000

145,000 304,000 147,000

132,000 26,000 32,000

361,000 396,000 343,000

1,124,000 704,000 1,109,000

315,000 414,000 420,000

216,000 120,000 32,000

1,655,000 1,238,000 1,561,000

GADWALL/GRAY DUCKS Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

WIGEON Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

GREENWING TEAL Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

BLUEWING TEAL Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

SHOVELER/SPOONIES Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

PINTAILS Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

TOTAL

Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

DIVING DUCKS Species

SCAUP

RINGNECKS Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

CANVASBACKS Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

TOTAL

Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

TOTALS Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Dec. 2024

COOTS Dec. 2025 282,000 408,000 3,000 693,000 Nov. 2025 108,000 2,000 1,000 111,000 Dec. 2024 81,000 558,000 3,000 642,000 Source: Waterfowl Study Group, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

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Danny Heitman AT RANDOM

From my perch, I live with Christmas all year long I’ve been a magazine editor for the past five years, working on a second floor fashioned from what was once an attic.

It’s a quiet, peaceful place where, with my closeness to the roof, I’m the first to learn when rain arrives to drum the shingles.

My private roost has other quirks.

A low space where the beams meet the eaves isn’t good for much else, so we use it to store odds and ends, including the office Christmas decorations.

That’s how, in a small and abiding way, I’ve come to live with Christmas all year long.

It’s there in April as I walk to my desk with a cup of coffee and spot a plastic tub of holiday ornaments sealed in their seasonal dormancy, like tulip bulbs waiting to sprout. In the depths of August, when temps here in Louisiana reach triple digits, I take comfort in the Christmas tree carefully boxed in cardboard a few feet from my keyboard.

Its presence points to the cycle of time — how summer, whatever its perils and pleasures, will eventually yield to something else. There’s solace in knowing that nothing, even hurricane season, lasts for long.

Autumn nudges me to see the holiday treasures beneath my office roof with new eyes.

When the air cools and the afternoons grow shorter, I know that winter is arriving in a few weeks. For months now, like a fairy-tale kingdom in the trance of sleep, Christmas has rested silently in its nest of cartons and crates. Soon, the spell of the calendar will wake it up.

As the man who counts Christmas as his constant companion, I get to be the one who breaks its slumber. Each December, I start fetching the office decorations from their dusty corner and hauling them downstairs.

Before the migration began this month, I stood at the top of my workplace stairs for a bit and savored the moment.

Memories returned from distant Decembers when I perched at the top of other stairs and longed for Christmas to bloom. My childhood bedroom was on the second floor, and I’d join a sister in our chilly stairwell each Christmas morning and wait for permission to clamber down the steps and see our presents.

Those mornings taught me the magic of anticipation, the essence of any happy soul. In a world wounded by worry, Christmas renews our sense of life as an exercise in expectation rather than dread.

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Braised pork shank, clockwise from left, the house salad and chef’s bruschetta are on the menu at Nino’s.

PASSION & PURPOSE

As our Restaurant of the Year, Nino’s finds new life without losing its soul

F

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

rom the street, Nino’s appears to be an unassuming restaurant, but it has long been a steady presence in Baton Rouge dining for over 20 years. This year, the Italian restaurant took on new life under the ownership of Shannon and Jason Lopez, whose combined experience, attention to hospitality and respect for what came before earned Nino’s the newspaper’s Restaurant of the Year.

The couple bought the restaurant in July 2024 after a date night at the Bluebonnet Boulevard restaurant in 2022. They were both at a point in their careers where they wanted to work for themselves.

When they came across a “convoluted” listing for a restaurant for sale, they suspected it was Nino’s.

The couple scrapped plans to build something new and chose to invest in a place that already mattered to its customers.

“We never imagined the reception that we would truly receive,” Shannon Lopez said. “We have held on to most of the Nino’s old regulars, and the coolest compliment

Owners Jason and Shannon Lopez purchased Nino’s in July 2024. from them is how relieved they are that it went to people who would love it and improve it. Because there are people in Baton Rouge who have more than 20 years of memories wrapped in this place.”

That balance of continuity and thoughtful change is central to why Nino’s stood out this year. Under the Lopezes, the restaurant has remained familiar while sharpening its focus on hospitality, consistency

and food that resonates emotionally with diners.

The essence of Nino’s, in many ways, captures the zeitgeist of Baton Rouge. There’s more to it than what meets the eye. Sometimes it’s overlooked, but it’s most certainly moving, shaking and growing. It has hospitality at the top of mind, and it’s full of people who love good food.

ä See NINO’S, page 4D

ä See AT RANDOM, page 4D

Did 1940s sightings lead to plans for a UFO conference in La.?

While UFO sightings were rampant in central Louisiana between 1947 and 1955, reports were coming from throughout the state. Mystery still surrounds saucer-like lights snapped by the Coast Guard in 1952.

FILE PHOTO

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

During the Atomic Age, launched in 1945, the detonation of the atomic bomb ushered in Cold War politics, nuclear energy and Godzilla.

That’s also when objects began appearing seemingly en masse in the sky throughout Louisiana, particularly in Alexandria, a fact that prompted Kyle Watt’s inquiry.

“I once heard that a national conference on UFOs was once organized in Alexandria but never happened,” the Zachary resident said. “It was supposed to happen in the 1940s. Is this true? And if it is, why not?”

Yes, it’s true, and the year was 1947, long before the 2020s, when popularity of unidentified flying objects have soared to an all-time high through such popu-

lar television series as “Ancient Aliens.”

These days, the mysterious flying machines are officially known as unidentified anomalous phenomena or unidentified aerial phenomena, but most people still use the term UFO. Mention UFO, and people begin thinking of spaceships, specifically flying saucers.

“And that’s what most people

ä See CURIOUS, page 4D

2D ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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COMMUNITY Mississippi Ballet Kris Cangelosi, choreographer for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ production and Cangelosi Dance Project guest soloist from Baton Rouge, performed at the Immersive Media Performing Arts Center in Gulfport, Miss., on Dec. 13 and 14. Gathered are, from left, Georgia Bolton, Paisley Martinez, Emmy Wesley, Carson Lowe, Angelique Francosi, Kris Cangelosi, Berklee Zanders and Skylar Dunphy.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Baton Rouge Navy Club

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Baton Rouge Navy Club, USS Kidd, Plaquemine Garden Club Ship 661, held its annual Christmas luncheon on Dec. 9 at Drusilla Seafood Several teams of Plaquemine Garden Club Restaurant. Gathered are, from left, front members shared their creative talents row, Gerard Ruth, Denise Le Compte, to decorate the home of Jan and Brian Jeanie Streat, Chick Streat and Rick Romero on Main Street in Plaquemine.

Munch; back row, Jerry Pugh, Beth They used serveral pieces from blue Hirschey, Tom Hirschey, John Harrell, Doc and white china collections as well as Le Compte, John Laws and Bus Di Palma. nutcrackers from the Romeros.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Magnolia Wood Garden Club The Magnolia Wood Garden Club held its annual Christmas party at the home of Bruce and Joy Hammatt on Dec. 15. Shown are, from left, seated, Jeff Wittenbrink, Joy Hammatt, Tamara Wittenbrink, Suzanne Blunt, Patty Nolan and Mary Anne young; standing, Matt Blunt, Patrick Wegeng, Beth O’Quinn, Frank O’Quinn, Earl Nolan, Alan young and Bruce Hammatt.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Associated Women in the Arts Gathered at the Associated Women in the Arts’ annual Christmas party on Dec. 9 are, from left, President Kathy Daigle, Vice-President Monica Wood and host SuEllen Lithgoe.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Pennington supports upcoming exhibition

The LSU Museum of Art has received a generous grant — its largest to the LSU Museum of Art in more than a decade — from FYI BR the Pennington Family Foundation staff in support of the reports upcoming exhibition, “Daphnis and Chloe and Other Lovers: Lithographs by Marc Chagall.” The exhibit opens Feb. 12 and will close May 24 on the fifth floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge.

The investment will help ensure that families, students and visitors from across the Greater Baton Rouge area experience

Chagall’s work. The grant will directly support the installation of the exhibition, educational programming for local schools, fine art insurance, marketing efforts and interpretive materials designed to make the exhibition accessible and engaging for audiences of all ages.

The exhibition will feature guided tours, creative family programming and curriculum-connected experiences for students.

Organized by Carole Sorell, Inc. and curated by David S. Rubin, the exhibition is presented by the Park West Foundation.

Alzheimer’s Ball will be Jan. 24 ALZDance Advocates Inc. and Baton Rouge Ballroom are part-

nering for the first Alzheimer’s Ball 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at the City Club of Baton Rouge, 355 North Blvd.

The mission of the event is to raise awareness and support for those living with the disease, as well as for the caregivers who care for their loved ones. This event is a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area to provide dance programs for those suffering from cognitive decline and their caregivers.

The evening will feature performances by both professional and amateur dancers, as well as stories of dance’s powerful impact on the mind. Guests will enjoy cocktails, a master pianist, fine dining and dancing. The night also includes a silent auction and a creative “wine pull.”

Buy tickets at alzdance.com.

LSU School of Art to exhibit painters LSU School of Art’s Glassell Gallery will feature the work of painters Will Maxen and Bradley Kerl, who recently joined LSU School of Art’s faculty. “The Middle” finds common ground in the praxes of the faculty painters who share a deep interest in the materiality and application of paint in their studio practices.

Both artists compose images through a variety of methods — collage, iterative repetition, historical and everyday references. The exhibition will be on view from Jan. 17 to March 14.

An opening reception is planned 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 17 at Glassell

Gallery.

Maxen is a painter and an assistant professor of Professional Practice at LSU School of Art. Maxen weaves together personal experiences and historical narratives that shift between figures and landscapes. Maxen received his bachelor’s in illustration from Central Connecticut State University and a master of fine arts in art studio from the University of California, Davis.

Kerl is a painter and an assistant professor of art at LSU School of Art. Born in Beaumont, Texas, Kerl holds drawing and painting degrees from both the University of North Texas and the University of Houston. Kerl’s practice investigates methods of framing subjects through the medium and history of painting.

AROUND THE ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE At LASM

The museum-wide exhibit, “Coca-Cola Christmas: A Month of Magic at LASM,” has returned for a second year at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. The show runs through Jan. 4.

Sponsored by the Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company, this immersive, family-friendly celebration transforms the museum into a festive destination filled with wonder, tradition and

community cheer.

Visit lasm.org.

Surreal Salon

Baton Rouge Gallery, 1515 Dalrymple Drive, will open “Surreal Salon 18,” its annual internationally juried exhibit of pop-surrealism and lowbrow art, on Jan. 4.

The show will run through Jan. 25 with its coinciding Surreal Salon Soiree celebration set for Jan. 24. Admission to the exhibit is free, and advance tickets for the soiree

are $40 for gallery members and $50 for nonmembers. All tickets are $60 at the door.

Visit batonrougegallery.org.

In the Shaw Center

The Gallery at the Manship Theatre is showing “On Display: Composition.

Color. Pattern.” by Kevin Babb through Dec. 31 in the Jones Walker Foyer Gallery in the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. Admission is free. Visit manshiptheatre.org.

Home for the Holidays?

Get Your Home Hosting-Ready.

At the Arts Council

org.

The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge is showing “Continuum,” an exhibition featuring the work of David Dew Bruner, through Jan. 10, in the Shell Gallery at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, 233 St. Ferdinand St. The show features a focused selection of Bruner’s collages, portraits and abstractions shaped by memory, loss and resilience.

Admission is free. Visit artsbr.

At LSU MOA

The LSU Museum of Art in the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St., is showing “The Sculpture of Scott, Payton, Hayden, and Bechet” through Jan. 25, and “A Bayou State of Mind” through Jan. 4.

Visit lsumoa.org.

Upcoming classes

Registration is open for the Art Guild of Louisiana’s January classes at Studio in

the Park, 2490 Silverest Ave., Baton Rouge: n “Larry Downs, The Complete Artist Using Eyes, Hands, and Brain – the Basics of Art,” 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays from Jan. 8 to Feb. 12. n “Kerry Curtin, Stained Glass – Create Your Own Treasure,” 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 9-10 and Jan. 16-17. n “Roberta Loflin, Watercolor Basics – Tools and Techniques,” 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays Jan. 31-Feb. 21.

Visit artguildlouisiana.org.

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TRAVEL

Yurt stay worth the price and weirdness Stop in Texas Hill Country by way of El Paso

BY JAN RISHER Staff writer

When I told my husband we were spending the night in a yurt, he looked at me like I’d suggested we sleep on the roof of a moving car.

He went along anyway — either worn down by years of my “great ideas” or choosing blind confidence because they usually work out.

I had never seen our destination yurt, the Cara Ger, and driving through the dark on curvy two-lane highways in the Texas Hill Country didn’t exactly inspire confidence in my husband. But I had one ace up my sleeve: the price of the stay.

Based on that alone, I had a feeling it would be nice.

Yes, it would have been better to have arrived earlier — so that we could have enjoyed the beautiful landscape — but we were driving back to Louisiana from El Paso, and the miles were longer than the day.

How we got there At this point in life, I try to stay in interesting places whenever possible. I do a little research and find cool, restored spots — like the incredible Settles Hotel in Big Spring, Texas, where we stayed on our way to El Paso.

If you know Texas geography and are thinking, “Big Spring isn’t on the way to El Paso from south Louisiana,” you’re right. But we needed to go through Shreveport and wanted to visit my husband’s cousin in Dallas. Remarkably, that detour added only about 45 minutes to our long 14-hour drive to El Paso.

That extra three-quarters of an hour was a win: we stayed in a 1,000-square-foot suite at the Settles Hotel for $179 a night. The whole place was swanky, and the food was good. I could have stayed a while. I highly recommend the

The Cara Ger luxury yurt rents for about $320 per night.

STAFF PHOTO

By JAN RISHER

places El Paso among the world’s leading children’s museums.

The trip home by way of the yurt

stacle if nature called in the night.

But alas, he can’t wait to return.

The Yurtopian Resort calls its accommodations “luxury” yurts — and they aren’t joking. We sat by the fire in the cold, watched the stars, and I finally persuaded my husband into the hot tub.

All in all, the trip, which we made to attend a funeral, could have been profoundly sad — and even though the sadness is still with us, the special places we found and shared along the way made the overall experience so much more than it could have been.

My husband agrees that the whole experience was glorious — the quiet of the Texas hills, the warmth of the yurt, and what may be the world’s most comfortable bed, made for one of the best nights’ sleep either of us has had in a long time.

We left the Texas hills carrying both the sadness we came with and the unexpected and welcomed warmth of a night well spent.

For the drive home, we took the more direct “low road” — InterThe yurtopian Hill Country Resort features seven ‘luxury’ yurts. Its sister state 10 all the way. For our interproperty in Dripping Springs, Texas, is 46 acres with 11 yurts. esting overnight stop, I chose the Yurtopian Hill Country Resort We loved walking through the near Wimberley, Texas.

Settles Hotel if you’re ever drivlargely revitalized downtown.

By then, it was quite cold, and ing near Big Spring.

We stopped by the new Mexieven I began to wonder if the yurt Out on the town of El Paso might be a bridge too far. But I reacan American Cultural Center In El Paso, we stayed at The and stumbled upon multiple free soned that about a third of MongoPlaza Hotel Pioneer Park, which workshops. lians still live full-time in yurts — Not only did we help make over- and it’s much colder there than in earned a coveted Michelin Key. Like The Settles Hotel, it too was sized Christmas piñatas for the the Texas Hill Country. originally opened in 1930. It was city’s holiday celebrations, but we Plus, as mentioned, this yurt was restored and reopened in 2020 also crafted hojalatas (small tin pricey — about $320 for the night, and is located in the middle of ornaments) with a skilled artist which is well beyond what I’d usudowntown El Paso, right beside teaching us the steps along the ally pay. the city’s central plaza, which was way. The center hosts free workBut after a tough few months hosting Winterfest throughout the shops every weekend. and a missed big trip due to a month of December.

From there, we walked to the house fire, I decided we deserved On weekend nights, live music new $72 million La Nube STEAM a splurge. I’m glad we did.

— mostly high-quality mariachi Discovery Center, El Paso’s new Even my husband came around — filled the air. There was an ice- children’s museum, which recently — though he did have a moment skating rink, hot chocolate and won the 2025 Hands On! Children of concern when we arrived in the lights a’plenty. It was like a winter in Museums Award — a global dis- dark and realized the bathroom wonderland and could easily be a tinction shared by only two other and kitchen were outside, and the Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ Christmas destination. museums in the United States that in-deck hot tub would be an ob- theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By Christopher Elliott

Refund promised after involuntary downgrade, but it’s still missing I booked a business class seat for my American Airlines flight from St.Thomas to Charlotte, but 45 minutes before boarding, a gate agent told me my seat was broken and I’d have to move to the main cabin.They promised a refund for the fare difference plus a $500 inconvenience fee.

Another agent printed a new boarding pass but kept changing the compensation amount — first $200, then $300.

I accepted, assuming I Christopher could resolve it later.

But when I submitted Elliott a refund request online, American denied it.The airline’s customer relations department also rejected my claim, and emails to corporate contacts only got generic replies.

After weeks of back-and-forth, I still hadn’t received a dime.Why won’t American Airlines honor its promise? — Laura MacLennan, Gurnee, Ill. American Airlines should have

immediately refunded the fare difference and honored its compensation offer.

Under Department of Transportation rules, passengers downgraded from a higher class of seating to a lower class are entitled to a refund for the difference in price. But if an agent offers an additional $500 for the inconvenience, then American Airlines should follow through.

But as good as that sounded, I’m almost certain that the agents either misspoke or that you misunderstood them. The reason they kept changing the amount at the ticket counter was that they needed to calculate the fare difference.

Now, here’s the thing: Airlines usually calculate these types of refunds by the book, although I’ve witnessed a few shenanigans in the past. For example, for an

involuntary downgrade, I’ve seen tions, including the names of emthem recalculate the price of your ployees and the time of your inseat based on that day’s fare. teraction. You say you had asked And, as you probably know, the for the names of the gate agents, walk-up economy class fare can “but they gave me a hard time be almost as much as an advance- about that, and I felt weird trying purchase business class ticket to zone in on their name tags.” (and maybe more). Airlines can I see you escalated this to the deny their customers any fare American Airlines executives adjustment based on that kind of listed on my consumer advocacy funny math. site, Elliott.org. Unfortunately, at At first, I suspected that was the the time you contacted me, the problem — a fare recalculation executives had switched email that left you with nothing. And addresses (maybe to hide from you say you did, too. Technically, customers like you), and thereAmerican Airlines could try some fore, your requests were going funny math, and it would be com- into the void.

Don’t worry, my research team pletely legal. But it’s definitely not has fixed that. Anyway, the point the right thing to do. is, the executives should have You might have been able to avoid this by asking the agent for never abandoned their emails, and they should have responded a written confirmation of the refund. While verbal assurances are to you.

If you ever get into a situation common, a paper trail is critical. like this, it’s best to look up the Always document your interac-

e r o f e B m e Get Th s e o D a t n a S

8646 GOODWOOD BOULEVARD (225) 928-7000 3802 JOHNSTON SUITE C (337) 406-9066

DOT rules and make sure the airline is following them. Vague promises of $500 in compensation that change by the minute are not reliable — especially if the airline doesn’t put it in writing.

I contacted American Airlines on your behalf. The airline checked its records and claimed that you had not been downgraded, but instead moved to a different business class seat. You sent them a boarding pass that confirmed you sat in economy class.

American Airlines issued a $300 travel credit and $226 for the fare difference.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him at elliottadvocacy. org.

4D ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Christmas à la Louisiane: It’s a bit unique

BY MYRNA BERGERON Contributing writer

There is no snow, the grass is still green, but the calendar insists that it is December — this is Christmastime in Louisiana.

Once twinkling outdoor lights begin to appear in our neighborHuman hoods, we enter Condition into the spirit of joy with our community. It is amazing that we welcome the same holiday stories, the same Yuletide music and still look forward to hearing them.

The time has come to pull down those noisy attic stairs and climb up to retrieve all the ornaments, ceramic Santas and tinsel needed to decorate our houses. The old crèche set is a family treasure.

Even though one of the figures, a shepherd, has only one arm and one of the sheep is missing a leg, it will still have a place of honor near our Christmas tree.

How enchanting it is to decorate our homes with the variety

of fresh greenery available in our area. Glossy dark green magnolia leaves, scented bright green pine branches, sprays of red holly berries with their jagged green leaves and chocolate brown pinecones. They’re all beautiful and plentiful. Many of the fir trees that we use as Christmas trees

will have traveled many miles to get to us. The very idea of bringing an entire, live tree inside our living space is an outlandish but exciting.

Christmas was not always peaceful within our household of two adults, seven children and two cats. Stuff happens! Like the

NINO’S

my first chef’s knife,” he said.

That shared background informs how the Lopezes divide responsibilities at Nino’s. Jason runs the kitchen, alongside chef Jon Devillier, while Shannon focuses on tasting, service and the overall guest experience. Sometimes, Jason will prepare a dish and hand it to Shannon without tasting it himself.

“I talk to Baton Rouge, and I have for the last four years,” said Shannon Lopez, who has worked with Proverbial Wine Bistro, Supper Club and The Colonel’s Club.

“I listen — and, honestly, we have very similar palates, me and Baton Rouge.”

Continued from page 1D

Food, emotion and experience

Collectively, Shannon and Jason Lopez have more than 30 years of restaurant experience. Shannon Lopez began working in restaurants at 14, inspired in part by her mother, who was a server.

“I was in restaurants before I was the legal age to be in restaurants,” she quipped.

Her first legal restaurant job was at Cracker Barrel in Hammond.

She later studied music education in college, a discipline she still sees as closely connected to food.

“The cool thing about music is that it connects us on a visceral level,” she said. “For me, the only other thing that does that is food.

Food is emotional in a way that words aren’t.”

That connection between food and emotions became clear when she began hosting dinner parties for friends in college. When she could no longer afford to cook for everyone, her guests began buying ingredients so the gatherings could continue.

“They would go and buy the ingredients, and we would have dinner parties every night,” she said. “It’s funny, looking back at that time and realizing that that’s exactly what I wanted to do for a living — and here I am.”

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D were reporting in Louisiana in 1947 — saucer-shaped spaceships,” said Michael Wynne, author and central Louisiana historian. “There were so many of these sightings, and they were all reported by Alexandria’s local newspaper, The Town Talk.”

The UFO capital of the world In fact, it was the newspaper’s managing editor and columnist, Adras Laborde, who organized the national conference. Laborde was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in 2012 after a career stretching from the mid 1940s to the early 1990s.

He was fairly new at the newspaper when he supported the idea of staging a national UFO conference at Alexandria’s downtown grand hotel, the Hotel Bentley.

“He was one of its biggest promoters,” Wynne said. “It was going to be the first of its kind, but it didn’t happen. Why? Because Adras Laborde and his committee required at least 10 out-of-state people who had made sightings to commit to coming to Alexandria, but they only two out-of-state people signed up.”

Meanwhile, almost 80 Louisianans who had filed sightings registered for the event. And central Louisianans continued filing their reports.

Wynne has transcribed these reports in his book, “It Came From Outer Space!: Flying Saucers Visits To Louisiana,” for which he did extensive research not only on the conference but the sightings.

“The mass sightings were only for a short period, from August to December in 1947,” Wynne said.

“Adras had scheduled the conference for December of that year.

Alexandria was considered the UFO capital of the world, and it’s kind of ridiculous to have called off the conference because they only had two out-of-state people

time when, just before guests were to arrive for our annual extended family gathering, the electric meter partially fell off our house, leaving us without electricity. There were no lights, no oven to cook in, and teenage girls needing hair dryers. Thanks to an electrician willing to work on Christmas Eve, we regained electric power. For a short while, we were in panic mode.

During Yuletide, the kitchen is one of the busiest places with all the holiday food preparation.

The kitchen delivers delicious aromas as well as joyous noises throughout the house. What will the entrée be, tender pork roast or perhaps the customary roast turkey? Whatever is decided upon, it will be preceded by a cup of steaming gumbo with rice and followed with a cup of rich, hot Louisiana coffee.

Here in south Louisiana, tradition plays an important part in our lives and Christmastime presents us with a unique legacy. On Christmas Eve, we look forward to the arrival of Papa Noel or

Hospitality as a philosophy Cap steak feature is served at Nino’s.

Shannon Lopez attended culinary school before leaving to take a management position at The Cheesecake Factory in California.

In 2014, she helped open the Metairie location, where she met Jason, who was working in the kitchen.

Over the next eight years, they worked for the company in different roles and locations, including the Midwest, the East Coast and Dubai.

Jason Lopez, who is from South Texas, did not attend culinary school. Instead, he talked his way into his first restaurant job after

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS leaving a sales position at a sporting goods company.

“I walked into a restaurant, and they said, ‘What do you want to do?’ I said, ‘I want to be a server.’

And they said, ‘Well, we don’t hire servers without two years of experience.’ I said, ‘Yeah, but I’m going to be really good at it,’” he said. “I literally talked myself into a job.”

He credits much of his culinary education to The Cheesecake Factory, which operates a full-scratch kitchen with an expansive menu.

“That’s where I discovered my love for food. It’s where I bought

ena in the lower Louisiana region, which, at the time, was still Spanish territory,” Wynne said.

The phenomenon allegedly passed in Baton Rouge at night on April 5, 1800. Dunbar’s description of the sighting is detailed: “It was first seen in the South West, and moved so rapidly, passing over the heads of the spectators, as to disappear in the North East in about a quarter of a minute. It appeared to be of the size of a large house, 70 or 80 feet long. ...

“It appeared to be about 200 yards above the surface of the earth, wholly luminous, but not emitting sparks; of a colour resembling the sun near the horizon in a cold frosty evening, which PROVIDED IMAGE By THE LOUISIANA may be called a crimson red.

POLITICAL HALL OF FAME When passing right over the heads of the spectators, the light on the Adras Laborde, managing editor surface of the earth, was little and columnist for the Alexandria short of the effect of sun-beams, Daily Town Talk, spearheaded the though at the same time, looking effort to stage a national UFO another way, the stars were visconference in Alexandria in 1947. ible, which appears to be a confirmation of the opinion formed of its who signed up between 60 and 80 moderate elevation. In passing, a in-state people who had commitconsiderable degree of heat was felt but no electric sensation.” ted to it.”

A phenomenon in the sky

The Air Force gets involved

But, as noted in Wynne’s book, sightings were taking place throughout the state, one as far back as 1801.

“The first documented sighting was in a letter sent to Thomas Jefferson in 1801,” Wynne said.

“And that sighting was in Baton Rouge.”

The letter was from Natchez, Mississippi, resident Thomas Dunbar, who sent it about a month before Jefferson’s presidential inauguration. Jefferson also was serving as president of the American Philosophical Society, which was founded by Benjamin Franklin.

The organization published Dunbar’s letter in Volume 6 of its newsletter, “Transactions of the American Philosophical Society.”

“Dunbar was a member of the society and was also a diligent investigator of natural phenom-

The object was seen crashing in a wooded area, but caused no cataclysmic damage. Could it have been a meteorite? Wynne says no.

“It is believed that what Dunbar describes, if accurate, was not a meteorite, because an object of this size, entering Earth’s atmosphere at a speed typical of objects falling to earth from space, would have left a much larger trace of itself,” Wynne said. “For example, scientists estimate the size of the iron meteor that created Arizona’s Meteor Crater at roughly 50 meters.”

As for the reason for the influx of 1940s UFO sightings in central Louisiana, Wynne said there is no definitive explanation.

The area was home to England Air Force Base, which logged the reports through the Air Force’s Project Blue Book, which have recently been released by the Na-

Father Christmas to town by placing great, bright bonfires along the top of the levees bordering the Mississippi River. Participating family groups begin building their bonfire creations weeks ahead. What an enchanting sight it is to see the winter darkness speckled by blazing fires lighting the way for miles along both sides of our great river.

What a wonderful time of the year. All the colors, lights, sounds and traditions of the season fill our hearts with love and happiness. Each Christmas brings new memories to treasure. Bon Noël!

Merry Christmas!

— Bergeron lives in Baton Rouge.

Advocate readers may submit stories of about 500 words to The Human Condition at features@theadvocate.com or The Advocate, Features, 10705 Rieger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. There is no payment, and stories will be edited. Authors should include their city of residence.

and I take a bite of this food, and it was like full-on man tears,” he said, still a little teary-eyed today as he talks about it. “She was like, ‘What is wrong with you?’ I was like, ‘I just really hope that one day someone takes a bite of my food and gets so emotionally attached to it that it brings them to tears.”

That philosophy shapes daily life at Nino’s. While the restaurant continues to evolve, the focus remains on making guests feel seen and cared for.

Looking ahead, the Lopezes have ideas for expansion, including the possibility of a fast-casual concept called Pico Nino and maybe a second location. Any growth, they say, will be deliberate.

“We’re going to do it low and slow and make sure that we’re making the best calculated decision possible,” Shannon said. “We haven’t found it yet.”

For now, their focus remains on the 60-person dining room in front of them. Any plans for growth will come later. What matters most is what happens each night when the room fills and service begins.

Under the Lopezes, Nino’s continues to evolve, but its purpose is steady: to be a place people return to not just for a meal, but for the way they’re received — and for what unfolds once they sit down.

Their approach to hospitality is intentional and personal.

Shannon Lopez draws inspiration from Will Guidara’s “Unreasonable Hospitality,” aiming to make each visit memorable — which can mean recreating a dish a guest remembers from a past special, celebrating a milestone birthday or surprising a table with Champagne.

For Jason Lopez, food is also deeply personal. While visiting New Orleans for Shannon’s birthday while they were engaged, the couple had dinner at Ken, an Asian Cajun fusion restaurant that has since closed. On the walk back to their hotel, they stopped at Bouch- Email Lauren Cheramie at erie, where Jason ordered boudin. lauren.cheramie@theadvocate.

“We make it back to the hotel, com.

tional Archives.

“And the sightings were extremely detailed, not only the statements from the people, but also in how the Air Force addresses these cases,” Wynne said. “And then the Air Force, in turn, investigated the people who reported the sightings.”

Wynne also researched data from the National UFO Reporting Center, which documented reports from throughout Louisiana.

“It’s just raw data that hasn’t been investigated,” he said.

Flying objects with orange lights Finally, he zeroed in on central Louisiana through The Town Talk’s barrage of news reports.

“The Air Force would just downplay them, saying, ‘Oh, there was a weather balloon or there were airplanes in the area, and we can’t talk about it at this time,” Wynne said. “But the accounts just proliferated from, from ‘47 through as late as 1955. In fact, the sightings became so overwhelming that they became old hat. People stopped paying attention, and it just died out.”

That is, until 1978, when Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” hit movie theaters.

“That reinvigorated the sightings,” Wynne said. “People weren’t embarrassed to talk about them anymore.”

Looking now at all the descriptions, Wynne has found a running theme — most people identified the flying objects as saucershaped with orange lights.

Did they really see these spaceships? Well, the people who saw them apparently believed it, so much that they were willing to bear witness at a national conference.

Do you have a question about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phone number and the city where you live.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Workers assemble a towering Christmas tree in the atrium of One Canal Place in New Orleans on Nov. 16.

AT RANDOM

Continued from page 1D All of this came to mind the other day as a work friend climbed our office stairs to help me bring down Christmas. Others joined us, and before long, the splendor of the season was spilling into the room. Blue and silver baubles claimed their perfect spot on the resurrected tree, its lights a constellation that we admired as avidly as Magi scanning the desert sky.

Christmas had risen from its boxes, claiming our hearts once again.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.

HOME DELIVERED

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 5D

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LOUISIANA BAKES Three tasty treats to gift from your kitchen Gingerbread Biscotti

The holiday season is a time for warmth, generosity and connection, and few gifts capture that spirit better than homemade food and baked goods.

Giving food as a gift is more than a practical gesture; it’s deeply personal.

For many, food is a love language — a way to express affection, gratitude and care without Olivia Regard words. A batch of cookies, a loaf of bread or a jar of spiced nuts reflect the gift of your time, intention and thoughtfulness — qualities that store-bought items can sometimes lack.

These gifts can also evoke nostalgia and remind the recipient of shared meals and cherished celebrations.

Creative and thoughtful packaging adds an extra layer of charm: decorative tins, festive boxes or reusable jars transform simple treats into memorable presents. By including a handwritten recipe card, you can elevate the gifting experience, sharing not only a tasty treat but also a favorite or treasured family recipe.

The three recipes below will minimize your time in the kitchen during the hectic holiday season yet result in special gifts you will enjoy giving and your recipient will appreciate. The packaging can be simple cellophane bags tied with festive ribbon or place the homemade treat in something useful and reusable that your recipient can enjoy for months or years to come.

Gift the cheese straws in a festive tin, the biscotti with a mug for tea or coffee, and the spiced nuts in a reusable jar.

Ultimately, sharing food during the holidays is about more than just taste — it’s about creating moments of joy and a connection that endures long after the last bite.

Yields 30 to 34 slices.

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 ⁄8 teaspoon ground cloves A few grinds of fresh cracked black pepper (about 1/4 teaspoon) 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 11⁄3 cups toasted, chopped nuts or white or dark chocolate chunks (optional) 1 large egg white

PHOTO By OLIVIA REGARD

Cheese Straws, Rosemary Roasted Pecans and Gingerbread Biscotti

Cheese Straws

Yields 2 dozen or more depending on size and shape of straws.

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 7 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, coarsely grated 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 tablespoon half-and-half or heavy cream 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Add the cheese, butter, flour, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes to a food processor. Pulse the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Add half-and-half and process until a dough ball forms.

4. Turn dough on to a lightly floured surface and knead a few

times. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough into an 8-inch-by-10-inch rectangle that is 1⁄8-inch thick. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

5. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into thin strips. Note: The straws can be any length; feel free to tailor the size to your needs.

6. Gently transfer the strips to a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake the straws on the middle rack for 12 to 14 minutes, until golden brown and crisp. Let cool completely.

Note: Cheese straws can be made up to one month ahead of time. Store cheese straws in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or in a freezer for up to one month.

Cheese straws will disappear quickly at a party.

Rosemary Roasted Pecans ⁄3 cup fresh rosemary 1/4 cup olive oil 2 teaspoons fresh cracked black pepper 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 teaspoons kosher salt 5 cups pecan halves

1

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Remove rosemary leaves from the stem and place leaves on a cutting board. Using a rolling pin, crush the leaves, releasing the oil from the rosemary. Coarsely chop.

3. Mix rosemary, olive oil, pepper, sugar and salt in a bowl. Stir in pecans and toss to coat.

4. Place pecans on rimmed baking sheet and roast for 17-20 minutes, tossing/shaking the pan midway through baking. Let cool.

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Line one large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.

3. In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together granulated and brown sugars with the melted butter. Whisk in the two large eggs and vanilla until fully incorporated.

5. Add the wet ingredients along with any optional additions (nuts or chocolate) to dry mixture and stir to combine.

6. Using floured hands, divide dough in half and transfer each half to the prepared baking sheet.

Form the dough into flattened logs ( around 11 inches long by 3 inches wide by 3/4-inch thick).

7. Whisk egg white in a small bowl until foamy and brush over top and sides of each log.

8. Bake the logs until golden brown (approximately 20 minutes).

9. Transfer to cooling rack and let cool for 25 minutes.

10. Gently transfer each log to a cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut logs on the diagonal into 1/2-inch-wide slices.

11. Arrange slices, cut side down, on baking sheet and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, until golden underneath. Flip each biscotti and bake for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool on rack completely.

Stranger’s mix-up causes deeper reflection on health Dear Harriette: I was coming up out of the subway the other day when a man spoke to me from behind.

He complimented me on my outfit and then looked at me.

He remarked that he had thought I was someone else — a prominent woman in our city. It was a compliment in that regard, but a little jarring, too.

This woman is much larger than Harriette I am — at least Cole I think so. It got SENSE AND me thinking about SENSITIVITy whether I have a realistic sense of my size.

I know I have gained weight in recent years, but this other woman is obese. Is that how people see me? Is that true about me? My head started spinning. It really has nothing to do with the other woman; I like her a lot. It is more of a wake-up call to me. I have

been so busy that I rarely exercise or do anything for my health. It’s past time to take action. How can I start? — Inertia Dear Inertia: Maybe that moment is the jump-start you’ve been waiting for. Chances are, that person who saw you was thinking less about size and more about stature when he thought you were that other woman. I doubt he was dissing you. It is good that the interaction woke you up. If you know you need to work on your fitness, use this moment as a catalyst to start moving. Commit to taking a rigorous walk daily. Join a gym. Get a physical to check your overall health. Move!

Dear Harriette:: Every year, my family does a secret Santa, and every single year my sister-in-law completely ignores the $30 limit and buys extravagant designer wallets, luxury handbags, perfume sets worth over $100 … you name it!

The rest of us try to stick to the

budget because we agreed to keep things simple and affordable for everyone, but her gifts always end up being the “big reveal” of the night, and it makes the rest of us look like we didn’t put in any effort at all, even though we’re following the rules. It’s gotten to the point where people feel embarrassed opening their gifts after hers, and a few relatives have started hinting that maybe they should spend more, too, which totally defeats the purpose. Secret Santa is supposed to be fun and low-pressure, not a competition or a display of who can give the flashiest present.

I appreciate her generosity, but it’s creating tension and raising expectations in a way that makes the whole exchange awkward. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, confrontational or like I’m nitpicking right before the holidays. I also don’t want to make her feel bad for being thoughtful. But something must be said before this becomes an even bigger issue. — Too Much

Dear Too Much: Take your sister-inlaw aside and acknowledge her generosity as you also point out that she has consistently broken the rules. As lovely as her gifts are, they never fall within the agreed-upon price cap. Encourage her to take on the challenge for this particular gift exchange.

What can she find for her recipient that is creative and perfect for them but doesn’t blow the budget?

That’s the way to do Secret Santa.

Challenge her to do that this year.

If she wants to get someone a bigger gift, too, she can go for it — separately, away from the group.

Push her to play by the rules. Everyone will be happier.

Dear Harriette: Someone asked me if I am always on overdrive. She followed up by saying it seems I always have a million things to do and I never take a break. That’s almost true. Right now, I’m doing everything I can to earn enough money to take care of my family.

Even with all this effort, it doesn’t

seem to be enough. It didn’t help to have someone point out that I don’t stop. How can I? I don’t want to lose my apartment or be unable to pay for food or any of the other basics. Right now, though, it’s hard to keep my head above water. How can I relax when this is what I’m dealing with? — Overwhelmed Dear Overwhelmed: Believe it or not, this might be a perfect time to step back — just for a moment.

Get still. Take the time to breathe deeply and assess your situation.

Notice everything around you.

What can you do differently? What resources are available to you that may be of help? Try to let go of the fear and open your eyes to the possibilities. Someone or something may reveal itself to you if you look at your life differently. Faith helps here. Your hard work coupled with the belief that great things are on their way may fuel you.

Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com.

END THE YEAR WITH

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6D ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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OUR FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2025 We opened up the floor in the newsroom to see which books our reporters loved this year, ranging from old favorites they enjoy re-reading to ones they read for the first time. Below are six suggestions.

“The Eight,” by Katherine Neville and “Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years,” by Diarmaid MacCulloch “The Eight,” a book I re-read this year for the first time in more than a decade, is a 1988 novel that’s part thriller, part historical fiction and part mystery, with a tinge of ‘The Da Vinci Code”-style intrigue.

One storyline, set in Revolutionary France, follows the adventures of Mireille, a novice nun who has been given a sacred object to keep and protect from those who would seek it and the power it may possess. A second storyline, set in the 1970s, follows a young computer specialist, Catherine Velis, as she attempts to collect certain antiquities requested by a New York-based antiquities dealer.

Both women are caught up in a long-running game that they must understand before they can try to win. The book’s puzzles, adventure and historical settings kept me turning pages to the end.

“Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years” is a book I read for the first time this year. Diarmaid MacCulloch is one of the most accomplished scholars of Christianity of the last century. But this is no ivory-tower esoterica; his writing is engaging and easy to read.

This book is a magisterial portrayal of the three millennia of thought and deed that result in what we now consider Christianity. The book is perhaps best for those who have some grounding in the history and theology of the church, because while it’s very accessible, there is a broad sweep of time periods, characters, movements and ideas to track. For those looking for a book that is both survey and in-depth study, they could do little better than this masterpiece. — Faimon Roberts, columnist/editorial writer “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” by Douglas Adams An old favorite is “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” which has a light and absurd tone that the English do so well. It both is and isn’t as nerdy as it sounds, and the movie version is a great adaptation.

The story is a good reminder that even a fantastical life far in the future is limited by humanity’s tendency to do dull, dumb things. Living in New Orleans, one scene comes to mind frequently. In order to confront the beings responsible for earth’s impending annihilation, the protagonist must first defeat the root of all evil: mind-numbingly slow bureaucracy! — Lauren Walck, New Orleans features editor “I, Robot,” by Isaac Asimov Generative AI is developing in ways so astonishing that it challenges how we perceive or define consciousness. If you can converse with an AI, if an AI can write something that moves, if people can fall in love with an AI ... is that consciousness?

Isaac Asimov never saw ChatGPT, but he anticipated decades ago that AI would challenge how we think about machines and about ourselves. If you like sci-fi, you probably already know his “Three Laws of Robotics” and the fascinating challenges and dilemmas they present. If you’re not, I’d suggest this book is as relevant as ever.— Matt Albright, politics editor “Tree of Smoke,” by Denis Johnson and “Lonesome Dove,” by Larry McMurtry “Tree of Smoke” is a beautifully written, violent novel about the CIA’s involvement in the Vietnam War and the agency’s own corruption. Through following multiple points of view and plot lines on both sides of the conflict, Johnson explores family, betrayal, exporting American values and — what resonated with me most — faith (mostly Christian, but also eastern spirituality) in the midst of chaos and death.

The book is very dark and entertaining and sometimes confusing — just like the book’s mythic figure Colonel Sands, one of my all-time favorite characters.

“Lonesome Dove” defines the meme: “the masculine urge to get up and leave.” It’s a classic Western about a group of south Texas ranchers who decide to steal a bunch of cattle and set their sights on Montana.

The story takes place post-Civil War during the last days of the Wild West, with the book’s two main protagonists restless, ex-Texas rangers desperately trying to hold onto the excitement of the old days. The basic question here that resonated with me is whether it’s worth giving up stability and family for a life of adventure.

It’s a long but easy read — hilarious, lewd and a very masculine book (though it is my mother’s favorite!).— Aidan McCahill, staff reporter

BOOKS

‘Homesick’ exposes toxic aftermath of FEMA trailers Once a beacon of hope, temporary homes made many residents sick

BY RIEN FERTEL Contributing writer

“Homesick” by Nicholas Shapiro, Duke University Press, 256 pages.

The holiday season is a time for homecomings and family gatherings, staying in, snuggling down and enjoying the comforts Review of home — which makes Nicholas Shapiro’s “Homesick” an apt but unconventional read to end the year on.

“Homesick” is, at the surface, a biography of the emergency housing provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: the infamous FEMA trailer. Along the way, Shapiro, a professor and environmental researcher at UCLA who spent 15 years interviewing and advocating for trailer residents, presents a crucial story about the homes we inhabit and how they’re killing us.

In the months immediately following Katrina, the federal government awarded trailer manufacturers over $2 billion in no-bid contracts to churn out over 120,000 mobile homes. Distributed across the Gulf Coast, and centered in and around New Orleans, FEMA trailers provided housing for over 300,000 residents.

“Long before they became a symbol of protracted and painful recovery,” Shapiro concedes, “FEMA trailers were cornerstones of the infrastructure of hope.”

Despite their cramped quarters, most often 250 square feet, and thin walls, the trailers performed their utilitarian tasks: to be cheap, temporary and portable.

“It was all the space I could handle,” a New Orleanian told the author.

“It’s like living in a Swiss Army knife,” a Plaquemines Parish resident boasted. “What more could you ask for?”

The biggest ask, it turns out, was for homes that didn’t make inhabitants sick.

“From the engineered wood that gave form to most surfaces in these trailers,” Shapiro writes, “toxic chemicals, most notably formaldehyde, were continuously wriggling free of their bonds and into breathing space in a process known as ‘offgassing.’ ” Because off-gassing is temperature and moisture-dependent, as the heat and humidity rise throughout the day, season to season, all those surfaces — walls, floors, ceilings, cabinetry and doors — leach increased levels of formaldehyde into a trailer’s enclosed atmosphere.

Made from methane, and used in home construction materials since the 1950s, formaldehyde is the most common and most understood indoor-air pollutant. This naturally occurring gas responsible for so much of our modern housing is also “an irritant, an allergen, a neurotoxin and a known human carcinogen.” Formaldehyde causes more cancer than any known air pollutant, by far.

FEMA trailers represent the largest formaldehyde exposure

FILE PHOTO

A tattered American flag is planted in front of a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer in New Orleans in 2007.

in human history, with many residents experiencing levels of toxicity two to three times higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended limits.

Jeremy, a New Orleans pastor in Mid-City, lived in a trailer with his family going on five years when Shapiro interviewed him.

“You could really feel the formaldehyde,” he said.

Over time, his family members suffered from bronchitis, chronic fatigue, nasal congestion, insomnia and eye irritation.

Another New Orleanian, Marquisha, was 13 when she moved into a trailer and was soon diagnosed with asthma and pneumonia.

“Every time I went up in there, my head would hurt a lot,” she told Shapiro.

“It burns my eyes and I am getting headaches every day,” someone wrote on the website of Gulf Stream, the leading FEMA trailer manufacturer.

“I have tried many things, but nothing seems to work. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME!!”

Never stepped foot in a FEMA trailer? Shapiro says don’t count your blessings.

“Nine out of every ten breaths in your life,” he writes, “will take place in enclosed spaces where the air is suffused with chemicals that are off-gassing from construction materials and the myriad commodities that fill our daily lives.”

Over the course of a day, the average American gulps down 18 pounds of “industrially textured air.” Our homes are literally making us homesick.

This is a tough read, in terms of subject matter and Shapiro’s occasional descent into academese, one in which levity only comes in the form of absurdity.

Formaldehyde was only one of many problems for trailer residents, including crumbling

pipes, moldy siding and electrical outlets that spontaneously combusted. Keys provided by FEMA could often unlock multiple trailers, resulting in simple and frequent break-ins.

Shapiro profiles Frank Renda, a senior environmental scientist working for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, who raised alarms over a 2007 report that downplayed the long-term health risks of inhabiting a FEMA trailer. Punished for insubordination, Renda was reassigned to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In his new office, in a new building, he soon started developing rashes.

The CDC ran tests, discovering that the office’s formaldehyde levels were double the recommended limit.

Some 90,000 residents would join litigation against the trailer manufacturers. (The Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama state courts let FEMA off the hook, declaring the agency not liable for providing housing to needy Americans.) In this continuing black comedy of fatal errors, many litigants received checks with their names misspelled.

Not that the meager settlements helped much. Debra, of Gentilly, collected $32.02. Mac, of Mid-City, received a settlement check totaling $228.07, then promptly died.

“I’m concerned at this point now the formaldehyde trailer has brought me to the point of almost killing me,” he told Shapiro after filing his lawsuit. “I want to find a detox. I want to get this ... out of me. It ain’t out.

I can feel it. I’m still contaminated.”

After a brief moratorium due to the lawsuits, FEMA offloaded the trailers on the secondary market, reselling upward of 150,000 units at fire-sale prices.

(The government had ordered many thousands more trailers than they ever deployed).

Additionally, the government donated at least 1,000 units to Indigenous tribal governments hard up for housing.

Twenty years later, people are still living in FEMA trailers scattered throughout the nation.

Sometimes the residents are unaware of their home’s history; often it’s their only opportunity for secure, though not safe, shelter.

The trailers can be easy to spot. Look for the government signs pasted on windows, with bold, red lettering that reads: “NOT TO BE USED AS HOUSING.” Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 7D

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Baton Rouge Assembly ball recognizes 13 debutantes Thirteen young women took their formal bows at the Baton Rouge Assembly’s 64th annual ball on Nov. 28 at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center.

Assembly Chairman Rob Field and his wife Lauren Field welcomed members and their guests. Chairman Field also recognized Ball Chairman Paxton Hester and his wife Corrie Hester, Assembly Assistant Chairman Brett Mason and his wife Mary Helene Mason, and Assembly Assistant Ball Chairman Chris Jones and his wife Kelley Jones.

The 2025 Baton Rouge Assembly coterie, introduced by Rob Field, are: n Ella Katherine Boone, daughter of Dr. Ryan Thomas Boone and Maradith Boone; n Virginia Routh Bowen, daughter of Maria and Col. Phillip Eugene Bowen; n Audrey Cecelia Crawford, daughter of Claire and Grady Hamilton Crawford III;

n Jane Crews Crawford, daughter of Claire and Grady Hamilton Crawford III; n Mary Ann Crawford, daughter of Nikki and Richard Casey Crawford; n Marley Jane Graves, daughter of Whitney and William Barfield Graves; n Ann Malloy Kimble, daughter of Molly and Michael Dwane Kimble; n Laura Madeleine Leak, daughter of Brittany and Harrison Carter Leak IV of St. Francisville; n Estelle Helene Mason, daughter of Mary Helene and William Brett Mason; n Jordan Griffon Morris, daughter of Renee and Dedric Gallent Morris; n Avery Therese Oubre, daughter of Dr. Benton Michael Oubre and Laura Oubre; n Lucy Irene Sylvest, daughter of Sara Nunnally Sylvest and Michael Louis Sylvest; n Eliza Douglass Tharp, daughter of John Stewart

Tharp and the late Gina Noto Tharp.

The evening’s ball was directed and produced by Assembly ball coordinators Ashley Bateman and Tish O’Connor, and by debutante coordinators Amy Johnson and Mollie Hill. The Chad Braud Quartet provided music for the debutante coterie presentation, and the Sugar Shakers provided music for dancing throughout the evening.

Prior to the evening, each debutante received a monogrammed tote, an engraved gold bangle and an engraved mint julep cup filled with flowers.

To conclude the evening, the families of the debutantes hosted the Assembly’s traditional post-ball breakfast.

Officers for 2026 are Brett Mason, Assembly chairman; Paxton Hester, Assembly assistant chairman, and Chris Jones, Assembly ball chairman.

PROVIDED PHOTO By KLEINPETER PHOTOGRAPHy

Baton Rouge Assembly debutantes are, front row from left, Audrey Cecilia Crawford, Jane Crews Crawford, Eliza Douglass Tharp, Lucy Irene Sylvest, Mary Ann Crawford and Ann Malloy Kimble; middle row, Estelle Helene Mason, Avery Therese Oubre, Jordan Griffon Morris and Laura Madeleine Leak, and back row, Virginia Routh Bowen, Marley Jane Graves and Ella Katherine Boone.

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Krewe of Cypress debutantes are, from left, Amelia Cate Allemond, Kinsley Paige Seneca, Ryleigh McHenry Davis and Aidan Camille Dooley.

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Dream Address Awaits

Krewe of Cypress honors debutantes at annual ball The Krewe of Cypress hosted its annual debutante presentation ball on Nov. 28 at the Carl F. Grant Civic Center in Plaquemine.

Each debutante carried an autumn-themed nosegay of roses, adding a seasonal touch to the festivities. The presentation was coordinated by chairpersons Claudia Bourgeois and Heidi Guillory.

Debutantes presented to members and guests were: n Amelia Cate Allemond, presented by her parents, Dr. Jason and Amy Allemond of Zachary, and escorted by her father.

n Ryleigh McHenry Davis, presented by her grandparents, Diana and William Nadler Jr. She is the daughter of Shane and Kim Davis of Mandeville, and was escorted by her grandfather. n Aidan Camille Dooley, presented by her parents, Dr. Patrick and Mercedes Dooley of Baton Rouge, and escorted by her father. n Kinsley Paige Seneca, presented by her parents, Nina and Clint Seneca, and escorted by her father.

She is also the daughter of Crissi Canezaro.

Angie Bergeron served

as mistress of ceremonies, with Lee Berthelot, Christopher Couch and Jacob Wilbert assisting as committeemen.

During the ceremonial toast, Logan Doré and Fred Sanchez served champagne to the debutantes and their escorts.

Following the formal presentation, the debutantes, krewe members and guests enjoyed an evening of dancing.

The debutantes will also participate as maids in the krewe’s annual Carnival ball, scheduled for Jan. 31 in Plaquemine.

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8D ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Stop commenting on post-illness hair

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press Today is Sunday, Dec. 21, the 355th day of 2025. There are 10 days left in the year.

Today in history: On Dec. 21, 1988, a terrorist bomb exploded aboard New York-bound Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 people aboard the Boeing 747 and 11 on the ground. The blast occurred about 40 minutes into the flight from London and claimed the lives of citizens from 21 countries, including 190 Americans.

Also on this date: In 1620, Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower went ashore at present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, for the first time.

In 1864, during the Civil War, Union forces led by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman concluded their “March to the Sea” when they captured Savannah, Georgia.

In 1891, the first basketball game, devised by James Naismith, is believed to have been played at the International YMCA Training School (now Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts.

In 1913, the first newspaper crossword puzzle, billed as a “Word-Cross Puzzle,” was published in the New York World.

In 1976, the oil tanker Argo Merchant broke apart near Nantucket Island off Massachusetts almost a week after running aground, spilling 7.7 million gallons of oil into the North Atlantic.

In 1991, 11 of the 12 former Soviet republics formally proclaimed the birth of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

In 2020, President-elect Joe Biden received his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on live television as part of a growing effort early in the pandemic to convince the American public the inoculations were safe.

In 2023, a student opened fire at Charles University in Prague, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 20 in the Czech Republic’s worst mass shooting.

Authorities said the 24-year-old student, who had a license to own eight guns and no criminal record, killed himself as police closed in.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Jane Fonda is 88.

Singer Carla Thomas is 83. Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas is 81. Actor Samuel L. Jackson is 77. Film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg is 75. Tennis Hall of Famer Chris Evert is 71. Actor Jane Kaczmarek is 70. Country musician Lee Roy Parnell is 69. Actor-comedian Ray Romano is 68. Actor Kiefer Sutherland is 59. Actorfilmmaker Julie Delpy is 56. Golf Hall of Famer Karrie Webb is 51. French President Emmanuel Macron is 48. Actor Rutina Wesley is 47. Actor Steven Yeun is 42.

Actor-producer-writer Quinta Brunson is 36. Actor Kaitlyn Dever is 29. Actor Madelyn Cline is 28.

Dear Miss Manners: I had cancer Gentle Reader Unfortunately, last year and lost my hair. I’m there is no legal way to stop fine now, but my hair is growfoolish people from informing others how they look. They ing back super curly. Every seem to think it useful day, people make comto point out to tall peoments about it: “Oh, your hair! It’s so curly!” ple that they are tall, to It’s a painful reminder the short that they are when I’m trying to feel short, and so on. Fat, normal again. I’ve tried thin — anything noticeexplaining that I’m upset able.

Judith about my looks and don’t And if they are chalMartin lenged, they claim to like to be reminded, but then they argue that it be giving compliments.

MISS MANNERS looks good.

Even your tears have Every woman at probably not prompted church brings it up, the offender at the gym not realizing it’s hard for me to realize that she had erred. to hear dozens of these comRather, she likely thought that you were just oversensitive (a ments. One woman at the gym countercharge often lobbed by commented loudly every day, even after I asked her to stop. I rude people). It is a wonder she didn’t announce that. finally burst into tears.

So Miss Manners can offer It will take two years for my little hope that you can retrain hair to be long and feminine again. Any ideas on how to stop those who are determined to comment on appearances. the comments in the meanSorry. time?

She can only caution you not to respond. A silent, humorless stare should at least stop them from elaborating on their remarks.

Dear Miss Manners: In a supermarket, I had a conversation with the family of a very noisy child, about 6 years old. I protested the noise, while Mom defended it vigorously.

I walked away and continued my shopping. A few minutes later, the store manager stopped by to tell me that “disrespecting children” was against store policy and would not be tolerated. She referred me to the company website, but of course, I could find no such policy statement.

Why must members of the public be disrespected by unruly, misbehaving, noisy children, and then defended by adults who should know better?

I am not a fan of authoritar-

ian or permissive parenting, and believe in the principle of a community of equal dignity.

Sometimes, a parent should address the noisy behavior of a child rather than ignore it — especially in a public place, where it can affect and upset other people. As in this case.

What is your view on this?

Gentle Reader: That indeed, a parent must sometimes deal with a disruptive child in public. It’s not easy or fun, but Miss Manners dares say that every parent has to go through it.

But why did you? Unlike the parent, you were in the enviable position of being able to move to another aisle, away from the noise. Why didn’t you?

Send questions to Miss Manners to her email at dearmissmanners@gmail. com.

Preserve cursive writing, which is a lost art Dear Heloise: I read with great interest the letter from Sharon, in Middletown, Ohio. I, too, mourn the loss of cursive writing and know many young people who are able to text on their phones with impressive speed but are unable to write their own names.

Printing their signatures like first graders do is all they can Hints from manage.

Heloise Here is another very sad example of this: My nephew teaches anatomy in a small medical teaching facility. The clocks on the classroom walls throughout the facility were changed to digital clocks. The reason?

Because of students’ complaints that analog clocks were too difficult for them to read to figure out the time! Mind you, these young people are there to eventually become nurses or doctors. How sad is this? — Alice,

in Virginia Alice, I imagine parents will have to teach their children at home if they want them to learn cursive writing or read analog clocks. — Heloise

‘Nut’ your ordinary hint Dear Heloise: Recipes frequently contain pine nuts, which can be pricey. I substitute them with sunflower kernels or shelled sunflower seeds.

They taste good. I put them on salads, sandwiches, pasta, etc.

— Thomas “T” D., in Kenner Thomas, great hint! By the way, you do store nuts in the fridge when you use them, right? Nuts contain oil, which can spoil and turn rancid.

Make sure to place them in an airtight container. When they’re ready to be used, toast them on a cookie sheet in an oven set to 350 F for 10 minutes, or microwave them in a bowl for 11/ 2 minutes. — Heloise

Best bet for butter Dear Heloise: Do I need to re-

frigerate butter? — Melody T., in Houston Melody, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA.gov), butter should be refrigerated in its original packaging until you are ready to use it. After using it, cover the stick of butter and place it back into the refrigerator.

Butter is mostly fat, so it is less likely to be besieged by bacteria, unlike a product that is mostly made of water. So, softening the butter before a meal on the countertop is fine.

— Heloise

Cruising Dear Heloise: My husband wants to go on a cruise ship next year, but it sounds boring to me. What do people do on a ship besides eat and stare at the water? — Kelsey H., in Scottsbluff, Nebraska Kelsey, there’s usually a lot to entertain you on a cruise.

You’ll dock at various ports with enough time to do some

exploring and maybe taste the local foods. You can get a massage, get a pedicure and manicure, go for a swim if they have a pool, or go dancing with your husband. Many cruise lines have art galleries or offer seminars and classes that are fun to take.

Consult with a travel agent who can explain all the options that are available on each cruise line. — Heloise

Extra clothing Dear Heloise: I lost 80 pounds and would like to donate my former wardrobe to someone who could use these expensive items. Do you have a recommendation? — Lacy T., in Hazlehurst, Mississippi Lacy, the list is endless — a women’s shelter, Salvation Army, and Goodwill, to name a few. You might also call a local church and ask them for recommendations. — Heloise Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

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TOYS devivre

Over almost six decades, Le Jouet has outlasted most of its brick-and-mortar counterparts in Louisiana through Katrina, the internet and more

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Elm “Buddy” Wood Jr. greeted holiday shoppers on a recent Tuesday as the morning sun beamed through the glass front doors of Le Jouet toy store on Airline Drive.

In a room behind him, store employees were tearing off sheets of colorful paper from huge rolls mounted to the wall as they wrapped presents. In the showroom, customers hunted for treasures among the roughly 10,000 toys, games, dolls, hobby supplies and bikes on display as traffic raced by just outside the shop’s side windows.

It was a cheerful scene inside the business that Wood has run for 57 years. And it’s one that really hasn’t changed all that much over those decades, even though outside Le Jouet’s bright yellow walls almost everything about the roughly $42 billion U.S. toy business is different.

IDEAS &

INNOVATION

STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

ABOVE: Mike Tippie works on a bicycle at Le Jouet, below, on Airline Drive in Metairie. TOP: Elm ‘Buddy’ Wood Jr. credits the longevity of the toy store he’s led for 57 years to loyal customers, nostalgia, an expert staff, an accessible location and ‘willing to do whatever it takes.’

Le Jouet is the last big toy store standing in greater New Orleans after a quarter-century of competition from online retail decimated the ranks of its brick-and-mortar counterparts.

More than 700 national Toys R Us stores, including at least eight in Louisiana, closed by 2018 after the chain retailer failed to compete with the convenience of Amazon and other digital marketplaces.

All of the state’s KB Toys were gone nearly a decade earlier. Just this year, Victoria’s Toy Station in downtown Baton Rouge and Magic Box Toys in New Orleans both closed. Today, the majority of toy and hobby sales take place online.

Yet, there’s Le Jouet, which has endured hurricanes, recessions and changing consumer behavior to remain a haven for shoppers looking for a new Barbie doll, wooden train set or Fisher-Price playset — just like they did several generations ago.

ä See LE JOUET, page 4E

Experts point to reasons behind state’s tourism slump

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Heading into 2025, tourism officials in New Orleans and Louisiana had reason to be hopeful.

New Orleans was still on a high from megastar Taylor Swift’s wildly successful multiday stop in October 2024 as part of her “Eras Tour.” Super Bowl LIX, and the well-heeled visitors it promised to bring, was right around the corner.

And the yearslong slump triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic was over.

But the new year brought curve balls from which local and state hospitality leaders are still reeling.

It started with a fatal impacted travel across Louramming attack on Bour- isiana, reducing the numbon Street in the wee hours ber of foreign visitors to of New Year’s Day and con- the state by as much as 15% tinued weeks later with a to 20% over the previous snowstorm that impacted year. Canadian travelers, one of the largest national who typically accounted for 1 in 3 foreign visitrade show on the books. In May, a nators to Louisiana, were particularly tionally publicized sensitive to Trump’s jailbreak in New tariffs and musings Orleans highlighted about making the public safety chalcountry the 51st lenges that local state, state tourism officials had been officials said. trying to address. Nungesser “We’re just not Road construction in the French Quarter and getting any Canadian visiimmigration raids added to tors,” said Lt. Gov. Billy the woes.

Nungesser, who heads the More broadly, President Louisiana Department Donald Trump’s new trade and immigration policies ä See TOURISM, page 2E

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Luggage is packed into an SUV as visitors depart New Orleans on Feb. 10, the morning after Super Bowl LIX.

Revenue per available room, or RevPAR, the industry standard for measuring the financial health of the hotel sector, was slightly up, according to estimates, but that’s in part because room rates were higher as a result of inflation.

2E ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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PEOPLE IN BUSINESS Sexual Assault. She will remain the executive director of Hearts and Hope, Acadiana’s sexual assault survivor center, through March.

Staff report South Louisiana businesses and nonprofit groups recently announced the following promotions and new hires.

Baton Rouge LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center has appointed Dr. Corby Martin as its associate executive director for scientific education and its center’s chief academic officer.

Martin succeeds Dr. Leanne Redman, who has taken a job as Martin executive director of the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney.

Culmone

Davis

PROVIDED PHOTOS

From left are new Bonvenu Bank senior staffers Joey Amadeo, Michelle O’Quinn, Kevin Foster, Melanie Gottschalck, Randy Vicknair, Angela Bennet Quirk and Bill Smith

Kelsea McCrary, the Randy Vicknair is now capital reformer chief ecogion president; Kevin Foster is senior vice president and manager of the nomic and cultural business banking division; Angela development offiBennet Quirk, Bill Smith and Joey Amadeo cer of Monroe, as a are vice presidents and business manager. McCrary bankers; Melanie Gottschalck and Mipreviously worked The Baton Rouge Orthopaedic chelle O’Quinn are senior banking McCrary for the Louisiana Clinic has hired officers.

Office of Cultural Katy Ryan Michaud Development as the director of as its new chief Campus Federal civic design and cultural districts. revenue officer.

Credit Union has Michaud was preOchsner Baton Rouge recently promoted Lisa O’Deay to vice president of hired four new specialists: viously vice presiSkylar Culmone is a physician’s asmarketing. O’Deay dent and senior diis in her second sistant specializing in orthopedics rector of revenue term as board at Ochsner Therapy & Wellness at cycle for FrancisMichaud president of the Elite Training Complex-Burbank. can Missionaries O’Deay Sales and MarketTina Davis is a nurse practitioner of Our Lady physicians and ambulatory services. ing Executives organization and who practices sports medicine at is an active member of the AFF Ochsner Therapy & Wellness at Elite Training Complex-Burbank.

Bonvenu Bank announced the Baton Rouge.

Brooke Nassif is a physician’s assisaddition of seven new senior staffEmergent Method has hired tant who practices orthopedic surers on its capital region team.

Kehoe

Voorhies

The Ehrhardt Group has hired Colleen Kehoe and Madison Voorhies as assistant account executives. KeNassif Person hoe was previously an assistant gery at Ochsner Medical Complex- account manager at 10 Atelier in Atlanta, while Voorhies was preThe Grove.

Zachary Person is a family nurse viously an associate editor and practitioner who specializes in social media manager for Family orthopedics at Ochsner Therapy Resource Group. & Wellness at Elite Training ComZehnder Complex- Burbank. munications has New Orleans promoted Allison Stiel to vice presiThe Louisiana Alliance of Children’s Advocacy dent and leader of Centers has apa new integrated communications pointed Kimberly department. Stiel Young as its interim Stiel has worked at the executive director.

Young currently employee-owned advertising agenserves on the Loui- cy since 2005. siana Sexual Assault Oversight Do you have personnel changes Young Commission and to share or other ideas for our previously served on the board of business coverage? Drop us a the Louisiana Foundation Against line at biztips@theadvocate.com.

For adults, gift wish lists TOURISM can be money grabs

Continued from page 1E

’Tis the season for tackling holiday gift lists, but for many, the joy is gone.

The pleasure of picking out a unique gift you believe someone will appreciate has been replaced by the Michelle mandatory “wish Singletary list,” a trend that is THE COLOR at its worst for wedOF MONEy ding registries.

Givers feel less guided and more compelled to choose the specific color, size or brand listed to avoid disappointing the recipient.

If you ignore a carefully curated list or, heaven forbid, go rogue and choose something whimsical that you think the person might cherish, you risk the wrath of the receiver — or at the very least an obviously disappointed look.

A Reddit user complained about a relative who sent a group email with a Christmas list for her and her children. The note said she would accept only gifts from the list. “On her list was expensive perfumes, links to expensive clothing items, and designer handbags,” the poster wrote. “I was livid.”

Is it me or are more adults feeling emboldened to list extraordinarily expensive items that they would probably never purchase for themselves?

These exchanges bring to mind the demanding refrain from the Spice Girls hit “Wannabe.”

“Yo, I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want. So tell me what you want, what you really, really want.”

When did the joy of gift-giving turn into a tedious, transactional chore?

But wait, Michelle, you might protest. How much money is wasted each year on unwanted gifts? Isn’t a list helpful in reducing returns?

It’s true, many gifts are unwanted and ultimately returned. The National Retail Federation reported before Thanksgiving that retailers expect 17% of holiday sales to be returned, which is just slightly below last year. It’s no surprise that 72% of retailers are adding or raising fees on some return methods, another NRF report found.

This reasoning might lead folks to conclude that gift lists are a way to be financially responsible. Why bother with the worry of finding the “right” present when you have a specific directive that prevents returns and guarantees recipients get precisely what they want?

After all, we encourage children to send a letter to Santa with their hearts’ desires. And when they’re older and figure out Santa’s actual address, we cut out the jolly middleman and his elves and gladly accept their handwritten wish lists.

Here’s the difference. Adulthood means you set aside childish behavior. The tantrums some adults throw when they don’t get what they really, really want reminds me of the spoiled, entitled Veruca Salt in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” when she sings: “If I don’t get the things I am after, I’m going to scream!”

But I’ll indulge a debate over gift or registry lists. Here are some common questions from their proponents.

Does it make sense to burden loved ones with guessing what you want, potentially leading them to spend money on something you’ll never use or will regift?

There’s a risk in leaving it up to someone else to find the perfect gift. And we have come to believe that the perfect present demonstrates how well someone knows you or how much they care.

But gifts shouldn’t be seen that way. They are given to show that you care, not to gauge the level of your love. Some of my memorable, non-list presents were original, creative, homemade items.

With so many people crunched for time, doesn’t having a list save them time, and isn’t time money?

The value of a gift is in the sentiment behind it. Sure, lists are an efficient way to communicate what you want. But registries and gift lists have become more like money grabs than an expression of thoughtfulness.

Is the surprise worth the risk of wasting money?

OK, so if you believe that, why even wrap gifts anymore? That seems a waste of time.

We could simplify everything by just giving people money to buy what they want. Of course, that’s what has led to the rise of gift cards. Right now, an envelope full of unused gift cards sits next to my computer. I don’t want to spend them on necessities like lotion, so I keep them, planning to buy something meaningful to show appreciation. But I dislike shopping, so they just keep piling up.

I miss the anticipation and excitement from being surprised.

Doesn’t a wish list help people who are terrible at picking out gifts?

I’m not totally against lists. They can be helpful to the gift-givingchallenged like me.

But the lists veer into dictatorial demands when people insist you stick strictly to what they requested. Or they sulk or complain — sometimes right to your face — when you instead choose to surprise them with something you think they might like.

If the person never gets you, try not to take it personally.

Isn’t the goal of gift-giving to bring joy to the recipient?

While there’s inherent unpredictability in holiday gift-giving, focusing solely on the recipient’s joy misses something in current gift exchanges: The pleasure the giver derives from giving.

When you hand over a nonnegotiable list, there’s no need for genuine thought. The classic phrase “it’s the thought that counts” becomes irrelevant. The giver is reduced to little more than a personal banker. Where’s the joy in that?

Disappointment is part of life.

While it’s OK to have expectations or feel let down by a gift, the adult response is to accept whatever you receive graciously.

Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. “We’ve had a few, because several people had already booked their trips before (Trump’s) comments were made, but we’re not seeing any new bookings right now.”

Highs and lows Though it’s too soon to say what final year-end visitor numbers will look like, hotel occupancy through November suggests a softer market in New Orleans. Occupancy was down about 5% over 2024, with the city’s downtown and French Quarter hotels averaging about 60% compared with 65% the previous year, according to data from STR provided by New Orleans & Co. Revenue per available room, or RevPAR, the industry standard for measuring the financial health of the hotel sector, was slightly up, according to estimates, but that’s in part because room rates were higher as a result of inflation.

New Orleans & Co. CEO Walt Leger points out that 2024 was something of a banner year for New Orleans, which attracted Leger more than 19 million for only the second time ever. The first was in 2019. Being down somewhat from those highs doesn’t necessarily mean the year was bad; it just wasn’t as great as the year before.

Leger said “2025 was a year with some extreme highs and some extreme challenges. And it all started on Jan. 1.”

An increase in the number of New Orleans’ short-term rental units, which are not counted in the hotel occupancy surveys, also impacted occupancy rates on paper, while failing to account for a certain percentage of the visitor population.

Still, anecdotally, hotels, restaurants and attractions that rely heavily on visitors have felt the downturn and remarked on it as the year comes to a close.

Audubon Nature Institute CEO Michael Sawaya recently told his board that visitor numbers were down, in part, because tourism in general is down.

Elsewhere in the state, the story was much the same, according to Assistant Secretary of Tourism Doug Bourgeois.

“We’re looking at some of the big booking engines that we work with, and they are saying, ‘Hey, people aren’t booking in Shreveport or in Lafayette like they used to,” he said.

One notable exception was Baton Rouge, which had a healthy year due to the United States Bowling Congress Open Championship, which drew more than 58,000 visitors during the five months the tournament was held at the Raising Cane’s River Center.

Another factor fueling what tourism officials said was a growth year for the capital region was the popularity of amateur youth sports events, such as the Marucci World Series. The

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

While the state as a whole has experienced a lull in tourism in 2025, a notable exception has been Baton Rouge, which had a healthy year due to the United States Bowling Congress Open Championship drawing more than 58,000 visitors during the five months the tournament was held at the Raising Cane’s River Center. competition brought 127 14-andunder to 17U baseball teams from as far away as South Korea.

According to Visit Baton Rouge President and CEO Jill Kidder, hotel-motel tax revenues through November were up more than 6.5% over 2024. The occupancy rate was up 1.9%, while the average daily room rates were Kidder up 3.9%.

“We’re seeing the numbers come in a little better than we thought we would,” she said.

A hard sell

said Bourgeois, who noted that the number of German tourists in particular are down.

Looking ahead On the plus side, British travel to the state is still strong, helped in part by nonstop air service between New Orleans and London on British Airways.

“Even though the dollar is strong, the pound is still stronger,” Bourgeois said. “I think that’s our strongest market and one that continues to travel despite what’s going on in the world.”

New Orleans officials also point to the accolades the city got from the national media and organizations affiliated with the Super Bowl. The positive publicity, Leger said, goes a long way toward reinforcing the city’s reputation as a resilient, world-class destination for visitors.

The city recently snagged a spot on the Unesco Creative Cities Network, recognized for its music, and three local restaurants received stars in the inaugural Michelin American South guide. Several new events are on the calendar for 2026, including the Rockin’ 1000 in January and the Hondo Rodeo Fest in April.

In Baton Rouge, officials are looking forward to the Death Valley Live concert series in Tiger Stadium. Zach Bryan, a multiplatinum country artist, will perform at the first show, set for March 28.

The headliner for the second concert, which will happen on May 23, has yet to be announced.

“We’re working to bring in more events and create more opportunities,” Leger said. “We think 2026 will be a little more stable and predictable.”

Timothy Boone and Jonah Meadows contributed to the reporting of this story.

At a promotional event in Canada earlier this fall, Nungesser handed out samples of Tabasco ice cream at train stations, as he does every few years for the Congrès Mondial Acadien. It’s a way to elevate the state’s profile and encourage travelers to visit Louisiana, whose Acadiana region was settled in the 1700s by French, Catholic Canadians.

This year, it was a hard sell, he said.

“The message was clear when we were in Canada that, until the president apologizes or he’s out of office, they don’t see this going away,” Nungesser said. “I don’t know how true that is. I don’t know if that time doesn’t heal this a little bit. But it surely has us concerned about that Canadian market.”

It’s not only Canadian visitors who are staying away, however.

Bourgeois said high profile incidents about foreign travelers to the U.S. being detained at airports and border crossings have had a chilling effect on the international travel market. And that was before federal Border Patrol officers descended on Louisiana to round up undocumented migrants.

“Countries in the Visa Waiver Email Stephanie Riegel at Program are still coming, just not stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. in the degree they were before,” com.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 3E

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TALKING BUSINESS A S K T H E E X P E RT S

LSU dean aims to help students ‘manage their own destiny’

BY RICH COLLINS

Staff writer

Throughout a nearly two-decade academic career at the University of Tennessee, and also during stints working for American Airlines, US Airways and IBM, professor T. Russell Crook has been laserfocused on business strategy and entrepreneurship, penning 40 articles on the topic.

Now, Crook is bringing that specialization to his new role as dean of the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business, where he is charged with leading the strategic direction of a 6,000-student college while supporting innovation and building connections with Louisiana industry and government.

Crook said business education has changed over the decades, with today’s students less interested in abstract theory than in wanting to dive right into realworld business challenges. Technology, meanwhile, is changing the way business gets done and how schools teach it.

Crook, who was named to the position in May after a nationwide search and took over in July, said he’s taking those factors into account as he meets with every member of his 150-person team of faculty and staff. They are helping him create a strategic plan that will guide LSU’s business school over the next decade.

This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.

You were at LSU rival Tennessee for nearly two decades. Is it an adjustment moving to the land of purple and gold?

You know, it’s a switch, but in many ways, it feels like home. My dad went to school here and played golf here in the late 1960s. According to him, he was hanging out with

Q&A WITH T. RUSSELL CROOK

PROVIDED PHOTO By BRET LOVETRO

T. Russell Crook’s career has been laser-focused on business strategy and entrepreneurship and he’s bringing that specialization to his new role as dean of LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business.

Pistol Pete Maravich at the time.

So I grew up a fan.

My family and I loved Tennessee. It was amazing. We were there for 18 years. But when this opportunity presented itself, I had to pursue it.

You started in the corporate world and then joined academia. Why the switch?

A professor asked me if I’d consider joining the profession. I said, “No, you guys don’t make enough money.” But then life happened, and I got cancer during the latter part of my MBA program, and I had to go through chemotherapy and radiation. That experience gives you tremendous clarity on what you want to do with the rest of your life.

I had some student loans I needed to pay off, and then once I got them down to a respectable number, I went back and got the Ph.D. and decided that I wanted to help young people achieve their potential.

How has business education changed from when you started?

We weren’t talking about business analytics 20 years ago. We

were talking about statistics, but not necessarily how that can help businesses become more profitable and grow.

Also, if you think about modern-day students, they’re always stimulated by technology, right?

They’ve got earbuds in or are always doing something. So we have to rise to the occasion to get their attention in a meaningful way to be able to educate them.

Our job has changed in terms of the content and how we actually teach, which includes putting a premium on experiential learning.

We’re also trying to become more innovative. To do that, you have to be willing to experiment.

You have to be willing to fail fast and learn.

What are the other big changes?

We’re talking more about purpose. You know, when you come to LSU, what we really want you to do is spend some time discerning your value system, what you want to be and then start to pursue opportunities and organizations that are aligned with that value system.

There are a lot of things that

haven’t changed. Communication is still quite important. But some of the more theoretical and abstract classes are giving way to more to technical skills.

I just wrote about a New Orleans college student who won a school pitch competition for her gecko-farming business. How important is entrepreneurial support like that to LSU going forward?

It’s going to be central.

Think about the young student with the gecko business that can grow and scale and be sustainable and create a very nice income for her over time. Even if it doesn’t, it’s taught her some important lessons in life, and she’s had to be gritty to start it. She had to be creative, and she had to take a risk.

We want students to think that way, whether they’re starting their own companies or whether they’re going to work for someone else. They’re going to do better in life, and they’re going to be more impactful.

Are schools providing more classes in entrepreneurship because there’s demand from students or because the internet and social media make it easier to launch a new venture?

There certainly has been a lot more demand for these programs.

People are interested in owning a business and creating meaningful change. Also, members of this generation have seen generations before them go through layoffs and they may want to manage their own destiny more if they can.

Think about LSU alumni Kurt Ainsworth, whose Marucci bat company has displaced the Louisville Slugger as the official bat of Major League Baseball. He saw a problem, and he developed a solution to solve it. And then he dreamt big, and that’s what we want.

We’re also trying to connect some dots across the university, working with other colleges like the College of Engineering. Maybe you come up with a technical solution there and then the business school is uniquely situated to say,

“Hey, there may be something there to create a business model around.” We’re trying to find more collaborative opportunities with the ultimate goal of benefiting our state economically.

LSU is so big, it seems hard to keep track of all the ideas and intellectual property coming out of the different departments.

That’s a great point. I think there’s opportunities there. We’re going to build an MBA course that assesses the technology that comes through our tech transfer office. Some of them may have tremendous potential, and we can use the MBA program as a vetting tool and provide consulting to our other internal stakeholders.

How is artificial intelligence affecting what you do?

It’s changing everything, and we are embracing it. We’ve got classes on prompt engineering, teaching students to ask the right questions.

We’re doing it because employers are demanding it. Let’s not pretend that it’s not going to matter.

What’s top of your to-do list right now?

To finish one-on-one meetings with everybody in the college. I meet with everyone and get to know a little bit about them. Then we’ll begin a formal strategic planning process. We’ll get a committee together because it can’t just be my vision; it has to be our vision together. The goal is for me to have a set of priorities to really act on for the next five to 10 years.

What food do you miss most and what’s your best new food discovery since you’ve been in Louisiana?

I miss the Tennessee barbecue, but I’ve eaten more fresh fish since I’ve been here and it’s incredible.

I’m one of the few people that I’ve heard that has lost weight after moving here, which I’m really happy about. And I love the spice here as well. Louisiana is an amazing place. I’m thrilled to be part of this great university and community.

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

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4E ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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yolande Hull shops for her nieces and nephews at Le Jouet toy store in Metairie.

Le Jouet is the last big toy store standing in greater New Orleans after a quartercentury of competition from online retail decimated the ranks of its brick-and-mortar counterparts.

STAFF PHOTOS

By SOPHIA GERMER

Mike Tippie and Bridget Alexander work behind the counter at Le Jouet.

LE JOUET

Continued from page 1E

Wood attributes its longevity to loyal customers, nostalgia, an expert staff and an accessible location on the edge of a wealthy New Orleans suburb. A large selection and free gift-wrapping services also are key. And the Le Jouet bike department, as old as the store itself, has been an important revenue driver over the years.

But at age 81 and with the job getting more demanding, Wood is reluctant to make any predictions about the future of the business he built.

“I don’t want to brag about longevity when no one can predict the future, but I’m in awe that we’re still here,” he said. “I think it’s because we’ve been willing to do whatever it takes.”

Decades of growth Le Jouet began in 1968 when Wood, then 24 years old, joined his father, Elm Sr., and several partners to open a seasonal toy business — originally called Toy City Discount Inc. — in a building next to the family’s lumber company on Airline. They bought merchandise from a local distributor and got to work selling train sets and dolls to holiday shoppers.

In 1972, after Wood went into the business full-time, he gave the store its current name, using the French word for “toy,” despite worries that no one would know how to spell or pronounce it. Over time, the other partners departed, and Wood continued to operate with lots of help from family and friends.

He said the early 1970s bike

Mike Melancon and Buddy Wood wrap and bag gifts. boom, when everyone wanted to ride trendy new “10-speeds,” provided a huge early sales boost.

Then, like the country’s new cycling enthusiasts, he and his team settled in for a long ride over the next five decades, with plenty of ups and downs along the way.

In 1984, Wood moved Le Jouet into a new, roughly 20,000-squarefoot building that features an expansive second-floor warehouse that connects to downstairs via a conveyor belt. In that same decade, a national chain store, called Lionel Playworld, opened across the street, but it didn’t last long by Le Jouet standards.

“They closed the day after Christmas and put a sign on the door directing all complaints to Houston,” Wood said.

Le Jouet, meanwhile, kept on rolling through the 1990s and early 2000s until Hurricane Katrina, which brought business to a halt.

The store had 30 inches of water

throughout, so Wood’s team threw out all merchandise from lower shelves, then tore out and replaced the drywall themselves. Wood said he didn’t have flood insurance, so his entire payout was about $4,000, but he said he made a healthy profit that year by buying and reselling the stock from a competitor who decided not to reopen after the storm.

“That deal more or less paid for all the repairs we had to do,” he said.

Online shopping vs. toy stores As Wood would soon find out, the temporary disruption of Katrina was nothing compared with the long-term changes caused by the internet — but Le Jouet has survived by focusing on things online retailers or big box stores don’t provide: carefully curated inventory, personal service and an active bike sales and service department, which accounts for roughly 20% of the store’s overall revenue.

Another key to the store’s success is the free gift wrapping.

Throughout the year, customers pour in on Fridays and Saturdays on their way to birthday parties, and they can leave with a wrapped gift in a few minutes.

“Without it, we might still be in business, but it’s a big plus,” Wood said.

Many items at Le Jouet sell for similar prices at Walmart and other discount retailers, but Wood said the store doesn’t guarantee the lowest price, counting instead on the added value of his staff’s expertise and other services to bring customers in.

“If someone comes in and asks us to match a price, the answer will never be yes,” Wood said. “Amazon will sell items below cost just because they know it will attract customers who will buy other things.”

Metairie resident Yolande Hull is among those who appreciate that approach.

“I’m old-school,” she said while perusing the store’s aisles recently to find gifts for her nieces and nephews. “Kids today don’t know what it’s like to walk around a big toy store and see everything in one place,” she said. “Buying online takes away all the magic from the experience.”

Wood said keeping that magic alive for customers is a top priority for his eight-person team, which includes several people who have worked at the store for decades.

“You have to treat everybody well,” he said. “They got in their car and came all the way here. They might have come from Houma. We have to give them the best experience they could have.”

on a weekday morning, Wood said he still feels like his store exists under the radar.

“Many people come in and say, ‘I’ve passed here for 30 years, and I finally had to stop to see what was inside,’ ” he said.

Part of the reason for its low profile is that Wood does virtually no advertising, except for a few posts on social media. Instead, he relies on word-of-mouth promotion.

Despite that low-key approach, the start of this decade brought record sales for the store.

“The pandemic was our best two years in history,” Wood said. “We were considered essential workers, so we could open. Bicycle sales went bananas.”

Wood said the size of the business has stayed relatively constant since the store’s 1980s expansion.

Paradoxically, the closure of Toys R Us, which had a harder time than independent stores competing with online vendors, provided a boost that persists to this day.

The staff expands slightly every November and December to handle the holiday rush, which accounts for more than 40% of Le Jouet’s annual sales.

Wood is reluctant to take any victory laps or make promises about the future of the retail mainstay he’s led for nearly six decades. Instead, he says he’s lucky to really enjoy everything involved in running the business — ordering merchandise, wrapping gifts, fixing bikes, helping customers and keeping everything über organized — but he’s realistic about how long he can keep things going.

Said Wood: “It’s one day at a time here.”

‘One day at a time’

Email Rich Collins at rich.

Despite the nearly full parking lot collins@theadvocate.com.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 5E

AROUND THE REGION

State’s community colleges preparing construction workforce

BY IANNE SALVOSA

and the state purchased land for a training center last month where RPCC will train students in skills specific to the steel mill as part Baton Rouge Community College of a high-level two-year associate construction management profesdegree program. sor Gery Frie wore a few hats beIt wasn’t always this way. The fore teaching. state used to loop in the commuHe started his own carpentry business, specializing in construcnity colleges in the discussions on incoming projects after the projtion repairs and renovations. He enrolled in seminary school for a ect was underway, LeBoeuf said, short period in hopes of becoming putting the system behind the a Catholic priest. Frie said jokgame. The relationship between LCTCS and its partners is now ingly he got into teaching to scope more “current” and “collaboraout the best pupils to work for his construction company. tive,” he said.

But all jokes aside, teaching “In order to continue to attract students is meaningful to Frie, companies to Louisiana and talent, and he enjoys keeping up with his you can’t do it without the ecosysgraduates via LinkedIn. tem partnership that we have,” “I can flip through there and see LeBoeuf said. He said this prohow well they’re doing over the STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS vides “a leverage to attract new years, but then also feel jealous businesses as well as you’re able Student Grant Wells, right, smiles as an electrical field tester chirps, that they’re making more money to say, ‘these are my partners to detecting electricity from a cord, during a class demonstration by Gery than me,” he said joking. help you and your company come Frie, left, a construction professor, at Baton Rouge Community College’s be successful here in Louisiana.’ ” He’s not wrong — total conAfter the projects are anstruction wages in Louisiana in Mid City campus.

2009, when BRCC’s construction nounced to the public, LED Fastmanagement program was found- to construction projects in the of Education, which assessed the Start, the agency’s workforce dearea. Over the past decade, the capacity of workers the state can velopment arm, creates a profile ed, was $6.9 billion, according to Louisiana Community and Techni- recruit and train and potential lato give the colleges a heads up on Federal Reserve Bank data. By the workforce needs. Then, Fast2024, it nearly doubled to $11.7 cal College System has developed bor sources. billion. a framework with Louisiana EcoLeBoeuf said the report helped Start receives a staffing plan from Concurrently, the seats in Frie’s nomic Development and other LCTCS respond “exceptionally the company leading the project classes have become increasingly state partners to assess and fill well” to the industrial boom at that details job descriptions and filled. In 2009, he started with 40 the state’s construction workforce the time, and the system is taking identifies the specific skills restudents in the program, and now, needs. the task force’s framework and quired.

440 students are enrolled. applying it to the current slate of “We’re not behind the scenes,” The division meets with each Industrial construction is boom- BRCC Chancellor Willie E. Smith projects. community college at least once He said the state’s community said. “We’re in front to make sure every six months to discuss ing, with more than $98.1 billion colleges are brought into planmeeting the demand of the 65 worth of projects under construc- we’re training students on the skills they need for those jobs.” to 70 projects FastStart has on tion and another $119.1 billion ning conversations with agencies awaiting a final investment deciand companies looking to enter or its docket at a time. Mark Bond, expand in Louisiana. They discuss LED FastStart’s senior director sion slated for the next few years. Leading the way of workforce solutions, said in the Louisiana Works, the state’s In 2013, there was $4.9 billion in gaps between the workforce’s last decade, the division has imcurrent skills and the skills workforce commission, projects industrial construction spending the construction industry to emin the state, positioning Louisiana needed to fulfill projects and how proved the sharing of resources as the No.1 state in industrial con- the community colleges can fill between the community colleges, ploy 140,235 workers by 2032. the gaps with short-term training connecting projects with colleges That’s an 11.5% increase over the struction value that year. programs. that have the programs to fit their number of construction workers LCTCS Vice President for EduThe timing of LCTCS’ discusneeds on the other side of the employed in 2022. And with the cation Chandler LeBoeuf recalls need to replace members of the 2013 as a similar era to now, when sions with state partners varies on state.

“They’re looking to us as a voice aging workforce, construction the state needed a large number the project. With the $5.8 billion of industry as we just help them companies are searching for emof construction laborers, electriHyundai steel mill in Ascension align their programs and support Parish, conversations between ployees. cians and more. The system led that workforce pipeline,” Bond River Parishes Community ColThe onus to train and cultivate a craft workforce development the construction workforce has task force in partnership with lege, Hyundai and the state began said. typically fallen on community LED, Associated Builders and when the automotive company Homegrown talent colleges, which offer trade skill Contractors, Louisiana Board of was entertaining the idea of comdegrees in a few years connected Regents and the state Department ing to the Pelican State. LCTCS In conjunction with Meta’s $27 Staff writer

billion data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana Delta Community College has developed a fourweek data center technician program, with the first class starting in February. The data center is expected to create 5,000 construction jobs and 500 operational jobs.

LCTCS provided more than $250,000 in rapid response funds to Delta to develop the data center technician program and expand its construction laborer, HVAC and electrician programs.

Students in the program will learn construction site safety and basic life support, common courses in Delta programs, and learn data center-specific topics like fiber installation, fiber optic theory and hardware usage and installation. Kelsey Vallee, the executive director of adult education and workforce initiatives at Delta, said the program will bring in contractors from the Meta project to try to set students up with job interviews for the data center.

“We want to improve our local citizens so they have the opportunities, because that’s what’s going to change our communities,” Vallee said.

Removing the stigma By 2033, employment in the construction industry will reach 8.3 million nationally — its highest point in the past 50 years — according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Frie said the industry’s wages can be enticing: Some of his students who take his courses and already have construction experience can earn up to six figures after they graduate. Other graduates can start earning $80,000.

While some may view construction as unsustainable work, there’s a stability to the industry that people don’t recognize, Frie said.

At times when major construction projects are dwindling, workers can shift to refurbishment and renovation projects.

“Even for people getting started, they can make a good living on this kind of work,” he said.

Our Commitment to Operational Reliability Continuous investments in our underground natural gas infrastructure ensures business continuity when it matters most.

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6E ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Gallagher: Lessons in Resilience An article from Gallagher

On the recent 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Gallagher team has been looking back at the experience and how it shaped today’s insurance industry.

Nancy Sylvester is an area executive vice president at Gallagher, based in Baton Rouge. She recently shared her story of Hurricane Katrina, the challenges the insurance industry faced and how resilience shaped the path forward.

With damages exceeding USD200 billion, Katrina not only altered

Blackhawk helicopters were constantly flying overhead,

the city’s physical landscape but also reshaped global

transporting the injured from New Orleans to Louisiana State

perspectives on disaster preparedness and response. Today,

University (LSU), where the athletics department became a

20 years after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, its impact

makeshift emergency hospital. The LSU student body even

remains deeply felt across the affected communities as the

donated clothing to those in need, and you could see people

costliest and one of the five deadliest hurricanes in US history.

wearing purple and gold, the colors of the university. It was a touching display of humanity after Hurricane Katrina, with

Q: Take us back to August of 2005. How did you experience the

everyone welcomed and cared for as best as possible.

landfall of the hurricane?

I live in Baton Rouge, 70 miles from New Orleans. That weekend, my oldest son was fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and when we

Q: How have your clients’ perspectives on extreme weather risks evolved since Hurricane Katrina?

urged him to come back inland, what should have been an hour’s

Before Katrina, redundancies were often viewed as unnecessary

drive took about 12 hours due to the worsening conditions. The

expenses. Today, having backups is understood as essential.

news reports initially said things were under control, but by

Clients now prioritize strengthening buildings to ensure their

lunchtime on Monday, the levees began breaking and things

facilities can endure severe weather, addressing all potential

quickly spiraled out of control.

exposures on supply chains or backup power, for example.

Everyone is focused on preventing business interruption claims

Q: What were the first days like when family and friends sought shelter at your home, far from the most affected areas?

and avoiding closing their doors because, once they do, they may never open again. We know that FEMA [Federal Emergency

I welcomed my family from New Orleans, expecting it to be

Management Agency] has stated 40% of companies don’t reopen

manageable, but soon found myself hosting 26 people. I slept

after a disaster, and another 25% fail within one year.

under my dining room table, the only private space left.

Wandering into the kitchen at night, I’d meet strangers saying,

As a community, we’re also massively investing in roof resilience

“I work for your cousin. He said it would be OK.” I reassured

to withstand strong winds and prevent piercings. When damage

everyone, “Yeah, everything’s fine.”

or loss occurs, my clients aren’t interested in just rebuilding what was there before; they’re focused on constructing to newer codes

Q: How was daily life impacted in the aftermath of

and following the highest building standards

Hurricane Katrina?

My usual 15-minute drive to the office would take hours due to the crowds seeking refuge in Baton Rouge and just trying to get somewhere else. Schools also faced a sudden surge in students, and the school offices would announce where people could

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO OF NANCY’S FULL INTERVIEW

find food.

AJG.com | The Gallagher Way. Since 1927.

© 2025 Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., and affiliates & subsidiaries | GGBUS103204

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 1F

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homes

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Merry Christmas

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Merry Christmas May your holidays be bright and your New Year full of new beginnings.

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DRE#01901536 This website is a marketing and information program that sends all inquiries to state-licensed real estate professionals.

2F ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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* EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED | AGENT IS LICENSED IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

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MORTGAGE RATES

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DIRECT ACCESS: www.theadvocate.com CLICK HOMES >> THEN MORTGAGE RATES Quotes above are based on loan amount equal to or above $200,000 • Conventional loan max is $484,350; Jumbo loans exceed $484,350• NQ - No Quote • Special programs include BA (Balloon), B (Bond), CS (Construction), CV (Convertible), J (Jumbo), LL (Lot Loan), RD (Rural Development) • Quotes are not guaranteed and are subject to change daily • Info provided by LIBERTY MORTGAGE INFORMATION SERVICE - 225.361-6565 • Points listed do not include Origination Fee (normally 1% of loan amount) • Rates quoted are for 30 day lock • For additional information on mortgage programs, call the lender.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 3F

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SIMPLE ELECTRIC

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classifieds.theadvocate.com Search Search& &Place PlaceAds AdsOnline Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com* Call * Call -Friday Us Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of any heirs, successors, and/or assigns of Mary Paracello Catalanotto please contact Tammy Bowden at 225-266-4873.

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LEGAL NOTICE INVITATION FOR BIDS – MODULAR BUILDINGS Kenilworth Science and Academy, Technology 8716 Siegen Ln, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, is re‐ questing sealed bids for the lease, delivery, in‐ stallation, optional pur‐ chase, and future re‐ moval of modular build‐ ings.

Work includes: one (1) approx. 2,870 SF adminis‐ building; trative/dining six (6) approx. 730 SF classroom buildings with gang restrooms (delivery by 6/1/26); and four (4) approx. 730 SF classroom buildings with restrooms (delivery by 6/1/27). Re‐ moval pricing for Sum‐ mer 2029 and purchase options required.

Bid Package may be re‐ by email: quested bhutchins@bhope.org.

Bids accepted until Janu‐ ary 7, 2026, 5:00 PM CST, and must be submitted to electronically bhutchins@bhope.org with subject line “Kenil‐ worth Modular Bid – DO NOT OPEN.” Bid opening will occur after the dead‐ line.

Questions must be sub‐ mitted by January 1, 2026, 5:00 PM CST to bhutchins@bhope.org.

Addenda will be issued as required.

Published once per week for three consecutive weeks, first publication at least 25 days prior to bid deadline, per R.S. 38:2212. Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

PUBLIC NOTICE --(NOTICE OF INTENTION TO INTRODUCE RETIREMENT BILL) Public notice is hereby given, in compliance with Section 29(C), Article X of the Louisiana Constitu‐ tion, that there will be in‐ troduced at the forth‐ coming session of the Legislature of Louisiana, which will be convened on March 9, 2026, a bill relative to the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana, to provide for the determination of re‐ quired employer contri‐ butions; to provide for actuarial calculations; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.

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Public Notices Sex Offenders

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(NOTICE OF INTENTION TO INTRODUCE RETIREMENT BILL) Public notice is hereby given, in compliance with Section 29(C), Article X of the Louisiana Constitu‐ tion, that there will be in‐ troduced at the forth‐ coming session of the Legislature of Louisiana, which will be convened on March 9, 2026, a bill relative to the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana, to provide with respect to tax quali‐ fication for the system; to provide for an effec‐ tive date; and to provide for related matters.

171088-dec 20-21-2t $158.54 PUBLIC NOTICE --(NOTICE OF INTENTION TO INTRODUCE RETIREMENT BILL – LOUISIANA STATE

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Date of Birth: 7/6/1974 Height: 6'3" Weight: 276 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 171058, Dec 21-22 $250.00

Louisiana 171067, Dec 21-22 $250.00 I, Brian Stephen King Jr., have been convicted of 14:81 Indecent Behavior with Juveniles Sexual Motivation. Date Convicted: 04/20/2017.

14:283 - Video Voyeurism Sexual Motivation. Date Convicted: 04/20/2017.

I, James Cummings aka Popcorn, have been convicted of 14:42 Aggravated Rape. Date Convicted: 11/13/1974.

14:42 - Aggravated Rape. Date Convicted: 11/13/1974.

My Address is: 2733 Jackson Ave Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 4/26/1952 Height: 5'8" Weight: 152 Hair Color: GRAY Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana

171060, Dec 21-22 $250.00

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Public Notices Sex Offenders

Eleanor Dr Baton Rouge, LA 70805 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 11/16/1987 Height: 5'7" Weight: 210 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

Public Notices Sex Offenders

I, KELLY D GRIFFIN Aliases: Smelly , have been convicted of 14:43.1 - Sexual Battery. Date Convicted: 07/19/2022.

14:81 - Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. Date Convicted: Information not available..

My Address is: 4983 MOHICAN ST BATON ROUGE, LA 70805 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 6/24/1970

Public Notices Sex Offenders

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Height: 5'9" Weight: 210 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 171052, Dec 21-22 $250.00

I, Michael Roland Kuehne, have been convicted of 14:80 Carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Date Convicted: 12/01/2000.

14:80 - Carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Date Convicted: 12/01/2000.

171051, Dec 21-22 $250.00

I, MARIO K JOHNSON, have been convicted of 14:80 - Carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Date Convicted: 9/20/2010.

My Address is: 6446 BRIERWOOD DR BATON ROUGE, LA 70812 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 1/3/1981 Height: 6' Weight: 160 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

My Address is: 16742 J L FAIRCHILD RD GREENWELL SPRINGS, LA 70739 Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 9/30/1979 Height: 5'8" Weight: 160 Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana

I, Thomas Matthew Shaw aka Matt Shaw, have been convicted of 14:81 - Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. Date Convicted: 11/17/2020.

My Address is: 3155 Fritchie Dr BATON ROUGE, LA 70809 Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 6/22/1998 Height: 5'9" Weight: 200 Hair Color: BLONDE Eye Color: BLUE Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 171059, Dec 21-22 $250.00

I, Tremille Anthony Aubert, have been convicted of 14:78.1 Aggravated Incest.

Date Convicted: 03/18/2002. 15:542 Failure to Register/Notify as a Sex Offender. Date Convicted: 07/12/2011.

14:89 - Crime Against Nature. Date Convicted: 04/17/2001.

My Address is: 12230 WILLOWMORE DR BAKER, LA 70714 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 7/2/1966 Height: 5'8" Weight: 230 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana

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Louisiana 170988, Dec 21-22 $250.00

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My Address is: 12142 Gebhart Dr Baton Rouge, LA 70816

Louisiana

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My Address is: 9999 GWENADELE AVE, Apt 128, BATON ROUGE, LA 70816 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 7/18/1998 Height: 6'1" Weight: 150 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 1/7/1984 Height: 6' Weight: 165 Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: BLUE Scars/Tattoos:

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I, DERRICK D ANTHONY, have been convicted of 14:81 Indecent Behavior with Juveniles Sexual Motivation. Date Convicted: 03/26/2019.

PRESERVE YOUR MEMORIES AND PUT THE KEEPSAKE ON DISPLAY

I, FRANK Gary CLAY Jr aka Rico, have been convicted of 14:43 Simple Rape. Date Convicted: 08/14/2000.

My Address is: 2340 THOMAS H. DELPIT DR Apt B, BATON ROUGE, LA 70802 Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 1/28/1974 Height: 5'9" Weight: 170 Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 171066, Dec 21-22 $250.00

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RETIREMENT SYSTEMS) Public notice is hereby given, in compliance with Section 29(C), Article X of the Louisiana Constitu‐ tion, that there will be in‐ troduced at the forth‐ coming session of the Legislature of Louisiana, which will be convened on March 9, 2026, a bill relative to the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana, to provide rel‐ ative to the reemploy‐ ment of retired teachers; and to provide for re‐ lated matters.

LOUISIANA OWNED

I, Carey Jerrod Henderson aka Slim, have been convicted of 14:42.1 - Forcible Rape.

Date Convicted: 05/05/1995.

I, JOHNNY AUGUSTA COLLINS JR, have been convicted of 14:43.1 Sexual Battery. Date Convicted: 06/24/1998.

Memorialize your special day with quality reprints of any newspaper page.

My Address is: 1629 N 38TH ST BATON ROUGE, LA 70802 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 9/21/1980 Height: 6'3" Weight: 210 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 171055, Dec 21-22 $250.00

My Address is: 1781 N FOSTER DR BATON ROUGE, LA 70806 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 4/23/19796 Height: 6'5" Weight: 306 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 171064, Dec 21-22 $250.00

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I, GREGORY WILKINS JR aka GREGORY WILKINS JR aka Jr WILKINS, have been convicted of 14:80 - Carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Date Convicted: 12/08/1994.

14:80 - Carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Date Convicted: 02/22/1995.

My Address is: 1370 ASHBOURNE DR BATON ROUGE, LA 70815 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE

I, JOHN OMAR VERRETT, have been convicted of 14:81 Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. Date Convicted: 08/27/2007.

My Address is: 880

Reproduced directly from our original newspaper, these custom-printed reproductions make an ideal gift to mark birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates.

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Because of You, We Rise.

Because of the extraordinary generosity of alumni, friends, volunteers, and supporters, ARE YOU IN? was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together.

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Powered by Volunteers.

Made Possible

by Donors.

From planning to outreach to giving, our volunteers and donors came together with one shared goal: creating opportunity for students across the Southern University System.

Your time, your gifts, and your commitment continue to move Southern forward.

When you give to Southern, you invest in potential, progress, and purpose.

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Your Support Changes Lives Across the Southern University System.

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From retention to graduation, helping Jaguars thrive.

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Every gift helps ensure access, opportunity, and excellence for future Southernites.

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Make the holiday lighter PAGE 3

DISCOVERy | INNOVATION | LIVING WELL

HEALTH

LOUISIANA

N O L A.C O M & T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

S U N D AY, D e c e m b e r 21, 2025

Molly Kimball 1 1N

How to quickly use a lifesaving AED

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

WHAT WE NEED

The idea of eating 30 plants a week is ‘nutrionally unimpeachable’

BY MARGARET DELANEY

carrot sticks or one strawberry. Herbs, spices, garlic, tea and coffee also count, but only for a quarter of a point.

Meanwhile, different colored verA 2018 study found people with the most diverse plant diets had the sions of plants, like red and yellow bell healthiest guts — a finding that later peppers, count separately as a point morphed into a buzzy mantra: eat 30 each, since different colored plants plants a week. contain slightly different amounts of Since 1991, Americans have been vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. told to “eat five a day.” Most don’t. Only “(Different colored-vegetables and 1 in 10 American adults actually hit fruits) have all sorts of different comthat target, Centers for Disease Conpounds when they’re broken down.

They feed good bacteria that differtrol and Prevention data shows.

In 2018, researchers behind the Britent varieties of that good bacteria can thrive on,” Phipps said. “It’s good to ish and American Gut Project introgive ‘good-bacteria food’ to your miduced a punchier goal: instead of five a day, aim for 30 different plants a week. crobiome.”

The exact number isn’t the point, Dr. Some items don’t count — like white Travis Phipps said. Diversity is. rice, potatoes and juices. The objective Phipps, a family physician for priis to start with bolstering diversity, and worry about quantity later. mary care and wellness at Ochsner, “The idea of the 30 does seem pretty said the “challenge” comes down to daunting,” Phipps said. promoting a more resilient gut microHe was trying to count them out in biome through diverse foods. his lunch. With some flaxseed crackThe advice to eat 30 plants a week is based on the project’s study of thouers, blackberries and a chicken salad, the chicken salad had oregano, onions, sands of people — or, more specifically, bell peppers and celery — which gave their poop. Lower microbial diversity him seven different plants in one meal. has been linked in studies to chronic The 30-Plant Challenge Making simple switches could be the conditions including obesity and high To diversify diet, and the gut microblood pressure, though scientists em- biome, the 30-Plant Challenge can help key. Phipps recommends buying variphasize the relationships are complex. jump start a healthy diet by assigning a ety packs of peppers and tomatoes to A wider variety of gut bacteria pro- point system to fruits and vegetables. get different colors. Or you can add Every individual plant counts as one salad mixes to encourage a variety of vides a basis for better overall health and well-being: greater resilience to “plant point,” even if it’s only a small lettuce leaves or new spices in dishes withstand pathogens, better digestion amount of that plant, like a couple of you already make.

Staff writer

and better brain function. According to Phipps, a healthy gut can fight off more infections and reduce inflammation.

Trillions of bacteria live inside the gut — that includes the stomach, large intestine and small intestine. Gut bacteria help break down food and produce certain vitamins. “(Gut health) plays a really broad role in the body,” Phipps said.

Other nutrition experts agree.

According to Joan Frank, assistant program director at the University of California, Davis department of nutrition, the idea of eating 30 plants a week is “nutritionally unimpeachable” and excellent for health unless a person has gastrointestinal problems that may make fiber hard to digest — in which case, proceed with caution.

“However, some people don’t have access to a variety of different plants.

We would hate for people to think, ‘I can’t do this because I can’t afford it,’” she said. “You certainly get benefits from eating as many plants as you can.”

Leading care to keep you moving Learn more or schedule an appointment at ochsner.org/BRortho.

Sandra A. | Shoulder Surgery Patient

Watching someone collapse from sudden cardiac arrest is a scary experience — but knowing what to do can save a life. Quick action and knowing how to use a device like an automated external defibrillator, or AED, can be the difference between life and death, so learning the basics of how to use one is important.

Medically, a cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, which is a blockage in the heart that stops blood flow.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that occurs when a sudden electrical malfunction causes the heart to stop beating, resulting in an unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. According to the American Heart Association, over 350,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital each year, and less than 10% of victims survive.

Without a heartbeat, blood circulation to the brain and other vital organs ceases instantly. Brain damage begins within minutes.

Aaron Webb, a physician assistant and paramedic, trains professionals and community members on emergency medicine for Acadian Ambulance in Lafayette. The first step in an emergency, according to Webb, is to set up a “chain of survival.”

When someone collapses, assign duties firmly. Indecision is common in emergencies. Indicate one person to start CPR, another to call 911 and one more to grab the nearest AED. After calling 911, which should always be the first response to a sudden cardiac arrest, the combination of CPR and the use of an AED can increase survival rates to 38%.

“The AED will determine if it needs a shock or not,” Webb said.

“So don’t be afraid to get [the AED], turn it on and follow the prompts.

It’s gonna take the guesswork out.”

AEDs are designed to be used by the general public and most devices

ä See AED, page 3X

PROVIDED PHOTO By JILL MOORE

MoNa Armstrong places the defibrillator pads on the dummy from the automated external defibrillator (AED).

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HEALTH MAKER

Rare drug saves babies from botulism BabyBIG treatment relies on blood donors

BY JONEL ALECCIA AP health writer

When Alessandro Barbera was rushed to a California hospital with infant botulism in October, his father had barely heard of the disease, never mind the rare and costly treatment that likely saved the newborn’s life.

Now, however, Tony Barbera is deeply grateful for BabyBIG, the sole antidote to the paralyzing and potentially deadly illnesses linked to contaminated ByHeart infant formula.

“It is hugely remarkable,” said Barbera, 35, whose son is slowly recovering.

The botulism outbreak tied to ByHeart formula has sickened at least 39 babies across in 18 states since August — and showed the value of the treatment made from blood plasma donated by a small group of scientists and other volunteers.

“This is almost like a miracle,” said Dr. Vijay Viswanath, a pediatric neurologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, who has treated several children with botulism during his career — including one in the current outbreak.

“Prior to the discovery of BabyBIG, some of these hospitalizations would take two or three months,” Viswanath said, if infected children recovered at all.

Licensed in 2003, BabyBIG is the brand name for human botulism immune globulin, an IV medication that uses antibodies from volunteers vaccinated

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By TERRy CHEA

Nancy Shine, a 76-year-old retired biochemist in California who was vaccinated against botulism because she worked with the lethal germ in a lab, contributed to three batches of the antitoxin produced between 2008 and 2019.

against botulism to help ba- California Infant Botulism bies too young to fight the Treatment and Prevendisease on their own. tion Program, which Arnon founded. Under state law, Relying on donors fees from the sale of the The treatment was the drug are used only to fund brainchild of the late Dr. the botulism program.

The medication relies on Stephen Arnon, who was a scientist with the Califor- donors like Nancy Shine, nia Department of Public a 76-year-old retired bioHealth. In 1976, Arnon and chemist in California who colleagues identified the was vaccinated against botrare form of botulism that ulism because she worked affects infants younger with the lethal germ in a lab. than 1 — and then spent his Arnon first recruited Shine 45-year career figuring out and other scientists for the how to treat it. The disease BabyBIG project two deoccurs when babies ingest cades ago because their botulism spores that germi- blood produced high levnate in the intestine and pro- els of antibodies, the blood duce a dangerous toxin that proteins that neutralize the attacks the nervous system. botulism toxin.

The early protocol reMore than 3,700 children worldwide have been treat- quired the volunteers to ed with BabyBIG since Ar- receive boosters doses of non and his team conducted an investigational botulism a pivotal clinical trial in Cal- vaccine also used by the U.S. ifornia in 1997 that showed military and then undergo a the medication could short- procedure that harvests the en hospital stays and reduce blood plasma that contains the need for breathing ma- antibodies against botulism types A and B. chines.

“It was not very pleasProduced in small batches every five years, BabyBIG ant to be vaccinated with,” costs nearly $70,000 per Shine recalled. “There were treatment, according to the a lot of side effects, like big

BabyBIG is the brand name for human botulism immune globulin, an IV medication that uses antibodies from volunteers vaccinated against botulism to help babies too young to fight the disease on their own. welts where you got vaccinated and a little bit of pain.”

Still, Shine contributed to three batches of the antitoxin produced between 2008 and 2019.

“It’s probably the highlight of my career that I actually was able to participate in this project and donate plasma,” Shine said. “We made a product that could save infants’ lives.”

Development hurdles Because infant botulism is rare, with fewer than 200 cases reported in the U.S. each year, finding funding and other resources to develop the BabyBIG treatment took nearly 15 years and $10.6 million — and faced substantial hurdles, Arnon noted in a 2007 article.

Today, about 30 people on average provide plasma for each batch of BabyBIG, California health officials said.

Batch 8, the latest edition, is being manufactured now at a Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. plant near Los Angeles, according to Giles Platford, president of the company’s plasma-derived therapies unit. The company contracts with California officials to produce BabyBIG on a “notfor-profit basis,” Platford said.

Some of the earliest donors, like Shine, have aged out of the BabyBIG program, which collects blood from adult volunteers up to age 70. New donors are accepted, but they must enroll in a clinical study directed by the California health department and agree to receive a booster dose of a different investigational botulism vaccine.

California officials estimate they have enough BabyBIG in reserve to last until next summer, based on current projections. The

ByHeart outbreak is part of a worrisome rise of at least 107 infant botulism cases treated in the U.S. since August, said Dr. Jessica Khouri, senior medical officer for the state program.

Shine recently received a booklet filled with photos and letters from families whose children have recovered from botulism after receiving BabyBIG. “It’s really wonderful. I read a couple each day,” she said. “Every single one of them makes you want to cry.”

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Nordic people know how to find light in the darkest months

BY STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press

The Nordic countries are no strangers to the long, dark winter.

Despite little to no daylight — plus months of frigid temperatures — people who live in northern Europe and above the Arctic Circle have learned how to cope mentally and physically with the annual onset of the winter blues, which can begin as early as October and last into April for some.

The winter solstice will occur Dec. 21, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. While sunlight increases daily after that, winter won’t be over for a while yet.

The Associated Press spoke to experts in Norway, Sweden and Finland about the winter blues.

Here’s how they suggest looking for light, literally and figuratively, during the darkest months of the year:

Maintaining sleep Dr. Timo Partonen, a research professor at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, said the dark winter affects our circadian rhythm.

With limited daylight, our internal body clocks cannot reset or synchronize properly and it throws off our sleep. We may sleep longer in the winter, he said, but we don’t wake up refreshed and can remain tired the rest of the day.

Partonen recommended trying a dawn simulator, sometimes known as a sunrise alarm clock, to gradually light up your bedroom and ease you awake.

In addition to being more tired, we’re more likely to withdraw from others socially in the wintertime.

We’re more irritable, Partonen said, and more prone to fights with friends.

It’s important to maintain our relationships, he said, because symptoms rarely improve in isolation.

And since keeping up with exercise is also key to combating the winter blues, consider inviting a friend along for a workout.

It could also help keep off the wintertime weight gain — typically 2 to 5 kilograms (4 to 11 pounds) a year, Partonen said — that’s fed by cravings for carbohydrates, especially in the

People enjoy the sunny weather at the Helsinki Cathedral in Helsinki, Finland. evenings.

Light therapy encouraged Millions of people worldwide are estimated to suffer from seasonal depression. Also known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, patients typically have episodes of depression that begin in the fall and ease in the spring or summer. A milder form, subsyndromal SAD, is recognized by medical experts, and there’s also a summer variety of seasonal depression, though less is known about it.

Scientists are learning how specialized cells in our eyes turn the blue wavelength part of the light spectrum into neural signals affecting mood and alertness. Sunlight is loaded with the blue light, so when the cells absorb it, our brains’ alertness centers are activated and we feel more awake and possibly even happier.

Researcher Kathryn Roecklein at the University of Pittsburgh tested people with and without SAD to see how their eyes reacted to blue light.

As a group, people with SAD were less sensitive to blue light than others, especially during winter months. That suggests a cause for wintertime depression.

In severe cases, people need clinical support and antidepressant medications. Christian Benedict, a pharmacology professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, suggests light therapy for people with SAD as well as those who have a milder case of the winter blues.

“It’s not like it’s a fate, an annual or a seasonal fate, and you cannot do anything about it,” Benedict said. “There are possibilities to affect it.”

A routine of morning light therapy, using devices that emit light about 20 times brighter than regular indoor light, can be beneficial for both people with and without SAD. The light therapy helps to kickstart your circadian rhythm and increases serotonin in your brain, Benedict said.

Research supports using a light that’s about 10,000 lux, a measure of brightness, for 30 minutes every morning. Special lights run from $70 to $400, though some products marketed for SAD are not bright enough to be useful. Your insurance company might cover at least part of the cost if you’ve been diagnosed with SAD. Partonen recommended using

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SERGEI GRITS

both a dawn simulator and a light therapy device each day before noon.

Yale has tested products and offers a list of recommendations, and the nonprofit Center for Environmental Therapeutics has a consumer guide to selecting a light.

A positive outlook And don’t forget to, well, look on the bright side. It’s crucial to embrace winter instead of dreading it, according to Ida Solhaug, an associate professor in psychology at the University of Tromsø, also known as the Arctic University of Norway — the world’s northernmost university.

Prioritize a positive outlook as a survival strategy and learn to appreciate the change in seasons. It’s a typical Norwegian way of thinking, she said, that can make all the difference when there’s very little daylight for months.

“It’s part of the culture,” she said.

And don’t forget to take advantage of both outdoor and indoor hobbies, she said. Inside, channel hygge — the Danish obsession with getting cozy — and snuggle up on the couch with blankets and

a movie.

But don’t hibernate all winter.

After the film finishes, head outside with a thermos for fika, the traditional Swedish coffee break.

Even during cloudy days, a quick walk in the fresh air will help, she said. And if you’re brave enough, do a cold plunge like many people in the Nordics.

Solhaug tries to jump into the frigid waters off the coast of Tromsø, an island 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle, at least once a week, adding that it makes her feel revitalized during the long winter.

“Challenge yourself to look for light in the darkness,” she said.

After all, as many Nordic people say, there’s no such thing as bad weather — only bad clothing.

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, too, had some tips for how to tackle Nordic winters. When asked in an interview with The Associated Press last month how to survive the cold season, he had some very specific advice.

“Take an ice bath and then followed up by a sauna and do one more ice bath, one more sauna, then a shower and go out there.

You’ll manage,” Stubb said.

Dazio reported from Berlin.

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Eat Fit Live Fit

Molly Kimball RD, CSSD

B R O U G H T TO YO U BY

Three habits to make the holidays feel lighter and brighter

T

he stretch of days between now and the end of the year can feel like a blur, especially when filled with celebrations, expectations, travel, gatherings and unfinished to-dos that somehow stack themselves higher every day. And yet, underneath all of that, most of us want the same thing: to actually feel good during the holidays. Not perfect, not wildly different, just genuinely good in our minds and bodies as the year winds down.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve covered everything from brain health strategies with neurologist James Rini, MD, to navigating family dynamics with neuropsychologist John Sawyer, MD, plus zero-proof holiday cocktails, better-for-you baking ideas, and wellness-centered gift giving. For this final stretch of the holiday season, I’ve been thinking about how we can feel our best, not by adding more, but by strategically incorporating a few behaviors that can truly shift how this time of year impacts us.

These are the three I keep coming back to:

1. Follow the Gratitude Thread

Most of us are familiar with the idea of a gratitude list. It’s a simple way to reflect on what’s good in our lives, especially when seasons feel chaotic. But recently, I came across a concept that goes one layer deeper, the gratitude thread. Instead of listing ten things you’re thankful for, you choose one, then trace its roots backward to the story behind the gratitude.

It becomes less about a list of what we’re grateful for and more about defining what made them possible.

For example, if you’re grateful for a friend who’s been a steady presence for you, trace things back and think about how you first met. Was it a chance introduction at an event you almost skipped, or was it a mutual friend who brought you together? Or was it a

decision years ago, like a job you took, a class you joined or a move you made that put you in the right space to cross paths?

That’s the beauty of the gratitude thread.

It gives us a fuller picture of our lives and helps us recognize the seemingly small choices and connections that have added up to something so meaningful.

Try choosing just one thing you’re grateful for, then take 90 seconds to mentally trace it back. See where the thread leads you.

2. Choose Your Holiday Anchor Moments

There’s a lot we can’t control this time of year; however, we can choose a handful of experiences that matter to us and help make everything else feel more manageable.

Holiday anchor moments are the two or three experiences you create or plan for yourself, knowing they’ll help you feel centered and fulfilled. They don’t need to be elaborate. Often, the simpler they are, the better.

It might be a walk around the neighborhood with someone you love, morning coffee before anyone else is awake or strolling through hotel lobbies to enjoy holiday decorations.

These moments can take the pressure off the rest of the season. If everything else is busy and imperfect and unpredictable — which it will be — and if the only things that went smoothly this season were

your anchor moments, it will still be a meaningful holiday.

Everything else becomes the bonus layer.

3. Clear the Internal Clutter

When we think of clutter, most of us picture the physical kind: closets, countertops or our email inbox. But during the holidays, the clutter that can wear us down the most is often internal. It’s the mental and emotional noise that builds when we’re stretched thin.

Clearing this kind of clutter can shift our entire experience of the season.

This might look like opting out of something you’ve been quietly dreading or letting go of the pressure to attend every invitation. It could be silencing notifications or muting text threads that spike your stress levels or giving yourself a day — or even a designated Cora Crockett and William Bruno at The Roosevelt window of time — with nothing Hotel’s light display in New Orleans scheduled, on purpose.

These small resets can create A Better Way to Feel Good a surprising level of relief. They free up our This Season mental and emotional space so that we can Feeling good during the holidays doesn’t focus more fully on the parts of the season require perfection or big changes, but that matter to us. it does require intention: a moment of

gratitude that traces back farther than we expected, a couple of meaningful anchor moments, and the decision to clear out the internal noise that keeps us from being fully present.

These small shifts can help the season feel lighter and allow us to actively experience and enjoy it, rather than rushing right through.

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, is a registered dietitian with Ochsner Health and founder of Ochsner’s Eat Fit nonprofit initiative. For more wellness content, tune in to Molly’s podcast, FUELED Wellness + Nutrition, and follow @MollykimballRD and @EatFitOchsner on social media.

Email nutrition@ochsner.org to connect with Molly or schedule a consult with her team.

BY THE NUMBERS

LOUISIANA ADULTS MEDICATED FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Nearly half of U.S. adults — about 120 million people — have high blood pressure. That’s approximately 119.9 million Americans.

Louisiana had the fourthhighest rate of high blood pressure in the country, with 39.9% of adults reporting a diagnosis by a health professional in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, which are the leading and fifthleading causes of death in the United States.

With nearly 40% of Louisiana adults with a diagnosis of high blood pressure, an average 79% of them take high blood pressure medication.

Louisiana is just slightly over the U.S. average for adult with high blood pressure who took medication in 2023 at 78%.

These parishes had the highest percentage of adults with a high blood pressure diagnosis who take high blood pressure medication, in descending order: n Tensas Parish with 85.1%, n Bienville Parish with 82.7%, n Pointe Coupee Parish with 81.8%, n St. Helena and Union parishes with 81.7%, n Claiborne Parish with 81.6%, n Webster Parish with 81.5%, n St. James Parish with 81.4%, n Red River Parish with

81.1%, n and Morehouse Parish with 81%.

These parishes had the lowest percentage of adults with a high blood pressure diagnosis who take high blood pressure medication, in ascending order: n Lincoln Parish with 74%, n Vernon Parish with 74.8%, n LaSalle and Grant parishes with 75.7%, n Livingston Parish with 76.1%, n Allen Parish with 76.2%, n St. Bernard and East Carroll parishes with 76.6%, n Ascension Parish with 76.7%, n Tangipahoa Parish with 77%, n and Beauregard and Lafayette parishes with 77.5%.

Blood pressure medication in Louisiana The estimated prevalence of adults with high blood pressure who took blood pressure medication in 2023.

Webster Webster Caddo Caddo

Ouachita Ouachita

Richland Richland

Caldwell Caldwell

Franklin Franklin

Winn Winn

78.1% to 79%

Madison Madison

Jackson Jackson

Red Red River R iver

DeSoto DeSoto

77.1% to 78%

East East Carroll C arroll

Lincoln Lincoln

Bienville Bienville

Less than 77%

West West Morehouse Carroll Morehouse Carroll

Union Union

Claiborne Claiborne

Bossier Bossier

79.1% to 80% 80.1% to 81%

Tensas Tensas

Catahoula Catahoula Natchitoches Natchitoches

Grant Grant

Sabine Sabine

Beauregard Beauregard

Concordia Concordia

Rapides Rapides

Vernon Vernon

Avoyelles Avoyelles

Allen Allen

More than 81%

LaSalle LaSalle

Evangeline Evangeline

State average: 79%

W. Feliciana W. Feliciana E. Feliciana E. Feliciana

Tangipahoa Tangipahoa

St. St. Helena H elena Pointe Pointe St. Landry St. Landr y C Coupee oupee

Washington Washington

EBR EBR

St. TTammany St. ammany Livingston Livingston Acadia A cadia St. John St. John Iber ville Iberville Lafayette St. Lafayette Ascension A scension Orleans Orleans St. Martin Martin JJefferson efferson St. James St. James St. St. Iberia Iberia Assumption Assumption St. Bernard St. Bernard Charles Charles Vermilion Vermilion WBR WBR

Calcasieu Calcasieu

Cameron Cameron

JJefferson efferson Davis Davis

St. Mary St. Mar y

Lafourche Lafourche

Plaquemines Plaquemines

Terrebonne Terrebonne Staff map Source: CDC

AED

Continued from page 1X feature audible voice prompts that guide the user through the process. However, the general steps for using an AED are as follows: n Turn on the AED and follow any audio and visual prompts. n Open the person’s shirt and wipe their bare chest dry. If the person is wearing any medication patches, use a gloved (if possible) hand to remove the patches before wiping the person’s chest. n Attach the AED pads and plug

in the connector. n Push the “analyze” button and allow the AED to analyze the person’s heart rhythm. n If the AED recommends delivering a shock to the person, make sure that no one is touching the person — and tell everyone to “stand clear.” Once clear, press the “shock” button. n Begin CPR after delivering the shock. If no shock is advised, begin CPR right away. Perform two minutes of CPR and continue to follow the AED’s prompts. If there are obvious signs of life, discontinue CPR and monitor breathing for any changes in condition.

Not all AEDs are made alike;

some have the capability to instruct faster, slower or more effective CPR, others have more video and visual cues and so on.

“Just because the AED does all of the work, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek help or training,” Webb said. “Trainings mentally prepares you for that situation. It’s easy to freeze or hesitate or forget to hit the power button. We’re human.”

For AED training sessions or to get CPR certified, the American Heart Association has an ongoing online network tracking upcoming classes and training sessions across the U.S. at atlas.heart.org.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing indepth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and re-examining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana.

Do you have a health story?

We want to hear from you.

Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

4X ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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How to manage

stress If you’re feeling anxious, you’re not alone. Researchers have found that Americans are feeling increasingly anxious. Managing your anxiety levels is a good idea, both for your mental and physical health.

Here are ways to feel better: 1

Unplug from social media and the news. The 24/7 news cycle only fuels our anxieties. Drop the remote, stop reading the social media posts, and do something else. Take a walk or listen to music you enjoy and clear your mind.

2

Show some compassion. Research shows that being generous and kind to others makes us happier. Find a volunteer activity you enjoy, whether it’s helping at a food bank, nursing home or animal shelter.

3

Be productive. Clean out a closet, tidy up your tool shed, or get some exercise.

You’ll feel accomplished and in control.

4

Don’t engage. If someone wants to argue about controversial topics, you can simply say, “I’d prefer not to discuss it,” and leave it at that.

5

Check in with your doctor. If you’re feeling chronic anxiety, discuss with your doctor or healthcare provider. Anxiety and stress can affect your blood pressure and heart health, so don’t ignore it.

What is holiday heart syndrome?

While the festivities bring cheer, they also tempt us with indulgent food, excessive alcohol, elevated stress and packed schedules that can negatively affect heart health. In fact, research shows that more heart attacks occur in December and January than at any other time of the year.

Making the best of holiday visits Making your holiday plans? Planning to visit the in-laws? While some folks have easy relationships with their partner’s family, these relationships are tough for others. These tips can help you make it through the holidays with your in-laws with more peace and less stress.

1

Throughout the day, take a few moments to practice deep breathing. If you’re feeling anxious, deep breathing can relax both your body and mind.

2

Try to be diplomatic. Recognize that it’s unlikely you can change major family dynamics by returning the little (or big) jabs you receive. Try to be patient and understanding, and if you feel disrespected or undervalued by your in-laws, ask your partner to address it with them directly.

3

If it helps keep the peace, stay at a hotel rather than staying at your in-laws’ house. Sure, you may have to spend all day in their home, but knowing you have your own space to escape to at the end of the day can make the stress more tolerable.

4

Concentrate on the kids. Most grandparents adore their grandkids.

Allow your children to spend as much time as they want with their grandparents. Even if you don’t get along with your in-laws, they might have a healthier relationship with your children. And putting the focus on the kids takes the focus off you.

5

Team up with your partner. If you are not comfortable with a situation, that should apply to both of you. You shouldn’t have to address your concerns alone. Come up with a special code word or signal to alert your partner that it may be time to retire for the evening.

6

Distract. Make plans for an outside activity or event with your family.

Surprise your in-laws with an event to distract from any tension. Focus on the kids and have a good time. Brownie points if you give your inlaws three activity options and allow them to choose.

7

Practice self-care. Making decisions that prioritize your mental health and well-being is not being selfish. It’s smart. If you need to take a break, go for a walk or take the kids out shopping or to a local park.

There’s nothing wrong with practicing “you time.’’

8

Focus on the prize. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel and remind yourself that the visit is only temporary.

Take each moment day by day.

You’ve got this!

The good news is that you can protect your heart and still enjoy the holidays by making simple yet meaningful changes. Here are five practical tips to help you celebrate safely while caring for your heart.

Practice moderation with food and drinks: Overeating, particularly of high-fat or salty foods, can elevate blood pressure and cholesterol levels, putting unnecessary strain on your heart. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to irregular heart rhythms or even a condition known as “holiday heart syndrome.”

Try eating smaller portions and mixing nonalcoholic drinks into cocktail hour.

Manage stress to lighten the load on your heart: Chronic stress, especially during this season, can increase blood pressure and trigger unhealthy coping mechanisms like overeating or drinking too much. To stay grounded amidst the chaos, take time each day to relax and recharge when you can.

Stay active: Physical activity helps regulate blood pressure, improves circulation, and boosts mood by releasing endorphins, your body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Sneak in activity by taking family walks after meals, dancing to festive music, or opting for stairs instead of elevators when shopping.

Seek support for depression: Stress, loneliness or unmet expectations can lead to feelings of sadness or depression, all of which can take a toll on your heart health.

If you’re feeling down, don’t keep it to yourself. Talk to a trusted friend or family member about how you’re feeling. If emotions persist, consider reaching out to a healthcare professional for guidance and support.

Recognize symptoms of a heart attack: Symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea and profuse sweating may seem subtle but require immediate attention. Women, in particular, may experience atypical symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty sleeping or shortness of breath in the weeks leading up to a heart attack.

If you or a loved one experience symptoms, seek emergency care immediately. It’s better to err on the side of caution. Healthcare providers would much rather rule out a false alarm than delay treatment for a potentially life-threatening condition.

Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in Louisiana, Mississippi and across the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. Ochsner is nationally recognized for inspiring healthier lives and stronger communities through unmatched expertise, quality and digital connectivity. In 2024, Ochsner’s more than 40,000 dedicated team members and 4,900 employed and affiliated physicians cared for 1.6 million people from every state in the nation and 63 countries. To learn more about how Ochsner empowers people to get well and stay well, visit www.ochsner.org.

GOODNESS | HOPE | SOLUTIONS

INSPIRED

LOUISIANA

N O L A.C O M & T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

S U N D AY, D e c e m b e r 21, 2025

Q&A: Teacher revolutionizes adoption PAGE 2y

1N 1

2025 Inspirit Award 20 ds Jan Risherr

We are pleased to announce the 2025 Inspirit Award winners. In innovative, courageous, compelling and compassionate ways, the Louisianans featured in this section, both this week and next, are looking to solve problems today to improve tomorrow for our state. They serve a variety of communities and each Inspirit Award winner works to make the world a better place.

LONG STORy SHORT

Winter solstice: A good night for reading

They include Juan Jorge Gershanik, Chanice Holmes, James Joseph Jayla, Kate Migues, Charles Smith and Kristi Trail.

The winners were selected from a field of nominations received from the general public. The nominations were reviewed by a newsroom panel who selected six Inspirit Award winners. — Jan Risher, Louisiana culture editor

An adult movement class at Dancing Grounds gives participants a freedom to express themselves.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

FREEDOM IN MOVEMENT New Orleans dancer ensures dance is accessible to all

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

For New Orleans native Chanice Holmes, dancing is more than exercise, sport or art. Dancing is a method of expression and healing.

Through her position as program director of Dancing Grounds, Holmes works to ensure dance is accessible for children and adults in New Orleans. The nonprofit organization develops young leaders, promotes health and wellness, and advocates for social change through inclusive and accessible dance programs reaching New Orleans residents of all ages.

Holmes, who has worked with Dancing Grounds for eight years, is a winner of the 2025 Inspirit Award for her commitment to accessible dance programming in her community. Audrey Stewart, a mother of a Dancing Grounds student, says that the studio is a place of safety.

She nominated Holmes for the award because she believes Holmes has the spirit and compassion to assist students and families however she can.

“Dancing Grounds means home,” Holmes said. “It feels very important to have a space like this that allows folks to come as they are, be authentic to who they are, and create a space that we want to be echoed out into the world.”

Holmes was born and raised in New Orleans and attended The Willow School, which was formerly Lusher Charter School. She danced from a young age, and through her school’s art program, she was recruited to attend Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, dance and arts management.

INSPIRIT WINNER She began her journey with Dancing Grounds as an in-school dance teacher for elementary to high school youth, then progressed to the Dance for Social Change coordinator and then co-director.

“I just fell in love with working with the kids,” Holmes said. “I wanted to do so much in terms of how youth are supported.”

Holmes imbued Dancing Grounds’ youth programming with her belief that young people are change makers ready to build healthy, thriving communities, who only need supportive spaces that allow them to thrive and be heard.

Emerging artists Laura Stein and Jessi Donley founded Dancing Grounds in March 2012. They shared a common vision for bringing the local dance community together and providing more quality, accessible dance programming. Dancing Grounds started in Stein’s Bywater home. The organization grew over time and moved to a larger studio at 3705 St. Claude Ave. Dance for Social Change, the organization’s flagship initiative, inspires New Orleans youth to use their artistic talents to enact positive social change. The organization also supports dance artists in the city with rehearsal space, workshops and artist-in-residency opportunities.

Since 2012, Dancing Grounds has reached over 3,500 young people, 8,000 adults and 12,000 audience members.

“Folks who come into our space as adults, or who start in our space as young people, grow and evolve with us,” Holmes said. “We’re emerging artists. We are growing, full people. We hope that every time a person comes to Dancing Grounds, they experience that feeling of home.”

A safe space Children can dance with Dance for

Chanice Holmes is programs director at Dancing Grounds in New Orleans.

Social Change from preschool to high school. Stewart says that this continuity of relationship through the years allows kids the freedom to be who they are.

Her son, Zay, 11, joined Dancing Grounds when he was 5 years old. Stewart says she has witnessed how Holmes has cultivated a culture of artistic excellence while providing a safe space for students to be their whole selves.

Holmes and Stewart agree that New Orleans can be a tough place for affordable arts programming, but having a consistent place to build friendships and gain skills goes a long way. With Holmes at the helm, the Dance for Social Change program improved students’ academic outcomes, their wellness through healing movement and their connections to mental health care.

Holmes adjusts the program to ensure it provides the right support.

After learning that many young people struggled to access clinical mental health care, she formed a partnership with

ä See DANCER, page 2Y

The winter solstice practically begs for a comfy chair and a big ole book by a fire.

Since middle school, I’ve loved reading long books during the long nights of winter. My favorites are epic historical sagas — like the ones Ken Follett writes. I love his Kingsbridge series. I first read “Pillars of the Earth” nearly 25 years ago, in the days right after the Sept. 11, 2001, nightmare.

The perspective the book offered — about fictional events set amid real historical ones between the years 1123 and 1174 — provided some context of how these big things had transpired. The book not only reminded me that our generation didn’t corner the market on evil but also that the driving factors of humanity are constant.

Since I first read “Pillars of the Earth,” I’ve gobbled up all four additional books in the Kingsbridge series. They, like the “Star Wars” movies, have not been released in chronological order.

I’m a fan of Follett’s work because his research offers insights into history and helps me connect the dots between the often disparate pieces of history that I learned about in school. His books push me to understand things I’ve never paused to consider — like how a spinning jenny worked and how a simple machine helped reshape commerce and fashion.

Follett goes beyond the technology of the various eras he writes about to cover social issues, too — like the rise of Methodism in England and the push for literacy among common people to read the Bible, which challenged established institutions.

My love for reading good historical fiction (and the occasional references I make to his work) makes some of my historian friends shake their heads. Even so, I feel like Follett’s books offer a beautiful jumping-off point to learn about other time periods for someone who appreciates an overview and doesn’t have time to write a dissertation.

This fall, I was excited to see that Follett had a new book out, called “Circle of Days.” It is a fictionalized story of the building of Stonehenge and takes place around 2500 BCE. Since no one really knows all of the hows and whys of Stonehenge, Follett did a deep dive with archaeologists to piece together how the people of the Salisbury Plain in England might have lived, worked and believed.

Follett says he read books like Mike Pitts’ “How to Build Stone-

ä See RISHER, page 2Y

PROVIDED PHOTO

Ken Follett’s ‘Circle of Days’ is a fictionalized story about the making of Stonehenge.

2Y ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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INSPIRED DISCUSSIONS A S K T H E E X P E RT S

Teacher revolutionizes adoption knowledge in schools So much of adoption Mother commits to normalizing process isstories.

Q&A WITH KATE MIGUES the in-between — normal TEACHER, MOTHER people living normal lives. through awareness and education

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE

Staff writer

INSPIRIT WINNER

In 2023, Kate Migues started Placed, a nonprofit organization that opens up the conversation around adoption and how to talk about it with empathy and respect.

Placed specializes in adoption education for people of all ages, especially students in public high schools that are required to teach adoption in health education.

Migues, an adoptive mom of two and a certified teacher with 15 years of experience, was awarded the 2025 Louisiana Inspired Inspirit Award for her commitment to normalizing adoption through awareness and on-site educational programs. Since starting Placed, she has been to 52 schools, taught 304 classes and taught more than 6,400 students.

The name Placed, often used in adoption, emphasizes the thoughtful process of providing a child with a stable and loving home.

What inspired you to establish Placed?

I taught high school since 2008. I was teaching chemistry at Catholic High in New Iberia. My husband and I adopted two children during that time, and I was asked to teach a health class.

While looking through the curriculum, I found that every student in Louisiana who takes health is required by the state to learn about adoption. I went to our curriculum coordinator and asked for resources, and she said, “Oh, no, we don’t have to do that.”

She suggested that we reach out to other schools to see what they’re doing, and no one knew what I was talk-

ing about. It was put in place by the legislature in 2006 and then expanded upon, and it’s required, but there was no information given to teachers to cover it appropriately.

I saw an opportunity for a merging of two things that I love, which are teaching and the adoption world. I saw that there was a need and felt equipped to at least try to fill that need.

How was your adoption process with your own children?

We had a contested adoption with our youngest. Our kids have the same birth mom and different birth dads. Our son’s birth dad contested the adoption. We had to figure out if his birth father did what he needed to do to establish his parental rights.

To make a long story short, he had not done what was needed, but that doesn’t make him a bad dad. He just didn’t know what he didn’t know.

We still have a very good relationship with him. He has often said that people need to know what adoption is. He thought it was like foster care. Instead, he can continue doing what he needs to do and still see Sam. He told us, “Why are people not talking about this?”

That experience was another push to start Placed and let people know what a beautiful gift adoption can be.

What do people get wrong about adoption?

A lot of times, we read things on social media or see things on the news. It’s always going to be the terrible stories or the Hallmark

DANCER

at high risk of disconnection from work and school have participated in paid internships.

Dance for Social Change also allowed more than 250 participants to gain college and job readiness skills through designing, producing and performing a multidisciplinary original performance and film.

The majority of Dancing Grounds participants are New Orleans public school students, between the ages of 6 and 18. At least 80% of participants are Black, and 70% are girls. A significant majority are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch and come from historically disenfranchised New Orleans neighborhoods, including the 9th Ward, 7th Ward and New Orleans East.

“I heard a student the other day just raving about a class like, ‘Oh my gosh,

Continued from page 1y

Children’s Bureau of New Orleans to link the teenagers in need with clinical care via their enrollment in Dance for Social Change.

Holmes collaborates with other city youth service organizations to build a network of support. Partnerships with the New Orleans Health Department and Mayor’s Office of Youth & Families help young people make key connections across citywide programs, services and resources.

‘I’m fed every time I teach’ Since the first graduating class in 2019, 100% of Dancing Grounds participants have matriculated to college upon high school graduation. In the past three years, more than 30 participants ages 16 to 18

If we don’t know that exists, then there’s kids who are missing out. There’s families who are missing out.

Whenever you described the situation with your son’s birth father, it reminded me of grace. What has this process taught you about having grace for people who may be different from you?

OK, I have a smile on my face right now. A little backstory: I had a student we lost to a tragic car accident, and her name was Grace. Her death was one of the things that made my husband and me look at each other after nine years of infertility and say, “Life is short, and if we’re gonna do this, we better do it.”

The adoption process was very quick for us, but we walked into that hospital room and they said her name is Eliza Grace. I thought, “OK, God, I see what to do in here.”

I think that grace is something that we’re all given

by God, even when we don’t deserve it. That’s kind of the point, right? Grace is something that we can either take and expect, or we can take it, turn it around and give to others.

We can only do what we can with the information we have. A lot of times, people make uninformed decisions.

Once you know more, you can do better. That’s what grace allows us to do.

At the time, it felt like Sam’s birth father was the enemy. But we didn’t know his situation. Grace is giving other people the benefit of the doubt.

What progress has Placed made since 2023? Can you tell us about the curriculum that you’ve implemented in schools?

I go into health classes in

I had the worst day. But coming in, I feel so great after class. I feel like I was pushed and challenged, and then I also feel like I got what I need. It was like medicine,’ ” Holmes said.

“And then I’m thinking about a teacher who also came in heavy. I was recording class, and I saw the smile on her face. I was like, ‘How you doing?’ And she said, ‘You know, I’m fed every time I teach.’ This space is a transformative space.”

Fuel the movement In January, Holmes got word that Dancing Grounds lost its National Endowment of the Arts funding, which totals $120,000 of their budget. This cut meant loss of some staff members and adjustments to class offerings. Now down to a staff of five, Dancing Grounds is stretching to

PROVIDED PHOTO

In 2023, Kate Migues started Placed, a nonprofit organization that opens up the conversation around adoption and how to talk about it with empathy and respect. Placed specializes in adoption education for people of all ages, especially students in public high schools that are required to teach adoption in health education. public and private schools, and we look at adoption from each of the three sides of the adoption triad: n How can we be better friends to people who were adopted or have experienced foster care, using adoptionpositive language? n How can adoption be the option of hope for someone who is experiencing an unexpected pregnancy? n What does it look like to be an adoptive or foster parent one day, and what is the need for that?

In public schools, I present Option Hope, which is stateapproved curriculum. I have a Culture of Life program that I present in Christian schools, where you can have

make sure students aren’t impacted.

The organization is building reserve funds through a fundraising campaign called Fuel the Movement 2025. The campaign will secure affordable classes for its young people and adults.

Stewart says Holmes’ faithful commitment to Dancing Grounds is inspiring to her. She will do anything to keep Dancing Grounds alive.

Holmes’ leadership style reflects her teaching practice, which she says is grounded in improvisation of feeling and spirit.

“Giving and receiving are intertwined in the culture of New Orleans — persevering through things that may be holding you back,” Holmes said. “Dance transforms and can shift the energy. It’s connected to spirit and grounding. And I think New Orleans is a very spiritual place.”

those pro-life conversations.

In what way have students changed their opinions on adoption?

Everyone, at some level, knows someone who was adopted or who has been in foster care. If nothing else out of it, you can at least understand what their perspective is — where they’re coming from and how to be a better friend.

Something that shocks students is how common open adoptions are, where there is some level of communication between the child who was placed for adoption and their birth parents. They’re shocked at the fact that birth parents who choose to place their child for adoption are given all of these choices.

They can choose the family

RISHER

Continued from page 1y henge” and made repeated visits to the site and the Westwood quarry. He walked the possible routes the stones traveled, trying to understand the logistics and the sheer human effort involved.

In Follett fashion, the story focuses on both the technical “how-to” and the social motivations. He used his imagination to fill in the gaps of what is known about the lives and beliefs of the Neolithic people, who had figured out enough about time and seasons to be motivated to move massive stones hundreds of miles.

Which brings us back to the winter solstice — that hinge point of the year when everything in the northern hemisphere

that the child goes into, their name and how often they want to see the child.

They’re also surprised to learn that it’s completely free for birth parents and adoptive parents have to do an FBI background check.

Overall, the students may have one friend or cousin who has a friend who was adopted, and whatever their story is, that is what that person thinks adoption is — whether it’s good or bad.

It’s interesting to see their eyes open up and realize that adoption is a beautiful, lifegiving option, and people who were placed for adoption have the same kind of normal life as them. They just have some extra family members.

starts tilting toward light again.

The people who built Stonehenge noticed this turning, too. They tracked it with shadows and stones and sheer determination.

We have technology galore to measure time now, but I still like to track it with a good book and a quiet chair.

Maybe that’s the thread Follett keeps reminding me of: Across centuries, people have always looked for ways to understand the dark and mark the return of light.

And every year, on this longest night, I’m grateful for storytellers who help me mark the turning — and for a warm home where, in the days to come, I’ll be surrounded by those I love, old and young.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

Healthcare with us, FMOLHealth.org

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, December 21, 2025 ■ 3Y

lll

A lifelong connection to Lake Pontchartrain Kristi Trail drives conservation work along the shore

BY JAN RISHER

Staff writer

Long before she ran Pontchartrain Conservancy, Kristi Trail was a kid on the lakefront, swimming in water most people learned to avoid because of its pollution. Even so, that early connection to the lake shapes the work that led to her 2025 Inspirit Award.

Trail has served as the executive director of the Pontchartrain Conservancy for nine years. The award recognizes her work protecting the water, land and communities across the 16 parishes in the Pontchartrain Basin.

During her tenure, the organization has nearly doubled its staff from 16 to more than 30, reflecting its expanding environmental and education work.

As the organization has grown, Trail keeps returning to the thought that first drew her to this work: how people are able to experience the lake itself.

Trail says that when it comes to lakefront swimming, the northshore has easier access than the southshore which is complicated because of the amount of infrastructure.

That access question, she said, is part of a larger conversation about reconnecting people with the lake — a conversation that often leads to Lincoln Beach, a place many residents haven’t been able to access for decades.

Trail is pleased that the city of New Orleans is working hard to reopen Lincoln Beach, which is expected to be done in 2026, because the space holds a significant place in New Orleans’ history. Established

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Kristi Trail, executive director of Pontchartrain Conservancy, winner of 2025 Inspirit Award

INSPIRIT WINNER in 1938, it provided a haven for the Black community.

For Trail, its reopening represents a step toward restoring not just access, but the relationship people once had with the lake.

“We take credit for cleaning up the lake and are so excited for people to go out and enjoy our beautiful lake,” Trail said.

Trail remembers the “Save our Lake” campaign that started in 1989, when a group of residents and scientists came together to raise concern of the region’s environmental challenges. That effort led to the creation of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, the organization that later became the Pontchartrain Conservancy.

Those early efforts laid the groundwork for the monitoring and restoration work the Pontchartrain Conservancy focuses on

today. One of Trail’s goals is for the lake to become top of mind again for people in south Louisiana. She believes the organization’s long-term water-quality improvements are helping move it in that direction.

“Sometimes people don’t even think about the lake because they don’t look at it,” she said. “We want to make it beautiful — to make it something people want to look at.”

Since 2001, Pontchartrain Conservancy has released weekly water-quality reports to help residents understand conditions at swimming spots and other recreational areas around the basin.

“The lake is a very dynamic system,” Trail said.

“It changes on a daily basis, but on a long-term trend, it’s good and improving.”

But Trail and her staff are using their resources to educate and inform beyond the shores of Pontchartrain by offering teacher training

Lincoln Beach in New Orleans is not yet open to the public, but the city of New Orleans is expected to reopen it in 2026. across the state. The trainings focus on a variety of water issues — from marine debris, the effect of microplastics, water quality, types of flooding and more.

The staff development classes usually take place on Saturdays at the Lighthouse Museum — or in schools across Louisiana.

Teachers receive a $100 stipend for participating in the training, plus a kit of supplies to take back to their classrooms.

“Our goal is to work with teachers teaching earth sci-

ences to build hyper-local activities so they can teach about the wetlands in south Louisiana,” Trail said.

She said the number of students visiting the interactive Lighthouse museum for hands-on programs continues to grow each year.

“Under Kristi’s leadership, Pontchartrain Conservancy was awarded an EPA Gulf Guardian Award (given to agencies making positive impacts on the Gulf of Mexico’s health) for its work in STEM education in 2024, showing how

impactful this work is not just in Louisiana but across the Gulf coast,” wrote board chair Dickie Brennan in his nomination of Kristi Trail for the Inspirit Award.

Trail says she loves the work — the unpredictability of the days, the conversations with residents and the chance to explain what’s happening in and around the basin in large groups and one-on-one.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

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lll

FAITH & VALUES American Jew tradition includes Chinese food, movies

BY SAMIRA MEHTA

yong Lu demonstrates, Chinese restaurants were also eager to cater to American Jews: They wanted to develop white, American clientele, and here were some right in their neighborhoods.

As restaurant owners learned that Jews often eschewed pork, some began to offer traditional dishes with chicken instead — allowing more observant Jews to eat “kosher style,” without eating explicitly forbidden food. Today, there is wide variation in Jewish dietary practices, making Chinese food even more accessible for most Jews.

By the end of the 20th century, “Chinese food and a movie” had become the trope of Jewish Christmas. Because most Chinese immigrants were not Christian, their restaurants are often open on Dec. 25. And indeed, they are often filled with Jews.

Contributing writer

There is a meme that circulates every holiday season, an image of a sign in a restaurant window. “The Chinese Restaurant Association of the United States would like to extend our thanks to the Jewish people,” it says. “We do not completely understand your dietary customs … but we are proud and grateful that your GOD insists you eat our food on Christmas.”

Is the sign real? Perhaps not; the fact-checking site Snopes found no evidence of the association even existing. But the joke’s popularity points to a tradition cherished by many American Jews — Chinese food on Christmas.

But why would Jews, who do not celebrate Christmas, have Christmas traditions?

Like many minority groups, Jews have always created ways of adapting to the societies in which they live, but whose culture they do not totally share. And one thing that means is a collection of Christmas traditions, varying by time and place. Many of them came up in interviews for my book “Beyond Chrismukkah: The Christian-Jewish Interfaith Family in the United States.”

Old World festivities Long before Jews came to the United States, some of them celebrated Christmas — participating in many of the cultural traditions, even as they avoided the religious part of the holiday.

According to Jordan Chad, author of “Christmas in Yiddish Tradition,” Jewish folklore about the holiday appears as early as the late 1300s. Plenty of Jewish communities in Europe spent Christmas Eve dancing and drinking, feasting and gambling — as many of their Christian neighbors did, when those neighbors were not in church.

Other scholars have argued that these traditions grew out of attempts to avoid studying Jewish religious texts on a Christian holiday. But Chad demonstrates that, over centuries, those customs came to celebrate the revelry of the season — though not the birth of Jesus.

Even in the 20th century, scholars such as Yaniv Feller have found, many middle- and upperclass German Jews embraced a

Movies, volunteering and more

Chinese food has become a staple of many Jewish Americans’ traditions each Dec. 25. secular Christmas, complete with a tree, a traditional dinner and presents. After all, some of those Christmas traditions stem less from religion than folk traditions and industrialization.

Given that long history, Jewish Christmas traditions are not necessarily a sign of Americanization.

That said, in the United States, Christmas is so culturally powerful — a day that almost everyone has off, and that the majority of Americans spend with their kith and kin — that many non-Christian immigrants celebrate it in a secular way, with family visits, Santa and a tree. They do not necessarily do the religious parts of the holiday, but they may well deck the halls. Certainly, my own Hindu relatives do.

And many Jews celebrate Christmas in some way because they are part of interfaith families — whether their own immediate family or extended relatives with whom they spend the day. Today, estimates place the American Jewish interfaith marriage rate as high as 50%.

Kosher-style Chinese For plenty of contemporary Jews, however, it is profoundly important not to celebrate a secular version of Christmas. Starting in the 1970s, in fact, when American Jews were particularly worried about rising rates of interfaith marriage, many of the rabbis willing to perform ceremonies for Jewish-Christian couples made them promise to not have a Christmas tree. This happened despite the fact that, at the time, many American Jews did have Christmas trees in their homes.

Even if Jews do not want to deck the halls, though, many still have the day off. Meanwhile, their nonJewish friends, families and coworkers are busy and much of the world is closed. And so many Jews have developed their own ways of marking the day.

The Chinese food tradition is particularly famous. In fact, during Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan’s 2010 confirmation hearings, when Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham asked her where she had been on Christmas Day, she

GETTy IMAGES

responded, “Like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant.”

The first written mention of Jews eating Chinese food on Christmas Day comes from 1935, when, according to The New York Times, a man named Eng Shee Chuck brought chow mein and toys to a New Jersey Jewish orphanage.

His generosity was probably not why Jews started going to Chinese restaurants on Christmas; it is more likely that they were already doing so. The two communities lived cheek by jowl in many American cities, where immigrants of different sorts ended up in the same neighborhoods. And Chinese food contains little dairy, meaning it rarely violated Jewish dietary laws against mixing milk and meat.

Most Chinese cuisines do use pork and shrimp, which is forbidden by kosher laws. But many Jewish customers were happy to make an exception, especially if the forbidden food was tucked in a dumpling or otherwise out of sight — at least outside their own homes.

As new research by New York University graduate student Shi-

The same tends to be true for movie theaters. In 2012, I saw “Les Misérables” on Christmas Day in a theater that seemed to be a who’s who of the Atlanta Jewish community. In fact, the movies and the Chinese food are often paired, whether out on the town or at home, streaming with takeout.

Jewish museums are often open and are another popular destination in cities that have them.

And some Jews use Christmas Day for travel. At least in eras past, plane tickets were notably cheaper than the days around the holiday.

Another Jewish Christmas tradition is simply to go to work, so as to let Christian colleagues have the day off. Many Jewish doctors and nurses are on call, or staff the emergency room or the intensive care unit, so that their colleagues can be home.

Still other Jews perform charitable deeds on Christmas: They staff soup kitchens and food banks, bring holiday cheer to nursing homes and hospital patients, or deliver gifts to children in shelters.

Living in a culture that largely closes down each Dec. 25, many Jews have found ways of making meaning in the day — be that sharing family time over beef and broccoli, followed by a holiday blockbuster, or working to make sure that more of their colleagues can have a family day. And those, too, are Christmas traditions.

New innovation could make solar farms more wildlife friendly

BY KENDRA CHAMBERLAIN Contributing writer

Editor’s note: This story, created

by Kendra Chamberlain for Columbia Insight, is part of the AP Storyshare. Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world.

You’re an elk. You’re on your annual migration from the mountains to lower-elevation feeding grounds, the same route traveled by countless generations of your ancestors.

An obstacle blocks your path.

You’ve encountered nothing like it before. A high, metal fence.

Behind the fence, massive, sharp angled panels reflect sunlight with intensity foreign to your concept of the world.

What now?

Solar energy is great. But it comes with costs. One of these is impact on wildlife.

Habitat connectivity has emerged as an environmental concern related to renewable energy facilities like large solar farms.

Utility-scale projects degrade habitat and typically include sixto eight-foot-high fencing, which severs migration corridors and bars wildlife access to habitat and resources.

“Solar facilities impact fauna through habitat loss and fragmentation, altered microclimate and creation of novel habitat,” according to a 2025 report published in the journal ScienceDirect. “The rapid transformation of landscapes necessitates urgent research into biodiversity impacts of solar facilities worldwide.”

Some developers are getting the message.

At a proposed solar installation in southern Oregon, the renewable energy company Invenergy has plans to build a wildlife corridor and a nearly 2,000-acre conserva-

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Oxbow Solar farm is located in Ventress. At a proposed solar installation in southern Oregon, the renewable energy company Invenergy has plans to build a wildlife corridor and a nearly 2,000-acre conservation area to help offset the ecological impacts of industrial-scale construction in a largely undeveloped wilderness. tion area to help offset the ecological impacts of industrial-scale construction in a largely undeveloped wilderness.

Chicago-based Invenergy is the global renewable energy company behind the Diamond Solar Project, a proposed 200-megawatt facility located near the junction of U.S. Route 97 and Oregon Route 138, nicknamed the “Highway of Waterfalls.” The location is just east of Diamond Lake in the Umpqua National Forest and northeast of Crater Lake National Park.

The project passed a milestone in October when the Klamath County Planning Commission approved permits to install 406,000

solar panels and on-site battery storage on a 1,560-acre plot of forested land.

The land is owned by the private investment firm Shanda Group.

Founded by Chinese billionaire Tianqiao Chen and other family members, Shanda Group is the second largest foreign owner of land in the United States.

Chen owns nearly 200,000 acres of forestland in Oregon’s Klamath and Deschutes counties.

Wildlife and solar mitigation The Diamond Lake project site is home to wildlife including deer and elk. It includes access to important water resources, accord-

ing to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“We were concerned about an impediment to migration, as well as blocking off a water source,” ODFW’s Jeremy Thompson told Columbia Insight. Thompson served as the department’s energy coordinator while the Diamond Solar proposal was created. “There are some water sources through that corridor that showed use by ungulates, both deer and elk in that area.”

ODFW offers energy siting guidance to help inform designers of large developments on ways they can minimize or mitigate impacts to local habitat and wildlife.

In the case of the Diamond Solar proposal, Thompson said ODFW staff asked Invenergy to include a wildlife corridor that runs through the facility to offer a way for ungulates to move through the land.

The company and ODFW settled on a 600-foot-wide wildlife corridor.

Thompson said the inclusion of wildlife passages in solar buildouts is becoming common, though it’s still a relatively new concept.

“We’ve worked with multiple companies to try to institute passage through solar farms, especially as we talk about some of the larger solar farms that are being proposed in north-central Oregon,” said Thompson. “We just haven’t seen one that’s been constructed yet.”

ODFW hopes to conduct research using collared deer and game cameras to determine if the corridor is successful.

“The science isn’t sound yet on how wide that corridor needs to be for animals to feel comfortable using it,” said Thompson.

Renewable energy projects across the country have begun attempting to accommodate wildlife in their designs, in hopes of reducing environmental harm.

Design tweaks include fencing with holes large enough to allow small animals to slip through, and passages or corridors for larger animals.

Early evidence suggests these features can be successful.

The Nature Conservancy, for example, tracked a variety of small animals slipping through wildlifefriendly fencing at a solar facility in North Carolina.

The Diamond Solar Project also includes a 1,900-acre conservation area, which is meant to replace habitat lost to the solar facility.

That land is also owned by Shanda Group.

Construction of the Diamond Solar Project is expected to take two years. Invenergy plans to have the facility finished by 2029.

SUNDAY, December 21, 2025

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr.

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE / by Stephan Pastis

wonderword

scrabble grams

word game

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus.

“Blanks” used as any letter have no point value.

All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters.

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

todAY's Word — cHocoLAte: CHAWKlit: Roasted, ground cacao seeds with flavoring added.

Average mark 51 words Time limit 62 minutes Can you find 66 or more words in CHOCOLATE?

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.

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. ©2025 Hasbro. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

cryptoquote AxyDLBAAxR iS LONgFELLOW One letter stands for another. in this sample, A is used for the three L’s, x for the two O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of the words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Sudoku

ken ken instructions: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 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.

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 Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

hidato directions: Complete the grid so that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Los angeLes Times sunday Crossword puzzLe — Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis “Big sHoTs” By scott Hogan aCross 1 Béla Fleck’s instrument 6 Pricey German imports 10 Italian wine 14 Chaps 18 Not very approachable 19 Source of a scoop 20 Overly caffeinated, perhaps 21 Social sci. major 22 Big shot in the bulb industry?

25 K 26 Henry VI’s school 27 __ of Man 28 Luv 29 Take in 31 Cards 33 Squandered 35 Big shot in the sci-fi awards industry?

37 Put on a pedestal 40 Fort __, Florida 41 Wash and wear?

42 Big shot in the paver industry?

44 Shrewd 45 Stocky antelope 48 Green house?

49 Trending 50 Fabled messages 52 “If I were in your __ ... “ 54 Withdraw, with “out” 55 Salty one 57 Salty five 58 Skills assessment 60 Spots 61 Big shot in the podiatry industry?

64 “Daaaaang!”

66 Drawing (in) 67 Big shot in the treasure-hunting industry?

71 Make fast

again 72 Concert gear 76 Old sub titles?

77 Positively reinforces 79 Shrill bark 80 Home of the world’s largest irrigation project 81 Source of some travel reservations?

83 Put away 85 Arequipa’s land 86 Baton Rouge sch.

87 Drywall supports 89 Big shot in the champagne glass industry?

92 Battery terminal 93 Blah 94 Edmonton NHL team 95 Big shot in the cab industry?

98 Folk-rock supergroup, familiarly 99 Soapy residue in a sink 100 Come out 101 Sanskrit honorific 102 Ruler who commissioned the Taj Mahal, for one 104 Slight advantage 108 Game that can only be played right-handed 109 Big shot in the refrigeration industry?

114 “Tell Mama” singer James 115 Per __ 116 Serpentine 117 Place for a cross 118 Show the way 119 Actor Postlethwaite 120 Scandinavian capital 121 Plot inconsistencies down

1 Hay bundle 2 Came down to earth 3 Off-limits 4 Antihero played

by Keanu Reeves 5 Many times o’er 6 Sprinkle with holy water, e.g.

7 Combo, say 8 Make a parting gesture 9 Chicago WNBA team 10 Like the subject of a Carly Simon classic 11 Gerund maker 12 Medical research org.

13 Umbrella shape, typically 14 Does not disturb 15 Sneeze sound 16 Closers 17 Gives the cold shoulder to 20 Asks for more catnip, perhaps 23 Advanced, as gadgets 24 “Infected be the air __ they ride”: Macbeth 30 Part of some security checkpoints 32 Vex 34 Jean Valjean’s story, familiarly 35 Get well 36 Large garden planters 37 Head monk 38 Fall in folds 39 Money makers 40 Descriptive piece of HTML code 43 Zeroing (in on) 44 Holiday singer 45 Tender prelude?

46 State bird of Hawaii 47 Space race initials 51 Third in a ring 53 Wife of Hägar the Horrible

56 Shows up for duty 57 Four Tops singer Benson 59 Until midnight 60 IRS tracking info 62 Render obsolete 63 Blue, in Burgundy 65 Had to pivot to plan B, say 67 Out of room 68 Wading bird in Egyptian art 69 Japanese-

goren Bridge

Peruvian fusion chain 70 Third key in a reboot sequence 71 Sleeve style 73 “Poppycock!”

74 Prep chef’s knife 75 San Antonio team 78 Enters the room airily 81 Grand Slam Tokyo discipline 82 Paradise 84 Multiple ages

wuzzLes

operation founded in 1925 99 Panasonic subsidiary 101 Swivel around 103 “Inferno” setting 105 Tuning knob 106 Out of the park 107 Pulls the plug on 110 Individual 111 Province between Man. and Que. 112 Prefix with

cache 113 Bat wood

super Quiz Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

Opportunity missed

American expert Bart Bramley was South, in today’s deal.

North did well to pass, as no game makes for North-South.

In fact, only a heart lead defeats four spades by East-West. It is hard to fault West for not bidding. He had a misfit for partner’s suit and, with only 12 highcard points opposite a pre-empt, no real reason to think there might be a game his way.

Bramley won the opening club lead, an obvious singleton, with dummy’s ace. He led a heart to his king and West’s ace, and West shifted to a trump. Bramley won in dummy with the nine and ruffed a heart in his hand.

He crossed back to dummy with the ace of diamonds and led another heart, this time discarding a club from his hand.

West won with the queen, but he had nothing but spades remaining and he had to give Bramley the king of spades for his ninth trick.

This was nicely played by Bramley, but the defense could have done better. West should unblock his queen of hearts when Bramley ruffs a heart,

85 Tree on South Carolina’s flag 88 “In summary ... “ 90 Government Grant?

91 Simu of “Barbie” 92 Overseas 93 Hanging in the theater 95 Put off 96 Really get into a role 97 Airline that grew from a crop-dusting

SUBJECT: HISTORICAL PEOPLE (e.g., Explorer in the service of Spain who reached the Americas in 1492.

Answer: Christopher Columbus.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL 1. American president who led the Union during the Civil War. Answer________ 2. Emperor whose codification of laws still forms the basis of French civil law.

Answer________ 3. Indian nationalist and spiritual leader who developed the practice of nonviolent disobedience.

Answer________ 4. He commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Answer________ 5. King of Macedonia who overthrew the Persian Empire.

Answer________

and then East must rise with his jack when Bramley leads the third heart from dummy.

Fancy footwork by East-West, but it would defeat the contract.

Would you have found the winning defense?

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny. 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency

ANSWERS TO ALL PUZZLES ARE ON NEXT PAGE

GRADUATE LEVEL 6. Former South African prisoner who became the nation’s first democratically elected president.

Answer________ 7. Physicist who formulated the special theory of relativity.

Answer________

8. Roman military and political leader who defeated Pompey and became dictator.

Answer________ 9. His theory of gravity was supposedly inspired by the sight of a falling apple.

Answer________ 10. Charismatic U.S. civil rights leader who campaigned against segregation. (1929-1968) Answer________ PH.D. LEVEL 11. French chemist (born in Poland) who won two Nobel prizes.

Answer________ 12. Playwright and poet who is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language.

Answer________ 13. This Italian painter, sculptor and scientist was the most versatile genius of the Italian Renaissance.

Answer________ 14. This Egyptian queen was noted for her beauty and charisma.

Answer________ 15. He was the founder of modern communism.

Answer________

zodiaC SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) A change will rejuvenate you. Take what you enjoy doing to the next level and look for opportunities to use your skills to improve your performance, lifestyle and prospects.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Put your energy where it counts, and you’ll make an impression on someone who has something to offer you in return. Don’t settle for less when you can have more.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Don’t hesitate to host a gathering, but be smart about it and get everyone to pitch in

and help. You don’t want to be too tired to enjoy yourself. Say no to people asking for donations.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Discipline will pay off, and the results you get will make you feel good about helping others. Participation is the name of the game, so don’t sit back when you have so much to offer.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Take time to rest, rejuvenate and pamper yourself. The festive season can be draining if you take on too much financial, physical or emotional debt. Take charge of your happiness and enjoy yourself.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Stretch your imagination and delve into something intriguing. Look for opportunities in your area of expertise and community, and you’ll discover an opening that reflects your interests.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Discuss your thoughts and plans with someone who understands your situation.

Knowing you have options will make it easier to let go of burdens you carry out of guilt.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Do your best, and it won’t go unnoticed. How you delegate tasks and take care of

time-sensitive situations will give you an advantage over anyone trying to horn in.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Take the liberty of asking questions. Let your charisma shine through and your unique approach to life captivate the imagination of those you deal with.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) It’s best to listen, absorb and observe. The way you handle family dynamics and treat those with whom you share space, expenses and plans will affect how your festive season plays out.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) You can’t please everyone. Too many prom-

ises will lead to exhaustion. Offer to do only what you can, and walk away from demanding individuals trying to take advantage of you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Travel, interact and share with people you find mentally stimulating. Life is about quality, not quantity. Trust your instincts and set aside time to do what makes you happy.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

dustin / by Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker

Answers to puzzles super quiz 1. Abraham Lincoln. 2. Napoleon Bonaparte.

3. Mahatma Gandhi. 4. George Washington.

5. Alexander the Great. 6. Nelson Mandela.

7. Albert Einstein. 8. Julius Caesar. 9. Isaac Newton. 10. Martin Luther King Jr. 11. Marie Curie. 12. William Shakespeare. 13. Leonardo da Vinci. 14. Cleopatra. 15. Karl Marx.

SCORING: 24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points — honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Cryptoquote Answer Saturday's Cryptoquote: I used to be Snow White, but I drifted. — Mae West

word GAme Answer cache cachet catch chalet chat cheat cholate cleat cloche clot cloth clothe coach coal coat coca cochlea

coco cocoa coho cola cole colt cool coot cote hale halo halt hate heal heat helot hole

hoot hotel oath ocelot oleo lace latch late lath lathe leach loath loathe locate loot loth ache

achoo aloe alto taco talc tale teach teal tech thole tole tool each echo etch

sudoKu Answer jumble Answer

Crossword Answers

jeFF mACnelly’s shoe / by Gary Brookins & Susie MacNelly

sCrAbble Answers

FoXtrot / by Bill Amend

wuzzles Answers

Ken Ken Answers

hidAto Answers