The Times-Picayune 12-22-2025

PELICANS HOST MAVS, LOOK TO KEEP WIN STREAK GOING 1C

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OPSO cuts would make work ‘impossible,’ sheriff warns City’s proposed budget slashes jail operations funding

BY JOSEPH CRANNEY Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

In their final game at the Caesars Superdome this season, the Saints were in the unfamiliar position of being big favorites against the New York Jets.

They reacted nicely, using the first 300-yard passing game in the career of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, right, and Chris Olave’s 148 receiving yards and two touchdowns to carve up the Jets in the second half. The defense was especially dominant, sacking Jets quarterback Brady Cook eight times and forcing two turnovers. The Saints (5-10) suddenly have won three straight and will end the season with two road games. ä SEE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE SAINTS GAME. PAGE 1C

U.S. seizes another oil tanker in Caribbean Sea Trump intensifies targeting of Venezuelan government vessels

BY AAMER MADHANI

WEATHER HIGH 74 LOW 59 PAGE 6B

ä See CUTS, page 4A

Insurers seem uninterested in dropping policyholders via new law Lone company taking advantage of repeal of the ‘three-year rule’

BY SAM KARLIN

Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday was pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea as the Trump administration appeared to be intensifying its targeting of such vessels connected to the Venezuelan government.

The pursuit of the tanker, which was confirmed by a U.S. official briefed on the operation, comes after the U.S. administration announced Saturday it had seized a tanker for the second time in less than two weeks.

The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the ongoing operation and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Sunday’s pursuit involved “a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion.”

A 20% cut for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office in the city of New Orleans’ 2026 budget would worsen “already dangerous” staffing shortages for the troubled agency and make it “impossible” to operate a constitutional jail, Sheriff Susan Hutson said in a scathing court filing last week.

Hutson has asked the federal judge overseeing the jail’s 12-year-long consent decree to block the cuts from being implemented, arguing they “abandon” the city’s obligation under court orders to adequately fund the jail.

The budget reduces the city’s funding for the jail’s day-today operations to $32.8 million, an amount that Hutson warned would not be enough to cover OPSO’s personnel alone. She es- Hutson timates that the Sheriff’s Office needs at least another $44.5 million in operating expenses for next year, too.

The city’s budget also “omits any funding whatsoever” for Phase III, the jail’s court-ordered mental health wing that’s supposed to open in the third quarter of 2026.

“It is impossible — not merely difficult — for OPSO to meet constitutional obligations when personnel costs exceed the appropriation by several million dollars and total jail operations exceed the appropriation by even more,” Hutson’s Chief of Staff John Williams wrote in the court filing.

Staff writer

ma-flagged vessel called Centuries targeted what the White House described as a “falsely flagged vessel operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil.”

The Coast Guard, with assistance from the Navy, seized a sanctioned tanker called Skipper on Dec. 10, another part of

Louisiana lawmakers passed a controversial law last year that gave insurance companies more leeway to drop policyholders, part of a fierce debate over how to tame ever-rising homeowners insurance rates that have reached crisis levels.

Consumer advocates and Democrats warned at the time that the state could expect mass cancellations of policies, exacerbating a crisis that has already hammered Louisiana homeowners.

Insurance executives and Republicans, meanwhile, argued the change was needed to bring Louisiana more in line with other states and to invite competition into the market.

New data shows little has changed after the state repealed the policy known as the “threeyear rule,” which banned insurers from dropping

ä See TANKER, page 4A

ä See INSURERS, page 5A

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATIAS DELACROIX

Evana, an oil tanker, is docked at El Palito port in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, on Sunday.

The official said the vessel was flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.

The Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the U.S. Coast Guard, deferred questions about the operation to the White House, which did not offer comment on the operation.

Saturday’s predawn seizure of a Pana-

Classified .....................7D Living............................1D Opinion ........................4B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-6D Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C Deaths .........................3B Nation-World................2A

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2A ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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FROM WIRE REPORTS

Israel’s Cabinet OKs 19 West Bank settlements

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s Cabinet has approved a proposal for 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, the farright finance minister said Sunday, as the government pushes ahead with a construction binge in the territory that further threatens the possibility of a Palestinian state.

That brings the total number of new settlements over the past few years to 69, a record, according to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has pushed a settlement expansion agenda in the West Bank. The latest ones include two that were previously evacuated during a 2005 disengagement plan.

The approval increases the number of settlements in the West Bank by nearly 50% during the current government’s tenure.

In 2022, there were 141 settlements across the West Bank. After the latest approval, there are 210, according to Peace Now, an anti-settlement watchdog group.

Settlements are widely considered illegal under international law. Smotrich’s office said the Cabinet approval came Dec. 11 and that the development had been classified until now.

The approval comes as the U.S. pushes Israel and Hamas to move ahead with the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which took effect Oct. 10. The U.S.-brokered plan calls for a possible “pathway” to a Palestinian state, something the settlements are aimed at preventing.

The Cabinet decision included a retroactive legalization of some previously established settlement outposts or neighborhoods of existing settlements, and the creation of settlements on land where Palestinians were evacuated, the Finance Ministry said. Settlements can range in size from a single dwelling to a collection of high-rises.

The ministry said two of the settlements in the latest approval are Kadim and Ganim, which were two of the four West Bank settlements dismantled in 2005, as part of Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. There have been multiple attempts to resettle them after Israel’s government in March 2023 repealed a 2005 act that evacuated the four outposts and barred Israelis from reentering the areas.

Power restored to most in S.F. after big outage Power was restored Sunday morning to the bulk of the 130,000 homes and businesses in San Francisco impacted by a massive outage a day earlier that caused major disruptions.

The Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s outage map showed more than 16,000 customers remained without power. PG&E said earlier its crews were working Sunday to restore electricity in several neighborhoods and small areas of downtown San Francisco following Saturday’s outage.

PG&E said it could not provide a precise timeframe for when the power would be fully restored.

The outage left a large swath of the northern part of the city without power that began to grow in size. At its peak, the outage represented roughly onethird of the utility company’s customers in the city.

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U.S.: Ukraine talks ‘productive’

White House envoy, European representatives continue peace negotiations in Fla.

By The Associated Press A White House envoy said Sunday he held “productive and constructive” talks in Florida with Ukrainian and European representatives to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine.

Posting on social media, Steve Witkoff said the talks aimed at aligning on a shared strategic approach between Ukraine, the United States and Europe.

“Our shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine’s recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity. Peace must be not only a cessation of hostilities, but also a dignified foundation for a stable future,” U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy said.

The talks are part of the Trump administration’s monthslong push for peace. Trump has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end

the war, but his efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands

by Moscow and Kyiv. 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.

Witkoff’s assessment comes as negotiations have been proceeding with Russia as well. A Kremlin envoy said Saturday that the talks were pressing on “constructively” in Florida.

“The discussions are proceeding constructively. They began earlier and will continue today, and will also continue tomorrow,” Kirill Dmitriev told reporters in Miami on Saturday. There were no immediate updates on the talks with Russia on Sunday.

Dmitriev met with Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

For Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram Sunday that diplomatic efforts were “moving forward quite quickly, and our team in Florida has been working with the American side.”

The Kremlin denied Sunday that trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. were under discussion, after Zelenskyy said Saturday that Washington had proposed the idea of three-way discussions.

“At present, no one has seriously discussed this initiative, and to my knowledge it is not being prepared,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said, according to Russian state news agencies.

In Ukraine, the country’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets on Sunday accused Russian forces of forcibly removing about 50 Ukrainian civilians from the Ukrainian Sumy border region to

Russian territory.

Writing on Telegram, he said that Russian forces illegally detained the residents in the village of Hrabovske on Thursday, before moving them to Russia on Saturday.

Lubinets said he contacted Russia’s human rights commissioner, requesting information on the civilians’ whereabouts and conditions, and demanding their immediate return to Ukraine.

The French presidency on Sunday welcomed Putin’s willingness to speak with President Emmanuel Macron, saying it would decide how to proceed “in the coming days.”

“As soon as the prospect of a ceasefire and peace negotiations becomes clearer, it becomes useful again to speak with Putin,” Macron’s office said in a statement.

“It is welcome that the Kremlin publicly agrees to this approach.”

Multiple gunmen open fire at pub in S. Africa, killing 9

BY MICHELLE GUMEDE and ALFONSO NQUNJANA Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANTHONy UPTON

People celebrate the winter solstice sunrise Sunday at Stonehenge, a world-famous prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, England.

Thousands cheer sunrise on winter solstice at Stonehenge

By The Associated Press LONDON — Thousands of people cheered and danced around Stonehenge as the sun rose over the prehistoric stone circle on Sunday, the winter solstice.

The crowds, many dressed as druids and pagans, had gathered before dawn, waiting patiently in the dark and cold field in southwest England. Some sang and beat drums, while others took time to reflect among the huge stone pillars.

Many make the pilgrimage to the stone circle every summer and winter and consider it a spiritual experience. The ancient monument, erected between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago, was built to align with the movement of the sun on the solstices — key dates in the calendar for ancient farmers.

English Heritage, the organization that manages Stonehenge, said some 8,500 people celebrated Saturday at the monument

GET IN TOUCH

PA PHOTO By ANDREW MATTHEWS

People take part in the winter solstice celebrations Sunday at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. on Salisbury Plain, about 75 miles southwest of London.

It added that its livestream of the festivities drew over 242,000 views from around the world.

Sunday is the shortest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical winter. It’s the

opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of the year and summer will start.

The winter solstice is when the sun makes its shortest, lowest arc, but many celebrate it as a time of renewal because days will get a little longer every day until late June.

One of last Pearl Harbor survivors dies at 105

BY JENNIFER PELTZ and JAIMIE DING

Associated Press

World War II Navy veteran Ira “Ike” Schab, one of the dwindling number of survivors of the 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, has died. He was 105.

Daughter Kimberlee Heinrichs told The Associated Press that Schab died at home early Saturday in the presence of her and her husband.

Schab With his passing, there remain only about a dozen survivors of the surprise attack, which killed just over 2,400 troops and propelled the United States into the war.

Schab was a sailor of just 21 at the time of the attack, and for decades he rarely spoke about the experience.

But in recent years, aware that the corps of survivors was dwindling, the

BEKKERSDAL, South Africa — Nine people have died and at least 10 others were wounded after a group of gunmen carried out a shooting at a South African pub during the early hours of Sunday, authorities said.

The incident occurred in the township of Bekkersdal, 28 miles west of Johannesburg. It is the second mass shooting in South Africa in three weeks.

About 12 unknown suspects in a white minibus and a silver sedan opened fire at pub patrons at KwaNoxolo tavern, in the Tambo section of Bekkersdal and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene, according to police.

Maj. Gen. Fred Kekana, the acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, told the AP at the scene that the gunmen, some of whom wore balaclavas, had one

AK-47 rifle and several 9-millimeter pistols.

Police did not release information about the victims, but police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that an e-hailing driver was among those caught in the crossfire. She said the driver had just dropped off a client. “He was shot and killed,” she told The Associated Press.

The motive for the shooting is unknown. A manhunt for the suspects in the multiple gunshot event has been initiated by Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations in collaboration with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit.

There have been several mass shootings at bars — sometimes called shebeens or taverns in South Africa — in recent years, including a mass shooting carried out by multiple suspects in an unlicensed bar that left at least 12 people dead and 13 injured earlier this month.

centenarian made a point of traveling from his home in Beaverton, Oregon, to the annual observance at the Hawaii military base. “To pay honor to the guys that didn’t make it,” he said in 2023.

This year he did not feel well enough to attend, and less than three weeks later, he passed away.

Born July 4, 1920, in Chicago, Schab was the eldest of three brothers. He joined the Navy at 18, following in the footsteps of his father, he said in a February interview for Pacific Historic Parks.

On what began as a peaceful Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, Schab, who played the tuba in the USS Dobbin’s band, was expecting a visit from his brother, a fellow service member assigned to a nearby naval radio station. Schab had just showered and donned a clean uniform when he heard a call for fire rescue.

He went topside and saw another ship, the USS Utah, capsizing. Japanese planes roared through the air.

“We were pretty startled. Startled

and scared to death,” Schab recalled in 2023. “We didn’t know what to expect, and we knew that if anything happened to us, that would be it.”

He scurried back below deck to grab boxes of ammunition and joined a daisy chain of sailors feeding shells to an antiaircraft gun above. His ship lost three sailors, according to Navy records.

Schab spent most of the war with the Navy in the Pacific, going to the New Hebrides, now known as Vanuatu, and then the Mariana Islands and Okinawa, Japan.

After the war he studied aerospace engineering and worked on the Apollo spaceflight program as an electrical engineer for General Dynamics, helping send astronauts to the moon.

Speaking at a 2022 ceremony, Schab asked people to honor those who served at Pearl Harbor.

“Remember what they’re here for.

Remember and honor those that are left. They did a hell of a job,” he said.

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 3A

Official defends partial release of Epstein files

BY AAMER MADHANI and ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday defended the Justice Department’s decision to release just a fraction of the Jeffrey Epstein files by the congressionally mandated deadline as necessary to protect survivors of sexual abuse by the disgraced financier.

Blanche pledged that the Trump administration eventually would meet its obligation required by law. But he stressed that Blanche the department was obligated to act with caution as it goes about making public thousands of documents that can include sensitive information.

Friday’s partial release of the Epstein files has led to a new crush of criticism from Democrats who have accused the Republican ad-

ministration of trying to hide information.

Blanche called that pushback disingenuous as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to struggle with calls for greater transparency, including from members of his political base, about the government’s investigations into Epstein, who once counted Trump as well as several political leaders and business titans among his peers.

“The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply that to protect victims,” Blanche told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “So the same individuals that are out there complaining about the lack of documents that were produced on Friday are the same individuals who apparently don’t want us to protect victims.”

Blanche’s comments were the most extensive by the administration since the file dump, which included photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents. But

some of the most consequential records expected about Epstein were nowhere to be found, such as FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memos examining charging decisions. Those records could help explain how investigators viewed the case and why Epstein was allowed in 2008 to plead guilty to a relatively minor state-level prostitution charge.

Trump, who was friends with Epstein for years before the two had a falling-out, tried for months to keep the records sealed. Though Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, he has argued there is nothing to see in the files and that the public should focus on other issues.

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

But Democratic lawmakers on Sunday hammered Trump and the Justice Department for a partial

release.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., argued that the Justice Department is obstructing the implementation of the law mandating the release of the documents not because it wants to protect the Epstein victims.

“It’s all about covering up things that, for whatever reason, Donald Trump doesn’t want to go public, either about himself, other members of his family, friends, Jeffrey Epstein, or just the social, business, cultural network that he was involved in for at least a decade, if not longer,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Blanche also defended the department’s decision to remove several files related to the case from its public webpage, including a photograph showing Trump, less than a day after they were posted.

The missing files, which were available Friday but no longer accessible by Saturday, included images of paintings depicting nude women, and one showed a series of photographs along a credenza and in drawers. In that image, in-

side a drawer among other photos, was a photograph of Trump, alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Epstein’s longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Blanche said the documents were removed because they also showed victims of Epstein.

Blanche said that Trump photo and the other documents will be reposted once redactions are made to protect survivors.

“It has nothing to do with President Trump,” Blanche said. “There are dozens of photos of President Trump already released to the public seeing him with Mr. Epstein.”

The thousands of Epstein-related records posted publicly offer the most detailed look yet at nearly two decades worth of government scrutiny of Epstein’s sexual abuse of young women and underage girls. Yet Friday’s release, replete with redactions, has not dulled the clamor for information given how many records had yet to be released and because some of the materials had already been made public.

Turning Point conference showcases GOP unity, discord

BY JONATHAN J. COOPER and SEJAL GOVINDARAO Associated Press

PHOENIX — Vice President JD Vance said Sunday the conservative movement should be open to everyone as long as they “love America,” declining to condemn a streak of antisemitism that has divided the Republican Party and roiled the opening days of Turning Point USA’s annual convention.

After a long weekend of debates about whether the movement should exclude figures such as bigoted podcaster Nick Fuentes, Vance came down firmly against “purity tests.”

“I didn’t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to de-platform,” Vance said during the convention’s closing speech.

Turning Point leader Erika Kirk, who took the helm after the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, has endorsed Vance as a potential successor to President Donald Trump, a helpful nod from an influential group with an army of volunteers.

But the tension on display at the four-day gathering foreshadowed the treacherous political waters that Vance, or anyone else who seeks the next Republican presidential nomination, will need to navigate in the coming years.

Top voices in the “Make America Great Again” movement are jockeying for influence as Republicans begin considering a future without Trump, and there is no clear path to holding his coalition together.

Defining post-Trump GOP The Republican Party’s identity has been intertwined with Trump for a decade, but he’s constitutionally ineligible to run for reelection despite his musings about serving a third term.

Tucker Carlson said people are wondering, “who gets the machinery when the president exits the scene?”

So far, it looks like settling that question will come with a lot of fighting among conservatives. The Turning Point conference featured arguments about antisemitism, Israel and environmental regulations, not to mention rivalries between leading commentators.

Ben Shapiro, co-founder of the conservative media outlet Daily Wire, used his speech on the conference’s opening night to denounce “charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty.”

“These people are frauds and they are grifters and they do not deserve your time,” Shapiro said. He specifically called out Carlson for hosting Fuentes for a friendly interview on his podcast.

Carlson brushed off the criticism when he took the stage barely an hour later, and he said the idea of a Republican “civil war” was “totally fake.”

“There are people who are mad at JD Vance, and they’re stirring up a lot of

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JON CHERRy

Erika Kirk greets Vice President JD Vance during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025 Sunday in Phoenix. this in order to make sure he doesn’t get the nomination,” he said. Carlson described Vance as “the one person” who subscribes to the “core idea of the Trump coalition,” which Carlson said was “America first.”

Turning Point spokesperson Andrew Kolvet framed the discord as a healthy debate about the future of the movement, an uncomfortable but necessary process of finding consensus.

“We’re not hive-minded commies,” he wrote on social media. “Let it play out.”

Vance: ‘Christian nation’ Vance acknowledged the controversies that dominated the Turning Point conference, but he did not define any boundaries for the conservative movement besides patriotism.

“We don’t care if you’re

white or black, rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, controversial or a little bit boring, or somewhere in between,” he said.

Vance didn’t name anyone, but his comments came in the midst of an increasingly contentious debate over whether the right should give a platform to commentators espousing antisemitic views, particularly Fuentes, whose followers see themselves as working to preserve America’s white, Christian identity. Fuentes has a growing audience, as does top-rated podcaster Candace Owens, who routinely shares antisemitic conspiracy theories.

“We have far more important work to do than canceling each other,” he said.

Vance ticked off what he said were the accomplishments of the administration

as it approaches the oneyear mark, noting its efforts at the border and on the economy. He emphasized efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies, drawing applause by saying they had been relegated to the “dustbin of history.”

“In the United States of America, you don’t have to apologize for being white anymore,” he said.

Vance also said the U.S. “always will be a Christian nation,” adding that “Christianity is America’s creed, the shared moral language from the Revolution to the Civil War and beyond.”

Those comments resonated with Isaiah White-Diller, an 18 year-old from Yuma, Arizona, who said he would support Vance if he runs for president.

“I have my right to be Christian here, I have my right to say whatever I want,” White-Diller said.

TPUSA backs Vance

Vance hasn’t disclosed his future plans, but Erika Kirk said Thursday that Turning Point wanted Vance “elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible.” The next president will be the 48th in U.S. history.

Turning Point is a major force on the right, with a nationwide volunteer network that can be especially helpful in early primary states, when candidates rely on grassroots energy to build momentum. In a surprise appearance, rapper Nicki Minaj spoke effusively about Trump and Vance.

Vance was close with Charlie Kirk, and they supported each other over the years. After Kirk’s assassination on a college campus in Utah, the vice president flew out on Air Force Two to collect Kirk’s remains and bring them home to

Arizona. The vice president helped uniformed service members carry the casket to the plane.

Emily Meck, 18, from Pine City, New York, said she appreciated Vance making space for a wide variety of views. “We are freethinkers, we’re going to have these disagreements, we’re going to have our own thoughts,” Meck said.

Trump has spoken highly of both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential successors, even suggesting they could form a future Republican ticket.

Rubio has said he would support Vance.

Asked in August whether Vance was the “heir apparent,” Trump said “most likely.”

“It’s too early, obviously, to talk about it, but certainly he’s doing a great job, and he would be probably favorite at this point,” he said.

4A ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Thousands in Australia gather to mourn victims of attack Two gunmen targeted Jewish festival, killing 15 people one week ago at Sydney beach

BY ROD McGUIRK Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia — Thousands of mourners gathered under tight police security at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday evening to mark a week since two gunmen targeting a Jewish festival killed 15 people. Since then, Australian governments have been galvanized into action on countering antisemitism and tightening already strict national gun controls.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his predecessors John Howard and Scott Morrison, and Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who represents Australia’s head of state King Charles III, were among the dignitaries at the commemoration that drew more than 10,000 people.

“This has to be the nadir of antisemitism in our country,” New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies President David Ossip told the crowd. “This has to be the moment when light starts to eclipse the darkness.”

The crowd booed Albanese when Ossip acknowledged his presence.

TANKER

Continued from page 1A the shadow fleet of tankers that the U.S. says operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo. It was not even flying a nation’s flag when it was seized by the Coast Guard.

President Donald Trump, after that first seizure, said that the U.S. would carry out a “blockade” of Venezuela.

It all comes as Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric toward Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

This past week Trump demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a

CUTS

Continued from page 1A “Without Court intervention, the fiscal year 2026 budget guarantees a breakdown of constitutional conditions,” Williams added. He cited a 2016 court order instructing the city to “act prudently upon” the sheriff’s budget requests “so that compliance with the Consent Judgment can be attained.”

Outgoing Mayor LaToya Cantrell initially proposed the cuts to the Sheriff’s Office, and Mayor-elect Helena Moreno kept them in her heavily revised budget.

Cantrell vetoed the council’s approval of Moreno’s version on Dec. 12, but Hutson said in court filings it’s “more likely than not” that OPSO’s

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK BAKER

People attend a ceremony to mark the National Day of Reflection for victims and survivors Sunday at Bondi Beach in Sydney following the shooting on Dec. 14.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley, who had said that a conservative government led by her would reverse a decision made by Albanese’s center-left Labor Party government this year to recognize a Palestinian state, was cheered.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin

Netanyahu has lashed out at Albanese over the attack on the Hannukah celebration, saying “your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on the antisemitic fire.” Netanyahu has repeatedly sought to link widespread calls for a Palestinian state, and criticism of Israel’s mili-

tary offensive in Gaza following Hamas’ 2023 attack, to growing incidents of antisemitism worldwide.

Images of the victims, aged 10 to 87, were projected at the commemoration. “Waltzing Matilda” was sung in honor of the youngest victim, whose Ukrainian parents

gave their Australian-born daughter what they described as the most Australian name they knew.

A widely acclaimed hero of the massacre, Ahmed al Ahmed, sent a message of support from his hospital bed. The Syrian-born immigrant was shot after wrestling a shotgun from one of the gunmen.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Today I stand with you, my brothers and sisters,” he wrote.

Beyond the famous beach, people around Australia united with Sydney’s stricken Jewish community by lighting candles and observing one minute of silence at their homes at 6:47 p.m. to remember the moment the massacre unfolded. Television and radio networks across Australia also fell silent.

The federal and New South Wales state governments declared Sunday a national Day of Reflection to mark Australia’s worst mass shooting since 35 died in Tasmania state in 1996.

Albanese had earlier announced a review of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies following the attack, which was inspired by the Islamic State group.

Indigenous leaders held a traditional smoking ceremony on Sunday morning at the waterfront Bondi Pavilion, where an impromptu memorial has grown as flowers and heartfelt messages have accumulated. The memorial is to be cleared on Monday.

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 said in a message Sunday on Telegram that Venezuela has spent months “denouncing, challenging and defeating a campaign of aggression that goes from psychological ter-

rorism to corsairs attacking oil tankers.”

He added: “We are ready to accelerate the pace of our deep revolution!”

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has been critical of Trump’s Venezuela policy, called the tanker seizures a “provocation and a prelude to war.”

“Look, at any point in time, there are 20, 30 governments around the world that we don’t like that are either socialist or communist or have human rights violations,” Paul said on ABC’s’ “This Week.” “But it isn’t the job of the American soldier to be the policeman of the world.”

The targeting of tankers comes as Trump has ordered the Defense Department to carry out a series of attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean

that his administration alleges are smuggling fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the United States and beyond.

At least 104 people have been killed in 28 known strikes since early September. The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and that the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings.

Trump has repeatedly said Maduro’s days in power are numbered. 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.”

appropriation will remain. proach, a spokesperson for The City Council over- Woodfork’s transition team rode Cantrell’s budget veto said she declined to comThursday. ment.

Todd Ragusa, a spokesOther independently-run person for Moreno’s transi- agencies that rely on city tion team, said it wouldn’t funding were asked “to take interim measures,” be “prudent to fully too, as Moreno fends fund” OPSO because off what would have Hutson will be rebeen a roughly $220 placed by Sheriffmillion deficit in elect Michelle Wood2026, Ragusa said. fork in May, “risking That includes a budget challenges 19% cut to the Orin the second half of the year.” leans Parish Coro“As we have said Woodfork ner’s Office, a 32% from the beginning, cut to the Orleans this budget is a starting Parish District Attorney’s point,” Ragusa said. “Once in Office and a 20% cut to Oroffice, the Moreno adminis- leans Parish Criminal Distration will conduct regular, trict Court, per Moreno’s monthly budget check-ins proposed budget. and make adjustments as Looming troubles necessary.”

Asked if Woodfork was Hutson had complained for comfortable with that ap- years about the jail’s under-

funding before 10 detainees escaped the facility in May, making national news and prompting statewide debates about why the facility was not better secured. That episode exposed a litany of infrastructure and security breakdowns at the jail, including plumbing problems and faulty cell door locks.

Hutson borrowed $15 million for security upgrades as a stopgap measure after the escape, but the agency’s funding problems have persisted, Williams wrote in court papers.

“The jail population has remained high and continues to rise, staffing shortages have intensified, facility repairs have mounted, and the opening of Phase III requires additional personnel and service capacity,” Williams said.

Phase III is scheduled to

open around August 2026, and Hutson has said the facility could require hiring as many as 80 deputies. How exactly the city would pay for the additional staff remains an open question.

Moreno met with U.S. Judge Lance Africk and Magistrate Michael North, who oversee the jail’s consent decree, Ragusa said.

“They were made aware of the initial allocation and of the mayor-elect’s commitment to revisit OPSO’s budget in the second half of the year, once the city has a clearer financial picture and the new sheriff is in office,” Ragusa said.

“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 cam- Trump paign against Maduro, suggesting the Republican administration’s moves are at least somewhat motivated by disputes over oil investments, along with accusations of drug trafficking. Maduro Some sanctioned tankers already are diverting away from Venezuela.

U.S. oil companies dominated Venezuela’s petroleum

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fees, commissary funds and collections from the sheriff’s ad valorem tax.

In his missive to the court, Williams insisted that OPSO will have “critical cash flow problems,” beginning in January, partly as a result of the city’s shift to a monthly disbursement of the agency’s funding, rather than a onetime lump sum.

That makes employee furloughs and layoffs “unavoidable,” Hutson wrote in an all-staff memo on Dec. 5, which said “changes will begin at the start of 2026.”

The agency is already more than 200 employees short of optimal staffing levels, Williams said.

‘Cash flow problems’ Exactly how many emA little more than a third ployees may be furloughed of the jail’s budget comes or laid off is unclear. An from sources other than OPSO spokesperson didn’t city funds, including grants, respond to questions.

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Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that Trump’s use of military to mount pressure on Maduro runs contrary to Trump’s pledge to keep the United States out of unnecessary wars.

Democrats have been pressing Trump to seek congressional authorization for the military action in the Caribbean.

“We should be using sanctions and other tools at our disposal to punish this dictator who is violating the human rights of his civilians and has run the Venezuelan economy into the ground,” Kaine said. “But I’ll tell you, we should not be waging war against Venezuela. We definitely should not be waging war without a vote of Congress.”

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 5A

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CDC awards $1.6M vaccine contract to Danish university The contract did not unIt’s to be a randomized this case, Black babies — has “will be the first and likely The award is highly unusuStudy on hepatitis dergo a customary ethics re- controlled trial, with some raised ethical alarms. the only one of its kind.” al. The CDC did not announce Medical evidence is clear They said it takes advan- a research funding opportuview, The Associated Press infants given the hepatitis B B infections vaccine at birth and some not. that the vaccine protects in- tage of an unusual window of nity and invite proposals. has learned.

The Centers for Disease Children will be tracked for fants from developing liver opportunity: Guinea-Bissau The proposal was unsolicraises concerns Control and Prevention death, illness and long-term disease and an early death. doesn’t currently recom- ited and the award did not

BY MIKE STOBBE Associated Press

NEW YORK — The Trump administration has awarded a $1.6 million, no-bid contract to a Danish university to study hepatitis B vaccinations on newborns in Africa that is raising ethical concerns.

The unusual contract was awarded to scientists who have been cited by antivaccine activists and whose work has been questioned by leading public health experts. Some experts have suggested the research plan is unethical, because it will withhold vaccines that work from newborns at significant risk of infection.

INSURERS

Continued from page 1A policyholders who had been customers for three years.

Documents from the Louisiana Department of Insurance show that nearly a year after the change went into effect, only one company has filed the paperwork necessary to cancel policyholders who were previously protected by the three-year rule.

That company, Foremost Insurance, an affiliate of Farmers Insurance, canceled under 5% of its threeyear-rule policies, meaning it doesn’t need approval from the Insurance Department.

Insurers are only required to notify the department, but do not need approval, if they want to cancel policies under the three-year-rule.

Foremost, which has about 2% of Louisiana’s home insurance market, has also raised rates on several thousand homeowner policies in the past year. Spokesperson Luis Sahagun said the increase reflected the risk level of the homes, along with inflation and other factors.

“As part of an ongoing risk management program, we have notified LDI of our plan to nonrenew a small portion of our existing customers,” Sahagun said.

It’s not clear why other companies are not yet taking advantage of the law, and some could still cancel policyholders in the coming years.

State Farm and SureChoice, the two largest insurers doing business in the state, declined to comment.

But the lack of interest in using the new law is the latest indication that Louisiana’s insurance crisis has, for the most part, remained stubbornly unchanged more than four years after Hurricane Ida sent the market into turmoil.

State Rep. Gabe Firment, who sponsored the law repealing the three-year rule, said he wasn’t aware that only one company had used it so far. Still, he said the law was part of a package of

awarded the grant to a research team at the University of Southern Denmark that has been lauded by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to a federal notice posted this week.

One of the team’s leaders is Christine Stabell Benn, a consultant for a Kennedyappointed committee that recently voted to stop recommending a dose of hepatitis B vaccine for all U.S. newborns.

The study is to begin early next year in Guinea-Bissau, an impoverished West African nation where hepatitis B infection is common. The researchers are funded for five years to study 14,000 newborns.

developmental outcomes.

Most of the children will be followed for less than two years to look for side effects, but the first 500 enrolled will be followed for five years to look for behavior and brain development problems.

There is no placebo involved, according to a copy of the study protocol prepared earlier this year that was obtained by the AP. Hepatitis B can be passed from an infected mother to a baby. It also can be spread by other infected people a baby comes in contact with.

Research and widespread medical consensus holds that the hepatitis B vaccine protects newborns, so withholding it from some babies — in

The well-documented infection risk far outweighs hypothetical concerns about side effects, said Dr. Boghuma K. Titanji, an Emory University infectious diseases doctor.

She called the study “unconscionable,” and said it likely will exacerbate existing vaccine hesitancy in Africa and elsewhere.

“There’s so much potential for this to be a harmful study,” said Titanji, who is from Cameroon.

Benn did not respond to an email seeking comment about the proposal. An automatic response said she is out of the office until early January.

But, in a statement, the research team said the study

changes having a positive impact on the market. He noted that even if companies aren’t canceling policyholders, they benefit from new policies not being subject to the threeyear rule.

Firment, a Pollock Republican, said homeowners should shop around with different insurers and agents, saying some find lower rates by comparing policies.

“Things have improved slower than what we hoped,” he said. “But if you look at the affordability crisis across all sectors … that’s impacting people. If groceries are more and gas is more and electricity is more, then man, when insurance is still so high, it just hurts that much more.”

homeowners from having to pay more after being canceled by their insurer.

John Ford, spokesperson for the Insurance Department, said the three-year rule hurt Louisiana’s market by making insurers and reinsurers hesitant to invest here.

And he noted that Louisiana was the only state with such a law.

“Insurers move slowly, and the three-year rule nonrenewal plan submission process is new as of this year,” Ford said. “We may see more insurers go through that process as they learn more about it, but now that insurers can effectively manage their risk, they are likely more comfortable with their overall books of business.”

ing years, he said.

“A lot of people were scared there would be a wholesale dropping of clients,” he said. “It’s just something that offers insurance companies more ability to manage their risk.”

Andreanecia Morris, head of the nonprofit HousingNOLA, lobbied against the repeal of the three-year rule in 2024, warning it would hurt policyholders.

Now, Morris said the data showing only one company has canceled policies under the new law shows the threeyear rule “was not the problem.”

Instead, Louisiana should dedicate more funding to building stronger roofs, which have led to lower insurance premiums for thousands of people and gotten them off the rolls of Citizens, she said.

“Ending three-year rule, ending consumer protections,” she said. “Are we going to see in 2026 a Legislature that’s ready to take the next step?”

Flurry of changes After he took office in 2024, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple pushed for a slew of changes to address the state’s “heavy-handed” regulations on insurance companies. Temple, a Republican, is a former insurance executive.

His predecessor, Jim Donelon, championed the threeyear rule as a way to help ensure continued coverage for policyholders who otherwise could be dropped. Donelon also used tax incentives to lure smaller insurers to the state, but many of them went belly-up after the particularly busy 2020 and 2021 hurricane seasons.

The Legislature, which is dominated by Republicans, passed Firment’s bill in 2024 to phase out the three-year rule on a largely party-line vote. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, who took a back seat on homeowners insurance issues last year, signed the bill into law, though he has since said the pro-industry reforms aren’t working.

The bill went into effect in January 2025. By then, lawmakers had also suspended the 10% surcharge adding to the cost of homeowners’ insurance with Citizens, the insurer of last resort. Temple and other Republican leaders embraced the move to bring down the costs of Citizens in part to prevent an influx of

Little change to crisis Meanwhile, though, homeowners’ insurance rates have continued rising since Temple’s package of bills became law. While the Insurance Department recently touted SureChoice’s decision to cut rates for homeowners, that same company had raised rates by a larger amount months earlier. State Farm raised rates this fall, citing hurricane risk. And through November, homeowners across the state saw an average rate hike of about 5%.

And Landry’s strategy — a controversial new law that allows Temple to reject “excessive” rate increases — has also not made a difference. Temple has vowed not to use the new authority, saying it would harm the market.

Rodney Braxton, head of the industry group Insurance Council of Louisiana, said insurers likely don’t feel the need to cancel more policies under the three-year rule because the market is stabilizing.

But while Louisiana hasn’t had a major hurricane in four years, he added that insurance costs go up every year, regardless of whether there’s a catastrophe, because of inflation and other factors. Homeowners will likely continue to see small increases in costs in the com-

go through customary review, said a CDC official with knowledge of the decision.

Department of Health and Human Services officials told CDC officials to approve it and said HHS would provide special funding for it, the CDC official said.

In private communications channels, CDC staffers were expressing outrage about the award, said the official, who is not authorized to talk about it and spoke on condition of anonymity.

mended a birth dose of the hep B vaccine, but the nation will be implementing universal vaccination of newborns in 2027.

Vaccine skeptics and opponents have suggested that all the vaccine’s possible side effects were inadequately studied before the CDC began recommending it for newborns in 1991. Public health experts counter that over more than three decades no serious side effect has been documented.

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Deputies to remain at courthouse

St. Tammany Parish president, Sheriff’s Office have temporary deal

BY BOB WARREN

Staff writer

After weeks of back and forth over funding to cover the costs of St. Tammany Parish sheriff’s deputies who provide security at the parish courthouse and other buildings, St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper’s office issued a statement Wednesday saying the Sheriff’s Office would

continue to provide courthouse security beyond the end of this year.

The announcement ends, at least temporarily, the specter of Sheriff Randy Smith pulling deputies from their courthouse security posts amid the dispute over money.

“Both St. Tammany Parish Government and Sheriff Randy Smith agree that security at the

St. Tammany Parish Justice Center is critical, and therefore the Parish and Sheriff have agreed to continue their existing courthouse security contract while they resolve the current legal dispute over the funding of courthouse security,” the statement said. “Accordingly, security will continue to be provided by the Sheriff at the Justice Center in January as the parties work to

resolve the dispute.”

Warning of public endangerment and a disruption of court activities, the parish government sued the Sheriff’s Office earlier this month, asking a judge to require that the Sheriff’s Office keep its deputies at the courthouse.

Michael Vinsanau, a parish government spokesperson, said the agreement just covers the

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In a statement his office released later Wednesday, Smith said he agreed to continue to provide security until a scheduled Jan. 27 hearing in the lawsuit. “Security will be provided for the current contract amount

ä See COURTHOUSE, page 2B

Council changes rules after IG report Appointees no longer need to own property in Jefferson Parish

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

The Jefferson Parish Council has ruled that members of its zoning board no longer have to own property in the parish after the inspector general alerted them that a recent appointee was in violation of the rule.

Jefferson Parish Inspector General Kim Chatelain published an 18-page report Wednesday saying that the Jefferson Parish Council broke its own rules last September when the council approved the appointment of Simeon Dickerson to the Planning Advisory Board because he did not own property in Jefferson Parish. After receiving notice from the Inspector General’s Office of the violation, the report states, the council moved to nix the requirement altogether, rendering the investigation largely moot.

Planning Advisory Board members now must only reside and vote in Jefferson Parish in order to qualify for the board.

Jefferson Parish Council member Byron Lee, who nominated Dickerson to replace Che’ Jones, said the requirement was enacted over a decade ago to remove members of the Planning Advisory Board at the time “for political reasons” and is now unnecessary.

“I felt very strongly that the way that ordinance was constituted was to punish people who were and could be good people to serve on that board,” Lee said.

Lee originally nominated Girod Jackson to the role, but the inspector general alerted Lee the day before the Sept. 17 council meeting that Jackson also did not own property in the parish and recommended the council defer the vote, the report states.

The council instead amended the resolution at the meeting to appoint Dickerson, who also did not own property in the parish.

Lee said the inspector general had also found that another member currently serving on the Planning Advisory Board did not own property in the parish but did not include it in the report.

In a written response to the investigation dated Oct. 10, the Parish Council said it would direct the Research and Budget Analysis Department to vet all nominees moving forward.

Later that month, the council approved a resolution requesting the Planning Department and

ä See COUNCIL, page 2B

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

MERRy & BRIGHT ABOVE: Visitors walk through a lit corridor at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans on Saturday.

LEFT: Sarah Robichaux kisses Aurora Robichaux while looking at the lights.

N.O. Police Department fires 2 veteran officers Men both have histories of suspensions, arrests

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

The New Orleans Police Department confirmed two senior police officers were terminated Thursday following disciplinary hearings.

Christopher Jennings, a 16-year NOPD veteran, and Reginald Koeller, a 21-year NOPD veteran, were both dismissed.

“The department takes allegations of misconduct seriously

and addresses them through established disciplinary processes to maintain public trust,” Officer Reese Harper, NOPD’s director of communications, said in an emailed statement. “The NOPD remains committed to accountability, professionalism and upholding the highest standards of conduct.”

The NOPD declined to furnish details about the terminations, citing the law and departmental policy.

Both former officers had lengthy disciplinary histories and prior arrests. Jennings was booked in May 2024 on accusations of theft and malfeasance tied to payroll fraud after being

paid for Walmart details he allegedly did not work. Koeller was arrested in April 2022 on counts of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and illegally carrying a weapon while in possession of the drug.

The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office accepted Jennings’ 13 charges following a screening review — six involving theft, six for first-degree injuring public record and one for malfeasance — and refused them in March, court records show. A source familiar with the case said the District Attorney’s Office referred prosecution to the U.S. Department of Justice and refused the state case. A formal federal referral was made

March 18.

Jennings’ disciplinary history includes suspensions for use of force in 2015, failure to report misconduct in 2016 and neglect of duty in 2021. He was also the subject of payroll fraud investigations in 2023 and 2024.

Koeller was arrested after a tipster told NOPD’s Public Integrity Bureau that Koeller failed to surrender a Glock Model 17 discarded by a subject during a chase.

Police said Koeller kept the pistol for what he called “his collection.”

A joint NOPD-FBI search of Koeller’s Little Woods apartment

ä See NOPD, page 2B

2B ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

Tesla driver arrested 1 dead, another booked after NOPD in fatal dirt bike crash Plum Orchard shooting

Continued from page 1B

Staff report

A New Orleans man has been arrested in a crash that killed a dirt bike rider Saturday in the Plum Orchard area, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

NOPD officers arrested Donte Harris, 26, in the crash, which occurred around 4:36 p.m. at the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Dodt Avenue.

Officers responding to the scene said a dirt bike and a Tesla had collided at the intersection. The unidentified dirt bike rider suf-

fered serious injuries and was transported by Emergency Medical Services to a hospital, where he later died.

Initial police reports indicate the Tesla was traveling east on Chef Menteur and attempting to make a left turn onto Dodt when it was struck by the dirt bike, which was heading west on Chef Menteur.

Detectives arrested Harris, the driver of the Tesla, and he was booked into the Orleans Parish jail on a count of vehicular homicide.

An investigation into the cause of the crash ongoing.

Staff report

A New Orleans man has been arrested in a fatal shooting Saturday afternoon in the Plum Orchard area, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

Homer Gross, 27, is accused of pulling the trigger in a shooting that left one man dead around 1:58 p.m. in the 4600 block of Wilson Avenue.

Officers responding

to reports of a shooting found the unresponsive man inside a residence.

Police said the victim had suffered at least one gunshot wound and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Detectives identified Gross as the gunman, though they didn’t say what evidence led to his arrest. He was arrested the same day and booked into the Orleans Parish jail on a count of

second-degree murder, police said.

The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office will identify the victim and determine the official cause of death after an autopsy is completed and next of kin is notified.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the NOPD at (504) 6585300 or Crimestoppers anonymously at (504) 822-1111.

Lake Charles veteran continues to make a difference

11 years after his death, man still giving back through fund

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

A Lake Charles electrician, outdoorsman, veteran and weekend chef is still making an impact on southwest Louisiana 11 years after his death.

Throughout his life, Wayne Simmons, a U.S. Air Force veteran, lived modestly and accumulated more funds than most individuals could imagine, according to a release from the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana.

When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Simmons decided to use his

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana gives $20,102.35 from the Wayne Simmons Endowment to the Salvation Army on Dec. 11. money to support others after he was gone. So, Simmons met with Reed Mendelson, his longtime financial adviser, and discussed ways he could leave gifts to

causes close to his heart.

“I suggested to him, because of my involvement with the Community Foundation, that instead of giving a one-time gift of hundreds

of thousands of dollars, he could create a fund that would give to these charities forever,” Mendelson said in the release.

Mendelson suggested that Simmons establish an endowment fund, a charitable fund where donations are invested and earnings are distributed annually.

Wholeheartedly embracing the idea, Simmons used his more than $1 million in life savings to create the Wayne Simmons Endowment Fund to benefit the organizations that held deep personal meaning for him. It officially took effect when he died in March 2014.

In December, the fund celebrated its 11th year of annual gifting and donated the largest endowments in its history.

The fund annually supports The Salvation Army, a

place where Simmons’ parents frequently donated; the American Cancer Society, reflecting his battle against cancer; and the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, which had a special place in his heart, the release states.

On Dec. 11, each of the three nonprofit organizations received $20,102.35 as representatives from the charities gathered to receive their checks in honor of Simmons.

The donation is the largest to date from the endowment for each of the charities.

“Wayne Simmons’ story is a testament to how ordinary people can create extraordinary impact,” the release states. “Through thoughtful planning and a deep commitment to his community, his legacy lives on, improving lives year after year after year.”

COUNCIL

Continued from page 1B Planning Advisory Board study parish ordinances and the unified development code “with the intent of evaluating and updating the qualifications for members of the Planning and Advisory Board.”

The report also says this is a repeat finding from a 2018 investigation under Chatelain’s predecessor, David McClintock, that found a planning board appointee was neither a resident nor a voter of Jefferson Parish and recommended changes to prevent recurrence.

“The failure to heed those recommendations reflects a pattern of noncompliance and disregard for codified appointment requirements, undermining public confidence in the integrity of Parish governance,” the new report states.

Under new council rules, the Inspector General’s Office is required to give a 30-day response period to any subjects of any public letters, investigations or audits before their publication.

The Planning Advisory Board consists of seven members, each nominated by a Jefferson Parish Council member and approved by the entire body. Members serve fouryear terms and receive a $150 per diem for each board meeting, the report states.

Email Lara Nicholson at lnicholson@theadvocate. com.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

St. Tammany Parish sheriff’s deputies provide security at the parish courthouse in Covington on Wednesday,.

and the Parish GovParish government is 6 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

COURTHOUSE Slidell ernment Complex near required to help fund The agreement an-

Continued from page 1B

plus a 5-percent increase,” Smith’s statement said.

The Sheriff’s Office had told the parish government in October that it would terminate contracts with the parish to provide security at the courthouse, the Towers Building in

Mandeville, effective Jan. 1.

The Sheriff’s Office and parish government have been locked in a dispute over how much money the parish must pay for courthouse security, as well as how much the parish owes the Sheriff’s Office for medical expenses for inmates at the parish jail.

REASON 93

The lack of meaningful public service journalism creates a power vacuum while leaving the community voiceless.

the jail, but the parish has struggled to find that funding, as well as money for some other criminal justice costs it must cover.

The parish has said that under a July 2024 agreement, the Sheriff’s Office provides nine deputies and three supervisors at the courthouse between

nounced Wednesday only covers security at the Justice Center. Vinsanau said starting in January, the parish has an agreement with the Slidell Police Department to provide security at the Towers Building and a private company to handle security at the Parish Government Complex.

uncovered more than 100 firearms and ammunition stored in multiple safes, as well as a prescription bottle allegedly containing crack cocaine.

However, a crime lab report revealed no illegal drugs in the evidence, according to a source familiar with the case, and the District Attorney’s Office refused charges in June 2022.

Koeller also had a long history of misconduct, with multiple suspensions and disciplinary letters for infractions ranging from failing to disclose crucial information to his supervisor to failing to report criminal damage to property.

‘Forfeited honor’ Their firings are just two of many at the NOPD this year. Other dismissed officers include Lt. Anthony Bakewell, who was fired in March after being accused of sexually harassing a fellow officer; Sgt. Michael Stalbert, fired in May after being accused of kidnapping a crime lab employee; and Officer Gerry Paul, fired in November after being accused of raping a crime scene technician.

Jennings and Koeller had been reassigned pending the outcome of their criminal and administrative investigations. NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told WDSU that in the future, officers who are criminally charged will face emergency suspension hearings.

“I am very happy to see Chief Kirkpatrick is continuing to clean house,” said whistleblower and University of New Orleans forensic science instructor Skip Gallagher, whose NOPD payroll analyses prompted internal investigations of Koeller and Jennings and also led to broader federal inquiries. “It is just a shame that the city of New Orleans continued to pay Officer Koeller over $95,000 each of these last three plus years.”

Kirkpatrick denied in October that her goal is to “clean house,” saying instead that she seeks to impose discipline to get officers “back on track” after a fair investigation. In some cases, however, findings result in termination.

“Some events are so egregious, you forfeited the honor of wearing an NOPD badge. That was your decision,” she said. “And all I’m doing is saying, ‘You forfeited the honor of that, so you will not remain here.’ ”

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New Orleans Area Deaths Barice, Eula Jacques Jr., Herman Murphy, Howard Pierre Jr., Joseph

New Orleans DW Rhodes

Jacques Jr., Herman Lake Lawn Metairie Murphy, Howard

West Bank

cousins, other relatives and friends. Relatives and friends of the family also and officers, pastors, members of Historic True Vine Baptist Church of Westwego, Paul Baptist Church of Gretna, and all neighboring churches; em‐ ployees of Kenner Police Department are invited to attend the Celebration of Life at Historic True Vine Baptist Church, 249 Sala Ave., Westwego, LA, on December 23, Tuesday, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Leander Johnson, officiat‐ ing. Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. until service time.

Interment: Restlawn Park Cemetery-Avondale, LA. To view and sign the guest‐ book, please go to www. davismortuaryservice.com.

Face masks are recom‐ mended.

Davis Mortuary Barice, Eula Robinson FH

Jacques Jr., Herman Michael

Pierre Jr., Joseph

Obituaries Barice, Eula Mae Dewitt

Eula Mae Dewitt Barice entered eternal rest at West Jefferson Medical Center on December 14, 2025, at the age of 90. She was a native of New Or‐ leans, LA and a resident of Westwego and Marrero.

Eula was a graduate of Lin‐ coln High School Class of 1953, and she was a retired cashier with Schwegmann Brothers Giant Supermar‐ ket for 30 years. She was a faithful member of Historic True Vine Baptist Church, where she served with the usher ministry. Beloved wife of 58 years to the late Willie James Barice, Sr. De‐ voted mother of Gregory Barice, Denise (Leona) Barice (the late Hazel, Jr.) Michael Barice Harris, (Fiancée Belinda) and the late Rhinell Barice, Sr., and Willie Barice, Jr. Grand‐ mother of Latoya, Ashleigh London, England, of Dashawn and Rhinell, Jr. of the late Daughter Thomas Dewitt, Sr. and Hilda Patterson Dewitt. Sis‐ ter of Charles Dewitt, Thomas Dewitt, Jr., and the late Delores Dewitt Parker Singleton. Daughter in law of the late Virginia Woods and Dan Barice. Sister-inlaw of Earl Battle and the late Florence Hawkins, and Gertrude Hill. Eula is also survived by 2 great grand‐ children, 2 great great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews,

Herman Michael Jacques Jr. departed this life on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at the age of 43. Son of Anna Encalarde-Jacques and the late Herman Michael Jacques Sr. Father of one daughter: Nakita Simmons and four sons: Herman III, Leland, Saint Bernard, Treme Jacques.

Brother of Octave Paul Jacques, II and stepsister Shomari Hill. Grandson of the late Octave and Ione Encalarde, John and Althea Jacques. Godfather of Kyle Duncan. He is also survived by four nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Relatives and friends of the family, are invited to attend a Funeral Service at D.W. Rhodes Fu‐ neral Home, 3933 Washing‐ ton Ave. on Tuesday, De‐ cember 23, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am until 11:00 am. In‐ terment: St. Louis Ceme‐ tery No. 3, New Orleans, LA. can be liveFuneral streamed at www. facebook.com/D.W.Rho desFuneralHome/live Arrangement entrusted to D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA. Please visit www.rhodesf uneral.com to sign the on‐ line guestbook, share memories and condo‐ lences with the family.

Murphy, Howard Louis

Howard Louis Murphy, age 71, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2025, surrounded by family. A devoted husband, father, and friend, he will be remembered for his sharp mind, quick wit, and deep loyalty to those he loved.

Born on October 4, 1954, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Howard graduated from De La Salle High School and went on to earn both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Loyola University New Orleans. He began his career as a television news reporter before entering the legal profession, where his calm presence and gift for clear communication became hallmarks of his work.

In 1980, Howard joined Deutsch Kerrigan in New Orleans and spent more than four decades as a litigator, defending individuals, businesses, and insurers in casualty, transportation, products liability, maritime, and insurance coverage matters. He was widely respected for his meticulous preparation, integrity, and ability to untangle complex issues, as well as for the guidance and mentoring he offered to younger lawyers.

Outside the office, Howard was happiest with his family. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Peperone Murphy, his daughters, Erin Murphy (Mark Mannheimer) and Kristen Murphy, and his beloved grand dogs, Biggie Murphy Mannheimer and Herbie Murphy. He also leaves behind his two brothers, Steve Murphy (Timmie) and Michael Murphy, sister, Lynne Murphy, sister-in-law, Barbara Murphy, and many loving nieces, nephews, and friends, who will miss him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Martin Murphy Sr. and Helen Hudson Murphy, and his brother, Louis Martin Murphy Jr. A lifelong New Orleans Saints fan and a 35-year season ticket holder, Howard also loved reading—especially history—and "continuing to attempt" to play golf, all pursued with his characteristic humor and persistence.

A service celebrating his life will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd.

New Orleans, LA. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a funeral Mass to be held at 12:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to Cancer Crusaders (P.O. Box 7911, Metairie, LA, 70010-7911) or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Pierre Jr., Joseph 'Lil Joe'

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 3B

found joy in simple plea‐ sures—especially fishing and spending time with family and friends.

Whether casting a line or sharing stories over a meal, he valued connec‐ tion and community above all else. He is lovingly re‐ membered by his daugh‐ ters Nikita, Aureayne, and Deshanda; his son Joseph Jr.; and his siblings Alvin Sr., Yulanda, Rodney Sr., and Terrence. Joseph was also a proud grandfather to four granddaughters and six grandsons. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Lelia D. Pierre, as well as his beloved granddaughter Ma'Siya. Joseph will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him. May his memory bring comfort and peace to those whose lives he touched. Relatives and friends of the family

are invited to attend the funeral service on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church located at 433 Avondale Garden Rd., Avondale LA. 70094. The visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by a 10 a.m. service. Pastor Damien Brown will officiate. Fu‐ neral planning entrusted to Robinson Family Funeral Home (504) 208-2119. For online condolences, please visit www.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com.

When you need the news.

Wherever you read the news.

Mr. Joseph "Lil Joe" Pierre Jr., age 66, passed away on Sunday, Decem‐ ber 14, 2025, at Marrero Health Care in Marrero, Louisiana. Born on October 26, 1959, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he lived a life rooted in family, hard work, and cherished tradi‐ tions. Joseph was a proud graduate of John Martyn High School. He went on to build a long-standing ca‐ reer as a truck driver, dedi‐ cating many years to the open road and the respon‐ sibilities that came with it.

His work ethic and com‐ mitment were evident to all who knew him. Outside of his profession, Joseph

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YOUR VIEWS N O L A.C O M/opinions

White Christians aren’t putting MAGA before God I write this letter in response to the opinion of Linda Meredith of Monroe in the Dec. 8 edition titled “White Christians can’t serve God, MAGA.” Meredith states that, “You can no longer call yourself a Christian while supporting MAGA policies,” and that “White Christians who support President Trump are doomed to eternal punishment.”

Since Meredith chose to quote Scripture in her admonishment of White Christians, a few passages come to mind I would like to share with her: “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matt 7:1), “Or how can you say to your brother, Let me remove the speck from your eye; and look, a plank is in your own eye” (Matt 7:4).

As a “White Christian,” I do not serve Trump; I serve only God, my Creator and Savior. We would all be better served to pray for our elected officials for God’s wisdom and guidance and replace hate with love, since love conquers all.

STEVE FECKE Baton Rouge

Compassion for immigrants must be tempered by reason Americans have always been a caring, generous people. Recently, this is quite evident in the many letters in support of illegal immigrants. However, our caring and generosity must be tempered with common sense.

Being here illegally is a crime.

You can’t have a country without vetting and processing those who would like to come in. First and foremost, do they want to be Americans? If not, they don’t belong here.

Secondly, few, if any, illegal immigrants contribute to the tax base. They’re paid in cash and Uncle Sam sees naught. Yet, they get tremendous benefits from the federal government, utilizing a huge amount of our tax money.

Let them apply for citizenship properly and contribute as they should, and we will welcome them with open arms!

KERRY P. REDMANN Mandeville

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are

published identifying name and the writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and TO SEND US A LETTER, phone number SCAN HERE 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.

Arguments for Commandments in classrooms ignore precedent

FILE PHOTO

Several major auto insurance businesses are reducing rates in Louisiana as fewer drivers are on roadways commuting to work.

Louisiana never learns right lessons on insurance Guest columnist André Comeaux’s suggestion that Louisiana should fix its auto insurance crisis by repeating the 1975 Medical Malpractice Act is the kind of idea that makes you wonder if some people look at a decades-long train wreck and think, “Let’s do that again — but faster.”

As a patient rights advocate, permit me to point out the obvious: the 1975 Medical Malpractice Act is not a model. It’s a disaster, propped up only by the insurance industry’s fond memories of how well it worked out for them.

In 1975, the act was hawked as the miracle cure for high malpractice premiums that would also improve patient access to care.

Fifty years later, premiums remain among the highest in the land, access among the worst, and Louisiana proudly boasts one of the most cruel, most restrictive malpractice systems in the United States.

If the goal was to prove that caps don’t work, congratulations — we nailed it.

The American Medical Association repeatedly ranks Louisiana among the

most expensive states for malpractice insurance. Their 2020 Tort Reform Report noted that while caps reduce payouts, they “have not stabilized premiums in highlitigation-risk states such as Louisiana.” A masterpiece of efficiency — if you’re an insurance carrier. And deception.

Independent broker MedPLI reports the same: Louisiana remains a premium hot zone. The 1975 act didn’t reduce or even stabilize premiums; it simply shifted the burden onto our most catastrophically injured victims.

And the medical malpractice cap doesn’t only limit “pain and suffering.”

Louisiana caps economic damages too.

Lost income. Lifetime earnings. Taxpayers now support these victims instead of the negligent health care providers and their insurers.

Comeaux’s siren song has too often waylaid Louisiana’s legislators into the rocks of folly while enriching the already rich.

Don’t fall for it again.

CHIP WAGAR attorney and director of the Patient Rights Advocacy Forum

Vote for Trump was not a vote for terrorizing hard-working immigrants As a proud American, a man of faith and someone who deeply loves this country, I feel compelled to speak out about something happening right here in Kenner — something that should concern every person who believes in fairness, justice and compassion.

I have supported President Donald Trump since the moment he came down the escalator at Trump Tower. I believed in his message of restoring American strength, securing our borders and removing violent criminals from our communities. Like many Republicans, I still support strong borders and sensible immigration enforcement. But what we are seeing unfold locally goes far beyond the mission of keeping Americans safe.

In Kenner, an entire Latino community — made up of hardworking families, churchgoers, taxpayers and parents of Americanborn children — is living in fear. Many were admitted under the previous administration, granted work permits and told they could build a life here. Now, despite having clean records and deep ties to the community, they are being treated as targets simply because of their skin color or heritage.

These are not rapists, gang members or violent offenders. They are our co-workers, neighbors and friends — people who contribute to our economy and our churches.

Many are married to U.S. citizens.

Many have lived here for years. And yet

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Candles are lit during an interfaith prayer vigil for immigrants in the St. Charles Center for Faith and Action in New Orleans on Dec. 4. they find themselves terrified of losing everything they have built.

As a lifelong Republican and a Trump supporter, I never believed my vote would contribute to this kind of suffering. I believed we were going after “the worst of the worst,” not peaceful families trying to live honest lives.

It is time for us as a nation to demand a humane, reasonable and responsible approach. Those who can be vetted, who have clean records and who contribute to their communities deserve a pathway to stability — not fear.

TIMOTHY JAMES Kenner

Andrea Picciotti-Bayer’s guest column claiming that mandatory Ten Commandments displays are “well within American tradition” ignores both constitutional precedent and the realities of today’s public schools.

The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled on this issue. In Stone v. Graham (1980), the Court struck down a nearly identical law, ruling that posting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms violates the Establishment Clause because it lacks a secular purpose. A federal appeals court recently reached the same conclusion regarding Louisiana’s newest mandate. Tradition does not outweigh the Constitution.

The article also assumes that because early American education sometimes included religious content, the government may now promote specific religious doctrine in public schools.

But historical practice is not a free pass for state endorsement of religion.

Our constitutional system has developed precisely to protect the religious freedom of every student including those who are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, nonreligious or belong to smaller faith communities.

Public schools must remain neutral spaces. Requiring a sacred text in every classroom does not simply teach moral values; it effectively elevates one religious tradition above all others.

Children who do not share that tradition can feel singled out or excluded, especially in a setting where attendance is mandatory.

We can absolutely teach ethics, respect and responsibility without treating a particular religion’s commandments as the state’s official moral code.

Civic values do not require government endorsement of religious doctrine.

No one is trying to remove religion from society. However, the government should not be in the business of instructing students directly or indirectly on which religious beliefs are correct.

Protecting religious liberty means ensuring that public institutions do not favor one faith.

Mandatory religious displays are neither constitutional nor inclusive, and they have no place in our classrooms.

KARL ALBRITTON Central

What does LSU football have to show for the millions?

The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

Whoever is responsible for hiring Lane Kiffin is the poster child of stupidity. In 2021, Brian Kelly was offered a 10-year contract for $95 million. At the time, Notre Dame was 11-2 and headed to a bowl game. Today, we are on the hook for $54 million as a payout while Kelly is laughing all the way to the bank. Incidentally, we just made the final payment to Ed Orgeron, completing his $16 million buyout.

Fast forward to 2025. Lane Kiffin gets offered a similar contract: $91 million for seven years. Ole Miss is 11-1 and made it to the College Football Playoff. Kiffin jumps ship and is headed to LSU. Ring any bells yet? To add insult to injury, if Ole Miss goes deep into the playoffs, LSU is on the hook to pay Kiffin an extra $150,000 to $1 million, depending on how far Ole Miss goes. Is this the definition of insanity?

They say that tax dollars are not used to pay him. I guarantee that game tickets, parking, concessions and student fees for the Tiger Athletic Fund will all increase exponentially. Is a national championship really that important? And don’t forget the amount of money ($30 million) Kiffin will get for the transfer portal.

DAVID BOHNET Slidell

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 5B

6B ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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with meteorologist Damon Singleton

TODAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Dense fog this morning

Sunny, nice and warm

Pleasantly warm with some sun

Pleasantly warm with some sun

Partly sunny, nice and warm

Mostly sunny, nice and warm

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

74°

59° 76° 59°

LOW

LOW

75° 60°

LOW

77° 60°

LOW

78° 62°

HIGH

LOW

77° 64°

The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory for all of southeast Louisiana until 10 a.m. Drivers should expect possible visibility in the fog of a quarter-mile or less.

Otherwise, expect a mostly cloudy morning with spotty showers to give way to a mostly sunny afternoon. Temperatures will rise to the low to mid-70s. Rain chances today are at 20% this morning. With southerly winds, humidity will be high all week along with the temps. Expect mostly dry conditions with temperatures in the 70s through Christmas.

New Orleans through 5 p.m. Sunday

TEMPERATURE

Monroe 72/63

Shreveport 73/67 Longview 74/66

High/low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Jackson 70/57

FLOOD SUN. 24-HOUR

Beaumont 76/64 Port Arthur 74/62

Baton Rouge 77/56

Lafayette 77/59

New Orleans 74/59

Lake Charles 76/59 Houma 76/57

Shown is today’s weather.

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

City

Austin Boston Dallas Denver Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami

Hi

TODAY

Lo W

74 65 pc 33 29 s 73 63 pc 72 41 pc -28 -38 s 83 75 sh 66 49 pc 54 50 sh 80 72 pc

Hi

TUE.

Lo W

79 65 pc 34 31 sn 79 64 pc 65 44 pc -14 -21 s 80 72 sh 63 52 pc 62 48 c 79 68 pc

City

TODAY

READING 62 MAIN POLLUTANT Nitrogen oxide

MAIN POLLUTANT Nitrogen oxide

MODERATE

PRECIPITATION

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

0.01” 4.26” 3.02” 57.50” 61.55”

GOOD

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

Hattiesburg 71/52

Alexandria 74/59

Many 74/61

80°/61° 64° 48° 80° in 1990 27° in 1973

YESTERDAY

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

Hi

TODAY

58 78 41 81 40 51 54 66 79

Lo W

53 pc 62 pc 33 pc 55 s 34 pc 35 s 45 pc 57 c 64 s

Hi

62 80 42 77 46 61 61 68 79

TUE.

Lo W

57 c 58 pc 37 r 60 c 32 r 46 pc 48 pc 64 sh 61 s

MISSISSIPPI STAGE STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 -7.70 -0.19 Vidalia-Natchez 48 11.80 -0.04 Red River Landing 48 16.50 -0.60 Baton Rouge 35 5.90 -0.10 Donaldsonville 27 3.70 none Reserve 22 2.21 -0.12 New Orleans 17 2.30 +0.01 OHIO Cairo 40 13.06 +5.17 COMITE Near Olive 19 -1.40 -0.01 AMITE Near Darlington 18 -0.83 -0.06 Denham Springs 29 10.54 -0.12 Port Vincent 8 1.86 none TICKFAW Montpelier 13 1.73 -0.05 Holden 15 1.14 -0.06 ATCHAFALAYA Simmesport 47 4.53 -0.70 Melville 34 3.03 -0.56 Krotz Springs 29 3.08 -0.25 Butte La Rose 20 2.24 -0.36 Bayou Sorrel 12 2.60 none Morgan City 6 2.34 +0.17

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

data as of 7 a.m. Sunday

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OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

SPORTS

N O L A.C O M

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29

M o n d ay, d e c e M b e r 22, 2025

SAINTS

JETS

1cn

6

HIGH NOTE RECORD: 5-10 UP NEXT: AT TENNESSEE TITANS, NOON SUNDAy, CBS

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave scores a touchdown on a 23-yard pass from quarterback Tyler Shough as New york Jets safety Dean Clark follows during the second half on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome. The Saints won the last home game of the season 29-6.

Shough, Saints dismantle Jets in most complete game of the year

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Here is how far the New Orleans Saints have come in recent weeks: They are now salting away wins by trying to get their beloved players big moments late in games that have already been wrapped up.

So, after referees nullified an 18yard Taysom Hill touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 29-6 win against the New York Jets, head coach Kellen Moore just kept going

back to the well.

“Opportunities were certainly going his way toward the end of the game, yes,” Moore said with a smile.

The Saints’ next five offensive plays all featured Hill in some way. There were two more passes thrown his way. After a defensive stop, the next drive started with two Hill runs.

It was the fifth one that finally did the trick: Lined up at quarterback on third and 5, Hill faked a handoff,

ä See SAINTS, page 4C

New Orleans’ home finale win points to better things to come winnable games against the The Who Dat chants started Tennessee Titans and Atlanta with about nine minutes left Falcons up next.

Sunday, which tells you all Those two games are on the you need to know about what road, though. the New Orleans Saints did to This was the Saints’ last the New York Jets.

Rod chance to give the home The surging Saints needed a Walker crowd something to feel good convincing beatdown win like about in a season where that this one in their final home hasn’t always been the case. This game of the season. was one last time to make the type The 29-6 victory was the third in of impression that would make a row for the Saints, with a chance of ending the season on a five-game ä See WALKER, page 5C winning streak with potentially

Pelicans look to extend win streak vs. Mavs

Outgoing Tulane trio sees the good through rough ending

Staff writer

A historic season ended very badly for outgoing Tulane coach Jon Sumrall and senior leaders Jake Retzlaff and Sam Howard, but they were able to look past the hurt of Saturday’s 41-10 College Football Playoff demolition at the hands of Ole Miss and savor the good times.

For Sumrall, the weekend was exponentially tougher because of the death of his father, George, on Thursday night. Already handling two jobs at the same time (Florida and Tulane), he had to deal with the grief of losing a loved one.

“It’s been hard,” he said. “I’m not going to deny it.”

Sumrall found out about his father’s death when he called his mother while driving to his office on Friday morning. He asked her what he could do, and she said she was handling it and would come to the

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

BY ROD WALKER

Yes, James Borrego was thrilled to see his New Orleans Pelicans push their winning streak to four with Saturday’s 128-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

But the Pelicans’ interim ä Mavs at head coach wants more.

Pelicans 7 P.M. “Pleased, but never satisfied,” Borrego said. “That’s MONDAy,WVUE the mentality right now.”

The Pelicans had just one four-game winning streak last season.

Now they have a chance to make it five in a row Monday night when they host the Dallas Mavericks. A win would give the Pelicans their first five-game winning streak since the 2022-23 season.

ä See PELICANS, page 2C

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tulane coach Jon Sumrall walks on the sideline during the first half of a College Football Playoff game against Ole Miss on Saturday in Oxford, Miss.

game, where she joined his wife and his brother to support him.

“I loved my dad,” he said. “I’m a lot of who I am because of how he raised me, and I can smile knowing that I’m going to live a life that’s going to honor my dad. He watched us today. He’s probably got some questions about how we played, just like I do. I just don’t have to hear them tonight from him. I’m sure I’ll hear them from my mom, though.”

Sumrall’s next game will be as coach of Florida against familiar American Conference foe Florida Atlantic on Sept. 5, but he celebrated what Tulane accomplished in winning the American Conference despite returning only five starters from 2024.

“While the outcome tonight sucks — I’m not happy with it, and there’s nothing about it I feel good about — I still feel good about this football team because we

ä See TULANE, page 3C

2C ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS 9 p.m.

On TV MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 5 p.m.

American U. at Virginia 5 p.m.

Siena at Indiana 6 p.m.

Prairie View at LSU 7 p.m.

E. Carolina at North Carolina 7 p.m.

Cent. Michigan at Wisconsin 7 p.m.

Missouri vs. Illinois 8 p.m.

Stetson at Oklahoma

ACCN BTN SECN ACCN BTN FS1 SECN

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Washington St. vs. Utah St. ESPN NBA 6 p.m.

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3:30 p.m. Iowa vs. Westchester NBATV 5:30 p.m. Winter Showcase Champ.: TBD ESPNU NFL 7:15 p.m. San Fran. at Indianapolis ABC, ESPN NHL 6:30 p.m. Vancouver at Philadelphia NHLN MEN’S SOCCER 1 p.m.

Napoli vs. Bologna CBSSN 2 p.m.

Nottingham Forest at Fulham USA

Fifth-ranked LSU women score 100 again

BY REED DARCEY

Staff writer

It took the LSU women’s basketball team only about five minutes to take control of the game it played on Sunday against TexasArlington — the penultimate nonconference tune-up of its season.

The No. 5 Tigers (13-0) built a quick 17-point lead over the Mavericks in the first quarter and eventually won 110-45, crossing over the century mark for the 10th time this season and winning by more than 60 points for the fifth time this year. No other Division I team has scored at least 100 points more than six times.

“The defense was better,” coach Kim Mulkey said. “We just didn’t shoot the ball good.”

A pair of frontcourt players led LSU back over the 100-point mark. Freshman Grace Knox scored a career-high 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. Senior East Carolina transfer Amiya Joyner notched 14 points and 11 boards to post her fourth double-double of the season.

The Tigers also received 23 energetic minutes from MiLaysia Fulwiley. She scored 23 points, pulled down seven rebounds, blocked four shots and stole away five possessions, providing a spark during a game in which LSU shot an efficient 49% from the field. But that field-goal percentage is the second-lowest the Tigers have posted this season.

“We just missed too many open looks,” Mulkey said, “but I thought we were trying to stop straight-line drives and keep people out of the paint, and I thought for the most part we did better.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson, right, drives past UT-Arlington center Jeanne Rodriguez in the first quarter on Sunday at the PMAC. But man, it would be fun to shoot the ball better and play a little bit better defense and see what we really could look like.”

LSU started to pull away from the Mavericks around the time Fulwiley — the star South Carolina transfer guard — first checked into the game. The Tigers led 13-7 halfway through the first.

Then Joyner grabbed an offensive rebound and flipped a pass to Flau’jae Johnson, who stepped into an open 3-pointer from the right wing. Fulwiley took a 3 of her own on the next possession, then found a way to rebound her own miss and turn it into a layup.

Fulwiley later drove the lane, spun around and dished to Joyner,

setting her up to convert a threepoint play. Knox then notched six quick points, which she scored either at the rim or from the freethrow line, to officially put LSU on pace to score 100 again. “(Knox) is just an athlete,” Mulkey said. “Good lord, you can’t block her out. You can’t keep her from flying to the boards. She finishes in traffic. She works really hard defensively for a freshman.

She’s going to make mistakes, but her mistakes are done with effort.

“She might have had her best game here, since she’s been at LSU.” The Tigers hit the century mark in each of the first eight games they played this season, setting

an NCAA record in the process.

All those performances were balanced, efficient offensive showings — just like the one LSU put together on Sunday.

Seven Tigers scored at least five points, and five finished with at least 10. Johnson (14 points) and sophomore point guard Jada Richard (10 points) joined Knox, Joyner and Fulwiley in double figures. Richard also tallied a careerhigh four steals.

Star junior Mikaylah Williams had an uncharacteristically cold shooting day. She finished with seven points after shooting only 1 of 6 from the field and missing all four 3-pointers she attempted.

UTA shot only 23% from the field and turned the ball over 34 times. Only two Mulkey-era LSU opponents have given away more possessions than the Mavericks did on Sunday, and just four have posted a lower field-goal percentage.

LSU has now scored at least 110 points in seven games — more than twice as many as the Division I team with the second-most 110-point games (Texas).

Every active LSU player saw the floor against UTA except ZaKiyah Johnson, a freshman forward who took part in pregame warm-ups but watched the game from the bench. Mulkey characterized her absence as a slap on the wrist, saying “it ain’t a big deal.”

Mulkey said ZaKiyah Johnson will return to the floor when LSU wraps up nonconference play next Sunday at home against Alabama State. The Tigers’ 16-game SEC slate begins Jan. 1 with a home matchup against No. 12 Kentucky.

Tulane women fall to Mercer in overtime

BY DARRELL WILLIAMS Contributing writer

Tulane was looking to win its fourth consecutive holiday tournament on Sunday at Fogelman Arena.

However, Mercer guard Abigail Holtman and the Bears snatched it away, fighting past the Green Wave for a 70-67 overtime victory in the 28th Tulane Holiday Tournament.

It marked the first time since 2019 that Tulane (5-7) did not win its tournament. The 2020 and 2021 tournaments were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Holtman scored a game-high 27 points, including 14 in a torrid third quarter that kept Mercer (95) in the game when it appeared the Green Wave was making a move to pull away.

“I am disappointed with the loss,” said Tulane coach Ashley Langford, her team losing for the fourth time in six games. “We have to continue with our message

along the way and hope that prepares us for conference play.”

Particularly frustrating for Langford, she said, were the Green Wave’s breakdowns on defense, an area in which the coach takes great pride and is the key to how they play offensively, as well.

“I mean, we let (Holton) get 27 points,” Langford said. “And we didn’t make many shots. That’s what it is.”

Still, the Wave had its chances to win, particularly in the overtime period. Tulane led 67-66 at 3:08 of the overtime. Point guard Kendall Sneed, who led the Green Wave back late in the fourth quarter, missed two free throws at 2:29 of the OT. Mercer’s Nahawa Diarra, who scored 14 points and joined Holtman on the all-tournament team, drove and was fouled with 36.2 seconds left. She made both free throws, giving the Bears the lead for good, 68-67.

Hampton then missed a 3-point attempt, and Sneed drove and

missed with 15.0 seconds left.

Bears forward Lax Brewster then sank two free throws for a 3-point lead. Daniels missed a 3-point try, and the ball went out of bounds to Mercer with 0.5 seconds left.

“We are very proud of our resiliency and how we stayed focused and together,” said Mercer second-year coach Michelle ClarkHeard. “And Abigail played great, but we’re not surprised at all. I recruited her to Cincinnati, then I recruited her (to Mercer) when I took the job.”

Tulane led 34-26 two minutes into the third quarter and seemed on the distancing itself from Mercer. That’s when Holtman sank back-to-back 3s. The Wave led 4541 with 1:21 left in the third when Holtman sank a corner 3. Holtman scored 14 points in the quarter, and corner 3s by her and the Bears were a thorn to the Wave.

“My teammates drive to the basket well, so that opened up the corner 3,” said Holtman. “But I don’t need too much space to get

PELICANS

Continued from page 1C Not even the 49-win team in 2023-24 reeled off five consecutive victories. They did put together six different four-game win streaks, though.

The Pelicans improved to 7-22 with Saturday’s win. The average margin of victory during the winning streak is 14 points.

“I’m pleased with the progress, and I’m pleased with these four games,” Borrego said. “I’m proud of the group. They are putting in the effort. This is not (the time) to pat ourselves on the back and be satisfied. That’s not the process we are talking about. The goal is that every day we are pounding the rock and getting better. Then on to the next challenge.”

The next challenge is a Mavericks team that has won seven of its past 10 games. The Pelicans and Mavs (11-18) split their first two games in Dallas. The Pels squeaked out a 101-99 victory in early November, but the Mavs got revenge two weeks later with a 118-115 win.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Pelicans center Derik Queen shoots over Indiana Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson during the first half on Saturday at the Smoothie King Center.

The Pelicans are coming off two of their more impressive wins.

They rallied from a 25-point deficit to beat the Houston Rockets on Thursday and followed that up with a win over Indiana, where they almost led wire-to-wire. The only time the Pelicans trailed was 4-3 early in the game. The Pelicans scored 44 points in the first quarter.

“You want to be a team when

my shot off and make it.

“I think the main reason we won was our defense. We doubled down on their bigs in the low post, and our scrambling to guard the 3-point line was awesome.”

The game was tied after the second, third and fourth quarters.

Tulane pounded Mercer on the boards 52-38, including a whopping 18-5 in offensive rebounds as they had a 42-14 advantage in points in the lane.

However, the Bears made nine 3s to Tulane’s 3-of-21 shooting from behind the arc.

The Wave placed four players in double figures. Hanna had 14 points and six rebounds. Sneed and guard CC Mays each scored 13, and power forward Amira Mabry, who also was chosen to the all-tournament team for the second consecutive season, had 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

Next, Tulane will open American Conference play Dec. 30 at Texas-San Antonio.

Zion Williamson, in his third straight game coming off the bench after returning from his injury, tied a season-high with 29 points in Saturday’s win. The game before that, it was Saddiq Bey with a season-high 29 against the Rockets. Last Sunday, it was Trey Murphy and Jeremiah Fears, each scoring 20 points, that put the Pels over the Chicago Bulls.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who can make it happen,” Williamson said.

“With the talent we’ve got, it can be anybody’s night.”

The four-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the NBA, trailing only the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have won five straight heading into their game Sunday against the Washington Wizards.

“It’s not easy winning in the NBA,” Williamson said. “When you do get wins, you enjoy them for that night and go on to the next game.”

Monday’s game is a chance for the Pelicans to do something they were unable to do the past two seasons.

someone is in your house, you throw the first punch,” Borrego said after Saturday’s win. “And we need to get there. We want to be a team that throws the first punch and keeps punching. I felt that today. We had a couple lighter blows, but we were in general trying to throw some punches that landed. In general, from start to Email Rod Walker at finish, we did that.” rwalker@theadvocate.com.

White Sox add Murakami with $34M, 2-year deal

CHICAGO — The rebuilding Chicago White Sox added Munetaka Murakami to their lineup on Sunday, agreeing to a $34 million, two-year contract with the Japanese slugger.

Murakami, 25, joins a promising group of young hitters that also includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox finished last in the AL Central this year with a 60-102 record, a 19-game improvement from the previous season.

Murakami gets a $1 million signing bonus payable within 30 days and salaries of $16 million next year and $17 million in 2027.

Murakami hit 56 homers in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player in Nippon Professional Baseball while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown.

Blackburn staying with Yankees for $2 million

NEW YORK — Right-hander Paul Blackburn is remaining with the New York Yankees, agreeing Saturday to a $2 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

A former All-Star, Blackburn can earn an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses for innings: $100,000 each for 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120.

Blackburn, 32, gives the Yankees pitching depth for a rotation that will be without Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón at the start of the season. Cole is expected to return to the Yankees in May or June following Tommy John surgery on March 11, and Rodón is projected back in late April or May after surgery on Oct. 15 on his left elbow.

Bell signs $7 million, 1-year contract with Twins

MINNEAPOLIS — First baseman Josh Bell and the Minnesota Twins have finalized their $7 million, one-year contract.

The sides agreed to terms Monday, pending a physical, and the Twins announced the deal Friday.

Bell gets a $250,000 signing bonus payable by Feb. 1 and a $5.5 million salary in 2026. The contract includes a $10 million mutual option for 2027 with a $1.25 million buyout for Bell, who also gets a hotel suite on road trips.

A durable switch-hitter with power, Bell projects to help fill a void at first base and designated hitter for the Twins in his 11th major league season. He hit .237 with 22 home runs and 63 RBIs this year for Washington.

Humphries Armbruster ends Germans’ streak

Kaillie Humphries Armbruster has won dozens of races in her bobsled career. The victory she got Sunday was like none of the others. It was her first since she turned 40. And it was her first since becoming a mother.

With the Milan Cortina Olympics less than two months away, Humphries Armbruster seems to be hitting her best form once again. She teamed with Emily Renna to win a World Cup two-woman race in Sigulda, Latvia, her first victory on the circuit since winning a monobob race on that same track on Feb. 18, 2023.

The victory by Humphries Armbruster also snapped a 20-race World Cup winning streak for Germany in the two-woman event, dating back to Jan. 22, 2023, in Altenberg.

Schwarz scores World Cup giant slalom victory

ALTA BADIA, Italy — Marco Schwarz won the World Cup giant slalom Sunday on the classic Gran Risa course where Marco Odermatt, the dominant skier of his generation, had won five of the past six giant slaloms.

Schwarz got a wire-to-wire win by protecting his first-run lead to finish 0.18 seconds ahead of Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil.

“This victory means a lot to me,” said Schwarz, who missed almost a full year of racing through injury since his previous win in a slalom in December 2023. “It’s good for the soul, good for the whole team,” he said, after hugging thirdplaced Austria teammate Stefan Brennsteiner in the finish area.

Odermatt placed sixth, trailing 0.82 behind Schwarz’s two-run time.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 3C

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL JMU puts up fight, but Group of 5 teams still have much to prove

BY ANDREW DESTIN AP sportswriter

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ROGELIO V. SOLIS

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss dives into the end zone for an 8-yard rushing touchdown against Tulane during their game in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday in Oxford, Miss.

Ole Miss embraces rematch with Georgia at Sugar Bowl

BY CHRIS BURROWS

ä Georgia vs Ole Miss.

OXFORD, Miss. — The Mississippi Rebels head into a second successive rematch in the College Football Playoff — this time facing the only team to beat them this season.

Ole Miss (12-1) defeated Tulane 41-10 Saturday in the opening round, nearly matching a 45-10 regular season home triumph over the Green Wave in the fourth week of the regular season.

Next up for the sixth-seeded Rebels is a clash with third-seeded Georgia (12-1), the Southeastern Conference champs, in the quarterfinal round at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 1.

The Bulldogs defeated visiting Ole Miss in a 43-35 shootout on Oct. 18, rallying from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

“We’re looking forward to playing them again,” said wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, who had his team-high sixth touchdown catch of the season against Tulane.

“Georgia is impressive. But there were things in that game that we could have done better.”

Unlike the first meeting, the Rebels have been through extensive changes, topped by Pete Golding replacing Lane Kiffin as coach two days after the final game of the regular season.

Kiffin departed for LSU on Nov. 30, opening the door for Golding,

who had served three years as the Rebels’ defensive coordinator.

Ole Miss made a seamless transition in Golding’s head coaching debut in the lopsided home win over Tulane. The Rebels will be hoping for a carryover effect in the Sugar Bowl, a neutral site with historical ties for both programs.

“I know how much it means to be playing in New Orleans,” said Golding, who grew up not far from the Big Easy in Hammond, Louisiana. “We will enjoy this one tonight and tomorrow we start preparing for Georgia.”

While the Bulldogs began the season as a favorite for a CFP berth, Ole Miss’ emergence was less predictable.

Early uncertainty regarding the Rebels’ prospects stemmed from the fact they had to replace 20 starters — and then move former Division II quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to the starting role after an early season injury to opening week starter Austin Simmons.

“We never doubted that we were a playoff team when the summer practice started,” Chambliss said.

“There were doubters that thought we would be a mid-tier SEC team, maybe. We knew we were a playoff team.”

Georgia and Ole Miss now join Alabama and LSU as the only

Associated Press

7 P.M. JAN. 1, ESPN

teams to appear in the Sugar Bowl at least 10 times. But this Sugar Bowl will be the first in 60 years featuring two SEC squads.

That 1964 game also featured Ole Miss. Their opponent was Alabama, with a 12-7 win in the old Tulane Stadium during snowy weather — which doesn’t happen in New Orleans that often.

Postseason history aside, the Ole Miss players and coaches were quick to dismiss words and phrases such as revenge or payback in the postgame news conference.

Instead, the theme focused on opportunity and respect.

In the regular season contest, both offenses combined for 10 touchdowns and more than 850 yards of total offense. The Rebels scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions while Georgia never faced a punting situation — a fact not lost on Ole Miss defenders such as defensive tackle Will Echoles.

“We’ve talked about that, and we talked about it again tonight after the game. I mean, we’ve got to do everything better,” Echoles said.

“That was a bad game for our defense — a really bad game. Period.

We know we will have to play our best game.”

TJ Dottery, the leading tackler for the Rebels, added: “Physicality. That’s what Georgia brings. But that’s what I look forward to, is the physicality of the game.”

Oregon bracing for stiffer test from Texas Tech

TULANE

Continued from page 1C hoisted a championship trophy two weeks ago,” he said. “I told them that in 30 or 40 years, they’ll bring them back for a celebration.

I’ll probably need a cane to walk around and celebrate with them, but I’m going to celebrate.”

Retzlaff, who transferred from BYU in late July, and Howard, who played the latter part of the season with a fractured fibula, will be part of that celebration.

Retzlaff’s last game with the Wave was a three-turnover performance, but Tulane would have been nowhere near the CFP without him after he set a school record for quarterbacks with 16 touchdowns rushing.

“To get to come here, it’s been just an unbelievable blessing,” he said. “The way they took a chance on me so late, when they could have easily said no, they said, yeah, bring it on. Everybody in the program embraced me. I’m so grateful for that because it didn’t feel like I was showing up to a new team the first day of school. It felt like I was showing up to a bunch of guys who wanted me to be around.

It made my transition so easy.”

Howard made six tackles as he and his teammates tried in vain to slow down a prolific Rebels offense that hung more than 40 points on the Wave for the second time this year.

“Tulane has been one of the highlights of my life so far,” he said after a journey that took him from original walk-on status at FCS Austin Peay to 113 tackles and 20 wins in two years with the Wave. “We’re going to live forever, man. They’re like my brothers. Jake is like my brother. We just met in August but we feel like we’ve been together

EUGENE, Ore. — Perhaps it was James Madison going for it twice on fourth down on its first drive of the game.

Or, maybe it was coach Bob Chesney calling for a wide receiver pass on the Dukes’ second series of the evening. Even 12thranked James Madison successfully pulling off a fake punt could have adequately explained what the scoreboard failed to convey.

It was clear that the fifth-ranked Oregon Ducks were in a different class than their visitors in a 51-34 win in a College Football Playoff first round matchup Saturday at Autzen Stadium. Oregon led 48-13 midway through the third quarter before the Dukes added three late touchdowns to make the final score appear closer than the game really was.

“I think the scoreboard itself, every time we got down there we kind of shot ourselves in the foot,” Chesney said. “If we did not do that, if we did not end with 13 penalties, is this a little bit of a different game? Maybe. But at the same point in time, that’s a tough offense to stop, and I think it’s tough for a lot of teams in the entire country to stop.”

With James Madison’s loss, Group of Five teams fell to 0-4 all-time in CFP games. No. 17 Tulane fell 41-10 to No. 6 Mississippi on Saturday, too, while Penn State beat Boise State 31-14 in last year’s Fiesta Bowl. Alabama topped Cincinnati 27-6 in a 2022 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.

Following their loss to Ole Miss, Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall brushed aside any notion of his team not belonging among the last 12 standing.

“We’re our conference champion and the rules are what they were, and I think there should be access for at least one G5 team moving forward,” Sumrall said. “I do. I think you should have given the American champion an opportunity before the ACC champion this year because we beat the ACC champion. So Duke won the ACC Championship; we beat them.”

To Sumrall’s point, Tulane beat a pair of Power Four teams in Northwestern and Duke, but those schools combined to go 1411 in 2025.

James Madison, meanwhile,

lost to its only Power Four opponent this season, with Louisville beating it 28-14 in a game in which the Dukes mustered just 263 yards of total offense. Most of the season, James Madison ran with the ball with ease against its opponents, rushing for over 300 yards in a game five times and over 200 yards in a game nine times.

But on Saturday, the Dukes mostly abandoned the run after quickly falling behind, and instead often turned to Sun Belt Player of the Year and quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who attempted a career-high 48 passes in the contest. Even so, Barnett was confident his team belonged in the CFP over other Power Four schools.

“I believe people saw that we were meant to be on this level.

When you look at the Power Four teams and whatever, the destiny is really — the ball is in your court.

You control your own destiny,” Barnett said. “Most of those teams that didn’t make it, they controlled their own destiny, and we handled what we could handle and we didn’t give into outside noise.”

Among Group of Five schools, James Madison did fare the best of any of them on offense in the CFP. The other three programs scored a combined 30 points in their respective playoff games, a total James Madison eclipsed against the nation’s eighth-ranked scoring defense.

But where the Dukes fell flat was slowing down the Ducks’ ninth-ranked scoring offense.

Oregon ran the ball with ease, averaging more than 7.7 yards per attempt against James Madison’s run defense that entered the contest allowing the second-fewest yards per game in the country.

As has often been the case in matchups between Power Four and Group of Five teams, the greatest discrepancies existed in the trenches. To a man, James Madison could not adequately match up with Oregon, just as Tulane couldn’t with Ole Miss and many other Group of Five programs before them both failed to do.

“I think there were moments today where I feel like we could play with them,” Chesney said. “ And I think that today, the complimentary football, and us playing in the way we needed to just did not exist.”

BY ANDREW DESTIN

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tulane linebacker Sam Howard, left, and quarterback Jake Retzlaff hug following a College Football Playoff loss to Ole Miss on Saturday in Oxford, Miss.

“Tulane has been one of the highlights of my life so far. ... We’re going to live forever, man.”

SAM HOWARD, Tulane linebacker forever because this team is that special.”

Howard played a huge role in making the Wave’s season special.

“He’s the heartbeat of this team,” defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato said. “It’s just a good reminder to everybody, that’s what you recruit. You recruit warriors that are going to hold everybody to their highest level.”

The overmatched Wave could not find that level against Ole Miss, falling behind by double digits midway through the first quarter, never getting closer than 11 and

watching the game really get out of hand in the second half.

“I love those guys,” offensive coordinator Joe Craddock said.

“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.”

Craddock and Gasparato almost certainly will not return — both are expected to join Sumrall at Florida — but they saw a bright future for the program. Just as Tulane used its loss to Army in the 2024 American Championship game as motivation for winning it this season, it expects the playoff defeat to be a galvanizing force in 2026.

“Moving forward, our guys know what it feels like,” Gasparato said.

“We got where we wanted to go, and now when we get there (again), what are we going to do with it?”

ä Oregon vs. Texas Tech.

AP sportswriter

7 P.M. JAN. 1, ESPN

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. — Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi did not mince words when assessing the fifth-ranked Ducks’ defensive performance in a 51-34 win over No. 12 James Madison in a College Football Playoff game.

While three of James Madison’s touchdowns came after Oregon built a 48-13 lead, Lupoi was still upset with the Ducks allowing a whopping 509 yards of offense.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling that we get to move on and very thankful for that,” Lupoi said. “But if we played anywhere remotely close this next game the way we did in the second half, we’re going to have a disappointed feeling after the game.”

What looms next for Oregon (121) is a bout with Texas Tech in a quarterfinal game at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1. The Ducks opened as a 1 1/2-point favorite, per BetMGM College Football odds.

The fourth-ranked Red Raiders (12-1) should pose a much stiffer test for Oregon than James Madison did, considering they have the top run defense in the country and one of the best defenses in the nation overall.

Only three opponents have rushed for over 100 yards in a game against Texas Tech this season, and no team has rushed for over 200 yards against them since Arizona State did so in a 26-22 loss to the Sun Devils on Oct. 18.

“Texas Tech is a really great team, a really good defense,” wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan said.

“Keeping our composure, everybody just going out there and doing our (job) should be the key for us.”

It’ll be critical for Oregon to avoid

some of the mistakes that plagued it against James Madison, albeit none of them too consequential. While the Ducks established the run against a defense that ranked second in the nation in total yards allowed per game on the ground and Oregon quarterback Dante Moore threw four touchdown passes, he also tossed a pair of interceptions.

Moore, who has started all of 13 games for the Ducks in his Oregon career, has quickly learned of the standard coach Dan Lanning expects of his team, and that his latest performance left plenty of room for nitpicking ahead of a critical clash with the Red Raiders.

“Everybody knows how Coach Lanning is. He’s psycho,” Moore said. “He’s going to make sure he’s going to pressure us at practice. He’s going to put that fire under us and it’s needed.”

No fly zone Oregon’s secondary struggled a bit in the second half against Sun Belt Player of the Year Alonza Barnett III, who completed 23 of 48 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. The 323 total yards passing allowed by the Ducks was their second-most yielded all year. USC had 330 on Nov. 22 in a 42-27 win.

Oregon’s third-ranked pass defense will be challenged again in the Orange Bowl by Texas Tech, which is led by fifth-year quarterback Behren Morton and features the second-ranked scoring offense. Morton leads the Big 12 in completion percentage (67%) and has tossed 22 touchdowns against just four interceptions.

4C ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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SAINTS 29, JETS 6

BY THE NUMBERS

SAINTS NOTEBOOK

New Orleans 29, N.Y. Jets 6 N.Y. Jets 3 3 0 0 — 6 New Orleans 3 6 7 13 — 29 First Quarter NYJ—FG Folk 29, 10:38. Drive: 8 plays, 26 yards, 4:01. Key Plays: Cook 12 pass to I.Williams; Cook 4 pass to I.Williams on 3rdand-12. N.Y. Jets 3, New Orleans 0.

NO—FG Smyth 35, 6:31. Drive: 13 plays, 43 yards, 4:07. Key Plays: Hill 1 run on 3rdand-1; Shough 10 pass to Ju.Johnson on 3rd-and-5; Shough 6 pass to Tipton on 3rdand-10. N.Y. Jets 3, New Orleans 3.

Second Quarter NO—FG Smyth 49, 14:18. Drive: 8 plays, 35 yards, 3:59. Key Plays: Shough 20 pass to Olave; Shough 17 pass to Hill. New Orleans 6, N.Y. Jets 3.

NYJ—FG Folk 36, 12:38. Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 1:40. Key Play: Cook 25 pass to I.Davis.

N.Y. Jets 6, New Orleans 6.

NO—FG Smyth 36, 1:31. Drive: 15 plays, 73 yards, 5:46. Key Plays: Shough 15 pass to Austin; Shough 9 pass to Olave on 3rdand-10; Hill 2 run on 4th-and-1; Shough 15 pass to Ju.Johnson; Shough 12 pass to Tipton. New Orleans 9, N.Y. Jets 6.

Third Quarter NO—Olave 23 pass from Shough (Smyth kick), :41. Drive: 12 plays, 93 yards, 5:20. Key Plays: Shough 12 pass to Estime; Shough 18 pass to Olave; Estime 4 run on 3rd-and-3.

New Orleans 16, N.Y. Jets 6.

Fourth Quarter NO—FG Smyth 50, 11:09. Drive: 5 plays, 14 yards, 1:36. Key Play: Tipton 12 run. New Orleans 19, N.Y. Jets 6.

NO—FG Smyth 39, 5:17. Drive: 10 plays, 23 yards, 3:51. Key Plays: Sanker 29 interception return to N.Y. Jets 44; Estime 5 run on 3rd-and-3; Shough 11 pass to Olave on 3rdand-9; Shough 7 pass to Hill on 3rd-and-18.

New Orleans 22, N.Y. Jets 6.

NO—Olave 38 pass from Hill (Smyth kick), 1:54. Drive: 3 plays, 44 yards, 00:56. New Orleans 29, N.Y. Jets 6.

A—70,043.

NYJ NO FIRST DOWNS 12 23 Rushing 5 6 Passing 6 17 Penalty 1 0 THIRD DOWN EFF 2-15 8-17 FOURTH DOWN EFF 2-4 1-2 TOTAL NET YARDS 195 412 Total Plays 63 78 Avg Gain 3.1 5.3 NET YARDS RUSHING 64 84 Rushes 20 25 Avg per rush 3.2 3.36 NET YARDS PASSING 131 328 Sacked-Yds lost 8-57 3-18 Gross-Yds passing 188 346 Completed-Att. 22-35 33-50 Had Intercepted 1 0 Yards-Pass Play 3.047 6.189 KICKOFFS-EndZone-TB 3-0-0 8-8-6 PUNTS-Avg. 5-46.2 1-46.0 Punts blocked 0 0 FGs-PATs blocked 0-0 0-0 TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE 76 83 Punt Returns 0-0 2-10 Kickoff Returns 2-76 2-44 Interceptions 0-0 1-29 PENALTIES-Yds 7-54 3-30 FUMBLES-Lost 1-1 1-1 TIME OF POSSESSION 28:42 31:18 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—N.Y. Jets, Hall 16-54, Davis 3-8, Cook 1-2. New Orleans, Hill 12-42, Estime 5-19, Tipton 1-12, Shough 2-8, Hull 5-3.

PASSING—N.Y. Jets, Cook 22-35-1-188. New Orleans, Shough 32-49-0-308, Hill 1-1-0-38.

RECEIVING—N.Y. Jets, Smartt 5-34, Davis 4-52, I.Williams 4-25, A.Mitchell 3-43, Ruckert 2-14, Hall 2-9, T.Johnson 1-7, Metchie 1-4.

New Orleans, Olave 10-148, Johnson 8-89, Hill 4-36, Tipton 4-29, Estime 3-17, Austin 2-18, Moreau 1-5, Stoll 1-4.

PUNT RETURNS—N.Y. Jets, None. New Orleans, Pettis 2-10.

KICKOFF RETURNS—N.Y. Jets, I.Williams 1-42, Nwangwu 1-34. New Orleans, Pettis 2-44.

TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS—N.Y. Jets, Sherwood 7-4-1, Q.Williams 6-5-0, Moore 5-3-0, J.Clark 3-2-0, Stiggers 3-2-0, McDonald 3-1-1, D.Clark 3-1-0, Walker 2-5-0, Phillips 1-4-0, Stephens 1-4-0, Saunders 1-2-0, J.Johnson 1-1-0, McGregor 1-1-0, Briggs 1-0-1, King 1-0-0, Tufele 0-1-0. New Orleans, Taylor 5-2-1, Jordan 4-0-2, Reid 3-6-0, McKinstry 3-2-0, D.Davis 2-6-0, Stutsman 2-3-0, Shepherd 2-1-1, Godchaux 2-0-0, Sanker 1-4-0, Ridgeway 1-3-0, Granderson 1-2-0, Rumph 1-1-1, C.Young 1-1-1, Riley 1-1-0, Werner 1-1-0, Stalbird 1-0-1, Williams 1-0-1, Ford 0-2-0, Bresee 0-1-0, Bullard 0-1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS—N.Y. Jets, None. New Orleans, Sanker 1-29.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—New Orleans, Smyth 61.

OFFICIALS—Referee Clay Martin, Ump Steve Woods, HL Jerod Phillips, LJ Brian Perry, FJ Dave Hawkshaw, SJ Alonzo Ramsey, BJ Greg Wilson, Replay Bryant Thompson.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C then dropped back and saw a wide open Chris Olave — Olave only being in that position because he heard what the play call was and demanded to be on the field for it.

Hill’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Olave in the closing minutes capped off the Saints’ win in style.

That play had little to do with the outcome of the game, but probably says just as loud as anything else how much has changed since a difficult start to the season.

New Orleans is riding a threegame win streak, which is a modest achievement until viewed through the lens of what has happened here lately.

There have been 32 win streaks of at least three games in the NFL this season. But for the Saints, it’s the first three-game win streak in three years.

Some of the traditional winning football things have powered this turnaround. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough continued his excellent play, throwing for a careerhigh 308 yards. A consistently tough defense made life miserable for the opposing quarterback, undrafted rookie Brady Cook, sacking him eight times and forcing a pair of turnovers.

But there also exists an undeni-

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

New Orleans Saints kicker Charlie Smyth kicks a 39-yard field goal as Kai Kroeger holds the ball during the second half of the game against the New york Jets on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.

Kicker Smyth ties Saints record

BY MATTHEW PARAS, ROD WALKER AND LUKE JOHNSON Staff writers

Charlie Smyth might have been the only person in the Caesars Superdome disappointed when Taysom Hill threw a touchdown bomb to Chris Olave late in Sunday’s 29-6 win for the New Orleans Saints. Well, besides those on, or rooting for, the New York Jets, of course.

Hill’s touchdown cost the Irish kicker a chance at setting his own Saints record.

“I didn’t know the circumstances for Taysom, so whenever I heard that, I was super pumped up for him,” Smyth said, referring to the possibility that Sunday’s contest could have been his teammate’s last home game.

The 24-year-old will have to settle for a tie instead.

In just his fourth game with New Orleans, Smyth tied a franchise record with five field goals made. He still had a shot to break the record beyond Hill’s score, but he missed a 61-yarder before halftime.

Still, it was an impressive day for Smyth, whose makes came from 35, 49, 36, 50 and 39 yards.

Smyth, who didn’t start kicking

able other. For as bad as this team has been at times this year, it never fractured. Several players praised the head coach and the culture in the locker room for keeping this season on the rails when it could have gone sideways.

“The reality is there’s been, there’s been no quit in anybody in that locker room, and everyone’s still competing and playing for one another,” Hill said. “And, God, that’s a fun environment to be in.”

They also sense the beginning of something brewing.

Shough is a big part of that. The rookie played a large part in delivering a win for the fourth time in his seven starts. Sunday, he needed to elevate an offense that was playing without its top three running backs, its starting right guard and the receiver he’s come to lean on in recent weeks.

So New Orleans leaned on Shough. He dropped back to pass more than 50 times against the Jets, completing 32 of his 49 attempts for 308 yards and a score.

After the game, Shough was lamenting the missed opportunities.

“We left a lot out there, quite frankly,” Shough said.

It took the Saints almost three full quarters to find the end zone, which they did when he hit Olave for a 23-yard score on a beautifully designed play in which Olave beat man coverage by running a wheel route underneath two in-breakers

an American football until August 2023, also nailed his two extra points.

During the game, the team’s public address announcer revealed Smyth’s record to the crowd and the kicker was seen making a hand gesture that indicated he wanted “one more” shot to make Saints history.

He didn’t get it, but reiterated that he was happy for Hill. The feat was last done by Blake Grupe in 2023.

“It’s been unreal,” Smyth said.

Another milestone for Olave Chris Olave joined some elite company Sunday.

Late in the third quarter, Olave caught his 90th pass of the season.

He is one of just five players in Saints history to catch that many passes in a season.

He joins Michael Thomas, Jimmy Graham, Marcus Colston and Joe Horn.

Thomas did it four times, including the 2019 season when he caught an NFL record 149 passes.

Horn caught 90 passes in a season twice, while Colston and Graham did it once.

That wasn’t the only milestone for Olave.

Olave also eclipsed the 1,000-

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough runs the ball against the New york Jets on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome. Shough threw for a career-high 308 yards.

from the inside position in a threeman bunch.

Olave finished with 10 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns — all either matching previous career bests or setting new ones.

But while Shough was not satisfied, the fact is that he led 10 drives and all but three of them ended with a scoring opportunity. New

yard mark for the season. It’s the third time the fourth-year receiver has had 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He also did it in his first two seasons after finishing with just 400 yards last season, when he played in just eight games.

The only other Saints’ pass catchers to have three such seasons are Colston (5), Thomas (4), Eric Martin (3), and Horn.

Injury report

Orleans punted just one time Sunday, a feat they’ve only managed twice since Drew Brees retired.

And Shough did not have to do it alone, either.

Though the offense too frequently bogged down in Jets territory, kicker Charlie Smyth was there to pick them up.

New Orleans turned to Smyth earlier this season after its patience with incumbent kicker Blake Grupe had worn thin. Smyth has been a revelation since, and that was especially true Sunday.

In his fourth game of American football at any level, Smyth matched a franchise record by successfully knocking five field goals through the uprights Sunday. His only miss came from 61 yards out at the end of the half, a kick that had plenty of leg but sailed wide to the left of the uprights. He has now made nine of his 11 attempts this season.

The Saints defense didn’t need everything Smyth and the Saints offense provided.

New Orleans allowed just 195 net yards of offense against the Jets. Just two of New York’s 63 offensive plays gained more than 20 yards, and its long run went for 7 yards. Meanwhile, the Saints stacked the negative plays against the Jets.

Cam Jordan recorded sacks on consecutive plays, continuing his late-career resurgence. Nathan Shepherd, whom the Jets drafted

in 2018, got one back against his old team with a strip sack of Cook.

Chase Young got one, but so too did corner Alontae Taylor, linebacker Isaiah Stalbird and reserve defenders Jonah Williams and Chris Rumph. That is eight sacks in total, accounting for 57 lost yards.

“The shout-outs took a while in the locker room, because there was a bunch of guys making plays today,” Moore said.

And when the Jets were finally able to get the ball going forward, the Saints were there to make them pay for that, too.

Rookie safety Jonas Sanker spent a good chunk of the game waiting for the Jets to run a particular route out of a particular formation. He knew he had to drive on it hard when he saw it.

Sure enough, in the fourth quarter, New York tried it on a fourth-down play and Sanker jumped the route for his second career interception.

It all added up to the Saints’ most convincing win of the season. The 29 points scored represented the offense’s best output this season.

Ditto for the six points allowed by the defense.

There won’t be a playoff matchup waiting for this team at the end of the regular season. But with two games left to play, it is clear it is playing for something else.

Tight end Foster Moreau and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee both left Sunday’s game with injuries and did not return.

Moreau left in the third quarter with an ankle issue that stemmed from what coach Kellen Moore described as a “hip drop” tackle.

Bresee left the game with a knee injury on the ensuing Jets drive, as he had to be helped off the field Streak snapped by the athletic training staff after The Saints finally won their first the Saints recorded a third-down game in their black alternate hel- stop.

Moore said he’d have more submets, which debuted in 2022.

Before Sunday’s win against the stantive updates Monday for both New York Jets, the Saints were of his injured players.

0-6 in their black helmets. Starting with a 28-25 loss to the Min- Odds and ends nesota Vikings in London, they Cam Jordan led the final Who Dat proceeded to lose their next five chant of the season … New York games in the alternates by an av- finished Sunday’s game with 195 net yards of offense. It was the erage of 8.8 points per game.

Maybe Sunday’s win was a re- second time this season the Saints sult of a completely new uniform held a team below 200 yards of tocombination: New Orleans wore tal offense … Three Saints rookthe gold alternate jerseys that ies received fines from last week’s they’d debuted in Week 1 against win against Carolina: Devin Neal was the Arizona Cardinals, but this fined $5,015 for a violent gesture, uniform featured matching gold Kelvin Banks was fined $11,593 for pants. New Orleans wore black taunting and Danny Stutsman was pants in its Week 1 loss. fined $6,095 for illegal use of the helmet.

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 5C

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SAINTS 29, JETS 6 THREE AND OUT: JEFF DUNCAN’S TOP THREE TAKEAWAyS FROM SAINTS’ LAST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON

1

SHOUGH WAS OFFENSIVE CATALYST Saints quarterback Tyler Shough carried the offense for the second consecutive week, completing 32 of 49 passes (61%) for 308 yards and a touchdown. It was the first 300-yard passing game of Shough’s NFL career. The rookie sliced and diced the Jets defense with a high-precision, short passing game. Saints coach Kellen Moore has leaned heavily on this offensive strategy in recent weeks and Shough has proven to be effective at finding open receivers with quick, short strikes.

2

JORDAN IS AN AGELESS WONDER Saints defensive end Cam Jordan keeps defying Father Time. The Saints veteran continues to have a breakout season at the age of 36. He single-handedly derailed the Jets’ final drive before halftime with back-to-back sacks. He now has a team-high 81/2 sacks on the season. This is the ninth season of his 15-year career with at least eight sacks. His 130 career sacks moved him ahead of Rickey Jackson (128) for 17th on the NFL’s all-time list.

3

THE DEFENSE DOMINATED It was another strong performance by the Saints defense, which held the Jets without a touchdown and sacked rookie quarterback Brady Cook a season-high eight times. Seven different Saints defenders recorded sacks. The Saints limited the Jets to just 12 first downs and 195 yards total offense while holding them to 2 of 15 thirddown conversions. The defense has made a striking improvement in the second half of the season under first-year coordinator Brandon Staley.

‘A SPECIAL DAY’

Possible final Dome game sees Jordan, Hill deliver for Saints

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Before they played in Sunday’s win over the New York Jets, Cam Jordan and Taysom Hill processed what could have been their last game at the Caesars Superdome almost entirely differently.

Jordan was well-prepared for the possibility. The 36-year-old defensive end received a whopping 24 field passes for his family and friends, so they could enjoy the moment with him. Another 10 to 15 or so got access to his suite, he said. His sister flew in from Germany. His brother came from Arizona. Throw in his dad, cousins, agent and manager in the mix. Jordan knew it was going to be a party.

Hill? His family was there, too. But the moment didn’t hit the 35-year-old until he was driving on the way to the stadium, thinking about the last nine years and what they had meant.

Hours later, recalling his commute, Hill started to cry.

“You just try to take it all in,” Hill said. “We had a great experience here tonight. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but it was a special day for me and my family.”

If this was it for Jordan and Hill in the Dome, they delivered quite the performances to go out on.

Jordan had back-to-back sacks on Jets quarterback Brady Cook and climbed his way up the all-time sack leader standings, while Hill threw a 38-yard touchdown and set an NFL record in the Saints’ home finale of the 2025 season.

The two will be free agents after the year, but have not made a decision — at least publicly — on whether they want to keep playing. The Saints would also need to show interest in retaining them, something that remains to be seen.

But on a day when rookie quarterback Tyler Shough topped 300 yards for the first time, and the Saints received contributions from a long list of young players, Jordan and Hill — two of the team’s oldest players — reminded plenty of people not to count them out just yet.

“Those guys are the best,” coach Kellen Moore said. “They’ve done this for a very long time in this league. They are the ultimate lead-by-example guys, and for them, the effort they put into

reached new levels last year due to a position coach he disliked, former defensive line coach Todd Grantham, and his reduced role. But the two sides have since smoothed their relationship thanks to a new staff and a role that better suits him. Though he’s played less than half the snaps since Chase Young’s return, Jordan is happy the Saints are at least using him at edge rusher.

“Apparently, I’m not a nose tackle,” said Jordan, who is now 17th on the NFL’s official all-time sack list.

Hill’s performance, by contrast, was more unexpected. Since coming back from a serious knee injury, and combined with his age, Hill had lacked his usual explosiveness and wasn’t nearly as effective when called upon. That again looked like it was going to be the case Sunday when he fumbled on the Saints’ opening drive and the Jets recovered.

But fittingly, Hill made up for that mistake by contributing in a number of ways. He converted a fake punt. The quarterback caught four passes for 36 yards, becoming the first player in the Super Bowl era to have at least 1,000 yards passing, rushing and receiving.

STAFF PHOTOS By DAVID GRUNFELD He even appeared to haul in a touchSaints tight end Taysom Hill runs up the middle for a first down against the New down, though the score was wiped out york Jets during the first half of the game on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome. by a penalty.

Then there was the touchdown pass, this season … it’s really, really special. possibly the quarterback’s last. Moore “You even watch it on the field: These said afterward that he was determined guys are playing really good football to get Hill a score once his receiving right now.” touchdown was negated, something Between the two, Jordan’s day was Hill said he could tell by the play calls less of a surprise. The pass rusher that immediately followed. had already shown throughout the Others recognized the gesture, as year that he could contribute. His 81/ 2 well. Up late in the fourth, Chris Olave was supposed to be out of the game sacks lead the Saints, and with his two when he learned that the Saints were sacks Sunday, Jordan earned another about to call the play for Hill to air it $800,000 as part of a contract bonus out. from his reworked deal in the offseaOlave wasn’t going anywhere. son. Jordan considers the payment a “I definitely wanted to be a part of “recouping” of what he was owed, in that,” Olave said. part because he believes he can still “Honestly, I was a little bit surprised perform at a high level. He has long when it came in,” Hill said with a smile, said he only needs an opportunity to later adding, “God, it was a great way show what he can do. to seal a game.”

Even if Jordan never lost confidence When the game was over, both playalong the way, his year has changed perceptions. Instead of wondering ers made sure to soak in the moment if Jordan will — or should — retire, a little while longer — just in case this Saints fans likely wonder what it will was it. Jordan posed for photos on the cost to bring the pass rusher back for Superdome turf with his family, who a 16th season. New Orleans has needed were holding up multiple “fat heads” his production, which is at its highest Saints defensive end Cam Jordan of Jordan’s head shots throughout his since 2022, when he also finished with 15-year career. Hill also lingered with starts the Who Dat chant before a 8.5 sacks. his group, though he stopped to take Jordan even saw the dynamic shift game against the New york Jets on pictures with security guards and othfirsthand by how those closest to him Sunday. er workers. approached his potential final game in Then, eventually, they made their the Dome — a storyline he admittedly man, the way I almost body-slammed way to the exits, unsure if they’d be went through in 2024. a coach.’ I said, ‘Hey man, it might be here again next year.

“This year, everybody texted me headed this way.’ And then now, every(for tickets),” Jordan said. “Last year, body’s trying to parktake.”

Email Matthew Paras at matt.

I was texting everybody. I said, ‘Hey, Jordan’s frustration with the Saints paras@theadvocate.com

RESULTS

Sept. 7

L

20-13

Sept. 14

L

26-21

Sept. 21

L

44-13

Sept. 28

L

31-19

Oct. 5

W

26-14

Oct. 12

L

25-19

Oct. 19

L

26-14

Oct. 26

L

23-3

Nov. 2

L

34-10

Nov. 9

17-7 W Nov. 23

L

24-10

Nov. 30

L

21-17

Dec. 7

WALKER

Continued from page 1C fans want to return to the Dome next season and make the building as loud as it used to be. This was a chance to show Saints fans that the future is indeed bright.

First-year Saints head coach Kellen Moore knew how important that was, which is why he made finishing up in the Dome with a bang a point of emphasis all week.

“Let’s finish off the right way,” Moore said. “This has been an awesome place for building something really special. When we play in this Dome, special things can happen.

We’ve allowed the last couple wins to help the crowd get into it and we can build from there.”

Let’s be clear.

Beating the lowly Jets (3-12) won’t have the national media raving about the Saints on Monday morning. And it shouldn’t.

But if you’re a Saints fan, you can probably stick your chest out a little further this offseason knowing that Moore seems to have this team heading in the right direction. You’ll be

able to talk a little bit more smack this summer than you did this past one. The Saints took care of business against the Jets, which hasn’t always been the case. Moore somehow steadied the ship. A team that was once 1-8 has now won four of its past six games to improve to 5-10.

With two games remaining, the Saints have already exceeded the 4.5 over/under on wins that the oddsmakers in Vegas projected.

And they probably have exceeded the expectations of first-year Jets coach Aaron Glenn.

Glenn, who played for the Jets and Saints and was once a Saints assistant, only did a virtual interview with the team in January when the head coaching position was open. Instead, he accepted the Jets’ job.

But Sunday made one thing clear.

The Saints are in a much better position than the Jets. The Saints have found their quarterback in rookie Tyler Shough, who threw for over 300 yards for the first time in his career.

The Jets, meanwhile, will go into the offseason still trying to find theirs.

The Saints sacked Jets undrafted rookie Brady Cook eight times and intercepted him once.

The Saints’ defense and the devel-

opment of Shough look promising.

Especially considering Shough was playing behind a makeshift offensive line and with very few of the weapons the Saints started the season with.

The Saints led just 9-6 at halftime, but outscored the Jets 20-0 the rest of the way. The day went so well for the Saints that Moore couldn’t even remember how many game balls he passed out after the game.

“I’ll have to tally them up later,” Moore said. “It was a healthy list.”

It ended up being 13. They ranged from old timers like Cam Jordan (2 sacks) and Taysom Hill (1 TD pass, 42 rushing yards, 36 receiving yards) to rookies like Shough (308 passing yards) and kicker Charlie Smyth, who had never played in an NFL game until three weeks ago. Smyth tied a franchise record with five field goals.

“I see a bright future with all the guys we have,” Jordan said. “I’m mad it took us this long to find some success. Once you find some success, you find out how to win. Winning, for some reason, feels better. The drinks, lemonade or whatever you like to drink, goes down smoother.”

And the Who Dat chants become a little louder. And sometimes when the game gets out of hand, those chants

come a little sooner. This time, they came just moments after rookie Jonas Sanker picked off a pass with 9:17 left to pretty much seal this win. The Saints were leading 22-6 at the time, plenty of cushion against a team like the Jets.

“It’s momentum,” said Saints safety Justin Reid. “We are building something here. We are not tucking away. We are not coasting. We can attack the offseason feeling confident in who we are and what our identity is, so we can come in next year and dominate the division. We are the best team in the NFC South right now. Unfortunately, we can’t make the playoffs.”

But in a season that started with so much frustration, they can still give the fans something to cheer about.

Reid was born and raised in Louisiana, so he knows how important that is.

“When you win, the whole city glows,” Reid said. “The whole city is happy. Everyone has a great time.

The bars are going to be full tonight.”

A win like Sunday’s should have the Dome full, too, when the Saints return home next season.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com.

W

24-20

Dec. 14

W

20-17

Dec. 21

29-6 W

Dec. 28 at Titans Noon

Jan. 4 Falcons TBD

6C ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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PRO FOOTBALL NFL ROUNDUP

Lawrence’s 4 TDs propel Jaguars past Broncos

By The Associated Press DENVER — Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score, leading Jacksonville to a resounding 34-20 win that snapped Denver’s 11-game winning streak.

The AFC South-leading Jaguars (11-4) won their sixth straight game and handed the Broncos (12-3) their first loss since Week 3. It was also Denver’s first loss at home since Oct. 13, 2024, snapping the Broncos’ 12-game home winning streak.

The Broncos’ lead over the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West was sliced to a single game. The teams play in Week 18.

After Broncos rookie RJ Harvey pinballed his way for a 38yard touchdown to tie it at 17 on the opening drive of the second half, it was all Jacksonville.

Lawrence scored on a 1-yard keeper, then hit Parker Washington for 63 yards to set up Travis Etienne Jr.’s 10-yard TD catch.

After Bo Nix fumbled his exchange with running back Jaleel McLaughlin, Lawrence drove Jacksonville on its fifth consecutive score, a 26-yard field goal by Cam Little that made it 34-17 early in the fourth quarter.

Parker caught six passes for a career-best 145 yards and a TD. CHARGERS 34, COWBOYS 17: In Arlington, Texas, Justin Herbert threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score and Los Angeles closed in on a playoff spot with a victory over Dallas.

The Chargers’ fourth consecutive victory gave them a chance later in the day to clinch their second postseason berth in two seasons under coach Jim Harbaugh.

LA (11-4) would be in with a loss or tie by either Indianapolis or Houston.

Dak Prescott had TD passes on his first two drives but couldn’t find the end zone again for Dallas, which was eliminated from the playoffs for the second year in a row with Philadelphia’s NFC East-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DAVID ZALUBOWSKI

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence runs for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos in Denver on Sunday. clinching victory at Washington on Saturday.

VIKINGS 16, GIANTS 13: In East Rutherford, New Jersey, J.J. McCarthy ran for a touchdown before leaving with an injury to his right, throwing hand, and backup quarterback Max Brosmer helped Minnesota win its third game in a row, beating New York in a matchup of teams eliminated from playoff contention.

McCarthy was injured on a strip sack by Brian Burns in the final minute of the first half, when it appeared the Vikings (7-8) were going to let the clock run out. Instead, Burns forced McCarthy to fumble with a crushing hit and Tyler Nubin returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.

Brosmer led a go-ahead scoring drive in the fourth quarter that ended with Will Reichard making a 30-yard field goal. The rookie

completed 7 of 9 passes for 52 yards in his fourth NFL appearance and first since throwing four interceptions Nov. 30 in a 26-0 loss at Seattle.

BENGALS 45, DOLPHINS 21: In Miami Gardens, Florida, former LSU star Joe Burrow rebounded from his first time being shut out to throw for 309 yards and four touchdowns as Cincinnati routed Miami.

Miami (6-9) and Cincinnati (5-10) were both eliminated from playoff contention last week, but the teams insisted they were still motivated for the final three games of the season.

It appeared that way in the first half. Cincinnati held a 17-14 halftime lead before blowing the game open with 28 points off four straight Dolphins turnovers.

BILLS 23, BROWNS 20: In Cleveland, James Cook rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, Josh Allen

played through a foot injury and the Buffalo Bills drew closer to a playoff berth with a victory over Cleveland.

Ty Johnson also had a rushing score for the Bills (11-4), who have won four straight and five of six.

Allen played the second half despite injuring his right foot during the second quarter.

TITANS 26, CHIEFS 9: In Nashville, Tennessee, Cam Ward threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, and Tennessee snapped an 11game home skid by beating Kansas City.

The Titans (3-12) improved to 1-7 at home this season with their first win at Nissan Stadium since Nov. 3, 2024. The skid matched the franchise’s worst since moving to Tennessee in 1997.

With two games left, the Chiefs (6-9) are assured of their first losing record since 2012 — their most

recent season without Andy Reid as their coach. Kansas City has lost four straight, its longest skid since 2017, and six of seven.

FALCONS 26, CARDINALS 19: In Glendale, Arizona, Bijan Robinson gained 171 yards from scrimmage and had a touchdown catch, Kirk Cousins threw two TD passes and ran for a score, and Atlanta held on to beat Arizona.

The Falcons (6-9) won for the second straight week, with both coming on the road.

Arizona’s defense made a fourthdown stop at its own 40-yard line with 2:05 left, setting up a chance to tie the game or take the lead, but Atlanta’s C.J. Henderson made a diving interception of Jacoby Brissett’s pass with 1:30 remaining to seal it.

TEXANS 23, RAIDERS 21: In Houston, C.J. Stroud threw a touchdown pass, Derek Stingley returned an interception for a score and Houston beat Las Vegas for their seventh straight victory and the Raiders’ ninth loss in a row.

Houston (10-5) has its longest winning streak since a nine-game run in 2018. The Texans remain a game behind first-place Jacksonville — a winner in Denver on Sunday — in the AFC South. The Raiders are 2-13.

Stingley’s touchdown came in the first quarter, and Ka’imi Fairbairn made three field goals to help the Texans to the win on a day when their offense struggled.

STEELERS 29, LIONS 24: In Detroit, Pittsburgh pushed Detroit to the brink of elimination from the playoffs, holding on for a win when Jared Goff’s touchdown on the final play was negated by an offensive pass-interference penalty on Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Goff threw a fourth-down pass to St. Brown just short of the goal line. The receiver pushed off cornerback Jalen Ramsey to get free, and before the Steelers could bring St. Brown to the ground, he threw the quarterback a lateral to set up an apparent score.

Panthers beat Bucs and Eagles eye bigger goals after take over the NFC South winning another NFC East title

By The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The playoffstarved Carolina Panthers left the locker room Sunday happy, but not yet satisfied.

The Panthers finally figured out a way to beat Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a 23-20 victory that gave them sole possession of first place in the NFC South with two games remaining. But they are well aware they may need to do it again in Week 18 to earn their first division title in a decade and snap a seven-year playoff drought.

Carolina (8-7) could wrap up with the NFC South next Sunday with a win over Seattle and a Tampa Bay (7-8) loss to Miami. However, if the Bucs beat the Dolphins, Carolina would need to beat Tampa Bay in the regular-season finale to end the Bucs’ four-year reign as division champions.

Panthers coach Dave Canales said the team’s locker room is filled with “hope and belief” that the franchise’s fortunes could be about to change.

“Everything is right in front of us still,” Canales said. “To give ourselves a chance to play meaningful football at this time of the year, those guys have earned that. They have earned because of the work they put in and being accountable to each other.”

And because third-year quarterback Bryce Young continues to make big plays when it matters most.

Young threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns, and rookie safety Lathan Ransom intercepted Mayfield with 42 seconds left. Of Young’s 14 wins as an NFL starter, 12 have come on game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime.

“We have the utmost confidence in Bryce,” said tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, who caught a 6-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter after Young eluded three defenders in the pocket. “He isn’t our quarterback for no reason. Everything he has gone through to get to this point today, the resilience and the mental toughness and the way he carries himself, it all plays a part in that.”

BY AARON BRACY Associated Press

AP PHOTO By JACOB KUPFERMAN

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan celebrates after scoring against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.

It was the third straight loss for the reeling Buccaneers, who were hoping the return of injured wide receiver Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan might spark a playoff run.

“The biggest thing is our confidence is good and our camaraderie is good,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “But that’s not enough right now. It’s the execution that we’re lacking and missing a few things here and there. ... Hopefully, in two weeks we get a chance to see them again and play for something.”

The Panthers were coming off a heartbreaking loss last Sunday to New Orleans on a last-second field goal, aided by a late hit by Ransom on sliding quarterback Tyler Shough on the final drive. The flag pushed the Saints safely into field goal range for the win.

But Ranson got his redemption on Sunday.

With the Bucs down 23-20 and driving for the go-ahead score — or at least the tying field goal — there was a miscommunication on a second-and-9 pass play at the Carolina 42 between Mayfield and Evans, and Ransom made a sliding catch for the interception.

“I was trying to find a lane to step through and make a throw to him,” Mayfield said. “(Evans) thought I was going to scramble, which based on some of the scrambles earlier to that, so you can’t blame him.”

The Philadelphia Eagles have their sights on something bigger after becoming the first repeat NFC East champion in 20 years with their win over Washington.

The defending Super Bowl champs played one of their most complete games of the season offensively and defensively against the Commanders to clinch the division, marking the first time since Philadelphia won four in a row between 2001–04 that any NFC East team captured consecutive titles.

“Obviously, in this division, we’ve seen the data says it’s hard to repeat as winners in this division,” coach Nick Siranni said.

“We’ll celebrate it. We’ve got a lot to clean up. And then we got a lot more goals on our mind.”

Namely, a second straight Lombardi Trophy.

Two weeks ago, that would have been laughed off by even the most ardent Eagles fans after three straight losses had Philadelphia looking nothing like the team that defeated Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. But things can change quickly in the NFL and the Eagles followed a 31-0 get-well home blowout of the hapless Raiders on Dec. 14 with a really strong showing at Washington.

Jalen Hurts looked as good as he has all season while throwing for 185 yards and a pair of touchdowns, with a 111.1 passer rating, and rushing for 40 more yards.

The same can be said for running back Saquon Barkley, who gained 132 yards and a score on 21 carries, including a punishing 12yard TD run in the fourth quarter during which he broke at least five tackles to reach the end zone. He later broke off a 48-yard scamper to help ice the game.

Afterward, their comments about winning the division were muted compared to the outstanding performances they had just put forth.

“There’s a first time for everything,” Hurts said. “So, I’m just

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts talks to the media during a news conference following a game on Saturday in Landover, Md. happy we were able to check that off the box.”

Said Barkley: “It’s a big deal. But it’s kinda like, you enjoy it for — you’re going to enjoy it now, take the day off, and then right back to work.”

What’s working Offense and defense. Hurts looked as sharp as he has all season in connecting with receivers, eluding the pass rush and finding running lanes when the pass protection broke down. He found A.J. Brown plenty, too, hitting the star receiver nine times for 95 yards on 12 targets in a season that has seen Brown disgruntled at times by what he felt like was a diminished role. But the two are back to making plays like they did on Philadelphia’s championship run last season.

Barkley won’t reach 2,000 yards on the ground this season like a year ago, but he now has rushed for 1,072 yards and appears to be finding his stride after admittedly saying he was in a funk earlier in the season. Tight end Dallas Goedert has been consistent all season and made a stellar, leaping 15-yard touchdown with 3:27 left in the third quarter that put Philadelphia ahead for good.

Defensively, the Eagles held Washington to 130 passing yards, making it three consecutive games in which opposing offenses have

failed to reach 150 yards through the air. Defensive back Cooper DeJean had a key interception of third-stringer Josh Johnson with 32 seconds left in the third quarte.

Defensive tackle Jordan Davis made six tackles, four of which were solo, and stuffed the Commanders’ rushing attack.

What needs help Special teams. Will Shipley fumbled the opening kickoff return, setting Washington up for a chip-shot field goal to open the scoring. Of even bigger concern was the play of Jake Elliott. The normally reliable kicker officially missed two field goals, from 43 and 52 yards, and didn’t connect on a 57-yarder that was nullified due to penalty. All three were wide left.

Stock up Goedert. After making his 10th touchdown reception, he’s one away from breaking the singleseason club record by tight ends, set by Pete Retzlaff in 1965.

Stock down Tush Push. Philadelphia’s once seemingly unstoppable shortyardage play has suddenly bottomed out. The Eagles were unsuccessful on all three tries against the Commanders, getting stopped once and twice being pushed back 5 yards by their own false starts.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 7C

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Rivers, Colts ready to take on the 49ers

BY MICHAEL MAROT AP sportswriter

INDIANAPOLIS — The last time Philip Rivers suited up inside Lucas Oil Stadium, he and his Indianapolis Colts teammates clinched a playoff spot.

A lot has changed in those five years.

Rivers left the NFL, started coaching high school football in Alabama, became a grandfather and ä 49ers at Colts, shocked 7:15 P.M. MONDAy, ESPN the world by coming out of retirement and nearly leading the Colts to a victory last week in Seattle.

He returned to his former team with old friend Shane Steichen calling the plays for a franchise under new ownership. And on Monday night, he’ll be playing in front of a near capacity home crowd — something he didn’t get to do during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic year.

Still, two things have not

you get to play football, potentially, for four more weeks and maybe then some.’ And as long as I can live with the results, both good or bad, and go back home and move on, then I was willing to go for it, and I was able to get to that place mentally.”

While many around the league — from Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Tennessee defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons — lauded Rivers’ effort to make a comeback, most were intrigued to see how Rivers would play.

Yes, he does have some physical limitations, and, yes, concerns about his mobility, his ability to throw deep and the long layoff ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON prompted Steichen to take a safer approach in last week’s 18-16 loss Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers throws against the Seattle at Seattle.

Seahawks on Dec. 14 in Seattle.

While Indy leaned heavily on its ground game and a short passing changed: Rivers remains stuck next three weeks or he wouldn’t be game to protect Rivers from takon 134 career wins and the Colts playing. ing needless hits, he still went 18 haven’t reached the playoffs since “I know the NFL is a big deal and of 27 with 120 yards and threw an he was Indy’s starter the last time. this, and it can be whatever it can interception on Indy’s final offenThe 44-year-old quarterback be- be,” Rivers said after rejoining sive play.

The Colts (8-6) lost their fourth lieves he can achieve both over the the Colts. “But to me, it’s like ‘Hey,

straight game to remain one spot outside the AFC’s seven-team playoff field, and Rivers acknowledged this week he must be better over the final three games to save Indy’s fading playoff hopes.

Still, the 49ers (10-4) know what they’re up against. Three years ago, when San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan was looking for stability at quarterback, he reached out to Rivers. Because the need didn’t actually arise until the NFC championship game, Rivers never signed.

But after studying last week’s tape, Shanahan believes Rivers still has what it takes.

“I see a guy who knows how to play the position as good as anyone,” Shanahan said. “I think he had 27 throws in that game and every ball goes right to the exact spot. He attacked their coverages great. He played against a very good pass rush and was able to get rid of the ball. He’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever watched, and he definitely helped that team.”

SCOREBOARD Odds

Monday’s games

Sports Betting Line NFL

College football

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.

San Francisco at Indianapolis, 7:15 p.m.

Monday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG San Francisco 6½ 5½ (46½) at IND

College Football

Tuesday’s game Salute to Veterans Bowl

Jacksonville State 17, Troy 13

Wednesday’s games

Monday

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

Cure Bowl

Old Dominion 24, South Florida 10

68 Ventures Bowl

College basketball

Delaware 20, UL 13

Thursday’s games

State men’s schedule

Xbox Bowl

Saturday’s games

Arkansas State 34, Missouri State 28

Northwestern State 108, SUNO 55 UL 76, UL-Monroe 62 Tulane 63, Portland State 61

Friday’s games

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Sunday’s games

Kennesaw State 41, Western Michigan 6 N.C. State 31, Memphis 7

Baylor 111, Southern 67 Nicholls at Pacific, n

First round No. 11 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24

Dallas Christian at Louisiana Tech, 1 p.m.

Prairie View A&M at LSU, 6 p.m.

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

College Football Playoff

Sunday’s games EAST

Pro football

Tuesday’s games

Wednesday

Hawai’i Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O-U UNDERDOG Cal 1½ 1½ (54½) Hawaii

Friday

Gasparilla Bowl

First round No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3 No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 17 Tulane 10 No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 19 James Madison 34

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Boise, Idaho Utah St. vs. Washington St., 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Boca Raton Bowl

New Orleans Bowl

Boca Raton, Fla. Louisville vs. Toledo, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

New England Buffalo e-Miami e-N.Y. Jets

W 11 11 6 3

L 3 4 9 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .786 .733 .400 .200

PF 382 434 317 282

PA 276 344 369 426

Jacksonville Houston Indianapolis e-Tennessee

W 11 10 8 3

L 4 5 6 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .733 .667 .571 .200

PF 410 346 392 251

PA 312 249 303 403

Pittsburgh Baltimore e-Cincinnati e-Cleveland

W 9 7 5 3

L 6 7 10 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .600 .500 .333 .200

PF 365 335 359 246

PA 350 320 458 355

x-Denver L.A. Chargers e-Kansas City e-Las Vegas

W 12 11 6 2

L 3 4 9 13

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .733 .400 .133

PF 362 349 337 217

PA 295 301 294 386

West

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East L 5 8 11 13

T 0 1 0 0

Pct .667 .433 .267 .133

PF 349 424 309 313

PA 289 454 404 412

W Carolina 8 Tampa Bay 7 e-Atlanta 6 e-New Orleans 5

L 7 8 9 10

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .533 .467 .400 .333

PF 287 347 307 255

PA 337 377 360 338

W 11 9 8 7

L 4 5 7 8

T 0 1 0 0

Pct .733 .633 .533 .467

PF 387 364 452 305

PA 354 303 374 320

W L T x-Seattle 12 3 0 x-L.A. Rams 11 4 0 x-San Francisco 10 4 0 e-Arizona 3 12 0 e-Eliminated from playoffs x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division

Pct .800 .733 .714 .200

PF 443 457 344 321

PA 279 299 293 414

North

x-Chicago Green Bay Detroit e-Minnesota

West

Thursday’s games

Seattle 38, L.A. Rams 37, OT

Saturday’s games

Philadelphia 29, Washington 18 Chicago 22, Green Bay 16, OT

Sunday’s games

SOUTH

Alabama 92, Kennesaw State 81 Charleston 85, Northern Kentucky 74 Charlotte 88, UIC 76, OT Chattanooga 73, Alabama A&M 66 Clemson 68, Cincinnati 65 Florida 90, Colgate 60 Furman 84, Charleston Southern 76 George Mason 86, Loyola (Md) 79 Miami (FL) 105, North Florida 67 Middle Tennessee 74, Cumberland University 58 North Carolina State 76, Ole Miss 62 Radford 97, VMI 90 South Florida 94, UMBC 69 Tennessee 94, Gardner-Webb 52 UAB 72, UNC Asheville 47 UNC Greensboro 131, Virginia-Lynchburg 53 Vanderbilt 98, Wake Forest 67 Winthrop 107, Clinton College 41

New Orleans Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Frisco Bowl

Frisco, Texas Ohio vs. UNLV, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Wednesday’s game Hawai’i Bowl

Honolulu Cal vs. Hawaii, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 26 games

GameAbove Sports Bowl

Detroit Central Michigan vs. Northwestern, noon (ESPN)

MIDWEST

Rate Bowl

Phoenix New Mexico vs. Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

First Responder Bowl

Dallas FIU vs. UTSA, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

FCS Playoffs

W y-Philadelphia 10 e-Dallas 6 e-Washington 4 e-N.Y. Giants 2

South

Boston University 88, UMass Lowell 76 Cornell 83, Albany 75 Delaware State 73, Holy Family 61 Drexel 74, Maine 56 Hofstra 74, Quinnipiac 66 Manhattan 87, Presbyterian 81 Marist 70, Stony Brook 51 Monmouth 76, Lehigh 62 Mount St Marys 73, Penn State-Brandywine 42 Navy 70, Rosemont College 23 Pittsburgh 80, Penn State 46

Monday’s game

AMERICAN CONFERENCE East

North

Men’s National scores

Saturday’s games

NFL Glance

South

Monday’s games

College Football Playoff

Buffalo 23, Cleveland 20 Carolina 23, Tampa Bay 20 Cincinnati 45, Miami 21 L.A. Chargers 34, Dallas 17 Minnesota 16, N.Y. Giants 13 New Orleans 29, N.Y. Jets 6 Tennessee 26, Kansas City 9 Atlanta 26, Arizona 19 Jacksonville 34, Denver 20 Houston 23, Las Vegas 21 Pittsburgh 29, Detroit 24 New England at Baltimore, n

Villanova (12-2) vs. Illinois St. (11-4), n Montana St. 48 Montana 23

Late Saturday

No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 17 Tulane 10 Tulane Ole Miss

0 14

First quarter

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.

Bradley 73, Southern Illinois 69 Drake 66, Evansville 65 Illinois State 85, Indiana State 65 Iowa State 91, Long Beach State 60 Michigan 102, La Salle 50 Milwaukee 81, Cleveland State 71 Minnesota 78, Campbell 50 Murray State 85, Valparaiso 79 Purdue Fort Wayne 72, Notre Dame 69 Saint Louis 93, New Hampshire 79 UConn 72, DePaul 54 Wichita State 88, Eastern Kentucky 57

SOUTHWEST

Baylor 111, Southern University 67 Incarnate Word 90, Northern Arizona 66 Oklahoma State 94, Cal State Fullerton 89 SMU 99, Central Arkansas 82 Stephen F. Austin 103, Dallas 55 TCU 80, Florida A&M 56 Texas A&M 118, East Texas A&M 77 UC Irvine 74, North Dakota State 73

FAR WEST

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 3 46 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,

California 74, Columbia 56 Gonzaga 91, Oregon 82 New Mexico State 87, Sam Houston 78 Oregon State 78, Arizona State 75 Pacific 95, Nicholls State 82 San Francisco 94, Morgan State 64 UC Davis 93, Idaho State 83 USC 102, UC Santa Cruz 63

State women’s schedule 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

Sunday’s games

Mercer-Detroit 70, Tulane 67 Northwestern State 60, Lamar 57 LSU 110, Texas-Arlington 45 Southern Methodist 74, Southern 62

Monday’s games

LeTourneau University at Grambling, noon

Women’s National scores Sunday’s games EAST

Akron 94, Le Moyne 68 Albany 52, Hofstra 43 American 65, UMBC 61 Bryant 72, Franklin Pierce 45

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Duquesne 84, Pittsburgh 69 Fairfield 84, Merrimack 65 Fordham 86, St. Francis (PA) 61 George Washington 75, Northwestern 62 Holy Cross 78, UMass Lowell 56 Loyola (MD) 65, Morgan State 58 Maine 59, Harvard 57 Mount St Marys 65, Iona 55 Providence 68, Georgetown 61, OT Quinnipiac 76, Marist 67 Richmond 70, Penn State 54 Sacred Heart 61, Rider 59 Saint Joseph’s 73, Delaware 66 Saint Peter’s 81, Niagara 72 Siena 73, Canisius 56 West Virginia 101, Houston 46

Southwest Division

SOUTH

Alabama 77, Troy 59 Bradley 62, Northern Kentucky 61 Clemson 84, North Florida 62 Cleveland State 82, Puerto Rico-Bayamon 45 Detroit Mercy 59, Delaware State 46 East Carolina 81, Campbell 59 East Tennessee State 51, Charlotte 50 Elon 58, Norfolk State 41 Georgia 82, Coppin State 55 Jacksonville State 74, Presbyterian 39 LSU 110, UT Arlington 45 Longwood 98, UNC Wilmington 72 Mercer 70, Tulane 67, OT Miami (FL) 85, Kennesaw State 55 North Carolina 93, Charleston Southern 74 North Carolina State 68, Davidson 59 Northwestern State 60, Lamar 57 South Florida 86, Navy 74 Tulsa 74, Florida 67 Virginia Tech 79, Radford 47 West Georgia 72, Florida A&M 57

MIDWEST

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 Orlando 128, Utah 127, OT Portland 98, Sacramento 93 L.A. Clippers 103, L.A. Lakers 88 Golden State 119, Phoenix 116

Sunday’s games

Chicago 152, Atlanta 150 Brooklyn 96, Toronto 81 New York 132, Miami 125 Minnesota 103, Milwaukee 100 San Antonio 124, Washington 113 Houston at Sacramento, n

Monday’s games

INDIANA (109)

NEW ORLEANS (128)

Arizona State 79, Colorado 63 Gonzaga 68, UC Riverside 62 Loyola Marymount 76, Southern Utah 68 Portland 98, Portland State 53 San Jose State 61, Sacramento State 56 Stanford 64, Oregon 53 Washington 90, Pacific 50 Weber State 74, Omaha 61

No. 5 LSU 110, Texas-Arlington 45

TEXAS-ARLINGTON (6-6)

Mila Reynolds 2-10 2-2 6, Kira Reynolds 1-7 5-6 7, Atchison 2-10 0-0 6, Haizlip 1-3 2-2 5, Amiyah Reynolds 1-4 1-2 3, Bello 0-2 0-0 0, Rodriguez 1-1 2-3 4, Goudeau 0-4 1-2 1, Robinson 2-7 3-5 7, Sellers 2-4 2-2 6, Totals 12-52 18-24 45

LSU (13-0)

Joyner 6-7 2-3 14, Koval 2-7 3-3 7, Johnson 6-10 0-2 14, Richard 3-6 3-4 10, Williams 1-6 5-8 7, Knox 10-18 5-6 25, Yarnevich 1-3 2-5 4, Bourrage 0-2 0-0 0, Fulwiley 9-15 5-8 23, Hines 2-8 1-1 6, Totals 40-82 26-40 110 Texas-Arlington 10 11 14 10 — 45 LSU 27 30 26 27 — 110 3-Point Goals—Texas-Arlington 3-15 (M.Reynolds 0-5, Atchison 2-6, Haizlip 1-1, Goudeau 0-3), LSU 4-16 (Johnson 2-3, Richard 1-2, Williams 0-4, Fulwiley 0-3, Hines 1-4). Assists—Texas-Arlington 5 (M.Reynolds 2), LSU 18 (Johnson 4). Fouled Out—Texas-Arlington Bello, LSU Koval. Rebounds—Texas-Arlington 29 (Atchison 5), LSU 62 (Knox 12). Total Fouls—Texas-Arlington 28, LSU 22. Technical Fouls—Texas-Arlington Team 1. A—11,163.

Pro basketball NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Pct .786 .714 .607 .593 .571 .567 .517 .517 .500 .464 .379 .321 .296 .214 .185

GB — 4 4½ 5½ 6½ 6½ 10 11½ 12 13 14½ 14½ 18 18½ 19

Mathurin 2-9 0-0 4, Siakam 6-14 8-11 22, Huff 3-8 3-3 9, Nembhard 2-11 2-2 7, Q.Jackson 1-3 0-2 2, I.Jackson 1-4 2-4 4, Walker 2-11 2-3 7, Wiseman 3-5 0-0 6, Furphy 7-10 3-3 18, Mathews 2-2 1-2 7, McConnell 8-10 0-0 16, Thompson 3-7 0-0 7. Totals 40-94 21-30 109.

FAR WEST

L 6 8 11 11 12 13 14 14 15 15 18 19 19 22 22

Pct .893 .750 .741 .704 .680 .655 .536 .483 .464 .429 .379 .370 .250 .241 .214

New Orleans 128, Indiana 109

SMU 74, Southern University 62 Santa Clara 84, North Texas 72 Texas A&M 93, Prairie View A&M 60 Texas Tech 61, Baylor 60

W 22 20 17 16 16 17 15 15 15 13 11 9 8 6 5

Saturday’s games

L 3 7 7 8 8 10 13 15 15 16 18 17 21 22 22

Late Saturday

SOUTHWEST

Detroit New York Boston Philadelphia Orlando Toronto Cleveland Miami Atlanta Chicago Milwaukee Charlotte Brooklyn Indiana Washington

W 25 21 20 19 17 19 15 14 13 12 11 10 7 7 6

Charlotte at Cleveland, 6 p.m.

Indiana at Boston, 6:30 p.m.

Dallas at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Utah at Denver, 8 p.m.

Memphis at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m.

Detroit at Portland, 9 p.m.

Orlando at Golden State, 9 p.m.

Dayton 75, Evansville 66 Indiana 71, Western Carolina 44 Iowa State 79, Kansas 76 Lindenwood 87, Eastern Illinois 55 Michigan 97, Oakland 54 Michigan State 115, Indiana State 66 Minnesota 68, Drake 43 Missouri 84, North Alabama 57 Nebraska 87, California Baptist 56 Northern Iowa 58, St. Thomas 40 Notre Dame 110, Bellarmine 38 Oklahoma State 91, Cincinnati 63 Purdue 93, Jackson State 62 Texas 70, South Dakota State 51 Wisconsin 81, IUPUI 72

Atlantic Division

Oklahoma City San Antonio Denver L.A. Lakers Houston Minnesota Phoenix Golden State Memphis Portland Dallas Utah L.A. Clippers New Orleans Sacramento

Bey 6-14 5-5 18, Murphy III 5-8 5-5 17, Queen 8-8 0-0 17, Fears 2-6 1-2 5, H.Jones 2-6 0-0 5, Williamson 9-14 11-13 29, Matkovic 3-5 0-0 6, Peavy 3-4 0-0 8, Missi 2-3 0-0 4, Alvarado 1-5 0-0 3, Hawkins 0-2 0-0 0, Poole 4-10 7-9 16.

Totals 45-85 29-34 128.

Indiana 27 22 30 30 — 109 New Orleans 44 20 34 30 — 128 3-Point Goals—Indiana 8-42 (Mathews 2-2, Siakam 2-7, Furphy 1-3, Nembhard 1-4, Thompson 1-5, Walker 1-8, McConnell 0-2, Q.Jackson 0-2, Huff 0-4, Mathurin 0-5), New Orleans 9-27 (Peavy 2-2, Murphy III 2-5, Queen 1-1, H.Jones 1-2, Alvarado 1-4, Bey 1-4, Poole 1-7, Fears 0-1, Matkovic 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Indiana 42 (Huff 6), New Orleans 49 (Queen 10). Assists—Indiana 28 (McConnell 8), New Orleans 25 (Poole 6). Total Fouls—Indiana 26, New Orleans 25.

A—16,434 (16,867)

Transactions BASEBALL

Major League Baseball American League CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Agreed to terms with INF Munetaka Murakami on a two-year contract.

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Agreed to terms with RHP Shawn Armstrong.

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association NBA — Fined Minnesota coach Chris Finch $35,000 for directing inappropriate language towards game officials and failing to leave the court in a timely manner in the Dec. 19th game vs. Oklahoma City.

SAN ANTIONIO SPURS — Signed G Stanley Umude to a Two-Way contract. Waived G Kyle Mangas.

HOCKEY

GB — 2 5 5½ 6 6 7½ 7½ 8 9 11½ 13 13½ 16 16½

National Hockey League COLORADO AVALANCHE — Recalled D Ilya Solovyov from Colorado (AHL).

DETROIT RED WINGS — Reinstated F Mason Appleton from injured reserve.

EDMONTON OILERS — Sent F Quinn Hutson to Bakersfield (AHL). Reinstated F Jack Roslovic from long-term injured reserve.

Transferred D Connor Clattenburg from injured reserve to long-term injured reserve.

MINNESOTA WILD — Recalled F Ben Jones from Iowa (AHL).

MONTREAL CANADIENS — Recalled F Sammy Blais from Laval (AHL). Placed F Jake Evans on injured reserve.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Loaned F Nathan Legare to Utica (AHL).

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING — Sent F Jakob Pelletier to Syracuse (AHL).

SUNDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS RESULTS POST TIME: 12:45 PM Track Condition: fast

First Race — Purse $14,000, Claiming $5,000, 3 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs

1-Gold Plus (Lopez P.) $4.20 $3.20 $2.40 5-Thisoneisforyou (Pedroza, Jr. M.) $4.20 $3.20 3-Foxy Zorra (Castillo I.) $3.00 Also Ran: Spicy Italian, Sister Saint, She’s Extra.

Race Time: 1:11.60 Exacta (1-5) $8.90; Superfecta (1-5-3-6) $5.72; Trifecta (1-5-3) $11.45 Claimed: Spicy Italian ($5,000.00, Owner: L and G Racing Stables, Trainer: Cesar Govea)

Second Race — Purse $14,000, Claiming $5,000, 3 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs

8-Tap the Tequila (Castillo I.) $115.20 $35.00 $16.80 1-Sir Mack (Murray E.) $4.80 $3.60 4-Catchin Drama (Rea H.) $6.80 Also Ran: Righteous Freedom, Cash Holiday, Half Way There, Patek, Seeking a Soldier, Pasketee, Queen’s Knight.

Race Time: 1:12.79 Daily Double (1-8) $99.30; Exacta (8-1) $406.00; Superfecta (8-1-4-10) $1,516.13; Trifecta (8-1-4) $961.85 Claimed: Half Way There ($5,000.00, Owner: Thomas Ajubita and Sturges Ducoing, Trainer: Sturges Ducoing)

Third Race — Purse $54,000, Maiden special weight, 2 yo, Five And A Half Furlongs

7-Geaux Crazy (Hernandez, Jr. B.) $16.80 $6.20 $3.60 5-Paradise Ridge (Vives S.) $6.40 $3.80 $2.10 6-Bright Note (Loveberry J.) Also Ran: Love Getaway, Lil Bit Forgotten, Custom Value, Mo Simple, Bistineau Beauty.

Late Scratches: Annala Race Time: 1:03.45 Daily Double (8-7) $240.70; Exacta (7-5) $68.20; Superfecta (7-5-6-1) $58.86; Trifecta (7-5-6) $113.25; Pic 3 (1-8-7) $886.85

Fourth Race — Purse $22,000, Maiden Claiming $30,000, 3 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs 5-To the Chief (Riquelme J.)

$57.80 $21.40 $8.60

8-Wizard of Yester (Ortiz J.) $6.00 $3.80 3-Somekinda Mischief (Curtis B.) $3.20 Also Ran: (dh)Lemon Sohn, (dh)Spielman, Mazilynn, Faith’s Spirit.

Late Scratches: One Grand Slam Race Time: 1:10.38 Daily Double (7-5) $236.50; Exacta (5-8) $89.60; Superfecta (5-8-3-4) $95.66; Superfecta (5-8-3-6) $136.93; Trifecta (5-8-3) $164.05; Pic 3 (8-7-5) $2,685.05

Fifth Race — Purse $54,000, Maiden special weight, 3 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs

4-Kin to the Wicked (Ortiz J.) $3.40 $2.60 $2.20 6-Southern Queen (Graham J.) $14.20 $11.20 1-All You (Concepcion A.) $9.00 Also Ran: It’s Been Real, The Rain Is Gone, Bronze Legacy, John’s June, My Other Half, Totally Mitole.

Race Time: 1:11.42 Daily Double (5-4) $113.70; Exacta (4-6) $34.40; Superfecta (4-6-1-8) $94.32; Trifecta (4-6-1) $150.80; Pic 3 (7-54) $1,254.45; Pic 4 (8-7-5-4) $8,615.00; Pic 5 (1/4-8-7-5-4) $39,859.80

Sixth Race — Purse $30,000, Maiden optional claiming $50,000, 2 yo, One Mile Seventy Yards

1-Different Gravy (Curtis B.) $6.80 $4.00 $3.60 2-Flash of Chaos (Hernandez, Jr. B.) $3.20 $2.80 3-Athletic Like (Castillo I.) $7.60 Also Ran: Election Night, One Tough Road, Graceful Standard, Improbable Dream, Orville’s Map. Late Scratches: Liberty’s Champion Race Time: 1:43.18 Daily Double (4-1) $9.90; Exacta (1-2) $7.80; Superfecta (12-3-9) $31.35; Trifecta (1-2-3) $24.25; Pic 3 (5-4-1) $225.40

Seventh Race — Purse $60,000, Allowance, 3 yo’s & up, Five And A Half Furlongs

6-Heart Headed (Ortiz J.) $5.00 $3.40 $2.40 1-(dq)Usually Wrong (Castillo I.) $3.60 $3.00 $5.20 5-Henro (Pedroza, Jr. M.) Also Ran: Mondogetsbuckets, Champlin, High Front.

Race Time: 1:01.96 Daily Double (1-6) $9.80; Exacta (6-1) $9.90; Superfecta (61-5-4) $28.63; Trifecta (6-1-5) $29.15; Pic 3 (4-1-6) $11.90 Handle: $0

8C ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Kuchar ends year with emotional PNC win with son

BY DOUG FERGUSON

Kuchar and his son each got the Willie Park Trophy, a red belt that Kuchar jokingly said would wear well with his tartan jacket he won from Harbour Town at the RBC Heritage.

The PNC Championship, which began in 1995 as the Father-Son Challenge, is for major champions and their children. It has been expanded over the years to include The Players Championship winners, senior and LPGA major champions. Players have also brought parents or daughters.

Kuchar, who won The Players Championship in 2012, said he keeps photos to go with the trophies from most of his nine PGA Tour victories. In early victories, he could hold both sons. And then they were too big to hold. The most recent photo taken Sunday afternoon leaves him heartbroken.

“And now to have this shot with the family, it’s clearly missing ... missing one,” he said, pausing because his voice was so choked with emotion. “But it’s special, very special.”

So was their golf, and it was a runaway from the start. Cameron Kuchar, who has signed to play for TCU next year, birdied the first hole and his father hit hybrid to 12

Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — Matt Kuchar couldn’t imagine a better ending to a year when he lost his father than to finally win the PNC Championship with his son. There was no stopping them Sunday in a recordsmashing performance that led to an 18-under 54 and a whopping seven-shot victory.

The tournament that is all about family and fun ended with Kuchar wiping away tears as his voice cracked while speaking about how much it meant without his father, who died in February.

The finish was simply surreal to him.

Cameron Kuchar, who was able to use one tee box forward as a high school student, hammered another drive and watched his father hit 7-iron to 18 inches. Kuchar gave his son the honor of tapping in for the final touch on an unforgettable week for the Kuchar family.

“I don’t know if you believe in karma, if you believe in fate, whatever you believe in, there’s something magical that does exist,” Kuchar said as tears began to form. “I’m a believer in God that Dad is up above looking down, and

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PHELAN M. EBENHACK

Matt Kuchar, right, and his son Cameron Kuchar hold the championship belts after winning the PNC Championship on Sunday in Orlando, Fla. what happened on 18, I could hardly stand up and hit a shot. For me to hit it to a foot, makes me think there’s something more out there.

Just miss Pops.”

Peter Kuchar, who at one time was the top-ranked doubles tennis player in Florida, first became a presence on the golf scene when he caddied for his son when Kuchar won the U.S. Amateur in 1997, and

when he was low amateur at the Masters and U.S. Open the following year.

He played with Kuchar at the PNC Championship before yielding the stage to Kuchar’s sons.

Peter Kuchar died in February of a heart attack while swimming when he was on a Caribbean cruise with his wife, Meg, to celebrate her birthday.

feet for eagle on the third.

They made only two pars in the scramble format and countered that with two eagles. They finished at 33-under 111 to break the tournament record by five shots.

Lee Trevino delivered the highlight when the 86-year-old holed out from the fairway with a lob wedge for eagle on the 13th hole.

John Daly and John Daly II, a senior at Arkansas and the Southern Amateur champion, made eagle on the last hole for a 59 to tie for second with Davis Love III and Dru Love (58). Nelly Korda and her father, and Steve Stricker and his daughter, finished another shot behind.

All of them looked at scoreboards coming in and saw there was no chance of catching the Kuchars, certainly not on this day.

“If they end up getting to 30 (under), you’re talking about only six holes missed in 36 holes. That’s remarkable,” Duval said.

Turns out the Kuchar duo was even better — 36 holes, 33 under.

Fate or otherwise, it was some remarkable golf. Twice before, they held the lead going into the final day and didn’t hold it. On Sunday they started with a two-shot lead and ran away with it. It was their time.

Masters field at 86 players with 13 coming from OWGR

has not announced whether he is chael Kim (French Open), Sami to break into the top 50 and nar- events before the Masters on April Tournament is adding playing 9-12, with four of them big events — going into the new year. Valimaki of Finland (RSM Classic) rowly hold down his spot. most of the field already and Michael Brennan (Utah ChamThe Masters altered its criteria Players can still earn invitations 13 players who will by winning a PGA Tour event pionship) all won tournaments in this year, eliminating an invita- inwillwhich be eligible.

Woods did not play a tournament events excluded) the fall that helped secure their tion to the FedEx Cup Fall events finish year in top 50 (opposite-field or getting into the top 50 a week spots in the world ranking. and replacing that with national in 2025, first because of a ruptured The others who will finish in the opens around the world. Rasmus Achilles tendon, and then because the Masters. of world rankings before While the final world ranking top 50 are Aaron Rai, Max Grey- Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark of a seventh back surgery. His re-

BY DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press

Ryan Gerard made his 10,000mile trip worth the effort Sunday when he was runner-up at the Mauritius Open, good enough for him to join 13 other players who qualified for Masters invitations by finishing the year in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

That brings the field to 86 players who are likely to compete — a list that includes Tiger Woods, who

will not be published for another week, there are no other tournaments that affect the top 50 and the OWGR already has projected the top 50. Sam Stevens will finish at No. 50 by a narrow margin over Taylor Pendrith of Canada.

Alex Noren at No. 11 is the highest-ranked player who was not already eligible, courtesy of two wins in England, including the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Kristoffer Reitan of Norway (Nedbank Golf Challenge), Mi-

got in by winning the Australian Open, while Marco Penge (Spanish Open) and Tom McKibbin of LIV Golf (Hong Kong Open) also qualified.

The Masters is keen on keeping the field under 100 players — not since 1966 has it exceeded that number — and it would appear to be on track to stay that way. Two spots will be filled by the Latin America Amateur Championship in January and the South African Open in February.

There are 12 main PGA Tour

serman, Rasmus Hojgaard, Min Woo Lee, Si Woo Kim and Johnny Keefer.

Brennan and Keefer present unique cases. Brennan spent most of 2025 on the PGA Tour Americas circuit, two steps down from the PGA Tour. He won three times and had nine other top-10 finishes. And then he received a sponsor exemption to the Bank of Utah Championship and won his first PGA Tour title that moved him into top 50.

Keefer was on the Korn Ferry Tour and won twice, allowing him

covery is close to allowing him to play, and he’s likely to be healthy enough before the Masters.

Gerard was at No. 57 in the world when he chose to go to Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Open, for a tournament co-sanctioned by the European tour and Sunshine Tour of South Africa. He needed to finish fourth and lost in a playoff to Jayden Schaper.

Si Woo Kim went to the Australian Open and finished third, giving him enough points to move into the top 50.

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ALZHEIMER’S Q&A

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M o n d ay, d e c e M b e r 22, 2025

1dn

Caregivers should be observant of patients’ feet How important is proper foot care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia?

Rome opens long-awaited Colosseum subway station, with displays of unearthed artifacts

BY DAVID BILLER

Associated Press

bureaucratic and funding delays and, crucially, the archaeological excavations necessary, given the underground ruins of imperial Roman and medieval

ä See COLOSSEUM, page 2D

AP PHOTO By ALESSANDRA TARANTINO

A view of the remains of Roman barracks are on display in the Porta Metronia new subway station designed as a museum.

GETTY IMAGES PHOTO

ROME — Rome opened two subway stations in December — one deep beneath the Colosseum — that mix the modernity of high-tech transport with artifacts from an ancient era.

Commuters and tourists entering the station beside the iconic amphitheater can view displays of ceramic vases and plates, stone wells and suspended buckets, as well as the ruins of a cold plunge pool and thermal bath from a first-century dwelling. Screens show the excavation process — serving both to delight archaeology enthusiasts, and justify why it has taken so long to open the station.

The multibillion-euro Metro C subway line has been in the works for two decades but has been slowed by

THE QUEEN OF DISCO

Donna Summer receives posthumous Hall induction

BY MARIA SHERMAN

the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the hall said.

Summer, who died in 2012 at NEWYORK — There are giants, and age 63, was welcomed into the then there is Donna Summer. The Songwriters Hall Dec. 16 at a cerQueen of Disco and then some, emony at The Butterfly Room at known for such timeless tunes as Cecconi’s in Los Angeles. It was “Love to Love You Baby,” “I Feel led by Academy Award-winning Love,” “Bad Girls,” “Dim All the songwriter Paul Williams. SumLights,” “On the Radio” and “She mer’s husband, Bruce Sudano and Works Hard for the Money,” has ä See SUMMER, page 2D been posthumously inducted into

AP music writer

Donna Summer performs at the Nobel Peace concert in Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 11, 2009.

AP FILE PHOTO By JOHN McCONNICO

As we age, our feet flatten and become wider and the fatty padding wears down, leaving bones and joints more exposed to wear and tear.

Injuries can occur from a simple blister to bunions and calluses and conditions such as neuropathy, ingrown toenails and skin breaks can compromise other health conditions.

Foot disorders can lead to a diminishing gait and a potential fall risk in persons with Alzheimer’s, which is why proper foot care should not be ignored.

Since most people with Alzheimer’s cannot verbalize if they are experiencing foot discomfort, it is helpful for the caregiver to be observant in any changes in physical or emotional well-being. The caregiver should watch the pattern of their loved one’s walking; i.e., does he or she seem unsteady, walking more slowly, or even shuffling while walking. Since skin on the feet becomes more fragile with aging, bunions, corns and calluses can form on the feet, in addition to being prone to ingrown toenails or fungal infections. These conditions can cause soreness and discomfort, making the affected individual reluctant to walk.

Additionally, if the person with Alzheimer’s is also a diabetic, the caregiver should be vigilant in proper foot care because even a small cut on the foot can lead to a severe infection, which could become very serious.

Comfortable, well-fitting shoes can make all the difference in the affected person’s mobility so a good pair of walking shoes that are precisely measured and fit for the individual is recommended. Oftentimes, older adults and affected individuals are inclined to wear slippers all day, which encourages shuffling rather than walking and can also be a source of slips and falls.

Caregivers can make a regular habit of washing their loved one’s feet nightly with warm soap and water, drying the feet fully, then applying moisturizer and finishing by covering the feet with breathable cotton socks for comfort and warmth.

This practice can promote relaxation prior to sleep.

Additionally, keeping toenails trimmed is another important element of foot care, and if trimming toenails causes the affected individual to experience fear or anxiety, the caregiver can try creating a spa-like environment, using lavender aromas, soft music, and possibly giving something to the affected person to distract him or her. If the caregiver is uncomfortable or is having difficulty trimming toenails, he or she can go to a local nail care clinic that specializes in caring for senior feet or seek a podiatrist who offers these types of foot care services.

Lastly, caregivers should monitor any foot sores. The heels of the feet are a common location for bedsores because the affected individuals are resting their feet on a footstool, mattress or other surface that leads to tissue breakdown from skin irritation and pressure on the heels. To prevent this type of condition, caregivers can prop the ankles on a foot rest so that the heels of the feet are not touching anything.

In any case with foot conditions, a visit to the podiatrist or primary care physician is recommended.

Dana Territo is an Alzheimer’s advocate and author of “What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer’s Disease.”

She hosts “The Memory Whisperer.” Email her at thememorywhisperer@gmail. com.

2D ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Morton’s neuroma causes sensation of pressure Dear Doctors: This weird thing keeps happening where it feels like the sock in my left shoe has gotten wadded up underneath the ball of my foot. Every time I check, nothing is wrong. Is something wrong? My health insurance isn’t very good, so deciding to see a doctor is a big deal.

Dear reader: The dilemma in your letter — whether or not you can afford to see a doctor — is unfortunately not uncommon. For many people, the first response to a possible illness is the mental mathematics of how it will play out in their budget. But it’s important to know that delaying a visit runs the risk that a small or manageable problem can escalate into something more serious. In the end, this can be even more

Dr. Elizabeth Ko Dr. Eve Glazier ASK THE DOCTORS

expensive. We hope that the information we share here can help you in your final decision.

The sensation that you have described of a lump or mass beneath the ball of the foot sounds like a condition known as Morton’s neuroma. People with this diagnosis often use the same image of a wrinkled or balled-up sock that you shared with us. It’s

caused by a pinched nerve in the foot, typically between the third and fourth toes. The pressure on the nerve causes it to send faulty data to the brain, including sensations of fullness, pressure and constriction. The brain then offers a logical interpretation: There’s an object beneath your foot.

There are multiple causes of Morton’s neuroma. Physical injury to the forefoot is one. It could be the effects of ill-fitting shoes, including those that are too tight, too loose or with heels that are too high. It can also be caused by biomechanical problems such as flat feet or high arches, which require specialized support for stability.

Conditions such as hammer toe and bunions are also considered

risk factors for this condition.

The repetitive impact that is a part of sports such as running, tennis and basketball can also give rise to a neuroma.

A reason to see a doctor is to rule out a stress fracture or a break. This would be done with an X-ray. The neuroma itself may be identified with a physical exam to locate the source of the tenderness or the presence of a mass.

Some people find the condition improves with a change of footwear.

Flat-soled shoes with a padded insole and a roomy toe box prevent constriction. Custom shoe inserts, known as orthotics, can also offer relief. In some cases, medications to manage inflammation or pain may be prescribed. When the condition is severe, surgery may

become an option.

If you have Morton’s neuroma, your activities, the mechanics of your gait or your choice of footwear may unknowingly worsen the condition. For this reason, we urge you to see your doctor. They can assess the possible causes of the condition and offer a diagnosis. And if you share your financial concerns, most doctors will work with you on a solution that will address the problem and also protect your budget.

Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla. edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

COLOSSEUM

‘Grinch’ won’t hold spot

civilizations in its way.

“The challenge was ... building it under such a large amount of groundwater and at the same time preserving all the archaeological finds that we found during the excavation, and all this while preserving everything that is above,” said Marco Cervone, construction manager for the consortium building the subway line, led by Webuild.

The total cost of the line’s 31 stations — three-quarters of which are now operational — will reach around $8.3 billion and be completed by 2035, according to the press office of the city-owned company that has contracted the works.

Rome inaugurated another station this month, Porta Metronia, located one stop away from the one beside the Colosseum and likewise at a depth of about 100 feet.

It features a nearly 260foot military barracks dating to the start of the second century, found at a depth between 22 and 39 feet, according to Simona Moretta, the scientific director of the excavation.

“Surety that it was a military building is given by the fact that the entrances to the rooms are not facing each other, but are offset, so that the soldiers could leave the rooms and get in line without colliding in the corridor,” the archaeologist told reporters.

Soldiers would either have been part of the emperor’s

Dear Miss Manners: I was her she really needed to in line at a busy cosmetask the people she was in ics store. The line wasn’t front of to hold her place. moving very fast when the The man behind her said woman behind me asked he would. me to save her All through my place: She said an wait and checkout, employee had forshe continued to loudly tell everyone gotten to give her who would listen something, and she how rude I was, and had to get it. I was I was even called a approximately fifth Judith in line and there Martin Grinch.

I felt embarwere at least that MISS many people waitrassed and hurt, and MANNERS I feel like I didn’t ing behind me. do anything wrong I looked at the by denying her request. people behind her and I I personally would never told her no — but before I could explain why I wasn’t ask anyone to do this for me; I would have left the comfortable holding her line, gotten my item and place, she called me rude then gotten back in line at and proceeded loudly to the end. say how mean I was that I Gentle reader: Standing in wouldn’t do this for her at line has gotten hazardChristmas.

At the same time, the ous. You are far from the woman in front of me only one to report being turned around and also be- insulted while waiting to check out. rated me — but this womEverybody seems to be an also didn’t step up and disgruntled and defensive. say she would do it. I told

Continued from page 1D

SUMMER

Continued from page 1D their daughters Brooklyn Sudano and Amanda Sudano Ramirez were in attendance.

“Donna Summer is not only one of the defining voices and performers of the 20th century; she is one of the great songwriters of all time who changed the course of music,” said Williams in a statement. “She wrote timeless and transcendent songs that continue to captivate our souls and imaginations, inspiring the world to dance and, above all, feel love.”

Summer’s smooth blend of R&B, soul, pop, funk, rock, disco and electronica launched numerous chart-

AP PHOTO By ALESSANDRA TARANTINO

Ancient Roman finds dating back to the second century B.C. are on display in the ‘Colosseo’ new subway station, designed as a museum to showcase the archaeological finds uncovered during its construction, in Rome. guard or stationed there for city security, she added.

There’s also a home with well-preserved frescoes and mosaics. A museum within the station will be opened in the future, Moretta said.

Digging near the center of Rome means coming in the contact with three millennia of civilizations built atop one another. So far, the consortium building Line C has found more than 500,000 artifacts, according to WeBuild.

In order to work in the delicate archaeological area, the company has employed techniques including freezing the ground to stabilize soil, as well as so-called sacrificial diaphragms — concrete walls built perpendicular to perimeter walls that are demolished as excavation advances.

As the subway line continues onward past the Colosseum, it will run underneath more of the world’s most important cultural heritage

sites — Trajan’s Column and the Basilica of Maxentius, the largest building in the Roman Forum — as well as some of Rome’s prized Renaissance palaces, churches and the Vatican.

The next stop along the line is Piazza Venezia, the veritable heart of Rome’s center. Subway cars will arrive at a depth of 157 feet when it opens in 2033, Cervone said.

Once completed, Line C will run a total of 18 miles, of which 12 miles will be underground, and carry up to 800,000 passengers daily.

Tourists planning to visit the Colosseum and other sites in Rome’s historic center will be able to bypass the eternal city’s notoriously snarled surface traffic — made even worse in recent years by the construction projects themselves.

topping hits in the ’70s and ’80s as well as three multiplatinum albums. She won five Grammys. She was unstoppable — both as a performer and a writer.

“It’s important to me because I know how important it was for Donna,” said Sudano in a news release. “The backstory is, with all the accolades that she received over her career, being respected as a songwriter was always the thing that she felt was overlooked. So, for her to be accepted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame I know that she’s very happy … somewhere.”

The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20

years after the first commercial release of a song.

The annual Songwriters Hall of Fame gala does not usually include posthumous inductions; those are reserved for separate events.

Songwriter Pete Bellotte — known for his work with Summer on “Hot Stuff,” “I Feel Love” and “Love To Love You Baby” — is a current nominee for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class. “Love To Love You Baby” was co-written with Summer and producer Giorgio Moroder. One of Summer’s best-known hits, the song has been sampled many times, including in tracks by Beyoncé, LL Cool J and Timbaland.

The 2026 inductees will be announced early next year.

Paolo Santalucia contributed to this report.

U.S. Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe rejected a GerToday is Monday, Dec. 22, man demand for surrender, the 356th day of 2025. writing “Nuts!” as his ofThere are nine days left in ficial one-word reply. Allied the year. forces, at a heavy cost, Today in history: would decisively turn back On Dec. 22, 1984, New the Germans’ last major York City resident Bernhard offensive on the western Goetz shot and wounded front in Europe. four young Black men on a In 1990, Lech Walesa Manhattan subway, allegtook the oath of office as Poland’s first popularly ing they were about to rob him. (Goetz, a White man in elected president.

In 2010, President Barack what became known as the Obama signed a law allow“Subway Vigilante” case, was later acquitted of ating gay, lesbian and bisexual tempted murder and assault Americans to serve openly in the military for the first charges but convicted on a time, repealing the “don’t weapons possession charge ask, don’t tell” policy that and served eight months of allowed gay and lesbian sera one-year sentence.)

Also on this date: vice members to serve as In 1944, during the World long as their sexual orientaWar II Battle of the Bulge, tion was not public.

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners. com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail. com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Dryer sheets wreak havoc works as well as a dryer Dear Heloise: I wish you ball. — Heloise wouldn’t keep printing hints that use dryer Cheese clumps sheets. Dryer sheets are not our friends.

Dear Heloise: How Not only do they add do you prevent to our landfills, they grated cheese in a wreak havoc on our zip-close bag from dryers and leave a lumping up in the Hints from refrigerator? — Jack waxy trail. (Not to Heloise R., in Garland,Texas mention the smell of cheap perfume that Jack, add a little they leave on our clothes.) cornstarch or flour to the I don’t use them and don’t grated cheese and seal the need to iron my clothes. bag very tightly. — Heloise Just don’t leave your Dirt-free nails clothes sitting in the dryer for long periods of time. — Dear Heloise: I keep a bar of Lois M., via email soap in my shed and scrape Lois, many people today my nails with it so that I have very busy schedules. have soap under my nails.

Taking time to iron clothThen I put on my gloves and do yard work this way. ing, pillowcases, sheets When you wash your hands and other items takes up afterward, your nails will time that they don’t have. be clean. — Barbara G., via email Personally, I don’t use dryer sheets very often.

Sunblock I save money, do not increase the landfill, and stay Dear Heloise: Perhaps some up late sometimes to get other reader has already my blouses ironed. But this responded to the sunblock is my choice. hint, but using a sunblock Some people prefer to with a SPF of 15 or higher use dryer balls, and I have is a little low. Dermatoloone friend who uses a gists recommend a SPF of tennis ball and swears it 30 or higher to protect

yourself against skin cancer, and they say that you should reapply it every two hours (or more frequently if you are sweating or swimming). — Fred S., via email

Wall safe Dear Heloise: We had a wall safe and kept our valuables in it in a house in Turks and Caicos. The house was broken into, and the burglars tore the safe out of the wall and took it as well as our valuables. A wall safe is not reliable. — Larry R., via email Larry, an in-floor safe is harder to pull out. (As some of readers have assured me.) But actually, the safest place would be a safety deposit box at a bank. Thieves find a number of hiding places in the home and don’t seem to care if they do an enormous amount of damage while looking for your valuables. People who make a living by stealing know of all the secret hiding places. — Heloise Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

Friend can’t take annual vacation

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press

And Miss Manners notices that this includes you.

This was not a question of breaking into line, but of being momentarily absent from it. Is it really such a crime to dash out and pick up another item and then return to the line? Did you at least begin with an apology for not doing so?

All of you clung to your own abstract sense of justice over an extraordinarily trivial matter to prevail over the obligation of common courtesy. It makes for a very unpleasant society. Merry Christmas.

In 2018, a 34-day federal government shutdown began in Donald Trump’s first presidency, following a stalemate between Congress and the White House on appropriations matters including funding for Trump’s proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Today’s birthdays: Actor Hector Elizondo is 89. Baseball Hall of Famer Steve Carlton is 81. Broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer is 80. Golf Hall of Famer Jan Stephenson is 74. Rapper Luther “Luke” Campbell is 65. Actor Ralph Fiennes is 63. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is 55. Actor and singer Vanessa Paradis is 53. Actor Brooke Nevin is 43. Singer-actor Jordin Sparks is 36.

tradition. The truth is, I’m Dear Harriette: I want to barely keeping up with my take a vacation with my bills, and a vacation just best friend, but I don’t isn’t possible. I’m worried have the money to do so she’ll be disapright now, and I feel incredibly embarpointed or think less of me. I’ve even rassed about it. thought about tryWe typically take a trip together eving to put the trip on a credit card, but ery year, and it’s I know that would something we both Harriette make my situation look forward to Cole worse. because it helps us SENSE AND I’m torn between reconnect and make SENSITIVITy being honest with memories. This my friend and tryyear, however, everything is different: I lost ing to save face. I keep my job a few months ago practicing the conversaand had to take another job tion in my head, but every that pays a lot less just to version makes me embarstay afloat. rassed. I want to handle I’ve been avoiding the this in a way that protects vacation conversation both our friendship and my because I don’t want her dignity. How should I tell to think I’m unreliable or my friend that I can’t go on that I don’t care about our a trip this year? — No Vacay

Dear No Vacay: If your friend truly is your “best friend,” she should understand. Tell her the truth: This has been a tough year for many people, including you. Your friend needs to know right away that you cannot take the trip. This will give her a chance to change her plans. Admit that you are embarrassed and disappointed in your circumstances right now.

Obviously, you wanted to honor your tradition, but you have to pass this year.

The end.

Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 3D

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FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

zItS

zodIAC cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Put your energy where it brings the highest returns. Today is about acknowledging your attributes and putting them to work for you. Change is up to you; don't sell yourself short.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Combine energy and creativity, and you'll come up with a plan to launch in the new year.

Change is within reach if you use your skills to align with your dreams, hopes and wishes.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Think twice before you jeopardize your chance to advance. Personal and professional gain begins with a positive attitude, insight and knowing how to work a crowd.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Reach out and connect with people who have something to offer you. Don't sit back when you have so much to gain by participating. Focus on turning an opportunity into a new beginning. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Observe what's happening around you. Take advantage of an opportunity to participate in something that can broaden your awareness or point you in a worthwhile direction.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Find something you feel passionate about and sign up to help. Volunteering at this time of the year can be rewarding and connect you to a group that will have an impact on how you live. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Address issues that have not been dealt with, and take

a firm position. Don't fear opposition; offer solutions and get the ball rolling.

It's time to leave the past behind you.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Enjoy the festivities. Take every opportunity to share your vision and to drum up support.

Change is on the horizon if you are willing to step up and do your part, but don't neglect loved ones or take them for granted.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Say less and do more. Closely observe how others react to a tricky situation, and take physical action to clear a passage forward for those who share your beliefs.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Stop and rethink your plans. Too much of anything will work against you. Overspending, making unrealistic promises or letting your emotions lead the way should be avoided. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Focus on whatever you feel passionate about. It's up to you to make your own opportunities and to go the distance to ensure your plans gain momentum and attract the right people. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Keep an open mind, but don't cave under undue pressure. Listen dutifully, but be ready to defend your thoughts, perspective and choices. Honesty is the best policy.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

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

toDAy's cLuE: P EQuALs F

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

4D ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

lll

Sudoku InstructIons: sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 5D

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B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Thomas Fuller, a prolific English writer who died in 1661, said, “Learning makes a man fit company for himself.”

Bridge learning makes a man or woman fit company for partner.

Bridge bidding also revolves around fit — fit is fantastic; misfit is miserable.

For example, look only at the North hand.

West opens one spade, North passes, East raises to two spades, South makes a takeout double, and West jumps to four spades.

What should North do?

The North hand is good news and bad news. It has 10 high-card points when it might have had none. And all of those points are in the suits where partner has promised length. But the balanced nature of the hand and doubleton spade suggest that there might be three or four losers.

However, bidding has two potential pluses: Five of a minor might make; and even if it would not, perhaps the opponents will misjudge and bid five spades, which surely will be too high.

So North ought to bid — but what?

He should advance with four no-trump, showing at least two places to play and asking partner to select the trump suit.

(It cannot be Blackwood; how could North be thinking about a slam?)

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

Here, South would bid five clubs. If left there, South will probably ruff the spade-king lead, draw trumps ending in his hand, play a diamond to dummy’s queen, and return a diamond to his 10. If so, he will make the contract.

And if West bids five spades, North can double and collect 500 for down two. © 2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD = gOOD aFTErnOOn

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAy’s WoRD — LAZuLItE: LAH-zhu-lite: An azure-blue mineral.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 13 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 19 or more words in LAZULITE? sAtuRDAy’s WoRD — GREEDILy geld gelid gild gilder gird girdle girl glee glide glider greed

greedy grey greyed grid gyre reed reedy reel relied rely ride

ridge rile edge edger edgier edgily edgy eerily eery eider elder

elegy elide eyed eyelid deer deli diel dire dirge dreg drily

dyer idle idler idly ledge ledger leer leery lied liege liger

lyre yield

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “I will bless the Lord, who has given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Psalms 16:7-8 The Lord speaks to me through the night. It’s a blessing. He is always speaking.

Are we listening? — G.E. Dean

6D ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

muttS

roSe iS roSe

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Scrabble GramS dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus.

“Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

jump Start

For more information on tournaments and clubs, email naspa – north american sCraBBlE players association: info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visit our website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzle inquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com.

Get fuzzy

Hasbro and its logo sCraBBlE associated logo, the design of the distinctive sCraBBlE brand game card, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarks of Hasbro in the United states and Canada. ©2021 Hasbro. all rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content agency, llC.

ken ken

animal crackerS

DuStin

InstructIons: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

2 - The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

Wallace the brave

Drabble

WiShinG Well breWSter rockit

luann

HErE is a plEasanT liTTlE gamE that will give you a message every day. it’s a numerical puzzle designed to spell out your fortune. Count the letters in your first name. if the number of letters is 6 or more, subtract 4. if the number is less than 6, add 3. The result is your key number. start at the upper left-hand corner and check each of your key numbers, left to right. Then read the message the checked figures give you.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 7D

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The Classified Advertising Department will be closed on Thursday, December 25 to observe the Christmas holiday

METAIRIE

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NO Smoking or Pets. 700+Credit Score. 504.442.1873 * 504.237.5200 MID CITY 2028 N. Broad St. Duplex, Liv. Rm, BR, BA, HW Flrs, A/H, Kit Furn, Wtr Pd, Sec 8 Ok, $1050/mo + Dep (504) 9471870

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CATS Young Male Cat, Gray Colors, Have too many cats, Looking for another home for him. Please call 504-861-9617 ($50) DOGS AKC German Shepherd pups. Ready 12/23. $800 Kentwood 985 244-0173

EARLY DEADLINES FOR OUR ADVERTISEMENTS

DEADLINE..........RUN DATE Thurs., Dec 18 - 3pm .......... Wed., Dec 24 Fri., Dec 19 - 3pm............... Thurs., Dec 25 Fri., Dec 19 - 3pm............... Fri., Dec 26 Tues, Dec 23-3pm ............... Sat/Sun Dec 27, 28 Wed., Dec 24 - 3pm ............ Mon., Dec 29 Fri., Dec 26 - 3pm............... Tues., Dec 30

DISPLAY ADS 24 HOURS EARLIER

You may place your ad 7 days a week, 24 hours a day online at www.theadvocate.com or call Monday-Friday 8am-5pm DOGS AKC Maltese puppies, Ready for Christ‐ mas 1-F. (225) 235-9433 or (225) 235-7619

225-383-0111

For the latest news, sports and entertainment, download the NOLA.com app

8D ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS GRAND ISLE PORT COM‐ MISSION (herein referred to as the "Owner") Sealed bids marked "Sealed Bid - Grand Isle Port Commission Shrimp Facility - Phase 2" will be received at the Grand Isle Port Commission of‐ fice located at 2757 LA 1, Grand Isle, LA 70358 Bids shall be addressed to the Grand Isle Port Commission and deliv‐ ered to the Grand Isle Port Commission office located at 2757 LA 1, Grand Isle, LA 70358 no later than 2:00 P.M. local time on Thursday, Janu‐ ary 22, 2026.

Sealed bids to be marked "Sealed Bid - Grand Isle Port Commission Shrimp Facility - Phase 2". Any bid received after the specified time and date will not be considered.

The sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 2:00 P.M. local time on Thursday, Janu‐ ary 22, 2026, at Grand Isle Port Commission office located at 2757 LA 1, Grand Isle, LA 70358 The information for Bid‐ ders, Form of Bid Pro‐ posal, Form of Contract, Plans, Specifications, and Forms of Bid Bond, Performance Bond and Payment Bond, and other contract documents may be examined at the office of Professional Engineer‐ ing and Environmental Consultants, Inc., 46148 Hwy 445, Robert, LA 70455, (504) 347-1900 (En‐ gineer) (mo@peecinc. com), and are open for public inspection be‐ tween the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A set of such documents may be obtained from the Engi‐ neers by prospective bid‐ ders upon payment of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($150.00) de‐ posit. This deposit will be refunded upon request in accordance with R.S. 38:22I2. An electronic set of Contract Documents, Technical Specifications and Drawings may be ob‐ tained by submitting a james@ request to peecinc.com. All ques‐ tions must be submitted in writing by email to james@peecinc.com.

Each Bidder must de‐ posit with his/her bid, security in the amount, form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bid‐ ders. Sureties used for obtaining bonds must appear as acceptable on the U.S. Department of Treasury Circular 570.

No bid may be with‐ drawn for at least fortyfive (45) days after scheduled closing time for receipt of bids.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. Such actions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the

Louisiana Revised Statutes.

All bidders must sign: (I) the Bid; (2) Certificate of Corporate Principal and Surety; (3) any Addenda issued; and (4) Bid Bond which MUST always accompany the bid in the correct amount.

A Corporate Resolution authorizing a representa‐ tive of the corporation to sign the bid MUST ac‐ company the bid if the bidder is a corporation.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 3:00 P.M. on January 8, 2026, at the Grand Isle Port Commission office located at 2757 LA 1, Grand Isle, LA 70358. At‐ tendance of the Pre- Bid Conference is manda‐ tory.

The Contractor shall begin mobilization and procurement of materi‐ als within ten (I0) work‐ ing days of receipt of the Notice to Proceed.

The Attention of Bidders is called particularly to the requirements for conditions of employ‐ ment to be observed and minimum wage rates to be paid under the Con‐ tract, Section 3, Segre‐ gated Facilities, Section I09, Executive Order II246, and all applicable laws and regulations of the Federal Government and State of Louisiana and bonding and insurance requirements.

The successful bidder will be required to exe‐ cute the OWNER'S Stan‐ dard Form of Agree‐ ment/Contract for con‐ struction together with the Performance and Payment Bonds within ten (I0) working days after normal award of contract.

Any person with disabili‐ ties requiring special ac‐ commodations must contact the GRAND ISLE PORT COMISSION AT 985787-2229 no later than seven (7) days prior to bid opening.

The OWNER hereby noti‐ fies all bidders that in re‐ gard to any contract en‐ tered into pursuant to this Advertisement, that Minority Business Enter‐ prises will be afforded equal opportunity to sub‐ mit offers in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, na‐ tional origin or disability in consideration for an award.

IN PARTICULAR, BIDDERS SHOULD NOTE THE RE‐ QUIRED ATTACHMENTS AND CERTIFICATIONS TO BE EXECUTED AND SUB‐ MITTED WITH THE BID PROPOSAL. Advertisement Source and Dates: www.centralauctionh ouse.com The Advocate Friday, December 22, 2025 Friday, December 29, 2025 Friday, January 5, 2026 171224-dec 22-29-jan 5-3t $187.92

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS GRAND ISLE PORT COM‐ MISSION (herein referred to as the "Owner") Sealed bids marked "Sealed Bid - Grand Isle Port Commission - Re‐ pairs to the Oak Lane Dock Facility West Slip" will be received at the Grand Isle Port Commis‐ sion Office Building lo‐ cated at 2757 LA Highway l, Grand Isle, LA 70358.

Electronic bids should be submitted to www.cen tralbidding.com.

Bids shall be addressed to the Grand Isle Port Commission and deliv‐ ered to the Grand Isle Port Commission Office Building located at 2757 LA Highway 1, Grand Isle, LA 70358 or electronically submitted at www.cen tralbidding.com no later than 2:00 P.M. local time on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Sealed bids to be marked "Sealed Bid - Grand Isle Port Commission - Re‐ pairs to the Oak Lane Dock Facility West Slip" Any bid received after the specified time and date will not be consid‐ ered. The sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 2:00 P.M. local time on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Grand Isle Port Commis‐ sion Office Building lo‐ cated at 2757 LA High‐ way, Grand Isle, LA 70358 The information for Bid‐ ders, Form of Bid Pro‐ posal, Form of Contract, Plans, Specifications, and Forms of Bid Bond, Performance Bond and Payment Bond, and other contract documents may be examined at the office of Professional Engineer‐ ing and Environmental Consultants, Inc. at 46148 LA Highway 445, Robert, LA 70455. If you would like to examine a set of plans or pick up a set, please contact Jeff Mey‐ ers at (225) 268-6925 or jeff@peecinc.com to set up a time. A set of such documents may be ob‐ tained from the Engi‐ neers by prospective bid‐ ders upon payment of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($150.00) de‐ posit. This deposit will be refunded upon request in accordance with R.S. 38:22l2. An electronic set of Contract Documents, Technical Specifications and Drawings may be ob‐ tained by submitting a request to james@ peecinc.com and is avail‐ able on www.centralbidd ing.com.

All questions must be submitted in writing by email to james@peecinc. com.

Each Bidder must de‐ posit with his/her bid, security in the amount, form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bid‐ ders section. Sureties used for obtaining bonds must appear as accept‐ able on the U.S. Depart‐ ment of Treasury Circular 570.

No bid may be with‐ f d f l

lll

Public Notices Bids/Proposals y drawn for at least fortyfive (45) days after scheduled closing time for receipt of bids.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. Such actions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

All bidders must sign: (l) the Bid; (2) Certificate of Corporate Principal and Surety; (3) any Addenda issued; and (4) Bid Bond which MUST always accompany the bid in the correct amount.

A Corporate Resolution authorizing a representa‐ tive of the corporation to sign the bid MUST ac‐ company the bid if the bidder is a corporation.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at the Grand Isle Port Commis‐ sion Office Building lo‐ cated at 2757 LA Highway 1, Grand Isle, LA 70358.

The Contractor shall begin mobilization and procurement of materi‐ als within ten (l0) work‐ ing days of receipt of the Notice to Proceed.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

g gov and click on “BRASS Supplier Portal” under “BIDS & CONTRACTS”.

Once on the Supplier Por‐ tal, search “Open Events.”

Friday, December 22, 2025 Friday, December 29, 2025 Friday, January 5, 2026 171219-dec 22-29-jan 5-3t $227.50 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT TO INVITATION TO BID CITY OF NEW ORLEANS SPONSORING DEPARTMENT: Equipment Maintenance Department TITLE: Service for Freightliner Vehicles SOURCING EVENT NO.: 4618 TYPE OF SOLICITATION: Materials, Equipment, Supplies DBE OPPORTUNITY: NO

www.centralauctionh ouse.com The Advocate

171517-dec 22-29-jan 5-1t $125.49 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT TO INVITATION TO BID CITY OF NEW ORLEANS SPONSORING DEPARTMENT: Equipment Maintenance Department

SOURCING EVENT NO.: 4619

Phone conference ID: 671 329 27#

Advertisement Source and Dates:

Advertising Dates: December 22, 29, 2025 and January 5, 2026 NOCP 8826

DEADLINE TO RESPOND: January 12, 2026 4:00 PM CST

The successful bidder will be required to exe‐ cute the OWNER'S Stan‐ dard Form of Agree‐ ment/Contract for con‐ struction together with the Performance and Payment Bonds within ten (l0) working days after normal award of contract.

lN PARTlCULAR, BlDDERS SHOULD NOTE THE RE‐ QUlRED ATTACHMENTS AND CERTlFlCATlONS TO BE EXECUTED AND SUBMlTTED WlTH THE BlD PROPOSAL.

James Simmons, Jr. Chief Procurement Officer

TITLE: Service for Freightliner Vehicles

PRE-BID CONFERENCE: January 5, 2026 10:30am CST

The OWNER hereby noti‐ fies all bidders that in re‐ gard to any contract en‐ tered into pursuant to this Advertisement, that Minority Business Enter‐ prises will be afforded equal opportunity to sub‐ mit offers in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, na‐ tional origin or disability in consideration for an award.

Thank you for your inter‐ est in doing business with the City of New Or‐ leans.

RELEASED ON: December 22, 2025

The Attention of Bidders is called particularly to the requirements for conditions of employ‐ ment to be observed and minimum wage rates to be paid under the Con‐ tract, Section 3, Segre‐ gated Facilities, Section l09, Executive Order ll246, and all applicable laws and regulations of the Federal Government and State of Louisiana and bonding and insurance requirements.

Any person with disabili‐ ties requiring special ac‐ commodations must contact the GRAND ISLE PORT COMMISSION AT 985-787-2229 no later than seven (7) days prior to bid opening.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

TYPE OF SOLICITATION: Materials, Equipment, Supplies

Microsoft Teams

DBE OPPORTUNITY: NO

Meeting ID: 247 252 168 432 50

RELEASED ON: December 22, 2025

Passcode: Mp7Zt2Go

DEADLINE TO RESPOND: January 12, 2026 4:00 PM CST

Dial in by phone +1 504-356-4110,, 67132927# United States, New Orleans

PRE-BID CONFERENCE: January 5, 2026 11:00 am CST

Dates are subject to changes via an adden‐ dum posted by the Bu‐ reau of Purchasing on the City’s supplier portal.

If this solicitation is fed‐ erally funded, prospec‐ tive bidder/respondent must pay particular at‐ tention to all applicable laws and regulations of the Federal government and the State of Louisiana.

The Bureau of Purchas‐ ing uses commodity codes to notify suppliers of the release of a sourc‐ ing event and subse‐ quent modifications via addendum. Note that you would receive those noti‐ fications if you selected the following commodity code(s) before the re‐ lease of the sourcing event: COMMODITY CODE(s): 928-86 The City of New Orleans strongly encourages mi‐ nority-owned and women-owned busi‐ nesses, socially and eco‐ nomically disadvantaged businesses and small businesses to respond to this solicitation, or to participate in subcon‐ tracting opportunities pursuant to this solicita‐ tion.

For more information about this sourcing event, go to www.nola. d li k

Microsoft Teams Meeting ID: 288 900 494 787 19 Passcode: HG9Kc22C Dial in by phone +1 504-356-4110,, 517127593# United States, New Orleans Phone conference ID: 517 127 593# Dates are subject to changes via an adden‐ dum posted by the Bu‐ reau of Purchasing on the City’s supplier portal.

If this solicitation is fed‐ erally funded, prospec‐ tive bidder/respondent must pay particular at‐ tention to all applicable laws and regulations of the Federal government and the State of Louisiana.

The Bureau of Purchas‐ ing uses commodity codes to notify suppliers of the release of a sourc‐ ing event and subse‐ quent modifications via addendum. Note that you would receive those noti‐ fications if you selected the following commodity code(s) before the re‐ lease of the sourcing event: COMMODITY CODE(s): 928-47 The City of New Orleans strongly encourages mi‐ nority-owned and women-owned busi‐

Corinne Fox REALTOR®

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504-466-3712

www.hurricanefenceneworleans.com All types of Fences Exclusive Pre-Stained Cedar Fences Hurricane Fence and Home Improvement is Your JellyFish Lighting Dealer All In One Exterior Lighting Solution Controlled from your smart device anywhere Security-Accent-Holiday-Game Day Lighting Trim - Patio - Landscaping FREE ESTIMATE • 504-466-3712 1 yr no interest financing

m 504.239.1481

o 504.861.7575

corinne.fox@compass.com www.compass.com/agents/corinne-fox

7934 Maple St. New Orleans, LA 70118 Licensed by the State of Louisiana

Over 30 Years Experience

Sand Home Improvement Roof Repair Specialist

Licensed, Bonded and Fully Insured

WE DO IT ALL!

Chris Sand/Owner 504-281-3977

Free Estimates Senior Discounts

nesses, socially and eco‐ nomically disadvantaged businesses and small businesses to respond to this solicitation, or to participate in subcon‐ tracting opportunities pursuant to this solicita‐ tion.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

y the following commodity code(s) before the re‐ lease of the sourcing event:

COMMODITY CODE(s): 220, 465-60, 906-38, 912-68

COMMODITY CODE(s): 934-46 The City of New Orleans strongly encourages mi‐ nority-owned and women-owned busi‐ nesses, socially and eco‐ nomically disadvantaged businesses and small businesses to respond to this solicitation, or to participate in subcon‐ tracting opportunities pursuant to this solicita‐ tion.

For more information about this sourcing event, go to www.nola. gov and click on “BRASS Supplier Portal” under “BIDS & CONTRACTS”.

Once on the Supplier Por‐ tal, search “Open Events.”

Thank you for your inter‐ est in doing business with the City of New Or‐ leans.

For more information this sourcing about event, go to www.nola. gov and click on “BRASS Supplier Portal” under “BIDS & CONTRACTS”.

Once on the Supplier Por‐ tal, search “Open Events.”

James Simmons, Jr. Chief Procurement Officer Advertising Dates: December 22, 29, 2025 and January 5, 2026 NOCP 8825 171515-dec 22-29-jan 5-3t PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT TO INVITATION TO BID CITY OF NEW ORLEANS SPONSORING DEPARTMENT: Equipment Maintenance Department

The City of New Orleans strongly encourages mi‐ nority-owned and women-owned busi‐ nesses, socially and eco‐ nomically disadvantaged businesses and small businesses to respond to this solicitation, or to participate in subcon‐ tracting opportunities pursuant to this solicita‐ tion.

For more information about this sourcing event, go to www.nola. gov and click on “BRASS Supplier Portal” under “BIDS & CONTRACTS”.

Once on the Supplier Por‐ tal, search “Open Events.”

Thank you for your inter‐ est in doing business with the City of New Or‐ leans.

Thank you for your inter‐ est in doing business with the City of New Or‐ leans.

James C. Simmons, Jr. Chief Procurement Officer

James Simmons, Jr. Chief Procurement Officer

Advertising Dates: December 22, 29 and January 5, 2026 NOCP 8828

Advertising Dates: December 22, 29, 2025 and January 5, 2026 NOCP 8824

171520-dec 22-29-jan 5-3t $108.30

171513-dec 22-29-jan 5-3t $125.49

TITLE: Service for Caterpillar Engines

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

SOURCING EVENT NO.: 4620

ADVERTISEMENT TO INVITATION TO BID CITY OF NEW ORLEANS

TYPE OF SOLICITATION: Materials, Equipment, Supplies

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT TO INVITATION TO BID CITY OF NEW ORLEANS SPONSORING DEPARTMENT: Equipment Maintenance Department

SPONSORING DEPARTMENT: Capital Projects

DBE OPPORTUNITY: NO

TITLE: Service for Caterpillar Engines

TITLE: NOPD Real Time Crime Monitoring Center Phase I Building Hardening

RELEASED ON: December 22 , 2025 DEADLINE TO RESPOND: January 12, 2026 4:00 PM CST

SOURCING EVENT NO.: 4615

SOURCING EVENT NO.: 4616 TYPE OF SOLICITATION: Materials, Equipment, Supplies DBE OPPORTUNITY: NO

TYPE OF SOLICITATION: CONSTRUCTION

PRE-BID CONFERENCE: January 5 2026 11:30 am CST

RELEASED ON: December 22 , 2025

Microsoft Teams

DBE OPPORTUNITY: YES (35%)

Meeting ID: 211 421 892 382 54

RELEASED ON: December 22, 2025

Passcode: iR3FJ9YE

DEADLINE TO RESPOND: January 27, 2026

PRE-BID CONFERENCE: January 5, 2026 9:30 am CST

PRE-BID CONFERENCE via TEAMS: January 12, 2026

Microsoft Teams

Dial in by phone +1 504-356-4110,, 333329153# United States, New Orleans

DEADLINE TO RESPOND: January 12, 2026 4:00 PM CST

Meeting ID: 228 396 537 347 92

Dates are subject to changes via an adden‐ dum posted by the Bu‐ reau of Purchasing on the City’s supplier portal.

Phone conference ID: 333 329 153# Dates are subject to changes via an adden‐ dum posted by the Bu‐ reau of Purchasing on the City’s supplier portal.

If this solicitation is fed‐ erally funded, prospec‐ tive bidder/respondent must pay particular at‐ tention to all applicable laws and regulations of the Federal government and the State of Louisiana.

If this solicitation is fed‐ erally funded, prospec‐ tive bidder/respondent must pay particular at‐ tention to all applicable laws and regulations of the Federal government and the State of Louisiana.

The Bureau of Purchas‐ ing uses commodity codes to notify suppliers of the release of a sourc‐ ing event and subse‐ quent modifications via addendum. Note that you would receive those noti‐ fications if you selected the following commodity code(s) before the re‐ lease of the sourcing event:

The Bureau of Purchas‐ ing uses commodity codes to notify suppliers of the release of a sourc‐ ing event and subse‐ quent modifications via addendum. Note that you would receive those noti‐ fications if you selected h f ll i di

Passcode: Ss6Fx7PE Dial in by phone +1 504-356-4110,, 885146700# United States, New Orleans Phone conference ID: 885 146 700# Dates are subject to changes via an adden‐ dum posted by the Bu‐ reau of Purchasing on the City’s supplier portal.

If this solicitation is fed‐ erally funded, prospec‐ tive bidder/respondent must pay particular at‐ tention to all applicable laws and regulations of the Federal government and the State of Louisiana.

CEMENT AND BRICK

CONTRACTOR NO JOB TOO SMALL!

SIDEWALKS & DRIVEWAYS

504-236-2375 TRIPLE BBB

CONSTRUCTION CO. INC. Pool Enclosures • Patio Covers • Roofing Siding • Glass Rooms • Screen Rooms Soffit • Fascia • Windows & Screens

JAMES H. BALL, SR.

P R ES I D E N T 2158 Kenner Ave. Kenner, LA 70062

504-467-6998 Fax 504-467-6708

o D e e ct o

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GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS Make your holidays a lot easier with the Versa Lift Attic Elevator Prices start at $2795 12 month no interest financing available CALL 504-466-3712 Hurricane Fence and Home Improvement

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Tree Trimming & Removal • Stump Grinding 504 -570 - 6683

3030 Lausat Street, Metairie, Louisiana 70001 Website: twomenandatruck.com/neworleans Licensed, Bonded and fully Insured with a 96.5% approval rating

*Must Dial Area Code*

504-341-2006 FREE ESTIMATES

License and Insured and Professionally trained

Brenda H. Delle

Thoroughbred Horses and Racing Scenes Pastel and Pen and Ink

504.491.0103

bdelle@gmail.com | brendadelle.com

To advertise here, please call 225-383-0111

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ 9D

lll

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

The Bureau of Purchas‐ ing uses commodity codes to notify suppliers of the release of a sourc‐ ing event and subse‐ quent modifications via addendum. Note that you would receive those noti‐ fications if you selected the following commodity code(s) before the re‐ lease of the sourcing event: COMMODITY CODE(s): 928-87 The City of New Orleans strongly encourages mi‐ nority-owned and women-owned busi‐ nesses, socially and eco‐ nomically disadvantaged businesses and small businesses to respond to this solicitation, or to participate in subcon‐ tracting opportunities pursuant to this solicita‐ tion.

For more information about this sourcing event, go to www.nola. gov and click on “BRASS Supplier Portal” under “BIDS & CONTRACTS”.

Once on the Supplier Por‐ tal, search “Open Events.”

Thank you for your inter‐ est in doing business with the City of New Or‐ leans.

James Simmons, Jr. Chief Procurement Officer Advertising Dates: December 22, 29, 2025 and January 5, 2026 NOCP 8827 171519-dec 22-29-jan 5-3t $126.48

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS CITY OF NEW ORLEANS SPONSORING DEPARTMENT: RISK MANAGEMENT TITLE: INSURANCE BROKER-OFRECORD SOURCING EVENT NO.: 4610 TYPE OF SOLICITATION: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DBE OPPORTUNITY: YES (35%) RELEASED ON: DECEMBER 15, 2025 DEADLINE TO RESPOND: JANUARY 27, 2026 5:00 PM CST PRE-SUDMITTAL CONFERENCE: JANUARY 13, 2026, 1:30 PM CST (TEAMS ONLY) Pre-Submittal - RFP 4610 Insurance Broker-ofRecord / Meeting-Join / Microsoft Teams Dates are subject to changes via an adden‐ dum posted by the Bu‐ reau of Purchasing on the City’s supplier portal.

If this solicitation is fed‐ erally funded, prospec‐ tive bidder/respondent must pay particular at‐ tention to all applicable laws and regulations of the Federal government and the State of Louisiana.

The Bureau of Purchas‐ ing uses commodity codes to notify suppliers of the release of a sourc‐ ing event and subse‐ quent modifications via addendum. Note that you would receive those noti‐ fications if you selected the following commodity code(s) before the re‐ lease of the sourcing event: COMMODITY CODE(s): 953 The City of New Orleans strongly encourages mi‐ nority-owned and women-owned busi‐ nesses, socially and eco‐ nomically disadvantaged businesses and small businesses to respond to this solicitation, or to participate in subcon‐ tracting opportunities pursuant to this solicita‐ tion.

For more information about this sourcing event, go to www.nola. gov and click on “BRASS Supplier Portal” under “BIDS & CONTRACTS”.

Once on the Supplier Por‐ tal, search “Open Events.”

Thank you for your inter‐ est in doing business with the City of New Or‐ leans.

James Simmons, Jr. Chief Procurement Officer Advertising Dates: December 15, 22 and 29, 2025 NOCP 8820 170308-dec 15-22-29-3t $115.38 PUBLIC NOTICE --New Orleans Public Facil‐ ity Management, Inc. (NOPFMI”) is issuing a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to obtain propos‐ als for C-2199 Provide Air Compressor Mainte‐ nance Services.

Proposals are due Mon‐ day, January 5, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at which time proposals received on time and in the correct location will be consid‐ ered. RFP documents may be obtained online https://www.central at auctionhouse.com/ Category/10822/NewOrle ansErnestNMorialConv entionCenter or by con‐ tacting the Contracts De‐ partment at (504) 582contracts@ 3562 or mccno.com.

All re‐ sponses must be submit‐ ted in accordance with the RFP documents.

171427-dec 22-30-2t $18.96 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids for the fol‐ lowing will be received by the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Transportation and Development, Pro‐ curement Section, 1201 Capitol Access Road, 4th Floor, East Wing Room S447, Headquarters Ad‐ ministration Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, Telephone number (225/379-1444) on date(s) shown below, until 10:00 A.M. No bids will be ac‐ cepted after this hour. At 10:00 A.M. of the same day and date, they will be publicly opened and read in Headquarters Ad‐ i i i ildi h

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

q ministration Building, 4th Floor, East Wing S-447.

Evidence of authority to submit the bid shall be required in accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(c) and/or R.S. 39:1594 (C)(2) (D).

MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025 SECOND INSERTION DATE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2025 THREE INSERTION DATE: MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026

BID TO BE OPENED January 8, 2026

171093-dec 22-29-jan 5-3t $130.27

DOTD Concrete Bin Blocks RFx 3000025753 Full information may be obtained upon request from the above address.

The Department reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities.

GLENN P. LEDET, JR. SECRETARY, LADOTD JULIE KENNISON, CPPB, NIGP-CPP DOTD PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR 171441-dec 22-1t $15.77 PUBLIC NOTICE --ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD Procurement Department 2401 Westbend Parkway, Suite 5055 New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 ADVERTISEMENT INVITATION TO BID NO. 26-FAC-0075 LEASE OF SPACE FOR MAHALIA JACKSON ELEMENTARY Electronic Responses to Request for Proposal rel‐ ative to the above will be received via email sub‐ mission to the Procure‐ ment Department for the Orleans Parish School Board (“OPSB” or “the District”) until 11:00 A.M. (CST) on Tuesday, Janu‐ ary 27, 2026.

Specifications and quali‐ fications are found in the RFP documents and may be obtained by visiting the District’s website at www.nolapublicschools. com. All questions re‐ garding this RFP shall be directed to the Executive Director of Procurement procurement@nol at apublicschools.com.

The District will host a Virtual Pre-Proposal meeting to be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. (CST). The Virtual link can be found below: Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom. us/meeting/register/6HS ziAzVS4Ci40Q-q7Ad0Q After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing infor‐ mation about joining the meeting.

The District reserves the right to reject any or all Responses to Request for Proposal whenever such rejection is in its best in‐ terest in accordance with law. The provisions and requirements of this ad‐ vertisement shall not be waived.

NOLA Public Schools shall make every effort to provide reasonable ac‐ commodation for people with disabilities. The re‐ quests for any reason‐ able accommodation shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Director of Procurement, no less than seven (7) days in advance of any meetings.

Paul A. Lucius Executive Director of Procurement FIRST INSERTION DATE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025 SECOND INSERTION DATE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2025 THREE INSERTION DATE: MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026 171094-dec 22-29-jan 5-3t $131.29

PUBLIC NOTICE --ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD Procurement Department 2401 Westbend Parkway, Suite 5055 New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 ADVERTISEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 26-0074 STEM PROGRAM PROVIDER SERVICES Electronic Responses to Request for Proposal rel‐ ative to the above will be received via email sub‐ mission to the Procure‐ ment Department for the Orleans Parish School Board (“OPSB” or “the District”) until 10:00 A.M. (CST) on Tuesday, Janu‐ ary 27, 2026.

Specifications and quali‐ fications are found in the RFP documents and may be obtained by visiting the District’s website at www.nolapublicschools. com. All questions re‐ garding this RFP shall be directed to the Executive Director of Procurement procurement@nol at apublicschools.com.

The District will host a Virtual Pre-Proposal meeting to be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. (CST). The Virtual link can be found below: Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom. us/meeting/register/aVR BoqADRUuvAJKnhMR sMQ After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing infor‐ mation about joining the meeting.

The District reserves the right to reject any or all Responses to Request for Proposal whenever such rejection is in its best in‐ terest in accordance with law. The provisions and requirements of this ad‐ vertisement shall not be waived.

NOLA Public Schools shall make every effort to provide reasonable ac‐ commodation for people with disabilities. The re‐ quests for any reason‐ able accommodation shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Director of Procurement, no less than seven (7) days in advance of any meetings.

Paul A. Lucius Executive Director of Procurement FIRST INSERTION DATE:

PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC NOTICE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) #2025-044 TREE CUTTING & VEGETATION CLEARANCE Project Description: The Regional Transit Author‐ ity of New Orleans is seeking qualified ven‐ dors to provide tree trim‐ ming and vegetation re‐ moval services to main‐ tain clearance around power lines and catenary infrastructure per speci‐ fications in IFB 2025-044.

How to obtain a copy of the IFB: Specifications and further information concerning the IFB may be obtained December 8, 2025, from the RTA’s Pro‐ cureware website at https://norta.procurewar e.com/home. You will be required to first register on this website. The IFB can also be obtained at Regional Transit Author‐ ity’s website at http:// www.norta.com

Clarification Deadline: Any questions or further information concerning this IFB must be submit‐ https:// ted through norta.procureware.com/ home by 1:00PM on De‐ cember 29, 2025. Only written questions sub‐ mitted through the Pro‐ cureware site shall be considered official. All answers to questions shall be by formal ad‐ denda posted to the website under IFB 2025044.

Responding to IFB: Bids shall be submitted through the RTA’s Pro‐ cureware website or de‐ livered to 2817 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119 on or before 1:00 P.M., January 9, 2026. A Bid Opening will be held in the RTA Board Room located at 2817 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119, on Friday, January 9, 2025, at 1:00 PM. This procurement is lim‐ ited to small businesses only.

Offers/responses will only be accepted from eligible Small Busi‐ ness Enterprises in com‐ pliance with the RTA’s Small Business Enter‐ prise (SBE) Program and the US Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 Part 26.39. To be an eligible Small Business Enter‐ prise, a business must have at least 51% owner‐ ship by an economically disadvantaged person.

To be considered eco‐ disadvan‐ nomically taged, the individual’s Personal Net Worth, not including their primary place of residence or ownership in the busi‐ ness, cannot exceed $2.047 million in compli‐ ance with the 49 CFR Part 26.67. Additionally, the business must meet the annual gross receipts cap of $30.72 million as defined in 49 CFR Part 26 and must meet the size criteria defined by the Small Business Adminis‐ tration. SBE size stan‐ dards can be accessed at http://www.sba.gov/ content/table-smallbusiness-size-standards.

The Small Business En‐ terprise Program is raceneutral and open to all business owners regard‐ less of race, ethnicity or gender. Businesses that are not SBE certified must submit a complete SBE Certification applica‐ tion along with all sup‐ porting documentation.

The SBE eligibility affi‐ davit and the SBE Certifi‐ cation Application can be obtained at the RTA web‐ site at www.NORTA.com.

SBE affidavits and/or ap‐ plications must be sub‐ mitted before or with the offer/response to this so‐ licitation. For additional information, contact the RTA’s Small Business Of‐ fice at 504-827-8301.

The RTA reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals submitted.

Lona Hankins Chief Executive Officer Regional Transit Authority 169312-dec 8-22-2t $781.26

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --In accordance with LSA RS 47:6007(D)(1)(e)(ii), the production company Get Da Bag Productions LLC’s principal photogra‐ phy of the movie “MO‐ TION” has wrapped pro‐ duction in New Orleans, Louisiana as of Decem‐ ber 10th, 2025. All out‐ standing creditor claims should be mailed, prior to Friday, December 19th, 2025 to: “Motion” Accounting Get Da Bag Productions LLC 8301 W Judge Perez Suite 210 Chalmette, LA 70043 Tel (504) 300.9635 Following December 19th, post accounting will be handled by: ATTN: Full Armor Films 1128 Dublin Street #200 New Orleans, La 70118 Tel (504) 300.9635 170175-dec 15-22-29-3t $286.63

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF INTENT TO RE‐ QUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS Monday December 22, 2025 Jefferson Parish Consoli‐ dated Government (Jef‐ ferson Parish) Department of Commu‐ nity Development 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd, Suite 605 Jefferson, LA 70123 504-736-6262 On or about Tuesday De‐ cember 30, 2025 (7 days after publication) Jeffer‐ son Parish will submit a request to the Louisiana Office of Community De‐ velopment-Disaster Re‐ covery (LOCD-DR) for the l f i

Legal Notices

y release of Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR): Resilient Community Infrastruc‐ ture Program (RCIP) funds through the Disas‐ ter Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub.L.117-43, as amended); in Federal Docket No. FR-6303-N-01, to undertake a project known as the JEF Sewage Lift Station L-12-2 Up‐ grade also known as Sewer Project L-12-2 Lift Station, for the purpose of retrofitting the exist‐ ing sewerage lift station by converting the exist‐ ing dry-pit configuration to a submersible config‐ uration, in the amount of $1,100,000.00. The project involves removal of the existing pumps, pump controls, piping equip‐ ment, and the lift station entrance tube, and the installation of new sub‐ mersible pumps, piping, controls, and related equipment as well as odor control facilities. A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and emergency generator quick-connect isolation junction box will also be installed. The estimated total HUD funds is $1,100,000.00.

The activities proposed comprise a project for which a Finding of No Significant Impact on the environment was posted on December 15, 2025. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that docu‐ ments the environmental determinations for this project is on file at Jeffer‐ son Parish Consolidated Government, Department of Community Develop‐ ment, 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd, Suite 605, Jefferson, LA and may be examined or copied weekdays 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit writ‐ ten comments on the ERR to the Jefferson Parish Department of Community Develop‐ ment. All comments re‐ ceived by Monday De‐ cember 29, 2025 will be considered by Jefferson Parish prior to authoriz‐ ing submission of a re‐ quest for release of funds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTI‐ FICATION Jefferson Parish certifies to the Louisiana Office of Community Develop‐ ment-Disaster Recovery (LOCD-DR) that Stephanie Brumfield in her capacity as Jefferson Parish Director of Office of Community Develop‐ ment consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an ac‐ tion is brought to enforce responsibilities in rela‐ tion to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied.

Louisiana Office of Com‐ munity Development – Disaster Recovery’s ap‐ proval of the certification satisfies its responsibili‐ ties under NEPA and re‐ lated laws and authori‐ ties and allows Jefferson Parish to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS Louisiana Office of Com‐ munity Development Disaster Recovery will accept objections to its release of funds and Jef‐ ferson Parish’s certifica‐ tion for a period of fif‐ teen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not exe‐ cuted by the Certifying Officer of Jefferson Parish; (b) Jefferson Parish has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding re‐ quired by HUD regula‐ tions at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or under‐ taken activities not au‐ thorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by LOCD-DR; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.

Objections must be pre‐ pared and submitted in accordance with the re‐ quired procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to Louisiana Office of Community Develop‐ ment-Disaster Recovery at Murilo.Martins@la.gov or mail to Louisiana Of‐ fice of Community Devel‐ opment-Disaster Recov‐ ery at: Gina Campo 617 N. Third Street Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 Potential objectors should contact the State to verify the actual last day of the objection pe‐ riod.

Stephanie Brumfield Director, Jefferson Parish Office of Community De‐ velopment 171324-DEC 22-1T $98.49 PUBLIC NOTICE --Request for Scenic River Permit on Bayou St. John The Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) as Administrator of the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System is currently considering the application of Walt Leger III to build a home and dock on Bayou St. John. Copies of the appli‐ cation can be reviewed at the LDWF main office, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA. The public is invited to comment on this permit request for a period of forty-five (45) days. Responses should be mailed to LDWF Scenic Rivers Program, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000.

171466-dec 22-1t $101.99 PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Public Notices Sex Offenders

Legal Notices

CIVIL ACTION NO.: 252366 SECTION: “T” (1)

NOTICE is given that Pe‐ titioners TRES MARINE CORPORATION as owner of the M/V MITCHELL C and GULF LOGISTICS OP‐ ERATING, INC., as Opera‐ tor, filed a Complaint pursuant to 46 U.S.C. §30501, et seq. claiming the right to exoneration from or limitation of lia‐ bility for all claims for loss, damage, death, in‐ jury or destruction al‐ leged caused, arising out of, or resulting from the events that occurred on or about September 29, 2024 wherein Steve Tomeny, Inc., Southern Pride Charters, L.L.C. and M/V Louisiana allege damages and loss of business revenue result‐ ing from an allision be‐ tween the M/V Louisiana and the M/V Mitchell C in Camanada Pass.

All persons, firms, cor‐ porations or other legal entities asserting claims with respect to which the Complaint seeks limita‐ tion and/or exoneration are advised to file their respective claims under oath with the Clerk of Court at the United States District Court‐ house for the Eastern District of Louisiana, 500 Poydras Street, Room C151, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, and to serve on the attorney for Complainant, Alan J. Meche, Allen & Gooch, 2000 Kaliste Saloom Road, Suite 400, Lafayette, Louisiana 70508, a copy thereof, on or before the 30th day of April, 2026, or be de‐ faulted. Personal atten‐ dance is not required.

Any claimant desiring to contest either the right of exoneration from or the right to limitation of liability shall file and serve an answer to the Complaint on or before the above date unless his claim has included an answer, all as required

by Rule 5 of the Supple‐ mental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims.

I, ALEXANDER TRAN aka ALEXANDER L TRAN, have been convicted of 4:106(5) Obscenity- Solicitation of a Minor. Date Convicted: 10/30/2025.

My Address is: 301 SUGARPINE DR GRETNA, LA 70056 Race: ASIAN of PAC ISL. Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 1/7/1998 Height: 5'8" Weight: 170 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

171061 Dec. 22, 29, 2025, Jan. 5, 12, 2026 4t $1,384.36 PUBLIC NOTICE --UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT OF ASSOCI‐ ATED FEDERAL PILOTS AND DOCKING MASTERS OF LOUISIANA, LLC, FED‐ ERAL PILOTS, INC. AND ASSOCIATED FEDERAL COAST PILOTS OF LOUISIANA, INC. FOR EX‐ ONERATION FROM OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 4/28/1993 Height: 5'8" Weight: 250 Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: HAZEL Scars/Tattoos:

My Address is: 3539 AUDUBON CT NEW ORLEANS, LA 70125

I, MELISSA ANN FRESH aka MELISSA A FRESH, have been convicted of 14:43.1 - Sexual Battery. Date Convicted: 04/01/2015.

My Address is: 230 STEWART AVE RIVER RIDGE, LA 70123 Race: WHITE Sex: FEMALE Date of Birth: 6/22/1974 Height: 5'2" Weight: 127 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

FEDERAL 171047, Dec 21-22 $250.00

Louisiana

171044, Dec 21-22 $250.00

171049, Dec 21-22 $250.00

My Address is: 7828 GWEN ST WESTWEGO, LA 70094

Louisiana

My Address is: 1619 OPELOUSAS AVE NEW ORLEANS, LA 70114

171045, Dec 21-22 $250.00

My Address is: 16500 CHEF MENTEUR HWY NEW ORLEANS, LA 70129 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 6/2/1958 Height: 5'10" Weight: 168 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 5/14/1990 Height: 5'10" Weight: 170 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

171012, Dec 21-22 $250.00 I, EMILE JOSEPH HARRIS aka HARRIS EMILE aka JOSEPH HARRIS aka MIL HARRIS, have been convicted of 14:81 Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. Date Convicted: 04/28/2015.

My Address is: 3716 DOWNMAN RD Apt 7 NEW ORLEANS, LA 70126 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 2/2/1963 Height: 5'9" Weight: 185 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

Louisiana 171046, Dec 21-22 $250.00

171018, Dec 21-22 $250.00

171387, Dec 21-22 $250.00

I, SHYLYN COY MILLER aka SHY MILLER aka SHYLAN C SOMERS aka Shylyn Somers, have been convicted of 14:81 - Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. Date Convicted: 7/8/2014.

I, NICHOLAS JOHN BROEKMAN aka NICK BROEKMAN , have been convicted of 18 USC 2252A(a)(2) Receipt of Child Pornography. Date Convicted: 02/02/2010.

State Equivalent: 14:81.1 - Pornography Involving Juveniles.

Race: WHITE Sex: FEMALE Date of Birth: 2/20/1974 Height: 5'6" Weight: 151 Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: HAZEL Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 170999, Dec 21-22 $250.00

Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 12/15/1980 Height: 5' 11 Weight: 290 Hair Color: BLONDE Eye Color: HAZEL Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 171043, Dec 21-22 $250.00

My Address is: 1130 MANDEVILLE ST NEW ORLEANS, LA 70117

Notice is given that Limi‐ tation Petitioners, Asso‐ ciated Federal Pilots and Docking Masters of Louisiana, LLC., Federal Pilots, Inc. and Associ‐ ated Federal Coast Pilots of Louisiana, Inc., as cur‐ rent and/or former own‐ ers and operators of the M/V FEDERAL PILOT I and the M/V FEDERAL PILOT III, have filed a Complaint claiming the right to ex‐ oneration from or limita‐ tion of liability for all claims arising out of cer‐ tain alleged incidents of asbestos exposure in‐ volving the M/V FEDERAL PILOT I and the M/V FED‐ ERAL PILOT III from 1978 through 2000.

All persons having such claims must file them as provided in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Supplemental Rule F, with the Clerk of this Court, at the United States Courthouse, East‐ ern District of Louisiana, 500 Poydras St, New Or‐ leans, LA 70130 and serve copies on or mail copies to Limitation Petitioners attorneys, Kent B. Ryan, Stephanie D. Skinner, and Miller Hahn, PLLC, 365 Canal Street, Suite 860, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, on or before the 30th day of January, 2026, or be defaulted. Personal attendance is not re‐ quired.

Any claimant desiring to contest the right of Limi‐ tation Petitioners to ex‐ oneration from liability or the rights of Limita‐ tion Petitioners and cur‐ rent and former owners and operators of the M/V FEDERAL PILOT I and the M/V FEDERAL PILOT III to limitation of liability must file an answer to said Complaint, as re‐ quired by the aforesaid Supplemental Rule F, and must serve on or mail to Limitation Petitioners’ at‐ torneys a copy thereof, unless his/her claim has included an answer.

Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 4/19/1963 Height: 5'7" Weight: 238 Hair Color: GRAY Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

I, Queisha Lynette Johnson aka Queisha Johnson aka Queisha L Johnson aka Quiesha Johnson aka Quiesha L Johnson aka QuieshaL Johnson, have been convicted of 14:81 Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. Date Convicted: 10/08/2020.

14:81 - Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. Date Convicted: 07/07/2016.

Louisiana 171001, Dec 21-22 $250.00

I, TODD JAMES ESTE aka TODD J ESTE, have been convicted of 14:81.1 - Pornography Involving Juveniles.

Date Convicted: 12/09/2002.

My Address is: 1311 MAPLE ST WESTWEGO, LA 70094

I, MARTIN LOUIS RUFFIN, have been convicted of 14:81.2 Molestation of Juvenile. Date Convicted: 06/02/2000.

NOTICE OF ACTION BROUGHT FOR EXONERATION FROM OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

I, Christopher M Dufrene, have been convicted of 18 U.S.C. 2423 - Transporting a Minor to Engage in Illicit Conduct.

Conviction State:

Louisiana

My Address is: 2638 LOUISIANA AVE NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115

My Address is: 1908 BRADFORD PL HARVEY, LA 70058

Louisiana

My Address is: 2624 PHOENIX ST KENNER, LA 70062

SECTION “A” Judge Jay C. Zainey

Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 6/30/1954 Height: 5'6" Weight: 163 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

Louisiana

TEXAS

CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:25-cv-2368

171006, Dec 21-22 $250.00

My Address is: 2802 SUNDORN ST, Apt B, JEFFERSON, LA 70121 I, MELVIN REED, have been convicted of 14:42.1 - Forcible Rape.

Date Convicted: 08/30/1993. 14:80 Carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Date Convicted: 11/16/2016.

I, CHICO ARHMED CARTER aka DELAN CARTER aka AHRMED RAY, have been convicted of 14:42.1 Forcible Rape. Date Convicted: 10/30/1997.

62.102(b)(2) - Fail to Comply w/ Sex Offender Registration.

Date Convicted: 01/17/2008. 15:542 Failure to Register/Notify as a Sex Offender. Date Convicted: 04/18/2016.

15:542 - Failure to Register/Notify as a Sex Offender. Date Convicted: 02/01/2024.

Louisiana

I, ROBERT EARL JOHNSON aka EARL JOHNSON aka LOUIS JOHNSON aka ROBERT JOHNSON, have been convicted of 14:42.1 Forcible Rape. Date Convicted: 10/29/1982.

Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 1/5/1990 Height: 6' Weight: 200 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

171020, Dec 21-22 $250.00

Race: BLACK Sex: FEMALE Date of Birth: 8/27/1980 Height: 5'6" Weight: 165 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

I, DEVIN MORECE JOSEPH, have been convicted of 14:43.1 Sexual Battery Sexual Motivation. Date Convicted: 07/05/2011.

I, ANTONIO DAMON MARCELIN aka TONY MARCELIN, have been convicted of 11990001 22.011(a)(1) PC - Sexual Assault, Conviction State: Texas. Date Convicted: 03/31/2017.

State Equivalent: 14:43 - Simple Rape.

Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 8/14/1974 Height: 5'11" Weight: 215 Hair Color: BALD Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos:

DIVISION “4” Magistrate Judge Karen Wells Roby

My Address is: 2653 BUCCANEER DR MARRERO, LA 70072

Public Notices Sex Offenders

Victim in this offender`s criminal charge was a 15 year old female.

Louisiana

PLEASE PUBLISH IN THE TIMES PICAYUNE/ THE NEW ORLEANS ADVO‐ CATE ONCE A WEEK FOR FOUR SUCCESSIVE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE DATE FIXED FOR THE FILING OF CLAIMS. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Alan J. Meche ALAN J. MECHE (#30631) ALLEN & GOOCH A LAW CORPORATION P.O. Box 81129 Lafayette, Louisiana 70508-1129 Telephone: (337) 291-1480 Facsimile: (337) 291-1485 alanmeche@allengooch. com Attorney for Petitioners, Tres Marine Corporation and Gulf Logistics Oper‐ ating, Inc.

Public Notices Sex Offenders

Federal. Date Convicted: 07/27/2017.

State Equivalent: 14:92 (A)(7) - CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF JUVENILES PERFORM SEXUALLY IMMORAL ACTS.

TION AS OWNER OF THE VESSEL M/V MITCHELL C AND GULF LOGISTICS OPERATING, INC. AS OP‐ ERATOR FOR EXONERA‐ TION FROM OR LIMITA‐ TION OF LIABILITY

NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS OF COMPLAINT FOR EXONERATION FROM OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Public Notices Sex Offenders

Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 9/27/1970 Height: 5'11" Weight: 205 Hair Color: GRAY Eye Color: BLUE Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 171050, Dec 21-22 $250.00

NEWS 24/7 ON

The Board of Commissioners of the French Quarter Management District (FQMD) will meet 10am on Monday, December 22, 2025, for consideration of the following proposed budget for 2026.

Date: Dec 02 2025

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Carol L. Michel Name of clerk of court

EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

L. Guillot Deputy clerk's signature

IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT OF TRES MARINE CORPORA‐

170029-dec 5-4t $1,159.80

15-22-29-jan

170020-593655-dec 13-15-22-3t $ 274.47

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10D ✦ Monday, December 22, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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