The Advocate 12-23-2025

ADVOCATE THE

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

T u e s d ay, d e c e m b e r 23, 2025

$2.00X

Landry to press Greenland to join U.S. Legal, diplomacy questions raised as governor accepts trump appointment

BY MARK BALLARD staff writer

WASHINGTON — Gov. Jeff Landry abruptly found himself in the center of controversy — internationally and at home in Louisiana — after President Donald Trump named him a special envoy to Greenland

in a Truth Social post late Sunday night.

Landry said on social media that he is happy to accept the “volunteer” post and help Trump “make Greenland part of the U.S.” That idea has enraged Danish and Greenlandic officials, who summoned the U.S. ambassador to ex-

plain the situation.

Landry also promised that he would remain Louisiana’s governor, which raised questions about a state law that restricts elected officials from holding two offices at the same Landry time.

The White House did not respond to questions about what a voluntary special envoy would actually do.

Landry’s office had no further information than what the governor

said in a short video Monday afternoon.

Landry outlined what he thought the special envoy role would entail in the video posted on social media.

Landry recounted a conversation with Trump about becoming the first special envoy to Greenland, which is a part of Denmark, a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization — the mutual defense pact to which the U.S. is a member.

Swamp complicates new plans for bridge over the Mississippi DotD closes in on final routes for federal consideration

ä see LANDRY, page 5A

Trump warns Maduro against playing ‘tough’ U.s. escalates pressure campaign against Venezuela

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL

BY AAMER MADHANI, REGINA GARCIA CANO and EMMA BURROWS

staff writer

Deep in the sloughs behind Don Ristroph’s family farm, cypress have towered over surrounding trees, high grass and crop rows for centuries, and, he says, in one or two cases, perhaps half a millennium or more.

On a Mississippi River bend known as Point Pleasant, the cypress swamp and its ancient trees south of Plaquemine are in the path of at least one of the final routes for a long-awaited river bridge and could be negatively affected by being on the edge of another, Ristroph says.

Designated a state natural area, Ristroph’s cypress forest on the west bank of Iberville Parish presents another, potentially complicating, wrinkle in the running debate over where to build the $2 billion bridge and route its 600-foot-wide approach corridors linking the Mississippi bridge to La. 1 and La. 30.

State highway officials revealed this month that they are closing in on a preferred route for federal officials to consider by the middle of 2026. The state is weighing three alternatives: 11, 13 and 14.

Alternatives 13 and 14 affect Ristroph’s property, according to state maps.

“The president said, ‘You know what, you went to Korea one time and came back with a steel mill.

Could you go to Greenland and talk to them about the opportunity of being a part of the United States?’”

Landry said in the video, posted on X. “All we’re going to do is go have us a great conversation with those folks in Greenland. They’re in the Western Hemisphere — fits inside the Monroe Doctrine. And we’re

associated Press

staFF PHoto By DaVID J. MItCHeLL

Don ristroph stands next to the trunk of an ancient cypress tree on his family’s property on Point Pleasant south of Plaquemine. ristroph, who now lives in Baton rouge, fears two of the three final routes for the proposed Mississippi river bridge would affect the cypress swamp and possibly destroy the tree, estimated to be 1,000 years old.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a new warning to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ä President as the U.S. Coast Guard steps unveils plans up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as for Navy ‘Golden Fleet.’ part of the Republican administration’s escalating pressure PaGe 3a campaign on the government in Caracas.

Trump was surrounded by his top national security aides, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as he suggested that he remains ready to further escalate his four-month pressure campaign on the Maduro government that began with the stated purpose of stemming the flow of illegal drugs from the South American nation but has developed into something more amorphous.

“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” Trump said of Maduro as he took a break from his Florida holiday vacation to announce plans for the Navy to build a new, large warship.

Trump levied his latest threat as the U.S. Coast Guard on Monday continued for a second day to chase a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump

ä see MADURO, page 5A

Laura Comeaux pulls up a map on her phone of points of interest like centuries-old trees during a tour of the a.e. LeBlanc Natural area and old-Growth Cypress Forest on april 12. staFF FILe PHoto By JaVIer GaLLeGos

ä see SWAMP, page 4A

assoCIateD Press PHoto By MatIas DeLaCroIX

the oil tanker evana is docked at el Palito port in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, on sunday.

WeatHer HIGH 78 LOW 58 PaGe 6B

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

101st year, No. 176

her new favorite ornaments

Diamond Solitaire Earrings .50 cttw., $595 1.50 cttw., $2,695 .75 cttw., $975 2.00 cttw., $5,595 1.00 cttw., $1,495 3.00 cttw., $9,975 4.00 cttw., $19,875 Our Earrings are Always Upgradeable

rs y Hou rd Holiyd, aDecember 23

a Tuesd 10am-7pm ve mas E Christ -4pm m 10a

Creating Memories...Now and Forever 10675 Coursey Blvd. (225) 291-1919 Between Airline Highway & Sherwood Forest Blvd. www.antonsfinejewelry.com

2A ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Zelenskyy: Peace talk progress ‘quite solid’

KYIV, Ukraine — Initial drafts of U.S. proposals for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia meet many of Kyiv’s demands, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday, although he suggested that neither side in the almost four-year war is likely to get everything it wants in talks on reaching a settlement.

“Overall, it looks quite solid at this stage,” the Ukrainian leader said of recent talks with U.S. officials who are trying to steer the neighboring countries toward compromises.

“There are some things we are probably not ready for, and I’m sure there are things the Russians are not ready for either,” Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv.

President Donald Trump has for months been pushing for a peace agreement. However, the negotiations have run into sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv. But U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Sunday he held “productive and constructive” talks in Florida with Ukrainian and European representatives.

Zelenskyy said that “nearly 90%” of Ukraine’s demands have been incorporated into the draft agreements.

The backbone of the proposed deal is a 20-point plan, he said.

There is also a framework document on security guarantees between Ukraine, European countries, and the United States, as well as a separate document on bilateral security guarantees granted to Ukraine by the U.S.

lll

Judge chides Maxwell over filing epstein confidant mentioned victim names in court papers, official says

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER associated Press

NEW YORK — A judge on Monday scolded Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell for including confidential victim names in court papers seeking to set aside her 2021 sex trafficking conviction and free her from a 20-year prison sentence.

Judge Paul A. Engelmayer said exhibits included with Maxwell’s habeas petition — which she filed on her own, without a lawyer — will be kept under seal and out of public view “until they have been reviewed and appropriately redacted to protect the identities of victims.”

Any future papers Maxwell files must be submitted under seal, the

judge wrote.

He said he “reminds Maxwell, in strong terms, that she is prohibited from including in any public filings any information identifying victim(s) who were not publicly identified by name during her trial.”

A message seeking comment was left with Maxwell’s lawyer, David Markus.

Maxwell filed the petition last Wednesday, two days before the Justice Department started releasing investigative records perMaxwell taining to her and Epstein in accordance with the recently enacted Epstein Files Transparency Act. Maxwell contends that information that would have resulted in her exoneration was withheld and that false testimony was presented to the jury. She said the cumulative effect of the constitutional violations resulted in a “complete mis-

carriage of justice.”

Engelmayer said Maxwell has until Feb. 17 to notify him whether she plans to include any information from the so-called Epstein files in her petition and must file an amended version by March 31.

Protecting victim identifies has been a key sticking point in the Justice Department’s ongoing release.

The department has said it plans to release records on a rolling basis by the end of the year, blaming the delay on the time-consuming process of obscuring victims’ names and other identifying information. So far, the department hasn’t given any notice when new records arrive.

That approach angered some accusers and members of Congress who fought to pass the transparency act. Records that were released, including photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents, were either already public or heavily blacked out, and many lacked necessary context.

Judge: Abrego Garcia can stay free for now

BY GARY FIELDS and TRAVIS LOLLER associated Press

Pope critiques Vatican culture in greeting

ROME — Pope Leo XIV urged Vatican cardinals on Monday to put their ambitions of power and personal interests aside, as he followed in Pope Francis’ footsteps and used a Christmas greeting to gently criticize his closest collaborators.

“Is it possible to be friends in the Roman Curia?” Leo asked the cardinals and bishops who make up the Curia, as the Holy See bureaucracy is known. “To have relationships of genuine fraternal friendship?”

The fact that Leo asked the question suggests that the American pope knows well that the Curia remains a difficult and sometimes toxic workplace, one that Francis would often eviscerate in his annual Christmas addresses.

Leo didn’t repeat Francis’ more biting critique — that Vatican clergy sometimes suffer from “spiritual Alzheimer’s,” the “cancer” of cliques, the “corruption” of ambition and “selfabsorbed” idle gossip — and his tone was far more gentle and constructive.

But the underlying message remained. Leo, who was very close to Francis and worked in the Vatican for two years before his election, didn’t shy away from Francis’ tradition of using the Christmas occasion to urge Vatican bureaucrats to examine their consciences and change their ways for the good of the church.

Barry Manilow to have lung cancer surgery

Barry Manilow will be having surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his lung and will reschedule his January concerts, the singer announced Monday.

Manilow, 82, said doctors found the cancer after he had an extended bout of bronchitis — six weeks, then a relapse of another five weeks.

“My wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK,” Manilow wrote on Instagram. “The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early.”

The singer added that doctors don’t believe cancer has spread, so for now he expects “No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns.”

A statement issued by Manilow’s representatives specified that the spot was a stage one tumor, and that the surgery would take place in late December.

The Senate’s top Democrat on Monday urged colleagues to take legal action over the incremental and heavily redacted release.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted last month that required disclosure of records by last Friday.

“Instead of transparency, the Trump administration released a tiny fraction of the files and blacked out massive portions of what little they provided,” Schumer, D-N.Y. said in a statement. “This is a blatant cover-up.”

In lieu of Republican support, Schumer’s resolution is largely symbolic. The Senate is off until Jan. 5, more than two weeks after the deadline. Even then, it’ll likely face an uphill battle for passage.

But it allows Democrats to continue a pressure campaign for disclosure that Republicans had hoped to put behind them.

assoCIateD Pres PHoto By VasHa HUNt

People arrive Monday for a funeral service for Brown University shooting victim ella Cook in Birmingham, ala.

Brown University police chief placed on leave

Brown for infor- church, read from several Feds launch asking mation to help determine letters written by memif school officials violated bers of the Brown cominvestigation into federal campus safety and munity to Cook’s parents, requirements. Anna Bishop Cook and fatal shooting security This has included seeking Richard Cook, who raised

BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI and JEFF AMY associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Brown University’s president on Monday placed its campus police chief on leave as the Rhode Island university reviews its security policies after a gunman killed two students and injured nine others earlier this month.

Questions surrounding Brown’s security policies have only intensified since the Dec. 13 shooting that rocked the Providence community and led to a lengthy search for the killer. Much of the focus has centered on whether the Ivy League school had security cameras installed in the building where the attack took place in and the overall ease of accessing campus buildings.

University President Christina Paxson said Rodney Chatman will be replaced by Hugh T. Clements, former police chief of the Providence Police Department. Chatman had previously faced a vote of no confidence by the union representing school police officers in October. Local media outlets reported at the time that the union said the vote reflected “serious concerns over the failed leadership, contract violations, and policies that jeopardize public safety.”

The scrutiny over the school’s security has led to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education, which said earlier Monday that officials are

security reports, audits, dispatch and call logs, and when emergency notifications have been utilized.

Meanwhile, hundreds gathered at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, on Monday to remember Ella Cook, a Brown sophomore who was killed in the attack.

On Dec. 13, gunman Claudio Neves Valente, 48, entered a study session in a Brown academic building and opened fire on students, killing Cook and 18-year-old freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and wounding nine others.

Two days later, authorities say Neves Valente, who had been a graduate student at Brown studying physics during the 2000-01 school year, also fatally shot Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro at Loureiro’s Boston-area home.

Neves Valente, who had attended school with Loureiro in Portugal in the 1990s, was found dead days later in a New Hampshire storage facility. Authorities say he killed himself. An autopsy determined that Neves Valente died Dec. 16, the same day Loureiro died in a hospital.

In Alabama, Cook’s family on Monday invited attendees to wear “Easter colors,” underscoring Cook’s Christian faith, at an Episcopal funeral service that also nodded to the Christmas season.

The Rev. Paul F.M. Zahl, who formerly led the

Ella and her two younger siblings in the affluent Birmingham suburb of Mountain Brook.

“Ella was smart, confident, curious, kind, principled, brave. She had a big impact on campus in only three semesters,” wrote Brown professor of political economy David Skarbek. “I used to tell Ella, ‘We need an Alabama to Brown pipeline.’ In fact, her nickname on campus was Ellabama.”

Zahl told the congregation that the funeral was “a kind of bigger stage, a kind of more amplified mic” for Cook to spread her Christian faith. Zahl said he dreamed last week that he was skiing behind Cook and her family. “Ella turned around and shouted confidently, self-assuredly, ‘Come on, will you?’” he said, saying he believed God had shown himself through the dream.

“I pray now that everyone who has loved Ella so much in this life would be given a vivid, individual feeling of Ella’s love, still present with us,” Zahl said. “Because Ella’s love is eternal and entirely altruistic.”

Cook was an accomplished pianist who was studying French, math and economics at Brown, where she also served as vice president of the college Republicans. Her political activity brought a wave of reaction from national and Alabama Republicans. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey ordered flags to be flown at half-staff statewide in Cook’s memory.

GREENBELT, Md. — A federal judge on Monday questioned whether government officials could be trusted to follow orders barring them from taking Kilmar Abrego Garcia into immigration custody or deporting him.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis noted that Abrego Garcia was already deported without legal authority once and said she was “growing beyond impatient” with government misrepresentations in her court. “Why should I give the respondents the benefit of the doubt?” she asked, referring to the government attorneys.

Abrego Garcia’s mistaken deportation and imprisonment in El Salvador in March has galvanized both sides of the immigration debate. The Trump administration initially fought efforts to bring him back to the U.S. but eventually complied after the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in. He returned to the U.S. in June,

only to face an arrest warrant on human smuggling charges in Tennessee.

Xinis ordered Abrego Garcia released from immigration custody on Dec. 11 after determining that the government had no viable plan for deporting him. She followed that with a temporary restraining order the next day barring Immigration and Customs Enforcement from immediately taking him back into custody. The Monday hearing was to determine if the temporary restraining order should be dissolved.

The hearing was a glimpse into the complexity of immigration proceedings as Xinis tried to get information on the status of Abrego Garcia’s case. “I am trying to get to the bottom of whether there are going to be any removal proceedings,” she said as she questioned the government’s lawyer. “You haven’t told me what you’re going to do next.”

Xinis said she would leave the restraining order in place for now while she considers the issue.

GET IN TOUCH Customer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COM or 225-388-0200 News Tips / Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM Obituaries: 225-388-0289 • Mon-Fri 9-5; Sat 10-5; Closed Sun Advertising Sales: 225-388-0262 • Mon-Fri 8-5 Classified Advertising: 225-383-0111 • Mon-Fri 8-5 Subscribe: theadvocate.com/subscribe E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com The Advocate (USPS 363-040) is published daily in Baton Rouge and at additional mailing offices. Periodicals postage paid at Baton Rouge, LA. ISSN: 1061-3978. Capital City Press, proprietor. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Advocate, Circulation Accounting, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Newspaper carriers are independent contractors and not employees of Capital City Press.

All home delivery subscription sales are non-refundable. Should you discontinue your subscription during term, the subscription will end with the expiration date on your subscription, and there will not be a refund of a prorated amount. Subscribers who purchased their subscription before Feb. 1, 2023 and wish to cancel can request a refund of a remaining balance at https://www.nola.com/app/forms/refund-request-form/. Refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Capital City Press, LLC or its designee. All subscriptions purchased that include a special edition will have the special edition value deducted prior to any refund provided to subscriber upon cancellation of service. Standard subscription rates may be effective upon renewal. All standard subscriptions include digital access and e-Edition, a digital replica of the printed Advocate edition(s). The apps are free for tablets and smartphones. Smartphone apps may not be supported on all devices. The Advocate standard subscription rate is $71.22 per 4-week period, plus tax. The Acadiana Advocate standard subscription rate is $68.48 per 4-week period, plus tax. Standard digital subscriptions include e-Edition with the rate of $31.15 per 4-week period, plus tax starting 1/1/26. Special editions included in home delivery subscriptions are 1/30/26, 3/11/26, 4/15/26, 5/27/26, 7/8/26, 8/19/26, 9/30/26 11/26/26, 1/22/27, 3/10/27, 4/14/27, 5/26/27, 7/14/27, 8/18/27, 9/29/27 and 11/25/27 and are billed at $5.99 each. The Thanksgiving Day edition will be billed at your regular Thursday rate plus $5.99. To opt out of special edition delivery, email help@theadvocate.com or call 225-388-0395. By opting out of special editions you will not receive that day’s newspaper. Thanksgiving Day is not a special edition and opting out for that edition isn’t permitted. Prices shown are in U.S. dollars. Prices subject to change. Other restrictions may apply. We no longer provide credit for temporary delivery stops of 14 days or less. During a temporary delivery stop donations are made to our News in Education program. This program provides newspapers and digital access to schools across Louisiana. This program is paid for by sponsors and temporary stops so that students may use the newspaper for educational purposes in the classroom. During a temporary delivery stop of the print edition subscribers have unlimited digital access to theadvocate.com, nola.com and the apps for tablet and smartphone. Seasonal delivery times from August 2025 through February 2026 will extend to 8:00 a.m. on weekends. Subscribers may also choose to access our digital replica e-Edition of the printed Advocate, Times Picayune | New Orleans Advocate and Acadiana Advocate only. As a highly valued customer, we also value your privacy. All personal information collected by The Advocate will be used for administration and customer verification; it may be used for promotional purposes in accordance with The Advocate’s privacy policy. Please refer to our policy located at https://www.theadvocate.com/new_policy/ for information regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.

By providing your phone number and email address you agree that we can call or email you to confirm delivery service, satisfaction and/or sales promotions as they may occur from The Advocate.

The Advocate: 10705 Rieger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588

the advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ 3A

lll

Trump announces plans for new Navy ‘battleship’ growing delays and cost President says ing overruns, deciding instead to with a modified version of ‘trump-class’ ship go a Coast Guard cutter that was produced until recentwould be part being ly. The sea service has also of ‘Golden Fleet’ failed to build its other newly

BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and AAMER MADHANI associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has announced a bold plan for the Navy to build a new, large warship that he is calling a “battleship” as part of a larger vision to create a “Golden Fleet.”

“They’ll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,” Trump claimed during the announcement at his Mar-aLago resort in Florida.

According to Trump, the ship, the first of which will be named the USS Defiant, will be longer and larger than the World War II-era Iowa-class battleships and will be armed with hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, rail guns, and high-powered lasers — all technologies that are in various stages of development by the Navy.

The announcement comes just a month after the Navy scrapped its plans to build a new, small warship, cit-

designed ships, like the new Ford-class aircraft carrier and Columbia-class submarines, on time and on budget.

Meanwhile, the Navy has struggled to field some of the technologies Trump says will be aboard the new ship.

The Navy spent hundreds of millions of dollars and more than 15 years trying to field a rail gun aboard a ship before finally abandoning the effort in 2021.

Laser technology has seen more success in making its way onto Navy ships in recent years, but its employment is still limited. One system that is designed to blind or disable drone sensors is now aboard eight destroyers after spending eight years in development.

Developing nuclear cruise missile capabilities or deploying them on ships may also violate nonproliferation treaties that the U.S. has signed with Russia.

A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing plans, told The Associated Press that design efforts are now underway for the new ship and

assoCIateD Press PHoto By aLeX BraNDoN

President Donald trump arrives to speak Monday at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla. construction is planned to begin in the early 2030s.

Both Trump and Navy Secretary John Phelan spoke about the new Trump-class warship as a spiritual successor to the battleships of the 20th century, but historically that term has referred to a very specific type of ship — a large, heavily armored vessel armed with massive guns designed to bombard other ships or targets ashore.

This type of ship was at the height of prominence during World War II, and the larg-

est of the U.S. battleships, the Iowa-class, were roughly 60,000 tons. But after World War II, the battleship’s role in modern fleets diminished rapidly in favor of aircraft carriers and long-range missiles. The U.S. Navy did modernize four Iowa-class battleships in the 1980s by adding cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles, along with modern radars, but by the 1990s all four were decommissioned.

According to a newly created website for the “Golden Fleet,” this new “guided mis-

sile battleship” is set to be roughly the same size as Iowa-class battleships but only weigh about half as much, around 35,000 tons, and have far smaller crews — between 650 and 850 sailors.

Its primary weapons will also be missiles, not large naval guns.

Trump has long held strong opinions on specific aspects of the Navy’s fleet, sometimes with a view toward keeping older technology instead of modernizing.

During his first term, he

unsuccessfully called for the return to steam-powered catapults to launch jets from the Navy’s newest aircraft carriers instead of the more modern electromagnetic system.

He has also complained to Phelan about the look of the Navy’s destroyers and decried Navy ships being covered in rust.

Phelan told senators at his confirmation hearing that Trump “has texted me numerous times very late at night, sometimes after one (o’clock) in the morning” about “rusty ships or ships in a yard, asking me what am I doing about it.”

On a visit to a shipyard that was working on the nowcanceled Constellation-class frigate in 2020, Trump said he personally changed the design of the ship.

“I looked at it, I said, ‘That’s a terrible-looking ship, let’s make it beautiful,’ ” Trump said at the time.

He said Monday he will have a direct role in designing this new warship as well.

“The U.S. Navy will lead the design of these ships along with me, because I’m a very aesthetic person,” Trump said.

Phelan said the new USS Defiant “will inspire awe and reverence for the American flag whenever it pulls into a foreign port.”

‘60 Minutes’ pulls story about deportations to El Salvador prison

BY DAVID BAUDER aP media writer

An internal CBS News battle over a “60 Minutes” story critical of the Trump administration has exploded publicly, with a correspondent charging it was kept off the air for political reasons and news chief Bari Weiss saying Monday the story did not “advance the ball.”

Two hours before airtime Sunday, CBS announced that the story where correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi spoke to deportees who had been sent to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison, would not be a part of the show. Weiss, the Free Press founder named CBS News editor-in-chief in October, said it was her decision.

The dispute puts one of journalism’s most respected brands — and a frequent target of President Donald Trump — back in the spotlight and amplifies questions

about whether Weiss’ appointment was a signal that CBS News was headed in a more Trump-friendly direction.

Alfonsi, in an email sent to fellow “60 Minutes” correspondents said the story was factually correct and had been cleared by CBS lawyers and its standards division. But the Trump administration had refused to comment for the story, and Weiss wanted a greater effort made to get their point of view.

“In my view, pulling it now after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one,” Alfonsi wrote in the email. She did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

Alfonsi said in the email that interviews were sought with or questions directed to — sometimes both — the White House, State Depart-

ment and Department of Homeland Security.

“Government silence is a statement, not a VETO,” Alfonsi wrote. “Their refusal to be interviewed is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story. If the administration’s refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a ‘kill switch’ for any reporting they find inconvenient.”

“Spike” is a journalist’s term for killing a story. But Weiss, in a statement, said that she looked forward to airing Alfonsi’s piece “when it’s ready.”

Speaking Monday at the daily CBS News internal editorial call, Weiss was clearly angered by Alfonsi’s memo.

A transcript of Weiss’ message was provided by CBS News.

“The only newsroom I’m interested in running is one in which we are able to have contentious disagreements

assoCIateD Press FILe PHoto

as prisoners stand looking out from a cell, Homeland security secretary Kristi Noem speaks March 26 during a tour of the terrorist Confinement Center in tecoluca, el salvador. about the thorniest editorial matters with respect and, crucially, where we assume the best intent of our colleagues,” Weiss said. “Anything else is completely unacceptable.”

She said that while Alfonsi’s story presented powerful testimony about torture at

the CECOT prison, The New York Times and other outlets had already done similar work. “To run a story on this subject two months later, we need to do more,” she said.

“And this is ‘60 Minutes.’

We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera.”

It wasn’t clear whether Weiss’ involvement in seeking administration comment was sought. She reportedly helped the newscast arrange interviews with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff this past fall to discuss Trump’s Middle East peace efforts.

Trump himself was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell on a “60 Minutes” telecast that aired on Nov. 2.

Trump has been sharply critical of “60 Minutes.” He refused to grant the show an interview prior to last fall’s election, then sued the network over how it handled an interview with election opponent Kamala Harris.

CBS’ parent Paramount Global agreed to settle the lawsuit by paying Trump $16 million this past summer. More recently, Trump angrily reacted to correspondent Lesley Stahl’s interview with Trump former ally turned critic Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Flash flooding in California leads to soaked roads, rescues, 1 death

BY NOAH BERGER and TRÂN NGUYEN associated Press

REDDING, Calif. — Heavy rain and flash flooding soaked roads in northern California, leading to water rescues from vehicles and homes and at least one confirmed death, authorities said Monday.

In Redding, a city at the northern end of California’s Central Valley, one motorist died after calling 911 while trapped in their vehicle as it filled up with water, Mayor Mike Littau posted online Monday. Police said they received numerous calls for drivers stranded in flooded areas.

“Redding police officer swam out into the water, broke the windows and pulled victim to shore. CPR was done but the person did

not live,” Littau wrote.

The Redding area saw between 3 and 6 inches of rain from Saturday through Sunday night, the National Weather Service said.

As scattered showers lingered into Monday, some local roads remained flooded as street crews worked to clear debris and tow abandoned cars.

Dekoda Cruz waded in knee-deep muddy water to check on a friend’s flooded tire business, where the office was littered with a jumble of furniture and bobbing tires.

Redding’s mayor warned of even more dangerous weather in the coming days, and the city distributed free sand bags to residents in preparation for the next storm.

The National Weather Ser-

vice expects rain through the Christmas week as a series of atmospheric rivers was forecast to make its way through Northern California.

A large swath of the Sacramento Valley and surrounding areas were under a flood watch through Friday.

An atmospheric river is a long, narrow band of water vapor that forms over an ocean and flows through the sky, transporting moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes.

The weather pattern was expected to intensify by midweek, which could lead to potential mudslides, rockslides and flooding of creeks and streams, forecasters warned. Up to 6 feet of snow was predicted for parts of the Sierra Nevada and winds could reach 55 mph in high elevations by Wednesday.

NEW HERE?

JOIN BALLY’S REWARDS TODAY TO

WIN UP TO 10K $

103 FRANCE STREET • BATON ROUGE, LA 70802 Belle of Baton Rouge Casino is changing its name to Bally’s Baton Rouge. As a result, effective December 6, 2025, Belle of Baton Rouge is discontinuing the use of Belle of Baton Rouge Table Chips. You may redeem any outstanding Belle of Baton Rouge Table Chips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through April 5, 2026, at Bally’s Baton Rouge located at 102 France St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802. 21+ Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-770-7867.

4A ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

Don ristroph hikes through high grasses Friday in an open patch of a 57acre old-growth cypress swamp on his family property south of Plaquemine. ristroph said the swamp is likely in the path of two of three routes proposed for the new Mississippi river bridge in Iberville Parish. the swamp, often a wet bog, was dry due to weeks of little rain.

New Mississippi River bridge options

state highway officials have narrowed down 32 possible routes for a new bridge south of Baton rouge to three in Iberville Parish. the three are routes 11, 13 and 14.

EAST BATON N ROUG GE PARISH

1

er Miss. Riv

Addis

30

N ROUGE PARISH WEEST BATON

10

POTENTIAL SITES FOR THE NEW BRIDGE

988

77

75

13 14

75

IBERVILLE PARISH

Bayou Paul Lane

11

Plaquemine

St. Gabriel 30 2 miles

1

source: Louisiana Department of transportation and Development

staFF PHotos By DaVID J. MItCHeLL

SWAMP

Continued from page 1a

‘That “11” thing’

Upriver of Point Pleasant, alternative 11 would completely avoid Ristroph’s west bank cypress swamp, as well as the most disruptive impacts to west bank industrial property and infrastructure, including possibly pipelines serving Shintech.

But the route would plow through part of another statedesignated natural area, the A.E. LeBlanc Natural Area, and potentially hit other pipelines, advocates say.

For the past several years, opposition to alternative 11 has been building from east bank landowners like Laura and Cliff Comeaux, who own the natural area, amid calls from them and others for the state to conduct a deeper, slower analysis known as an environmental impact statement.

Their 60-acre forest on Iberville Parish’s east bank near the community of Sunshine has cypress that predate the Louisiana Purchase’s signing in 1803, according to reports supplied by the family. The trees are part of a larger old-growth forest system held by several landowners of the back swamps at the center of Plaquemine Point.

With one of the state’s few regenerating cypress swamps, the A.E. LeBlanc swamp was dubbed one of Louisiana’s Most Endangered Places by the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation in 2024 and has drawn attention from LSU researchers and a collection of other groups.

A botanist studied the land through a Louisiana Native Plant Society grant for the Comeauxs and recently concluded the loss of the forest, due to its age and biodiversity, couldn’t be recovered through traditional payments to wetlands mitigation banks, calling the damage “unmitigatible.”

During recent public meetings this month on the bridge, some residents questioned why Louisiana has to make another sacrifice of its natural heritage.

“You’re going to take a forest down to be nice to chemical plants? Sorry,” said Les Ann Kirkland, 71, of Plaquemine.

She questioned why alternative 11 even remained an

Baton Rouge

Brusly

High-voltage power lines pass through a corridor behind Don ristroph’s and other landowners’ property toward the shintech plant in the background. this corridor would provide part of the path for an access road for two of three routes proposed for a new Mississippi river bridge south of Plaquemine. the route would likely require relocation or reinforcement of pipelines and power lines. option, fueling suspicion for her about the state’s review process.

“I want that ‘11’ thing gone, and it should’ve been gone,” Kirkland said.

‘One of my big boys’ As the east bank cypress forest was, Ristroph’s 57acre forest in western Iberville was designated in 2006 as the St. Barbara Wetland Natural Area, named after a former plantation on the property, according to a state registry.

On a recent visit to the swamp, dried out from weeks of little rain, tall cypress knees and high, partially browned grasses surrounded one of the tallest, girthiest cypress and reached nearly to a man’s hips.

“That’s one of my big boys,” Ristroph said as the grasses rustled with his and a reporter’s steps underneath the towering tree.

While the big cypress’s exact age isn’t clear, Ristroph, 71, who grew up on the farm but now lives in Baton Rouge, said a state wildlife official told him it could be close to 1,000 years old.

Ristroph said he didn’t have the tree cored to verify its age, unlike trees in the LeBlanc forest. He was worried about damaging the old tree, but assumed it and at least one other cypress in the natural area to be at least 500 years old.

Others are younger but probably still older than a century, he said.

Ristroph said he favors alternative 11 because it avoids his property and the swamp, but also because he believes it will be difficult to

run a new highway on parts of alternatives 13 and 14.

To reach La. 1, both routes must slip through a narrow corridor between two Shintech plants, with pipelines and a high-voltage power line, according to state maps.

“My biggest thing is, of course, it’s just simply not logical to go through that kind of narrow corridor right between two chemical plants,” he said.

a sign marks the location of a benzene pipeline running through a large utility corridor on or near Don ristroph’s property.

Benzene is a known human carcinogen. trict earlier this month that the state’s wetlands review failed to collect a single soil sample inside the old-growth portion of the A.E. LeBlanc forest, instead hitting nearby grassy pipeline routes and cow pastures.

“We wonder what other landowners and tracts of land were avoided, and is this going to give a false impression that there would be no significant impact?” she asked.

In a later interview, she said the revelation of Ristroph’s natural area only increases the need for a more thorough environmental impact statement.

DOTD officials said they would examine her claims but added they were not done with their analysis.

In a statement, a Shintech official didn’t state a preferred route but noted all three routes hit Shintech property. However, two routes — alternatives 13 and 14 — would affect “existing electrical and utility infrastructure and pipelines in their designated areas.”

Alternative 11 would cross “currently undeveloped Shintech property” on the west bank, the company executive said.

“Improved traffic flow and economic development are good for all of us living, working and doing business on the west bank. Locating the proposed new bridge in Iberville Parish would do just that,” said Danny Cedotal, Shintech Louisiana LLC’s vice president of manufacturing.

DOTD officials told the bridge district board that a draft environmental assessment with refined routes and

staff map

costs, including for utilities, would be presented to the public in meetings planned for February.

Following those comments, a final route could be recommended for additional public hearings in June, followed by DOTD’s selection of a route for the Federal Highway Administration to consider, possibly approving it by next fall.

Christina Brignac, DOTD’s critical projects manager, said that if the process can settle on a preferred route without a significant impact, it can proceed to a final federal decision without doing the longer environmental impact statement.

A federal decision would open the door to further design, land acquisition and other preliminary steps, she said.

The bridge has about $400 million set aside for design and construction but has the prospect of toll-based financing and possibly a share of vehicle sales taxes after the end of a two-year pause enacted in late 2024, state highway officials said.

David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

‘Good for all of us’ For a generation or more, the need for a new river crossing in the Baton Rouge region has developed a growing consensus. Over the past several years, state highway officials and their consultants have narrowed down 32 potential crossing routes to just the three in Iberville.

This analysis gave the Iberville Parish routes the highest rankings and determined each would draw roughly equal traffic loads, generate similar toll revenue and create moderate traffic improvement for the region.

But this preliminary analysis also gave alternative 11 an edge over 13 and 14 for lesser impacts on wetlands, power lines and river navigation and for greater ease in building the bridge.

Alternative 13 runs along the edge of Ristroph’s swamp but affects other wetland areas, including some larger, older trees on neighboring property. Alternative 14 runs right through the heart of the St. Barbara Natural Area owned by Ristroph.

Laura Comeaux has questioned the state’s analysis, however, telling the Capital Area Road and Bridge Dis-

BIG WIRELESS COVERAGE, WITHOUT BIG WIRELESS COST.

Plans start at $20/Month.

AWARD-WINNING CUSTOMER SUPPORT 16 TIMES IN A ROW. We’ve been ranked “#1 in Customer Service among Wireless Value MVNOs, 16 Times in a Row.”

100% U.S. BASED CUSTOMER SERVICE.

All of our support teams are just a call or click away.

Switch & Save Today. staFF FILe PHoto By JaVIer GaLLeGos

Laura Comeaux and her husband, Cliff, stand at the edge of a deep slough during a tour of the a.e. LeBlanc Natural area and old-Growth Cypress Forest. Laura Comeaux told the Capital area road and Bridge District earlier this month that the state’s wetlands review to study possible sites for a new bridge over the Mississippi river failed to collect a single soil sample inside the old-growth portion of the a.e. LeBlanc forest, instead hitting nearby grassy pipeline routes and cow pastures.

888-348-1659

© 2024 Consumer Cellular Inc. Terms and Conditions subject to change. For J.D. Power 2024 Wireless Customer Care Value Mobile Virtual Network Operator Study award information, visit jdpower.com/awards. Plans shown above include $5 credit for AutoPay and E-billing. Taxes and other fees apply. Credit approval required for new service. Cellular service is not available in all areas and is subject to system limitations.

the advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ 5A

lll

LANDRY

Continued from page 1a going to bring them some great Cajun food.”

President James Monroe in 1823 established a doctrine that the U.S. wouldn’t meddle in European affairs and Europe’s powers would stay out of North and South America.

The governor was at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday, according to Shane Guidry, a New Orleans businessman who is a close confidant and adviser to Landry.

What is Landry’s role?

It is not immediately clear what exactly Landry’s responsibilities as special envoy would entail. And that has some in Louisiana wondering about the legality of dual officeholding under state law.

The relevant law says that, with few exceptions, “no person holding an elective office, appointive office, or employment in any of the branches of state government or of a political subdivision thereof shall at the same time hold another elective office, appointive office, or employment in the government of a foreign country, in the government of the United States, or in the government

MADURO

Continued from page 1a administration describes as part of a “dark fleet” Venezuela is using to evade U.S. sanctions. The tanker, according to the White House, is flying under a false flag and is under a U.S. judicial seizure order.

“It’s moving along and we’ll end up getting it,” Trump said.

It is the third tanker pursued by the Coast Guard, which on Saturday seized a Panama-flagged vessel called Centuries that U.S. officials said was part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet.

The Coast Guard, with assistance from the Navy, seized a sanctioned tanker called Skipper on Dec. 10, also part of the shadow fleet of tankers that the U.S. says operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo. That ship was registered in Panama.

Trump, after that first seizure, said the U.S. would carry out a “blockade” of Venezuela. Trump has repeatedly said that Maduro’s days in power are numbered.

Last week, Trump demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees the Coast Guard, said in a Monday appearance on “Fox & Friends” that the targeting of tankers is intended to send “a message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro is participating in cannot stand, he needs to be gone,

of another state.”

But does the special envoy position, which Landry emphasized is “volunteer” and for which he will not be paid, count?

The Louisiana Board of Ethics did not respond to a request for comment.

Scott Sternberg, a constitutional lawyer in New Orleans who also represents The Advocate | The Times-Picayune, said his phone has been ringing off the hook from people asking those questions.

“There is a line. I don’t know where that line is,” Sternberg said.

State law has no prohibition against a governor, say, joining the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.

“But I don’t know because we don’t have enough facts,” Sternberg said.

Terry Ryder had a similar view. He was an attorney for the Louisiana House and Senate, as well as deputy chief of staff for Republican Gov. Mike Foster, and executive counsel for Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco, during the time the Legislature was writing the laws that forbid elected state officials from holding most second jobs.

“We know what the word special envoy would mean when we look it up in a dictionary, but we don’t know what his duties are,” he said.

“The real issue would be

if his duties actually pose a conflict with his obligations under his oath in Louisiana,” Ryder said. “I don’t think that there is a categorical prohibition here.”

That’s a point also raised

by New Orleans U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, who is one of the highest-ranking elected Democrats in Louisiana and hasn’t been formally briefed on the appointment.

“What I will say is this: Any role involving official duties on behalf of the federal government deserves transparency and clarity,” Carter said. “Louisianans expect their elected officials to focus fully on the jobs they were elected to do, and any outside role, volunteer or otherwise, should be evaluated carefully to ensure it does not conflict with state law or constitutional requirements.”

ful,” Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s prime minister, said at a Monday afternoon news conference in Denmark. “The words used have not been respectful. That’s why we need in this situation, we need to stand together.”

Earlier in the day, Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a joint statement in reaction to Landry’s appointment, saying that national borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law.

“They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security,” the statement said.

Greenland has been part of Denmark for more than 200 years and is self-governed, except for monetary, defense and foreign affairs, which Denmark still controls.

Icy response

Why Greenland?

But Danish and Greenlandic officials were angered

by Trump’s reigniting interest in acquiring Greenland, which is rich in minerals and sits astride important shipping routes — particularly as the North Pole ice pack is receding, thereby making the Arctic Ocean more navigable and the minerals more accessible.

“The talks from the United States have not been respect-

Trump has coveted Greenland for a long time. Since he was elected for a second term in 2024, he has repeatedly said he wanted to acquire the icebound island with about 57,000 residents, occasionally mentioning the possibility of military intervention.

Greenland is slightly larger than the Louisiana Purchase. It has rare earth metals, which China now

and that we will stand up for our people.”

Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Ministry started evacuating the families of diplomats from Venezuela, according to a European intelligence official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

The official told The Associated Press the evacuations include women and children and began on Friday, adding that Russian Foreign Ministry officials are assessing the situation in Venezuela in “very grim tones.” The ministry said in an X posting that it was not evacuating the embassy but did not address queries about whether it was evacuating the families of diplomats.

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yván Gil on Monday said he spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, who he said expressed Russia’s support for Venezuela against Trump’s declared blockade of sanctioned oil tankers.

“We reviewed the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law that have been committed in the Caribbean: attacks against vessels and extrajudicial executions, and the unlawful acts of piracy carried out by the United States government,” Gil said in a statement.

While U.S. forces targeted the vessels in international waters over the weekend, a tanker that’s considered part of the shadow fleet was spotted moving between Venezuelan refineries, including one about three hours west of the capital, Caracas.

The tanker remained at the refinery in El Palito through Sunday, when families went to the town’s beach to relax with children now on break from school.

Music played on loudspeakers as people swam and surfed with the tanker in the background. Families and groups of teenagers enjoyed themselves, but Manuel Salazar, who has parked cars at the beach for more than three decades, noticed differences from years past, when the country’s oil-dependent economy was in better shape and the energy industry produced at least double the current 1 million barrels per day.

“Up to nine or 10 tankers would wait out there in the bay. One would leave, another would come in,” Salazar, 68, said. “Now, look, one.”

The tanker in El Palito has been identified by Transparencia Venezuela, an independent watchdog promoting government accountability, to be part of the shadow fleet.

Area residents on Sunday recalled when tankers would sound their horns at midnight New Year’s Eve, while some would even send up fireworks to celebrate the holiday.

“Before, during vacations, they’d have barbecues; now all you see is bread with bologna,” Salazar said of Venezuelan families spending the holiday at the beach next to the refinery. “Things are expensive. Food prices keep going up and up every day.”

Venezuela’s ruling partycontrolled National Assembly on Monday gave initial approval to a measure that would criminalize a broad range of activities that could be linked to the seizure of oil tankers.

Lawmaker Giuseppe Alessandrello, who introduced the bill, said people could be fined and imprisoned for up to 20 years for promoting, requesting, supporting, financing or participating in “acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal

acts against” commercial entities operating with the South American country.

The Defense Department, under Trump’s orders, continues its campaign of attacks on smaller vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that it alleges are carrying drugs to 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.

WHEN YOU WANT

– MAKES A –

GREAT GIFT

THE BEST

dominates, and its position has long been a security buffer against Russia. The U.S. military has bases on Greenland.

Back in January when Trump voiced the idea of the U.S. taking over Greenland, Landry wrote on X: “President Donald J. Trump is absolutely right! We need to ensure that Greenland joins the United States. GREAT for them, GREAT for us!

Let’s get it done!”

The rhetoric has since died down.

“It seems to me that Gov. Landry’s appointment is intended as a signaling tool to, if you will, ratchet up the United States’ involvement or is trying to get the rest of the world accustomed to thinking that the United States will have a greater influence in this affair,” said

Robbie Hogan, a professor in LSU’s political science department.

For Landry politically, the appointment also increases the governor’s visibility as someone of prominence with the respect of the president on an important international issue, he added.

“It gives Gov. Landry a foreign policy credential,” Hogan said. “For someone who has, clearly who has, aspirations for some sort of national office, this gives him a new credential that he didn’t have before. And it puts Gov. Landry on a stage that he hasn’t been playing on before.”

Staff writer Tyler Bridges contributed to this report.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.

COMMERCIAL

MONEY MARKET powered by Neighbors FCU

Earn 4.25% APY* on balances over $100,000

A great savings alternative for businesses looking for a solid investment without risking principal.

• Earn higher returns on your capital • Rewards for higher balances with tiered interest rates • 24/7 online banking and app access • $2,500 minimum balance.

• Up to 6 withdrawals per month.

YOU WANT OMAHA STEAKS

OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT TODAY Online at neighborsfcu.org or visit a branch to speak with one of our account experts today.

Butcher’s Deluxe Package

61% OFF

79797ZCK separately $227.94 SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE

$

4 Butcher’s Cut Top Sirloins (5 oz.)

4 Air-Chilled Chicken Breasts (4 oz.)

4 Boneless Pork Chops (5 oz.)

4 Individual Scalloped Potatoes (3.8 oz.)

4 Caramel Apple Tartlets (4 oz.)

1 Omaha Steaks Seasoning (3 oz.)

8 FREE Omaha Steaks Smash Burgers (3.2 oz.)

You’ll love it or your money back!

8999

ORDER NOW! OmahaSteaks.com/Deluxe2772 1.855.282.8840 | Ask for Offer 79797ZCK Savings shown over aggregated single item base price. 8 free 3.2 oz. burgers will be sent to each shipping address that includes SKU 79797.

Limit 2 on select items at these exclusive prices. While supplies last. Items may be substituted due to inventory limitations. Standard shipping rates will be applied and are subject to change. Minimum purchase and other restrictions may apply. Some products may not be available for sale in your area. Sales are subject to OmahaSteaks.com/terms-of-useOSI. Expires 12/31/25. | 25M8656 | Omaha Steaks, LLC

*APY= Annual Percentage Yield. APY is accurate as of the last dividend declaration date. A $10 Below Minimum fee applies if your total average monthly deposit balance is below $500 with no active loan. Fees could reduce earnings on all accounts. All rates and offers subject to change.

See neighborsfcu.org for more information and rates.

Federally insured by NCUA.

6A ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

Car bomb kills Russian general in Moscow By the associated Press MOSCOW — A car bomb killed a Russian general on Monday, the third such killing of a senior military officer in just over a year. Investigators said Ukraine may be behind the attack.

Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, died from his injuries, said Svetlana Petrenko, the spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, the nation’s top criminal investigation agency. He was 56.

“Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of inquiry regarding the murder.

One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” Petrenko said.

Since Moscow sent troops

into Ukraine nearly four years ago, Russian authorities have blamed Kyiv for several assassinations of military officers and public figures in Russia. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for some of them. It has not yet commented on Monday’s death.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir Putin had been immediately informed about the killing of Sarvarov, who fought in Chechnya and had taken part in Moscow’s military campaign in Syria.

Russia has blamed a series of other apparent assassinaPHoto FroM INVestIGatIVe CoMMIttee oF MosCoW VIDeo tions on Ukraine.

Investigators work the scene Monday in Moscow where Lt. Gen. Fanil sarvarov, head of the Just over a year ago, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the chief operational training Directorate of the russian armed Forces General staff, was killed by an of the military’s nuclear, bio- explosive device placed under his car. logical and chemical protection forces, was killed by a ment building. Kirillov’s as- responsibility for the attack. killing Kirillov on behalf of bomb hidden on an electric sistant also died. Ukraine’s An Uzbek man was quickly the Ukrainian security serscooter outside his apart- security service claimed arrested and charged with vice.

Putin described Kirillov’s killing as a “major blunder”

by Russia’s security agencies, noting they should learn from it and improve their efficiency.

In April, another senior Russian military officer, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff, was killed by an explosive device placed in his car parked near his apartment building just outside Moscow. A suspected perpetrator was quickly arrested.

Days after Moskalik’s killing, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he received a report from the head of Ukraine’s foreign intelligence agency on the “liquidation” of top Russian military figures, adding that “justice inevitably comes” although he didn’t mention Moskalik’s name.

FDA approves Wegovy pill for weight loss Cyberattack disrupts postal

BY JONEL ALECCIA

associated Press

U.S. regulators on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval handed drugmaker Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly in the race to market an obesity pill. Lilly’s oral drug, orforglipron, is still under review.

Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that work like widely used injectables to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness.

In recent years, Novo Nordisk’s injectable Wegovy and Lilly’s Zepbound have revolutionized obesity treatment globally and in the U.S., where 100 million people have the chronic disease.

The Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks, company officials said. Availability of oral pills

assoCIateD Press FILe PHoto By JaCQUeLyN MartIN

the U.s. Food and Drug administration on Monday approved a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity. to treat obesity could expand the booming market for obesity treatments by broadening access and reducing costs, experts said.

About 1 in 8 Americans have used injectable GLP-1 drugs, according to a survey from KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group. But many more have trouble affording the costly shots.

“There’s an entire demographic that can benefit from the pills,” said Dr. Fatima

Cody Stanford, a Massachusetts General Hospital obesity expert. “For me, it’s not just about who gets it across the finish line first. It’s about having these options available to patients.”

The Novo Nordisk obesity pill contains 25 milligrams of semaglutide. That’s the same ingredient in injectables Wegovy and Ozempic and in Rybelsus, a lower-dose pill approved to treat diabetes in 2019.

In a clinical trial, participants who took oral Wegovy lost 13.6% of their total body weight on average over about 15 months, compared with a 2.2% loss if they took a placebo, or dummy pill.

That’s nearly the same as injectable Wegovy, with an average weight loss of about 15%.

Participants in a clinical trial who took the highest dose of Lilly’s orforglipron lost 11.2% of their total body weight on average over nearly 17 months, compared with a 2.1% loss in those who took a placebo.

Both pills resulted in less weight loss than the average achieved with Lilly’s Zepbound, or tirzepatide, which targets two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, and led to a 21% average weight loss.

All the GLP-1 drugs, oral or injectable, have similar side effects, including nausea and diarrhea.

service, banking in France By the associated Press PARIS — With just three days to go before Christmas, a cyberattack knocked France’s national postal service offline Monday, blocking and delaying package deliveries and online payments.

The timing was miserable for millions of people at the height of the Christmas season, as frazzled postal workers fended off frustrated customers.

No one immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicions abounded.

At a post office in southern Paris, usually bustling this time of year, workers questioned whether the attack could be linked to Russia. Or a disgruntled customer, or colleague.

Officials didn’t comment on the culprit. Paris pros-

ecutors were examining the case.

What the postal service La Poste called a “major network incident” remained unresolved by Monday evening, more than eight hours after it was first reported.

For a company that delivered 2.6 billion packages last year and employs more than 200,000 people, that’s a big hit.

La Poste said in a statement that a distributed denial of service incident, or DDoS, “rendered its online services inaccessible.” It said the incident had no impact on customer data, but disrupted package delivery.

Letters, including holiday greeting cards, could still be mailed and delivered.

But transactions requiring tracking or access to the postal service internal computer systems were impossible.

Start Your Move Today

Thailand and Cambodia to resume ceasefire talks after border clashes By the associated Press KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Thailand and Cambodia will resume talks later this week to work toward a more durable ceasefire along their border, Thailand’s foreign minister said Monday, stressing that progress depends on detailed bilateral negotiations rather than public declarations that internationalize the dispute.

A ceasefire agreement in October was rushed to ensure it could be witnessed

by U.S. President Donald Trump and lacked sufficient details to ensure the deal to end the armed conflict would hold, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Monday after an Asso-

ciation of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

While Cambodia has publicly said it is ready for an unconditional ceasefire, Bangkok never received any direct proposal and Thailand believed such statements were aimed at increasing international pressure rather than resolving the issue, Sihasak said following the meeting that was arranged to seek ways to end the crisis.

The general border committee involving both nations will meet Wednesday to iron out detailed measures toward a lasting ceasefire, he said.

“This time, let’s thrash out the details and make sure the

ceasefire reflect the situation on the ground and the ceasefire is one that really holds, and both sides are going to fully respect the ceasefire,” Sihasak told a news conference.

The border conflict escalated into deadly combat two weeks ago and derailed the agreement promoted

by Trump, which ended five days of fighting in July. The agreement was brokered

by Malaysia and pushed through under pressure from Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. The ceasefire was formalized with more detail at an October regional summit in Malaysia attended

by Trump.

addressbatonrouge.com Inogen® Portable Oxygen Concentrators

Leave the tanks at home.

Convert the air around you into medical-grade oxygen.

At just under 3 lbs.*, Inogen® lightweight and compact portable oxygen concentrators easily deliver your prescription oxygen on-the-go. * Inogen Rove 4 weighs 2.9lbs. with a standard battery

CALL US NOW 1-866-317-1673

SM250015 EN_EX_USA | Rx Only. © 2024 Inogen, Inc. 859 Ward Drive, Suite 200, Goleta, CA 93111. Inogen® is a trademark of Inogen, Inc. The usage of any Inogen, Inc. trademark is strictly forbidden without the prior consent of Inogen, Inc. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.

Get your FREE accurate home evaluation today.

DRE#01901536 This website is a marketing and information program that sends all inquiries to state-licensed real estate professionals.

the advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ 7A

H

lll

U.S. signs new health deals with 9 African countries agreements mirror trump administration’s priorities

BY MOGOMOTSI MAGOME and MICHELLE GUMEDE associated Press

JOHANNESBURG — The U.S. government has signed health deals with at least nine African countries, part of its new approach to global health funding, with agreements that reflect the Trump administration’s interests and priorities and are geared toward providing less aid and more mutual benefits.

The agreements signed so far, with Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda among others, are the first under the new global health framework, which makes aid dependent on negotiations between the recipient country and the U.S. Some of the countries that have signed deals either have been hit by U.S. aid cuts or have separate agreements with the Trump administration to accept and host thirdcountry deportees, although officials have denied any linkage.

The Trump administration says the new “America First” global health funding agreements are meant to increase self-sufficiency and eliminate what it says are ideology and waste from international assistance. The deals replace a patchwork of previous health agreements under the now-dismantled United States Agency for International Development.

U.S. aid cuts have crippled health systems across the developing world, including in Africa, where many countries relied on the funding for crucial programs, including those responding to outbreaks of disease.

The new approach to global health aligns with President Donald Trump’s pattern of dealing with other nations transactionally, using direct

talks with foreign governments to promote his agenda abroad. It builds on his sharp turn from traditional U.S. foreign assistance, which supporters say furthered American interests by stabilizing other countries and economies and building alliances.

The deals mark a sharp departure from how the U.S. has provided health care funding over the years and mirrors the Trump administration’s interests.

South Africa, which has lost most of its U.S. funding — including $400 million in annual support — due in part to its disputes with the U.S., has not signed a health deal, despite having one of the world’s highest HIV prevalence rates.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, reached a deal but with an emphasis on Christian-based health facilities, although it has a slight majority Muslim population. Rwanda and Uganda, which each have deportation deals with the U.S., have announced the health pacts.

Cameroon, Eswatini, Lesotho, Liberia and Mozambique also are among those that have signed health deals with the U.S. According to the Center for Global Development, a Washington think tank, the deals “combine U.S. funding reductions, ambitious co-financing expectations, and a shift toward direct government-to-government assistance.”

The deals represent a reduction in total U.S. health spending for each country, the center said, with annual U.S. financial support down 49% compared with 2024.

Under its deal, Nigeria, a major beneficiary of USAID funds, would get support that has a “strong emphasis” on Christian faith-based health care providers.

The U.S. provided approximately $2.3 billion in health assistance to Nigeria between 2021 and 2025, mostly through USAID, official data

assoCIateD Press PHoto By BraM JaNsseN

a donation plaque recognizing ‘the american people’ hangs July 13 outside a clinic in thaba-tsoeu, Lesotho. Lesotho is among at least nine african nations that have signed health deals with the United states. shows. The new five-year agreement will see U.S. support at over $2 billion, while Nigeria is expected to raise $2.9 billion to boost its health care programs.

The agreement “was negotiated in connection with reforms the Nigerian government has made to prioritize protecting Christian populations from violence and includes significant dedicated funding to support Christian health care facilities,” the State Department said in a statement.

The department said “the president and secretary of state retain the right to pause or terminate any programs which do not align with the national interest,” urging Nigeria to ensure “that it combats extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations.”

For several other countries, the new deals could be a lifeline after U.S. aid cuts crippled their health care systems and left them racing to fill the gaps.

Under its deal, Mozambique will get U.S. support of over $1.8 billion for HIV and malaria programs. Lesotho,

one of the poorest countries in the world, clinched a deal worth over $232 million.

In the tiny kingdom of Eswatini, the U.S. committed to provide up to $205 million to support public health data systems, disease surveillance and outbreak response, while the country agreed to increase domestic health expenditures by $37 million.

South Africa is noticeably absent from the list of sig-

natories following tensions with the Trump administration.

Trump has said he will cut all financial assistance to South Africa over his widely rejected claims that it is violently persecuting its Afrikaner White minority.

The dismantling of USAID resulted in the loss of over $436 million in yearly financing for HIV treatment and prevention in South Africa, putting the program

and thousands of jobs in the health care industry at risk.

At least four of the countries that have reached deals previously agreed to receive third-country deportees from the U.S., a controversial immigration policy that has been a trademark of the Trump administration.

The State Department has denied any linkage between the health care compacts and agreements regarding accepting third-country asylum seekers or thirdcountry deportees from the United States. However, officials have said that political considerations unrelated to health issues may be part of the negotiations.

Rwanda, one of the countries with a deportation deal with the U.S., signed a $228 million health pact requiring the U.S. to support it with $158 million.

Uganda, another such country, signed a health deal worth nearly $2.3 billion in which the U.S. will provide up to $1.7 billion. Also Eswatini, which has started receiving flights with deported prisoners from the U.S. Associated Press writers Evelyne Musambi in Nairobi, Kenya, Dyepkazah Shibayan in Abuja, Nigeria, Mark Banchereau in Dakar, Senegal, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

Be prepared before the next power outage.

Police say Bondi Beach shooting suspect conducted firearms training with his dad

BY ROD MCGUIRK associated Press

MELBOURNE,Australia — A man accused of killing 15 people at Sydney’s Bondi Beach conducted firearms training in an area of New South Wales state outside of Sydney with his father, according to Australian police documents released on Monday.

The documents, made public following Naveed Akram’s video court appearance from a Sydney hospital where he has been treated for an abdominal injury, said the two men recorded footage justifying the meticulously planned attack.

Officers wounded Akram at the scene of the Dec. 14 shooting and killed his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram.

The state government confirmed Naveed Akram was transferred Monday from a hospital to a prison. Authorities identified neither facility.

The 24-year-old and his father began their attack by throwing four improvised explosive devices toward a crowd celebrating an annual Jewish event at Bondi Beach, but the devices failed to explode, the documents said.

Police described the de-

vices as three aluminum pipe bombs and a tennis ball bomb containing an explosive, gunpowder and steel ball bearings. None detonated, but police described them as “viable” IEDs. The pair had rented a room in the Sydney suburb of Campsie for three weeks before they left at 2:16 a.m. on the day of the attack.

CCTV recorded them carrying what police allege were two shotguns, a rifle, five IEDs and two homemade Islamic State group flags wrapped in blankets.

Police also released images of the gunmen shooting from a footbridge, providing them with an elevated vantage point and the protection of waist-high concrete walls.

The largest IED was found after the gunbattle near the footbridge in the trunk of the son’s car, which had been left draped with the flags.

Authorities have charged Akram with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing harm with intent to murder in relation to the wounded survivors and one count of committing a terrorist act.

The antisemitic attack at the start of the eight-day Hanukkah celebration was Australia’s worst mass shooting since a lone gunman killed

35 people in Tasmania state in 1996.

The New South Wales government introduced draft laws to Parliament on Monday that Premier Chris Minns said would become the toughest in Australia.

The new restrictions would include making Australian citizenship a condition of qualifying for a firearms license. That would have excluded Sajid Akram, who was an Indian citizen with a permanent resident visa.

Sajid Akram also legally owned six rifles and shotguns. A new legal limit for recreational shooters would be a maximum of four guns.

Police said a video found on Naveed Akram’s phone shows him with his father expressing “their political and religious views and appear to summarize their justification for the Bondi terrorist attack.”

The men are seen in the video “condemning the acts of Zionists” while they also “adhere to a religiously motivated ideology linked to Islamic State,” police said.

Video shot in October shows them “firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner” on grassland surrounded by trees, police said.

REASON 94

Your support gives our team the resources to do deep-dive data journalism that helps simplify complex topics.

Receive a free 5-year warranty with qualifying purchase* - valued at $535.

Call 225-709-5455 to schedule your free quote!

100 reasons in 100 days to support our public service journalism SUPPORT OUR WORK

LOUISIANAJOURNALISMFUND.ORG

DONATE

You can also mail your donation to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation: 451 Florida St, Suite LL100, Baton Rouge, LA 70801

8A ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

for the the Hear for Hear Holidays!

Holidays!

Limited Time Offer

Your hearing is an integral part of your overall health and wellbeing. Studies show that untreated hearing loss has been linked to many health issues, including cognitive decline and dementia.1 We are hosting a Special Event during the month of DECEMBER! During this event, we will be offering these FREE services: • FREE Hearing Consultations • FREE Video Otoscope Exam: Hearing loss or just earwax?

• FREE Clean & Check on current hearing aids • FREE Baseline Audiogram Assessment • FREE Familiar Voice Test • FREE Demo of Audibel’s latest hearing technology!

FREE

Are You or Anyone You Know Experiencing the Following?

1. Asking people to speak up or repeat themselves?

2. Turning the TV up loud to understand what is being said?

3. Ringing or noises in your ears?

4. Hearing but not understanding certain words?

Limited Time Offerr

Hearing Consultation

Audibel is NOW Offering...

Government-Wide Service Benefit Plan Member Name John Doe

Member R0000000 Enrollment Code R0000000 Effective Date

00/00/0000

Rx# RxPCN RxGrp

0000 0000 0000

• Hearing aids at NO COST to those who qualify!• • That’s Right...No Co-Pay! No Exam Fee! No Adjustment Fee! If you have this card, you may qualify for free hearing aids!

Call today to verify your benefits.

Simply call one of our offices below to schedule your FREE hearing test.

a pair of Aris AI Hearing Instruments Offer valid on select in-stock 24 level technology.

Exclusions may apply.

Limited Time Offer

Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis and there is NO COST for these services.

$ $1000 OFF

CLEAN & CHECK

If you already have hearing devices, receive a free cleaning & maintenance check.

DECEMBER 2025 MARCH 2025 Audibel Hearing Healthcare

BATON ROUGE BATON ROUGE

BATON ROUGE

15420 S. Harrell’s Ferry Rd. Ste. B

1124 S. Burnside BLG #200 Suite B

225.319.5126

GONZALES HAMMOND

225.483.0357

HAM OND

702 SW Railroad

985.826.6822

*

DENHAM SPRINGS GONZALES

NEW ROADS NEW ROADS 103 Gisele St.

225.240.7558

Complimentary hearing consultations are widely available at no cost.

Amieva, H., Ouvrard, C., Giuloli, C., Meillon C., Rullier, L., & Dartigues, J. F. (2015). Self-reported hearing loss, hearing aids, and cognitive decline in elderly adults: A 25-year study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015 Oct;63 (10):2099 – 104. Doi: 10.1111/jgs.13649. 2Rechargeable option not available in all styles.

See clinic for details.

1

©2024 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4/23 Audibel and Audibel logo are registered trademarks of Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Signature Series is a trademark of Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

RECEIVE UP TO

2000

$

*

Toward premium technology when you Trade-In & Trade-Up your old hearing aids. *Offer valid on 24 level technology.

Exclusions may apply.

Cannot be combined with other offers.

BATON ROUGE • ASCENSION • LIVINGSTON • FELICIANAS WEST BATON ROUGE • TANGIPAHOA • IBERVILLE

METRO

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

T u e s d ay, d e c e m b e r 23, 2025

1bN

Lifestyle magazine coming to Livingston

Mother, daughter duo want to spotlight parish

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD staff writer

A Denham Springs motherdaughter duo for years has dreamed of creating a magazine that would focus on local living — and in 2026, that dream is turning into a reality.

Livingston Parish residents can expect to see thousands of copies of the new Living In Parish mag-

azine in local stores by spring, with an online edition launching New Year’s Day. The lifestyle magazine will spotlight a variety of parish news, from small businesses to recipes to parish pets.

Behind the magazine are Denham Springs mother and daughter, Ashleigh David-Vasquez, 51, and Elizabeth Baudoin, 21.

“We saw there was a big gap,” Baudoin said about a lack of life-

style media coverage in the parish.

There are nearby large lifestyle magazines, such as Country Roads, based in St. Francisville, and 225 Magazine, based in Baton Rouge. But there hasn’t been anything based in Livingston Parish of comparable size and content.

The parish has had a few smaller magazines in the past, well

over 10 years ago, but this magazine would be the first large-scale lifestyle publication in the parish, Baudoin said.

“We just want to be something positive that people can turn to and really use as a resource,” Baudoin said.

The pair started posting about the magazine, along with online stories, in November, but they say the move is a culmination of years of shooting around ideas for creating an outlet for the parish.

“At first, our schedule looked like we were going to do online for a full year ... and then we got such a big influx of followers,” Baudoin said. “The parish needed something like this.”

The two now have their sights on printing 10,000 copies for the April edition.

The duo said their magazine will have a few different sections, such as food and pets. They want a local nonprofit to sponsor

ä see MAGAZINE, page 2B

La. official faces DWI count

Commissioner arrested in West Baton rouge Parish

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER staff writer

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis was arrested on a count of driving while intoxicated over the weekend, a Louisiana State Police spokesperson said.

Lewis, 33, was arrested in West Baton Rouge Parish, officials said.

It is the West Baton Rouge Parish jail’s policy to not book first-offense DWI offenders; therefore Lewis was not held.

First-offense DWI is a misdemeanor charge.

State Police said Lewis was initially stopped for driving without headlights.

In a statement, Lewis said he “will be working with lawyers to contest the charge.”

“I have great respect for the men and women who serve our community in law enforcement, and I believe everyone, myself included, is accountable to the law,” he said.

“I appreciate the professionalism shown during the encounter.”

Lewis said he understands “the gravity of the situation” and why the community is concerned.

“As I always have, I plan to remain accountable through both my words and my actions, not just through my words,” he said in the statement. “My hope is that our focus remains on the consistent, good work we have accomplished advocating for Louisiana’s citizens.”

The five-member Public Service Commission regulates utilities in Louisiana, such as electricity, water, gas and some telecommunications. Lewis’ district covers majority-Black communities stretching from New Orleans up to West Baton Rouge Parish.

Lewis, a Democrat, is the first openly gay person elected to state office in Louisiana. Since ousting longtime Commissioner Lambert Boissiere III in a 2022 election, he has been a prominent critic of Entergy and other utilities.

Lewis is also a frequent foe of Gov. Jeff Landry. In February, the commission board voted to remove him from his role as vice chair after he called Landry an “a******” on the social media app X in response to a post Landry made mocking a transgender Department of Health Official in former President Joe Biden’s administration. Lewis argued he was being held to a different standard because he is Black.

Jan risher is on vacation. Her column will return next week.

staFF PHotos By MICHaeL JoHNsoN

saNta CaMe earLy ABOVE: A parent helps her

child pick out toys during the annual Christmas toy giveaway at LIUNA Local 99 on Monday in Baton Rouge.

LEFT: Volunteers help a child pick out toys.

Livingston man, 19, accused of indecent behavior Police: teen girl hitchhiked from Indiana for meetup

iff’s Office announced the arrest of 19-year-old Charles Madgett Jr. on Monday. Deputies made contact with Madgett after receiving a tip and found the girl. She was listed as missBY AIDAN McCAHILL ing by the Lake County Sherstaff writer iff’s Office in Crown Point, Indiana.

According to Sheriff Jason A Livingston Parish man spent a year speaking to a 14-year-old Ard, Madgett had been conversgirl online before she hitchhiked ing with the juvenile on Discord, from Indiana to stay with him, Snapchat and Twitter for the authorities say. past year.

The Livingston Parish Sher“The conversations became

sexual in nature at which point Madgett requested that the 14-year-old come to Louisiana,” Ard wrote in a statement.

The girl then hitchhiked to Louisiana to meet Madgett, who was living with his parents. Police say Madgett kept the girl hidden from members of the household for several days.

Madgett was taken into custody and booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center on a count of felony carnal

knowledge of a juvenile. After a forensic evaluation of Madgett’s phone, he faces two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and 66 counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials.

“Special thanks to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), FBI, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and our LPSO ICAC team for working together to locate this missing child from the grasp of a child predator,” Ard said.

2B ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

Covington oil and gas company sells for $3.2 billion British energy firm to acquire LLoG

BY ANTHONY McAULEY staff writer

A major British energy producer has agreed to buy Covingtonbased LLOG Exploration Co. in a $3.2 billion deal that brings one of the Gulf of Mexico’s most prominent privately held oil operators under foreign ownership and cements Louisiana’s role as a hub for deepwater energy expertise.

London-headquartered Harbour Energy said Monday it will acquire LLOG from its owners in a transaction combining $2.7 billion in cash and $500 million in Harbour shares. The deal, expected to close in the first quarter of 2026 pending regulatory approvals, marks Harbour’s entry into the Gulf and makes LLOG the foundation of its new American business unit.

LLOG, founded in 1977 and headquartered in Covington, is widely regarded as one of the most successful deepwater exploration and production companies operating in federal waters off Louisiana. The company has been a prolific developer of deepwater oil fields over the past two decades.

Under the agreement, LLOG will continue operating with its existing name and leadership

team, and with its Covington headquarters remaining intact.

Chief Executive Philip LeJeune is expected to continue leading the company following the sale.

“We are proud to build on LLOG’s strong heritage in the Gulf,” Harbour CEO Linda Cook said in a statement, adding that the company plans to preserve the LLOG name to leverage its “history and reputation” in the region.

The acquisition gives Harbour control of LLOG’s portfolio of producing and developmentstage deepwater oil assets, including major fields such as Who Dat, Buckskin and the recently started Leon-Castile project.

Those assets are concentrated in the Mississippi Canyon and Keathley Canyon areas of the Gulf, where LLOG has long been one of the most active operators.

LLOG produces roughly 34,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and holds interests in more than 80 offshore leases, according to Harbour. The company’s reserves are heavily weighted toward oil, a profile that Harbour said improves its margins and extends the life of its global production base.

For southeast Louisiana, the deal underscores the enduring economic importance of offshore energy even as the industry consolidates and global players seek scale. While drilling activity in

the Gulf has fluctuated over the years, companies like LLOG have continued to invest in complex deepwater projects that rely on specialized talent concentrated in the region.

LLOG has drilled more than 300 wells in the Gulf over its five decades of operation and has been credited with a significant share of deepwater discoveries since 2014. Its technical expertise in ultra-deep formations has made it a sought-after operator and partner.

A visionary founder LLOG was founded by Gerald “Jerry” Boelte, a New Orleans native and LSU-trained petroleum engineer who built the privately held company into one of the Gulf’s most respected deepwater operators. Boelte, who died last year at age 77, was widely regarded as a visionary who believed smaller, technically focused companies could compete successfully with industry giants in complex offshore environments.

Under Boelte’s leadership, LLOG gained a reputation for nimble decision-making and disciplined risk-taking, often moving faster than larger competitors. The company expanded aggressively in areas such as the Mississippi Canyon, acquiring assets others abandoned after the 2010 BP oil spill and the temporary federal drilling moratorium.

Energy analysts and industry peers have credited Boelte’s approach with helping LLOG thrive as a well-financed, operationally sophisticated player in one of the world’s most challenging offshore basins.

LeJeune said joining Harbour gives LLOG access to greater financial resources while allowing it to maintain its operational culture.

“We remain dedicated to maintaining the same high ethical and operational standards that have guided us for the past 48 years,” he said in a statement. “With a new partner whose vision aligns with ours, we see significant opportunities ahead.”

For Harbour, the acquisition represents a strategic expansion into a politically stable, infrastructure-rich offshore basin at a time when many international oil companies are narrowing their portfolios. The company already operates in Europe, Latin America and North Africa and produces more than 450,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day globally.

Harbour said LLOG’s assets are expected to increase its overall production and cash flow over time, though the company emphasized that the transaction will not close until early next year.

Financing for the cash portion of the deal will include new loans as well as existing liquidity.

LLOG’s owners will receive

Harbour shares equivalent to an 11% stake in the combined company, subject to certain lock-up restrictions.

While the transaction is subject to federal regulatory review, no major obstacles are expected, according to the companies.

Large St. Tammany employer LLOG is the 10th-largest employer in the oil and gas sector in St. Tammany per JobsEQ, a company that tracks labor market data, said Kristin Durand, communications director for St. Tammany Economic Development Corp. The company employed 125 people as of October, its website indicates.

There are 45 companies in the oil and gas sector operating in St. Tammany, representing nearly 2,000 jobs, Durand said.

Russell Richardson, the CEO of St. Tammany Economic Development Corp., congratulated Harbour Energy and LLOG, saying in a statement that the acquisition reflects “the world-class offshore energy expertise and deepwater operational leadership based in St. Tammany and across Louisiana.”

Staff writers Bob Warren and reporter Willie Swett contributed to this article.

Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

RTA to provide New Orleans seeks higher security level similar transit passes to Protection to super Bowl for New homeless in N.O. requested year’s, sugar Bowl Urban Development 3,000 available and issued rules in November will redirect millions to those in need inthatgrants that went to per-

BY JONI HESS staff writer

New Orleans will provide free public transit to homeless residents under a partnership with the Regional Transit Authority and Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration, a bid to connect people to housing opportunities and jobs amid a rising homelessness rate.

The RTA will provide 3,000 transit passes a year to the city’s Office of Homeless Services and Strategies to facilitate residents’ transportation to shelters, clinics and housing appointments, among other needed services, according to the agreement the agency’s board approved Tuesday.

The homeless services office will then distribute the passes directly to people in need, and its staff would also respond directly should passholders violate any of the RTA’s rules. The RTA will spend an estimated $3,750 annually on the passes, which can be rolled over to the next year if unused.

“RTA is grateful for the opportunity to continue its strong partnership with the Office of Homeless Services and Strategies, which has been in place since OHSS’s inception as a city department in the spring of 2023,” said RTA spokesperson Zachary Stanfill in a statement after the vote.

Nate Fields, who leads Cantrell’s homeless services offices, said the move would ease everyday strains homeless residents face.

“They need to be able to get to and from doctor appointments, ... mental health care appointments,” Fields said. “It’s a huge burden for them financially.”

Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, who takes office Jan. 12 and who is widely expected to appoint her own members of various boards and commissions and make other changes in City Hall’s operations, did not respond to a request for comment on the arrangement on Tuesday.

The deal comes as the Department of Housing

manent supportive housing programs to transitional housing, such as shelters.

It has since paused those changes amid litigation from homeless service providers and states, though local providers say it’s unclear if the pause will hold moving forward or what any new rules would mean.

The change as originally envisioned would have cut permanent housing subsidies and put 2,600 formerly homeless residents across the metro area back on the street, local leaders have said.

UNITY of Greater New Orleans, an umbrella organization for homeless service providers, in September noted a nearly 8% uptick in the area’s homeless population.

The agreement is an extension of the longstanding collaboration between the RTA and the city. Fields said since at least when he joined in 2023, the city has relied on the RTA to transport homeless people during major disasters and other emergencies.

In September, when a five-alarm fire rattled the Gentilly Ridge apartments, which had housed homeless people since the Super Bowl, the RTA transported dozens of them to Joe Brown Park in New Orleans East.

And Fields’ office has long worked to transport riders found lingering on buses with no planned stops to shelters.

“They’ve been really good partners since I’ve been here,” Fields said.

Fields expects the move will help address transportation problems that are particularly challenging for a community that often requires a range of services to address their well-being, such as counseling, substance abuse treatment or case management services.

Limited access to transportation also creates barriers to employment and maintaining housing, especially if housed in an area far from needed services, according to a 2025 state legislative auditor report on New Orleans housing initiatives.

BY JOHN SIMERMAN staff writer

New Orleans officials are challenging the federal threat level assigned to upcoming Sugar Bowl and New Year’s Eve festivities, urging the kind of Super Bowl-caliber protection that stayed through Mardi Gras after the Jan. 1 mass killing on Bourbon Street.

Collin Arnold, the city’s homeland security director, said Friday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security gave New

Year’s Eve and the Sugar Bowl a “pretty low rating” of “SEAR 3.”

That level releases limited federal support, according to Arnold, compared to the “extensive federal interagency support” unleashed for major national events deemed SEAR 1.

Bomb-sniffing canine teams, drones, air security and tactical support, intelligence teams and cyber risk assessments are among the resources that accompany the highest threat level, according to the federal agency.

As the reason New Orleans needed a higher security level, Arnold cited the January attack, when a Houston man barreled down Bourbon Street in an electric pickup, killing 14 in the wee hours of the new

year. Arnold also pointed to a more recent alleged plot by the Turtle Island Liberation Front that agents recently announced they’d foiled with arrests, including one in New Iberia.

Homeland Security officials did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment on the threat assessment or the city’s appeal.

John Casbon, who helped found the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, said the lower rating wasn’t enough. He urged more federal security support for Mardi Gras 2026 as well.

“We just know this is what we need to make sure these three events remain as safe as possible,” Casbon said.

“We’ve done this before.

We already know the drill.”

Arnold expressed confidence that the feds will agree before New Year’s.

In the meantime, he said local federal officers have provided heavy support for those events, and he expected a contingent of “around 200 National Guard” members in town.

Almost a year after the Jan. 1 attack, city officials have yet to commit to a comprehensive security plan, but Arnold said the public can still anticipate a massive apparatus.

From New Year’s Eve through the morning of Jan. 2, “you’re going to see an overwhelming security function going on” in the French Quarter and downtown, he said. “It will be very apparent, and we’re very pleased about that.”

staFF PHoto By JaVIer GaLLeGos

elizabeth Baudoin and her mother, ashleigh David-Vasquez, creators of Livingston Parish Magazine, stand in front of frames of historic newspaper clippings at Denham springs’ old City Hall on thursday.

MAGAZINE

Continued from page 1B each section for every edition.

They hope to eventually also partner with area schools that provide media programs so students can have their work published in the magazine, Baudoin said.

David-Vasquez hails from a family of local newspaper publishers, as her father

and grandfather both published the local Livingston Parish News for decades; it’s also one of multiple Louisiana news outlets David-Vasquez has worked at.

“This has been a dream of mine forever,” DavidVasquez said.

The pair have relied on David-Vasquez’s news and publishing experience and Baudoin’s marketing experience she gained from University of Louisiana at Lafayette to make the mag-

azine a reality.

For the magazine, Baudoin focuses on writing and marketing, while her mother focuses on the business aspect, along with graphics and layouts.

Aside from their combined work experience, the mother and daughter also credit their early success to their close bond and mutual respect.

“We completely know each other,” David-Vasquez said. “I think we respect each other and our differ-

ent personalities. We complement each other.”

Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.

LOTTERY

SUNDAY, DEC. 21, 2025 PICK 3: 0-4-8 PICK 4: 8-8-7-3 PICK 5: 4-8-7-3-9

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

the advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ 3B

lll

Funerals Today Cockrell, Larry

Bluff Creek Clinton at noon.

Baptist

Church

in

Graves, James

Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA at 2pm.

Hidalgo Jr., Jules

Ascension Funeral Home, 426 West New River Street in Gonzales, at 11 a.m.

Kupper, Killian

Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home in Ponchatoula at 12:30pm.

Liggins, Anita

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church at 11 a.m.

Simoneaux, Opal

Assumption 11am.

Catholic

Church

at

Thompson, Audrey

Miller & Daughter Mortuary, 5905 Highway 19 in Zachary, at 10 a.m.

Obituaries Barclay Teig, Loron Marie 'Lolo'

Loron Marie Barclay Teig August 12, 1978 ~ December 17, 2025 Loron Marie Barclay Teig "Lolo", 47, passed away on December 17, 2025 at her home in Denham Springs after a courageous battle with cancer. She was a devoted wife, sister, daughter and aunt. Loron loved animals, especially dogs, and her children were fur-babies, including Izzy, Ella and Rudy. She moved with her family to Minnesota in 1994 where she met and married Dana Allen Teig on January 11, 2005. Loron made friends everywhere she went with her infectious smile and wicked a sense of humor.

She is survived by her husband of over 20 years, Dana Allen Teig; her parents, Harold and Carmen Parker Barclay, her brother Adam and his wife Emily, and her beloved niece and nephew, Taylor Grace Barclay and Travis Benton Barclay. Preceded in death by her older brother, Travis Hugh Barclay. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Geaux Teal Ovarian Cancer or the Denham Springs Animal Shelter. Visitation only held at Seale Funeral Home in Denham Springs, Louisiana on Saturday, December 27, 2025 from 9:00am to 11:00am.

passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving children. Annie Mae was born on May 10, 1931, in Crosby, MS, to the late Bernard W. Day, Sr. and Leona T. Day. At an early age, her family moved to Baton Rouge, LA, where she graduated from Istrouma High School in 1948. While working at the Louisiana State Library, she attended Louisiana State University. Annie Mae was a Charter Member and the first Secretary of Winbourne Avenue Baptist Church. It was there that she met and married the love of her life, Jesse Dier, on October 6, 1950.

Together, they built a life centered on faith, family, and service in Central, Louisiana and were longtime members of Zoar Baptist Church. She is survived by her son, Tim Dier of Geismar, LA; her daughters, Jeanne Dier-Eckert (Ralph) of Erie, PA, and Patti Oufnac (Steve) of Baton Rouge, LA; her grandsons, Garrett Dier of Geismar, LA; Bradley Dier (Shannon) of Angleton, TX; and Reid Eckert (Theresa) of Erie, PA; and greatgrandsons, Trey, Mayson, and Cameron. She is further survived by her brothers, James Day of Bueche, LA; Leon Day (Sylvia) of Bueche, LA; and Leo Day (Lana) of Ventress, LA. Annie Mae was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jesse Dier; her grandson, Trey Dier; her brother, Bernard W. Day, Jr.; and parents, Bernard W. Day, Sr. and Leona T. Day. Her life was a testament to faith, love, and devotion to her family, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Visitation will be held at Resthaven Funeral Home, Friday, December 26, 2025, from 12:30 PM until funeral service at 2:30 PM. Interment will follow at Resthaven Garden of Memory. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Hospice of Baton Rouge and Landmark South. In lieu of flowers, the Family requests donations be made to Louisiana Baptist Children's Home or St. Jude Children's Hospital. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note at www.re sthavenbatonrouge.com.

Dier, Annie Mae Day

Annie Mae Day Dier, our precious mother, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the age of 94. She

Graves, James Michael 'Jim'

James Michael Graves, a resident of Baton Rouge, LA., majority of his life, passed away in Chipley, Florida on December 20, 2025, at the age of 72. Mr. Jim was born in Baton Rouge, LA., on January 8, 1953, to parents, Bishop Bascom Graves and Judy Graves Stuart "Nonnie". He was a graduate from Broadmoor High School and briefly attended LSU where he later went on to join the Baton Rouge Police Department and then joined Georgia Gulf where he provided 40 plus years of service.

Mr. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, doing handyman type work and loved woodworking.

He is survived by his sons, Brandon Graves (Tonni Lynn), Brent Graves, and Brad Graves (Kaelyn); grandchildren, Gatlin Grayson Graves, Aubrey Kate Graves, Breck Graves and Brixton Graves; brother, Glenn Power Graves and sister, Terri Johnson.

Preceded in death by his father, Bishop Bascom Graves and mother, Judy Graves Stuart "Nonnie".

He will be remembered as an honest and hard worker, a perfectionist, resilient; our Hero, Strongest man ever and you are loved.

Visitation will take place at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA., on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, from 1:00pm until funeral service time of 2:00pm. Interment will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.

Kupper, Killian Hebert 'Bubby'

Killian "Bubby" Kupper, Jr., age 95, peacefully passed away at Belle Maison, in Hammond, Louisiana on Saturday, December 20, 2025. He proudly served his country in the US Air Force. Mr. Kupper retired as an Engineer with DOTD. In his spare time, he enjoyed deer hunting, running his dogs, fishing his

trout lines, being outdoors or at his camp with his hunting buddies.

Bubby grew his own delicious vegetables in his garden.

He was a member of the Pass Manchac Yacht Club.

What brought him the most joy was drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper with his wife and picking on her any chance he got.

Bubby loved life and spent his time wisely doing the things he loved, making lasting memories his family will cherish forever.

He is survived by his loving wife of 74 years, Joyce Ann Kupper; sister, Jean Kupper Pinion (Durand); as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Killian and Lucille Kupper; siblings, Mary "Tootie" Scanlan (Mike), Inez Lavigne (Milton), Carmen Wolf (Marion "Cookie"), Lionel "Jackie" Kupper (Scottie).

Family and friends are invited to attend Mr. Kupper's visitation at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home in Ponchatoula on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. until the funeral service at 12:30 p.m. Interment will follow in Wetmore Cemetery in Ponchatoula.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home.

LaPorte Jr., Al 'Boo'

nephews, Gabrielle Diez and husband, Vince, Dylan Corsentino and wife, Hannah, Brittany Gosserand, and Brandi Gosserand; great nieces and nephews, Vivian and Tucker Diez, and arriving soon, Annie Reese Corsentino; lifelong friend, Jason Hutchinson; special companion of many years, Summer Herring; former wife, close family friend, and mother of Drew, Shannon Babin; and his hunting companion and best friend, his yellow lab, Bella. He is preceded in death by his loving mother, Viola "Vi" Loupe LaPorte. The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Daniel LaVie and the entire team at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. Visitation will take place at Resthaven Funeral Home on Saturday, December 27, 2025, beginning at 12:30 PM until services at 2:30 PM. Burial to follow.

Pallbearers will include Spencer Trussell, Paul Gosserand, Mike Corsentino, Dylan Corsentino, Jason Hutchinson, and Mickey Pocorello. Honorary pallbearers will include Al LaPorte, Sr., Vince Diez, Michael Thibodeaux, Alex Thibodeaux, and Mike Frank. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Healing Place Church, Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area, or Coastal Conservation Association (CCA Louisiana). Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbaton rouge.com.

Simoneaux, Opal Kern

How to place an Obituary Notice EMAIL:

obits@theadvocate.com OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION:

225-388-0289

Al "Boo" LaPorte, Jr., born on August 19, 1967, passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the age of 58. Al was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He graduated from Redemptorist High School and attended Southeastern Louisiana University. He was the CEO of CMC Corporate Solutions, as well as a member of Healing Place Church. Al had a passion for hunting and fishing, specifically for specklebelly geese, tripletail, and speckled trout.

When he wasn't at CMC, he enjoyed spending time in Bay St. Louis and Orange Beach with friends and family. Al fought a relentless battle and was an inspiration to all. Al is survived by his loving father, Al LaPorte, Sr.; devoted, caring and loving daughter, Drew LaPorte Trussell and husband, Spencer; sisters, Debbie Corsentino and husband, Mike, and Donna Gosserand and husband, Paul; nieces and

Opal Agnes Kern Simoneaux, 98, a native of Plattenville, LA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at Assumption Catholic Church from 9:00 AM until funeral time. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 AM at the church. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Born March 29, 1927, in DeRidder, La., to Webb Deason and Myrtle Dees, she was owner of the Clothes Closet in Napoleonville and a hair-

When you need the news

Wherever you read the news

The newspapers of record for Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Acadiana

dresser for many years.

On May 4, 1947, she married U.B. Simoneaux.

A member of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the church's Bereavement Committee, she was active with the Extension Home Demonstration Club and the Assumption Parish Farm Bureau Women's Committee.

She is survived by her sons, Terry Simoneaux, Bobby Simoneaux and wife Sherryl; Rodney Simoneaux and wife Michele; son-in-law, Doug Brown; five sisters, Annette Gamble, Pat Polk, Carol Kern, Sandy McCormick, and Janice Paternostra.; 12 grandchildren; and numerous greatgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband U.B. Simoneaux; by her parents, Webb Deason and Myrtle Dees, raised by Earl Kern; son, Jeffrey Simoneaux; daughter, Susan Simoneaux Brown; and brother, Buddy Kern.

Special thanks to Genevie Sims and Doris Hebert for the care given to Opal for the past five years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary or St. Elizabeth Catholic School.

Landry's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

subscribe today subscribe.nola.com

How to place a Memorial Ad An “In Memory Of” ad, is a way to pay tribute to your loved one.

This remembrance is often printed on the anniversary of a loved one’s death.

The deadline is two days prior to the day you want your ad to appear.

TO PLACE A MEMORIAL AD GO TO: obituaries.theadvocate.com, click submit an obituary and select create a memoriam.

OPINION

4B ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

La. tourism down, but not for lack of state leadership The verdict on Louisiana tourism in 2025 is beginning to come in, and unfortunately, the picture isn’t as rosy as expected.

Despite the tragedy on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day, tourism started off strong this year with major events like Super Bowl LIX attracting thousands of tourists to New Orleans.

But a combination of factors, including the Trump administration’s trade and immigration policies, dampened enthusiasm for travel this year. That hurt Louisiana as the number of foreign visitors was down by 15% to 20% over the previous year.

Canadians especially were turned off from travel to the United States due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his rhetoric about making the country our 51st state. About 1 in 3 foreign visitors to Louisiana come from Canada.

And cultural events highlighting the state’s historic ties to the Francophone regions of Canada, such as the Grand Réveil Acadien, held in Lafayette in October, saw the effects of that resentment.

While final year-end numbers are yet to come in, there was a slowdown in travel to nearly all parts of the state. In New Orleans, hotel occupancy rates were down 5% compared to the previous year. One city that bucked the trend, however, was Baton Rouge, where new niche events are drawing people to the capital city like never before. The United States Bowling Congress Open Championship drew more than 58,000 visitors over five months to the Raising Cane’s River Center. And youth sports events, such as the Marucci World Series, are driving a whole new category. Hotel occupancy rates in Baton Rouge are up 1.9% so far this year, and hotel-motel tax revenues are up 6.9% year over year, according to Visit Baton Rouge.

Tourism officials say that because 2024 was such a banner year for tourism, especially in New Orleans, it’s important to take this year’s numbers with a grain of salt. And we have to add that even if there was a slump in 2025, it’s not due to lack of effort on the state’s part.

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser has been a true champion of Louisiana’s tourism industry. He’s been everywhere promoting our state and has gone so far as to call on Trump to apologize to our Canadian neighbors. Even if he failed there, Nungesser and the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism get high marks for giving more people more reason to visit our state. The launch of the new Amtrak Mardi Gras line and the state’s inclusion in the new Michelin Guide American South are but two examples.

Tourism is about showing off our state, but it also is an industry that supports thousands of jobs that help feed families. So we salute all those working to make sure Louisiana is one of the places where visitors feel welcome.

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

identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence. the advocate | the times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the editor, the advocate, P.o. Box 588, Baton rouge, La 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

to seND Us a Letter, sCaN Here

YOUR VIEWS

st. George wants to opt out of problems in eBr schools

Misguided ideology leads to attacks on those enforcing law It is truly stunning to watch many American youth condemn and rail against America’s military and law enforcement. These men and women who put their lives on the line every workday are husbands, wives, moms and dads to American families. Many go to church, attend sporting events and socialize together. They aren’t Nazis.

Many Americans are flummoxed by the actions of these misguided, radicalized individuals who throw Molotov cocktails, rocks and worse things at them in protest to their efforts to arrest and deport those who broke our laws and entered our country illegally.

What is even more perplexing is many radicalized American college students attack their parents who are religious, capitalist and conservative.

The radical left is no small segment of America. It has attracted enough followers to its ideology to elect a mayor who proudly declares to defund the police, offer free transportation and create government-controlled grocery stores.

Politicians are fully aware that their

plethora of freebies offered is unsustainable wherever it has been tried.

However, they are acutely aware that false promises frequently win elections. When they fail to keep their ridiculous promises, they invariably claim to be faultless. As a result, the voters are strapped with four years of misery and mismanaged city government.

The mayor predictably blames big business and the wealthy for never paying their fair share, which no politician ever defines. The elephant in the room is that the rich and big business will never allow themselves to be held hostage by any rogue politician. They have the means to escape the talons of big government by simply moving to a more friendly state.

Wake up, America. Only Santa and the Easter bunny give free presents.

Power-hungry politicians lavishly make promises they know they can never deliver. Nothing is ever free.

Someone always has to pay. When will we ever learn?

The city of St. George is trying to establish its own school system. The purpose is to break away from the East Baton Rouge school system and the perceived poor quality of EBR schools.

Federal desegregation laws and busing resulted in most White parents moving to other places or enrolling their children in private schools. So now, EBR public schools are predominantly Black. Testing shows that most (not all) Black kids do not perform as well as White kids in school, and they have more disciplinary issues. The primary causes of this disparity are lower income levels, lack of early childhood education and poor parenting.

Through no fault of their own, these kids often come from neighborhoods overrun by drugs, violence and crime. Correcting these societal and environmental problems is not what a school system can or should be required to do. EBR schools are often faced with trying to educate children who did not have the advantages of children from more affluent families. The result is that all the children in a classroom are adversely affected.

This is why the city of St. George was formed in the first place — so that a new school system could be established that would not be encumbered by so many children who suffer from these horrendous environmental conditions.

Until the larger issues of drugs, crime, blight and good jobs are fixed, many parents (and grandparents) will do whatever they can to avoid sending their children to EBR schools.

WESLEY T. RALSTON Metairie

Handelsman’s work made learning fun I am a retired Orleans Parish public school educator who missed the children so much that after I retired, I went back part-time. For the past five years, I have been a gifted resource teacher with the ReNEW and the Firstline Charter Networks.

Walt’s cartoon contest has been part of my curriculum. Walt’s contest has helped spark creativity, ingenuity and imagination in my students. He has contributed to my English language arts lessons and my Social Studies lessons and has added a bit of real-life experience to our class discussions.

He has helped me stretch the students’ problem-solving skills and logical thinking abilities. He has helped fill

the classes with laughter and comic relief. One of my students won the grand prize! Several have received honorable mentions over the years.

The students are always eager to enter the contest and delighted to see their names in print.

This generation has gotten so far away from tangible print. I love to bring the “hard copies” in for them to read. Maybe one day, print journalism will come back (Look at how vinyl albums have returned!).

I’m sorry you are retiring, Walt.

Maybe you will be like me and return part-time... no pressure!

DIXEY FACIANE New orleans

ED BROCK Baton rouge

Why can’t Baton rouge ensure road markings remain visible on roads?

I have lived in Baton Rouge my entire life and have listened to generations of elected officials promise improvements to our roads, streets and highways.

Those promises are re-

peated every election cycle, yet little ever seems to change.

If major infrastructure improvements are too much to expect, could we at least manage the basics? In many

areas around Baton Rouge, lane markings are faded or nonexistent, making driving unnecessarily dangerous — especially at night or in bad weather.

Painting lane lines should

not be controversial, complicated or delayed.

It is a fundamental safety issue, and one that residents deserve to see addressed.

WILL WEIMAR Baton rouge

WINNer oF tHe PULItZer PrIZe For LoCaL rePortING

KEVIN HALL

JERRY DICOLO

FRED KALMBACH

JENNIFER BROWN

ARNESSA GARRETT

KRISTIN ASKELSON

EMMA DISCHER

President & Publisher

Deputy editor/News

RENE SANCHEZ

Deputy editor/Opinion

VP/News, Executive Editor

KARYN KEARNEY EVP/Strategic Partnerships

JUSTIN MITCHELL

Deputy editor/Audience

Managing editor

Managing editor, Acadiana

BARBARA LEADER Managing editor, Shreveport

Senior Editor Senior Editor

ANDREA GALLO Senior Editor/ Investigations

JESSICA WILLIAMS Senior Editor

ROGER HOLMES Executive VP, Operations

LOU HUDSON

VP/Majors & Nationals

JIM MYERS

VP/Finance

ROBERT STOLL

VP/Distribution

ASHLEY WHITCHER IT Director

KYLE WHITFIELD

VP/ Consumer Sales

ROBERT YOUNG

General Manager/ Advertising

G

GEORGES MEDIA GROUP JOHN D. GEORGES Owner

JUDI TERZOTIS

Chief Executive Officer Editorial Page

DAN SHEA

Chairman

ARNESSA GARRETT STEPHANIE GRACE WILL SUTTON QUIN HILLYER FAIMON ROBERTS

lll

the advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ 5B

6B ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

Baton Rouge Weather TODAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Mostly sunny

a.M. fog, p.m. sun

a.M. fog, p.m. sun

a.M. fog, p.m. sun

Partly sunny

Isolated showers - 30%

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

LOW

78° 58°

LOW

77° 58°

LOW

77° 59°

LOW

HIGH

78° 61°

ALMANAC

LOW

HIGH

78° 60°

Weather News by Meteorologist Malcolm Byron

LOW

79° 44°

AROUND THE REGION

THE NATION

BatoN roUGe tHroUGH 5 P.M. MoNDay

TEMPERATURE

High/low Normal high/low record high record low

74°/64° 63°/43° 81° in 2017 13° in 1989

PRECIPITATION

Longview 77/62

TODAY

MODERATE

GOOD

reaDING 53 MaIN PoLLUtaNt Particulates

MaIN PoLLUtaNt Particulates

soUrCe: LoUIsIaNa DeQ aND aIrNoW.GoV

RIVER STAGES FLOOD STAGE 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 -7.40 +0.30 Vidalia-Natchez 48 12.00 +0.15 red river Landing 48 16.30 -0.20 Baton rouge 35 5.70 -0.20 Donaldsonville 27 3.50 -0.20 reserve 22 2.09 -0.12 New orleans 17 2.20 -0.08 MISSISSIPPI

OHIO 40

16.77

+3.71

19

-1.41

-0.01

18 29 8

-0.81 10.46 1.69

+0.02 -0.08 -0.17

13 15

2.82 1.10

-0.02 -0.04

47 34 29 20 12 6

4.51 2.94 2.91 2.20 2.60 2.01

-0.02 -0.09 -0.17 -0.04 none -0.33

COMITE

Near olive AMITE

Near Darlington Denham springs Port Vincent TICKFAW

Montpelier Holden ATCHAFALAYA

simmesport Melville Krotz springs Butte La rose Bayou sorrel Morgan City

-0s

0s

10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s

Jackson 76/56

Baton Rouge 78/58

Lafayette 79/58

Beaumont 76/60 Port Arthur 74/60

Hattiesburg 76/57

Alexandria 76/58

Many 77/58

AIR QUALITY YESTERDAY

-10

Monroe 74/59

Shreveport 76/61

24 hours through 5 p.m. Mon. 0.41” Month to date (normal) 6.30” (3.56”) year to date (normal) 59.60” (60.18”)

Cairo

Patchy morning fog will lift quickly on tuesday, giving way to mostly sunny skies and afternoon highs in the mid- to upper 70s.

Christmas Day will almost be a carbon copy of Christmas eve from a weather standpoint. Mornings will start off mild in the upper 50s with widespread dense fog, so santa may have to rely heavily on rudolph to navigate through Louisiana on Christmas eve night. Fog will be stubborn to break but will eventually lift by late morning. expect sunshine to reveal itself by afternoon, helping to push highs into the middle and perhaps upper 70s. the pattern of high temperatures, foggy starts and emerging sun by afternoon will carry into the weekend. the cycle appears to end on sunday with the arrival of another cold front.

New Orleans 76/60

Lake Charles 76/59

shown are areas of precipitation and high temperatures for the day.

Houma 79/60

Forecasts and graphics, except WBrZ forecasts, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2025

shown is today’s weather. temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

TIDES HIGH

Ft.

Lake Pontchartrain (tchefuncte river) 9:02a 0.6 shell Beach 3:39a 1.5 south Point, Marsh Island 1:30a 1.5 Cypremort Point 11:17p 1.5 Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) 11:20p 0.9 Mississippi river (southwest Pass) 10:36p 1.2 Wine Island -----

LoW

SUN AND MOON sunrise today sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

Ft.

8:56p -0.2 2:11p -0.4 9:42a -0.6 1:41p -0.1 10:05a -0.4 8:22a -0.5 11:07a -0.5

HIGH

Ft.

LoW

Ft.

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

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

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

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

TODAY City

Hi

Lo W

WEDNESDAY Hi

austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Houston Las Vegas Louisville Miami Minneapolis

80 65 pc 36 32 sn 77 64 pc -14 -21 pc 81 72 r 80 65 c 63 50 pc 61 42 c 80 68 pc 32 21 pc

78 65 pc 39 26 sn 78 63 pc 10 -14 sn 82 69 pc 78 65 pc 61 54 sh 62 57 sh 80 68 s 38 25 c

amsterdam Bangkok Barcelona Berlin Brussels Cairo Dublin Frankfurt Havana Hong Kong Jerusalem

42 92 49 38 41 69 50 43 82 74 57

37 93 56 30 35 70 46 36 82 78 58

SOLUNAR TABLE

6:59 a.m.

5:09 p.m.

9:46 a.m.

8:35 p.m.

FIRST

FULL

LAST

NEW

DEC 27

JAN 3

JAN 10

JAN 18

MAJOR

1:23a 2:16a 3:07a 3:56a 4:43a 5:28a 6:15a

MINOR

7:35a 8:28a 9:19a 10:07a 10:54a 11:40a 12:04a

MAJOR

TODAY City

Nashville New orleans orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh raleigh st. Louis san Diego tampa

Lo W

Hi

Lo W

64 76 79 42 78 46 61 60 68 81

57 c 60 s 57 pc 38 r 61 c 31 r 47 pc 42 pc 63 sh 61 s

70 75 78 48 74 39 64 63 68 80

59 sh 58 pc 58 s 32 pc 61 c 34 c 42 s 52 c 62 r 60 s

MINOR

1:47p 7:59p 2:39p 8:51p 3:30p 9:41p 4:18p 10:29p 5:05p 11:17p 5:53p ---6:41p 12:28p

33 c 75 s 45 r 25 pc 31 pc 51 pc 43 c 32 c 63 pc 65 pc 44 pc

27 pc 74 pc 45 pc 19 s 24 s 53 pc 40 c 29 pc 59 s 64 pc 42 s

Kuwait City London Madrid Mexico City Montreal Moscow New Delhi Paris rome stockholm tokyo

71 47 45 70 25 13 71 43 61 31 52

55 s 39 c 33 c 50 pc 21 sn 7 c 50 pc 37 pc 47 sh 24 c 42 s

71 43 53 70 26 24 69 41 54 30 50

53 s 35 pc 35 c 49 pc 17 pc 22 sn 46 pc 30 s 47 r 25 s 46 sh

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

ONE great state Scan to download

Scan to download

FOUR great apps

Scan to download

WEDNESDAY

Hi

THE WORLD

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

today Wed. thu.

Fri. sat. sun.

Mon.

Lo W

Scan to download

SPORTS

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

T u e s d ay, d e c e m b e r 23, 2025

saIN t s at t I taNs • NooN sUNDay • CB s

1cN

Bulldogs keeping game prep similar to last Sugar Bowl Georgia doesn’t plan to change much vs. ole Miss

BY ZACH EWING staff Writer

staFF PHotos By DaVID GrUNFeLD

saints tight end taysom Hill leaves the field after a 29-6 win over the New york Jets on sunday at the Caesars superdome.

ONE OF A KIND NFL, New orleans will never see another taysom Hill

Taysom Hill finally found a role he couldn’t play.

He’s not a eulogizer.

When asked after the Jets-Saints game Sunday to reflect on his time in New Orleans and if it might, indeed, have been the final home game of his legendary tenure in New Orleans, he became emotional. His eyes welled and his voice wobbled as he reflected on his historic nine-year career with the Saints.

“Look, my wife asked Jeff Duncan me (about the future) this morning, and I didn’t really feel any type of way, but as I was driving to the stadium, you start to think about the last nine years and what it’s meant to me and my family and the city and stuff,” he said. “So, for me personally, you just try to take it all in. (My family) had a great experience

saints tight end taysom Hill congratulates tight end taysom Hill on his touchdown pass

ä see DUNCAN, page 4C in the closing seconds against the Jets.

Pelicans roll to their fifth straight victory

New orleans holds off Mavericks behind five players in double figures

BY LES EAST

Contributing writer Zion Williamson scored 24 points, Derik Queen had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans used a fourth-quarter surge to win their fifth consecutive game, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 119-113 on Monday night in the Smoothie King Center.

Queen finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, Saddiq Bey scored 19, Jordan Poole had 14, Jeremiah Fears 12 and Trey

Murphy 11 for the Pelicans (822), who play at Cleveland on Tuesday before returning home for back-to-back games against Phoenix on Friday and Saturday.

Herb Jones, who missed the second half of the Pelicans’ 128109 victory over Indiana on Saturday, returned to the starting lineup and scored nine points but left the game for good in the third quarter after suffering a sprained right ankle.

Former Pelican Anthony Davis

staFF PHoto By DaVID GrUNFeLD

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is guarded by Dallas Mavericks ä see PELICANS, page 6C forward anthony Davis at the smoothie King Center on Monday.

Don’t expect Georgia coach Kirby Smart to get caught up in any narratives about redemption for last year’s Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame or any calls for sweeping changes in preparation.

“As far as changes going to New Orleans, there hasn’t been a tremendous amount of change,” Smart said on Monday’s teleconference in preparation for this season’s game Jan. 1 against Ole Miss at the Caesars ä Ole Miss Superdome.

“We don’t think we vs. Georgia, 7 P.M. JaN. 1, esPN did anything wrong in the prep last year.

We didn’t necessarily play a really good game, but we also played a really good football team. Extremely talented defense.”

Notre Dame won that College Football Playoff quarterfinal 23-10 on its way to an appearance in the national championship game. That Sugar Bowl was played a day late, on Jan. 2, because of the Bourbon Street terror attack in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. Once the game started the next night, the Bulldogs seemed off kilter. They lost two fumbles, one which led to a short touchdown drive, allowed their other touchdown on the second-half kickoff return and went a combined 2 for 15 on third and fourth downs.

But Georgia also was dealing with a number of injuries, including one to starting quarterback Carson Beck that forced Gunner Stockton into duty. A year later, Beck has transferred to Miami, and Stockton has been a successful starter all season.

Still, Smart isn’t about to tie in that performance to this matchup against Ole Miss, which is also a CFP quarterfinal.

“Yeah, I can’t say we’re better for having gone through it,” Smart said.

“Would we be better if we won that game? Would we be as motivated if we won that game? I don’t know that.

I think the two teams are very different. I think we’re a different leadership group, a different team. It’s been a different kind of team all year, and not in a good or bad way reflected on last year.

“We’ve been there before, but a lot of these kids weren’t there. Some of them were. I think the two years are independent of each other.”

As for the Rebels, even last month feels like a long time ago; since then, Lane Kiffin has left for LSU, the team elevated defensive coordinator Pete Golding to head coach and Ole Miss thumped Tulane 41-10 in the first round of the playoff Saturday.

“Some of those things that you were just worried about one side of the ball;

ä see GEORGIA, page 5C

LSU men rally late to avoid upset

but remained steady as Dedan Thomas had 21 points and Hot-shooting tigers mode” its opponent’s shooting cooled in seven assists with one turnover. second half. The fourth-year Mike Nwoko added 18 points and push past Prairie View the coach explained how he viewed five rebounds.

BY TOYLOY BROWN III

staff writer

Scorching hot 3-point shooting was the theme of LSU’s secondto-last game before Southeastern Conference play, but all while avoiding a major upset Monday night.

While the Tigers shot well, Prairie View was also outstanding from the perimeter as it drilled 10 of 13 3-pointers in the first half in taking a 56-51 halftime lead.

Prairie View’s lead grew to 10 three minutes into the second half before LSU gathered its composure and escaped with a 104-90 victory at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Coach Matt McMahon said the team could’ve gone into “panic

his team’s defense.

“I thought we guarded their actions well, and they just went at us one-on-one in the matchups,” McMahon said. “The tough thing about it is it’s the value of the 3-point shot. We had to really get up into them and crowd them.

They were able to beat us off the bounce and obviously, it’s an area we’re gonna have to get a lot better.”

The Tigers outmatched the “handsy” defense of Prairie View, making 43 of 49 free throws to eclipse the previous season’s freethrow high of 31 of 39. The 43 made free throws was a program record, breaking the previous high of 41 in 1979 that was coincidentally also on Dec. 22.

For LSU (11-1), Marquel Sutton had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and

Prairie View (5-7) opened the game playing a zone defense, forcing LSU to create open shots through skip passes instead of dribble penetration.

The defensive strategy didn’t bother LSU as it got open shots repeatedly, such as a right-wing 3-pointer for Max Mackinnon, who received a cross-court pass from Sutton.

Just as LSU scored with ease, so did the Panthers. At the first media timeout with 15:13 mark of the first half, both teams were 6 of 8 from the field as LSU led 17-16. Prairie View was 4 of 4 from beyond the arc at that point.

Prairie View’s top player was Tai’Reon Joseph, who played at Scotlandville High School, and

staFF PHoto By MICHaeL JoHNsoN

LsU guard Dedan thomas collides with Prairie View a&M guard Lance Williams while making a move into the paint in the first half on Monday ä see LSU MEN, page 3C at the Pete Maravich assembly Center.

2C ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 1 p.m.

Grambling at ohio st.

BtN 3 p.m.

UC-riverside at UCLa BtN 5 p.m.

Harvard at st. John’s Fs1 6 p.m.

Villanova at seton Hall Peacock

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 1 p.m. toledo vs. Louisville esPN 4:30 p.m. W. Kentucky vs. southern Miss. esPN 8 p.m.

UNLV vs. ohio esPN NBA 7 p.m.

Denver at Dallas NBC, Peacock

6:30 p.m. New orleans at Cleveland WaFB 9:30 p.m. Houston at L.a. Clippers NBC, Peacock NHL 3 p.m.

Pittsburgh at toronto tNt, trUtV 5:30 p.m. Dallas at Detroit tNt, trUtV 8 p.m.

Philadelphia at Chicago tNt, trUtV

Haven repeats as Class 2A Outstanding Player

BY JACKSON REYES staff writer

Following Dunham’s Division III select state title win, four Tigers earned LSWA Class 2A All-State first-team honors.

The Tigers were led by quarterback Elijah Haven, who was named Class 2A Outstanding Offensive Player and earned firstteam honors.

Haven repeats as the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 2A Offensive Outstanding Player in his junior season. He set three state records this year for most passing touchdowns in a single season (62), total touchdowns in a single season (73) and career touchdowns (180).

He finished 240-for-331 (72.5%) with 3,929 yards and 62 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. He also rushed 127 times for

another 847 yards and 11 scores.

Haven helped lead Dunham (13-1) to a 34-17 win over Calvary Baptist in the Division III select state championship for the Tigers’ first state title since 2004.

Tigers senior receiver Jarvis Washington was also named to the first-team offense. The South Alabama signee finished 2025 with 1,496 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns on 78 receptions.

Senior offensive lineman Christian Comeaux was also named to the first-team offense for his efforts leading the unit.

On the first-team defense, Tigers linebacker Eliot Trahan was honored after he tallied 98.5 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and forced three fumbles.

Dunham’s Trevor Haman was an honorable mention to the allstate team.

LSWA CLASS 2A ALL-STATE TEAM Offense Pos. Player WR Brayden Allen WR Braylun Huglon WR Jarvis Washington Jr. OL Christian Comeaux OL Ron Griffing Jr. OL Torrey Landry OL Micah Mosher OL Cooper Thomas QB Elijah Haven RB Caiden Bellard RB Joachim Bourgeois RB Jaidon Briggs PK Ty Knight ATH Braylon Walker

School Lafayette Christian Calvary Baptist Dunham Dunham Mangham Lafayette Christian Ouachita Christian Calvary Baptist Dunham Lafayette Christian Notre Dame Vinton Calvary Baptist Lafayette Christian

Ht. 6-2 5-10 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-3 5-10 6-0 6-5 5-10 5-8 5-10 5-11 5-11

Wt. 180 175 185 215 265 245 225 210 215 190 165 165 155 170

Class Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

Pos. Player School Ht. DL Jayden Arceneaux Lafayette Christian 5-10 DL Marvin Davis Ferriday 6-3 DL Cullen McIntosh Oak Grove 6-4 DL Eliot Trahan Dunham 5-9 LB Dean Ancalade South Plaquemines 5-9 LB Luke Miller Calvary Baptist 6-0 LB Cade Poland Mangham 6-1 LB Kendrick Wyatt Mansfield 6-2 DB Sabryn Bartholomew South Plaquemines 5-9 DB Luke Green Lafayette Christian 6-1 DB Matthew Hicks Holy Savior Menard 6-2 DB Zavier Ledet Catholic-N.I. 5-10 P Gavin Polk Ouachita Christian 6-2 ATH Devin Franklin Oak Grove 6-4 RS Owen Layton Oak Grove 5-8 OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Elijah Haven, Dunham OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Luke Miller, Calvary Baptist COACH OF THE YEAR: Darrell Barbay, Mansfield

Wt. 220 200 215 195 185 195 218 200 165 180 175 150 175 215 165

Class Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

Defense

Honorable mention

staFF PHoto By BraD BoWIe

Dunham quarterback elijah Haven looks for a receiver against Lafayette Christian in a semifinal playoff game on Dec. 5.

Daltin Albritton, D’Arbonne Woods; Izaac Andre, Catholic-NI; Aderrion Baker, St. Helena; Sam Brocato, Holy Savior Menard; Taj Callahan, Episcopal-BR; Thomas Carter, Slaughter Community Charter; Colby Casey, Mangham; Kameron Casnave, Northlake Christian; Joshua Casugay, Avoyelles; Nigile Ceasar, DeQuincy; Paityn Collins, Ferriday; Javontaye Dean, Green Oaks; Terroni Dominick, West St. Mary; Griffin Doucet, Notre Dame; Justin Drago, Country Day; Ja’Courey Duhon, Lafayette Renaissance Charter; Wesley Duplechin, Notre Dame; Aiden Fairchild, Pope John Paul II; Charlie Gilmore, Northlake Christian; Trevon Haman, Dunham; Henry Jackson, Isidore Newman; Tylon Jackson, Oakdale; Jacob Jeanise, Holy Savior Menard; Christopher Jones, Loreauville; Kevin Jones, Avoyelles; Kortlin Kyle, Vinton; Brodie Lejeune, Notre Dame; Geremy Lewis, Cohen; Dashun Lightfoot, Franklin; George Loop, Newman; Jaimason Marzell, Lafayette Christian; Owen Morris, Catholic-NI; Ian O’Boyle, Newman; Terrell Pegues, Mansfield; Brandon Perkins, Kinder; Jake Poirier, Catholic-NI; Jake Randle, Newman; Carson Riser, D’Arbonne Woods; Jack Roniger, Pope John Paul II; Eli Self, Kinder; Kaycee Sellers, Lafayette Renaissance Charter; Kaleb Simon, Lafayette Christian; Dominik Smith, Pope John Paul II; Kobe Smith, Avoyelles; Craig St. Cyr, Winnfield; Eyan Taylor, South Plaquemines; Isaiah Thomas, Kinder; Jude Turner, Ouachita Christian; Patrick Turpin, Ouachita Christian; Luke Vidrine, Ouachita Christian; David Weeks, Calvary Baptist; Detavious Williams, Winnfield; Keshawn Williams, Green Oaks; Jordan Willis, Northlake Christian; Deverrick Winnfield, Oakdale; Ja’Kyrin Woodard, Welsh; Hudson Wright, Country Day; Tyler Yokum, Lafayette Renaissance Charter.

Dunham’s Olivier scores 1,000th career point three tigers post double figures in rout of Lutcher

BY WILLIAM WEATHERS Contributing writer

The pass from Elijah Haven to A.J. Olivier was part of an explosion the Dunham School turned into a 72-33 victory over Lutcher in a Monday matinee at the school.

Olivier gathered the pass in front of his team’s bench and knocked down his sixth 3-pointer of the game, invoking a running clock the final 11 minutes of play and recording his 1,000th career point.

The senior guard was one of three players in double figures with 22 points.

“One of the assistants told me right before it happened,” said Olivier, the 14th player in school history to reach the milestone.

“My teammate found me in the corner, and I just hit the shot.”

Haven scored 15 of his 19 points in the first half, and Jarvis Washington had 16.

staFF FILe PHoto

By HILary sCHeINUK

Dunham’s a.J. olivier, left, has a shot knocked down by episcopal on Jan. 26, 2024. on Monday, ,he scored 22 points against Lutcher.

Dunham (5-0) will break for the Christmas holiday before resuming play Dec. 29-30 against St. Thomas Aquinas (Austin, Texas) and Crawford (Texas) at Ridge Point High in Houston.

“We’ve got options,” Dunham coach Chad Myers, who picked up his 351st cumulative win at

the school where he’s coached the boys and girls for 15 years.

“I was pleased with the first half.

The second half, it kind of got sloppy, kind of got out of hand on both ends.”

Dunham’s football team won the Division III select state championship on Dec. 11, leading to a later starting date for basketball. The team includes football players Haven, Washington, Kris Thomas and Charlie Myers. With only one full practice, the Tigers defeated reigning Division I select state champion St. Augustine 67-55 on Saturday.

This year’s basketball team, which has lost in three straight state semifinals, has a similar mantra to that of football.

“That’s a veteran group that’s tired of losing in the semifinals,” Myers said. “We’ve made it to the Final Four three years in a row.

Just like the football team, it’s time to get over the hump. That’s our goal, to get back to Lake Charles and try and go finish this thing.”

Dunham had its first doublefigure lead five minutes into the game and never looked back.

Olivier, who averages 29.6

points, had 11 points in the opening quarter on the strength of three 3-pointers, and the Tigers finished on a 10-0 run for a 26-7 advantage.

Five players contributed during a 16-0 spree that carried into the second quarter with Haven’s coast-to-coast layup igniting the quarter and Thomas’ putback making it 32-7.

Dunham shot 57% (16 of 28) in the first half and wound up 51% (25 of 49) overall. The Tigers made 36% (8 of 22) of their shots from 3-point range.

Mychael Adams’ two free throws stopped Dunham’s surge, but Lutcher (3-5) went 7:33 without a field goal until Cayde Randle’s runner in the lane.

Washington, a South Alabama football signee, scored four straight points and Haven drove to the basket, setting up Oliver’s 3-pointer at the 4:44 mark for a 58-23 lead.

“We’ve been so close three years in a row,” Olivier said. “I want to finish off my career with these guys with a state championship. That’s everyone’s goal.

They won it in football, why not do it in basketball?”

PREP REPORT Basketball

Helix Mentorship Academy at Catholic-PC, 4 p.m.

Prairieville at Broadmoor, 5 p.m.

East Iberville at Central Private, 5 p.m.

Capitol at Livonia, 6 p.m.

Glen Oaks at Baker, 7 p.m.

Boys Monday

Dunham 72, Lutcher 33 Washington-Marion 73, GEO Next Generation 56 Broadmoor 56, Slaughter Community Charter 42 Central 61, Tara 42 West Feliciana 57, Doyle 50 Port Allen 62, East Feliciana 32 Belaire at Southern Lab Albany at Northeast West St. John at Ascension Catholic

Friday

TBA at Plaquemine, 4 p.m.

Saturday

Northlake Christian at Catholic-PC, 4 p.m.

Bob Pettit Tournament

At Baton Rouge Community College

Friday

Southern Lab vs. Northeast, 11:30 a.m.

Glen Oaks vs. Tara, 1 p.m.

Liberty vs. Scotlandville, 2:30 p.m.

Broadmoor vs. Capitol, 4 p.m.

Istrouma vs. Belaire, 5:30 p.m.

Central 61, Tara 42 Central 14 16 14 17 -61 Tara 11 8 6 17 -42 SCORING: CENTRAL: Jace Conrad 22, Jalen Thomas 13, Keith Womack 10, Sam Giles 7, Shaun Washington 4, Gavin Douglas 3, Luke Comeaux 2. TARA: David Dixon 15, Jeffrey Allen 13, Christian Clark 11, Kenyrian Myles 3.

3-POINT GOALS: Central 2 (Conrad 2); Tara 6 (Allen 2, Dixon 2, Myles, Clark RECORDS: Tara 6-1; Central 9-0

Saturday

TBA vs. McKinley, 4 p.m.

TBA vs. Woodlawn, 5:30 p.m.

TBA vs. Madison Prep, 7 p.m.

Girls Monday

Ascension Catholic 53, West St. John 50 West St. John 15 6 14 15 -50 -53 Ascension Catholic 14 12 14 13 SCORING: WEST ST. JOHN: Z. Howard 14, J. Morris 13, A. Barnes 11, Z. Guilleaux 6, D. Waster , J. Warner 2. ASCENSION CATHOLIC: V. Blanchard 19, K. Schexnayder 13, D. Hernandez 6, C. Anthems 6, J. Verner 5, J. Barber 4 3-POINT GOALS: West St. John 1 (Barnes); Ascension Catholic 2 (Schexnayder, Verner)

PHoto By PatrICK DeNNIs

Walker boys basketball coach anthony schiro instructs his players during a timeout in their game against Central last tuesday in Walker.

RECORDS: West St. John 1-4; Ascension Catholic 1-0 JUNIOR VARSITY: West St. John 40, Ascension Catholic 21

Tuesday

TBA at Walker, 11 a.m.

McMain at Port Allen, 1:30 p.m.

St. James at White Castle, 2 p.m.

Catholic High Pointe Coupee 47, Livingston Collegiate 27 St. Thomas Aquinas at St. Joseph’s Academy St. John 42, Port Allen 13 Live Oak 72, Istrouma 47 Plaquemine 53, Chalmette 20 Episcopal 48, Central 33

Tuesday

TBA at Brusly, 11:30 a.m.

De La Salle at St. Amant, 4 p.m.

White Castle at Istrouma at Old Capitol Senior High, 5:30 p.m.

Kiffin’s QB son Knox is heading to University High

Knox Kiffin, the son of new LSU coach Lane Kiffin, announced on X that he will attend University High and enroll in January.

Knox, a Class of 2028 quarterback, played six games last season at Oxford High School in Oxford, Mississippi. He threw for 1,403 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The news was announced by Hayes Fawcett of On3 in an X post.

Knox Kiffin quote-tweeted the post, confirming the news.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound quarterback currently holds 10 college offers between the FBS and FCS levels. His most notable offers come from Cal, SMU and Washington.

His most recent offer came from Cal on Friday.

U-High made it to the Division II select semifinals this past season, falling in overtime to eventual champion St. Charles.

Red Sox get All-Star 1B Contreras from Cardinals

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox acquired three-time All-Star Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday in a trade for right-hander Hunter Dobbins and two pitching prospects.

The 33-year-old Contreras is a .258 hitter with 172 homers and 548 RBIs in 10 seasons with the Cubs and Cardinals. He spent most of his career as a catcher before moving to first base last year, when he batted .257 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs. Dobbins, 26, went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA as a rookie in Boston last year before tearing the ACL in his right knee and missing the second half of the season. The Cardinals will also receive Single-A righties Blake Aita and Yhoiker Fajardo.

St. Louis also sent cash to Boston as part of the deal.

Chiefs announce stadium move to Kansas for 2031

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas City Chiefs announced Monday they will leave their longtime home at Arrowhead Stadium for a new, domed stadium that will be ready for the start of the 2031 season.

The announcement came shortly after a council of top Kansas lawmakers voted unanimously inside a packed room at the state Capitol to allow the state to issue a little more than $2.4 billion in bonds to cover about 60% of the cost of the stadium, a training facility and retail and entertainment space.

The bonds will be paid off with state sales and liquor tax revenues.

The Chiefs intend their $3 billion stadium project to be built in Kansas City, Kansas, near the Kansas Speedway.

NBA, FIBA moving closer to league in Europe

The NBA and FIBA said Monday they will start the process of engaging with teams and owners about joining their planned new league in Europe next month.

As has been expected, the league will offer both permanent spots and “a merit-based pathway” to qualifying on an annual basis through FIBA’s Basketball Champions League or an end-of-season tournament, the sides said. Every team in a FIBA-affiliated European league would have the chance to qualify.

“The format of the league respects European sport model principles by offering any ambitious club in the continent a fair pathway to the top,” FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis said.

Saban has new role with the Nashville Predators

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nick Saban knows his strengths with seven national championships as a college football coach. He also understands how to put coaches and athletes in the best position to succeed.

That’s what he hopes to bring to the NHL’s Nashville Predators after joining the franchise as a minority owner.

“I’m no expert in hockey, so don’t look at me like I’m going to make some huge impact coaching around here because that’s not going to happen,” Saban said Monday. “But I do have a pretty good idea of what it takes to have successful organizations.”

Saban made his first appearance Monday in his new role as a minority owner alongside Predators chairman Bill Haslam.

the advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ 3C

lll

LSU freshman Knox shows ‘special’ potential Forward scores 25 in rout of texas-arlington

BY REED DARCEY

ä Alabama State at LSU

staff writer

3 P.M. sUNDay, esPN+

The innate size, speed and athleticism that made Grace Knox one of the most coveted recruits in her class appeared throughout the LSU women’s basketball team’s latest win.

At one point of Knox’s career day, coach Kim Mulkey turned to two of her assistants. She doesn’t quite remember exactly what play prompted her reaction. It might’ve been something mundane. But it was notable enough to catch her attention in a nonconference matchup that turned into a 65-point blowout victory.

“I said, ‘Holy cow,’ ” Mulkey said of the 6-foot-2 forward. “I don’t even know if this kid realizes just how special she can become.”

Knox turned in the best game of her young career on Sunday when the No. 5 Tigers (13-0) routed Texas-Arlington 110-45. Mulkey put the freshman from Las Vegas on the floor for 28 minutes — the most she has played this season — and she used that extra run to pair a career-high 25 points with 12 rebounds, three blocks and three steals.

Before Sunday, only four Division I freshmen had notched at

least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a game this season.

Knox became the fifth as LSU salted away its lopsided win over the Mavericks — a 6-6 Western Athletic Conference team that couldn’t slow down the Tigers’ transition offense.

Only two Mulkey-era LSU opponents have turned the ball over more times than UTA did on Sunday (34). Those opportunities benefited Knox. She used her speed to run the floor, positioning herself to score the kind of baskets that propelled the Tigers above the 100-point threshold for the 10th time this season.

Star guard Flau’jae Johnson served Knox two open layups with crafty bounce passes — one late in the first quarter and another halfway through the third. Then senior transfer forward Amiya Joyner followed suit, leading Knox into a third-quarter fast-break finish that widened LSU’s lead past 40 points.

Knox collected Joyner’s bounce pass without breaking stride, then flipped a shot off the glass and through the rim. Her momentum

sent her tumbling across the baseline in front of the LSU bench, but it didn’t foil her shot at the rim.

“She’s 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.” According to Basketball Reference data, only two Division I freshmen have scored in double figures more times this season than Knox. She has now hit that mark in 11 of the 13 matchups LSU has played so far, and she’s also one of seven Tigers with a double-digit scoring average — but the only one who’s converting more than 65% of her shots.

Before Sunday, Knox hadn’t attempted more than eight field goals in a game this year. Then she took 18 shots against UTA, using those extra looks to improve her careerhigh scoring output by 13 points.

LSU played the Mavericks without ZaKiyah Johnson — the freshman forward who’s spent most of the season starting over Knox.

Mulkey called her absence a “little

staFF PHoto By MICHaeL JoHNsoN

LsU forward Grace Knox celebrates after making a layup against Utarlington in the third quarter of their game sunday at the PMaC. mama pat on the hand” and said she’ll return to the floor next Sunday for the Tigers’ nonconference finale against Alabama State.

Johnson is one of the four LSU post players who will rotate in and out of close games once SEC play begins Jan. 1. They were each playing about 18 minutes per game before the Tigers routed the Mavericks, and they’ve each turned in their fair share of impressive performances.

Kate Koval chipped in 22 points on Dec. 7 against UNO. Joyner has four double-doubles. Johnson has the same number of 15-point outings.

And now Knox can claim the best scoring night any LSU player has had this season — an impressive feat for a freshman who plays on a team with established stars and national championship aspirations.

“She’s got some God-given tools,” Mulkey said. “She really does.”

UConn stays at No. 1 No. 2 Michigan is closing gap on top-ranked Arizona in women’s AP Top 25 Wildcats top aP

associated Press

UConn, Texas, South Carolina and UCLA all cruised to easy victories to remain atop The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll released Monday.

The Huskies routed thenNo. 11 Iowa in the Women’s Champions Classic on Saturday to stay unbeaten and hold on to No. 1 spot in the Top 25. UConn received 25 first-place ballots from the 32-member national media panel. Texas got the other seven to stay No. 2 in the final poll of the calendar year. The next poll will be released Jan. 5.

Texas Tech (14-0) entered the poll for the first time since 2012 after beating then-No. 15 Baylor 61-60 on Sunday. The win over the Bears was the Red Raiders’ first over a ranked opponent this season and dropped Baylor to 22nd. It also was Texas Tech’s first win over Baylor since 2011.

The top seven teams remained unchanged with South Carolina and UCLA following Texas. LSU, Michigan and Maryland were next. OU and TCU were tied for eighth with Iowa State 10th after a last-second win over Kansas.

poll for third straight week

AP WOMEN’S TOP 25

BY DOUG FEINBERG

Rec. Pts. Prv.

1. UConn (25) 12-0 793 1 2. Texas (7) 14-0 775 2 3. South Carolina 12-1 727 3 4. UCLA 11-1 710 4 5. LSU 13-0 644 5 6. Michigan 10-1 636 6 7. Maryland 13-0 580 7 8. TCU 13-0 564 9 8. Oklahoma 11-1 564 8 10. Iowa St. 13-0 556 10 11. Kentucky 12-1 439 12 12. Vanderbilt 12-0 417 13 13. Louisville 12-3 400 16 14. Iowa 10-2 368 11 15. Mississippi 12-1 359 14 16. North Carolina 11-3 301 18 17. Southern Cal 9-3 255 19 18. Notre Dame 9-2 242 20 19. Ohio St. 10-1 213 21 20. Nebraska 12-0 180 23 21. Texas Tech 14-0 126 22. Baylor 11-3 124 15 23. Tennessee 7-3 122 17 24. Michigan St. 10-1 88 24 25. Princeton 11-1 69 25 Others receiving votes: Oklahoma St. 37, Alabama 26, Stanford 21, Georgia 20, Washington 17, NC State 12, Arizona St. 7, Illinois 4, Oregon 3, BYU 1.

BY JOHN MARSHALL

associated Press

aP PHoto By FraNK FraNKLIN

UConn’s azzi Fudd gestures to teammates after making a 3-point shot on saturday.

necticut, Mercyhurst and Saint Francis). Joining them are Niagara, Long Beach spots to No. 13 after rout- State, Valparaiso, UNO, ing then-No. 17 Tennessee. Florida A&M and UL. The Lady Vols fell to 23rd.

The Cardinals have won six Conference supremacy straight games.

With Washington dropping out of the Top 25 , the Unbeatens, winless teams Big Ten and Southeastern There are 12 undefeated Conference each have eight women’s basketball teams ranked teams.

The Big 12 is next with left through Sunday: Alabama, Arizona State, Texas four and the ACC has three. and Texas Tech are 14-0. The Big East and Ivy League Georgia, Iowa State, LSU, each have one ranked team.

Maryland and TCU are 130. Nebraska, UConn and Game of the week Vanderbilt are 12-0.

Teams are off for the Nine teams are still look- holidays until Sunday when ing for their first win, includ- UCLA visits Ohio State as Rising Louisville ing three from the Northeast the only matchup between Louisville climbed three Conference (Central Con- ranked teams that day.

LSU MEN

Continued from page 1C is averaging 21.1 points, leading the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The 6-foot-3 graduate student guard, who is a transfer from UTSA and previously Southern, scored 11 of his team’s first 19 points.

Thomas wasn’t shy either when it came to finding his offense. The point guard leading the SEC in assists per game (6.5) was able to attack off the dribble when Prairie View played man-to-man defense.

He started the game 3 for 3 with eight points. His third basket was a floater with his dominant left hand after a handoff pass by the 6-foot10 Robert Miller, who also set a screen. LSU took a 28-22 lead with 11:57 before halftime.

Sutton was effective at drawing fouls. All his points came from the free-throw line in the first half, where he was 7 of 8.

The Panthers didn’t relent, relying on tough off-the-dribble shots.

Along with Joseph, Prairie View graduate student Dontae Horne had 17 points at halftime.

“I want us to be a whole lot better defensively,” McMahon said.

“It’s our job to make the opponent miss. The shot-making of Joseph

and Horn was just really special here tonight. You’ll see those highlight tapes going out to professional agents for years to come. They were terrific.”

Of Prairie View’s first 31 points, only four came in the paint and four from the free-throw line.

Prairie View’s hot shooting was unrelenting. It took a 47-45 lead with 4:37 before halftime after another contested 3 dropped. This was the Panthers’ 10th 3-pointer out of 13 attempts.

They entered the game, averaging 5.9 made 3s per game, and were shooting them at 31.6%.

At halftime, Prairie View was shooting 67% from the field. LSU was 50% from both the field and the 3-point line, making 6 of 12 from beyond the arc.

The game began to shift after Prairie View’s Lance Williams was called for a flagrant two foul after hitting Thomas in the face while being pressured at half court. A common foul was given to Thomas, but Williams was ejected, giving LSU two free throws and the possession at the 16:44 mark of the second half.

Thomas made one of two free throws, and Sutton, on the ensuing possession, drove hard right and finished an and-one shot off the glass. This made the score 63-58 with Prairie View leading.

Arizona is still No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, but No. 2 Michigan is closing the gap.

The Wildcats topped the poll for the third straight week in the AP Top 25 released on Monday, receiving 38 first-place votes from a 58-person panel. The Wolverines had 19 first-place votes — four more than last week — and closed the gap in total points, pulling within 20.

No. 3 Iowa State had one first-place vote, with UConn and Purdue rounding out the top five in the final poll of the calendar year.

The next Top 25 will be released Jan. 5.

Arizona (11-0) added another quality win to its resume last week, blowing out San Diego State 68-45 with a dominant defensive performance. The Wildcats also routed Abilene Christian 92-62 last week.

Arizona has won its past six games by at least 20 points, its longest streak since another six-game rout run in 1942-43.

Michigan (11-0) had one game last week, also a

AP MEN’S TOP 25

Rec. Pts. Prv. 1. Arizona (38) 11-0 1428 1 2. Michigan (19) 11-0 1408 2 3. Iowa St. (1) 12-0 1320 4 4. UConn 12-1 1281 5 5. Purdue 11-1 1174 6 6. Duke 11-1 1148 3 7. Gonzaga 12-1 1080 7 8. Houston 11-1 1061 8 9. Michigan St. 11-1 985 9 10. BYU 11-1 966 10 11. Vanderbilt 12-0 810 13 12. North Carolina 11-1 806 12 13. Nebraska 12-0 704 15 14. Alabama 9-3 638 16 15. Texas Tech 9-3 588 19 16. Louisville 10-2 555 11 17. Kansas 9-3 494 17 18. Arkansas 9-3 470 14 19. Tennessee 9-3 460 20 20. Illinois 8-3 429 18 21. Virginia 10-1 252 23 22. Florida 8-4 215 23 23. Georgia 10-1 127 25 24. Southern Cal 12-1 92 25. Iowa 10-2 79 Others receiving votes: Kentucky 78, Seton Hall 49, Auburn 39, St. John’s 23, California 19, LSU 17, UCLA 13, Clemson 9, Miami (Ohio) 6, Utah St. 5, Arizona St. 5, Indiana 4, Miami 4, Saint Louis 3, Belmont 2, Baylor 1, Oklahoma St. 1, UCF 1, NC State 1.

blowout. The 102-50 win over LaSalle was the fifth time in six games the Wolverines scored at least 100 points and eighth straight win by 15 points or more.

No. 13 Nebraska continued its rise, climbing two places for its highest ranking since reaching No. 11 in 1991-92.

LSU received votes for the fourth straight week after a 78-65 win over Southeastern.

Rising and falling No. 15 Texas Tech made the largest move up the poll, rising four spots after rallying from a 17-point deficit to beat Duke 82-81,

ending the Blue Devils’ unbeaten start to the season.

Duke dropped three places to No. 6.

No. 16 Louisville had the biggest fall in this week’s poll, losing five spots after losing Tennessee and blowing out Montana. No. 18 Arkansas lost four places following a 94-85 loss to Houston.

In and out No. 24 USC is ranked for the second time this season following lopsided wins over UTSA and UC Santa Cruz. No. 25 Iowa (10-2) is ranked for the first time since early in the 2022-23 season with its best start since 2020.

Auburn dropped out from No. 21 after being blown out by Purdue, the Tigers’ third loss in five games. St. John’s fell out from No. 22 following a 78-66 loss to Kentucky.

Conference watch The Big Ten Conference leads with seven ranked teams after USC and Iowa moved into the poll. The Southeastern Conference dropped to six ranked teams after Auburn fell out, matching the Big 12, which has four teams in the top 10.

The Atlantic Coast Conference has four ranked teams, with the Big East and West Coast Conference notching one each.

LsU guard rashad King gains control of the ball in the paint as several Prairie View a&M defenders reach for it in the first half on Monday at the Pete Maravich assembly Center. staFF PHoto

By MICHaeL JoHNsoN

A couple of minutes later, LSU was rewarded more free throws when Joseph, who finished with 34 points, was given a technical foul for what he said during Sutton’s pair of free throws. Mackinnon was chosen for the technical shots and made both attempts.

Sutton made his two free throws, and these scores were part of an

8-2 run to bring LSU within three points.

Rashad King delivered a crucial right corner 3-pointer that tied the game at 71. Sutton followed that with a hook shot off the glass to give LSU a 73-71 lead with 12:42 remaining in the game.

King, a transfer from Northeastern, received extra playing time

as a 6-6 player who was making shots and helping on the defensive end. He finished with a season-high 13 points and helped the Tigers stay in control going forward.

LSU’s next game is against Southern Miss at 7 p.m. Monday at the PMAC. This will be the team’s final game before Southeastern Conference play.

4C ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

NFL

Saints playing top-shelf defense of late SAINTS NOTEBOOK N.o. among league’s best since Since the start of Week 10, the Saints are allowing just 137.3 yards early November passing per game, tops in the NFL.

BY LUKE JOHNSON and MATTHEW PARAS

staff writers

Things looked bleak back in early November, when the high-powered Los Angeles Rams offense throttled the Saints.

Led by MVP front-runner Matthew Stafford, the Rams operated at will against the Saints defense. Stafford threw four touchdown passes and had a 140.8 passer rating. Kyren Williams ran for 114 yards and a score.

Los Angeles racked up nearly 300 total yards before halftime, coasting to 438 total in a 34-10 rout.

That game is especially notable because of what has happened after.

Since that game, the Saints rank No. 1 in the NFL in total defense (258.7 yards per game) and No. 2 in scoring defense (15.8 points per game). Sunday against the Jets, they clinched their fourth win in their past six games by limiting New York to 195 total yards and six points.

The advanced numbers are similar to what the Saints have been doing lately, too. In four of the past six weeks, the Saints have finished with a top-10 ranking in Expected Points Added (how well a team performs compared to their expectation on a play-byplay basis). Their lone ranking outside of the top half came in a Week 15 win against the Carolina Panthers, when they had the NFL’s 17th-best effort.

New Orleans has been especially tough against passers.

Some of that can be chalked up to the quality of competition and conditions — the Saints have faced Bryce Young twice, Baker Mayfield and Tua Tagovailoa in rainy weather, and backups Kirk Cousins and Brady Cook.

Still, those passers have managed to throw just four touchdowns against five interceptions in six games against the Saints, compiling a 72.2 passer rating.

The surge has vaulted the Saints toward the upper echelon of the NFL in defensive rankings in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s first season. Before Monday night’s game between the Colts and 49ers, New Orleans was the NFL’s No. 9 total defense and No. 14 scoring defense. Situationally, they rank No. 4 on third downs and No. 11 in the red zone.

Shough ROY? Tyler Shough has worked his way into the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

And with two games left, the Saints quarterback has a shot at winning the award. Most sportsbooks list Shough as having the second-best odds behind Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. In the past two weeks, Shough’s odds went from 250-1 to 4-1.

After Sunday’s 29-6 win over the Jets, Shough was asked what he made of the possibility of earning the award.

“That’s obviously a great achievement,” said Shough, who threw for a career-high 308 yards. “But I think for us, that can be attained by finishing the season the right way

staFF PHoto By DaVID GrUNFeLD

saints cornerback alontae taylor sacks New york Jets quarterback Brady Cook at the Caesars superdome on sunday. with getting the victory next week and then the week after that. So that’s all I’m focused on right now.

And we’ll go from there.”

The Saints close the season at Tennessee and Atlanta.

Shough is 4-3 as a starter.

“I think that’s awesome,” coach Kellen Moore said. “Tyler’s played some really good football.

Our team has played much better football as the season’s progressed, so those things certainly don’t go without the guys around him and everyone kind of stepping up and playing better.

“Tyler’s brought a really positive spark to us, some consistency. … I love where he’s at.”

Moreau and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee for their Week 17 game against the Tennessee Titans.

Both Moreau (ankle) and Bresee (knee) left the field in the third quarter of Sunday’s win against the New York Jets.

Moore said Monday that both players are looking at “time lost” because of their respective injuries.

Moore didn’t say both players would miss the final two games of the season, and he sounded optimistic that neither injury would impact the players beyond the 2025 season.

Moreau’s injury occurred on a 5-yard catch early in the third period. Jets linebacker Quincy ‘Time lost’ Williams dragged Moreau down The Saints are probably go- with what Moore called a “hiping to be without tight end Foster droppy” tackle, a reference to

the “hip-drop” tackle the league is trying to ban because of the high injury rates associated with the technique.

The New Orleans native made his season’s debut in Week 5 after recovering from a knee injury suffered in the final game of the 2024 season. In 11 games this season, he’s caught seven passes for 59 yards.

Bresee’s injury came on a third and 20 midway through the quarter, when he landed awkwardly after losing his footing in the turf on a pass rush.

The 2023 first-rounder has never missed a game in his career. In 15 games this season, Bresee has 2.5 sacks and 5 tackles for loss.

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

Jaguars can’t get overlooked anymore after impressive win

BY ROB MAADDI

back Jarrian Jones said. “We want to show up every Sunday and you have to play us no matter where we’re at. We play in the snow, we play in the rain, whatever you want to do. I think the Jags are going to be ready to play.”

Lawrence threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score.

He has 12 TD passes and no interceptions over the past four games, posting a passer rating above 105 in each one.

“I hope we don’t get any (respect),” Lawrence said. “So everybody out there, just keep it up. It’s great. It was a big game and just proud of the guys. It was fun.”

aP pro football Writer Maybe the Jacksonville Jaguars and coach Liam Coen will get the credit they deserve now.

Trevor Lawrence and the Jags went to Denver and scored 34 points against one of the NFL’s best defenses, extending their winning streak to six games with a 14-point victory on Sunday that gave the Broncos their first loss since Week 3.

This was an impressive, convincing win for an underrated team that’s been overlooked throughout the season.

The Broncos (12-3) and Patriots (12-3) deserved recognition for double-digit winning streaks. The Colts (8-6) were the talk of the AFC the first two months during a 7-1 start. The Bills (11-4) and Josh Allen are always in the spotlight.

Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers (9-6), Justin Herbert and the Chargers (11-4) and C.J. Stroud and the Texans (10-5) also get more attention.

Even the demise of the Chiefs has been a bigger storyline than the rise of the Jaguars.

But no team is playing better right now than Jacksonville. The Jaguars (11-4) lead the AFC South and are in the mix for the No. 1 seed. They would clinch a playoff berth if Indianapolis loses to San Francisco on Monday night.

It’s been a remarkable turnaround for a team that finished 4-13 last season.

DUNCAN

Continued from page 1C here tonight, and I don’t know what the future holds for me, but it was a special day.”

If this was Hill’s final home game as a Saint — and it sure seemed that way, given how Hill and the Saints treated it — then it is important to take a moment to reflect on his legacy and recognize his greatness.

His rare physical skill set translated into one of the surprising and remarkable careers in league history.

Hill came to the Saints an unknown, as an obscure waiverwire claim from the Green Bay Packers in the fall of 2017. The former undrafted free agent from Brigham Young quickly developed into a multi-purpose weapon thanks to the utility role former

assoCIateD Press PHoto By DaVID ZaLUBoWsKI

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton strange celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos in Denver on sunday.

Tomlin’s team

Coen has led the way since replacing Doug Pederson. He almost didn’t take the job after initially declining an in-person interview with the Jaguars. Coen had agreed to a three-year contract to remain the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, a deal that would’ve made him the league’s highest-paid assistant.

But he changed his mind after owner Shad Khan fired general manager Trent Baalke. Coen has quickly turned the Jaguars into Super Bowl contenders.

“Just thankful that a small market team like us can come into a place like Mile High and get it done,” Coen said with sarcasm.

Coen wants everyone to continue

underestimating the Jaguars.

“We really don’t care about the narrative,” he said. “I’m sorry to say that, but it’s only helping us, so I want the narrative to keep coming.”

Several teams have embraced the underdog role in the past, using it as a rallying cry. The 2017 Philadelphia Eagles started wearing dog masks on the sideline because they weren’t expected to have playoff success after losing starting quarterback Carson Wentz to a knee injury. Backup Nick Foles led them to a stunning victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

“Keep doubting us,” Jags corner-

A few weeks ago, Steelers fans were chanting: “Fire Tomlin!”

Even Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison joined the critics, saying it was time for Pittsburgh to move on from coach Mike Tomlin.

But the Steelers have won three in a row, including Sunday’s wild, 29-24 upset at Detroit.

They lead the AFC North and would secure their first division title since 2020 with one more win or a loss by the Ravens (7-8).

Rodgers and the offense are clicking at the right time for Pittsburgh. Running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell excelled in Detroit. But the Steelers might lose wide receiver DK Metcalf to a suspension after he took a swipe at a Lions fans during the game.

Saints coach Sean Payton fashioned for him.

Hill became so effective as a multipurpose Swiss Army Knife that NFL teams across the league tried to mimic the Saints’ success with him. Several teams drafted or signed athletic college quarterbacks in the late rounds and tried to make them their version of Hill, among them Jalen Milroe (Seahawks), Easton Stick (Chargers), Nick Fitzgerald (Bucs), Trace McSorley (Ravens) and Eric Dungey (Giants). The Saints even tried to get a younger version of him in 2020, when they drafted Tommy Stevens out of Mississippi State.

They learned what so many others did over the years. While many players may possess some of Hill’s traits, none had the combination of size, elite athleticism and unselfish mindset that made Hill a unicorn.

Physically speaking, Hill is one of one. He is faster than Alvin Ka-

mara and as strong as some of the Saints linemen. He is agile enough to line up at wide receiver and can throw a football into the end zone from midfield.

Sunday was another vintage Hill performance. With a large group of friends and family watching from the stands, he ran 12 times for a team-high 42 yards. He added four catches for 36 yards and capped the day with a beautiful 38-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave.

The performance left Hill with 2,388 yards passing, 2,545 yards rushing, and 1,002 career yards receiving, making him the only player in modern NFL history with more than 1,000 yards passing, rushing, and receiving.

That’s not the only feat of his you’ll find in the NFL record books.

Hill is the first player in modern NFL history to score double-digit touchdowns three different ways

in his career — as a rusher, receiver and passer.

He’s the first player since the NFL merger in 1970 to run for three touchdowns, pass for another and return a kickoff in the same game.

During his career, he also blocked two punts and served as the personal protector on the punt team, the role he was in Sunday when he converted a fourth-and-1 on a fake punt.

Throughout it all, Hill has remained as humble and unassuming as the day he walked into camp nine years ago.

“He’s just a special guy,” coach Kellen Moore said. “He’s an Aplus person and an A-plus player.

The things he can do from the capacity of having to handle all of these looks, structures and fundamentals that you have to play at all these positions, it’s just really, really special.”

Equally impressive, Hill never

Playoff picture Five of the seven NFC playoff spots have been secured while only one team has clinched in the AFC, though three more teams can join the club if the 49ers beat the Colts.

The Eagles (10-5) are NFC East champions. The Panthers (8-7) beat the Buccaneers (7-8) to move into first place in the NFC South. But the Buccaneers would win their fifth straight division title with victories at Miami next week and over Carolina in Week 18.

The Bears (11-4) need one more win or one loss by the Packers (9-6-1) to lock up the NFC North. The Seahawks (114) lead the NFC West with the Rams (11-4) and 49ers (10-4) in the mix.

The Lions (8-7) have a tough path. They have to win out and need the Packers to lose two to get a wild-card spot.

The Broncos are the lone AFC team already in but their lead in the West is down to one game over the Chargers. The Jaguars, Bills and Chargers get in with a loss by Indianapolis on Monday night.

The Patriots will clinch the AFC East with another win or a loss by Buffalo. The Steelers are on the verge of clinching the AFC North.

The Jaguars lead the Texans in the AFC South while the Colts need to win out and get help to have a chance.

sought the spotlight. In a world increasingly populated by shameless self-promoters, Hill is an outlier. The media-shy 35-year-old doesn’t post his workouts on social media, and he doesn’t make the rounds on the national talk show/ podcast network. Away from Airline Drive, he prefers to spend his time quietly and privately with family and friends.

“Taysom is by far one of the best players I’ve been around, on and off the field,” tight end Juwan Johnson said. “He’s just such a selfless person, a selfless player.

He’s earned everything that he’s got. I’m grateful and I’m honored to be on his team.”

We should never overlook Hill’s extraordinary accomplishments or unique talents. What he did for the Saints is rare and unprecedented.

Everybody is looking for the “next Taysom Hill.”

The reality is, there isn’t one.

the advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ 5C

lll

COLLEGE FOOTBALL New Orleans Bowl to have Louisiana flavor

BY SPENCER URQUHART

ä New Orleans Bowl.

There will be multiple players from Louisiana in the New Orleans Bowl game between Southern Miss and Western Kentucky on Tuesday at the Caesars Superdome.

Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN. The trip to New Orleans is a short one for the Sun Belt Conference’s Southern Miss (7-5), which is playing its first bowl game since 2022. Postseason travel has become routine for Conference USA’s Western Kentucky (8-4) having appeared in a bowl game every year since 2019.

The 25th New Orleans Bowl will be a homecoming of sorts for players from both teams as a total of 10 Louisiana natives set to participate.

Eight of the 10 Louisiana natives play for Southern Miss, which recently saw coach Charles Huff leave after one season to coach Memphis. Southern Miss promoted offensive coordinator Blake Anderson to Huff’s place. Anderson will coach the bowl game and be the Golden Eagles’ coach going forward.

“Coach Huff did an amazing job,” Anderson said. “Didn’t expect to be in the situation here going into the bowl game taking over, but I’m excited about the opportunity. I want to be focused on this group, the finish line with this group of seniors. They deserve that.”

Anderson is in his second stint at Southern Miss after being on the staff from 2008-11. The Golden Eagles finished 1-11 last season.

Southern Miss has a 31-player senior class and landed several impact players in the transfer portal.

Defensive lineman J’Mond Tapp, a former Ascension Catholic star, transferred from Arizona State as a junior and was a first team All-Sun Belt selection after recording 71/ 2 sacks.

Other Louisiana natives for Southern Miss include Lafayette Christian’s Anthony Richard, a starting cornerback who trans-

ferred from Marshall, and freshman kicker Creighton Wilbanks of Mandeville.

Quarterback Braylon Braxton is among the Golden Eagles’ 31 seniors. Braxton has thrown for 2,796 yards and 23 touchdowns seven interceptions this season while battling a knee injury down the stretch.

“Braylon has been a lot of fun to be in a room with every day,” Anderson said. “I thought he played at an extremely high level for us and got hurt and battled through it. Happy to say that he’s healthy and will be able to play a much different game on Tuesday.”

A pair of Western Kentucky players are familiar to Louisiana high school football fans in Destrehan alum Jai Eugene and former Catholic-Baton Rouge standout George Hart. A defensive back, Eugene is in his second season with the Hilltoppers after transferring from Tulane.

Hart, a senior running back, transferred from Arizona State.

“I’veplayed(inNewOrleans)alot in high school for state championships, so it’s cool to have my last collegiate game here,” Hart said. “It’s definitely a blessing that my whole family gets to see the last one.”

Western Kentucky has gone 4-2 in bowl games during the past six years under coach Tyson Helton.

This year will be the second New Orleans Bowl appearance for the Hilltoppers, their first being a 4423 win over South Alabama in 2022. “(Southern Miss) is a great, complete team,” Helton said.

“I know coach (Anderson) very well. He does a great job. Statistically, we’re both about the same, so it should be a good game.”

This year marks the sixth New Orleans Bowl appearance for Southern Miss, which has a 4-1 record in the bowl. Their last appearance was a 28-21 win over UL in 2016.

“I think our fanbase is excited about what we’ve done,” Anderson said. “It would be awesome to get to (win) No. 8 considering all we’ve been through.”

staff writer

assoCIateD Press PHoto By KatHLeeN BatteN

texas tech linebacker Jacob rodriguez lines up against West Virginia during the second half of a game on Nov. 29 in Morgantown, W.Va.

Former Texas Tech quarterback Rodriguez thriving at linebacker

BY STEPHEN HAWKINS associated Press

Jacob Rodriguez was sleeping on the floor of his brother’s apartment and learning how to really play defense when he joined Texas Tech for spring practice in 2022, right after a season as a quarterback at Virginia.

Suddenly a walk-on on the other side of the ball, Rodriguez even wondered if he might get cut by the Red Raiders.

“They’re trying to weed everybody out because it’s coach (Joey) McGuire’s first offseason,” he said.

“So, I’m just out there trying to make the team and then focus on football. It was real weird, totally different position.”

QB-turned-linebacker Rodriguez is now an AP All-American for fourth-ranked Tech, which is in the College Football Playoff for the first time. The team captain with a distinctive mustache, whose wife flies Black Hawk helicopters in the U.S. Army, has a collection of trophies for national defensive player of the year awards, and was fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He is the first FBS player in 20 years with at least five forced fumbles (he has seven), two fumble recoveries and four interceptions in the same season.

“He’s just a man of consistency, a man of routine and he’s just a great leader overall,” said Tech senior edge rusher David Bailey, a first-year transfer and also an AP All-America first-teamer.

The Red Raiders (12-1), in McGuire’s fourth season, play No. 5 Oregon (12-1) in the CFP quarterfinal Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. The first-time Big 12 Conference champions already have a school-record 12 wins.

Rodriguez won the Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski awards as the top defensive player, and the Dick Butkus Award as the top linebacker. He got the Lombardi Award that’s for exceptional performance while embodying character and discipline like the award’s namesake.

From QB to standout linebacker Rodriguez played a little bit of

GEORGIA

Continued from page 1C now you’ve got a lot more problems to be able to help,” Golding said. “But we’ve got a really good crew around us, guys who do a really good job.

“The ball part of it is easy. I don’t think whether it’s the Sugar Bowl, or the first round, or you’re playing Mississippi State: Once you get late in the season, if you lose,

ä Texas Tech vs. Oregon.

and recovered a fumble. His 127 tackles last year were the most for a Tech player since Lawrence safety in high school, but when he Flugence set an NCAA FBS regot to Tech he hadn’t been a line- cord with 193 in 2002. He has 117 backer since middle school, when this season after Tech reportedly the approach was much different. invested more than $7 million “I had no clue what I was doing. I on transfers along the defensive was just going see ball, hit ball,” he front, including Bailey, secondsaid. “You’re playing linebacker, team AP All-America interior but you don’t have to study film, lineman A.J. Holmes Jr., and thirdand you don’t have to understand teamer Lee Hunter. the position as much.”

As a prep starting quarterback, Army wife Rodriguez accounted for 10,136 As tough as Rodriguez is, the total yards (7,085 passing, 3,051 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker rushing) and 106 touchdowns (68 said there is no doubt that his wife passing, 38 rushing) as Wichita Emma is even tougher.

Falls Rider made the Texas Class The high school sweethearts got 5A playoffs three years in a row. married in July 2023. Emma gradHe was then an early enrollee at uated from the United States MiliVirginia, which gave him a schol- tary Academy and is now based at arship offer as a quarterback. Fort Riley in Kansas.

“She’s the best, and she does so He never threw a pass in his 12 games with the Cavaliers, but had much for me,” Jacob Rodriguez 56 yards rushing and 65 receiving said. “It’s weird, I feel like to evwhile used as a running back, re- erybody else, that we do long disceiver and tight end. He left there tance and have done it. But I mean after a coaching change. to us, it’s normal. It’s something “It’s just really cool to see the that we’ve always done.” way that his story has developed, and the kind of guy that he is,” said No trip to New York fifth-year Tech quarterback BehWhile disappointed he didn’t ren Morton, a fellow Texan who get an invitation to New York for was in some of the same camps as the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Rodriguez before college. “He’s Rodriguez was grateful and honprobably put on close to 50 pounds, ored by the final results. His 17 and just totally transformed his first-place votes were nine more body to looking like a mean line- than Ohio State quarterback Jubacker.” lian Sayin, the fourth-place finisher. Indiana QB Fernando MenEmbracing defense doza won the Heisman ahead of Rodriguez played special teams Vanderbilt quarterback Diego and some defensive packages dur- Pavia and Notre Dame running ing his Tech debut in 2022, when back Jeremiyah Love.

“I’m just so appreciative to even he had 29 tackles and began to embe in that conversation,” Rodribrace being on that side.

“Really just knowing that I can guez said. “That kind of hit home, make an impact whatever position was people really cared about me I play. I’ve done it on the offensive and see what the work that’s been side of the ball, I’ve done it on the done this year.” defensive side of a ball, and I’ve Rodriguez has scored three done it on special teams. I can re- touchdowns this season. He really play with anybody,” he said. turned a fumble for a score against “That’s kind of when I figured I can Oklahoma, and had short rushing do this. I saw myself progressing TDs on his only carries when taka lot on the defensive side of the ing a direct snap in each of the last ball, and week to week just getting two regular-season games. better and better.”

“It was exciting and it was fun,” He was limited to five games in he said. “Those are the moments 2023 after injuring his foot in the that I’ll never forget, where it’s opener on a play that he forced just having fun playing football.”

11 a.M. JaN. 1, esPN

you’re probably not going to be playoffs. Right now, if you lose, your season is ended.”

Ole Miss will be dealing with a condensed schedule compared to Georgia, which last played Dec. 6 in the SEC championship game.

“Moved on to Georgia (Monday) morning and walked through format,” Golding said. “We’re going to give them a couple of days off for Christmas, then bring them back Christmas night and go to work as a normal Monday would be on the 26th.”

That brings to mind another possible concern for the Bulldogs: Last year, all four teams with firstround byes lost their quarterfinal game.

Does extra rest mean rust? Nah, Smart’s not biting on that, either.

“The negative is when you’re playing good football, a lot of times you want to keep playing,” he said.

“You want to stay in rhythm. …

But I’m excited about where our team is. I’m excited that they’re practicing the way they are and are excited about the opponent.”

4:30 P.M.tUesDay, esPN

Michigan interim coach Poggi wants to keep the job beyond bowl game

BY LARRY LAGE aP sportswriter

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Biff Poggi tapped on a lectern, accentuating each word, as he closed a news conference and made his case to be Michigan’s football coach beyond its bowl game.

“I want to fix this program,” Poggi said Monday.

Clearly, college football’s winningest program is broken.

The 18th-ranked Wolverines were shaken nearly two weeks ago when Sherrone Moore was fired as coach.

Michigan said Moore had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and two days later, he was charged with three crimes because prosecutors said he “barged his way” into the apartment of a woman with whom he had been having an affair and threatened to kill himself.

Poggi was put in charge, on an interim basis, to prepare the team to play No. 14 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.

He wants the job beyond that.

“I’m being considered,” Poggi said. “I’ve had multiple interviews.

“Nobody knows what’s going to happen.”

That’s a fact.

Michigan hired a search firm to help it look for a new leader at a challenging time, following a coaching carousel that included Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss to lead LSU. Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, meanwhile, used Michigan’s interest in potentially hiring him as leverage to get a raise for him and his coaching staff last weekend.

The next man to lead the

maize and blue will be inheriting a mess, albeit one with upside because the school’s donors are rich and generous enough to attract and retain talent in the new era of college athletics.

The NCAA put Michigan’s football program on probation earlier this year, stemming from a sign-stealing scandal, and athletic director Warde Manuel has said penalties will cost the department more than $30 million.

Matt Weiss, who previously shared offensive coordinator duties with Moore at Michigan, was charged with hacking into the computer accounts of thousands of college athletes to find intimate images. A judge entered a not-guilty plea earlier this year for the former Baltimore Ravens and Wolverines assistant coach.

Other Michigan football coaches and staffers have been arrested in recent years, tarnishing the image of a school proud of its academic reputation and athletic excellence.

“It has been five years, let’s just call it a malfunctioning organization,” Poggi said. “I know the athletic director has made very clear he doesn’t want any more of that.”

The university hired a law firm to investigate Moore’s relationship with the staffer, who it said provided evidence that led to his firing, and attorneys are continuing a probe of the football program.

“Everything that happens in this building has to be reevaluated, quite frankly, because it is not up to standard,” Poggi said. “The staff has to be reevaluated — the coaches, the analysts — everybody in the building.”

6C ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

LSU finalizes new hires on coaching staff

BY WILSON ALEXANDER staff writer

Lane Kiffin has finalized the majority of his first coaching staff at LSU. The team announced 11 new hires Monday, all of which were previously known. But notably, LSU revealed the titles for defensive assistants Chris Kiffin and Lou Spanos, both of whom followed Kiffin from Ole Miss.

Chris Kiffin will be the linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator. LSU had to figure out his role after retaining defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who coached linebackers the past two years in addition to calling the defense. Chris

Kiffin coached linebackers at Ole Miss this past season.

Spanos, a defensive analyst at Ole Miss, was named an assistant defensive line coach and pass rush specialist. LSU is expected to retain edge rushers coach Kevin Peoples, cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond and safeties coach Jake Olsen to complete the defensive staff.

LSU also confirmed the expected hirings of running backs coach and associate head coach Kevin Smith, defensive line coach Sterling Lucas and special teams coordinator Joe Houston. The terms of their deals are not yet known.

Smith came to the LSU football operations building Sunday with

the rest of the new assistants who are still coaching Ole Miss through the College Football Playoff. He was hired to replace Frank Wilson, who is set to become Ole Miss’ new running backs coach and senior associate head coach after his last game as LSU’s interim head coach Dec. 27 in the Texas Bowl.

Smith spent eight of the past nine years with Kiffin at Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss, helping with a key part of the offense. A former UCF running back, Smith played five years for the Detroit Lions before he became a coach. He has coached New York Giants running back Devin Singletary, Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon

Judkins and Ole Miss star running back Kewan Lacy, a potential target for LSU if he enters the transfer portal.

Lucas coached defensive ends and outside linebackers for the past four seasons at South Carolina, where he helped with the development of standout defensive ends Dylan Stewart and Kyle Kennard, one of the most productive tandems in the country in 2024.

He will replace former LSU star Kyle Williams, who was expected to step away after one season as a college coach.

Houston spent the past two years at Florida, and prior to that, he was a special teams assistant for four seasons with the New

England Patriots. He has also coached special teams at Iowa State and Alabama.

After leaving for LSU, Lane Kiffin quickly filled his offensive staff by bringing most of his assistants with him from Ole Miss.

LSU has already agreed to terms with offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator George McDonald, quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens, inside wide receivers coach Sawyer Jordan and offensive line coach Eric Wolford, the only one in that group who was not at Ole Miss this past season.

SCOREBOARD Odds

at UCLA Idaho at ST. JOHN’S at LOYOLA MRYMNT at SETON HALL

Sports Betting Line NFL Thursday

FAVORITE at WASH Detroit at K.C.

Saturday

NHL

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3½ 4½ (50½) Dallas 2½ 1½ (48½) at MIN 4½ 4½ (44½) Denver

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at LA CHRGRS 1½ 1½ (39½) Houston at GREEN BAY 1½ 2½ (40½) Baltimore

Sunday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Seattle 1½ 7 (42½) at CAR Jacksonville 1½ 6½ (46½) at IND Tampa Bay 1 5½ (46½) at MIAMI New England 1½ 13½ (43½) at NY JETS Pittsburgh 2½ 4½ (34½) at CLE New Orleans 3½ 2½ (39½) at TEN at CINCINNATI 4 7 (53½) Arizona at LAS VEGAS 2½ 1½ (42) NY Giants at BUFFALO 1½ 2½ (43½) Phila at SAN FRAN 3 2½ (50½) Chicago Monday FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG LA Rams 8½ 8 (49½) at ATLANTA

College Football Tuesday

Boca Raton Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Louisville 9½ 7½ (44½) Toledo New Orleans Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG W. Kentucky 3½ 4½ (55½) S. Miss Frisco Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG UNLV 3½ 4½ (62½) Ohio

Wednesday

Hawai’i Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Cal 1½ 1½ (54½) Hawaii

Friday

GameAbove Sports Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Northwestern 12½ 10½ (43½) C. Michigan Rate Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Minnesota 3½ 2½ (47½) New Mex First Responder Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG UTSA 8½ 8½ (59½) Fla Intl

Saturday

Military Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Pittsburgh 6½ Pinstripe Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Clemson 3½ Fenway Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Army 3½ Pop-Tarts Bowl FAVORITE OPEN BYU 3½ Arizona Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Fresno State 3½ New Mexico Bowl FAVORITE OPEN North Texas 5½ Gator Bowl Jacksonville, Fla. FAVORITE OPEN Missouri 7½ Texas Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Houston 1½

TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 7½ (57½) E. Carolina TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3½ (48½) Penn State TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 8½ (46½) UConn TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 4½ (55½) Ga Tech TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 4½ (42½) Miami (OH) TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 2½ (55½)San Dego St TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 6½ (48½) Virginia TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 2½ (41½) LSU

Monday, Dec. 29

Birmingham Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Ga Southern 3½ 4½ (59½) Appa St.

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Independence Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Louisiana Tech 9½ 8½ (50½) C. Carolina Music City Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Tennessee 8½ 2½ (60½) Illinois Alamo Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG USC 6½ 4½ (57½) TCU

NBA

Tuesday

FAVORITE LINE at CHARLOTTE OFF at PHILA OFF at CLEVELAND OFF at MIAMI OFF at INDIANA OFF at ATLANTA OFF at DALLAS OFF at MINNESOTA OFF at SAN ANTONIO OFF at UTAH OFF at PHOENIX OFF at PORTLAND OFF at SACRAMENTO OFF at LA CLIPPERS OFF

O/U UNDERDOG (OFF) Washington (OFF) Brooklyn (OFF) New Orleans (OFF) Toronto (OFF) Milwaukee (OFF) Chicago (OFF) Denver (OFF) New York (OFF) Oklahoma City (OFF) Memphis (OFF) LA Lakers (OFF) Orlando (OFF) Detroit (OFF) Houston

COLLEGE BASKETBALL Tuesday

FAVORITE at ARMY at CAMPBELL at KENTUCKY at UCF at OHIO STATE at MISSOURI STATE

LINE 6½ 3½ 34½ 8½ 26½ 2½

UNDERDOG Binghamton Green Bay Bellarmine Florida Atlantic Grambling Lindenwood

PELICANS

Continued from page 1C had 35 points and 17 rebounds, Klay Thompson scored 20, rookie forward Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, had 16 and former Pelican Naji Marshall scored 15 for the Mavericks (1119).

Marshall and Flagg scored five points each as Dallas extended its six-point halftime lead to 83-73 midway through the third quarter.

Jose Alvarado made consecutive 3-pointer for New Orleans before the Mavericks took an 87-79 lead at

25½ UC Riverside 4½ at CSU BKRSFIELD 25½ Harvard 21½ Morgan State 1½ Villanova

Tuesday

FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at TORONTO -140 Pittsburgh Dallas -129 at DETROIT at BOSTON -120 Montreal at CAROLINA -152 Florida at OTTAWA -155 Buffalo New Jersey -120 at N.Y ISLNDRS at WASHINGTON -170 N.Y Rangers at MINNESOTA -198 Nashville at EDMONTON -188 Calgary at COLORADO -259 Utah Philadelphia -122 at CHICAGO at VEGAS -258 San Jose at LOS ANGELES -251 Seattle

LINE +119 +109 +100 +127 +129 +100 +142 +164 +156 +210 +101 +209 +205

Pro basketball

New York Boston Philadelphia Toronto Brooklyn

W 20 17 16 17 8

L 8 11 11 13 19

Pct GB .714 — .607 3 .593 3½ .567 4 .296 11½

Orlando Miami Atlanta Charlotte Washington

W 16 15 15 9 5

L 12 14 15 19 22

Pct GB .571 — .517 1½ .500 2 .321 7 .185 10½

Southeast Division

Central Division Detroit Cleveland Chicago Milwaukee Indiana

W 22 15 13 11 6

L 6 14 15 18 22

Pct GB .786 — .517 7½ .464 9 .379 11½ .214 16

W 21 17 13 11 7

L 7 9 15 18 22

Pct GB .750 — .654 3 .464 8 .379 10½ .241 14½

W 25 20 19 12 10

L 3 7 10 16 17

Pct GB .893 — .741 4½ .655 6½ .429 13 .370 14½

W 19 15 14 7 7

L 8 13 15 21 22

Pct GB .704 — .536 4½ .483 6 .250 12½ .241 13

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Southwest Division San Antonio Houston Memphis Dallas New Orleans

Northwest Division Oklahoma City Denver Minnesota Portland Utah Pacific Division L.A. Lakers Phoenix Golden State L.A. Clippers Sacramento

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 Sacramento 125, Houston 124, OT

Monday’s Games

Brooklyn at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Washington at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

Chicago at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m.

Milwaukee at Indiana, 6:30 p.m.

New Orleans at Cleveland, 6:30 p.m.

Toronto at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

Denver at Dallas, 7 p.m.

New York at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 8 p.m.

Memphis at Utah, 8 p.m.

Detroit at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

Orlando at Portland, 9 p.m.

Houston at L.A. Clippers, 9:30 p.m.

Pro football NFL AMERICAN CONFERENCE x-New England Buffalo e-Miami e-N.Y. Jets

South

L 3 4 9 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .733 .400 .200

PF 410 434 317 282

PA 300 344 369 426

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

Pittsburgh

W 9

L 6

T 0

Pct .600

PF PA 365 350

North

0 0 0

.467 .333 .200

359 348 359 458 246 355

68 Ventures Bowl

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

Xbox Bowl

West

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East

PA 295 301 294 386

y-Philadelphia e-Dallas e-Washington e-N.Y. Giants

W 10 6 4 2

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

Carolina Tampa Bay e-Atlanta e-N.O.

W 8 7 6 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

x-Chicago Green Bay Detroit e-Minn

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

x-Seattle x-L.A. Rms x-San Fran e-Arizona

W 12 11 10 3

L 3 4 4 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .733 .714 .200

PF 443 457 344 321

PA 279 299 293 414

South

West

e-Eliminated from playoffs x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division Thursday’s Games

PA 312 249 303 403

the end of the period.

Dallas pushed the lead to 11 points early in the fourth quarter, but Poole scored 10 points during an 18-4 run that gave the Pelicans a 101-98 lead midway through the period, The lead changed hands twice and the score was tied once before Williamson scored six points during a 10-0 run that gave New Orleans a 113-103 lead.

The Mavericks crept within four points in the final seconds, but didn’t score again.

Bey and Jones scored seven points each and three teammates scored as the Pelicans raced to a 22-11 lead. They led by 11 twice

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

9.MSU 11-1 532 9 0 10.Brigham 11-1 515 10 0 11.Vandrblt 12-0 433 12 0 12.UNC 11-1 402 13 0 13.Nebraska 12-0 371 15 0 14.Louisville 10-2 346 11 0 15.Alabama 9-3 306 16 0 16.Texas Tech 9-3 298 19 0 17.Kansas 9-3 276 17 0 18.Arkansas 9-3 227 14 0 19.Illinois 8-3 211 18 0 20.Tennessee 9-3 210 23 0 21.Virginia 10-1 189 22 0 22.Florida 8-4 154 21 0 23.Iowa 10-2 212 25 0 24.Georgia 10-1 60 NR 0 25.USC 12-1 35 NR 0 Dropped out: No. 20 St. John’s (7-4); No. 24 Auburn (8-4).

Others receiving votes: St. John’s (7-4) 32; Kentucky (8-4) 32; Seton Hall (11-1) 20; Utah State (10-1) 15; Auburn (8-4) 10; California (12-1) 9; Saint Louis (11-1) 8; UCLA (9-3) 8; LSU (10-1) 6; Yale (11-1) 4; Oklahoma State (11-1) 3; Clemson (10-3) 1; Indiana (9-3) 1; Saint Mary’s (10-2) 1.

Tuesday’s games

Saturday’s games

Delaware 20, UL 13

Thursday’s games Arkansas State 34, Missouri State 28

Friday’s games

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Kennesaw State 41, Western Michigan 6

Gasparilla Bowl

N.C. State 31, Memphis 7

College Football Playoff

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

Saturday’s games

College Football Playoff

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

Monday’s game

Boise, Idaho Washington St.. 34, Utah St. 21

State women’s schedule

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

Boca Raton Bowl

Boca Raton, Fla. Louisville vs. Toledo, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

New Orleans Bowl

New Orleans Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Sunday’s games

Mercer-Detroit 70, Tulane 67 Northwestern State 60, Lamar 57 LSU 110, Texas-Arlington 45 Southern Methodist 74, Southern 62

Frisco Bowl

Frisco, Texas Ohio vs. UNLV, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Seattle 38, L.A. Rams 37, OT

Wednesday’s game

Philadelphia 29, Washington 18 Chicago 22, Green Bay 16, OT

Honolulu Cal vs. Hawaii, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday’s games

Grambling 97, LeTourneau University 33

Saturday’s Games

Hawai’i Bowl

Women’s national scores

Sunday’s Games

Dec. 26 games

Princeton 87, Temple 77 Villanova 85, St. John’s 48

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 28, Baltimore 24

Detroit Central Michigan vs. Northwestern, noon (ESPN)

Rate Bowl

Phoenix New Mexico vs. Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

First Responder Bowl

FCS Playoffs

San Francisco at Indianapolis, n

Late Sunday New England 28, Baltimore 24 New England 0 10 3 15 — 28 Baltimore 7 3 7 7 — 24 First Quarter Bal_D.Henry 21 run (Loop kick), 12:21.

Second Quarter NE_H.Henry 1 pass from Maye (Borregales kick), 11:17.

NE_FG Borregales 45, 5:39.

Bal_FG Loop 36, 1:03.

Third Quarter NE_FG Borregales 41, 7:43.

Bal_Flowers 18 run (Loop kick), 4:35.

Fourth Quarter Bal_D.Henry 2 run (Loop kick), 12:50.

NE_K.Williams 37 pass from Maye (Stevenson pass from Maye), 9:01.

NE_Stevenson 21 run (Borregales kick), 2:07.

Bal 18 330 33-171 159 1-11 2-49 1-0 16-20-0 1-7 2-42.0 2-2 7-28 28:11

College football Monday’s game Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

SOUTH

Florida Gulf Coast 120, Fort Lauderdale 32 Grambling State 97, LeTourneau 33 Old Dominion 89, Indiana State 68 UAB 65, Samford 49 UNC Greensboro 77, South Carolina State 32 Wake Forest 78, Gardner-Webb 66

MIDWEST

Dallas FIU vs. UTSA, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday’s game

NE 24 453 23-79 374 0-0 3-89 0-0 31-44-1 4-6 1-49.0 3-1 5-50 31:49

Monday’s games EAST

GameAbove Sports Bowl

First downs Total Net Yards Rushes-yards Passing Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Interceptions Ret. Comp-Att-Int Sacked-Yards Lost Punts Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Time of Possession INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING_New England, Stevenson 8-51, Maye 10-25, Henderson 5-3. Baltimore, Henry 18-128, Flowers 1-18, Mitchell 9-13, L.Jackson 2-7, Andrews 1-3, Huntley 2-2.

PASSING_New England, Maye 31-44-1-380.

Baltimore, L.Jackson 7-10-0-101, Huntley 9-10-0-65.

RECEIVING_New England, Diggs 9-138, Hollins 7-69, Henry 6-35, K.Williams 2-46, Hooper 2-34, Stevenson 2-27, Boutte 1-16, Henderson 1-9, Douglas 1-6. Baltimore, Flowers 7-84, Hopkins 4-41, Andrews 2-21, Ali 2-2, Kolar 1-18.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_Baltimore, Loop 56.

Tuesday’s Games

W 12 11 6 3

8 10 12

A_70,709.

Cleveland 139, Charlotte 132 Boston 103, Indiana 95 New Orleans 119, Dallas 113 Utah at Denver, n Memphis at Oklahoma City, n Detroit at Portland, n Orlando at Golden State, n

East

7 5 3

North

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division

Baltimore e-Cincinnati e-Cleveland

Illinois St. 30, Villanova 14 Montana St. 48 Montana 23 FCS Championship Montana St. vs. Illinois St. :30 p.m. Jan. 5

College basketball

Austin Peay 57, Loyola Chicago 47 Missouri State 65, Central Arkansas 61 Seton Hall 88, Creighton 79 Western Illinois 75, SIU Edwardsville 51

SOUTHWEST

Little Rock 73, Hendrix College 52 Oklahoma 126, North Carolina Central 54 Sam Houston 65, Northern Colorado 56

FAR WEST

State men’s schedule

Toledo 64, Long Beach State 43 Utah 63, Arizona 62

Baylor 111, Southern 67 Nicholls at Pacific, n

Transactions

Sunday’s games

Monday’s games

Major League Baseball

Louisiana Tech 90, Dallas Christian 37 LSU 104, Prairie View A&M 90

Tuesday’s game

Grambling at Ohio State, 2 p.m.

Men’s national scores Monday’s games EAST

Fordham 65, New Haven 47 George Washington 97, St. Mary’s College of Maryland 40 Saint Peter’s 116, Centenary (NJ) 50 Towson 72, Sacred Heart 47 UMass 91, Massachusetts-Boston 40 Wagner 74, Manor Blue Jays 57

SOUTH

Elon 97, Greensboro 63 Florida International 121, Trinity Jacksonville 70 Georgia 103, West Georgia 74 Louisiana Tech 90, Dallas Christian 37 South Carolina 95, South Carolina State 70 Virginia 95, American 51

MIDWEST

Bowling Green 125, Siena Heights 66 Butler 101, NJIT 52 Eastern Illinois 110, East-West 56 Miami (OH) 135, Milligan 81 Ohio 102, Miami Hamilton Harriers 59 SIU-Edwardsville 66, Western Illinois 61 Western Michigan 94, Defiance 57

SOUTHWEST

Abilene Christian 75, Texas Southern 68 North Texas 109, Science and Arts of OK 56 Seattle 71, UTSA 68 Tulsa 90, Denver 85

FAR WEST

Montana State 93, Northwest University 54 San Diego State 121, Whittier 59 UC Santa Barbara 79, Portland 61 Weber State 103, Lincoln University Oaklanders 64

USA Today Men’s Top 25 Poll

more Thompson had seven points during an 11-0 run that tied tie the score. Williamson’s dunk gave New Orleans a 36-34 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Thompson scored 14 points and Davis added 10 in the period while the Pelicans spread their scoring more evenly among eight players.

The score was tied six times in the second quarter before Thompson’s 3-pointer gave Dallas the lead, which it would hold for the rest of the half. Davis’ 3-pointer gave the Mavericks their biggest lead of nine points.

Queen made a free throw and Williamson had a dunk to trim Dallas’ lead to 63-57 at halftime.

Dallas Mavericks forward anthony Davis is guarded by Pelicans center Derik Queen during a game at the smoothie King Center on Monday.

Salute to Veterans Bowl

Jacksonville State 17, Troy 13

Wednesday’s games Cure Bowl

Prv. 1 2 4 5 6 3 7 8

Votes 20 11 0 0 0 0 0 0

National Football League GREEN BAY PACKERS — Reinstated DL Collin Oliver from reserve/physically unable to perform list. Placed TE John FitzPatrick on injured reserve.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Reinstated DT DeForest Buckner from injured reserve. Waived QB Brett Rypien. Promoted WR Coleman Owen and G Josh Sills from the practice squad to the active roster.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Signed QB Shane Buechele to the active roster from Buffalo’s practice squad. Placed QB Gardner Minshew on injured reserve.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Reinstated DL Yetur Gross-Matos from injured reserve.

Promoted CB Eli Apple and LB Eric Kendricks from the practice squad to the active roster.

TENNESSEE TITANS — Signed LB Cam Riley and NT Isaiah Raikes to the practice squad. Released WR Kristian Wilkerson from the practice squad.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Signed QB Jeff Driskel off Arizona’s practice squad. Placed G Sam Cosmi on injured reserve.

Old Dominion 24, South Florida 10

Tuesday’s game

Pts. 764 754 696 662 622 611 584 565

FOOTBALL

Rank 1.Michigan 2.Arizona 3.Iowa St. 4.Connectct 5.Purdue 6.Duke 7.Gonzaga 8.Houston

Washington State 34, Utah State 21

Rec. 11-0 11-0 12-0 12-1 11-1 11-1 12-1 11-1

American League ATHLETICS — Acquired INF Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets in exchange for RHP Yordan Rodriguez.

BOSTON RED SOX — Acquired 1B Willson Contreras and cash considerations from St. Louis in exchange for RHPs Hunter Dobbins, Blake Aita and Yhoiker Fajardo.

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Agreed to terms with RHP Codi Heuer on a minor league contract.

SEATTLE MARINERS — Agreed to terms with OF/1B Rob Refsnyder on a one-year major league contract.

National League SAN DIEGO PADRES — Agreed to terms with 3B Sung-Mun Song.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Agreed to terms with INF Warming Bernabel on a minor league contract.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League NEW YORK ISLANDERS — Recalled G Marcus Högberg from Bridgeport (AHL).

NEW YORK RANGERS — Recalled F Brett Berard from Hartford (AHL). Placed F J.T. Miller on injured reserve.

staFF PHoto By DaVID GrUNFeLD

LIVING

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

T u e s d ay, d e c e m b e r 23, 2025

1dN

Root of the issue

That shaded parking spot may spell trouble for your tree. Here are steps to diminish it.

Pulling your vehicle beneath the shady canopy of a tree may feel convenient. But making a habit of it can cause serious harm.

“Over time, repeatedly parking over these tree GARDEN roots and all NEWS of this soil can cause an early decline or even death of a tree,” said LSU AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg.

The weight of vehicles and rolling tires can strip bark off tree roots and crush the tissue inside of them. If you’ve ever seen exposed surface roots that look flattened and scarred, it’s possible they have sustained damage from vehicles. (Other common culprits for root damage are lawnmower blades and weed trimmer string.)

Compromised roots aren’t just unsightly. They have a harder time transporting water and nutrients from the soil to where they’re needed in the tree, Stagg said, and they are at higher risk of decaying.

Parking on tree roots also inflicts some less-obvious wounds. Fine roots and root hairs on the periphery of the tree’s root zone can be affected as well. These small roots do much of the heavy lifting when it comes to soaking up water to fuel the tree, Stagg said.

LsU aGCeNter PHoto By oLIVIa McCLUre

LsU agCenter horticulturist Jason stagg points to a tree root that has been damaged by vehicles.

Because they’re so heavy, vehicles compress the soil — further endangering trees’ health.

“Soil has something in it called pore space where air and water can be stored and taken up by the tree roots,” Stagg said. “Compacting the soil reduces the pore spaces, and you can actually begin to suffocate a tree.”

So, why does any of this matter? It’s easy to assume that a few scraped roots and some compacted soil won’t hurt a big, mighty tree. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Damage can add up over the years, leading to canopy thinning, branch dieback and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases, Stagg said. Trees tend to decline slowly and problems aren’t always apparent until it’s too late.

Keeping your trees healthy is important. You don’t want to risk a weakened tree crashing down in a storm. And remember: Mature trees can’t be replaced overnight.

Large, established trees boost property values and aesthetics, and they do a great job of absorbing stormwater runoff. Lose them, and you’ll lose those benefits, too.

With holiday guests arriving at many of our homes in the

ä see TREES, page 2D

staFF PHotos By roBIN MILLer

Meredyth yorek is a doctoral student in the LsU College of art + Design. she is creating a three-dimensional model of the canoe, which the museum will make accessible through a Qr code.

High & Dry

the dugout canoe was a three-seater, but when was it made? rural Life Museum aims to solve mystery

T

BY ROBIN MILLER staff writer

he smooth, rounded indentations have a way of humanizing the ancient canoe secured in the covered gallery behind the LSU Rural Life Museum’s barn.

These are places where people’s backsides wore down the wood in the dugout log while paddling along the waterways of what would become Louisiana. The log is believed to be cypress, and, as pointed out by Meredyth Yorek, it was well used.

Yorek is a doctoral student working on a degree in video game design and preservation at LSU, and the ancient canoe fits perfectly into her field of study.

She’s using the gaming side of her expertise to document the canoe through three-dimensional modeling and environmental design, showing the canoe as it would have appeared in the lakes, swamps and bayous when ancient people’s backsides were wearing down its surface.

“If, at any point, the canoe doesn’t survive the preservation process, the imaging gives us data to be able to look at how it was,” Yorek said.

“And from there, it’s allowed me to

yorek points out one of three rounded indentations in the surface in LsU rural Life Museum’s ancient dugout canoe. these were where the canoe’s passengers sat, the indentations created by constant use. look into how we can transform the in her doctoral degree work. She’s museum experience — the experi- focused on using these technologies ence for the Rural Life Museum.” to improve museum accessibility and increase the lifespan of objects.

Access to the ancient The canoe in the Rural Life MuYorek noted that she tradition- seum, 4560 Essen Lane, is secured ally works with three-dimensional ä see CANOE, page 2D modeling and environment design

Tuba Kent named grand marshal of N.O. parade the Golden Band from tigerland tuba player Kent Broussard marches down Victory Hill before a LsU football game last season. staFF FILe PHoto By MICHaeL JoHNsoN

BY DOUG MacCASH staff writer

Kent Broussard made history in August when he became the oldest freshman in LSU’s Golden Band from Tiger Land, by a long shot. The 66-year-old former liquor company executive suddenly became a sensation, being featured on “Good Morning America,” “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” and other national broadcasts.

Now “Tiger Tuba Kent” will appear in the Morpheus Mardi Gras parade. And he won’t even have to tote his heavy brass tuba along the 4-mile route. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the krewe announced that Broussard will serve as the parade grand marshal, waving to crowds from the comfort of a float.

Broussard, a native of LaPlace, had played in his high school and college bands back in the 1970s.

ä see KENT, page 2D

2D ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

Wearing hearing aids all the time then nap after lunch.

Dear Heloise: For our expen Do plan to stay 30-40 rienced citizens who have acquired hearing minutes maximum. aids, they shouldn’t Although your just employ them loved one may apintermittently. They pear to enjoy your should use them all visit, many older the time. Hearing folks tire easily, esaids reroute neural pecially if they feel paths in your brain, Hints from like they have to be Heloise “at their best” for a which upgrades your auditory abilivisit. n Do not plan to share a ties. — Jim R., in Houston meal, even if you bring the Visiting elderly friends food. Setting the table and cleaning up after causes Dear Heloise: Having spent stress (even if you do both) the past 15 years as a proand uses energy your fessional caregiver, stayloved one may not have to ing round-the-clock with one elderly client at a time, spare. n Do not bring food, I have some do’s and don’ts for visiting an older friend unless you have checked or family member: with your loved one in n Do not “pop in.” Inadvance and are sure that it is something they like, stead, schedule your visit ahead of time for midmorn- can have (no sweets for a ing or late afternoon. Many diabetic), and can easily older folks take a long time prepare themselves. Othto get ready in the morning, erwise, the food ends up

in the trash, causing more stress. n Do bring a child’s drawing and/or flowers (unless your loved one is allergic) and plan to share photos of children, relatives, pets and beautiful landscapes (unless your loved one is visually challenged). n Do keep the conversation light and positive. Talk about how their grandchild is enjoying kindergarten, not your upcoming health concern or a nephew’s divorce. Many older folks are prone to anxiety and feel helpless in the face of other’s troubles. n All that being said, do plan to visit as often as you can and enjoy being together. — Sarah Irwin, in Millboro,Virginia Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

staFF PHoto By roBIN MILLer

a detail shot showcases the dugout canoe’s wood grain at the LsU rural Life Museum. the ancient vessel eventually will be moved to a climate-controlled atmosphere within the museum.

CANOE

Continued from page 1D on specially constructed wooden brackets beneath the museum’s back gallery, and it has no moving parts.

It’s just a log that’s been scooped out to make the perfect, leak-free marine vessel.

If it’s determined to be cypress, the canoe would bear a natural resistance to rot, decay and insects. But even cypress falls victim to centuries of age and environmental elements.

“It is an Indian dugout canoe, so it’s ancient,” museum curator Katherine Fresina said. “From what I’ve been able to read, a lot of the dugout canoes that are local to this area are very flat, which is what we’re seeing here.

They didn’t have very high sides, because they had to go over the swamps, much like our pirogues. And so, this is most likely a one-to-threeman craft that was probably used to fish on the bayou and slowly travel down.”

Though the wood type hasn’t been determined, Fresina’s research shows that the majority of dugout canoes discovered in Louisiana are made from cypress.

She’s currently trying to connect with a professor in LSU’s Department of Coastal Environmental Science to test the wood and figure out what it’s made of.

“If we can get an age on it, that will help us identify the type of tree it’s made of,” museum director Bill Stark added. “That will also help us narrow down possibly what tribe made it.”

Figuring out who, where All Stark and Fresina know at this time is that the canoe was found near Lake Maurepas in the 1970s and brought to the museum, where it was braced above the barn’s back doors.

That is, until museum

workers removed it in the fall with a crane and makeshift web sling. Once it was placed on the brackets, deterioration was immediate.

Gaps that began showing up in the grain while braced on the wall became bigger.

“It’s getting redder in color, and I’ve noticed that if you brush your hand over it, the red comes off,” Yorek said. “I think it’s turning to dust.”

Yorek stands next to LSU Professor of Art Jane Ashburn, her adviser on this project. Ashburn teaches conservation and historic preservation classes and is applying her expertise not only to the canoe but also to the preservation of Steele Burden’s wall sketches inside the barn.

Burden, along with his siblings Pike and Ione, donated their family home of Windrush Plantation to LSU in the 1960s. The museum was established in 1970.

The dugout canoe, which measures a little more than 22 feet long, was among the items that the museum collected to bring to life Burden’s vision of focusing on rural settings and the daily struggles of farmers, laborers and enslaved people.

“A canoe like this could have traveled for hundreds of miles,” Fresina said.

“Where it’s from would depend on if it’s just a local fishing boat. Hopefully, we’ll get some information that will give us a better idea on who made it.”

And though the canoe seems to be emitting red dust in its new setting, dust itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Once it was taken down, and the moment we were able to slowly start dusting it off, we found this black dust that was most likely from how the canoe was made,” Fresina said. “They would burn coals, pile them inwards, and the coals would burn out the interior. Then they would chisel it away.”

Using modern technology Still, the canoe continues to change. The wood has expanded, as have its gaps.

“This crack was the reason we decided to take it down,” Fresina said, pointing to a place where the wood is beginning to break away.

“And with the museum having all of its activities going on within the last couple months, it was definitely a risk to take it down.”

Now the challenge will be finding a climate-controlled space within the museum.

Wherever they place it, Stark says it will have to be permanent, because they can’t risk moving it again.

Meanwhile, Yorek continues her digital documentation.

“I’ve been doing this through a process called photogrammetry, where we take a couple hundred to a thousand photographs to get every little detail of this object,” she said. “I use a simple Canon camera and a flash ring to take out the shadows, and I take photos of all of the surface details. It’s like a stop-action process.”

Yorek also makes laser scans of the surface, using a handheld device that emits a laser and uses light to measure the distance between it and the object. In turn, it creates a detailed image, called a point cloud, and she uses the data to create a highly accurate threedimensional model from the photographs and the lasers.

Once the canoe is permanently on display inside the museum, a QR code will be posted next to it. Visitors will be able use their phones to click on the code, which will direct them to an animated three-dimensional model created by Yorek.

And this way, the ancient three-seater will forever drift in Louisiana’s swamps and bayous.

Email Robin Miller at romiller@theadvocate.com.

12 HOLIDAY WINES PLUS BONUS GIFTS

only $7999

SAVE

155

$

TODAY IN HISTORY Clement C. Moore.

In 1913, the Federal Reserve System was created as President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act. In 1948, former Japanese Premier Hideki Tojo and six other Japanese World War II leaders were executed in Tokyo after being tried for war crimes and sentenced to death by hanging.

In 1986, the experimental airplane Voyager, piloted

by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, completed the first nonstop, non-refueled round-the-world flight as it returned safely to Edwards Air Force Base in California.

In 2003, a Virginia jury sentenced teen sniper Lee Boyd Malvo to life in prison, sparing him the death penalty. Malvo and his older partner in crime, John Allen Muhammad, shot and killed 10 people over three

weeks in October 2002, terrorizing the Washington, D.C., area. Muhammad was executed in 2009.

In 2024, President Joe Biden announced he was commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment weeks before Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of capital punishment, was to begin a second term.

Today’s birthdays: Former Emperor Akihito of Japan is 92. Actor-comedian Harry Shearer is 82.

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley K. Clark is 81.

Actor Susan Lucci is 79.

Distance runner Bill Rodgers is 78. Football Hall of Famer Jack Ham is 77.

Political commentator William Kristol is 73. Author Donna Tartt is 62. Rock musician Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam is 61.

inside a tree’s root zone — often the case on small urContinued from page 1D ban lots — there are some things you can do to minimize negative effects.

Try to keep tires off coming days, you might be wondering how to deter large surface roots, and limit how long vehicles them from parking on top stay parked under a tree. of tree roots in your yard.

A quick and easy fix is to Avoid parking there durcreate a visual barrier with ing and after rains, as soil mulch. Stagg recommends compacts more readily mulching around trees when wet. anyway to suppress weed For a longer-term solugrowth, insulate roots from tion, you can explore conextreme temperatures and structing a parking pad retain moisture. made of permeable pavers If you or your visitors or a grid system. These have no choice but to park materials, when installed

properly, can help distribute the load of vehicles and reduce compaction while still allowing water and air to reach the roots.

Finally, if you have a driveway near a tree, know that roots covered by concrete or asphalt are still affected by soil compaction and limited airflow.

Over time, this can stress the tree just like parking directly on roots. The best thing you can do is monitor for signs of tree decline and contact a qualified arborist for advice if problems develop.

By the associated Press Today is Tuesday, Dec. 23, the 357th day of 2025. There are eight days left in the year.

Today in history: On Dec. 23, 1972, in an NFL playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders, Steelers running back Franco Harris scored a gamewinning touchdown on a deflected pass with less than 10 seconds left. The “Immaculate Reception,” as the catch came to be known, is often cited as the greatest NFL play of all time.

Also on this date: In 1823, the poem “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas” was published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel of New York; the verse, more popularly known as “The Night Before Christmas,” was later attributed to

TREES

KENT

Continued from page 1D But he always nursed the ambition of joining the mighty LSU Tiger Marching Band. When he reached retirement age, instead of picking up a fly rod or a

golf club, Broussard bought a $3,000 tuba, moved to Baton Rouge, enrolled at the university, and tried out for the renowned band — successfully.

Broussard, who realized a lifelong dream, is an ideal grand marshal for the Morpheus parade, which is dedicated to the Greek

god of dreams. Formed in 2000, the Morpheus parade is a 24-float procession that follows the Hermes and Krewe d’Etat parades starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, on the Uptown route.

Email Doug MacCash at dmaccash@theadvocate. com.

YEARS

Our experts handpicked this highly acclaimed collection to pair perfectly with your favorite dishes from Omaha Steaks. Uncork 12 bottles with bonus gifts for just $79.99 (plus shipping and tax) as your introduction to the Omaha Steaks Wine Club – saving you $155.

Then, look forward to 12 new selections every three months and enjoy a $30 Omaha Steaks E-Reward Card with each future club case. You’ll also save 10% on every 12+ bottle purchase and get free delivery every time you order. There’s no commitment to continue and every bottle comes with our 100% guarantee.

Order now at GetOSWine.com/Sip316 or call 1.844.285.0508 and mention code AHNE001 Savings off retail price. Offer subject to availability and club enrollment. Omaha Steaks Wine is operated independently from Omaha Steaks, LLC. Full terms and conditions online. Void where prohibited by law.

TONIGHT 7PM

WLPB 27

www.lpb.org

.or lpb . w ww

str ive g/l

ea

m

lll

BUSINESS

the advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ 3D

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/news/business

DOW 48,362.68 227.79 0.47%

NASDAQ 23,428.83 121.21 0.52%

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

U.S. stocks rise at the start of a holiday week

NEW YORK — Stocks rose on Wall Street Monday to open what’s expected to be a relatively calm holiday week.

The gains were broad. Technology companies and banks did much of the heavy lifting.

Industrial companies also gave a strong push to major indexes.

The S&P 500 rose 43.99 points, or 0.6%, to 6,878.49. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 227.79 points, or 0.5%, to 48,362.68. The Nasdaq composite rose 121.21 points, or 0.5%, to 23,428.83.

Smaller company stocks did particularly well. The Russell 2000 index outpaced other major indexes with a 1.2% gain.

The gains also helped major indexes push further into winning territory for the month as a choppy December nears its end. Technology companies, especially those focused on artificial intelligence, have been the main force behind the market’s oscillations. The direction of AI-related stocks will likely determine whether the market closes out December with gains or losses.

“If a Santa Claus rally does kick in this year, St. Nick’s gift bag will likely need to be full of positive tech sentiment,” wrote Chris Larkin, managing director of trading and investing at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley.

Paramount Skydance rose 4.3%. The company sweetened its hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery with an “irrevocable personal guarantee” from Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle and father of Paramount CEO David Ellison.

He is putting up billions of dollars to back the deal as part of the latest move in Paramount’s bidding war against Netflix.

Warner Bros. Discovery rose 3.5% and Netflix fell 1.2%.

Crude oil prices in the U.S. rose 2.4% to $58.01 a barrel.

Prices for Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 2.6% to $62.07 a barrel.

Italy antitrust agency fines Apple $116M ROME — Italy’s antitrust authority fined Apple $116 million on Monday after determining that operating one of its privacy features restricted App Store competition. Apple said it would appeal the sanction.

Apple abused its dominant position with its App Tracking Transparency, ATT, policy, which forces apps to obtain permission before collecting data to target users with personalized ads, the antitrust authority said in a statement.

The company rolled out ATT starting in April 2021 as part of an update to the operating system powering the iPhone and iPad. While the feature was designed to tighten up privacy, it faced criticism from Big Tech rivals that it would make it harder for smaller apps to survive without charging consumers.

The authority didn’t criticize the policy per se, but the fact that the Apple system requires third-party app makers to ask users for consent twice in order to comply with Europe’s strict privacy rules.

Instacart ends different pricing program NEW YORK — Instacart said Monday that it’s ending a program where some customers saw different prices for the same product ordered at the same time from the same store when using the delivery company’s service.

The program was meant to help grocers and other retailers learn more about what kinds of prices customers would pay for items, similar to how stores offer different prices for the same products at different locations. But it raised alarms after a report from Consumer Reports and two progressive advocacy groups, Groundwork Collaborative and More Perfect Union, said Instacart offered nearly 3 out of every 4 grocery items to shoppers at multiple prices in an experiment.

S&P 500 6,878.49 43.99 0.64%

EURO 1.1761 -0.0000 -0.00%

CRUDE OIL 58.01 1.49 2.64%

GOLD 4,444.60 83.20 1.91%

6-MO T-BILLS 3.6 -0.01 -0.28%

30-YR T-BONDS 4.83 0.01 0.17%

Jim Beam shuttering its distillery Industry slump puts pause on whiskey production

BY JANET PATTON and KARLA WARD

Lexington Herald-Leader (tNs)

One of Kentucky’s largest bourbon producers apparently is pausing whiskey production at the end of the year.

Jim Beam, which is one of the largest makers of American whiskey in the world, is planning to shut down production in Happy Hollow in Clermont Jan. 1 through 2026.

The visitors center on-site will remain open for Kentucky Bourbon Trail visitors.

“We are always assessing production levels to best meet consumer demand and recently met with our team to discuss our volumes for 2026,” according to a statement from the company. “We’ve shared with our teams that while we will continue to distill at our (Freddie Booker Noe) craft distillery in Clermont and at our larger Booker Noe distillery in Boston, we plan to pause distillation at our main distillery on the James B. Beam campus

tNs FILe PHoto

Jim Beam, which is one of the largest makers of american whiskey in the world, is planning to shut down production in Happy Hollow in Clermont, Ky., Jan. 1 through 2026. for 2026 while we take the opportunity to invest in site enhancements.

Our visitor center at the James B. Beam campus remains open so visitors can have the full James B. Beam experience and join us for a meal at The Kitchen Table.”

Bottling and warehousing will still be operating at Clermont.

The news was first reported by Louisville Business Journal.

The move comes as Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry grapples with a glut of whiskey and a slump in demand at home.

In response, the industry has pulled back production by more than 55 million proof-gallons (an

industry unit of measurement) or more than 28% through August, the lowest level since 2018.

At the same time, exports have been curtailed to major trading partners; Canada has been boycotting American spirits since March in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war and U.S. whiskey sales to that country are down by more than 60% through October. Other Kentucky companies, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey maker BrownForman, also have announced layoffs or shorter pauses in production earlier in the year.

So far, Beam has not filed a layoff notice with the state of Kentucky, according to the state’s WARN Act online database. It is unclear how many jobs might be impacted.

Workers at Jim Beam are represented by United Food and Commercial Workers, and the company said it is in conversation with the union as it continues “to assess how best to utilize our workforce during this transition.”

The Clermont distillery is a major production facility in Kentucky, making the flagship brand as well as Basil Hayden, Knob Creek and others.

EAST COAST WIND PROJECTS SUSPENDED trump administration cites national security concerns

BY MATTHEW DALY associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Monday suspended leases for five largescale offshore wind projects under construction along the East Coast due to what it said were national security risks identified by the Pentagon.

The suspension, effective immediately, is the latest step by the administration to hobble offshore wind in its push against renewable energy sources. It comes two weeks after a federal judge struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects, calling it unlawful.

The administration said the pause will give the Interior Department, which oversees offshore wind, time to work with the Defense Department and other agencies to assess the possible ways to mitigate any security risks posed by the projects. The statement did not detail the national security risks. It called the move a pause, but did not specify an end date.

“The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “Today’s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large- Burgam scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers.”

Wind proponents slammed the move, saying it was another blow in an ongoing attack by the administration against clean energy.

The administration’s decision to cite potential national security risks could complicate legal challenges to the move, although wind supporters say those arguments are overstated.

The administration said leases are paused for the Vineyard Wind project under construction in Massachusetts, Revolution Wind in Rhode Island and Connecticut, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and two projects in New York: Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind.

The Interior Department said unclassified reports from the U.S. government have long found that the movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers create radar interference called “clutter.” The clutter caused by offshore wind projects

assoCIateD Press FILe PHoto

the trump administration on Monday suspended leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction along the east Coast due to what it said were national security risks identified by the Pentagon. can obscure legitimate moving targets and generate false targets in the vicinity of wind projects, the Interior Department said.

National security expert and former Commander of the USS Cole Kirk Lippold disputed the administration’s national security argument.

The offshore projects were awarded permits “following years of review by state and federal agencies,” including the Coast Guard, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, the Air Force and more, he said.

“The record of decisions all show that the Department of Defense was consulted at every stage of the permitting process,” Lippold said, arguing that the projects would benefit national security because they would diversify the country’s energy supply.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I, said Revolution Wind was thoroughly vetted and fully permitted by the federal government, “and that review included any potential national security questions.” Burgum’s action “looks more like the kind of vindictive harassment we have come to expect from the Trump administration than anything legitimate,” he said.

The administration’s action comes two weeks after a federal judge struck down Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects, saying the effort to halt virtually all leasing of wind farms on federal lands and waters was “arbitrary and capri-

cious” and violates U.S. law.

Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order blocking wind energy projects and declared it unlawful.

Saris ruled in favor of a coalition of state attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, that challenged Trump’s Day One order that paused leasing and permitting for wind energy projects.

Trump has been hostile to renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, and prioritizes fossil fuels to produce electricity. Trump has said wind turbines are ugly, expensive and pose a threat to birds and other wildlife.

Wind supporters called the administration’s actions illegal and said offshore wind provides some of the most affordable, reliable electric power to the grid.

“For nearly a year, the Trump administration has recklessly obstructed the build-out of clean, affordable power for millions of Americans, just as the country’s need for electricity is surging,” said Ted Kelly of the Environmental Defense Fund.

“Now the administration is again illegally blocking clean, affordable energy,” Kelly said. “We should not be kneecapping America’s largest source of renewable power, especially when we need more cheap, homegrown electricity.”

Google’s parent buys data center energy specialist Intersect $4.75 billion deal to help power aI By the associated Press MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Google’s corporate parent on Monday announced an agreement to buy data center energy specialist Intersect for $4.75 billion as part of its effort to secure the vast amounts of electricity needed to power artifi-

cial intelligence technology.

Alphabet, which depends on Google’s search engine and other online services for most of its revenue, is buying out Intersect in its entirety after purchasing a stake in the San Francisco-based startup a year ago. Intersect had previously raised $2.1 billion from Google and other early investors.

After the acquisition is completed during the first half of next year, Alphabet intends to allow Intersect to operate independently

while continuing its efforts to secure the energy sources needed for the sprawling data centers being built to power the AI services rolling out from Google and rivals such as OpenAI. The power-hungry data centers, which are being likened to AI factories, is fueling a backlash in communities where residents have been interpreting their steadily rising electricity bills as evidence that they help helping footing the boom for a technology

boom that could still go bust.

Intersect focuses on finding ways to increase and diversify the supply of energy in an effort to keep hold down power costs. It’s already working on a data center for Mountain View, Californiabased Alphabet in Haskell County, Texas.

Google’s inroads with AI has helped increase Alphabet’s stock price by more than 60% so far this year, generating an additional $1.4 trillion in shareholder wealth.

4D ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

zItS

lll

zodIAC cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take ownership of what you do and say, and move forward with grace and determination. Enforce the necessary changes to clear your path and to ensure you reach your destination of choice.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay it forward and do your part, and you'll get that good feeling that comes from looking out for those around you. A kind word or a helping hand can go further than a donation you cannot afford.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Be careful at functions that mix business with pleasure. The key to maintaining your position and reputation is to be thankful, accommodating and kind. A joyful attitude will turn you into the bright light in the room.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Put your excitement and vitality to good use. Staying healthy and keeping busy will help you avoid a run-in with someone who tends to push your emotional buttons. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Don't share how much you earn or spend. Giving others a chance to weigh in on your plans will add to your confusion and put you in a vulnerable position. Avoid giving others reason to gossip.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Speak from the heart when dealing with partners or people you hold in high regard, and you'll gain respect and honesty in return. Moving forward with a clear conscience is liberating. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Look for an opening and work your magic. Seiz-

ing a financial opportunity or pumping up your investments to ensure you get the write-offs you need is in your best interest.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Refuse to let what others do interfere with your quality of life. Reach beyond any differences you have and make the most of the festive season.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Put your energy where it will encourage you to excel and help you close the year on a high note. Personal change will not go unnoticed and will serve as a steppingstone to future accomplishments.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Get your surroundings ready to celebrate the festive season with friends and family.

Let past grievances go and find a way to start anew. Choose kindness over criticism. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) You are best off contemplating situations before you embark on something you may not be able to finish. Refuse to let your emotions take charge and point you in a direction of no return. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Be careful what you wish for. Not everyone will respond to you in a jovial manner. Pull back, wait and watch for signals to guide you. Be grateful and gracious.

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: I EQuALs D

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

the advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ 5D

lll

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

6D ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

lll

B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Mickey Mouse said, “Arithmetic is being able to count up to 20 without taking off your shoes.”

Bridge requires counting, sometimes — but rarely — as high as 40. And occasionally it is the count in one specific suit that makes all the difference — as in this deal. South is in four hearts. West leads the club ace. How should the defense proceed?

East’s overcall is no thing of beauty, but everyone likes to bid these days, especially if the bid might make it harder for the opponents to find a major-suit fit and if it probably indicates the best lead for your side should you end on defense.

North then rebid three diamonds to show his six-card suit, and South bid what he hoped he could make.

East is wondering how many clubs his partner holds. If West has only three, East can win the second club, cash his heart ace, and take a third club trick for down one. But if West has four clubs, East must shift to a diamond at trick three, hoping to establish a winner there before South can draw trumps and run dummy’s spades. How will East know how many clubs West started with?

Under the club ace, East drops his king.

Then, in this deal, West continues with his club two, the lowest of three remaining

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

cards. East wins and leads the diamond nine, which defeats the contract.

If West had started with only three clubs, he would have led his original middle one at trick two, starting a highlow with a remaining doubleton.

Carding can be critical on defense. Discuss it with your partner. © 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 — IDEntIty: eye-DEN-tih-tee: The distinguishing character or

Bizarro

marmaduKe

personality of an individual.

Average mark 15 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 22 or more words in IDENTITY? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — LAZuLItE late

zeal

till

laze

utile

tulle

lieu

tail

etui

lilt

tale

lite

tall

lute

teal

lutz

tell

alit

tile

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21 Sin is the main problem of humanity. Jesus came to save us from sin and its consequences. — G.E. Dean

the advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ 7D

lll

classifieds.theadvocate.com Search Search& &Place PlaceAds AdsOnline Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com* Call * Call -Friday Us Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111

Announcements ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of any property owner, heir or other related person, in regard to the properties listed below, please contact the East Baton Rouge CityParish, Department of Development – Neighborhood Revitalization Office at 225-389-8680.

1319 N 49TH ST LUCILLE FLEMING 1106 W GARFIELD ST THE ESTATE OF ROBERT LEE GINN JR 10288 WHITE OAK DR ETM ENTERPRISES, LLC 2462 AUBIN LN AUBIN PROPERTIES, LLC 1143 W GARFIELD ST BROTHERS & OTHER PROPERTIES, LLC 425 S 17TH ST EDDIE G ROBINSON 1713 SPAIN ST PELICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP, LLC 2525 NORTH ST RAY J'S COLLEGE OF HAIR, LLC 2517 SPAIN ST JOSEPH ALEXANDER, SR 8273 RAINBOW DR TRIMANI ANTHONY RILEY, SR 11606 SEWANEE DR JASMINE R SLAN 6130 CRESTWAY AVE ECLECTIC HOME DESIGNS, LLC 2825 WASHINGTON AVE ADRIENNE S VICTORIAN 11404 STAN AVE ROBINS RENTALS, LLC 904 N ACADIAN THWY E DON LEWIS WHITFIELD

7435 BANBURY CT LUCILLE HARRINGTON 341 N 23RD ST EMERSON J RUSSELL 2343 ERIE ST C/O ROBERT W MORGAN 388 W JOHNSON ST ROBERT HENDERSON 805 ARCADIA DR RONALD G. BATES 1217 N 44TH ST WILMA JACKSON MCCLAIN 702 CORMORANT ST RANDALL HARVEY 2162 75TH AVE THOMAS GUERIN, JR 338 S 12TH ST ALAN W JUDERJAHN 1143 NORTH ST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD 1826 THERON ELVIN STERLING 1806 THERON ELVIN STERLING 5748 HENDERSON AVE GEORGE L SEVERAN CO MAVIS DURR 753 FLICKER LEON WALKER, JR 5470 SATINWOOD DR CAREY FORD 3681 GREENTREE CATRICE SCOTT 10625 BERTHA ST JERONIMA S CRUZ 1724 HARCO PSB CREDIT SERVICES, INC 5432 MADISON AVE JAMES W WILLIAMS 1595 N 44TH LINDA HAWKINS GRIFFIN 226 W POLK MITCHELL W AND JULIA MAE W ROBINSON 1944 ARIZONA ST CONRAD ENTERPRISES, INC

HAPPY HOLIDAY

The Classified Advertising Department will be closed on Thursday, December 25 to observe the Christmas holiday

EARLY DEADLINES FOR OUR ADVERTISEMENTS

706 N 19TH ST COLLIS B TEMPLE, JR. 1902 HEMLOCK ST DAVID J EVERITT 288 NANCY DR TIFFANY O PRATER 6325 CELIA AVE REGGIE J DAVIS, JR 3336 AMARILLO ST IRIS M. MONTGOMERY 3808 HOLLYWOOD ST CANDANCE LEDET 4612 BYRON ST JACKIE J PUTMAN 5912 LINDEN ST ROBYN KIRKLAND 343 LOFASO ST FRANK G. SMITH, III. 1453 N 46TH ST DWANDA MICHELLE GAGE 1031 N 40TH ST LINDA SUE RAY 1217 N 44TH ST WILMA JACKSON MCCLAIN 10588 GOODWOOD BLVD SUZETTE PEARL GASTON

# 189,990 Div. J of the 21st JDC in Livingston, Louisiana. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Celso Sanchez Juarez, please contact Mrs. Guidry at (225) 363-8300 or legal@deonsumerguidry.com.

171532-Dec 22-24, 3t $181

Merchandise

Baton Rouge Real Estate For Sale

WANT TO BUY Old Records 33's, 45's & 78's. All types of music. Call 985-259-1889 FURNITURE Queen Bed w/Hollywood Frame w/Maple Headboard, Innerspring Matt (2) Box Spr.$400 (225) 658-8456 CAMPING GEAR Camp Tent 9x9 Dome, Canopy, Slp Bag, 2 Lant, 2 Burner Stv, 48qt Ice Chest & All Access. Retail for $375 selling for $275 225-610-8411 after 2:00pm

171213-Dec 22-28, 7t $2,818

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of JACK E. ALLEN, JR., please contact Attorney ALLISON B. COSTANZA, 225-664-4335 acostanzalaw@gmail.com.

171531-12/22-23-24-3t $97.00 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of RELATIVES/HEIRS OF EMIT J. CROWDER, please contact Attorney ALLISON B. COSTANZA, 225-664-4335 acostanzalaw@gmail.com.

171506-Dec 22-24, 3t $97

SHOP TODAY! WANT TO BUY I buy old bourbon bottles. Wild Turkey, Weller, Old Grand Dad etc.

Call or text $300 (225)456-3434

Order newspaper page reprints of any day

DISPLAY ADS 24 HOURS EARLIER

You may place your ad 7 days a week, 24 hours a day online at www.theadvocate.com or call Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

225-383-0111

5364 Jackson 2BR's 1BA, Rent $500, Dep $300 225-357-6436

CLASSIFIEDS.THEADVOCATE.COM

AREA 4

store.nola.com

FREE RENT 225-351-7449

Pets / Pet Services Directory

AREA 4 NO CREDIT CHECK/LEASE! Fully furnished apartments ALL BILLS PAID including premium cable & WIFI. Pet Friendly. Stay where you're appreciated! Call 225-434-4161

PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

AREA 5 655 North St. Subsidized eff Apts cpabr.org 225-383-5551.

TDD/TTY /711RELAY

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

(10) working days prior to the day on which bids are to be opened.

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived for the State of Louisiana by the Coastal Protection and Restora‐ tion Authority, 150 Ter‐ race Avenue, 4th Floor Conference Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 until 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

ANY PERSON REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODA‐ TIONS SHALL NOTIFY THE COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AU‐ THORITY OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMODATION RE‐ QUIRED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE THE BID OPENING. FOR: Mid Breton Land Bridge Marsh Creation & Terracing Vegetative Planting Project Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana PROJECT NUMBER: BS-0032 Complete Bid Documents for this project are avail‐ able in electronic form.

They may be obtained without charge and with‐ out deposit from http:// coastal.la.gov/resources/ rfps-rsiqs-contracts/ bids/. Printed copies can also be obtained from: COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AU‐ THORITY (CPRA) 150 Terrace Avenue Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Attn: Kayla Causey E-mail: cpra.bidding@la. gov Phone: (225) 342-9421 Fax: (225) 800-5599 All bids shall be accom‐ panied by bid security in an amount of five per‐ cent (5.0%) of the sum of the base bid and all al‐ ternates. The form of this security shall be as stated in the Instructions to Bidders included in the Bid Documents for this project.

The successful Bidder shall be required to fur‐ nish a Performance and Payment Bond written as described in the Instruc‐ tions to Bidders included in the Bid Documents for this project.

A NON-MANDATORY PREBID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 150 Terrace Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

Contact Shane Faust at (225) 342-4599 if assis‐ tance is needed for the Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference.

It is the responsibility of all potential bidders to visit the Project Site to assess the location, lo‐ gistics, and site condi‐ tions prior to bidding.

Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150-2192 for the classification Heavy Con‐ struction Subclassifica‐ tion: Landscaping, Grad‐ ing and Beautification or Major Category: Spe‐ cialty, Subclassification: Coastal Restoration & Habitat. In accordance with LA. R.S. 37:2165(C), anyone objecting to the classification must send a certified letter to both the Louisiana State Li‐ censing Board for Con‐ tractors and the CPRA at the address listed above.

The letter must be re‐ ceived no later than ten

Bidder is required to comply with provisions and requirements of LA R.S.38:2212(B)(5). No bid may be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days after re‐ ceipt of bids, except under the provisions of LA. R.S. 38:2214.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. In ac‐ cordance with La. R.S. 38:2212(B)(1), the provi‐ sions and requirements of this Section; and those stated in the bidding documents shall not be waived by any entity.

When this project is fi‐ nanced either partially or entirely with State Bonds or financed in whole or in part by federal or other funds which are not readily available at the time bids are received, the award of this Con‐ tract is contingent upon the granting of lines of credit, or the sale of bonds by the Bond Com‐ mission or the availabil‐ ity of federal or other funds. The State shall incur no obligation to the Contractor until the Con‐ tract between Owner and Contractor is fully exe‐ cuted.

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is a participant in the Small Entrepreneurship (SE) Program (the Hudson Ini‐ tiative) and the VeteranOwned and Service-Con‐ nected Disabled VeteranOwned (LaVet) Small En‐ trepreneurships Pro‐ gram. Bidders are en‐ couraged to consider participation.

Informa‐ tion is available from Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority or on its website at http:// www.coastal.la.gov/.

STATE OF LOUISIANA, COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AU‐ THORITY MICHAEL HARE, EXECU‐ TIVE DIRECTOR 169858-DEC 16-23-30-3T $168.21

PUBLIC NOTICE --HOWELL VILLAGE SENIOR Advertisement for Bids Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by Howell Village Senior, LP until 1pm Cen‐ tral Time on January 30, 2026 mailed or delivered to: GCHP, 1626A Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113 Bids for the Howell Village Se‐ nior Project. Bids may also be submitted online www.centerl through inebidconnect.com All bids will be ad‐ dressed to GCHP Project Manager Jenga Mwendo, with the subject line: “Howell Village Senior Project: [Contractor Name] Bid”. The Techni‐ cal Plans and Specifica‐ tions have been prepared by: Multistudio LLC of Louisiana: 1501 Religious Street, Suite A, New Or‐ leans, LA 70130. Bids re‐ ceived after the above time will not be ac‐ cepted.

Any person requiring special accommodation shall notify Howell Vil‐ lage Senior, LP, through the Project Manager by email at mwendo@gchp. net, with “Howell Village Senior Bid” in the subject line and a description of the types of accommo‐ dations required not less than seven (7) days be‐ fore the bid opening.

Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed by the state in which the Project is lo‐ h l ifi d f

j cated for the classifica‐ tion of the Work speci‐ fied herein. No bid may be withdrawn for a pe‐ riod of forty-five (45) days after receipt of bids, except as allowed by requirements of state law.

The successful bidder shall be required to fur‐ nish the Owner with a performance bond for 100% of the contract amount prior to the is‐ suance of a contract to perform the work.

A Pre-bid Conference will be held on Wednesday January 7th at 1:00 PM Central time at 3800 72nd Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70807. Any bids submit‐ ted by a bidder not in at‐ tendance for the entirety of the Pre-bid Conference may be rejected by How‐ ell Village Senior, LP without being opened.

The bidding documents, consisting of drawings, specifications and other Contract Documents for the Project, are available at: www.centerlinebidco nnect.com.

Any hard copies required by the bidder will be at the bid‐ der’s own arrangement and expense.

DOGS AKC Maltese puppies, Ready for Christ‐ mas 1-F. (225) 235-9433 or (225) 235-7619

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $700up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150

DOGS Adorable CKC Reg. Teddy Roosevelt Terriers (short legged Rat Terriers) Rdy for Christmas $400 call (225)251-2380 DOGS AKC German Shepherd pups. Ready 12/23. $800 Kentwood 985 244-0173

Place a Classified ad?

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Legal Notices

p p retirement systems; to provide an effective date; and to provide for related matters.

171237 Dec. 23, 24, 2025 2t $127.94 PUBLIC NOTICE (NOTICE OF INTENTION TO INTRODUCE RETIREMENT BILL) Public notice is hereby given, in compliance with Section 29(C), Article X of the Louisiana Constitu‐ tion, that there will be in‐ troduced at the forth‐ coming session of the Legislature of Louisiana, which will be convened on March 9, 2026, a bill relative to the Louisiana State Employees’ Retire‐ ment System, to provide for the determination of required employer con‐ tributions; to provide for actuarial calculations; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.

171525 Dec. 23, 24, 2t $40.52 PUBLIC NOTICE --19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

DOGS Cairn terriers - 2 females shots and wormed 8 months old. $150.00 (985) 222-4354

DOGS Labradoodle - F1B CKC pups Brown Merle, Blue Merle, Black 1 male & 5 fe‐ males $1200 - $1600 Avail for pickup 12/18, (504) 231-9118

CLASSIFIEDS WORK

DOGS Yorkshire Terrier - Small Yorkie pup‐ pies, $1400-F, $1200-M (225) 304-1045

Legal Notices

JESSE JOE PARKER NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO PAY ESTATE DEBTS NOTICE IS GIVEN, to the creditors of this Succes‐ sion, to all known heirs, and to all other inter‐ ested persons, that Jonathan Alan Parker, duly appointed testa‐ mentary executor of the Estate of Jesse Joe Parker (“Estate”), has filed a First Tableau of Distribution with his Peti‐ tion praying for homolo‐ gation of the Tableau and for authority to pay the debts of the Estate listed thereon; and that the First Tableau of Distribu‐ tion can be homologated after the expiration of seven (7) days from the date of publication of this Notice. Any Opposi‐ tion to the Petition and First Tableau of Distribu‐ tion must be filed prior to homologation.

Publication: The Advocate – East Baton Rouge Published once Attorneys: Michelle Lorio St. Martin, Hannah Gale Keller KOCH|ST. MARTIN, LLC

STATE OF LOUISIANA

Address: 201 Napoleon Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 Telephone: (225) 612-9700

PROBATE NO. 115182 SECTION: 22

171523 Dec. 23, 1t $196.42

Jenga Mwendo, Howell Village Senior, LP

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JESSE JOE PARKER

170449 Dec. 16, 23, 30, 2025 3t $874.08

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL MOVABLE PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE

NOTICE TO BIDDERS SP# 927 Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Procure‐ ment Section of the Divi‐ sion of Administration, 1201 N. 3rd. St., 2nd.

Floor, Suite 2-160, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. for the follow‐ ing: RFx No. 3000025760, Mo‐ bile Home LDWF, 01/08/26 RFx No. 3000025746, Caterpillar BN Industrial Equipment, 01/21/26 Bid proposal forms, in‐ formation and specifica‐ tions may be obtained by accessing the bid num‐ ber in LaPac at www.doa.

Louisiana.gov/osp or from the procurement section listed above. No bids will be received after the date and hour specified. The right is re‐ served to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities.

Tom Ketterer Director of State Procurement FAX (225) 342-8688 171435 Dec. 23, 1t $12.34

Legal Notices

PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE

NOTICE IS GIVEN, to the creditors of this Succes‐ sion, to all known heirs, and to all other inter‐ ested persons, that Jonathan Alan Parker, duly appointed testa‐ mentary executor of the Estate of Jesse Joe Parker (“Estate”), has made application to the Court for the sale, at pri‐ vate sale, of the movable property more fully de‐ scribed in the Petition, under the terms and con‐ ditions provided in the agreement(s) attached to the Petition filed in these proceedings; and after the expiration of seven (7) days from the date of the last publica‐ tion of this Notice, an Order shall be issued au‐ thorizing, approving and homologating that appli‐ cation. Any Opposition to the Petitioner’s applica‐ tion must be filed prior to homologation.

Publication: The Advocate – East Baton Rouge Published once Attorney: Michelle Lorio St. Martin and Hannah Gale Keller KOCH- ST. MARTIN, LLC Address: 201 Napoleon Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 Telephone: (225) 612-9700 171522 Dec. 23, 1t $204.08

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

(NOTICE OF INTENTION TO INTRODUCE BILL)

19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

Public notice is hereby given that there may be introduced at the session of the Legislature to be convened on March 9, 2026, a bill relative to the public retirement sys‐ tems; to provide for trustee education; to provide for reports of the i

PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA PROBATE NO. 115182 SECTION: 22 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF

DOGS German Shepard - CKC German Shep‐ ard Pup 11 Months Old Female Born 12/24/24, very affectionate with a lot of energy, looking for good home $1500 808-292-0842

DOGS CKC YORKIES or SHORKIES - (yorkies are with papers) all are vet checked w/shot and worming, will meet in Gulf‐ port $700 (334) 467-3416

The Instructions to Bid‐ ders contained in the bidding documents and all requirements con‐ tained therein are incor‐ porated into this Adver‐ tisement to Bid as if herein completely set forth.

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

AREA 5 1 & 2 BR Apts, W/D, C A/H, Starting at $850/mo Deps vary 225-315-0930

AREA 5 1BR $550, 2BR $650 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

225-388-0111

Public Notices

Baton Rouge Rental AREA 3

Please be advised that Deon Sumer Guidry, Esq. has been appointed to represent Celso Sanchez Juarez in the matter of LORENA RAMOS RUBIO VS. CELSO SANCHEZ JUAREZ Docket

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

AREA 5 Doctors, Lawyers & Hunters; Form your own club, 1100acres of prime hunting land near Baton Rouge, Hunt mink to alligators, ducks to trophy deer. Comprehensive road network, price is $4.2 million, potential carbon credits or wetland mitigation credits. Text 225-4453108.

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

EGAN HUB STORAGE, LLC 915 N ELDRIDGE PKWY HOUSTON, TX 77079 337-824-6100

38:2212, the following has been deemed an emer‐ gency and authorization of the expenditure of funds is justified as an emergency involving public safety. The condi‐ tions and circumstances requiring this emergency purchase is for Environ‐ mental Services Facility at North Landfill. The amount of this expendi‐ ture is $12, 889.00 and is‐ sued to E3 Omi, LLC PO Box 1300 Clinton, MS. 39060.

is applying to the Injec‐ tion and Mining Division of the Office of Conser‐ vation for a permit to dispose of produced flu‐ ids generated from oil and gas production by means of an injection well, which is identified as EGAN GAS SWD SWD Well No. 007 Serial Num‐ ber TBD (Conversion or Re-Permit Only), with the injection interval at an approximate depth of 7,200 ft. to 7,300 ft. The well location is Section 37 JENNINGS, Township Field, 09S ACADIA, Range 01W Parish, Louisiana.

All interested parties are hereby given an opportu‐ nity to submit written comments no later than fifteen (15) days from the date of this publication.

Identify the well when corresponding.

Direct comments to: Office of Conservation Injection & Mining Division P.O. Box 94275 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9275 Re: Comments for SWD Application 171612 Dec. 23, 1t $178.53 PUBLIC NOTICE ---

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana and the particular reference to the provisions of LA. R. S. 30:4, and the provisions of Statewide Order No. 29-B as amended and adopted by the Office of Conservation of the State of Louisiana

REQUEST FOR SUBDIVI‐ SION OF PROPERTY

Dunn Exploration Company, LLC P.O. Box 55056 Houston, Texas 77255 (713) 533-1217 is applying to the Injection and Mining Division of the Office of Conservation for a permit to dispose of produced fluids generated from oil and gas production by means of an injection well, which is identified as: The M Thibodeaux SWD Well No. 1, Serial Number 254812 with the injection interval at an approximate depth of 2,600 ft. to 3,400 ft.

The well location is Section 019, Township 13S, Range 05E, Tigre Lagoon Field, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.

All interested parties are hereby given an opportunity to submit written comments no later than fifteen (15) days from the date of this publication. Identify the well when corresponding.

Direct comments to: Office of Conservation Injection & Mining Division P.O. Box 94275 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9275 Re: Comments for SWD Application 171476 Dec. 23, 1t $206.17 PUBLIC NOTICE In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana and the partic‐ ular reference to the pro‐ visions of LA R. S. 30:4, and the provisions of Statewide Order No. 29-B as amended and adopted by the Office of Conser‐ vation of the State of Louisiana

THE OWNER OF PROP‐ ERTY LOCATED IN ADDIS, LOUISIANA HAS FILED AN APPLICATION FOR SUBDI‐ VISION OF PROPERTY. LEGAL DESCRIPTION: 36.642 AC M/L SEC 25 26 67 & 68 T8S R12E LESS PORTION SUBD 47-100A (MB8 P264) WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, TOWN OF ADDIS, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA. NO OFFICIAL ADDRESS HAS BEEN AS‐ SIGNED TO THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY. THE TOWN OF ADDIS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS REQUEST ON JANU‐ ARY 06, 2026 AT 6:00 P.M. AT THEIR REGULAR MEET‐ ING AT THE ADDIS MU‐ NICIPAL CENTER. THE TOWN OF ADDIS MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS REQUEST ON JANUARY 13, 2026 AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE TOWN'S REGULAR MEET‐ ING AT THE ADDIS MU‐ NICIPAL CENTER.

171239-dec 23-1t $11.51

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE the La. Dept. of Conservation and Energy, Office of Permitting and Compliance (OPC) has received a request to ex‐ tend for the referenced Coastal Use Permit in ac‐ cordance with the State and Local Coastal Re‐ sources Management Act of 1978, as amended, (Louisiana R.S. 49:214.21214.41), and the rules and regulations of the Coastal Resources Pro‐ gram. Application for the proposed work may be inspected at 617 North 3rd Street, Room 1078, Baton Rouge, LA or on the OPC web page at: http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ index.cfm?md=pagebui lder&tmp=home& pid=591. Copies may be obtained upon payment of cost of copying. Writ‐ ten comments, including suggestions for modifi‐ cations or objections to the proposed work and stating the reasons thereof, are being so‐ licited from the public.

Comments must be re‐ ceived within 10 days of the date of publication of this notice. The sole rea‐ son for not allowing ex‐ tension based upon pub‐ lic comment shall be that there has been a change in the conditions of the area affected by the per‐ mit since the permit was originally issued. Com‐ ments should be up‐ loaded to our electronic record, but may be mailed, faxed or emailed to the designated OPC Reviewer. All comments must contain the appro‐ priate application num‐ ber and the commenter's full name and contact in‐ formation. OPC, P.O. Box

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653

ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo.

225-933-7560

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

44487, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4487, Phone: (225) 342-3781, Email: taylor. ross2@la.gov, OPC Re‐ viewer: Taylor Ross, CUP NUMBER: P20240030 (Ex‐ tended) Name: Hilcorp Energy Company, c/o Coastal Resource Con‐ sulting, Llc P. O. Box 52370 Lafayette, La 70505 Attn: Jeremy Griffith Lo‐ cation: Terrebonne Parish, LA; Lat 29-619.89N, Long 90-28-56.9W; Section 13 T23S R19E; Section 24 T23S R19E; Caillou Island Field; Ter‐ rebonne Parish, LA. De‐ scription: Proposal to drill 2 well locations (Francisco Prospects) and, if successful, install associated flowlines & gas lift lines (4,721' in length). The flowlines and gas lift lines will be jetted a min. of 3' below the mudline. Max. draft of vessels is 9.0'. No wet‐ lands will be impacted as a result of this project. A total of 746 cy of material will be displaced with an additional 9 cy of bracing material brought in.

171600-dec 23-1t $27.77

Public Notices Successions

Public Notices Successions g John Taylor Heroman, Sr., with one (1) certain boat trailer bearing VIN 5JUBA22238T035788 reg‐ istered to John Taylor Heroman, Sr. UPON THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS, TO-WIT: “As is, where is” and without warranty except as to title, for the cash price of $10,000.00 total.

Notice is hereby given to all parties whom it may concern, including the heirs and creditors of the decedent herein, and of this estate, be ordered to make any opposition they may have or may have had to such appli‐ cation at any time prior to the issuance of the order or judgment autho‐ rizing, approving and ho‐ mologating such applica‐ tion, and that such order or judgment may be is‐ sued after the expiration of seven (7) days, from the date of the last publi‐ cation of such notice, all in accordance with law.

BY ORDER OF THE COURT _________________ Deputy Clerk of Court 19th Judicial District Court Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana Publication:

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

171615 Dec. 23, 24, 2t $85.08

19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA PROBATE NO. 117063 DIV. 32 IN THE MATTER OF THE SUCCESSION OF JOHN TAYOR HEROMAN, SR. NOTICE TO SELL MOVABLE PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE Whereas the Administra‐ trix has made applica‐ tion to the Court for the sale at private sale of the movable property here‐ inafter described, to-wit: One (1) certain 2008 19’ Triton boat and trailer bearing identification number Identification Number (HIN) TJZ9A109K708, registered in the name of John Tay‐ lor Heroman, Sr., with one (1) certain Mercury 150 boat motor bearing serial number 1B520068, registered in the name of h l

Reporting you can trust on stories that matter

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

ALL INTERESTED RESI‐ DENTS ARE INVITED TO COMMENT AND EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THIS RE‐ QUESTED CHANGE. ROBERT HEBERT CHAIRPERSON PLANNING & ZONING DAVID H. TOUPS MAYOR TOWN OF ADDIS 170145 Dec. 23, 1t $20.60 PUBLIC NOTICE --VOUCHER #REQ11635 TO BE PUBLISHED – LEGAL 12/23/2025 THE ADVOCATE BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA NOTICE In accordance with R.S.

For the latest news, sports and entertainment, download the Advocate app

8D ■ tuesday, December 23, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ the advocate

SIMPLE ELECTRIC

Professional work • Lic/Ins/Bond.

40+ years experience No job too smalll/large Call 225-921 2633

CALL FOR SPECIAL PRICING! INSTALL NEW ROOFS, J-W METAL, ROOFING* SHINGLES, FLAT, & REPAIRS.

MILITARY DISCOUNTS

STOP ALL LEAKS! CARPENTRY & PAINTING Lic/Ins. 225-205-9537 *Senior Citizen Discount

lll

40 years experience

House calls | NoFixNoPay $125 First Visit - 1 Computer

225-803-8241 | THECOMPUTERDOCTORx.com

Swimming Pool Fill-In’s FIBERGLASS - GUNITE - LINER 20 Years of Experience - Licensed and Insured

Call Casey For a Free Estimate

225-329-9502

pooldemolitionbycasey.com

STEVE ROBINS

We are your go to company for your Gutter and Patio Top installations

HEATH WISE

VETERAN OWNED

WISE GUY’S GUTTERS & PATIOS DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 70726 WISEGUYSGUTTERSANDPATIOLA.COM GOLDDOG3447@YAHOO.COM

CALL 225-305-3776 FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE

Call 225.925.0610 Reasonable Rates for Quality Work!

Quality Care Q

INSURED

Roofing & Maintenance R

(225) 603-2125

• All Types Roofing & Repairs • Fllashings • Sheet Metal • Dry Wall • Painting • Masonry • Carpentry C • Flooring • Electrical Spe cialty Ventilation and Insulation

KEVIN ROBERTS La. Lic. # 64014

(225) 603-2125 Cell KMRNBR55@GMAIL.COM

HandyMan

Doug’s Tree Svs.

$50 Almost Any Tree removed minus stump.

Most stumps $20.

FIREWOOD Free Est. • 225-333-8593 • Lic/Ins.

JOHNNIE BOYS

APPLIANCE REPAIR Window Air Conditioners, Washers & Dryers, Freezers & Refrigerators

ALL Work Guaranteed.

Thank You for Your Consideration

Call 225-301-7575

DISCOUNT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

225-290-1980 / 225-993-9204

tree trimming/flower bed clean up/flower bed designs/irrigation/ lighting pathways/prune & mulch/weeding/drainage/sod/pergola deck/power washing/stump grinding/consulting available

FREE ESTIMATES

ON ALL TV’S THAT NEED REPAIR WHEN BROUGHT INTO THE SHOP!!

SHERWOOD TV & APPLIANCES *In-Home major appliances serviced at a charge.

WASHERS, DRYERS, REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS, ELECTRIC & GAS RANGES

SHERWOOD MINI-STORAGE

MINI-WAREHOUSE (CLIMATE & REGULAR), MOTOR HOMES & BOAT STORAGE UP TO 45’ DEEP

11756 Florida Blvd. Baton Rouge 70815

225-275-6900

FIND AND FIX LEAKS ON ANY ROOF

Member of the BBB Licensed & Insured FREE Verbal Estimates to BR Residents 50 Years Experience Pruning & Trimming of Large Trees Small Tree Removal

Denham Springs & Gonzales

LIGHTING 15% OFF! READY FOR GAME DAYS!

LEAK SPECIALIST

tree service

Doors & Door Hardware

Install & Repair Commercial • Residential Call Daniel 225-436-2759

WINTER SPECIAL YEAR-ROUND HOLIDAY

THE COMPUTER DOCTORx

Home Repairs

Call For A Free Estimate • I Look Forward To Working With You

• Doors • Tile • Painting • Windows & Door Awnings • Pressure Washing • Bathroom & Kitchen Repairs • Porch Roof and Metal Patio Covers

225-733-1560

All work 35+ years of guaranteed experience No job to locally! big or small • Flashing • Gutters • Siding • Tree Pruning • Carpentry • Fences

FREE ESTIMATE!

RUSSELL CARPENTER ZACH CARPENTER

225-338-6922

ROOF LEAKS STOPPED Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

No Job Too Big or Too Small James Wells DBA

Big Jim Construction

N R f or Repairs R i on Any A Type T R f New Roofs Roof Roofing • Painting • Carpentry

Over 50 Years Experience

225.338.6809

All Work Warrantied

Brothers Carpentry and Flooring LLC

ATTIC STAIRS • DOORS • Installation & Replacement • Fully Insulated Units • Licensed & Insured • FREE Estimates • Senior & Military Discounts

CALL TODAY! [225-252-8331]

SEASONED A1 CONCRETE FIREWOOD

Remove & Replace Driveways, Patios and Parking Lots.

Install culverts.

New Construction & Commercial

25 Years Experience

$180 a half cord, delivered Call 225-272-5614 225-505-3907 Please leave a message

Call 225-803-8013

To advertise here, please call 225-383-0111

Professional Chimney Sweep & Inspections Chimney Cleaning • Pest Guards New Chimney Cap Installation • Fire Box Crack Repair Insured

10% OFF 225-503-5681

To advertise here, please call 225-383-0111