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McNeese fraternity accused of hazing Kappa Sigma chapter suspended; two students arrested

BY MEGAN WYATT

Staff writer

New members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity at McNeese State University were subjected this fall to “physical, psychological and emotional hazing” involving alcohol that resulted in two arrests and the suspension of the university’s chapter, according to records.

An Oct. 2 hazing incident, which remains under investigation by the McNeese Police Department, involved pledges being forced to eat an unknown mixture of items until they were nauseated and being hosed down with water, according to documents The Advocate obtained through a public records request.

The records shed new light on why the fraternity was suspended from campus, after university officials announced an investigation in October but shared few details at the time about what happened.

“The Kappa Sigma Fraternity of McNeese State University has been

ä See FRATERNITY, page 6A

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP

Members of the Acadiana Veterans Honor Guard place their hands on the casket and pray for Navy veteran Curtis Schexnayder during his funeral Dec. 11 at Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery in Delcambre.

Volunteer honor guard gives veterans a final salute

BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer

DELCAMBRE — The church doors opened to reveal a line of men in uniform, shirts crisp, faces stoic. As the casket approached, the commander gave the word, and they clasped their rifles in unison, or as close as they get to unison these days.

They stood ready to fire the guns, to sound the bugle, to give the final salute.

When a veteran dies within an hour’s drive of Lafayette, this volunteer crew of the Acadiana Veterans Honor Guard reports to duty, alerting its roster, loading into a little bus and trekking to the cemetery.

Adam Mouton, of the Acadiana Veterans Honor Guard, plays taps on a bugle Dec. 11 for Navy veteran Curtis Schexnayder at Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery in Delcambre.

Four veterans started the nonprofit in 2014, after noticing that formal requests for military honors were going unfilled. So they began answering the call, showing up to funerals, to burials and to hospice, bestowing pins.

“During COVID, nobody came out,” said Barry Dufour, 72, an Air Force veteran. “Military did not come out. But we did.”

They have attended more than 175 funerals this year, so far, sometimes two a day. Three, one day. They’ve also done 28 flag events and 42 hospice visits. All for free.

They’re volunteers, but they’re

ä See GUARD, page 5A

Acadiana charter enrollment on the rise Campuses expand with pods, more grade levels

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

Enrollment in charter schools in Acadiana has continued to increase, according to state data.

Almost all eight charter schools in Lafayette, St. Landry and Vermilion parishes saw an increase in enrollment and collectively gained more than 2,000 students compared with last fall, according to October enrollment data collected by the Louisiana Department of Education.

Charter schools are publicly funded, tuition-free schools that are

ä See ENROLLMENT, page 5A

WEATHER HIGH 80 LOW 63 PAGE 6A

Classified ..................10C Living............................5C Nation-World ................2A Comics-Puzzles .....7C-9C Lottery ..........................4B Opinion ........................2B Commentary ................3B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

101ST yEAR, NO. 179

2A ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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China’s military buildup makes U.S. vulnerable, Pentagon says

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Arkansas ticket wins $1.817B Powerball

A Powerball ticket purchased at a gas station outside Little Rock, Arkansas, won a $1.817 billion jackpot in Wednesday’s Christmas Eve drawing.

The winning numbers were 4, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the Powerball number being 19. The winning ticket was sold at a Murphy USA in Cabot, lottery officials in Arkansas said Thursday.

No one answered the phone Thursday at the location, which was closed for Christmas. The community of roughly 27,000 people is 26 miles northeast of Little Rock.

Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than previous expected, making it the secondlargest in U.S. history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025, according to www.powerball. com. The jackpot had a lump sum cash payment option of $834.9 million.

Lottery officials said they won’t know who won until at least Monday because winners must contact a claims center, which is closed for the holidays until then, according to Karen Reynolds, a spokesperson for the Arkansas lottery.

The prize followed 46 consecutive drawings in which no one matched all six numbers.

The last drawing with a jackpot winner was Sept. 6, when players in Missouri and Texas won $1.787 billion.

Turkey detains suspects accused of attack plans ISTANBUL — Istanbul police launched scores of simultaneous raids on Thursday, detaining over a hundred suspected members of the militant Islamic State group who were allegedly planning attacks against Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, authorities said.

A statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said police were tipped off that the extremist group had called for action — particularly against non-Muslims — during the celebrations.

The office had issued warrants for 137 suspects, of whom 115 were detained. Officers also seized many firearms, cartridges and documents during the raids. It said 124 locations were raided.

The arrests come days after the Trump administration launched widespread military strikes in neighboring Syria to “eliminate” Islamic State fighters and weapons’ sites in retaliation for an ambush blamed on the group that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter.

Syrian security forces have also launched operations against IS in recent days, including two raids on the outskirts of Damascus, the Syrian capital. In those raids, Syrian officials said Taha al-Zoubi, identified as the IS leader in the Damascus area, was captured and Mohammed Shahadeh, a senior IS commander in Syria, was killed.

Russian court sentences activist to 6 years’ prison A court in Russia on Thursday convicted a pro-war activist and critic of President Vladimir Putin of justifying terrorism and sentenced him to six years in prison.

Sergei Udaltsov, the leader of the Left Front movement that opposes Putin and is affiliated with the Communist Party, was arrested last year.

According to Russian independent news site Mediazona, the charges against him stem from an article Udaltsov posted online in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organization. Those activists were convicted earlier this month and handed sentences ranging from 16 to 22 years in prison.

Udaltsov has rejected the charges against him as fabricated.

According to the court ruling, the activist will be serving his sentence in a maximum security penal colony.

Udaltsov was previously imprisoned in 2014 and sentenced to 4½ years on charges related to his role in organizing a 2012 demonstration against Putin that turned turbulent. He was released in 2017.

BY COURTNEY McBRIDE Bloomberg News (TNS)

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GREGORIO BORGIA

Pope Leo XIV waves before delivering the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (Latin for ‘To the City and to the World’) Christmas Day blessing Thursday from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

Shed indifference in face of suffering, pope urges Leo XIV gives first Christmas message

BY SILVIA STELLACCI and COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV during his first Christmas Day message on Thursday urged the faithful to shed indifference in the face of those who have lost everything, such as in Gaza, those who are impoverished, such as in Yemen, and the many migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea and the American continent for a better future.

The first U.S. pontiff addressed some 26,000 people from the loggia overlooking St. Peter’s Square for the traditional papal “Urbi et Orbi” address, Latin for “To the City and to the World,” which serves as a summary of the woes facing the world.

While the crowd gathered under a steady downpour during the papal Mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the rain had subsided by the time Leo took a brief tour of the square in the popemobile, then spoke to the crowd from the loggia.

Leo revived the tradition of offering Christmas greetings in multiple languages abandoned by his predecessor, Pope Francis. He received especially warm cheers when he made his greetings in his native

English and Spanish, the language of his adopted country of Peru where he served first as a missionary and then as archbishop.

Someone in the crowd shouted out “Viva il papa!” or “Long live the pope!” before he retreated into the basilica. Leo took off his glasses for a final wave.

During the traditional address, the pope emphasized that everyone could contribute to peace by acting with humility and responsibility. “If he would truly enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and the oppressed, then the world would change,” the pope said.

Leo called for “justice, peace and stability” in Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Israel and Syria, prayers for “the tormented people of Ukraine,” and “peace and consolation” for victims of wars, injustice, political instability, religious persecution and terrorism, citing Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Congo.

The pope also urged dialogue to address “numerous challenges” in Latin America, reconciliation in Myanmar, the restoration of “the ancient friendship between Thailand and Cambodia,” and assistance for the suffering of those hit by natural disasters in South Asia and Oceania.

“In becoming man, Jesus took upon himself our fragility, identify-

ing with each one of us: with those who have nothing left and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza; with those who are prey to hunger and poverty, like the Yemeni people; with those who are fleeing their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, like the many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or traverse the American continent,” the pontiff said.

He also remembered those who have lost their jobs or are seeking work, especially young people, underpaid workers and those in prison.

Earlier, Leo led the Christmas Day Mass from the central altar beneath the balustrade of St. Peter’s Basilica, adorned with floral garlands and red poinsettias.

In his homily, Leo underlined that peace can emerge only through dialogue. “There will be peace when our monologues are interrupted and, enriched by listening, we fall to our knees before the humanity of the other,” he said.

He remembered the people of Gaza, “exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold” and the fragility of “defenseless populations, tried by so many wars,” and of “young people forced to take up arms, who on the front lines feel the senselessness of what is asked of them, and the falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths.”

Charles III calls for kindness, unity in Christmas message

BY DANICA KIRKA Associated Press

LONDON — On a Christmas Day when the war in Ukraine casts a shadow over Europe, concerns over immigration divide societies, and some politicians fan anger and resentment, Britain’s King Charles III called on people to focus on kindness instead of conflict.

Delivering his annual holiday address from Westminster Abbey, Charles said Thursday the Christmas story of wise men and shepherds traveling through the night to find their savior shows how we can find strength in the “companionship and kindness of others.”

“To this day, in times of uncertainty, these ways of living are treasured by all the great faiths and provide us with deep wells of hope, of resilience in the face of adversity,” Charles said. “Peace through forgiveness, simply getting to know our neighbors and by showing respect to one another, creating new friendships.”

“In this, with the great diversity of our communities, we can find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong,” he added.

The speech, which concluded with a Christmas carol sung by a Ukrainian choir, comes as European leaders rally support for Ukraine amid signs that U.S. President Donald Trump is losing patience with America’s traditional European allies. At home, British politics have become increasingly bitter as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government struggles to control unauthorized migration and bolster creaking public services.

Charles, the titular head of the Church of England, chose Westminster Abbey as the site of his Christmas Day broadcast to underscore the theme of pilgrimage that ran through the speech. The abbey, known as the site of coronations and

royal weddings, is also the focus of an annual pilgrimage honoring Edward the Confessor, an early king of England who was canonized as a saint in 1161.

“Pilgrimage is a word less used today, but it is of particular significance for our modern world, and especially at Christmas,” he said. “This is about journeying forward into the future, while also journeying back to remember the past and learn from its lessons.”

Charles and his family made their own pilgrimage on foot earlier in the day to St. Mary Magdalene Church on the king’s private Sandringham Estate, about 100 miles north of London.

Charles and Queen Camilla, along with Prince William and his wife, Kate, and their children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, and extended family walked to the church and greeted the crowds of people after the service.

Events earlier this year marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II underscored the need to learn from the past, Charles said. While there are fewer and fewer living veterans of that conflict, we must remember the courage and sacrifice of those who fought the war and the way communities came together “in the face of such great challenge,” he said.

“These are the values which have shaped our country and the Commonwealth,” he said. “As we hear of division, both at home and abroad, they are the values of which we must never lose sight.”

The monarch’s annual holiday message is watched by millions of people in the U.K. and across the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 independent nations, most of which have historic ties to Britain.

The speech is one of the rare occasions when Charles, 77, is able to voice his own views and doesn’t seek guidance from the government.

WASHINGTON — The Chinese military is in the midst of a “historic military buildup” that has made the U.S. homeland “increasingly vulnerable,” according to the latest edition of a Pentagon report on the capabilities of the Chinese military, presenting a challenge to President Donald Trump’s plans for new limitations on U.S., Chinese and Russian nuclear arsenals.

The congressionally mandated report, posted on the Pentagon website Tuesday, is the first version issued during the second Trump administration.

It describes a Chinese military that is increasingly sophisticated and resilient, wary of largescale agreements with the U.S. and learning lessons from Russia’s setbacks in Ukraine as it increases pressure on Taiwan.

And while the report notes China and Russia continue to deepen their strategic partnership, “almost certainly driven by a shared interest in countering the United States,” that cooperation is hindered by both sides harboring a “mutual distrust” of each other.

Experts have warned that China is outpacing the U.S. on the development of hypersonic weapons. Trump’s planned “Golden Dome” system is intended to defend against those and other innovative threats, as well as more traditional ballistic missiles.

The most recent edition of the report, published in December 2024 by the Biden administration, warned that China was the only competitor to the U.S. that has “the intent and, increasingly, the capacity to reshape the international order.” It emphasized the importance of meeting the challenge of China’s “increasingly capable military.”

A September 2020 iteration of the report found that Beijing was engaged in “a determined pursuit of political and social modernity that includes farranging efforts to expand China’s national power, perfect its governance systems, and revise the international order.”

The Defense Department issues a classified version of its findings to Congress and releases an unclassified summary to the public.

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● 3A

New storm hitting waterlogged California lll

More flooding, mudslides possible

lated crash.

Residents around burn scar zones from the Airport Fire in Orange County were under evacuation orders.

Areas along the coast, including Malibu, were under a flood watch until Friday afternoon, and wind and flood advisories were issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The storms were the result of multiple atmospheric rivers carrying massive plumes of moisture from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

Southern California typically gets half an inch to 1 inch of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches with even more in the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said.

BY TY ONEIL

Associated Press WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. — Another powerful storm system that could soak Southern California with its wettest Christmas in years rolled into the region on Thursday, potentially causing more flooding and mudslides a day after heavy rain and gusty winds were blamed for at least two deaths.

Forecasters warned the additional rain could increase the risk of debris flows in waterlogged areas scorched by wildfires in January. Those burn scar zones have been stripped of vegetation by fire and are less able to absorb water.

Outside of California, a major storm system was moving toward the Midwest and Northeast and was expected to interfere with travel, according to the National Weather Service.

A mix of freezing rain and sleet could create icy conditions across much of Pennsylvania and parts of Michigan and Maryland. Forecasters warned significant ice accumulation on tree limbs and power lines could cause outages. Heavy snow was expected to blanket the Northeast early Friday.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in Southern California issued an evacuation warning for Wrightwood, a mountain town about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, due to a risk of mudslides.

County firefighters on Wednesday said they rescued people trapped in

Snow at higher elevations ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By WILLIAM LIANG

Davey Schneider walks on the roof of his storm-damaged home on Thursday in Wrightwood, Calif. on Thursday. With power out, a local gas station and coffee shop running on generators were serving as hubs for residents and visitors. Statewide, more than 120,000 people were without power, according to PowerOutage.us.

“It’s really a crazy Christmas,” said Jill Jenkins, who was spending the holiday with her 13-year-old grandson, Hunter Lopiccolo.

Lopiccolo said the family almost evacuated the previous day, when water washed A car is buried in mud Thursday in Wrightwood, Calif., after a away a chunk of their backseries of storms. yard. But they eventually decided to stay and still celcars when mud and debris many people were rescued. ebrated the holiday. LopicRoads in the town of about colo got a new snowboard rushed down a road leading into Wrightwood. It was 5,000 people were covered in and e-bike.

“We just played card not immediately clear how rocks, debris and thick mud

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he’d launched a “powerful and deadly strike” against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after he spent weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians.

The president’s post did not include information about how the strike was carried out and what effects it had. The White House did not immediately provide further details.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” the president posted on his social media site.

Last month, Trump said

he’d ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution. The State Department then announced that it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in mass killings and violence against Christians in the West African country.

The U.S. recently designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act. “I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump wrote in his Christmas night post.

He said that U.S. defense officials had “executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.” The president added: “our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”

Trump wishes ‘radical left scum’ a merry Christmas

BY BRIAN NIEMIETZ

New york Daily News (TNS) President Donald Trump wished a merry Christmas to all, including “Radical Left Scum.”

“Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly,” the President posted Wednesday on his Truth Social media platform and Elon Musk’s X. Some of the President’s followers supported his unconventional holiday message while others wondered if it was appropriate.

“We no longer have Open Borders, Men in Women’s Sports, Transgender for Everyone, or Weak Law Enforcement,” Trump continued before celebrating a strong stock market and the effects of his tariffs.

The stock market closed on a record high Wednesday

while seasonal job growth beat expectations despite growing unemployment.

“We are respected again, perhaps like never before,” Trump concluded. “God Bless America!!! President DJT.” The President’s Christmas post comes 10 days after he drew bipartisan criticism for using his social media platform to speculate upon the murders of Hollywood couple Rob and Michelle Reiner. Trump claimed Rob Reiner and his wife were killed because of the effect the famed filmmaker’s “obsession” with the President had on others. The couple’s son Nick Reiner has been charged with their murders.

Trump, 79, has previously used social media to “extend my best wishes to all, even the haters and losers” on the anniversary of the terror attacks on Sept. 11 and to declare on Juneteenth that the United States has “too many non-working holidays.”

Deaths and heavy rain A falling tree killed a San Diego man Wednesday, news outlets reported. Farther north, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died in what appeared to be a weather-re-

SHOP TODAY 11 AM - 8 PM

Trump says U.S. hit Islamic State targets

By The Associated Press

games all night with candles and flashlights,” he said.

Resident Arlene Corte said roads in town turned into rivers, but her house was not damaged. “It could be a whole lot worse,” she said.

“We’re here talking.”

With more rain on the way, more than 150 firefighters were stationed in the area, said San Bernardino County Fire spokesperson Shawn Millerick. “We’re ready,” he said.

More heavy snow was expected in the Sierra Nevada, where wind gusts created “near white-out conditions” in places and made mountain pass travel treacherous. Officials said there was a “high” avalanche risk around Lake Tahoe and a winter storm warning was in effect through Friday.

Ski resorts around Lake Tahoe recorded about 1 to 3 feet of snow overnight, said Tyler Salas, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Reno. Forecasters expect to see up to another 3 feet of snow through Friday, Salas said. The area could see 45 mile-per-hour gusts of wind in low elevation areas and 100 mile-per-hour winds along mountain ridges.

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in six counties to allow state assistance in storm response.

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4A ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Saudi Arabia urges Yemen’s separatists to withdraw Faction controls 2 governorates

BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia on Thursday called on Emirati-backed separatists in southern Yemen to withdraw from two governorates they now control, a move that has threatened to spark a confrontation within a fragile coalition that has been battling the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the country’s north.

The statement from Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry appeared aimed at putting public pressure on the Southern Transitional Council, a separatist Yemeni force long supported by the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia backs the National Shield Forces of Yemen’s internationally backed government in the war against the Houthis.

The separatists’ actions have “resulted in an unjustified escalation that harmed the interests of all segments of Yemeni people, as well as the southern cause and the coalition’s efforts,” the ministry said. “The kingdom stresses the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni factions and components to exercise restraint and avoid any measures that could destabilize security and stability.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By OSAMAH ABDULRAHMAN

Houthi supporters carry the coffins of leaders they said were killed during previous airstrikes during a funeral Thursday at the People’s Mosque in Sanaa, yemen.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Supporters of the Southern Transitional Council, a coalition of separatist groups seeking to restore the state of South yemen, hold South yemen flags during a rally Thursday in Aden, yemen. The Arabic reads, ‘announcement of South Arab state.’

said that mediation efforts were underway to have the council’s forces return to “their previous positions outside of the two governorates and hand over the camps in those areas” to the National Shield Forces.

The local Hadramout governorate’s authority said that it supported the Saudi announcement and called for the Emirati-backed separatists to withdraw to positions outside the governorates.

Those aligned with the council have increasingly flown the flag of the flag of Ongoing negotiations South Yemen, which was a The Southern Transitional separate country from 1967Council moved earlier this 90. Demonstrators rallied month into Yemen’s gover- on Thursday in the southern norates of Hadramout and port city of Aden to support Mahra. The Saudi statement political forces calling for

South Yemen to again secede from Yemen.

Following the capture of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s north by the Houthis in 2014, Aden has been the seat of power for the internationally recognized government and forces aligned against the Houthi rebels.

The actions by the separatists have put pressure on the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which maintain close relations and are members of the OPEC oil cartel, but also have competed for influence and international business in recent years.

forced the internationally recognized government into exile. Iran denies arming the rebels, although Iranianmanufactured weaponry has been found on the battlefield and in sea shipments heading to Yemen despite a U.N. arms embargo.

A Saudi-led coalition armed with U.S. weaponry and intelligence entered the war on the side of Yemen’s exiled government in March 2015. Years of inconclusive fighting have pushed the Arab world’s poorest nation to the brink of famine.

The war has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the Further chaos globe’s worst humanitarThe Houthis seized Sa- ian disasters, killing tens of naa in September 2014 and thousands more.

The Houthis have launched attacks on hundreds of ships in the Red Sea corridor over the IsraelHamas war, greatly disrupting regional shipping.

While traffic has inched up recently in the lull in attacks, many shippers continue to go around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Further chaos in Yemen could again draw in the United States.

Washington launched an intense bombing campaign targeting the rebels earlier this year that U.S. President Donald Trump halted just before his trip to the Middle East in October. The Biden administration also conducted strikes against the Houthis, including using B-2 bombers to target what it described as underground bunkers used by the Houthis.

In Sanaa, crowds gathered as uniformed men carried coffins draped in Yemen’s flag and topped with flowers

during the funerals for the four Houthi fighters.

The dead fighters include Maj. Gen. Zakaria Abdullah Yahya Hajar, whom analysts identified as the group’s drone and missile chief.

U.S. forces reportedly targeted Hajar, who allegedly received training from the expeditionary Quds Force of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, in a strike in March in Sanaa.

The Houthis provided no information on how or when he died. However, a transcript of a discussion between top American officials on the messaging app Signal later published

by The Atlantic magazine included then-national security adviser Mike Waltz referencing the initial March 15 attack targeting a Houthi missile commander.

“The first target — their top missile guy — we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend’s building and it’s now collapsed,” Waltz wrote at the time.

Trump-backed candidate declared winner of Honduras’ presidential vote

BY MARLON GONZÁLEZ and MEGAN JANETSKY Associated Press

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura won Honduras’ presidential election, electoral authorities said Wednesday afternoon, ending a weekslong count that has whittled away at the credibility of the Central American nation’s fragile electoral system.

The election is continuing Latin America’s swing to the right, coming just a week after Chile chose the far-right politician José Antonio Kast as its next president.

Asfura, of the conservative National Party, received 40.27% of the vote in the Nov. 30 vote, edging out four-time candidate Salvador Nasralla of the conservative Liberal Party, who finished with 39.53% of the vote.

The former mayor of Honduras’ capital Tegucigalpa, won in his second bid for the presidency, after he and Nasralla were neck-andneck during a weekslong vote count that fueled international concern.

On Tuesday night a number of electoral officials and candidates were already fighting and contesting the results of the election.

Meanwhile, followers in As-

fura’s campaign headquarters erupted into cheers.

Asfura, in a video statement released late Wednesday night, promised to be a unifying force for the Central American nation. “ To d a y, with deep gratitude, I accept the honor of being able to w o r k f o r Asfura you. I extend my hand so we can walk together with determination to work tirelessly for Honduras. I will not fail you,” he said.

The results were a rebuke of the current leftist leader, and her governing democratic socialist Liberty and Refoundation Party, known as LIBRE, whose candidate finished in a distant third place with 19.19% of the vote.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Asfura on Wednesday, writing on a post on X: “The people of Honduras have spoken … (the Trump administration) looks forward to working with his administration to advance prosperity and security in our hemisphere.”

The European Union and a number of right-leading leaders across Latin America, namely Trump-ally Ar-

gentine President Javier Milei, also congratulated the politician.

Asfura ran as a pragmatic politician, pointing to his popular infrastructure projects in the capital. Trump endorsed the 67-year-old conservative just days before the vote, saying he was the only Honduran candidate the U.S. administration would work with.

Nasralla has for weeks alleged the election was fraudulent, and said Wednesday that electoral authorities who announced the results “betrayed the Honduran people.”

On Tuesday night, he also addressed Trump in a post on X, writing: “Mr. President, your endorsed candidate in Honduras is complicit in silencing the votes of our citizens. If he is truly worthy of your backing, if his hands are clean, if he has nothing to fear, then why doesn’t he allow for every vote to be counted?”

He and other opponents of Asfura have maintained that Trump’s last-minute endorsement was an act of electoral interference that ultimately swung the results of the vote.

The unexpectedly tumultuous election was also marred by a sluggish vote count, which fueled even

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more accusations.

The Central American nation was stuck in limbo for more than three weeks as vote counting by electoral authorities lagged, and at one point was paralyzed af-

ter a special count of final vote tallies was called.

Organization of American States Secretary General Albert Rambin wrote Wednesday on X that the OAS “takes note” of the re-

sults announced and noted it is “closely following events in Honduras.” It also condemned electoral authorities for announcing the results while the final .07% of votes were still being counted.

H

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● 5A

GUARD

a French imENROLLMENT Landry, mersion charter, saw an

also military-trained, so they arrive on time, their shoes shined.

“We hate to do this,” said Roy Pearrow, the honor guard’s chaplain, standing beneath the flag in the Delcambre cemetery. “But it’s our absolute honor to the highest degree to be able to have the wisdom, have the courage, have the physical ability to come out and run up and down these rural roads.”

Many of the veterans dying these days, like those honoring them, served during the Vietnam War. When they returned home from that unpopular conflict, they were called names and spat on, said Fred Aucoin, 79, who served in the Navy, coming back in 1970.

At a funeral a while back, the veteran’s widow approached the casket, telling her deceased husband, “They weren’t here for you when you came home, but they’re here today.”

Aucoin shook his head. “I had to bite my lip.”

Now, driving back from a funeral, the best feeling comes over Aucoin, one he can’t even explain. “It’s kind of a healing thing,” he said.

“Finally, we get our healing.”

independently operated.

Per-pupil funding follows students to charter schools, even if they later re-enroll in a different school after the official count date. Louisiana counts enrollment twice a year, once in October and once in February.

The increase supports a national trend of families exploring all available educational opportunities, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, private schools and homeschooling, said Shelby Doyle, senior vice president of policy and national partnerships at the nonprofit National School Choice Week.

“Educational choices are important for any family,” she said. “We know that one size does not fit all when it comes to anything in life, and education is part of that.”

In Lafayette Parish, three of the four charter schools saw an enrollment increase. Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy saw the largest increase in enrollment with about 1,100 new students, bringing its total enrollment to 3,292. Part of that increase is likely due to the expansion of the World Languages Academy, a learning pod connected to the LRCA. Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy saw an increase of about 180 students, bringing enrollment to 3,848. Willow Charter Academy saw an increase of 71 students, bringing its total enrollment to 676 students.

JCFA, which serves students ages 15-21 who have either dropped out or in danger of dropping out, saw a small decrease of about 20 students, bringing enrollment to 35 students.

Two of the three charter schools in St. Landry Contact Ashley White Parish saw an increase in at ashley.white@ enrollment. Ecole Saint- theadvocate.com.

Continued from page 1A

‘That says it all’ They met at 10:30 a.m. at headquarters, the old police station in Broussard, where they keep the rifles triple-locked and the coffee stocked.

“What size you want, Sarge?” said Jim Weber, the group’s commander, offering up plastic foam cups.

Weber became commander this year, after volunteering with the group for a decade, because “nobody else wanted the job,” he said with a laugh.

His goal is to please the family. Some families don’t want guns going off. Some spouses tell him that taps, that solemn tune, makes them too sad. If the military is providing its own personnel, as it was in Delcambre, the honor guard will step back, allowing them to present the flag.

“People don’t even have to thank you,” he said. “I see it in their eyes. … That says it all.”

The government provides blank ammunition. But otherwise, this honor guard is self-sufficient, raising

Continued from page 1A

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP

Members of the Acadiana Veterans Honor Guard perform a 21-gun salute Dec. 11 during honor services for Navy veteran Curtis Schexnayder at Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery in Delcambre. Four veterans started the nonprofit honor guard in 2014 after noticing that formal requests for military honors were going unfilled. So they began answering the call, showing up to funerals, burials and hospice to bestow pins.

When a veteran dies within an hour’s drive of Lafayette, this volunteer crew of the Acadiana Veterans Honor Guard reports to duty, alerting its roster, loading into a little bus and trekking to the cemetery. money via an annual golf tournament and accepting — but never requesting — donations from families.

It’s professional, with strict bylaws, set scripts and matching military dress. (A few years back, after too many skin cancer diagnoses, they switched to black, brimmed Stetsons.)

But Weber plans to increase training, from flag folding to marching.

“Some people just cannot march,” he said, chuckling, “especially the Air Force guys.”

The bus to Delcambre was filled with that kind of ribbing, and the passing around of a roll of paper towels after a bump jostled the coffee.

Soldiers, sailors, airmen.

One stationed at the England Air Force Base near Alexandria, another who spent a year on the Mekong River in Vietnam. James

Savoy, a Marine who earned rifle and pistol sharpshooter medals during his 14 months and 13 days overseas, is now the group’s rifle commander.

Most of them are now retired, in their late 60s, 70s and 80s.

A final salute

Fred Auction, 79, left, and Adam Mouton, 84, talk about being in the Acadiana Veterans Honor Guard.

The all-volunteer group is professional, with strict bylaws, set scripts and matching military dress.

When they placed their gloved hands on the casket.

When the bells sounded.

When the rifles fired.

Then Adam Mouton, 84, played taps on the augmented bugle, and a dozen others teared up.

Frederick appreciated how the ceremony echoed her father’s time in the service, she said later, when that song marked the day’s end. “It’s a true ending,” she said, her voice catching, “where it once started.”

The family of Curtis Schexnayder, who died Dec. 8 at 88 years old, requested no flowers at his funeral, no wreaths, no extras. But they Contact reporter Jenna knew Schexnayder, a Navy Ross at jenna.ross@ veteran, would want a flag. theadvocate.com.

“My dad only served two years, but he was very proud,” said his daughter Hedi Frederick. He was especially grateful for how that service, via the G.I. Bill, paid for his college education.

So after talking to folks at the funeral home, Frederick contacted Weber. Then he, in turn, emailed the volunteers At only 37 lbs, this is one of the lightest a memo with the details: mobility scooters on the planet — designed date, time, bus departure.

“Personnel: Presenter, Flag Folder, Bugler w/ bu$2,195.00 gle, 1 Rifle “Cmdr., 7-person Rifle Team W/ Rifle Rack, toolbox Weight (without ba�ery): 37 lbs & NAVY BELL.” Ba�ery Weight: 4 lbs “Thanks to all who Weight Capacity: 265 lbs have been able to participate,” Weber wrote. “Mr. Range: 7.5 miles Schexnayder was a proud Top Speed: 5 mph Navy veteran and was 88 Folds into one compact piece – years old.” roughly the size of a carry-on bag Just at the sight of them, standing at attention outside the church, some mourners began to cry. For others, it was in the mausoleum when Pearrow said a prayer. “Our creator was most gracious in returning him safely home to live out the rest of his life. …”

increase of about 25 students, bringing its total to 240 students. St. Landry Charter School saw an increase of 15 students, bringing its enrollment to 330 students.

JS Clark Leadership Academy decreased three students, and its total enrollment is 448 students.

The newly opened Vermilion Charter Academy nearly doubled its enrollment, growing by 768 students and bringing its enrollment to 1,690. The school will likely continue to grow as it expands its classes from serving kindergarten through ninth graders, as it does now, to serving kindergarten through 12th grade.

The increase in enrollment at charter schools and other nontraditional public schools isn’t unique to Louisiana, Doyle said.

One of the fastest-growing forms of schooling is homeschooling, she said.

The Louisiana Department of Education has not yet released fall 2025 data for nonpublic schools.

Doyle said that January is a good time for families to assess what’s working for their student educationally. It’s why National School Choice Week is annually held in January.

She said families should consider several factors when choosing a school for their child, and most importantly, think about what their goals are for their individual student.

“What you’re looking for your kids is going to be really different than even your closest friends and family,” she said. “We’re lucky in this country to have a growing number of options. There’s going to hopefully be a lot of things that sound good, but there’s going to be only one school that perfectly or best matches what you particularly need.”

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Jim Weber, left, commander of the Acadiana Veterans Honor Guard, salutes the flag while taps is played for Navy veteran Curtis Schexnayder at Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery in Delcambre.

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6A ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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ALMANAC

AIR QUALITY

LAFAyETTE THROUGH 5 P.M. THURSDAy

YESTERDAY

TEMPERATURE

High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

GOOD

78°/59° 63°/44° 80° in 2021 12° in 1983

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

READING 32

TODAY

PRECIPITATION

GOOD

24 hours through 5 p.m. Thu. 0.00” Month to date (normal) 7.43” (3.85”) year to date (normal) 72.26” (61.70”)

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

FIRST

7:02 a.m.

5:15 p.m.

11:21 a.m.

11:38 p.m.

DEC 27

SOURCE: AIRNOW.GOV

FULL

LAST

NEW

JAN 3

JAN 10

JAN 18

THE NATION AND WORLD Today City

LOUISIANA FORECAST

RIVER STAGES MISSISSIPPI

Monroe 78/67

Shreveport 80/66

Jackson 78/65

Longview 79/66

Many 78/65

Hattiesburg 77/65

Alexandria 78/66

FLOOD STAGE 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

Memphis Vidalia-Natchez Red River Landing Baton Rouge Donaldsonville Reserve New Orleans OHIO

Cairo COMITE

Near Olive

Baton Rouge 80/66 Beaumont 78/67

Port Arthur 75/66

Lafayette

AMITE

Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent

New Orleans 79/64

Lake Charles 78/65

TICKFAW

Montpelier Holden

Houma 79/62

ATCHAFALAYA

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

TIDES HIGH

First FT. LOW

Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) 10:34a 0.3 Shell Beach 5:05a 0.9 South Point, Marsh Island 9:20p 1.2 Cypremort Point 8:10a 1.0 Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) 12:13a 0.6 Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) 10:13p 0.5 Wine Island 1:21a 0.7

FT.

9:43p 0.0 2:31p 0.0 11:41a 0.1 5:47a 1.0 10:32a 0.0 9:09a 0.0 11:34a 0.0

HIGH

Second FT. LOW

----10:54p 0.7 ----11:08p 1.2 9:11p 0.3 ----10:19p 0.4

FT.

------------3:49p 0.5 -------------

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

Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

0.60 11.20 15.30 5.10 3.40 1.82 2.20

+1.61 -0.11 -0.40 -0.30 none -0.08 -0.14

40

16.09

-0.80

19

-1.40

-0.03

18 29 8

-0.89 10.41 1.68

-0.01 -0.08 -0.16

13 15

2.06 1.04

-0.01 -0.02

47 34 29 20 12 6

4.53 3.00 2.74 2.02 2.40 1.73

none +0.07 -0.10 -0.02 -0.10 +0.15

The World Amsterdam Bangkok Barcelona Berlin Brussels Cairo Dublin Frankfurt Havana Hong Kong Jerusalem

Saturday

Lo

W

Hi

Lo

W

81 67 25 21 84 64 -10 -31 82 67 61 44 68 50 80 62 70 58

pc pc s c sh pc c s c

80 67 26 18 81 63 -25 -40 80 66 59 42 62 58 81 62 74 64

pc sn pc pc r pc c s c

New Orleans Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Raleigh St. Louis San Diego Tampa

35 89 56 32 37 70 45 39 79 60 58

s s sh pc s pc pc s pc pc pc

42 89 57 37 38 69 47 41 81 68 51

pc pc r c s pc pc pc pc pc r

Kuwait City London Madrid Mexico City Montreal Moscow New Delhi Paris Rome Stockholm Tokyo

29 74 52 28 26 53 41 29 59 59 47

33 72 50 28 32 57 42 31 58 61 45

City

Hi

Today

Saturday

Lo

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W

79 80 33 73 46 51 65 67 78

64 55 29 56 35 45 45 54 59

pc s sn c r c s sh s

78 76 34 67 41 68 65 64 77

63 59 28 50 34 41 58 48 60

pc s i c c pc pc sh pc

67 44 48 68 6 34 69 39 59 38 52

53 35 33 45 5 28 48 30 41 30 37

pc pc pc pc pc c pc s c pc pc

69 47 51 69 15 31 67 40 57 39 46

55 41 41 49 5 25 48 31 36 29 37

pc pc s pc pc c pc s s s pc

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

-10

-0s

0s

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

SOLUNAR TABLE 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 Sat. Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu.

Major

Minor

4:00a 10:11a 4:47a 10:58a 5:32a 11:44a 6:19a 12:08a 7:07a 12:53a 8:00a 1:44a 8:57a 2:41a

FRATERNITY

Major

Minor

4:22p 10:33p 5:09p 11:21p 5:57p ---6:45p 12:32p 7:36p 1:22p 8:31p 2:15p 9:30p 3:13p

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

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

Continued from page 1A severely hazing pledges,” one complainant wrote.

“The videos speak for themselves, showing proof of physical and mental hazing done to new members during their pledge process.”

The university did not provide The Advocate with the videos or photos included in complaints.

Two students, Brailyn Trent Davis and Carl J. Joseph Jr., were arrested Oct. 8 on one count each of criminal hazing.

Their cases have not yet been sent to the District Attorney’s Office. A misdemeanor charge of criminal hazing carries a penalty of up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail or both.

Although another complainant wrote that Kappa Sigma pledges were waterboarded as part of the “physical and mental abuse,” McNeese spokesperson Tanya Brewster said the students were actually sprayed with a hose.

“McNeese State University takes all allegations of hazing seriously,” Brewster said. “In an anonymous report of hazing by the Kappa Sigma fraternity, the word waterboarding was used.

The university’s investigation did not uncover any evidence of waterboarding.”

McNeese Dean of Student Support and Advocacy Meghan Olinger sent a cease-and-desist letter to the fraternity on Oct. 7.

Kappa Sigma’s acting president, whose name was redacted in records, wrote in a letter to Olinger that the organization takes accountability and apologizes for “the harm that this alleged hazing incident has caused not only for our fraternity and its new members but at McNeese State University as a whole.”

The fraternity proposed a plan of action in the aftermath. Its suggested steps included: removal of the executive committee and pledge education team; sus-

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According to documents, an Oct. 2 hazing incident, which remains under investigation by the McNeese Police Department, involved Kappa Sigma pledges being forced to eat an unknown mixture of items until they were nauseated and being hosed down with water. pension of all involved in the Oct. 2 incident; expulsion of members found guilty of hazing charges; an increase in anti-hazing training and code of conduct meetings; additional alumni involvement; and an increased focus on community service and philanthropic causes.

“Along with these selfproposed immediate steps, we are undergoing and conducting an internal investigation into the matter in order to identify practices and actions contrary to the Kappa Sigma Code of Conduct and the values of this beloved fraternity,” the acting president wrote. “We realize fully the gravity of such a situation and it is our sincere hope that through this commitment to restoration we can rebuild our trust with the community, McNeese State University and those individuals affected by these events.”

McNeese officials have yet to decide on a long-term punishment for the fraternity. They will take Kappa Sigma’s internal steps into consideration as they decide on a course of action and complete the university’s investigation, Olinger wrote in a letter to the fraternity.

McNeese’s Theta-Rho chapter of Kappa Sigma has been operating for more than 60 years.

Kappa Sigma chapters at other Louisiana universities have also landed under investigation in recent years: LSU police opened a hazing investigation this fall into their Kappa Sigma chapter. And the University of Louisiana chapter had its charter revoked in 2017 after a sleep-deprived pledge struck and killed a graduate student in his car.

The McNeese chapter also faced suspension during the 2021-22 school year for initiating new members who did not meet the college’s minimum 2.5 gradepoint average requirement, providing false documentation to McNeese’s Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life and denying the allegations after a complaint was made by the president of another fraternity, according to records. The suspension was lifted a month early because of Kappa Sigma’s “valiant philanthropic efforts” performed during the suspension period.

The fraternity’s recent hazing incident is the first McNeese has investigated since 2018, when the local Phi Mu sorority chapter was put on probation for psychological hazing, and all of its members were required to undergo education and training and complete 12 hours of community service.

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METRO

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

|

F r i d ay, d e c e m b e r 26, 2025

Children spend part of a warm Christmas morning on the swings at Moncus Park in Lafayette.

1bN

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP

ACTIVE CHRISTMAS

Amy Williams walks her dog, Artie, with his new Christmas harness on Christmas morning at Moncus Park in Lafayette. ä See more photos on Page 4B.

Mark Palmer, 4, holds on while riding with his father, CJ, while spending Christmas morning at Moncus Park in Lafayette.

Skateboarder Lucas practices on Christmas Day at the skate park at Thomas Park in Lafayette.

Callan Meche, 10, catches some air on his new scooter on Christmas Day at the skate park at Thomas Park in Lafayette.

OPINION

2B ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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

Make health care treatment more affordable In Louisiana, a cancer diagnosis at the center of the problem.

Louisiana is home to excepis not only a medical emergency — it is a financial one. Families tional cancer centers and nationare blindsided by a crisis ally respected physicians. for which no one is preBreast cancer patients in particular travel here pared. from across the country Most people do not have for advanced microvascua “cancer savings account,” yet the average palar reconstruction — mediKim tient faces more than $600 cally necessary proceSport per month in out-of-pocket dures that restore dignity costs just to stay in treatand physical wholeness GUEST COLUMNIST after mastectomy. Our exment. These costs mount quickly: deductibles, unpertise is world-class.

But excellence means covered medications, child very little when insurers decide a care, lost wages, transportation patient cannot afford to reach it. to specialty centers and lodging Even with some of the strongest near hospitals during prolonged breast reconstruction laws in therapy. the nation — laws viewed as the Beyond these visible expenses, national model — many Louisiana cancer patients also need nutriwomen still cannot access the tional supplements, protein-rich “gold standard” procedures their meals, hydration support and physicians recommend. other essential elements of healInsurers sidestep the intent of ing — none of which are covered the law by narrowing networks, by insurance, yet all of which determine whether a patient has the raising deductibles and reducing reimbursement to out-of-network strength to complete treatment. specialists who are often the only We often talk about innovation in cancer care. But the real crisis qualified providers for complex in Louisiana is not innovation. It is reconstructive surgeries.

The consequences are devaccess, and insurance coverage is

astating: Women are pushed toward inferior surgical options, overwhelming debt and delayed reconstruction. Some abandon the process altogether because life becomes unaffordable.

Insurers also routinely deny coverage for travel to chemotherapy, lodging during radiation, necessary supportive medications and the nutritional resources essential to healing. These are not luxuries. They are foundational to a patient’s ability to comply with treatment and survive cancer.

This is where nonprofits — like the Cancer Association of Louisiana (CALA) and its Breastoration program — step in. For decades, CALA has filled the widening gap between what medicine can do and what insurance covers. We help patients get to radiation, secure lodging, access reconstruction and maintain care plans that hospitals rely on for strong outcomes.

But nonprofits cannot continue to shoulder this responsibility alone.

The truth is simple: Nonprofits are subsidizing Louisiana’s cancer

care system, supporting insurers, hospitals and the state — all without a single dollar of state funding and with limited institutional partnership.

It is time for action.

Lawmakers must create a dedicated, recurring state appropriation to fund nonprofits that provide direct cancer-treatment support.

Our laws guarantee reconstruction and continuity of care, but our budget does not support the reality necessary to enforce those rights. State investment in nonprofits is not new spending — it is a cost-effective intervention that reduces long-term health care expenses, improves outcomes and prevents families from facing financial collapse.

Hospitals benefit directly from the work nonprofits perform.

When CALA removes barriers, patients arrive at treatment. Performance metrics rise. Complications fall. Reimbursements stabilize. Yet nonprofits are financing services that allow hospitals to meet their own treatment goals. It is time for every hospital and can-

cer center that regularly refers patients to nonprofit programs to make annual institutional contributions that reflect the true value provided.

Insurers must stop placing bureaucratic and financial barriers between patients and the care that Louisiana law already guarantees. Narrow networks and inflated out-of-network costs undermine treatment adherence and patient survival. Insurers must reform coverage practices to reflect medical necessity, not profit structures.

Louisiana has everything it needs to deliver world-class cancer care: extraordinary physicians, advanced facilities and strong laws. What we lack is a coordinated commitment from legislators, hospitals and insurers to make that care truly accessible.

It is time for our institutions to step up and fund the path to survival.

Kim Sport is an attorney, three-time cancer survivor, president of CALA and founder of Breastoration.

What if corporate America learned Scrooge’s lesson?

Every December, we dust off No executive would lose a “A Christmas Carol” and remind home. ourselves that Ebenezer Scrooge No founder would forgo secuwas redeemed not by becoming rity. poor, but by remembering the No billionaire would be unable people who made his to buy a yacht, perhaps only wealth possible. one a few feet shorter than That detail matters. originally planned.

Scrooge did not lose In other words, lifestyles his business. He did not at the top would remain esgive away his fortune. He sentially unchanged. did not suffer. He simply But at the bottom, where chose to share a small the real work happens, David portion of his abundance would breathe Waldron families with those who labored again. Credit card balances Anderson would disappear. Second for it and discovered that GUEST generosity costs far less jobs would vanish. Parents COLUMNIST would see their children bethan we fear.

Two centuries later, we fore bedtime. live in an economy Dickens could This is not socialism. It is stewnever have imagined. A handful ardship. of companies — Amazon, Apple, It is not charity. It is recogniWalmart, Tesla and others — tion. move goods, money and informaMany of these companies began with founders sleeping under tion at a scale larger than many desks, working impossible hours, governments. fueled by belief, loyalty and risk Their founders and shareholdshared with early employees. ers have accumulated wealth Somewhere along the way, growth measured not in millions, but in created distance, and distance hundreds of billions. dulled gratitude.

At the same time, millions of Markets reward efficiency. their hourly workers are strugBut economies are not merely gling. systems of optimization; they are Many work two jobs. systems of people.

Many rely on food assistance.

When the people packing boxes, Many live one unexpected bill stocking shelves, and driving deaway from crisis, even while helping deliver unprecedented liveries cannot afford the goods corporate profits. they move, something is broken, This is not a moral accusation. even if the stock price is rising.

It is a fact.

Christmas is not about punishSo here is a simple Christmas ment or redistribution. It is about thought experiment. remembering who we are, and What if, just once, these compa- who we owe.

The miracle in “A Christmas nies acted like Scrooge after the Carol” was not Scrooge’s generosghosts?

What if every hourly employee ity. received a $25,000 one-time bonus It was how little it actually cost this Christmas? him.

What if the minimum full-time wage were reset to $25 an hour, David Waldron Anderson is a paired with a 401(k) match and New Orleans-based retired bankcost-effective, reliable healthcare er and author. He is the creator — not extravagant benefits, just of “A Christmas Modern Carol,” a humane ones. modern holiday parable inspired For workers, this would be lifeby Dickens that examines wealth, changing. corporate responsibility and For companies, it would be … moral accountability in a modern manageable.

America.

Simple choices can save lives this holiday season

I see preventable holiday tragedies for a living.

Slow down, stay alert and watch the behavior of Cars flipped into ditches, headlights illuminating your loved ones. Are they more withdrawn than twisted metal, blood mixing with scattered gifts and usual? More agitated? Showing signs of sadness, State Police lights flashing against the night. Famiisolation or even sudden bursts of unusual happilies who should be celebrating are grieving ness? These can be warning signs of depresinstantly — often for mistakes that could sion or suicidal thoughts. The holidays often have been avoided. Every year, I witness magnify grief from past losses, making this lives ending in moments that could have been a critical time to check in on friends, family, prevented if only someone slowed down, paid and neighbors. If you see something, say attention or made a simple choice. something.

Toby J. From November through January, AmeriHolidays bring hidden dangers beyond the Savoy road. Cold fronts can exacerbate chronic illcans celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and GUEST New Year’s. We gather with family, laugh, nesses. Rich meals and large gatherings can COLUMNIST trigger heart attacks, strokes or other medishare meals and look forward to creating memories — but every holiday season also cal emergencies. Fatigue, stress and distracbrings a spike in preventable deaths. People tion can turn ordinary routines into hazards. are rushing to finish last-minute shopping, travel I’ve seen these moments unfold in real life, and to family gatherings or drive after parties and dinthe consequences are devastating: suicides, infant deaths, pedestrian fatalities, motor vehicle crashes ners. These distractions, combined with impaired or distracted drivers, make the holidays some of the and other accidents that could have been prevented.

Every incident leaves families shattered. most dangerous times of the year.

And yet, there is hope. Small choices make a big I always tell friends and family to expect the difference. Slow down on the road, plan extra time unexpected. Life is unpredictable, and every day for travel and take the longer, safer route. Keep could be the last you see a loved one. That advice an eye on your loved ones’ physical and emotional becomes even more critical during the holidays, well-being. Encourage safe behaviors at parties and when travel, stress and celebrations can put anygatherings, remind them to wear seat belts and inone at risk. If you have a choice between a short, dark back road and a longer, well-lit highway, take tervene if someone is impaired or distracted. Every the safer route. That extra 10 or 15 minutes may step you take toward safety can save a life. save your life — or the life of someone you love. On This is my gift to Americans. If I can save one holiday nights, nearly every other driver may be life, I’ve done my job. The holidays do not have to texting, distracted or under the influence of alcohol be defined by tragedy. They can be moments of joy, or drugs. Pedestrians walking in dark clothing, chil- connection and celebration. Slow down, pay attendren leaving family gatherings or drivers leaving tion, and expect the unexpected. Make choices that stores or parties can be hit in a blink. I’ve seen it protect yourself and those you love. Every day is a happen: Cars swerving into oncoming lanes, famigift. Treasure it, protect those around you and let this season be a time of life, not loss. lies never making it home and the chaos of a crash scene illuminated only by emergency lights.

Toby J. Savoy is chief coroner investigator in St. There are other simple steps we can take to mitiLandry Parish and board-certified by the Amerigate loss. Always buckle up. Never drink and drive and avoid texting or scrolling behind the wheel. can Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● 3B

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COMMENTARY

Construction on the Hut 8 data center on La. 964 in October in St. Francisville

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

ISSUE OF THE WEEK ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The rise of data centers around the country, including in Louisiana, has raised several concerns, mainly around energy usage.The data centers are needed to fuel a growing economy centered on artificial intelligence.There’s no doubt that Wall Street is flying high on spending to support AI by high-tech companies, but some are calling for caution.What does the current frenzy around AI mean for the future?

Here are two perspectives:

Some historical context on the AI spending boom

The year 1929 is a yellow caution light as railroads did in the 1860s. In the 1880s, constantly flashing in the national memrailroads accounted for about 60% of the stock market. ory. In his March 4 Inaugural Address, Then came the shakeout as some railHerbert Hoover proclaimed: “In no nation are the fruits of accomplishment more roads went bust. “Building ahead of desecure … I have no fears for the future of mand,” Wooldridge says, “all but guaranour country.” Just 239 days later — tees booms and busts.” However: Oct. 29, Black Tuesday — the stock “Building rail lines in the middle market crashed, causing … it is of nowhere requires a big upfront unclear what. investment. But once you have New York Times financial colbuilt the railway, civilization floods in and the value of the wilderness umnist Andrew Ross Sorkin has rises exponentially.” kicked a hornets’ nest by writing George In just four years (1868 through “1929,” his lively retelling of what Will 1871), 33,000 miles of track were preceded the crash, and what the built. Fortunes were made — and crash precipitated. It is about the lost. But when the financial dust settled, consequences of the crash itself that the the nation was laced together by steel hornets are being heard from. A pugnarails, connecting communities summoned cious cohort, they correctly argue that, but for misguided New Deal policies from into existence by trains.

Today, Wooldridge notes, “digital com1933 through 1939, the decade-long economic Depression would have been much panies are investing heavily well before milder and shorter. revenue streams come online.” Would-be The deep (33%) stock market collapse titans gush about AI “in the same mystical of 1920 did not provoke government activ- tones that the railway barons once talked about manifest destiny.” By shrinking ism. The Roaring Twenties followed. time and space, the railway boom hugely The 1920s brought, Sorkin says, “the benefited the public, especially future genbirth of the modern consumer economy” — cars, radios, household appliances, etc. erations. Will today’s AI boom?

It was fueled by consumer credit. First, The Economist says, “If America’s stockGeneral Motors, then Sears, then many market crashes, it will be one of the most others began selling their products on predicted financial implosions in history.” credit. As did stock brokers.

Stocks are 21% of households’ net worth, The New York Times did not rank the and AI-related assets “are responsible for crash the top story of 1929 (Richard Byrd’s nearly half the increase in Americans’ flight to the South Pole was). But a lost de- wealth over the past year.” And “a fall in stocks comparable to the [early 2000s] dotcade followed. Sorkin and the hornets can debate the causation. Now, about today. com bust would reduce Americans houseThe Wall Street Journal says business holds’ net worth by 8%. That could cause a AI investments might have accounted for big retrenchment in consumer spending.” half of GDP growth, adjusted for inflaThis will be messy. But bet on a net bention, in 2025’s first six months. JPMorgan efit from today’s AI investment mania, Chase says this year rising AI stock prices which now accounts for 1.5% of GDP. boosted consumer spending almost 1%.

In 1969, one enormous, ubiquitous comAnd when the bubble bursts? 1929 and its pany — Sears — accounted for 1% of GDP. aftermath again? Adrian Wooldridge, auSeven years earlier, however, a 44-year-old thor (with Alan Greenspan) of “Capitalism Arkansas retailer borrowed audaciously and opened a store named for him, sort of. in America,” suggests the 19th century Sam Walton called it Wal-Mart Discount again.

City.

In a Bloomberg column, he discerns In 2018, Sears filed for bankruptcy. Then similarities between America’s railroad as now, a new day dawning meant the sunand digital revolutions. Both had transformative impacts on the entire economy, set for older ways. enriching “a handful of titans.” Capital spending on AI currently accounts for Email George Will at georgewill@washabout the same percentage of the economy post.com.

The Bernie Sanders plan to sabotage the future

Most people welcome economic ference between victory and defeat. The growth, but Bernie Sanders hates it. As Blitzkrieg swept all before because the they say, there’s no accounting for taste. Nazis had figured out how to wed innoThe Vermont socialist has come out vations in mobility to advances in radio against data centers, the mass computcommunications. The British, in turn, fended off the Nazi air assault in the Bating facilities essential to the development of artificial intelligence. tle of Britain because they made There are all sorts of NIMBYmaximum use of radar without type reasons for local residents to the Germans realizing it. oppose data centers — they use a Sanders wants us to take our lot of energy and water, they are chances ceding a technological noisy and unsightly — but Sandadvantage to China and hoping everything turns out OK. The ers is against them on principle.

Rich Chinese may be communists — If he can stop the creation of Lowry whereas Sanders is just a socialnew data centers, he can squeeze AI research to a standstill and ist — but even they aren’t this supposedly save American jobs foolish. and give Congress more time to regulate We are in the equivalent of a space the new industry. race, and Sanders is talking about cutWhen Donald Trump floated the idea ting off our supply of rocket fuel. of a Muslim ban during his 2016 presiThere may be cause eventually to regdential campaign, he said we needed a ulate AI, but we don’t even know how it’s moratorium “until our country’s repregoing to develop at the moment; we had sentatives can figure out what the hell is to have the widespread adoption of cars before we had the National Highway going on.”

Traffic Safety Administration.

In a nutshell, that’s the Sanders posiEven if Sanders were to get his way, tion on AI. there’s no stopping AI. China and other This might be the most poisonously foreign countries will continue to sprint stupid idea of the year. ahead, and U.S. companies denied data The sheer destructiveness of it is on centers here at home will go find them par, say, with blocking the creation of overseas. new generators after Thomas Edison McKinsey & Company estimates that set up the Pearl Street Station in 1882 $7 trillion will be invested in data cenon grounds that we didn’t fully understand how electrification would affect ters globally by 2030, with 40% of that cities. Or, prohibiting the mining of coal coming from the United States. This in Britain at the outset of the Industrial investment has already been a boon to Revolution because the coming changes the U.S. economy, making up for any were too hard to fathom. weakness due to other factors. It’d be The comparison with the Industrial perverse to affirmatively seek to cut off Revolution is apt. The benefits to Britain a capital investment spigot that every of leading the way were vast, in terms of other country in the world should envy. economic growth, trade, the welfare of The practical issues with data centers, its people and national power. primarily energy usage, are solvable by There is a winner-take-all aspect to rationalizing our energy policies. It will these sort of tech races. The company be shame on us — an energy behemoth that takes the lead and gets people accli- — if we can’t figure out how to power mated to its product earns revenues that the research that might create the definit can plow back into further research ing innovations of our age. and development. In so doing, it mainAs for Bernie Sanders, he calls himtains its lead in the market. self a progressive. Yet, his troglodyte Why wouldn’t we want this company opposition to a potential productivity to be American rather than Chinese? revolution shows that he’s really the naThere will also be crucial military aption’s foremost reactionary socialist. plications of AI. History says that a leg up in technical acumen can make the dif- Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the

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4B ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Landry suggests college football changes in op-ed

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP

Victor Palmer, 10, takes the lead while riding his new scooter with his father, CJ, left, his brother, Mark, second from left, and friend Daniel Butte, 11, while testing out their Christmas presents on Thursday at Moncus Park in Lafayette.

RIDING IN THE PARK

Rider Daniel Butte, 11, pops a wheelie on his bike on Christmas Day at Moncus Park in Lafayette.

Skateboarder Lucas hops in the air on Christmas Day at the skate park at Thomas Park in Lafayette.

Gov. Jeff Landry has penned an op-ed arguing that a “broken system” for college athletics is responsible for unreasonable spending on football by universities — and the drama around LSU hiring former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.

“I had no idea how broken college athletics is until very recently, when I was pulled into LSU’s football program,” Landry wrote in RealClearPolicy, a national domestic policy publication. “I learned way more than I ever wanted to know about how college football operates and frankly, the way the sport is run is a complete mess.”

Landry called for centralized governance to determine when players sign, when they can transfer, how coaches move and “set spending caps, so schools aren’t spending themselves into insolvency.”

He also suggested unifying college football’s media rights, which he said would bring in more revenue to be distributed proportionally across conferences.

“This is a national crisis, not a local one. And only Washington has the authority to create a real solution,” Landry wrote. “We need the President to urge Congress to pass targeted legislation that will fully fix this broken system.”

Landry made national sports headlines with fiery comments in October after former LSU coach Brian Kelly was fired. He blasted the size of coaches’ contracts and buyouts, and publicly rebuked then-

athletic director Scott Woodward, who parted ways with the school soon after.

LSU went on to hire Kiffin on a seven-year, $91 million contract, which pays more per year than Kelly’s deal.

In the op-ed, Landry criticized the college football recruiting calendar, which he said “forces teams to make coaching and roster decisions during a tight in-season window each year.” The early signing period for high school prospects was from Dec. 3-5, and the transfer portal opens Jan. 2-16.

“A school that loses a coach late in the season may have only days to find a new one before high school recruits sign and college players jump into the transfer portal,” he wrote. “This compressed timeline is what causes schools to pay huge buyouts and poach other schools’ coaches before the season is over.”

Kiffin and Landry spoke during the hiring process.

Acknowledging the drama that came with plucking a coach from a playoff-bound team, Landry wrote: “It makes no sense. But to those critical of LSU’s coaching search and my role in it, I say: don’t hate the player, hate the game! We did what we had to.”

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Ohio St. assistant Patricia fitting in at college nicely

BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints outside linebacker Demario Davis slows down Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard during a game at the Caesars Superdome on Dec. 14.

GOOD STUFFS

Matt Patricia is used to postseason runs from his days as the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots.

But Patricia acknowledges the preparation for the College Football Playoff is different than the NFL. Patricia is in his first season as the Ohio State defensive coordinator as the No. 2-seeded Buckeyes (12-1) get ready to face 10th-seeded Miami (11-2) in a CFP quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31.

“It’s a learning (process) for me. We’d have bye-week ä Ohio State kind of moments in the NFL, but vs. Miami, this is a really 6 P.M.WEDNESDAy, ESPN long layover and break,” Patricia said. “Right now, I’m trying to trust the expertise in the building. Some of the things we did transfer, you know, because we have some different kind of scheduling and when everybody is in school and that stuff.”

Ohio State was off for two weeks after its 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game Dec. 6. Players mostly were occupied with final exams while waiting to see who they would face in the Cotton Bowl.

With the Buckeyes going for consecutive national championships for the first

ä See PATRICIA, page 3C

Saints excel at shutting down short-yardage situations

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Being completely honest, Cam Jordan doesn’t like it when opponents line up to go for it on fourth and short against the New Orleans Saints.

Jordan wants to see the punter come out after a third-down stop, because that is the signal the defense has done its job.

But if teams are going to test the Saints, then so be it.

“It means they don’t fear us,” Jordan said. “It’s like when you’re talking to your kids, and sometimes they don’t listen. I’m telling you what I need you to do. Punt it. If you don’t want to punt it, OK, then it’s going to cost you.”

Those aren’t empty words, at least not all of the time.

Though short-yardage situations typically favor NFL

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce young is pressured by Saints defensive end Carl Granderson during a game at the ä See SAINTS, page 3C Caesars Superdome on Dec. 14.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RyAN SUN

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia arrives before a game against Michigan on Nov. 29 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Not much separated Ole Miss, Georgia

BY PATRICK MAGEE Staff writer

Georgia rallied for a 43-35 victory over Ole Miss when the two teams met Oct. 18 in Athens, Georgia, and that game will be picked apart and analyzed as the two teams prepare to meet again on New Year’s Day in the Sugar Bowl.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, we’ll find out whether the Ole Miss offense has survived the departure of head coach Lane Kiffin and whether Georgia can build off its dominant win over Alabama in the SEC title game.

When the Rebels collapsed late against Georgia earlier this season, there had to be concern in Oxford that Kiffin’s squad was in danger of entering a midseason slump.

Just a week prior, Ole Miss had to fight and claw its way to a 24-21 victory over Washington State despite being a 321/2-point favorite.

Those worries were washed away the next week when Ole Miss went on the road to earn a 34-26 win over Oklahoma.

The Rebels haven’t been threatened since that win over Oklahoma, with a 34-24 win over Florida on Nov. 15 providing the smallest margin of victory during that stretch. Considering Ole Miss outgained the Gators by more than 200 yards, the 10-point margin didn’t accurately reflect the team’s dominance.

With nine consecutive wins

FILE PHOTO By JOHN OUBRE

Rummel running back Logan Diggs carries the ball against Catholic High during the 2020 football season at Memorial Stadium.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By COLIN HUBBARD

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton runs with the ball during a game against Ole Miss on Oct. 18 in Athens, Ga. ä Ole Miss vs. Georgia, 7 P.M.THURSDAy, ESPN

Georgia will have nearly a month’s worth of rest while Ole Miss took a few lumps in a decisive 41-10 win over Tulane in the first round of the CFP last Saturday.

When the two teams face off in New Orleans, 75 days will have passed, but it’s worth noting what happened the last time they played.

under its belt, Georgia has been similarly dominant over that same stretch. It was also Florida, in a 2421 game in Athens, that gave the Bulldogs their toughest fight since that hard-fought victory over Ole Miss.

There was also the bruising 16-9 Bulldogs dominate fourth victory over rival Georgia Tech in Ole Miss appeared to be in conthe regular-season finale, but a 28-7 trol after three quarters with a 35thumping of Alabama in the SEC 26 advantage, but Georgia owned title game indicates that Kirby Smart’s team is at its best entering ä See REVIEW, page 3C the Sugar Bowl.

Diggs, Jones among Louisiana spice in the Sugar Bowl

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE

was snapped — not to Chambliss, but to Diggs, who quickly raised his hands to catch the shotgun snap Logan Diggs stood in the back- and followed his blockers 3 yards field to the left of Ole Miss quar- into the end zone. The direct-snap terback Trinidad Chambliss, touchdown for Diggs — a former slightly bent at the waist and with Rummel standout whose five-year his hands against the outer part of college career included an ACL his thighs. ä See BOWL, page 3C Chambliss clapped, and the ball Staff writer

2C ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Faulks adds ex-Southern player Balancier to staff

A familiar name is coming back to Southern as part of Marshall Faulk’s first coaching staff.

Former standout player Anthony Balancier will be the defensive backs coach, a university official confirmed to The Advocate on Wednesday.

Balancier makes his way back to Baton Rouge after serving as the defensive quality control analyst and assistant cornerbacks coach at Colorado from 2023-25.

Balancier was an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference secondteam linebacker as a junior in 2012. He was named the defensive MVP of the 2013 SWAC championship game in a 34-27 double-overtime win. He had 11 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in the game.

Nuggets forward Johnson to miss at least 4 weeks

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws during the first half against the Washington Commanders on Thursday in Landover, Md.

Denver Nuggets forward Cam Johnson is expected to miss at least four to six weeks after hyperextending his right knee Tuesday in Dallas, the team announced before hosting Minnesota on Christmas.

Johnson underwent an MRI that revealed a bone bruise Wednesday.

Johnson, 29, is averaging 11.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in his first season as a Nugget. Denver traded Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round pick for him in June. He started the season in a nasty slump but turned a corner around mid-November, helping the Nuggets to a 10-5 record in games without Gordon and Braun.

In his last 17 games, Johnson was averaging 14.6 points on 52.3% shooting from beyond the arc.

Cowboys start fast to beat Commanders

Marlins pick up closer Fairbanks on 1-year deal

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NICK WASS

BY DAVID GINSBURG Associated Press

LANDOVER, Md. — The Dallas Cowboys had every excuse for starting the game with a thud. Instead, they roared out in front and made the most of a road trip on Christmas Day. Dak Prescott threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns, and the Cowboys took control at the outset against Washington by reaching the end zone on each of their first three possessions in a 30-23 victory Thursday.

Both teams previously were eliminated from playoff contention, which severely lessened the significance of this matchup between longtime NFC East rivals.

But you couldn’t tell that to the Cowboys (7-8-1), who raced to a 21-3 lead.

“It was huge,” Prescott said.

“Not playing for anything, you want to get on top and not give them any hope. It’s important to make them play from behind, but we’ve got to do a better job of finishing.”

The Commanders (4-12) cut the gap to a touchdown on three different occasions, but they couldn’t complete the comeback and absorbed their 10th loss in 11 games.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was absolutely certain his team wouldn’t be flat. Not after losing three straight and not with a .500 season still possible.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson catches a touchdown pass as Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin defends during the first half a game on Thursday in Landover, Md. “I never worry about these guys’ effort. I really don’t,” he said. “These guys are built different, man. I had no question we would come out and play hard. I thought we were hitting on all cylinders offensively early on.”

Prescott completed 19 of 37 passes and helped Dallas convert all six of its fourth-down tries. His two TD passes gave him 30, tying Tony Romo’s franchise record of four seasons with at least 30 touchdown throws.

Prescott shrugged off six sacks, including three by Jer’Zhan New-

ton.

“I was in my zone. Whenever I catch fire, it’s hard to cool me off,” Newton said.

Prescott can attest to that, noting, “I took some hits, but I was able to come out clean.”

Playing without injured quarterbacks Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Marcus Mariota (quad, hand), Washington turned to 39-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson. Making his 10th career start and first since 2021, Johnson went 15 for 23 for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

“I was just trying to play clean and give us a chance to win the game,” Johnson said. “We had a chance. Unfortunately, we just came up short.”

Dallas ran 87 offensive plays to 41 for Washington. The Cowboys also dominated the time of possession by more than 17 minutes. But the outcome wasn’t decided until Dallas kept hold of the ball for the final two minutes, ending the game by converting a fourth down.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt scored on runs of 10 and 72 yards for Washington. The latter touchdown got the Commanders to 24-17 in the third quarter, but Dallas restored its double-digit lead with a 52-yard field by Brandon Aubrey.

Aubrey added a 51-yarder to make it 30-20 with 3:59 remaining.

After Prescott threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ferguson on the game’s opening drive, Johnson went 3 for 3 for 68 yards to get Washington to 7-3.

The key play was a 41-yard completion to Deebo Samuel, Johnson’s longest since 2018. Samuel finished by running into Donovan Wilson, knocking the safety’s helmet off.

On their second possession, the Cowboys converted three fourth downs on a 17-play march that ended with a touchdown run by Javonte Williams. Prescott then made it three TDs in three drives with an 86-yard scoring pass to KaVontae Turpin.

Vikings force 6 TOs, eliminate Lions from playoffs

BY DAVE CAMPBELL

AP pro football writer

MINNEAPOLIS — Jordan Addison took a jet sweep handoff 65 yards for the game-sealing touchdown with 3:43 left after the Minnesota Vikings forced six turnovers and eliminated the Detroit Lions from contention for the playoffs with a 23-10 victory Thursday.

Harrison Smith, the 14th-year veteran safety, had one of the two interceptions and one of the five sacks of Jared Goff as the Vikings (8-8) won their fourth straight game. Goff was charged with three lost fumbles, once on a sack and twice on errant snaps by backup center Kingsley Eguakun.

With the third straight loss for the Lions (8-8), the Green Bay Packers clinched at least a wildcard spot and could still catch the Chicago Bears for the NFC North title that went to Detroit the past two seasons and Minnesota the year before that.

The Lions and Vikings combined

for 29 wins last season, making this an attractive matchup for the NFL’s three-game Christmas Day showcase before injuries and other assorted setbacks took them out of the race.

Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer started for the injured J.J. McCarthy at quarterback and — with the Vikings missing starters at both tackle spots, center and tight end — took seven sacks while going just 9 for 16 for 51 yards against a relentless pass rush.

The Vikings had only 75 net yards before Addison took the ball and burst around the right end untouched for his longest career score, capping it with a dive at the pylon to make sure the ball got in as he was pushed ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BRUCE KLUCKHOHN out of bounds.

But Brosmer protected the ball Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is chased by Minnesota Vikings the way Goff usually does, help- linebacker Dallas Turner during the first half of a game on Thursday in ing set up Will Reichard for three Minneapolis. field goals and making sure the remarkable effort by the defense didn’t get wasted.

Isaac TeSlaa late in the second That was the first passing touchGoff went 18 for 29 for 197 quarter to cap a 19-play, 80-yard down allowed by the Vikings in yards and a touchdown pass to drive that took 10:08 off the clock. seven games.

The Miami Marlins made their first sizable free-agent investment in two years on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with veteran righthander closer Pete Fairbanks on a one-year, $13 million deal.

Fairbanks will become the team’s second-highest-paid player, behind Sandy Alcantara, and gives the Marlins their most established closer in several years.

Fairbanks, 32, had 27 saves (in 32 chances) and a 2.83 ERA in 61 games for Tampa Bay last season, allowing 63 runners in 601/3 innings with 59 strikeouts.

He had 90 saves and a 2.98 ERA in seven seasons for Tampa Bay. Peter Bendix, the president of baseball operations for the Marlins, was familiar with Fairbanks because of their time together with the Rays.

Backup QB throws one pass to win Hawaii Bowl

HONOLULU — Backup quarterback Luke Weaver threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds left, and Hawaii rallied for a 35-31 comeback victory over California in a thrilling Hawaii Bowl on Wednesday night.

Weaver entered the game after Micah Alejado took a hard hit on the previous play. With the Rainbow Warriors (9-4) in range for a tying field goal, coach Timmy Chang took a shot at the end zone.

Alejado finished 32 of 46 for 274 yards and three touchdowns, helping Hawaii rally from an early 21-0 deficit. Pofele Ashlock had 14 catches for 123 yards and two TDs for the Rainbow Warriors, who scored 22 points in the fourth quarter.

Norwegian biathlete, 27, found dead in hotel room

Norwegian biathlon Olympic hopeful Sivert Guttorm Bakken died suddenly. He was 27.

“The International Biathlon Union is deeply saddened to learn that Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken has passed away at the age of 27 during a training camp in Italy,” the sport’s governing body said Tuesday.

Bakken was found dead in his hotel room in the Alpine town of Lavaze in the Trentino region of Italy, Norwegian TV NRK said. Bakken was diagnosed with myocarditis, a heart condition, in 2022 and took a break.

He was the reigning European champion in the 10-kilometer sprint and two relays, and was preparing to compete in the Winter Olympics.

H The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● 3C

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BOWL

Continued from page 1C tear at the end of his one season with LSU — came on the first play of the fourth quarter in a College Football Playoff win on Saturday against Tulane.

On the other side of the ball for Ole Miss was starting linebacker Andrew Jones, a John Ehret product who spent two seasons at Memphis before becoming one of the top tacklers in the country while at Grambling, leading to another transfer to Ole Miss for his final college season.

The next game for the duo will come New Year’s Day in the Allstate Sugar Bowl for the CFP quarterfinal against Georgia — a sort of homecoming for both New Orleans area natives.

Diggs scored his touchdown after first-team all-SEC running back Kewan Lacy went out with what Ole Miss coach Pete Golding told reporters afterward was a bruised shoulder.

Against Tulane, Diggs ran four times for 11 yards and had two receptions for 25 yards. His season totals are 29 carries for 179 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and four touchdowns, plus four receptions for 37 yards.

Diggs has not topped four carries in a game since he ran seven times for 91 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Georgia State.

This is the first fully healthy season for Diggs since he tore an ACL while playing in what turned out to

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Bonnabel running back Kyrin Brown is stopped by John Ehret linebackers Jersey Brown, left, and Andrew Jones on Oct. 22, 2020, in Metairie. Jones now plays for Ole Miss. be his final game with LSU. Diggs played his first two college seasons at Notre Dame but transferred to LSU for the 2023 season.

He was the second-leading rusher behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels going into the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin that season.

Diggs had one carry for 1 yard in that game, and he was on the field for several other plays as a blocking back. He ran pass routes on

other plays.

Late in the first quarter, Diggs caught a swing pass from out of the backfield. After a tackle near the Wisconsin sideline, he stayed on the grass at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, for a moment and pressed both hands against his left knee until teammate Brian Thomas helped him to his feet. Diggs limped across the field to the LSU sideline. The play got negated by an illegal formation

the more impressive considering Stockton was banged up enterContinued from page 1C ing the game, missing a pair of practices early in the week as he battled an oblique injury.

He showed up strong in crucial the final 15 minutes at Sanford Stamoments against Ole Miss, findium.

The Bulldogs outscored the ishing with 26 completions on 31 Rebels 17-0 in the fourth quar- attempts for 289 yards and five ter with quarterback Gunner touchdowns. He also ran 10 times Stockton connecting on touch- for 59 yards and a TD. down passes to Nate Frazier and Lawson Luckie. Lafayette native Rebels struggle to run Peyton Woodring put the finishing While Ole Miss QB Trinidad touches on the win with a 42-yard Chambliss has received much field goal with 2:06 remaining. of the buzz this season as the The Georgia defense held Ole leader of the offense, it’s the Miss to 13 yards of total offense rushing attack that sets the tone. in the fourth quarter.

The Rebels have gained 2,607 yards and 36 touchdowns on 528 Stockton stands out attempts for an average of 4.6 In the second half, Stockton yards a carry.

Sophomore running back Kecompleted all 12 of his pass attempts for 135 yards and three wan Lacy, a Missouri transfer, has run 273 times for 1,366 touchdowns.

The performance was made all yards and 21 touchdowns this

season. Against Georgia, he ran 12 times for 31 yards and two touchdowns. As a team, the Rebels managed just 88 yards on 24 carries.

That’s a significant dip from the Rebels’ average of 185.6 rushing yards a game.

REVIEW

Gator Bowl win against Duke.

Ole Miss coaches never pressured Diggs to come back from the injury sooner than he did.

“I didn’t feel rushed at all,” Diggs told reporters in March. “I feel like it was the perfect time to come back.”

Jones came to Ole Miss after two seasons at Grambling, where he ranked sixth in the country in total tackles (122) and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented annually to the top defensive player in the FCS. Jones redshirted his first season at Memphis and ended his twoyear stay at the school with four total tackles in 14 games.

Jones has started the last four games after he registered only three tackles through the first six games but drew some notice with four tackles late in the first matchup against Georgia. His eight tackles in the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State were a season-high.

Other South Louisiana products on the Sugar Bowl rosters include Ole Miss safety Sage Ryan, another LSU transfer who attended Lafayette Christian. Also on the team are freshman safety Anthony Robinson (Destrehan High School), and offensive linemen Jude Foster (Southern Lab) and Ethan Fields (Dutchtown). Corey Adams, a 2025 signee out of Edna Karr, died in a shooting just outside Memphis in the summer. For Georgia, kicker Peyton Woodring is from Ascension Episcopal.

penalty.

Diggs entered the transfer portal soon after that game and chose Ole Miss, a school that recruited him hard three years earlier when he was a senior at Rummel.

His time at Ole Miss consisted largely of rehabbing from the ACL tear in 2024, when he missed the entire regular season and wore a knee brace when he made his team debut with two touches (one carry, Contact Christopher Dabe at one reception) for 21 yards in the cdabe@theadvocate.com

Georgia TEs deliver Georgia hadn’t leaned on its tight ends much entering the contest against Ole Miss, but Stockton found his big targets often against the Rebels.

Luckie pulled in five receptions for 43 yards and three touchdowns while Oscar Delp caught four passes for 42 yards.

It’s a fair bet that Pete Golding, the Rebels defensive coordinator turned head coach, will have to find a way to make sure the defense doesn’t let the tight ends get loose in the Caesars Superdome.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By COLIN HUBBARD

Ole Miss wide receiver Deuce Alexander catches a pass against Georgia on Oct. 18 in Athens, Ga.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RyAN SUN

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day, left, celebrates with defensive coordinator Matt Patricia after the team’s win against Michigan on Nov. 29 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

PATRICIA

Continued from page 1C time in school history, Patricia’s first season in Columbus has exceeded expectations. He was hired after Jim Knowles left for Penn State, tasked with leading a unit that returned only three starters, none on the defensive line.

Patricia and Ohio State made an emphatic opening statement in their Aug. 30 14-7 victory over Texas and continued the momentum throughout the season.

The Buckeyes are ranked either first or second nationally in nine different categories.

They lead the nation in scoring defense (8.2 points per game), passing yards (129.1), red-zone scores (66.7%) and fewest plays of 10 or more yards (90).

Ohio State had three AP AllAmerica first-team selections on the defense — defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, linebacker Arvell Reese and safety Caleb Downs. All three, plus linebacker Sonny Styles, are projected to be first-round picks in the April NFL draft.

Patricia, who returned to coaching in college for the first time since 2002, is a finalist for the Broyles Award, which is given to the top assistant coach in college football.

“The players have done an unbelievable job. Again, give them all the credit. I think they’ve played so hard and aggressive and flying around on the field.

And it is a lot of fun. I tell them all the time, it’s such a privilege

to be up there in front of the group and talk to the group,” Patricia said. “And just for me, personally, it has been so much fun to come back to college and have that little bit of a youthful energy with the players that we have here and their excitement to go out and play.”

When Patricia was hired, many lauded his ability to adjust his personnel by running multiple fronts and coverages. He also has shown the ability to relate to players.

“When he first stepped on campus here, it was like a long-lost family member that just came back from whatever he came from, but he came back home,” defensive end Kenyatta Jackson said. “And I mean, all the guys love him. Even offensive guys.

He don’t just talk to the starters or whatever the case may be, but he talks to everybody. And I think that’s why everybody loves him.”

One person who hasn’t been surprised about Patricia’s success is the guy who hired him.

“His background speaks for itself and putting guys into a situation to be successful. And every player just wants someone that’s going to be there to get them better but also wants someone to care about them. He’s done both of those things,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “It’s great to have somebody in the building who has been through some of the games he’s been through, the Super Bowls and a lot of playoff games, so there’s a confidence level the guys have in him. So, I think all of that adds up to what you’re seeing.”

offenses — on average, teams across the league are converting 66.7% of their third-and-1 opportunities this season — the Saints have made those situations closer to a coin flip.

The Saints have given up a first down on 12 of 21 third-and-1 situations — a 42.9% stuff rate that ranks sixth in the NFL this season.

New Orleans also has been especially tough on fourth and 1 lately, yielding just four first downs on eight attempts in the last six games.

“If we can get off the field on fourth and short, that’s a turnover for us,” defensive lineman Bryan Bresee said. “We don’t expect people to be able to get that yard on us. We’ve proved it over and over again that we can do it, so I feel like if we’re doing anything less than that, that’s on us.”

The Saints’ performance on third down is just one piece of what has become an increasingly clear picture: In its first year under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, this defense has turned around quite a few problem areas from the previous regime.

Staley’s defense is allowing 4.95 yards per offensive play. If it maintained that pace, that would be the lowest mark by any Saints defense since 1997. It represents nearly a full yard improvement from last season (5.77).

That applies to rushing defense (126.2 yards allowed per game and 4.1 yards per carry this year, vs.

141.4 ypg and 4.9 ypc last season) and passing defense (177.3 ypg and on track to be team’s best year since 1996). It also is true of the pass rush (the Saints are on pace for 42 sacks this season, their best year since 2022). The Saints have forced more turnovers this year (18) than last (17) with two games to go.

It hasn’t been a perfect season by any stretch, but the improvement from last season and even from the start of this season is even to find.

That includes those gotta-have-it situations when the Saints have a yard or less to defend.

The Saints were a mess in those

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints defensive end Cam Jordan, left, congratulates defensive end Chase young after a fumble recovery at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday against the New york Jets. situations last season. They allowed opponents to convert 19 of 26 thirdand-1 attempts (73.1%) and 7 of 9 fourth-and-1 attempts (77.8%).

This season, they’ve improved both numbers by about 15 percentage points.

Some of that credit goes to the dirty-work players on the interior who rarely light up the box scores.

Offseason acquisitions Davon Godchaux and Jonathan Bullard have made the Saints stronger at the point of attack.

“That’s the monster in the middle that isn’t talked about enough,” Jordan said. “For us to have the success we have on these third and shorts, fourth and shorts — it’s interior play.

“Let the big men eat, and let the edges rush.”

But it’s a collective effort. In order to have a truly effective shortyardage defense, Staley said, the second- and third-level defenders need to seek out contact. Demario Davis has made several critical stops, and the defensive backfield also has chipped in — like Kool-Aid McKinstry did with a chase-down tackle on fourth down

against Miami earlier this season.

“We practice a lot of those highleverage situations, and we scout it heavily,” Staley said. “We really try to pour into it, because any time you get into one of those (downs and distances), whether it’s a third or fourth and 1 or it’s on the goal line, big things are at stake.”

New Orleans has defended only 35 such plays this season — a fraction of its overall defensive snaps — but the high-leverage moments can play a huge factor in swinging the outcome of games.

The fourth-down stops are turnovers. A third-and-1 stop can be the difference between a punt and a touchdown drive.

“You look at the win probability after knocking one of those down, it totally changes the complexion of a football game,” Staley said. “I think that we’ve been able to do a good job of that this year. We just need to stay the course. They’re not easy downs, and you’re just one game away from feeling different.”

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

4C ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Kolek’s big block sparks Knicks in comeback win

BY BRIAN MAHONEY AP basketball writer

NEW YORK — Tyler Kolek sprinted back to chase down Donovan Mitchell and had enough energy left to gloat about his defensive stop afterward.

“Right when Donovan Mitchell was on the ground, I told him that was all ball,” Kolek said.

He was right. A replay review turned what was originally called a foul into a block with 1:45 remaining, one of Kolek’s pivotal plays that had fans chanting his name inside Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day as the New York Knicks rallied to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124 on Thursday.

Cleveland led most of the way and was ahead by 17 points with under 101/ 2 minutes remaining. But Kolek and fellow reserves Mitchell Robinson and Jordan Clarkson helped spark the comeback, with Kolek scoring 11 of his 16 points in the final period.

Yet it was the second-year

his shot.

A foul was called, and Mitchell grabbed his lower arm in hopes of selling the call. He wouldn’t have needed to had he not appeared to slow down a bit as he neared the rim.

“Lay it up, Dom. Lay it up with one foot,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He knew it. I think he tried to do the two-foot gather and go for the dunk … but he knows. He’ll tell you.”

Mitchell did later acknowledge that he slowed up, because he never expected Kolek to be there.

“Credit to him, man. I didn’t see him at all,” Mitchell said. “I don’t slow up unless there’s nobody ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA around and he was like at the wing.

I didn’t even know anybody was beNew york Knicks guard Tyler Kolek reacts after a 3-pointer in the second hind me. So, credit to him. Hell of half of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday in New york. a play. That’s winning basketball.”

Kolek kept it up afterward. guard’s play on the other end of the Garland scooped it up and threw The Cavs maintained possession floor that had fans chanting “Tyler it ahead toward Mitchell, who was because Kolek had batted the alone near the basket. Kolek, a few ball out of bounds. They missed Kolek! Tyler Kolek!”

Jalen Brunson lost control of the steps behind when Mitchell caught their next shot and he tracked ball with Cleveland leading 117- it, raced back and swung his hand down the rebound near the side116 with 1:47 remaining. Darius down as Mitchell was going up for line, then fed Mikal Bridges for

a jumper that gave the Knicks a 118-117 lead.

It was on that play that the chants broke out for the player who got little time as a rookie but is emerging as a key contributor under coach Mike Brown, and was needed down the stretch after Josh Hart left after appearing to roll his ankle earlier in the fourth.

But it’s the block of the All-Star Mitchell that figured to get most of the highlights.

“We always talk about next-play speed and I saw him running and honestly if he ran and just did a regular layup, I wouldn’t have caught up to him,” Kolek said.

“But he wanted to do some windmill (stuff). He slowed down. He was trying to do something crazy.”

Brunson scored 34 points, and Clarkson had 25 for the Knicks.

Mitchell had 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Cleveland. Garland added 20 points and 10 assists, but the Cavaliers blew their chance at a third straight win.

SCOREBOARD Odds Sports Betting Line NFL Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at LA CHRGRS 1½ 1½ (39½) Houston at GREEN BAY 1½ 3½ (40½) Baltimore Sunday FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Pittsburgh 2½ 3 (34½) at CLE at CINCINNATI 4 7½ (53½) Arizona Seattle 1½ 7 (42½) at CAR Jacksonville 1½ 6½ (48½) at IND Tampa Bay 1 5½ (45½) at MIAMI New England 1½ 13½ (43) at NY JETS New Orleans 3½ 2½ (39½) at TEN NY Giants 2½ 1½ (41½) at VEGAS at BUFFALO 1½ 1½ (44) Phila at SAN FRAN 3 3 (52½) Chicago

Monday

FAVORITE LA Rams

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 8½ 8½ (49½)at ATLANTA

College Football Friday

GameAbove Sports Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Northwestrn 12½ 10½ (43½) C. Michign Rate Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Minnesota 3 1½ (43½) New Mex First Responder Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG UTSA 8½ 5½ (60½) Florida Intl

Saturday

Military Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Pittsburgh 10½ Pinstripe Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Clemson 3½ Fenway Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Army 2½ Pop-Tarts Bowl FAVORITE OPEN BYU 3½ Arizona Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Fresno State 3½ New Mexico Bowl FAVORITE OPEN North Texas 6½ State Gator Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Missouri 7 Texas Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Houston 3½

Monday

TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 10½ (52½) E. Carolina TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3 (48½) Penn St. TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 9½ (43½) UConn TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3½ (55½) Ga Tech TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 5½ (41½)Miami (OH) TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 5½ (53) San Diego TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 4 (44½) Virginia TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 2½ (41½) LSU

Birmingham Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Ga Southern 3½ 7 (59½) Applchn St

Tuesday

Independence Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Louisiana Tech 6½ 9½ (51½) C. Carolina Music City Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Tennessee 8½ 2½ (61½) Illinois Alamo Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG USC 5½ 6½ (55½) TCU

Wednesday

ReliaQuest Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Vanderbilt 3½ Sun Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Duke 1½ Citrus Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Texas 4½ Las Vegas Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Utah 13½ Cotton Bowl FAVORITE OPEN Ohio State 9½

Thursday, Jan. 1

TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 4½ (47½) Iowa TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3 (49½) Arizona St. TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 7½ (48½) Michigan TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 16½ (50½) Nebraska TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 9½ (42½) Miami (FL)

Orange Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Oregon 1½ 1½ (52½) Texas Tech Rose Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Indiana 6½ 7 (48½) Alabama Sugar Bowl New Orleans FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Georgia 6½ 6½ (56½) Ole Miss

Friday, Jan. 2

Armed Forces Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Texas State 6½ 11½ (59½) Rice Liberty Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Navy 6½ 7 (54½) Cincinnati Duke’s Mayo Bowl

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Mississippi St. 2½ 3 (53½) W. Forest Holiday Bowl FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Arizona 1½ 3 (51½) SMU

Pro basketball NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division New York Boston Toronto Philadelphia Brooklyn

L 9 11 13 12 19

Pct .700 .621 .581 .571 .321

GB — 2½ 3½ 4 11

Orlando Miami Atlanta Charlotte Washington

W 17 15 15 10 5

L 13 15 16 20 23

Pct .567 .500 .484 .333 .179

GB — 2 2½ 7 11

Detroit Cleveland Chicago Milwaukee Indiana

W 24 17 14 12 6

L 6 15 15 18 24

Pct .800 .531 .483 .400 .200

GB — 8 9½ 12 18

Central Division

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division San Antonio Houston Memphis Dallas New Orleans

W 23 17 14 12 8

L 7 10 16 19 23

Pct GB .767 — .630 4½ .467 9 .387 11½ .258 15½

Oklahoma City Denver Minnesota Portland Utah

W 26 21 20 12 10

L 5 8 10 18 19

Pct GB .839 — .724 4 .667 5½ .400 13½ .345 15

L.A. Lakers Phoenix Golden State L.A. Clippers Sacramento

W 19 16 15 8 7

L 9 13 15 21 23

Pct GB .679 — .552 3½ .500 5 .276 11½ .233 13

Northwest Division

Pacific Division

Wednesday’s Games No games scheduled.

Thursday’s Games

New York 126, Cleveland 124 San Antonio 117, Oklahoma City 102 Golden State 126, Dallas 116 Houston at L.A. Lakers, n Minnesota at Denver, n

Friday’s Games

Pro football NFL AMERICAN CONFERENCE x-New England x-Buffalo e-Miami e-N.Y. Jets

W L 12 3 11 4 6 9 3 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .733 .400 .200

PF 410 434 317 282

PA 300 344 369 426

x-Jacksonville Houston Indianapolis e-Tennessee

W L 11 4 10 5 8 7 3 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .733 .667 .533 .200

PF 410 346 419 251

PA 312 249 351 403

Pittsburgh Baltimore e-Cincinnati e-Cleveland

W L 9 6 7 8 5 10 3 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .600 .467 .333 .200

PF 365 359 359 246

PA 350 348 458 355

x-Denver x-L.A. Chargers e-Kansas City e-Las Vegas

W L 12 3 11 4 6 9 2 13

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .733 .400 .133

PF 362 349 337 217

PA 295 301 294 386

South

North

West

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East y-Philadelphia e-Dallas

W 10 7

L 5 8

T 0 1

0 0

.250 332 434 .133 313 412

Carolina Tampa Bay e-Atlanta e-New Orleans

W L 8 7 7 8 6 9 5 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-Minnesota

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-San Francisco x-L.A. Rams e-Arizona

W L 12 3 11 4 11 4 3 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .733 .733 .200

PF 443 392 457 321

PA 279 320 299 414

South

West

e-Eliminated from playoffs x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division Thursday’s Games Dallas 30, Washington 23 Minnesota 23, Detroit 10 Denver at Kansas City, n

Saturday’s Games

Pct PF PA .667 349 289 .469 454 477

College basketball

Dec. 22

State men’s schedule

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

No games scheduled.

Louisville 27, Toledo 22

New Orleans Bowl

Minnesota 23, Detroit 10

Detroit 0 7 0 3 — 10 Minnesota 7 0 6 10 — 23 First Quarter Min_A.Jones 1 run (Reichard kick), 1:35.

Second Quarter Det_TeSlaa 4 pass from Goff (Bates kick), 1:05.

Third Quarter Min_FG Reichard 52, 3:03.

Min_FG Reichard 56, 1:57.

Fourth Quarter Det_FG Bates 48, 4:39.

Min_Addison 65 run (Reichard kick), 3:43.

Min_FG Reichard 42, 1:04.

Det Min First downs 16 11

Las Vegas No. 15 Utah vs. Nebraska, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)

College Football Playoff

Quarterfinals At Cotton Bowl, Arlington, Texas Miami at No. 3 Ohio St., 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

FCS Playoffs

Semifinals Illinois St. 30, Villanova 14 Montana St. 48, Montana 23

Jan. 5

FCS Championship Nashville, Tenn.

No. 2 Montana St. (13-2) vs. Illinois St. (12-4), 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Thursday’s games Friday’s games

No games scheduled.

Saturday’s games

No games scheduled.

Sunday’s games

Thursday’s games

Honolulu Hawaii 35, Cal 31

State women’s schedule No games scheduled.

Friday’s games

No games scheduled.

Friday’s games

Saturday’s games

GameAbove Sports Bowl

Sunday’s games

Detroit Central Michigan vs. Northwestern, noon (ESPN)

No games scheduled.

Southeastern at Texas, 1 p.m.

Alabama State at LSU, 3 p.m.

Rate Bowl

Hockey

First Responder Bowl

NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE

Phoenix New Mexico vs. Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) Dallas FIU vs. UTSA, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday’s games Military Bowl

Annapolis, Md. Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina, 10 a.m. (ESPN)

Pinstripe Bowl

Bronx, N.Y. Clemson vs. Penn St., 11 a.m. (ABC)

Fenway Bowl

Boston UConn vs. Army, 1:15 p.m. (ESPN)

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_Dallas, Davis 20-103, J.Williams 13-54, Luepke 7-30, Prescott 4-24. Washington, Croskey-Merritt 11-105, Samuel 2-25, Johnson 2-10, McNichols 1-(minus 2).

PASSING_Dallas, Prescott 19-37-0-307. Washington, Johnson 15-23-0-198.

RECEIVING_Dallas, Lamb 5-46, Pickens 4-78, Tolbert 4-31, Schoonmaker 2-15, Turpin 1-86, Spann-Ford 1-31, Luepke 1-14, Ferguson 1-6.

Washington, McLaurin 5-63, Sinnott 3-29, McNichols 3-12, Samuel 2-68, Moore 1-15, Burks 1-11.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_Dallas, Aubrey 58.

Las Vegas Bowl

Wednesday’s game Hawai’i Bowl

Was 17 328 16-138 190 1-0 5-123 0-0 15-23-0 2-8 3-43.333 0-0 10-71 21:16

Orlando, Fla. No. 14 Texas vs. No. 18 Michigan, 2 p.m.

(ABC)

UL-Monroe at Kansas State 1 p.m.

Norfolk State at UL, 2 p.m.

Ohio 17, UNLV 10

Dallas 7 17 3 3 — 30 Washington 3 7 10 3 — 23 First Quarter Dal_Ferguson 6 pass from Prescott (Aubrey kick), 9:42.

Was_FG Moody 29, 4:44.

Second Quarter Dal_J.Williams 4 run (Aubrey kick), 12:06.

Dal_Turpin 86 pass from Prescott (Aubrey kick), 7:00.

Was_Croskey-Merritt 10 run (Moody kick), 4:35.

Dal_FG Aubrey 42, :19.

Third Quarter Was_Croskey-Merritt 72 run (Moody kick), 9:34.

Dal_FG Aubrey 52, 4:42.

Was_FG Moody 23, :16.

Fourth Quarter Dal_FG Aubrey 51, 3:59.

Was_FG Moody 51, 2:09.

Citrus Bowl

Frisco Bowl

Western Kentucky 27, Southern Miss 16

Dallas 30, Washington 23

Our impact journalism focuses not just on problems themselves but on practical solutions as well.

College football

Boca Raton Bowl

Arizona at Cincinnati, noon Jacksonville at Indianapolis, noon New England at N.Y. Jets, noon New Orleans at Tennessee, noon Pittsburgh at Cleveland, noon Seattle at Carolina, noon Tampa Bay at Miami, noon N.Y. Giants at Las Vegas, 3:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Buffalo, 3:25 p.m.

Chicago at San Francisco, 7:20 p.m.

REASON 97

El Paso, Texas Arizona St. vs. Duke, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Tuesday’s games

Sunday’s Games

Dal 28 480 44-211 269 0-0 5-115 0-0 19-37-0 6-38 1-53.0 0-0 11-89 38:44

Total Net Yards 231 161 Rushes-yards 30-68 28-158 Passing 163 3 Punt Returns 5-31 0-0 Kickoff Returns 4-116 1-24 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 2-1 Comp-Att-Int 18-29-2 9-16-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 5-34 7-48 Punts 3-53.0 7-51.143 Fumbles-Lost 4-4 1-0 Penalties-Yards 5-25 3-20 Time of Possession 32:30 27:30 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING_Detroit, Gibbs 17-41, Montgomery 10-25, Goff 3-2. Minnesota, Addison 1-65, A.Jones 18-53, Chandler 7-24, Brosmer 2-16.

PASSING_Detroit, Goff 18-29-2-197. Minnesota, Brosmer 9-16-0-51.

RECEIVING_Detroit, St. Brown 8-68, TeSlaa 3-49, J.Williams 2-37, Gibbs 2-23, Montgomery 2-15, Raymond 1-5. Minnesota, Jefferson 4-30, A.Jones 3-10, Oliver 1-8, Sims 1-3.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.

Washington St. 34, Utah St. 21

Houston at L.A. Chargers, 3:30 p.m.

Baltimore at Green Bay, 7 p.m.

A_64,407.

Boston at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Charlotte at Orlando, 6 p.m.

Miami at Atlanta, 6 p.m.

Toronto at Washington, 6 p.m.

Philadelphia at Chicago, 6:30 p.m.

Milwaukee at Memphis, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Utah, 8:30 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Portland, 9 p.m.

East

4 12 2 13

North

W 21 18 18 16 9

Southeast Division

e-Washington e-N.Y. Giants

Pop-Tarts Bowl

Orlando, Fla. No. 12 BYU vs. No. 24 Georgia Tech, 2:30 p.m.

(ABC)

Arizona Bowl

Tucson, Ariz.

Fresno St. vs. Miami (OH), 3:30 p.m. (CW)

New Mexico Bowl

Albuquerque No. 23 North Texas vs. San Diego St., 4:45 p.m. (ESPN)

Gator Bowl

Jacksonville, Fla. No. 25 Missouri vs. No. 20 Virginia, 6:30 p.m.

(ABC)

Texas Bowl

Houston LSU vs. No. 21 Houston, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday’s games Birmingham Bowl

Birmingham, Ala. Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 30

Independence Bowl

Shreveport Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech, 1 p.m.

(ESPN)

Music City Bowl

Nashville, Tenn.

Tennessee vs. Illinois, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Alamo Bowl

San Antonio No. 16 Southern Cal vs. TCU, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Atlantic Division Detroit Montreal Tampa Bay Florida Ottawa Boston Buffalo Toronto

GP W L OT Pts GF 38 22 13 3 47 120 37 20 12 5 45 123 36 20 13 3 43 117 36 20 14 2 42 117 36 18 13 5 41 119 38 20 17 1 41 122 36 18 14 4 40 112 36 16 15 5 37 115

GA 122 124 95 114 113 126 117 121

Carolina Philadelphia N.Y. Islanders Washington N.Y. Rangers New Jersey Pittsburgh Columbus

GP W L OT Pts GF 36 22 11 3 47 121 36 19 10 7 45 111 37 20 13 4 44 107 37 19 13 5 43 117 39 19 16 4 42 104 37 20 16 1 41 103 36 15 12 9 39 110 36 15 15 6 36 108

GA 106 102 104 103 105 110 119 125

Metropolitan Division

WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division Colorado Dallas Minnesota Utah Nashville St. Louis Winnipeg Chicago

GP W L OT Pts GF 36 27 2 7 61 142 38 25 7 6 56 136 38 22 10 6 50 117 39 18 18 3 39 116 36 16 16 4 36 103 38 14 16 8 36 95 35 15 17 3 33 103 36 13 17 6 32 99

Pacific Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Vegas 35 17 8 10 44 110 104 Anaheim 37 21 14 2 44 129 126 Edmonton 38 19 13 6 44 130 128 Los Angeles 36 15 12 9 39 91 96 San Jose 37 17 17 3 37 109 129 Seattle 35 15 14 6 36 89 107 Calgary 37 15 18 4 34 98 113 Vancouver 36 15 18 3 33 103 122 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs.

Wednesday’s Games No games scheduled

Thursday’s Games

Dec. 31

No games scheduled

ReliaQuest Bowl

No games scheduled

Tampa, Fla. No. 13 Vanderbilt vs. No. 23 Iowa, 11 a.m.

(ESPN)

Sun Bowl

GA 80 101 99 112 121 131 107 114

Friday’s Games

Saturday’s Games

N.Y. Rangers at N.Y. Islanders, 5 p.m.

Boston at Buffalo, 6 p.m.

Detroit at Carolina, 6 p.m.

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LIVING

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

|

F r i d ay, d e c e m b e r 26, 2025

5cN

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH CJ SOLAR, ALEX SMITH, JAMES DUPRÉ, RHETT ANTHONY GLINDMEYER, DAVID BORNÉ AND AMANDA SHAW 7 p.m. Sunday l Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. l $25-$55 l manshiptheatre.org and jamesdupre.com

Out with a bang

17 celebrations to ring in your 2026

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

through the actual performance.”

The first two of only four albums by Evans’ landmark trio with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian, “Portrait in Jazz” and “Explorations” made an immediate impact. DownBeat magazine dubbed the trio’s debut an “album with meaning.” Its follow-up won a four-star DownBeat review and Billboard’s jazz critics’ best piano album poll.

Kisses at midnight, “Auld Lang Syne,” fireworks — all traditional components of New Year’s celebrations near and far.

Close to home, Baton Rouge’s official farewell to one year and welcome to the next is Red Stick Revelry. Drawing the community to downtown’s Rhorer Plaza on Wednesday evening, the free event will offer music leading up to the countdown to 2026 and the Red Stick drop. Fireworks over the Mississippi River will cap off the night.

Louisiana First News (NBC33/ FOX44) anchor Andre Moreau will host the festivities, with LFN broadcasting its full newscast from the event.

But first, Press 1 for English will get the music going on The Crest Stage from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. After 8 takes over with more party music from 10 p.m. to midnight.

The New Year’s Eve fun doesn’t stop there. Here are other events happening throughout the day and evening. All celebrations are in the Baton Rouge unless otherwise indicated: RED STICK RISING: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., River Center Branch Library and North Boulevard Town Square. New Year’s Eve fun for the kids, including arts activities, the rising of the Red Stick at noon, an “Auld Lang Syne” singalong and The Amazing Bacon stilt walker.

NOON YEAR’S EVE BALLOON DROP: 10 a.m. to noon, Knock Knock Children’s Museum. It’s a family-friendly event with hands-on activities such as kazoo making, “Looking Back, Leaping Forward” goal reflections, and specialty headbands and crowns making. Topping things off is a balloon drop and confetti blast at noon. $15, general admission; free, members and children younger than 2. Pre-purchasing tickets online for a speedier check-in is recommended. https://knockknockmuseum. org/event/noon-years-eve/.

ROOFTOP RING IN: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., River Terrace, Shaw Center for the Arts. It’s a double celebration for the center as it marks the beginning of 2026 and its 20th anniversary. This special fundraising event will feature entertainment by the band Souled Out and Carl Mack Productions, light hors d’oeuvres, bar service featuring specialty cocktails, unique photo ops, and a premier view of the fireworks show over the river. Proceeds will be donated to the maintenance and enhancement fund of the Shaw Center. The Hotel Indigo Downtown Baton Rouge will offer discounted hotel room rates for event attendees. Tickets are $150/person or $1,500 for a reserved table of eight and can be purchased at https://nyeshawcenter.eventbrite.com/.

NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH: 11 p.m. (doors 10:30 p.m.), L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge.

ä See EVANS, page 6C

ä See CELEBRATIONS, page 6C

James Dupré joins 5 other Louisiana artists for ‘Hitmakers’ concert at the Manship Theatre

A

BY JOHN WIRT

Contributing writer

former Nashville resident, James Dupré won’t be far from home when he performs for this year’s “Hitmakers Home for the Holidays” concert Sunday in Baton Rouge.

A native of Bayou Chicot in Evangeline Parish, Dupré followed his country music dreams in Music City for a decade. He left Nashville in 2021, returning to Acadiana to happily settle in Broussard with his wife, Kelsie, and their daughter, Rellie.

Despite the move, Dupré didn’t give up music. His singing, songwriting and recording career hit a milestone in August when Warner Music Nashville released his third and latest album, “It’s All Happening.”

ä See DUPRÉ, page 6C PROVIDED PHOTO By KORI BACQUE

James Dupré’s singing, songwriting and recording career hit a milestone in August when Warner Music Nashville released his third and latest album, ‘It’s All Happening.’

ALL TOG E TH E R NOW

New Bill Evans set collects original trio’s recordings

BY JOHN WIRT

Contributing writer Six years after Concord Records released the massive 61-track “Everybody Still Digs Bill Evans: A Career Retrospective (1956-1980),” the label has issued a new collection by the late jazz piano great who graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.

“Haunted Heart: The Legendary Riverside Studio Recordings” features every studio recording

PROVIDED ALBUM COVER ART

made by the original Bill Evans Trio. The collection pairs the trio’s two studio albums — 1960’s “Portrait in Jazz” and 1961’s “Explorations” — with 26 alternate takes and outtakes.

“What gave that trio its character was a common aim and a feeling of potential,” Evans says in “How My Heart Sings,” Peter Pettinger’s 1998 biography of the innovative and influential pianist.

“The music developed as we performed, and what you heard came

6C ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

SHOWS TO WATCH — ACADIANA FRIDAY

CLIFF BERNARD: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m.

JACK WOODSON: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

SAYLOR BRASSEAUX: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar, New Iberia, 5 p.m.

DOYLE TAUZIN: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.

CHARLES & WENDY TRICHE: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

NEXT GEN ZYDECO: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m.

HORACE TRAHAN & THE OSSUN EXPRESS: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

LOST BAYOU RAMBLERS: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

JOHNNY MARKS: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m.

MARC BROUSSARD: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 9 a.m.

SATURDAY MORNING JAM SESSIONS: Savoy Music Cen-

PROVIDED PHOTO By JEFF FASANO

Bayou-soul singer-songwriter and Carencro native Marc Broussard bring it on home on Friday night at Rock ‘n’ Bowl in Lafayette. The show starts 8:30 p.m. ter, Eunice, 9 a.m.

RUSTY METOYER & ZYDECO KRUSH: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 8 a.m.

CAJUN JAM: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.

CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC JAM:

Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1 p.m.

CAJUN JAM SESSION: Touchet’s Bar, Maurice, 2 p.m.

CASEY COURVILLE: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

LATE BLOOMIN: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m.

ALYSSA MCMURRAY: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

JIM DEGGY’S LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

AUCOIN & HUVAL DUO: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.

GARRET ROSEN QUARTET: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

STEVE RILEY: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m.

THE REVELERS: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

THE DEBTORS: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

JULIAN PRIMEAUX: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

WAYNE TOUPS/JAMIE BEARB & CAJUN FRIENDS: La Poussiere, Breaux Bridge, 8 p.m.

JC MELANCON: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

GLENN ZERINGUE: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 11 a.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.

LE BAL DU DIMANCHE: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1 p.m.

CAJUN JAM: Bayou Teche

Brewing, Arnaudville, 2 p.m.

CHUBBY CARRIER: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 5 p.m.

PAUL TAUSSIN: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

ROUGAROU STOMP: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m.

MONDAY

PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Cafe Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m.

AUDREY BROUSSARD: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

BLUEGRASS JAM: Cité des Arts, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

JACK WOODSON: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

PAUL TASSIN: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

TERRY HUVAL & FRIENDS: Prejean’s Restaurant, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

LATE BLOOMIN’: Gloria’s Bar & Grill, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

DULCIMER JAM: St. Landry Visitor Center, Opelousas, 10 a.m.

ANDREW WAIN JAZZ: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

AUDREY BROUSSARD & ALYSSA MCMURRAY: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Tap Room, Youngsville, 6:30 p.m.

CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

MAGIC CRAWFISH & SUNKISSED: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

THE MOJOES DANCE BAND: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

LIVE MUSIC: Naq’s-n-Duson, Duson, 6 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Tap Room, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s music listed? Email info/ photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper.

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press Today is Friday, Dec. 26, the 360th day of 2025. There are five days left in the year.

Today in history: On Dec. 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean off the Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a tsunami with waves up to 100 feet high that killed about 230,000 people across a dozen countries as far as East Africa.

The worst-affected countries were Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.

Also on this date: In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first Black boxer to win the world heavyweight championship as he defeated Canadian Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia.

In 1941, during World War II, Winston Churchill became the first British prime minister to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, just two weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that plunged the U.S. into the war.

In 1966, Kwanzaa was first cel-

EVANS

Continued from page 5C

ebrated, a seven-day holiday to help African Americans reconnect with their African heritage.

In 1990, Nancy Cruzan, a young woman in an irreversible vegetative state whose case led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the right to die, died at a Missouri hospital.

In 1991, the USSR was formally dissolved through a declaration by the Supreme Soviet.

In 2006, former President Gerald R. Ford died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 93.

In 2021, South African Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu died at 90; the retired archbishop had been an uncompromising foe of apartheid and a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBTQ rights.

Today’s birthdays: “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh is 80.

Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk is 78. Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith is 71. Humorist David Sedaris is 69. Rock musician Lars Ulrich (Metallica) is 62. Actor-musician Jared Leto is 54. Rock singer Chris Daughtry is 46. Actor Beth Behrs is 40.

Actor Kit Harington is 39.

remain stagnant until it becomes a solo. There are transitional passages — a voice begins to be heard more and more and finally breaks into prominence.”

The groundbreaking first Bill Evans Trio ended when the 25-year-old LaFaro died in a car crash in 1961. A broken artist, Evans didn’t touch the piano for months. Nor could he bring himself to contribute liner notes for “Sunday at the Village Vanguard,” the album his trio recorded 11 days before LaFaro’s death.

“When you have evolved a concept of playing which depends on the specific personalities of outstanding players, how do you start again when they are gone?”

Evans asked.

Following months of silence, Pettinger writes in “How My Heart Sings,” Evans made one or two club appearances. He eventually returned to the keyboard and, despite years of heroin addition, released more than 40 trio albums in his lifetime. His recordings won seven Grammy Awards, two Grammy Hall of Fame awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

A native of Plainfield, New Jersey, Evans followed his older brother, Harry Evans, to the music program at Southeastern.

After their graduations, Bill Evans pursued performing while his brother taught music in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system and became the system’s first music supervisor.

Bill Evans returned to Hammond in November 1979 for a performance at SLU with the then-current Bill Evans Trio lineup. After the concert’s first selection, he told the audience: “I won’t go into what kind of special night this is for me. At least two of the four years I spent here were among the happiest of my life.”

Harry Evans’ suicide in April 1979 at 51 years old is believed to have contributed to his brother’s death 16 months later, also at 51, from cirrhosis complications and untreated hepatitis. The brothers are buried side by side at Roselawn Memorial Park in Baton Rouge.

“Haunted Heart: The Legendary Riverside Studio Recordings” is available as a five-LP box set, three-CD box set and high-resolution digital audio. Seventeen tracks are previously unreleased.

The set’s physical editions include rare photos, a fold-out poster, an appreciation by the Doors’ John Densmore and liner notes by jazz journalist Eugene Holley Jr. In his “Haunted Heart” notes, Holley writes that the seemingly entranced Evans coaxed “notes from the piano that sang” and “lingered long after the duration of their prescribed notational time limits; notes that would ultimately resonate with the hearts of listeners for generations to come.”

Evans formed his trio with LaFaro and Motian following sideman studio sessions for Cannonball Adderley’s “Portrait of Cannonball,” Chet Baker’s “Chet: The Lyrical Trumpet of Chet Baker” and Charles Mingus’ “East Coasting.” Impressive, but his eight months in 1958 with trumpeter Miles Davis superseded everything that came before.

Evans toured with the Davis group that included Adderley and John Coltrane and played on nearly every track on Davis’ 1959 release, “Kind of Blue,” the bestselling jazz album in history.

“Bill had this quiet fire that I loved on piano,” Davis writes in his autobiography. “The sound he got was like crystal notes or sparkling water cascading down from some clear waterfall.”

Although Evans’ collaboration with Davis secured his place in jazz history, the pianist entered a new realm of ensemble artistry with Motian and LaFaro, forming the trio that influenced the future of jazz.

“I’m hoping the trio will grow in the direction of simultaneous improvisation rather than just one guy blowing followed by another guy blowing,” Evans said. “If the bass player, for example, hears an idea that he wants to answer, why should he just keep playing a 4/4 background? … in classical Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. composition, you don’t hear a part com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Baton Rouge’s Press 1 for English will lead off the music for Red Stick Revelry at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

CELEBRATIONS Continued from page 5C

Music by Downbeat Louisiana.

Must be 21 or older. Ticket includes access to a premium open bar. $81. lbatonrouge.com.

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE QUEEN: 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., The Queen Baton Rouge.

Live music from The Michael Foster Project, along with jackpot jams with Ma3stro, a live DJ taking requests from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

At midnight, it’s a floorwide Champagne toast, with complimentary Champagne distributed throughout the casino. Pick up complimentary New Year’s Eve party favors on the casino floor from 6 p.m. to midnight (while supplies last).

Free shuttle is available from The Queen to Bally’s. For tickets, visit TheQueenBR.com.

NYE AT BALLY’S: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., Bally’s Baton Rouge Casino. Live entertainment on the casino floor, complimentary midnight Champagne toast. Partygoers can also pick up complimentary New Year’s Eve party favors on the casino floor from 6 p.m. to midnight. (while supplies last). Free shuttle is available from Bally’s to The Queen. https://casinos.ballys.com/ baton-rouge/.

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY: 7 p.m., Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge. Live

DUPRÉ

Continued from page 5C Dupré will sing songs from his first major label album at the multi-artist “Home for the Holidays” show, an acoustic songwriters night at the Manship Theatre with CJ Solar, Alex Smith, Rhett Anthony Glindmeyer, David Borné and Amanda Shaw.

“I’m excited to see everyone,” he said last week. “I know Alex, CJ and all those guys. We did a show together on Mardi Gras this year, representing Louisiana in Nashville. It was a good time.”

Dupré’s other gigs in 2025 included 70 dates on the “More Life Tour.” A celebration of Randy Travis, the tour features Dupré and Travis’ original band performing the country music star’s No. 1 hits.

Travis himself tours with the tribute show, appearing on stage with Dupré and the band.

“The ‘More Life Tour’ celebrates something so much more than a musical moment in time,” Travis said in news release. “It’s a gift to me to spend time with my fans and my band, as James Dupré perfectly presents the songs that best define my career.”

performances by the Chase Tyler Band and Wayne Toups, a Louisiana-inspired dinner buffet, and an open bar. crowneplaza.com.

LAUGHS ON THE LOW: 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (reservation required), The Tunnel Speakeasy, Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center. Intimate comedy experience features stand-up, light bites, cocktails and a complimentary Champagne toast. hilton.com, ALL THAT GLITTERS: NYE ROOFTOP PARTY: 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., The Main Lobby.

Live music with Cleave, Alana and a guitarist, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.; rooftop entertainment featuring DJ Zeus and DJ Strique, 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Champagne toast, midnight. Also, signature cocktails and full bar service; elegant NYE dress code encouraged. $28.52. https://www.themainlobbybr.com/.

EMO NIGHT: 8 p.m., Chelsea’s Live.

Hear those nostalgic anthems all night. Emo DJ set with Dan Lion, karaoke. 18 years and up. $15. https://www.chelseaslive.com/.

THE SOUTHERN SOUL NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH: 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Jewel Newman Community Center. Entertainment by Jaye Hammer, K Morris, Tirvarrus, She Go Hard, Mr. Laid Back and DJ Chika. Free food. $37. ticketleap.events.

THE COUNTDOWN: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. (doors at 5 p.m.), Holiday Inn-College Drive. Live R&B and jazz by Terrell Griffin & Velvet Audio, open

bar and hors d’oeuvres. Also available, late-night breakfast, stay-over packages. (225) 448-2030.

SOJI NEW YEAR’S EVE: 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Soji: Modern Asian. Predinner reception followed at 7 p.m. by the first course of a six-course wine dinner. Also complimentary Champagne and cash bar. Limited seating available. Starting at $185. https://www.eatsoji.com/.

NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE: 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. (doors 6 p.m.), American Legion Post 38. Music by Eddie Smith Band 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Lee Serio Band 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Midnight Champagne toast; cash bar. $25, presale; $30, door. (225) 927-8826.

THE DISCO BALL DROP: A NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION: 9 p.m., Splash Nightclub. Dance anthems with DJ Ruff, performances by Bombshell’s own Miss Thing & Kozmik, free party favors, a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight, a balloon drop with crazy prizes. From $15. eventbrite.com.

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., The Mallory, St. Francisville. Crafted cocktails, live music, a mechanical bull, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, midnight fireworks display and complimentary Champagne toast. $42.68. bontempstix. com.

Dupré and Travis met in Nashville in 2012. Little did Dupré know that his 10-minute visit with his music hero was a prelude to co-starring with Travis in the 2015 movie, “The Price.”

The “More Life Tour” began in 2019, six years after a nearly fatal stroke paralyzed Travis’ right side and impaired his ability to speak and sing.

Dupré is excited that the “More Life Tour” will finally reach Louisiana next year. The show arrives March 26 in Monroe at the Jack Howard Theatre and March 27 in Baton Rouge at the River Center Theatre for Performing Arts.

“I don’t impersonate him or try to sound like him, because no one can sound exactly like Randy Travis,” Dupré said. “This is a celebration of a country music icon, his life and his music. Besides all his big hits, video plays throughout the show, even some of his movies and TV shows. It’s a beautiful live documentary about Randy Travis.”

Last year, Dupré’s involvement with Travis took another turn when vocals Dupré recorded for an unreleased song, “Where That Came From,” were used as the “bed vocal” for an AI-assisted new Travis single.

CBS News documented the project in a “CBS Sunday Morning” report.

At producer Kyle Lehning’s studio in Nashville, Dupré recalled, “They surprised me and got my reaction on camera. As I’m listening to ‘Where That Came From,’ I hear Randy sing it exactly as how I sang it. I realized ‘OK, this must be AI.’ ” Lehning and Warner Music Nashville wanted Dupré’s blessing as well as his continued participation in the creation of new Travis recordings.

“They were excited about it,” he said. “I was, like, ‘Absolutely. This is incredible.’ ” The Travis recording project opened a second unexpected door for Dupré this year, when Warner Music Nashville finally released an album of songs he recorded with Lehning in 2011. Dupré guesses that the rise of hip-hop and rock-influenced bro-country in the 2010s made his traditional country sound noncommercial.

“I never thought it would see the light of day,” he said of recordings he made during his four-year contract with Warner Music Nashville. “It’s the first project that I did in the studio and it will always be special to me. I’m so glad that it’s actually out in the world.”

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. com.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● 7C

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FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

zItS

zodIAC cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Emotions will be prevalent. Think twice before you agree to something that can cost you financially, physically or emotionally.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Be reluctant to agree to anything without looking at every angle. Haste makes waste, and choices can bury you in debt and regret. Avoid people who get your dander up.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Say little but do a lot. Set the pace and the scenario by your actions, not your promises. If you want to fulfill your dreams, you'll find taking the lead to be your best bet.

Put yourself first.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Rejuvenate and enjoy some downtime. Give some thought to days gone by and to days you look forward to. It's a great day to figure out how you want to proceed.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Stick to your plans, and everything will be alright.

Focus on timing, travel and maintaining a dialogue that keeps everyone on point, and you'll stay energized and achieve whatever you set out to do.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Offer only what you can. Set boundaries with those asking for too much. Stick up for your rights and do what's best for you. Set high standards and pay attention to your needs. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Be open to invitations and opportunities, and spend time with someone you love to share information with. Enjoy your

day. Positive change is heading your way.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Be reluctant to make a hasty decision. Make your position clear and your timeframe known, and go about your business.

Socializing will be fun, but don't take what others say as gospel.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) If change is what you need, start putting it in motion. Initiate what your heart suggests, and you'll feel good about the outcome. Live, love and be happy, and everything will fall into place.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Slow down but think standing up. Putting everything in place and getting your plans finalized early will pave the way for a quieter day, offering time to hit the reset button and prepare for year-end festivities. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) A change is within reach, and it's up to you to pick and choose what's next. Take your time; weigh the pros and cons, and you'll gain insight into what's best for you. sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Avoid anyone who tends to annoy you. Arguments will ruin your day and put you in a foul mood. Do something that requires energy and stamina and that makes you feel good about yourself.

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: G EQuALs u

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

8C ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

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Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● 9C

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B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Sydney J. Harris, a journalist in Chicago who died in 1986, said, “An idealist believes the short run doesn’t count. A cynic believes the long run doesn’t matter. A realist believes that what is done or left undone in the short run determines the long run.”

At bridge, the short run — one deal — may determine the long run — your success in the event. And in that onedeal short run, counting will probably be required.

In this deal, South is in four hearts.

West leads the spade nine. East takes three tricks in the suit (West discarding the club three) and continues with his fourth spade. What should South do?

Note South’s three-club rebid. He was right not to jump to four hearts, because North might have raised to two hearts with only three cards in the suit, especially when he had a singleton spade. A typical hand pattern would have been 1-3-5-4.

Then maybe five or even six clubs might have been better than four hearts. North, though, knowing of the eight-card fit, happily jumped to four hearts.

South has four minor-suit winners (three diamonds and one club), so needs six trump tricks. Since he has four winners on the board, he should aim on taking two ruffs in his hand.

He starts by ruffing the fourth spade high, to stop West from overruffing.

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

Let’s assume West throws another club, keeping equal diamond length with the board.

Now declarer plays a trump to dummy’s nine, returns a diamond to his king, leads a diamond to dummy’s queen, ruffs a diamond high, draws trumps and claims. © 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 — InsPEcT: in-SPEKT: To view closely or officially.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 28 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 38 or more words in INSPECT? yEsTERDAy’s WoRD — REJoIcED redo reed rejoice rice ride rode eider erode jeer iced cede

cero cider cire code coder coed cord core credo creed cried

decor deer deice deicer dice dicer dire doer

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “Though the Lord be high, yet has he respect to the lowly: but the proud he knows afar off.” Psalms 138:6

God is mighty and holy. He is drawn to the humble but is repulsed by the proud. — G.E. Dean

10C ● Friday, December 26, 2025 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana and counter‐ signed by a person who is under contract with re‐ siding in this state. The certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ tract documents within ten (10) days.

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Call or text $300 (225)456-3434

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at https://lafayet tecsdgovla.tylerportico. com/va/vendor-access/ registration or in the of‐ fice of the Purchasing Di‐ vision at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, i i il

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

y Louisiana, until 3:00 pm Central Time on the 13TH day of January, 2026 for the following:

j pwd=tGtFQ6mIGoDqfXG eZEEm7voVRUwzQ0.1 Meeting ID: 881 3307 9737 Passcode: 425688

2026 JANITORIAL SUPPLIES

In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212. vendors may submit their bid electronically at the website listed above.

Vendors may request the bid package electroni‐ cally from Thomas Me‐ trejean at tgmetrejean@ lafayettela.gov. Vendors wishing to submit their bid electronically must register online with Lafayette Consolidated Government, in order to establish an account.

and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in the Office of Purchasing located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, LA. Bids received after the above specified time for open‐ ing shall not be consid‐ ered and shall be re‐ turned unopened to the sender. Bidders are en‐ couraged to attend the bid opening virtually by using the following link https://us02web.zoom. us/j/88133079737? d f

Vendors submitting bids electronically are re‐ quired to provide the same documents as bid‐

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 Public Notices Bids/Proposals

ders submitting through the mail as soon as avail‐ able. Only a bid bond, certified check or cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid se‐ curity. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be included with the electronic bid.

Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tificate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐ mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

bid.

j

Copies of the bidding documents are available at the Purchasing Office located at 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506. Tele‐ phone number (337) 2917187 (Attn: Thomas Me‐ trejean). Bidding docu‐ ments shall be available until twenty-four (24) hours before the bid opening date.

Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check in the amount of $500.00 or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consolidated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive alter‐ f bid b d i

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p nates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 16, 2025. MOTION

BY RICHARDS, SECOND BY STANSBURY.

PROCÈS VERBAL OF THE CANVASS OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025.

PARISH RESOLUTION NO. PR-026-2025

BE IT KNOWN AND REMEMBERED that on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 4:30 p.m., at its regular meeting place, the Council Auditorium, 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana, the Lafayette Parish Council (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), and being the authority ordering the special election held therein on Saturday, November 15, 2025, with a quorum of the Governing Authority present did, in open and public session, examine the official certified tabulations of votes cast at the said election, and did examine and canvass the returns of the said election, there having been submitted at said election the following propositions, to wit:

A RESOLUTION OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL PROVIDING FOR CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025, TO AUTHORIZE THE CONTINUATION OF SPECIAL TAXES THEREIN BE IT RESOLVED by the Lafayette Parish Council (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), that: SECTION 1: Canvass. This Governing Authority does now proceed in open and public session to examine the official tabulations of votes cast at the special election held in the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana, on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025 (the “Election”), to authorize the continuation of special taxes therein pursuant to the following propositions (the “Propositions”): PROPOSITION NO. 1 OF 2 (MILLAGE CONTINUATION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy a special tax of 4.47 mills on all property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $12,743,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of constructing, improving and maintaining roads and bridges in the Parish, said millage to be continued at the rate currently being levied, representing a 0.30 mill increase (due to reappraisal) over the 4.17 mills authorized to be levied through the year 2026 pursuant to an election held on March 28, 2015?

PROPOSITION NO. 2 OF 2 (MILLAGE CONTINUATION AND REDEDICATION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy a special tax of 3.81 mills (the “Tax”) on all property subject to taxation in the Parish, for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2026 and ending with the year 2035 (an estimated $10,861,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), and shall the proceeds of the Tax heretofore or hereafter received be used for the purposes of constructing, acquiring, improving, maintaining, operating, and supporting public facilities and programs in the Parish as follows: (i) 1.24 mills for drainage; (ii) 0.422 mills for providing fire protection and all costs affiliated thereto; (iii) 0.078 mills for roads and bridges; and (iv) 2.07 mills for public health units, mosquito and other arthropod abatement and control, animal control, drainage, and paying mandated expenses of the coroner, said millage to be continued at the rate currently being levied, representing a 0.25 mill increase (due to reappraisal) over the 3.56 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2025 pursuant to an election held on March 28, 2015?

This Governing Authority does further proceed to examine and canvass the returns of the Election thereof.

SECTION 2: Election Results. According to the official certified tabulation of votes cast at said Election, (i) there was a total of 6,892 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition No. 1and a total of 3,081 votes cast AGAINST Proposition No. 1, resulting in a majority of 3,811 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition No. 1; and (ii) there was a total of 6,980 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition No. 2 and a total of 2,977 votes cast AGAINST Proposition No. 2, resulting in a majority of 4,003 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition No. 2.

The Propositions were therefore duly CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the Election.

SECTION 3: Promulgation of Election Result. The results of said election shall be promulgated by publication in the manner provided by law, after receipt from the Secretary of State’s office of the actual costs of the election, as required by §18:1292 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended.

SECTION 4: Declaration. The foregoing results of the Election are hereby declared by this Governing Authority and shall be published as required by law.

SECTION 5: Procès Verbal. A Procès Verbal of the canvass of the returns of the Election shall be made and a certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who shall record the same in her office; another certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Recorder of Mortgages in and for the Parish of Lafayette, who shall record the same in the Mortgage Records of said Parish; and another copy thereof shall be retained in the archives of this Governing Authority.

SECTION 6: All resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith, are hereby repealed.

This resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote on behalf of the Council thereon was as follows: YEAS: Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: Tabor ABSTAIN: None AND the resolution was declared adopted on this, the 16th day of December, 2025. /S/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL

PROPOSITION NO. 1 OF 2 (MILLAGE CONTINUATION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy a special tax of 4.47 mills on all property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $12,743,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of constructing, improving and maintaining roads and bridges in the Parish, said millage to be continued at the rate currently being levied, representing a 0.30 mill increase (due to reappraisal) over the 4.17 mills authorized to be levied through the year 2026 pursuant to an election held on March 28, 2015?

PROPOSITION NO. 2 OF 2 (MILLAGE CONTINUATION AND REDEDICATION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy a special tax of 3.81 mills (the “Tax”) on all property subject to taxation in the Parish, for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2026 and ending with the year 2035 (an estimated $10,861,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), and shall the proceeds of the Tax heretofore or hereafter received be used for the purposes of constructing, acquiring, improving, maintaining, operating, and supporting public facilities and programs in the Parish as follows: (i) 1.24 mills for drainage; (ii) 0.422 mills for providing fire protection and all costs affiliated thereto; (iii) 0.078 mills for roads and bridges; and (iv) 2.07 mills for public health units, mosquito and other arthropod abatement and control, animal control, drainage, and paying mandated expenses of the coroner, said millage to be continued at the rate currently being levied, representing a 0.25 mill increase (due to reappraisal) over the 3.56 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2025 pursuant to an election held on March 28, 2015?

There was found by said count and canvass that (i) there was a total of 6,892 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition No. 1 and a total of 3,081 votes cast AGAINST Proposition No. 1, as hereinabove set forth, and it was further found and determined that there was a majority of 3,811 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition No. 1 as hereinabove set forth and (ii) there was a total of 6,980 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition No. 2 and a total of 2,977 votes cast AGAINST Proposition No. 2, as hereinabove set forth, and it was further found and determined that there was a majority of 4,003 votes cast IN FAVOR OF Proposition No. 2 as hereinabove set forth.

Therefore, the Governing Authority did declare and proclaim and does hereby declare and proclaim in open and public session that the Propositions as hereinabove set forth were duly CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the said special election held in the Parish on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Results by precinct are available from the Clerk of the Council of this Governing Authority during regular business hours or via the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website (voterportal.sos.la.gov).

Exhibit “A” attached hereto and made a part of this Procès Verbal is a copy of the Notice of Special Election and proof of publication thereof.

THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Lafayette, Louisiana, on this, the 16th day of December, 2025.

ATTEST:

No bidder may withdraw his bid for at least fortyfive (45) days after the time scheduled for the opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided with the specifications.

Bids will be evaluated by the Purchaser based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid sub‐ mitted which is also in compliance with the bid documents.

The Lafayette Consolidated Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material.

To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged business are available.

Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 2918410.

PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Legal Notices

Government

COUNCIL

PUBLISH DATES: 12/26/25, 12/28/25 DPR # 1002276

Publication Dates: 12-1925, 12-26-25, 01-02-26 171252-dec 19-26-jan 2-3t $38.70

171497-dec 26-28-2t $94.82

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that Ordinance No. PO-058-2025 has been introduced and is pro‐ posed for adoption by the Lafayette Parish Council on January 6, 2026, whereby the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment would donate a surplus 2003 Tanker Fire Truck to Fire Protection District No. 7 of the Parish of Acadia, State of Louisiana which is no longer needed for public purposes, the following described property, to wit:

Reporting you can trust on stories that matter

Surplus 2003 Tanker Fire Truck Description KW 2003 Serial/vin 1NKDL00X23J394801 Any opposition to the proposed ordinance shall be made in writing and filed with the Office of the Lafayette Clerk of the Council within 15 days after the first publication of this notice. If an oppo‐ sition is filed, the Lafayette Parish Council shall not adopt the ordi‐ nance until a hearing has been held.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

/s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE

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STORE.ADVOCATE.COM to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $12,743,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of constructing, improving and maintaining roads and bridges in the Parish, said millage to be continued at the rate currently being levied, representing a 0.30 mill increase (due to reappraisal) over the 4.17 mills authorized to be levied through the year 2026 pursuant to an election held on March 28, 2015?

PROPOSITION NO. 2 OF 2 (MILLAGE CONTINUATION AND REDEDICATION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy a special tax of 3.81 mills (the “Tax”) on all property subject to taxation in the Parish, for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2026 and ending with the year 2035 (an estimated $10,861,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), and shall the proceeds of the Tax heretofore or hereafter received be used for the purposes of constructing, acquiring, improving, maintaining, operating, and supporting public facilities and programs in the Parish as follows: (i) 1.24 mills for drainage; (ii) 0.422 mills for providing fire protection and all costs affiliated thereto; (iii) 0.078 mills for roads and bridges; and (iv) 2.07 mills for public health units, mosquito and other arthropod abatement and control, animal control, drainage, and paying mandated expenses of the coroner, said millage to be continued at the rate currently being levied, representing a 0.25 mill increase (due to reappraisal) over the 3.56 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2025 pursuant to an election held on March 28, 2015?

The said special election shall be held at each and every polling place in the Parish, which polls will open at seven o’clock (7:00) a.m. and close at eight o’clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541.

The polling places for the precincts in the Parish are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, shall be those persons designated according to law.

The estimated cost of this election as determined by the Secretary of State based upon the provisions of Chapter 8-A of Title 18 and actual costs of similar elections is $206,400.

Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the taxes described in the Propositions shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law.

The said special election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6-A and Chapter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, and the officers appointed to hold the said election, as provided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due returns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Governing Authority will meet at its regular meeting place, the Council Auditorium, 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2025, at FOUR-THIRTY O’CLOCK (4:30) P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election. All registered voters of the Parish are entitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used.

PROCLAMATION I, the undersigned Chairman of the Lafayette Parish Council, the governing authority of the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), do hereby declare, proclaim and announce that the Propositions submitted at the special election held in the Parish on Saturday, November 15, 2025, were CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast at the said special election, all as described and set out in the above Procès Verbal.

THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Lafayette, Louisiana, on this, the 16th day of December, 2025.

/s/ AB Rubin Lafayette Parish Council Chair

/s/ AB Rubin Lafayette Parish Council Chair

/s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz Lafayette Clerk of the Council

STATE OF LOUISIANA PARISH OF LAFAYETTE I, the undersigned Lafayette Clerk of the Council, do hereby certify that the foregoing pages constitute a true and correct copy of the proceedings taken by the Lafayette Parish Council on December 16, 2025, providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana on Saturday, November 15, 2025, to authorize the continuation of special taxes therein.

IN FAITH WHEREOF, witness my official signature at Lafayette, Louisiana, on this, the 16th day of December, 2025.

EXHIBIT “A” NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION Pursuant to the provisions of a resolution adopted by the Lafayette Parish Council (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), on August 5, 2025, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the Parish on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the Parish qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the following propositions, to-wit:

/S/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL

PROPOSITION NO. 1 OF 2 (MILLAGE CONTINUATION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy a special tax of 4.47 mills on all property subject

171488-598596-dec 26-1t $ 317.52