The Advocate 01-07-2026

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Trump trumpets windfall of oil for U.S. President predicts 30 million to 50 million barrels from Venezuela

BY REGINA GARCIA CANO, AAMER MADHANI and MEGAN JANETSKY Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela would be providing 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., and he pledged to use proceeds from the sale of this oil “to benefit the people” of both

countries.

The White House is organizing a meeting Friday with U.S. oil company executives to discuss Venezuela, which the Trump administration has been pressuring to open its vast-but-struggling oil industry more widely to American investment and know-how. Representatives of Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips are expected to attend the White House meeting, ac-

cording to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss the plans.

Earlier Tuesday, officials in Caracas announced that at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the dead-of-night U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro and spirit him to the United States to face drug charges. And the country’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez,

pushed back on Trump, who earlier this week warned she’d face an outcome worse than Maduro’s if she does not “do what’s right” and overhaul Venezuela into a country that aligns with U.S. interests, including by granting access to American energy companies.

Rodriguez, delivering an address Tuesday before government agricultural and industrial sector officials, said, “Personally, to those who threaten me: My destiny is not determined by them, but by God.” Venezuela’s Attorney General

Judge shuts down BR store after years of crime, violence

Tarek William Saab said overall “dozens” of officers and civilians were killed in the weekend strike in Caracas and said prosecutors would investigate the deaths in what he described as a “war crime.” He didn’t specify if the estimate was specifically referring to Venezuelans.

In addition to the Venezuelan security officials, Cuba’s government had previously confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police officers

ä See TRUMP, page 6A

DeSoto school deseg case closed It’s the second decades-old order in La. to be ended

BY PATRICK WALL

Staff writer

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

A Baton Rouge judge declared a Highland Road convenience store with a history of violent crime a nuisance Tuesday.

District Judge Louise Hines Myers also issued an injunction that will presumptively shut down the AM Mart for the next five years.

The ruling came after East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore and prosecutors from the state

“We want to make sure whatever business is there is safe and does not pose a risk to the public,” Moore said outside City Hall following Tuesday’s hearing.

“This location has been a huge risk to the public over the years. Calls for service to it have been enormous, and there has been a lot of violence and drug dealing at that location.”

AM Mart store owner Ibrahim Khoder’s attorney reached a resolution with the district attorney and attorney general, which attorneys finalized prior to Tuesday’s hearing. Hines Myers is expected to sign off on the order to make it official by next week. Once she does, Khoder will have 30 days to shut down operations at the storefront and move out his tenants.

ä See STORE, page 6A

ä See DESOTO, page 5A

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

A customer walks into AM Mart on Highland Road on Tuesday.

AM Mart on Highland Road declared a nuisance

A federal judge closed a longrunning school desegregation case in DeSoto Parish on Monday, less than a week after the U.S. Department of Justice, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office and the DeSoto Parish School Board asked the court to dismiss the case and release the schools from federal oversight.

It is the second decades-old desegregation case in Louisiana brought to a swift end by the Trump administration and state Attorney General Liz Murrill, who last year had a case in Plaquemines Parish dating back to the 1960s dismissed. Murrill and Gov. Jeff Landry, both Republicans, have vowed to fight for other remaining desegregation orders to be lifted, with Landry assuring school systems last year that “there is an end in sight.”

About a dozen Louisiana school districts remain under longstanding desegregation orders, which often require them to submit regular compliance reports and seek court approval for changes, such as school closures or new attendance zones, that could affect schools’ racial balance. Historically, the Justice Department has monitored districts’ compliance with the orders and, in some cases, opposed efforts by Louisiana school boards to have the cases dismissed.

But the federal government has done an about-face since President Donald Trump returned to office last year, pressing courts to wind

Attorney General’s Office petitioned for the shutdown, citing hundreds of 911 calls and dozens of shootings on the property.

The AM Mart sits in the 2400 block of Highland Road, down the street from the Baton Rouge Police Department’s District 2 precinct.

It has been a haven of drug sales, gang activity, gambling, gun violence and even murder, authorities say.

According to a motion filed by state prosecutors, BRPD has responded to the address for more than 250 incidents since 2020, and those calls have resulted in officers filing 190 formal police reports.

More than 40 shootings are included in that list of complaints. Prosecutors estimated more than 250 rounds of gunfire have been shot at or near the property in recent years.

Landry discusses plan to court Greenland Governor gets invite to dogsledding event

ed States in his role as President Donald Trump’s special envoy.

“I’m interested in talking to Greenlanders,” Landry told Brian Kilmeade during an interview

BY ALYSE PFEIL Tuesday morning on Fox News RaStaff writer dio. “I got invited to, I think it’s the Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said world’s largest dogsled event, that Tuesday he plans attend a major goes up in March in Greenland. dogsledding event in Greenland I’m going.”

Landry said he’s much more inthis March as he works to convince people there to side with the Unit- terested in talking to Greenland

WEATHER HIGH 80 LOW 63 PAGE 8B

residents than government officials.

“I don’t want to talk to someone in Denmark,” he said. Greenland is a sovereign territory of that country.

“I’m more interested in talking to Greenlanders. I’m not interested in going to an embassy and talking to diplomats,” he later added.

Landry also threw his support behind the territory becoming in-

dependent from Denmark.

“That’s what I think the deal should be, with Greenland staking their claim on independence, with an assistance and a better agreement than they’ve got with Denmark with the United States,” Landry told Kilmeade.

“I think that Greenland is in the most unique position,” he said.

ä See GREENLAND, page 5A Gov. Jeff Landry

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

STAFF FILE PHOTO

101ST yEAR, NO. 191

2A ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

U.S. nearly triples list of visa bond countries

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is nearly tripling the number of countries whose passport holders will be required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States.

Less than a week after adding seven countries to the list of nations subject to visa bonds, bringing the total to 13, the State Department on Tuesday added 25 more. The bond requirement for the latest additions will take effect Jan. 21, according to a notice posted on the travel.state. gov website.

The move means that 38 countries, most of them in Africa but some in Latin America and Asia, are now on the list, which makes the process of obtaining a U.S. visa unaffordable for many.

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2K deployed to Minnesota

Trump administration launches ‘largest DHS operation ever’

BY REBECCA SANTANA and MIKE BALSAMO Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday that it launched what it described as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out by the agency — with 2,000 federal agents and officers expected in the Minneapolis area for a crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents.

“The largest DHS operation ever is happening right now in Minnesota,” the department said in a post on X, dramatically ex-

panding the federal law enforcement footprint in the state amid heightened political and community tensions.

The government planned to send about 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and officers to Minnesota, according to a U.S. official and a person briefed on the matter. The agents are expected to be dispatched in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, the person said. The people were not authorized to publicly discuss operational details and spoke with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Immigrant rights groups and elected officials in the Twin Cit-

ies reported a sharp increase Tuesday in sightings of federal agents, notably around St. Paul.

Numerous agents’ vehicles were reported making traffic stops and outside area businesses and apartment buildings.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was also present and accompanied U.S. ICE officers during at least one arrest. A video posted on X showed Noem wearing a tactical vest and knit cap as agents arrested a man in St. Paul.

In the video, she tells the handcuffed man: “You will be held accountable for your crimes.”

DHS said in a news release that the man was from Ecuador and

DOJ says Brown shooter planned attack for years

Pamela Smart seeks to overturn conviction BOSTON — Pamela Smart, who is serving life in prison for orchestrating the murder of her husband by her teenage student in 1990, is seeking to overturn her conviction over what her lawyers claim were several constitutional violations.

The petition for habeas corpus relief was filed Monday in New York, where she is being held at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women, and in New Hampshire, where the murder happened.

“Ms. Smart’s trial unfolded in an environment that no court had previously confronted — wall-to-wall media coverage that blurred the line between allegation and evidence,” Jason Ott, who is part of Smart’s legal team, said in a statement. “This petition challenges whether a fair adversarial process took place.”

Report: On-duty officer deaths decrease 25% Deaths of on-duty law enforcement officers in the U.S. decreased by nearly 25% in 2025, according to an annual report.

The report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, shared with The Associated Press ahead of its release Tuesday, shows a drop in all categories of fatalities, from 148 total deaths in 2024 to 111 last year.

Officer firearm fatalities dropped to 44, a 15% decrease from 52 in 2024 and the lowest number in at least a decade, according to the fund’s previous annual officer fatality reports.

“I always like to see that firearms deaths are down. They are the tip of the spear for egregious acts,” said Bill Alexander, the chief executive officer of the fund, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that works to memorialize fallen officers, educate the public about the profession and improve officer safety.

Traffic-related deaths also decreased nearly 23% between 2024 and 2025, including both fatal traffic accidents and officers killed after being struck by a vehicle — usually during traffic stops.

BY LEAH WILLINGHAM and MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By yOAN VALAT

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, front from left, Jared Kushner and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrive Tuesday for a meeting of the ‘coalition of the willing’ at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

Ukraine allies praise progress on guarantees

BY SYLVIE CORBET and JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press

PARIS — Ukraine’s allies said they made major progress Tuesday toward agreeing how to defend the country if a peace deal is struck with Russia, saying they were ready to provide international guarantees to deter Moscow from attacking its neighbor again.

Plans discussed at a key meeting in Paris included having the U.S. lead an effort to monitor any ceasefire — which could give Washington a direct role in keeping any peace with Russia.

Leaders from 27 European countries and Canada, as well as U.S. representatives and top officials from the European Union and NATO, said they would provide Kyiv’s front-line forces with equipment and training and back them up with air, land and sea support to deter any future Russian attack.

This was the 15th and largest meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing” — involving more heads of state and governments than ever and U.S. envoys in person for the first time.

The post-ceasefire architecture would also include beefing up Ukraine’s war-

battered army, including by replenishing its weapons stocks, so it could act as the country’s front-line deterrence against a resumption of fighting.

There was no immediate comment from officials in Russia on Tuesday, which was the eve of Orthodox Christmas.

The size of the supporting forces was not made public, and many of the details of the plan — which would only apply if a ceasefire enters into force — remain unclear.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the meeting made “excellent progress” but cautioned that “the hardest yards are still ahead,” noting that Russian attacks on Ukraine continue.

Moscow has revealed few details of its stance in the U.S.-led peace negotiations. Officials have reaffirmed Russia’s demands and have insisted there can be no ceasefire until a comprehensive settlement is agreed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled out any deployment of troops from NATO countries on Ukrainian soil.

Starmer added that there can only be peace if Russia compromises, and added: “Putin is not showing that he is ready for peace.”

Israel clears final hurdle to Woman found alive in body bag to receive $3M start settlement construction A Detroit suburb has agreed to a $3.25 million settlement with the family of a young woman who had been declared dead at home but then gasped for air and opened her eyes when her body bag was unzipped at a funeral home.

Southfield paramedics were accused of gross negligence in how they responded to Timesha Beauchamp after a 911 call in 2020. The 20-year-old, who had cerebral palsy, was eventually rushed to a hospital and died two months later.

“We recognize that no resolution can undo the profound tragedy that occurred on August 23, 2020, or ease the pain experienced by Ms. Beauchamp’s family,” Southfield said in a statement. “This case involved extraordinarily difficult circumstances that arose in the complex world of a global pandemic.”

Beauchamp was struggling to breathe when her family called 911. A medical crew tried to resuscitate her and also consulted a doctor, who declared her dead over the phone without going to the home.

was wanted in his homeland and Connecticut on charges including murder and sexual assault. It said agents arrested 150 people Monday in enforcement actions in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, criticized the federal enforcement surge as “a war that’s being waged against Minnesota.”

“You’re seeing that we have a ridiculous surge of apparently 2,000 people not coordinating with us, that are for a show of cameras,” Walz told reporters in Minneapolis on Tuesday, a day after announcing he was ending his campaign for a third term.

Development would cut West Bank in two

BY JULIA FRANKEL and ABBY SEWELL Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Israel has cleared the final hurdle before starting construction on a contentious settlement project near Jerusalem that would effectively cut the West Bank in two, according to a government tender.

The tender, which seeks bids from developers, would clear the way to begin construction of the E1 project.

The anti-settlement monitoring group Peace Now first reported the tender. Yoni Mizrahi, who runs the group’s settlement watch division, said initial work could begin within the month.

Settlement development in E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, has been under consideration for more than two decades, but was frozen due to U.S. pressure during previous administrations.

The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.

The E1 project is especially contentious because it runs from the outskirts of Jeru-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEHAD ALSHRAFI

Palestinians walk Tuesday amid buildings destroyed by Israeli air and ground operations in Gaza City.

salem deep into the occupied West Bank.

Critics say it would prevent the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state in the territory.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right politician who oversees settlement policy, has long pushed for the plan to become a reality.

“The Palestinian state is being erased from the table not with slogans but with actions,” he said in August, when Israel gave final approval to the plan. “Every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.”

BOSTON — The man identified by law enforcement as the shooter who killed two Brown University students and an MIT professor had been planning the attack for years and left behind videos in which he confessed to the murders but provided no motive, according to information released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a former Brown student and Portuguese national, was found dead in a New Hampshire storage facility after he killed two students and wounded nine others in an engineering building on Dec. 13. Two days later, he killed MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro in his home in the Boston suburb of Brookline.

Justice Department officials said Tuesday that during the search of the storage facility where Neves Valente’s body was found on Dec. 18, the FBI recovered an electronic device containing a series

of short videos made by Neves Valente after the shootings.

In the recordings, the shooter admits in Portuguese that he had been working out details for at least six semesters. He did not provide a motive for targeting Brown or the MIT professor, with whom he attended school in Portugal decades ago.

In an English-translated transcript provided by the Justice Department, Neves Valente said he felt he had nothing to apologize for. He also complained in the videos about injuring his eye in the shootings.

“I’m not going to apologize because during my lifetime no one sincerely apologized to me,” he said.

He explicitly addressed baseless claims spread by conservative influencer Laura Loomer after the attack that the Brown shooter had spoken in Arabic, saying something like “Allahu akbar” upon entering the auditorium.

Neves Valente said he didn’t speak a word of Arabic or intend to make any kind of statement.

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White House: Military ‘always an option’ European leaders reject U.S. takeover of Greenland

BY CLAUDIA CIOBANU and STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press

The White House said Tuesday that “U.S. military is always an option,” even as a series of European leaders rejected President Donald Trump’s comments about seeking an American takeover of the world’s largest island.

Trump has floated since his first term the idea of purchasing Greenland, which is part of the kingdom of Denmark. But, after this weekend’s U.S. military action in Venezuela, he’s renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, citing strategic reasons.

“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “The presi-

RITZAU SCANPIX PHOTO By OSCAR SCOTT CARL

Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen speaks at a Monday news conference in Nuuk, Greenland. dent and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”

That’s notable since Trump’s newly appointed special envoy to Greenland, as well as deputy White House chief of staff Ste-

phen Miller, had previously seemed to suggest that military action likely wouldn’t be necessary. And asked Tuesday if he felt comfortable taking military action in Greenland, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “No. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

Leavitt’s comments also fol-

lowed the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joining Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a statement reaffirming that the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island “belongs to its people.”

Their statement defended the sovereignty of Greenland, which is a self-governing territory of Denmark and thus part of the NATO military alliance.

“Greenland belongs to its people,” it said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed his support, and announced a visit to Greenland early next month by Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon, who is of Inuit descent, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand.

“The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the people of Denmark,” Carney said, standing next to Frederiksen at the Canadian Embassy in Paris.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said Monday that Greenland should be part of the United States in spite of a

warning by Frederiksen that a U.S. takeover would amount to the end of NATO. “The president has been clear for months now that the United States should be the nation that has Greenland as part of our overall security apparatus,” Miller said during an interview with CNN on Monday.

The Danish leader, together with Greenland’s prime minister, has firmly rejected Trump’s renewed call for the island to come under U.S. control. Trump has argued the U.S. needs to control Greenland to ensure it security in the face of rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.

“It’s so strategic right now,” he told reporters Sunday.

“Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump said. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”

Miller wondered during his interview on Monday whether Denmark can assert control over Greenland.

“What is the basis of their territorial claim,” Miller said. “What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?”

Canada’s Indigenous governor general to visit Greenland

BY ROB GILLIES Associated Press

TORONTO — Canada’s Indigenous governor general and its foreign minister will visit Greenland in early February, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday.

The visit comes as U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his call for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, the Inuit self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark.

Trump has also previously talked about making Canada the 51st state.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Governor General Mary Simon, who is of Inuk descent, are expected to open a consulate in Nuuk, Greenland.

“The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the

people of Denmark,” Carney said while meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at Canada’s embassy in Paris.

Anand posted a video of Carney meeting with Frederiksen on social media and said she will be in Nuuk in the coming weeks to officially open Canada’s consulate and “mark a concrete step in strengthening our engagement in support of Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Greenland.”

The island of Greenland, 80% of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is home to about 56,000 mostly Inuit people.

Simon became Canada’s first Indigenous governor general in 2021 and previously served as Canada’s ambassador to Denmark. The governor general is the representa-

tive of Britain’s King Charles III, who is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the Commonwealth of former colonies.

“At the request of the Prime Minister, the Governor General is expected to visit the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland. Our two nations share a 3,000 km (1,864 mile) maritime border, as well as deep historical and cultural connections between Inuit communities,” Simon’s office said an email.

Frederiksen and Carney are in Paris for the “coalition of the willing” talks on Ukraine, but Carney made a point of meeting with Frederiksen and NATO’s secretary-general ahead of those meetings.

“You have been very clear in your statement when it comes to the respect for national sover-

eignty,” Frederiksen said to Carney. “We are both into securing the Arctic region and together with all our NATO allies we can secure the region, so hopefully everybody is willing to work together.”

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said Monday that Greenland should be part of the United States in spite of a warning by Frederiksen that a U.S. takeover of Greenland would amount to the end of NATO. Trump has argued the U.S. needs to control Greenland to ensure the security of the NATO territory in the face of rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.

“It’s so strategic right now,” he told reporters Sunday.

Carney said he’s made Arctic security a priority.

“We are making progress within

NATO but we have to do more,” Carney said at an earlier press conference in Paris.

Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said it’s important at this point for Canada to show solidarity with the people of Greenland.

“It is vital for Canada partly because we are a major Arctic country and that Greenland is our neighbor, and partly because we have a strong incentive to stand for international law and against Trump-style bullying and aggression,” Béland said.

But Béland said Carney wants to avoid upsetting Trump as the free trade agreement between the two major trading partners is renegotiated this year.

“It’s a tough balancing act for the prime minister,” Béland said.

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GREENLAND

Continued from page 1A “They’ve got an opportunity.

They can claim their independence. They can govern themselves. And they can get a great ally and partner.”

Tr u m p announced Landry’s appointment as special envoy in a Truth Social post last month, saying “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our national security.”

Since then, Landry said the specifics of what exactly the role entails are still being worked out, though he has emphasized it won’t affect his job as governor.

“It’s still to be determined,” he said of the job while speaking to Louisiana radio talk show host Moon Griffon on Monday.

DESOTO

Continued from page 1A down several of the cases.

State and federal officials say the desegregation orders are no longer necessary because the school districts long ago stopped discriminating against students by race, adding that the ongoing oversight drains school resources and undermines local control.

“The school boards are deprived of their ability to actually govern when a federal judge is supervising an old consent decree,” Murrill said Tuesday. “I’m grateful to the Trump administration’s Department of Justice for being willing to really look at this and join us in ending cases that need to be ended.”

Civil rights groups have opposed efforts to lift the remaining orders, arguing that persistent racial disparities in some Louisiana schools — in areas such as student discipline, building quality and access to advanced courses — suggest the indirect effects of past segregation have not been fully addressed. They argue that courts should examine the present-day conditions in each school district before agreeing to dismiss the cases.

“Even when the parties jointly move to say there’s no more discrimination, the court has its own obligation to look at its orders and say, ‘Did they comply with everything they’re supposed to do?” said Deuel Ross, litigation director at the Legal Defense Fund, a New Yorkbased nonprofit representing the plaintiffs in several of the Louisiana desegregation cases, but not DeSoto Parish.

Until this week, DeSoto Parish schools, a small district south of Shreveport, had operated under desegregation orders for nearly 60 years.

The U.S. Department of Justice sued the school board in 1967 for maintaining racially segregated schools for more than a decade after the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed the practice in its 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. The orders required the district to eliminate any “vestiges of segregation,” including in how students are assigned to schools and where new schools are constructed.

The Justice Department and the Shreveport-based federal court overseeing the case have closely monitored the district’s actions over the years, including when it shut down a historically Black high school in 2013 and when some families were allegedly sending their children to schools outside of their attendance zones, according to court documents. As recently as 2024, Justice Department officials toured all nine of DeSoto Parish’s schools and interviewed administrators.

About 40% of the district’s

NEWS

24/7 ON

This week, President Donald Trump rattled European leaders with comments about Greenland he made a day after U.S. military forces bombed Venezuela and captured its president, Nicolás Maduro.

“It’s so strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump said in a huddle with reporters on Air Force One on Sunday. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”

During an appearance on the CNBC television program “Squawk Box” early Tuesday morning, Landry rejected the idea that Trump is planning to take over Greenland through force.

“Is President Trump actually ready to seize Green-

land?” host Joe Kernan asked Landry.

“No, I don’t think he is. I don’t think that’s what he’s talking about,” Landry replied.

He added: “I think that the president supports an independent Greenland with economic ties and trade opportunities for the United States.”

Host Becky Quick pressed Landry on the United States’ endgame.

“So this is just us going over there and doing deals with them, or is this us taking it over?” she asked. “Because President Trump has spoken very differently about it.”

Replied Landry: “I think that the president is one of those people that says everything is on the table.”

Landry said he is personally interested in having conversations with Green-

students are Black and 50% are White, but most schools don’t reflect that diversity, according to state enrollment data. Three schools in Mansfield are around 90% Black, while schools in North DeSoto are majority White. District officials have said the school enrollments reflect where families live, not district policies.

Last June, the DeSoto Parish School Board brought on Murrill’s office as co-counsel in hopes the state would pursue a quick resolution to the case as it had in Plaquemines Parish. At the time, Superintendent Clay Corley said the federal monitoring created extra work for the district, which had to produce annual

compliance reports.

“It’s a stack of stuff, a box full of data we send every year,” he told the news station KTBS, adding that “everything has to be blessed” by federal officials. Corley did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

On Dec. 30, the Justice Department, Murrill’s office and the school board’s private attorneys filed a joint motion asking U.S. District Court Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to dismiss the case. Hicks, who was nominated by former President George W. Bush, granted the motion Jan. 5.

In less than a week, without any public hearing or fanfare, the nearly six-decade-old case was closed.

landers about what the U.S. can offer Greenland that Europe can’t.

The prime ministers of both Greenland and Denmark have blasted Trump for his approach. Greenland’s prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, on social media called the remarks “unacceptable” and “wrong.”

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Monday a U.S. takeover of Greenland would amount to the end of NATO. On Tuesday, leaders from several European countries issued a statement saying that, “It

is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

Increasing international tensions, global warming and the changing world economy have put Greenland at the heart of a debate over global trade and security.

The island, 80% of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is home to about 56,000 mostly Inuit people.

Its location off the northeastern coast of Canada has made it crucial to the defense of North America

since World War II. The U.S. Department of Defense operates a remote space force base in northwestern Greenland that supports missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO. Greenland is also a rich source of so-called rare earth minerals that are a key component of mobile phones, computers, batteries and other high-tech gadgets that are expected to power the world’s economy in the coming decades.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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6A ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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TRUMP

With oil trading at roughly $56 a barrel, the transaction Trump announced late Tuesday could be worth as much as $2.8 billion.

The U.S. goes through an average of roughly 20 million barrels a day of oil and related products, so Venezuela’s transfer would be the equivalent of as much as two and a half days of supply, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Despite Venezuela having the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, it only produces on average about 1 million barrels day, significantly below the U.S. average daily production of 13.9 million barrels a day during October.

The press office for Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s announcement.

ExxonMobil is developing a mammoth offshore oil deposit in the waters off Guyana, Venezuela’s neighbor to the east. The company’s major oil discovery in 2015 prompted Venezuela to revive a century-old territorial dispute with Guyana and take steps to annex the remote region known as Essequibo, which comprises about two-thirds of Guyana’s land mass.

The development has also led to wide-ranging accusations from Venezuela’s government, including Rodríguez, against Guyana’s leaders and ExxonMobil. Two years ago, Venezuelan lawmakers even considered banning any future operation in Venezuela of oil companies working in Guyana.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump pushed back against Democratic criticism

of this weekend’s military operation, noting that his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden had also called for the arrest of the Venezuelan leader on drug trafficking charges.

Trump in remarks before a House Republican retreat in Washington grumbled that Democrats were not giving him credit for a successful military operation, even though there was bipartisan agreement that Maduro was not the rightful president of Venezuela.

In 2020, Maduro was indicted in the United States, accused in a decades-long narco-terrorism and international cocaine trafficking conspiracy. White House officials have noted that Biden’s administration in his final days in office last year raised the award for information leading to Maduro’s arrest after he assumed a third term in office despite evidence suggesting that he lost Venezuela’s most recent election. The Trump administration doubled the award to $50 million in August.

“You know, at some point, they should say, ‘You know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations.’ Wouldn’t it be good?” Trump said. “I would say that if they did a good job, their philosophies are so different. But if they did a good job, I’d be happy for the country.

They’ve been after this guy for years and years and years.”

Americans are split about the capture of Maduro — with many still forming opinions — according to a poll conducted by The Washington Post and SSRS using text messages over the weekend.

About 4 in 10 approved of the U.S. military being sent to capture Maduro, while roughly the same

by local business owner Mahmoud Mohamed Hassan, Secretary of State’s Office filings indicate.

As part of the resolution reached Tuesday, Khoder dropped his objection to the state’s petition and prosecutors withdrew their allegations that Khoder had knowledge about the problematic behavior that persisted on his property.

But he didn’t evict the tenant, increase security measures or sell the property, even after receiving a notice violation from the District Attorney’s Office.

Police Chief Thomas Morse, Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, the Attorney General’s Office, Mayor’s Of-

fice and District 10 City Council member Carolyn Coleman — who represents the district where AM Mart is located — also signed the Sept. 3 violation notice. Prosecutors said the arrests and criminal activity continued at the storefront.

Khoder escaped without a civil penalty as part of the resolution.

State law allows judges to levy fines up to $10,000 against owners of properties with nuisance abatements.

One homicide that was tied to the property happened after Khoder received the preliminary notice.

Woodrow Vaughn, a 73-year-old

Baton Rouge man, was beaten and kidnapped from the AM Mart parking lot early the morning of Nov. 21. Woodrow’s family had reported him missing and the attack was captured on video. Two days later, he was found stabbed to death in a vehicle off Lafitte Drive, police said.

Another man was shot dead July 15 while sitting on his porch directly across the street from AM Mart.

Moore said the nuisance law is a tool his office uses sparingly, but it was needed in this situation. He said his office has on its radar a few other businesses that have been served notice, but remain in

Continued from page 1A working in Venezuela were killed in the raid. The Cuban government says the personnel killed belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, the country’s two main security agencies.

Seven U.S. service members were also injured in the raid, according to the Pentagon. Five have already returned to duty, while two are still recovering from their injuries. The injuries included gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment on the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A video tribute to the slain Venezuelan security officials posted to the military’s Instagram account features faces of the fallen over black-and-white videos of soldiers, American aircraft flying over Caracas and armored vehicles destroyed by the blasts. Meanwhile, the streets of Caracas, deserted for days following Maduro’s capture, briefly filled with masses of people waving Venezuelan flags and bouncing to patriotic music at a state-organized display of support for the government.

“Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength,” the military wrote in an Instagram post. “It reaffirms our unwavering oath not to rest until we rescue our legitimate President, completely dismantle the terrorist groups operating from abroad, and ensure that events such as these never again sully our sovereign soil.”

STORE

Continued from page 1A The city will install cameras on the premises that tap into BRPD’s Real Time Crime Center.

Baton Rouge police began investigating the elevated level of crime and other prohibited activity at AM Mart in August, according to court filings. The store is owned

by American Groceries Inc., an inactive business of which Khoder is the registered owner. Since at least 2018, he has leased the property to NADA Inc., which is owned

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATIAS DELACROIX

Government supporters gather in Caracas, Venezuela, on Tuesday for a women’s march to demand the return of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

C R E D I T

share were opposed. About 2 in 10 were unsure.

Nearly half of Americans, 45%, were opposed to the U.S. taking control of Venezuela and choosing a new government for the country.

About 9 in 10 Americans said the Venezuelan people should be the ones to decide the future leadership of their country.

Maduro pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in a U.S. courtroom on Monday.

U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife early Saturday in a raid on a compound where they were surrounded by Cuban guards.

In the days since Maduro’s ouster, Trump and top administration officials have raised anxiety around the globe that the operation could mark the beginning of a more expansionist U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere.

The president in recent days has renewed his calls for an American takeover of the Danish territory of Greenland for the sake of U.S. security interests and threatened military action on Colombia for facilitating the global sale of cocaine, while his top diplomat declared the communist government in Cuba is “in a lot of trouble.”

Colombia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Rosa Villavicencio said Tuesday she’ll meet with the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires in Bogota to present him with a formal complaint over the recent threats issued by the United States.

On Sunday, Trump said he wasn’t ruling out an attack on Colombia and described its president, who’s been an outspoken critic of the U.S. pressure campaign on Venezuela, as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”

compliance with law enforcement.

“It just had to stop for the protection of the public there. That’s why we brought this forward,” he said.

“We try to use this statute sparingly and as needed. And we think this was the appropriate use of it.”

Tuesday’s order means all the parties that signed the violation notice in September would need to agree to a new owner to buy the AM Mart property or for a new tenant to resume operations there before the five-year injunction period is over.

Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.

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Anniversary of riot brings fresh division White House issues own version of events while Democrats hold discussion

BY LISA MASCARO

AP congressional correspondent WASHINGTON — Five years ago outside the White House, outgoing President Donald Trump told a crowd of supporters to head to the Capitol — “and I’ll be there with you” — in protest as Congress was affirming the 2020 election victory for Democrat Joe Biden.

A short time later, the world watched as the seat of U.S. power descended into chaos, and democracy hung in the balance.

On the fifth anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, there is no official event to memorialize what happened that day, when the mob made its way down Pennsylvania Avenue, battled police at the Capitol barricades and stormed inside, as lawmakers fled. The political parties refuse to agree on a shared history of the events, which were broadcast around the globe. And the official plaque honoring the police who defended the Capitol has never been hung.

Instead, the day displayed the divisions that still define Washington, and the country, and the White House itself issued a glossy new report with its own revised history of what happened.

Trump, during a lengthy morning speech to House Republicans away from the Capitol at the rebranded Kennedy Center now carrying his own name, shifted blame for Jan. 6 onto the rioters themselves.

The president said he had intended only for his supporters to go “peacefully and patriotically” to confront Congress as it certified Biden’s win. He blamed the media for focusing on other parts of his speech that day.

At the same time, Democrats held their own morn-

ing meeting at the Capitol, reconvening members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack for a panel discussion. Recalling the history of the day is important, they said, in order to prevent what Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., warned was the GOP’s “Orwellian project of forgetting.”

And the former leader of the militant Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, summoned people for a midday march retracing the rioters’ steps from the White House to the Capitol, this time to honor Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt and those who died in the Jan. 6 siege and its aftermath. More than 100 people gathered, including Babbitt’s mother.

Tarrio and others are putting pressure on the Trump administration to punish officials who investigated and prosecuted the Jan. 6 rioters.

He was sentenced to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy for orchestrating the Jan. 6 attack, and he is among more than 1,500 defendants who saw their charges dropped when Trump issued a sweeping pardon on his return to the White House last year.

“They should be fired and prosecuted,” Tarrio told the crowd before they arrived at the Capitol, confronted along the way by counter-protesters, and sang the national anthem.

The White House, in its new report, highlighted the work the president has already done to free those charged and turned the blame on Democrats for certifying Biden’s election victory.

This milestone anniversary carried echoes of the deep differences that erupted that day.

But it unfolds while atten-

tion is focused elsewhere, particularly after the U.S. military’s stunning capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and Trump’s plans to take over the country and prop up its vast oil industry, a striking new era of American expansionism.

“These people in the administration, they want to lecture the world about democracy when they’re undermining the rule of law at home, as we all will be powerfully reminded,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York, said on the eve of the anniversary.

Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer held a candlelight vigil outside the Capitol with lawmakers and family members of police officers to mark the anniversary.

Few Republicans joined in the day’s remembrances, and the Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Benton, responding to requests for comment about the delay in hanging the plaque honoring the police at the Capitol, as required by law, said in a statement on the eve of the anniversary that the statute “is not implementable,” and proposed alternatives “also do not comply with the statute.”

At the hearing at the Capitol, lawmakers heard from a range of witnesses and others — including former U.S. Capitol Police officer Winston Pingeon, who said as a kid he always dreamed of being a cop. But on that day, he thought he was going to die.

“I implore America to not forget what happened,” he said, urging the country to find common ground. “I believe the vast majority of Americans have so much more in common than what separates us.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE

From left, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., watch a video Tuesday as House Democrats hold an unofficial hearing on the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot by supporters of President Donald Trump.

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8A ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

Administration says it’s pausing safety net funding provide lifelines to some of York Post.

Targeted states theAnNew official in the White the neediest Americans: budget office who has The Child Care Developled by Democrats House knowledge of the plan but ment Block Grant subsidizn

BY GEOFF MULVIHILL and MORIAH BALINGIT

was not authorized to speak about it publicly said that it was due to states “pouring money out” to people in the U.S. illegally.

Five states — California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York — are targeted. By Tuesday afternoon, none had received notice of a broader funding pause.

But Gov. Kathy Hochul said New York is prepared to go to court, as Democratic-led states have scores of times now, to block the administration.

“We’ll fight this with every fiber of our being, because our kids should not be political pawns in a fight that Donald Trump seems to have with blue state governors,” she said.

The targeted programs

Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

President Donald Trump speaks Tuesday to House Republican lawmakers during their annual policy retreat in Washington.

Trump attempts to rally GOP at retreat

BY SEUNG MIN KIM and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday that Republicans have “so many good nuggets” to campaign on this year as they try to hold onto their razor-thin margin in the House.

But the president’s nearly 90-minute speech before House Republicans had little in the way of a fresh policy agenda or a cohesive new message to guide the year. Instead, he meandered from defending his actions during the Capitol riot five years ago to joking about being liberal-minded to win the votes of transgender people to making headscratching references to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s use of a wheelchair.

As he promised political “ammunition” to help Republicans, Trump emphasized the success of his

2024 presidential campaign, reminding the audience that he carried every swing state as he pondered why voters tend to turn against the party in power during midterm elections.

“They say that when you win the presidency, you lose the midterms,” Trump said in remarks at the Kennedy Center, the performing arts venue that his allies recently renamed for him. “I wish you could explain to me what the hell is going on with the mind of the public.”

He warned that if Democrats regain control of Congress, “they’ll find a way to impeach me.”

Trump’s appearance at the GOP’s policy forum was meant to ensure House Republicans and the White House were aligned ahead of the November midterms that will determine control of Congress and the course of Trump’s final two years in office.

Rising health care costs,

Trump’s expansive foreign policy pursuits and other issues are dramatically splitting the GOP, as some Republicans become more comfortable crossing party lines to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson and join proposals from Democrats.

It all points to a difficult year ahead for the president and his party, especially as the House’s slim majority narrowed Tuesday with the sudden death of California Rep. Doug LaMalfa, which was announced to lawmakers as they traveled to the performing arts center, and the resignation of former Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, which took effect at midnight.

But Trump spent more time rehashing past grievances during the appearance than articulating a broad election-year strategy or offering specifics on how he’s addressing affordability concerns of voters.

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BY TRÂN NGUYEN, MIKE CATALINI and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Republican Doug LaMalfa, a died Monday after a California rice farmer who medical emergency. served seven terms in the U.S. House and was a reliable vote on President Donald Trump’s agenda, has died at age 65.

His death trims the Republicans’ narrow margin of control of the House to 218 seats to Democrats’ 213.

The congressman experienced a medical emergency

Monday night and was taken to a local hospital, where he died during a surgical procedure, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. Officials haven’t disclosed the cause of his death.

Trump expressed “tremendous sorrow” over LaMalfa’s death as he addressed a

meeting of House Republicans on Tuesday, lamenting the loss of a lawmaker he championed as an ally for his agenda. He said the late congressman “wasn’t a 3 o’clock in the morning person” like other lawmakers he would call in the wee hours to lobby for their votes.

“He voted with me 100% of the time,” Trump said.

“With Doug, I never had to call.”

LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer, was elected to Congress in 2012 after serving in the state Legislature. He represented California’s 1st District, which covered a vast portion of the state’s rural North, spanning from the Oregon border down to just north of the capital, Sacramento.

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“For too long, Democratled states and Governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur under their watch,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a statement.

The administration has not laid out details of either the fraud claims or the widening plan to withhold funds, which was first reported by

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Leaders of legal powerhouse vote to dissolve La. firm McGlinchey Stafford founded by four partners in 1973

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL and ANDREA GALLO Staff writers

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERIC GAy

Former Uvalde school district police Officer Adrian Gonzales, right, talks with an officer Tuesday as he arrives in the courtroom at the Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Prosecutor: Uvalde officer did nothing until it was too late

BY VALERIE GONZALEZ and JIM VERTUNO Associated Press

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — In the crucial, chaotic minutes after a gunman in Uvalde, Texas, began firing inside an elementary school, a police officer now accused of failing to protect the children stood by without making a move to stop the carnage, a prosecutor told a jury Tuesday.

School officer Adrian Gonzales arrived at the scene of one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history while the teenage assailant was still outside the building.

But he did not try to distract or engage him, even when a teacher pointed out the direction of the shooter, special prosecutor Bill Turner said during opening statements of a criminal trial.

The officer only went inside Robb Elementary “after the damage had been done,” Turner said.

Defense attorneys disputed the

accusations that Gonzales — one of two officers charged in the aftermath of the 2022 attack — did nothing, saying he radioed for more help and evacuated children as other police arrived.

“The government makes it want to seem like he just sat there,” said defense attorney Nico LaHood. “He did what he could, with what he knew at the time.”

Prosecutors focused sharply on Gonzales’ steps in the minutes after the shooting began and as the first officers arrived. They did not address the hundreds of other local, state and federal officers who arrived and waited more than an hour to confront the gunman, who was eventually killed by a tactical team of officers.

Gonzales, who is no longer a Uvalde schools officer, has pleaded not guilty to 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment and could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison if convicted.

It’s rare for an officer to be criminally charged with not doing more to save lives.

“He could have stopped him, but he didn’t want to be the target,” said Velma Lisa Duran, sister of teacher Irma Garcia, who was among the 19 students and two teachers who were killed.

Duran, who showed up early at the courthouse to watch the beginning of the trial, said authorities stood by while her sister “died protecting children.”

Defense attorneys described an officer who tried to assess where the gunman was while thinking he was being fired on without protection against a high-powered rifle.

Gonzales was among the first group to go into the building before they took fire from Salvador Ramos, the officer’s attorneys said.

“This isn’t a man waiting around. This isn’t a man failing to act,” defense attorney Jason Goss said.

other firms, adding that “the firm wishes them well in their continued practice.”

A town hall for the firm’s attorneys and staff was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, with an additional meeting scheduled for Friday to share additional details.

McGlinchey was founded in 1973 in New Orleans by Carl Schumacher, Dermot McGlinchey, Graham Stafford and Donald Mintz, though it was McGlinchey and Stafford who aggressively grew the firm in the 1970s and 1980s into a regional powerhouse attracting some of the area’s brightest young talent.

Both McGlinchey and Stafford died young — Stafford at age 47 in 1987 and McGlinchey at age 60 in 1993. But the firm they established continued to expand its footprint across the country.

Today, it has 18 offices in 12 states and Washington, D.C., and its attorneys are licensed to practice in 36 states, according to its website.

While its offices are mainly clustered in the South, it also practices in various cities on the east and west coasts and boasts experience in 40 areas of the law. Its managing partner, Ferachi, is based in Baton Rouge, as was his predecessor, Rudy Aguilar, though its headquarters remains in New Orleans, where it has occupied two floors of the Pan American Life Center since 2008.

In November, the firm announced the creation of several new administrative leadership positions, including a chief strategy and operations officer, director of legal support, and employee engagement coordinator.

“Our business teams are the backbone of this firm, empowering our attorneys to do their best work through strong workflows, equipment, processes, and culture,” Ferachi said in a statement at the time.

After more than 50 years litigating some of Louisiana’s biggest cases, leaders of New Orleansbased McGlinchey Stafford PLLC voted to dissolve the firm, according to an email sent to the firm’s 160 attorneys and support staff.

In the email, sent Tuesday afternoon, managing member Michael Ferachi said McGlinchey’s “equity members” voted Monday evening to begin to wind down the firm.

“We do not know the date on which we will formally commence a dissolution,” Ferachi said. “When we do, we will let you know.”

He said the firm will be working with a consultant who specializes in winding down law firms in order to “carry this out in the most organized, efficient and graceful manner we can.”

It isn’t clear what was behind the decision to dissolve, which is highly unusual for a wellestablished, mid-sized firm like McGlinchey with decades of experience and offices around the country.

In a statement Tuesday night, the firm said there was “no single triggering event or definitive action” that prompted the decision.

“This is not because of any specific attorney’s departure, or any individual financial decision or leadership action that led us to this point,” Ferachi said. “This is the result of a combination of market factors, such as lagging collections, compounded with various internal factors over several years.”

The statement said a number Email Stephanie Riegel at of McGlinchey attorneys have stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. recently announced plans to join com.

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Iran security forces, protesters clash Death toll rises to 36

BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Protesters angry over Iran’s ailing economy conducted a sit-in Tuesday at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, witnesses said, with security forces ultimately firing tear gas and dispersing demonstrators as the rest of the market shut down.

The protest at the Grand Bazaar, the beating heart for centuries of both Iran’s economic and political life, represented the latest signal that the demonstrations likely are to continue as the rial currency fell to a record low Tuesday. Already, violence surrounding the protests has killed at least 36 people with authorities detaining more than 2,000 others, activists abroad say.

Meanwhile, the situation was likely to worsen as Iran’s Central Bank drastically reduced the subsidized exchange rates for dollars it offers to importers and producers. That likely will see merchants pass price hikes directly to consumers, whose life savings already have dwindled over years of sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic.

Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, while ordering a government investigation into one incident involving the protests, otherwise signaled Tuesday that the crisis may be rapidly moving beyond the control of officials.

“We should not expect the government to handle all of this alone,” Pezeshkian said in a televised speech. “The government simply does not have that capacity.”

In the Grand Bazaar, a labyrinthlike warren of covered passages and alleyways, demonstrators sat down in one passage in front of security forces as other shops nearby shut down Tuesday, online videos

showed and witnesses said. Other demonstrations similarly have seen people sit down in front of police after a photo circulated earlier of a man seen sitting alone in front of security forces.

Authorities later fired tear gas to disperse the protesters. Iranian state-run media did not immediately acknowledge the incident, which has been common in the days since the demonstrations began on Dec. 28. Later footage purportedly showed tear gas at a hospital and a metro station in Tehran.

Iran has faced rounds of nationwide protests in recent years.

As sanctions tightened and Iran struggled after a 12-day war with Israel in June, its rial currency collapsed in December, reaching 1.4 million to $1. Protests began soon ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VAHID SALEMI after, with demonstrators chanting People walk past closed shops Tuesday during protests in Tehran’s against Iran’s theocracy.

On Tuesday, $1 traded at 1.46 mil- centuries-old main bazaar. lion rials, a new low, with no signs of slowing. Prior to Iran’s 1979 broadly stable, trading at around nuclear deal with world powers, $1 Islamic Revolution, the rial was 70 to $1. At the time of Iran’s 2015 traded for 32,000 rials.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAMON ESPINOSA

A mosquito control worker fumigates a home Tuesday in Old Havana, Cuba, where a government television news report on U.S. forces’ capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife plays.

Cuba releases details of 32 officers killed in U.S. strike

BY DÁNICA COTO and ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ

Associated Press

HAVANA — The names, ranks and ages of the 32 Cuban military personnel killed during the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces were published Tuesday by the Cuban government, which announced two days of mourning.

Among the deceased are colonels, lieutenants, majors and captains, as well as some reserve soldiers, ranging in age from 26 to 60.

The uniformed personnel belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, Cuba’s two main security agencies. The publication did not specify their missions or exactly how they died.

Cuban state media published their details and

headshots, which show them clad in olive-green military uniforms.

On Tuesday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said that Cubans were “prepared to give their lives” against any U.S. intervention as the island pondered a future without Maduro as Venezuela’s leader.

“The U.S. president, displaying a complete lack of understanding about Cuba and repeating the agenda of lies of Cuban-American politicians and other interest groups, blasphemes against and threatens our people,” Rodríguez wrote on X. “Our valiant people, true to their history of struggle, will defend their nation against any imperialist aggression.”

In a statement Sunday, Cuban authorities had acknowledged the deaths of the personnel who were in the South American nation

as part of agreements between the two countries.

“Our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism, falling after fierce resistance in direct combat against the attackers, or as a result of the bombing of the facilities,” the official statement said.

Information about the Cuban officers killed began trickling out on Monday night, with Cubans publicly saying they had died for a just cause.

“You have to say that to say the same thing as the government,” said Luis Domínguez, who runs the website, Represores Cubanos, or Cuban Repressors, which doxes officials allegedly involved in human rights abuses and violations of democratic norms.

“Inside, Cubans have to be saying something else,” he added.

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12A ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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New deadly clashes erupt between Syrian forces, Kurdish fighters

BY OMAR ALBAM Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANTONIO CALANNI

Swiss Minister of Justice Beat Jans and State Councillor Mathias Reynard lay flowers Saturday at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, where a devastating fire left 40 dead and over 100 injured on New year’s Day.

Authorities: Swiss bar hadn’t had inspections since 2019

BY GEIR MOULSON Associated Press

Fire safety inspections hadn’t been carried out since 2019 at the Swiss bar where a fire at a New Year’s party left 40 people dead and over 100 injured, local authorities said Tuesday.

Investigators have said they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fire at Le Constellation in the resort town of Crans-Montana when they came too close to the ceiling. Authorities are looking into whether soundproofing material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the candles were permitted for use in the bar.

Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the bar managers. The two are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm and involuntarily causing a fire, according to the Valais region’s chief prosecutor.

The regulations in Valais call for

annual fire safety inspections of buildings that are “accessible to the public,” and regional authorities say they are the responsibility of the municipality.

On Tuesday, the Crans-Montana municipality said that inspections of Le Constellation that included fire safety checks had been carried out in 2016, 2018 and 2019, and that modifications had been requested — but no issues with soundproofing measures had been raised.

The local council discovered after consulting documents after the fire that “periodic checks were not carried out between 2020 and 2025,” the head of Crans-Montana’s municipal government, Nicolas Féraud, told a news conference.

“We regret this bitterly,” he said, adding that it will be up to judicial authorities to determine what influence that may have had on the events that led to the fire.

Féraud said he couldn’t immediately explain why safety inspections hadn’t been conducted for

I T ’ S

such a long time.

Féraud said that, in September last year, an external expert had been asked to carry out a soundproofing analysis and had concluded that the bar complied with antinoise rules, without making further remarks.

The severity of burns made it difficult to identify some victims of the fire that broke out at about 1:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, requiring families to supply authorities with DNA samples.

Investigators finished identifying the 40 dead on Sunday and said on Monday that they had identified all 116 people who were injured, from several countries.

On Monday, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced that it was opening a probe to assist the Swiss investigation and make it easier for families of French victims to communicate with Swiss investigators. Nine French citizens were killed, the youngest 14, and 23 were injured.

T I M E

ALEPPO, Syria — The deadliest clashes so far broke out Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, as efforts to merge the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces with the national army have shown little progress.

Syria’s state-run SANA news agency said a soldier was killed and three others were wounded in an attack by the SDF. State TV later reported that three civilians, including two women, were killed and others were wounded, including two children, in shelling of a residential area that it blamed on the SDF. SANA also said nine Aleppo Directorate of Agriculture employees were wounded by SDF shelling that hit its office.

The SDF in a statement denied being behind the shelling that killed the civilians and said a shell launched by “factions affiliated with the Damascus government” landed in the al-Midan neighborhood. The SDF claimed the target was the adjacent Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood.

“This indiscriminate shelling constitutes a direct attack on residential areas and exposes the lives of civilians to grave danger,” it said.

The SDF also said a drone strike launched by government forces killed one resident of Sheikh Maqsoud and wounded two children, and that shelling in the nearby Bani Zaid neighborhood killed a woman and wounded dozens. There was no mention of those incidents in state media.

At Aleppo’s Al-Razi Hospital, which received some of the wounded, Ahmad Abu Sheikh was waiting to see his 4-year-old daughter, Fatima, who was on the operating table for hours after being hit by shrapnel from a shell. He said she lost her eye.

“I just want to know what can I tell my daughter when I see her?

Where did her eye go?” he said.

Afrin Jawan, a civil society activist in Sheikh Maqsoud, said in a message that thousands of civilians were besieged in Kurdish neighborhoods “and subjected to indiscriminate shelling with all types of heavy and medium weapons ... by factions affiliated with the Ministry of Defense in Damascus.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By OMAR ALBAM

Kafaa Abu Sheikh, right, the mother of Fatima al-Zahra, 4, checks on her daughter Tuesday after she was wounded when clashes broke out between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in Aleppo, Syria.

T O

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2 flee after trying to cash bad check Another man involved shot self, officials say

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

Multiple police vehicles, a helicopter and drones were deployed Monday afternoon to search for two suspects who fled police near Towne Center after reportedly trying to cash a fraudulent check at a bank on Jefferson Highway.

The man and woman wanted by police fled on foot after they alleg-

edly tried to cash a check at a Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co. branch.

A third suspect, Larry Scott Jr., accidentally shot himself while sitting in a blue SUV outside the bank and was later arrested on gun and drug counts, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department.

A fourth suspect, Dorsay Jones, 36, was also found in the vehicle and was arrested in connection with monetary instrument abuse

When the pair left the bank to retrieve Almond’s ID, the teller called the owner of the account on the check, who said he had no and forgery.

Officers were first called to the knowledge of writing the $1,800 bank about 1 p.m., when a teller check, did not know Almond, and reported that a man and a woman did not recognize the handwriting were attempting to cash a fraudu- on the check’s signature.

The teller then contacted police. lent check worth $1,800, according According to a warrant for to a BRPD news release and a warJones’ arrest, he had picked up rant for Jones’ arrest.

The teller became suspicious af- Almond, Scott and another man in ter the woman, identified as Taylor the blue SUV before driving to the Almond, 28, failed to produce two bank.

Jones and Scott stayed in the veforms of identification.

hicle, while Almond and another male suspect went inside.

The first police officer to arrive after the bank teller’s call was told about the SUV and that others were still inside it, Jones’ warrant states. But when the officer attempted to make contact with Jones and Scott, a gunshot was fired from within the vehicle.

Scott had shot himself while allegedly attempting to hide a firearm, according to the release.

ä See BAD CHECK, page 2B

La. again receives leading economic honor Landry: State ‘setting a new standard’

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Clearing the way

Road planned to link Airline Highway, Jones Creek Road Ln.

Staff writer

Jones Creek Road

Jones Cre ek Rd.

BY ELLYN COUVILLION

ne

y.

Hw

Antioch Rd.

Stumbe rg

extension will connect An ambitious project to extend Jones Creek Road to AirTiger Bend Road with line Highway has moved from right of way acquisition to Jefferson Hwy., and boots on the ground, with work underway to clear trees and eventually Airline Hwy. brush now growing in the path, an East Baton Rouge Parish official said.

The clearing of the wooded property between Tiger Bend Tiger Bend Rd. Road and Jefferson Highway began in December and will be followed by the placement of soil to fill low places.

The dirt fill will be compacted and allowed to settle, all Je ffe engineered to not impede the flow of rainwater, before conrs Profit A on ve struction of the new four-lane stretch of Jones Creek Road .

Hw to Jefferson Highway, and then to Airline Highway, begins, y. said Fred Raiford, director of transportation and drainage for the parish.

Utilities, mostly along Jefferson Highway, will also be relocated as part of the work, he said.

“The roadway is expected to be opened to drivers in mid73 61 2027, weather permitting,” Raiford said.

Staff map Planning for the approximately $20 million project connecting Jones Creek to Airline Highway began in 2019.

It is one of 72 MovEBR projects — some of which have took effect on April 1, 2019, and will remain in effect for 30 been split into smaller projects — funded by a half-cent years, ending on March 31, 2049. Proceeds of the tax can sales tax approved by voters in December 2018. The tax only be spent on the approved list of projects. rli

ä See HONOR, page 2B

Trees are cleared Tuesday at the worksite that will extend Jones Creek Road to Airline Highway.

Ai

For the second year in a row, Louisiana has received top honors for one of its business deals from a leading economic development publication — a sign that the state’s economy is heading in the right direction, Gov. Jeff Landry said.

Hyundai Steel’s nearly $6 billion steel mill planned for Ascension Landry Parish was named the nation’s top development project of 2025 by Business Facilities magazine, a nearly 60-yearold provider of news, data and analysis related to corporate site selection, expansion and relocation.

Last year, Louisiana won the same award for Meta’s $27 billion Hyperion data center being constructed in Richland Parish near Monroe. The state is the first to win consecutive “Platinum Deal of the Year” honors from the industry publication.

“In 2025, Louisiana set a new standard for ourselves,” Landry said in a statement. “This year, we are setting a new standard for the nation. Louisiana is a force in the industries that power America’s economy.”

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois, who has announced $76 billion in capital investments since Landry took office, said the industry recognition helps her sell the state to more potential investors.

“I can’t stress enough how differently people are looking at us, from site consultants to CEOs to decision makers,” Bourgeois said in a phone interview Monday. “It’s undeniable that there’s something different about Louisiana. That goes a really long way in making my job easier.”

Bourgeois said 2025 set records for investment and job creation in Louisiana. In December, her agency closed out the year with news of five deals, including a $7 billion Hut 8 data center in West Feliciana Parish. She said more “multibillion-dollar” announcements are coming in the first quarter of 2026.

“It’s the result of a ‘whole of government’ approach,” Bourgeois said. “A lot of people are pulling on the rope in the same direction, from the Legislature changing the tax code to improvements in our educational system.”

The Business Facilities award

Man sought in connection with trafficking case Baton Rouge police are looking for a man in connection with the trafficking of a 15-year-old girl this fall at a South Sherwood Forest CRIME Boulevard hotel.

BLOTTER Allen R. Commoder, 45, of New staff Orleans, faces reports a felony charge of human trafficking. His girlfriend was arrested the night of the incident on a count of human trafficking: fraud, force or coercion.

Police responded to a call Oct.

8 about a disturbance at the Motel 8 on 11444 Reulet Ave. When officers arrived, the victim told them she was being trafficked and was “tired of it.” The girl said she was trafficked starting Sept. 22 and was given drugs to “help her” while she was with Commoder.

The girl was transferred to a hospital for treatment, where she tested positive for chlamydia. Traces of THC, methamphetamines and cocaine were found in her system.

Police said the girl was trans-

The shooting happened Dec. 9 in ported from New Orleans to Baton Rouge by Commoder’s girl- a shed in the backyard of a home on East Glen Court. friend.

Almost immediately after the shooting, shortly before 2 a.m., Turner, 18, allegedly approached multiple people to confess he had A man was arrested Monday in killed the man, according to arconnection with a fatal shooting rest documents. He was allegedly that happened in a shed in North dressed all in black, wearing a ski Baton Rouge last month. mask and carrying a rifle.

Travis Turner, 18, was booked Witnesses told deputies they into East Baton Rouge Parish had seen the victim, Norman Prison on counts of second-degree Johnson, 41, riding his bicycle in murder and illegal use of weap- the neighborhood, which he often did, the night of his death. ons.

Man arrested in fatal December shooting

2B ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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N.O. zoo accepting Christmas light donations Funds being raised for African lion conservation

BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer

If you have old or broken string lights cluttering your home after the holiday season, you can donate the decorations to the Audubon Zoo for a good cause on the other side of the world.

Every string of lights donated to Audubon will help raise funds for lion conservation efforts in Africa.

Those interested can bring their lights to the “Lights for Lions” donation box outside the front gates of the zoo until Jan 12. Audubon requests that people only drop off string

lights and do not place bags or boxes in the bin.

The zoo will sell all donated lights to Southern Recycling, a scrap metal yard in New Orleans, and send the proceeds to the Lion Recovery Fund, an organization in partnership with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation that funds conservation projects in nearly two dozen African countries.

The recovery fund serves as a conduit between organizations like Audubon and field partners in Africa.

String lights contain metals that can be recycled, said Melissa Lee, an Audubon spokesperson. The zoo has recycled the lights to raise funds for the lions in recent years, Lee said.

“In addition to sending funds to help lions in the wild, these recycling efforts

also keep these old unwanted lights out of landfills or being tossed out where other wildlife could get tangled in them,” Lee said. “So it’s a winwin.”

The donations for the initiative have been modest in the past. Andrew Haertzen, assistant curator of Africa at Audubon Zoo, said the initiative has generated up to $700 in recent years, but the zoo wants to increase the figure now that it has lion cubs.

Over the past 25 years, Africa has lost half its lions, the Lion Recovery Fund says, from threats such as poaching, habitat loss, climate change and conflict with humans. The decline has led to the species being vulnerable to extinction, Haertzen noted, with less than 25,000 lions living in the wild.

The Lion Recovery Fund aims to double the number of lions in Africa to make up for the substantial losses. The conservation fund will give Audubon options for specific projects to allocate donations.

One past project in Zimbabwe that Audubon donated to strives to improve coexistence between people and wildlife, such as by providing tools to livestock herders that make goats and sheep less vulnerable to lion attacks.

“When we are looking for a project to donate to, there’s a major community aspect,” Haertzen said. “Will this money support people who are really facing the challenges of living around lions? Because we know that that’s where lion conservation is going to be most effective and most needed.”

PROVIDED By AUDUBON ZOO

The Audubon Zoo is looking for Christmas light donations, in any condition, to raise funds for lion conservation efforts in Africa. Audubon will sell to Southern Recycling, a scrap metal yard in New Orleans, and send the proceeds to the Lion Recovery Fund.

New Orleans seeks to bid on another Super Bowl Benson, Landry meet with NFL, NBA commissioners

BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer

Pro sports in New Orleans received a major boost this week, including another potential Super Bowl.

Summit meetings between Saints-Pelicans owner Gayle Benson, Gov. Jeff Landry, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver greased the skids for a potential windfall for the city’s sports scene.

Among the results: n The NFL invited New Orleans to bid on Super Bowl 2031, an olive branch after the city missed the official deadline to submit its proposal last fall. n The endorsement of a potential major renovation of the Smoothie King Center that would include the transformation of the arena and Superdome area into a reimagined sports and entertainment complex. n A long-term commitment from Silver to New Orleans as an NBA city.

“We had a very positive and productive meeting, and I am thrilled that we will have the opportunity to bid on the 2031 Super Bowl,” Benson said.

The invitation to bid on the 2031 Super Bowl came after a meeting Tuesday with Goodell at NFL offices in New York.

The Saints had planned to submit New Orleans’ bid for the 2031 game in September, when the league’s Engagement & Major Events Advisory Committee met to consider proposals for future Super Bowls. But the team was unable to do so because a lease extension with the state of Louisiana, which owns the Superdome, had not yet been finalized beyond 2030. As such, New Orleans wasn’t on the original shortlist of potential host cities.

The Saints and the state reached a deal on a long-term lease extension for the Dome

BAD CHECK

Continued from page 1B

in November, clearing the way to be reconsidered for the Super Bowl.

“We appreciated the opportunity to meet with Gov. Landry and Mrs. Benson,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. “It was a very productive meeting, and while our immediate focus is on the upcoming Super Bowls, we can confirm that New Orleans will be part of the consideration process for the Super Bowl to be played in 2031.”

The next three Super Bowls — next month and the 2027 and 2028 games — are scheduled for San Francisco, Los Angeles and Atlanta, respectively. Las Vegas and Nashville, Tennessee, are considered the favorites to host the 2029 and 2030 games.

New Orleans officials have targeted the 2031 game because conflicts with Mardi Gras and convention schedules would likely prevent the city from hosting Super Bowls between 2032 and 2037, leaving 2038 as the next possible target year if 2031 stays off the table.

Denver; Cleveland; Jacksonville, Florida; and Washington, D.C., are expected to have new stadiums constructed in the next several years, which could potentially increase the competition for New Orleans to host Super Bowl LXV in 2031.

Owners are expected to have a full vote on the 2031 game sometime later this year.

“Louisiana has successfully hosted Super Bowls with our unparalleled hospitality,” Landry said. “The opportunity for Mrs. Benson and I to showcase all that Louisiana has going economically was an invaluable experience for our state. Given a chance, we look forward to rolling out the welcome mat once again.”

Super Bowl LIX, held in New Orleans last year, was the record-tying 11th Super Bowl hosted by the city and generated an estimated $1.25 billion in economic output in Louisiana, according to an LSU research study. That was more than double the previous time the game was

As officers dealt with Jones and the vehicle outside, the third man and Almond fled on foot undetected.

Almond is wanted on the same counts that Jones was arrested in connection with: monetary instrument abuse and forgery.

He was taken to a hospital for treatment and later booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on drug counts after detectives discovered a large quantity of Schedule II drugs in his Email Quinn Coffman possession, according to the at quinn.coffman@ release. theadvocate.com.

HONOR

Continued from page 1B

As announced last March, Hyundai Steel plans to build an “ultra-low-carbon” steel mill on a 1,700-acre site in the RiverPlex MegaPark in Donaldsonville. LED said the state’s workforce partners — including the River Parish Community College — are preparing residents for advanced manufacturing jobs at the facility.

highlights projects that demonstrate significant capital investment, job creation, innovation and community impact. The Hyundai Steel project was found worthy because of its national importance and the coordinated statewide ef- Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com. forts that make it happen.

held here, in 2013.

During postgame reviews, NFL officials expressed concern about the city’s relative lack of high-end hotel room inventory and luxury event space, along with the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport’s capacity to handle the unprecedented influx of out-of-town visitors for the weekend.

To that end, Landry and Benson detailed plans for the expansion of Louis Armstrong and construction plans for new hotels that will eventually increase the city’s inventory to 45,000 rooms available in the metro area, with 27,000 rooms downtown.

“The Governor and I shared with Commissioner Goodell our plans not only for upgrading Champions Square and the Smoothie King Center, but also further renovations to the Caesars Superdome that are ongoing,” Benson said. “In addition, we showed the commissioner plans that are already underway for nearly $1 billion in hotel investment in the city; that includes the new Omni as well as many new renovations to existing hotels. We were also excited to share that the airport will be realizing nearly

LOTTERY

a billion dollars in major upgrades that include adding 15 new gates and access roads.”

The NFL meeting came one day after the New Orleans contingent, which included House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, and Commissioner of Administration Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, met with Silver to lay out plans to redevelop the Smoothie King Center and Superdome area into a sports and entertainment complex. Headlining the project would be a major renovation of the Smoothie King Center and a redesign of Champions Square and the surrounding area that includes the old New Orleans Center and Macy’s parking garage.

The plans, which have been in the works for more than a year, would be part of a long-term lease agreement between the Pelicans and the state at the Smoothie King Center, which opened in 1999 and is one of the oldest venues in the NBA.

“I am extremely grateful for Adam and the governor for having this meeting with me,” Benson said. “We had a very positive meeting. Gov. Landry shared with him the positive news on Louisiana’s tremendous growth in business and economic development. The commissioner acknowledged the need to have the Smoothie King Center upgraded, and Governor Landry was very open to what was discussed. We look forward to continuing with the due diligence on seeing this renovation get completed.”

The Pelicans’ lease at Smoothie King Center expires in June 2029. The franchise is in the midst of its 24th season in the arena.

The master plan for a renovation of the arena, commissioned by the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, which oversees the arena’s operations for the state, would increase the seating capacity in the lower bowl of

the arena and add more premium club seating, an important source of revenue for the Pelicans.

A 2024 feasibility study of the arena said the building’s sound and public address system — installed in 1999 — needs to be replaced; it said the video board hung above center court in 2016 should be upgraded within the next two years; and the three walk-in freezers, which were part of the building’s original construction, have reached the end of their usable life.

“We are so proud that New Orleans has both an NFL and NBA team, and the benefits of having both of these allow us to host events like Super Bowls and NBA All-Star Games,” Benson said. “We have proven that New Orleans is a big-league city, an NFL city and an NBA city. After spending time with both commissioners in the last two days, it is clear they are committed to New Orleans, as well.”

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BUSINESS

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ 3B

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

DOW 49,462.08 484.90 0.99%

NASDAQ 23,547.17 151.35 0.65%

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Musk AI chatbot faces global backlash

LONDON — Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok is facing a backlash from governments around the world after a recent surge in sexualized images of women and children generated without consent by the AI-powered tool.

On Tuesday, Britain’s top technology official demanded that Musk’s social media platform X take urgent action while a Polish lawmaker cited it as a reason to enact digital safety laws.

The European Union’s executive arm has denounced Grok while officials and regulators in France, India, Malaysia and Brazil have condemned the platform and called for investigations.

The problem emerged after the launch last year of Grok Imagine, an AI image generator that allows users to create videos and pictures by typing in text prompts. It includes a so-called “spicy mode” that can generate adult content.

It snowballed late last month when Grok, which is hosted on X, apparently began granting a large number of user requests to modify images posted by others. As of Tuesday, Grok users could still generate images of women using requests such as, “put her in a transparent bikini.”

Alaska Airlines hero pilot sues Boeing over blame The Alaska Airlines pilot who has been universally praised as a hero for safely landing a jet after a door plug panel flew off shortly after takeoff is suing Boeing because he believes the plane maker wrongly tried to blame him and the rest of the crew.

Capt. Brandon Fisher was commended by the heads of the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration and even Boeing executives for helping ensure none of the 177 people aboard Flight 1282 were killed when the blowout happened in January 2024.

But Fisher’s lawyers say Boeing’s attempts to deflect liability in past lawsuits, despite what the NTSB investigation found, led to the pilot being sued by some passengers and caused him great distress. Still, experts say it’s unusual for a pilot to sue like this.

“Boeing’s lie infuriated Captain Fisher as well, as he was being castigated for his actions as opposed to being lauded,” Fisher’s lawyers, William Walsh and Richard Mummolo, wrote in the lawsuit filed in an Oregon court. “Because he had flown Boeing aircraft for the entirety of his employment with Alaska Airlines, Boeing’s attempts to blame him felt like a deep, personal betrayal by a company that claimed to hold pilots in the highest regard.”

Four flight attendants previously sued Boeing over the incident last summer.

The NTSB investigation of the blowout found that four bolts securing what is known as the door plug panel were removed and never replaced during a repair as the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft was being assembled. Boeing and key supplier Spirit Aerosystems, which has since been acquired by Boeing, were both implicated.

China bans exports with military potential to Japan BEIJING — China on Tuesday banned exports of dual-use goods that can serve military purposes to Japan, a move that comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries over Taiwan, a selfruled island Beijing claims as its sovereign territory.

The Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement that exports of such items, which can serve both civilian and military purposes, to Japanese military users and all other end-users that could help enhance Japanese military power are prohibited.

Any individual or organization that violates the rule by transferring or providing these made-inChina products to Japanese groups and people would face legal consequences, regardless of where they are from, it said.

The notice did not identify or describe specific items, but some exports — particularly in the technology sector such as drones and navigation systems — could be adapted for military use. There was no immediate reaction from Japan.

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Big Tech drives Wall Street to more records

BY DAMIAN J. TROISE AP business writer

NEW YORK — Broad gains led by technology stocks pushed Wall Street to more records on Tuesday.

The gains mirror much of the action from the previous year, when big technology stocks often drove the market to a series of records.

Technology stocks led the gains, but several other sectors assisted in the broader market’s advance.

Health care companies, retailers and industrial firms broadly gained ground. Roughly three out of every four stocks in the benchmark S&P 500 index rose.

The S&P 500 rose 42.77 points, or 0.6%, to 6,944.82, setting a record on just the third trading day of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 484.90 points, or 1%, to 49,462.08, hitting a record for a second-straight day. The Nasdaq composite rose 151.35 points, or 0.6%, to 23,547.17.

Small company stocks outpaced their larger counterparts. The Russell 2000 jumped 1.4% and is now just below its record set in December.

The most notable action remained in the tech sector. Amazon, which has reach into both retail and technology, surged 3.4%. It is one of the most valuable companies in the world and its outsized stock valuation helped counter losses elsewhere in the market, including a 1.8% loss from Apple.

Micron Technology surged 10%, also helping to lift the market. Microsoft rose 1.2% Nvidia, which is often the biggest force behind the market’s direction, wavered throughout the day and finished 0.5% lower.

Sandisk surged 27.6% for the market’s biggest gain. The stock’s value has jumped more than 800% since spinning off from Western Digital last February. The gains have been driven by artificial in-

telligence and the resulting demand for data-storage hardware.

Western Digital rose 16.8%.

Technology companies, especially those focused on artificial intelligence, are being closely watched this week during the industry’s annual CES trade show in Las Vegas.

AI advances helped propel the broader market to a series of records in 2025. Investors will be watching companies for any updates that could shed more light on the big corporate investments in AI technology.

The price of benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 2% to $57.13 per barrel, pulling back from sharp gains a day prior when the market reacted to U.S. forces capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a weekend raid. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 1.7% to $60.70 per barrel.

Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year

Treasury climbed to 4.16% from 4.15% late Monday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do, rose to 3.46% from 3.45% late Monday.

Gold prices rose 1% and silver prices rose 5.7%. Such assets are often considered safe havens in times of geopolitical turmoil. The metals have notched record prices over the last year amid lingering economic concerns brought on by conflicts and trade wars.

Markets in Europe gained ground.

Outside of company announcements, Wall Street is preparing for several updates on the U.S. labor market this week, along with reports on the services sector and consumer sentiment. They will help paint a clearer picture of how vital parts of the economy closed out 2025 and the direction they could take in 2026.

Third Little robots steal Coast hit the show at CES ’26 with $9.6M fine after Gulf spill

BY JOSH FUNK

AP transportation writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

By ABBIE PARR

Lego introduced smart bricks, which are able to sense light and distance, and can provide an array of responses, essentially lights and sounds, when they are used in unison.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOHN LOCHER

Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang kneels in front of a robot Monday during a Nvidia news conference ahead of the CES tech show in Las Vegas.

BY SHAWN CHEN and RIO YAMAT Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — Nvidia, AMD and Intel all had important chip and artificial intellligence platform announcements on the first day of CES 2026, but all audiences wanted to see more of was Star Wars and Jensen Huang’s little robot buddies.

CES is a huge opportunity annually for companies both large and small to parade products they plan to put on shelves this year. As predicted, artificial intelligence was anchored in nearly everything as tech firms continue to look for AI products that will attract customers.

Here are the highlights from Day 1: Nvidia gets physical: The biggest buzzword in the air at CES is “physical AI,” Nvidia’s term for AI models that are trained in a virtual environment using computer generated, “synthetic” data, then deployed as physical machines once they’ve mastered their purpose.

CEO Jensen Huang showed off Cosmos, an AI foundation model trained on massive datasets, capable of simulating environments governed by actual physics. He also announced Alpamayo, an AI model specifically designed for autonomous driving. Huang revealed that Nvidia’s next generation AI superchip platform, dubbed Vera Rubin, is in full production, and that Nvidia has a new partnership with Siemens. All of this shows Nvidia is going to fight increased competition to retain its reputation as the backbone of the AI industry.

But once Huang called for two little, waddling, chirping robots to join him on stage, that’s all the audience wanted to see more of.

The chips are back in town: AMD CEO Lisa Su announced a new line of its famed Ryzen AI processors as

the company continues to expand its footprint in the world of AIpowered personal computers.

For gamers, AMD also showed off the latest version of its gaming-focused processor, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D. Meanwhile, Intel announced its new AI chip for laptops, Panther Lake (also known as the Intel Core Ultra Series 3), and said the company has plans to launch a new platform to address a growing market for handheld video gaming machines.

Intel, a Silicon Valley pioneer that enjoyed decades of growth as its processors powered the personal computer boom, fell into a slump after missing the shift to the mobile computing era unleashed by the iPhone. It fell further behind after the AI boom propelled Nvidia into the spotlight.

President Donald Trump’s administration stepped in recently to secure a 10% stake in the company, making the government one of Intel’s biggest shareholders.

Federal officials said they invested in Intel to support U.S. technology and domestic manufacturing.

Uber dives back into the robotaxi game: Uber is giving the public a first look at their robotaxi at CES this week. Uber, along with luxury electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors and vehicle tech company Nuro, introduced an autonomous vehicle with an Uberdesigned in-cabin experience.

Uber calls it the most luxurious robotaxi yet. It features cameras, sensors and radars that provide 360-degree perception and a lowprofile roof “halo” with integrated LEDs that will display riders’ initials to help them spot their car and track their ride status. Inside, riders can personalize everything from climate and seat heating to music, while real-time visuals show exactly what the vehicle is seeing on the road and the route

it plans to take.

Autonomous on-road testing began last month in San Francisco, led by Nuro, marking a major step toward what the companies said is a planned launch before the end of the year.

StarWars and Lego announce a new partnership: When Lucasfilm chief creative officer David Filoni brought out an array of X-Wing pilots, Chewbacca, R2D2 and C-3PO, he won the Star Wars fandom for Lego.

Lego announced its Lego Smart Play platform on Monday, which introduces new smart bricks, tags and special minifigs for your collection. The new bricks contain sensors that enable them to sense light and distance, and to provide an array of responses, essentially lights and sounds, when they are used in unison.

Combine this with a newly announced partnership with the Star Wars franchise and now you can create your own interactive space battles and lightsaber duels.

LG reveals a new robot to help around the home: File this one under intrigued, for now.

The Korean tech giant gave the media a glimpse Monday of its humanoid robot that is designed to handle household chores such as folding laundry and fetching food. Although many companies have robots on display at CES, LG certainly is one of the biggest tech companies to promise to put a service robot in homes.

What’s new with lollipops?: Music you can taste was on display Monday at CES: Lollipop Star unveiled a candy that plays music while you eat it. The company says it uses something called “bone induction technology,” which lets you hear songs — like tracks from Ice Spice and Akon — through the lollipop as you lick it or bite it in the back of your mouth, according to spokesperson Cassie Lawrence.

Pipeline safety regulators on Monday assessed their largest fine ever against the company responsible for leaking 1.1 million gallons of oil into the Gulf off the coast of Louisiana in 2023. But the $9.6 million fine isn’t likely to be a major burden for Third Coast to pay.

This single fine is close to the normal total of $8 million to $10 million in all fines that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration hands out each year. But Third Coast has a stake in some 1,900 miles of pipelines, and in September, the Houston-based company announced that it had secured a nearly $1 billion loan.

Pipeline Safety Trust Executive Director Bill Caram said this spill “resulted from a company-wide systemic failure, indicating the operator’s fundamental inability to implement pipeline safety regulations,” so the record fine is appropriate and welcome.

“However, even record fines often fail to be financially meaningful to pipeline operators. The proposed fine represents less than 3% of Third Coast Midstream’s estimated annual earnings,” Caram said.

“True deterrence requires penalties that make noncompliance more expensive than compliance.”

The agency said Third Coast didn’t establish proper emergency procedures, which is part of why the National Transportation Safety Board found that operators failed to shut down the pipeline for nearly 13 hours after their gauges first hinted at a problem. PHMSA also said the company didn’t adequately assess the risks or properly maintain the 18-inch Main Pass Oil Gathering pipeline.

The agency said the company “failed to perform new integrity analyses or evaluations following changes in circumstances that identified new and elevated risk factors” for the pipeline.

That echoed what the NTSB said in its final report in June, that “Third Coast missed several opportunities to evaluate how geohazards may threaten the integrity of their pipeline. Information widely available within the industry suggested that land movement related to hurricane activity was a threat to pipelines.”

The NTSB said the leak off the coast of Louisiana was the result of underwater landslides, caused by hazards such as hurricanes, that Third Coast, the pipeline owner, failed to address despite the threats being well known in the industry.

A Third Coast spokesperson said the company has been working to address regulators’ concerns about the leak, so it was taken aback by some of the details the agency included in its allegations and the size of the fine.

4B ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Funerals Today

Butler-Rankins, Gertrude Elaine 'Mama Gert'

Cossich Jr., Philip

Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, New Orleans, LA at 2pm.

Guarino, Angela

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 15615 Jefferson Highway, at noon.

Ragusa, Ben

Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 11am.

Obituaries Bourque, Tammi Reno

Tammi Reno Bourque passed away on January 3, 2026, at age 66. She was born on December 1, 1959, in Baton Rouge, LA, to Victor and Dorothy Reno.

Tammi was a proud LSU Tiger through and through, never missing a chance to cheer on her team and share her infectious excitement on game day. Her love for LSU was only rivaled by her love for people—she was charismatic, talkative, and effortlessly welcoming, able to turn strangers into friends with just a few words and a genuine smile. Her greatest joy, however, was being a devoted and loving grandmother. She cherished her grandchildren deeply and took immense pride in each of them. Time spent with them—laughing, talking, and making memories—was what she treasured most, and her love for them knew no bounds. A passionate dog lover, she found comfort and happiness in the companionship of her fourlegged friends, Bella and Sophie. Tammi is preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Dorothy Reno; and her brothers, V.J. and Jimmy Reno. Tammi is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, Bruce Bourque; her daughter, Kalli Holston (Matthew Holston); son, Joshua Fontenot; grandchildren, Baylee Fontenot, Brennan Fontenot, Cayden Holston, and Kinsley Holston. Above all, she will be remembered for her big heart, vibrant spirit, and unwavering love for her family. Her laughter, warmth, and zest for life leave a lasting imprint on all who knew her.

Services will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at St. John the Evangelist, located at 15208 LA-73, Prairieville, LA 70769. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, followed by a Funeral Mass at 2:00 pm.

Burial will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70816. The family would like to thank the kind nurses and staff at Baton Rouge General Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Entered into eternal rest from her home on December 24, 2025. She was an 86 -year old native and resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Celebration of Life Service will be held at the True Light Baptist Church on Friday, January 9th at 11:00 am conducted

by Pastor Dennis Hebert.

The viewing will be held from 9:00 am -11:00 am and Interment at Roselawn Cemetery. Survivors include her three daughters Denetta B. Jackson of Decatur, Georgia; Elaine Butler and Vonda Rankins Watkins (Don) of Baton Rouge; one Godson, Leslie Parms III; grandchildren, MeChaune Butler, Sarah Rankins, Johnathon (Cailin) and Carter Jackson; greatgrandchildren Justin, Morgan, Fairen, MaKenzie and Freya; a niece like a sister, Theda R. Burden; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Services are entrusted to Desselle Funeral Home.

Carlino Sr., Leo Anthony

Leo Anthony Carlino, Sr. passed away on January 4, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family after a brief illness of pneumonia. Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home 825 Government St. Baton Rouge, LA on Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. the visitation will continue on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church at 445 Marquette Avenue, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 from 1:00 p.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00 p.m.

Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. The complete obituary is available at www.rabenhorst.com

Carter, LaRhonda 'Lulu'

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11:00 am in Zion Travelers Baptist Church in New Roads, Louisiana, for LaRhonda "LuLu" Carter, age 40, who passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.

The family requests that visitation be observed at Zion Travelers Baptist Church on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 9:00 am until the time of service.

Interment will follow in Mason Chapel Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest with her family.

Reverend Larry J. Oliver, Sr., Pastor of Royal Oak Baptist Church in Lettsworth, Louisiana, will conduct the funeral service, joined by Reverend Isiah Nelson, Pastor of Zion

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Travelers Baptist Church in New Roads; Reverend Kelvin Morris, Pastor of Mt. Mariah Baptist Church in Batchelor; Reverend Dr. Lionel Davis, Pastor of Fairlane Baptist Church in New Roads; and Reverend Willie Morris, Pastor of New Bethel House of Hope in Houston.

She leaves to cherish her memories her beloved son, Kingston J. Carter; her parents, Mr. Herbert Carter, Sr. and Mrs. Florence Hartford Carter; three brothers, LeRone Carter, LeRonger Carter, and Marlcom Carter; her sister, Tameka Jordan; three aunts, Bernice (George) Keller, Viola (John) Greenhouse, and Janice (Richard) Morris; ten uncles, Leon (Margaret) Carter, Napoleon (Betty) Carter, Isiah (Gale) Carter, Clement (Judy) Carter, Larry Hartford, Lonary Hartford, Earnest Hartford, Darnell Hartford, Sr., Leslie (Bessie) Hartford, and William Hartford; seven nieces, Ebone, Tyrianna, Trinidy, Raela, Kennedi, India, and Diamond Carter; one greatniece, Tiana; one greatnephew, Titan; her godparents, Huey and Angela Pursley; two godchildren, Mikaiyah Joseph and Iyana Brown; a very good friend, Jalessa Dixon; siblings-inlove, Joel Lemoine and Destine Woods; and a host of cousins, relatives, friends, and employees.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Herbert Carter, Sr. and Mattie Carter, and Eddie Hartford, Sr. and Harriet Hartford; four uncles, Forest Carter, Eddie Hartford, Jr., Alton Hartford, and Alvin Hartford; and five aunts, Beatrice Carter, Patsie Hartford, Lola Hartford, Marion Hartford, and Pearl Hartford.

LaRhonda "LuLu" Carter was born on March 29, 1985, in Metairie, Louisiana, to Herbert and Florence Carter, Jr. She departed this life and entered eternal rest on December 30, 2025, at the age of 40.

Though her life was far too brief, LuLu's impact was deep, lasting, and filled with purpose.

LuLu accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at St. Mary Baptist Church in Lettsworth, Louisiana. She was a member of Royal Oak Baptist Church and frequently visited Our Savior's Church in Lafayette. Much of her childhood was spent surrounded by family-moving joyfully from house to house, especially those of her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins whom she deeply loved. She shared a special bond with her grandmothers, Harriet and Mattie, and cherished time with her cousins Darren and Carolyn Wells.

From an early age, LuLu's creativity was evident. She loved fashion and styling, often dressing and styling her Barbie dolls, and she developed a lifelong love for sports, especially basketball, spending countless hours practicing and preparing for the next opportunity.

LuLu was a 2003 graduate of Pointe Coupee Central High School, where she excelled both academically and athletically. She was a standout student and athlete, serving as captain of the dance team and the basketball team, while also participating in volleyball and track and field. Her talent earned her a basketball scholarship to LSU Eunice and a track and field scholarship to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She chose to continue her education at LSU Eunice, where she continued to shine as a deter-

mined and driven young woman.

An adventurous spirit at heart, LuLu loved to travel and explore the world. She visited many countries, always seeking inspiration, meaningful connections, and new ventures. Her travels reflected her love for beauty, culture, and life itself.

Family was the center of LuLu's world. She shared her home with her parents, caring for them with love and devotion, ensuring they enjoyed comfort, joy, and full lives. She shared an unbreakable bond with her twin, LeRone, united by creativity, fashion, and trends, and a close bond with her younger brother, LeRonger, through their shared passion for luxury cars and time spent together. LuLu opened her heart and home to family, played an active role in caring for loved ones, and spoiled her nieces with love, gifts, and travel. She was deeply loved, and she loved just as deeply in return.

Those who knew LuLu will always remember her radiant presence. She was described as a light in every room-warm, genuine, and welcoming. To her family, she was loyal, protective, and the heartbeat of every gathering. To her friends, she was trustworthy, steadfast, and always present. Her ability to make others feel seen and valued was one of her greatest gifts.

Above all, LuLu's greatest joy was her son, Kingston. Motherhood was her proudest role, and she devoted her heart to creating a life filled with love, adventure, and unforgettable memories for him.

Together, they traveled near and far, celebrated life's milestones in grand ways, and shared countless everyday moments made special by her care.

Her love for Kingston was unwavering and remains her most cherished legacy.

LuLu was a successful entrepreneur whose vision shaped businesses and community spaces throughout Louisiana. Her ventures included clothing boutiques, hair salons, barbershops, social establishments, and real estate investments. One of her most well-known businesses, Bliss Cocktail Lounge-affectionately known as "Bliss"-became a beloved gathering place in the community. The phrase "Bliss Me," mean-

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Glenn Michael Farnet, Jr. ("Mike") was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on January 29, 1993, and passed peacefully into our Lord's hands on January 4, 2026, surrounded by his family.

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righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."

-2 Timothy 4:7-8 View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin & Castille Funeral Home - SOUTHSIDE, 600 E. Farrel Road, Lafayette, Louisiana 70508, 337-9842811

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ing "Blessed Me," was commonly used by patrons to describe the joy and connection they experienced there. She later opened French 75 in the Lafayette area, another popular venue where people came together to celebrate life's milestones.

In addition to her hospitality ventures, LuLu was a dedicated real estate investor known for her eye for design and renovation.

Most recently, she was appointed coordinator for Hub City Plaza, formerly Northgate Mall in Lafayette, where she was entrusted with helping restore and reimagine the space into new opportunities for local businesses.

She was a passionate advocate for entrepreneurs, working to support fair policies and mentoring others toward success. Her leadership, creativity, and generosity left a lasting mark on her community.

LuLu's life was one of vision, love, and light.

Though gone too soon, her legacy lives on through her son, her family, the businesses she built, and the countless lives she touched. Her memory will forever remain a source of inspiration and strength to all who knew and loved her.

Pallbearers will be Earnest Hartford, Darnell Hartford, Jr., Eddie Franklin, Kiniski Morris, Rogerick Gill, Delvin Herbert, and Antonio Senegal.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Kingston J. Carter, Herbert Carter, Jr., LeRone Carter, LeRonger Carter, Joel Lemoine, Marlcom Carter, Titan Epps, Leon Carter, Napoleon Carter, Isiah Carter, Clement Carter, Ervin Hartford, Larry Hartford, Lonary Hartford, Darnell Hartford, Sr., Leslie Hartford, William Hartford, Richard Morris, Terrence Hartford, Paris Honore, Sr., Brandski Baldin, Titan Hartford, Develin Hartford, Eric Hartford, Saveion Long, Donovan Franklin, Isiah Carter, Jr., Kennan Ivory, Clement Carter, Jr., Peyton Beckley, Cameron Hartford, Desean Hebert, Delvin Hebert, Christopher Hebert, DeWayne Hartford, Travon Prater, Shane Ellis, Ben Brown, Jadale Guillory, John Greenhouse, George Keller, Sr., and George Keller, Jr. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ 5B

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doors, having lived in the mountains of Colorado for several years where he enjoyed hiking, backpacking, and snow skiing. Prior to that, he was active in Scouting with Troop 136 at St. George and earned the Eagle Scout rank.

But Mike most loved simply "hanging out" and spending time with his family and friends. Michael was a parishioner of St. George Catholic Church, and his Catholic faith carried him throughout his life, in tough times and in good times.

Michael was blessed to have had a peaceful death surrounded by his family with literally hundreds of friends, coworkers, ACTS brothers and sisters, St. George parishioners, and countless others throughout the country and beyond praying for him. Mike peacefully passed at 3:45 pm - in the hour of Divine Mercy.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Mike will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM with Fr. Paul Gros presiding and Fr. Akhilesh Antony concelebrating, with visitation from 9:0010:45 AM. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, chaplains, and staff of Our Lady of the Lake hospital who provided exceptional and compassionate care for Mike.

The family would also like to thank all who offered their prayers, rosaries, chaplets, Masses, holy hours, sacrifices, and meals and support during Mike's entire hospital stay and after. The family especially thanks Fr. Paul Yi and all the clergy and staff of St. George Church for their emotional and spiritual support. Jesus, I trust in you!

Hayden, Patricia Hudson

Patricia Hudson Hayden, born on December 21, 1954, passed away on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at the age of 71. Pat was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. After high school, she worked in banking and eventually became a loan officer at Baton Rouge City Parish Employees Federal Credit Union where she worked for over 30 years. She was a volunteer with Miracle League at Cypress Mounds where she announced every game and made sure each player had a walk-up song. Pat's true passion was her four grandchildren as she always enjoyed spending time with them.

She had a love for LSU baseball, as well as a love for gardening, the beach, and being with family and friends. Pat is survived by her son and daughter-inlaw, Ryan and Katie Dicharry; sisters, Letty Vincent (Paul) and Becky Bofinger (Bill); brothers, Jamie Hudson (Kay) and Bob Hudson (Chantal); grandchildren, Morgan, Hudson, Stella, and Bobby Dicharry; godchildren, Jamie and Brandon Vincent, and Kirbi Travis; and best friend, Teri Gomez.

She is preceded in death

by her parents, James and Margie Hudson. Visitation will take place at Resthaven Funeral Home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Friday, January 9, 2026, beginning at 10:00 AM until services at 11:00 AM, officiated by Father Mitch Semar. Her burial will take place at a later date at Salem Cemetery in Redland, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests all donations be made to the Miracle League at www.miraclelea guecm.org.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

Knighton, Alma Whitley

Langlois, Stacie Anne

Rea, Patsy B.

Stacie Anne Langlois, a vibrant spirit who lived her life with as much gusto as a New Orleans jazz band, has taken her final bow on December 2, 2025. Born in the town of New Roads, La., on May 16, 1959, Stacie's zest for life was evident from her early days, and she carried that exuberance into every moment until she departed this world, at the age of 66.

A celebration of life will be held from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on January 8, 2026, at Seale Funeral Home, 1720 South Range Ave., Denham Springs.

Please see her full obituary @ sealefuneral.com

O'Bannon, Douglas Wood

Alma Whitley Knighton transitioned from earthly life into eternal rest on December 28, 2025. Though deeply missed, she leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and service. She was born on October 29, 1934, in Zachary, Louisiana, to Viola Hayes Whitley and Charley Buckner Whitley.

Alma was raised in a Christian home and was a devoted lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church of Scotlandville.

On June 10, 1962, Alma was united in marriage to Don Knighton, Jr. From this union were born two children, Minty Shyrelle Knighton and Weldon Cordell Knighton. She was also a loving and devoted grandmother to Aydon Pierce Knighton. She cherished her family and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend.

Alma graduated from Southern University Laboratory School, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Education with additional graduate studies from Southern University.

Alma completed further professional training at Louisiana State University, Spencer College, and Loyola University. Her career spanned teaching, supervision, consulting, higher education instruction, and educational leadership, serving students, families, and communities across multiple parishes.

Alma is survived by her daughter, Minty S. Knighton of Zachary, Louisiana, her son, Weldon C. Knighton, daughter-inlaw, Petrina Johnson Knighton, and her grandson, Aydon P. Knighton, all of Allen, Texas; her sister, Bernice Whitley of Zachary, Louisiana; her brother, Sterling Whitley of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Burial will follow at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, St. Gabriel, LA, at 12PM.

Doug went home to be with our Lord, Jesus Christ on January 1, 2026 following a multi-year illness.

Family surrounded him as he passed peacefully at home. We celebrate the fact that he can once again see, hear and walk and in the presence of Jesus. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Goldie M. O'Bannon, his brother Ernest and wife Mina, his son Paul O'Bannon and his wife Marcy, three grandsons Austin, Sean and Mason O'Bannon, four great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. He was preceded in death by his sister Emily and son Patrick O'Bannon. A visitation time will take place with family and friends from 10:00 to 11:00, immediately followed by a celebration of life from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on 2026-0110 at First Baptist Church St. Francisville, 12404 LA10.

Peltier, Mary Lou

Mary Lou Peltier passed away peacefully on January 4, 2026. She was born in Greenwood, LA. She is preceded in death by her parents, Roger E. Hammett and Lillian Flournoy Hammett; husband, John S. Peltier Sr; son, David Peltier; and brother, Enoch. She is survived by her sons, John (Nicole), Mark (Pam), and Michael (Jackie); daughter-in law, Mien; 3 grandchildren; and 6 six great- grandchildren. She was an adventurous spirit, never had an unkind word, and never worried about the small stuff. She ran the Livingston Secretarial School for many years, retiring at age 70, then journeyed off to China to teach English for 2 years. She was a member of Broadmoor United Methodist Church, where she also taught English as a second language.

Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation which will be held at Rabenhorst East Funeral Home Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 9:30am-10:30am with a service beginning at 10:30am.

until 8:00 PM. Visitation will continue at Crosspoint Baptist Church, 14965 Airline Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA 70817, on Saturday, January 10, 2026, beginning at 2:30 PM until services at 3:00 PM. Burial to follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

Toler, Robert Dean 'Bob'

Mrs. Patsy Rea, aged 90, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, in her home. Born in Centerville, MS, on Valentine's Day 1935, Patsy graduated from Baton Rouge High School and went on to graduate from the Mather School of Nursing, Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans in 1958.

While there she met the love of her life, Charles Rea, at the Baptist Student Union.

They were married for over 67 years. Pat devoted her life to the Lord and her family. She was a full-time mom until her two children graduated from college and then she took a job in the nursing field at Dr Fentons, where she worked for many years. She volunteered many hours to the church teaching Sunday School to 4th graders, working in the nursery, hosting many events in her home. In her free time, she and Charles enjoyed antiquing, skiing, going to Branson with friends, and traveling the globe to places such as China, Russia, Israel, Egypt, England, and many other countries.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles W. Rea; and parents, Arthur and Virginia Bagwell. She is survived by her son Charles (Chuck) Rea II; daughter-in-law, Laurie Rea; daughter, Wendy Rea MacKay; and son-in-law David MacKay. She left a lasting legacy with her love, her smile, and her love for Jesus which she shared with all and will be missed. Visitation will take place at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA 70816, on Friday, January 9, 2026, beginning at 5:00 PM

Robert "Bob" Dean Toler, Jr., passed away on January 3, 2026, at the age of 62. He was born on July 29, 1963, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Bob graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University, where he studied drafting. He worked as a draftsman and later as a project manager at Plaquemine Glass. He was also a proud member of the United Commercial Travelers (UCT) Baton Rouge Coun-

cil. Outside of work, Bob's true passion was music.

He was always the man behind the sound—the one making sure everything was just right. As a DJ and sound engineer, Bob rarely sought the spotlight, but he loved creating it for others. From small karaoke nights to large-scale festivals, he found joy in bringing people together and ensuring that every song, every note, and every moment could be fully enjoyed. He is survived by his sons, Robert "Bobby" Dean Toler, III and Michael "Blake" Toler; grandchildren, Robert "Dean" Toler, IV, Catherine Elizabeth Toler, and Joseph "Joey" Dwayne Toler; sisters, Cathy Smith, DeeDee Dupree, and Kristen Hernandez; brother, Kevin Toler; and longtime partner, Jennifer Cooper. Bob is preceded in death by his father, Robert "Bob" Dean Toler, Sr.; mother, Margaret Tillett, and brother, Brian Toler. Serving as honorary pallbearer will be his nephew, Tayler Creighton.

Relatives and friends are invited to join the family for the memorial service at UCT BR Council, 11175 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70815, on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the UCT (United Commercial Travelers) Council of Baton Rouge.

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OPINION

6B ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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

OUR VIEWS

Farm payments are welcome, but serious solutions required Louisiana’s agriculture producers are living in unsettled times. Tariffs, volatile markets, conflicts and more are creating uncertainties unlike any in recent decades.

That’s why we are glad to see that help is on the way in the form of one-time payouts approved recently by the Trump administration.

The payments, part of the Farm Bridge Assistance Program, will see about $12 billion in federal dollars flow down to farmers across the country.

The lion’s share of the money, about $11 billion, will go to farmers of row crops, which include soybeans, corn, cotton and rice. The remaining $1 billion will be used for specialty crops, including sugar cane.

Louisiana’s farmers have been especially hard hit by recent economic turmoil. In protest of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, China stopped buying U.S.-grown soybeans.

Soybeans are Louisiana’s largest row crop by acreage, with about 1 million acres.

Other major Louisiana crops, including rice and corn, have also faced significant market pressures over the last several years.

Those troubles come on top of years of low commodity prices and rising prices for the things farmers need, like equipment, seed, fertilizer and pesticides.

“We’re struggling,” Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain told reporter Mark Ballard after a trip abroad trying to drum up new business. Half of Louisiana’s farmers, he added, face “significant challenges.”

The compounding problems have fueled a steady decrease in the number of farms around the state, which stood about 25,000 in 2022, the last year for which Census data was available.

The money paid out in this latest program will begin going out in February, just in time for planting season. But little of it will stay in farmers’ hands. Most of them will likely use the disbursements to pay down debts already incurred.

Under the terms of the program, federal officials will use a formula to determine how much each farmer will get. That formula will be based on national data and paid out according to the amount of acreage and type of crop.

The need for these latest payments underscores the growing appetite for a more comprehensive and sustainable long-term farm policy.

Some stronger agricultural protections were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill, but more is needed.

We have noted the blinding speed with which the current administration and Congress have taken up a host of new issues. But some problems, including the nation’s agricultural woes, resist quick and easy fixes.

Rather, the situation facing farmers requires serious, thoughtful, nonpartisan legislation that respects both the needs of farmers and the duty to be responsible with taxpayer dollars.

Only in that way can a sustainable national agricultural policy take effect and preserve the industry for the next generation of farmers and ranchers in Louisiana and around the country.

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

identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence.

The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

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YOUR VIEWS

Work of family court unfairly maligned The recent interventions in the family court in Baton Rouge have served mostly to hurt the credibility of the institution and the lawyers practicing there without good cause.

Family court has a special responsibility, which is successfully carried out in most of the cases before the judges there. Every litigant in the family court is dealing with matters which are generally the most important to any of us — our children, our livelihoods, our property, all between parties who have predetermined to at least dislike one another. Many parties are disgruntled.

The matters polarizing all of society are litigated many times, first in family

court. Nearly every lawyer practices at one time or another in family court, and only a few endeavor to practice there on a regular basis because of the difficulty of the practice. Hard cases make bad law, and a few select difficult cases with recalcitrant litigants should not color the public view of the judges in family court or the lawyers who practice there. Some of the comments made are very certainly provably untrue.

There is no lawyer who practices in the family court of East Baton Rouge Parish who “wins every case” before “a certain judge.” There are always lawyers in any locality or area of prac-

Schools are obligated to protect immigrant children Recent reports out of East Baton Rouge Parish raise serious concerns about whether some educators may be involving federal immigration enforcement in school matters.

These concerns come from credible conversations with individuals familiar with district practices and point to a situation that demands immediate review.

Public school students in the United States have a constitutional right to an education regardless of immigration status. The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection under the law, and the Supreme Court affirmed in Plyler v. Doe that undocumented children cannot be denied access to public education. Schools are not immigration enforcement zones. They are meant to be safe places for learning.

If any school employee is identifying or disclosing a student’s immigration status, race or other personally identifiable information to law enforcement without a valid subpoena or court order, that may violate the Family Educational

Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

That is not simply unethical. It is illegal.

The harm goes beyond legal risk.

When students fear that attending school could expose them or their families to detention or deportation, trust collapses. Children disengage from learning. Families withdraw from schools. Entire communities are pushed into fear. That undermines education itself.

East Baton Rouge Parish school district must act quickly and transparently. This includes investigating these reports, issuing clear guidance to staff prohibiting cooperation with immigration enforcement absent a lawful court order and publicly reaffirming that all students are entitled to learn without fear.

Educators are entrusted with care, not surveillance. Our schools must remain places of protection, dignity and opportunity for every child.

TIA FIELDS Baton Rouge

Let’s make sure Louisiana gets the money right Watching the LSU Tigers football team play Houston in the Texas Bowl, I couldn’t help but wonder how the players who opted out of playing in the game will be treated regarding their NIL money. I would hope the school would withhold any payment for the game.

I also wonder if Gov. Jeff Landry

will receive any money from the U.S. Treasury for any work he does in his special envoy position.

I don’t think he should receive any state money during the time he is working for President Donald Trump.

CHUCK GOODWIN Baton Rouge

tice who are intimidating to younger or less experienced lawyers because of their level of experience, their judgment and their ability to choose those cases where they have a good chance of prevailing.

Judge Pam Baker has been an exemplary judge throughout her career and is certainly not corrupt. I could write a point-by-point rebuttal to nearly every observation made, but it would not fit the word limit of this publication. I will rephrase a popular saying to remark that politics rushes in where angels fear to tread.

JEFF WITTENBANK Baton Rouge

Catholic Church leaders should not side with law breakers I experienced dismay followed by anger when the letter from Bishop Michael Duca regarding dispensation from attending Mass for illegal immigrants was read a few weeks ago at the end of 4 p.m. Mass at the cathedral.

It doesn’t come as a surprise because the Catholic Church leadership has always played footsies with its role as a “refuge for the poor and downtrodden,” and the money hitting the collection basket. But Duca’s letter this time encouraged illegal immigrants to stay home and not get caught in the ICE enforcement of standing, legal law. In other words, he is aiding and abetting the criminals, instead of encouraging the morally correct stance of “go back to your country and try again through the legal process of citizenship to the United States.” And then, they can be woven back into the fabric of our communities, legally. And yes, it doesn’t matter if they are not violent offenders.

They have broken the law and continue to break the law every day they remain in this country.

Where were Duca and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops fighting for their parishioners, the oppressed, when the government was keeping us out of churches and from attending funerals of loved ones and instituting all the other oppressive tactics launched during the COVID-19 pandemic? Not a peep.

And yet he makes Pope Leo the fall guy by referencing Leo’s comments about “radical, decisive actions” to thwart ICE legal enforcement procedures.

Once again, we, the dedicated, legal, law-abiding parishioners, are being led by cowards wearing the cloth.

MICHAEL CHOI Baton Rouge

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ 7B

lll

COMMENTARY The heart of Trump’s deportation push

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick talks about the final 2025 crime statistics for the city with members of the NOPD command staff and council member Eugene Green, District D, during a news conference on Monday

Trump ignores N.O. crime dip Tell me again why we need more National Guard troops, U.S. Immigration and Customs agents, U.S. Border Patrol agents and other federal agency officers in New Orleans.

Oh, yeah.

Our nation is a “laughing stock,” according to a Trump social media post after a man killed and injured people as he drove Will a truck along Bourbon Sutton Street in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 2025. Trump immediately claimed that the terrorist attack was proof that there was a grave need for the immigration crackdown that he promised during his 2024 campaign.

That rhetoric helped win him support, votes and an election.

I believe Trump decided then that New Orleans must be on his developing immigration hit list, regardless of the facts. The Bourbon Street perpetrator, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was identified as “an American citizen, born in Texas.”

Trump kept his eyes on New Orleans without good reason as the year went on. February. March. April. May. June.

By mid-July, the city had seen only 53 murders.

Surely the president has access to reliable crime data from the FBI and other government sources. Surely that would be enough to back off.

But nooooo.

After August, September came and the president mouthed off again about the Crescent City.

“We’re making a determination now: Do we go to Chicago, or do we go to a place like New Orleans, where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who

wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country that’s become quite tough, quite bad,” Trump told journalists during a September meeting at the White House.

Only weeks later, the president sent in ICE and Border Patrol officers to capture “the worst of the worst” of our criminal immigrants. You know, those like the dastardly Texas native who caused so much harm.

Why? Because New Orleans is such a bad, crime-ridden place with far too many citizens, residents and immigrants who commit illegal deeds far too regularly.

Yes, there are ongoing hot spots of criminal activity in parts of the city.

Interestingly, there was a violent crime drop in New Orleans East and Central City seems to be the biggest crime hot spot.

New Orleans Police Department crime data released Monday shows that citywide, there was a year-over-year crime reduction in 2025 compared to 2024. Plus, it marks a three-year crime reduction streak.

In sports, we call this a three-peat.

My regular readers know that I sometimes point out when the city and the state make national news, sometimes for not-so-good reasons. I’m happy to point out that this crime reduction got national attention. Though there has been a crime reduction nationally, ABC News, Axios, The Associated Press and The New York Times took note of what’s happened in New Orleans — and for good reason.

In 2024, the city had 125 murders. In 2025, there were 121 murders. That’s a 3% drop. As NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick reported earlier this week, without the 14 deaths in a

single New Year’s Day terror attack, we would’ve seen a 14% decrease in murders.

And there’s more good crime news: n Nonfatal shootings declined by 3% n Armed robberies fell by 28% n Carjackings dropped by 35% Looking back at 2022, when some designated New Orleans as the murder capital of the nation, we’ve had a 55% homicide rate decrease since.

When I asked NOPD Director of Communications Reese Harper about the news, he shared that he’s “encouraged, but I’m not celebrating — because one life lost is too many, and our work is to make this progress hold.”

Asked how we can help, Harper made three requests: n Share information early and often.

Crimestoppers takes tips at (504) 8221111. n Lock it up: cars, guns, routines.

Leave no valuables. n Strengthen your block. Know your neighbors, stay connected and support credible community groups.

As we look forward to the rest of 2026 and the coming years, let’s aim to grow our three-peat into an even longer string of wins. Let’s go for the equivalent of the six NBA championship wins by the Chicago Bulls during two threepeats, 1991-1993 and again 1996-1998.

That was special.

We can do this, Team New Orleans.

Each of us can do our part. Immediately, let’s focus on a fourth straight year of crime reduction. But let’s aim higher.

I can’t wait for another year of success, another three-peat and recordsetting years of crime reduction.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

To drink or not to drink. Wrong question.

Recovering alcoholics or others who hol as the default beverage on a nature don’t drink at all have it easier, in one trip. small way. Their intimates get to know For several of the above reasons, Dry that they do not imbibe — not beer, not January was born. This is a monthlong wine, not liquor — and so don’t push pledge to skip alcohol with the option alcohol in their direction. of coming back as a more moderate Those who want a drink now and drinker. Dry January is especially then — in some cases, every night — helpful for those feeling socially prescan come up with rules for 2026. They sured to drink more than they’d considcan establish stronger barriers er ideal. They can tell a host or dividing OK drinking and not bar mate, “I’m doing Dry JanuOK — always considering body ary” and be quickly understood. size or other physical traits tied Let’s stay mindful, however, to capacity. that alcohol does do some sociThat should get easier as the etal good. Bars help inject life culture shifts: Younger people to downtowns after dark. Lively Froma are drinking less than their elHarrop street scenes often prompt shops to stay open later. ders, and plenty aren’t drinking Alcohol taxes fund a lot of at all. government, and in many places a But advertising keeps pressing raised glass is part of the local culture. glasses in people’s hands, even if the Think of beer in Milwaukee, which product itself has nothing to do with markets itself as Brew City. Or in Tenalcohol. Wine, especially Champagne, is portrayed as the undisputed symbol nessee, a Whiskey Trail consisting of of a good time. more than 30 distilleries.

You see bubbly in ads for casinos, Again, the other hand: There are all for cruises, for jewelry, for premium those health warnings that tie alcohol hotels, even candlelit spas. I recall a to various cancers. Some have been whale watching trip in Mexico where challenged. crew members handed plastic cups of Meanwhile, social isolation may be a fizzy wine to embarking tourists withmajor health risk factor comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according out asking first — and before noon. Of to a National Institutes of Health study. course, anytime a passenger waved it Bars along with cafes and bookstores off, they would immediately withdraw the cup. Still, it seemed odd to see alco- are “third places” — not work or home

— where individuals can mix with others.

Happily, there has been a change in the cocktail culture leading bars to offer alternatives to booze.

Mocktails are nonalcoholic drinks and often more inventive than mixed cocktails. I recall a good friend and recovering alcoholic who loved bar action. He’d sit at one almost every night and nurse a club soda.

Gwen, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Los Angeles, offers a water tasting menu. You can order an East Coast water, such as Saratoga, or go continental with a French Evian. The menu describes a Georgian sparkling water called Borjomi as salty and complex.

The restaurant offers recommendations for water pairings with food.

Speaking of California, much has been said about a concept called California Sober.

That involves not drinking or drinking very little alcohol and turning to legal cannabis for a mood lift. We’re still waiting, however, for the resort ad that pictures its elegant guests socializing over a joint.

To drink or not to drink. That clearly depends.

Froma Harrop is on X, @ FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@ gmail.com.

You’ve probably heard commentators say that under President Donald Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is arresting and deporting a huge number of illegal immigrants who have no criminal record. The first response to that is: If they crossed illegally into the United States, they have a criminal record. Plus, they’re still in the country illegally.

Second, the numbers just don’t support the commentators’ claim.

A new report by The Washington Examiner’s Anna Giaritelli notes that, “The Trump administration arrested 595,000 illegal immigrants between Jan. 20 and Dec. 11, according to the Department of Homeland SeByron curity. ICE revealed that 70%, York or about 416,000, have ‘criminal convictions or pending criminal charges just in the U.S,’ an agency spokesman said in a statement.”

An ICE spokesman told Giaritelli that beyond those criminal convictions and pending criminal charges, there are some illegal immigrants who have committed few, if any, crimes in the United States but are wanted for serious crimes in their home countries. For example, Giaritelli writes that “ICE arrested Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla, whose only offense in the United States was driving without a license. However, he is wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide, extortion, possession of drugs, and other felonies.” Obviously, LazoQuintanilla, who sports a huge “666” tattoo on his forehead, should never have been allowed to enter the United States and should never be allowed to enter again, once he is deported.

In any event, according to the ICE numbers, the great majority of those arrested have been involved with the justice system. And those whose only crime is crossing into the United States illegally are still ... criminals.

That has long been a point of contention in media circles, where some commentators refuse to believe that crossing illegally into the U.S. is a crime. But it is. Recently, the argument was rekindled when Fox News’ Bill Melugin, who covered the massive incursion of illegal border crossers during the Biden era more extensively than anyone, noted an exchange earlier this year on CNN. The subject was the Trump administration’s drive to deport illegal immigrants. Anchor Abby Phillip said that the large number of deportations “means that they’re not just going after criminals.” To that, commentator Scott Jennings responded, “Well, they’re going after people who are in the country illegally, right?”

Phillip said that the number of deportations “is a much bigger universe.” Jennings asked, “Doesn’t that make you a criminal?” Phillip said, “No, it doesn’t.” Jennings asked, “To come across the border illegally?” Phillip said, “Coming into the country illegally is a civil offense.

It’s not a criminal offense.”

Wrong. “Crossing the border illegally is a federal criminal offense,” Melugin noted. “A first-time illegal crossing is a misdemeanor via 8 USC 1325. An illegal entry after deportation is a federal felony via 8 USC 1326. Overstaying a visa is a civil offense. All of the above makes one deportable.”

The exchange is important because, in the sometimes angry conversation over immigration law enforcement, there is often an unspoken assumption that illegal border crossing is not a terribly serious matter. It is not unusual to hear commentators decry the arrest of illegal border crossers who are said to have “committed no crime.” In fact, their presence in the United States began with the crime of crossing the border without authorization.

That applies to an estimated nine million people who crossed illegally into the United States during the presidency of Joe Biden. How to deal with those illegal crossers is one of the most intense debates of the second Trump administration. It seems obvious that authorities should focus on those who entered illegally and have then committed additional crimes. But it’s also obvious that crossing illegally into the U.S. should have serious consequences — like, if you do it, you don’t get to stay.

That is the message the Trump administration is sending. In the long run, it is the only way for a nation to operate. In 2005, when he was still in the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama said, “We simply cannot allow people to pour into the United States undetected, undocumented, unchecked and circumventing the line of people who are waiting patiently, diligently and lawfully to become immigrants in this country.” That was true 20 years ago, and it’s true today.

Email Byron York at byork@washingtonexaminer.com.

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

writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

8B ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

Baton Rouge Weather TODAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Morning Fog, Afternoon Sun

Foggy, Breezy, Showers - 50%

Stormy - 80%

Cloudy, Cooler 20%

Stubborn Clouds

Chilly Start

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

LOW

80° 63°

LOW

80° 66°

LOW

76° 60°

LOW

65° 42°

ALMANAC

LOW

HIGH

57° 35°

LOW

58° 36°

TEMPERATURE

High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

80°/55° 62°/42° 80° in 2008 15° in 1924

THE NATION

24 hours through 5 p.m. Tue. Month to date (normal) year to date (normal)

0.00” Trace (1.22”) Trace (1.22”)

Longview 78/63

TODAY

MODERATE

MODERATE

READING 61 MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

Port Arthur 75/66

FLOOD STAGE 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 -2.40 -0.14 Vidalia-Natchez 48 14.60 +0.18 Red River Landing 48 17.50 none Baton Rouge 35 6.10 -0.40 Donaldsonville 27 4.00 -0.10 Reserve 22 2.19 -0.10 New Orleans 17 2.70 +0.03 MISSISSIPPI

OHIO 40

12.95

-1.02

19

-1.43

none

18 29 8

-0.99 10.09 1.64

-0.02 -0.01 +0.29

13 15

2.67 0.80

-0.01 -0.01

47 34 29 20 12 6

5.88 3.87 3.77 2.67 2.40 2.09

-0.09 +0.06 +0.13 +0.14 -0.60 +0.17

COMITE AMITE

Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent TICKFAW

Montpelier Holden

New Orleans 79/63

Lake Charles 77/64

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

Houma 81/63

Forecasts and graphics, except WBRZ forecasts, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2026

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

TIDES HIGH

FT.

Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) 10:08a 0.4 Shell Beach 4:34a 1.0 South Point, Marsh Island 5:01a 1.0 Cypremort Point 6:03a 0.6 Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) ----Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) 11:26p 0.5 Wine Island 1:02a 0.8

LOW

FT.

9:24p -0.1 2:17p -0.2 11:02a -0.3 3:58a 0.6 10:40a -0.2 8:50a -0.2 11:42a -0.3

SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

HIGH

FT.

LOW

--------8:20p 1.1 10:36p 0.8 -------------

FT.

------------2:53p -0.3 -------------

TODAY City

Hi

Lo W

THURSDAY Hi

79 67 c 38 33 r 77 64 pc -12 -39 c 82 66 sh 81 69 pc 59 43 pc 55 42 s 81 69 pc 38 27 pc

80 64 sh 44 33 s 78 53 r -35 -42 pc 82 69 pc 80 70 sh 54 38 pc 64 60 r 82 68 pc 34 25 c

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

37 85 49 27 36 76 40 30 83 63 63

39 83 58 26 39 78 39 37 86 65 65

NEW

FIRST

FULL

JAN 10

JAN 18

JAN 25

FEB 1

MAJOR

2:28a 3:18a 4:04a 4:46a 5:27a 6:08a 6:50a

MINOR

8:39a 9:29a 10:14a 10:57a 11:38a 12:19p 12:38a

MAJOR

TODAY City

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

THURSDAY

Hi

Lo W

Hi

Lo W

65 79 78 56 60 43 72 61 67 77

50 s 63 pc 57 pc 36 pc 51 r 33 c 40 pc 46 s 55 pc 61 pc

70 79 82 53 61 52 67 64 66 80

65 r 67 sh 62 pc 38 pc 41 sh 47 pc 51 pc 45 r 45 s 64 s

69 42 45 76 32 25 61 36 48 23 46

44 s 35 pc 29 pc 46 pc 29 sn 15 sn 41 pc 34 sn 31 pc 16 sn 36 pc

72 45 45 76 34 19 60 48 49 31 52

42 pc 36 r 40 c 45 pc 31 pc 9 c 43 pc 41 r 40 pc 23 c 38 s

THE WORLD

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

Today Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun. Mon. Tue.

Lo W

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Houston Las Vegas Louisville Miami Minneapolis

SOLUNAR TABLE

7:03 a.m.

5:19 p.m.

10:06 p.m.

10:07 a.m.

LAST

ATCHAFALAYA

Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

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

Baton Rouge 80/63

Lafayette 79/64

Beaumont 78/65

RIVER STAGES

0s

Hattiesburg 79/60

Alexandria 77/64

Many 77/63

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

-0s

Jackson 77/60

AIR QUALITY YESTERDAY

-10

Monroe 74/61

Shreveport 76/65

PRECIPITATION

Near Olive

Widespread fog will occur during the morning commutes on both Wednesday and Thursday. Low visibility can cause sudden slowdowns on I-10 and I-12, so keep those low beams on and stay alert! Lows will be in the low 60s. Both afternoons will show some breaks in the clouds with high temperatures nearing records in the upper 70s and low 80s. Winds will be more noticeable by Thursday afternoon with sustained south breezes of 10-20 mph and a few higher gusts. A few showers will even be possible as even muggier air moves inland from the Gulf. This will signal the arrival of our next storm system. A cold front will make its presence felt by Thursday night. Clouds will thicken with increasing showers and winds, followed by a stormy Friday.

AROUND THE REGION

BATON ROUGE THROUGH 5 P.M. TUESDAy

Cairo

Weather News by Chief Meteorologist Dr. Josh Eachus

MINOR

2:51p 9:02p 3:39p 9:50p 4:24p 10:35p 5:07p 11:17p 5:49p ---6:31p ---7:13p 1:02p

34 sn 68 s 40 s 12 s 32 sn 56 pc 34 c 27 sn 63 s 53 s 47 pc

34 c 65 s 51 c 21 pc 36 r 59 pc 33 c 33 sn 65 s 54 s 49 pc

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

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

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W e d n e s d ay, J a n u a ry 7, 2026

1Cn

Boise safety, two others latest LSU transfers

SAINTS WRAPUP

BY WILSON ALEXANDER and REED DARCEY Staff writers

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave celebrates a touchdown reception from quarterback Tyler Shough against the New york Jets on Dec. 21 at the Caesars Superdome. Shough took over the starting quarterback duties in Week 9.

NUMBERS GAME

Nine statistics helped to summarize New Orleans’ season

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

In terms of what was at stake for the 2025 season, the only number that really mattered for the Saints was 6-11.

Analysis With that record, New Orleans ensured its second consecutive last-place finish in the NFC South and its fifth consecutive season without a playoff berth.

But there were a lot of underlying metrics that led to that 6-11 number, some of which should inspire some optimism for the future, and some of which should inform the team’s direction this offseason

as it looks to right the ship.

Here are the nine statistics that helped to define the Saints 2025 season.

Tyler Shough category There’s no doubt about it: The Saints were a different team once Shough took over as the starting quarterback for the team’s Week 9 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

There may still be some out there who will point to the quality of the competition for Shough’s starts versus those games started by Spencer Rattler — and there is some merit to that argument.

Rattler faced four eventual playoff teams, including the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds

in the NFC and No. 2 seed in the AFC, while Shough only faced two (the Rams and the 8-9 Panthers, twice).

But that shouldn’t discount much of what Shough did, especially as the roster around him significantly deteriorated toward the end of the season because of injury. The rookie delivered a different quality of quarterback play, which should drive plenty of excitement for what should be in store for the franchise.

103.3: One of the most encouraging things about Shough’s play was the way he turned it on in big moments.

ä See SAINTS, page 6C

Former Boise State safety Ty Benefield decided to sign with LSU, a source confirmed to The Advocate on Tuesday, becoming the first defensive transfer to commit to the Tigers since the transfer portal opened.

Benefield was named first-team AllMountain West this past season after recording a team-high 107 tackles, 81/2 tackles for loss and two interceptions.

He has played in 41 games during his career and started 33 times, adding needed experience to the LSU secondary. Benefield has one more season of eligibility. He was ranked as the No. 2 defensive back in the transfer portal by 247Sports.

LSU wanted to find safeties even though it brought back sophomore starter Tamarcus Cooley and sophomore Dashawn Spears, a potential starter next season. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker and his staff have to replace senior AJ Haulcy, who exhausted his eligibility, and they need a new starter at Star, a hybrid position filled by linebacker Harold Perkins this past season that usually gets played by a defensive back.

Benefield, a native of Altadena, California, is listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds. He was a three-star recruit coming out of high school who quickly turned into a starter at Boise State. During his career, Benefield has recorded 235 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, three sacks, five interceptions, 16 passes defended and two forced fumbles, adding proven depth to the back end of Baker’s defense.

Entering coach Lane Kiffin’s first season, LSU is in the process of signing a large transfer class. Before they added four transfers on Tuesday, the Tigers had landed Hawaii wide receiver Jackson Harris, Old Dominion wide receiver Tre Brown, Utah running back Raycine Guillory and Pittsburgh tight end Malachi Thomas.

LSU still has needs at linebacker and defensive end — in addition to the holes it has to fill at quarterback, along the offensive line and in the receiver room.

ä See TIGERS, page 4C

LSU can’t dig out of huge hole vs. USC

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James pulls down a rebound against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night at the Smoothie King Center. James finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the Lakers’ 111-103 win.

Forward Elijah Strong nailed Tigers get down by four of South Carolina’s shots beyond the arc to start. The 28, fall to 0-2 in SEC from junior entered the game shooting

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Pelicans lose eighth straight James, Doncic lead Lakers; Murphy scores 42 for N.O.

BY LES EAST

Contributing writer Luka Doncic had 30 points and 10 assists, LeBron James scored 30 points and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 on Tuesday night in the Smoothie King Center.

Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Marcus Smart scored 13 for the Lakers (23-11), who improved to 3-0 against New Orleans this season.

Trey Murphy scored a career-

high 42 points, Zion Williamson had 15 and Derik Queen added 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Pelicans (8-30), who lost their eighth consecutive game, their second-longest losing streak of the season. Herb Jones, the Pelicans’ top defender, returned after a seven-game absence because of a sprained right ankle, but scored just three points. Saddiq Bey missed his third consecutive game because of a right hip flexor strain.

New Orleans completes a backto-back and starts a three-game road trip at Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Murphy scored 14 of the Pelicans’ first 22 points in the third quarter as they extended their three-point halftime lead to

76-70. Doncic scored the next three points, but Murphy made a 3-pointer and converted a three-point play to push the lead to 86-79 at the end of the third quarter.

James sandwiched two 3-pointers around an assist on Jarred Vanderbilt’s basket during a 9-0 spurt to start the fourth-quarter scoring and give the Lakers a twopoint lead. Queen made a layup for New Orleans’ first points of the quarter to tie the score at 88.

Ayton made consecutive field goals to help L.A. take a 97-90 lead midway through the period. New Orleans got within four points, but didn’t get any closer.

ä See PELICANS, page 3C

A bounce-back win.

That’s what LSU basketball sought after a three-point road loss in the Southeastern Conference opener.

The Tigers instead never led and trailed by as many as 28 points against a South Carolina team that entered the game analytically as the lowest-rated team in the SEC. LSU (12-3, 0-2 SEC) fought back but couldn’t overcome its issues as it lost 78-68 to South Carolina on Tuesday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

“I thought we would be really amped up and ready to go tonight,” coach Matt McMahon said. “In the first half, we just did not have the urgency you have to have on the defensive side of the ball. I thought they were very comfortable.”

For the second straight game, the Tigers didn’t have star point guard Dedan Thomas because of a lower left leg injury.

Max Mackinnon had 15 points, 12 in the second half. Pablo Tamba and PJ Carter each had 10 for LSU. South Carolina (10-5, 1-1) made its first nine field goals, including six 3-pointers.

26% on 3s this season. He finished with 30 points.

The Gamecocks went 10 of 13 from beyond the arc in the first half. A similar thing happened in LSU’s road loss to Texas Tech and narrow home win against Prairie View.

“It’s now the third half … where we got annihilated from behind the 3-point line the first half,” McMahon said. “You’re not going to come back on anybody when you dig yourself that big of a deficit.”

While South Carolina was scorching the nets, LSU was missing. The Tigers couldn’t find the bottom of the net for the first four minutes. Nwoko, who shoots an SEC-leading 71.1% from the field, was unable to score on his signature hook shot.

The team’s best shooter, Mackinnon, also had a tough time scoring on open perimeter shots. He and Nwoko, who finished with six points and 13 rebounds, were a combined 0 of 5 by the time coach Matt McMahon called a 30-second timeout with 16:56 left in the first half.

“They were hitting shots, we were missing layups,” Mackinnon said. “We weren’t getting stops.

They were playing better.”

What triggered the early break

ä See LSU, page 3C

2C ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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IN BRIEF

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 4 p.m.

Furman at Chattanooga CBSSN 5:30 p.m. Indiana at Maryland BTN 6 p.m.

Stanford at Virginia Tech ACCN 6 p.m.

Saint Louis at VCU CBSSN 6 p.m.

Missouri at Kentucky ESPN2 6 p.m.

Miami at Wake Forest ESPNU 6 p.m.

Xavier at Marquette FS1 6 p.m.

UConn at Providence PEACOCK 6 p.m.

Oklahoma at Mississippi St. SECN 6:30 p.m. Creighton at Villanova PEACOCK 7 p.m.

Iowa St. at Baylor PEACOCK

7:30 p.m. Washington at Purdue BTN 8 p.m.

California at Virginia ACCN 8 p.m.

Davidson at Loyola of ChicagoCBSSN 8 p.m.

Alabama at Vanderbilt ESPN2 8 p.m.

SMU at Clemson ESPNU 8 p.m.

Kansas St. at Arizona FS1 8 p.m.

Arizona St. at ByU PEACOCK 8 p.m.

Arkansas at Mississippi SECN 10 p.m. Grand Canyon at Boise St. FS1 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 6:30 p.m. St. John’s at UConn TRUTV FIGURE SKATING 7 p.m.

Winter Olympic Trials USA

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

NBA 6:10 p.m. Denver at Boston ESPN 6:30 p.m. New Orleans at Atlanta WAFB 8:35 p.m. L.A. Lakers at San Antonio ESPN NHL 6 p.m.

Dallas at Washington TNT 8:30 p.m. St. Louis at Chicago TNT MEN’S SOCCER 1:50 p.m. Barcelona vs. Athletic Club ESPN2 2:15 p.m. Manchester at Burnley FC USA TENNIS 6 p.m.

United Cup TENNIS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL 5 p.m.

Nebraska at Austin USA

Liu returns with sights set on Olympics American skater rediscovers passion for sport after stepping away

BY DAVE SKRETTA

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By HIRO KOMAE

Alysa Liu, of the United States, competes in the women’s short program segment at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, central Japan, on Dec. 5. her worldview had changed so dramatically in the intervening years that she was actually enjoying it, the idea of making a competitive comeback started to develop.

The rust shook free quickly. By the time nationals rolled around in January 2025, she was standing on the second step of the podium in Wichita, Kansas, after reigning champion Amber Glenn had defeated her by the secondsmallest margin in history.

Liu was overjoyed.

“She didn’t have really anything to, quote-unquote, prove anymore,” Olympic champion and close friend Nathan Chen said. “She had already accomplished all the things that she set out to do. And I think that allowed her the freedom to just go off and be Alysa.”

Oh, but she was only getting started.

Two months later, Liu captured the hearts of the Boston crowd at the world championships. Her joy in performing was evident in the smiles she wore while winning both the short program and free skate, and dethroning threetime defending champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan to become the first American woman to win the title since Kimmie Meissner

in 2006.

“I was one of the most excited people when I heard she was coming back,” said Kristi Yamaguchi, the 1992 Olympic champion who had watched Liu grow up in the skating rinks around their native San Francisco Bay area.

“Not just, ‘Oh, maybe she could represent the U.S. and do well,’ ” Yamaguchi said, “but I think she left a lot on the table. She was 16 when she stepped away. I was totally heartbroken. But I think she had to miss it in order to come back the way she did, and really have perspective and the empowerment that she had when she came back.”

Liu hasn’t stopped winning, either. She helped Team USA capture gold at the World Team Trophy last spring, then she won her first Grand Prix event at Skate America in November, before claiming the prestigious Grand Prix Final trophy in December.

“To take two years off and to come back, and come back all the way to win a world title, I think that in itself is what’s exceptional,” two-time U.S. champion and Olympic bronze medalist Gracie Gold said. “She didn’t win everything, it wasn’t an undefeated season, but I just thought she was really steady all season. She

had this comfort level. She was authentic to herself.”

Now, Liu is headed to St. Louis this weekend for another U.S. championships.

She won the event in 2019 and 2020, before her skating hiatus, back when she was still a teenage wunderkind. It would be a fullcircle moment to triumph again six years later, a continuation of a dream ride through the second act of her career.

“I really despised skating,” Liu said. “I thought that skating was the reason why all these bad things were happening to me.

I thought that for so long, you know? But I realized through time, like, that’s not the case.

It doesn’t have to be like that.

And yeah, so now I do not take the sport as seriously. Nothing is hurt. I just compete so that I can, like, skate. Show my programs.”

It’s a different outlook — a healthier one, she says — for a still-young figure skater who has grown in unimaginable ways.

“Now I hang out with my friends all the time. I make weekend trips to see them,” Liu said.

“I can do whatever I want. Free range, no rules, for however long I want. I live at home now. I drive myself to the rink. You know, I’m on my schedule now.”

NASCAR commissioner Phelps resigns

BY JENNA FRYER

AP auto racing writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The fallout from NASCAR’s federal antitrust trial continued into the new year as NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps on Tuesday announced his resignation after more than 20 years with the top racing series in the United States.

His resignation comes after last month’s trial in which inflammatory texts Phelps sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed. Phelps will leave the company at the end of the month, ahead of the start of the first exhibition race of the season on Feb. 1.

He was named NASCAR’s first commissioner last season after a courting process for the same role by the PGA golf tour. The opportunity with the PGA was revealed during December testimony of the antitrust trial brought by two race teams against NASCAR and Phelps testified he pulled out of consideration for that role upon the NASCAR promotion from president.

The top executive at NASCAR was deeply bruised during the trial — and the discovery process leading into it — when communications he exchanged with his leadership team was exposed.

In one exchange, Phelps called

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions fired offensive coordinator John Morton on Tuesday.

The move was expected after the Lions missed the playoffs and coach Dan Campbell took over Morton’s play-calling duties midway through the season.

Campbell is now looking for his third offensive coordinator in three seasons. Former OC Ben Johnson left the Lions a little more than a year ago to lead the Chicago Bears and helped them win the NFC North.

The Lions (9-8) failed to make the postseason after winning that division the previous two seasons and earning top seeding in the NFC last year.

Campbell said Monday he hadn’t decided whether he will continue to call plays next season.

Kingsbury and Whitt gone from Commanders staff

AP sportswriter

ST. LOUIS — It took Alysa Liu walking away from figure skating at its highest level to find out who she was.

Ultimately, she found her way back again.

Once the up-and-coming darling of American figure skating, Liu had surprised the entire community when she abruptly retired after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where she finished sixth. She was only 16 years old, yet Liu had been driven to rinks for unending practices for as long as she could remember, and she was tired of it — the singular focus on skating, the inability to be a kid.

“I really had nothing going on with my life, you know? Just training,” Liu, now 20, told The Associated Press in a wide-ranging interview as she prepared for this week’s U.S. championships and, most likely, the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.

“I would live at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, in a dorm by myself. I would eat their food. I went to the rink, skated, ate lunch there, skated some more. Went back to the dorm. I didn’t go anywhere. I didn’t see anything. I was just there,” she said. “And so all that, I was like, ‘Skating is not worth it.’ Like, this is not worth it. I didn’t, you know, care about what I skated to, or what my dress was like. I let everyone else decide. So I was really like, ‘Who am I?’ I felt like a puppet other people were using.”

In the days, months and years after walking away, Liu began college at UCLA. Her network of friends quickly grew beyond the bounds of skating. She traveled.

She even trekked to the Mount Everest Base Camp, where she finally felt on top of the world.

It wasn’t until Liu went on a skiing trip, and the adrenaline rush hit for the first time in ages, that she started to think about getting back on the ice. Not competing, just skating. But once that happened, and Liu realized

Lions part with offensive coordinator Morton

Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress “a stupid redneck” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged.”

That led Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, an ardent supporter of both NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing, to write a damning letter demanding Phelps’ removal as commissioner.

After he concluded his testimony in the nine-day trial last month, Phelps left the stand with his jaw clenched, his face red, and he made no eye contact with NASCAR’s owners as he briskly headed directly out of the courtroom. His fiancée trailed after him as he even refused to look in her direction.

NASCAR settled the lawsuit with 23XI Racing, owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins, the day after Morris’ letter went public and two days after Phelps’ testimony.

“As a lifelong race fan, it gives me immense pride to have served as NASCAR’s first Commissioner and to lead our great sport through so many incredible challenges, opportunities and firsts over my 20 years,” Phelps said in a statement. “Our sport is built on the passion of our fans, the dedication of our teams and partners,

cluded.

Phelps is a native of Vermont, where as a child he became a fan of local racing. He graduated from both the University of Vermont, where he set the school record in the 800 meters, and Boston College, where he earned a masters in business administration.

Coordinators Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr. are both gone from head coach Dan Quinn’s staff with the Washington Commanders after a 5-12 season, a team official with knowledge of the moves told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the staff changes had not yet been announced.

Kingsbury, the offensive coordinator, and Whitt, who had been in charge of the defense until being stripped of play-calling duties during the season, both arrived in Washington with Quinn before the 2024 season.

According to the person who described Tuesday’s decisions to the AP, Quinn and Kingsbury then mutually agreed to part ways.

Cowboys fire defensive coordinator Eberflus

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys fired first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on Tuesday after they allowed the most points and intercepted the fewest passes in franchise history.

It’s the second consecutive season in which Eberflus has been fired. He was let go midseason in 2024, his third year as head coach of the Chicago Bears.

Eberflus made it to the end of the season in his return to Dallas.

The departure of Eberflus means the Cowboys will have their fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons, following Dan Quinn in 2023, Mike Zimmer last year and Eberflus. Dallas’ past five defensive coordinators have been former NFL head coaches.

A’s relocation faces block with trademark denial

LAS VEGAS — The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has for now denied the A’s request to trademark the names “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics.”

The club, which intends to move to Nevada in 2028, has three months from when the refusals were issued Dec. 29 to ask for an extension to file a new application within a six-month period.

The A’s were told the nickname “Athletics” was too generic and could be confused with other activities even if associated with Las Vegas.

The A’s relocated to West Sacramento, California, last year to play the first of three planned seasons in the city’s Triple-A ballpark. The team is going solely by “Athletics” while playing in Northern California.

NASCAR thanks Phelps

AP PHOTO By MATT KELLEy

NASCAR president Steve Phelps announces the inductees to the 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame class on May 21, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C.

and the commitment of our wonderful employees.

“It has been an honor to help synthesize the enthusiasm of long-standing NASCAR stakeholders with that of new entrants to our ecosystem, such as media partners, auto manufacturers, track operators, and incredible racing talent.”

“Words cannot fully convey the deep appreciation I have for this life-changing experience, for the trust of the France family, and for having a place in NASCAR’s amazing history,” Phelps con-

NASCAR said that Phelps’ leadership transformed a stale schedule with new events, “bucket list fan experiences,” and reshaped its strategic vision. Phelps was also lauded for expanding NASCAR’s international footprint, securing long-term media rights and charter agreements, and building a leadership team that is focused on building the future of stock car racing with fan experience at its core.

“Steve will forever be remembered as one of NASCAR’s most impactful leaders,” said Jim France, the NASCAR Chairman and CEO. “For decades he has worked tirelessly to thrill fans, support teams and execute a vision for the sport that has treated us all to some of the greatest moments in our nearly 80-year history.”

O’Donnell moved into Phelps’ role as president upon Phelps’ promotion to commissioner.

Cavaliers’ Strus out for another month after surgery

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers forward Max Strus will be sidelined for at least another month as he continues to recover from surgery on his broken left foot, the team announced Tuesday.

Strus suffered a Jones fracture — a break of the bone that connects the pinkie toe to the base of the foot — during offseason training and underwent surgery on Aug. 26.

The Cavaliers said a recent evaluation and imaging showed additional time was required for the fracture to fully heal. When Strus originally had the surgery, it was expected he would resume basketball activities in three to four months.

Strus will have a follow-up evaluation with Dr. David Porter, who performed the procedure.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ 3C

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Whistling ducks season offered in 2026

BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer

Louisiana took an important second step to a first special season on black-bellied whistling ducks when the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission voted for a nine-day opportunity for 2026 during its meeting Tuesday in Baton Rouge.

The season will run Oct. 3-11.

The first step was applying to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a season in this expanding species in Louisiana’s marshes.

The season dates needs to be approved by the USFWS, which

appears to be a formality at this point.

Duck hunters also paid attention to a second straight nine-day special teal season scheduled Sept.

19-27 this year, and learned the West Waterfowl season segments will run Nov. 14-Dec. 6 and Dec. 19-Jan. 24, which means the 20262027 season will close days ahead of the Jan. 31 federally mandated close. The youth- and veteransonly special weekend is set for Nov. 7-8.

East Waterfowl Zone hunters will have Nov. 21-Dec. 6 and Dec. 19-Jan. 31 segments with youth-

and veterans-only special hunts set for Nov. 14 and Feb. 6.

Otherwise, in the presentation of the proposed 2026-2027 season, there were only calendar adjustments in resident-game seasons from the current seasons (deer, squirrel, rabbit and quail) and other migratory species like geese, rails, gallinules, mourning doves and snipe, and the customary Dec. 18-Jan. 31 woodcock seasons.

State wildlife managers worked for the past four years for the special whistling ducks season. The species is growing in numbers in Louisiana and hunters were pro-

hibited from taking them during the teal season, but faced the bird moving south by the time the bulk of the main 60-day duck season.

The only amendments offered in the proposal package came when commission member Jonathan Walker sought moving the ban on using “internal combustion engines” from a 2 p.m. to a noon deadline on wildlife management areas except Pass a Loutre and Atchafalaya Delta WMAs. A second amendment came from commissioner Andy Brister, who sought a plan to improve the age structure of bucks in State

Deer Area 1.

Brister offered a one buck, one either-sex deer and four antlerless deer to the hunting package (to change from a three-buck, three antlerless allowance.)

Both amendments passed.

The commission also passed a notice to change the on-the-water regulations on speckled trout and redfish fillets.

Current rules ban water transportation of filleted fish in the coastal area, a rule that kept camp owners from processing their catches at camps accessed by water.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

No. 2 Michigan survives close call vs. Penn State MEN’S TOP 25

By The Associated Press

STAFF PHOTOS By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU forwards Mike Nwoko, left, and Pablo Tamba battle South Carolina guard Myles Stute for control of the ball in the first half of their SEC matchup on Tuesday night at the PMAC.

LSU

By The Associated Press

LSU guard Jalen Reece sets the offense Tuesday night.

3-point line.”

This included a Mosley 3-pointer, who earned minutes from his few minutes in the first half.

Nwoko, Sutton and Mackinnon came back in the game at the 15:16 mark with the team down 57-37. The trio responded well to the benching as they combined for three field goals during a 6-0 run.

Sutton extended it to an 8-0 run after he turned down a right-wing 3 and instead drove for a posterizing twohand dunk over the 6-9 Mike Sharavjamts. The fifth-year senior finished with six points on 1 of 5 shooting.

A Mackinnon 3-pointer gave the Tigers an 11-1 run to trail 58-48 with 12:05 left in the contest.

LSU trailed by single digits for the first time since the 16:38 mark of the first half after another 3-pointer from the Australian guard to make it 64-55.

Nwoko had a more gutsy second half. Although he wasn’t as efficient as he normally is, he was a factor as a screener and offensive rebounder. One of his offensive boards resulted in a foul and gave him free throws that he made to make it 6660 with 6:22 left in the game.

The determination that junior showed was shared by everyone on the court.

Not long after, there was a possession where offensive boards were collected

by Nwoko, Carter and then Tamba, who finished a putback to cut LSU’s deficit 7062 at the 2:45 mark.

Despite the improved effort, South Carolina made enough free throws and timely shots. It bumped its lead back up to 12 after a corner 3 from freshman Eli Ellis with 2:44 remaining.

LSU’s next game is at noon Saturday at No. 11 Vanderbilt.

3-pointer to start the second-quarter scoring and give L.A. its biggest lead of Continued from page 1C the half.

The score was tied twice Doncic had 11 points and and the lead changed hands three assists and the Lakers five times during the rest of had a 20-12 edge in points in the quarter.

The final lead change the paint as L.A. took a 2925 lead at the end of the first came on a dunk by the Pelicans’ Yves Missi and Jose quarter.

Dalton Knecht made a Alvarado added a floater

with three seconds left, giving New Orleans a 54-51 halftime lead.

The Lakers played without their top two bench scorers — Austin Reaves (26.6), who missed his fifth straight game because of a left calf strain and Rui Hachimura (12.7), who missed his fourth consecutive game because of a right calf strain.

PELICANS

on Monday. Coach Mike Rhoades said Mingo would be out for a while.

Penn State fed on three turnovers to push its lead to 12-6 with 15:16 to play in the half. Ivan Juric notched nine of the Nittany Lions’ first 12.

Moments later, Lendeborg, who was questionable to play after leaving the team’s last game against USC with a calf injury, sparked an 11-0 Wolverine run.

It coincided with a 1-for14 shooting stretch from the Nittany Lions.

Elliot Cadeau, McKenney and Cason hit 3-pointers over the final five minutes of the first and the Wolverines pushed their lead to 4031 at halftime.

McKenney, who was 5 for 7 from the floor, hit back-toback jumpers including a 3 to give Michigan a 15-point lead.

Juric led the Nittany Li-

Ex-Michigan St. star apologizes for abusing ref, getting kicked out of seat

Continued from page 1C was a 3-pointer that gave South Carolina a 10-0 advantage.

When the timeout ended, the fourth-year coach drew up a play for a pick-and-roll play between Reece as the ball handler and Nwoko as the screener. The 6-foot-10 center received an alleyoop and missed the dunk.

However, he recovered the rebound and passed it out to Mackinnon, who made a 3-pointer for the team’s first field goal.

The Gamecocks led 21-5 at the 14:41 mark, and they were unbothered by all of the Tigers’ defenders. Sophomore center Robert Miller gave South Carolina the most issues as he managed two blocks in the first half.

To open the second half, McMahon used an entirely different lineup than the starting group. Replacing Nwoko, Mackinnon and Marquel Sutton were freshman guard Mazi Mosley, fifthyear senior guard Carter and Miller. The starters remaining who stayed were graduate student Tamba and Reece.

The changes had an immediate impact as the players had a greater sense of aggression on both ends.

LSU forced a South Carolina timeout with 17:32 remaining after the Tigers made three straight field goals to cut the deficit to 52-35.

“Gave us great energy in the second half, gave us a fighting chance to get back into the game,” McMahon said of the substitutions. “We did a much better job getting into the ball, taking away the

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — L.J. Cason scored 14 points and No. 2 Michigan held on to beat Penn State 74-72 on Tuesday night.

Nimari Burnett and Trey McKenney had 12 points each and Yaxel Lendeborg added 10 for the Wolverines (14-0, 4-0 Big Ten), off to their best start since opening the 2018-19 season 17-0.

Michigan, which led by 15 with 10:41 left, had to survive a late Penn State push that fell short when Freddie Dilione’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

Playing in the Bryce Jordan Center for the first time in nearly three years, the Wolverines got an opening layup from Lendeborg, one of just three makes for Michigan in the first four minutes.

Meanwhile, Penn State (9-6, 0-4) had to play without leading scorer Kayden Mingo who suffered an undisclosed injury in practice

ons with 20 points. Before picking up his fourth foul with 5:48 left, Juric hit his second 3-pointer of the game during an 11-0 run that cut Michigan’s lead to three with 7:13 left.

No. 6 DUKE 84, No. 20 LOUISVILLE 73: In Louisville, Kentucky, Cameron Boozer scored 27 points, including seven during a 16-6 run early in the second half, Isaiah Evans added 23 and Duke shot 71% after the break to rally past Louisville for its third consecutive victory.

The Blue Devils (14-1, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) erased a 47-38 halftime deficit by making 5 of 7 field goals and 6 of 9 free throws over 6:24, including two by Boozer for their first lead at 54-53 with 13:36 remaining.

Caleb Foster added seven points and Evans six during another spurt for a 10-point lead with 6:58 left, and Duke didn’t let up to beat the Cardinals (11-4, 1-2) for the eighth straight time.

Foster had 20 points for the Blue Devils.

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Former Michigan State and NBA player Paul Davis apologized for verbally abusing an official at the Breslin Center and being removed from his seat during the 12th-ranked Spartans’ 80-51 win over Southern California.

Davis addressed his actions with reporters and expressed remorse on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after an official pointed him out and asked him to be escorted away from his seat near the court.

“I’m up here to take accountability — to own it,” he told reporters before coach Tom Izzo’s news conference.

Davis said he apologized to official Jeffrey Anderson during a call on Tuesday.

“Short conversation, but an amazing conversation,” Davis said. “Amazing guy.”

Davis said he was sorry for being a distraction for Michigan State’s players during their strong start this season and for taking away from USC’s experience. Davis also apologized to Michigan State fans at the game, and watching on television, the university, along with parents and kids for not being a role model.

Davis called Izzo several hours after the game and wanted to publicly address his mistake.

“It kind of went global,” said Izzo, who coached Davis when he played for the Spartans 20 years ago.

With six-plus minutes left and the Spartans leading the Trojans 67-46, television

cameras showed Izzo shouting across the court at Davis after the officials stopped the game.

“What are you doing?”

Izzo screamed.

Izzo said after the game that Davis was one of his favorite guys.

“He’s always calling and doing things, but what he said, he should never say in the world,” Izzo said. “That ticked me off.”

The 41-year-old Davis played for Michigan State from 2002-06 and was a three-year starter. He had career averages of 13.2 points and seven rebounds, including 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds his senior season.

“You’re a basketball player when you’re here, and you’re an ambassador when you leave,” Davis said.

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4C ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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CFP quarterfinals viewership up from last year

BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter

The College Football Playoff has some viewer momentum going into this week’s semifinals.

Last week’s quarterfinals had a 14% increase from last season.

According to ESPN and Nielsen, the four matchups averaged 19.3 million viewers, including the three most-watched games of the season.

The CFP is averaging 14.4 million through the quarterfinals, which is up 3% from last year.

Six of the eight games are in the top 10 of most-viewed this season.

Top-seeded Indiana’s 38-3 rout of No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl averaged 24.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched College Football Playoff game since Michigan’s win over Washington in the 2024 title game drew 25 million.

Overall, it was the 12th highestviewed game in the 12 years of the CFP and a 13% jump from last year’s Rose Bowl between Ohio State and Oregon. The audience for the Hoosiers’ first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 1967 season peaked at 25.6 million.

No. 10 Miami’s 24-14 victory over second-seeded Ohio State at the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve averaged 19 million and peaked at 21.6 million. It was a 37% jump between last season’s

most-watched game of the season.

This is the last year ESPN will have all the quarterfinal games.

The Warner Bros. Discovery channels — TBS, TNT and truTV — will have two quarterfinals beginning next year as well as a semifinal game.

How much of an impact last week’s losses by Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State will have on the ratings remains to be seen.

According to Nielsen, the Crimson Tide were college football’s most-watched team in the regular season, averaging 8.49 million.

The regular-season averages did not include conference championship games.

Georgia was third (7.48 million) and Ohio State was fourth (6.57 million). Texas, which didn’t make the 12-team field, was the second most-watched (7.55 million).

Ole Miss is the most-viewed ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK J. TERRILL team remaining in the field. It was 12th during the regular seaIndiana head coach Curt Cignetti holds the winner’s trophy as he is doused with rose pedals by linebacker son, averaging 4.48 million. The Aiden Fisher, right, after a win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game on SEC had 13 of their 16 schools Thursday in Pasadena, Calif. ranked in the top 20. Miami was 19th (3.43 million).

The Rebels and Hurricanes Dec. 31 quarterfinal between a 18% increase from last year, No. 4 Texas Tech in the Orange Penn State and Boise State in the when the Notre Dame-Georgia Bowl averaged 15.9 million, an open the semifinals on Thursday game was moved to Jan. 2 after 8% drop from last season’s first at the Fiesta Bowl.

Fiesta Bowl.

Oregon was 20th (3.29 million) Sixth-seeded Mississippi’s 39-34 a deadly terror attack in New Or- quarterfinal of New Year’s Day comeback win over No. 2 Geor- leans the morning of New Year’s between Texas and Arizona State and Indiana 24th (2.70). The two in the Peach Bowl. The Orange teams meet on Friday at the gia drew 18.7 million with a peak Day. No. 5 Oregon’s 23-0 shutout of Bowl, though, was the eighth Peach Bowl. audience of 21.4 million. It was

Peach Bowl coaches not exactly the same

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, left, and LSU football coach Lane Kiffin chat as LSU hosts South Carolina on Tuesday at the PMAC. Leavitt is the top quarterback in the transfer portal.

Former Alabama assistants to match wits in Peach Bowl

BY MICHAEL MAROT AND ANNE M. PETERSON

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

TIGERS

Continued from page 1C Benefield began a visit to LSU on Sunday, a source said.

The Tigers also hosted Penn State edge rusher Chaz Coleman over the weekend and Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt on a visit that kicked off Monday.

Kansas State WR commits Former Kansas State wide receiver Jayce Brown announced in an Instagram post on Tuesday that he’s transferring to LSU. Brown, a rising senior, has 115 career catches for 1,972 yards and and 13 touchdowns. In the 10 games he played this past season, he caught 41 passes for 712 yards and five touchdowns, becoming one of the 34 FBS wideouts who averaged at least 17 yards per reception.

The Tigers have now landed three of those receivers. Both Harris and Tre Brown finished the 2025 season ranked top 10 nationally in yards per catch.

Clemson DT commits Former Clemson defensive lineman Stephiylan Green announced

AP sportswriters

Tuesday that he had committed to LSU. Green, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound transfer defensive tackle, started 14 games across the three seasons he spent with the Tigers. In 2025, he recorded 18 tackles and 21/ 2 sacks as a sophomore.

Six of those tackles came in Clemson’s Week 1 home loss to LSU. LSU is losing three of its top four interior defensive linemen. Rising junior Ahmad Breaux hit the portal and committed to Kentucky, while both Bernard Gooden and Jacobian Guillory exhausted their eligibility.

Former five-star recruit Dominick McKinley can return for his junior season.

Each of the Tigers’ four most highly rated 2026 freshman signees are defensive linemen, and two of them line up on the interior.

Former Edna Karr standout Richard Anderson is a five-star recruit and the top defensive lineman in the country, per 247Sports composite rankings. Georgia native Deuce Geralds is a fringe top-50 national prospect.

Green has two more seasons of eligibility left. He signed with Clemson in 2023 as a four-star recruit ranked among the 200 best prospects in his class, according

to 247Sports composite rankings.

Charlotte RB commits Charlotte running back Rod Gainey is transferring to LSU, his agency confirmed Tuesday.

Gainey is a 6-foot, 175-pound tailback who just wrapped up his redshirt freshman season. In 2025, he took 74 carries for 260 yards and a touchdown for the 49ers, while also adding 16 catches for 44 yards and a touchdown through the air.

Kiffin and his LSU staff have now picked up two running backs through the transfer portal. The first tailback to commit was Utah running back Raycine Guillory — a former three-star recruit who redshirted the 2025 season.

The Tigers retained five-star freshman Harlem Berry this offseason, but they lost all four scholarship running backs behind him on the depth chart. Caden Durham, Ju’Juan Johnson, Kaleb Jackson and JT Lindsey each decided to enter their names into the transfer portal.

Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith followed Kiffin to LSU, but star Rebels running back Kewan Lacy will not. He announced Tuesday that he had agreed to return to Ole Miss for his junior season.

Houston QB Chriss reportedly heading to Tulane

BY TOYLOY BROWN

Staff writer

Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss, who previously announced his intentions to transfer to Southern, is now reportedly going to Tulane, according to CBS Sports.

As early as Sunday night, reports emerged that the 6-foot-3, 210-pound FBS signal caller was expected to transfer to Southern to play for first-year coach Marshall Faulk.

Chriss originally announced he was entering the portal on Dec. 31 after playing two years at Houston. Chriss has one year of college eligibility remaining after spending his first two seasons at UL. Former Southern starting quarterback Jalen Woods entered the transfer portal on Monday, not long after the report that Chriss

was coming to Baton Rouge to play for Faulk.

In six games last season, Chriss completed 10 of 21 passes for 108 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed 12 times for 79 yards.

In 2024, he started seven times and played in 11 of 12 games. He completed 83 of 130 passes for 824 yards, four touchdowns and eight interceptions. He had 114 carries for 388 yards and four touchdowns. Houston finished 4-8 and 3-6 in the Big 12.

During his redshirt freshman year in 2023 at UL, Chriss played in eight games. He had 1,222 yards passing, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, completing a career-high 66.7% of his passes.

He also rushed 73 times for 492 yards and six touchdowns.

Chriss has completed 204 of 319 passes for 2,263 yards and rushed

for 10 touchdowns in 29 total college games.

The Baton Rouge native was a three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class and the secondhighest rated quarterback prospect in Louisiana, according to 247Sports. As a junior, he threw for 2,005 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading Madison Prep to the Class 3A state championship.

Chriss committed to UL over offers from Memphis, San Diego State, Appalachian State, South Alabama, Army, Air Force and Miami (Ohio).

Southern’s 2025 quarterbacks who have not entered the transfer portal are juniors Cam’Ron McCoy, a Jackson State transfer, and Ashton Strother, a Coahoma Community College transfer, and freshman Dillon Compton from Bunkie High School.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning and Indiana coach Curt Cignetti look like opposites.

Lanning is the flashy budding star who wins by defying conventional wisdom. The blunt-spoken Cignetti takes a decidedly old-school approach.

The two former Alabama assistants will soon find themselves back in SEC country, sharing mutual admiration for their very different styles, as they chase one goal — reaching the national championship game. “(He’s) one of the young superstars in the coaching profession,” Cignetti said of his Peach Bowl opponent in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Friday night.

When he was introduced as Oregon’s new coach in December 2021, Lanning was asked about his lack of head coaching experience.

The former defensive coordinator at Georgia responded with a wisecrack.

“Well, I hate to cut you off, but I’ve been a head coach before,” Lanning said. “When I was in high school, I coached the third-grade basketball team, and we were damn good. I mean, we were good.”

Lanning pledged the Ducks would be relentless in their pursuit of excellence. He hasn’t disappointed.

In four seasons with the Ducks, Lanning has lost only seven games.

Oregon won the 2024 Big Ten title during its first year in the conference and was unbeaten until losing to Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinals.

Like Lanning, Cignetti also has been relentless. In two years, he did what few thought possible by turning the Football Bowl Subdivision’s losingest program into the undefeated Big Ten champ, the CFP’s top seed and the nation’s No. 1 team.

The 64-year-old Cignetti leaned heavily into his head coaching experience at Indiana-Pennsylvania, Elon and James Madison to quickly establish a new mindset inside a program where mediocrity and near-misses had become the norm.

Known for soundbite-perfect quotes, Cignetti left no doubt he was the right hire.

“It’s pretty simple. I win. Google me,” he said.

Saban disciples Both coaches perfected their craft while working under coach Nick Saban, although not at the same time.

Cignetti joined Saban in his first year with the Crimson Tide, spent three more years there as the receivers coach and recruiting coordinator before leaving to coach IUP, the same school where his Hall of Famer father, Frank Sr., coached.

ä Oregon vs. Indiana. 6:30 P.M.

FRIDAy, ESPN.

By then, Cignetti had already developed a reputation as a quarterback guru in stops at Pittsburgh, Rice and Temple before producing his prize pupil, Philip Rivers, at North Carolina State.

“Obviously, it was, shoot, 20 years ago-plus, but really smart, had a mind for the game and a great way of teaching,” Rivers said. “You see that, you’ve seen that on full display, really, his whole career. But as he’s come up through the head coaching ranks, his last four stops, he’s won everywhere he’s been. So it’s been fun to see, and I’ve always rooted for him.”

Cignetti’s latest win was very Saban-esque, a 38-3 CFP quarterfinal victory over Alabama at the Rose Bowl that extended Indiana’s perfect record to 14-0.

Lanning, 39, served as a graduate assistant under Saban in 2015, when Alabama won a national championship. He had been working at Sam Houston but took a pay cut to work with Saban.

“When anybody asked me why, I said, I’m going to get my doctorate in football. That’s what it felt like working for coach Saban,” Lanning said. “Just like coach (Cignetti) said, you learn so much — things I thought I knew, I realized I didn’t know anything.”

Old school Cignetti has often said he’s a more traditional coach, following in the footsteps of his father. He emphasizes preparation and accountability, while also preaching unrelenting aggressiveness on the field.

He summed up his philosophy following the win over Alabama.

“It’s a great vehicle that helps people, used properly, become more successful in their life’s work later on and raising a family.

A lot of great lessons there about teamwork, leadership, overcoming adversity, meeting challenges, preparation, commitment, discipline, work ethic, toughness,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of the guys that have the right stuff.”

Lanning is more showy, much like the array of uniforms the Ducks wear. He showed his willingness to take chances with a successful fake punt on fourth-and-3 in the second quarter of the team’s 23-0 CFP quarterfinal victory over Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl.

The future Should this be the year the Ducks finally win a national championship — Oregon lost to Auburn in the 2011 BCS title game then fell to Ohio State in the 2015 CFP championship — there will no doubt be more chatter about Lanning’s future.

Lanning has repeatedly said he’s not going anywhere. He signed an extension in November that keeps him at Oregon through January 2032.

For now, however, it’s all about results.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ 5C

lll

Montana State wins FCS title in OT thriller Bobcats beat Illinois State for first national championship since 1984

loss like that, there’s probably 10, 15, maybe 20 plays in the game if you make just one of them, you win. Wasn’t able to do that, and we came up short.”

Lamson finished with 280 yards passing and two TDs. He also ran for two more scores. Dowler had eight catches for 111 yards.

Rittenhouse finished with 311 yards passing and four TDs. Victor Dawson ran for 126 yards, and Lord had 13 catches for 161 yards receiving and two TDs.

BY TERESA M. WALKER Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Montana State finally found a way to answer when it mattered most for the program’s first national championship since 1984.

A year ago, Montana State missed winning its first title in 40 years when a slow start doomed it in a shootout loss to North Dakota State. Two years ago, the Bobcats’ season ended in Bozeman in the quarterfinals on a blocked extra point in overtime against the Bison.

They started this season losing the first two — at Oregon and a double- overtime loss at home to South Dakota State.

So when Myles Sansted’s extra point went through the uprights in overtime for a 35-34 victory over Illinois State on Monday night in the Football Championship Subdivision title game, the Bobcats chucked helmets in the air while sprinting around with a heavy contingent of Montana State fans celebrating with them.

“To be able to clear that hurdle and know that yes, this ’25 group accomplished what hadn’t been done in a long time ...,” said coach Brent Vigen, who’s already thinking ahead with a young, Montanaladen team featuring only nine seniors. “You know, we’re building for more.”

The Bobcats (14-2) capped a season that featured not one but two wins over in-state rival Montana over a four-week span. Beating Montana in the semifinals put Montana State back into the title game for the second straight sea-

The takeaway

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGE WALKER IV

Illinois State made big defensive plays to give the Redbirds a chance. They forced Montana State to three-and-out on consecutive drives in the fourth for a chance at the win and had three sacks.

Montana State won its 14th straight game despite too many self-inflicted mistakes. The Bobcats were flagged 14 times for 93 yards. “We offensively showed flashes, but it was one step forward, maybe sometimes two steps back,” Vigen said.

Blocked kicks

Montana State players celebrate after winning the FCS championship game against Illinois State on Monday in Spack said he thought ball-hanNashville, Tenn. dling issues might be why both the son, third in five years under Vigen and the fourth berth overall.

Montana State topped that accomplishment with its 14th straight win in a thrilling finish in the first overtime in the 48 years of this title game. The Bobcats led 21-7 at halftime and 28-14 in the third. They needed Jhase McMillan’s block of Michael Cosentino’s 38-yard field-goal attempt with 57 seconds left in regulation to keep it tied at 28.

In overtime, Justin Lamson tied it with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Taco Dowler on fourth and 10. Hunter Parsons blocked the extra-point attempt after Tommy Rittenhouse threw a 10-yard TD

pass to Dylan Lord to give Illinois State its only lead at 34-28 to open overtime.

Stansted’s kick started the celebration of the end of a long title drought. Along with the 1984 I-AA championship, Montana State also won the 1976 NCAA Division II title and 1956 NAIA championship.

“What a hard-fought game, and these things aren’t supposed to come easily, I guess,” Vigen said.

Lamson, who didn’t join the Bobcats until June, said the OT touchdown was a great play call.

“Taco was wide open,” Lamson said. “I got hit so I was just trying to give him a chance, and the rest is history, and Myles did his thing

and that was the game.”

Illinois State (12-5) already made history as the first FCS team to win four straight road games to advance through the playoffs to this championship game. That included a win over this postseason’s No. 1 seed and North Dakota State — winners of 10 of the past 14 FCS championships, including last year.

This was the Redbirds’ first time in this game since 2014, and they left empty-handed.

“Just couldn’t find one more play,” Illinois State coach Brock Spack said. “We needed to make one more play to win. When you look at a game that’s a one-point

field goal and extra-point attempts were blocked. Cosentino has the ability to get the ball up in the air, which is why Spack decided to go for the lead with the field-goal attempt.

“It’s very disappointing,” Spack said.

Up next Illinois State has to replace Rittenhouse. Leading tackler Tye Niekamp has another season to play for his father, Travis, the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach.

Montana State should get Lamson back. He joined the Bobcats after stints at Syracuse and Stanford.

SCOREBOARD Holes-in-one Derek Roddy Course: Pelican Point, Lakes Course Hole, yardage: No. 4, 128 yards Club selection: 9-iron Witnesses: Dave Lemoine, Carter Merrill, Don Hebert

Tom Waguespack

Course: University Club Hole, yardage: No. 8, 150 yards Club selection: 6-iron Witnesses: Chumpy Lanoix, Payne Lanoix

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NFL Wild-card playoffs

NHL

Saturday

L.A Rams at Carolina, 3:30 p.m. (FOX) Green Bay at Chicago, 7 p.m. (PRIME)

Sunday

Buffalo at Jacksonville, noon (CBS) San Francisco at Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m.

(FOX) L.A Chargers at New England, 7 p.m. (NBC/ Peacock)

Monday

Houston at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

Divisional playoffs

AFC lowest remaining seed at Denver, TBD NFC lowest remaining seed at Seattle, TBD AFC two remaining seeds at higher seed, TBD NFC two remaining seeds at higher seed, TBD

Conference championships Jan. 25 AFC

AFC lowest remaining seed at AFC highest remaining seed

NFC

NFC lowest remaining seed at NFC highest remaining seed

Super Bowl LIX Feb. 8

At Santa Clara, Calif.

Conference championships winners, 5:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

Odds NFL Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG LA Rams 10½ 10½(46½) at CAROLINA at CHICAGO 1½ 1(45½) Green Bay

Sunday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Buffalo 1½ 1½(52½) at JAX at PHIL 3½ OFF(44½) San Francisco at N. ENGLAND 3½ 3½ (46) LA Chargers FAVORITE Houston

OPEN TODAY O/U 3 3(39½)

College Football

UNDERDOG at PITT

Thursday

Fiesta Bowl Glendale, Ariz.

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U Miami (FL) 3 3½ (52)

UNDERDOG Ole Miss

Peach Bowl Atlanta FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U Indiana 4 3½(46½)

UNDERDOG Oregon

Friday

NBA

Wednesday

FAVORITE LINE O/U UNDERDOG at DETROIT 10½(233½) Chicago at BOSTON 9½ (230) Denver at PHILADELPHIA OFF (OFF) Washington Toronto 2½(230½) at CHARLOTTE at NEW YORK 5½(224½) LA Clippers at ATLANTA OFF (OFF) New Orleans at BROOKLYN OFF (OFF) Orlando at MEMPHIS OFF (OFF) Phoenix at OKLAHOMA CITY 18(238½) Utah at SAN ANTONIO OFF (OFF) LA Lakers at GOLDEN STATE 5½(227½) Milwaukee Houston 5½(225½) at PORTLAND

College Basketball

Wednesday FAVORITE Furman at WOFFORD

LINE 1½ 5½

Wednesday

FAVORITE LINE at WASHINGTON -143 at MONTREAL -155 St. Louis -123 at UTAH -122 at LOS ANGELES -290

UNDERDOG LINE Dallas +119 Calgary +129 at CHICAGO +103 Ottawa +102 San Jose +232

Pro basketball NBA Conference Glance EASTERN CONFERENCE

Jan. 17-18

Monday

Indiana 8½ at MARYLAND at KENTUCKY 11½ Missouri at MARQUETTE 4½ Xavier UConn 9½ at PROVIDENCE at MISSISSIPPI STATE 1½ Oklahoma at VIRGINIA TECH 5½ Stanford at NORTHERN IOWA 2½ Belmont at VCU 1½ Saint Louis Miami (FL) 1½ at WAKE FOREST at VILLANOVA 6½ Creighton at UAB 2½ Florida Atlantic Iowa State 5½ at BAYLOR South Florida 4½ at NORTH TEXAS at PURDUE 16½ Washington at VIRGINIA 12½ Cal at VANDERBILT 4½ Alabama Arkansas 3½ at OLE MISS at CLEMSON 4½ SMU at COLORADO 10½ Utah Davidson 1½ at LOYOLA CHICAGO at ARIZONA 20½ Kansas State at BRADLEY 6½ Drake at BYU 17½ Arizona State at BOISE STATE 8½ Grand Canyon

UNDERDOG at CHATTANOOGA UNC Greensboro

Detroit Boston New York Toronto Philadelphia Cleveland Orlando Miami Chicago Atlanta Milwaukee Charlotte Brooklyn Washington Indiana

W 27 23 23 22 19 21 20 20 17 17 16 13 11 10 6

L 9 12 13 15 15 17 17 17 19 21 20 23 22 25 31

Pct GB .750 — .657 3½ .639 4 .595 5½ .559 7 .553 7 .541 7½ .541 7½ .472 10 .447 11 .444 11 .361 14 .333 14½ .286 16½ .162 21½

Oklahoma City San Antonio L.A. Lakers Denver Houston Minnesota Phoenix Golden State Portland Memphis L.A. Clippers Dallas Utah Sacramento New Orleans

W 30 25 23 24 22 24 21 19 17 16 13 13 12 8 8

L 7 11 11 12 11 13 15 18 20 20 22 23 23 28 30

Pct GB .811 — .694 4½ .676 5½ .667 5½ .667 6 .649 6 .583 8½ .514 11 .459 13 .444 13½ .371 16 .361 16½ .343 17 .222 21½ .211 22½

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Monday’s Games

Detroit 121, New York 90 Boston 115, Chicago 101 Toronto 118, Atlanta 100 Charlotte 124, Oklahoma City 97 Houston 100, Phoenix 97 Denver 125, Philadelphia 124, OT Portland 137, Utah 117 L.A. Clippers 103, Golden State 102

Tuesday’s Games

Washington 120, Orlando 112 Cleveland 120, Indiana 116 Minnesota 122, Miami 94 L.A. Lakers 111, New Orleans 103 Memphis 106, San Antonio 105 Dallas at Sacramento, n

Wednesday’s Games

Chicago at Detroit, 6 p.m.

Denver at Boston, 6 p.m.

Toronto at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

Washington at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at New York, 6:30 p.m.

New Orleans at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m.

Orlando at Brooklyn, 6:30 p.m.

Phoenix at Memphis, 7 p.m.

Utah at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Houston at Portland, 9 p.m.

Milwaukee at Golden State, 9 p.m.

L.A. Lakers 111, New Orleans 103

L.A. LAKERS (111) L.James 10-19 7-7 30, LaRavia 2-4 1-2 5, Ayton 9-16 0-0 18, Doncic 11-22 5-9 30, Smart 5-10 0-0 13, Knecht 2-5 0-0 6, Vanderbilt 3-4 1-2 7, Hayes 1-2 0-1 2, Smith Jr. 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 43-85 14-21 111.

NEW ORLEANS (103) Murphy III 14-26 8-9 42, Williamson 7-13 1-5 15, Queen 5-10 0-0 10, Fears 4-13 0-0 9, Jones

1-9 0-0 3, Matkovic 2-3 2-2 6, Peavy 2-3 0-0 5, Missi 3-4 2-2 8, Alvarado 2-6 0-0 5, Poole 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 40-91 13-18 103.

L.A. Lakers 29 22 28 32 — 111 New Orleans 25 29 32 17 — 103 3-Point Goals—L.A. Lakers 11-31 (L.James 3-5, Smart 3-7, Doncic 3-10, Knecht 2-4, Vanderbilt 0-1, LaRavia 0-2, Smith Jr. 0-2), New Orleans 10-40 (Murphy III 6-17, Peavy 1-1, Alvarado 1-5, Fears 1-6, Jones 1-6, Matkovic 0-1, Queen 0-1, Poole 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—L.A. Lakers 44 (Ayton 11), New Orleans 44 (Queen 13). Assists— L.A. Lakers 30 (Doncic 10), New Orleans 28 (Queen 8). Total Fouls—L.A. Lakers 21, New Orleans 19. A—18,227 (16,867)

Pro hockey NHL Conference Glance EASTERN CONFERENCE Tampa Bay Carolina Detroit Montreal N.Y. Islanders Washington Philadelphia Pittsburgh Buffalo Florida Boston New Jersey N.Y. Rangers Toronto Ottawa Columbus

GP 42 43 44 42 42 43 40 41 41 41 42 42 44 41 41 41

W L OT Pts 26 13 3 55 26 14 3 55 25 15 4 54 23 13 6 52 23 15 4 50 22 15 6 50 21 12 7 49 20 12 9 49 22 15 4 48 22 16 3 47 22 18 2 46 22 18 2 46 20 18 6 46 19 15 7 45 20 16 5 45 18 16 7 43

WESTERN CONFERENCE

GF GA 146 112 147 131 136 141 141 141 120 120 142 125 124 116 135 131 130 129 129 130 133 136 114 124 116 120 137 138 136 134 127 137

GP W L OTPts GF GA Colorado 42 31 4 7 69 167 97 Dallas 43 25 10 8 58 149 123 Minnesota 44 25 11 8 58 140 119 Vegas 40 17 11 12 46 124 126 Edmonton 42 20 16 6 46 139 143 Seattle 40 19 14 7 45 108 116 Los Angeles 41 18 14 9 45 111 113 Anaheim 42 21 18 3 45 143 153 San Jose 41 20 18 3 43 127 146 Utah 43 20 20 3 43 130 124 Nashville 41 19 18 4 42 118 136 St. Louis 43 17 18 8 42 107 146 Chicago 42 17 18 7 41 118 134 Calgary 42 18 20 4 40 112 126 Vancouver 42 16 21 5 37 120 148 Winnipeg 40 15 21 4 34 115 126 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.

Monday’s Games

Utah 3, N.Y. Rangers 2, OT Washington 7, Anaheim 4 Detroit 5, Ottawa 3 Seattle 5, Calgary 1 Los Angeles 4, Minnesota 2

Tuesday’s Games

Buffalo 5, Vancouver 3 Carolina 6, Dallas 3 Tampa Bay 4, Colorado 2 Anaheim at Philadelphia, n Florida at Toronto, n New Jersey at N.Y. Islanders, n Vegas at Winnipeg, n Nashville at Edmonton, n Boston at Seattle, n Columbus at San Jose, n

Wednesday’s Games

Dallas at Washington, 6 p.m.

Calgary at Montreal, 6:30 p.m.

Ottawa at Utah, 8:30 p.m.

St. Louis at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

San Jose at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.

College football College Football Playoff Semifinals

Thursday Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz.

No. 6 Mississippi vs. No. 10 Miami, 6:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Friday Peach Bowl, Atlanta No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon, 6:30 p.m.

(ESPN)

National Championship

Miami Jan. 19 Semifinal winners, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

FCS glance

National Championship

Monday Frisco, Texas Montana State 35, Illinois State 34

College basketball Men’s state schedule, scores

Monday

Southeastern 60, Lamar 52 Prairie View A&M 89, Southern 85 McNeese 66, Stephen F. Austin 64 Nicholls 74, NW State 72 Grambling 84, Texas Southern 67 UNO 83, East Texas A&M 73

Tuesday

South Carolina 78, LSU 68

Thursday

Liberty at Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m.

UL-Monroe at UL, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Troy at UL, noon LSU at Vanderbilt, noon UL-Monroe at Southern Miss, 2 p.m.

Delaware at Louisiana Tech, 2 p.m.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 3:30 p.m.

Southeastern at McNeese, 4 p.m.

Tulane at Texas-San Antonio, 4 p.m.

Grambling at Bethune-Cookman, 4:30 p.m.

Southern at Florida A&M, 5 p.m.

Nicholls at UNO, 5 p.m.

Tuesday

South Carolina 78, LSU 68

SOUTH CAROLINA (10-5) Strong 10-15 6-6 30, Johnson 4-9 8-10 19, Knox 1-4 2-4 4, Sharavjamts 3-8 0-0 7, Stute 1-2 0-1 3, Ellis 4-10 0-0 10, Assemian 0-2 0-0 0, Polk 1-2 0-0 3, Butler 1-1 0-0 2, Kapic 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals 25-53 16-21 78.

LSU (12-3) Nwoko 2-9 2-2 6, Sutton 1-5 4-4 6, Tamba 4-8 2-3 10, Mackinnon 6-14 0-0 15, Reece 1-6 0-0 2, Carter 4-10 0-0 10, Miller 3-4 3-3 9, King 1-3 1-2 4, Mosley 2-3 0-0 6. Totals 24-62 12-14 68.

Halftime—South Carolina 50-25. 3-Point Goals—South Carolina 12-21 (Strong 4-4, Johnson 3-6, Ellis 2-4, Polk 1-2, Sharavjamts 1-2, Stute 1-2, Knox 0-1), LSU 8-25 (Mackinnon 3-8, Mosley 2-2, Carter 2-8, King 1-3, Sutton 0-1, Tamba 0-1, Reece 0-2). Fouled Out—Strong. Rebounds—South Carolina 26 (Sharavjamts 7), LSU 40 (Nwoko 13). Assists—South Carolina 17 (Johnson 6), LSU 12 (Reece 6). Total Fouls—South Carolina 18, LSU 20. A—6,303 (13,215).

Men’s national scores

EAST Michigan 74, Penn State 72 West Virginia 62, Cincinnati 60 SOUTH Duke 84, Louisville 73 Florida 92, Georgia 77 Syracuse 82, Georgia Tech 72 MIDWEST Akron 82, Central Michigan 69 Eastern Michigan 74, Ball State 52 Kent State 96, Bowling Green 93 Miami (OH) 87, Western Michigan 76 Ohio 86, UMass 83 St. John’s 84, Butler 70

Women’s state schedule, scores

Tuesday

Tulsa 76, Tulane 73

Thursday

UL-Monroe at UL, 5 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at Delaware, 5:30 p.m.

LSU at Georgia, 5:30 p.m.

UNO at Southeastern, 6 p.m.

Southern at Bethune-Cookman, 6 p.m.

Nicholls at McNeese, 6:30 p.m.

UTRGV at Northwestern, 6:30 p.m.

Grambling at Florida A&M, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Northwestern State, 1 p.m.

Southeastern at McNeese, 1 p.m.

North Texas at Tulane, 2 p.m.

Nicholls at UNO, 2 p.m.

UL-Monroe at South Alabama, 2 p.m.

Grambling at Bethune-Cookman, 3 p.m.

Texas State at UL, 3 p.m.

Southern at Florida A&M, 3 p.m.

Women’s national scores

SOUTH South Florida 70, UAB 65 MIDWEST Lindenwood 84, SIU Edwardsville 65 Temple 70, Wichita State 50 SOUTHWEST North Texas 87, East Carolina 63 FAR WEST Arizona 75, BYU 72

Tennis WTA Brisbane International results Tuesday

At Queensland Tennis Centre Brisbane, Australia Purse: $1,691,602 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Women’s Singles Round of 32

Madison Keys (5), United States, def. McCartney Kessler, United States, 6-4, 6-3.

Aryna Sabalenka (1), Belarus, def. Cristina Bucsa, Spain, 6-0, 6-1.

Diana Shnaider (12), Russia, def. Anastasia Potapova, Russia, 6-1, 6-3.

Ekaterina Alexandrova (7), Russia, def. Sofia Kenin, United States, 7-6 (2), 6-3.

Sorana Cirstea, Romania, def. Jelena Ostapenko (14), Latvia, 6-2, 7-6 (5).

Karolina Muchova (11), Czechia, def. Ajla Tomljanovic, Australia, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5).

Elena Rybakina (3), Kazakhstan, def. Zhang Shuai, China, 6-3, 7-5.

Paula Badosa (15), Spain, def. Marie Bouzkova, Czechia, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2.

Women’s Doubles Round of 16 Alexandra Panova and Irina Khromacheva (4), Russia, def. Clara Tauson, Denmark, and Linda Noskova, Czechia, 7-6 (6), 6-1.

Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok, Ukraine, def. Miyu (1994) Kato, Japan, and Fanny Stollar, Hungary, 2-6, 6-2, 10-7.

ATP Hong Kong Open Results Tuesday

At Victoria Park Hong Kong, China Purse: $700,045 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Men’s Singles Round of 32 Alexandre Muller (7), France, def. Miomir Kecmanovic, Serbia, 7-5, 6-4.

Lorenzo Sonego (5), Italy, def. Rei Sakamoto, Japan, 6-2, 7-6 (4).

Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Argentina, def.

Valentin Royer, France, 6-4, 7-5.

Coleman Wong, Hong Kong, China, def.

Mariano Navone, Argentina, 6-3, 7-5.

Gabriel Diallo (6), Canada, def. Jesper De Jong, Netherlands, 6-4, 7-6 (7).

Michael Mmoh, United States, def. Alejandro Tabilo, Chile, 7-5, 6-4.

Marcos Giron, United States, def. Laslo Djere, Serbia, 6-2, 6-0.

Botic Van de Zandschulp, Netherlands, def.

Jan-Lennard Struff, Germany, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.

Juncheng Shang, China, def. Francisco Comesana, Argentina, 6-4, 6-4.

Transactions MLB American League

BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Agreed to terms with LHP Eric Torres on a minor league contract.

BOSTON RED SOX — Agreed to terms with RHP Kutter Crawford on a one-year contract.

Agreed to terms with C Jason Delay, INF Vinny Capra, RHPs Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris and Devin Sweet and LHPs Alec Gamboa and T.J. Sikkema on minor league contracts.

DETROIT TIGERS — Traded RF Justyn-Henry Malloy to Tampa Bay for cash considerations.

National League

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Acquired LHP Justin Bruihl from Cleveland in exchange for cash considerations.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Named Jason Sinnarajah president of business operations.

NFL

CAROLINA PANTHERS — Reinstated WR David Moore from injured reserve. Designated G Chandler Zavala to return from injured reserve. Waived WR Hunter Renfrow and S Demani Richardson.

CHICAGO BEARS — Designated CB Kyler Gordon and OT Braxton Jones to return from injured reserve.

DALLAS COWBOYS — Fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Promoted QB Desmond Ridder from the practice squad to the active roster. Signed WRs Julian Hicks and Kisean Johnson and TE Messiah Swinson to the practice squad. Released QB Clayton Tune.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Signed WR Luke Grimm to the practice squad. Released TE Tanner McLachlan from the practice squad.

LOS ANGELES RAMS — Reinstated S Quentin Lake from injured reserve. Placed ILB Shaun Dolac on injured reserve. Signed LB Ben Niemann to the practice squad. Released S Nate Valcarcel from the practice squad.

MIAMI DOLPHINS — Signed WR AJ Henning, DT Alex Huntley, LBs Derrick McLendon and K.C. Ossai and OLs Josh Priebe and Kion Smith to reserve/futures contracts.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Signed DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. to the practice squad.

Released CB Brandon Crossley from the practice squad.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Signed G Tyler Cooper and WR Nick Nash to reserve/ futures contracts.

6C ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Harbaugh fired St. Joseph’s survives scare from Prairieville after 18 seasons with Baltimore

BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer

Just when St. Joseph’s Academy gave itself the breathing room it was looking for, Prairieville came back in a nondistrict girls soccer match Tuesday night.

It wasn’t until Isabella Rodriguez’s 86th-minute goal that the Redstickers took control for good, and they went on to post a 3-1 win at Prairieville.

St. Joseph’s (9-2-1), the topranked team in the Division I power ratings, scored all three of its goals in the second half.

Prairieville (8-5-0) had already thrown a scare into St. Joseph’s when Ada Naquin’s goal in the 81st minute made the score 2-1.

“They had 10 players behind the ball a good chunk of the time,” SJA coach Kyle Carmouche said. “I think their strategy was to play for a counter attack, and they did well with it.

They got a goal and made it very interesting.”

Much of the game was played away from Prairieville’s scoring third, but it was reflective of a game plan that kept the Hurricanes close. The game was scoreless until Wren Marchand’s penalty kick early in the second half.

“We talked about that at halftime,” Carmouche said. “You can control 95% of the match, but it only takes one counter to lose.

(Prairieville) did a good job in the first half. They took advantage of some long throw-ins, and they scared us.”

Ivy May scored St. Joseph’s second goal in the 62nd minute and later added an assist on Rodriguez’s goal.

Prairieville’s best offensive stretch came late in the first half, when it controlled the action for four minutes. The Hurricanes had a free kick on St. Joseph’s side of the field, and they also generated a corner kick and two throw-ins near the corners.

It all added up to a positive night for the Hurricanes, a team

rated sixth in Division II and looking to gain experience ahead of the playoffs.

“The girls knew going in it would be hard to get a victory, but the fact that it was 0-0 through 46 minutes, that was a little victory,” Prairieville coach Chris Goodall said. “We also created some offense so it wasn’t a complete showing where we were parking the bus (in front of the goal). We had some good looks at the end of the first half and then scoring the goal, that was pretty exciting. We gave it a good go.”

Marchand got SJA on the scoreboard two minutes into the second half, depositing a penalty kick in the right side of the net after a hand ball penalty in the box. May added her goal 10 minutes later on a sharp kick from 20 yards out.

Prairieville used two goalkeepers in the contest. Nicolle Castillo and Kaelynn AmesquitaFoster each played a half and combined to make eight saves.

Zachary defense buckles down in win over Denham Springs Broncos get back to defensive identity in 81-60 victory

BY WILLIAM WEATHERS Contributing writer

There wasn’t much Zachary basketball coach Jonathan McClinton enjoyed about Tuesday’s first quarter with Denham Springs.

Not only had the Broncos discussed opening games in better fashion, but their pride and joy — defense — took a dent from the red-hot Yellow Jackets.

Zachary’s defense became more pronounced in the second half, and the Broncos turned a tied game midway through the third into a comfortable 81-60 home victory.

“We’ve been focusing on better starts and obviously we didn’t see that today,” said McClinton, whose team trailed 26-23. “As much as we can score the ball at times, we’re never going to lose the nature of who we are and what we are. We’re a defensive team. We have been for a long time.”

Zachary (18-2), the reigning Division I state champion, won for the 14th time in its past 15 games.

Junior guard Ian Edmond was one of three double-figure scorers for the Broncos with 18 of his game-high 29 points in the second half. Aidan Givens had 16 and Kristion Brooks, a UL football signee, added 13.

“I think we have a chance if we’re playing five on five,” Denham Springs coach Kevin Caballero said. “They’ve got some guys on their bench that came in and did a great job for them.

We’ve got to get more people involved. A lot of that’s on me, some of it’s on our guys.”

Zachary, which shot 51% (27 of 52) overall, was exceptional from beyond the 3-point arc with 11 of 18 shooting (61%), led by Edmond’s five 3-pointers. The Broncos’ bench also outscored the Yellow Jackets 20-3.

Liberty Magnet transfer Devin Houston tied the game for Denham Springs (14-4) at 42-42 with a free throw and 5:21 left in the third quarter.

Zachary scored seven straight points, fueling an 11-1 run that Ethan Kimmie capped with a free throw for a 52-43 lead with

1:57 showing. The Broncos extended their lead to 58-46 on Brooks’ 3-pointer from the corner before taking a 61-44 margin into the fourth quarter.

Da’Jean Golmond’s 3-pointer brought Denham Springs to 5846 with 6:10 to play. That ended a span of 13 consecutive missed 3-pointers and the Yellow Jackets were 4 of 24 (12%) for the game. Houston’s putback with 4:35 left was the final time the Jackets (65-57) trailed by less than double digits.

Brooks and Edmond helped pace a 16-3 run over the last four minutes of play with Edmond making a 3-pointer and getting a slam dunk.

Senior center Hayden Ray was a big reason for Denham Springs’ big first quarter with 10 of his team-high 17 points. The Jackets, who shot 65% (11 of 17) in the opening quarter, shot 23% (11 of 49) for the rest of the game.

Da’Jean Golmond added 13 and Da’Sean Golmond 12.

“Our practices are 95% defense, and we just happen to score at times,” McClinton said.

“We can’t lose that emphasis; we can’t lose that focus on how to stop other teams from scoring.”

BY NOAH TRISTER Associated Press

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — John Harbaugh’s 18-year tenure in Baltimore included two distinct periods of success.

After taking over, Harbaugh capitalized on the last few years of Ray Lewis’ career, reaching the AFC title game three times in his first five seasons as coach and winning a Super Bowl.

When Lamar Jackson arrived in 2018, the Ravens became contenders again — but there’s been no conference championship yet for this particular era, and lately Baltimore has experienced more angst than glory.

So Harbaugh is out of a job.

Owner Steve Bisciotti fired Harbaugh on Tuesday after the Ravens were one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season. They went 8-9 and missed the playoffs after entering Week 1 as one of the Super Bowl favorites.

Baltimore’s season ended Sunday night when Tyler Loop missed a last-second field-goal attempt, allowing Pittsburgh to hold on for a 26-24 victory in the game that decided the AFC North title.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision, given the tremendous 18 years we have spent together and the profound respect I have for John as a coach and, most importantly, as a great man of integrity,” Bisciotti said in a statement.

“Throughout what I firmly believe is a Hall of Fame coaching career, John has delivered a Super Bowl championship to Baltimore and served as a steadfast pillar of humility and leadership.”

Harbaugh was hired after coaching special teams and defensive backs for the Philadelphia Eagles. With the Ravens, he went 193-124 including the postseason.

He led the 2012 Ravens to a Super Bowl title, and this season was only the sixth time Baltimore missed the postseason under Harbaugh. That’s the same number of times the Ravens won the AFC North with him at the helm.

But most of Baltimore’s postseason success came in his first few years. After beating his brother Jim, who was coaching the San Francisco 49ers, in the Super Bowl, John Harbaugh was 9-4 in the playoffs. For the rest of

his tenure, he was just 4-7. After the Ravens went three straight seasons without a playoff berth, they drafted Jackson. The star quarterback won two MVPs in his first six years in the league, but Harbaugh’s lone run to an AFC championship game with Jackson was wasted two seasons ago when Baltimore lost at home to Kansas City.

“Well, I was hoping for a different kind of message on my last day here, someday, but that day has come today,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “It comes with disappointment certainly, but more with GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION. Gratitude to the owner and organization who was willing to bring in a head coach who made his mark with special teams success. A difficult thing to do … and Appreciation for all the moments, all these years, that are etched into eternity.”

The 2025 season was a mess for Baltimore from the start. The Ravens looked great for much of their opener at Buffalo before blowing a late lead.

Indeed, squandering significant advantages became a troubling trend in Harbaugh’s last few seasons. The Ravens have blown 10 double-digit leads in the second half in the past six seasons. No other team has done that more than seven times.

After a hamstring injury sidelined Jackson, Baltimore stumbled to a 1-5 start. Harbaugh and the Ravens worked their way back into contention and eventually reached Sunday’s winnertake-all matchup as a favorite to beat the Steelers.

But despite Derrick Henry’s early dominance on the ground and Jackson’s sensational fourth quarter, another season ended in excruciating fashion.

If Harbaugh’s departure was a result of that loss — which is not necessarily clear — then the missed kick at the end could have quite a domino effect throughout the league.

If he wants to coach next season, Harbaugh may well be the most sought-after candidate on the market, and the Baltimore job might be the best available, given the short-term possibilities with Jackson at quarterback and the organization’s reputation for stability.

PREP REPORT Basketball Tuesday Boys

Prairieville 63, Helix Mentorship 29 Catholic-PC 51, East Feliciana 38 Zachary 81, Denham Springs 60 West Feliciana 66, Episcopal 55 GEO Next Generation 62, Acadiana 32 Scotlandville 62, Live Oak 56 Broadmoor 86, Thrive Academy 42 Parkview Baptist 73, White Castle 33 Port Allen 63, Franklin 54

Zachary 81, Denham Springs 60 Denham Springs 26 9 13 12 -60 Zachary 23 12 22 20 -81 SCORING: ZHS: Ian Edmond 29, Aidan Givens 16, Kristion Brooks 13, Deezy Collins 10, Mason Newman 7, Cambren Price 5, Ethan Kimmie 5, Trey Armwood 2 3-POINT GOALS: Zachary 11 (Edmond 5, Collins 2, Givens 2, Price, Brooks); DSHS: 4

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C He finished third among all NFL passers (minimum 30 attempts) with a 103.3 passer rating on third downs, trailing only Brock Purdy and Joe Burrow. Five of Shough’s passing touchdowns came on third down — as many or more than former NFL MVPs Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes this season.

For what it’s worth, Rattler’s 79.0 passer rating on third downs ranked 27th out of 46 qualifying passers. +0.65: The numbers were not inflated by easy throws: Shough was one of the most dangerous passers in the NFL on intermediate passes, defined by Next Gen Stats as throws that traveled 10-19 yards in the air. The rookie accumulated +0.65 Expected Points Added per dropback on such throws, ranking No. 5 in the NFL. His 118.5 rating and 11.8 yards per attempt on such throws

(Da’Jean Golmond 2, Da’Sean Golmond 2, Jay. Williams) RECORDS: Zachary 18-2, Denham Springs 14-4

Girls

Parkview Baptist 69, Denham Springs 41 Scotlandville 47, Plaquemine 46 Episcopal 46, St. John 25 University High 71, Ponchatoula 45 Capitol 23, Port Allen 19 East Ascension at Donaldsonville East Jefferson 22, Collegiate Baton Rouge 19 Liberty at Istrouma at Old Capitol High School, 6 p.m.

Glen Oaks 53, Thibodaux 50 Dunham 47, Ascension Catholic 41 Family Christian Academy 41, Ascension Christian 21

University Lab 71, Ponchatoula 45 Ponchatoula

13

7

15

10

-45

ranked second, behind Jared Goff in both categories.

5-4: Shough’s record as a starter is the most important and noteworthy statistic from his debut campaign.

Remember, this was a franchise that had won just six of its previous 25 games when he took over.

Three of those wins featured a fourth-quarter comeback, and Shough nearly authored a fourth against Miami.

Quarterback wins are a controversial statistic, but in this case, it’s hard to argue against Shough’s impact.

The good 4.84: There are a lot of ways to quantify the successes of the defense in its first year under Brandon Staley, but this one is my favorite: New Orleans allowed opponents to gain 4.84 yards per play this year, which represented the best single-season mark by a Saints defense since 1997 and the No. 25 overall mark by any NFL team in the past 10 seasons, according to Pro Football Reference.

University Lab 20 15 17 19 -71 SCORING: PHS: Devasia Williams 14, Taliah Jackson 12, Jill Joseph 5, Katelyn Fridge 4, Hydy Jackson 3, Jaliyah Jones 3; U-HIGH: Kennedy Aldridge 32, Olivia Jefferson 10, Haley Hirst 9, Maris McMahon 8, Gracie Coates 4, Presley Holland 4, Kennedy Dominick 2, Katelyn Ryes 3-POINT GOALS: PHS: 1 (H. Jackson), UHIGH: 3 (McMahon 2, Aldridge 1) RECORDS: Ponchatoula 12-7, University 16-3 JUNIOR VARSITY: Ponchatoula 36, University 26

Episcopal 46, St. John 25 Episcopal 12 12 12 10 -46 St. John 5 8 5 7 -25 SCORING: EPISCOPAL: C. Watson 17, E. Odom 15, A. Bolden 4, L. Keyser 2; St. John: A. Seneca 15, E. Kirkland 4, M. Landry 4, M.M. Landry 2 3-POINT GOALS: Episcopal: Watson 3

New Orleans allowed 55 plays of 20 or more yards, which was about league average, but it represented a roughly 25% decrease from the 2024 season (74 plays). +27.3: In his eight games playing alongside Shough as the starting quarterback, wide receiver Chris Olave accumulated +27.3 Expected Points Added as a receiver compared to his -0.6 total in the first eight games of the season.

Olave also totaled 660 receiving yards on 275 routes with Shough under center (2.4 yards per route run) compared to 503 yards on 303 routes in the first eight weeks (1.7 yards per route run).

That is encouraging for the future.

The bad 34: As a team, the Saints managed just 34 runs of 10 yards or more during the 2025 season.

Only the Las Vegas Raiders (31) managed fewer, and both the Baltimore Ravens (71) and the Buffalo Bills (68) doubled the Saints’ total. In fact, five individual players accounted for more explosive

AP PHOTO By JUSTIN BERL

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh talks with an official during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Pittsburgh. Harbaugh was fired Tuesday.

runs than New Orleans did as a team. Quarterbacks Shough and Rattler accounted for a third of those runs.

The run game as a whole was disappointing throughout the year, but adding some explosiveness should be near the top of the wish list.

-30%: The Saints converted only 44.4% of their goal-to-go situations this year. That is a whopping 30% below the league average (74.4%). Expanding this further, New Orleans converted just 29 of its 49 attempts (59.2%) when needing a yard or less on third or fourth down.

15: Remarkably, opponents scored first in 15 of the Saints’ 17 games this season. That is tied with the 2024 Bears for the most such games in a single NFL season, according to Pro Football Reference. New Orleans did not have a single passing touchdown in the first quarter of a game this season.

This year’s Saints were outscored 122-29 in the opening period. In the past 15 NFL seasons,

only five teams scored fewer points in the first quarters of their games than the Saints did in 2025.

The ugly -55.89: That is the Expected Points Added contribution from the Saints’ special-teams units this year. Even if advanced numbers aren’t your thing, that should stand out as really bad.

The other advanced metric didn’t like it either, as FTN’s DVOA formula ranked New Orleans as its second-worst special teams unit in the NFL this season.

Every part of that group had major breakdowns this season, and it felt fitting that Atlanta’s only touchdown in Week 18 came right after a blocked punt deep in Saints territory.

LIVING

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

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W e d n e s d ay, J a n u a ry 7, 2026

1dn

Lauren Cheramie BON VIVANT

New food festival in BR to benefit the arts Bon vi·vant /noun/ a sociable person who has cultivated and refined tastes, especially with respect to food and drink.

New food on the block The first po-boy of the month for 2026 at Jed’s Local, 672 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, is here! The fried chicken Caesar po-boy is made with buttermilk-fried chicken breast, crisp romaine lettuce, housemade Caesar dressing and Parmesan cheese on toasted French bread for $15.99.

For every order of the poboy, Jed’s will donate money to Companion Animal Alliance, the only open-intake animal shelter in East Baton Rouge Parish that cares for more than 9,000 animals each year.

STAFF PHOTOS By HILARy SCHEINUK

Owner Duy Nguyen stands in front of a mural depicting his family in the dining room of Homakase, a new sushi restaurant that recently opened on South Sherwood Forest Boulevard in Baton Rouge.

Home cooking

PROVIDED PHOTO

Jed’s Local announced its January po-boy of the month: the fried chicken Caesar po-boy.

In the know Cook the Book: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday at Red Stick Spice Company, 660 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge Red Stick Reads is partnering with Red Stick Spice for its Cook the Book series. Next up is “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” which is included in the purchase price of the class. The sit-and-watch cooking demonstration features a full meal and discussion from the owners of Red Stick Reads.

The menu includes garlic shrimp, slow-roasted salmon, apple crumble and more. Tickets are $135 per person, available for purchase at redstickspice.com.

Wine dinner: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Jan. 29 at Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5252 Corporate Blvd., Baton Rouge Champagne and caviar highlights each course at this wine dinner, paired with sparkling wines from Jackson Family Wines. The menu offers shrimp and caviar blinis, A5 wagyu strip, vanilla panna cotta and more. Tickets are $145 per person, available for purchase at www.sullivanssteakhouse.com/promotions/ bubbles-caviar-dinner-batonrouge.

BR chef brings premium sushi handrolls to new restaurant

B

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

aton Rouge sushi chef Duy Nguyen was 21 years old when he first tried sushi. It was love at first bite.

“I went full-blown into what is called the Philadelphia roll, which is actually my favorite roll,” Nguyen said about the smoked salmon and cream cheese delight. “When I tried it, I fell in love.”

Sushi is expensive but delicious, he thought at the time, so he took matters into his own hands and learned the craft.

Nearly 15 years later, Nguyen is the executive chef at Homakase, a sushi restaurant at 4611 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., specializing in handrolls, including hand-rolled snow crab, blue crab and bluefin tuna rolls.

None of the dishes, particularly the snow crab handroll, uses imitation crab. Dishes are made with premium ingredients and sourced

Cold plate Tuna Tataki is on the menu at Homakase. as locally as possible, such as the blue crab and edible flower garnishes from a farm in Prairieville.

The menu also has starters like gyoza dumplings, chicken karaage and edamame in addition to cold plates like truffle salmon and tuna tataki.

Homakase got its start as a private dining business in 2020, when Nguyen would go to homes and cook at private dinner parties. It’s how the business got its name, inspired after the Japanese word omakase, meaning “leave it to the chef.”

“I can give them an omakase experience but at home,” Nguyen said about the play on the word.

“That’s why I turned it into Homakase.”

The restaurant soft opened on Dec. 9, and a grand opening is expected in mid- to late January when the menu will expand to include more dishes and specialties. Nguyen also hopes to expand the staff by then, which currently consists of four servers and three sushi chefs.

A look inside The interior’s simple design and dim lighting pull the customer’s focus onto the food. The dining space has a large U-shaped sushi bar in the middle where customers can watch their food being made.

There are also some two and fourtop tables along the perimeter walls.

“We make it really fast in front of you,” he said. “That way, everything stays fresh.”

ä See HOMAKASE, page 2D

Mark your calendar Southern Palette: 6 p.m. March 21 at Lafayette Park, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge Friends of the LSU Museum of Art is hosting its first Southern Palette event, a celebration of award-winning regional chefs, mixologists, local flavors and craft beverages, to raise money for the arts in Baton Rouge.

Participants will have chefto-guest interactions, tastings, live demonstrations and live music, all while promoting education, arts and culture.

Tickets start at $50, available for purchase at bontempstix. com/events/southern-paletteexperience-3-21-2026.

If you have an upcoming food event or a kitchen question, email lauren.cheramie@ theadvocate.com. Cheers!

THE BEST THINGS WE ATE THIS WEEK

Fulfill savory, sweet needs with our recent favorites Chili Cheese Dawg from Frankie’s Dawg House

STAFF PHOTO By MADDIE SCOTT

Staff report

ber. My buddy and I hijacked the TV remote to play the Miami and Texas A&M football game, and somewhere between n Frankie’s Dawg House, 2318 the rustic surroundings, college Cedardale Ave., Baton Rouge football and American specialty sustenance (hot dog), my soul This was my second trip to Frankie’s after praising their Chi- was touched.

It’s a dish where, to be honest, cago Dawg, where I said my next would be the chili cheese classic. the atmosphere matters just as much as taste. The dog was And there I was, two months a vessel for a good time, and later, on a Saturday afternoon.

I ordered my hot dog with a ä See BEST, page 3D side of fries and an Abita Am-

Chili Cheese Dog

2D ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Enjoying flowers in the present

STAFF PHOTOS By HILARy SCHEINUK

Homakase, a new sushi restaurant, recently opened on South Sherwood Forest Boulevard.

Dear Heloise: First, I’d like gently rub the affected to say that I enjoy reading area, and the stain is gone your hints each day. Here after soaking for 5-10 minis a novel idea my late utes. — Pete S., in San Antonio mother once said to me: Pete, so many times, “Why don’t you give I’ve warned readme flowers now ers about washing when I can enjoy blood stains in cold them, not when I water because hot am dead and canwater will set the stain. Thank you not?” I find it rather for this reminder. — sound advice. What Hints from Heloise say you? Thank Heloise you. — Daniel D., via A water warning email Daniel, I agree, and I Dear Heloise: Warn folks think many of my readers that if they have to turn do as well. Thank you for off their water for an exwriting in. — Heloise tended period of time, they need to turn off the water Cold water for blood heater, water softeners, recirculation pumps and Dear Heloise: I, like many any other water-related deother senior citizens, take aspirin and blood thinners vices to prevent damage or and suffer from occasional burnout. — Frank A., via email pop-up skin bleeds that Dirty dishes get on my pants, shirts or shorts. As soon as I notice Dear Heloise: I’m a longthe blood, I soak the gartime reader of your column, and it has been ment in cold water and

helpful and entertaining for over 50 years. Recently, we replaced our dishwasher, and a tip in the handbook was to turn on the hot water before starting the washer, which makes sense.

Turns out, I was not happy with the washing results of the new washer; there was a film on the glasses, coffee cups, plasticware, and inside of the dishwasher. After blaming the dishwasher, I started thinking about this problem and made a decision not to use rinse aid. I now use one soap pod in the bottom of the washer and one in the pod dispenser.

The fantastic result was sparkling dishes and glasses, as well as a clean interior. Happy days! — Dennis S., in Ocklawaha, Florida Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

HOMAKASE

Continued from page 1D The black walls are blank, aside from a large mural painting of five bluefin tunas representing Nguyen, his wife and three children.

Nguyen commissioned a friend and local artist, Alaina Roberts, to paint the scene.

Though he didn’t eat sushi growing up, his three daughters have.

“Oh, they love it,” Nguyen said about his three girls’ love for sushi. “If they could be, they would be here all the time. Sometimes they’ll run in here and come give me a big hug.”

The restaurant offers a relaxed, intimate experience, Nguyen said, where customers can chat with each other and the chefs.

“We’d love to educate (customers) on the handroll experience with the crispy seaweed, warm rice, the premium ingredients,” Nguyen said. “We just want to showcase what we have to offer.”

BR born and raised Nguyen, a Redemptorist High School graduate, has lived in Baton Rouge his whole life. He learned the ins and outs of food at restaurants like Tsunami, Sushi Yama, Ichiban Sushi Bar & Grill and Kona Grill.

But the now co-owner and executive sushi chef used to be in the medical field for nearly 15 years, working as a cardiovascular interventional radiology technologist. While he loved the career, he said he felt like he was meant for more in life.

“Working in the X-ray field, it was a very gratify-

Gyoza dumplings are served up at Homakase.

Fresh Blooms for a Fresh Start Spicy garlic edamame is served at Homakase.

Final markdown on all Christmas

Located in Towne Center and Denham Springs 7450 Jefferson Hwy Hwy, Baton Rouge

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From left, hand-rolled snow crab, blue crab and bluefin tuna rolls are on the menu at Homakase. ing job,” Nguyen said, adding that it was the source of many great connections.

“But there was something inside of me that said, ‘Hey, there’s something special that I can do.’ I have a talent, and I want to share with the city, too.”

When it comes to being a chef, Nguyen enjoys seeing guests light up when he cooks certain dishes. That’s his love language, he said.

A secret In addition to the grand

opening in January, the restaurant has a secret upstairs, one of the selling points for opening the business in the South Sherwood Forest Boulevard building, he said.

That secret is a hidden loft that will eventually be utilized as a private events space. He’s aiming to design the space with a speakeasy feel. It’ll likely be ready in fall or winter 2026, he said.

People are welcome to rent it out or if they want to host their own sushi dinners,” Nguyen said.

But this time, the dinners are at his home.

Homakase, 4611 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton Rouge. Open 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ 3D

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Getting ghosted, then guilted, gets galling

from anyone.

Dear Miss Manners: How Just look around: It seems can you be responsible for that ANY level of dissenghosting someone when they never write to you? sion about another’s actions Just because I have deresults in some level of shaming — namecided to accept their calling, fingersilence, and return pointing, etc. If the it to them, doesn’t people in question mean I don’t care. adhere to their beBut what is the proper way to say lief in “Hey, pal, this goodbye? It actually is who I am,” you Judith seems worse to do it can bet your bottom Martin dollar they’ll want formally.

MISS Gentle reader: Tell the everyone else to adMANNERS friend/spouse/child here to it, also. who is goading you I suspect Miss about this that the ghosted Manners is one of the old does not become the guard, as am I. But if one ghoster. And that it would subscribes to the “be who be wildly insulting to write you want” societal philosoa letter to Emily/Everett/ phy, where does one draw Eli — from whom you have the line? not heard in a year, in spite Gentle reader: If you believe of multiple efforts — to say that people should behave that you are breaking off politely and treat one anthe relationship. other with respect, then you However, Miss Manners and Miss Manners agree. suggests that from time to If you mean that we don’t time, you might reach out, all have to agree on evif you care to. Sometimes erything, we agree. If you even ghosts change their mean that no one should minds and respond. impose their personal opinDear Miss Manners: I was ions on others, then again, just wondering how one we agree. might react when there are But if — when you conpeople out there — not just demn people “who promote some, but vast blocs — who that one should be able to promote that one should be … say … exactly who they able to do, act, say and be wish to be with no fear of exactly who they wish to reprisal” — you mean that be with no fear of reprisal people should fear violence

for expressing an opinion, then, respectfully, we disagree.

Dear Miss Manners: My husband and I are celebrating our six-year anniversary soon, and I’ve been reflecting on our first date. He took me to a restaurant, where I ordered a dinner salad. While enjoying this salad, a piece of lettuce fell from my fork onto the table.

What would have been the proper way to handle this circumstance? Leave it on the table? Scoop it into a napkin? Place it on the corner of my plate? I’ve always wondered about this.

Gentle reader: Ideally, there would be an unobserved moment when you could snag it back onto your plate with a fork or napkin. But Miss Manners is curious what you did do. If it was not unobtrusive, it must have been charming, as it led to marriage.

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press

of 1.7 million people, including the killing of thousands of Vietnamese villagers in Today is Wednesday, cross-border raids.

Jan. 7, the seventh day of In 1999, President Bill 2026. There are 358 days Clinton’s Senate impeachleft in the year.

Today in history: ment trial began on grounds On Jan. 7, 2015, masked of perjury to a grand jury gunmen stormed the Paris and obstruction of justice. offices of Charlie Hebdo, a The Republican-controlled French newspaper that had House voted in October caricatured the Prophet 1998 to start proceedings Muhammad, methodically after months of controverkilling 12 people, including sy over Clinton’s relationthe editor, before escaping. ship with White House in(Two suspects were killed tern Monica Lewinsky, with two days later.) whom he denied having a Also on this date: sexual relationship. The In 1955, Marian AnderSenate acquitted Clinton on Feb. 12, falling far short of son became the first Afrithe 67 votes needed to concan American to sing with the Metropolitan Opera in vict on each charge.

New York, in Verdi’s “Un In 2022, three White Ballo in Maschera.” men convicted of murder In 1979, Vietnamese after Ahmaud Arbery forces captured the Cambo- was chased and killed dian capital of Phnom Penh, while jogging in a south Georgia community were overthrowing the commusentenced to life in prison. nist Khmer Rouge governThe judge denied any ment whose brutal policies chance of parole for the are blamed for the deaths

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners. com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail. com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

father and son who armed themselves and initiated the deadly pursuit of the 25-year-old Black man in 2020 after spotting him running in their neighborhood in Brunswick.

In 2023, Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in a historic post-midnight 15th ballot, overcoming holdouts from his own ranks after a chaotic week that tested the new GOP majority’s ability to govern.

Today’s birthdays: Musician Kenny Loggins is 78. Actor David Caruso is 70. TV journalist Katie Couric is 69. Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota is 65. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is 63. Actor Nicolas Cage is 62. Actor Jeremy Renner is 55.

Country singer-musician John Rich is 52. Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton is 41.

at the West Baton Rouge Museum

BEST

Continued from page 1D Exploring how genealogy can be used to identify and contextualize enslaved individuals who appear unnamed in historical artwork

as I lounged in Frankie’s shack-like dining room and languidly picked off the last few fries from the red checkered basket paper with good company next to me, it occurred to me that I won exactly what I sought after. I felt like a rich woman.

— Maddie Scott, features writer

Boudin, egg and cheese biscuit

n Billy’s Boudin & Cracklins,

24467 U.S. 190, Krotz Springs

Sometimes the best food in life is had on the go.

Such was the case with the boudin biscuit from Billy’s.

I’ll set the scene.

I was on the road to go to a concert in Irving, Texas, and I stopped at Billy’s for breakfast. While perusing the menu, my friend noticed that they had a breakfast biscuit, which she ordered. It’s a good thing I heard her, because I followed suit, along with ordering the red beans and rice ball. But the biscuit was the star of the show.

At the base, there was egg and cheddar cheese, then the boudin patty was placed on top, all of its contents meshing well in a perfect bite. The boudin was perfectly greasy, and the biscuit was noticeably homemade.

— Lauren Cheramie, features coordinator

STAFF PHOTO By JOANNA BROWN

Chocolate mousse, clockwise from top left, a mini chocolate doberge cake and chocolate petit fours from Poupart Bakery in Lafayette

Specialty chocolate

n Poupart Bakery, 1902 W.

Pinhook Road, Lafayette

When nothing else but fine pastry will do, Poupart Bakery should be your first stop for cakes, cookies, cannoli, petit fours and almost anything else your sweet tooth can handle. A classic French bakery offering breads, sandwiches, cakes and pastries, Poupart is probably busiest during king cake season, when the

bakery offers both a classic Louisiana-style king cake and a traditional French king cake with puff pastry and almond filling.

On this trip, I filled a box with super-chocolatey treats for savoring in this quiet post-Christmas season. The chocolate mousse, mini doberge cake and petit fours were each uniquely special, with a rich flavor that belied their mini size.

— Joanna Brown, staff writer

The American Red Cross of Louisiana is here all year.

Local support. Local impact.

The American Red Cross in Louisiana

serves 4.65 million residents across all 64 parishes and extends hope to communities across the nation and around the world. When you support your local Red Cross, you make a direct impact in your community.

Powered by generosity.

The Red Cross is not a government agency. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors to carry out our humanitarian mission.

Red Cross supporters provide a beacon of hope. From helping during disasters, to providing lifesaving training and supporting military communities, the Red Cross is there when help can’t wait.

Be the help Louisiana needs. redcross.org/louisiana

4D ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

zItS

lll

zodIAC CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Ask questions, research and focus on maintaining better health and wealth management.

You have more choices than you realize.

Don't sit on the sidelines dreaming. It's up to you to make things happen.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Focus on what you can do, not what you can't. Adjust your surroundings to accommodate your lifestyle or help incorporate the changes you want to make into your daily routine. Opportunity begins with you.

PIsCEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Open your heart, volunteer your services and do your best to make others feel good about themselves. How you impact others will reflect how you feel about yourself.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Take care of your responsibilities, but don't sign up for additional jobs or cover for someone else. Letting others take advantage of you will lead to stress. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Start the ball rolling. Share your concerns and offer solutions. Use your connections to help bring about change. Prepare to take advantage of whatever comes your way.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Pick and choose your allies carefully. Not everyone will push your agenda. Rely on your experience to point you in the right direction.

Don't share secrets or personal information.

CAnCER (June 21-July 22) Stick close to home and spend time with loved ones.

A kind gesture will make a difference to

both you and the person you help. Personal relationships will prosper if you strive for equality.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Don't overthink what you can do. Actions speak louder than words. How you treat others will determine how they treat you in return.

Offer encouragement, not criticism, and you will get others to support your efforts.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Join in and be part of the solution. Share your thoughts, skills and whatever else you have available. Your contributions will make you feel just as good as those on the receiving end.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Keep tabs on what everyone around you is doing. Situations will change quickly if you aren't careful.

Accountability and compassion will help you make the right choice. sCoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Take advantage of a chance to make a difference. Be a leader, ask direct questions and pull together a plan that resonates with those around you. You'll gain experience and personal accomplishment. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Proceed with caution. Choose your words wisely and promise only what you can deliver.

You'll fall under scrutiny if you let your emotions filter into your conversations or decisions. Do what's best for you.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 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 H

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ 5D

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CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

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

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

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

6D ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Judith Viorst, a novelist and poet, said, “Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands — and then to eat just one of the pieces.”

Strength at the bridge table is the capacity to stop an opponent with four good trumps from winning more than one trick with them. However, doing that may require imagination.

In today’s deal, South is in six hearts.

West leads the spade queen. South takes the trick with his ace and cashes the heart ace. East’s spade discard is a bad blow. How can South recover?

It is unusual to bid a slam after a single raise, but the South hand has few losers.

His three-club rebid was a help-suit game-try. And when North jumped to four hearts to say that he had club assistance, it was a fair gamble for South to bid the slam.

There seem to be two unavoidable trump losers. However, if South can get his trump length reduced, he might be able to endplay West. This requires finding the West hand with exactly 3-4-4-2 distribution.

Declarer plays a diamond to dummy’s ace, ruffs a diamond in his hand, cashes the spade king, ruffs his last spade on the board, trumps another diamond, cashes

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

the club ace, leads a club to dummy’s king, and ruffs the last diamond.

Everyone is down to three cards. South retains the king-jack of hearts and a low club. West has three trumps. So, when declarer leads his last club, West is forced to ruff and play away from his heart queen. Six hearts bid and made! © 2026 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 — HItHERto: HIH-ther-too: Up to this or that time.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 19 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 27 or more words in HITHERTO? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — sERIAL sail

rail

lair

sale

raise

lase

sari

rale

laser

seal

real

liar

sear

rile

sire

rise

slier

isle

earl

aisle

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 The Lord gives us the wisdom to know what really counts. — G.E. Dean

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ 7D

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classifieds.theadvocate.com Search Search& &Place PlaceAds AdsOnline Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com* Call * Call -Friday Us Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111

Announcements Seeking Financial Sponsors & Sales Professionals, Envirosult, a Non Profit. Email or Text CEO at michaelgreen@envirosult.com, 337-224-0987. Lead Poisonings, PFAS, Other Chemicals, Small USA Communities!

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Ashley Eiland, please contact Attorney Jason May at (225) 9557255.

172897-Jan 7-9, 3t $85 ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of Betty Jean Williams or Joe Young Williams or the Heir of Betty Jean Williams or Joe Young Williams, or his/her relatives or descendants please contact Ethel Clay, Attorney at Law, (225) 906-0435.

172639-1/5-6-7-3t $121.00 ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of Connie Brown, or his/her relatives or descendants please contact Ethel Clay, Attorney at Law, (225) 906-0435.

172633-1/5-6-7-3t $97.00 ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of CRYSTAL RACHELLE HOLLIDAY AND CHAVELLE TYRAY HOLLIDAY, or his/her relatives or descendants please contact Ethel Clay, Attorney at Law, (225) 906-0435.

172635-1/5-6-7-3t $109.00

Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Airport District No. 1 of Jefferson Davis Parish (herein referred to as the "Owner") hereby solicits sealed bids for Jennings Airport – Apron Expan‐ sion project described as follows: STATEMENT OF WORK: Construction of a new 32,500 square foot air‐ craft apron. The project consists of earthwork, subgrade stabilization, aggregate base and as‐ phalt surfacing.

Sealed Bids shall be ad‐ dressed to the Airport District No. 1 of Jefferson Davis Parish, and deliv‐ ered to the Jennings Air‐ port, 900 Airport Road, Jennings, LA 70546 not later than 2:00p.m., Tues‐ day, February 3, 2026.

Any bid received after the specified time and date will not be consid‐ ered.

The sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the Jennings Air‐ port Terminal Building lo‐ cated at 900 Airport Road, Jennings, LA 70546 .

A Non-Mandatory / PREBID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD: TIME & DATE: 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday January 21, 2026 LOCATION: Jennings Airport Terminal Building 900 Airport Road Jennings, LA 70546 Attendance at the PreBid Conference is not mandatory in order to bid on the project; how‐ ever, bidders are encour‐ aged to attend. It is the responsibility of all po‐ tential bidders to visit the job site to assess the location and conditions prior to bidding.

The Instructions to Bid‐ ders, Bid Form, Contract, Plans, Specifications, and Forms of Bid Bond, Performance Bond and Payment Bond, and other bidding documents may be examined at the office of the Engineer for the contract; Digital Engi‐ neering & Imaging, Inc. located at 527 W. Es‐ planade Ave, Kenner, LA 70065; (504-468-6129).

Copies shall be obtained at the Engineer’s office upon payment of a de‐ posit of $100.00. This de‐ posit will be refunded upon request in accor‐ dance with R.S. 38:2212.

Electronic (pdf) versions of the plans and specs can be requested from the Engineer by emailing gbabin@deii.net.

Contractors submitting bids shall be licensed under LA R.S. 37:21502164, Highway Street and Bridge Construction. The bidder shall show his li‐ cense number on the bid and on the sealed enve‐ lope submitting the bid.

The signature on the bid must be that of an autho‐ rized representative of the corporation, partner‐ ship or other legal entity, as defined by Louisiana Public Bid Law Revised Statute 38:2212.A.(1)(c) which dictates parties authorized to submit bids for public contracts.

All required Certificates of Liability Insurance shall list the “Owner” as “additionally insured”.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause; such actions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. In accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1) (b), the provisions and requirements stated in the Bidding Documents shall not be waived by any entity.

In accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements stated in the Bidding Documents shall not be waived by any entity.

All applicable Federal, State, Local laws, ordi‐ nances, and the rules and regulations of all au‐ thorities having jurisdic‐ tion over construction of the project shall apply to the contract throughout.

Each Bidder must de‐ posit with his/her bid, security in the amount of at least five percent (5%) of the total bid price, provided on the specified form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bid‐ ders. Sureties used for obtaining bonds must appear as acceptable on the U. S. Department of Treasury Circular 570.

No bidder may withdraw his/her bid within fortyfive (45) days after the actual date of the open‐ ing thereof, except as provided under LA. R.S. 38:2214.

OWNER Airport District No. 1 of ff i i h

ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of F. GRAHAM TRANSPORATION LLC, or his/her relatives or descendants please contact Ethel Clay, Attorney at Law, (225) 906-0435.

172637-1/5-6-7-3t $97.00 ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of Gladys Cade or a Heir of Gladys Cade, or his/her relatives or descendants please contact Ethel Clay, Attorney at Law, (225) 9060435.

172634-1/5-6-7-3t $109.00 ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of Gloria Atkins Davis, or his/her relatives or descendants please contact Ethel Clay, Attorney at Law, (225) 906-0435.

172665-1/5-6-7-3t $97.00 ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of James C. Seymore, or his/her relatives or descendants please contact Ethel Clay, Attorney at Law, (225) 906-0435.

172640-1/5-6-7-3t $97.00 ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of KIMBERLY ROCHELLE DUNCAN, A/K/A KIMBERLY ROCHELLE DUNCAN SHROPSHIRE, or his/her relatives or descendants please contact Ethel Clay, Attorney at Law, (225) 9060435.

172636-1/5-6-7-3t $121.00

Place a Classified ad?

225-388-0111

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p Jefferson Davis Parish BY: Doug Hollier, Chairman PUBLICATION/DATES: Jennings Daily News The Acadiana Advocate January 7, 2026 January 14, 2026 January 21, 2026 171857 Dec. 7, 14, 21, 3t $217.18 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Bids will be received by the Office of Purchasing, Room 213 Thomas Boyd Hall, Louisiana State Uni‐ versity and Agricultural and Mechanical College 70803 until 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. ** Refer to www.centerlinebidco nnect.com for bid sub‐ mission instructions. All bids must be submitted via email to lsubids@lsu. edu ** ANY PERSON REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODA‐ TIONS SHALL NOTIFY LOUISIANA STATE UNI‐ VERSITY, OFFICE OF PUR‐ CHASING OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMODATION RE‐ QUIRED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE THE BID OPENING. FOR: Furnish Labor and Materials for Rice New Shop Building

LSU SOLICITATION NUMBER: RFQ-0000002679 Complete Bidding Docu‐ ments for this project may be obtained from: www.centerlinebidco nnect.com.

Printed copies are not available from the Designer, but arrangements can be made to obtain them through most repro‐ graphic firms.

Contractors unable to access bidding docu‐ ments at www.centerl inebidconnect.com should contact

Louisiana State University Office of Procurement 213 Thomas Boyd Hall Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Phone: 225-578-2176 All bids must be accom‐ panied by bid security equal to five percent (5%) of the sum of the base bid and all alter‐ nates, and must be in the form of a certified check, cashier’s check or Bid Bond Form written by a surety company licensed to do business in Louisiana, signed by the surety’s agency or attor‐ ney-in-fact. Surety must be listed on the current U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Man‐ agement Service list of approved bonding com‐ panies as approved for an amount equal to or greater than the amount for which it obligates it‐ self in the Bond, or must be a Louisiana domiciled insurance company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide. If surety qualifies by virtue of its Best’s list‐ ing, the amount of the Bond may not exceed ten percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the latest A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide. The Bid Bond shall be in favor of the Louisiana State Uni‐ versity and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and shall be accompa‐ nied by appropriate power of attorney. No Bid Bond indicating an oblig‐ ation of less than five percent (5%) by any method is acceptable.

The successful Bidder shall be required to fur‐ nish a Performance and Payment Bond written by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana, in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract amount. Surety must be listed currently on the U.S. Department of Trea‐ sury Financial manage‐ ment Service List (Trea‐ sury List) as approved for an amount equal to or greater than the con‐ tract amount, or must be an insurance company domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. If surety is quali‐ fied other than by listing on the Treasury list, the contract amount may not exceed fifteen percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown by surety’s most recent financial state‐ ments filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance and may not exceed the amount of $500,000.

However, 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 shall not be subject to the $500,000 limitation, provided that the con‐ tract amount does not exceed ten percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the latest A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide nor fifteen percent of policyholder’s surplus as shown by surety’s most recent financial state‐ ments filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

The Bond shall be signed by the

ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of Marquis Zarick Williams, or his/her relatives or descendants please contact Ethel Clay, Attorney at Law, (225) 906-0435.

172638-1/5-6-7-3t $97.00

CAMPING GEAR Camp Tent 9x9 Dome, Canopy, Slp Bag, 2 Lant, 2 Burner Stv, 48qt Ice Chest & All Access. Retail for $375 selling for $275 225-610-8411 after 2:00pm

A PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD 11:00 AM, Thursday, January 22, 2026 LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, 1373 Caffey Road, Rayne, LA 70578 Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150-2163 for the classification of BUILD‐ ING CONSTRUCTION. Bid‐ der is required to comply with provisions and re‐ quirements of LA R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(c). No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty (30) days after receipt of bids, ex‐ cept under the provi‐ sions of LA. R.S. 38:2214.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. In ac‐ cordance with La. R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements of this Section, those stated in the advertise‐ ment for bids, and those required on the bid form shall not be considered as informalities and shall not be waived by any public entity.

When this project is fi‐ nanced either partially or entirely with State Bonds or federal funds, the award of this Contract is contingent upon the granting of lines of credit, the sale of bonds by the Bond Commission or the commitment of federal funds. The Uni‐ versity shall incur no obligation to the Con‐ tractor until the Contract Between Owner and Con‐ tractor is fully executed.

AD RUN DATES: January 7, 14, 21, 2026 170903 Jan. 7, 14, 21, 2026, 3t $200.79

PUBLIC NOTICE --BIDS TO BE OPENED: February 10, 2025 @ 2:00 PM CST NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received by City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge until February 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM local time in Room 826 of City Hall, 222 Saint Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 for: RFP SOLICITATION NO. 2025-21-7830 - Janitorial Services for Various Public Works Facilities A mandatory pre-pro‐ posal conference and job site visit will be held in person on January 23, 2026 at 9:00 AM. The mandatory pre-proposal conference and job site visit will be held at the City/Parish Purchasing Division, 222 St. Louis Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. A com‐ pany representative must be in attendance at the pre-proposal meeting and job site visit to re‐ ceive an award for this project.

Copies of the Request for Proposal may be ob‐ tained from LaPAC (https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/ dspBid.cfm?search=dep artment&term=102), Central Bidding (http:// www.centralauctionh ouse.com) or by email re‐ quest to: RFP7830JanSrvPub‐ Work@brla.gov. *Note: The City-Parish has elected to use LaPAC, the state’s online electronic bid posting and Central Bidding noti‐ fication system, in addi‐ tion to its standard means of advertising this requirement. LaPAC is resident on State Pur‐ chasing’s website at https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/ pubmain.cfm and is available for vendor selfenrollment. NOTE: This RFP is not available to submit online via Central Bidding; submissions MUST be mailed or hand delivered to the address mentioned in the RFP. In that LaPAC and Central Bidding provides an im‐ mediate e-mail notifica‐ tion to subscribing bid‐ ders that a solicitation and any subsequent ad‐ denda have been let and posted, notice and re‐ ceipt thereof is consid‐ ered formally given as of their respective dates of posting. Though not re‐ quired if receiving solici‐ tation and addenda no‐ tices from LaPAC and Central Bidding the CityParish will email ad‐ denda to all vendors con‐ tacting our office and re‐ questing to be put on our office Vendor Listing for this solicitation.

The deadline for receiv‐ ing written inquiries is January 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST. Proposals received after the above specified time will not be considered.

The right to reject any and all proposals and to waive irregularities and informalities is reserved.

Pets / Pet Services Directory PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

AREA 7 57728 Grove Rd, 3BR 2BA, 2200sqft, Sml Apt in back, Upgrades, $200k+ (pending apprais) (225) 776-0404

CLASSIFIEDS WORK

The City-Parish is an equal opportunity em‐ ployer and encourages the participation of Dis‐ advantaged Business En‐ terprises (DBE) in all of its projects.

Pro‐ posers/Prospective Con‐ tractors are strongly en‐ couraged to make posi‐ tive efforts to utilize mi‐ nority subcontractors for a portion of this project.

Proposers are requested to include in their pro‐ posal a description of plans for minority partic‐ ipation under this Con‐ tract as suppliers or sub‐ contractors.

All questions concerning the Solicitation and Con‐ tract Documents MUST be received in accor‐ dance with the Schedule of Events cited in section 1.3 of the Solicitation documents and as fur‐ ther defined in section 1.7.2 Proposer Inquiry Pe‐ riod of the same docu‐ ment.

Though not required if receiving solicitation and addenda notices from LaPAC, the City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge will e-mail or mail addenda to all vendors contacting our office and requesting to be put on our office Ven‐ dor Listing for this solici‐ tation.

172789 Jan. 7, 14, 21, 3t $195.21 PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC NOTICE SOQ #25-047

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

y ferson Parish Depart‐ ment of Capital Projects and shall be mutually agreeable to both par‐ ties.

p able party, or where the person or firm partici‐ pated in or assisted the public entity in prosecu‐ tion of its claim. (In the event that the person or firm fails to provide ac‐ curate and detailed in‐ formation regarding legal proceedings with the Parish, including the absence of legal pro‐ ceedings, the person or firm shall be deemed un‐ responsive with regard to this category, and zero (0) points shall be awarded) - (Maximum points awarded shall be 15).

7) Prior successful com‐ pletion of projects of the type and nature of engi‐ neering services, as de‐ fined, for which firm has provided verifiable refer‐ ences - (Maximum points awarded shall be 5).

Compensation for sup‐ plemental services, if re‐ quired, shall be in the form of a “lump sum” or hourly rate for each sup‐ plemental service, which shall be mutually agree‐ able to the Parish and the Consultant.

All costs associated with this project shall be sub‐ ject to Jefferson Parish review and approval.

Minimum Requirements for Selection The persons or firms under consideration shall have at least one (1) principal who is a li‐ censed, registered pro‐ fessional engineer in the State of Louisiana. A sub‐ contractor may not be used to meet this re‐ quirement. (Section C. of TEC Professional Ser‐ vices Questionnaire);

1. The persons or firms under consideration shall have a professional in charge of the Project who is a licensed, regis‐ tered professional engi‐ neer in the State of Louisiana with a mini‐ mum of five (5) years’ ex‐ perience. A subcontrac‐ tor may not be used to meet this requirement.

(Section K. “PROFES‐ SIONAL IN CHARGE OF PROJECT:”; of TEC Profes‐ sional Services Question‐ naire); 2. The persons or firms under consideration shall have one (1) em‐ ployee who is a licensed, registered professional engineer in the State of Louisiana in the applica‐ ble discipline involved. A subcontractor may meet this requirement only if the advertised Project in‐ volves more than one discipline. (Section D. of TEC Professional Ser‐ vices Questionnaire).

With regard to the ques‐ tionnaire, Principal means the sole propri‐ etor of the firm, or one who shares an owner‐ ship interest with other persons in the firm, in‐ cluding but not limited to, a partner in a partner‐ ship, a shareholder in a corporation, or a mem‐ ber of a limited liability corporation.

Evaluation Criteria

The Parish of Jefferson, authorized by Resolution No.147477, is hereby so‐ liciting Statements of Qualifications ((TEC) Pro‐ fessional Services Ques‐ tionnaire) for persons or firms interested and qualified to provide pro‐ fessional engineering services for the Kenner Laketown Park and Har‐ bor Improvements pro‐ ject (Council District 4).

1) Professional training and experience in rela‐ tion to the type and mag‐ nitude of work required for the particular project – (Maximum points awarded shall be 35).

2) Size of firm, consider‐ ing the number of profes‐ sional and support per‐ sonnel required to per‐ form the type of engi‐ neering tasks, including project evaluation, pro‐ ject design, drafting of technical plans, develop‐ ment of technical specifi‐ cations and construction administration – (Maxi‐ mum points awarded shall be 10).

3) Capacity for timely completion of newly as‐ signed work, considering the factors of type of en‐ gineering task, current unfinished workload, and person or firm’s avail‐ able professional and support personnel – (Maximum points awarded shall be 20).

4) Past Performance on a project in which the per‐ son or firm assisted a governmental entity in dealings with Disaster Recovery and any other projects relating to CDBG – (Respondent should provide a list of com‐ pleted Disaster Recovery projects and/or similar CDBG projects for which firm has provided verifi‐ able references) (Maxi‐ mum points awarded shall be 10).

5) Location of the princi‐ pal office – Preference shall be given to persons or firms with a principal business office as fol‐ lows: (A) Jefferson Parish, including munici‐ palities located within Jefferson Parish (15 Points); (B) Neighboring Parishes of the Greater New Orleans Metropoli‐ tan Region, which in‐ cludes Orleans, Plaquem‐ ines, St. Bernard, St. Charles and St. Tammany Parishes (12 Points); (C) Parishes other than the foregoing (10 Points); (D) Outside the State of Louisiana (6 Points). Lo‐ cation of the principal of‐ fice shall only factor into the evaluation criteria if adequate competition (two or more firms that are responsive and re‐ sponsible) are located within Jefferson Parish (Maximum points awarded shall be 15).

6) Adversarial legal pro‐ ceedings between the Parish and the person or firm performing profes‐ sional services, in which the Parish prevailed or any ongoing adversarial legal proceedings be‐ tween the Parish and the person or firm perform‐ ing professional services excluding those in‐ stances or cases where the person or firm was added as an indispens‐ bl h h

General The intention of the pro‐ ject is to revitalize the Kenner lakefront area by educating citizens about the benefits and risks of living near the water, as well as investing in structural and green in‐ frastructure projects to manage future risk by implementing an am‐ phitheater, walking trails, children’s play spaces, and green infra‐ structure meadows. The scope of services antici‐ pated for the project cur‐ rently needed is to final‐ ize design plans and per‐ form construction ad‐ ministration and resident inspection services. Jef‐ ferson Parish anticipates the project will require the following supplemen‐ tal services/disciplines: coastal engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, building ar‐ chitect, landscape archi‐ tect, geotechnical ser‐ vices, land surveying, and resident inspection.

Compensation Compensation for the re‐ quired design services will be made on an hourly rate basis or a fixed fee basis, or a com‐ bination of both, depend‐ ing on scope and com‐ plexity of the work. The Parish reserves the right to determine the method of payment (hourly or fixed) for each individual assignment.

For hourly rate work, the firm shall be compen‐ sated by the appropriate Jefferson Parish Depart‐ ment on the basis of their certified and item‐ ized burdened rate in ac‐ cordance with guidelines established in Attach‐ ment “A” to the Standard Professional Services Agreement for Jefferson Parish. A copy of Attach‐ ment “A” may be ob‐ tained by calling the Jef‐ ferson Parish Depart‐ ment of Capital Projects at (504) 736-6833.

For fixed fee work, the fee shall be negotiated with the firm by the Jef‐ f i h

DOGS 1 Male & 1 Female Yorkie. De-wormed.

Ready to go! 225-394-0367

DOGS AKC Golden Retriever's, S&W, Parents on site. (601) 303-3627

DOGS AKC Beautiful Mini Schnauzer Female pups. Vet Chk'd, Guar (985) 320-5288

DOGS CKC YORKIES or SHORKIES - (yorkies are with papers) all are vet checked with shot and worming, shorkies $450 will meet in Gulfport yorkies $600 (334) 467-3416

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $700up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150

Provide Professional Engineering Services for The Kenner Laketown Park and Harbor Improvements Project

Deadline for Submissions: 3:30 p.m., January 29, 2026

WORKS

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111

Baton Rouge Real Estate For Sale

For this project the EBR Parish Purchasing office has directed a review of the scope of work and participation is strongly encouraged but not re‐ quired.

PRINT ADVERTISING

AREA 5 1BR $550, 2BR $650 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

SHIPPING CONTAINER Shipping container for sale 45’x102” tall excellent condition $4500.00 call (225) 316-4148 ask for David

The City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge has established a Socially and Economi‐ cally Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SEDBE) program in ac‐ cordance with Revised Statute RS 33:2233.4. It is the policy of the Parish to ensure that Eligible Business Enterprises EBE’s, certified in accor‐ dance with the Parish program, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in parish contracts.

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653 ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo.

225-933-7560

AREA 3

AREA 5 1 & 2 BR Apts, W/D, C A/H, Starting at $850/mo Deps vary 225-315-0930

FURNITURE Lexington Bedroom Set, Must Sell, Look & Make Offer 225-369-1675

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

AREA 5 655 North St. Subsidized eff Apts cpabr.org 225-383-5551.

TDD/TTY /711RELAY

5364 Jackson 2BR's 1BA, Rent $500, Dep $300 225-357-6436

Merchandise

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

surety’s agent or attor‐ ney-in-fact.

Baton Rouge Rental

The following criteria will be used to evaluate each firm submitting a State‐ ment of Qualifications:

Project will include fed‐ eral disaster and re‐ siliency funds and there‐ fore will include associ‐ ated federal require‐ ments, including Section 3, as applicable. State‐ ments of Qualifications from minority, femaleowned, and local firms / individuals are invited.

Each firm’s lowest and highest score shall be dropped and not count towards the firm’s score.

Only those persons or firms receiving an overall cumulative score of at least seventy (70) per‐ cent or greater, of the total possible points for all categories to be as‐ signed by the participat‐ ing technical evaluation committee members, shall be deemed quali‐ fied to perform these professional services.

The person or firm sub‐ mitting a Statement of Qualification ((TEC) Pro‐ fessional Services Ques‐ tionnaire) must identify all subcontractors who will assist in providing professional services for the project, in the profes‐ sional services question‐ naire. Each subcontrac‐ tor shall be required to submit a ((TEC) Profes‐ sional Services Question‐ naire) and all documents and information included in the questionnaire.

(Refer to Jefferson Parish Code Ordinance, Section 2-928) All persons or firms (in‐ cluding subcontractors) must submit a Statement of Qualifications ((TEC) Professional Services Questionnaire) by the deadline. The latest pro‐ fessional services ques‐ tionnaire may be ob‐ tained by contacting the Purchasing Department at (504) 364-2678 or via the Jefferson Parish web‐ https://www. site at jeffparish.gov/27/ Government. This ques‐ tionnaire can be ac‐ cessed by clicking on the + next to “Doing Busi‐ ness in Jefferson Parish” on the website and click‐ ing on “Professional Ser‐ vices Questionnaires”.

Submissions will only be accepted electronically via Jefferson Parish’s eProcurement site, Cen‐ tral Bidding at www.cen tralauctionhouse.com or www.jeffparishbids.net.

Registration is required and free for Jefferson Parish vendors by ac‐ cessing the following www.centralauct link: ionhouse.com/registratio n.php.

No submittals will be ac‐ cepted after the dead‐ line.

Affidavits and Insurance are not required to be submitted with the Statement of Qualifica‐ tions, but shall be sub‐ mitted prior to contract approval.

Disputes/protests relat‐ ing to the decisions by the evaluation commit‐ tee or by the Jefferson Parish Council shall be brought before the 24th Judicial Court.

ADV: The New Orleans Advocate: December 31, 2025 and January 7, & 14, 2026.

171181-dec 31-7-14-3t $466.81 PUBLIC NOTICE --REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS PART A: PRE-CONSTRUCTION SERVICES (DesignAssist) and PART B: CONSTRUCTION SERVICES (Construction Management at Risk)

Place a Classified ad?

1-800-960-6397 Public Notices Bids/Proposals

vices (Construction Man‐ agement at Risk) for Learning Lab, University of Louisiana Lafayette South Campus, Lafayette, Louisiana, Pro‐ ject No. 19-640-23-04, F.19002506.

This RFQ is available in electronic form on the Di‐ vision of Administra‐ tion’s Office of State Pur‐ chasing & Travel Louisiana Procurement and Contract Network (LaPAC) website at https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/ pubMain.cfm.

All ad‐ denda, written inquiries and the State’s response to written inquiries will be posted on the website and made part of this RFQ. Proposals (including all attachments) shall be submitted in PDF format and in the possession of the Office of Facility Planning and Control no later than 2:00 PM local time, Friday, February 6, 2026. Proposal shall be submitted electronically to the following email address: FPC-RFQ@la.gov Information regarding this Request for Qualifi‐ cations (RFQ) may be ob‐ tained by emailing: Bryan Andries, CMAR Co‐ ordinator, Facility Plan‐ ning and Control Email: bryan.andries@la. gov The Owner intends on awarding Part A: PreConstruction Services to the successful Proposer.

The stipulated fixed fee for Part A: Pre-Construc‐ tion Services is set at $175,000.00.

The esti‐ mated Guaranteed Maxi‐ mum Price for this pro‐ ject is $49,350,000.00 and the target date for com‐ pleton is March 15, 2029.

The Owner will have the option to award subse‐ quent Part B: Construc‐ tion Services. Note that during Part A: Pre-Con‐ struction Services, should the Construction Manager and Owner be unsuccessful at arriving at an agreed-to GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price) and negotiated Construction Services Agreement, the Part A: Pre-Construction Ser‐ vices Agreement shall be terminated. In accor‐ dance with State of Louisiana revised statute RS 38:2225.2.4 subpara‐ graph G.(6):

“If the owner and the CMAR contractor are not able to agree upon con‐ structability, construc‐ tion phasing and se‐ quencing, the GMP for the project, the maxi‐ mum number of contract days to complete the project, and to reach a negotiated agreement, then the project shall be readvertised and publicly bid utilizing the designbid-build delivery method, provided the CMAR contractor shall be prohibited from bidding on the project.”

A non-mandatory PreProposal Conference will be held at 1:00 PM local time on Wednesday, Jan‐ uary 21, 2026 in ULL Parker Hall Conference Room, 310 E. Lewis Street, Lafayette, LA 70503. Prospective Pro‐ posers are encouraged to attend.

This announcement does not commit the Office of Facility Planning and Control to award a con‐ tract or pay any costs in‐ curred in the preparation of proposals. The Office of Facility Planning and Control reserves the right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, all proposals submitted and/ or to cancel the an‐ nouncement. Any con‐ tract awarded shall be based upon the State’s assessment of the state‐ ments of qualifications, their compliance with the minimum qualifica‐ tions, content, and for‐ mat requirements, and the proposal that pro‐ vides the best value and highest quality of service h ll

ORDER PAGE REPRINTS ANYTIME

g q y to the State. All contracts are subject to the avail‐ ability of funds.

The Selection Review Committee for the refer‐ enced project will con‐ vene in a public meeting on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 9:00 AM local time in Arkansas Rm 1190 of the Claiborne Building, 1201 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, for the review of procedures re‐ garding the CMAR con‐ tractor selection process.

The Selection Review Committee for the refer‐ enced project will con‐ vene in a public meeting on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM local time in North Dakota Rm 1-155 of the Claiborne Building, 1201 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, for the scoring and ranking of proposers.

The Selection Review Committee will convene in a public meeting for interviews, scoring and final recommendation on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM local time in Arkansas Rm 1190 of the Claiborne Building, 1201 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA, 70802. An in‐ terview schedule will be determined once a list of the 3 most qualified Pro‐ posers has been selected by the Committee. Inter‐ views will be conducted in executive session and the public meeting will reconvene after the final interview. The finalized agenda will be posted to the RFQ Documents page of the Facility Planning and Control website, https://www.doa.la.gov/ doa/fpc/rfq-documents/.

If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to participate in these meetings, please contact Christina Car‐ dona at Christina.

Cardona@la.gov or (225) 342-6060 as soon as pos‐ sible but no later than 48 hours before the sched‐ uled meeting.

171037 Dec. 7, 14, 2t $147.02

PUBLIC NOTICE --The Town of Delight is soliciting competitive bids for Commercial Food Services. Interested suppliers must submit a proposal in accordance with solicitation docu‐ ments posted http:// www.coretrustpg.com/ public-sector/solicitatio ns. Responses must be received by February 5th, 2026 3:00 PM CT. 172095-jan 7-14-2t $117.72

Clemency I, JAMIE MEJIA, DOC #720413 have applied for clemency for my conviction of MANSLAUGHTER. If you have any comments, contact the Board of Pardons (225)342-5421.

172769 - JAN 6-8 3T $310

Public Notices DEQ Permits

PUBLIC NOTICE --LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (LDEQ) SABINE PARISH POLICE JURY - SABINE PARISH SANITARY LANDFILL DRAFT SOLID WASTE MAJOR MODIFICATION APPLICATION The LDEQ, Office of Envi‐ ronmental Services, has determined that the Draft Solid Waste Major Modification Application for Sabine Parish Police Jury - Sabine Parish Sani‐ tary Landfill, 400 S. Capi‐ tol Street, Suite 101, Many, LA 71449 for the Type I/II/III Landfill and Type I/II Surface Im‐ poundment is technically complete and acceptable for public review. The fa‐ cility is located at 995 Sabine Landfill Road, Zwolle, Sabine Parish.

Sabine Parish proposes to increase the maximum quantities disposed for construction and demoli‐ tion debris and wood‐ waste, to include Satur‐ day as an optional oper‐ ating day, and to revise the approximate per‐ centage of waste re‐ ceived from off-site gen‐ erators within and out‐ side of Louisiana.

Learning Lab University of Louisiana Lafayette - South Campus Lafayette, Louisiana Project No. 19-640-23-04, F.19002506 The State of Louisiana, Division of Administra‐ tion, Office of Facility Planning and Control hereby solicits Proposals (Statements of Qualifica‐ tions) from qualified ap‐ plicants who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:21502192 for the classifica‐ tion of Building Construc‐ tion to provide Part A: Pre-Construction Ser‐ vices (Design-Assist) and Part B: Construction Ser‐

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

STORE.NOLA.COM

Comments and requests for a public hearing or notification of the final decision can be submit‐ ted online on the public notice webpage (http:// www.deq.louisiana.gov/ public-notices), via per‐ sonal delivery, U.S. mail, or email. Comments and requests for public hear‐ ings must be received by 4:30 pm CST, Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Deliv‐ b d h

Public Notices DEQ Permits y ery may be made to the drop-box at 602 N. 5th St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

U.S. Mail may be sent to LDEQ, Public Participa‐ tion Group, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 708214313, and emails may be submitted to DEQ.PUB LICNOTICES@LA.GOV. Persons wishing to re‐ ceive notice of the final permit action must in‐ clude a complete mailing address when submitting comments.

Please see additional in‐ structions for comment submission, hand deliv‐ ery and information re‐ garding electronic sub‐ mission at http://www. deq.louisiana.gov/page/ the-public-participationgroup or call (225) 2193276.

If LDEQ finds a signifi‐ cant degree of public in‐ terest, a public hearing will be held. LDEQ will send notification of the final permit decision to the applicant and to each person who has submitted written com‐ ments or a written re‐ quest for notification of the final decision.

The technically complete solid waste major modifi‐ cation application is available for review at the LDEQ Public Records Center, 602 North 5th Street, Baton Rouge, LA. Viewing hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). The available information can also be accessed electronically on the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) on the DEQ public website at www.deq. louisiana.gov.

Additional copies may be reviewed at the Sabine Parish Library – Many Branch, 705 Main St., Many, LA 71449; at the Sabine Parish Police Jury Office, 400 S. Capitol St., Room 101, Many, LA 71449; and at the LDEQ, Northwest Regional Of‐ fice, 1525 Fairfield Av‐ enue, Room 520, Shreve‐ port, LA 71101.

Inquiries or requests for additional information regarding this permit ac‐ tion should be directed to Dinah Cador, LDEQ, Waste Permits Division, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, phone (225) 219-3452.

Persons wishing to be in‐ cluded on the LDEQ per‐ mit public notice mailing list, wishing to receive the permit public notices via email by subscribing to the LDEQ permits pub‐ lic notice List Server, or for other public partici‐ pation related questions should contact the Public Participation Group in writing at LDEQ, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, by email at DEQ.PUBLICNOTICES@LA. GOV or by phone at (225) 219-3035.

Permit public notices in‐ cluding electronic access to general information from the draft solid waste permit application can be viewed at the LDEQ permits public no‐ tice webpage at http:// www.deq.louisiana.gov/ page/the-public-partici pation-group and general information related to the public participation in permitting activities can be viewed at http:// www.deq.louisiana.gov/ page/the-public-partici pation-group.

All correspondence should specify AI Num‐ ber 12448, Permit Num‐ ber P-0170-R3-M3, and Activity Number PER20240003.

172007-JAN 7-1T $487.85

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --CITY OF ST. GEORGE, LOUISIANA ORDINANCE NO. 2025-056

By Council Member Monachello: AN ORDINANCE ESTAB‐ LISHING OFFICIAL CITY FOR CITY EMPLOYEES; AND OTHERWISE PROVID‐ ING WITH RESPECT THERETO. BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of St. George, Louisiana, that: Section 1. Purpose.

The purpose of this Ordi‐ nance is to establish offi‐ cial City for City employ‐ ees that guarantees a core set of official holi‐ days that does not ex‐ ceed ten (10) days per calendar year.

Section 2. Applicability.

This Ordinance shall apply to all full-time em‐ ployees of the City of St. George, Louisiana, unless otherwise provided by in‐ dividual employment contracts, collective bar‐ gaining agreements, or civil service rules that af‐

8D ■ Wednesday, January 7, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION FOR THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE Regular Meeting – 5:00 p.m.

BREC Administration Building 6201 Florida Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana Commission Minutes November 19, 2025 Call to Order A regular meeting of the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) was held at BREC’s Administrative Offices on November 19, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Commissioner Carl Stages. Commissioner Wade Evans offered the invocation and Commissioner Marshall Ortego led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was taken and a quorum of Commissioners was present, including Mike Polito, Chair; Wade Evans, Vice Chair; Carl Stages, Treasurer; Collis Temple III, Lon Vicknair, David McDavid, Dustin Yates, Dr. Murelle Harrison, and Marshall Ortego. Staff members present were Janet Simmons, Interim Superintendent; Aneatra Boykin, Chief Administrative Officer; Maurice Velasquez, Interim Chief Operating Officer; Johanna Landreneau, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer; Corey Luttrell, Rhonda Johnson, Tia Edwards, Jim Fleshman, Angela Harms, Steven Knight, Brian Watkins, Robyn Lott, Brendan Nestor, and Ebony Allen. Murphy Foster, legal counsel, was also in attendance. The rest of the audience consisted of other BREC staff, sign language interpreters, media, and the public.

Introduction of Newly Appointed Commissioners Commissioner Stages welcomed the newly appointed commissioners, Dr. Murelle Harrison and Marshall Ortego. He also extended the welcome to the reappointed commissioners, Mike Polito and Collis Temple, III. Public Comment Commissioner Stages announced that public comment would be allowed prior to a vote being taken on any agenda action item and explained the process to be observed.

Special Orders Commissioner Stages announced that due to the new Commission appointments of November 12th, 2025, Special Orders would be conducted at the beginning of the meeting to elect officers with a term ending upon the election of new officers in January 2026.

Commissioner Stages opened the floor for the nominations of the Chair.

Commissioner Evans nominated Commissioner Polito as the Chair of the Commission, seconded by Commissioner Yates.

Without any other nominations and no opposition, Commissioner Polito was elected as Chair.

Commissioner Stages congratulated Commissioner Polito as he took over the election of the remaining officer positions.

Chairman Polito nominated Commissioner Evans as Vice Chair, seconded by Commissioner Vicknair. Without any other nominations and opposition, Commissioner Evans was elected as Vice Chair.

Chairman Polito opened the floor for nominations of Treasurer.

Commissioner Evans nominated Commissioner Stages as the Chair of the Commission, seconded by Commissioner Yates.

Without any other nominations and no opposition, Commissioner Stages was elected as Treasurer.

Chairman Polito closed elections for officers stating, “Let’s get to work!”

Adoption of Minutes Resolved, That the reading of the minutes of the Special Recreation and Park Commission Meeting of November 6, 2025, be dispensed with, and that they be approved as written.

Motion by Mr. Evans Second by Mr. Stages There being no discussion, Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar Under the Consent Calendar, Chairman Polito called for an approval of the following items en globo: Resolved, that the Commission approve the Routine Personnel Transactions from October 9, 2025 through November 4, 2025.

Resolved, that the Commission approve the Employee Paid Voluntary Life insurance administered by Lincoln Financial Group, as presented.

Resolved, that the Commission approve the Employee-paid Voluntary Long-Term Disability administered by Lincoln Financial Group, as presented.

Resolved, that the Commission approve the Voluntary Employee Paid Supplemental Benefits (Short-Term Disability, Accident, Critical Illness, Dental with an optional Vision rider, Term and/or Whole Life) for Part-Time employees administered by Colonial Life Insurance as presented.

Motion by Mr. Yates Second by Mr. McDavid There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Commissioner Temple joined the meeting.

Presentations The BREC video showcasing activities for the month of December was played.

Reports of Officers and Standing Committees Chairman Polito recognized Interim Superintendent Janet Simmons to present the Superintendent’s Report.

Interim Superintendent Simmons presented the October 2025 Attendance Report and formally introduced Dr. Dina Duplantis as the new Director of Equine Operations. She recognized Katrina Coots-Ward, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation Programs and Facilities, for her upcoming induction as President of the Louisiana Recreation and Park Association (LRPA). She also announced that Volunteer Manager, Dodi Falcon, will serve as the LRPA District 3 Chair. Interim Superintendent Simmons concluded with a high-level overview of the BREC Game Plan, highlighting the organization’s progress and future direction.

Interim Superintendent Simmons provided updates on ongoing IYP3 projects, noting that there are currently more than 50 projects in the queue across various stages of design and construction, over 30 recreational center transitions planned, and 30 obsolete land sites identified. She also highlighted the ongoing restructuring of the organizational chart.

She concluded her report by referencing her continued stakeholder and community engagement meetings.

Commissioner Temple stated that he does have questions but will follow up with the Interim Superintendent at a later date for discussion.

Chairman Polito requested that Commission consider adding the following agenda item: To have a discussion in early December prior to the next regular meeting to discuss the contracts of the interim superintendent, interim Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, the search for permanent superintendent, the 2026 budget and the focus interim superintendent team for the period of any extension.

Motion by Mr. Evans Second by Mr. Temple There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for a roll call vote with the following results: Yeas: Stages, Temple, Polito, Vicknair, Evans, McDavid, Yates, Harrison, Ortego Nays: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 The motion to add the agenda item under New Business was approved unanimously.

Chairman Polito continued reading the following resolution under Administrative Matters: Resolved, that the Commission approve the creation of a new Standing Advisory Committee, to be known as the Equine Committee.

Motion by Mr. Temple Second by Mr. Vicknair After discussion, it was determined that the Equine Committee did not need to become a Standing Committee, but a committee that would be overseen by the Superintendent.

Commissioner Vicknair withdrew his second. The motion died due to the lack of a second. Commissioner Polito read the following resolution: Resolved, that the Commission hereby approves the renewal of the agreement with Junbi, LLC, represented by Janet Simmons, whereby Ms. Simmons shall serve as the Interim Superintendent for a 12-month period with termination effective December 15, 2026.

Commissioner Vicknair made a substitute motion to defer items b, c and d under Administrative Matters until after the Commission Workshop.

Commissioner Evans seconded the motion.

Chairman Polito acknowledged Sharon King, BREC employee, for a public comment.

Chairman Polito acknowledged Crystal Ellis for public comment, to which she expressed there should be public input on the extension of the interim contracts.

Chairman Polito read an emailed public comment from Anna Jackson, to which, they expressed opposition to the extension of interim contracts.

Before closing public comments, Commissioner Evans and Chairman Polito gave responses to the public comments heard.

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There being no further discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion to defer items, b, c and d under Administrative Matters was approved unanimously.

Standing Committee Reports Communications and Information Systems Chairman Polito acknowledged Robyn Lott, Director of Communications to present the 2026 Marketing plan.

After questions from the Commission, Chairman Polito read the following resolution: Resolved, that the Commission approve the 2026 Marketing Plan, as presented, contingent on the overall budget adoption.

Motion by Mr. Stages Second by Mr. Temple Chairman Polito opened the floor to public comment.

Chairman Polito acknowledged Crystal Ellis who spoke in support of the Marketing Plan.

Chairman Polito acknowledged Linton Naquin who spoke in opposition of the Marketing Plan.

Chairman Polito read and emailed public comment for Dwayne Rogers, who spoke in opposition of the Marketing Plan.

There being no further discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion to approve the 2026 Marketing Plan was approved unanimously.

Finance Chairman Polito recognized Rhonda Williams, Director of Finance who gave an update on the 2026 budget, and the finalization of the 2024 audit and the preparation for the start of the 2025 audit.

Chairman Polito announced that although the Finance Advisory Committee did not meet, the items would be taken up by the Commission due to importance. He then read the following resolution: Resolved, That the Commission accept the unaudited monthly Budget Status Report for the month ending and fiscal year-to-date period ending October 31, 2025.

Motion by Mr. Stages Second by Mr. Temple There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Chairman Polito continued under Finance to Contracts and Bids reading the following resolution: Resolved, that the Commission approve awarding SB 1855 Beaver Creek Golf Course Drainage Culvert Project to the lowest responsive bidder, Command Construction, LLC., for the base bid of $159,600.00.

Authorize the Interim Superintendent to execute appropriate documents.

After discussion, Commissioner Vicknair made a substitute motion to defer the item until the next meeting. Commissioner Temple seconded the motion.

There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion to defer was approved unanimously.

Human Resources Chairman Polito acknowledged Corey Luttrell, Director of Human Resources.

Mr. Luttrell deferred to Amy Underwood, representative of Blue Cross Blue Shield, to present the 2026 Stop Loss Agreement Schedule.

Chairman Polito deferred to Ms. Allen to confirm if he could take up items i., ii., and iii. En globo. To which she confirmed that he could.

After reading the three resolutions, Chairman Polito called for a motion to approve. Motion by Mr. McDavid Second by Mr. Vicknair There being no further discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion to approve items i., ii., and iii., was approved unanimously.

Planning and Park Resources Chairman Polito continued to Planning and Park Resources under New Business reading the following resolution: Resolved, that the Commission hereby declares approximately six (6) acres of Industriplex Park to be obsolete and no longer needed for public purposes, and authorizes the Superintendent to initiate the process for the sale of this property at its appraised value of approximately $1,300,000 or more, subject to all required legal review. The Interim Superintendent is further authorized to execute all documents necessary to effectuate this transaction.

Motion by Mr. Stages Second by Mr. Vicknair After discussion from the board, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion to approve was approved unanimously.

Reports of Special Committees None Special Orders None Unfinished Business and General Orders Chairman Polito continued reading the first item under Unfinished Business and General Orders: Resolved, that the Commission approve the purchase of 139 Cellular Lifelink Central AED packages from Stryker Sales LLC, utilizing Louisiana State Contract 4400030998 for a total of $458,236.97. This purchase is pending written confirmation from State Procurement and legal review.

Motion by Mr. Evans Second by Mr. McDavid Chairman Polito opened the floor to public comment, acknowledging Linton Naquin who asked who would be responsible for training staff on how to use the equipment.

Aneatra Boykin, Chief Administrative Officer, confirmed that staff will be trained in-house.

Commissioner McDavid momentarily stepped away from the meeting.

Commissioner Yates abstained from the vote due to a conflict.

After discussion from the board, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 7 Nays: 0 The motion to approve was approved.

Commissioner McDavid rejoined the meeting.

Chairman Polito continued reading item B: Resolved, that the Commission approve entering into a contract with Sasaki Associates, Inc. to develop a unified concept and implementation plan for a Master Plan and study for City-Brooks Park, the design of Wampold Park, and the structuring and development of a long-term governance model focused on the University Lakes system for longterm sustainability at an amount not-to-exceed $600,000, including reimbursable expenses. Authorize Superintendent to execute appropriate documents upon final legal review.

Motion by Mr. Stages Second by Mr. Vicknair Chairman Polito opened the floor for public comment. Linton Naquin was called to the podium for public comment.

Peter Davis was called to the podium for public comment who spoke in opposition. Crystal Ellis was called to the podium for public comment who spoke in opposition. Coleman Brown was called to the podium for public comment who spoke in opposition.

Chairman Polito addressed the public comments before closing the floor for public comments.

There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Chairman Polito continued to item C: Resolved, that the Commission approve selected vendor, NANO, LLC, for RFQ 231, to provide programming and schematic design services for City-Brooks Historic Clubhouse Renovations for an amount not to exceed $156,000. Authorize Interim Superintendent to execute appropriate documents upon final legal review.

Motion by Mr. Stages Second by Mr. McDavid There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

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Chairman Polito continued to item D: Resolved, that the Commission approve selected vendor NANO, LLC, for RFQ 237, to provide the design and construction documents, and CMAR, for a new Contemporary Arts Center at City-Brooks Community Park for an amount not to exceed $1,300,000, including reimbursable expenses. Authorize Interim Superintendent to execute appropriate documents upon final legal review.

Motion by Mr. Temple Second by Mr. Stages Chairman Polito made a substitute motion to add language to the resolution adding that NANO, LLC. will work with Sasaki to ensure they are coordinated in this effort.

Second by Mr. Evans Chairman Polito explained his substitute motion by stating that currently there is already a location established for the new building, but in the event the masterplan finds a better way, he doesn’t want to limit things.

There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

New Business Chairman Polito continued to New Business reading item A.: Resolved, that the Commission approve the following Individual Service Agreements with the listed vendors to provide the listed scope of work, as part of the 2026 Marketing Plan, for individual contract totals of the following amounts for 2026, as presented, contingent on the overall budget adoption, allowing for additional spending from contingency funds as needed not to exceed the overall marketing plan budget.

Motion by Mr. Stages Second by Mr. Evans Chairman Polito read an emailed public comment from Dwayne Rogers who spoke in opposition to the item.

After discussion from the board, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Chairman Polito read item B.: Resolved, that the Commission approve an increase to Contract No. 2024000189 with Cody Edwards for BREC-wide supply and delivery of soil, limestone, river silt, and sand of various types, increasing the total amount from $48,000 to $80,000, to provide coverage through December 31, 2025.

Motion by Mr. Evans Second by Mr. Vicknair There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Chairman Polito read item C.: Resolved, that the Commission approve an increase to Purchase Order No. 20250379 with Waste Pro of LA, Inc. for trash and debris hauling and dumping services from parks and surrounding areas, raising the total amount from $49,000 to $80,000. The contract term will remain in effect through December 31, 2025.

Motion by Mr. Vicknair Second by Mr. Temple There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Chairman Polito read Item D.: Resolved, that the Commission approve an amendment #2 to Contract No. 2025000113 with Choctaw Construction Services, LLC to increase the contract amount from $39,000 to an amount not-to-exceed $78,000 for additional train track repair coverage, including but not limited to railroad tire replacement, rail alignments, gauging, ballast installment, etc.; the contract term remains through December 31, 2025.

Motion by Mr. McDavid Second by Mr. Stages There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Chairman Polito read item E: Resolved, that the Commission approves awarding the contract for RFP 239 – “Maintenance, Operation, and Staffing of BREC’s Liberty Lagoon Waterpark and Community Pools” to SELA Aquatics for a 12-month contract period for an amount not to exceed $1,259,000 with option to renew for two additional 12-month periods.

Motion by Mr. Evans Second by Mr. Yates After discussion from the board, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Chairman Polito read item F.: Resolved, that the Commission approve Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. 2025000019 with Lofton Security Services, Inc. for additional overnight security guard coverage while awaiting completion of RFP No. 240 – Security Guard Services at BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo. The additional coverage will need to raise the contract from $45,000 to an amount not to exceed $60,000.

Motion by Mr. McDavid Second by Mr. Temple There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Chairman Polito read item G.: Resolved, that the Commission approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 2025000062, with Greyson’s Event and Entertainment, LLC, to provide coverage for two scheduled Christmas events, increasing the contract amount from $9,000 to an amount not to exceed $50,000.

Motion by Mr. Stages Second by Ms. Harrison After discussion from the board, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Chairman Polito read item H.: Resolved, that the Commission hereby adopts a policy that BREC’s monetary threshold for Commission approval of consulting service agreements shall automatically align with, and match, the threshold established in La. R.S. 39:1621, as amended or renumbered, and shall update automatically in accordance with any future changes to that statute.

Be it further resolved that BREC staff is authorized and directed to update all procurement manuals, policies, and internal procedures to reflect this alignment and to ensure ongoing compliance with State law.

Motion by Mr. Evans Second by Mr. Temple Ms. Boykin explained that this update is an attempt by BREC staff to align with state statute.

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Chairman Polito acknowledged Crystal Ellis for public comment.

After discussion from the board, Chairman Polito called for a roll call vote with the following results: Yeas: Temple, Polito, Vicknair, Evans, McDavid, Yates, Harrison, Ortego Nays: Stages Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 The motion to passed.

Chairman Polito read item I.: Resolved, that the Commission approve the revision to Chapter 10, Disciplinary Actions and Appeals, Section 8, to provide for the review of demotions and/or terminations by the Superintendent as a final decision.

Whereas Section 8 previously provided for an appeals process that included review by the employee’s peers and volunteers to the Human Resources Complaint Resolution Committee.

Motion by Mr. Evans Second by Mr. Temple Chairman Polito opened the floor for public comment.

Crystal Ellis approached the podium to speak in opposition.

Sharon King approached the podium to speak in opposition.

Ms. Boykin provided clarity that the revision to the policy was BREC staff’s attempt to align with state law.

Commissioner Evans spoke in support of this effort.

Commissioner Stages asked how many of these appeals processes has BREC undergone in the last 15 years.

Mr. Luttrell approached the podium stating that in the last 10 years there has been 21 appeals.

Commissioner Stages followed up asking how many of those went to the Ad Hoc Committee.

Mr. Luttrell answered that six of the 21 made it. Commissioner Stages asked how many of those were reversed. To which, Mr. Luttrell answered that four had been reversed.

Commissioner McDavid asked if any of the appeals were related to failed drug tests.

Mr. Luttrell answered that none were related to failed drug tests.

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ford greater benefits.

Section 3. Official City Holidays.

A. The following days are hereby designated as Of‐ ficial City Holidays, to be afforded to all eligible employees, subject to operational needs of es‐ sential services: • New Year’s Day – January 1 • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day • Memorial Day • Juneteenth National Independence Day – June 19 • Independence Day – July 4 • Labor Day – First Monday in September • Thanksgiving Day – Fourth Thursday in November • Friday Following Thanksgiving Day • Christmas Eve – December 24 • Christmas Day – December 25 B. When an Official City Holiday falls on a Satur‐ day, it shall be observed on the preceding Friday.

When a Mandatory City Holiday falls on a Sun‐ day, it shall be observed on the following Monday, unless otherwise speci‐ fied by administrative policy. If Christmas falls on a Saturday, the holi‐ day shall be observed following Monday.

C. The total number of Official City Holidays es‐ tablished by this Section is ten (10) per calendar year.

Section 4. Holiday Limit.

A. The City Council hereby establishes that, for each eligible em‐ ployee, the combined total of Official City Holi‐ days shall not exceed ten (10) paid holiday days per calendar year.

B. The City shall not add additional paid holidays beyond the ten (10) days set forth herein except: • By amendment of this Ordinance; or • By emergency declara‐ tion or special proclama‐ tion approved by a ma‐ jority vote of the City Council, which shall specify whether any such additional holiday is paid or unpaid and whether it is a one-time or recurring observance.

Section 5. Essential Services and Alternate Schedules.

A. Department heads re‐ sponsible for public safety and other essen‐ tial services may require certain employees to work on Official City Holi‐ days in order to maintain continuity of operations.

B. Employees required to work on a Official City Holiday shall receive hol‐ iday compensation or compensatory time in accordance with the City’s personnel policies and applicable law.

Section 6.

Administrative Policies.

The Mayor or designated administrative official is authorized to promul‐ gate personnel policies, procedures, and guid‐ ance necessary to imple‐ ment this Ordinance, in‐ cluding but not limited to: • Eligibility criteria for part-time, temporary, or probationary employees; • Rules for scheduling, approving, and docu‐ menting holidays; and • Coordination of holiday schedules with overtime, shift differentials, and other leave benefits.

Such policies shall not conflict with the terms of this Ordinance and, in the event of a conflict, the Ordinance shall con‐ trol.

Section 7. Severability.

If any provision or item of this Ordinance, or the application thereof, is held invalid, such invalid‐ ity shall not affect other provisions, items, or ap‐ plications of this Ordi‐ nance which can be given effect without the invalid provision, item, or application, and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby de‐ clared severable.

Section 8. Repealer.

All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed to the extent of such conflict.

Section 9. Effective Date.

Effective Date. This ordi‐ nance shall be effective upon publication.

This Ordinance having been submitted to a vote; the vote thereon was: For: Cook, Dellucci, Edmonds, Himmel, Monachello, Murrell, Talbot Against: Absent: Adopted this 9th day of December, 2025 Signed this _____, 2025 Delivered to the Mayor on the________, 2025 ____________________ Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk Approved:

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________________ Dustin Yates, Mayor Received from the Mayor on the ____ day of ______________, 2025 _______________ Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk Adopted Ordinance pub‐ lished in The Advocate on the ___ day or ___________, 2025.

172874 Jan. 7, 1t $86.63 PUBLIC NOTICE --Notice is hereby given that Get It Done Burbank Development, LLC has applied for a 401 Water Quality Certification to clear, grade, excavate, and place fill to con‐ struct multi-family apart‐ ment complex off Bur‐ bank Drive in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish. Get It Done Bur‐ bank Development, LLC is applying to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Environmental Services for a Water Quality Certification in accordance with statu‐ tory authority contained in the LAC 33:IX.1507.A-E and provisions of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Comments concern‐ ing this application can be filed with the Water Permits Division within ten days of this notice by referencing WQC 25103003, AI 249173 to the fol‐ lowing address: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Water Permits Division, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, Attn: Water Quality Certi‐ fications. Comments may be submitted by email to DEQ-WaterQualityCertifi‐ cations@la.gov. A copy of the application is available for inspection and review at the LDEQ Public Records Center at 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The available infor‐ mation can also be ac‐ cessed electronically on the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) on the LDEQ pub‐ lic website at www.deq. louisiana.gov.

172949-jan 7-1t $181.09 PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The City of St. Gabriel City Council will hold a Public Hearing Meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at St. Gabriel City Council Chambers – Room 32 – 5035 Iberville Street, St. Gabriel, La 70776 at 6:00 pm.

During the public hear‐ ing, all interested parties will be given the right to appear and be heard on the matters of: 1. Ordinance Adopting Redistricting Plan: City of St. Gabriel Accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-Eng‐ lish speaking individuals provided that a seven (7) day notice is received by the City.

Advertisement Dates: First Ad: Friday, January 2, 2026 Second Ad: Wednesday, January 7, 2026 172489-jan 2-7-2t $26.38 PUBLIC NOTICE --Pursuant to La. R.S. 22:691.4.E.(2) notice is hereby given that on Monday, January 26, 2026, the Louisiana De‐ partment of Insurance, located at 1702 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, will hold a public hearing con‐ cerning the acquisition of The Gray Casualty & Surety Company by Palo‐ mar Holdings, Inc. The Hearing will begin at 10:00 AM in the Poydras Hearing room located on the first floor.

Any written comments or questions must be sub‐ mitted to the above ad‐ dress marked attention "Company Licensing" and be received no later than two days before the Hearing date. Email com‐ ments or questions can be submitted to public‐ comments@ldi.la.gov.

Interested parties may also participate electron‐ ically by going to ldi.la. gov/public-hearings and clicking on the link pro‐ vided therein on the date and time stated above.

Timothy J. Temple Commissioner of Insurance Louisiana Department of Insurance

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g to DrAndrewsrecords@ gmail.com. Thank you for allowing me to care for you and your family all of these years.

172939-jan 7-14-8t PUBLIC NOTICE The EBR Parish Board of Election Supervisors will draw Commissioners-inCharge for the calendar year 2026 on:

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After discussion from the board, Chairman Polito called for a roll call vote with the following results: Yeas: Polito, Vicknair, Evans, McDavid, Yates, Ortego Nays: Stages, Temple, Harrison Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 The motion to passed.

Ad Valorem Property Tax Election Announcement Chairman Polito made the following announcement of the ad valorem property tax election: Notice is hereby given that at its meeting to be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., at its regular meeting place, the Board Room located at 6201 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806, the Board of Commissioners of the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (‘’BREC”) plans to consider adopting a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, to authorize the renewal of its 3.96 mills ad valorem tax (the “Tax”) for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, to provide funds for maintaining and operating the public parks and recreation properties and facilities of BREC and making available funds for the operating budget of BREC. On October 23, 2025, the Board of Commissioners gave notice of its intention to call an election to renew the Tax on May 30, 2026. Pursuant to Act No. 1 of the 2025 First Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature, the May 30, 2026, election date has been moved to June 27, 2026, Accordingly, it is necessary that the Board of Commissioners give notice of its intention to call an election to renew the Tax on the June 27, 2026, election date, in accordance with La. R.S. 42:19.1.

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Chairman Polito continued to the added agenda item to discuss a commission workshop to discuss the interim contract extensions and the 2026 budget.

The Commission checked their calendars and settled on Thursday, December 4th at 3:15pm.

Motion by Mr. Yates Second by Mr. Temple There being no discussion, Chairman Polito called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously.

Adjournment Chairwoman Lewis called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Commissioner Evans made a motion, Commissioner Vicknair seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:01 p.m. without objection.

Janet C. Simmons, Interim Superintendent and Ex-Officio Secretary

Mike Polito, Chairman

DRAFT

Introduction of 2026 Budget Chairman Polito then introduced the 2026 Budget for the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge; set the date for public hearing and final adoption of said 2026 Budget at the regular meeting of the BREC Commission at 5:00 p.m. on December 17, 2025, at the BREC Administration Building, 6201 Florida Boulevard, Room 1800, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

172773-602732-jan 7-1t $ 1,064.50

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

g pp proposed work may be inspected at 617 North 3rd Street, Room 1078, Baton Rouge, LA or on the OPC web page at: http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ index.cfm?md=pagebui lder&tmp=home& pid=591. Copies may be obtained upon payment of cost of copying. Writ‐ ten comments, including suggestions for modifi‐ cations or objections to h d k d

j the proposed work and stating the reasons thereof, are being so‐ licited from the public.

Comments must be re‐ ceived within 10 days of the date of publication of this notice. The sole rea‐ son for not allowing ex‐ tension based upon pub‐ lic comment shall be that there has been a change in the conditions of the area affected by the per‐ i i h i

y p mit since the permit was originally issued. Com‐ ments should be up‐ loaded to our electronic record, but may be mailed, faxed or emailed to the designated OPC Reviewer. All comments must contain the appro‐ priate application num‐ ber and the commenter's full name and contact in‐ formation. OPC, P.O. Box 44487, Baton Rouge, LA h ( )

g 70804-4487, Phone: (225) 342-7942, Email: emily. eley@la.gov, OPC Re‐ viewer: Emily Eley, CUP NUMBER: P20230522 (Ex‐ tended) Name: Premier Environmental, Llc, c/o Approach Environmental, Llc P.O. Box 7192 Shreve‐ port, La 71137 Attn: Jordy Babineaux Location: Plaquemines Parish, LA; Lat. 29-32-26.73N, Long.

-89-43-56.48W; Section 1,

T17S-R15E; Premier Canal; 20200 Highway 39 Pointe a la Hache, LA. De‐ scription: Proposed dredging to install a spud barge and an 8" wastewater line (~1,846' in length) from the spud barge to an existing dis‐ posal facility. Approx.

11,122 cy of material will be excavated and placed i f

Friday, January 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM at the Clerk of Court Branch Office located at 9050 Airline Hwy., Suite 100 Baton Rouge, LA The public is invited.

DOUG WELBORN, SECRETARY EBR PARISH BOARD OF ELECTION SUPERVISORS 172886 Jan. 7, 1t $7.80 PUBLIC NOTICE --TOWN OF ADDIS PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF ADDIS INTEND TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 2025-8:

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“AN ORDINANCE ESTAB‐ LISIHING THE MONTHLY VEHICLE ALLOWANCE FOR DAVID H. TOUPS, MAYOR TOWN OF ADDIS, FOR THE YEAR 2026 AT SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY ($750.00) DOLLARS PER MONTH”.

A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE HELD AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2025, AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE ADDIS MUNICIPAL CEN‐ TER (TOWN HALL), 7818 HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH, ADDIS, LA. BY: /s/ Jade V. Simpson, Clerk 172764-JAN 7-1T $13.19 PUBLIC NOTICE --TOWN OF ADDIS PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF ADDIS INTEND TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 2025-7: “AN ORDINANCE ESTAB‐ LISHING THE YEARLY SALARY FOR JASON P. LANGLOIS, CHIEF OF PO‐ LICE, OF THE TOWN OF ADDIS, LOUISIANA FOR 2026 AT EIGHTY-SIX THOUSAND AND----00/100 DOLLARS ($86,000.00) COMMENC‐ ING JANUARY 1, 2026, AND PROVIDING FOR AN‐ NUAL INCREASES THERE‐ AFTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH ADOPTED COMPEN‐ SATION SCHEDULE”.

A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE HELD AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2025, AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE ADDIS MUNICIPAL CEN‐ TER (TOWN HALL), 7818 HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH, ADDIS, LA.

ONE great state FOUR great apps

BY: /s/ Jade V. Simpson, Clerk 172762-JAN 7-1T $15.50

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The City of St. Gabriel City Council will hold a Public Hearing Meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at St. Gabriel City Council Chambers – Room 32 – 5035 Iberville Street, St. Gabriel, La 70776 at 6:00 pm.

During the public hear‐ ing, all interested parties will be given the right to appear and be heard on the matters of: 1. Ordinance amendment to COSG Unified Develop‐ ment Code Section 10:16 – Home Occupations Accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-Eng‐ lish speaking individuals provided that a seven (7) day notice is received by the City.

172930-jan 7-1t $11.84

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

172003-jan 5-6-7-3t PUBLIC NOTICE ---

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Ronald Andrews, M.D. of‐ fice closure in Baton Rouge after 25 years ef‐ fective February 25, 2026.

After Feburary 25, 2026 patients will no longer be seen at 10608 Coursey Blvd. Suite B Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Records will be maintained elec‐ tronically and may be ob‐ tained by sending with sign authorized release d d

NOTICE the La. Dept. of Conservation and Energy, Office of Permitting and Compliance (OPC) has received a request to ex‐ tend for the referenced Coastal Use Permit in ac‐ cordance with the State and Local Coastal Re‐ sources Management Act of 1978, as amended, (Louisiana R.S. 49:214.21214.41), and the rules and regulations of the Coastal Resources Pro‐ gram. Application for the d k b

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Public Notices Nat Res Coastal p on site, approx. 355 cy of hauled in topsoil/dirt and 279 cy of crushed stone or gravel will be required.

172947-jan 7-1t $26.34

CLASSIFIEDS WORK