The Times-Picayune 01-08-2026

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T h u r s d ay, J a n u a ry 8, 2026

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City Hall workers get layoff notices

36 positions cut as part of Moreno’s 2026 spending plan

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

New Orleans City Hall staffers learned their fates Tuesday as Mayor-elect Helena Moreno’s incoming administration sent notices announcing layoffs as part of her plans to curtail spending to rectify the city’s ongoing budget crisis.

Emails and phone calls from

Moreno’s transition team went out to dozens of workers Tuesday afternoon letting them know whether they’d continue in their current roles ahead of Moreno’s Monday inauguration, a blow that blindsided some and left questions around unspent federal grants and unfinished projects.

The move, which cuts 36 unclassified positions, is part of Moreno’s overarching spending plan for

2026 that’s expected to save the city about $27 million. Her transition team is also working to cut 62 probationary status employees, or those who have worked for the city for less than a year. Moreno said on Wednesday that they have so far identified about 20 of those positions.

“It’s not what I ever hope for.

I’ve tried to do everything possible during the budget process

with my transition team to try to prevent this, but unfortunately, it just became impossible,” she said at a Wednesday City Council meeting to discuss city finances.

Of the 36 eliminated positions, 31 were under the purview of the Mayor’s Office and a handful were cut from the finance, law and chief administrative offices, according to Moreno’s transition team.

The layoffs aim to streamline

Le Pavillon hotel sold

City Hall operations and improve coordination across departments, said Todd Ragusa, a spokesperson for the transition.

“These types of staffing decisions are common when new administrations take office,” he said.

“Heavy emphasis was placed on employees with multiple skill sets who can help with a number of city functions.”

Moreno announced the plans in November to avoid a projected

ä See LAYOFFS, page 7A

Louisiana to give voter data to feds State to comply with Justice Department request

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Le Pavillon hotel in downtown New Orleans opened in 1907.

Property’s value estimated to be around $43 million

BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

An investor group led by New Orleans businessman Bobby Guidry and Florida developer David Bansmer has purchased Le Pavillon New Orleans, a Tribute Portfolio hotel, along with an adjacent corner lot at Poydras and Carroll streets.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed, though industry sources had previously valued the 226-room property at roughly $43 million, or about $190,000 per key — a

figure roughly one-third below what Ashford Hospitality Trust paid for the hotel in 2015.

The transaction, facilitated by Tampa-based hospitality advisory firm The Plasencia Group, marks the latest highprofile local acquisition in the city’s hospitality sector.

“This acquisition continues to show our belief in the strength of the New Orleans hospitality market, as our hotel portfolio in the city is now nearing 1,000 rooms,” Guidry said in a statement. “New Or-

leans offers an unrivaled appeal to visitors across the demand spectrum, from convention-goers to business travelers to vacationers.”

Guidry — best known for expanding his family’s offshore vessel company, Harvey Gulf International Marine, and later moving into commercial real-estate ventures — has spent the past two decades developing hotels in New Orleans and beyond. He and Bansmer previously

ä See LE PAVILLON, page 5A

Louisiana is turning over detailed voter registration data to the U.S. Department of Justice, including voters’ full names, birthdays, home addresses, driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.

Dozens of other states have resisted requests from the Justice Department to share that information and are now facing federal lawsuits for refusing to do so.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry said Monday during a talk with the Baton Rouge Press Club that lawyers from her office reviewed the DOJ’s request and decided the law required Louisiana to comply.

“We, after a careful analysis, decided that we had to comply with it,” she said. “We’re working with their IT folks to get it in the right format to share that with them.”

Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s civil rights division, which enforces federal voting-rights laws, sent Landry a letter in early September requesting a copy of Louisiana’s statewide voter registration list.

The voter data has to include each registrant’s full name, date of birth, residential address and driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number, the letter says.

ä See VOTER, page 7A

ICE officer kills Minneapolis driver

Federal officials say shooting was self-defense; mayor calls it unnecessary

BY TIM SULLIVAN and GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a Minneapolis driver on Wednesday during the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown on a major American city — a shooting that federal officials said was an act of selfdefense but that the mayor described as reckless and unnecessary.

The 37-year-old woman was shot in

WEATHER HIGH 79 LOW 68 PAGE 8B

the head in front of a family member in a snowy residential neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis, just a few blocks from some of the oldest immigrant markets and about a mile from where George Floyd was killed by police in 2020.

Her killing after 9:30 a.m. was recorded on video by witnesses, and the shooting quickly drew a crowd of hundreds of angry protesters. By evening, hundreds were there for a vigil to mourn the death and urge the public to resist immigration enforcers.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, while visiting Texas, described the incident as an “act of domestic terrorism” carried out against ICE officers by a woman who “attempted to run them over and rammed them with her vehicle. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot, to protect himself and the people around him.”

In a social media post, President Donald Trump made similar accusations

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TOM BAKER

A bullet hole can be seen in the windshield of the victim’s car as law enforcement officers work the scene of a shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent ä See ICE, page 7A on Wednesday in Minneapolis.

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

13TH yEAR, NO. 149

2A ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

U.S. suspends all aid to Somalia’s government

WASHINGTON — The State Department said Wednesday that it has suspended all U.S. assistance to Somalia’s federal government over allegations that Somali officials destroyed an Americanfunded warehouse belonging to the World Food Program and seized 76 metric tons of food aid intended for impoverished civilians.

“The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance,” the department said in a statement.

The suspension comes as the Trump administration has ratcheted up criticism of Somali refugees and migrants in the United States, including over well-publicized fraud allegations involving child care centers in Minnesota. It has slapped significant restrictions on Somalis wanting to come to the U.S. and made it difficult for those already in the United States to stay.

It was not immediately clear how much assistance would be affected by the suspension because the Trump administration has slashed foreign aid expenditures, dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development and not released new country-by-country data.

The U.S. had provided $770 million in assistance for projects in Somalia during the last year of the Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration, but only a fraction of that went directly to the government.

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Trump wants $1.5T defense budget

BY AAMER MADHANI and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday proposed setting U.S. military spending at $1.5 trillion in 2027, citing “troubled and dangerous times.”

Trump called for the massive surge in spending days after he ordered a U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and spirit him out of the country to face drug trafficking charges in the United States. U.S. forces continue to mass in the Caribbean Sea. The 2026 military budget is set at $901 billion.

“This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe,” Trump said in a posting on Truth Social announcing his proposal.

The military just received a large boost of some $175 billion in the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill” of tax breaks and spending reductions that Trump signed into law last year.

Insisting on more funding for the Pentagon is almost certain to run into resistance from Democrats who work to maintain parity between changes in defense and nondefense spending. But it’s also sure to draw objections from the GOP’s deficit hawks who have pushed back against larger military spending.

But Trump said he feels comfortable surging spending on the military because of increased revenue created by his administration through tariffs imposed on friends and foes around the globe since his return to office.

The U.S. government collected gross revenues of $288.5 billion last year from tariffs and other excise taxes, up from $98.3 billion in

2024, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. That’s a meaningful increase in revenues from taxing imports. But it’s not enough to cover the various promises made

by Trump, who has said the tariffs can also cover dividends to taxpayers, pay down the national debt and, now, cover increased spending on the military.

Trump on Wednesday also threatened to cut off Pentagon purchases from Raytheon, one of the biggest U.S. defense contractors, if the company did not end the practice of stock buybacks and invest more profits into building out its weapons manufacturing capacity.

Trump in recent months has repeatedly complained that defense companies have been woefully behind on deliveries of critical weaponry, yet continue to mete out dividends and stock buybacks to investors and offering eye-popping salaries to top executives.

“Either Raytheon steps up, and

DeSantis calls for special session on Fla. redistricting

BY MIKE SCHNEIDER and DAVID FISCHER Associated Press

Detroit records fewest homicides in decades DETROIT — Murders in Detroit continue to tumble as the city recorded its lowest number of criminal homicides since at least the early- to mid-1960s.

For all of 2025, 165 homicides were committed in the Motor City, Police Chief Todd Bettison told reporters Wednesday.

That is 38 fewer than the 203 reported for 2024, which the city said then was the lowest since 188 were committed in 1965.

Detroit had 252 homicides in 2023, 309 homicides in 2022 and 308 homicides in 2021.

The city also reported Wednesday that other violent crime also was down last year. Nonfatal shootings dropped from 603 in 2024 to 447 in 2025. Carjackings plummeted from 142 to 77 over that period, while robberies dipped from 1,209 to 953. Sexual assaults and auto vehicle thefts also were down.

It is a trend seen in many other U.S. cities. Violent crime in the United States fell 4.5% in 2024, according to an FBI report, which also showed an 8% drop in property crime from the year before.

The FBI statistics released in August showed murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in the U.S. in 2024 fell nearly 15% from a year earlier.

Trump invites president of Colombia to D.C. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump abruptly changed his tone Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, saying they had exchanged a friendly phone call and he’d even invited the leader of the South American country to the White House.

“It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had,” Trump posted on his social media site. “I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future.”

That came mere days after Trump said in the wake of the U.S. operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend that “Colombia is very sick too” and accused Petro of “making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”

Colombia’s president called the U.S. operation in Venezuela an “abhorrent” violation of Latin American sovereignty and suggested it was committed by “enslavers.”

The Trump administration imposed sanctions in October on Petro, his family and a member of his government over accusations of involvement in the global drug trade.

starts investing in more upfront Investment like Plants and Equipment, or they will no longer be doing business with Department of War,” Trump said on social media.

“Also, if Raytheon wants further business with the United States Government, under no circumstances will they be allowed to do any additional Stock Buybacks, where they have spent Tens of Billions of Dollars, until they are able to get their act together.”

The company is responsible for making some of the military’s most widely used and notable missiles, including the Tomahawk cruise missile, the shoulder-launched Javelin and Stinger missiles, and the Sidewinder air-to-air missile.

Raytheon also owns Pratt and Whitney, a company that is responsible for manufacturing a host of jet engines that power aircraft for all the military branches, including the newest F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JAE C. HONG

Ted Koerner, whose home was reduced to ash in the 2025 wildfires, stands on the porch of his newly rebuilt home, alongside his dog Daisy Mae, in Altadena, Calif.

Man and his old dog are home at last after L.A. fire

For nearly a year, Koerner raced He emptied retirement fund against time to rebuild his home. He liq‘to build at record speed’ uidated most of his retirement holdings

BY ALEX VEIGA Associated Press

ALTADENA, Calif. — It is a sight Ted Koerner feared he might never see again after his house burned down: His treasured golden retriever, Daisy Mae, playing in his backyard, under the shade of his 175-year-old Heritage Oak. A year ago, as the wind-swept Eaton Fire moved in, Koerner fled with then 12-year-old Daisy Mae, grabbing a couple pairs of sweats, long-sleeved shirts, a pillow and two pictures of the dog. He drove away as the flames were at the end of his street in Altadena.

Koerner and Daisy Mae spent the first weeks in a hotel with hundreds of others after the Eaton and Palisades fires destroyed thousands of homes and killed 31 people. They went on walks, the hardened ash crunching beneath his feet and her paws. “Those first few weeks were beyond devastating,” he said.

His biggest fear was losing Daisy Mae before he could get through a daunting and costly rebuilding process. Koerner has lived alone with the 75-pound, snowwhite dog for 12 years. He takes her with him to restaurants — even five-star steakhouses — without a leash.

so he could afford to hire contractors quickly while he waited for his mortgage servicing company to release his insurance payout.

He gave the builder enough money “to build at record speed, because I need to get home with my dog before she passes,” he recalled telling his mortgage servicing company early on. “Because if she passes, I don’t want to come here. And this is a very, very, very special dog.”

The first time Koerner brought Daisy Mae after construction started, the house was framed, with a roof and openings for windows and doors.

“She walked right over to where the front door was supposed to be, went right in the house, walked around the house, walked over to what was the master bedroom sliding door, which was a great big opening, just like it would have been, and sat down and got a big smile on her face and went, ‘OK, the house is still here,’ ” he said.

Shortly before Thanksgiving, his home was among the first to be rebuilt of the thousands destroyed in the Los Angeles area wildfires a year ago. Construction took just over four months.

“I went into the house and cried a lot,” Koerner said. “It still has that effect. I’m actually home with my dog.”

White House completes plan to curb environmental law

BY MATTHEW DALY Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has finalized a plan to roll back regulations implementing a landmark environmental law that the White House says needlessly delays federal approvals for energy and infrastructure projects.

The action Wednesday by the White House Council on Environmental Quality rescinds regulations related to the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to consider a project’s possible environmental impacts before it is approved.

Katherine Scarlett, who leads the council, said in a statement that the directive will “slash needless layering of bureaucratic burden and restore common sense to the environmental review and permitting process.”

Under Trump, she added, “NEPA’s regulatory reign of terror has ended.”

The action comes as Congress considers legislation intended to speed up permitting reviews for new energy and infrastructure projects and limit judicial review under that law.

Republicans and many Democrats believe the 56-year-old law has become mired in red tape that routinely results in yearslong delays for major projects. The law requires detailed analysis for such projects and allows for public comments before approvals are issued.

A bill approved by the Republican-controlled House would place statutory limits on environmental reviews, broaden the scope of actions that do not require review and set clear deadlines. It also would limit who can bring legal challenges and legal remedies that courts can impose.

Democrats agree the permitting process has become unwieldy, but say the House bill undercuts public input and participation while overly restricting judicial review.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday he plans to call a special session in April for the Republicandominated legislature to draw new congressional districts, joining a redistricting arms race among states that have redrawn districts mid-decade.

Even though Florida’s 2026 legislative session starts next week, DeSantis said he wanted to wait for a possible ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling in Louisiana v. Callais could determine whether Section 2, a part of the Voting Rights Act that bars discrimination in voting systems, is constitutional. The governor said “at least one or two” districts in Florida could be affected by the high court’s ruling.

“I don’t think it’s a question of if they’re going to rule. It’s a question of

what the scope is going to be,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Steinhatchee, Florida. “So, we’re getting out ahead of that.”

Currently, 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional seats are held by Republicans.

Congressional districts in Florida that are redrawn to favor Republicans could carry big consequences for President Donald Trump’s plan to reshape congressional districts in GOP-led states, which could give Republicans a shot at winning additional seats in the midterm elections and retaining control of the closely divided U.S. House.

In 2010, more than 60% of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the drawing of district boundaries to unfairly favor one political party in a process known as gerrymandering. The Florida Supreme Court, however, last July upheld a congressional map pushed by DeSantis that critics said violated the “Fair Districts” amendment.

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Immigration policies, lower fertility rate cut population estimates

BY FATIMA HUSSEIN and MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The U.S. population is projected to grow by 15 million in 30 years, a smaller estimate than in previous years, due to President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration policies and an expected lower fertility rate, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday.

The nonpartisan budget office projected that the U.S. population will grow from

349 million people this year to 364 million people in 30 years, a 2.2% smaller gain than it had predicted in 2025.

In September, the office issued a revised demographics report that showed Trump’s plans for mass deportations and other strict immigration measures would result in roughly 320,000 people removed from the United States over the next 10 years.

The country’s total population is projected to stop growing in 2056 and remain roughly the same size as in

the previous year, the CBO said. But without immigration, the population would begin to shrink in 2030 as deaths start to exceed births, making immigrants an increasingly important source of population growth, according to the report.

Even if the limits on immigration and increased deportations end with the Trump administration in three years, “it’s still a demographic shock,” said William Frey, a demographer at the centrist Brookings Insti-

tution.

Social Security and Medicare, which are already buckling under an aging population, will be under increasing pressure with even fewer than expected people in the labor force paying taxes. By the end of the decade, all of the nation’s baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, will be over age 65.

With fewer immigrants in the labor force and projections for U.S. fertility rates showing a long-term decline below replacement levels,

“that reduces the number of kids who are going to be born in that four-year period” of the second Trump administration, Frey said.

The latest numbers come as Trump has pushed for the largest mass deportation campaign in history. The CBO’s numbers account for the success of those efforts in the first year of his second term in office.

When it comes to estimating the nation’s population and future growth, immigration is always the wild

card because it varies much more year to year than the number of births and deaths.

Immigration has fueled U.S. population growth this decade because of an aging population and fertility lower than the replacement rate. For a generation to replace itself in the absence of immigration, the fertility rate needs to be 2.1 births per woman. But it was expected to be 1.58 in 2026 and is projected to drop to 1.53 in 2036 where it will remain over the next two decades.

Nick Reiner’s lawyer quits California loses $160M for delaying revocation of 17,000 CDLs

BY JAMES QUEALLY and RICHARD WINTON Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES — Famed defense attorney Alan Jackson stepped down Wednesday as counsel for Nick Reiner, who is awaiting trial in the murder of his parents, beloved Hollywood couple Rob and Michele Reiner.

“We feel that we have no choice at this juncture, but to ask to be relieved,” Jackson told L.A. County Superior Court Judge Theresa McGonigle.

The Los Angeles County public defender’s office stepped in to represent Reiner on two counts of murder in the December stabbing deaths of his parents inside their Brentwood home.

Reiner’s arraignment was postponed until Feb. 23 based on the change of counsel. His new attorney is Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene.

The brief hearing played out before a packed courtroom filled by a crush of media and members of the public who came to observe Reiner’s second appearance in court.

Authorities allege Reiner fatally stabbed his 78-yearold father and 70-year-old mother sometime in the early morning hours at their Brentwood home on Dec. 14.

Their bodies were discov-

ered in the master bedroom by their daughter roughly 12 hours later, and Nick Reiner was arrested that night by Los Angeles police.

Nick Reiner’s struggles with mental health and addiction issues are long documented. He has spoken on podcasts about hard drug use and destroying his parents’ guest house while “totally spun out on uppers.” He was living in the guest house at the time of the murders.

Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor who is not involved in the Reiner case, said following the change of counsel from Jackson on Wednesday: “Either Nick can’t pay him or they disagreed on strategy.

It would be a seven-figure retainer and he doesn’t have the money. If so, why would he be living in his parents’ guest house?”

Michael Goldstein, another prominent L.A. defense attorney, said: “It would be unfair to try and figure out what happened here but it is entirely possible a conflict arose between the client and Jackson.”

Police have not disclosed a motive in the killings, though family friends told the Times that Rob and Nick Reiner got into an argument at a holiday party at the home of talk show host Conan O’Brien hours before the attack.

BY JOSH FUNK

AP transportation writer California will lose an additional $160 million for delaying the revocations of 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses for immigrants, federal transportation officials announced Wednesday.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy already withheld $40 million in federal funding because he said California isn’t enforcing English proficiency requirements for truckers.

The state notified these drivers in the fall that they would lose their licenses after a federal audit found problems that included licenses for truckers and bus drivers that remained valid long after an immigrant’s visa expired. More than one-quarter of the small sample of California licenses that investigators reviewed were unlawful.

But then last week California said it would delay those revocations until March after immigrant groups sued the state because of concerns that some groups were being unfairly targeted. Duffy said the state was supposed to revoke those licenses by Monday.

The federal govern-

ment began cracking down during the summer. The issue became prominent after a truck driver who was not authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people in August.

Duffy previously threat-

ened to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding from California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New York, Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington after audits found significant problems under the existing rules, including commercial

licenses being valid long after an immigrant truck driver’s work permit expired.

Trucking trade groups have praised the effort to get unqualified drivers who shouldn’t have licenses or can’t speak English off the road.

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4A ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

What U.S. could do with Venezuela’s oil

BY CATHY BUSSEWITZ

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a nation with vast oil reserves.

ezuela isn’t critically needed. But the International Energy Agency Interest in vast oil reserves estimates that under current poliVenezuela has one of the largest cies approximately 25 million baroil reserves in the world, and some rels per day of new oil supply projenergy analysts predict there ects will be needed by 2035 to keep won’t be enough oil to meet global markets in balance. demand in coming years.

The South American nation has Possible help for U.S. refineries an estimated 303 billion barrels The oil in Venezuela is heavy, of crude oil in the ground, which sour crude, which is what refineris about 17% of the world’s supply, ies on the U.S. Gulf Coast process, according to the U.S. Energy Infor- and there are only a handful of mation Administration. Unlike oth- countries that produce it. By coner parts of the world, where geolo- trast, most oil produced in the U.S. gists have to search for untapped is light, sweet crude. If Venezuelan oil, the reserves under Venezu- oil flows freely, it could potentially ela’s soil are largely mapped and reduce the price of oil and gasoline.

American refineries could benknown, experts say. But because of dilapidated infrastructure, the efit financially from processing country only produces about 1% more crude oil, and it could inof the world’s oil. crease the availability of diesel “Venezuela has enormous re- and jet fuel, said Kevin Book, serves,” said Claudio Galimberti, managing director of ClearView global market analysis director Energy Partners.

“There seem to be two objecand chief economist at Rystad Energy. “If you ask any oil company tives. The first is to overall lower around the world, go to their ex- energy prices by adding to global ploration team, their geologists, supply, and second is to produce and ask them where is oil going to more of the heavy, sour crude that come from in the 2030s and 2040s, is currently in short supply relatheir answer is a rather scary, ‘We tive to other grades,” Book said. don’t know.’ So there is going to be More Venezuelan crude wouldn’t a problem of finding oil in the next necessarily help U.S. oil producfew years.” ers, though, because having more In the short term, the global oil on the market can lower oil supply of oil exceeds demand, so prices, discouraging production increased production from Ven- and making it harder for those

Associated Press

NEW YORK — Venezuela’s oil industry has been in the spotlight since President Donald Trump used military force to capture the country’s leader, President Nicolás Maduro.

In the days that followed, Trump said the U.S. would run Venezuela and tap its oil reserves. He said Venezuela stole U.S. oil, a reference to former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s move decades ago to nationalize hundreds of foreign-owned assets, including those owned by American oil companies.

Trump floated a plan for those companies to return and rebuild Venezuela’s beleaguered oil industry. He later announced Venezuela would provide 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., and Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA said it is in negotiations with the U.S. government for the sale of crude oil.

The administration also “selectively” removed sanctions to enable the shipping and sale of Venezuelan oil to markets worldwide, saying the proceeds would settle in U.S.-controlled accounts and be disbursed to the American and Venezuelan populations, according to the Energy Department.

The moves may be part of a longterm strategy to gain a foothold in

companies to remain profitable.

Options for U.S. oil companies After Chavez nationalized hundreds of private businesses and foreign-owned assets in 2007, including oil projects run by Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips, international arbitration panels ordered Venezuela to repay billions of dollars to both companies, but the debts have yet to be collected.

In theory, if sanctions were lifted and Venezuela was under new leadership, major oil companies could invest in infrastructure and profit from the sale of oil.

Trump said he thinks Venezuela’s decimated oil industry could be rebuilt in less than 18 months with U.S. support. He envisions major oil companies returning to Venezuela to make those investments and profit from its oil industry.

But given the unrest and decades of badly damaged infrastructure, it’s unlikely to top the list of places oil companies would choose to invest, experts said.

Companies also need assurance that assets won’t be taken again by a future government, said Daniel Sternoff, senior fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy.

“You need to start with basic political stability before you’re going to have companies that are

interested in making those kinds of investments,” Sternoff said.

“We have more questions than answers over what the government of Venezuela will be.”

A ConocoPhillips spokesman said the company is monitoring developments in Venezuela and their potential implications for global energy supply and stability.

Exxon Mobil did not respond to a request for comment.

Production hurdles Infrastructure and equipment that the oil industry needs to maintain and increase production has been damaged in recent years.

“There was a lot of chaos and looting, and so therefore there’s a tremendous amount of damage to the surface equipment for producing oil all around the country,” said Amy Myers Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at New York University.

Rystad Energy estimates it would take $54 billion of oil and gas investment over the next 15 years to keep Venezuela’s oil production flat at around 1.1 million barrels per day, and that with additional investment over two to three years an additional 300,000 barrels per day could be added. Going beyond 1.4 million barrels per day would require an additional $8 billion to $9 billion per year, the group said.

Venezuela’s military buries soldiers killed in U.S. operation

BY REGINA GARCIA CANO Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s military held a mass funeral in the country’s capital on Wednesday as it began to bury dozens of soldiers slain during the United States’ weekend operation to capture former President Nicolás Maduro.

Men carried wooden caskets cloaked in the Venezuelan flag past rows of uniformed officers. Singing echoed out from a nearby church in Caracas and music from a military orchestra ceremony echoed over the cemetery, while ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATIAS DELACROIX throngs of family members and soldiers A military officer comforts Ramona Palma, the mother of marched behind a row of caskets.

Venezuelan soldier Cesar Garcia, who was killed in a U.S. As the caskets were lowered into the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, ground, gunfire from a military ceremony echoed out over the state-owned after Garcia’s wake Wednesday in Caracas, Venezuela.

graveyard in a low-income neighborhood in the city’s south side. Earlier in the day, families cried and embraced next to the caskets during a wake.

“Thank you for letting them embrace a military career,” Rafael Murillo, a commander in the military, said to families surrounding him.

Before the ceremony, armed National Guard members patrolled some areas while families of the killed soldiers finished paperwork required for the burials.

At least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the dead-of-night U.S. military operation over the weekend to capture Maduro and spirit him to the United States to face drug charges, according to Venezuela’s military.

Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said “dozens” of officers

and civilians were killed and that 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.

Cuba’s government on Sunday announced that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela had died in the operation, prompting two days of mourning on the Caribbean island.

“Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength,” the Venezuelan military wrote in an Instagram post on Monday.

“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.”

Rubio plans to meet with Danish officials next week on Greenland

BY STEFANIE DAZIO and SEUNG MIN KIM

lawmakers that it was the Republican administration’s intention to eventually purchase Greenland, as opposed to using military force.

The remarks, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, were made in a classified briefing Monday evening on Capitol Hill, according to a person with knowledge of his comments who was granted anonymity because it was a private discussion.

On Wednesday, Rubio told reporters in Washington that Trump has been talking about acquiring Greenland since his first term.

“That’s always been the president’s intent from the very beginning,” Rubio said. “He’s not the first U.S. president that has examined or looked at how we could acquire Greenland.”

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a statement this week reaffirming that the mineral-rich island, which guards the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America,

Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he plans to meet with Danish officials next week after the Trump administration doubled down on its intention to take over Greenland, the strategic Arctic island that is a self-governing territory of Denmark.

Since the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump has revived his argument that the United States needs to control the world’s largest island to ensure its own security in the face of rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his Greenland counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, had requested a meeting with Rubio, according to a statement posted Tuesday to Greenland’s government website. Previous requests for a meeting were not successful, the statement said.

Rubio told a select group of U.S.

“belongs to its people.” Frederiksen warned that a U.S. takeover would amount to the end of NATO. “The Nordics do not lightly make statements like this,” Maria Martisiute, a defense analyst at the European Policy Centre think tank, said Wednesday. “But it is Trump whose very bombastic language bordering on direct threats and intimidation is threatening the fact to another ally by saying, ‘I will control or annex the territory.’”

Rubio, who was on Capitol Hill for a classified briefing Wednesday with the entire U.S. Senate and House, did not directly answer reporters’ questions about whether the administration was willing to risk the NATO alliance by potentially moving ahead with a military option regarding Greenland.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that using the military to acquire Greenland was an option, though she told reporters Wednesday that “the president’s first option always has been diplomacy.”

Some Republican senators said

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they saw strategic value in Greenland, but they stopped short of supporting military action to acquire it.

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group, said the U.S. needs to honor its treaty obligations to Denmark.

Thomas Crosbie, an associate professor of military operations at the Royal Danish Defense College, said an American takeover would not help Washington’s national security. “The United States will gain no advantage if its flag is flying in Nuuk versus the Greenlandic flag,” he told the AP. “There’s no benefits to them because they already enjoy all of the advantages they want. If there’s any specific security access that they want to improve American security, they’ll be given it as a matter of course, as a trusted ally.

So this has nothing to do with improving national security for the United States.”

Denmark’s parliament approved

a bill in June to allow U.S. military bases on Danish soil. It widened a previous military agreement, made in 2023 with the Biden administration, in which U.S. troops had broad access to Danish air bases in the Scandinavian country.

Denmark’s foreign minister has said that Denmark would be able to terminate the agreement if the U.S. tries to annex all or part of Greenland.

In the event of military action, the U.S. Department of Defense operates the remote Pituffik Space Base, in northwestern Greenland, and the troops there could be mobilized.

Crosbie said he believes the U.S. would not seek to hurt the local population or engage with Danish troops. “They don’t need to bring any firepower. They don’t need to bring anybody,” Crosbie said Wednesday. “They could just direct the military personnel currently there to drive to the center of Nuuk and just say, ‘This is America now,’ right? And that would lead to the same response as if they flew in 500 or 1,000 people.”

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LE PAVILLON Continued from page 1A

built the 19-story Marriott Residence Inn on St. Charles Avenue, and a 235-room TownPlace/SpringHill Suites complex near Disney World in Orlando.

A century of history Le Pavillon, nicknamed “The Belle of New Orleans,” first opened in 1907 as the New Denechaud Hotel. Designed by the architectural firm Toledano & Wogan, it was among the city’s most modern buildings of its era, featuring New Orleans’ first hydraulic elevator, electric lighting and 217 guest rooms.

By 1913, it was rebranded as the Hotel DeSoto and quickly became a hub of downtown social life. Its penthouse served as the home of WDSU, the city’s first radio station, from 1928 to 1948, further cementing its place in local history.

In the 1970s, the property was transformed and rebranded as Le Pavillon, adopting the ornate European-style décor for which it is now known, including marble floors, hand-carved mahogany furnishings and Czechoslovakian chandeliers. The hotel joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and later became part of Historic Hotels of America in 1994.

Over the decades, ownership shifted several times.

Brothers Property Corporation, a Florida-based subsidiary of American Financial Group, acquired the hotel in 1989 and retained it until 2015, when Dallas-based Ashford Hospitality Trust purchased the property for $62.5 million. Ashford invested an additional $19 million in renovations and, in late 2024, repositioned the hotel as a Marriott Tribute Portfolio property, modernizing guest rooms and meeting spaces while preserving its historic charm.

A growing local presence Guidry and Bansmer are

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Le Pavillon hotel joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and Historic Hotels of America in 1994. not new to New Orleans hospitality. In May 2024, the pair acquired the dual-branded Marriott Courtyard/SpringHill Suites complex in the Warehouse District for $73 million, a 410-room property near the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Bansmer said the Le Pavillon acquisition reflects continued optimism about the city’s long-term hospitality prospects. The sale, finalized this month, signals that New Orleans’ historic hotels remain attractive to valuedriven buyers even amid softer market conditions.

A weak market The sale of Le Pavillon comes at a time of nationwide cooling in hotel investment. According to CoStar, U.S. hotel transaction volume fell about 33% in the third quarter of 2025 to $4.3 billion, the lowest quarterly total in nearly two years.

Average pricing for hotel assets has dropped to roughly $177,000 per key, down from above $200,000 in 2022.

New Orleans has not been immune to these trends.

The sale price for Le Pavillon, about one-third below

statement on the sale. The city’s convention calendar and cultural attractions continue to draw demand, even as metrics such as average daily rates and revenue per available room have softened, they noted.

Le Pavillon’s location on Poydras Street, the city’s prime corporate corridor, provides easy access to downtown offices, convention venues and tourist attractions.

With its grandiose lobby, award-winning restaurant and bar, and ornately furnished guestrooms, the hotel continues to represent both New Orleans’ storied past and its contemporary hospitality offerings, the statement noted.

“The property bridges New Orleans’ old-world charm and its modern tourism economy,” said Wiemer, highlighting the hotel’s enduring relevance.

Email Anthony McAuley its previous sale, mirrors pealing for its mix of leisure historic attractions, Guidry tmcauley@theadvocate. broader market softness. and business travel and its and Bansmer said in their com.

A similar pattern was seen earlier in 2025 when the Hilton New Orleans Hotel on St. Charles Avenue changed hands at a notable discount relative to its prior purReduce contaminants in your homes water chase price. Similarly, the and enjoy the benefits of whole home filtration.

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6A ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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BUSINESS N O L A.C O M/BIZ

DOW 48,996.08 -466.00 -0.94%

NASDAQ 23,584.28 37.10 0.16%

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Wall Street’s strong start to the year slows

NEW YORK — Wall Street’s strong start to the year slowed on Wednesday.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% from its latest all-time high for its first loss in four days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 466 points, or 0.9%, from its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%.

Some of the market’s sharpest drops hit industries that President Donald Trump targeted with criticism on his social media network. Homebuilders fell sharply, for example, after Trump suggested moves to prevent large institutional investors from buying single-family homes, in hopes of making it more affordable for people to buy houses.

The potential removal from the market of some buyers for homes sent D.R. Horton down 3.6% and PulteGroup 3.2% lower. Blackstone, a large investment company, briefly fell more than 9%, before paring its loss to 5.6%.

In the oil market, crude prices fell after Trump said that Venezuela would provide 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude dropped 2% to $55.99. Brent crude, the international standard, fell a more modest 1.2% to settle at $59.96 per barrel.

In the bond market, Treasury yields swung following several mixed reports on the U.S. economy.

S&P 500 6,920.93 -23.89 -0.34%

EURO 1.1673 -0.0003 -0.02%

CRUDE OIL 55.99 -1.14 -2.00%

GOLD 4,449.30 -32.90 -0.73%

6-MO T-BILLS 3.59 0.0 0.0%

30-YR T-BONDS 4.83 -0.03 -0.51%

Job openings slide lower again

Department said Wednes- remained solid in the final three ing, restaurants and hotels, and in Postings at second Labor state and local government. They day, down from 7.4 million in Oc- months of 2025.

A key question for this year rose in retail and construction. tober. Layoffs also dropped, howlowest level in 5 years ever, The number of Americans who as companies appear to be is whether hiring will pickup to onto workers even as they match healthy growth, or whether quit their jobs ticked higher in amid sluggish hiring holding sluggish job gains will eventually November, which is seen as a are reluctant to add staff.

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers posted far fewer jobs in November than the previous month, a sign that employers aren’t yet ramping up hiring even as growth has picked up.

Businesses and government agencies posted 7.1 million open jobs at the end of November, the

The report suggests that the “low-hire, low-fire” job market remains in effect, with workers enjoying some job security but those out of work struggling to find new jobs. The moribund labor market stands in contrast with data showing solid economic growth, which topped 4% at an annual rate in last year’s July-September quarter, the latest data available. Economists forecast growth slowed but

drag down the economy. There is a third possibility: Automation and artificial intelligence could enable steady economic growth without creating many jobs.

The number of postings in November was the fewest since September 2024. But outside that month, it was the lowest in nearly five years.

Open jobs in November fell sharply in shipping and warehous-

good sign, because workers typically quit when they are more confident they can find a better job, or already have one. Yet quits remained historically low, at 3.16 million, up from just under 3 million in October.

The figures provide some critical measures of the job market after last fall’s government shutdown delayed the release of data on hiring and inflation.

Warner Bros. rejects Paramount takeover NEW YORK — Warner Bros. again rejected a takeover bid from Paramount and told shareholders Wednesday to stick with a rival offer from Netflix.

Warner’s leadership has repeatedly rebuffed Skydanceowned Paramount’s overtures — and urged shareholders just weeks ago to back the sale of its streaming and studio business to Netflix for $72 billion. Paramount, meanwhile, has made efforts to sweeten its $77.9 billion hostile offer for the entire company.

Warner Bros. Discovery said Wednesday that its board determined Paramount’s offer is not in the best interests of the company or its shareholders. It again recommended shareholders support the Netflix deal.

Late last month, Paramount announced an “irrevocable personal guarantee” from Oracle founder Larry Ellison — who is the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison — to back $40.4 billion in equity financing for the company’s offer.

Paramount also increased its promised payout to shareholders to $5.8 billion if the deal is blocked by regulators, matching Netflix’s breakup fee.

GameStop details CEO’s compensation GameStop is providing details on a new compensation package for CEO Ryan Cohen that is dependent on him meeting certain “significant” performance targets.

The video game retailer said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday that Cohen would have to grow its market capitalization to $100 billion and it would need to hit $10 billion in cumulative performance EBITDA — or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization — for his award to fully vest.

GameStop said Cohen won’t receive any guaranteed pay, which it defines as no salary, no cash bonuses, and no stock that simply vests over time.

“His compensation is entirely ‘at-risk,’ meaning he will only be paid if the company achieves significant market and operational goals,” GameStop said in the filing.

Cohen’s compensation package with GameStop includes stock options to buy more than 171.5 million common shares for $20.66 each. Shareholders must approve the new pay package at a special meeting in March or April.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By Ty ONEILL

A Razer AI Desk Companion sits on display Tuesday at the Razer booth during the CES tech show in Las Vegas.

CES Day 2 brings more cool tech

BY SHAWN CHEN and RIO YAMAT Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — Crowds flooded the freshly opened showroom floors on Day 2 of the CES and were met by thousands of robots, AI companions, assistants, health longevity tech, wearables and more.

Siemens President and CEO Roland Busch kicked off the day with a keynote detailing how its customers are harnessing artificial intelligence to transform their businesses.

He was joined onstage by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to announce an expanded partnership, saying they are launching a new AIdriven industrial revolution to reinvent all aspects of manufacturing, production and supply chain management.

Lenovo ended the day with a guest starrich visual banquet dedicated to spotlighting how its AI platforms can help people personally (wearables), with their businesses (enterprise platforms) and the world around them. To strike home his points, its CEO Yang Yuanqing was joined by tech superstars like Nvidia’s Huang, AMD CEO Lisa Su and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. The CES is a huge opportunity annually for companies large and small to parade products they plan to put on shelves this year.

Here are the highlights from Day 2:

n Razer leans into AI: Gaming tech company Razer is well known for bringing buzz-worthy hardware to CES, like haptic, or tactile, seat cushions and tri-screen laptops.

This year, it’s reaching beyond its standard gaming base and demonstrating two AIpowered prototypes — an over-ear gaming headset that doubles as a general-purpose assistant, and an AI desk companion that can provide gaming advice and also organize a user’s life.

The holographic companion, based on a Razor on-screen AI assistant launched last year (Project Ava), has transitioned off-screen into a small glass tube that sits near your computer. The animated sprite has built-in speakers and a camera so it can see the world around it.

Both devices are AI agnostic, so you can use your preferred model. Although still in development, Razer said it expects both to be released commercially later this year. n Robots on the tarmac: Imagine your plane lands and, when you look out the window you see autonomous robots guiding it to the gate and then unloading the luggage. Oshkosh Corporation is pitching that future for airports big and small.

At CES, it debuted a fleet of autonomous airport robots designed to help airlines pull off what it calls “the perfect turn” — a tightly timed process that happens after a plane lands, including fueling, cleaning, handling cargo

and getting passengers off and back on.

For travelers, CEO John Pfeifer said the goal is fewer delays without compromising safety. The technology is also designed to keep those tarmac tasks moving even during severe weather, like winter storms or extreme heat, when conditions are daunting for human crews, Pfeifer said. Testing with major airlines is already underway, and the robots would likely debut at large hub airports like Atlanta or Dallas, with a goal of rolling them out over the next few years. n The vacuum that can climb stairs: Chinese robovac maker Roborock has introduced a vacuum that literally sprouts chicken-like legs to navigate stairs and clean steps along the way.

The newly introduced Saros Rover was a tad slow in its ascent and descent (but it was cleaning each step) during the demo, but Roborock says it will be able to traverse almost any style of stairwell, including spiraled. No release date was given for the Rover. n The Body Scan scale gets an upgrade: While it may look like a typical scale you’d buy for your bathroom, Withings’ new Body Scan 2 measures much more than weight. Taking off their shoes and socks, people lined up to try out the “smart scale” that in 90 seconds measures 60 different biomarkers.

The $600 scale will be available for purchase in the spring.

Trump wants to ban large investors from buying houses

BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he wants to block large institutional investors from buying houses, saying that a ban would make it easier for younger families to buy their first homes.

Trump — who has been under pressure to address voters’ concerns about affordability ahead of November midterm elections — is tapping into long-standing fears that corporate ownership of homes has pushed out traditional buyers, forcing more people to rent. But his plan does little to address the overarching challenges

for the housing market: a national shortage of home construction and prices that have climbed faster than incomes.

“People live in homes, not corporations,” Trump said in a social media post as he called on Congress to codify his ban.

Last month, Trump pledged in a prime-time address that he would roll out “some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history” this year. The president said he would discuss housing and affordability in more detail in two weeks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, an event known for attracting CEOs, wealthy financiers and academics with a global focus

who often run contrary to Trump’s populist rhetoric.

The president has in the past floated extending the 30-year mortgage to 50 years in order to lower monthly payments, an idea that has been criticized because it would reduce people’s ability to create housing equity and increase their own wealth.

With Trump’s proposed ban, the challenge is that institutional investors are only a tiny sliver of homebuyers, accounting for just 1% of total single-family housing stock, according to an August analysis by researchers at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank based in Washington. The analysis defined

these investors as owning 100 or more properties.

The analysis notes that institutional ownership varies nationwide, reaching 4.2% in Atlanta, 2.6% in Dallas and 2.2% in Houston. But these investors tend not to dominate neighborhoods, even if they’re generally more concentrated in lower- and middle-income communities.

Some Democrats have called for crackdowns on corporate ownership of homes, but Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told reporters Wednesday that the Trump administration could cause housing prices to rise by allowing the real estate companies Compass and Anywhere to merge.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 7A

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ICE

weapon and immediately fires at least two shots into the vehicle at close range, jumping back as the vehicle moves toward him.

It was not clear from the videos if the vehicle made contact with the officer. The SUV then sped into two cars parked on a curb nearby before crashing to a stop. Witnesses screamed obscenities, expressing shock at what they’d seen. After the shooting, emergency medical technicians tried to administer aid to the woman.

“She was driving away and they killed her,” said resident Lynette Reini-Grandell, who was outdoors recording video on her phone.

The shooting marked a dramatic escalation of the latest in a series of immigration enforcement operations in major cities under the

Trump administration. The death of the Minneapolis driver, whose name wasn’t immediately released, was at least the fifth linked to immigration crackdowns.

The Twin Cities have been on edge since DHS announced Tuesday that it had launched the operation, which is at least partly tied to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. Noem confirmed Wednesday that DHS had deployed more than 2,000 officers to the area and said they had already made “hundreds and hundreds” of arrests.

A large throng of protesters gathered at the scene after the shooting, where they vented their anger at the local and federal officers who were there, including Gregory Bovino, a senior U.S.

Customs and Border Patrol official who has been the face of crackdowns in Los Angeles, Chicago and elsewhere.

In a scene that hearkened back to the Los Angeles and Chicago crackdowns, bystanders heckled the officers, chanting “Shame!

Shame! Shame!” and “ICE out of Minnesota,” and blew whistles that have become ubiquitous during the operations.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he’s prepared to deploy the National Guard if necessary. He said a family member of the driver was there to witness the killing, which he described as “predictable” and “avoidable.” He also said like many, he was outraged by the

shooting, but he called on people to keep protests peaceful.

“They want a show. We can’t give it to them. We cannot,” the governor said during a news conference.

“If you protest and express your First Amendment rights, please do so peacefully, as you always do. We can’t give them what they want.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara briefly described the shooting to reporters but, unlike federal officials, gave no indication that the driver was trying to harm anyone.

“This woman was in her vehicle and was blocking the roadway on Portland Avenue. ... At some point a federal law enforcement officer approached her on foot and the vehicle began to drive off,” the chief said. “At least two shots were fired.

The vehicle then crashed on the side of the roadway.”

There were calls on social media to prosecute the officer who shot the driver. Commissioner Bob Jacobson of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said state authorities would investigate the shooting with federal authorities.

“Keep in mind that this is an investigation that is also in its infancy. So any speculation about what has happened would be just that,” Jacobson told reporters.

The shooting happened in the district of Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, who called it “state violence,” not law enforcement.

For nearly a year, migrant rights advocates and neighborhood activists across the Twin Cities have been preparing to mobilize in the event of an immigration enforcement surge. From houses of worship to mobile home parks, they have set up very active online networks, scanned license plates for possible federal vehicles and bought whistles and other noisemaking devices to alert neighborhoods of any enforcement presence.

The office is preparing to comply with the request “in short order,” a spokesperson for Landry said Monday.

Dhillon in her September letter said the Justice Department needs the voter data to determine if Louisiana is complying with federal requirements for proper maintenance of voter registration lists.

She cited three federal laws as grounds for collecting Louisiana voters’ personal information: the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

Over the past several months, the Justice Department has been trying to collect detailed voter in-

formation from dozens of states across the country, with varied success.

Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have agreed to “voluntarily provide their full registration lists,” according to a December news release from the Justice Department.

But dozens of other states and jurisdictions have pushed back on the request for detailed voter data, prompting the DOJ to file at least 22 lawsuits, according to that news release.

After the Justice Department sued Colorado last month, Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, said, “We will not hand over Coloradans’ sensitive voting

information to Donald Trump. He does not have a legal right to the information.”

The federal law enforcement agency sued Georgia after that state provided only some voter data, though not all.

“Hardworking Georgians can rest easy knowing this data was shared strictly in accordance with state law that protect voters’ privacy,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said in a statement.

In lawsuits, the Justice Department has argued the Civil Rights Act of 1960 gives the U.S. attorney “sweeping power” to request and review states’ voting registration records.

Some states are arguing providing sensitive voter data to the Justice Department violates privacy laws.

“The central issue in the Justice Department’s demands and lawsuits is what, if any, information federal voting laws require states to disclose to the federal government despite state laws designed to protect voters’ sensitive personal information,” explains a recent paper by Derek Clinger, senior counsel at the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Based on existing court precedent, there is not a clear answer to this question, Clinger wrote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

city’s health director, for that position.

Layoff notices first went out last month to 13 staffers from the Mayor’s Office of Youth and Families and the Office of Criminal Justice Coordination.

Many others received pink slips on Tuesday, and fretted over their next steps.

“It’s a huge blow for our office and the city. We have federal funds that have been in jeopardy, and we’ve been trying to make sure we don’t lose those funds,” said Chris Lang, circular economy manager within the Office of Resilience and Sustainability who was terminated Tuesday.

Nearly half the staffers in that office have been let go, including department head Greg Nich-

ols, who said he was blindsided by the move. Nichols said while most department head positions across City Hall had been advertised weeks prior, Tuesday’s news came as a surprise that conflicted with previous conversations he had with Moreno’s transition team.

“They were positive and said they wanted to uplift our work in the next administration,” he said.

Part of that work includes managing a $50 million federal climate pollution reduction grant awarded to the city in 2024. The funds, spread across seven projects, are aimed at everything from making city-owned buildings more energy-efficient to boosting the city’s dwindling tree canopy.

“There’s no one to manage those

programs now. This isn’t just a personnel decision. It’s how are we going to keep this work moving forward?” Nichols said.

Moreno in an interview Wednesday said grant management could be handled by a single employee.

“Once again, it’s efficiency. This is about lessening bloat and creating the right level of efficiencies and getting the right people in the right places to get the job done,” she said.

Later Wednesday, her transition team said she would hire a chief resilience officer, and dedicate 11 positions in the resilience office and in other offices to focus on sustainability and climate issues.

Logan Atkinson Burke, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, said she was alarmed

by the department’s gutting.

“The Office of Resilience and Sustainability has successfully raised outside funding to do the hard work of protecting New Orleans’ long-term viability, and it’s shameful to think that tens of millions of dollars that would otherwise be invested in homes and businesses in our city are now in question,” she said.

Aimee McCarron, the incoming District A City Council member who will chair the council’s Climate Committee after she is sworn in next week, said she will call a committee meeting to discuss the impact of the layoffs on Nichols’ office.

Staff writers Sophie Kasakove and Blake Paterson contributed to this report.

Continued from page 1A against the woman and defended ICE’s work.

Hours later, at an evening news conference in Minnesota, Noem didn’t back down, claiming the woman was part of a “mob of agitators.” She said the veteran officer who fired his gun had been rammed and dragged by an antiICE motorist in June.

“Any loss of life is a tragedy, and I think all of us can agree that in this situation, it was preventable,” Noem said, adding that the FBI would investigate.

But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey blasted Noem’s version of what happened as “garbage” and criticized the federal deployment of more than 2,000 officers to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul as part of the immigration crackdown.

“What they are doing is not to provide safety in America. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust,” Frey said, calling on the immigration agents to leave.

“They’re ripping families apart.

They’re sowing chaos on our streets, and in this case, quite literally killing people.”

“They are already trying to spin this as an action of self-defense.

Having seen the video myself, I wanna tell everybody directly, that is bull****,” the mayor said.

Frey said he had a message for ICE: “Get the f*** out of Minneapolis.”

Videos taken by bystanders with different vantage points and posted to social media show an officer approaching an SUV stopped across the middle of the road, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle. The Honda Pilot begins to pull forward and a different ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle pulls his

VOTER

Continued from page 1A The Secretary of State’s Office in late September responded with voter registration data that is already available to the public to purchase. That list included voters’ full names, home and mailing addresses and phone numbers as well as age, race, sex and party affiliation — but not any part of Social Security numbers or driver’s license numbers.

Landry said Monday Justice Department officials weren’t satisfied with the voter list containing publicly available information.

LAYOFFS

Continued from page 1A $222 million budget deficit this year inherited from Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration. Her plan includes nearly $150 million in spending cuts, one day per pay period furloughs for some workers and a hiring freeze across 134 vacant positions.

It also calls for consolidating some positions under single leadership roles, such as with the creation of a new deputy mayor of health and human services who will oversee youth and family programs that previously fell under the mayor’s purview. Moreno selected Dr. Jennifer Avegno, the

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TOM BAKER

Protesters gather near the scene of Wednesday’s shooting.

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8A ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Pope convenes cardinals and asks their priorities Latin Mass won’t be on agenda

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday opened a new phase of his pontificate by gathering the world’s cardinals to Rome and asking them to advise him on key priorities for the next two years. They responded by indicating continuity with Pope Francis’ key aims of making the church more missionary and responsive to the needs of ordinary faithful.

Some 170 red-capped cardinals, or around two-thirds of the total College of Cardinals, trickled into the Vatican’s audience hall for the opening session of the twoday meeting, known as a consistory, the first of Leo’s papacy.

In his opening remarks, Leo asked them to share what they considered to be the priorities that should guide him and the Holy See for the next year or two. He originally offered four agenda items but then asked the cardinals to pick just two.

Significantly, the cardinals chose not to focus on questions about the liturgy and the divisive question about the old Latin Mass.

“This day and a half together will point the way for our path ahead,” Leo said.

Earlier in the day Leo had given the strongest signal yet about the direction of his still-young pontificate, calling for the full implementation of the reforms of Vatican II, the 1960s meetings that modernized and revolutionized the Catholic Church and remain a source of debate today.

Leo told his weekly general audience that for the foreseeable future, he would devote his weekly catechism lessons to a rereading of key Vatican II documents.

“Therefore, while we hear the call not to let its prophecy fade, and to continue to seek ways and means to implement its insights, it will be important to get to know it again closely, and to do so not through hearsay or interpretations that have been given, but by rereading its documents and reflecting on their content,” he said.

Citing all the popes from

alive today.

Calling College of Cardinals

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALESSANDRA TARANTINO

Pope Leo XIV is handed a package of Peeps marshmallow candy as he meets faithful at the end of his weekly general audience Wednesday in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican.

Vatican II forward who spoke about its importance, Leo said: “Indeed, it is the magisterium that still constitutes the guiding star of the church’s journey today.”

Among other things, Vatican II allowed for use of the vernacular rather than Latin for Mass. It called for greater participation

Leo’s first few months as pope were dominated by fulfilling the intense 2025 Holy Year obligations of celebrating special Jubilee audiences and Masses and wrapping up the outstanding matters of Francis’ pontificate.

He called the consistory of cardinals to begin the day after he closed out the Jubilee, suggesting that he saw its conclusion as the opportunity to unofficially launch his pontificate and look ahead to his own agenda.

It was a significant gesture, since Francis had relied not on consistories or the College of Cardinals as a whole to help him govern, but rather a small, handpicked group of nine cardinals who met every few months at the Vatican.

Cardinals complained that they had been sidelined during Francis’ 12-year pontificate, and Leo obliged by bringing them together.

of lay faithful in the life of the church and revolutionized Catholic relations with Jews and people of other faiths. At the time and in the decades since, though, its reforms crystalized the divisions between traditionalist, A Francis-style agenda conservative Catholics and Originally, the official the more progressive wing agenda included four topics: of the church that are still a discussion of two of Fran-

cis’ key reform documents: his inaugural statement on the missionary nature of the church issued at the start of his pontificate, and the 2022 document that reformed the Vatican bureaucracy. Also on the original agenda was Francis’ call for the church to be more “synodal,” or responsive to the needs of rank-and-file Catholics, and a discussion of the liturgy.

At the start of the meeting Wednesday, Leo asked the cardinals to choose two of the four to focus on. The majority decided to focus on the issues of the missionary and synodal church rather than the liturgy or Vatican reform, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

The liturgy question had been expected to refer to divisions within the church over the celebration of the old Latin Mass. The ancient liturgy became a source of division in the church in some parts of the world after Francis greatly restricted it.

While the majority of cardinals chose not to make it one of the two main themes of discussion for Thursday, individual cardinals are free to speak about it, Bruni said.

House takes step toward extending Affordable Care Act subsidies

BY KEVIN FREKING and LISA MASCARO

the issue, they said doing nothing was not an option as many of their Associated Press constituents faced soaring health insurance premiums beginning WASHINGTON — Overpowering this month.

Nine Republicans joined DemoSpeaker Mike Johnson, a bipartisan coalition in the House voted crats to advance the measure.

Wednesday to push forward a measure that would revive an en- Republicans go around leaders hanced pandemic-era subsidy that If ultimately successful in the lowered health insurance costs for House this week, the voting would roughly 22 million people, but that show there is bipartisan support had expired last month. for a proposed three-year extenThe tally of 221-205 was a key sion of the tax credits that are test before passage of the bill, available for those who buy insurwhich is expected Thursday. And ance through the Affordable Care it came about because four GOP Act, also known as Obamacare. centrist lawmakers joined with The action of forcing a vote has Democrats in signing a so-called been an affront to Johnson and discharge petition to force the GOP leaders, who essentially lost vote. After last year’s govern- control of their House majority as ment shutdown failed to resolve the renegade lawmakers joined

Democrats for the workaround.

But the Senate is under no requirement to take up the bill.

Instead, a small group of members from both parties is working on an alternative plan that could find support in both chambers and become law. One proposal would be to shorten the extension of the subsidy to two years and make changes to the program.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said any plan passing muster in the Senate will need to have income limits to ensure that it’s focused on those who most need the help and that beneficiaries would have to at least pay a nominal amount for their coverage.

That way, he said, “insurance companies can’t game the system and auto-enroll people.” Finally,

Thune said there would need to be some expansion of health savings accounts, which allow people to save money and withdraw it taxfree as long as the money is spent on qualified medical expenses.

Democrats pressing the issue It’s unclear whether the negotiations will yield a bill that the Senate will take up. Democrats are making clear that the higher health insurance costs many Americans are facing will be a political centerpiece of their efforts to retake the majority in the House and Senate in the fall elections.

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who led his party’s effort to push the health care issue forward, particularly challenged Republicans in competitive con-

gressional districts to join if they really wanted to prevent steep premium increases for their constituents. Before Wednesday’s vote, he called on colleagues to “address the health care crisis in this country and make sure that tens of millions of people have the ability to go see a doctor when they need one.”

Johnson, R-Benton, had discussed allowing more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers a chance to vote on bills that would temporarily extend the subsidies while also adding changes such as income caps for beneficiaries. But after days of discussions, the leadership sided with the more conservative wing of the party’s conference, which has assailed the subsidies as propping up a failed program.

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1Bn

Audit dings Clerk of Court’s Office

Review: $40K in improper bonuses issued under ex-St. Tammany official

BY WILLIE SWETT

Staff writer

A recently released audit detailed a handful of financial problems at the St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court’s Office, including a possible violation of state law due to approximately $40,000 in unauthorized bonuses to employees.

The audit, issued by the Louisiana

Legislative Auditor’s Office on Dec. 31, focused on the office’s financial records from July 2023 through June 2024, which was the last year in office of former Clerk of Court Melissa Henry. In addition to the improper bonuses, the audit found Henry deficiencies in the office’s accounting and banking practices.

Henry, a two-time incumbent, lost her reelection bid in 2023 after a combative race against Jessica Brewster, who took office on July 1, 2024.

Henry said she had not known about the audit’s findings until she was contacted by a reporter on Monday.

ments” totaling approximately $40,000, and found the payments were not approved as part of an employment contract, incentive program or collective bargaining agreement.

Such bonuses are generally prohibited by state law, the audit said.

“I don’t have any of the information that was provided to the auditor for them to make these statements,” Henry said in an interview. She said that in past years, she always had “clean, unmodified audits.”

She strongly denied handing out bonuses and said she was not aware of the accounting issues.

The audit said it had identified “what appears to be bonus pay-

ä See AUDIT, page 3B

LOVE AT FIRST BITE

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Taylor Landry goes fishing with her fiancé Kameron Belbot at City Park in New Orleans on Saturday. Although they have come to City Park before to fish and caught something, Belbot said they still hadn’t caught anything yet that evening.

DA turns his eye to long-term strategy Steep crime drop in N.O. called an ‘inflection point’

BY MISSY WILKINSON

Staff writer

Days after the New Orleans Police Department announced that violent crime had fallen for a third straight year, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams joined about a dozen criminal justice leaders to frame the moment as an “inflection point” marked by a shift from crisis response to long-term public safety planning.

“We have seen cycles of violence in this community like Williams hurricane seasons,” Williams said. “We do not have to go back. We do not have to have another crime spike.”

He credited a “historic” level of collaboration between his office, the NOPD, federal law enforcement partners, courts and judges, community groups, violence interrupters and business organizations for the sustained reduction in crime.

“Everybody was rolling up their sleeves,” said Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. “I believe that the system, for the first time in many years, is recognizing that no one can

ä See STRATEGY, page 2B

La. child dies from flu; cases rise Infections growing across country

an online dashboard each week.

Health officials said the respiratory database is expected to be updated Friday to reflect the confirmed death.

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Nationally, nine pediatric Staff writer deaths have been reported so far The state Health Department this year, according to the federal on Wednesday confirmed one Centers for Disease Control and death of a Louisiana child from Prevention.

Last year, there were 289 pediinfluenza so far this season as the U.S. experiences one of its most atric flu deaths nationally, with severe flu outbreaks in years. four in Louisiana. Flu season typiNo additional details about cally begins in October and runs the child were provided by the through April.

Louisiana Department of Health, Influenza-like activity nationwhich tracks flu-related deaths wide has reached levels not seen in the state and updates them in since 1997, according to the CDC.

Louisiana was an early hot spot this season and continues to be classified at “very high” activity levels.

Nearly 1 in 7 emergency room visits in Louisiana right now is for flu-like symptoms — almost twice the national rate — which is higher than the state has typically seen at this point in recent years, according to state data.

The highest number of visits were from children under the age of 4.

At Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans, the state’s largest children’s hospital, the flu test positivity rate was approximate-

ly 24% this week, or about 1 in 4.

“We’re also seeing an aboveaverage number of patients with severe flu who require hospitalization,” said Dr. John Schieffelin, a pediatric infectious disease expert. “It’s definitely been a really, really bad flu season.”

Children admitted for flu typically need either help breathing, which is usually treated with oxygen or breathing treatments, or they have a complication such as bacterial pneumonia, a skin infection or necrotizing encephalitis, said Dr. Margot Anderson,

ä See FLU, page 2B

‘I’ve got to do something’ Artist displays work at City Hall tallying N.O. murders for 2025

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Artist Mitchell Gaudet, left, speaks with passerby Ali Lauzon about his art piece outside City Hall in New Orleans on Wednesday. In addition to the 121 glass pieces, this year’s installation is unique because of the 14 candles in the middle of the artwork. ‘Fourteen candles represent each person killed on Bourbon Street,’ Gaudet says.

For the 11th time, artist Mitchell Gaudet stood in front of City Hall on Wednesday morning, chatting with passersby as they examined his sculpture that tallies the number of murder victims in New Orleans in the past year.

The series of one-day-only artworks has been an ongoing memorial and demonstration devoted to the seemingly intractable problem.

Each year, Gaudet creates a set of small glass ornaments that symbolize the individual deaths. In past works,

ä See ARTIST, page 3B

2B ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

La. again receives top economic honor

a nearly 60-year-old provider of economy.”

Bourgeois said 2025 set records investment, job creation, innovaLandry: State ‘setting news, Louisiana Economic Develop- for investment and job creation tion and community impact. The data and analysis related to corporate site selection, expan- ment Secretary Susan B. Bour- in Louisiana. In December, her Hyundai Steel project was found a new standard’ geois, who has announced agency closed out the year with worthy because of its national sion and relocation.

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

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 Parish was named the nation’s top development project of 2025

by Business Facilities magazine,

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 Landry 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

$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.”

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 highlights projects that demonstrate significant capital

importance and the coordinated statewide efforts that make it happen.

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.

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

N.O. zoo accepting Christmas light donation

conservation efforts in Africa. between organizations like Audu- of Africa at Audubon Zoo, said the give Audubon options for specific Funds being raised lionThose interested can bring their bon and field partners in Africa. initiative has generated up to $700 projects to allocate donations. lights to the “Lights for Lions” dopast project in Zimbabwe String lights contain metals that in recent years, but the zoo wants to for African lion nation box outside the front gates can be recycled, said Melissa Lee, increase the figure now that it has thatOneAudubon donated to strives to improve coexistence between peoof the zoo until Jan 12. Audubon an Audubon spokesperson. The lion cubs.

Over the past 25 years, Africa has ple and wildlife, such as providing requests that people only drop off zoo has recycled the lights to raise conservation string lights and do not place bags funds for the lions in recent years, lost half its lions, the Lion Recov- tools to livestock herders that make

BY JOSIE ABUGOV

or boxes in the bin.

The zoo will sell all donated lights to Southern Recycling, a local If you have old or broken string scrap metal yard in New Orleans, lights cluttering your home after and send the proceeds to the Lion the holiday season, you can donate Recovery Fund, an organization the decorations to the Audubon Zoo in partnership with the Leonardo for a good cause on the other side of DiCaprio Foundation that funds conservation projects in nearly the world.

Every string of lights donated to two dozen African countries. The Audubon will help raise funds for recovery fund serves as a conduit

Staff writer

$6.8 million bail set in abuse case Man accused of sexually assaulting 4 children in Jefferson Parish

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

A Jefferson Parish judge set bail at $6.8 million for a registered sex offender who is accused of raping and sexually abusing four children over the course of several years, according to authorities.

Troy Rodriguez, 49, of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was arrested Friday following an investigation by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and booked with three counts each of first-degree rape of a victim under 13, molestation of a victim under 13, sexual battery of a victim under 13 and indecent behavior of a victim under 13.

He was also booked with four counts of oral sexual battery of a victim under 13, said Sgt. Brandon Veal, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.

During a bail hearing Wednesday afternoon in Jefferson Parish Magistrate Court, Assistant District Attorney Cristina Santi called Rodriguez a “serial abuser” who has arrests and convictions reaching as far back to 1994.

Rodriguez is from the Westwego area though he moved to Mississippi about four months ago, according to authorities. The abuse occurred at residences in Westwego and Harvey between 2012 and 2020, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The victims include two girls and one boy who are now between the ages of 15 and 18, police said.

The fourth victim is a woman who is an adult and was identified during the investigation, according to authorities. She said Rodriguez abused her when she was between the ages of 4 and 5.

Rodriguez was a friend of the victims’ families and would sometimes babysit the children, according to Santi.

While alone with the victims, he is accused of exposing himself, inappropriately touching them, forcing them to perform sex acts, and watching them bathe or kissing them, according to authorities.

Rodriguez threatened to hurt the children or their families if they ever revealed the abuse, the Sheriff’s Office said.

One of the victims told their parents about Rodriguez, prompting them to file a report with authorities in January 2025. The Sheriff’s Office spent the next several months investigating the case, lining up interviews and coordinating with other agencies, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Rodriguez was arrested in Bay St. Louis shortly after detectives obtained an arrest warrant. He was extradited to Jefferson Parish.

Rodriguez has convictions in Jefferson Parish for aggravated oral sexual battery of a child in 1994 and three counts of obscenity in Orleans Parish in 1998. He also has a 1994 conviction for female genital mutilation in 1994, though Santi did not disclose the jurisdiction in which Rodriguez was convicted on that charge.

Bail was set by Criminal Commissioner David Wolff. Wolff also issued protective orders barring Rodriguez from contact with the victims and their families.

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,” she said. “So it’s a win-win.”

The donations for the initiative have been modest in the past. Andrew Haertzen, assistant curator

Continued from page 1B a pediatric infectious disease specialist and assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at Tulane University.

A “huge influx” of patients with influenza are seeking ER care, Anderson said. Flu season will be continuing for at least a couple more months, said Anderson, who recommended adults and children over the age of 6 months get a flu shot to prevent hospitalization.

“Fifty percent of flu deaths in pediatrics in a given year are in absolutely healthy children, and we know that getting the flu shot is very protective against severe outcomes,” Anderson said.

The death comes amid a major shift in federal vaccine policy.

Federal health officials recently

announced they will no longer recommend the influenza vaccine as a routine immunization for all children, along with rotavirus, RSV, hepatitis A and B, meningococcal and COVID-19.

Though the CDC releases recommendations, it is up to states to decide to implement those recommendations. LDH said it will be following the CDC recommendations.

In Louisiana, former Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham — now the second in command at the CDC — ended long-standing mass vaccination efforts last year, including drive-through flu vaccination events.

Federal data shows that 29.1% of Louisiana children have received a flu vaccine this season compared to 42.5% nationally. It is the lowest percentage of immunized children in the state in recent reporting years.

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.”

Meteorologist leaving WWL Louisiana station Social media post says she wants to spend more time with her young son

BY KEITH SPERA

Staff writer

Popular WWL Louisiana meteorologist Alexandra Cranford announced on social media Wednesday that she’s leaving the station next week to be a stay-at-home mom.

Cranford has been a fixture on WWL for 13 years. She went on maternity leave in September 2024 ahead of the birth of her

son, Marius, later that month. given me.

She returned to the airwaves “Most of all, I thank God for the in early 2025, but has now de- gift of my family, for guiding me to this new phase of life, cided to step away from and for life itself.” the grind of TV weather She added that she’ll forecasting entirely. also be getting off social “I’ll be leaving WWLmedia soon, “so maybe TV next week to stay I’ll see you in the grocery home with my baby,” she store aisle sometime.” wrote on Facebook.

Cranford grew up in “It’s been an honor Slidell. She graduated to share New Orleans summa cum laude from weather with you for Cranford LSU with a Bachelor of 13 years. Thank you for watching and listening to Arts in political communication, my forecasts — it has meant so then earned a Master of Science in applied meteorology from Mismuch.”

She continued, “I’m grateful sissippi State University. for all the positive and profesShe arrived at WWL-TV in 2012 sional people I’ve worked with, after previous stops at TV staand for the joy this job has tions in Monroe and Shreveport.

STAFF PHOTO By MISSy WILKINSON

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams appears at the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office with local, federal and civic partners to discuss a master safety plan on Wednesday.

STRATEGY

Continued from page 1B

FLU

ery 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

accomplish the objective without working with the others closely.”

The jail population is down by about 300 detainees compared with last year, when it threatened to exceed the City Council-imposed cap of 1,450 people, which Goyeneche attributed to more efficient case processing, not fewer arrests. Along with federal partners including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service, the NOPD has targeted the most violent offenders and presented strong evidence to the District Attorney’s Office, which delivered strong prosecutions, Williams said.

“How is it we had a 55% reduction in violent crime with a police agency that has its lowest number of police officers of all time?” said Daniel Shanks, director of strategic initiatives at the Dis-

trict Attorney’s Office. “That’s because it is a group lift. ... It’s having data drivers, using riskterrain modeling ... to really understand not only where a crime is occurring but why.”

Williams pointed to the New Orleans Data-Informed Community Engagement initiative for helping identify violent hot spots, diagnose the root causes for violence and apply remedies ranging from blight reduction to public health interventions.

The downward crime trend began in 2023 in New Orleans, which followed a nationwide trend as a surge of post-pandemic violence began to wane.

Independent analysts including Jeff Asher placed the city’s 2025 homicide rate at its lowest level since around 1970.

City officials pushed back against the notion that New Orleans’ progress simply mirrors national patterns.

“For those who say we are riding the tide of national trends, our reduction in homicide has

been three times the national average,” said Michael Hecht, president and CEO of GNO, Inc. “This is us doing something different and doing something better.”

Williams urged stakeholders to craft a sustainable, strategic master plan for violence reduction.

“This is not the time to wave a victory flag,” he said. “This is a time to take stock and ensure we don’t backslide. We need to talk about what’s working. Let’s lock those things in.”

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 3B

lll

New Orleans Area Deaths

Bear hunting season in Louisiana ends

Hunters, who must pee, West Feliciana, Iber- “We’re pleased to give our farmers, the bear popula16 killed, with state. be Louisiana residents, are ville, Landry, St. Martin and state hunters a chance to tion’s revival has become through a lottery. enjoy this special season. a nuisance, but there are West Baton Rouge. biggest weighing chosen The 2024 season was the Five bears were killed And the lottery revenue also concerns that the bear 565 pounds first in more than 35 years. in Area 1, which includes a which comes from the hunt population remains tenuous n

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

Louisiana’s second iteration of its newly restarted black bear hunting season has ended with 16 bears killed, with the biggest weighing in at 565 pounds, the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said.

The state opted to allow a highly restricted hunting season for black bear starting in 2024 after the species expanded in population after having previously been decimated. The hunt is limited in duration and restricted to specific regions of the

The second iteration was held from Dec. 6 to Dec. 21 in three regions, located in swaths of south, central and northeast Louisiana. Twenty-six tags, or permits, were issued.

Ten males and six female bears were killed, the department said. n Eight were killed in Area 4, which includes all or portions of the following northeastern parishes: East Carroll, Madison, Tensas, West Carroll, Catahoula, Franklin and Richland. The largest bear was killed here. n Three bears were killed in Area 2, which includes all or portions of Pointe Cou-

long list of south Louisiana parishes.

In 2024, hunters killed 10 bears, including one that weighed nearly 700 pounds.

The department said population estimates and other data were used to determine the number of permits issued. Cubs and females with cubs cannot be killed.

“Our second bear hunting season proved to be successful and a tribute to the conservation effort of our department, private landowners, hunters and other partners who helped bring back the Louisiana black bear,” department Secretary Tyler Bosworth said.

helps to make sure the Louisiana black bear thrives.”

All black bear lottery fees and license revenue is reinvested into the Louisiana Black Bear Program, which includes annual live trapping and radio-collaring, winter den checks to monitor reproductive rates and noninvasive hair sampling to monitor range expansion, the department said.

The state considers the black bear a conservation success story. The species was removed from protection under the Endangered Species Act in 2016.

But it remains controversial for some. For many

and that it is too soon to allow hunts.

The Louisiana black bear was given protected status and listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1992.

Hunting and habitat loss took a heavy toll on the species, with as few as between 80 and 120 bears in Louisiana by the 1950s, according to some estimates.

Bear hunting nonetheless remained legal in parts of Louisiana through the late 1980s.

Email Mike Smith at msmith@theadvocate. com.

Second suspect booked in deadly home invasion

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives investigating the death of a man gunned down during a break-in at his Harvey apartment have arrested a second suspect in the case.

Tequian Singleton, 22, was booked Tuesday with firstdegree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated burglary and obstruction of justice, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Singleton is accused in the death Tyre Brown, a 25-yearold man shot during a home invasion on Nov. 13, said Sgt. Brandon Veal, a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.

No information was immediately available about how investigators identified Singleton as a suspect.

Sean Crosby, 20, of Harvey, was the first person arrested in Brown’s death five days after the homicide.

Sheriff’s Office Detective Blaine Howard provided details about the investigation during a Dec. 3 hearing in Crosby’s case.

Deputies were sent to Brown’s apartment in the 4200 block of Lac Couture Drive just after 10 a.m. on Nov. 13 after receiving a report of a break-in, the Sheriff’s Office said. When they arrived, another resident directed the deputies to a downstairs bathroom, where they found Brown suffering from a gunshot wound to his neck, Howard said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A witness told investigators he had been asleep upstairs when he woke to the sound of a gunshot. The man walked toward the stairs and spotted strangers clad in masks, gloves and hooded jackets, according to Howard.

One of the intruders, who was armed with a gun, ordered the man downstairs

and onto the ground, according to Howard. The intruders demanded to know where the money and marijuana were located in the residence, according to authorities.

The witness didn’t know, so some of the intruders went upstairs. The witness told deputies he heard them rummaging through the apartment, according to Howard. The gunman warned his accomplices they were making too much noise and told them they’d have to leave.

The suspects eventually fled from the apartment. Another resident who wasn’t in the apartment at the time of the burglary later told investigators the suspects took $30,000 in cash and a PlayStation 5 video gaming system, according to Howard.

Detectives identified Crosby as a suspect using video from security camera systems in the neighbor-

hood, a sprawling apartment complex, according to Howard.

One of the videos shows Crosby with at least three other men standing in a nearby alleyway of the complex about an hour before the burglary, according to Howard, who testified that the video of Crosby is “crystal clear.”

While Crosby didn’t enter the apartment with the suspects, he is seen standing with the men as they mask up, put on gloves and hooded jackets, according to Howard.

Crosby also wipes off a gun when asked to do so by one of the suspects, Howard said.

The trio then leaves while Crosby stays in that area of the complex, Howard said.

After the homicide, the three are seen fleeing from the apartment with at least one gun and a PlayStation, “laughing as they’re running,” according to Howard.

Detectives learned from another witness that the suspects, including Crosby, had been planning to rob Brown for at least a week, Howard testified. The witness claimed that it was Crosby who provided the gun, according to authorities.

Crosby was arrested Nov. 18 and booked with firstdegree murder, aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and obstruction of justice. At the conclusion of his hearing, Jefferson Parish Criminal Commissioner Paul Schneider ruled there was probable cause to continue holding him as charged.

Bail for Crosby was set at $620,000. As of Tuesday, no bail had been set for Singleton. Both were being held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna.

Adams, Lucille Allen, Louvenia Andry, Brooke Angelain, Florence Black, Clifton Bradley, Anthony Bridges, Elma Brown, Alex Brown, Lorraine Christopher, JoAnn Coleman Jr., Alfred Cullen, Terrence Ellis, Dorothy Henry Sr., Jerry Hoerner Sr., Denis Hyatt, Elvin James, Elmira Johnson, Thomas Labostrie, Mildred Lafleur, Dolores Lockwood, Serena Stutts, George Trapani, Patricia Vollenweider, Jerry Young, Maxine

E Jefferson Garden of Memories

Lafleur, Dolores Stutts, George Richardson FH Black, Clifton

New Orleans Boyd Family Labostrie, Mildred Charbonnet

Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate. com.

Coleman Jr., Alfred DW Rhodes

ARTIST

Northshore man accused of stealing from business

he chose the faces of crying babies, broken columns, blood droplets, fallen leaves, bull’s-eyes, birds, hands, adult faces, hearts and white flowers to represent the victims.

This year, he produced 138 glass flames, displayed upside-down, implying lives prematurely extinguished. By his count, over the past 11 years, the high was 209 murders in 2022 and the low was 119 in 2019, he said.

Gaudet had intended to end his decadelong project last year. But the Jan. 1, 2025, terror attack inspired him to continue.

“I said, ‘I’ve got to do something,’ ” he recalled.

Wednesday’s display included 14 red-tinted votive candles dedicated to the victims of the mass murder.

Staff report

Continued from page 1B

AUDIT

Continued from page 1B “I never gave out bonuses. Everything was always documented with everything that was done,” Henry said.

The audit also found that the office had $830,000 worth of “under-collateralized” deposits in a bank account. Essentially, that means that if the bank failed, the office could have risked losing $830,000, Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack said in an interview.

There was also no procedure in the office for the “timely reconciliation” of cash and investment accounts, the audit said, and it also found the office’s list of capital assets — things like desks or computers — was out of date.

Henry said it had been her understanding the

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Artist Mitchell Gaudet, right, speaks with Dale Gunnoe by Gaudet’s art piece outside City Hall in New Orleans on Wednesday.

“What’s cool for me, out here, is that it’s a conversation starter,” Gaudet said of displaying his annual artwork at the seat of city government. “People see the number and we start talking about what they think the causation is.” Speaking to people who’ve been affected by murder firsthand

can be both “fulfilling and exhausting,” Gaudet said.

Passerby Jenny Hughey, who works at the nearby Civil District Court, said the artwork struck her as “sad, but necessary.”

Email Doug MacCash at dmaccash@theadvocate. com.

bank deposits were collat- said.

Brewster also said she eralized, and said she was not aware of the other ac- thought the previous auditor had missed iscounting issues.

She said she consues with Henry’s office. tacted the Legis“We wanted a lative Auditor’s new set of eyes to Office to ask if look over the previshe could file a reous audits and also sponse to the findlook at us coming ings. She said they in as a new entity,” told her she could Brewster she said of her defile a response, but that it would not be pub- cision to hire the accounting firm EisnerAmper, licly posted. which conducted the reDelayed review cently released audit.

Brewster also pointed Another finding focused on the timing of the audit: to the fact that she did not it was issued a year after it gain entry to the office unwas due. til July 1, 2024, the day her Brewster, whose job it term formally started. was to submit the audit, But Henry said “there’s said a few different factors no law requiring an incomcontributed to the delay, ing elected official access including her office’s deci- into the office,” adding that sion to hire a new auditor she “provided all the docuand difficulties locating mentations” and “adhered documents. to everything that was re“It was almost like a quired” during the transiscavenger hunt to find the tion to the incoming clerk documents,” Brewster and staff.

A Folsom-area man has been arrested and accused of embezzling more than $539,000 from his employer, officials with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.

Following a five-month investigation, Christopher Miguel Orlando, 42, was booked on numerous felony counts, including theft, forgery, money laundering and bank fraud, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. He surrendered himself to authorities Tuesday, authorities said.

The Sheriff’s Office declined to identify the business, but said the owner contacted authorities last August after discovering that around $300,000 was

missing from the business’ accounts. Detectives determined that Orlando, an employee, had stolen $539,202 from the business.

The Sheriff’s Office did not detail how the money was stolen or what evidence led to Orlando’s arrest.

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West Bank Davis Mortuary Henry Sr., Jerry Mothe Hyatt, Elvin Vollenweider, Jerry West Leitz-Eagan Bradley, Anthony

Obituaries Adams, Lucille

With sadness we share the passing of Lucille Adams, on December 28, 2025. Please visit www.rho desfuneral.com to view service information, sign online guestbook, send flowers and share condo‐ lences.

Allen, Louvenia Celestine

Louvenia Celestine Allen peacefully transitioned from this life on January 4, 2026, at the age of 91. She was born on October 8, 1934, in Schriever, Louisiana, to the late Henry Celestine and Lillie Ross Celestine. Louvenia was a devoted mother, grand‐ mother, and matriarch whose life was marked by unwavering love, strength, and dedication to her fam‐ ily. A proud and hardwork‐ ing woman, she retired from the New Orleans Pub‐ lic School System, where she faithfully served as a baker. As a widow, she courageously raised six children on her own, instill‐ ing strong values, re‐ silience, and faith that will live on through genera‐ tions. She leaves to cherish her precious memories five daughters: June Allen Stephens, Lillian Allen, Ruth Allen LeFort, Cather‐ ine Allen Perkins (Samuel), and Traci Allen; nine grand‐ children; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other lov‐ ing relatives, and dear friends. Louvenia was pre‐ ceded in death by her beloved husband, William Allen III; her only son, William Allen IV; her sister, Carrie Celestine Angeletti; and her grandparents, Charlie and Carrie Thomas Ross. Relatives and friends of the family, pastors, offi‐ cers, and members of New Hope Baptist Church and Asia Baptist Church, also employees of LSU Charity Hospital, the United States Postal Service, Lighthouse for the Blind, New Orleans Charter Science and Math‐ ematics High School, and Wal-Mart are invited to join the family in celebrating her life and legacy. A Chris‐ tian Celebration of Life Ser‐ vice will be held at D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana on Fri‐ day, January 9, 2026 at 10:00 am. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am. Inter‐ ment: Providence Memor‐ ial Park Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Please visit www.rhodesf uneral.com to sign the on‐ line guestbook.

Andry, Brooke Schneidau

Brooke Schneidau Andry passed away on December 17, 2025, in Katy, Texas.

Born on August 27, 1945, to Hughes and Lenora Schneidau in New Orleans, Brooke spent much of her life in the city she loved.

Brooke graduated from Metairie Park Country Day and furthered her studies at Louisiana State University.

Later in life, Brooke earned her degree in respiratory therapy from

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Delgado Community College. She dedicated 15 years of her professional life as a respiratory therapist at East Jefferson Hospital before retiring to embrace her favorite role as a grandmother.

Brooke cherished her family above all. She was a devoted grandmother to seven grandchildren—Mathilde, Grace, Avery, Carter, Eleanore, Adelaide, and Matthew—and a loving great-grandmother to Ben. Her family brought her immense joy, and she relished every moment spent with them.

Music was a lifelong passion for Brooke. She enjoyed playing the guitar and singing with friends and neighbors on Sandy Hook Drive in Pass Christian, Mississippi.

However, her favorite musical companions were always her grandchildren.

Whether strumming her guitar or sharing mint chocolate chip ice cream with her grandkids, she treasured these simple pleasures. Brooke also enjoyed fishing off the pier in Bay St. Louis, and horseback riding.

Brooke was a devoted Saints and Tulane fan, faithfully supporting her teams through every season. She was always ready to break into "Oh When The Saints Go Marching In," bringing joy and spirit to those around her.

Brooke was preceded in death by her mother, Lenore Schneidau; her father, Hughes "Doc" Schneidau; her brother, Hughes "Tuck" Schneidau; her niece, Kristen Schneidau; her sister-inlaw, Iris Schneidau; and her ex-husband, Robert Andry.

She is survived by her two sons, Robert(Meryl) and Hughes Andry(Catherine); her niece, Laura Schneidau; her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchild.

Brooke's legacy of love, music, and family will be cherished by all who knew her.

A grave-side service will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., on Saturday January 17th at 10am for friends and family that would like to attend

Angelain, Florence Roussell

Florence Roussell Ange‐ lain entered eternal rest on December 29, Monday, 2025 at the age of 82. She was born on December 30, 1942 in, Convent La, to the late Ferdinand Roussell and Marie Legeaux Rous‐ sell. Florence was the old‐ est of three children, sis‐ ter, Carol Roussell Roche, and brother, the late Richard Roussell. She was devoted mother of a Giselle Angelain White and Anthony J. Angelain, III. Florence leaves to cherish her memories two grand‐ children Anthony J. Ange‐ lain, IV (Jessica), and Dante R. Carter, and one great-granddaughter, Emerson Mae Angelain.

She also leaves to morn a host of relatives and friends who will deeply miss her. Florence was pre‐ ceded in death by her late grandson, Shadrach D. An‐ affectionately gelain known as “Shaddy Boo,” as well as her daughter-inlaw, Yvonne Angelain, and son-in-law, Craig White.

Everyone called her “Flo,” she was a woman of strong faith who prayed her rosary daily. She found joy and peace working in her garden and especially en‐ joyed trips to the casino with her dear friend, Ms. Willie. Flo also cherished her loyal companions, her dogs Imani and Sasha. Flo‐ rence dedicated 30 years of her life serving as a teacher’s aide, where she touched many lives with her patience, kindness, and commitment to educa‐ tion. She will be remem‐ bered for her faith, love for her family, and the simple joys that brought her hap‐ piness. Her legacy of love and devotion will live on in all who knew her. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mar‐ tin de Porres Catholic Church, 5621 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans, LA on Friday, January 9, 2025 at 11:00am. Visitation will begin at 9:00am until 10:45am. Interment: Lake Lawn Park Cemetery, New Orleans, LA. Arrangements entrusted to D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Wash‐ ington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70125. Please visit www.

rhodesfuneral.com to sign online guestbook, share and condo‐ memories lences with the family.

Black, Clifton L.

Clifton L. Black earthly journey ended on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

He was a lifelong resident of New Orleans, LA. He leaves to cherish his memories his daughter, Christine Black (Anthony), and two sisters, Mary Ann Smith and Elnora John.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Fischer Community Church, located at 1737 L. B. Landry Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70114. Pastor J. N. Brown will officiate.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Restlawn Park Cemetery in Avondale, Louisiana.

Richardson Funeral Home of Jefferson, River Ridge, LA is in charge of arrangements. www.richards onfuneralhomeofjefferson. com.

Bradley, Anthony

Our beloved Anthony Bradley, 72, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at his daughter's home in Zachary, Louisiana, on January 2, 2026.

Endearingly known as "Ant," Anthony was a devoted single father whose life was defined by his deep love for his children and his passion for the great outdoors. Anthony was also formerly married to Patricia Bradstreet. His spirit lives on through his children; Ishacoyah Adeyanju (shared with Georgia Angela Walker Adeyanju), Amber Bradley (shared with Felicia Williams), and Azariah Bradley (shared with Willette Wing), and his cherished granddaughters, Nyla Dawson and Nirvana Knox.

Anthony was born on February 11, 1953, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Louis Bradley, Sr. and Mildred Sanders Bradley.

He graduated from Belle Chasse High School and attended Grambling University before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, following the example of his elder brothers, Louis "Spike" Bradley, Jr. and Gregory Bradley, who served in the U.S. Army during the same conflict.

Anthony was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, the Philippines, and the South China Sea during the Vietnam War. He served honorably as a Marine Corporal with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/ 9), part of the 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force Pacific (FMFPac), and later played a meaningful role in the heroic rescue operation of the hijacked SS Mayaguez in 1975.

Genuine, humble, and quietly courageous, Anthony found joy and peace in nature; hunting, fishing, and appreciating the world outdoors. He lived by the principles of service, humility, self-sufficiency, and resourcefulness, leaving a lasting imprint on all who knew him.

After his military service, Anthony devoted himself to healthcare, serving his community as a nurse with Belle Chasse Metropolitan Center, Charity and University Hospitals, and Riverbend Nursing Home in Belle Chasse, Louisiana.

Anthony's legacy of love and service will live on in the hearts of his family and friends, including his siblings Melvina Johnson, Mable Odgen, Gregory Bradley, Eric Bradley, Rosalind Smith, Roland Bradley, Byron Bradley Sr., Stephanie Watts, and Ericka Martin, along with

an army of devoted nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins, and friends who loved him immensely.

Anthony was predeceased by his beloved parents, Louis Bradley, Sr. and Mildred Sanders Bradley; his brother "Spike" Louis Bradley Jr.; his sister Glynda Marie Bradley; and nephews Brian Johnson and Louis Bradley III, brother in law Charles Johnson. He was also preceded in death by his longtime partner, Eugenia Ross, and by Georgia Angela Walker Adeyanju and Felicia Williams. May they all rest together in eternal peace.

family are invited to attend her Funeral Service at Sec‐ ond Morning Star Baptist Church, 2616 St. Andrews Street on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 10:00 am. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am. Inter‐ ment: Providence Memor‐ Park Cemetery. ial by D.W. Arrangements Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Avenue.

Washington Please visit www.rhodesf uneral.com to sign the guestbook.

Brown, Alex Joseph

A devoted housewife and master gardener, JoAnn transformed every space she touched with care and creativity. Her passion for gardening blossomed into a lifelong mission of mentorship and community building. In 1958, she founded the Shady Oaks Garden Club in River Ridge, Louisiana—an organization that continues to flourish as a testament to her vision, leadership, and love for nurturing both plants and people.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her first husband, Neil Christopher; her son, Craig Lee Christopher; her daughter, Ann Brown; her sister, Camille Anderson; and her brother, Peter Garza. Their memories remained close to her heart throughout her long and meaningful life.

Bridges, Elma Doll

Elma Doll Bridges was born on April 22, 1941, to the union of Ceaser B. Bridges and Donah Eliza‐ beth Smith Bridges in Walthall County, Missis‐ sippi. At an early age, she professed her faith in Christ and was baptized at Home Holiness New Church. She received her through the education County Public Walthall School System and gradu‐ ated from Hope Vocational High School. After graduat‐ ing, Elma relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she attended Southern Uni‐ versity at New Orleans (SUNO). God blessed Elma with two sons, Darryl Keith Bridges and Darnell Kent Bridges. She was employed by the City of New Orleans, working at the Milne Boys Home and The Youth Study Center as a juvenile coun‐ selor. After years of dedi‐ cated service, she retired in 2005. In 1967, Elma be‐ came a faithful member of Second Morning Star Mis‐ sionary Baptist Church, where she served dili‐ gently as church secretary for 37 years. Her commit‐ ment, faithfulness, and service were a blessing to the church and its mem‐ bers. Elma later became the property owner of The Other Place Lounge. Known affectionately as “Doll,” she was a strong, indepen‐ dent boss lady—deeply rooted in faith, guided by purpose, and unwavering in her values. A Christian woman at heart, Elma car‐ ried herself with grace and trusting God strength, through every season of her life. Her faith was not just spoken; it was lived daily through her actions, decisions, and the way she treated others. Doll was a devoted advocate in her and many community, gravitated toward her and lovingly referred to her as “Mom.” She was the neigh‐ mother and borhood providing grandmother, unwavering love and sup‐ port. She gave warm financial assis‐ meals, tance, emotional strength, encouragement, and physi‐ cal care throughout her life. In 2024, Elma was hon‐ ored and presented with an award at the 12th Ward Sneaker Ball for her out‐ standing contributions to the community. She was a pillar of the 12th Ward, served on the Neighbor‐ hood Watch Committee, and was treasurer of her social and pleasure club, The Triple SSS Club. Along with fellow members, Elma helped organize toy drives and school supply give‐ aways for children in the Elma Doll community.

Bridges leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, strength, and love that will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and her.

Elma Doll loved Bridges was preceded in death by her parents, Ceaser, Sr. and Donah Bridges; her life long loving companion Jasper Powell; her brothers, Otis Lee Bridges, Burlin Bridges, Ceaser Bridges, Jr., and Quinton D. Bridges; sister Allah Mae Lumpkin; her son Darnell K. loving Bridges; and her special life long friends Justine Elizabeth Lawrence; Square; Albertine Reed; and Mary Jones. She leaves to cherish her memory her sister, Irma Jean Lumpkin; her brother, Booker T. Bridges; her son, Darryl (Nina) Bridges; her 11 grandchildren Eric, Khristy, Darrieal, Darryl Jr., Bran‐ don, Darisha, Darnika, Ja‐ coby, Darnell Jr., Darrion and Narriel, her 18 greatgrandchildren , and her god-child Danielle Patter‐ son; and a host of nieces, cousins, ex‐ nephews, tended family, and friends.

Relatives and friends of the

faith, and the beauty of the natural world. She attended Louise S. McGehee School, where she cultivated the curiosity, grace, and determination that would define her life.

Alex Joseph Brown, age 56, native and resident of Houma, LA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. He was a Roofer and a member of the Masonic Order. He leaves to cherish his mem‐ ories: siblings, Constance M. Walker, Beulah M. Brown, Jada R. Brown and Schenika S. Brown. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Sr. and Ella Mae Walker Brown; sib‐ lings, Joseph Brown, Jr. and Annie M. Brown; grandpar‐ ents, Joe Wolfe and Is‐ abella Walker and Jimmie and Beulah Brown. Rela‐ tives and friends of the family are invited to the Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at PTR Ministries Church, 223 Stovall Street, Houma, LA 70364 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Inter‐ PTR Cemetery, ment Houma LA. You may sign the guest book on http:// www.gertrudegeddeswilli s.com. Gertrude Geddes Willis Funeral Home Inc., in charge (985) 872-6934.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jozsef Toth; her daughters Ronna Christopher, Leonora Hermann, Chris Christopher, Martha Bravo, and Patricia Arteaga; her niece, Johannah Fernandez Anderson; and her many cherished grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Known for her generosity and her instinct to help anyone in need, JoAnn lived her life with quiet strength and an open heart. She leaves behind a legacy rooted in kindness, service, and the belief that even the smallest acts of care can change a life.

Funeral services will be held on January 10, 2026, at Lake Lawn in Metairie.

Visitation will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., followed by a Mass at 2:00 p.m.

Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance of a remarkable woman whose presence enriched all who knew her.

Brown, Lorraine Marie Coleman Jr., Alfred

Lorraine Marie Brown, age 57, born on September 28, 1968 in New Orleans, LA, departed this earthly home on Wednesday, De‐ cember 24, 2025. She at‐ tended Booker T. Washing‐ ton High School. Lorraine was the beloved daughter of Marion Brown. Loving mother of Darcell Brown, Veralynn Brown, Antonio and Quinchell Brown Brown. Devoted sister of Monica Brown and Kieanta Brown. She was also sur‐ vived by 9 grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, family and cousins, friends. She was preceded in death by her father Joe Milton; two brothers, Issac Brown and Corey Brown; and two grandsons Ken‐ neth Brown and Sir Antonio Relatives and Brown. friends of the family are in‐ vited to attend the Cele‐ bration of Life Service on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Gertrude Geddes Willis Funeral Home, 2120 Jack‐ son Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113 at 12:30 p.m. Visi‐ tation from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Private Burial.

You may sign the guest book on www.gertrudeged Gertrude deswillis.com.

Willis Funeral Geddes Home, Inc., in charge (504) 522-2525.

Christopher, JoAnn G.

JoAnn Christopher, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of her community, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2026, at the age of 96. Born on October 1, 1929, in New Orleans, JoAnn grew up with a deep appreciation for family,

Alfred Coleman, Jr., a lifelong New Orleanian known for his style, cre‐ ativity and love for family, departed this life on Thurs‐ day, December 25, 2025 at the age of 67. Alfred was born February 15, 1958 to the late Alfred Coleman, Sr. and Cecelia August. He at‐ tended Joseph S. Clark High School and later stud‐ ied at Southern University A&M College and the Uni‐ versity of New Orleans. Al‐ fred was a published writer, creative artist and devoted football fan. He served nearly 20 years as an employee of the City of New Orleans. Most re‐ cently, he was employed with Crescent City Consul‐ tants. Alfred leaves to cherish precious memo‐ ries, wife, Tyist Coleman; sons, Anthony Coleman, Alfred Coleman, III and Ronald Triggs; grandchil‐ dren Ace, A’Ja and Kai Cole‐ man; siblings, Oliver Lee (Kimberly), Gail M. Lee, Keith Coleman (Rhonda) Thamus Jenkins and (Joneisha), as well as a host of other relatives and Relatives and friends. members of friends; Greater St. Stephens; em‐ ployees of the City of New Orleans Department of Public Works, Crescent City Consultants, Jen Care Med‐ ical Center , CC’s coffee shop and alumni of Joseph S. Clark Class of 1976 are invited to attend the fu‐ neral. A Celebration ser‐ vice honoring the life and legacy of the late Alfred Coleman, Jr., will be held at Gentilly Baptist Church, 5141 Franklin Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122 on Satur‐ day, January 10, 2026 at 11 am. Internment Mt. Olivet 2050 Caton Cemetery, Street, New Orleans, LA. Visitation 10 am in the church. Please sign online guestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com.

Charbonnet Labat Glapion, Directors (504)581 4411.

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Cullen, Terrence Joseph

Terrence Joseph Cullen, age 77, passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at St Oaks Care Center in Carriere, Mississippi.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Bernadette Burlett Cullen and their three children: Joseph F. Williamson (Wendy), Robert Kevin Williamson (Kimberly), and Bridgette M. Williamson (Kerry).

He is also survived by five grandchildren: Courtney L. Thornhill (Kevin), Meghan G. Hennessey (Matthew), Lance Corporal Cullen J. Williamson (USMC), Kade Williamson, Merrin F. Williamson and two great grandchildren: Savannah and Joel.

He was predeceased by his parents, John Cullen, Jr. and Yvonne Monju Cullen, his two brothers: John and Paul Michael Cullen and his brother-in-law: Stephen Abernathy, Sr. He is survived by his sister, Kathleen C. Abernathy and sisters-in-law, Valerie Martin and Mary Francis Windmeyer.

Terry, "TC" to many and "Pops" to his family, was an exceptional, witty and grammatically-correct man who grew up in Gentilly, where he spent many days playing baseball with his childhood and lifelong friends. This love for baseball inspired his favorite bucket list item by taking in a game at the ballpark of all 30 Major League Baseball teams, as he completed this task in 2023 with family by his side. His love for sports also allowed him to share announcing New Orleans area high school football games with his two sons and nephew, Gerald.

Terry took great pride in his professional careers as a psychiatric nurse and high school educator, most significantly at Redeemer High School in New Orleans. His influence at Redeemer as a teacher, coach and administrator shaped the lives of literally thousands of young adults.

He was a passionate, caring and understanding role model that positively impacted those around him, while always self-admitting that his students equally impacted himself.

Redeemer High's students and his fellow faculty members always held a special place in his heart.

On his personal side, his childhood love for baseball and music were known to all, the latter of which was heard loudly by many, and often. As these loves developed, he worked behind the scenes at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in its early years and, unbeknownst to some, he also spent time as a young roadie for "Vince Vance and the Valiants," who was headlined by his best friend, Jim. However, baseball never took a backseat. He loved Pee Wee Reese and the Dodgers, until later in life when he proclaimed he "traded himself to the Cardinals" due to the signing of a player not to be named. Simply put: he despised the Yankees. His true baseball love was research and analyzing statistics the way that only fanatical baseball buffs can comprehend.

With all of his accomplishments, Terry's greatest impact in life was his success as an instant father of three. What started out as, "Mr. Cullen," quickly transitioned to Terry, TC, Tboy and his favorite: Pops. His affection, care, and love perfectly balanced his thoughtful advice while teaching his children respect for others, personal accountability and being good people.

Most importantly, their success in life, marriage, parenthood, and careers is a testament to his sacrifice and commitment to family.

His greatest love, however, and his basis for his happiness, centered on his beautiful bride. He constantly professed his love for his Bernadette and gave credit to God for bringing them together.

His relationship was a true testament to the Sacrament of Marriage.

Their happy union built an extended loving family that he was proud of, as well as several dozen nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friendships.

The family is especially thankful to Deaconess Home Hospice, Merit Wesley Senior Behavioral Health, Notre Dame

Hospice, and St Oaks Care Center who lovingly cared for him during the last two months of his battle with Alzheimer's.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at St. Rose De Lima in Bay St Louis. Visitation will begin at 8:00 a.m. and last until Mass. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in New Orleans. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to the Waveland Public Library (345 Coleman Ave, Waveland, MS 39576) or the Bay St Louis Little Theater (398 Blaize Ave, Bay St Louis, MS 39520. Edmond Fahey Funeral Home in Bay St Louis is in charge of arrangements.

Ellis, Dorothy Mae Moore 'Doris'

Dorothy Mae "Doris" Moore Ellis, entered into rest on December 3, 2025.

She was born January 24, 1952 to the union of the late Milton Moore Sr. and Celestine Williams Moore in Hohen Solms, LA in As‐ cension Parrish. She was the only girl and is pre‐ ceded in death by her two brothers. Dorothy didn't have any children but leaves to cherish her mem‐ ory two nephews: Milton III (Erica) and Moore Michael Moore (leisha) and one niece Zipporah Moore.

She leaves 5 great nieces: Zakenyah Moore, Makayla Moore, Mikeciah Moore, Milan Moore and Rochelle Martin. 2 great nephews: Zandell Moore and Royal Martin. Great-great niece Brooklyn Rodgers. Greatgreat nephew Raschaud Rogers. A bonus nephew Brendon Adams and her Bonus niece/baby Carolina Dolly. She also leaves to mourn a host of family and friends who loved her dearly. Special acknowl‐ edgement to those who have stuck by her and have helped her in her later years: Dana Amour, Bonnie Woods, Regenia Jones, Vir‐ ginia Jones, Louise Donald‐ son, Linda Faye Sampson, Reed, Louise Patricia Jones, June Allen and Veronica. I know she loved and appreciated every‐ thing you all did for her. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2025 at 10:00am at Calvary Tabernacle CME Church lo‐ cated at 3629 Dryades St, New Orleans, LA 70115. Vis‐ will begin at itation 9:00am. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park 10400 Old Gentilly Rd. New Orleans, LA. 70127. Profes‐ sional Arrangements En‐ trusted to Majestic Mortu‐ ary (504) 523-5872.

Henry Sr., Bishop Jerry Jackson

ern University of New Or‐ leans, a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and later a Doctorate in Psy‐ chology and Theology. He served his community with distinction through numer‐ ous civic, pastoral, and chaplaincy roles and re‐ ceived many honors recog‐ nizing his faith, leadership, and service. Beloved hus‐ band of Dr. Patricia Frye Henry and the late Minister Ruth M. Henry by first mar‐ riage. Loving father of Pas‐ tor Jerry J. (Elder Monica) Henry, Jr., Elder Shawn M. (Shavon) Henry, Elder Craig E. (Javonda) Henry I, and Mo’nique A. Henry. Stepfa‐ ther of LeMar (Ashley) Frye and LeNika (John) Johnson.

Son of the late Missionary Henry.

Devoted Elvira brother of District Mission‐ ary Juanita (Michael) Mc‐ Gowan and Cynthia Henry (David Duncan). Also cher‐ ishing his memories are 10 2 great grandchildren, grandchildren, and a host nieces, nephews, of cousins, friends, spiritual sons and daughters. Rela‐ tives and friends of the family, also pastors, offi‐ cers, and members of Do‐ minion and Power Min‐ istries, Life Center Cathe‐ dral, The House of Grace, Greater Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, Shiloh Bap‐ tist Church of Westwego all neighboring and churches are invited to at‐ tend a Public Viewing at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 1419 4th Street, Westwego, LA on Friday, January 9, 2026, the body will lie in repose from 6:00p.m.-8:00p.m. Homego‐ ing Celebration will be held at Rock of Ages Missionary Church, 2515 Baptist Franklin Avenue, New Or‐ leans, LA on Saturday, Jan‐ uary 10, 2026 at 10:00a.m.

Bishop Jonathan Everett, host pastor; Bishop J. Dou‐ glas Wiley Taylor, officiat‐ ing. Viewing will be held from 8:00a.m. until service ONLY. Interment: time Westlawn Park CemeteryGretna, LA. Arrangements

by Davis Mortuary Service, 230 Monroe St. Gretna, LA. To view and sign the guest‐ book, please go to www. davismortuaryservice.com.

Hoerner Sr., Denis

Denis Hoerner Sr. passed away on January 4th, 2026 at the age of 84.

He was a lifelong resident of greater NOLA and a founding partner of AllState Auto Supply. "Big Denis, the Nautical Menace" was fond of hunting, music, "repairing" engines, breaking outriggers, watching others use rig hooks, and occasionally fishing.

He is preceded in death by his parents Merlin and Elsa Mae Hoerner, and brother Merlin "Boogie" Hoerner. He is survived by his son Denis Hoerner (Patrick Welsh), brother Jack Hoerner, ex-wife Sandra Hoerner, and exwife Paula Maggiore. The family would like to thank Brett Guepet for his friendship and support over the years.

A private remembrance service will be held for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, please donate Budweiser or vodka.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ebb Hyatt, mother, Kathleen Hardy Hyatt, and sister Kathy Mc‐ Carthy. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Mothe Funeral Home, 2100 West‐ bank Expressway, Harvey, LA 70058. Viewing will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by the service at 1:00 p.m. A pri‐ vate interment will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the fam‐ ily suggests a donation to Al-Anon in recognition of the pivotal role the organi‐ zation played in Buddy’s life. Donations may be made to New Orleans AlAnon by sending a check made out to GNO Al-Anon with “Buddy H” noted on the for/memo line. Mail to: GNO Al-Anon, 3000 King‐ man St. # 108, Metairie, LA 70006. Those who knew Buddy will remember him for his intelligence, perse‐ verance, and dedication.

He will be deeply missed by all who loved him and whose lives he touched.

Family and friends can view and sign the online guest book at www.mot hefunerals.com.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 5B

parents Jim and Kittie Johnson, and Edna Ester and Tom Johnson. Special thanks also go to the staff and his friends at Essential Care. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Celebration of Life Service on Friday, Jan‐ uary 9, 2026 at St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church, 2926 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70125 at 10:00 a.m. Visitation from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Inter‐ ment Providence Memorial Park, 8200 Airline Drive, Metairie, La 70003. You may sign the guest book on www.gertrudegeddeswilli s.com. Gertrude Geddes Willis Funeral Home Inc., in charge (504) 522-2525.

Labostrie, Mildred Galloway

James, Elmira Helen

Elmira Helen James re‐ ceived her wings on Tues‐ day, December 30, 2025 at her residence. She leaves to cherish precious memo‐ ries, her devoted husband, Huey Paul James; children, Stephen James (Dana), Consuella McMillian (Fur‐ nell), Lynetta James and Naidjan Jiles (Jermaine).

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Naidjella Relatives and James. friends; Pastor, officers and members of St. An‐ drew Baptist and all other neighboring churches of Plaquemines, St. Bernard Orleans Parishes; and Alumni of Phoenix High School are invited to at‐ tend the funeral. A Cele‐ bration service honoring the life and legacy of the late Elmira Helen James will be held at St. Andrew Baptist Church, 2823 Eng‐ lish Turn Road, Braithwaite, LA on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 10 am, Pastor Jay‐ don Green, Officiating. In‐ English Turn terment Cemetery. Visitation 9 am in the church. Please sign online guestbook at www. charbonnetfuneralhome. com. Charbonnet Family Services (504)302-1520

Johnson, Thomas Christopher

Hyatt, Elvin 'Buddy'

Mildred Galloway La‐ bostrie transitioned on De‐ cember 24, 2025, at the age of 62. She was born May 10, 1963, a New Orleans native from Shaw, graduated McDonogh #35 Colton, public schools, Cameron and Delgado Community College. She retired from LSU Med. Center and N.O. Traffic Court. Mildred is survived by daughter Na‐ toya Christmas Reed, sonDesmond Reed, in-law grandchildren Tianna, Des‐ tiny, Aniyah, Des’Monique, De’Ageja and Desmond Jr. Siblings: Kenney Jr., Carey (Delcina), Cheleta (Lawrence Jr.), Zinia, Terry (May), Corey (Deidra). Also survived by a host of other relatives and friends. Mil‐ dred was proceeded in death by husband Byron Labostrie, parents Kenney Sr. and Yvonne Galloway, Alvin Sr. and in-laws Eleanor Butler, grandpar‐ ents: Ella Watson, Ruthie McGee, Gabriel Senior Sr., grandson Damien Reed and brother Joseph Gal‐ loway Sr. Family and friends are invited to at‐ tend the Celebration of Life Service on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, for 10:00 a.m. at Ray Avenue Baptist Church, 4712 Ray Avenue, N.O., LA 70126. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Pastor Robert Brown will be officiating.

Interment will follow at Holt Cemetery, 527 City Park Ave. New Orleans, LA 70119. Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditionbegins. com (504)282-0600. Linear Brooks Boyd and Donavin D. Boyd Owners/Funeral Di‐ rectors.

Lafleur, Dolores 'Dee'

Dolores “Dee” Lafleur, 92, was born and raised in Lewisburg, La. After her to the late marriage Charles Lafleur, Sr. she moved to Metairie, La. There she raised her family of five children. She passed away peacefully on Sun‐ day, January 4, 2026 at Her‐ itage Manor in Mandeville her previous spending years at Tranquil Living in Marrero. Survivors include daughters, Brenda her Lafleur, Phyllis Legendre (Tim), Cherie Lafleur Young (Jason Mayer) Charlene Winston (Doug) and one son, Charles Lafleur, Jr. (Jennifer), 13 grandchil‐ dren and 14 great grand‐ children. She is preceded in death by her husband Charles Lafleur Sr., her par‐ ents Sidney and Katherine (Gay) Boudreaux, sister Domingue and Loretta Geoffrey brother Boudreaux. Dolores was a and loving devoted grandmother, mother, great grandmother, and aunt. She was always kind and always giving. After raising her children she worked at Airline Park Ele‐ and Rudolph mentary Matas Elementary until she retired from the Jefferson Parish School Board. She was a parishioner of St Mary Magdalen Church.

Family and friends are in‐ vited to attend the Service on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at Garden of Memo‐ ries Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4900 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. 70001. Visita‐ tion will begin at 10:00 AM with a catholic Mass at 12:00 PM. Interment will be immediately thereafter.

Lockwood, Serena McHugh 'Mickey'

Serena "Mickey" McHugh Lockwood passed away peacefully at her home in Mandeville, LA on Monday, December 29, 2025. She was 80. She was preceded in death by her parents, George W. McHugh and Eunice McHugh, and her brother, George "Butch" McHugh, Jr. Mickey is survived by her husband of 51 years, Michael P. Lockwood, her children, Kathleen Bowling, Erin L. Trandacosta (David), and Sean Lockwood. She is also survived by her brother, Patrick "Skip" McHugh and three grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a lov-

See more DEATHS, page

Bishop Jerry Jackson Henry, Sr, age 74, transi‐ tioned peacefully from this earthly life into eternal rest on Saturday, December 13, 2025. He was native of New Orleans, LA and a resident of Marrero, LA. Answering God’s call at an early age, he dedicated his life to Jesus Christ and to the faithful service of God’s people. He was ordained in 1971 through the Westside Missionary Baptist Associ‐ ation, beginning a lifelong ministry marked by spiri‐ tual authority, compassion, and unwavering commit‐ ment to the Gospel. He was the pastor of Shiloh Mis‐ sionary Baptist Church of Westwego for 17 years. In obedience to God’s lead‐ ing, Bishop Henry and his late wife, Minister Ruth M. Henry, founded Dominion and Power Ministries on May 2, 1999. Through his powerful preaching and teaching, Bishop Henry ad‐ vanced the Kingdom of God, strengthened fami‐ lies, and inspired genera‐ tions to walk boldly by faith. A lifelong learner, Bishop Henry valued edu‐ cation as a vital tool for ministry and service. He earned a Bachelor of Sci‐ ence degree in Psychology and a Master of Social Work degree from South‐

Elvin “Buddy” Hyatt, born January 19, 1950, passed away peacefully December 26, 2025 at the age of 75. Buddy was born at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and later made home in Harvey, his Louisiana. He valued edu‐ cation deeply and pursued it with determination and pride. He earned a Bache‐ lor of Science in Engineer‐ ing from Mississippi State University in 1972, followed by a Master’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering from Tulane University in 1975.

He later completed his MBA at Tulane University in 1982, reflecting his lifelong commitment to learning and professional growth.

He was a member of the American Nuclear Society and served in many roles at Waterford III where he was employed for nearly 40 years.He is survived by his wife, Glenda previous Dufrene; previous wife An‐ gela Glasoe, his stepson, Donald Bourg (m. April), Ashcraft (m.

Sydney Caylem), Carter (m. Ash‐ ley); his sister, Eileen Hyatt Bloski; nephew, Michael (m.

Kacy); his Bloski brother, Eddie Hyatt (m.

Susan); nephew Dale Fitch; nieces Stephanie Harris & Jennifer Arms (m. Mackie).

Early in the morning of January 5, 2026, as he peacefully slept, Thomas Christopher Johnson was called home to be with his Savior. He was born on Oc‐ tober 21, 1976, to the union of Edward and Geraldine Johnson. He was their youngest child and only son. He attended Mc‐ Donogh #42 Elementary School and Beauregard Middle School before at‐ tending McDonogh #35, where he played on the football team. He gradu‐ ated in 1995 and briefly at‐ tended Delgado Commu‐ nity College. Over the years he worked at Banner Chevrolet, the New Orleans Public Library and The Su‐ perdome. He was baptized at St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church, and in re‐ cent months faithfully at‐ tended Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church.

He will be sorely missed by his loved ones, his mother Geraldine Johnson, his sis‐ ters, Wendy Johnson and Michelle Johnson Delery (Alan), nephews Adam (Vy‐ vian), Seth (Farrah) and Shane, and his great niece Audrey whom he loved dearly, as well as a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, especially Keith Whitehead, Anthony and Lisa McGowan, who all cared for him over the years like a little brother.

He was preceded in death by his father Edward Thomas Johnson, grand‐

6B ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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OPINION N O L A.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

Let the internet, not state government, chase chemtrail conspiracies Though Abraham Lincoln famously extolled the virtues of government of the people, by the people and for the people, we can only surmise that our 16th president did not mean to include conspiracy theorists among that number. However, Louisiana has decided that yes, it is altogether fitting and proper to involve state government in tracking the ravings of unhinged minds.

For the blessedly ignorant, there is a sliver of humanity that has somehow come to believe that the condensation trails left by airplanes in the sky are in reality dangerous chemicals that are being purposely rained down on an unsuspecting populace. These so-called “chemtrails” have been the root of conspiracies for decades, with corners of the internet abuzz with strange sightings in the sky.

What the internet cares about is far above our poor power to add or detract. But we do have an interest in what our state agencies are tasked with doing. And thanks to a bill passed by the Legislature last summer, the state Department of Environmental Quality is now required to keep a record of complaints about chemtrails, complaints that, as you might suspect, are based on little concrete evidence.

No matter that atmospheric scientists for years have explained what those white lines that appear behind airplanes are. No matter that the Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump has published pages and pages online debunking the existence of chemtrails. The state is now spending valuable time and resources to give credence to a delusion that should have long ago died in vain — but is instead being promoted by some state legislators who are encouraging their constituents to file complaints.

“Our skies belong to We the People, not to corporations, contractors, or agencies experimenting with our weather. Let’s document, report, and demand transparency,” state Sen. Valerie Hodges. R-Denham Springs, wrote on Facebook.

None of this should be surprising as we are living in deeply unserious times — even as we face deeply serious problems in our communities, our state, our nation and our world. Let us not forget that the DEQ is the agency that is supposed to regulate our petrochemical industry and make sure our water and air is clean.

Even if the law requires only that DEQ log complaints, not do anything to act on them, we can’t imagine that’s a good use of its time.

We can only hope the world will little note nor long remember what Louisiana has done here. We fear, though, that if our forefathers are watching, they might be wondering what is this nation they brought forth twelve score and 10 years ago.

Don’t hold Leah Chase School to different standard than charters Thank you for your Dec. 14 article concerning the fate of the Leah Chase School.

While recognizing the shrinking number of students remaining in New Orleans due to sundry issues of our city’s quality of life, I ask why the school board won’t consider closing one of the 10 charter schools with a multiple-year record of a D or F rating or the 39 charters with a grade of a C. To be fair, there are eight charter schools with a B and 12 with an A. However, in the ranking of existing schools from 2024 to 2025, five charter schools went from a grade of C to a D, two went from a D to an F, four remained with a D and one kept its grade

MARY ANN MUSHATT New Orleans

Guest columnist wrote about long-debunked myths about immigrants and crime I have one question for Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue. In her guest column, she mentions the release of violent criminals who murdered our citizens and tourists. Since she was a former Orleans Parish prosecutor, can she tell us what percentage of those who were released were illegal immigrants with

criminal records?

Like Mitch Landrieu, I stand behind the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Pope Leo in praying for an end to the dehumanizing rhetoric and violence.

MARY ANN AUCOIN Gretna

Rabalais is wrong; there was nothing nice about Kiffin’s treatment of Ole Miss

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.

of an F. As reported, the Leah Chase School earned a D in its first year of creating a community-based school, and it deserves the promised three years to establish itself as a community anchor.

The Leah Chase School deserves the full backing of the school board, especially in promoting the school to local parents, neighbors and businesses.

To do otherwise is an abandonment of our children to disjointed charter schools which, while paid for by all New Orleanians, have no oversight by anyone — state, local or even school board authorities.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

Scott Rabalais is entitled to his opinions, no matter how dumb they are at times. His recent column suggesting that all the departing Ole Miss coaches should stop coaching just days before the Fiesta Bowl takes the cake.

What Rabalais carefully omits is the context of how we got here. First, Kiffin played handsy with Auburn for a year, creating uncertainty and chaos at Ole Miss.

There’s also plenty of speculation that he started flirting with LSU the weekend of Oct. 5 in the Superdome at the Saints-Giants game smack-dab in the middle of the college football season.

Like a 16-year-old trying to decide which color iPhone cover to buy, he held the Sword of Damocles over his Ole Miss football team for the major-

ity of this season, only to depart just as Ole Miss was on the cusp of the playoffs.

“Letting” his assistant coaches continue to coach at Ole Miss was the ultimate act of arrogance, because Kiffin never believed Ole Miss could continue to win without him. Oops!

He underestimated his team (again).

Where I grew up, a gentleman’s word is his bond. Of course, the word “gentleman” really isn’t applicable here.

We all know that.

Let the coaches coach while Kiffin watches women’s basketball with Kim Mulkey.

LSU poached a rival’s coach. Show some dignity. They need to sit this one out.

‘Catahoula Crunch’ is already stale With adages to drain (or sweep) the swamp put aside, whoever sloganeered this latest immigration aid owes me a coffee; I spit mine out.

Nearly 10 years ago, I wrote to the newspaper in desperation over fake news swirling around my street of work — Bourbon — leading to Operation Trick or Treat. Who, other than the ladies of the night, could have predicted where that police overreach would get us?

Whether heading to work dodging soldiers teeth-deep in weaponry or trapped in another Donald Trumpconvoy gridlock, I’m time-travelling — what decade/century is this?

Kidnappings and disappearings now happen daily, while besieged venues (you, Spotted Cat) urge their independent contractors to just keep working/playing.

But I’m not here to indict anyone, I’m here to indict everyone — the Gregory Bovino-chasers catching the pitch of the moment, the activists’ leveraging that moment into a sense of right-(or left) sidedness, the electorate mouthing off egalitarianism, rolling over as the troops roll in. It’s hard to hear anyone’s heart — or urgent cries for help — over all the squawking.

This latest multi-badge effort is backed by the same slippery Christian-Dominionist sect that brought us the strip club raids. From restaurants to rooftops, Border Patrol & Co. are paid to profile and deport anyone who looks the part. Rather than work to accomplish their supposed anti-trafficking mission, their duties include scaring people, closing places we depend on and dispossessing everyone of peace. How much more scandal — or humiliation on the world stage — before New Orleans gathers its dignity and acts on its promises of sanctuary?

People don’t vanish when they’re pulled from public life. Life just becomes more dangerous, approaching impossibility. Beyond appeals to the tourism engine and its culturebearing, as we enter another Carnival season rendered terrifying by predatory policing: Again, leave us alone!

LYN ARCHER New Orleans

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 7B

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COMMENTARY As Cassidy negotiates health care, Trump could save day U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana may be poised to pull a health care rabbit from his legislative hat, to the whole country’s benefit. President Donald Trump, though, may hold the magic wand.

To understand what is happening in congressional health policy negotiations requires a bit of reading invisible ink, but that doesn’t mean the writing isn’t there, ready for revelation. So, here goes: Quin As chairman of the Hillyer Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and as a policy wonk who has pushed the only major framework for a health care bill that seems viable for bipartisan support, the Republican Cassidy early this week was in heavy negotiations among a group of about 12 Republican, Democratic and independent senators. The next morning, Trump told House Republicans that their party must be “flexible” on language similar to the Hyde Amendment, a federal law banning federal funds from being used for abortions (except in the case of rape, incest or threat to the life of the mother).

The invisible ink says this: The only reason Trump would focus on Hyde is if senators are within range of agreement on everything else. That “else” is likely to include three key provisions central to ones in Cassidy’s original proposal: 1) the ability for patients to use larger, “Silver Plan”-level subsidies for less expensive “Bronze Plans;” 2) an option for patients to convert some of the money thus saved into personal, tax-free health savings accounts; and 3) the restoration of something called “cost-saving reduction payments,” which was an original feature of Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) but which expired in 2017.

For now, though, let’s set aside any more detailed discussions of those three elements, other than to emphasize the admirably substantive nature of what may be a developing consensus. The key thing is that if Trump suddenly is talking about Hyde language, that means it, not the other substance, is probably the remaining stumbling block.

Almost all Republicans want Hyde protections explicitly added to any new law dealing with Obamacare subsidies, while almost all Democrats refuse

the spirit if it was called the Trump Cathedral.

Some are suggesting Dulles International Airport might be renamed for Trump. How many recall Dwight Eisenhower’s secretary of state? Nothing wrong with an “upgrade,” except as in so many of these it would be a downgrade.

Then there is the name of the city itself. Since Trump claims credit (and with some justification) for lowering incidents of crime, he might be honored by erasing the “C” which stands for Columbia and labeling the capital Washington, “DT”.

He’s already renamed the Institute of Peace, honoring himself for all the wars he says he has ended. It’s now called the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.

Why stop with these? The moon could be named after Trump. Moon is such a dull name. Then there are some of the planets. Trump Uranus might work, if that doesn’t sound redundant.

In 1964, the year after President Kennedy’s assassination, Congress passed legislation naming the building as a memorial to him. Some Democrats are saying Congress should approve any name change. They are right, but Trump presses on in what could result in a fait accompli.

Axios calls Congress “The worst good-paying job in America.” The Atlantic headlines, “House Republicans Aren’t Having Any Fun.” And USA Today reports: “Why quitting is all the rage in DC.” Departures from Congress are running at a record pace. Already 46 House members — 26 Republicans and 20 Democrats — have announced they’re not running again, and more retirements are expected.

There are many underlying reasons for this trend, but for Republicans, one powerful political reality is accelerating their exodus: In 20 of the last 22 midterm elections, Steve president’s party has lost Roberts the ground. Since Republicans hold a slight majority in the House, they are likely to lose control in the next Congress, and serving in the minority is a lot less rewarding that running the place.

The discontent and disillusionment pervading Capitol Hill has been building for a long time, however. Rep. Michael McCaul, a senior Republican from Texas, explained his decision to leave on CNN: “The level of partisanship, rancor, vitriolic debate, demonizing the other side of the aisle, not willing to work across the aisle to get good things done for the American people, and just the overall toxic environment.”

Similar feelings were expressed by Ken Buck, a Colorado Republican who quit Congress in 2024: “I think this place is dysfunctional,” he said.

“Instead of having decorum, instead of operating in a professional manner, this place has just devolved into this bickering and nonsense and not really doing the job for the American people.”

“It’s historic to be there,” another lawmaker told CNN. “But boy, they suck a lot of the life out of you sometimes. For some people, it’s like, what am I doing this for?”

This dismay has been badly aggravated by a new breed of member that former GOP speaker John Boehner dubbed “legislative terrorists.”

They are performers, not legislators, who thrive on combat, not compromise, and are adept at exploiting social media to elevate their profile.

Another former speaker, Paul Ryan, argues: “You have a few nihilists who are not interested in seeing their team succeed, but building a brand for themselves. ... It makes the place ungovernable.”

Don Bacon of Nebraska, a self-described oldfashioned Ronald Reagan Republican, said he’s retiring because he feels “stuck in the middle” with “crazies on the right and crazies on the left.”

This growing polarization means that deliberation and negotiation, the core of the legislative process, has virtually disappeared. Individual lawmakers are faced with bills crafted by their leaders and told to approve or reject them. Unity is demanded. Dissent is denounced.

“One of the reasons people are leaving is that it’s demoralizing to be a rubber stamp,” Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky told USA Today.

“We’re losing people who actually want to govern,” added former Rep. Tom Reed of New York, a centrist who retired in 2022. “This town no longer values bipartisanship — it sees it as betrayal.”

Trump did not start this banishment of bipartisanship, but he has clearly embraced it. His One Big Beautiful Bill passed the House last May with not a single Democrat vote, while all but two Republicans supported it.

In fact, Trump has not just discarded Democrats, but fellow Republicans as well. Many of his executive actions — closing departments, firing workers, withholding funds — have usurped powers traditionally exercised by Congress.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican who is quitting Congress next month, told The New York Times that Speaker Mike Johnson “is not our leader. ... He is literally 100% under direct orders from the White House. And many, many Republicans are so furious about that, but they’re cowards.”

“There is a lot of frustration among our members with the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of the House,” Rep. Kevin Kiley of California told USA Today. “If you’re someone who ran for Congress to accomplish X, Y or Z, and it’s becoming more difficult to do those things, does that impact people’s decisions to stay? I’m sure it will.”

Extreme polarization and the toxic environment have ignited serious concerns about safety, which only grew after the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Inspired

by Trump, partisans see their rivals not just as wrong but as evil, and Greene cited threats to her family as one reason for leaving Congress.

Rep. Tom Burchett of Tennessee told Axios that safety concerns were contributing to the exodus and admitted, “It takes a toll on people.”

Congress has been deteriorating into dysfunction for years now. And the members who are fleeing in force prove that the decline is steadily getting worse.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditorstribpub.com.

Email Steven Roberts at stevecokie@gmail. com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By ALLISON ROBBERT

Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, listens during an Oct. 9 hearing. Cassidy has proposed an avenue to address the extension of an expiring tax credit that will double, on average, health care policy prices for more than 20 million Americans. to accept any new language. Trump seems to be telling Republicans on Capitol Hill that they must compromise somehow on either the existence or the wording of Hyde language.

Trump, though, has the power in his own hands.

Here’s how: The ACA contained provisions (in 42 USC 18023) requiring that every state which operates its own Obamacare “exchange” must make available at least one health plan that doesn’t pay for abortions (in other words, is Hyde-compliant). My understanding is that there are about a dozen states which right now essentially are flouting that existing requirement and other states that make it very difficult for exchange applicants to find such a plan.

Trump could offer pro-life Republicans a big win if he announces a concerted effort to enforce, against the dozen-plus states, those ignored Hyde provisions in existing law. His administration also could promulgate a rule requiring a prominent display, on state Obamacare portals, of the availability of the Hyde-friendly plan or plans.

As Obamacare already has that Hyde-friendly language, the key win

for Republicans should be not to reiterate it but to enforce it. Meanwhile, anti-Hyde Amendment Democrats would not be asked to vote on a new law re-stating Hyde provisions, so they could support the emerging, Cassidy-led compromise on the rest of the bill’s merits.

Voila! If Trump acts like that, within existing law, nobody on Capitol Hill would lose a new, abortion-related fight.

Meanwhile, if Cassidy’s framework is enacted into law, millions of Americans could secure relief from the sudden spike in health care premium costs resulting from the expiration of COVID-era subsidies, but the added cost to the federal government over time would be either nonexistent or far less than that of directly renewing the subsidies.

How that all would work can be the subject of another column. To get there, though, Trump must and can, on his own authority, take the abortion calculus out of the current equation.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

The ‘Trump’-Kennedy Center could be just the beginning Last month, I attended the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with my wife and two friends to listen to a wonderful performance of Handel’s “Messiah.”

The Kennedy Center has been among the few places in Washington (sports arenas are another) where one can get through a day or evening without the confrontational and corrosive political language Cal that has infected the city.

Thomas Not anymore.

President Trump, with the approval of a board he appointed, has added his name to the building.

Henceforth, or until a future president and board will remove it (one can only hope), the place will be labeled, if not called by everyone, the Trump Kennedy Center.

I recall the first performance in what has become Washington’s main cultural attraction. It was on Sept. 8, 1971 and the world premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass,” a work commissioned

by Jacqueline Kennedy. The Kennedys did more to bring high-brow culture to Washington than any other president and first lady. President Trump has brought nothing, not even close, that can match their contributions.

During the day we visited, workers were already drilling the additional name into the outside of the building.

The Kennedy Center website has been re-labeled “Trump Kennedy Center.”

There is talk around town that Trump has only begun to add his name to other buildings. One prospect he is reportedly eyeing is the soon-to-be finished Washington Commanders (formerly “Redskins”) football stadium. I got to thinking about other places where Trump might affix his name.

Since the president has frequently suggested — as have some of his followers — that he is the greatest president ever, how about a new name for the city’s most famous obelisk: The Trump Washington Monument?

Then there are the memorials to Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. Trump Lincoln and Trump Jefferson might appeal to him, although the first sounds like a car model and the second like a character in the late Norman Lear’s TV show “The Jeffersons.”

The FBI Building named after J. Edgar Hoover could be easily changed at little expense. The “J” just has to have “D” and “T” drilled into it. It would instantly become the “DJT Hoover Building.”

Then there is the Department of Justice building named after Robert F. Kennedy. Trump Kennedy sounds like a presidential ticket.

For the spiritually minded, Washington’s magnificent National Cathedral is a natural. While Trump doesn’t attend church, his “worshippers” might feel

Why legislators are leaving

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TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

8B ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

with meteorologist Damon Singleton

TODAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

A shower in the p.m.; breezy

Warm; a shower and t-storm

Some rain and a thunderstorm

Cooler; breezy in the morning

Partial sunshine

Mostly cloudy

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

79°

68°

77° 66°

LOW

HIGH

LOW

72° 50°

LOW

60° 42°

LOW

54° 41°

Dense fog could cause visibility to fall to 1 mile or less in parts of SELA, so the NWS has issued a Dense Fog Advisory for all of SELA that is in effect until noon today. More fog is expected tonight. Otherwise, expect a mostly sunny to partly cloudy, warm and humid day.

Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the upper 70s to low 80s. Winds will be southerly at 5-15 mph. There is a 20% chance of rain today.

Expect scattered rain and storms tomorrow along with a risk of severe weather, especially in the evening.

LOW

56° 46°

YESTERDAY

TODAY

READING 57 MAIN POLLUTANT Nitrogen oxide

MAIN POLLUTANT Nitrogen oxide

New Orleans through 5 p.m. Wednesday

TEMPERATURE

Monroe 77/67

Shreveport 78/67 Longview 77/64

High/low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Jackson 78/67

FLOOD WED. 24-HOUR

Baton Rouge 81/70

Lafayette 79/69

Beaumont 80/67

New Orleans 79/68

Lake Charles 78/66

Port Arthur 78/67

Houma 80/70

Shown is today’s weather.

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

City

Austin Boston Dallas Denver Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami

Hi

TODAY Lo

W

80 60 c 46 30 s 80 51 sh 35 21 sn -33 -42 pc 82 65 s 56 37 pc 68 63 c 82 70 s

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FRI. Lo

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73 45 t 46 41 r 71 40 pc 33 18 sn -13 -20 pc 83 68 pc 53 35 s 69 52 r 82 71 s

City

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

Hi

TODAY

71 81 54 59 52 63 66 65 80

Lo

65 61 36 41 47 48 47 44 65

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c pc pc sh pc pc r s pc

Hi

71 82 58 61 64 71 55 66 80

FRI. Lo

60 61 50 41 41 61 39 44 64

W

t pc r s r c c s s

MISSISSIPPI STAGE STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 -2.50 -0.12 Vidalia-Natchez 48 14.90 +0.27 Red River Landing 48 17.80 +0.30 Baton Rouge 35 6.30 +0.20 Donaldsonville 27 3.80 -0.20 Reserve 22 2.21 +0.02 New Orleans 17 2.60 -0.09 OHIO Cairo 40 11.54 -1.41 COMITE Near Olive 19 -1.43 none AMITE Near Darlington 18 -0.99 none Denham Springs 29 10.08 -0.01 Port Vincent 8 1.66 +0.02 TICKFAW Montpelier 13 1.60 -0.01 Holden 15 0.78 -0.02 ATCHAFALAYA Simmesport 47 6.08 +0.20 Melville 34 3.95 +0.08 Krotz Springs 29 3.71 -0.06 Butte La Rose 20 2.81 +0.14 Bayou Sorrel 12 2.50 +0.10 Morgan City 6 1.71 -0.38

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

DEATHS continued from ing extended family and friends.

Mickey was born in New Orleans, La and was a resident of Mandeville, LA since 1991. She was a LPN for over 30 years.

Per Mickey's request, following a private graveside service at the St Joseph Abbey Cemetery in St Benedict, LA, relatives and friends of the family are invited to a celebration of life at the family home starting at noon on January 10, 2026.

E.J. Fielding Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. Please sign the guestbook at www.ejfieldingfh.com.

Stutts, George

animated stories delivered with warmth, humor, and unmistakable joy. George is survived by his wife, Vio‐ lette Stutts; his first wife, Mary Stutts; his sister, Susie Coleman Woods; his sons, George Stutts Jr. and Monty Stutts; his stepson, Ricky Tozel, and his three grandchildren, beloved Stutts, Kayla Cameron Stutts, and Quinn Stutts. A Service will be held at the Garden Memories Funeral Home, 4900 Airline Dr, Metairie, LA on Saturday, January 10, 2026 with view‐ ing from 11-1 and followed by the funeral ceremony.

George Stutts will be re‐ membered for his unwa‐ vering service, his bound‐ less curiosity about the world, and his ability to people together bring through stories, laughter, and a shared sense of wonder.

Trapani, Patricia Guerchoux

George Stutts, age 87, passed away peacefully on December 27 in Harahan, Born in Louisiana.

Mississippi, Brookhaven, George was a proud gradu‐ ate of John McDonogh High School, where his early in‐ volvement in ROTC set the foundation for a lifelong commitment to service. He went on to graduate from Louisiana State University, beginning a distinguished career that military spanned more than 30 years in the United States Air Force. George rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, serving as a navi‐ gator and later as USAF of 33rd Rescue Head in Okinawa, Squadron Japan. His leadership, dis‐ cipline, and dedication to and country mission earned him the respect of those who served along‐ side him and left a lasting legacy of service. Follow‐ ing retirement from the Air Force, George continued to share his love of explo‐ ration as a part-time tour guide, a role perfectly suited to his greatest pas‐ sion—travel. An enthusias‐ tic and tireless explorer, he visited more than 100 countries and cities across the globe. His adventures were legendary among family and friends, whom he delighted with endless,

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

0.00” 0.02” 1.27” 0.02” 1.27”

GOOD

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

Hattiesburg 77/68

Alexandria 79/67

Many 77/65

80°/63° 62° 46° 83° in 1982 23° in 1970

MODERATE

PRECIPITATION

and Paul Trapani and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom were cherished deeply. A devoted member of the Beer Barrel Social Club and a parishioner of St. Angela Merici Church, Patricia found joy in spoiling her family and was renowned for her sense of humor. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional staff of Interim Health Care for their dedicated service over the past two years.

Patricia will be remembered fondly by all who knew her. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA on Friday, January 9, 2026. Visitation will be from 12PM until Mass begins at 1PM. Interment will follow the Mass in All Saints Mausoleum. The service will be livestreamed at this link https://client.tribucast . c o m / t cid/c26017746882027.

Vollenweider, Jerry W.

Patricia Guerchoux Trapani, born on March 17, 1932, in New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away on January 2, 2026, at the age of 93. A resident of Metairie, Louisiana, Patricia led a life filled with love, dedication, and humor. Patricia was a graduate of Redemptorist High School, class of 1950. Her career was spent as an Executive Administrative Assistant, where she was known for her professionalism and commitment.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 72 years, Mike Trapani, her sisters Rae Ann "Annie" Legendre, Mary Henrietta Devlin, and her brother James Joseph Devlin, Sr. (Annette). Patricia is survived by her daughter, Patricia T. Welker (Philipdeceased), two sons, Michael Trapani III (Ann) and Robert Trapani, Sr. (Kimberly), her brothers-in -law, Durel Legendre, Sr,

Jerry W. Vollenweider entered eternal rest on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the age of 81. Beloved spouse of Jude M. Vollen‐ weider for 30 years. Loving father of Tracy L. Hatton Kasey L. Ulm (Eric), (David), Julie V. Branum (Sam), Eugene M. LaPouble and Peggy E. Vollenweider. grandfather of Loving C. Hemphill Alexandra (Micheal), Mia E. Costello, Michael E. Costello, III, Owen P. Hatton, Carter M. Hatton, Blake C. Hatton, Ethan C. Lentz, Emily H. Lentz, and Charlotte K. Ulm. Brother of Edward J. Vollenweider (Judy). Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, the late Jules J. Vollenweider, Jr. and the

data as of 7 a.m. Wednesday

TODAY’S TIDES HIGH FT. LOW FT. HIGH FT. LOW FT. Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) 10:27a 0.2 8:41p 0.0 --- ----- --Shell Beach 5:13a 0.7 1:55p 0.0 9:31p 0.5 --- --South Point, Marsh Island 6:55a 0.8 12:57a 0.6 8:38p 1.0 11:48a 0.0 Cypremort Point 8:46a 0.4 4:50a 0.3 10:41p 0.7 3:34p 0.0 Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) 12:08a 0.4 10:07a 0.0 7:33p 0.2 --- --Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) 7:41p 0.3 8:07a 0.0 --- ----- --Wine Island 1:16a 0.5 11:09a 0.0 8:41p 0.2 --- ---

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

6:58 a.m.

5:18 p.m.

10:59 p.m.

10:31 a.m.

LAST

NEW

FIRST

FULL

JAN 10

JAN 18

JAN 25

FEB 1

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.

MAJOR MINOR MAJOR MINOR

Today Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

3:14a 9:25a 4:00a 10:10a 4:42a 10:53a 5:23a 11:34a 6:04a 12:15p 6:46a 12:34a 7:29a 1:16a

3:35p 9:46p 4:20p 10:31p 5:03p 11:13p 5:45p ---6:27p ---7:09p 12:58p 7:53p 1:41p

Forecasts and graphics, except Damon’s Outlook, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2026

late Mary Rieger Vollenwei‐ der; his granddaughter, the late Victoria L. Costello; and his sister and brotherin-law, the late Patricia V. Burthe (the late Ronald).

Jerry was a longtime active member of the American Legion Ed Brauner Post 307, Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club, and My Padnas.

Jerry brought joy to every‐ one who knew him. A life‐ long resident of New Or‐ leans, he was born and raised in the Irish Channel.

He graduated from Re‐ demptorist High School in 1963. Jerry went on to serve in the United States Navy. Following his service, he graduated from Loyola University and worked for the U.S. Army Corps of En‐ gineers until his retire‐ ment. He stayed connected with many of his Redemp‐ torist classmates through‐ out the years. Jerry en‐ joyed cheering for the LSU Tigers, playing video poker at casinos and fishing with friends. He loved simple moments—laughing with family, sharing stories and making others feel wel‐ come. Most important to Jerry were his family and friends. He was a proud grandfather, a caring dad, a loyal brother and friend and a loving husband. kindness and Jerry’s warmth will continue to shine through the people he touched. Family and friends are invited to at‐ tend the Visitation at Mothe Funeral Home, 2100 Expressway, Westbank Harvey, Louisiana on Satur‐ day, January 10, 2026, be‐ ginning at 9am until 11am.

A Funeral Mass will be held at the funeral home on Sat‐ urday at 11am. Interment will take place at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Gretna, LA. The family in‐ you to share vites thoughts, fond memories and condolences online at mothefunerals.com.

Young, Maxine Sterling

Maxine Sterling Young, a beloved mother, & family peacefully matriarch, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at the age of 91, in Metairie, LA. Born in St. Francisville (Bains), LA on August 31, 1934 to Jeff Sterling Sr. & Cage Sterling Ouslea Brackens, also the step‐ daughter of Hamp Brack‐ ens Sr. She was raised by her maternal grandpar‐ Elnora Price & ents, William Henry Cage, on their Mount Ricco Planta‐ tion, Fort Adams, MS. Max‐ ine & her husband, Rev. George D. Young married in New Orleans & were resi‐ dents of River Ridge, LA. They were together for nearly 60 years & faithful members of Providence Baptist Church, Pilgrim Baptist Church, & New Birth Cathedral of Glory.

Her struggles & rising from humble beginnings stand as a lasting legacy of help‐ ing others & paving the way for future generations.

She lived courageously through the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights Move‐ ment, enduring discrimina‐ with dignity & tion strength. She worked at Dixie Tomato Factory in the French Quarter. Maxine thrived in the hospitality & restaurant industries, in‐ cluding entrepreneurships in Jefferson and Orleans parishes. She broke barri‐ ers being among the first women of color to work the “front counter” in pre‐ viously segregated restau‐ rants. She was among some of New Orleans first people of color to own & operate a bed-and-break‐ fast, now known as Airbnb.

She was a proud Mary Kay consultant in the 1970s, among one of the first Black women to drive the iconic pink Cadillac. She played a vital role advocat‐ ing for inclusion of prod‐ ucts designed for people of color. A true queen of fash‐ ion, known for her impec‐ cable & elegant style, coor‐ dinating her garments with the hats, scarves, shoes, gloves, & handbags. Max‐

ine modeled hats for the well-known Yvonne LaFleur Boutique. She showered every one with uncondi‐ tional love & found so much peace working her beautiful flower gardens.

She leaves behind her 6 children Victoria YoungWalker, Vanessa Young London, Keith Young, Kim Young; Vareneece Young (Albert) Grammer & Kirk (Dionne) Young. Also sur‐ vived by her 4 siblings, 13 grandchildren, 22 greatgrandchildren, & 9 greatgreat-grandchildren. Max‐ ine was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, beloved husband, bonus son Leroy Berry Sr., grand‐ son Mark London, 7 sisters, brothers, maternal 8 grandparents, and paternal grandparents Virgil Ster‐ ling & Lizzie Williams Tay‐ lor. Relatives & friends are invited to Religious Ser‐ vices Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Pilgrim Baptist Church, 2114 Rev‐ Richard Wilson erend Drive, Kenner, LA 70062.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Interment at Provi‐ dence Memorial Park & Mausoleum, 8200 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70003.

Arrangements entrusted to Richardson Funeral Home of Jefferson, 11112 Jeffer‐ son Hwy., River Ridge, LA 70123.

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

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

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OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

SPORTS

N O L A.C O M

Pels fall on the road to Hawks

|

T h u r s d ay, J a n u a ry 8, 2026

1Cn

We’re excited about Tyler, but we have to remember that he hasn’t had 17 starts yet.

So we’re going to go into next season with these high expectations ... but we also have to temper that by the fact that he’s a second-year quarterback.”

MICKEy LOOKMIS, Saints general manager

N.O. extends losing streak to nine — again

BY ROD WALKER

Staff writer

For the second time this season, the New Orleans Pelicans find themselves on a ninegame losing streak.

The latest setback came Wednesday, thanks to a poor shooting night in a 117-100 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

The Pelicans made just 8-of-28 3-pointers in the game. Meanwhile, the Hawks made 18-of-47 from long distance. The Pels also committed 19 turnovers.

“The turnovers were the issue for me,” said Pelicans’ interim head coach James Borrego. “Too many turnovers. The spacing has got to be better. Decision-making has got to be better. Execution has to be better.

ä See PELICANS, page 4C

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, left, and coach Kellen Moore speak during a news conference at the team’s headquarters on Wednesday in Metairie.

AP PHOTO By COLIN HUBBARD

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, left, and forward Mouhamed Gueye defend against Pelicans forward Zion Williamson in the first half on Wednesday in Atlanta.

LSU looking to improve rebounding Tigers taking former star Reese’s approach

BY REED DARCEY

Staff writer

On Tuesday afternoon, Bob Starkey was in the LSU women’s basketball team’s locker room when he decided to take out his phone and snap a photo he’d later post to Instagram.

Starkey wanted people to see the t-shirts.

They were black. A pink ä LSU at silhouette of Angel Reese Georgia 5:30 P.M. was printed down the middle, surrounded by a big, THURSDAy, SECN+ bold white text that summarized her penchant for grabbing rebounds: “Anything that comes off that board,” the shirts read, “it’s mine.”

The shirts greeted the players after practice Tuesday. Starkey, LSU’s associate head coach, hoped they’d underscore the urgency of a message he, Kim Mulkey and the rest of the coaching staff are sending to the Tigers.

They need to grab more rebounds. All of them.

“We have to do some self-reflection,” Mulkey said Sunday after a loss to Vanderbilt. “Put a mirror in front of your face individually and go, ‘What did I do that contributed to that loss when it was a five-point game or a possession game?’ We just gotta keep getting better.”

And it starts with rebounding. The No. 12 Tigers (14-2, 0-2 SEC) did a better job of cleaning the glass against the No. 7 Commodores than they did in their SEC opener against No. 6 Kentucky, but they’re hoping to turn in a

ä See LSU, page 2C

MOVING FORWARD Saints enter offseason ready to build around QB Shough

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Mickey Loomis repeatedly said that he wasn’t surprised by Tyler Shough’s rookie season. The New Orleans Saints drafted the quarterback with the 40th overall pick for a reason, the general manager said.

But even Loomis was willing to acknowledge that there were times when he went “whoa” over Shough’s play in 2025. “(He) probably progressed a little faster than we expected,” Loomis said.

That progression has led the Saints’ brass to the same conclusion that appeared increasingly obvious over the back half of the year: They’ve found their guy.

In a joint season-ending press conference, Loomis and coach Kellen Moore backed Shough as a core player for

New Orleans to build around. Moore said the Saints “feel great” with Shough as their quarterback for 2026, while Loomis later added they were “obviously pleased” with his emergence. The Saints finished 6-11 but went 5-4 after Shough took over the starting job and played well enough to insert himself into conversations for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The next steps for the franchise will be to determine how exactly to surround Shough with the right pieces.

The Saints are in the beginning stages of reviewing their most recent campaign but are set to enter the season only a projected $20 million over the salary cap — far less than the last few years. While New Orleans still needs to become compliant by the beginning of the new league year in March, Loomis said the lesser burden gives the

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

LSU football makes Glasscock one of nation’s highest-paid GMs Former Ole Miss manager agrees to three-year, $3 million deal with Tigers

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

PROVIDED PHOTO By OLE MISS ATHLETICS

Former Ole Miss general manager Billy Glasscock will earn $1 million per year, which would have made him the secondhighest-paid general manager in college football this past year.

LSU and general manager Billy Glasscock agreed to a three-year, $3 million deal that makes him one of the highestpaid general managers in the country after he followed head coach Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss, according to a copy of his term sheet obtained Wednesday by The Advocate through a public records request.

Glasscock will earn $1 million per year, which would have made him the secondhighest-paid general manager in college football this past year. North Carolina general manager Mike Lombardi earned $1.51 million this past year, according to

USA Today.

The second-highest-paid general manager was Ohio State’s Mark Pantoni at $900,000 per year. Southern Cal, a private school, is also reportedly believed to have paid Chad Bowden around seven figures.

The deal marked a significant pay bump for Glasscock, who reportedly made $425,000 this past year at Ole Miss. Former LSU general manager Austin Thomas earned $800,000, according to a copy of his deal. After not being retained on Kiffin’s staff, Thomas became the Ole Miss general manager.

Glasscock joined Kiffin’s staff at Ole Miss in 2024 after Thomas left to become the general manager at LSU. Glasscock was previously the director of player personnel at Texas and NC State. He came with other new LSU assistants on

ä See GM, page 4C

2C ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 5:30 p.m. Northwestern at Michigan St. BTN 6 p.m.

Liberty at Louisiana Tech CBSSN 7:30 p.m. Rutgers at Illinois BTN 8 p.m.

MTSU at UTEP CBSSN 9:30 p.m. Ohio St. at Oregon BTN

10 p.m. San Francisco at LMU CBSSN 10:30 p.m. Santa Clara at Gonzaga ESPN2 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 7 p.m.

Creighton at Marquette TRUTV COLLEGE FOOTBALL 6:30 p.m. Miami vs. Ole Miss ESPN FIGURE SKATING 5 p.m.

U.S. Winter Olympic Trials USA

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

NBA Miami at Chicago MEN’S SOCCER 8:40 p.m. Al-Hazem at Al-Hilal 11:15 a.m. Al Qadsiah at Al Nassr 12:30 p.m. Atletico vs. Real Madrid TENNIS 4:30 p.m. United Cup 7 p.m.

NBATV FS2 FS2 ESPN2 TENNIS

‘We have to bounce back’ LSU’s poor start proves costly in loss to South Carolina

ä LSU at Vanderbilt. NOON SATURDAy, SECN.

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Matt McMahon shook his head side to side, seemingly as confused as many onlookers.

“I thought our preparation was good,” the LSU basketball coach said.

Before LSU dropped its home game to South Carolina on Tuesday, players prepared in a manner that met McMahon’s standard.

The day after his team’s threepoint defeat at Texas A&M, the group prioritized film study of its next opponent. Players were then “dialed in” at Monday’s on-court practice. Shoot around on Tuesday was productive and “high energy.”

Despite all that, LSU was unprepared in its 78-68 loss to South Carolina at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Tigers didn’t have the injured Dedan Thomas, who leads the Southeastern Conference with 7.1 assists.

LSU (12-3, 0-2 SEC) had its most uninspiring start to a game this season, trailing 24-5 after about six minutes and 50-25 at halftime.

“For whatever reason, I didn’t have them ready to go. Start the game down, whatever it was, 100, 15 to 3. I think they made their first nine or 10 shots. Our first three stops we got, we turned the ball over when we did get the rebound. So it’s just hard in this league to overcome that type of

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU guard PJ Carter pressures South Carolina guard Myles Stute during Tuesday’s game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. slow start, and we paid for it tonight.”

LSU trailed by as many as 28 points. No player made more than one field goal in the first

half. South Carolina (10-5, 1-1), on the other hand, made its first nine shots and 10 of 13 from 3-point range at that point. For the third time this season, the team gave up

a hot 3-point shooting start to the opponent. The other times were in a close win against Prairie View and a loss to Texas Tech.

Pablo Tamba, who had 10 points, was asked what was wrong with LSU’s defense early.

“It was a mental approach to the game,” the graduate student transfer from UC Davis said. “We should have come out in the first half with a more aggressive mentality and defend better. We’ve struggled before when it comes to making teams miss 3s, and it happened again.

I think it was clearly our mental approach to the game.”

McMahon said his team never made South Carolina uncomfortable in the first half. While LSU battled back in the second half to come within six points with six minutes remaining, it didn’t play well enough to fully make up for its poor start.

The team doesn’t know when it’ll have Thomas, who McMahon said is still day-to-day with a lower leg injury. It knows that with or without him, it has to avoid a horrendous start again if it wants to pull off an upset against No. 11 Vanderbilt on the road at noon Saturday.

“We have to bounce back,” LSU guard Max Mackinnon said. “We have Vanderbilt coming up. We know that’s a good team. We have to watch film, bounce back and learn from our mistakes.”

Johnson a bright spot for Loyola son’s) shoulders,” Lindsey said. stepping up as a vocal leader ping up,” Johnson said. “(LeonShaw alum has taken “We’ve asked him to take the this season. Loyola most recent- ard Jackson) is playing big for of the team. We’ve given ly defeated SUNO 96-61 on Mon- us right now. I feel like guys are on leadership role lead him the keys to the offense, and day, and Johnson scored just bought in to what we’re trying

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

Kameron Johnson was a New Orleans area high school basketball star at Shaw, and he’s continued to shine at the college level with Loyola-New Orleans.

Johnson decided to stay close to home and play basketball at Loyola after graduating from Shaw as a five-year starter with over 2,000 career points. Now in his third season at Loyola, Johnson has taken on a lead role this season for the Wolf Pack, which has won its last seven games.

Loyola hired Trey Lindsey as its head coach before the season, and the coaching change has resulted in Johnson taking a step forward as a junior. Johnson leads Loyola in multiple statistical categories as the starting point guard, including points, assists and steals.

“We’re putting a lot on (John-

LSU

Continued from page 1C more complete performance on the boards when they go on the road to face Georgia at 5:30 p.m. Thursday (SEC Network+).

Crashing the boards is important for LSU. It’s how the Tigers finish off defensive possessions and ignite their dangerous transition offense.

But, for the first time since 2022, LSU does not have one — or two — of the best rebounders in the history of women’s college basketball to help it grab missed shots. Both Reese and Aneesah Morrow have now moved on, and the Tigers are struggling to replace their production on the boards as a result.

“We’re gonna have to do it as a group,” Mulkey said in November.

“We’re not gonna have that one dominant rebounder like we’ve had.”

LSU finished each of Mulkey’s first four seasons in charge as one of the SEC’s three best rebounding teams. Reese and Morrow

he’s answered every step of the way so far. I think he’s a major part of why we’ve had success this year.”

The 5-foot-9 Johnson is averaging 16.1 points per game along with 6.4 assists and 2.4 steals through 13 games for Loyola (11-2), which received votes in the most recent NAIA men’s basketball coaches’ top 25 poll.

Johnson was a starter for the majority of last season, averaging 8.6 points per game. An improved 3-point shot has resulted in an uptick in scoring this season, as his 17 made 3-pointers match his total from last season.

“Coach (Lindsey) has given me the keys to the team, and it’s been working,” Johnson said.

“I’ve got a lot more on my plate.

Guys, look at me now to lead the team, and that’s what I do. My 3-(point) ball has opened up a lot of lanes for me.”

Lindsey credits Johnson for

eight points but got his teammates involved with a team-high eight assists.

“This was the first year vocally that I had to be that guy,” Johnson said. “It took some getting used to, but I’ve learned how to talk to everybody. That’s when it started working and guys started to look at me differently.”

De La Salle alum Leonard Jackson was Loyola’s leading scorer against SUNO with 23 points. Georgios Vassilakis from Finland recorded a doubledouble with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and St. Paul’s alum Reese Seicshnaydre had 11 points.

Other players who have played key roles for Loyola include Zachary Lee and Kosta Bjelicic from Serbia. Lee is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.8 points per game, and he’s tied with Bjelicic for a team-high average of 6.9 rebounds per game.

“We’ve got guys that are step-

to do.”

Loyola has 15 regular-season games left, and its next two are at home against conference opponents. The next contest is scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against Mobile, followed by a 2 p.m. tip on Saturday against Faulkner.

“We have the makeup to be a conference champion if we can stay focused and stay healthy,” Lindsey said. “(Mobile and Faulkner) are both a game behind us for first place in the (SSAC West) division, so this is a big weekend at home for us.”

Lindsey returned to Loyola for his first head coaching opportunity after previously serving as an assistant coach under Stacy Hollowell. Now at UNO, Hollowell was Loyola’s coach when it won the NAIA national championship in 2022.

were two of the largest reasons why. Those two stars are responsible for a whopping 37% of all the boards the Tigers grabbed across the previous three years.

Mulkey did not have either Reese or Morrow in her first season at LSU. But the Tigers still pulled down 29.6 defensive rebounds and 12.7 offensive rebounds per game against their league competition that year — enough for them to finish with the SEC’s third-highest rebounding average.

It’s early, but this LSU team ranks eighth among SEC teams in rebounding — one of the reasons why it’s also playing at the secondslowest pace in the conference, according to Her Hoop Stats.

The 17 offensive boards the Tigers allowed Kentucky to grab are tied for the most they’ve given up to any opponent they’ve played over the last five seasons. The five boards they let Vanderbilt pull off the offensive glass in the fourth quarter of their loss on Sunday led to four second-chance buckets. Those shots then turned the

game in the Commodores’ favor.

Star junior guard Mikaylah Williams leads the Tigers in rebounding through two SEC matchups.

She’s averaging eight boards per game.

LSU’s two transfer post players — 6-foot-5 sophomore Kate Koval and 6-2 senior Amiya Joyner — are averaging only 11 rebounds combined.

In SEC play last season, Morrow pulled down 13.1 boards per game by herself.

“I can tell (LSU’s young players) whatever I want,” Williams said, “but they can see it for themselves.

They can see what not rebounding does. We don’t end up winning.”

Koval grabbed only two misses against Kentucky, but she corralled 10 against Vanderbilt — a career-high for a conference game.

Before the season, Mulkey said LSU was helping her learn how to rebound “out of her area” so she can track down misses even when she doesn’t have ideal positioning.

“That’s something that I’ve really focused on,” Koval said in No-

vember, “starting this summer. I feel like I watch a lot of film to see the positioning I need to be in to get those boards.”

If LSU doesn’t continue to improve on the glass, then it could wind up with the worst five-game start to league play of Mulkey’s career. She’s never had a team — at either Baylor or LSU — drop more than three of its first five conference matchups.

Because the Tigers started 0-2, they’ll now need to win two of their next three games to avoid sliding to 1-4. LSU will first play on the road against Georgia, then return home to face No. 2 Texas before going back on the road to take on No. 5 Oklahoma.

“These first five games are as tough a bunch of games in a row that I think I’ve ever coached in,” Mulkey said, “and we know what we face.”

Hence the urgency with which LSU hopes to address its rebounding issues.

And the t-shirts it used to drive home the point.

Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@theadvocate.com.

Former LSU All-American Truax dies at 82

Former LSU All-American Billy Truax has died. He was 82.

A native of New Orleans and graduate of Holy Cross High School, Truax played end for the Tigers from 1961-63, earning AllAmerican and All-SEC honors as a senior.

Truax was selected in the second round of the 1964 NFL Draft with the 26th overall pick to the Cleveland Browns and was also the 14th overall pick in the second round of the AFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. Truax went on to play tight end for the Los Angeles Rams from 1964-70 and the Dallas Cowboys from 1971-73, helping Dallas win Super Bowl VI over the Miami Dolphins at Tulane Stadium.

In 2021, Truax was inducted into the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame. .

Alabama QB Simpson declares for NFL draft

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ty Simpson declared for the NFL draft on Wednesday, leaving Alabama after one season as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback.

The 6-foot-2, 208-pound Simpson could be one of the top quarterbacks drafted in April. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is seen as the likely No. 1 selection.

“I’ll cherish all of it as I take the next step for preparing for the NFL draft,” Simpson said in a video posted on social media.

Simpson said he was tempted to take an easier path while he spent three seasons waiting for his turn after being recruited by Nick Saban. Simpson said “you just are Alabama or you’re not.”

He cracked a rib in Alabama’s 38-3 loss in the Rose Bowl to topranked Indiana and Mendoza.

Bills place DT Phillips on IR; sign CB Jackson

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills are down another defensive tackle for the playoffs after placing Jordan Phillips on injured reserve on Wednesday.

The team did not disclose the nature of Phillips’ injury, though he missed two games with an ankle issue before returning to play 18 defensive snaps in a season-ending 35-8 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. The 33-year-old Phillips is an 11th-year player who was considering retirement before signing with Buffalo for a fourth stint last summer.

The Bills filled Phillips’ roster spot by signing cornerback Dane Jackson off the practice squad.

Buffalo also signed quarterback Shane Buechele and cornerback Daryl Porter Jr. to the practice squad.

UNLV lands ex-Auburn QB Arnold from transfer portal

LAS VEGAS — Dan Mullen doesn’t know if he has a prototypical quarterback.

He likes tough guys. Those with versatile skills. Those who are great leaders.

And thinks he has found another in Jackson Arnold.

UNLV’s football team has its quarterback out of the transfer portal. The Rebels signed Arnold, a former Oklahoma and Auburn signal-caller.

“I’m really excited,” said Mullen, who in his first season as UNLV coach led the Rebels to a 10-4 record and Frisco Bowl appearance. “He was a guy last year who we paid really close attention to. When I got hired here, he was at the top of our list and ended up going to Auburn.

Chevron Championship moving LPGA’s first major

HOUSTON — The Chevron Championship is moving the LPGA’s first major of the year to Memorial Park, just four weeks after Houston’s public course hosts the Houston Open on the PGA Tour.

The Chevron had been played at The Club at Carlton Woods, a Jack Nicklaus suburban club about 40 miles north of Houston, since relocating in 2023. The move to Memorial Park was to bring the tournament closer to Chevron’s headquarters and to downtown Houston.

Tom Doak redesigned Memorial Park, and it returned to hosting the Houston Open in 2020, first in the fall portion of the PGA Tour and then moving to the spring in 2024.

The Houston Open is March 2629. The Chevron Championship will be played April 23-26.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 3C

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2025 is the year of the first-round QB

BY JOSH DUBOW

AP pro football writer The 2025 NFL season was dominated by first-round quarterbacks with old veterans like Matthew Stafford and a new generation featuring Drake Maye and Caleb Williams taking center stage.

The playoffs should be no different with a record-tying 12 of the 14 teams that qualified for the postseason set to use a first-round pick as their starting quarterback.

The only year in the Super Bowl era with two or fewer non-first-round QBs starting a playoff game came in 2024 when Jalen Hurts and Russell Wilson did it.

The NFL set a record this season with 219 of the 272 games won by a quarterback who was drafted in round one, besting the mark of 204 set the previous year.

And the record isn’t about a longer season or more teams as the 80.5% of games won by a first-round quarterback was easily the highest since the start of the common draft in 1967. The only other season with more than 70% of games won by a first-round QB came in 2024 when the rate was 75%.

The rate was less than half of games as recently as 2008 and down at 23% in 2001, when Tom

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NAM y. HUH

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, center, throws a pass during a game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday in Chicago.

Brady first became a starter in New England a year after being a sixthround pick.

The only outlier will be the wildcard game on Sunday in Philadelphia when San Francisco’s former seventh-round pick Brock Purdy takes on former second-rounder Hurts and the Eagles.

Those teams have shown there is an alternate path to success as Hurts and Purdy have represented

the NFC in the last three Super Bowls. But unless the winner of that game also wins the divisional round, this season will join the 2010 season as the only ones in the Super Bowl era with all four starting QBs in the conference title game being first-rounders.

There were five others picked in the top 10, including 2024 No. 3 pick Maye and 2018 No. 7 pick Josh Allen of Buffalo. Houston’s C.J.

Stroud went second in 2023, while Sam Darnold was picked third by the Jets in 2018 and Justin Herbert went sixth to the Chargers in 2020.

Then there’s Hurts at No. 53 in 2020 and Purdy, who was Mr. Irrelevant as the 262nd and final pick of the 2022 draft.

League leaders Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23, while sev-

eral other league leaders also had some noteworthy performances.

Stafford led the NFL with 46 touchdown passes and 4,707 yards passing, while throwing only eight interceptions for the Los Angeles Rams. Stafford joined Brady in his record-setting 2007 season as the only players to lead the league in TD passes and yards while throwing eight or fewer interceptions.

Maye, who is second in AP NFL MVP odds at BetMGM to Stafford, became the seventh player to throw for at least 4,000 yards and 30 TDs in a season before turning 24 and the first to do it with fewer than 10 interceptions.

Buffalo’s James Cook edged out Baltimore’s Derrick Henry for the rushing title with 1,621 yards to Henry’s 1,595. Henry had his record-setting fourth season with at least 1,500 yards rushing and 15 TD runs, including back-to-back campaigns in his 30s. No other player has done that even once after turning 30.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba set a Seattle record and led the NFL with 1,793 yards receiving.

Arizona’s Trey McBride finished with 126 catches, the most ever for a tight end and three shy of Puka Nacua’s league-leading total this season.

Bills quarterback Allen Stakes are high for Ravens knows where to improve without Harbaugh’s stability Buffalo star is refreshed as team prepares for Jaguars

BY JOHN WAWROW Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen’s sore right foot feels better, and the Bills quarterback’s mind is refreshed as Buffalo prepares to open the playoffs on the road for the first time in six years.

With the exception of a gameopening handoff in a regular season-ending 35-8 win over the Jets on Sunday to extend his starting streak to 135 games, Allen got the weekend off to rest and spend time poring over video to assess his season.

What stood out most, Allen said upon returning to practice Wednesday, were the plays he missed.

“You’re sitting there like, ‘God, I stink.’ It’s like, ‘What am I thinking here? What am I doing?’ ” he said with a laugh.

Allen was hardly that bad.

The eighth-year starter and reigning MVP finished second among quarterbacks with 39 touchdowns (25 passing, 14 rushing) and led five fourth-quarter comebacks — two when trailing by double digits. At 29, he became the NFL’s first player to have a hand in 300 touchdowns before turning 30.

Nevertheless, Allen’s self-scouting was beneficial in showing areas where the perfectionist QB can improve ahead of the playoffs.

Buffalo (12-5) visits AFC South champion Jacksonville (13-4) in a wild-card game on Sunday.

For Allen, there’s footwork to address. He saw times where he forced passes instead of checking it down to an open receiver. And he took a career-high 40 sacks, reminding him of the benefits of throwing the ball away.

Allen practiced fully for the first time since hurting his right foot in a 23-20 win at Cleveland on Dec.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C Saints flexibility to be aggressive if they decide that’s the right direction to take.

But the general manager cautioned patience.

Even with Shough’s breakout, Loomis said the Saints still have to be careful in how they build their roster.

“We’re excited about Tyler, but we have to remember that he hasn’t had 17 starts yet,” Loomis said. “So we’re going to go into next season with these high expectations — and there’s nothing wrong with that — but we also have to temper that by the fact that he’s a second-year quarterback with less than a full season to start.

“We got to keep that in mind as we go forward, that there’s building blocks here and we cannot skip

ä Bills at Jaguars NOON SUNDAy, CBS.

21. He’ll be facing a Jaguars defense that ranked first against the run and finished second in the NFL with 22 interceptions.

“Every team that we’re playing here on out is a good team and it’s no different this week,” Allen said. “I have this extra emphasis on points are at a premium in the playoffs and just trying to do everything I can to give us points.”

There’s plenty on the line for Allen and a Bills team has fallen short in the playoffs over the past six years.

Allen has a 7-6 postseason record and has advanced to the AFC championship game twice, both losses to Kansas City. The Bills are also 0-5 on the road in seven playoff appearances since coach Sean McDermott took over, starting with a 10-3 loss at Jacksonville in the 2017 wild-card round, a year before Allen’s arrival.

Not including two neutral-site Super Bowl losses, the Bills have lost eight straight road playoff games since winning at Miami in the 1992 AFC championship game.

That skid is the NFL’s second-longest behind the Detroit Lions, who have dropped 12 straight postseason road games.

“We’re not focused on what’s happened in the past,” Allen said.

“Our job is to play the Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 o’clock on Sunday, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

In 13 playoff games, Allen has averaged 258 yards passing, combined for 33 touchdowns (25 passing, seven rushing and one receiving) and turned the ball over six times, with four interceptions and two lost fumbles.

“This is how he is every year at this time of year. He’s very dialed in, very focused,” McDermott said.

It was coordinator Joe Brady’s idea to have Allen spend last week studying video.

“I thought it was something to put on his radar, just to refresh some things,” Brady said.

any steps.”

Still, Loomis acknowledged the advantages of building around a quarterback on his rookie contract. There’s “leeway” that allows teams to manage their resources differently because of the lower cap hit, Loomis said. And Loomis said he believes Shough’s play will “attract” free agents, similar to the boost the team received shortly after signing Drew Brees in 2006.

From a salary cap perspective, Loomis said he sees the Saints in good shape. He said being closer to cap compliance changes the “volume” of what the team must do from a restructure standpoint; the Saints often reorganize contracts to lower cap hits and create salary cap space.

“It’ll be the lightest work that Khai (Harley) has to do over the last few years,” Loomis said, referring to the Saints’ cap guru.

Loomis said the Saints would take a

BY NOAH TRISTER AP sportswriter

In three decades of existence, the Baltimore Ravens have had two primary owners, two general managers and three head coaches.

Stability like that is hard to achieve in the NFL and should not be taken for granted.

Now the franchise heads down an uncertain path after firing John Harbaugh. It’s a risk owner Steve Bisciotti clearly felt was worth taking.

“Our goal has always been and will always be to win championships,” Bisciotti said in his statement Tuesday announcing Harbaugh’s dismissal. “We strive to consistently perform at the highest level on the field and be a team and organization our fans take pride in.”

When Harbaugh was hired before the 2008 season, he’d been an assistant in Philadelphia — the less famous older brother of Jim Harbaugh, the former quarterback who at the time was a college coach.

Then John won a championship in his fifth season with the Ravens, famously beating Jim head to head in the Super Bowl after the latter had become coach of the San Francisco 49ers. John Harbaugh’s run in Baltimore ends with six division titles and four trips to the AFC championship game in 18 years.

But since Lamar Jackson was drafted in 2018, the Ravens have posted the third-best record in the NFL in the regular season while going just 3-6 in the playoffs.

Blown leads and close losses became common, and Baltimore may have been the most disappointing team in the league this year, finishing 8-9.

As is often the case when a coach is fired, those who were spared will be under even more scrutiny. In Baltimore, that’s Jackson and general manager Eric DeCosta.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT LUDTKE

Former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh watches a play during a game against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 27. he didn’t win. He threw for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns that season with only four interceptions, while also running for 915 yards.

The Ravens don’t have to unlock some never-before-seen level of performance from Jackson. They need a return to the way he played just one season ago — and for the team as a whole, Jackson included, to stay close to that level in the playoffs.

This season, Jackson dealt with multiple injuries and didn’t look all that comfortable when he did play. The result was a surprisingly average season in which he wasn’t nearly the running threat he usually is. But even so, with the division title at stake last weekend at Pittsburgh, Jackson put Baltimore in position to win three different times in the fourth quarter, only for the defense and kicking game to let the Ravens down.

Baltimore now has to decide what to prioritize. Should the new coach be someone hired to bring out the best in Jackson again, on and off the field? Or are the Ravens confident their quarterback, who turned 29 on Wednesday, will rebound mostly on his own, freeing them up to look perhaps at a more defensive-minded option?

many major moves before this season, reaching a new deal with tackle Ronnie Stanley and adding receiver DeAndre Hopkins. They largely stood pat, which didn’t work out too well when the team regressed, especially in the trenches. Baltimore’s pass rush wasn’t great, with younger players failing to develop fast enough and veteran Kyle Van Noy slowing down.

The offensive line paid a price for relying on less proven players at the guard position.

DeCosta has a lot of areas to improve on this roster, and he’ll also need to work out a new deal with Jackson to provide some shortterm salary cap relief.

ing them to embrace a rebuild and lean into getting younger.

Loomis, for instance, said replacing Carr with another veteran wasn’t feasible since the options the Saints would realistically want to bring in to compete were “pretty much all gone” by the time the situation settled.

So, the Saints went with their young quarterback room. Moore’s first year featured a quarterback competition between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough, and while Rattler initially won the job, Moore and Loomis agreed that sitting Shough was important for his development. Loomis said he left the decision up to Moore.

“We didn’t win games enough, but he gave us a lot of really good opportunities,” Moore said of Rattler, who went 1-7 as a starter in 2025. Then Tyler just had a really good vision and plan to get better.”

“Obviously, I like the way that it

turned out,” Loomis said.

Now, the plan is to build around Shough. The Saints hold the eighth pick in the draft, a spot in which Loomis said he feels like New Orleans can truly take the best player available.

What a difference a year makes.

At this time last year, Loomis had to find a new coach and prepare for the possibility of finding a quarterback of the future. The Saints appear to have hit on both aspects, hiring Moore and drafting Shough.

Loomis said having those questions answered makes this offseason “easier,” but added there’s still plenty left to accomplish.

“We don’t just want to win the division,” Loomis said. “We don’t want to be an 8-8, or 8-9, winning team in the division. We want to win the division, be dominant and have a chance to make a run in the playoffs. That’s what our goal is going to be.”

Possible candidates

The Ravens don’t necessarily need a coach who can succeed for another 18 years. A couple former Baltimore assistants are now defensive coordinators elsewhere — Jesse Minter of the Los Angeles Chargers and Anthony Weaver of Miami.

Brian Flores, Kliff Kingsbury, Robert Saleh and Kevin Stefanski have head coaching experience with varying levels of success.

Seattle offensive coordinator An MVP talent Klint Kubiak and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Jackson already has two MVPs, Shula could be in line for their first and the star quarterback’s best Constructing the roster year might have been 2024, when The Ravens didn’t make too head coaching opportunities.

“judicious” approach in free agency, though he acknowledged they would have some “different opportunities” compared to previous years.

Among the other items for the Saints to address this offseason are determining whether to bring back veterans such as Demario Davis and Cam Jordan, extending wide receiver Chris Olave’s contract, and seeing whether Moore needs to make any changes to his coaching staff.

Moore endorsed the group Wednesday, telling reporters that he has a “really good staff” and would have to “stay ready for different adjustments,” such as opportunities for promotions elsewhere.

“We’ll go through that whole process,” Moore said.

Loomis praised Moore for how he navigated a challenging first season. He noted how the team’s plans changed after Derek Carr unexpectedly retired in May, forc-

4C ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Ole Miss football thriving in NIL era No. 6 Rebels to face ä Miami vs. Ole Miss, No. 10 Miami in 6:30 P.M.THURSDAy, ESPN. “I always talk about the trust Fiesta Bowl

BY DAVID BRANDT Associated Press

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James goes to the goal between Pelicans center Derik Queen, left, and forward Herbert Jones, right, at the Smoothie King Center on Tuesday.

Pelicans, Father Time couldn’t stop LeBron There were times Tuesday night when LeBron James did something that made you do one of two things.

1. Shake your head in disbelief.

2. Remind yourself of this: “He’s 41.”

Or maybe you did both.

James arrived in the NBA in 2003, just a year after the then-Hornets’ Rod season in New Walker first Orleans Pelicans’ rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen weren’t even born when the Cleveland Cavaliers selected James with the No. 1 overall pick that year.

Fast forward 23 seasons and James is still going.

He can still put together a game to make you think he’s 31 instead of 41.

The latest example of that came in the Pelicans’ 111-103 loss to James and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Smoothie King Center.

He finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

His two 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter helped erase a 8679 Pelicans’ lead. The second of those treys put the Lakers up 8786 and they never trailed again.

Chances are, James won’t play too many more games in the Smoothie King Center.

As far as we know, this season isn’t his farewell tour.

But he is nearing the finish line of his career. Fans know it. He knows it.

“I just try to give my love and passion for the game back to the fans when I get the opportunity to come out here and play,” James said. “I don’t know how many more times I’ll get the opportunity to play in front of fans either on the road or at home.”

For the past 23 years, you’ve either loved him or hated him.

For most of the folks around here, it’s been more of the latter.

Especially after the whole soap opera that led to the trade of for-

PELICANS

Continued from page 1C All those facets have to be better to not turn it over.”

The Pels’ previous nine-game losing skid came during a stretch from Nov. 8 to Nov. 22. The ninth loss in that skid also came against the Hawks at the Smoothie King Center.

This time the Pelicans were without Trey Murphy (low back spasm), Herb Jones (right ankle soreness), Saadiq Bey (right hip flexor strain) and Jose Alvarado (left oblique soreness). Those four players average a combined 53.8 points per game. The Pels’ starting five on Wednesday were Jeremiah Fears, Jordan Poole, Zion Williamson, Karlo Matkovic and Derik Queen.

The lack of firepower was too much to overcome. Bryce McGowens tried to pick up some of the slack. McGowens came off the bench and scored nine points in the first quarter. Williamson had a strong second quarter, scor-

mer Pelicans’ star Anthony Davis to join James in L.A. But there are still plenty of James’ fans, too.

James’ No. 23 Lakers jerseys, as well as his jerseys from his days with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and even St. Vincent-St. Mary High School were spotted in the Smoothie King Center. Mike Shows and his son Jaxon drove in from Mobile, Alabama, and arrived at the arena three hours before tip-off to see Jaxon’s favorite player.

Who knows how many more chances they will get.

“It’s humbling,” James said.

“I’m grateful for the road fans to be able to appreciate the way I play the game.”

This was James’ 23rd time playing in New Orleans. The arena was still called New Orleans Arena and the team was called the Hornets when James played his first games here.

He’s played well against the franchise, improving to 37-17 all-time with Tuesday’s win. But he has a losing record in games played in New Orleans. He’s just 10-13 in the Big Easy. That includes one stretch from the 2013’14 season to the 2018-’19 season when he lost six straight games in this building playing for the Heat, Cavs and Lakers.

His best scoring game in New Orleans came in his second NBA season when he poured in 44 points. He also won Most Valuable Player in the 2008 All-Star Game played in New Orleans.

Pelicans’ interim coach James Borrego got his first NBA job as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs the same year James came into the league. So he has a deep appreciation for James’ success.

“It’s insane that he’s been doing it this long at this level,” Borrego said. “This is a top-tier player still doing it at this age. Most guys veer off at some point. He’s been able to maintain it, sustain it this long.”

Nobody in NBA history has scored more points or played

ing seven straight points late in the second quarter. But the Pels trailed 65-53 at halftime. The Pelicans made just one field goal in the first nine minutes of the third quarter. They were outscored 2413 in the quarter.

Poole, who had struggled lately, was 6-of-13 on 3-pointers. But the rest of the team was just 2-of-15.

Micah Peavy’s 3-pointer with five minutes left was the first one of the game by someone other than Poole. McGowens made one later.

“The quality of shots, I don’t think was great,” Borrego said.

“There were moments throughout the night where we had it. But in general, we can be better there.”

Williamson led the Pels with 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Poole scored 21 and McGowens finished with 20 for the Pelicans (8-31).

Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2024, scored 25 points to lead the Hawks (1821).

The Pelicans will try to avoid a 10-game losing streak Friday when they play at the Washington Wizards.

more minutes than James. Only John Stockton, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd have dished out more assists.

“It’s been incredible just watching the longevity of his run,” Borrego said. “He’s been fortunate to stay healthy, but he’s done his part to keep his body where it’s at.

He’s done the best with what God gave him and that’s what’s incredible. He’s maximized every year and every ounce of God-given ability that he’s been given.”

Pelicans’ forward Trey Murphy, who poured in a career-high 42 points Tuesday, was five years old when he started watching James play. Like Borrego, he’s impressed with what he’s seen.

Murphy, 25, missed a game last week, dealing with a back injury.

“I can’t even imagine what I’d be dealing with if I was 41-years old,” Murphy said. “Big testament to him and the work he’s put in.”

Can Murphy see himself still playing at the age of 41?

“No,” he said emphatically.

Father Time is supposed to be undefeated, but James is still making it a fight. Yeah, there are times when you can see age is catching up, like his shot that went off the top of the backboard Tuesday night. But there are other times when you can’t deny he still has something left in the tank, like his dunk or his behindthe-back pass to Marcus Smart for one of his assists.

“What an amazing career, a beautiful career,” Borrego said.

“To stay at this level this long, I don’t think we have ever seen anything like it. And I’m not sure we ever will.”

So, for those of you who made your way to the Smoothie King Center on Tuesday, appreciate the opportunity to witness greatness.

James’ career will someday come to an end, despite a performance that makes you wonder if it ever will.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

Keith Carter had a premium vantage point at the Sugar Bowl for arguably the biggest moment in Mississippi’s college football history, standing directly behind the goalposts as Lucas Carneiro’s 47-yard field goal split the uprights.

The Ole Miss athletic director scooped up the football and tucked it under both arms, hugging it tight like a fullback as he ran through the end zone in jubilation.

The 49-year-old Carter — who played basketball for the Rebels in the late 1990s — didn’t play a snap in Ole Miss’ 39-34 victory over Georgia in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. But in some ways, he might be the most important person for a football program that hasn’t acheived this much success since the early 1960s.

He is also the man working to keep Ole Miss on top.

“We want to go win the whole thing this year, obviously,” Carter said. “But our hope is to be right back here next year and be a program that’s an every-year CFP contender with a chance to win national championships.”

Such talk would have sounded crazy less than a decade ago when Ole Miss was mostly an afterthought in the SEC, dealing with the fallout of an NCAA investigation into rules violations and a messy breakup with then-coach Hugh Freeze.

But as the No. 6 seed Rebels prepare to face No. 10 Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday with a spot in the national championship game on the line, it doesn’t feel nearly as far-fetched.

Thanks to a group of behind-thescenes people that includes Carter and Walker Jones — who leads the Ole Miss NIL collective — the Rebels have thrived in the payfor-play era, building a fundraising behemoth that’s given them resources to build a roster that includes quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy and a defense stacked with NFL-caliber talent.

Chambliss recently committed to return to the Rebels next season pending NCAA approval. He said Ole Miss has all of the resources it needs to compete at the highest level.

“I feel like college football’s changed throughout the years,” Chambliss said. “NIL changed that. The transfer portal changed that. The college football playoff changed that. I feel like Ole Miss, being in the SEC, the best conference in the nation, you’re going to get guys. You’re going to get good guys and coaches want to coach there. Ole Miss has done a good job transitioning with how college football is transitioning itself.”

Jones played football for the Rebels in the 1990s before a business career that included more than a decade with Under Armour.

He came back to Ole Miss in 2022 to lead The Grove Collective, which is the athletic department’s fundraising arm.

Carter and Jones have known each other since their days playing Ole Miss sports and that connection was crucial.

Keith had in me to come back in this capacity during a very confusing and complex time,” Jones said. “That probably wasn’t easy.

I credit our history together and the experience of being studentathletes together.”

The Rebels were quick to adapt to the NIL era under coach Lane Kiffin, who iprovided the recruiting. Carter and Jones provided the money and a juggernaut was born.

Now Kiffin is gone — headed to LSU after an awkward breakup — but the money remains. Jones has cultivated a group of roughly 7,000 donors in The Grove Collective who range from millionaries to college students. It’s all impressive for a school that has a large following, but not the same kind of massive alumni base of schools like Ohio State or Texas.

“We may not have a T. Boone Pickens or a Phil Knight,” Carter said, referring to the well-heeled donors for Oklahoma State and Oregon. “But when you put us all together collectively, pull the rope in the same direction and people give not only what they can, but maybe even a little above what they should, we’ve been able to be really good.”

Ole Miss’ staying power has been evident over the past 12 months after last year’s disappointing ending to the season. The Rebels spent a boatload of money in 2024 for a roster that included quarterback Jaxson Dart, but they went 9-3 in the regular season and didn’t make the playoff.

Jones and Carter weren’t deterred and the donations kept pouring into the program. One year later, they’re exactly where they want to be. Even losing Kiffin hasn’t stopped the momentum; Carter quickly promoted Pete Golding and the Rebels keep chugging along.

“You’ve seen this before in sports,” Carter said. “There’s a team with all the expectations and you fall a little short. Then the very next year, you look up, and there’s a team that’s maybe not as heralded or doesn’t have as much preseason hype. But the pieces fit perfectly, the locker room is right, all these intangible things happen and it’s the best team in school history.”

It’s all new territory for an Ole Miss program that hasn’t been a powerhouse since the 1950s and ‘60s, back before integration. The Rebels claim three national championships in football, though none since 1962.

There were a few good moments in the ensuing decades: Eli Manning was the team’s quarterback during a few heady years in the early 2000s, the Rebels won the Cotton Bowl in 2008 and Freeze had it rolling for a few years in the mid-2010s before NCAA troubles arose.

All those flashes of national relavance faded quickly.

Now because of Carter, Jones and a whole lot of cash, this version of Ole Miss might stick around for a while. Carter is soaking in the moment.

“It’s not just for me,” Carter said. “I’m the one who gets recognized and is the one out in front, but there are so many people who deserve this. I’m so happy for our fans, the ones who have been through some ups and downs.”

GM

Continued from page 1C

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By COLIN HUBBARD

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, center, shoots against Pelicans guard Jordan Poole, right, during the first half on Wednesday in Atlanta.

The Pelicans lost 117-100.

a private plane to Baton Rouge the day that Kiffin left Ole Miss.

Glasscock is now a key figure as LSU works on its transfer portal class.

LSU also agreed to terms with defensive line coach Sterling Lucas and special teams coordinator Joe Houston. All three deals were reached in mid-December, according to the term sheets. They are expected to be approved when the LSU board of supervisors next meets in February.

Lucas, who was hired away from South Carolina, agreed to a two-year deal that will pay him $925,000 next year and $975,000 in 2027.

Houston has a two-year deal worth $700,000 per year before potential incentives. Houston worked with Florida’s special teams units for two years after spending four seasons as a special teams assistant with the New England Patriots. He signed former Florida punter Hayden Craig at LSU on Wednesday.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 5C

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THE VARSITY ZONE

LSU NOTEBOOK

LSU adds Florida wideout Wilson

Brother Martin’s Noah McDaniel goes up for a reverse layup against Rummel on Tuesday night at Rummel in Metairie.

McDaniel scored 26 points in the Crusaders’ 64-61 win in double overtime.

BY WILSON ALEXANDER and REED DARCEY Staff writers

LSU landed a commitment Wednesday morning from Florida wide receiver Eugene Wilson, he announced in a social media post, giving the Tigers four new transfer wide receivers since the portal opened last week.

Wilson committed during a visit to LSU. After going to Texas A&M over the weekend, he came to Baton Rouge and briefly attended the LSU men’s basketball game Tuesday night with coach Lane Kiffin, linebacker Whit Weeks and Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt.

Wilson has 107 career receptions for 1,043 yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons at Florida.

He will have two more years of eligibility. Wilson, who’s listed at 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds, was ranked as the ninth-best receiver on the market by 247Sports.

Injuries have affected Wilson’s availability the past two years.

He only started four games as a sophomore before suffering a season-ending injury, which gave him an extra year of eligibility. After playing in eight games with five starts this past season, he missed the last four games with an injury.

When he was healthy as a freshman, Wilson had 61 catches, 538 yards and six touchdowns.

He was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class coming out of Gaither High in Tampa, Florida.

LSU has added four transfer wide receivers with Wilson, Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown, Old Dominion transfer Tre Brown and Hawaii transfer Jackson Harris.

Florida punter LSU-bound Former Florida punter Hayden Craig is transferring to LSU, he confirmed Wednesday in an Instagram post.

Craig did not appear in a game for the Gators in this past season — his true freshman year. He’s a native of Canada’s Quebec province who signed with Florida in 2025 as one of the 10 best punter recruits in his class, according to 247Sports composite rankings.

LSU now has two scholarship punters. Grant Chadwick — the 6-5 former Middle Tennessee transfer who punted for the Tigers this past season — can return for his junior year. In 2025, he averaged 46 yards, which ranked in the top 20 among FBS punters.

This transfer cycle, LSU is expected to find a new kicker. Damian Ramos exhausted his eligibility, and his presumed replacement, kickoff specialist Aeron Burrell, entered the transfer portal.

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

Crusaders’ ‘TNT’ sinks Raiders

Brother Martin tops Rummel in double overtime as new coach’s acronym takes root

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

Brother Martin basketball coach Wesley Laurendine had plenty to feel good about Tuesday night.

The Rummel graduate returned to his alma mater as the visiting coach inside a crowded gym and saw junior Noah McDaniel score a game-high 26 points as he made three 3-pointers and sank two key free throws late in the second overLaurendine time to help Brother Martin secure a 64-61 victory.

Afterward, McDaniel echoed the message that Laurendine has preached to his team since the school hired him nearly 10 months ago.

“Since we’re a little small,” the 5-foot-11 McDaniel said, “we need TNT — (it stands for) takes no talent — to thrive in these types of games.”

When told that his leading scorer used the “TNT” phrase during a postgame interview, Laurendine smiled.

“I love that,” Laurendine said. “I

LATE TUESDAY wouldn’t have guessed that he would have said that to be honest with you.

I mean, I do preach it a lot.”

Laurendine, who coached Shaw to four consecutive state tournament appearances and a Division II select runner-up finish last season, introduced the “TNT” concept when he met with Brother Martin basketball players for the first time in March.

“We’re doing everything that takes no talent,” he said. “Playing hard, sprinting back, being in the right spots, executing, rebounding, boxing out. All the little things. Taking charges. All that stuff. Diving on the floor for the ball. Whatever it takes. That’s TNT.” Asked if the “TNT” acronym was something he used at Shaw, Laurendine said, “No, it wasn’t,” adding that “it was something that, as you get older, you learn what’s important.”

So far, the message from Laurendine is getting through to his unproven players as Brother Martin (13-5) moved within one win of matching last season’s total of 14 (with 18 losses).

“He just brings a different type

of energy,” McDaniel said. “A positive energy that we need, pushing us at practice, stuff like that.”

Against Rummel (10-5), the first Catholic League opponent this season, Laurendine’s team trailed briefly at the start and led by 11 points in the second quarter. Rummel cut the lead after halftime and drew even for the first time with just minutes remaining.

The first overtime had three lead changes, including when 6-foot-6 Rummel sophomore Felton Chest (nine points) scored on a one-handed putback while getting fouled and made a free throw for a 58-56 lead.

A driving layup by Brother Martin junior Raphael Bickham (16 points) tied the score with 30 seconds remaining, and after a miss at the other end, McDaniel put up a threequarters court shot that hit off the front of the rim.

In the second overtime, McDaniel scored off a ball screen and later made two free throws for a 63-58 lead. Rummel sophomore Ronald Navarre (14 points) made a 3-pointer with just under 30 seconds remaining, and poor freethrow shooting let Rummel have two chances to tie the score but missed 3s both times.

Brother Martin senior Will

Foster new coach at John Ehret

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE

Staff writer

Huskies QB on LSU radar LSU is expected to have interest in Washington quarterback Demond Williams, who said Tuesday night in a social media post that he plans to enter the transfer portal, multiple sources told The Advocate.

Williams would be considered one of the top quarterbacks on the market after he threw for 3,065 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions as a sophomore this past season. He added another 611 yards and six touchdowns on the ground while earning All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition.

“I have to do what’s best for me and my future,” Williams wrote.

Williams announced his decision with LSU in the midst of hosting Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, another top quarterback in the transfer portal. After a multi-day stay in Baton Rouge, Leavitt will leave Wednesday for a visit to Tennessee, according to reports.

While Williams might become a priority for LSU, the situation could get complicated. Williams agreed to a new deal with Washington last week, and according to multiple reports, the school plans to enforce a signed revenue sharing contract. The details of Williams’ deal are not known, but the arrangements typically include a buyout.

According to Yahoo Sports, Washington officials suspect another school contacted Williams after he signed his deal and plan to submit evidence of tampering.

A Washington spokesperson declined to comment Tuesday night when reached by The Advocate.

McChesky was the third among three double-figure scorers for his team with 12 points and six rebounds. For Rummel, 6-3 sophomore Ja’Marcus Jones led in scoring with 19 points along with five rebounds.

Senior Brandon Melancon had seven points and eight rebounds.

The game did not count in the district standings. With 9-5A schools playing only one round of district games for the second year in a row, the second meeting Jan. 23 at Brother Martin will be the matchup that counts in the league standings.

Laurendine coached Shaw to a Catholic League championship in 2022, the last season before the school opted not to play in the highest enrollment classification, a decision that caused Shaw to leave the league. Three years later, Laurendine left for Brother Martin so he could return to his Catholic League roots and that familiar basketball landscape.

“I took this job for this reason right here, because I wanted to be in this environment,” he said.

With a message that seems to be getting through to his players, Brother Martin appears all but certain to exceed last season’s output with more than a month remaining before the playoffs.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Haynes Academy coach Ashley Miller, center, talks to her team before they play Dominican on Sept. 5, 2023.

Miller will coach next season at Mount Carmel, her alma mater.

New MCA coach Miller says job ‘a dream of mine’

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE

Staff writer

For Ashley Lala Miller, this was a dream come true.

The state champion volleyball player for Mount Carmel knew before she graduated in 2011 that she wanted to come back to her alma mater and coach her favorite sport.

Her chance has arrived, as Mount Carmel on Wednesday announced Miller as the volleyball coach after she coached the past seven seasons at Haynes, where she guided the Yellow Jackets to their first state title in 2024.

“I’m really happy at Haynes,” Miller said. “Haynes is a great school. It’s tough to leave Haynes and the work family, and the players here and everything we have built here. But it always has been a dream of mine to come back to my alma mater and build a program there.”

Miller will continue as a P.E. teacher at Haynes for the remain-

der of the school year.

At Mount Carmel, Miller will coach where she starred as a setter and six-rotation standout, earning the LHSAA outstanding player award following a victory over Dominican in the 2010 state final.

Miller is replacing Taylor Ricaud, who left after three seasons and is now the head coach at Pope John Paul II. Mount Carmel has won 14 state championships, including six in a row from 2014-19.

The Cubs, who last reached the state final in 2023, lost in the quarterfinals last season against Chapelle.

Mount Carmel athletic director April Hagadone coached eight championship teams at the school.

“Ashley was a leader at a very young age with very good court awareness and good IQ,” Hagadone said. “Not all athletes have that.”

Miller said she “fell in love with volleyball” when she was a freshman, and she was a junior or se-

nior when she told Hagadone that she would like to come back to the school and replace her as coach.

“I knew I wanted to be a P.E. teacher and coach because both of my parents were P.E. teachers and coaches in multiple sports,” said Miller, who remembered thinking, “Man, this would be awesome, to come back here and run a program at a school that I love and be surrounded by an amazing community.”

Miller replaced her mother, Dollie Lala, as the coach at Haynes and lifted it to unprecedented heights, reaching the semifinals for the first time in 2022, two years before the five-set triumph over Hannan in the Division III state final.

With the move, Mount Carmel, Dominican (Jessica Chatellier) and Chapelle (Jodee Pulizzano) each is helmed by an individual that has coached a team to a state title.

“She’s a great fit,” Hagadone said about Miller. “She understands the Mount Carmel culture and the pressure that comes with it.”

Dismissed from his last head coaching job after one season at Riverdale, new John Ehret coach Wallace Foster will get another chance to run his own program.

Ehret announced Foster as the football coach during Football a basketball game Tuesday at the high school.

Foster coached Riverdale to a 5-5 record and a playoff berth in 2023 but was told by the school principal after the season that he would not remain as the football coach.

Now at Ehret, Foster will take over a team that finished 4-6 and did not make the playoffs under coach Willie Brooks, who resigned after one season.

Foster coached last season as an assistant at Warren Easton, where he coached for a long stretch of time before his brief stint at Riverdale.

Other head coaching stops for Foster came at Douglass in the early 2000s and when he pioneered the program at Robouin before that school closed in 2012.

Foster and Ehret will be in the same district with Easton in the 2026 season. Easton, a regular state contender while in Class 4A, has played the past two football seasons in District 9-5A. The Eagles next season will join Ehret in a district that is filled largely with Jefferson Parish public schools.

Bonnabel will be the reigning district champion after former Karr and LSU standout Andre Anthony guided the Bruins to an 8-4 record and a first-round playoff win in his first season as head coach.

6C ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Sprague steps down as CEO of PGA of America

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

Derek Sprague is leaving after one year as CEO at the PGA of America, wishing to return to upstate New York to help support his mother and mother-in-law, who are requiring more care.

Sprague took over in January 2025, the first club professional in 20 years to be CEO and the first former PGA president appointed to the role. The PGA of America has some 30,000 professionals, and it runs the Ryder Cup in America and the PGA Championship for men, women and seniors.

He said he would stay on in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition when the PGA of America finds his successor.

Sprague had informed the PGA of America board in early December of his need to get home to Malone, New York.

The PGA of America said it expects to announce a new CEO in the coming weeks.

“At my daughter’s wedding last month in upstate New York, it became clear that my family needs me nearby to assist with the care of my mother and mother-in-law,” Sprague said in a statement. “Focusing on family has become my priority, and the best decision for me is to step away from my role as CEO and return home to be with them.”

Sprague, who served as PGA president from 2014-16, was selected as CEO to replace Seth Waugh, the former Deutsche Bank Americas CEO who had been lured out of retirement in 2018.

Waugh had been grooming Craig Kessler, the PGA’s chief operating officer, as a potential replacement ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MATT yORK until the PGA board opted for one Derek Sprague, CEO of the PGA of America, speaks during a news of its members. Kessler was apconference at the PGA Championship at the Quail Hollow Club on May pointed LPGA commissioner last 13 in Charlotte, N.C. summer.

Sprague was the PGA of America executive who reached out to man endured at Bethpage Black the PGA of America and McIlroy Rory McIlroy to apologize for the during the Ryder Cup. McIlroy’s said Sprague “couldn’t have been verbal abuse the Northern Irish- wife, Erica, previously worked at more gracious” in what he de-

scribed as a “lovely letter.”

He also was a staunch opponent during his year as CEO of the USGA and R&A’s plan to roll back the distance of golf balls for elite competition in 2028 and everyone else in 2030.

Sprague grew up in Malone and ran every aspect of Malone Golf Club, serving as general manager and director of golf. After his stint as PGA president, he worked at Liberty National in New Jersey when it hosted the 2017 Presidents Cup, and then was appointed general manager of the TPC Sawgrass before being selected CEO of the PGA of America.

He was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2019.

Sprague stepping down extends the turnover in golf’s executive leadership. Brian Rolapp took over in August as CEO of the PGA Tour Enterprises; Kessler joined the LPGA in July; and Mark Darbon is just over a year into his role as CEO of the R&A.

SCOREBOARD Odds

Peach Bowl, Atlanta No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

National Championship

COLLEGE BASKETBALL Thursday

FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG Hofstra 1½ at TOWSON at FAIR. DICKINSON 1½ Chicago State at UMBC 7½ Maine at BRYANT 2½ UMass-Lowell at MICHIGAN STATE 11½ Northwestern Liberty 4½ at LOUISIANA TECH UNC Wilmington 3½ at NORTHEASTERN UT Martin 2½ at MORE. STATE at SAM HOUSTON 12½ Delaware at SOUTHERN MISS 5½ Texas State at ILLINOIS 21½ Rutgers Middle Tennessee 4½ at UTEP at NM STATE 3½ W. Kentucky at CSU NORTHRIDGE 4½ Cal Poly Pacific 3½ at PORTLAND at UC IRVINE 10½ Long Beach State Seattle U 3½ at OREGON STATE at OREGON 1½ Ohio State at LOY. MARYM. 1½ San Francisco at GONZAGA 14½ Santa Clara

NBA

Thursday

FAVORITE at CHARLOTTE at CHICAGO at MINNESOTA at UTAH

LINE OFF OFF 3 OFF

College Football Thursday

O/U (OFF) (OFF) (239½) (OFF)

UNDERDOG Indiana Miami Cleveland Dallas

Fiesta Bowl Glendale, Ariz.

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY Miami (FL) 3 3½

O/U UNDERDOG (52½) Ole Miss

Peach Bowl Atlanta FAVORITE OPEN TODAY Indiana 4 3½

O/U UNDERDOG (48½) Oregon

Friday

NFL

Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG LA Rams 10½ 10½ (46½) at CAROLINA Green Bay 1½ 1½ (45½) at CHICAGO

Sunday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U Buffalo 1½ 1 (52) at PHILA 3½ 4½ (44½) at NE 3½ 3½ (46)

UNDERDOG at JAX San Fran.

LA Chargers

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U Houston 3 3 (39½)

UNDERDOG at PITT

Monday

Pro football

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 Tuesday’s game

South Carolina 78, LSU 68

Thursday’s games

Liberty at Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m.

UL-Monroe at UL, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s games

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.

Pro basketball NBA Conference glance EASTERN CONFERENCE

Late 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 Wednesday’s games

Wild-card playoffs 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 Jan. 17-18

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)

College football College Football Playoff Semifinals

Thursday Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz.

No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Miami, 6:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Friday

Northern Illinois 64, Buffalo 58 Rhode Island 79, George Washington 70 St. Bonaventure 46, Duquesne 38 Texas Tech 71, West Virginia 66 UConn 88, St. John’s 43 SOUTH Coastal Carolina 69, Appalachian State 53 Davidson 48, Saint Joseph’s 36 George Mason 62, La Salle 47 Georgia Southern 78, James Madison 70 High Point 76, Presbyterian 43 Longwood 83, Charleston Southern 63 Richmond 84, Fordham 65 Troy 84, Texas State 49 UNC Asheville 62, Gardner-Webb 51 Winthrop 66, USC Upstate 64 MIDWEST Ball State 71, Toledo 68 Central Michigan 66, Kent State 57 Cincinnati 71, Iowa State 63 Cleveland State 87, Wright State 75 Georgetown 63, Butler 46 Loyola Chicago 71, Dayton 68 Miami (OH) 72, UMass 60 Ohio 96, Eastern Michigan 87 Ohio State 78, Illinois 69 Western Michigan 55, Akron 48 SOUTHWEST TCU 69, Oklahoma State 61

EAST Boston University 83, Lafayette 67 Colgate 64, American 62 Indiana 84, Maryland 66 Lehigh 66, Holy Cross 58 Loyola (Md) 84, Army 76, OT SOUTH Furman 78, Chattanooga 67 High Point 104, Gardner-Webb 49 Jacksonville State 71, Florida Int. 64 Mercer 101, The Citadel 63 UNC Asheville 72, Longwood 61 Winthrop 81, Charleston Southern 77 Wofford 97, UNC Greensboro 85 MIDWEST Belmont 78, Northern Iowa 65

W 28 24 23 23 20 21 20 20 18 17 16 13 11 10 6

L 9 13 13 15 15 17 17 17 21 20 20 24 22 26 31

Pct .757 .649 .639 .605 .571 .553 .541 .541 .462 .459 .444 .351 .333 .278 .162

GB — 4 4½ 5½ 7 7½ 8 8 11 11 11½ 15 15 17½ 22

W Oklahoma City 30 San Antonio 25 L.A. Lakers 23 Denver 25 Houston 22 Minnesota 24 Phoenix 21 Golden State 19 Portland 17 Memphis 16 Dallas 14 L.A. Clippers 13 Utah 12 Sacramento 8 New Orleans 8

L 7 11 11 12 11 13 15 18 20 20 23 23 23 29 31

Pct .811 .694 .676 .676 .667 .649 .583 .514 .459 .444 .378 .361 .343 .216 .205

GB — 4½ 5½ 5 6 6 8½ 11 13 13½ 16 16½ 17 22 23

Detroit New York Boston Toronto Philadelphia Cleveland Orlando Miami Atlanta Chicago Milwaukee Charlotte Brooklyn Washington Indiana

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Tuesday’s games

Washington 120, Orlando 112 Cleveland 120, Indiana 116 Memphis 106, San Antonio 105 Minnesota 122, Miami 94 L.A. Lakers 111, New Orleans 103 Dallas 100, Sacramento 98

Wednesday’s games

Women’s state schedule, scores

Tuesday’s game Tulsa 76, Tulane 73

Thursday’s games

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.

NBA Leaders

G Doncic, LAL 27 G.-Alexander, OKC 36 Maxey, PHI 32 Mitchell, CLE 34 Jokic, DEN 32 Brown, BOS 33 Edwards, MIN 30 Brunson, NY 33 Curry, GS 27 Leonard, LAC 25 Markkanen, UTA 30 Cunningham, DET 33 Porter, BKN 27 Avdija, POR 37 Booker, PHO 33 Durant, HOU 31 Harden, LAC 32 Murray, DEN 34 George, UTA 34 Powell, MIA 32

FG 278 389 345 355 339 360 299 342 250 245 281 306 247 291 279 279 237 307 257 259

FT PTS 259 905 285 1136 182 992 170 1013 203 948 188 977 181 880 179 962 146 775 148 702 182 832 202 882 104 698 288 957 237 849 174 797 243 822 133 864 221 825 161 778

AVG 33.5 31.6 31.0 29.8 29.6 29.6 29.3 29.2 28.7 28.1 27.7 26.7 25.9 25.9 25.7 25.7 25.7 25.4 24.3 24.3

Gobert, MIN Ayton, LAL Queta, BOS Williams, PHO Antetokounmpo, MIL Duren, DET Jokic, DEN Zubac, LAC Allen, CLE Claxton, BKN

FG 172 202 146 147 245 216 339 193 143 166

FGA 239 290 221 227 381 341 560 321 240 285

PCT .720 .697 .661 .648 .643 .633 .605 .601 .596 .582

FG Percentage

Rebounds

G 32 33 37 30 33 31 37 34 30 29

Jokic, DEN Towns, NY Gobert, MIN Zubac, LAC Clingan, POR Duren, DET Ware, MIA Johnson, ATL Nurkic, UTA Adebayo, MIA

Assists

OFF 97 96 145 103 152 127 128 51 80 48

DEF 292 282 270 227 204 203 265 301 208 230 G 32 33 30 27 34 32 26 35 34 37

Jokic, DEN Cunningham, DET Giddey, CHI Doncic, LAL Johnson, ATL Harden, LAC Ball, CHA Mitchell, MIA Murray, DEN Avdija, POR

NHL glance

Indiana at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

Cleveland at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Miami at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Utah, 8 p.m.

Metropolitan Division

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.

Late Tuesday

Women’s national scores

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.

EAST American 59, Colgate 56, OT Army 71, Loyola (MD) 66 Lafayette 65, Boston University 64 Lehigh 60, Holy Cross 57 Marshall 77, Old Dominion 70 Navy 77, Bucknell 51

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

L.A. Lakers 111, New Orleans 103 L.A. LAKERS (111)

TOT 389 378 415 330 356 330 393 352 288 278 AST 351 321 270 235 286 256 206 262 245 264

AVG 12.2 11.5 11.2 11.0 10.8 10.6 10.6 10.4 9.6 9.6 AVG 11.0 9.7 9.0 8.7 8.4 8.0 7.9 7.5 7.2 7.1

Pro hockey EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP 42 44 42 41 42 42 43 41

W 26 25 23 22 22 20 22 20

L OT Pts GF GA 13 3 55 146 112 15 4 54 136 141 13 6 52 141 141 15 4 48 130 129 17 3 47 130 134 15 7 47 141 139 19 2 46 137 143 16 5 45 136 134

GP Carolina 43 N.Y. Islanders 43 Philadelphia 41 Washington 43 Pittsburgh 41 New Jersey 43 N.Y. Rangers 44 Columbus 42

W 26 24 22 22 20 22 20 18

L OT Pts GF GA 14 3 55 147 131 15 4 52 129 120 12 7 51 129 118 15 6 50 142 125 12 9 49 135 131 19 2 46 114 133 18 6 46 116 120 17 7 43 129 142

GP 42 43 44 43 42 43 42 41

W 31 25 25 20 19 17 17 15

L OT Pts GF GA 4 7 69 167 97 10 8 58 149 123 11 8 58 140 119 20 3 43 130 124 19 4 42 120 142 18 8 42 107 146 18 7 41 118 134 21 5 35 118 130

Tampa Bay Detroit Montreal Buffalo Florida Toronto Boston Ottawa

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

Pacific Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Vegas 41 18 11 12 48 128 129 Edmonton 43 21 16 6 48 145 145 Seattle 41 20 14 7 47 115 120 Los Angeles 41 18 14 9 45 111 113 San Jose 42 21 18 3 45 132 148 Anaheim 43 21 19 3 45 145 158 Calgary 42 18 20 4 40 112 126 Vancouver 42 16 21 5 37 120 148 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.

Tuesday’s games

Scoring

Detroit 108, Chicago 93 Philadelphia 131, Washington 110 Toronto 97, Charlotte 96 Denver 114, Boston 110 New York 123, L.A. Clippers 111 Atlanta 117, New Orleans 100 Orlando at Brooklyn, n Phoenix at Memphis, n Utah at Oklahoma City, n L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, n Houston at Portland, n Milwaukee at Golden State, n

Thursday’s games

Saturday’s games

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)

Buffalo 5, Vancouver 3 Carolina 6, Dallas 3 Tampa Bay 4, Colorado 2 Philadelphia 5, Anaheim 2 N.Y. Islanders 9, New Jersey 0 Toronto 4, Florida 1 Vegas 4, Winnipeg 3, OT Edmonton 6, Nashville 2 San Jose 5, Columbus 2 Seattle 7, Boston 4

Wednesday’s games

Dallas at Washington, n Calgary at Montreal, n Ottawa at Utah, n St. Louis at Chicago, n San Jose at Los Angeles, n

Thursday’s games

Anaheim at Carolina, 6 p.m.

Buffalo at N.Y. Rangers, 6 p.m.

Calgary at Boston, 6 p.m.

Florida at Montreal, 6 p.m.

New Jersey at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.

Toronto at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Vancouver at Detroit, 6 p.m.

Edmonton at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Nashville, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at Colorado, 8 p.m.

Columbus at Vegas, 9 p.m.

Minnesota at Seattle, 9 p.m.

Pro tennis ATP Brisbane International results Wednesday At Queensland Tennis Centre Brisbane, Australia Surface: Hardcourt outdoor

Men’s Singles

Round of 16 Alex Michelsen, United States, def. Learner Tien (8), United States, 6-4, 6-2.

Daniil Medvedev (1), Russia, def. Frances Tiafoe, United States, 6-3, 6-2.

Sebastian Korda, United States, def. Jiri Lehecka (3), Czechia, 6-3, 1-2, ret.

Kamil Majchrzak, Poland, def. Reilly Opelka, United States, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (7), 7-6 (8).

Men’s Doubles

Round of 16 Luke Johnson, Britain, and Manuel Guinard (5), France, def. Marcelo Demoliner, Brazil, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, France, 6-7 (1), 6-2, 10-3.

Hugo Nys, Monaco, and Sem Verbeek (4), Netherlands, def. Valentin Vacherot, Monaco, and Raphael Collignon, Belgium, 6-4, 6-4.

Lucas Miedler, Austria, and Francisco Cabral (3), Portugal, def. Ariel Behar, Uruguay, and Joran Vliegen, Belgium, 6-3, 7-6 (4).

Sebastian Korda and Brandon Nakashima, United States, def. Evan King, United States, and John Peers (7), Australia, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 11-9.

Fabien Reboul and Sadio Doumbia (6), France, def. Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, Australia, 6-0, 1-6, 10-6.

Transactions BASEBALL

Major League Baseball American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Claimed OF Marco Luciano off waivers from Pittsburgh. Designated OF Jhonkensy Noel for assignment.

Sent LHP Josh Walker outright to Norfolk (IL).

LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Claimed OF Wade Meckler off waivers.

National League CHICAGO CUBS — Claimed LHP Ryan Rolison off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.

FOOTBALL

National Football League BUFFALO BILLS — Signed CB Dane Jackson to the active roster. Placed DT Jordan Phillips on injured reserve. Signed QB Shane Buechele and CB Daryl Porter Jr. to the practice squad. Designated S Damar Hamlin to return from injured reserve.

THURSDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS ENTRIES Post Time:12:45PM First Race, $24,000, Claiming $20,000, 4 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) Five Furlongs

06 07 08 09

Keen Gal Meg’s Ladybug Lady Dixie Don’t Be Salty

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11

Spinning Glory De’ Ans Eighty Rambert Classic Claire Hittin My Stride Call’em All Rumpus Bayou Bertie Margoinabubblebath Lylah Renee Tough Love Torres

J Ortiz I Castillo M Murrill J Loveberry D Cannon J Graham P Lopez (B Curtis A Concepcion C McMahon (P Lopez

5-1 5-1 6-1 9-2 10-1 15-1 15-1 3-1 5-1 15-1 5-1

01 02 03 04 05 06

Mika Ella Pika Kin to the Wicked Prayforthewicked Glistening Gal Moonie Pie From Scratch

01 02 03 04 05 06 07

Cesium American Vision Texas Splurge Sand Cast Prince Day Sharp Strike Ain’t No Disco

J Mudd J Rodriguez D Cannon A Concepcion H Rea C McMahon J Ortiz

8-1 10-1 9-2 4-1 3-1 8-1 5-2

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

Twolatebabydoll (FR) Cantora Bodacious Beauty Carae Mo Complex Tempting Eve Chardan Aurora Sky Zettie

01 02 03 04

Twofexusnexus Speightful One Creole Charlie Late September

Second Race, $18,000, Claiming $15,000, 4 yo’s & up One Mile Seventy Yards

Third Race, $15,000, Maiden Claiming $12,500, 3 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) One Mile 01 02 03 04 05

Moor to Conquer Kisses for Cooper Storm Surge Dewey’s Soldier Jailhouse Religion

H Rea J Mudd M Pedroza, Jr. E Murray J Ortiz

12-1 6-1 8-1 12-1 4-1

M Murrill O Chavez S Vives A Concepcion

7-2 15-1 8-1 3-1

(E Murray121 (A Concepcion124 (J Ortiz121 (P Lopez121 (M Pedroza, Jr.121 (J Loveberry121

15-1 4-1 9-2 5-1 7-2 6-5

J Ortiz B Curtis A Concepcion (H Rea119 R Hernandez M Pedroza, Jr. J Loveberry (P Lopez D Cannon

3-1 5-1 8-1 10-1 20-1 5-1 8-1 7-2 10-1

J Rodriguez J Mudd J Riquelme P Lopez

5-1 8-1 20-1 8-1

Fourth Race, $55,000, Allowance, 4 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) Six Furlongs

Fifth Race, $54,000, Maiden special weight, 4 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) Five And A Half Furlongs

Sixth Race, $19,000, Claiming $12,500, 4 yo’s & up Five And A Half Furlongs

05 06 07 08 09 10

Charco Ampitup Autie Myglorybee Father Goose Catalina Day

M Pedroza, Jr. B Curtis J Ortiz E Nieves J Loveberry C McMahon

4-1 6-1 3-1 15-1 20-1 8-1

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Captivating Star Tensas Camp Road Bob’s Channel Mardi Gras Empire Wicked as Haggart Classical Knight Magnolia West Single Shot Southscape Dude Drop Kid Turf Monster Unified Report Coffee County American Dollars Titanium Deal Runninginthemoney

P Lopez B Curtis D Cannon M Pedroza, Jr. J Riquelme J Loveberry E Nieves C Hernandez I Castillo M Murrill A Concepcion B Curtis S Vives M Murrill E Nieves J Ortiz

5-1 6-1 8-1 8-1 9-2 12-1 8-1 15-1 8-1 8-1 8-1 8-1 12-1 12-1 12-1 6-1

01 02 03 04 05

I Got No Munny Carambaso Disco Ball Midnight Pranks Show Time

(C McMahon121 (P Lopez121 (J Loveberry121 (I Castillo121 (J Ortiz121

7-2 20-1 2-1 12-1 4-1

Seventh Race, $55,000, AOC $12,500, 4 yo’s & up One Mile

Eighth Race, $28,000, Claiming $30,000, 4 yo’s & up Six Furlongs

06 07 08

Bebedouro Finster Island Cruiser

(H Hernandez121 (M Pedroza, Jr.121 (M Murrill121

Ninth Race, $54,000, Maiden special weight, 3 yo One And One Sixteenth Miles

8-1 8-1 6-1

01 Next Time J Graham 5-1 02 In the Gray C Rosier 30-1 03 Apollo Eleven A Concepcion 10-1 04 Swerve C Hernandez 30-1 05 Fake Smart P Lopez 5-1 06 Royal Causeway F Geroux 4-1 07 Whatever J Loveberry 10-1 08 Shuggy J Ortiz 9-2 09 Robert Lee (M Murrill 15-1 10 Touch of Fire M Pedroza, Jr. 7-2 11 Market Runner J Ortiz 3-1 Tenth Race, $14,000, Maiden Claiming $10,000, 4 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) Six Furlongs 01 Arguing Louise T Frey 12-1 02 Show’ Em Nola J Riquelme 6-1 E Murray 20-1 03 Naykesh 04 Arabi Girls Rule H Rea 20-1 05 Mo Diva C Hernandez 2-1 06 Francesnfriends C McMahon 4-1 O Chavez 20-1 07 Southern Love 08 Global Value J Mudd 20-1 09 Charlie Brahms M Pedroza, Jr. 10-1 10 Vickie’s Halo E Nieves 20-1 11 Mom’s Hands C Rosier 6-1 12 Mary Claire S Vives 10-1

LIVING

N O L A.C O M

|

T h u r s d ay, J a n u a ry 8, 2026

1dn

Mac and cheese a comforting meal in just minutes

BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

I was looking for a quick and comforting meal, and creamy mac and cheese with storebought cooked chicken was the perfect answer. Once the elbow macaroni is boiled, the rest of the ingredients come together in minutes.

In fact, this dinner can be ready in just 10 minutes. For a festive touch, I added fresh tomato pieces to a bag of washed, ready-to-eat greens for a simple red-and-green side salad.

A healthier take on a shrimp po-boy involves strongly spiced shrimp cooked in a pan along with avocado mango slaw.

PHOTOS BY KEVIN BELTON

HELPFUL HINTS: n Any onion can be used in place of red onion. n Any short-cut pasta can be used. n Look for cooked or rotisserie chicken breast in the meat department.

TNS PHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER

Try these recipes for a lighter shrimp po-boy and fish taco bowl for a healthier January

Chicken Mac and Cheese with Lettuce and Tomato Salad

Chicken Mac and Cheese

Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer.

1 cup elbow macaroni 1 cup no-salt-added chicken broth ½ cup diced red onion ¾ cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese ½ cup nonfat ricotta cheese 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 8 ounces cooked chicken breast cut into small cubes, (about 1½ cups) 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1. Place a pot containing 3 to 4 quarts of water on to boil for pasta. Add macaroni and boil 8 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, add chicken broth to a saucepan and place over medium-high heat to bring it to a simmer. Add onion and simmer 2 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese and ricotta cheese. Mix well. Add smoked paprika, chicken and Parmesan cheese.

4. When ready, drain the macaroni and add to cheese sauce.

Toss well and add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Serve immediately on two dinner plates.

NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 614 calories (22 percent from fat), 15.3 g fat (6.3 g saturated, 3.0 g monounsaturated), 139 mg cholesterol, 57.9 g protein, 54.7 g carbohydrates, 3.0 g fiber, 498 mg sodium.

Kevin Belton January in New Orleans is a curious time. The Christmas decorations are barely packed away, the last of the pecan pralines are finally gone, and suddenly some of us are looking down at our waistbands.

But here’s the beautiful thing about our city, even when we’re trying to be good, we never have to sacrifice flavor.

This January — as we try to save room for the flood of king cakes and fried chicken and everything else that comes with Mardi Gras — I’ve been thinking about how New Orleans food can actually help us lighten up.

We’re blessed with access to the freshest seafood, and there’s nothing quite like a perfectly grilled redfish with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of Creole seasoning.

No heavy cream sauce needed when the fish itself tastes like it just jumped out of the Gulf and onto your plate.

Restaurants here have known this secret for years.

Walk into any of the old es-

Lettuce and Tomato Salad

Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer.

2 cups washed, ready-to-eat Romaine lettuce cut into bite-size pieces 1 ripe medium tomato, washed and cut into eighths 2 tablespoons reduced-fat salad dressing Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1. Add lettuce and tomato to bowl and toss with dressing.

2. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Serve with Chicken Mac and Cheese.

NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 35 calories (32 percent from fat), 1.3 g fat (0.1 g saturated, 0.4 g monounsaturated), 1 mg cholesterol, 1.4 g protein, 5.7 g carbohydrates, 2.1 g fiber, 13 mg sodium.

A fish taco bowl with catfish fillets is a light option for January. RECIPE, 2D tablishments, and you’ll find grilled oysters that sing with garlic and herbs, shrimp remoulade that gets its punch from spices rather than mayonnaise, and blackened fish that proves you don’t need batter and a deep fryer to make something memorable.

These dishes have been feeding locals and tourists alike for generations, and they’ve never needed to apologize for being lighter fare.

The beauty of New Orleans cuisine is that it’s always been about bringing people together, and that doesn’t change just because we’re watching

ä See HEALTHIER, page 2D

Lighter Shrimp Po-Boys with Avocado Mango Slaw FOR THE PO-BOYS: 1½ pound shrimp, peeled 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon dried thyme 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 pistolettes

FOR THE SLAW: 1 cup plain Greek yogurt 2 tablespoon hot sauce Juice of 1 lemon ½ teaspoon smoked paprika Kosher salt and pepper ½ cup shredded cabbage 1 mango, thinly sliced into matchsticks 1 avocado, diced or sliced ½ cup fresh cilantro

1. In a medium bowl, combine the shrimp, creole, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and olive oil. Set aside while you make the slaw or place in the fridge up to overnight.

2. Make the slaw. In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, hot sauce, lemon juice, paprika, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Taste and adjust spices to your liking. In a large bowl, toss together the cabbage, mango, avocado and cilantro. Add 2-3 tablespoons of yogurt sauce, gently tossing to combine. Reserve the remaining yogurt for serving.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook, stirring once or twice until the shrimp have turned pink and are cooked through.

4. To assemble. Divide the shrimp among the pistolettes and drizzle with yogurt sauce. Top with slaw.

The sauce is what makes beef tenderloin special Beef Tenderloin with Cranberry Mustard Sauce and Green Beans with Rice TNS PHOTO

By LINDA GASSENHEIMER

BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

Cranberries, brown sugar, orange juice and a touch of mustard come together to create a quick, mouthwatering sauce for beef tenderloin slices. This dish is perfect any time you want a special meal.

The beef is sliced into tender 1-inch pieces, a lean cut that cooks in just minutes. Any left-

Recipes,

n Beef Tenderloin with Cranberry Mustard Sauce n Green Beans and Rice

2D

over cranberries freeze beautifully, so you can stash extras for delicious use over the coming months. Fresh green beans and microwaveable brown rice complete the meal.

HELPFUL HINTS: n Boneless, skinless chicken breast can be substituted for the beef. n Granulated sugar can be used instead of brown sugar.

2D ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Opening pill bottles This week’s edition of ‘Girl, you deserve better’ with relative ease

lost and found. But if all Dear Heloise: If you can’t golfers put one of their get the cap off a pill bottle return address labels (for on the first time, use someenvelopes) at the top of the thing like a dull knife club near the grip or blade or a bottle cap on the bottom by the opener to pry out the head of the club (in plastic insert inside the back so that you the cap, and then don’t see it in your replace the cap on swing setup), then the bottle. It’s much people in the clubeasier to open. — Hints from house could track Christa, in Huntingdon, Heloise them down and get Pennsylvania Christa, if you the clubs back to ask the pharmacy, they’ll them. — Paul D., in St. Louis remove childproof caps and Paul, golf clubs are exput the easy-to-open caps pensive, so I imagine geton your pill bottles. Please, ting a golf club to an avid readers, keep all medicagolfer would be important.

I liked your idea for antions where children can’t reach them. Over the years, other use of address labels. we’ve heard too many sad — Heloise tales of youngsters who get Dish towel wisdom their hands on medication that looks like candy to Dear Heloise: I use a sensible them. — Heloise kitchen towel guideline that my helpful mother-in-law Address label in cards taught me years ago: Use two separate towels! Use Dear Heloise: When I take a card to a funeral or shower, I thirsty cotton terry cloth or put a small return address la- gauze towels for hands and bel in the inside corner of the counters. Use white cotton flour-sack cloths only for card somewhere. If the perdish drying. Do not mix! It’s son wants to respond with a “thank you,” they don’t have very clean and sanitary. — to look up my address. When Patty M., in Glen Allen,Virginia my late husband died, those Where is my sock? who did this made it much easier for me to respond Dear Heloise: Here’s a cure back to them. — Linda S., in Hun- for missing socks: When we take our socks off, we altington Beach, California ways fold or cuff the pairs Lost and found together before dropping them down the laundry Dear Heloise: I love to golf, chute. They do not get sepaand in many clubhouses, they are golf clubs in the rated until the moment they

are put into the washing machine. This way, there’s no searching for matching pairs when loading the washer or folding clean laundry. This practice has almost eliminated missing socks! — David S., in Buffalo, New York

No doggie poo, please Dear Heloise: I used to have the same problem as A.M.S. in Connecticut. Dog walkers were using my yard as their pooches’ public potty.

She is correct in saying that even if the owner picks up and bags up the pooch’s poop, it still leaves a residual stain and smell.

I solved the problem by putting three signs out on my lawn. Two of them are right up close to the public sidewalk. Those both say “no poop or pee zone.” The other sign is a bit farther back on my lawn but still readable from the sidewalk.

It says “dead dogs don’t poop.” It also has a comical image of a dog skeleton upside-down with their legs in the air. Dog owners get the message.

I have not had a dog poop problem since installing these signs. Signs like these may be available locally.

Good online sources are eBay and Amazon. — T.R., in Montana Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

Dear Miss Manners: My hushicle to a local event.

I was hurt — not only by band was invited to go out the fact that I was left out of town for a “boys weekand not invited, but also end” with a couple of his that my husband did old friends. When not feel the need he arrived, he was to let me know, nor greeted not only by did he say anything his friends, but also to his friends about their wives. this upsetting me.

Our kids called When we talked him several hours Judith about it, he got upafter he had arrived, Martin set and said that his and that is when I MISS discovered that the friends didn’t mean MANNERS “boys weekend” was anything by it. actually a couples’ If the shoe had weekend — sans me. been on the other foot, I My husband said that the would have let those in athost and hostess did not in- tendance know that I was excited to see them, that I vite me as we have young love them, but that I was kids, and they knew that we did not have anybody to hurt that my husband had watch them. They also stat- been left out. I would have left and returned home to ed that they were worried my family. that if he’d known it was a Am I justified in feeling couples weekend, and that wronged?

I couldn’t come, he would Gentle reader: Yours is an inhave stayed home, too.

On top of all of this, they teresting etiquette problem, enjoyed the company of a because it is a case where single female neighbor and the modern penchant for all rode together in her ve- giving everyone around us

our immediate, honest reactions can go badly wrong.

Miss Manners says this because her first impression of what you describe is very bad indeed. And, for that reason, she knows you will first want to be sure of your facts.

Your husband claims not to have known the weekend arrangements in advance, claiming you were both deceived — not only by his old friends, but by their wives, and by the single female neighbor. Whatever else happened that you do not know about, it is certainly true that they participated in lying to you, so you would be justified in being cold to them — if not worse.

But a distant civility to them now can preserve options for the future while you investigate who else may have misled you.

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com.

Midlife, aching and starting over process of a divorce. I canDear Annie: I really enjoy reading your column. I not forgive him. I cannot have a problem of my own continue to be under the I’d like some help with. same roof with a cheating I have two daughhusband.

I feel so alone. I’m ters in university. thinking of taking When they’re home, up a hobby, maybe they stay in their joining a book club. rooms or maybe I just don’t know. talk to friends on I’m 51 years old, the phone. They Annie and I’m a high hardly talk to me.

Lane school teacher.

They go back to DEAR ANNIE I know that I need school and I’m therapy, but I don’t home alone. I really miss them. They come know any therapists nearby.

Thank you for your arback for the holidays again and it’s the same cycle. ticles. — Midlife Loneliness At the same time, I’m Dear Midlife Loneliness: dealing with the trauma of You’re facing more than infidelity. My husband had one heartbreak at the same a secret affair, and I found time, and it’s no wonder out the woman has a child you feel alone. Children with him, too. I have start- pulling away, a marriage ending in betrayal and ed having serious heart the physical effects of palpitations after finding stress would leave anyone out about his infidelity. shaken.

I asked him to leave the Your daughters’ distance, house in order to protect while painful, is common my sanity. I’m now in the

at their age and not a reflection of your value as a mother. Still, it’s fair to tell them you miss them and would welcome some intentional time together.

You were right to protect your sanity by asking your husband to leave. Therapy would be a wise next step.

The Psychology Today website offers a “therapist finder” tool, which lets you search by location, specialty and insurance.

Many therapists now offer virtual sessions, so geography doesn’t have to stand in your way.

At 51, you are far from finished. This painful chapter does not define the whole book. Take care of yourself, reach for support and trust that happier days are still ahead.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press

PHOTO By KEVIN BELTON

Fish Taco Bowls 1. In a small bowl, mix the cumin, cayenne pepper and chill powder. Rub generously over the fillets on both sides.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the fish to the skillet and cook for about 3 minutes on each side. You want to make sure the fish is cooked through — inside it should be white. Remove fish from skillet and shred with a couple of forks.

3. In the same skillet, add garlic, green onions, corn and red pepper. Season with salt and pepper if preferred.

Stir and cook. Let it cook for a couple minutes then stir again. You want to make sure the corn is brown and looks roasted. Add beans and cook until beans are heated through.

4. To serve, layer rice, corn/bean mixture, fish, avocados and sprinkle with fresh lemon juice.

season, the way the cinnamon and sugar meld with Continued from page 1D the soft, pillowy dough, the anticipation of finding the baby.

But this year, I’m apour portions. Sometimes we host a “Light but Right” proaching it with strategy. potluck.

Every lighter meal in In the past, I have made January is an investment mirliton stuffed with seain guilt-free king cake ensoned ground turkey injoyment. Every grilled fish dinner is a down payment stead of the usual pork and on a slice of the finest king shrimp mixture. Or somecake the city has to offer. times, crawfish étouffée The truth is, New Orleans that used Greek yogurt in has always understood place of butter, controversial maybe, but surprisingly balance. We work hard, we play hard, and we eat delicious. We laughed, we well. January isn’t about ate, we didn’t feel guilty, and we all agreed we’d have deprivation, it’s about appreciation. It’s about plenty of room for king remembering that our cuicake.

Speaking of king cake, sine is diverse enough to there’s something magical support any goal, whether about that first slice of the that’s fitting into last year’s

Mardi Gras costume or simply feeling good about the choices we make.

So here’s to January in New Orleans: To lighter plates that still taste like home and to saving room for the celebrations ahead.

Laissez les bons temps rouler (maybe with a side salad)!

6 ounces catfish fillets 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon cumin ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon chili powder 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 green onions, chopped 1 red bell pepper, diced 1 cup corn kernels 1 cup black beans Salt and pepper to taste ½ avocado, cut in small pieces 1 lemon 2 cups cooked brown rice

HEALTHIER

Kevin Belton is resident chef of WWL-TV and has taught classes in Louisiana cooking for 30 years. The most recent of his four cookbooks, “Kevin Belton’s Cookin’ Louisiana: Flavors from the Parishes of the Pelican State,” was published in 2021. Email Chef at chefkevinbelton@gmail. com.

Today is Thursday, Jan. 8, the eighth day of 2026. There are 357 days left in the year.

Today in history: On Jan. 8, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in his State of the Union address, declared an “unconditional war on poverty in America.”

Also on this date: In 1815, the last major engagement of the War of 1812 came to an end as U.S. forces defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans, not having received word of the December signing of a peace treaty.

In 1998, Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bomb-

ing, was sentenced in New York to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In 2011, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot and critically wounded when a gunman opened fire as the congresswoman met with constituents in Tucson; six people were killed and 12 others were injured. (Gunman Jared Lee Loughner was sentenced in 2012 to seven consecutive life sentences, plus 140 years.)

In 2016, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the world’s most-wanted drug lord, was captured for a third time in a daring raid by Mexican marines, six months after walking through a tunnel to freedom from a maximum-

Beef Tenderloin with Cranberry Mustard Sauce with Green Beans and Rice

Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer. ¾ pound grass-fed beef tenderloin Olive oil spray Salt and freshly ground black pepper ½ cup orange juice 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard ½ cup fresh cranberries 2 tablespoons parsley leaves (optional garnish) 1. Remove visible fat from beef and cut into 1-inch slices. Flatten the slices to about ½ inch with the bottom of a skillet or a meat bat.

2. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and spray with olive oil spray.

Brown beef slices for 3 minutes, turn and salt and pepper cooked side.

3. Brown second side 2 minutes and remove to a plate. A meat thermom-

eter should read 135-140 F for medium rare.

4. Add orange juice into skillet; scrape up any brown bits. Add brown sugar, mustard and cranberries. Stir to dissolve sugar; simmer 2 to 3 minutes. The cranberries will burst (pop). Mash them with a spoon and stir to make a smooth sauce.

5. Boil 4 to 5 minutes to thicken sauce. Divide the beef into two portions and place on two dinner plates. Spoon the sauce on top. Add salt and pepper to taste.

NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 324 calories (36 percent from fat), 13.1 g fat (4.8 g saturated, 5.6 g monounsaturated), 84 mg cholesterol, 36.5 g protein, 17.2 g carbohydrates, 1.4 g fiber, 193 mg sodium.

security prison.

In 2023, supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro who refused to accept his election defeat, stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in the capital of Brasilia, a week after the inauguration of his leftist rival, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Today’s birthdays: Singer Shirley Bassey is 89. Fashion designer Carolina Herrera is 87. Country-gospel singer Cristy Lane is 86.

Rock musician Robby Krieger (The Doors) is 80. Singer Jenny Lewis is 50. Filmmaker and actor Sarah Polley is 47. Actor Gaby Hoffman is 44. Actor Cynthia Erivo is 39. Actor Drew Scheid is 28.

Green Beans and Rice

Yields 2 servings. Recipe is

by Linda Gassenheimer.

4 cups green beans 1 package microwaveable brown rice to make 1½ cups cooked rice 2 teaspoons olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1. Add beans to a microwaveable bowl and microwave on high for 2 minutes.

2. Remove and make rice according to package instructions. Measure 1½ cups.

Reserve any remaining rice for another meal.

3. Add rice to the bowl with the beans. Add olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Divide in half and serve on the plates with the beef.

NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 288 calories (20 percent from fat), 6.4 g fat (1.1 g saturated, 2.7 g monounsaturated), no cholesterol, 7.8 g protein, 52.7 g carbohydrates, 7.8 g fiber, 18 mg sodium.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 3D

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FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

zItS

zodIAC CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Do something that you find entertaining.

Explore what's available in your community or sign up for a course or class that helps you reach your full potential.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Assess your situation at home and how you feel about your relationships with others.

Tally up what it will entail and what it will cost you to put your plans in motion.

PIsCEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Put yourself in the driver's seat and head in the direction that brings you the most joy.

Spending time with someone you love or signing up for an event that interests you will encourage greater contact.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Take care of business first. Leave nothing to chance or unfinished. Home improvements, redefining how you use your skills and considering a lifestyle change will become much clearer as the day progresses.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Your intentions are good, and you can create opportunities if you set up meetings and pitch ideas. Traveling, getting together with old friends and making exciting plans are favored.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) You'll harbor mixed emotions if you participate in social events or volunteer your time or skills. Be a good listener and handle your responsibilities promptly.

CAnCER (June 21-July 22) Take an active role in whatever you decide to do today.

Explore the possibilities and execute your skills to meet demands. Use your imagination, and you'll come up with something unique.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) It's best to take a wait-and-see approach and to fine-tune what you want to pursue. Take nothing for granted, refine your thoughts and ideas, and wait for your turn to shine.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) You're sitting in an excellent position. What you discover will help you formulate a plan to get ahead. Positive change is heading your way. Embrace what life has to offer.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Keep life simple.

Don't let your emotions take charge or your reactions put you in a precarious position. Be an observer and give yourself time to digest what's happening. sCoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Set your sights on something you want to achieve and get moving. Learn something new, plan a trip or volunteer your time or services to make a difference. sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Be careful what you wish for. Emotional matters will escalate quickly if you or someone close to you isn't open and honest about how you feel or what you want to do.

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: Z EQuALs V

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

4D ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

CurTiS

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

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

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 5D

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Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Gene Mora wrote the “Graffiti” cartoon for United Feature Syndicate. He said something like: If at first you do succeed, try not to look too surprised.

However, at the bridge table, sometimes you should not try to succeed immediately; you should take your time, learning as much as you can about a deal before committing yourself to playing the key suit. Then, if you succeed, you won’t need to look surprised at all.

In this example, West leads a spade against six no-trump. How should South plan the play?

After East opened three spades, South felt that he was too strong to settle for three no-trump.

And as a jump to four no-trump would have shown a minor two-suiter and not have been quantitative, he started with a takeout double. When North advanced with four diamonds, South was none the wiser. He knew to assume that his partner had six or seven points, but would they be useful? He was sure his partner would treat four no-trump as Blackwood, so he cue-bid four spades. Now North, with such a great suit, jumped to six diamonds, and South converted to six no-trump.

Note this is a better contract than six diamonds, because in the suit slam declarer would have to play on trumps immediately. South should duck the first

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

trick, take the spade continuation (noting that West discards), and cash the heart and club winners. Here, East turns up with seven spades, three clubs and at least two hearts. He can have at most one diamond. So declarer knows to cash his diamond king, then to play a diamond to dummy’s 10. © 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 — WEAKEns: WEE-kins: Reduces the strength of.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 20 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 25 or more words in WEAKENS? yEsTERDAy’s WoRD — HITHERTo heir hero hire hither hitter hoer hotter their throe tier tire

titer tithe tore tort torte tote toter trio trite troth riot

rite rote roti other otter

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 If we are in Christ then we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and we truly become new. — G.E. Dean

6D ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Scrabble GramS dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus.

“Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

jump Start

For more information on tournaments and clubs, email naspa – north american sCraBBlE players association: info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visit our website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzle inquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com.

Get fuzzy

Hasbro and its logo sCraBBlE associated logo, the design of the distinctive sCraBBlE brand game card, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarks of Hasbro in the United states and Canada. ©2021 Hasbro. all rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content agency, llC.

ken ken

animal crackerS

DuStin

InstructIons: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

2 - The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

Wallace the brave

Drabble

WiShinG Well breWSter rockit

luann

HErE is a plEasanT liTTlE gamE that will give you a message every day. it’s a numerical puzzle designed to spell out your fortune. Count the letters in your first name. if the number of letters is 6 or more, subtract 4. if the number is less than 6, add 3. The result is your key number. start at the upper left-hand corner and check each of your key numbers, left to right. Then read the message the checked figures give you.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 7D

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classifieds.nola.com Search & Place Ads Ads Onlines at classifieds.nola.com • Call Monday Us Monday - Friday 8AM - 5PMatat(504) (504)636-7435 636-7435 Search & Place Onlines at classifieds.nola.com - Friday 8AM - 5PM Donald J. Rouse, Jr. 173052-Jan 8-9, 2t $201

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172778-1/6-7-8-3t $133.00 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Victor S. Vess, Jr. a/k/a Victor Vess, Jr. a/k/a Victor S. Vess a/k/a Victor Vess, who previously resided at 2744 Corrine Dr., Marrero, LA 70072, please contact attorney Ronald L. Faia, Jr., at 6565 Vicksburg St., New Orleans, LA 70124; Phone: 504-908-9328; Email: rfaiajr@gmail.com.

172730-1/6-7-8-3t $157.00 Rouse’s Enterprises, L.L.C. d/b/a Rouses Market #90 is applying to the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content at retail in the Parish of Saint Tammany at the following address: 70431 Highway 21, Covington, LA 70433 Rouse’s Enterprises, L.L.C. Rouses Market #90 Authorized Members: Donald J. Rouse, Sr., Allison R. Royster, and

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8D ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune Public Notices

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PUBLIC NOTICE --CITY PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2026 PUBLIC HEARING: 1:30 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS FIRST FLOOR – CITY HALL (CITY HALL - 1E07) 1300 PERDIDO STREET THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, IN ACCOR‐ DANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF THE CITY OF NEW OR‐ LEANS SUBDIVISION REG‐ ULATIONS, WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON Jan‐ uary 13, 2026 ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS: SUBDIVISION DOCKETS 126-25 and 001-26 SD126-25 Resubdivision of Lot 1 into Lot 1A in Square 8, Chef Menteur Subdivision in the SE dis‐ trict, east of the Missis‐ sippi river and Square 1 (Lots 39, 40, and 41), Chef Menteur Subdivision in the southeast district, east of the Mississippi River AND resubdivision of Lots 39, 40, 41, and a portion of Section 27, T11S, R14E into Lots 39A, 40A, and 41A in Square 1, Chef Menteur Subdivi‐ sion in the SE district, east of the Mississippi River and bounded by h f i h

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y Chef Menteur Highway, Lake St. Catherine, and the Intracoastal Water‐ Municipal ad‐ way. dresses are 21500-21590 Chef Menteur Highway.

(Policy D) SD001-26 Resubdivision of Square 476A into Lots A, B, and C in Square 467, Second Municipal Dis‐ trict, and bounded by North Norman C. Francis Parkway, Bienville Street, North Cortez Street, and Conti Street. Municipal addresses are 301 North Norman C. Francis Park‐ way and 3525 Bienville Street. (Policy D) THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HEAR PROPONENTS AND OPPO‐ NENTS TO THE ABOVE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION. ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO AT‐ TEND AND ALL RELEVANT COMMENTS CONCERNING THE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE ENCOURAGED. THE CPC HAS ESTABLISHED PUBLIC HEARING RULES WITHIN ITS ADMINISTRA‐ TIVE RULES, POLICIES, & WHICH PROCEDURES, ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CPC WEBSITE: WWW. NOLA.GOV/CPC. YOU MAY ALSO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS TO THE EX‐ ECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN ADVANCE BY MAIL (1300 PERDIDO STREET, 7TH FLOOR, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70112) OR EMAIL CPCINFO@NOLA.GOV. ALL COMMENTS WRITTEN MUST BE RECEIVED BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON MONDAY, EIGHT THE DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING DATE. December 25, 2025;

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January 1, 2026; and January 8, 2026 Robert Rivers, Executive Director NOCP 8835 171876-dec 25-jan 1-8-3t $117.39 PUBLIC NOTICE --Forest Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation is an Equal Opportunity Em‐ ployer. We recruit, hire, train and employ without discrimination due to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, an‐ cestry, disability, marital obligation to status, serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, or any other char‐ acteristic protected by applicable Federal or State law.

172729 Jan. 6-8, 2026 3t $179.41 PUBLIC NOTICE --HERITAGE MANOR OF SLIDELL IS AN EQUAL OP‐ PORTUNITY EMPLOYER. WE RECRUIT, HIRE, TRAIN, AND EMPLOY WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION DUE TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, AGE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY, ANCESTRY, SEX, MARITAL STATUS, OBLIGATION TO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES , OR

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ANY OTHER CHARACTER‐ ISTIC PROTECTED BY AP‐ PLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE LAW. 172756-jan 6-8-3t $194.74 PUBLIC NOTICE --Jefferson Community Ac‐ tion Program (JeffCAP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Jeff‐ CAP offers assistance with basic needs such as food pantry, utilities, mortgage, and referrals.

No client, applicant, or employee shall, based on race, sex, age, color, na‐ tional origin, religion, disability, political affilia‐ tion, or any other nonmerited factor, be denied the benefits of, be ex‐ cluded from participation in, or otherwise sub‐ jected to discrimination under any program or service which this CSBGfunded agency operates.

For additional informa‐ contact: Sonia tion, Romero, 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd. Suite 402, Jef‐ ferson, LA 70123 ( EO Co‐ ordinator’s telephone# 504-736-6900, TDD # 800543-2099, or Louisiana Relay Service Number 800-947-5277). “Equal Op‐ portunity Employer/Pro‐ gram-Auxiliary Aids and Services are available upon request to individu‐ als with disabilities.”

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PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO RE‐ RELEASE OF QUEST FUNDS 01/08/26 Jefferson Parish Consoli‐ dated Government (Jef‐ ferson Parish) Department of Commu‐ nity Development 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd, Suite 605 Jefferson, LA 70123 504-736-6262 These notices shall sat‐ isfy two separate but re‐ lated procedural require‐ ments for activities to be undertaken by Jefferson Parish REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or about Monday, Jan‐ uary 26, 2026 Jefferson Parish will submit a re‐ quest to the Louisiana Office of Community De‐ velopment-Disaster Re‐ covery (LOCD-DR) for the release of Community Block Development Grant-Disaster Recovery Resilient (CDBG-DR): Infrastruc‐ Community Program (RCIP) ture funds through the Disas‐ ter Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 as (Pub.L.117-43, amended); in Federal Docket No. FR-6303-N-01, to undertake a project known as the Manhattan Water Loop Project for the purpose of providing a much-needed redun‐ dant waterline path to provide essential drink‐ ing water and fire protec‐ i h id d

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g p tion to the residents and businesses in the sur‐ rounding community, in amount of the $2,500,000.00. The project includes construction of a water distribution loop to the residents of the South New Orleans Sub‐ division and households and businesses along 9th Street, Mathis Avenue, and Edison Avenue, in Harvey, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The estimated HUD funds is total $2,500,000.00.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFI‐ CANT IMPACT Jefferson Parish has de‐ termined that the project will have no significant impact on the human en‐ vironment. Therefore, an Impact Environmental Statement under the Na‐ tional Environmental Pol‐ icy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environ‐ mental Review Record (ERR) on file at Jefferson Parish Consolidated Gov‐ ernment, Department of Develop‐ Community ment, 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd, Suite 605, Jefferson, LA and may be examined or copied weekdays 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit writ‐ ten comments on the ERR to Jefferson Parish Department of Commu‐ nity Development. All comments received by Friday, January 23, 2026 will be considered by Jef‐ ferson Parish prior to au‐ thorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should

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specify which Notice they are addressing.

58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or under‐ taken activities no au‐ thorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by OCD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written find‐ ing that the project is un‐ satisfactory from the standpoint of environ‐ mental quality. Objec‐ tions must be prepared and submitted in accor‐ dance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall addressed to be Louisiana Office of Com‐ munity Development – Recovery at Disaster Murilo.Martins@la.gov or mail to Louisiana Office of Community Develop‐ ment – Disaster Recovery at: Gina Campo 617 N. Third Street Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTI‐ FICATION Jefferson Parish certifies to The Louisiana Office of Develop‐ Community ment-Disaster Recovery that (LOCD-DR) Stephanie Brumfield in her capacity as Jefferson Parish Director of Office of Community Develop‐ ment consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an ac‐ tion is brought to enforce responsibilities in rela‐ tion to the environmental review process and that responsibilities these been satisfied. have Louisiana Office of Com‐ Development’s munity approval of the certifica‐ tion satisfies its respon‐ sibilities under NEPA and related laws and authori‐ ties and allows Jefferson Parish to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS Louisiana Office of Com‐ munity Development-Dis‐ aster Recovery will ac‐ cept objections to its re‐ lease of funds and Jeffer‐ son Parish’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the antici‐ pated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certifica‐ tion was not executed by the Certifying Officer of Jefferson Parish; (b) Jef‐ ferson Parish has omit‐ ted a step or failed to make a decision or find‐ ing required by HUD reg‐ ulations at 24 CFR Part

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PUBLIC NOTICE THEMA Literary Society’s books for 2025 are avail‐ able for public inspection within 180 days of this notice. For details, con‐ tact the principal man‐ ager at thema@cox.net.

172979 Jan. 8, 1t $25.96

ORDER PAGE REPRINTS ANYTIME

Potential objectors should contact Louisiana Office of Community De‐ velopment – Disaster Re‐ covery to verify the ac‐ tual last day of the objec‐ tion period.

Stephanie Brumfield Director, Jefferson Parish Office of Community De‐ velopment 172933-JAN 8-1T $

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THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Jan. 8, 2026

ACTOR PANELS, UNIQUE FINDS, A SHARED COMMUNITY

FAN EXPO page 6

IS THIS WEEKEND JPA production has a love story for everyone page 4

Detroit Brooks leads tribute to Danny Barker page 10

2 ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

don’t miss lll

battle of new orleans commemoration

battle symposium

A wreath-laying ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Thursday on the 211th anniversary, and historic talks will be featured at 2:45 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday at Chalmette Battlefield on St. Bernard Highway. The battlefield will also feature an illuminated driving tour from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Other branches of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve will host additional events. nps.gov.

spark: light up st. claude The Bywater-Marigny Business Organization kicks off efforts to revitalize the corridor along St. Claude Avenue from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Clouet Street with two large-scale light installations.

Visitors along the thoroughfare can find bike and pedestrian safety information, local food and drink vendors, plus representatives from area businesses.

kamala harris The former vice president sits down at the Saenger Theatre on Tuesday to talk about her recent book, “107 Days,” which tells the story of her historic campaign for president. Tickets start at $60. saengernola.com.

Nunez Community College will host a daylong confab featuring talks such as “Who were the Kentuckians and Tennesseans” and “Renato Beluche: A Hemispheric Hero” starting at 9 a.m.

Friday in the college’s Student Testing and Career Counseling Center, 3710 Paris Road, Chalmette. The seminar is free but reservations are suggested. nunez.edu.

610 debutante ball: game on One of the city’s most beloved marching units gets ready for Carnival season with its annual soiree, and this year, it’s “Game On.” Labeled as “the ultimate Game Night experience,” the evening features music by Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, a costume contest (dressed as characters from favorite games), late-night pizza and the debut of the new 610 dances for the coming year. Tickets start at $96 for Saturday’s event at the Fillmore, 6 Canal St., inside Harrah’s Casino. 610stompers.com.

king cake season kickoff The Historic New Orleans Collection gathers musicians, Merry Antoinettes and samples of the seasonal baked goods from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. inside The Shop, 520 Royal St., for the first Friday of the official Carnival season.

The event is free and purple, green and gold attire is suggested. hnoc.org.

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 3

carnival

Routes, lineups, traditions seeing changes in 2026 Staff report Christmas and New Year’s have come and gone and now it’s time for arguably the most important holiday season in New Orleans — Carnival.

Compared with 2025’s 58-day season, this year’s 43-day version may feel like it’s passing in the blink of an eye. But a few new changes may make the seasons stand out in your mind.

Last year’s Mardi Gras season brought several new, tighter rules for paradegoers, including banning items like tents, tarps and grills and tightening rules on what krewes are allowed to throw, especially when it comes to confetti and toilet paper. Those rules are still in effect.

However, the most significant changes to the parading season this year are over the lineups and routes of several popular events.

Here’s a roundup of all the Mardi Gras-related changes and news so far.

French Quarter road work Joan of Arc, the first parade of the Mardi Gras season, took a shorter route on Twelfth Night to dodge the heavy construction blocking off several French Quarter streets. But other walking parades that saunter through the Quarter will have to adjust, as well, such as the Intergalatic Krewe of Chewbacchus and Krewe du Vieux, both of which historically turn down Decatur Street.

Chaos, Babylon, Muses rearranged After years of late-night conclusions to the Thursday before Fat Tuesday, three popular parades are rearranging themselves and changing start times to keep their float parades from dragging out until the wee morning hours.

In 2026, the night’s sequence will begin with Chaos, followed by Babylon and ending, as usual, with Muses. In

ABOUT LAGNIAPPE

STAFF FILE PHOTO By IAN McNULTy

A tiny porcelain porta-potty and a rendering of Gallier Hall were the 2022 collectible pieces included with Haydel’s Bakery king cakes.

thur Hardy.

But the bakery recently announced that rising costs and production challenges resulted in fewer figurines. This year, a plastic baby will be included, STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER and a limited number of figurines will The 2025 king of Carnival, Howell Crosby, toasts the queen, Tatum Lady Reiss in the be sold separately for $5 each, with a stands as his float in Rex stops in front of Pascal’s Manale restaurant on Mardi Gras. limit of two per adult per day.

“In an effort to not have to considerthe past, the lineup began with Babywill toast the king of Carnival at The ably raise king cake prices, we made Josephine, the recently renovated the difficult decision to pause including lon, followed by Chaos and Muses. the collectibles this year,” the bakery The parades will also begin marching church at the corner of Napoleon Avsaid in a statement. an hour earlier at 4:30 p.m. The trio’s enue and Lasalle Street. The changes routes will remain the same. come after the krewe moved its toastThrow me a pie ing stands to Pascal’s Manale restauOshun will allow children to ride rant in 2025.

If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day Now, the stop will be only six blocks at the Iris parade this year, there’s a The new captain of Oshun, Gian Dufrom the beginning of the historic good chance you can catch a Hubig’s rand, said that the 30-year-old krewe parade’s traditional route. Despite Pie — but one like you’ve never seen plans to begin allowing children as before. young as 6 to ride with their parents on the change, Rex will still make its traditional crossover onto the neutral Hubig’s is partnering with the all-feparade floats in 2026. ground side from Toledano Street to Durand said that to her knowledge, male krewe, one of Carnival’s largest, Jackson Avenue, allowing the krewe to for a specially packaged treat.

Oshun will be the only krewe that stop for its customary toast at the formixes kids with other float riders, not “These Hubig’s will sport wrappers counting the truck parades that conentirely devoted to Iris — for the first mer Montgomery-Grace house. time, ever!” the bakery said on Faceclude Carnival on Fat Tuesday.

King cake changes The krewe is also planning to start book Thursday night. at 5 p.m. in 2026, earlier than usual, to The packaging is adorned with a For more than three decades of Caraccommodate the ever-lengthening purple fleur-de-lis and blue crown with nival, Haydel’s Bakery has paired its Cleopatra parade that follows. king cakes with handcrafted porcelain IRIS lettering at the bottom. It was figurines depicting a specific character not clear which Hubig’s flavors will be Rex viewing stands move, again thrown, though the post suggests it will or scene — from Mardi Gras Indians be more than one. and parade stands to tractors and ArThis year, the queen and her retinue

The Lagniappe section is published each Thursday by The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. All inquiries about Lagniappe should be directed to the editor.

LAGNIAPPE EDITOR: Lauren Walck, lauren.walck@theadvocate.com COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Victor Andrews, Kasey Bubnash, Alex Rawls, Chelsea Shannon, Keith Spera

GET LISTED IN LAGNIAPPE

Submit events to Lagniappe at least two weeks in advance by sending an email to events@theadvocate.com.

ON THE COVER

Attendees of the 2025 Fan Expo New Orleans costume as characters from the animated web series ‘Helluva Boss.’ Photo by Scott Threlkeld. The event returns to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center this weekend. Story by Alex Rawls on Page 6.

4 ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

stages lll

John Michael Haas, clockwise from right, Rachel Looney, Nathan Parrish and Katie Kitchen have the arduous task of playing all the roles in Jefferson Performing Arts’ production of ‘I Love you, you’re Perfect, Now Change.’

PROVIDED PHOTOS By BRANDON KEIM

Off-Broadway

West Bank

on the

‘Everyone ... will recognize themselves’ in show of love story vignettes A trio of shows take a look at love, loss and the occasional disaster as local New Orleans theatrical companies keep the spirit of the season in high gear.

Jefferson Performing Arts mounts one of the most successful off-Broadway shows for a look at love, relationships and all that goes with it in “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

Victor The show is a series of viAndrews gnettes involving just four actors.

“The stories in this show mirror such universal situations; the audience gets to see our most awkward first dates, our long-term relationships, our breakups, our marriages and everything in between and somehow manages to

make us laugh at moments we once swore were mortifying or heartbreaking,” director Michelle Haas said. “There’s something deeply comforting about realizing that no matter who you are or where you are in life, you’ve probably been through at least one of these moments.”

And John Michael Haas, Rachel Looney, Nathan Parrish and Katie Kitchen have the arduous task of playing all the roles in the show.

“One of the most ridiculous — and impressive — parts of this show is that only four actors play at least seven roles each,” the director said. “That means blink and you’ll miss someone turning from a nervous first-date disaster into a stressed-out parent or a longtime spouse who just wants five minutes of peace.”

Besides the theatrical calisthenics, the story and characters are easily relatable.

“Everyone in the audience will recognize themselves at some point, whether you’re laughing at the dating horror stories, nodding along to ‘Always a bridesmaid’ or realizing that love is less about perfection and more about showing up,” Michelle Haas said. “This show reminds us that relationships can be weird, love is complicated, and somehow we’re all figuring it out together … even when we’re trying to change each other just a little bit.”

The show will is at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 18 at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre, 177 Sala Ave., in Westwego. Then, the show heads out to the Lafon Arts Center, 275 Judge E. Dufresne Parkway, in Luling for performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 24 and 2 p.m. Jan. 25.

Tickets start at $39. Visit jpas.org.

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 5

stages

za Semien, Wayland Cooper, Riga Ruby and Jodan Melanco. Tenaj Wallace, the project’s artistic director, is also director for this show.

The show will be staged 7:30 p.m. selected days Jan. 15 to Feb. 6 at Dillard University’s Cook Theater, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., in Gentilly. Tickets start at $25. Visit nolaproject.com.

The NOLA Project will also sponsor a “Burns Night” event at 6 p.m. Saturday at Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal St., to salute Scottish poet and writer Robert Burns.

Generally observed on or around his birthday, with a ceilidh or social gathering, the project promises a “bold PROVIDED PHOTO/JOHN BARROIS twist” with singalongs, snacks and some of the city’s artists.

Trying to stay afloat in ‘Disaster’ at Kenner’s Rivertown Theater for the Performing Reservations are requested for the Arts are, from left, Rachael Ganard, Andrew Antoine, Candice Moses, David free event. A $22 donation is suggestBrowning and Andrew Eastland. ed. Visit nolaproject.com.

A time warp of sorts The 1970s were filled (or so it seemed) with movies and television shows about any number of cataclysmic catastrophes, usually involving fabulously dressed stars of another day paired with hopefuls on the rise.

Skyscraper fires, earthquakes, tidal waves and more were the fodder for a gaggle of high-grossing shows that made audiences think twice about leaving the confines of the local movie house.

And, of course, the soundtrack to all this was a disco-fueled furnace of funk.

Now, put it all on stage and it could well be a “Disaster,” the next music show at Kenner’s Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts, opening Friday. The show comes with its own “disaster” tale attached, as it was originally to be produced by the theater company in 2021 but was doomed by COVID-19.

Following the standard fiasco playbook, the show gathers a group of unusual characters and puts them in impossible situations: This time, it’s the opening of New York’s first floating casino. Throw in some man-eating piranhas and a few earthquakes and its time to burn, baby, burn.

With a live band providing the toetapping tunes, anyone of any age will enjoy the mirth-filled mishaps crammed into the physical comedy that keeps everyone singing and dancing through “Disaster.”

Veteran director Gary Ruck takes the helm, with Jennifer Eastland as the musical director. Taking roles in the show are Maria Hefte, Jennifer Bullock, Kirkland Green, Luke Boucvalt, Ryan Nocito, Christopher Wecklein, Candice Moses, Kelli Hebert, James Peuler, Joel Rainey, Andrew Eastland, Amber Rayne Lemelle, Savannah Chiasson, David Browning, Carrie Daigle Back, Andrew Michael Antoine, Cayden Pecararo, Rachel Gagnard, Jordan Davis, Rebecca C. Browning, Tessa Michelle deMers and Mary Clare Eastland.

The show is at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 25, plus a 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 performance at 325 Minor St. Tickets start at $53. Visit rivertowntheaters.com.

‘Ham’ it up The Pulitzer Prize-winning story about a young gay Black man confronted by his father’s ghost may not seem like fodder for a comedy, but playwright James Ijames has done that for the NOLA Project’s presentation of “Fat Ham.” A takeoff on Shakespeare’s class “Hamlet,” the story revolves around Juicy, whose paternal specter appears at a barbecue and demands his son avenge his murder. But Juicy knows the story and hopes to make a few changes.

Rayshaughn Armant is Juicy, alternately performed by Colby Muse on select days. Also in the cast are Delphine Joseph, Justin Davis, Condoleez-

In production “BLITHE SPIRIT”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 25, plus 2 p.m. Jan. 24;

Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St. Ricky Graham directs and appears in the comedy about a writer who invites a slightly off-kilter medium to dinner for a séance to gather information for a planned book.

However, the writer’s first wife (dead for seven years and not a really great person) is brought forth, and only he can see her. Havoc reigns as she tries to make his life miserable, the second wife is pestered and surprises and mayhem ensue. Tickets start at $22. lepetittheatre.com.

“STANLEY AND HIS DEMONS”: 8 p.m. Friday through Monday; New Marigny Theatre, 2301 Marais St. Poppet Theater debuts Mariana Santiago’s two-act comedy about Stanley, who masquerades as a church leader to prey on hapless victims. He and his wife, Esme, accidentally perform a true exorcism but are stuck with the demon. Tickets are $30. poppettheater.com.

Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@ theadvocate.com.

thank you for all the JOY in 2025 wishing you all the

BLESSINGS in 2026

7732 m a p l e 865 . 9625 mon - sat 10 - 5:30

shop @gaetanasnola

6 ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

events lll

Aleq, left, a character from the ‘Maven’ book series, stands sentry as shoppers cruise the 2025 Fan Expo New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The three-day sci-fi, horror, anime and gaming, celebrity panels and autographs, and a chance to mingle with others dressed as a favorite character.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 7

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Expanding

UNIVERSE

Comic book conventions of yore have elevated their status

BY ALEX RAWLS Contributing writer

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

event returns this weekend with vendors for

New Orleans’ annual Fan Expo is what comic book conventions have morphed into in 2026.

In the ’70s, comic conventions in church basements and VFW halls focused on comic book writers and artists with collectors selling comics out of long, white boxes on cafeteria tables. In a back room, they nodded to science fiction, showing reels of “Star Trek” bloopers and old “Flash Gordon” serials.

Now, the balance has shifted. Comics are still part of the story, but fantasy and science fiction-based pop culture drives Fan Expo, which starts Friday and runs through the weekend at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

That shift has made Fan Expo big enough to expand off-campus.

The 25th anniversary of director Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” franchise is one of Fan Expo’s spotlights this year with actors Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd — Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin — on hand for panel discussions, photos and autographs. Other related events are popping up, and Wood will join with Los Angeles’ Zach Cowie to DJ a night of vinyl on Saturday at Republic NOLA. Miel Brewery will host an evening inspired by Middle Earth on Thursday night, as well.

ä See CONVENTIONS, page 8

ABOVE: R2-D2 cruises by a Louisiana Ghostbusters car during the 2025 Fan Expo New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD TOP: Sean Astin, from left, Billy Boyd, Dominic

Monaghan and Elijah Wood reunite at Fan Expo in 2023.

PROVIDED PHOTO

LEFT: Negative Man from DC Comics’ Doom Patrol surveys the scene.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

8 ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

events lll

CONVENTIONS

A boy looks over swords at Armory West of Milwaukee, during the 2025 Fan Expo New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Continued from page 7

Tipitina’s will host an anime after party on Saturday with a cosplay contest and performances

by Sweet Supernova, Purikura Panic and The Suzaku 7.

Astin, whose presence is evidence of the changing status of conventions like this, will talk about two beloved properties — “The Lord of the Rings” films and “The Goonies.”

Conventions were famously mocked in a “Saturday Night Live” sketch when William Shatner told a roomful of minutiae-obsessed Trekkies to get a life, but now they’re such a part of an actor’s life that Astin, president of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, will be in New Orleans and a number of other cities this winter to celebrate the “Lord of the Rings” anniversary.

Astin told a convention in Salt Lake City that “The Goonies” resonated because “it’s got heart.”

“The whole idea is we want to save our homes. At its core, it’s about a group of friends who are like family and care about each other and their home. ‘Lord of the Rings’ is about preserving The Shire. It’s the same story.”

He’ll be joined on “The Goonies” panel by actors Corey Feldman, Joe Pantoliano, Kerri Green and Robert Davi.

Another of this year’s big names is John Cena, the longtime wrestler who also stars in “The Peacemaker” on HBO Max. “The Peacemaker” is one of the early tentpole titles in the rebooted DC Universe, and he recently wrestled his retirement match for the WWE. When he appeared this summer at a Fan Expo in Chicago, he reflected on the common element between those two projects — the fans, who haven’t always been kind to him in arenas.

“Y’all want to be here,” he said.

“At the end of the day, we all share moments, and y’all want to share those moments with me.”

Fan Expo is casting a wide net, this year bringing part of the cast

STAFF FILE PHOTO

By SCOTT THRELKELD

2026 FAN EXPO WHEN: FridaySunday WHERE: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans INFO: fanexpohq.com/ fanexponeworleans or (504) 5823000 TICKETS: $40 and up

Knight” series on Disney+ on their from the “Teenage Mutant Ninja run.

Turtles” movies and Christina The common thread is nostalgia Ricci from “Wednesday,” “The as fans look back on pop culture Addams Family” and “Yellowthat got them through meaningful jackets.” Members of the “Harry times in their lives. Independent Potter” movies cast will be there, as will Helen Hunt from “Twister,” comic artist Peter Bagge told the comedic stories of grunge Hayden Christensen from the “Star Wars” prequel films and Cedric Yarbrough and Thomas Lennon from the comedy show “Reno 911!”

Comic books don’t occupy the real estate they once did, but in addition to Cena, actor Mike Colter from Marvel’s “Luke Cage” television series Cena Ricci Colter will be at Fan Expo. There will also be panels with comic book era-punks in love in Seattle in his acclaimed comic “Hate,” and for writers and artists, including a panel with artist Stephen Platt and years, he had fans at signings and conventions wishing he still did writer Terry Kavanaugh about “Hate.” their reboot of Marvel’s “Moon Bagge, who will be at Fan Expo, Knight” comic, pumping enough said he resisted the idea of revislife into a forgettable character that Marvel based its 2022 “Moon iting his main character Buddy

Bradley because, “I know when people say, ‘I want to see “Hate,”’ they’re thinking of Buddy when he was young,” Bagge said. “Nobody’s interested in Buddy the middleaged dad; they just want to see young punks in love doing crazy crap.”

Then the idea hit him to do new and old stories. They allowed him to tell the stories that some fans wanted but also the stories he cared about that showed the characters growing up. In 2024, he produced the miniseries “Hate Revisited,” and soon he’ll produce a one-off issue on Buddy’s younger brother Butch.

“Once I settled on the format, it practically wrote itself, both the new story ideas and the old ones,” Bagge said.

Contact Alex Rawls at alex@ myspiltmilk.com.

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 9

food

Omakase owners Ben Becnel’s to close roadside expanding concept farmstands in Plaquemines at 2nd location

BY KASEY BUBNASH Staff writer

Ben Becnel’s, a beloved Plaquemines Parish farm known for its Creole tomatoes and locally grown citrus, is closing its produce stands, the owners announced in a statement posted to Facebook in midDecember.

The father-son farming duo, both named Ben Becnel, said they have decided to end their “journey with the fruit stands and farming.”

“We would like to thank all of you, who have supported our business for so many years,” they wrote. “It has been a joy getting to know all of you.”

The Belle Chasse stand outside of Zydeco’s Restaurant, 7020 La. 23, closed Dec. 20. Another stand near Jesuit Bend will close, too, but its last day in business has yet to be determined.

Both stands are offering a buyone, get-one sale for jarred products while supplies last.

A familiar sight along La. 23, Becnel’s farmstands offer a variety of produce and jarred goods, including everything from garlic, mustard greens, broccoli and cabbage to honey and jam. But the stands are probably best known for their big, red Creole tomatoes and citrus plucked straight from the orchards of Plaquemines Parish.

The Plaquemines citrus industry has been struggling for years, though, grappling with land loss, disease, pests and hurricane damage.

Becnel’s orchards in Alliance were among those hard-hit by Hurricane Ida in 2021. The storm flooded the orchards with salty mud just after Hurricane Zeta damaged citrus crops across the region the year before.

The Becnel family did not say what led to their decision to close or whether they have new ventures planned.

Email Kasey Bubnash at kasey. bubnash@theadvocate.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

The younger Ben Becnel moves boxes of citrus to a truck at Ben Becnel’s Citrus Farm in Belle Chasse in 2020. The beloved farm known for its Creole tomatoes and locally grown citrus, is closing its produce stands, it announced recently.

The senior Ben Becnel poses with navel oranges at the Plaquemines Parish farm. Becnel and his son, also named Ben, said they have decided to end their ‘journey with the fruit stands and farming.’

Owners of a popular downtown New Orleans sushi restaurant plan to open a second location in Metairie with a different concept.

Kenji Omakase, 217 Camp St., is known for its dry-aged sushi as part of its omakase dining experience in which the chef selects dishes for a Chelsea delicious, multicourse meal.

Shannon Kenji owner and chef Matt Nguyen explained in an Instagram video that Kenji means “second son,” which he is in his family.

The new location adds “kazoku,” meaning family, to the name as Nguyen and his business partner, Malachi Dupre, are “opening their arms” and extending the family by adding new partners, Logan and Paris Jean.

“Kenji Kazoku is rooted in family, built for community, and crafted with the same precision you know,” the post for the new Kenji Kazoku said.

The new restaurant at 2929 Metairie Road will be more accessible, Dupre said, with an expanded focus.

The Metairie Road spot plans to continue offering fresh, dry-aged Japanese fish but will include new mainstays, including grilled octopus, toro toast, Texas wagyu and crispy rice, which Paris Jean suggests adding truffle to in an Instagram video where the owners share their favorite items.

Nguyen said omakase-style dining will be offered once a week at Kenji Kazoku.

While an exact date has not been shared, Kenji Kazoku is expected to open soon.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By IAN McNULTy

Tu Nguyen, who opened Kenji Omakase in downtown, is opening a second spot with a new concept on Metairie Road.

10 ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

music

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KINGPIN 25TH ANNIVERSARY SATURDAY,THE KINGPIN Since 2001, the Kingpin, 1307 Lyons St., has served as a reliably welcoming Uptown neighborhood watering hole/dive bar with a live music side hustle. On Saturday, the Kingpin celebrates its 25th anniversary with a full afternoon and evening of live music both outside and inside.

New Orleans keyboardist John “Papa” Gros kicks off the festivities outside at 2:30 p.m. He’s followed by trumpeter James Andrews at 4 p.m., Americana band Thousand $ Car — which features Kingpin co-owner Steve Watson on bass — at 6 p.m. and Clockwork Elvis, the band that performs at the Kingpin annually on the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth and death, at 7 p.m. The party then moves inside for yacht rock cover band Light Rock Express at 9 p.m. Admission is free.

DANNY BARKER BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE with DETROIT BROOKS AND FRIENDS TUESDAY, SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO Danny Barker lived “A Life in Jazz,” as the title of his autobiography indicated. He cut his teeth on banjo and guitar as a young entertainer in New Orleans, then moved to New York in the 1930s with his wife, vocalist Blue Lu Barker. At the height of the Jazz Age, he was the rhythm guitarist in Cab Calloway’s renowned swing orchestra. He also recorded, performed and/or toured with Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie and Sidney Bechet, among many others. By some estimates, he appeared on at least 1,000 recordings.

He moved back to New Orleans in the mid-1960s and founded the Fairview Baptist Church Christian Band, whose young members helped revitalize

the brass band scene. In 1988, he released the charming “Save the Bones,” which the Tipitina’s Record Club reissued on vinyl in 2021. In his final years, Barker assumed the role of beloved jazz elder statesman and raconteur and contributed to albums by Dr. John, Wynton Marsalis, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Kermit Ruffins. He died in 1994.

In the 1980s, Barker and his Jazz Hounds held down a regular Sunday night gig at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. Every January, Snug Harbor stages a Barker birthday tribute led by Detroit Brooks, a renowned banjoist, guitarist and vocalist who has shared stages with Irma Thomas, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint. Brooks and company salute Barker with sets at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets are $30.

Detroit Brooks

James Andrews

Keith Spera SOUND CHECK

The second week of 2026 offers a diverse mix of local and touring acts.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SHOWS THURSDAY Hard-swinging modern jazz saxophonist Rick Margitza, whose long and storied career spans a stint in Miles Davis’ band, fronts his New Orleans Allstars at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro on Frenchmen Street.

Tickets are $30.

Acclaimed jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour kicks off a twonight stand at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market in Central City with a 7:30 p.m. set on Thursday. Tickets start at $30.

Modern jazz musicians visiting New Orleans for the Jazz Educators Network convention team up with locals for two nights, presented by the Scatterjazz collective, at the Broadside’s indoor Pavilion,

Lee Ritenour

starting at 7 p.m. Thursday’s three sets feature Natalie Boeyink, Jon Bagnato and Brent Rose; Brad Linde, Byron Asher and Deric Dickens; and Peter Kienle, Larry Sieberth and Pedro Segundo. Admission is $10.

Email Keith Spera at kspera@theadvocate.com.

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ 11

music

THURSDAY (continued) Singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale & the Game Changers hold court at Chickie Wah Wah; tickets start at $20 plus taxes and fees.

Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band are featured for Zydeco Night at Rock ’N’ Bowl ($17).

Dusky Waters

FRIDAY Jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour is back at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market for two shows, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $25.

Canadian-born jazz trumpeter Ingrid Jensen and her saxophonist sister Christine Jensen team up at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $40.

Chickie Wah Wah salutes Donna’s Bar & Grill, the fondly remembered North Rampart Street brass band venue, with a “Residency” show featuring drummer Gerald French & Soul Power. Tickets are $20 plus fees.

The second night of Scatterjazz collaborations at the Broadside’s indoor Pavilion features guitarists Steve Masakowski and Phil DeGruy; Dave Stryker, Doug Garrison, Julian Lee and Jesse Morrow; and Monica Herzig, Amina Scott, Jason Mingledorff, Peter Kienle and Doug Garrison. Admission is $15 advance, $20 day of show.

Johnson III, who has occasionally filled in with the Headhunters over the years, on saxophone. Tickets start at $25.

New Orleans modern jazz saxophonist Donald Harrison, an internationally renowned master of the alto sax who has worked with everyone from Miles Davis to Art Blakey to the Headhunters, leads his own quintet at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $40.

At Chickie Wah Wah, powerhouse funk and soul trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom leads an all-star quintet featuring Jamison Ross on drums, Peter Harris on bass, Ricardo Pascal on tenor sax and Seth Finch on piano. Tickets are $20 plus fees.

Comedian Pete Correale stops at the Joy Theater as part of his “As I Was Saying Tour.” Tickets start at $39.

SUNDAY SATURDAY Modern jazz ensemble the Headhunters is still anchored by drummer Mike Clark and New Orleans-based percussionist Bill Summers, both holdovers from when the band was led by Herbie Hancock.

The version of the Headhunters that will be at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market at 7:30 p.m. Saturday will also feature New Orleans’ Clarence

Cajun accordionist and singer Bruce Daigrepont hosts his monthly fais do-do at Tipitina’s starting at 5:15 p.m. Admission is $15.

BlackAmericana Fest’s periodic “Southern Nights” series at Snug Harbor celebrates female songwriters and their musical inspirations and predecessors. Sunday’s “Southern Nights” showcases at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. feature individual sets by BlackAmericana Fest co-founder

and multi-instrumentalist Dusky Waters, Americana singer-songwriter Kristin Diable and guitarist and spoken work artist Amethyst Starr. They’ll be backed by a band that includes Rose Cangelosi on drums, Nelson Williams on upright bass and Hannah Kreiger-Benson on piano. After performing individual sets, Waters, Diable and Starr will then come together to perform a tribute to trailblazing gospel guitarist and singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Admission is $30.

TUESDAY Ben Stirling headlines Tipitina’s, with Jivan Calderone opening. Tickets are $32.

WEDNESDAY New Orleans saxophonist and composer Roderick “Rev” Paulin, an alumnus of the Rebirth Brass Band who is now earning a doctoral degree in music education, leads his band The Congregation at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are $40.

Singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier headlines Chickie Wah Wah, with Jaimee Harris opening. Tickets are $30 plus fees and taxes.

Spend an intimate acoustic evening with indie-folk singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov at the Orpheum Theater.

Tickets start at $45 but at press time were nearly sold out.

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12 ✦ Thursday, January 8, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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