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Hyundai land deal sealed Tax exemption arrangement to be used for $5.8B steel mill in Ascension Parish, officials say

Leader of BR drug ring gets 13 years BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

More than 1,700 acres of land in rural Ascension Parish have been purchased for the proposed Hyundai Steel mill. BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT

Staff writer

The state recently purchased more than 1,700 acres in rural Ascension Parish for $91 million to be used for the proposed $5.8 billion Hyundai Steel mill. The Dec. 31 deal was another critical step in the process of building the massive facility, which is expected to be completed in 2030 and this week was named one of the country’s top industrial projects. The plant will be built by Hyundai Motor Group, which also owns Kia Corp., and would

be the company’s ﬁrst steel mill in the U.S. It will supply the company’s two U.S. auto factories in Alabama and Georgia with steel sheets for the more than 600,000 vehicles they produce annually. The land, which includes the former Germania Plantation, is located on the upper west bank of the parish, near Donaldsonville and the rural community of Modeste, and has frontage along the Mississippi River. The facility is expected to create more than 1,300 direct jobs, with construction scheduled to begin

ä See HYUNDAI, page 7A

East Baton Rouge

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Baton Rouge

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55 Site of Lake Hyundai Maurepas plant

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Lake Pontchartrain

St. John

Iberville

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Donaldsonville

St. James Assumption

Mississippi St. Charles River Lafourche

New Orleans Jefferson Staff map

Francisco Palma had a naturalborn knack for earning money. The El Paso, Texas, native moved to Baton Rouge at the age of 19 and started his first business. It helped spur a long run of entrepreneurial endeavors that saw Palma prosper. He became ensconced in the local business community, helping to found a slate of charities and organize fundraisers. At his height, he drove a Lamborghini and paid nearly $120,000 for a Rolls-Royce. He lived in a mansion on the LSU Lakes that was so ritzy, Hollywood filmmakers used it to film scenes for the hit movie “Pitch Perfect 2.” But it all collapsed when Palma was indicted on charges of running a major drug trafficking network that smuggled kilograms of heroin and cocaine into Louisiana from Mexico. Standing inside a federal courtroom on Wednesday, Palma said he has lost everything over the past seven years. He lost even more of his freedom after a federal judge sentenced him to 13 years behind bars for masterminding the drug ring. “The court is really impressed with your intelligence and industriousness,” U.S. Middle District of Louisiana Chief Judge Shelly Dick said moments before imposing the sentence. “Your resolve, your initiative and your work ethic. But you used all of those talents and skills … to hurt the citizens of this community by importing cocaine, and even worse, heroin.” Bespectacled and clean shaven, Palma appeared in court with the tidy, dapper demeanor of a banker. But his manicured appearance was betrayed by the manacles shackled around his wrists, waist and ankles. Artwork from tattoos

ä See LEADER, page 7A

Protesters take to streets of Minneapolis after killing by ICE officer BY REBECCA SANTANA and TIM SULLIVAN Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — As anger and outrage spilled out onto Minneapolis’ streets Thursday over the fatal shooting of a woman the day before by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement ofﬁcer, a new shooting by federal ofﬁcers in Oregon left two people wounded and elicited more scrutiny of enforcement operations across the country. Hundreds of people protesting the shooting of Renee Good as she tried to drive away marched in freezing rain Thursday night down one of Minneapo-

WEATHER HIGH 77 LOW 63 PAGE 8B

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afternoon and the conditions of the two people wounded were not immediately ä Shooting victim was a mother of three, known. The FBI’s Portland office said a poet and new to Minnesota. Page 6A it is investigating. Just as it did following the Minneapoä Immigration agents shoot and wound lis shooting, the Department of Hometwo people in Portland, Ore. Page 7A land Security defended the actions of the officers in Portland, saying the lis’ major thoroughfares chanting “ICE shooting occurred after a Venezuelan out now” and holding signs saying, man with alleged gang ties and who “killer ice off our streets.” Protesters was involved in a recent shooting tried earlier vented their outrage outside to “weaponize” his vehicle to hit the of a federal facility that’s serving as a officers. It wasn’t clear yet if witness hub for the administration’s latest im- video corroborates that account. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi migration crackdown on a major city. The shooting in Portland, Oregon, ä See PROTESTERS, page 6A took place outside a hospital Thursday

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOHN LOCHER

Demonstrators in Minneapolis chant and march Thursday to protest the killing of Renee Good, who was fatally shot on Wednesday.

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

101ST yEAR, NO. 193

2A ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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High winds, 2 tornadoes hit Okla., officials say PURCELL, Okla. — Severe storms moved through Oklahoma around sunrise Thursday, spinning off two tornadoes and high winds that damaged buildings, downed trees and caused power outages, ofﬁcials said. A tornado that was at least an EF1, with wind speeds between 86 and 110 mph, struck the area of Purcell, some 40 miles south of Oklahoma City, said Phillip Ware, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norman. He said crews will also be surveying damage in the Shawnee area, where another tornado was conﬁrmed by radar. “We’re confident we had at least two tornadoes this morning,” Ware said. There were no immediate reports of major injuries or deaths. Much of Purcell, a city of about 7,000, was without power after the storm moved through there, said Bobby Elmore, chief of police and interim city manager. He said some metal barns were damaged, as were the roofs of some homes. “Right now our priority is just restoring power and then dealing with debris, a little debris. But it’s not too bad,” Elmore said Thursday morning. Two schools in Purcell were closed Thursday after losing power. In a letter posted on the Purcell Public Schools’ website, Superintendent Sheli McAdoo said the storm hit during the morning drop-off, and she thanked staffers’ “quick thinking and calm response” in ensuring that students were moved “from buses and hallways into shelters in a matter of moments.”

NASA cuts space mission short for medical issue NEW YORK — NASA is cutting a mission aboard the International Space Station short after an astronaut had a medical issue. The space agency said Thursday the U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew of four will return to Earth in the coming days, earlier than planned. NASA canceled its ﬁrst spacewalk of the year because of the health issue. The space agency did not identify the astronaut or the medical issue, citing patient privacy. The crew member is now stable. The crew of four returning home arrived at the orbiting lab via SpaceX in August for a stay of at least six months. The crew included NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke along with Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russia’s Oleg Platonov. Fincke and Cardman were supposed to carry out the spacewalk to make preparations for a future rollout of solar panels to provide additional power for the space station.

New boycotts enrage Kennedy Center head Multi-Grammy-winning banjo player Béla Fleck has become the latest artist to cancel planned performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after President Donald Trump’s hand-picked board of directors added their boss’ name to the storied venue. The development appears to have infuriated the center’s interim president, MAGA loyalist Richard Grenell. Fleck said in a statement on Tuesday that he decided performing at the newly dubbed Trump Kennedy Center “has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music.” Grenell raged on X: “You just made it political and caved to the woke mob who wants you to perform for only Lefties.”

CORRECTIONS A story in the Thursday edition of The Advocate about the East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s proposed tax millage incorrectly stated that the tax, should the Metro Council approve it, would go before voters in a July election. The election will be held in June. A photo caption in Tuesday’s paper incorrectly named Elite Kruiserz & Friends of Gonzales as another bicycle club. The Advocate regrets the errors.

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Protests erupt in Iran; internet cut BY JON GAMBRELL

Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — People in Iran’s capital shouted from their homes and rallied in the street Thursday night after a call by the country’s exiled crown prince for a mass demonstration, witnesses said, a new escalation in the protests that have spread nationwide across the Islamic Republic. Internet access and telephone lines in Iran cut out immediately after the protests began. The protest represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father fled Iran just before the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Demonstrations have included cries in support of the shah, something that could bring a death sentence in the past but now underlines the anger fueling the protests that began over Iran’s ailing economy. Thursday saw a continuation of the demonstrations that popped up in cities and rural towns across

Iran on Wednesday. More markets and bazaars shut down in support of the protesters. So far, violence around the demonstrations has killed at least 41 people while more than 2,270 others have been detained, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The growth of the protests increases the pressure on Iran’s civilian government and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. CloudFlare, an internet ﬁrm, and the advocacy group NetBlocks reported the internet outage, both attributing it to Iranian government interference. Attempts to dial landlines and mobile phones from Dubai to Iran could not be connected. Such outages have in the past been followed by intense government crackdowns. Meanwhile, the protests themselves have remained broadly leaderless. It remains unclear how Pahlavi’s call will affect the demonstrations moving forward. “The lack of a viable alternative has undermined past protests in Iran,” wrote Nate Swanson of the Washington-based Atlantic Coun-

cil, who studies Iran. “The Iranian security apparatus has arrested, persecuted and exiled all of the country’s potential transformational leaders.” Pahlavi had called for demonstrations at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. When the clock struck, neighborhoods across Tehran erupted in chanting, witnesses said. The chants included “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” Others praised the shah, shouting: “This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!” Thousands could be seen on the streets. “Great nation of Iran, the eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets and, as a united front, shout your demands,” Pahlavi said in a statement. “I warn the Islamic Republic, its leader and the (Revolutionary Guard) that the world and (President Donald Trump) are closely watching you. Suppression of the people will not go unanswered.” Pahlavi had said he would offer further plans depending on the response to his call. His support of and from Israel has drawn criti-

cism in the past — particularly after the 12-day war Israel waged on Iran in June. Demonstrators have shouted in support of the shah in some demonstrations, but it isn’t clear whether that’s support for Pahlavi himself or a desire to return to a time before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranian ofﬁcials appeared to be taking the protests seriously. The hard-line Kayhan newspaper published a video online claiming security forces would use drones to identify those taking part. Iran has faced rounds of nationwide protests in recent years. As sanctions tightened and Iran struggled after the 12-day war, its rial currency collapsed in December, reaching 1.4 million to $1. Protests began soon after, with demonstrators chanting against Iran’s theocracy. It remains unclear why Iranian ofﬁcials have yet to crack down harder on the demonstrators. Trump warned last week that if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” America “will come to their rescue.”

New dietary guidelines upend ‘food pyramid’ Advice given to eat more whole foods, protein

BY JONEL ALECCIA Associated Press

Americans should eat more whole foods and protein, fewer highly processed foods and less added sugar, according to the latest edition of federal nutrition advice released Wednesday by the Trump administration. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins issued the 2025-30 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which offer updated recommendations for a healthy diet and provide the foundation for federal nutrition programs and policies. They come as Kennedy has for months stressed overhauling the U.S. food supply as part of his Make America Healthy Again agenda. “My message is clear: Eat real food,” Kennedy said at a White House brieﬁng. The guidelines emphasize consumption of fresh vegetables, whole grains and dairy products, long advised as part of a healthy eating plan. Officials released a new graphic depicting an inverted version of the long-abandoned food pyramid, with protein, dairy, healthy fats and fruits and vegetables at

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stands by an image of a food pyramid Wednesday at the White House. the top and whole grains at the bottom. But they also take a new stance on “highly processed” foods, and reﬁned carbohydrates, urging consumers to avoid “packaged, prepared, readyto-eat or other foods that are salty or sweet, such as chips, cookies and candy.” That’s a different term for ultraprocessed foods, the tasty, energy-dense products that make up more than half the calories in the U.S. diet and have been linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. The new guidance backs away from revoking longstanding advice to limit saturated fats, despite signals from Kennedy and Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary that the administration would push for more consumption of animal fats to end the “war” on saturated

fats. Instead, the document suggests that Americans should choose whole-food sources of saturated fat — such as meat, whole-fat dairy or avocados — while continuing to limit saturated fat consumption to no more than 10% of daily calories. The guidance says “other options can include butter or beef tallow,” despite previous recommendations to avoid those fats. The dietary guidelines, required by law to be updated every five years, provide a template for a healthy diet. But in a country where more than half of adults have a dietrelated chronic disease, few Americans actually follow the guidance, research shows. The new recommendations drew praise from some prominent nutrition and medical experts.

Dispute led to Utah shooting that left 2 dead, police say

BY JACQUES BILLEAUD and HANNAH SCHOENBAUM Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — A complicated crime scene and uncooperative witnesses hindered Salt Lake City police efforts to investigate a shooting outside funeral services at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints house of worship. The shooting in a church parking lot left two people dead and six injured, including five who remained hospitalized with police protection Thursday. Investigators say the shooting erupted from a dispute between people who knew each other and were attending a funeral. No arrests had been made as of mid-day Thursday, a day after the gunfire. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is widely known as the Mormon church. Authorities say they do not know whether the shooting was gang-related and that they are having trouble getting witnesses to cooperate. “Our houses of worship are sacred, whatever the affiliation,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said Thursday morning. “We should all protect those spaces. We should all respect those spaces.” All the shooting victims were adults. At least three of the injured were in critical condition, police said. Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38, were identified as the two people killed. Police said they do not believe the

shooting was random or motivated by animus against Mormons. The red brick church mostly serves Tongan congregants and holds regular worship services in their native tongue, according to its website. Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ﬁrst arrived in Tonga in the early 1890s, according to the church’s website. “Since the 19th century, the church has had a really, really prominent place in Tongan society,” said Matthew Bowman, a Claremont Graduate University professor specializing in U.S. religious history. Brennan McIntire said he and his wife, Kenna, heard several loud gunshots from their apartment next to the church parking lot while watching TV. He jumped off the couch and ran outside to see what happened. “As soon as I came over, I see someone on the ground,” he said. “People are attending to him and crying and arguing.” Kenna McIntire was rattled at the sight of ﬁrst responders lifting an unconscious woman into an ambulance. The couple said they hear gunshots in their neighborhood almost daily, but never right outside their door. “It was really heartbreaking to hear and see,” Kenna McIntire said. Police said they were reviewing license plate readers and surveillance videos from nearby businesses in their search for suspects.

“There should be broad agreement that eating more whole foods and reducing highly processed carbohydrates is a major advance in how we approach diet and health,” said Dr. David Kessler, a former FDA commissioner who has written books about diet and nutrition and has sent a petition to the FDA to remove key ingredients in ultraprocessed foods. Other experts were relieved that the guidelines didn’t go against decades of nutrition evidence linking saturated fat to heart disease, but they were critical of the guidelines’ focus on meat and dairy as a primary source of protein instead of plant-based sources. “Overall, if people eat the way these are recommended, they will be eating more calories, not less,” said Marion Nestle, a nutritionist and food policy expert who advised previous editions of the guidance. The guidance will have the most profound effect on the federally funded National School Lunch Program, which is required to follow the guidelines to feed nearly 30 million U.S. children on a typical school day. The Agriculture Depart-

ment will have to translate the recommendations into specific requirements for school meals, a process that can take years, said Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokesperson for the School Nutrition Association. The latest school nutrition standards were proposed in 2023 but won’t be fully implemented until 2027, she noted. The new guidelines largely rejected the advice of a 20-member panel of nutrition experts convened by the Biden administration, who met for nearly two years to review the latest scientific evidence on diet and health. Kennedy had criticized the expertise of the panel members and suggested that they had ties to the food industry that influenced their advice. Instead, the new guidance relied on a new set of experts revealed Wednesday in supporting documents. Of the 10 experts who led the new scientific review under Kennedy, five reported financial ties to beef, pork or dairy industries or to makers of infant formula or supplements. The new group rejected more than half the recommendations of the previous panel, the documents showed.

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House passes bill to extend health care subsidies BY LISA MASCARO and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON — In a remarkable rebuke of Republican leadership, the House passed legislation Thursday, 230-196, that would extend expired health care subsidies for those who get coverage through the Affordable Care Act as renegade GOP lawmakers joined essentially all Democrats in voting for the measure. Forcing the issue to a vote came about after a handful of Republicans signed on to a so-called “discharge petition” to unlock debate, bypassing objections from House Speaker Mike Johnson. The bill now goes to the Senate, where pressure is building for a similar bipartisan compromise. Together, the rare political coalitions are rushing to resolve the standoff over the enhanced tax credits that were put in place during the COVID-19 crisis but expired late last year after no agreement was reached during the government shutdown. “The affordability crisis is not a ‘hoax,’ it is very real — despite what Donald Trump has had to say,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, invoking the president’s remarks. Ahead of voting, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bill, which would provide a three-year extension of the subsidy, would increase the nation’s deﬁcit by about $80.6 billion over the decade. At the same time, it would increase the number of people with health insurance by 100,000 this year, 3 million in 2027, 4 million in 2028 and 1.1 million in 2029, the CBO said. Johnson, R-Benton, worked for months to prevent this situation. His ofﬁce argued Thursday that the federal health care funding from the COVID-19 era is ripe with fraud, pointing to an investigation in Minnesota, and urged a no vote. On the floor, Republicans argued that the subsidies as structured have contributed to fraud and that the chamber should be focused on lowering health insurance costs for the broader population. “Only 7% of the population relies on Obamacare marketplace plans. This chamber should be about helping

100% of Americans,” said Rep. Jason Smith, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. While the momentum from the vote shows the growing support for the tax breaks that have helped some 22 million Americans have access to health insurance, the Senate would be under no requirement to take up the House bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that for any plan to find support in his chamber, it will need to have income limits to ensure that the financial aid is focused on those who most need the help. He and other Republicans also want to ensure that beneficiaries would have to at least pay a nominal amount for their coverage. Finally, Thune said there would need to be some expansion of health savings accounts, which allow people to save money and withdraw it tax-free as long as the money is spent on qualified medical expenses. Trump has pushed Republicans to send money directly to Americans for health savings accounts so they can bypass the federal government and handle insurance on their own. Democrats largely reject this idea as insufficient for covering the high costs of health care. The action by Republicans to force a vote has been an affront to Johnson and his leadership team, who essentially lost control of what comes to the House floor as the Republican lawmakers joined Democrats for the workaround. Johnson had discussed allowing more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers a chance to vote on another health care bill that would temporarily extend the subsidies while also adding changes. But after days of discussions, Johnson and the GOP leadership sided with the more conservative wing, which has assailed the subsidies as propping up ACA, which they consider a failed government program. He offered a modest proposal of health care reforms that was approved, but has stalled. It was then that rank-andfile lawmakers took matters into their own hands, as many of their constituents faced soaring health insurance premiums beginning this month.

Trump sets nomination for federal bench in N.O. Anna St. John selected for post

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON — New Orleans lawyer Anna St. John will be nominated for a lifetime appointment as a federal judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, President Donald Trump said on social media Thursday. “Anna has a strong record of tirelessly ﬁghting to protect Free Speech, champion Religious Liberty, and keep men out of women’s sports. Anna will make a fantastic Judge, and continue to fearlessly defend the Constitution on the Federal Bench,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday night. Based in New Orleans, the Eastern District has jurisdiction over parishes in the southeastern corner of the state. St. John is a New Orleansbased lawyer and president and general counsel at the Center for Class Action Fairness, a part of the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute, a conservative, free market-focused legal nonproﬁt headquartered in Washington. Class actions are large lawsuits that combine the interests of a group of people, such as the 2004 class action by smokers and state health agencies against cigarette

manufacturers for deceptive marketing. Louisiana received about $590 million for health costs. The center St. John runs “represents consumers and shareholders pro bono against abusive class action settlements,” according to its website. Last year, she argued in support of the Trump administration in a challenge by 16 Democratic states seeking to reverse the cancellation of nearly $800 million in National Science Foundation grants for projects considered to be supporting diversity. The Trump administration agreed in a December settlement to review those cancellations. Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor who watches federal judicial nominations closely, said St. John may not have as clear sailing as other Trump nominees from Louisiana have had because of her association with a group that generally opposes class-action lawsuits. “I predict the Democrats will say no to her nomination,” Tobias said. St. John graduated from LSU and Columbia Law School. She clerked for 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Rhesa Barksdale of Mississippi, who was nominated by Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1990, Trump wrote.

Jan. 6 plaque to be placed BY LISA MASCARO Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Senate has agreed to display a plaque honoring the police who defended the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, rebuffing House Speaker Mike Johnson who has said the commemorative memorial does not comply with the law. The action happened swiftly, with brief debate, in floor action Thursday. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina had announced during this week’s fifth anniversary of the Capitol siege that he would seek to ensure the plaque is installed, partnering with Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, who was also working on the situation, and Sen. Alex Padilla of California. No senators objected. “A lot of people said it was a dark day for democracy,” Tillis said about Jan. 6, 2021, describing his memory of hearing the thousands of people — “thugs,” he said — lay siege to the Capitol as Congress was tallying the 2020 election results. He said that because of the work of the law enforcement officers, it became a great day for democracy. “We came back and completed our constitutional duty to certify the election,” he said. “We owe them eternal gratitude and this nation is stronger because of them.” This week, senators stepped up after learning the plaque, which had been approved by Congress more than three years ago, was nowhere to be found

at the Capitol. Instead, many House lawmakers have been hanging up replicas outside their ofﬁce doors. The Senate also appeared to be motivated by the shifting narrative from President Donald Trump’s White House about what happened Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the building after he urged them go to Capitol Hill to confront Congress over Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Trump himself shifted blame for the attack during a speech this week in which he said he only intended for his supporters to march peacefully to the Capitol. More-

over, the White House produced a glossy new report also shifting blame for the deadly riot — on Democrats, for Biden’s victory over Trump, and on the police for their response to the mob. The plaque, according to the law, was intended to be placed at the west front of the Capitol where some of the fiercest fighting took place. It was required to be installed in 2023. The new resolution directs the Architect of the Capitol to “prominently display” the plaque in a “publicly accessible” location in the Senate wing of the Capitol until it can be placed in its perma-

nent location. To display the plaque in its intended location would require agreement with the House. The office of Johnson, a Republican who before becoming the House speaker led efforts to object to the 2020 election results, said this week that the plaque, as constructed, does not comply with the law. Tillis said part of the “technical implementation problem” was a concern that the law speciﬁed the plaque would honor all the ofﬁcers involved. He said there will be a digital component, presumably a website, that will list all the names.

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Senate pushes back on Trump’s military threats

BY STEPHEN GROVES and JOEY CAPPELLETTI

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Senate advanced a resolution Thursday that would limit President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela, sounding a note of disapproval for his expanding ambitions in the Western Hemisphere. Democrats and ﬁve Republicans voted to advance the war powers resolution on a 52-47 vote and ensure a vote next week on ﬁnal passage. It has virtually no chance of becoming law because Trump would have to sign it if it were to pass the Republican-controlled House. Still, it was a significant gesture that showed unease among some Republicans after the U.S. military seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid over the weekend. Trump’s administration is now seeking to control Venezuela’s oil resources and its government, but the war powers resolution would require congressional approval for any further attacks on the South American country. “To me, this is all about going

Schexnayder pleads not guilty in board theft BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT Staff writer

Former Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder pleaded not guilty Thursday to criminal charges related to the disappearance of an ancient cypress board that once hung in the halls of the State Capitol. Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office in November charged Schexnayder with felony theft greater than $25,000 and malfeasance in office. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The board is about 20 feet by 6 feet and bears an inscription that says it was carved from a cypress tree in the Lake Maurepas area that was an estimated 1,294 years old and nearly 8 feet wide. Walter Stebbins donated the board to the state in the 1950s, and it adorned the wall in the State Capitol for decades. In 2013, the board was moved to Schexnayder’s district office in a Gonzales strip mall. When he left office due to term limits, he said he left the board there, though the building manager has said no one from his company had it. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune reported on the board in September after Stebbins’ descendants questioned its whereabouts. Murrill later called for Schexnayder to return the board, saying it was his responsibility, and eventually indicted him. Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@ theadvocate.com.

forward,” said Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, one of the ﬁve Republican votes. “If the president should determine, ‘You know what? I need to put troops on the ground of Venezuela,’ I think that would require Congress to weigh in.” The other Republicans who backed the resolution were Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Todd Young of Indiana. Trump reacted to their votes by saying on social media that they “should never be elected to ofﬁce again” and that the vote “greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security.” Democrats had failed to pass several such resolutions in the months that Trump escalated his campaign against Venezuela. But lawmakers argued now that Trump has captured Maduro and set his sights to other conquests such as Greenland, the vote presents Congress with an opportunity. “This wasn’t just a procedural vote. It’s a clear rejection of the idea that one person can unilaterally send American sons and daughters into harm’s way without Congress, without debate,” said Senate

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Republican leaders have said they had no advance notification of the raid early morning Saturday to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, but mostly expressed satisfaction this week as top administration officials provided classified briefings on the operation. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who forced the vote on the resolution, said he believes many Republicans were caught off guard by the outcome. He said that Trump’s recent comments to The New York Times suggesting U.S. oversight in Venezuela could last for years — combined with details revealed in the classified briefings — prompted some lawmakers to conclude that “this is too big to let a president do it without Congress.” The administration has used an evolving set of legal justifications for the monthslong campaign in Central and South America, from destroying alleged drug boats under authorizations for the global fight against terrorism to seizing Maduro in what was ostensibly a law enforcement operation to put him on trial in the United States. Republican leaders have backed

Trump. “I think the president has demonstrated at least already a very strong commitment to peace through strength, especially in this hemisphere,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “I think Venezuela got that message loudly and clearly.” Young in a statement said he supported the operation to capture Maduro, but was concerned by Trump’s statements that his administration now “runs” Venezuela. “It is unclear if that means that an American military presence will be required to stabilize the country,” Young said, adding that he believed most of his constituents were not prepared to send U.S. troops to that mission. House Democrats were introducing a similar resolution on Thursday. Trump criticized the Senate vote as “impeding the President’s Authority as Commander in Chief” under the Constitution. Presidents of both parties have long argued the War Powers Act infringes on their authority. Passed in 1973 in the aftermath of the Vietnam War — and over the veto of Republican President Rich-

ard Nixon — it has never succeeded in directly forcing a president to halt military action. Congress declares war while the president serves as commander in chief, according to the Constitution. But lawmakers have not formally declared war since World War II, granting presidents broad latitude to act unilaterally. The law requires presidents to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying forces and to end military action within 60 to 90 days absent authorization — limits that presidents of both parties have routinely stretched. Democrats argue those limits are being pushed further than ever. Some Republicans have gone further still, contending congressional approval is unnecessary altogether. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close Trump ally who traveled with the president aboard Air Force One on Sunday, said he would be comfortable with Trump taking over other countries without congressional approval, including Greenland. “The commander in chief is the commander in chief,” Graham said.

House refuses to override pair of Trump vetoes BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The House refused Thursday to override President Donald Trump’s veto of two low-profile bills as Republicans stuck with the president despite their prior support for the measures. Congress can override a veto with support from twothirds of the members of the House and the Senate. The threshold is rarely reached. In this case, Republicans opted to avoid a fight with the president in an election year over bills with little national significance. The two vetoes were the first of Trump’s second term. One bill Trump vetoed was designed to help local communities finance the construction of a pipeline to provide water to tens of thousands in Colorado. The other designated a site in Everglades National Park as a part of the Miccosukee Indian Reservation. On the Colorado bill, 35 Republicans sided with Democrats in voting for an override. On the Florida bill, only 24 Republicans voted for the override. The White House did not issue any veto threats prior to passage of the bills, so Trump’s scathing comments in his veto message came as a surprise to sponsors of the legislation. Ultimately, his vetoes had the effect of punishing those who had opposed the president’s positions on other issues. The water pipeline bill came from Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, a longtime Trump ally who broke with the president in November to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill to give the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians more control of some of its tribal lands would have benefited one of the groups that sued the administration

Trump did not allude to the tribe to manage water Boebert in his veto of her flow into the Everglades and legislation, but raised con- raise structures within the cerns about the cost of the camp to prevent floodin. Rep. Debbie Wasserman water pipeline, saying “restoring fiscal sanity is vital Schultz, D-Fla., urged colto economic growth and the leagues to vote to override. fiscal health of the Nation.” “This bill is so narrowly foThe Florida legislation had cused that (the veto) makes been sponsored by Republi- absolutely no sense other can Rep. Carlos Gimenez, than the interest in venwhom Trump has endorsed. geance that seems to have In his veto message, Trump emanated in this result,” was critical of the tribe, say- Wasserman Schultz said. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., ing, “The Miccosukee Tribe ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN has actively sought to ob- said he would vote to overRep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., left, speaks with Rep. Lauren struct reasonable immigra- ride the president’s vetoes. Boebert, R-Colo., during a House committee hearing tion policies that the Ameri- “They passed unanimously,” can people decisively voted Bacon said of the bills. “And I Wednesday in Washington. don’t know if I agree with the for when I was elected.” over an immigration detenWhen asked by a reporter Before the House voted to explanations for the veto.” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Rtion center known as “Alli- if the veto was in response to pass his bill, Gimenez said her signing a discharge pe- it would simply allow an in- N.Y., said she would vote to gator Alcatraz.” Speaker Mike Johnson, R- tition to release the Epstein habited tribal village to be sustain the vetoes. “My conBenton, said leadership was files, she said, “I certainly included in the Miccosukee stituents want me to stand not urging — or “whipping” hope not.” Reservation, empowering with Trump,” she said. — members on how to vote. He said he would personally vote to sustain the vetoes and the president’s message opposing the bills “sounded very reasonable to me.” He said he understood the concerns of the Colorado lawmakers about the veto and would work to help them on the pipeline issue going forSPECIAL OFFER ward. Boebert said she has been talking to colleagues individually about overriding Trump’s veto, but wasn’t sure about hitting the two-thirds threshold. Some colleagues “don’t want to go against the president,” she said. On the House floor, Boebert told colleagues that the comAdd’l terms apply. Offer subject to change munities targeted through and vary by dealer. Expires 12/27/26. the bill could see the cost of their drinking water triple without the legislation. “This bill makes good not only on a 60-year plus commitment without wasting hundreds of millions of dollars in state and local and federal investments, but it also makes good on President Trump’s commitment to rural communities, to Western water issues,” Boebert said.

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Denmark, Greenland envoys protest call for ‘takeover’ BY AAMER MADHANI and CLAUDIA CIOBANU

Associated Press

Denmark and Greenland’s envoys to Washington have begun a vigorous effort to urge U.S. lawmakers as well as key Trump administration officials to step back from President Donald Trump’s call for a “takeover” of the strategic Arctic island. Denmark’s ambassador, Jesper Møller Sørensen, and Jacob Isbosethsen, Greenland’s chief representative to Washington, met on Thursday with White House National Security Council officials to discuss a renewed push by Trump to acquire Greenland, perhaps by military force, according to Danish government officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The White House did not respond to a request for comment about the meeting. The envoys have also held a series of meetings this week with American lawmakers as they look to enlist help in persuading Trump to back off his threat. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet next week with Danish officials. Trump, in a New York Times interview published Thursday, said he has to possess the entirety of Greenland instead of just exercising a long-standing treaty that gives the United States wide latitude to use Greenland for military posts. “I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do with, you’re talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing a document,” Trump told the newspaper. The U.S. is party to a 1951 treaty that gives it broad rights to set up military bases there with the consent of Denmark and Greenland. Meanwhile, Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, told reporters that European leaders should “take the president of the United States seriously” as he framed the issue as one of defense. “What we’re asking our European friends to do is take the security of that landmass more seriously, because if they’re not, the United States is going to have to do something about it,” Vance said. Danish officials were hopeful about the upcoming talks with Rubio in Washington. “This is the dialogue that is needed, as requested by the government together with the Greenlandic government,” Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told Danish broadcaster DR. The island of Greenland, 80% of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is home to about 56,000 mostly Inuit people.

“What we’re asking our European friends to do is take the security of that landmass more seriously, because if they’re not, the United States is going to have to do something about it.” VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE ican interests in the Arctic. In an interview with Fox News, Vance repeated Trump’s claim that Greenland is crucial to both the U.S. and the world’s national security because “the entire missile defense infrastructure is partially dependent on Greenland.” He said the fact that Denmark has been a faithful military ally of the U.S. during World War II and the more recent “war on terrorism” did not necessarily mean they were doing enough to secure Greenland today. “Just because you did something smart 25 years ago doesn’t mean you can’t do something dumb now,” Vance said, adding that Trump “is saying very clearly, ‘you are not doing a good job with respect to Greenland.’”

Right to self-determination

Earlier, Rubio told a select group of U.S. lawmakers that it was the Republican administration’s intention to eventually purchase Greenland, as opposed to using military force. “Many Greenlanders feel that the remarks made are disrespectful,” Aaja Chemnitz, one of the two Greenlandic politicians in the Danish parliament, told The Associated Press. “Many also experience that these conversations are being discussed over their heads. We have a ﬁrm saying in Greenland, ‘Nothing about Greenland, without Greenland.’” She said most Greenlanders “wish for more self-determination, including independence” but also want to “strengthen cooperation with our partners” in security and business development as long as it is based on “mutual respect and recognition of our right to selfdetermination.” Chemnitz denied a claim by Trump that Greenland is “covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.” Greenland is “a longstanding ally and partner to the U.S. and we have a shared interest in stability, security, and responsible cooperation in the Arctic,” she said. “There is an agreement with the U.S. that gives them access to have bases in Greenland if needed.” France’s President Emmanuel Macron has denounced the “law of the strongest” that is making people “wonder if Greenland will be invaded.” In a speech to French ambassadors at the ElyVance criticizes Denmark see presidential palace on Vance said on Wednesday Thursday, Macron said: “It’s that Denmark “obviously” the greatest disorder, the law had not done a proper job in of the strongest, and every securing Greenland and that day people wonder whether Trump “is willing to go as far Greenland will be invaded, as he has to” to defend Amer- whether Canada will be un-

“Nothing can be decided about Denmark and about Greenland without Denmark, or without Greenland.” ANTONIO COSTA, president of the European Council two additional long-range surveillance drones and satellite capacity. Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command, headquartered in Nuuk, is tasked with the “surveillance, assertion of sovereignty and military defense of Greenland and the Faroe Islands,” according to its website. It has smaller satellite stations across the island. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By EMILIO MORENATTI The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, The Northern Lights shimmer over homes in Nuuk, Greenland, on Feb. 17. an elite Danish naval unit that conducts long-range reder the threat of becoming of Greenland and the Faroe surveillance and maintaining connaissance and enforces the 51st state (of the United Islands, another self-govern- sovereignty in the region.” Danish sovereignty in the States) or whether Taiwan is ing territory of Denmark, The plan includes three Arctic wilderness, is also to be further circled.” to “improve capabilities for new Arctic naval vessels, stationed in Greenland. He pointed to an “increasingly dysfunctional” world where great powers, including the U.S and China, have “a real temptation to divide the world amongst themselves.”

Surveillance operations “Greenland belongs to its people,” Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, said on Wednesday. “Nothing can be decided about Denmark and about Greenland without Denmark, or without Greenland. They have the full solid support and solidarity of the European Union.” The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the U.K. joined Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday in defending Greenland’s sovereignty in the wake of Trump’s comments about Greenland, which is part of the NATO military alliance. After Vance’s visit to Greenland last year, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen published a video detailing the 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the U.S.. Since 1945, the American military presence in Greenland has decreased from thousands of soldiers over 17 bases and installations on the island, Rasmussen said, to the remote Pitufﬁk Space Base in the northwest with some 200 soldiers today. The base supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO. The 1951 agreement “offers ample opportunity for the United States to have a much stronger military presence in Greenland,” Rasmussen said. “If that is what you wish, then let us discuss it.”

‘Defense of Greenland’ Last year, Denmark’s parliament approved a bill to allow U.S. military bases on Danish soil. Denmark is moving to strengthen its military presence around Greenland and in the wider North Atlantic. Last year, the government announced a $2.3 billion agreement with parties including the governments

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6A ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Shooting victim was mother of 3, poet and new to city BY MICHAEL BIESECKER and JIM MUSTIAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The woman shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday was Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who had recently moved to Minnesota. She was a U.S. citizen born in Colorado and appears to never have been charged with anything involving law enforcement beyond a traffic ticket. In social media accounts, Good described herself as a “poet and writer and wife and mom.” She said she was currently “experiencing Minneapolis,” displaying a pride flag emoji on her Instagram account. A profile picture posted to Pinterest shows her smiling and holding a young child against her cheek, along with posts about tattoos, hairstyles and home decorating. Her ex-husband, who asked not to be named out of concern for the safety of their children, said Good had just dropped off her 6-yearold son at school Wednesday and

PROTESTERS Continued from page 1A

Noem, President Donald Trump and others in his administration have repeatedly characterized the Minneapolis shooting as an act of self-defense and cast Good as a villain, suggesting she used her vehicle as a weapon to attack the officer who shot her. Vice President JD Vance said the shooting was justified and that Good, a 37-yearold mother of three, was a “victim of left-wing ideology.” “I can believe that her death is a tragedy while also recognizing that it is a tragedy of her own making,” Vance said, noting that the officer who killed her was injured while making an arrest last June. But state and local officials and protesters rejected that characterization, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey saying video of the shooting shows the self-defense argument was “garbage.” The shooting happened on the second day of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which Homeland Security said is the biggest immigration enforcement operation ever. More than 2,000 officers are taking part, and Noem said they have already made more than 1,500 arrests. It provoked an immediate response in the city where police killed George Floyd in 2020, with hundreds of people turning up to the scene to vent their outrage at the ICE officers and the school district canceling classes for the rest of the week as a precaution. Good’s death — at least the fifth tied to immigration sweeps since Trump took office — has resonated far beyond Minneapolis, as protests took place or were

proaching her car, demanding she open the door and grabbing the handle. When she begins to pull forward, a different ICE ofﬁcer standing in front of the vehicle pulls his weapon and immediately fires at least two shots into the vehicle at close range. In another video taken after the shooting, a distraught woman is seen sitting near the vehicle, wailing, “That’s my wife, I don’t know what to do!” Calls and messages to Good’s current partner received no response. Trump administration officials painted Good as a domestic terrorist who had attempted to ram federal agents with her car. Her ex-husband said she was no activist and that he had never known ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TOM BAKER her to participate in a protest of any kind. Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who had recently moved He described her as a devoted to Minnesota, was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Christian who took part in youth Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday. mission trips to Northern Ireland when she was younger. She loved was driving home with her current had moved last year from Kansas to sing, participating in a chorus in high school and studying vocal partner when they encountered a City, Missouri. group of ICE agents on a snowy Video taken by bystanders posted performance in college. She studied creative writing street in Minneapolis, where they to social media shows an ofﬁcer ap-

at Old Dominion University in Virginia and won a prize in 2020 for one of her works, according to a post on the school’s English department Facebook page. She also hosted a podcast with her second husband, who died in 2023. Good had a daughter and her son from her ﬁrst marriage, who are now ages 15 and 12. Her 6-yearold son was from her second marriage. Her ex-husband said she had primarily been a stay-at-home mom in recent years but had previously worked as a dental assistant and at a credit union. Donna Ganger, her mother, told the Minnesota Star Tribune the family was notified of the death late Wednesday morning. “Renee was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” Ganger told the newspaper. “She was extremely compassionate. She’s taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being.” Ganger did not respond to calls or messages from the AP.

contact with the officer, and the driver, according to there is no indication of prosecutors. Ross was transwhether the woman had in- ported to a hospital, where teractions with ICE agents he received more than 50 earlier. After the shooting stitches. A jury found the driver the SUV speeds into two cars parked on a curb before guilty of assaulting a federcrashing to a stop. al officer with a dangerous Noem hasn’t publicly weapon. named the officer who shot DHS Assistant Secretary Good. But a Homeland Se- Tricia McLaughlin said the curity spokesperson said officer involved in the shoother description of his inju- ing had worked more than ries last summer refers to 10 years as a deportation ofan incident in Bloomington, ficer and had been selected Minnesota, in which court for ICE’s special response documents identify him as team, which includes a 30Jonathan Ross. hour tryout and additional Ross got his arm stuck in training. the window of a vehicle of McLaughlin declined to a driver who was fleeing confirm the identity of the arrest on an immigration officer as Ross. The AP ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TOM BAKER violation, and was dragged wasn’t immediately able to People gather Thursday around a makeshift memorial honoring the victim of Wednesday’s roughly 100 yards before he locate a phone number or shooting in Minneapolis. was knocked free, records address for Ross, and ICE show. no longer has a union that He fired his Taser, but the might comment on his beIt isn’t clear from the expected this week in many tioner” during her public large U.S. cities. comments about the con- videos if the vehicle makes prongs didn’t incapacitate half. “We should be horrified,” frontation. protester Shanta Hejmadi “People in positions of said. “We should be sad- power have already passed dened that our government judgment, from the presiis waging war on our citi- dent to the vice president to Kristi Noem — have stood zens.” On Thursday, the Minneso- and told you things that are ta agency that investigates verifiably false, verifiably To be truly independent, your personal GET OUR SPECIAL officer-involved shootings inaccurate,” the governor emergency device needs to work on the go. 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Two shot, wounded by immigration officers in Oregon BY CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. — Federal immigration ofﬁcers shot and wounded two people outside a hospital in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, a day after an ofﬁcer shot and killed a driver in Minnesota, authorities said. The FBI’s Portland office said it was investigating an “agent involved shooting” that happened around 2:15 p.m. According to the the Portland Police bureau, officers initially responded to a report of a shooting near a hospital.

LEADER

Continued from page 1A on the nape of his neck crept up just past the collar of his orange jumpsuit. Palma spoke at a feverish pace as he read a letter of remorse. He told the judge of a “moral compunction” he has lived with over his actions since he was initially arrested in January 2019. He stressed that “true apology is a change in behavior” and said he has helped other inmates with translation while in jail. “There’s no excuse for breaking the law, and there’s no excuse for positioning myself to be in the predicament that I find myself in. Seven years of penitence to reflect and atone for my wrongdoing, I stand here with a heart full of contrition.” Federal prosecutors said Palma led a crew of traffickers that transported and distributed cocaine, heroin and cash in Baton Rouge, across Louisiana and beyond. They used phones to negotiate their deals and often talked in code to thwart law enforcement. The traffickers conducted many of the cash and drug exchanges in highly visible public places like the Tanger Outlets in Gonzales, Walmart parking lots and at popular restaurants on College Drive and near Essen Lane. Six people were named in a 22-count indictment the

HYUNDAI

Continued from page 1A this year. Emma Wagner, a spokesperson for Louisiana Economic Development, said Hyundai will make payments in lieu of traditional property taxes. Marshall A. Rice, of Beau Box Commercial Real Estate, helped broker the property sale to the state. LED’s certified site program and the tax exemption arrangement attracted Hyundai to the state. “It was essentially a shovel-ready site, which allows them, other than their permitting, to start the development process very quickly,” he said. Wagner said LED didn’t have anyone who could

A few minutes later, police received information that a man who had been shot was asking for help in a different area a couple of miles away. Ofﬁcers then responded there and found the two people with apparent gunshot wounds. Ofﬁcers determined they were injured in the shooting with federal agents, police said. Their conditions were not immediately known. Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney said during a Portland City Council meeting that Thursday’s shooting took place in the eastern part of the city and that two Portlanders were wounded.

“As far as we know both of these individuals are still alive and we are hoping for more positive updates throughout the afternoon,” she said. The city has long had a contentious relationship with President Donald Trump, including Trump’s recent, failed effort to deploy National Guard troops in the city. Portland police secured both the scene of the shooting and the area where the wounded people were found pending investigation. “We are still in the early stages of this incident,” said Chief Bob Day. “We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feel-

feds ﬁled in August 2022. It alleged they orchestrated the trafficking operation from October 2017 to January 2019, distributing drugs in Texas and south Louisiana. Palma pleaded guilty in March 2023 to 11 counts that included drug conspiracy, racketeering, money laundering and a weapons charges. Wednesday marked the ﬁnal chapter in the saga as Palma became the last of the six defendants to receive his sentence. Richard Antunez pleaded to conspiracy and distribution charges, and Dick handed him 70 months in August 2023. Four months later, she sentenced Marco Antonio Filos, a midlevel operative in the organization, to 26 months for conspiracy, distribution and racketeering. Brittany Adell Allison, Palma’s live-in girlfriend at the time, entered into an 18-month pretrial diversionary program in May 2024 and the government deferred her indictments. Those charges were dismissed in November after she completed the diversionary program, court records show. Juan Villareal Jr. got 78 months for drug conspiracy, distribution and unlawful communications charges in November 2024. Clarence Corey Alexander escaped with two years of probation in August for his role in the operation. Palma and Villareal trav-

eled to Mexico City on multiple occasions to meet with cartel members and other kingpins who supplied them with kilos of cocaine and heroin. They smuggled the drugs across the border and sold it to dealers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and other parts of the state. Palma ran the drug operation from what was then his upscale Baton Rouge home at the LSU Lakes. Villareal, a north Texas man, ran a hub of the operation near DallasFort Worth. Baton Rouge defense attorney Jarett Ambeau argued that while Palma helped coordinate the trafﬁcking ring, other members of the crew operated with autonomy and made their own deals after Palma supplied them with drugs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Piedrahita countered that Palma exercised a signiﬁcant “degree of control” on the other dealers and even used violence against Filos, one of his subordinates, when he failed to pay him on time. The prosecutors emphasized an abusive relationship he had with Allison and said he used “power and dominance” to manipulate his former lover to “do his drug bidding.” Piedrahita described Palma as a “remarkable man” and a “genius” whose acute business acumen made him a “prodigy” and allowed him to rise the ranks quickly. “Unfortunately, he used those skills to deal dope,” the federal prosecutor said.

speak on the specifics of the Hyundai tax exemption deal. Similar deals are in the works for the Hut 8 data center in West Feliciana Parish and the Meta AI data center in Richland Parish. Ascension Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Kate MacArthur said the agency was not part of the transaction and had no information to share. In total, officials plan to spend $600 million in public funds for projects connected with the steel mill, including land purchases, roads, rail upgrades and a River Parishes Community College worker training facility. The state purchased the land for the training facility last year, and ofﬁcials also broke ground on the Energy Transition Parkway — a new

two-lane road — in October. Officials and some residents of the surrounding areas support the project, as it is the first large economic investment in the Donaldsonville area in decades. Others, including many Modeste residents, oppose the massive changes that are planned for the area. Ascension Parish officials are looking at creating a property buyout plan for residents such as Twila Collins, whose family has owned and lived on the land for generations. “I’m not looking for a buyout because, guess what? The money they’re going to owe me cannot give me all the stuff I’ve had in memories here, all the years I’ve been here,” she said last year. “My ancestors fought hard for what they had to leave it to us so we could be able to enjoy it.”

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ing in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.” Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the City Council called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to end all operations in Oregon’s largest city until a full investigation is completed. “We stand united as elected ofﬁcials in saying that we cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts,” a joint statement said. “Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’

“He’s a talented businessman, which made him a very talented drug dealer.” Dick agreed and said Palma showed a pattern of “extreme mental, physical and overbearing behavior.” She noted that Palma had $24,000 in his car and an-

threatened by the administration has deadly consequences.” The city officials said “federal militarization undermines effective, community-based public safety, and it runs counter to the values that define our region. We’ll use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents’ civil and human rights.” They urged residents to show up with “calm and purpose during this difficult time.” “We respond with clarity, unity, and a commitment to justice,” the statement said. “We must stand together to protect Portland.”

other $229,000 stashed in his house when authorities arrested him and said there was no question in her mind that Palma was a leader of the drug ring. “The court is convinced that based on the volumes involved in this case, he

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1Bn

EBR School Board picks leaders Steward remains president; Lewis becomes vice president

BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Thursday voted to keep Shashonnie Steward as its president for a second year, but elevated Cliff Lewis to vice president, his ﬁrst turn in board leadership. Both Steward and Lewis are Black. It is a departure from most years when the board maintains

mixed racial leadership. Steward and Lewis are among six new members who took ofﬁce in 2023, a big change for a board with only nine seats. Steward became board president in January 2024. Her second year as president is an election year — Nov. 3 is election day, with runoffs Dec. 12, if necessary. Steward and Lewis on Thursday both won by 5-4 margins. They voted for each other and were joined

board members by fellow board Patrick Martin V members Mike and Nathan Rust. Gaudet, Dadrius Four of the five Lanus and Carla votes for StewPowell-Lewis. Opposing Steward and Lewis are Black. The four ard and Lewis votes for Belwere board memLewis lue and Soulé are bers Mark Bellue, Steward White. who sought to be Mike Gaudet, who is White, has president, and Emily Soulé, who sought to be vice president. Sup- served as the swing vote this past porting Bellue and Soulé were year, serving as the winning vote

on many of the split votes. Gaudet served as vice president last year, but gave way this year to Lewis. Gaudet, who joined the board in 2017, served as president in 2019 and 2020. Bellue, who was elected in 2014 and is the oldest serving member of the board, has never served in board leadership. Soulé, who joined the board in spring 2024, is the newest board member. “Ms. Steward has done an outstanding job this past year,”

ä See LEADERS, page 2B

THROWN TOGETHER

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

David Chauvin, center, launches a disc as Zachary Torregroassa, Kolby Brock, not seen behind Chauvin, Anthony Torregroassa and Joseph Torregroassa, left to right, watch him from behind while playing disc golf at Highland Road Community Park on Saturday.

Longtime Baton Rouge bar Uncle Earl’s to close Owner says it’s ‘the end of an era’

BY TIMOTHY BOONE

Staff writer

Uncle Earl’s, a longtime Baton Rouge bar, is set to close next week. Jordan Piazza, who bought an interest in the bar in 2018, said in an Instagram post on Wednesday that Uncle Earl’s will close Jan. 15. He thanked the loyal patrons and friends who patronized the bar over the years. “For years, Uncle Earl’s has been a spot to raise a glass, celebrate epic wins, dance late into the night, host unforgettable parties, and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day like nowhere else,” Piazza wrote. “While this may not be the ﬁnal chapter, it is the end of an era.” The local bar landscape has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, so Piazza said when he had a chance to sublease the space

ä See CLOSE, page 2B

BRPD officer placed on administrative leave Citation issued in December for sexual battery BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

A Baton Rouge police officer who was issued a citation in December for a count of sexual battery and was placed on leave has a history of being investigated by his own department. Ofﬁcer Stefan Jones remains

While ringing in 2026, fine particle levels potentially left from exploding fireworks spiked in a number of locations around the state. STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

on administrative leave while criminal proceedings and an internal investigation by the Baton Rouge Police Department are underway. Jones was ﬁrst placed on leave Dec. 11 related to a sexual battery complaint, a spokesperson for the department confirmed. He was then issued a misdemeanor summons for sexual battery on Dec. 30 concerning the same incident. The BRPD’s investigation could result in Jones losing his badge regardless of the result of his

criminal case, a BRPD spokesperson said Tuesday. Louisiana statutes deﬁne misdemeanor sexual battery as the intentional touching of a victim’s breasts or buttocks. “When sexual assault is committed by a law enforcement officer or anyone in an authority figure, survivors face additional and very real barriers to safety, reporting and accountability,” said Morgan Lamandre, president and CEO of STAR, a Baton Rouge-based advocacy organization for victims of sexual

violence. “These power dynamics compound trauma and often discourage reporting, even when survivors want accountability. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that accountability and survivor trust are strengthened when agencies commit to transparency, resources and collaboration.” Jones has been disciplined by the department twice previously, once for brandishing a Taser and

ä See OFFICER, page 2B

Fireworks caused brief spike in air pollution Several warnings were issued over 24-hour period

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer

New Year’s ﬁreworks displays bring sound, color and joy to mark the transition from one year to the next, but the prac-

tice also can create significant, if temporary, air pollution. While people were ringing in 2026, fine particle levels potentially left from exploding fireworks spiked in spots across New Orleans and parts of Baton Rouge, state air monitoring data show. Nine air quality warnings for fine particulate pollution were

ä See FIREWORKS, page 2B

2B ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Bird spotted near Slidell sparks debate Great blue heron found dead Monday

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

Birders in southeast Louisiana had been in a ﬂurry in recent days over images circulating online that show what some believed to be a rare, melanistic great blue heron on the northshore. Wildlife photographers flocked to Davis Landing Road near Slidell to document the bird with unusual black feathers, which earned it the nickname “Goth Heron.” Meanwhile, birders debated online whether the bird was in fact a heron or an egret — and whether its feathers were naturally black or were covered in oil. But those questions soon took on a different tone after news of the bird’s death spread Monday. Greg Capranica, a landscaper and beekeeper in St. Tammany Parish, was passing through Slidell on Monday and made a detour to check out the bird, which he had seen in photos online. “I was hoping it was a melanistic, rare genetic mutation,” said Capranica. Capranica, an avid birder, called it a potentially “once-in-a-lifetime sighting.” A friend in Alaska had even heard about the bird, he said. But when he arrived to the bird’s location on Monday, he found it belly up in a ditch. “I was kind of heartbroken because I didn’t expect to find it dead,” Capranica said. He contacted someone with the Orleans Audubon Society, and another person who had shown up contacted a wildlife rehabilitator. Jonathan Roberts, a veterinarian with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, said in a statement late Wednesday that he received the bird’s body Monday night. He identified it as a great blue heron. Roberts said the bird was “severely emaciated” and “covered with an oily black/brown substance.” However, he said the bird was not a “typical oiled bird seen with crude oil spills,” and said that “from a distance, the bird likely looked black or melanistic.” The cause of death is unknown at this time, Roberts said, as is the substance that was on it. The bird’s body has been submitted to the Southeastern Coopera-

PHOTO PROVIDED By ERIC McVICKER

A bird spotted near Slidell prompted debate among birders about whether it was Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, or a Great Egret.

tive Wildlife Disease Study Laboratory for a necropsy, Roberts said, which will provide insight into the cause of death. Capranica said that when the wildlife rehabber lifted the bird out of the ditch on Monday, the substance on the bird smelled like creosote. The Orleans Audubon Society issued a news release Wednesday, saying the bird was a great egret with stained plumage, based on its behavior, bill shape and the colors that can be seen be seen between the staining. “It’s definitely not melanistic,” said Jennifer Coulson, president of the society, in an interview. She said the bird had a sheen on its feathers, which herons and egrets don’t normally have. That was a “dead giveaway” of staining, she said. Eric McVicker, a photographer who lives in Mandeville and took photos of the bird on Sunday, said at the time he didn’t think the bird was stained with anything and said the bird appeared to be behaving normally. But if the bird was in fact stained, McVicker said, “I think this opens up even a worse can of worms, which is, ‘How did this happen?’” Jessica Gauley, a board member of Pearl Riverkeeper, a nonproﬁt focused on improving the Pearl River, said it was “pretty devastating” to hear news of the bird’s death. When she saw the bird on Davis Landing in Slidell, she too had thought it was healthy. Gauley had been planning a trash cleanup of the area near Davis Landing Road for Saturday. The area is in the Pearl River’s watershed, Gauley said. After some consideration, she and her co-host have decided to go forward with the cleanup, despite the bird’s death.

NOPD: Missing Texas girl kidnapped, sex trafficked BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

A 16-year-old girl reported missing from Texas was kidnapped and sex trafﬁcked by a Mississippi man at a Chef Menteur Highway hotel, New Orleans police said. Rashad Johnson, 37, was booked into Orleans Justice Center on Jan. 1 on one count of trafficking of children for sexual purposes, two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles, one count of cruelty to juveniles, one count of seconddegree kidnapping and one count of contributing to delinquency of a juvenile. He remains held on a $245,000 bail, court and jail records show. New Orleans police received a report of human trafficking at about 2:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day and assigned to the case Detective Mario Bravo Junior, who is part of the NOPD’s child abuse unit and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations Human Exploitation group.

He interviewed the girl at a hotel in the 4900 block of Chef Menteur Highway, where she told him she was being trafficked and wanted to escape, according to an affidavit for arrest warrant signed by Magistrate Commissioner Joyce Sallah. She said Johnson forced her to walk along Chef Menteur Highway, charge men $100 to $200 for sex, and turn over all the money to him. She alleged that he beat her if she didn’t comply. The detective observed that a patch of hair was missing from her head, which she said Johnson had pulled out. She told him Johnson had urinated on her and forced her to perform oral sex on him twice. Johnson told NOPD that he thought the “beautiful” victim was a 19-year-old with a fake ID and denied any sexual contact with her, according to the affidavit. He said he’d wanted to “take care of her” after he saw her walking on Chef Menteur Highway, and moved her to the hotel room he’d rented on Dec. 26 to celebrate the new year.

Fatal shooting reported at Baton Rouge apartment A person was fatally shot Thurs- Columbus Dunn Drive left one person in critical condition day morning at a Baton Thursday afternoon, while Rouge apartment, officials the shooter escaped. said. CRIME Baton Rouge police conThe shooting happened BLOTTER about 8:30 a.m. at the Stafirmed that the victim was taken to a hospital in critidium View apartments on staff reports Alaska Street. cal condition following a The East Baton Rouge 2 p.m. shooting. Parish Coroner’s Office respondA spokesperson for the departed, an Emergency Medical Ser- ment said the shooting was domestic in nature, but information vices spokesperson said. on the shooter and victim was limited. The suspect fled the scene before police arrived, the spokesA shooting in the 1700 block of person said.

Shooting in BR leaves one in critical condition

LEADERS

Continued from page 1B Lanus said. “A second term is well deserved.” Steward presided over a year of relative calm under LaMont Cole, who had just been named district superintendent five months earlier. A veteran educator and longtime Metro Council member, Cole spent much of his early months developing and implementing a districtwide “realignment plan” that brought changes to 28 Baton Rouge schools, closing nine of them, and affecting more than 10,000 students and about 1,400 district employees. Soulé tried to have it both ways, supporting both in her comments, but ultimately voting for Bellue. “I couldn’t think of a better person to serve in that role for a second term,” Soulé said, before shifting to Bellue. “I would love to see Mark Bellue have a chance at that role.” Bellue, who is finishing his third term, is term-limited from running again. Steward is a project billing coordinator with IEM, a North Carolina-based company that focuses on emergency management and has an office in Baton Rouge. Steward is also owner of Redstick Rehabilitative & Correction Services, which offers supervision and monitoring for those in the local criminal court system as well professional counseling, treatment and rehabilitative services. Lewis spent years in schools as a parent liaison, but these days works with a business consulting firm that he runs with his wife, former Metro Council member Donna CollinsLewis.

Continued from page 1B on Perkins Road, “the timing felt right.” “I have a family and three small kids and coupled with the growth of our restaurant, The Colonel’s Club, it was time,” he said in an email. Piazza said a new establishment will open in the space. Uncle Earl’s opened in 2007. A bar under the same name operated in the city several decades earlier. Because of this fact, Piazza hinted that the establishment named after former Gov. Earl K. Long may not be dead. “Uncle Earl’s is legendary. We’ve seen an incredible response to the announcement, so who knows, there’s always a chance of a comeback,” he said.

OFFICER

Continued from page 2B threatening patrons outside a Tigerland bar in 2019 and again for falsifying military records to get time off work in 2022. According to BRPD internal affairs, in the Tigerland incident, Jones attempted to disperse a crowd with threats of beating or shooting them, all while aiming his Taser at those gathered. The investigation found Jones violated department policies by failing to control his temper, committing conduct unbecoming of an ofﬁcer and failing to properly carry out orders. In response, he was suspended for 15 days and signed a consent agreement that he would not appeal the ruling. In 2022, Jones was disciplined again for falsifying a U.S. Army Reserve order saying he had to report for a weekend of training in Alabama and would need to miss work. But when Jones’ supervisor called the Army to verify the letter, they found the training had never taken place. At the time, Jones reportedly told his police supervisors that he was “going through personal stuff” and admitted he felt pressured to offer the fake military orders as an excuse to take time off, according to a disciplinary report obtained by The Advocate at the time. Jones was suspended for four days following the report. In March, Jones struck a bicyclist with his cruiser near the intersection of Louise Street and Thomas H. Delpit Road while responding to a call in the early hours of the morning. The bicyclist, Dwayne Washington, suffered severe injuries, including brain damage and a broken pelvis, according to a family member. The BRPD ruled at the time that Jones was responding to a call and had a green light at the intersection when the crash happened. No disciplinary action was taken. Washington’s family say they intend to seek damages in a civil suit against the BRPD and Jones. Jones did not respond to requests for comment by The Advocate.

FIREWORKS

Continued from page 1B issued based on state monitor readings in Kenner, Chalmette, New Orleans City Park, French Settlement and Marrero in the hours shortly before and after the clock struck midnight. Based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s color-coded Air Quality Index, some warnings were rated “orange” and advised asthmatics to avoid exertion outside. Others were the more serious “red” variety that presented unhealthy air for some in the general public, warning children, asthmatics and people with heart and lung diseases to avoid outdoor exertion, according to the state alerts. Fireworks can release sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide; trace amounts of toxic metals like aluminum, manganese, and cadmium; and other fine particles, according to a 2007 study by Chinese state and university researchers. More generally, fine particulates are associated with a wide range of health effects to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, according to federal regulators and others. The American Lung Association advises people to avoid fireworks smoke because of these possible effects. The three warnings with the highest concentrations of particulate pollution, all rated “red,” were issued at 6 p.m. Dec. 31 in Kenner, at 1 a.m. Jan. 1 in Marrero, and at 2 a.m. in New Orleans City Park. Particulate levels were 2.5 to 3 times the federal standard for short-term exposure over a 24hour period, state warnings say. Asked about the string of public health warnings, a spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Quality said the high particulate levels in the days leading up to New Year’s and afterward are due to fireworks or annual burning in harvested sugar cane fields. The string of nine warnings went out between 5 p.m. Dec. 31 and 4 a.m. Jan. 1. The most warnings at any single time, three, were issued at 2 a.m. Jan. 1 for Chalmette, French Settlement and New Orleans City Park. The significant short-term air pollution from community fireworks displays is a well-documented effect in the United States, Europe, China and India from celebrations ranging from the Fourth of July and New Year’s to Diwali and Lantern Day, according to studies conducted over the past 15 years. In 2015, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration examined 315 air monitoring sites across the nation over more than a decade for Fourth of July evening and the morning after. The monitors across the nation picked up an average 24-hour increase in particulate pollution of 42% over the days before and after the Fourth. Using the same comparison and 24-hour averaging methods as the NOAA study, New Orleans City Park, for example, saw a more than 480% increase in average particulate concentrations for late New Year’s Eve and most of New Year’s Day compared with the average concentrations in days leading up to and following the big night of fireworks. Just as sugar cane waste and some other agricultural burning operate under state exemptions, the use of fireworks is largely unregulated in most states as an air pollution matter. Stuart Kaplow, a Maryland lawyer and adjunct law professor who writes his own green building law blog, says fireworks’ regulatory status is a rare case “where the balance tips sharply toward tradition, with minimal bureaucratic burden.” “In the U.S., our legal framework largely exempts them from lasting regulation under air and water laws, treating particulate surges as short-lived cultural trade-offs rather than ongoing public health threats,” he wrote in a post for July Fourth earlier this year. David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

Funerals Today Butler-Rankins, Gertrude

True Light Baptist Church at 11am.

Carlino Sr., Leo

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 445 Marquette Avenue, at 2 p.m.

Hayden, Patricia

Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, at 11 a.m.

Higgins, Bliss

The Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, 8470 Goodwood Boulevard, at 10 a.m.

Johnson, Kimberlyn

Richardson Chapel COGIC at 11am.

Landry, Donald

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Paincourtville at 11:30am.

Lard Jr., Lloyd

Northeast Louisiana Cemetery, 2412 US-425, Louisiana at 2pm.

Lopez, Randy

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church at 2 p.m.

Person, Micheal

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 15710 LA-16 in French Settlement, at 11 a.m.

Roppolo, Terri

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 12369 LA -416 in Lakeland, at noon.

Williams, Thomas

Rabenhorst Funeral Home & Crematory East, 11000 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA at 12pm.

Obituaries Bonfanti, Anthony Brent

Anthony Brent Bonfanti, born on December 14, 1948, passed away on Friday, January 2, 2026, at the age of 77, surrounded by his loving family. Anthony was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He graduated from Baton Rouge High School. After high school, he went on to marry the love of his life and become a member of the United States Army. Once his time in the military was completed, he went on to become an operator for Exxon Chemical. Anthony was a member of the Krewe of Tucumcari Ding-a -Ling Dancers. He always enjoyed LSU football, Mardi Gras, crawfish boils, his grandchildren, gardening, and his beloved dogs. Anthony is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Frances "Teede" Bonfanti; daughters, Cherie Hubbard and husband, Darby, and Crystal Boemia and husband, Shawn; son, Erick Bonfanti and wife, Ashley; grandchildren, Keegan Boemia, Karley Boemia, Chase Bonfanti, Macy Bonfanti and Parker Bonfanti; as well as many beloved family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Steve and Lovelle Bonfanti; and half-brothers, Joe Bonfanti, Dominic Bonfanti, and Steve Bonfanti. Visitation will take place at Resthaven Funeral Home on Sunday, January 11, 2026, from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM. Visitation will continue at Resthaven Funeral Home on Monday, January 12, 2026, beginning at 9:00 AM until services at 10:00 AM. The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Baton Rouge General ICU. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

Boudreaux, Frank

Frank Boudreaux, age 63, passed away on Friday, December 26, 2025 at Baton Rouge General Bluebonnet. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Greater New Galilee Baptist Church, 9185 Wilbur St Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. conducted by Rev. Mark Litt Sr. Entombment will follow at Heavenly Gates Mausoleum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Services are entrusted to Hall Davis and Son Funeral Services.

LOTTERY

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7, 2026 PICK 3: 3-2-1 PICK 4: 7-1-8-1 PICK 5: 9-5-4-3-4 EASY 5: 3-10-23-27-34 LOTTO: 2-6-23-25-28-37 POWERBALL: 15-28-57-58-63 (23) Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

Veterans Rayville,

See more DEATHS, page

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FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Wall Street drifts as defense companies rally

NEW YORK — Modest moves for Wall Street overall masked some big swings underneath the surface on Thursday On Wall Street, defense-industry companies rallied after Trump said he wants to increase U.S. military spending to $1.5 trillion in 2027 from $901 billion in order to build the “Dream Military.” L3Harris Technologies jumped 5.2%, Lockheed Martin climbed 4.3% and Northrop Grumman added 2.4%. They bounced back from losses the prior day, when Trump complained defense contractors were making military equipment too slowly. RTX inched up 0.8% after Trump said that it was the “slowest in increasing their volume.” Trump signed an executive order Wednesday calling on the Pentagon to ensure future contracts with contractors contain a provision prohibiting their ability to buy back their own stock during a period of underperformance on U.S. government contracts. Another winner on Wall Street was Constellation Brands, which climbed 5.3% after the beer and wine company reported a better proﬁt for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette shutting down in May PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s owners announced Wednesday the paper will be shutting down in a few months, citing ﬁnancial losses. Block Communications Inc. announced it will cease publication on May 3. The paper is printed on Thursdays and Sundays and says on its website the average paid circulation is 83,000. A couple dozen union members returned to work at the Post-Gazette in November after a threeyear strike. More than five years ago, the newspaper declared it had reached a bargaining impasse with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh and unilaterally imposed terms and conditions of employment on those workers. The paper was later found to have bargained in bad faith by making offers that were not intended to help reach a deal and by declaring an impasse prematurely. The announcement that Block was shutting it down came on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court declined the PG Publishing Co. Inc.’s emergency appeal to halt a National Labor Relations Board order that forced it to abide by health care coverage policies in an expired union contract. The paper traces its roots to 1786, when the Pittsburgh Gazette began as a four-page weekly, and became a leading advocate for the abolition of slavery in the 19th century. It went through a series of mastheads and owners before 1927, when Paul Block obtained the paper and named it the Post-Gazette.

Google, chatbot maker to settle suit over suicide TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Google and artificial intelligence chatbot maker Character Technologies have agreed to settle a lawsuit from a Florida mother who alleged a chatbot pushed her teenage son to kill himself. Attorneys for the two tech companies have also agreed to settle several other lawsuits filed in Colorado, New York and Texas from families who alleged Character.AI chatbots harmed their children, according to court documents filed this week in federal courts in those states. None of the documents disclose the specific terms of the settlement agreements, which must still be approved by judges. The suits against Character Technologies, the company behind Character.AI, also named Google as a defendant because of its ties to the startup after hiring its co-founders in 2024. In the Florida lawsuit, Megan Garcia alleged that her 14-yearold son Sewell Setzer III fell victim to a Character.AI chatbot that pulled him into what she described as an emotionally and sexually abusive relationship that led to his suicide in February 2024.

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wary Multiple AI devices top Experts of AI health ‘Worst in Show’ at CES gadgets at tech show

BY MATT O’BRIEN AP technology writer

BY JESSICA HILL

The promise of artiﬁcial intelligence was front and center at this year’s CES gadget show. But spicing up a simple machine like a refrigerator with unnecessary AI was also a sureﬁre way to win the “Worst in Show.” The annual contest that no tech company wants to win announced its decisions Thursday. Among those getting the notorious “anti-awards” for invasive, wasteful or fragile products were an eye-tracking AI “soulmate” companion for combating loneliness, a musical lollipop and new AI features for Amazon’s widely used doorbell cameras.

Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOHN LOCHER

A pair of Bosch 800 Series fully-automatic espresso machines are displayed Wednesday at the Bosch booth during the CES tech ‘Bespoke AI’ fridge show in Las Vegas. The German tech company received two ‘Worst Samsung’s “Bespoke AI Fam- in Show’ awards at the tech show.

ily Hub” refrigerator received the overall “Worst in Show” recognition from the group of consumer and privacy advocates who judged the contest. Samsung invites users to speak to the refrigerator and command it to open or close the door, but a demonstration at the sprawling Las Vegas technology expo showed it didn’t always detect what people were saying if there was too much ambient noise. That was just part of the complications and reliability concerns Samsung added to an appliance that’s supposed to have one important job: keeping food cold, said Gay GordonByrne of the Digital Right to Repair Coalition in a recorded video ceremony announcing the anti-awards. “Everything is an order of magnitude more difficult,” she said of the fridge that also tracks when food items are running low and can advertise replacements. Samsung said in response that “ Our Bespoke AI experiences are designed to simplify decisions around the home, making life more convenient and enjoyable.”

Who decides the worst? The judges have no afﬁliation with CES or the trade group that runs the show. They say they make the choices based on how uniquely bad a product is, what impact it could have if widely adopted and if it was signiﬁcantly worse than previous versions of similar technology. The judges represent groups including Consumer Reports, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and rightto-repair advocates iFixit. “We definitely intend some shame,” said iFixit’s director of sustainability, Elizabeth Chamberlain, in an interview. “ We’re pointing to trends that we see in the industry as a whole. And a lot of the things that we’re calling out, we picked an individual product, but we could have picked a whole category.”

supporting the misconception that more surveillance always makes us safer,” said Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Among the new Ring features is an “AI Unusual Event Alert” that is supposed to detect unexpected people or happenings like the arrival of a “pack of coyotes.” “That includes facial recognition,” Cohn said of the new Ring features. “It includes an app store that’s going to let people develop even sketchier apps for the doorbell than the ones that Amazon already provides.” Amazon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Deskbound AI ‘soulmate’ Winning the “People’s Choice” of worst products was an AI companion called Ami, made by Chinese company Lepro, which mostly sells lamps and lighting technology. Ami appears as a female avatar on a curved screen that is marketed as “your always-on 3D soulmate,” designed for remote workers looking for private and “empathetic” interactions during long days at the home ofﬁce. It tracks eye movements and other emotional signals, like tone of voice. The group says it is calling out Lepro “for having the audacity to suggest that an AI video surveillance device on a desk could be anyone’s soulmate.” Advocates acknowledged the device comes with a physical camera shutter but said they were unsettled by its “always-on” marketing. Lepro didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tech lollipop

Lollipop Star attracted attention early at CES as a candy that plays music while you eat it. Its creators say it uses bone induction technology to enable people to hear songs — like tracks from Ice Spice and Akon — through the lollipop as they bite it using their back Amazon’s doorbells teeth. But the sticks can’t be An array of new features for recharged or reused after the Amazon’s Ring doorbell cam- candy is gone, leaving consumera system won the “Worst in er advocate Nathan Proctor to Show” for privacy for “doubling give it a “Worst in Show” for down on privacy invasion and the environment.

“We need to stop making so many disposable electronics, which are full of toxic chemicals, require critical minerals to produce and can burn down waste facilities,” said Proctor, who directs the Public Interest Research Group’s right-torepair campaign. A spokesperson for Lollipop Star maker Lava Brand didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

AI treadmill “Worst in Show” for security went to Merach’s internet-connected treadmill that boasts of having the industry’s first AI coach powered by a large language model that can converse with the user but also proactively adjust the speed and incline based on heart rate changes. All that collection of biometric data and behavioral inferences raised concerns for security advocates, but so did the ﬁne print of a privacy policy that stated: “We cannot guarantee the security of your personal information.” China-based Merach didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bosch takes 2 awards German tech company Bosch received two “Worst in Show” awards, one for adding voice assistants and subscriptions to coffee-making with a “Personal AI Barista” machine and another for a purported anti-theft feature on an e-bike app. Cory Doctorow criticized Bosch’s “parts pairing” to digitally connect an e-bike with its parts, like motors and batteries, in a way that ﬂags a part if it appeared on a database of stolen products. Even if Bosch doesn’t seek to prosecute its own customers for routine repairs, it could always change its deal with them later, in line with Doctorow’s theory of the decay of online platforms as companies exploit the customers they earlier won over. Bosch said in a statement Thursday “that earning and keeping trust with our consumers, especially in the areas of privacy and cybersecurity, is at the core of our company’s values.”

LAS VEGAS — Health tech gadgets displayed at the annual CES trade show make a lot of promises. A smart scale promoted a healthier lifestyle by scanning your feet to track your heart health, and an egg-shaped hormone tracker uses AI to help you figure out the best time to conceive. Tech and health experts, however, question the accuracy of products like these and warn of data privacy issues — especially as the federal government eases up on regulation. The Food and Drug Administration announced during the show in Las Vegas that it will relax regulations on “low-risk” general wellness products such as heart monitors and wheelchairs. It’s the latest step President Donald Trump’s administration has taken to remove barriers for AI innovation and use. The White House repealed former President Joe Biden’s executive order establishing guardrails around AI, and last month, the Department of Health and Human Services outlined its strategy to expand its use of AI. Booths at the conference showcased new tech designed to help people living in rural areas with their health care needs amid doctor shortages, boost research into women’s health and make life easier for people with disabilities. AI technologies have benefits in the over $4.3 trillion health care industry, according to Marschall Runge, professor of medical science at the University of Michigan. They’re good at analyzing medical imaging and can help streamline doctors’ busy schedules, Runge said, but they can also promote biases and “hallucinate,” providing incorrect information stated as fact. “I would urge people not to think that the technology is the same as a well-resourced, thoughtful, researchdriven medical professional,” said Cindy Cohn, executive director of the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation. Privacy protections like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act do not cover information collected by consumer devices, and the companies could be using the data to train their AI models, or selling it to other businesses, Cohn said. With a lot of the gadgets at CES, it’s difficult to find out where your information is going, Cohn said. “You have to dig down through the fine print to try to figure that out, and I just don’t think that’s fair or right for the people who might rely on it,” she said. But the creators of the products say their innovations fill in health care gaps, and they maintain they protect their cuvstomers’ privacy. Sylvia Kang, founder and CEO of Mira, said she created the egg-shaped hormone tracker because many of her friends were trying to conceive and realized they had no knowledge of their hormonal health. To use the “world’s mini hormone lab,” you dip a wand in urine, insert the wand into the monitor and look at the results on the app. Kang said her company uses AI to analyze female hormone data and has one of the world’s biggest hormonal health banks. The data is stored on the cloud and is not shared with anyone, Kang said. “There was no such thing before,” Kang said of her $250 product.

Google adding new AI features to Gmail BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP technology writer

More artiﬁcial intelligence is being implanted into Gmail as Google tries to turn the world’s most popular email service into a personal assistant that can improve writing, summarize far-ﬂung information buried in inboxes and deliver daily to-do lists. The new AI features announced Thursday could herald a pivotal moment for Gmail, a service that transformed email when it was introduced nearly 22 years ago. Since then, Gmail has amassed more than 3 billion users to become nearly as ubiquitous as Google’s search engine. Gmail’s new AI options will only be available in English within the

United States for starters, but the company is promising to expand the technology to other countries and other languages as the year unfolds. The most broadly available tool will be a “Help Me Write” option designed to learn a user’s writing style so it can personalize emails and make real-time suggestions on how to burnish the message. Google is also offering subscribers who pay for its Pro and Ultra services access to technology that mirrors the AI Overviews that’s been built into its search engine since 2023. The expansion will enable subscribers pose conversational questions in Gmail’s search bar to get instant answers about information they are trying to retrieve from their inboxes.

In what could turn into another revolutionary step, “AI Inbox” is also being rolled out to a subset of “trusted testers” in the U.S. When it’s turned on, the function will sift through inboxes and suggest to-do lists and topics that users might want to explore. All of the new technology is tied to the Google’s latest AI model, Gemini 3, which was unleashed into its search engine late last year. The upgrade, designed to turn Google search into a “thought partner” has been so well received that it prompted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose company makes the popular ChatGPT chatbot, to issue a “code red” following its release. But thrusting more AI into Gmail poses potential risks for Google, especially if the technology malfunc-

DREAMSTIME/TNS FILE PHOTO

More artificial intelligence is being implanted into Gmail as Google tries to turn the world’s most popular email service into a personal assistant.

tions and presents misleading information or crafts emails that get users into trouble — even though people are able to proofread the messages or turn off the features at any time.

4B ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate J.C. Collins, Jimmy Collins, DEATHS continued from lll

Bouvay Jr., Velton

Sr, and James Collins, two sisters; Hannah C. Hynson and Mary C. Martin.

Dillon, Robert Duell 'Bobby'

A resident & native of Baton Rouge & Plaquemine, La, passsed away December 23, 2025 at the age of 47. Visitation services Friday January 9, 2026 at Plymouth Rock BC 58830 Iron Farm Rd, Plaquemine, La 70764 from 5pm to 7pm. Religious services Saturday January 10, 2026 11am at the church. Conducted by Pastor Donald Richardson Jr. Interment Golden Ridge Cemetery. Professional services entrusted by Wesley Funeral Home of Plaquemine, La.

Browning, Jeanne Clair Horsfall 'Maeme'

Jeanne "Maeme" Clair Horsfall Browning, 79, of Zachary, Louisiana, passed away January 5, 2026. Born July 22, 1946, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Jeanne devoted her life to faith, service, and family. She served as a hospital chaplain and was active in Clinical Pastoral Education, Kairos Prison Ministry, and community outreach. Jeanne also worked as Activities Director at St. James Place Retirement Community and served on the board of the Louisiana United Methodist Children's Home. She was honored as the American Business Women's Association Cypress Chapter Woman of the Year. Above all, Jeanne cherished her role as a mother and was known for her warm hospitality, love of entertaining, sewing, reading, and travel. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Cissy Browning; her parents, Ernest and Eugenia Horsfall; and her in-laws, Ardella and Phil Browning. She is survived by her husband, Steven Willmott Browning Sr.; her children, Angelique Browning, Beth Ferguson (Steve), and Steven Browning Jr. (S'lena); siblings; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held January 12, 2026, from 9-11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at Rabenhorst Funeral Home & Crematory East, Baton Rouge. Burial will follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Louisiana United Methodist Children's Home.

Collins, Jerry

A resident of Maringouin, LA passed away January 3, 2026 at the age of 85. Funeral services Saturday January 10, 2026 at New Mt Olive Baptist Church 76625 Garner Ln Grosse Tete, La at 1pm. Conducted by Pastor Herman Williams officiating. Survived by six sons; Carl (Karen) Gailes, Eddie Carter, Terry (Maria) Collins, Sr, Anthony Collins, Damon Collins, and Michael Collins, a very special niece; Rosalind Grevious, thirteen grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends, including his "Lil Doody" A'Milyan Richard who he considered a grandson and loved dearly. Preceded in death by his parents; Matilda and Benjamin Collins, Sr, two sons; Jerry Collins, Jr, and Dennis Collins, four brothers; Benjamin Collins, Jr,

Robert Duell Dillon (Bobby) passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 2, 2026, after a long struggle with cancer and several other health issues. He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Doerge Dillon, his two sons, Hoby and Ben Dillon, his 3 grandchildren, Calum, Ava, and Layla. He is also survived by his nieces and nephew Marty Porche, Debby Porche, Tammy Hernandez (Gus), and Charla Jarreau (Jodi). He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Gladys McDuffie Dillon and Vernon Dillon, sisters Pat Porche and Kay Davis, mother and father-in-law Martha Jane Craig Doerge and Erwin William Doerge, and two nephews, Ricky and David Earl Merritt. His ashes will be returned to his birthplace, Turnertown, Texas, with his wishes honored that there be no formal memorial or funeral. He was an avid reader and die -hard fan of Texas Longhorn football and the Dallas Cowboys. He loved his family dearly, always being a moral compass and protector of his sons and grandchildren. His love, loyalty, and sense of humor will be greatly missed. Share sympathies at www.CharletFuneralHo me.com.

Dudley, Greg

Gregory Leo Dudley entered into eternal rest at Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Bluebonnet on January 2, 2026. He was a 69-year old native of Shreveport, Louisiana; a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a retiree of Ciba Geigy Pharmaceutical and Chemicals/Syngenta Corporation; a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, he served in the Deacon, Male Chorus, Sunday School, Drama and Brotherhood Ministries. A viewing will be held at Shiloh on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 9:00 am; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Ceremony at 10:00 am; Celebration of Life Service at noon conducted Rev. Fred Smith; interment at Resthaven Garden of Memory. Survivors include his children, Christopher and Alexandra Dudley, Baton Rouge; mother, Hazel C. Dudley, Shreveport; siblings, Tyron Dudley(Deidra), Kenner, Louisiana; Zazell and Zaneta Dudley, Shreveport; a niece; six nephews; other relatives and friends; preceded in death by his wife, Mary Dudley; and her father, Silas Dudley. Arrangements entrusted to Miller & Daughter Mortuary

Hives, Joshua

Joshua Darnell Hives was born on November 29, 2002 and was called to his heavenly home on Monday December 29, 2025. He leaves to cherish his memory: his father, Henry D. Hives; a devoted friend, Jamesha Victorian; brothers; Bradley Hives, Tyson Hives, and sister, Kierra Davis; maternal grandmother, Mary L. Green; aunts; Brenda Provost,

Loretta (Charles) Patton, Sheila Hives and ShaRhonda Green; uncles; Lester Hives, and Brandon Green; and numerous relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Tanitia Green; paternal grandmother, Isabella M. Hives; and brother, Landon Davis. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Hall's Celebration Center, 9348 Scenic Highway, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from 12:00 p.m. until the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Entombment will follow at Heavenly Gates Mausoleum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Services are entrusted to Hall Davis and Son Funeral Services.

Hope, Harry

Harry Hope, age 91 of Longview, Texas passed away on May 31, 2025. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and later graduated from Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge. After attending LSU, Harry joined the USMC. He earned his wings at the Navy Flight school in Pensacola Florida. He then flew fighter aircraft in the Marines. He was a pilot for a commercial airline and retired in 1993. Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Hester Hope, Ethyl Veeder Hope, and his sister Gail Hope. Harry is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jacqueline LeBlanc Hope. Their children and spouses Bonnie Hope Smith (Dennis), Randy Charles Hope (Jenny), Sally Hope Hardin (John), and Samuel Hardin Hope (Karla). Grandchildren and Spouses, Charlie Hope (Ally), Michelle Hardin Lamb (Christian), Zachary Hope (Jordan),Nicholas Hope (Daphnee), Madeline Smith Gagne (Kirby), Johnny Hardin, (Ashley), Alexis Hope Wallace (Trevor), Meredith Hope Valle (Juan), Monica Smith Harrell (Britt), and Kylie Hope and Great Grandchildren, Julie Harrell, Charlotte and Samatha Hope, Harry, Isabelle and Alice Hope, Henry and Jack Lamb, Addie and Macie Hope. On October 1st, 2025, a memorial and burial service with honors took place at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Keithville, Louisiana. Donations can be made to the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery Foundation 7970 Mike Clark Road, Keithville LA 71047

He retired as Manager of Research & Development for Albemarle. In 1961, Bill married Harriett Clinton Howie. Bill and Harriett raised three children and enjoyed traveling, dining out, and spending time with their family during their 66 years of marriage. They particularly enjoyed time with their grandchildren and hiking, sightseeing, and spending time in Colorado following Bill's retirement. Bill had a wide variety of interests, including sports, history, politics, and science. He loved baseball and enjoyed coaching his sons' American Legion baseball teams. A man of deep faith, he also cherished his special time at Manresa Retreat House for over 35 years. Bill is survived by his wife Harriett; daughter, Dr. Laura Howie Keller and her husband Charles of Tucson, AZ; son, Clinton Howie and his wife Megan of Dallas, TX; sister, Marian Hitch; grandchildren, Michelle Howie Regan and her husband Will, Rachel Howie, Kendall Howie Villarrubia and her husband Jake, Carter Howie and his wife Megan, Dylan Howie, Quinn Howie, and Elizabeth Gordon; and great-grandson, Henry Regan. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, George Howie; and son, Mark Howie. Visitation will take place at St. George Catholic Church on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. until the Memorial Mass at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Manresa House of Retreats, 5858 LA 44, Convent, LA 70723 or the Alzheimer's Association in Bill's name. The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Hospice of Baton Rouge, particularly chaplain Jay Buzbee and nurses Katrina and Mona, and the staff of the memory care unit at Glenncrest on Siegen. A special thanks to Bill's favorite caregiver Patsy. Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbaton rouge.com

Jackson, Sisley Gayden

Sisley Gayden Jackson entered eternal rest at Baton Rouge General Butterfly Wing on January 1, 2026. She was 100 years and 9 months old, a native of Gurley, LA and a resident of Clinton, LA. Viewing at Asbury United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 10 am until religious service at 11 am. Services conducted by Rev. Gregory McClay. Interment at Asbury Community Cemetery. Funeral Service entrusted to Richardson Funeral Home, Clinton, LA.

Johnson, Kimberlyn Renea

Lefleur, Patricia 'Pat' Hirschmann

Kent, Leroy Patricia Hirschmann Lafleur

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Patricia Lafleur, passed away at her daughter's home at Laplace on Dec. 25, 2025, at the age of 93. Leroy Kent passed away peacefully on January 6,2026, at the age of 90. He was a retired pipe fitter and dairy farmer, and lifelong resident of Greensburg, LA. Visitation will be held at McKneely Funeral Home, in Kentwood on Monday, January 12, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. until. Religious Services at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at 1:00 p.m., in the Kent Family Cemetery. Leroy is survived by his Wife, Palmyra "Molly" Kent, his children, Geraldine Thompson, spouse Alvin (Pee Wee), Michael L. Kent, spouse, Penny, John Kent, spouse, Marcia, Cheryl Templet, spouse Lucien, and Sheila, spouse Kenny; Grandchildren, Jason Thompson, Kevin Thompson, Alvin Thompson,III, Kyle Kent, Jessica Haygood, Cole Kent, Lauren Robertson, Chelsey Miller, Bobbie Jo Davis, Kayla Shaw, Wendy, Kenny and David; Great Grandchildren, Reed and Remilyn Thompson, Kaegan and Kinlea Thompson, Tucker and Austin Thompson, Preston Kent and Gerren Spring, Walter Haygood, Aria, MacKenzie and Alexandra Robertson, Parker Miller, Darren Quave and Charlotte Davis, Katherine and Matt Shaw, JR, (Sheila's grands). Brother, AJ Kent, and sister Mae Dearman. Preceded in Death by a child, Lynn Kent; father, Leroy Harelson Kent; mother, Edweni Kinchen Guillot; brother, James Kent and wife Pat, sister, Janice Marie LeJeune and husband John; sister in law Lillie Kent, and grandchild Kelsey Kent. Pallbearers will be Kevin Thompson, Alvin Thompson, III, Reed Thompson, Cole Kent, Preston Kent, Josh Robertson, Matt Shaw, Honorary Jason Thompson and Kyle Kent. Leroy looked forward to helping people and having family get togethers. He was a long time Dairy Farmer, Beef Cattleman, a loving Husband, and Father, a man who you listened to when he spoke, but most importantly, he loved reading the Bible. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.co m. A burial with Military Honors for Francis Paul Kinchen, formerly of Gardiner, ME and Iberville, LA, will be held on January 19 at 9:00 AM at Louisiana National Cemetery 303 W. Mt. Pleasant Rd. Zachary, LA 70791

Kimberlyn Renea Johnson was born on Tuesday, September 7, 1976, to the Late Jhonnie Franklin and Gwendolyn H. Banks. Raised by her Late stepfather Ellis E. Banks Sr. In her leisure time, Kimberlyn en-

Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home & Crematory East, located at 11000 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70815, on January 10, 2026, from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. The funeral service will follow at the same location, starting at 11:00 am. Burial to follow at Roselawn Cemetery Full obituary can be viewed www.dignitymemorial.com

Little, Clyde

Clyde Little, a patient, simple, man of faith and a hard-working man, passed away on December 30, 2025, at the age of 87. Born on February 11, 1938, Clyde was a resident of Port Allen, Louisiana. Clyde was married for 67 years to his beloved wife, Shirley Little. He is survived by his children, Jerome Little and Jennifer Little Ardis, as well as his siblings, Bill Little and Joan Porche. He leaves behind a legacy through his 5 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Clyde was also a dear friend to Michelle Rivet. He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnney and Harriet Little, and daughter, Donna Blanche Sonnier. The pallbearers will be Justin Ardis, Gerald Porche, Robert Decuir, Carlos Decuir, Eddie Robertson and Paul Chustz. Relatives and friends are invited to St. Joseph Cathedral, 412 North Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 on Monday January 12, 2026, for a visitation beginning at 8:30AM until a Rosary beginning at 10:40AM with a Mass beginning at 11:00AM conducted by Father Jason Palermo. A burial is to follow at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Cemetery. The family extends special thanks to West Towne Assisted Living and Bridgeway Healthcare and Hospice for their care and support. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to West Towne Assisted Living, Bridgeway Healthcare and Hospice or St. Vincent De Paul.

Michael, George Joseph

George Joseph Michael, 76, a resident of Jackson, LA, died on December 30, 2025. There will be a funer-

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September 3, 1932- December 25, 2025

Kinchen, Francis Paul

Howie, Milham S. 'Bill'

Dr. Milham S. "Bill" Howie, age 92, a resident of Baton Rouge, passed away on Saturday, January 2, 2026. Bill was born on August 23, 1933, in New York City to Salem M. "Sam" Howie and Ruth Lincer Howie. He was raised in Jackson, MS, where he graduated valedictorian from St. Joseph's High School in 1951. Following high school, Bill attended Loras College in Dubuque, IA, graduating with a degree in chemistry in 1955. He was a four-year letterman and captain of the Loras College baseball team. In 2008, he was inducted into the Loras College Athletic Hall of Fame. Bill received a PhD in chemistry from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN in 1959, where he studied and conducted research under his friend and mentor, Nobel Prize-winning chemist Dr. Herbert C. Brown. After receiving his PhD, Bill moved to Baton Rouge, where he began a more than 35-year career as a research chemist with Ethyl Corporation (later Albemarle Corporation). He was credited with a number of patents and traveled extensively to Europe and East Asia as part of his work, including a two-year stay in Brussels, Belgium.

joyed cooking, shopping, traveling, spoiling her grandchildren, and helping and spending quality time with her loving family. Her memories will be forever cherishing by her loving Husband, Children, Grandchildren and host of many relatives and friends. Services Will Be Held Friday January 9, 2026, at Richardson Chapel COGIC.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ 5B

lll

al service on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at the Ethel Baptist Church in Ethel, LA at 10am, conducted by Rev. Anthony Clint Stewart. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Tamara Michael; two sons, John Michael and wife Carrie of Paducah, KY; Jake Gunter and wife Melissa of Hendersonville, TN; one adopted daughter, Latisha Dawn Gregoire, and husband Todd, one sister, Mary Pettijohn of Conway, AR; two brothers, John Michael of Columbia, IL; Terry Michael and wife Rose Michael of Waterloo, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Michael and Annie May Selvidge. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Boling, Leon Causey, and Ed Jelks. He was a veteran of the US Air Force and served in Vietnam. He graduated the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science Civil Engineering. Share sympathies at www.CharletFuneralHome. com.

Peltier, Mary Lou

Mary Lou Peltier passed away peacefully on January 4, 2026. She was born in Greenwood, LA. She is preceded in death by her parents, Roger E. Hammett and Lillian Flournoy Hammett; husband, John S. Peltier Sr; son, David Peltier; and brother, Enoch. She is survived by her sons, John (Nicole), Mark (Pam), and Michael (Jackie); daughter-in law, Mien; 3 grandchildren; and 6 six great- grandchildren. She was an adventurous spirit, never had an unkind word, and never worried about the small stuff. She ran the Livingston Secretarial School for many years, retiring at age 70, then journeyed off to China to teach English for 2 years. She was a member of Broadmoor United Methodist Church, where she also taught English as a second language. Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation which will be held at Rabenhorst East Funeral Home Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 9:30am-10:30am with a service beginning at 10:30am. Burial will follow at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, St. Gabriel, LA, at 12PM.

Post, Bryan Simmons

Bryan Simmons Post was born in Baton Rouge on May 22, 1941 and passed away on January 5, 2026 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. A devoted wife, mother, and teacher, Bryan left a mark on generations of her students. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond G. "Skipper" Post Jr., her father, Dr. William McHugh "Mac" Simmons, her mother, Phoebe Bryan Simmons, her sister, Laurie Simmons Plaisance, and her brother, William "Bill" McHugh Simmons, Jr. She is survived by her son, Raymond G. Post III (Jenny), her daughter, Wendy Martin (Patrick), and her cherished grandchildren, Raymond O. Post (Gaby), Mia Martin, Jordan Post, and Andrew Post, as well as her sister, Suzanne Homan. Her sister-in-law, Antoinette "Toni" Post, also mourns her passing. Bryan was widely known as the wife of architect and AIA President Skipper Post, and served him well in support of his ambitions. She married the "tall Catholic boy," whom she first asked out in 8th grade. She was as devoted to him as he was to her, and they shared a long and happy life together. Bryan's own professional calling was teaching. In 1963, immediately after graduating from LSU and

just four years after graduating from Baton Rouge High School herself, Bryan began teaching physical education at BRHS. A year later, she moved to Broadmoor High and began teaching math before taking a few years off to raise Ray and Wendy. When they started school, she returned to her alma mater, where she taught advanced math to Baton Rouge's brightest students for 25 years. In 1982, she was inducted into the BRHS Hall of Fame. After taking a short break upon retiring from BRHS, she returned to teaching in 2003, spending several years at Episcopal High and Bishop Sullivan before retiring for good after 37 years of teaching. She often said, "I love teaching, I really do. It never crossed my mind to do anything else." In addition to her teaching career, Bryan was an active civic leader, serving with distinction in the Junior League and many other charitable organizations. Bryan was known throughout Baton Rouge as a superb hostess, regularly entertaining their friends at the home that she and Skipper designed and built, and where they raised their children. Bryan was also an avid outdoors enthusiast, whether boating, skiing, or hiking in the mountains. More than anything, she loved being a grandmother to Raymond, Jordan, Andrew, and Mia. Visitation Monday, January 12 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street, and Tuesday, January 13 from 9:00am to 10:00am at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, with a funeral mass immediately following. Burial will follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Baton Rouge or Baton Rouge High School Foundation.

77, passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2026. She was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and a resident of Port Allen, Louisiana. She is survived by her daughter Dawn Parks, sons Mark and Cleveland Schofield, sister Marion Queen, brother Greg Penell, and grandchildren Megan, Quinton, Joshua, and Courtney Schofield. She was preceded in death by her parents Edmond Penell and Edora Lemor, and her sister Mary Lee Penell-Brumfield. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Hall's of Port Allen, 1160 Louisiana Ave, Port Allen, Louisiana, from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Israelite Baptist Church Cemetery in Brusly, Louisiana. Services are entrusted to Hall Davis and Son Funeral Services.

Scott, Patricia Ann Oliver 'Pat'

A resident of Maringouin LA passed away December 30, 2025 at the age of 73. Visitation will be held on Friday January 9, 2026, 4pm to 7pm at A. Wesley Funeral Home, 10810 Ventress Drive, Maringouin, LA 70757. Visitation resumes on Saturday, June 10, 2026, 9am until Religious Service at 11am, Mount Gideon Baptist Church, 77700 West Oak Lane, Maringouin, LA 70757. Interment in church cemetery. Rev. Donald Ray Patterson, officiating.

and financial advisor at Edward Jones, Marlon touched many lives. His employment with GM collectively was almost 20 years. Marlon's work ethic and tenacity garnered eight corporate relocations. Among those who will cherish his life are his devoted wife of 22 years, Kimberly Horton Smith; son, Marlon "Deuce" Jamal Smith, II; mother, Pat Green Smith; father, Ronald L. Smith; stepmother, Ava Smith; brother, Ron L. Smith, II (Angela); bonus sister, Iris Hayes (Alvin); father-in-law, Ronald L. Horton; sister-in law, April Horton Davison (Gregory); niece, Alexis Smith; bonus nieces, J'licia Vo and Tremiah Perry; nephew, Calum Wallace; bonus nephews, Donald Perry, Jr. (Kiona), Jordan Perry, Jonathan Perry, and Deven Hampton; uncles, Reginald Smith, Sr. and Korey Smith (Nicole); aunt, Dorothy Parker; Goddaughters, Hannah Johnson and Kristen Cunningham; Godmother, Alma "Annette" Simpson; Godfather, Michael Atkins; best friend, Lionel Bradford; and a host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and friends. Marlon was preceded in death by his grandfather, Melvin Smith; his grandmothers, Martha Selser, Naomi Smith, and Ada Smith; and his mother-inlaw, Rita Ruffin Horton. Visitation will be held Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Wesley United Methodist Church, 544 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA. Omega service will follow from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Memorial service will begin at 11:00 AM. A celebration of life event will be held in Detroit on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM at Sacred Heart Church Activities Building, 1000 Eliot Street.

Roppolo, Terri

Smith, Marlon Jamal

Visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lakeland on Friday, January 9 from 9AM until the Mass of Christian Burial in the church at 12PM, 12369 LA 416 Lakeland, LA. Terri Lynn Landry Roppolo, 64, of Lakeland, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, January 5, 2026. Terri was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend/amiga. She began her working career at Guaranty Bank in New Roads and then established and ran Lakeland Hardware with her husband for 40 years. Terri was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary Council #8878 and the ACTS retreat community. Terri is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Anthony "AJ" Roppolo; her three children, Justin and wife Christine, Jaci Ponthieux and husband Jake, and Jordyn Major and husband Ben;

Schofield, Geraldine

Geraldine Schofield, age

son; children, Jasmine and Nevaeh Williams and Calvin Joseph; siblings, Kevin Jackson (Rebecca) and Kizzy Jackson; and Broderick Ealy; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. Arrangements entrusted to Miller & Daughter Mortuary

Wicker, Elmira

Zalfen, David John

Dr. Elmira B. Wicker entered into eternal rest at her residence in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on December 29, 2025. She was a 93-year old native of Greensburg, Louisiana. Viewing at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 10:00 am until Celebration of Life Service at noon conducted by Rev. D. Edward Chaney; interment at Louisiana National Cemetery on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 1:00 pm. Survivors include her sons, Michael B. Wicker(Annie H.), Houston, Texas; and Kyle F. Wicker, Sr.(Latrice S.)Wicker, Atlanta, Georgia; sister, Carrie B. Hampton(Lee, Sr.); grandchildren, Christian, Kyle, Jr. and Kyron Wicker; three great-grandchildren; preceded in death by her husband, Fred Wicker, Jr.; parents, Carretha and Godfrey Butler; and five siblings. Arrangements entrusted to Miller & Daughter Mortuary.

Williams, Calvin

Calvin Charles Williams, "Blue" or "Bowie". A native and resident of Baker, Louisiana, he entered into eternal rest on January 2, 2026 at the age of 57. Viewing at New Light Missionary Baptist Church, Blount Rd. on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 9:00 am until Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 am conducted by his pastor, Rev. James Grayson; interment at Azalea Rest Cemetery. Survivors include his fathers, Rogers Williams (Sedonia) and Charley Jack-

David was a former resident of Baton Rouge and Denham Springs, Louisiana, as well as Lumberton, Texas. He was employed at Dogwood Energy in Pleasant Hill, Missouri and proudly served in the United States Navy. In his free time, he enjoyed cooking, golfing, and woodworking. David leaves behind many loved ones who will always cherish his memory. He was the beloved husband of Holly Hoefle Smith Zalfen, by second marriage, and the late Pamela Otillio Zalfen, by first marriage. He was a loving father to Tracey Kinchen and husband Casey of Houston, Texas; Michelle Jones and husband Josh of Denham Springs, Louisiana; and Jonathan Zalfen and wife Laura of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was also a stepfather to Josh Hoefle Smith of Lee's Summit, Missouri. David is survived by his mother Mary Zalfen of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; his brothers Ronald Zalfen and wife Robyhn of Brusly, Louisiana, and Warren Zalfen Jr. and wife Rozanne of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and his seven grandchildren: Matthew, Brandon, Mason, Ethan, Logan, Olivia, and Aubrey. He is preceded in death by his father, Warren Zalfen Sr. and stepson Noah Smith. A memorial service will be held St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Baton Rouge on January 15 at 11am.

WEIGHT SCOOTER Marlon Jamal Smith departed his earthly life on Friday, December 12, 2025, in Troy, Michigan. He was 51 years old. Marlon attended Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, LA. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Southern University and A&M College in 1997. He was immediately hired by General Motors in Indianapolis, Indiana. During his off-hours, he attained an M.B.A. in Executive Management from the University of Indianapolis. In 2003, Marlon followed his father's legacy by becoming a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. He was also a member of 100 Black Men of America, Greater Mt. Carmel Baptist Church (Baton Rouge), Community Church (formerly Faith Bible Church-Slidell, LA), and Oak Grove A.M.E. Church (Detroit, MI). Marlon married his high school sweetheart, Kimberly Horton. To this union, Marlon "Deuce" Jamal Smith, II, was born. As a department manager at The J.M. Smucker Company

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OPINION

6B ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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

Keeping the coast working is key to state’s health Across southeast Louisiana, tion and production through a families, small businesses and revenue-sharing model. industries depend on a strong, Importantly, Louisiana dediworking coast that supports cates those dollars to coastal our economy and national serestoration and hurricane procurity. tection efforts. Last month, the Keith Mitch Louis As elected leaders of coastal first offshore lease sale in the Hinkley Orgeron Pommes Gulf under President Donald parishes and members of ParGUEST GUEST GUEST Trump’s Working Families Tax ishes Advocating for Coastal COLUMNIST COLUMNIST COLUMNIST Cut Act was held. It showed Endurance (PACE), we see clear confidence and eagerfirsthand the serious threats facing our shoreline and the ness from energy companies responsibility we share to restore livelihoods. to continue investing in the Gulf. and protect it for today’s commuFrom elevating and maintaining This lease sale generated nearly our levee systems to restoring $300 million in high bids from 30 nities and generations to come. our marsh and barrier islands, we different companies. We’d like to take a moment to have massive challenges in LouiThis is welcome news because highlight the work of our congressman, Steve Scalise, who siana, but one of our biggest chal- in our state, energy exploration and production and our coastal understands those challenges and lenges is finding the funds to pay restoration efforts go hand in continues to deliver for Louisiana for our coastal restoration and hand. families, our communities and hurricane protection projects. Offshore energy activity not our local economies. Some of the dollars that pay for His work to secure vital federal these projects come from a feder- only drives good-paying jobs for dollars for our coastal restoration al law allowing energy-producing communities but also provides and hurricane protection efforts states in the Gulf region to benefit critical funding from these lease sales directly to our state and will undoubtedly save lives and from offshore energy explora-

parishes for coastal restoration projects. Louisiana is well known as an energy state, punching above its weight in delivering energy to Louisiana families, our nation and our allies abroad. In fact, Louisiana produces nearly 20% of our nation’s domestically produced oil and natural gas right off our coast. Additionally, our state accounts for about 20% of our nation’s oil reﬁning capacity. Earlier this year, Scalise was instrumental in getting the Working Families Tax Cut signed into law with Trump. This law required 30 lease sales in the Gulf of America in the next 15 years to deliver predictability and attract more investment. Additionally, the revenue sharing model our parishes and state rely on to fund our coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects

is set to receive hundreds of millions of new dollars from these lease sales. We represent just some of the parishes that are directly impacted by both the state’s energy sector and the urgent need for funds for coastal restoration projects. Louisiana is fortunate to have champions ﬁghting for coastal restoration, and as leaders in the PACE coalition of local ofﬁcials dedicated to this cause, we will continue to work alongside our state and federal partners to continue pursuing ways to increase revenues for our coastal restoration and hurricane protection efforts in south Louisiana. Keith Hinkley is the president of Plaquemines Parish. Mitch Orgeron is the president of Lafourche Parish. Louis Pommes is the president of St. Bernard Parish.

Fixing processed food problem requires more than slogans America is facing a serious that disrupt normal fullness and metabolic health crisis. More metabolic signals. than 40% of adults are obese. So what should Americans acOver 38 million Americans have tually do? The answer is not comtype 2 diabetes, and anplicated, even if our food environment makes it other 98 million are predifficult. Eat real food — diabetic. vegetables, fruits, whole Cardiovascular disease grains, lean proteins and remains our leading killer. beans. Cook more meals These are not just statisJohn P. at home. Move your body tics to me — they are the reason I have devoted Kirwan every day. Even moderate exmy career to metabolic GUEST research and the reason COLUMNIST ercise produces major Pennington Biomedical metabolic benefits. Limit Research Center exists. sugary drinks, which The Make America Healthy may be the single most damagAgain movement has brought ing category of ultra-processed ultra-processed foods into the products. And ignore the noise: political spotlight. A major series You do not need expensive of papers just published in The supplements, detox programs or Lancet reviewed more than 100 elimination diets. You need the studies linking these foods to basics, done consistently. obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardioAt Pennington Biomedical, vascular disease and early death. we study how food and exercise affect how our cells make enAs someone who has spent three decades studying metabol- ergy, how the body responds to insulin, the bacteria in our gut ic disease, I welcome this attenand inflammation. We know that tion. But I also believe we need exercise can restore metabolic clear thinking based on science function even when someone rather than slogans. has obesity. My own research The science is strong: Ranhas shown that simply replacing domized controlled trials have shown that people who eat ultra- refined grains with whole grains produces meaningful improveprocessed diets consume 500 to 1,000 more calories per day than ments in cardiovascular risk those who eat whole foods. This factors. The human body has a happens even when both diets remarkable ability to heal when have the same amounts of progiven the right inputs. Metabolic health can be recovered. tein, fat and carbohydrates. I am encouraged by the biparAs Marion Nestle notes in her new book “What to Eat Now,” tisan interest in nutrition policy. even supposedly healthier ultra- Removing petroleum-based food processed foods seem to encour- dyes is sensible, evidence-based action. But real reform requires age overeating. These products more: strong funding for nutriappear designed to override our natural fullness signals. tion research, policies that make The conversation often lacks minimally processed foods afprecision. The NOVA classificafordable and attention to the millions of Americans for whom tion system groups some foods ultra-processed foods remain the that provide health-promoting most accessible option. nutrients, like whole-grain inOur bodies are complicated gredients, or foods modified systems. The relationship befor other health concerns, like gluten-free versions, in the same tween what we eat and how we “ultra-processed” category as metabolize it is equally complex. soft drinks and candy. America’s metabolic health criThis has real consequences for sis demands urgent action. But policy. Processing itself is not au- that action must be guided by tomatically harmful — pasteuri- science, not slogans. The stakes are too high for anything less. zation, fortification and fermentation have provided enormous public health benefits. What mat- John P. Kirwan, Ph.D., is the director of the Louisiana ters is the industrial creation of Clinical and Translational products designed to maximize Science Center. consumption, using additives

STAFF PHOTO By JILL PICKETT

Work continues on the Meta Richland Parish Data Center near Rayville.

Data centers like Meta’s will help to lower energy costs At Power for Tomorrow, we track how U.S. utili- markets don’t follow the typical economic model where more demand tends to result in higher pricties adapt to challenges like artificial intelligence and data centers — sharing what works to keep es — on the contrary, electrical utilities operate power reliable and affordable. That’s why we’re on an economy of scale, where more customers closely watching the emerging data center hub mean more ways to spread out the impact of fixed in the Gulf South, including Louisiana, system costs, like physical infrastructure. where Meta is building what may become Rather than increasing electricity prices, the world’s largest AI facility in Richland new data center projects present an opParish. portunity to lower prices — if handled the Louisiana securing the historic Meta right way. project wasn’t luck — it was leadership. The key is to ensure that these giant State officials saw the opportunity and customers are paying their way and that Gary worked across party lines to solve a tough the cost of their growth isn’t being passed Meltz problem: how to power massive data on to other customers’ bills. That’s where GUEST centers without raising rates or hurting Louisiana is getting it right: The utility powCOLUMNIST ering Meta’s Richland Parish data center, reliability. Louisiana figured it out — and proved that smart growth can benefit evEntergy Louisiana, and the Louisiana Public Service Commission built safeguards into Meta’s eryone. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said, “When agreement so other customers don’t foot the bill. In fact, many grid upgrades tied to the project will people say, ‘AI is going to drive up my price of benefit all customers — at no extra cost. electricity,’ it’s actually the opposite. The way to For example, to meet the data center’s needs get electricity prices down is to produce more without straining the state’s grid, Meta is funding electricity.” The Trump appointee has emphasized that build- three new Entergy power plants. These modern, more fuel-efficient facilities will serve all Entergy ing new infrastructure to support data centers customers and save them money on bills by proand manufacturing will ultimately lower average electricity prices. In fact, one of the nation’s leadducing more power at lower cost for decades. Meta’s investment also provides Entergy with ing science labs — the same one that Congress more resources to strengthen the grid against selected last year to prepare a report on data storms at a lower cost to current customers. That center energy usage — recently identified that, in many instances, large customers like data centers means fewer outages and real bill savings, includcan help stabilize or even lower electric bills for ing reducing what other customers pay for grid homes and small businesses. upgrades and future storm repairs by 10%. All In October, The Washington Post published an told, Meta’s participation in the Entergy Louisiana article titled “There’s a reason electricity prices grid is projected to save other customers upward are rising. And it’s not data centers,” which noted of $650 million over their 15-year agreement. that the recent trend in the national conversation Louisiana is proving that data centers don’t have of making data centers the scapegoat for rising to mean higher power bills for residents. On the electricity prices simply doesn’t hold up when you contrary, strategic infrastructure investments examine the facts. The article pointed out that tied to industrial growth can be used to improve “the biggest factors behind rising rates were the grid reliability, boost economic growth and lower cost of poles, wires and other electrical equipment costs for everyone. — as well as the cost of safeguarding that infraGary Meltz is the executive director of Power for structure against future disasters.” The article goes on to explain that electricity Tomorrow.

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COMMENTARY

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Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro embrace in downtown Caracas, Venezuela on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country.

ISSUE OF THE WEEK VENEZUELA On Saturday, U.S. forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in an unprecedented attack on the country’s capital. For months, the Trump administration has instituted a blockade off the country’s coast and shot down boats that allegedly carried smugglers bringing drugs into the United States.The U.S. has said that the Maduro regime spearheaded the trafficking operation. Still, capturing and removing a sitting head of state raises some serious legal and constitutional questions, many say. But Trump administration officials said the action was justified to protect the security of the United States.As Maduro faces trial in N.y., President Donald Trump said the U.S. will run the country indefinitely, rebuilding the country’s oil industry. Meanwhile, many wonder what the fallout will be from this action on the world stage and what’s next? Here are two perspectives.

It will take years for U.S. Monster-hunting Trump to really fix Venezuela untainted by any legality It’s hard to imagine a worse leader itable than ever before. Unfortunately for Venezuela than Nicolás Maduro, for the Venezuelans, those high prices who combined corruption, economic spurred capitalists to look for new mismanagement and brutal repression sources, such as shale oil. Meanwhile, in one repulsive package. That doesn’t the socialists at home were destroying mean America was right to invade the country’s ability to pump the country and arrest him, which what it had out of the ground. strikes me as both unconstituOil extraction requires a lot of capital and know-how tional and unwise. And while it’s — particularly in the case of hard to imagine a worse leader Venezuela’s heavy, sulfurous than Maduro, that doesn’t mean crude, which is difficult to there isn’t one out there, waiting Megan ega pump and refine. But with in the wings. McArdle Chávez diverting PDVSA Yet the thing is done, so what’s funds into social spending, left is to figure out whether Venthere was less money to invest in the ezuela can be rebuilt into what Trump says he wants — “good neighbors” who oil fields. The country’s human capital help the United States “surround” itself was eroding just as fast, as experienced engineers and managers were replaced “with stability.” That will depend on with regime loyalists. Meanwhile, the the other thing Trump says he wants: government kept demanding more and a rapid ramp-up in Venezuelan oil promore concessions from multinationals duction. Everyone should want that operating in the country, to the point much, because it’s the only way to lift where they looked less like “concesVenezuelans out of the dire poverty of their failed socialist economy. sions” and more like “extortion.” Alas, Venezuela’s destruction took Unsurprisingly, Venezuelan oil prodecades. Its reconstruction probably duction slowly began to slide. By 2013, will too. the year Chávez died of cancer, it was The country is sitting on the world’s down to 2.65 million. For a time, this largest proven oil reserves, which once steady erosion of production was offset gave it the fourth-highest gross doby the steep increase in oil prices, so mestic product per capita in the world. Chávez never lived to see the conseThough that position had slipped conquences of his efforts. That whirlwind siderably by the 1990s, thanks to falling was reaped by his successor, Maduro, oil prices and underinvestment, a set of who saw oil prices and production go into free fall together, resulting in the market liberalizations and good manlargest peacetime economic contracagement by PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, had boosted production to tion ever recorded. more than 3 million barrels per day by Turning that around will require 1998, the year socialist Hugo Chávez the capital and skill of multinationals was elected. who are justifiably wary. Because oil Chávez slapped rigid price controls fields are expensive to develop — and on the economy and turned PDVSA because the infrastructure is hard into a piggy bank for his domestic to move once it’s in place — governsocial programs, as well as an instruments face the eternal temptation to ment of his foreign policy. He got away expropriate companies as soon as the development phase is finished. Under with this for quite a while, thanks to socialism, Venezuela indulged that extremely fortuitous timing: Chávez temptation with a vengeance. came into office just as oil prices were If the U.S. actually wants Venezuela bottoming out following the Asian fito stabilize, and a reversal of the flood nancial crisis. of refugees, much more than removIn the two years after he took office, prices more than doubled, and then ing Nicolás Maduro will be required. they really began to take off, briefly If a new democratic government takes touching $140 a barrel right before the shape and it can make long-term com2008 U.S. financial crisis. Even after mitments to growth, a major deployLehman Brothers went belly up and ment of U.S. influence and money will the global economy tanked, oil prices be needed. I doubt reconstruction funds remained comfortably above $80 a bar- and state-building were what Trump and his advisers were thinking of when rel. This was the period when various they decided to invade Venezuela. But lefties made fools of themselves praisif they’d been thinking it through, they ing Chávez for proving that socialism probably wouldn’t have invaded in the worked. first place. In fact, the illusory early success of Chávismo was entirely a function of Megan McArdle in on X, @asymcapitalist markets that were making the oil under Venezuela’s soil more prof- metricinfo.

There is a constant tug toward univerU.S. involvement in regime changes, wars of choice and nation-building. The lovers salism in U.S. foreign policy, and hence will recover. a recurring temptation for crusading. Remember, however, what Colin Powell, The strength of the tug waxes and wanes, prior to the invasion of Iraq, called “the responding to the perceived success or Pottery Barn rule” (“You break failure of the most recent undertaking it, you own it”) regarding the to reorder realities abroad. use of U.S. force to restructure Universalism flows from the ninth other countries. We owned word of the most important sentence Iraq and Afghanistan for many in this creedal nation’s catechism: unhappy years. Perhaps this “all.” All human beings are endowed time things will go smoothly as with unalienable rights, including George U.S. officials, in the president’s the right to government legitimized Will insouciant words, “run” Venby consent. The perennial American argument concerns what, if anything, ezuela until “we can do a safe, this catechism commits the nation to do. proper and judicious transition.” Twenty-one years ago, George W. Bush’s Transition to what? Presumably, the second inaugural address proclaimed administration has plans. Certainly, there “the calling of our time” to be nothing less is an aphorism: “If you want to make God than “ending tyranny in our world.” This laugh, tell him your plans.” project has not fared well since then. Meanwhile, the Trump administration The 1823 Monroe Doctrine declared the must devise justifications for the VenWestern Hemisphere closed to further ezuelan intervention without employing European colonization, and, implicitly, categories by which Vladimir Putin and open to U.S. intervention in order to Xi Jinping can give a patina of faux legalguarantee … Here things become murky. ity to forcibly ending nearby regimes Commercial considerations (long ago, they dislike. The Trump administration’s bananas; today, oil) and geopolitics have incantations of its newly minted and nondriven interventions. sensical phrase “narco-terrorism” will not The doctrine, although promulgated by suffice. President James Monroe, should be called Andrew C. McCarthy, the conservative the Adams Doctrine, for his secretary of lawyer who prosecuted terrorists convictstate, John Quincy Adams. (The Marshall ed of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Plan, announced in a brief Harvard comCenter, says this phrase “has no standing as a legal term — no significance in the mencement speech by Harry Truman’s secretary of state, George Marshall, is not extensive bodies of federal law defining narcotics trafficking and terrorism.” known as the Truman Plan.) As Bishop Joseph Butler (1692-1752) Although European colonization in this said, “Everything is what it is, and not hemisphere long ago subsided, perhaps another thing.” Narcotics trafficking is a the Monroe Doctrine is still apposite. But serious crime. It is not a terrorist activity. two years before the Monroe Doctrine was enunciated, Secretary Adams said of Neither is the self-“poisoning” of Ameriour nation: cans who ingest drugs. “Wherever the standard of freedom and So, the administration must improvise independence has been or shall be unpost facto rationalizations for the forcible regime change in Venezuela, rationalizafurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not tions harmonious with the president’s reabroad, in search of monsters to destroy. cent pardoning of Juan Orlando HernánShe is the well-wisher to the freedom and dez, the former Honduran president independence of all. She is the champion convicted in a U.S. court of shipping here and vindicator only of her own.” more than 400 tons of cocaine. “The HonMany presidents, and most recent ones, duran regime,” McCarthy writes in Nahave rightly disagreed. The current one, tional Review, “figures prominently in the who also disagrees, speaks so often and so indictment of Maduro brought by the first imprecisely, as in his meandering babble Trump administration.” Maduro’s lawyers late Saturday morning, a cloud of confuwill have fun with this. And perhaps with this: When Theodore sion envelopes everything. Dissipating it Roosevelt asked Attorney General Philancan begin with this: That Nicolás Maduro is a monster is der Knox to concoct a legal justification patent, as was the illegitimacy of his gov- for the unsavory U.S. measures that enernment, which disdained respect for the abled construction of the Panama Canal, consent of the governed. But the urgent Knox replied, “Oh, Mr. President, do not argument begins, not ends, with those two let so great an achievement suffer from facts. any taint of legality.” Heartbreak, a risk inherent in puppy love, today afflicts those who believed this Email George Will at georgewill@washpresident’s reiterated disparagements of post.com.

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Baton Rouge Weather TODAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY Weather News by Meteorologist Malcolm Byron

Shower, t-storm

Cloudy and less humid

Cooler; periods of sun

Partly sunny

Clouds and sun

HIGH

LOW

77° 63°

LOW

66° 42°

LOW

HIGH

68° 34°

LOW

HIGH

56° 36°

ALMANAC

LOW

HIGH

61° 45°

LOW

65° 43°

AROUND THE REGION

THE NATION

BATON ROUGE THROUGH 5 P.M. THURSDAy

TEMPERATURE

High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

81°/64° 62°/41° 81° in 2008 20° in 2015

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

0.00” Trace (1.64”) Trace (1.64”)

PRECIPITATION

YESTERDAY

TODAY

GOOD

READING 46 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

RIVER STAGES FLOOD STAGE 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 -3.20 -0.65 Vidalia-Natchez 48 15.10 +0.19 Red River Landing 48 18.10 +0.30 Baton Rouge 35 6.30 none Donaldsonville 27 3.50 -0.30 Reserve 22 2.41 +0.20 New Orleans 17 2.20 -0.38 MISSISSIPPI

OHIO 40

11.22

-0.32

-1.43

none

18 29 8

-0.99 10.09 1.57

none +0.01 -0.09

13 15

2.67 0.77

-0.01 -0.01

47 34 29 20 12 6

6.10 4.05 3.64 2.80 2.70 1.64

+0.02 +0.10 -0.07 -0.01 +0.20 -0.07

COMITE

Near Olive AMITE

Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent TICKFAW

Montpelier Holden ATCHAFALAYA

Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

-10

Monroe 74/57

Shreveport 74/50 Longview 71/45

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

Hattiesburg 76/69

Alexandria 77/58

Many 74/52

Baton Rouge 77/63

Lafayette 77/65

Beaumont 79/58

New Orleans 77/68

Lake Charles 79/61

Port Arthur 77/60

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

Houma 79/68

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

TIDES FT.

LOW

FT.

HIGH

Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) 6:42a 0.1 Shell Beach 5:46a 0.3 South Point, Marsh Island 9:15a 0.7 Cypremort Point 12:01p 0.3 Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) 4:37p 0.3 Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) 3:33p 0.4 Wine Island 5:45p 0.4

HIGH

6:22p 2:36a 2:04a 5:37a 7:27a 5:48a 8:29a

0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1

----8:19p 0.6 8:50p 0.9 10:39p 0.6 -------------

SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

FT.

LOW

FT.

----1:14p 0.1 12:39p 0.4 4:19p 0.2 -------------

TODAY City

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Houston Las Vegas Louisville Miami Minneapolis

Lo W

71 44 t 47 40 r 69 39 pc -19 -24 pc 82 68 pc 79 55 t 53 35 s 67 48 sh 82 71 s 31 21 c

SATURDAY Hi

NEW

FIRST

FULL

JAN 10

JAN 18

JAN 25

FEB 1

MAJOR

4:04a 4:46a 5:27a 6:08a 6:50a 7:33a 8:18a

MINOR

10:14a 10:57a 11:38a 12:19p 12:38a 1:20a 2:05a

MAJOR

TODAY City

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

SATURDAY

Lo W

72 77 84 57 62 62 71 51 67 82

56 t 68 t 61 pc 44 r 39 s 36 r 60 c 38 c 41 s 65 s

58 72 84 47 65 49 75 45 71 79

33 sh 50 r 62 pc 42 r 44 s 29 r 48 c 24 sh 44 s 64 s

73 40 54 75 43 18 63 46 59 26 49

55 pc 33 r 36 pc 43 pc 27 r 17 sn 43 pc 37 r 48 c 12 c 37 s

68 40 50 72 33 25 64 40 52 24 59

48 pc 31 c 30 pc 47 pc 28 i 10 sn 43 pc 31 sh 32 sh 16 c 51 s

THE WORLD

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

Today Sat. Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu.

Lo W

57 38 pc 46 37 r 55 37 s -3 -21 c 83 68 pc 59 44 c 56 36 s 53 29 sh 82 68 s 25 15 sn

SOLUNAR TABLE

7:03 a.m. 5:21 p.m. 11:59 p.m. 11:02 a.m.

LAST

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

MINOR

4:24p 10:35p 5:07p 11:17p 5:49p ---6:31p ---7:13p 1:02p 7:57p 1:45p 8:43p 2:30p

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

39 83 61 24 42 67 40 44 85 65 52

27 sn 65 pc 44 s 15 sn 29 sn 55 s 30 pc 33 r 62 s 56 pc 46 r

29 84 57 23 32 70 41 35 86 70 52

19 sn 67 pc 42 s 18 sn 20 sn 55 pc 36 pc 20 sn 61 pc 59 pc 44 sh

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

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

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Off-and-on storms will be likely throughout the entire day on Friday. So while rain won’t be everywhere at one time, just about everyone will see at least one round of storms. Repeating rounds of heavy rain in localized areas could lead to flash flooding. In addition, a strong storm or two cannot be ruled out. Chances of coming across one will increase with daytime warming. Even with the flood and severe weather threat, it’s worth noting that not everyone will experience it both will occur on a more isolated basis. Showers and storms will remain a possibility until a cold front crawls crawls through the area early on Saturday. Once it passes, rain chances will slowly diminish, and a cooldown will follow.

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

F r i d ay, J a n u a ry 9, 2026

1Cn

A look at what lies ahead for Saints’ veteran stars, coaching staff and injured starters

ON THE HORIZON Saints linebacker Demario Davis pursues a play during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta. Coming off a strong ending with the Saints, Davis, 36, is set to become a free agent. AP PHOTO By DANNy KARNIK

Johnson leads LSU to win over Georgia Tigers earn much-needed conference victory

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Georgia kept it close for three quarters. But the LSU women’s basketball team just thwarted too many offensive possessions on Thursday to lose its third straight game. Instead, the No. 12 Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 80-59, winning a road game they couldn’t afford to lose. LSU pulled away when it opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run. First, MiLaysia Fulwiley dropped a no-look bounce pass to Flau’jae Johnson, who converted an open layup on the baseline. Then sophomore guard Jada Richard hit Johnson with an outlet pass, allowing her to score the breakaway bucket that gave the Tigers an insurmountable 17-point lead — and sealed their first SEC win of the season. “This is a different situation for me,” Johnson said. “I’ve never ever in my life started SEC play on a losing trajectory. So for me, having that experience, I just came into the game with just the utmost confidence in myself but in my team as well.” LSU entered Thursday’s matchup with the Bulldogs 0-2 in league play for the first time since coach Kim Mulkey’s tenure began in 2021. Like the Tigers (15-2, 1-2 SEC), Georgia breezed through a rather light nonconference schedule, which allowed it to begin its second week of SEC games with only one loss — a 17-point road defeat to No. 18 Ole Miss. On Thursday, LSU defended the Bulldogs

ä See LSU, page 2C

One of the more interesting questions the New Orleans Saints must answer this offseason is what they plan to do with some of their elder statesmen. Defensive standouts Cam Jordan and Demario Davis are both coming off strong seasons, but both are set to become free agents in their late 30s. Alvin Kamara ended the season by missing his final six games with a knee injury, and he was not productive in the 11 games in which he played. Taysom Hill suffered a major knee injury in 2024 that caused him to miss the first four games of the season, and he did not look like himself when he did return to the field. Jordan and Davis have both already made clear they intend to play in 2026, and while both said they’d welcome a return to New Orleans, they acknowledged it isn’t totally up to them. General manager Mickey Loomis took a similar stance when asked about them Wednesday during his news conference to wrap the 2025 season. “I think, and it’s not just specific to those guys, but there’s a process that we go through at the end of the season,” Loomis said. “It’s an evaluation and then it’s a determination of, hey, do they want to come back? Do we want them back? And then even then, there’s a lot of variables. What’s the contract situation? What’s the

Saban’s legacy lives on as former assistants dominate CFP BY MAURA CAREY Associated Press

It’s been two years since Nick Saban last took the ﬁeld as a coach, but he still has his hands all over the College Football Playoff, regardless of how it shakes out. Five of the 12 CFP teams this year are led by a coach who served directly under Saban at one time or another. Four of them are still in the race: Curt Cignetti at No. 1 Indiana, Dan Lanning at No. 5 Oregon, Pete Golding at No. 6 Mississippi, and Mario Cristobal at No. 10 Miami. “Four for four,” Cignetti said. “There’s a lot of disciples out there doing well. That’s why he’s the greatest of all time.” The disciples Cignetti speaks of are some

ä See CFP, page 4C

timeline? There’s just too many variables for me to give you a deﬁnitive answer on any of that. “But look, I’m excited to hear when those guys declare they want to be back here, and I would say on the surface we deﬁnitely want to have them back. But there’s just so many other variables that exist that I can’t really answer that question right now.” It’s worth noting that both Davis ($14.3 million) and Jordan ($18.8 million) will carry dead cap charges on next year’s salary cap if they are not on the team. As they did with Chase Young and Juwan Johnson last season,

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

PROVIDED PHOTO By LSU ATHLETICS

LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson reacts after scoring a basket during a game against Georgia on Thursday at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga. LSU won 80-59.

LSU lands two more DL commitments BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

When the transfer portal opened, LSU wanted to add several players across the defensive line. It has already signed Clemson defensive tackle Stephiylan Green, and it landed commitments from two more transfers Thursday. LSU gained commitments from Auburn defensive lineman Malik Blocton and South Carolina edge rusher Jaylen Brown, adding depth to positions of need. LSU is in the mix for several others at the same time, including Tennessee sophomore Jordan Ross, a ﬁve-star recruit in the 2024 class. Blocton, an Alabama native, played in 12 games while starting eight times for Auburn this past season. He has made 34 tackles, 81/ 2 tackles for loss and two sacks over the past two seasons. Blocton has three more years AP PHOTO By MICHAEL WOODS of eligibility. Coming out of Pike Road High, Blocton Auburn defensive lineman Malik was a four-star recruit ranked No. 434 overBlocton runs a play during the second all in the 2024 recruiting class, according half against Arkansas on Oct. 25 in to the 247Sports composite rankings. He is Fayetteville, Ark. Blocton committed to listed at 6-foot-3 and 291 pounds. LSU on Thursday. Brown missed the entire 2025 season after

suffering a right knee injury during spring practice. Although he did not play, Brown spent the past year with new LSU defensive line coach Sterling Lucas. He will have three more years of eligibility. Brown began his career at Missouri, where he signed as a four-star recruit in the 2024 class out of Alabama. He played 39 snaps in ﬁve games as a freshman while recording two tackles. He’s listed at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds.

LSU adds two OL transfers LSU gained its first commitment from a transfer offensive lineman this year when North Carolina Central redshirt sophomore Ja’Quan Sprinkle announced in a social media post Thursday he would join the team. Sprinkle entered the transfer portal with two more years of eligibility. He started 27 games over three seasons at NC Central, spending time at both guard and tackle. His commitment gave needed depth to the offensive line room, a position that LSU has to continue to add to before head coach Lane Kiffin’s first season.

ä See LSU, page 5C

2C ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBAL 5 p.m. Miami (Ohio) at Toledo CBSSN 7 p.m. Akron at Bowling Green CBSSN 7:30 p.m. Southern Cal at Minnesota BTN 9 p.m. UNLV at Colorado St. CBSSN COLLEGE FOOTBALL 6:30 p.m. Oregon vs. Indiana ESPN MEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY 5 p.m. Minnesota at Penn St. BTN

FIGURE SKATING U.S. Figure Skating NBC GOLF 9 a.m. LIV GOLF Promotions 2026 FS2 HORSE RACING 2 p.m. America’s Day at the Races FS2 BOY’S HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL 7:30 p.m. Long Is Lutheran at La Lumiere FS1 10:30 p.m. Notre Dame vs. S. Canyon ESPN2 NBA 6 p.m. New Orleans at Washington WVUE 7 p.m.

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

7 p.m. Oklahoma City at Memphis NBATV 9:30 p.m. Milwaukee at L.A. Lakers NBATV NHL 7 p.m. Washington at Chicago NHLN MEN’S SOCCER 1 p.m. Dortmund at Frankfurt ESPN2 TENNIS 5:30 p.m. Brisbane-ATP/WTA TENNIS UNRIVALED BASKETBALL 6:30 p.m. Vinyl vs. Rose, Miami TNT 7:45 p.m. Breeze vs. Hive, Miami TNT

Skubal asks for record $32M in salary arbitration BY RONALD BLUM AP baseball writer

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson raises the championship trophy during the Tigers’ national championship celebration on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at Alex Box Stadium.

LSU picked No. 1 in preseason poll Three Tigers also named to Perfect Game’s All-America baseball team

Staff report

Perfect Game thinks the LSU baseball team is the perfect choice to start the season at No. 1. The website released its preseason top 25 Thursday, putting the Tigers in the top spot for the second time in the past four seasons. Perfect Game also ranked LSU No. 1 in 2023 when the Tigers went on to win the College World Series. LSU started 2025 at No. 2 according to the website and won its eighth CWS championship. LSU coach Jay Johnson enters his fifth season with a team that has 19 returning players and 20 newcomers on its roster. Three Tigers made Perfect Game’s preseason All-American teams: sophomore center fielder Derek Curiel (first team), sophomore pitcher Casan Evans (second team) and senior pitcher Zac Cowan (third). The Tigers feature seven returning position players with starting experience at LSU, including senior outfielder Chris Stanfield, senior infielder Tanner Reaves, junior shortstop Steven Milam, junior outfielder Jake Brown, sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide, sophomore infielder John Pearson and Curiel.

2026 Perfect Game Preseason Poll 1. LSU 2. Georgia Tech 3. Tennessee 4. Arkansas 5. UCLA 6. Mississippi State 7. Oregon State 8. Texas 9. Florida State 10. Auburn 11. TCU 12. Florida 13. Oregon 14. Virginia 15. Georgia 16. Louisville 17. Coastal Carolina 18. North Carolina 19. Vanderbilt 20. Clemson 21. UC Santa Barbara 22. NC State 23. Southern Miss 24. Miami 25. East Carolina

The pitching staff includes 10 players who have recorded innings at LSU: Cowan, Evans, senior right-hander Connor Benge, senior right-hander Grant Fontenot, junior right-hander Gavin Guidry, junior right-hander Jaden Noot, junior left-hander DJ Primeaux, sophomore left-hander Cooper Williams, sophomore right-hander Mavrick Rizy and sophomore right-hander William Schmidt. Eight other Southeastern Conference teams are ranked: No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 Arkansas, No. 6 Mississippi State, No. 8 Texas, No. 10 Auburn, No. 12 Florida, No. 15 Georgia and No. 19 Vanderbilt. The Tigers play Tennessee, Mississippi State, Georgia and Vandy on the road and Florida at home. LSU opens the season Feb. 13 at Alex Box Stadium against Milwaukee.

NEW YORK — Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal asked for a record $32 million in salary arbitration on Thursday while the Detroit Tigers offered the left-hander $19 million. Skubal was the most prominent of the 166 players eligible for arbitration at the start of the day who swapped figures with their teams. Those without agreements face hearings before a three-person panels from Jan. 26 to Feb. 13 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Toronto ﬁrst baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has the highest salary in an arbitration case decided by a panel, winning at $19.9 million in 2024. Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado submitted a record request of $30 million in 2019, then agreed to a $260 million, eight-year contract. Juan Soto’s $31 million contract with the New York Yankees in 2024 is the largest oneyear deal for an arbitration-eligible player and David Price has the highest negotiated salary in a one-year contract for an arbitration-eligible pitcher, a $19.75 million agreement with Detroit

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws during Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners on Oct. 10 in Seattle.

Continued from page 1C

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU guard MiLaysia Fulwiley drives the ball against Kentucky guard Asia Boone on Jan. 1 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Fulwiley ﬁnished with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, four blocks and four steals in Thursday’s win over Georgia. ing an open layup that Fulwiley teed up for her in a half-court set. In the second, Georgia turned the ball over six times and missed nine shots. The Tigers didn’t allow the Bulldogs to find many open looks — in the ﬁrst half or the second. Star guard Dani Carnegie

American snowboarding star Chloe Kim said Thursday that she took “the silliest fall” in training and dislocated her shoulder, threatening her chance to win a third straight gold medal at nex month’s Winter Olympics in Italy. Kim posted video of the accident in Switzerland earlier this week as she practiced for a key Olympic tune-up there next weekend. She tumbled to the snow and went skittering across the halfpipe. She did not say which shoulder she hurt, but she was “trying to stay optimistic” about competing at the Olympics. The 25-year-old said she has an MRI scheduled for Friday that will reveal the extent of the damage. Kim’s absence would deprive the Olympics of one of its biggest names and one of its best storylines.

Hawks trade high-scoring guard Young to Wizards

Trae Young’s tenure in Atlanta is over, with the Hawks agreeing to trade the high-scoring and frequently criticized guard to the Washington Wizards for a package including former Pelican CJ McCollum, a person with knowledge of the move said Wednesday. Corey Kispert is also headed from Washington to Atlanta, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not received the required league approval. Young leaves Atlanta as the Hawks’ career leader in assists and 3-pointers. He’s fourth on Atlanta’s free throws list and sixth in points.

Suspects in Sanders’ burglary are from Atlanta

The four suspects involved in the burglary of Shedeur Sanders’ home on Nov. 16 are from Atlanta and used a stolen rental car in the break-in, authorities said Thursday. The Medina County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce also said during a brieﬁng that the group had robbed others, including professional athletes. Jarvet Myrick, Deandrez Jackson and Maurice Exavier Taylor are in custody after being arrested in Georgia and are awaiting extradition to Northeast Ohio. Carlos DeAnthony Morris remains at large and has an active warrant. Detective Rodney Rees said that the suspects stole the rental car in the Atlanta area, drove to Ohio and stayed at a hotel in Medina Township the night before the burglary took place.

PGA Tour set to expand player equity program

LSU

(15-2, 1-3) well, allowing them to shoot just 31% from the field and 4 of 29 from 3-point range. Johnson — in the game after she went scoreless for just the second time in her career — tallied a seasonhigh 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting, to pair with four rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Fulwiley finished with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, four blocks and four steals. Transfer forward Amiya Joyner added 12 points and 11 boards. Freshman forward ZaKiyah Johnson chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds. “I’ve been in this business too long,” Mulkey said. “I’ve lost back-to-back games before. It’s fun. It’s challenging. It’s frustrating. It’s hard — all those things when you coach in the SEC. To have eight (new) players in our locker room, as I tell them, just play hard, and you’re gonna win your share of them.” LSU took control in the second quarter. A series of sharp defensive possessions allowed the Tigers to wedge a 13-3 run into the first six minutes of the frame. Fulwiley kick-started the blitz with a quick driving layup, and ZaKiyah Johnson punctuated it by convert-

in 2015. A two-time All-Star, the 29-year-old Skubal will be eligible for free agency after the World Series. He is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six major league seasons. Skubal was 13-6 with an ALbest 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, striking out 241 and walking 33 in 195 1/3 innings while earning $10.5 million. His 0.891 WHIP topped qualified pitchers. Among those striking deals were Seattle outfielder Randy Arozarena ($15.65 million), Cincinnati right-hander Brady Singer ($12.75 million), Baltimore outfielder Taylor Ward ($12,175,000), Philadelphia left-hander Jesús Luzardo ($11 million), Seattle right-hander Logan Gilbert (($10,927,000), Toronto outfielder Daulton Varsho ($10.75 million), and New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Philadelphia third baseman Alec Bohm (both $10.2 million). Teams went 5-4 in hearings last winter, leaving clubs with a 358-270 advantage since arbitration started in 1974. All agreements for arbitration-eligible players are guaranteed but deals that go to panel decisions are not.

Gold medalist Kim injured ahead of Winter Games

scored 11 of her 24 points in the third after she hit two of the four 3-pointers she tried. But Fulwiley countered by leading enough transition chances for LSU to bring a 56-48 lead into the fourth. Flau’jae Johnson then scored 15 points in the game’s last 10 minutes, ensuring that the Tigers

wouldn’t let another contest slip away. “I just felt like today,” Johnson said, “I really led. And I put the team first, and then I showed them that I believed in them, and in return, they gave me that energy back.” The ankle sprain that Flau’jae Johnson suffered on Sunday against Vanderbilt forced her to miss practice on Tuesday, but it did not hold her out of the action on Thursday. She was listed as probable on LSU’s Wednesday availability report, then upgraded to active before tip-off. She wound up playing 31 minutes against Georgia. Mulkey made a couple of adjustments to her rotation Thursday. Freshman guard Bella Hines saw the floor for the first time since SEC play began, and ZaKiyah Johnson spent some time playing on the perimeter. Both players entered off the bench. The Tigers are now 48-7 vs. unranked SEC teams under Mulkey. They’ve beaten Georgia all five times the two teams have met since 2021. Next up for LSU is a Sunday afternoon matchup with No. 2 Texas — one of the two most highly anticipated home games of its season. Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

The PGA Tour is expanding its Player Equity Program to reward current performance, adding the top 50 in the FedEx Cup this year to those receiving recurring grants from a ﬁrst-of-its-kind program that has topped $1 billion in equity for more than 200 players. CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises, Brian Rolapp, sent a memo to players on Thursday. The Associated Press viewed the memo, which included a new schedule model by a committee chaired by Tiger Woods. The expansion to the top 50 in the FedEx Cup was a result of a player meeting at the Rocket Classic, one week after Rolapp took over the PGA Tour Enterprises. This will roughly double the number of players receiving recurring grants this year.

MLB to produce FanDuel network team broadcasts

Major League Baseball is prepared to produce and distribute local broadcasts for teams whose telecasts are uncertain this season because of the ﬁnancial problems of the FanDuel Sports Network regional networks. Main Street Sports Group, which operates the FanDuel networks, did not make its December payment to the St. Louis Cardinals. It also carries games of Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Angels, Miami, Milwaukee and Tampa Bay, along with 13 teams in the NBA and seven in the NHL. “No matter what happens, whether it’s Main Street, a third party or MLB media, fans are going to have the games,” baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ 3C

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Dolphins ﬁre McDaniel, the quirky, inventive coach BY ALANIS THAMES AP sportswriter

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Mike McDaniel has run out of luster in Miami. The Dolphins fired the drywitted, wunderkind coach who they once viewed as the future of the franchise on Thursday, ending his fouryear tenure that was defined by soaring — and unfulfilled — expectations. McDaniel fell out of favor following a 7-10 season in which Miami missed the playoffs for a second straight year. “After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said in a statement.

“I informed Mike McDaniel this morning that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach.” The Dolphins went 35-33 under McDaniel, reaching the playoffs in his ﬁrst two seasons but losing in the first round each time. Miami missed the postseason in 2024 after being eliminated by the Jets in the regular-season ﬁnale. This year, their postseason hopes ended with a loss to Pittsburgh in Week 15, ensuring that their 25-year playoff-win drought would continue. “When I took this job, I had a vision of a team that was bonded together and played with passion and energy on the path to winning championships,” McDaniel said in a statement. “I gave everything I had for that goal. I’m disap-

pointed, especially for the fans, that we did not have better results on the field.” Miami parted ways with longtime general manager Chris Grier on Oct. 31 and began its search for a new general manager this week. But a disjointed finish to the season that saw former firstround pick Tua Tagovailoa get benched proved the final straw for Ross. “I love Mike and want to thank him for his hard work, commitment, and the energy he brought to our organization,” Ross said in his statement. “Mike is an incredibly creative football mind whose passion for the game and his players was evident every day. I wish him and his family the best moving forward.”

teams to conduct in-person interviews with at least two diverse — minority or female — candidates who don’t currently work for the team. The Buccaneers aren’t among the teams looking for a new coach because Todd Bowles is staying put in Tampa Bay, a person with knowledge of the team’s thinking told the AP. Bowles is under contract for three more seasons and is returning for a ﬁfth year as head coach despite a major collapse in the second half. The Bucs went from 6-2 to 8-9 and missed the playoffs after winning the NFC South for four straight seasons. Bowles was the defensive coordinator under Bruce Arians when Tom Brady led the Bucs to a Super Bowl title ﬁve years ago. The New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders also have current openings for a head

coach. Here are three more teams that could decide to make a coaching change:

ity, and he certainly wasn’t going to break the news of a coach being let go in a press conference. But he also did not flat-out reject the idea, either. Moore was asked specifically about special-teams coordinator Phil Galiano, one of the few holdovers from the previous regime’s coaching staff. New Orleans struggled mightily on special teams this season in Galiano’s first full campaign as a coordinator, ranking 31st in DVOA and last in Expected Points Added. New Orleans also ranked last in both overall field goal percentage (71.4%) and net punting average (36.1) in 2025. But Moore praised Galiano for the work he did navigating a fluid roster situation. As an example, he brought up rookie Jonas Sanker, who was penciled in for a core special-teams role before an injury pushed him into the defensive starting lineup. “We did have a lot of moving pieces there,” Moore said. “And so I thought he did a really good job of helping a lot of young players get ready and prepared to contribute on our … special teams that were a little bit new to that aspect of football. “Are there areas that we want to improve on and get better? Absolutely. And that’s certainly something we’ll do in all three phases.”

safety. But the good thing is, according to Moore, none of those players should be looking at such an extensive rehabilitation that they’ll not be ready for training camp next year. “There’s plenty of guys that will go through a lot of cleanups and different things through the next week or two, and those guys will go in that process,” Moore said. “(Organized team activities), some guys will go through a little bit of a process where they’re working their way back, but training camp looks like a lot of optimism.” Center Erik McCoy, who missed the final 10 games with a torn biceps, said he should be fully cleared to resume football activities in April.

SAINTS NOTEBOOK

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough runs the ball against the New york Jets on Dec. 21 at the Caesars Superdome.

Shough, Young Harbaugh’s availability adds intrigue to coaching carousel earn NFL honors

BY ROB MAADDI

AP pro football writer The NFL coaching carousel keeps spinning. Eight teams are seeking a new head coach after Baltimore ﬁred John Harbaugh on Tuesday and Miami ﬁred Mike McDaniel on Thursday. Others could join the search if their team is oneand-done in the playoffs. Harbaugh’s sudden availability after 18 seasons with the Ravens could create a new opening. Multiple teams are interested in Harbaugh, including a club without a current opening, two people with knowledge of the conversations told The Associated Press. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private. Teams with head coaches can’t secretly work behind the scenes to hire Harbaugh or anyone else because the NFL adopted the Rooney Rule in 2003. It requires

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C the Saints can actually lower the cap ﬁgure for both if they bring them back and push the dead money into the future. Hill is also on an expiring deal, but his dead cap hit is a more manageable $9.7 million. Kamara has one year left on the extension he signed last season and is currently set to count $18.6 million against the team’s cap next season. Releasing him would save the team next to no money. “He’s always been a talented guy; I don’t see a lot of difference there,” Loomis said. “And I haven’t had a conversation with Alvin since the season ended, so I’m excited to have that with him and see where he’s at in his mind space. “He’s been in such an important part of our team for the last nine years. He’s a talented player, and we have to give him the right opportunities and we’ll see how that goes going forward.” Here’s what else stood out from Loomis and head coach Kellen Moore’s comments after they put a bow on the season Wednesday.

Staff changes? When asked if he would be making any changes to his coaching staff for the 2026 season, Moore gave a non-answer, saying he feels great about the staff and that he would have to be prepared for the possibility of one of them being hired away for a promotion elsewhere. It made sense for Moore to neither give a yes or no answer to the question — he and the rest of the staff will take a short break to reset before returning to the facil-

Healthy outlook By the time the season ended, the Saints were extremely limited because of a rash of injuries in the ﬁnal month of the season. Among the notable players who missed time during that stretch: The top three receivers, the top three running backs, the Nos. 2 and 3 tight ends, two starting offensive linemen, two starting defensive linemen and a starting

Buffalo Bills Sean McDermott has led the Bills (12-5) to the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons. But after ﬁve straight AFC East titles, they enter this postseason as a wildcard team with the No. 6 seed. McDermott and Josh Allen have been under pressure to get to the Super Bowl after falling short in the conference championship game last year. They lost in the divisional round the previous three seasons. The Bills won’t have to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who knocked them out four times in the last ﬁve years. The Bills are one-point favorites on the road against Jacksonville on Sunday. If Buffalo loses, it might force a change despite McDermott’s success.

Summer plans? While it won’t officially be announced until next month, Drew Brees will almost certainly be made a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the 2026 class. And with that in mind, it might impact when the Saints get things going this summer: Loomis expressed interest in participating in the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, the first preseason game of the year. “We’ve thought about that,” Loomis said. “I don’t want to just assume that (Brees is) going to get in the Hall of Fame, but yeah, I think it’d be a good thing for a team to experience that … that whole experience of the Hall of Fame is really good for anyone involved in football and anyone who’s a fan of football. And if Drew gets in, I think it’d be a great thing for us to play in that game.” This year’s Hall of Fame game is scheduled to be played Aug. 6.

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Tyler Shough is the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the ... Month. Shough, the New Orleans Saints’ rookie quarterback, earned the first monthly honor of his career Thursday, after leading his team to a 4-1 record in the 2025 season’s final month. In those final five games, Shough completed 114 of his 163 pass attempts (69.9%) with five touchdowns against two interceptions. He averaged 263.2 passing yards per game over that stretch, which featured back-toback 300-yard passing performances, while also adding 135 yards and three touchdowns as a runner. That late-season surge has also pushed Shough into the forefront of the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation — one that has grown somewhat contentious, given Shough only started a little more than half of the Saints’ games. Shough was one of four rookie quarterbacks who started at least seven games this season, joined by the Titans’ Cam Ward, the Giants’ Jaxson Dart and the Browns’ Shedeur Sanders. Among that group, Shough ranked second in passer rating (91.3) but first in passing yards per game (216.7), completion percentage (67.6), yards per attempt (7.3), success rate (44.1%) and, crucially, wins (5). Shough authored two fourth-quarter comebacks and three game-winning drives in his rookie season. The rest of the nine rookie starting quarterbacks who played this season com-

bined to post the exact same numbers. His main competition for the prestigious rookie of the year award may come from within his division, as wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is the current betting favorite to win the award. McMillan hauled in 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns while helping the Carolina Panthers end a seven-season playoff drought.

Young wins defensive honor Chase Young turned in an impressive finish for the Saints, and the NFL recognized him for it, too. Young was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Month on Thursday after finishing the 2025 season with five sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in the final five games of the season. The former No. 2 overall pick last won a monthly award in December/January of his rookie season. After he impressed in his debut with the Saints last season on a one-year deal, New Orleans brought Young back on a three-year contract extension this offseason. The 26-year-old responded with the best season of his career, despite missing the first five games with a calf injury. Young posted 10 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and three fumble recoveries — all numbers that either matched or exceeded his previous career highs. “I wish he would have been able to play 17 games because I think when he came back after Week 5, that really impacted our defense,” said general manager Mickey Loomis. “And the

way they performed from that point forward was pretty spectacular.”

Former Saints CB arrested Former Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore was arrested in Ohio on weapon charges, according to police. Lattimore, who now plays for the Washington Commanders, was arrested in Lakewood, Ohio, on Wednesday evening, 3News reported. He was charged with carrying concealed weapons and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle. “We have been made aware of the arrest and are gathering more information,” the Commanders’ official statement read. “We are in communication with the NFL League Office and have no further comment at this time.” In November 2021, Lattimore pled guilty to carrying a concealed weapon, a first-degree misdemeanor, in Ohio. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, but the sentence was suspended. Instead of jail, he was on one year of non-reporting probation. Lattimore, 29, was the Saints’ first pick at No. 11 of the franchise’s memorable 2017 NFL Draft class. He spent seven seasons with the Saints before he was traded to the Commanders during the 2024 season. The Saints were a top 15 team in passing yards allowed in 2020 and 2021, and also held opposing quarterbacks to the fourthlowest passer rating in those seasons. With the Saints, Lattimore won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and made four Pro Bowl appearances.

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NFL

Denver’s big season: Ending Chiefs’ reign, clinching top seed BY ARNIE STAPLETON

AP pro football writer

DENVER — Sean Payton listed three goals for his Denver Broncos this season, and chief among them was knocking off the Kansas City Chiefs. They did that, winning the AFC West for the first time in a decade and AFC K.C.’s ninepreview ending year reign atop the division. The Chiefs, who have played in the past seven AFC championship games, are already aiming for next season after a 6-11 finish that ended with Patrick Mahomes with a surgically repaired knee. Payton’s second goal was earning the best seed possible in the playoffs so the Broncos wouldn’t have to hit the road like they did last year when they were blasted 31-7 in Buffalo in the wild-card round. The Broncos earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a franchise recordtying 14 wins. Super Bowl 60 was the third goal and they’re two home victories away from getting there. The journey won’t be easy. These are the first AFC playoffs without Mahomes, Peyton Manning or Tom Brady since 1998, another reason it’s seen as a wide-open field without a prohibitive favorite to raise the Lamar Hunt Trophy on Jan. 25. All four division winners were new this year with Denver, New England, Jacksonville and Pittsburgh all earning at least one home playoff game. The Broncos will find out their opponent for the divisional round this weekend. They’ll play the lowest remaining seed after wild-card weekend that features two AFC games Sunday and another Monday night. The Buffalo Bills (12-5) visit the

Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) on Sunday followed by the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) visiting the New England Patriots (14-3). 1. DENVER BRONCOS (14-3): Three Lombardi trophies in eight Super Bowl appearances. Lift the Lombardi: Denver’s defense amassed 68 sacks, the fifth most in history and four shy of the 1984 Chicago Bears’ NFL-record of 72. Here’s the thing: they could have had many more, but defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has built an unselﬁsh pass rush that seeks more to cage in quarterbacks with edge rushers and blitzers never rushing deeper than the QB. Patrick Surtain II, Zach Allen, Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and Talanoa Hufanga can all wreck offensive game plans. 2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (14-3): Six titles in 11 Super Bowl appearances. Lift the Lombardi: The Patriots are hungry as they return to the playoffs for the ﬁrst time since 2021 on the heels of a potential MVP season from second-year quarterback Drake Maye. His production with a league-best 72.0 completion rate, along with 4,394 passing yards and 31 touchdowns are what make New England a threat to emerge from the AFC. Their mix of impactful young talent such as running back TreVeyon Henderson and veteran leaders such as wide receiver Stefon Diggs typify a roster that has bought into new coach Mike Vrabel’s approach. He knows playoff football well, having won three Super Bowls with the Patriots as a player and guiding the Tennessee Titans to three playoff appearances in his six seasons as coach. 3.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (13-4): No Super Bowl appearances. Lift the Lombardi: The Jaguars are one of four NFL teams — along with Cleveland, Detroit and Hous-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DAVID ZALUBOWSKI

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix looks to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half on Sunday in Denver. ton — that have never reached the Super Bowl. Getting there in coach Liam Coen’s first season would be one of the biggest surprises in recent NFL history. Coen is the seventh head coach in NFL history to win 13 or more games in his first season, and the Jaguars are one of three teams — along with 2005 Patriots and 1999 Colts — to win 13 or more games a year after losing 13 or more. It’s the kind of turnaround that gives players and coaches plenty of confidence heading into their wild-card game against Buffalo. 4. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7): Six Lombardi trophies in eight Super Bowl appearances. Lift the Lombardi: Pittsburgh survived a turbulent regular season by winning four of its final five, capped by a heart-stopping Week 18 victory over rival Baltimore that gave the Steelers their first AFC North title in five years. Aaron Rodgers, in his 21st season, appears to be getting better as the temperature drops and the Steelers will have wide receiver DK Metcalf back after serving a two-game suspen-

sion for making contact with a fan in Detroit. Throw in a sometimes leaky defense that is still capable of season-shifting plays, and there’s optimism in Pittsburgh that a deep run is possible for the ﬁrst time in nearly a decade. 5. HOUSTON TEXANS (12-5): No Super Bowl appearances. Lift the Lombardi: The Texans have never reached the Super Bowl or even the conference title game, but the team’s powerful defense gives them hope that this could be their year as they enter the playoffs on a nine-game winning streak. The unit, led by stars Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and Derek Stingley held teams to 17.3 points and 277.2 yards per game this season to set franchise marks in both categories. The Texans rank third in the NFL with 29 takeaways and their consistent defensive play helped them overcome losing QB C.J. Stroud to a concussion for three games midseason and rally from an 0-3 start to make the postseason for a third straight year. 6. BUFFALO BILLS(12-5): No Lombardi trophies in four Super Bowl appear-

ances. Lift the Lombardi: Josh Allen is coming off two weeks of rest and oversees a balanced offense that features the NFL’s rushing champion in James Cook. The fourth-year running back’s more prominent role this season has taken the load off Allen having to do it all on his own. The late-season addition of Brandin Cooks adds a much-needed speed element to a receiving group that had difficulty stretching the field. 7.LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-6): No Lombardi trophies in one Super Bowl appearance. Lift the Lombardi: The Chargers are coming off their second consecutive 11-win season and postseason berth under coach Jim Harbaugh. QB Justin Herbert will be playing with a broken left hand (nonthrowing) after resting for the regular-season finale against Denver. He racked up 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. The Chargers have a trio of receivers with at least 50 catches, 700 receiving yards and four TD catches in Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey.

Darnold led Seattle to NFC West title, top seed in ﬁrst season BY ARNIE STAPLETON

Lift the Lombardi: The Seahawks, under second-year coach Mike Macdonald, are fresh off one of their ﬁnest regular seasons in the franchise’s 50-year history. Seattle won a franchise-record 14 games in the regular season, besting the 13 wins the Seahawks had in 2005 and 2013. The Seahawks have been buoyed by the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense, which is also tied for seventh in the NFL with 47 sacks. Overall, the Seahawks are one of the most talented and deepest teams in the NFC on both sides of the ball. But, it is Seattle’s defense that has been critical to its record-setting season, thanks to stalwarts such as CB Devon Witherspoon and newcomers such as

DE DeMarcus Lawrence. 2. CHICAGO BEARS (11-6): One Lombardi trophy in two Super Bowl appearances. Lift the Lombardi: The Bears’ worstto-first transformation in coach Ben Johnson’s first season has been nothing short of remarkable. They’ve gone from finishing last in the NFC North to winning the division for the first time since 2018. They’re making their first playoff appearance in five years thanks to an offense that ranks among the best in the NFL, with quarterback Caleb Williams making strides in his second season. The Bears have also performed well in tense spots, pulling out six wins when trailing in the final two minutes of the

fourth quarter. 3. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-6): Two Lombardi trophies in five Super Bowl appearances. Lift the Lombardi: The Eagles are trying to make a run at their second straight Super Bowl championship and third appearance in four seasons. Jalen Hurts, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, enters the playoffs fresh after coach Nick Sirianni chose to rest several starters in Week 18. Hurts comes into Sunday with a 76.1% winning percentage including playoff games since 2022, which leads all quarterbacks. This season he threw for 3,224 yards and rushed for 421 more. His 33 combined touchdowns through the air and on the ground ranked sixth in the NFL, and Hurts’ seven passing scores of 30-plus yards led the league. 4. CAROLINA PANTHERS (8-9): No Lombardi trophies in two Super Bowl appearances. Lift the Lombardi: Carolina has some big wins this season, beating the Packers on the road and the Rams at home. Cornerback is a strength behind the tandem of Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, and the defense overall has played well down the stretch. If the Panthers can keep games close, they have a chance. Bryce Young, who will make his playoff debut, has led 12 fourthquarter or overtime game-winning drives since 2023, more than any QB in the league. 5. LOS ANGELES RAMS (12-5): Two Lombardi trophies in five Super Bowl appearances. Lift the Lombardi: The Rams appeared to be the NFL’s most complete team in the second half of the season before they hit a two-game

Tech team had a historic season and fell just short of the ACC Championship game. Jimbo Fisher stepped away from coaching after a highly decorated career. Saban’s disciples argue it’s no coincidence. “Everybody learned a lot from Nick,” said Cignetti, who was Saban’s initial receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Alabama. “He was a great mentor, very organized, detailed; had a plan for everything. Managed lead, how to stop complacency, game day, recruiting, recruiting evaluation,

player evaluation. I mean, he had it all. And if you were serious about your career and wanted to be a head coach one day, you took great notes or great mental notes.” Lanning saw the value in learning under Saban from afar. He took a gamble, leaving behind a full-time position at Sam Houston State and taking a pay cut to accept a graduate assistant role with Alabama. “When anybody asked me why, I said, ‘I’m going to get my doctorate in football,’ ” Lanning said. “Working for Coach Saban, just like Coach (Cignetti) said, you learn so much.

Things I thought I knew, I realized I didn’t know anything. I got to really carry that over with the opportunity to work with Coach Smart, who built off of that as well at Georgia. And that was an unbelievable experience for me, and obviously it shows here as we enter the semiﬁnals.” Similar sentiments are being echoed in Arizona, as Ole Miss and Miami prepared for the Fiesta Bowl. Golding and Cristobal narrowly missed each other in Tuscaloosa. Cristobal was Saban’s offensive line coach from 2013-16. Golding led the Crimson Tide defense for

AP pro football writer

Sam Darnold erased one big blemish on his resume when he led the Seattle Seahawks to a 13-3 win at San Francisco in Week 18 that secured the NFC West crown and the NFC’s No. 1 overall seed and the first-round bye. A year ago, DarNFC nold had the Minpreview nesota Vikings in a similar spot when he flopped in a 31-9 loss at Detroit in a showdown for the NFC North title and the top overall seed in the NFC playoffs. A week later, his days as the Vikings quarterback came to an end in a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round. The Seahawks (14-3) are confident Darnold can rewrite his postseason fortunes just as he turned things around in Week 18 from his late-season struggles a year ago. The Seahawks will face the lowest remaining seed after the wildcard games this weekend. Seattle’s division title sent both the 49ers and Los Angeles Rams on the road with 12-5 records. The Niners play the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (116) on Sunday and the playoffs start when the Rams on Saturday visit the Carolina Panthers, who won the NFC South despite an 8-9 record. The NFC schedule also has the Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) visiting the Chicago Bears (11-6) on Saturday night for just the third postseason showdown between the bitter NFC North rivals. 1. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(14-3): One Lombardi trophy in three Super Bowl appearances.

CFP

Continued from page 1C of the most successful in the game. Cignetti and the Hoosiers will face Oregon in the Peach Bowl. Across the country, Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes and Golding’s Ole Miss Rebels go head-to-head in the Fiesta Bowl. Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs were eliminated in the quarterﬁnals. Lane Kifﬁn passed the baton to Golding after leading Ole Miss to the playoffs. Brent Key’s Georgia

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GODOFREDO A. VÁSQUEZ

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of a game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday in Santa Clara, Calif.

skid that knocked them out of the No. 1 spot in the NFC. They’ve still got the talented roster with the league’s most productive offense and a surprisingly effective defense, and they’re getting Davante Adams and Quentin Lake back in the lineup for the postseason. At their best this season, the Rams have been dominant behind their Super Bowl-winning coach and quarterback. 6.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(12-5): Five Lombardi trophies in eight Super Bowl trips. Lift the Lombardi: The offense has been mostly potent for the 49ers since quarterback Brock Purdy returned from a toe injury in November. Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle are tough matchups for any defense and can help overcome any defensive deﬁciencies. Star linebacker Fred Warner has a chance to return if the team can reach the conference title game and would provide a huge lift. The Super Bowl then would be played on the home ﬁeld for the Niners, a perfect setting for the franchise’s long-awaited sixth title. 7. GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-7-1): Four Lombardi trophies in five Super Bowl trips. Lift the Lombardi: Green Bay showed it could make some noise as a No. 7 seed two years ago when it won at Dallas in a wild-card upset and led San Francisco most of the way in the divisional round before losing 24-21 on a late touchdown. The Packers have experience on this stage as they’re making their third straight playoff appearance. QB Jordan Love’s had a quality season as he has thrown 23 touchdown passes with only six interceptions.

ﬁve years, from 2018-22. Cristobal says his time in Tuscaloosa opened his eyes to what college football has become and what’s necessary to run a successful program. But above all else, he adapted Saban’s mentality, and keeping that alive will always be a priority for him as a coach. Golding doubled down. In an era where the life of a college football player can be luxurious, keeping the traditional hard-nosed spirit of college football, embodied by Saban for 17 years at Alabama, is key.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ 5C

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Coaches juggle transfer portal chaos amid playoff race BY MAURA CAREY

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Madison Prep guard Elijah Garner takes a shot against Woodlawn in the first quarter of the East Baton Rouge tournament title game on Dec. 29 at BRCC.

Madison Prep basketball star earns offer from LSU BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Madison Prep entered halftime against Woodlawn with a 27-22 lead in the East Baton Rouge boys basketball tournament on Dec. 29, and a second-half hot streak hinged on the play of one junior guard. After scoring just four points in the first half, Elijah Garner provided a needed spark in the second half. Madison Prep opened the third on a 10-0 run, capped by a steal and dunk by Garner. The Chargers (9-2) went on to win 65-49 behind 17 points from the 6-foot-3 Garner. It has taken the whole team to reach this point, but Garner has led the way. The junior shooting guard stuffs the stat sheets, averaging 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals per game. He has already received Division I offers from LSU and North Carolina State. Still, Garner is far from satisfied and is still looking to keep building on his game. “It means a lot to get big offers, and get a big offer from my hometown,” Garner said. “But none of that matters unless I do what I’ve got to do on the court.” The sport he’s played since third grade has engulfed nearly every aspect of his life. “I just love basketball,” he said. “Everything concerns basketball with me.”

caught the attention of major college programs. He continued to grow in ninth grade, but he said he was primarily a dunker his freshman season. As a sophomore, he began to develop a jump shot and learn to how to dribble better, moving from a post player to playing more as a guard. Now, Garner feels his best trait is his role as a facilitator. “I can really get my teammates going,” Garner said. “Get them open.” While the junior possesses elite athleticism and a strong skillset, Jones said the biggest aspect of his growth as a player is his accountability. Garner understands the grind aspect of the game and what it takes to succeed, not just at the high school level, but to make it to the college level. “It’s not just what happens at the games,” Jones said. “It’s a preparation, it’s the classroom, it’s everything.” Jones saw Garner’s mentality ﬂip in taking every aspect seriously around his freshman year, playing on the AAU circuit. He saw fellow Division I prospects from around the country up close and saw what it took to become an elite player. “Being able to see it and touch it,” Jones said. “You begin to see, ‘This is something that I can be.’ ”

Making the right play

Madison Prep basketball is built on selfless play and passing up Garner’s growth good shots for great shots. Jones Madison Prep coach Jeffery said Garner following that model Jones ﬁrst saw Garner on a youth helps him be successful. “When you go to the next level, basketball team, the Baton Rouge Blazers. When he moved up to mid- it’s about making the right play,” dle school, he was primarily used Jones said. “It’s not about who makes the play.” as a post player. Garner also handles larger exIn eighth grade, Garner started to evolve into the player that has pectations because of recruiting

and his leading role on the team. He has to take on added accountability because his mistakes become more magniﬁed. Jones said that’s an aspect of the game you can’t train for. Garner’s taken the good with the bad, but he continues to grow on the court. For someone seen as “the guy” on the team, he has to handle both the praise and criticism equally. His work led to an offer from LSU on Oct. 7, which Garner called a dream come true. “I was in disbelief at the time,” Garner said. “I always thought about getting that offer.”

Love for the grind Jones has seen Garner’s game continue to improve over the past two years. Despite the Division I offers, he’s still not satisfied with his game. Jones described Garner as having a relentless approach to improvement. “He’ll literally be in the gym seven days a week,” Jones said. “A lot of people, you’ve got to push them and pull them and give them chicken dinners to get them to come to the gym. But he lives in there.” Jones said he believes Garner has the potential to be a high-major Division I player. He has the talent, along with the understanding of what it takes. Garner said the commitment to his craft comes with knowing that if he doesn’t keep working, bad games will be the price to pay. “I’ve got to stay consistent,” Garner said, “to have better games, play better in the game.” While pressure from a state-title pursuit and recruiting may continue to mount, Garner continues to grind and chase his favorite moment on the court. “I just love seeing the ball go in,” Garner said.

PREP REPORT Boys basketball Wednesday’s scores University 55, Catholic High 52 McKinley at Madison Prep, 5 p.m. Central Private 58, Albany 54 Tara 81, Amite 38 Catholic High-PC 42, North Iberville 22 West Feliciana 48, Northeast 32 Dunham 66, Capitol 38 Belaire 55, Glen Oaks 32 Ascension Catholic 51, Riverside 37

Thursday’s games

Catholic-PC 35, St. John 18 Jehovah-Jireh Christian 45, North Iberville 44

Friday’s games

Covenant Christian at Central Private, 4 p.m. West Feliciana at East Feliciana, 5 p.m. Brusly at Port Allen, 5 p.m. Helix Mentorship Academy at Live Oak, 5 p.m. Central at Madison Prep, 5 p.m. Episcopal at Dunham, 5 p.m. Broadmoor at Baker, 5 p.m.

Miami defeats Ole Miss in Fiesta Bowl Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss on Thursday in Glendale, Ariz. Miami won 31-27 and will advance to the College Football Playoff title game.

AP PHOTO By RICK SCUTERI

GEO Next Generation at Istrouma, at OLD Capitol High School, 5 p.m. Fontainebleau at Walker, 5 p.m. Collegiate Baton Rouge at Tara, 5 p.m. Catholic at East Ascension, 5 p.m. Scotlandville at St. Amant, 5 p.m. Plaquemine at Parkview Baptist, 5:30 p.m. Livonia at Dutchtown, 5:30 p.m. Albany at Slaughter Community Charter, 6 p.m. Capitol at Prairieville, 6 p.m. St. Joseph at Family Christian Academy, 6 p.m.

Saturday’s games Thrive Academy at Ascension Catholic, 4 p.m. White Castle at Plaquemine, 5:30 p.m.

Girls basketball Wednesday’s scores Prairieville 67, Hammond 24 White Castle 52, Live Oak 49

Thursday’s games Live Oak 64, East Iberville 5

University 62, Plaquemine 23 Dutchtown 65, Northeast 30 Livonia 40, GEO Next Generation 39 Hammond 45, East Ascension 15 St. Amant 50, Lutcher 40 Covington 52, Glen Oaks 39 Central 54, West Feliciana 41

Covington 53, Glen Oaks 39 Covington 8 8 22 15 — 53 Glen Oaks 13 8 7 11 — 39 SCORING: CHS: C. Yeager 16, N. Burris 13, B. Baham 10, S. Baham 5, M. Long 3, R. Davis 3, J. Bullard 2; GOHS: T. Banks 9, N. Grock 8, J. Richard 7, T. Sanford 7, S. Parker 4, P. Allen 2 3-POINT GOALS: Covington: 3 (Long, Burris, Yeager); Glen Oaks: 3 (Grock 2, Richard 1) RECORDS: Covington 15-5, Glen Oaks 7-11

Friday’s games Fontainebleau at Glen Oaks, 6 p.m. Dutchtown at Livonia at STEM Academy, 6 p.m. Louise S. McGehee at St. Joseph’s Academy, 6:30 p.m. Istrouma at Zachary, 6:30 p.m.

ä Oregon vs. Indiana,

AP sportswriter

6:30 P.M. FRIDAy, ESPN

ATLANTA — The second year of the 12-team College Football Playoff welcomes a new challenge: It directly coincides with the transfer portal. In October, the NCAA shifted from two portal windows to one. The 15-day transactional window now spans from January 2-16, giving players and coaches alike just over two weeks to set themselves up for success the following season. One problem: Four head coaches, eight coordinators and over 400 players are still in the running for a national championship. Amid a trip to Atlanta, a Peach Bowl appearance and the national title race, Oregon coach Dan Lanning and Indiana coach Curt Cignetti are tasked with optimizing the window and securing top-tier talent. All the while, they have their biggest game of the season ahead. Both teams last took the ﬁeld on January 1. Indiana beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Oregon rolled past Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl in Miami. The transfer portal opened at midnight, and neither team had set foot back on campus yet. “(It’s) certainly a juggle,” Lanning said. “You try to make sure you communicate to the people you’re recruiting, ‘Hey, I wish I could pay more attention to you right now, but the reality is, we are really focused on this game, and if you want to be a part of games like this, this is what you have to look forward to, and you’ll want my focus to be on this game as well.’ ” Both coaches hosted several prospects in the week leading up to the Peach Bowl. “I was playing catch-up most of the week, and you got to rely on your people a little bit more,” Cignetti said. “It also stresses you from the evaluation standpoint and the quality of the one-on-one meeting on the ofﬁcial visits, but

it is what it is and you’ve got to make the best of it.” Cignetti and Lanning lean on their coordinators and supporting staff to help with the portal. For Oregon’s offensive coordinator, Will Stein, and defensive coordinator, Tosh Lupoi, that means managing two transfer portals for two different institutions. Stein and Lupoi both accepted head coaching positions at Power Four institutions and will make the full transition after the playoffs. Stein is Kentucky-bound, and Lupoi is headed to Cal Berkeley The duo is running on fumes, but they’re relentlessly focused on the task ahead. “I was told I look refreshed today, which I have not felt that way, that’s for sure,” Stein said Wednesday night. “Absolutely wonderful. It’s been so awesome. What a great time to have the portal open right now, you know, that makes a whole lot of sense,” Lupoi added sarcastically. Lupoi struggles with not being two places at once. Guilt creeps up occasionally at the thought of not doing enough for his new program. “One thing I’m not going to do is lack any preparation that I owe to our team and our family here, so that’s not going to happen,” Lupoi said. Stein thinks the best way to draw attention to Kentucky is by continued success at Oregon. “I’ve got a lot of guys back there (in Kentucky) that are helping, but I really just try to stay present. Those guys are doing a hell of a job back there for me, but they also know that the most important thing for that program is for us to be successful here at Oregon because it’s a testament to what the blueprint is and how they’re going to be successful.”

LSU

Continued from page 1C Sprinkle also had offers from a handful of non-power conference schools, including Western Kentucky, Marshall and South Alabama. Sprinkle, a South Carolina native, is listed at 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds. He was named second-team All-MEAC this past season while starting at right tackle. LSU also landed a commitment Thursday from junior college transfer offensive lineman JaKolby Jones, he announced on social media. Jones, a native of Many, Louisiana, played in 19 games over the past two years at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He once committed to Georgia Tech and nearly signed with UL within the past year. He’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds. Jones arrived Tuesday for a visit to LSU. He became the second transfer offensive lineman to commit to the Tigers after Sprinkle. LSU needs to add several offensive linemen in the transfer portal after most of its starters left the team amid the coaching change to Kiffin and new offensive line coach Eric Wolford. The Tigers only have seven offensive linemen who have not entered the NFL draft or the transfer portal, and they signed two incoming freshmen. This week, LSU hosted Minnesota transfer Kahlee Tafai. It also offered Division II Ouachita Baptist offensive lineman Terence Roberson. LSU hosted two SEC offensive lineman Thursday. One of them was former Alabama offensive lineman Micah DeBose, sources conﬁrmed. LSU also had a visit from former Tennessee backup center William Satterwhite, according to On3.

New kicker in town LSU landed a commitment Wednesday from former Arkansas kicker Scott Starzyk. Starzyk started as a freshman for the Razorbacks this past season, connecting on 14 of 18 field goals and all 47 extra points. He went 2 for 3 on field goals over 50 yards with a long of 53 that came on the first attempt of his

career. Starzyk was named to the freshman All-SEC team. Starzyk was a highly-rated kicker in the 2025 recruiting class coming out of The Woodlands, Texas. He has three more years of eligibility. LouisianaSports.net first reported his commitment. New LSU special teams coordinator Joe Houston has now added Starzyk, former Florida punter Hayden Craig and former Florida long snapper Mack Mulhern from the transfer portal. All of them committed Wednesday. Although LSU brought in Craig, a source said LSU punter Grant Chadwick plans to stay next year for his junior season. LSU needed to find a new kicker after senior Damian Ramos exhausted his eligibility and sophomore Aeron Burrell decided to enter the transfer portal. Burrell, LSU’s kickoff specialist the past two years, did not attempt a field goal at LSU.

Players leaving Four days after LSU announced defensive tackle Walter Mathis would return for his sophomore season, an indication that he had agreed to a new deal with the team, he said Thursday that he plans to enter the transfer portal. Mathis, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound former four-star recruit, wrote in a social media post that he notiﬁed LSU that he would like to enter his name into the portal. This past season, Mathis carved out a rotational role on the interior of the Tigers’ defensive line. He recorded nine tackles in 12 games. Mathis was expected to compete for more playing time in 2026 because LSU is replacing three of its top four defensive tackles. Mathis is from Savannah, Georgia. He signed with the Tigers in 2025 as a top-500 national recruit, according to 247Sports composite rankings, and he’s now one of 31 players to leave the program via the transfer portal this cycle. LSU redshirt freshman defensive end CJ Jackson also entered the transfer portal Thursday, and ﬁfth-year senior safety Jardin Gilbert told On3 that he plans to transfer after spending two seasons with the Tigers. Staff writer Reed Darcey contributed to this report.

6C ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Efimova’s Olympic dream hinges on citizenship approval BY DAVE SKRETTA

AP sportswriter

ST. LOUIS — Alisa Efimova stepped off the ice and slipped into a jacket, an American flag patch on her left sleeve impossible to miss, after a brilliant performance with pairs partner Misha Mitrofanov at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Wednesday night. Efimova hopes to be representing the stars and stripes at the Milan Cortina Olympics next month. But time is running out. One of the Olympic requirements is that competitors are citizens of the nations they represent. And while the 28-year-old Mitrofanov was born in the U.S., the 26-year-old Efimova was born in Finland — she didn’t come to the States on a full-time basis until 2023, when they became partners — leaving her in bureaucratic limbo while the American government decides her fate. Efimova and Mitrofanov were married in February 2024. She had a green card approved in July of that year and has been seeking a waiver of the required three-year waiting period for citizenship. The finalized U.S. squad for the Winter Games will be announced on Sunday.

arguably its best pairs team on an Olympic team carrying massive expectations. “Most of the season has been great. To be honest, the last few weeks, it’s been more difficult than normal. We’ve had to do a little more paperwork. There’s been a great push for it,” Mitrofanov said. “Hopefully it happens, but it is out of our control. All we can do is focus on our training, focus on what we do, which is on the ice.” They were brilliant on the Enterprise Center ice on Wednesday night. Efimova and Mitrofanov opened their short program with a beautiful triple twist, then Mitrofanov bent low to hang on through their side-by-side triple toe loops. Their throw triple loop was spot-on, and both of them finished by pumping their fists in the air. “Maybe two days before,” Efimova said, “I couldn’t shut my thought ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH process down. I was thinking about the competition, about the skate. Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov compete during the pairs short But as soon as I entered the rink program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Wednesday in today, this is a space I know pretty St. Louis. well, and I just trusted the routine I’m used to before the competition. “We’re hoping maybe a last-min- where Efimova and Mitrofanov It doesn’t erase all the nerves. But ute miracle might happen,” Mitro- train, has done most of the legwork I think what I’m happy about is we in pursuit of her passport. U.S. Fig- were still able to skate well.” fanov said. Efimova and Mitrofanov scored The Skating Club of Boston, ure Skating also would love to have

a season-best 75.31 points to put a healthy distance between themselves and a quartet of pursuers, led by the duo of Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy, all of whom are also vying for one of the two U.S. pairs spots at the Winter Games. “I think think there’s a little mindset shift going through this — ‘Oh, we can deal with this situation and perform with this kind of pressure and these kinds of thoughts, maybe it’s making me a little stronger in the future,’ ” said Eﬁmova, who also has represented Russia and Germany along with her native Finland in international competition. Eﬁmova and Mitrofanov’s crisp, clean program Wednesday night stood in stark contrast to many of their closest rivals. Shin and Nagy were second with a season-best 67.67 points, but that still left the relatively new pairing nearly eight points off the lead. Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, the U.S. champions two years ago, were in third with 67.13 points, even after she fell on their side-by-side triple salchows and stepped out on their throw triple loop. Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, who are in the running for one of the Olympic spots, struggled through a disastrous program.

SCOREBOARD Odds

Green Bay at Chicago, 7 p.m. (PRIME)

Sunday

NBA Friday

FAVORITE LINE at BOSTON 8½ at WASHINGTON OFF Philadelphia 1½ LA Clippers 2½ at MEMPHIS OFF at DENVER OFF New York 1½ Houston 6 at GOLDEN ST. 13½ at LA LAKERS 3

O/U UNDERDOG (224½) Toronto (OFF) New Orleans (227) at ORLANDO (212½) at BROOKLYN (OFF) Oklahoma City (OFF) Atlanta (230½) at PHOENIX (219½) at PORTLAND (229½) Sacramento (231½) Milwaukee

COLLEGE BASKETBALL Friday

FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG Miami (OH) 1½ at TOLEDO at MANHATTAN 6½ Canisius at FAIRFIELD 8½ Rider Wright State 4½ at DETROIT MERCY at IONA 12½ Niagara at GREEN BAY 7½ IU Indianapolis at MOUNT ST. MARY’S 1½ Saint Peter’s at SIENA 5½ Merrimack at OAKLAND 14½ Cleveland State Marist 6½ at SACRED HEART Akron 3½ at BOWLING GREEN at MILWAUKEE 2½ Northern Kentucky at MINNESOTA 2½ USC at COLORADO STATE 6½ UNLV

College Football Friday

Peach Bowl Atlanta FAVORITE OPEN TODAY Indiana 4 3½

NFL

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

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

Semiﬁnals

Thursday Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz. No. 10 Miami 31, No. 6 Ole Miss 27 Friday Peach Bowl, Atlanta No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

National Championship

Miami Jan. 19 Semiﬁnal winners, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

FCS glance

National Championship

Monday Frisco, Texas Montana State 35, Illinois State 34

College basketball

Wild-card playoffs

Men’s state schedule, scores

Saturday

Thursday’s games

Liberty 72, Louisiana Tech 56

NBA Conference glance

Women’s state schedule, scores Thursday’s games

UL-Monroe 61, UL 51 LSU 80, Georgia 59 Louisiana Tech 65, Delaware 50 UNO 64, Southeastern 63 Southern 61, Bethune-Cookman 50 McNeese 62, Nicholls 51 Northwestern 79, UTRGV 47 Florida A&M 59, Grambling 55

Saturday’s games

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.

LSU (15-2)

Pro football L.A Rams at Carolina, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)

Pro basketball

No. 12 LSU 80, Georgia 59

College Football Playoff O/U UNDERDOG (48½) Oregon

UL 85, UL-Monroe 79

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.

Saturday’s games

Knox 1-5 0-0 2, Koval 1-3 0-0 2, Flau’jae Johnson 9-13 6-6 25, Richard 1-3 0-0 2, Williams 2-6 0-0 5, Joyner 6-8 0-0 12, Yarnevich 0-0 0-0 0, Bourrage 0-0 0-0 0, Fulwiley 6-9 6-9 18, Hines 1-3 0-0 2, ZaKiyah Johnson 6-8 0-1 12, Totals 33-58 12-16 80

GEORGIA (15-2)

Woolfolk 4-5 0-3 8, Ndour 1-3 0-0 2, Carnegie 8-24 5-5 24, Theuerkauf 1-11 5-6 7, Turner 5-16 0-0 11, Craft 3-3 0-0 6, Ojenuwa 0-0 0-0 0, Verse 0-0 0-0 0, Gonzalez 0-4 1-2 1, Henderson 0-5 0-0 0, Totals 22-71 11-16 59 LSU 19 19 18 24 — 80 Georgia 15 13 20 11 — 59 3-Point Goals—LSU 2-10 (F.Johnson 1-5, Williams 1-3, Fulwiley 0-1, Hines 0-1), Georgia 4-29 (Carnegie 3-13, Theuerkauf 0-7, Turner 1-4, Henderson 0-5). Assists—LSU 18 (Richard 6), Georgia 10 (Carnegie 3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—LSU 43 (Joyner 11), Georgia 35 (Craft 7, Turner 7). Total Fouls— LSU 13, Georgia 13. Technical Fouls—None. A—4,857.

EASTERN CONFERENCE Detroit New York Boston Toronto Philadelphia Orlando Miami Cleveland Atlanta Chicago Milwaukee Charlotte Brooklyn Washington Indiana

W 28 24 23 23 20 21 20 21 18 17 16 13 11 10 7

L 9 13 13 15 15 17 17 18 21 20 21 25 23 26 31

Pct .757 .649 .639 .605 .571 .553 .541 .538 .462 .459 .432 .342 .324 .278 .184

GB — 4 4½ 5½ 7 7½ 8 8 11 11 12 15½ 15½ 17½ 21½

Oklahoma City San Antonio Denver L.A. Lakers Minnesota Houston Phoenix Golden State Portland Memphis Dallas L.A. Clippers Utah Sacramento New Orleans

W 31 26 25 23 24 22 22 20 18 16 14 13 12 8 8

L 7 11 12 12 13 12 15 18 20 21 23 23 24 29 31

Pct .816 .703 .676 .657 .649 .647 .595 .526 .474 .432 .378 .361 .333 .216 .205

GB — 4½ 5½ 6½ 6½ 7 8½ 11 13 14½ 16½ 17 18 22½ 23½

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Wednesday’s games

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 104, Brooklyn 103, OT Phoenix 117, Memphis 98 Oklahoma City 129, Utah 125, OT San Antonio 107, L.A. Lakers 91 Golden State 120, Milwaukee 113 Portland 103, Houston 102

Thursday’s games

Indiana 114 Charlotte 112 Minnesota 131, Cleveland 122 Miami at Chicago, n Dallas at Utah, n

Friday’s games

New Orleans at Washington, 6 p.m. Philadelphia at Orlando, 6 p.m. Toronto at Boston, 6 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Brooklyn, 6:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Memphis, 7 p.m. Atlanta at Denver, 8 p.m. New York at Phoenix, 8 p.m. Houston at Portland, 9 p.m. Sacramento at Golden State, 9 p.m. Milwaukee at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.

Late Wednesday

Atlanta 117, New Orleans 100 NEW ORLEANS (100)

Matkovic 1-3 0-0 2, Williamson 10-15 2-7 22, Queen 3-9 0-0 6, Fears 3-11 5-6 11, Poole 7-18 1-1 21, Looney 0-0 2-2 2, Peavy 5-12 0-0 11, Missi 1-1 3-4 5, Hawkins 0-2 0-0 0, McGowens 8-15 3-5 20. Totals 38-86 16-25 100.

ATLANTA (117)

Johnson 9-18 1-3 19, Risacher 8-13 2-4 25, Gueye 3-10 3-3 10, Alexander-Walker 6-18 3-3 17, Daniels 6-11 1-1 13, Newell 1-3 0-1 2, Porzingis 4-11 1-2 13, Kennard 5-6 0-0 13, Krejci 2-5 0-0 5, Wallace 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 44-95 11-17 117. New Orleans 26 27 13 34 — 100 Atlanta 37 28 24 28 — 117 3-Point Goals—New Orleans 8-28 (Poole 6-13, McGowens 1-3, Peavy 1-5, Hawkins 0-1, Matkovic 0-1, Queen 0-1, Fears 0-4), Atlanta 18-47 (Risacher 7-9, Porzingis 4-8, Kennard 3-4, Alexander-Walker 2-12, Krejci 1-3, Gueye 1-4, Daniels 0-1, Newell 0-1, Johnson 0-5). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—New Orleans 40 (Queen 10), Atlanta 49 (Gueye 11). Assists—New Orleans 26 (Peavy, Williamson 6), Atlanta 30 (Daniels 8). Total Fouls—New Orleans 15, Atlanta 19. A—15,993 (18,118)

Transactions BASEBALL

Major League Baseball American League ATHLETICS — Agreed to terms with C Shea Langeliers on a one-year contract. CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Claimed C Drew Romo off waivers from the N.Y. Mets. Designated 3B Ben Cowles for assignment. TAMPA BAY RAYS — Claimed INF Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Agreed to terms with RHP Bryan Baker, LHP Garrett Cleavinger, C Nick Fortes, RHP Grifﬁn Jax, RHP Kevin Kelly, OF Josh Lowe, UTL Richie Palacios, RHP Ryan Pepiot and RHP Steven Wilson. National League ATLANTA BRAVES — Claimed LHP Ken Waldichuk off waivers from the Athletics. Designated INF Vidal Bruján for assignment. COLORADO ROCKIES — Agreed to terms with 2B Jack O’Dowd on a minor league contract. MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Agreed to terms with OF Garrett Mitchell, 2B Brice Turang, 1B Andrew Vaughn, RHP Trevor Megill and LHP Angel Zerpa on one-year contracts.

FRIDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS ENTRIES Third Race, $15,000, Maiden Claiming $12,500, 4 yo’s & up Six Furlongs

Post Time:12:45PM

First Race, $14,000, Maiden Claiming $10,000, 4 yo’s & up Five And A Half Furlongs 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

Ocean Voyager Roadside Banker Aticus Aurelius Temporory High Runner Runner Custom Spark Charlie Gamer Jayjayjay Hard Cry

E Murray H Hernandez H Rea C Hernandez J Mudd I Castillo C McMahon J Loveberry J Riquelme

Second Race, $22,000, Maiden Claiming $30,000, 3 yo, F (ﬁllies) One And One Sixteenth Miles

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

Cause We Can Stress Test Improve Position Honor Azteca Leah’s First Cloudy Lass Pipinna Amazing Lady

D Magnon P Lopez B Curtis J Graham J Ortiz J Loveberry M Pedroza, Jr. F Geroux

10-1 9-2 15-1 20-1 4-1 7-2 10-1 5-2 8-1

15-1 4-1 8-1 7-2 3-1 7-2 15-1 8-1

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

Daredevil Doug Max the Butler Cajun Swagger Lemon Sohn Spielman Miracle On Central Lost in the Sauce Mister O

M Murrill J Loveberry J Riquelme A Concepcion J Graham M Pedroza, Jr. D Cannon I Castillo

Fifth Race, $57,000, AOC $35,000, 4 yo’s & up One Mile Seventy Yards 3-1 15-1 10-1 4-1 7-2 9-2 6-1 8-1

Fourth Race, $55,000, AOC $12,500, 4 yo’s & up, F & M (ﬁllies and mares) One Mile 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

Run Bambi Run Lady Star Snazzy Gal Instaspeed Walksonwater Starsnmotion Awree Canal Street Clearly Creeps Factor of Time Desert Glow Visionista

J Loveberry P Lopez J Ortiz E Murray J Mudd I Castillo M Pedroza, Jr. A Concepcion C McMahon M Murrill J Ortiz R Hernandez

6-1 9-2 6-1 20-1 12-1 8-1 6-1 7-2 15-1 6-1 3-1 8-1

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

Cosmic Train Sippin On Gin Macho Beanie Le Monstre Rapide Tambourine Star Mangum Highland Creek Blue Cheese

J Ortiz A Concepcion B Hernandez, Jr. I Castillo H Hernandez P Lopez F Geroux C McMahon

9-2 5-2 6-1 8-1 15-1 5-1 7-2 12-1

Sixth Race, $56,000, AOC $50,000, 4 yo’s & up, F & M (ﬁllies and mares) One And One Sixteenth Miles 01 02 03 04 05 06 07

Pink Ruby Being Myself Jenkin Classic Performer Amalﬁ Drive Bless the Broken Pretty Sassy

A Concepcion J Ortiz P Lopez M Murrill B Hernandez, Jr. F Geroux B Curtis

8-1 7-2 8-1 10-1 8-1 6-5 9-2

Seventh Race, $56,000, AOC $50,000, 4 yo’s & up, F & M (ﬁllies and mares) Five And A Half Furlongs

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

Liuzza Cairo Dream Aldora Quantum Burst Mom’s Palace Fast Flame Biscuitwiththeboss Shining Star (CHI)

J Riquelme J Loveberry D Magnon B Curtis R Hernandez P Lopez M Pedroza, Jr. J Ortiz

12-1 8-1 15-1 8-1 5-2 8-1 5-1 9-5

Eighth Race, $15,000, Claiming $5,000, 4 yo’s & up One And One Sixteenth Miles 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15

Hey Boss People Force Ricky Bobby Little Ditty Skip the Line Regimental Keys Included Motor City Menace Ben Dreaming All West Runninginthemoney Super Wise Background Prichard Daryl’s Bolt

J Loveberry M Pedroza, Jr. A Concepcion P Lopez J Mudd M Murrill C McMahon B Curtis J Graham J Rodriguez J Ortiz E Murray H Hernandez M Murrill H Rea

3-1 12-1 8-1 6-1 15-1 20-1 15-1 12-1 6-1 12-1 7-2 20-1 6-1 10-1 6-1

THURSDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS RESULTS POST TIME: 12:45 PM Track Condition: ﬁrm

First Race — Purse $24,000, Claiming $20,000, 4 yo’s & up, Five Furlongs

8-Bayou Bertie (Curtis B.) $2.80 $2.20 $2.10 2-De’ Ans Eighty (Castillo I.) $3.20 $2.40 6-Call’em All (Graham J.) $5.20 Also Ran: Rumpus, Rambert, Classic Claire, Margoinabubblebath. Late Scratches: Hittin My Stride, Spinning Glory, Tough Love Torres, Lylah Renee Race Time: :57.12 Exacta (8-2) $4.10; Superfecta (8-2-6-7) $18.20; Trifecta (8-2-6) $19.95 Claimed: Bayou Bertie ($20,000.00, Owner: Blue Ridge Racing, Trainer: Alan Klanfer)

Second Race — Purse $18,000, Claiming $15,000, 4 yo’s & up, One Mile Seventy Yards

5-Prince Day (Rea H.) $13.60 $4.20 $3.00 7-Ain’t No Disco (Ortiz J.) $2.60 $2.10 4-Sand Cast (Concepcion A.) $2.80 Also Ran: Sharp Strike, Cesium, Texas Splurge, American Vision. Race Time: 1:43.91 Daily Double (8-5) $10.90; Exacta (5-7) $21.70; Superfecta (5-7-4-6) $30.44; Trifecta (5-7-4) $25.70 Claimed: Prince Day ($15,000.00, Owner: Craftyhorse Racing LLC, Schafer, Homer and Sulzberger, Jr., Robert, Trainer: Larry Rivelli)

Third Race — Purse $15,000, Maiden Claiming $12,500, 3 yo’s & up, One Mile 9-Don’t Be Salty (Concepcion A.) 5-Jailhouse Religion (Ortiz J.)

$6.00 $3.40 $2.80 $3.40 $2.40

2-Kisses for Cooper (Mudd J.) $4.60 Also Ran: Lady Dixie, Moor to Conquer, Keen Gal, Meg’s Ladybug, Dewey’s Soldier, Storm Surge. Race Time: 1:40.48 Daily Double (5-9) $28.70; Exacta (9-5) $8.80; Superfecta (95-2-8) $15.00; Trifecta (9-5-2) $20.45; Pic 3 (8-5-9) $19.25

Fourth Race — Purse $55,000, Allowance, 4 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs 3-Prayforthewicked (Ortiz J.) $11.40 $3.40 $2.60 6-From Scratch (Loveberry J.) $2.20 $2.10 5-Moonie Pie (Pedroza, Jr. M.) $2.80 Also Ran: Kin to the Wicked, Mika Ella Pika, Glistening Gal. Race Time: 1:11.10 Daily Double (9-3) $15.10; Exacta (3-6) $10.50; Superfecta (3-6-5-2) $8.17; Trifecta (3-6-5) $15.45; Pic 3 (5-9-3) $50.65

Fifth Race — Purse $54,000, Maiden special weight, 4 yo’s & up, Five And A Half Furlongs 6-Tempting Eve (Pedroza, Jr. M.) $4.40 $3.00 $2.40 7-Chardan (Loveberry J.) $7.60 $4.80 3-Bodacious Beauty (Concepcion A.) $4.20 Also Ran: Carae, Mo Complex, Aurora Sky, Cantora, Zettie. Late Scratches: Twolatebabydoll (FR) Race Time: 1:05.44 Daily Double (3-6) $22.00; Exacta (6-7) $23.20; Superfecta (6-7-3-4) $77.51; Trifecta (6-7-3) $40.10; Pic 3 (9-3-6) $29.05; (9-3-1) $7.95; Pic 4 (5-9-3-ALL) $59.80; Pic 5 (1/5/8/10/11-59-3-ALL) $116.00

Sixth Race — Purse $19,000, Claiming $12,500, 4 yo’s & up, Five And A Half Furlongs 8-Myglorybee (Nieves E.)

$15.80 $8.40 $4.80

6-Ampitup (Curtis B.) $8.20 $5.20 5-Charco (Pedroza, Jr. M.) $2.80 Also Ran: Late September, Twofexusnexus, Creole Charlie, Speightful One, Father Goose. Late Scratches: Catalina Day, Autie Race Time: 1:04.77 Daily Double (6-8) $29.70; Exacta (8-6) $57.50; Superfecta (8-6-5-4) $86.74; Trifecta (8-6-5) $109.85; Pic 3 (3-6-8) $141.25 Claimed: Charco ($12,500.00, Owner: Thomas Ajubita, Trainer: Sturges Ducoing), Speightful One ($12,500.00, Owner: Crusaders Stable LLC, Trainer: David Terre

Seventh Race — Purse $55,000, AOC $12,500, 4 yo’s & up, One Mile 7-Magnolia West (Nieves E.) $37.40 $13.60 $6.20 5-Wicked as Haggart (Riquelme J.) $4.40 $4.20 9-Southscape (Castillo I.) $4.80 Also Ran: Single Shot, Mardi Gras Empire, Captivating Star, Classical Knight, Turf Monster, Tensas Camp Road, Bob’s Channel, Dude Drop Kid. Late Scratches: American Dollars, Coffee County, Titanium Deal, Uniﬁed Report, Runninginthemoney Race Time: 1:37.96 Daily Double (8-7) $104.00; Exacta (7-5) $158.40; Superfecta (7-5-9-8) $3,173.70; Trifecta (7-5-9) $347.65; Pic 3 (6-8-7) $211.85; Pic 4 (3-1/6-8-7) $2,337.10

Eighth Race — Purse $28,000, Claiming $30,000, 4 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs 5-Show Time (Ortiz J.) $6.80 $4.20 $3.00 2-Carambaso (Lopez P.) $9.20 $6.20 6-Bebedouro (Hernandez H.) $7.00 Also Ran: (dh)Island Cruiser, (dh)Finster, Disco Ball, I Got No Munny. Late Scratches: Midnight Pranks Race Time: 1:10.43

Daily Double (7-5) $58.70; Exacta (5-2) $49.70; Superfecta (5-2-6-7) $84.40; Superfecta (5-2-6-8) $77.03; Trifecta (5-2-6) $147.50; Pic 3 (8-7-5) $309.90 Claimed: Disco Ball ($30,000.00, Owner: Larry Romero, Trainer: Joe Sharp)

Ninth Race — Purse $54,000, Maiden special weight, 3 yo, One And One Sixteenth Miles

10-Touch of Fire (Pedroza, Jr. M.) $10.20 $5.80 $3.20 9-Robert Lee (Murrill M.) $13.00 $6.60 6-Royal Causeway (Geroux F.) $2.80 Also Ran: Next Time, Fake Smart, Shuggy, Whatever, Apollo Eleven, In the Gray. Late Scratches: Market Runner, Swerve Race Time: 1:43.85 Daily Double (5-10) $18.40; Exacta (10-9) $47.40; Superfecta (10-9-6-1) $156.55; Trifecta (10-9-6) $68.45; Consolation Double (5-4) $3.10; Pic 3 (7-5-10) $155.95; (7-5-4) $31.15

Tenth Race — Purse $14,000, Maiden Claiming $10,000, 4 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs

5-Mo Diva (Hernandez C.) $4.20 $2.80 $2.40 11-Mom’s Hands (Rosier C.) $6.60 $3.80 9-Charlie Brahms (Pedroza, Jr. M.) $5.40 Also Ran: Naykesh, Mary Claire, Francesnfriends, Show’ Em Nola, Arguing Louise, Global Value, Southern Love, Arabi Girls Rule. Late Scratches: Vickie’s Halo Race Time: 1:14.44 Daily Double (10-5) $10.60; Exacta (5-11) $20.20; Superfecta (5-11-9-3) $295.02; Trifecta (5-11-9) $76.50; Pic 3 (5-10-5) $23.40; (5-4-5) $3.70; Pic 4 (7-5-10-5/10) $330.50; Pic 5 (8-75-10-5/10) $2,672.85; (1/6-8-7-5-10-5/10) $1,799.14 Claimed: Mom’s Hands ($10,000.00, Owner: Chris Aulds, Trainer: Jose Camejo)

LET FREEDOM RING

TWICE THE LAUGHS

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and Justice Sunday, the Baker Branch Library will host a viewing of the “I Have a Dream” speech at 3 p.m. Saturday. Dialogue with Dr. Charles Vincent, Ph.D., Baker City Council member and president of the Mwalimu Institute, will follow. ebrpl.com.

Join the troupe Just in the Femur for “Unscripted: An Improv Show” at 7 p.m. Friday at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center. That same night, catch the Family Dinner Improv Comedy Theatre’s monthly show at 7:30 p.m. at the Manship Theatre’s Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre. artsbr.org or manshiptheatre.org.

THE ENTIRE ALBUM

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

The Black Jacket Symphony will present the iconic Pink Floyd record “The Dark Side of the Moon” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Raising Cane’s River Center Theatre for Performing Arts. The evening will continue with a full set of Pink Floyd’s greatest hits, complete with stunning visuals. $45.10 and up. rivercenter.com.

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

F r i d ay, J a n u a ry 9, 2026

1dn

BATON ROUGE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL WHEN: Wednesday-Sunday, Jan. 14-18 l WHERE: Manship Theatre, Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. l TICKETS: $14.50 individual screenings, $25.50 festival pass l INFO: manshiptheatre.org and brjff.com

Roll credits 20th BR Jewish Film Festival to be the last

BY JOHN WIRT

Contributing writer For its 20th anniversary event, the Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival is presenting four feature films at the Manship Theatre, its home since the festival began. Running Wednesday, Jan. 14, through Sunday, Jan. 18, the festival’s 20th year also will be its ﬁnal one. The rise of streaming services that bring movies directly to homes and mobile devices and corresponding decline in movie theater attendance led Jewish Film Festival organizers to bring down the curtain. “To everything there is a season,” said Ara Rubyan, a co-founder and co-chair of the festival. “People don’t go to the

ä See FILM FEST, page 2D

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

An aircraft carrier veterans float rides past the Capitol as Le Krewe Mystique de la Capitale rolls through downtown Baton Rouge last year.

Throw time

Ready for Mardi Gras 2026 in south Louisiana? Here’s a preview of the parades, with dates BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

PROVIDED PHOTO By BATON ROUGE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

‘Holding Liat’ chronicles the sorrow, uncertainty and conflicting viewpoints a couple’s families experienced during their loved ones’ captivity in Gaza in 2023.

Yes, it will be a shorter Carnival season, with Fat Tuesday falling on Feb. 17. But never fear, there are 16 parades rolling in the Baton Rouge area before Ash Wednesday. And that usually dull weekend after the ofﬁcial holiday is going to the dogs, with the Krewe of Mutts in Baton Rouge on Feb. 22 and the City of Walker’s Kroux of Barkus on Feb. 21. Have fun and be safe out there! Here we go!

Krewe of Oshun

n Noon Saturday, Jan. 31, from 3200

Harding Blvd., Baton Rouge

Mardi Gras is coming! Send us your ball stories and photos

The Advocate will publish Mardi Gras ball stories from Carnival krewes in and around the Baton Rouge area. Stories and photos should be emailed at least two weeks before the ball to mardigras@theadvocate.com. Stories should include the names of the ball captain, court and the ball’s theme. No costume descriptions will be included. Provide one photograph of the king, queen and ball captain, and photos of the court in groups of three or more. We will do our best but cannot guarantee date of publishing. Photos should be jpg attachments with a resolution of 300 dpi or more. Those in photo(s) should be identiﬁed from left to right. Do not send more than three photos in a single email. Also, please include contact name and phone number.

town’s newest Mardi Gras tradition. Expect lighted ﬂoats, local performances and a festive atmosphere at FOR this family-friendly parade. MORE, But don’t wait until dark to get to New Roads on parade day. The THEADVOCATE.COM Chemin Neuf Mardi Gras Festival, celebrating culture and communiaround for the festival and its food, ty, runs all day, with family actividrinks and live music. oshunba- ties, the Sweet Pecan Challenge, live music from local bands, and tonrouge.mailchimpsites.com/. food vendors. The krewe supports the Pointe n 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, from Coupee and West Feliciana Health Denham Springs High School along Services Foundation. For more, Range Avenue to Veterans Boulevard visit kreweofcheminneuf.com. It’s the 46th anniversary for this Livingston Parish Parade, known for its elaborate floats, many n 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, starting and marching bands and dance groups, ending on River Road near Raising Cane’s River Center, Baton Rouge and family atmosphere. For more info, email kreweof There’s nothing like the Mardi Gras magic of an evening parade. dsparadecaptain@gmail.com. Founded in 2001, the first and only all-female parading krewe n 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, from New emphasizes a family-style Mardi Roads Street, ending on Parent Gras event for all ages. Featuring

MARDI GRAS 2026

Krewe of Denham Springs

Krewe of Artemis

It’s the sixth annual parade and festival in this North Baton Rouge neighborhood, and is a celebration of African American culture and heritage. Presented by North Baton Rouge Now Blue Ribbon Commission, the parade will offer ﬂoats, Street, New Roads marching bands and dancers. Stick It’s the small Pointe Coupee Parish

Krewe of Chemin Neuf

ä See PARADES, page 2D

Applications open for Pride Fest’s Rainbow Exchange Performer Sa Riyah Roxx takes the stage during Pride Fest 2025 at the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge. STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Staff report Community organizations, artists, makers and local vendors — now’s the time to apply for a spot in this year’s Rainbow Exchange at Baton Rouge Pride Fest. “The Rainbow Exchange is the heart of Baton Rouge Pride Fest — bringing together queer artists, small businesses, nonproﬁts and community resources in one vibrant, welcoming space. It’s where

connection happens, stories are shared, and Pride truly comes to life,” a news release states. This year’s festival, taking place June 27, will take the theme, “This Is What Pride Feels Like.” Apply by Jan. 31 for early bird vendor pricing. Spaces are limited and fill up quickly, according to organizers. To apply for the Rainbow Exchange, visit eventeny.com.

2D ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press Today is Friday, Jan. 9, the ninth day of 2026. There are 356 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 9, 2007, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone at the Macworld conference in San Francisco. Also on this date: In 1861, Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union, the same day the Star of the West, a merchant vessel bringing reinforcements and supplies to Federal troops at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, retreated because of artillery ﬁre. In 1945, during World War II, American forces began landing on the shores of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines as the Battle of Luzon got underway, resulting in

FILM FEST

Continued from page 1D theater like they used to. It’s not our festival, it’s not Baton Rouge. It’s happening everywhere.” The late Harvey Hoffman, his wife, Paula, their daughter, Julie, and son-in-law, Rubyan, founded the Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival. After Harvey Hoffman’s death in 2011, his survivors and fellow festival co-chairs continued producing the event. “We started the festival 20 years ago, when the iPhone had just been released,” Rubyan said. “How different a world we live in now than then. The last few times Julie and I have gone to a movie theater, we were the only people there. People stay home and stream movies. That’s affected us. We’ve seen a decline in the audience that comes out to the festival.” Although their annual festival is ending, Rubyan and Julie Hoffman, in cooperation with the Manship Theatre, plan to present some films with Jewish subjects and themes throughout the year. “That’s how we’ll handle it going forward, but I can’t be more speciﬁc,” Rubyan said. “We don’t have any dates at this point, but there’s probably an appetite for that.” This year’s Jewish Film Festival offerings, including a major documentary about the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, are listed below with showtimes and descriptions.

‘Fantasy Life’

n 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14

Matthew Shear, writer-director of “Fantasy Life,” co-stars in the film as Sam, a suddenly unemployed New Yorker in his 30s. After he accepts the job of babysitting his psychiatrist’s three granddaughters, Sam’s initially one-night-only job becomes an ongoing position. He consequently develops a rapport with the girls’ mother, Dianne, a woman who, like Sam, is struggling. Judd Hirsch co-stars as the psychiatrist and Amanda Peet plays the shrink’s daughter. Shot in Manhattan and Martha’s Vineyard, the ﬁlm’s supporting players include Bob Balaban and Andrea Martin.

an Allied victory over Imperial Japanese forces. In 2018, downpours sent mud and boulders roaring down Southern California hillsides that had been stripped of vegetation by a wildﬁre; more than 20 people died and hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed. Today’s birthdays: Musician-activist Joan Baez is 85. Rock musician Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) is 82. Singer Crystal Gayle is 75. Actor J.K. Simmons is 71. Actor Imelda Staunton is 70. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú is 67. Actor Joely Richardson is 61. Musician Dave Matthews is 59. Rapper and singer Sean Paul is 53. Actor Angela Bettis is 53. Singer AJ McLean (Backstreet Boys) is 48. Golfer Sergio Garcia is 46. Catherine, Princess of Wales, is 44.

Featuring recordings of Wiesel as narration, “Soul on Fire” shapes an intimate account of the late writer, educator and Holocaust survivor. Wiesel’s memoir, “Night,” and its story of imprisonment in Auschwitz and Buchenwald, made international impact. Standing against “the sin of indifference,” he wrote 57 more books, taught at Boston University for more than 30 years and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. “Why do I write?” Wiesel asked. “What else can I do? I write to bear witness.” “Soul on Fire” writer, director and producer Oren Rudavsky has a personal connection to the documentary’s subject. “My mother studied with Elie Wiesel in Boston and his books were in our home,” the ﬁlmmaker said. “The opportunity to make this film, for me, was personal, because of his beautiful stories of Jewish mystical leaders and because of my families’ experience, which, in some ways, mirrored his. In a world which is so profoundly divided, where people have forgotten how to speak civilly to each other, Wiesel is a role model and a healer which we need today more than ever.”

‘Holding Liat’

n 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17

Israeli-American Liat Atzili and her husband, Aviv, were among the hostages taken by Hamas to Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023. “Holding Liat” chronicles the sorrow, uncertainty and conﬂicting viewpoints the couple’s families experienced during their loved ones’ captivity.

‘Swedishkayt: Yidlife Crisis in Stockholm’

n 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18

The Canadian comedy duo of Jamie Elman and Eli Batalion travels to Sweden for a show in Stockholm. While they prepare for the show, they investigate the Nordic nation’s little-known Jewish culture. Production notes for “Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm” describe the film as a warm, funny story about a community that thrives on resilience and reinvention. Elman and Batalion bring 25 years of theater, music, television and film experience to “Swedish‘Eli Wiesel: Soul on Fire’ kayt.” They’ve acted in television’s n 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15 “Mad Men,” “House MD” and Before the nationwide PBS tele- “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and writvision debut of “Elie Wiesel: Soul ten, directed and produced films on Fire” on Tuesday, Jan. 27, Ho- shown at the Sundance, Toronto, locaust Remembrance Day, the Berlin and SXSW film festivals. Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival is showing the film on the Manship Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. Theatre’s big screen. com.

PARADES

Continued from page 1D New Orleans-style ﬂoats; themed throws, including the Krewe of Artemis’ signature high-heeled shoe, footballs, light-up tambourines, stuffed animals, float beads and lighted throws. In addition to River Road, the route includes blocks of Convention, Laurel, Sixth, Ninth, Main, Fourth and Third streets. kreweofartemis.net.

Le Krewe Mystique de la Capitale

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Paraders cheer alongside Iron Man as the Krewe of Artemis parade rolls through downtown Baton Rouge last year.

n 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, same

route as Artemis

One of the longest-running parades in the city, the “mystique” aspect means that the krewe does not reveal the identities of its royalty until the opening of a parade or a ball. Another element of the afternoon parade features veterans riding on ﬂoats, with their ride fee and throws for nonkrewe members provided by Le Krewe Mystique. https://krewemystique.com/.

Krewe of Spanish Town

n Noon Saturday, Feb. 14, from

Spanish Town Road, along a downtown route ending on River Road

its website. The mascot, Dimples the golf ball, is a nod to the neighborhood’s roots, as Shenandoah was developed as a golf course in its early years. James and Julie Crow are this year’s parade grand marshals. Julie Crow led efforts to establish a Mardi Gras parade for Shenandoah. This year’s parade king is Todd Terrell, who helped establish the United Cajun Navy after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

If you know, you know. If not, head to the eclectic Spanish Town neighborhood on the Saturday before Mardi Gras and see how a parade can take over the entire downtown with its raucous revelry. It’s by far the largest parade for miles. The parade, in all its hot pink glory, is organized by the Mystic Krewe for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana, dba SPLL, and takes the pink flamingo as its n 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, from Irma mascot. Boulevard, Gonzales All this fun has a philanthropic Gonzales Police Chief Sherman lining as SPLL has donated more Jackson will lead the parish’s pa- than $1.4 million to local charities rade as grand marshal. With the from ball, parade and golf tourna- n 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, Tuesday, Feb. 17, downtown New theme of “Coming to Ascension,” ment proceeds. Roads the parade ends at the corner of La. 44 and La. 30. In its fifth year, The Community Center Parade Mambo will celebrate its annual includes motorized floats only; Mardi Gras ball on Saturday, Jan. there will be no bands/dance n 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, starting 31. Parade entry applications will groups for 2026. This parade foland ending on Oaks Avenue be accepted up until two weeks lows a unique tradition of commubefore the parade date. To sign Residents of The Oaks subdivi- nity-built floats. up, visit https://www.facebook. sion in Port Allen established this Meanwhile, the Lions Club Pacom/p/Krewe-of-Ascension-Mam- krewe in 1985. rade takes the theme “Parade of Krewe members must live be- Nations” for its 82nd anniversary. bo-100075701844497/. tween the boundaries of Avenue The family-oriented celebration A to Oaks Ave and La. 1 to River has entries from schools, churchRoad. es and businesses. n 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 (same Since 1985, the krewe has grown Note that the two parades typiroute as Artemis) from eight members to more than cally merge at some point downOrion takes the theme “Famous 100. Each year, the decorations town, and start times often move Hollywood Faces” for its 27th an- committee hangs Mardi Gras up to avoid inclement weather. nual parade. Expect colorfully- flags along the parade route, judglighted and tractor-pulled floats, es select the top three floats, and masked and costumed riders, a block party with music follows themed parade medallions, Krewe after the parade. n 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, Sidney of Orion signature footballs, lightHutchinson Park, Walker ed throws, beads, marching bands, dance groups and marching units. n It’s a parade of canines plus a 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, Church https://kreweoforion.com/parade/. Street to Main Street, Zachary whole lot more. Awards will be given for best original wagon/ The inaugural run of this com- stroller/float, best costume, best munity parade takes the theme owner & pet look alike, and peon 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, along North “Celebrating Everyday Heroes.” ple’s choice. After the parade, Boulevard, Baton Rouge Parade float entries are now be- stick around for “Bark in the How can you not like a Mardi Gras ing accepted at zmardigras.com. Park,” with activities until 2 p.m., krewe with a squirrel for a mascot? “This will be a safe, family- including art and pet vendors, pet The Mid City Gras parade has friendly celebration filled with adoptions, food trucks, and music been rolling for just a few years unity, culture and Louisiana by the Capital City Cajuns. Visitors are encouraged to bring by a not-for-profit organization pride,” a Facebook post by Zachlawn chairs. “committed to showcasing our ary Mardi Gras states. Parking will be available at Ball vibrant and diverse community,” Park Road, the fishing pond on according to its website. Corbin Avenue and the CommuThe krewe is run entirely by n 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, from St. volunteers. If you want to get in- John the Evangelist Church and nity Center. Proceeds will benefit the Walker volved, visit https://www.midcity- ending at Carl F. Grant Civic Center, Animal Shelter. gras.org/contact or email hello@ Plaquemine midcitygras.org. A family-friendly parade, the Comogo krewe was established in memory of Plaquemine resident n 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, along n 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, through the Brenda Comeaux. It’s the only North Boulevard, Baton Rouge Southdowns neighborhood, Baton night parade in Iberville Parish. Rouge Get a sneak peek of what’s in The Baton Rouge community’s With a “Vacation” theme, the store for parade night at an open canines are the stars of the entire city’s first night Carnival parade is house from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sat- day, with several events happening rolling for the 39th time. It’s a rain- urday, Jan. 17. It’s at the Comogo well before parade time. There’s or-shine, family-friendly event. Float Den, 58755 Belleview Road, Bark in the Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.(includes local pet vendors), Paradegoers are asked not to park Plaquemine. the Baton Rouge Police Departon the parade route itself, as offroute parking will be available. ment K-9 demonstration at 11 a.m., Get in the “Vacation” mood at n 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, starting and the dog costume contest at the krewe’s annual ball at 7 p.m. on Jones Creek Road, through the noon, all at Galvez Plaza. An After Saturday, Jan. 24 at De La Ronde Shenandoah neighborhood and end- Pawty from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. caps Hall. The Remnants will offer live ing near Woodlawn Baptist Church off the afternoon. Spectators are music. For tickets, go to bontempThis nonprofit organization is in for a treat as dog owners dress “dedicated to bringing goodwill their pets as everything from a hot stix.com. This year’s king and queen are to Shenandoah with the celebra- dog to Harry Potter. caaws.org/ Austin Staples and Kate Gladney. tion of Mardi Gras,” according to special_events/krewe-of-mutts.

Krewe of Ascension Mambo

Community Center of Pointe Coupee and New Roads Lions Club

Krewe of Good Friends of the Oaks

Krewe of Orion

City of Walker Kroux of Barkus

Krewe of Zachary

Krewe of Mid City Gras

Krewe of Comogo

Mystic Krewe of Mutts

Krewe of Southdowns

Krewe of Shenandoah

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ 3D

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Spooning out seeds from squash Dear Heloise: I use a serrated grapefruit spoon to spoon out the seeds from squash. It really gets them out easily. — Nancy K., in Amsterdam, New York

Identifying medications

the top of the medicine bottle so that I can identify it quickly. — Euda Lee K., in Texas

Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: I agree with Shirley about her method of preparing her meds. I do this as well, but I also glue one pill on

No more raisins

Dear Heloise: As a dental hygienist, I would not encourage raisins as a healthy snack for anyone, especially children. Raisins are concentrated sugar and very sticky.

They adhere to tooth surfaces and tend to stay put for long periods of time, which sets up the teeth for decay. When looking for a healthy snack for kids, I would say anything that dissolves quickly beats raisins! How about a Popsicle? — Susan L., via email Send a hint to heloise@heloise. com.

AROUND BATON ROUGE FRIDAY

GENEALOGY BROWN BAG LUNCH WITH CHAD L. LEBLANC: noon, Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. LeBlanc will discuss the Canary Islanders, who came to south Louisiana in the late 18th century. Bring your own lunch. Free, ebrpl.com. JOVIAN OPPOSITION: 7:45 p.m.9:45 p.m., BREC Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Road. Weather permitting, viewing of Jupiter will take place. Binoculars recommended. Also, evening sky viewing from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free. hrpo.lsu.edu/events

SATURDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m.-noon, Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org. GARDEN DISCOVERIES: MYSTERY AND ECOLOGY OF TREES: 10 a.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Free. Registration available at ebrpl.co/events or (225) 231-3750 for registration assistance. ebrpl.co/garden. FAMILY-HOUR STARGAZING: 10 a.m., Irene W. Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Learn about the stars and constellations in the local nighttime sky, followed by an all-ages show. lasm.org. GREATER BATON ROUGE MODEL RAILROADERS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Republic of West Florida Historical Museum, 3406 College St., Jackson. Electric trains of all sizes will be running on ﬁve different layouts. Free admission and parking. FRESH START ART SWAP: 12:30 p.m.2 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Informal, community-minded art and craft supplies swap. Free. ebrpl.com. ST. FRANCISVILLE CONTRA DANCE: 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Jackson Hall, 11621 Ferdinand St. Easy to learn; no experience or partner needed. Singles and couples welcome. Music by the band Just a Trace. Dances called by Charlene Heaton. Suggested donation: $10. (225) 635-4065.

SUNDAY

BRAVER ANGELS BATON ROUGE MEETING: 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m., South Branch Library, 2210 Glasgow Ave. Panel discussion: learn about the Baton Rouge Plan of Government in light of the anticipated budget shortfall. SENSORY SECOND SUNDAY: 3 p.m.5 p.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Dimmed lights, low-volume music, designated quiet areas, headphones and sensory tools are available. Due to limited space, preregistration recommended at tinyurl.com/LASMSensorySunday. lasm.org. 2026 VISION BOARD WORKSHOP: 4:30 p.m., Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, 233 St. Ferdinand St. All ages welcome; all materials included. $22. 225theatrecollective.com.

MONDAY

MEET THE FOUNDER: SOUTHDOWNS MARDI GRAS PARADE: 6 p.m., South Branch Library, 2210 Glasgow Ave. Learn about Baton Rouge’s ﬁrst night parade from the man who started it all, Dr. Will Gladney. Free. ebrpl.com.

MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS LEARN TO PLAY THE MOUNTAIN

PROVIDED PHOTO

Interested in learning to play the mountain dulcimer? The Lagniappe Dulcimer Society will give free lessons at 6:30 p.m. Mondays and 12:30 p.m. Thursdays during January at Fairwood Branch Library, 12910 Old Hammond Highway. For more info, call (225) 205-7407. DULCIMER: 6:30 p.m. Mondays and 12:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fairwood Branch Library, 12910 Old Hammond Highway. Free four-week class series for adults (no class on Martin Luther King Jr. Day) presented by Lagniappe Dulcimer Society. Loaner dulcimers available; registration required. (225) 205-7407.

TUESDAY

INFORMAL ARTIST TALK: 5:30 p.m.7:30 p.m., Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. “A New Frame of Mind — A Group Exhibit,” featuring the custom framing of Travis Pickett. BATON ROUGE CHESS CLUB: 6 p.m.8 p.m., La Divina Italian Cafe, 3535 Perkins Road, Unit 360. A chance to play and learn; all levels welcome. Free.

THURSDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m.-noon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. facebook.com/redstickfarmersmarket. WEEKLY SOCIAL BIKE RIDE: 7 p.m., Geaux Ride, 521 N. Third St., Suite A. Free. fareharbor.com.

ONGOING

ART GUILD OF LOUISIANA: Independence Park Theatre, 7800 Independence Blvd. January classes are: Larry Downs, The Complete Artist Using Eyes, Hands, and Brain, the Basics of Art, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays through Feb. 12; Kerry Curtin, Stained Glass, Create Your Own Treasure, 9 a.m.noon, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 9-10 and 16-17; and Roberta Loﬂin, Watercolor Basics, Tools and Techniques, 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays, Jan. 31-Feb. 21. All classes at Studio in the Park, 2490 Silverest Ave. (225) 773-8020 or artguildlouisiana.org. BATON ROUGE GALLERY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: 1515 Dalrymple Drive. “Surreal Salon 18,” with special guest juror SWOON,” through Jan. 25. batonrougegallery.org. CAPITOL PARK MUSEUM: 660 N. Fourth St. “Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend,” through Saturday. “Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation,” “The Louisiana Experience: Discovering the Soul of America,” “African American History,” “Music and Musicians” and “Mardi Gras,” permanent exhibits. (225) 342-5428 or louisianastatemu-

seum.org. CARY SAURAGE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER SHELL GALLERY: 233 St. Ferdinand St. “Continuum” by David Bruner, through Saturday. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. artsbr.org. ELIZABETHAN GALLERY: 680 Jefferson Highway. Group show. Call (225) 924-6437 or follow the gallery’s Facebook page. THE GALLERY AT MANSHIP: 100 Lafayette St. “A New Frame of Mind,” group exhibition that challenges the traditional role of the picture frame, through Jan. 31. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. LSU MUSEUM OF ART: Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. “The Sculpture of Scott, Payton, Hayden, and Bechet,” through Jan. 25. (225) 389-7200 or lsumoa.org. LSU TEXTILE & COSTUME MUSEUM: Human Ecology Building, Tower Drive, LSU campus. “Dressing Louisiana Histoires de la mode de la Louisiane,” through March 6. (225) 578-5992 or email textile@lsu.edu. MAGNOLIA MOUND MUSEUM + HISTORIC SITE: 2161 Nicholson Drive. Guided and self-guided tours. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. MondaySaturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. brec.org/facility/MagnoliaMound. OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION: 502 North Blvd. Open for tours. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. MondayFriday. Free admission. oldgovernorsmansion.com. OLD STATE CAPITOL: 100 North Blvd. Free. The museum is closed for annual cyclical maintenance and will reopen on Jan. 20. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org. USS KIDD VETERANS MUSEUM: 305 S. River Road. Displays of a variety of artifacts that celebrate veteran and naval military history. Note: Vessel is in Houma for dry dock repairs. usskidd.com.

Compiled by Judy Bergeron. Have an open-to-the-public event you’d like to promote? Email details to red@ theadvocate.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday for the following Friday’s paper.

Fresh Blooms for a Fresh Start

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225 225-665-5181 665

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SHOWS TO WATCH — BATON ROUGE FRIDAY

RACHAEL HALLACK & ERIC CANTRELLE: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 6 p.m. TOBY TOMPLAY: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6 p.m. KAITLYN WALLACE: Court To Table, 6 p.m. SOUTH OF CENTRAL: El Paso, Gonzales, 6 p.m. ROCKIN’ ROUGE: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m. LUCAS DUPREE: Papi’s Fajita Factory, Watson, 6 p.m. SHAUN MILEY: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m. THE LONGNECK SOCIETY: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m. DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: VFW Zachary Taylor Post, 7 p.m. DIZZY: Bin 77, 7 p.m. CHRIS ALLEN: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m. RED DRAGON PRESENTS: JIM LAUDERDALE & THE GAME CHANGERS: Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m. THE LEE SERIO BAND: Phil Brady’s, 7:30 p.m. HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m. JOEY HOLAWAY: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m. STUDIO4 AND MIKE BENSON: Court To Table, 8:30 p.m. UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 9 p.m. THE DUPONT BROTHERS: The Vineyard, 9 p.m. JOVIN WEBB: Churchill’s, 9 p.m. TREY MORGAN: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9 p.m. PEYTON FALGOUST BAND: Icehouse Tap Room, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY

BRITTON MAJOR: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5:30 p.m. STONE SOBER: Papi’s Fajita Factory, Watson, 6 p.m. DRAMA KINGS: Pedro’s — Siegen, 6 p.m. ZACK SPENCER: Court To Table, 6 p.m. CHRIS LEBLANC: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m. CHRIS ROBERTS: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m. IAN & JARRETT: Bin 77, 7 p.m. KATIE LOVE: Mid City Ballroom, 7:30 p.m. MJ & THE REDEEMERS: Backstreet Lounge, 8 p.m. BUBBA PLAUCHÉ: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m. ACOUSTIC SATURDAYS W/HENRY TURNER: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m. BRIAN JAMES: Court To Table, 8:30 p.m. LA GROOVE: Churchill’s, 9 p.m. BRIAN & THE BANDITS: The Vineyard, 9 p.m. SOUTH OF CENTRAL: Locals — Central, 9 p.m. WHISKEY BENT: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9 p.m. PHAT HAT: The Queen

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Katie Love’s album release show for ‘Time for Moving On’ is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Mid City Ballroom in Baton Rouge. Sharing the bill is Luke Blanchard. Tickets are $10. Baton Rouge, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY

TAYLOR RAE DUO: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 11 a.m. JAZZ BRUNCH: Red Stick Social, 11 a.m. JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior GrillMidCity, 11 a.m. OLD TIME MUSIC JAM: West Baton Rouge Museum, Port Allen, 3 p.m. RHETT GUILLOT: Icehouse Tap Room, 4 p.m. SONGWRITER SUNDAYS: La Divina Italian Cafe, 5 p.m. OPEN MIC JAM: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

MONDAY

MICAH LIPSMEYER DUO: Superior Grill — MidCity, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY

KIRK HOLDER: Superior Grill — MidCity, 6 p.m. EDDIE SMITH: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m. RIVER CITY JAZZ MASTERS SERIES: JOHN PIZZARELLI & CATHERINE RUSSELL: Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

CAM PYLE: Mason’s Grill, 5:30 p.m. KENDALL SHAFFER: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 5:30 p.m. AMBER RAE DUO: Superior Grill — MidCity, 6 p.m. LSU JAZZ BAND: Classic Vinyls, 6 p.m. JEFF BAJON PROJECT: BLDG 5, 6 p.m. RHETT ANTHONY: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m. KIRK HOLDER: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m. SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC W/HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’s on

621, Gonzales, 7 p.m. ANDY PIZZO TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7:30 p.m. OPEN MIC JAM: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

DAVID AUCOIN: Backstreet Lounge, 6 p.m. NEIL WERRIES: La Divina Italian Cafe, 6 p.m. ALLISON COLLINS TRIO: Superior Grill — MidCity, 6 p.m. KYBALION: El PasoSherwood, 6 p.m. DRAMA KINGS: Pedros, Denham Springs, 6 p.m. CAM PYLE: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m. BEN RAGSDALE: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m. BACKSTREET: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 7 p.m. BEN BELL & THE STARDUST BOYS: The Brakes Bar, 7 p.m. HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m. ERIC STELLY: Icehouse Tap Room, 8 p.m. N’TUNE: Churchill’s, 9 p.m. HEATH RANSONNET: The Vineyard, 9 p.m. BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s, 9 p.m.

OUTLYING FRIDAY

WILL WESLEY: Ragon’s Bar, Greensburg, 8 p.m.

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

4D ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

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zodIAC CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Be direct if you want to get your message across. Using your skills to your advantage will also lead to extra cash. Be careful not to take on more than you can handle. AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Take time to reflect on and reform how you want to deal with finances, health and domestic matters moving forward. Initiate change instead of waiting for it to come to you. PIsCEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Change begins with you. Take the initiative and use your connections and skills to deal with matters that concern you. Be part of the solution, and personal growth and satisfaction will be yours. ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Put your energy where it counts. Lend a helping hand, and volunteer your time and skills, but don't go overboard. You'll tend to overspend, overreact and promise more than you can deliver. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Embrace change instead of running from it. You stand to gain insight and opportunities that you won't want to miss. Hands-on help will impress someone who can assist you in making your dreams come true. GEMInI (May 21-June 20) A shift in mindset will lead to an unexpected opportunity. Look at the big picture and adjust your habits to adopt a routine that helps you reach your goal. Keep an open mind and a closed wallet. CAnCER (June 21-July 22) Join forces with like-minded people, and you'll expand

your interests and friendships. Holding on to something you no longer need or use will hold you back. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Laziness and emotional manipulation will lead to trouble. Learn something new, apply your skills and make a difference. Less talk and more action will be your ticket forward. VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Explore new interests, and you'll discover people who can offer insight into how you can use your skills to make a difference. Don't be afraid to step into the limelight. LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Question your motives before you proceed. Your emotional attachment to someone or something will cost you if you aren't honest with yourself and others. Too much of anything will exhaust you. sCoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Participate, ask questions and solve problems. The more you immerse yourself in the heart of the matter, the better the outcome. Change is within reach and will help you establish opportunities. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Tie up loose ends and relax. Spend time at home or with someone you love, and rejuvenate. Living a lie or taking on responsibilities that don't belong to you requires some self-reflection. 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

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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.

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SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ 5D

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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

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6D ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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B.C.

Bridge By PHILLIP ALDER Rex Stout, an author of detective fiction whose most famous character is Nero Wolfe, said, “To read of a detective’s daring finesse or ingenious stratagem is a rare joy.” Bridge players sometimes take a daring finesse that involves an ingenious stratagem. The finesse in today’s deal isn’t daring, though. The key point is how to take that finesse. South is in three no-trump. West leads the spade queen. How should South plan the play? If you and your partner use two notrump as a transfer response, responder must start with two clubs and rebid two no-trump to invite game. South starts with six top tricks: four hearts, one diamond and one club. The spade lead is annoying, but South must cover with dummy’s king and hope for the best. Here, East wins with his ace and returns a spade, and the defenders collect the first four tricks. Declarer discards two diamonds from the board, but what does he throw from his hand? South must realize that if the club finesse is losing, he is going down. But if it is winning, he can take four hearts, one diamond and four clubs. So, although it risks several undertricks, declarer must ditch his diamond queen. Let’s assume West shifts to the diamond jack. South wins with his ace and plays a heart to the ace. He is in the dum-

garfield

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my for the only time and might need to take the club finesse three times. The normal strategy is first to lead the lowest card that can hold the trick, assuming the finesse is winning. Declarer must run the club nine. Then he finesses the club queen, plays a club to his jack, and claims. © 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 — tRAnsIt: TRAN-sit: The conveyance of persons or things

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from one place to another. Average mark 23 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 33 or more words in TRANSIT? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — WEAKEns wake waken wane weak wean week ease anew askew keen knee

knew news sake sane sank sawn seek seen sewn skew snake

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loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:8-9 Don’t doubt that God loves you. He loved us when we were very unlovable. — G.E. Dean

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ 7D

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classifieds.theadvocate.com Search Search& &Place PlaceAds AdsOnline Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com* Call * Call -Friday Us Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111

Announcements Seeking Financial Sponsors & Sales Professionals, Envirosult, a Non Proﬁt. Email or Text CEO at michaelgreen@envirosult.com, 337-224-0987. Lead Poisonings, PFAS, Other Chemicals, Small USA Communities! Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Ashley Eiland, please contact Attorney Jason May at (225) 9557255. 172897-Jan 7-9, 3t $85 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Jamesean Dunbar please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 9060050. 173093-Jan 9-11, 3t $85 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of John W Augustus please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 9060050. 173084-Jan 9-11, 3t $85 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Jude Warren Moran please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050. 173089-Jan 9-11, 3t $85 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Marcus Anderson please contact attorney Larry McAlpine at 225-3171956. 173004-Jan 8-10, 3t $85

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of of Linda Brooks and Jerry Brooks Jr please contact Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050. 173098-Jan 9-11, 3t $85 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Reginald Gatlin, Kenneth Lemar Gatlin, Kimla Gatlin, Jason Lee and Robin Hayes please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050. 173100-Jan 9-11, 3t $97

Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT OF BID THE REPLACEMENT OF PVC NATURAL GAS FACILITIES – PHASE 1 FOR City of Walker Gas Department Walker City Hall 13600 Aydell Lane Walker, Louisiana 70785 The City of Walker, Louisiana is requesting sealed bids for furnish‐ ing all materials and equipment necessary for a PHMSA Natural Gas Distribution Infrastruc‐ ture and Safety Modern‐ ization Grant program. The project consists of installing approximately 11,660 linear feet of 4inch PE coiled pipe along Courtney Rd. (East and West) and Courtney Cir‐ cle and approximately 10,350 linear feet of 2inch PE coiled pipe with associated fittings and vales along Clark White Rd., Mockingbird Lane, Juniper St., Leach Lane, Huntington Place, Melanie St., and Lotts Lane. Additionally, the project requires the re‐ placement of 57 existing services with 7,000 linear feet of 1-inch PE coiled pipe, 57 service risers, and meter assemblies. Included in the new gas distribution system is the installation of 4” and 2” PE ball valves, neces‐ sary road bores and ob‐ struction bores. The suc‐ cessful bidder will also be required to furnish in‐ cidentals such as miscel‐ laneous fittings, tracer wire, detector tape, and provide a pressure test meeting PHMSA require‐ ments at 90 PSI on all new piping. BABA Compliance Notice This project is subject to the Build America, Buy America (BABA) require‐ ments under the Infra‐ structure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). All iron, steel, manufactured products, and construc‐ tion materials used in this project must be pro‐ duced in the United States as outlined in 2 CFR Part 184 and related federal guidance. Bid‐ ders must provide docu‐ mentation demonstrat‐ ing BABA compliance for all applicable materials and components. Sealed Bids shall be by the City of Walker at the City Hall office located at 13600 Aydell Lane in Walker, Louisiana. Sealed Bids will be received until 10:00 AM Local Time on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, after which time said proposals shall be publicly opened and read aloud. All proposals must be submitted in a sealed en‐ velope bearing the con‐ tractor’s name, address and contractor’s license number plainly marked on the outside of the en‐ velope and addressed as follows: BID FOR: THE REPLACEMENT OF PVC NATURAL GAS FACILITIES – PHASE 1 FOR City of Walker Gas Department Walker City Hall 13600 Aydell Lane Walker, Louisiana 70785 Eligibility of Bidders to Receive Bidding Docu‐ ments The City of Walker is a participating member of the Louisiana Municipal Gas Authority and thus under ACT No. 176, amending R.S. 33:4546.21, Bidders must be prequalified before obtain‐ ing Bidding Documents. In order to be pre-quali‐ fied, Bidders must sub‐ mit a copy of their writ‐ ten Operator Qualifica‐ tion and Training Pro‐ gram to ensure compli‐ ance with the certifica‐ tion requirements of 49 CFR Part 192.801 et seq., as mandated by the United States Depart‐ ment of Transportation – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Admin‐ istration (PHMSA) and the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Natural Re‐ sources – Pipeline Safety Division. Specific scrutiny will be given to those individual work‐ men employed by the prospective bidder and their training documen‐ i di h

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the Succession of Alex Banks Sr and Bessie Banks please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 9060050. 173088-Jan 9-11, 3t $97 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Tony's Rental Properties LLC please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050. 173095-Jan 9-11, 3t $85 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Wilson Morgan Morris please call attorney Larry McAlpine at 225-3171956 173081-1/8-9-10-3t $85.00

Employment OFFICE CLERICAL Law firm of less than 20 attorneys seeks an in-house legal Billing Clerk for full time employment in either its Baton Rouge (downtown) or Alexandria of‐ fice. This person will be responsible for billing and collections including duties of data entry in billing software, inter‐ facing with multiple types of billing portals, generating invoices through various means (i.e., U.S.mail, email, and uploading online), running reports in‐ cluding accounts receivable and taking appropriate steps to secure follow-up on overdue invoices. Working hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., however, some flexi‐ bility is possible. The company offers a comfortable work environment with a competitive compensation and bene‐ fits package, commensurate with ex‐ perience. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. Please click “apply” to submit your resume for immediate consideration or email re‐ sume to: resume68@gmail.com

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g tation regarding the cer‐ tification of workmen to perform “Covered Tasks” on a natural gas distribu‐ tion system. Perspective bidders should be able to show that at least four (4) workmen, one of which must serve in a su‐ pervisory role, have been OQ certified for all cov‐ ered tasks related to PE gas line installations. Bidders who do not al‐ ready have a current and active OQ program will not be qualified to obtain bidding documents.

p y p forming “Covered Tasks” on a natural gas pipeline system meeting the re‐ quirements of, Part 192.801 through Part 192.809 of the PHMSA, Pipeline Safety Regula‐ tions. In addition, the training program shall be equivalent and compati‐ ble with that of the Owner’s OQ Training Pro‐ gram, which is based on the training protocols de‐ veloped by the ITS and/or Midwest Energy Association for the Cov‐ ered Tasks applying to Natural Gas Pipeline In‐ stallations. Specific re‐ quirements of the Opera‐ tor Qualification Program are further described in the Supplementary Con‐ ditions of the Project Specifications, which as prescribed by Title 38, Chapter 10, Part II, 2211 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, shall be consid‐ ered a part of the Bidding Documents.

y vancy (“Owner”) by emailing Courtney Char‐ bonnet, Manager of Pur‐ chasing and Contract Services ccharbonnet@ nocp.org no later than seven (7) days prior to bid opening.

SJB GROUP, LLC 5344 Brittany Dr. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 (225) 769-3400, office According to Act No. 478, July 9, 1988, Section 1, R.S. 38:2212: Deposits on the first set of docu‐ ments furnished to bona fide prime bidders will be fully refunded upon re‐ turn of the documents no later than ten (10) days after receipt of bids. On other sets of documents furnished to bidders, the deposit less actual cost of reproduction will be refunded upon return of the documents no later than ten (10) days after receipt of bids. No re‐ funds will be given to contractors that have re‐ quested bidding docu‐ ments and returned them prior to the bid and/or do not submit a bid. No refund will be given to contractor that has been awarded the project. Subcontractors qualify for half refund. ALL PLANS MUST BE RE‐ TURNED IN GOOD CONDI‐ TION, COMPLETE WITH ADDENDA, IN GOOD CON‐ DITION TO QUALIFY FOR REFUND. Contract, if awarded, will be on the basis stated herein and in the Instruc‐ tions to Bidders. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of 45 days after bid opening except as provided by law. Bidders must meet the requirements of the State of Louisiana Con‐ tractor’s Licensing Law, R.S. 37:2151 et seq. Bid‐ ders shall be either li‐ censed under the classi‐ fication of Municipal & Public Works Construc‐ tion, or under the spe‐ cialty classification of Pipe Work (Gas Lines). In order to be considered a responsible bidder, the lowest three (3) bidders will be required on re‐ quest to provide within 10 days after receipt of bids, the following addi‐ tional documents: 1. Bidders must provide the fully completed At‐ testation Clause Form as required by Louisiana RS 38:2227. (Past Criminal Convictions) 2. Attestation and Affi‐ davit required by LA R.S.38:1212.10C, showing that Bidder is registered with and participates in and utilizes the Status Verification System, also known as “E-Verify” pro‐ gram. 3. Non-Collusion Affidavit as required by LA R.S. 38:2224. 4. Bidders must provide the fully completed Drug Testing Affidavit indicat‐ ing that Bidder complies with the requirements of the PHMSA, Pipeline Safety Regulations, Part 199, regarding the admin‐ istration of an appropri‐ ate Drug Training and Al‐ cohol Mis-Use Program. 5. In addition, as required by the eligibility require‐ ments mentioned above bidders must also be able to provide docu‐ mentation that they have an ongoing Operator Qualification Program, which provides training of employees for per‐ f i d k

All proposals must be ac‐ companied with a bid bond or a certified check in the amount of five (5) percent of the total amount bid. Bids will be accepted only from respective bid‐ ders who have been pro‐ vided bidding documents and shall be submitted on the Bid forms pro‐ vided by the ENGINEER. Contractors are encour‐ aged to view onsite con‐ ditions and become fa‐ miliar with local require‐ ments affecting the work. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 10:00 AM Local Time on Tuesday, Janu‐ ary 13th, 2026, at the Walker City Hall Building, 13600 Aydell Lane, Walker, LA 70785. Atten‐ dance is mandatory, for all qualified bidders are encouraged to attend the Pre-Bid Conference. The City of Walker re‐ serves the right to reject any and/or all bids for just cause. The require‐ ments of this Advertise‐ ment, the Bid Form, and Instructions to Bidders shall not be considered as informalities and will not be waived. City of Walker Gas Department S/S Mayor James Watson Advertisement to appear in Baton Rouge Advocate Friday, December 26th Friday, January 2nd Friday, January 9th 171228 Dec. 26, 2025, Jan. 2, 9, 2026 3t $3,234.19 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT OR INVITATION TO BID City Park Conservancy Mirabeau Culvert Re‐ placement – Bayou St. John to City Park Lagoon Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived for the CITY PARK CONSERVANCY, MIRABEAU CULVERT RE‐ PLACEMENT – BAYOU ST. JOHN TO CITY PARK LA‐ GOON by City Park Con‐ servancy Purchasing and Contract Services De‐ partment in the City Park Administration Building, 1 Palm Drive, New Or‐ leans, Louisiana 70124 at the Reception Desk, until 1:45 PM Local Time, Fri‐ day, January 30, 2026. To be valid, Sealed Bids must be delivered by hand or mail to City Park Administration Building, 1 Palm Drive, New Or‐ leans, Louisiana 70124 at the Reception Desk be‐ tween 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Fri‐ day and up to 1:45 pm on Friday, January 30, 2026. No bid received after the scheduled time for open‐ ing will be considered. Failure of the U.S. Mail to deliver the bids timely shall not be considered due cause for the sched‐ uled time of the bid opening to be extended. Bids will be opened and read aloud at 2:00 PM Local Time, on Friday, January 30, 2026 at the Board Room of the City Park Administration Building, 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124. Any person with disabili‐ ties requiring special ac‐ commodations must contact City Park Conser‐ ( ) b

Bids shall be addressed to the City Park Conser‐ vancy Purchasing and Contract Services De‐ partment. Bid envelopes shall be opaque and sealed, display the name and address of the bid‐ der, the Louisiana CON‐ TRACTOR’s license num‐ ber of the bidder and be clearly marked on the outside of the envelope “MIRABEAU CULVERT RE‐ PLACEMENT – BAYOU ST. JOHN TO CITY PARK LA‐ GOON”. Any bids re‐ ceived after the speciﬁed time and date will not be considered.

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Assembly – ELMHS, 1/27/26 RFx No. 3000025752, Safe Drinking Water Test Kits – LDH/OPH, 1/28/26 Bid proposal forms, in‐ formation and speciﬁca‐ tions may be obtained by accessing the bid num‐ ber in LaPac at www.doa. Louisiana.gov/osp or from the procurement section listed above. No bids will be received after the date and hour speciﬁed. The right is re‐ served to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities. Amy Vincent Director of State Procurement FAX (225) 342-8688 173075 Jan. 9, 1t $12.91 PUBLIC NOTICE ---

The Project consists of: ﬁlling and abandoning an existing drainage culvert and replacing with a new culvert by trenchless construction in a sepa‐ rate location; including manholes, inlet and out‐ let treatments, and a hy‐ draulic gate structure.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Pedestrian and Trafﬁc Signalization, ADA Ramps, Sidewalks, strip‐ ing, and associated items of work.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids for just cause. Such actions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. In accordance with L.R.S. 38:2212.B.(1), the provisions and re‐ quirements stated in the bidding documents shall not be considered as in‐ formalities and shall not be waived. The project is funded di‐ rectly by City Park Con‐ servancy. CITY PARK CONSERVANCY 173049-JAN 9-16-2T $139.26 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS SP# 936 Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Procure‐ ment Section of the Divi‐ sion of Administration, 1201 N. 3rd. St., 2nd. Floor, Suite 2-160, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. for the follow‐ ing: RFx No. 3000025710, Gro‐ cery Items (Canteen Re‐ sale) – DOC-PE, 1/20/26 RFx No. 3000025803, Roof

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The successful Bidder shall be required to fur‐ nish a Performance Bond and Payment Bond, in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract amount, written by a surety or in‐ surance company meet‐ ing the requirements noted in L.R.S. 38:2219 A. (1)(a), (b) and (c); with the exception that sureties used for obtain‐ ing bonds on federally funded projects must ap‐ pear as acceptable on the U.S. Department of Treasury Circular 570.

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AREA 4 NO CREDIT CHECK/LEASE! Fully furnished apartments ALL BILLS PAID including premium cable & WIFI. Pet Friendly. Stay where you're appreciated! Call 225-434-4161

City Park Conservancy encourages small and minority-owned ﬁrms and women’s business enterprises (DBE’s, in‐ cluding MBE’s, WBE’s and SBE’s) and Section 3 business to participate.

Each Bidder must de‐ posit with the bid, secu‐ rity in the amount of at least ﬁve percent (5%) of the total bid price, as de‐ scribed in the Instruc‐ tions to Bidders. Bid bonds shall be written by a surety or insurance company meeting the re‐ quirements noted in L.R.S. 38:2218; with the exception that sureties used for obtaining bonds on federally funded pro‐ jects must appear as ac‐ ceptable on the U.S. De‐ partment of Treasury Cir‐ cular 570.

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The City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge will receive elec‐ tronic or paper bids for the construction of the following project:

All questions should be to Courtney directed Charbonnet, Manager of Purchasing and Contract Services ccharbonnet@ nocp.org . Last date for submitting questions is Friday, January 23, 2026 at 1:45 PM local time.

AREA 5 655 North St. Subsidized eff Apts cpabr.org 225-383-5551. TDD/TTY /711RELAY

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A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 9:30AM Local Time at the Board Room at City Park Administra‐ tion Building, 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124. All bid‐ ders and sub-contractors are encouraged to at‐ tend.

Electronic copies of Bid‐ ding Documents can be requested by emailing: Courtney Charbonnet Manager of Purchasing and Contract Services ccharbonnet@nocp.org

AREA 5 1BR $550, 2BR $650 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Questions concerning the contract package may be addressed to Brian Suberbielle at SJB Group, L.L.C. at the ad‐ dress and phone num‐ bers above, or he may be contacted by email at Brian.Suberbielle@ sjbgroup.com.

AREA 3 3Br 2Ba cnt a/h, w/d conn $1050 2Br 1Ba utils pd $950. + Dep 225-810-0775

Baton Rouge Real Estate For Sale

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Copies of the Bidding Documents will be pro‐ vided only to Contractors and Subcontractors who meet the above eligibility requirements. Upon sat‐ isfactory qualiﬁcation of a perspective bidder, copies of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be ob‐ tained up to 24 hours prior to bid time, upon payment of $100.00 re‐ fundable deposit for each set, from the ofﬁce of the Engineer listed below.

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FURNITURE Lexington Bedroom Set, Must Sell, Look & Make Offer 225-369-1675

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

In addition, prospective bidders must submit suf‐ ﬁcient evidence of an on‐ going Drug and Alcohol Mis-use Program meet‐ ing Part 199 of the PHMSA Regulations plus a list of at least three (3) references from other natural gas distribution system operators whom they have performed work exceeding a value of $250,000 in the past ﬁve (5) years.

AREA 7 57728 Grove Rd, 3BR 2BA, 2200sqft, Sml Apt in back, Upgrades, $200k+ (pending apprais) (225) 776-0404

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Electronic or sealed bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. Local Time, THURS‐ DAY_ January 22nd, 2026 by the Purchasing Divi‐ sion, Room 826, City Hall, 222 Saint Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802. No bids will be re‐ ceived after 2:00 p.m. on the same day and date. Bid Openings can be in person or via teleconfer‐ ence. Teleconference Call-in In‐ formation Join by phone +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll Access code: 263 373 080 (followed by the # but‐ ton) Alternate numbers to call if number above is not available, which may occur due to network traffic (use the same Ac‐ cess Code, followed by the # button): United States Toll (Boston) +1-617-315-0704 United States Toll (Chicago) +1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Dallas) +1-469-210-7159 United States Toll (Denver) +1-720-650-7664 United States Toll (Jacksonville) +1-904-900-2303 United States Toll (Los Angeles) +1-213-306-3065 Electronic bids and elec‐ tronic bid bonds for the solicitation will be down‐ loaded by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Pur‐ chasing Division. Beginning as soon as feasible after the bid closing time all elec‐ tronic bids will be down‐ loaded and publicly read aloud along with all paper bids received, if any, in 806 of City Hall immediately after the 2:00 p.m. bid closing. Bids, amendments to bids, or request for with‐ drawal of quotations, re‐ ceived after time speci‐ fied for bid opening shall not be considered for any cause whatsoever. Bids shall be firm for a period of sixty (60) days from the date of the opening of bids and no bid shall be withdrawn for any reason during this period of time ex‐ cept as allowed per R.S. 38:2214.C. Official Bid Documents are available at Central Bidding (www.central bidding.com). Electronic Bids may be submitted at Central Bidding (www. centralbidding.com). For questions related to the electronic bidding process, please call Cen‐ tral Bidding at 225-8104814. Paper copies of the plans, specifications and contract documents are on file and may be ob‐ tained from the Public Works and Planning Cen‐ l d l

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g ter located at 1100 Laurel St., Engineering Division, Room 137 or Post Office Box 1471, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821, upon payment of Ten Dollars ($10.00). (Make checks payable to the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge.) Fees for plans, specifica‐ tions and contract docu‐ ments are to cover the cost of reproduction and are non-refundable in ac‐ cordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes. A Certified Check or Cashier's Check, payable to the Parish of East Baton Rouge or a satis‐ factory Bid Bond exe‐ cuted by the Bidder and an acceptable surety, in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the total bid, shall be submitted with each bid. Bids shall be received electronically via www. centralbidding.com or on solicitation bid forms furnished by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish East Baton Rouge, and only those bids shall be received by the CityParish which is submit‐ ted by those Contractors in whose names the so‐ licitation bid forms and/or specifications were issued. In no event shall paper solicitation forms be issued later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the hour and date set for receiv‐ ing proposals. The City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge has established a Socially and Economi‐ cally Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SEDBE) program in ac‐ cordance with Revised Statute RS 33:2233.4. It is the policy of the Parish to ensure that Eligible Business Enterprises EBE’s, certified in accor‐ dance with the Parish program, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in parish contracts. For this project the EBR Parish Purchasing office has directed a review of the scope of work and has established a mini‐ mum EBE goal of 8% of the contract amount. All Bidders shall achieve this goal or demonstrate good faith efforts to achieve the goal. Good faith efforts include meeting this EBE goal or providing documentation demonstrating that the Bidder made sufficient good faith efforts in at‐ tempting to meet this goal. Only EBE firms cer‐ tified under the Parish SEDBE Certification Pro‐ gram at the time of sub‐ mittal of the bid will count toward this EBE goal. To be considered responsive, the apparent low bidder must submit EBE Forms 1, 1A, and 2, and Letters of EBE Certi‐ fication, as appropriate within 10 days after bid opening All Contractors bidding on this work shall com‐ ply with all provisions of the State Licensing Law for Contractors, R.S. 37:2150-2163, as amended, for all public contracts. It shall also be the responsibility of the General Contractor to as‐ sure that all subcontrac‐ tors comply with this law. If required for bid‐ ding, Contractors must hold an active license is‐ sued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors in the classi‐ HIGHWAY, fication of STREET AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION, and must show their license number on the face of the bid envelope and the Uniform Public Works Bid Form. In accordance with La. R.S. 38:2214 (B) the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. In accor‐ dance with La. R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements of this Section, those stated in the advertise‐ ment for bids, and those required on the bid form, shall not be considered as informalities and shall not be waived by any public entity. For additional informa‐ tion please contact Ms. Jolie Maberry, P.E, Project Manager at Jolie. Maberry@stantec.com. 171421 Dec. 26, 2025, Jan. 2, 9, 3t $320.26

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Public Notices DEQ Permits

PUBLIC NOTICE --Notice is hereby given that Magnolia LNG, LLC has applied for a 401 Water Quality Certifica‐ tion to clear, grade, exca‐ vate, and place fill to construct a liquefied nat‐ ural gas facility on the south shore of Industrial Canal off Henry Pugh Boulevard in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish. A 16.2-acre area will be dredged in Indus‐ trial Canal for ship berthing purposes, and the dredged material will be transported via a tem‐ porary pipeline to a dredge material place‐ ment area north of Cal‐ casieu Lake. Magnolia LNG, LLC is applying to the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Environmental Quality, Office of Environ‐ mental Services for a Water Quality Certifica‐ tion in accordance with statutory authority con‐ tained in the LAC 33:IX.1507.A-E and provi‐ sions of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Comments concerning this application can be filed with the Water Per‐ mits Division within ten days of this notice by ref‐ erencing WQC 251020-02, Al 185639 to the following address: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Water Permits Division P.O. Box 4313 Baton Rouge, LA 708214313 Attn: Water Quality Certi‐ fications Comments may be sub‐ mitted by email to DEQWaterQualityCertifica‐ tions@la.gov. A copy of the application is available for inspec‐ tion and review at the LDEQ Public Records Center at 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The available information can also be accessed electronically on the Electronic Docu‐ ment Management Sys‐ tem (EDMS) on the LDEQ public website at www. deq.louisiana.gov. 173103-jan 9-1t $219.38

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (LDEQ) RIVER BIRCH, LLC RIVER BIRCH LANDFILL DRAFT SOLID WASTE PERMIT MAJOR MODIFICATION The LDEQ, Office of Envi‐ ronmental Services, has determined that the Per‐ mit Major Modification Application for River Birch, LLC, 2000 South Kenner Road, Avondale, Louisiana 70094, for the River Birch Landfill is technically complete and acceptable for public re‐ view. The facility is lo‐ cated at 2000 South Ken‐ ner Road, Avondale, Jef‐ ferson Parish. River Birch, LLC proposes to modify an existing Type I/II/III landfill by in‐ corporating the adjacent Greater New Orleans Landfill into the footprint of River Birch Landfill, ex‐ panding the existing ser‐ vice area, and accepting C&D debris. River Birch will dispose up to 50,000 wet tons per week and 2,600,000 wet tons per year of residential, in‐ dustrial, commercial, and C&D waste from all parishes and U.S. states. Comments and requests for a public hearing or notification of the final decision can be submit‐ ted online on the public notice webpage (http:// www.deq.louisiana.gov/ public-notices), via per‐ sonal delivery, U.S. mail, or email. Comments and requests for public hear‐ ings must be received by 4:30 pm CST, Thursday, February 12, 2026. Deliv‐ ery may be made to the drop-box at 602 N. 5th St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802. U.S. Mail may be sent to LDEQ, Public Participa‐ tion Group, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 708214313, and emails may be submitted to DEQ.PUB LICNOTICES@LA.GOV. Persons wishing to re‐ ceive notice of the final permit action must in‐ clude a complete mailing address when submitting comments. Please see additional in‐ structions for comment submission, hand deliv‐

WORKS Legal Notices

Legal Notices

ery and information re‐ garding electronic sub‐ mission at http://www. deq.louisiana.gov/page/ the-public-participationgroup or call (225) 2193276.

p p y south side of Burbank Drive, north of South Ke‐ nilworth Parkway, on property now or formerly known as Tract A-1 of Chatsworth Plantation. Section 6, T8S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 12- Racca)

If LDEQ finds a signifi‐ cant degree of public in‐ terest, a public hearing will be held. LDEQ will send notification of the final permit decision to the applicant and to each person who has submitted written com‐ ments or a written re‐ quest for notification of the final decision. The Fact Sheet, draft major modification ap‐ proval letter, and techni‐ cally complete applica‐ tion are available for re‐ view at the LDEQ Public Records Center, 602 North 5th Street, Baton Rouge, LA. Viewing hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). The available informa‐ tion can also be ac‐ cessed electronically on the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) on the DEQ public website at www.deq. louisiana.gov. Additional copies may be reviewed at the Jefferson Parish Library-Avondale Branch, 558 Avondale Garden Rd., Avondale, LA 70094; the Jefferson Parish Council, Jefferson Parish Council, 200 Der‐ bigny St., 6th Floor, Gretna, LA 70053-5850; and the LDEQ Southeast Regional office, 990 N. Corporate Drive, Suite 102, New Orleans, LA 70123. Inquiries or requests for additional information regarding this permit ac‐ tion should be directed to Stan Hazard, LDEQ, Waste Permits Division, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, phone (225) 219-3103. Persons wishing to be in‐ cluded on the LDEQ per‐ mit public notice mailing list, wishing to receive the permit public notices via email by subscribing to the LDEQ permits pub‐ lic notice List Server, or for other public partici‐ pation related questions should contact the Public Participation Group in writing at LDEQ, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, by email at DEQ.PUBLICNOTICES@LA. GOV or by phone at (225) 219-3035. Permit public notices in‐ cluding electronic access to general information from the draft solid waste permit application can be viewed at the LDEQ permits public no‐ tice webpage at http:// www.deq.louisiana.gov/ page/the-public-partici pation-group and general information related to the public participation in permitting activities can be viewed at http:// www.deq.louisiana.gov/ page/the-public-partici pation-group. All correspondence should specify AI Num‐ ber 32219, Permit Num‐ ber P-0321-R2-M3, and Activity Number PER20250005. 172869 Jan. 9, 1t $490.41

PUBLIC NOTICE --Ronald Andrews, M.D. of‐ ﬁce closure in Baton Rouge after 25 years ef‐ fective February 25, 2026. After Feburary 25, 2026 patients will no longer be seen at 10608 Coursey Blvd. Suite B Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Records will be maintained elec‐ tronically and may be ob‐ tained by sending with sign authorized release to DrAndrewsrecords@ gmail.com. Thank you for allowing me to care for you and your family all of these years. 172939-jan 7-14-8t PUBLIC NOTICE --The Planning Commis‐ sion of the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge will hold a public meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 5:00p.m., in Room 348, City Hall located at 222 St. Louis Street, 3rd ﬂoor, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Planning Commis‐ sion will consider the fol‐ lowing Site Plans as indi‐ cated: SP-1-26 Burbank Apart‐ ments (6800 Burbank Drive) Proposed multi‐ family residential on property located on the h id f b k

WT-1-26 Guaranty Media Wireless Facility (7611 Burbank Drive) Proposed wireless communication tower on property lo‐ cated at the north side of Burbank Drive, north of South Kenilworth Park‐ way, on property now or formerly known as Tract A-3-1-B-1 of Chatsworth Plantation. Section 5, T8S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 12Racca) 172957 Jan. 9, 1t $16.56

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SHERIFF'S SALE .Suit No: (17) 768657 WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CA‐ PACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR NR‐ PL2023-RPL1 TRUST vs RENITA BOUDREAUX (AKA RENITA JANE BOUDREAUX, RENITA J. BOUDREAUX, RENITA BOUDREAUX DILLON, RENITA B. DILLON) Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, October 09, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: RENITA BOUDREAUX (AKA RENITA BOUDREAUX, JANE RENITA J. BOUDREAUX, RENITA BOUDREAUX DIL‐ LON, RENITA B. DILLON) One (1) certain piece or portion of ground, to‐ gether. with all the build‐ ings and improvements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes, appurte‐ nances and advantages thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of LA, in that subdivision known as East Fairfields, and designated on the official plan thereof, on file of East Baton Rouge, State of La,, as LOT NUM‐ BER FIVE (5), SQUARE TWENTY SEVEN (27), said subdivision, said lot hav‐ ing such measurements and dimensions and being subject to such servitudes as are more particularly described on said subdivision map. Which has the address of 5823 Fairfields Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $255.11 SHERIFF'S SALE No: (17) 762391 NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC vs SUZETTE PEARL GASKIN A/KIA SUZETTE P GASKIN NK/A SUZETTE GASKIN Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, May 14, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: SUZETTE PEARL GASKIN A/K/A SUZETTE P GASKIN A/K/A

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Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SUZETTE GASKIN One certain lot or parcel of ground, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that subdi‐ vision known as Broad‐ moor Terrace, No. 5, and being designated on the official plan of said sub‐ division, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of said Parish and State, as Lot Number 210, said subdivision, said lot hav‐ ing such size, shape and dimensions and being subject to such servi‐ tudes as are shown on said map. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $204.08 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 728173 AMUR EQUIPMENT FI‐ NANCE INC. VS LEON MITCHELL WALLACE JR. Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Fieri Fa‐ cias issued out of the honorable court afore‐ said, in the above enti‐ tled and numbered cause, dated, June 03, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described property belonging to: LEON MITCHELL WAL‐ LACE JR. 1. That immovable prop‐ erty bearing East Baton Rouge Parish Assess‐ ment No. 1262629 and more particularly de‐ scribed as follows: A cer‐ tain tract or parcel of land, together with all of the improvements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes and appurte‐ nances thereunto be‐ longing or in anywise ap‐ pertaining, designated as LOT J-3 of the C.D. TURNER PROPERTY, lo‐ cated in Section 14, Township 4 South, Range 1 East, East Baton Rouge Parish, according to "Map Showing the Re‐ moval of a 3.00 Acre Tract Called Lot J-3, from the C.D. Turner Property Lo‐ cated in Section 14, T-4-S, R-1-E, East Baton Rouge Parish, La., for C.D. Turner," dated February 5, 1970, made by Toxie Craft, Civil Engineer, as follows: Beginning at a point common to Section 15, 14 and 42, T-4-S, R-1-E, East Baton Rouge Parish; thence run along the line common to Section 14 and 42 in and easterly di‐ rection 1,017.54 feet to a point; thence run North 1 degrees 09' West a dis‐ tance of 143.38 feet to point of beginning; thence from said point of beginning continue North 1 degrees 09' West a dis‐ tance of 126.00 feet to a point; thence South 87 degrees 35' East a dis‐ tance of 1009.00 feet to a point on the westerly side of Plank Road; thence run South 28 de‐ grees 33' West along the westerly side of Plank Road, a distance of 152.0 feet to a point; thence run North 86 degrees 37' West a distance of 946.30 feet to point of begin‐ ning., all as shown on said map, and being des‐ ignated as Lot J-3 on said map. Being the same property that Leon M. Wallace, Jr. acquired from Drina H. Brown by Act of Cash Sale dated November 30, 2010, recorded under Orig./Bndl. 046/12288 of the conveyance records of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $334.21 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 732690 FUND-EX SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC vs TRIPLE THREE, LLC, CITY BAR 3, LLC, 421 BENGAL, LLC AND CHAD HUGHES, INDI‐ VIDUALLY Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Fieri Fa‐ cias issued out of the honorable court afore‐ said, in the above enti‐ tled and numbered cause, dated, May 12, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an on line auction site at www.bid4assets. com/EBRSOsheriffsales., offer for sale at public auction the following de‐ scribed property belong‐ ing to: ITEM: ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL, OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON AND ALL THE RIGHTS OF WAY AND SERVITUDES THEREUNTO APPERTAIN‐ ING LOCATED IN THAT SUBDIVISION OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE KNOWN AS LOT 98, DEVALL TOWN, DE‐ SCRIBED MORE PARTICU‐ LARLY BE REFERENCE TO "FINAL PLAT OF A RESUB‐ DIVISON OF LOTS 9, U & V SQUARE 3 OR 81, DEVALL TOWN FOR JEWELL BATE, ET AL" MADE BY SAM G. DUPREE, C.E., DATED MAY 21, 1965, APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMIS‐ SION MAY 31, 1965 RECORDED AS ORIGINAL 5, BUNDLE 5890 ON JUNE 1, 1965 IN THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AS FOL‐ LOWS: THE NORTHERN 13 FEET, EIGHT (8) INCHES OF LOT 9-8, SQUARE 3 OR 81, DE‐ VALL TOWN, SAID LOT MEASURING 13 FEET 8 INCHES WESTERN SIDE OF THIRD STREET BY A DEPTH BETWEEN PARAL‐ LEL LINES OF 128 FEET, AND MEASURING 13 FEET 8 INCHES ON THE REAR, SAID PORTION OF LOT 9-B BEING THE SOUTHERN 13 FEET 8 INCHES OF THE NORTHERN 2 /3RDS OF LOT 9, SQUARE 3 OR 81, DEVALL TOWN, BEING SHOWN ON MAP AND SURVEY DATED DECEM‐ BER 11, 1953 BY A.G. MUNDINGER, C.E., WHICH IS ATTACHED TO AN ACT OF PARTITION RECORDED AS ORIGINAL 6, BUNDLE 3235, OFFICIAL RECORDS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. ITEM II: A CERTAIN FRACTIONAL LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON SITUATED IN THAT PART OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA KNOWN AS DEVALL TOWN, AND BEING THE SOUTH ONE-

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

THIRD (1/3) OF LOT NINE (9) OF SQUARE EIGHTYONE (81), OR THREE (3), SAID DEVALL TOWN, THE SAID SOUTH ONE- THIRD (1/3) OF SAID LOT FRONTING TWENTY-ONE (21') FEET FOUR (4) INCHES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THIRD STREET BY A DEPTH OF ONE HUN‐ DRED TWENTY-EIGHT (128') FEET, BETWEEN PARALLEL LINES, AS IS MORE FULLY SHOWN ON A BLUEPRINT OF MAP RE‐ FERRED TO AND AT‐ TACHED TOAN ACT OF PARTITION OF RECORD IN BOOK 1068, PAGE 72, OF THE CONVEYANCE RECORDS OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction previously offered WITH Appraisement, no bids were received, so the sale will be offered at cost and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $395.46 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 743128 FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORA‐ TION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE FHLMC SLST 2020-3 vs WESLEY W. SLOCUM Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, February 16, 2024 and to me di‐ rected, I did seize and will, beginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www. bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: WESLEY W. SLOCUM One (1) certain lot or par‐ cel of ground, together with all the buildings and improvements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servi‐ tudes, appurtenances and advantages here‐ unto belonging or in any‐ wise appertaining, situ‐ ated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that subdi‐ vision known as CEDAR MILL RUN, SECOND FIL‐ ING, and designated on the official plan thereof, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as LOT NUM‐ BER TWO HUNDRED NINETY TWO (292), said subdivision, said lot hav‐ ing such measurements and dimensions and being subject to such servitudes and restric‐ tions as are more partic‐ ularly shown on said map; subject to restric‐ tions, servitudes, rightsof-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law.

Public Notices Sheriff Sales g cording to the official map of said subdivision, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of the Pish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as LOT NUMBER TWO (2), said subdivision; said lot having such dimensions and measurements and ·being subject to servi‐ tudes as shown on the aforementioned map; subject to restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $216.82 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 755197 CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES LLC vs JASON ERNEST AND VICTORIA ERNEST (AKA VICTORIA HARRIS, VICTORIA HAR‐ RIS ERNEST) Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, November 22, 2024 and to me di‐ rected, I did seize and will, beginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www. bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: JASON ERNEST AND VICTORIA ERNEST (AKA VICTORIA HARRIS, VICTORIA HAR‐ RIS ERNEST) That certain lot or parcel of ground, together with all buildings and im‐ provements thereon, lo‐ cated in the City of Zachary, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that subdi‐ vision known as FEN‐ NWOOD LINKS SUBDIVI‐ SION, SECOND FILING and being designated as LOT 70 as per the official map of said subdivision recorded as Original 219 of Bundle 11358 in the of‐ ficial records of East Baton Rouge Parish, State of Louisiana. Said LOT 70 having the dimen‐ sions and being subject to the servitudes and dedications as set forth on the official map. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $219.38 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 757586

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish

SELECT PORTFOLIO SER‐ VICING, INC. vs HOLLY H. SWANSON A/K/A HOLLY SWANSON, RITA C. HORNE A/K/A RITA HORNE AND MICHAEL HANNA

ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $244.89

Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana

SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 746041 CITIZENS BANK NA F/KIA RBS CITIZENS NA vs MARK WAYNE SMALL, II (A/K/A MARK SMALL II ) AND MARK W. SMALL AND MARIA A. SMALL AND HILLARY HOOD MA‐ YARD (A/K/A HILLARY MAYARD) Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, June 02, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: MARK WAYNE SMALL, II (A/K/A MARK SMALL II) AND MARK W. SMALL AND MARIA A. SMALL AND HILLARY HOOD MAYARD (A/K/A HILLARY MAYARD) One (1) certain lot or par‐ cel of ground, together with all. the buildings and improvements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes, appurte‐ nances and advantages thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that sub‐ division known as RIVER‐ BEND, 2ND FILING, and designated on the offi‐ cial plan thereof, on file and of record in the of‐ fice of the Clerk and Recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as LOT NUMBER 144, said subdi‐ vision, said lot having such measurements and dimensions and being subject to such servi‐ tudes and restrictions as are more particularly shown on said map. Which has the address of3437 Tezcucco Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70820 TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $255.11 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 747009 BANK OF AMERICA, NA VS MICHELLE A. SWARES Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, May 09, 2024 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: MICHELLE A. SWARES ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, to‐ gether with all the build‐ ings and improvements thereon, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in the subdivi‐ sion known as TIMBER‐ WOOD PLACE, FIRST FIL‐ ING, and designated ac‐ di h ffi i l

Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, February 03, 2025 and to me di‐ rected, I did seize and will, beginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www. bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: HOLLY H. SWANSON A/K/A HOLLY SWANSON, RITA C. HORNE A/K/A RITA HORNE AND MICHAEL HANNA One (1) certain lot or par‐ cel of ground, together with all buildings and im‐ provements thereon, and all the rights, ways, privi‐ leges, • servitudes, ap‐ purtenances and advan‐ tages thereunto belong‐ ing or in anywise apper‐ taining, being situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that. subdi‐ vision known as Car‐ riagewood Estates, Sec‐ ond Filing, and desig‐ nated on the official plan thereof, on file and of record in the office of the clerk and recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as lot number one hundred forty-five (145), said subdivision, said lot having such measurements and di‐ mensions and being sub‐ ject to such servitudes as are shown on said subdivision map. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $244.89 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 758133 WELLS FARGO BANK NA VS CLAUDE WHITE (CLAUDE WHITE, JR. (AKA CLAUDE WHITE) Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, February 25, 2025 and to me di‐ rected, I did seize and will, beginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www. bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: CLAUDE WHITE (CLAUDE WHITE, JR. (AKA CLAUDE WHITE) That certain lot or parcel of ground, together with all buildings. component parts and improvements thereon, and with all of the rights, ways, privi‐ leges, servitudes. appur‐ tenances and advan‐ tages thereunto belong‐ ing or in anywise apper‐ taining. situated in that subdivision of the Parish of Eru.1 Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana. known as GLEN OAKS PARK SUBDIVISION, FIRST FILING, and being more particularly described on the official map of said subdivision on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder for the Parish. of East Baton Rouge. Louisiana. as LOT NUMBER TWENTY EIGHT (28) said subdivision. said lot having such measurements and di‐ mensions as indicated

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

on said map and being subject to such servi‐ tudes and restrictions as are of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2025 February 09, 2026 $242.34 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 758249 WELLS FARGO BANK, NA AS TRUSTEE FOR ABFC ASSET-BACKED CERTIFI‐ CATES, SERIES 2005WMC1 vs MA VS MAU‐ RICE TUGGLE, HEIR OF OMA TUGGLE RICHARD AKA OMA T. RICHARD AKA OMA RICHARD AKA ERMA TUGGLE RICHARD AKA ERMA T. RICHARD AKA ERMA RICHARD Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, June 03, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: MAURICE TUGGLE, HEIR OF OMA TUGGLE RICHARD AKA OMA T. RICHARD AKA OMA RICHARD AKA ERMA TUGGLE RICHARD AKA ERMA T. RICHARD AKA ERMA RICHARD That certain lot or parcel of ground, together with all the buildings and im‐ provements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes, appurtenances and ad‐ vantages thereon be‐ longing or anywise ap‐ pertaining, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that subdi‐ vision known as Park For‐ est, Seventh Filing, Part Two, and being desig‐ nated on the official plan of said subdivision, on file and of record in the office of the clerk and recorder of said parish and state, as lot number seven hundred two (702), said subdivision, said lot having such measure‐ ments and dimensions and being subject to such servitudes as shown on said subdivi‐ sion map. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $257.67 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 760331 VILLAGE CAPITAL & IN‐ VESTMENTS LLC vs JIMMY R. JAMES Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, April 11, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: JIMMY R. JAMES ONE CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND SIT‐ UATED IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUBDIVISION THEREOF KNOWN AS SHENANDOAH ESTATES SUBDIVISION, 23RD FIL‐ ING, AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DE‐ SCRIBED ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL MAP OF SAID SUBDIVISION, ON FILE AND OF RECORD AT ORIGINAL 680, BUNDLE 9772, IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER FOR THE SAID PARISH AND ST ATE, AS LOT NUMBER 2408, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH MEA‐ SUREMENTS AND DIMEN‐ SIONS AND BEING SUB‐ JECT TO SUCH SERVI‐ TUDES AS SHOWN ON SAID MAP; subject to • restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and out‐ standing mineral rights of record affecting the property. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $224.49 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 761131 JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION vs THE OPENED SUCCES‐ SION OF JOHN B. FORD. SR. AND SHERRY ELLOIE FORD Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, April 29, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: THE OPENED SUCCESSION OF JOHN B. FORD. SR. AND SHERRY ELLOIE FORD One (1) certain piece or portion of ground, to‐ gether with all the build‐ ings and improvements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes, appurte‐ nances and advantages thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining. situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that sub‐ division known as MON‐ TICELLO SUBDIVISION, SECOND FILING, PART TWO, and designated on the official plan thereof, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as LOT NUM‐ BER THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO (372), said subdivision, said lot hav‐ ing such measurements and dimensions and being subject to such servitudes as are more particularly described on id bdi i i

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

p y said subdivision map. Which has the address of 4227 Norwich Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70814

pp and according to law.

TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law.

ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $252.56

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish

SHERIFF'S SALE

ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $247.45 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 761192 BANK OF AMERICAN.A. vs KEONDRA K. MALARCHER Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, May 02, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: KEONDRA K. MALARCHER ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, to‐ gether with all the build‐ ings and improvements thereon, located in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, and being des‐ ignated as LOT TEN (10), in that subdivision known as LAKE POINTE COURTYARD SUBDIVI‐ SION and more particu‐ larly described according to the plat recorded as Original 277 of Bundle 11064 of the official records of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana. Said LOT 10 having the dimensions and being subject to the servitudes and dedica‐ tions as set forth on the official plat; subject to restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and out‐ standing mineral rights of record affecting the property. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $216.82 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17)762183 LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING LLC vs MICHAELE HUGHES AND KIMBERLY LANGLOIS HUGHES Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, May 14, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: MICHAELE HUGHES AND KIMBERLY LANGLOIS HUGHES ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, to‐ gether with all the build‐ ings and improvements thereof, situated in the PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF Louisiana, is that subdi‐ vision known as PLEAS‐ ANT PARK, and desig‐ nated on the official plan thereof, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as LOT NUM‐ BER TWENTY-NINE (29), said subdivision, said lot having such measure‐ ments and dimensions and being subject to such servitudes and re‐ strictions as are more particularly shown on said map; subject to re‐ strictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and out‐ standing mineral rights of record affecting the property. Together with a certain mobile home being a 1999 River Chase Home, L2900R993, which is im‐ movable under the provi‐ sions of Louisiana law.

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish

Suit No: (17) 762761 LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING LLC VS BERTEL BE‐ NARD HAYES, III Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, May 29, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: BERTEL BE‐ NARD HAYES, Ill ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, to‐ gether with all the build‐ ings and improvements thereon, situated in the parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that subdi‐ vision known as FAIRVIEW GARDENS, FIRST FILING, and being designated on the offi‐ cial plat of said subdivi‐ sion, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of said parish and State as LOT NUMBER THIRTY-ONE (31), said subdivision, said lot having such size, shape, and dimensions and being subject to such servitudes as are shown on said map. (the "Property")

LOT NUMBER 43, MAL‐ LARD CROSSING SUBDIVI‐ SION, as shown on "Re‐ vised Final Nat of Mallard Crossing (Formerly Mon‐ trachet) First (Lots 1-78) and Second (Lots 79-128) Filings" prepared by Sigma Consulting Group, Inc, Engineers and Sur‐ veyors, dated February 27, 2008, recorded De‐ cember 9, 2008, at Origi‐ nal 915, Bundle 12111, records of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, together with all the buildings and improve‐ ments located thereon and all the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes and appurtenances thereon to belonging or in anywise appertaining. Which has the address of 20358 Grand Crus Av‐ enue, Baton Rouge, LA 70817 TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish

One (1) certain lot or par‐ cel of ground. together with all the ·buildings and improvements thereon. situated in that subdivision of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, known as North Sher‐ wood Estates and being designated on a resubdi‐ vision made by Louis L. Higginbotham, R.L.S., ap‐ proved by the Planning Commission on February 3. 1987, on ﬁle and of record as Original 593, Bundle 9908 in the ofﬁce of the clerk and recorder for said parish and state, as lot number ten-,"A" (10-A), said subdivision, said lot having such measurements and di‐ mensions as shown on said map TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $285.74

SHERIFF'S SALE

Suit No: (17) 764454

Suit No: (17) 763607

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC vs JOHNNY ROGERS Ill

ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $206.60 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 763196 FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORA‐ TION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FREDDIE MAC SEASONED LOANS STRUCTURED TRANSACTION TRUST, SE‐ RIES 2019-1 vs LEONARD CAGE AND ADEA HAMIL‐ TON Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, June 02, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: LEONARD CAGE AND ADEA HAMIL‐ TON ONE (1) CERTAIN PIECE OR PORTION OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND ALL OF THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIV‐ ILEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐ PURTENANCES AND AD‐ VANTAGES THEREUNTO BELONGING OR IN ANY‐ WISE APPERTAINING, SIT‐ UATED IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS CYPRESS WOODS SUBDIVISION, AND DESIGNATED ON THE OFFICIAL PLAN THEREOF, ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AS LOT NUM‐ BER ONE HUNDRED TWENTY ONE (121 ), SAID SUBDIVISION, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH MEASURE‐ MENTS AND DIMENSIONS AND BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH SERVITUDES AS ARE MORE PARTICU‐ LARLY DESCRIBED ON SAID SUBDIVISION MAP. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish

SHERIFF'S SALE

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC vs KATHERINE S. CROSS AND PATRICK E. CROSS

Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, June 12, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: RAIED HAVEL KHALED A/K/A RAIED KHALED AND CALLIE ATOSSA BURNETT AKA CALLIE BURNETT

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish

SHERIFF'S SALE

Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana

and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, June 25, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: CRYSTAL RACHELLE HOLLIDAY AKA CRYSTAL RACHELLE JOHNSON HOLLIDAY AKA CRYSTAL RACHELLE JOHNSON AKA CRYSTAL R. JOHNSON AKA CRYS‐ TAL JOHNSON AKA CRYS‐ TAL R. HOLLIDAY AKA CRYSTAL HOLLIDAY AKA CRYSTAL JOHNSON HOLL‐ IDAY AKA CRYSTAL J. HOLLIDAY AND CHAVELLE TYRAY HOLLIDAY AKA CHAVELLE T. HOLLIDAY AKA CHAVELLE HOLLIDAY

ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $229.60

ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $252.56

Suit No: (17) 762504

AND CALLIE ATOSSA BUR‐ NETT AKA CALLIE BUR‐ NETT

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law.

ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $242.34

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

Suit No: (17) 763230 FINANCE OF AMERICA RE‐ VERSE LLC VS KAVIN HAGAN IN HIS CAPACITY AS INDEPENDENT EXECU‐ TOR OF THE SUCCESSION OF FRANCIS NELS ANDER‐ SON AKA FRANCIS NELS ANDERSON AKA FRANCIS N. ANDERSON AKA FRAN‐ CIS ANDERSON Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Fieri Fa‐ cias issued out of the honorable court afore‐ said, in the above enti‐ tled and numbered cause, dated, October 23, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described property belonging to: KAVIN HAGAN IN HIS CA‐ PACITY AS INDEPENDENT EXECUTOR OF THE SUC‐ CESSION OF FRANCIS NELS ANDERSON AKA FRANCIS NELS ANDER‐ SON AKA FRANCIS N. AN‐ DERSON AKA FRANCIS ANDERSON

PENNYMAC LOAN SER‐ VICES LLC vs GREGORY REX SUMMERS AND AIMEE MICHELE RO‐ BICHEAUX SUMMERS Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, June 12, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: GREGORY REX SUMMERS AND AIMEE MICHELE ROBICHEAUX SUMMERS ONE (1) certain lot or parcel of ground, to‐ gether with all the build‐ ings and improvements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes, appurte‐ nances and advantages thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in Section 67, TIS, R1W, and desig‐ nated on the official plan thereof on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as LOT NUM‐ BER SIXTY-A-ONE (60-A1), said lot having such measurements and di‐ mensions and being sub‐ ject to such servitudes and restrictions as are more particularly shown on said map in original 461 bundle 11955 entitled "Survey Map showing the exchange of a 10 ft strip of land between Lots 60-A and 60-C Zee Zee Gardens Subdivision designating lots 60-A-1 and 60-C-1 located in Sec. 67 7S, R1W, GLD. East Baton Rouge Parish. Louisiana for Engleland, LLC"; subject to restric‐ tions, servitudes, rightsof-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $267.85 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 764391 Baton Rouge, LA LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING LLC vs CRYSTAL RACHELLE HOLLIDAY AKA CRYSTAL RACHELLE JOHNSON HOLLIDAY AKA CRYSTAL RACHELLE JOHNSON AKA CRYSTAL R. JOHNSON AKA CRYS‐ TAL JOHNSON AKA CRYS‐ TAL R. HOLLIDAY AKA CRYSTAL HOLLIDAY AKA CRYSTAL JOHNSON HOLL‐ IDAY AKA CRYSTAL J. HOLLIDAY AND CHAVELLE TYRAY HOLLIDAY AKA CHAVELLE T. HOLLIDAY AKA CHAVELLE HOLLIDAY Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure

SHERIFF'S SALE

Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, July 03, 2025 and to me directed, 1 did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: JOHNNY ROGERS Ill That certain lot or parcel of ground, together with all buildings and im‐ provements thereon, lo‐ cated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, and being more particularly de‐ scribed as LOT SEVENTYSIX (76), CASTLE PLACE SUBDIVISION, 1ST FILING, SECTION II as per the of‐ ficial map of said subdi‐ vision recorded as Origi‐ nal 893 of Bundle 9633 in the official records of East Baton Rouge Parish, State of Louisiana. Said LOT 76 having the dimen‐ sions and being subject to the servitudes and dedications as set forth on the official map; sub‐ ject to restrictions, servi‐ tudes, rights-of-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $214.27 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 765295 STANDARD MORTGAGE CORPORATION vs LINDA GLOVER KNOX, WIDOW OF ERIC KNOX Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, July 14, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: LINDA GLOVER KNOX, WIDOW OF ERIC KNOX ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, to‐ gether with all the build‐ ings and improvements thereon, situated in that subdivision of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, known as Hermitage, Second Filing, and being designated on the offi‐ cial subdivision map, on file and of record in the Office of the Clerk and Recorder for said Parish and State, as Lot Number 314, said subdivision, said lot having such measurements and di‐

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

mensions as shown on said map. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $201.53 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 765347 STANDARD MORTGAGE CORPORATION vs SHARON C. BUDGEWATER Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, October 02, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: SHARON C. BUDGEWATER ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, to‐ gether with all the build‐ ings and improvements thereon, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that subdi‐ vision known as Monti‐ cello, Ninth Filing, Phase 1, and designated on the official plan thereof, on file and of record in the Office of the Clerk and Recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as Lot Num‐ ber Seven Hundred Sev‐ enty-Two (772), said sub‐ division, said lot having such measurements and dimensions and being subject to such servi‐ tudes and restrictions as are more particularly shown on said map. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 06, 2026 $209.16 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 766687 NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC vs RENEE MARION‐ NEAUX GAINER AKA RENEE M. GAINER AKA RENEE GAINER AND JER‐ MAINE DAVID GAINER AKA JERMAINE D. GAINER AKA JERMAINE GAINER AKA JERMAINE DAVID GAINER, SR. AKA JER‐ MAINE D. GAINER, SR. AKA JERMAINE GAINER, SR. Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, August 21, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an on line auction site at www.bid4assets. com/EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following de‐ scribed mortgaged prop‐ erty belonging to: RENEE GAINER MARIONNEAUX AKA RENEE M. GAINER AKA RENEE GAINER AND JERMAINE DAVID GAINER AKA JERMAINE D. GAINER AKA JERMAINE GAINER AKA JERMAINE DAVID GAINER, SR. AKA JER‐ MAINE D. GAINER, SR. AKA JERMAINE GAINER, SR. That certain lot or parcel of ground, together with all the buildings and im‐ provements thereon, sit‐ uated in that subdivision of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana. known as Barkley Place, all as shown on a map entitled "'Final plat of Barkley Place Subdivision"' dated October 3, 1977, filed of record October 5, 1977, at original 68, bun‐ dle 9222, of the official records of the clerk and recorder for the said parish and state, as lot twenty-seven (27), said subdivision, said lot hav‐ ing such dimensions and measurements as shown on the said subdivision map. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $257.67 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 766773 FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION vs VIN‐ CENT HONORE, JR. AKA VINCENT HONORE Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court

One (1) certain lot or par‐ cel of ground, together with all buildings and im‐ provements thereon, sit‐ uated in that subdivision of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, known as Roseland Terrace, and being designated on the official subdivision map, on file and of record in the office of the clerk and recorder for said parish and state, as lot eleven (11), square twelve (12), said subdivi‐ sion; said lot having such measurements and di‐ mensions as shown on said map. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $232.15 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 763385 MSR ASSET VEHICLE LLC vs RAIED HAVEL KHALED A/K/A RAIED KHALED

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10D ■ Friday, January 9, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Public Notices Sheriff Sales

aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, August 25, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an on line auction site at www.bid4assets. com/EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following de‐ scribed mortgaged prop‐ erty belonging to: VIN‐ CENT HONORE, JR. AKA VINCENT HONORE One (1) certain lot or par‐ cel of ground, together with all the buildings and improvements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servi‐ tudes, appurtenances and advantages there‐ unto belonging or in any‐ wise appertaining, situ‐ ated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that subdi‐ vision known as THE WOODLANDS, SECOND FILING, and. designated on the official plan thereof, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana as LOT NUMBER ONE HUNDRED NINETY TWO (192), said subdivision, said lot having such measurements and di‐ mensions and being sub‐ ject to such servitude and restrictions as are more particularly shown on said map (property"). TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law.

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $229.60 SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 767302 NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING VS RODNEY MICHAEL BRANDENBERG AND SHARON ELIZABETH BRANDENBERG AKA SHARON BRANDENBERG LUCAS Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, October 06, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: RODNEY MICHAEL BRANDENBERG AND SHARON ELIZABETH BRANDENBERG AKA SHARON BRANDENBERG LUCAS THE FOLLOWING DESCR‐ JBED PROPERTY SITU‐ ATED IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, TO WIT: ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PAR‐ CEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IM‐

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Public Notices Sheriff Sales

PROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALL THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐ NANCES AND ADVAN‐ TAGES THEREUNTO BE‐ LONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUB‐ DIVISION THEREOF KNOWN AS BROADMOOR SUBDIVISION, FOURTH FILING, AND BEING DESIG‐ NATED ON THE OFFICIAL PLAT THEREOF ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER FOR EAST BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, AS LOT NUM‐ BER ONE HUNDRED FOUR (104), SAID SUBDIVI‐ SION:SAID SUBDIVISION; SAID LOT HAVING SUCH BEARINGS AND DIMEN‐ SIONS AND BEING SUB‐ JECT TO SUCH SERVI‐ TUDES AND BUILDING LNE RESTRICTIONS OF RECORD AND AS SHOWN ON THE OFFICIAL SUBDIVISION PLAT; sub‐ ject to restrictions, servi‐ tudes, rights-of-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $288.29

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Public Notices Sheriff Sales

Louisiana, in that subdi‐ vision known as BANKS ADDITION SUBDMSION, and being designated on the official plan of said subdivision, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of said Parish and State, as LOT NUMBER THIRTYEIGHT-A (38-A), SQUARE THIRTY-FIVE (35), said subdivision, said lot hav‐ ing such measurements and dimensions as shown on said subdivi‐ sion map

SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 767383 THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COM‐ PANY, NATIONAL ASSOCI‐ ATION F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL AS‐ SOCIATION, AS SUCCES‐ SOR IN INTEREST TO JP‐ MORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FKAJPMORGAN CHASE BANK, AS SUCCESSOR TO BANK ONE, NATIONAL AS‐ SOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE VS ESTATE OF JEAN M WICKS AKA JEAN WICKS

TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law.

Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana

Sid J, Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $255.11

Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, October 10, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: ESTATE OF JEAN M WICKS AKA JEAN WICKS

SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 768550 NEXBANK vs CHARLETT LATRICE ADAMS, IN HER CAPACITY AS INDEPEN‐ DENT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SUCCESSION OF EDSON KOFI OPPONG AKA EDSON KOFI OP‐ PONG AKA EDSON K. OP‐ PONG AKA EDSON OP‐ PONG Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana

One certain lot or parcel of ground, together with all the buildings and im‐ provements thereon, and all of the rights, ways privileges, servitudes, appurtenances and ad‐ vantages thereon be‐ longing or anywise ap‐ pertaining, situated in the Parish of EAST BATON ROUGE, State of

Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, October 28, 2025 and to me directed,

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Public Notices Sheriff Sales

I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: CHARLETT LA‐ TRICE ADAMS, IN HER CA‐ PACITY AS INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SUCCESSION OF EDSON KOFI OPPONG AKA EDSON KOFI OPPONG AKA EDSON K. OPPONG AKA EDSON OPPONG One (1) certain lot or par‐ cel of ground, together with all the buildings and improvements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servi‐ tudes, appurtenances and advantages there‐ unto belonging or in any‐ wise appertaining, situ‐ ated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that subdi‐ vision known as Klein‐ peter Terrace, Second Fil‐ ing and designated on the official plan thereof, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as lot number forty-three (43), said sub‐ division, said lot having such measurements and dimensions and being subject to such servi‐ tudes and restrictions as are more particularly shown on-said map. TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law.

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

g g mensions and being sub‐ ject to such servitudes and building line restric‐ tions of record and as shown on the ofﬁcial subdivision plat.

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $257.67

TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and according to law.

SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 768676

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish

LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING LLC vs DUSTIN S. MORGAN AKA DUSTIN MORGAN

ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $204.08

Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana

SHERIFF'S SALE

Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, October 14, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an online auction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ longing to: DUSTIN S. MORGAN AKA DUSTIN MORGAN

Suit No: (17) 769021 FORMATION FEDERAL CREDIT UNION vs PATRI‐ CIA COP MILLER (AKA PA‐ TRICIA ANNE COP) Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, October 21, 2025 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on February 11, 2026, via an on line auction site at www.bid4assets. com/EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following de‐ scribed mortgaged prop‐ erty belonging to: PATRI‐ CIA COP MILLER (AKA PA‐ TRICIA ANNE COP)

One certain lot or parcel of ground, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in that subdivision thereof known as Cumberland Cove, and being desig‐ nated on the official plat thereof on file and of record in the office of the clerk and recorder for East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as lot number fourteen A (14-A), said subdivision; said lot hav‐ ing such bearings and di‐ i db i b

p all the rights ways, privi‐ leges, servitudes, appur‐ tenances and advan‐ tages thereunto belong‐ ing or in anyway apper‐ taining, being situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that subdi‐ vision known as EAST BROADMOOR, FIRST FIL‐ ING, and designated on the official plan thereof, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as LOT NUM‐ BER SEVENTY- EIGHT (78), said subdivision, said lot having such measure‐ ments and dimensions and being subject to such servitudes as are shown on said subdivi‐ sion map. Which has the address 019534 South Riveroaks Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70815 TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law. Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE January 09, 2026 February 09, 2026 $237.23

One ·certain lot or parcel of ground together with all buildings and im‐ provements thereon, and ll h i h i i

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