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Gulf Coast facilities equipped to process Venezuela oil 1E DUNCAN: TO-DO LIST FOR SAINTS AND HOW THEY SHOULD ATTACK OFFSEASON 1C

N O L A.C O M

S u n d ay, J a n u a ry 11, 2026

MORENO READY TO BE

‘24/7 MAYOR’

$2.50X

Legal battle will decide desegregation orders’ future Louisiana says decades-old school cases are relics of past

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Mayor-elect Helena Moreno speaks during a news conference at the Great New Orleans Foundation in New Orleans on Friday. Moreno will take over as the city’s 63rd mayor on Monday.

Plan for first 100 days goes back to basics, including infrastructure BY BLAKE PATERSON

Staff writer

In her ﬁrst 100 days as mayor of New Orleans, Helena Moreno wants to bring change residents can see. She’ll start by turning on the lights. After Moreno takes over as the city’s 63rd mayor on Monday, her administration plans to immediately get to work on repairing nearly 3,000 broken streetlights strewn across the city, she said in an extended interview this week. First up will be areas with the highest crime. It’s a small step toward ﬁxing New Orleans’ crumbling infrastructure. But for Moreno, it’s a chance to show voters that she’s serious about her campaign promise of getting local government back to basics. That message helped propel Moreno, a two-term at-large City Council member and former state legislator, to a dominant victory in the Oct. 11 primary, winning 55% of the vote. After a three-month transition period marred by a double-barreled budget

A new initiative aims to address the challenges posed by crevasses along the Mississippi River, like with Mardi Gras Pass in Plaquemines Parish, through innovative solutions and practical approaches. STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

WEATHER HIGH 61 LOW 41 PAGE 8B

“ 24/7 means that, all the time, no matter where you are, even when you’re working out, even when you’re on vacation, that you’re always there and ready still to respond to the needs of the people of the city. My commitment is to put the people of New Orleans first.”

NEW ORLEANS MAyOR-ELECT HELENA MORENO

crisis, the mayor-elect said she’ll be moving fast in the next three months on improving infrastructure, solving the city’s financial woes, and revamping its permitting office. A self-described “expert mass communicator,” she also vowed to be transparent about what she learns about New Orleans City Hall after she’s given the keys to the mayor’s office on the second floor. “How bad is the problem ... I think that’s going to be very important to also explain,” she said. “There’s this concern about what I could find once I get in there.” Moreno will have the benefit of an incoming council who appears poised to work with her, and a bevy of support from other former or current elected officials she’s spent years building relationships with. “This council and this mayor collectively made a pitch to the public that if you elect us, things will get better,” council President JP Morrell, who is

ä See MORENO, page 6A

The public schools in St. Mary Parish have been under a federal order to desegregate longer than Tia Paul has been alive. The oversight began in 1965, barring the School Board from sending Black students like Paul’s mother to different schools than White students and requiring it to eliminate the effects of segregation. It continued through Paul’s graduation from Patterson High School in 1995 and remains in place now as her daughter completes her junior year there. The orders gave Black students access to schools where they had been shut out, including formerly all-White Patterson High, which became 35% Black within several years and is still racially mixed today. They also spurred the board to take other steps, like recruiting more diverse teachers, and empowered families to call in the U.S. Department of Justice, as they did in 2016 when the district sought to close a majority-Black school. Yet by many measures, the district has become more racially imbalanced, with a larger share of schools that are disproportionately White or Black today than in 1975. Black students are suspended more often than their White peers and are less often referred for gifted and talented screening. Schools with more Black students have fewer certiﬁed teachers and more building defects, including moldy ceiling tiles, broken toilets and pest infestations, according to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, the legal nonproﬁt arguing in federal court that the orders should remain in place. “I see the same things going on now from when I was in school,” Paul said. St. Mary Parish is on the front lines of a legal battle to end the remaining school desegregation cases, which date back to the Civil Rights Movement era and are ongoing in about a dozen parishes.

ä See FUTURE, page 4A

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

Tia Paul graduated from Patterson High School in St. Mary Parish, where her daughter now goes to school. Since before Paul was born, the district has been under federal desegregation orders.

Project to study crevasses at end of Mississippi River

Efforts will test methods of managing breaks BY MIKE SMITH

lems — spanning shipping, coastal land loss and drinking water — is a growing concern that a new iniThe Mississippi River runs tiative is now set to tackle, with a wilder near its mouth, breaking its focus on practical solutions. banks in locations that provide reA grant from the National Sciminders of its power while posing ence Foundation will support the problems for the country’s man- effort that will include experts in agement of the mighty waterway. ä See CREVASSES, page 8A How best to deal with those probStaff writer

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

13TH yEAR, NO. 152

2A ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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6 people killed in Miss. rampage

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Ukrainian drones set fire to Russian oil depot

KYIV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian drone strike sparked a fire at an oil depot in Russia’s southern Volgograd region, officials said Saturday, after Russia launched a powerful hypersonic missile along with drones and other weapons that disrupted Kyiv’s power supply and heating. There were no immediate reports of casualties, Volgograd Gov. Andrei Bocharov was quoted as saying in a Telegram post published on the channel of the local administration. The post did not specify the damage, but said that people living near the depot may have to be evacuated. Ukraine’s General Staff said Saturday it had struck the Zhutovskaya oil depot overnight. In a statement on Telegram, it said the depot is supplying fuel to Russian forces, adding that damage was being assessed. Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on Russian energy sites aim to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue it needs to pursue its full-scale invasion. Russia wants to cripple the Ukrainian power grid, seeking to deny civilians access to heat, light and running water in what Kyiv officials say is an attempt to “weaponize winter.” Saturday’s attack came the day after Russia bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight into Friday, according to Ukrainian officials, killing at least four people in the capital. For only the second time in the nearly 4-year-old war, it used a powerful new hypersonic missile that struck western Ukraine in a clear warning to Kyiv’s NATO allies.

Greenland’s party heads reject U.S. takeover

NUUK, Greenland — Greenland’s party leaders have rejected President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for the U.S. to take control of the island, saying that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people. “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders,” Greenland Prime Minister JensFrederik Nielsen and four party leaders said in a statement Friday night. Trump said again on Friday that he would like to make a deal to acquire Greenland, a semiautonomous region that’s part of NATO ally Denmark, “the easy way.” He said that if the U.S. doesn’t own it, then Russia or China will take it over, and the U.S. does not want them as neighbors. “If we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” Trump said, without explaining what that entailed. The White House said it is considering a range of options, including using military force, to acquire the island. Greenland’s party leaders reiterated that “Greenland’s future must be decided by the Greenlandic people.”

Va. man pleads not guilty in pipe bomb case

WASHINGTON — A Virginia man has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of planting two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican national parties on the eve of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Brian J. Cole Jr., of Woodbridge, Virginia, entered the plea at a brief hearing on Friday. He is facing two counts of transporting and attempting to use explosives. Justice Department prosecutors have said that Cole confessed to placing pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee headquarters only hours before a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol. Cole said he hoped the explosives would detonate and “hoped there would be news about it,” prosecutors wrote in court documents. After his arrest last month, Cole told investigators that he believed someone needed to “speak up” for people who believed the 2020 election, which Democrat Joe Biden won, was stolen and that he wanted to target the country’s political parties because they were “in charge,” according to prosecutors.

Suspect detained, faces murder counts

By The Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOSE LUIS MAGANA

Demonstrators march Saturday outside the White House in Washington protesting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after Renee Good was shot to death by an agent in Minneapolis.

Anti-ICE protesters assemble across U.S. Demonstrators march after shootings in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon

BY REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Thousands of people marched in Minneapolis on Saturday to protest the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal immigration officer there and the shooting of two people in Portland, Oregon. Minnesota leaders urged demonstrators to remain peaceful. The protest was one of hundreds planned for towns and cities across the country over the weekend. It came in a city on edge since the killing of Renee Good on Wednesday by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. “We’re all living in fear right now,” said Meghan Moore, a mother of two from Minneapolis who joined the protest. “ICE is creating an environment where nobody feels safe and that’s unacceptable.” On Friday night, a protest outside a Minneapolis hotel that attracted about 1,000 people turned violent as demonstrators threw ice, snow and rocks at officers, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said. One officer suffered minor injuries after being struck with a piece of ice, O’Hara said. Twenty-nine people were cited and released, he said. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stressed that while most protests have been peaceful, those who cause damage to property or put others in danger will be arrested. He faulted “agitators that are trying to rile up large crowds.” “This is what Donald Trump wants,” Frey said of the president who has demanded massive immigration enforcement efforts in several U.S. cities. “He wants us to take the bait.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz echoed the call for peace. “Trump sent thousands of armed federal officers into our state, and it took just one day for them to kill someone,” Walz said on social media. “Now he wants nothing more than to see chaos distract from that horrific action. Don’t give him what he wants.” “We will fight with peaceful expression, in court, through public debate, and at the ballot box. Keep the peace. And keep the faith,” Walz said later in another post. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says its deployment of immigration officers in the Twin Cities is its biggest ever immigration enforcement operation. Trump’s administration has said

both shootings were acts of self-defense against drivers who “weaponized” their vehicles to attack officers. Connor Maloney said he was attending the Minneapolis protest to support his community and because he’s frustrated with the immigration crackdown. “Almost daily I see them harassing people,” he said. “It’s just sickening that it’s happening in our community around us.” He and other protesters, including children, braved subfreezing temperatures and a light dusting of snow, carrying handmade signs saying declaring, “DeICE Minnesota!” and “ICE melts in Minnesota.” They marched down a street that is home to restaurants and stores where various nationalities and cultures are celebrated in colorful murals. Steven Eubanks, 51, said he felt compelled to attend a protest in Durham, North Carolina, because of the “horrifying” killing in Minneapolis. “We can’t allow it,” Eubanks said. “We have to stand up.” Indivisible, a social movement organization that formed to resist the Trump administration, said hundreds of protests were scheduled in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Florida and other states. In Minneapolis, a coalition of migrant rights groups organized the demonstration that began in a park about half a mile from the residential neighborhood where the 37-year-old Good was shot on Wednesday. But the large protest apparently did not deter federal officers from operating in the city. A couple of miles away, just as the demonstration began, an Associated Press photographer witnessed heavily armed officers — at least one in Border Patrol uniform — approach a person who had been following them. Two of the agents had long guns out when they ordered the person to stop following them, telling him it was his “first and final warning.” The agents eventually drove onto the interstate without detaining the driver. In Richfield, a suburb of Minneapolis, federal agents with their faces covered pointed their fingers at journalists and warned them to stay away as they detained a man outside a home improvement store. Protests held in the neighborhood have been largely peaceful, and in general there has been minimal law enforcement presence, in contrast to the violence that hit Minneapolis in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Near the airport, some confrontations erupted on Thursday and Friday between smaller groups of protesters and officers guarding the federal building used as a base for the Twin Cities crackdown.

U.S. launches new retaliatory strikes against Islamic State By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The U.S. has launched another round of retaliatory strikes against the Islamic State in Syria following last month’s ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter in the country. The large-scale strikes, conducted by the U.S. alongside partner forces, occurred about 11:30 a.m., according to U.S. Central Command. The strikes hit multiple Islamic State targets across Syria. Saturday’s strikes are part of a broader operation that is part of President Donald Trump’s response to the deadly IS attack that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, the civilian interpreter, in Palmyra last month. “Our message remains strong: if you harm our warﬁghters, we will ﬁnd you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” U.S. Central Command said in a

statement Saturday. A day earlier, Syrian ofﬁcials said their security forces had arrested the military leader of IS’s operations in the Levant. The U.S. military said Saturday’s strikes were carried out alongside partner forces without specifying which forces had taken part. The Trump administration is calling the response to the Palmyra attacks Operation Hawkeye Strike. Both Torres-Tovar and Howard were members of the Iowa National Guard. It launched Dec. 19 with another largescale strike that hit 70 targets across central Syria that had IS infrastructure and weapons. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces has for years been the U.S.’s main partner in the ﬁght against IS in Syria, but since the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December 2024, Washington has increasingly been coordinating with the central government in Damascus.

WEST POINT, Miss. — A 24-yearold Mississippi man killed six people — his father, brother, uncle, 7-year-old cousin, a church pastor and the pastor’s brother — at three locations during a Friday night rampage in a rural area, authorities said. Daricka M. Moore was arrested at a police roadblock in Cedarbluff just before midnight after dozens of local, state and federal officers flooded the northeast Mississippi area. Moore was being held without bail Saturday at the Clay County jail in West Point on murder counts and ahead of an expected initial appearance Monday before a judge. Clay County District Attorney Scott Colom, who said he expects to pursue the death penalty, told The Associated Press that Moore would likely be appointed a public defender at that time. If charges are upgraded to capital murder before then, Moore will be ineligible for bail under state law. Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said at a Saturday news conference that evidence and witnesses indicate that Moore was the only shooter and no other injuries have been reported. Investigators were continuing to interview Moore but do not currently know what may have motivated him, he added. “A situation like this, you’ve got a family member attacking their own family,” Scott said. “Whatever the reason is, we’re hoping that we’ll find out.” The shootings unfolded in an area of fields, woods and mostly modest homes about 125 miles northeast of Jackson. Investigators believe Moore first killed his father, 67-year-old Glenn Moore, his brother, 33-yearold Quinton Moore; and his uncle, 55-year-old Willie Ed Guines, at the family’s mo-

THE COMMERCIAL DISPATCH PHOTO By BRADEN SIMMONS

Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott speaks Saturday during a news conference in West Point, Miss., after fatal Friday night shootings at three locations.

bile home on a dirt road in western Clay County. The sheriff said Moore then stole his brother’s truck and drove a few miles to a cousin’s house, where he forced his way in and attempted to commit sexual battery. Scott said Moore than put a gun to the head of a 7-year-old girl, whom he declined to identify, and fatally shot her. “I don’t know what kind of motive you could have to kill a 7-year-old,” he said. Scott said that according to witnesses, Moore then placed a gun against a younger child’s head, but she was not shot. It was not clear whether he did not pull the trigger or the gun misﬁred. “That’s how violent it was,” Scott said. The mother and a third child were also present, the sheriff said. Moore then allegedly drove to a small white frame church, the Apostolic Church of The Lord Jesus. There, Scott said, he broke into a residence, killed the pastor and his brother and stole one of their vehicles. Scott said the last two victims, the Rev. Barry Bradley and Samuel Bradley, lived most of the time in nearby Columbus but spent weekends on church grounds. Some Moore family members attend the church, Scott said. Moore was caught at a roadblock at 11:24 p.m. near where the second shooting occurred, Scott said, four and a half hours after the ﬁrst call came in.

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Mass protests in Iran reach 2-week mark Authorities intensify crackdown

BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Protests sweeping across Iran reached the two-week mark early Sunday, with the country’s government acknowledging the ongoing demonstrations despite an intensifying crackdown and as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world. With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difﬁcult. But the death toll in the protests has grown to at least 72 people killed and over 2,300 others detained, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Iranian state TV is reporting on security force casualties while portraying control over the nation. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has signaled a

IMAGE FROM IRAN STATE TV VIDEO

A man holds a device Friday to document burning vehicles during a night of mass protests in Zanjan, Iran. coming clampdown, despite U.S. warnings. Tehran escalated its threats Saturday, with the Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, warning that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an “enemy of God,” a death-penalty charge. The statement carried by Iranian state television said even those who “helped rioters” would face the charge. “Prosecutors must carefully and without delay, by issuing indictments, prepare the grounds for the trial and decisive confrontation with those

Trump pushes 1-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates BY KEN SWEET and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press

NEW YORK — Reviving a campaign pledge, President Donald Trump wants a one-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates, a move that could save Americans tens of billions of dollars but drew immediate opposition from an industry that has been in his corner. Trump was not clear in his social media post Friday night whether a cap might take effect through executive action or legislation, though one Republican senator said he had spoken with the president and would work on a bill with his “full support.” Trump said he hoped it would be in place Jan. 20, one year after he took office. Strong opposition is certain from Wall Street in addition to the credit card companies, which donated heavily to his 2024 campaign and have supported Trump’s secondterm agenda. Banks are making the argument that such a plan would most hurt poor people, at a time of economic concern, by curtailing or eliminating credit lines, driving them to high-cost alternatives like payday loans or pawnshops. “We will no longer let the American Public be ripped off by Credit Card Companies that are charging Interest Rates of 20 to 30%,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Researchers who studied Trump’s campaign pledge after it was first announced found that Americans would save roughly $100 billion in interest a year if credit card rates were capped at 10%. The same researchers found that while the credit card industry would take a major hit, it would still be profitable, although credit card rewards and other perks might be scaled back. About 195 million people in the United States had credit cards in 2024 and were assessed $160 billion in interest charges, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says. Americans are now carrying more credit card debt than ever, to the tune of about $1.23 trillion, according to figures from the New York Federal Reserve for the third quarter last year. Further, Americans are paying, on average, between 19.65% and 21.5% in interest on credit cards according to the Federal Reserve and other industry tracking sources. That has come down in the past year as the central bank lowered benchmark rates, but is near the highs since federal regulators started tracking credit card rates in the mid-1990s. That’s significantly higher than a decade ago, when the average credit

card interest rate was roughly 12%. The Republican administration has proved particularly friendly until now to the credit card industry. Capital One got little resistance from the White House when it finalized its purchase and merger with Discover Financial in early 2025, a deal that created the nation’s largest credit card company. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is largely tasked with going after credit card companies for alleged wrongdoing, has been largely nonfunctional since Trump took office. In a joint statement, the banking industry was opposed to Trump’s proposal. “If enacted, this cap would only drive consumers toward less regulated, more costly alternatives,” the American Bankers Association and allied groups said. Bank lobbyists have long argued that lowering interest rates on their credit card products would require the banks to lend less to highrisk borrowers. When Congress enacted a cap on the fee that stores pay large banks when customers use a debit card, banks responded by removing all rewards and perks from those cards. Debit card rewards only recently have trickled back into consumers’ hands. For example, United Airlines now has a debit card that gives miles with purchases. The U.S. already places interest rate caps on some financial products and for some demographics. The Military Lending Act makes it illegal to charge activeduty service members more than 36% for any financial product. The national regulator for credit unions has capped interest rates on credit union credit cards at 18%. Credit card companies earn three streams of revenue from their products: fees charged to merchants, fees charged to customers and the interest charged on balances. The argument from some researchers and left-leaning policymakers is that the banks earn enough revenue from merchants to keep them profitable if interest rates were capped. “A 10% credit card interest cap would save Americans $100 billion a year without causing massive account closures, as banks claim. That’s because the few large banks that dominate the credit card market are making absolutely massive profits on customers at all income levels,” said Brian Shearer, director of competition and regulatory policy at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, who wrote the research on the industry’s impact of Trump’s proposal last year.

who, by betraying the nation and creating insecurity, seek foreign domination over the country,” the statement read. “Proceedings must be conducted without leniency, compassion or indulgence.” President Donald Trump offered support for the protesters, saying on social media that “Iran is look-

ing at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” The State Department separately warned: “Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he’ll do something, he means it.” Saturday marked the start of the work week in Iran, but many schools and universities reportedly held online classes, Iranian state TV reported. Internal Iranian government websites are believed to be functioning. State TV repeatedly played a driving, martial orchestral arrangement from the “Epic of Khorramshahr” by Iranian composer Majid Entezami, while showing pro-government demonstrations. The song, aired repeatedly during the 12-day war launched by Israel, honors Iran’s 1982 liberation of the city of Khorramshahr during the Iran-Iraq war. It has been

used in videos of protesting women cutting away their hair to protest the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini as well. It also repeatedly aired video of purported protesters shooting at security forces with ﬁrearms. “Field reports indicate that peace prevailed in most cities of the country at night,” a state TV anchor reported Saturday morning. “After a number of armed terrorists attacked public places and set fire to people’s private property last night, there was no news of any gathering or chaos in Tehran and most provinces last night.” That was directly contradicted by an online video veriﬁed by The Associated Press that showed demonstrations in northern Tehran’s Saadat Abad area, with what appeared to be thousands on the street. “Death to Khamenei!” a

man chanted. The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed to be close to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and one of the few media outlets able to publish to the outside world, released surveillance camera footage of what it said came from demonstrations in Isfahan. In it, a protester appeared to fire a long gun, while others set fires and threw gasoline bombs at what appeared to be a government compound. The Young Journalists’ Club, associated with state TV, reported that protesters killed three members of the Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force in the city of Gachsaran. It also reported a security official was stabbed to death in Hamadan province, a police officer killed in the port city of Bandar Abbas and another in Gilan, as well as one person slain in Mashhad.

4A ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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FUTURE

Continued from page 1A The state’s Republican leaders, who believe it is time to end the decadesold cases, have notched two recent victories: The Plaquemines Parish school district had its orders lifted last year, and a federal judge did the same for DeSoto Parish on Monday. Lawyers for the St. Mary Parish School Board say all “direct effects” of past segregation have been eliminated, and interim schools Superintendent Rachael Sanders said in a statement that the board is committed to supporting every student. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office, which is leading the charge to dissolve the orders, argued Wednesday in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans that St. Mary’s case should be dismissed. To Murrill, Gov. Jeff Landry and other critics of the ongoing desegregation orders, they are relics of the past that handcuff local school boards and incorrectly attribute current conditions to past practices. “The problems of today are different than the problems of 60 years ago,” Murrill said in an interview this week. “They do not necessarily tether back to the vestiges of prior discrimination.” Under President Donald Trump, the Justice Department has joined Louisiana in seeking to dismiss several of the cases, including one in Concordia Parish now headed to the 5th Circuit. It is a sharp reversal for the agency, which brought many of the original desegregation lawsuits and for decades enforced the orders, and the latest example of the Trump administration pulling back from education and civil rights oversight. In court, attorneys for the Legal Defense Fund are trying to force St. Mary Parish and other school boards to prove they have complied with the orders before they are lifted, which is customary in desegregation cases. At least two U.S. District Court judges have rejected Louisiana’s bid to skip that process and dismiss the cases on procedural grounds, and 5th Circuit judges reviewing the St. Mary case asked skeptical questions Wednesday about that approach. Some civil rights groups

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

Reginald Weary, president of the St. Mary Parish NAACP chapter, said it’s possible for Black students to get an excellent education in the parish, but schools with more Black students often seem to have fewer resources. and Black parents like Paul say it is irrelevant how old the desegregation orders are if racial disparities persist. More can be done to ensure Black students receive an education that is equal in quality to that of their White peers, they argue, but they fear school boards will be less inclined to take those steps without court oversight. “Litigation hanging over their heads — that’s what they need,” Paul said. “It gives them a motivation and incentive to keep improving things because they’re being watched and held accountable.”

Outdated or necessary? Until last year, the Justice Department was actively enforcing some of the same desegregation orders it’s now helping to terminate. In St. Martin Parish, where the department is now seeking to withdraw from the case, it helped develop plans in 2023 for a new magnet school. In DeSoto and Plaquemines parishes, the agency’s staff was visiting schools and requesting compliance data as recently as 2024. That same year, the Justice Department proposed a settlement in Concordia Parish’s long-running case

that included moving some students between majorityWhite and majority-Black schools. Some parents railed against the deal at a December 2024 forum, where an attorney in Murrill’s office advised holding out for the incoming Trump administration. The board rejected the deal. Just months later, Trump’s Justice Department joined Murrill’s ofﬁce in asking a federal judge to dismiss the case without a settlement or trial. U.S. District Court Judge Dee Drell declined, writing that “long established legal precedent” required a careful review of evidence before closing such cases. The parties appealed to the 5th Circuit. The U.S. Supreme Court has said that school districts seeking to end desegregation orders must show that all traces of racial discrimination have been erased in six areas, including building quality and student assignment to schools. Derek Black, a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, said it is “nonsensical” to argue that a district can bypass that process. “It’s a fundamental rejection of the rule of law,” he said. Critics of the order say they have outlived their use,

draining school resources in a futile attempt to ﬁx problems, such as racial imbalances, that today are caused by housing patterns, not discrimination. In a legal brief last year, Murrill’s ofﬁce said the St. Mary School Board’s

policies are “colorblind,” while the plaintiffs want “racial engineering.” Ruth Powers, a retired educator in Concordia Parish, said she believes in the importance of diversity but doesn’t think forcing schools

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to shift students around is the right way to go about it. “The answer is not dismantling the schools in a community in order to achieve some sort of forced racial balance,” she said. “All you’re going to do is create resentment.” Civil rights groups say the orders still are needed because some districts never fully uprooted the remnants of segregation. In the St. Martin Parish case, the judge found that the School Board’s failure to integrate a majority-White school had partly caused present-day housing patterns, not the other way around. Reginald Weary, president of the St. Mary Parish NAACP chapter, said it’s possible for Black students there to get an excellent education — as his daughters did at racially mixed Morgan City High School. But schools with more Black students often seem to have fewer resources, he said. Majority-Black Franklin Senior High School did not offer calculus one school year, while majority-White Berwick High School had two calculus classes, according to court ﬁlings. To Weary, the battle is no longer about putting Black and White students in the same schools. “Now we’re fighting for equality and quality education,” he said. “From that perspective, there’s still work to be done.”

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MORENO

Continued from page 1A entering his second term, said in an interview. “If any one of us is an obstacle of that, then I think that’s on us.”

Nuts and bolts The government that outgoing Mayor LaToya Cantrell will hand off to Moreno on Monday already looks far different than it did on election day. Just days after Moreno’s victory, the City Council learned that Cantrell’s administration had run up a far bigger deficit than anticipated. A week later, the mayor’s top deputy revealed City Hall was facing a cash-flow crisis and might not be able to pay its workers through the end of the year. Moreno, the council’s vice president, stepped in as the city’s de facto leader. She convinced Gov. Jeff Landry to stand down on demands that New Orleans be put under state receivership and negotiated a deal that allowed the city to secure $125 million in bond revenues it needed to make payroll. As part of the deal with state officials, the City Council agreed to give Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack veto power over how those bond revenues are spent. Waguespack is also investigating the Cantrell administration’s spending habits. Moreno has openly embraced his oversight. Alongside consultants hired by her transition, Moreno also crafted a spending plan for 2026, with $150 million in cuts and a one-day-per-payperiod furlough for nearly 14% of the city’s workforce. Cantrell vetoed the budget but was overridden by the council. Despite the city’s budget constraints, Moreno has said she’s confident she can accomplish much of her agenda. That’s because many of the issues plaguing City Hall, she argues, don’t require extra cash. They require leadership. At the top of her org chart is outgoing District A council member Joe Giarrusso, who Moreno Giarrusso tapped to serve as her chief administrative officer and first deputy mayor, overseeing day-to-day operations and city finances. Moreno has also tasked Giarrusso with overhauling the city’s Safety and Permits Department, a process she said will take up to a year and a half to complete but should show improvements within three months. A pilot program will help expedite housing and small business permits, and the department will within her first 100 days issue notices of violation to all illegally listed short-term rentals. “It is what hinders a lot of progress in New Orleans. That one little office,” Moreno said. On Day 1, Moreno will also create a new infrastructure coordinating council to speed

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up construction projects and provide the “Super Bowl level of service” she promised during the campaign. The group will be led by incoming Deputy CAO and Public Works Director Steven Nelson, who is joining Moreno’s adNelson ministration from the Sewerage & Water Board, where he was general superintendent. Moreno’s campaign pledge eventually to hire 100 new city maintenance workers will also get underway next week, starting with electricians. “I didn’t realize this, but we have no electricians working for the city of New Orleans right now,” Moreno said. “Any type of minor electrical thing happening, we are going out to one of our vendors to get done.” Those electricians will work with the city’s vendor to begin fixing the roughly 3,000 broken streetlights listed in the city’s 311 system, starting with areas that are hot spots for crime. Moreno’s team is utilizing data from the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office to figure out those locations, Nelson said in an interview. The city will also utilize in-house employees to make repairs to concrete sidewalks for the first time in years, Nelson said.

Economic development Moreno said the overarching goal of her first, four-year term is to reverse New Orleans’ population loss. “I want people to always be able to call New Orleans home,” she said. “And then for people who have left, to have them understand that, hey, this is a place now where you can come back to. There’s enough opportunities here.” For that to happen, Moreno said New Orleans needs to be a city where it’s both “easy to live” and there are goodpaying jobs. Bolstering workforce training programs and assistance to local entrepreneurs seeking capital will be early priorities for her deputy mayor of e c o n o m i c Mains development, Jenny Mains, formerly the chief commercial officer at Kenner-based CRC Global Solutions. Another focus will be redeveloping long-vacant sites in New Orleans East, such as the site of the old Lake Forest Plaza and the city’s abandoned incinerator off Old Gentilly Road. On the campaign, Moreno said she’d provide every potential investor interested in the city with a “comprehensive briefing about New Orleans East, accompanied by VIP white glove treatment and concierge service at City Hall.” Moreno will also announce the site of a new City Hall annex in New Orleans East within her first 100 days. Moreno will benefit from the completion or start of several major projects launched

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Mayor-elect Helena Moreno holds a news conference with incoming deputy mayors at the Great New Orleans Foundation in New Orleans on Friday.

third year in a row of reductions in violent crime. On Tuesday, Moreno will convene with New Orleans “key public safety teams,” including the FBI, DEA, State Police. District Attorney Jason Williams, Moreno’s longtime ally from her first term on the council, is also scheduled to attend. That meeting will be led by Michael Harrison, the former NOPD police chief, who Moreno has tapped to serve as deputy may- Harrison or of public safety. He will help coordinate City Hall with NOPD and other law enforcement agencies while also overseeing the city’s emergency response operations. Moreno has also tasked him with coming up with a permanent security plan for Bourbon Street. On the campaign trail, Moreno said repeatedly that if elected, she’d be a “24/7 mayor.” What does that mean? “24/7 means that, all the time, no matter where you are, even when you’re working out, even when you’re on vacation, that you’re always there and ready still to respond to the needs of the people of the city,” Moreno said. “My commitment is to put the people of New Orleans ﬁrst,” she said.

charter to require confirma- ing out the structure of her tion of other officials within government and putting the the Mayor’s Office. proceeds generated from the Two former mayors Edward Wisner Trust more this week said the charter firmly in the city’s control. amendments requiring coun- At noon, Moreno will attend cil confirmation will slow the the swearing in of the new mayor’s ability to get a swift council. That afternoon, she’ll meet start. “She may be able to navi- with New Orleans Police gate it and negotiate it be- Department Superintencause she has a supportive dent Anne Kirkpatrick, who City Council,” former Mayor Cantrell appointed in 2023 Marc Morial said. “But I fun- and Moreno has chosen to retain, to make sure they’re damentally don’t like it.” For New Orleans to “punch “aligned and ready to go.” above its weight,” its leader (Moreno is also retaining must be able to move quickly, Cantrell’s appointed leaders added former Mayor Mitch in the Fire, EMS, Sanitation Landrieu. “I was not in favor and Code Enforcement deof making it harder for the partments.) mayor to get stuff done.” Moreno enters office as When the Legislature re- New Orleans closes out its turns to Baton Rouge for its regular session in March, Moreno also plans to ask the Ready to Simplify Your Next Chapter New Orleans delegation to by Downsizing or Securing a introduce a bill to reform the Stress-Free Future? governance structure of the Sewerage & Water Board. Let this Seniors Real Estate Specialist® Help.... The utility is funded by the Relationship with council City Council, overseen by a After a turbulent past four board that’s chaired by the years between Cantrell and mayor, and regulated by the Define your Lifestyle & Plan with Expert, the City Council that Moreno Legislature’s laws. Moreno Compassionate Guidance Every Step of the Way! led, the incoming executive wants to remove the Legislaand legislative branches ture from the equation. She seem to be on friendlier also thinks the board should terms. Unclear is whether select its own chair. today for a no-obligation consultation! that goodwill will hold steady Days 1 and 2 through Moreno’s tenure. donna@reverealtors.com Licensed in LA & MS Cantrell entered her first After her swearing in Monterm in 2018 with good rela- day, Moreno will go straight tionships with council mem- to her office and sign a sebers, but things took a turn in ries of executive orders lay504-300-0700 | 4827 Prytania St. | NOLA 70115 her second term. Giarrusso, who served two terms on the council alongside Moreno, said last month that the administration will make sure council members are “active partners and understand what’s going on.” “If I ever hear a council member saying, ‘I didn’t know about this,’ then I have failed, and I don’t like to fail,” Giarrusso said. Moreno will also enter office with less power than her predecessors, thanks to her actions as a council member to rein in the executive branch. Moreno’s nominees to lead 11 departments will require council confirmation under a charter amendment approved by voters in 2022. Another amendment finalized in November is meant to give her pick for city attorney, Charline Gipson, greater independence. The council this spring plans to put a third amendment on the ballot to restrict the mayor’s spending capacity. Morrell said the council may The American Red Cross also flex its power under the under Cantrell’s tenure. The Audubon Nature Institute is slated to finish the first phase of its new downtown park on the Mississippi River. Work on the redevelopment of the former Naval Support Activity complex in Bywater is expected to break ground later this month. And thanks to a bond proposition approved by voters in November, Moreno has the funds to begin demolition of Lindy Boggs hospital. Other projects, like the post-Katrina renovation of the Municipal Auditorium in Armstrong Park, are in limbo, after the Federal Emergency Management Agency last month refused to extend a $38.5 million grant for repairs. Moreno plans to lodge an appeal. Moreno’s leadership team on Friday released additional details on their 100-day priorities and launched an online survey to gather input from the public.

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CREVASSES

The tanker Hafnia Viridian travels up the Mississippi River past Neptune Pass, a new waterway created by a crevasse on the east bank of the river across from Buras, on June 3, 2022.

Continued from page 1A Louisiana and beyond. The Baton Rouge-based Water Institute, the University of New Orleans, Nunez Community College and the California Institute of Technology will collaborate on the project now getting off the ground. The idea is to develop and test methods of managing the man-made and natural breaks in the river after the main levee system that keeps it in place ends in Plaquemines Parish. While it may not be readily apparent to Louisianans, managing those breaks, or crevasses, is of high importance, affecting issues ranging from saltwater intrusion to global grain exports. The crevasses can also build land the way the river used to when it created south Louisiana thousands of years ago — a naturebased solution that could help deal with the state’s land loss crisis. Finding solutions to what scientists refer to as “flow loss” through the crevasses could provide the state and the nation with wide-ranging benefits, particularly as rising seas inundate more coastal areas. “It’s pretty well understood and sort of acknowledged by a lot of people that flow loss from the river in many different ways is going to be a large portion of how we deal with management of the Mississippi River going on into the future,” said Christopher Esposito, a research geoscientist with the Water Institute helping lead the project. “And so what we’re really looking at in this is developing creative ways of improving outcomes where there is flow loss.” An initial phase of the project has been awarded $500,000, with the potential for grants of up to $15 million over five years in the future. It has been given a convoluted name with a recognizable acronym: Coastal Resilience through Effective Versatile Adaptation and Sediment Strategies for Sea-Level Rise Engagement, or CREVASSE. Much of it will involve evaluating ideas already out there to determine their effectiveness and the best methods of using them. “Do you keep this particular cut open? Do you close it?” said Madeline FosterMartinez, an engineering and environmental science expert at UNO leading the project’s management. “But bringing this together so that nature-based solutions can actually be implemented, rather than these one-off type of things, to get something surprisingly innovative, even if it is very low-tech stuff that we’re talking about.”

Finding its level A prominent example of a crevasse is the huge break in the river bank across from Buras, now known as Neptune Pass. Previously, a small channel about 150

feet wide, it broke open dramatically with the extraordinarily high river of 2019. Until recently, it had been regularly diverting up to 18% of the river’s flow. There are benefits to that since the pass is building land where it empties in Quarantine Bay by transporting sediment there — a naturally occurring river diversion project, research by scientist Alex Kolker and his colleagues has found. But there are also serious downsides. Because the river slows there, sediment drops to the bottom and accumulates, causing what the shipping industry calls “shoaling,” creating a hazard for large vessels and requiring additional dredging. The pull on the river’s current in that area is also a danger. In addition, modeling is showing that the combination of breaks in the lower river, particularly Neptune Pass, have contributed to the growing problem of saltwater intrusion up the Mississippi. When the river is low, saltwater travels up the channel from the Gulf, creating risks for drinking water supplies. The crevasses slow the river’s flow, aiding the salt water’s advance. The deepening of the river for shipping is also a major contributor to the problem. The Army Corps of Engineers completed work on a rock sill at Neptune Pass in October, reducing its flow to what recent measurements showed to be about 8% of the river, the Corps says, though that number will fluctuate across seasons. The sill includes a notch in the middle to allow recreational boats, water and sediment to pass through. In response to calls from coastal advocates, the Corps may also carry out later phases of the project that would involve placing terrace-like structures in Quarantine Bay to trap sediment making it through the sill for land-building. The Corps notes that it has long studied the crevasses, including with UNO and the Water Institute, and will continue to do so given their importance. “The crevasses and their development have influence on navigation, dredging operations and salinity intru-

sion, all of which are vital USACE missions,” it said in response to questions on the new project, using the abbreviation for the Corps. “The USACE has also investigated the role the crevasses play in land building and environmental restoration and have been actively involved in investigations of these phenomena in partnership with various entities, including those listed in the CREVASSE initiative.” While Neptune Pass has received much of the attention when it comes to crevasses on the lower river, there are a list of others, both naturally occurring and man-made. And there will almost surely be more in the future. They include Mardi Gras Pass downriver from Pointe a la Hache, Fort St. Philip downriver from Neptune, and West Bay, a man-made crevasse built for coastal restoration near the Mississippi’s mouth. Just closing them all off is not considered a viable option by many scientists, both due to coastal restoration and practical implications, though some in the shipping industry disagree. The river ﬁnds its level, so shutting it off in one location means it may create another crevasse elsewhere.

‘Will cause problems’ The project will look at a wide range of options for how to manage them, both individually and as a system. That could include using more terraces, such as those planned for Neptune Pass, or other innovative ideas. Another example involves what are known as sand dams, which would be built at the entrance to a crevasse when ﬂow is low, then erode naturally when the river is high, with the washed-away sediment potentially building land. The project will focus on practical, applied science approaches. Nunez’s role, for example, will be developing a workforce to implement the ideas, led by Jaqueline Richard, chair of the school’s coastal studies. It is the ﬁrst National Science Foundation award for the Chalmette-based community college.

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Caltech geologist Michael Lamb will be involved in data synthesis and translation of it into practical recommendations. The study joins several

system built after the epochal Mississippi flood of 1927. One of those studies, known as MissDelta and led by scientists from Tulane and LSU, is funded by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Another sweeping study by the Corps is however paused due to lack of funding. Some in the shipping and navigation industry have regularly called for the crevasses to be shut, highlighting the effects on vessels as well as drinking water. STAFF FILE Sean Duffy, head of the Big PHOTO By MAX River Coalition representing those interests, said BECHERER he hopes those issues are prominently considered. “It’s always great to study things, but in reality, the crevasses will cause problems for both navigation others looking at manage- and civilization,” Duffy ment of the lower river. said. “We depend on the waThey come at a key mo- ter from the river.” ment, nearly a century since the construction of Email Mike Smith at the vast levee protection msmith@theadvocate.com.

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Congress considers possible actions after ICE killing

BY MATT BROWN and LISA MASCARO Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The killing of a Minnesota woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer is reverberating across Capitol Hill where Democrats, and certain Republicans, are vowing an assertive response as President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation operations spark protests nationwide. Lawmakers are demanding a range of actions, from a full investigation into Renee Good’s shooting death and policy changes over law enforcement raids to the defunding of ICE operations and the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in what is fast becoming an inflection point. “The situation that took place in Minnesota is a complete and total disgrace,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said as details emerged. “And in the next few days, we will be having conversations about a strong and forceful and appropriate response by House Democrats.” Yet there is almost no consensus among the political parties in the aftermath of the death of Good, who was behind the wheel of an SUV after dropping off her 6-yearold at school when she was shot and killed by an ICE officer. The killing immediately drew dueling narratives. Trump and Noem said the ICE officer acted in selfdefense, while Democratic officials said the Trump administration was lying and they urged the public to see the viral videos of the shooting for themselves. Vice President JD Vance blamed Good, calling it “a tragedy of her own making,” and said the ICE officer may have been “sensitive” from having been injured during an unrelated altercation last year. But Good’s killing, at least the fifth known death since the administration launched its mass deportation campaign, could change the political dynamic. “The videos I’ve seen from

“It looks like the fact that and stricter attitudes toward they’re handling it is a real newcomers to the United disgrace,” said Rep. Vicente a US citizen, who is a white States. Republicans have em- Gonzalez, D-Texas, who rep- woman, may be opening the braced Trump’s hard-line ap- resents a district along the eyes of the American public, certainly of members of Conproach to portray Democrats U.S.-Mexico border “Right now, you’re seeing gress, that what’s going on is as radicals. The Republican admin- humans treated like ani- out of control,” he said, “that this isn’t about apprehending istration had launched the mals,” he said. In September, a federal or pursuing the most dangerenforcement operation in Minnesota in response to immigration enforcement ous immigrants.” an investigation of the non- agent in Chicago fatally shot Republicans expressed profit Feeding Our Future. Silverio Villegas Gonzalez some concern at the shootProsecutors said the organi- during a brief altercation af- ing but stood by the adminiszation was at the center of ter Gonzalez had dropped off tration’s policy, defended the officer’s actions and largely the country’s largest COV- his children at school. In October, a Customs and blamed Good for the standID-19-related fraud scams, when defendants exploited Border Protection agent also off. a state-run, federally funded in Chicago shot Marimar “Nobody wants to see peoprogram intended to provide Martinez, a teacher and U.S. ple get shot,” said Rep. Rich ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARIAM ZUHAIB food for children. citizen, five times during a McCormick, R-Ga. Heading into the Novem- dispute with officers. The “Let’s do the right thing Lawmakers are considering what actions to take after ber midterm election, which charges against Martinez and just be reasonable. And the killing of a Minnesota woman by an Immigration and Democrats believe will hinge brought by the administra- the reasonable thing is not Customs Enforcement officer amid President Donald Trump’s on issues such as affordabil- tion were dismissed by a to obstruct ICE officers and aggressive deportation operations. then accelerate while they’re ity and health care, national federal judge. To Rep. Chuy Garcia, D-Ill., standing in front of your car,” outcry over ICE’s conduct Minneapolis yesterday are action to restrain the admin- has pressured lawmakers to Good’s death “brought back he said. “She made a mistake. heart-wrenching memories I’m sure she didn’t mean for speak out. deeply disturbing,” said Sen. istration’s tactics. “I’m not completely against of those two shootings in my that to happen, nor did he Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in Several Democrats joined mean for that to happen.” a statement. calls to impeach Noem, who deportations, but the way district.” “As we mourn this loss of has been under fire from life, we need a thorough and both parties for her lack of objective investigation into transparency at the departhow and why this happened,” ment, though that step is she said. As part of the in- highly unlikely with Repubvestigation, she said she is licans in control of Congress. Other Democrats want to calling for policy changes, saying the situation “was restrict the funding for her devastating, and cannot hap- department, whose budget was vastly increased as part pen again.” The push in Congress for of Republicans’ sweeping tax more oversight and account- and spending bill passed last ability of the administra- summer. Connecticut Sen. Chris tion’s immigration operations comes as lawmakers Murphy, the top Democrat are in the midst of the annual on the subcommittee that appropriations process to handles Homeland Security fund agencies, including the funding, plans to introduce SAVE UP TO* LIMITED TIME OFFER! Department of Homeland legislation to rein in the agenSecurity, to prevent another cy with constraints on federal Have been thinking about having gutter protection installed federal government shut- agents’ authority, including a for a number of years since every year it becomes more of a down when money expires requirement that the Border pain to climb up on the roof and get the clean-out done. Called *Promotional offer includes Patrol stick to the border and at the end of January. LeafFilter on a Thursday, the salesman came on Friday and 20% off plus an additional 10% off for qualified veterans and/ As anti-ICE demonstra- that DHS enforcement offithe installation was done the next day. Easy-peasy. or seniors. See details below! tions erupt in cities in the cers be unmasked. -Anthony. “More Democrats are aftermath of Good’s death, FINANCING Democrats have pledged to saying today the thing that THAT FITS use any available legislative a number of us have been 100,000+ lever to apply pressure on saying since April and May: YOUR BUDGET1! Reviews. the administration to change Kristi Noem is dangerous. She should not be in ofthe conduct of ICE officers. “We’ve been warning about fice, and she should be imCALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE & INSPECTION! this for an entire year,” said peached,” said Democratic 1-844-304-8973| Promo Code: 561 Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. Rep. Delia Ramirez, who Subject to credit approval. Ask for details. *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. Offer valid at time of estimate The ICE officer “needs to represents parts of Chicago only. See Representative for full warranty details. AR 366920925, AZ ROC344027, CA 1035795, CT HIC.0671520, DC 420223000087, FL CBC056678, IA C127230, ID RCE-51604, LA 559544, MA 213292, MD MHIC111225, MD MHIC164488, MI 262300331, 262300330, 262300329, 262300328, 262300318, 262300173, MN IR810524, be held accountable,” Frost where ICE launched an enMT 266192, ND 47304, NE 50145-24, NJ 13VH13285000, NM 408693, NV 86990, OR 218294, PA 179643, RI GC-41354, TN 10981, UT 10783658-5501, VA 2705169445, VT 174.0000871, WA LEAFFLH763PG, WV WV056912. said, “but not just them, but hanced immigration enforceICE as a whole, the president ment action last year that reand this entire administra- sulted in two deaths. Immigration debates have tion.” Congressional Democrats long divided Congress and saw Good’s killing as a sign the parties. Democrats splinof the need for aggressive ter between more liberal

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Nicaragua says it’s freeing detainees after U.S. pressure By The Associated Press MEXICO CITY — Nicaragua’s Interior Ministry said Saturday the country would release dozens of prisoners, as the United States ramped up pressure on leftist President Daniel Ortega a week after it ousted former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua said Venezuela had taken an important step toward peace by releasing what it described as “political prisoners.” But it lamented that in Nicaragua, “more than

60 people remain unjustly detained or disappeared, including pastors, religious workers, the sick, and the elderly.” On Saturday, the Interior Ministry said in a statement that “dozens of people who were in the National Penitentiary System are returning to their homes and families.” It wasn’t immediately clear who was freed and under what conditions. Nicaragua’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The government has been

carrying out an ongoing crackdown since mass social protests in 2018, that were violently repressed. Nicaragua’s government has imprisoned adversaries, religious leaders, journalists and more, then exiled them, stripping hundreds of their Nicaraguan citizenship and possessions. Since 2018, it has shuttered more than 5,000 organizations, largely religious, and forced thousands to ﬂee the country. Nicaragua’s government often accused critics and opponents of plotting against the government.

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LOUISIANA POLITICS

Speaker Johnson’s tiny majority just got even smaller WASHINGTON — Prospects for the LSU alumni who run the U.S. House were shaken Tuesday, the ﬁrst day of the 2026 session of the 119th Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, and his chief lieutenant, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, knew that rabblerouser Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was quitting. Then they learned Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., had died. LaMalfa’s death brings the Republican majority down to 218 — the bare minimum needed to control committees, set legislative agendas and administer House affairs. That raises the possibility, though unlikely, that RepubMark licans could lose the House Ballard majority through more deaths and resignations before November’s midterm congressional elections. That hasn’t happened since 1930. Democrats have 213 members. Four seats are vacant, with elections being held between the end of January and possibly June. Democrats will likely win two and Republicans should win two. The more immediate impact will be on Johnson’s ability to pass Republican versions of bills with primarily GOP votes. That’s a math question that needs to be calculated each day, he said. “We’ve been working with a razor-thin majority since I became speaker and at many points in the last year, we had a one- or two-vote majority at any given moment,” Johnson said, adding that the Republican majority “has demonstrated over and over and over that we defy expectations and make history.” Johnson rallied just enough GOP support to pass the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included tax cuts, eased regulation, increased border security, and a revamp of Medicaid and food stamps. “The margin is going to be as slim as it ever has been,” Scalise added. “You had a lot of the same stories, ‘Gee whiz, there’s no way they’ll be able to pass the reconcili-

Former state Rep. Romero gets USDA job

The U.S. Department of Agriculture last week announced former state Rep. Troy Romero’s appointment as Louisiana’s state director for rural development, where he’ll lead efforts to secure resources for rural communities. The main task of the job is to connect people and businesses in rural areas with ﬁnancial resources like grants and low-interest and guaranteed loans, Romero said. He gave as an example the $27 billion Meta data center project in Richland Parish Romero in northeast Louisiana. “All of the communities that surround it are going to need to be built up,” Romero said. “They’re going to need, you know, extra hospital space and rural clinics and restaurants.” USDA’s rural development section supports economic development, job creation and services like housing, health care, ﬁrstresponder services and utility infrastructure, according to its website. Romero resigned from his seat in the Louisiana Legislature on Dec. 14 and began his new job with the federal government the

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ROD LAMKEy

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, is joined by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, during a news conference at the Capitol on Wednesday. ation bill,’ until it passed because we came together as Republicans.” Johnson and Scalise can afford to lose only two Republican votes — provided every GOP rep shows up when the ballots are cast. On any given day, a handful of representatives from both parties may not be in Washington, which changes the math. For instance, this week, leadership had to work around the absence of Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind. He is convalescing at home after a severe car wreck Monday night. Johnson and Scalise hustled Wednesday to overcome opposition from a dozen rightwing Republicans who had threatened

to vote against a procedural motion that could have derailed appropriations bills. Leadership negotiated a deal and the bills passed Thursday. By any measure, Johnson and Scalise — as well as Senate GOP leadership — are headed into a rocky 2026. The aggressive rhetoric President Donald Trump’s top aides use about acquiring Greenland has worried a number of Republicans. The killing of a Minneapolis woman protesting immigration agents and the shooting of a couple in Portland, Oregon, has focused some Republicans and nearly every Democrat to question

next day, he said. to preventable illness and death. He’s replacing acting DirecCassidy was responding to questor MaryAnn Pistilli and will tions about changes Health Secrebe based in Alexandria, tary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. though he’ll regularly issued Monday through the travel the state and meet Centers for Disease Conwith local leaders and oftrol and Prevention, which no longer recommend ficials, he said. routine vaccination of all The former state lawchildren for hepatitis A, maker said Gov. Jeff Capitol hepatitis B, RSV, rotavirus, Landry helped put his Buzz influenza, COVID-19 and name forward for the apSTAFF meningococcal, instead pointment. REPORTS shifting some vaccines to Romero was first electhigh-risk or shared decied to the Legislature in 2019 and ran again in 2023 unopsion-making categories. “I think it’s the wrong move for posed. He chaired the agriculall the reasons I’ve publicly said ture committee in the Louisiana before,” Cassidy said. House. Speaking as a doctor who In 2008, he founded and ran the specialized in liver disease, he company Sports Turf Specialists, described treating patients who which constructs athletic turf suffered or died from hepatitis A fields, though he sold the comand hepatitis B, diseases he empany a few years back. Before that, he worked in the sugar cane phasized can quietly cause damindustry. age for decades before symptoms He grew up in a farming family appear. in Welsh. Romero and his wife “It happens often enough that live in Lacassine between Welsh you don’t want it to happen to and Lake Charles. your child,” Cassidy said. “If we’re going to make America healthy again, you start off by using the safe vaccines that are out there.” Cassidy also warned that the U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy criticized decision risks undermining trust new federal vaccine guidance in vaccination at a time when during a press call Tuesday, callpreventable diseases are resurging the decision to scale back recommendations for several ing, citing two recent deaths in childhood vaccines “the wrong Louisiana children of pertussis, or move” and warning it could lead whooping cough.

Cassidy criticizes change in vaccine guidance

Trump’s controversial immigration policy. Five Republican senators Thursday joined Democrats to limit Trump’s war powers in the wake of his unilateral decision to not only capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to stand trial on drug trafficking charges but essentially to, in Trump’s words, “run” the oil-rich nation for an indeterminate time. Trump demanded on social media that the five Republicans “never be elected to office again.” The Venezuela bill could upset Senate efforts to work on the House-passed appropriations bills that need to be on the president’s desk by Jan. 30. Some House members are pressing a similar instrument, threatening another “discharge resolution” to force a vote. The once-rare maneuver to circumvent House leadership has become more frequent lately. There was the vote to release the Epstein files. And on Thursday, 17 House Republicans joined Democrats, against Johnson’s wishes, to extend the enhanced Obamacare tax credits that 22 million working Americans and small businesses use to pay for skyrocketing health insurance premiums on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Johnson also has been the target of criticism from within the Republican Conference. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican who had been in House leadership but won’t stand for reelection, called Johnson a liar and ineffective, though she walked back some of her comments. GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, who is running for South Carolina governor, has made similar disparaging remarks. “The Bible says you don’t worry about tomorrow. Today has enough troubles of its own,” Johnson said. “I’m not worried about the numbers. I don’t get up in apprehension or anxiety on any day. I get up every day with hope and anticipation to see what God is going to do for our great country.” Email Mark Ballard at mballard@ theadvocate.com.

Cassidy, who was the swing vote in conﬁrming Kennedy, said that he has had conversations with the administration at times when they have made changes to vaccination recommendations in the past, though he declined to give details of those conversations. “Now, obviously, they don’t always agree with me,” Cassidy said. “There are some times when I can tell you, the decision is made differently because of me registering my concern.”

Gov. Landry calls for Maduro’s execution Gov. Jeff Landry has said that captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro should be executed — but if that can’t happen, the Louisiana leader is happy to hold him at Camp 57, an immigration detention facility on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The federal government has accused Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, of working with drug cartels to smuggle thousands of tons of cocaine to the United States. In an opinion piece published by Breitbart, Landry last week blamed Maduro for contributing to the opioid-related deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. “Personally, I’d like to see Maduro executed for the crimes he

has committed against the people of the United States and the families left to mourn,” Landry wrote. “However, I would be well satisfied to see him and his wife spend the rest of their days at Camp 57 in Angola.” Critics of military action against Venezuela have questioned using overdoses as a justification, since fentanyl — the powerful synthetic opioid that has driven the spike in overdoses — mostly comes through Mexico, and many of the materials used to make it come from China. Venezuela plays a role in the transit of cocaine, which is responsible for far fewer overdoses. President Donald Trump’s administration carried out a military operation in Caracas on Jan. 3, taking Maduro into custody and flying him to New York, where he and his wife face narco-terrorism charges. On Monday, Maduro pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges at a courthouse in Manhattan. In a Fox News interview on Tuesday, Landry, a longtime ally of Trump, said the war on drugs has been discussed for decades and that millions of Americans have died because of illegal drugs. “And yet this is the first time a president really took the fight to them and said, ‘no more,’” Landry said.

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EDUCATION A S K T H E E X P E RT S

Early childhood advocates ready for big year After losing funds, efforts are ramped up

Q&A WITH LIBBIE SONNIER

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

With a new legislative session right around the corner, Louisiana’s early childhood education advocates are gearing up to ﬁght for more funding to increase options for the roughly 100,000 young children from low-income families who aren’t enrolled in any program. The effort comes after state lawmakers axed millions for early childhood education two years ago and as federal dollars for other programs like Head Start hang in the balance. Libbie Sonnier is CEO of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, a research and policy organization focused on children ages 0-4. In her seven years in the role, she’s worked to raise awareness about the importance of early childhood education for children and communities, and has advocated for more funding for programs. That’s proved difﬁcult in recent years, particularly after the state Senate cut $24 million from such programs in 2024. While $15 million was eventually reinstated following outcry from advocates who said the reduction would result in 2,000 infants and toddlers losing care access, the loss of the remaining $9 million meant that about 720 seats were still pulled and have not been restored. Access to early childhood education, such as day care and preschool, is crucial to improving student outcomes down the road, advocates say. One recent study from Tulane University found that low-income children who attended preschool programs were twice as likely to enter kinder-

PROVIDED PHOTO

Libbie Sonnier, chief executive officer of Louisiana Policy Institute for Children

garten with foundational reading skills compared to 4-year-olds who didn’t. One of the biggest challenges in the coming year will be making sure the state’s early childhood education programs maintain their current level of funding, Sonnier said, even as one program is projected to run out of money in the next few years. She added that another obstacle will be the need to continue to educate lawmakers and the public about the importance of early child care. “We wouldn’t think about not funding third or fourth grade, but we do think about not funding our birth to 4-year-olds,” Sonnier said. “If there’s not enough money, they’re the ﬁrst ones to get cut.” This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. What early education issues will you be focused on this year? We at minimum want to maintain the level of state funding

provide for their families, but we also know from longitudinal CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF LOUISIANA POLICy INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN research that the benefits of children having access to quality early childhood education in those first five years of life pay divia social security number. What that we have in early childhood would that look like if we were dends. It’s at least a 15% return education in Louisiana, as well able to do that for children who on investment for every dollar as also think about how to codify enter the early childhood system? that we spend on children during the Early Childhood Education Then we would have more longithat time period. Fund, where we have five differAccess to early childhood edutudinal data to show the effectiveent sources of state revenue that offer a dollar-for-dollar match for ness of early childhood education. cation ensures that children are (local businesses that invest in The State Superintendent of Ed- less likely to end up in special early child care). ucation has intimated, with all the education, less likely to need Right now, the need for the gains in K-12, particularly around social services later, more likely fund is set to outpace what will that they’re going to graduate third and fourth grade reading be in the fund over the next year. from high school, more likely that levels, that early childhood has We’d like to start a discussion they’re going to read on grade been part of that success story, about how to ensure that the state and we need to be able to measure level. They’re going to have betmakes sure those funds are in the that in different ways and be able ter educational and economic outpot. Let’s say that the Early Child- to show that the cumulative effect comes for themselves and their of a quality education starting family, and they also have better hood Fund is short by $5 or $6 health as they age. million. How will the state ensure at a very young age can produce results that make us a stronger The benefits are long-lasting for that $5 or $6 million is in there? Louisiana. the child themselves, but it also Additionally, how do we ensure What roadblocks are you anticipating? benefits the family that they’re that families and providers of all It’s a continual effort for us to able to ensure their children are types for young children, birth educate our elected officials and safe, healthy and being educated through age 4, have the ability policy leaders around early child- so that they enter kindergarten to take part in public meetings under public meeting law, even hood education, so our roadblocks ready to learn. What else is happening in early educaif they can’t make it to Baton are people not understanding that Rouge? access to quality early childhood tion this year that people should be aware We learned a lot during COVID education is an economic and of? when we had public meetings workforce issue. Just the continued push to show virtually, and there was a law If parents aren’t able to go to the importance of it. At the end of put in place a few years ago perwork and school to provide for the day, early childhood education their children then that’s less is all parent choice. If a parent taining to increasing access to money in our economy. We know doesn’t want to put their child in public meetings, particularly for early education, they don’t have individuals with disabilities. How that we lose $1.3 billion annually due to child care breakdowns in to. But if they want to do that, do we expand that for families they should have access to quality and providers so that they can be the Louisiana economy. We keep having to make that early childhood education. involved in decision-making bodeconomic case. But we’ve got Access without quality isn’t acies without having to drive long people like our secretary of distances? cess because we know that high Are there any bills you’re working to pass Workforce (Susie Schowen) who quality has all those benefits, and really understands child care is this legislative session? poor quality can be harmful. And absolutely crucial to get parents Again, there’s this conversaso if a family chooses to put their in the workforce. It’s an economic child in an early childhood education around codifying the Early development issue. Childhood Education Fund, and tion setting, we need to ensure What are some of the benefits of early another thing we’re looking at is, they have access to quality setwe already have a system in place childhood education? tings. It’s really a two-generation apfor K-12 where every child who comes into the K-12 system has a proach. It’s about getting parents Email Elyse Carmosino at unique identifier that is used like into the workforce so they can ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.

WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THE STATE HOW TO TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING LOUISIANA SCHOOLS. HAVE AN IDEA? EMAIL PATRICK.WALL@THEADVOCATE.COM

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ 15A

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If You’re Over Thirty This is the BEST TREATMENT you can use for your SCIATICA, BACK PAIN, and HERNIATED DISCS If you suffer from: Finally, there’s a • LOW BACK PAIN treatment to conquer •• SCIATICA NECK PAIN • HIP PAIN low back, neck, leg • LEG PAIN IN ARMS, and arm pain without • NUMBNESS LEGS OR FEET dangerous medications Non-surgical Spinal Decompression may be or painful surgery. the answer for you!

We are Dr. Scott LeBlanc and Dr. Dana LeBlanc, a husband and wife team, that own LeBlanc Spine Center. We have helped thousands of patients get out of pain with Spinal Decompression therapy treatments, and we love what we do. Disc issues are common, and patients suffering are usually given limited options of treatment. We run these big newspaper advertisements to let people in the community know there is another option of treatment for pain- without medication, injections, or surgery!

alleviate pain. It’s important to note that not every patient is a candidate for Spinal Decompression, which is why we prioritize a thorough individual assessment for each person who walks through our doors. Our high success rate in pain relief stems from our commitment to only taking on patients whom we confidently believe we can help.

what is causing your pain. If you have seen our ads in the past and have thought about calling, don’t hesitate. You don’t have to go on living in pain, missing out on activities and other part of life that you enjoy. Call us today!

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For the next 7 days, we are offering a special “Decompression Evaluation” offer, at no cost to you! What does this offer include? Everything we normally do in our new patient evaluations:

NON-SURGICAL SPINAL DECOMPRESSION is a breakthrough, non-invasive treatment that has been proven to reverse disc herniations and relieve nerve • An in-depth consultation about your health pain in the neck and low back. During the procedure, and wellbeing where we will listen...really a spinal disc is isolated and a series of distraction listen...to the details of your case. and relaxation phases occur at a very specific angle, • A complete neuromuscular examination targeting the source of pain. A vacuum can be created • A full set of specialized X-rays (if clinically inside the disc and the negative pressure delivers nunecessary) trients, oxygen, and fluid from surrounding tissues, to • A thorough analysis of your exam and X-ray assist with repair of the damaged disc. The treatment findings is not painful at all, and most patients read or even You will sit with the doctor one on one to go over take a nap while on treatment! your x-rays, and you’ll get to see everything first PROOF THIS TREATMENT WORKS There’s plenty of hand. research to back up the claims of Spinal DecompresAt LeBlanc Spine Center, we are honest with our sion Therapy and its effectiveness. Here are just a few patients and we give personalized attention and of the published scientific studies … analysis to each case. We truly enjoy meeting with • “Patients reported a mean 88.9% improvement in patients to answer their questions and to help find back pain and better function...No patient required out if Spinal Decompression treatments could be any invasive therapies (e.g. epidural injections, surthe answer to their pain. gery).” - American Academy of Pain Management • “We thus submit that decompression therapy should There is no charge at all and you don’t need to buy anything. You have nothing to lose by taking us be considered first, before the patient undergoes a up on this special offer and you will get answers to surgical procedure which permanently alters the anatomy and function of the affected lumbar spine segment.” - Journal Of Neuroscience Research • “86% of the 219 patients who completed the therapy reported immediate resolution of symptoms.” - Orthopedic Technology Review • “Vertebral axial (spinal) decompression was successful in 71% of the 778 cases” - Journal of Neurological Research • “Good to excellent relief in 86% of patients with Herniated discs” - The American Journal of Pain Management • “Decompression Therapy reported a 76.5% with complete remission and 19.6% with partial remission of pain and disability” - Rio Grande Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery

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SEE WHAT SOME OF OUR PATIENTS HAVE TO SAY …

I came to LeBlanc Spine Center because I had been suffering with extreme back pain and leg pain for several weeks. I had tried other treatments, massage, NSAIDs and Tylenol, but I was still in pain. I began Spinal Decompression treatments and now I feel 100% improved! What I like most about my treatment is that it is non-invasive and it eliminated my pain. My treatment appointments are not long, and the treatment is pain-free. Since beginning treatment at LeBlanc Spine Center, I am now able to do all of my previous activities and work without pain. I also have more range of motion. I would highly recommend LeBlanc Spine Center!

Dr. John Barksdale

(Dentist) hometown - Baton Rouge, LA

I came to LeBlanc Spine Center with severe neck pain that radiated from the top of my head down into my shoulders. I had been dealing with it for about a year, and the pain had gotten unbearable. Before coming here, my doctor had only recommended massages and Tylenol, but they didn’t give me real relief. Since starting care, I’m about 90% improved. The staff here is awesome - truly friendly and supportive - and the results from the treatment have made such a difference in my life. Being able to live without that severe pain is so refreshing. I’ve noticed improvements in everything - sleeping, mobility, tension, and just overall how I feel day to day. I definitely would, and already have, recommended LeBlanc Spine Center to anyone suffering with back or neck pain.

Diane Fritts

(Retired) Hometown - Baton Rouge, LA

I came to LeBlanc Spine Center with pain in my left arm, shoulder, and neck, and I had two fingers on my left hand that were numb. I had been dealing with this for over 8 months and had tried shots, therapy, MRIs, and X-rays before, but nothing was really helping. Since coming here, I’ve improved about 90%. The staff is amazing - always knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful, and the service from the doctors and team has been great. What I love most is the pain reduction, because it’s allowed me to take better care of my dad and grandkids, cut the grass, do housework, and even fish again. I feel like I have more mobility and I’m more relaxed now that I can do more activities. Honestly, the only thing I don’t love is the drive - we need an office in Gonzales! They are amazing, though. Please give them a try before any surgeries.

Kim Landry

(Photographer) Hometown - St. Amant, LA

Before coming to LeBlanc Spine Center, I was dealing with low back pain and an SI joint problem, and I had no gel between my lower joints. I had been struggling with this for about a year and had tried exercises and wearing belts just to get by. Since starting care here, I’d say I’ve improved about 80%. The pain relief has made a real difference, and I’ve also noticed improved posture. The staff here is a great group to work with - they really care and treat you well. I can’t say there’s anything I disliked about my care, because everything has been positive. I may not be doing anything brand new, but I’m doing it with less pain than before, and that has made life better. I would definitely recommend LeBlanc Spine Center to others because they’re a great group to work with, they help improve posture, and most importantly, they help reduce pain.

Barry Acy

(Retired) Hometown - Gonzales, LA

16A ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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THE GULF COAST Residents, officials question $84M Destin waterfront park 4-acre Fla. site expected to open in 2027

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

SUN HERALD PHOTO By SCOTT WATKINS

The back porch of Flamingo Landing in Gulfport, Miss., features a turfed patio with seating.

Popular restaurant expanding to third Mississippi location BY JUSTIN MITCHELL Staff writer

The owner of a popular Mississippi restaurant with locations in Pass Christian and Ocean Springs is taking a chance on a waterfront building in Gulfport, Mississippi, that once housed an eatery from a New Orleans dining group. Jourdan Nicaud is opening Bacchus on the Bluff at 8813 Lorraine Road, an area that has become more popular in recent years as a slew of development brings new housing, dining and shopping to the Cowan-Lorraine Road corridor. The restaurant will replace Flamingo Landing, which closed in August after two years in business. It was the ﬁrst Mississippi venture for Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts, a group that owns more than a few well-known spots in New Orleans including

Cafe Mesparo, Boulevard American Bistro, Flamingo A-Go-Go and The Bombay Club. Nicaud, who has ties to New Orleans and owns several restaurants on the Mississippi Coast, with his brother, Field Nicaud, said the goal is to open Bacchus on the Bluff in March. It is situated along Bayou Bernard and will have the same menu as Bacchus on the Beach in Pass Christian and Bacchus on the Bayou in Ocean Springs. The Bacchus restaurants are known for casual coastal fare, the Monday night pork chop special, a variety of oysters and more on the seafood-forward menu. Nicaud said there will also be a downstairs bar and a boat launch for water access. The new Lorraine Road location is situated between U.S. 90 and Interstate 10 and is about a 90-minute drive from New Orleans.

Residents and city officials in Destin opposed plans last Tuesday for a new $84 million waterfront park on Holiday Isle, citing concerns that the 4-acre lot could become a commercial hub that increases traffic from tourists and disrupts life for locals. Florida recently purchased the site to build a public park with trails, pavilions and approximately 100 parking spaces. It is scheduled to open in March 2027. Once slated for an eight-story condominium, the project is part of an effort to expand access to the Gulf Coast city’s beaches amid ongoing local tensions over limited shoreline, as privately owned beaches and vendor operations have contributed to overcrowding. The plan also comes as more vacationers, drawn by less crowded beaches, turn to the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast. Neighboring the tourist-heavy Norreigo Point, the waterfront park would bring far less traffic, noise and marina congestion than the original development concept, officials said in the project management plan. But several council members pushed back in the meeting held by the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners, raising concerns with county staff members, including parks director Jeff Peters, commissioner Drew Palmer and deputy county administrator Craig Coffey. Destin council member Torey Geile argued that the board overseeing the project has “limited knowledge on the zoning guidelines and the land development regulations,” adding that a resi-

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Florida purchased land on Holiday Isle in an effort to expand access to Destin’s beaches, city officials said. dential dock would create less traffic. Destin council member Terésa Hebert emphasized the impact on nearby residents, saying that anything beyond a beach with limited parking spaces would be “a detriment to those who live there who have enjoyed their peace and quiet and don’t want to have anything extra to create more havoc and noise and disruption.” County officials said in the project management plan that the waterfront park would complement Norriego Point by offering amenities not suitable for a beach, including concession stands and food trucks. A one or two-story building would also house a small tourism office, food services and an event space. Altogether, the site could generate between $500,000 to $1 million in revenue during Destin’s busiest tourism season, from March to October, according to the plan. Earlier this year, officials announced plans for another project, Tarpon Beach Gulf Front Park, which will feature 340 feet of public beach access, restrooms

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and nearly 50 free parking spaces. At the groundbreaking ceremony for the $16.75 million project, Mayor Bobby Wagner said the park was about “reclaiming the beaches for our residents, for our tourists.” Wagner has also said Destin aims to “buy and build more public beaches over the next two years. But at Tuesday’s meeting, he said residents appeared to be forced to accept a project they did not support. “The current plan seems to be getting shoved down our throats through possible pretenses that the state is requiring you guys to do,” Wagner said. “So, either you’re getting arm barred or we are feeling arm barred through the state.” He added that the project “shouldn’t be about profit margins. It should be about quality of life.” Peters, Palmer and Coffey did not respond to the concerns of residents, council members and Wagner at the meeting, but Okaloosa County created a form where people can submit questions or comments about the park.

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VENEZUELA

Prisoner releases enter 3rd day BY REGINA GARCIA CANO Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO DE YARE, Venezuela — As Diógenes Angulo was freed Saturday from a Venezuelan prison after a year and five months, he, his mother and his aunt trembled and struggled for words. Nearby, at least a dozen other families hoped for similar reunions. Angulo’s release came on the third day that families had gathered outside prisons in the capital, Caracas, and other communities hoping to see loved ones walk out after Venezuela’s government pledged to free what it described as a significant number of prisoners. Members of Venezuela’s political opposition, activists, journalists and soldiers were among the detainees that families hoped would be released. Angulo was detained two days before the 2024 presidential election after he posted a video of an opposition demonstration in Barinas, the home state of the late President Hugo Chávez. He was 17 at the time. “Thank God, I’m going to enjoy my family again,” he said, adding that others still detained “are well” and have high hopes of being released soon. Minutes after he was freed, the now 19-year-old learned that former President Nicolás Maduro had been captured by U.S. forces Jan. 3 in a nighttime raid in Caracas. The government has not identiﬁed or offered a count of the prisoners being considered for release, leaving rights groups scouring for hints of information.

DEATHS continued from of 63, after a long coura‐ geous battle with cancer. Born on January 3, 1963, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he is the beloved son of Lawrence Werner Jr. and Delyle Buras Werner. Larry is the cherished husband of Lori Zammit Werner, with whom he shared 42 ﬁlled years; memory adored father of Lawrence Joseph Werner IV and Charles Werner Logan (Christen); proud grandfa‐ ther of Scottie Keaton Werner; and brother of Craig Werner (Sheryl) and Kyle Werner (Tracey). He also leaves behind, to cher‐ ish his memory, a host of extended family members and friends, all of whom he loved greatly. Larry gradu‐ ated from Rummel High School with the Class of 1981. He went on to oper‐ ate LJ’s Body Shop for many years. An avid out‐ Larry loved doorsman, hunting and ﬁshing. He found solitude and enjoy‐ ment being on the water and at the camp in De‐ mopolis, Alabama, where he created many fond memories with his family and friends. Larry will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. A cel‐ ebration of Larry’s life will be held at a later date. and condo‐ Memories lences may be expressed at www.AudubonFuneralH ome.com.

Williams, Thomas Sewell 'Si'

Thomas Sewell “Si” Williams entered his heav‐ enly home on January 8, 2026. He was dearly loved by his wife, 5 children, 9 grandchildren, 9 greatgrandchildren, and many and nephews. nieces Sewell was born on Octo‐ ber 5, 1932 in Grand Bay Al‐ abama to the late Naomi and Thomas Berthaut Williams. He was a proud

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graduate of Auburn Univer‐ sity where he received a B.S. in Industrial Manage‐ ment, and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He served as a U.S. Army Cor‐ poral during the Korean War. After service, he moved to New Orleans, where he served as Presi‐ dent of Algiers Iron Works & Dry Dock Co. for 30 years. Sewell rebuilt the company through innovations, be‐ coming one of the most ef‐ ficient in the Marine Indus‐ try. In New Orleans, he met Patty Caylor, a fellow Auburn graduate, who be‐ came the love of his life. They married in 1956 and lived in Algiers before mov‐ ing to Belle Chasse, where they raised five children. Si and Patty embraced the Orleans lifestyle, New where he was a member of Bacchus and Alla carnival krewes, serving multiple terms as president of Alla. enjoyed many They evenings of dinner and dancing at area restaurant and attended venues art, theater, countless and symphony opera, events. Si was the past owner and principal sur‐ veyor of the Arthur H. Terry Marine Surveying Co., spe‐ cializing in yachts and fish‐ ing vessels. Sewell was a member and past presi‐ dent of the Marine Club of New Orleans and director of the New Orleans Traffic and Transportation Associ‐ ation. He was a member of numerous marine associa‐ tions, including the Society of Naval Architects & Ma‐ rine Engineers and the Na‐ tional Association of Ma‐ rine Surveyors. Si enjoyed leading several trips to the Bahamas as a sponsor of the Sea Explorer ship 770. He received the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts of America for out‐ standing service. Si was a lifelong lover of all things nautical and waterborne. Among the boats he owned were the "War Eagle" and, later, a 57-foot Biloxi Lug‐ ger Yacht, which he named the "Patty Jean" after the love of his life, his wife, Patty. He was an avid duck hunter, fisherman, and loved traveling in the U.S., China, France, England, and the Caribbean. Sewell was predeceased by his wife, Patty Jean, and his siblings, Lemoine Brum‐ mitt, Wincen Williams, and Edgar Williams. He is sur‐ vived by his sister-in-law, Peggy Caylor, and his chil‐ dren: Jeanne (John) Lind‐ sey, Linda (Timothy) Har‐ vey, Kathy (Fuling) Chiang, Damon Williams, and Carol Grandchildren Williams. are: Stacia (Carden) Price,

Eric (Lizbeth) Lindsey, Katherine (Tyer) Kemp, Laura (Joerg) Straub, John (Natália) Harvey, Joseph Harvey, Sean (Jill) (Melissa) Chiang, Christine (Shin) Doi, and Stephen Great-grandchil‐ Landry. dren are: Hanna, Mia, and Lena Straub, Shinobu and Kunitsugu Doi, Brendan Chiang, Rose Lindsey, Lucy, and Rosie Harvey. Special Lucy extended-family: (Barry) Simon. The family would like to express spe‐ cial thanks to caregivers Joanne Riley and Todd Fer‐ niz. Friends and family are invited to attend a Funeral Mass on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of Mothe Funeral Home, 2100 Westbank Ex‐ pressway, in Harvey, LA. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM. Interment will follow immediately at Westlawn Memorial Park, 1225 Whit‐ ney Ave., in Gretna, LA. Friends and family may offer condolences at moth‐ efuneral.com.

Yokum, Robert W.

Robert W. Yokum passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2026. He is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Linda (Duckworth), and extended family members. Rob was a Professional Engineer. A member of the ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers and SAME Society of American Military Engineers. He attended the University of New Orleans and Tulane University, where he received his Master's in civil engineering. He was a structural engineer and successful businessman. Rob started YES - Yokum Engineering Solutions, after working for the Corps of Engineers. Memorial contributions

may be made to Second Harvest Food Bank, 700 Edwards Ave, New Orleans, LA 70123. Givetoday@nohunger.org Relatives and friends are invited to an evening wake on Thursday, January 15, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. An additional viewing will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with mass to follow at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 West 21st Avenue, Covington, Louisiana. E.J. Fielding Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. Please sign the guestbook at www.ejfieldingfh.com.

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Campaign launched to improve St. Claude corridor Business owners join forces over lighting, blight, street layout challenges

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER

Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley, right, chats with some of his staff on Monday. Conley has cooperated with Operation Catahoula Crunch since the Border Patrol began operations in the New Orleans area in December.

Kenner chief welcomes Border Patrol presence

Keith Conley’s close ties with feds stir mixed reactions ahead of reelection campaign BY LARA NICHOLSON

Staff writer

Over the last month, the whereabouts of U.S. Border Patrol agents in the New Orleans area at any given time have largely been a mystery to the public, the media and most public officials. But one person has gotten a head’s up from time to time: Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley. Conley has cooperated with Operation Catahoula Crunch since the Border Patrol began operations in the New Orleans area in December. That has led to a rapport with Commander-At-Large Gregory Bovino that Conley said includes 15-minute notices of Border Patrol activity about to happen in Kenner. As Border Patrol completes the first month of its south Louisiana operation, Conley has emerged as the main elected official publicly supporting federal agents’ presence while he oversees law enforcement for the city with the highest Hispanic population per capita in Louisiana and the site of the most immigration enforcement activity recently. Conley called Kenner the “opposite of a sanctuary city” on Fox News before

Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley, right, smiles after catching up with some of the maintenance staff at the department’s headquarters. the operation and later ordered a police blockade to separate federal agents from protesters and media following behind, the ﬁrst time a local police department assisted Border Patrol operations, according to Bovino. In the last month, Conley has received over 100 interview requests, according to campaign manager Greg Buisson, as other Kenner and Jefferson Parish ofﬁcials stay mum on the issue to avoid political backlash. In return, Bovino has sung Conley’s praises on social media and provided information on agents’ whereabouts that Border Patrol has provided to po-

lice counterparts in other Democratic cities, including New Orleans Mayorelect Helena Moreno. Border Patrol operates independently of the Kenner Police Department and did not share strategic operation plans with Conley, however. “I welcome it, because if you don’t have communication then you really don’t know what’s going on,” Conley said in an interview. “I’m not the kind of guy that likes to get blindsided by anyone.” Buisson added that Conley’s support will likely pay off in the long run when it comes to seeking additional federal support through grants.

“He understands how government really works,” Buisson said. But Border Patrol’s presence — and Conley’s response to it — have drawn a mixed response from constituents. Kenner residents, immigration advocates and New Orleans ofﬁcials alike have accused federal agents of using a dragnet approach based on racial profiling and have called on Kenner police to end their cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Kenner Police Department’s controversial 287(g) agreement, spearheaded by Conley. “The damage to our community’s trust is a burden we all share,” Greg Piper, a Kenner resident, told the Kenner City Council on Thursday night. “Chief, I’m asking you to consider terminating the 287(g) agreement. … Doing this would be a powerful gesture to restore the bonds that have been broken.” Conley said his focus is on getting those who are undocumented with criminal backgrounds off the street — which to him has been a long-standing issue — and that he welcomes whatever additional resources or manpower are offered. “It (immigration) is on a political stage now, but to me, it is still what

ä See CHIEF, page 2B

A new local business owners’ association has launched a campaign aimed at improving the St. Claude Avenue corridor with light-based art installations, bike safety outreach and a small-batch art market. The Bywater-Marigny Business Organization, or ByMBO, brought together local DJs, vendors and advocates for bicycle and pedestrian safety at St. Claude Avenue and Clouet Street, as more than a hundred people showed up its inaugural event Saturday evening, titled “Spark: Light Up St. Claude.” The business group, which began meeting in April, has big goals for the revitalization of the corridor, hoping to follow in the footsteps of development efforts such as the French Quarter Business Association, Celebrate Canal and the merchant associations of Magazine and Freret streets.

ä See ST. CLAUDE, page 2B

Nominations open for 2025 Times-Picayune Loving Cup BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

The Times-Picayune is accepting nominations for the 2025 Loving Cup, an award the newspaper gives annually to recognize residents who have worked unselﬁshly for the community. The Loving Cup has been awarded since 1901. Anyone may be nominated, and anyone may nominate. Nominations should include a brief description of the nominee’s civic, social, cultural or religious activities that have contributed to improving life in the New Orleans area. Posthumous nominations are not accepted. The 2024 Loving Cup was given to Elizabeth “Betsy” Nalty in recognition of her volunteer service to numerous charitable organizations, educational institutions and civic groups over several decades. Past Loving Cup recipients include Darryl Berger, Boysie Bollinger, Gayle Benson, Leah Chase, Archbishop Phillip Hannan, Tommy Cvitanovich, Michael Smith and Anne Milling. The recipient will be honored by The TimesPicayune at a ceremony. Nominations can be emailed to lovingcup@ theadvocate.com or mailed to the The TimesPicayune Loving Cup Committee, 840 St. Charles. Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130. They should be received by the end of the day Feb. 14.

Pro Bono Publico Foundation pledges $1.3M in grants BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

The Pro Bono Publico Foundation, the charitable arm of the Rex Organization, has pledged another $1.3 million to New Orleans public schools and nonproﬁts, continuing its philanthropic efforts to improve local education. The financial commitment marks the 11th consecutive year that the organization has pledged more than $1 million to local education groups. This year, 77 schools and nonprofit organizations received grants, including more than 20 public schools in New Orleans.

“Beyond the direct impact of this funding, this level of commitment signals to national funders that local funders remain ﬁnancially supportive and engaged,” Merritt Lane, a member of the foundation’s board, said at a news conference at the Rex den Saturday morning. “This encourages them to continue to invest in New Orleans.” The foundation was created after Hurricane Katrina to aid local education groups as the city worked to rebuild. Since its founding in 2006, the foundation has distributed more than $16 million to schools and other educational causes.

The 2026 grants were announced before an audience of several dozen school leaders, education and nonproﬁt representatives and Rex members. Nearby, Rex’s Carnival ﬂoats for the parade season, which this year is themed “Rebirth and Renewal,” stood ready to roll. The foundation continued its recent trend of giving installments of larger scale strategic grants that tackle pressing challenges facing New Orleans students and “help New Orleans’ school children reach their full educational potential,” according to the group. Manning Family Children’s

STAFF PHOTO By MARIE FAZIO

The Rex Organization’s Pro Bono Publico Foundation has pleged $1.3 ä See FOUNDATION, page 2B million in grants to New Orleans schools and nonprofits.

2B ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

Border Patrol reports 560 south La. arrests BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

U.S. Border Patrol has made more than 560 arrests of undocumented immigrants in south Louisiana just over ﬁve weeks after launching operations here, a spokesperson for the agency said Friday. The updated count comes as the status of Border Patrol’s local operation falls into uncertainty. The Associated Press reported Friday that federal agents were being pulled out of Louisiana to move to Minneapolis, where thousands of federal agents arrived this week to target Somali immigrants and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement ofﬁcer fatally shot a woman with U.S. citizenship last Wednesday. “The Department of Homeland Security continues to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens across the New Orleans, Louisiana area during Operation Catahoula Crunch,” Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said. DHS did not provide any additional details about the 560 arrests. When asked if Border Patrol would be withdrawing completely, McLaughlin said the agency does “not disclose operational details while they are underway.” Cmdr. Gregory Bovino had been spotted in Kenner and Metairie on Tuesday, according to reports from immigration advocacy group Union Migrante but was seen in Minneapolis on the day of the fatal shooting. Border Patrol launched its Louisiana operation on Dec. 3, with more than 200 officers arriving in the New Orleans area with the goal of making 5,000 arrests across the region. In the first eight days of the operation, Border Patrol arrested 250 people, with fewer than 10% having criminal backgrounds. The last count released by DHS was on Dec. 18 at 370 arrests.

CHIEF

Continued from page 1B it’s always been, just law and order,” Conley said. “I hope that’s what it is for everybody else that’s working toward that end.” Conley said he believes Border Patrol operations have targeted undocumented immigrants with the “worst of the worst” criminal backgrounds, and that they aren’t “just roaming the streets going for undocumented people.” He added that social media has been flooded with misinformation and “clickbait,” and said that protesters who take actions like blowing whistles at federal agents “distracts from the mission.” Conley also said his department will investigate any allegations of profiling by police officers brought to the department. In response to concerns from the Hispanic community, Conley said his department is also compiling a list of “most wanted” individuals with illegal status so the public can assist in identifying and arresting them. “The only thing I can do is just be open, honest and transparent,” Conley said. “I’ll still get called a racist, I’ll still get called a liar. I’m good with that. That comes with the job, but I’m always going to be called honest and transparent.” Fewer than 10% of the people captured in Catahoula Crunch’s first week had criminal backgrounds. Nationally, research suggests that undocumented immigrants commit crimes less than U.S.-born people. In May, voters will decide whether they want Conley, a Republican, to serve another term as chief. “If you’re appalled by Border Patrol, you should be appalled by Keith Conley’s decision to collaborate with ICE,” said Ra-

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ST. CLAUDE

Continued from page 1B The group’s immediate focus is the creation of a communitydriven master plan for St. Claude upriver from the Industrial Canal, the Bywater’s primary commercial corridor, which includes clusters of bars, restaurants, galleries and shops. The avenue’s current layout — four lanes of fast-moving trafﬁc, painted bike lanes and limited pedestrian visibility — has made that vision difﬁcult to realize. “The lack of a pedestrian culture on that street was hindering people’s attempt at surviving as businesses,” said ByMBO board member Chris Berends.

Birth of ByMBO Berends is the owner of event management company Raven PMG, which provided Saturday’s event with a trio of illuminated jellyﬁsh placed in the neutral ground and a pair of star installations, leftovers from past events at the Audubon Aquarium and Luna Fete, respectively. Berends said the idea for the group began after he attended a meeting between local bar owners and the Mayor’s Ofﬁce of Nighttime Economy, where safety concerns, blighted properties and poor lighting along St. Claude dominated the discussion. While frustrations were clear, many business owners lacked the time to organize. So Berends took on the task, compiling contact information from all the businesses he could find and inviting them to an initial meeting that drew about two dozen attendees. “I had no idea what I was doing,” Berends said. “Like, ‘Let’s just try to get something going.’ ” He was joined on the board of the new organization JAMNOLA co-founder Jonny Liss, Bywater Branding Services founder Ray Fontaine, Flex Design Studio founder Aleks Furman and Pep’s Pub owners Sam and Kate Wurth. The group began holding monthly meetings and expanded neighborhood cleanup efforts that had already been underway near Pep’s. By June, after door-to-door outreach, the group had as-

chel Taber, an organizer with Union Migrante who is seeking to run opposition candidates in all Kenner races this spring. Beating Conley could be difﬁcult, though, given Kenner’s heavily Republican voting base. Conley said he would welcome a challenger and that his constituents have often expressed to him their support for his handling of the Border Patrol’s presence. Kenner Mayor Michael Glaser and several City Council members praised Conley’s leadership of the Police Department but declined to comment on Border Patrol issues. At Thursday’s City Council meeting, Conley said crime decreased 15% overall last year, which follows a steady downward trend in recent years.

Before Border Patrol Conley said Bovino called personally to notify him of Catahoula Crunch the weekend before its launch. Conley asked how he could support the agents. “Really?” Bovino asked him, seemingly surprised, Conley recalled. Over the next month, Bovino would have sporadic exchanges with Conley. He showed up unannounced to Kenner police’s headquarters while Conley was at a dentist appointment, and waited an hour for him to return. He made a surprise appearance at a Kenner Police Academy graduation the following night. And in his office, Conley displays Bovino’s “challenge coin,” a token of respect in law enforcement circles. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Friday that the agency has made 560 arrests in the New Orleans area but did not respond to a separate request for comment regarding Conley. Conley, a Metairie native, was elected as police chief in 2022 with 69% of the vote. He has built a

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Bike Easy shares ideas of how to make St. Claude Avenue safer during the Light Up St. Claude event on St. Claude Avenue near Clouet Street in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans on Saturday. sembled a mailing list of about 130 businesses, Liss said. It also created a digital map highlighting participating businesses, though early outreach required reassurance. “People are very skeptical, right? And they’re like, ‘All right, what do you need from me? What’s this gonna cost me? Is this some type of scam?’ ” Liss said. “So it took a lot of convincing.” The group then surveyed its members to identify shared priorities. “Everyone’s priority was to make a safer St. Claude for pedestrians, for cyclists, for businesses,” Liss said. Other concerns included lighting, tree canopy, rail crossing safety and general streetscape improvements. Group leaders say a unified community plan could help unlock state and private funding needed for large-scale infrastructure and safety projects. “Our idea was to get attention to the area by lighting a spark,” Liss said. “So the spark is what kicks off our development of the plan.”

Saturday’s event was co-presented by local bicycle safety nonprofit Bike Easy, which distributed free bike lights and hosted interactive activities allowing residents to identify safety issues and rank infrastructure priorities. There was a series of speakers encouraging residents to contact elected officials and support the New Orleans Complete Streets Coalition’s Safer St. Claude campaign — a top priority for Bike Easy since Dustin Strom was fatally struck by a car while riding in the bike lane in front of crowded bars at St. Claude and Marigny Street in 2023. Executive Director Allene La Spina said she ﬁrst connected with ByMBO board members amid renewed urgency after cyclists Michael Milam and Miron Lockett were both killed by cars on St. Claude in July. “They’ve been very supportive from the beginning as business owners, like, ‘What can we do to make it safer?’ ” La Spina said. “And we are very aware that people who run businesses in the city have the ear of elected ofﬁcials, so it’s been a great Sparking progress partnership.” St. Claude Avenue is a state Held in a vacant lot between the Saturn Bar and the under- route — La. 46 — meaning maconstruction Milky Way Motel, jor changes require approval

lengthy political résumé that includes stints as chief administrative officer to former Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni as well as holding seats on the Jefferson Parish Council and Kenner City Council. He also served as Kenner city attorney and a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce deputy for 21 years. During and after that campaign, Conley said business owners and community leaders, including from the Hispanic community, expressed concerns regarding border issues and an increase in undocumented immigrants, even as candidates from the election cycle cited polls showing that most Kenner residents felt safe. Conley pointed to recruitment efforts by the 18th Street Gang out of Bonnabel High School that the department began investigating in 2022, as well as a collection of police news releases detailing arrests of undocumented people accused of various violent crimes since then. Without documentation to identify suspects, he said, crimes at all levels become signiﬁcantly harder to solve. “I was screaming for help,” he said. “This was before Gov. Landry and before President Trump, and we just weren’t getting much traction.”

287(g) controversy

immigration activity during routine police duties, such as identifying undocumented immigrants at DUI checkpoints and sharing that information with ICE. Across the river, Gretna police also joined the task force program in August. Conley said he told Landry about the program after joining, prompting the governor to sign Louisiana’s law enforcement agencies onto 287(g) as well. A spokesperson for Gov. Jeff Landry did not return a request for comment Friday evening. Critics, including Taber, have said that Kenner’s 287(g) agreement more often punishes undocumented immigrants who are pulled over for minor trafﬁc violations, not those with major criminal backgrounds. State law prohibits undocumented people from getting driver’s licenses, while city law says that driving without a license will result in an arrest. “A 30-year policy here in Kenner is if you’re driving and never been issued a driver’s license, you’re going to jail,” Conley said. “That’s just the way it’s been, and I’m not changing that.” Conley argues that the 287(g) program is a “force multiplier” for Kenner police and offers them access to additional information, training and equipment at no cost to the department. He said ofﬁcers arrest undocumented immigrants during “every shift” for varying levels of crime. “I can’t discriminate as to what laws I’m going to enforce or what laws I’m not, because that would make me a tyrant,” Conley said. “I don’t think you want to elect somebody that’s going to come in and pick and choose.”

Kenner police joined the 287(g) program under the jail enforcement model in March after the Trump administration began promoting participation. Under that model, police officers have access to databases to see whether a suspect in jail has an immigration detainer placed on them rather than requesting federal agents to screen suspects themselves. Kenner police have since also joined the 287(g) task Email Lara Nicholson at force model, which allows lnicholson@theadvocate. officers to enforce some com.

from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Scott Boyle, DOTD’s district administrator for the New Orleans area, said the agency expects to execute contracts for two concurrent studies of the corridor later this year. One study would focus on near-term safety improvements that could be implemented for a few million dollars, potentially resulting in immediate design and construction plans. “We’re going to be targeting intersections where we’ve seen higher-than-normal type of issues, low-hanging fruit type of situations we can try to identify and correct on a short-term basis,” Boyle said. The second study would be a longer-term conceptual plan examining more extensive improvements, including options like separated bike lanes that would cost in excess of $20 million. The St. Claude group’s next general meeting is scheduled for Jan. 15, with a presentation from Celebrate Canal founder and President Sandra Herman. Email Jonah Meadows at jonah.meadows@theadvocate. com.

FOUNDATION Continued from page 1B

Hospital and ThriveKids, a comprehensive student wellness program in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish schools, was awarded $50,000, the second installment of a $250,000 two-year grant. Emily Wolff, vice president for community impact for Manning Children’s, shared the story of a sixth grade New Orleans East student who lost a caregiver and began exhibiting signs of a mental health crisis. ThriveKids allowed his school to provide counseling, coordinate specialized care and organize transportation for the student and his guardian. “At the end of this year, his guardian reported that he’s made a complete turnaround,” Wolff said. “With the support of the foundation of this work the goal is to impact more kids like Joseph to provide that wraparound support.” New Schools for New Orleans, a nonproﬁt that supports New Orleans charter schools, was awarded $100,000, the first installment of a $300,000 grant to recruit and retain teachers. Lane said the organization had been putting the money toward its “grow your own”

initiative, which offers high school students interested in teaching real classroom experience. Lift All Boats, an organization that trains school leaders, was awarded $100,000, the ﬁrst of a threeyear, $400,000 grant. The foundation also awarded 74 organizations with grants intended to enhance their budgets and provide additional experiences for students. Those organizations include charter schools, private schools and nonproﬁts. “The Pro Bono Publico Foundation’s donors, as well as other local foundations we partner with, recognize the importance of this investment in our children and our future,” Lane said. “We have made tremendous progress, but we recognize there is much work still to do to ensure excellence in all of our schools.”

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New Orleans Area Deaths Barrios, Elizabeth

West Bank Mothe

Berry, Harry

Fagot-Canzoneri, Rayelynn

Boos, Thomas

Williams, Thomas

Brady, Patricia

Obituaries

Broussard, Gerald

Barrios, Elizabeth Ann

Carter-Green, Sandra DeForest, Marion Diament, Raymond Driscoll, Helen Ehrhard, JoAnne Fagot-Canzoneri, Rayelynn Gundorf, Hazel Hanemann Jr., Albert Happel, Bonnie Hauser, John Kjorling, Ana MacHauer, Muriel Maniscalco, Christopher Membreno, Mary Montelaro Sr., Richard Montgomery, Georgia Morgan, Trudence Savoie, Diana Scott, Albin Simon, Traci Stevens Sr., Richard Summer, Lillian Vicari, Paula Warren, Harold Werner III, Lawrence Williams, Thomas Yokum, Robert

E Jefferson Leitz-Eagan DeForest, Marion

Elizabeth Ann Barrios, born January 19, 1948, left this world peacefully on January 6, 2026, in New Or‐ leans, Louisiana. A devoted reader and natural story‐ teller, she found in books a way to travel, learn, and expand her world. She had a lifelong love of football, gardening, and was known for her free spirit and living life on her own terms. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, C.J. Barrios; her children Ross Barrios, Perry Barrios, and Sarah Barrios; and her cherished grandson, Quin‐ ten Barrios. She is survived by her loving children, Emily Frischhertz with her husband Marc Frischhertz and Emily Catanzaro with her husband John Catan‐ zaro; her grandchildren, Mohon, Brooke Joshua Rayna Mohon, Mohon, Megan Barrios, Joel Bar‐ rios, Nicholas Frischhertz, Mia Frischhertz, Sebastine Rosales, and John Catan‐ zaro; and her great-grand‐ children Lena Frischhertz, Ella Mohon, Emma Mohon, and Eliza Mohon. Funeral services will be held on January 16, 2026, at the Mennonite Church, 17447 Old Spanish Trail, in Des Allemands, Louisiana. Visi‐ tation for family will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by visitation for guests until 11:30 a.m. The funeral service will begin at 11:30 a.m., with a reception to follow at the church. Elizabeth Ann Bar‐ rios will be remembered for her resilience, her love for her family, and the legacy she leaves through generations who carry her memory forward.

Driscoll, Helen Montelaro Sr., Richard

New Orleans

Berry, Harry Emmett

Boyd Family Morgan, Trudence

Orleans, Tom attended Jesuit High School and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of New Orleans. He went on to receive his medical degree from the LSU School of Medicine and completed his surgical residency at LSU/Charity Hospital. A Board-Certified General Surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Tom served for many years in surgical leadership, including as Chief of Surgery, and cared for countless patients with steady hands and a sincere heart. Outside of medicine, he was a longtime parishioner of St. Louis King of France Church and a member of Metairie Country Club. Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Dr. Nancy Wagner, and their daughter, Heather Boos Crandall (Evan). His devotion to Nancy was unwavering, marked by loyalty and quiet strength. Their marriage was a true partnership grounded in love and respect. He is also survived by his siblings: Dr. Michael Boos, Jr. (Pamela), Richard Boos (Pam), Patricia Green (Stanley), Stephen Boos, Rebecca Donnelly (William), Lisa Montaldo (Edmond), and Eric Boos (Charleen); along with many nieces, nephews, colleagues, and friends who cherished him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael W. P. Boos and Lillie Archer Boos. Tom lived a rich and vibrant life and pursued his passions wholeheartedly. He was an avid golfer, an instrument-rated private pilot, and an enthusiast of auto racing, cycling, traveling, and most of all, spending time with his family. Above all his accomplishments, he was known for his kindness. For all who knew him, this is undoubtedly true. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all who supported Tom throughout his life and during his illness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cancer Crusaders, an organization dedicated to cancer research and support—an effort close to the family's heart. Tom will be deeply missed and forever remembered with love. Services will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA, on January 13, 2026. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM, followed by a Memorial Mass at 12:00 PM. A graveside service will take place afterward at Lake Lawn Park, 5454 Pontchartrain Blvd. For those wishing to share condolences or memories, please visit the online guestbook at www.LakeLa wnMetairie.com.

humanities. "The overriding theme of my life," Pat once said, "has been reading, writing, making and selling books." Her work as a volunteer reflected those words. An active member of the New Orleans—and regional— literary community for years, Pat graciously accepted leadership roles. As president of the New Orleans/Gulf South Booksellers Association, Pat inaugurated the booksellers tent at the Jazz and Heritage Festival, a popular meeting place that featured book signings by local authors. She was a mainstay of the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. She served as vice-president for programming (not hesitating to call famed literary critic Alfred Kazin to speak at the Festival) and as president, a role particularly important in the post-Karina days. An inveterate reader, Pat put her literary interests into action by frequently holding receptions for writers chosen to serve as the Zale Writer in Residence, a program coordinated by the Newcomb College Center for Research on Women. And she herself was a much sought-after speaker, whether locally, at Mt. Vernon—site of her research on the Washingtons—or on the road where she spoke about her published biographies. Pat is the author of Martha Washington: An American Life (2005); A Being So Gentle: The Frontier Love Story of Rachel and Andrew Jackson (2011); and a biographical essay, In Search of Julien Hudson: Free Artist of Color in PreCivil War New Orleans (2010). Her list of publications is long, one that includes essays on prominent women and introductions to cultural histories. Pat shared her knowledge of history, inspiring others to share their talents as well; she created an inviting atmosphere where creativity could flourish. Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Louise and Edward Brady; her sister Jane Brady; and her son Colin Schmit. She is survived by her partner Michael Ledet; her daughter Elizabeth Schmit; her sister and brother-in-law Melissa and Arthur Cosenza; and her grandson Dylan Regouffre. There will be a celebration-of-life reception from 11:00 a.m to 2:00 pm on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Audubon Club House at 6975 Magazine Street.

Broussard, Gerald 'Jerry'

Simon, Traci Greenwood Gundorf, Hazel Savoie, Diana Jacob Schoen Barrios, Elizabeth Vicari, Paula Lake Lawn Metairie Boos, Thomas Carter-Green, Sandra Happel, Bonnie Hauser, John Kjorling, Ana MacHauer, Muriel Summer, Lillian

River Parish

Brady, Patricia Maureen Harry Emmett Berry was born on December 28, 1955 and passed away in his residence on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 8:15 pm, following a long battle with cancer. Mr. Berry was surrounded by love and de‐ voted care. He shared 42 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Betty Jane Burkett Berry, who pre‐ ceded him in death just shy of four years. Harry is survived by his daughters, Ronda Jane Washburn Thompson and Janeen Marie Washburn Rush; grandchildren, Matthew Harold Rush, Alisa Marie Rush, Hailey Marie Rush and Kailey Marie Rush; great-grandchildren, Ca‐ dence Harold Rush, Axel Gene Rush and Avyree Jo Rush. He is now with Jesus, reunited with his beloved wife, whole and at peace.

Hobson Brown FH Warren, Harold

St Bernard Charbonnet Labat

Boos, Thomas Archer

Berry, Harry

St Tammany Audubon Werner III, Lawrence Bagnell Son Ehrhard, JoAnne Montgomery, Georgia EJ Fielding Yokum, Robert Grace Funeral Broussard, Gerald

Thomas Archer Boos, MD, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on January 5, 2026, at the age of 73. Tom was a devoted husband, father, brother, and friend, and a respected surgeon whose life was marked by service, integrity, and a deep commitment to his family and community. Born and raised in New

Patricia Maureen Brady, born on January 20, 1943, passed away on December 15, 2025, age 82, in New Orleans, Louisiana. After Pat graduated from high school in Brownsville, Texas, she moved to New Orleans to attend Newcomb College. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Newcomb, she received her Ph.D in history from Tulane University and shortly thereafter began teaching at Dillard University. Later, as Director of Publications at The Historic New Orleans Collection, she edited and published Nelly Custis Lewis's Housekeeping Book; The Encyclopedia of New Orleans Artists, 17181918; Complementary Visions of Louisiana Art: The Laura Simon Nelson Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection; and Queen of the South: New Orleans, 1853-1862, The Journal of Thomas K. Wharton, among many others. In 2001, she was made a fellow of the Louisiana Historical Association, having also served as president, and was the recipient of a Mellon Fellowship from the Virginia Historical Society. In 2012 Pat received the Humanist of the Year Award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, acknowledging her activities and interests that centered around literature, language, and art, cornerstones of the

Gerald (Jerry) L Broussard went to his heavenly home on Friday January 2nd at the age of 89. Gerald, currently residing in Mandeville, La, was born on January 24th, 1936, in Lafayette Louisiana. He was a graduate of Cathedral High School and Southwestern Louisiana Institute. He also served in the Louisiana National Guard. On February 13, 1960, Gerald married his sweetheart, Carolyn Lavigne. He made sure everyone knew the gift he had in his bride. He was her great protector and loved her like Christ loves the church. Jerry spent most of his professional career working in sales and sales management, including George H. Lehleitner and Co, Raytheon, Amana, and Bosch. Jerry loved life and lived it to the fullest. His interests included golf, hunting, and fishing. Jerry was an active member in his church, receiving "The Order of St. Louis" for his service. He served as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, and served as a member of St. Vincent de Paul. He was a member of "The Fishers of Men" and "The Men of St. Joseph". He also helped establish the Novena to the Holy Spirit on the Northshore. He was also active participant in the pro-life movement. Heaven will greet him with a host of souls he prayed into the kingdom. He drove the causeway bridge every Saturday morning, rain or shine, for years to make sure to pray for families and children in distress. Jerry was a man's man. He was a leader for his family and all

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ 3B

who needed a word of wisdom or an ear to hear a problem. Jerry magnified Jesus and would silence a room when he prayed. This man's man would completely change as he would prepare to pray. His posture changed, his voice changed, he knew he was going before the throne of God. He understood he was just a man and that God was truly the Creator of all. He magnified Jesus in his life and expressed that in the way he prayed. He invites you at his passing into glory to follow him to the feet of Jesus and worship the One who created you. Gerald is survived by his wife Carolyn of 65 years, their 3 sons, Andre (Lisa), Doug (Sue), and Gerald Jr. (Patti), 12 grandchildren, Ben, Ruth, Miriam, Rachel, Nathan, Samantha, Chad, Cameron, Kathryn, Kallie, Katie, and Emma, and 16 great grandchildren, his siblings Martial, Kenny, Bert, and Becky. He is preceded in death by his mother, Aimee, his father Martial, his twin brother Jimmy, and numerous lifelong friends. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church. A Mass will follow at 12:00 pm at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Mandeville, LA. Interment will follow at Grace Funeral Home. In lieu of flower, memorials in Gerald's memory can be made to the St Vincent de Paul Society with Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church. https://www.mqpsvdp.org /donate/ Devoted husband, loving father, child of God.

Carter-Green, Sandra Riblet

Sandra Riblet Carter, 85, died peacefully at home surrounded by family in New Orleans on Friday, January 2, 2026. She had a full, rich, blessed life as wife, mother, CEO of Idora, Inc. friend and "Gammy." Her greatest joy was her large, loving family. Sandra is survived by her four daughters: Kelley Saucier (Luke) of Lake Charles, LA, Caroline Figueroa (Greg) of Dallas, TX, Sandy McCollum Carter of New Orleans and Holly Gordon (John) of New Orleans; and by her grandchildren Carter Figueroa, Adelaide Saucier Maisel (Dylan), Corinn Figueroa Luckie (Jack), Noelle Wolfe (Vincent), Gabrielle Saucier, Kenneth Avanzino, Gregory Figueroa, Alyce Gordon, Lyla Gordon, and 6 great-grandchildren. Sandra was preceded in death by her first husband of 32 years, Henry Zac "Buddy" Carter, Jr., and her second husband of 17 years, AT Green. With her marriage to AT Sandra's family grew adding two lovely stepdaughters, Annette Green Alvarez (Walter) and Yvonne Green Grace (Peter), stepson Jason Green, and five additional grandsons: Andrew Alvarez, Adam Alvarez, Patrick Alvarez, Alexander Grace, and William Grace. Sandra was born in Northeastern Ohio where she lived until her family moved to New Orleans when she was twelve years old. She attended The University of Mississippi. She and Buddy raised their family in New Orleans, LA, Lake Charles, LA, and Pass Christian, MS. They were active in the Episcopal Church in each of those cities and each served on the board of directors of Kanuga Episcopal Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC. She and Buddy were vibrant members of every community in which they lived, contributing time, energy and resources. "Gammy" is remembered for her beauty and strength, her iron will and generosity, her loving nature and determination. She was glamorous, feisty, funny, sharp and filled with steadfast devotion to her family. She was a fabulous matriarch whose presence will never be duplicated. The family wishes to acknowledge their long-time relationship with Gail Mitchell and her late mother Mary Wren who have been important members

of their household. They also express gratitude for her loving caregivers Linda Jones, Sharon Paul, and AntrelleBanks, with extra help from Emma Andrews, Notre Dame Hospice Care, and Dr. David Myers. A private funeral service will take place. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The National World War II Museum or to the charity of your choice. Sandra's final sentiment was: "She lived, she loved, she laughed, she died."

DeForest, Marion Joseph Vicknair

At age 101, Marion Joseph Vicknair DeForest went on to her heavenly reward on Monday, December 22, 2025, surrounded by loving family and loyal caregivers. Marion was born on November 9, 1924 in Plaquemine, Louisiana. Marion was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard DeForest; her father, Alcee Joseph Vicknair; her mother, Edith Esteve Vicknair; her brother, Floyd Paul Vicknair; her sister-in-law, Theresa Scanlan Vicknair and her beloved godchild, Julie Vicknair. Marion is survived by her nieces: Sandra Vicknair Granier (Michael), Alyson Vicknair Leonard (Willie), Belinda Vicknair Purcello (Chuck), Denise DeForest Lisberg (John), Michelle DeForest, and nephew David DeForest (Marilyn); great nephews Paul Haulard (Mary), Kevin Granier (Wendy), Luke Leonard, and Miles DeForest, and great nieces, Claire Haulard Heiken (Johnny), Kateri Leonard Walters (Patrick), Jenna Purcello, and Juliana Purcello (Leigh) as well as several great great nieces and nephews in Louisiana, Florida, Arizona and Ohio. The family wishes to thank the generosity of Alyson and Willie Leonard, Marion's devoted caregivers since 2013. The family is grateful for the exceptional care and service rendered by Marion's loving caregivers during her final years from 2019 until her death: Alina Jackson and Irma Young, as well as the nurses and aides at Passages Hospice, especially Naomi, Lynell and Darlene, all of whom have lovingly cared for Marion as if she were family. Services for Marion will be held at St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church, 7100 Jefferson Hwy., Harahan, LA on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at noon. Interment at Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans will be private. Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home will be handling the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at www.leitzeagan funeralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, Masses are preferred.

Diament, Raymond Lewis

Raymond Lewis Diament passed away on January 6, 2026, having lived a life marked by curiosity, craftsmanship and devotion to family. He was born on March 22, 1946, in Bridgeton, New Jersey, to Avis (née Hoag) and Clifton Lewis Diament. He grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Maryland Institute College of Art, asserting art as a lifelong pursuit. Raymond then served two years in the United States Army stationed in Germany, returning with a sharpened worldview and a trove of stories, mostly from offbase adventures, that delighted friends and family for years to come. Raymond ultimately settled in New Orleans, a city that remained dear to his heart through his final

4B ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

days. It was there that he met his wife, Elise Trader. He provided Elise with a wonderful introduction to the art world. Together, they expanded their appreciation of each other's interests and grew in soul and spirit. They joyfully raised two sons, Ramsey Ragland and Ian Preston Diament. As a father, Raymond taught many of life's important lessons through example. He often enlisted his sons to help and learn everything from installing a fence, to landscaping and woodwork. His sons would eventually use those skills to build countless tree houses and skate ramps. He coached his boys' baseball teams, showed up to as many sporting and school events as he could, and shared with them his love of craft beer, an interest he took up well "before it was cool." Many knew Raymond best as a master picture framer. He opened deVille Framing in 2004, which he ran until 2017. Raymond took great pride in his work. As one long-time customer noted Raymond "possessed remarkable, educated, classical and universal aesthetics. His legacy is heroic and secure with tens of thousands of framed pieces hanging on the walls of many thousands of homes, businesses, and museums locally, nationally, and around the world." Raymond is survived by his wife, Elise Diament; his sons, Ramsey Diament (Emily) and Ian Diament; and his beloved granddaughters, Cecilia and Adeline Diament. A burial service will be held January 19, 2026, at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL for immediate family and close friends and associates. A celebration of life ceremony will be held in New Orleans in late March with more details to follow.

Driscoll, Helen Moran 'Mickie'

Helen Abrica "Mickie" Moran Driscoll entered into eternal rest Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at the age of 92. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on August 16, 1933. Helen is preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Lawrence B. Driscoll, II, her parents Helene E. Moore and Gerard L. Moran, Sr., her brothers Robert W. Moran (Frankie) and Gerard L. Moran, Jr., and her youngest son, Daniel Joseph Driscoll. Helen is survived by her sister Constance M. Lehrmann, her children Constance D. Allerton (William), Lawrence B. Driscoll, Jr., and Robert G. Driscoll (Suzanne), her grandchildren Amy E. Allerton, Timothy D. Allerton (Kelly), Sean P. Allerton (Mary Erin), Colleen AllertonHollier (Dan), Kelli Sias (Tom), Erica Driscoll, and her great-grandchildren Layne Szymanski, Ruby Driscoll, Jacob, Allyson, and Brady Janusa, Harry and Finn Allerton. After teaching at Chinchuba Institute for the Deaf for a number of years, Helen taught pre-school at several Northshore schools. She also taught CCD classes in her parish for many years and was an extraordinary minister of communion. For this service she was awarded the Order of St. Louis by the Archbishop. Helen was an avid reader, crossword puzzler, and an absolute terror behind a rack of Scrabble letters. The family wishes to express its deepest appreciation to the trauma team and the nurses and doctors in the critical care unit at East Jefferson Hospital for the expert and compassionate care they all afforded Helen during her last illness. Their kindness and patience will always be remembered. Visitation is from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Boulevard, Metairie, LA, followed by Mass at 1:00 p. m. Former students and their parents, parishioners of Mary, Queen of Peace Church, and old friends are wel-

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come to join Helen's family to say goodbye.

Ehrhard, JoAnne

JoAnne Katz Ehrhard, age 79, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 6, 2026, in Covington, Louisiana. Born on October 1, 1946, in New Orleans, Louisiana, JoAnne lived a life marked by unwavering faith, tireless advocacy, and deep love for her family and community. After attending LSUNO, JoAnne pursued a career as a registered and certified Medical Technologist. She had the opportunity to work with incredible people at Expressway Medical Center, Westside Pediatrics, and West Jefferson Hospital. Her professional path was only one facet of her remarkable life. As the mother of two sons with mental and physical challenges, JoAnne became a fierce advocate for children with disabilities. She dedicated herself to ensuring that these children received the education and support they deserved without compromising their dignity or disrupting the learning environment of others. JoAnne's devotion extended beyond advocacy into her spiritual life. A devout Catholic, she served as a Eucharistic Minister and found great joy in teaching Catechism to children preparing for First Holy Communion and Confirmation at St. Jane de Chantel Parish in Abita Springs, LA, & St. Michael the Archangel Mission Church in Bush, LA. Her faith was the cornerstone of her resilience; despite facing many hardships throughout her life, she remained steadfast in her faith and never waivered. JoAnne was a loving and devoted wife to Sidney C. Ehrhard Jr., with whom she shared 61 years of marriage. Together they built a family rooted in love and strength. She is survived by her daughter Stephanie Ann Ehrhard; Son Joseph Anthony Hurst; grandson Nicholas Edward Ehrhard and his wife Shelby; greatgrandchildren Piper Kate Ehrhard, Brooks Henry Ehrhard, and Olive Elizabeth Ehrhard; sister Suzanne Katz Farrar; nephew Bryan Alan Farrar and his wife Monica; nephew Dr. Richard Guthrie and his wife Joan; niece Michelle GuthrieBrown and her wife Robin; brother-in-law Richard Guthrie; and numerous great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents Captain Joseph T. Katz and Dorothy Callaghan Katz, as well as her cherished son Stephen Gerard Ehrhard. JoAnne's generosity knew no bounds—she would help anyone in need without hesitation. Her spiritual devotion was beyond compare, guiding every aspect of her life with grace and humility. She will also be missed by her beloved dogs Sunny and Brady. A funeral service celebrating JoAnne's life will be held January 15, 2026 at Bagnell & Son Funeral Home 95212 LA 437 Covington, Louisiana 70435. May JoAnne's memory bring comfort to those who knew her and may her legacy continue to inspire compassion, inclusion, and faith for generations to come.

Fagot-Canzoneri, Rayelynn Fischer

Rayelynn Fischer FagotCanzoneri, 78, of New Or‐ leans, Louisiana, born on December 04, 1947, to Ray‐ mond G. Fischer and Mag‐ Sottile Fisher, dalena passed away peacefully at her home on December 30, 2025. She was a remark‐ able woman that leaves behind a legacy of love,

lifelong accomplishments, great adventures. and Rayelynn obtained her for‐ mal education locally in New Orleans studying to be a Paralegal at UNO and attended Warren Easton High School. Rayelynn was a well-known real estate agent, building an accom‐ career that plished spanned more than 59 across multiple years states, and was a proud member of the President’s Circle for RPAC, appointed as Louisiana representa‐ tive to the 2023 RPAC Par‐ Council and ticipation Emeritus CRS Member at Residential Real Estate Council. Rayelynn was very proud of her children, dedi‐ cated her life to her family, and took every opportunity to share her love of travel with them. She was a fear‐ less world traveler, always eager for new adventures and excited to explore un‐ familiar corners of the world together. Yet, no how far she matter roamed, her heart was for‐ ever drawn back to her family’s roots in Sicily, Italy. Rayelynn loved at‐ tending parties and events as she was always the life of the party and her infec‐ tious laughter and loving spirit brightened the lives of all. But when it came to her passion for football, it was a league of its own, just ask the die hard New Orleans Saints and Tulane Green Wave fans she ran with, they could tell you a tale or two. Just recently, another team made the list, the Mississippi State Bulldogs where her grand‐ Juju attends. daughter Rayelynn, was the third of ﬁve sisters, and is survived by her husband, Terry Can‐ zoneri; daughter, Jennifer Ann Lazaro (former hus‐ band Julian); her son, Scott D. Fagot (Gracie); grand‐ daughter, Julianna Rae Lazaro (William “Creel”); her sisters, Virginia Fis‐ Magdelena cher-Grubb, (Mil‐ Fischer-Zschiedrich ton), Patricia Fischer (Lau‐ rie); chosen sister Donna Petit Costanza (Joe); and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Magdalena Fisher, cher‐ ished sister Rosemary Fis‐ cher-Crowder, and niece Cheryl Swanson. A celebra‐ tion of her vivid and bright life will be held privately by her family at a later date. As Rayelynn was an animal lover and a dedi‐ cated pet foster, the family asks that in lieu of ﬂowers, donations be made in her memory to North Shore An‐ imal League America at an‐ imalleague.org. Mothe Fu‐ Homes handled neral arrangements. To view the guestbook, visit online http://www.mothefunera ls.com.

Gundorf, Hazel Mae Cernich

Hazel Mae Cernich Gun‐ dorf, a resident of Mandev‐ ille, Louisiana, for the past 21 years, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the age of 103, surrounded by her loving family. She was pre‐ ceded in death by her beloved husband, John F. Gundorf, Jr. Hazel is sur‐ vived by her three sons: John F. Gundorf III (Susan), Kirk G. Gundorf, Sr. (Es‐ ther), and Ricky Gundorf (Betsy). She was a proud of Tracie grandmother Weaver (Dooney), Kirk G. Gundorf, Jr. (Christy), Nic‐ hole Gundorf (Mike), An‐ drew Gundorf, and Laura Hetrick (Jack), and a cher‐ ished great-grandmother to Kaitlyn Weaver, Kiley Weaver, Kelsey Weaver, Gundorf, Ryen Jenna Campbell, Kirk Gundorf III, Hetrick, and Elizabeth Robert Hetrick. Relatives and friends are invited to visit Greenwood Funeral Home, 5200 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124, on Thursday, January 15, 2026, starting at 11:00 a.m. A Lutheran Service will fol‐ low the visitation at 1:00 p.m. The burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. We also invite you to share your thoughts, fond memo‐ ries, and condolences on‐ line at www.greenwoodfh. com. Your shared memo‐ ries will help us celebrate Hazel’s life and keep her memory alive.

Hanemann Jr., Albert 'Pete'

Albert H. "Pete" Hanemann, Jr., known for his quiet integrity, intellect, dry wit, and devotion to family, passed away peacefully at his home in Cornelius, North Carolina, on December 31, 2025. Born February 17, 1936, to Albert and Marie Blancq Hanemann, Pete was a lifelong resident of New Orleans. After graduating from Jesuit High School (1953), Tulane School of Business, and Tulane School of Law (1959), Pete practiced law with diligence and fairness. He earned the respect of his colleagues at Lemle and Kelleher, fellow attorneys, judges, and the many clients he steadfastly represented for more than 46 years. He believed deeply in the rule of law, personal responsibility, and service without fanfare. Though accomplished professionally, he remained a humble man, who preferred substance over recognition. He valued hard work, faith and tradition, living his conservative principles by example rather than words. Outside of his professional life, Pete found immense joy ~ and the love of his life, Jerrilyn Huston Hanemann ~ in the great outdoors. He was an avid camper and canoeist. A longtime member of the Sierra Club, Pete was a conservationist and embodied the principle of "leave no trace". On camping trips, Pete was the first up, brewing coffee and cooking breakfast over an open campfire. Pete was also a lifelong runner and active in the New Orleans running community, participating in the first Crescent City Classic in 1979. Pete was devoted to family and took great pride in being a steady presence in their lives. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jerri; his children, Michele Giammolva, Eric Hanemann (Linda), and Spence Hanemann (Lily); five grandchildren, Jordan Wheeler (Michael), Jason Fortenberry, Liam Hanemann, Ella Hanemann, and Gertrude Hanemann; two greatgrandchildren, Emerson and Evelyn Wheeler; and his brother, Carl Hanemann (Cherie) and brothers-in-law, Michael Huston (Kay) and Scott Huston. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Aimee Hanemann and Susie Hanley. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Jesuit High School of New Orleans (jesuitnola.org/donate). A visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on 2026-01-20 at Basilica of St Stephen, 1025 Napoleon Ave. A mass of christian burial will be held from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on 2026-0120 at Basilica of St Stephen, 1025 Napoleon Ave.

Happel, Bonnie Lynn Ittmann

Bonnie Lynn Ittmann Happel passed away on December 24, 2025, at the age of 80. She was the loving wife of and is survived by Dr. Leo T. Happel, Jr. She was daughter of the late Capt. Earl L. and Virginia "Dottie" Eagan Ittmann. Loving mother to her two sons, Dr. Michael T. Happel (Dianne) and Dr. Kyle I. Happel (Allison) who proudly describe their mother as a force! She was known most affectionately as "Bon Ma" to her five well-loved grandchildren, Claire, Grant, Jacob, Peter, and Anderson. She is also survived by her sister, Eileen "Trixie" Ittmann Thurman (late husband, Gene) of Ft. Worth, TX and brother, Thomas "Tommy" L. Ittmann (Leigh Ann), and brothers-in-law, Richard E. Happel (Susie) and Donald W. Happel (Doris) of McKinney, TX and sister-in -law, Dorothy "Dottie" Happel Schmit (Paul) as well as numerous

nephews, nieces, and cousins. Born in Uptown and raised in the Lakeshore areas of New Orleans, Bonnie attended Ben Franklin High School, an achievement she was very proud of, and in later years was active in the Ben Franklin Alumni Association. She received her bachelor's in Zoology at LSU-Baton Rouge, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. Years later her love story with Lee began as the two met while working in a research laboratory at Tulane. From then on, rarely was there ever a Bonnie without her Lee. She enjoyed fishing, tennis, gardening, praying, learning and occasionally Bonnie liked to break things just so Lee could fix them. In the 1970's, they served as youth counselors at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, making lifelong connections to too many wonderful people to mention. She was the primary organizer for annual youth retreats at Camp Istrouma outside of Baton Rouge for over twenty years, and served on the governing board there for years as well. She was the "mother hen" of one of St. Luke's United Methodist Women's groups that was simply called "Love Circle" and many women were prayed for and encouraged there through the years just as she had been prayed for and encouraged by her mentor, Billie Cargile. She and Lee participated in and served on the committee for St. Luke's "Wing and a Prayer" summer musical productions for decades. Bonnie served as the lay leader at St. Luke's for over a decade and will be especially remembered as one who visited those who were homebound, those sick in hospitals and she never missed the opportunity to express her love for another at a funeral. She was a tireless advocate and supporter for her sons and she worked with various schools in the area. Whether it was speaking out for Gifted and Talented programs, working with Agenda for Children in schools, or her years of work as the Girl Friday for Dr. Harold "Harry" Smith's dental practice, Bonnie never hesitated to roll up her sleeves for a meaningful cause. Enduring Alzheimer's disease, she passed the time with Lee, her extraordinarily devoted best friend, Sallie Uhl, sisters-in -law, Susie and Dottie, and brothers-in-law, Richard and Paul, who visited her frequently and faithfully. Bonnie still managed to profess her faith and sing praises to her Lord and Savior until her passing. Friends and family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 5875 Canal Blvd. in New Orleans, on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 2:00PM. There will be a reception following in the Fellowship Hall. Flowers are welcome, as are donations to St. Luke's United Methodist Church. Please come pray and sing with us as we remember Bonnie! To view and sign the online guest book, please visit LakeLawnMetairie.com

Hauser, John Gary

John Gary Hauser, age 89, passed away at home on January 5, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. Gary, as he was known to everyone, was born February 21, 1936 in New Orleans, LA to William and Josephine Hauser. He graduated from Fortier and Tulane, then went on to work for and then run his family's printing business, Hauser Printing. Gary was an avid sports fan, playing both golf and tennis. His Sundays were spent at church at Mater Dolorosa and then watching the Saints play. Gary was preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Joyce Baab Hauser; his parents, William and Josephine Hauser; his sister, Helen Hauser Wisdom; and his son, William "Bill" Hauser. He is survived by his daughter, Cathy Gomes (Darrell); grandchildren, Ashley Hauser (Robert Mirsberger), Steven Hauser (Ashley Gaitan), and Dylan Hauser; greatgrandchildren, Aubree and Autumn Mirsberger and Alayna Hauser; and his nephews, Arthur, Andy, and Matt Wisdom. The family would like to give a special thank you to his caregiver, Christopher Glorioso. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral arrangements on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain in New Orleans, LA. Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until his graveside service at 1:00 PM on the same grounds at Metairie Cemetery. To view and sign the online guestbook, visit www.lakelawnmetairie.co m.

Kjorling, Ana Delgado

Ana Delgado Kjorling passed away peacefully in her home on January 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Ana was born in El Salvador, the youngest of five children. Her childhood was full of learning, curiosity, and adventure — especially time spent on the Pacific Ocean she loved so much. Eventually, she moved to the United States with her three children and began a new life in New Orleans, a city rich with her love of music and food and, of course, dancing. Her adventurous spirit took her all over the world — destinations too many to list — but the loving home she created for her

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three (and then four) children was where she was happiest. Her faith also played a large part in her life, and she lived her beliefs through action, founding a children's scholarship charity in El Salvador and making regular pilgrimages around the world, as well as doing charitable work through various local churches. She always found a way to give back, not only to the places and people she held close to her heart, but also to strangers in need. Ana leaves behind a wide and loving community of friends and family, including her daughter Katya Graham and grandson Sebastian Majure; her daughter Claudia Mata and grandchildren Mila and Nico Gladish; and her son Edgar Mata. She is now in heaven, reunited with her beloved son, Erik Kjorling. Her spirit lives on in those she loved so deeply. For those who would like to join us in honoring Ana's life, there will be an Overnight Wake at Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Church, 3037 Dauphine St. in New Orleans, on January 16, 2026 from 7:00 PM - 8:00 AM; Funeral Mass at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 444 Metairie Rd. in Metairie, on January 17, 2026 at 1:00 PM; Interment in Metairie Cemetery, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on January 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM following Mass; and a Celebration of Life at Ridgeway of Old Metairie, 2431 Metairie Rd, on January 17, 2026 from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Hispanic Apostolate. Checks can be made out and mailed to: Ladies Auxiliary of the Hispanic Apostolate, 2525 Maine Avenue, Metairie LA 70003. To view and sign the online guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.co m.

Blaise Hanvy, Tristan Dyer, Atlas, Apollo, and Orion Dyer, Julian Howe, Knox Carter, Quinn and Evangeline Keith, Scott and Everett Muller, Anya Rivera, Caitlyn and Taylor Dyer, Heidi and Luke Muller, and Waeleigh MacHauer, and one step great grandchild, Nolan Raiford. Preceded in death by her parents, Walter Sebastian Bonie and Evelyn Hazel Howell Bonie. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass in the chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 11:00AM. A visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 10:00AM. The interment will follow the Mass at Greenwood Cemetery. To view and sign the online guest book, please visit LakeLawnMetairie.com

MacHauer, Muriel Bonie

Membreno, Mary Leoda Tujague

Muriel Evelyn Bonie MacHauer passed away peacefully at Ochsner Hospital in Jefferson, Louisiana on January 7, 2026 at the age of 101. She was born in New Orleans on August 2, 1924. Muriel graduated from Eleanor McMain High School in 1941 and Newcomb College in 1945. Muriel worked for Humble Oil and later enjoyed a career in teaching in both the Orleans and Jefferson Parish School systems. She also spent a brief time as a realtor with Gertrude Gardner and Keller Williams. She authored one book, "Lakeview Memories". She had been working on the final edit of her second book, "The Way It Was", just days before her passing. Muriel loved to travel in her leisure time and offered many opportunities for her children and grandchildren and friends to travel with her. She attended many military memorial events both here and abroad in Normandy and other key WWII sites. She was the beloved wife of her late husband, Judge David H. MacHauer and mother to four children, her late daughter, Bonnie M. Dyer Herberger (Neil), her two sons, Malcolm D. MacHauer (Brittany) and Vernon E. MacHauer (Mary), daughter, Cheryl MacHauer Schexnayder (Brian), and foster daughter, Dale P. Hughes (Teresa "TJ"). She was preceded in death by her sister, Virgilyn Bonie, and brother, Walter C. Bonie (Dianne), survived by her loving brother, Merlin F. Bonie (Jacqueline). Muriel had fourteen grandchildren, the late Matthew Dyer (Melody Restivo), Jennifer Hanvy (John), Michael Dyer (Annette), Daniel Dyer (Renee), Thomas Dyer (Jennifer Melahn), Kelly Brooke MacHauer (John), Harrison Morehouse MacHauer, Rachel M. Rivera (David), Lt. Col. Dennis Muller (Breanna), Wesley Muller (Dana), Mindi Keith (Garrett), Tanner, Adalynn, and Hudson MacHauer. Three step grandchildren, Erin Raiford (Brian) and Bailey and Patrick Schexnayder. Eighteen great grandchildren, Phoenix Pedrami,

Maniscalco, Christopher Anthony

Christopher Anthony Maniscalco was unexpectedly called home to Our Lord on January 7, 2026. Son of Mara Canfield Simas, Father of Isaiah E. and Anthony J. Maniscalco, partner of Renee Proffetta. Brother of Anthony J. (Megan) and Gina Maniscalco. Chris was a lifelong N.E. Patriots fan and employee of Chili's. He was affectionately called Snoop by friends and family. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

In Loving Memory Mary Leoda Tujague Membreno, of Metairie, LA, passed away peacefully in Plano, Texas on December 28, 2025. She was 85 years old. Life & Legacy A native of New Orleans, Mary was strongly devoted to her family and Catholic faith. She was known as a loving wife, a mother and grandmother to so many more than her own direct family and a loyal, loving friend to hundreds. She graduated from Ursuline High School in the class of 1957 and was a life-long LSU and New Orleans Saints fan. While she was witty and could turn any moment into a laugh, her true calling was personified by her selfless service, generously given through decades of volunteer and charitable work. Mary lived to serve others. Service to Community Metairie Woman's Club: Following in her own mother's footsteps as a past President of MWC, Mary was a Life Member and 2 term President herself. She sat on various committees including Scholarships, Pantry and Community Service to name a few. In the year 2000, she was named Outstanding Woman of the Year. East Jefferson General Hospital Auxiliary Guild: Mary was a member for 40 years and served on many committees and as President in 2001. She was recognized and named a "Great Lady" for all her years of Community Service in the New Orleans Metropolitan area. Saint Benilde Catholic Church & School: Mary was a church lector and school volunteer. Service information A service and Celebration of Life will be held in Metairie, LA at future date and time. Details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary's name to the Metairie Woman's Club or the East Jefferson General Hospital Auxiliary Guild. Family Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Beulah Tujague and Ashley Parr, adopted father, Marcel L. Tujague and her

youngest daughter Michelle L Thibodeaux Hoyle. Mary is survived by her husband of 67 years, Agustin J Membreno; her siblings, Marcel (Kathy) Tujague, Ashley, Oliver (Pam), Michael (Linda) and Brian Parr, Karen Cook (Raymond) and Gayle Page (William); her children, Lisa Hendrix (Gerald) and Lydia Dyche (George), Rusty (Diane), Michael (Silvia) and Richard (Abigail) Membreno; her grandchildren, Joshua and Justin (Vivian) Thibodeaux, Drexel, Mark (Kristi) and Maisie Membreno, Morgan Lawson (Dallas), George III (Elizabeth) and Alex Dyche, and finally her great grandchildren, Ainsley, Justin D, Noah, Sophie, and Lauren Thibodeaux, Lucy Membreno and Ellie Lawson.

Montelaro Sr., Richard Joseph

Richard Joseph Montelaro Sr., age 79, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026, surrounded by love and a lifetime of well-lived memories. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Frances Montelaro, and his sister, Joann Jane Walsh. Richard is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Judith "Judy" Traina Montelaro, with whom he shared a life full of adventure, family, and love. Together they raised three children: Juliee Anne Montelaro (Danny), Melissa Montelaro Manthey (Tristan), and Richard Joseph Montelaro Jr. He was a proud and deeply loved Poppi to his grandchildren: Cole Montelaro-Mokry, Gracie Mae Manthey, Dell Montelaro-Mokry, Tristan Grant Manthey, and Luca Joseph Montelaro. He is also survived by his brothers, Ronald Charles Montelaro and Daniel Dean Montelaro. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Richard answered the call to serve his country by entering the United States Marine Corps. He served honorably as a Sergeant during the Vietnam War in G-2 Intelligence, specializing in aerial photo interpretation, and was honorably discharged in 1968. His service and discipline shaped the foundation of his life and leadership. After returning home, Richard settled in Chalmette, Louisiana, where he began building both a family and a legacy. A self-made contractor and real estate broker, he founded Montelaro Real Estate and played a vital role in St. Bernard Parish's growth, building homes and condominiums throughout the area. His dedication to community service was evident through his leadership as President of the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce and the Jaycees, where he organized initiatives such as toy drives and community events. He proudly reigned as King of the Krewe of Lourdes in 1977 and was fondly remembered for creating a community pumpkin patch—where children were welcomed to pick pumpkins freely, often greeted by Richard himself in costume. Richard had a lifelong love for the water. Summers were spent sailing with his family aboard their beloved sailboat, Phase II, making annual trips throughout the warm waters of Florida and creating traditions that would last generations. As his children grew older, Richard took his entrepreneurial spirit to Gulf Shores, Alabama. There, he built a beautiful family home on the water and established a successful chain of liquor stores, Tobacco Road and The Grape Escape, a wine bar and sandwich shop lovingly called "The Deli" When grandchildren entered his life, his home became a place of wonder—building a beach in his backyard, a dock along the lagoon, and teaching them how to fish, sail, and love the outdoors. His home was as distinctive as he was, easily recognized by its light pink stucco, blooming pink Alabama azaleas, and a proud display of American flags lining the driveway. A cancer survivor, Richard beat nonHodgkin's lymphoma with the same determination that defined his life. In retirement, he and Judy returned to Metairie, Louisiana, but slowing down was never an option for Richard. He became a Master Gardener, volun-

teered at the VA, and served faithfully at St. Francis Xavier through the Men's Club and Knights of Columbus. Travel was one of Richard's greatest joys. Known for secretly booking trips, he and Judy loved exploring the world together—especially their annual visits to Disney World and EPCOT's International Flower & Garden Festival. In quieter moments, Richard's favorite pastime was sharing a meal with friends or family, engaging in long conversations, and always insisting on picking up the bill. Richard Montelaro was a Marine, husband, father, Poppi, businessman, gardener, sailor, volunteer, and friend. He will be remembered for his sharp wit, generosity, curiosity, and deep love for his family and community. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the places he built, and the memories he leaves behind. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. A private service will be held at St. Catherine of Siena on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to one of three charities: Blood Cancer United at www.bloodcancerunited.o rg The Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedw arriorproject.org The Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org

Montgomery, Georgia Nell Jenkins

Georgia Jenkins Montgomery, age 72, of Bush, Louisiana, passed away on December 22, 2025. She was born on August 10, 1953, in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Georgia was preceded in death by her parents, Ulie Jenkins and Cora Lee Fitzgerald Jenkins. She is lovingly survived by her son, Jamie Montgomery (Susie); her brothers, Terry Jenkins (Sandra) and Ulie Jenkins (Cindy); her grandchildren, Marlee Montgomery and Maison Montgomery; and her great-grandchild, Louie Montgomery. Georgia was a devoted member of Common Ground Church. She had a deep love for concerts and music, enjoyed traveling—especially visiting Mexico—and was always eager to learn new things. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her family. She loved going for a ride, and if it happened to be down a gravel road, it made it even better. Georgia loved people, and people loved her. She was truly one of a kind and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. A Celebration of Life will be held on January 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Common Ground Church, Covington, Louisiana. Fellowship will follow at 12:00 noon at New Zion Baptist Church.

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ditionbegins.com (504)2820600. Linear Brooks Boyd and Donavin D. Boyd Own‐ ers/Funeral Directors

Savoie, Diana

Diana Savoie, age 88, passed away on December 31, 2025. She was born Feb‐ ruary 23, 1937, in New Or‐ leans, LA to the late Frank and Theresa Comberrel. Diana, lovingly known as Dee Dee, was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her family was the center of her life, and she took great joy in every moment spent with them. In fact, she was surrounded by their pic‐ tures on every inch of her walls. She unconditionally loved her ﬁve children with the late Thomas Savoie, Sr.: Toni Ledet, Tammy Savoie, Thomas Savoie Jr., Terri Savoie, Troy (Heather) Savoie, Sr., her nine grand‐ children: Katie Buchert, Jessica Savoie, Thomas Savoie, III, Julien Savoie, Ju‐ lian Stamper, Kaliyah Berg‐ eron, Shawn Collins, Troy Savoie, Jr. and Samantha Savoie, and her 5 great grandchildren. Her love spread wide and far, in‐ cluding her sisters, broth‐ ers and their spouses: and Barbara Frank Wayne and Comberral, Carmella Comberrel, the late Sharon Comberrel, Karen and the late Pat King. Dee Dee was always on the go and deeply en‐ joyed staying socially ac‐ tive. She treasured her friendships through the Re‐ demptorist High School Group, Group Therapy, and the Cousins Group. She es‐ pecially loved dancing and traveling activities that brought her laughter, con‐ nection, and joy. She will be dearly missed by family and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to at‐ tend a visitation at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Greenwood Fu‐ neral Home, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 pm with a social gathering following the service. In lieu of ﬂowers, please do‐ nate to Covenant House in New Orleans.

footsteps, starting out in the oil and gas business. In later years, he nursed his entrepreneurial spirit through founding and growing Bay Beverage Bottled Water Company in Fairhope, AL. He made his home in Fairhope for the past 27 years. Boss is most remembered for his deep and abiding love and loyalty to family, friends and pets and for his unrivalled humor. Boss never met a stranger. He took care to nurture friendships that lasted his lifetime. He endeared himself to all with his quirky, playful and sidesplitting sense of humor. Boss had a knack for nicknames, well-played pranks, and mimicry, and was always on the lookout for the humor to be had in life. He loved to laugh and took greater pleasure in making others laugh! Boss enjoyed a quiet and solitary life and yet was always the life of every gathering! He lived on the edge before settling into his "Zen" state of being later in life. He nurtured a love of sports and had a remarkable memory for numbers and recall for statistics. Watching football was a favorite pastime, especially college football, and most especially Alabama; he was a diehard Roll Tide fan. Boss was genuine, humble, and humorous and will be missed by his family and friends. Boss is preceded in death by his parents and beloved dog, Gatsby. He is survived by his six sisters, Lisa Alt (Kerry), Martha Gruning (David), Jean Scott, Natalie Scott, Meriwether Bennett, and Elizabeth Scott; many loving nieces and nephews and great nieces; his daughter Jessica Anderton (David) and 3 grandsons; and his cats, Louie and Tavi. The family extends their deepest gratitude to Stewart, Lisa and Brita Gibert for their unwavering devotion and exceptional care and friendship to Boss and to his friend and neighbor Malia Mullican, for her vigilant cat care over the years and daily support during his last months of life. No donations or flowers are expected, but if you would like to make a donation in Boss' honor, either of these South Alabama animal protection groups, the Baldwin Humane Society https://www.bald winhumane.org/ or The Haven https://www.haven foranimals.org/, represent causes dear to Boss. Details regarding a Celebration of Boss' life will be forthcoming.

Simon, Traci

Scott, Albin Provosty 'Boss'

Albin Provosty Scott II passed away peacefully in his home on January 5. He was born in Alexandria (LA), the 3rd of seven children and only son of Isabel Lewis Scott and Albin Provosty Scott. He was affectionately known by his friends as "A.P." and by family as "Boss". Boss grew up in Covington, LA and followed in his father's

Traci Simon, born March 10, 1965, died on December 29, 2025, after a deter‐ mined battle with cancer. True to who she was, she her illness with met courage and grace, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew her. She is sur‐ vived by her mother, her husband, Leilani; her brothers, Cantrell; Kevin and Keith; and her daughters, Camille and who carry her Julia, strength and spirit forward each day. Traci is also sur‐

See more DEATHS, page

Morgan, Trudence 'Trudy'

CONSTANCE CORNELIUS 1-13-36 — 6-20-95

Trudence (Trudy) Mor‐ gan passed away on De‐ cember 24, 2025, at the age of 65. Trudence is survived her four children: by Shanitha Atkinson, Alonzo Fletcher, Marketta Fletcher and Chealsea Espadron; twelve grandchildren: Eric Vickers, Terren Vickers, Alonzo Fletcher Jr., Austin Garrett, Aaden Garrett, Fletcher, Collyn Trey Williams, Chase Espadron, Francois, Zaidyn Gia Blount, Cassidy Watson and Yohaan Smith. Pre‐ ceded in death by her hus‐ Alonzo Morgan; band, mother, Norris Braggs; sis‐ Lisa Braggs, and ter, brother, Robert Braggs Jr. A private service will be held in keeping with her wishes. No public services will be announced. Guest‐ book Online: www.anewtra

Happy Birthday! It’s been 31 years since you’ve been gone. Loving you Always. Sadly missed by your son, Clarence M. Cornelius Jr.

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OPINION N O L A.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

2025 brought more encouraging news on crime across La. The new year brought something to celebrate across Louisiana: Key indicators of violent crime continue to decline in cities across the state. There were 121 murders in New Orleans in 2025, a 3% drop from the 125 in 2024. More significantly, the total represents an impressive 55% decline compared to just three years earlier, when the city’s homicide rate led the nation. In Shreveport, the number of criminal homicides dropped 19% year over year, from 52 in 2024 to 42 in 2025, the lowest number since before the COVID pandemic struck. In Lafayette, police say they investigated 10 homicides in 2025, down from 18 a year earlier and a record of 29 in 2023. Murders in Baton Rouge also dropped to prepandemic levels. There were 94 homicides in the city in 2025, down from 113 the prior year, marking a bright spot in an otherwise difficult first year in office for Mayor-President Sid Edwards. It’s true that violent crime is down nationally over that period, but the picture still varies by jurisdiction. The progress is admittedly slower in Baton Rouge than it is elsewhere. And in a discouraging sign for public safety, the city continues to have trouble attracting and retaining police officers. It recently had to cancel a police academy due to lack of interest. “I think we’re actually trending in a good direction, although the numbers are still unacceptable,” District Attorney Hillar Moore said. But we are particularly encouraged by the news out of New Orleans, where the year-overyear drop in murders looks more pronounced if you factor out the terrorist truck attack on Bourbon Street in the year’s first hours, a tragedy that left 14 dead. The homicide total fell for the third straight year to a 50-year low, and the progress has outpaced national improvements. The number of nonfatal shootings in the city dropped a modest 3%, but carjackings and armed robberies fell substantially, by 35% and 28%, respectively. The figures reflect good, smart work across multiple agencies and in coordination with community groups, all of which predates the recent arrival of federally funded Louisiana National Guard troops to New Orleans’ tourist core. Among the contributing factors are the New Orleans Police Department’s more sophisticated use of technology, forensics and ballistics, at a time when the agency continues to face a staffing shortage. Conviction rates have also improved, something District Attorney Jason Williams attributes in part to his attorneys working more closely with police investigators to build cases. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick highlighted the department’s fruitful collaborations with the Louisiana State Police’s Troop Nola as well as with National Guard troops deployed by the state for the Bayou Classic during Thanksgiving weekend. We’d add in proactive efforts to address the roots of crime by everyone from the city health department to the district attorney’s office to outside groups such as the NOLA Coalition, which was formed in the dark days of 2022 and now includes more than 600 civic and community organizations. We’re also glad that incoming Mayor Helena Moreno is promising to stay the course, and that Gov. Jeff Landry is vowing to continue supporting her efforts and those of leaders across the state. It makes sense not to upend what’s working, and what could turn our state into something it’s rarely been when it comes to fighting crime: a model for how do it right.

‘Goth heron’ is dead, but questions remain In the waning days of 2025, an ominous portent appeared in Slidell. It came in the form of a big, black bird, stalking purposefully through the spaces near Davis Landing Road, sometimes afﬁxing an unnerving gaze at those who stopped to take a look. No one was sure where it had come from Faimon or how it had gotten Roberts there. They just knew that they couldn’t take their eyes off it. As such, the bird quickly became kind of a quasi-celebrity. Birders ﬂocked to get a sighting of it or to take pictures, begging through their lenses for one of its beady glares. The bird often obliged. Debate raged in online birding communities about what kind of bird it was. After some debate, amateur ornithologists decided it was a great blue heron. But it wasn’t blue or gray. If it was a heron, it would have to be melanistic, an extremely rare, though not completely unknown, condition in herons. Spotting a melanistic heron is a sort of holy grail for many birders. The possibility of such a specimen patrolling ditches on the northshore only amped up the bird’s popularity. Social media users dubbed it the “Goth

PROVIDED PHOTO

A bird spotted near Slidell prompted debate among birders about what kind it is.

Heron” and chattered excitedly about its presence. Those who got pictures posted them along with exultant messages. “A once in a lifetime sighting,” one exclaimed. “Had to check it out for myself …. how beautiful!” said another. Alas, it was not to last. Some who had seen the bird observed it vomiting. Other strange behaviors were reported. Earlier this week, a birder named Greg Capranica went to see the bird and found it dead in a ditch near the road. He immediately contacted the Audubon Society and other ornithologists to make sure it was responsibly collected and studied. Capranica told me that the bird smelled of creosote and appeared to

be stained rather than melanistic. Its downfeathers appeared white, he said. That, as well as the bird’s size — small for a great blue heron — have led some to surmise that it wasn’t a heron at all, but a great white egret. Both that species and this particular member’s fate are well known to Louisianans. Egrets are a regular feature of waterways, and we’ve all seen the pictures of birds covered in oil from environmental disasters. The goth heron’s (or egret’s) death has only raised more questions: What was the substance and where did it come from? And how did it get on the bird? We may never know. And fortunately for us, Americans aren’t like the ancient Romans, who believed the behaviors of birds were omens for the future. Those who interpreted those signs were called “augurs.” What the goth heron augurs us is impossible to say. Investigators will pore over how the bird got stained and whether they can trace the source of the contamination. They will also use DNA and other tests to establish exactly what kind of bird it was. As for whether it’s an omen, maybe we just hope for the best. Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

How to boost letter’s chances of getting published At the start of the year, I like to reparency with our readers. All letters mind readers of our guidelines for let- we publish must come from real peoter submissions. We do receive ple, and we favor letters from a large volume of letters, and writers in our coverage areas. we can’t print them all, unfortuOccasionally, we will publish a letter from someone outside of nately. our region, but there has to be a But readers who follow a compelling reason. We want to few simple guidelines have a foster discussion among local greater chance of seeing their Arnessa people on issues that matter to opinion in print. Garrett them. First, we do not allow profanLastly, we ask that letter ity or personal attacks. While writers limit their submissions to one public ofﬁcials are fair game for critievery three months. That ensures we cism, we generally reject letters that have a variety of letters from readers, use denigrating nicknames or vulgar rather than the same ones featured references. We are trying to create a over and over. If you are a frequent forum for civil debate, and that starts writer, please know that we will read by requiring all to use civil language. your submission, but we will reject it Next, we do have a 300-word limit if we have published a letter from you for letters. recently. Any letter longer than 300 words That’s about it. Please note that we will be cut or rejected. We need a word limit in order to get in as many of your do edit letters for accuracy and clarity. We fact-check all letters, and letters letters as we can. We also require letter writers to give with dubious or unveriﬁable facts will be rejected. their full name and city of residence. We appreciate all those who take the We do not allow pen names or anonymous letters. This is so we have trans- time to write to us. We spend a great

deal of time making sure our letters reﬂect your views. We look forward to hearing from you in the new year. We are always looking for new ways to make our letters section more engaging. Turning to our letters inbox, we received 63 letters for the period Jan. 1-8. Though the attack on Venezuela may have been a surprise, it was no surprise that many of you wanted to weigh in. We received 13 letters on the topic, making it the hottest topic of conversation that week. Next in popularity was the ongoing immigration crisis, which prompted six letters from readers. And rounding out the top three, there were four letters on the ﬁfth anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. With Congress back in session, we are sure there will be lots of hot topics to come. We’ll be waiting to hear from you. Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor. Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

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COMMENTARY I support ICE — but it needs a reset A 37 year-old woman in Minnesota is dead at the hands of ICE agents, while Louisianans can think that “there but the grace of God went we.” The only proper response by the Trump administration — necessary for public safety and the public good — would be to announce at least a temporary suspension of its aggressively, quite literally extra-ordinary use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Before exploring those two interrelated points, this columnist should note that Quin my own predilections usuHillyer ally run well in favor of law enforcement in general and specifically against widespread leniency for illegal immigrants. On multiple occasions, I have opined in defense of police when national or local media was portraying them as villains, and in years past, I’ve even gone so far as to donate several times to the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, which supports officers who defended themselves in the line of duty. Yet even as I strongly support ICE’s legal mission and am predisposed to give law officers the benefit of the doubt, I should — we all should — bow to prudential considerations. No matter how one interprets the multiple videos of the killing of Renee Good, there can be absolutely no doubt of two conclusions. First, no matter whether the shooting officer had legally defensible excuses for fir-

AP PHOTO By BEN HOVLAND

The scene of a deadly ICE shooting from Wednesday in Minneapolis.

ing his weapon, it is abundantly clear that both he and the ofﬁcer at Good’s window did not come close to properly safe, deescalatory procedures while handling the situation. This is not even debatable. This sort of tragically incompetent enforcement was not just predictable, but already had been predicted repeatedly, when the Trump administration so rapidly doubled ICE’s size while dropping its recruitment standards and cutting training time in half. The result, all over the country, in videotaped incidents too numerous to count, has been the presence of amped up agents acting in egregiously belligerent ways: forcibly throwing women to the ground even if they aren’t resisting, repeatedly threatening or even detaining people for exercising constitutional rights to video activity on public streets and the like. Of course, nobody has the right to ob-

struct agents in the course of their duties, but bystanders have every right to video them, protest them and even annoy them. Indeed, the bystanders have more of an incontrovertible right to do that than the agent had in firing his gun at Good. Yet not once has Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, much less President Donald Trump, asked officers to be more careful, to respect constitutional rights, to tone down their bellicosity. Contrarily, all Noem and Trump have done for a full year is ratchet up the rhetoric. The second conclusion stems from the evidence of that undue pugnaciousness. Namely, if the administration’s goal is public safety and the greater good (a big “if”), the current tactics are clearly counterproductive. If the administration really wants to target the worst of the criminal element among the illegal population, it need not use such extravagant shows of force while scaring local communities and citizens. It should partner with local law enforcement, which has every reason to want to apprehend those same criminals regardless of whether they are “undocumented.” If ICE develops information that locates and identifies a dangerous illegal immigrant, give the info to the local police and let police, who have superior training, make the arrest while ICE just provides backup. Meanwhile, let ICE concentrate mainly on the border, while, in the interior, apprehending less dangerous illegal immigrants for deportation proceedings only upon probable cause.

The massive sweeps by hyped-up, poorly trained agents are fomenting fear and civil unrest. Yet there is in no way anything so urgent about rounding up peaceful immigrants that it justifies the massive use of force. Having made its point and inspired significant “self-deportation,” the administration now should step back and use quieter, less combustible tactics. This, essentially, is what Mayor-elect Helena Moreno was requesting in December when border patrol officials targeted New Orleans. She was 100% wise to do so. Unless agents are dealing with a deliberately obstructive “sanctuary city,” the point should be to engender trust and cooperative public safety. Louisiana was lucky nothing awful happened. It is a simple fact that ICE has made numerous mistakes by detaining actual citizens and by deporting people who are protected by court order. Its frequent unreasonableness struck home here in Louisiana with the nationally publicized detainment of Mandonna “Donna” Kashanian, who literally had cooperated with immigration authorities for 47 years. It took the intervention of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, to free Kashanian, but most detainees don’t have access to a majority leader. For the sake of public unity and calm, the Trump administration must learn that, despite rallying cries to the contrary, moderation in pursuit of justice is indeed a virtue — and it’s usually essential. Email Quin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

Cantrell governed with an attitude, and showed us its limits of making restaurants and bars Eight years ago, LaToya smoke-free. And it cast her as the Cantrell stormed into the New Orleans mayor’s office with an at- fresh face running against a pair titude. This week she’ll leave with of politically pedigreed opponents seeking to replace an outgoing one, too. mayor who hailed from That the voting public a legendary family and views her brash personalgoverned very much as an ity quite differently now insider. compared to when she was Her elevation made first elected says much sense at the time. Under about her roller coaster of Mitch Landrieu, New a public life. Stephanie Orleans largely emerged As the Cantrell era from its long post-K doldraws to a close, it’s worth Grace stepping back in time to drums, but after eight remember what made her years, fatigue always popular in the first place. sets in. Unlike the technocratic, She was scrappy and self-made, practiced outgoing mayor, the a onetime neighborhood activblunt-spoken Californian, nickist who rejected the supposedly named “Teedy,” was unpolished expert theory that her beloved, and often profane. She drew votes low-lying Broadmoor should be across traditional political, geosacrificed to the flood plain after graphic and racial lines, one more Hurricane Katrina. Instead, she way she seemed like a new type led in a well-organized, inspirof mayor for a new New Orleans. And in her best moments during ing revival, the type that other her first term, she was. Cantrell flooded neighborhoods sought to took on the powers in Baton emulate. Rouge and landed the Fair Share The reputation she made as agreement to claw back tourism head of the Broadmoor Improvetaxes for infrastructure improvement Association propelled her to the City Council, where she ments. When it became clear that took on the difficult challenge Carnival 2020 had been a super-

spreader event, she brushed off complaints and imposed strict COVID protocols that brought the numbers down, and many of her constituents cheered her heartfelt pleas to keep others safe. But her defiance too easily and too often crossed over into defensiveness. From the beginning, she resisted advice and stood by appointees who were ill-suited for their jobs for too long. She survived a clownish recall attempt but instead of rising above it, she lashed out angrily at its supporters. Particularly in her second term, she met the City Council’s newfound aggressiveness with behavior that very much justified the restraints they sought to put on her. She made a mess of trash contracts, traveled too much and too luxuriously on the city dime, took up with her bodyguard and allegedly lied about it, leading to an August federal indictment that still hangs over her head. She irresponsibly spent the COVID relief money that flowed in, leaving her successor Helena Moreno, the council vice president, with a massive financial shortfall.

She did get some things right, including the choice of Anne Kirkpatrick as police superintendent and health director Jen Avegno’s work on public health-based crime prevention initiatives. That Moreno is not changing course on public safety is notable. She also focused needed attention on getting unhoused people into shelter and addressing the city’s vulnerability to climate change. Some important landmarks happened on her watch, from exiting the federal police consent decree to the completion of a new power station for the Sewerage & Water Board. In hindsight, a more complete picture of the hits and misses will emerge, as it always does. In the moment, though, there is the attitude, expressed not as candor but as petulance that borders on self-pity. The mayor rarely takes questions these days, or does much to effectively highlight her accomplishments. Among her last moves in ofﬁce were pointless vetoes of the council-passed budget and of council members’ attempt to stop

her from spending city money recklessly in her administration’s waning days. On both, she was easily overridden. I’ve observed multiple mayor transitions, and this period reminds me most of the ﬁnal days of Ray Nagin, the last outsider to follow an insider — Marc Morial — and fall precipitously from public grace. Morial, like Landrieu, was the son of a strong mayor who possessed an encyclopedic understanding of how city government works. Moreno shows signs of being far more like them than Cantrell, even though she too served on the council after moving to the city as a young adult. If there’s a lesson to this pretty predictable cycle, it’s that the mayor of New Orleans can be tremendously powerful — but only if the person in that position understands how to work the job’s various levers. Because as both the city’s voters and the candidates they elect keep learning, attitude only gets you so far. Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.

No Ruby Bridges? Then give me Frederick Douglass. Anybody who spent enough a pocket. That was traditional. time in elementary school has But that didn’t mean I was stuck heard of the Mayﬂower, the U.S. in the 1700s or the 1800s when it Constitution, the Declaration of came to history. Independence, the Revolutionary I favor sneaks, soft-sole shoes; War and the Gettysburg Address. pullover, collared and T-shirts; Anybody who spent enough time jeans and casual slacks. But that in elementary school has doesn’t mean I bow to and heard of Frederick Douexpect others to lift Beyonglass, even if that lesson cé to Ruby Bridges level was during Black History and push Denzel WashingMonth in February. And ton to Frederick Douglass nearly everybody who heights. spent enough time in eleBut c’mon. Why would we Will celebrate our nation’s 250th mentary school has heard Sutton anniversary this year and the name of and seen the identify only “traditional” famous painting of Ruby moments in our rich history? Why Bridges. wouldn’t we include Ruby Bridges But apparently President Donald Trump’s administration wants and Frederick Douglass? Way back in 1996, the U.S. to stop history at a certain point Congress formed the Citizens in time and exclude more incluCommemorative Coin Advisory sive parts of our history in favor Committee. This expert group of, gulp, “traditional” history. of coin people focused on comTraditional. Wow. memorative coins. In 2003, the I once wore button-down, ironed U.S. Congress abolished that and starched dress shirts, somegroup, creating the Citizens times with French cuff links, with Coinage Advisory Committee pleated dress pants, wingtip shoes (CCAC). They’ve operated each year since, meeting regularly, and often with a Mont Blanc pen discussing history, numismatics with the white tip peeking from

and even sculpture. They’ve done the same work under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The group includes people appointed by the U.S. secretary of the treasury. The secretary was Steven Mnuchin in Trump’s first term. Trump’s second-term Treasury secretary is Scott Bessent. Mnuchin made news during his tenure, but not involving coins. Not many know it was Bessent who axed the Bridges and Douglass coins. Now you know. The stingy, specific and all-socareful CCAC proudly endorsed some special coin designs, including coins recognizing women’s suffrage, the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement. Specific recommendations were sent to Bessent and the U.S. Mint leadership, which reports to the treasury secretary. Perhaps they might’ve approved a coin recognizing women cooking in kitchens and doing laundry, the creation of the Ku Klux Klan and White supremacist movements. They rejected the experts’ recommen-

dations. Coins recognizing the Mayflower, the Gettysburg Address and the Revolutionary War were added to the list. I have quibbles and qualms about each of those, but I’d be OK with keeping those — along with the others. Ruby Bridges is a history maker. At 6 years old, she was one of the first Black children to integrate a White school, attending William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Her parents made the decision to enforce the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, which prohibited segregation. She was one of four New Orleans girls to integrate White schools on Nov. 14, 1960, and the one whose defiance and struggle was memorialized by artist Norman Rockwell in one of his most famous paintings, “The Problem We All Live With.” Bridges is about my age, so maybe that’s part of the problem. On the table but not approved by the CCAC is a special 2026 coin recognizing Trump. I’m sure he’d love that. But might that require a change in U.S. law?

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

“No head and shoulders portrait or bust of any person, living or dead, and no portrait of a living person may be included in the design on the reverse of speciﬁed coins,” reads one part of the 2020 H.R. 1923 law passed by the 116th Congress (2019-2020) and signed by then-President Donald Trump. Bridges and Trump are alive and well as of this writing. Though I’d love a Bridges coin and I’d give away a Trump coin, I’ll call that a draw and let it go. But why not my man Fred? I’ve got Douglass on my desk. He’s in books I can reach. I was recognized by a Black journalists group with a Douglass sketch because they knew how much I love Fred and what he was all about. Please take Trump off the table. I’ll give you Bridges. I’ll take the Mayﬂower, the Revolutionary War and the Gettysburg Address. But give me women’s suffrage, the abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. And Frederick Douglass. Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

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

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with meteorologist Damon Singleton

TODAY

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Cooler; breezy this morning

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Cooler; breezy in the morning

Plenty of sunshine

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LOW

63° 47°

A Small Craft Advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service due to northerly winds of 20-25 knots with gusts to 30 knots. Seas of 5-7 feet are also a possibility. Otherwise, expect a mostly sunny, chilly and windy day. Temperatures this afternoon will rise into the mid- to upper 50s. Winds over land will be out of the north at 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph. No rain is expected today. Tomorrow we will wake to temperatures in the 30s with afternoon temperatures only in the low to mid-50s.

YESTERDAY

TODAY

READING 49 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

New Orleans through 5 p.m. Saturday

TEMPERATURE

Monroe 56/32

Shreveport 59/34 Longview 58/31

High/low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Jackson 54/30

FLOOD

Port Arthur 62/44

Baton Rouge 61/34

Lafayette 61/34

Beaumont 63/40

New Orleans 61/41

Lake Charles 62/37 Houma 62/36

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

City

Austin Boston Dallas Denver Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami

TODAY

Lo W

63 34 pc 44 27 r 60 38 s 53 31 s -4 -38 sn 81 71 sh 59 39 s 38 27 sf 83 70 pc

MON.

Lo W

64 42 pc 39 32 pc 64 42 s 57 39 c -32 -43 c 79 62 sh 62 43 s 47 34 s 76 67 c

City

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

TODAY

44 80 44 71 33 59 39 71 74

Lo W

24 s 50 pc 31 pc 47 s 26 sf 26 pc 30 s 43 s 48 c

52 69 44 71 38 50 53 73 69

MON.

Lo W

33 s 54 pc 32 s 45 s 29 pc 30 s 42 s 46 s 54 pc

vived by an extraordinary community of friends and family who supported her throughout her life. Their love, care, and support meant everything to her, and her family remains deeply grateful to each of them. A Celebration of Life is being planned to honor a life well lived and the joy she brought to those around her. Those who were part of Traci’s com‐ munity and wish to cele‐ brate her life are encour‐ aged to reach out to her family for details. Guest‐ book Online: www.anewtra ditionbegins.com (504)2820600. Linear Brooks Boyd and Donavin D. Boyd Own‐ ers/Funeral Directors.

Stevens Sr., Richard Joseph 'Richie'

Richard “Richie” Joseph Stevens, Sr., a lifelong resi‐ dent of the New Orleans area, entered into eternal rest on January 5, 2026, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 79. Born and raised in New Or‐ leans, Richard was a grad‐ uate of Warren Easton High School. He dedicated 42 years of faithful service to The Times-Picayune, retir‐ ing after a long and proud career. Richard was pre‐ ceded in death by his par‐ Maitland Joseph ents, Stevens and Velma St. Ro‐ main Stevens, and his brother, Michael Joseph Stevens. He is survived by his wife Sharon Jewell Stevens, who he was the loving husband and best friend of for 61 years. He leaves behind his cher‐ sons: Michael ished Stevens (Michele), Richard Stevens, Jr. “Ricky” (Karen), and Kevin Stevens (Lana). He was a proud grandfather to Amanda Stevens Miller (Eric), Jes‐ Stevens Marcel sica (Kevin), Tillman DeSoto III (Tracey), Conner Stevens

(Eva), Collin Stevens (Lind‐ say), Harlie Stevens, and Carson Stevens, and a lov‐ ing great-grandfather to Cain, Zoey, and Brooks Miller; Stella and Beau Marcel; and Tessa and Tysen DeSoto. Also sur‐ vived by his brother, Darryl Stevens (Jean); his cousin, Albert “Bert” Jewell, Jr.; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He loved his family fiercely and never missed an opportunity to tell others how proud he was of them. He took great joy in hosting his cherished “Monday Night” family din‐ ners, where laughter and love filled his home. He en‐ joyed golf, fishing, cooking, gardening, LSU and Saints football, a cold beer, and visits to the Treasure Chest Casino. Known for his hum‐ ble spirit, warm heart, and kind compliments, Richard made everyone he met feel special. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the medical compassionate staff at East Jefferson Gen‐ eral Hospital and Cancer Center including Drs. Cald‐ well & Ellis, and to Dr. Gremillion of East Jefferson ENT, for their exceptional care. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visi‐ tation on Saturday, Janu‐ ary 17, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Garden of Memories Funeral Home, 4900 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70001. A short prayer service will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Henry Au‐ coin Foundation or to the charity of your choice.

Summer, Lillian Ruth

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lillian Ruth Summer, who left this world peacefully after a life richly lived and deeply loved. Born on December 17, 1940, in Bayonne, New Jersey, to Ida and Herman Horlick, Lil attended Jersey City State College and graduated with a degree in education. She married her childhood sweetheart, Dr. Warren Summer, and together they began a beautiful journey that took

SAT.

24-HOUR

MISSISSIPPI STAGE STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 -4.80 -0.78 Vidalia-Natchez 48 15.30 +0.16 Red River Landing 48 18.30 none Baton Rouge 35 7.00 +0.20 Donaldsonville 27 3.60 -0.10 Reserve 22 3.11 +0.36 New Orleans 17 1.90 -0.26 OHIO Cairo 40 11.25 +1.37 COMITE Near Olive 19 3.87 +5.30 AMITE Near Darlington 18 1.68 +2.68 Denham Springs 29 18.63 +8.56 Port Vincent 8 2.31 +0.72 TICKFAW Montpelier 13 5.11 +3.52 Holden 15 1.21 +0.44 ATCHAFALAYA Simmesport 47 6.26 none Melville 34 4.33 +0.14 Krotz Springs 29 3.96 +0.17 Butte La Rose 20 3.16 +0.25 Bayou Sorrel 12 2.40 -0.20 Morgan City 6 2.01 +0.24

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

DEATHS continued from

PRECIPITATION

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

0.96” 0.98” 1.81” 0.98” 1.81”

GOOD

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

Hattiesburg 60/32

Alexandria 58/33

Many 57/31

75°/66° 62° 46° 81° in 1974 16° in 1962

GOOD

them to Washington, D.C., Brooklyn, Baltimore, and ultimately New Orleans, where they would make their home for the remainder of their 63 years of marriage. Despite her intense fear of flying, Lil and Warren traveled the world together — from South America to Europe to Asia — collecting art, memories, and stories along the way. On one unforgettable trip, she dropped her passport over the Great Wall of China — and miraculously, it was later found. Lil often said she was lucky in love and in life, and she never took that good fortune for granted. Lil was truly an extraordinary person — compassionate, empathetic, and generous. Her outgoing personality and marvelous sense of humor drew people to her instantly, and anyone who met her quickly sought her friendship. Her mischievous, genuine humor could brighten any room and remind those around her that, even in difficult times, there is room for laughter. While we mourn her loss, we also celebrate her 85 beautiful years and the countless ways she inspired others to enjoy theirs. She was always boldly and beautifully herself. Even during her final months, her courage, warmth, and remarkable humor never faded, easing the sadness of those who visited and loved her. Lil is survived by her devoted husband, Warren; her children Lori Machiorlette (Steve), Renée Melchiode (Gerald), and Ross Summer (Ashley); and her adored grandchildren Morgan Machiorlette (Karley), Brette Amaroli (Kevin), Max Machiorlette (Meghan), Zachary Melchiode (Ashley), Margot Bradley (Christopher), Lauren Melchiode, Jacob Summer, and Ella Summer, all of whom she was immensely proud. She is also survived by her dear brother, Arthur Horlick (Linda), along with several nieces and nephews. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Steven Kantrow (the LSU Warren Summer Professor of Medicine), the LSU ALS Neurology Department, Guardian Angel's Hospice, MeMe and her Care Team, and the 123 Walnut community for their extraordi-

data as of 7 a.m. Saturday

TODAY’S TIDES Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) Shell Beach South Point, Marsh Island Cypremort Point Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) Wine Island

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

HIGH

FT.

2:21a 0.3 8:12p 0.9 2:21p 1.1 4:44p 0.7 4:27p 0.6 3:41p 0.8 5:35p 0.7

6:58 a.m. 5:20 p.m. 12:50 a.m. 11:55 a.m.

NEW

FIRST

FULL

LAST

JAN 18

JAN 25

FEB 1

FEB 9

LOW

FT.

2:48p -0.1 7:11a -0.2 3:32a -0.3 7:03a -0.4 3:41a -0.2 2:14a -0.3 4:43a -0.3

HIGH

FT.

--- ----- --8:32p 0.9 --- ----- ----- ----- ---

LOW

FT.

--- ----- --6:01p 0.9 --- ----- ----- ----- ---

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

Today 5:23a 11:34a 5:45p ---Monday 6:04a 12:15p 6:27p ---Tuesday 6:46a 12:34a 7:09p 12:58p Wednesday 7:29a 1:16a 7:53p 1:41p Thursday 8:14a 2:01a 8:39p 2:26p Friday 9:01a 2:47a 9:27p 3:14p Saturday 9:49a 3:36a 10:15p 4:02p

nary compassion and dedication. A memorial service will be held at a date to be decided. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the LSU ALS Foundation https:/ /www.als.org/support/cer tified-centers-clinics/lsuhealth-als-multispecialtyclinic or the charity of your choice. To view and sign the online guest book, please visit LakeLawnMetairie.com

Vicari, Paula Ann

Paula Ann Vicari en‐ tered everlasting life on January 2, 2026. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the late Paul Vicari and Raymond Camille Palisi Vicari. She was preceded in death by her sister, Catherine Vicari Liberto; her brother-in-law, Dr. Vincent N. Liberto; her nieces, Lucinda Ann Lib‐ erto and MaryBeth Liberto and her Schnauder; nephews, Captain Vincent N. Liberto, Jr. (Tracey) and David Philip Liberto. Paula is survived by her nephews Paul Liberto Ignatius (Rhonda) and Salvadore Anthony Liberto (Amy), and her niece Camella Lib‐ erto Grau (Ben), as well as many great-nieces, greatand cousins. nephews, Paula lived an amazing life despite the challenges of a illness that childhood changed the course of her life. She never forgot a face or a name. She was an avid reader; a coloring enthusi‐ ast; a card shark; an oldmovie lover; a devoted soap opera and cartoon watcher; a lounge-chair contestant game-show who solved Wheel of For‐ tune puzzles as the wheel was still spinning and an‐ swered Jeopardy! ques‐ tions before they were fully read. She was a puzzle maker who usually only lost one or two pieces, a

crossword ﬁend who al‐ ways made sure to “check her answers with the key,” and a true lover of all food and dining out. Paula lived life to the fullest and dearly loved her family. She possessed a beautiful innocence that remained untarnished, paired with a quiet strength and a stead‐ fast path to hope. These qualities made her unique and, without her ever real‐ izing it, cast a bright light on the lives of others. Paula was a long-time resi‐ of Chalmette, dent Louisiana, until Hurricane Katrina relocated her to Mandeville, Louisiana, for several years. For the past years, she seventeen resided at Chateau de Notre Dame. The family ex‐ tends heartfelt thanks to all of Paula’s caregivers over the years, especially devoted staff at the Chateau de Notre Dame; Dr. Mary Madonna Baudier, RSCJ; the compassionate doctors and staff at Touro Inﬁrmary, University Med‐ ical Center, and Passages Hospice. A very special thank you is offered to her beloved cousin Rea, who always treated Paula with patience, generosity, and unconditional love. Rela‐ tives and friends are in‐ vited to attend visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119. Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel at Schoen’s, followed by interment at All Saints Mausoleum, 5100 Boulevard, Pontchartrain New Orleans, Louisiana 70124.

the late Jeremiah Ivan Randle. He is survived by his parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends. Family, friends and members of East St. John High School, Greater Morning Star B.C., and all neighboring churches are invited to attend the Celebration of Life service at11 am on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Milesville Memoria COGIC, 129 Apple St., Laplace, LA 70068, Bishop Ronald Frank, Officiating. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Interment in St. John Memorial Garden Professional Service entrusted to caring staff of Hobson Brown Funeral Home 134 Daisy Street Garyville, La 70051

Werner III, Lawrence Joseph 'Larry'

Lawrence “Larry” Joseph Werner III, of Slidell, Louisiana, passed away on January 5, 2026, at the age

See more DEATHS, page

How to place an Obituary Notice EMAIL:

obits@theadvocate.com

Warren, Harold J.

OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION:

225-388-0289

How to place a Memorial Ad An “In Memory Of” ad, is a way to pay tribute to your loved one. This remembrance is often printed on the anniversary of a loved one’s death. The deadline is two days prior to the day you want your ad to appear.

Harold Warren, Jr., age 17 departed this earthly life on December 17, 2025. He was the son of Harold Warren, Sr., and Loretta Warren. Brother of Jessica Lives, Aquana R. Dunlap and Terrance Randle and

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

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

SPORTS N O L A.C O M

S u n d ay, J a n u a ry 11, 2026

1Cn

A look at how Saints should attack this offseason The New Orleans Saints’ 2025 season is in the books. The Saints’ 6-11 ﬁnish was just one game better than a year ago, but their prospects are much more promising thanks to the emergence of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. If the Saints can produce another strong offseason, there’s reason to believe they can vie for the NFC South division title. Jeff Here’s one man’s opinion Duncan on how they can get there. This list is ordered chronologically and is a plan for how I would attack the offseason, rather than what I think the Saints will do:

1. Give Brandon Staley a raise

PROVIDED PHOTO By LSU ATHLETICS

LSU gymnast Courtney Blackson scored a 9.825 in her debut with the Tigers at the Sprouts Collegiate Quad meet on Saturday at Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah.

STRONG START

Staley authored one of the best coaching jobs in the league this season. The Saints defense improved from 30th to ninth under Staley’s command, and he did it without many high-end additions in the offseason while transitioning to a new 3-4 scheme. Players have universally praised Staley’s coaching this season. If Staley stacks another year like one on his résumé, he’ll be a popular head coaching candidate next year. Rewarding him with a pay raise and an “assistant head coach” title would send

ä See DUNCAN, page 8C

LSU gymnastics team ties for first in controversial season opener; Chio wins all-around, Blackson shines in debut

BY SCOTT RABALAIS

Staff writer

Great scoring, some predictable ﬁrst-meet wobbles, and a controversial ending. Everything you could imagine from a season opener was on display for the No. 2-ranked LSU gymnastics team in its nationally televised season opener Saturday in the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad. First, the scoring. LSU and preseason No. 1 Oklahoma tied for ﬁrst with scores of 197.500, while Tigers sophomore Kailin Chio won the all-around, edging out twotime U.S. Olympian Jordan Chiles of UCLA. Oklahoma, however, took home the team trophy thanks to a rarely used tiebreaker. The Sooners’ sixth-place scores in each of the four events, which are discarded when counting the team score, were better than the Tigers’ sixth-place scores. LSU coach Jay Clark was pleased with his team’s overall performance and resilience, but still felt his Tigers

should have won the meet outright. The controversy stemmed from sophomore Lexi Zeiss’ score on balance beam in the second spot on LSU’s final rotation. One of the event’s two judges initially lowered Zeiss’ routine from a 10.0 to a 9.90 start value, thinking Zeiss had done a “D” instead of “E” element in her routine, “E” being the more difficult. Clark filed a successful scoring inquiry to get Zeiss’ start value raised, moving her score from 9.80 to 9.85. However, Clark argued that the judge who initially lowered the start value should have given Zeiss a 9.90. Instead, that judge kept her score at 9.85, Clark said. “A 9.875 (by Zeiss) would have won the meet,” he said. LSU still had a chance to claim the outright victory on the Tigers’ final routine of the meet, with junior Konnor McClain, the 2024 Southeastern Conference balance beam champion, anchoring the event. Unfortunately for LSU, McClain had at least two balance checks and only

Murphy wasted no time getting to top of Pelicans’ 3-point list “It won’t be long,” Murphy said that Kenneth Murphy III goes by Trey, night. “That’s all I have to say. It’ll be taken perhaps the first hint that he would somedown. It’s like having a bar set for me.” day grow up to become a prolific 3-point Less than a year later, Murphy proved to shooter. be a man of his word. Murphy tied McAnd if that wasn’t enough to convince you, maybe taking a look at the crib Collum’s record of 692 3-pointhis parents had for him when he ers with 3:58 left in the second was an infant might. quarter of last week’s game in If it were up to Albeda Murphy, Miami. He broke the record with Trey would have just had a regular 39.8 seconds left in the half. crib like most 1-year-olds. “It’s pretty cool,” Murphy said. But her husband, Kenny, insisted “You always want to leave your Rod the crib have a basketball goal on it. mark somewhere on and off the Walker court and I feel like this is someIt’s almost as if Trey Murphy was born to do what he’s doing. thing to show on the court.” Murphy, who is only 25 and in his Murphy needed just 285 games ä Pelicans fifth season with the New Orleans to set the record and join a list of at Magic some of the greats of the game. Pelicans, became the franchise’s all2 P.M. SUNDAy, time leader in 3-pointers last Sunday The Pelicans’ franchise record WVUE in a loss to the Miami Heat. Murphy (709 and counting for Murphy gosurpassed former teammate CJ Mcing into Sunday’s game against the Orlando Magic) is the fewest Collum, who became the franchise leader in January of 2025 when he eclipsed among all NBA franchises. (The franchise is in just its 24th season.) The Los Angeles Jrue Holiday. Murphy vowed after that game last Janu- Clippers’ franchise record (820 by Paul ary that McCollum’s name wouldn’t stay in ä See WALKER, page 3C the record book.

ä See GYM, page 2C

Trey Murphy

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough congratulates wide receiver Chris Olave after scoring a touchdown against the New york Jets on Dec. 21 at the Caesars Superdome.

Kiffin ramps up search for LSU’s next QB Coach travels to Tennessee to meet quarterback Leavitt; school hosts Longstreet

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

As LSU continues to search for new quarterbacks in the transfer portal, two primary targets have emerged in recent days for head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff. Kiffin and others flew Friday to Knoxville, Tennessee, to meet with former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt before he began a visit to Miami, sources told The Advocate. LSU then started hosting Southern Cal quarterback Husan Longstreet, a former five-star recruit, on a visit Saturday. Leavitt had spent the previous two days on a visit with the Volunteers, and LSU staff saw him before he went to Miami. Kiffin posted two pictures from Knoxville, including one of the airport, on his social media accounts. It is believed Leavitt’s decision may come down to LSU and Miami. Leavitt, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt sophomore, has two more seasons of eligibility. He threw for 4,513 yards with 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions over the past two seasons. He also rushed for a combined

ä See LSU, page 7C

2C ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 11 a.m. Illinois at Iowa Fox 11 a.m. St. Joseph’s at Richmond USA Noon Memphis at FAU ESPN2 2 p.m. Wright St. at Oakland ESPN2 2 p.m. North Texas at Wichita St. ESPNU 4 p.m. Cincinnati at UCF ESPN2 4 p.m. Northwestern at Rutgers Peacock 5 p.m. Ohio St. at Washington Peacock WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 11 a.m. Boston College at Virginia Tech ACCN 11 a.m. G. Mason at G. Washington CBSSN 11 a.m. Villanova at Providence TRUTV Noon North Carolina at Notre Dame ESPN Noon Louisiana Tech at Liberty ESPNU 1 p.m. Florida St. at Miami ACCN 1 p.m. Duquesne at VCU CBSSN 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at Louisville CW 1 p.m. UConn at Creighton TRUTV 1 p.m. Georgia at South Carolina SECN 1 p.m. St. Louis at Loyola of Chicago USA 2 p.m. Illinois at Penn St. BTN 2 p.m. Texas at LSU ESPN

3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m.

Clemson at Georgia Tech ACCN Ohio St. at Maryland Peacock Oklahoma at Kentucky SECN Iowa at Indiana BTN Duke at Stanford ESPN SMU at NC State ACCN Mississippi St. at Ole Miss SECN UCLA at Nebraska BTN COLLEGE WRESTLING Noon Maryland at Wisconsin BTN FIGURE SKATING 1 p.m. U.S. Championships NBC GOLF 9 a.m. LIV GOLF Promotions 2026 FS1 1 p.m. Bahamas Golf Classic Golf HORSE RACING 1 p.m. America’s Day at the Races FS2 2 p.m. America’s Day at the Races FS1 IIHF GIRLS HOCKEY 4 p.m. U.S. vs. Czechia NHLN NBA 2 p.m. New Orleans at Orlando WVUE NBA G-LEAGUE 3:30 p.m. Cleveland at Texas NBATV

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

NFL Noon Buffalo at Jacksonville CBS 3:30 p.m. San Francisco at Philadelphia FOX 7:20 p.m. L.A. Chargers at New England NBC NHL 1 p.m. New Jersey at Winnipeg NHLN 7 p.m. Vegas at San Jose NHLN SKIING 2 p.m. Freestyle World Cup CNBC SKIING/SNOWBOARDING 3 p.m. Freestyle World Cup NBC MEN’S SOCCER 7:30 a.m. Arsenal at Portsmouth ESPN2 7:55 a.m. H. of Midlothian at Dundee CBSSN 10:50 a.m. Nice at Nantes FS2 12:30 p.m. Barcelona vs. Real Madrid ABC TENNIS 5 a.m. United Cup Tennis 4:30 p.m. ATP and WTA Tennis UNRIVALED BASKETBALL 6:30 p.m. Breeze vs. Rose TRUTV 7:45 p.m. Vinyl vs. Hive TRUTV WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL 3 p.m. Grand Rapids at Atlanta CBSSN 6:30 p.m. Atlanta at Austin ESPN2

Glenn wins third straight U.S. title Stunning free skate performance lifts her past Liu, Levito

BY DAVE SKRETTA

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS — On the ice, Amber Glenn was putting together another brilliant free skate, landing the opening triple axel that has become her hallmark and eventually putting the final touches on a program destined to earn her a third consecutive U.S. Figure Skating title. Off the ice, Alysa Liu was cheering her on. With her newly dyed halo hairdo going viral, Liu had stuck Late Friday around after her own spectacular showing inside of the packed Enterprise Center, and she didn’t seem to care Friday night that Glenn was about to push the reigning world champion to the silver medal. “She trains so hard,” Liu said, “and to skate a clean program, it’s so deserving.” Glenn ultimately finished with 233.55 points to become the first back-to-back-to-back national champ since Michelle Kwan’s last title in 2005, while Liu wound up second with 228.91 points. Isa-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH

Amber Glenn reacts to seeing her scores after competing during the women’s free skating competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Friday in St. Louis. beau Levito earned the bronze medal with 224.45 points and, more than likely, the ﬁnal women’s spot on the American squad headed for the Winter Games. The ofﬁcial team announcement comes Sunday. “I felt like I was going to throw up. My stomach has been bothering me all day. Woof,” Glenn said. “Fake it ‘till you make it. I took that to heart. I was just trying to get in touch with my body and get a feel for the ice, and I think my years of experience kicked in.”

Earlier in the night, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov defended their pairs title despite a couple of mistakes, including a scary moment when Mitrofanov was nearly clipped by Efimova’s skate. They finished with 207.71 points to outdistance Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, who were second with 197.12, and the team of Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman. Now comes a nervous wait to see whether Efimova and Mitrofanov can compete at the Olym-

pics. Although Mitrofanov is a U.S. citizen, born in Wisconsin and raised in Texas, the 26-year-old Efimova was born in Finland and has competed for Germany and Russia along with her native country. Only citizens of the nation they represent are eligible for the Olympics, though, and while Mitrofanov and Efimova are married and she has a green card, she has not received an American passport yet. The Skating Club of Boston, where the couple trains, has been working with U.S. senators and U.S. Figure Skating officials to get the three-year waiting period for citizenship expedited. But time is running out before Sunday’s deadline to announce the team. The Americans have qualified the maximum three women’s spots on the Olympic team. They only have two spots in pairs. Efimova and Mitrofanov would get one, should her citizenship get approved at the last minute. Kam and O’Shea are near locks to make their first Olympic team, while McBeath and Parkman are unable to go because he likewise does not have U.S. citizenship. That could leave U.S. Figure Skating to make a judgment call on the second pairs team it sends to the Milan Cortina Games.

Out of LIV Golf, Koepka tries to return to PGA Tour BY DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, just over two weeks after defecting from Saudi-funded LIV Golf, has applied to have his PGA Tour membership reinstated. The next step belongs to the tour, which has suspended players for joining the rival league, even if they never had PGA Tour membership. Two people with knowledge of Koepka’s application conﬁrmed Friday he has started the process to rejoin the tour. They spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not been made public. Koep-

GYM

Continued from page 1C posted a 9.65 that the Tigers didn’t count toward their team total. All that aside, Clark was happy with the way his team battled through its few shaky routines and first-meet nerves to post a strong season-opening score. “I thought it was great,” he said. “We had some very uncharacteristic mistakes we haven’t seen in training and some unexpected things that happened, but we handled it. “This meet won’t matter in a week. The value of it is we learned already we can stay the course when we face things like that and beat anybody. That’s the silver lining. We already know how to ﬁght. Every team has to learn that, and I’d rather learn that now rather than later.” Coming off a dazzling freshman campaign in which she won the NCAA vault title and 22 other individual crowns, Chio’s performance was even more impressive considering she rolled an ankle in

ka’s manager at Hambric Sports, Blake Smith, said he would not have a comment at this time. ESPN ﬁrst reported Koepka’s application. With one year left on his LIV contract, the Saudibacked league announced Dec. 23 that he would no longer be part Koepka of the LIV Golf League and his captaincy of Smash had been turned over to Talor Gooch. “Brooks is prioritizing the needs of his family and staying closer to home,” said Scott O’Neil, the CEO of LIV Golf, who

described the departure as amicable and mutual. The tour policy has been players having to sit out one year from their last LIV appearance, but that was only for nonmembers, such as Laurie Canter. The Englishman was a part-time LIV player, and he qualiﬁed for The Players Championship last March one year and a month after last playing a LIV event in Las Vegas. Brian Rolapp, who took over as CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises last summer, will face one of his ﬁrst early decisions on a pathway back for LIV Golf players wanting to return. His case will be reviewed by Rolapp, along with

Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad at West Valley City, Utah T1. #1 Oklahoma 197.500 (Vault — 49.350, Bars — 49.475, Beam — 49.500, Floor — 49.175) T1. #2 LSU 197.500 (Vault — 49.325, Bars — 49.550, Beam — 49.350, Floor — 49.275) 3. #4 UCLA 197.000 (Vault — 49.275, Bars — 49.425, Beam — 49.125, Floor — 49.175) #5 Utah 195.900 (Vault — 49.600, Bars — 49.375, Beam — 47.875, Floor — 49.050)

Oklahoma awarded team trophy based on sixth-place scores in each event. Individual (includes ﬁrst place and all LSU competitors) All-around — 1. Kailin Chio, LSU, 39.600; 2. Jordan Chiles, UCLA, 39.575; 3. Avery Neff, Utah, 39.500; T4. Madison Ulrich, LSU, Addison Fatta, Oklahoma, 39.450. Vault — 1. Avery Neff, Utah, 10.0; T5. Madison Ulrich, Kailin Chio, LSU, 9.90; T12. Lexi Zeiss, Victoria Roberts, LSU, 9.85; T15. Courtney Blackson, LSU, 9.825; 24. Amari Drayton, LSU, 9.25. Bars — T1. Courtney Blackson, LSU, Ella Zirbes, Utah, 9.95; T3. Konnor McClain, LSU, 9.925; T6. Ashley Cowan, Madison Ulrich, LSU, 9.90; T13. Lexi Zeiss, LSU, 9.875; T17. Kailin Chio, LSU, 9.85. Beam — T1. Kailin Chio, LSU, Hannah Scheible, Faith Torrez, Oklahoma, 9.95; 6. Kylie Coen, LSU, 9.90; T8. Lexi Zeiss, LSU, 9.85; T11. Kaliya Lincoln, Madison Ulrich, LSU, 9.825; 20. Konnor McClain, LSU, 9.65. Floor — 1. Jordan Chiles, UCLA, Mackenzie Estep, Oklahoma, 9.925; 3. Kailin Chio, LSU, 9.90; T4. Emily Innes, LSU, 9.875; T11. Nina Ballou, Madison Ulrich, LSU, 9.825; 24. Amari Drayton, LSU, 9.025. Attendance: N/A

preseason practice. The sophomore only performed on uneven bars in the Tigers’ exhibition meet on Jan. 2. Chio started with 9.90s on floor and vault and also tied for first individually on balance beam with a 9.95, equaling her career high. Chio shared first place on beam with Hannah Scheible and Faith Torrez from Oklahoma. Chio finished with a 39.600 all-around score to Chiles’ 39.575. Madison

Ulrich, an LSU transfer from Denver, tied for fourth in the allaround competition with a 39.450. “Last week we didn’t know if she would be able to do one, two or four events,” Clark said of Chio. “But it worked out in our favor.” LSU newcomer Courtney Blackson, a transfer from Boise State who retired from gymnastics in 2025, perhaps stole the meet from the Tigers’ perspective. After debuting with a 9.825 on vault, she

the policy board and player directors. That includes Tiger Woods, who chairs the Future Competition Committee. Koepka, and other PGA Tour members who left for LIV and were seen as damaging the tour, presumably would face any number of penalties. But the tour’s longtime policy has been to never publicize discipline. The application comes one day after Rolapp sent a memo to players that the Player Equity Program is being expanded to include current year performance. Koepka already was with LIV when the tour began its ﬁrst-of-akind program, with equity grants ﬁrst being awarded in April 2024.

followed that with a career-hightying 9.95 on bars, sharing top honors with Utah’s Ella Zirbes. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches,” a smiling Blackson said in a TV interview. “They supported me through this whole entire journey. It was just practice, practice, practice, rely on your numbers, have confidence and have fun.” “That’s why we took her,” Clark said. “That’s what we thought we would get. She’s a competitor. When the lights came on, that was a great sign.” The Tigers’ lineups were sprinkled throughout with first-timers, expected after LSU lost senior allarounders Haleigh Bryant and Aleah Finnegan from last year’s team. Nine of the Tigers’ 24 routines were by first-year LSU gymnasts or first-time performers. That included a 9.85 from Belle Chasse’s Victoria Roberts, the only Tiger gymnast from Louisiana. LSU stays on the road next week for its SEC opener at No. 12 Georgia. First vault is set for 6 p.m. on the SEC Network. The Tigers’ home opener is Jan. 23 against Kentucky.

Ticket prices soar for CFP national championship

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The good news: There are tickets out there for the Indiana-Miami matchup in the College Football Playoff national championship game. The bad news: They’ll cost you. In the moments after Indiana ﬁnished rolling past Oregon on Friday to win the Peach Bowl 56-22, clinching a spot in the CFP title game on Jan. 19 against Miami — on Miami’s home ﬁeld, no less — ticket prices for the matchup soared. As of Saturday afternoon, TicketData — which tracks activity across a number of sites — said the lowest get-in price to Hard Rock Stadium was just under $3,600 per ticket, including fees. Some seats available on sites like StubHub, TickPick and Ticketmaster were offered for more than $10,000 on Saturday.

Falcons begin interviews for head coach position

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons interviewed Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver on Saturday as they began their search for a coach. The interviews came immediately after the team named Matt Ryan president of football. In the newly created position, Ryan will lead the searches for coach and general manager. The Falcons ﬁred coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after the completion of an 8-9 season. It was the team’s eighth consecutive losing season. The Falcons ﬁlled the president of football position before launching interviews for the new coach.

Organizers confident NHL will play in Milan arena

MILAN — Olympic organizers are “100%” confident the NHL won’t pull out of the Milan Cortina Games with the new ice hockey arena finally ready. Or almost. Construction delays and other concerns about the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena have drawn headlines ahead of the NHL returning to the Winter Olympics and the women’s tournament opening on Feb. 5. The NHL has expressed concern about the construction and quality of the ice surface. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said last month in Winnipeg that the league would not send its players if there were any safety concerns. When Andrea Francisi, chief games operations officer for Milan Cortina, was asked Friday how confident he was NHL players would participate, he said, “100%, 100%.”

Fischnaller, Greiner close in on U.S. luge berths

WINTERBERG, Germany — USA Luge is likely sending three women and two men to the singles races at next month’s Milan Cortina Olympics, after Emily Fischnaller and Matthew Greiner appeared to clinch spots with their World Cup finishes on Saturday. The International Luge Federation has not officially told national teams yet how many spots they have earned in the Milan Cortina fields, but the expectation — after Saturday’s fifth and final singles Olympic qualifier of the season — is that it’ll be Summer Britcher, Ashley Farquharson and Fischnaller on the U.S. women’s team, with Jonny Gustafson and Greiner on the U.S. men’s team. USA Luge plans to announce its Olympic nominations on Monday.

Poland beats U.S. in mixed doubles decider

SYDNEY — Poland reached the United Cup ﬁnal after Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski beat Coco Gauff and Christian Harrison 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) in a mixed doubles decider. Poland will face Switzerland in Sunday’s ﬁnal. Kawa and Zielinski were decisive once again, having won the mixed doubles decider in the quarterfinals against Australia. Sixtime Grand Slam singles champion Iga Swiatek rushed over to join the celebrations. Earlier, Gauff beat the No. 2-ranked Swiatek 6-4, 6-2 to force a mixed doubles decider. Fourth-ranked Gauff, the French Open champion, evened the matchup at 1-1 at the team event after Hubert Hurkacz beat Taylor Fritz 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2) in the singles opener at Ken Rosewall Arena.

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Clair, Shaw claim tourney title win over Jesuit Sophomore’s late points help Eagles get past Blue Jays BY CHRISTOPHER DABE

Staff writer

Shaw sophomore Christian Clair missed more than a month of games after he broke the pinky finger on his left hand when he hit the backboard while going up for a block in a game just after Thanksgiving. He returned for his first game back Thursday in the opening game of the Country Day Classic, and by Saturday, he was conditioned enough to score the final points in overtime for a tournament championship win against Jesuit. Clair and freshman teammate Phanuel Greer combined for 30 points, including the final four by Clair when he made a pair of free throws and followed with a steal and a layup to cap a 48-42 victory at Country Day. Reigning state runner-up Shaw (13-8) has played several games at less than full strength with Clair sidelined and with usual leading scorer Triston Naquin, a junior, out since he sprained an ankle in the first game this season. The team grew from those challenges. “It’s just everybody falling into their role and knowing how to play with and without certain people, and not just relying on the next man, but knowing that my brother got me,” Clair said. “We always

seconds remaining. Jesuit missed a free throw that would have made it a 3-point game with 32.7 seconds to play. Shaw aggressively denied the 3-point line and forced a pair of turnovers down the stretch, including the sequence that resulted in Clair’s final basket. “We just kept telling our guys, ‘This is the stuff that we need to get to March,’ ” said Shaw assistant coach Steven Kelly, who filled in for flu-ridden head coach Mitchell Johnson. “We have battled the injury bug early in the season, but now it’s the fact that we just got to build, because we’re getting healthier every day and our guys are getting this chemistry.” Jesuit trailed for much of the first three quarters and went ahead 31-30 on a 7-0 run that included a 3-pointer by junior Thomas Hulefield followed by a pair of transition layups off steals by sophomore Jacolby Treaudo and junior Duke Nitcher. Both teams missed free throws down the stretch. The game went to overtime after Jesuit missed a free throw with 13.4 seconds remaining that would have made it a one-point game. Usual leading scorer Zach LaGraize had six points and 14 rebounds. Jesuit (13-5) reached the tournament finals when it won in overSTAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK time against John Curtis. This was the second overtime game in a row Archbishop Shaw sophomore Christian Clair dribbles down the court while Jesuit’s Tanner Hughes defends for the Blue Jays. during the Country Day Classic championship game on Saturday in Metarie. “We just didn’t have any legs,” Jesuit coach Chris Jennings said. “We had a tough game Thursday just know how to play together and V banked in a 3-pointer for a 41-38 go up 44-39. somebody else will have our back.” lead that the Eagles never relinClair, who finished with 15 points night. Last night with overtime. The teams went to overtime tied quished. Allen Shaw III, a junior, and seven rebounds, made his free Then overtime tonight. I’m proud at 38. Shaw freshman Allen Shaw later scored on a driving layup to throws for a 46-41 lead with 42.1 of the guys.”

WNBA, players’ union fail to reach new CBA; negotiations continue BY DOUG FEINBERG Associated Press

NEW YORK — The WNBA and its players’ union weren’t able to agree to a new collective bargaining agreement by the Friday night deadline, and now the league enters a “status-quo” period with no new extension reached. Negotiations will continue with the current CBA still in effect. The league and the players had two previous extensions, with the most recent expiring Friday night. The sides met several times last week but are still far apart on many key issues, including salary structure and revenue-sharing. “Despite demonstrating our willingness to compromise in order to get a deal done, the WNBA and its teams have failed to meet us at the table with the same spirit and seriousness,” the union said in a statement. “Instead, they have remained committed to undervaluing player contributions, dismiss-

WALKER

Continued from page 1C George) is the secondlowest. But as long as Murphy stays a Pelican, you can expect him to push the record to a place where it will stand for a long time. Murphy is in one of his hottest stretches since entering the league. He’s made at least six 3-pointers in his past three games. That’s seven in Friday’s win against the Washington Wizards, six in Tuesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and seven on his record-setting day against the Heat. It’s the ﬁrst time he’s made six treys in three

ing player concerns, and running out the clock.” If a new CBA isn’t agreed upon soon, it could delay the start of the 2026 season. It’s already delayed the expansion draft for Toronto and Portland. “As the league experiences a pivotal time of unprecedented popularity and growth, we recognize the importance of building upon that momentum,” the WNBA said in a statement issued after the deadline had passed. “Our priority is a deal that signiﬁcantly increases player salaries, enhances the overall player experience, and supports the long-term growth of the league for current and future generations of players and fans.” The last CBA was announced in the middle of January 2020, a month after it had been agreed to. It could easily take two months from when a new CBA is reached to get to the start of free agency, which was supposed to begin Sunday.

straight games. He’s averaging 34.6 points over the last three games, including a career-best 42 points in the loss to the Lakers. “At the end of the day, we didn’t get the win, so it doesn’t really matter,” Murphy said after his careerhigh night. That’s been the case for Murphy and the Pelicans for most of these last two seasons. The Pelicans are 9-31. They’ve lost nine of their last 10 games, making it hard to appreciate what the Pelicans’ most consistent all-around player has done. Murphy leads the team in minutes played. His 21.7 points rank second on the team behind Zion Williamson. His 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists rank second

The WNBA, under U.S. labor law, has a status-quo obligation to allow teams to send out qualifying offers under the expired CBA agreement. Both sides could agree to a moratorium that would result in a pause of all free agency activities until a new CBA is ratiﬁed. The league offered one, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday night on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations. With no moratorium in place, the league has told its teams that they can send out qualifying offers to free agents beginning on Sunday, according to the person. Those offers would go to players who were restricted free agents or ones that the teams wanted to give the franchise tag to. Because neither the players nor the teams have any idea what the new salary structure and salary cap would be in the new CBA, it

behind Derik Queen. His 1.7 steals rank second behind Herb Jones. “He deserves a ton of credit,” said Pelicans’ interim head coach Borrego. “He’s put the work in. He’s a tremendous worker. He’s going to have a wonderful career here. He’s already put up some big numbers. I’m proud of him. He’s fantastic and keeps growing every year and adding to his game. He’s tremendous and deserves all the credit for that.” His parents deserve some of the credit, too. His mom remembers the youth basketball days when Trey would run up and down the court with his hands in his pockets. The solution? Trey’s dad threw away ev-

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Pelicans forward Trey Murphy shoots the ball as Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake Laravia defends on Tuesday at the Smoothie King Center.

would be a worthless process for now. The league’s most recent offer last month would guarantee a maximum base salary of $1 million in 2026 that could reach $1.3 million through revenue sharing. That’s up from the current $249,000 and could grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement, the person told the AP. Under the league’s proposal, players would receive in excess of 70% of net revenue — though that would be their take of the profits after expenses are paid. Those expenses would include upgraded facilities, charter flights, five-star hotels, medical services, security and arenas. The average salary in 2026 would be more than $530,000, up from its current $120,000, and grow to more than $770,000 over the life of the agreement. The minimum salary would grow from its current $67,000 to approximately $250,000 in the first year,

ery pair of shorts that had pockets. Or the time when Trey was around 5, when his dad started coaching him. “That ﬁrst year, he was really bad, and he didn’t score a point,” Kenny Murphy recalled. But over time, he got better and better. By the fourth grade, he started draining 3’s. By the eighth grade, he was one of the best shooters in the area.

the person told the AP. The proposal would also ﬁnancially pay star young players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, who are all still on their rookie contracts, nearly double the league minimum. Revenue sharing is one of the major sticking points in the negotiations. The union’s counter proposal to the league would give players around 30% of the gross revenue. The player’s percentage would be from money generated before expenses for the ﬁrst year and teams would have a $10.5 million salary cap to sign players. Under the union’s proposal, the revenue sharing percent would go up slightly each year. “Make no mistake. Pay equity is not optional and progress is long overdue,” the union statement said. “We urge the league and its teams to meet this moment. The players already have and will continue to do so.”

“He’s been at it ever since,” the elder Murphy said. Murphy’s first NBA 3-pointer came in the season opener of his rookie season. He went scoreless in the first half of that game in the Smoothie King Center against the Philadelphia 76ers. “I hadn’t scored the entire first half,” Murphy recalls. “I was nervous and a little angry about that.”

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate. com.

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He made his very ﬁrst one with 1:56 left in the game on an assist from Kira Lewis. He made his second one less than a minute later on an assist from Naji Marshall. That one was from 28 feet. Trey Murphy was just getting started, doing what he was born to do.

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ALL-METRO FOOTBALL SMALL SCHOOLS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR

SMALL SCHOOLS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Riverside Academy running back Jayden Obiekwe carries the ball against Ascension Catholic during the Division IV select state championship game on Dec. 11 in the Caesars Superdome. Obiewke finished the season with 1,814 yards and 31 touchdowns.

JAYDEN OBIEKWE RIVERSIDE, SENIOR • RUNNING BACK Riverside Academy senior Jayden Obiekwe had never played a football game inside the Caesars Superdome.With each passing week, the standout running back said he believed his opportunity would arrive. “Week by week, it’s just in my head that we actually have a chance to make a run to be able to do this,” Obiekwe said. Riverside won a football state championship for the first time since 2016 with Obiekwe as the leading rusher with 1,814 yards and 31 touchdowns, an output good enough for The Times-Picayune to select Obiekwe as the New Orleans small schools’All-Metro offensive player of the year. Riverside (12-1) posted an undefeated record over 11 games with the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Obiekwe on the field, after he missed the first two games following his transfer from East Jefferson, where he was an all-district running back as a junior.

Riverside secured its spot in the state final when Obiekwe ran 36 times for 278 yards and six touchdowns — the final four scores coming after halftime, including one that broke a 14all tie late in the third quarter on the way to a 42-14 semifinal rout of Ascension Episcopal. In the state final, an ankle injury affected Obiekwe’s ability to post another large rushing total, but he still shined with two touchdowns, one rushing and one on a 46-yard pass from Wildcat quarterback Christopher Becnel. He ran 16 times for 69 yards in the 31-21 victory over Ascension Catholic. “He’s had some really good games, but there’s so much more that he brings to our football team from a competitive standpoint, from a toughness standpoint, a coachability standpoint,” Riverside coach Lee Roussel said.“I coach these guys hard. He’s been a pleasure to coach.”

Christopher Dabe

SMALL SCHOOLS ALL-METRO OFFENSE WR CAMERON HENRY Country Day, 5-11, 155, Sr. 758 yards receiving, 10 TDs

OL TRAVIS LILES Livingston, 6-1, 240, Sr. All-district selection

WR KENRIC JOHNSON Riverside, 5-10, 159, So. 1,245 scrimmage yards, 17 total TDs; three INTs

OL CEDRIC McDONALD De La Salle, 6-0, 265, Sr. All-district selection

WR GEORGE LOOP Newman, 5-11, 180, Sr. 814 yards receiving, 11 TDs OL JAX DEAN Pope John Paul, 6-0, 260, Sr. All-district selection OL GABE GALVEZ Riverside, 6-0, 285, So. All-district selection

OL DORYAN SMITH L.B. Landry, 6-1, 225, Sr. All-district selection QB HUDSON WRIGHT Country Day, 6-0, 160, Sr. 3,334 yards passing, 48 touchdowns RB KAMERON CASNAVE N. Christian, 6-1, 220, Sr. 1,738 yards rushing, 27 touchdowns

RB BRADY CRIBBY Haynes, 5-8, 170, Jr. 2,031 yards rushing, 24 total TDs RB JAYDEN OBIEKWE Riverside, 5-10, 180, Sr. 1,814 yards rushing, 31 total TDs ATH JAKE RANDLE Newman, 5-10, 190, Sr. 1,759 yards passing, 793 rushing, 34 total TDs K JACK FALGOUST Newman, 5-9, 165, Sr. Long of 43; DB with 85 total tackles Note: All-Metro selections made by Christopher Dabe.

Riverside defensive back Jace Trosclair closes in on Ascension Catholic running back Trevin Simon during the Division IV select championship game on Dec. 11 at the Caesars Superdome. Trosclair had 120 tackles on defense and two blocked kicks on special teams.

JACE TROSCLAIR RIVERSIDE, SENIOR • DEFENSIVE BACK Riverside Academy senior Jace Trosclair made an impact in multiple areas for his football team. In a state Division IV semifinal win against Ascension Episcopal, he intercepted a pass in the first quarter and later made enough plays on special teams to earn an award from his coach for his efforts in both areas. “Just this week, he was the special teams and defensive player of the week,” Riverside coach Lee Roussel said during the week leading up to the state final. Trosclair’s multifaceted role on a state titlewinning team contributed to his selection by The Times-Picayune as the All-Metro small schools’ defensive player of the year. Trosclair ended the season with 120 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions, two sacks and a forced fumble — plus two blocked kicks on special teams. He also spent time on offense as the starting running back for

the first two games, including when he ran for 79 yards and a touchdown in a win against Newman. The standout season came after a shoulder injury significantly limited him as a junior, causing him to miss several games. His return from that injury was nothing short of spectacular. After this season, District 10-1A coaches selected him as the defensive player of the year. As an older player in a mostly young secondary group,Trosclair was a key figure on a defense that “held some really good teams to 14 and seven points,” Roussel said. “He just plays with a motor,” Roussel said. “He’s a tough kid. He’s where he’s supposed to be. Just around the ball — pass breakups, tackles, forced fumbles. … Just a little bit of everything. He’s a special player.”

Christopher Dabe

SMALL SCHOOLS ALL-METRO DEFENSE DL AHMAD CAGE Riverside, 5-10, 271, Jr. 79 total tackles, 22 for loss, seven sacks,TD

LB ZA’KYRIN HOWARD West St. John, 6-0, 180, Sr. 139 tackles, 12 for loss, two forced fumbles

DB DARRELL LOGAN Livingston, 5-8, 160, Sr. 79 total tackles, seven INTs, 23 PBUs

DL HENRY JACKSON Newman, 6-2, 300, Sr. Two-way starter;18 total tackles, two sacks

LB GABE SAVARESE St. Martin’s, 5-11, 210, Jr. 131 total tackles, nine for loss, one INT

DB JACE TROSCLAIR Riverside, 5-9, 180, Sr. 120 tackles, two INTs

DL JACKSON NORWOOD Patrick Taylor, 6-4, 270, Sr. 66 tackles, 18 TFL, 5 sacks

LB CARTER STERNBERGER Haynes, 5-9, 175, Jr. 121 total tackles, five sacks, two INTs

DL DOMINICK RUTH Kennedy, 5-10, 210, Sr. 42 total tackles, 16 sacks; 5 TDs rushing LB DEAN ANCALADE S. Plaquemines, 5-9, 185, Sr. 114 total tackles, seven for loss, six PBUs

FLEX KRISTERPHOR GRIFFIN L.B. Landry, 6-1, 185, Sr. 34 tackles, six INTs; six TD receptions

DB ANTHONY AUGUSTIN Kennedy, 6-0, 170, Sr. 36 total tackles, five INTs

RS EYAN TAYLOR S. Plaquemines, 5-8, 165, 8th Four ret.TDs; 1,395 scrimmage yards

DB BRENDEN GUIDROZ De La Salle, 6-1, 165, Sr. 73 total tackles, seven interceptions

P DONNY LAWRENCE St. Martin’s, 6-3, 205, Sr. 40.3 punt average; QB with 2,242 total yards

SMALL SCHOOLS COACH OF THE YEAR LEE ROUSSEL RIVERSIDE ACADEMY Lee Roussel never stopped coaching his Riverside football team. “We’re going to coach until that clock hits zero in the Superdome,” Roussel said during the week leading into the state final against Ascension Catholic. STAFF FILE PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD Roussel coached Riverside to the Dome for Riverside Academy coach Lee Roussel the second time in a span of three seasons,

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and this time, the Rebels won their first state title since 2016, a strong enough feat for Roussel to earn The Times-Picayune All-Metro small schools coach of the year honor. Roussel, a Lutcher product, has coached Riverside for four seasons.The Rebels are 41-7 during that span.

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ALL-METRO FOOTBALL LARGE SCHOOLS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR

LARGE SCHOOLS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

St. Augustine quarterback Vashaun Coulon led St. Augustine to its best season since 1979 with several clutch performances along the way. The Southern University commitment passed for 3,165 yards and 40 touchdowns and rushed for 588 yards and 10 more TDs.

VASHAUN COULON ST. AUGUSTINE, SENIOR • QUARTERBACK With his team down by four points and 38 seconds remaining, quarterback Vashaun Coulon stepped into the huddle and told his St.Augustine teammates,“It’s time to get it done.” Six plays later, the Purple Knights were celebrating a 31-29 state semifinal win over John Curtis that put the school in the state final for the first time in nearly 50 years. The winning touchdown to Derrick Bennett highlighted a standout season for the unflappable Coulon, a second-year starter at quarterback who threw for 3,165 yards and 40 touchdowns and ran 86 times for 588 yards and another 10 scores. The Times-Picayune selected Coulon, a senior, as the New Orleans All-Metro large schools offensive player of the year for the role he played in getting St.Aug to the Division I select state final for the first time since 1979.

The state semifinal win at Tad Gormley Stadium was a much-celebrated moment that “just felt kind of unreal,” Coulon said. “Everybody played a part.” The season for Coulon included a seventouchdown passing game in Week 3 along with several games in which he had a hand in all the scoring, like when he ran for two touchdowns and threw two touchdown passes in a hard-fought Week 7 win against Rummel. District 9-5A coaches selected Coulon and Edna Karr quarterback John Johnson as the co-offensive players of the year. Johnson was the All-Metro player of the year last season as a junior. Coulon recently announced his commitment to play in college at Southern University and is expected to sign with the school in February. Christopher Dabe

LARGE SCHOOLS ALL-METRO OFFENSE WR JABARI MACK Destrehan, 6-1, 198, Sr. 809 yards receiving, 295 rushing, nine total TDs WR EASTON ROYAL Brother Martin, 6-1, 195, Jr. 1,214 yards receiving, 219 rushing, 20 total TDs WR MIGUEL WHITLEY St.Augustine, 6-1, 180, Jr. 933 yards receiving, 14 touchdowns

OL LEON NOIL Edna Karr, 6-4, 290, Sr. Two-time all-district OL ANDREW SHOFSTAHL St. Paul’s, 6-3, 327, So. All-district selection for district champs OL ZYION WESLEY Edna Karr, 6-4, 270, Jr. All-district selection

OL JADEN DILLON Rummel, 6-1, 277, Sr. All-district selection for state quarterfinalist

QB VASHAUN COULON St.Augustine, 5-11, 175, Sr. 3,165 yards passing, 588 rushing, 50 total TDs

OL ELIJAH MENVILLE St.Augustine, 6-1, 260, Jr. All-district selection for state runners-up

RB TRE GARRISON Edna Karr, 5-11, 190, Sr. 1,592 yards rushing, 19 TDs

RB MALACHI DABNEY Destrehan, 5-9, 180, Jr. 1,733 yards rushing, 35 total TDs RB KE’RYNN SMITH Holy Cross, 5-9, 190, Sr. 1,409 yards rushing, 21 touchdowns ATH JOHN JOHNSON Edna Karr, 5-11, 190, Sr. 2,482 yards passing, 1,096 rushing, 50 total TDs K ETHAN CABOS Jesuit, 5-7, 160, Sr. 14 of 15 field goals, long of 44; 32 of 32 PATs Note: All-Metro selections are made by staff writer Christopher Dabe.

Karr defensive lineman Richard Anderson sacks Alexandria quarterback Karsen Sellers during last season’s Division I state championship game. Anderson had another stellar season in 2025, racking up 53 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

RICHARD ANDERSON EDNA KARR, SENIOR • DEFENSIVE LINE Edna Karr took the field at the Caesars Superdome with seven college-signed players on defense, but none carried a larger impact than defensive tackle Richard Anderson. The LSU signee affected the game no matter how opposing teams tried the slow the fivestar player listed by several recruiting websites as the No. 1 defensive lineman in the country for the 2026 signing class. The Times-Picayune selected the 6-foot-4, 330-pound Anderson as the All-Metro large schools defensive player of the year for his efforts during a state title season in which he finished with 53 tackles, 22 for loss, 10 sacks and one interception return for a touchdown. Anderson played with impressive quickness for a player his size, commonly slashing his way into the backfield to disrupt plays. Opposing teams tried various methods to

slow him. Some double- and triple-teamed him. Others, like Evangel Christian in a state quarterfinal, ran plays out of a swinging gate the entire first half to spread the defensive playmakers across the width of the field. The Louisiana Sports Writers Association selected Anderson to the Class 5A all-state team over the past two seasons, listing him as the 5A outstanding player selection as a senior. Anderson dedicated the season to former teammate Corey Adams, the All-Metro defensive player of the year selection last season, after he died in a shooting during the summer just outside Memphis,Tennessee.Adams was set to begin his freshman season at Ole Miss. “Every time I lace up that helmet and strap it up,” Anderson said,“I think about Corey and how he plays.” Christopher Dabe

LARGE SCHOOLS ALL-METRO DEFENSE DL RICHARD ANDERSON Edna Karr, 6-4, 330, Sr. 53 total tackles, 10 sacks, 22 hurries, one TD

LB KEVIN MARTIN Edna Karr, 5-10, 200, Sr. 74 tackles, four sacks, five QB hurries

DB HAYWARD HOWARD Edna Karr, 6-2, 185, Sr. 36 total tackles, 14 PBUs, three INTs

DL TY DOMINIQUE St.Augustine, 6-3, 230, Sr. 31 total tackles, seven TFLs, fumble recovery

LB CARLIN KINCHEN Rummel, 5-9, 173, Sr. 89 tackles, five PBUs

DB SYRE GILMORE St.Augustine, 5-9, 173, Sr. 61 total tackles, 12 for loss, nine PBUs, three INTs

DL SAVION BARTHELEMY Belle Chasse, 6-3, 280, Sr. 45 total tackles, 11 sacks; five TD receptions

LB JEFFREY CURTIS John Curtis, 5-9, 205, Sr. 125 tackles, nine for loss, one interception, four pass breakups

DL ROMEO BROWN Edna Karr, 6-2, 255, Sr. 48 total tackles, 12 for loss, eight sacks, one TD

DB RONTRAE CARTER Shaw, 6-0, 185, Jr. 97 total tackles, 12 for loss, two INTs, punt ret. TD

P LANE LeCRON John Curtis, 6-0, 210, Sr. 38.3 yards per punt, long of 52

LB BROOKS MONICA St. Charles, 5-11, 190, Sr. 138 tackles, nine for loss, two sacks, INT

DB AIDEN HALL Edna Karr, 6-2, 200, Sr. 45 total tackles, 12 PBUs, three INTs

RS GREGORY WILFRED Edna Karr, 5-9, 180, Sr. Four return TDs; 500 yards receiving, seven TDs

FLEX PRENTICE MACKYEON John Curtis, 6-1, 190, Jr. 47 total tackles, six INTs, eight PBUs

LARGE SCHOOLS COACH OF THE YEAR

Bonnabel coach Andre Anthony

ANDRE ANTHONY BONNABEL

Bonnabel won a football district championship for the first time since 1998 with former Karr and LSU standout Andre Anthony in his first season as head coach. Initially hired as a co-defensive coordinator in

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

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the summer of 2024, school athletic director Micah Hagans promoted Anthony to the head position after the season ended. The Bruins posted an undefeated record in district games and won twice against

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Riverdale, first to clinch the 10-5A title in Week 10 and then for the second time the next week in the first round of the playoffs — the school’s first postseason win since 1997.

Christopher Dabe

ONE great state FOUR great apps

6C ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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LSU loses to Vanderbilt, Mulkey looks to Fulwiley’s falls to 0-3 in SEC play improve role with Tigers

‘We need you to do both’

BY TOYLOY BROWN III

BY REED DARCEY

Without Dedan Thomas, LSU basketball looked out of sorts and unequipped at times against No. 11 Vanderbilt, the top-ranked team in the Southeastern Conference. LSU trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half. Regardless, the team fought especially hard on defense in the second half. LSU even brought an edge when Robert Miller and Mazi Mosley were talking to Vanderbilt’s Devin McGlockton and the players had to be separated. No technical fouls were handed, but that was the first time this season that a moment like that occurred. That fearlessness against Vanderbilt helped the Tigers trail by as few as seven points with 8:55 left in the game. However, that wasn’t enough to overcome LSU’s talent disadvantage as it fell 84-73 to Vanderbilt on Saturday at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. LSU (12-4, 0-3 SEC) entered as a 14.5-point underdog to Vanderbilt (16-0, 3-0), which has tied its best start to a season in program history. “I thought once we settled into the game, we did a better job executing,” Matt McMahon said on the LSU sports radio network. “We guarded well enough, certainly from the floor in the second half. “We had two possessions where we’ve got it down to seven, and those were two of our few turnovers we had in the second half … and never could get any closer.” Max Mackinnon had a seasonhigh 27 points, four rebounds and four assists. Marquel Sutton had 13 points and six rebounds. LSU outscored Vanderbilt 35-32 in the second half. Thomas missed his third consecutive game for LSU due to a lower leg injury. The junior runs LSU’s offense, averaging a team-high 16.2 points on 49.3% shooting, an SEC-high 7.1 assists and only 1.8 turnovers per game. McMahon said after the game that his point guard remains dayto-day and has been “in treatment 15, 16 hours a day.” LSU needed a heightened level of urgency from the opening tip after its most recent 10-point home loss to South Carolina, when the Tigers trailed 24-5 after about 6 minutes. They got off to a better start against Vanderbilt, but still were down 13-7 by the first media timeout at the 15:54 mark. The Commodores’ Tyler Tanner showed early why he entered the game averaging 17.1 points on 52.8% shooting overall, 5.6 assists and 2.6 steals. At halftime, the sophomore point guard had 11 points and three steals. Tanner’s speed demanded switches on screens. LSU’s Mike Nwoko was forced to guard Tanner in space, which was challenging for the 6-foot-10, 260-pound center.

Georgia had three defenders in position. Most players would’ve abandoned this kind of uneven fast-break chance, choosing instead to apply the brakes, wait for some teammates to make it down the floor and set up a possession. But MiLaysia Fulwiley is not like most players. So she pressed the gas and flew past those Bulldog defenders. Three seconds later, she was in the paint, dropping a routine layup off the glass and through the rim. “She has some things you can’t teach,” Flau’jae Johnson said. But Fulwiley still has some things she needs to learn. Coach Kim Mulkey reiterated that point on Thursday, when the LSU women’s basketball team picked up a 21-point road win over Georgia in its third SEC matchup of the season. That game reminded the No. 12 Tigers (14-2, 1-2 SEC) that Fulwiley has a unique blend of athleticism and skill that she can use to singlehandedly change the complexion of games. The junior transfer guard from South Carolina flashed that ability both against the Bulldogs and in LSU’s first two league contests. Fulwiley has also shown, however, that she still hasn’t kicked her tendency to undo those game-changing plays she creates by making a key mistake or two — be it a costly turnover, a defensive lapse or a needless foul — at important moments of games. Mulkey is trying to help Fulwiley find a way to minimize those miscues ahead of LSU’s showdown with No. 2 Texas, which tips off at 2 p.m. Sunday (ESPN) in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. If the Tigers want to beat a top-five SEC team for the first time since 2014, then they’ll need their prized transfer guard to play more like she did in the win over Georgia and less like she did in the losses to Kentucky and Vanderbilt. “You can’t take away what she does offensively,” Mulkey said. “So what you try to do is make her understand the value defensively is as important, if not more important, than what you do offensively, especially late in the games.” Fulwiley struggled in LSU’s SEC opener against the No. 6 Wildcats. She missed five of the six shots she took, and most of them were layups she usually converts. She also picked up her second and third fouls late in the second quarter, putting herself in foul trouble that prevented her from playing

Staff writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGE WALKER IV

LSU forward Michael Nwoko, right, steals the ball from Vanderbilt guard Duke Miles during the second half on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. The 6-9 Sutton, who had nine points on 1-of-9 shooting in the previous two games combined, was not able to take advantage of smaller defenders in the first half. The Commodores’ energetic defense forced seven first-half steals and breakout chances that led to scoring runs. The top scorer for Vanderbilt early was Tyler Nickel. The 3-point specialist had 15 points and 4 of 7 3-pointers in the first half. Mackinnon did his best to match the scoring burst as he had 14 at halftime and two 3s. LSU had some moments in the first half that were beneficial to keeping the game within striking distance. Freshman point guard Jalen Reece was a part of LSU’s fight back when it went on a 9-0 run after back-to-back 3-pointers from Reece, who entered shooting, and a 3-pointer from Mackinnon to cut the deficit to 39-28 with 4:51 left in the first half. At halftime, it trailed 52-38. The true comeback run came when sophomore forward Miller and freshman guard Mosley entered the game with 17:21 left in the second half. McMahon said their “energy” and “athleticism” played a major factor in helping LSU get back into

the game. The duo provided the aggressiveness that the Tigers needed on defense. Miller, the only active returner, displayed good touch around the hoop and was a deterrent around the rim on defense with his 6-10 height and 7-5 wingspan. Miller had nine points on 3-of-3 shooting, two rebounds and a block in 17 minutes. He fouled out with 20 seconds remaining. The 6-foot-5, 169-pound Mosley helped shift the intensity on the court, despite going 1 of 6 from the ﬁeld. He checked in at the 11:20 minute mark of the ﬁrst half, which is as early as he played this season. Mosley was active as an on-ball defender and was also a reason for LSU drawing non-shooting fouls that helped it enter the one-and-one bonus after about seven minutes in the second half. He played a season-high 27 minutes and had three points, six rebounds and two assists. Mackinnon’s second half was one of his most impressive of the season. The 6-6 senior used his shooting prowess to attack closeout defenders and score around the midrange and painted area. LSU’s next game is against Kentucky at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Brumbaugh, Tulane dominate UTSA BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

After hitting two free throws with two seconds left to cap a dramatic comeback one-point win at Texas-San Antonio last season, Tulane point guard Rowan Brumbaugh took care of matters much earlier this time. With the Green Wave leading 13-11 near the midpoint of the first half, he came up with a steal off a rebound under the basket and converted an incredibly difficult reverse layup while falling down that hit high off the backboard. He followed with consecutive 3-point shots, sinking a free throw for a 4-point play when he was fouled on the second one as Tulane went on a 15-0 run in less than three minutes. Ball game. The Wave did not mess around with the struggling Roadrunners at all, draining a school-record 19 3-pointers in 42 attempts on its way to an 85-52 demolition on Saturday at the Convocation Center. The blowout allowed coach Ron Hunter to empty his bench in the final two minutes, and when walkon Jake Shapiro hit a trey with 30 seconds left for his first basket of the year, Tulane was on the verge of its most lopsided victory in 12 years of American Conference play. It settled for the second largest after the Roadrunners made a 3 with 19 seconds left — trailing only a 97-63 rout of Tulsa at home in 2021-22.

Surging Tulane (12-4, 3-0), which has won its first three conference games for the first time since 199697, pulled back into a tie with Temple at the top of the league. Texas-San Antonio (4-12, 0-4), which lost its ninth in a row, already had a 40-point league defeat at Florida Atlantic on its ledger. The Roadrunners shot 18 for 53 (34.0%) and committed 16 turnovers. “I can tell we’ve grown up,” Hunter said. “Earlier in the season when we played teams that were really struggling, we would win by four or six and could never get over the hump. Our kids handled their business early. Defensively, we took their will away.” Brumbaugh played up to his preseason American Conference player of the year billing, leading the Wave with 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals while tying his career high with six 3s. Curtis Williams broke out of a shooting slump (23 of 82 in the past seven games) with 22 points while matching Brumbaugh’s six treys, mostly on wide-open looks from the corner. Asher Woods hit back-to-back 3s that stretched the lead to 28-11, finishing with 17 points and seven rebounds. Tulane took full advantage of Texas-San Antonio’s soft zone defense. On one exhibition-like second-half possession, the Wave passed up about six open shots while whipping the ball from side

to side before Williams hit an uncontested 3. Tulane’s previous high for 3s in a game was 16 in a tripleovertime loss to Central Florida in 2014-15. Its most in regulation had been 15. The Wave’s 22 assists were a season high. “We’re becoming a confident team,” Hunter said. “A lot of times you win games and feel good about yourself, but there’s a difference between feeling good and confident. Now we’re confident on both ends of the floor, and that’s when you start stacking wins and believe you can win every game.” Tulane played without backup center Percy Daniels, who tweaked his left knee in practice on Friday. When starting center Tyler Ringgold picked up two early fouls, Davion Bradford played seven minutes in the first half after not logging that much time in any previous game. Daniels will not be out for long. “If we were further down the season, we probably would have played him,” Hunter said. “This was a precaution.” Tulane returns home for games against UAB on Wednesday and North Texas on Sunday. “We’re not taking any days off defensively right now, and as long as we do that, then we’ll have a chance every night,” Hunter said. “We’ve got two really good games coming at home and have to be ready to hold serve.”

ä Texas at LSU, 2 P.M. SUNDAy, ESPN

more than 17 minutes. In the next game against the No. 7 Commodores, Fulwiley tallied 13 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals. But she also turned the ball over five times and made a costly error on defense late in the fourth, when she floated toward the ball and out of position, leaving the sharpshooting freshman guard Aubrey Galvan open in the corner. She drained a 3-pointer, and Vanderbilt took a 60-58 lead with two minutes left in the game. Mulkey has said that Fulwiley tends to take unnecessary risks when she’s fatigued, as she did in the loss to the Commodores. LSU was outscored by six points in the career-high 35 minutes she played. Fulwiley and Mulkey discussed the defensive lapses between the contests against Vanderbilt and Georgia. That’s when it dawned on Mulkey that Fulwiley wasn’t usually on the floor when the Gamecocks needed to close out a tight game in the previous two seasons. “She said, ‘Coach, I’m gonna get better,’ ” Mulkey said. “I’m gonna get better. I know I gamble. I take chances. I get a little bit fatigued.’ “It’s easy for me to say, ‘Take her out. Get her out.’ And then that next transition basket, she might score for you. So it’s a fine line between making her get better and understanding she’s never had to play late in a ballgame and be disciplined on the defensive end.” LSU did not have to fight through a close game against Georgia, in part because Fulwiley played one of the best conference games of her career. On offense, she made six of her nine shots, assisted three buckets and even drew a game-high seven fouls. On defense, Fulwiley grabbed four rebounds, blocked four shots and forced two turnovers. The Tigers outscored the Bulldogs by nine points in the 26 minutes she played. Fulwiley turned in that kind of performance throughout nonconference play. In those 14 matchups, she averaged 15.1 points and four steals per game while shooting 54% from the field. LSU just never found itself in a close battle. Its smallest margin of victory was 16 points. Now that the Tigers have begun playing tougher teams and closer games, Fulwiley has shown Mulkey exactly what she still needs to learn. So the dazzling fast-break layups like the ones she converted against Georgia can have a net positive effect on LSU’s toughest games. “It’s my job to continue to teach,” Mulkey said, “to make her get better, to make her understand the value of, ‘I can’t sub you offense-defense. We need you to do both.’ ”

UNO falls short to Nicholls despite Benson’s 26 points BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

The UNO men’s basketball team found itself trailing at halftime against Nicholls despite senior guard Coleton Benson scoring 22 points in the first half. Benson’s hot shooting kept UNO in the game early on with Nicholls leading by just four points at the half. The second half didn’t go as well for the Privateers in what ended up a 90-77 loss on Saturday at Lakefront Arena that saw Nicholls keep hold of first place in the Southland Conference. Nicholls (8-8) improved to 7-0 in conference play after finishing with a season-high 17 made 3-pointers against UNO (5-11). The Privateers made just two 3-pointers in the second half compared to seven in the first half, four of which were from Benson. “(Nicholls) is playing really well,” UNO coach Stacy Hollowell said. “When you can shoot like that and get second-chance opportunities and points off turnovers, it’s hard to beat a team that does that. They’re undefeated in (the Southland) for a reason.” Benson finished with 26 points, the second-most he’s scored in a game this season, but Nicholls held him to just four points in the second half. Colonels top scorer Jaylen Searles had 17 of his 24 points after halftime, which included three 3-pointers. “We didn’t have anybody to slow (Benson) down (in the first half),” Nicholls coach Tevon Saddler said. “I think that was the main

thing, just getting him slowed down (in the second half). Jaylen was really good.” Searles shot 9 of 14 from the field and was one of two Nicholls players to finish with 20 or more points, along with Zee Hamoda. Hamoda had 20 points and was 7 of 11 from the field, and he, Searles and Zaiden Cross had four 3-pointers each. Nicholls’ strong shooting performance helped make up for the absence of sophomore Jalik Dunkley, who was averaging a team-high 13.7 points per game. The Colonels held UNO senior Jakevion Buckley, who entered the night as UNO’s top scorer, to just four points. UNO forwards MJ Thomas and TJ Cope each had 12 points. Irish Coquia got his second start of the season, and the junior made three 3-pointers to finish with nine points on 3 of 6 shooting. UNO is now 3-4 in Southland play after entering Saturday tied for fifth place in the conference. The Privateers will be on the road against another Southland opponent on Monday at Southeastern (5-11). “When you’re playing up and down like we have, it’s hard to feel great about any (opponent),” Hollowell said. “We’ve got to get our heads up, and we’ve got to play with consistency.” Nicholls will look to remain undefeated in conference play on Monday against McNeese (13-3) on the road. The Cowboys are tied for second in the Southland with Stephen F. Austin at 6-1.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ 7C

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Tulane adds tight end Bolyard from Duke

LSU NOTEBOOK

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU’s new head football coach Lane Kiffin smiles while answering questions after making a statement at an introductory press conference on Monday, December 1, 2025 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

LSU adds Tennessee OL Satterwhite out of portal BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Tennessee redshirt freshman offensive lineman William Satterwhite has signed with LSU out of the transfer portal, the school announced Saturday. Satterwhite played 137 snaps at center this past season across eight games, according to Pro Football Focus. He didn’t start a game, but saw action against Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky and Florida. Before then, he was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024 and the No. 12 interior offensive lineman in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite. Satterwhite is the third offensive lineman LSU has signed out of the transfer portal, but he’s the ﬁrst addition from the FBS ranks. JaKolby Jones, who was once committed to Georgia Tech, has spent the

last two years at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Ja’Quan Sprinkle started 27 games over the past three years at North Carolina Central, an FCS school. Despite signing three offensive linemen out of the portal, LSU is nowhere near finished adding pieces up front. The Tigers have lost eight offensive linemen to the portal this offseason, and starting right guard Josh Thompson is not eligible to return.

LSU lands another wide receiver West Florida redshirt sophomore wide receiver Tyree Holloway has signed with LSU out of the transfer portal, the school announced on Saturday. Holloway had 34 catches for 661 yards and eight touchdowns this past season for the Argonauts, a Division II school. After beginning his career at Chowan University, Holloway transferred to West

Florida after his freshman year. He missed all but three games in his ﬁrst season at West Florida due to a season-ending injury. He is the seventh wide receiver LSU has added out of the transfer portal, joining Illinois transfer Malik Elzy, McNeese State transfer Josh Jackson, Florida transfer Eugene Wilson, Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown, Old Dominion transfer Tre Brown and Hawaii transfer Jackson Harris. LSU needed to remake its wide receiver room following this season. The Tigers lost ﬁve wideouts to the transfer portal and the majority of their starters from this year are off to the NFL, including Zavion Thomas, Aaron Anderson and Barion Brown. Of the five wideouts that have entered the portal, redshirt sophomore Kyle Parker was the only one who snatched more than two passes.

Hoosiers’ dominant CFP run could put them in the mix for best of all time BY CHARLES ODUM AP sportswriter

ATLANTA — Undefeated Indiana did more than just justify its place as the top seed in the College Football Playoff with its lopsided 56-22 rout of Oregon in the Peach Bowl semifinal. The Hoosiers also made a statement about their bid to be considered as one of the top teams in college football history if they can complete their perfect season in the national championship game against No. 10 Miami. Indiana (15-0, No. 1 CFP) was led by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s five touchdown passes in Friday night’s overwhelming win. The balance shown by the Hoosiers, with championship-level play on offense, defense and special teams, was just as impressive. Clearly, Indiana boasts more than just a star quarterback. The defense ranked second in the nation in points, yards and rushing yards allowed. The Hoosiers ranked 10th in rushing before Kaelon Black ran for 63 yards and two touchdowns against the Ducks. The defense forced three turnovers, each setting up a touchdown. “I think when you have good people and they buy in and they prepare the right way, we have a lot of those kind of guys,” said Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who credited defensive coordinator Bryant Haines. “They’re high-character, smart guys that can play and coach Haines puts them in position to make plays and put the offense in conflict and attacks. And on the other side of the ball, too, in special teams as well, we’ve been very consistent in all three phases.” Mendoza will return to his hometown of Miami for the national

Tulane transfer portal addition Vance Bolyard will not have to wait long to see his former school. Bolyard, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound rising redshirt junior tight end who committed Friday, played for the past three years at Duke, which will be the Green Wave’s opening opponent next Sept. 5 in Durham, North Carolina. “I’m excited for it,” he said. “That will be awesome.” Duke’s loss to Tulane this past September was one of only two games in which Bolyard did not participate this season, when he logged 85 downs, mostly on special teams. He did not catch a pass in three years with the Blue Devils after signing as a 3-star recruit in 2023 — he had honorable mention ACC tight end Jeremiah Hasley in front of him this season — but he expects to play a much bigger role with the Wave. Bolyard said he also visited East Carolina and Connecticut before choosing Tulane. He sampled jambalaya, charbroiled oysters and alligator for the ﬁrst time at a local restaurant and loved all three, but his reason for picking the Wave boiled down to trust. “I just felt welcome there,” he said. “Some of the visits I would go on, I just felt a little on edge, and it just didn’t feel like that. I felt like I could be myself. I liked talking ball with them, and I feel like I can get a lot better under coach Hall and coach Spotts (tight ends coach Tyler SpottsOrgeron).”

Bolyard said he would enroll in May after graduating from Duke. Tulane is thin at tight end after Justyn Reid (17 catches, three touchdowns) and Anthony Miller (five catches, one TD) entered the transfer portal (Miller chose Arizona State on Friday) and Johnny Pascuzzi (12 catches, 158 yards) finished his eligibility. Tulane also secured a commitment from former Boston College offensive tackle Ryan Mickow, another rising redshirt junior, on Friday, a source confirmed. Mickow (6-foot-7, 317 pounds), who had offers from Georgia Tech from South Florida out of Florida football power St. Thomas Aquinas High, started against Nebraska in the Pinstripe Bowl in 2024 and appeared in 24 games over the past two years, primarily on special teams. He also had limited duty at left and right tackle. In other news, redshirt senior wide receiver Garrett Mmahat announced he was returning for the Wave while running back Arnold Barnes and wideout Jimmy Calloway entered the portal. Mmahat (10 catches, 124 yards) was slated to start the season opener against Northwestern before foot injuries limited him to five games. Barnes, a Booker T. Washington product who was the Wave’s most experienced returning running back, rushed 51 times for 217 yards but had only 10 carries in the final seven games. Calloway, a Louisville transfer who was expected to play a bigger role, caught three passes for 52 yards.

AP FILE PHOTO By PHELAN M. EBENHACK

Delta Stars quarterback Husan Longstreet throws a pass against CA Power during the OT7 Orlando tournament on May 4, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. LSU hosted Longstreet as it continues to search for its next quarterback.

LSU

Continued from page 1C

AP PHOTO By BRyNN ANDERSON

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza kisses the trophy after the Peach Bowl playoff semifinal against Oregon on Friday in Atlanta. championship game against Miami on Jan. 19. It will be the ﬁrst national title game in Indiana history. It also will be an opportunity to complete one of the most impressive seasons for any team in history. The runaway win over Oregon followed a similarly crushing 38-3 win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal. Indiana outgained Alabama 407-193, a stunning margin against the proud Crimson Tide. Based on the demonstration of balance, power, defense and big plays in the CFP, it is not too soon to compare Indiana with the 2019 LSU and 2020 Alabama teams when considering the greatest teams in recent history. Oregon coach Dan Lanning sounded convinced after his Ducks were overwhelmed in the Peach Bowl. The semiﬁnal ranked as one of the biggest blowouts in CFP history, behind only Georgia’s 65-7 demolition of TCU in the national

championship game following the 2022 season. “You see a really complete team,” Lanning said. “And I think they obviously have a great chance to keep it going and have unbelievable success.” The Hoosiers are favored by 7 1/2 points against Miami, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Indiana will bring momentum and confidence to the national championship game. Mendoza, who was almost perfect against Oregon while completing 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards, says the Hoosiers just need to remain on track. “I think it’s really just playing our brand of football, playing the Indiana Hoosiers football, that even though it is the national championship, we don’t have to do anything that is out of character,” Mendoza said. “We just gotta play our brand of football, and that’s what has led us to this point in 15 wins this season.”

749 yards and 10 scores. Leavitt suffered a foot injury in September and ultimately underwent season-ending surgery, making it unclear how much he’ll be able to practice in the spring. Longstreet was the No. 25 overall recruit and the fourth-best quarterback in the 2025 class coming out of Centennial High in Corona, California, according to the 247Sports composite. He spent one season as a backup at USC behind Jayden Maiava before entering the transfer portal Thursday. Longstreet is ranked as a top 20 player in the portal by On3 and 247Sports. LSU quickly brought in Longstreet on a visit, as LouisianaSports.net first reported. Longstreet completed 86.7% of his passes for 103 yards and one touchdown while playing in four games this past season. He also rushed 11 times for 76 yards and two scores. After taking a redshirt, he has four more years of eligibility. LSU’s quarterback search has taken multiple twists over the past week. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss decided to resign with the Rebels if he received a waiver for a sixth year of eligibility, which was denied Friday by the NCAA. LSU last weekend hosted former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who signed with Texas Tech. Leavitt arrived in Baton Rouge on Monday afternoon for a visit, and he sat courtside with Kifﬁn at an LSU men’s basketball game Tuesday night. While he was still

AP FILE PHOTO By ROSS D. FRANKLIN

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt warms up before a game against Houston on Oct. 25 in Tempe, Ariz.

in town that night, Washington quarterback Demond Williams announced he would enter the transfer portal. Sources said LSU had interest in Williams, but he decided Thursday to stay with the Huskies. At the same time, LSU hosted Elon transfer quarterback Landen Clark for a visit that began Friday after he ﬁnished a trip to Michigan. It has also extended an offer to junior college quarterback Tre Guerra. LSU has an empty quarterback room at the moment. Fifth-year senior Garrett Nussmeier exhausted his eligibility, and sophomore Michael Van Buren and redshirt freshman Colin Hurley entered the transfer portal. Van Buren, who said multiple times he wanted to return amid the coaching change, committed to South Florida.

8C ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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NFL

Stafford gets first nod for AP All-Pro BY ROB MAADDI

AP pro football writer Matthew Stafford beat out Drake Maye, while Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were unanimous choices for the 2025 Associated Press NFL AllPro Team. Bijan Robinson is the running back while Christian McCaffrey earned the All-Purpose spot. Ja’Marr Chase is the third wide receiver and tight end Trey McBride got 49 of 50 first-place votes. Will Anderson Jr. and Micah Parsons joined Garrett at edge rusher. Jeffery Simmons and Zach Allen were selected as interior defensive linemen. “That’s great. Needed that for real,” said Parsons, who had surgery to repair a torn ACL and won’t be playing in the playoffs for the Packers. “Look forward to trying to get back to that same status this offseason.” The 37-year-old Stafford received 31 first-place votes to Maye’s 18 to earn All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career. Josh Allen got the other vote. Stafford was first in the NFL with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns. His passer rating of 109.2 was second only to Maye, who finished at 113.5. Maye had 4,394 yards passing and 31 TDs. Last year, Lamar Jackson was the first-team All-Pro quarterback and Allen was the AP NFL MVP. “That’s amazing,” Stafford said when he heard the news. “I did not see that coming. Played a lot of years. A lot of respect for this game. A lot of respect for the other guys who do what I do. It’s not an easy thing to do. It means a lot.” Stafford is the second player ever to be named a first-team AllPro for the first time in his 17th season or later, according to the

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK J. TERRILL

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford walks off the field after a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Jan. 4 in Inglewood, Calif.

SAINTS WR CHRIS OLAVE EARNS SECOND-TEAM ALL-PRO HONORS For the first time in his career, Chris Olave can call himself an All-Pro. The Associated Press included the New Orleans Saints wide receiver in its prestigious end-of-year honors, naming him a second-team All-Pro. Olave enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025, ranking top-10 in the league this season in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,163) and receiving touchdowns (9) — all of which were career highs. He was on track to play in a full 17-game season for the first time in his career, which was a goal of his after missing 10 games because of multiple concussions last season, but he missed Week 18 after doctors discovered a blood clot in his lung. Olave was the only Saints player to appear on the All-Pro list. Luke Johnson

Heyward’s play remains ageless at 36 but he knows the clock is still ticking BY WILL GRAVES AP sportswriter

PITTSBURGH — Cam Heyward can do the math. Then again, it’s not that hard. The longest-tenured defensive player in Pittsburgh Steelers history knows he has far more football behind him than he does in front of him. How much more is anybody’s guess, though if you watch him on any given snap — when the seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle’s motor appears to run just as hot at 36 as it did at 21 — it might be longer than you think. Still, Heyward learned long ago that opportunities like the one that arrives Monday night, when the AFC North champion Steelers (10-7) host the Houston Texans (12-5) in the opening round of the playoffs, don’t come around that often. The 15-year NFL veteran didn’t think he’d be this deep into the twilight of his career still looking for his first Super Bowl appearance. Yet lingering over the one hole on a resume that figures to receive Hall of Fame consideration whenever the time comes will do him no good. Yes, he’s aware the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in nearly a decade. And yes, he knows Pittsburgh will be an underdog every step of the way, including at home against a Texans team that will walk into Acrisure Stadium searching for the first road postseason victory in franchise history. But Heyward knows he can’t control the past. He has no idea what the future holds beyond Monday night. All he can do is “take the biggest bite” of an apple that might not have many bites left. “I’m trying to prep for one game,” Heyward said. “That’s it there. And just put the most amount of effort I can in that game.” Effort has never been an issue for a player who never met a whistle he didn’t try to play through. For proof, look no further than the first snap of last week’s thriller against Baltimore. There Heyward was, chugging

DUNCAN

Continued from page 1C a positive message to the rest of the staff.

2. Sign Olave, Taylor to extensions

30-plus yards downfield in an effort to chase down Ravens star running back Derrick Henry. Heyward’s journey ended when teammate James Pierre crashed into him, sending Heyward briefly to the bench. By the next series, he was back out there on a night he tied for the team lead with seven tackles and shoved younger brother Connor into the end zone for a touchdown while filling in as the pusher in Pittsburgh’s version of the tush push. “He cares hard,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “Got big shoulders. He wants the responsibility of leading.”

Olave and Taylor have earned the security of a long-term contract and are future core players. Both are productive, in their primes and improving. They’re exactly the kind of players you commit to long-term. The Olave contract might be complicated by the need for provisions to protect the team because of his injury history, but he has earned a deal similar to the four-year, $130 million deal his college teammate Garrett Wilson received from the Jets last year. Taylor, meanwhile, ranked among the team leaders in tackles (83), tackles for loss (7), interceptions (2) and passes defensed (11). He was a catalyst in the defense’s remarkable improvement.

A Steeler ‘through and through’

3. Hire Jon Gannon

It’s something Heyward has never run away from. Considering the legacy of both his family — his father is former NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward — and his predecessors in black and gold, he didn’t have a choice. The wide-eyed rookie who once sat rapt in meetings absorbing what he could from mentors Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith, is now quite literally the graybeard doling out those same lessons to rookie Derrick Harmon, who was in second grade when the Steelers selected Heyward in the ﬁrst round of the 2011 draft. Tomlin called Heyward a Steeler “through and through,” even if there were some who openly wondered about that during training camp, when Heyward skipped some — but not all — of the 11-on-11 sessions in search of a reworked contract. He even threatened to sit out some regular-season games before agreeing to an amended deal on the eve of the opener against the New York Jets. “Hold-ins” like the one Heyward staged have become increasingly common in recent years. The mixed reaction for a player so firmly entrenched in Pittsburgh — Heyward’s 228 regular-season games with the club rank second to former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger — was not.

The former Cardinals head coach is going to be a popular candidate for a defensive coordinator job, so the chances of landing him are remote. But if, for some reason, he falls through the cracks, the Saints would be wise to bring him aboard. Gannon is close friends with Staley, and the two run essentially the same scheme. Gannon is a respected defensive mind who would bolster the staff and be an ideal coordinator-candidate-in-waiting should Staley land a head coaching job next offseason.

4. Bring back Davis and Jordan The 30-something defensive captains continued to defy Father Time and enjoyed career renaissances in Staley’s 3-4 scheme. Davis led the Saints with 143 tackles, and Jordan led the team in sacks (101/ 2), tackles for loss (15) and quarterback hits (15). Both are team captains and have stated their desire to keep playing and stay in New Orleans. Not sure I would have said this before the season, but both deserve another year, based on production not loyalty. I don’t think the Saints rally from the 1-8 start this season without their steady leadership.

5. Give Hill a retirement send-off Full disclosure: I have no idea what Hill wants to do in 2026. He might want to keep playing. But he sure sounded like a guy ready to call it a career after the Saints’ home ﬁnale against the Jets. Hill

Elias Sports Bureau. Kicker Gary Anderson also made it for the first time in his 17th season, in 1998. Before Stafford, the longest wait for a quarterback was Fran Tarkenton, who was an All-Pro for the first time in his 15th season, in 1975. The Denver Broncos, the AFC’s No. 1 seed, had four first-team players and two second. Allen, left tackle Garrett Boles, left guard Quinn Meinerz and special teamer Devon Key made the first team. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and safety Talanoa Hufanga made the second team. Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and slot cornerback Cooper DeJean made the roster in

their second seasons. Houston’s Derek Stingley Jr. got 41 firstplace votes to lead the voting at cornerback. Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, Bears left guard Joe Thuney and Lions right tackle Penei Sewell along with Meinerz are repeat selections. Garrett, who broke the NFL’s single-season sack record with 23, is a five-time All-Pro. Parsons is a three-time first-teamer and once made the second team. “That’s crazy,” Anderson said about joining Garrett and Parsons. “It means a lot. It’s such a blessing. I have to give credit to my guys. I wouldn’t be here without them.” Baltimore’s Kyle Hamilton and Chicago’s Kevin Byard are the safeties. Detroit’s Jack Campbell and Miami’s Jordyn Brooks are the linebackers. San Francisco fullback Kyle Juszczyk rounds out the offense. Eighteen players are first-timers, including five on special teams. Key, Vikings kicker Will Reichard, Ravens punter Jordan Stout, Bills kick returner Ray Davis and Titans rookie punt returner Chimere Dike are the first-timers. Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik made it for the second time. Dike is the fourth rookie since 2020 to make the team. “That’s awesome,” Dike said. “Everyone wants to be All-Pro one day and that’s one of the goals I set at the beginning of the season for my career and to be able to do that in my first year, I’m just thankful (special teams) coach (John Fassel) and my teammates had belief in me.” This was the fourth year for the AP’s new voting system. Voters chose a first team and a second team. First-team votes are worth 3 points, second-team votes are worth 1.

exception, one of the few backs worthy of a Top 10 selection. He’s the most explosive playmaker in this draft, regardless of position, and this Saints offense desperately needs juice. In fact, it’s the team’s top offseason priority. The Saints ranked last in the NFL in explosive plays. They can’t continue to rely solely on Shough to execute 10- and 12-play scoring drives every game. Love is the kind of explosive playmaker the Saints need to complement Shough’s passing skills, someone STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD who can score in chunks rather than bites. His sprinter’s speed Saints tight end Taysom Hill chats helped him produce 39 runs of 10 with Chris Olave after a game or more yards last season. Check against the New york Jets on Dec. 21 out his 98-yard TD run vs. Indiat the Caesars Superdome. ana in the 2024 College Football Playoff as evidence. Love would turns 36 in August and has taken a immediately become RB1 and physical pounding over the years. allow Alvin Kamara to move into a complementary backup role, He’s earned more than $60 milwhich best suits him at this stage lion in his nine-year career. Not of his career. bad for a former undrafted free agent. If he elects to retire, the 9. Draft Bell and Keenan Saints should give him a send-off befitting one of the most unique, Here’s your second-day haul. dynamic and popular players in The receiving corps desperately team history. needs a third wheel, someone with a complementary skill set to 6. Sign Jenkins in free agency Olave and contested-pass-catcher Devaughn Vele. The Saints finThe Saints have to run the ball ished last in the NFL in yards-afbetter in 2026. That starts with ter-catch average. Add a receiver upgrading the offensive line. who can turn a 5-yard crosser Finding a starting left guard in into a 15-yard third-down converfree agency is Job 1. Quality ofsion, and this Saints offense could fensive linemen are hard to find, so they don’t come cheap. But the take off. Ja’Lynn Polk and Trey Palmer were intriguing in-season Saints final have the cap room additions, but both are question to make it happen. Cleveland’s marks. Louisville’s Chris Bell is a Teven Jenkins is still only 27 Mississippi native with dynamic and would bolster the team’s run run-after-catch ability. He’s also blocking, which should be a priShough’s former teammate. His ority this offseason. He finished draft status is complicated by the season as the eighth-highest ACL surgery, but that could help ranked guard, according to Pro the Saints’ ability to acquire him Football Focus. By comparison, at a bargain in Round 2. Keenan, Cesar Ruiz was the Saints’ highmeanwhile, is exactly what NFL est-ranked guard at No. 61, and teams look for in a run-stuffing former Saints guard Trevor Peninterior lineman. He’d be a ning was No. 69. younger, cheaper replacement for 7. Sign a veteran backup QB Davon Godchaux at nose tackle. Having the most inexperienced A speedy edge rusher is another possibility here. quarterback room in the league was a fun, compelling storyline 10. Draft a punter — any punter last season. But it doesn’t need a second chapter. As Shough takes I know most folks view punters the reins of the offense in Year as an afterthought, but this is an 2, he would benefit greatly from underrated offseason priority. having a veteran to mentor him Kai Kroeger finished near the botand help him learn the ins and tom of the league in every major outs of modern NFL quarterback- punting statistic, including dead ing. The Saints will have plenty last in EPA per punt. Fortunately of options here, but I’d look hard for the Saints, it’s a good year for at Tyrod Taylor, Marcus Mariota punters in the NFL draft. Brett and Carson Wentz. Thorson (Georgia), Palmer Williams (Baylor), Tommy Doman 8. Draft Love at No. 8 (Florida) and Ryan Eckley (Michigan State) are all top prospects. Toss out the conventional wisdom that running backs shouldn’t The club needs to invest a lateround draft pick in one of them. be drafted this high. Love is an

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ 9C

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NFL PLAYOFFS

Stafford’s late TD pass lifts Rams past Panthers BY STEVE REED

AP sportswriter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Rams to a dramatic 34-31 wild-card round win over the Carolina Panthers in the opening game of the NFL playoffs on Saturday. Stafford finished 24 of 42 for 304 yards with three touchdown passes and an interception, while Puka Nacua had 10 receptions for 111 yards and two total touchdowns as the Rams (13-5), who were 10 1/2-point favorites, advanced to the divisional playoffs. Bryce Young threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score for Carolina (8-10), which finished the season losing four of its final five games. Jalen Coker had career highs with nine receptions for 134 yards with a touchdown and Chuba Hubbard ran for 46 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers fell behind 14-0 early, but stormed back to take a 24-20 lead on Hubbard’s second

touchdown of the run game early in the fourth quarter. Stafford, who was selected as an All-Pro earlier in the day, led the Rams back down on the ﬁeld and found Kyren Williams for a 13-yard touchdown strike over the middle for a 27-24 lead. Los Angeles appeared to be in charge after getting a stop on defense giving Stafford the ball back. But a holding penalty put the Rams behind the sticks and forced a punt, which Isaiah Simmons blocked to set the Panthers up the Rams 30. Four plays later, Young found Coker in the left corner of the end zone for a 7-yard scoring strike to give Carolina a 31-27 lead 2:39 left, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. But Stafford quickly moved the Rams 71 yards in seven plays with Panthers two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn on the sideline with a concussion, ﬁnishing it off with a perfectly placed pass to Parkinson near the right side of the goal line. Parkinson, who had two TDs last week, forced his way into the end zone for the score.

dog. Carolina won 31-28 on Nov. 30. Carolina’s last attempt to move into field-goal range ended when Jimmy Horn dropped a fourth down pass from Young. Carolina was hoping the return of former quarterback Cam Newton to Bank of America Stadium to hit the “Keep Pounding” drum before the game would give the Panthers a little extra mojo early, but things didn’t start well. After the Rams defense came up with a stop on fourth down at midfield on Carolina’s opening drive, Stafford quickly moved the offense downfield and found Nacua for a 14-yard touchdown pass over the middle for a 7-0 lead. Nacua made it 14-0 on a 5-yard ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERIK VERDUZCO run following Young’s intercepLos Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson, center left, celebrates his tion. touchdown catch with wide receiver Puka Nacua during the second Carolina cut the lead 17-14 at half of an NFL wild-card playoff game against the Carolina Panthers on halftime after a 1-yard touchdown Saturday in Charlotte, N.C. run by Hubbard and a 16-yard scramble by Young, the second“Yeah, total team effort,” Staf- to clean up, but found a way to win longest TD run of his career. The Rams had a chance to build ford said. “Obviously had some it late. I believe in my teammates, on the lead, but Nacau dropped a mistakes along the way. I turned I know they believe in me.” It was nearly the second time potential third TD on a pass down it over, we had a punt blocked, didn’t score before the half when this season the Rams lost to the the right sideline from Stafford we probably should have. So, a lot Panthers as a 10 1/2-point under- just before halftime.

SCOREBOARD Odds Sports Betting Line NFL Sunday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Buffalo 1½ 1 (51½) at JAX at PHILA 3½ 5½ (44½) San Fran at NEW ENG 3½ 3½ (45½) LA Chargers

Monday

FAVORITE Houston

NBA

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3 3 (38) at PIT

Sunday

FAVORITE LINE at ORLANDO 6 at MEMPHIS 4½ at TORONTO OFF New York 4½ at MINNESOTA OFF at OKLAH. CITY OFF at PHOENIX 13½ at DENVER OFF at GOLDEN ST. 7 Houston 12½

O/U UNDERDOG (234½) New Orleans (224½) Brooklyn (OFF) Philadelphia (231) at PORTLAND (OFF) San Antonio (OFF) Miami (229½) Washington (OFF) Milwaukee (236½) Atlanta (222½) at SAC

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Sunday

FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at RICHMOND 8½ Saint Joseph’s (PA) at IOWA 1½ Illinois at DETROIT MERCY 7 Cleveland State at FLORIDA ATL. 1½ Memphis at IONA 11½ Canisius Quinnipiac 5½ at SACRED HEART at ROBERT MORRIS 5 Purdue Fort Wayne Northern Kentucky 2½ at GREEN BAY UAB 8 at E. CAROLINA at RICE 1½ Charlotte at SAINT PETER’S 1½ Merrimack Marist 11½ at RIDER Siena 3½ at M. ST. MARY’S at MANHATTAN 6½ Niagara at OAKLAND 4½ Wright State at MILWAUKEE 11½ IU Indianapolis at WICHITA STATE 6½ North Texas Northwestern 4½ at RUTGERS at UCF 3½ Cincinnati at WASHINGTON 1½ Ohio State

Pro basketball EASTERN CONFERENCE W 28 24 24 23 21 22 21 20 19 17 17 13 11 10 8

L 9 13 14 16 15 18 18 18 21 20 21 25 24 27 31

Pct .757 .649 .632 .590 .583 .550 .538 .526 .475 .459 .447 .342 .314 .270 .205

GB — 4 4½ 6 6½ 7½ 8 8½ 10½ 11 11½ 15½ 16 18 21

W Oklahoma City 32 San Antonio 26

L 7 11

Pct .821 .703

GB — 5

WESTERN CONFERENCE

25 25 23 22 23 21 19 16 14 14 13 9 8

Friday’s games

13 14 13 13 15 18 20 22 23 24 24 31 30

.658 .641 .639 .629 .605 .538 .487 .421 .378 .368 .351 .225 .211

6½ 7 7½ 8 8½ 11 13 15½ 17 17½ 18 23½ 23½

Pro football

Texas-Rio Grande Valley at Northwestern State, 6:30 p.m.

No. 11 Vanderbilt 84, LSU 73

Wild-card Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 10

LSU (12-4)

L.A Rams 34 Carolina 31 Green Bay at Chicago, n

Sunday, Jan. 11

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, Jan. 12

Houston at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

Boston 125, Toronto 117 New Orleans 128, Washington 107 Philadelphia 103, Orlando 91 L.A. Clippers 121, Brooklyn 105 Oklahoma City 117, Memphis 116 Atlanta 110, Denver 87 Phoenix 112, New York 107 Golden State 137, Sacramento 103 Portland 111, Houston 105 Milwaukee 105, L.A. Lakers 101

Divisional Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan. 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 Sunday, Jan. 25 AFC

Saturday’s games

Cleveland 146, Minnesota 134 Indiana 123, Miami 99 L.A. Clippers at Detroit, n Dallas at Chicago, n San Antonio at Boston, n Charlotte at Utah, n

AFC lowest remaining seed at AFC highest remaining seed

NFC

NFC lowest remaining seed at NFC highest remaining seed

Sunday’s games

Super Bowl LIX Sunday, Feb. 8 At Santa Clara.

New Orleans at Orlando, 2 p.m. Brooklyn at Memphis, 2:30 p.m. New York at Portland, 5 p.m. Philadelphia at Toronto, 5 p.m. Miami at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m. San Antonio at Minnesota, 6 p.m. Milwaukee at Denver, 7 p.m. Washington at Phoenix, 7 p.m. Atlanta at Golden State, 7:30 p.m. Houston at Sacramento, 8 p.m.

College Football Playoff

NEW ORLEANS (128)

Murphy III 13-24 2-3 35, Williamson 12-14 7-13 31, Queen 7-13 0-0 14, Fears 9-15 1-1 21, McGowens 2-6 1-2 6, Matkovic 1-2 0-0 2, Peavy 4-9 0-0 9, Missi 1-5 1-2 3, Alexander 0-0 0-0 0, Hawkins 2-5 3-3 7, Poole 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 51-95 15-24 128. George 6-13 0-0 15, Middleton 2-5 0-1 4, Sarr 5-11 4-8 14, Coulibaly 2-6 3-6 8, T.Johnson 3-7 4-4 12, Branham 2-3 4-4 10, Gill 0-0 0-0 0, Vukcevic 4-14 7-10 15, Champagnie 6-12 0-0 12, A.Johnson 3-6 0-0 6, Carrington 4-10 0-0 11. Totals 37-87 22-33 107. New Orleans 28 32 40 28 — 128 Washington 26 24 34 23 — 107 3-Point Goals—New Orleans 11-34 (Murphy III 7-16, Fears 2-4, Peavy 1-4, McGowens 1-5, Hawkins 0-1, Matkovic 0-1, Poole 0-1, Queen 0-2), Washington 11-35 (George 3-6, Carrington 3-8, Branham 2-3, T.Johnson 2-5, Coulibaly 1-2, A.Johnson 0-1, Champagnie 0-2, Middleton 0-2, Sarr 0-2, Vukcevic 0-4). Fouled Out—New Orleans 1 (Peavy), Washington None. Rebounds—New Orleans 51 (Queen 16), Washington 40 (Champagnie 9). Assists—New Orleans 30 (Queen 12), Washington 24 (Carrington, Champagnie, Coulibaly 4). Total Fouls—New Orleans 22, Washington 23. A—16,563 (20,356)

VANDERBILT (16-0)

McGlockton 2-5 0-0 4, Nickel 6-12 3-3 19, Okereke 5-7 1-2 12, Miles 4-10 8-8 17, Tanner 7-18 6-7 20, Washington 3-5 4-5 11, James 0-4 0-0 0, Bing 0-2 1-2 1, Harris 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 27-63 23-29 84. Halftime—Vanderbilt 52-38. 3-Point Goals— LSU 7-20 (Mackinnon 3-6, Reece 2-5, Sutton 1-3, Mosley 1-4, Carter 0-1, King 0-1), Vanderbilt 7-30 (Nickel 4-10, Okereke 1-2, Washington 1-2, Miles 1-5, Bing 0-1, McGlockton 0-2, James 0-3, Tanner 0-5). Fouled Out—Miller. Rebounds—LSU 34 (Nwoko 7), Vanderbilt 34 (Nickel 10). Assists—LSU 14 (Mackinnon 4), Vanderbilt 13 (Miles 5). Total Fouls—LSU 17, Vanderbilt 17. A—9,399 (14,316).

Tulane 85, UTSA 52 TULANE (11-4)

Middleton 3-9 0-0 8, Ringgold 2-4 2-3 7, Brumbaugh 8-14 1-1 23, Williams 8-15 0-0 22, Woods 6-10 3-3 17, J.Moore 1-5 0-0 2, Greene 1-6 0-0 3, Bradford 0-0 0-0 0, Rasmussen 0-2 0-0 0, Cronin 0-0 0-0 0, Kuridza 0-0 0-0 0, Shapiro 1-1 0-0 3, Teich 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-66 6-7 85. Coffi 3-5 0-0 6, M.Njie 0-1 0-0 0, Hayes 2-11 0-0 6, Nunez 4-10 2-2 12, Simpson 4-11 1-3 10, Moss 1-4 2-2 4, Rayfield 2-6 5-9 9, Akitoby 2-3 1-3 5, Brown 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 18-53 11-19 52. Halftime—Tulane 39-21. 3-Point Goals— Tulane 19-42 (Williams 6-10, Brumbaugh 6-11, Woods 2-4, Middleton 2-7, Shapiro 1-1, Ringgold 1-2, Greene 1-4, Rasmussen 0-1, J.Moore 0-2), UTSA 5-21 (Nunez 2-5, Hayes 2-7, Simpson 1-4, Coffi 0-1, Moss 0-1, Rayfield 0-1, Brown 0-2). Rebounds—Tulane 37 (Brumbaugh, Woods 7), UTSA 33 (Coffi 11). Assists—Tulane 22 (Brumbaugh 5), UTSA 9 (Coffi, Hayes, Nunez, Simpson 2). Total Fouls—Tulane 15, UTSA 9.

College football

Late Friday New Orleans 128, Washington 107

Nwoko 3-5 0-2 6, Sutton 5-11 2-2 13, Tamba 3-5 0-2 6, Mackinnon 9-16 6-6 27, Reece 2-9 0-0 6, Mosley 1-6 0-0 3, Miller 3-3 3-4 9, King 1-3 1-1 3, Carter 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-59 12-17 73.

UTSA (4-11)

Conference Championships winners, 5:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

WASHINGTON (107)

NBA Conference glance Detroit Boston New York Toronto Philadelphia Cleveland Orlando Miami Atlanta Chicago Milwaukee Charlotte Brooklyn Washington Indiana

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

Semiﬁnals

Thursday Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz. No. 10 Miami 31, No. 6 Ole Miss 27 Friday Peach Bowl, Atlanta No. 1 Indiana 56, No. 5 Oregon 22

National Championship

Miami Jan. 19 No. 10 Miami vs. No. 1 Indiana, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Women’s state schedule Saturday’s games

College basketball Men’s state schedule, scores Saturday’s games

Troy 90, UL 70 Vanderbilt 84, LSU 73 Southern Miss 70, UL-Monroe 60 Louisiana Tech 70, Delaware 68 NW State 79, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 78 McNeese 73, Southeastern 61 Tulane 85, Texas-San Antonio 42 Bethune-Cookman 74, Grambling 65 Nicholls State 90, UNO 77 Florida A&M 67, Southern 59

Sunday’s games

Northwestern State 65, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 49 McNeese 77, Southeastern 55 North Texas 59, Tulane 53 Nicholls 79, UNO 64 South Alabama 73, UL-Monroe 67 Grambling 67, Bethune-Cookman 60 Texas State 55, UL 43 Florida A&M 60, Southern 57

Sunday’s games

Louisiana Tech at Liberty, noon Texas at LSU, 2 p.m.

Pro hockey NHL Conference glance

No games scheduled.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Grambling at Florida A&M, TBA Southern at Bethune-Cookman, 6 p.m. UNO at Southeastern, 6 p.m. Nicholls at McNeese, 6:30 p.m.

Carolina Montreal Detroit Tampa Bay

Monday’s games

GP 44 44 45 42

W 27 25 26 26

L OT Pts 14 3 57 13 6 56 15 4 56 13 3 55

GF 152 151 141 146

GA 133 144 142 112

N.Y. Islanders Philadelphia Washington Pittsburgh Buffalo Boston Toronto Florida New Jersey N.Y. Rangers Ottawa Columbus

44 42 45 43 42 45 43 43 44 46 43 44

24 22 23 21 23 24 21 22 22 20 20 18

15 12 16 13 15 19 15 18 20 20 18 19

WESTERN CONFERENCE

5 8 6 9 4 2 7 3 2 6 5 7

53 52 52 51 50 50 49 47 46 46 45 43

130 130 148 140 135 151 143 132 115 120 139 132

122 120 130 134 131 146 140 140 137 135 145 151

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Colorado 44 33 4 7 73 179 99 Dallas 45 26 10 9 61 157 129 Minnesota 45 26 11 8 60 143 121 Vegas 42 19 11 12 50 133 132 Edmonton 44 22 16 6 50 149 148 San Jose 44 23 18 3 49 141 155 Seattle 42 20 14 8 48 117 123 Utah 45 22 20 3 47 137 127 Los Angeles 43 18 15 10 46 115 122 Anaheim 44 21 20 3 45 147 163 Nashville 43 20 19 4 44 122 143 Chicago 44 18 19 7 43 126 142 St. Louis 45 17 20 8 42 112 157 Calgary 45 19 22 4 42 116 135 Winnipeg 43 16 22 5 37 126 135 Vancouver 43 16 22 5 37 121 153 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs.

Friday’s games

Washington 5, Chicago 1 Winnipeg 5, Los Angeles 1 Utah 4, St. Louis 2

Saturday’s games

Boston 10, N.Y. Rangers 2 Calgary 2, Pittsburgh 1 Colorado 4, Columbus 0 San Jose 5, Dallas 4, OT Anaheim at Buffalo, n Detroit at Montreal, n Florida at Ottawa, n Seattle at Carolina, n Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, n Vancouver at Toronto, n Chicago at Nashville, n N.Y. Islanders at Minnesota, n Los Angeles at Edmonton, n St. Louis at Vegas, n

Sunday’s games

New Jersey at Winnipeg, 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at Boston, 4 p.m. Columbus at Utah, 6 p.m. Washington at Nashville, 6 p.m. Vegas at San Jose, 7 p.m.

Transactions FOOTBALL

National Football League ATLANTA FALCONS — Hired Matt Ryan as president of football. BUFFALO BILLS — Signed LB Baylon Spector to the active roster. Placed WR Joshua Palmer on injured reserve. CHICAGO BEARS — Activated CB Kyler Gordon from injured reserve. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Hired David Blough as offensive coordinator.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League BUFFALO SABRES — Recalled D Zac Jones from Rochester Americans (AHL).

SUNDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS ENTRIES Post Time:12:45PM First Race, $14,000, Claiming $5,000, 3 yo’s & up Six Furlongs 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

Righteous Freedom I Bet You Wont Gypsy Squall Maybe Eye’ll Call Custom Cadillac Patek Name the Time Catchin Drama

J Mudd 6-1 E Murray 8-1 C Hernandez 4-1 J Ortiz 3-1 M Murrill 5-2 O Chavez 12-1 C McMahon 12-1 H Rea 8-1

Second Race, $17,000, Claiming $12,500, 4 yo’s & up Six Furlongs

01 02 03 04

Running Ragged C Hernandez Blame Me Seriously I Castillo Big Nickel C McMahon Mr. Ronnie J Graham

5-1 5-1 7-2 4-1

05 06

Duvee Razor Crest

P Lopez M Pedroza, Jr.

9-2 5-2

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

Tsuperman Lacey’s Kat Its Wild Again Grand Encore Half Way There Louisiana Wildlife Torpedo Charlie Seeking a Soldier

D Magnon 9-2 J Riquelme 20-1 H Rea 20-1 E Nieves 6-1 B Curtis 5-2 I Castillo 2-1 J Mudd 5-1 S Vives 20-1

01 02

Dromas Cobblestone Bridge

C McMahon 15-1 P Lopez 9-2

Third Race, $14,000, Claiming $5,000, 3 yo’s & up Six Furlongs

Fourth Race, $19,000, Claiming $15,000, 4 yo’s & up One Mile Seventy Yards

03 04 05 06 07

Big Salt Lick Jr’s Gift Wayllen Richard American City Indian Cat

I Castillo 7-2 H Rea 12-1 D Magnon 10-1 M Pedroza, Jr. 5-2 J Ortiz 2-1

Fifth Race, $22,000, Claiming $15,000, 4 yo’s & up Five Furlongs

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Sawyer Fox D Magnon Treaty J Graham Our Determination C McMahon Star’s Image J Loveberry Ooey Gooey Chewy I Castillo Bourbon Boss P Lopez Clarestown M Murrill Briterdayzahead S Vives Covey (GB) C Hernandez Upturned Brim M Pedroza, Jr.

10-1 12-1 10-1 3-1 10-1 4-1 20-1 8-1 6-1 5-1

Sixth Race, $54,000, Maiden special weight, 4 yo’s & up One Mile

01 02 03 04 05 06

Mingo Crazy Diamond Bestball Rothko S. Named Lahainaluna

I Castillo 3-1 P Lopez 5-1 J Graham 20-1 M Pedroza, Jr. 6-5 J Loveberry 8-1 J Ortiz 4-1

01 02 03 04 05 06 07

Calicoco (I Castillo120 5-1 Cypress Gold (B Hernandez, Jr.120 15-1 Big Chopper (H Hernandez120 12-1 Boss of All Bosses (J Ortiz122 3-1 Pegaso (J Graham120 4-1 Fran’s Star (P Lopez120 6-1 Wayside Drive (F Geroux120 15-1

Seventh Race, $56,000, AOC $20,000, 4 yo’s & up One Mile

08 09 10 11 12

Brittany’s Dream (E Nieves120 20-1 Passing Judgment (D Cannon120 6-1 Slick and Fast (M Pedroza, Jr.122 12-1 Sonya Knows Better(C McMahon12015-1 Sunday Breeze (C Hernandez120 8-1

Eighth Race, $15,000, Claiming $5,000, 4 yo’s & up Six Furlongs

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Sono (J Loveberry121 7-2 Oak Hill Lg (D Magnon121 8-1 The Speedy One (J Mudd116 20-1 Hooray Austin (M Pedroza, Jr.121 5-1 Malaki Empire (H Rea116 8-1 Drewmazing (C McMahon121 6-1 Bet On Bobby (B Curtis121 12-1 Apriority Rocket (J Ortiz121 4-1 Sonofaship (J Graham121 8-1 Samurai’s Grandson (E Nieves121 8-1

SATURDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS RESULTS Track Condition: sloppy

First Race — Purse $30,000, Starters allowance $50,000, 4 yo’s & up, One And One Sixteenth Miles

5-You Belong Here (Loveb. J.) $11.20 $5.20 $3.00 4-Main Beach (Ortiz J.) $3.20 $2.60 2-Flamingproposition (Castillo I.) $3.20 Also Ran: White Whale, Django, Arthur’s Court. Late Scratches: Just Bernie Race Time: 1:44.81 Exacta (5-4) $18.40; Superfecta (5-4-2-6) $37.80; Trifecta (5-4-2) $44.10

Second Race — Purse $19,000, SOC $10,000-$5,000, 4 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs

$34.80 $9.40 $4.40 5-Mamba Out (Murrill M.) $5.20 $3.40 3-Hittin My Stride (Cannon D.) 2-Berlaine (Magnon D.) $2.20 Also Ran: Chaparrita, Slam Diego, Crusin Like a Cat, Diamonds Joy. Late Scratches: Unbridled Lunar Race Time: 1:11.49 Daily Double (5-5) $96.40; Exacta (5-3) $111.30; Superfecta (5-3-2-8) $247.89; Trifecta (5-3-2) $160.45

Third Race — Purse $22,000, Claiming $15,000, 4 yo’s & up, One Mile Seventy Yards

2-Cincy’s Anna (Pedroza, Jr. M.) $8.00 $3.60 $2.80 8-Izzy’s Monster (Ortiz J.) $3.00 $2.80 1-Im Singled Up (Mudd J.) $5.00 Also Ran: Sally’s Suprise, Lady Jeopardy, Blueberry Eyes, Lofty Heights. Late Scratches: Pickin Ana Grinnin Race Time: 1:44.55 Daily Double (5-2) $150.20; Exacta (2-8) $12.40; Superfecta (2-8-1-5) $21.12; Trifecta (2-8-1) $38.45; Pic 3 (5-5-2) $263.80

Fourth Race — Purse $54,000, Maiden special weight, 3 yo, One Mile Seventy Yards

16-Powered by Family (Ortiz J.) $6.40 $3.60 $2.60 14-Abilene (Lopez P.) $4.40 $4.00 1-Authentic Beauty (Hernandez, Jr. B.) $5.80 Also Ran: Lewinsky, Real Drama, Harpermarie, Angelic Katie, Mo Town Renee, She’s an Earner, Speightress. Late Scratches: Ocala Gala, Mothertwotheblues, Champagne Party, Bugs Malone,

Strada Del Sogno, Adorable Moments Race Time: 1:42.61 Daily Double (2-16) $17.00; Exacta (16-14) $13.50; Superfecta (16-14-1-11) $105.26; Trifecta (16-14-1) $75.90; Pic 3 (5-2-16) $189.80

Fifth Race — Purse $100,000, Stakes, 4 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs

1-Blue Fire (Ortiz J.) $4.20 $2.10 $2.10 5-Secret Faith (McMahon C.) $2.10 $2.10 2-Beleout (Murray E.) $2.10 Also Ran: Custom Design, Hopeitsmyluckyday. Late Scratches: Six String Race Time: 1:10.09 Daily Double (16-1) $9.10; Exacta (1-5) $3.30; Superfecta (1-5-2-4) $1.55; Trifecta (1-5-2) $2.40; Pic 3 (2-16-1) $16.30; Pic 4 (5-2-2/3/5/8/10/13/16-1) $446.50; Pic 5 (5-52-2/3/5/8/10/13/16-1) $4,309.95

Sixth Race — Purse $55,000, Allowance, 4 yo’s & up, Five And A Half Furlongs

10-Lovely Emma (Ortiz J.) $13.80 $8.20 $5.40 4-Betty’s Dance (Lopez P.) $7.00 $4.20 5-Dashin’ Diva (Hernandez H.) $8.60 Also Ran: Bet Towinit, Sweet Darlin, Get Back Loretta, Watering, I’m Mo Joke, Some-

thing Stronger, Annie’s Joy. Late Scratches: Swoonatra, Custom Design, You’ll Be Back, Miss Lonelle, September Magic Race Time: 1:03.85 Daily Double (1-10) $15.00; Exacta (10-4) $50.50; Superfecta (10-4-5-11) $651.31; Trifecta (10-4-5) $340.60; Pic 3 (16-1-10) $26.25

Seventh Race — Purse $55,000, Allowance, 4 yo’s & up, One Mile Seventy Yards

7-Chasten (Geroux F.) $6.40 $3.60 $2.80 2-Rising Inﬂation (Castillo I.) $3.00 $2.40 8-Union Mist (Cannon D.) $4.20 Also Ran: Sierra November, La Reynita, Clearly a Test, Bundle. Late Scratches: Anonima Race Time: 1:42.67 Daily Double (10-7) $23.30; Exacta (7-2) $7.00; Superfecta (7-2-8-6) $13.70; Trifecta (7-2-8) $14.45; Pic 3 (1-10-7) $21.60

Eighth Race — Purse $100,000, Stakes, 4 yo’s & up, Five And A Half Furlongs

9-Lotsandlots. (Hern., Jr. B.) $3.60 $2.40 $2.10 1-Big Trouble (Cannon D.) $2.60 $2.10 7-Sporting Lady (Ortiz J.) $3.00

Also Ran: Harbor Springs, Banterra, Party Pauline. Late Scratches: Serving Time (GB), Rue Lala, Gavea (GER) Race Time: 1:03.11 Daily Double (7-9) $4.90; Exacta (9-1) $3.90; Superfecta (9-1-7-6) $2.10; Trifecta (9-1-7) $5.10; Pic 3 (10-7-9) $23.10

Ninth Race — Purse $100,000, Stakes, 4 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs

5-El Dinero (Loveberry J.) $4.80 $2.60 $2.40 4-Hay Jude (Ortiz J.) $4.40 $3.20 2-Sir Wellington (Lopez P.) $3.80 Also Ran: Carpis, Strong Promise, Benoit, Sounds Like Power, Bron and Brow. Late Scratches: Geaux Sugar, He’s Late Again Race Time: 1:10.34 Daily Double (9-5) $4.30; Exacta (5-4) $10.60; Superfecta (5-4-2-9) $40.00; Trifecta (5-4-2) $30.65; Pic 3 (7-9-5) $10.20; Pic 4 (10-72/5/8/9-5/6/8) $72.20; Pic 5 (1-10-7-2/5/8/95/6/8) $190.10; (2/3/5/8/10/13/16-1-10-72/5/8/) $220.32

10C ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

OUTDOORS PROPOSED 2026-27 HUNTING SEASONS Proposed seasons dates for resident game and migratory waterfowl/birds were outlined by the Wildlife Division of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries during Tuesday’s Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting in Baton Rouge. Public comment on these season dates will be accepted through 4 p.m., March 5 and can be sent to Jeff Duguay, LDWF Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 or email: jduguay@wlf.la.gov

RESIDENT GAME

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Whistling ducks fly past Holy Name of Jesus Church near Audubon Park in New Orleans on Dec. 17, 2024. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved a proposed groundbreaking season on black-bellied whistling ducks.

Twice as nice

Duck hunters, coastal anglers benefit from commission

BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission had two surprises for Sportsman’s Paradise outdoorsmen last week. During its January meeting Tuesday, the commission approved a proposed groundbreaking season on black-bellied whistling ducks. Finally, it appears our state’s wild waterfowlers will have a second special hunting season — Oct. 3-11 on the whistlers — to go along with a second nineday September (19-27) teal season. The October dates will bridge the gap until the “big duck” season opens Nov. 14 in our state’s West Waterfowl Zone and Nov. 21 in the East Zone. The second surprise was reserved for coastal fishermen, especially those who spend multiple days away from landings. Wildlife and Fisheries managers were charged by the state Legislature (Act 36 of the 2024 session) to come up with regulations for holding fish fillets in boats while traveling from remote camps and multday fishing trips back to landings. If all goes according to form, as early as late May coastal anglers will be allowed to have speckled trout and redfish fillets in their boats. The existing regulation banned this practice, a rule fishermen didn’t like because they couldn’t pro-

NOTEBOOK cess their catches in remote locations. The new regulations will allow fishermen to transport by water speckled trout fillets at a minimum size of 8 inches and a maximum of 13 inches with an allowance of eight fillets measuring more than 13 inches to accommodate the daily creel limit of two speckled trout measuring longer than 20 inches. It will also allow redfish fillets to be 10 and 18 inches long with no allowance of a fillet measuring longer than 18 inches. That’s because current creel limits prohibit keeping redfish measuring longer than 27 inches. And, because the speckled trout possession limit per angler is 30 (a two-day limit, 15 per day), each angler aboard will be limited to an on-the-water possession of 60 speckled trout fillets and 16 redfish fillets. Furthermore, the new requirement demands “filleted fish shall have sufficient skin remaining on the fillet to allow for identification of the species. Fillets shall be segregated by species into plastic bags or plastic containers (marked with date caught, angler and angler’s license number) that are marked by species to allow for easy identification.” In other action, the commission learned that a new electrofishing program in the coastal areas is produc-

ing significantly different data than the old seining method, and elected Andy Brister (Lake Providence) to chair the seven-man board and Nathan Wall (Springfield) to take the vice-chairman spot. Otherwise, the presentation of the proposed 20262027 hunting seasons dates and regulations dominated the meeting. Amendments to these plans came from Brister and Jonathan Walker. Brister’s came in Deer Area 1, where, he said, the age class of bucks needed to be improved and offered a change in the three antlered/three antlerless limit to one antler, either an antlered or antlerless deer and four antlerless deer. Walker sought to move the ban on the use of internal combustion engines during the waterfowl seasons from 2 p.m. to noon on wildlife management areas with little conflict between waterfowl hunters and fishermen. Both amendments were approved, the latter noting an exception for the Pass a Loutre and Atchafalaya Delta WMAs. Other changes to the hunting seasons from previous years is a proposed youth-only squirrel hunting weekend set for the fourth weekend in September on private lands, and an allowance for properly licensed disabled veterans and disabled hunters to “hunt deer with any legal weapon during the primitive firearms season in each deer hunting area.”

DEER Either-sex deer take allowed unless there is a bucks-only season in progress. Archery season allows either-sex deer to be taken except when a bucks-only firearms season is in progress. Daily limit remains 2 (1 antlered/1antlerless). Season limit remains 6 (no more than 3 antlered/4 antlerless) in Deer Areas 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9; Deer Area 4, 4 season limit (2 antlered or 2 antlerless); Deer Area 10, 3 season limit (not to exceed 2 antlered or 2 antlerless); Deer Area 1 proposed change to 6 per season (1 antlered, 1 either-sex & 4 antlerless). Area 1: Archery, Oct. 1-Jan. 31; Primitive Firearms, Nov. 14-20 & Jan. 25-31; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Nov. 21Dec. 11 & Jan. 4-24; with/without dogs, Dec. 12-Jan. 3; youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 24-30. Area 2: Archery, Oct. 1-Jan. 31; Primitive Firearms, Oct. 24-30 & Jan. 18-24; Modern Firearms/still hunt only, Oct. 31Dec. 9; with/without dogs, Dec. 10-Jan. 17; youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 10-16. Area 3: Archery, Sept. 19-Jan. 15; Primitive Firearms, Oct. 10-16 & an. 4-10; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Oct. 17-Nov. 29; with/without dogs, Nov. 30-Jan. 3; youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Sept. 26-Oct. 2. Area 4: Archery, Oct. 1-Jan. 31; Primitive Firearms, Nov. 14-20 & Jan 25-31; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Nov. 21Dec. 11 & Jan. 4-24; with/without dogs, Dec. 12-Jan. 3; youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 24-30. Area 5: Archery, Oct. 1-15, bucks only & Oct. 16-Feb. 15; Primitive Firearms, Nov. 14-20, either sex & Jan. 25-31, bucks only; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Nov. 21-Dec. 11, bucks only except either-sex take allowed Nov. 21-22 & Nov. 27-29; with/without dogs, Dec. 12-Jan. 24, bucks only except either-sex take allowed Dec. 1213 & Dec. 19-200; youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 24-30. Area 6: Archery, Oct. O 1-15, bucks only & Oct. 16-Feb. 155; Primitive Firearmss, Nov. 14-20 & Jan. 25--31; Modern Firearms//still-hunt only, Nov. 21-Decc. 11; with/ without dogs, Decc. 12-Jan. 24; youth-only annd honorably discharged veteraans, Oct. 2430. Area 7: Archery, Sept. 19-Jan. 15;;

Primitive Firearms, Oct. 10-16 & Jan. 4-10; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Oct. 17-Nov. 29; with/without dogs, Nov. 30-Jan. 3; youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Sept. 26-Oct. 2. Area 8: Archery, Sept. 19-Jan. 15; Primitive Firearms, Oct. 10-16 & Jan. 4-10; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Oct. 17-Nov. 29; with/without dogs, Nov. 30-Jan. 3; youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Sept. 26-Oct. 2. Area 9: Archery, Oct. 1-15, bucks only & Oct. 16-Feb. 15; Primitive Firearms, Nov. 14-20, either sex & Jan. 25-31, bucks only; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Nov. 21-Dec. 11, bucks only except either-sex take allowed Nov. 21-22 & Nov. 27-29;with/without dogs, Dec. 12Jan. 24, bucks only except either-sex take allowed Dec. 12-13 & Dec. 19-20; youthonly and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 24-30. Area 10: Archery, Sept. 19-Jan. 15; Primitive Firearms, Oct. 10-16 & Jan. 4-10; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Oct. 17-Nov. 29; with/without dogs, Nov. 30-Jan. 3 youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Sept. 26-Oct. 2. RABBITS: Oct. 3-Feb. 28, statewide, private lands only. QUAIL: Nov. 21-Feb. 28, statewide, private lands only. SQUIRRELS: Statewide: Oct. 3-Feb. 28 & May 3-25 (2027), statewide, private lands only. Special youth-only weekend Sept. 26-27, private lands only. TURKEY (2027): Area A: April 3-May 2. Area B: April 3-25.Area C: April 3-18. youth/Physically Challenged weekend: March 26-28.

MIGRATORY BIRDS/WATERFOWL BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS: Oct. 3-11, statewide. DOVES: South Zone: Sept. 5-20, Oct. 17Nov. 29 & Dec. 12-Jan. 10; North Zone: Sept. 5-27, Oct. 10-Nov. 15 and Dec. 19-Jan. 17 . DUCKS, COOTS & MERGANSERS: West Zone, Nov. 14-Dec. 6, Dec. 19-Jan. 24 with youth-only & veterans-only weekend Nov. 7-8; East Zone, Nov. 21-Dec. 6 & Dec. 19-Jan. 31 with youth- & veteransonly days Nov. 14 & Feb. 6. GEESE: East & West Zones, Nov. 14-Dec. 6 & Dec. 19-Feb. 7. Includes Canada, blue, snow & Ross’ & specklebellies.Take of Canada geese prohibited in portions of Cameron & Vermilion pparishes. GEESE/CONSERVATIO ON ORDER: East & West Zones, Dec. 7-18 & Feb. 8-March 7. Limited to take of bluue, snow and Ross’ geese only. No daaily nor possession limits. Hunters allowed to use electronic calls and shotguns cappable of holding more thaan three shells. RAILS/ /GALLINULES: Seppt. 19-27 & Nov. 7-Jaan. 6, statewide. SNIPE: Oct. 31-Jan. 10 & Jan. 25-Feb. 28, stateewide. TEAAL: Sept. 19-27, stateewide. WOO ODCOCK: Dec. 18-Jan. 31, statewide.

CALENDAR MONDAY

RED STICK FLY FISHERS PROGRAM: 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Regional Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge. Open to the public. Also: Feb. 9, March 9, April 13, May. 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9. Email Brian Roberts: roberts.brian84@ gmail.com. Website: rsff.org

TUESDAY

GULF COUNCIL SHALLOWWATER GROUPERS MANAGEMENT PUBLIC MEETING: 6 p.m., Wildlife and Fisheries ofﬁce, 200 Dulles Dr. in Lafayette. Management plans for yellowmouth, yellowﬁn and black groupers and scamp. Also virtual public meeting 5 p.m., Jan. 21. Website: gulfcouncil.org

WEDNESDAY

LA. OYSTER TASK FORCE MEETING: 10 a.m., Lakefront Airport, 6001 Stars and Stripes Blvd., New Orleans. OTF Legislative Committee meeting, 9 a.m., same venue. BUGS & BEERS: 6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N. Dorgenois St, New Orleans. Casual ﬂy tying. Open to public. Also Feb. 11, March 11,

April 8, May 14, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9. Email A.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@gmail. com. Website: www.neworleansﬂyﬁshers.com.

THURSDAY

MORGANZA-TO-GULF PUBLIC MEETING: 2-4 p.m. & 6-8 p.m., Barry P. Bonvillain Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd., Houma. Also: Jan. 20, 2-4 p.m. & 6-8 p.m., Bollinger Sisters Suite, University Dining & Conference Center, Nicholls State, Thibodaux. Public comments on Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction Project. ACADIANA FLY RODDERS PROGRAM: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Open to public. Also Feb. 19, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19, Dec. 17.Email Darin Lee: at cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: acadianaﬂyrodders. org

SATURDAY

NSCA SPORTING CLAYS: Kickoff Shotgun Blast, Bridge View Gun Club, Port Allen. Also same venue Feb. 7,

March 21, April 11, May 16, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 19, Oct. 17 & Nov. 7. THE FLY HAIR CO. DEMONSTRATION: Noon-5 p.m., No Wake Outﬁtters, 1926 Airline Drive, Metairie. Fly ﬁshing.

HUNTING SEASONS

DEER/PRIMITIVE FIREARMS: Through Jan. 11, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8 & 10. DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 11, State Deer Area 2, with/without dogs. DOVES: South Zone, through Jan. 11; North Zone, through Jan. 18;. DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 18, State Deer Areas 1 & 4, still-hunt only. DEER/PRIMITIVE FIREARMS: Jan. 12-18, State Deer Area 2. DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 15, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8 & 10. Either-sex take allowed. DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 18, State Deer Areas 5 & 9, with/without dogs, bucks only. DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Jan. 18, State Deer Areas 6, with/without dogs. DEER/PRIMITIVE FIREARMS: Jan. 19-31, State Deer Areas 1, 4 & 6, either-sex take allowed.

DEER/PRIMITIVE FIREARMS: Jan. 19-31, State Deer Areas 5 & 9, bucks only. DUCKS/WEST ZONE: Through Jan. 25, includes coots & mergansers. DUCKS/EAST ZONE: Through Jan. 31, includes coots & mergansers. DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 31, State Deer Areas 1, 2 & 4. Either-sex take allowed. WOODCOCK: Through Jan. 31, statewide. GEESE/WEST ZONE: Through Feb. 1. Includes Canada, blue, snow & Ross’ & specklebellies. Take of Canada geese prohibited in portions of Cameron & Vermilion parishes. GEESE/EAST ZONE: Through Feb. 7. Includes Canada, blue, snow & Ross’ & specklebellies DEER/ARCHERY: Through Feb. 15, State Deer Areas 5, 6 & 9, either-sex take allowed. QUAIL, RABBITS & SQUIRRELS: Through Feb. 28, statewide, private lands only. SNIPE: Through Feb. 28, statewide.

LOTTERY HUNT

YOUTH RABBIT HUNT: Jan. 30 application deadline for ﬁve youth hunters (ages 10-17)

Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. CLOSED SEASONS: Red snapper; greater amberjack; gray triggerﬁsh; blueﬁn tuna; gag, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed.

on Dewey Wills WMA Feb. 21. Youths must have hunter safety certiﬁcation, have 20-gauge or .410 shotgun & wear Hunter Orange. Other rules & details, email Cliff Dailey (WMA supervisor): adailey@wlf.la.gov

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Outside waters open statewide; fall inshore season closed in Zones 2 & 3 & portions of Zone 1. OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Flounder; lane, blackﬁn, queen and silk snappers & wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath &

LDWF UPDATES

CLOSED: Hope Canal Road/ boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction). ROAD CLOSURE: Section of La. 975 through Sherburne WMA closed through June 12, 2026 (replace bridge) access from U.S. 190 and I-10 open.

Mugs, shirts, hats, posters, books. Something for everyone at the T-P Store!

STORE.NOLA.COM

WHAT’S COOKING: Cutting into the first king cakes of a shorter Carnival season 2D

LIVING

N O L A.C O M

S u n d ay, J a n u a ry 11, 2026

1dn

FIRST COME, FIRST THROW

ILLUSTRATION By ARTHUR NEAD

The great New Orleans or Mobile Carnival quibble These were fighting words. Highway billboards appeared in the New Orleans area in 2018, proclaiming that “you are 114 miles away from America’s Original Mardi Gras.” The billboards, one of 10 placed along the borders of Louisiana and Mississippi, Errol were credited Laborde to Sweet Home, STREETCAR Alabama, a promotional wing of that state’s tourism industry. There has been a long tradition of Mobile chiding the larger, better known Carnival in New Orleans. In 2018, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson issued an official tease granting “full authorization” to anyone in New Orleans wanting to celebrate Mardi Gras. Stimpson was a key speaker this past Aug. 16 when Amtrak’s new Mardi Gras Service was inaugurated. Among those present was a Washington state congressman who is on the committee that governs Amtrak. He opened his brief speech saying that he was advised “not to make jokes about Mardi Gras in New Orleans vs. Mobile, for my own personal safety.” So, what’s true? On matters of Carnival, which came first? On the evening of Feb. 24, 1857, at around 9 o’clock, the celebration of the American Mardi Gras would experience its big bang moment. At that instant, “the glare of the torchlights shattered the darkness of Magazine and Julia Streets, bands burst into symphony, and the Mistick Krewe... revealed a company of demons, rich and realistic, moving in a procession that seemed to blaze from some secret chamber of the earth.” As described by Perry Young in his classic bible of the season, “The Mistick Krewe: Chronicles of Comus and His Kin,” from that earthly secret chamber spewed a new form of celebration. A plaque placed at that corner in 2009 explains the truth that, “with that parade, Mardi Gras was solidified as a New Orleans tradition that ultimately influenced Carnival celebrations throughout the continent.” Indeed, Comus would introduce the continuing custom of “krewes” that would stage annual parades and would define the New Orleans style of Carnival, including floats, masked riders, monarchs and elements of mystery. Fifteen years later, in 1872, a new parade known as Rex made its claim to the title “King of Carnival.” The king would parade on the afternoon of Mardi Gras; Comus, a god, would march at night. Throughout the land at Carnival time there would be many other parades to emerge, but Comus, as enhanced by Rex, had set the model of the classic American parade. All that

ä See CARNIVAL, page 8D

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

The Pussyfooters are celebrating 25 years of power pink and spirited dance moves this Carnival season.

Trendsetters

Why do so many Mardi Gras dance squads have naughty names? Blame the Pussyfooters. BY DOUG MacCASH

crowd probably felt the same way. There and then, she began promoting the idea of an adult, female The Camel Toe Lady Steppers, dance group. Soon, Baldassar had the Bearded Oysters, the Muff-A- assembled a core group of about 25 like-minded women, including the Lottas, the Cherry Bombs. Naughtily named female dance late Sarah Jane Duax, a ballet insquads will soon be twirling structor, and Ramona Catalanello, through city streets as part of Car- a costume designer. Now, all the nascent dance squad nival in New Orleans, providing a splash of tongue-in-cheek va-va- needed was a name. The “Vagina Monologues” play, a stirring sevoom between parade floats. But this Mardi Gras searies of soliloquys that enson is the 25th anniversary tertainingly focused on of the founding gal group feminist issues, was a runthat inspired all the others, away hit at the time. Balthe Pussyfooters. Back at dassar said she’d seen the the millennium, this bunch show and admired its audaof adult women in bustiers, cious, subversive title. She net stockings and combat hoped to find something boots birthed a 21st-centu- Baldassar similarly punchy for her dance group. She’s not sure ry phenomenon. It started after Camille Baldas- who first suggested the Pussyfootsar moved to New Orleans from ers, but it was the perfect satirical her native Pittsburgh in 1997 and feminist wink. became enthralled with Carnival Baldassar points out that the parades. During a recent inter- name was never terribly risqué. view, Baldassar, 63, said that as she Not really. Pussyfooting is just a watched the majorettes in school term for the gingerly way that cats bands and the polished dance stu- walk. The implications are all very dio performers pass by during the innocent, or at least deniable. 2000 Thoth parade, she had an urge Pink and peppy to get out there and join in. Baldassar, a ceramics artist and From the start, the group was teacher, figured other women in the designed for mature ladies, 30

Staff writer

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DINAH ROGERS

The Pussyfooters are known for wearing white combat boots thanks to Cindy Williams, who considered herself a ‘punk rock kid’ when she first joined after 2006.

and older. Special dance or performance skills weren’t required, just the self-conﬁdence to strut one’s stuff in public. Baldassar can’t exactly remember how the Pussyfooters got hooked up with the recently formed, all-female Krewe of Muses, but the Pussyfooters and Muses parade belonged together like powdered sugar on beignets. The devilishly named dancers ﬁrst hit the asphalt in the second Muses parade in 2001 and have appeared every year since.

ä See PUSSYFOOTERS, page 8D

Were German POWs imprisoned in La.? Buildings in the Prisoner-of-War SubCamp No. 7 in Port Allen were surrounded by wire fences and monitored by guard towers during World War II. PROVIDED PHOTO By WEST BATON ROUGE MUSEUM

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Ernest Gueymard spent Dec. 15, 1943, at Prisonerof-War Sub-Camp No. 7 in Port Allen for a feature story for the State-Times, The Advocate’s then-afternoon sister newspaper. “The swish-swish of the cane knife is resounding over West Baton Rouge’s broad sugar ﬁelds as wielded by sturdy young German prisoners of war,” Guey-

mard wrote. There were approximately 300 “broad-shouldered young men” who were living in the Port Allen prison of war sub-camp in 1943. “The prisoners, who appear to be in their early twenties, are grappling with an industry new to them and are doing fairly well,” Gueymard reported.

ä See CURIOUS, page 8D

2D ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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DINING SCENE

In a short Mardi Gras season, every king cake matters I am never tempted by king cake out of season. Tasty though any cake may be, they just don’t have the same appeal detached from Carnival time. That’s because king cake isn’t just an excuse for midday dessert. Cutting into a king cake means taking part in Carnival tradition, and the joy is in sharing it. Ian bringing one McNulty toIt’s a parade party, to WHAT’S the ofﬁce, or just to COOKING a friend’s kitchen. It’s sharing the indulgence and telling whatever tale is attached to it, whether it’s the one you’ve been loyally eating since youth or one you tracked down from a new pop-up maker. With a short Carnival season now rolling, it’s go-time. Here’s how I get into it:

fancy, it keeps the classic king cake style and adds a distinctive outer crunch, with a light airy texture within. At Carnival, something can be generations old and still new to you. On the other side of the ledger, the rose queen cake from La Vie En Rose is miles from the classic template but was still one of the very best king cakes I tried last season. Ropes of icing make Art Nouveau swoops over the top; aromatic tea-grade rose petals dapple the surface; a caramelized rose cane syrup adds ﬂavor throughout (ﬁnd La Vie En Rose at King Cake Hub or pre-order via instagram.com/lavieenrosecafenola).

Shop around

Go big, start early STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Thanksgiving was just yesterday, right? The start of Carnival season will feel the same way when Ash Wednesday closes it down after just 43 days. You do not want to get to the last weekend of Mardi Gras and realize you haven’t had your ﬁll. Make the pilgrimage to your perennial favorite spot now, or put in the pre-order for the specialty cake that’s calling your name. There will be a time during Carnival when you’re grabbing at pieces of king cake from a parade route folding table without knowing where it’s from, much less how long it’s been open. As with a wine tasting, have the good stuff now while the palate is fresh and the excitement is most keen.

Cara Benson stands among boxes filled with King Cakes at the Hen House in Gretna on Wednesday.

also Dong Phuong (though this always-popular cake is already on a waitlist via Goldbelly). If you have a favorite bakery that doesn’t ship, the DIY solution is readily at hand. You can simply buy your own, box it and ship it out yourself. By sharing the joy with others, you may be helping a local shop keeping rolling long after this Mardi Gras ends.

Tradition, evolution

Supporting bakeries This is not an entirely selﬁsh pursuit. The king cake business has become a massive part of the bottom line for local bakeries. It’s what many rely on to make it through the year, especially amid growing pressures of higher costs and the dreaded summer slump. The signiﬁcantly shorter season means more is at stake for the people who create king cakes. The king cake you buy now can help ensure that neighborhood bakery you love is around for the long haul for your special occasion cakes, morning croissants

STAFF PHOTO By IAN MCNULTy

Swiss Confectionery, a bakery in New Orleans since 1921, makes a traditional king cake each Carnival season. and anytime visits.

Ship it You don’t have to eat it all yourself. King cake is a symbol of the season that is easy to share with family and friends far aﬁeld. In the pandemic, shipping king cakes out of town became a lifeline for many bakeries and restaurants, and some have

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maintained the business line and grown adept at it. Specialty food shipping services also move a great deal of king cake around the country every year. In particular, the national service Goldbelly handles king cakes from local shops including Joe Gambino’s Bakery, Maurice French Pastries, Haydel’s Bakery, Ayu Bakehosue, Sucre and now

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Like Carnival itself, tradition is the bedrock of king cake and, also like Carnival, it’s the fresh interpretations and individualistic expressions that keep it all fun and vibrant. That’s why there’s always room on my king cake agenda for the unchanging classics and for the new renditions that crop up every season. I toggle between the two. Last year, this approach brought fresh delight from both categories. For instance, the bakery Swiss Confectionery (3700 Orleans Ave.), best known for wedding cakes, has made a traditional king cake for many years, though it took me until last year to discover it. Pretty without being especially

The King Cake Hub, of course, is the original of what has grown into a collection of multi-vendor markets. I love going to the source, visiting the bakeries themselves and seeing what else they may have on hand (you know, for research). But in their mix of traditional cakes and new renditions, these markets give you a spectrum of the evolving tradition, and could introduce you to a new favorite. King Cake Hub has a new home in a now highly decorated section of a Mid-City warehouse, at 3300 Gravier St., with dozens of varieties of king cakes from many different bakeries, and all sorts of related Mardi Gras related items too, from earrings to ice cream. New this year is a similar concept, King Cake Headquarters, at both the sibling restaurants Central City BBQ (1201 S. Rampart St.) and Las Cruces Tex-Mex (2935 Airline Drive) in Metairie. In the French Quarter, a smaller king cake marketplace materializes inside the Shop at the Historic New Orleans Collection (520 Royal St.), and in the Warehouse District, there’s a new option at Boulevard restaurant (801 Magazine St.), beginning with cakes from ﬁve bakeries (and later hours for king cake, open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) And back this year, starting Jan. 9, is the King Cake Drive-Thru (1009 Metairie Road), where you pull up for a robust menu of cakes from many makers.

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Yule logging Nell Nolan

n Spain’s Seasonal Salute

SOCIETY

“Sociedad Española requests the pleasure of your company at its Holiday Banquet” headlined the invitation for a gala gathering at the Metairie Country Club, which was a decorative dream. A winter wonderland with Christmas trees, thouPHOTOS By REAGAN LAQUE sands of lights and Janet McGrew, Gerardo and Lydia Viera garlands nodded to “Navidad,” as did red poinsettias on the tables, and, above the award table, a large Spanish ﬂag. Sociedad president Vivian D. Coutin opened the formalities that included a message from Honorary Consul of Spain Maria Isabel Page, and a special toast, “brindis,” honoring SE and Spain. The society promotes Spain’s culture, traditions, and language. Dinner ensued with such dishes as turtle soup, main course choice (including cavatappi pasta), and cheesecake. Michael Harold, Helene Lopez, Vivian and Gustavo Within the banquet’s assembly were Drs. Gustavo M. Coutin and John Coutin Page, who joined Vivian and Maria, as well as Ashley Pradel, Drs. Fred Lopez and Nora Oates, Janet Daly McGrew, Dr. Bill and Theresa Daly,Ana Maria Canas, Dr. Richard and Phyllis Levy, Max Moreno, Juana and Hugo Varela, Maria and Carlos Bonilla, Stacy and Mark Marcel, Dr. and Mrs. Jaime Alleyn, and Dr. Alfredo Vichot Andres Rodriguez, Miriam Bertha and Francisco with Dagmar. Also, the Paul Brown Bergerons, the Robert Patouts, Merchan and the Hayes Weggemans. “Feliz Navidad” was well-wished, and the music of Julio y Cesar was especially inviting for turns on the dance ﬂoor.

Contact: nnolan@theadvocate.com

n Tea Time The lovely thrumming of harpist Luke Brechtelsbauer, decorations from the collection of Haydee Mackey‘s family, a gracious tea with requisite amenities, and the reading of a special letter fused for the formal and festive fun of the EnglishSpeaking Union, New Orleans Branch. As it has been for years, the ESU Christmas Tea took place in the Windsor Court Hotel. Branch president PHOTOS By REAGAN LAQUE Bruce Gordon (with Melissa) read a letter from James Bruce Gordon, Benjamin Karp Dawson, Head of Royal Correspondence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla (of Great Britain) that recalled the royal twosome’s visit to New Orleans on Nov. 4, 2005, shortly after Hurricane Katrina. The missive was a response to a thank-you letter sent by Gordon, on Aug. 29, 2025, concerning the historic visit and a reiteration of “the unbreakable bond between the peoples of the United Kingdom and the United States.” Yet another agenda item was the Farren and Monique Clark, Benjamin Morrison, introduction of board members, including newly-dubbed Monique Clark Leonard Caruso of Thibodaux, who is working with the ESU National Shakespeare Competition Committee to be held on Sun., March 8, 2026, on the Tulane campus for Louisiana students. Two years ago, the national winner was Malachi White of the New Orleans Branch. Additional Bill Long, Mimi board members in attendance Preston Valois, Katherine de Schlesinger were Lenny Caruso, Dr. Rennie Montluzin, Haydee Mackey Culver, Benjamin Morrison, Haydee Mackey (with Kevin), Mimi Schlesinger, Preston Valois, and Benjamin Karp, author of the political thriller, “The Leviathan Conspiracy.” They shared tea talk with JP and Dr. Erin O’Sullivan Fleming, Dr. Julian Wheatley and wife Marjorie Nolan-Wheatley, Kathy Singleton, Julie and David Gooch, sisters-in-law Alexandra Stafford and Simone Rathle, and Katherine de Montluzin with Dallasites Jewel and Robert Williams.

Donaldo Batiste, Cathy Espenan, Hugh Straub, Ann Middleton

Mary Bartholomew, Joey DiFatta, Kirk Guidry, Jared Frank

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Karen Milanese, Sandra Dartus

Jerry Stowe, Arlene Karcher

Margaret Jones, the Rev. Winston Rice, Diane Labouisse

n The Order of Saint Lazarus

Carol Gernon, Micah Lowenthal, Stephen Swain

The Grand Commandery of the South of the Order of Saint Lazarus, an ecumenical order of charity and chivalry, held a seated dinner at the Old Ursuline Convent, following the annual Lessons and Carols celebration at St. Mary’s Church, site of the Order’s National Shrine. Lisa Tanet of We All Asked for You catered with style, Cathy Espenan did centerpieces of Christmas lanterns and ﬂowers, and the Tim Laughlin Trio entertained delightfully. Headliners were GCS Commander Michie Bissell with Tom, vice commander Larry Merington and Jan, former commander Jim Jeter and Jan, hospitaller/charitable work overseer Bill Coe, Courtney-Anne Sarpy, Gary Mannina, Lee and Peggy Nugent, Kevin and Haydee Mackey, Lamar and Carolyn Teaford, Debb Almeida and David Perlis, Janice Foulks, Donald Espenan with Cathy, Mary Ann Straub, Penny Bankston, and the Reverends Buddy PHOTOS By NELL NOLAN Noel, Chris Decker, and Harold Roberts with Larry Merington, Michie Bissell spouse Jan. Bonhomie abounded.

n Christmas Brunch Patio Planters of the Vieux Carré amassed Quarterites and kith to the Japanese Room of Antoine’s Restaurant for the annual Christmas Brunch, where attendees savored salad or shrimp remoulade, a main course choice, ﬂourless chocolate cake (yummy!) and assorted wines and bubbly. During their at-table conversations, guests admired the festive holiday décor, including Christmas trees and table centerpieces, as they applauded Marshall Harris‘s Yuletide entertainment. Highlights were the presentation of the Daisy Todd Award to Karen Milanese for her service to Patio Planters, which supports preservation and beautiﬁcation in the French Quarter; the unveiling of the Tanner Gallery & Studio artwork that graced the cover of the Planters’ 2025 Caroling in Jackson Square songbook; and the annual collection taken by BB St. Roman, co-founder of Crescent City Outreach, to help the homeless population. Notables included Patio Planters President Joey DiFatta with Lena Torres Nunez, Sandra Smith, and Jules Hoffmeister and son Eric; past presidents Stephen Swain, Janice Foulks, Jeff Collins (with Celia), Sam Poche (with husband Eddie Selby), and Lea Siegel (with sister Frances Salvaggio); Caroling coordinator Sandra Dartus with husband Alan Horwitz; and brunch chair Dr. Mary Bartholomew with Harold. Also, Cathryn Giff, spouses Jared Frank and Larkin Page, Carol and Ed Gernon, Kirk and former Daisy Todd awardee Carolyn Guidry, Rickie and AJ Maloney, and Chip Blondeau with Vickie George.

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4D ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Twelfth Night Ball continues Golden Bean tradition One of the magical Carnival moments occurs at the ball of the Twelfth Night Revelers when a whitegowned young woman opens a tiny cake box and discovers the golden bean. Moments later, she is tapped into a monarchal mode. The Twelfth Night Revelers gathered recently to celebrate the start of this year’s Carnival season at their 157th ball at the Orpheum Theater. This year at the ball, 15 debutantes made rounds, just after the oversized cake was brought onto the dance ﬂoor. Suspense mounted along with the merriment. As Miss Ashley Conner Ellis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Conner Ellis III, plucked the Golden Bean from its packaging, she ﬂashed a stunning smile, amid gasps of joy. The Goddess of Chance had selected her to reign with the Lord of Misrule, the Revelers’ king. Wearing the crown at the last ball in 2025 was Laura Elise Vickery, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Benton Vickery III. Queen Elise returned to the most recent assembling in full regalia and, during a pre-ball reception, was toasted and hailed for her reign, which

Ashley Ellis, queen of Twelfth Night Revelers 2026 was drawing to a close. Queen Elise’s court maids from 2025, listed in this year’s program, included debutantes of last season Misses Carolyn Taylor Bienvenu, Teresa Mallard Brewer, Annabelle Baldwin Brown, Carolyn Grace Burton, Abigail Hartsﬁeld Chaffe, Caroline Legier Delmer, Elizabeth Wilder Drennan, Sarah Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Flora Elizabeth French, Adelaide Bouligny Gaines, Mary Grace Jenkins, Victoria Livaudais Nieset, Charlotte Heyward Parrino, Julia McLain Pilant, Eleanor McCall Plauché, Tatum Lady Reiss, Sarah Butler Sumrall, Lou-

Aucoin

Baumer

Favrot

Ellis

French

Henry

LeBourgeois

Monsted

Picou

Reiss

Robert

Roussel

Schmidt

Williamson

isa Margaret Van Praagh Treadway and Marianne Pratt Villere. This year’s maids, recipients of the silver beans, were Misses Patricia Randle Aucoin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Henry Aucoin Jr.; Emma Rose Baumer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kristen Michael Baumer; Susan Sledge Ellis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Cothran Ellis; Eliza

Brandon Favrot, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Semmes Favrot; Kelsey Grace French, daughter of Mr. William Darwin French and stepdaughter and daughter of Mr. Daryl Glynn Byrd and Ms. Kara Van de Carr; and Caroline LeBon Henry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Edward Henry. Also receiving the silver bean were Misses Caroline Grace LeBourgeois, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Claiborne LeBourgeois Jr.; Lucile McGlinchey Monsted, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Niels Monsted IV; Caroline Staples Picou, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Louis Picou; Brooke

Coleman Reiss, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Joseph Reiss III; Elizabeth Kathleen Robert, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Kearny Quinn Robert III; Lillian Margaret Roussel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Farrell Roussel; Elizabeth McLundie Bolton Schmidt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Justin Burton Schmidt; and Lucie Ellann Williamson, daughter of Mr. George Taylor Brodnax Williamson Jr. and stepdaughter and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Russell Kelly. Prior to the raising of the ﬁgurative curtain, guests gathered for the commencement of the pageantry. To initiate the fun, the

junior and adult cooks — the boys and men outfitted in the organization’s baker suits, and for the men, masks — darted forth to distribute the printed programs. This year’s junior cooks included: Masters Wilton Ellwood Bland V, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bland IV; George Perry Eastman, V, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eastman IV; Nicholas Jude Fleming Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Fleming; Thomas Cutting Mead, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jason Anthony Mead; Scott McDonald Milling, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Delery Milling; Alexander Charles Navarro Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Navarro; and William Claiborne Starr, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Pierce Starr. The evening was filled with joy and merriment as the Revelers and their guests danced and socialized through the night, much like the original Revelers did in 1870. The curtain has fallen on the Revelers’ 2026 festivities, but the Carnival curtain has been lifted and will be held aloft until Feb. 18. Within that time, there will be much merriment and magnificent monarchs, all heralded by Queen Ashley and the Lord of Misrule.

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Apollo ball celebrates America’s 250th anniversary Last evening in the New Orleans Theatre at the New Orleans Convention Center, the youthful Krewe of Apollo presented their 97th ball under the title “Apollo Celebrates America’s 250th Anniversary.” Modern patriotic-themed songs provided the backdrop for a meeting of traditional royalty. Reigning as queen of the ball was Miss Florence Virginia Dupuy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Arnold Dupuy. The maids in the court were Misses Sydney McCloskey Able, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Ryan Able; Caroline Doyle Beahm, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin David Beahm Jr.; Camden Haynes Billups, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Keener Billups Jr.; Elizabeth Cole Duggins, daughter and stepdaughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Scott Duggins and daughter of Ms. Elizabeth Sunny Deakle; Jane Catherine Farnsworth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Miller Farnsworth Jr.; Gray Madelyn Gibbs, daughter of

Beahm

Able

Florence Virginia Dupuy, queen of Apollo 2026 Mr. and Mrs. Shelby Reed Gibbs III; Molly Eleonore Gorman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gregory Gorman; and Caroline Louise Hales, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Benjamin Hales; Sara Avery Lovell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Anthony Lovell. Also serving in the court were Misses Jeanne Katherine Meyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm David Meyer; Olivia Denis Monsted, daughter of Mr. George Scott Monsted and Ms. Mignon deMarigny Denis; Livie Freret Montgomery, daughter of Mr.

Lovell

Billups

Meyer

Duggins

Monsted

and Mrs. Jonathan Baldwin Montgomery; Elizabeth Enneking Lamberton Patin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Clifton Patin III; Madeleine Emory Phillips, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kirk Phillips; and Alexandra Rand Rutledge, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Winston Rutledge. The king’s pages were Masters David Conway Kepper III, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kepper Jr.; and Charles Brice Schaefer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Emile Schaefer III. The queen’s pages were

Montgomery

Misses Tate Campbell Adams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Philip Pierce Adams; Lillie Hunter Charbonnet, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Numa Charbonnet Jr.; Elizabeth Anne Henican, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Patrick Henican IV; and Lauren Harper Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Todd Carrere Thompson. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2025 queen, Miss Patricia Becker Seemann, daughter Mr. and Mrs. Charles Frederick See-

Farnsworth

Gibbs

Gorman

Hales

McLundie Bolton Schmidt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Justin Burton Schmidt. Patin Phillips Rutledge The debutantes were presented by their felmann III. Miss Seemann was presented to their maj- low debutante and 2022 esties and received ﬂowers queen Lucile Monsted Mcfrom the captain. Glinchey. Current debutantes who Members of the ball were members of the 2022 committee were Messrs. Apollo court were also pre- William Francis Grace III, reception committee; Gorsented to their majesties. The debutants presented don Hardin Kolb Jr., court were Misses Eleanor Kath- committee; and Charles Niels Monsted IV, ﬂoor erine Cowan, daughter committee. of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Following the ball, the William Cowan; Lucile Mcqueen’s supper was held Glinchey Monsted, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles at the convention center. The band Ocean Street Niels Monsted IV; Brooke Coleman Reiss, daughter of from Nashville, Tennessee Mr. and Mrs. James Joseph provided the musical enReiss III; and Elizabeth tertainment.

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ 5D

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Krewe of Choctaw dazzles with Hollywood glamour The Krewe of Choctaw recently transformed Copeland Towers’ ballroom in Metairie into its Sacred Tribal Grounds of Mighty Chief Choctaw as he presented his traditional tableau in celebration of the krewe‘s 91st anniversary and 42nd annual Pow-Wow, representing “Choctaw Sparkles in Timeless Hollywood Glamour.” Reigning as Princess Choctaw 2026 was Mrs. Toni A. Sisung. Her majesty’s gown of royal blue Dupioni silk was trimmed with silver crystals and inlays. She wore the traditional Choctaw feathered headdress to match. Maids displaying the theme were Misses Blair Therese Winter, daughter

Lee

Toni A. Sisung, Princess 2026 Krewe of Choctaw of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Winter, representing “My Fair Lady”; Josie Lind Posey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Travis Posey, representing Scarlett O’Hara; and Londyn Juliet Lee,

Posey

daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lance Lee, representing “Casablanca.” Papooses to the princess were Misses Charlotte Ann DiMartino, daughter of Mr. Chris DiMartino and Mrs. Cassidy Shelley; Chloe Ann Breaux, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randall Breaux Jr.; Harper Grace Janis, daughter of Mr. Michael Janis and Ms. Shannon Holt Janis; and Emie Grace and Lily Lee Kleinpeter,

daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kleinpeter IV. Indian maidens were Winter Misses Cali Jordan Mitchell, daughter of Mr. Jeston Mitchell and the late Regina Terranova; and McKenzie Rose Breaux, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randall Breaux Jr. Mr. Troy M. Serpas reigned as Mighty Chief Choctaw 2026 and personiﬁed the leader of a Native American tribe that ﬂourished in the Southern states. His costume and headdress also made of royal blue Dupioni

silk trimmed in silver to complement the princess’ costume. Warriors to the chief were Messrs. Kevin Avery; Timothy Basonic; Floyd Davis and Joseph Lambert. Junior warriors were Alexander James Janis, son of Mr. Michael Janis and Ms. Shannon Holt Janis; and Ty Michael Shelley, son of Mr. Mason Shelley and Ms. Madeline Linden. The Indian brave was Ernest Leroy Mabes IV; son of Mr. and Mrs. Mabes III. Portraying the spiritual chanting medicine man was Mr. Derek Dessins. Pushmataha, the allknowing Choctaw leader of the 19th century was portrayed by Mr. Scott Holt. Papooses to the chief

were Masters Cade Robert Arbourgh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Corey Arbourgh; Dev Sisung Sekar, son of Dr. and Mrs. Krish Sekar; and Colt Terrance Shelley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mason Shelley. Recipient of the Godfrey Boudreaux Memorial Award for outstanding service to the krewe was Mrs. Dana Newsom. Captain is Mr. Ricky W. DeCastro Sr. The Pow-Wow coordinator was Mrs. Toni Sisung. General chairman was Mr. Scott Holt Jr. Narrator for the tableau was Mr. Mason Meeks. Ofﬁcers were Messrs. Daniel Meeks, Scott Holt, James Ortego, Kim Ellingburg, Mrs. Toni Sisung and Ms. Terry Breaux.

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Krewe of CAMAN ball flourishes with ‘Bridgerton Affair’ The Military Officers’ Wives’ Club’s Krewe of CAMAN Ball (Coast Guard, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy) was held Saturday at InterContinental New Orleans in the ballroom transformed into a colorful garden party — an evening of refinement, romance and Regency splendor under the banner “Petals and Porcelain: A Bridgerton Affair.” Ball captain Jenifer Sellars, wife of retired Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 4 John Sellars, welcomed attendees. At the sound of the captain’s whistle, the Marine Forces Reserve Band, headquartered in New Orleans, provided music to complement the theme and the national anthem. A Joint Color Guard from the 377th Theater

Brown

LaDonna Delgado, queen of CAMAN 2026 Sustainment Command presented and retired the colors. Ball lieutenant Kristen Weander, wife of Army Lt. Col. Nate Weander, facilitated the pageantry. Past queens and kings paraded into the ballroom. Last

Burgoyne

Panos

year’s monarchs, Eileen Hofrichter and retired Marine Corps Chief Warrant Ofﬁcer 4 John Sellars, rounded out the procession. Presentation of the 2026 royal maids followed, each wearing a gold and rhinestone crown, and a satin, fur-trimmed mantle encrusted with sequins and rhinestones bearing the monogram of the branch of service that each represented. Representing the Coast Guard was Jessica Zado, escorted by her husband,

Today is Sunday, Jan. 11, the 11th day of 2026. There are 354 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 11, 1908, the Grand Canyon was established as a national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt. The move protected it from mining and other activities until it became a national park in 1919. Also on this date: In 1861, Alabama became the fourth state to declare its secession from the Union. In 1935, aviator Amelia Earhart began what would be the first solo flight from Hawaii to California, completing the 2,400-mile flight across the Pacific to Oakland in just under 19 hours. In 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issued “Smoking and Health,” a report that concluded that “cigarette smoking contributes substantially to mortality from certain specific diseases and to the overall death rate.” In 2002, the first al-Qaida prisoners from Afghanistan arrived at the U.S. mili-

tary’s Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. In 2010, Mark McGwire admitted to The Associated Press that he’d used steroids and human growth hormone when he broke baseball’s home run record in 1998. In 2021, House Democrats introduced an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump, charging him with “incitement of insurrection” after the attack on the U.S. Capitol building ﬁve days earlier. In 2024, U.S. and British forces bombed more than dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, in a massive retaliatory strike for the militant group’s attacks on international cargo ships and other targets in the Red Sea. Today’s birthdays: Filmmaker Alfonso Arau is 94. Golf Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw is 74. Jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour is 74. Olympic swimming gold medalist Tracy Caulkins is 63. Filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee is 56. Singer Mary J. Blige is 55. Actor Amanda Peet is 54. Actor Devin Ratray is 49. Actor Aja Naomi King is 41. Singer and former competitive swimmer Cody Simpson is 29.

Dear Heloise: People spend their hard-earned money on outdoor flags only to have the hems fray in a short time from weather. If you turn the hem over and restitch Hints from on a sewing Heloise machine, the edges will not become ragged from the elements. I especially like to see the American flag flying frayfree in the wind. — Brenda Richardson, in Shelbyville, Kentucky

Revisiting the check engine light Dear Heloise: Regarding Jim and his check engine light ﬁx, after 40+ years in the automotive industry, I have

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Clocks and more

me of a quip I heard that tickled my septuagenarian funny bone. How to mess with the mind of a millennial: Lock the millennial in a room with: an analog clock; a rotary telephone; a cash register that does not tell you how much change to give a customer; a manual typewriter; a necktie; and a road atlas. Write the instructions on how to use these in cursive. — Dan Klein, via email Dan, quips aside, all these skills (using a road atlas, reading an analog clock, etc.) seem like lost arts! It sounds like a great opportunity for a funny septuagenarian to teach the younger kids a thing or two. — Heloise

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Chief Warrant Ofﬁcer 4 Paul Zado. Representing the Army was Shanna Burgoyne, escorted by her husband Col. Jeffrey Burgoyne. Representing the Marine Corps was Leah Panos, escorted by her husband Capt. Alex Panos. Representing the Air Force was Kimberly Brown, escorted by her husband retired Col. Todd Brown. Representing the Navy was Capt. Heather Quilenderino, escorted by her husband retired Lt. Cmdr.

walk, was revealed to be retired Coast Guard Capt. Bryan Daliey. His majesty wore a white velvet tunic with gold braiding that featured rhinestones, sequins and beading. His mantle and cape matched that of his queen. He was later joined by his wife, Angie Dailey. The court was assisted by the dukes of the Krewe of Aquamarine Algiereens, Matthew Grenz and Preston Strobel, attired in aqua velvet suits. Following dinner, a tableau was presented by HOKUM (Honorable Old Kings Under Medication), led by retired Marine Corps Col. Jason Burkett. The evening concluded with dancing and the customary lighted king cake paraded at midnight.

Keep flag hems free from fraying

TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press

Quilenderino

Johnny Quilenderino. The identity of Queen CAMAN LIII, LaDonna Delgado, Zado was revealed as she entered the ballroom, later joined by her husband retired Navy Capt. Rich Delgado. She wore a Queen Charlotteinspired gown with sequin embellishments. Her white velvet mantle was embellished with rhinestones, gold and silver sequins and crystals over a satin insert encircled with ermine. The Alençon lace collar was also embellished with rhinestones, gold and silver sequins and crystals. The king, who escorted the queen on her traditional

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6D ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

ä For area book events, go to

WWW.NOLA.COM/ENTERTAINMENT_LIFE/ BOOKS

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BOOKS Retired professor explores history as a reader, writer

UNSHAKEABLE

TIES

Although he retired from a long career as a law professor at LSU in 2011, Patrick H. Martin continues to lead a busy life. Martin, who turns 81 this month, has served as an adjunct professor at LSU in his specialty, oil and gas law. He and his AT RANDOM wife, Ann, who teaches in the English department at LSU, live in Clinton. “We built a house in 1998 on 130 acres just at the edge of town and have been here ever since,” Martin told me. He added a brief inventory of what guests can expect: “Horses, chickens, cats, dogs, random raccoons, opossums, skunks, many deer.” Visitors to the Martins’ home can also expect to see lots of books. He mentioned Erik Larson’s “Demon of Unrest,” which chronicles the start of the Civil War, and Joad Raymond Wren’s “The Great Exchange,” a look at the early days of journalism, as recent finds. Martin is partial to historical fiction, even taking a stab at writing a few novels himself. His “In a Foreign Country — Journeys of a Southerner” series follows the adventures of a New Orleans lawyer in the 19th century. “The books are self-published,” Martin told me. “At my age, no agent is likely to take me on, and agents are indispensable in getting a publisher.” National surveys consistently show declines in reading for pleasure. Martin is an outlier, so I met him for coffee to discuss why he finds reading important. “It’s who I am,” he said. “Our very identity is based on words. If I were not doing what I’m doing, I’d probably be in linguistics.” How did his reading bug start? “My father was an engineer,” Martin said. “My mother was well-read, and her mother read Shakespeare. I still have my grandmother’s notes from her reading of Shakespeare.” He’s revisited Shakespeare recently for another book project. Martin encourages law students to read history because it helps cultivate “an understanding of the legal system and how history gives rise to practice.” His appreciation for history deepened when he took classes at LSU from T. Harry Williams, the celebrated historian known for his biography of Huey Long. Classic literature can yield insights about the law, too. Martin has used “Antigone,” an ancient Greek play that contemplates the conflict between divine law and human law, to illustrate key points of legal philosophy. Excerpts from Aristotle, Shakespeare and Charles Dickens have also figured into his classes. “Melville has a wonderful passage in ‘Moby Dick’” that can be used to better understand legal theories related to oil and gas, Martin pointed out. A former midshipman in the U.S. Navy, Martin also enjoys building ship models. He sees similarities in his ship-building and his writing. “Each is a learning experience requiring research and craftsmanship,” he told me. “In neither building a model nor writing a book do I feel a need to seek anything but excellence.”

Tayari Jones’ new novel explores bonds of sisterhood in the Deep South’s Civil Rights Era

Danny Heitman

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

“Kin” by Tayari Jones,Alfred A. Knopf, 348 pages The novel “Kin” by Tayarii Jones is a journey of sisterhood in the Deep South during segregation and the Civil Rights Movement. Two o motherless girls, Vernice and Annie, bond throughoutt their childhood over the absence of their biological mothers. Jones, a graduate of Spelman College, University of Iowa and Arizona State University who lives in Atlanta, is a New York Times best-selling author of four novels, most notably her Oprah’s Book Club selection, “An American Marriage.” Published in 2018, “An American Marriage” was awarded the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Aspen n Words Prize and an NAACP P Image Award. It has been published in two dozen countries. More like sisters than friends, the two girls in “Kin” choose divergent paths as teenagers that shape their adult lives. Vernice, orphaned after the violent death of her parents, grows up under the strict guidance of her aunt. Vernice is able to pursue her dreams of social acceptance and family through attending Spelman College in Atlanta, where she encounters Black sisterhood, affluence, inequality and power. Annie, left in the care of her grandmother after being abandoned as an infant, is haunted by her mother’s absence and runs away to chase down her mother. Her spontaneous travel takes her from Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee. Along the way, she finds unexpected trials, love and friendship. Vernice and Annie are desperate for family, and their first person perspectives alternate chapter by chapter, which provides insight into their strained lives. Fated to walk different paths from childhood and driven apart by distance and time, the two women are connected through letters and an unshakeable tie. “Kin” is set in the fictional small town of Honeysuckle in south Louisiana from 1941 to the 1950s and then in Memphis and Atlanta in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It’s more than a book on friendship. It’s an intergenerational exploration of Black women’s varying lives and choices. Jones scavenges the depths of girlhood and womanhood in a critical time in America. The brutal

inequality of the South paired with the rich culture of Black women and their relationships with each other portrays a nuanced experience of femininity. A recurring theme Jones uses in “Kin” is a hoodoo belief that if someone puts dirt in the pocketbook of someone they love, they’ll return. Her prose and characterization are like those pinches of soil. Her words remain long after the book ends, and her phrases and sentences demand to be read aloud. Although the novel contains much heartbreak and tragedy, it’s one that can be read again and again. In “Kin,” the protagonists’ search for love and family guide them to unforeseen circumstances that haunt each of them in different ways. The people they encounter throughout their lives become their PROVIDED PHOTO found families, for better or for worse, yet they consider each other Tayari Jones, New york Times besttheir only kin. selling author and author of ‘An The novel will be published and American Marriage’ and new novel, available at local bookstores on ‘Kin.’ Feb. 24.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@ dannyheitman.com.

PHOTO By DANNy HEITMAN.

Patrick H. Martin holds a copy of ‘Fire on the Mississippi,’ one of the novels in his ‘In a Foreign Country — Journeys of a Southerner’ series.

THIS WEEK’S BESTSELLERS FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans 2. “Alchemised” by SenLinYu 3. “The Widow” by John Grisham 4. “The Secret of Secrets” by Dan Brown 5. “The Intruder” by Freida Mcfadden 6. “Brimstone (deluxe ed.)” by Callie Hart 7. “We Who Will Die (deluxe ed.)” by Stacia Stark 8. “Mona’s Eyes” by Thomas Schlesser 9. “Always Remember” by Charlie Mackesy 10. “Quicksilver (deluxe ed.)” by Callie Hart

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. “1929” by Andrew Ross Sorkin 2. “Stop, in the Name of God” by Charlie Kirk 3. “Nobody’s Girl” by Virginia Roberts Giuffre 4. “Good Things” by Samin Nosrat 5. “How to Test Negative for Stupid” by John Kennedy 6. “The Look” by Michelle Obama 7. “The Miracles Among Us” by Marc Siegel 8. “The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes” by Ree Drummond 9. “Puzzle Mania!” by Joel Fagliano 10. “The Overthinker’s Guide to Making Decisions” by Joseph Nguyen

TRADE PAPERBACK

1. “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi 2. “In Your Dreams” by Sarah Adams 3. “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman 4. “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden 5. “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore 6. “Solo Leveling, Vol. 14” by Chugong. Ize 7. “The Atomic Habits Workbook” by James Clear 8. “Caught Up” by Liz Tomforde 9. The Surrogate Mother” by Freida McFadden 10. The Tenant” by Freida McFadden

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ 7D

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TRAVEL Soak in views above the clouds at Lookout Mountain Georgia’s Cloudland at McLemore Resort a cozy stay

terrain, lounge by the cliff-edge infinity pool or dip into waters that slip over the mountain’s edge (don’t worry, you won’t) or enjoy a meal at Skyside, where the horizon seems to stretch forever (that is, on noncloudy days). Other restaurants include Croft, perfect for casual meals and cocktails, and The Pocket Café for quick bites and craft coffees. If you’re like me and enjoy a nice rainy day, especially this time of year, head to the resort’s cozy library with its walls of books (many local and Southern authors), roaring fireplace and comfy chairs. On the day the clouds rolled in I retreated to this oasis, found a good book and sipped a glass of wine by the fire. The expansive wall of windows that allowed me to enjoy the clouds made the experience doubly wonderful. The main lobby offers a massive fireplace as well, along with original artwork and numerous ways to exhale and relax.

BY CHERE COEN Contributing writer

Lookout Mountain’s name sometimes belies the reality. The peak that straddles Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, containing Southern landmarks such as Rock City and Ruby Falls with its pinnacle overlooking Chattanooga, reaches about 2,400 feet above sea level to provide a remarkable view of Southern landscapes. When it’s sunny, that is. This is why one of its natural highlights, a gorge with dramatic waterfalls under the Georgia government umbrella, was labeled Cloudland Canyon State Park. And the newest resort to grace the mountain named Cloudland at McLemore Resort. This golf club and resort destination includes a 245-room hotel situated so high that it’s literally above the clouds when weather rolls in. Such was the case when I visited this Curio Collection hotel by Hilton in the northwest corner of Georgia. At ﬁrst my guest room offered a breathtaking sunny view stretching for miles into Alabama, then rain clouds rolled in and suddenly I was looking down upon the water vapor. It hardly mattered, for both experiences added to the charm of the weekend, one a chance to explore the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains and the other to relax and savor this gorgeous new hotel.

PHOTOS By CHERÉ COEN

Visitors to Cloudland can lounge by the cliff-edge infinity pool or dip into waters that slip over the mountain’s edge (don’t worry, you won’t). Hikes down into the canyon at Cloudland Canyon State Park provide visitors with some of the finest waterfalls in the South.

The resort Cloudland at McLemore Resort sits on a property that includes the award-winning McLemore Highlands Course reimagined by Bill Bergin and Rees Jones and featuring dramatic elevation changes and a top ﬁnishing

The mountain

Chattanooga is a 30-minute drive away and Atlanta, Huntsville and Nashville approximately hole as the 18th runs along the two hours each. Even closer to cliff edge from tee to green. It’s Cloudland are Lookout Mountain’s been named the 22nd best hole in many attractions at the Tennessee America by Golf Digest and a top end. 10 finishing hole in the world acFor those who love a combinacording to LINKS Magazine. tion of escape with city life, the The resort’s latest course, The resort is situated to satisfy. Keep, boasts over a mile of cliffNot far into Alabama lies the edge play. quaint town of Mentone with its In addition to the hotel’s unique restaurants, art and the 2,000-feet-up dramatic views natural beauty of DeSoto State from guest rooms and several Park. Cloudland Canyon State dining options is a 20,000-squarePark lies about 15 minutes from foot conference center, spa and the resort on the Georgia side fitness center. Auld Alliance, the and hikes down into the canyon resort’s signature fine-dining res- provide visitors with some of the finest waterfalls in the South. For taurant with a nod to the alliance those who prefer only an escape between Scotland and France in into nature, the resort makes for 1295, serves up both Scottish and an ideal getaway. French cuisine, in addition to exFor more information about the quisite cocktails, wine selection and, of course, a variety of scotch. resort and its special offers, inVisitors may hike the multicluding golf packages, visit www. acre property through mountain mclemoreresort.com.

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER By Christopher Elliott

Travel insurance won’t reimburse for flight delay to India Last August, my dream trip to India imploded before takeoff.A delayed flight from Orlando to Atlanta caused me to miss my connection to Paris. Delta Air Lines rebooked me 25 hours later through London, costing me for hotels, meals Christopher $270 and taxis. I’d wisely Elliott bought Trawick International travel insurance, which covers a trip disruption. But SureGo Claims, their administrator, became a nightmare.They demanded endless documents, assured me everything was received, then denied my claim with a lie: “Your delay was only 3 hours.” SureGo falsely claimed my Atlanta-to-Paris flight was delayed (it wasn’t — I’d missed

it entirely!).The Delta documentation I provided clearly showed a 25-hour disruption. When I appealed, SureGo demanded another 40 to 60 days, after already torturing me for five months. I know $270 is a small amount, but that’s how they trap you: too little to sue, enough to make you quit.This feels like a scam where they bank on the customer’s exhaustion. I’ve spent hours on calls, resending paperwork, and being ghosted. How can a company fabricate facts to avoid paying such a modest, valid claim? — Christine Porter,Apopka, Fla. Trawick International should have honored your claim immediately. Your policy’s trip delay coverage, which is standard in most travel insurance plans, typically kicks in after 6 to 12 hours. Your

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25-hour disruption wasn’t borderline — it was excessive. I’m not sure how SureGo Claims investigated your case, but it certainly seems to have misread the basic facts of your claim. In doing so, it violated fundamental insurance principles of good faith and fair dealing. Florida statutes explicitly prohibit insurers from failing to adopt and implement standards for the proper investigation of claims or misrepresenting pertinent facts. You did right by keeping records of your calls, but you might have ﬁxed this faster with a more thorough paper trail. If you have to call an insurance company, always ask for an email conﬁrma-

tion. Otherwise, it’s your word against theirs. The escalations were problematic and not at all what we’re accustomed to seeing with Trawick, which has an otherwise good reputation for fast claims. You could have appealed your case to one of Trawick’s executives. I publish their names, numbers and emails on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. I’m puzzled by this case. Most claims like this are automatic and processed quickly. If you give your travel insurance company your ﬂight itinerary — you can usually do that online — it will track your ﬂight and pay your claim within hours if something goes wrong.

I contacted Starr Companies, Trawick’s underwriter. A few weeks after our inquiry, Trawick approved a claim for $300 per person, which is more than you claimed, calling it trip delay coverage. I should note that you also continued fighting for Trawick to honor the claim, and it was likely pressure from all sides that finally led to this successful resolution. Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting at elliottadvocacy.org.

8D ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

PUSSYFOOTERS Continued from page 1D

The Pussyfooters formula was magic, and it didn’t take long for them to become Crescent City stars. Paradegoers eagerly anticipated the sassy dancers, cheering and hooting approvingly as they passed. To keep things interesting, the group changed costumes from time to time. In the ﬁrst Mardi Gras after Hurricane Katrina, the Pussyfooters appeared in pink camouﬂage in honor of the National Guard, who were helping secure the city at the time. Like Baldassar, Cindy Williams is a ceramic artist. She said it was the Pussyfooters’ appearance in that Carnival comeback in 2006 that inspired her to join up. Back in that era, Williams said, the Pussyfooters’ costuming was a bit more individualistic than it is now. “It was a place to play around with makeup and altered personalities,” she said. When someone proposed the whole group wear go-go boots, Williams balked.

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D The story goes on, describing the continuing day in the life of these prisoners, but the opening paragraphs, alone, are enough to answer Craig Bridges’ question. “I’ve heard that there was a POW camp in Port Allen during World War II, but where was it?” the Baker resident asked. “And how many prisoners did it house?” The camp was located behind where the West Baton Rouge Museum is now, according to Lauren Davis, West Baton Rouge Museum’s curator. “A state historic marker stands at the spot where a reconstructed concrete water fountain from the camp still stands,” Davis said. The marker was erected in 2011 by the West Baton Rouge Historical Society at 849 6th St. in Port Allen, pointing out that the water fountain is the only remaining structure of the POW sub-camp, which was a satellite facility of the larger Camp Plauche downriver in Harahan. Then again, there is one other surviving structure from the camp, which now serves as the museum’s juke joint. The sub-camp operated from 1943 to 1946, housing between 500 and 774 German prisoners-ofwar captured in North Africa and throughout Europe. Modern-day markers of its boundaries are Louisiana Avenue on the north,

CARNIVAL

Continued from page 1D would follow, from Alla to Zulu, would be in that style. Meanwhile in Alabama, the port city founded by the French would evolve its own Mardi Gras celebration. Some facts: Mobile was founded in 1702; New Orleans in 1718. So, for anything that was done in Mobile between those years, even if it was just a gathering of French expatriates boozing in a bar on Mardi Gras day, it could be argued that Mobile did it first, but there was nothing organized nor lasting. If that was the case, then New Orleans still gets credit for being first because of Iberville’s exploration group of French Canadians, who in 1699 landed downriver from what would be the site of New Orleans on what happened to be Mardi Gras that year. If anyone in the group took a swig from a keg of rum, that might be considered to be the first Mardi Gras celebration. Significantly, in honor of the day, Iberville named the spot where the group landed Pointe du Mardi Gras. What Mobile did create first

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Without attempting to do so, Baldassar and her brassy bunch changed Carnival. They pioneered a whole new place for women in the big party, at a price far below the expense of riding in a ﬂoat parade. And they brought a certain ironic feminist flair to Carnival, which had long been a mostly male affair. Eventually the boys got into the act. Baldassar said that one of the very ﬁrst times that the famous all-male 610 Stompers showed off their so-called “extraordinary moves” was at the 2009 Pussyfooters’ Blush Ball. Stompers founder Brett Patron said he remembers the group’s inaugural performance well, because it was a disaster. A booming speaker caused the Stomper’s CD player to repeatedly skip, which threw the inexperienced dance troupe into chaos. Happily, Patron said, the Pussyfooters “gave us a reprieve,” allowing the Stompers to repeat their act — with a steadier sound Starting a trend system — later that night. Patron said the Pussyfooters As the Pussyfooters’ profile rose, other female dance troupes were certainly an inspiration for popped up, adopting similar princi- the Stompers. “They were part of the discusples with eyebrow-raising double entendres of their own. sion the very first night we dis-

cussed the 610 Stompers,” he said. The thing was, he said, they weren’t dancers, they were just ordinary women. “That gave us the courage to try it,” he said. The Pussyfooters appeared in the historic Saints Super Bowl parade in 2010. That was the year actor/author Laura Cayouette said she ﬁrst beheld the Pussyfooters. “Way down the street, I saw this army of pink,” she said. “They had this part ﬁerce, part cupcake feminine energy.” Cayouette was inducted into the group in 2013. “Now, when I suit up, I see so many women validated,” she said. “When you see the Pussyfooters, you see your size, your shape. There’s always one of us that’s like you.”

Michigan Avenue on the south, 8th Street on the west and 6th Street on the east. Gueymard, in his 1943 article, added that the the camp was situated on the old West Baton Rouge Parish fairgrounds near Port Allen’s community center. U.S. Army Capt. C.W. Weltzin was the commander. He said the prisoners’ living facilities were minimal, and their needs were met. “The camp consisted of tents with wooden floors, each housing several prisoners,” the historic marker reads. “There were separate buildings for the kitchen, mess hall and showers. Due to wartime labor shortages on the home front, prisoners were used on local sugar plantations, Cinclare, Poplar Grove, Westover, Smithfield, Devall and Alma. Ranging in age from 19 to 52, the prisoners were paid 80 cents a day for an 8 to 10 hour workday, six days a week.” Meanwhile, Davis points to the West Baton Rouge Museum’s website, westbatonrougemuseum.com, which dedicates a page to the parish’s World War II experience. “The state of Louisiana had the third largest number of Prisoner of War camps in the U.S., behind California and Texas,” the museum’s page said. “There were five main camps for Axis prisoners in Louisiana and a number of satellite camps.” The five camps were Camp Ruston in Lincoln Parish, Camp Claiborne in Rapides Parish, Camp Livingston in Rapides and Grant parishes, Camp Polk in Vernon

Parish and Camp Plauche in Orleans Parish. Sub-Camp No. 7 was among the satellites. “German prisoners were brought here on November 19, 1943,” the museum’s page continues. “The U.S. War Department had standard requirements for the construction of POW camps, and this camp was built according to these conditions for approximately 350 prisoners. The camp consisted of tar-papered buildings within a barbed wire enclosure of two separate 10- to 12-foot-high fences. Guard towers were placed at strategic points within the enclosure.” The museum points out that not everything went smoothly in the beginning. There was one incident between the prisoners and the locals, when “a strike occurred at the camp after the 240 prisoners there refused to work in order to show solidarity for one punished detail of prisoners.” In retaliation, the prisoners were only allowed bread and water until the strike was over. They lasted about three days. But that seems to be the only documented outward show of contention during the camp’s operation. Gueymard’s article traces the prisoners’ assimilation into their new surroundings, beginning with their learning how to chop sugar cane stalks. “When the men got into the ﬁeld, the planters soon found that the prisoners had no training whatsoever in cutting cane, and the recruits had to learn from the beginning,” Gueymard wrote. “Few

speak English, so the problem was made more acute ... the work of the prisoners has been fairly good but not excellent. However, planters are glad to get what they can.” Meanwhile, Port Allen residents naturally were curious about their POW neighbors. Gueymard details an instance when the prisoners arrived on a Sunday afternoon, and residents from Port Allen lined up at the Community Center pool benches to see the prisoners. On the other side of the fence, the prisoners lined up to look at the Americans. “It was all very funny, and everybody began laughing, the prisoners and the Americans,” Gueymard wrote. And what, exactly, did the Port Allen residents see? Gueymard described the prisoners as husky, broad-shouldered but not overly tall. He said they often engaged in horseplay while in the ﬁeld. “The boys seem to take their plight good-naturedly and are a jovial lot — not sullen — while at work in the ﬁelds,” the reporter wrote. On the outside, the museum’s page states, Port Allen residents collected musical instruments for the Germans at the camp and hosted dances for them at the Community Center. “People from West and East Baton Rouge recall how the young German men would often whistle at local girls as their work convoys passed,” the museum’s web page continued. “On the weekends, girls would try to talk to

was “mystic societies,” secretive men’s organizations (likely influenced by the Masonic movement) that staged parades and masquerade balls. The most famous was the Cowbellians, who snatched cowbells and rakes from a nearby hardware store during the evening of their first spontaneous foot parade on New Year’s Eve 1830. Eventually the group expanded so that by 1840 its procession had horse-drawn floats. Another group, the Strikers, was formed in 1842. It still survives as the oldest lasting mystic club in the country. Mystic clubs are important in the history of Carnival because they were the models for what would become known as “krewes” in New Orleans. Indeed, among the six of Comus’ founders, three had been Cowbellians from Mobile. For whatever might be said during the Mobile vs. New Orleans debate — Mobile, because of the mystics, created the organizational structure which guided the creation of New Orleans Carnival. The menagerie of “demons, rich and realistic” would eventually be joined on the streets of New Orleans by processions of Muses; Bacchus, a wine God; Endymion, a mythological hunter and as-

tronomer; Proteus, a Shepherd of the Sea; African Warriors; and pure Chaos. However, and this is an important point, the early mystics were really more about New Year’s Eve than Mardi Gras. Their parades were originally at the end of the year rather than before Ash Wednesday — and then by the 1880s the New Year’s Eve tradition had faded. The Cowbellians, who started it all, staged their last parade on Dec. 31, 1881. Meanwhile in New Orleans the mystic tradition, localized as “krewes,” was growing, but as an element of Mardi Gras. Also, a part of the discussion is that the Mobile celebration was suspended during the Civil War and did not return until 1868 when re-founded by a native Confederate veteran named Joe Cain. In 1867, Cain had been in New Orleans to see the annual Fireman’s Day parade. The next day happened to be Mardi Gras, so he stayed to see that too. That inspired him to start a parade back in Mobile, which would be known as Joe Cain’s Day, on the Sunday before Mardi Gras. That was the rebirth of the parading Mobile Mardi Gras — 11 years after the ﬁrst Comus parade.

Nevertheless, connections between the two cities were uncanny. Lewis Salomon, the New Orleans merchant who in 1872 served as the first Rex, was born in Mobile. Rex did not have a queen during its first year but did in 1873. At its ball, the reigning Rex (E. B. Wheelock) selected a woman from the audience to be his queen. History, and the society notes, would record her as being Mrs. Walker Fearn. A native of Texas, her first name was Fanny and her family name was Hewett. The debutante tradition had not begun yet, so the first queen was the only married woman to have sat on the throne. Curiously, just as the first Rex, Salomon, was a native of Mobile; so would be the husband of the first queen. Walker Fearn, a lawyer who had served as a diplomat to Brussels during the James Buchanan administration, was well known in New Orleans. His mother was a prominent socialite in Mobile. OK, here’s the part with some heady theory making: Planning for the first Rex parade was in late 1871. In that same year, the Mobile Carnival Association was started with the intention of rebuilding the local Mardi Gras

“I was always this punk rock kid. I wore combat boots. I didn’t have a feminine side.” Instead of go-go boots, Williams wore sturdy, thickly-treaded, lace-up, white Doc Martins, which were much better suited to the New Orleans streets. Thereafter, white combat boots became a signature of Pussyfooter attire. In addition to entertaining, the Pussyfooters were always devoted to public service. Their annual Blush Ball is a beneﬁt bash that’s open to the public. Since 2011, the group has raised $489,664 and 79 cents, according to troupe spokeswoman LaMinda Pilie. The next ball takes place on Jan. 16 and is dedicated to Metro Centers for Community Advocacy, an organization that aids survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Williams said she thinks it’s funny that the Pussyfooters “went from a ragtag group of artists to a pink Junior League.”

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the young men through the fence from houses that backed up to one side of the camp on Michigan Avenue. Friendships developed between some farmers and POW laborers as well.” In 1945, two German prisoners escaped, determined to celebrate their third Christmas post captivity outside the camp. The StateTimes reported on Dec. 26, 1945, that local law enforcement arrested the duo, Heinrich Knuepe and Goenter Lessner, both 25, at the Star Night Club on Plank Road. “Just how far they got with their celebration was not learned, but they had apparently done little drinking when they were nabbed,” the article stated. After Sub-Camp No. 7’s 1946 closure, German POWs were sent to various locations, primarily within the allied occupying zones in Germany for processing, labor or repatriation. But Port Allen made a good impression on some. “Several prisoners corresponded with residents,” the museum’s page states. “After leaving, one even stated that he wished he were back in Louisiana because of the difﬁculties of getting food in war-torn France, where he had been transferred.” Do you have a question about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phone number and the city where you live.

there. In those postwar recovery years, cities were thinking of ways to invigorate their economies. Carnivals were a way to draw visitors. People like Fearn obviously had connections with the social bigtimers in New Orleans. The Cowbellians, the mystic krewes and Cain had been a part of the evolution. Now the postwar economic recovery was the driving force. New Orleans introduced the Carnival colors of purple, gold and green (to be adapted by Mobile). Royal Artists, a New Orleans float builder, builds five of Mobile’s parades. The New Orleans style would define the classic American Carnival parade, imitated, though seldom with full success, in towns that celebrate the symbolic transition from feasting to fasting. To the question of which city’s Carnival is the oldest, the hard part is that each city’s eccentricities are father of the other. Mobile provided the mysticism; New Orleans made it famous. Both cities needed each other. Errol Laborde is a producer and panelist on WYES Channel 12’s “Informed Sources.” Contact him at elabordenola@gmail. com.

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The group has grown over the years. Cayouette said there are roughly 120 Pussyfooters now. New recruits — called kittens — are recommended for inclusion by current members — mama cats — every two years. “We don’t audition our dancers,” she said. Dues are $400. Ten years ago, Baldassar left the

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Pussyfooters. “It was just time to go,” she said. With a master’s degree in organization design and renewal, she understands that institutions naturally change and founders move on. After turning over the leadership of the Pussyfooters, Baldassar co-founded Yeah! Yoga, an organization that provides yoga instruction to youths affected by incarceration. She said she’s still a big fan of the group. Since the advent of the Pussyfooters, dance and marching groups of all sorts have proliferated like toadstools after a spring rain, with myriad themes and styles. Asked if she’s proud of contributing to the culture of her adopted home, Baldassar is demure. She said she was never very aware of the impact her group was making. “I just wanted to dance down the street with music and a drink,” she said. Developing that impulse into an institution “just felt natural and creative. It’s what New Orleans does,” she said. Sure, she said, she’s proud. “I’m proud of everybody,” she said.

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Krewe of Lourdes celebrates 75th Carnival ball

The Krewe of Lourdes held its 75th annual Carnival ball in the Frederick J. Sigur Auditorium and Grand Ballroom in Chalmette with the theme “Lourdes Diamond Jubilee: 75 Years of Memories.” Reigning as queen over the ball was Gerri Fernandez Robin Valene. Pages to the queen were Masters John Ross Doran, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Doran; Dan Anthony “Tripp” Robin III, son of and Mr. Robin Jr. and Ms. Kandice R. Thomas; Jackson Dickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dickson; and Jude Orillion, son of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Orillion. Camryn Cooper Chaupetta was the captain of the ball. Maids to the queen were Calley Robin Blue, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Blue; Julia D’Arcy Badinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Badinger; Sydney Alexandra Blue, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kleo Blue; Alexandra Carrington Dickson, daughter of Richard Dickson, and daughter and stepdaughter of Stacy Robin and Duke Robin; Jill

Chauppetta

Badinger

C. Blue

Gerri Fernandez Robin Valene, queen of Lourdes 2026

Jacob

Williams Dolese, partner of Joseph A. Paillot III; Julia Louise Jacob, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Jacob; Noelle Lee Ponstein, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Ponstein; Ruby Rose Spedale, daughter of Mr. Don P. Spedale and Ms. Ginger Grabert Spedale; Camille Claire (CC) Truxillo, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Ryan M. Truxillo; and Dr. Margaret Wortington, wife of Dr. Matthew Bertucci. Ladies-in-waiting were Misses Abigail Jules and Catherine Rose Bertucci,

daughters of Dr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Bertucci; Charlie Grace Poole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Poole IV; Kaia Marshall Poole, daughter of Ms. Kaylie Kleinn and Mr. Aaron Poole; Thea Elizabeth Lancon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Lancon; Addison Leigh Guidry, daughter of Mr. Jonathan Guidry and Dr. Angelle Gelvin; Blayke Katherine and Brynnen Kate Duplechain, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Brennen Duplechain; Skye Renee and Brea Rose Sanzone, daugh-

Ponstein

S. Blue

Spedale

Truxillo

ters of Ms. Rae Nunez and Mr. Chad Sanzone; and Marie Claire Clements, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy P. Clements. Escorts were Messrs. Anthony Jesse and Jack Braden Moley, sons of Mr. Taylor Moley; Ezekiel Johnson and Gabriel Emile Bertucci, sons of Ms. Jamie B. Bertucci and Mr. Nicholas T. Bertucci; Emile Maurice and August Gerard Clements, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy P. Clements; Henry Hunter Ponstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Neil Ponstein;

Dickson

Dolese

Seth William and Roman Charles Wilson, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Wilson; Silas Jacob Poole, Worthington son of Ms. Kaylie Klein and Mr. Aaron Poole; and Nathan Xavier Bertucci, son of Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Bertucci. Junior maids were Misses Mercie Taylor Denning, daughter of Capt. Matthew Denning and retired Coast Guard Capt. Kelly Denning; Charlotte Holley, daughter of Alexandra Dickson and stepdaughter of Richard Dickson; Monca Lee Bertucci, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Bertucci; and Sarah Christine and Elizabeth Ruth Bertucci, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan J. Ber-

tucci Jr. Reigning as king was Bryan Jeffrey Bertucci Jr., following a family legacy that included his father, Dr. Bryan Bertucci, as king in 1988, and his grandfather, Dr. Emile Bertucci Jr., in 1963. Pages to the king were Misses Bridget Jill Bertucci and Ruth Emilia Bertucci, daughters of Dr. Margaret Worthington and Dr. Matthew Bertucci; and Master Luke Stephen Bertucci, son of Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Bertucci. Dukes were Messrs. John Barrett Bertucci, Dr. Matthew B. Bertucci, Dr. Stephen M. Bertucci, Kleo E. Blue IV, Jonathan L. Guidry, Theodore L. Perry, Don P. Spedale, Brendan M. Truxillo, Thomas C. Hughes IV, and John B. Blue. Lieutenants in the ball were Mesdames Lisamarie K. Brandon, Kara J. Colburn, Mary H. Fernandez, Lori R. Serpas. and Roxanne Gray. Proceeds from the ball and gala will go to the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Violet.

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Phoenix Fête lights up with mystical masquerade theme A glittering “Ice” theme set the mood Saturday when the ladies of the Mystical Order of the Phoenix presented the 2026 Phoenix Fête, A Mystical Masquerade, as Phoenix VI arose from the ashes of Mardi Gras 2025 and greeted her sisters and their guests at Messina’s at the Terminal at Lakefront Airport. The phoenix epitomizes the ideals of the Mystical Order of the Phoenix through grace, spirit, generosity and love of Mardi Gras. The phoenix reigns for one year and then is reborn for another Carnival season.

Disney will let down Rapunzel’s hair once again

Stars of live-action ‘Tangled’ named

Thea E. Narkiewicz, Phoenix VI 2026 Since the founding in 2020, ﬁve have represented the organization and alternated between Fire and Ice

phoenixes. Presented were Phoenix I, Ms. Gemelle Martin Linzy (Fire); Phoenix II, Ms. Carolynn “Lynn” Precup Isbel (Ice); Phoenix III, Shelby Elizabeth Saak (Fire); Phoenix IV, Ms. Carmelitta Gordon Favorite, (Ice); and Phoenix V, Mrs. Nicole Moss Dorignac, (Fire). The presentation concluded with the entrance of the 2026 Phoenix, Ms. Thea E. Narkiewicz, to the song “Immortal Eve.” She wore a turquoise sequin jacket trimmed in silver with purple accents and ornate appliques that evoked a wintry feel. Her

ensemble also included shimmering navy-purple pants with matching turquoise designs made to resemble images of scattered “ice” feathers. Her Phoenix wings of crystals and rhinestones were in the image of ice crystals. Her ensemble was topped off with a sequin cape. The monarch is a social worker who works with some of the most vulnerable in the community. Her partner Ms. “Montana” and her parents are Edward and Dolores Narkiewicz. The evening began with the introduction of the founders, board members

and ﬂoat lieutenants, Mesdames Caitlin Strother, Monique Breaux, Chanel Labat, Kelly Wright, Kara Borasch, Dawn Frick, Carla Catalano, Karen Boudrie, Mickey Milton, Jennifer Edwards, Selina Boone and Gigi Saak. Following the entrance of Phoenix VI, the party was kicked off with the Zulu Tramps. After dinner, entertainment was provided by D.J. BIG Abe. The fête was decorated with the theme including table centerpieces of Phoenix sculptures designed by Luis Colmenares. WVUE Fox 8’s Kristi Coleman was

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the emcee. The Mystical Order of the Phoenix was formed in 2020 to unite women of diverse backgrounds for fun, friendship, and the merriment of Mardi Gras. They encourage, foster, promote and cultivate a spirit of sisterhood among krewe members while also engaging in charitable activities and community outreach to give back to the city. Special thanks were extended to the Keepers of the Flame, the order’s horseback riders, including Jason Tullos, Rhett Gonzalez, Julie Luna-Wheeler and Dawn Sprague.

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By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Disney will let down Rapunzel’s lengthy hair once again. Walt Disney Pictures said last week its live-action adaptation of “Tangled” will star Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim in the lead roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. The 2010 animated hit followed Rapunzel, the magically long-haired princess locked away in a tower, Manheim whose carefully ordered life is upended when she teams up with Flynn Rider, a charming outlaw on the run. The original film featured the voices of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, grossed more than $590 million worldwide, and spawned both the short ﬁlm “Tangled Ever After” and the Disney Channel series “Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure.” The new “Tangled” will be directed by Michael Gracey, best known for “The Greatest Showman,” with a screenplay by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. No release date has been announced. Croft, an Australian actor, is best known for starring as Rachel Roth, aka Raven, on the DC series “Titans,” and her role on Netflix’s “True Spirit.” Manheim is already a familiar face to Disney audiences after leading the “Zombies” franchise.

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10D ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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HOLLYWOOD SOUTH Action-packed indie film now shooting around N.O. Cast and crew working again on independent film, ‘Bury Me’

With studio film production at an all-time low in Louisiana, the independent film community in the state is filling a major void, employing actors and crews who have had to leave the state, in some cases the country, just to work. But, beginning Leslie production this past Cardé November, a new feature is shooting in Violet and promises to be a major contribution to the canon of indie films coming out of New Orleans. Helmed by New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Loyola University graduate Marco Colosimo, who is directing and starring in the new film, “Bury Me,” the feature will showcase a lot of local talent, both in front of and behind the camera. This will be Colosimo’s first feature, but he’s been making shorts for a decade, beginning with scripts he wrote in high school, around the time he snuck onto the set of “Trumbo,” shooting in New Orleans and starring Bryan Cranston. “I started talking to a bunch of grips on the film, who asked if I wanted to do some work for free,” explained Colosimo. “I had so much chutzpah as a teenager that I walked up to the director, Jay Roach (“Austin Powers,” “Bombshell”) and started performing card tricks for him, as I was proficient at sleight of hand. “Soon, I was entertaining the DP and the producers, as well. After ‘Trumbo’ wrapped, one of those producers told me she was producing a show called ‘The Magicians’ and asked me if I wanted to be a paid consultant on the pilot. The answer was obviously a resounding ‘yes’. It did very well on

PROVIDED PHOTOS By CALE FREELAND

Writer, director and actor Marco Colosimo plays Deputy Owen McCarthy in the new indie film, ‘Bury Me.’

Actor Omar Apollo Askew films a scene in ‘Bury Me,’ shooting in Violet. the SYFY Channel.” After graduating from Loyola in 2019, and before the pandemic hit, Colosimo was doing behind-thescenes work on many of the major productions that came through Louisiana that year. It was the heyday for Hollywood South. Then Covid-19 struck. Colosimo took the time to perfect his screenwriting, and moved to New York, where he decided to pursue acting as an adjunct to his writing screenplays. He studied at the ac-

claimed William Esper Studio in Manhattan, enrolling in their twoyear program, which he says, “really made an actor out of me.” While working for a film rental company in Manhattan, he says, an idea for a feature film came to him like a bolt of lightning. Although he had started numerous feature scripts before, he had never finished them. But between 2024-25, he felt he had a finished script, and with a self-imposed shooting deadline of November,

he began shooting with a cast and crew in Violet. “What I’m really proud about is that we’re working with the best talent in town with great resumés, who have worked here and all over the country,” Colosimo said. “But we’re also giving opportunities to people who’ve never acted in anything before. Some were pulled from acting workshops around the city, and some showed up at auditions, and they’ve all turned out to be incredible.” The movie, with limited details about plot (to avoid spoilers) involves a deputy sheriff, played by Colosimo, who finds himself in the middle of a true-to-life actionpacked crime thriller, while he’s feeling a bit unsteady about his qualifications and street-cred as a rookie cop. The title, “Bury Me,” is a bit of a double entendre, referring to actions in the film, and the state-of-mind of the sheriff. With known actors like Billy Slaughter (“Mayfair Witches,” “Mindhunter”) and Lance Nichols (“The Burial,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) — neither of whom have started shooting yet

— and his DP Nick Ramey who shoots documentaries for Netflix, he certainly has the right team lined up. He met his editor at the New Orleans Film Festival, and after seeing some of his work, hired him to edit “Bury Me.” And, he has Grammy award-winning composer Jay Weigel doing the score. “In cases when I’m signed on early, I often explore musical ideas based on the preliminary conversations with the director, sometimes prior to the start of shooting,” explained Weigel. “I’ve already written some trailer music for him, and some exposés of score.” As with any action movie, stunt people are required, and with no big productions shooting in the city, Colosimo was able to hire the best. “The same goes for crews, and as you know, we have some of the best of in the country,” said Colosimo. “We’re giving grips, production assistants, gaffers, and every type of crew member, along with costumers and caterers, a vehicle where they can work locally.” The film is totally self-financed, with Colosimo and a group of investors footing the bills for the production, which is never cheap with expensive stunt sequences or car chases that can upend a budget quickly. But this is more than a shoot ‘em up film, with a script that has impressed veteran actors who’ve seen hundreds of them. “I saw shades of early Quentin Tarantino in his script,” Slaughter said. “I was also heartened to see that the Louisiana protagonists in the film were authentic and reflected some of the real-life characters we have here. Marco really knows how to write from the conflict of any scene, so he’s always upping the ante — which keeps the stakes high and constantly keeps you engaged.” “Bury Me” will finish shooting in early summer. Email Leslie Cardé at lesliecardejournalist@gmail.com.

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UnitedHealthcare’s La.-Miss. CEO shares ways to lower insurance costs 4E

How Bollinger Shipyards is building 4 polar icebreakers in Houma 7E

BUSINESS N O L A.C O M

S u n d ay, J a n u a ry 11, 2026

1En

Gulf Coast facilities equipped to process Venezuela oil

MATIAS DELACROIX/AP

Vehicles drive past the El Palito refinery in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, on Dec. 21. The supply of Venezuelan oil to the U.S. has declined since the ’90s and Gulf Coast refineries started sourcing most of their heavy crude from other countries, namely Canada.

As U.S. mulls rebuilding South American country’s diminished infrastructure, experts point to La.’s ‘baked-in’ capacity BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Shortly after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. special forces, President Donald Trump made clear that his rationale for ordering the raid included gaining access to Venezuela’s abundant crude oil reserves. The move drew condemnation from Latin American nations and cheers from opponents of Maduro’s socialist regime. And while experts say it’s too soon to say what exactly it that might mean for the South American country’s ailing oil industry, if new supplies of Venezuelan crude start flowing, refineries along the Gulf Coast, including a dozen or so in Louisiana, will likely be the beneficiaries. The state’s third-largest refinery, CIT-

GO in Lake Charles, was owned by the Venezuelan government until recently. And most of Louisiana’s reﬁneries were built during a period when Venezuela’s oil industry was closely tied to the U.S., and are designed to process the type of heavy, sour crude that is plentiful in Venezuela. “The jury is still out on whether this will all work out in Venezuela,” said Eric Smith, associate director of the Tulane EnerSmith gy Institute. “But for the Gulf Coast, I think it will be good. We have a long-term, baked-in demand for heavy crude to make our reﬁneries run right.”

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Lake Charles CITGO Refinery, the state’s third-largest refinery, was ä See OIL, page 2E owned by the Venezuelan government until recently.

La. companies taking bite out of $1.7B dog day care industry BY RICH COLLINS

Staff writer

A couple of decades ago, if you were headed out of town and didn’t have anyone to look after your dog, you’d drop it off at the vet for a couple of days. And when you were at work, your pup waited until you got home, chewing your slippers and eyeing the carpets with questionable intent. Today, pet owners can send their dogs for daytime visits or overnight stays to facilities that feel like four-legged sleepaway

IDEAS &

INNOVATION

which generates about $1.7 billion annually in the United States, according to industry reports, and is expected to grow by nearly 9% a year through this decade. As U.S. pet ownership has reached record levels, and more pet owners treat their four-legged friends like family members, the range of products and services available to them has grown dramatically. Pet day care, with its evolving menu of upgrades and experiences, is one of the fastest-growing sectors. In Louisiana, both franchisees STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER of national chains and locally Camp Bow Wow owners Jason and Scarlett Dalton watch over some of owned doggie day cares are vying for a piece of the action, with the dogs under their care at their Metairie location. dozens of businesses operating in camps or amusement parks, com- and more. the state and several more openplete with luxury suites, live video Welcome to the modern — and ing each year. streams, ball pits, splash pools booming — pet day care industry, Husband-and-wife business

partners Scarlett and Jason Dalton, who live in downtown New Orleans, have been major contributors to the category’s growth as the largest franchisees of Camp Bow Wow, a national chain that has grown to more than 200 locations since it was founded in the early 2000s. The Daltons’ 14 locations, including ﬁve in Louisiana, gross roughly $16 million annually and employ 300 people. From their unique vantage point, they’ve witnessed the birth of an industry while capitalizing on its growth. “There really wasn’t day care two decades ago, just traditional veterinarian boarding,” Scarlett Dalton said. “Now the sky’s the limit.”

ä See INDUSTRY, page 2E

2E ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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What’s in, what’s out for INDUSTRY 2026 ﬁnancial health From local dog groomers Continued from page 1E

If last year was about holding our ﬁnancial breath, 2026 will be about playing defense. Amid many Americans’ concerns about afMichelle fordability, Singletary the end of THE COLOR remote-work OF MONEy ﬂexibility for large swaths of employees and the expiration of subsidies that kept health insurance premiums manageable, many rules have shifted. Here is what’s “in” and “out” for your money this year:

fordable.

Algorithmic price gouging

Out: Unchecked dramatic pricing increases. We’ve become accustomed to ride-hailing companies increasing prices in response to demand and to airlines hiking airfares during peak holiday travel days. But should we tolerate this trend for everyday consumer goods? Using technology — notably, artificial intelligence — companies can change their prices frequently. You have to be an attentive consumer if you want to avoid being gouged by price increases. I purchased two electric buffet servers just before Health insurance Christmas because I was Out: The subsidy safety net. hosting our large family gathering. I decided to add a The nation’s uninsured third one for my next party. rate is projected to climb But the online price had for the first time in years jumped by 46% ahead of as premiums rise in the New Year’s Eve. Affordable Care Act marInstacart ended a priceketplace, leaving an untold testing program “that renumber of Americans one medical emergency away sulted in different prices for from bankruptcy. the same item at the same The federal governstore,” the company said in a blog post. ment was shut down for In: Setting a breaking 43 days last year because point. Democrats were demandInstacart quickly learned ing that Republicans extend that consumers weren’t pandemic-era health law happy with its experiment. subsidies. The premium “At a time when families tax credits used to lower are working exceptionconsumers’ monthly health insurance bill expired at the ally hard to stretch every end of 2025. grocery dollar, those tests Average marketplace raised concerns, leaving premiums are projected to some people questioning increase by 26%, and some the prices they see on Inenrollees will see their costs stacart,” the company said. double or triple if the en“That’s not OK.” While you may accept hanced tax credits expire. As a result, 1 in 4 enrollees surge pricing to hail a ride on a rainy day, you don’t in the federal marketplace will “very likely” go without have to tolerate it for many other discretionary purinsurance, according to a poll by KFF, a nonpartisan chases. If an algorithm is health policy organization. pushing a pricing premium, “Without the subsidies, wait or walk away. my monthly premiums will Remote work increase by nearly $750 a month,” said a 63-year-old Out: Working from home California man quoted in the full-time. KFF report. “My budget is In 2025, many major tight as it is, and there’s no companies announced they way I can afford that addiwanted employees back in the office. Executives tional hit.” pitched the policy change as But the cost increases a way to improve workplace aren’t limited to the federal collaboration and communimarketplace; if you get insurance through your job, cation, but some employees you probably experienced suspect it was more about sticker shock during open filling office space. Managenrollment. A survey from ers want us to be “innovathe consultancy Mercer also tive” when it benefits them, forecast higher costs: Based but they’re stuck in the past on projections from more when it comes to remote than 1,700 employers, health work flexibility. benefit costs per employee In: Commuter budgeting. are projected to increase Like it or not, the commutby 6.5% — the highest since er tax is back, so you’ll have 2010. to adjust your budget acIn: Dropped coverage. cordingly. Resist defaulting For millions of families, back to old habits of buying health insurance will move lunch at work or justifying from a “must-have” to “can- a higher clothing allowance because you have to go back not afford.” into the office.

Ad-free streaming

Out: Commercial-free streaming without an added charge. After luring cable cutters with promises of no commercial breaks, streaming services now offer you a choice: pay a premium for ad-free viewing or accept constant advertising interruptions. In: Binge and bail. Are you using these services enough to justify the cost? Tired of your streaming expenses feeling like a utility bill? A Deloitte survey published in March found that 47% of consumers say they pay too much for the streaming services they use. The average streaming subscriber has four paid streaming services totaling $69 per month, a 13% increase from 2024. Here are ways to save on streaming in 2026: n Watch what you want, then cancel. Many of your favorite shows can take a year or more to return with new episodes, so get a price break while you wait. n Subscribe to fewer streaming services and use the savings to upgrade to adfree content. n There’s also the option of sharing costs: Netﬂix now allows account holders to share their subscription with someone outside their household for a reduced monthly fee. Actively managing your subscriptions can make these services more af-

Jokes about moving home Out: “Failure to launch” humor. With housing inventory low, rents high and the cost of buying a home out of reach for many, living with your parents should no longer be a punch line. In: Multigenerational living. Done right, it’s a strategic wealth-building move. If you can, moving back in with your parents or rooming with relatives to pay down debt or save for a down payment on a home is smart math.

Hosting etiquette Out: Guest invoice. For many people, hosting the celebration they want is ﬁnancially out of reach. As a result, some believe it’s acceptable to charge guests. But as more people struggle, there may be greater pushback against this trend. (Oh, how I hope so!) If you have to collect money for your celebration, you’re not hosting a party — you’re selling tickets. In: Living within your means. This means potlucks, scaled-down events and the return of the “house party” instead of renting a venue or hosting a large restaurant celebration. In 2026, live and celebrate the life you can truly afford. Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@ washpost.com.

Scarlett Dalton began her pet care career by launching a mobile dog grooming business in a converted postal van in 2004 in Covington. She had dreams of eventually opening a boarding facility that would be a “posh pet hotel.” She and Jason Dalton learned about Camp Bow Wow a few years later when they saw an ad in an airline magazine. They opened their first camp in 2009 in Covington. Five years later, they doubled the northshore facility’s size from 6,000 to 12,000 square feet. In 2017, they opened a second outpost in Mobile, Alabama, setting the stage for a dozen more openings or acquisitions over the next decade. Now the Daltons’ business footprint stretches from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Boca Raton, Florida, and as far north as Indianapolis. At least four more camps are in development. At their facilities, customers spend about $30 a day for day care and about $50 per night for overnight stays, although both prices can climb depending on location and services requested. Grooming provides 10% of overall revenue, but the option is limited by the number of trained groomers the Daltons can employ, and it’s a tough job to ﬁll. “People are very particular about their dogs’ haircuts,” Jason Dalton said. Boarding and day care contribute almost equally to the company’s bottom line, but the ratio varies by area. “In Covington, there are more single-income households, so people don’t need day camp as much, but they use our boarding services because they travel frequently,” Jason Dalton said. “In Mid-City, where many people work in hospitality, it’s the opposite.” Like all pet care businesses, the Daltons face headwinds that include staffing challenges, inflation, regulation compliance, rising insurance costs and potential oversaturation as more competitors enter the market. Franchise fees are in the $50,000 range for new franchisees and $35,000 for existing operators looking to expand, but the cost to open a new location is likely to hit $1 million for renovations, equipment, inventory, permits and other expenses, the Daltons say. They own eight of their buildings and

OIL

Continued from page 1E

‘Built for heavy sour’

Louisiana’s 15 crude oil refineries account for about one-sixth of U.S. refining capacity and can process nearly 3 million barrels of oil per day. The two largest, Marathon Petroleum near LaPlace and ExxonMobil in Baton Rouge, together produce more than 1 million barrels a day. Most were built in the 1960s and 1970s and later modified so they could process heavy sour crude — which is dense with a highsulfur content and, therefore, more difficult to break down into gasoline, jet fuel and other usable products. At the time, the U.S. was importing more oil than it was producing domestically and exporting, as it does now, and Venezuela was a key trading partner. That all changed in the late 1990s, when Hugo Chavez came to power. In the years that followed, Venezuela nationalized its oil industry and expelled most of the U.S. companies doing business there. The supply of Venezuelan oil to the U.S. declined and Gulf Coast refineries started sourcing most of their heavy crude from other countries, namely Canada. While the refineries have adjusted, a new source of heavy sour crude would allow them to maximize capacity that is currently not being used. According to the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, an

PROVIDED PHOTO

Dogs play at The Dog House bar in New Orleans’ Mid-City neighborhood. As U.S. pet ownership has reached record levels, and more pet owners treat their four-legged friends like family members, the range of products and services available to them has grown dramatically. lease the other six. Monthly overhead costs range from $50,000 to $70,000. To boost gross revenues above that threshold, the Daltons have created systems to increase efﬁciency, including hiring regional leadership teams and a nationwide facilities manager to keep their network of buildings and equipment in working order. In 2018, they rolled out digital tools, created by New Orleans-based custom software company LookFar, to manage dayto-day operations. It was a far cry from the early days, when employees would keep track of details on a dry-erase board behind the check-in counter. “If a dog comes in with a blanket, toys and a full bag of food, we have to make sure everything makes it home,” Jason Dalton said. “When we built that software, the business really took off.” The Daltons aren’t the only franchisees with multiple locations in Louisiana. Lafayette native Trey Boone pivoted from real estate development to dog day care in 2015, opening the ﬁrst franchise Boone location of The Dog Stop outside of the company’s home state of Pennsylvania. Today, he’s the company’s area rep, overseeing five Louisiana franchises, and he owns and operates one in Lafayette and another in Baton Rouge. Like the Daltons, Boone hosts special events at his center, including an upcoming “Stranger Things”themed party and photo opportunity.

industry trade group, nearly 70% of U.S. refining capacity runs more efficiently with heavier crude. “Louisiana refineries were built for heavy sour,” said Tyler Gray, director of Energy Innovation at the LSU Energy Institute. “If you have the capacity — equipment on site — to proGray duce things you’re not producing, then you’re not operating as efficiently as you could be.” That could also help refineries generate higher profits, though Smith said profitability is not a problem for most of the refineries operating in the state. “The refineries were profitable before Venezuela expropriated their oil fields and they were profitable after,” he said. “They have gone father afield to obtain heavy crude, but they are still profitable.”

Challenges Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, roughly 300 billion barrels, which is more than Saudi Arabia, Iran and Canada combined. But in a global oil market that produces around 109 million barrels a day, Venezuela is only a small player. The country produces some 1.1 million barrels a day. After nationalization, the industry deteriorated and lacks the infrastructure and expertise to get it out of the ground.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Michelle Cheramie is the founder of Zeus’ Place, which provides pet boarding, day care and grooming services in New Orleans.

Dog-eat-dog competition?

the celebrity dog from a Terrebonne Parish animal shelter. A few miles away, Courtney McWilliams operates MaryMac’s Doggie Retreat. There are dozens more ventures like these statewide, concentrated in urban areas, which also are home to a few businesses that serve people as well as their pets, such as The Dog House bar in New Orleans’ Mid-City neighborhood. The nearly 2-year-old operation is an Astroturfcovered play area and a bar where owners can get a drink, a slice of pizza or other snacks. Owners sign their pets up for memberships and show proof of vaccinations so the four-legged patrons can access the play area. Still more competition for dog owners’ dollars come from smartphone apps like Wag! and Rover, which connect pet owners with gig workers who will provide walks, babysitting and other services. The apps offer GPS tracking and other digital services designed to provide peace of mind. All of these businesses, whether digital or brickand-mortar, have one thing in common: They are built on America’s love affair with pets — dogs in particular — and show that people are willing to open their pocketbooks to care for their four-legged loved ones. “The industry was definitely more transactional 25 years ago,” Scarlett Dalton said. “Now, the dogs aren’t just family members of our customers; they become family members for our staff.”

While franchise owners have the advantage of national sales and marketing muscle behind their operations, locally owned facilities are competing by leaning into personal service. Just outside the LSU gates in Baton Rouge, Amanda Floyd, founder of Royal Treatment Pet Manor & Grooming Spa, has been in the pet care business since 2011, moving to Floyd a bigger building in 2018 that allowed her to focus on boutique day care and boarding services. “People don’t want to put their dogs somewhere; they want them to have experiences,” she said, listing movie nights and “Shark Week”-inspired activities as some of her 30-person team’s innovations. Floyd said her thousands of customers choose to support a locally owned business and come to her for smaller caregiver-to-dog ratios and more intimate settings. “We make sure the dogs aren’t overwhelmed,” she said. “They have their friend groups, and we add to them appropriately.” Her business, which cares for up to 40 dogs at night and up to about 80 during the day, has grown to exceed $1 million in annual revenue. In New Orleans, Michelle Cheramie launched Zeus’ Place pet boarding and grooming business in 2005 and has become a familiar name in the New Orleans animal rescue community, Email Rich Collins at rich. famously rescuing Scrim collins@theadvocate.com.

The Venezuelan government has prevented most foreign oil companies from operating there for the past two decades. Today, only Chevron operates in Venezuela, through a joint venture with the government, producing about 250,000 barrels a day, about half of which makes it to the Gulf Coast for refining. None of those challenges are expected to be quickly resolved, even if big oil companies were suddenly given access to Venezuela’s oil fields. Trump said he thinks Venezuela’s decimated oil industry could be rebuilt in less than 18 months with U.S. support. He envisions major oil companies returning to Venezuela to make those investments and profit from its oil industry. But given the unrest and decades of badly damaged infrastructure, it’s unlikely to top the list of places oil companies would choose to invest, experts said. Rystad Energy, a consulting firm, estimates it would take $54 billion of oil and gas investment over the next 15 years to keep Venezuela’s oil production flat at around 1.1 million barrels per day, and that with additional investment over two to three years an additional 300,000 barrels per day could be added. Going beyond 1.4 million barrels per day would require an additional $8 billion to $9 billion per year, the group said. Still, Smith said that the U.S. could get its hands on the small amount of oil that is currently exported from

Venezuela and going to reﬁneries in China. “Technically they are repaying a loan,” Smith said. “But we have claims against that oil and could get it fairly quickly and it would come to the Gulf Coast for reﬁning.”

‘Interesting to watch’ In the wake of the U.S. invasion on Venezuela last week, Gov. Jeff Landry predicted that oil and gas service companies would “have an opportunity to go and do business there.” He also said the state’s port system stood to benefit. Those opportunities could came later, energy experts say. What is more likely in the short term is that the major international companies will aim for more production off the coast of Venezuela, which also has proven reserves, and move the crude to nearby countries like Trinidad and Tobago or St. Croix. “They have refineries and experience running it,” Smith said. Down the line, he believes, Gulf Coast refineries will get a piece of the action. “The first thing that will see U.S. investment is upstream offshore oil fields,” he said. “Once there is a functioning government, banking system, and the like, then you’ll see onshore migration. “Eventually, refineries here will benefit. It’s going to be interesting to watch.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@ theadvocate.com.

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TALKING BUSINESS A S K T H E E X P E RT S

Insurer: Options are key to lowering health costs BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

At a time when health insurers are under ﬁre for raising premiums and rejecting claims while health care costs continue to rise, Christine O’Brien is trying to grow UnitedHealthcare’s book of commercial business in Louisiana and Mississippi — two of the poorest and sickest states in the country. She has her work cut out for her. Though UnitedHealthcare is the largest health insurer in the U.S., with nearly 27 million “covered lives” through its individual and employer-sponsored group plans, the company has less than onefourth of the commercial market share in Louisiana and Mississippi, which are dominated by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. O’Brien sees opportunities amid the challenges. A New Orleans native, O’Brien didn’t get her start in the health insurance industry. Rather, her ﬁrst job was at Hibernia Bank in the benefits department, where she learned about group health plans from the inside. She went on to become Hibernia’s senior vice president for human resources before being named chief human resources officer at First Bank and Trust. In 2010, she moved to UnitedHealthcare, where she says her experience working with employees gave her a unique perspective on the real needs of employers and their employees. In November, she was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s Louisiana and Mississippi markets, where she oversees sales and account management for the company’s commercial customers and their 440,000 covered lives.

Q&A WITH CHRISTINE O’BRIEN

PROVIDED PHOTO By JEFF STROUT

Christine O’Brien was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare for the Louisiana Mississippi region in November 2025. In this week’s Talking Business, O’Brien discusses rising health care costs, what insurers can do about it and the unique health challenges present in Louisiana and Mississippi. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. Health insurance rates went up this year for employers by more than 6%. What was behind the increase? We saw an average increase of about 6.5%, the highest we have seen in about 15 years and that really was because of higher utilization patterns — people are going to the doctor more and getting care more. The specialty drugs, like the GLP-1 drugs (for obesity), and general inﬂation also factored in. The rates really do vary depending on company, the plans they have and the claims volumes.

Presumably, Louisiana and Mississippi would have high utilization rates because we have some of the worst health outcomes in the country. Yes, in newly released rankings from the United Health Foundation foundation, Louisiana ranks 50th and Mississippi is 48th. It is based on 37 different metrics — everything from obesity, chronic illness, mental health access to mental health specialists. But our cost of care is not significantly higher. It’s very average, per member, per month for Louisiana and Mississippi compared to other states. Outcomes are an overall health indicator, but there is no strong correlation between outcomes and health costs per se. How is UnitedHealthcare trying to make health care more affordable? What do you tell your teams to say when they are selling

these plans to companies? One way is through plan design. It’s important when a client or broker selects a plan that they select one that is affordable for their members. What has happened over time, as premiums have continued to increase, clients opt to increase the deductibles because it makes the plans more affordable. We try to give them several different options, a plan with a $1,000 deductible and another with a $2,500 deductible. Obviously, the premiums for the plan with the $2,500 deductible will be lower. We try to design plans that can provide access but at an affordable price point. For example? We have a new plan that completely removes the deductible and only has co-pays. It is an appdriven plan, so when you need to seek care, you go to the app, type in the care you need and get a Zillow-style map that shows the prices in your area for whatever the procedure you need, like an MRI or a knee scope. Then, you choose the provider you want based on the price and you only pay that price. Higher cost does not always equate higher value. What we have been able to do with the data we have through the algorithm behind the app is price the providers by the highest value. We also have two other plans in partnership with hospital systems. We have value-based contracts with them and are able to tier the beneﬁts so that members are incentivized to go to the higher quality providers. How do you define value? Providers that are on a valuebased contract with us are encouraged to meet certain value-based guidelines when providing care. For example, they have a lower readmission rate to the hospital. They have higher preventative utilization rates. Their diabetic or high-blood-pressure patients get

regular screenings and follow-up care. So let’s say my company wants one of these plans. What does that look like as a practical matter for me, the employee? You still have the option of going to any provider. I have gone to the same OB-GYN for my entire adult life and I don’t want to change. But if I hurt my back, the app will show me which orthopedist is the highest-value orthopedist and I can make a choice based on that kind of data. A growing number of companies are choosing to go the self-insured route. What percentage of your clients are self-funded and what does that mean? About 60% are self-funded, which means we administer the plan. But we do more than just pay the claims. We provide the network and the savings that go along with that. Just as important, we provide care management and advocacy programs. For a self-funded client, it is more of a member-based opportunity and there are certain items that a client can choose to offer or not offer I’ve written about rising health care costs and all the strategies insurers use, and things are only getting worse, not better. It is something that keeps me up at night and something I focus on — ﬁguring out how we can make health care accessible and affordable for our clients and our members. What should employers be thinking about in 2026? It’s important that clients look beyond the premium numbers and focus on things that can actually help their claims trends. That means making sure that their members are getting preventative care and making sure when members choose care, they choose the right site of care and go to a higher value and higher quality provider. Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ 5E

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AROUND THE REGION

N.O. returns to the drawing board on affordable housing BY ANTHONY MCAULEY Staff writer

New Orleans’ signature affordable housing policy has failed to produce what it promised — and now the city’s incoming mayor faces a harder, more fundamental question: how to encourage developers to build housing at all. A city-commissioned report released late last year concluded that a law requiring developers in parts of the city to set aside units at below-market rents should be scrapped. The City Planning Commission endorsed that recommendation shortly afterward, marking a quiet but decisive retreat from a policy once seen as a cornerstone of the city’s affordability strategy. The conclusion puts the issue squarely before Mayor-elect Helena Moreno as she prepares to take office: whether New Orleans should continue trying to mandate affordability in a weak housing market or rethink its approach to development more broadly in a city struggling with population loss, high construction costs and a STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER chronic shortage of feasible proj- HRI Communities is planning to turn the former Touro-Shakspeare Home in New Orleans into 52 apartments ects. The stakes are high for Moreno, for low-income seniors. As the city struggles to reset its policies aimed at encouraging developers to build who has said the city needs 55,000 affordable housing, some experts like Mike Sherman, a veteran development adviser, point to untapped new affordable housing units and potential in rehabilitating blighted or abandoned properties. that she would streamline processes to make it easier for developers market reality. of homes already sit abandoned. an approach that shifts from manto build them. Her team did not “I never understood why we New Orleans, he said, does not have dates to incentives, while streamrespond to a request seeking com- thought we were part of some a supply problem so much as a de- lining bureaucracy, and using city boom town that could just say, ‘Oh, mand problem. assets strategically to stimulate ment. you’re building, well, we’re also goThe result, developers say, was construction. Sticks and carrots “You need clear rules, efficient ing to require that you do these oth- a policy that acted as a deterrent The policy at issue in the plan- er things,’ ” said Josh Collen, presi- rather than a catalyst — a “stick” permitting, and ways to reduce ning commission report was ad- dent of HRI Communities. “The approach in a market that needed costs,” said Mike Sherman, a vetcarrots. eran development adviser who opted in 2019 during a brief period policy never really made sense.” Zach Kupperman, a developer worked under former Mayor Mitch Brian Gibbs, a longtime New when New Orleans’ real estate market appeared to be gaining mo- Orleans developer who in recent active in both hotels and housing, Landrieu. “Otherwise, projects mentum. The law, called Manda- years has shifted heavily into af- said the law added another layer of stall or never start.” Sherman highlighted the untory Inclusionary Zoning, required fordable housing, said the core complexity and risk in an already developers in the Central Business problem was simple math. Even difficult environment. New hous- tapped potential in existing strucDistrict and French Quarter to market-rate projects, he said, now ing in New Orleans is expensive to tures, pointing to blighted or abanmake at least 10% of new units af- often require subsidies to pencil build, he said, while local incomes doned properties that could be often cannot support the rents re- rehabilitated for moderate-income fordable, with a 5% requirement in out. In that context, Gibbs said, it quired to make projects viable. residents. Adaptive reuse, he said, surrounding areas, or pay a fee in made little sense to mandate belowallows the city to expand affordlieu of building the units. But developers say the policy re- market rents in a city where popu- Clear rules, efficient permitting ability while keeping costs lower lied on assumptions that no longer lation has fallen by roughly 10% Developers and some housing ex- than new construction. The “soft-second” program of— and perhaps never — matched over the past decade and thousands perts say that the city should adopt

fers a model for what can work. Introduced under the Landrieu administration, the program provided forgivable loans of up to $65,000 to moderate-income ﬁrst-time buyers in storm-damaged areas, with lower-income families qualifying for larger amounts. Borrowers worked directly with banks while the city managed administrative underwriting, allowing families just below the area median income to purchase homes. Sherman said the program “nailed people right at that threshold who had just missed the ability to buy a home,” but funding ran out and was never replenished, illustrating the challenge of sustaining targeted affordability programs.

Aligning incentives, public assets Clear, predictable processes are also critical for developers to take risks, Collen said. HRI Communities recently navigated complex ﬁnancing and regulatory hurdles to complete projects on Esplanade Avenue and Touro-Shakspeare in Algiers. “If you structure the financial picture properly and the city makes it predictable, you can deliver units without cost-prohibitive mandates,” he said. Gibbs, whose NSA East Apartments project will convert a derelict former Navy complex in the Bywater into nearly 300 affordable units, said city-owned land is another key lever. Moreno has indicated that reforming how the city manages its property portfolio will be a priority, and Gibbs sees it as essential for expanding housing quickly in areas near jobs and services. Kupperman noted that beyond land, New Orleans must address high construction costs relative to local incomes. Streamlining permitting, reducing fees and providing incentives, he said, can make the difference between a viable project and one that never reaches the drawing board. Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

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6E ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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PEOPLE IN BUSINESS Staff report

Dr. Susan Ovella, a lifelong New Orleans-area resident South Louisiana businesses who is board-certified in both and nonprofit groups recent- internal medicine and pedily announced the following atrics, has joined the Covingpromotions and new hires. ton-based Avala Physician Network. Ovella, who served New Orleans as chief resident while at Jessica Barnes has been LSU New Orleans, will begin named the new national sales seeing patients Feb. 2. manager of Jess Waltman has been elected the Ernest N. Morial Con- a member of the law firm Gordon Aravention Center, where ta. Waltman she will be previously responsible practiced for prolaw in Missismoting the sippi, where Barnes center and he served as securing new events. With president of experience in hospitality, Waltman the Young corporate sales and nonprofit Lawyers Dimanagement, Barnes will vision of the Mississippi Bar, work closely with New Or- as well as a term as a commisleans & Co., lead site visits for sioner on its board. prospective clients and negoWhit Slocum tiate facility-use contracts. has been promoted to Donovan Blakney has been apmanaging dipointed the chief operating officer of Senrector of the investment siva Health, banking firm a health care Chaffe & s o l u t i o n s Slocum Associates c o m p a n y. B l a k n e y Inc. Slocum, who previously joined Sen- worked as an associate direcsiva as director at UBS, joined Chaffe’s tor of opera- corporate finance group in Blakney tions in 2020 2011 as a vice president and and later became vice presi- later became a shareholder. dent of operations. He succeeds Ben Williamson, who was promoted from chief operating officer to CEO in September 2024. Lesli Harris, recently elected to a second term on the New Orleans City Council, has joined the law firm Baker Donelson as special counsel in the commercial litigation Harris group. Harris previously practiced at Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann and Kelly Hart & Hallman and worked as chief of staff and executive counsel to the president of Loyola University.

Campo

Layburn

Quillen

Zepeda

Marcus Campo, of NOLA Build Construction and Design, has been elected and installed as the 2026 president of the Home Builders

Association of Greater New Orleans. Bruce Layburn, of JBL Properties, was elected as vice president; Anthony Quillen, of Quillen Construction Group, became treasurer; and Nicholas Zepeda, of Right 4U Construction, became Caswell secretary last month at the organization’s annual awards reception at Docville Farm in Violet.

Fool’s Take: Ask the Fool: Your Microsoft long term mortgage lives on Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is a ubiquitous brand in computing, and that works to its advantage in the age of artiMotley ficial intelFool ligence. Hundreds of millions of people use Microsoft Office and Windows-based software products, providing a large installed base of users to help pay back its AI investments. Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure powers not only its enterprise cloud services but also its consumer-facing services. It has over 900 million monthly active users using AI features across its products. Microsoft 365, which includes Office, has over 400 million paid subscribers. New AI features help drive healthy demand for these software products. Across the business, Microsoft enjoys strong momentum. Its recent quarterly revenue of $77.7 billion was an increase of 18% year over year. The company’s remaining performance obligation (expected earnings based on long-term business contracts) reached $392 billion in the recent quarter, for a year-overyear growth rate of 51%. Microsoft’s stock recently traded at a forward-looking priceto-earnings ratio near 30. Analysts have projected annualized earnings growth of nearly 14% over the next several years. This should fuel solid returns for Microsoft investors through at least 2030. (The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Microsoft stock and options.)

Guedry

Baton Rouge Ross Aguilar has been promoted to president of Descote, a wholly owned North American subsidiary of the French valve manuAguilar facturer Descote S.A.S. Previously the vice president of sales and marketing, Aguilar succeeds Mark Fucich, who was promoted to chief strategy officer to focus on global strategy and long-term growth.

Hollowell

Hoskin

Ainsworth

Lindsey

Six Louisiana attorneys have been elected as new partners of the Baton Rouge law firm Kean Miller, effective Jan. 1. Chelsea Caswell, Forrest Guedry and Katilyn Hollowell have Ross Reilly has been named joined the Baton Rouge ofpresident of the outdoor di- fice; Lauren Hoskin and Georgia vision of Lamar Advertising Ainsworth joined the New OrCo. leans office; and Brian Lindsey Reilly most recently served joined the firm’s office in as the advertising display Lafayette. company’s vice president of mergers and acquisitions and Lafe Jones has been appointspecial projects. ed as the CEO of United Way He started his career with of Central the company a decade ago, Louisiana, managing leasing and develeffective Feb. 1. opment at its New Orleans Jones is office before serving as vice chief operpresident and general manager for the Baton Rouge ating officer market. and executive vice Jones Around Louisiana president Sharisee Schwinn has been of Louisiana Central, the promoted to regional economic develsenior vice opment organization that p r e s i d e n t serves a 10-parish region in and chief central Louisiana. He previoperations ously spent nearly 15 years officer of as CEO of Louisiana Eye and F i r s t N a - Laser Center. tional Bank of Louisiana. Do you have personnel Schwinn Schwinn, an changes to share or other 18-year veteran of the bank, ideas for our business covmost recently served as vice erage? Drop us a line at president of digital banking. biztips@theadvocate.com.

What happens to my mortgage if I die before paying it off? — W.P., Fort Myers, Florida Mortgage payments will still need to be made, and that responsibility will fall to the cosigner or co-borrower on the loan, if there is one. Failing that, whoever inherits the home will likely be responsible for continuing to make payments. If you had mortgage protection insurance, it should cover the principal and interest payments for your loan, with the money going directly to your lender. (Note that MPI is different from private mortgage insurance, which is insurance for the lender; many borrowers are required to get PMI if they’re buying a home with a down payment of less than 20%.) Because a mortgage is a “secured” loan, the lender may foreclose on the property in the case of discontinued payments. But often, a home is sold when its owners have passed away — to pay off debts or because no one wants to or can keep the home. Make your wishes clear in a will regarding who should inherit your home when you die. An estate lawyer can help you not only with your home, but also with how to minimize taxes and best pass on your assets. What are the best books about Warren Buffett? — C.S., Watertown, Wisconsin There are many. Roger Lowenstein’s “Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist” provides a solid review of his personal and business history, as well as his investment philosophy. Learn from Buffett himself in Carol J. Loomis’ “Tap Dancing to Work: Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966-2013.”

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ 7E

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MADE IN LOUISIANA

How Bollinger will build 4 new polar icebreakers BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

Bollinger Shipyards has finalized a $2.1 billion contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — first announced last fall — to produce four new Arctic Security Cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard. The vessels, which will be built at Bollinger’s Houma shipyard, will be capable of breaking through 4 feet of ice, traveling more than halfway around the globe and remaining at sea for two months at a time. The deal is part of a partnership between the U.S., Canada and Finland to accelerate the production of a new generation of icebreakers at a time when President Donald Trump is focused on “restoring America’s maritime dominance” and catching up to competitors in shipbuilding. With a price tag of more than $500 million each, construction of the vessels will support more than 1,000 jobs at peak production, company officials said. “The Arctic Security Cutter is one of the most consequential and time-sensitive shipbuilding programs in U.S. Coast Guard history,” Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards, said in a Dec. 29 statement after the contract was finalized. Lockport-based Bollinger is no newcomer to defense contracting. The company has built 187 cutters for the Coast Guard over the past 40 years and has a separate deal with the Coast Guard to build the next generation of heavy polar icebreakers, known as the Polar Security Cutters, at its shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The company is leveraging that experience to build the Arctic cutters, which are being produced on an expedited schedule, company officials said. The vessels will be roughly the length of a football field, weigh 9,000 tons and be powered by 7,200-kilowatt diesel engines. They’re being designed and engineered mostly by a Canadian com-

PROVIDED RENDERING By SEASPAN

Bollinger Shipyards in Houma was awarded a contract in December to build four Arctic Security Cutters, which are designed to have interoperability with the Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet of Multi-Purpose Icebreakers being used in the Arctic. Two others are being built in Finland. pany, Seaspan Shipyards, and will be a variant on an existing model of icebreaker being built for the Canadian Coast Guard.

From shipyard to sea trial It’ll take more than 3,000 tons of steel to make the vessels — and not just any steel. The new class of icebreakers will be built out of a thick, high-strength steel that allows it to cut through a meter of ice at 4 knots, or about 4.5 mph. Huge plates of steel will arrive at the shipyard by truck. The plates will be heated using specialized equipment, then bent and molded around a frame and welded into place. The work will take place both inside the massive warehouse at the shipyard and outside. In some respects, the vessels will

be much like the dozens of other naval vessels Bollinger has built over the years. But they’ll have special features that include rotating thrusters, ice-strengthened propellers and advanced sonar and radar arrays, according to procurement documents. Unlike most military vehicle programs, development of the cutters is proceeding relatively rapidly. Experts say that’s because the project relies on an existing, proven design. Bollinger’s first cutter is expected to take just over two years from its first welds to its final tests. Once assembly of the first vessel is underway, Bollinger will be able to have multiple boats under construction at the same time at the same shipyard, company spokes-

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person TJ Tatum said. The first vessel is scheduled to roll off the production line in 2028. But it will spend the next year in the water — first at the dock, where subcontractors will bring the vessels up to U.S. government specifications by adding specialized communication equipment, any weaponry and other technology. Then, the freshly minted cutters will head to sea trials, with a specialized team from the shipyard teaching its Coast Guard customers how to use the vessel. Its new crew will then put it through its paces on the water before its eventual delivery, scheduled for 2029.

Coast Guard plays catch-up

model of U.S. icebreakers in more than a quarter-century, ensuring the Coast Guard’s ability to control and defend the U.S.’s northern border and marine routes “against adversaries’ aggressive economic and military actions in the Arctic,” according to acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday. The U.S. has just three vessels capable of polar operations, two medium and one heavy. That’s less than half of the eight to nine polar icebreakers Coast Guard representatives say it requires to meet its operational needs in polar regions. “In Alaska, the exclusive economic zone is huge,” said Peter Rybski, a retired U.S. Navy commander who lives in Finland and writes a newsletter about icebreakers. “And even though we stopped exploring oil in there, we’re now claiming the extended continental shelf, and we have almost no ability to patrol it outside of summertime.” The trilateral partnership between the U.S., Finland and Canada — dubbed the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact — was first announced in July 2024 after years of delays and cost overruns in past domestic icebreaking. In addition to the four vessels set to be built by Bollinger in Houma, two others will be built in Finland. In order to build some of the new ships abroad, Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Finland to build four Arctic Security Cutters in Finland and “up to seven” more at U.S. shipyards at a total cost of more than $6.1 billion. Senior Bollinger ofﬁcials have traveled to Finland and Canada multiple times since the pact was ﬁnalized, Tatum said. “This close working relationship will continue through the life of the program as it transitions to a full U.S.-built program,” Tatum said.

Email Jonah Meadows at jonah. The vessels will be the ﬁrst new meadows@theadvocate.com.

8E ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Gallagher: Lessons in Resilience An article from Gallagher

On the recent 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Gallagher team has been looking back at the experience and how it shaped today’s insurance industry. Nancy Sylvester is an area executive vice president at Gallagher, based in Baton Rouge. She recently shared her story of Hurricane Katrina, the challenges the insurance industry faced and how resilience shaped the path forward.

With damages exceeding USD200 billion, Katrina not only altered

Blackhawk helicopters were constantly ﬂying overhead,

the city’s physical landscape but also reshaped global

transporting the injured from New Orleans to Louisiana State

perspectives on disaster preparedness and response. Today,

University (LSU), where the athletics department became a

20 years after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, its impact

makeshift emergency hospital. The LSU student body even

remains deeply felt across the affected communities as the

donated clothing to those in need, and you could see people

costliest and one of the ﬁve deadliest hurricanes in US history.

wearing purple and gold, the colors of the university. It was a touching display of humanity after Hurricane Katrina, with

Q: Take us back to August of 2005. How did you experience the

everyone welcomed and cared for as best as possible.

landfall of the hurricane? I live in Baton Rouge, 70 miles from New Orleans. That weekend, my oldest son was ﬁshing in the Gulf of Mexico and when we

Q: How have your clients’ perspectives on extreme weather risks evolved since Hurricane Katrina?

urged him to come back inland, what should have been an hour’s

Before Katrina, redundancies were often viewed as unnecessary

drive took about 12 hours due to the worsening conditions. The

expenses. Today, having backups is understood as essential.

news reports initially said things were under control, but by

Clients now prioritize strengthening buildings to ensure their

lunchtime on Monday, the levees began breaking and things

facilities can endure severe weather, addressing all potential

quickly spiraled out of control.

exposures on supply chains or backup power, for example. Everyone is focused on preventing business interruption claims

Q: What were the ﬁrst days like when family and friends sought shelter at your home, far from the most affected areas?

and avoiding closing their doors because, once they do, they may never open again. We know that FEMA [Federal Emergency

I welcomed my family from New Orleans, expecting it to be

Management Agency] has stated 40% of companies don’t reopen

manageable, but soon found myself hosting 26 people. I slept

after a disaster, and another 25% fail within one year.

under my dining room table, the only private space left. Wandering into the kitchen at night, I’d meet strangers saying,

As a community, we’re also massively investing in roof resilience

“I work for your cousin. He said it would be OK.” I reassured

to withstand strong winds and prevent piercings. When damage

everyone, “Yeah, everything’s ﬁne.”

or loss occurs, my clients aren’t interested in just rebuilding what was there before; they’re focused on constructing to newer codes

Q: How was daily life impacted in the aftermath of

and following the highest building standards

Hurricane Katrina? My usual 15-minute drive to the office would take hours due to the crowds seeking refuge in Baton Rouge and just trying to get somewhere else. Schools also faced a sudden surge in students, and the school offices would announce where people could

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO OF NANCY’S FULL INTERVIEW

ﬁnd food.

AJG.com | The Gallagher Way. Since 1927.

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AT 504-300-6411 OR genderline@theadvocate.com

2F ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

New Orleans Real Estate For Sale

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New Orleans Rental

CENTRAL CITY

CARROLLTON 8629 Apricot St. 3Br/1Ba, Cnt a/h, Sec 8. No Pets $1450. 504-344-2324

GENTILLY 2544 ALLEN TOUSSAINT BLVD. NEWLY RENOVATED!!! 1-2 Bdrm Apts * From $800/mo Parking * Sec Gate 504-250-1446 * 504-454-1333

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MID CITY 2028 N. Broad St. Duplex, Liv. Rm, BR, BA, HW Flrs, A/H, Kit Furn, Wtr Pd, Sec 8 Ok, $1050/mo + Dep (504) 947-1870 UPTWN/UNIVERSITY 2BR Kit furn, LR, 4901 S. Saratoga St. sec 8 ok, yd, quiet area 504-909-9535

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518 N. LABARRE RD $1,600/Mo Precious Raised Cottage between Met Rd & railroad tracks. 2BD/1BA. Lrg Liv Rm w/wd ﬂrs. Wooden fence separating home f/ N. Labarre for privacy. Gated Yd. Refrig/Oven + W&D are available. Sandy Ward * 504-259-2616. Re/Max Living * 504-475-1011. Ea ofc indpntly owned & operated.

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For Lease... 1, 2, 3, Bedrooms 504-455-3939 METAIRIE HOLIDAY SPECIAL!!! Luxury/Spacious Safe/Quiet 3207 Belmont Place, Apt 106. 2/1 1st Flr, $1,000..Price Ends 1/4/26. New Price will be $1300 * Patio, Fenced Yd, Off St Prkg, Wtr Paid. NO Smoking or Pets. 700+Credit Score. 504.442.1873 * 504.237.5200

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jobs.nola.com Search Place Onlines at jobs.nola.com • Call Us Monday - Friday 8AM 8AM - 5PM at at (504) Search &&Place AdsAds Online at classiﬁeds.theneworleansadvocate.com • Call Us Monday - Friday - 5PM (504) 636-7435 636-7435

Announcements If you need someone to take care of your loved one for companionship, cooking or housekeeping, I am the he perfect person to help! As well as organize yr home to start the New Year right! Call me at 504-508-4290

WALK THRU MARDI GRAS. Lead horses through New Orleans Mardi Gras Parades. Call 504-891-2246 for more info. Any heirs of or anyone knowing the whereabouts of Christie Dudenhefer Bozzelle please contact Jessica Mullaly at (504) 258-7294 or jessicamullaly1@gmail.com. Property rights involved. 173483-1/10-11-12-3t $109.00 Any heirs of or anyone knowing the whereabouts of Gladystine Lewis please contact Jessica Mullaly at (504) 258-7294 or jessicamullaly1@gmail.com. Property rights involved. 173468-Jan 10-12, 3t $109 Any heirs of or anyone knowing the whereabouts of Grant Dunbar, Jr. please contact Jessica Mullaly at (504) 258-7294 or jessicamullaly1@gmail.com. Property rights involved. 173477-Jan 10-12, 3t $109 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of a certain Promissory Note payable to CAPITAL ONE HOME

LOANS, LLC, executed by DENISE M. JOHNSON, and dated October 24, 2007, from dated until paid, and providing reasonable attorney fees, and all charges associated with the collection of same. Please contact Herschel C. Adcock, Jr., Attorney at Law, at P.O. Box 87379, Baton Rouge, LA 70879-8379, (225) 756-0373. 173491-1/10-11-12-3t $181.00 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Alexander Julian Shaﬁrovich, Nidal Subhi Jaber and/or Mohamad Farhat Saleh please contact Attorney Keith A. Doley 504-9437071. 173540-1/10-11-12-3t $109.00 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Mildred Robert Dresel or Dianne Kathryn Beneﬁeld please contact Jessica Mullaly at (504) 258-7294 or jessicamullaly1@gmail.com. Property rights involved. 173469-Jan 10-12, 3t $109 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Monique Prejean Riley please contact Jessica Mullaly at (504) 2587294 or jessicamullaly1@gmail.com. Property rights involved. 173480-Jan 10-12, 3t $97 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of William Paul Joseph, Jr., a/k/a William P. Joseph, Jr. and Rosheen Poplar Joseph please contact Attorney Keith A. Doley 504-9437071. 173327-Jan 10-12, 3t $109

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Advocate’s ClassifiedAdvertising Departmentwill be closed on Monday, January 19th. RUN DATE

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Tuesday, Jan. 20........Thursday, Jan. 15 - 2pm Wednesday, Jan. 21...Thursday, Jan. 15 - 2pm

DISPLAY ADS 24 HOURS EARLIER CALL US:

Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

225-383-0111 • 504-636-7435 337-234-0174

COMMUNITY PROPERTY MATTER PENDING: Anyone knowing the whereabouts of KYMBERLIE S. CALOGERO, A/KA KYMBERLIE CALOGERO, please contact Attorney Victoria Hines, 504-710-4757 or via email: vjhineslaw@aol.com as soon as possible. 173548-1/10-11-12-3t $133.00 Rouse’s Enterprises, L.L.C. d/b/a Rouses Market #91 is applying to the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content at retail in the Parish of Jefferson at the following address: 2104 Williams Blvd, Kenner, LA 70062 Rouse’s Enterprises, L.L.C. Rouses Market #91 Authorized Members: Donald J. Rouse, Sr., Allison R. Royster, and Donald J. Rouse, Jr. 173158-Jan 10-11, 2t $201 Rouse’s Enterprises, L.L.C. d/b/a Rouses Market #92 is applying to the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content at retail in the Parish of Saint Tammany at the following address: 4100 Highway 59, Mandeville, LA 70471 Rouse’s Enterprises, L.L.C. Rouses Market #92 Authorized Members: Donald J. Rouse, Sr., Allison R. Royster, and Donald J. Rouse, Jr. 173157-Jan 10-11, 2t $201 Rouse’s Enterprises, L.L.C. d/b/a Rouses Market #95 is applying to the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content at retail in the Parish of Jefferson at the following address: 4627 Westbank Expressway, Marrero, LA 70072 Rouse’s Enterprises, L.L.C. Rouses Market #95 Authorized Members: Donald J. Rouse, Sr., Allison R. Royster, and Donald J. Rouse, Jr. 173162-Jan 10-11, 2t $201

ENGINEERING Structural Technologies StrongPoint, LLC has opening in Geismar, LA for Se‐ nior Engineer 1. Participate in & lead ini‐ tial proj studies & help dev sale ap‐ proach. Dev proj plan & delegate to team to deliver proj per customer reqs. Bach or equiv + 5yrs exp + U.S. Driver’s License or eligible. Domestic travel req’d up to 15%, primarily in & around SE U.S. Send CVs to Structural Technolo‐ gies StrongPoint, LLC, Attn: Tammy Goldbeck, 10150 Old Columbia Rd, Co‐ lumbia, MD 21046. Must ref job title & code: SE-MZ. LEGAL The Selection Committee for the 22nd Judicial District is accepting resumes for the position of Chief District Public Defender. Qualifications shall be in ac‐ cordance with La. R.S 15:161. Compen‐ sation t/b/d. See full description at www.statepublicdefender.la.gov. Send resumes to Richard A. Tonry, II, 245 Pontchartrain Dr., Slidell, LA 70458 or richardtonryii@gmail.com. Deadline to apply: 1/15/2026.

Merchandise MISC FOR SALE Antique (Foreign) Tea Pots 10-12 Must See $300 Take All 504-994-7385 CEMETERY PLOTS Sgl 2 person raised plot in historic Mt. Olivet Cem, Unit 2, Sec B, Lot 336, $12k obo. G Harris 504-710-3353 CEMETERY PLOTS Westlawn Cemetery Mausoleum, in the Chapel. Corr IV, Tier A, holds 6 interments $18,000. 504-259-0505

JEWELRY/WATCHES Ladies Gorg Sterling Silver *Special Stoned* Ring $225 504-994-7385

EDUCATION Jefferson Parish Schools is hiring Speech Language Therapists, School Psychologists & Certified Teachers to fill the following critical shortage areas: ELA, ESL, Math, Science and Spe‐ cial Education. A hiring stipend is offered for teachers hired at target schools and/or in target content areas. For more information and to apply, visitwww.jpschools.org/teach

MISC FOR SALE Fur Coat Ladies beautiful leopard pattern, exc cond, size M. $200. 504-994-7385

NEWS

24/7

Corinne Fox REALTOR®

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Automotive

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DOGS CKC YORKIES or SHORKIES - (yorkies are with papers) all are vet checked with shot and worming, shorkies $450 will meet in Gulfport yorkies $600 (334) 467-3416

IMPORT CARS 2013 Lexus LS 460 Exc Cond, $16,950, Dk Blue Int, 130k+mi, appt (504) 915-2440

Public Notices

Reporting you can trust

Clemency I, LE PHAN, (DOC #999999) have applied for clemency for my conviction of (ARMED ROBBERY). If you have any comments, contact the Board of Pardons (225)342-5421.

on stories that matter

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CEMENT AND BRICK

CONTRACTOR NO JOB TOO SMALL!

SIDEWALKS & DRIVEWAYS

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CONSTRUCTION CO. INC. Pool Enclosures • Patio Covers • Rooﬁng Siding • Glass Rooms • Screen Rooms Sofﬁt • Fascia • Windows & Screens

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3030 Lausat Street, Metairie, Louisiana 70001 Website: twomenandatruck.com/neworleans Licensed, Bonded and fully Insured with a 96.5% approval rating

To advertise here, please call (225) 383-0111

CATS Young Male Cat, Gray Colors, Have too many cats, Looking for another home for him. Please call 504-861-9617 ($50)

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JEWELRY/WATCHES Ladies Beaut. 10k yg Diam. Clustered Heart Ring Must See $350 504-994-7385

MISC FOR SALE Black Leather Jacket, Ladies Size Med. Exc Cond. $150. 504-994-7385

Employment

Pets

JEWELRY/WATCHES Ladies beaut. 10k-14k gold diamond cross & chn $350 504-994-7385

JEWELRY/WATCHES Ladies beautiful 10k gold diamond wishbone ring. $300. 504-994-7385

DOGS Shih Tzu pups, 3 M 9wks $400, 1 F 4mos $400 Cash Only. Call 504-418-3046

Top of the Line Landscaping Lawn Service

LAWN SERVICES $30, Trim bushes, cleaning flowerbeds, landscape design, re-landscaping, lawn service maintenance. also do lighting & irrigation. licensed & Insured. 24 years experience. Theodore Smith, Jr. • Call/Text: 504-401-0661

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License and Insured and Professionally trained

GONZALES CONCRETE

Any size job Servicing New Orleans & Northshore area

Sidewalks, Patios, Driveways, etc. Ray Gonzales 504-458-7278

4F ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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NEW ORLE ANS 10 K TR AINING C ALENDAR

JANUARY 2026

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Strength/Cross Train/ Rest

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Walkers: 1 ½ mi Joggers: 2 mi Runners: 3 mi

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Walkers: 1 ½ mi Joggers: 2 mi Runners: 3 mi

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Walkers: 2 mi Joggers: 2 ½ mi Runners: 7 mi

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Something for everyone.

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Mindful eating in world of multitasking PAGE 3

DISCOVERy | INNOVATION | LIVING WELL

HEALTH

LOUISIANA

N O L A.C O M & T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

S U N D AY, J A N U A rY 11, 2026

Molly Kimball 1N

Trouble catching ZZZZ’s?

Try these strategies when sleep becomes elusive BY SHANTELL GOMEZ Contributing writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS ILLUSTRATION By PETER HAMLIN

LAUGH M IT OFF

BY ALBERT STUMM | Associated Press

Doctor’s orders? ‘Belly laugh at least two to five days a week’

elanin Bee curves her spine like a stretching cat as she lets out a maniacal, forced laugh. The quick-fire pattern of manufactured giggles —“oh, hoo hoo hoo, eeh, ha ha ha”— soon ripples into genuine laughter, and she giddily kicks her feet. She’s practicing what she calls Laughasté, a hilarious yoga routine she created that is a descendant of “laughter clubs” that emerged in India in the 1990s. It feels awkward at first, but you fake it till you make it, she said. “It’s about allowing yourself to be OK with being awkward,” said Bee, a Los Angeles comedian and speaker. “Then you’re going to find some form of silliness within that is going to allow you to laugh involuntarily.” The laughter clubs were based on the common-sense notion that laughter relieves stress. But a good laugh is also good for your heart, immune system and many other health benefits, said Dr. Michael Miller, a cardiologist and medical professor at the University of Pennsylvania. “Like we say, exercise at least three to five days a week,” Miller said. “Belly laugh at least two to five days a week.”

The study of laughter

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By ASSGAUTAM SINGH

Members of laughter clubs participate in a laughter competition for the elderly to celebrate the 2007 World Laughter Day in Mumbai, India.

Although luminaries from the ancient Greeks to Freud have opined on the roots and implications of laughter, the modern study of laughter — gelotology — began emerging in the 1960s. Stanford University psychologist William F. Fry, one of gelotology’s founders, drew blood samples from himself while watching Laurel and Hardy. He discovered that laughter increased the number of immuneboosting blood cells.

ä See LAUGH, page 2X

Getting a good night’s sleep can be tricky. When life gets busy and stress piles up, falling and staying asleep can become a challenge. Many notice this shift in their 40s, when sleep that used to come easily now takes more effort. Things like a partner tossing and turning can be disruptive. Even the temperature of a bedroom can make a difference. Experts generally recommend keeping the bedroom cool — around 68 degrees — to support deeper sleep. But temperature is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Good sleep isn’t just about collapsing into bed after a long day. Bedtime routines such as going to sleep at the same time each night, white noise and sipping chamomile tea, signal that it’s time to relax. Blackout curtains, weighted blankets and the right pillow can all promise some sweet relief. There is no shortage of supplements and devices that claim to support a restful night. Despite the modern packaging, many of these solutions have been around for some time. What has changed is the level of stimulation filling everyone’s waking hours — and often follows them straight into bed. Overstimulation is a major obstacle to sleep. The never ending tasks, constant notifications and racing thoughts can push the nervous system into overdrive. According to Dr. Kevin Hargrave, a board-certified neurologist specializing in adult neurology, sleep medicine and neuroimaging in Lafayette, sleep deprivation shows up in far more ways than one. Mood changes and irritability are often the first sign. Focus and decision-making become more difficult. Appetite becomes dysregulated, leading to cravings and overeating. Immune function weakens, making it easier to get sick. “Insufficient sleep increases the risk of car crashes, workrelated accidents and medical issues, including increased risk of hypertension and diabetes, and the downstream consequences of these, including heart attack and stroke,” Hargrave said. For adults, most research points to at least seven hours of sleep per night for optimal functioning. Teens and children require even more, as sleep supports brain development, emotional regulation and physical growth. Still, many people insist they feel fine on five or six hours. Some are genuinely wired to need less sleep, known as “short sleepers.” But they are the exception.

ä See SLEEP, page 2X

April S. | Tobacco Cessation Specialist

2X ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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HEALTH MAKER Mammograms may indicate heart disease risks

ized system for documenting BAC gence tool, the team measured the tion or cost, Nudy pointed out. ings. Breast arterial Instead, the data already exist on in radiology reports, although CanBreast arterial calciﬁcation, or severity and progression of calciﬁBAC, is relatively common, ap- cation in breast arteries over time. routine mammograms performed ada has proposed a grading framecalcification linked to pearing They found that nearly 1 in 5 for breast cancer screening. work. in an estimated 15%-25% cardiovascular health of screening mammograms. Yet it women had detectable vascular If breast arterial calcification In this study, researchers used

BY ROBERTA BURKHART

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) Routine mammograms are best known as a front-line tool for detecting breast cancer. But new research suggests the same X-ray images may also offer an early warning sign for cardiovascular disease — the leading cause of death among women. A study presented at a Dec. 3 Radiological Society of North America meeting found that calcium deposits visible in the arteries of the breast can help predict a woman’s future risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and death. The ﬁndings add to growing evidence that mammograms may hold untapped value beyond cancer screening. The condition that mammograms can detect — and act as an early warning of heart problems down the road — is called breast arterial calcification, said Matthew Nudy, an assistant professor of medicine and public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, who presented the ﬁnd-

is not routinely reported. Despite often being discernible on routine mammograms, radiologists do not typically report the presence of these calcifications “because there’s no known association between this breast arterial calciﬁcation and breast cancer,” Nudy said. That omission may represent a missed opportunity — particularly for women, who often face delays in cardiovascular diagnosis. More than 60 million U.S. women — about 44% — have some form of heart disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart disease can affect any age and is the leading cause of death for women across the country. In 2023, it was responsible for about 1 in 5 deaths, nearly 305,000 women, per the CDC. In the new Penn State study, researchers analyzed data from 10,348 women who had undergone at least two mammograms at a U.S. academic medical center, with an average of 4.1 years between scans. Using an artificial intelli-

calcification at baseline. More importantly, the severity and progression of that calcification mattered. Women with worsening calcium buildup faced significantly higher risks of major cardiovascular events — up to double the risk for those with the most severe scores, Nudy explained. One of the most striking findings was how quickly changes could occur. “We saw progression of this BAC, or breast arterial calcification, in as little as one year,” Nudy said. “So I think it just goes to show that cardiovascular risk is something that changes all the time.” Women who initially showed no calcification but developed it later had a 41% higher risk of cardiovascular events and death over an average 5.6 years of follow-up. Risk climbed even higher for women whose calcification advanced from mild to moderate or severe levels. Unlike coronary artery calcium scoring — a CT scan is sometimes ordered to assess heart disease risk — identifying BAC does not require additional testing, radia-

were routinely reported, Nudy said, the next step would not be panic — but evaluation. “At the very least, these patients should have a cardiovascular disease risk assessment,” he said, noting that this typically includes blood pressure and cholesterol checks, use of risk calculators and, when appropriate, preventive therapies such as statins, blood pressure medications and lifestyle changes. The research may be especially relevant given long-standing disparities in women’s heart health. “We know that women face a lot of disparities when it comes to cardiovascular care, compared to men,” Nudy said. “They’re more likely to be diagnosed at later stages of cardiovascular disease … and we also know that women are less likely to get” treatment for the condition. Breast arterial calciﬁcation, he said, “could be something that we use to improve that.” One major hurdle remains: inconsistent reporting. Currently, there is no standard-

AI to quantify calcification efﬁciently across thousands of images. “If we were to run a research study where we had to have multiple radiologists analyze multiple mammogram images from over 10,000 participants, that would take a lot of time and a lot of money,” Nudy said. AI, he added, made the process scalable and standardized. Still, important questions remain unanswered — including whether identifying BAC leads to meaningful changes in patient care and outcomes. Further answers may be on the horizon. Nudy is leading additional research using mammograms from the federally funded Women’s Health Initiative, one of the largest and longest-running studies of chronic disease in menopausal women. For now, the ﬁndings highlight a new way clinicians may one day use an already familiar test — not just to detect cancer, but to help prevent heart disease before symptoms ever appear.

SLEEP

Continued from page 1X “If people sleep less than seven hours during the workweek but then need to ‘catch up’ during the weekends, that is a sign that they would beneﬁt from sleeping a little more each weeknight,” Hargrave said. Screens are among the most signiﬁcant disruptors of sleep. Blue light delays melatonin production, while social media and late-night scrolling keep the brain alert when it should be winding down. “Electronic screens and social media are an enemy of proper sleep schedules to some,” Hargrave said. “Putting away electronic screens and social media a few hours before bedtime would be a good strategy.” Other immediate improvements include early morning sunlight exposure and regular exercise, both of which help regulate circadian rhythms. For those who cannot realistically extend sleep time due to work or life demands, quality becomes critical. “Avoiding late caffeine and abstaining from alcohol might help one’s limited sleep be of better quality,” Hargrave said. “Late night caffeine may decrease slowwave sleep, also known as deep sleep. Alcohol can induce sleep; however, it may produce increased awakenings during the night and worsen conditions like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.” Sleep environment also matters. Supportive mattresses can help prevent discomfort that leads to nighttime waking. Even small details — wearing socks to keep body temperature regulated — can make a noticeable difference. At its core, sleep is not just a biological function but a daily practice. It requires consistency and cues that signal calm and rest to the nervous system. The tools may vary, but the core principles remain the same: darkness, quiet, routine and time. Sleep tips: n Keep bedrooms cool, dark, and quiet (around 68°F). n Stick to a consistent bedtime and wake time. n Limit screens and social media one to two hours before bed. n Try white noise, blackout curtains, or weighted blankets to reduce disturbances. n Sip chamomile tea before bed. n Avoid late caffeine or alcohol, which disrupt deep sleep. n Get morning sunlight exposure and exercise regularly. n Comfortable mattress and pillows can make a difference. Tip: Check with your doctor about any sleep supplements that could help. A lack of sleep can make or break a day. Too many restless nights in a row can quietly erode physical health, emotional resilience and overall quality of life. Rest restores far more than energy. It restores balance. In a world that celebrates productivity and constant motion, sleep remains one of the most powerful — and underrated — forms of self-care.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By CHRIS CARLSON

Class members participate in a laughter yoga class on Main Beach in Laguna Beach, Calif.

LAUGH

Continued from page 1X In 1995, Dr. Madan Kataria, a physician in Mumbai, got wind of the emerging research as editor of a health magazine while researching an article on stress management. To combat his own stress, he started the ﬁrst daily laughter club in a park. It ballooned from a handful of participants to more than 150 within a month, he said. After the group quickly ran out of jokes, Kataria created exercises that activated the diaphragm, and he incorporated yogic breathing exercises, light stretches and deliberately silly sounds and movements. “We were faking in the beginning and within seconds, everybody was in stitches,” Kataria said.

Why is laughter good for you? Miller began studying laughter in the 1990s. Showing funny movies to study participants, he found that laughter produces endorphins in the brain that promote beneﬁcial chemicals in the blood vessels. Nitric oxide, for example, causes blood vessels to dilate, which lowers blood pressure, inflammation and cholesterol. The combination reduces the risk for a heart attack, he said, and the endorphins are natural pain killers. “When you’ve had a really good laugh, you feel very relaxed and light,” said Miller, who is also chief of medicine at the Philadelphia Veterans Administration, where he is implementing a

“Really, it’s not about forcing yourself to laugh. It’s like activating your laughter muscles, getting rid of your mental inhibitions and shyness. Then the real laughing is childlike laughing, unconditional laughing.” DR. MADAN KATARIA laughter therapy program. “It’s like you’ve taken pain medication.” Forced laughter — or simulated mirth, in academia — may even be more beneficial than spontaneous laughter, said Jenny Rosendhal, a senior researcher of medical psychology at Jena University in Germany. Rosendhal completed a metaanalysis of 45 laughter studies, among other research, and found that laughter-inducing therapies decreased glucose levels, the stress hormone cortisol and chronic pain. They also improved mobility and overall mood, especially in older populations. Because humor is subjective, it is hard to measure. That’s why much of the more recent research has focused on laughter yoga and similar programs that provoke sustained bouts of laughter during 30- to 45-minute sessions, Rosendhal said. Laughter yoga is particularly effective for people who might not feel like laughing, such as those struggling with depression or cancer patients, she said. With simulated laughter, the physiological mechanisms are the

same, such as additional inhaling, exhaling and muscle activity that also improves mood. “The well-being comes through the back door,” she said. “You start with an exercise, and then the spontaneous laughter comes later because it’s funny to see people laughing.”

How to laugh more During a recent video call, Kataria said the trick is to learn to laugh for no reason. He and others in laughing yoga classes around the world have created hundreds of exercises that help. The simplest: Get together with another person, look in each other’s eyes and repeat the sound “ha” for a full minute. Or try the “breathe in and laugh.” Bring your hands to your chest on a deep inhale, hold your breath for three seconds, and burst out laughing on the exhale while extending your hands forward.

In laughing yoga classes, people may pretend to greet each other like aliens, crawl around like their favorite animals, or tap their temple as if a light bulb went off, exclaiming, “Aha! ha ha ha!” Kataria suggested bringing laughter into your daily life, even at things that might not seem funny. Demonstrating “credit card bill laughter,” he held out his hand as if looking at a statement, and burst into a roiling, infectious laughter. For inspiration, you could log into one of the three dozen free online American laughter clubs recognized by Laughter Yoga International. “Really, it’s not about forcing yourself to laugh,” he said. “It’s like activating your laughter muscles, getting rid of your mental inhibitions and shyness. Then the real laughing is childlike laughing, unconditional laughing.”

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Louisiana Health Health editions will also section is focused on profile people who are providing in-depth, personal advancing health for the accounts of health in the state of Louisiana. state. This section looks Do you have a health at medical innovations, story? We want to hear from health discoveries, state and you. national health statistics Email margaret.delaney@ and re-examining tried and theadvocate.com to submit true methods on ways to live health questions, stories well. and more.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ 3X

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Eat Fit Live Fit

Molly Kimball RD, CSSD

B R O U G H T TO YO U BY

Mindful eating in a world of multitasking This week’s column is written by Brittany Craft, RDN, LDN, who leads the Eat Fit nonproﬁt initiative at Ochsner Health

making things fresh, embrace that too. A colleague once told me, “You are worth the extra 30 seconds it takes to slice a tomato for your sandwich.” That stuck with me.

Put Down the Screen(s) and Savor

It’s tempting to work through lunch, I know. But with so much of the day already spent looking at a screen, could you spare 30 minutes to reﬂect on your day or talk with a friend instead? Taking a mental break helps you taste your food, notice fullness cues and return to work more focused than if you’d powered through. While you eat, be mindful about what you are consuming: • What does it taste like? • What’s the texture? • What colors are on your plate? • Are you getting full? These small moments of awareness are the heart of mindful eating.

Embrace a Dirty Plate

Actually plate up your food. Sure, it’s easier to eat snacks out of the package, but plating gives you a clearer sense of portions and adds a bit of legitimacy and enjoyment to your meal. It’s a meal, not a grazing board, and it’s something you can slow down to enjoy.

he start of a new year gives us a rare moment to reﬂect, a natural pause to notice what’s supporting us and what’s quietly wearing us down. For me, working from home has been one of those double-edged realities. I love the calm of my home office, the absence of traffic and the comfort of yoga pants. But remote work also means constant access to the kitchen, meetings that spill into one another, and more days than I’d like to admit when “lunch” is eaten with one hand, while I’m typing with the other. Even with the best intentions, meals can become rushed, distracted or forgotten entirely. Our culture celebrates multitasking and efficiency. But when it comes to fueling ourselves well, that pace can work against us. In our Eat Fit world, we talk often about nourishment — and nourishment is about more than what’s on the plate. It also requires being present enough to notice how we eat. Rather than seeing nutrition as another task, I like to view it as an act of care: supporting your energy, focus and well-being so you can show up fully

for everything you want to accomplish. Here’s how to approach mindful eating, even in a world built for multitasking.

Plan Ahead with Food You’ll Actually Look Forward To

Planning ahead helps. The key is choosing foods you’re genuinely excited to eat. When something delicious and nutritious is waiting in the refrigerator, it becomes the easy choice. Planning can also include prepping. Ask yourself honestly: “Will I really chop an apple midday, or do I need it pre-sliced?” “Do I prefer doing everything on Sunday, with one cutting board and one knife, prepping veggies and fruit for the week?” And if you’re someone who enjoys

Try to include the two P’s — produce and protein — at every meal, along with a complex carbohydrate and/or a healthy fat. It’s a simple structure with big beneﬁts: carbs give you energy, and protein or fat provides staying power. This could look like: • Apple slices with almond butter • Sliced bell peppers or whole-grain crackers with hummus • Berries and Greek yogurt • Small piece of fruit and a hard-boiled egg • Whole-grain toast with mashed avocado

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Most of us walk around at least mildly dehydrated. Dehydration can mimic hunger, sap energy and make it harder to stay focused. Keep water nearby and schedule water breaks if you have to. If plain water feels boring, try herbal teas, sparkling water or fruit-infused water. Hydration supports digestion, helps regulate appetite and keeps energy steadier throughout the day.

What Mindful Eating Means to Me Mindful eating is a way to slow down amid the constant hum of work and to-do lists. These small, intentional moments don’t just fuel my body, they remind me to care for myself, to pause and to show up fully for the people and work I love. To me, mindful eating isn’t about perfection. It’s about noticing, appreciating and honoring ourselves in a busy world. When we do that, even in tiny ways, it makes all the difference.

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, is a registered dietitian with Ochsner Health and founder of Ochsner’s Eat Fit nonproﬁt initiative. For more wellness content, tune in to Molly’s podcast, FUELED Wellness + Nutrition, and follow @MollykimballRD and @EatFitOchsner on social media. Email nutrition@ochsner.org to connect with Molly or schedule a consult with her team.

BY THE NUMBERS

Obesity in America In 2024, at least 1 in 4 adults in all U.S. states and territories had obesity.

1 IN 4 ADULTS IN ALL U.S. STATES HAVE OBESITy In 2024, at least 1 in 4 adults in all U.S. states and territories had obesity. These states had the highest percentage of adults with obesity in 2024, in descending order: n West Virginia with 41.4%, n Mississippi with 40.4%, n Louisiana with 39.2%, n Alabama and Arkansas with 38.9%, n Indiana with 38.4%, n Kansas and Nebraska with 37.6%, n Wisconsin with 37.4%

Focus on the Two “P’s”

29% or less

29.1% to 32%

32.1% to 35%

35.1% to 38%

More than 38%

WA S H . WASH. MON T. MONT.

n and Kentucky with 37.2%. These states had the lowest percentage of adults with obesity in 2024, in ascending order: n Colorado with 25%, n Hawaii and Massachusetts with 27%, n New Jersey with 27.7%, n Vermont with 29%, n California with 29.1%, n New york with 29.5%, n Florida with 29.6% n and Montana and Utah with 31%.

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R .I. R.I. CONN. C ONN. N . J. N.J. DE L . DEL. MD. MD.

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S.C. S.C. MIS S. AALA. MISS. L A.

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Insufficient data

L A. LA.

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FL A. FLA. H AWA I I HAWAII

Louisiana: 39.2% Staff graphic

Source: CDC

Many products contain hidden added sugars Some healthy food labels may be misleading

BY ALBERT STUMM Associated Press

Many consumers feel pride in avoiding the glazed pastries in the supermarket and instead opting for “all natural” granola that comes packed with extra protein. Same goes for low-fat yogurts “made with real fruit,” organic plant-based milks and bottled “superfood” smoothies. Buyer beware: Healthy grocery buzzwords like those often cover up an unhealthy amount of sugar. Added sugars are difficult to spot quickly because many companies use clever marketing to distract consumers, said Nicole Avena, a professor of neuroscience and psychiatry at Mount

Sinai Medical School and Princeton University who has studied added sugars. Avena said while some healthforward brands know people are starting to become aware of the hazards of added sugars, “a lot of the bigger brands don’t worry so much about people’s health.” Here’s how to spot hidden sugars and what to do about it.

What to look for Along with saturated fat and salt, eating excess sugar is linked to heart disease, obesity, diabetes and other health risks. The average American consumes 17 teaspoons of added sugar a day, which adds up to 57 pounds per year, according to the American Heart Association. About half of that comes from beverages, but much of the rest is sneaked into cereal, salsa, prepared sandwiches, dairy products, bottled sauces and baked goods, including many brands of

whole-grain bread. To help control sugar intake, start by checking the nutrition label. Since 2021, food companies have been required to list the quantity of added sugars separately from total sugar content. But the plan backfired, Avena said. Companies reduced common sweeteners like reﬁned beet sugar and high-fructose corn syrup but added alternatives, such as monk fruit and the sugar alcohol erythritol, which aren’t considered “added sugars” under FDA regulations. “Now our foods are even more sweet than they were back in 2020,” Avena said.

What should you do? Collin Popp, a dietitian and professor at NYU Langone Health, said the current FDA recommendation allows for some ﬂexibility. People should get no more than 10% of their calories from added

sugar, which amounts to about 50 grams per day if eating 2,000 calories, or a bit more than what’s in a typical can of soda. But that might be too ﬂexible, Popp said. “I would actually like to see that be less than 5%, and closer to zero for some, if they have diabetes or prediabetes,” he said. The key is to be mindful of what you’re eating, even if the product seems healthy or if the package is labeled organic, Popp said. Roasted nuts, plant-based milks and wasabi peas, for example, can include a surprising amount of added sugars. So can English muffins and Greek yogurt. One Chobani black cherry yogurt, for example, has zero grams of fat but 9 grams of added sugar, or more than 2 teaspoons. Silk brand almond milk has 7 grams per cup. Popp recommends taking control of how much sugar goes

into your food. That could mean buying plain yogurt and adding honey or berries, or asking the barista if you can put your own oat milk into your coffee.

Taking from one column Although they lower the calorie content of foods, artiﬁcial sweeteners like stevia and sugar alcohols may not be better because they can encourage people to overeat, Avena said. She said research shows that sweet ﬂavors are what activate the reward center of the brain, not the sugar itself. That’s not to write off sugar alternatives, including allulose for people with Type 1 diabetes since it doesn’t affect blood sugar. But for the general public, minimizing dependence on the overall sweetness of food is key to improving health, she said. “Don’t let the food companies decide how much sugar you’re eating,” Avena said.

4X ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Tips to get in shape for

2 26

Vows to exercise consistently and lose weight are among the most common New Year’s resolutions. Fitness centers are typically busy in early January, but the crowds tend to thin out as the year progresses.

Beating the odds involves ﬁnding ways to keep these resolutions from losing steam within a few weeks. A structured approach can help you overcome these challenges.

5 tips to make your ﬁtness resolutions stick A common mistake is trying to change too much too quickly. To set yourself up for success, create goals that are SMART:

Speciﬁc

Measurable

Clearly deﬁne what you want to accomplish. Instead of a vague goal like “get in shape,” aim for something speciﬁc, such as “run a 5K” or “gain 2 pounds of muscle.”

Track your progress. This could mean logging your workouts, noting the weights you lift or timing your runs.

3 Achievable

Set realistic goals. If you are new to exercise, don’t commit to working out seven days a week. Start with two or three days, and build from there.

Realistic

Your goals should align with your lifestyle. Instead of completely avoiding your favorite foods, try limiting them to once a week. Small, sustainable changes are more effective than drastic ones.

Time-bound

Give yourself a deadline. For example, “I want to gain 2 pounds of muscle by May 2026.” A target date creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay focused.

Big victories are motivating, but so are small ones. Frame your main ﬁtness goal as a series of smaller challenges and celebrate your progress along the way.

8 morning habits that may help you lose weight 1

Drink electrolytes before coffee.

Get sunlight in the morning to boost weight loss results.

Hydration in the morning is one of the simplest and most effective daily habits for weight management. Within 15 minutes of waking, drink 12 to 16 ounces of water with an electrolyte solution or a pinch of sea salt and lemon. Wait 30 minutes before your ﬁrst cup of coffee.

Morning sunlight signals your body’s circadian rhythm that it’s time to wake up, energize and metabolize. Getting sunlight before noon improves sleep quality at night and helps regulate hunger hormones during the day.

Eating 30 grams of protein before 10 a.m.

Get quality sleep.

Eating protein early in the day stabilizes your metabolism and hormones for the next 24 hours. Include 30 grams of protein in your ﬁrst meal each day. Try Greek yogurt with chia seeds and nuts, a veggie omelet with avocado, or a smoothie with protein powder, spinach and berries.

Consistent sleep is the backbone of every healthy morning routine. When you sleep well, your metabolism functions more efficiently, your hunger hormones stay balanced, and your morning energy levels remain steady.

Set daily eating goals.

Read food labels.

Practice morning mindfulness.

Be consistent.

Morning planning creates structure and prevents impulsive eating later in the day. When you decide what to eat before noon, you eliminate guesswork and are more likely to stay aligned with your nutrition goals.

Mindfulness each morning strengthens the mental focus required for consistency. When you begin your day with awareness and calm, you are less reactive to stress and more likely to follow through with healthy choices.

Checking food labels each morning, whether for your breakfast choices or prepped meals, reinforces awareness and accountability. It helps you identify hidden sugars, reﬁned oils and artiﬁcial ingredients that can slow your progress.

Consistency matters more than intensity. Sustainable progress isn’t about willpower or restriction; it’s about repetition.

What are the benefits of strength training after age 40? Our bodies begin to lose muscle mass in a process called sarcopenia, which can start as early as our 30s. This leads to declines in strength, balance and mobility. Strength training is one of the best ways to combat sarcopenia. Experts recommend incorporating resistance training two to three times per week. Pair this with a protein-rich diet to support muscle repair and growth. Balance and flexibility exercises can further reduce fall risk and promote overall fitness.

Whether lifting weights, using resistance bands or performing bodyweight exercises, strength training stimulates muscle growth and improves overall ﬁtness. The key to maintaining a New Year’s health and ﬁtness routine is to be stronger than your excuses.

Ochsner Health is the leading nonproﬁt healthcare provider in Louisiana, Mississippi and across the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. Ochsner is nationally recognized for inspiring healthier lives and stronger communities through unmatched expertise, quality and digital connectivity. In 2024, Ochsner’s more than 40,000 dedicated team members and 4,900 employed and affiliated physicians cared for 1.6 million people from every state in the nation and 63 countries. To learn more about how Ochsner empowers people to get well and stay well, visit www.ochsner.org.

GOODNESS | HOPE | SOLUTIONS

INSPIRED

LOUISIANA

N O L A.C O M & T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

S U N D AY, J A N U A rY 11, 2026

Q&A: La. 4-H program creates young leaders PAGE 2

11N

Jan Risher LONG STORy SHORT

A little cringe can go a long way PHOTO PROVIDED By MEAGEN MORELAND

New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter employees celebrate in the Keesler Federal Credit Union suite at the Nov. 23 Saints game against the Falcons.

‘Hope lives here’ New Orleans homeless shelter changes lives with help from credit union, Saints

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

In the Keesler Federal Credit Union suite at the Superdome, sparkly black and gold revelry paraded through the door. Dawn BradleyFletcher, CEO of the New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter, led her crew into the suite for the Nov. 23 Saints vs. Falcons game, complete with pompoms, sequins and lots of laughter. The gameday fun was the result of a partnership between Keesler Credit Union, the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter. Keesler Credit Union chose the shelter as their Kicks for Kids beneficiary. Every time the New Orleans Saints made a field goal, the credit union donated $1,000 to the shelter. The Saints kickers have raised $30,000 for the 2025 season. Keesler chose the New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter as the beneficiary of the 2025 Kicks for Kids campaign. Last year was the Covenant House, for which they raised $27,000. “We want to help the community get stronger,” said Michele Rabalais, the director of corporate sponsorships at Keesler. “The Saints came up with Kicks for Kids for our community giveback. The New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter was a perfect fit for us.” Bradley-Fletcher has been with the shelter since 2008, shortly after it opened, when Jackie and Dan Silverman, the founders of New Orleans Women’s and Children’s Shelter, interviewed her to be their first employee. Bradley-Fletcher has been there since, through several moves and expansions of the shelter. “I told them that everything that they were doing I wanted to be a part of,” BradleyFletcher said. She says that she loves showing up to the shelter every day to make sure that the families have an opportunity to do better and to grow.

PROVIDED PHOTO

New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter participants put their hands together during Thanksgiving festivities.

The New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter staff poses with Saints cheerleaders and Keesler Federal Credit Union employees during the Nov. 23 Saints game. PHOTO PROVIDED By MEAGEN MORELAND

In 2025, the shelter moved into a new facility in MidCity, the converted and renovated Lucky Inn, and doubled its capacity. They have now assisted over 4,700 parents and children recovering from homelessness, with less than 2% returning to the streets. Bradley-Fletcher and her team achieve this success through holistic care, empathy and wraparound care. As the leading homeless shelter for intact families — including fathers and sons — in the region, the New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter is commit-

ted to breaking the cycle of homelessness while keeping families together through coordinated, family-centered, holistic support and services. “At the shelter, our goal is to make sure that our families understand and know that there is another opportunity to be successful in life,” Bradley-Fletcher said. “When they cross the sill of our doors, they do not have to think about being homeless. This is an opportunity to get on your feet and to become stable forever.” The shelter provides a safe environment where parents

don’t have to think about where their next meal is coming from or how they’re going to pay bills — all are covered until they are able to transition to housing, and then services continue for 18 more months. The shelter promotes stability and consistency with meals at designated times and rooms for each family with new sheets, towels and toiletries. Anything they are given while at the shelter, they take with them to their new residences. Daily chore

ä See SHELTER, page 2Y

We are living in the golden age of polish. Carefully worded emails, often crafted with the help of AI. Beautiful kitchens. Perfect beds. Tables set just so. Meals plated to impress. Outfits assembled with intention. Families styled and camera-ready. The list of idealized vignettes goes on and on. We are surrounded by smoothness — curated feeds, practiced answers, personal branding — to the point that awkwardness now sticks out like the cranberry juice stain on my grandmother’s white tablecloth. I make this observation after decades of experience. Awkwardness has been my specialty. The flip side of the cringe is that awkwardness can open us up to others. It has a way of unlocking doors that polish never does. Awkward moments have also provided the genesis for some of my closest friendships. Like that time I unknowingly dropped my panties in the aisle of a plane and left them there for 10 minutes as the group of strangers I was traveling with for the next week sat behind me and debated on what to do. David D’Aquin ultimately tapped me on the shoulder and told me I had dropped something. It was a horrible, mortifying moment. That said, more than 17 years later, he remains one of my best friends. Or that time long ago, when I way overpacked for a yearlong trip to teach English in Slovakia, and the girl in line behind me at the ticket counter watched in horror as I opened my giant suitcases and rearranged my melange of peculiarities, including a one-pound canned ham. My goal: to finagle getting all of my bits and bags across the sea without costing the small fortune I didn’t have. I finally made the packing Tetris work — and 33 years later, that girl is another of my closest friends. Much of my experience has been living proof of what Lindsay Godwin wrote in Psychology Today: while awkwardness feels isolating, it often has the opposite effect. I could fill pages with plenty of other, nontravel related and less memorable awkward moments. Those occasions have filled my days to the point that I realize that my awkward meter may be somewhat broken — maybe that’s because I’ve come out on the good side of awkward so many times. I like when we ask questions at the table, and everyone gets a chance to share. Yes, doing so can feel a little funny, but it can also lead to magic and connection.

ä See RISHER, page 2Y

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER

David D’Aquin, of Atlanta, and Jan Risher canoe at Lake Martin in St. Martin Parish.

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INSPIRED DISCUSSIONS A S K T H E E X P E RT S

La. 4-H program creates young leaders in agriculture Staff writer

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE

Q&A WITH LANETTE G. HEBERT

Lanette G. Hebert, based in Rayne, serves as the southwest 4-H regional coordinator for the LSU AgCenter, bringing over 35 years of service to Louisiana’s 4-H youth development programs. Throughout her tenure, she has worked to empower youth, strengthen volunteer networks and build programs that foster leaderHebert ship, citizenship and essential life skills. Last year, Hebert had a hand in hosting the Growing Careers … Beyond the Rice Field pilot program — an effort to introduce high school youth to the science and business of rice production, sponsored by the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board. Hebert’s passion for community and education reﬂects her belief that investing in young people creates a stronger, brighter future for Louisiana. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What does your role with the AgCenter look like, beyond the rice field program? We develop educational programs, and one that we’ve focused on is ag awareness. Out of our advisory process, someone suggested that we focus on the rice industry, since the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Sta-

tion is within the southwest region. Do you plan to host another Beyond the Rice Field program in the future? We’re going to propose that we do it every other year. We highlight all careers available in the ag industry, whereas this one was targeted just on the rice industry, so we plan to alternate them — one general ag awareness program and then the rice program. What activities and curriculum did the students participate in for the rice field program? We really called upon the professors at the rice research station. They went out with entomologists into the rice fields, looked for bugs and then evaluated the bugs and discussed how they would impact the rice crop. In our agronomy lab, they took home seed plots and did different treatments on them. They learned about drones and got to fly drones. Every one of the six sessions highlighted the careers, but then also did some type of hands-on activity. How are young people integral to the future of Louisiana agriculture? That’s the driving force behind our ag awareness program, especially with this rice field day, is a con-

SHELTER

Continued from page 1y assignments and parenting classes help reinforce positive habits and create routines for successful living once they leave. Each family works with case managers to build a life plan — education, workforce development, financial literacy and affordable housing needs — tailored to their unique situations. The wraparound services approach includes programs both in the shelter and after the families move out, including transportation, workplace uniforms and soft skill developments. “Hope lives here,” Brad-

RISHER

Continued from page 1y Granted, I now realize that I don’t always register some conversations as awkward and eventually realize that what I appreciated as an exchange in getting to know someone better, in fact, pushed someone else’s

cern for young people who are entering careers that are agriculture-based. We cooperate with the College of Ag at LSU to highlight those careers, from fashion merchandising to food science to agronomy. We’re trying to expose them to a vast array of career opportunities in agriculture and what educational opportunities are available to them. With our rice ﬁeld day, we emphasized internships and high school job opportunities that would expose them to see if they’d like this career choice. One of the key things we’re trying to do is develop their awareness of the careers but also give them hands-on opportunities. How does 4-H develop leadership skills and teach students the soft skills needed in the workforce? The ag awareness program is just one of the things we offer. Our statewide forage program offers opportunities in three core areas besides agriculture: STEM, healthy living and citizenship and leadership. We start the 4-H program in fourth grade, and a lot of that is where they are exploring and learning about the different subject matters. As they stay with us in the 4-H program, we transition that into leadership. If a fourth grader starts off interested in the nutrition

PROVIDED PHOTO

Participants in LSU AgCenter’s Growing Careers … Beyond the Rice Field program participate in hands-on activities that simulated daily work of scientists and professors in the rice industry. project and cooking, they’re learning how to measure ingredients, but we’re hoping, by 10th grade, they’re conducting the workshop for the fourth grader. Louisiana 4-H is pretty unique. We have seven statewide leadership boards where we focus on subject matter and developing leaders in those areas. Every parish also has a team leadership program. That club focuses very heavily on leadership development. How does 4-H work with external partners in the state — farmers, researchers, etc. — to bolster the

program? We’re always looking for community collaborators who are aligned with the missions of our 4-H program. The rice ﬁeld day was a great example. It was awesome to see the passion that our researchers, research associates, extension faculty and farmers have for their career paths. That’s always something, when we ﬁnd a partner that has the same goal and passion of reaching young people and sustaining an industry. Our STEM program is

ley-Fletcher said over the hired her. “We all have within our cheers and music of the Suhearts to do this mission,” perdome suite. Coleman said. “We’re taking More than a shelter families from homelessness For 63-year-old Sydney and poverty to one of stabilColeman, a 13-year employee ity and self sufﬁciency, and of New Orleans Women and we do it every day — one Children’s Shelter and the ex- family at a time, meeting ecutive assistant, the shelter them where they are at.” Coleman says she goes is more than a shelter. It’s a family place where families to sleep thinking about the have their own private rooms shelter and wakes up thinkand private bathrooms. ing about the shelter beHaving been homeless cause her prayer is to see with her own children ear- homelessness end in her lier in her life, Coleman lifetime. Bradley-Fletcher says her has a unique perspective and heart for the families entire staff is full of hard at the shelter. Another workers who genuinely care program, House of Ruth, about the mission, which helped her get on her feet, speaks to the quality of their and she continued to work work. Donna Perkins, director there until it closed, which was when Bradley-Fletcher of shelter operations, has

worked with the organization for 16 years. Her favorite aspect of the job is getting the families into shelter and knowing they are off the streets. She loves ﬁxing up the rooms and stocking them with what each family needs — and then seeing their faces when they walk into the rooms. On Dec. 1, the New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter was selected as one of 32 grant recipients of the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, meaning another $1.25 million pledged to the shelter. Bradley-Fletcher says this additional gift is truly transformational for the

shelter and means more families will come into safety, to work toward ensuring no child in the community sleeps outside. Over the next ﬁve years, the organization will use the grant to strengthen and expand programming and support for the families they serve. As for the New Orleans Saints, the team continues to be involved with the shelter, coming through for holidays, special occasions and the Kick for Kids initiative. When the season ends, the Saints and Keesler Federal Credit Union will present the check to Bradley-Fletcher and her team, helping ensure more families in New Orleans have a safe place to call home.

from a deep-seated human need to belong — and that awkward moments feel like they threaten social standing, even if only temporarily. From my experience, I believe the trick is working through the awkward and embracing the cringe. Being brave enough to put it out there and laugh at it goes a long way toward tak-

ing away the sting. Because the truth is that awkwardness can bruise. The awkward moment unpaired with a demonstration of one’s ability to laugh at oneself can become something else entirely, a verboden moment to ignore and never mention again. Those moments can close doors, not open them. They are the times that make so

many of us avoid awkward at all costs. Not every awkward moment is redeemable. And yet, they are still worth the risk. I admit that in the moment when D’Aquin tapped me on the shoulder, and I realized what had fallen from the overhead compartment — and that 20 people had been looking at

buttons. “At its core, awkwardness is rooted in a fear of judgment,” Godwin wrote. “When we make a mistake, do something embarrassing, or ﬁnd ourselves in an uncomfortable situation, we worry that others will see us as incompetent, unprofessional, or socially inept.” She says the fear comes

Another big gift

really growing right now, so robotics gives us a lot of opportunity to partner with local people as well. We have things like job interview contests, and we work with HR departments to do mock interviews. We’re always trying to connect with people throughout the site to highlight their careers and passions for different subject matters that pertain to our young people. Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie @theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO By MEAGEN MORELAND

Dawn Bradley-Fletcher, CEO of the New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter, stands at the suites at the Superdome during the Nov. 23 Saints game.

my unmentionables for 10 minutes, I wanted to crawl under the seat in front of me. These days, though, I’m happy to be living proof that experiencing, growing from and reframing awkward moments does have its upsides. Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

NOLA.COM/CLUEDAT

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ 3Y

lll

‘Building connections’

Baton Rouge zine scene promotes accessible self-expression BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

Folded, sometimes stapled and small enough to slip into a pocket, the tiny booklets distributed by the Baton Rouge Zine Club are the opposite of going viral. It’s a portable medium. It’s DIY. In a digitally saturated world, where content simultaneously lives forever and is forgotten with a swipe of the thumb, the zine encourages a tactile engagement with art and ideas. “Everything just sort of goes by on a scroll on the phone,” said Sophie Ziegler, a member of the Baton Rouge Zine Club. “It’s nice to have small analog things that we can hold on to, that you can use and then re-find and rediscover.” Though New Orleans might be considered the state’s cultural and artistic center for activities like zine making, the Baton Rouge Zine Club and Louisiana Zine Fest offer spaces outside of the Crescent City for people to explore self-publication and bond with others in the community over an accessible and inclusive medium. “A lot of the events that are like this happen in New Orleans, so the first motivation was to do something for those of us not in New Orleans and for those of us in different parts of the state to be able to participate,” Ziegler said. “Inexpensive self-publication” is the standard definition of the zine, Ziegler said. The medium is low budget and welcoming to anyone interested in exploring ideas artistically, they said. “There’s not a large editing process that a lot of these go through,” Ziegler said. “What that means is you get to communicate very directly to the people you share zines with.”

The Baton Rouge zine scene held the first Louisiana Zine Fest in August 2025. The event, hosted at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, brought zine-related workshops and vendors to the Main Branch on Goodwood Avenue, covering topics from zine construction to content. Several hundred people attended the event. Gabriella Lindsay, who started the south Louisiana, queer identity-focused zine “Cher,” said the small-batch nature of zines and their ability to speak directly to readers makes them uniquely positioned as an art form to build community. They also provide a publishing platform with a low barrier to entry for local artists and writers to share their work, she said. “They are not meant to go viral,” Lindsay said. “They are meant to start conversations with each other and bring connection, and I think that’s really valuable right now.” Zines are often tied to countercultural and niche movements, both historically and practically because they are inexpensive to produce, Ziegler said. Science fiction fans in the 1930s helped popularize the format in American culture, but even religious pamphlets share many elements of the zine, they said. “A zine is particularly adept at communicating thoughts that might not have more mainstream ways of circulating,” Ziegler said. With queer stories specifically, zines can articulate people’s experiences with sexuality and gender in a way that leads to understanding, according to Lindsay. “I read somebody’s zine about their gender fluidity,” Lindsay said. “If they told me, ‘I’m gender fluid,’ that would be a way of un-

PHOTOS PROVIDED By BATON ROUGE ZINE CLUB

ABOVE: Baton Rouge Zine Club members make zines together during a meeting in October. RIGHT: An informational zine for the Baton Rouge Zine Club is displayed. derstanding them. But because I was able to read their zine, read their experience, read their deﬁnition of gender ﬂuidity for them, I was able to understand them so much better than just the label of it could.” The Baton Rouge Zine Club currently meets at the Wonderground creative space off Myrtle Walk in Baton Rouge. Ziegler emphasized that everyone is welcome to join the zine-making and sharing time. “They’re fun ways to work out ideas,” Ziegler said. “A lot of people have told me they’re really important ways to get back to creative endeavors in general. The stakes are really low. If you don’t like your zine, you can throw it away.” Plans are in the works for Louisiana Zine Fest in 2026. “We want to keep it as Louisiana focused as possible to make sure those of us in Louisiana have a venue, have a chance to meet,” Ziegler said. “The large part of this is about building connections in communities.”

Helping Small Businesses Thrive

Rewriting the Rules: R LaQueda Ricks Turns HR Expertise into a Growing Business

fter more than two decades in human resources, LaQueda Ricks understood the complexities of people and policy, and had become a trusted leader in her ﬁeld. She spent years helping organizations structure HR departments, guide leadership development, and champion workplace equity. Now she was ready to do it on her own terms. As a result, 4D HR Consulting was born; a ﬁrm named for the four pillars that guide its work: Discover, Design, Develop, and Deliver.

“The tips the Shell LiveWire program gave me were game changers. It helped me connect with my audience and build my platform.” L AQUEDA RICKS | 4D HR CONSULTING

Introduced to the Shell LiveWire program through Louisiana Economic Development (LED), LaQueda saw it as a chance to take 4D HR to the next level. “You have to learn everything, from accounting to branding,” she explained. Through Shell LiveWire, LaQueda dug into proﬁt and loss statements, budgeting, and branding. She reﬁned her messaging, began leveraging social media, and even had posts go viral; something she attributes directly to what she learned in the program. Since completing Shell LiveWire, LaQueda is positioning 4D HR for national partnerships, all while staying rooted in her mission: Aligning people, policy, and performance.

Ready to grow your business? Applications for the 2026 Shell LiveWire Louisiana program are open through January 26, 2026 for businesses from Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and Terrebonne Parishes. All industries welcome.

Apply now at www.shell.us/livewire.

shell.us/louisiana | #PoweringProgress

4Y ✦ Sunday, January 11, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

FAITH & VALUES lll

Buddhist nun supports Denver’s homeless BY FIONA MURPHY Contributing writer

On a cool morning in Denver, a 70-year-old Buddhist nun pedaled their electric tricycle beneath highway overpasses and along cracked bike paths, slowing as they approached tents tucked against concrete embankments or someone sleeping under a bridge. The small trailer fastened to the trike carried bottled water, bagged lunches, socks, gloves, Narcan, tents and hand warmers. The cyclist, Kelsang Virya, who uses they/them pronouns, has become a familiar presence to many people living on Denver’s streets over the past ﬁve years. The nun — who helped found Mutual Aid Monday, which now feeds more than 400 vulnerable and unhoused people a week — scans the grittiest parts of the city for familiar faces. “I think I know most people here,” Virya said after handing out supplies at a homeless encampment on the outskirts of Lakewood, where about 30 people who were gathered around tents and wearing winter jackets approached them for water and food, saying “ma’am” and thanking the nun profusely. Just before Virya arrived at the camp, the nun had stopped under a bridge to check on a man who appeared to have passed out, likely after using fentanyl, an extremely powerful opioid that has become Colorado’s leading cause of drugrelated deaths in the past ﬁve years. “He wouldn’t show me his face,” Virya said. “When I saw him under the bridge, it’s like whatever pops into my head is the mantra that’s needed.” As Virya engages in what they call “street outreach,” the work of Mutual Aid Monday, or MAM, they feel most drawn to, the nun keeps a rotation of Tibetan Buddhist mantras running quietly in their mind. Emerging from the dark shade of an overpass, Virya

will often whisper their primary mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum, associated with the Buddha of compassion and believed to relieve suffering. Virya turns to it instinctively whenever they encounter someone in distress. Virya grew up Lutheran in Wisconsin but as an adult, while raising children and working in hospice care, they began reading Thich Nhat Hanh and Pema Chödrön before eventually ﬁnding their way to Tibetan Buddhism. “What really drew me to Buddhism was the compassion,” they said. Virya was ordained more than 15 years ago and follows a tradition in which daily vows, prayers and study shape monastic life. “I retake my vows every day,” they said. “I haven’t missed in 15 and a half years.” After checking that the man under the bridge did not need Narcan, Virya murmured the Om Tara Tuttare Ture Soha mantra under their breath, saying it was the one that surfaced first because Tara is “the rescue Buddha.” “I would be so depressed,” Virya said. “I could not do this work. I have to have my faith that grounds me every day and is a refuge.” This work began for Virya in 2019, when they and their granddaughter started taking bagged lunches to large encampments across Denver. They had moved to the city 12 years earlier to be closer to their son, after having spent the three previous years living at a monastery in New Mexico. In 2020, amid the pandemic and as homelessness surged in the city, the nun began showing up at encampment sweeps several times a week to protest, as police were often reportedly poking holes in people’s tents, damaging personal property and handing out tickets. Denver has long enforced an unauthorized-camping ordinance, commonly known as the urban camping ban, which prohibits sleeping in public spaces and has shaped how homelessness is

PHOTO PROVIDED By FIONA MURPHy

Buddhist nun Kelsang Virya uses a tricycle and buggy to distribute items during street outreach to unhoused populations on Nov. 18 in Denver. managed in the city for more than a decade. The policy has made encampment sweeps a regular feature of life for people living on the streets, often forcing them to move with little notice and limited access to shelter. But after an unhoused person told Virya the police came down harder after protestors left, Virya changed tactics. The next day, the nun showed up with coffee and doughnuts in a small red wagon instead. “Just be there for them and listen to them,” they said. As they spent more time at camps, Virya began to recognize another gap. Unhoused people were losing not only their belongings during sweeps, but also any opportunity to tell city leaders what was happening to them. So Virya and a small group of activists brought their idea to the steps of the City and County Building. Monday nights at City Hall, when public comment is held, have historically drawn unhoused residents and advocates seeking to be heard. And it was there the group established Mutual Aid Mondays. “We decided that maybe we’d have a place where they could come and get food and gear, and the other half was to try to encourage folks to go into City Council,” Virya said. “That’s why it’s on Monday … so they could let them

know what’s going on on the streets.” The idea was simple: offer food, gear and a safe place to gather so people could step out of the encampments, get what they needed and, if they chose, go inside and speak during public comment. “Virya cooked up a lot of food and was in their kitchen on Sunday, all day, preparing for Monday,” said Jess Wiederholt, a Denver activist, mother of seven, practicing Presbyterian and one of the founding members of MAM. “And then the rest of us all brought something, you know. So like, I was the pasta person.” What began with about 50 people and a handful of volunteers serving food has expanded into a weekly scene outside City Hall that unfolds into a temporary village, where up to 50 volunteers unload tents, sleeping bags and hygiene kits, lay out Narcan supplies on folding tables and even set up a barber’s chair. In the early days, Virya cooked with whatever they could source from local food banks, mostly oatmeal and ﬁsh casserole. Today, the organization relies largely on donations through platforms such as Patreon, and Virya recently received a $2,000 transportation grant from the city that paid for the electric tricycle.

“Haircuts come almost every week,” Virya said. “It just gives people so much self-esteem, you know, to get their hair done.” Virya has also come to be known for driving a white van across Denver on the coldest winter nights, circling encampments with blankets, heaters and food, calling out for anyone who might need a ride to a hotel room where they could safely spend the night. Many unhoused Denverites still recall those late-night searches as the difference between danger and survival. “During cold nights, for 24 hours straight, Virya would be going to every nook and cranny in Denver to ﬁnd people,” said Raymond, who has been unhoused in Denver for six years. “When it was life and death, she was there.” In 2025, about 10,774 people in the Denver metro area were experiencing homelessness, including those staying in shelters and transitional housing. A 2025 Metro Denver Homeless Initiative study puts the average number of people on the streets any given night at 785 to 2,149 in the larger Denver metro area, which Virya conﬁrms. Jerry Burton, a Marine veteran and former unhoused activist who now works with the Housekeys Action Network, has been involved

with Mutual Aid Monday since its earliest days. Now, he moves through the weekly gathering passing out flyers about low-income housing resources. This as Virya’s dream, Burton said. “MAM started out of protest. Now, we are trying to help people here, the unhoused neighbors, to become a better member of society by providing the necessity that I think that every man, woman and child should have, and that’s a place of their own.” On a chilly Monday evening in late November, Wiederholt and Virya stood near a clothing distribution station staffed by several volunteers who, Virya noted, probably didn’t know them. The two reflected on how the organization has grown, and what that growth says about the city they have devoted so much of their lives to. “Something has to drive you to do this work,” Wiederholt said. “And for Virya and me, that was our faith. No matter what that faith is, we believe in the dignity of human beings. That’s a big part of who we are and what we believe. And so we were out here because of that.” In the past year, Virya has begun to step away from MAM’s expanding daily operations, hoping to return to the rhythm of monastic life that first grounded their work. “I felt like my spiritual practice was suffering a little bit,” Virya said. “It wasn’t that my faith had dwindled or anything. I just wasn’t having enough time, and I felt like I was not the person I wanted to be.” Each day, Virya recites their vows, prays, meditates and studies Buddhist texts. Still, they spend several days a week visiting encampments on their tricycle, offering supplies, conversation and whispering ancient mantras under their breath. They say that connecting one-on-one with people on the street can feel a bit like spreading the calming practice of meditation.

Inside a closing Minn. prison, a radical shift in how inmates live BY EMMY MARTIN and NATHANIEL MINOR Contributing writers

Editor’s note: This story, created by Emmy Martin and Nathaniel Minor for The Minnesota Star Tribune is part of the Solutions Story Tracker from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous reporting about responses to social problems. Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world. The B-East cell hall at Stillwater prison was once a place of echoing lockdowns and razor-edged tension. “Some things that’ll never leave,” said Lt. Sam Marks, recalling the stabbings, selfharm and overdoses that reverberated through the four tiers of steel and concrete. But since the Department of Corrections began the process of closing the prison this fall, an experiment has taken root in the newly opened space. Inside, incarcerated people tend herb gardens, line up for “shape-ups” in a resident-run barbershop, debate books in a discussion group, and help run a prison tattoo shop. The transformed space is an “earned living unit,” or ELU, that trades privileges for accountability. Since the unit opened about two months ago, multiple staff and residents said, the unit has not faced a lockdown. “The interaction between inmates and the staff has changed, a complete 180,” Marks said. “We’re building something together.” DOC Commissioner Paul

PHOTO PROVIDED By ALEX KORMAN

Inside Cell Hall A-East at Stillwater prison in Bayport, inmates move freely and also are allowed to pursue more interests. Staff said there are fewer disciplinary actions. Inmates say the rhythm is different and there is more opportunity. Schnell said the department will use Stillwater’s remaining years to reﬁne the ELU model here and expand it to other facilities. A parallel unit at Faribault prison launched around the same time. The ELU sits inside Stillwater’s historic cellblocks, but the daily rhythm is different. Men move freely between units, work, the gym and other spaces during the day, residents said. The old black line in the middle of the main corridor — which incarcerated people were once forbidden to cross — is gone. The unit offers “more freedom, more movement, more opportunity and access to other commissary options,” Schnell said. Eligibility is based on an application and past behavior. Most cells are single-occupancy; some residents receive a second cell for study or projects. The block now includes air fryers, pizza ovens, weight equipment, video games and hobby spaces. Damon DiMartino, 50, convicted of promoting prostitution, said he spends much of his time in that spare cell, where he grows peppers

and four types of basil under lights. He used to sneak dandelions and other weeds from the yard back to his cell to grow and was punished for it. “I can’t believe they’re letting us do this,” he said as he tended to plants. DiMartino and other inmates use the herbs in homemade lasagna and pizza. “When there’s nothing to do, I just kind of sit in here for a moment,” DiMartino said. “This is about as free as I’m going to get for a while — a few more years anyway.” Incarcerated people can also decorate their cells as they wish. Brandon Cox, 39, who is serving a life sentence for a conviction of first-degree murder, asked tattoo artist Daniel Gonzalez to paint murals on his walls, including one of his son. Inmates described town halls, unit mission statements and shared standards that, staff said, are sometimes “more robust” than DOC rules. The climate shift has been immediate. “Being here for almost two months and never seeing a ﬁght,” Cox said. “You can’t be in prison and experience

that. It shows that the guys are really here for the program, and the guys are really here to better themselves and uplift everybody.” Keith Grube, 59, serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, has cycled through Rush City, Moose Lake and Lino Lakes. He called Stillwater’s ELU “hands down” the best. “This is a prison only if you want to act like a prisoner,” he said. “If you want to act like this is a community, then this is a community.” Staff and residents acknowledged the human side of Stillwater’s transition — friends transferred statewide, programs paused, longtime officers reassigned. And also a recurring concern: whether concentrating highly motivated residents in the Stillwater ELU and transferring out “heavy hitters,” as Marks described it, pushes troubled dynamics elsewhere in the state. The Stillwater units before the changes shifted prisoners averaged a lockdown a quarter, the DOC said. The DOC transferred 262 people from Stillwater to Rush City, now operating at about 94% capacity, according to DOC data. Overcrowding can increase violence, Schnell said, citing the recent death of Stephen Washington after an alleged altercation with his cellmate and the August assault of four correctional officers at Rush City. Schnell said the department is tracking incidents closely but emphasized that the ELU is built around riskbased placement, not displacement. Inmates must apply to the unit. In the two months since they opened, three inmates at Stillwater and

three in Faribault have been removed from the units, according to the DOC. So far, he said, DOC has found no evidence that Stillwater’s phased closure has caused new violence at other prisons. “The reality is, anytime you have higher populations, higher numbers of people, you’re going to have an increase in problems,” Schnell said. He said he remains confident prisons are adequately staffed. Staffing levels across the entire system are higher now than in 2019, when the prison population was more than 1,000 people larger. The self-governance ethos extends to programs that inmates built themselves, which are now part of the ELU. Stillwater’s two-year-old tattoo program operates like an outside apprenticeship, overseen by a full-time DOC administrator. Apprentices practice on synthetic skin, complete sanitation courses and test for licensure through the Minnesota Department of Health. Two early apprentices paroled this year and were hired as tattoo artists right away, staff member Justin Jiminez said. One placed second at a tattoo convention. Licenses for the two artists, Daniel Gonzalez, 28, and Courtney Ocegueda, 29, hang on the wall. Practice skins show crisp linework and color studies. Staff say DOC-permitted tattooing reduces hepatitis transmission behind bars. In a chair, Gonzalez — serving time for seconddegree murder and assault — layered color into a multisession dragon tattoo across Matthew Fahey’s back. Fahey, 40, imprisoned for first-

degree criminal sexual conduct, criminal sexual predatory conduct and kidnapping, sat patiently through his fifth session. “I’ve always wanted to be a tattoo artist, but I never thought it was possible,” Gonzalez said. “Sometimes it can be expensive.” Residents also built a barbershop they named Street Cuts. Joe Soltis, 69, serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, had pushed for a shop for decades. After the ELU launched, residents converted part of a recreation room into a full-service barbershop, complete with graffiti lettering and paintsplatter floors. Soltis hopes the unit will eventually start an accredited barber school. Earlier this year, the Legislature ordered Stillwater to close by June 2029. Already, 60% of Stillwater’s population has been transferred, and the remaining inmates are in the ELU, substance abuse or restrictive housing units. Schnell said the Stillwater closing so far has met budget targets, with total cuts reaching $48 million by 2029. The 111-year-old facility has an estimated $180 million in deferred maintenance. Schnell said the prison population statewide is about 8,300, down from about 10,000 in 2019, allowing the DOC to absorb Stillwater’s residents. Planned capacity at Stillwater during the wind-down is about 550, down from roughly 1,180 before the closure decision. Long-term, DOC is considering expansions at other prisons and may seek bonding for improvements at St. Cloud, which has significant infrastructure needs.

SUNDAY, JANUArY 11, 2026

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr.

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE / by Stephan Pastis

wonderword

scrabble grams

word game

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

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.

For more information on tournaments and clubs, email NASPA – North American SCRABBLE Players Association: info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visit our website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzle inquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com. Hasbro and its logo SCRABBLE associated logo, the design of the distinctive SCRABBLE brand game card, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarks of Hasbro in the United States and Canada. ©2026 Hasbro. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

cryptoquote AxyDLBAAxR iS LONgFELLOW One letter stands for another. in this sample, A is used for the three L’s, x for the two O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of the words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

todAY's Word — LiGneous: LIG-neeus: Of or resembling wood. Average mark 49 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 66 or more words in LIGNEOUS?

Sudoku

ken ken instructions: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 - The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

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 Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

hidato directions: Complete the grid so that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Los angeLes Times sunday Crossword puzzLe — Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis “repair worK” By JiLL singer aCross 1 Bottom of a platter? 6 Singer Guthrie 10 Actress Mireille 14 Beta preceder 19 Solo 20 Shakespearean king 21 Catholic leader 22 Prepare for a long drive 23 Santa Ana __ 24 Miami-__ County 25 Risks a “TMI” response 27 Irresistibly cute river animal? 30 Video game thief Sandiego 31 Learning ctr. 32 Pastoral people of Kenya 33 Actor Sean 36 Equivalent 38 Update a cartographer’s work 42 “Get that pool float out of my way!”? 47 Fury 49 Obey, with “by” 50 Early show since 1975, briefly 51 Aspiring atty.’s hurdle 53 Freelancer’s job 54 __ a one 55 Question about a new romantic partner? 61 Ostrich kin 62 Sausages served with sauerkraut, for short 63 Sonoma product 64 Swimmer’s unit 65 “Have a bite” 67 Juniper-flavored liquor 68 Huge favors

72 Zoo doc 73 Prayer ender 75 Astonish 77 “__ Maria” 78 Photo taken as milk spreads over a table? 83 Figure skating gold medalist Nathan 84 Email signature info 85 Catches 86 Apple variety 87 Bars under cars 88 Gulf of Mexico structures 91 Goo or ga, for a baby? 96 Show off in the mirror 97 Give a hoot 98 Davenport citizen 99 G-Shock watchmaker 102 Some British sports cars 104 Superficially attractive 108 Working the barbecue at the corn festival? 114 Unit in Chagall’s “Four Seasons” 115 “Another thing ... “ 116 Pay stub data 118 K.T. of country music 119 Airline figs. 120 Narrow inlets 121 Basketball great Shaquille 122 Ignominy 123 Hall of Fame safety Ronnie 124 Chooses, as a replacement 125 Square down 1 Glimpsed 2 __ crest: pelvis part 3 Disco legend

Summer 4 “Return of the Jedi” forest moon 5 Brit’s close pal 6 Like some pasta 7 __ admiral 8 British title 9 Cookies similar to Trader Joe’s Joe-Joe’s 10 Momentous 11 Bossa __ 12 Enticing words on a gift box 13 Sealy rival 14 Fundamentally 15 Less raked 16 Home of the Spectacled Bear Conservation Society 17 Shades 18 Church recess 26 Soon-to-be grads 28 Musician and radio host John 29 The Tritons of the NCAA 34 Gold block 35 Spanish “Stop!” 37 Honeydew, e.g. 39 Crèche figures 40 Opposin’ 41 Simon of “The Boys” 42 Impressionist Édouard 43 “The Light We Carry” writer Michelle 44 Self-replicating malware 45 Ice cream maker Joseph 46 Paddle kin 47 Shipbuilding wood 48 Employ 52 Take to court 55 Cuneiform, e.g. 56 Panama, for one 57 “Dallas” surname 58 __ and yang 59 Wise one 60 Massage locale

62 Page 66 Den sets 67 X, Y, or Z intro 68 Purse 69 Hindi title 70 Rejoice with pride 71 Get a feeling about 73 Clerical robe 74 “Supernatural” actor Collins 75 Rare Italian violin

goren Bridge

76 “__ Man”: Village People hit 78 Mustang roof option 79 Successor 80 French pronoun 81 __ Vegas Raiders 82 Global finance org. 83 Hired ride 87 Was almost out of 89 Win back 90 Waiting, perhaps

wuzzLes

92 Coveted territory in the air? 93 Brickmaker 94 “That’s disgusting!” 95 Angler’s supply 97 “__, ergo sum” 100 “I know this is wrong,” from an editor 101 Spy collection 103 Like some watches

105 Silas of the Continental Congress 106 Enthusiastic 107 Anticipate with fear 108 Engineered foods, for short 109 __ Hashana 110 Cuba, por ejemplo 111 Like an open can of soda, eventually

112 Director Kazan 113 “Right now!” 117 Underhanded

super Quiz

Obvious shift?

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

North’s jump to four spades showed a spade fit with a terrible hand, usually 0-3 points. North would have bid only three spades if he thought he had anything useful. West started with the ace and king of diamonds, then continued with the queen of diamonds. South ruffed with the 10 of spades and cashed the ace and king of spades to draw trumps. He cashed the ace and king of hearts before leading the eight of spades to dummy’s nine. In dummy for the only time, South had to decide what to do. He made the winning decision when he led the 10 of diamonds. He was delighted to see East discard a heart. South discarded his low club, conceding the trick to West. West was not at all happy about this as he had to either lead a club away from his king or give up a ruff-sluff. 10 tricks either way and South made his contract. West could have done better. Surely his partner would have high-lowed in diamonds on the first two tricks if he had a doubleton. There was no chance that the queen of diamonds would win the third trick. He could have shifted to a trump at trick three. Declarer can still arrange

SUBJECT: ABBREVIATED

7. 8 L on a S.

FORMS

Answer________

Provide the long form

8. 12 N on a C.

of the shortening. (e.g., 24 H in a D. Answer: Twenty-four hours in

Answer________ 9. 4 L on a T. Answer________

a day.)

10. 18 H on a G C. Answer________

FRESHMAN LEVEL 1. 60 S in a M. Answer________

PH.D. LEVEL

2. 4 S in a D of C.

11. 7 W of the W.

Answer________

for the nine of spades to be a dummy entry, but he will have no better choice than to take the club finesse for his contract and the defense would have prevailed. Was this an obvious shift? What do you think?

3. 6 Z in a M.

12. 12 S of the Z.

Answer________

4. 90 D in a R A.

13. 15 M on a D M C.

Answer________

5. 12 M in a Y.

14. 9 L of a C.

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Answer________

Answer________ 15. 12 D of J. Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL 6. 365 D in a Y. Answer________

ANSWERS TO ALL PUZZLES ARE ON NEXT PAGE

zodiaC CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Gather information, verify facts and refuse to let anger infiltrate your conversations. Be a good listener and a genuine friend, and you’ll build strong relationships with people you can count on. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Mull over facts, figures and formalities that need your attention. When something is dragging you down, it’s time to implement changes that reflect how you feel and what you want. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) An opportunity will grab your attention if you socialize or participate in an event that excites you. Being part

of a movement that improves your community or serves a purpose will be gratifying. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Balance, gratitude and integrity are necessary. Don’t expect favors, and beware of people trying to scam you or tempt you. Question everything and say no with certainty. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Focus your time and energy on what matters most to you, and you will create exactly what you desire and achieve the comfort you deserve. Apply for something you want. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Bide your time and do your research before

you make a move that can affect you emotionally or financially. A change may be your desire, but how you move forward and what motivates you must be worthwhile. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Exercise your rights. Participate in something that matters to you. A partnership with someone special will grow into something more substantial if you share your feelings and intentions. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Emotional matters will escalate if you don’t address issues head-on. If you are willing to communicate and compromise, problems will be much easier

to fix. Be a leader; seek a position of influence. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Getting back to basics, such as nature or an activity you enjoy, will be uplifting and make you reconsider your lifestyle. Visit a friend or participate in an event that broadens your awareness. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) The time you spend contemplating what’s meaningful to you and who you want to be around will encourage more nurturing and motivate you to plan your next move. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Share your thoughts, socialize and participate

in the changes you endorse. The opportunity to do something meaningful will align you with people who can bring your suggestions to life. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Be observant, and you’ll ward off conflicts. You can’t please everyone, but you can make your life easier by minimizing your involvement in other people’s dilemmas. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

dustin / by Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker

Answers to puzzles super quiz 1. Sixty seconds in a minute. 2. Four suits in a deck of cards. 3. Six zeros in a million. 4. Ninety degrees in a right angle. 5. Twelve months in a year. 6. 365 days in a year. 7. Eight legs on a spider. 8. Twelve numbers on a clock. 9. Four legs on a table. 10. Eighteen holes on a golf course. 11. Seven Wonders of the World. 12. Twelve signs of the zodiac. 13. Fifteen men on a dead man's chest. 14. Nine lives of a cat. 15. Twelve disciples of Jesus. SCORING: 24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points — honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Cryptoquote Answer Saturday's Cryptoquote: There's a thin line between to laugh with and to laugh at. — Richard Pryor

word GAme Answer legion lenis lens lesion lien lieu line ling lingo lion loge login loin lone long lose losing

lounge louse lues luge lune lung lunge ingle insole isle genius genus glen glue goes gone guile

guise noel noes noise nose egis elusion ogle onus using sign silo sine sing singe single sling

sloe slog slue slug slung snug soigne soil sole soling sone song soul suing sung

sudoKu Answer jumble Answer

Crossword Answers

jeFF mACnelly’s shoe / by Gary Brookins & Susie MacNelly

sCrAbble Answers

FoXtrot / by Bill Amend

wuzzles Answers

Ken Ken Answers

hidAto Answers