The Advocate 01-13-2026

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Supreme Court hears La. coastal case Outcome could shape fate of dozens of lawsuits against oil companies

BY ALEX LUBBEN and MARK BALLARD Staff writers

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish, a case that could determine the fate of dozens of lawsuits seeking billions in damages from oil companies for allegedly polluting Louisiana’s eroding coastline.

The downriver parish has al-

leged that oil companies polluted a section of its coastal wetlands and contributed to Louisiana’s land loss crisis.

At issue before the justices is not whether the oil companies are liable for damage to the coast, but whether the lawsuit, and dozens of similar cases, belong in federal or state court. Chevron argues that the cases should be heard in federal court because, during World War II, its subsidiary Texaco pro-

duced high-octane aviation fuel for the war effort.

If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the oil companies, a federal judge could vacate the landmark $745 million jury verdict rendered after a three-week trial last year in Plaquemines Parish. The ruling could have ripple effects nationwide, too, potentially setting a precedent that large-scale environmental litigation belongs in federal court and shielding such

lawsuits from local juries.

In a last-minute development before Monday’s arguments, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recused himself from the case due to his financial interest in ConocoPhillips. He was not present at Monday’s arguments.

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled that the lawsuits belong in state court and 25th Judicial District Court Judge Michael Clement allowed the case

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to proceed to a jury trial. About two months after the trial concluded, the Supreme Court decided to take up the case.

The justices on Monday centered their questions on a 2011 amendment to a law that governs when a case can be moved to federal court — known as the federal officer removal law — and how far its application could extend.

“It’s hard to see where you stop,” Chief Justice John Roberts said.

“Is it a butterfly effect? You know,

ä See COASTAL, page 4A

St. George residents oppose new subdivision Infrastructure concerns raised over proposed neighborhood

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Kayakers celebrate after removing one of the last Spanish Town Mardi Gras flamingos from the East Lakeshore Drive section of City Park Lake on Monday. The flamingos are placed in the lake around the beginning of the Mardi Gras season to announce the annual parade will be taking place soon, with this year’s edition set for Feb. 14. It is a tradition to ‘adopt’ one of these flamingos.

When Mary Gentry was looking for houses 25 years ago, she avoided Old Jefferson because of the flood risk.

Gentry, a retired geologist, settled down in the Somersby subdivision, where wetlands sat behind her house, and she was left “I just couldn’t undisturbed by flooding for the first few years. After a believe that subdivision was built behind someone would hers in 2003, rainstorms propose such turned her yard into a lake, a high-density she said, with damage to her development in sunroom and master bedroom. an area that’s The flooding prompted her already having to spend $15,000 on a draininfrastructure age system to move some of problems with the water off her property, traffic and which she said helps mitigate rainwater, but has a drainage.” limited capacity.

MARy GENTRy, Her surrounding area conresident tinues to develop, with an 87-lot subdivision proposed to the west of Antioch Road.

But she and some of her neighbors aren’t ready for this change yet.

“I just couldn’t believe that someone would propose such a high-density development in an area that’s already having infrastructure problems with traffic and drainage,” she said.

The area at issue was once an unincorporated section of East Baton Rouge Parish but now is part of the newly created city of St. George.

ä See OPPOSE, page 5A

Probe of Fed chair sparking backlash

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell appeared on Monday to be emboldening defenders of the U.S. central bank, who pushed back against President Donald Trump’s efforts to exert more control over the Fed. The backlash reflected the overarching stakes in determining the balance of power within the federal government and the path of the U.S. economy at a time of uncertainty about inflation and a slowing job market. This has created a sense among some Republican

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lawmakers and leading economists that the Trump administration had overstepped the Fed’s independence by sending subpoenas.

The criminal investigation — a first for a sitting Fed chair — sparked an unusually robust response from Powell and a full-throated defense from three former Fed chairs, a group of top economic officials and even Republican senators tasked with voting on Trump’s eventual pick to replace Powell as Fed chair when his term expires in May. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump did not direct his Justice Department to investigate Powell, who has proved to be a foil for Trump by insisting on setting the Fed’s benchmark interest

rates based on the data instead of the president’s wishes.

“One thing for sure, the president’s made it quite clear, is Jerome Powell is bad at his job,” Leavitt said. “As for whether or not Jerome Powell is a criminal, that’s an answer the Department of Justice is going to have to find out.”

The investigation demonstrates the lengths the Trump administration is willing to go to try to assert control over the Fed, an independent agency that the president believes should follow his claims that inflationary pressures have faded enough for drastic rate cuts to occur. Trump has

ä See PROBE, page 4A

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, right, and President Donald Trump look over a document of cost figures during a visit to the Federal Reserve on July 24.

Business ......................6A Commentary ................5B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................6D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................4B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-5D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C

101ST yEAR, NO. 197

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Government sued over immigration enforcement surge

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Mississippi man pleads not guilty to killing 6

WEST POINT, Miss. — A Mississippi man pleaded not guilty Monday to killing six people — including a 7-year-old girl — during a rampage through a rural area in the northeastern part of the state.

At a court hearing in Clay County, Daricka M. Moore entered not guilty pleas to 11 charges including capital murder, first-degree murder, attempted murder of a child, burglary and theft of a motor vehicle, WTVA-TV reported. Because Moore was charged with capital murder with the possible penalty of death, he is ineligible for bail under state law.

The judge also ordered a mental evaluation for Moore.

No lawyer who could be reached for comment on Moore’s behalf was listed in court records late Monday.

District Attorney Scott Colom didn’t immediately respond to a text message Monday seeking details on a defense lawyer.

Moore, 24, is accused of killing his father, brother, uncle, 7-yearold cousin, a church pastor and the pastor’s brother at three locations late Friday, authorities said. He was arrested at a police roadblock in Cedarbluff just before midnight after dozens of local, state and federal officers flooded the area.

Court orders pretrial detention in Swiss fire

GENEVA — A Swiss court on Monday ordered three months of pretrial detention for a manager of a bar that burst into flames during a New Year’s Eve celebration, killing 40 people — mostly young revelers — and injuring 116 others, many seriously.

The court of compulsory measures in the southwestern Valais canton, or region, ordered that Jacques Moretti, a manager of Le Constellation bar in CransMontana, be held because of a possible “flight risk” highlighted by prosecutors.

However, the court said in a statement it was inclined to lift the three months of pretrial detention if sufficient “security measures” — potentially including bail — are arranged. It said the manager should remain in custody until the measures are worked out.

A Swiss business register lists French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti as the bar’s owners.

Lawyers for Jessica Moretti, in a statement, said the court decision would allow her husband “to regain freedom” once conditions are arranged.

Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the owners, who are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm and involuntarily causing a fire.

Judge nixes marriage as defense in abuse case

NEW YORK — Getting married and allegedly embracing a monogamous lifestyle cannot prove the innocence of a man charged in a conspiracy with his two brothers — both luxury real estate brokers — to sexually assault dozens of women, a federal judge said Monday.

Judge Valerie E. Caproni rejected Alon Alexander’s request to dismiss one count of the indictment he faces and use his 2019 engagement and subsequent marriage as a defense at a trial scheduled to start next week in Manhattan with jury selection.

The three brothers — Alon, Oren and Tal Alexander — are jailed without bail after pleading not guilty to conspiracy and other charges alleging that they drugged and raped women.

Oren Alexander and Tal Alexander sold high-end properties in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles before the charges were filed alleging that they used their wealth and influence to attack women from 2002 to 2021.

CORRECTION An article in Sunday’s paper incorrectly stated that Lanaya Brittany Cardwell faces up to 20 years in prison if a jury finds her guilty of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile. Prosecutors say Cardwell faces up to 40 years if she’s convicted. The Advocate regrets the error.

Minnesota, the Twin Cities join for lawsuit IMAGE FROM PROVIDED VIDEO VIA AP

A frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets Friday in Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world.

Trump says Iran wants to negotiate Death toll in protests rises to at least 646

BY JON GAMBRELL, JULIA NIKHINSON and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its crackdown on protestersthat activists said had killed at least 646 people.

Iran had no direct reaction to Trump’s comments, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran, insisted “the situation has come under total control” in remarks that blamed Israel and the U.S. for the violence, without offering evidence.

“That’s why the demonstrations turned violent and bloody to give an excuse to the American president to intervene,” Araghchi said, in comments carried by Al Jazeera. The Qatar-funded network has been allowed to report live from inside Iran, despite the internet being shut off.

However, Araghchi said Iran was “open to diplomacy.” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that a channel to the U.S. remained open, but talks needed to be “based on the acceptance of mutual interests and concerns, not a negotiation that is one-sided, unilateral and based on dictation.”

Meanwhile, pro-government demonstrators flooded the streets Monday in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, which appeared to number in the tens of thousands, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Others cried out, “Death to the enemies of God!” Iran’s attorney general has warned that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an “enemy of God,” a death-penalty charge.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran’s public rhetoric diverges from the private messaging the

administration has received from Tehran in recent days.

“I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” Leavitt said.

“However, with that said, the president has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran.”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran, including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who weren’t authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said, “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Meanwhile, Trump announced Monday that countries doing business with Iran will face 25% tariffs from the United States. Trump announced the tariffs in a social media posting, saying they would be “effective immediately.”

It was action against Iran for the protest crackdown from Trump, who believes exacting tariffs can be a useful tool in prodding friends and foes on the global stage to bend to his will.

Brazil, China, Russia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are among economies that do business with Tehran.

The White House declined to offer further comment about the president’s tariff announcement.

Trump said Sunday that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

Iran, through the country’s parliamentary speaker, warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if Washington uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,700 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the latest death toll early Tuesday. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 512 of the dead were protesters and 134 were security force members.

Sen. Kelly sues the Pentagon over attempts to punish him

BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly sued the Pentagon on Monday over attempts to punish him for his warnings about illegal orders, claiming the Trump administration trampled on his constitutional rights to free speech.

Kelly, a former U.S. Navy pilot who represents Arizona, is seeking to block his censure last week from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said he censured Kelly Kelly over his participation in a video that called on troops to resist unlawful orders.

Hegseth said the Jan. 5 censure — by itself simply a formal letter with little practical consequence — was “a necessary process step” to proceedings that could result in a demotion from Kelly’s retired rank of captain and subsequent reduction in retirement pay.

Kelly asked the federal court in Washington, D.C., to rule that the censure letter, the proceedings about his rank and

any other punishments against him are “unlawful and unconstitutional.”

“The First Amendment forbids the government and its officials from punishing disfavored expression or retaliating against protected speech,” his lawsuit says. “That prohibition applies with particular force to legislators speaking on matters of public policy.”

The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush.

The legal action of a sitting U.S. senator suing the defense secretary is rare, if not jarring, and the latest effort from members of Congress to push back against what they see as an out-ofcontrol executive branch.

The censure stemmed from Kelly’s participation in a video in November with five other Democratic lawmakers — all veterans of the armed services and intelligence community — in which they called on troops to uphold the Constitution and not to follow the Trump administration’s military directives if they were unlawful.

BY REBECCA SANTANA, MARK VANCLEAVE and STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota and its two largest cities sued the Trump administration Monday to try to stop an immigration enforcement surge that led to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal officer and evoked outrage and protests across the country.

The state, joined by Minneapolis and St. Paul, said the Department of Homeland Security is violating the First Amendment and other constitutional protections. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to halt the enforcement action or limit the operation.

“This is, in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, and it must stop,” state Attorney General Keith Ellison said at a news conference.

“These poorly trained, aggressive and armed agents of the federal state have terrorized Minnesota with widespread unlawful conduct.”

Homeland Security is pledging to put more than 2,000 immigration officers into Minnesota and says it has made more than 2,000 arrests since December.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has called the surge its largest enforcement operation ever.

The lawsuit accuses the Republican Trump administration of violating free speech rights by targeting a progressive state that favors Democrats and welcomes immigrants.

“They’re targeting us based on what we look and sound like. Our residents are scared. And as local officials, we have a responsibility to act,” said St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, who was born in Laos.

In response, Homeland

Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin accused Minnesota officials of ignoring public safety.

“President Trump’s job is to protect the American people and enforce the law — no matter who your mayor, governor, or state attorney general is,” McLaughlin said. “That’s what the Trump administration is doing; we have the Constitution on our side on this, and we look forward to proving that in court.”

The government also faces a new lawsuit over a similar crackdown in Illinois. More than 4,300 people were arrested last year in “Operation Midway Blitz” as patrols of masked agents swept the Chicago area. The lawsuit by the city and state says the campaign had a chilling effect, making residents afraid to leave home or use public services.

Since the deployment in the Twin Cities, whistleburst warnings by grassroots activists are commonly heard when agents flood streets. Witnesses have regularly posted video of federal officers using tear gas to discourage the public from following them.

Earlier Monday, agents fired tear gas to break up a crowd of people who showed up to see the aftermath of a car crash in Minneapolis, just a few blocks from where Renee Good was fatally shot.

A crowd emerged to witness a man being questioned by agents who had rear-ended his car. Agents used tear gas to try to discourage the group, then drove off as people screamed, “cowards!”

“I’m glad they didn’t shoot me or something,” Christian Molina told reporters.

Standing near his mangled fender, he wondered aloud: “Who’s going to pay for my car?”

It was another tense scene following the death of Good on Jan. 7. There were dozens of protests or vigils across the U.S. to honor the 37-yearold mother of three and passionately criticize the Trump administration’s tactics.

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Cuba’s president says no current talks with U.S.

BY ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ, DÁNICA COTO and MILEXSY DURÁN Associated Press

HAVANA — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Monday that his administration is not in talks with the U.S. government, a day after President Donald Trump threatened the Caribbean island in the wake of the U.S. attack on Venezuela.

Díaz-Canel posted a flurry of brief statements on X after Trump suggested that Cuba “make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” He did not say what kind of deal.

Díaz-Canel wrote that for “relations between the U.S. and Cuba to progress, they must be based on international law rather than hostility, threats, and economic coercion.”

He added: “We have always been willing to hold a serious and responsible dialogue with the various U.S. governments, including the current one, on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect, principles of International Law, and mutual benefit without interference in internal affairs and with full respect for our independence.”

His statements were reposted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez

on X. On Sunday, Trump wrote that Cuba would no longer live off oil and money from Venezuela, which the U.S. attacked on Jan. 3 in a stunning operation that killed 32 Cuban officers and led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.

Cuba was receiving an estimated 35,000 barrels a day from Venezuela before the U.S. attacked, along with some 5,500 barrels daily from Mexico and roughly 7,500 from Russia, according to Jorge Piñón of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, who tracks the shipments.

On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum once again declined to provide data on current oil shipments or say whether such shipments would increase when Venezuelan supplies end. She insisted that the aid “has been ongoing for a long time; it’s not new.”

Sheinbaum said Mexico’s fuel supply to Cuba is not a concern for her country because “there is enough oil” — even though production of state-owned oil company Petróleos Mexicanos is steadily declining. She reiterated that her government is willing to facilitate dialogue between the U.S.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By RAMON ESPINOSA

The Cuban flag flies at half-mast on Jan. 5 at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune near the U.S. embassy in Havana, Cuba, in memory of Cubans who died two days before in Caracas, Venezuela, during the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. and Cuba if both agree.

Even with oil shipments from Venezuela, widespread blackouts have persisted across Cuba given fuel shortages and a crumbling electric grid. Experts worry a lack of petroleum would only deepen the island’s multiple crises that stem from an economic paralysis during the COVID-19 pandemic and a radical increase in U.S. sanctions following the first Trump administration, which aim to force a change in Cu-

ba’s political model.

The communist government has said U.S. sanctions cost the country more than $7.5 billion between March 2024 and February 2025, a staggering sum for an island whose tourism revenue reached some $3 billion annually at its peak in the previous decade.

The crisis also has triggered a large wave of migration primarily to the United States, where Cubans enjoyed immigration privileges

as exiles. Those privileges were curtailed before Trump closed U.S. borders.

The situation between the U.S. and Cuba is “very sad and concerning,” said Andy S. Gómez, retired dean of the School of International Studies and senior fellow in Cuban Studies at the University of Miami.

He said he sees Díaz-Canel’s latest comments “as a way to try and buy a little bit of time for the inner circle to decide what steps it’s going

to take.”

Gómez said he doesn’t visualize Cuba reaching out to U.S. officials right now.

“They had every opportunity when President (Barack) Obama opened up U.S. diplomatic relations, and yet they didn’t even bring Cuban coffee to the table,” Gómez said.

“Of course, these are desperate times for Cuba.”

Michael Galant, senior research and outreach associate at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C., said he believes Cuba might be willing to negotiate.

“Cuba has been interested in finding ways to ease sanctions,” he said. “It’s not that Cuba is uncooperative.”

Galant said topics for discussion could include migration and security, adding that he believes Trump is not in a hurry.

“Trump is hoping to deepen the economic crisis on the island, and there are few costs to Trump to try and wait that out,” he said. “I don’t think it’s likely that there will be any dramatic action in the coming days because there is no rush to come to the table.”

Cuba’s president stressed on X that “there are no talks with the U.S. government, except for technical contacts in the area of migration.”

U.S. lawmakers set FBI: Suspect targeted to visit Denmark synagogue because it’s MISSISSIPPI

Trump continues to threaten Greenland

BY SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is headed to Copenhagen later this week in an attempt to show unity between the United States and Denmark as President Donald Trump continues to threaten to seize Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of the NATO ally.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., is leading the trip of at least nine members of Congress, including Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina. The group will be in Copenhagen on Friday and Saturday and will meet with high-level Danish and Greenlandic government officials and business leaders.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Coons said the delegation wants to send a message that “we understand the value of the partnership we have long had with them, and in no way seek to interfere in their internal discussions about the status of Greenland.”

Coons stressed that the United States and Denmark have long been allies, noting that the northern European nation came to the U.S.’s defense in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and have for years worked in tandem on other priorities.

The delegation considered traveling to Greenland on the trip, but ultimately could not due to logistical issues, according to a person familiar with the trip planning who was granted anonymity to discuss earlier private discussions.

Tensions have grown between Washington, Denmark and Greenland this month as Trump and his administration

push the issue and the White House considers a range of options, including military force, to acquire the vast Arctic island. Trump reiterated his argument that the U.S. needs to “take Greenland,” otherwise Russia or China would, in comments aboard Air Force One on Sunday.

He said he’d rather “make a deal” for the territory, “but one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”

Danish and Greenlandic envoys are expected in Washington this week for talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

China responded in kind on Monday, saying the United States should not use other countries as a “pretext” to pursue its interests in Greenland and said that China’s activities in the Arctic comply with international law.

Asked in Beijing Monday about U.S. statements that it is necessary for Washington to take over Greenland to prevent China and Russia from taking control, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning replied that “China’s activities in the Arctic are aimed at promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and are in accordance with international law.” She didn’t elaborate on those activities.

“The rights and freedoms of all countries to conduct activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law should be fully respected,” Mao said, without mentioning Greenland directly. “The U.S. should not pursue its own interests by using other countries as a pretext.”

She said that “the Arctic concerns the overall interests of the international community.”

Coons said in addition to reinforcing the U.S.’s relationship with Denmark, he wants the trip to emphasize that “there is no imminent threat to Greenland from the Chinese and the Russians.”

Jewish house of worship

BY SOPHIE BATES, JEFF MARTIN and MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. — A suspect in an arson fire at a synagogue that was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan decades ago admitted to targeting the historic institution because it’s a Jewish house of worship and confessed what he had done to his father, who turned him in to authorities after observing burn marks on his son’s ankles, hands and face, the FBI said Monday.

Stephen Pittman was charged with maliciously damaging or destroying a building by means of fire or an explosive. The 19-year-old suspect confessed to lighting a fire inside the building, which he referred to as “the synagogue of Satan,” according to an FBI affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Mississippi on Monday.

At a first appearance hearing Monday in federal court, a public defender was appointed for Pittman, who attended via video conference call from a hospital bed. Both of his hands were visibly bandaged. He told the judge that he was a high school graduate and had three semesters of college.

Prosecutors said he could face five to 20 years in prison if convicted.

When the judge read him his rights, Pittman said, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”

The fire ripped through the Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday. No congregants or firefighters were injured. Security camera video released Monday by the synagogue showed a masked and hooded man using a gas

can to pour liquid on the floor and a couch in the building’s lobby.

The weekend fire badly damaged the 165-year-old synagogue’s library and administrative offices. Five Torahs — the sacred scrolls with the text of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible — located inside the sanctuary were being assessed for smoke damage.

Two Torahs inside the library, where the most severe damage was done, were destroyed. One Torah that survived the Holocaust was behind glass and was not damaged in the fire, according to the congregation.

The suspect’s father contacted the FBI and said his son had confessed to setting

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SOPHIE BATES

Caution tape and flowers cover the entrance to the Beth Israel Congregation on Monday in Jackson, Miss. The synagogue was set on fire early Saturday morning. the building on fire. Pittman had texted his father a photo of the rear of the synagogue before the fire, with the message, “There’s a furnace in the back.” His father had pleaded with his son to return home, but “Pittman replied back by saying he was due for a home run and ‘I did my research,’ ” the affidavit said.

During an interview with investigators, Pittman said he had stopped at a gas sta-

tion on his way to the synagogue to purchase the gas used in the fire. He also took the license plate off his vehicle at the gas station. He used an ax to break out a window of the synagogue, poured gas inside and used a torch lighter to start the fire, the FBI affidavit said.

The FBI later recovered a burned cellphone believed to be Pittman’s and took possession of a hand torch that a congregant had found.

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4A ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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H

COASTAL

against the Trump administration, which has sided with the oil companies.

Louisiana officials say the question is a simple one: The companies should be forced to pay for the damage they caused, and the cases should play out in state courts.

“We’re here to defend the coastal cases that the state and Attorney General’s Office joined some years ago to make sure that oil companies who’ve performed illegal operations on our coast and damaged our coast … come in and fix what they broke and join us in the effort to save our coast,” Attorney General Liz Murrill said outside the high court Monday morning.

After the hearing, she emphasized that the verdict itself was not being ques-

tioned. Even if the court ruled in Chevron’s favor, the facts remain the same, she argued.

“State law will still apply,” she said. “The same facts, the same arguments.”

She stressed the state has proven at trial that the companies broke the law both before 1980 and after that, when new coastal regulations went into effect.

The oil firms and their supporters argue the suits are frivolous, saying the state and the nation benefited tremendously from the production in question.

They also say the lawsuits risk jobs and investment along Louisiana’s coast, and that some of the operations occurred before a law they are accused of violating took effect in 1980.

Bill Turenne, a spokesperson for Chevron, said after the hearing that the company remains confident that “federal court is the proper forum for these cases.”

Louisiana pro-industry groups have lined up behind Chevron, unusually positioning themselves against the Republican administration of Gov. Jeff Landry while arguing that investment and jobs are at stake.

“I think it’s important that the Supreme Court recognized the value in reviewing this case,” said Tommy Faucheux, the president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association. “The Supreme Court has the opportunity here to uphold fair and consistent application of the law and help preserve legal stability for the ener-

gy industry that has fueled America’s economy and has continued to breathe life into Louisiana communities.”

Other pro-industry groups, including the Pelican Institute, the Grow Louisiana Coalition and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, issued statements echoing that sentiment.

John Carmouche, the lead attorney representing Plaquemines Parish in last year’s trial, said he did not have a clear sense for which way the justices were leaning.

But the questioning indicated to him that the Supreme Court might issue a narrow ruling on how the federal officer removal statute should be interpreted.

That could then send the case back to the 5th Circuit Court

of Appeals to rule on how the law applies to the facts of his particular lawsuits.

“That would mean another delay for us,” he said.

This case and the more than 40 other coastal lawsuits Carmouche has filed on behalf of Louisiana parishes have already dragged on for years. The first case was filed in 2013, and the oil companies have sought to remove them to federal court several times.

Each of the cases alleges that oil and gas companies polluted the Louisiana coast and contributed to the state’s land loss crisis.

Since the 1930s, the state has lost more than 2,000 square miles of land.

There is evidence that oil and gas activity has contributed to the state’s land loss, but so have other issues.

Among them are the levees along the Mississippi River, which enable navigation and prevent the river from flooding but also starve coastal wetlands of the sediment that replenishes them.

Mark Davis, the director of the Tulane Center for Environmental Law, who is not directly involved with the case, noted that the question before the Supreme Court — what exactly is a “federal officer” — appears narrow, but could have far-reaching effects.

If the Supreme Court rules that the cases belong in federal court, he said, he expects other companies to make the argument that they are also protected from being sued if they’re aligned with federal interests.

“I would expect all sorts of industry suppliers and partners of the federal government … to not only assert, ‘We don’t want to be in court in the states,’ but ‘We shouldn’t be in court at all,’” Davis said.

tee about the renovation of Fed buildings, including its marble-clad headquarters in Washington, D.C. They come at an unusual moment when Trump was teasing the likelihood of announcing his nominee this month to succeed Powell as the Fed chair and could possibly be selfdefeating for the nomination process.

While Powell’s term as chair ends in four months, he has a separate term as a Fed governor until January 2028, meaning that he could remain on the board.

If Powell stays on the board, Trump could be blocked from appointing an outside candidate of his choice to be the chair.

Powell quickly found a growing number of defenders among Republicans in the Senate, who will have the choice of whether to confirm Trump’s planned pick for Fed chair.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican and member of the Senate Banking panel, said late Sunday that he would oppose any of the Trump administration’s Fed nominees until the investigation is “resolved.”

“If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none,” Tillis said.

Sen. Dave McCormick, RPenn., said the Fed may have wasted public dollars with its renovation, but he said, “I do not think Chairman Powell is guilty of criminal activity.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune offered a brief but stern response Monday about the tariffs as he arrived at the U.S. Capitol, suggesting that the administration needed “serious” evidence of wrongdoing to take such a significant step.

“I haven’t seen the case or whatever the allegations or charges are, but I would say they better, they better

be real and they better be serious,” said Thune, a Republican representing South Dakota.

If Powell stays on the board after his term as chair ends, the Trump administration would be deprived of the chance to fill another seat that would give the administration a majority on the seven-member board. That majority could then enact significant reforms at the Fed and even block the appointment of presidents at the Fed’s 12 regional banks.

“They could do a lot of reorganizing and reforms” without having to pass new legislation, said Mark Spindel, chief investment officer at Potomac River Capital and author of a book on Fed independence. “That seat is very valuable.”

Powell has declined at several news conferences to answer questions about his plans to stay or leave the board.

Scott Alvarez, former general counsel at the Fed, says the investigation is intended to intimidate Powell from staying on the board. The probe is occurring now “to say to Chair Powell, ‘We’ll use every mechanism that the administration has to make your life miserable unless you leave the Board in May,’” Alvarez said.

Asked on Monday by reporters if Powell planned to remain a Fed governor, Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council and a leading candidate to become Fed chair, said he was unaware of Powell’s plans.

“I’ve not talked to Jay about that,” Hassett said.

A bipartisan group of former Fed chairs and top economists said in their Monday letter that the administration’s legal actions and the possible loss of Fed independence could hurt the broader economy.

“This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institu-

tions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly,” the statement said.

The statement was signed by former Fed chairs Ben Bernanke, Janet Yellen, and

Alan Greenspan, as well as former Treasury Secretaries Henry Paulson and Robert Rubin.

Still, Trump’s pressure campaign had been building for some time, with him relentlessly criticizing and

belittling Powell.

He even appeared to preview the shocking news of the subpoenas at a Dec. 29 news conference by saying he would bring a lawsuit against Powell over the renovation costs.

Continued from page 1A a butterfly flaps its wings and it has an end result halfway around the world?”

Former U.S. Solicitor General Paul D. Clement, who is representing Chevron, argued that if the oil companies had been prevented from producing, “that would have directly affected the government’s ability to get refined (aviation fuel) to fight the war effort.”

He argued that the crude oil pumped from Louisiana was of a type used to refine aviation fuel, meaning the work was done in service of the federal contract even if the contract did not explicitly call for drilling in the marshes.

J. Benjamin Aguiñaga, Louisiana’s solicitor general, said the trial in Pointe à la Hache showed that industry had “dumped billions of gallons of produced water from oil wells directly into our marsh.” At issue, he said, is whether the company did so under the direction of the federal government.

He argued that the industry would have polluted the marsh regardless of whether it was working for the federal government, because much of the crude oil it was producing at the time was for civilian use.

“Industry would have been engaging in the exact same conduct … whether or not an avgas refining contract existed,” he said, using a term for aviation fuel.

A ruling is expected by the summer in the case, which is being closely watched both in Louisiana and across the country. Beyond the legal implications, it has also pitted Louisiana Republicans

PROBE

Continued from page 1A repeatedly used investigations — which might or might not lead to an actual indictment — to attack his political rivals.

The risks go far beyond Washington infighting to whether people can find work or afford their groceries. If the Fed errs in setting rates, inflation could surge or job losses could mount.

Trump maintains that an economic boom is occurring and rates should be cut to pump more money into the economy, while Powell has taken a more cautious approach in the wake of Trump’s tariffs.

Several Republican senators have condemned the Department of Justice’s subpoenas of the Fed, which Powell revealed Sunday and characterized as “pretexts” to pressure him to sharply cut interest rates.

Powell also said the Justice Department has threatened criminal indictments over his June testimony to Congress about the cost and design elements of a $2.5 billion building renovation that includes the Fed’s headquarters.

“After speaking with Chair Powell this morning, it’s clear the administration’s investigation is nothing more than an attempt at coercion,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on Monday.

A bipartisan group of former Fed chairs and top economists on Monday called the Trump administration’s investigation “an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks” to undermine the Fed’s independence, stressing that central banks controlled by political leaders tend to produce higher inflation and lower growth.

“I think this is ham-handed, counterproductive, and going to set back the president’s cause,” said Jason Furman, an economist at Harvard and former top adviser to President Barack Obama. The investigation could also unify the Fed’s interest-rate setting committee in support of Powell, and means “the next Fed chair will be under more pressure to prove their independence.”

The subpoenas apply to Powell’s statements before a congressional commit-

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ 5A

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Officials: Israeli drone strike kills 3 people in Gaza

BY WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY

Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli drone strike Monday killed three Palestinians who had crossed the ceasefire line near central Gaza’s Morag corridor, hospital officials said.

Israel’s military said the three approached troops and posed an immediate threat.

They said they later found weapons and intelligencegathering equipment on them. The strike came as Gaza awaits an expected announcement this week of a “Board of Peace” to oversee its governance.

Hamas has said it will dissolve its existing government once the new committee takes over the territory, as mandated under the U.S.brokered peace plan.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 440 people have been killed since Israel and Hamas agreed last October to suspend their twoyear war. Since then, each side has accused the other of violating the ceasefire, which remains in its initial stage as efforts continue to recover

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEHAD ALSHRAFI

Medical staff take part in a protest on Monday outside the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza City that was organized by the Palestinian Prisoners Committee calling for the release of prisoners held in Israeli prisons. the remains of the final Israeli hostage in Gaza.

Israel’s military controls a buffer zone that covers more than half of Gaza, while the Hamas-run government retains authority over the rest.

Throughout the war, Israel has supported anti-Hamas groups, including an armed group in southern Gaza that claimed responsibility on

OPPOSE

Council Ave. Treasurer Ave.

tablishment of the Palestinian technocratic committee set to govern Gaza.

Hamas and the rival Palestinian Authority have not announced the names of who will sit on the committee and it remains unclear if they will be cleared by Israel and the U.S. Officials say that Trump will announce his appoint-

in Gaza City.

Meanwhile, groups that advocate for Palestinian prisoners said that Israeli authorities have confirmed the death of a detainee from Gaza.

In a statement Sunday, the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoner Society said that Hamza Abdullah Abdelhadi Adwan died in prison on Sept. 9, based on information the family received from the Israeli military. Israeli military officials said Monday that its police force will investigate and send their findings to the military prosecutor’s office for review.

Adwan, 67, a father of nine with serious health problems, had been detained at a checkpoint on Nov. 12, 2024.

Two of his children were killed in the Gaza war.

Since the start of the war, 87 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli prisons — including 51 from Gaza — according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission. They said that more than 100 detainees — some not yet identified — had died of torture, starvation, medical neglect, and abuse.

Antioch Rd.

ST. GEORGE

Continued from page 1A

Somersby

B ar

k Bro

inger Rd.

Local developer Lynn Levy Land Company filed documents with the city of St. George proposing to build an 87-lot subdivision called The Haven on a 26.8acre site between Baringer Road and Antioch Road in September. An initial public hearing date was set for Jan. 5, but at the beginning of the meeting, the commission deferred the hearing to its February meeting.

The proposed neighborhood generated concerns online prior to the public hearing, with locals raising concerns about potential traffic increases and flood risk.

The site is in the Old Jefferson neighborhood, north of Woodlawn Elementary School and Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School.

When the school bell rings at the end of the day, parents picking up their children create gridlock on Antioch, Gentry said, which may worsen with a new subdivision.

Gentry said she isn’t opposed to growth on the proposed subdivision site, which is undeveloped land, but she worries that the development won’t take into account the existing traffic and flood issues she and her neighbors face. Developers plan to construct retention ponds for drainage, and Gentry said their efficacy depends on proper construction and maintenance.

Retention ponds in the area are overgrown with weeds and trees, she said.

“We have a real opportunity here to grow in a smart way, rather than continue with urban sprawl the way we’ve been doing,” she said.

Lynn Levy Land Company develops residential neighborhoods and has 13 subdivisions across the Baton Rouge and Northshore areas completed or under construction. The company did not return a request for comment.

The subdivision will have 87 single-family units with a common area and new roads, drainage and sewer lines, according to planning documents. The plan proposes an entrance into the subdivision from Antioch Road and an extension of Broker Avenue, which will connect with the development. The subdivision would require the addition of multiple turn lanes in the area, according to a St. George traffic impact analysis.

A staff report conducted prior to the scheduled public hearing recommended deferring the development until the plans comply with city criteria.

The lot’s current rural zoning designation is based on FutureBR, the parish’s land use and development plan, which covered St. George prior to its incorporation.

St. George is developing its 2050 Comprehensive Plan, which will cover land use

Monday for the killing of a senior Hamas police officer in Khan Younis.

Lt. Col. Mahmoud al-Astal was gunned down in the Muwasi area, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem, in a post on Telegram on Sunday, called for a speeding up of the es-

ments to the Board of Peace in the coming days.

Under Trump’s plan, the board would supervise the new Palestinian government, the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of an international security force, additional pullbacks of Israeli troops and reconstruction.

The U.S. has reported little progress on any of these fronts so far.

According to Turkish officials, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan participated on Monday in a video conference with the U.S. and others meeting to discuss “preparations for the second stage” of the ceasefire agreement.

The talks, held as a continuation of a meeting in Miami at the end of December, also included officials from Egypt and Qatar.

Dozens of Palestinians, including medical workers, held a protest in Gaza City on Monday to demand the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners still being held in Israeli prisons.

The protest was organized by the Palestinian Prisoners Committee outside the building of the International Committee of the Red Cross

ve . er A Doyle

Proposed St. George subdivision Staff map

and development, and city officials hope to adopt it by this fall.

FutureBR designates the area as a residential neighborhood for future land use, but the staff reports state that St. George’s future land use plan may differ from FutureBR. St. George Planning Commission Chair Billy J. Aguillard did not return a request for comment on how St. George’s upcoming comprehensive plan may impact proposed developments.

Word about the proposed development spread quickly through social media over the past two weeks. After attendees left last Monday’s public hearing, some regrouped outside the meeting room to discuss how to communicate their concerns about the development to the city.

Residents formed a Facebook group titled “Concerned Citizens against The Haven Development in St. George,” that day to coordinate efforts to spread awareness of the proposed subdivision and bring concerns to the city.

Erica Pippen, an Old Jefferson resident and a member of the Old Jefferson Crime Prevention and Improvement District board, is creating flyers and plans to knock on doors to alert her neighbors of the proposed subdivision. Pippen said she and other residents plan on bringing a larger group to the February public hearing.

Since the Jan. 5 meeting, Pippen has gone around her neighborhood to take photos of the drainage system, which she describes as “deficient” and “derelict.” She attributes its poor condition to lack of maintenance and a buildup of debris.

She said the city should not move forward with new developments until it completes its own comprehensive plan.

Regulating developments under East Baton Rouge Parish’s land use and development rules negates why St. George became incorporated, she said.

“We need to do something different,” Pippen said.

“That’s what we wanted.

That’s what we voted for.”

In accordance with city regulations, the developer posted signage at the site to notify the public of the proposed development, sent letters to property owners

within 300 feet of the proposed site, and published legal advertisements in December and January, according to the staff report.

But some residents neighboring the site are seeking direct communication from the developers to ensure their concerns are heard.

Korey Ryder, an Old Jefferson resident and independent consultant, lives less than a mile from the site.

He said due to the deferral of the public hearing, there have not been any public meetings to discuss the subdivision with the developers or the commission.

Meetings with the public are essential to ensuring neighbors of the development are informed on what it entails and have the opportunity to ask questions, he said.

“The concern that we have is that the people who sit on the planning zone board and deal with this stuff every day have access to information, access to additional resources to help them understand what’s going on,” Ryder said. “The average citizen doesn’t have that.”

Ryder said he is hopeful that residents and the developers can come to a solution, but it needs to start with communication.

“You have to be open, you have to be forthcoming and you have to operate in good faith to let us know that you know you want to be a good neighbor,” Ryder said.

Landmark South Nursing and Rehab is an Equal OpportunityEmployerand prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to the principal of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status.

PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS

Residents file out of the St. George Planning Commission’s public hearing on Jan. 5 after the main item on the agenda was deferred for 30 days. They were there to voice their opposition to the development of the 87-lot Haven subdivision. The meeting room was crowded with residents who objected to the project.

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6A ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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

DOW 49,590.20 86.13 0.17%

NASDAQ 23,733.90 62.56 0.26%

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Wall Street shakes off Trump’s feud with Fed

NEW YORK — Wall Street ticked to more records Monday after bouncing back from losses taken because of worries about the worsening feud between the White House and the Federal Reserve, one that experts warn could lead to higher inflation in the future.

The S&P 500 tacked 0.2% onto its prior all-time high set on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered an early loss of nearly 500 points and added 86, or 0.2%, to its own record, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.3%.

Some nervousness was still evident in the market, though, amid concern that the Fed may be on the path to less independence in setting interest rates to keep inflation under control.

Prices for gold and other investments that tend to do well when investors are nervous rose, while the value of the U.S. dollar dipped against other currencies.

Walmart helped drive the U.S. stock market higher despite the worries. It climbed 3% after learning that its stock will join the widely followed Nasdaq 100 index. Google also said Sunday that it’s expanding the shopping features in its AI chatbot by teaming up with Walmart and several other big retailers.

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, rose 1% to bring its total market value above $4 trillion following a torrid run aided by its artificial-intelligence offerings.

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GOLD 4,604.30 114.00 2.54%

6-MO T-BILLS 3.61 0.01 0.28%

30-YR T-BONDS 4.84 0.02 0.5%

Google to help Apple smarten up Siri Will also bring other AI features to iPhone

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP technology writer

Apple will rely on Google to help finish its efforts to smarten up its virtual assistant Siri and bring other artificial intelligence features to the iPhone as the trendsetting company plays catch up in technology’s latest craze.

The deal allowing Apple to tap into Google’s AI technology was disclosed Monday in a joint statement from the Silicon Valley powerhouses. The partnership will draw upon Google’s Gemini technology to customize a suite of

AI features dubbed “Apple Intelligence” on the iPhone and other products.

After Google and others took the early lead in the AI race, Apple promised to plant its first big stake in the field with an array of new features that were supposed to be coming to the iPhone in 2024 as part of a ballyhooed software upgrade.

But many of Apple’s AI features remain in the development phase, while Google and Samsung have been rolling out more of the technology on their own devices. One of the most glaring AI omissions on the iPhone has been a promised overhaul of Siri that was supposed to transform the often-confused assistant into a more conversa-

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives hailed the Apple deal as a “major validation moment for Google,” in a Monday research note.

Google’s AI inroads have helped its corporate parent, Alphabet Inc., become slightly more valuable than Apple in the assessment of investors. Alphabet marked a milestone Monday when it surpassed a market value of $4 trillion for the first time during early morning trading before slipping back below that threshold later in the session.

Even so, Alphabet’s market value remained about $150 billion above Apple, which for years ranked as the world’s most valuable company before the rise of AI changed the stakes.

tional and versatile multitasker.

Google even subtly mocked the iPhone’s AI shortcomings in ads promoting the release of its latest Pixel phone last summer.

Apple’s AI missteps prompted the Cupertino, California, company to acknowledge last year that its Siri upgrade wouldn’t happen until some point during 2026.

Getting Apple to endorse its AI implicitly represents a coup for Google, which has been steadily releasing more features built on its Gemini technology in its search engine and Gmail. The progress has intensified Google’s competition with OpenAI and its ChatGPT chatbot, which already has a deal with Apple that makes it an option on the iPhone.

Malaysia, Indonesia block Musk’s Grok KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia and Indonesia have become the first countries to block Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s company xAI, as concerns grow among global authorities that it is being misused to generate sexually explicit and nonconsensual images.

There is growing scrutiny of generative AI tools that can produce realistic images, sound and text, and concern that existing safeguards are failing to prevent their abuse. The Grok chatbot, accessed through Musk’s social media platform X, has been criticized for generating manipulated images, including depictions of women in bikinis or sexually explicit poses, as well as images involving children.

“The government sees nonconsensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights, dignity and the safety of citizens in the digital space,” Indonesian Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said in a statement.

Nurses go on strike at New York City hospitals NEW YORK — Thousands of nurses in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend yielded no breakthroughs in disputes with three major hospital systems over staffing, benefits and other issues.

“Nurses on strike! ... Fair contract now!” nurses shouted on a picket line outside NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s campus in Upper Manhattan.

Others picketed at hospitals in the Mount Sinai and Montefiore systems, where a 2023 nursing strike fed off pandemic-era frustrations and led to a deal to boost staffing and pay.

“And now, it’s how they’re treating us: They don’t want to give us a fair contract, and they don’t want to give us safe staffing, and now they’re trying to roll back on our benefits,” emergency department nurse Tristan Castillo said Monday.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to their union, the New York State Nurses Association. The hospitals remained open, hiring droves of temporary nurses to try to fill the labor gap.

The strike involves private, nonprofit hospitals, not city-run ones.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Margaretta Blades looks to order in the cold cuts section of the newest Rouses location on Monday in Central.

MARKET ROLLOUT

Former Winn-Dixies are rebranded as Rouses and begin to open

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writer

The former Winn-Dixie supermarket in Central reopened Monday as a Rouses Market, the first of 10 rebranded locations the Schriever-based chain will open over the next five weeks.

CEO Donny Rouse said the store at 10974 Joor Road has all the same offerings as a

store Rouses builds from the ground up — including a deli, a meat department, a fresh seafood counter and a line of prepared dishes.

“It is different from the stores we build from the ground up, because we have a year to build those locations like we want it. This store, we had seven days,” he said.

Because of the expanded departments and the fact that Rouses doesn’t have selfservice checkout lanes, the employment at the Central store has doubled, from 60 to 120 workers, Rouse said.

Rouses announced in November it had purchased 10 Winn-Dixie locations in Central, metro New Orleans and Hattiesburg, Missis-

sippi, for an undisclosed sum.

Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Winn-Dixie, said in October it was selling its remaining Louisiana stores in order to focus on the Florida and southern Georgia markets. Two Baton Rouge stores have been rebranded as Super 1 Foods markets.

Rouses also reopened a Destrehan WinnDixie on Monday. The plan is to reopen the stores in New Orleans, Marrero, Kenner, Covington, Mandeville, Franklinton, Gramercy and Hattiesburg over the next month, with two openings each week.

Once the rebrandings are complete, Rouses will have 76 stores stretching from Lake Charles to Orange Beach, Alabama.

Offshore wind developer prevails in court Trump says U.S. ‘will not approve any windmills’

BY JENNIFER McDERMOTT Associated Press

A federal judge ruled Monday that work on a major offshore wind farm for Rhode Island and Connecticut can resume, handing the industry at least a temporary victory as President Donald Trump seeks to shut it down.

At the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Senior Judge Royce Lamberth said the government did not explain why it could not take action short of a complete stop to construction on Revolution Wind while it considers ways to mitigate its national security concerns.

He said it also did not provide sufficient reasoning for its change in position.

Revolution Wind has received all of its federal permits and is nearly 90% complete to provide power

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEVE HELBER

Wind turbine bases, generators and blades sit at Portsmouth Marine Terminal, the staging area for Dominion Energy Virginia, which is developing Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, in Portsmouth, Va. for Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Trump says his goal is to not let any “windmills” be built. Three energy developers are challenging the administration’s freeze of their offshore wind projects.

Danish energy company Orsted, Norwegian company Equinor, and Dominion Energy Virginia each sued to ask the courts to vacate

and set aside the administration’s Dec. 22 order to freeze five big projects on the East Coast over national security concerns. Orsted’s hearing was first on its Revolution Wind project.

The administration did not reveal specifics about its national security concerns, but Trump said Friday while meeting with oil in-

dustry executives about investing in Venezuela that wind farms are “losers.” He said they lose money, destroy the landscape and kill birds.

“I’ve told my people we will not approve windmills,” Trump said.

“Maybe we get forced to do something because some stupid person in the Biden administration agreed to do something years ago. We will not approve any windmills in this country.”

The Biden administration sought to ramp up offshore wind as a climate change solution. Trump began reversing the country’s energy policies his first day in office with a spate of executive orders aimed at boosting oil, gas and coal.

The Trump administration paused leases for the Vineyard Wind project under construction in Massachusetts, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and two projects in New York: Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind. New York’s attorney general sued the Trump administration on Friday over Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ 7A

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New video shows minutes before Minn. ICE shooting Woman killed by federal officer last week

BY JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press

A new video shows more of what happened before a federal immigration officer shot and killed a woman during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis, adding context to a shooting that has sparked national debate on whether the officer acted in self-defense or recklessly.

The video, which is 31/2 minutes long and was filmed by a bystander, was posted Sunday by the U.S. Depart-

ment of Homeland Security on X. It shows federal officers and vehicles on a snowy street as a car horn blares on and off, with the sounds of whistles adding to the cacophony.

The camera swings to the left, showing a red SUV sitting perpendicular and blocking part of the road, the woman inside, Renee Good, pressing the horn repeatedly. After over a minute, Good pulled the SUV back slightly, unblocking part of the road and appears to wave at cars to pass. Two vehicles drive past her down the street.

Good’s wife is seen outside the red SUV, but the video doesn’t clearly show where

she was in the proceeding minutes. Then, after a blare from sirens, a dark truck with a small flashing light pulls to a stop a few feet from Good’s SUV. Two officers exit the truck and walk toward Good’s car just before the video goes dark.

Bystander videos released last week, shot from multiple angles, show what happened next.

A video filmed by the officer who fired at Good shows one officer ask Good to get out of the car and another ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ADAM GRAy tries to open her door. The officer who is filming circles Protesters try to avoid tear gas dispersed by federal agents around to the front of the ve- on Monday in Minneapolis. hicle.

Good reverses briefly, who is filming in front of the Good then turns the steering which places the officer driver’s side of the vehicle. wheel toward the passenger

side as an officer says again, “get out of the car.” Almost simultaneously, her wife, standing on the passenger side and trying to open the door, shouts, “drive, baby, drive!”

The SUV pulls forward, the video veers up toward the sky and gunshots are heard.

Other footage of the shooting shows the officer who fired holstering his gun, then a few seconds of silence before Good’s SUV crashes into a parked car.

A woman who appears to be Good’s wife runs toward the crash, as the officer who fired walks in the same direction. Bystanders begin screaming.

Teacher who survived Uvalde shooting testifies at trial of officer Man said he saw ‘black shadow’ with a gun

BY JIM VERTUNO Associated Press

A teacher who survived the 2022 shooting inside a Robb Elementary school classroom in Uvalde, Texas, told a jury Monday the attack began with a “black shadow” with a gun walking inside and that he prayed for the attack to be over after being shot along with his students.

Arnulfo Reyes’ testimony came on the fifth day of the trial for Adrian Gonzales, a former Uvalde schools police officer who was among the first law enforcement responders to the scene. Gonzales has pleaded not guilty to 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment as prosecutors allege he did nothing to stop the gunman in the first moments of the attack.

The gunman killed 19 students and two teachers.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JAE C. HONG

Flowers and candles are placed in May 2022 around crosses to honor the victims killed in a school shooting outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. A former Uvalde schools police officer is on trial for 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment.

Reyes was shot in the arm and back and said he was taunted by 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos.

“I looked at my door and that’s when I saw him ... a black shadow. The black shadow was holding a gun.

I just saw the fire come out of the gun,” Reyes testified.

“He shot at me and hit me in my arm. That’s when I fell to

the ground.”

“When I fell, he came around and he shot the kids,” he said.

Reyes said Ramos turned back around and shot him in the back. He prayed “and I gave myself to the Lord ... and waited for everything to be over.”

Reyes said the gunman at one point walked into the ad-

joining classroom, where he said he heard a student say, “Officer, we’re in here,” before he heard more shooting.

Reyes said Ramos also taunted him while he tried to pretend he was dead.

Reyes was a teacher in Room 111. None of the children in his classroom survived.

Just before Reyes testi-

fied, the court watched the surveillance video of Ramos entering the school and start shooting. The judge had warned the courtroom the images and sounds would be graphic.

Gonzales showed no emotion on his face as emergency calls to police and a woman can be heard screaming “get in your room!” He appeared to flinch when the first loud shots rang out in the hallway. He also covered his mouth with his left hand.

Gonzales was among the first of more than 370 federal, state and local officers to arrive at the school. It would take more than an hour for a tactical team to go into a classroom and kill the gunman.

The trial in Corpus Christi, Texas, is tightly focused on Gonzales’ actions. Prosecutors allege he abandoned his active shooter training and did not try to engage or distract the gunman while he was still outside the school.

They said Gonzales failed again minutes later when a group of officers went inside the school only to re-

treat when they came under heavy gunfire.

While much of the trial has been focused on events outside the school when the attack started, prosecutors are using the carnage inside the classroom as the ultimate result of what they said was Gonzales’ failure to stop the gunman when he had a chance.

At one point, prosecutors showed the school portraits of each of the schoolchildren and asked Reyes to read their names and say whether they died or survived.

Reyes was not asked about Gonzales during questioning by prosecutors, and mentioned only encountering a Border Patrol officer when the shooting stopped.

At the start of their crossexamination, defense attorneys noted the doors to the outside of the school, as well as Reyes’ classroom, were unlocked in violation of school policy. Reyes said he’d believed his classroom door was locked.

Reyes’ testimony will continue Tuesday.

Court hears arguments in Jimmy Lai sentencing in Hong Kong

BY KANIS LEUNG Associated Press

HONG KONG — A Hong Kong court heard arguments Monday about the sentencing of democracy advocate and onetime-media magnate Jimmy Lai, whose conviction under a national security law could land him in prison for the rest of his life.

Lai founded the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper and was an outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party. He was arrested in 2020 under the law imposed

by Beijing following massive anti-government protests that rocked Hong Kong the year before.

In December, he was found guilty of conspiring with others to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious articles.

His conviction raised concerns about the curtailing of press freedom in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

His case could also test Beijing’s diplomatic ties. The verdict drew criticism from foreign governments, including the U.S. and Britain.

After the verdict, U.S. President Donald Trump, who had raised Lai’s case with China, said he felt “so badly.”

Lai, alongside other co-defendants, appeared in court for the four-day mitigation hearings. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.

Sentencing will come later.

Lai’s lawyer Robert Pang said his client’s health, age and solitary confinement would make his sentence “more burdensome” compared to that of the general prison population. Lai is 78, so the impact of a lengthy prison sentence will be greater, Pang argued.

“Every day he spends in prison,” Pang said, “brings him closer to the end of his life.”

When Lai entered the courtroom, he pressed his palms together, an apparent gesture to express gratitude,

and smiled at those sitting in the gallery. The media tycoon appeared to be in good spirits and greeted a convicted Apple Daily editor who was also in the dock.

In August, his lawyers told the court that he suffered from heart palpitations.

Hong Kong’s government said no abnormalities were found in a subsequent medical exam.

Prosecutor Anthony Chau said Lai’s health was stable.

Chau said Lai had lost about 1.8 pounds over five years of detention, weighing about 175 pounds when it was last measured this month. Lai is still considered obese as an Asian adult, Chau said.

The obesity comment drew chuckles from some people sitting in the public gallery, and Lai also smiled.

But Pang argued that his client no longer lived up to his nickname of “Fatty Lai,” in contrast to images in videos filmed before detention and previously shown to the court.

Doctor accused in double murder waives right to extradition hearing

By The Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio — The exhusband of an Ohio woman charged this weekend with the murders of her and her husband waived his right to an extradition hearing Monday in Illinois.

Michael David McKee, 39, a doctor from Chicago, has been charged with premeditated aggravated murder in the shooting deaths of 39-year-old Monique Tepe, whom he divorced in 2017, and dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, in their Columbus home on Dec. 30.

McKee appeared in court in Winnebago County, Il-

linois, where he has been jailed since his arrest on Saturday. He appeared expressionless while he walked into the courtroom wearing a yellow jumpsuit with shackles around his wrists.

Judge Donald Shriver did not say when McKee will be returned to Ohio, but he scheduled a hearing for Jan. 19 to confirm the status of the transfer.

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office will coordinate McKee’s return to Franklin County, where the trial will take place, according to Tom Jakeway, trial court administrator for the 17th Judicial Circuit Court

of Illinois.

His arrest caps off nearly two weeks of speculation surrounding the mysterious killings that attracted national attention. No obvious signs of forced entry were found at the Tepes’ home. Police also said no weapon was found there, and murder-suicide was not suspected. Further, nothing was stolen, and the couple’s two young children and their dog were left unharmed in the home.

In a statement, their family said the arrest was “an important step toward justice” and that they trusted the justice system to hold the person accountable.

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

Jan Risher LOUISIANA AT LARGE

Salon-style talk brings optimism I love a good discussion. On Saturday morning, I was delighted to be part of a panel discussion called “Journalism in a Changing Age” at the Shadows-on-theTeche Visitor Center in New Iberia.

At some level, it reminded me of a French salon.

The World History Encyclopedia defines the French salon as “a private social gathering where a mixture of guests openly discussed art, literature, philosophy, music and politics.”

In the 17th and 18th centuries, French salons were often associated with Paris and were usually hosted by wealthy and well-connected women. The guests came from varied backgrounds, which gave participants an opportunity to hear different views from varied levels of society and encounter new ideas.

Saturday’s conversation was moderated by Adam Foreman, the Shadows’ executive director.

Cheryl Devall, general manager at KRVS, and Jim Hummel, coanchor at KADN in Lafayette, were also a part of the panel. It’s the first in the journalism series that the Shadows will host in the first quarter of 2026.

The weather was far from ideal Saturday morning.

I had wondered if the panel might be talking among ourselves, which, frankly, would have said something of its own about the state of civic curiosity.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to find a near-standing-room-only crowd to listen to the discussion about the evolution of journalism, something I think about on a daily basis.

I often find myself trying to explain journalism to people who don’t trust it anymore, which I appreciate, but I also think “real” journalism gets lumped into a lot of media that is anything but

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T u e s d ay, J a n u a ry 13, 2026

1Bn

Mom searches for answers

Billboard, reward next steps in hunt for daughter

BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer

A new billboard and cash reward are the latest tactics in helping solve the disappearance of Madison ReNae Allen, of Zachary.

Allen’s mother, Lynn Rollins, hopes the billboard will prompt tips from the public and provide answers about what happened to her daughter.

“A lot of people do not know my daughter is missing,” Rollins said. “She’s actually missing, from someone’s backyard. Now this billboard is out there and (people) can see that she was really missing and it’s not just me saying she’s missing.”

Allen last spoke to her mother on Nov. 29, 2023. At the time of her disappearance, she was 32 and had three children aged 16, 9 and 3. According to Rollins, Allen had planned to take on-

PROVIDED PHOTO

Family members and officials hope a new billboard and cash reward will help solve the disappearance of Madison ReNae Allen, of Zachary. line medical assistant classes to further her career and help her children have a better life.

“She was a very fun, loving and caring person and she loved helping people,” Rollins said.

Allen had been living with her boyfriend when she left the house with all her belongings on

Nov. 29.

Zachary Police Chief Darryl Lawrence said police are still receiving tips and the investigation is ongoing.

“We hope it’s an incentive for people,” Lawrence said. “Somebody may have seen something that they thought was not rel-

evant.”

The CUE Center for Missing Persons, a nonprofit based in Wilmington, North Carolina, partnered with Allen’s family and the Zachary Police Department to display the billboard, located near the intersection of Airline Highway and Hanks Drive, for six months. The billboard went up on Wednesday.

The CUE Center hopes to bring about answers to Allen’s disappearance through public tips.

The billboard’s location is significant because Airline Highway is the most common route from Baton Rouge to Zachary.

“We’re told that over 40,000 people go by this way, so we are hoping that at least one person sees it and steps up,” Rollins said.

Zachary Mayor David McDavid also attended the billboard unveiling. His office will distribute 50 signs around the city with the missing person details to

ä See ANSWERS, page 2B

Rolling on by

ä See RISHER, page 2B

TANGIPAHOA PARISH

Criminal probe opens into plant explosion

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Gabrielle Rose Bruce enjoys a ride around the Perkins Road Community Park skate park on Saturday in Baton Rouge.

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL

Staff writer

Federal investigators opened a criminal probe last year into the massive explosion and fire at Smitty’s Supply Inc., authorities confirmed Monday, intensifying scrutiny of the now destroyed Tangipahoa Parish plant’s operations.

It is unclear if the criminal investigation remains active. Its existence came to light through the filing of an emergency response report, which described a search carried out over two days in midNovember at the plant.

The search involved U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criminal investigators, along with

ä See PROBE, page 2B

Ascension official faces defamation lawsuit Allegations involve council member’s Facebook post

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

An Ascension Parish Council member is being sued on allegations of defamation after he posted claims online about the husband of a top parish government official.

District 2 council member Joel Robert is accused of making

“scandalous and false accusations” about Gerald Phillips Jr., the husband of Ascension Parish’s interim Infrastructure Division Director Ruth Phillips, according to the lawsuit filed last week.

Robert posted on Facebook on Jan. 4, alleging that when he last visited the couple’s home, Gerald Phillips dropped his pants and asked him to find cocaine. Gerald Phillips denied all the allegations in the lawsuit, which said they were “false, scandalous, and defamatory.”

“These allegations have damaged Plaintiff’s reputation in the

community as they have been seen … by over 30,000 people on social media to date,” the lawsuit stated.

Gerald Phillips’ attorney, Joseph Long, said the lawsuit spoke for itself and added that “there were four people at the house, and three of them say it didn’t happen.”

“So, Mr. Robert is the only one that says it happened,” he said.

Robert, who took down the Facebook post, directed questions to his attorney, John Venezia.

“We intend to defend him rigorously in court, and we expect to

prevail,” Venezia said Monday.

The lawsuit seeks damages of more than $10,000 and demands a jury trial. It was assigned to Judge Cody Martin, and no court date has yet been set.

Following Robert’s removal of the Facebook post, he made a separate post in which he wrote that the “people of Ascension Parish deserve a representative who responds to criticism with reflection, not escalation.”

He said he would donate $5,000 to Volunteer Ascension and welcomed “any review of my conduct by my colleagues on the Council.”

2B ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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African Children’s Choir to perform in Youngsville ANSWERS

Continued from page 1B

Church stop part of national tour

BY JOANNA BROWN

Staff writer

The African Children’s Choir is coming to Louisiana later this month to share worship songs and hymns with the Youngsville community, with the goal of raising money to help African children living in extreme poverty pursue education and training.

The choir, made up of 17 primarily Ugandan children from ages 7 to 10, will perform at First Assembly of God church in Youngsville at 7 p.m. Jan. 30. Attendance is free, and all donations support Music for Life and the African Children’s Choir program in sponsoring the entire education of choir members, even through university.

The children are halfway through a nationwide tour, with upcoming dates in Arkansas and Texas before making their way to Louisiana and Mississippi.

Founded in 1984 by Canadian humanitarian Ray Barnett, hundreds of Ugandan youth have graduated from African Children’s Choir into further education and careers, sponsored by Music for Life, a humanitarian organization founded to further the work of Barnett and the choir.

Barnett, who died last year, was a “great humanitarian compelled by the love of Christ,” choir manager

RISHER

Continued from page 1B accurately reported and agendaless — including the artificial intelligence-generated slop that all too often presents itself as fact online.

Foreman led the conversation acknowledging the way the internet has changed journalism and the “echo chambers” that social media has created.

The panel covered a lot of ground in the hourlong discussion. Devall filled us in on how last week’s closing of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will affect KRVS, as it had previously provided a significant chunk of the station’s budget. They’ve been able to find other sources to fill most budget gaps, but the closing of the national public broadcasting organization, due to no funding from Congress, is forcing a change in the way public radio and public television stations do business.

She said the station is already doing a larger variety of fundraisers than they previously did — including smaller events like paired wine dinners at local restaurants.

Their audience is coming through.

Listeners around the world are still hungry for their zydeco/Cajun music and French-language programming. One change they’ve made is to schedule the bulk of their French-language programming to run at 2 a.m., in sync with the drive time in Paris, where they

PROVIDED PHOTO

The African Children’s Choir will perform at First Assembly of God church in youngsville at 7 p.m. Jan. 30.

Tina Sipp said. He traveled to Uganda to provide humanitarian aid following the violent conflicts of the 1970s and ’80s, and met a young orphan with a beautiful voice after volunteering to transport him to a safe village.

“The boy sang praise songs during the whole journey, and Ray got the idea of bringing a choir of children out to highlight the resiliency, dignity, beauty and potential of African children,” Sipp said.

Music for Life has now established schools, children’s homes and other educational and developmental programs in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa.

According to Sipp, all children who join the choir receive education

have a lot of listeners and supporters.

Hummel shared his perspective on the changing face of local television coverage and doing more with less. He said recognizing the different lens that different people have on a story is important — and that the same story can generate a response from both sides of American politics.

“I do my best to take myself out of the stories I cover, but I’ve had to develop a thicker skin,” Hummel said.

Paul Schexnayder, of New Iberia, said he was so happy to see so many people at the event. He added that he was encouraged to learn that KRVS is getting support.

“I was struck by the fact that the same problems occur in the different media. It boils down to too much to report and a lack of resources in the staff to cover it locally,” Schexnayder said. “What we want are local stories. We already hear the national stuff. We all want that small-town connection — the stories that make us feel good and the stuff that is real information.”

Jayd Buteaux, senior manager of operations and marketing for Shadows-on-the-Teche, said many in attendance seemed hungry for more conversation and lingered in the visitor center for another hour, continuing the conversation with the panelists and each other.

What struck me most wasn’t just the panel, but what happened after — people lingering, circling back, continuing the conversation

paid through college, with many going on to careers that help advance opportunities for others in their family and communities.

“So many of the children, because of impoverishment, can’t even afford to go to government schools,” she said. “Through educating as many children as we can, each of the children become a pebble in the pond, with a ripple effect going on to help others.”

While on tour, the children are under the charge of Ugandan and North American chaperones, who stay with them at host homes across the country identified through local churches. Sipp said the performances center on famil-

PROVIDED PHOTO

Columnist Jan Risher, from left, joined Cheryl Devall, general manager of KRVS, the public radio station in Lafayette, and Jim Hummel, evening coanchor for KADN television in Acadiana, for a panel discussion Saturday at the Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitors Center.

— which may be the most “salonlike” thing of all.

In an age of shouting matches and shrinking newsrooms, the fact that people stayed — and kept talking — felt like its own quiet act of optimism.

At 6 p.m. Feb. 5, the Shadows will host a program on William Howard Russell, the first international war correspondent. The

PROBE

Continued from page 1B agents from the FBI and Louisiana State Police troopers. It required the halt of all site cleanup for three hours on Nov. 18.

The August explosion forced the evacuation of about 800 people, including former Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, who lives nearby. The incident also sent black soot across the region and spilled millions of gallons of oil and other lubricants into nearby private ponds and down the Tangipahoa River nearly 47 miles to its mouth at Lake Pontchartrain.

The search and accompanying warrant were quietly made public in mid-December in a regular EPA report on the Smitty’s cleanup that appears in a Department of Environmental Quality records database. It was first reported by The Illuminator on Monday morning.

In a statement Monday, State Police said officers from Troop L were present for the search in November to continue “to support the investigation by providing onsite security and public safety support while federal partners from the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division continued their ongoing investigation.”

Trooper Marc Gremillion, State Police spokesperson, referred questions about “details regarding the investigation and any warrants” to EPA. An EPA spokesperson said she could not comment “on whether or not warrants were conducted.”

PROVIDED PHOTO

Federal investigators quietly opened a criminal probe late last year into the massive August explosion and fire at Smitty’s Supply Inc., authorities confirmed Monday.

The EPA report, however, also makes reference to the agency’s “CID” being part of the search.

The EPA’s Criminal Investigative Division has armed law enforcement agents who pursue criminal environmental violations and can make arrests.

“Typical enforcement areas we investigate include illegal disposal of hazardous waste, illegal discharges to waters of the U.S., illegal emissions into the air, and other associated general crimes such as false statements, fraud, and conspiracy,” the EPA division’s website says.

Spokespersons and a lawyer representing Smitty’s didn’t immediately return inquiries for

iar hymns and songs married with African cultural elements in a program called “Just as I am.”

“We don’t harp on the challenges they’re facing back home. That’s not the image we want to put forth,” Sipp said. “It’s about these kids who are so talented and bright and just need an opportunity.

“These children who have so little materially are giving us so much, and want to give whatever possible to invest in them. We’ve developed a reputation over 40 years of actually helping people get their education, and we couldn’t do it without an army behind us of churches, host families, sponsors and others who see the value of these children as we do.”

comment. Company lawyers have said the fire was an unforeseeable event and that the company has been working with agencies and complies with environmental laws.

DEQ spokesperson Greg Langley didn’t have information about the search and referred questions to the EPA, as did a spokesperson with the FBI. Since the search, no criminal charges are known to have been brought against Smitty’s or its executives and employees in connection with the spill or the company’s operations.

The EPA report also doesn’t disclose what investigators were looking for or why they were

event will take place at the Shadows Visitors Center, 320 E. Main St., in New Iberia. In keeping with the “salon” style topics and conversation, the Shadows uses a quarterly theme. In May, it will focus on faith and freedom. In September, it will focus on fashion.

Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

pursuing the search after they already had taken actions to ease back from the day-to-day cleanup and had decided to pursue the company over alleged environmental failures through civil penalties.

The search happened about a month after the EPA had issued a consent order in mid-October, handed site cleanup and responsibility back over Smitty’s, and stepped back some from its presence in the Roseland area.

The federal agency had earlier taken on day-to-day management of the site cleanup for about two months, once Smitty’s backed out in days after the Aug. 22 explosion and fire over financial concerns.

The mid-November search also came nearly two weeks after the EPA, the DEQ, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office and other arms of the state sued Smitty’s over the “catastrophic” fire, accusing the company of “repeatedly failing” to follow pollutioncontrol laws and maintaining “insufficient” spill-prevention plans.

Brought in federal court in New Orleans, that civil suit asks a judge to hold the company accountable for the pollution of the Tangipahoa River and other state waters and to take steps to prevent future spills, forcing potentially millions of dollars in penalties.

Search warrants require a review by a judge and a declaration from investigators laying out what they know already and why they need to search a property in pursuit of their inquiry. To obtain the warrant, investigators need to show probable cause that a

help raise awareness.

The CUE Center also raised money for a $5,000 reward to anyone who can offer information or the direct location of Allen.

The cash reward will expire May 7.

“We are hoping that with this billboard up, we will get tips, clues or whatever to find this child and bring her home,” said Tracy Jones, the state outreach coordinator for the CUE Center.

Rollins stumbled across the nonprofit online in March and told her story to Monica Caison, the agency’s founder. Caison helped Rollins register her case with the CUE Center, allowing her to receive its free services like search resources, family support and further casework awareness.

Caison said Rollins had nowhere else to go for help beyond the Police Department.

“I told her, ‘In our review of the case, I think the best effort right now is to really build an awareness and a community behind your child in order to get a bigger search,’ ” Caison said.

This led to the creation of the billboard and cash reward. Other awareness efforts include passing out missing person yard signs.

R o l l i n s w a s o v e rwhelmed with tears and said seeing the billboard with her daughter’s face on it asking for the public’s help was evidence to her that they would get an answer to what happened.

“It’s all so amazing and very touching,” Rollins said.

The nonprofit focuses on finding the missing person, advocating for their cause and supporting their families. Caison said she saw a deficit in searching for missing adults and decided to start the CUE Center to address that need in 1992.

“My heart breaks for the children because their moms are out there missing (them),” Rollins said.

“And my heart breaks for my daughter because she’s out there and I can’t find her.”

Caison said she is confident the CUE Center will give Allen’s case a new angle and help Rollins find answers about her daughter.

“Whether they’re 4, 14 or 40, you still have a mother grieving and family members missing their sibling and people from the community,” she said.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.

crime has happened or is about to happen.

In a civil case, requests for records or even a review of a property would typically come through a request for a subpoena, which would also be reviewed by a judge. The EPA report about the search doesn’t mention any subpoenas being issued or pursued.

The EPA lawsuit against Smitty’s has had little activity so far since it was filed Nov. 5, except for a change of the judge on the case earlier this month.

Though no one is known to have been arrested in connection with the spill, two top Smitty’s executives were indicted over unrelated allegations that they and two other men beat a man accused in a Tangipahoa Parish rape case.

Chad Tate, president of Smitty’s, and Edgar Smith, vice president of Smitty’s, were arraigned and pleaded not guilty in the parish criminal case the same day, Nov. 18, that the EPA search began at Smitty’s.

David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

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wit, and playful teasing brought joy to all who knew him.

Funerals Today Post, Bryan

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church at 10am.

Smith, Michael

Greenoaks Memorial Park, 9595 Florida Boulevard, at noon.

Obituaries Dunn, Ara Adair

Ara Adair Dunn, 93, formerly of Corpus Christi, Texas, resident of Gramercy, and most recently of Baton Rouge, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and greatgrandmother, and a source of light to all who sought her out. She is survived by seven daughters: Linda White-Hunt (Keith), Ursula Howell (Kenny), Dana Territo (David), Kathy Watkins, Sandy Sanders (Randy), Sherry Haydel (Dale), and Stacie Ordoyne (Kirk); and one son, Kerry Dunn (Sheila).

She also will be lovingly remembered by her 20 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and all those whose lives she touched over the years. A devoted member of Sacred Heart parish for many years, Adair lived to help others. She was actively involved in parish ministries, including Adoration, regularly preparing and delivering meals to those in need, and compassionately caring for the elderly and infirm. Her life was a beacon of grace, compassion, and quiet strength. She was preceded in death by her parents, Murray Gray Ellis and Ara Adair MacManus Ellis; her husband of sixty-four years, Ray Dunn; her son, Claude Dunn; and her brother, Charles "Bubba" Ellis. The family wishes to thank Audubon Hospice and their loving caregivers, Ingrid and Gail; and to Tiffiny, formerly with Griswold Home Care; and most recently to her granddaughter, Sydney Sanders for their attentive and loving care of their mother through her final journey.

We are also eternally grateful to her caregivers, Sandy and Randy Sanders, for the grace and generosity they have provided our mother over the past few years. The service will take place on Friday, January 16, 2026 at St. John the Evangelist, 15208 LA-73, Prairieville, LA 70769. The rosary will be read at 11:00 a.m., visitation from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Mass will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by the bereavement in the Community Center. Pallbearers will be David Territo, Johnny Howell, Joseph Harris, Joshua Bihm, Jesse Dunn, Chaise Watkins, Gavin Ordoyne. Honorary pallbearers are Hunter Territo, Michael Howell, Connor Ordoyne, Logan Ordoyne. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Adair's memory to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or the American Cancer Society (on behalf of her daughter Dana).

Kilpatrick, Byron Eric

September 16, January 8, 2026

1962

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It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Byron E. Kilpatrick, who passed peacefully on January 8, 2026, surrounded by family, resting in the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Born in Wisner, Louisiana, Byron was a resident of Watson, Louisiana, and a man who walked humbly with God, leading his family by example with gentle strength, steady guidance, and unwavering love.

A devoted husband, loving father, and cherished grandfather, Byron shared 43 years of life with his beloved wife, Laurie Landess Kilpatrick, built on devotion, respect, and a love that only grew stronger with time. His humor, quick

Byron is survived by his children, Brandon Kilpatrick and Mallory Kilpatrick Bonck, and their spouses, Corie Kilpatrick and Norman Bonck. He was a proud and loving grandfather ("Pop Pop") to Karmyn Kilpatrick, Malik Bonck, Cassidy Kilpatrick, Kyson Bonck, Camille Kilpatrick, and Nora Rae Bonck, whose lives he enriched with wisdom, encouragement, and joy. He is also survived by his brother, John Steven Kilpatrick; his mother-in-law, Joyce Watson Landess; and his cousins, Bruce Kilpatrick and Jennifer Kilpatrick, along with a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Nicole Kilpatrick, and his father-inlaw, George Allen Landess.

A man of many talents, Byron excelled in carpentry, welding, and design.

He found true joy in the outdoors—hunting, fishing, and quietly enjoying God's creation.

Though we mourn his passing, we rejoice knowing he now rests in the presence of his Savior, having heard the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." His life was a blessing, his memory a treasure, and his love will remain forever in our hearts.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Visitation from the Chapel of Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home, 7738 Florida Blvd, Denham Springs, LA. on Friday, January 16, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. until the start of the Funeral Service at 8:00 p.m.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Graveside Service in the Marble Valley Cemetery, 1238 Heaslett Rd, Sylacauga, AL. on Monday, January 19, 2026 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Langley, Madie Celestine 'Tina'

Madie Celestine Langley, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday January 10, 2026. She was 92 years old and a resident of the Baton Rouge area for forty-nine years.

Madie Celestine Langley was born on January 31, 1933, in Edenton, North Carolina, to the late Joseph Wright Sr. and Armedia Wright. She lived a life rooted in faith, family, and love, leaving a lasting impression on all who were blessed to know her.

She is survived by her sons, Vernon A. Langley Jr.; daughter-inlaw, Antina Langley; and Darin Langley Sr; (Teressa Short) and her beloved grandchildren, Ambria Langley, Vernon A. Langley III (Dana Mosqueda), Darin Langley Jr, Kyree Langley, Rodderick Ripp, Kyslie Short, 1 great-grandchild Nasaiah Langley, and her best friend Ms. Jessie Marcelle.

She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends who will forever cherish her memory.

Madie was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon A. Langley Sr.; her parents, Joseph Wright Sr. and Armedia Wright; her brother, Joseph Wright Jr.; and her granddaughter, Ciara Langley.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 1565 Curtis Street Baton Rouge, La. 70807

Pearson, Betty Jean Hill

A ceremony celebrating the life of Betty Jean Hill Pearson will be held on Wednesday at Galvez Pentecostal Church, visitation will begin at 9:00 am until time of the service at 11:00 am. Interment will follow

at the church cemetery.

She was a native of Port Vincent, a resident of Galvez, and a former resident of Duplessis. She enjoyed being a Grandmother Volunteer with Ascension School System and worked as a retail clerk for many years. She loved her Lord, Family and Church; a devoted and faithful member of Galvez Pentecostal Church for eighty years.

Survivors include her children Janice Cooper (Donnie), Janell Osborne (Ricky), Vernell Dillsaver, and Kenneth Pearson (Toni), also survived by ten grandchildren, a host of step-grandchildren, great grandchildren, step great grandchildren, and greatgreat grandchildren.

Arrangements under the care of Church Funeral Services.

and Great Nieces. She is preceded in death by her parents James W. Ryall sr. and Beverly H. Ryall, brother James W. Ryall Jr, sisters Jane and Mary Ann Ryall. Paternal grandfather and grandmother James L. Ryall and Orelline Schexnaildre Ryall and maternal grandfather and grandmother John F Honold and Amella Mevran Honold.

Relatives and friends are invited for a memorial service at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St Baton Rouge, La 70802 on Friday January 16, 2026 for a visitation beginning at 5:00PM until 9:00PM. Visitation will continue on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 9:00AM until 11:00AM. And a burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, 5190 Canal Blvd. New Orleans, La. "She ain't heavy, She's our sister"

Sardisco, Toni Allen

Pourciau, Sherian Gail

Pourciau, Sherian Gail Strother A native of Oakdale, La. and longtime resident of Livonia, La., she passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026 at the LaCour House in New Roads. Sherian was always smiling, laughing and filled with joy. She never met a stranger and always lived life to the fullest. She enjoyed traveling and dining out with friends and family. She was 77 years old and was retired from the Pointe Coupee Parish School Board where she drove a school bus. Sherian is survived by her husband, Ronnie Pouricau; sons, Mark Tarver and wife Miriam, Ron Pourciau and wife Chrystal; grandchildren, Sarah, Clayton, Caroline and Gabriel; aunt, Patsy Daniels Fontenot; a special friend that was like a sister, Linda Aguillard and special friends Nancy and Joe David Odom and Leo Doyle. She is preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Betty Jean Daniels Strother; brother, Rusty Strother; sister, Debbie Strother; nephew, Marlon Pourciau. A visitation will be held at Niland's Funeral Home, 3508 La Hwy 78 Livonia, La. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 from 8 am until the religious service in the funeral home parlor at 11 am. The burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Clayton Pourciau, Don Sonnier, Lester "Doon" Jarreau, Vince Hawkins, Gabriel Kimble and Joey Kent. Honorary pallbearers will be Rhett Pourciau, Seth Ducote.

Special thanks to caregiver Coleen Singleton.

Toni Jane Allen Sardisco, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother, passed away on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the age of 88. She lived a life rooted in faith, family, and love. Born in Detroit, Alabama, Toni later moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she attended Warren Easton High School and graduated in 1954. In 1956, Toni met the love of her life, John, at Christ the King Church at LSU. Their bond grew into a lifelong partnership marked by devotion and shared purpose. Toni went on to graduate from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She and John were married in Shreveport in 1959, where they made their home for 24 years and welcomed their son, John Samuel, in 1961.

Toni and John later moved to The Woodlands, Texas, where they spent 21 years building a wonderful chapter of life together. In 2005, they relocated to Baton Rouge to be closer to family after the heartbreaking loss of their son, John Samuel. Toni was a faithful

parishioner of St. George Catholic Church and a proud member of the Country Club of Louisiana.

She was an avid bridge player who enjoyed the friendship, challenge, and joy the game brought her.

But above all, Toni's greatest love was her family.

She was at her happiest surrounded by the people she cherished—especially her great-grandchildren, whom she adored. She loved spending time laughing, playing, and making memories with them, and her warmth will be felt in every story shared and every life she touched. Toni was preceded in death by her parents, Tony and Laura Allen; son, John Samuel Sardisco; and brother, Robert Michael Allen "Mike". She is survived by her beloved husband of 66 years, John Baptist Sardisco; daughter-in-law, Ann Sardisco; grandchildren, Lauren Naquin (Alex), and Joshua Sardisco; greatgrandchildren, Sophia and Brady Naquin; sister-in-law Mary Ann Allen; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. The family would like to invite all who knew and loved Toni to join them as we commemorate her life. A visitation will be held at St. George Catholic Church, 7808 St. George Dr., in Baton Rouge, on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 9:30 AM until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM, with graveside services to follow. Her family will remember her for her steady love, her grace, her faith, and the joy she brought into every room. Toni's legacy lives on through the generations she loved so deeply.

Swindle, Anita Jones

She was born October 11, 1944 in Watson, LA. Anita attended Live Oak High School, and continued her education at Louisiana State University with a bachelors in secondary education obtained in 1964, and a master of education in 1972. Anita began teaching at Live Oak at the age of 19. She continued to teach at Live Oak for a number of decades before becoming vice principal at the high school, followed by a stint as principal of the elementary school. She finished her career at the Livingston Parish School Board as a transportation director. Anita retired from the LPSB in 2004. Anita is preceded in death by her father, David Wallace Jones Sr; mother, Sarah Wascom Jones; brother; David Wallace Jones Jr.; and niece, Dana Jones Foreman. She is survived by her husband, James Otis Dean Swindle Sr; her son, James Otis Dean Swindle Jr; her daughter in law, Kimberly Reid Swindle; her three grandchildren, Joseph Maxwell Swindle, Blair Swindle Courtney, and Madeline Elise Swindle; her great-grandson, Bennett Swindle; her sister, Jacqueline Jones Hayden; her nieces and nephews, Jeffery David Jones, Bridget Hayden Arceneaux, and Jessica Hayden Everhart, their spouses; as well as numerous great nieces and nephews. Anita's life will be celebrated with a Thursday, January 15th visitation at Seale Funeral home in Denham Springs, LA from 9-11 AM with services to immediately follow. A graveside service will then follow at Amite Church, in Watson. The graveside service will be open to anyone wishing to attend. Pallbearers will include: Max Swindle, Jeff Jones, Scott Arceneaux, David Everhart, Kyle Arceneaux, Caleb Browning and Eric Johnson.

Anita Pearl Jones Swindle, age 81, passed away at her home in Watson, LA on Friday, January 09, 2026.

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Ryall, Beverly Ann

Pick up your cross and follow me, I will prepare a place for you, is a promise of everlasting life, an intimate communion with God in heaven, this is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Beverly Ryall was a very special and devotion loving daughter, sister, and a caring friend firsthand, who passed away on Sunday January 4, 2026, at the age of 72 years old, with her family by her side.

Beverly Ann Ryall was born on August 16, 1953, in New Orleans, La and was a longtime resident of Baton Rouge, La. She was a proud graduate of the Redemptorist High School Class of 1971. And, now, she went off to LSU University, earned and achieved a Certified Public Accountant Degree in 1974. She was on the dean/honor list each year during her college education. She then entered the job market and worked for several different corporations and from then on, she entered the corporate world and even opened her own CPA Firm.

Beverly was a CPA for 52 years.

Beverly enjoyed playing racquetball and working out for many years. She is survived by her brothers, Michael J. Ryall and David Ryall (Wife, Ginger); of Monterey, La, her nephews; Michael J. Ryall Jr. and Charles A. Partin III (Wife Kelli), Jason M. Partin (Wife Danielle), Cody Beard; and her nieces Kobi L. Ryall and Brandi and husband, Josh Currey; cousins; Great Nephews

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OPINION

4B ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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

OUR VIEWS

Even the accused have voting rights Some violations of civil rights occur not by design but by situations unforeseen by the law’s designers. When this happens, the correct response is to fix the law without fuss.

That’s what Louisiana lawmakers should do in the case of people who are in jail, but not yet tried for alleged crimes, who are not allowed to vote. Unless and until they are convicted, their right to vote and their practical ability to do so must not be infringed.

Even if only a tiny subset of the population is denied its legal right to vote, provision must be made to preserve that right.

A group called Voice of the Experienced filed suit Dec. 12 in the state’s 19th Judicial District Court about this problem. State laws intended to guard against voter fraud require voters who register online or by mail to cast their ballots in person if they’ve never voted before.

Exceptions are made for the disabled and military personnel deployed away from home, among others.

Whether such a restriction is wise or necessary is subject to debate, but a one-time inperson rule is no more unusual than a requirement for someone to show up in person for a first driver’s license. The civil rights problem arises only in the law’s application to those in jail awaiting trial.

Because they are in jail, it is the state itself that is keeping them from showing up in person to vote. They are literally not free to comply with this particular voting law. Yet, at the same time, the combination of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution makes it incontrovertible that, as unconvicted citizens, they have absolute rights to vote.

Especially in a state that features jurisdictions with among the longest pre-trial incarcerations in the country — at some risk, by the way, of violating the Sixth Amendment’s right to a speedy trial — the problem of unconvicted inmates being unable to vote is very real.

For example, the suit filed last month names Rachael Day, who has been awaiting trial for more than six years for alleged involvement in an armed robbery that turned deadly.

If Day did commit the crime, she deserves the punishment she would receive. But she should not lose her rights for a single week, much less for six years, without having her day in court.

To fix the problem would be easy. All lawmakers must do is add “unconvicted people awaiting trial” to the list of exceptions (disabled, military) to the law requiring first-time voters to appear in person. After all, because they are in the state’s custody, the state already can verify their identities, which makes the possibility of voter fraud entirely moot.

It’s a simple problem with a simple fix, and lawmakers need to start fixing it on the very first day of the next session.

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

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

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

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YOUR VIEWS

High school basketball deserves better coverage

A million-dollar miss on Capitol Lake litter project For five years, the LSU AgCenter’s Botanic Gardens has had $1.9 million to figure out how to intercept litter pouring into Capitol Lake. A few months ago, they dropped in booms, a Band-Aid approach that grabs some large litter after it’s already in the water.

Meanwhile, stormwater devices that capture pollution before it can enter have been around for decades. These underground units don’t just grab bottles and cups like booms — they trap 100% of litter, plastic bits, sediments, nurdles, parking lot oils and organics, down to a human hair.

Here’s the rub: The booms aren’t working. When wind gusts kick up, or there is wave action from a storm, some can’t hold anything; others barely hold the 25-50 bags that would normally flow in each month.

Volunteers watched this movie before when LSU’s first two-year study didn’t deliver a single working device.

That’s when volunteers who picked out 27 tons of litter and 4 tons of tires found their own money. But in under 48 hours, their equipment money got redirected to pump life into the study that failed Capitol Lake, turning two years into five, with an extension, and no end in sight.

It gets worse. Volunteers had a bid for emergency booms (maybe $50,000 in today’s money). Where did the $950,000 go?

Were government failures the only thing the AgCenter’s “demonstration site” demonstrated? Can we end this pretending? Can we ask LSU to return the million so we can create a Capitol Lake Foundation run by stakeholders and experienced stormwater management professionals who know the vendors who sell the equipment that grabs “floatables” before they can pollute the water?

As a retired nurse, I accept the fact that I am old school, and I still do certain things the old-fashioned way. I rely on my newspaper a lot more than I do social media. My newspaper not only gives me the latest updates on local and international news; it keeps me updated on the local activities and events taking place in my city, such as the farmers markets, new restaurant listings and high school sporting events.

Now here is where The Advocate has disappointed me. During the high school football season, the newspaper is great about publishing weekly scheduled games, scores, players to watch, great rivalry matchups, the whole works. It’s great, informative and very beneficial for the fans.

Now, it’s basketball season, but the coverage of high school basketball has been minimal at best. Weekly games are not listed, as they are with football. Scores to played games are not included in the next day’s Sports section as extensively as football.

The big Christmas tournament got very little coverage. The New Year’s Day tournament at Scotlandville High got no coverage at all. This is very disappointing for the many fans in this area who get with their friends and social groups and make these games a fun-filled social outing, as well as for the student athletes giving it their all, but not getting the same coverage as their football counterparts.

The Advocate is a great, informative newspaper doing great things for the community it serves, but let’s serve our student athletes, their schools and their fan bases by giving equal coverage to all sports. The kids and fans deserve no less.

MARIE CONSTANTIN Baton Rouge

Landry has too many side hustles I was relieved to see that Gov. Jeff Landry has opted to take on the task of reorganizing the entire structure of the national college football system, including recruiting, player transfers and coach and player compensation. If there is one thing football needs, it is more government regulation.

At least Landry waited until after he had already resolved the residential and automobile insurance crisis in Louisiana and settled our wetland and coastal controversies.

I guess Landry has already traveled to his vacation home in Greenland and handled all the issues surrounding Trump’s imperialistic grab for Green-

land’s mineral wealth.

To finalize the deal, I suggest he offer Greenland the statehood option that Canada has rejected.

After all, Greenland’s statehood would make as much sense as Wyoming’s — a state with less than one quarter the population of the city of Houston.

Perhaps as his next project, Landry can undertake the chaos in the fast food industry, where neither McDonald’s McRib sandwich nor Popeye’s Spicy Flounder sandwich is available on a year-round basis.

WILLIAM SNEIRSON New Orleans

KIM CRAIG EMERSON Baton Rouge

Trump administration’s Presidential Walk of Fame just another farce I read with utter disgust the article regarding the new Presidential Walk of Fame at the White House. I also had the chance to read detailed photographs of a few plaques via another medium. It obviously points out how petty, narcissistic and egotistical our current president is. He constantly embarrasses

himself as well as those of us who voted him into office. My only hope is that when we are finally done with him, the next administration will correct all of these vile wordings and will replace the plaques with more appropriate wording. Past presidents may have had their faults and flaws, but they all had the

best interests of our country and their constituents at heart, more so than the current administration has.

May we all survive this administration and look forward to better times ahead. God bless America.

ELENE MILLER Metairie

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COMMENTARY Sid Edwards needs 2025 lessons for 2026 those unfamiliar, Detroit was in such When Sid Edwards flew back from bad shape that by 2010, it had lost more his research trip to chilly Detroit last than half the population it had week, he must have been glad to at its peak in 1950. Abandoned return to warmer weather. houses were common and many If only his political fortunes became targets for arsonists. had made a similar journey.

Blight in East Baton Rouge Edwards begins his second Parish has not reached the scale year in a far different spot than where he began his first.

Faimon it had in Motown, but it is nevA year ago, he was riding Roberts ertheless an issue that Edwards the crest of an optimistic wave campaigned on, so it’s not surfueled by his refreshingly unprising that he would suggest tackling it now. polished political style. Edwards had What he saw in Detroit apparently vowed to fight crime and blight and made an impression. partisan bitterness, and though he “They’ve done it in Detroit, and may have been short on specific policy proposals, his sunny authenticity made they’re continuing to do it. So why not us?” Edwards said after his trip. folks believe that he could do it.

A year later, reality, like an unforgiv- “There’s no reason we can’t do the exing Detroit winter, has certainly set in. act same thing.”

Edwards’ first year was full of halting Whether Edwards can pull off the steps, internal turmoil and inconsistent same thing that former Detroit Mayor messaging, all things one might expect Mike Duggan did with blight remains from a mayor-president with no prior to be seen. Like Duggan, Edwards is experience in government. the first White mayor elected in deThat all culminated in November, cades in a city that is majority Black. when voters rejected his signature But Duggan was an experienced polifirst-year initiative: three tax rededica- tician who had spent years working in tions to address major city-parish bud- public office. For the majority of his caget shortfalls that Edwards branded reer, he was a Democrat — his switch Thrive EBR. It was a major political to independent came in 2024, as his 12 defeat. years as a mayor were winding down.

It would be easy — and understandDuggan also presided over a city that was roughly three-quarters Black able — if, at this point, Edwards rein population. Edwards, on the other treated into a bunker and tried to stay hand, must contend not only with the below the radar as his administration city but with East Baton Rouge Parish, recalibrated, especially since it is also which is still grappling with deep racial grappling with a major budget shortfall that is necessitating layoffs across and political divides wider than Florida Boulevard. government.

At the heart of the Detroit approach But credit to Edwards: His enthusiwas an expedited process that allowed asm appears undimmed. the city to take control of blighted He and members of his staff were property, conduct demolitions and put in Detroit to study the Motor City’s those properties back into commerce. approach to blight remediation. For

Any attempt by Edwards to do something similar in Baton Rouge will likely get pushback from some Black leaders who worry that it is a covert attempt to take power away from the Black community.

Council member Cleve Dunn has already said as much.

And that sets up a tough push for Edwards. He’s right that blight needs addressing.

But Edwards is not in the same position he was a year ago. He no longer has the lingering goodwill of his feelgood campaign. His Thrive proposals went through three or four revisions before they finally landed on the ballot.

By November, those course changes had fostered mistrust among many voters.

So, if Edwards wants to take that swing, he and his staff are going to need to be far more focused, disciplined and inclusive than they were last year.

Edwards can’t afford a repeat.

And what’s more, he must do this in the midst of what is going to be an ugly year in city hall, with more layoffs likely on the way as the year gets going.

And as big of an issue as blight is, bigger questions — like whether the entire structure of city-parish government should be scrapped or reorganized — are likely coming.

In other words, Edwards is going to need to apply every political lesson he learned last year to this year, probably doubly.

2025 was tough. 2026 is going to be tougher.

Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

Don’t annex Greenland China, Russia and Iran had to be alarmed by the display of U.S. power in Venezuela, but so did Denmark, a NATO ally of the United States.

In the aftermath of the snatch-andgrab of Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump spoke to The Atlantic about his other foreignpolicy priorities: “We do need Greenland, absolutely.”

It might have been easy not too long ago to dismiss this as bluster.

Rich Not anymore — not Lowry after the strikes on the Iran nuclear program and the Venezuelan operation. We’ve gone from “Trump always chickens out” when he was backing off his Liberation Day tariffs to “dismiss Trump’s threats at your own peril.”

Trump doesn’t do everything he says, but almost everything he does do, he talks about openly beforehand.

In this respect, enemies of the United States can never complain that they weren’t warned — and perhaps allies, too.

Denmark controls Greenland as a semi-autonomous territory. It colonized the sparsely populated island several hundred years ago. Mostly within the Arctic Circle, Greenland is not desirable real estate by any typical metric, but has outsized strategic significance.

As more waters become navigable in the Arctic Sea, the top of the world opens up for greater geopolitical contention. Greenland occupies a crucial spot. It sits on a key naval lane between the Atlantic and the Arctic, and it has prodigious reserves of critical minerals, and maybe fossils fuels, as well.

If it fell into our lap, it’d be an excellent addition to our territorial holdings. There’s a reason that American statesmen have long coveted the island.

The problem is that it’s not currently available. What are other options? A lightly armed contingent of U.S. crossing guards could probably take it over in a couple of days. The challenge, though, is political and diplomatic, not military.

A NATO ally seizing the territory of another NATO ally would obviously be a grave threat to the integrity of the alliance. Would Denmark invoke Article 5 against the United States? It has

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EBRAHIM NOROOZI

Danish military forces participate in an exercise with hundreds of troops from several European NATO members in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, last year. the makings of a good spoof musical, but it’s not something anyone should want to experience in reality.

Although Trump has said in the past that he doesn’t take military force off the table — an amazing statement in and of itself — he’s also talked of buying Greenland.

The Danes, though, say it’s not for sale, and the Greenlanders don’t want to be bought.

If Trump really pushes the issue and forces Denmark and NATO into a corner with the 82nd Airborne ready to go on an airstrip somewhere, he could probably compel a sale, but it’d be courting a diplomatic crisis and damage the reputation of the United States without enough upside.

We can almost certainly get whatever we need from Greenland without violating a friendly country’s sovereignty or straining a world-historical alliance to the breaking point. We already have a missile-defense base there. The 1951 Greenland Defense Agreement between Denmark and the U.S. allowing us to keep bases could presumably be updated and extended.

Given the national security importance of rare earths to the U.S. and

NATO, it should be possible to unlock Greenland’s minerals.

Instead of clapping back at Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen should be reaching out for a steak dinner at Mar-a-Lago and offering a deal. While public pressure gets Trump’s back up, private persuasion — and a warm relationship — goes a long way.

The Panamanians managed to get Trump to stop talking about taking back the Canal (for now) with prudent concessions.

For his part, Trump should realize that making everyone in a friendly nation hate him doesn’t help his cause.

His talk of annexing Canada last year helped Justin Trudeau’s party survive a national election that it should have lost. His Greenland saber-rattling is presumably making it harder for Denmark to work with him on sensible cooperation.

If Nicolas Maduro got what he deserved, Denmark is a different matter.

Even the unsentimental, results-oriented Trump foreign policy needs to distinguish between friend and foe.

You can see clear to the bottom of Minnesota’s fraud Back in the mists of time, Minnesota Sen. Hubert Humphrey was asked on “Meet the Press” whether he liked spending the taxpayers’ money. The question was barbed, but his response was masterful. Yes, Humphrey said, he was fine if the public dollars went to beneficial projects and the money was carefully spent.

The scandal in Minnesota Froma could have met the first requireHarrop ment, but it doubly failed the second in spectacular fashion.

While the loss of perhaps $1 billion to criminal operators was shocking, the blatant nature of the schemes proved even more so. The state’s political leadership ignored the flashing red lights lest they be accused of racism by the perpetrators, mostly members of the Somali community.

The fraud was so brazen that Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz announced he would not run for reelection. Wise decision. As scandals go, this one is outrageous. It isn’t just the criminality of the abusers but the ease with which they got away with it, and for the longest time.

Members of the Somali community billed state agencies for social services that were never delivered. Money collected by one group, Feeding Our Future, provided funds for luxury cars and fancy real estate abroad — while feeding nobody. Sham child care services mushroomed. Some paid kickbacks to parents to enroll their kids in programs for autistic children while not providing the services. Some billed Medicaid for nonexistent housing for addicts.

A lawyer for some of the defendants argued that because state agencies were turning a blind eye to the fraud, “It was like someone was stealing money from the cookie jar and they kept refilling it.” Translation: The money was almost asking to be taken.

Meanwhile, Somali spokesmen threatened to smear state officials questioning the criminal activity with charges of rank racism. Feeding Our Future told a state agency that not approving new applicants from “minority-owned businesses” would spawn a lawsuit featuring charges of racism that would be “sprawled across the news.” Not subtle, these guys.

This whole affair should give pause to Democrats still wedded to racial, ethnic and other identity politics. That often-offensive practice helps explain their choice of Walz as Kamala Harris’ running mate in 2024.

While everyone should be scandalized, conservatives might curb their habitual attacks against any progressive initiative as socialism run amok. No one, socialists especially, are good at defining socialism. But bashing all taxpayer subsidies as handouts puts conservatives on thin ice.

The proposal by Trump and allied Republicans to set up $1,000 “Trump Accounts” for American babies is exactly that. It’s a taxpayer handout of $1,000 with no strings attached as to how the money may be spent. On diapers or slot machines? Nobody’s asking.

Many conservatives have argued that farm subsidies are handouts. They often use the phrase “farm welfare.” But tell that to Republicans representing farm country.

Another Trump indulgence — using taxpayers to rescue farmers hurt by his tariffs — could be deemed socialism squared. Trump distorted the market forces through his trade war, then sent checks to save farmers from the predicable outcome.

When Medicare was created in the 1960s, illustrious Republicans including Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush condemned government-supported health coverage for the elderly as socialized medicine. Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater argued that if government was going to pick up those costs, why shouldn’t it pay for “cigarettes and beer?”

Then comes the 2024 election and the Republican platform states: “We will protect Medicare, and ensure Seniors receive the care they need.”

The scandal in Minnesota offends half of Humphrey’s requirement, that the money be spent carefully. The first half, that it go to a good cause, well ...

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

Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry.

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THE NATION

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OHIO

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Near Olive AMITE

Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent TICKFAW

Montpelier Holden ATCHAFALAYA

Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

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Hattiesburg 62/46

Alexandria 61/44

Many 59/41

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Jackson 61/45

24 hours through 5 p.m. Mon. 0.00” Month to date (normal) 2.76” (2.49”) year to date (normal) 2.76” (2.49”)

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64 42 pc 43 37 s 68 45 pc -23 -29 c 81 71 s 60 49 pc 68 47 s 55 42 pc 79 66 sh 42 13 pc

69 39 s 49 37 r 62 37 s -17 -29 sn 79 67 sh 69 42 s 72 46 s 47 22 r 80 63 r 22 9 sf

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

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THE WORLD

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Today Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun. Mon.

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L S U A T O K L A H O M A • 2 P. M . S U N D A y • E S P N 2

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ASU QB Leavitt signs with LSU Top transfer set to become Tigers’ starting quarterback

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

LSU signed former Arizona State quarterbac Sam Leavitt, the school confirmed Monday night, giving the Tigers their starting quarterback in the first season under new head coach Lane Kiffin.

Leavitt was considered one of the top available players in the transfer portal regardless of position, and he filled LSU’s most pressing need. LSU does not have a scholarship quarterback returning next season, so it has added multiple transfers.

Leavitt committed Monday morning and later signed his contract, sources told The Advocate. While he was unsigned, multiple reports said Tennessee tried to flip Leavitt.

The Volunteers had hosted him on a visit last week, and they need a quarterback because of uncertainty surrounding the future of Joey Aguilar, who is trying to get another year of eligibility. But despite the late push, LSU felt confident in where it stood with Leavitt.

When the transfer portal opened, Leavitt was high on the list of targets for Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. as they searched for an established starter.

ä See LEAVITT, page 4C STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU guard Mikaylah Williams celebrates after being fouled against Texas in the first quarter on Sunday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

LSU guard Williams showcases defensive growth vs. Texas

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

When all else failed, Madison Booker tried a crossover dribble. The Texas star needed to drive past Mikaylah Williams. The only problem was that she hadn’t quite figured out how.

And Booker didn’t this time either, not late in the third quarter when her Longhorns found themselves in danger of falling into another double-digit deficit. Williams stuck out her left arm and poked the ball loose, bouncing it off one of Booker’s teammates and out of bounds near the Texas bench.

“That’s something that I wanted to improve on,” Williams said.

And it looks like she has. Before Williams sealed the LSU women’s basketball team’s landmark win over the No. 2 Longhorns late in the fourth quarter Sunday with a deep fadeaway 3-pointer, she first inspired it with a handful of key defensive plays. The star junior’s five steals

were a career high — and a sign she’s added yet another tool to her already well-rounded game.

“I thought Mikaylah was different in that she really was active defensively,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said, “more so than normal. And really handsy. If she can keep you in front of her, her size affects you, your ability to shoot.”

Booker, the reigning SEC player of the year, learned that lesson the hard way on Sunday. She scored 14 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter, nearly positioning Texas to pull off a come-from-behind win.

But she also turned the ball over a season-high six times.

Williams forced Booker into four of those giveaways.

She cut off one of her drives to the baseline. Swatted the ball out of her hands before she could navigate a screen.

Deflected one of her entry passes and thwarted that one crossover dribble — all while shouldering most of LSU’s offense at the other end.

In the first two years of her career, Williams proved that

ä See LSU, page 3C

Pelicans need to improve in second half of season

Indiana, Miami should be near full strength for title game

BY MICHAEL MAROT AP sportswriter

ä Nuggets at Pelicans 7 P.M.TUESDAy,WAFB New Orleans’ first half of season was hard to watch. losing streak, a seven-game losing streak Can this team get to 21 wins? and another nine-game losing streak.

The fans are frustrated. Truth be told, The schedule says the New Orleans Peli- everybody is.

“It’s professional sports, (so) the results cans are halfway to the finish line of the are a major factor,” said interim head season. coach James Borrego. “They (the But the Pelicans’ play so far says players) are reading stuff. They are this season is already finished. frustrated, too. We all want multiple They are dead last in the Western wins in a row. We’ve just got to Conference, nine games behind stick together and continue the prowhat it would take to get the 10th and final spot to make in the play-in cess of growing and developing as tournament. a team. Not put our heads down (beRod The Pels’ record through 41 cause) that’s when you lose focus.”

Walker games is a dismal 9-32, the exact The Pelicans have used 19 difsame record as this time a year ago. ferent starting lineups this season Things were supposed to be different due to injuries and just trying new ways this season, the first under new executive to shake things up. Zion Williamson even vice president of basketball operations Joe came off the bench for seven games.

Dumars.

And in case you haven’t heard, the PeliSo far, they haven’t been. cans don’t have a first-round pick in the Dumars fired head coach Willie Green 2026 draft. just 12 games into the season.

Barring some trades, there’s not a whole The Pelicans started the season off with lot to be optimistic about heading into the six straight losses. ä See WALKER, page 3C Since then, there has been a nine-game

AP FILE PHOTO By RICK SCUTERI

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt throws a pass against Wyoming on Aug. 31, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. Leavitt committed to LSU on Monday.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson dunks the ball as Dallas Mavericks Mavericks forward Naji Marshall watches on Dec. 22 at the Smoothie King Center.

No. 10 Miami needs everything at its disposal to slow down top-seeded Indiana’s high-scoring offense in next week’s College Football Playoff championship.

The good news is that the Hurricanes’ defense should be at, or near, full strength.

Coach Mario Cristobal told reporters Monday he expects defensive ä Indiana linemen Ahkeem Mesidor vs: Miami and Ahmad Moten, as well 6:30 P.M. JAN. 19, as cornerback OJ Frederique, to be ready to play in ESPN next week’s title game.

Mesidor and Moten were both injured during last week’s dramatic 31-27 victory, but later returned. Frederique was injured during Miami’s surprising 24-14 Cotton Bowl victory over No. 2 Ohio State and did not play in the Fiesta Bowl. Now, it appears all three will be there to try and help derail the Hoosiers attempt to become the first 16-0 college team since the 1890s.

“I believe we’re coming out a lot like we went into the last game,” Christobal said. “I know a couple guys came out of the game.

Mesidor is in great condition. He hurt his elbow for a second and he’s already full

ä See TITLE, page 4C

2C ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 5:30 p.m. Villanova at Providence FS1 5:30 p.m. Marquette vs. St. John’s PEACOCK 6 p.m.

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Wisconsin at Minnesota BTN 6 p.m.

GMU at Loyola of Chicago CBSSN 6 p.m.

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Alabama at Mississippi St. SECN 9:30 p.m. Maryland at Southern Cal FS1 10 p.m. Boise St. at UNLV CBSSN 10 p.m. Saint Mary’s at San Francisco ESPN2 GOLF 1 p.m.

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Heat, Bulls game moved due to slippery court

MIAMI — Chicago and Miami will both start a stretch of playing four games in five days later this month to make up for the slippery court issue that forced a postponement of a scheduled matchup between the clubs last week.

And the solution also means the Bulls and Heat will play three consecutive games against one another.

The NBA said Monday that the Miami at Chicago game that was scheduled to be played Thursday will now take place on Jan. 29. The Bulls were supposed to visit Miami for games on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1; those games will now be Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Chicago plays at Indiana on Jan. 28, the night before its nowrescheduled home game against Miami.

Browns interviewing McDaniel for head coach

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PETER FOREST

LSU guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, left, tries to make a move against Texas guard Rori Harmon, right, during a game on Sunday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

LSU women rocket up six spots South Carolina climbs to No. 2, with UConn as unanimous No. 1

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer

South Carolina climbed to No. 2, LSU and TCU jumped into the top 10 and The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 got a big shuffle Monday after another week that saw four of the top 10 teams lose.

UConn was the unanimous No. 1 choice for the first time this season, receiving all 32 first-place votes. The Huskies continue to cruise through Big East play, winning by an average of nearly 47 points per game. They were the only team in the top 10 to stay in the same place as the week before.

South Carolina moved up to second, followed by UCLA and Texas, which dropped two spots

after LSU handed the Longhorns their first loss of the season. No. 5 Vanderbilt, one of three unbeaten teams along with UConn and No. 17 Texas Tech, has its highest ranking since the final poll of 2002 when the Commodores were fourth.

LSU jumped six spots to No. 6.

The Tigers, who beat Texas 70-65, were in the top 10 most of the season before losing their first two SEC games.

Kentucky, Michigan, Louisville and TCU rounded out the top 10.

game last week and fell out of the poll. The Trojans had been ranked in 51 consecutive polls and the Tar Heels in 30 straight.

Falling Cyclones After winning its first 14 games this season, Iowa State has dropped three straight and fell nine spots in the poll to 20th this week. The Cyclones are on the road at Colorado and Oklahoma State this week.

Conference supremecy

The SEC has nine teams in the Top 25, including five of the first Maryland and Oklahoma both seven. Only the Big Ten has also lost last week and fell out of the had nine teams ranked in a sintop 10 for the first time this sea- gle week this season; it has eight son, dropping to 12th and 13th, re- ranked teams this week. The Big 12 has four ranked teams, the ACC spectively.

Alabama (21st), Notre Dame two. The Big East and Ivy League (23rd) and Illinois (25th) all en- each have one. tered the poll this week. The Crimson Tide, who beat Kentucky last Game of the week week, have just one loss (South No. 4 Texas at No. 3 South CaroliCarolina). na, Thursday. The Longhorns look Washington, Southern Cal and to rebound from their first loss North Carolina all lost at least one when they face the Gamecocks

In and out

AP WOMEN’S TOP 25 Rec.

Pts.

Prv.

1. UConn (32) 17-0 800 1 2. South Carolina 17-1 748 3 3. UCLA 15-1 734 4 4. Texas 18-1 710 2 5. Vanderbilt 17-0 671 7 6. LSU 16-2 598 12 7. Kentucky 16-2 583 6 8. Michigan 14-2 574 9 9. Louisville 16-3 550 10 10. TCU 16-1 497 13 11. Iowa 14-2 406 14 12. Maryland 16-2 403 8 13. Oklahoma 14-3 401 5 14. Ohio St. 15-2 391 19 15. Michigan St. 16-1 383 15 16. Mississippi 16-3 365 18 17. Texas Tech 18-0 323 17 18. Baylor 15-3 289 16 19. Iowa St. 14-3 205 11 20. Tennessee 12-3 197 20 21. Alabama 16-1 141 22. Princeton 14-1 116 24 23. Notre Dame 12-4 65 24. Nebraska 14-3 48 25 25. Illinois 14-3 43 OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: West Virginia 41, Duke 41, North Carolina 21, Minnesota 12, Washington 11, Stanford 10, Utah 8, Southern Cal 4, Rode Island 4, Georgia 3, Oregon 2, NC State 2.

for the second time this season.

The two teams played in a tournament over Thanksgiving and Texas came away with a twopoint win.

Arizona strengthens hold on No. 1

BY AARON BEARD AP basketball writer

Arizona tightened its hold on the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll on Monday while Vanderbilt’s unbeaten season has landed the Commodores in the top 10.

A week ago, Arizona led thenNo. 2 Michigan by a single point for the top spot to barely avoid what would have been only the second-ever tie at No. 1 in the poll’s 78-year history. But with Wisconsin handing the Wolverines their first loss, the Wildcats (16-0) became the easy choice at the top by earning 60 of 61 firstplace votes in the latest poll.

Iowa State got the other firstplace vote and moved up one spot to No. 2, followed by UConn.

Michigan fell two spots to No. 4, though the metrics analysts still prefer Michigan. The Wolverines held the top spot in a 1-2 pairing with the Wildcats in analytics rankings by KenPom, Bart Torvik and Evan Miyakawa on Monday afternoon.

AP MEN’S TOP 25 Rec.

Pts.

Prv.

1. Arizona (60) 16-0 1524 1 2. Iowa St. (1) 16-0 1448 3 3. UConn 16-1 1358 4 4. Michigan 14-1 1300 2 5. Purdue 15-1 1253 5 6. Duke 15-1 1237 6 7. Houston 15-1 1130 7 8. Nebraska 16-0 1056 10 9. Gonzaga 17-1 1050 8 10. Vanderbilt 16-0 1035 11 11. BYU 15-1 1013 9 12. Michigan St. 14-2 865 12 13. Illinois 13-3 778 16 14. North Carolina 14-2 659 17 15. Texas Tech 12-4 609 14 16. Virginia 14-2 515 23 17. Arkansas 12-4 492 15 18. Alabama 11-5 470 13 19. Florida 11-5 349 20. Louisville 12-4 336 20 21. Georgia 14-2 227 18 22. Clemson 14-3 218 23. Utah St. 14-1 161 24. Tennessee 11-5 140 21 25. Seton Hall 14-2 136 OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Saint Louis 92, Kansas 60, Iowa 58, Miami (Ohio) 49, Villanova 40, Wisconsin 37, Miami 30, Texas A&M 23, UCF 18, Saint Mary’s 17, SMU 15, Auburn 14, George Mason 8, NC State 3, Southern Cal 1, St. John’s 1.

latest highlights for surprise unbeatens Nebraska and Vanderbilt.

Nebraska (16-0) spent a second straight week in the top 10 and continued its season-long climb by moving up two spots to No. 8, matching that program’s allThe top tier time highest ranking set in FebNo. 5 Purdue, No. 6 Duke and ruary 1966. Gonzaga was ninth, No. 7 Houston held their spots followed by the Commodores to from last week, followed by the round out the top 10.

Vanderbilt (16-0) has not been Clemson, No. 23 Utah State and in the top 10 since the 2011-12 No. 25 Seton Hall. preseason poll.

Clemson and Utah State are in the poll for the first time this Rising season after each cracked the Virginia (14-2) continued its AP Top 25 last year. It is Seton successful first run under Ryan Hall’s first AP Top 25 appearOdom by making the week’s big- ance since it was No. 20 in Janugest rise, jumping seven spots to ary 2022.

No. 16 after home wins against California and Stanford in At- Farewell (for now) lantic Coast Conference play.

Kansas fell out of the poll for No. 13 Illinois and No. 14 a second time this season. The North Carolina each climbed Jayhawks were ranked No. 19 three spots, while a total of sev- in the preseason and were unen teams moved up from last ranked for one week in Novemweek’s position. ber, then fell out again from No. 22 after a weekend loss at West Falling Virginia.

Iowa (No. 19), SMU (No. 24) Alabama (11-5) had the week’s biggest fall, tumbling five spots and UCF (No. 25) were the othto No. 18 after a loss at Vander- er three teams to fall out of the bilt followed by a home stumble poll. against Texas.

No. 21 Georgia and No. 24 Ten- Conference watch nessee each slid three spots. In The Southeastern Conference all, eight Top 25 teams dropped had a national-best six ranked from last week’s poll. teams, with five ranked 17th or lower. The Big 12, Big Ten Welcome to the poll and ACC each had five ranked Defending national champion teams, with the Big 12 and Big Florida is back in the poll at No. Ten each having all their teams 19, coming after the preseason inside the top 15.

The Big East was next with No. 3-ranked team spent one week out of the rankings. The two ranked teams, following by Gators joined three other new one each for the West Coast and additions to the poll in No. 22 Mountain West conferences.

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns began the second week of their search for a new coach by interviewing former Miami coach Mike McDaniel on Monday.

McDaniel is the sixth person to interview and the fourth with previous ties to the organization. He was the wide receivers coach in 2014.

The 42-year old McDaniel was fired by the Dolphins on Jan. 8 after a 7-10 mark this past season. Miami was 35-33 during McDaniel’s four seasons and lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2022 and ‘23.

McDaniel will also interview with the Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons for their head coach openings while the Detroit Lions are interested in him for offensive coordinator.

Falcons interview former Ravens coach Harbaugh

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons, who made immediate public disclosure of their interest in including John Harbaugh in their coach search, said Monday they have interviewed the former Baltimore coach.

Harbaugh is considered by many to be the top candidate for multiple teams following his 18-year tenure leading the Ravens. Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Thursday he hoped Harbaugh would be interested in the Falcons.

Now the Falcons have confirmed Harbaugh, who was fired Tuesday

by Baltimore, does have interest in Atlanta.

The Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after an 8-9 finish, despite the team closing with four straight wins.

Former Wimbledon finalist Raonic retires

OTTAWA, Ontario — Former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic retired on Monday.

Raonic was the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam final in 2016 at Wimbledon. He beat Roger Federer in the semifinals 6-3, 6-7, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and lost to Andy Murray in the final.

That year, he also reached the Australian Open semifinals, suffering an adductor injury when he led Murray two sets to one, and qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time. He ended the year at a career-high No. 3 ranking.

Big-serving Raonic, nicknamed “Missile,” won eight ATP singles titles after turning professional in 2011. He holds the record for most aces in a three-set match.

Columbus Blue Jackets replace coach Evason

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets fired coach Dean Evason and named hockey-lifer Rick Bowness as his replacement on Monday.

Evason is the first NHL coach fired this season. General manager Don Waddell announced the abrupt change with his team sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference 45 games into the season with a record of 19-19-7.

Assistant Steve McCarthy, who had been with the organization for nearly a decade, was also fired.

Bowness is back in the league after he retired in the spring of 2024, ending a stint with the Winnipeg Jets. Bowness, who coached Dallas to the Stanley Cup Final in the 2020 pandemic bubble, turns 71 on Jan. 25, and at 70 becomes the oldest head coach in the NHL.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ 3C

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Big third quarter helps propel Zachary past Denham Springs

BY WILLIAM WEATHERS

Contributing writer

Zachary sophomore Kennedi Whitfield was part of a second-half resurgence that gained strength in the team’s halftime locker room.

The visiting Broncos trailed Denham Springs by seven points at the break, rekindling a sense of intensity that paved the way for a 56-36 victory Monday at Grady Hornsby Gymnasium.

“Our coaches were telling us to have good energy,” Whitfield said.

“We started off real slow. We had to come out and show them what we really can do.”

Zachary (18-2) opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run and tied the game for the second time at 27-all. The Broncos, the reigning Division I nonselect state champion, unleashed full-court pressure to help fuel their second-half onslaught, outscoring Denham Springs 36-9.

“We finally played like we’re supposed to play like Broncos play,” said Zachary coach Tami McClure, whose team is No. 1 in the state’s unofficial Division I

nonselect power ratings. “We had that intensity. We were getting turnovers from them, and we were executing, which leads to offense for us. That’s our game.”

McNeese signee Ava Raymond was part of a starting lineup with four of five players in double figures. Her double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds typified the team’s balance with Asia Bell also delivering a double-double — 12 points, 14 rebounds and a teamhigh eight blocks. Whitfield had 11 of her 12 points in the second half, and Marcia Robinson added 10.

“We knew they were going to punch us in the face,” Denham Springs coach Rudy Smith, whose team is rated 10th in Division I nonselect power ratings. “We punched them in the face in the first quarter. We knew they were going to pick it up and put some pressure on us.”

Zachary took the lead for good with 4:57 to play in the third quarter on Robinson’s steal and layup.

The Broncos forced the Yellow Jackets into eight of their 23 turnovers in the quarter and limited them to 1-of-12 shooting to estab-

lish a commanding 46-32 lead going into the fourth quarter. Whitfield and Bell combined for 18 of their team’s 26 points in the third quarter.

Zachary shot 59% (10 of 17) in the third quarter and despite cooling off in the final quarter, the Broncos’ defense forced six more turnovers and held Denham Springs to 14% shooting (3 of 21) from the field, including 0 of 7 from 3-point range. Consecutive baskets from Ayja Walker in the last 1:55 accounted for the final score.

Denham Springs built its largest lead (24-13) on Kynlee Journet’s corner 3-pointer at the 6:26 mark of the second quarter. That completed a 12-2 run over a 31/2 minute stretch, bridging the first and second quarters, for the Yellow Jackets, who made eight of their first 16 shots of the game but were limited to 4 of 25 (16%) the rest of the game.

Journet had a team-high 12 points.

“We decided to play them a little harder,” Whitfield said. “We really needed this win.”

PREP REPORT Basketball Boys Monday

Live Oak 52, St. Thomas Aquinas 44 St. Charles Catholic 73, St. John 36 Port Allen 51, Slaughter Community Charter 36 Parkview Baptist 70, Ellender Memorial 47 Livonia 60, White Castle 58 Broadmoor 54, Northeast 48 East Feliciana at East Iberville

Tuesday

Ascension Christian at Central Private, 4 p.m.

Prairieville at GEO Next Generation, 5 p.m.

East Ascension at University High, 5 p.m.

Episcopal at Denham Springs, 5 p.m.

West Feliciana at Live Oak, 5 p.m.

St. Amant at Lutcher, 5 p.m.

Donaldsonville at Madison Prep, 5 p.m.

East Feliciana at Tara, 5 p.m.

Walker at St. Michael, 5 p.m.

Baker at Belaire, 5 p.m.

Archbishop Rummel at Central, 5:30 p.m.

Central Catholic at White Castle, 5:30 p.m.

Southside at Liberty, 5:30 p.m.

Broadmoor at Dutchtown, 5:30 p.m.

H.L. Bourgeois at Plaquemine, 5:30 p.m.

John Curtis at Zachary, 5:30 p.m.

Southern Lab at Collegiate Baton Rouge, 6 p.m.

Woodlawn at Capitol, 6 p.m.

Girls Monday

Prairieville 61, Glen Oaks 31 Episcopal at St. Michael Northeast 68, Helix Mentorship Academy 12 Slaughter Community Charter 49, North Iberville 22 Central Catholic at Donaldsonville, 5:30 p.m.

Zachary 56, Denham Springs 36 University 44, Woodlawn 35 Brusly 50, Ascension Catholic 41

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE,N.C.— NASCAR’s nearly two-year study into an overhaul of its championship-deciding format concluded Monday with the reveal that in 2026 the stock car series will return to a 10-race version closely resembling the very first iteration introduced 22 years ago.

The system will return to a 10race format consisting of the top 16 drivers in the regular-season standings. There will be no driver eliminations every three races, winning will be incentivized and its name will return to “The Chase.” The driver with the most points at the Nov. 8 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be the champion.

“As NASCAR transitions to a revised championship model, the focus is on rewarding driver and team performance each and every race,” NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell said. “At the same time, we want to honor NASCAR’s storied history and the traditions that have made the sport so special.

“Our fans are at the heart of everything we do, and this format is designed to honor their passion ev-

LSU

Continued from page 1C she was one of the country’s most proficient scorers. She tallied 42 points in just the fourth game of her freshman season. Then, as a sophomore, she elevated her scoring average, upped her efficiency and even started conducting possessions down the stretch of close games.

The Tigers wouldn’t have beaten Stanford last season without Williams’ late-game heroics. Or Oklahoma. Or Kentucky.

Williams has put her fingerprints all over consequential wins before, but she’s never really left a mark with her defense like she did on Sunday against Texas.

How did Williams become such a stout defender?

“Probably us riding her a lot,” coach Kim Mulkey said. “Probably us continuing to get her in the best, best, best shape of her life. Probably her strength has always been a great thing. She’s a very powerful player. And just experience. This is her third year in college.”

All of which allows Williams to thrive in pressurized situations like the one she encountered late

ery single race weekend.”

The changes come amidst fan complaints to changes to the system. That system reached its breaking point in November when Denny Hamlin dominated the race until a late caution changed the final sequence and Kyle Larson won his second title by simply finishing ahead of Hamlin despite Larson not leading a single lap at Phoenix Raceway while mired in a 25-race losing streak.

Hamlin had won two playoff races and led 208 of the 319 laps at Phoenix. He was the leader with three to go when a caution changed the outcome and sent the race into overtime; Larson finished third, two spots ahead of Hamlin, to automatically claim the championship.

Fan discourse — which had been building for several years — exploded after Hamlin.

The changes announced Monday were already in the works and came after an extensive review that included collaboration between owners, drivers, automobile manufacturers, tracks, broadcast partners and fans.

The new format is designed to bolster the importance of each

in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win. LSU was clinging to a fourpoint lead. Then its possession fell apart. As the shot clock wound down, Mulkey was trying to tell Williams that Flau’jae Johnson was open on the wing.

The star junior calmly buried her 3 instead.

“You think about it,” Schaefer said, “if she don’t make that shot, it’s a two-point game, and we got the ball. But that’s what great players do. They make plays. She had to make a play in that moment, and boy, she did. She made a big shot.”

LSU signed four recruits to the nation’s top freshman class in 2023. Three of them have since transferred to different schools, leaving Williams as the lone holdover. She was the group’s most highly rated prospect. It was clear then that she was a gifted scorer.

What’s clear now is that Williams has since developed the rest of her game, becoming a player who can guide LSU through a difficult slate of SEC matchups and potentially back to the Final Four. She can score at all three levels. She can pass. And now, she can even defend one of the nation’s best players — something she proved on Sunday when the Tigers got their big win over Texas.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU gymnast Kailin Chio, shown during an event last season, beat out two-time U.S. Olympian Jordan Chiles of UCLA for the all-around title on Saturday at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad in West Valley City, Utah.

Tigers’ great start not ultimate goal as SEC prep begins

BY SCOTT RABALAIS

Zachary 56, Denham Springs 36 Zachary 13 7 26 10 -56 Denham Springs 21 6 5 4 -36 SCORING: ZHS: Ava Raymond 15, Kennedi Whitfield 12, Asia Bell 12, Marcia Robinson 10, Ayja Walker 7; DSHS: Kynlee Journet 12, Zariah Semere 6, Prai Nelson 5, Madison Nora 5, Jette Templet 4, Kennedi Lindsey 3, Juliana Jones 1 3-POINT GOALS: DSHS: 3 (Journet 2, Nora); ZHS: 1 (Raymond) RECORDS: Zachary 18-2, Denham Springs 13-9

Tuesday

Thibodaux at St. Amant, 5:30 p.m.

Live Oak at St. Joseph’s Academy, 5:30 p.m.

Glen Oaks at Scotlandville. 5:30 p.m.

Ascension Catholic at Istrouma at Old Capitol High School, 5:30 p.m.

Dunham at East Iberville, 6 p.m.

NASCAR’s postseason ‘Chase’ returns

BY JENNA FRYER

LSU GYMNASTICS NOTEBOOK

race and reward consistency while maintaining the importance of winning. It will be known as its original name, “The Chase,” with an also accepted use of “postseason.” NASCAR is eliminating the vernacular “playoffs” and “regular-season champion.”

Moving forward, the driver with the most points after the postseason finale will be champion in all three NASCAR national series.

The Chase will comprise of the final 10 races for the Cup Series.

NASCAR has eliminated the automatic berth into the playoff field earned by winning during the regular season, a move designed to increase the importance of every event on the schedule and emphasize consistency throughout the regular season.

A race victory win will now earn the winning driver 55 points, up from 40 points, to reward drivers who battle for wins instead of settling for a solid points days.

NASCAR hopes it encourages aggressive racing and strong team performance.

Points for all other positions, including stage points, remain the same.

WALKER

Continued from page 1C second half of the season.

The Pelicans won just 21 games last season, the second fewest wins in an 82-game season in franchise history.

Can this season’s team get to 21?

Borrego often mentions that his players haven’t dropped the sword yet. And they haven’t. But they aren’t really using those swords, either. At least not for four quarters, which was the case in Sunday’s loss to the Orlando Magic when they failed to execute down the stretch and were outscored 37-20 in the final 12 minutes.

Williamson points to two things the Pelicans must do better.

First, learn how to close out games.

And second is play better when Herb Jones isn’t in the lineup.

“Late in the game, teams are getting layups against us,” Williamson said. “When Herb’s not out there, we have to have some defensive identity.”

The Pelicans are averaging 114.9 points per game, which ranks 21st in the league. They rank 28th in points allowed, giv-

Staff writer

There was much for the LSU Tigers to be happy about coming off their season-opening performance Saturday in the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad.

The Tigers’ score of 197.500 tied preseason No. 1 Oklahoma for first place in the meet (the Sooners got the trophy on sixthscore tiebreakers). According to LSU coach Jay Clark, it was also the Tigers’ best season-opening road score in program history.

Sophomore Kailin Chio continued the form she showed in her freshman season, edging out two-time U.S. Olympian Jordan Chiles of UCLA for the all-around title. And LSU newcomer Courtney Blackson had a smashing debut that included a tie for first on uneven bars after being retired for the 2025 season following four years at Boise State.

Despite all that success, Clark said he isn’t hung up on how the Tigers — whose record officially stands at 2-0-1 — did in the Sprouts meet.

“I told the team that winning or losing that meet wasn’t a defining moment for us,” Clark said Monday. “No one is winning a championship at the Sprouts invitational.”

“Overall it was a very successful first meet and first road trip.

We’re all pretty pleased. You don’t love tying, but overall we’re pleased with the grit of the team.

In our first meet, we learned how to fight.”

Team rankings

196.250 win Saturday at Ohio State.

Individual rankings Chio is also second in the allaround rankings to Chiles, despite having beat her for the allaround title Saturday. Chio had a 39.600 while Chiles has a season average of 39.650, including a 39.725 from a previous meet.

Chio is also tied for second nationally on balance beam (9.95) after tying for first on that event Saturday. She now has 25 individual titles for her career.

“My approach has always stayed the same,” Chio said.

“Nothing has changed from last year. I was home for three months over the summer and maybe did gymnastics for a month. I focused on strength and conditioning, making sure my body is as healthy as it can be so I can do my best gymnastics possible.”

Blackson’s 9.95 Saturday on bars also has her tied for second nationally in that event.

“It was a super exciting moment,” Blackson said. “I didn’t expect it, but I also did expect it.

I just did what I did in practice.”

Junior Madison Ulrich, an LSU transfer from Denver, tied for fourth in the all-around Saturday and is tied for sixth nationally (39.450).

Lagniappe First vault in Friday’s LSUGeorgia meet is set for 6 p.m. on the SEC Network. … Clark said the 2027 Sprouts Collegiate Quad will be held in Greenville, South Carolina. LSU will again compete. … Clark said it’s still to be determined whether junior Konnor McClain does a third event this week. She did bars and balance beam Saturday and Clark was close to putting her in the floor lineup but didn’t as McClain continues to come back from offseason wrist surgery.

Ranked No. 2 in the preseason coaches’ poll, the Tigers are still at that spot tied with OU based on the season’s early results. Florida took over the No. 1 spot in the national rankings, posting a 197.725 Friday in a quad meet victory in Gainesville.

Georgia, LSU’s opponent on Friday in Athens, is No. 8 after Email Scott Rabalais at opening its season with a 197.000- srabalais@theadvocate.com

ing up 122.4 points per game.

“If we don’t get stops, it doesn’t matter how many points we score,” Williamson said.

Borrego guided the Pels to a five-game winning streak in midDecember that seemed to right the ship. It included the Pelicans climbing out of a 25-point hole to beat the Houston Rockets.

But since that streak, the Pelicans have lost 10 of their past 11 games.

Despite the struggles, Borrego has found some positives in the first half of the season.

“No. 1, I like our competitive spirit,” Borrego said. “We are in games. We’re a tough out every night. You’ve got to come to play.

Guys are putting themselves in position. We are moving the needle there. Offensively, I’m seeing a significant turn there. It’s the defensive end that we’ve got to get better.”

His goal for the second half of the season?

“I’m really focused on the dayto-day process,” Borrego said.

“Keep competing. We want to be a team that continues to compete and a team our city is proud of and can rally around. That’s the goal.”

For the past season and a half, that goal hasn’t been met. The Pelicans are just 30-93 since the

start of last season.

The team hasn’t quit. Trey Murphy is playing as well as he’s played since entering the league.

Williamson is healthy and playing in back-to-back games again.

Rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears look like players you can build around. Saadiq Bey, who has missed the past six games with a right hip flexor strain, was upgraded to questionable for Tuesday’s game. Jones is now “day-today,” Borrego said Monday.

Borrego says the energy in film sessions and practice has been great. And he’s been pleased with the overall vibe in the locker room, too.

“The result is next,” Borrego said. “You just keep pounding on the rock. You don’t know when that thing is going to split, but as long as we stay together, the results will take care of themselves.

We are excited. We have 41 more (games) to go. Where that goes, none of us know. But I know this group will continue to stay together and keep pounding the rock.”

These next 41 will determine how the Pelicans finish the season.

Or did the first 41 tell us they already have?

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com.

4C ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Leading rusher Durham returning to LSU

BY KOKI RILEY and WILSON ALEXANDER

LSU NOTEBOOK

Staff writers

LSU sophomore running back Caden Durham has taken his name out of the transfer portal and will return to the Tigers for the 2026 season, he announced on social media Monday.

Durham ran for 505 yards on 111 carries this past season, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt with three touchdowns. He has led the Tigers in rushing yards in each of the past two seasons, accumulating 1,258 total yards on the ground.

Durham had entered the transfer portal earlier this month following the departure of running backs coach Frank Wilson, who accepted a job as the new running backs coach at Ole Miss. Before he decided to return, freshman Harlem Berry was set to be LSU’s lone returning running back after freshman JT Lindsey, junior Kaleb Jackson and sophomore Ju’Juan Johnson entered the transfer portal.

LSU recently began working with Durham on a return after Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy decided to re-sign with the Rebels instead of following head coach Lane Kiffin and running backs coach Kevin Smith to LSU. Along with Durham and Berry, LSU has added Utah transfer Raycine Guillory and Charlotte transfer Rod Gainey. Guillory was a three-star recruit from the 2025 class who redshirted as a freshman. Gainey had 260 rushing yards this past season as a redshirt freshman.

The Tigers did not sign any running backs in their 2026 recruiting class.

A four-star recruit and top 100 overall prospect in the 2024 class, Durham was the fifth-highest ranked running back in the country coming out of Duncanville High in Texas. He quickly became a factor in the offense, earning Freshman All-SEC honors when he rushed for 753 yards and six touchdowns

upfront with Strey, Tennessee offensive lineman William Satterwhite, North Carolina Central offensive lineman Ja’Quan Sprinkle and junior college transfer JaKolby Jones.

The Tigers do not bring back much of their offensive line entering Kiffin’s first season. Nine LSU offensive linemen have entered the transfer portal.

Kiffin adds first Ole Miss transfer

during his debut season. Durham played most of the season with a plate in his shoe after dislocating multiple toes on his left foot in late September.

Though voted second-team preseason All-SEC this past fall, Durham was not as productive while the LSU offense struggled. He said at one point he was playing through an injury, which he declined to discuss further. LSU finished 126th in the country and last in the SEC with 104 yards rushing per game.

Troy receiver to transfer to LSU Troy redshirt sophomore wide receiver Roman Mothershed is transferring to LSU, he confirmed on social media Monday.

Mothershed had 25 receptions

for 259 yards and a touchdown this season after catching just four passes for 38 yards as a redshirt freshman. He began his career at Independence (Kan.) Community College before joining the Trojans.

At 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds, Mothershed brings size to an LSU wide receiver room that has been completely rebuilt this offseason.

The Tigers have added nine wideouts from the portal, including Mothershed.

LSU needed to remake its wide receiver room after multiple key contributors ran out of eligibility or entered the NFL draft this offseason. The Tigers also lost five wideouts to the transfer portal, including redshirt sophomore Kyle Parker.

Continued from page 1C

FILE PHOTO By MICHELE MEyERS

Southern quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy runs the ball as BethuneCookman’s Stephen Sparrow gets the tackle in the SWAC game at Datyona Stadium on Oct. 11.

Southern QB McCoy enters transfer portal Staff writer

First-year Southern football coach Marshall Faulk is losing a second quarterback to the transfer portal.

Cam’Ron McCoy announced Monday that he is entering the portal after spending one season with the Jaguars. The other quarterback to transfer was sophomore Jalen Woods, who announced his commitment to Hampton.

McCoy, a junior, made five starts and appeared in 10 games for Southern (2-10, 1-7 SWAC).

The St. Louis, Missouri, native finished the season completing 51 of 108 passes for 698 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He rushed for 239 yards and four touchdowns on 51 carries McCoy led Southern to a 28-27 victory over Grambling in the 52nd Bayou Classic. In the contest, he had 148 yards passing and

other LSU players. While he was still in town, Williams announced that he planned to enter the transfer portal.

Williams had committed at one time in high school to Kiffin and his Ole Miss staff.

But Williams signed a new contract with Washington four days earlier that is reportedly worth $4 million, and he decided Thursday night to stay with the Huskies.

According to Yahoo Sports, Washington would have been owed a buyout worth the total value of his deal. Williams’ new school also would have incurred an equal reduction in its revenue-sharing budget next year under rules of the House settlement.

With experienced options dwindling, Kiffin and other LSU staff flew to Knoxville, Tennessee, on Friday to meet with Leavitt before he visited Miami, sources said.

Leavitt had spent the previous two days at Tennessee after leaving Baton Rouge, and he still went to Miami over the weekend. Leavitt returned home Sunday before making his decision.

When Leavitt came on his visit last week, Weis flew back from Ole Miss to help recruit him in the midst of preparation for the Fiesta Bowl. Weis, who remained the Rebels’ offensive coordinator through the end of the season, also returned to meet with Sorsby. He often flew back and forth while he managed two jobs at once, and he joined the trip to Knoxville a day after Ole Miss lost 31-27 to Miami in Glendale, Arizona.

After beginning his career at Michigan State, Leavitt transferred to Arizona State. He thrived in his first season as the starter, helping lead the Sun Devils to the 2024 Big 12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. As a redshirt freshman that year, Leavitt

completed 61.7% of his passes for 2,885 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for 443 yards and five scores.

While playing in seven games this past season, Leavitt completed 60.7% of his throws for 1,628 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. He added 306 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

LSU had to find a new starting quarterback after fifth-year senior Garrett Nussmeier exhausted his eligibility. Nussmeier started for most of the past two seasons before he sat out the last four games because then-LSU interim coach Frank Wilson said Nussmeier aggravated an abdominal injury that first occurred during preseason camp.

Michael Van Buren replaced Nussmeier as the starter, burning his redshirt in the process. Though Van Buren said twice he wanted to return amid the coaching change, he later entered the transfer portal and signed with South Florida.

Redshirt freshman Colin Hurley also entered the transfer portal, which temporarily left LSU without a scholarship quarterback.

Kiffin and his staff are in the process of rebuilding an LSU offense that averaged 22.8 points per game this season. Only a handful of starters have not left, so LSU is assembling the largest transfer class the team has ever signed. It needed to almost completely restock at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and offensive line.

While LSU went after Leavitt, it also signed former Elon quarterback Landen Clark and hosted Longstreet on a visit over the weekend. LSU may try to sign one more scholarship quarterback from the transfer portal to refill the position, but the player will need to be willing to sit behind Leavitt.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU running back Caden Durham carries the ball against Houston in the first quarter of the Texas Bowl on Dec. 27 in Houston. The sophomore running back announced Monday he has taken his name out of the transfer portal.

LEAVITT

BY TOYLOY BROWN III

LSU signed Kentucky freshman offensive lineman Darrin Strey, he confirmed in a social media post Monday.

Strey entered the transfer portal and quickly visited LSU over the weekend, a source said. Strey reunited with new LSU offensive line coach Eric Wolford, who was at Kentucky last season.

Strey, a native of Paw Paw, Michigan, was a four-star recruit ranked No. 449 overall in the 2025 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He took a redshirt as a freshman while playing in four games, giving him four more years of eligibility. Strey is listed at 6-foot-7 and 305 pounds.

LSU has signed four transfers

Ole Miss freshman wide receiver Winston Watkins is transferring to LSU, he announced on social media Sunday.

Watkins caught 26 passes for 373 yards and a touchdown after arriving in Oxford as a four-star recruit and the No. 32 wide receiver in the nation, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

He entered the transfer portal shortly after the Rebels’ season ended on Thursday at the hands of Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinal. He then visited Baton Rouge over the weekend before making his pledge to the Tigers and becoming the first Ole Miss player to follow Kiffin and his offensive staff to LSU. Watkins is the eighth wide receiver LSU has added out of the transfer portal, joining Hawaii transfer Jackson Harris, Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown, Florida transfer Eugene Wilson, Old Dominion transfer Tre Brown, Illinois transfer Malik Elzy, McNeese State transfer Josh Jackson and West Florida transfer Tyree Holloway.

LSU had to remake its wide receiver room this offseason after multiple starters ran out of eligibility and five other wideouts entered the transfer portal. The Tigers only have two wide receivers who may return in redshirt junior Nic Anderson and freshman Phillip Wright. LSU announced Sunday that Wright would return, an indication he has signed a new contract.

a touchdown, completing 6 of 18 passes.

Southern’s former starting quarterback started his collegiate career in 2022 at Eastern Michigan, appearing in two games. He transferred after the 2023 season after appearing in three games.

McCoy played at Jackson State in 2024, where he completed 18 of 38 passes for 310 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also had 24 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns.

He was the SWAC Newcomer of the Week after having six carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns in a 58-7 win over Lane on Sept. 7 of that year.

The only quarterbacks from Southern’s team last year not to enter the transfer portal are junior Ashton Strother and freshman Dillon Compton. The Jaguars also lost top wide receiver Darren Morris, who transferred to Boise State and standout safety Treylan James to LSU.

Leavitt, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt sophomore, who has two more seasons of eligibility. He was widely considered a top 3 overall player in the transfer portal and ranked No. 1 by multiple recruiting services. He also considered Miami, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Over the past two seasons, Leavitt completed 61.3% of his passes for 4,513 yards with 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 749 yards and 10 scores, showing mobility that could make him an ideal fit for LSU’s offense. Leavitt suffered a foot injury in September and ultimately underwent seasonending surgery, making it unclear how much he’ll be able to practice in the spring.

LSU secured Leavitt after pursuing multiple quarterbacks. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss acknowledged it was a possibility that he could have followed Kiffin and his offensive staff to LSU, but he decided to return to Ole Miss if he received a waiver for a sixth year of eligibility, which was denied by the NCAA. LSU also hosted former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby before he signed with Texas Tech, and sources said it had interest in Washington quarterback Demond Williams. Southern Cal freshman quarterback Husan Longstreet, a former five-star recruit, visited Baton Rouge over the weekend. It was not immediately known what Leavitt’s commitment meant for Longstreet.

Leavitt arrived in Baton Rouge early last week for a visit, and he sat courtside at a men’s basketball game last Tuesday night with Kiffin and

TITLE

Continued from page 1C throttle. Ahmad Moten was full throttle today. I know O.J. came out. (Tight end Elija) Lofton will be the one that’s in question. But aside from that, I feel really good about the rest. I would say OJ is good to go and (cornerback Damari) Brown is probably day by day.”

The Hurricanes (13-2, No. 10 CFP) may need every one of them against an Indiana team that is averaging 47.0 points in two blowout playoff wins.

Defensively, the Hoosiers (15-0, No. 1) have been equally efficient, holding their last three opponents — Ohio State, No. 9 Alabama and No. 5 Oregon — to a combined total of just 35 points.

And coach Curt Cignetti ac-

Kentucky transfer OT signs

knowledged that aside from losing key defensive lineman Stephen Daley to a right leg injury suffered in the postgame celebration following Indiana’s Big Ten championship game victory over the Buckeyes, he expects to have all of his key players on the field next week.

“We came out really good, and everybody that played in the last game will play in this game,” Cignetti said.

Each is one win away from capturing their first national championship.

Naturally, though, neither wants their players pressing as they take college football’s biggest stage.

“We’ve got to prepare for this game no different than we prepared for Ohio State, Alabama,” Cignetti said as the Hoosiers play for their first national title. “The biggest mistake our guys can make, and I’ll talk to them tonight in the team meeting about this, Similar coaches is making the game bigger than Cignetti enters the champion- it is. Going down that road would ship game with a head coaching be detrimental to our preparation resume any colleague would want. and performance. This week is no He’s posted 14 straight winning different than any other week, we seasons, never had a losing season, have to be on point.”

Cristobal echoed those senticelebrated conference championships and deep playoff runs. But ments, though the Hurricanes face there’s one line still missing — the one additional pressure point — same line Cristobal happens to be they’ll be the first CFP to play the title game in their home stadium. missing.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ 5C

lll

NFL NFL won’t have a repeat Super Bowl champion Eagles flop against 49ers in wild-card matchup

BY ROB MAADDI

AP pro football writer The NFL won’t have a repeat Super Bowl champion.

Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles were eliminated by the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC wild-card game on Sunday.

Now, the heat will be turned up on coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

Sirianni’s job shouldn’t be in jeopardy. He’s been a winner since he arrived in Philly in 2021. Five playoff appearances, three division titles, two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi trophy in five seasons.

But there will be accountability for a stagnant offense that plagued Philadelphia throughout the season and showed up again in a oneand-done performance.

Patullo is the likely scapegoat though there’s plenty of blame to spread around.

“There will be time to evaluate everybody’s performance,” Sirianni said. “Right now, I feel for all our guys in the locker room, all the players, all the coaches, the front office, everybody that works so hard, the fans that come out and support us, Mr. (chairman/CEO Jeffrey) Lurie. I feel for all of us, all of them, and there’ll be time to evaluate everything coming up.”

The Eagles managed just 19 points and 307 yards facing a defense missing its two best players: five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa and four-time All-Pro

linebacker Fred Warner, among others.

Hurts couldn’t get on track despite an effective run game. Barkley had 106 yards rushing on 26 carries but his success didn’t open things up for the passing attack.

Hurts was 20 of 35 for 168 yards with one touchdown. A.J. Brown caught only three of seven targets for 25 yards.

The final sequence summed up the team’s struggles.

Down 23-19, Hurts completed five of his first six passes to move from Philadelphia’s 35 to San Francisco’s 20. After he took a sack, the Eagles faced a second-and-11 with just under one minute to go.

Hurts scrambled out of the pocket and threw incomplete. Fox analyst Tom Brady, who has been one of Hurts’ biggest supporters, questioned his decision. Brady said the “pocket was perfect” but Hurts got “antsy” and escaped, taking away half the field. The seven-time Super Bowl champion added that has been a tendency for Hurts.

On third down, Hurts again threw incomplete. On fourth down, the play call was questionable. Four receivers ran vertical routes against a four-corner defense that’s designed to take that away. Hurts threw incomplete into double coverage, ending Philadelphia’s bid to follow up Kansas City’s repeat with another one.

Patullo followed Sirianni from Indianapolis to Philadelphia and was promoted from pass game coordinator and associate head coach after Kellen Moore left for New Orleans. The Eagles (11-7) dropped from eighth in total yards to 24th and from seventh in scoring to 19th.

Shane Steichen was Sirianni’s offensive coordinator the first two

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHRIS SZAGOLA

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks during a news conference after a game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Philadelphia. seasons. After he left for Indianapolis, Brian Johnson took over and was fired after one season. Moore came in after spending serving as the OC for the Chargers and Cowboys. Expect Sirianni to look outside the organization if Philadelphia makes a change.

“Anytime you lose, anytime you don’t perform the way you want to as coaches and players, yeah, you’re frustrated,” Sirianni said.

What I said to the guys is: ‘Adversity shapes you to who you are if you allow it to.’ There’s a lot to be thankful for, but you’ve got to use this adversity to shape you and that’s for everybody in that locker room: myself, the coaches, the

Panthers’ Coker emerges as reliable No. 2 wide receiver

BY STEVE REED AP sportswriter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina quarterback Bryce Young has a reliable young wide receiver tandem to work with heading into next season — albeit not the duo the Panthers expected.

Jalen Coker’s emergence down the stretch as the team’s No. 2 receiver opposite emerging star and AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Tetairoa McMillan brings hope to the league’s 26th-ranked passing game.

Coker had four touchdowns in Carolina’s final six regular-season games and had career highs with nine catches and 134 yards against the Los Angeles Rams in Saturday’s NFC wild-card game, including a go-ahead TD reception from Young with 2 1/2 minutes left in the game.

The Panthers (8-10) lost 34-31 to the Rams and were eliminated from the playoffs.

But Coker’s big-play ability has helped solidify a passing game that struggled most of the season.

The Panthers expected 2024 first-round draft pick Xavier Legette to be a starting wide receiver, but he’s been a disappointment so far and Coker has capitalized on the opportunity.

Coker, signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2024, played 88% of the team’s offensive reps against the Rams compared to Legette’s 40%.

“Jalen and T-Mac (McMillan) produced for us in an incredible way, and the chemistry with Bryce has certainly grown and they are going to have the first opportunity to be out there to start,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “You want those guys out there on the field because of the impact they have made.”

Ejiro Evero likely to return Despite overseeing a unit that struggled on Saturday with the season on the line, it appears defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will be back next season.

After Coker’s touchdown gave the Panthers a 31-27 lead, the 10 1/2-point underdog Panthers only needed to hold the Rams out of the end zone to pull off the upset.

Instead, Stafford moved the Rams down the field with relative ease against Carolina’s zone defense, completing 6 of 7 passes for 71 yards before connecting with Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds left for the winning score.

players. Let the pain shape you to what you want to be, and we will use this like we used it at the end of ’22, ‘23 because all that was necessary for ’24. We’ll see what the future holds.”

Resilient 49ers The 49ers (13-5) lost star tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles tendon and still found a way to pull off the upset in hostile Philly, where they lost the NFC championship game three years ago after Purdy was injured in the first quarter.

Despite losing key players all season, the 49ers keep winning in what has been Kyle Shanahan’s

Rams displayed their resilience in comeback win against Panthers

BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RUSTy JONES

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker makes a touchdown catch during a game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C. Carolina finished the season 18th in the NFL in defense — an improvement from the season before — but struggled to get of the field on third down, finishing 31st among 32 teams.

When asked if he planned to keep Evero as coordinator, Canales said “absolutely, yeah, 100 percent,” adding that he has “complete faith” in him.

Dowdle’s future The Panthers got huge production earlier in the season from running back Rico Dowdle following an injury to starter Chuba Hubbard. Dowdle had three games with at least 130 yards on the ground, including a 206-yard outing against Miami en route to his second straight 1,000-yard season.

But Dowdle had his playing time slip dramatically in the second half of the regular season, going from lead back to splitting carries with Hubbard.

On Saturday, it was clear Hubbard had regained his spot as the lead back, carrying 13 times for 46 yards and two touchdowns, while Dowdle had just five carries for 9 yards.

Dowdle made it clear on Sunday that he feels that he’s most productive when he gets the bulk of the carries and hinted that he’ll consider moving on when he hits the free-agent market this offseason.

It may be a mutual decision.

The Panthers still believe 2024 second-round draft pick Jonathon Brooks can be a big factor in the running game if he can bounce back from a second major injury that kept him out this past season.

The team also drafted Trevor

Etienne in the fourth round this past year and he could see an increased role next season if Dowdle doesn’t return.

Injury update Left tackle Ickey Ekwonu, the No. 6 pick in the 2022 draft, suffered a significant knee injury on Saturday, leaving his availability for next season in doubt.

With Ekwonu’s recovery time being anywhere from six to 12 months depending on the severity of the injury, Canales admitted that the Panthers will need to look at the NFL draft and free agency for a potential replacement.

The Panthers picked up the fifth-year option on Ekwonu’s contract in April, and he’ll count $17.56 million under the salary cap.

That money is guaranteed, regardless of whether Ekwonu plays in 2026. It’s possible that the team will look to extend his contract despite the injury in an effort to spread out his salary over the next few years and reduce this year’s salary cap hit.

Next steps The Panthers hold the No. 19 pick in the 2026 draft and have more cap space available ($28 million) to spend in 2026 than any of their NFC South counterparts.

While their needs are many, upgrading the defensive front seven is a priority.

Carolina could also use a dynamic pass-catching tight end.

Carolina’s five tight ends combined to catch 92 passes for 798 yards and five touchdowns. Tommy Tremble led the way with 27 catches for 249 yards and two TDs.

best coaching job yet.

Now, the Niners are heading to Seattle (14-3) to face the top-seeded Seahawks on short rest because the NFL decided to make them play on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Bears will host the Rams on Sunday even though both teams played on Saturday.

The 49ers and Seahawks split the season series with each winning on the road. Seattle won 13-3 in San Francisco in Week 18 with the No. 1 seed on the line for the winner.

“They played us real well,” Shanahan said. “Definitely beat us, but I know we can play better than that. I’m glad we have another shot.”

LOS ANGELES — In the euphoria of the Rams’ dramatic comeback to beat the Carolina Panthers in their playoff opener, it was easy to overlook the fact that the first step on Los Angeles’ postseason journey wasn’t supposed to be nearly this difficult.

The Rams (13-5) stamped themselves as a Super Bowl contender while rolling to an 11-3 start to the regular season, and they were double-digit favorites over the sub.500 Panthers.

Los Angeles then jumped out to a 14-0 lead in Charlotte — but the Rams got outscored 31-13 through the next two-plus quarters, and they needed another vintage fourth-quarter comeback orchestrated by Matthew Stafford to survive.

“What I was proud of is that we found a way to finish,” coach Sean McVay said Monday. “There’s been some instances (when) we established leads and we weren’t able to sustain that momentum and make those critical plays to be the difference. I thought that was the positive takeaway from (Carolina), even though I think that we can play a lot better, and I expect us to play a lot better. In spite of all those things, we still found a way to overcome, and that’s what this is about at this point in the season.”

Before the Rams visit Chicago (12-6) on Sunday for a spot in the NFC championship game, McVay is determined to address his team’s proliferating flaws, from overall defensive shortcomings and more specific offensive mistakes to dismal special teams play.

He realizes the league hasn’t forgotten Los Angeles was in position for the NFC’s overall No. 1 seed when it had a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter at Seattle just a month ago, only to end up possibly spending the entire postseason on the road.

McVay also isn’t losing track of the fact that winning is what matters, not the Rams’ less-than-dominant performances against every opponent other than woebegone Arizona down the stretch.

McVay knows there’s plenty to fix for a team that just isn’t executing as crisply as it did from September through November. That’s unusual for McVay’s teams, which

typically improve and surge as the season goes on.

The Rams’ struggles are exemplified in their nine penalties for 83 yards in Carolina — a whopping number of flags for the NFL’s leastpenalized team during the regular season.

The NFL’s best offense in the regular season has continued to produce points at a high clip, but the defense hasn’t been great lately.

After a 16-game stretch over the past two seasons in which the Rams held eight opponents to 10 points or fewer, they’ve allowed at least 27 points by every opponent other than the Cardinals since Thanksgiving.

“I think there’s some things we can look at,” McVay said. “We’ve played some good teams and they made some good plays, but I know the standards for what we can do defensively. ... I think we can play better.”

What’s working Despite some isolated errors, the offensive line had another solid game in Charlotte. Stafford was sacked only once and hit six times, while the rushing game put up 116 yards on 27 designed runs. Stafford had enough time and space to lead the winning drive. The line could get much better if RG Kevin Dotson returns from injury this week.

What needs help The season-long special teams woes that prompted McVay’s first in-season firing of an assistant haven’t gone away. Late in the fourth quarter, longtime practice squad member Tanner Ingle didn’t hold his block on Carolina’s Isaiah Simmons, who blocked Ethan Evans’ punt and created the short field for the Panthers’ go-ahead touchdown with 2:39 to play.

“This is a player that I believe in, and he made a mistake,” McVay said. “We learn from it and we grow.”

Next steps The weather will be a second formidable opponent in Chicago, with an arctic front predicted to drop temperatures to zero with possible snow. A year ago, the Rams barely lost to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia in the divisional round amid sub-freezing conditions and snow.

6C ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Koepka returns to PGA under stiff financial penalty

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

HONOLULU — Brooks Koepka is returning to the PGA Tour just five weeks after bolting from LIV Golf, agreeing to a one-time program for elite players that comes with a financial penalty that could rank among the largest in sports.

Koepka plans to resume his PGA Tour career in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines at the end of the month.

But he will not be eligible for PGA Tour equity grants for five years, he will not receive FedEx Cup bonus money in 2026 and he cannot play signature events unless he earns his way in.

The out-of-pocket cost is a $5 million charity donation to be decided jointly with the tour.

The financial repercussions — no access to equity or FedEx Cup bonus money this year — is a potential loss the tour puts at $50 million and upward.

Brian Rolapp, the CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises, outlined the agreement with Koepka and details of the “Returning Member Program” in a memo to players Monday. A copy of the memo was obtained by The Associated Press.

Rolapp made clear, however, this was a one-time program and not a precedent.

It applies only to players who have won majors or The Players Championship from 2022 through 2025, meaning Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith would be the only LIV players who could return. They have three weeks to decide.

Koepka will have to earn his way into $20 million signature events.

He would be added to the field to not take a spot from another tour player.

The board, which has a majority of players led by Tiger Woods, approved the program.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By GENE J. PUSKAR

Brooks Koepka tees off on the 15th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open tournament at Oakmont Country Club June 13 in Oakmont, Pa. Rolapp described Koepka’s case as a “unique situation.” He said the solution was guided by what would make the PGA Tour stronger, preserving playing opportunities for current members and responding to fans who want to see all the best players together.

But this is far from an open path back for LIV players if they want to return. The program had the tone of an ultimatum for the trio of stars still in the Saudi-funded league.

“Only those who have recently achieved the highest accomplishments in the game are eligible to return to the PGA Tour, where the best players in the world compete,

week in and week out,” Rolapp wrote. “This is a one-time, defined window and is not a precedent for future situations.

“Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again.”

This can be viewed as catering to the stars — the tour has a history of that with the Player Impact Program and sponsor exemptions — but the stars are limited to a four-year window of big wins.

Those ineligible to return under this program — assuming they even want to — include Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, seventime LIV winner Joaquin Niemann, Ryder Cup player Tyrrell

Hatton of England and Patrick Reed.

Koepka, a five-time major champion, was one of the biggest names to sign with LIV Golf in June 2022. He said in a 2023 podcast with boxer Jake Paul that his contract was for at least $100 million and that “I signed for the dough.”

Koepka, in a brief telephone interview, said he wasn’t entirely sure the PGA Tour would allow him back this quickly but “I’m grateful it’s come to this.”

“I’ve got a lot of work to do with some of the players,” he said about the reception he gets. “There’s definitely guys who are happy, and

definitely guys who will be angry.

It’s a harsh punishment financially. I understand exactly why the tour did that — it’s meant to hurt.

But it (his departure) hurt a lot of people.”

Rolapp said he understands there will be questions about holding a defector to LIV accountable, “especially after earning substantial compensation elsewhere.”

“Ultimately, by accepting membership in the Returning Member category, Brooks is making the decision to return to the PGA Tour now — something our fans want, and something that strengthens both the game and our organization.”

The financial penalty is based largely on the value of the equity and how the 35-year-old Koepka performs. Assuming he averages a top-30 finish over the next five years and holds his equity shares until he is 50, tour officials estimate the potential loss of earnings at anywhere from $50 million to as high as $85 million.

Otherwise, he is back in the fold, exempt through 2028 based on his 2023 victory in the PGA Championship. He also would be eligible for the Presidents Cup and the indoor TGL league.

But he cannot receive sponsor exemptions to the $20 million signature events. He could only become eligible by qualifying, either with a PGA Tour victory or in two categories that reward current play.

In an effort to protect current players, Rolapp said Koepka would be added to the field at any such tournament he gets in. That includes the FedEx Cup playoffs. If he qualifies this year, the tour would take the 71st player in the standings for the postseason opener, and 51st and 31st players if Koepka advances to the Tour Championship.

SCOREBOARD Texans beat Steelers in wild-card game

Odds College Football Monday, Jan. 19

CFP National Championship Miami Gardens, Fla. FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U Indiana 7½ 7½ (48½)

NBA

Florida A&M 91, Grambling 84 Southern 77, Bethune-Cookman 73 UNO 79, Southeastern 76 McNeese 94, Nicholls 68 Northwestern State 64, Texas-Rio Grande Valley 63

Tuesday’s games

None scheduled.

Men’s national scores EAST

College Basketball

UNDERDOG at BUFFALO at PROVIDENCE Marquette Indiana Central Michigan at W. MICHIGAN Texas A&M Boston College at NOTRE DAME Ohio at MINNESOTA Virginia Valparaiso at SETON HALL West Virginia Western Illinois at KANSAS at OKLAHOMA Oregon at OKLAHOMA ST. Georgetown at FRESNO STATE Florida State at MISS. STATE Air Force Maryland at UNLV at SAN FRANCISCO

NHL

Tuesday

FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at WASHINGTON -181 Montreal at COLUMBUS -143 Calgary Tampa Bay -127 at PITTSBURGH at OTTAWA -235 Vancouver at BOSTON -126 Detroit Carolina -155 at ST. LOUIS at WINNIPEG -136 N.Y Islanders Edmonton -114 at NASHVILLE at UTAH -151 Toronto at ANAHEIM OFF Dallas

LINE +150 +120 +106 +191 +106 +129 +113 -106 +126 OFF

Pro basketball EASTERN CONFERENCE W 28 25 24 24 22 22 22 20 20 18 17 14 11 10 9

L 10 14 15 17 16 18 19 19 21 20 22 25 26 28 31

Pct .737 .641 .615 .585 .579 .550 .537 .513 .488 .474 .436 .359 .297 .263 .225

GB — 3½ 4½ 5½ 6 7 7½ 8½ 9½ 10 11½ 14½ 16½ 18 20

W Oklahoma City 33 San Antonio 27 Denver 26 Minnesota 26 L.A. Lakers 23 Phoenix 24 Houston 22 Golden State 21 Portland 19 Memphis 17 L.A. Clippers 15 Dallas 15 Utah 14 Sacramento 9 New Orleans 9

L 7 12 13 14 13 15 14 19 21 22 23 25 25 30 32

Pct .825 .692 .667 .650 .639 .615 .611 .525 .475 .436 .395 .375 .359 .231 .220

GB — 5½ 6½ 7 8 8½ 9 12 14 15½ 17 18 18½ 23½ 24½

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Sunday’s games

Orlando 128, New Orleans 118 Memphis 103, Brooklyn 98 New York 123, Portland 114 Toronto 116, Philadelphia 115, OT Oklahoma City 124, Miami 112 Minnesota 104, San Antonio 103 Denver 108, Milwaukee 104

American 65, Navy 51 Howard 84, Delaware State 58 North Carolina Central 89, Morgan State 78 South Carolina State 74, Coppin State 72

SOUTH

Alabama State 81, Alcorn State 66 Maryland-Eastern Shore 74, Norfolk State 70 Northwestern State 64, Texas Rio Grande Valley 63

SOUTHWEST

Lamar 64, Houston Christian 56 Prairie View A&M 73, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 61 Stephen F. Austin 56, Incarnate Word 46

Women’s state schedule

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JUSTIN BERL

Houston Texans linebacker Henry To’oto’o, front, reacts after tackling Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell during a wild-card playoff game on Monday in Pittsburgh. The Texans won 30-6.

Phoenix 112, Washington 93 Atlanta 124, Golden State 111 Sacramento 111, Houston 98

Nurkic, UTA 31 Adebayo, MIA 31

85 51

Utah 123, Cleveland 112 Indiana 98, Boston 96 Philadelphia 115, Toronto 102 Dallas 113, Brooklyn 105 L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, n Charlotte at L.A. Clippers, n

Jokic, DEN Cunningham, DET Giddey, CHI Doncic, LAL Johnson, ATL Harden, LAC Ball, CHA Murray, DEN Mitchell, MIA Nembhard, IND

G 32 33 30 29 37 35 29 35 37 30

Assists

Monday’s games

Tuesday’s games

Phoenix at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Chicago at Houston, 8 p.m.

Denver at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Atlanta at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Portland at Golden State, 11 p.m.

FT PTS 273 967 309 1211 198 1081 184 1071 203 948 201 1062 190 1041 185 953 157 864 189 894 160 779 202 882 186 887 317 1043 110 750 268 895 250 910 136 886 162 784 161 876

AVG 33.3 31.9 30.9 29.8 29.6 29.5 28.9 28.9 28.8 27.9 27.8 26.7 26.1 26.1 25.9 25.6 25.3 25.3 23.8 23.7

Gobert, MIN Ayton, LAL Williams, PHO Queta, BOS Antetokounmpo, MIL Duren, DET Jokic, DEN Zubac, LAC Allen, CLE Claxton, BKN

FG 182 208 162 157 279 216 339 211 154 177

FGA 254 305 245 241 431 341 560 349 259 305

PCT .717 .682 .661 .651 .647 .633 .605 .605 .595 .580

TOT 389 412 454 386 353 330 380 397

AVG 12.2 11.4 11.4 10.7 10.7 10.6 10.3 10.2

Jokic, DEN Towns, NY Gobert, MIN Clingan, POR Zubac, LAC Duren, DET Johnson, ATL Ware, MIA

OFF 97 105 156 162 115 127 53 129

9.8 9.7 AVG 11.0 9.7 9.0 8.8 8.2 7.9 7.8 7.5 7.4 7.0

L.A Rams 34 Carolina 31 Chicago 31, Green Bay 27

FG 299 413 377 374 339 391 370 329 283 306 272 306 313 317 266 257 300 315 261 327

G 32 36 40 36 33 31 37 39

AST 351 321 270 254 303 278 226 262 273 211

DEF 292 307 298 224 238 203 327 268

Sunday’s games

Buffalo 27, Jacksonville 24 San Francisco 23, Philadelphia 19 New England 16, L.A Chargers 3

Monday’s game

Houston 30, Pittsburgh 6

Divisional Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 17

Buffalo at Denver, TBD San Francisco at Seattle, TBD

Sunday, Jan. 18

Houston at New England, TBD L.A. Rams at Chicago, TBD

Conference Championships Sunday, Jan. 25 AFC

AFC lowest remaining seed at AFC highest remaining seed

NFC

Monday’s games None scheduled.

Tuesday’s games

Wild-card Playoffs Saturday’s games

G Doncic, LAL 29 G.-Alexander, OKC 38 Maxey, PHI 35 Mitchell, CLE 36 Jokic, DEN 32 Brown, BOS 36 Brunson, NY 36 Edwards, MIN 33 Curry, GS 30 Markkanen, UTA 32 Leonard, LAC 28 Cunningham, DET 33 Durant, HOU 34 Avdija, POR 40 Porter, BKN 29 Harden, LAC 35 Booker, PHO 36 Murray, DEN 35 Powell, MIA 33 Johnson, ATL 37

Rebounds

303 301

NFC lowest remaining seed at NFC highest remaining seed

National Championship

Miami Jan. 19

1, Aldrich Potgieter, 325. 2, Rory McIlroy, 323.

3, Nicolai Hojgaard, 318.8. 4, Jesper Svensson, 318.6. 5, Kurt Kitayama, 318. 6, Michael Thorbjornsen, 317.8. 7, Chris Gotterup, 316.7.

8, Joseph Bramlett, 316.4. 9, Trevor Cone, 315.4. 10, Niklas Norgaard, 315.3.

Total Driving

1, 10 tied with .00%.

Alabama 74, Missouri 63

1, Michael Thorbjornsen, 54. 2, Rico Hoey, 68. 3, Pierceson Coody, 82. 4 (tie), Luke List and Kevin Yu, 91. 6 (tie), Isaiah Salinda and Kris Ventura, 95. 8, Kevin Roy, 99. 9, 2 tied with 103.

Pro hockey NHL Conference glance EASTERN CONFERENCE GP Carolina 46 Detroit 47 Tampa Bay 44 Montreal 46 N.Y. Islanders 45 Buffalo 44 Philadelphia 44 Washington 46 Boston 46 Toronto 44 Pittsburgh 44 Florida 45 New Jersey 46 N.Y. Rangers 47 Ottawa 44 Columbus 45

W 28 28 28 26 25 24 22 23 25 22 21 24 23 20 20 19

L OT Pts 14 4 60 15 4 60 13 3 59 14 6 58 15 5 55 16 4 52 14 8 52 17 6 52 19 2 52 15 7 51 14 9 51 18 3 51 21 2 48 21 6 46 19 5 45 19 7 45

WESTERN CONFERENCE

SG-Putting

GF 158 149 158 157 134 143 133 150 152 148 140 139 123 122 141 135

GA 139 145 115 151 125 138 132 133 146 140 135 145 143 139 148 153

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Colorado 44 33 4 7 73 179 99 Dallas 45 26 10 9 61 157 129 Minnesota 47 26 12 9 61 148 130 Vegas 44 21 11 12 54 144 136 Edmonton 46 23 16 7 53 156 153 Seattle 44 21 15 8 50 123 128 San Jose 45 23 19 3 49 143 162 Los Angeles 44 19 15 10 48 119 125 Utah 46 22 20 4 48 139 130 Nashville 45 21 20 4 46 125 148 Anaheim 45 21 21 3 45 150 168 Chicago 46 19 20 7 45 130 146 Calgary 45 19 22 4 42 116 135 St. Louis 46 17 21 8 42 114 161 Winnipeg 44 17 22 5 39 130 138 Vancouver 45 16 24 5 37 124 164 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs.

Monday’s games

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

Driving Distance

MIDWEST

College football Semifinals

Scoring Average

1, Scottie Scheffler, 68.131. 2, Rory McIlroy, 69.083. 3, Tommy Fleetwood, 69.357. 4, Ben Griffin, 69.692. 5, Russell Henley, 69.757. 6, Harry Hall, 69.764. 7, J.J. Spaun, 69.830. 8, Robert MacIntyre, 69.900. 9, Garrick Higgo, 70.032. 10, Sepp Straka, 70.047.

Greens in Regulation Percentage

Sunday’s games

College Football Playoff

1, Tommy Fleetwood, 2,923. 2 (tie), Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley, 1,661. 4 (tie), Scottie Scheffler, Corey Conners and Cameron Young, 7,456. 7 (tie), Justin Thomas, Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley, 2,477. 10, 2 tied with 1,414.

Women’s national scores

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

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

FedExCup Season Points

1, Takumi Kanaya, 74.07%. 2, Aaron Rai, 73.85%. 3, Paul Peterson, 73.15%. 4, Ben Kohles, 73.12%. 5, Andrew Putnam, 71.77%.

6, Joel Dahmen, 71.21%. 7, Collin Morikawa, 70.65%. 8, Brice Garnett, 69.39%. 9, Zach Johnson, 69.21%. 10, Brandt Snedeker, 69.03%.

Louisiana Tech 86, Liberty 72 LSU 70, Texas 65

Tulane at Temple, 6 p.m.

Pro football

NBA Leaders

FG Percentage

218 250

PGA Tour Statistics

Driving Accuracy Percentage

Sunday’s games

THROUGH JANUARY 11 Scoring

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

Pro golf

No games scheduled.

Tuesday

FAVORITE LINE Kent State 1½ Villanova 2½ at ST. JOHN’S 15½ at MICHIGAN STATE 6½ at MIAMI (OH) 16½ UMass 2½ at TENNESSEE 9½ at CLEMSON 17½ Miami (FL) 3½ at TOLEDO 2½ Wisconsin 1½ at LOUISVILLE 3½ at BELMONT 11½ UConn 5½ at HOUSTON 11½ at E. ILLINOIS 6½ Iowa State 3½ Florida 5½ at NEBRASKA 11½ Baylor 1½ at CREIGHTON 9½ Colorado State 4½ at SYRACUSE 8½ Alabama 7½ at SAN JOSE STATE 9½ at USC 8½ Boise State 3½ Saint Mary’s (CA) 6½

Monday’s games

College basketball Men’s state schedule, scores

UNDERDOG Miami (FL)

FAVORITE LINE O/U UNDERDOG at MIAMI 1 (230½) Phoenix at HOUSTON OFF (OFF) Chicago at NEW ORLEANS OFF (OFF) Denver at OKLAH. CITY 7½ (228½) San Antonio at MILWAUKEE OFF (OFF) Minnesota at LA LAKERS OFF (OFF) Atlanta at GOLDEN STATE OFF (OFF) Portland

Tuesday

Sunday’s games

Vancouver at Ottawa, 6 p.m.

Carolina at St. Louis, 6:30 p.m.

Detroit at Boston, 6:30 p.m.

Edmonton at Nashville, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Anaheim, 9 p.m.

Toronto at Utah, 9 p.m.

No. 10 Miami vs. No. 1 Indiana, 6:30 p.m.

(ESPN)

Winnipeg 4, New Jersey 3 Boston 1, Pittsburgh 0 Columbus 3, Utah 2, OT Nashville 3, Washington 2 Vegas 7, San Jose 2 Seattle 4, N.Y. Rangers 2 Florida 4, Buffalo 3 Tampa Bay 5, Philadelphia 1 Montreal 6, Vancouver 3 Detroit 4, Carolina 3, OT New Jersey 5, Minnesota 2 Edmonton 4, Chicago 1 Dallas at Los Angeles, n Toronto at Colorado, n

Tuesday’s games

Calgary at Columbus, 6 p.m.

Montreal at Washington, 6 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.

1, Sam Burns, .983. 2, Taylor Montgomery, .917. 3, Harry Hall, .881. 4, Denny McCarthy, .679. 5, Nico Echavarria, .666. 6, Garrick Higgo, .661. 7, Cameron Young, .642. 8, Sam Ryder, .626. 9, Rory McIlroy, .597. 10, Sami Valimaki, .548.

Birdie Average

1, Garrick Higgo, 4.96. 2, Scottie Scheffler, 4.7. 3, Harry Hall, 4.56. 4, Pierceson Coody, 4.48. 5, Justin Thomas, 4.46. 6, Keith Mitchell, 4.43. 7, Jake Knapp, 4.42. 8 (tie), Nicolai Hojgaard and Michael Thorbjornsen, 4.35.

10, 4 tied with 4.3.

Eagles (Holes per)

1, Alejandro Tosti, 66.9. 2, Rory McIlroy, 87.

3, Kurt Kitayama, 88.8. 4, Steven Fisk, 91.1.

5 (tie), Will Gordon and Karl Vilips, 93. 7, Michael Thorbjornsen, 93.4. 8, Rico Hoey, 94.7. 9, David Skinns, 96.4. 10, Scottie Scheffler, 102.9.

Sand Save Percentage 1, 10 tied with .00%.

All-Around Ranking

1, Scottie Scheffler, 221. 2, Keith Mitchell, 338. 3, Ben Griffin, 346. 4, Kevin Yu, 368. 5, Michael Thorbjornsen, 391. 6, Kurt Kitayama, 392. 7, Rory McIlroy, 397. 8, Alex Smalley, 412.

9, Ludvig Aberg, 414. 10, Sam Burns, 415.

Transactions BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association NBA — Suspended Minnesota Timberwolves C Rudy Gobert one-game without pay for accruing his sixth Flagrant Foul point of the 2025-26 regular season.

FOOTBALL

National Football League BUFFALO BILLS — Designated DT Ed Oliver and WR Curtis Samuel to return from injured reserve.

CAROLINA PANTHERS — Signed G Ja’Tyre Carter, G Saahdiq Charles, WR Dan Chisena, RB Montrell Johnson, OLB Jamil Muhammad, LB Maz Mwansa, TE Bryce Pierre, WR Ja’seem Reed, S Demani Richardson, WR Ainias Smith, RB Anthony Tyus, LB Jacoby Windmon, LB Jared Bartlett, CB Tyrek Funderburk, and G Joshua Gray to reserve/ futures contract.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Signed T Brant Banks, DL Dante Barnett, G Karsen Barnhart, DL Anthony Campbell, TE McCallan Castles, T Dalton Cooper, TE Drake Dabney, DL James Ester, K Lucas Havrisik, CB Tyron Herring,

LIVING

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

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T u e s d ay, J a n u a ry 13, 2026

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Planting a tree this winter?

Here’s the right way to stake it for much-needed support

The cooler months are ideal for planting many tree species in Louisiana. Staking newly planted trees can offer muchneeded support as they start to put down roots — especially GARDEN in the case of NEWS large trees.

“When you get that instant effect from a mature tree being put into the landscape, you’ve got a lot of top-heavy growth, but you don’t have the root ball to accommodate that,” said Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station. “Staking is a great method to be able to give a little bit of stability to the tree as it’s integrating into its new landscape.”

Staking prevents the root ball from shifting and incurring damage while the tree acclimates to its surroundings.

To reap the benefits of staking, however, you must do it properly. Follow these steps from Abdi for the best results.

PROVIDED PHOTO By BRIAN PAVLICH

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser have named Michael Doucet, musician and founder of BeauSoleil, as the 2026 Humanist of the year.

FOR THE CULTURE

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities announces its Bright Lights Awards Staff report

of Louisiana” by Thomas Patterson (published by LSU Press) For more than 40 years, n Humanities Documenthe Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities tary Film of the Year: has presented the Bright “What We Can Know About Lights Awards to honor Edmond and Basile,” proindividuals who make con- Atchison duced and directed by Sastributions to the state’s cha Just n Lifetime Contributions cultural landscape. The awards recognize filmmakto the Humanities: Don Marers, photographers, literashall n Museum Exhibition of cy and language advocates, historians, authors, culture the Year: “Captive State: advocates and more.

Louisiana and the Making This year, LEH and Lt. of Mass Incarceration,” The Gov. Billy Nungesser have Hailey Historic New Orleans Collection n Light Up for Literacy: named Michael Doucet, musician and founder of Debra Jo Hailey the Cajun band BeauSoleil, “Michael Doucet has as the 2026 Humanist of carried listeners around the Year, along with eight the world right back here other award recipients: to Louisiana, increasing n Champion of Culture: awareness, celebrating our rich heritage and spreadPam Atchison n Chair’s Award for Ining the joy of our culture Marshall through his music,” said stitutional Support: The RoMiranda Restovic, executive direcsaMary and Keller Family foundations n Documentary Photographer of tor and president of the LEH, in a the Year: Kevin Rabalais release. “Through his own work n Humanities Book of the Year: ä See AWARDS, page 2D “American Populist: Huey Long

LSU AGCENTER PHOTO

By OLIVIA McCLURE

Trees generally should not be staked for more than one growing season. When staking materials are left in place too long, they can girdle a growing tree and cause unsightly damage to its trunk.

Step 1: Install stakes Gather two to three stakes about 6 feet long. Many people use metal fenceposts or rebar.

Place the stakes in the native soil surrounding the tree, spacing them equally.

“You don’t want the stakes to be within the root ball, or else it defeats the purpose,” Abdi said.

Drive the stakes about 2 feet into the ground.

Step 2: Connect stakes to tree Next, you’ll need to connect the stakes and the tree. Using the proper materials is key.

“You don’t want a thin metal material such as a wire, or else it’s going to act like a cheese cutter and cut through the trunk,” Abdi said. “Instead, you want something that’s nice and broad to displace the pressure over a wider area.”

Polyester webbing or a similar soft, woven strap material is a good choice. You also can use plastic chain lock tree ties, which are more discreet.

Another option is thin rope — again, not wire — threaded through a short piece of hose, which provides a protective shield around the trunk.

Loop the straps or other ties around the tree about one-third to two-thirds of the way up the trunk, leaving some wiggle room.

ä See STAKE, page 2D

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities has named Thomas Patterson’s ‘American Populist: Huey Long of Louisiana’ as the 2026 Humanities Book of the year.

BR oyster restaurant closes up doors after six years Southern Pearl Oyster House, 9460 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, closed on Jan. 2.

STAFF PHOTO By MADDIE SCOTT

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

Southern Pearl Oyster House, which opened in 2019, permanently closed its doors this month, leaving a sign on the door that read, “We are closed. This location has permanently closed as of January 1, 2026. Thank you to our guests and community for your support over the years.”

The automated message left at the store’s phone number left a similar message thanking cus-

tomers for their support.

The seafood restaurant located at 9460 Perkins Road, served oysters, gumbo, pasta, steak and more.

Southern Pearl is the Baton Rouge version of the popular Biloxi, Mississippi, seafood chain Half Shell Oyster House. The name was changed for the local restaurant to avoid confusion with On the Half Shell, a longtime Prairieville oyster bar.

The business’s social media accounts were down as of Jan. 2.

2D ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Planting flowers Guest laments host’s as a remembrance lll

Dear Heloise: I’m loving all the Even now, I still have problems. ideas that you are receiving To avoid injuries, we purabout flowers and funerals. I just chased headsets (now they wanted to give you another idea: would be called Bluetooth earA dear friend of my phones) for my employmother’s sent a planter ees. I can’t imagine how of bulbs for my mother’s much strain is caused funeral. The flowers were by trying to keep your beautiful and bright at cellphone from falling. that time of year, and Please let your readers then I planted them out in know that it’s not worth our backyard. Every year Hints from it. — Fran, in Colorado Springs, Heloise Colorado for the past 15 years, these flowers have come Powdered detergent up and multiplied. It’s a wonderful reminder of my mother and Dear Heloise: My laundry used her dear friend. — Lisa F., in Jackson- to stink after I washed it, and I finally found out that it was ville, Illinois caused by the minerals in my Avoiding an injury well water reacting to the fats that are part of liquid laundry Dear Heloise: Thank you for the detergent. I switched to powopportunity to write. Your column is wonderful! When I see dered laundry detergent, and the people cradling their cellphones problem was solved. between their ears and shoulAnother advantage to using ders, I absolutely cringe. I’m re- powdered detergent is that it tired, but my job required me to comes in a cardboard box, which do a lot of tasks. And of course, I is easily burned in my wood stove. The plastic detergent was on the phone a lot. bottles create a waste problem I used a corded phone and because plastic does not recycle did the same thing — I cradled well. Also, it takes less powdered my phone between my ear and detergent for a load of laundry, shoulder so that I could use my so the box lasts for a long time. — hands. This caught up with me, Kathy, in Michigan and I had to go through a lot of physical therapy and take medication for the damage that Send a hint to heloise@heloise. occurred in my neck/shoulder. com.

constant TV watching conversation with you? Miss Dear Miss Manners: I went to stay Manners would have hoped that with a dear friend of many years the closeness of the relationship who had moved several states away. Never having stayed at her would allow you to talk over your different political views in a civihouse before, I was dismayed to find that the television in lized fashion. But if not, the main living area was you should not have been on ALL the time. subjected to listening to The political views theirs — and secondhand, expressed were very exat that.

Dear Miss Manners: Years treme. It was also very ago, my fiancé and I were loud, because her husband Judith planning our wedding is hard of hearing. I knew Martin when one of our parents they supported a differMISS passed away. We put the ent political party, but MANNERS entire thing on hold, and we never actually talked then occasionally talked politics in the past, and it is only recently that politics have of getting married — for the next 25 years. become so divisive.

We finally decided to have a The same thing happened to small ceremony, with a guest another friend who went away to limitation set by the venue. It stay with relatives. How can this was delightful, and just what we situation be dealt with tactfully wanted. with the hosts — if at all? I shall After the ceremony, we sent not visit that couple again. announcements out to our friends Gentle reader: Which solves your and family who had not been immediate problem. But even invited. This is not a gift grab or though fewer people are watching television these days, you are anything; we just wanted to let describing two of the major social them know, and hoped they would be happy for us. In addition to the problems of our time: avoiding interacting with others and flaunt- pictures, we included a short note letting them know of the guest list ing one’s political views.

Why would your dear old friend restrictions.

My, oh, my. I have yet to hear and hostess preclude having

from anyone in my family with a “Congratulations!” I hear instead, “Well, I thought we were closer,” “You should have told us ahead of time” and “I guess you don’t need anything from us.”

I know it is too late, but should we have told people ahead of time? I was hoping for a genuine surprise, and happiness that we had finally made it official — not a guilt trip.

Gentle reader: Sadly, people have come to equate weddings with commercial entertainment. If there is an event they want to attend, they understand that they must buy into it by sending a present or, more likely, a donation to whatever fund the couple — who might share that commercial attitude — have set up.

So if there is no event they may attend, there is no reaction. It does not seem to occur to them to express good wishes simply because people they know have married.

Miss Manners can only tell you that she is as appalled at this as you are.

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www. missmanners.com.

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press Today is Tuesday, Jan. 13, the 13th day of 2026. There are 352 days left in the year.

Today in history: On Jan. 13, 2021, President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House over the violent Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol, becoming the only president twice impeached; 10 Republicans joined Democrats in voting to impeach Trump on a charge of “incitement of insurrection.”

(Trump would again be acquitted by the Senate in a vote after his term was over.)

Also on this date: In 1733, James Oglethorpe and some 120 English colonists arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, while en route to settle in present-day Georgia.

In 1794, President George Washington approved a measure adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag, following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union. (The number of stripes was later reduced to the original 13.)

In 1941, a law took effect affirming that those born in Puerto Rico are granted U.S. birthright citizenship.

In 1979, singer Donny Hathaway died in a fall from a hotel window in New York. He was 34.

Hathaway was known for his duets with Roberta Flack and the

holiday song “This Christmas.”

In 1982, an Air Florida Boeing 737 crashed into Washington, D.C.’s 14th Street Bridge and plunged into the Potomac River shortly after takeoff from Washington National Airport during a snowstorm, killing 78 people, including four motorists on the bridge; four passengers and a flight attendant survived.

In 1990, L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the nation’s first elected Black governor as he took the oath of office in Richmond, the state’s capital.

In 1992, Japan apologized for forcing tens of thousands of Korean women to serve as sex slaves for its soldiers during World War II, citing newly uncovered documents that showed the Japanese army had a role in abducting the so-called “comfort women.”

In 2012, the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia slammed into a reef and capsized in shallow water while maneuvering off the coast of Italy, killing 32 of the 4,200 people aboard.

Today’s birthdays: Golf Hall of Famer Mark O’Meara is 69. Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus is 65.

Country singer Trace Adkins is 64. Actor Patrick Dempsey is 60. TV producer-writer Shonda Rhimes is 56. Actor Orlando Bloom is 49. Actor Liam Hemsworth is 36. Actor Natalia Dyer is 31. NHL center Connor McDavid is 29.

PROVIDED PHOTO By KEVIN RABALAIS

Photographer Kevin Rabalais snaps a photo at Church Point’s Courir de Mardi Gras celebration. The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities has named Rabalais the 2026 Documentary Photographer of the year.

AWARDS

Continued from page 1D and by inspiring younger generations of musicians, he has led a revitalization of Louisiana’s important Cajun musical heritage.”

Each of the awardees reflect the diversity and statewide impact of the humanities in Louisiana, Nungesser added in the release.

Humanist of the Year Doucet is featured on film soundtracks, talk shows and at music festivals across the world.

BeauSoleil, which has several Grammy nominations and two Grammy Awards, helped put Cajun and zydeco music on the map globally and continues to tour across the country.

Doucet received an NEA National Heritage Fellowship for his work revitalizing French language and Cajun culture, the highest honor in folk arts, as well as a United States Artists Collins Family Foundation Fellowship. In 2011, BeauSoleil was inducted into Louisiana’s Music Hall of Fame.

LSU AGCENTER PHOTO By OLIVIA MCCLURE

Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station, demonstrates how to wrap a strap around a tree to connect it to stakes.

STAKE

Continued from page 1D “Regardless of what material is used, if it is too tight on the trunk, it could cause problems,” Abdi said.

When tying off to the stakes, pull the material just taut enough to keep the tree upright.

The tree should still be able to move around a little.

Step 3: Remove stakes One of the most common mistakes people make is leaving trees staked too long.

“If you leave those straps and those stakes on too long, they’re

going to become one with the tree and cause some issues,” Abdi said.

Besides damaging the bark on the trunk, an excessively long staking period can make a tree weaker and more prone to breaking or blowing over in storms. This may sound counterintuitive, but think about it: If a developing tree isn’t allowed to sway in the wind, it will never “learn” that it needs to grow more roots and a thick, sturdy trunk to support itself.

Abdi advises removing staking materials after about one season of growth. That is typically enough time for a tree to get established and safely stand on its own.

Champion of Culture For 38 years, Atchison served as executive director of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, the area’s largest arts nonprofit.

The council develops partnerships, produces programming, educates the community and advocates in the name of art and artists across northwest Louisiana. Atchison began working at SRAC as an artist-in-residence in the 1980s and developed the council into a $3 million-per-year organization, along with founding the citywide youth art initiative ArtBreak. In December 2024, Atchison retired.

Chair’s Award for Institutional Support The RosaMary and Keller Family foundations have supported LEH for more than 25 years, contributing more than $400,000 collectively. The Keller Family Foundation contributed to the opening

of The Helis Foundation John Scott Center, and it has provided support for Prime Time family engagement and reading programs.

The RosaMary Foundation, one of the earliest family foundations to operate in the United States, supports organizations within the greater New Orleans area that contribute to a successful and vibrant city.

Documentary Photographer of the Year Rabalais, an Avoyelles Parish native and professor of English at Loyola University New Orleans, has lived and worked all over the world.

Since returning home to Louisiana, Rabalais has traversed the state tirelessly to document how Louisianans work, play and celebrate. His work helps us see and understand the state in new ways.

leading the organization for 20 years. He has spent his career supporting, uplifting and leading the arts community of New Orleans.

Marshall was the founding director of the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center and co-founder of the Krewe Du Vieux, the Tennessee Williams Festival and the New Orleans Film and Video Festival.

He also served as executive director of the St. Tammany Art Association and of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré.

Museum Exhibition of the Year

This award is given biannually in even-numbered years and recognizes an exhibition held during the prior two calendar years (2024 and 2025). The Historic New Orleans Collection’s “Captive State: Louisiana and the Making of Mass Incarceration” (July 19, 2024–Feb. 16, 2025) investigated mass incarceration through a historical lens.

Humanities Book of the Year Using historical objects, textual In “American Populist: Huey interpretation, multimedia content Long of Louisiana,” Patterson re- and data visualization, the exhibit traced the 300-year connection evaluates Long’s life and legacy.

The author leverages previously between slavery and mass incarunused primary-source documents ceration. and reframes the present-day caricature of Long — deconstructing Light Up for Literacy existing narratives and introducHailey, a La Salle Parish native, ing new scholarship to the subject is the assistant professor of child and family studies at Northwestern of the Kingfish.

State University. She has spent her Humanities Documentary career developing family literacy festivals and delivering childhood Film of the Year literacy experiences with an emJust’s “What We Can Know About phasis on community buy-in across Edmond and Basile” documents the Louisiana. Her work focuses on inartistic legacy and modern redis- terrupting the poverty cycle and covery of two 19th-century Creole teaching parents about the imporcomposers, Edmond Dédé, a free tance of engaging children in conman of color, and Basile Barès, a versation about stories, centering man born into enslavement. literacy on family well-being.

Through archival materials and interviews with contemporary The Louisiana Endowment for musicians and composers, Just’s the Humanities is a nonprofit orfilm illuminates the previously ganization dedicated to providing obscured history of Dédé’s and educational opportunities to all Barès’ lives and legacy. residents of the state. The awardees will be highlighted in LEH’s Lifetime Contributions 64 parishes magazine and at the annual Bright Lights Awards dinto the Humanities ner March 24 at the Capitol Park Marshall is the retired executive Museum in Baton Rouge. Tickets director of the New Orleans Jazz & are available online at leh.org/ Heritage Festival and Foundation, bright-lights.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ 3D

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FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

zItS

zodIAC CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Be open about what you want. Talks will lead to solutions and introductions that can point you in a different direction. Attend events in your community to make valuable connections. Personal growth is favored.

AQuARIuS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Contemplate your prospects. Time is on your side, so avoid acting in haste. Put your energy to work for you. Do your due diligence, abide by the rules and regulations, and forge ahead.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) You are overdue for an adventure. Plan something that excites you or that offers insight into a lifestyle that suits your current situation or personality. Interact with people who share your concerns.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Be cognizant of where your money goes. Figuring out what matters to you the most will put your mind at ease and encourage a minimalist lifestyle. A grateful attitude leads to a happy heart. tAuRuS (April 20-May 20) Be the one to initiate change. Make suggestions that bring you closer to the people you enjoy spending time with. Focus on what makes you happy and what you love doing most.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Put your energy into self-improvement and learning something that will help you get ahead.

Join forces with people who share your sentiments and can enrich your life.

Reach out.

CAnCER (June 21-July 22) You have more to offer than you realize. Be open to sug-

gestions, and rethink how you can utilize your skills and connections to suit your lifestyle. You can earn more money if you restructure how you use your talents.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Focus on what you want to achieve, not on someone trying to derail your progress. Put your energy where it will bring the highest rewards and show confidence in how you present yourself.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Interaction is essential. A change of scenery will provide the perfect opportunity to reinvent yourself and move forward. Don't hesitate; embrace what excites you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-oct. 23) A well-thoughtout plan will help you avoid making mistakes. Refuse to let anyone pressure you or put you in a vulnerable position. Map out what makes you happy and stick to what you know and do best.

SCoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Enhance your creativity. Use your imagination, trust your instincts and pursue what feels right. Communication, networking and confidence will pay off. A partnership looks inviting.

SAGIttARIuS (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Work alone until you master your goal. Being lowkey will help you avoid interference.

Trust your yourself. Your power is in what you do, not in what you say.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY CeLebrItY CIpher Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

toDAy'S CLuE: R EQuALS V

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

4D ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

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

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

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ 5D

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B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Who were the most prolific authors?

Two who came to my mind were Isaac Asimov and P.G. Wodehouse (although it seems that many have outwritten P.G.W.). But as Asimov said, “If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.”

His keyword for this deal is “six.” South is in six spades. West leads the diamond ace. How should declarer proceed after ruffing?

This week, we are looking at six deals from one of my classes about handling the trump suit correctly. This is the hardest, in my opinion — unless you have seen the theme before.

In the auction, North’s rebid is a double negative, showing a really bad hand. In the old days, pairs used two no-trump; now, three clubs is popular. Each has pluses and minuses.

Over three spades, it is reasonable for South to bid six spades, hoping that he will not have two heart losers. If North has three hearts, maybe the suit will break 3-3; and if he has a doubleton, there is a chance for a ruff or two on the board.

Some of my students immediately cashed their two top hearts, then ruffed a heart with the spade nine. That would have been correct in seven spades, but

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

here it cost the small slam. East overruffed and returned a trump, leaving South with a heart loser.

The careful declarers ruffed the third heart with dummy’s spade jack. Then they returned to hand and ruffed their last heart. It did not matter that East overruffed, because South had the rest. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game InStRuCtIonS: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3.

Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAy’S WoRD — nARRAtoRS: NER-ray-ters. Those who tell a story in detail.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 14 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 24 or more words in NARRATORS? yEStERDAy’S WoRD — VARSIty vary

astir

stray

vast

sari

stria

visa

satyr

tray

vista

sitar

tsar

vita

stair

airy

star

artsy

stay

arty

stir

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2

Let the Lord be your priority. — G.E. Dean

6D ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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173521 Jan. 13, 16, 2t $169.30

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Bids will be received by the Office of Purchasing, Room 213 Thomas Boyd Hall, Louisiana State Uni‐ versity and Agricultural and Mechanical College 70803 until 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 Refer to www.centerlineb idconnect.com for bid submission instructions.

All bids must be submit‐ ted via email to lsubids@ lsu.edu ANY PERSON REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODA‐ TIONS SHALL NOTIFY LOUISIANA STATE UNI‐ VERSITY, OFFICE OF PUR‐ CHASING OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMODATION RE‐ QUIRED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE THE BID OPENING. FOR: Furnish Labor and Materials for Tiger Park HVAC Modifications LSU SOLICITATION NUMBER: RFQ-0000002677 Complete Bidding Docu‐ ments for this project may be obtained from: www.centerlinebidco Printed nnect.com. copies are not available from the Designer, but arrangements can be made to obtain them through most repro‐ graphic firms.

Contractors unable to access bidding docu‐ ments at www.centerl inebidconnect.com should contact YKH Consulting, LLC 3701 Hessmer Ave. Metairie, Louisiana 70002 Phone: 504.231.3231 Contact: Joseph Garon Email:jgaron@ykhcons ulting.com All bids must be accom‐ panied by bid security equal to five percent (5%) of the sum of the base bid and all alter‐ nates, and must be in the form of a certified check, cashier’s check or Bid Bond Form written by a surety company licensed to do business in Louisiana, signed by the surety’s agency or attor‐ ney-in-fact. Surety must be listed on the current U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Man‐ agement Service list of approved bonding com‐ panies as approved for an amount equal to or greater than the amount for which it obligates it‐ self in the Bond, or must be a Louisiana domiciled insurance company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide. If surety qualifies by virtue of its Best’s list‐ ing, the amount of the Bond may not exceed ten percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the latest A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide. The Bid Bond shall be in favor of the Louisiana State Uni‐ versity and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and shall be accompa‐ nied by appropriate power of attorney. No Bid Bond indicating an oblig‐ ation of less than five percent (5%) by any method is acceptable.

The successful Bidder shall be required to fur‐ i h f d

DOGS Belgian Malinois - Dogs hail from work‐ ing lines, OFA certified for hips and el‐ bows, solid, black and sable pups ready to go. Parents on premises. Call 504-220-2980. $1800

AREA 4

DOGS CKC Reg. Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Pup‐ pies, $200 call (225)-251-2380

Public Notices Bids/Proposals q nish a Performance and Payment Bond written by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana, in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract amount. Surety must be listed currently on the U.S. Department of Trea‐ sury Financial manage‐ ment Service List (Trea‐ sury List) as approved for an amount equal to or greater than the con‐ tract amount, or must be an insurance company domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. If surety is quali‐ fied other than by listing on the Treasury list, the contract amount may not exceed fifteen percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown by surety’s most recent financial state‐ ments filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance and may not exceed the amount of $500,000.

However, a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide shall not be subject to the $500,000 limitation, provided that the con‐ tract amount does not exceed ten percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the latest A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide nor fifteen percent of policyholder’s surplus as shown by surety’s most recent financial state‐ ments filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

The Bond shall be signed by the surety’s agent or attor‐ ney-in-fact.

A PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 1:30PM Tiger Park East Lot (Southeast Corner) Skip Bertman Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150-2163 for the ME‐ classification of CHANICAL. Bidder is re‐ quired to comply with provisions and require‐ ments of LA R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(c). No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty (30) days after re‐ ceipt of bids, except under the provisions of LA. R.S. 38:2214.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. In ac‐ cordance with La. R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements of this Section, those stated in the advertise‐ ment for bids, and those required on the bid form shall not be considered as informalities and shall not be waived by any public entity.

When this project is fi‐ nanced either partially or entirely with State Bonds or federal funds, the award of this Contract is contingent upon the granting of lines of credit, the sale of bonds by the Bond Commission or the commitment of federal funds. The Uni‐ versity shall incur no obligation to the Con‐ tractor until the Contract Between Owner and Con‐ tractor is fully executed.

AD RUN DATES: January 6, 13 and 20 2026 172090-jan 6-13-20 $203.28 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO CONTRAC‐ TORS Sealed bids for the con‐ struction of the following project will be received by the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission in the Port’s office at 2425 Ernest Wilson Drive Office, Port Allen, Louisiana, or online at www.centralauctonho use.com until 10:00 AM on February 12, 2026, at which time and place bids will be publicly opened and read. No bids will be received after 10:00 A.M. PROJECT NR: 2026-1 IMPROVEMENTS TO: WATER TOWER REHABILITATION AND PAINTING PROJECT LOCATED IN: PORT ALLEN, WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION: MUNICIPAL AND PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION; PAINTING, COATING and BLASTING CONTRACTING AGENCY: GREATER BATON ROUGE

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

WORKS

PUBLIC AUCTION Truist Bank & Regional Acceptance Thursday, January 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM Offer includes: 2021 BMW 4 SERIES Vin WBA73AP09MCF13463

America’s Auto Auction Baton Rouge 3960 Blount Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70807

PUBLIC NOTICE --VOUCHER# 26-000526

ESTIMATED COST: $1,000,000 - $1,100,000

BIDS TO BE OPENED: 02/04/26

PROPOSAL GUARANTY: 5% OF THE AMOUNT OF BID PAYABLE TO THE GREATER BATON ROUGE PORT COMMISSION ENGINEER: CORTNEY WHITE, P.E. GREATER BATON ROUGE PORT COMMISSION whitec@ 225-342-1660 portgbr.com Bids must be submitted on the forms provided by the Contracting Agency, must be prepared in ac‐ cordance with Section 2 of the 2018 Edition of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and De‐ velopment, Office of Mul‐ timodal Commerce, Gen‐ eral Provisions and must include all the informa‐ tion required by the bid form. Bid forms are avail‐ able from the Engineer and will not be issued later than 24 hours prior to the time set for open‐ ing the bids. Each bid shall include a proposal guaranty in an amount not less than specified above.

The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder with‐ out discrimination on grounds of race, color, sex or national origin.

Disadvantaged busi‐ nesses will be afforded full opportunity to sub‐ mit bids.

Plans and specifications may be seen at the Port's office. Plans may be ob‐ tained from the Engineer upon payment of $50. In accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (D), deposits on the first set of docu‐ ments furnished bona fide prime bidders will be fully refunded upon re‐ turn of the documents, deposits on any addi‐ tional sets will be re‐ funded less the actual costs of reproduction.

Refunds will be made upon return of the docu‐ ments if within ten days after receipt of bids.

The award of a contract, if awarded, will be made to the lowest qualified bidder whose proposal complies with all require‐ ments prescribed within 45 calendar days after opening proposals. How‐ ever, when the contract is to be financed by bonds which are re‐ quired to be sold after receipts of bids, or when the contract is to be fi‐ nanced in whole or part by federal or other funds not available at the time bids are received, the time will not start until receipt of federal and/or state concurrence or concurrence of the other funding source. Award will be within 30 calendar days after the sale of bonds or receipt of con‐ currence in award from federal and/or state agency or other funding source. The successful bidder will be notified by letter mailed to the ad‐ dress shown in the pro‐ posal that the bidder is awarded the contract.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Electronic or sealed bids will be received by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Purchasing Divi‐ sion, City Hall Building, Room 826, 222 Saint Louis Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, La. until 11:00 A.M. February 04, 2026, for the following: A26-0526 Airport Police Uniforms Official bid documents are available at Central (https://www.

Bidding centralauctionhouse. com/rfpc10656-city-ofbaton-rouge.html) or by request from the City of Baton Rouge at shab‐ nins@brla.gov.

Bids shall be submitted electronically via www. centralbidding.com or on the solicitation bid forms furnished by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge prior to the bidding deadline.

Electronic bids for the solicitation will be down‐ loaded by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Pur‐ chasing Division. Begin‐ ning as soon as feasible after the bid closing time all electronic bids will be downloaded and publicly read aloud along with all paper bids received, if any, in Room 806 immedi‐ ately after the 11:00 a.m. bid closing. Bidders or their authorized repre‐ sentatives are invited to be present.

Note: The City-Parish has elected to use LaPAC, the

For more sale registration, sale attendance, or other sale related information, please contact

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

state's online electronic bid posting and notifica‐ tion system, in addition to its standard means of advertising this require‐ ment. This Invitation to Bid is available in elec‐ tronic form at the LaPAC https:// website wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/osp/lapac/dspBid. cfm?search=departm ent&term=102.

Bids, amendments to bids or request for with‐ drawal of bids received after time specified for bid openings shall not be considered for any cause whatsoever.

Inquiries will be received up until 5 pm on January 27, 2026.

Full information may be obtained upon request from the above address or via email shabnins@ brla.gov.

Any vendor who would like to listen to the open‐ ing of this bid can access the following link, at the date and time of this bid opening: NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

Join by phone +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll Access code: 263 373 080 (followed by the # button) Alternate numbers to call if number above is not available, which may occur due to network traffic (use the same Ac‐ cess Code, followed by the # button): United States Toll (Boston) +1-617-315-0704 United States Toll

Lot 31-34, Square 11, Bank 69th Avenue Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds): Lot 6 & 7, Square 52, Bank 68th Avenue Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds): Lot 4+, Square 52, Bank 2936 68th Avenue Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds):

Lot 52 & 53, Square 2, Victory Place 2830 Erie Street Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds):

Jay Hardman Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission 173487 Jan. 13, 20, 27, 3t $195.79

These numbers will pro‐ vide you with live audio access to this bid open‐ ing.

173542 Jan. 13, 20, 2t $101.18

Public Notices DEQ Permits

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LOUISIANA DEPART‐ MENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUAL‐ ITY AND NUTRITION & BIOSCIENCES USA 1, LLC The Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Environmental Quality and Nutrition & Biosciences USA 1, LLC (Respondent), Agency In‐ terest Number 216362, have entered into a pro‐ posed settlement agree‐ ment, Settlement Track‐ ing No. SA-AE-25-0070 concerning the State's allegations of environ‐ mental violations by Re‐ spondent at its facility in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, which allega‐ tions are set forth in No‐ tice of Potential Penalty, Enforcement Tracking

Authorizing the Metropolitan Council to declare the following properties previously adjudicated to East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, surplus property, and to authorize the sale of said properties to the indicated persons, their agents or assigns for the consideration mentioned (Minimum Bid Amount), or to the highest offeror who submits their offer with a certified check or money order in the amount indicated:

On projects involving federal funds the award of contract will also be contingent upon concur‐ rence by the appropriate federal agency.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference of Prime Bid‐ ders will be held 10:00 A.M. January 28, 2026 in the Port’s office at 2425 Ernest Wilson Drive Of‐ fice, Port Allen, Louisiana, 70767. PUB‐ LISH: ADVOCATE 1/13, 1/20, 1/27

(Chicago) +1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Dallas) +1-469-210-7159 United States Toll (Denver) + 1-720-650-7664 United States Toll (Jacksonville) +1-904-900-2303 United States Toll (Los Angeles) +1-213-306-3065

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DECLARE ADJUDICATED TAX PROPERTY SURPLUS AND TO SELL SAME UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF LSAR.S. 33:4720.10 ET SEQ AND LSA-R.S. 33:4712.

Lot 17, Alsen Heights Alsen Heights Pkwy Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds):

The right is reserved to reject bids and waive in‐ formalities.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

REQUISITION 11297716

The award of a contract for projects financed ei‐ ther partially or entirely with State bonds will be contingent on approval by the State Bond Com‐ mission.

On projects involving state funds the award of contract will also be con‐ tingent upon concur‐ rence by the appropriate state agency.

AREA 4 NO CREDIT CHECK/LEASE! Fully furnished apartments ALL BILLS PAID including premium cable & WIFI. Pet Friendly. Stay where you're appreciated! Call 225-434-4161 AREA 5 1 & 2 BR Apts, W/D, C A/H, Starting at $850/mo Deps vary 225-315-0930 AREA 5 1BR $550, 2BR $650 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

Lot 13, Square A, Victory Place Ontario Street Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds): Lot 3, Square 52, Fortune Cadillac Street Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds): Lot 4, Square 52, Fortune Cadillac Street Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds): Lot 41, Square 14, South Baton Rouge 2010 Kentucky Street Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds):

Shenika Williams $ 100.00 $ 950.00 Telford Williams $ 100.00 $ 650.00 Telford Williams $ 100.00 $ 500.00 Rickey D Griffin $ 100.00 $ 500.00 Anthony Redd $ 1,000.00 $ 650.00 Kenneth Christian $ 100.00 $ 950.00 Imani Hudson $ 100.00 $ 950.00 Latasha Long

A unique Mardi Gras experience in a hardcover book

AREA 5 655 North St. Subsidized eff Apts cpabr.org 225-383-5551.

TDD/TTY /711RELAY

America’s Auto Auction Baton Rouge 225-778-3737

CLASSIFIEDS WORK

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PORT COMMISSION P.O BOX 380 PORT ALLEN, LOUISIANA 70767-0380

FREE RENT 225-351-7449

AUCTIONS

CAMPING GEAR Camp Tent 9x9 Dome, Canopy, Slp Bag, 2 Lant, 2 Burner Stv, 48qt Ice Chest & All Access. Retail for $375 selling for $275 225-610-8411 after 2:00pm

PRINT ADVERTISING

FORD F900 Ford F900, 1990, 7.8 L, auto trans, runs great, $4K (225) 225-316-4148 David

5364 Jackson 2BR's 1BA, Rent $500, Dep $300 225-357-6436

PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

DOGS CKC YORKIES or SHORKIES - (yorkies arewith papers) all are vet checked with shot and worming will meet in Gulfport $400 (334) 467-3416

Baton Rouge Rental AREA 3

Pets / Pet Services Directory DOGS 1 Male & 1 Female Yorkie. De-wormed.

Ready to go! 225-394-0367

Automotive DOMESTIC TRUCKS 2018 Ford F150 XLT For Sale.

Everything works $9999! 225-445-2981

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

Sale open to the public on listed vehicle(s) only

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111

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

Merchandise

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of David Newman, is requested to contact Attorney Raushanah S. Hunter in reference to a pending legal matter at (225) 356-5252.

173653-Jan 12-14, 3t $97

ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo.

225-933-7560

Baton Rouge Real Estate For Sale

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653

Public Notices DEQ Permits

No. AE-PP-22-00082.

The Department of Envi‐ ronmental Quality will accept comments on the proposed settlement for the next forty-five (45) days. The public is in‐ vited and encouraged to submit written com‐ ments to the Louisiana Department of Environ‐ mental Quality, Office of the Secretary, Legal Divi‐ sion, Post Office Box 4302, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-4302, At‐ tention: Ashley S. Hurst, Attorney. All comments will be considered by the Department of Environ‐ mental Quality in reach‐ ing a decision on whether to make the set‐ tlement final.

Terms and conditions of the proposed settlement agreement may be re‐ viewed on the Depart‐ ment of Environmental Quality's website at www.deq.louisiana.gov, by selecting About LDEQ, Enforcement, and Settle‐ ment. The document may also be viewed at, and copies obtained from, the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Environmental Quality, Public Records Center, Room 127, Galvez Building, 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802. To re‐ quest a copy of the pro‐ posed settlement, sub‐ mit a completed Public Record Request Form (DEQ Form ISD-0005-01).

The form and instruc‐ tions for completion may be found on the DEQ Website at the following address: http://deq. louisiana.gov/assets/ docs/General/PublicR ecordsRequestForm.pdf, or by calling the Cus‐ tomer Service Center at 1-866-896-5337.

Pursuant to La. R.S. 30:2050.7(D), the Depart‐ ment of Environmental

ORDER TODAY! PORCHES.PICTORIALBOOK.COM

Public Notices DEQ Permits

Quality may hold a public hearing regarding this proposed settlement when either of the fol‐ lowing conditions are met: 1) a written request for public hearing has been filed by twenty-five (25) persons, by a gov‐ ernmental subdivision or agency, or by an associa‐ tion having not less than twenty-five (25) mem‐ bers who reside in the parish in which the facil‐ ity is located; or 2) the secretary finds a signifi‐ cant degree of public in‐ terest in this settlement.

For further information, you may call the Legal Division of the Louisiana Department of Environ‐ mental Quality at (225) 219-3985.

173563-JAN 13-1T $346.99

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --(NOTICE OF INTENTION TO INTRODUCE LOCAL BILL – HLS 26RS-328) Public notice is hereby given, as provided by Section 13, Article III of the Constitution of Louisiana, that there will be introduced at the forthcoming session of the Legislature of Louisiana, to be con‐ vened on March 9, 2026, a bill relative to East Baton Rouge Parish; to provide relative to the Jefferson Place/Bocage Crime Pre‐ vention and Improve‐ ment District; to provide relative to the parcel fee imposed within the dis‐ trict; to increase the maximum parcel fee au‐ h i d b i d

Lot 26, Square 163, South Baton Rouge West Garfield Street Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds): Lot 7-10, Square 6, Paradise 2768 Tanner Street Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds): Lot 8+, Square 28, Greenville Extension N. 46th Street Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds):

Legal Notices

p thorized to be imposed from $540 to $1,200 per parcel per year and the maximum parcel fee au‐ thorized to be imposed for the initial calendar year from $500 to $1,000, subject to voter ap‐ proval; to authorize the district's governing board to increase the fee, without election, not to exceed the maximum amount; and to provide for related matters.

173510-jan 13-14-15-3t $62.02 PUBLIC NOTICE --REQUISITION 11297718 OFFICIAL PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE REGULAR ZONING MEETING OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE Notice is hereby given to all citizens of the City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge and to all other interested per‐ sons, of the introduction at the regular meeting of the Metropolitan Council of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, held on De‐ cember 10, 2025, of the proposed ordinances, the titles of which are set forth hereinafter, and that public hearing will be held thereon by the Metropolitan Council at 4:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in the Council Chambers (Room 348) on the third floor of the City-Parish Govern‐ mental Building in this City, these proposed or‐ dinances being entitled as follows: ORDINANCE

Whitaker Investments LLC $ 100.00 $ 855.00 Levi Black $ 500.00 $ 950.00 Dud Hines Jr $ 500.00 $ 950.00

Lot 259+, Belfair Homes 2065 W Belfair Drive Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds):

17th & Banks LLC

Lot 51, Greenway Place 3681 Greentree Drive Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds):

Jerome Verrett

Lot 12, Square L, Fairfields 2960 Madison Avenue Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds): Lot 9, East Fairlane 5711 Hartford Avenue Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds): Lot 62, Greenway Place 3367 Greentree Drive Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds):

$ 100.00 $ 500.00

$ 200.00 $ 500.00 17th & Banks LLC $ 100.00 $ 500.00 17th & Banks LLC $ 100.00 $ 500.00 Jerome Verrett $ 200.00 $ 500.00

Lot 69, West Fairfields 3835 Eaton Street Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds):

Jerome Verrett

Lot 38, Fairlane 7262 Poinsettia Drive Initial Bid Amount Advanced costs required (certified funds):

Through His Eyes Ministry

$ 100.00 $ 500.00

In My Father’s House $ 200.00

$ 100.00 $ 950.00 Whitaker Investments LLC $ 100.00 $ 500.00

170352-594892-Jan. 6, 13, 20, 2026-3t $ 607.11

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ 7D

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8D ■ Tuesday, January 13, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Legal Notices

Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Unified Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 17501 Florida Boule‐ vard To amend the Com‐ prehensive Land Use Plan from Agricultural Rural to Industrial, lo‐ cated on the north side of Florida Boulevard, south of Riverside Park Drive, on property now or formerly known as a por‐ tion of 12.5 Acre Tract.

Section 70, T7S, R2E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 4 - Moak) PA-7-25 ORDINANCE Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of h i f

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Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

g p the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Unified Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 17501 Florida Boule‐ vard To rezone from Commercial Warehous‐ ing and Rural to Light In‐ dustrial (M1) on property located on the north side of Florida Boulevard, south of Riverside Park Drive, on property now or formerly known as a por‐ tion of 12.5 Acre Tract.

Section 70, T7S, R2E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 4 - Moak) Case 53-25

g and made part of the “Unified Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 6601 Joor Road To amend the Comprehen‐ sive Land Use Plan from Residential Neighbor‐ hood to Compact Neigh‐ borhood, located on the north side of Mickens Road, west of Joor Road, on property now or for‐ merly known as a portion of Undesignated Tract of the Nell P. ET AL. Stipe Property. Section 43, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 5 - Hurst) PA8-25

p “Unified Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at Joor Crossing (6601 Joor Road) To rezone from Planned Unit Devel‐ opment (PUD) to PUD on property located on the north side of Mickens Road, west of Joor Road, on property now or for‐ merly known as a portion of Undesignated Tract of the Nell P. ET AL. Stipe Property. Section 43, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 5 - Hurst) PUD2-25

ORDINANCE

Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Unified Development Code “, as amended so

ORDINANCE Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in d d f h

Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the ifi d l

ORDINANCE

Legal Notices

as to change the zoning on the property located at 8261 Ned Avenue To re‐ zone from Rural to Lim‐ ited Residential (A3.1) on property located on the north side of Ned Av‐ enue, west of Starboard Drive, on property now or formerly known as Lot 12 of Riverland Subdivision, First Filing. Section 41, T8S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 3 Gaudet) Case 51-25 ORDINANCE Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Unified Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 683 and 709 East Air‐ port Avenue To rezone f i i ( )

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

p from Transition (B1) to Light Commercial Three (LC3) on property located on the east side of east Airport Avenue, north of Goodwood Boulevard, on property now or formerly known as Lot 20-C and 21-C of Professional Of‐ fice Park Independence Park. Section 83, T7S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 7 - Harris) Case 52-25

g cial Two (LC2) on prop‐ erty located on the north side of Coursey Boule‐ vard, east of Lake Sher‐ wood Avenue, on prop‐ erty now or formerly known as a Lot 49-A-1-A of Coursey Village, Third Filing. Section 51, T7S, R2E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 8 - Amoroso) Case 54-25

y side of South Kenilworth Parkway, west of Bur‐ bank Drive, on property now or formerly known as Tract X-1-A of Chatsworth Plantation.

Section 5, T8S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 12 - Racca) Case 55-25

ORDINANCE

Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Unified Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 555 South Kenilworth Parkway To rezone from Rural to Light Commer‐ cial One (LC1) on prop‐ erty located on the south id f h il h

Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Unified Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 12201 Coursey Boule‐ vard To rezone from Rural to Light Commer‐ i l ( )

ORDINANCE

ORDINANCE Bocage Canal Revocation A request to revoke 60 feet of the Bocage Canal 120 foot right-of-way, lo‐ cated on the north side of Corporate Boulevard and west of Commerce Circle, Tract 1-A of the Towne Center Business Park (Council District 11 Adams) RV-7-25 170361 Jan. 6, 13, 20, 2026 3t $308.14

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --Ronald Andrews, M.D. of‐ fice closure in Baton Rouge after 25 years ef‐ fective February 25, 2026.

After Feburary 25, 2026 patients will no longer be seen at 10608 Coursey Blvd. Suite B Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Records will be maintained elec‐ tronically and may be ob‐ tained by sending with sign authorized release to DrAndrewsrecords@ gmail.com. Thank you for allowing me to care for you and your family all of these years.

172939-jan 7-14-8t

NEWS 24/7 ON

Order frameable newspaper page reprints of any special day important to you.

SHOP TODAY! store.nola.com

New Year You w e N Discover

You

WHAT THE LIBRARY CAN DO FOR

Learn about programs, services, and opportunities from the East Baton Rouge Parish Library

Fitness in the Stacks

No traffic, no heat, no excuses! Join Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library for Fitness in the Stacks, a fun fitness group enthusiastic about staying healthy. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning in January (excluding January 19), 10-11 a.m., patrons can get fit by exercising with a beginner aerobics video.

All fitness levels are welcome!

Get Organized!

Certified Professional Organizer Alyssa Trosclair returns to the Main Library at Goodwood to help you get organized in 2026! Struggling with organization? Join Alyssa on Sunday, January 18 at 3 p.m. to learn the EMEND process to help you build lasting organizational skills for your home, workspace, and daily life. Learn practical strategies to declutter, assign items to their ideal locations, and create sustainable systems that keep disorder from returning.

How to Master the Job Interview

Are you searching for a new job? Your performance during an interview can land you – or cost you – your dream job. Learn to perfect your job interview skills through this seminar at the Main Library at Goodwood on Saturday, January 31 at 2 p.m. The Career Center will present tips for a great interview, common traps and pitfalls to avoid, and interactive demonstrations for answering the most common interview questions. Registration is required.

To register, visit www.ebrpl.com/career-center/events, call 231-3733 or scan this QR Code:

Gather TOGETHER IN A SPACE TO

Create

Explore

Surreal in the Stacks:

Costume Workshop and Showcase In collaboration with Baton Rouge Gallery’s annual Surreal Salon, the Library presents a two-part community event series offering an opportunity for locals to get creative, connect, and celebrate the spirit of surrealism. Get ready for costume season! Drop by the Main Library at Goodwood on Wednesday, January 14 between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. to get inspired, design, build, or assemble your own surreal costume — whether whimsical, uncanny, or fantastical. Basic materials and inspiration will be available but bring your imagination and any supplies you may want to share or swap! No prior crafting experience needed; everyone is welcome!

Then come back for part two of this series to show off your creation in a community-focused, friendly “runway” style showcase on Wednesday, January 28 at 5 p.m. This relaxed, come-and-go costume showcase invites participants to display their Soirée outfits, share their inspiration, and enjoy the imaginative range of surreal style – from whimsical to weird, dreamy to daring. Even if you did not attend the Soirée, you are welcome to attend the showcase.

Earn Your Makerspace Badge!

Get creative with Makerspaces! Adults and teens are invited to attend a badging class to learn the basics of safely operating our Makerspace equipment, including professional microphones and soundboards, sewing machines, button makers, Cricuts, and more. For the 3D printer, patrons may now complete the required badging online by watching training videos and passing a short quiz, in lieu of attending an inperson class. Once you have completed a badging class or online training, you may reserve the equipment for personal use. There are five Makerspace locations: Main Library at Goodwood, Bluebonnet Regional Branch, Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch, Jones Creek Regional Branch, and River Center Branch. For more information about the Library’s Makerspaces, visit ebrpl.co/makerspaces. No prior crafting experience needed; everyone is welcome! Scan the QR code to learn more.

Poetry Writing Workshops

In anticipation of our spring 2026 One Book One Community initiative featuring You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World edited

by Ada Limon, 24th Poet Laureate of the United States, join us for a poetry writing workshop at the Main Library at Goodwood! We will watch poetry writing tutorials, offer various prompts for inspiration, and share poems with each other. You can even submit a poem for our One Book One Community Poetry Anthology!

Scan the QR code to learn more.

• Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 5:30 p.m.

• Sunday, Jan. 18 at 3:30 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m.

THE NUMBERS TELL

Our Story THE

Heart Our nity

East Baton Rouge Parish boasts approximately

OF

310,000 library card holders

u m m o C

Of the over

2.9 million items circulated in 2025,

EBRPL patrons checked out physical items valued at more than

79.29 million + Patrons also downloaded more than 1.5 million eBooks, for an approximate value

$

of an additional

10.51 million = A direct savings of almost $ 90 million to the people of our community

$

In 2025, Bookmobiles made more than

2,500

outreach visits to preschools, retirement centers, and community events Patrons used Study Rooms

34,710 times

Patrons logged more than

260,000 Wi-Fi sessions

Approximately

6,000

job seekers frequented Career Center events

A total of

4,275

patrons took advantage of Small Business Services at the Library

Almost

3,500

badged patrons created items in our Makerspaces Library meeting rooms utilized

6,628 150,000 times with over

estimated attendees

Writing the Next Chapter A new, dedicated 10-year plan to secure the Library’s future

The East Baton Rouge Parish Library has prepared a new, stand-alone, dedicated 10-year millage continuation proposal designed to secure stable funding for operations, programs, technology, and capital improvements. This plan responds directly to community feedback and helps ensure the Library can continue to serve residents with excellence for years to come.

• NEW, Replacement Tax is a CONTINUATION of the Previous Millage that expired in December 2025 • DEDICATED Tax • STRAIGHT-FORWARD, STAND-ALONE Tax • SIMPLE Tax • LOWER Tax Rate of 9.5 mills is proposed, including allowing for two rollbacks over the 10-year period • 10-YEAR Tax secures stable funding to operate and plan for the future, including the full implementation of the 2025 updated Capital Improvements Plan • Proposed Millage Rate is based on fresh data and supported by facts The Library Board of Control has approved a replacement millage continuation proposition to secure the Library’s future for the next 10 years. The Metro Council must vote to approve the Library’s new millage proposition at their regular meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. This will put the Library’s new millage proposition on the June 27, 2026 ballot as a stand-alone, 10-year, dedicated tax.

OFFICIAL TIMELINE December 9, 2025

Metro Council approves the 2026 Budget for the City Parish

December 16, 2025

Library Board meets to approve a NEW, Stand-alone, dedicated Millage Proposition

January 14, 2026

Proposition is Introduced at the regular Metro Council meeting; no discussion

February 11, 2026

Proposition is publicly heard and discussed at the regular Metro Council meeting; Metro Council approval is needed to adopt the millage

April 19, 2026

Kickoff Campaign (National Library Week)

June 6, 2026

Geaux Vote Registration Deadline for June 27 election

June 13, 2026

Early Voting begins (might shift slightly if Juneteenth is declared a State Holiday)

June 27, 2026

Tax Election

Contact your Metro Council member at metrocouncil@brla.gov.

Contact the Library to Help‘Write the Next Chapter’ Katrina Stokes, Executive Library Director | kstokes@ebrpl.com Lori Juge, Assistant Library Director | ljuge@ebrpl.com Mary Stein, Assistant Library Director | mstein@ebrpl.com

Library Information Service eref@ebrpl.com | 225.231.3750