The Advocate 01-16-2026

SAVE up $ 08 to 1

SAVE $ 22 1 LB

When You Buy 3

4 DAY SALE

JanUARY 16th - 19th FRI

SAT SUN MON

16

17

18

19

1

$ 47

Boneless Pork Loin

LB

4

1

3/$

15 OZ CAN SELECTED

Always Save Vegetables

Green Beans, Sweet Peas or Corn

visit rouses.com for more weekly ad specials!

SAVE up $ 98 to 2

LB

— ONLY —

— ONLY —

HALF

SAVE LIMIT 12 $ 11

When You Buy 2

— ONLY —

— ONLY —

SWEET

Red Cherries

2

$ 88

3 LB BAG U.S. #1

Yellow Onions

LB

3

2/$

Prices good at all Baton Rouge, Zachary, Gonzales and Prairieville stores January 16th - January 19th, 2026.

THE

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

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

|

F r i d ay, J a n u a ry 16, 2026

$2.00X

Council member implicated in probe

Dunn an unindicted co-conspirator, source says

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

A state corruption investigation that ensnared a former Baton Rouge transit official also implicates Metro Council member Cleve Dunn Jr. as an unindicted co-conspirator, a source with direct knowledge of the case said.

State prosecutors on Wednesday charged former Capitol Area Transit System Chief Administrative Officer Pearlina Thomas and

contractor Jarian “Jay” Colar on counts of theft and corruption.

According to an affidavit for an arrest warrant obtained by The Advocate, investigators say Thomas improperly steered a nearly $50,000 contract to Colar and fabricated evidence to document work that was never completed.

Wednesday’s indictment says Thomas, Colar and an unindicted co-conspirator identified as C.D. “conspired to commit theft of monies” of $25,000 or more.

The source identified C.D. as Dunn.

Reached Thursday, Dunn declined to comment.

Prosecutors charged Thomas, the former CAO, with theft over $25,000, criminal conspiracy to commit theft over $25,000, malfeasance in office and prohibited use of public funds. Colar faces charges of theft over $25,000 and criminal conspiracy to commit theft over $25,000.

The special grand jury indict-

ment does not provide details on the alleged crimes, and it does not explain what role “C.D.” allegedly played.

Colar and Thomas were both arrested Wednesday and booked into custody.

Their arrests are the latest by Attorney General Dunn Liz Murrill’s office as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in East Baton Rouge Parish government.

The Attorney General’s Office

declined to comment Thursday.

Murrill’s office charged Baton Rouge developer Bradley Brown last month with multiple financial crimes, falsifying public records and money laundering.

Brown was awarded $6 million in federal funds through the cityparish to build a housing development in Scotlandville.

A federal subpoena issued in 2024 produced text messages in which Brown and Dunn discuss various payments and a return on investment. Prior to those

ä See DUNN, page 7A

5 plead Louisiana players indicted in federal gambling investigation not guilty Sweep nets more than 39 players nationwide

THE PLAYERS

The defendants who played basketball at Louisiana universities and are facing charges of bribery, fraud or aiding and abetting include:

BY GUERRY SMITH

ä See GAMBLING, page 6A

WEATHER HIGH 68 LOW 45 PAGE 8B

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

All five defendants charged with criminal hazing in connection with the death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson pleaded not guilty before a judge Thursday morning.

Three defendants, brothers in Southern’s chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, were arrested in March following Wilson’s death: Isaiah Earl Smith, 29, Caleb McCray, 24, and Kyle Thurman, 25.

Two others, Winston Craig Sanders, 22, of Monroe, and Jaydn Landrum, 24, from Texas, were later indicted and had warrants for their arrests issued in December.

Together, the five pleaded not guilty to a combined 56 charges

Contributing writer

Former Tulane forward Kevin Cross was indicted in a Pennsylvania federal court on Thursday morning for point-shaving during the 2023-24 season as part of a sweeping investigation that also involved Nicholls State, included more than 39 men’s basketball players on 17 NCAA teams and started a year earlier in Chinese professional basketball.

According to the indictment, ä Federal Cross, then prosecutors a s e n i o r, was apreveal proached in sprawling mid-Februscheme. ary of 2024 PAGE 1C and offered payment to underperform in a Feb. 18 game at East Carolina. He proceeded to take only two shots in 32 minutes while scoring a season-low four points — far below his team-leading average of 17.5 — as the Green Wave lost 81-67 as a 21/ 2-point underdog. Federal prosecutors said he was paid approximately $30,000 after the fixers raked in at least $140,000 from bets placed on East Carolina.

Two weeks later, Cross agreed to shave points in a March 2 game at Florida Atlantic, according to the indictment, but that attempt was unsuccessful.

He scored 14 points, and Tulane, a 15-point underdog, rallied from a 20-point second-half deficit to lose

in hazing death

ä See HAZING, page 7A

Kevin Cross

Oumar Koureissi

Tulane forward 2020-2024

Diante Smith

Nicholls forward 2023-2024

Nicholls forward 2023-2024

Carlos Hart UNO guard 2023-2024

Dyouavion ‘Jah’ Short

Cedouavious ‘Dae Dae’ Hunter

UNO guard UNO guard 2023-2025 2024-2025 Two people associated with the Northwestern State University men’s basketball team were implicated in Thursday’s indictment, but not named.

THE GAMES

Documents identify eight games where Louisiana men’s basketball players tried or successfully rigged games. n McNeese at Nicholls,

Feb. 17, 2024 n Tulane at East Carolina, Feb. 18, 2024

n Northwestern State

at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Feb. 19, 2024 n Tulane at Fla.Atlantic, March 2, 2024

n UNO vs. Lamar,

March 11, 2024 n UNO vs. McNeese, Dec. 28, 2024

n UNO at Vanderbilt,

Dec. 30, 2024 n UNO vs. Southeastern, Jan. 11, 2025

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

Marathon on pace for record

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

On its 15th anniversary, the Louisiana Marathon is racing toward its largest event yet.

The annual marathon held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend draws visitors from around the globe to Baton Rouge to compete and celebrate south Louisiana culture. This year’s race weekend on Saturday and Sunday will include runners from all 50 states and 15 countries, and Visit Baton Rouge estimates the event to have a $5 million economic impact on the city.

ä See MARATHON, page 9A

101ST yEAR, NO. 200

2A ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

S.C. outbreak ramps up U.S. measles cases

The U.S. measles outbreak that drove cases to a 34-year high in 2025 shows no signs of slowing, as 168 more people have become infected since the start of the new year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday that a total of 171 cases have been confirmed this year in nine states. On Tuesday, South Carolina reported 124 new infections in just a few days. None of the new infections stemmed from international visitors, the primary source in prior years.

South Carolina’s total cases since its measles outbreak began in October have reached 434, with more than 400 people quarantined after exposures in local schools and churches. This is the second-largest state tally the U.S. has seen in the past year, trailing only Texas’ 2025 outbreak that infected 990 people.

“A lot of these cases are a result of activities over the holidays,” said South Carolina state epidemiologist Linda Bell in a call with reporters Wednesday.

For the U.S., 2,242 people were confirmed with measles across 44 states in 2025, which was the largest count since 1991.

Ailing astronaut, crew return to Earth early CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — An ailing astronaut returned to Earth with three others on Thursday, ending their space station mission more than a month early in NASA’s first medical evacuation.

SpaceX guided the capsule to a middle-of-the-night splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego, less than 11 hours after the astronauts exited the International Space Station. Their first stop was a hospital for an overnight stay.

It was an unexpected finish to a mission that began in August and left the orbiting lab with only one American and two Russians on board.

Officials have refused to identify the astronaut who developed the health problem last week or explain what happened, citing medical privacy.

While the astronaut was stable in orbit, NASA wanted them back on Earth as soon as possible to receive proper care and diagnostic testing. The entry and splashdown required no special changes or accommodations, officials said, and the recovery ship had its usual allotment of medical experts on board.

The astronauts emerged from the capsule, one by one, within an hour of splashdown. They were helped onto reclining cots and then whisked away for standard medical checks.

Judges allow California to use new House map SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California can use a new voter-approved U.S. House map that is designed to boost Democrats in the 2026 midterms, a federal three-judge panel ruled Wednesday.

In a 2-1 ruling, a three-judge panel in Los Angeles denied requests from state Republicans and the U.S. Justice Department to block the map from being used in future elections. The complaint accused California of violating the Constitution by using race as a factor to favor Hispanic voters when drawing the new district lines.

The map, aimed at giving Democrats a shot at flipping as many as five House seats next year, was decisively approved by voters through Proposition 50 in November. The effort was pushed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to counter a similar effort in Texas backed

by President Donald Trump to help Republicans win five House seats. Republicans currently hold nine of California’s 52 congressional seats.

“Republicans’ weak attempt to silence voters failed,” Newsom said in a statement.

Republicans vowed to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

California Democrats said that the new map was legal because it was drawn for partisan advantage. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering is a political question and not one for the federal courts to decide.

lll

Israeli PM: Gaza announcement symbolic U.S. says ceasefire is in second stage

BY WAFAA SHURAFA and SAM METZ Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes in Gaza on Thursday killed nine people, including three women, a day after the U.S. announced that the fragile ceasefire would advance to its second phase.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the ceasefire announcement largely symbolic, raising questions about how its more challenging elements will be carried out.

Speaking with the parents of the last Israeli hostage whose remains are still in Gaza, Netanyahu late Wednesday said the governing committee of Palestinians announced as part of the second phase was merely a “declarative move,” rather than the sign of progress described by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.

Israeli police officer Ran Gvili’s parents had earlier pressed Netanyahu not to advance the ceasefire until their son’s remains were returned, Israel’s Hostage and Missing Families Forum said Wednesday. Netanyahu told Gvili’s parents that his return remained a top priority.

The announcement of the ceasefire’s second phase marked a significant step forward but left many questions unanswered. Those include the makeup of the proposed, apolitical governing committee of Palestinian experts and an international “Board of Peace.”

The committee’s composition was coordinated with Israel, said an Israeli official speaking on the condition of anonymity.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA

A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches across Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, on Thursday.

Questions also include the timing of deployment of international forces and the reopening of Gaza’s southern Rafah border crossing, as well as concrete details about disarming Hamas and rebuilding Gaza.

In an interview on Wednesday with the West Bank-based Radio Basma, Ali Shaath, the engineer and former Palestinian Authority official slated to head the committee, said he anticipated reconstruction and recovery to take roughly three years. He said it would start with immediate needs like shelter.

“If I bring bulldozers, and push the rubble into the sea, and make new islands (in the sea), new land,

it is a win for Gaza and (we) get rid of the rubble,” Shaath, a Gaza native, said.

More than 450 people have been killed since Israel and Hamas agreed to halt fighting in October, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Thursday.

Nine people were killed Thursday in several strikes, according to local hospitals. The first strike killed two men, while three women and a man were killed in the second strike, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Later, two people were killed and five injured when a strike hit a house, according to AlAwda Hospital in Nuseirat. In addition, one person was killed in Gaza

City, Shifa Hospital said. Israeli military officials did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the strikes.

Separately, the military said that it had killed someone Thursday who had approached troops near the so-called Yellow Line — which divides the Israeli-held part of Gaza from the rest — and posed an imminent threat.

Gaza’s population of more than 2 million people has struggled to keep cold weather and storms at bay while facing shortages of humanitarian aid and a lack of more substantial temporary housing, which is badly needed during the winter months.

Muhammad Ali stamp released in his hometown

BY DYLAN LOVAN Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Postal officials unveiled a commemorative stamp of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday, featuring a photo of the champ in his fighting prime.

The Postal Service printed 22 million of the Ali stamps, which feature an Associated Press photo from 1974 showing the fighter holding up his gloves in a fighting stance. His last name, in bold black and red all-cap lettering, accents the stamp.

“We honor Muhammad Ali here in his hometown, a city that shaped him and that he reshaped forever,”

gathered to celebrate the issuance of the stamp, which went on sale Thursday.

“This stamp will travel millions of miles, it will pass through countless hands, but it will quietly remind the world of a man who dared to believe that kindness could be powerful and that being in service to others could be heroic,” said his widow, Lonnie Ali. The outspoken three-time heavyIMAGE PROVIDED By USPS weight champ mesmerized the The commemorative Muhammad world with his brash poetry and Ali stamp features a 1974 personality.

Associated Press photo of Ali. He stayed in the spotlight in his post-fighting days by continuing said longtime broadcaster Bob his philanthropy and support of Costas, who hosted the unveiling human rights issues.

In his boxing days, Ali once event.

The champ’s friends and family quipped that he should be on a

Stars and Stripes newspaper to cut out ‘woke distractions’

BY DAVID BAUDER AP media writer

The Pentagon said Thursday that it is changing the independent military newspaper Stars and Stripes so it concentrates on “reporting for our warfighters” and no longer includes “woke distractions.”

That message, in a social media post from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s spokesman, is short on specifics and does not mention the news outlet’s legacy of independence from government and military leadership. It comes a day after the Washington Post reported that applicants for jobs at Stars and Stripes were being asked what they would do to support President Donald Trump’s policies.

Stars and Stripes traces its lineage to the Civil War and has reported news about the military either in its newspaper or online steadily since World War II, largely to an audience of service members stationed overseas. Roughly half of its budget comes from the Pentagon and its staff members are considered Defense Department employees.

The outlet’s mission statement emphasizes that it is “editorially independent of interference from outside its own editorial chain-of-command” and that it is unique among news organizations tied to the Defense Department in being “governed by the principles of the First Amendment.”

Congress established that independence in the 1990s after instances of military leadership getting involved in editorial decisions. During Trump’s first term in 2020, Defense Secretary Mark Esper tried to eliminate government funding for Stars and Stripes — to effectively shut it down — before he was overruled by the president.

Hegseth’s spokesman, Sean Parnell, said on X Thursday that the Pentagon “is

returning Stars and Stripes to its original mission: reporting for our warfighters.”

He said the department will “refocus its content away from woke distractions.”

“Stars and Stripes will be custom tailored to our warfighters,” Parnell wrote.

“It will focus on warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality, survivability and ALL THINGS MILITARY. No more repurposed DC gossip columns; no more Associated Press reprints.”

Parnell did not return a message seeking details. The Daily Wire reported, after speaking a Pentagon spokeswoman, that the plan is to have all Stars and Stripes content written by active-duty service members. Currently, Congress has mandated that the publication’s publisher and top editor be civilians, said Max Lederer, its publisher.

The Pentagon also said that half of the outlet’s content would be generated by the Defense Department, and that it would no longer publish material from The Associated Press or Reuters news services.

Also Thursday, the Pentagon issued a statement in the Federal Register that it would eliminate some 1990s era directives that governed how Stars and Stripes operates. Lederer said it’s not clear what that would mean for the outlet’s operations, or whether the Defense Department has the authority to do so without congressional authorization.

The publisher said he believes that Stars and Stripes is valued by the military community precisely because of its independence as a news organization. He said no one at the Pentagon has communicated to him what it wants from Stars and Stripes; he first learned of its intentions from reading Parnell’s social media post.

“This will either destroy the value of the organization or significantly reduce its value,” Lederer said.

postage stamp because “that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked.”

The Forever Stamps come with a stamp sheet that also features a photo of Ali posing in a pinstripe suit, a recognition of his work as an activist and humanitarian.

Born Cassius Clay Jr., Ali, who changed his name after converting to Islam, died in 2016 at the age of 74 after living with Parkinson’s disease for more than three decades. He is buried in Louisville.

During his lifetime and posthumously, the man known as The Greatest has received numerous awards, including an Olympic gold medal in 1960, the United Nations Messenger of Peace award in 1998, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.

GET IN TOUCH Customer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COM or 225-388-0200 News Tips / Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM Obituaries: 225-388-0289 • Mon-Fri 9-5; Sat 10-5; Closed Sun Advertising Sales: 225-388-0262 • Mon-Fri 8-5 Classified Advertising: 225-383-0111 • Mon-Fri 8-5 Subscribe: theadvocate.com/subscribe E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com The Advocate (USPS 363-040) is published daily in Baton Rouge and at additional mailing offices. Periodicals postage paid at Baton Rouge, LA. ISSN: 1061-3978. Capital City Press, proprietor. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Advocate, Circulation Accounting, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Newspaper carriers are independent contractors and not employees of Capital City Press.

All home delivery subscription sales are non-refundable. Should you discontinue your subscription during term, the subscription will end with the expiration date on your subscription, and there will not be a refund of a prorated amount. Subscribers who purchased their subscription before Feb. 1, 2023 and wish to cancel can request a refund of a remaining balance at https://www.nola.com/app/forms/refund-request-form/. Refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Capital City Press, LLC or its designee. All subscriptions purchased that include a special edition will have the special edition value deducted prior to any refund provided to subscriber upon cancellation of service. Standard subscription rates may be effective upon renewal. All standard subscriptions include digital access and e-Edition, a digital replica of the printed Advocate edition(s). The apps are free for tablets and smartphones. Smartphone apps may not be supported on all devices. The Advocate standard subscription rate is $71.22 per 4-week period, plus tax. The Acadiana Advocate standard subscription rate is $68.48 per 4-week period, plus tax. Standard digital subscriptions include e-Edition with the rate of $31.15 per 4-week period, plus tax starting 1/1/26. Special editions included in home delivery subscriptions are 1/30/26, 3/11/26, 4/15/26, 5/27/26, 7/8/26, 8/19/26, 9/30/26 11/26/26, 1/22/27, 3/10/27, 4/14/27, 5/26/27, 7/14/27, 8/18/27, 9/29/27 and 11/25/27 and are billed at $5.99 each. The Thanksgiving Day edition will be billed at your regular Thursday rate plus $5.99. To opt out of special edition delivery, email help@theadvocate.com or call 225-388-0395. By opting out of special editions you will not receive that day’s newspaper. Thanksgiving Day is not a special edition and opting out for that edition isn’t permitted. Prices shown are in U.S. dollars. Prices subject to change. Other restrictions may apply. We no longer provide credit for temporary delivery stops of 14 days or less. During a temporary delivery stop donations are made to our News in Education program. This program provides newspapers and digital access to schools across Louisiana. This program is paid for by sponsors and temporary stops so that students may use the newspaper for educational purposes in the classroom. During a temporary delivery stop of the print edition subscribers have unlimited digital access to theadvocate.com, nola.com and the apps for tablet and smartphone. Seasonal delivery times from August 2025 through February 2026 will extend to 8:00 a.m. on weekends. Subscribers may also choose to access our digital replica e-Edition of the printed Advocate, Times Picayune | New Orleans Advocate and Acadiana Advocate only. As a highly valued customer, we also value your privacy. All personal information collected by The Advocate will be used for administration and customer verification; it may be used for promotional purposes in accordance with The Advocate’s privacy policy. Please refer to our policy located at https://www.theadvocate.com/new_policy/ for information regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.

By providing your phone number and email address you agree that we can call or email you to confirm delivery service, satisfaction and/or sales promotions as they may occur from The Advocate.

The Advocate: 10705 Rieger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 3A

lll

Machado says she gave Peace Prize to Trump

BY WILL WEISSERT, JOEY CAPPELLETTI and REGINA GARCIA CANO Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump during a meeting with him at the White House on Thursday, saluting his “unique commitment with our freedom” despite his repeatedly questioning her credibility to take over her country after the U.S. ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro.

Machado did not provide further details of the exchange, and the White House didn’t say if Trump accepted the medal, or provide more clarity.

The Nobel Institute, which awarded the prize, had said Machado couldn’t give it to Trump. The White House said before Trump’s meeting with Machado that, if she tried to do that, whether he accepted it would be entirely up to the president

the medal, the Nobel Peace Prize,” Machado told reporters after leaving the White House and heading to Capitol Hill. She said she’d done so “as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.”

Even if it the gesture proves to be purely symbolic, it was extraordinary given that Trump has failed to support Machado eventually becoming Venezuela’s leader following Maduro’s capture in an audacious U.S. military raid this month.

Trump has also raised doubts about his stated commitment to backing democratic rule for that country, ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO giving no timetable on when Venezuelan opposition elections might be held — leader María Corina and Machado indicated he’d provided few details on that Machado waves to supporters on Pennsylvania front during their meeting.

Before her visit to WashAvenue as she leaves the ington, Machado had not White House after meeting been seen in public since with President Donald Trump she traveled last month to Norway, where her daughter in Washington on Thursday. received the Nobel medal on her behalf. She had spent 11 himself.

“I presented the Presi- months in hiding in Venezudent of the United States ela before she appeared in

Norway after the ceremony.

Nevertheless, after a closed-door discussion with Trump, she greeted dozens of cheering supporters waiting for her near the White House gates — stopping to hug many. “We can count on President Trump,” she told them, prompting some to briefly chant “Thank you, Trump,” but she didn’t elaborate.

Trump hasn’t commented on the meeting. But the jubilant scene stood in contrast to the president having signaled his willingness to work with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who was Maduro’s No. 2.

In endorsing Rodríguez so far, Trump sidelined Machado, who has long been a face of resistance in Venezuela.

While Trump and Machado’s meeting was still going on, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Venezuela’s opposi-

tion leader “a remarkable and brave voice,” but also said the meeting didn’t mean Trump’s opinion of her changed, calling it “a realistic assessment.”

Trump has said it would be difficult for Machado to lead because she “doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country.”

Her party is widely believed to have won 2024 elections rejected by Maduro.

Leavitt said Machado sought the face-to-face meeting without setting expectations for what would occur. Machado previously offered to share with Trump the Nobel Peace Prize she won last year, an honor he has coveted.

Machado held a closeddoor meeting with a bipartisan group of senators. Her comments about presenting her Nobel award to Trump came after those discussions.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-

Conn., said that in their meeting, Machado told the senators, “If there’s not some progress, real progress towards a transition in power, and/or elections in the next several months, we should all be worried.”

“She reminded us that Delcy Rodríguez is, in many ways, worse than Maduro,” he added.

Asked if Machado had heard any commitment from the White House today on holding Venezuelan elections, Murphy said, “No, I don’t think she got any commitment from them.”

But Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, was exultant following the meeting, saying Machado “delivered a message that loud and clear: What President Trump did was the most important, significant event in Latin America. That getting rid of Maduro was absolutely essential.”

, s a r G i d r a M f The Taste o y l i a D h s e r U.S. seizes another oil tanker Baked F t party,

BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and MICHAEL BIESECKER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea have seized another sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration says has ties to Venezuela, part of a broader U.S. effort to take control of the South American country’s oil.

The U.S. Coast Guard boarded the tanker, named Veronica, early Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on social media. The ship had previously passed through Venezuelan waters and was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump’s “established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the

Caribbean,” she said.

U.S. Southern Command said Marines and sailors launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to take part in the operation alongside a Coast Guard tactical team, which Noem said conducted the boarding. The military said the ship was seized “without incident.”

Several U.S. government social media accounts posted brief videos that appeared to show various parts of the ship’s capture. Blackand-white footage showed at least four helicopters approaching the ship before hovering over the deck while armed troops dropped down by rope. At least nine people could be seen on the deck of the ship.

The Veronica is the sixth

he nex t t s o h , y b a Find the b times roll! d o o g e h t t and le

sanctioned tanker seized by U.S. forces as part of the effort by Trump’s administration to control the production, refining and global distribution of Venezuela’s oil products and the fourth since the U.S. ouster of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro almost two weeks ago.

The Veronica last transmitted its location on Jan. 3 as being at anchor off the coast of Aruba, just north of Venezuela’s main oil terminal. According to the data it transmitted at the time, the ship was partially filled with crude.

The ship is currently listed as flying the flag of Guyana and is considered part of the shadow fleet that moves cargoes of oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.

8646 GOODWOOD BOULEVARD (225) 928-7000

SE LL YO U R VALUABLES T O T H E N AT I O N ’ S L E A D I N G E S TAT E B U Y E R S We buy gold, silver, diamonds, coins & more!

3 D A Y S O N LY

|

JANUARY 20 - 22

Tuesday - Wednesday 10am - 6pm | Thursday 10am - 5pm 11740 Coursey Blvd A, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 | Call for directions: (225) 292-7482

W H AT WE BUY Fine Jewelry

Coins & Currency

Rarities

Diamonds

Watches

Fine Art & Luxury Goods

Scrap Gold & Silver

Sterling Silver

& Much More

RE CE IVE A 2 0% BONUS When you trade for store credit * Receive immediate payment! No appointment necessary.

Ready to Sell?

SCAN QR CODE HERE for full buying event details.

Call (888) 787-1112 or visit NationalRarities.com for any item-related questions.

*A free evaluation will be provided, but there is no obligation to purchase your items. Exclusions Apply. **We are not an authorized Rolex dealer nor are we affiliated or endorsed by Rolex, Rolex USA, or any of its subsidiaries.

4A ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Trump threatens to use Insurrection Act Protests against ICE grow in Minneapolis

BY STEVE KARNOWSKI, HALLIE GOLDEN and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to invoke an 1807 law and deploy troops to quell persistent protests against the federal officers sent to Minneapolis to enforce his administration’s massive immigration crackdown.

The threat comes a day after a man was shot and wounded by an immigration officer who had been attacked with a shovel and broom handle. That shooting further heightened the fear and anger that has radiated across the city since an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Renee Good in the head.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used federal law, to deploy the U.S. military or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, over the objections of state governors.

lll

“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State,” Trump said in social media post.

Presidents have invoked the law more than two dozen times, most recently in 1992

by President George H.W. Bush to end unrest in Los Angeles. In that instance, local authorities had asked for the assistance.

“I’m making a direct appeal to the President: Let’s turn the temperature down.

Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are,” Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, said on X. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said he would challenge any such action in court. He’s already suing to try to stop the surge by the Department of Homeland Security, which says officers have arrested more than 2,500 people since Nov. 29 as part of an immigration operation in the Twin Cities called Metro

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ADAM GRAy

Federal immigration officers confront protesters outside Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis on Thursday.

Surge.

The operation grew when ICE sent 2,000 officers and agents to the area early in January. ICE is a DHS agency.

In Minneapolis, smoke filled the streets Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd. Protesters responded by throwing rocks and shooting fireworks.

Demonstrations have be-

come common in Minneapolis since Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7. Agents who have yanked people from their cars and homes have been confronted by angry bystanders demanding they leave.

“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order,” Minneapolis Mayor

Jacob Frey said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of three people who said they were questioned or detained in recent days.

The lawsuit says two are Somali and one is Hispanic; all three are U.S. citizens.

The lawsuit seeks an end to what the ACLU describes as a practice of racial profiling and warrantless arrests. The government did not immediately comment.

Homeland Security said in a statement that federal law enforcement officers on Wednesday stopped a driver from Venezuela who is in the U.S. illegally. The person drove off then crashed into a parked car before fleeing on foot, DHS said.

Officers caught up, then two other people arrived and the three started attacking the officer, according to DHS. “Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said. The confrontation took place about 4.5 miles from where Good was killed.

Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the man who was shot did not have a life-threatening injury. O’Hara’s account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security, which later said the other two men were also in the U.S. illegally from Venezuela.

The FBI said several government vehicles were damaged and property inside was stolen when agents responded to the shooting.

Photos show broken windows and insults made with paint. A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for information.

Court ruling jeopardizes freedom for pro-Palestinian activist

BY JAKE OFFENHARTZ and MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

A federal appeals panel on Thursday reversed a lower court decision that released former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil from an immigration jail, bringing the government one step closer to detaining and ultimately deporting the Palestinian activist.

The three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of

Appeals didn’t decide the key issue in Khalil’s case: whether the Trump administration’s effort to throw Khalil out of the U.S. over his campus activism and criticism of Israel is unconstitutional.

But in its 2-1 decision, the panel ruled a federal judge in New Jersey didn’t have jurisdiction to decide the matter at this time. Federal law requires the case to fully move through the immigration courts first, before Khalil can challenge the

decision, they wrote.

“That scheme ensures that petitioners get just one bite at the apple — not zero or two,” the panel wrote. “But it also means that some petitioners, like Khalil, will have to wait to seek relief for allegedly unlawful government conduct.”

The law bars Khalil “from attacking his detention and removal in a habeas petition,” the panel added.

T h u r s d a y ’s d e c i s i o n marked a major win for

the Trump administration’s sweeping campaign to detain and deport noncitizens who joined protests against Israel.

It was not clear whether the government would seek to detain Khalil, a legal permanent resident, again while his legal challenges continue.

In a statement distributed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Khalil said the appeals ruling was “deeply disappointing, but it does not break our resolve.” He

added: “The door may have been opened for potential re-detainment down the line, but it has not closed our commitment to Palestine and to justice and accountability.”

An outspoken leader of the pro-Palestinian movement at Columbia, Khalil was arrested last March. He then spent three months detained in a Louisiana immigration jail, missing his firstborn’s birth.

Federal officials have accused Khalil of lead-

ing activities “aligned to Hamas,” though they have not presented evidence to support the claim and have not accused him of criminal conduct. They also accused Khalil, 31, of failing to disclose information on his green card application.

The government justified the arrest under a seldomused statute that allows for the expulsion of noncitizens whose beliefs are deemed to pose a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests.

Classic Eats,Timeless Memories

Now offering Catering

Perfect for parties, events & more 7633 JEFFERSON HWY. | BATON ROUGE

225.924.1391 | DEARMANSDINER.COM CATERING@DEARMANSDINER.COM

lacapfcu.org/share-certificates

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 5A

lll

U.S. warns Iran that ‘all options are on the table’

BY FARNOUSH AMIRI and EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS — After weeks of escalating tension, U.S. and Iranian officials faced each other Thursday at the U.N. Security Council, where America’s envoy renewed threats against the Islamic Republic despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to lower the temperature between the two adversaries.

The U.S. was joined by Iranian dissidents in rebuking the government’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests that activists say have killed at least 2,677 people.

“Colleagues, let me be clear: President Trump is a man of action, not endless talk like we see at the United Nations,” Mike Waltz, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., told the council. “He has made it clear that all options are on the table to stop the slaughter. And no one should know that better than the leadership of the Iranian regime.”

Waltz’s remarks came as the prospect of U.S. re-

taliation for the protesters’ deaths still hung over the region, though Trump signaled a possible de-escalation, saying the killing appeared to be ending. By Thursday, the protests challenging Iran’s theocracy appeared increasingly smothered, but the state-ordered internet and communication blackout remained.

One diplomat told The Associated Press that top officials from Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar spent the last 48 hours raising concerns with Trump that a U.S. military intervention would shake the global economy and destabilize an already volatile region.

During the meeting, Hossein Darzi, the deputy Iranian ambassador to the U.N., blasted the U.S. for what he claimed was America’s “direct involvement in steering unrest in Iran to violence.”

The U.S. requested the emergency Security Council meeting and invited two Iranian dissidents, Masih Alinejad and Ahmad Batebi, to describe their experience as targets of the Islamic Republic.

In a stunning moment, Alinejad addressed the Iranian representative directly.

“You have tried to kill me three times. I have seen my would-be assassin with my own eyes in front of my garden, in my home in Brooklyn,” she said while the Iranian official looked directly ahead, without acknowledging her.

In October, two purported Russian mobsters were each sentenced to 25 years behind bars for hiring a hit man to kill Alinejad at her New York home three years ago on behalf of the Iranian government.

Batebi described the deep cuts the prison guards in Iran would inflict on him before pouring salt on his wounds. “If you do not believe me, I can show you my body right now,” he told the council.

Both dissidents called on the world body and the council to do more to hold Iran accountable for its human rights abuses.

Russia was the only member of the council that defended Iran’s actions while calling for the U.S. to stop

intervening.

Videos of demonstrations have stopped coming out of Iran, likely signaling the slowdown of their pace under the heavy security force presence in major cities.

In Tehran, witnesses said recent mornings showed no new signs of bonfires lit the night before or debris in the streets. The sound of gunfire, which had been intense for several nights, has also faded.

The clampdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,677 people, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The figure reported Thursday is an increase of 106 from a day earlier, and the organization says the number will likely continue to climb. The death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades and recalls the cha-

os surrounding the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The U.S.-based agency, founded 20 years ago, has been accurate throughout multiple years of demonstrations, relying on a network of activists inside Iran that confirms all reported fatalities.

With communications greatly limited, the AP has been unable to independently confirm the group’s toll. The Iranian government has not provided casualty figures.

In other developments Thursday, the U.S. announced new sanctions on Iranian officials accused of suppressing the protests, which began late last month over the country’s faltering economy and the collapse of its currency. The Group of Seven industrialized democracies and the European Union also said they too were looking at new sanctions to ratchet up the pres-

sure on Iran’s theocratic government.

Among those hit with U.S. sanctions was the secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security, whom the Treasury Department accuses of being one of the first officials to call for violence against protesters. The Group of Seven, of which the U.S. is a member, also warned they could impose more sanctions if Iran’s crackdown continues.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said the 27-nation bloc was looking at strengthening sanctions “to push forward that this regime comes to an end and that there is change.”

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.

SAVE $350 when you transform your patio into an outdoor oasis.

Julio Iglesias accused of sexual assault in Caribbean

BY JOSEPH WILSON and DÁNICA COTO Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain — Spanish prosecutors are studying allegations that Grammywinning singer Julio Iglesias sexually assaulted two former employees at his residences in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.

The Spanish prosecutors’ office told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the allegations were related to media reports from earlier this week that alleged Iglesias had sexually and physically assaulted two women who worked in his Caribbean residences between January and October 2021.

Iglesias has yet to speak publicly regarding the allegations. Russell L. King, a Miami-based entertainment lawyer who lists Iglesias as a client on his website, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by the AP. The Spanish prosecutors’ office that handles cases for Spain’s National Court said that it had received formal allegations against Iglesias by an unnamed party on Jan. 5. Iglesias could potentially be taken in front of the Madrid-based court, which can try alleged crimes by Spanish citizens while they are abroad, according to the court’s press office.

The 82-year-old Iglesias is one of the world’s most successful musical artists after having sold more than 300 million records in more than a dozen languages. After making his start in Spain, he won immense popularity in the United States and wider world in the 1970s and ’80s.

He’s the father of pop singer Enrique Iglesias.

Julio Iglesias won a 1988 Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance for his album “Un Hombre Solo.”

He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2019.

Wo m e n ’s Link Worldwide, a nongovernmental organization, said in a statement that it was representIglesias ing the two women who had presented the complaint to the Spanish court. The group said that the women were accusing Iglesias of “crimes against sexual freedom and indemnity such as sexual harassment” and of “human trafficking for the purpose of forced labor and servitude.”

The organization said the women in their testimony also accused Iglesias of regularly checking their cellphones, of prohibiting them from leaving the house where they worked and demanding that they work up to 16 hours a day, with no contract or days off.

The organization said it did not reach out to authorities in the Bahamas or the Dominican Republic, and that it didn’t know whether authorities in those Caribbean nations have initiated an investigation.

Gema Fernández, senior attorney at Women’s Link Worldwide, said in an online news conference Wednesday that “Spanish legislation regarding sexual violence, gender-based violence and

 

trafficking could be an interesting option” for the two women making the allegations against Iglesias.

“Listening to what (the two women) are seeking and their definitions of justice, it seems to us that filing a complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the National Court of Spain was the path that best suited their definition of justice,” Fernández said.

Fernández said prosecutors have not set a date to take statements from the women and noted that prosecutors have up to six months to determine whether the information they receive warrants a criminal prosecution. Those six months could exceptionally be extended to a year, she added.

Landmark of Plaquemine is an Equal Opportunity Employer and 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.

Instant shade—at the touch of a button.

Enjoy more quality time with family and friends.

Up to 10-Year Limited Warranty.

Call 1-888-901-3002 now to

SAVE $350 TODAY!

America’s #1 Awning!

6A ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

Landry appoints new inspector general for La. Office to spearhead efficiency efforts

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

The office that investigates public corruption and white-collar criminal fraud across the state has a new leader after Gov. Jeff Landry on Thursday announced he is appointing Angele Davis as Louisiana inspector general and intends to “reform” the office to include work on government efficiency efforts.

Landry said he will enlist the help of lawmakers to determine exactly what changes to make to the Office of State Inspector General, and he said they likely will be heartened to have an executive branch official dedicated to finding “efficiencies in state government.”

Louisiana’s boards and commissions and higher education institutions could be areas of initial focus, Landry said.

GAMBLING

Continued from page 1A by only six. The fixers lost around $200,000.

Unlike in other cases in the indictment, there is no mention of Cross being approached again to make up for the alleged failed attempt.

Tulane released a statement Thursday afternoon addressing the indictment.

“Tulane takes the integrity of intercollegiate athletics and the well-being of our student-athletes very seriously. We cooperate fully with the NCAA and, where appropriate, with law enforcement authorities. Because this matter involves an ongoing legal process, the university is unable to comment further at this time. We remain committed to upholding the highest ethical standards as well as continuing to provide our student-athletes with education and resources on gambling risks, compliance, and personal responsibility.”

The two games Cross allegedly tried to fix were part of a dramatic, mystifying year-ending slide. Tulane, which returned three starters from a team that finished fourth in the American Conference, lost 11 of its last 13 games and finished in a fiveway tie for last in a league weakened by the departure of Houston, Cincinnati and Central Florida for the Big 12.

Earlier in the season, Cross became the eighth player in NCAA history to register back-to-back tripledoubles and the first in 15 years to do it against consecutive Division I opponents.

“I was just surprised to see that (indictment) as much like everyone else this morning,” seventh-year Tulane coach Ron Hunter said Thursday. “I can’t comment too much about it and don’t know much about it to be honest with you. I’m saddened to a point that any of

The new appointment came during a news conference dedicated to the results of Landry’s Fiscal Responsibility Program, a yearlong effort to find cost savings in Louisiana government.

The Governor’s Office said the program could save the state general fund $328 million and $603 million for federally funded programs, as well as $69 million from other funding sources.

However, an itemized breakdown clearly delineating how the savings will be generated was not provided.

For example, the documentation from Landry’s office says $407 million in savings came from “process efficiency” efforts, which, in part, include “consolidating duties, natural attrition and elimination of vacant positions” and “reorganization and consolidation … throughout multiple departments.”

Davis was former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s chief budget architect, serving as his commissioner of administration from January 2008

my former guys would be involved in anything, but it’s where we are in college athletics now.”

Cross was a four-year starter for Tulane after transferring from Nebraska in 2020-21. He scored 1,517 points, had 717 rebounds and handed out 394 assists with the Wave.

Former Nicholls reserve forward Omar Koureissi also was indicted for point shaving in the 2023-24 season, allegedly receiving $32,000 along with unindicted teammate Diante Smith, the Colonels’ leading scorer.

Nicholls, a 12-point underdog to Southland Conference front-runner McNeese State, lost 74-47 on Feb. 17 while Koureissi went scoreless and Smith scored 13, three under his average.

The fixers wagered about $100,000 on the game, the report said.

Nicholls coach Tevon Saddler was in his first season with the Colonels in 2023-24.

They finished 20-14 overall and 13-5 in the Southland, losing to McNeese State in the conference tournament championship game.

Smith and Koureissi each played only one year at Nicholls. Smith transferred to Texas-Arlington after the season, finishing his eligibility in 2024-25. Koureissi transferred to Texas Southern, where he is a senior this year.

Nicholls released the following statement Thursday afternoon: “Nicholls State University is strongly against any acts that go against our values and expectations. The Nicholls Athletics Department continues to provide gambling awareness education to student-athletes and does not tolerate participation in illegal gambling activities.”

Former LSU player Antonio Blakeney was named but uncharged in the 70page indictment, although not for anything he did while he was a member of the Tigers. Prosecutors said he was paid nearly $200,000

to August 2010, at which point she left for a private sector job.

Before that, she was culture, recreation and tourism secretary for Mitch Landrieu, who at the time was lieutenant governor, and she held the No. 2 post at the Division of Administration while Mike Foster was governor.

Davis also ran for state treasurer in 2017 but lost to John Schroder.

The state inspector general is a law enforcement agency that is part of the Governor’s Office. It investigates complaints of inefficiency, mismanagement, misconduct, fraud and corruption and is staffed by criminal investigators.

It collaborates with federal and state prosecutors and focuses on “securing criminal public corruption indictments and convictions,” according to its strategic plan.

Davis succeeds Stephen B. Street Jr., who served three terms and was initially appointed by Jindal and later by former Gov. John Bel Edwards.

“Serving for 18 years as Louisi-

for fixing two games in the Chinese Basketball Association’s 2022-23 season and then helped recruit players for the point-shaving schemes in college games, including Cross, Koureissi and Smith.

Blakeney played for the Tigers in 2015-16 and 201617 and spent the following two years in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls.

UNO, which had three former players banned for life by the NCAA this past November following a probe into sports betting allegations, also appeared in the 70-page report. Former guard Carlos Hart, who started five games in 2023-24, was indicted for recruiting an unnamed teammate to help shave points in the Privateers’ 2023-24 Southland tournament game against Lamar.

UNO, an 11-point underdog, lost 71-57, finishing its season 10-23, while Hart went 0 of 3 from the floor and scored one point. Hart received $20,000 in cash as a result, according to the indictment. He did not play anywhere last season before resurfacing at Eastern Michigan this year.

Heritage Manor of Baton Rouge II is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.

We are committed to the principal of equal employmentopportunity 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.

OLD HOUSE DEMOLITION Demolition of Houses, Barns & Out Buildings FREE ESTIMATES

225-485-3947

ana’s Inspector General has been one of the great honors of my life, both personally and professionally,” Street said in a statement. “Time to move on to the next chapter. I’m excited for what the future holds.”

Next week, the administration for a third year in a row will unveil another “standstill” budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, Landry’s top budget official, Commissioner of Administration Taylor Barras, said at the news conference.

That means the administration will ask state lawmakers to hold spending of money in the state general fund to roughly the same level as the prior year.

The proposed budget plan will shed more light on how exactly Landry wants lawmakers to appropriate state funds and where he thinks spending should be reduced.

Barras said the governor’s costsavings effort will allow the state to cut spending in some areas without the need for layoffs or cuts to services.

The governor also noted he wants to keep working toward eliminating Louisiana’s income tax.

Landry on Thursday said his Fiscal Responsibility Program, which has sometimes been referred to as LA DOGE, “is complete.”

But the government efficiency efforts will continue at the Inspector General’s Office, which will have “a new and an expansive role as a reformed office that also focuses on optimization and efficiencies within state government,” he said.

In addition to inspector general, Davis will also hold the title “chief integrity officer,” Landry said.

Davis said she was a team member on the Fiscal Responsibility Program last year and had a contract for that work through the Louisiana legislative auditor.

The Inspector General’s Office will continue the work the Fiscal Responsibility Program started of “creating efficiencies throughout the departments by structurally changing the way that we do things,” Davis said.

DAY CAMP: 1st-5th GRADE OVERNIGHT CAMP: 3rd-12th GRADE

Safety. Style.

Stress-Free Installation.

CALL NOW 1.844.219.1540

SPECIAL OFFER

Waiving All Installation Costs!

Add’l terms apply. Offer subject to change and vary by dealer. Expires 12/27/26.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 7A

lll

DUNN

Continued from page 1A discussions, Dunn had voted to award Brown the federal housing dollars for his “Housing for Heroes” project.

Dunn has said his relationship with Brown was not as a business partner, but he provided the developer a bridge loan.

Inside the investigation In an affidavit for an arrest warrant obtained by The Advocate, Murrill’s office said Thomas helped Colar skirt procurement rules and fabricate evidence of his work.

The nearly $50,000 contract was supposed to help CATS identify new revenue sources.

“The suspects were granted funds based on fraudulent information and supporting documentation provided by the conspirators,” investigators wrote.

The affidavit does not name Dunn, or “C.D.” The Attorney General’s Office began investigating after the FBI

HAZING

Continued from page 1A Thursday morning before 19th Judicial District Judge Nicole Robinson.

Smith, McCray and Thurman each face felony hazing charges. In addition, McCray was indicted on a charge of manslaughter, Smith was indicted for principal to manslaughter and obstruction of justice, and Thurman was indicted for obstruction of justice.

McCray has also been charged with seven counts of misdemeanor hazing.

Sanders and Landrum both face principal to felony hazing, as well as nine charges each of misdemeanor hazing.

The grand jury that put forward these charges declined to include another 21-year-old man in their indictment back in December.

The charges all stem from an alleged fraternity hazing ritual conducted for the Beta

sought help “regarding allegations of public officials who allegedly accepted bribes and misused their positions” to influence CATS contracts, according to the document.

Investigators say Thomas used her position as CAO to award CATS contracts for less than $50,000 to certain people, as contracts for more than that amount require board approval.

Among those contracts was one awarded to Colar, officials said.

Names of individuals and businesses were concealed in the affidavit, investigators noted, due to the sensitive nature of an ongoing investigation.

Colar’s attorney declined to comment Thursday. Thomas could not be immediately reached for comment.

Where did the money go?

In July 2021, Colar and Thomas met for the first time at a local restaurant with an unnamed third person, according to the affidavit. Shortly after, Colar was awarded the $50,000 contract from CATS. Financial records obtained by

Sigma Psi chapter of Omega Psi Phi on Feb. 27, 2025, at a warehouse off Greenwell Springs Road.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore has previously described the indictment as “long and very thorough,” but said in December more suspects could be indicted should additional evidence come to light.

In the indictments, prosecutors allege that fraternity members endangered their pledges during the ceremony by lining them up to be punched multiple times, and that they later tried to persuade witnesses to give false information to investigators to avoid arrest.

Wilson is believed to have suffered a seizure and collapsed following one of the punches to his chest, according to police records. A pair of black boxing gloves was recovered from the warehouse.

When fraternity brothers delivered him to a hospital unconscious, they told staff

the FBI show Colar was paid a total of three payments to his company “Supreme Solutions” for the contract.

Two of the payments to Colar were immediately converted into separate checks and issued to a third company.

That company — identified as “C.G.” in the affidavit — received a total of $33,750 of the $50,000 contract. The final payments of the contract were immediately converted into cash, investigators said.

Just $4,000 of that contract was made payable to Colar, according to the affidavit.

Colar was interviewed by the FBI in 2022 and told investigators that he subcontracted some of the work to another company but did not have any evidence to verify his claim, agents said.

“A clause in the contract between CATS and Supreme specifically states that no part of the contract can be subcontracted without the express written consent and approval from CATS,” investigators wrote. “There was no documentation located or obtained that this request was ever

there Wilson had been hit in the chest playing basketball at a local park.

Wilson, a former trumpet player for Southern University’s famed Human Jukebox marching band, was honored in the Legislature this year during a ceremony in the House chambers.

State lawmakers also proposed an anti-hazing house bill in Wilson’s name.

His family funded a billboard campaign in his honor, which coincided with a regional gathering of Omega Psi Phi brothers.

Tony Clayton, Southern’s board chair, has vowed to require all Greek organizations on Southern’s campus to turn recruitment over to older mentors in their organizations.

The Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi has also been permanently expelled from Southern and had its fraternity plot removed.

made or approved by anyone at CATS.” According to the affidavit, agents identified text messages and found Colar had removed a key part of the conversation between him and Thomas.

“Colar and Thomas exchanged iMessages about Supreme’s contracts with CATS. Thomas implied that she would circumvent the procurement process around (CATS’) CEO,” investigators wrote.

When Colar received a subpoena for bank records for his company — for which he is the sole registered agent — investigators say he had to obtain assistance with retrieving them “due to not having control or access to the account.”

nadian academic who specialized in transit policy that was found online.

It was the only evidence agents found that was submitted to CATS as proof of Colar’s work.

“When confronted with questions about (the) online report, Colar ultimately admitted that he had copied it when preparing his own report,” agents wrote.

Thomas was later interviewed by the FBI in December 2023 and gave conflicting answers to agents’ questions.

Investigators said she admitted that Colar’s and other contracts were to “assist in getting people to vote” for an upcoming millage renewal to fund CATS. She admitted to agents that she knew that CATS funds could not be used to campaign, according to the Plagiarized evidence document.

Agents said other CATS employColar told agents that he wrote a funding report for his company ees were interviewed as part of and submitted it to CATS, which the probe, including the company’s was proof he did work for the chief financial officer and an acagency. counts payable employee.

When probing the legitimacy Both said Thomas did not folof Colar’s work for CATS, agents low the procurement process for found the report was similar to a Colar’s contract and was the only research paper written by a Ca- CATS official who dealt with it.

A Help Button Should Go Where You Go! To be truly independent, your personal emergency device needs to work on the go.

MobileHelp® allows you to summon emergency help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by simply pressing your personal help button. Unlike traditional systems that only work inside your home, a MobileHelp medical alert system extends help beyond the home. Now you can participate in all your favorite activities such as gardening, taking walks, shopping and traveling all with the peace of mind of having a personal alert system with you. MobileHelp, the “on-the-go” help button, is powered by one of the nation’s largest cellular networks, so there’s virtually no limit to your help button’s range.

No landline? No problem! While traditional alert systems require a landline, with the MobileHelp system, a landline is not necessary. Whether you are home or away from home, a simple press of your help button activates your system, providing the central station with your information and location. Our trained emergency operators will know who you are and where you are located. If you’re one of the millions of people that have waited for an alert service because it didn’t fit your lifestyle, or settled for a traditional system even though it only worked in the home, then we welcome you to try MobileHelp. Experience peace of mind in the home or on the go.

GET OUR SPECIAL OFFER NOW: FREE EXPEDITED SHIPPING* FREE ONE MONTH SERVICE* 50% OFF AUTO FALL DETECT* plus FREE EQUIPMENT TO USE!*

Unlike “stay-at-home” emergency systems MobileHelp protects you: Places where your Help Button will work

Traditional Help Buttons

At Home

OUR BEST OFFER EVER!

On a Walk On Vacation At the Park

From

$19.95*

Shopping

MobileHelp Features:

/month

• Simple one-button operation • Affordable service

• 24/7 access to U.S. based emergency operators

• GPS location detection • Amplified 2-way voice • Available Nationwide communication

1-855-949-5044

Staff writer Matt Bruce contributed to this story.

PF-SPAD0505111658

*For a limited time - promotions available for select systems and subscription plans, please call for specific details. Offers are valid for new customers and for the first year of service and cannot be combined with any other offers. $19.95 is the monthly subscription price for a MobileHelp Classic (at home only) system. There is a one-time $49.95 processing fee to subscribe to this plan. Equipment shown is the MobileHelp DUO (at home and on the go) system available at a higher monthly cost. Most equipment is included at no cost while actively subscribing and must be returned upon cancellation. Free one month of service offer valid with purchase of Annual plan and includes month 13 at no additional charge. Refer to terms and conditions for specific details. Depending on the promotion chosen, you may receive an additional savings of $5.50 off the $11 retail price of Fall Detection service. After first year, Fall Detect pricing reverts to discounted price of $8.25/month when combined with MobileHelp Connect Premium. Fall Detection does not detect 100% of falls. If able, users should push their help button when they need assistance .

Fall detection is not intended to replace a caregiver.MobileHelp is a registered trademark, patented technology. Current GPS location may not always be available in every situation on the cellular network at all times. Expedited shipping offer is for Annual plans made prior to 3 PM EST Mon-Fri. Expedited shipping is standard 2-day - - no deliveries on Saturdays/Sundays or to Hawaii or Alaska. Shipping delays may occur due to situations beyond our control.

JANUARY 24TH & 25TH SATURDAY & SUNDAY | 10AM-5PM

with

FOOD FEST

REMODEL! RENOVATE! DECORATE! with thousands of products for every room in your home

• See the latest in kitchen and bath products including cabinets and countertops.

• Talk to contractors ready to build your new addition or remake that special room.

• Get the best prices on floors, doors, roofing, siding, windows, generators and more!

• Design your backyard paradise.

• And dozens of products from kitchen gadgets to the latest in health products.

• Free tastings, samples, coupons and recipes from all your favorite foods at the Ralph’s Market Food Fest.

• Children’s Entrepreneur Market, a unique marketplace run entirely by young entrepreneurs!

SPEND $25

at any Ralph’s Market location and receive

2 FREE TICKETS TO THE SHOW!

DISCOUNT COUPON $2 OFF ADMISSION REGULAR PRICES $6 CHILDREN UNDER 12 FREE ADMISSION! Plenty of parking!

$500

FREE GROCERY GIVEAWAY at the show for groceries at Ralph’s Market

9039 St. Landry Rd, Gonzales, LA 70737 • REV Center JAAS Productions / 866-839-1643 www.gonzaleshomeshow.com/ www.facebook.com batonrougehomeshow

• Tile • Countertops • Cabinets • Luxury Vinyl Flooring • Vanities • Hardwood Flooring

• Backsplash • Outdoor Kitchens • Painting • Carpet • Exteriors • Home additions

Come Visit Our Showroom 6435 Siegen Lane, Unit 103 Baton Rouge, LA 70809

CHECK US OUT

225-218-4668

LacosteandYoung.com Fully Licensed & Insured • License #566226

8A ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

CLASSIFIEDS continued from Public Notices Conservation

PUBLIC NOTICE ---3WOODARDVILLE AND RED RIVER BULL BAYOU FIELDS 26-45 thru 26-47 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Revised Louisiana Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on THURS‐ DAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026, upon the application of BPX OPERATING COM‐ PANY. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, in the Woodardville Field and Haynesville Zone, Reser‐ voir D, in the Red River Bull Bayou Field, Red River Parish, Louisiana.

1. To permit the applicant to drill, designate and utilize four cross unit horizontal wells as alter‐ nate unit wells for HA RA SUX, in the Woodardville Field, and HA RD SUCC and HA RD SUU, in the Red River Bull Bayou Field, at the locations and in the general man‐ ner shown on the plat submitted with the appli‐ cation and made a part hereof, in exception to the spacing provisions of the 990-D and 109-X Se‐ ries of the Department of Conservation and Energy Orders, provided there are no perforations in any wellbore closer than 330’ to any unit boundary and limited to 100’ from any unit boundary in the direction of the horizon‐ tal wellbore closest to the top of perforations or base of perforations (200’ between wells in adja‐ cent units), except for the common unit bound‐ aries between said units.

2. To find that the pro‐ posed wells are neces‐ sary to efficiently and economically drain a portion of the reservoirs covered by each unit which cannot be so drained by any existing well within such units.

3. To find that Comstock Oil & Gas-Louisiana, LLC and BPX Operating Com‐ pany should continue as operators of their re‐ spective wells serving HA RA SUX for which dual operatorship was approved in Order No. 990-D-150; and BPX Oper‐ ating Company should serve as operator of the proposed cross unit hori‐ zontal wells that are the subject of this applica‐ tion, in exception to the single operator per unit policy of the Department of Conservation and En‐ ergy.

4. To find that Comstock Oil & Gas-Louisiana, LLC and BPX Operating Com‐ pany should report pro‐ duction from the wells which they operate serv‐ ing HA RA SUX separately from one another; and to provide that production from each cross unit hor‐ izontal well shall be sep‐ arated and metered indi‐ vidually and this infor‐ mation shall be reported in the manner prescribed by the Department of Conservation and Energy.

5. To provide that unit d i f h

lll

Legal Notices

Public Notices Conservation p production from the pro‐ posed cross unit horizon‐ tal alternate unit wells shall be allocated to each unit in the same proportion as the perfo‐ rated length of the lat‐ eral in each unit bears to the total length of the perforated lateral as de‐ termined by an “as survey per‐ drilled” formed after the cross unit horizontal well is drilled and completed, provided that unit pro‐ duction shall continue to be shared on a surface acre basis.

6. To find that, with re‐ spect to wells drilled to the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, within or to serve HA RA SUX, and the Haynesville Zone, Reser‐ voir D, within or to serve HA RD SUCC and HA RD SUU, where the horizon‐ tal portion of the well is and cemented cased back above the top of the Haynesville Zone, Reser‐ voir A, and the Hay‐ nesville Zone, Reservoir D, the distance to any unit boundary and offset well(s) should be calcu‐ lated based on the dis‐ tance to the nearest per‐ foration in the well, and not based on the pene‐ tration point or terminus.

7. Except insofar as set forth above, to confirm and continue in effect the provisions of the 990D and 109-X Series of Or‐ ders, the units created thereby and applicable Statewide Orders.

8. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The Haynesville Zone, A, in the Reservoir Woodardville Field, was defined in Order No. 990D, effective July 15, 2008.

The Haynesville Zone, Reservoir D, in the Red River Bull Bayou Field, was defined in Order No. 109-X, effective June 25, 2008.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 1/13/26;1/16/26 S lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT THE HEARING, PLEASE CON‐ TACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORK‐ ING DAYS OF THE HEAR‐ ING DATE. 174014 Jan. 16, 1t $88.79

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE (NOTICE OF INTENTION TO INTRODUCE LOCAL BILL – HLS 26RS-116) 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 Melrose East Crime Prevention District and the Old Goodwood Crime Preven‐ tion and Neighborhood Improvement District; to provide relative to the boundaries of the dis‐ tricts; and to provide for related matters.

173849 Jan. 15, 16, 17, 3t $50.02

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --The Planning Commis‐ sion of the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge will hold a public meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., in Room 348, City Hall located at 222 St. Louis Street, 3rd floor, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Planning Commis‐ sion will consider the fol‐ lowing rezoning requests and amendments to the Land “Comprehensive Use Plan” as indicated: PUBLIC HEARINGS – CITY & PARISH CURRENT ZONING CASES: CASE 1-26 954, 958 and 962 Jennifer Jean Drive To rezone from Limited Res‐ idential (A3.1) to Neigh‐ Commercial borhood (NC) on property located on the north side of Jen‐ nifer Jean Drive, east of Nicholson Drive, on prop‐ erty now or formerly known as Lots 2 and 3 of University South Subdivi‐ sion. Section 66, T7S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA District 12(Council Racca) CASE 3-26 4631 Francis‐ can Drive To rezone from Single Family Residential (A1) and Heavy Commer‐ cial Two (HC2) to Heavy Commercial Two (HC2) on property located on the east side of Francis‐ can Drive, south of Inter‐ state 10, on property now or formerly known as Tract C-2 of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hos‐ pital. Section 55, T7S, R1E, GLD, EBRP,LA (Coun‐ cil District 11- Adams) CASE 4-26 13493 Plank Road To rezone from Sin‐ gle Family Residential (A1) to Light Commercial One (LC1) on property lo‐ cated on the west side of Plank Road, north of Thomas Road, on prop‐ erty now or formerly known as a portion of Lot A-1-A of the Brown Tract.

Section 53, T5S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2- Kenney) A CERTAIN PIECE OR PAR‐ CEL OF GROUND BEING A PORTION OF TRACT A-1-A, LOCATED lN SECTION 53, 5 SOUTH, TOWNSHIP RANGE 1 EAST, GREENS‐ BURG LAND DISTRICT, BATON ROUGE EAST LOUISIANA. PARISH, BEING MORE PARTICU‐ LARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE SOUTHEAST COR‐ NER OF TRACT A-1-A SAID POINT BEING THE POINT OF BEGINNING ON THE WESTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF PLANK ROAD, THENCE LEAVING SAID RIGHT-OF-WAY PROCEED S 87°59' 11" W A DIS‐ TANCE OF 173.83 FEET TO A POINT AND TURN; PROCEED N THENCE 02°00'49" W A DISTANCE OF 81.52 FEET TO A POINT AND TURN; THENCE PROCEED N 87°59'11"E A DISTANCE OF 198.81 FEET TO A

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

POINT ON THE WESTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF PLANK ROAD AND TURN; THENCE PROCEED ALONG THE WESTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF PLANK ROAD S 15°01 '33" W A DISTANCE OF 85.26 FEET TO A POINT, SAID POINT BEING THE POINT OF BE‐ GINNING; SAID DESCRIP‐ TION CONTAINS 0.349 ACRES OR 15,189 SQUARE FEET, MORE OR LESS.

31 SECONDS WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 44.52 FEET TO A POINT AND CORNER; THENCE PROCEED SOUTH 02 DEGREES 17 MINUTES 05 SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 18.99 FEET TO A POINT AND CORNER; THENCE PROCEED SOUTH 87 DEGREES 42 MINUTES 31 SECONDS WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 49.82 FEET TO A POINT AND CORNER; THENCE PROCEED NORTH 02 DEGREES 16 MINUTES 56 SECONDS WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 59.94 FEET A POINT AND CORNER; THENCE PROCEED NORTH 87 DEGREES 39 MINUTES 55 SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 72.37 FEET A POINT AND CORNER; THENCE PROCEED NORTH 00 DEGREES 38 MINUTES 27 SECONDS WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 0.89 FEET A AND CORNER; POINT THENCE PROCEED NORTH 88 DEGREES 01 MINUTES 34 SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 21.95 FEET BACK TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. SAID PROP‐ ERTY BEING 0.111 ACRES (4831 SQ. FT.) MORE OR LESS.

CS-1-26 Brown Tract Pro‐ posed flag lot minor sub‐ division on property lo‐ cated on the west side of Plank Road, north of Thomas Road, on prop‐ erty now or formerly known as a portion of Lot A-1-A of the Brown Tract.

Section 53, T5S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2- Kenney) A CERTAIN PIECE OR PAR‐ CEL OF GROUND BEING A PORTION OF TRACT A-1-A, LOCATED lN SECTION 53, 5 SOUTH, TOWNSHIP RANGE 1 EAST, GREENS‐ BURG LAND DISTRICT, BATON ROUGE EAST LOUISIANA. PARISH, BEING MORE PARTICU‐ LARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE SOUTHEAST COR‐ NER OF TRACT A-1-A SAID POINT BEING THE POINT OF BEGINNING ON THE WESTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF PLANK ROAD, THENCE LEAVING SAID RIGHT-OF-WAY PROCEED S 87°59' 11" W A DIS‐ TANCE OF 173.83 FEET TO A POINT AND TURN; PROCEED N THENCE 02°00'49" W A DISTANCE OF 81.52 FEET TO A POINT AND TURN; THENCE PROCEED N 87°59'11"E A DISTANCE OF 198.81 FEET TO A POINT ON THE WESTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF PLANK ROAD AND TURN; THENCE PROCEED ALONG THE WESTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF PLANK ROAD S 15°01 '33" W A DISTANCE OF 85.26 FEET TO A POINT, SAID POINT BEING THE POINT OF BE‐ GINNING; SAID DESCRIP‐ TION CONTAINS 0.349 ACRES OR 15,189 SQUARE FEET, MORE OR LESS. CASE 5-26 8150 Hooper Road To rezone from Heavy Commercial (C2) to Zero Lot Line Residen‐ tial (A2.6) on property lo‐ cated on the south side of Hooper Road, west of Hickcock Drive, on prop‐ erty now or formerly known as Tract C-1-A of the W.W. Hubbs Tract.

Section 15, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 5- Hurst) CASE 6-26 136 South Aca‐ dian Thruway To rezone from Light Commercial (C1) to Commercial Alco‐ holic Beverage (bar and lounge) (C-AB-2) on prop‐ erty located on the west side of South Acadian Thruway, south of North Boulevard, on a portion of property now or for‐ merly known as Lots 8 and 10 of Ogden Park Subdivision, Square 3.

Section 81, T7S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 10- Coleman) LOCATED IN SECTION 81, GREENSBURG T7S-R1E, LAND DISTRICT, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA. COMMENC‐ ING FROM THE NORTH‐ EAST CORNER OF LOT 8, BLOCK 3, OGDEN PARK, THENCE PROCEED SOUTH 62 DEGREES 26 MINUTES 22 SECONDS WEST FOR A DISTANCE OF 22.29 FEET TO A POINT AND CORNER. SAID POINT BEING THE POINT OF BEGINNING. THENCE PROCEED SOUTH 02 DEGREES 17 MINUTES 12 SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 41.78 FEET TO A POINT AND CORNER; THENCE PROCEED SOUTH 87 DEGREES 42 MINUTES

I T ’ S

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

CASE 7-26 2566 68TH Av‐ enue To rezone from Sin‐ gle Family Residential (A2) to Medium Density Multi-Family Residential (A3.2) on property lo‐ cated on the south side of 68th Avenue, west of Nottingham Street, on property now or formerly known as Lot 8-A of Bank Subdivision.

Addition Section 37, T6S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2- Kenney) RV-4-25 St. James, and Europe France, Street (multiple right-ofway) Proposed revoca‐ tion of portions of St. James, France and Eu‐ rope Street rights-of-way located south of Govern‐ ment Street, west of St. Phillip Street, adjacent to Squares 4S, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11S within Beauregard Town, Section 49, T7S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 10- Cole‐ man) PUD-2-04 Synergy Bank, Creekstone II, Final De‐ Plan Pro‐ velopment posed bank with drivethrough on property lo‐ cated on the north side of Corporate Boulevard, west of Commerce Circle, on property now or for‐ merly known as Lot 1-A of TownCenter Business Park. Section 92, T7S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 11- Adams) CUP-1-26 University Bap‐ tist Church (Columbar‐ (5775 Highland ium) Road) Proposed colum‐ barium within existing religious institution on property located on the north side of Highland Road, west of Leeward Drive, on property now or formerly known as Lots 27 through 34 of Univer‐ sity Acres Subdivision.

Section 46, T7S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 12- Racca) 173908-jan 16-20-22-3t $339.72

p street located on the north side of Perkins west of One Road, Perkins Place Drive, on property now or formerly known as Lot 12 of Moss Side Place (Council Dis‐ trict 12- Racca)

The Planning Commis‐ sion of the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge will hold a public meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 5:00p.m., in Room 348, City Hall located at 222 St. Louis Street, 3rd floor, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Planning Commis‐ sion will consider the fol‐ lowing case(s): SS-1-26 Moss Side Place (6897 Perkins Road) Pro‐ posed commercial subdi‐ vision with a private l d h

DOCKET NO: 50634 18TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT WEST BATON COURT ROUGE PARISH STATE OF LOUISIANA

Public Notices Successions

19th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA NUMBER: P-116737 DIVI‐ SION: 26 SUCCESSION OF REGINA JOHNSON MOORE NOTICE OF FILING OF TABLEAU OF DISTRIBU‐ TION NOTICE IS GIVEN to all in‐ terested persons, that a First Tableau of Distribu‐ tion has been filed by Carl Moore Jr., Adminis‐ trator of the Succession Regina Johnson of Moore, along with a peti‐ tion praying for homolo‐ gation of the petition and Tableau of Distribution.

The petition and Tableau of Distribution can be ho‐ mologated after the expi‐ ration of seven days from the date of publication of this notice and any oppo‐ sition to the petition must be filed prior to ho‐ mologation.

Atty.: Logan H. Green‐ berg; 4038 Oak Bend Lane, Madisonville, LA 70447; (844) 999-9912; logan@sunriselawgroup. com 147069-JAN 16-1T

I, Paul Briley Venable, have been convicted of 14:81 - Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. Date Convicted: 12/08/2025.

My Address is: 8342 LOIS ST ADDIS, LA 70710 Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 10/7/1987 Height: 5' 11 Weight: 240 Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 174033, Jan 16-17 $250

WBR Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SHERIFF'S SALE JOHN DEERE CONSTRUC‐ TION & FORESTRY COM‐ PANY VS. CORRENT SER‐ VICES, INC. DOCKET NO: 50567

WBR Public Notices

WBR Public Notices Sex Offenders

18TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF WEST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA By virtue of a Writ of SEIZURE AND SALE, di‐ rected by the Honorable The 18th Judicial District Court, for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, in the above entitled and num‐ bered cause, I have seized and proceed to sell by public auction, on the front steps of the West Baton Rouge Court‐ house, 850 8th Street, Port Allen, Louisiana on JANUARY WEDNESDAY, 28, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., the described following property, to wit: ONE JOHN DEERE MODEL 750L CRAWLER DOZER SE‐ RIAL NUMBER 1T0750LX‐ ASF472972

I, Dexter Joseph Stelly, have been convicted of 14:81.1 - Pornography Involving Juveniles (attempted). Date Convicted: 08/05/2015.

My Address is: 3758B KAHNS RD PORT ALLEN, LA 70767

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

SHERIFF'S SALE LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING, LLC VS ALEXIS J. HANDY, A/K/A ALEXIS HANDY AND DERBIGNY S. SCOTT, A/K/A DERBIGNY SCOTT

173913-JAN 16-1T $10.50

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 1/12/1993 Height: 5'7" Weight: 160 Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: HAZEL Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 174035, Jan 16-17 $250

T I M E

WBR Public Notices Sheriff Sales

WBR Public Notices Sex Offenders

This property is stored at: DOGGETT/JOHN DEERE 10110 DARADELE AVENUE BATON ROUGE, LA 70816 (225) 291-3750

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale, di‐ rected by the Honorable The Eighteenth Judicial District Court, for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, in the above enti‐ and numbered tled cause, I have seized and proceed to sell by public auction, on the front steps of the West Baton Rouge Courthouse, 850 8th Street, Port Allen, Louisiana on WEDNES‐ DAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., the follow‐ ing described property, to wit: One (1) certain lot or par‐ cel of ground, together with all the buildings and improvements thereon, and all the rights, ways, servitudes, privileges, appurtenances, and ad‐ vantages thereunto be‐ longing or in anywise ap‐ pertaining, situated in the Parish of West Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in that thereof subdivision known as The Gates at The Oaks, First Filing, and being designated on the official plat thereof on file and of record as Map Book 5, No. 63, in the office of the clerk and recorder for West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, as lot number twelve (12), said subdivision, said lot having such bearings and dimensions and being subject to servitudes and such building line restrictions of record and as shown on the official subdivi‐ sion plat.

Having a municipal ad‐ dress of 243 West Main Street, Brusly, LA 70719

Lot number 4, KING‐ FISHER, a certain parcel of ground, together with all the buildings and im‐ provements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, servitudes, privileges, appurtenances and ad‐ vantages thereunto be‐ longing to or in anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of West Baton State of Rouge, Louisiana, as shown on the plat recorded at Book 10: Entry: 77 INSTR # 2022-00057927 on January 24, 2022, of the Clerk of Courts of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana; subject to restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property.

Having a municipal ad‐ dress of 868 North 10th Street, Port Allen, LA 70767 Terms of Sale: Cash to the highest bidder WITH‐ OUT benefit of appraise‐ ment and according to law.

Attorney for the Plaintiff: Dean Morris, LLC 1505 North 19th Street Mon‐ roe, LA 71207-2867 (318) 388-1440 Judicial Advertise‐ ment(s) will appear in THE ADVOCATE on the date(s) of: January 16, 2026 and February 12, 2026.

JEFF BERGERON, SHERIFF PARISH OF WEST BATON ROUGE BY: ANGIE DELAUNE, DEPUTY SHERIFF $54.70

Attorney for the Plaintiff: The Law Offices of Her‐ schel C. Adcock, Jr. 13541 Tiger Bend Road Baton Rouge, LA 70817 (225) 756-0373 Judicial Advertise‐ ment(s) will appear in THE ADVOCATE on the date(s) of: January 16, 2026 and February 12, 2026.

JEFF BERGERON, SHERIFF PARISH OF WEST BATON ROUGE BY: ANGIE DELAUNE, DEPUTY SHERIFF $57.73 SHERIFF'S SALE VILLAGE CAPITAL & IN‐ LLC VS. VESTMENT, NEDRA LYNN HOPKINS AND TREVOR HOPKINS

Attorney for the Plaintiff: Roedel, Parsons, Blache, Piontek & Fontana, Pisano 8440 Jefferson Highway, Suite 301 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 929-7033

DOCKET NO: 50420

JEFF BERGERON, SHERIFF PARISH OF WEST BATON ROUGE BY: ANGIE DELAUNE, DEPUTY SHERIFF $47.96

Louisiana on WEDNES‐ DAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., the follow‐ ing described property, to wit:

Terms of Sale: Cash to the highest bidder WITH‐ OUT benefit of appraise‐ ment and according to law.

Terms of Sale: Cash to the highest bidder WITH benefit of appraisement and according to law.

Judicial Advertise‐ ment(s) will appear in THE ADVOCATE on the date(s) of: January 16, 2026.

WBR Public Notices Sheriff Sales

Reporting you can trust on stories that matter

18TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT WEST BATON COURT ROUGE PARISH STATE OF LOUISIANA By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale, di‐ rected by the Honorable The Eighteenth Judicial District Court, for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, in the above enti‐ and numbered tled cause, I have seized and proceed to sell by public auction, on the front steps of the West Baton Rouge Courthouse, 850 8th Street, Port Allen,

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

T O

VOTE FOR THE BEST S U P P O R T YO U R FAVO R I T E S TO DAY To d o y o u r p a r t , v i s i t Vo t e B a t o n Ro u g e . c o m

© 2026 The Advocate & NERUS Strategies LLC. Best of Baton Rouge and the unique Logo is a service mark of The Advocate and may only be used with express permission. Best of Baton Rouge is powered by Optimum by NERUS.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 9A

lll

MARATHON

Continued from page 1A “Knowing that the event is putting heads in beds, putting people in restaurants in downtown Baton Rouge in a time that would normally be a very slow time, because it’s not football season, it gives me a lot of excitement,” said Mike Wattigny, marketing director of FreshJunkie Racing, which produces the marathon.

The high economic impact is driven by a spike in the number of runners participating in the event, which has a full marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon, 5K and a 1-mile kid’s marathon. Wattigny projects 9,500-9,700 runners will be at the starting lines, close to this year’s goal of 10,000 runners.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 8,973 runners are registered for the event, and participants can sign up until race weekend if spots are still available. Current registration for the race surpasses last year’s numbers of about 6,900 participants and is nearing the marathon’s all-time high of 8,648 runners in 2018.

This year’s nearly $5 million economic impact estimate exceeds that of past marathons, which raked in $1.6 million-$3.5 million from each marathon in the past few years. It is more than the economic impact of the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade, which directly brings an estimated $2.1 million to the city, Cating said.

Baton Rouge’s mild January weather, the unique south Louisiana culture and the quality of race organizing attract both runners and their supporters from outside the Pelican State, said Laura Cating, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Baton Rouge.

“It has really become a desirable destination for runners. We knock it out of the park each year and hopefully can do that again this year,” Cating said.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Racers travel down North 4th Street during the start of last year’s Louisiana Marathon on Jan. 19. Registration for the race has surpassed last year’s numbers.

About 60% of runners hail from out of state, according to Wattigny.

Visit Baton Rouge works with FreshJunkie Racing as a sponsor of the event and helps compute its estimated economic impact from attendees’ spending on hotels, food and shopping and FreshJunkie’s expenses on race setup in Baton Rouge.

Lodging is the largest driver for the event’s economic impact, with most runners spending multiple nights in Baton Rouge with family and friends.

Many downtown hotels including the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, Courtyard Marriott Downtown and Hampton Inn & Suites are fully booked for Saturday and Sunday.

Searches for Airbnb listings in Baton Rouge on the marathon weekend have increased by double digits compared with searches for other January weekends, according to the company. The short-term rental company said most people booking Airbnbs for the marathon weekend are from out of

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

state, particularly travelers from Houston, St. Louis and Richmond, Virginia. Bookings for last year’s marathon were up 13% from 2024.

For last year’s marathon, overall hotel occupancy was about 56%, which Cating said is much higher than a typical January weekend in Baton Rouge. This period is referred to as a “shoulder season,” when football season is over and Mardi Gras celebrations are not yet in full swing, so tourism is low.

“Any events that we can have in this season where it is a lighter visitation point, it’s of significant benefit to all of our local businesses,” Cating said.

The event has big appeal for serious runners: The full marathon is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon and has a relatively flat course, making it easier for runners to achieve a personal best time.

Over the past 15 years, FreshJunkie has refurbished its marketing approach, incorporating social media and TV news partners to promote the marathon.

FREE Back by Pop SHOW ular De ER P mand!

AC K A GE !

1Selling Walk-In Tub

#

Featuring our Free Shower Package Plus 15% Off

Three years ago, the company widened its social media presence with a network of ambassadors, microinfluencers equipped with coupon codes to encourage their followers to register for the race.

Wattigny attributes the rise in registration in part to the rising popularity of run clubs, which have encouraged people to get involved in the sport, as the groups have become more social, with runners grabbing a bite or drink after their runs.

Last-minute sign-ups dissipated during the pandemic, but have since reemerged, he said.

“It is as strong as it has ever been in the industry,” Wattigny said of the growing participation.

The Louisiana Marathon is not the only FreshJunkie race that is growing. Its sister race, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon, hit its 10th anniversary in December and surpassed its goal of 5,000 runners.

FreshJunkie also works with charity partners like Ainsley’s Angels, an orga-

nization that provides pink wheelchairs specially designed for runners to push individuals with disabilities in during the race so they can experience competing in a marathon. FreshJunkie races garner $15,000 to $20,000 in donations for the organization each year, enough to purchase three to four wheelchairs.

Donations for Ainsley’s Angels through the Louisiana Marathon are open and have already raked in about $5,000, up from $2,800 last year.

“It’s nice to know that we’re making an economic impact in the community, we’re making an impact on people’s lives, health wise, and we’re making an impact through donations and fundraising for our charity partners,” Wattigny said.

The full marathon course starts near the State Capitol, cruises past the Old State Capitol and heads toward the LSU campus, passing through the Garden District. Runners race around the LSU Lakes and continue the course through Mid City South, where it loops and directs runners back toward the finish line downtown.

Whitney Hoffman Sayal, executive director of the

Downtown Development District, said the marathon can help drive Baton Rouge tourism. Most of the course’s path through downtown and Mid City has a grid pattern, making the route very navigable, she said.

“The environment that we’ve created here, in addition to the historic assets that we have that make us who we are, is what gets this event to continue to grow,” she said.

Last year’s marathon weekend drew 115,000 total visitors downtown, according to figures from Placer AI, software deployed by the DDD that uses cellphone data to measure downtown activity.

The race culminates in a celebration at the end in the Visit Baton Rouge Finish Festival, an event open to runners and the public featuring local food and music.

In honor of the race’s 15th anniversary, runners will receive a slice of king cake when they cross the finish line, giving them a taste of the upcoming Mardi Gras celebrations.

“People from everywhere, no matter what the climate is, can experience and can appreciate our south Louisiana culture,” Cating said.

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Article 7, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B) that a public hearing of the City of Baker, LA in East Baton Rouge Parish will be held at its regular meeting place in the Council Chambers located at 3325 Groom Rd., Baker, LA on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM to consider levying additional or increased millage rates without further voter approval or adopting the adjusted millage rates after reassessment and rolling forward to rates not to exceed the prior year’s maximum. The estimated amount of tax revenues to be collected in the next year from the increased millage is $517,609 compared to $473,579 for FY2024, and the amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase is $44,030. The FY2026 adopted budget includes $545,000 in property tax revenues.

WEIGHT SCOOTER Featherweight Scooter

At only 37 lbs, this is one of the lightest mobility scooters on the planet — designed

$2,195.00

$1,999.00

Now relaxing warm bath, or enjoy a convenient refreshing shower while seated or standing with Safe Step Walk-In Tub’s FREE Shower Package! ✓ First walk-in tub available with a customizable shower

Weight (without ba�ery): 37 lbs Ba�ery Weight: 4 lbs Weight Capacity: 265 lbs Range: 7.5 miles Top Speed: 5 mph Folds into one compact piece – roughly the size of a carry-on bag

✓ Fixed rainfall shower head is adjustable for your height and pivots ✓ High-quality tub complete with a comprehensive lifetime warranty on the entire tub ✓ Top-of-the-line installation and service, all included at one

Now you can have the best of both worlds–there isn’t a better,

FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

Call Toll-Free 225-297-1369

With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase.

Offer available while supplies last. No cash value.

Must present offer at time of purchase.

Call Today for Your Free Shower Package

225-297-1369

FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT

Pamela B., Verified Customer “Freedom in a Feather!” sturdy enough for a full day out. I can finally enjoy places like the zoo again without pain.

When I decide to walk, my husband hops on and rides! It’s given us both freedom we didn’t realize we’d lost.”

Koni G., Verified Customer “Independence Made Simple.” it, and load it myself without needing help — even at 80 years old. Restore Mobility made everything effortless, from order to delivery. It’s light, powerful, and has completely restored my independence.”

FREE SHIPPING

Mobility Consultant Hotline-Call Now

(877) 662-8214 CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 13VH11096000

New equipment sales only — we do not buy used items *Some Exclusions Apply

10A ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

COMING SOON! DESTREHAN, LA

12519 Airline Hwy, Suite A

New Orleans East, LA - 2/2 Franklinton, LA - 2/2 Marrero, LA - 2/9 Hattiesburg, MS - 2/9

Gramercy, LA - 1/19 Covington, LA - 1/19 Kenner, LA - 1/26 Mandeville, LA - 1/26

CENTRAL, LA 10974 Joor Rd

4 DAY SALE JanUARY 16 - 19 th

SAVE up $ 08 to 1

SAVE $ 22 1 LB

SAVE $ 11 4

LIMIT 12

1

$ 47

Boneless Pork Loin

LB

1

Always Save Vegetables

OZ PACK SAVE 40 Wright $ 00 3 Bacon

Fresh Catfish Fillet

5

10

$ 99 LB

$

2

Red Cherries

19

3

Yellow Onions

- 84 OZ SAVE 73Tide

1

$ 22

1

$ 97

96

18

2/$

3 LB BAG U.S. #1

LB

- 16.2 OZ SAVE 9.5Little Debbie $ 03 9 Snack Cakes

LB

17

— ONLY —

$ 88

SWEET

Green Beans, Sweet Peas or Corn

MISSISSIPPI FARM RAISED

16

— ONLY —

3/$

15 OZ CAN SELECTED

SAT SUN MON

When You Buy 2

— ONLY —

— ONLY —

FRI

SAVE up $ 98 to 2

LB

When You Buy 3

HALF

th

SAVE

4

$ 00

Laundry Detergent

8

$ 99

Mississippi Local

ORDER ONLINE O

!

NEW

TRY OUR

WE SHIP ANYWHERE IN THE CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES!

DR. PEPPER KING CAKE

SAVE S $ 00 3

CUT & WRAPPED FREE!

LB

SAVE $ 02 2

SAVE $ 10 1

LB

SAVE up $ 97 to 6 When You Buy 3

3

5

$ 49 Boneless

100% PREMIUM USDA ANGUS CHOICE BEEF

Boneless Whole Sirloin Tip

PREVIOUSLY FROZEN

Skinless Chicken Thighs

LB

When You Buy 3

5

3/$

32 OZ

Swanson Broth

1

Russet Potatoes

or 7-Up

SAVE up $ 98 to 1

SAVE up $ 00 to 4

When You Buy 2

Louisiana Local

2

$ 47 Rouses

27 OZ CAN

Blue Runner Beans OR 5 LB BAG

11

6 PACK HALF LITERS

Cajun Country Rice

8 OZ

4

2/$

Chunk, Sliced or Shredded Cheese

12 MEGA ROLLS

Charmin Bath Tissue

12

$

OR 6 DOUBLE ROLLS

99

Bounty Towels

largest selection & lowest prices on wine, spirits & beer

SAVE $ 00 1

SAVE up $ 00 to 6

16

$

12 PACK 12 OZ

Corona or Modelo

Seagram’s VO

LB

SAVE up $ 02 to 2

SAVE up $ 96 to 3

1.75 LITER

1

$ 97 Pro-Health $ 49 Coke, Pepsi 3/$ 3 LB BAG

23

$

11

99 Josh Cellars

99

$

750 ML SELECTED

Wine

750 ML

Taaka King Cake Vodka

99

6

$ 99

750 ML

9

$ 99

Fly By, Adorn or Introvert Cabernet Sauvignon

NEW!

NONLIC ALCOHO

6 PACK 12 OZ

$ 49

Michelob Ultra Zero or Ultra Zero Lime

9

750 ML SELECTED

Coppola Diamond White Wine

10

$

99

750 ML

Traveller Whiskey

31 99

$

THC

24 PACK 12 OZ CANS

Michelob Ultra

26

$

Prices good at all Louisiana locations January 14th thru January 21st, 2026.

1099

99 Veri Tropical $ 4 PACK 12 OZ

THC Seltzer

BATON ROUGE • ASCENSION • LIVINGSTON • FELICIANAS WEST BATON ROUGE • TANGIPAHOA • IBERVILLE

METRO

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

|

F r i d ay, J a n u a ry 16, 2026

1Bn

Wintry weather returning to Baton Rouge Slight chance of snow this weekend

BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer

A wintry weather system moving through Baton Rouge this weekend brings with it a slight chance of snow — but only for a short period of time and when

a chance of rain showers before 3 a.m. Sunday, followed by a “chance of snow showers,” the most people will be sleeping, the weather agency said.

National Weather Service said.

The short window of snow chancFriday’s high near 69 will drop es is being created by a cold front more than 20 degrees overnight, predicted for Friday, along with ushering in Saturday, which will a second one Friday night and see a high near 54 and a low around a third one Saturday night, said 32.

Mike Efferson, meteorologist with The Weather Service predicts the National Weather Service’s of-

fice in Slidell.

“Baton Rouge is right on the edge of a short chance of sleet and snowflakes,” Efferson said.

“There’s only three or four hours below freezing on Saturday night.”

By Sunday morning, temperatures will be above freezing by 8 or 9 a.m., he said.

“The cold temperatures won’t be here long enough for any snowfall

to stay on the ground,” Efferson said.

The wintry weather comes on the weekend of the Louisiana Marathon, held annually before Martin Luther King Day, which draws close to 10,000 runners to Baton Rouge.

“It’ll be more challenging for the runners on Sunday morning,” Efferson said.

RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

A bike rider zooms along the Mississippi River levee as the sun sets in Baton Rouge on Monday.

Hungarian settlement rezoning dropped

Land along Strawberry Lane in the Hungarian settlement that is part of a proposed rezoning to industrial space shows signs of development in Albany on Saturday.

Construction firm keeps plan to expand

for a Livingston Parish zoning meeting, expecting to discuss a proposed rezoning of roughly 37 acres along Strawberry Lane from light commercial to heavy industrial for PALA, an industrial conBY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD struction firm eyeing an expansion.

Staff writer But the item was pulled from the dockA request for rezoning is being dropped et a few hours prior and did not go to a after residents of Louisiana’s Hungarian vote.

Strawberry Lane is in the largest rusettlement expressed concerns that the move would bring industrial work to ral Hungarian settlement in the United their area. ä See REZONING, page 2B More than 70 people gathered Tuesday

STAFF PHOTO

By MICHAEL JOHNSON

MLK Day closings in BR

Staff report

All city-parish offices will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The East Baton Rouge Parish Library and public schools will also be closed.

Residential garbage and recycling will be collected as usual in the parish. The North Landfill and Starwood Court Collection Facility will both be open during regular business hours for commercial and general public haulers.

Normal business operations will resume on Tuesday.

Police: 2 with gang ties linked to Dec. 25 killing License plate readers matched car to scene

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

Beginning before dawn on Christmas, four men allegedly waited in their car for four hours before 23-year-old Tyler Sensley walked by.

Sensley was on his way to a neighboring apartment to pick up a gift when three of the men jumped out and shot him multiple times in the lot of the Coventry

Apartments, his family told authorities. He died days later.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested two of those suspects this week: Dorien Johnson, 24, and Derick “Lil Bill” Johnson, 22, on one count each of second-degree murder.

Detectives believe the shooters are part of the North Baton Rouge “448” criminal gang.

Before they spoke with police, Sensley’s family members were tipped off that 448 members were responsible for his killing.

Deputies were first called to the Coventry Apartments, in the 6700 block of Morgan Road near Greenwell Springs Road, Christ-

mas afternoon in response to a shooting.

They found numerous shell casings and were told Sensley had been transported to the hospital in critical condition.

Surveillance footage taken from the scene showed a dark Toyota Camry circling the complex earlier that day, around 4:15 a.m. The Camry then parked in the lot, remaining there until around 8:15 a.m.

Sensley is then seen on camera walking through the parking lot and passing in front of the Camry.

As he does, three men jump out of the car and begin shooting at him.

Sensley can be seen trying to

run away, but falls to the ground after being shot multiple times.

The three men then get back into the Camry and flee the scene. A fourth suspect can be seen in the driver’s seat of the Camry.

Detectives were informed on Dec. 27 that members of 448 were involved in an unrelated incident that happened at an apartment complex on Joor Road.

Since the complex on Joor Road had a license plate reader, detectives searched all license plates scanned there since Dec. 3 and found only one dark-colored Toyota Camry.

ä See KILLING, page 2B

2B ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

FEMA denies Louisiana fund request Landry sought $52M to cover Super Bowl, Mardi Gras expenses

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

Last March, Gov. Jeff Landry’s homeland security agency told Louisiana taxpayers they likely wouldn’t be on the hook for $52 million the state spent to beef up security in New Orleans and temporarily shelter homeless residents during the winter tourist season.

They hoped the federal government, months after a Bourbon Street attack exposed local security flaws, would pick up the tab instead.

But that didn’t happen, according to public records obtained by The Times-Picayune this week.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has no money to reimburse Louisiana’s costs associated with Super Bowl LIX and Mardi Gras 2025, a Department of Home-

land Security senior official wrote to Louisiana National Guard Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux in June.

While the state could have used its existing, unspent FEMA grants to reimburse its costs, there was no unspent cash to use, he said.

“FEMA does not have additional funding available to supplement the existing … grant awards,” wrote David Richardson, an as- Landry sistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security on June 13.

In a statement Wednesday, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele did not comment on the denial.

“The success of last year’s Super Bowl and Mardi Gras events is remarkable. Louisiana, along with our state, local and federal partners, was able to quickly enhance safety measures following the New Year’s Day terror attacks, while safely welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors to the New Orleans region,” he said.

“It was worth the investment considering the fact LSU researchers say the impact from the Super Bowl alone was $1.25 billion,” Steele said.

The proposed reimbursement was sought to cover overtime pay for state police and Louisiana National Guard troops who manned checkpoints around the French Quarter — security the state deemed necessary after the Jan. 1, 2025, vehicle-ramming attack highlighted gaps in city resources.

So too, was it supposed to cover the temporary homeless shelter Landry’s administration erected ahead of the events for the homeless population living downtown, Steele said in March.

The relocation of homeless residents drew criticism for its cost from local officials, who said the state’s money could have been better spent on moving people into permanent housing.

When Landry’s shelter closed in late March, 108 people had been moved from there and into subsidized housing. State officials did

not provide a tally of how many people remain housed when asked this week.

Steele said amid that criticism that he was “optimistic” the reimbursement would happen, and his then-boss, Jacques Thibodeaux, said in a March letter to the feds that the state’s security efforts “played a key role in filling gaps in the federal mission of safely conducting” Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.

A spokesperson for Mayor Helena Moreno did not respond to a request for comment on the denial.

A spokesperson for council member Lesli Harris, who has been a vocal critic of the state’s spending on the temporary homeless shelter, also did not respond to a request for comment.

The letter identified more than $43.5 million in equipment and services costs and more than $8.6 million in personnel costs that it sought reimbursement for, adding up to a total of just over $52 million. The majority of those funds would have reimbursed GOHSEP, with smaller amounts sought to pay back the

state Department of Public Safety and Wildlife and Fisheries departments, and the Louisiana National Guard. The letter did not mention the specific security measures — such as the homeless shelter — that these agencies had undertaken.

But Richardson wrote in the June letter to Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux of the Louisiana National Guard that FEMA does not have a grant program “for the exclusive purpose of providing funding to jurisdictions engaged in planning and operations for SEAR events.”

Super Bowl LIX was granted a level one Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR), the highest potential threat rating the government can assign to an event, as is typical for that event. Mardi Gras 2025 was upgraded to a SEAR 1 rating following the Jan. 1 terrorist attack.

Though other unspent FEMA money could have covered the cost of the event with FEMA’s approval, if it existed, the state eventually determined “all current grant funding is fully committed to state and parish level projects,” Richardson wrote in the June letter.

Fifth arrest made in Baton NOPD overtime Rouge barbershop shooting faces new scrutiny Another arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of Marvin Tolliver, who was killed when a fight broke out in a Baton Rouge barbershop in October, making the fifth suspect in custody in connection with the death.

Gianni Rankins, 28, was captured by the U.S. Marshal’s CRIME Task Force BLOTTER Fugitive on Wednesday and staff booked into East Baton Rouge Parish reports Prison on a count of second-degree murder, Baton Rouge Police said in a news release.

The shooting happened on the evening of Oct. 15 in the Fade District barbershop on Platt Drive, after a customer, Sylvester Bouligny III, got angry over a missed tattoo appointment. Boulingy left the shop and returned with two other men, before punching the tattoo artists.

Gunfire broke out, killing Tolliver, 29, an employee of the barbershop, according to police.

Others arrested previously are: Bouligny, principal to second-degree murder, and Travis Kenny Jr., Gregory Stewart and Reginal Grimes, each on a count of seconddegree murder.

the case of an East Feliciana Sheriff’s corrections officer, Jaylon Turner, who is accused of working with inmates and a relative to bring contraband into the parish jail.

On Wednesday, Turner’s brother, Jermaine Matthews, 18, of Baton Rouge was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a count of introducing contraband into a penal institution.

Two other inmates of the East Feliciana Parish jail have been arrested, following the arrest earlier this week of inmate Marvin Jones, 22, of Baton Rouge. David Hall, 56, of Clinton, and McKenzie Jones, 25, of New Roads, were arrested, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

All three inmates are accused of introducing contraband into a penal institution.

Turner, 21, of Zachary was booked into jail, charged with introduction of contraband into a penal institution and malfeasance in office earlier this week and is no longer employed with the department, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

which provides forensic identification services. The lab recovers remains, collects DNA and uses forensic anthropology and facial reconstruction to help identify people.

“No other suspected remains were discovered during a subsequent search of the area,” said Shane Tindall, chief of investigations for the Coroner’s Office.

Tindall said the Coroner’s Office was contacted by Baton Rouge Police at 10 p.m. Monday about the discovery at the Monte Sano Park on Greenwell Street.

“If it is a human skull, we’ll proceed with our investigation,” said Lt. L’Jean McKneely Jr., spokesperson for the police department.

Student arrested after bringing gun to school

A Dutchtown High School student was arrested Thursday morning after they brought a firearm to school, according to the Ascension Parish Public School District.

A lockdown put into place on the campus was lifted shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to the district.

“Due to the quick and coordinated actions of the school adminA skull, possibly a human one, was istration and the Ascension Parish found at a BREC park this week, ac- Sheriff’s Office, the student was cording to the East Baton Rouge immediately taken into custody,” the district said.

Parish Coroner’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office did a sweep The skull is being turned over More arrests have been made in for analysis to the LSU FACES Lab, of the campus and found it safe.

Officials: Possible human skull found at BREC park

More arrests made in corrections smuggling case

Turning Point USA to form Tulane chapter

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

Turning Point USA will form an official campus chapter at Tulane University, a month after neighboring Loyola University rejected a bid by students to form a chapter, drawing criticism from conservative politicians.

At Tulane, students applied last fall to form a chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative political student group founded by the late activist Charlie Kirk. Unlike at Loyola, where the student government decides which clubs are allowed to form on campus, Tulane staff reviews student organization applications.

Noam Gracia, president of Tulane’s Turning Point chapter, said in a statement on social media that the group looks forward to hosting campus events, discus-

REZONING

Continued from page 1B States, between the rural towns of Albany and Springfield in the parish. Since discovering the proposal about a month ago, residents have expressed dismay over the potential project and its implications for the future of their settlement.

The day after the meeting, PALA Group President and CEO Scott Barringer said the company will continue to expand but not rezone to heavy industrial in an effort to keep residents happy, which was why the item was pulled from the zoning agenda.

“We didn’t need the zoning. … It

sions and educational programs that “encourage critical thinking, civic engagement, and respectful dialogue.”

“Our chapter is committed to upholding the University’s standards,” Gracia wrote, “while providing students with a forum to explore diverse viewpoints and contribute to a robust and pluralistic campus culture.”

Last year, Tulane temporarily paused its review of student group applications, citing recent federal guidance related to civil rights and anti-discrimination laws. Last March, the Trump Administration said it was investigating Tulane and other universities for alleged racial discrimination because they partnered with a nonprofit that helps people of color earn business degrees.

After the pause was lifted in November, applications for Turn-

ing Point and 20 other student organizations were reviewed, said Tulane spokesperson Keith Brannon.

“Tulane University is committed to fostering an environment that supports open and vigorous dialogue across a wide range of issues and a variety of perspectives,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

Turning Point USA had an active Tulane chapter for seven years until the 2023-24 academic year. Students did not attempt to renew its charter again until last fall.

After Kirk was fatally shot last year while speaking on a college campus, Turning Point experienced a surge in interest from high school and college students in Louisiana and other states seeking to start chapters at their schools.

was just a misunderstanding,” he said.

The rezoning was tied to a proposed expansion for PALA, which specializes in metal fabrication and has its headquarters in Baton Rouge. PALA announced a $1.9 million investment in August to build a new shop and expand operations, with some Livingston Parish leaders celebrating the expansion for adding 14 new jobs and retaining 35 employees.

Next to the proposed rezoning site, PALA already operates a 70,000-square-foot fabrication facility under a light commercial zoning classification, according to the parish zoning map.

This expansion will happen under its current commercial zon-

ing classification, Barringer confirmed.

Joe Erdey, parish councilman for the area, praised PALA’s decision to not change the zoning, but said he would “believe it when I see it.”

“We will be on guard watching for it,” he said. “Only time is going to tell us the answer.”

Many residents said they welcomed businesses, including PALA’s existing site, but were afraid an industrial zoning classification would be a calling card for more industries to come to the settlement.

“Other people are going to come in nearby and get industrial zoning just because they can,” said Nathan Miller, who lives on the road behind Strawberry Lane, on Tuesday.

Inspector general highlights budget shortfall concerns

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

Inconsistent oversight of overtime hours and inadequate budgeting by the New Orleans Police Department and the city created an environment ripe for payroll fraud over the first half of 2025, the city’s Office of the Inspector General said Thursday.

Inspector General Ed Michel warned the problem will persist without stronger guardrails. He outlined recommendations that the NOPD on Thursday said it welcomes.

“It is critical that the NOPD and the City properly manage its overtime usage, including uniform methods of oversight and verification of overtime throughout the Department,” Michel said in a statement. “Otherwise, future overtime budget planning and accountability will be ineffective.”

Michel’s office reviewed the NOPD’s overtime use and practices for the first seven months of 2025, when officers logged more than 260,000 overtime hours costing $16.5 million, the OIG wrote in a letter to NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.

Extraordinary pressures bookended that period: A terrorist attack in the wee hours of Jan. 1, a snowstorm that required unanticipated overtime, and a looming budget crisis at year’s end that revealed a $160 million shortfall.

KILLING

Continued from page 1B

A $125 million bridge loan secured from emergency bond sales was approved by state officials late last year to cover the budget gap, a strategy spearheaded by Mayor Helena Moreno prior to her inauguration this week. Moreno’s administration did not respond to a request for additional comment Wednesday.

About $50 million of the shortfall was tied to NOPD overtime that the city failed to fund for 2025.

The NOPD did not submit overtime budget reports to City Hall as required, arguing it had no overtime budget, the OIG said. The NOPD on Thursday said that has changed with the new administration.

“In 2025, the City did not allocate a designated overtime line for NOPD, which made long-term planning and oversight more difficult,” said NOPD director of communications Officer Reese Harper in a statement.

“With a clear overtime budget now in place, thanks to Mayor Moreno and the City Council, we have defined guidelines and structure to manage overtime the right way.”

Michel’s office found that discretionary “Code 25” overtime — a weekly allotment of 120 hours per district — didn’t track operational need, as workloads varied widely, Michel wrote.

Officers in the Second District, which covers Uptown, handled roughly a third fewer calls than those in the Seventh District, the city’s largest, encompassing New Orleans East, according to an analysis of NOPD calls for service.

the men who shot Sensley.

Derick Johnson is a confirmed member of 448, according to police records.

Deputies arrested Derick Johnson on Tuesday at an apartment in the 1900 block of Blount Road. They seized a small bag of marijuana and an MP5k-style pistol from his apartment.

In addition to the seconddegree murder charge, Derick Johnson was booked on a count each of possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana.

Detectives requested GPS data for both the Camry and Dorien Johnson’s personal cellphone through warrants. This data corroborated that both Dorien Johnson and the Camry were at the Coventry Apartments on Christmas morning at the time of Sensley’s killing.

The Camry matched the description of the vehicle at the scene of Sensley’s killing, including having dark rims, window tinting and black trim around the windows, according to the affidavit for Johnson’s arrest.

This led detectives to suspect it was the car used in Sensley’s killing. Dorien Johnson was later identified as the primary driver of this vehicle.

The Camry’s plate had been scanned on Dec. 6 at the Joor Road complex, seen with a temporary plate and a dark license plate cover.

Other scans of the same temporary plate from around the parish all showed the Camry had this dark plate cover prior to Dec 25, the day of Sensley’s killing.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.

On Jan. 6, detectives contacted coffman@theadvocate.com. the Camry’s legal owner, who stated that Dorien Johnson was the vehicle’s primary driver and LOTTERY that she did not know his whereabouts on Christmas.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14, 2026

Driver turns himself in

On Monday, the alleged wheelman Dorien Johnson turned himself in to authorities.

Detectives said Dorien Johnson admitted he drove three men, including Derick Johnson, to the Coventry Apartments on Christmas morning. He further said Derick Johnson was one of

PICK 3: 0-2-6 PICK 4: 0-1-6-6 PICK 5: 7-1-8-9-6 EASY 5: 10-15-19-31-32 LOTTO: 2-10-17-27-28-41 POWERBALL: 6-24-39-43-51 (2)

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

lll

BUSINESS

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 3B

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

DOW 49,442.44 292.81 0.60%

NASDAQ 23,530.02 58.27 0.25%

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Grok says it geoblocks content if it violates law

BANGKOK — Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok won’t be able to edit photos to portray real people in revealing clothing in places where that is illegal, according to a statement posted on X. The announcement late Wednesday followed a global backlash over sexualized images of women and children.

The pushback included an investigation announced Wednesday by the state of California into the proliferation of nonconsensual sexually explicit material produced using Grok .

Initially, media queries about the problem drew only the response, “legacy media lies.”

Musk’s company, xAI, now says it will geoblock content if it violates laws in a particular place.

“We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis, underwear and other revealing attire,” it said.

The rule applies to all users, including paid subscribers, who have access to more features. xAI also has limited image creation or editing to paid subscribers only.

The Associated Press confirmed on Thursday morning that the image editing tool was still available to free users on X using the “Edit image” button, as well as on the standalone Grok website and app. The tool was also able to generate images of people in bikinis on a free account based in California.

S&P 500 6,944.47 17.87 0.26%

EURO 1.1604 -0.0004 -0.04%

CRUDE OIL 59.19 -2.83 -4.56%

GOLD 4,616.30 -10.00 -0.22%

6-MO T-BILLS 3.62 0.01 0.28%

30-YR T-BONDS 4.8 0.01 0.17%

Offshore wind gets another victory

pause of its Sunrise Wind project the government’s order to sus- kill birds.

Judge says developer ofpend the project. He faulted the Developers and states sued seek- for New York, with a hearing still to government for not responding to ing to block the order. Large, ocean- be set. Dominion Energy Virginia, can resume key points in Empire Wind’s court based wind farms are the linchpin which is developing Coastal Virfilings, including the contention of plans to shift to renewable en- ginia Offshore Wind, plans to ask construction that the administration violated ergy in East Coast states that have a judge Friday to block the admin-

BY MICHAEL PHILLIS and JENNIFER MCDERMOTT

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A federal judge Thursday cleared the way for a New York offshore wind project to resume construction, a victory for the developer who said a Trump administration order to pause it would likely kill the project in a matter of days.

District Judge Carl J. Nichols, an appointee of President Donald Trump, ruled construction on the Empire Wind project could go forward while he considers the merits

proper procedure.

Norwegian company Equinor owns Empire Wind. Spokesperson David Schoetz said they welcome the court’s decision and will continue to work in collaboration with authorities. It’s the second developer to prevail in court this week.

The Trump administration froze five big offshore wind projects on the East Coast days before Christmas, citing national security concerns. Trump has targeted offshore wind from his first days back in the White House, most recently calling wind farms “losers” that lose money, destroy the landscape and

limited land for onshore wind turbines or solar arrays.

On Monday, a judge ruled that the Danish energy company Orsted could resume its project to serve Rhode Island and Connecticut. Senior Judge Royce Lamberth said the government did not sufficiently explain the need for a complete stop to construction. That wind farm, called Revolution Wind, is nearly complete. It’s expected to meet roughly 20% of the electricity needs in Rhode Island, the smallest state, and about 5% of Connecticut’s electricity needs.

Orsted is also suing over the

istration’s order so it can resume construction, too.

Trump has also dismissed offshore wind developments as ugly, but the Empire project is about 14 miles offshore and the Sunrise project is about 30 miles offshore.

The fifth paused project is Vineyard Wind, under construction in Massachusetts. Vineyard Wind LLC, a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, joined the rest of the developers in challenging the administration on Thursday. They filed a complaint in District Court in Boston.

45 sick in outbreak tied to supplement powder A nationwide outbreak of salmonella linked to Live It Up Super Greens diet supplement powder has sickened 45 people, federal authorities said Wednesday.

Twelve of the 45 people were hospitalized for their illnesses, but no one has died in the outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control said in a statement.

Live It Up, the brand behind the contaminated powder, issued a recall Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration said.

The recall affects Live It Up Super Greens packs with expiration dates from August 2026 to January 2028, according to the FDA. It includes original and wild berry flavors.

The super greens supplements were distributed nationwide, and salmonella-related illnesses were reported in 21 states.

Anyone in possession of the recalled powder should throw it out or return it to the place of purchase, the CDC said.

Purchasers are also advised to look for salmonella symptoms, which include extreme diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration.

Minifridge recall expands to 964,000 NEW YORK — An appliance distributor is expanding a minifridge recall that now covers roughly 964,000 Frigidairebranded products sold in the U.S., after multiple fire reports.

Following a recall of about 634,000 minifridges last year, Canada-based Curtis International recalled an additional 330,000 of another model on Thursday. According to a notice published U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the recalled fridges have electrical components that can short circuit and ignite the plastic used to make the product — risking fires and potential burns for users.

The 330,000 Frigidaire minifridges now under recall carry the model number EFMIS121 and were sold exclusively at Target. Per the Commission, six reports of fires resulting in property damage have been linked to these products to date.

Owners of the recalled minifridges are urged to stop using them immediately and visit Curtis International’s website to learn how to request a refund.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOSE JUAREZ

Guests and members of the media walk the floor at the North American International Auto Show on Wednesday in Detroit.

SPOTLIGHT DIMMING FOR EVs Automakers pivoting away from electric vehicles

BY ALEXA ST. JOHN Associated Press

DETROIT — At the North American International Auto Show, tires squeal as gearheads put shiny new vehicles through their paces on a pair of indoor tracks that sprawl across the event space.

One of those tracks used to be set aside exclusively for electric vehicles as U.S. automakers sought to quickly build out the cars of the future.

But no longer. This year, both strips are open to hybrids and gas-powered vehicles as Detroit continues a pivot away from EVs since President Donald Trump returned to the White House .

“The show will always reflect what’s happening in the industry at the consumer level,” said Todd Szott, chairman of this year’s event and an auto dealer.

“Obviously things have changed in the EV landscape.”

Some industry players say they’re emphasizing “consumer choice” in the cars they’re showing at Detroit’s premier auto event. But some experts expressed concern about the EV pullback’s long-term effect on American automakers as the rest of the globe — especially China — electrifies.

“What we worry about is how competitive will we be on the global stage as the market continues to advance around us,” Michael Robinet, vice president of forecast strategy at auto market intelligence firm S&P Global

Mobility, said during a panel Wednesday on industry trends.

Including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, U.S. sales of electrified cars grew just 1% last year, according to data released by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence this week. Compare that to China, which saw 17% growth in plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles last year, and Europe, which saw a 33% increase. (U.S. pure-EV market share was just under 8% in 2025, with 1.23 million EVs sold — a slight decline from 2024.)

None of that seemed to alarm President Donald Trump earlier this week when he toured the Ford River Rouge Complex, which churns out pickup trucks and more in suburban Dearborn.

“Among my first acts in office was to end the radical left war on oil and gas and stop the crusade to kill American energy and, frankly, to open up cars so that you don’t have to have an electric car,” Trump said in remarks to an economic club before the plant tour.

Trump revoked a Biden-era target for half of new vehicle sales in the U.S. to be electric, and has tried to block money obligated to EV charging across the nation’s highways.

Under Trump, Congress cut tax incentives that saved buyers up to $7,500 on an EV purchase. The administration has also weakened fuel economy standards — going so far as eliminating penalties for the automakers who do not meet them — and gas mileage rules.

“I love electric cars. I think they’re great,” Trump added.

“But I’ve been saying it for four years. They wanted everybody to have an electric car in a very short period of time.”

Those changes have cut into the U.S. indus-

try in 2025 and cost automakers billions of dollars in investment.

Ford Motor Co. announced last month $19.5 billion in charges from electrification efforts and ending production of the all-electric version of the F-150 Lightning truck. Detroit rival General Motors also recently announced $6 billion in EV-related charges, among other losses, and has also rolled back some of its EV commitments.

“I still push for it because, I mean, it is the future of the company,” said Shawn Strain, marketing manager at Ford. “We still are just completely committed to EVs. And it may not be as overt as we once were.”

But industry experts at and outside of the show say it’s a tough time. The competitive auto landscape has been radically reshaped, they say, and China dominates what most see as the future of the industry.

“We have to look at what we’re up against.

In a word — China,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a speech at the show Thursday. “China wants to dominate every part of auto manufacturing. They’re making major headway.

“They’ve captured major market share almost everywhere except the U.S. and Canada,” she added. “We have to meet these challenges.”

Will Roberts, automotive research lead at Benchmark Minerals that released the 2025 data, warned that U.S. policy has made all the difference.

American automakers have responded to those changes, he said, but it would be good strategy if they made sure they were “keeping things ticking along in the background with a really compelling EV offering.”

Move onto land provides big boost in winnings for Bally’s

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writer

Bally’s Baton Rouge brought in $3.8 million in revenues in its first month operating as a land-based casino — nearly six times as much as the casino generated in winnings a year ago.

The downtown casino, formerly known as the Belle of Baton Rouge, opened its long-awaited $141 million expansion on Dec. 6.

The casino moved into what had been its atrium after being in a small temporary location since January 2025, when the aging riv-

erboat that had been its home for more than 30 years sailed away to a Terrebonne Parish scrapyard.

In December 2024, the last full month operating as a riverboat casino, the Belle posted $659,570 in winnings, according to figures released Thursday by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

In December 2021, the Belle had $1.3 million in winnings. That was a few months after The Queen Casino & Entertainment bought the property. Bally’s merged with The Queen in February 2025.

Lauren Westerfield, a spokeswoman for Bally’s, said in an

email that the casino operator was pleased with the December numbers. Revenues and customer counts are continuing to grow this month, she said.

“All is looking promising,” she said.

The increased business at Bally’s helped boost the Baton Rouge casino market in December. The city’s three riverboat casinos reported $25.7 million in winnings last month, up 16.6% from December 2024. The Queen Baton Rouge, the other land-based downtown casino owned by Bally’s, saw its winnings go up 2.7% to $7.6 million, while

L’Auberge Baton Rouge was up 2% in winnings, bringing in nearly $14.3 million for the month.

The gains in Baton Rouge outstripped the increases seen at the state’s other riverboat casinos.

Riverboat gaming revenue statewide was up 10.6% in December, coming in at $167.8 million compared to the year earlier. In December 2024, there were just 14 riverboats operating statewide; Live! Casino in Bossier City didn’t open until February.

Email Timothy Boone at tboone@theadvocate.com.

4B ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Funerals Today Aucoin, Waldon

St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 401 Main Street in Baton Rouge at 10am.

DePaula, Frank

St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11441 Goodwood Boulevard, at 10 a.m.

Doran Sr., Ronald

St. George Catholic Church at 11:30 a.m.

Dunn, Ara

St. John the Evangelist, 15208 LA73, Prairieville, LA at 1pm.

Golsan III, Gordon

Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, at 2 p.m.

Ioppolo, Anthony

St. Jude Catholic Church at 11 a.m.

Jackson, Gwendolyn

Hall’s Celebration Center, Scenic Highway, at 10 a.m.

9348

Jackson, Mary

Donaldson Chapel Baptist Church, 2501 Gracie St., Baton Rouge, LA at 12pm.

Kilpatrick, Byron

Chapel of Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home, 7738 Florida Blvd., Denham Springs, LA at 8pm.

Lunn Anderson, Eleanor

Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant at noon.

Patterson, Emily

Rabenhorst Funeral Home & East, 11000 Florida Crematory Boulevard, at noon.

Powell, Beatrice

Greater New Hope Baptist Church at 10:30 a.m.

Simon Jr., Joseph

Miller & Daughter Mortuary, 5905 Highway 19 in Zachary, at 11 a.m.

Thomas, Zelda

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, 6175 Scenic Highway, at 11 a.m.

Vutera, Marie

Greenoaks Funeral Home, Florida Boulevard at 2pm.

9595

Obituaries

lll

Orleans, before returning to Baton Rouge and using her considerable sales skills in several businesses.

Elizabeth was an athlete and an excellent tennis player, as well as a big LSU sports fan. Her fashion sense was top-notch and she was always available to help her mom and sister with any fashion emergencies! Most of all, Elizabeth was a kind and giving person, continually willing to go the extra mile to help with friends and relatives, with other's children, and whatever her parents needed. She became a special "Lizzie" to many kids in her life and loved them with all her heart. She left the world too soon and will be greatly missed.

Elizabeth is survived by parents Louis Jr ("Buddy") & Julianne Thompson Bonnecaze of Baton Rouge, sister Lea Bonnecaze and family of Jackson Hole, WY, brother Louis Bonnecaze, III of Baton Rouge, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in memory of Elizabeth to Episcopal High School Scholarship Endowment Fund, 3200 Woodland Ridge Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70816; University of Colorado-Boulder, Office of Advancement, Political Science Department, 914 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80309-0095; or the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, 8470 Goodwood Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70806.

Charbonnet, Paul Gibert

Blakes, Jahmal

cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Gloria Collier; his sister, Constance C. Queen; his children Tammy Collier, Cheryl Collier, Gerald Parker and Monee Murphy, all of Baton Rouge; daughter Naomi Collier of Washington, D. C. ; two adopted daughters Erica Jordan and Deborah Boyd; 11 grandchildren, 19 greatgrandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at W. K. Gordon Prayer Center at the rear of Saintsville, 8930 Plank Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70811. Visitation from 8:30 a.m. until religious services at 10:30 a.m.

A. Hamilton Platinum Funeral Services entrusted with arrangements.

--

Duncan, Glenda Dale Scott

Glenda Dale Scott Duncan was born on April 7, 1960. She departed this life on January 11, 2026. Viewing will be Friday, January 16, 2026 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Poplar Springs Baptist Church (1692 Hwy 68, Jackson, LA 70748). Funeral service Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Poplar Springs, Rev. Dr. Milton LeBlanc, officiating. Services entrusted to Richardson Funeral Home.

Golsan III, Gordon B. 'Butch'

Benedict, Ellis Huval, Jack Benedict, and Stetson Benedict. He is also survived by his sisters, Gay Barron (Roy) and Anne Laville, along with a host of nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Gordon Bakewell Golsan Jr. and Shirley Ann Ricks Golsan; his son, Charles Edwin McDonald; his in-laws, Ina Del Johnson Bush and Joseph Julius Bush Jr.; and his godson, Slade Scallan. Pallbearers will be Cameron Benedict, Brandon Murray-Maguire, Courtland Benedict, Clay Benedict, Charles McDonald III, Jevin Huval, Blaine Bush, and Lucas Gauthier.

Honorary pallbearers include Roy Lee Barron, Jamie Benedict, Steven Soler, Butch Landry, Jessie Deroche, Holden Scallan, and Tim Parrish. Butch's legacy lives on in the music he played, the laughter he shared, the family he cherished, and the countless lives he touched. He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026, at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge. A Visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. For those so desiring and in lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Gordon "Butch" Bakewell Golsan, III may be made The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank (https:// brfoodbank.org/give-money/memorial-tribute/), Smile Train: Cleft Lip and Palate Charity (https://ww w.smiletrain.org/?form= FUNSUKKCGLJ) or the Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area (https://alzbr. org/donate/). Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com

Gordon, Jacqueline Turner

Jahmal Blakes was born June 30, 1985 and passed into our Lord's hands on Dec. 31, 2025, in Baton Rouge, LA surrounded by his family. Jahmal was a beloved son to Deborah Bessix Blakes and Nathaniel Blakes Jr.;loving brother to Kamaria & Jabari Blakes; adoring uncle to Jyron Blakes & Charlee Lucas, loving grandson to Edith P. Blakes, Godfather to Jules Trotter; and a true beacon of light to his aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, each of whom he loved deeply. He was a 2003 graduate of Port Allen High. He was preceded in death by Juliana & Phillip Bessix Sr.,Nathaniel Blakes Sr., Gail Marie Bessix, Jerome Blakes & Corey Payne. Visitation will be Jan. 17, 2026 at Hall Davis & Son; 9348 Scenic Hwy. Baton Rouge, starting at 10AM until funeral service at 11AM officiated by Rev. Thomas Bessix Jr. Interment: Roselawn Memorial Park.

Bonnecaze, Elizabeth Anding

Paul Gibert Charbonnet III died January 3, 2026, in Asheville, North Carolina, after a nine-year battle with cardiac sarcoidosis.

Born in New Orleans in 1947, he later moved to Baton Rouge, where he met his wife, Shirley, and together raised three children.A standout high school athlete, Paul found his true calling after transferring to the University of Akron and discovering computers. In 1989, he and Shirley founded Investors FastTrack, which grew into a successful software and data company known for helping users improve their financial lives.Paul believed in learning, working hard, and living on your own terms. He could talk to anyone, made complicated things feel simple, and offered opportunities freely.He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul G. Charbonnet Jr. and Barbara Alice Hunter, and his brother, Christopher Charbonnet. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Charbonnet; his children Paul IV (Sarah), Daniel (Sara), and Camille Charbonnet; his grandchildren Alexandra and Dolly; his siblings Laura C. Smith, Barbara Charbonnet, and Hunter N. Charbonnet Sr.; and numerous nieces and nephews.A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation at 10:00 a.m., at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 12424 Brogdon Ln, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.

Collier, Jonathan 'Joe' Elizabeth Anding Bonnecaze passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. A native of Baton Rouge, she was born on June 20, 1977.

Growing up, she enjoyed playing with her neighborhood friends, swimming, and attending dance and piano classes. She graduated from Episcopal High School in 1995 where she played volleyball and tennis, and was a cheerleader.

Excited to spread her wings, Elizabeth moved to Colorado to attend college where she was a Chi Omega. During the summer of 1996, she conquered a 56 day Outward Bound Odyssey. Elizabeth often said that it was the greatest and hardest thing she had ever done. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder, majoring in political science.

She then moved to Aspen, living out her dream of being a ski instructor and enjoying life in a mountain town.

Eventually, she found her way back to Louisiana, where she attended LSU, excelling in accounting coursework. She worked for Ernst & Young in New

Jonathan "Joe" Collier went from labor to reward on January 7, 2026, at the Carpenter House in Baton Rouge , Louisiana. He was born on December 14, 1940 to the union of Cary Collier and Elizabeth Brady Collier."Mr. Joe" as he was affectionately known was a prolific entrepreneur, who owned and operated several successful businesses in Baton Rouge, including C & H Construction, Collier Bail Bonding, Foster Drive Motel, Collier Tours, H K Beauty Salon and Club Grand Social Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Geraldine Collier-Kato, brother Phillip Collier, son Don Collier, daughter Shelia Thomas and grandson Trey Collier. He leaves to

Gordon "Butch" Bakewell Golsan, III passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his adoring family. A fitting farewell for a man who spent his life loving deeply, laughing loudly, and bringing people together. Butch was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on October 16, 1950, and raised in Mansfield, alongside his beloved parents and sisters. He later made his home in Baton Rouge, where he attended Louisiana State University and earned a degree in General Studies and more importantly, where he began a lifelong love affair with LSU athletics. Butch bled purple and gold through and through. A founding member of the Hell Mary's Tailgaters, a proud member of the Tiger Athletic Foundation, and the LSU Alumni Association, he never missed an opportunity to cheer on the Tigers. To know Butch was to know his unwavering loyalty to LSU Football.

Professionally, Butch enjoyed a long and successful career in life and health insurance, owning and operating GB Golsan Insurance for 34 years. He was known not only for his integrity and dedication, but for the genuine care he showed his clients, many of whom became lifelong friends and, in many ways, family. Music was another great love in his life. A talented drummer, Butch played for many years in bands including The Noise, Human Rayz, Vibrators, Tout Les Soir, and Nouveaux Cajun Xpress. His bandmates were more than fellow musicians; they were his second family, bonded by good vibes and rhythm. Butch found his greatest joy in the simple pleasures; being on the water, LSU tailgates, good music, and gathering with the people he loved most.

Above all, he was a devoted family man. His love for his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was beyond measure. He is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Charmaine Golsan; his children, Gina Benedict (Jamie), Laurie Murray Soler (Steven), and Shane Gauthier (Tara); his grandchildren, Cameron Benedict (Anna), Brooke Huval (Jevin), Brandon MurrayMaguire (Matthew), Courtland Benedict (Carla), Clay Benedict (Risa), Charles "Taz" McDonald, Mackenzie Lemoine, Riley Harwell, Ainsley Gauthier, and Lucas Gauthier; and his great -grandchildren, Ansley Benedict, Boone Benedict, Keller Huval, Fletcher

Jacqueline Gordon, age 89, of Lutcher, La passed away on January 9, 2026.

She was a teacher at Lutcher Jr. High for 28 years. She's survived by her husband, Lawrence Gordon; her son, Brian (Lynette) Gordon and granddaughter, Portia Gordon.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026 from 3pm to 5pm at Treasures of Life Funeral Services, 315 E. Airline Hwy., Gramercy, LA 70052.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2130 Rectory Street, Paulina, LA 70763, on Saturday, January 17, 2026; visitation beginning for 8am followed by the Mass for 10am.

Entombment St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Final care and professional services entrusted to Treasures of Life Funeral Services, 315 E. Airline Hwy., Gramercy, LA 70052.

"When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a Treasure"

Ioppolo, Dr. Anthony Sebastian

completed his neurosurgical training in New York City, serving as Chief Resident of Neurosurgery under Dr. Joseph Ransohoff at NYU Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital—an achievement that reflected both his academic excellence and leadership. In January 1978, he joined Neuro Medical Center in Baton Rouge, where he practiced with distinction for decades. He later founded Advanced Spine Institute and Neuro Spinal Consultants, expanding access to specialized spinal and neurosurgical care across Louisiana. He also served for many years as Medical Director for the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation, where his expertise, integrity, and fairness were widely respected. Never satisfied with mastering only one discipline, Dr. Ioppolo pursued law later in life, graduating from Southern University Law School in 2009. He found great enjoyment in debate, depositions, and the intellectual rigor of the legal profession, blending medicine and law with rare proficiency. Before moving to Baton Rouge, Dr. Ioppolo obtained his pilot's license, and later also earned his captain's license, reflecting his love of aviation and the water. He cherished traveling with his family, particularly on ski trips and visits to national parks—moments he valued deeply as a husband, father, and grandfather. A profound lover of animals, he raised and cared for a variety throughout his life, including an assortment of farm animals, dogs, and cats. During his final years his faithful German shepherd, Wolfgang, was always by his side. His many hobbies and interests included hunting, shooting sports, ham radio, remotecontrolled helicopters and airplanes, reading, automobiles, and numerous forms of collecting. Above all, he was a relentless seeker of knowledge who delighted in learning something new every day.

Dr. Ioppolo was married to his devoted wife, Susan Harriet Ioppolo, in October 1977. Together they built a life grounded in love, family, faith, and shared adventure. He was a constant source of wisdom, encouragement, and unwavering support to those he loved.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; their three children, Jason Mathew Ioppolo and his fiancée Christi Rehage of Prairieville Louisiana, Anthony Michael Ioppolo and his fiancée Lora Rogers of Pinehurst North Carolina, Julie Marie Plaisance and her husband, David Plaisance of Baton Rouge Louisiana; his four cherished grandchildren, Jude, Elizabeth, Alexandra, and Piper; and his sister, Adrienne Wilkens of Islandia New York and her daughter Christine Gill of Miller Place New York. Dr. Ioppolo was a faithful member of St. Jude Catholic Church on Highland Road in Baton Rouge.

Visitation will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church on January 16 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., followed by a Memorial Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lustgarten Foundation to support pancreatic cancer research. Dr. Anthony Sebastian Ioppolo leaves behind a legacy of intellectual rigor, compassion, service, and an unquenchable love of learning. Most of all, he will be remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, and proud grandfather, whose impact will endure in the lives of his family, patients, colleagues, and all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Jackson, Charlie Mae Holly Dr. Anthony Sebastian Ioppolo, beloved and devoted husband, loving father, cherished grandfather, brother, physician, attorney, scholar, and lifelong learner, passed away peacefully at his home on January 8, 2026, while courageously undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Ioppolo was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony Mario Ioppolo and Clelia Ioppolo. In January 1978, he moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a city that would become his lifelong home and the center of his professional legacy.

Dr. Ioppolo earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and went on to graduate from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. He

Charlie Mae Holly Jackson, age 90 passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. She was the wife of the late Reverend Dr. Moses T. Jackson, Sr. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 16, 2025 at Hall's Celebration Center, 9348 Scenic Hwy from 4:00pm to 6:00pm and will resume on Saturday, January 17, 2025 at Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, 8742 Scenic Hwy,

Baton Rouge, LA from 9:00am until Funeral Services at 11:00am.

Johnson, Joe

Joe Johnson, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2025, at the age of 56, in Baton Rouge, LA. Joe dedicated 30 years to Stupp Coating,and 2 years at East Feliciana Forensic Hospital.

Joe's world was his loving wife of 29 years, Bonnie M. Johnson.

Please send all flowers to Richardson Funeral Home A visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on 2026-01-17 at Saintsville C.O.G.I.C, A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on 2026-01 -17 at Saintsville C.O.G.I.C,

Jones, Hazel Delores 'Dee'

Hazel Delores "Dee" Jones passed away peacefully on December 31, 2025.

Born April 15, 1936, she leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. She is survived by her four daughters, Linda Johnson, Carolyn Johnson, Deirdre Bryant (Anderson Sr.), and Monica Johnson; and two sons, Tommy Ray Jones (Colletta) and Ricky Lee Jones, all of Baton Rouge, LA. Two sisters, Parry Ann Allen (Mackie) and Debra Jones; and two brothers, Leo Jones (Brenda) of Baton Rouge, and Edward Jones Jr. (Louise) of Chicago, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Lawrence Johnson Jr. Visitation will be held at Winnfield Funeral Home on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 9AM until funeral service at 11AM.

Kelly, Dawson V. 'Daw Daw'

Dawson V. Kelly Jr., affectionately known as "Daw Daw," a longtime resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the age of 82. He was born on January 2, 1944, to Dawson V. Kelly Sr. and Annie Mae Whitehead Kelly.

Daw Daw proudly served his country as a United States Army veteran and later dedicated more than 30 years of his life to serving his community as a firefighter with the Baton Rouge Fire Department.

Known by all as Daw Daw, he was a man of many talents and passions. He was a self-taught carpenter who could build or fix just about anything, and he took great pride in his work. He also had a deep love for thoroughbred racehorses and a true green thumb when it came to gardening.

Whether working with his hands or spending time outdoors, Daw Daw found joy in the simple things and lived life on his own terms. He is survived by his loving siblings, Shirley (Dennis) Scivicque, Joyce Cooper, and Glenn Kelly; along with numerous nieces,

lll

nephews, and extended family members who cherished him deeply. He is also survived by three of his closest friends Jimmy Turnley, Johnny Chustz, and Richard Guisinger who held a special place in his life and shared many memories with him over the years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dawson V. Kelly Sr. and Annie Mae Whitehead Kelly, and his siblings, Betty Harelson, Sarah Averett, Claude Kelly, Danny Kelly, and Arthur "AJ" Kelly. Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Ourso Funeral Home, located at 13533 Airline Highway, Gonzales, Louisiana, on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m., followed by a service at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. http://www.stjud e.org/donate

Lunn Anderson, Eleanor Raye

Eleanor Raye Lunn Anderson, of St. Amant, Louisiana, passed peacefully on January 4, 2026, at age 87. Eleanor was born on October 23, 1938. She grew up in Hammond and raised her family in St. Amant.

Eleanor is survived by her children, Michael Anderson (Sabrina), Mark Anderson (Yvette), Susan Anderson Zeringue (Wayne), and Darren Anderson; her grandchildren, Brandon Anderson, Sr. (Kara), Abigail Anderson Lejeune (Joshua), Wayne G. Zeringue III "Jack" (Amy), and Claire Zeringue; and her great-grandchildren, Brandon Jr., Bailey, Anderson, Adaline, Georgia, Blair, and Wyatt. She is also survived by her brother, Butch Lunn. Eleanor was predeceased by her parents, Juanita and Raymond Lunn, Sr., and by her siblings, Patricia (Healy) Robertson, Cynthia Miller and Craig Lunn.

Eleanor is remembered

for her kindness, optimism, wit, and caring nature. Following graduation from Charity Hospital School of Nursing, Eleanor served the River Parishes community as a Registered Nurse, Director of Nursing and as a teacher for aspiring nursing students.

Eleanor utilized her business judgment and savvy in managing multiple family businesses, including a home health care agency, sugarcane farming operations, and printing and advertising companies. She served her community through volunteer work with the Chamber of Commerce, including as President, and in other leadership roles.

Above all, Eleanor loved her beautiful home in St. Amant, often drinking coffee on her patio overlooking oak trees and wildflowers, and sharing memories with loved ones. In her later years, Eleanor lived in Convent, assisting her son Mark with his hospitality operations.

The family thanks her caregivers in Convent and at Chateau de Notre Dame for their exceptional care and kindness.

A memorial service will be held on January 16, 2026 at Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant, with Visitation at 11:00 a.m., and Liturgy of the Word at 12:00 p.m. Private interment will follow in Waldheim Cemetery where Eleanor will rest in peace with her parents and family.

Martin, Geneva

Geneva Martin, age 98, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. A Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Sweet Home Baptist Church, located at 343 W. Buchanan Street, Baton Rouge, LA, from 8:00 a.m. until Funeral Services begin at 10:00 a.m. officiated

by Rev. Riley Harbor, III. Interment: Sunlight Baptist Church Cemetery, Blanks, Louisiana. Services have been entrusted to Hall Davis and Son Funeral Services.

Powell, Beatrice

Beatrice Powell entered into eternal rest at AMG Specialty Hospital on Jan-

uary 5, 2026. She was a 91year old native of Star Hill, Louisiana and a resident of Baker, Louisiana. Viewing at Greater New Hope Baptist Church on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 9:00 am until Celebration of Life Service at 10:30 am conducted

by Pastor Geoffrey Sykes; interment at Port Hudson National Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Miller & Daughter Mortuary.

Richard Sr., Joseph B. 'JB'

Joseph B. "JB" Richard, Sr. passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the age of 98. JB was a retired process operator at Exxon Plastics and was a longtime member of St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church. He was a master craftsman in carving and woodworking; building, carving and transforming wood into beautiful works of art. JB enjoyed giving "a showing" of his work as much as the creation process itself and writing poetry. JB and Grace, his wife of 64 years, dedicated their lives to setting a wonderful example of devotion to the Catholic faith and their family. He was a Navy veteran of World War II serving in the Philippines. JB is survived by his children, Joseph B. "Chip" Richard, Jr. (Michelle), David R. Richard (Ann), Carl E. Richard, Sr. (Brenda), Ann R. Perrin (Jerry), Aubrey L. Richard (Valerie), James E. "Jimmy" Richard (Lori) and Deanne Richard; grandchildren, Joseph B. Richard, III, Keri N. Richard, Rob Murray, Monika Harris, Todd Jackson, Carl E. Richard, Jr., Janelle Verbois, Jerry Perrin, Jr., Kathy Blanchard, Amy Guillory, Amanda Rufini, Emily Landry, Brooke Richard, Carter Richard, Cameron Richard, and Grace Richard; he is also survived by numerous great- and great-greatgrandchildren. JB is preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Grace Richard;

daughter, Mary Virginia Richard; and 10 siblings.

Visitation will be at St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church, 5354 Plank Rd., Baton Rouge, LA, on Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 10am until the Mass of Christian Burial at 12pm.

Burial and reception will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.

Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.greeno aksfunerals.com

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

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 5B

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 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"

Protection your loved ones deserve ...

GUARANTEED Life Insurance up to $30,000.00

Modified Whole Life Insurance from Physicians Life Insurance Company

Imagine what $30,000.00 could mean to your family after you’re gone — cash to help pay your funeral, medical bills or other final expenses.

• Guaranteed acceptance for ages 45 to 85* • No medical exam, no health questions • Lock in your rate for life

Find out how affordable this coverage can be — Call for your FREE Information Kit

1-888-348-7520 Life55plus.info/Batonrouge

 Plus — you’ll also get a FREE

Final Wishes Planner just for calling!

*Ages may vary by state. Guaranteed for one of these life insurance policies. Benefits Benefits reduced first first two years. Insurance Policy L770 (ID: L770ID; OK: L770OK; TN: L770TN).

6236-0625

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS

On your phone.

On the go.

Interested in Print?

Sign up for home delivery of the newspaper in addition to full digital access on your phone, tablet or computer.

Access to the daily e-replica of the newspaper is also included.

Subscribe today Scan the QR code CANCEL ANYTIME

OPINION

6B ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

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

Investing in HBCUs is an investment in a better La.

If you want to see the future of Louisiana, stand in the middle of an HBCU campus between classes: lab goggles in one direction, studentTramelle teachers in anothHoward er, nursing scrubs GUEST and hard hats in COLUMNIST between.

It’s the state’s talent engine at full throttle, training the doctors who will staff our hospitals, the engineers who will strengthen our levees and the teachers who will lead our classrooms.

We both chose HBCUs because we wanted an education that wouldn’t ask us to shrink, but to become who we are. What we found were communities that pair high expectations with highquality support. Advisors who call when you miss class. Professors who know your story and your goals. And peers that push you to be your very best.

That combination of belonging and rigor is why HBCUs accept first-gen, working and lowincome students and turn them

into degree-holders who stay in Louisiana and lift whole neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, due to our current political environKristian ment, the policy Coleman conversation around our camGUEST COLUMNIST puses has drifted from expanding opportunity to testing how much can be cut before the public notices. Attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion don’t just target programs; they undermine the sense of safety and belonging that keeps students enrolled.

Threats and political stunts ripple into day-to-day learning: student events canceled, stress rising and attention split from course work. Even when the headlines fade, the quiet strain remains.

Underfunding isn’t abstract.

It’s crumbling dorms, unreliable HVAC and labs that lag behind industry standards.

One-time federal dollars helped patch roofs and refresh a lab or

two. But when temporary funding becomes the plan, students live on a fiscal cliff. The semester a grant expires is the semester a tutoring center trims hours, or a scholarship doesn’t renew.

Leadership is left to choose between keeping the lights on and keeping the supports that carry first-gen and low-income students from enrollment to graduation.

So, what would it look like to fund HBCUs like the essential infrastructure they are? Start by building stability where students actually feel it. Turn sporadic infusions into dependable base funding. Pair sustained state appropriations with federal matches aimed squarely at historic gaps and aim the first dollars at learning conditions.

Protect the student-success infrastructure that quietly does the heavy lifting. Advising, emergency aid, summer bridge programs and mental-health counseling are not extras, they are the bridge from “admitted” to “alumnus.” If we want higher persistence and completion, we must stabilize the very services that drive both.

We must defend the mission that makes HBCUs work. Equity isn’t a talking point at HBCUs, it’s the operating system. Protecting that operating system means safeguarding civil-rights enforcement, need-based aid and campus policies that meet students where they are.

Finally, investments should also be tied to Louisiana’s economy in ways students can reach early. Health care, energy, coastal restoration, cybersecurity and teaching all need talent. Build paid internships, co-ops and faculty-industry research partnerships that begin sophomore year, not senior spring. When employers say they can’t find qualified workers, point them to the talent pipelines already running through HBCU classrooms.

If you’ve never walked on an HBCU campus, consider this an invitation. Meet the veteran finishing a degree between shifts, the biology major closing the lab at midnight, the first-gen student who just nailed a co-op interview because a career adviser stayed late.

Talk to the faculty member

running a research project on a shoestring budget and still placing students in graduate programs and industry jobs. None of this is accidental. It’s the product of institutions that were built to welcome, to challenge and to launch.

Investing in HBCUs isn’t a favor. It’s the most practical strategy Louisiana has to grow its middle class, stabilize critical workforces and keep homegrown talent in state. We can keep these campuses in permanent emergency mode or we can fund them for what they are: launchpads for students and engines for our economy. The first path guarantees the next crisis. The second builds prosperity we can measure in diplomas, paychecks and stronger communities.

Let’s finally meet HBCU excellence with equal investment and give our students the future they’ve already proven they can build.

Tramelle Howard is the state director at EdTrust-Louisiana.

Kristian Coleman is a senior at Southern University.

Trump’s signature trade Realism offers warnings on deal has delivered for La. Venezuela’s regime change President Donald Trump’s first term sues. produced one of the most consequential Start with Mexico. The USMCA reeconomic achievements Louisiana has quires all parties to regulate sectors seen in decades. The United Statessuch as energy fairly and impartially.

Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Yet Mexico has repeatedly favored its his signature trade deal, enacted stron- state-owned energy provider, disadger protections for American vantaging American companies. workers and businesses and That matters in Louisiana, revitalized the export industries which supplies a large share of that account for more than a the oil and petroleum products quarter of Louisiana’s economic exported to Mexico. Energy output. alone accounts for nearly half Soon, the Trump administraof Louisiana’s exports to Canada Luke and Mexico. tion will have the chance to build Arabie Mexico has also altered cuson that success. A formal review GUEST of the USMCA begins this year. toms procedures with little COLUMNIST The process is already underwarning, slowing shipments of energy, agricultural goods way as the United States gathand manufactured products that move ers public input and evaluates how the through Louisiana’s ports. These agreement has performed. If Trump uses this moment to reinforce the deal’s unexpected rule changes violate the USMCA’s transparency requirements protections for American businesses, and undermine the reliability Louisiana he can deliver yet another boost to exporters depend on.

Louisiana’s economy.

Canada has posed challenges as well.

When President Trump signed the Certain customs policies have created USMCA in 2018, America’s North new administrative hurdles for AmeriAmerican trade relationships were strained. The old North American Free can exporters, affecting sectors like Trade Agreement (NAFTA) framework agriculture — a $13 billion cornerstone had become outdated and allowed of Louisiana’s economy, home to nearly competitors to exploit loopholes that 30,000 farms. harmed U.S. workers and manufacturThis year’s review is the right moers. ment to fix that.

The USMCA reversed that trend.

As the United States works to renew It tightened trade rules to encourage the USMCA, Trump administration more production in the United States, officials should focus on bolstering engave American businesses clearer acforcement, ensuring transparency and cess to Canadian and Mexican markets addressing areas where Mexico and and included new provisions to remove Canada have not fully complied with the agreement. barriers for agricultural and energy Strengthening the USMCA will benproducers — two pillars of Louisiana’s economy. efit more than just Louisiana — it will The results speak for themselves. enhance America’s overall economic As America’s fourth-largest exporting security. Reinforcing trade rules, esstate, Louisiana has been one of the big- pecially in energy, will help protect American competitiveness, support dogest beneficiaries of the agreement.

Last year alone, Louisiana exported mestic production and reduce reliance $10 billion worth of goods to Canada on imports. and Mexico, supporting more than The progress Louisiana has made 21,000 Louisiana jobs. Nearly 1 in every under the USMCA proves what strong, 8 exported Louisiana goods now goes America First trade leadership can to one of our two North American part- achieve. President Trump can put our state on firmer footing. ners.

Strengthening that deal will help keep That success is why Louisianans Louisiana competitive — and keep our should hope, above all, that President ports, farms and energy sector powerTrump renews the agreement during this year’s review. The USMCA has deing America’s future growth. livered for our state.

At the same time, there is room to Luke Arabie is a senior at Louisiana strengthen it. In several cases, Mexico State University, president of LSU’s and Canada have not fully upheld their Turning Point USA chapter and commitments — and the review offers secretary of Greater Baton Rouge a rare opportunity to address those isYoung Republicans.

With the American military’s ouster of leum assets in its territory as public propNicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan people erty. The whole point was to cut American face a vexing question. Whose servant and European oil companies down to size: would you rather be?

Mexican profits from Mexican oil for the I wouldn’t necessarily recombenefit of Mexicans. It was a form of “Mexico First.” mend posing this question to a Other major producers like BraVenezuelan expatriate in the near future. The fall of Maduro, an zil and Venezuela followed suit autocratic leader presiding over later in the twentieth century, as a sham democracy, naturally redid oil-pumping countries in other regions of the world. Now that it’s leased pent-up emotions. After Jason 2026, is the American government these feelings subside, however, Maloy back to grabbing at other counreason and reflection must take GUEST their place. tries’ oil? Does anyone imagine COLUMNIST Consider how people in Afghanithat, as long as they’re promised their freedom, they couldn’t posstan felt when the American military destroyed the Taliban government in sibly object?

2001.

Of course they could, and they will.

It must’ve been similar to people in Iraq It turns out that freedom comes with in 2003, or in Libya in 2011. The citizens choices. Which brings us back to the basic of all those places were understandably question: Who’s your master, Venezuela? delighted — at least for a while.

In the real world, almost all of the time, Then Afghanistan crumbled into a “freedom” doesn’t mean freedom from low-grade civil war, leading to eventual exploitation.

American withdrawal (after 20 years of It merely means the freedom to choose occupation) and the Taliban’s return. Iraq by whom you’re exploited. In a normally suffered through a decade of high-grade functioning democracy, free and fair eleccivil war before becoming more stable tions offer that choice. Notwithstanding recently in its second decade after the de- the federal indictment against Maduro, mise of Saddam Hussein. To this day, post- his crime against democratic theory was denying this kind of freedom to his own Qaddafi Libya is the scene of clashing people. warlords and routine diplomatic failures In the international arena, though, no to reunite the country. such choice is even possible. There are It’s a mixed record, at best. Don’t even no global ballot boxes or court dockets to mention the death and destruction on the protect you from foreign tyrants. ground, or the rather sour opinion that So here’s the tough lesson: If a domestic American voters have developed about militarized regime change. Recent events tyrant squashes your freedom or spoils the ballot boxes, you should fix it yourself, in Venezuela almost make you wonder internally. whether anyone in Washington rememIf a foreign power comes promising bers the last 25 years. liberation, it might look like the deal of In my charitable moments, though, I the century. But think carefully about imagine that President Donald Trump whether it’s easier to get rid of a foreign and Secretary of State Marco Rubio just tyrant or a domestic one. want to reduce the U.S. trade deficit by What foreign tyrant? I’m not talking getting the country back in the business of exporting democracy. There’s only one about Trump or Rubio, or not just those two. Spare a thought for all the presiproblem. A seller needs a buyer, and the customer reviews for this particular exdents and secretaries of state to come after them. Elected officers come and go; port have been poor.

American corporations are eternal.

Maybe Washington believes that Latin Latin Americans have long memories America is totally different from the that attest to these truths of political reMiddle East. Panama seemed to do well enough after their own autocrat, Manuel alism. Whoever may be thinking about Noriega, was apprehended by America’s handing over Venezuela to the U.S. mobile police force in 1989. military-petroleum complex will only be Yet Venezuela presents much bigger setting the stage for the country’s next problems than Panama — the oil, for inrevolution. stance.

Latin Americans tend to have pretty Jason Maloy is a professor and the long memories about oil. About a hundred Kaliste Saloom Endowed Chair in years back, Mexico was the first soverPolitical Science at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. eign state in the region to seize the petro-

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LOCAL REPORTING

KEVIN HALL

JERRY DICOLO

FRED KALMBACH

JENNIFER BROWN

ARNESSA GARRETT

KRISTIN ASKELSON

EMMA DISCHER

President & Publisher

Deputy editor/News

RENE SANCHEZ

Deputy editor/Opinion

VP/News, Executive Editor

KARYN KEARNEY EVP/Strategic Partnerships

JUSTIN MITCHELL

Deputy editor/Audience

Managing editor

Managing editor, Acadiana

BARBARA LEADER Managing editor, Shreveport

Senior Editor Senior Editor

ANDREA GALLO Senior Editor/ Investigations

JESSICA WILLIAMS Senior Editor

ROGER HOLMES Executive VP, Operations

LOU HUDSON

VP/Majors & Nationals

JIM MYERS

VP/Finance

ROBERT STOLL

VP/Distribution

ASHLEY WHITCHER IT Director

KYLE WHITFIELD

VP/ Consumer Sales

ROBERT YOUNG

General Manager/ Advertising

G

GEORGES MEDIA GROUP JOHN D. GEORGES Owner

JUDI TERZOTIS

Chief Executive Officer Editorial Page

DAN SHEA

Chairman

ARNESSA GARRETT STEPHANIE GRACE WILL SUTTON QUIN HILLYER FAIMON ROBERTS

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 7B

lll

COMMENTARY FROM THE BOOKSHELF ‘MIRACLE CHILDREN’

By KATIE BENNER and ERICA. L. GREEN In our new feature From the Bookshelf, we bring you excerpts from nonfiction works that explore topics of relevance to our communities and our state.

Today, an excerpt from “Miracle Children: Race, Education and a True Story of False Promises” explores the incredible story of T.M. Landry College Prep in Breaux Bridge, where claims of extraordinary achievements by minority students came under scrutiny in 2018 after the students’ college acceptance videos went viral. The authors, Katie Benner, a New York Times investigative reporter, and Erica L. Green, a New York Times White House correspondent, spent years looking into the school and exposed the inconsistencies between what its founders, Mike and Tracey Landry, promised students and parents and what they actually delivered. They also probe why top-tier schools like Katie Benner Brown University bought into what the Landrys were selling.

Erica L. Green

‘There was no way out’

A

How Breaux Bridge’s T.M. Landry school gained the trust of Black parents and duped the nation’s most elite colleges

fter Brown accepted a T.M. Landry student, Mike and Tracey caught the attention of elite colleges, where people were excited by the discovery of transformative black educators who were achieving results.

Elisha Anderson, Brown’s admissions officer, followed up with a visit to Breaux Bridge and a tour of the school. He got to know the Landrys better and to meet more of their remarkable students. The stop was one of dozens Anderson would make during the fall travel season, when admissions officers visit high schools to talk to students, pitch their universities, and answer questions about the application process. They choose high schools that they hope will help them fulfill a variety of recruitment needs — for arts programs, athletic teams, and departments like math and science, each officer focusing on a specific part of the country, like the South.

Admissions officers build their travel schedules around the feeder schools that make up much of their applicant pools, sprinkling in places they hope might someday become pipelines — especially schools that produce graduates who fulfill hard-to-reach recruitment goals, like geographic, socioeconomic, and racial categories. Anderson and his colleagues become de facto advocates for the places and candidates they like, acting as a channel between applicants and admissions offices. Their visits, though short, ideally give them an inside look at the schools and their cultures.

T.M. Landry students had racked up a list of accomplishments ahead of Anderson’s arrival. Some were dual-enrolled at South Louisiana Community College, and others awaited word from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette about whether they would be accepted into the school’s dual-enrollment program. Children in third and fourth grade had begun pre-algebra courses, according to the Landrys, and various classes were practicing for the ACT. One promising eighth grader had scored 17 out of 36 on her standardized test, four years before she would be applying to college. Others her age were getting scores in the 20s. The T.M. Landry candidates all wanted to study math or science, as those majors supposedly led to high-paying jobs. These students were also bright, unfailingly polite, and wellspoken.

Anderson was impressed by what he saw and wanted his colleagues to see it, too. At around the same time, a Yale dean and lecturer who had grown up in Cajun Country and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette paid T.M. Landry a visit.

The following summer, Elisha Anderson’s boss, Jim Miller, Brown’s dean of admissions, nominated the Landrys for an opportunity to attend the Harvard University Summer Institute on College Admissions.

The program, hosted by Harvard and the College Board, the company that administers the SAT, brings together high school counselors, college admissions officers, and other educators to discuss admissions trends and changes in higher education. Participants talk about ways to help students and their families apply to college and prepare for life away from home. Most important, they network, allowing high schools and their students to get on the radar of hundreds of competitive colleges and universities.

With Miller’s support, the Landrys attended the Harvard program — and they made a splash. Mike stood out in the sea

of men dressed in navy blue jackets and khakis. One day, he wore orange pants and a green striped shirt with a greenand-orange plaid bow tie; on another, a red blazer, a canary-yellow button-down, and matching red-and-yellow sneakers; and for a different event, highlighter yellow pants with a salmon-pink shirt, white blazer, and white silk bow tie. The crowd loved listening to the Landrys talk about the lack of opportunity for poor black students in Louisiana and the structural barriers that made it hard for their young people to succeed. The Landrys personally understood those challenges, they said, having navigated poverty and racism themselves.

Now the couple ran a school dedicated to helping kids discover their inner greatness. At T.M. Landry, average students were transformed into math and computer science prodigies, into learners who would thrive in an economy where math and science majors had an advantage. And everyone at T.M. Landry attended college, they claimed. Mike called their approach “education through empowerment.”

The Landrys got to meet with admissions officials from Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Michigan, Claremont McKenna

Q&A WITH THE AUTHORS Katie Benner and Erica L. Green will sit down with our education reporter Ashley White and sign copies of their book at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday at Cavalier House Books, 302 A Jefferson St., Lafayette.

College, and others. Richard Shaw, the dean of admissions at Stanford and former admissions head at Yale, quoted Mike in a speech he gave during the conference. “As Michael Landry says,” Shaw told the crowd, “‘If you just take the time and believe in them, there is no limit to what these kids can do.’ ” William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions at Harvard, said that all the attendees should be working to empower disadvantaged youth — and he awarded Mike the conference’s first-ever prize for Best Dressed.

Mike and Tracey were a hit. They left the Harvard Summer Institute that year with connections to officials at influential institutions who wanted to help their students. They became conference regulars, expanding their network to include representatives from schools like Yale and MIT.

The Ivy League was the type of elite club that most people in the Breaux Bridge area had never thought much about. But once it was dangled in front of them, it became the kind of dream for which families would pay good money.

Mike and Tracey were living proof to parents that their children could not only be accepted but embraced by powerful people, and this became the school’s greatest recruitment and retention tool — one the couple pushed hard.

“This conference has earned TM Landry College Prep a prominent place in the minds of the movers and shakers of the best universities in the nation,” read one of the school’s Facebook posts from 2015.

“Michael and Tracey have formed relationships at this conference that will benefit their students for years to come.” In pictures, the couple beams from Fenway Park, attending a Red Sox game courtesy of Harvard, they said. In another, Mike poses inside a stately room, above the caption, “Mike enjoying the Ivy League lifestyle!”

Congratulatory messages poured in from the community, as if Mike and Tracey had won the lottery or accomplished some great feat. And in some respects, they had. The Ivy League lifestyle was the mountaintop for Mike. He now impressed upon the students that their mission was to go “up north,” where the white schools and cosmopolitan cities were — where the money was. Mike and Tracey were no longer just talking the talk but also walking the ivory tower walk.

They brokered new prospects for their students, for themselves, and by extension, for an entire community who felt validated by people they had never thought would give them their time or energy.

The following summer, the school’s Facebook page featured a series of photos of Mike and Tracey on a celebratory tour “up north.” They posted selfies from their “2nd trip to a Red Sox game!” At that year’s Harvard Summer Institute, they smiled with admissions counselors from Stanford and Harvard. They beamed in photos with deans at Brown and Princeton. They boasted of new friendships with staff from other colleges, such as the University of Michigan, and posted a picture of two women they called “New York Connects,” presumably referring to unnamed officials at Columbia University and NYU. Another post read, “Hobnobbing with the Dean of Harvard College Admissions, Dean Fitzsimmons, mentioned Mike Landry as Best Dressed 2nd year in a row.

Tracey wants a recount!”

Mike and Tracey returned from the tour with more ringing endorsements from some of the most influential white men in higher education, a group Mike would come to refer to simply as “the Deans.”

The couple’s ascent into what they called the “upper echelon” made their sales pitch to prospective families all the more compelling. But for T.M. Landry’s students, these relationships meant something more ominous. “There was no way out,” Raymond said. Every pupil understood that the college “they got into and their financial aid package really depended on Mike Landry, just because he always made it seem like he had these people in his back pocket.”

Excerpted from “Miracle Children” by Katie Benner and Erica L. Green. Published

by Metropolitan Books. Copyright ©2026

by Katie Benner and Erica L. Green. All rights reserved.

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

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

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

8B ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

Baton Rouge Weather TODAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY Weather News by Meteorologist Malcolm Byron

Sun, p.m. showers

Mostly cloudy

Mainly sunny

Sun and high clouds

Partly sunny

Mostly cloudy 20%

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

LOW

68° 45°

LOW

55° 30°

LOW

50° 31°

LOW

HIGH

59° 34°

ALMANAC

LOW

HIGH

58° 39°

LOW

61° 49°

AROUND THE REGION

THE NATION

BATON ROUGE THROUGH 5 P.M. THURSDAy

TEMPERATURE

High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

53°/39° 62°/41° 81° in 2020 18° in 1979

PRECIPITATION

Longview 63/32

TODAY

MODERATE

GOOD

READING 52 MAIN POLLUTANT Nitrogen oxide

MAIN POLLUTANT Nitrogen oxide

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

RIVER STAGES FLOOD STAGE 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 -2.10 +0.80 Vidalia-Natchez 48 14.20 -0.54 Red River Landing 48 18.20 -0.40 Baton Rouge 35 7.00 +0.30 Donaldsonville 27 3.70 +0.20 Reserve 22 2.90 +0.46 New Orleans 17 1.60 +0.08 MISSISSIPPI

OHIO 40

15.14

+0.54

19

-0.98

-0.20

18 29 8

0.62 20.24 3.07

-0.77 -5.94 -0.37

13 15

4.98 10.80

-5.04 +1.45

47 34 29 20 12 6

6.09 3.90 3.68 2.97 2.40 2.61

-0.33 -0.27 -0.15 -0.08 none +0.76

COMITE

Near Olive AMITE

Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent TICKFAW

Montpelier Holden ATCHAFALAYA

Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

BY HAYLEY SMITH

Los Angeles Times (TNS) LOS ANGELES — As global officials confirm that 2025 was Earth’s third-hottest year on record, a new poll shows Americans are sharply divided over the role of science in the United States.

A report published Thursday by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that a majority of Americans want the U.S. to be a world leader in science, but Republicans and Democrats disagree on whether it is.

About two-thirds of Democrats, 65%, fear the U.S. is losing ground to other countries when it comes to scientific achievement — a 28-point increase since 2023, the poll found. Republicans have moved in the opposite direction, with far fewer saying the U.S. is losing ground than in the past, 32%, a 12-point decrease in that same time frame.

The divide mirrors “other partisan differences in attitudes around science we have been tracking for years,” the Pew report says.

“In particular, partisan differences in trust in scientists and the value of science for society are far wider than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. Republicans have become less confident in scientists and less likely to say science has had a mostly positive effect on society, while Democratic views are largely unchanged.”

The report notes that the Trump administration has reshaped federal science policy, including eliminating research grants, cutting science and health workforces, and shifting priorities away from climate change research. Last month, the administration dismantled one of the world’s leading climate and weather research institutions, the National Center for

0s

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

Baton Rouge 68/45

Lafayette 70/46

Beaumont 73/47 Port Arthur 71/49

Hattiesburg 67/44

Alexandria 69/38

Many 68/34

New Orleans 71/50

Lake Charles 70/47

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

Houma 71/50

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

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

TIDES HIGH

FT.

LOW

Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) 5:35a Shell Beach --South Point, Marsh Island 5:04p Cypremort Point 8:21p Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) 8:08p Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) 7:22p Wine Island 9:16p

0.5 --1.3 1.2 0.9 1.1 1.1

5:36p -0.3 11:22a -0.6 6:33a -0.9 10:26a -0.8 6:52a -0.6 5:02a -0.8 7:54a -0.8

SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

FT.

HIGH

LOW

FT.

--------7:25p 1.2 -----------------

TODAY City

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Houston Las Vegas Louisville Miami Minneapolis

SATURDAY

Hi

Lo W

Hi

Lo W

73 34 59 33 78 76 70 46 68 31

39 s 28 pc 36 s 5 sn 67 pc 48 s 44 s 30 c 59 s 5 sn

53 38 47 22 78 56 67 34 74 8

29 pc 33 pc 24 pc 11 pc 69 pc 32 pc 43 s 19 c 66 pc -2 sf

SOLUNAR TABLE

7:02 a.m.

5:27 p.m.

5:35 a.m.

3:28 p.m.

NEW

FIRST

FULL

LAST

JAN 18

JAN 25

FEB 1

FEB 9

Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.

Some 90% of Democrats say they have a least a fair amount of confidence in scientists, but only 65% of Republicans said the same, according to the poll, which surveyed 5,111 U.S. adults in October. The gap in confidence between both parties on this point has been broadly similar in every survey since 2021.

Experts said the findings are not particularly surprising.

“It’s part of a larger trend toward the politicization of science,” said Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist at Berkeley Earth, citing issues such as vaccines and climate change. He said concerns about “falling behind” may be warranted as “the U.S. is very much doubling down on being a ‘petro state’ — exporting our oil and gas — whereas other parts of the world, particularly China, are doubling down on exporting clean energy technologies like wind, solar and batteries.”

The report lands as the world continues to head in the wrong direction when it comes to global warming.

On Wednesday, eight international groups released data confirming that 2025 was Earth’s third-hottest year on record — nearly tied with 2023 and just behind 2024, the warmest year on record. Among the groups are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, the Japanese Meteorological Agency and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.

The past 11 years have been the 11 warmest on record, according to Copernicus.

Last year’s global average temperature was about 2.65 degrees above pre-industrial levels, the baseline against which global warming is measured. That means it was just shy of the 2.7 degree limit established under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, an internationally recognized

FT.

--------11:29p 1.2 -----------------

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

MAJOR

9:05a 9:53a 10:43a 11:05a 11:57a 12:52a 1:43a

MINOR

MAJOR

2:51a 9:31p 3:40a 10:19p 4:30a 11:09p 5:21a ---6:12a 12:24p 7:03a 1:15p 7:54a 2:05p

TODAY City

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

SATURDAY

Hi

Lo W

Hi

Lo W

50 71 60 36 78 35 49 46 74 59

32 r 50 s 42 s 31 pc 49 s 32 sn 37 s 20 pc 47 s 45 s

42 56 71 42 77 35 57 26 76 68

19 c 38 pc 53 pc 33 r 51 s 16 sn 34 pc 15 c 48 pc 55 pc

59 50 51 68 11 18 65 53 59 37 61

40 pc 43 pc 38 pc 45 pc 7 s -3 c 46 c 41 c 41 pc 34 c 44 s

62 50 46 67 27 8 68 51 60 37 58

39 pc 42 c 33 sh 49 pc 22 sn 0 c 47 c 42 c 43 s 31 c 43 s

THE WORLD

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

MINOR

3:18p 4:06p 4:56p 5:46p 6:36p 7:26p 8:16p

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

50 92 56 44 52 68 46 51 71 76 55

42 c 75 pc 47 pc 31 pc 44 c 53 c 36 sh 34 s 54 s 62 s 41 c

50 92 55 39 51 69 45 41 79 77 55

34 c 75 pc 51 r 30 c 36 c 54 pc 33 c 34 c 65 pc 64 s 42 pc

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

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

The Earth keeps getting hotter Americans’ trust in science is on decline

-0s

Jackson 68/36

AIR QUALITY YESTERDAY

-10

Monroe 66/35

Shreveport 65/35

24 hours through 5 p.m. Thu. 0.01” Month to date (normal) 2.79” (3.16”) year to date (normal) 2.79” (3.16”)

Cairo

Sunshine and a returning southerly breeze will nudge temperatures in a warmer direction on Friday, with highs reaching the upper 60s by afternoon. Late in the day, high clouds will start spilling into the area. Those will increase through the evening ahead of a cold front. Isolated showers will be possible along it, so a precautionary raincoat will be a good idea for Friday night plans. The weekend will begin with a mixture of clouds and sun following Friday night’s front. Temperatures will drop in its wake with highs in the 50s on both weekend days. Meanwhile, lows appear to dip below freezing by daybreak Sunday. If there’s enough moisture as a disturbance swings through late Saturday, a few flurries cannot be ruled out.

tipping point for the worst effects of climate change.

“The news is not encouraging, and the urgency of climate action has never been more important,” Mauro Facchini, head of Earth observation at the Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space at the European Commission, told reporters this week.

Yet Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris agreement on his first day back in office, a move he also made during his first term as president. Earlier this month, Trump also withdrew the U.S. from 66 other international organizations and treaties, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, from which the Paris agreement stems.

The world is now on track to breach the Paris agreement’s limit for long-term global warming before the end of the decade — several years earlier than previously predicted, according to Hausfather, who also helped produce Berkeley Earth’s global temperature report released this week. He said it is likely that 2026 will fall “somewhere between the second and fourth warmest” years on record.

“The new data is the latest unequivocal evidence that our climate is in crisis,” said Carlos Martinez, a senior climate scientists with the Union of Concerned Scientists. But “the Trump administration is not simply refusing to face the reality of climate change we are experiencing, it is actively lying about science and undermining our nation’s federal scientific resources.”

Last year wasn’t only warm globally. The contiguous U.S. experienced the fourth warmest year in its 131-year record, according to NOAA’s assessment. Utah and Nevada recorded their warmest years on record at 4.3 degrees and 3.7 degrees above their 20th-century averages, respectively. California tied for its fourth-warmest year on record.

Start Your Move Today Get your FREE accurate home evaluation today.

addressbatonrouge.com 1-800-801-4620

This website is a marketing and information program that sends all inquiries to state-licensed real estate professionals.

DRE#01901536

SPORTS

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

|

F r i d ay, J a n u a ry 16, 2026

L S U A T G E O R G I A • 6 P. M . F R I D A y • S E C N

1Cn

Mendoza’s shine

Indiana QB hopes to cap one of sports world’s greatest turnarounds with title

BY MICHAEL MAROT

AP sportswriter

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU gymnast Courtney Blackson finishes her routine on the uneven bars at the Gymnastics 101/Open Mike Night on Jan. 2 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Busted ‘retirement’ LSU gym coach’s joke leads to extra punch in lineup with ‘Granny B’

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

They call Courtney Blackson “Granny B” around the LSU gymnastics facility.

A fitting nickname for someone who is likely the first “retired” gymnast in program history.

Last year, LSU coach Jay Clark and lead assistant Garrett Griffeth were in Boise, Idaho, on a recruiting trip.

They were standing around talking to a group of workers at Mountain West Gymnastics where they were visiting when Clark jokingly asked: “Anyone here got any eligibility left?”

Blackson hesitantly raised her hand.

“I think I do,” she said.

“The joke turned serious,” Clark said Clark quickly asked Griffeth who Blackson was, and Griffeth explained that she had been a four-year gymnast at Boise State who now had embarked on her coaching career.

“I graduated from Boise State and I

LSU gymnast Courtney Blackson wears the crown after a vault during the Gymnastics ä See GYM, page 4C 101/Open Mike Night on Jan. 2 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Fernando Mendoza arrived on Indiana’s campus last January carrying huge expectations for himself and the program.

Outsiders almost immediately dubbed the new, highly touted transfer as the quarterback who ä Miami could lead Indiana’s football provs. Indiana, 6:30 P.M. MONDAy, ESPN gram to unprecedented heights.

Some even suggested Mendoza could be a Heisman Trophy candidate and possibly the top prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.

But the grounded grandson of Cuban immigrants ignored the chatter and focused instead on proving himself all over again.

Mendoza wasted no time earning the respect of his new teammates thanks to a relentless work ethic. He quickly impressed coaches with his unflappable poise, uncanny natural instincts and unconventional study habits. The Miami native and former Cal star found his exuberant, humble personality fit perfectly in this Midwestern college town John Mellencamp depicted in his hit song “Small Town.” And eventually Mendoza’s penchant for making clutch plays put him on the big stage, winning college football’s most prestigious individual award in a landslide.

Now as the 22-year-old tries to etch one final chapter into this seemingly made-for-television Hollywood script — leading what had been major college football’s losingest program to its first national championship in front of a throng of family and friends just about a 40-minute drive from his parents’ home — Mendoza continues to insist he’s just along for the ride.

“I think it’s the other way around,” he said last Friday when asked about the impact he’s had on Indiana’s program.

“If you told me (this would happen) a year ago — I believe a year ago today or the day before actually is the day I arrived on campus — Hoosier Nation, the coaching staff and the entire sports staff has given me so much opportunity here and (shown) so much belief in my character and my play, not only as a player, also as a leader that I’m forever in debt.”

Mendoza’s skill set By now, Mendoza’s tools on the field

ä See MENDOZA, page 4C

Here is what to know about the NCAA betting scandal

BY AARON BEARD AP basketball writer

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU players, from left to right, Jalen Reece, Pablo Tamba, Marquel Sutton and Robert Miller join their teammates on the court as they wait on a video review of Kentucky’s buzzer-beating shot on Wednesday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Kentucky defeated LSU 75-74.

LSU men’s heartbreaking loss leaves ‘emotional toll’

BY TOYLOY BROWN III

Staff writer

Max Mackinnon bent forward with his head down and hands on his knees under the LSU basket.

The guard stayed in the same place for 25 seconds after experiencing his team’s most crushing loss.

Collin Chandler of Kentucky threw a full-court, inbounds pass more than 70 feet through the air. The basketball went over the outstretched hands of LSU’s longest defender, Robert Miller, and connected with freshman center

Malachi Moreno, who buried the game-winning jumper near the free-throw line as time expired.

The stillness and deflated walk to the locker room Mackinnon disä Missouri at LSU, played was shared by 2:30 P.M. SATURDAy, SECN the rest of his teammates after the 75-74 defeat to Kentucky on Wednesday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

After leading by as many as 18 points, LSU (12-5, 0-4 SEC) allowed Kentucky (11-6, 2-2) to catch fire,

ä See LSU MEN, page 5C

Federal prosecutors have revealed a sprawling scheme to rig men’s college basketball games while yielding big payouts to gamblers.

According to an indictment unsealed Thursday, fixers started with two professional games in China before turning their focus to recruiting college players in America to participate in similar point-shaving efforts as recently as January 2025.

The indictment, which includes charges against current and former college basketball players, coincides with multiple NCAA probes into sport-betting violations.

Here’s what to know about the latest case:

Flagged bets

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGE WALKER IV

Gamblers can bet on games with NCAA president Charlie Baker speaks during the Division I business the point spread, a projected total session at the annual NCAA convention on Thursday in Nashville, Tenn.

by which one team is favored to win against another team.

Winning a bet on the favorite would mean that team won by more than the projected point spread. A winning bet on the underdog would require that team to win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread.

and therefore the bets related to it, by intentionally underperforming. Gamblers working with those players could then place wagers based on “higher degree of certainty” as to whether a team would cover or fall short of the spread, according to the indictment.

For example, the indictment How scheme worked charges former college and NBA Prosecutors say players in- player Antonio Blakeney — who volved could manipulate a game, played at LSU from 2015-17 —

with taking payments from two high-stakes gamblers to underperform while in the Chinese Basketball Association during the 2022-23 season.

In one such game in March 2023, Blakeney scored roughly 21 points below his scoring average and his team lost by 31 points. But that covered the spread for the fa-

ä See NCAA, page 5C

2C ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 5:30 p.m. Toledo at Kent St. CBSSN 5:30 p.m. Creighton at Providence FS1 7 p.m.

Baylor at Kansas FOX 7:30 p.m. Ohio at Ball St. CBSSN 7:30 p.m. Loyola of Chicago at Dayton ESPN2 7:30 p.m. Marquette at DePaul FS1 9:30 p.m. Colorado St. at Boise St. FS1 WOMEN’S COLLEGE GYMNASTICS 6 p.m.

Alabama at Florida ESPN2 6 p.m.

LSU at Georgia SECN

7:45 p.m. Oklahoma at Missouri SECN MEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY 6 p.m.

Providence at Boston College ESPNU COLLEGE WRESTLING 6 p.m.

Penn St. at Iowa BTN 8 p.m.

Nebraska at Minnesota BTN FIGURE SKATING 2 p.m.

European Championships E! GOLF 1 p.m.

Latin America Amateur ESPN2 6 p.m.

The Sony Open GOLF HORSE RACING

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

12:30 p.m. America’s Day at the Races FS2 NBA 6 p.m.

New Orleans at Indiana WAFB 6:10 p.m. Cleveland at Philadelphia ESPN 8:35 p.m. Minnesota at Houston ESPN NHL 6 p.m.

San Jose at Detroit NHLN TENNIS 7 p.m.

Auckland Singles Finals TENNIS UNRIVALED BASKETBALL 6:30 p.m. Laces vs. Phantom TNT 7:45 p.m. Rose vs. Hive TNT

Broncos DC concentrates on Bills Despite interviewing for head coaching jobs, Joseph’s focus remains on divisional playoffs

BY PAT GRAHAM AP sportswriter

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Vance Joseph interviewed with five teams during the Denver Broncos’ bye week in his quest for a second crack at an NFL head coaching job.

What’s really on the defensive coordinator’s mind, though, is getting another shot at Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills this Saturday in the AFC divisional playoffs. He’s not even thinking of what may lie ahead.

“The job stuff for me is back burner. Winning is the priority right now, and what happens after happens,” Joseph said. “I can’t control that.”

The 53-year-old Joseph met with the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens.

He was Denver’s head coach in 2017 and 2018, going 11-21 in two seasons. Joseph was brought back in 2023 by coach Sean Payton and has turned the defense into one of the best in the league.

Those job interviews were hardly a distraction. All he had to do was remember what happened last season in the playoffs when Allen and the Bills beat Denver 31-7.

“So my focus was the Broncos the entire time,” he said.

Joseph’s defense allowed just 18.3 points per game this season while recording a franchise-record 68 sacks, topping last year’s mark of 63. Led by Zach Allen, Talanoa Hufanga, Nik Bonitto and Pat Surtain II, they kept teams out of the end zone in a franchise-record five games this season. They also buckled down in the red zone, allowing teams to score touchdowns in just 20 out of 47 trips. It was the lowest percentage (42.6) in the league this season.

That sort of production — and his team’s 14-3 record — made him a hot head coaching commodity. Jo-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ADRIAN KRAUS

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph watches play during a game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.y., on Jan. 12, 2025. ä Bills at Broncos. 3:30 P.M. SATURDAy, CBS.

seph has been all over the NFL and served in a variety of roles.

He’s also been a defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins and Cardinals, and coached defensive backs for the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers.

“It’s flattering, but it speaks to the entire program,” Joseph said of all the phone calls. “I think when teams want to hire a coach from a winning program, they want the recipe.”

His defense is trying to find a recipe to stop Allen, who threw for 273 yards and a score and ran for two TDs in a 27-24 win at Jacksonville on wild-card weekend.

“He’s a special player,” Joseph said. “Obviously, there are certain guys in this league that can take

over games, and he’s one of those guys.”

When Denver lost in Buffalo a year ago, Allen completed 20 of 26 passes for 272 yards and two scores. The Bills dominated time of possession, too, by a 41:43 to 18:17 margin.

“One thing we need to eliminate is his second-chance opportunities,” Surtain said of Allen. “He thrives off that and finding opportunities even if the play is not there. He is a great player, so we have to game plan and eliminate the explosives.”

A difficulty every team encounters is finding a way to mimic in practice what Allen can do on game days.

“His legs are special, he’s got that size, he can make every single throw. That’s not different for us, but you can’t simulate it, obviously. If you could, you would. But you can’t,” Joseph

said. “There’s one Josh Allen and he lives in Buffalo.”

Joseph runs an aggressive style of defense that, as Bonitto explained earlier this season, “puts us in a great position.”

“It’s more of a partnership,” Joseph explained. “When you find a group of guys that you have success with, it’s special.

Because every team is going to change each year. So this team will change next year, and that’s sad. It makes me sad, but it will change.”

That’s why he’s cherishing this playoff run.

“You spend so much time with these guys,” Joseph said. “You watch them grow. You watch them get married, have kids. It’s personal. If it’s not personal, you can’t be the best coach you can be, or the best team. It’s always personal with me and my players.”

The people spoke to The Asso- Ravens was believed to be New in ‘07. Counting playoff games, Former leader of ciated Press on condition of ano- York’s top candidate in the pur- the seven coaches who followed nymity because the deal hasn’t suit of Brian Daboll’s full-time Coughlin in the organization have Ravens close to gone 45-105-1: a winning percentbeen finalized. Harbaugh is not successor. becoming head coach meeting with the Tennessee Ti- Fired by the Ravens after they age of .300.

General manager Joe Schoen, with the goal for Harbaugh missed the playoffs on a missed of NFC East team tans to “reach the finish line with the field goal attempt at the buzzer in who’s back for a fifth season run-

AP sportswriters

John Harbaugh and the New York Giants are working on an agreement to make him the team’s head coach, three people with knowledge of the decision said Thursday.

Giants,” according to one person.

A second person said the deal was not done but that “barring any setbacks” Harbaugh would become New York’s coach.

Harbaugh interviewed in person with the Giants on Wednesday, spending hours at the team facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Super Bowl-winning former coach of the Baltimore

the season finale, Harbaugh is on track to pick the Giants over other possible landing spots, including Tennessee and Atlanta.

The Ravens made the playoffs 12 times during 18 seasons with Harbaugh in charge and won the Super Bowl in the 2012 season, a year after the Giants’ most recent championship under Tom Coughlin, who also led them to win it all

ning the football operations department, said he would cast a wide net in the coaching search.

Interviewing Raheem Morris and Antonio Pierce satisfied the NFL’s Rooney Rule requirements for minority or female candidates, and Harbaugh’s visit to northern New Jersey paved the way to make a hire before any of the more than half-dozen teams with a vacancy.

Source: LSU, UConn women eye game next season

BY REED DARCEY

Staff writer

LSU football has picked up a commitment from Oregon transfer tight end Zach Grace, On3 reported Thursday.

Grace is a rising redshirt junior. He did not catch a pass in the three seasons he spent with the Ducks, but he did appear in 24 games across the previous two years after he redshirted during his true freshman season. He also has lined up as a fullback in the backfield.

At tight end, coach Lane Kiffin and his staff have brought back junior Trey’Dez Green and landed two transfers who can play behind him. The first to commit was Pitt transfer Malachi Thomas, a 6-foot-4, 225-pounder who caught 13 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns this past season.

Grace is the second.

49ers LB Warner ruled out for game against Seattle

Source: Giants, Harbaugh working on deal

BY STEPHEN WHYNO AND ROB MAADDI

LSU lands Oregon TE out of transfer portal

Huskies in the Elite Eight of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

Coach Kim Mulkey has guided her teams to a win in four of the nine games they’ve played against UConn. She last met coach Geno Auriemma’s Huskies in the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. That contest, which UConn won 69-67, was Mulkey’s last at Baylor.

Mulkey and Auriemma have two of the three highest winning percentages in the history of women’s college basketball. Auriemma has led UConn to more than 1,400 wins and 11 national championships across his 41-year tenure as head coach.

In her 26th season as a head coach, Mulkey is nearing her 900th career victory. She has guided her teams to four national titles — three at Baylor and one at LSU.

The LSU women’s basketball team usually schedules one nonconference game against a marquee opponent, and that team next season looks like it will be UConn.

The Tigers and Huskies are working toward a deal to meet in Nashville, Tennessee, during the 2026-27 season, a source close to the program said Thursday evening, but they have not yet finalized the agreement. ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo first revealed that the matchup was in the works during an appearance she made on Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe’s podcast “A Touch More.”

LSU and UConn last faced off in 2016. The two teams have played each other nine times — seven times in the regular season and twice in the postseason. The Tigers have won only one of those match- Email Reed Darcey at reed. ups, and it was when they met the darcey@theadvocate.com.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco star linebacker Fred Warner was ruled out for the 49ers’ divisional round playoff game against Seattle but could return from a serious ankle injury if the team wins this week.

Warner returned to practice this week for the first time since breaking and dislocating his right ankle in a loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 12, with coach Kyle Shanahan initially describing it as a season-ending injury.

Warner had left open the possibility earlier this week that he could play on Saturday, but the 49ers ruled out that possibility Thursday. Shanahan said he remains hopeful that the four-time All-Pro could return if the Niners beat the Seahawks and advance to the NFC title game on Jan. 25.

Seahawks QB Darnold injures oblique in practice

RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold injured his left oblique during Thursday’s practice and was listed as questionable for Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, but he said he’s confident he’ll play.

Darnold said he felt something in his oblique while throwing passes to receivers with no defenders.

The eighth-year quarterback said this is the first time he has dealt with an oblique issue and that he’ll be getting treatment leading up to the game.

Darnold passed for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his first season with the Seahawks, earning his second straight Pro Bowl selection. He led Seattle to a 14-3 record.

Kuminga demands trade away from Golden State

SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Kuminga wants out of Golden State.

Kuminga and his agent, Aaron Turner, have demanded the Warriors trade him, according to reports by ESPN and The Athletic.

Because summertime contract negotiations with the then-free agent extended to Sept. 30, the Warriors were restricted from trading Kuminga until Jan. 15.

Kuminga’s demand was made public early Thursday morning.

The Nets, Kings and Lakers have all been linked to him.

His Warriors teammates hold no ill will toward Kuminga as he seeks an exit from the only team he has ever played for, if Moses Moody is to be believed.

His playing time and role have fluctuated through the years.

Reds, pitcher Johnson reach $6.5M contract

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey yells after a big play against Texas in the second period on Sunday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

CINCINNATI — Pierce Johnson signed a $6.5-million, one-year contract on Thursday.

The 34-year-old right-hander was 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 65 games last year for Atlanta. That included a streak of 26 batters retired over nine games from April 19 to May 10.

Johnson will be entering his ninth big league season. He gets a $5.5 million salary this year as part of a deal that includes an $8 million mutual option for 2027 with a $1 million buyout.

Johnson’s addition adds a veteran arm to the bullpen after the departures of Scott Barlow, Nick Martinez and Brent Suter. The Reds were eighth in the National League with a 3.89 ERA after making the postseason.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 3C

lll

THE VARSITY ZONE

LEAVING A LEGACY Dunham’s Olivier has overcome injuries to become one of the school’s all-time best

BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer

BY JACKSON REYES

Staff writer

The first time AJ Olivier stepped onto the court, Dunham coach Chad Myers knew he would be special.

Olivier broke away for a layup in his first varsity game as a freshman, and Myers turned to his wife right then.

“I was like, ‘It’s going to be a fun four years,’ ” Myers said. “Literally like two plays later, he broke his leg.”

The guard suffered a fractured tibia that sidelined him for much of his freshman season. He later suffered a meniscus tear during his sophomore season that caused him to miss time.

Now a senior, Olivier has persevered to become the 14th boys player in Dunham history to score 1,000 career points, and has been the focal point behind an 11-0 team.

He’s received only one college offer — from Illinois-Chicago — which came during the summer of his sophomore season. He’s also in talks with other schools.

“He’s everything you want in a point guard,” Myers said. “The only thing that’s against him, and that’s what colleges are saying is, is he’s not 6-foot-3.”

The 6-foot Olivier, a two-time alldistrict player who was a second-team all-state choice last year, was averaging 26.2 points, 2.9 assists and three rebounds per game while shooting 57% from 3-point range on eight attempts entering Thursday’s action.

Overcoming injuries After he suffered the broken tibia, Olivier worked hard to get back into the lineup in early February of that season as Dunham advanced to the Division III select semifinals.

“He’s a gym rat,” Myers said. “I open the gym for this kid every weekend.”

Olivier’s success is no surprise to those who see him shoot baskets or lift weights nearly every day.

“His faith and his perseverance have brought him through this journey,” his father, Aithen Olivier III, said. “This kid is battle-tested. It’s just beautiful to watch him as a young man grow through those challenges.”

When Olivier joined Dunham, he saw his game go to another level, and, ironically, the injury added to that. He wasn’t able to play, but watching others allowed him to see the game from a new perspective.

His work ethic has always been there. Before enrolling at Dunham, he lived in Lafayette and while in middle school there would drive to Baton Rouge most days to train and improve other facets of his game.

“Early mornings, late nights,” he said. “Whatever it is, whenever coach can get the gym open.”

A coach’s dream Olivier boasts playmaking abilities and oozes athleticism, but he takes

Dunham uses balanced scoring to beat Catholic

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Dunham guard AJ Olivier gets past Episcopal’s Jace Lemoine on Friday at Dunham. Oliver, a senior averaging 26.2 points per game, recently passed the 1,000-point barrier in his career. pride in being coachable.

“He’s a coach’s dream,” Myers said.

“He’s very disciplined.”

His work ethic often leads to Myers telling him when to take a day off.

Being the leader Dunham’s undefeated season hasn’t come without challenges.

They were without much of the team early in the season because of the Tigers’ run to the state football championship. They’ve had only had six full-team practices.

“They hadn’t touched a ball in six months,” Myers said of the football players.

Myers has made it clear Olivier has the keys to the bus, and it’s his shown on the court.

“We’re really relying on AJ. His first five games it was 31 (points), 40, 31, 31, 26,” Myers said.

Olivier works to be a vocal leader, but the example he sets is clear. That leadership has always been there, and Myers has pushed him to embrace it.

An aspect of his life that benefits his role as a leader is the relationships he’s built with his teammates over the years. He’s played more than 100 games with his teammates, including junior Elijah Haven, a star quarterback on the football team, with whom he’s shared the hardwood since third grade.

“They just don’t even have to say much,” Myers said. “They just look at each other and let’s go.”

Trusting the process Olivier is a skilled scorer and passer whose intangibles are a coach’s dram, but he still holds only one college offer.

“We’ve said a lot of times in this office,” Myers said, “it’s going to happen for you. You’ve got to trust in the

Lord, trust the process.”

Myers pointed to the rise of the transfer portal in college basketball recruiting, which he said makes it harder for high school players to catch scouts’ attention.

But Olivier is undeterred.

“He’s confident in his skill set,” Aithen Olivier said. “He blocks out all the noise. He has a strong belief in himself.”

Myers said schools are missing the boat.

“Some school’s going to get him and be like, ‘What were we looking at?

Why did we not offer him earlier?’

Some schools are going to miss out,” Myers said.

Leaving a legacy When Olivier leaves Dunham, Myers said the message to his underclassmen will be simple.

“Be like him,” he said. “That’s the legacy.”

Olivier has left a lasting impact on his team, and Myers doesn’t want to think about it coming to a close. But before his prep career ends, Olivier hopes to cap it with a state title.

The Tigers have made three consecutive trips to the semifinals.

“I feel like we owe it to the guys that graduated before us the last couple of years,” Olivier said. “I just want to leave with a winning culture in the Dunham program.”

If Dunham wins the state title, it would be the first time in the school history that they’ve won a state championship in boys basketball and football in the same year.

Myers isn’t ready to think about Olivier’s career ending, but he knows he won’t have to wait long to see him again once he graduates.

He’ll just have to unlock the gym.

Dunham senior guard A.J. Olivier scored his team’s first 12 points Thursday night against Catholic High, but it wasn’t until the rest of the Tigers got involved that they took control.

In all, four Tigers scored in double figures helping Dunham hold off a secondhalf charge by the Bears.

The end result was a 74-62 Dunham win at the Bears’ gym.

After his hot start, Olivier finished with 21 points.

He got help later on from Gavin Blanton (18), Elijah Haven (14) and Jarvis Washington (13).

The win keeps Dunham (12-0) undefeated against Louisiana competition.

“I had it going early, but my teammates were in the right spots at the right time,” Olivier said. “We were able to feed them.

We’ve been playing together for a while so we’ve really got good chemistry.”

Dunham was hot from the field making 26 of 42 shots (62%) for the game.

The Tigers had chances to put the game away in the second half, but faltered at the free-throw line, where they finished 18 of 27 for the game.

Catholic (8-7) was led by Charlie Mosely’s 14 points.

Tyler Brazier and Dee Abbott were factors with 12 points apiece, including some big 3-pointers in a 23-point third quarter for the Bears.

Catholic trailed 41-25 at

halftime, but fought back by making four of its first five shots to start the third quarter. Late in the quarter, Abbot’s 3-pointer pulled the Bears to within 52-45, and then was fouled on a 3-point attempt at the buzzer. Abbott made all three free throws, and Catholic trailed 54-48 entering the fourth.

Dunham had an answer as Blanton scored off a turnover, and Haven added five points on a dunk and a three-point play. The Tigers surged back out to a 14-point lead, and the closest Catholic could get after that was 66-59 with three minutes left.

“We had a chance to put this away,” Dunham coach Chad Myers said. “I told the team at halftime that Catholic would come out swinging. I told them, ‘They’re going to make a run, and you’ve got to answer.’ We knew they were going to keep coming.”

Catholic stayed with Dunham in the first quarter. A pair of 3-pointers, one each from Brazier and Luke Moreau, helped the Bears take a 9-4 lead. Olivier hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key and added five free throws to push Dunham out to a 12-11 lead.

Catholic surged back out to a 15-12 lead before the teams ended the quarter tied 17-17.

Before the game, Catholic took time to honor former coach Glen Randow.

Catholic named the Bears locker room after Randow, and unveiled a plaque that will be hung outside its entrance.

PREP REPORT Boys basketball Wednesday’s scores

Catholic High PC 64, Port Barre 34 St. Michael 51, Live Oak 43 Prairieville 60, Albany 56 Scotlandville 45, McKinley 30 Brusly 60, Iowa 22 Dunham 75, West Feliciana 55 Collegiate BR 61, Glen Oaks 56

Thursday’s scores

Destrehan 73, Lutcher 53 Denham Springs 76, Belaire 29 Dunham 74, Catholic 62

Friday’s games

East Ascension at East Iberville, 5 p.m.

University High at Port Allen, 5 p.m.

Lakeshore at West Feliciana, 5 p.m.

Dutchtown at St. Amant, 5 p.m.

Northeast at East Feliciana, 5 p.m.

Springfield at Central Private, 5 p.m.

Archbishop Rummel at Dunham, 5 p.m.

Donaldsonville at Episcopal, 5:30 p.m.

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

Collegiate Baton Rouge at North Iberville, 5:30 p.m.

Madison Prep at Scotlandville, 6 p.m.

West Saint John at Woodlawn, 6 p.m.

Cecilia at Helix Mentorship Academy, 6 p.m.

Covington at Walker, 6 p.m.

Prairieville at Ascension Catholic, 6 p.m.

Istrouma at Glen Oaks, 7 p.m.

Girls basketball Thursday’s scores

Prairieville 60, French Settlement 59 Scotlandville 56, East Feliciana 31 Destrehan 55, Dutchtown 35 Baker 53, Helix Mentorship Academy 37 East Ascension 71, Capitol 7

Friday’s games

Collegiate Baton Rouge at St. John, 5 p.m.

Oak Hill at Zachary, 5 p.m.

St. Michael at Brusly, 6 p.m.

Hammond at East Ascension, 6 p.m.

Tara at Belaire, 6 p.m.

Istrouma at Plaquemine, 6 p.m.

Central at Slaughter Community Charter, 6 p.m.

Breaux Bridge at Livonia at STEM Academy, 6 p.m.

Baker at Broadmoor, 6 p.m.

WR Polk embraces ‘clean slate’ with Saints New Orleans ‘high’ on former Patriots second-round pick

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

On the second night of the 2024 NFL Draft, Ja’Lynn Polk was taken four picks ahead of where the Saints jumped up to grab cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.

The Saints had been infatuated with the wide receiver, but when he was selected, they made a move to ensure they wouldn’t miss out on another target they really liked.

Still, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis never stopped being a fan of Polk. And so when the opportunity to acquire the wide receiver from the New England Patriots presented itself last summer, Loomis and the Saints weren’t going to miss out a second time — even knowing full well that the 23-year-old would miss the entire season because of a shoulder injury.

“We were definitely high on Ja’Lynn in that draft,” Loomis said last week. “I mean, we talked about taking him at certain points.”

Loomis said he made the deal, which cost a late-round pick swap,

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By CHARLES CRUPA

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk makes a catch during training camp on July 30 in Foxborough, Mass. with an “eye” toward the future.

But for the trade to be successful, Polk will have to show a lot more than he did in New England.

The Patriots cast Polk aside just one year after a disastrous rookie season in which the wide receiver caught only 12 passes for 87 yards.

He then fell out of favor with New England’s new coaching staff, which led the team to put him in trade talks.

But the Saints were not scared off by Polk’s rookie year. They acquired him in part because they

thought a change of scenery could be good for him.

As the two sides have gotten to know each other over the last few months, Polk has framed his time in New Orleans as a fresh start — just as the franchise intended.

“I think it’s a clean slate, a good opportunity to be here, honestly, where I’m wanted,” Polk said.

“That speaks volumes. Just coming here, being wanted, me going through my process and just seeing how hard these guys work week in and week out.

“I owe it to them to come here the moment I get to step on the field and be ready.”

Polk said the trade from New England didn’t catch him by surprise. Nothing about his first year went as planned, from his poor production to suffering the first of his two shoulder injuries near the end of the season. While he noted he has the “utmost respect” for the Patriots taking a chance on him, he said he was “excited” for a change.

Polk said he embraced the challenges of his rookie year. He said he “put a lot of good things on tape and I also put a lot of bad things on tape,” and that he has been focused on studying how to improve.

“You’ve got to be able to find the positives while you’re going through the negatives,” he said. “I think all the negatives that I was going through has been motivating me into what I’m becoming today and what I have become.

“It’s just adding fuel to that fire, man.”

A player like Polk doesn’t get drafted 37th overall without talent. At the University of Washington, he put together a strong final season with 69 catches for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns.

A scouting report from NFL.com praised Polk’s “consistent pace” in his routes and “strong hands,” while The Athletic noted he made

himself a “sizable target” because of his 6-foot-1 frame and length.

It’ll be on the Saints to tap back into that skill set. Wide receivers coach Keith Williams said he’s been pleased with how Polk has attacked his rehab and with his participation in meetings throughout the year. New Orleans sees him as a key part of the room, alongside Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele — the latter of whom the Saints also acquired just before the season began.

“He’s real versatile,” Williams said of Polk. “He’s physical. He can catch. He’s smart.

“We interviewed him when he was coming out and I was impressed with him in the interview, and I was impressed obviously with him as a player.”

Polk said he sees his path to the Saints as a “full circle” moment.

Not only could he tell the team had interest before the draft but Polk also noted that one of his last games in college was the Sugar Bowl — when Washington prevailed 37-31 over Texas in the Caesars Superdome.

“I just miss being out there between those lines,” Polk said, “competing each and every day.

I’m excited.”

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

4C ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

Miami QB Beck aims to go out on top Beck is finishing the ‘right way’ with a national championship game vs. Indiana

BY TIM REYNOLDS

AP sportswriter

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Carson Beck was only 17 when he enrolled at Georgia. Just a kid, completely unaware of what the next six years would bring. Had no idea he’d become a lightning rod for criticism.

Had no idea his elbow would need to be surgically rebuilt. Had no idea that every start, every pass, every mistake, everything he did was going to be scrutinized.

His college career ends Monday night. He can get the last laugh.

Beck’s final game before he turns pro will be for the College Football Playoff national championship, with he and Miami (13-2, No. 10 CFP) taking on Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Indiana (15-0, No. 1 CFP) in a game to be played on the Hurricanes’ home field in Miami Gardens.

“It’s been a hell of a ride,” Beck said. “And man, there’s just been so much good and so much else that I’ve went through — I don’t want to necessarily say it’s bad because I wouldn’t be in the position I am today if I didn’t go through it. But it has been unbelievable. I wouldn’t have changed anything.”

He came to Miami for his final season with this in mind, and believing the Hurricanes had enough to win it all. There were doubters from the start. There were even more doubters when Miami went 1-2 over a three-game stretch midway through the season. The Hurricanes are 7-0 since.

“There were people who be-

GYM

Continued from page 1C didn’t plan on coming back” to competitive gymnastics, Blackson said Monday. “It truly was retirement.”

Clark checked Blackson’s credentials: An NQS (National Qualifying Score) above 9.90 in two events, nine all-conference honors, 18 career individual titles (including a perfect 10 on vault in the 2023 NCAA regionals) and a runner-up finish in that event at the 2023 NCAA championships.

Turned out, Blackson did have one year of eligibility left. She was one of thousands of college athletes who were granted an extra year of eligibility because the COVID-19 pandemic cut short their 2020 seasons.

Clark consulted with LSU’s compliance department and discovered that yes, Blackson could compete at LSU for the 2026 season, but that she would have to officially enter the transfer portal first. Despite having retired, she still technically was a Boise State gymnast.

Donning a purple leotard last Saturday for the Tigers’ season opener in the Sprouts Collegiate Quad outside Salt Lake City

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RICK SCUTERI

Miami quarterback Carson Beck throws during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz.

gains of 17 and 11 yards to get Miami on the doorstep. And then Beck ran in from 3 yards out for the winning score after all of his receiver options — the play was supposed to be a pass — were covered.

“Tribute to him, testament to him and his teammates,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “So many different things on that drive that were executed at a high level. Handful of third downs that were not the easiest in the world.

But elite protection. Elite route running. Contested catches. Being hard to tackle. ... When it comes down to it, the resilience, the toughness — we just felt that that game, it just meant more to our guys, and they were going to find a way to get it done.”

Miami works on 2-minute drives all the time. Beck did some extra work on the way to the stadium for the Fiesta Bowl.

Turns out, traffic might have helped Miami get to the title game.

Tom Brady had a role, too.

Beck usually just listens to music before games, but the bus ride from the hotel to the Fiesta Bowl was longer than usual. He decided to watch highlight videos instead — specifically, ones of Brady’s best 2-minute drills from his NFL career.

“I’ll be damned if I’m not sitting there on the sideline and they get in the end zone,” Beck said. “He’s the greatest quarterback to ever play, but I mean, that video kind of gave me confidence and got me calm and cool in the moment to just go out there and do what I did.”

Despite the criticism — and it has come in bunches at Beck over the years, with many Georgia fans making clear that they weren’t sad to see him leave — he usually finds a way to do exactly that, to get it done.

He’s 37-5 as a starter. Among quarterbacks at the FBS level who were still active this season, Beck ranks No. 1 in career wins as a starter (37) and passing yards (11,493), plus is second behind Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia in touchdown passes — Pavia has 88, Beck has 87.

The stats do not matter to Beck, at least not right now. One game for a title. Go 1-0 this week, as Cristobal always says. Beck’s final ride in college has arrived and he can write the perfect ending to his story.

“I don’t know if it’s hit me yet, to be honest,” Beck said. “I feel like during the game, or probably when the game starts, it will. It’ll be a thought that crosses my mind.

Knowing that it is my last college football game ever and it being a national championship, what an opportunity. And regardless of what happens, what a season as well.”

lieved we’d be in this game and they’re the people who are in this building,” Beck said. “Even though nobody on the outside thought it could happen on November 1st after we lost to SMU ... so many people were saying, ‘just another failure of a season for the ’Canes,’ all those things.

“We heard it all. We made the decision to finish this thing the right way. And shoot, we’re here.”

They’re here because he made the last 3:13 of the CFP national semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl his masterpiece.

Miami had just fallen behind 27-24 to Ole Miss with the game, season, his college career and likely a good chunk of his legacy on the line. And then Beck decided the time was right to give a quick speech, the sort that Hollywood would turn into screenplays.

“Man, this is what we worked for,” Beck told his offense going

into that moment. “This is what we live for. This is why you play the game of football. This is why you come to the University of Miami is for moments like this; to play in these big games, to have these big moments. Are we going to respond or are we not? What are we going to do?”

The speech worked.

Beck led Miami on a 15-play, 75yard march that ate up all but the last 18 seconds of the game. He was 6-of-11 passing on that drive for 49 yards — losing what might have been one big completion when star receiver Malachi Toney made a spectacular leaping grab but came down out of bounds. Beck wasn’t trying to throw to Toney; he was trying to throw to CJ Daniels.

Toney just went up and got it. (“I was like, ‘What just happened?’ ” Beck said.)

Unrattled, the drive continued, Beck found Keelan Marion for

— Blackson’s first meet since the NCAA championships in April 2024 — she immediately proved Clark’s offhand question back at that gym in Boise was a winning one.

After opening with a solid 9.825 on vault, Blackson followed with a 9.95 on uneven bars, giving “Granny B” a share of first place with Utah’s Ella Zirbes. Her big score turned out to be a big part of LSU’s first-place tie with preseason No. 1 Oklahoma (197.500).

“It was a super exciting moment,” said Blackson, who beamed beneath the Tigers’ now traditional “stick crown” and in a mid-meet interview on ABC. Suddenly, the 23-year-old Blackson is one of the LSU gymnasts to watch as the No. 2-ranked Tigers begin Southeastern Conference dual meet competition Friday at No. 8 Georgia (6 p.m., SEC Network).

“The amplitude of what she does — the Markelov (on bars) or the Khorkina (on vault) — is just huge,” Clark said. “We’re glad she’s here. We’re happy for her.”

Blackson is happy for herself.

“Being here at LSU is so much fun,” the Elk Grove, California, native said. “It’s a privilege and an opportunity. Definitely the whole package.”

Though she quickly showed her

gram that is trying to reclaim some semblance of its glory days when it won a record 10 NCAA championships and 16 SEC titles.

In their second season under cocoaches Cecile Canqueteau-Landi (formerly Simone Biles’ personal coach) and Ryan Roberts, the Bulldogs are coming off of a 197.000-196.250 win Saturday at No. 16 Ohio State.

Though LSU is trying to repeat as SEC regular-season champion (a title it shared with Oklahoma in 2025), Clark doesn’t want his team to make too much of this meet.

“For the fans” the season opener means more, said Clark, a Georgia graduate and a longtime assistant and then head coach there. “We do have a regular-season (SEC) championship, and we want to win these, for sure. But philosophically, I haven’t given it another thought.

“We’ve got to go compete and put a lineup out there to win this STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON thing. Road wins and road scores need to be good. But the message LSU gymnast Courtney Blackson vaults during the Gymnastics 101/ gets repeated to them all the time: Open Mike Night on Jan. 2 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

It doesn’t matter who’s on the floor with us.” worth as a competitor in her first Ulrich from Denver.

Sometimes, though, it does mat“There’s so much depth on our ter who is in the meeting, just in LSU meet, Blackson knows she’s a role player on this team. She is an team,” Blackson said. “I’m just case that person has another year event specialist, not an all-around- ready to fulfill my role. Whether of eligibility. er like Kailin Chio (who won the it’s on bars or beam or being a all-around title in the Sprouts cheerleader, I’m happy to do that.” Email Scott Rabalais at In Georgia, LSU faces a pro- srabalais@theadvocate.com meet) or fellow transfer Madison

SEC STANDINGS Team Missouri Florida Alabama Auburn Georgia LSU Oklahoma Arkansas

SEC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Pct. Overall

Pct.

Avg.

.000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000

1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 .833 .833 .000

197.230 197.725 197.475 197.150 197.000 197.500 197.500 196.700

4-0 3-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 2-0-1 2-0-1 0-1

MENDOZA

Continued from page 1C should be obvious.

His arm is strong enough to make any throw and his accuracy is almost unmatched. He’s also capable of extending plays with his legs and when the top-ranked Hoosiers (15-0, No. 1 CFP) need a key play, Mendoza seems to deliver on cue.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal has seen all of it on film.

And while Mendoza graciously shares credit with those around him, coaches and teammates recognize they’re heading to Miami this weekend largely because of Mendoza’s ability to make a gamechanging play on any snap.

“The throws he makes, they just wow you every time,” All-American linebacker Aiden Fisher said.

“The job he’s done this year has been nothing short of remarkable.

He’s the best football player in the country, and I don’t think it’s close.

Kentucky

0-0

.000

0-3

.000

194.925

Last week’s results Friday’s results

Florida 197.725, North Carolina 196.675, Temple 193.875 Alabama 197.475, Clemson 196.550 Auburn 197.150, NC State 196.075

Saturday’s results

Oklahoma 197.500, LSU 197.500, UCLA 197.000, Utah

He’s done such a phenomenal job being a leader for us, somebody we can depend on, we can count on every single time. He’s fantastic at everything he does.”

Teammates watched Mendoza spend countless hours studying film, dissecting defenses and preparing for every potential gameday contingency. In the rare moments Mendoza isn’t working, he’s probably watching other games searching for something he can add to his repertoire.

That example helped Mendoza not only win over the locker room but also become a beloved figure inside of it.

“He’s just the ultimate professional, a wonderful teammate,” starting center Pat Coogan said.

“He prepares like no one I’ve ever seen. He works his butt off like no one I’ve ever seen and he’s just an awesome locker room guy on top of that.”

But Mendoza’s reach goes far beyond football.

He often explains how the daily

195.900@ Minnesota 196.775, Arkansas 196.700 Georgia 197.000, Ohio State 196.250 Michigan 197.225, California 196.350, Michigan State 196.225, Kentucky 194.925# Missouri 197.275, Nebraska 194.600, Wisconsin-La Crosse 192.100, Wisconsin-Stout 184.675%

Friday’s schedule

LSU at Georgia, 6 p.m. (SECNetwork) Alabama at Florida, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)

battle his mother, Elsa, wages against multiple sclerosis helped him learn to cherish every precious moment of this journey.

Mendoza also talks openly about how his faith has helped him excel as a person and a player and that he relies on prayer, meditation and Bible study sessions to navigate the highs and lows of life and football.

“He’s a special guy. I mean, he’s extremely intelligent, and people recognize that,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “He’s got a great relationship with the guys, and it’s mainly the older guys, obviously.

Those guys hang together. But I think what he’s done behind the scenes to bring the offensive unit even closer together — and those are a lot of things I’m not aware of at the time, I find out later — he’s just done a tremendous job in every single area you could impact team success.”

Arizona State at Kentucky, 6 p.m. (SECNetwork+) Oklahoma at Missouri, 7:45 p.m. (SECNetwork)

Sunday’s schedule

Auburn at Arkansas, 5 p.m. (SEC Network) @-at Sprouts Collegiate Quad, West Valley City, Utah (Session I) #-at Sprouts Collegiate Quad (Session II) %-at Ameritas Master’s Classic, Lincoln, Nebraska All times Central

house Christopher Columbus High School in Miami.

His first scholarship offer came from Yale. His only FBS offer came from California. But it was there, in Berkeley, where Mendoza’s career trajectory changed.

After redshirting in 2022, he won the starting job in 2023 and threw for 1,728 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In 2024, his completion percentage improved from 63.0% to 68.7% as he finished with 3,004 yards, 16 TDs and six interceptions.

The problem: He was sacked a staggering 41 times.

So when the opportunity came to play behind a better offensive line, chase a national title and join his younger brother, Alberto, in Bloomington, Fernando Mendoza was sold. Naturally, he started cramming even before Indiana’s winter semester started.

“Having that playbook at home Mendoza’s results already, because Alberto was in my Mendoza was hardly a house- parent’s house, I definitely started hold name coming out of power- diving into it during Christmas

break in the off time,” Fernando Mendoza said, referring to 2024.

“Ever since I’ve been trying to be consistent in the film room, in the playbook in order to gain a mastery (of the offense).”

Mendoza leads the nation with 41 TD passes, a school record. He’s the first Indiana player to win the Heisman and just the third quarterback to lead the Hoosiers to a Big Ten crown. He’s now the favorite to be the first draft pick in April, and he finds himself squarely in the middle of perhaps the most astounding two-year turnarounds in sports history.

“It’s been a great journey, I believe, for all of us,” Mendoza said. “I still remember when I was in the transfer portal, coach Cignetti said, ‘Hey, if you’re going to come here, you’re going to develop into a hell of a quarterback,’ and it wasn’t about, at that point, hey, ’I’m going to promise you a national championship.’ It was you’re going to develop and have that belief.”

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 5C

lll

S. Carolina women avenge loss to Texas

BY STEVE REED AP sportswriter

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Joyce Edwards had 14 points and eight rebounds, Tessa Johnson added 13 points, and No. 2 South Carolina avenged its only loss this season by beating No. 4 Texas 68-65 on Thursday night for its 11th straight victory.

Ta’Niya Latson scored 12 points and Raven Johnson came up with some big shots down the stretch, scoring six of her 10 points in the pivotal fourth quarter for the Gamecocks (181, 5-0 SEC).

Madison Booker had 24 points and Rori Harmon added 16 to lead Texas (18-2, 3-2), which finished 1 of 9 from 3-point range.

Texas handed South Carolina its only loss on Nov. 27 in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas — considered a nonconference game — when Har-

gave South Carolina a 58-57 lead with 4:12 remaining. Madina Okot followed with a clutch 3 — only her third all season — to give the Gamecocks the biggest lead of the game at that point.

Johnson later wiggled free in the low post for a layup to push the lead to five with 1:07 to play.

Booker scored on a putback, but Johnson hit a short jumper with 23 seconds left to increase the lead to five again.

Alicia Tournebize of France made her South Carolina debut, receiving a huge ovation when she checked into the game in the first quarter. The 6-foot-7 Tournebize was a midseason acquisiASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NELL REDMOND tion after playing professionally South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel, right, drives against Texas guard Rori Harmon during the first half of a for Tango Bourges Basket, a professional team in France’s top game on Thursday in Columbia, S.C.. league.

Tournebize played five minutes mon made a 10-foot floater with But the Gamecocks made sure Edwards drove and drew a one second left. not to let this one get away. foul for a three-point play that and did not score.

MENDOZA

Continued from page 1C vored opponent so fixers could win most of their bets, according to the indictment.

Fixers later recruited college players to help ensure their teams failed to cover the spread either for the first half or an entire game, offering payments typically ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.

Affected games According to the indictment, the scheme eventually involved more than 39 players on 17 Division I men’s basketball teams who manipulated or attempted to manipulate 29 games in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

Most games were in the regular season and involved teams at the mid-major level, though DePaul in the Big East had three games cited in the indictment (against Georgetown, Butler and St. John’s) from late in the 2023-24 season.

The indictment listed at least four postseason games affected in March 2024: Robert Morris’ first-round game against Purdue ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KyUSUNG GONG Fort Wayne in the Horizon League Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza rolls out during the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal Tournament; UNO’s second-round game against Alabama on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif. game against Lamar in the Southland Conference Tournament; and Abilene Christian’s two games had players who allegedly affected State’s Camian Shell, tied to his stop nounced Hart’s suspension from (against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi games. team activities pending the outat North Carolina A&T. and Tarleton State) in the CollegCottle, the preseason pick for come of the case. Delaware State Four charged players competed eInsider.com Tournament. for their current teams within the Conference USA player of the year, and Texas Southern didn’t immepast week, but allegations against is averaging 20.2 points and had 21 diately return emails for comment Other schools affected them don’t involve the 2025-26 sea- points in Wednesday’s win against from The Associated Press on Eastern Michigan, Nicholls son. They are Kennesaw State’s Florida International. By Thurs- Thursday afternoon.

State, Tulane, Northwestern State, Simeon Cottle; Eastern Michigan’s day, Kennesaw State had released St. Louis, La Salle, Fordham, Buf- Carlos Hart, with allegations tied a statement that Cottle was sus- What has NCAA done? falo, Southern Mississippi, North to a previous stint at UNO; Texas pended indefinitely from all team In a statement Thursday, NCAA Carolina A&T, Kennesaw State, Southern’s Oumar Koureissi, tied to activities. president Charlie Baker said enSeparately, Eastern Michigan an- forcement staff members from colCoppin State and Alabama State all his time at Nicholls; and Delaware

LSU MEN

troublesome is the reality the Tigers face as the only Southeastern Continued from page 1C Conference team without a league win. The Tigers are 0-4 in the SEC for the first time since the 2012-13 making 8 of 11 3-pointers in the season. That year, it finished 9-9 in the conference. second half.

The emotional toll was seen in “Obviously, a heartbreaking finish to the game,” LSU coach Matt the expressions on players and McMahon said. “Clearly, there’s coaches’ faces after the outcome. going to be an emotional toll here Despite falling further away from that we weren’t able to finish the an NCAA Tournament berth, the team understands it can’t linger deal.”

What makes the result more on the disappointment.

“We got to flush it,” said Mackinnon, who had 16 points and three assists. “Move on. Got Missouri coming here Saturday. Must win.”

“We can’t change the past, so we just have to come out Saturday as we did in the first half today,” said Marquel Sutton, who had 16 points and six rebounds against Kentucky. “We have to play like that in both halves.”

When LSU faces Missouri (13-4, 3-1) on Saturday at the PMAC, McMahon wants his team to replicate

The Bath or Shower You’ve Always Wanted

IN AS LITTLE AS 1 DAY

the positives it had against Kentucky. Nothing was more encouraging than the tenacious defense it played in the first half, allowing the Wildcats to start 1 of 12 from the field and not have an offensive rebound until 7:56 left before halftime.

McMahon said the inspired play was a direct result of practices on Monday and Tuesday, which were the best all season. His group will have to practice just as well once again.

lege sports’ governing body have opened sports-betting probes into roughly 40 athletes from 20 schools in the past year.

Eleven athletes from seven schools were ruled permanently ineligible, while 13 others from eight schools failed to fully cooperate in NCAA probes, with none competing today.

News of those cases has dripped out over the past year.

For example, the NCAA banned three players in September for betting on their own games at Fresno State and San Jose State.

In October, the NCAA announced three former Eastern Michigan players refused to cooperate with its investigation. Two of those, Da’Sean Nelson and Jalen Terry, are defendants in the unsealed indictment.

A month later, the NCAA announced sanctions against six more players, a list that included two defendants — former UNO players Cedquavious Hunter and Dyquavion Short — from Thursday’s unsealed indictment. Hunter, nicknamed “Dae Dae,” later said he participated in point-shaving on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Later in November, the NCAA ruled former Temple guard Hysier Miller permanently ineligible for placing dozens of bets on Owls games, including some against his team, during the 2022-23 and 202324 seasons.

And in December, the NCAA said former San Francisco player Marcus Williams gave information about his stats in upcoming games during the 2024-25 season to a player from another school who was betting on his performances. Williams reached a negotiated settlement to close the case and had no remaining eligibility.

“I thought we got better tonight as a team, crushed for our players,” he said. “I’m crushed for our fans. The environment was awesome.

“Crushed we didn’t finish the deal, but the only way forward is to build on all those improvements that were made by our team over the last couple days and get ready to go on Saturday. We got great people in our locker room, and they’ll respond the right way and be ready to go.”

Start the new year clog-free!

Get a FREE full gutter inspection and estimate: 1-877-855-8610 1.We Clean

$1,500 OFF*

America’s #1 gutter protection

ZERO Interest, ZERO Payments financing for 12 Months**

Engineered to protect. Built to last

PLUS

• Tub-to-Shower Conversions • Low-Barrier Showers • Replacement Tubs • Soaker Tubs • Replacement Showers • Accessories and more!

• Walk-in Tubs

2.We Reinforce

OFFER EXPIRES 3/30/2026 Military & Senior Discounts Available

CALL NOW!

(855) 845-6566 *Includes labor and product; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. This offer expires 3/30/26. Each dealership is independently owned and operated. **Third party financing is available for those customers who qualify/Participating dealers only. See your dealer for details. ©2026 Bath Concepts Industries.

3.We Install

*

Sticks. Dirt. Leaves. Bring it on. LeafFilter® stops debris and keeps water moving. Delivering roof-to-foundation protection from water damage.

Trusted by over 1 million homeowners.

Claim by: 02/28/2026

15% OFF + 10%

LeafFilter

**

Discount For Seniors + Military

Surgical grade micromesh uPVC frame Attaches to existing gutters

We install year-round!

Get a FREE full gutter inspection and estimate: 1-877-855-8610 Promo: 285

**Promotional offer includes 15% off plus an additional 10% off for qualified veterans and/or seniors. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. See Representative for full warranty details.

AZ ROC344027 AR 366920925, CA1035795, CT HIC.0671520, DC 420223000087, FL CBC056678, ID RCE-51604, IA C127230, LA 559544, MD MHIC111225,MA 213292, MI 262300331, 262300330, 262300329, 262300328, 262300318, 262300173, MN IR810524, MT 266192, NE 50145-24, NV 86990, NJ 13VH13285000, NM 408693, ND 47304. OR 218294. PA PA179643. RI GC-41354, TN 10981. UT 10783658-5501, VT 174.0000871, VA 2705169445, WA LEAFFLH763PG, WV WV056912. *The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.

6C ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

SCOREBOARD Odds

STATE COLLEGE BASKETBALL STANDINGS

Sports Betting Line NFL Saturday

FAVORITE at DENVER at SEATTLE

Sunday

Men

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 1½ 1½ (46) Buffalo 6½ 7 (45) San Fran

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at NEW ENGLAND2½ 3 (40½) Houston LA Rams 4½ 3½ (48½) at CHICAGO

College Football Monday

CFP National Championship FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Indiana 7½ 8½ (47½) Miami (FL)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Friday

FAVORITE at KENT STATE Creighton at KANSAS at DEPAUL Ohio at DAYTON at BOISE STATE

LINE 4½ 1½ 6½ 3½ 4½ 18½ 6½

NHL

Friday

FAVORITE at DETROIT at CAROLINA Tampa Bay at COLORADO at LOS ANGELES

LINE -241 -166 -185 -306 -172

UNDERDOG Toledo at PROVIDENCE Baylor Marquette at BALL STATE Loyola Chicago Colorado State

UNDERDOG San Jose Florida at ST. LOUIS Nashville Anaheim

LINE +197 +139 +153 +244 +143

Pro basketball NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division New York Boston Toronto Philadelphia Brooklyn

W 25 24 25 22 11

L 15 15 17 17 27

Pct .625 .615 .595 .564 .289

GB — ½ 1 2½ 13

Orlando Miami Atlanta Charlotte Washington

W 23 21 20 14 10

L 18 19 22 26 29

Pct .561 .525 .476 .350 .256

GB — 1½ 3½ 8½ 12

Detroit Cleveland Chicago Milwaukee Indiana

W 28 23 19 17 9

L 10 19 21 23 32

Pct GB .737 — .548 7 .475 10 .425 12 .220 20½

Southeast Division

Central Division

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Southwest Division San Antonio Houston Memphis Dallas New Orleans

Northwest Division

W 27 23 17 15 10

L 13 14 23 26 33

Pct GB .675 — .622 2½ .425 10 .366 12½ .233 18½

Oklahoma City Denver Minnesota Portland Utah

W 34 28 27 19 14

L 7 13 14 22 26

Pct GB .829 — .683 6 .659 7 .463 15 .350 19½

L.A. Lakers Phoenix Golden State L.A. Clippers Sacramento

W 24 24 22 17 11

L 14 16 19 23 30

Pct GB .632 — .600 1 .537 3½ .425 8 .268 14½

Pacific Division

Wednesday’s Games

Cleveland 133, Philadelphia 107 Toronto 115, Indiana 101 New Orleans 116, Brooklyn 113 Chicago 128, Utah 126 Denver 118, Dallas 109 Sacramento 112, New York 101 L.A. Clippers 119, Washington 105

Thursday’s Games

Orlando 118, Memphis 111 Detroit 108, Phoenix 105 Boston 119, Miami 114 Oklahoma City 111, Houston 91 San Antonio 119, Milwaukee 101 Utah at Dallas, n Atlanta at Portland, n New York at Golden State, n Charlotte at L.A. Lakers, n

Friday’s Games

Cleveland at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

New Orleans at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Chicago at Brooklyn, 6:30 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Toronto, 6:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Houston, 8:30 p.m.

Washington at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

Late Wednesday New Orleans 116, Brooklyn 113 FG

FT Reb

BRKLYN Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS

Clowny 31:09 3-7 0-0 1-7 6 3 6 Portr Jr. 31:51 7-20 2-2 3-7 1 2 20 Claxtn 28:51 5-10 0-1 2-6 0 4 10 Demin 28:51 6-10 0-0 0-0 5 0 17 Powell 24:12 6-10 2-3 0-5 2 0 16 Thomas 23:48 6-15 2-2 0-1 5 0 16 Sharpe 19:09 7-9 1-2 3-9 0 1 15 Traore 19:09 2-8 0-0 0-1 1 3 5 Mann 16:51 1-1 0-2 0-2 3 2 3 Wolf 16:09 2-5 0-0 1-5 1 6 5 Totals 240:00 45-95 7-1210-43 24 21 113 Percentages: FG .474, FT .583.

3-Point Goals: 16-43, .372 (Demin 5-9, Porter Jr. 4-12, Powell 2-5, Thomas 2-5, Mann 1-1, Wolf 1-3, Traore 1-5, Clowney 0-3).

Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: 1.

Blocked Shots: 5 (Claxton 2, Clowney, Demin, Wolf).

Turnovers: 10 (Claxton 2, Porter Jr. 2, Traore 2, Clowney, Demin, Mann, Thomas).

Steals: 3 (Wolf 2, Demin).

Technical Fouls: None.

FG FT Reb

NOLA

Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS

Bey 26:06 3-8 Willmsn29:45 11-14

5-6 3-5

1-4 2-6

1 2

0 1

12 25

Women

American Conference All games W L Pct 12 5 .706 11 6 .647 11 6 .647 11 6 .647 8 8 .500 12 6 .667 9 9 .500 14 3 .824 10 7 .588 8 10 .444 10 7 .588 5 12 .294 4 13 .235

Conference W L Pct Liberty 5 0 1.000 W. Kentucky 4 2 .667 M. Tennessee 4 2 .667 Missouri State 4 2 .667 Kennesaw State 3 3 .500 Louisiana Tech 3 3 .500 Jacksonville St. 3 3 .500 New Mexico St. 2 3 .400 Sam Houston 2 4 .333 FIU 2 4 .333 Delaware 1 4 .200 UTEP 1 4 .200

All games W L Pct 13 3 .813 11 6 .647 10 7 .588 10 7 .588 11 6 .647 10 7 .588 8 9 .471 9 6 .600 10 7 .588 9 8 .529 5 11 .313 5 11 .313

Conference W L Pct Vanderbilt 3 1 .750 Arkansas 3 1 .750 Missouri 3 1 .750 Texas A&M 3 1 .750 Florida 3 1 .750 Georgia 2 2 .500 Alabama 2 2 .500 Tennessee 2 2 .500 Kentucky 2 2 .500 Texas 2 2 .500 Mississippi St. 2 2 .500 Ole Miss 2 2 .500 Oklahoma 1 3 .250 Auburn 1 3 .250 South Carolina 1 3 .250 LSU 0 4 .000

All games W L Pct 16 1 .941 13 4 .765 13 4 .765 13 4 .765 12 5 .706 14 3 .824 12 5 .706 12 5 .706 11 6 .647 11 6 .647 10 7 .588 10 7 .588 11 6 .647 10 7 .588 10 7 .588 12 5 .706

Conference W L Pct McNeese State 7 1 .875 Stephen F. Austin 7 1 .875 Nicholls State 7 1 .875 Texas A&M-CC 5 3 .625 Lamar 4 4 .500 UNO 4 4 .500 N’western St. 4 4 .500 Incarnate Word 3 5 .375 East Texas A&M 2 6 .250 UTRGV 2 6 .250 Southeastern La. 2 6 .250 Hou. Christian 1 7 .125

All games W L Pct 14 3 .824 14 3 .824 8 9 .471 9 8 .529 9 8 .529 6 11 .353 6 11 .353 8 9 .471 7 11 .389 6 11 .353 5 12 .294 5 12 .294

Conference W L Pct Prairie View 3 1 .750 Ark.-Pine Bluff 3 1 .750 Florida A&M 2 1 .667 Bethune-C’kman 2 1 .667 Jackson State 2 1 .667 Alabama A&M 2 2 .500 Grambling 2 2 .500 Southern 2 2 .500 Alabama State 2 2 .500 Alcorn State 1 2 .333 Texas Southern 1 3 .250 Miss. Valley St. 0 4 .000

All games W L Pct 8 9 .471 6 11 .353 5 9 .357 5 11 .313 3 13 .188 9 8 .529 8 9 .471 6 11 .353 5 12 .294 2 13 .133 3 12 .200 1 17 .056

Conference W L Pct Troy 5 1 .833 Arkansas State 4 1 .800 Ga. Southern 4 1 .800 Southern Miss 5 2 .714 South Alabama 3 2 .600 Marshall 3 3 .500 Appalachian St. 3 3 .500 Georgia State 3 3 .500 Coastal Carolina 3 4 .429 Texas State 3 4 .429 James Madison 2 3 .400 Old Dominion 2 4 .333 UL 2 5 .286 UL-Monroe 0 6 .000

All games W L Pct 12 6 .667 12 5 .706 12 6 .667 11 8 .579 12 5 .706 11 7 .611 10 8 .556 6 12 .333 10 9 .526 10 9 .526 9 8 .529 5 13 .278 4 15 .211 3 15 .167

Conference USA

SEC

Southland Conference

SWAC

Sun Belt Conference

Saturday’s games

American Conference

Conference W L Pct Tulane 3 1 .750 Florida Atlantic 3 1 .750 South Florida 3 1 .750 Temple 3 1 .750 Memphis 3 1 .750 UAB 3 2 .600 Charlotte 3 2 .600 Tulsa 2 2 .500 Wichita State 2 2 .500 Rice 2 3 .400 North Texas 1 3 .250 East Carolina 0 4 .000 UTSA 0 5 .000

Queen 16:16 0-5 4-4 1-6 4 0 4 Fears 30:08 3-13 0-0 2-7 4 1 7 Murphy 38:02 12-22 5-7 1-9 5 1 34 Missi 34:07 6-13 0-0 9-12 4 1 12 Matkvc 17:59 3-5 1-1 2-3 1 2 8 Poole 17:32 2-7 1-2 0-2 2 2 7 Hawkins15:19 1-5 0-0 0-2 0 0 2 McGowens14:472-5 0-0 0-2 1 3 5 Totals 240 43-97 19-2518-53 24 11 116 Percentages: FG .443, FT .760.

3-Point Goals: 11-33, .333 (Murphy III 5-13, Poole 2-4, Matkovic 1-2, Bey 1-3, McGowens 1-3, Fears 1-4, Hawkins 0-4).

Team Rebounds: 12. Team Turnovers: 1.

Blocked Shots: 7 (Matkovic 2, Williamson 2, Missi, Murphy III, Queen).

Turnovers: 8 (Williamson 4, Matkovic, McGowens, Poole, Queen).

Steals: 5 (Murphy III 2, Bey, Queen, Williamson).

Technical Fouls: None.

Brooklyn 31 24 32 26 — 113 New Orleans 27 27 33 29 — 116 A_16,201 (16,867).

Rice Tulsa UTSA East Carolina South Fla. North Texas Charlotte Temple Fla. Atlantic Memphis Tulane UAB Wichita St. Lost 5

Conference W L Pct 3 0 1.000 3 0 1.000 3 0 1.000 3 1 .750 3 1 .750 3 1 .750 2 2 .500 1 2 .333 1 3 .250 1 3 .250 1 3 .250 0 4 .000 0 4 .000

All games W L Pct 13 3 .813 11 4 .733 8 6 .571 11 6 .647 10 7 .588 9 7 .563 8 9 .471 7 8 .467 7 9 .438 7 10 .412 6 10 .375 7 9 .438 3 14 .176

Conference USA

Sam Houston Missouri St. Middle Tenn.

Louisiana Tech Liberty Jacksonville St. New Mexico St. FIU UTEP Kennesaw St. Western Ky. Delaware

SEC

Conference W L Pct 3 0 1.000 3 0 1.000 4 0 1.000 2 1 .667 2 2 .500 2 2 .500 2 2 .500 1 2 .333 1 3 .250 1 3 .250 1 3 .250 0 4 .000

All games W L Pct 10 4 .714 11 5 .688 9 7 .563 9 5 .643 8 7 .533 8 8 .500 6 10 .375 8 6 .571 9 6 .600 8 7 .533 5 10 .333 6 10 .375

Conference W L Pct 4 0 1.000 4 0 1.000 4 0 1.000 3 1 .750 3 1 .750 3 1 .750 3 1 .750 2 2 .500 2 2 .500 1 3 .250 1 3 .250 1 3 .250 1 3 .250 0 4 .000 0 4 .000 0 4 .000

All games W L Pct 17 0 1.000 17 1 .944 12 3 .800 18 1 .947 17 1 .944 16 2 .889 16 3 .842 16 2 .889 14 3 .824 15 3 .833 14 4 .778 12 6 .667 8 5 .615 12 7 .632 12 7 .632 11 8 .579

Conference W L Pct McNeese 6 1 .857 SFA 5 2 .714 Lamar 5 2 .714 N’western St. 5 2 .714 UTRGV 5 2 .714 Nicholls 4 3 .571 UIW 4 3 .571 East Texas A&M 3 4 .429 Hou. Christian 2 5 .286 Southeastern 1 6 .143 TACC 1 6 .143 UNO 1 6 .143

All games W L Pct 12 4 .750 11 5 .688 8 6 .571 8 7 .533 8 8 .500 8 6 .571 6 8 .429 7 7 .500 4 10 .286 2 12 .143 2 12 .143 1 14 .067

Vanderbilt South Carolina Tennessee Texas Alabama Kentucky Ole Miss LSU Oklahoma Georgia Mississippi St. Auburn Texas A&M Florida Missouri Arkansas

Southland Conference

SWAC

Conference W L Pct 3 1 .750 3 1 .750 3 1 .750 2 1 .667 2 1 .667 2 2 .500 2 2 .500 2 2 .500 1 2 .333 1 2 .333 1 3 .250 0 4 .000

All games W L Pct 7 8 .467 7 9 .438 7 9 .438 5 9 .357 3 11 .214 5 10 .333 5 12 .294 3 12 .200 3 12 .200 3 13 .188 4 10 .286 2 13 .133

Conference W L Pct Marshall 6 0 1.000 Arkansas St. 5 1 .833 Ga. Southern 5 1 .833 Troy 4 1 .800 Southern Miss. 3 2 .600 Texas St. 3 2 .600 James Madison 3 3 .500 Old Dominion 2 3 .400 Georgia St. 2 3 .400 South Alabama 2 4 .333 ULM 2 4 .333 App State 1 4 .200 Coastal Carolina 1 5 .167 UL 0 6 .000

All games W L Pct 15 3 .833 14 4 .778 12 4 .750 13 3 .813 10 6 .625 7 8 .467 11 7 .611 10 7 .588 7 10 .412 9 7 .563 7 8 .467 8 7 .533 8 10 .444 1 15 .063

Southern Texas Southern Alabama A&M Alcorn Florida A&M Alabama St. Grambling Mississippi Val. Jackson St. BCU Ark.-Pine Bluff Prairie View

Sun Belt Conference

Divsional Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 17

Buffalo at Denver, 4:30 p.m.

San Francisco at Seattle, 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 18

Houston at New England, 3:00 p.m.

L.A. Rams at Chicago, 6:30 p.m

Conference Championships Sunday, Jan. 25 AFC

AFC lowest remaining seed at AFC highest remaining seed

NFC

NFC lowest remaining seed at NFC highest remaining seed

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

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

College football College Football Playoff

Pro football

National championship Monday

Wild-card Playoffs

At Miami Gardens, Fla. No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 10 Miami, 6:30 p.m.

(ESPN)

Saturday, Jan. 10

L.A. Rams 34, Carolina 31 Chicago 31, Green Bay 27

Sunday, Jan. 11

Buffalo 27, Jacksonville 24 San Francisco 23, Philadelphia 19 New England 16, L.A. Chargers 3

College basketball

Houston 30, Pittsburgh 6

Wednesday’s games

Men’s state schedule

Monday, Jan. 12

Kentucky 75 LSU 74 Louisiana Tech 59, Middle Tennessee 58 Alabama-Birmingham 82, Tulane 69 Texas State 59, UL 54 Missouri at LSU, 2:30 p.m.

Georgia State at UL-Monroe, 2:30 p.m.

UL at South Alabama, 3 p.m.

Lamar at Nicholls, 3 p.m.

Southeastern at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 3:30 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at Jacksonville State, 4 p.m.

Southern at Grambling, 4 p.m.

NW State at Incarnate Word, 4 p.m.

McNeese at Texas-Rio Grande Valley, 4:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin at UNO, 5 p.m.

Men’s national scores Thursday’s games EAST

Albany 69, Binghamton 53 Babson 73, Wheaton College (MA) 55 Bryant 79, UMBC 74, OT Clark 82, Emerson 63 Colby 76, Rhode Island College 63 Drexel 73, Monmouth 51 Millersville 69, Shepherd 60 NJIT 73, UMass Lowell 64 Northeastern 85, Elon 78 Springfield Pride 78, Salve Regina 65 Stony Brook 76, Hofstra 71 Towson 61, Charleston 52 UTEP 70, Delaware 69 Vermont 67, Maine 62 West Chester 88, Bloomsburg 55 Worcester Polytechnic Institute 69, US Coast Guard 53

SOUTH

Appalachian State 80, James Madison 65 Austin Peay 74, Eastern Kentucky 72 Georgia Southern 87, Old Dominion 84 Liberty 73, New Mexico State 71 Lipscomb 81, Bellarmine 71 Mercer 77, VMI 67 North Florida 105, North Alabama 91 Northern Kentucky 96, Detroit Mercy 71 Queens 85, Florida Gulf Coast 74 South Alabama 91, Arkansas State 87, OT Stetson 95, West Georgia 86 UNC Greensboro 69, The Citadel 66, OT William & Mary 97, North Carolina A&T 89

MIDWEST

Green Bay 88, Cleveland State 73 Hillsdale 84, Cedarville 71 IU Indianapolis 96, Robert Morris 93, OT Lake Erie 99, Findlay 94 Northern Michigan 77, Lake Superior State 74 Oakland 73, Milwaukee 60 Ohio Dominican 66, Thomas More Saints 55 St. Thomas 91, North Dakota 80 Wright State 93, Youngstown State 83

SOUTHWEST

California Baptist 74, Abilene Christian 58 Central Arkansas 62, Jacksonville 60 Little Rock 74, Eastern Illinois 63

Women’s state schedule Tuesday’s game

Tulane 71, Temple 58

Wednesday’s game Troy 86, UL-Monroe 80

Thursday’s games

NW State 67, Houston Christian 57 Lamar 72, UNO 56 UTRGV 78, Southeastern 65 Stephen F. Austin 86, Nicholls 78 Louisiana Tech 61, Middle Tenn. 48 McNeese 59, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 42 UL at Arkansas State, n

Saturday’s games

UL at UL-Monroe, noon Southeastern at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 1 p.m.

Lamar at Nicholls, 1 p.m.

Northwestern at UIW, 1 p.m.

Western Kentucky at Louisiana Tech, 2 p.m.

McNeese at UTRGV, 2 p.m.

UAB at Tulane, 2 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin at UNO, 2 p.m.

Southern at Grambling, 2 p.m.

Women’s national scores Thursday’s games EAST

Binghamton 63, Albany 61 Fairleigh Dickinson 56, Wagner 46 Florida State 69, Pittsburgh 65 LIU 79, Le Moyne 68 Maryland-Eastern Shore 68, Coppin State 61, OT Mercyhurst 80, Central Connecticut 63 NJIT 68, UMass Lowell 57 New Haven 63, Chicago State 56 Robert Morris 80, IUPUI 70, OT Stanford 77, Boston College 52 Stonehill 59, St. Francis (PA) 57 Syracuse 90, California 87, 3OT UConn 99, Villanova 50 UMBC 55, Bryant 47 Vermont 64, Maine 53

SOUTH

Alcorn State 59, Prairie View A&M 43 Austin Peay 67, Bellarmine 39 Duke 65, Virginia 58 Eastern Kentucky 69, Lipscomb 60 Florida A&M 88, Mississippi Valley State 74 Furman 69, UNC Greensboro 56 Jacksonville 96, Central Arkansas 86, OT James Madison 80, Marshall 43 Kentucky 94, Florida 89 Lamar 72, New Orleans 56 Louisiana Tech 61, Middle Tennessee 48 North Alabama 56, North Florida 54 North Carolina 73, Miami (FL) 62 North Carolina State 95, Wake Forest 77 South Carolina 68, Texas 65 Southern Indiana 71, Tennessee Tech 69, OT Stephen F. Austin 86, Nicholls State 78 Stetson 69, Queens 61 Tennessee State 70, Morehead State 62 Tennessee-Martin 64, SIU Edwardsville 55 Texas Southern 60, Jackson State 46 Vanderbilt 89, Mississippi State 84 West Georgia 63, Florida Gulf Coast 56 Wofford 71, Western Carolina 65

MIDWEST

Belmont 85, Indiana State 77 Illinois State 93, Valparaiso 74 Lindenwood 78, Southeast Missouri State 66 Louisville 79, Notre Dame 66 Michigan 85, Illinois 69 Michigan State 73, Nebraska 71 Missouri 94, Arkansas 69 Murray State 87, Southern Illinois 74

Northwestern 66, Wisconsin 61 South Dakota State 90, Denver 44 St. Thomas 81, Omaha 68

SOUTHWEST

Arkansas State 75, Louisiana 34 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 77, Bethune-Cookman 54 Incarnate Word 70, East Texas A&M 63 Little Rock 55, Eastern Illinois 47 McNeese 59, Texas A&M-CC 42 Northwestern State 67, Houston Christian 57 Oral Roberts 81, Kansas City 65 Sam Houston 50, Western Kentucky 38 Tarleton State 81, Southern Utah 55 UT Arlington 64, Utah Tech 56 UT Rio Grande Valley 78, Southeastern Louisiana 65 Virginia Tech 79, SMU 42

FAR WEST

Abilene Christian 70, California Baptist 58 Florida International 83, New Mexico State 74 Northern Colorado 80, Portland State 60 Sacramento State 78, Northern Arizona 59

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League ATHLETICS — Agreed to terms with SS Ricky Duran, SS Edward Suazo, SS Johenssy Colome, C Jose Perdomo, and 3B Erick Encarnacion on minor league contracts.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Agreed to terms with C Sam Huff and RHP Sauryn Lao on minor league contracts. Claimed LHP José Suarez off waivers from the Atlanta Braves.

Designated OF Marco Luciano for assignment.

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Acquired LHP Franklin Gomez from the New York Mets in exchange for future considerations.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Agreed to terms with RHP Fayon Dumorne, RHP Sahir De La Cruz, SS Sebastian Casanova, C Juan Caricote, SS Yariel Cordero, and RHP Abrahan Diaz on minor league contracts.

National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Agreed to terms with OF Joscar Hernandez on a contract. Agreed to terms with C Jhosep Villarroel on a minor league contract. Agreed to terms with RHP Taylor Clarke on a one-year contract. Designated RHP Gus Varland for assignment.

CHICAGO CUBS — Claimed INF Benjamin Cowles off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. CINCINNATI REDS — Agreed to terms with RHP Pierce Johnson on a one-year major league contract through the 2026 season, with a mutual option for 2027. Designated RHP Yosver Zulueta for assignment. Agreed to terms with OF Jose Colina and OF Eider Gutierrez on minor league contracts.

COLORADO ROCKIES — Agreed to terms with RHP Michael Lorenzen on a one-year contract. Agreed to terms with C Douglas Veliz and RHP Rafael Quezada on minor league contracts.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Agreed to terms with LHP Tom Apfelbaum, SS Ariel Reynoso, SS Ezequiel Melburne, and and OF Rubel Arias on minor league contracts.

MIAMI MARLINS — Agreed to terms with 2B Jordani Peguero, 3B Yendi Pirela, OF Carlos De Los Santos, OF Ezequiel Jaime, OF Ezequiel Jaime, RHP Yerison Mendez, C Eliecer Mendoza, SS Maikel Acosta, SS Enyer Antonio and SS Bernardo Doc on minor league contracts.

NEW YORK METS — Agreed to terms with OF Cleiner Ramirez and SS Wandy Asigen on minor league contracts.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Agreed to terms with SS Wilton Guerrero Jr., OF Dionis Leyba, SS Alexandel Pio, and SS Angelo Jean-Baptiste on minor league contracts.

SAN DIEGO PADRES — Agreed to terms with RHP Jordan Perez, SS Joniel Hernandez, SS Antoni Duran, and OF Ricardo De La Paz on minor league contracts.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Agreed to terms with SS Carlos Carrion on a minor league contract.

FOOTBALL

National Football League LOS ANGELES RAMS — Signed G Wyatt Bowles and WR Mario Williams to reserve/ futures contracts.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Signed DE Jose Ramirez to a contract.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Signed OT Doug Nester and WR Brandon Smith to reserve/ futures contracts.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS — Activated D Erik Gudbranson from injured reserve. Assigned D Dysin Mayo to Cleveland (AHL).

DETROIT RED WINGS — Recalled D Erik Gustafsson from Grand Rapids (AHL).

MINNESOTA WILD — Recalled D Carson Lambos from Iowa (AHL). Placed D Jonas Brodin on injured reserve.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS — Recalled G Alexei Kolosov from Lehigh Valley (AHL). Placed F Bobby Brink on injured reserve.

SAN JOSE SHARKS — Placed F Ty Dellandrea on injured reserve.

ST. LOUIS BLUES — Placed F Robert Thomas on injured reserve.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer FC CINCINNATI — Acquired F Bryan Ramirez via transfer from Liga Deportiva Universitaria Quito (Ecuadorian Liga Pro) on a contract through the 2028-29 MLS season with an option for 2029-30. Loaned G Paul Walters to Irish club Bohemian FC for the duration of the 2026 season.

FC DALLAS — Signed D Nolan Norris to a contract extension through the 2028-29 MLS season with a club option for the 2029-30 season.

ORLANDO CITY SC — Signed MF Martín Ojeda to a contract through the 2028-29 Major League Soccer season, with a club option for 2029-30.

REAL SALT LAKE — Signed F Sergi Solans to a rookie contract.

SAN DIEGO FC — Re-signed F Emmanuel Boateng to a contract guaranteed through 2026 with a Club Option through June 2027.

SPORTING KC — Signed F Calvin Harris to a one-and-a-half-year MLS contract through June 2027 with a club option for the 20272028 season.

FRIDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS ENTRIES Post Time: 12:45PM First Race, Purse $14,000, Claiming $5,000, 3 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) Six Furlongs-Dirt 01 Safecracker Sue (H Hernandez) 5-1 02 Great Owl (H Rea) 9-2 03 Twenty Four Grand (J Mudd) 12-1 04 Menty B (B Curtis) 3-1 05 Lulu’s Magic (D Magnon) 4-1 06 Spirit to Inspire (I Castillo) 7-2 07 My Lil Poker Face (P Lopez) 5-1 Second Race, Purse $15,000, Maiden Claiming $12,500, 4 yo’s & up, F & M (fillies and mares) Six Furlongs-Dirt 01 Diamond Tiara (J Loveberry) 5-1 02 D’ Argonaut (H Rea) 20-1 03 Pauline’s Angel (M Murrill) 6-1 04 Torrey Pine (J Riquelme) 3-1 05 Keen Gal (P Lopez) 4-1

06 Maiz’n Money (J Mudd) 12-1 07 Illy Simz (H Hernandez) 7-2 08 Y City (A Concepcion) 9-2 Third Race, Purse $22,000, Maiden Claiming $30,000, 3 yo One Mile-Turf 01 Antiphon (I Castillo) 6-1 02 Strong (C McMahon) 8-1 03 Struck Out (S Vives) 5-1 04 Best Known Secret (H Hernandez) 15-1 05 Heavenly Beliefs (D Magnon) 8-1 06 Moral Man (M Pedroza, Jr.) 9-2 07 One Tough Road (J Ortiz) 5-2 08 Standard Deduction (J Loveberry) 8-1 09 Brockton (H Rea) 115 8-1 Fourth Race, Purse $17,000, Claiming $7,500, 4 yo’s & up Six Furlongs-Dirt 01 Miri a Coincidence (E Nieves) 20-1 02 Twirling Roses (J Ortiz) 8-1 03 Briterdayzahead (S Vives) 7-2

04 Runnin Munnin (H Hernandez) 3-1 05 Whiskey and Easy (J Riquelme) 20-1 06 Kinsman Redeemer (M Murrill) 9-2 07 Just Ask Watts (C McMahon) 5-2 08 Xander (I Castillo) 15-1 09 Strange Arrange (R Hernandez) 20-1 Fifth Race, Purse $22,000, Maiden Claiming $30,000, 3 yo One Mile-Turf 01 Graceful Standard (B Hernandez, Jr.) 5-1 02 Mor Cheese Please (M Pedroza, Jr.) 12-1 03 Three Moons (M Murrill) 8-1 04 Lucky N Lawless (B Curtis) 9-2 05 Brock’s Boy (R Hernandez) 20-1 06 September Silver (A Concepcion) 6-1 07 Whiskey Bee Gone (J Loveberry) 10-1 08 Easy Munnings (P Lopez) 6-1 09 Ramblin (J Graham) 5-2 10 Improbable Dream (D Cannon) 12-1 Sixth Race, Purse $20,000, Claiming $20,000,

4 yo’s & up Six Furlongs-Dirt 01 Hard Line (B Hernandez, Jr.) 7-2 02 Starport (P Lopez) 8-1 03 Yockey’s Drivethru (M Pedroza, Jr.) 7-2 04 Native Red (C Hernandez) 15-1 05 Hawija (A Concepcion) 3-1 06 Daddy’s Code (M Murrill) 12-1 07 Starry Eyed (E Murray) 7-2 08 Achromedoutcat (D Magnon) 8-1 Seventh Race, Purse $23,000, Claiming $30,000, 4 yo’s & up One And One Sixteenth Miles-Turf 01 E Lion (I Castillo) 5-1 02 Date the Prince (D Magnon) 10-1 03 Lucky Mischief (A Concepcion) 3-1 04 Battle Drum (FR) (J Ortiz) 4-1 05 Jack Rabbit (J Loveberry) 20-1 06 Hard Scholar (J Riquelme) 12-1 07 No Take Backs (M Murrill) 20-1

08 High Ransom (H Rea) 20-1 09 Hammer of Justice (B Curtis) 8-1 10 Maki Monarchy (P Lopez) 6-1 11 Cash App Mike (H Hernandez) 30-1 12 Consecrated (M Pedroza, Jr.) 8-1 Eighth Race, Purse $17,000, Claiming $7,500, 4 yo’s & up One Mile Seventy Yards-Dirt 01 Daryl’s Bolt (P Lopez) 6-1 02 Slava Ukraini (H Rea) 20-1 03 Pico d’Oro (S Vives) 8-1 04 American Dollars (E Nieves) 8-1 05 Sendero (R Hernandez) 12-1 06 Crepe Yarns (J Riquelme) 20-1 07 I’m Your Man (B Hernandez, Jr.) 4-1 08 Proven Hope (I Castillo) 7-2 09 Bigfoot Sighting (M Murrill) 6-1 10 All in Sync (H Hernandez) 5-1

THURSDAY’S FAIR GROUNDS RESULTS First Race - $14,000, Claiming $5,000, 4 yo’s & up, One Mile Fret No More (Lopez) $14.20 $6.60 $4.20 Sister Saint (O. Chavez) $4.20 $4.00 Maylen (D. Cannon) $8.40 Finish Time: 1:41.50 Exacta (5-3) $24.70; Superfecta (5-3-2-4) $34.29; Trifecta (5-3-2) $82.85 Second Race - $14,000, Maiden Claiming $10,000, 3 yo, Five And A Half Furlongs Sautee Nacchee (McMhn) $7.60 $4.00 $2.20 Hannah Boo (S. Vives) $5.40 $3.20 Metallic Maid (C. Hernandez) $2.60 Finish Time: 1:06.80 Daily Double (5-5) $21.60; Exacta (5-7) $18.80; Superfecta (5-7-1-6) $20.69; Trifecta (5-7-1) $31.85 Late Scratches: Cat’s Custom, Cava de Oro Third Race - $14,000, Claiming $5,000, 3 yo’s

& up, Five And A Half Furlongs Classy Mimi (E. Nieves) $23.40 $8.80 $6.80 Vanna G (J. Mudd) $8.60 $5.20 Clearly Bella (H. Rea) $6.60 Finish Time: 1:07.64 Daily Double (5-8) $45.80; Exacta (8-2) $73.20; Superfecta (8-2-4-3) $288.13; Trifecta (8-2-4) $218.75; Pic 3 (5-5-8) $186.25 Late Scratches: Adiamondinthestorm Fourth Race - $54,000, Maiden special weight, 4 yo’s & up, One Mile Channel Check (Cstllo) $24.80 $12.40 $4.40 Buckeye Bombshell (C. Hrnndz) $27.00 $8.00 Awesomesauce (P. Lopez) $2.60 Finish Time: 1:36.15 Daily Double (8-3) $87.10; Exacta (3-1) $179.20; Superfecta (3-1-8-9) $838.23; Trifecta (3-1-8) $449.95; Pic 3 (5-8-3) $218.25 Late Scratches: Queen Jubilee

Fifth Race - $18,000, Claiming $15,000, 4 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs C’Est Magnifique (H. Rea) $34.80 $10.80 $8.60 Silver Halo (D. Cannon) $3.80 $2.80 Sand Street (I. Castillo) $3.60 Finish Time: 1:11.40 Daily Double (3-7) $141.80; Exacta (7-2) $51.10; Superfecta (7-2-5-4) $123.48; Trifecta (7-2-5) $169.50; Pic 3 (8-3-7) $506.20; Pic 4 (5-8-3-7) $1,523.80; Pic 5 (5-5-8-3-7) $48,402.25 Late Scratches: Elmore Sixth Race - $57,000, AOC $35,000, 4 yo’s & up, One Mile Allnight Moonlight (J. Ortiz) $3.00 $2.40 $2.10 Laser Clad (B. Hernandez, Jr.) $6.80 $4.20 Wicked Secret (J. Loveberry) $4.60 Finish Time: 1:35.73 Daily Double (7-8) $39.80; Exacta (8-5) $9.80; Superfecta (8-5-4-2) $16.17; Trifecta (8-5-4)

$21.90; Pic 3 (3-7-8) $187.00 Seventh Race - $56,000, AOC $50,000, 4 yo’s & up, Six Furlongs Autodrive (B. Hrnndz) $11.20 $6.40 $6.00 Attache (M. Pedroza, Jr.) $6.80 $4.40 Honky Tonk Highway (A. Concepcin) $8.40 Finish Time: 1:09.59 Daily Double (8-7) $14.10; Exacta (7-1) $33.20; Superfecta (7-1-9-4) $114.21; Trifecta (7-1-9) $149.60; Pic 3 (7-8-7) $117.00 Late Scratches: Gaza Heroico (CHI) Eighth Race - $30,000, Maiden optional claiming $50,000, 3 yo, Five And A Half Furlongs Daddario (B. Curtis) $37.20 $15.40 $8.60 Twirling Claire (D. Cannon) $11.40 $6.80 (dh)Click (I. Castillo) $2.20 (dh)Auntie Vodka (M. Pedroza, Jr.) $2.40 Finish Time: 1:02.76

Daily Double (7-1) $89.20; Exacta (1-7) $175.20; Superfecta (1-7-4-9) $119.12; Superfecta (1-7-9-4) $123.85; Trifecta (1-7-4) $172.65; Trifecta (1-7-9) $187.75; Pic 3 (8-7-1) $79.85 Ninth Race - $17,000, Maiden Claiming $15,000, 3 yo, Six Furlongs Danzig’s Dora (M. Murrill)$11.80 $4.80 $3.20 Lolita J (D. Cannon) $6.80 $4.40 $4.60 M K’s Rockette (M. Pedroza, Jr.) Finish Time: 1:12.01 Daily Double (1-9) $81.50; Exacta (9-2) $48.10; Superfecta (9-2-7-5) $119.66; Trifecta (9-2-7) $136.05; Pic 3 (7-1-9) $145.45; Pic 4 (8-7-1-9) $371.10; Pic 5 (7-8-7-1-9) $11,284.70 Late Scratches: Well Received

SIDE-SPLITTING STORIES

FURRY, FULL-SCALE PANIC The Family Dinner Comedy Troupe will present Spoof Night! with “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” (1990) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Manship Theatre. Starring Zach Galligan as Billy Peltzer and Phoebe Cates as Kate.

An interactive movie experience with live commentary; costumes encouraged. $17. manshiptheatre.org.

you’ve seen him on the TV specials “Domino Effect” and “Mexicans Got on Boots.” Now catch stand-up comedian Ali Siddiq at 7 p.m. Friday at the Raising Cane’s River Center Theatre for Performing Arts. Tickets range from $51 to $72. raisingcanesrivercenter.com.

15 YEARS OF RUNNING

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

Louisiana Marathon & Half Marathon will again take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday in downtown Baton Rouge. Competing or not, take in the stand-alone Finish Festival offering gumbo, jambalaya and live music both days.

Race fees start at $25 (Kids’ Marathon). thelouisianamarathon.com.

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

|

F r i d ay, J a n u a ry 16, 2026

1dn

120 FILMS IN 8 DAYS

Cinema on the Bayou brings the world to Lafayette

STEEP CANYON RANGERS 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22

CINEMA ON THE BAYOU Wednesday through Jan. 28 l $10-$100 (festival pass) l Cité des Arts, 109 Rue Vine, Lafayette, and St. Landry Cinema, 1234 Heather Drive, Opelousas l cinemaonthebayou.com

Mardi Gras is coming!

$45-$65

l

survive,

Contributing writer

ä See CINEMA, page 2D

l

‘If bluegrass music is going to

BY JOHN WIRT

The 21st Cinema on the Bayou film festival will present 120 films, most of them world and U.S. premieres, Wednesday through Wednesday, Jan. 21-28.

Festival screenings will take place at Cité des Arts in downtown Lafayette and St. Landry Cinema in Opelousas. Befitting south Louisiana’s French heritage and Acadiana’s historic bond with French-speaking Canada, more than 40 of this year’s selections are in the French language.

Cinema on the Bayou’s opening night film, “R. Roussil: From the Ground Up,” screens at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Cité des Arts. A documentary about Robert Roussil, the Québécois sculptor who championed artistic freedom, the film examines his art and philosophy and visits his home of many years, an abandoned windmill in France.

Maxime-Claude L’Écuyer, the Montréal-based director of “R. Roussil: From the Ground Up” (lefifa.com/en/catalog/r-roussil-lecul-par-terre) is among the more than 50 filmmakers and actors attending Cinema on the Bayou this year. The cinéastes are traveling from Tokyo, New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans and Shreveport.

l Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge manshiptheatre.org and steepcanyon.com

it has to

adapt’

— Steep Canyon Rangers’ Barrett Smith

Steep Canyon Rangers busy building new bluegrass

F

BY JOHN WIRT

|

Contributing writer

ormed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, circa 1999, the Steep Canyon Rangers base their neo-bluegrass music on 20th-century masters of the genre such as Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers.

Grounded in tradition though they are, Barrett Smith and his fellow Steep Canyon Rangers nonetheless see bluegrass as a living, growing American art form.

“If bluegrass music is going to survive, it has to adapt,” Smith said from the band’s home base in Asheville, North Carolina. “We see ourselves as a part of that evolution.”

The Steep Canyon Rangers will bring their budding bluegrass to the Manship Theatre in Baton Rouge on Thursday, Jan. 22, and Chickie Wah Wah in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 23.

Taking a forward path — one that includes the unconventional presence of a drummer — doesn’t stop the Rangers from flying the bluegrass flag. ä See RANGERS, page 2D

Send us your ball stories and photos

The Advocate will publish Mardi Gras ball stories from Carnival krewes in and around the Baton Rouge area. Stories and photos should be emailed at least two weeks before the ball to mardigras@theadvocate.com.

Stories should include the names of the ball captain, court and the ball’s theme. No costume descriptions will be included.

Provide one photograph of the king, queen and ball captain, and photos of the court in groups of three or more. We will do our best but cannot guarantee date of publishing.

Photos should be jpg attachments with a resolution of 300 dpi or more. Those in photo(s) should be identified from left to right. Do not send more than three photos in a single email.

Also, please include contact name and phone number.

‘The Pitt’ is back for another harrowing shift Noah Wyle, left, stars as Michael Robinavitch — aka Dr. Robby — in the Emmy-winning medical drama ‘The Pitt.’

HBO MAX PHOTO

By WARRICK PAGE

BY JOCELYN NOVECK

Can it be that Robby — dedicated, wise, overworked, charming and brilliant — isn’t wearing a helmet?

It’s such a jarring sight that, When we first glimpse Noah Wyle’s Michael Robinavitch — launching a Zoom interview with aka Dr. Robby, of course — in Wyle, it’s one of the first things Season 2 of “The Pitt,” he’s look- we must inquire about. Did we remember that right? Were we ing darned good, truth be told.

The beloved ER doc is riding his supposed to notice?

Yes and yes. motorcycle to work, wearing nice “You’re supposed to notice that shades, hair rustling in the earlyhe doesn’t wear it,” Wyle confirms. morning Pittsburgh breeze.

Wait — hair rustling? It’s only ä See ‘THE PITT’, page 2D then we notice what’s missing.

AP national writer

2D ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

‘THE PITT’

Continued from page 1D “But then, he tells people that he does. Which means, you know he’s lying. We don’t know what else he’s lying about.”

More broadly, it’s all part of the goal this new season, after an impactful, Emmy-winning debut that culminated with a mass shooting.

There were worries that they wouldn’t be able to up the ante.

Well, the idea is not to up the ante, Wyle says, but to more deeply explore characters and their issues.

“Our job isn’t to come up with another stunt that creates drama to be the catalyst for excitement on the show,” Wyle says. “Our job is to be faithful to the characters that we’ve initiated. To plot them in space and time in a real three-dimensional way, and allow their lives and what they’re going through to generate the drama and the tension.”

Hence the no-helmet scene — a last-minute decision the night before. They’d planned for Robby to wear a helmet. But Wyle says he suggested to executive producer John Wells that if he didn’t, “We won’t know what to trust and what not to trust from that moment forward, and the audience will be privy to a secret that the characters around him aren’t.”

“He dug it, so we went with that.”

HBO MAX PHOTO By WARRICK PAGE

Louisiana native Katherine LaNasa, right, is back for Season 2 as all-knowing charge nurse Dana on ‘The Pitt.’

Played by Sepideh Moafi, AlHashimi is a big proponent of AI and new technology — something Robby’s deeply skeptical of. On top of that, they’re not used to sharing leadership roles, even for one day (or season.)

“It’s a bit of a learning curve,” Moafi notes.

Talk about a learning curve: The actors, along with their characters, have absorbed a lot more new medicine.

“There’s a LOT more procedures,” pronounces Taylor Dearden, who plays Melissa “Mel” King, now a third-year resident. One of the first ones we witness is a doozy — a “clamshell,” in which surgeons cut across the chest to expose the heart and lungs. Cue Al-Hashimi’s line: “Convert to clamshell!”

As for Mel, who is neurodivergent, she’s dealing with a lot.

“All the confidence Mel’s gained 10 months later over the past 10 months is comThe timing — July 4 — was hard- pletely eroded … because she’s ly chosen haphazardly. Think holi- named in a malpractice suit,” day gatherings, fireworks, injuries Dearden explains. “It’s a really we can imagine and worse ones we tough day for Mel, trying to bolcan’t. But also, timing is important ster her own self-esteem when the for the characters — it’s been 10 odds are very much against it.” months since last season’s events.

Dr. Frank Langdon has spent Enter the real world those months in rehab. The hardWyle — who produces and writes driving senior resident with the as well as stars — says it happens much-noticed dimpled chin ran all the time: People in the health into serious trouble in the first care industry, who have roundly season when he was caught steal- embraced the show, weigh in with ing prescription meds to feed his stories. So do patients.

“We take case studies, anecaddiction.

Well, Frank’s been given a re- dotes, stories people tell us and it prieve, and he’s on his first day gets woven into the fabric of the back. Robby, for one, is not thrilled. show,” Wyle says.

A key example of an issue the But Patrick Ball, who plays Frank, is very relieved at his own show aims to grapple with: health reprieve. He’d been biting his nails insurance. There are scenes as he awaited his character’s fate. where patients wonder if they “Pretty much the entirety of can afford the ER care, argue my time on ‘The Pitt’ has been about expensive procedures or praying for a job and hoping I get advice on payment plans.

Wyle says creators, trying to don’t get fired,” Ball quips. “I was sweating pretty hard.” He got the keep up with developments in good news that he’d be back in a health insurance as they were call from Wells, while walking on writing, “talked to a lot of experts and we basically said, give us six a rainy New York street.

Louisiana’s Katherine LaNasa, months out, 12 months out, 18 who plays all-knowing charge months out. Worst case scenario, nurse Dana, had a similar sense what population gets hit the hardof uncertainty. She was a breakout est?” And they asked themselves: star of the first season, winning one “What can we put on TV that of the show’s five Emmys. But her would be helpful as an informacharacter also seemed headed out tive guide?” the door, disillusioned by a brutal Doctors as patients punch from an unruly patient.

“I’m like, really, please don’t get One key theme of this season, rid of me now!” LaNasa, a New Or- Wyle says: “Doctors make terleans native who grew up in Baton rible patients.” A case in point is Rouge, says she thought. Happily, Robby himself.

Dana too is back, taking charge as It’s not just the helmet thing. It’s her title implies, with that sassy also how he advocates that his staff but maternal demeanor. make use of mental health resourc“I think of her as like a basket- es, while he won’t do the same.

“Instead, he’s created a sort ball coach,” says LaNasa of Dana.

“She’s looking at what’s going on, of self-help version of a mental and what do people need to do health plan where he could fix up their best? … I have children that this old motorcycle and take it on are 24 years apart in age and so, I this slightly romantic, slightly litfeel like I’ve just been mothering erary odyssey-trip of self discovmy whole life.” ery,” Wyle says.

The fact is, Wyle himself is a In with the new pretty bad patient. Just ask him.

“I don’t go to the doctor,” the acA key arrival in the expanded cast is Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi, tor confesses, when asked what who’s planning to take over from kind of a patient he is.

Robby as chief attending doctor “In the same way that Robby’s while he goes on sabbatical (on not going to a psychiatrist, Noah his motorcycle!) doesn’t like going to doctors.”

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM CINEMA ON THE BAyOU

Noémie yelle plays Pat, an aspiring writer, in Canadian director yanie Dupont-Hébert’s dramedy ‘1+1+1 Life, love, chaos.’ The Cinema on the Bayou film festival takes place January 21-28

CINEMA

Continued from page 1D Despite months of political and economic tension between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Canada, filmmakers from Quebec City, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and Montréal will also attend Cinema on the Bayou.

Rebecca Hudsmith, the festival’s director, and Pat Mire, founder and artistic director, are relieved that the Canadians, a group that normally participates in Cinema on the Bayou, have opted to return in troubled times.

“We’re surprised at the number of Canadian filmmakers (who will attend),” Hudsmith said. “Canadians are proud people. They have their own identity and culture and way of life. We should respect that. It’s offensive to them to be referred as the 51st state, but the connection between those folks and Cinema on the Bayou supersedes those political issues. I hope we’re part of keeping our two countries as friends.”

“They don’t really think of south

RANGERS

Continued from page 1D “We play a lot of music that doesn’t sound like traditional bluegrass music,” Smith said. “But if you see us at the airport with our instruments, and you ask us what kind of music we do, we say we’re a bluegrass band.”

Smith, a bassist, guitarist and singer, is joined in the Rangers by Graham Sharp, banjo; Mike Guggino, mandolin and mandola; Aaron Burdett, guitar; Nicky Sanders, fiddle; and Mike Ashworth, drums, Dobro and guitar. All six of them sing.

The Steep Canyon Rangers maintain a packed tour schedule. They’ve released 14 albums, earned three Grammy nominations, one Grammy win and been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Three albums recorded with Steve Martin and performances with the banjoplaying actor-comedian yielded a new level of success.

Working with Martin brought the Rangers to audiences they may never have seen otherwise. Smith furthermore credits increased interest in bluegrass music to Billy Strings, the 33-year-old singer, gui-

Louisiana as part of the U.S,” said Mire. “They wouldn’t be going anywhere else, but it doesn’t hurt that they love our gumbo, too.”

Cinema on the Bayou highlights this year include closing night screenings on Jan. 28 of two narrative short films from Japan, “10 Days to Eternity” and “The Shore of Empathy.”

Tokyo filmmaker Taichi Ishikawa will present his film, “The Shore of Empathy,” and do a Q&A thanks to volunteer translator Jasmine Sakaguchi, a student from Japan who’s attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

“Of course,” Hudsmith said, “it’s for the whole community, and certainly for our filmmakers and Cinema on the Bayou.”

In December, Hudsmith retired from 32 years as the federal public defender for the middle and western districts of Louisiana. She’s doing freelance legal work now, but hopes to find more time to help Mire in the year-round work required by Cinema on the Bayou.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun, creative work,” Hudsmith said.

“Pat and I both love it and he is brilliant at it.”

tarist, banjo and mandolin player from Michigan whose hybrid of bluegrass, rock and jazz fills arenas nationwide.

“We’re on the upswing right now,” Smith said. “I attribute that largely to Billy Strings. He’s really good, first of all, and he’s a star.

That’s cool for bluegrass music, for the rest of us.”

A similar rise for bluegrass, Smith said, happened a generation ago when the Grammy-winning “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” movie soundtrack album hit sales of 10 million units. The album and film include bluegrass artists Ralph Stanley and Alison Krauss and Krauss band member Dan Tyminski’s Stanley Brothers-based rendition of the folk song “Man of Constant Sorrow.” “ ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ and ‘Man of Constant Sorrow’ were hits,” Smith said. “All of a sudden, people were more interested in this American (roots) music. And now Billy Strings, he brings a lot of people in from the jam-band world.”

Smith didn’t join the Rangers until 2018, but he’s been in the band’s circle since he and the other members were college students in North Carolina.

“I’ve been close with all these guys, playing in little side bands with them,” he said.

Transform Your Windows.

Transform Your Space.

Mire’s and Hudsmith’s goals for the festival include it being named an Oscar-qualifying festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Three films shown in previous years have won Oscars, including “I’m Not a Robot,” a narrative short from The Netherlands screened last year.

The week before this year’s festival, Mire’s and Hudsmith’s feature film collaboration, “Pointe Noire,” ran for weeklong engagements at the St. Landry Cinema and Parkway Cinema 6 in Natchitoches.

More screenings in Louisiana and Quebec will follow.

“Pointe Noire,” a murder mystery featuring Canadian film star Roy Dupuis, Myriam Cyr, Michael Bienvenu and Acadiana musician Zachary Richard, premiered at last year’s Cinema on the Bayou.

“We excited about letting that film go and take its place in the world,” Hudsmith said.

Tickets for Cinema on the Bayou, the festival schedule and film descriptions are available at cinemaonthebayou.com.

Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. com.

The side projects include Smith’s Italian folk music duo with Guggino. The traditional music they play, Smith said, “it’s almost as if Italian string musicians had migrated to the U.S. earlier in history, filtered down to the Appalachian Mountains and invented bluegrass music.”

The other Rangers also have side projects, Smith added.

“Everybody is busy and creative, recording solo and with their little bands, but Steep Canyon Rangers is the center of it all,” he said.

Performing with Martin and his “Only Murders in the Building” co-star Martin Short is another Rangers priority. The collaboration dates to Martin’s 2011 album with the Rangers, “Rare Bird Alert.”

The Rangers’ dates with Martin and Short include shows this month in San Antonio and Austin, Texas.

“Our relationship with those guys runs so deep now,” Smith said. “It feels natural and it’s a big part of what we do. And they are not interested in stopping or slowing down. They love to work and create, hang out and have a good time. We like being a part of that.

We’re eternally grateful for it because it’s such a cool ride.”

Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. com.

Fresh Blooms for a Fresh Start Mardi Gras Magic is here!

• Family-Owned • Female-Led • Community Trusted

Discover our unique decorations and floral accents.

We provide high-quality window coverings and exceptional service.

Located in Towne Center and Denham Springs 7450 Jefferson Hwy Hwy, Baton Rouge

225-383-8383 3 8383

225.400.8040 • info@weknowblinds.com • customblindsshadesshutters.com

121 Bass Pro Blvd Ste A A, Denham Springs

225-665-5181 225 665

www.rickeyheromans.com

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 3D

lll

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press Today is Friday, Jan. 16, the 16th day of 2026. There are 349 days left in the year.

Today in history: On Jan. 16, 1991, in a televised address to the nation, U.S. President George H.W. Bush announced the start of Operation Desert Storm, a combat operation that drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.

Also on this date: In 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman decreed that 400,000 acres of confiscated land in the South would be divided into 40-acre lots and given to former enslaved people. (The order, later revoked by President

Andrew Johnson, inspired the expression, “40 acres and a mule.”)

In 1942, actor Carole Lombard, 33, her mother, Elizabeth Peters, and 20 other people were killed when their plane crashed near Las Vegas while returning to California from a war-bond promotion tour.

In 1989, three days of rioting began in Miami when a police officer fatally shot a Black motorcyclist, causing a crash that also claimed the life of his passenger.

(The officer was convicted of manslaughter, but later acquitted in a retrial.)

In 1996, Wayne Newton performed his 25,000th Las Vegas show. Newton had performed more shows as a headliner in Las

SHOWS TO WATCH — BATON ROUGE Vegas than any other entertainer.

In 2018, authorities in Denmark charged inventor Peter Madsen with killing Swedish journalist Kim Wall onboard his private submarine. (Madsen would be convicted and sentenced to life in prison.)

Today’s birthdays: Opera singer Marilyn Horne is 92. Hall of Fame auto racer A.J. Foyt is 91.

Country musician Ronnie Milsap is 83. Filmmaker John Carpenter is 78. Actor-dancer-choreographer Debbie Allen is 76. Singer Sade is 67. Boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. is 57. Model Kate Moss is 52. Actor-producer-songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda is 46.

Baseball great Albert Pujols is 46.

Singer-Songwriter Yebba is 31.

AROUND BATON ROUGE

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Smokey the Bear poses with Graham Digby, Caroline Fowler and Maggie Digby for a picture during the 2025 Arbor Day celebration at LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. This year’s event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

EVENING SKY VIEWING: 8:30 p.m.10 p.m., BREC Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Road.

See the majesty of the night sky in these public viewings for those 6 and up. hrpo.lsu.edu/events.

SATURDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m.-noon, Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org.

ARBOR DAY AT BURDEN: 9 a.m.1 p.m., LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden, 4560 Essen Lane.

Family event with kiddie tree climbing, Smokey the Bear, scavenger hunt, tree plantings, educational booths and more. Also, tree giveaway by Baton Rouge Green.

FAMILY-HOUR STARGAZING: 10 a.m., Irene W. Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Learn about the stars and constellations in the local nighttime sky, followed by an all-ages show. lasm.org.

THE HARLEM GLOBETROTERS 100YEAR TOUR: 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Raising Cane’s River Center Arena, 275 S. River Road. From gravity-defying dunks to game-changing tricks, experience the fun. $40-$144. https:// raisingcanesrivercenter.com.

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT FEST: 5 p.m.9 p.m., Highland Road Community Park, 14024 Highland Road. A glowing celebration of warmth, wonder and togetherness featuring a cozy community bonfire, live entertain-

ment and plenty of shine-worthy fun for all ages. Free. brec.org.

BATON ROUGE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL: “HOLDING LIAT”: 7:30 p.m., Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. $14.50. manshiptheatre.org.

SATURDAY AND MONDAY

MLK FEST: various locations around the city. Volunteer projects on both days, concluding on Monday with a block party from noon to 3 p.m. at Park Medical Elementary, 2680 Bogan Walk. Organized by The Walls Project. thewallsproject.org/ mlkfestbr.

SUNDAY

BATON ROUGE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL: “SWEDISHKAYT: YIDLIFE CRISIS IN STOCKHOLM”: 3 p.m., Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. $14.50. manshiptheatre.org.

“THE PRINCESS BRIDE”: 6:30 p.m., Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. $10.50. manshiptheatre.org.

TUESDAY

BECOMING LOUISIANA: NATIVE PEOPLE: 5:30 p.m., Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd. First in a new lecture series, this one led by Col. Joey Strickland. Free. https://louisianaoldstatecapitol.org/.

BATON ROUGE CHESS CLUB: 6 p.m.8 p.m., La Divina Italian Cafe, 3535 Perkins Road, Unit 360. A chance to play and learn; all levels welcome.

Free.

“THE BUZZ ABOUT BEES: DIVERSITY, HABITATS, AND HOW TO HELP”: 6:30-8 p.m., LSU’s Hilltop

Arboretum, Beverly Brown Coates Auditorium, 11855 Highland Road. $10, students and members of Hilltop and/or LMNGBR, $15 for non-members, and free for Hilltop Magnolia ($250) members and above. Register online at https:// lsu.edu/hilltop/programs/adult/ discovernature.php.

THURSDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m.-noon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. facebook.com/redstickfarmersmarket.

A MORE PERFECT UNION: RECONSTRUCTION’S LEGACY IN LOUISIANA: 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd. Unveiling of new permanent exhibit. Free. https:// louisianaoldstatecapitol.org/.

“BELIZAIRE THE CAJUN” (1986): 5 p.m., Capitol Park Museum, 660 N. Fourth St. Free screening followed by a conversation and audience Q&A with Glen Pitre about the making of the film.

WEEKLY SOCIAL BIKE RIDE: 7 p.m., Geaux Ride, 521 N. Third St., Suite A. Free. fareharbor.com.

Compiled by Judy Bergeron.

Have an open-to-the-public event you’d like to promote?

Email details to red@ theadvocate.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday for the following Friday’s paper.

Book Your Afternoon Tea Service PlantryCafe.com | 5454 Bluebonnet Blvd. info@plantrycafe.com | 225-505-7411

PROVIDED PHOTO By BRIAN COX

Alternative rock band Everclear, whose 1990s hits include ‘Santa Monica,’ ‘I Will Buy you a New Life’ and ‘Father of Mine,’ will play L’Auberge Event Center at 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $43.10.

FRIDAY

DRAMA KINGS: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

TOBY TOMPLAY: Tallulah at the Renaissance, 6 p.m.

GROOVE UNIT: El Paso Gonzales, Gonzales, 6 p.m.

MARLEY VICK: Court To Table, 6 p.m.

DIVERSION: Papi’s Fajita Factory, Watson, 6 p.m.

TREY MORGAN: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6 p.m.

BRENT ARMSTRONG: T’Quilas, Zachary, 6 p.m.

HISTORICAL HAPPY HOUR FEATURING LEROY TOUSSAINT & CHURCH CHOIR: West Baton Rouge Museum, Port Allen, 6 p.m.

ERIC BASKIN: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 6 p.m.

KAITLYN WALLACE: Agave Blue, Gonzales, 6:30 p.m.

RHODES, MAURER & FRIENDS: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

CAM PYLE: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m.

CYNDER ROAD DUO: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

SAM FORSHEY BLUES BAND: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 8 p.m.

CHRIS OCMAND: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m.

CATAHOULA BAND: Court To Table, 8:30 p.m.

THE INSTAGATORS: Double D Daiquiris, Denham Springs, 9 p.m.

CANE FEVER: The Vineyard, 9 p.m.

THE LONGNECK SOCIETY: Icehouse Tap Room, 9 p.m.

MUSTACHE THE BAND: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 9 p.m.

KENDALL SHAFFER DUO: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 8 p.m.

ERIC STELLY: Icehouse Tap Room, 8 p.m.

N’TUNE: Churchill’s, 9 p.m.

HEATH RANSONNET: The Vineyard, 9 p.m.

BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY

CHRIS LEBLANC BAND: Highland Road Park, 5 p.m.

IAN WEBSTER DUO: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5:30 p.m.

ADDI EMERSON: Court To Table, 6 p.m.

KAITLYN WALLACE: T’Quilas, Zachary, 6 p.m.

PAPO Y SON MANDAO: Pedros, Denham

Springs, 6 p.m.

KYBALION: El Paso, Gonzales, 6 p.m.

COZY LEN: Churchill’s, 6 p.m.

THE ROUX TONES: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

CLAYTON SHILLING: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

TAYLOR RAE: Pelican to Mars, 7 p.m.

KICKS BAND: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

PETER SIMON: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m.

GRAND COUNTRY JUNCTION: Suma Crossing Theatre, Satsuma, 7 p.m.

JENNA & DON: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

WILL WESLEY: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m.

LA SOUTHBOUND: Backstreet Lounge, 8 p.m.

ACOUSTIC SATURDAYS W/HENRY TURNER: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

THE COOL BEANS: Court To Table, 8:30 p.m.

ORPHAN ANNIE BAND: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

TREE PALACE/NVM: Brickyard South, 9 p.m.

CLEVE: Churchill’s, 9 p.m.

NORTHBOUND 55: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9 p.m.

BRIAN & THE BANDITS: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY

ERIC BASKIN: Watermark Hotel, 10 a.m.

MIKE HOGAN: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 10:30 a.m.

JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior Grill-MidCity, 11 a.m.

CHRIS ALLEN DUO: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 11 a.m.

JAZZ BRUNCH: Red Stick Social, noon CAJUN JAM: West Baton Rouge Museum, Port Allen, 3 p.m.

JOEL COOPER DUO: Icehouse Tap Room, 4 p.m.

SONGWRITER SUNDAYS: La Divina Italian Cafe, 5 p.m.

KATIE KENNEY: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

EVERCLEAR: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY

CAM PYLE: Superior Grill-MidCity, 6 p.m.

EDDIE SMITH: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

PHOEBE KOONTZ: BLDG

5, 5:30 p.m.

THOMAS CAIN: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 5:30 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC DUO: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

SHANE MADERE: Tallulah at the Renaissance, 6 p.m.

BEAU BOZEMAN: Papi’s Fajita Factory, Watson, 6 p.m.

LSU JAZZ BAND: Classic Vinyls, 6 p.m.

BRIAN RITTENHOUSE: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC W/HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7 p.m.

ANDY PIZZO TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

PAPO Y SON MANDAO: El Paso, Gonzales, 6 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC: Tallulah at the Renaissance, 6 p.m.

DRAMA KINGS: Maria Mezcal, Livingston, 6 p.m.

GENERATION GAP: Backstreet Lounge, 6 p.m.

KYBALION: El PasoSherwood, 6 p.m.

BRANDON NICHOLSON: Superior Grill-MidCity, 6 p.m.

BRENT ARMSTRONG: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: Pedros, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

JOSH MARTIN: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

JOSIE JAMES: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

TET DUR: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 7 p.m.

BEN BELL & THE STARDUST BOYS: The Brakes Bar, 7 p.m.

BATON ROUGE SYMPHONY: “AMERICAN RHAPSODY”: River Center Theatre for Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones.

Want your venue’s music listed?

Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com.

The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper.

4D ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

zItS

lll

zodIAC cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Go over fine details to ensure you aren't taking on more than you can handle. Consider whether you want to pursue what someone offers or choose a different path.

Emotional manipulation is apparent.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Sit tight, observe and consider the cost associated with any change you want to make. Do your research and get what you want in writing.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) You are in a better position than you realize. Take advantage of an opportunity to mingle, socialize, network or address issues of concern. Mix business with pleasure.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Take a break.

Examine your routine, how you spend your time and earn your living, and how much attention you give to doing the things you love most. It's time to realign your schedule to meet your demands.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Lean into whatever you do, and you'll feel the benefits that come with feeling good about what you achieve. Personal and professional gain is within reach with a bit of time and effort on your part.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Put your energy where it counts. Research, learn from experts, travel and prepare for what you want to pursue. Refuse to let anyone mislead or take advantage of you. Set your sights on what's feasible. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Invite change into your world. The possibilities are endless if you are willing to put yourself out there. Listen to your heart, consider

what others have to offer and start conversations that have substance.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Take the initiative to make amendments where necessary.

Deal with institutions and government agencies, and tie up unfinished business.

Clear a path to bigger and better opportunities.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Start the weekend off with a smile on your face. Take advantage of an opportunity to catch up with someone you love or to make plans that give you something to look forward to. Focus on creating positive change.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Rethink your lifestyle. Exposing yourself to a change will help you rediscover yourself and what you want to do next. Embrace new beginnings; check out people, places and positions of interest. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Emotions and moneywon'tmix.Spendingonsomething you don't need may give you a rush at first, but it won't last. Pay more attention to what matters. Have a positive attitude and make gratitude your mantra. sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Be careful not to share sensitive information or be too accommodating with people trying to take advantage of you. Protect your home, family and future by being resourceful and knowing when to say no.

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: H EQuALs V

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 5D

lll

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

6D ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER H.L. Mencken said, “An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.”

Or maybe that is someone who jumps too quickly to conclusions, which is also not a good idea at the bridge table. In today’s deal, South is in seven spades.

West leads the heart queen. How should declarer deliberate?

North’s raise to three spades promised some points. South’s plunge into seven spades was optimistic because he knew that he could not reach the dummy unless it contained the heart queen or a heart shortage. It would have been wiser to stop in six — except that that would have ruined the column!

Someone who is impulsive will win with his heart ace, cash the diamond ace and heart king, then ruff a heart on the board. But East would overruff to defeat the contract.

Yes, South needs to ruff a heart and discard his second low heart on the diamond king, but he needs only one trump for one ruff. So, he should start by drawing two rounds of trumps. Then he unblocks the diamond ace, cashes the second top heart, and ruffs a heart in the dummy.

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

Here, his care is rewarded when East has doubletons in both majors.

South pitches his last heart on a high diamond, ruffs a diamond back to his hand, draws West’s last trump, and claims. A broad smile is permitted from North! © 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 — XyLoPHonE: ZYE-lih-fone: A percussion instrument using

Bizarro

marmaduKe

wooden bars of graduated length, struck to produce the musical scale.

Average mark 27 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 40 or more words in XYLOPHONE? yEsTERDAy’s WoRD — oRPHAns orphan osar rash rasp roan parson posh harp hasp hoar hops

hora horn apron arson nosh sharp shop shorn snap soap soar

sonar sora span spar

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “I spoke to you in your prosperity; but you said, I will not hear. This has been your manner from your youth, that you obeyed not my voice.” Jeremiah 22:21 Prosperity can rob us of God’s blessing. Think it over. — G.E. Dean

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 7D

lll

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

MISC FOR SALE LADIES SMALL BLACK LEATHER COAT LIKE NEW $40 225-752-7273 MISC FOR SALE Small solid black throw pillows Many avail. Each $5. 225-752-7273

classifieds.theadvocate.com | 225-383-0111 or toll free 800-960-6397 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Ellen Harvey Williamson and/or Kory C. Williamson, Sr., contact Carlin Chambliss: (225)270-1209.

173932-Jan 15-17, 3t $85

Announcements Anyone knowing the whereabouts of an heir, descendant, or relative of Antoine Whitaker or a representative of the Succession of and/or Unknown Heirs of Antoine Whitaker please contact James L. Maughan by phone or email. 225713-3666 james@maughan.attorney.

173975-Jan 15-17, 3t $133 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of any succession representative of Tiffany Slan, contact Carlin Chambliss: (225)270-1209.

173929-Jan 15-17, 3t $85

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Bonnie Lou Grindle Vandeveer, contact Carlin Chambliss: (225)2701209.

173931-Jan 15-17, 3t $85

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Garrick Smith, please contact Creighton B. Abadie, Attorney, at (225) 924-5150.

173793-Jan 14-16, 3t $85 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Judy Ann Maechling, please contact David McDavid, Attorney, at 225-490-8780.

173974-Jan 15-17, 3t $85 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of LINDA MARIE PARKER, Contact Attorney Temica R. Dukes PO Box 380, New Roads, La. 70760; 225 713 8455.

173935-Jan 15-17, 3t $97

Place a Classified ad?

225-388-0111

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

RUN DATE

DEADLINE

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

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of someone with the name of Bret Fontenot please contact Sonja C. Bradley, Attorney at Law, 14292 Florida Blvd, Livingston Louisiana 70754, call (225)686-8006, or email sonjabradleylaw@gmail.com.

173889-Jan 14-16, 3t $121

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of William Paul Joseph, Jr., a/k/a William P. Joseph, Jr. and Rosheen Poplar Joseph please contact Attorney Keith A. Doley 504-9437071.

173918-Jan 14-16, 3t $109 Pursuant to the lien granted by the Louisiana Self-Service Storage Facility Act LA RS:479, Storage Post will sell at public auction on January 26, 2026, personal property belonging to the following tenants to the highest bidder: Joseph Cormier: 445: Kennel, hand saw, totes, carpet, tools; Joshua Clark: 627: speakers, sofa, chairs; Vadra McNair: 757: bags, pots, totes, toys, microwave, crock pot, shoes; Antoine Sanders: P8: 1983 Fleetwood Southwind RV VIN 1GBJP37W3D3329974 FOR PARTS ONLY. The sale shall be held at 8118 Tom Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70815, 225-926-9081, commencing at approximately 1:00 PM. All sales are subject to prior cancellation. Rules and regulations are available at the

Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

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

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID: Sealed Bids for the purchase and installation of two (2) serving lines, will be received by the Diocese of Baton Rouge Child Nutrition Program (CNP), sent to the atten‐ tion of Brad Ray, Pur‐ chasing Manager, 3300 Hundred Oaks Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, no later than 10:00 a.m. on Febru‐ ary 3, 2026. Bids will be opened at the CNP Office immediately following stated the deadline above.

Inquiries/Re‐ quests must be submit‐ ted in writing by January 20, 2026, and responses will be provided by Janu‐ ary 23, 2026. Bid docu‐ ments may be obtained by calling (225) 387-6421 or by email sent to bray@cnpbr.org. CNP is an equal opportunity provider.

173521 Jan. 13, 16, 2t $169.30 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS City of Port Allen (herein referred to as the "Owner") hereby solicits sealed bids for the Road Rehabilitation Program described as follows: STATEMENT OF WORK (PEC Project No. 11834): Asphalt road patching, cold planing, striping, as‐ phalt overlay, and asso‐ ciated appurtenances.

Sealed Bids shall be ad‐ dressed to the City of Port Allen, and delivered to the Port Allen City Hall, 375 Court Street (Post Office Box 468), Port Allen, LA 70767) not later than 2:00 pm . on the 19th day of February .

Any bid received after the specified time and date will not be consid‐ ered. The sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 2:00pm on the 19th day of February, 2026, at the Port Allen City Hall located at 375 Court Street, Port Allen LA 70767.

Complete Bid Docu‐ ments, Instructions to Bidders, Bid Form, Con‐ tract, Plans, Specifica‐ tions, and Forms of the Bid Bond, Performance Bond and Payment Bond, and other bidding docu‐ ments may be down‐ loaded from the Profes‐ sional Engineering Con‐ sultants (PEC) Plan Room as hosted by Central Bid‐ ding https://www.cen tralbidding.com (subject to fees and conditions).

For any questions re‐ garding the website call Central Bidding at 225810-4814.

Prospective Bidders are solely re‐ sponsible for obtaining the most up-to-date bid‐ ding Documents from the designated website. Bids will not be accepted through the online bid‐ ding portal. Bids will be received by mail and/or hand delivery to the loca‐ tion as stated above.

Complete Bid Documents may also be examined by egomer@for emailing teandtablada.com or at the Office of the Engineer for the contract; Profes‐ sional Engineering Con‐ sultants Corp. (A Division of Forte and Tablada) lo‐ cated at 9107 Interline Ave., Baton Rouge, La 70809; (225-927-9321).

Hard copies may be ob‐ tained at this office upon payment of a deposit of $150.00. This deposit will be refunded upon re‐ quest in accordance with R.S. 38:2212.

Contractors submitting bids shall be licensed under LA R.S. 37:21502164, Municipal and Pub‐ lic Works. The bidder shall show his license number on the bid and on the sealed envelope submitting the bid.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause; such actions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (LA R.S. 38:2214 B, 1-5).

In accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements stated in the Bidding Documents shall not be waived by any entity.

Each Bidder must de‐ posit with his/her bid, i i h f

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p security in the amount of at least five percent (5%) of the total bid price, provided on the specified form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bid‐ ders. Sureties used for obtaining bonds must appear as acceptable on the U. S. Department of Treasury Circular 570.

No bidder may withdraw his/her bid within fortyfive (45) days after the actual date of the open‐ ing thereof.

OWNER CITY OF PORT ALLEN BY: /s/ TERECITA POLLARD PATTAN, MAYOR PUBLICATION/DATES

The Advocate Friday, January 16, 2026 Friday January 23, 2026 Friday January 30, 2026 174053-jan 16-23-30-3t $183.82 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS City of St. Gabriel (herein referred to as the "Owner") hereby solicits sealed bids for the Pump Station Rehabilitation project described as fol‐ lows: STATEMENT OF WORK: Rehabilitate two sub‐ mersible Pumping Sta‐ tions PEC Project No. 11810.05 Sealed Bids shall be ad‐ dressed to the _ City of St. Gabriel________ , and delivered to the _5035 Iberville Street St. Gabriel, LA 70776____ not later than ____2:00 p.m.____, on the 17th day of , February, 2026.

Any bid received after the specified time and date will not be consid‐ ered. The sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at __2:00___ p.m. on the _17th __ day of February , 20_26_, at the St. Gabriel City Hall located at 5035 Iberville Street, St. Gabriel, LA 70776.

Complete Bid Docu‐ ments, Instructions to Bidders, Bid Form, Con‐ tract, Plans, Specifica‐ tions, and Forms of the Bid Bond, Performance Bond and Payment Bond, and other bidding docu‐ ments may be down‐ loaded from the Profes‐ sional Engineering Con‐ sultants (PEC) Plan Room as hosted by Central Bid‐ ding https://www.cen tralbidding.com (subject to fees and conditions).

For any questions re‐ garding the website call Central Bidding at 225810-4814.

Prospective Bidders are solely re‐ sponsible for obtaining the most up-to-date bid‐ ding Documents from the designated website. Bids will not be accepted through the online bid‐ ding portal. Bids will be received by mail and/or hand delivery to the loca‐ tion as stated above.

Complete Bid Documents may also be examined by emailing egomer@for teandtablada.com or at the Office of the Engineer for the contract; Profes‐ sional Engineering Con‐ sultants – A Division of Forte and Tablada lo‐ cated at 9107 Interline Avenue, Baton Rouge, La (225-927-9321).

70809; Hard copies may be ob‐ tained at this office upon payment of a deposit of $150.00. This deposit will be refunded upon re‐ quest in accordance with R.S. 38:2212.

Contractors submitting bids shall be licensed under LA R.S. 37:21502164, Municipal and Pub‐ lic Works. The bidder shall show his license number on the bid and on the sealed envelope submitting the bid. The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause; such ac‐ tions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

In accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements stated in the Bidding Documents shall not be waived by any entity.

Each Bidder must de‐ posit with his/her bid, security in the amount of at least five percent (5%) of the total bid price, provided on the specified form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bid‐ ders. Sureties used for

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

nocp.org . Last date for submitting questions is Friday, January 23, 2026 at 1:45 PM local time.

No bidder may withdraw his/her bid within fortyfive (45) days after the actual date of the open‐ ing thereof.

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

174012-jan 16-23-30-3t $178.78 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT OR INVITATION TO BID City Park Conservancy Mirabeau Culvert Re‐ placement – Bayou St. John to City Park Lagoon Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived for the CITY PARK CONSERVANCY, MIRABEAU CULVERT RE‐ PLACEMENT – BAYOU ST. JOHN TO CITY PARK LA‐ GOON by City Park Con‐ servancy Purchasing and Contract Services De‐ partment in the City Park Administration Building, 1 Palm Drive, New Or‐ leans, Louisiana 70124 at the Reception Desk, until 1:45 PM Local Time, Fri‐ day, January 30, 2026.

To be valid, Sealed Bids must be delivered by hand or mail to City Park Administration Building, 1 Palm Drive, New Or‐ leans, Louisiana 70124 at the Reception Desk be‐ tween 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Fri‐ day and up to 1:45 pm on Friday, January 30, 2026.

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

The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids for just cause. Such actions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. In accordance with L.R.S. 38:2212.B.(1), the provisions and re‐ quirements stated in the bidding documents shall not be considered as in‐ formalities and shall not be waived.

The project is funded di‐ rectly by City Park Con‐ servancy.

CITY PARK CONSERVANCY

No bid received after the scheduled time for open‐ ing will be considered.

Failure of the U.S. Mail to deliver the bids timely shall not be considered due cause for the sched‐ uled time of the bid opening to be extended.

173049-JAN 9-16-2T $139.26

Bids will be opened and read aloud at 2:00 PM Local Time, on Friday, January 30, 2026 at the Board Room of the City Park Administration Building, 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124.

Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Procure‐ ment Section of the Divi‐ sion of Administration, 1201 N. 3rd. St., 2nd.

Floor, Suite 2-160, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. for the follow‐ ing:

Any person with disabili‐ ties requiring special ac‐ commodations must contact City Park Conser‐ vancy (“Owner”) by emailing Courtney Char‐ bonnet, Manager of Pur‐ chasing and Contract Services ccharbonnet@ nocp.org no later than seven (7) days prior to bid opening.

RFx No. 3000025754, In‐ mate Property Canteen Resale – DOC-PE, 1/27/26 RFx No. 3000025813, Ply‐ wood – DOC-PE, 2/3/26 RFx No. 3000025713, Of‐ fice Furniture for DMA, 2/13/26

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

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS SP# 941

Bid proposal forms, in‐ formation and specifica‐ tions may be obtained by accessing the bid num‐ ber in LaPac at www.doa.

Louisiana.gov/osp or from the procurement section listed above. No bids will be received after the date and hour specified. The right is re‐ served to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities.

Amy Vincent Director of State Procurement FAX (225) 342-8688 174020 Jan. 16, 1t $12.91 PUBLIC NOTICE ---

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

Sealed bids will be ac‐ cepted at the Zachary Community School Board, Child Nutrition Program Office, until 4:00 pm February 10, 2026 for Produce furnishing Items.

Bids will be opened at 9:00 am Febru‐ ary 11, 2026.

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

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained at 205 East Flanacher Road, Zachary, Louisiana 70791, telephone, 225658-7049. The Public is in‐ vited to attend the bid opening at this address.

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

The Zachary Community School Board Child Nutri‐ tion Program is funded approximately 50% with federal funds for a total of approximately $1,500,000.00 per year.

173976 Jan. 16, Feb. 6, 2t $46.00

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

Merchandise

AUCTIONS PUBLIC AUCTION Truist Bank & Regional Acceptance Thursday, January 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM Offer includes: 2021 BMW 4 SERIES Vin WBA73AP09MCF13463 Sale open to the public on listed vehicle(s) only America’s Auto Auction Baton Rouge 3960 Blount Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70807 For more sale registration, sale attendance, or other sale related information, please contact

AREA 4 We are Closing our Doors & Selling everything from the Office & many items from Home. 6416 Guinn Dr. Fri/Sat 7a-3p. Items will include: desks, chairs, filing cabinets, several tvs, tv stand, kitchenware & dishes, crawfish pot & burner, wheelchairs & medical equip, exercise & safety equip, ladders, lots of yard & work tools, work boots, artwork, large office printer, vinyl albums & more.

Baton Rouge Real Estate For Sale

AREA 3 3Br 2Ba cnt a/h, w/d conn $1050 2Br 1Ba utils pd $950. 3Br/1Ba Duplex $750. ALL + Dep 225-810-0775 AREA 3

5364 Jackson 2BR's 1BA, Rent $500, Dep $300 225-357-6436

AREA 4 FREE RENT 225-351-7449 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 1BR $550, 2BR $650 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

AREA 2 5723 Hartford Ave. Glen Oaks Area Off Greenwell St., Comp. Updated!

3BR 1.5BA, w/New C H/A New Light Fixtures & Windows Freshly Painted Int/Ext, & Ceramic FLR throughout Call Charles for your showing @ 225-266-4078 Roy Carter Realty 225-357-6436

AREA 5 655 North St. Subsidized eff Apts cpabr.org 225-383-5551.

TDD/TTY /711RELAY

NEWS 24/7 ON

America’s Auto Auction Baton Rouge 225-778-3737

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653 ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo.

225-933-7560

PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

obtaining bonds must appear as acceptable on the U. S. Department of Treasury Circular 570.

PUBLICATION/DATES: The Advocate Friday, January 16, 2026 Friday, January 23, 2026 Friday, January 30, 2026

AREA 2 Estate/Moving Sale. 17067 Bradford Ave. Grnwl Spgs. Fri 15 & Sat 16, 7a2p. Lg collection of Vintage items.

Furniture, housewares, glassware, books & craft items. Cash Only.

Automotive

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

BY: /s/ LIONELL JOHNSON, MAYOR

Baton Rouge Rental

Pets / Pet Services Directory

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

OWNER __CITY OF ST. GABRIEL

16849 Monitor Avenue Newly Updated! A Must See! Lg 4BR/2.5BA w/New Vanity Counter Top Cent H/A, Painted Int & Ext, Ceramic FL Thru out, Den w/FP Kit Cab w/New Cook Top & DW, New Light Fix & Doors Rear Dbl Carport & Lg Fenced b.y.

Call Charles for your showing @ 225-266-4078 Roy Carter Realty, 225-357-6436

Garage Sales

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of someone with the name of Michelle Rodriguez please contact Sonja C. Bradley, Attorney at Law, 14292 Florida Blvd, Livingston Louisiana 70754, call (225) 686-8006, or email sonjabradleylaw@gmail.com.

173892-Jan 14-16, 3t $133

DISPLAY ADS 24 HOURS EARLIER CALL US:

time of sale.

173914-Jan 16, 1t $168.98

AREA 4

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

DOGS CKC Reg. Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Pup‐ pies, $200 call (225)-251-2380

PRINT ADVERTISING WORKS

Public Notices Conservation

PUBLIC NOTICE ---1GREENWOOD-WASKOM FIELD 26-39 and 26-40 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on THURS‐ DAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026, upon the application of SILVER HILL ENERGY OP‐ ERATING, LLC. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, in the Green‐ wood-Waskom Field, Caddo Parish, Louisiana.

1. To permit applicant to drill, designate and uti‐ lize one cross unit hori‐ zontal well as an addi‐ tional alternate unit well for HA RA SUW and HA RA SU126, at the location and in the general man‐ ner shown on the plat submitted with the appli‐ cation, and made a part hereof, in exception to the spacing provisions of the 270-MM Series of the Department of Conserva‐ tion and Energy Orders.

2. To permit Blue Dome Operating, LLC to con‐ tinue to operate the ex‐ isting unit and alternate unit wells serving HA RA SUW and that applicant should serve as operator of the proposed cross unit horizontal alternate unit well for HA RA SUW, in exception to the single operator per unit policy of the Department of Conservation and Energy and to confirm applicant as operator of HA RA SU126.

3. To find that the pro‐ posed well is necessary to efficiently and eco‐ nomically drain a portion of the reservoir covered by each unit which can‐ not be so drained by any existing well within such units, will prevent waste, avoid the drilling of un‐ necessary wells, protect correlative rights and promote the full and effi‐ cient development of the natural resources of this state.

4. To provide that if the horizontal portion of a well is cased and ce‐ mented back above the top of the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, the distance to any unit boundary and offset well(s) will be calculated based on the distance to the nearest perforation in the well and not on the penetration point or ter‐ minus.

5. To provide that pro‐ duction from the cross unit horizontal alternate unit well shall be sepa‐ rated and metered indi‐ vidually and this infor‐ mation shall be reported to the Department of Conservation and Energy in a manner to be pre‐ scribed by the Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy.

6. To provide that the unit allowable for the af‐ fected units may be pro‐ duced from the unit well, from any alternate unit well, or from any combi‐ nation of such wells serving the unit, at the discretion of the opera‐ tor(s).

7. To provide that pro‐ duction from the pro‐ posed cross unit horizon‐ tal well shall be allocated to each unit penetrated by the well in the same proportion as the perfo‐ rated length of later in each such unit bears to the total length of the perforated later as deter‐ mined by an “as drilled” survey performed after the well has been drilled and completed.

8. To continue in full force and effect, except to the extent contrary herewith, the pertinent provisions of Order No. 270-MM, effective June 19, 2007, as amended and supplemented by the 270-MM Series of Orders, Statewide Order No. 29-S, and all other applicable Statewide Orders.

9. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A was initially defined in Order No. 270MM, effective June 19, 2007, and was redefined as to HA RA SUW in Order No. 270-MM-13, effective May 3, 2009, and was re‐ defined as to HA RA SU126 in Order No. 270-

Public Notices Conservation

MM-73, effective January 15, 2019.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 1/13/26;1/16/26 S lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE OF CONSERVA‐ TION-ENGINEERING DIVI‐ SION AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 708049275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. 174011 Jan. 16, 1t $83.07 PUBLIC NOTICE ---2ELM GROVE FIELD 26-41 thru 26-44 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on THURS‐ DAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026, upon the application of BPX OPERATING COM‐ PANY. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, in the Elm Grove Field, Bossier Parish, Louisiana.

1. To permit the applicant to drill, designate and utilize two cross unit hor‐ izontal wells as alternate unit wells for HA RA SU91, HA RA SU63, HA RA SU54 and HA RA SU86, (in lieu of the four undrilled cross unit horizontal al‐ ternate unit wells ap‐ proved in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy Order No. 361-L-144, effective Feb‐ ruary 24, 2025), at the lo‐ cations and in the gen‐ eral manner shown on the plat submitted with the application, and made a part hereof, in exception to the spacing provisions of the 361-L Series of Orders, pro‐ vided there are no perfo‐ rations in any wellbore closer than 330’ to any unit boundary and lim‐ ited to 100’ from any unit boundary in the direction of the horizontal well‐ bore closest to the top of perforations or base of perforations (200’ be‐ tween wells in adjacent units), except for the common unit boundaries between said units.

2. To find that the pro‐ posed wells are neces‐ sary to efficiently and economically drain a portion of the reservoirs covered by each unit which cannot be so drained by any existing well within such units.

3. To permit the operator to produce the unit al‐ lowable for each unit from the respective unit wells, and/or alternate unit well, in any combi‐ nation, at its discretion.

4. To find that unit pro‐ duction from the pro‐ posed cross unit horizon‐ tal alternate unit wells shall be allocated to each unit in the same proportion as the perfo‐ rated length of the lat‐ eral in each unit bears to the total length of the perforated lateral as de‐ termined by an “as drilled” survey per‐ formed after the cross unit horizontal well is drilled and completed, provided that unit pro‐ duction shall continue to be shared on a surface acre basis.

5. To provide that pro‐ duction from each cross unit horizontal alternate unit well shall be sepa‐ rated and metered indi‐ vidually and this infor‐ mation shall be reported in the manner prescribed by the Department of Conservation and Energy.

6. To find that, with re‐ spect to wells drilled to h ill

DOGS CKC YORKIES or SHORKIES - (yorkies arewith papers) all are vet checked with shot and worming will meet in Gulfport $400 (334) 467-3416

Public Notices Conservation p the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, within or to serve HA RA SU91, HA RA SU63, HA RA SU54, and HA RA SU86, where the horizontal portion of the well is cased and ce‐ mented back above the top of the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, the distance to any unit boundary and offset well(s) should be calcu‐ lated based on the dis‐ tance to the nearest per‐ foration in the well, and not based on the pene‐ tration point or terminus.

7. Except insofar as set forth above, to confirm and continue in effect the provisions of the 361L Series of Orders, the units created thereby and applicable Statewide Orders.

8. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A was defined in Order No. 361-L, effec‐ tive July 29, 2008, and was redefined INSOFAR AND ONLY INSOFAR as HA RA SU91 is concerned, in Order No. 361-L-57, effec‐ tive September 10, 2009, INSOFAR AND ONLY INSO‐ FAR as HA RA SU63 is concerned, in Order No. 361-L-34, effective May 19, 2009, INSOFAR AND ONLY INSOFAR as HA RA SU54 is concerned, in Order No. 361-L-27, effec‐ tive March 31, 2009 and INSOFAR AND ONLY INSO‐ FAR as HA RA SU86 is concerned, in Order No. 361-L-53, effective August 4, 2009.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 1/13/26;1/16/26 S lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT THE HEARING, PLEASE CON‐ TACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORK‐ ING DAYS OF THE HEAR‐ ING DATE. 174013 Jan. 16, 1t $85.64

FORD F900 Ford F900, 1990, 7.8 L, auto trans, runs great, $4K (225) 225-316-4148 David

CLASSIFIEDS WORK

Public Notices Conservation

PUBLIC NOTICE ---4CROWLEY FIELD 26-38 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026, upon the application of CAMEX OPERATING COMPANY. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the DISC-MH Zone, Reser‐ voir A, in the Crowley Field, Acadia Parish, Louisiana.

1. To designate the Camex Operating Com‐ pany-Hains No. 2 Well, as an alternate unit well for the DISC-MH RA SUA, at the location shown on the plat submitted with the application.

2. To permit the operator to produce the unit al‐ lowable from the existing unit well, the proposed alternate unit well, or from the combination of both wells, at its option.

3. To find that the pro‐ posed alternate unit well is necessary to economi‐ cally an efficiently drain reserves from the DISCMH RA SUA, which can‐ not be economically and efficiently recovered by any existing well within such unit.

4. Except to the extent contrary herewith, the provisions of the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy Order No. 544-BBB, the unit created thereby, and all applica‐ ble Statewide Orders, shall remain in full force and effect.

5. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The DISC-MH Zone, Reservoir A was fully de‐ fined in Order No. 544BBB, effective October 29, 2024.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

Public Notices Conservation

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 1/13/26;1/16/26 L lck

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT THE HEARING, PLEASE CON‐ TACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN FIVE (5) WORK‐ ING DAYS OF THE HEAR‐ ING DATE. 174008 Jan. 16, 1t $58.78

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --(Notice of Intention to Introduce Bill - 2026 Regular Legislative Session) Public notice is hereby given, as provided by R.S. 47:1907.1 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 authoriz‐ ing assessors in this state to increase their annual salary compensa‐ tion in an amount not to exceed five percent an‐ nually through Fiscal Year 2028-2029; and to provide for related mat‐ ters.

173852-jan 16-21-2t $40.52

HOME-DELIVERED

EVERY DAY

NOLA.COM/SUBSCRIBE

FEBRUARY 7, 2026 ELECTION VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES: In Person/By Mail Registration Deadline: January 7, 2026 Geaux Vote Online Registration Deadline: January 17, 2026 Sample ballots will be available two weeks prior to each election, online at GeauxVote.com and also in the main office of the Iberville Parish Registrar of Voters.

Voters registered in Iberville Parish who want to vote early may do so in person at the following locations: ROV MAIN OFFICE – EARLY VOTING Iberville Parish Registrar of Voters Office, 2nd floor of the Iberville Parish Courthouse, 58050 Meriam Street, Plaquemine, LA 70764.

(225-687-5201) Saturday January 24, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm Monday January 26, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm Tuesday January 27, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm Wednesday January 28, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm Thursday January 29, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm Friday January 30, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm Saturday January 31, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm *excluding Sundays EAST IBERVILLE TEMPORARY EARLY VOTING SITE St. Gabriel Community Center, 1400 Gordon Simon Leblanc Dr, St. Gabriel, LA 70776 Saturday January 24, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm Monday January 26, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm NORTH IBERVILLE TEMPORARY EARLY VOTING SITE North Iberville Community Center, 75700 Rosedale Road, Rosedale, LA 70772 Wednesday January 28, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm Thursday January 29, 2026 8:30 am- 6 pm 173586-606244-jan 16-1t $ 72.77

LA

8D ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

SIMPLE ELECTRIC

Professional work • Lic/Ins/Bond.

40+ years experience

House calls | NoFixNoPay 225-803-8241 | THECOMPUTERDOCTORx.com

Call 225-921 2633

CALL FOR SPECIAL PRICING! INSTALL NEW ROOFS, J-W SHINGLES, METAL, ROOFING* FLAT, & REPAIRS.

MILITARY DISCOUNTS

40 years experience

$125 First Visit - 1 Computer

No job too smalll/large

STOP ALL LEAKS! CARPENTRY & PAINTING Lic/Ins. 225-205-9537 *Senior Citizen Discount

Swimming Pool Fill-In’s FIBERGLASS - GUNITE - LINER 20 Years of Experience - Licensed and Insured

Call Casey For a Free Estimate

225-329-9502

pooldemolitionbycasey.com

STEVE ROBINS We are your go to company for your Gutter and Patio Top installations

HEATH WISE

VETERAN OWNED

WISE GUY’S GUTTERS & PATIOS

DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 70726 WISEGUYSGUTTERSANDPATIOLA.COM GOLDDOG3447@YAHOO.COM

CALL 225-305-3776 FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE

INSURED Residential Rentals

Commercial Leasing

CALL BILLY • (225) 445-3139 • 40 YRS. SERVING BR

JOHNNIE BOYS

APPLIANCE REPAIR Window Air Conditioners, Washers & Dryers, Freezers & Refrigerators

ALL Work Guaranteed.

Thank You for Your Consideration

Call 225-301-7575

Chris Keating Owner/Operator

PARKING LOT STRIPS HOUSES/BUILDINGS PARKING LOTS DRIVEWAYS/PATIOS

Hot Water • Cold Water Residential • Commercial Licensed • Insured Free Estimates!

Phone: (225) 665-2799 Fax: (225) 664-4372 Office: (225)978-2084 2090 Elmer St. Denham Springs, LA 70726

SHERWOOD TV & APPLIANCES *In-Home major appliances serviced at a charge.

WASHERS, DRYERS, REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS, ELECTRIC & GAS RANGES

SHERWOOD MINI-STORAGE

MINI-WAREHOUSE (CLIMATE & REGULAR), MOTOR HOMES & BOAT STORAGE UP TO 45’ DEEP

11756 Florida Blvd. Baton Rouge 70815

225-275-6900

FREE ESTIMATE!

Reasonable Rates for Quality Work!

Quality Care Q Roofing & Maintenance R

• All Types Roofing & Repairs • Fllashings • Sheet Metal • Dry Wall • Carpentry C • Painting • Masonry • Flooring • Electrical Spe cialty Ventilation and Insulation

KEVIN ROBERTS La. Lic. # 64014

(225) 603-2125 Cell KMRNBR55@GMAIL.COM

HandyMan

Call For A Free Estimate • I Look Forward To Working With You

Roofing Replacement & Repairs • Carpentry Painting • Drywall Repairs • Pressure Washing Tractor Work/Grading • Concrete Work • Remodeling Swimming Pool Fill ins • Decks & Fences

FREE ESTIMATES

ON ALL TV’S THAT NEED REPAIR WHEN BROUGHT INTO THE SHOP!!

RUSSELL CARPENTER ZACH CARPENTER

Home Repairs

PROPERTIES & HOME CARE

225-290-1980 / 225-993-9204

tree trimming/flower bed clean up/flower bed designs/irrigation/ lighting pathways/prune & mulch/weeding/drainage/sod/pergola deck/power washing/stump grinding/consulting available

All work 35+ years of guaranteed experience No job to locally! big or small • Flashing • Gutters • Siding • Tree Pruning • Carpentry • Fences

Call 225.925.0610

(225) 603-2125

DISCOUNT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

FIND AND FIX LEAKS ON ANY ROOF

Member of the BBB Licensed & Insured FREE Verbal Estimates to BR Residents 50 Years Experience Pruning & Trimming of Large Trees Small Tree Removal

Denham Springs & Gonzales

LIGHTING 15% OFF! READY FOR GAME DAYS!

LEAK SPECIALIST

tree service

Doors & Door Hardware

Install & Repair Commercial • Residential Call Daniel 225-436-2759

WINTER SPECIAL YEAR-ROUND HOLIDAY

THE COMPUTER DOCTORx

• Doors • Tile • Painting • Windows & Door Awnings • Pressure Washing • Bathroom & Kitchen Repairs • Porch Roof and Metal Patio Covers

225-733-1560 Professional Chimney Sweep & Inspections

225-338-6922

ROOF LEAKS STOPPED Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

No Job Too Big or Too Small James Wells DBA

Big Jim Construction

New R Roofs Repairs Roof N f or R i on Any A Type T R f Roofing • Painting • Carpentry

Over 50 Years Experience

225.338.6809

All Work Warrantied

Brothers Carpentry and Flooring LLC

ATTIC STAIRS • DOORS • Installation & Replacement • Fully Insulated Units • Licensed & Insured • FREE Estimates • Senior & Military Discounts

CALL TODAY! [225-252-8331]

FIREWOOD W Burns Farm | Seasoned firewood

Chimney Cleaning • Pest Guards New Chimney Cap Installation • Fire Box Crack Repair Insured

10% OFF 225-503-5681

E J’s Masonry Quality Work

Brick  Block  Concrete Stucco Work Carpentry  Clean-up & Haul Debris Roofing  Pressure Washing & Restriping Parking Lots  Painting No job too small!

225-229-0963

Gerald Burns 28630 Juban Rd., Denham Springs LA 70726 225-937-3112

LAGNIAPPE SERVICES, LLC

Year-Round Lawn Care South Baton Rouge

One Time, Some Time, Any Time or Every Time... We don't mind!

Residential & Commercial Grass Cutting, Gutter Cleaning, SPRING Clean-Up & Bush Trimming

Gerard “Gaston” Gravois

(225) 329-8737

To advertise here, please call (225) 383-0111 See more CLASSIFIEDS, page

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 1S

lll

YOUR LEGAL COMPASS THROUGH

LIFE

FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOP INCOME TAX SEASON IS HERE - WATCH OUT FOR THOSE ESTATE, GIFT AND CAPITAL GAINS TAXES, TOO!

CALL

225-224-8099 TO REGISTER!

POCHE ESTATE PLANNING LAW FIRM 4960 Bluebonnet Blvd., Suite C, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

2S ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

ACT NOW TO PUT YOUR PLAN IN PLACE IN JUST 6-7 WEEKS Yes, knowledge is power, and the choice is yours. But you MUST ACT NOW to put your estate plan in place. It all starts by attending one of Laura Poche’s free educational events which makes it clear that regardless of your net worth, if you want to preserve your hard-earned assets or have people in your life you need to protect or have causes that you want to promote, EVERY PERSON NEEDS A LEGAL ESTATE PLAN. Let Laura Poche and her professional and knowledgeable staff make this process as easy as possible so you can live with PEACE OF MIND.

BATON ROUGE

Monday, January 26 Poche Law Office 4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 2:00pm - 4:30pm

REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED AFTER

BATON ROUGE

Tuesday, January 27 Mestizos 2323 S. Acadian Thruway 11:00am - 1:30pm

LUNCH PROVIDED AFTER

BATON ROUGE

Wednesday, January 28 Poche Law Office 4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 5:30pm - 8:00pm

DINNER PROVIDED AFTER

BATON ROUGE

Thursday, January 29 Poche Law Office 4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 9:30am - 12:00pm

LUNCH PROVIDED AFTER

CALL 225-224-8099 TO REGISTER!

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ 3S

lll

LAURA POCHE INVITES YOU TO ATTEND A FREE WORKSHOP TO LEARN HOW TO:

• Minimize or avoid death tax.

• Make sure your estate utilizes the exemption available for deaths occurring in 2026.

• Properly setup your Will or Living Trust so there will be no tax upon the death of the first spouse regardless of the size of the estate.

• Ensure that your heirs receive a step-up in tax basis - not just when the first spouse dies but again when the surviving spouse dies.

• Utilize the 2026 annual gift tax exclusion to make gifts of $20,000 per year per person during your lifetime to reduce your taxable estate at your death...and MUCH MORE!

CALL 225-224-8099 TO REGISTER! POCHE ESTATE PLANNING LAW FIRM 4960 Bluebonnet Blvd., Suite C, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

4S ■ Friday, January 16, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

INCOME TAX SEASON IS HERE WATCH OUT FOR THOSE ESTATE, GIFT AND CAPITAL GAINS TAXES, TOO! Everyone wants to avoid tax. When people think about avoiding taxes, they usually think about avoiding income tax. But Louisiana residents must be concerned with several types of taxes when they are planning their estates.

FEDERAL ESTATE TAX - DID YOU KNOW?

The federal estate tax applies to estates of people who are residents in any of the 50 states.

When it applies, it is significant. Essentially, when a person dies, we must add up the fair market value of everything the deceased owned - their house, cars, bank accounts, IRA’s, 401(k)’s, life insurance, stock, businesses they own, real estate and more. Effective January 1, 2026, the federal estate tax exemption amount is $15,000,000 per person ($30,000,000 for married couples) for deaths occurring in 2026. The estate tax rate remains at 40%.

WHAT ABOUT THE SURVIVING SPOUSE?

Before 2010, each spouse had an estate tax exemption. If the estate of the first spouse to die did not use their exemption, it would be lost, and the surviving spouse could not use any of the exemption of the first spouse to die. However, in 2013, “portability” was kept in place - the surviving spouse can now increase their exemption by the amount of the unused exemption amount of the deceased spouse who died after 2010. But portability must be exercised timely.

HOW TO AVOID CAPITAL GAINS TAX

The tax that often creeps up on people is capital gains tax. Capital gains is paid when you sell an asset that has appreciated in value. Example: you buy a stock for $20,000 and later sell the stock for $100,000. You will have $80,000 of capital gain, and you must pay tax on this. How you structure your bequests to your spouse and your family can have a significant impact on how much capital gains tax your heirs will have to pay. When you die, your assets will be “stepped-up” and your heirs will get a new value.

GIFTS OF $20,000 PER YEAR PER PERSON (USED TO BE $10,000 PER YEAR PER PERSON)

You may have heard you can donate or give $20,000 each year per person without gift tax consequences. Typically, no one pays gift tax on a gift regardless of the value of the gift. A sizeable gift will have estate and gift tax consequences.

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR OUR WORKSHOPS:

All our learning workshops employ strict social distancing standards for everyone’s safety.

Workshops are open to FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES ONLY and are geared towards people who want or need your legal estate plan in place quickly.

Please have your personal calendar handy at the workshop so you can choose to start your plan NOW! If married, both spouses must attend a workshop to ensure that all decision-makers are involved in your family’s coordinated plan.

All people who attend will receive a FREE copy of the updated 2nd edition of Laura Poche’s Book, “Estate Planning Advice by a Woman for Louisiana Women: A Guide for Both Men and Women About Wills, Trusts, Probate, Powers of Attorney, Medicaid, Living Wills and Taxes.”

CALL 225-224-8099 TO REGISTER! POCHE ESTATE PLANNING LAW FIRM 4960 Bluebonnet Blvd., Suite C, Baton Rouge, LA 70809