The Times-Picayune 01-19-2026 by The Advocate

MARTIN LUTHER KING

N.O. East apartments sold to Texas firm

Recently renovatedand painted, Laguna Reserve apartments, left, nexttoapartments of thesameage,are waiting to be updated at the complex on BundyRoad in NewOrleans East.

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

ATexas-basedreal estate company

has purchased four large apartment complexes that make up more than a third of all multifamily units in New Orleans East, potentially bringing hundreds of newly renovated apartments online as city leadersseek ways to create more workforce housing.

David Lynd, whose company, LYND, owns and manages thousands of apartments across the country, bought the developmentsout of bankruptcy on Jan. 9for $26million.He plans to spend an additional $26 millionorsorenovating them, he said Thursday

The building exteriors are also getting an upgrade. Metal stairways are being cleaned and repaired. Wooden balconyrailingsare beingreplaced. Exterior sidingisgetting afresh coatofpaint

The four complexes, which have a total of 1,500 units, werebadly damaged during Hurricane Idaand have only been partiallyrenovated in the years since. With their former owner in bankruptcy,theyhaven’tgottenthe investmentthey need, and fewer than half of their units are currently occupied, Lynd said. He wants to increase average occupancy in the four complexestomore than 90%. “We’re goingtobuild an amazing community,” said Lynd, who is based in San Antonio. “We’re goingtocreate an environment where everybody from thepeople who own it and work thereand live there—can enjoy it and be proud of it.”

U.S. SupremeCourt weighs wherecoastal

Justices wonder aboutrippleeffects

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

The U.S. Supreme Court waded into alandmark lawsuit last week that seeks to hold oil companies to account for allegedlydamaging the Louisiana coastline,but the

justices’ eventual ruling may not be asclear cut as either side hopes.

Aruling in Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish is expected by this summer.There are likely four distinct waysthe ruling could play outfollowing Jan. 12 oralarguments, according to attorneys involved in the case and lawprofessors watchingit.

The high court is ruling not on the merits of the case itself, but on ajurisdictional question: whether

thecasebelongs in federal or state court. That ruling will likely impact the 41 lawsuits that Baton Rouge law ﬁrm Talbot, Carmouche &Marcello have ﬁled on behalf of coastal parishes against oil companies, each of which is seeking millions for damage to the coast.

“I still think we aregoing to prevail,” said VicMarcello, one of theattorneysfor theparishes.

Group attacks policies of

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

An old toy electric chair sat on atable in afederal courtroom in New Orleans last week as its owner tried to explain the 40-year-old artifact to ajury

Designed to shock, theplastic-and-tin device features aclip fora9-volt battery.Attorney Jim Williams, whoprosecuted capital murders in NewOrleans in the 1980s, said he elicited ajolt in adifferent way

Back then,Williams famouslyadorned the toy chairwiththe photos of ahalf-dozenmen he helpedship to death row from Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Williams kept the toyona credenza in his ofﬁce.

“Pretty much everybody in the DA’s Office knew that Ihad that, Ibelieve,” he testified. “Nobody told me to take it out.” For defense advocates, the toy becameablunt symbol of unchecked hubris and awin-first culture inside the office of former District Attorney

ä See POLICIES, page 4A

Trumpbacks Letlow forSenate, scrambling

Cassidy, already facing four majorchallengers, says he’s notdroppingout

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

President Donald Trump’sendorsement

Saturday night of U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow to be Louisiana’s next senator has dramatically shaken up arace where Sen. Bill Cassidy already had four major Republican challengers, political insiders said Sunday Trump’sdecision makes it likely that Letlow will formally enter the race in the coming days and adds to the headwinds that Cassidy was facing to win athird six-year term

Canals carvedbyoil and gascompanies over the past 100 years, likethese in Plaquemines Parish, have eroded into open water and contributed to the Louisiana coastal land loss crisis

STAFF PHOTOSByCHRISGRANGER

BRIEFS

WIRE REPORTS

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Group says 3,919 killed during Iran protests

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates A U.S.-based activist agency said Sunday it has veriﬁed at least 3,919 deaths during a wave of protests that swept Iran and led to a bloody crackdown, and fears the number could be signiﬁcantly higher

The Human Rights Activists News Agency posted the revised ﬁgure, up from the previous toll of 3,308. The death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding the 1979 revolution.

The agency has been accurate throughout the years of demonstrations in Iran, relying on a network of activists inside the country that confirms all reported fatalities. The Associated Press has been unable to independently conﬁrm the toll.

Iranian ofﬁcials have not given a clear death toll, although on Saturday the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the protests had left “several thousand” people dead — and blamed the United States for the deaths. It was the ﬁrst indication from an Iranian leader of the extent of the casualties from the wave of protests that began Dec. 28 over Iran’s ailing economy The Human Rights Activists News Agency says 24,669 protesters have been arrested in the crackdown.

Iranian ofﬁcials have repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of fomenting unrest in the country

Trains collide in Spain, killing at least 21

BARCELONA Spain — A high-speed train derailed, jumped onto the track in the opposite direction and slammed into an oncoming train Sunday in southern Spain, killing at least people 21 and injuring dozens more, the country’s transport minister said. The tail end of an evening train traveling from Malaga to Madrid with some 300 passengers went off the rails near Córdoba at 7:45 p.m. local time and slammed into a train with some 200 passengers coming from Madrid to Huelva, another southern Spanish city according to rail operator Adif. Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente updated the death toll to 21 after midnight when he said that rescuers had removed all the survivors. But Puente said there could be more victims still to be conﬁrmed.

Andalusia regional President Juanma Moreno said 75 passengers were hospitalized, with most taken to the nearby city of Cordoba, including 15 people with serious injuries. Moreno said emergency workers would work all night to remove bodies from the wreckage. “We have a very difﬁcult night ahead,” Andalusia’s regional health chief Antonio Sanz said

Big purple star sapphire unveiled in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Sri Lanka A purple star sapphire weighing 3,563 carats which is claimed to be the world’s biggest of its kind was unveiled on Saturday in the Sri Lankan capital by the owners, who are ready to sell the precious stone which is estimated to be worth at least $300 million.

The round shaped gem named “Star of Pure Land” is the world’s largest documented natural purple star sapphire, said Ashan Amarasinghe, a consultant gemologist.

“This is the largest purple star sapphire of its kind,” he told the media, adding that the gem “shows a well-deﬁned asterism. It has six rays asterism. That’s something special out of all the other stones.”

The gem, which has been polished, is owned by the Star of Pure Land Team, who want to remain anonymous for security reasons.

One of the owners said the gem was found in a gem pit near the remote Sri Lankan town of Rathnapura, known as the “city of gems,” in 2023. It was purchased together with other gems in 2023 and about two years later, the owners found that it was a special stone. They then got it certiﬁed by two laboratories

Mayor pans possible troop deployment

Minneapolis leader says sending soldiers to city would be unconstitutional

BY JACK BROOK and SARAH RAZA Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS The mayor of Minneapolis said Sunday that sending active duty soldiers into Minnesota to help with an immigration crackdown is a ridiculous and unconstitutional idea as he urged protesters to remain peaceful so the president won’t see a need to send in the U.S. military

Daily protests have been ongoing throughout January since the Department of Homeland Security ramped up immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul by bringing in more than 2,000 federal ofﬁcers.

Three hotels where protesters have said Immigration and Customs Enforcement ofﬁcers were staying in the area stopped taking reservations Sunday In a diverse neighborhood where immigration ofﬁcers have been seen frequently, U.S. postal workers marched through on Sunday, chanting: “Protect our routes. Get ICE out.”

Soldiers told to be ready

The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers based in Alaska who specialize in operating in arctic conditions to be ready in case of a possible deployment to Minnesota, two defense ofﬁcials said Sunday.

The ofﬁcials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans, said two infantry battalions of the Army’s 11th Airborne Division have been given prepare-to-deploy orders.

One defense ofﬁcial said the troops are standing by to deploy to Minnesota should President Donald Trump invoke the Insurrection Act.

The rarely used 19th century law would allow the president to send military troops into Minnesota, where protesters have been confronting federal immigration agents for weeks. He has since backed off the threat, at least for now

It’s ridiculous, but we will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday. “It is not fair, it’s not just, and it’s completely unconstitutional.”

Thousands of Minneapolis citizens are exercising their First Amendment rights and the protests have been peaceful, Frey said.

“We are not going to take the bait. We will not counter Donald Trump’s chaos with our

Florida gets snow for 2nd year in a row

By The Associated Press

PENSACOLA, Fla A small part of Florida is the Snowy State for the second year in a row Snow briefly covered the grass and rooftops in parts of the western Florida Panhandle on Sunday morning as just enough frigid air rushed in behind a cold front to turn the last rain showers into snowflakes in the Sunshine State. Elsewhere, the winter weather promised to interfere with playoff football in places Boston and Chicago more accustomed to it, although the visiting teams come from warmer climes. And in the upper Midwest, residents braced for blizzard conditions. The Southern snow wasn’t a once-in-alifetime thing. Less than a year ago, on Jan. 21, 2025, some of the same areas of Florida that briefly saw frosty lawns received up to 8 inches of snow in what was the most significant snowfall in many places since the late 1800s

own brand of chaos here,” Frey said.

Gov Tim Walz has mobilized the Minnesota National Guard, although no units have been deployed to the streets.

Some hotels close

At least three hotels in Minneapolis-St. Paul that protesters said housed ofﬁcers in the immigrant crackdown were not accepting reservations Sunday Rooms could not be booked online before early February at the Hilton DoubleTree and IHG InterContinental hotels in downtown St. Paul and at the Hilton Canopy hotel in Minneapolis.

Over the phone, an InterContinental hotel front desk employee said it was closing for the safety of the staff, but declined to comment on the speciﬁc concerns. The DoubleTree and InterContinental hotels had empty lobbies with signs out front saying they were “temporarily closed for business until further notice.” The Canopy hotel was open, but not accepting reservations.

The Canopy has been the site of noisy protests by anti-ICE demonstrators aimed to prevent agents from sleeping.

“The owner of the independently owned and operated InterContinental St. Paul has decided to temporarily close their hotels to prioritize the safety of guests and team members given ongoing safety concerns in the area,” IHG Hotels & Resorts spokesperson Taylor Solomon said in a statement Sunday. “All guests with existing reservations can contact the hotel team for assistance with alternative accommodations.”

Postal workers march, protest

Peter Noble joined dozens of other U.S.

Post Ofﬁce workers Sunday on their only day off from their mail routes to march against the immigration crackdown. They passed by the place where an immigration ofﬁcer shot and killed Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, during a Jan. 7 confrontation.

“I’ve seen them driving recklessly around the streets while I am on my route, putting lives in danger,” Noble said.

Letter carrier Susan Becker said she came out to march on the coldest day since the crackdown started because it’s important to keep telling the federal government she thinks what it is doing is wrong. She said people on her route have reported ICE breaking into apartment buildings and tackling people in the parking lot of shopping centers.

“These people are by and large citizens and immigrants. But they’re citizens, and they deserve to be here; they’ve earned their place and they are good people,” Becker said.

Fla.

Snow photos flooded social media. There were a few flakes on the beach and snow nestled into palm fronds. It was too warm to stick to the roads, but a dusting of snow sat on the grass for a little while before mostly melting. The rare snow in the South wasn’t just in Florida. Southeastern Alabama and southern Georgia also reported snow in some areas as they also celebrated a second winter wonderland in less than a year Snow covered the ground in Columbus and Macon, Georgia, and officials warned enough might fall to make travel treacherous in spots. Heavier snowfall was expected to hit New England. Three to 5 inches of afternoon and evening snow was predicted in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, where the New England Patriots were hosting the Houston Texans.

Europe warns of dangers of Trump’s Greenland threats

Countries caution of ‘dangerous downward spiral’

BY STEFANIE DAZIO, JILL LAWLESS and EMMA BURROWS Associated Press

BERLIN The eight European countries targeted by President Donald Trump for a 10% tariff for opposing American control of Greenland blasted the move Sunday, warning that his threats “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”

The joint statement by some of America’s closest allies signaled a possible turning point in the recent tensions over sovereignty and security nearly 24 hours after Trump’s threat. It was also the most forceful rebuke of Trump from the European allies since he returned to the White House almost a year ago. In recent months, Europeans have mostly opted for diplomacy and flattery around him, even when seeking an end to the war in Ukraine. Sunday’s statement, as well as some European countries sending troops to Greenland for a Danish military training exercise, appeared to be a step away from that strategy

The unusually strong joint statement from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland said troops sent to Greenland for operation “Arctic Endurance” pose “no threat to anyone.”

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told reporters in Oslo that a dialogue was opened with the U.S. last week and “we will not give up on that. So we will stay on track — unless U.S. decides differently.”

Added Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide at the same news conference: “We will not allow ourselves to be put under pressure, and those types of threats (of U.S. tariffs) are unacceptable between

close allies.”

Six of the countries targeted are part of the 27-member European Union, which operates as a single economic zone in terms of trade.

Following emergency talks among the EU’s national envoys Sunday, EU Council President Antonio Costa said the bloc’s leaders agree “that tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and are incompatible with the EU-U.S. trade agreement.” They expressed “readiness to defend ourselves against any form of coercion,” Costa said in a statement. He is expected to convene a summit of the bloc’s leaders later this week.

Trump’s Saturday announcement sets up a potentially dangerous test of U.S. partnerships in Europe He appeared to indicate that he was using the tariffs as leverage to force talks over the status of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark that he regards as critical to U.S. national security “We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland,” the group said. “Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand ﬁrmly behind. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”

There are immediate questions about how the White House could implement tariffs against the EU. It was unclear, too, how Trump could act under U.S. law though he could cite emergency economic powers that are currently subject to a U.S. Supreme Court challenge.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said China and Russia will benefit from divisions between the U.S. and Europe. She added on social media: “If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA People march Sunday during a protest near a post office in Minneapolis.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DANIELLE BRAHIER

rare snow covers the ground Sunday in Holt,

COASTAL

Continued from page1A

“Wehave astrong case.” Chevron spokesperson Bill Turenne likewise said that the company “remains conﬁdent thata federalcourtis the proper forum for these cases.”

The companies argue the cases belong in federal court, avenue seen as friendlier to their interests, on the grounds that the companies were producing oil for the war effort during World WarII, and so were operating under federal orders. The parishes, meanwhile,contend that the cases should be tried in state court, where local juries with direct knowledge of the impacts of oilproduction on their localities can decide.

The ruling could also affect a$745 million jury verdict, rendered after athreeweek trialthat took place in Plaquemines Parishcourt last year

What to expect

One possible outcome: The Supreme Court’sruling could straightforwardly sidewith Chevron. If it does so, afederal judge could vacatelast year’sjury verdict and retry thecaseinfederal court Or,the justicescould side with the parishes, ruling that the cases belong in state court. In that case, last year’sjury verdict would stand.

In alast-minute development before last week’s oral arguments, Justice Samuel Alito recused himselffrom thecase because he holds stock in ConocoPhillips, a subsidiary of which is involved in the lawsuit

That means the justices —including Louisiana nativeAmy Coney Barrett, who asked technical questionsthatdemonstrated a deep knowledge of thecase —could render asplit, 4-4 ruling. If that happens, the lower court’srulingthatthe cases belong in state court

will stand, as will last year’s jury verdict.And theother cases couldalsoproceed in state court.

Another possible outcome is that the justices could developa legaltesttodeterminewhether the cases belong in state or federal court,but allow the U.S. CourtofAppeals for the5th Circuit to apply that test to the speciﬁcs of the coastal lawsuits.

To Marcello, that may be thelikeliest outcome.

“If yougobythe natureofthe questions the justices asked, that seemed to be adistinct possibility,” he said. “The Supreme Court reviews and decides on issues of law. Theydon’t determine facts. They were, Ithink,moreinterested in howyou shouldstructure the lawonapplying the ‘relating to’ test.”

‘Butterflyeffect’

Many of the justices’

questions during oral arguments focusedona2011 amendment to alaw that governs when acasecan be moved to federal court, known as thefederal officer removal law.Thatlaw allows defendants, including people or companies acting under afederal officer,toremove acase to federal court when the lawsuit is related to acts taken underthe officer’sauthority. To Marcello, those questionsindicated that they might not explicitly side with either party, but ratherput forward akind of legal litmus test to allowthe lower court to rule on the specifics of the case.

Indeed,someofthe justices wonderedaloud whether,iftheywere to side with Chevron, how far the ripple effectsofthe decision would extend. Would any companyorperson doing any kind of business for the federal government only be subject to prosecution in

federal court?

“It’shardtosee where youstop,”saidChiefJustice John Roberts. “Is it abutterfly effect? Youknow,a butterﬂy ﬂaps its wings and it hasanend result halfway around the world?”

JusticeNeilGorsuchlater quipped that the Big Bang was “related to” Chevron’s attorney’spresenceinthe courtroom.

If thejustices do create a testand send thedecision back to the lower court, that could create further delays in litigationthat has already dragged on for over adecade. Theﬁrst of thecoastal lawsuits wasﬁledin2013.

Keith Hall, the director of theEnergy Law Center at LSU, said he believed that those statements indicate thatthe justices will put guardrails on their decision if theyside with Chevron.

“If aplaintiff washurt while using alawnmower andthe lawn mower manufacturer said, ‘Well, we sold somelawn mowersto the Army,’I don’tthink the

court would want that case removed to federal court,” he said. “They wantthere to be some limit.” To Hall, there’sa compelling argument forremoving the casetofederal court. In his view,the oil production thecompanies were engaged in wascloselyrelated enough to the production of aviation fuel during World WarIItojustify doing so. Blaine LeCesne,alaw professor at Loyola University New Orleans, took the opposite view. “Selling oilthathappens to be used for aviation fuel is not the materialcomponent of their business. They would’ve been in Louisiana tearing up the marshlands regardless,”hesaid. “The legal conclusion should be crystal clear: This is nota case that needstobeheard in federal court. The federal government’sinterestis notthe predominant issue.”

Email AlexLubbenat alex.lubben@theadvocate. com.

‘Value-add buyers’

The sale comes as housing advocates have said the city’saffordable housing crisis has continuedtoworsen.

On the campaign traillast fall, Mayor Helena Moreno said the city needs 55,000 additional affordable units

It also needs more socalled workforce housing, which is not necessarily subsidized by the government but is affordable to middle class earners like teachers, ﬁreﬁghters and nurses. Lynd hopes his new complexes can help put adentin the problem.

The properties are the 548unit Carmel Brook and 400unit Carmel Spring, bothon the north side of the Interstate 10 ServiceRoad near Bullard Avenue; the 216-unit Laguna Creek on the south side of the I-10 Service Road near Crowder Boulevard; and Laguna Reserve, a348unit complex at Bundy and Dwyer roads.

All four were built between 1981and 1984, when New Orleans East was a growing suburb of acity with an economy fueled by the oil and gas industry

Then, the price of oil collapsed andthe engineers, offshore workers and other middle-class professionals then living in the East moved away when their jobs dried up. Real estate crises followed as well as two decades of disinvestment, blight and crime.

After Hurricane Katrina, aNorth Carolina real estate firm bought the four complexes and renovated them, though tenants later alleged in alawsuit that the properties were poorly maintained and that they suffered from exposure to mold due to water intrusion.

The suits were later settled. NewJersey-based CBRM bought the properties in 2017 and made some improvements. But in 2021,

Ida’swinds caused extensive roof damage. Last March, CBRM filed for bankruptcy protection In June, abankruptcy court judge ordered the firm to sell its real estate assets, including thefour New Orleans properties, to help satisfy more than $200 million in debt

Local multifamilybroker LarrySchedler,who helped market the properties, said there was alot of interest both in the complexes individually and also in the portfolio as awhole. Lynd’s offer was attractive, he said, not only because of the price but because hiscompany’s property management arm was already managing the complexes for the previous owner

“Theseguys knowthe market,” Schedler said “They’re ‘value add’ buyers in the business of renovating properties like this andstabilizing them.”

New fixtures,higherrents

Lynd said he plans to renovate each unit’sinterior at a cost of around$15,000 each, or atotal of morethan$22 million. Work will takeplace gradually,asunits become available, with vacant units targeted ﬁrst Upgrades will include new floorsand carpets, fresh paint and new fixtures. Kitchens will getnew cabinetry,countertops and appliances.

Already,work has begun.

Anewly renovated twobedroom unit in Laguna Reserve, complete except forthe appliances, features vinylplank ﬂooring witha dove oak finish in theliving spaces and new shortpile, beige carpet in the bedrooms. The kitchen’s laminate countertopshave a grayand white marbled pattern that complements the slate gray cabinets. Building exteriors arealso getting an upgrade. Metal stairwaysare beingcleaned and repaired. Wooden balcony railings are being replaced. Exterior siding is gettinga fresh coat of paint.

Each complex will also get anew parking lot,security measures that include new gates, on-sitesecurity guards,cameras and LED lighting,a playground, gym and landscaping.

“The residents and the people who work heredeserve to see these properties brought up to anice conditionwhere people will want to live,” Lynd said. With therenovation, rents will increase, Lynd said.

Currently, leaserates at Laguna Reserveaverage around $950for one-bedroom units, $1,040 for two bedrooms and$1,430 for threebedrooms.Lynd said he anticipates rateswill increase between $100 and $200 on average.

“They will notbeout of market forthe area,” he said. “Theywillbepriced accordingly with therest of theproperties, and they will be vastly superior.”

Amajor apartmentowner

This isn’tthe first time LYND hasinvested in Louisiana. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the company,foundedin1980 by Lynd’sfather,purchased andrenovated several complexes in Houma, Lafayette and Lake Charles that it still owns and operates.

Today,LYND manages more than65complexes withmore than20,000 units in 15 states. It also develops and owns multifamily and single-family housing worth

morethan $2.8 billion, according to its website.

Lynd isn’tanaffordable housing developer, andthe four complexesinNew Orleans Eastare not publicly subsidized, though the complexes currently accept housing vouchers.

Amanager at Laguna Reservesaid about 5% of ten-

ants use Section 8vouchers.

Housing experts say while there is aneed formore affordable or subsidized housing in New Orleans, there is an equally pressing need for so-called workforce housing.

Units in the Lynd buildings,withrents fora twobedroom apartment in the range of anywhere from

$1,000 to $1,400, is an attractive price point for such workers.

“There is aneed forthis, Schedler said. “This will put units, currently in unrentable condition, back into commerce.”

Commercial brokerChristy Verges, whose WTVerges Propertiesspecializesin New OrleansEast, is hopeful the sale and renovation of the four complexes will play in aroleinhelping to spur new economic activity in an area that hassuffered for decades fromdisinvestment

“The mostexciting thing aboutthis is that someone is putting moneyinNew Orleans East,” said Verges, atireless champion of New Orleans East. “Someone has avision, sees an opportunity andwants to invest in New Orleans East.”

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@ theadvocate.com.

Video shows fires in Palestinian village during Israeli settler attack

BY JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press

JERUSALEM Israeli settlers rampaged through a Palestinian village in the West Bank, setting ﬁre to a series of structures, according to security camera footage obtained by The Associated Press on Sunday, in an overnight onslaught that has become a common phe-

POLICIES

Continued from page 1A

Harry Connick, whose 30year tenure has been marred by a parade of overturned convictions Connick died in 2024.

Last week, an attorney for Raymond Flanks offered the toy chair as evidence of a prosecutor’s office run amok, as Flanks seeks millions for his 39 years in prison on a murder conviction the District Attorney’s Office agreed to vacate in 2022.

nomenon in the occupied territory

In the video, time-stamped at about 10 p.m. Saturday, several structures in the village go up in flames as the sound of gunfire, screaming and barking echoes in the background At one point in the video, the ﬁres grow so large that they illuminate the bands of settlers, dressed in black, pacing freely through the village.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg added to the criticism with a scalding 2011 dissent in the case of former death row inmate John Thompson. Ginsburg cast Connick as an incompetent when it came to training his prosecutors not to cheat.

The federal civil rights case aims to show a policy in Connick’s office of withholding evidence. It is the ﬁrst to go to trial among 13 lawsuits that District Attorney Jason Williams’ office faces as a result of work by a civil rights division he set up soon after taking ofﬁce in 2021, aiming to remedy wrongs of the past.

Jason Williams, a former criminal defense attorney who in the past donated signiﬁcant legal help to Innocence ProjectNew Orleans, is taking a different tack with one of its clients.

Thompson had won a $14 million judgment after nearly being put to death, based on hidden evidence from Connick’s office. A 5-4 Supreme Court majority, however, found that Thompson failed to prove Connick was “deliberately indifferent” to the need to train his prosecutors on their duties to turn over evidence

Flanks is trying a different angle in arguing that Jason Williams’ ofﬁce should pay. His lead attorney, Chris Murell, argues that it was policy that enabled Jim Williams and others in Connick’s ofﬁce to violate Brady as a matter of course, in Flanks’ case and others.

A lawyer for the district attorney told the jury that Jason Williams now believes his civil rights division oversold the alleged misconduct, and that he no longer stands by the decision to free Flanks.

Attorney Inga Petrovich, a former violent crime prosecutor in New Orleans, said Jason Williams “doesn’t see any evidence” that Connick’s office “adopted unconstitutional policies.”

Despite a record that ranks Orleans Parish among the busiest in the nation for overturned convictions, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, Petrovich argued that some high-proﬁle blunders accounted for a “minuscule” portion of the massive caseloads at the criminal courthouse.

“This case is about correcting a narrative that took on a life of its own,” Petrovich said.

Hidden evidence Connick took a similar view of a narrative that emerged to a large degree from the work of Innocence ProjectNew Orleans, now called Innocence & Justice Louisiana For years, the group has exposed a slew of violations of Brady vs. Maryland, the 1963 U.S. Supreme Court edict that the government must reveal all evidence favorable to the defense. The late Supreme Court

Police arrested Flanks at age 20 for robbing an A&P store around Christmas 1983 — a crime he admitted — and pegged him as a serial robber in a shower cap who was targeting elderly women in the Pine Village area of New Orleans East.

They soon also tied him to the shooting death days earlier of Martin Carnesi, who was slain in front of his wife, Faye, during a robbery. Faye Carnesi, who is now dead, identiﬁed Flanks in a photo lineup.

The jury deadlocked at Flanks’ ﬁrst capital trial. A second, unanimous jury convicted him of first-degree murder but spared him death. Innocence Project later took up the case, and Jason Williams’ ofﬁce agreed in a November 2022 motion that the conviction was bad.

It found that Connick’s office had failed to turn over grand jury testimony in which Faye Carnesi singled out a “little white blotch on the side of his cheek,” which Flanks doesn’t have Had his attorney known about changes in her story, it would have completely undermined the reliability of her identifications of Mr Flank and the car,” Jason Williams’ office agreed in the motion to vacate his conviction.

The district attorney’s civil rights division also found that Flanks didn’t match the description for the assailant in some of the robberies. With missing police reports, Flanks’ trial attorney, Clyde Merritt, could have argued

Also Sunday, at least four more countries said they had been invited to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, the international body expected to oversee his Gaza ceaseﬁre plan and perhaps other conﬂict resolutions.

Meanwhile, an Israeli Cabinet minister said that he’d ordered ofﬁcials to disconnect the water

that the homicide detective altered descriptions “to fit the state’s case against Mr. Flank,” the deal states. Merritt died in 2012.

District Judge Rhonda Goode-Douglas, a former prosecutor, endorsed the agreement to free Flanks.

Murell argued that transcripts of Faye Carnesi’s grand jury testimony could have swayed the outcome in Flanks’ case but that Connick’s prosecutors withheld them as a rule.

“Jason Williams did the right thing until it became expensive,” he told the jury during his opening statement. “They’re going to treat Raymond like a criminal all over again.”

Political backlash

Flanks was among a few hundred prisoners afforded relief by Jason Williams’ civil rights division, according to dated ﬁgures from a unit that was run by former Innocence Project-New Orleans director Emily Maw until she resigned in late 2024.

A ﬁrst in Louisiana, Jason Williams modeled it on “conviction integrity” units that sprung up nationally amid a progressive push in state prosecutors’ ofﬁces. He campaigned that he would create one. He argued that scrutinizing his predecessors’ work would help restore faith in an embattled justice system. But the sheer volume of deals prompted a strong political backlash.

Attorney General Liz Murrill led an investigation into the district attorney’s civil rights work in 2024, and soon state lawmakers placed tight clamps on the power of prosecutors in Louisiana to alter guilty verdicts or sentences.

In a statement on Friday Murrill said her office’s review found “hundreds of new instances where convictions were reversed without legal justiﬁcation.”

Murrill’s office now gets notiﬁed when a prisoner goes beyond a shell petition or a district attorney declines to defend a conviction under review

“It’s very concerning that in numerous cases murder convictions were converted to manslaughter, plea bargains, and those individuals were released from prison,” Murrill said.

“What we did was change the law so this does not happen.”

It’s unclear in how many other cases the division handled, beyond Flanks’, that Jason Williams now believes his civil rights attorneys overstepped in their ﬁndings of misconduct or fatal lapses by prosecutors or police.

“In every case in which

and electricity for facilities of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, or UNRWA It’s the latest action in Israel’s long-running campaign to shut down the agency UNRWA fears the shutdown could hamper its work in east Jerusalem.

The footage obtained by the AP showed the moment dozens of settlers descended on the small

the District Attorney agreed to vacate one of our client’s convictions, we are conﬁdent that the client was innocent and was legally entitled to a new trial We would have litigated the clients’ cases if necessary,” said Jee Park, executive director of Innocence & Justice Louisiana in a statement.

“And we would have won them eventually We have no way of tracking the District Attorney’s current position on these cases. If the District Attorney has any new concerns about these cases, he has never contacted our ofﬁce about them.”

U.S. District Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown is presiding over the trial. A jury of five men and three women will decide if the District Attorney’s Office violated Flanks’ rights, and if so, how much it should pay

On the witness stand last week, Flanks said he was “20 years old with maybe a 16-year-old IQ” when police arrested him for the killing.

Soon, “I became the villain in every story,” he told the jury

Flanks described the horrors of serving life in prison

Bedouin hamlet of Khirbet alSidra, north of Jerusalem, attacking Palestinians and international activists and burning cars and homes, according to the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem governate which monitors Palestinian affairs in the area In a statement, it said that eight homes and at least two cars were burned in the attack.

for murder as well as a concurrent 15-year term for the robbery to which he pleaded guilty “It was surreal. It was unbelievable,” he said of his arrest for the murder “I knew nothing about it. I had no idea. It happened so fast.”

Peculiar situation

Jim Williams, who prosecuted Flanks at both trials, testiﬁed that he didn’t recall the speciﬁcs of the case.

But Jim Williams, who left Orleans Parish in 1990 for the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office before turning to criminal defense in 1997, insisted that despite a fear that Connick would ﬁre him for losing, he knew the Brady doctrine and adhered to it.

Laurie Levenson, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles who has studied prosecutorial misconduct in New Orleans for years, testiﬁed as an expert for Flanks that Jim Williams stood out for the sheer number of ethical fouls.

She tied him to 11 “courtfound” violations of Brady vs. Maryland Levenson said

her research also found New Orleans to be a national outlier, with documented Brady violations affecting at least 47 defendants from the Connick era.

“I’ve never seen it at the rate of this ofﬁce,” she said. “I’ve never seen a situation like this before.”

Jim Williams said he was thankful that the jury sentenced Flanks to life in prison. He testiﬁed that he’d packed up the toy electric chair decades ago and only found it fairly recently

“Thank God he didn’t get the death penalty,” Jim Williams said about Flanks. “I don’t believe in the death penalty anymore.”

Defense advocates say none of the men he once featured on the toy electric chair remain on death row From the witness stand, Jim Williams acknowledged that prosecutors in Connick’s office may have favored a deﬁant quip — “It’s not Brady if the defense doesn’t know about it” — when it came to turning over evidence.

“My answer today is that it was probably said,” he told the jury “I never said it.”

Today, KevinSchexnayder is an engineer workingfor alarge industrial distributor.He’s conﬁdentand accomplished.But back in the summer of 2018,hewas an incoming freshman at University of LouisianaatLafayette.The moment couldhavebeendaunting.

“Whenyou move into college, it couldbe scary,”heexplains. “Itcould be intimidating, becauseyou’regoing to anew area whereyou don’treallyknowtoo many people,ifyou don’t have anybodyfromhomecomingwithyou.”

ButKevin felt lucky. He didn’t just have one person from home coming with him.Hewould be living with awhole cohort on twoﬂoors of adorm. He’d gone to Edna Karr High School with sixofthose dorm-mates,and he’d known hisroommatesince they were in second grade.

This wasn’t an accident. It wasone of many intentionalwaysthatthe LouisianaEducate Program(LEP) supports itsstudents. LEP is afour-year residential scholarprogram at theUniversityofLouisiana at Lafayettefor students from NewOrleans andLafayette.It provides thesestudents, allofwhomare eligible forbothfullPellgrantsand TOPS,withthe ﬁnancial,academic, andsocialsupport they need to thrive in college. Kevin wasone of 43 students in theprogram in 2018;today there are156 students enrolled In theeight yearssince Kevinstarted,LEP hasseenincrediblemomentum. LEPstudents arepersistingthrough collegeata rate of 90%, higher than thenationalcollege persistence rate of 78%. And60% of LEPstudents are graduating well abovethe 38%gradrateof

Pell-eligiblestudentsfromthe UL System LEPstudents live on-campusall four years. LEP’sleadersbelieve thesharedliving communityhelps students feel they belong on campus,which canhelpthemstayengaged and enrolled.Kevin agrees

“A lotofpeopledropout of collegebecause they getthatimpostersyndromewhere they just feel like they don’t belong, or they getvery depressed, or homesick they don’t know who to reachout to,” he explains ThroughLEP,Kevin always hadsomeone to reachout to,whether socially or academically LEPstudentsspend an averageof8 hours a week in theLEP studentcenter, wheretheyhave accesstocomputers,printers, whiteboards, and spacetocollaborate.Eachstudent also has theirown Academic SuccessCoach.Kevin’s wasDr. Rachel Sam.

“She wasjust ablessing,”Kevin says.“She helped youonthe academic side,careerwise, andthe emotionalside…shebasically helped youwithanythingyou needed help with.”

Dr.Sam andthe LEPcommunity also helped putKevin on thepathfor agoodjob aftergraduation. Dr.Sam helped Kevin navigate hismajor,and aLEP alumna encouraged him to seek internships. He landed one, throughanother LEPconnection, at GalloMechanical, andreturnedeach summer of college—whichreallymattered when he startedapplyingtojobs.

“That’swhy my work historywas so stacked, Kevin explains.“Imight have been picked ﬁrst over somebody whodidn’t have an internship or anyworkexperiencecomingout of college.

He landed aroleatDXP Enterprisesas apumpengineer. Now, threeyears after graduation in ajob he’s proudof, Kevincredits LEPwithhelping him ﬁndsuchsuccess.

“There’sliterally countlessopportunities youcan getwiththisprogram,” he says Thedatasuggest theseopportunities are transformational.The LEPteamestimates that if everystudenteligiblefor Pell-grantsthat enrolled in apublic4-yearschoolinLouisiana hadaccesstoa programaseffective as LEP, our statewould have more than 1,100morecollege graduateseachyear.

Kevin agrees

“Ifeverybody hadthisprogram,” he says “honestly, Ithink we wouldhavea wayhigher successratewhenitcomes to college—from thebeginningtothe end.

Jason Williams Flanks

For months, given the president’s dominant role in Republican politics, the biggest question in Louisiana politics has been whether Trump would endorse Letlow, one of Cassidy’s alreadyannounced challengers or stay neutral in the race. Letlow has been expected to get in only if Trump endorsed her Trump’s decision indicates that he has not forgiven Cassidy for voting to convict the president on impeachment charges for instigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by his supporters Cassidy has tried to offset that by being a steadfast supporter of Trump since he began his second term a year ago and has said lately that the president would stay out of the race.

opponents and Letlow, at least at this point. His campaign said it has $11 million in cash, while a supportive super PAC, Louisiana Freedom Fund, had another $2.4 million on hand as of July 30, when it last reported to the Federal Election Commission.

The decision on whether any candidate will run must come soon because qualifying for the race occurs Feb. 1113. The closed-party primary is on May 16, and under new election rules, the top two ﬁnishers would vie for the Republican nomination on June 27 to face the top Democrat in the fall.

People who spoke to Cassidy on Sunday said he has no plans to get out.

Baton Rouge business owner and major fundraiser, echoed Henry’s statement.

Cassidy “has done a lot for the state and our country

He’s made a fabulous public servant for many years,” Lipsey said, adding that he also is a fan of Letlow James Davison, a major business owner and donor in Ruston, said he had thought Trump would stay neutral.

“I like her a lot and am close to her,” Davison said, adding, “I think Cassidy has done a lot for us. I’m all right either way I hate to see two Republicans running against each other who are strong.” On Sunday, Fleming said in a text that he’s staying in the race and that polls show him thumping Cassidy head-tohead in a Republican Party runoff.

“I don’t understand the president’s deal,” said Eddie Rispone, a Baton Rouge business owner and major Republican fundraiser who was nearly elected governor in 2019 and is supporting Cassidy “I think it’s pretty ridiculous. You have a great guy making a difference. He chairs a major committee and is on the Finance Committee. She’s obviously a smart person, but she’s not even a seasoned congresswoman. It doesn’t make sense to me. They’re all running on one vote he made on impeachment.”

If Letlow does indeed announce her candidacy, Cassidy’s challengers — state Treasurer John Fleming, state Sen. Blake Miguez, state Rep. Julie Emerson and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta — must then decide whether to stay in the race.

Cassidy also faces that decision although he has a massive fundraising advantage over his Republican

“I’m proudly running for reelection as a principled conservative who gets things done for the people of Louisiana,” Cassidy said in a statement Saturday evening “I am confident I will win if Congresswoman Letlow decides to run.”

Scrambling La politics

Letlow’s likely entry into the race also will scramble Louisiana politics because of the number of elected officials who have been eyeing her House seat if she jumped into the Senate campaign In the minds of many political analysts, Trump’s endorsement makes Letlow a formidable candidate.

Formerly a senior ofﬁcial at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, she has been elected to the House twice after taking over for her husband, Luke, who died from COVID in December 2020 just after winning the seat. Last year she moved from northeast Louisiana to Baton Rouge with her two children

In December, Julia Letlow, 44, got engaged at the White House to Kevin Ainsworth, a Baton Rouge lawyer and

lobbyist.

Trump called them up to the stage to congratulate them and in his Truth Social post Saturday night wrote, “Should she decide to enter this Race, Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement.”

She’s in an enviable position, said Scott Wilfong, a Republican campaign operative.

“Now it’s perfect timing for her to come in and say, ‘I can’t ignore the call from the greatest president of our lifetime and the people from the greatest state in the country,’” said Wilfong. “The race may be over How do you beat the person endorsed by Trump? She has a compelling life story She lost her husband. I’m just objectively talking. She will be a super candidate.”

Letlow had been expected to announce her plans by Jan. 28, when Washington Mardi Gras — an annual extravaganza with parties and fundraisers for Louisiana’s political world — kicks off.

“It’s going to make an interesting line of conversation in Washington Mardi Gras, with the buzz that’s always there,” said Rodney Alexander, a lobbyist who

formerly held Letlow’s congressional seat. “There are always a lot of influential people in business and politics together there at one time.”

A surprise announcement

Republican insiders have been complaining privately for weeks about Letlow’s inaction over whether to run for a full third term in the House or give up that seat and challenge Cassidy, as qualifying for the Senate and congressional races grew closer

Rumors heated up during the Christmas holidays that she would take on Cassidy, but that talk died down. It was not a big topic of discussion Friday night when Gov Jeff Landry held a reception at the Governor’s Mansion for members of the Republican State Central Committee, said two people who attended nor at the committee’s quarterly meeting on Saturday in Baton Rouge. That Trump announced the decision Saturday night caught most people by surprise.

and Emerson were all attending an annual fundraising gala for Louisiana Right to Life at Le Pavillion in Lafayette when news broke. Word spread like wildfire in the room. (Cassidy had attended the group’s gala event in New Orleans the night before.)

Some still back Cassidy

Trump’s endorsement came as an odd juxtaposition to a major fundraiser Cassidy held at the Baton Rouge Renaissance Hotel, where Senate Majority Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, was the star attraction.

Cassidy’s team said he raised $650,000 that night.

Rispone introduced Cassidy to the big crowd.

Other heavy-hitters who showed their support for Cassidy were Baton Rouge business owner Lane Grigsby, Baton Rouge trial attorney Gordon McKernan and state Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie.

Miguez and Emerson have both been touting themselves as young MAGA warriors. They didn’t respond to texts on Sunday Skrmetta hasn’t raised any money, leading to doubts that he’ll actually qualify But on Sunday, he said he is about to hold his ﬁrst fundraiser

Kathy Seiden, a ﬁrst-term St. Tammany Parish Council member, announced in October that she’s also challenging Cassidy Three little-known Democrats have said they plan to run as well.

Landry, Fleming, Miguez

ShapingTomorrow’sLeaders Onemillionstudents. Inﬁnitepossibilities.

“It does not change my support (of Cassidy),” Henry said Sunday referring to Trump’s endorsement. Richard Lipsey, another

If Letlow runs for the Senate, that will create a wideopen race for her 5th Congressional District, which was based in northeast Louisiana when Letlow was ﬁrst seated in 2021 but has been reconfigured and now includes the Florida Parishes and predominantly White precincts in Baton Rouge. State Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, on Sunday said he would run, while state Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, texted an advertising logo he has already designed for his campaign. State Sen Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe; state Rep. Daryl Deshotel, R-Hessmer; and state Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monroe, all said on Sunday they are considering the race.

AMillion Futures And Counting Thisyear,Junior AchievementofGreaterNewOrleanswillreacharemarkable milestonewithits1millionthstudent.That’sonemillion studentsinspired,prepared,andempoweredthroughtheir hugelyimpactfulhands-onprogramsinﬁnancialliteracy,career readiness,andentrepreneurship.

TheJunior Achievement Difference Fornearly70years, JuniorAchievementofGreaterNewOrleanshasbrought classroomlessonstolife,thankstomorethan700volunteers eachyearwhostepinasmentorsandrolemodels.Through programslikeJABizTown,studentsdon’tjustlearnaboutthe economy,theyrunit.Theyearnpaychecks,managebusinesses, balancebudgets,andmakedecisionsthatpreparethemfor therealworld.Theresultsareclear:JAstudentsleavewitha strongersenseofpurpose,adeeperunderstandingofﬁnancial responsibility,andthebeliefthattheycansucceedinwhatever theychosetodo.

Celebrating OneMillion Students Reachingonemillion childrenfromacrossLouisianaandMississippiisasigniﬁcant milestone.Itrepresentsyearsofcommitmentfromeducators, volunteers,andcommunitypartnerswhobelieveinthelimitless potentialofyoungpeople.Itmeansclassroomsfullofstudents whoseepossibilityinsteadoflimitation,andwhorecognizethat leadership,integrity,andperseverancearewithintheirreach.

What’s Next Aswecelebratethismilestone,we’relooking forwardtothenextmillion.Becauseeverystudentwhowalks outofaJuniorAchievementprogramcarrieswiththemnot justknowledge,butconﬁdence–theconﬁdencetoowntheir future,strengthentheircommunity,andleadwithvision.

Thank youfor the support

Seehowwe’rechanging thefutureat jagno.org orscantheQRcode.

LARRYWASHINGTON CEO,JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT GREATER NEW ORLEANS

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JILL PICKETT

President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow for Louisiana’s Senate race over Sen. Bill Cassidy.

Trump

Cassidy

Landry

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Prytania Wine & Spirits building listed

Original Langenstein’s location includes retail, apartment space

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

The Uptown building that for decades has been home to Prytania Wine & Spirits — and was the original location of Langenstein’s grocery store — is listed for sale for $1.75 million, raising questions about the store’s future. The move comes less than three months after Langenstein’s long-

time owners, the Lanaux family, sold their Uptown and Old Metairie grocery stores to Robert Fresh Market.

The deal included the Prytania Wine & Spirits business — along with its multiple storerooms of alcoholic inventory — but not the two-story building at the corner of Prytania and Arabella streets.

On Jan. 6, a listing for the twostory property appeared on the

Ordinance sets new rules for information office

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

Sparked by a government spokesperson’s comments to the media about a controversy involving the parish library, the St. Tammany Parish Council has adopted new regulations for the parish’s public information ofﬁce. The public information office is charged with disseminating information for both the Parish Council and Parish President Mike Cooper The two branches of government often disagree, however, and it is rare for the head of the public information ofﬁce, Michael Vinsanau, to personally speak on behalf of the council.

But a new ordinance adopted unanimously Jan. 8 seeks to formalize how Vinsanau handles media requests, social media and when he can speak for the council. The ordinance also says the public information office cannot be used by one branch of government to “disparage” another branch.

Parish Council member David Cougle, the ordinance’s sponsor, said he believes it ensures the council can get its “message out to the public in the same way the administration” does. He said some council members have complained that Vinsanau’s ofﬁce does not adequately represent them.

Cooper, meanwhile, said in a statement that the ordinance “simply codifies” what Vinsanau’s ofﬁce is already doing. Parish presidents usually bring in their own spokesperson to serve as heads of the public information ofﬁce. Like other department heads, the spokesperson generally serves at the pleasure of the parish president and the two usually have a close working relationship.

Cougle introduced an earlier version of the regulations last November, after Vinsanau made critical comments about a decision by the chair of the parish’s library board. The library board chair had asked an outspoken library critic, Connie Phillips, to use artiﬁcal intelligence to create a job posting for the open library director’s job. Speaking on behalf of Cooper Vinsanau told The Times-Picayune that it was “inappropriate” the job posting was “made by AI by an activist.” Vinsanau was referring to Phillips. Vinsanau’s comment was the “catalyst” for the regulations, Cougle has said, explaining that he was “personally offended” that Vinsanau was “targeting a private individual.”

Cougle also said the council previously set aside money to hire someone for public relations, but never followed through with hiring someone. “I think such a duplication of effort and money does not make sense, particularly when we already have a PIO ofﬁce,” Cougle said in an email.

After withdrawing his initial version of the ordinance, Cougle said he collaborated with Cooper’s ofﬁce to write the version that the council passed this month.

“I think it was a good compromise that works for everyone,” Cougle said.

multiple listing service, noting that the ground-ﬂoor retail space “will be available within 90 days.”

The Lanaux family did not respond to requests for comment about why they chose to list the building which has been in the family since 1922, when Michael Langenstein and his two sons launched their full-service grocery store from the ground-ﬂoor retail space.

In the 1950s, the growing business moved down the street into a former Piggly Wiggly at 1330 Arabella St., which transitioned into Robert Fresh Market last fall. Robert Fresh Market general manager Marc Robert III said his family is working on plans to incorporate Prytania Wine & Spirits into its Arabella Street properties, which include the supermarket and a warehouse.

“All I can say at this point is there’s a bunch of things that can happen, but Prytania Wine & Spirits will 100% live on,” Robert said. Prytania Wine & Spirits, which opened as Prytania Liquor Store after the original Langenstein’s moved out, served for decades as a neighborhood institution Back when the state’s legal drinking age

Dolly’s 80th Birthday Bash attendees mingle during the celebration.

LEFT: Lizzie Holzer and her dog Lucy wait inside for the costume contest. Dozens

Medicaid changes may increase cancer mortality

32,000 missed screenings projected, analysis says

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

Nearly 32,000 missed screenings for breast, lung and colorectal cancer are projected in Louisiana in the first two years after new Medicaid eligibility requirements take effect next year, according to a new analysis published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association Oncology Nationally, the study projects more than 1.1 million missed cancer screenings and about 155 preventable deaths over the ﬁrst two years after the new rules take ef-

fect. Applying the model to Louisiana’s Medicaid population, researchers estimate roughly 31,941 missed screenings, about 67 additional cancer cases, approximately nine excess late-stage diagnoses, and an estimated ﬁve preventable deaths from these cancers over that period. Five preventable deaths, oncologists say, is only the beginning. The true toll of coverage losses is often felt through delayed diagnoses and more advanced disease rather than immediate shifts in mortality, said Dr Adrian Diaz, a surgical oncologist and co-author of the study

“Patients don’t receive a cancer diagnosis and then succumb to their disease weeks later,” Diaz

Deadline is Feb. 14 for

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

The deadline is approaching to nominate someone for the 2025 Times-Picayune Loving Cup, an award the newspaper bestows annually to recognize a local resident who has worked unselﬁshly for the community

The newspaper has awarded the Loving Cup since 1901, and past recipients are a who’s who of New Orleans area philanthropists and civic heavyweights.

The 2024 Loving Cup was given to Elizabeth “Betsy” Nalty in recognition of her volunteer service to numerous charitable organizations, educational institutions and civic groups over several decades. Past Loving Cup recipients include Darryl Berger, Boysie

Bollinger, Gayle Benson, Leah Chase, Archbishop Phillip Hannan, Tommy Cvitanovich, Michael Smith and Anne Milling. Anyone may be nominated, and anyone may nominate. Nominations should include a brief description of the nominee’s civic, social, cultural or religious activities that have contributed to improving life in the New Orleans area. Posthumous nominations are not accepted. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 14. The recipient will be honored by The Times-Picayune at a ceremony Nominations can be emailed to lovingcup@theadvocate.com or mailed to The Times-Picayune Loving Cup Committee, 840 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130.

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

Megan O’Cain strikes a pose for the judges of the costume contest during Dolly’s 80th Birthday Bash, put on by the Krewe of Dolly on Oak Street in New Orleans on Sunday.

ST. TAMMANY PARISH

ABOVE:

Vinsanau ä See PRYTANIA, page 2B

2 rescued from burning apartment complex

BY WILLIE SWETT and KASEY BUBNASH Staff writers

New Orleans firefighters rescued two residents from a Garden District apartment building that caught fire Sunday, leading to multiple street closures as firefighters and paramedics worked the scene Firefighters were called just before noon to the three-story building in the 3000 block of Prytania Street, where about 10 residents live in eight units, according to New Orleans Fire Department Capt. Edwin Holmes. Firefighters called for a second alarm at noon and a third a few minutes after that, Holmes said. At least two dozen first responders were on scene by about 12:30 p.m., including paramedics and officers with the New Orleans Police Department, who closed off at least three blocks of Prytania and several other surrounding streets near St Charles Avenue and Harmony Street. Police issued a statement at 12:30 p.m. urging residents to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

A cloud of smoke billowed from the apartment complex as firefighters sprayed it with water, and multiple ladders leading to windows leaned against the building. A crowd of neighbors in jackets and coats and a few residents who evacuated the building were gathered nearby on Eighth Street despite the chilly weather, watching as the firefighters sprayed down the building.

Darnesha Anderson and Nadia Smith, 16-year-olds who live on Eighth, said they smelled smoke from inside their home sometime after noon. When they went outside, they saw flames coming from the apartment building. It took 58 firefighters to get the fire under control by about 1 p.m Holmes said. He said two residents were rescued from upper floors of the building and transported to a hospital for evaluation. No injuries were reported. Holmes said the fire’s cause is under investigation.

Maricela Bautista 48 said her friend was one of the residents who were rescued. Bautista said she’s

Moreno apologizes for comments

Sponsors sought to pay DJs for Gallier Hall Carnival events

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Mayor Helena Moreno is seeking sponsors to pay musicians and DJs to perform at Gallier Hall for Carnival celebrations after her administration’s announcement last week that it would cut spending on musical entertainment drew criticism from the industry.

In a video posted to Instagram on Saturday afternoon, Moreno apologized to anyone who felt disrespected by her administration’s comments and said she wanted to “make it right” by raising private donations to pay performers.

“Let me be clear: Music, culture, our musicians, our DJs, you name it — you are all so important to me. You mean the world to me,” Moreno said in the video.

“I understand how hard your work is and I understand how important you are to the city of New Orleans, which is why I’ve included so many of you for my events over the years and compensated you.”

Speaking before the City Council last week, Chief Administrative Ofﬁcer Joe Giarrusso singled out the city’s spending on DJs last year while announcing cuts to the city’s budget for the Carnival celebration.

Former Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration spent $240,000 in 2025, while Moreno plans to

CHANGES

Continued from page 1B

said. “If you were to extrapolate this out over time, I expect the numbers to be much, much larger.”

The analysis relied on historical data from Arkansas’ short-lived Medicaid work requirement experiment and the nationwide Medicaid eligibility “unwinding” that followed the end of pandemic-era protections.

Medicaid requirements

The new requirements are part of President Donald Trump’s budget and tax package approved by Congress last year, which mandates that states verify Medicaid enrollees’ work or school status at least every six months, though states may check more frequently. The changes are projected to reduce Louisiana’s Med-

spend $40,000, he said.

“We were paying $15,000 on DJs for two weeks,” Giarrusso said. “So what are we going to do? We’re going to have guest DJs. We’re going to have people from across the city and welcome your input.”

Giarrusso also asked council members to start curating Spotify playlists they can plug in and play Michael Hecht, the CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., has also agreed to DJ for free under his stage name, DJ El Camino. The comments sparked a passionate reaction online. Some performers said they’d happily volunteer to perform. Others noted that $15,000 isn’t a bad deal for two weeks of music and

icaid rolls by 190,000 to 300,000 people, according to recent estimates. About 1 in 3 Louisianans is enrolled in Medicaid — one of the highest rates in the nation Supporters of the changes say the rules are intended to rein in rising Medicaid costs and encourage employment Critics warn they could lead to widespread administrative churn, causing people who remain eligible to lose coverage after missing paperwork deadlines or reporting windows.

Surgeries, harsher chemo

Cancer mortality in Louisiana ranks among the highest in the nation, with an overall cancer death rate of about 218 deaths per

100,000 residents compared with roughly 146 per 100,000 nationally Lung, breast and colorectal cancers account for the largest share of those deaths.

Dr Shalini Kulasingam, a

said it was disrespectful to suggest DJs work for free.

“I’m all for volunteering to help your favorite local nonprofit,” DJ Soul Sister wrote on Instagram. “But City Hall isn’t a nonproﬁt organization. Even more, City Hall should respect (and pay for) the work and skills of all its citizens. I’m crossing my fingers for City Hall (broke or not). ...”

Moreno in Saturday’s video pointed to her track record of supporting New Orleans musicians. On the City Council, she authored an ordinance that requires the city to pay musicians at least $200 per hour

Moreno also raised private donations to pay for

cancer screening researcher at Tulane University, said disruptions in screening tend to compound over time.

“We would still expect to continue to see the ramiﬁcations of this decision well beyond those two years,” Kulasingam said

The analysis did not include other cancers Louisiana has high incidence rates of, such as cervical cancer, she noted.

“They only looked at the big cancers breast, colorectal and lung — but there will be others that are impacted by this,” Kulasingam said.

Catching patients at a later date through symptoms rather than screening will also lead to treatments that are harder on patients: more invasive surgeries and harsher chemotherapy, Diaz said. Oncologists are “preparing mentally” for harder conversations and

musicians to perform at last week’s inauguration. That event featured 442 performers, all of whom were compensated, with the exception of Trombone Shorty, who donated his time, and the Marine Corps Reserve Band.

“I’ve said it in the past, I am not a perfect person. We do not have a perfect administration, and when we do make mistakes, we’ll admit them and we’ll apologize. So I apologize, but in apologizing, I will also make it right,” Moreno said in the video.

The Times-Picayune submitted a public records request on Saturday for a cost breakdown of spending for the city’s Gallier Hall Carnival celebration.

bleaker outcomes, he said.

“We’re almost certainly going to see an influx of patients present at a more advanced stage with cancers that are manifesting with physical exams that otherwise would have been caught on surveillance,” Diaz said.

Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate. com.

JAN. 17, 2026

PRYTANIA

Continued from page 1B

Farm from the store’s wellworn shelves.

Over the years, it was renovated and its name was updated. But it remained “a neighborhood staple for residents and shoppers alike,” its listing says. At the time of the Langenstein’s sale last fall, there was no indication that the future of the building or the shop’s location was up in the air

The building is 7,117 square feet. In addition to the ground-floor retail space, it has two secondﬂoor apartments with two bedrooms and one bathroom each. One apartment is vacant and available “for immediate occupancy or repositioning,” according to the listing. The other is occupied on a month-tomonth basis.

Listing agent Aaron Kazanoff with Ben and Burka said the mixed-use building is in an area currently zoned for residential use but is considered a “legal, nonconforming” use. That means if the building stops being used for active retail for 180 days or longer, it will be deemed abandoned and lose its legal status, limiting the options for commercial use by a new owner, Kazanoff said. Robert said last week that the wine shop operates on a month-to-month lease, and the timeline for any potential relocation depends on if and when the building is sold. “We do not want to close Prytania Wine & Spirits, we love it,” he said. “Where it will live within a 100-yard radius is still yet to be determined.” Email Jonah Meadows at jonah.meadows@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By JONAH MEADOWS

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno’s administration is slashing its budget for Mardi Gras festivities at Gallier Hall, where the city sets up viewing stands where officials toast to krewe royalty parading down St Charles Avenue.

STAFF

PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

complex

3000 block of Prytania Street on Sunday

Deaths

JacobSchoen

Koschel, George

Obituaries

Chan,Big Kuen Chee

BigKuenCheeChan,

cember20,

Pingan Village,Taishan,Guang‐dong, China, to Fatt

Cheeand King Fong Chan She wasprecededindeath byher parents, husband HungKirkChan, andher sister, BigGim Chee. Sheis survivedbyher threechil‐dren: MiuYingChan(Yue Tong),Yuk ShingChan (Lisa Law),and WaiYing Chan(MichaelCentineo) Shewas aproud grand‐

mother to JasonTong, Joshua Tong,Jessica Tong Fiona Chan,GigiChan, and Brian Chan;step-grand‐mothertoMichael Centi‐neo,Jr.,and DavidCenti‐neo (Kaitlynn);and step–great-grandmother to Jack A.Centineo. Sheisalso survivedbyher sister,Bea LiChee. BigKuenChee Chanwas an extraordinary woman who overcame manyobstacles through‐out herlife. Sheworkedas a chef at MapleGardenfor overtwentyyears,where she wasknown forher dedicationand skill. She willberememberedfor her strength, resilience,and devotiontoher family.Rel‐ativesand friendsare in‐vited to visitGreenwood FuneralHome, 5200 Canal Blvd.,New Orleans, LA 70124, on Friday,January 23, 2026, starting at 9:30 a.m.Followedbyprayers in the parlor.The burial will beprivate.Wealsoinvite you to shareyour thoughts, fond memories and condolencesonlineat www.greenwoodfh.com Your shared memories will helpuscelebrate Big Kuen’slifeand keep her memoryalive

Koschel,

outofhis mouthwere: "my bad".A full-time ZenNeu‐roticand part-timeDisco Curmudgeon,there wasn't adirty joke he didn't ap‐preciate.The ﬁrstoneshe heardin ﬁrstand second grade: onehad to do with a sliceofbread,the other with amouse.Not surpris‐ingly, whenever he entered aroom,mostpeoplere‐mained strangers; some became hissworn ene‐mies.Eventhoughhe didn't believeinheaven, he wouldhavenoproblem if Jesuswerethe Divine Son of God. But, come on re‐ally?Onthe otherhand, he didn't believeinhell, notas aworshipperofSatan,but more or less as an existen‐tial "thingy"

It is with deep sorrow thatweannouncethe passing of Gloria L. Marcell onThursday,January 8, 2026. AnativeofHouma

LA andaneducatorfor over35years with theOr‐leans Parish School Sys‐tem,Mrs.Marcell wasan activeand proudmember ofDelta SigmaTheta SororityIncorporatedand manyother organizations. She wasprecededindeath byher husband,GeorgeR Marcell andson,Kennard D.Marcell.Survivors in‐clude ahostofnieces, nephews,Godchildren, other loving relativesand friends.A Mass of Christ‐ian burial honoring thelife and legacy of thelateGlo‐ria L. Marcellwillbeheld atSt. MariaGoretti Catholic Church,7300 CrowderBlvd.,New Or‐

Marcell, Gloria L.

Thoseharmed in Bourbon Street terror attack deserve compensation

On the one-year anniversary of the Bourbon Street attack, our hearts went out to the innocent victims and their families. They, like the victims in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, becamethe targetsofaterrorist attack simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Bourbon Street victims, no less than the 9/11 victims, should be compensated by our nation. Ipropose that afund similar to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund be created to compensate the BourbonStreet attack victims.

Congress created the VCF shortly after 9/11 to compensate the 9/11 victims with federal monies with the quid pro quo they would not ﬁle lawsuits against the airline corporations involved.

Like 9/11, this was an act of terrorism against the United States. The perpetrator was aHouston resident who chose New Orleans as the locus of his attack only because it presented asoft target with large pedestrian crowds. In videos posted minutes before the attack, theterrorist pledged his allegiance to ISIS and stated that he wanted his act to highlight the “war between the believers and the disbelievers”.

Asimilar VCF should be created to compensate the Bourbon Street attack victims and their families with the quid pro quo of their agreement to dismiss their lawsuits against the City of New Orleans and its contractors. This fundwould provideimmediate compensation and closure to the victims and their families instead of years of uncertain litigation.

This bill should be coauthored by U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, bothof whom represent New Orleans in Congress.

Even in today’shighly polarized political environment, this is abill that all Americans can unite behind, just as we all united afterthe 9/11 attacks.

THOMAS MILLINER NewOrleans

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By EMILIO MORENATTI

TheNorthernLights shimmer over homes in Nuuk, Greenland, in February.

Greenlandright to balk if Landry is themessenger

Putting oneself in another person’sshoes is agood way to seetheir point of view.The followingishow Greenlanders might see Greenlandbecoming an American colony, territory,state, district or whatever:

Gov. Jeff Landry,since President Donald Trump chose you as the envoy,hemust wantGreenlanders to use your stateofLouisiana to represent what Americabrings. We acceptTrump’sdecision.

Like Louisiana, Greenland has poverty and hunger,but we worktoeliminate those deﬁciencies rather than burdenand hinder support to those in need. And we certainly wouldnot trade our free healthcarefor America’shigh-cost and Louisiana’sthird worst-in-America systems Greenland is pristine. We have no interest in Louisiana’sand Trump’spursuit of polluting industrieswhile deregulating pollution controls. Greenland doesn’twant arecreation of Louisiana’s“cancer alley.”

By comparison, our public education is excellent, and we seenoway to reconcile yours with ours. Then thereisthe sensitive

subject of image. Greenland’stourism is growing. Visitorsencounter afriendly,relaxed, free, safe atmosphere. Greenlanders don’twant the intimidating, chilling image of nameless, masked, armed personnel roaming our cities that you and Trump promote. Plus,weare terriﬁedbyLouisiana’s and America’sgun violence, which would bring Greenlanders extinction.

Yearly,American gun deaths equal 85% of Greenland’spopulation. 85%! Greenland is an independent territory of Denmarkwithdiverse native ethnicities. We bask in Denmark’sworldwide image and reputation of inclusion, respect and peace. America’spervasive bigotries and Trump’sdenigrations and aggressions towardcitizens, immigrants, neighbors, allies (and us!) are not in line withDenmark’simage and reputation.Nor Greenland’s. Gov.Landry, Greenlandersare ﬂattered by America’sinterest, though unrequited. So, as Louisiana youths say,“We good.” CHARLES MOSLEY Morgan City

Louisiananeeds to prioritize amodernizedonlinevoter portal

Iamwriting to express concern about the Louisianasecretary of state’sofﬁce not providing online access to voter address of record information. This lack of digital accessibility creates unnecessary barriers for Louisiana citizens trying to verify their voter registration details.

theadministrative burden on the secretary of state’sofﬁce by reducing phone and in-person inquiries. Third, it would bring Louisianainline with modern standards of government transparency and digital service delivery that citizens have come to expect.

Recognitionof work wastruly moving for Louisianan of year finalist

Iamhonored to be afinalist forLouisianan of the Year.Our state is full of people whoquietly give their timeand hearts to others, and to be listed among them is humbling. Still, if Icould hand back every bit of recognition foreven one momentofpeace forour libraries and the people whowork in them,I would. Our libraries and their staffhave been under constant attack. These are the samepeople whohelp children learn to read, support families, connect neighbors to information and create places where everyone belongs. They deserve respect and gratitude, not mistrust. Igrew up on “Reading Rainbow,” Jesus and “SesameStreet.” Ilearned to love my neighbor,stand with the underdog and defend the Constitution. That is what Iamtrying to do. What moves me mostabout this honor is being mentioned alongside first responders. They are true heroes. When my husband washit by adrunk driver, first responders were there. They brought calm, compassion and courage when everything felt uncertain. They walk toward danger so the rest of us can live our lives, often forfar less pay than their service deserves. In my book, they are the Louisianans of the Year every year

If this recognition shines even asmall light on the people whokeep our communities safeand supported, in our libraries and in our emergency services, that will be the greatest honor of all.

AMANDAJONES co-founder,Livingston Parish LibraryAlliance

In rush to builddata centers, we must respect waterresources

OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name and the writer’scity of residence.The Advocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet 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 ALETTER, SCAN HERE

In an era where most states offer robust online voter portals, Louisianavoters must resort to phone calls, in-person visits or written requests to conﬁrm their registered address. This is particularly problematic given that address accuracy is crucial for receiving election materials and ensuring one votes at the correct polling location.

Online access to one’sown voter registration information,includingaddress of record, would provide several beneﬁts: First, it would allow voters to quickly verify their information is current and correct, reducing the risk of Election Day complications. Second, it would decrease

Many states have successfully implemented secure online voter portalsthat allow individuals to access their ownregistration information while protecting privacy and security. Louisianashould follow this example and invest in providing this basic digital service to itscitizens.

Iurge thesecretary of state’sofﬁce to prioritize thedevelopment of an online voter information portal that includes address of record access. Louisiana voters deserve thesame convenient, transparent access to their registration information that citizens in other states already enjoy

DAVID LEVY chair,IberiaParish Democratic Party

Whynot tunnel underMississippi instead?

Why can’tthe state of Louisiana build atunnel under the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge instead of abridge that will destroy the historic cypress forests?

Many countries worldwide have built large underwater tunnels able to handle large amountsoftrafﬁcand not destroy the environment

New York City built one in thecity and did not disrupt trafﬁc.

Isuggestthe LouisianaDepartment of Transportation or someonetake the time to explorethis method of crossing the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge.

DAVID RUBENSTEIN NewOrleans

It is my opinion that any large facility with the capability of affecting Louisiana residents’ health and well-being needs to have awater management plan. Ialso believe that this project has a great enough scale that the residents should be allowed to learn about how it could affect their access to water.This is especially true in this age of misinformation curated by social media. At the Monroe facility where Iwork, we are required by federal, state and local jurisdictions to have amanagementplan that incorporates remediation when the status quo is upset. These management plans and records are monitored continuously.This is something that Ihope our state will continue to monitor after the initial ﬁve years mentioned in the original article. Water is the mostbasic resource forlife. I challenge us as Louisiana residents not take it forgranted.

Currently being aRichland Parish resident, Ihave driven through the Meta site in Holly Ridge. It gave me hope to see different retention ponds and measures taken to manage water effectively.Region 8isapredominantly rural area with people drawing water using personal wells on their property Iguarantee the majority of these wells are not deep enough to support astain on the Mississippi alluvial aquifer.This is just another cost that residents will incur to be able to access the mostbasic resource. From the rivers to the marsh, we have beneﬁted from water; it is ingrained in our heritage. It has always provided us, so let us protect and respect it.

JOSHUAFLOYD Rayville

COMMENTARY

IN FOCUS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

On Martin Luther King Day, we asked for reflections from around the state on the life of the civil rightsleader and the lessons he left for us today.

Adream,anightmare,aburning house

Martin Luther King Jr.didn’tjust have adream;hebuilt one. It was forged in the pews of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where faith and strategy met. It took shape in the halls of Morehouse College, where Benjamin Mays taught him that religion without action is just noise. It wastested in asegregated America determined to break him before he ever spoke aword. That’swhat made his dream powerful. It wasn’twishful thinking; it was the disciplinedbelief that organized people could bend injustice until it cracked.

Honoring King’s legacy requires courage

By 1967, King began sayingwhatfew wanted to hear: The dream was turning into anightmare. He saw Black families boxed intopov-

erty,the war in Vietnam draining young lives and anation eager to quote him on Sunday while betraying his message by Monday.His “nightmare” wasn’tdespair; it was clarity.America wanted his poetry, not his pressure. Then camethe warning that echoes today: “I fear Ihave integrated my people into aburning house.” He didn’tregret the struggle. He meant America’shouse, its systems of greed, racism and war,was on ﬁre. Equalitywithout transformation would only let us burn together in comfort. Kingdidn’tstop dreaming; he realized freedom had to mean more than access.Ithad to mean healing anation’s soul. Baton Rouge helped teach that lesson early.In1953, ayoungwoman named Martha White

refused to give up her seat

The Rev.T.J. Jemison helped turn that courage into strategy,building acarpool network that hit thebus system where it hurt, in its proﬁts, and proved protest could be organized.

Twoyears later,when Montgomery rose, King called Jemison for advice. He later cametoBaton Rouge himself, acknowledging that what was tested here helped light thepath for the wider movement. King’sdream never died; it demanded moreofus, right now

The question isn’twhether we remember it.It’swhether we are ready to ﬁght theﬁre he warned us about Eugene Collinsisacommunity advocate and aformer presidentofthe NAACP Baton Rouge chapter

MLK’swords should stillsearustoday

Idon’tremember learningaboutMartinLutherKing Jr He was just like the lyrics toThe Temptations’ “My Girl.” Ijust woke up one day already knowing. And that familiarity makes it easy to take his greatness for granted.

I’m sure I’m not alone. My entire life, his birthday was a holiday.Streets in every city bear his name. Every February, like clockwork, the ﬁrstperson we’d talk about in school was MLK. Honoring him was natural, almost automatic. Because of that, it never crossed my mind that his birthday would not be a holiday or that his image would be used for partyﬂyers and comical AI renderings, yet here we are. He’sbecome so common that we don’trealize how uncommon he truly was

The 1979 Iranian Revolution was one of the most stingingU.S setbacks of the Cold War era. Alongtime ally that the U.S. depended on as apillar of regionalsecurity, the shah, gave way to a theocratic regime based on hostility to America.

Honoring and continuing to observe Martin Luther King Jr.’sbirthday remains essential because it is not merely ahistorical observance; it functions as amoral checkpoint for the nation. MLK Daycalls each generation to examine whether the country is moving closer to the ideals King championed or drifting further from them.The day carries ongoing relevance because he represented unfinished work, not a completed victory King wasassassinated while organizing foreconomic justice, labor rights and opposition to militarism.His lifeand death underscore that civil rights were never “solved” in the 1960s. Persistent challenges such as racial inequality,voter access, wealth gaps, massincarceration, housing discrimination and educational inequity remain unresolved. Observing his birthday keeps these realities in clear view and prevents society from treating progress as final when significant work remains. He modeled moral courage and disciplined nonviolence. In an era marked by hostility, backlash and personal risk, King maintained that nonviolence wasnot only amoral conviction but also astrategic force. His example affirmsthat how justice is pursued matters just as much as whether it is pursued.

King did not only advocate policy reform; he challenged the nation’sconscience. He called foratransformation of values. Observing his birthday reinforces the truth that democracy requires ethical participation, empathy and responsibility from everyday citizens, not solely from elected ofﬁcials. Collective memoryshapes collective behavior.When societies lose sight of their truthtellers, they often repeat the sameinjustices. MLK Dayserves as asafeguard against historical amnesia and against the temptation to sanitize or oversimplifythe past.

Acursoryeducation teaches us that King spearheaded the Civil Rights Movement and, of course, everyone knows his “I Have aDream” speech. But takeamoment to dive deeper Kingwasn’tdoing these things easily.His work was not always welcomed or widely embraced at thetime. Despite how he now stands as asymbol of peace, many thought of him then as radical, disruptive, dangerous and a threat.

This year,aswecelebrate Martin Luther King Day,try viewing it through adifferent lens than we’re used to.

Yes, remember the Nobel Peace Prize andthe marches, but also remember how controversial that award and those actionswere at the time. Read his wordsbeyondthe sound bites. Listen to themessage for what it is and not as

history has softened it

Reﬂect on how far this country has come because of people like King, but recognize these struggles aren’tancient history.Progress is indeed fragile, and, without collective courage to stand up and ﬁght injustices, regression is apossibility. Anyone of us could be amodern Civil Rightsleader

Andifsomeone tells you you’re being too radical, remember that they said that to King, too.

Martin Luther KingJr. is not just a ﬁgurehead of atime passed. He’s areminder that the ﬁght continues today As we remember him, we are reminded of the responsibility we’ve inherited to continue to build abetter tomorrow, just as he helped build for us today

Keah Moffett workswith theOfﬁce of AlumniAffairs at Hampton University She is amember of the New Orleans Baby Doll Ladies.

The revolutionaries stormed the U.S. embassy and seized our diplomatic personnelinNovember1979. If that wasn’tenough of anational embarrassment, adramatic rescue attempt by the U.S. military in April 1980 ended in abject failure at astaging area in Iran dubbed Desert One. As the Islamic Republic totters on the precipice, struggling to put down country-wide proteststhat aremore threatening than anyit has ever faced, it is possible to imagine that we could be about to experience abookend, from 1979

to 2026. The ﬁrst Iranian revolution cameinthe context of a U.S.brought low by its exit from Vietnam, of a hollow U.S. military, of the advance of our enemies aroundthe world (from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to theSandinista takeover in Nicaragua), and of afeckless president in the person of Jimmy Carter, whose administration was associatedwith U.S. retreat.

AsecondIranian revolution, which is obviously not aguarantee, would underline the opposite dynamic onall counts.

It’snot truethat Jimmy Carter threw the shah overboard. The Iranian ruler’sown incompetence and indecisiondid him in.He couldn’t decide tosuppress or placate theprotest movement, and provedunabletodoeither By some estimates, it was —as

a share of the population —the largest revolutionary movement in modernhistory.Inechoes of thecurrent situation in Iran, rampant inﬂation, regimeself-dealing, middle-class disaffection, and ideological and regional priorities that didn’talign with what most Iranians wanted fueled therevolt.

In acrucial dynamic that we haven’tyet seen in contemporary Iran, themilitary began to melt away,and it wasn’tclear if the shah had tried toshoot his way into stayinginpower,how many troops would have been ready to carry out their orders.

Once in charge, themullahs undertook alow-level, ongoing war against theUnited States via terrorist proxies and spread its maligntentacles throughout the Middle East in abid for regional dominance.

U.S. administrations tended to believe that it was too difﬁcult to do much aboutthis, and Barack

This year,King’slegacy can be considered through three important lenses. First, nonviolence in an age of outrage and dehumanization. Today’sclimate, shaped by social media, misinformation and political hostility,often rewards outrage over understanding. King’s philosophy calls for resisting dehumanization and pursuing justice without surrendering our humanity.Second, interconnected struggles. King increasingly emphasized globaljustice and solidarity across race, class and national boundaries, reinforcing the truth thatinjustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere. Third, civic responsibility.Heconsistently taught that lasting change is driven by everyday people Honoring his life should prompt reﬂection on voting, organizing, learning, serving and speaking up, even whenuncomfortable Observing King’sbirthday also requires honest self-examination. It asks whether society is choosing comfort over justice, mistaking symbolic progress forstructural change and whether citizens are willing to be, as King said, “creatively maladjusted” to injustice. To honor King rightly is not merely to praise his dream,but to wrestle with his demands and decide what action is required now

StateRep.Adrian Fisher,D-Monroe, represents District 16. He is co-pastorof LivingWater Ministries withhis wife in Monroe.

Obama actively sought to accommodate Iranian power

Now,though, the dynamic has changed. As Trumphas said in a different context, thehunter has becomethe hunted.

After Oct. 7, the Israelis systematically neutered Iran’sproxies, and Tehran lost asigniﬁcant ally with the fall of Bashar alAssad.

Whereas Iran humiliated us in 1979 with the embassy seizure, we humiliated Iran last year with thestrikes on its nuclear sites that made the regime’spainful, decades-longeffort to get anuke seem acostly misadventure.

The contrast in U.S. military proﬁciency,itisworth noting, between Operation Eagle Claw theaborted Delta Force operation in 1980, and Operation Midnight Hammer couldn’tbestarker

At thesame time, the U.S. has apresident very different from Jimmy Carter

No one will ever ﬁnd Donald Trumpwearing asweater and talking to the nation about malaise. Trump’smode is pure assertion, based on an impulse toward personal and national dominance alien to Carter

The Iranians may be able to cajole Trumpinto negotiations, but they will never be able to push him around, and they disregard his threats at their peril. If the regimeactually falls and is replaced by an allied or nonhostile government in Iran, it would movealarge piece off the strategic chessboard forour enemies, and change the geopolitical balance of the Middle East. As much as the 1979 revolution was adebacle fthe West, afavorable 2026 revolution would be aboon —tothe Iranians and to us and our allies.

Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry

Rich Lowry

Eugene Collins GUEST COLUMNIST

Keah Moffett GUEST COLUMNIST

Adrian Fisher GUEST COLUMNIST

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

From left to right,the Revs. T.J. Jemison,ofBaton Rouge; C.K. Steele, of Tallahassee, Fla.; F.L. Shuttlesworth, of Birmingham, Ala.; andMartin Luther King,Jr.,lead aconference of SouthernBlack leaders studying busintegration on Jan. 11, 1957, in Atlanta.

Orgeron: ‘I want to coach again’

As sons head to CFP, former LSU coach feels ready to return to the sidelines

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

MIAMI BEACH,Fla. Ed Orgeron walked shirtless with his wife through the crowds, past bright yellow and pink restaurant awnings and the nearby ocean. They made their way down a cement path that traces the shoreline Saturday morning, then circled back behind the workout equipment and volleyball courts on Muscle Beach

Orgeron peeled his shirt back on before he sat down in News Cafe, pointing out it’s the restaurant where designer Gianni Versace ate before he was murdered on his way home in 1997. Orgeron stops by every weekend when he’s in town. It’s within walking distance of the high-rise where he and his wife, Brandy, lived until last month, a condo on the 37th ﬂoor that overlooks the ocean The waiter knows him.

“Whadda ya say, my friend?” Orgeron said. “How you doing?”

“All good, capitán,” the waiter said. “I love this guy.”

Orgeron, 64, and his wife moved back to Baton Rouge when their lease ended in early December, thinking he might get a job for the first time since LSU fired him in 2021. He started looking for work over the past year, but nothing has materialized. Lane Kiffin never called about coming back to LSU. He spoke to the Arkansas athletic director once about the head coach opening. He said some people may be interested in hiring him as an

College

championship

ON A ROLL

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

BY EDDIE PELLS

“When I got here,” explained Indiana’s second-year coach and turnaround artist Miami, Indiana meet for a title matchup nobody saw coming

retold among the tall tales of an era long gone by. Indiana and Miami are playing for the national title Monday night, and if that has you scratching your head thinking “Who?” or “What?” then you are not alone. Even though a new world of paying players and

season.

Then MiLaysia Fulwiley put away the game for good, sparking a quick 9-0 run by pickpocketing a Sooner ballhandler on back-to-back possessions. She scored a layup and a free throw off those giveaways. Mikaylah Williams then lasered a pass down to sophomore center Kate Koval, who banked in a layup that pushed the Tigers’ lead back up to 20. LSU swarms Oklahoma to pick up second consecutive win over top-15 team

Once the LSU women’s basketball team knocked off Texas, it couldn’t breathe easy Another matchup with one of the SEC’s top teams was on deck. And this one was on the road. But the No. 6 Tigers handled it well. They played crisp, clean offense and sharp, disruptive defense on Sunday in a 91-72 win over Oklahoma — a victory that can propel them even farther past their 0-2 start to SEC play

The No. 13 Sooners kept battling. They pulled within 13 points of LSU at the 5:28 mark of the fourth.

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

PROVIDED PHOTO By KRISTEN yOUNG/LSU ATHLETICS

guard Flau’jae Johnson takes a shot during a game against Oklahoma on Sunday at Lloyd Norman Center in Norman, Okla. LSU won 91-72.

ä See ORGERON, page 6C

ä See LSU, page 3C

AP PHOTO By CHRIS CARLSON

Miami coach Mario Cristobal and Indiana coach Curt Cignetti pose with the

Football Playoff national

Melbourne, Australia.

a play during her first-round match against Tiantsoa Rakotomanga

Top-ranked Sabalenka, Alcaraz advance

BY JOHN PYE AP sportswriter

MELBOURNE, Australia Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz fulfilled expectations on opening night of the Australian Open, the No. 1 seeds advancing in straight sets in a Sunday session that started with tennis royalty Rod Laver and Roger Federer in the crowd. Rod Laver Arena was heaving for their first-round matches, capping a day when a record total of 100,763 fans packed into Melbourne Park.

The 45-year-old Venus Williams set a record, too, becoming the oldest player ever in the women’s singles draw at the Australian Open. Out on John Cain Arena, the socalled People’s Court because it’s open to fans with ground passes, Williams was up two service breaks at 4-0 in the third set before Olga Danilovic rallied to win six straight games in a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 victory

The seven-time major winner, playing on a wild-card entry in the singles in just her second major since returning to the tour last year, plans to continue in doubles.

“I’m really proud of my effort today because I’m playing better with each match, getting to the

places that I want to get to,” she said. “Right now I’m just going to have to keep going forward and working on myself.”

Sabalenka fended off left-handed wild-card entry Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, 6-4 6-1 after dropping the opening service game.

“I didn’t start my best. She showed up. Fired on. She was playing great,” said Sabalenka, who won the Australian title in 2023 and ’24 and was runner-up last year “It was a tricky start.”

Sabalenka prepared for the ﬁrst major of the season with a title in Brisbane but was a little more nervous than usual because Laver, the Australian great, and 20time major winner Federer were watching “I’m a huge fan I wanted to show great tennis so you guys enjoyed watching me play,” she said. “There was deﬁnitely a lot of pressure. I was walking, thinking ‘don’t look there, don’t look there!’”

Her next round is against Chinese qualiﬁer Bai Zhuoxuan, who outlasted 2021 French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10) in a 2-hour, 43-minute match. No. 28 Emma Raducanu, who could potentially meet Sabalenka in the third round, beat Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1.

Day 1 of a scheduled 15 closed with Alcaraz winning 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-2 over Adam Walton, beginning his bid to set a record for being the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam.

Zverev advances Alexander Zverev, runner-up here last year to Jannik Sinner, shrugged off a sluggish start to beat Gabriel Diallo 6-7 (7), 6-1 6-4, 6-2 to reach the second round at Melbourne Park for the 10th straight year

“Deﬁnitely, when I saw the draw, wasn’t too happy to be honest,” Zverev said of the tricky challenge presented by No. 41-ranked Diallo. “He’s very young, very talented. Unbelievably aggressive.” No. 10 Alexander Bublik advanced over Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, No. 29 Frances Tiafoe overpowered Jason Kubler 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 and Michael Zheng fended off Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (0), 6-3 in an all-American ﬁrst-rounder Zheng, a college star at Columbia who advanced through qualifying to make his tour-level debut, will next face No. 32 Corentin Moutet, who was booed after his underarm serve on match point in a 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-3 win over Tristan Schoolkate.

Upsets and ballkids

Two of the women’s seeds went out in the opening afternoon, with Elsa Jacquemot ousting No. 20 Marta Kostyuk 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) and Turkish qualiﬁer Zeynep Sönmez upsetting No 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. Sönmez halted her match brieﬂy in the second set to help a ballkid who appeared to be struggling in the heat before the tournament medical team took over Seventh-seeded Jasmine Paolini, No. 12 Elina Svitolina and Maria Sakkari all advanced in straight sets.

Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova withdrew because of a shoulder injury before her scheduled first-round match, giving a place in the main draw to Taylor Townsend, the lucky loser from qualifying, to take on Hailey Baptiste.

In a 2 1/2-hour all-American contest on Court 13, Baptiste prevailed 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3.

Monday matches

Coco Gauff will open play Monday on Rod Laver Arena against Kamilla Rakhimova. Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic have night matches.

Ticket prices remain hot for CFP title game

Ticket prices for Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game between Indiana and Miami have dropped only slightly from their peaks, with supply obviously low and demand obviously high.

Ticketdata, which tracks resale pricing of tickets across major marketplaces, said the lowest getin price for the game at Hard Rock Stadium was $3,652 at midday Sunday That number based on a two-ticket purchase, including fees — was down about 8% from where it was at midday Saturday

Many sites still showed some tickets topping $10,000 apiece in the best sections of the lower bowl of the stadium, and some parking passes no game ticket included — were topping $1,000 online, though a few could be found in remote lots for as little as $100 or so.

NBA spectator in London: ‘Leave Greenland alone!’

LONDON Mounting tensions between Europe and the United States moved into the sporting arena on Sunday when a member of the crowd disrupted the U.S. national anthem during an NBA game.

A spectator yelled, “Leave Greenland alone!” while songstress Vanessa Williams sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before tipoff between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic at O2 Arena.

U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted that the U.S. should control Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and said earlier this week that anything less than the Arctic island being in U.S. hands would be “unacceptable.”

Elvira capitalizes on errors to win Dubai Invitational

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Nacho Elvira beneﬁtted from dramatic ﬁnal-hole mishaps by Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry to win the Dubai Invitational by one shot on Sunday, securing his third title on the European tour

The 190th-ranked Elvira did what the two Ryder Cup stars couldn’t and kept out of the trouble down No. 18, making a stress-free par and shooting 69 to ﬁnish on 10 under in the ﬁrst tournament of 2026.

“It means the world,” said Elvira, whose wife and children ran onto the green to celebrate with the 38-year-old Spaniard. “You tell me on Tuesday I would be winning this, I’d never believe you.

“Anything that happens after this, nothing can compare.”

RHP Cavalli, Nationals agree to $870K contract

WASHINGTON Right-hander Cade Cavalli and the Washington National avoided salary arbitration Sunday when they agreed to a one-year contract worth $870,000, a deal that includes a 2027 team option.

BY JOHN PYE AP sportswriter

MELBOURNE, Australia Coren-

tin Moutet sliced in an underarm serve on match point and sealed his ﬁrst-round victory at the Australian Open on Sunday when Tristan Schoolkate ﬂoated his forehand return too long.

The crowd at Kia Arena booed loudly but the No. 32-seeded Moutet didn’t ﬂinch, later saying he did what he needed to do to complete the 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-3 win

He said the choice of serve was more instinctual than planned

“I decided to do this, so I thought it was the better option in the moment,” Moutet said

The 26-year-old Frenchman had struggled at times in the heat on Day 1 of the seasonopening major and needed a medical timeout in the third set for what appeared to be a leg problem.

He explained that it was more of a “global” issue, saying it was a combination of sickness and soreness and lack of quality sleep over the previous few days.

“We all have some kind of pain every day that we have to deal with,” he said. “So, yeah, I was trying to handle it the best way possible.

“I’m glad that I did well, you know, proud of myself. It wasn’t easy, obviously, it’s the first match of the year, so it’s always hard.”

When the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries on Jan 8, Cavalli asked for $900,000 and the Nationals offered $825,000. The $75,000 gap was the smallest among the 18 players who failed to reach agreements with their clubs on the swap day

“I did it because I thought it would be I could win the point,” he said. “I won the point actually Of course, no disrespect or anything.” The underarm (also known as underhand) serve is within the rules but is rarely used in the highest ranks of men’s tennis, particularly on match point. There’s been some high-proﬁle underarm serves in big matches, but this one caught Moutet’s Australian rival off guard.

Moutet’s best run in 26 previous major tournaments was a fourthround finish at the 2024 French Open. His best run in Australia was to the third round last year If he wins his next round and

Schoolkate at

after a play

top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz advances as expected, the pair could meet in the third round at Melbourne Park. Moutet was confident he’d be able to overcome the issues

that bothered him in the ﬁrst round when he lines up again.

“I really know the most important is to get through it and deal with it in the best way,” he said, “and I can leave it behind me.” Moutet’s underarm serve seals

His agreement calls for an $862,500 salary this year the midpoint between the filing numbers. The team option is for $4 million with a $7,500 buyout.

Pulcini wins Latin America Amateur in a playoff LIMA, Peru Mateo Pulcini made a pair of big par putts over the final hour and finished with a 3-foot par save on the second playoff hole to win the Latin America Amateur Championship on Sunday, earning the Argentine a spot in the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open. Pulcini, at 25 the oldest winner of the Latin America Amateur since it began in 2015, closed with a 2-under 68 and outlasted Missouri senior Virgilio Paz, who was trying to become the first winner from Venezuela.

“We dream to play and to win this,” Pulcini said. “I have no words right now I’m so happy, and so grateful for the people around me.”

Pulcini is the third Argentine winner

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DITA ALANGKARA

Aryna Sabalenka reacts after

Rajaonah at the Australian Open on Sunday in

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LUKAS COCH Corentin Moutet reacts

during his first-round match against Tristan

the Australian Open on Sunday

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

‘They’re a really connected group’

‘Brotherhood’ carries LSU through tough losses, big wins

BY TOYLOY BROWN III

Staff writer

The entire LSU roster got a piece of Max Mackinnon’s head or shoulders.

The 6-foot-6 guard was swarmed by his basketball teammates when he removed the headphones for his interview with analysts on the SEC Network. The team barely could restrain its excitement to celebrate his 20-point performance and his team’s 78-70 win against Missouri Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center

“Really neat for me as a coach, to see them all huddled up around Max for the post-game interview on SEC Network,” coach Matt McMahon said. “That’s a really closeknit group.”

Unbridled joy was displayed earlier As the ﬁnal buzzer sounded, Mazi Mosley ran toward Marquel Sutton, who had 26 points, to exchange a chest bump. Assistant coach and former LSU player Jalen Courtney-Williams chanted L-S-U with a raucous student section after walking through the endof-game handshake line.

The team’s bond was on display because of the joyous occasion. However, its closeness as a group of 13 new players remained intact during the low moments as it struggled without its injured top player, Dedan Thomas LSU’s to-

Continued from page 1C

“I feel like we did a good job of running time off the clock,” Flau’jae Johnson said, “and even a good job of making them run their sets. I feel like a lot of the easy baskets they got were in transition, but in the halfcourt, we really made them run their sets.”

LSU and Oklahoma are two of the nation’s best offensive teams. Both know how to score around the rim. Both like to play in transition When the two teams met in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center last season, they each scored 100 points, and the Tigers won after Williams drained a pull-up 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter Sunday’s matchup initially looked like it’d follow a similar script. The Sooners (14-2, 2-3 SEC) buried three fast-break 3-pointers in just the first two minutes of the game. Then the Tigers (17-2, 3-2) settled in on offense and limited Oklahoma’s transition opportunities, quickly turning a nine-point first-quarter deficit into a 12-point second-quarter lead. Star forward Raegan Beers picked up two early fouls, which allowed LSU to start attacking the rim. The Sooners made eight more 3s than the Tigers, but the Tigers converted 21 more free throws than the Sooners. Johnson finished with 23 points

getherness took shape starting in the summer, and it’s a reason why players stayed ready to meet the moment and win three days after a dramatic 75-74 home loss to Kentucky on Wednesday

“You can see this group behind me,” Mackinnon said on the SEC Network. “We’re all super connected. We’re like brothers, it’s a brotherhood here, and it showed today.”

McMahon said the win against Missouri is the product of his diligent preparation and mental fortitude after losing to Kentucky on a game-winning shot as time expired.

“I’ll start by just saying how proud I am of our team coming off the heartbreaking game earlier this week,” the fourth-year coach said “I think lesser men would have folded up shop, and I think our guys really responded the right way I’ve told you from Day 1, we have great people in our locker room. They’re a really connected group.”

That connection was evident immediately on the defensive end on Saturday LSU opened the game ahead 10-0 after ﬁve minutes. Defenders were well-positioned and in sync, communicating assignments as Missouri struggled to get quality looks.

Not only did LSU’s fast start mirror how it opened against Kentucky, but the Tigers similarly faced a furious comeback from Missouri, which chipped away in the second half.

With 8:49 remaining in the con-

after converting nine of her 15 field-goal attempts and three of her five 3-point tries. She also grabbed 10 rebounds assisted three shots and blocked three others. Sophomore point guard Jada Richard chipped in a career-high 21 points, to pair with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Freshman forward Grace Knox added 13, and Fulwiley added 12. Williams tallied a shot, only 1 of 8 from the field, but she still earned eight trips to the stripe, corralled six rebounds and assisted five buckets. Koval had nine points and seven rebounds.

“It was kind of reminiscent of our game with Duke,” associate head coach Bob Starkey said. “We got off to a slow start. I thought (Johnson) really did a great job when we were struggling to score, to make some buckets for us, hit some tough shots and get some 3s.”

In the first half, LSU fell into an 11-2 hole but climbed out of it by bridging a 20-3 run across the last five minutes of the first and closing the second on a 10-4 run. Johnson scored eight of those points. Oklahoma then began to rediscover its long-range shooting touch The Sooners drained three more 3s in the third, but they couldn’t pair those shots with easy looks for center Raegan Beers around the rim. She took only two field goals in that frame, and she was even whistled for her third foul with just under two minutes

Tulane caps tough week with another home loss

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

Tulane could not buy a bucket against a tenacious North Texas defense for almost 40 minutes.

Then, when the Green Wave pulled within two points down the stretch, it failed to get the one key stop it needed.

Cahmai Crosby sank a 3-pointer from the wing with a defender ﬂying at him to make the score 62-57 with 5:02 left, and that basket gave the Mean Green enough separation to hold on for a 7163 victory on Sunday at Devlin Fieldhouse.

When the foul-plagued rock ﬁght was over, Tulane (12-6, 3-2

American) had capped a brutal week by losing its second consecutive conference game for the ﬁrst time in two years both at home after it went 8-1 there in league play last season. In between those two losses, former player Kevin Cross was indicted Thursday in federal court for point shaving in 2023-24.

Despite returning zero players under new coach Daniyal Robinson, North Texas (11-7, 2-3) improved to 4-0 against the Wave since joining the league in 202324.

Tulane shot 15 of 48 from the ﬂoor and was an even worse 7 of 24 from inside the 3-point line.

“Their physicality really bothered us and we could never really get over the hump,” coach Ron Hunter said. “We knew they were a really good defensive team. We had opportunities with wide-open shots and couldn’t hit them.”

Curtis Williams drained ﬁve 3s for 15 points, but his Wave teammates were a miserable 10 of 39 (25.6%) from the ﬂoor and no one else scored in double figures. Josiah Moore went 0 of 7 off the bench. Starters Asher Woods and Scotty Middleton were 1 of 5.

“I feel like it really wasn’t them, it was us,” Williams said.

“We beat ourselves today.”

David Terrell paced North Texas with 19 points and seven assists. Just as UAB had four days earlier, the Mean Green crushed the Wave on the boards, 47-30. Somehow, that discrepancy created only an 11-9 advantage in second-chance points. This one was settled by Tulane’s inability to make enough shots — even at the foul line. Brumbaugh missed the front end of a critical oneand-one. Woods was off target on two free throws after entering at 85.7%.

“I had the same feeling I had in November when our defense was keeping us in and we could just never make a timely shot or would have a bad turnover or a quick, bad shot,” Hunter said.

“Everything that we could have done on the offensive end to change the outcome, it just didn’t happen.”

Tulane would have trailed for the final 35 minutes if not for an early five-point swing thanks to Brumbaugh. He deflected a pass that would have led to an easy layup on the fast break, causing a turnover, and hit a 3 from the corner to give the Wave its last lead, 12-11.

test, LSU only led 55-52. When the Tigers, who led by as many as 14 points, needed a score late in the shot clock, Pablo Tamba drove to the hoop around the restricted area and kicked the ball out to King, who made a left-wing 3-pointer with less than a second on the shot clock. That was followed by a Mike Nwoko block that inspired a fastbreak layup

McMahon said that was one of the most important sequences of the game.

“Especially coming off the way the game finished in the second half the other night, it’s just human nature thinking, ‘Here we go again,’ McMahon said “We had a 10-point lead, it’s down to three. How are you going to respond in that situation? And Rashad King made some big shots for us late in the shot clock.”

LSU protected the ball against more intense second-half pressure, ﬁnishing with seven in total. Other possessions, it hustled for back-toback offensive rebounds, which ran the clock and resulted in a Mackinnon score and a six-point lead with just under three minutes remaining

Those moments were crucial to LSU’s first conference success, and the happiness followed suit. That pleasure shouldn’t be misconstrued for satisfaction.

“We got to keep building,” McMahon said. “We got to get a lot better and keep improving as we go hit the road here in league play.”

LSU’s next game is against Florida (13-5, 4-1) at 6 p.m Tuesday at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida.

left until the fourth.

The Tigers took their largest lead of the game three minutes later when Knox converted a layup to give them a 76-52 edge.

Oklahoma guard Payton Verhulst, a fifth-year senior, scored a season-high 21 points after she hit ﬁve of her 11 3-pointers. Beers scored only 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting and pulled down only two offensive boards. Star freshman Aaliyah Chavez shot just 3 of 14 from the ﬁeld.

LSU is now 5-7 in regular-season league games against AP top-15 teams under coach Kim Mulkey The Tigers last defeated ranked opponents in consecutive contests in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, when they knocked off No. 4 Virginia Tech and No. 2 Iowa in the Final Four to win their ﬁrst national championship.

LSU took on four AP top-15 opponents in its ﬁrst ﬁve games of SEC play Now the schedule will lighten up. Each of the next three games the Tigers will play, starting Thursday on the road against Texas A&M, is against an unranked team. They won’t face another ranked opponent until they begin February with a home contest against No. 21 Alabama and a road matchup with No. 4 Texas. Mulkey did not speak to reporters after the game because she had to attend to a personal family matter, an LSU spokesperson said.

The Wave cut a 13-point secondhalf deficit to 58-56 on two Tyler Ringgold free throws with 5:36 left. North Texas’s David Terrell missed the second of two foul shots 17 seconds later, and Ringgold was fouled on the rebound. With a chance to pull the Wave within one, he missed the front end of a double bonus before connecting on the second one, setting up Crosby’s 3 at the other end. The five-point deficit felt like 10 in a game when the two teams combined to hit 35 free throws in the second half alone but only 15 of 52 shots from the floor in the same span. Tulane went from the 6:56 mark to the 21-second mark without a basket before Rowan Brumbaugh’s meaningless layup with 21 seconds left. Brumbaugh led all scorers with 22 points, but on 6-of-15 shooting.

Brumbaugh’s turnover, though, less than a minute later, led to Terrell’s dunk with 12:24 left in the ﬁrst half. North Texas never trailed again.

Tulane was 7 of 27 from the floor until KJ Greene and Williams hit back-to-back treys that turned a 35-24 deﬁcit into a 35-30 score by halftime.

The second half turned into a foul fest, and the Wave never made enough headway

A two-game road trip awaits, with a Wednesday date at leagueleading Florida Atlantic next. Tulane handed the Owls their only conference defeat on Jan. 21.

“We have to ﬁght through it,” Hunter said. “If you look, three teams lost at home today Our league is going to be that way We just have to ﬁgure ourselves out here and get through this little bad patch.”

PELICANS

Continued from page 1C

defensive stopper Herb Jones, who is dealing with an ankle injury In their 133-128 overtime victory over the Rockets on Dec. 18 in the Smoothie King Center Jones’ presence helped frustrate Kevin Durant. But this night belonged to Houston’s Jabari Smith anyway Smith scored 22 of his 32 points in the first half. He made seven 3-pointers. Durant finished with 18 points and became the NBA’s sixth alltime leading scorer He passed former Dallas Mavericks’ star Dirk Nowitzki on the list with a free throw with 15.2 seconds left. The Pels were just 3-of-12 on 3-pointers in the first half and got outrebounded 29-19 to trail 64-54 at the break. In the third quarter, the Pels got solid minutes from the bench to cut the deficit to 8780 going into the fourth quarter The bench, which got 13 points from Jordan Poole and 10 from

Yves Missi, outscored the Rockets’ bench 41-23 in the game. They also got valuable minutes, particularly on the defensive end, from rookie Micah Peavy “Huge impact,” said Borrego. “The bench was great. They came in and gave us great effort and turned the game for us and gave us a chance. I’m really proud of that group.”

Saddiq Bey finished with 11 points Starting point guard Jeremiah Fears scored just two points and logged just 10 minutes because of Houston’s big lineup Borrego tried to match Houston’s size in the second half by starting Missi instead of Fears. But it wasn’t enough. The Rockets outscored the Pels 12-0 during a fourth-quarter stretch to pull away The Pelicans have lost 13 of their last 15 games heading into Wednesday’s home game against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ASHLEy LANDIS

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams fouls Pelicans center yves Missi during the ﬁrst half of their game on Sunday at the Toyota Center in Houston.

LSU guard Max Mackinnon is mobbed by teammates after giving an interview following a win over Missouri on Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center

NFL

Patriots top Texans to advance to AFC title game

Davis III.

BY KYLE HIGHTOWER

AP sportswriter

FOXBOROUGH, Mass Drake Maye

threw three touchdown passes, Marcus Jones returned one of C.J. Stroud’s four interceptions for a score and the New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 on Sunday to advance to the AFC championship game for the ﬁrst time in seven years.

In Mike Vrabel’s ﬁrst season as coach, the Patriots (16-3) will take on the Broncos (15-3) in Denver next Sunday, with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl.

The Patriots will make their 16th conference championship game appearance and ﬁrst since their run to their sixth Super Bowl title under Bill Belichick in the 2018 season. New England has won its last nine divisional round games.

Maye ﬁnished 16 of 27 for 179 yards, but had an interception and fumbled four times, losing two in cold conditions in which snow and rain fell throughout the game. One of Maye’s fumbles set up Houston’s ﬁrst touchdown.

“Just proud of the guys,” Maye said. “Battled the elements. This is New England. This is what we’re trying to embrace and we want to embrace all season long. Props to our defense, played a hell of a game. We’ve got to protect the football better, but we made enough plays to win it.” Carlton Davis III had two interceptions for New England. Craig Woodson added an interception and fumble recovery

“They bring it every week,” Maye said of his defense. “It’s fun to watch. And we could help them out some more, but just proud of the guys. Enjoy this one, and we’re

back on the road.” The eight combined turnovers — Woody Marks also lost a fumble for Houston were the most in a playoff game since 2015 when the Cardinals and Panthers combined for eight in the NFC championship game. The Texans (13-6) have lost in the divisional round in three straight seasons under coach DeMeco Ryans. The franchise is now 0-7 alltime in this round Stroud finished 20 of 47 with a TD pass. All of his interceptions came in the first half as he became the first player with five or more

Rams defeat Bears in overtime

INTs and ﬁve or more fumbles in a single postseason. Will Anderson forced two fumbles for the Texans.

Leading 21-16 in the fourth quarter, the Patriots stretched their lead to 27-16 when Kayshon Boutte got behind Derek Stingley Jr and pulled in a diving, onehand catch in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

The Texans had the ball with 5:48 to play, but punted on fourthand-18 at their own 21 with 4:18 remaining.

New England’s next drive took the clock under two minutes But the Texans turned it over

on downs when Stroud’s fourthdown pass to Xavier Hutchinson was batted down by Robert Spillane.

Early action

With the Patriots leading 7-3 early, a series of miscues produced the next two scores.

Maye was strip-sacked by Danielle Hunter deep in Patriots territory, but left tackle Will Campbell fell on the ball and the Patriots punted.

The Texans gave it right back when Stroud’s deep pass along the sideline was intercepted by

Stefanski hired as Falcons coach after being let go by the Browns

By The Associated Press

ATLANTA Kevin Stefanski was hired as coach of the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday night, getting a second chance to lead an NFL team less than two weeks after he was fired by the Cleveland Browns.

Stefanski spent six seasons with Cleveland, where he twice was named AP Coach of the Year and had a 45-56 record. He was ﬁred on Jan. 5 after the Browns ﬁnished a 5-12 season.

Stefanski replaces Raheem Morris, who was ﬁred alongside general manager Terry Fontenot after an 8-9 campaign in his second season leading the franchise. He will report to newly appointed team president Matt Ryan, who also holds most of the Falcons’ major passing records

“We’re thrilled to land a lead-byexample leader in Kevin Stefanski, who brings a clear vision for his staff, our team and a closely aligned focus on building this team on fundamentals, toughness and active collaboration with every area of the football operation,” Ryan said in a statement.

of the football staff to maximize talent across the roster and in doing everything possible to put our players in the best position to succeed.”

Stefanski was named AP Coach of the Year in 2020 after leading the Browns to an 11-5 record, their first playoff appearance since 2002 and their first postseason win since 1994. He was honored again in 2023 when the Browns finished 11-6 and made the playoffs, but those were his only two winning seasons with Cleveland.

the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 28 in Cleveland.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank brought Ryan on as his second-incommand and the leading decision-maker for the franchise.

“Coach Stefanski is a team-ﬁrst leader who puts a premium on accountability for everyone and a player-driven culture,” Ryan said. “His experience in Cleveland and Minnesota has given him a great understanding of the importance of working in sync with scouting, personnel and the rest

The coach climbed the ranks in Minnesota for 14 years with the Vikings before being hired by Cleveland in 2020. He overlapped with Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2018 and 2019.

“I’m beyond thrilled to be charged with leading this iconic franchise,” Stefanski said. “I am grateful to Mr Blank and Matt Ryan for trusting me to coach this football team and there are many talented players on our roster that I cannot wait to coach. We share a vision for this football team that I believe will make Falcons fans everywhere proud.”

Maye fumbled again when he attempted to run on a busted play and had the ball stripped by Tommy Togiai and recovered by Azeez Al-Shaair. Six plays later, Stroud linked up with Christian Kirk on a 10-yard touchdown pass.

But on Houston’s next drive, Stroud was rushed up the middle by K’Lavon Chaisson and he lofted a pass that was intercepted by Jones and returned for the score to put New England back in front. Later in the quarter, the Patriots’ lead increased to 21-10 when they capped a ﬁve-play, 56-yard drive with a 7-yard TD pass from Maye to Stefon Diggs.

Mr. Pick-6

Jones scored on an interception return for the second time this season. It was the ﬁrst of his career in the playoffs and ﬁrst for New England in the postseason since Asante Samuel had one vs. Indianapolis on Jan. 21, 2007, in the AFC championship game.

Injuries

Texans: TE Dalton Schultz (calf) left in the ﬁrst quarter and didn’t return. LG Tytus Howard limped off and RB Woody Marks exited with a shoulder injury in the second quarter TE Cade Stover left in the fourth with a knee injury and didn’t return. Patriots: LB Robert Spillane left in the first quarter with a thumb injury, but returned. RB TreVeyon Henderson was shaken up after a second quarter run before jogging off. S Craig Woodson exited after his INT with a head injury, but returned. RB Rhamondre Stevenson left in the second quarter with an eye issue. Davis left in the fourth quarter with a head injury

QB Nix breaks ankle in Broncos’ win, will have season-ending surgery

BY ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer

DENVER Bo Nix broke his right ankle late in overtime of the Denver Broncos’ divisional-round victory over Buffalo on Saturday and will have surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the playoffs.

Coach Sean Payton delivered the stunning news about his secondyear quarterback in the aftermath of Denver’s biggest win in a decade. Backup Jarrett Stidham, who is 1-3 as a starter in six seasons, will start the AFC championship game next weekend.

“Stiddy’s ready,” Payton said after returning to the postgame lectern to discuss the injury following Denver’s 33-30 victory over Josh Allen and the Bills.

Payton said Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost 2 yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury

On the next play, Nix threw a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr that drew a 30-yard pass-interference flag and got the Broncos well into field-goal range. Nix then took a knee to center the ball for Wil Lutz’s game-ending 23-yard field goal.

Payton said Nix will have surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.

“He’s such a strong, faith-based

guy,” Payton said. “He’s sitting in the hallway with his family and coming over and we’re all talking to him. He knows that God’s got a plan for him and he said he had (a broken ankle) in high school and then he said he had one at Auburn.

“And I said I didn’t realize that. I said if I had known that I wouldn’t have drafted you,” Payton cracked. Nix said nothing about being hurt during a postgame interview with CBS, and he sounded like he was looking forward to the next game.

“It’s great to have home-field advantage in a situation like this. It’s exciting. This is why you play the game, this is why you compete. You get to playoff football, and good things happen,” Nix said. The locker room had cleared out and reporters were waiting in an interview room for Nix when Payton returned and delivered the news.

Nix, the 12th overall pick out of Oregon in the 2024 NFL draft, tied Russell Wilson’s NFL record with two dozen victories in his ﬁrst two seasons. Saturday’s victory was his ﬁrst in the playoffs. The Broncos lost last year at Buffalo, but Nix led Denver to the AFC’s top seed this season.

“He’s a tough cookie,” Payton said. “And this team all year has lost key players and will rise up for the next challenge.”

AP PHOTO By SUE OGROCKI Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski watches from the sideline during the first half of a game against

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ROBERT F BUKATy

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks to make a pass against the Houston Texans during the second half of a divisional playoff game on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 28-16.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACK DEMPSEy Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix leaves the field after a divisional round playoff game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday in Denver.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEFF ROBERSON Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis, with Ethan Evans holding boots a game-winning field goal against the Chicago Bears during overtime of a divisional playoff game on Sunday in Chicago. The Rams won 20-17.

CFPChampionship C

INDIANA

WHATITWOULD MEAN

Indiana coachCurtCignetti and Miami coach Mario Cristobal were asked during a joint news conference Sunday morning what it would mean to theirprograms to win anational championship. Indiana has never wona national title, and Miami could win its first since 2001. Theirprograms have very different histories,but their answers were the same. Cignetti responded, “Itwould mean we’rethe national champion.” Cristobal added:“It would mean we’rethe national champions.”

FTHE

NO CFP EXPANSION… YET

There are ongoing discussions about expandingthe College Football Playoff before nextseason, butnothing has changed yet. No resolution came from ameeting Sundaybetween the FBS conference commissionersand Notre Dame’s athletic director.The SEC remains in supportofa16-team field,and the BigTen wantstogoto24teams. The disagreement between those leagues, which have authority over format decisions, has created a stalemate approaching aFriday deadline set by ESPN.

CFPTITLE GAME

3GET USED TO CIGNETTI

Afterinterviewing with Indiana leadership twoyears ago, Cignetti thought about staying at James Madison. Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson didn’t give him the chance,calling him and saying, “Congratulations, you’re the new head coach at Indiana, and we’re going to kick somebutt.”Indiana has done that ever since, and Cignetti doesn’tplan on going anywhere. He recently signed acontract extension, and he said,“I’m not an NFL guy.I madethat decision along time ago. WilsonAlexander

‘Special connection’

Indianahopes to lean on itsoffensive line vs fierce Miamidefense

BY MAURA CAREY Associated Press

MIAMI When Indiana rolled past Alabama 38-3 in theRose Bowl,it wasn’tHeisman Trophy winnerFernando Mendoza or dynamic receiver Elijah Sarratt whowas named MVP

Instead, it wascenter Pat Coogan —one of the ﬁve men on the offensive line Mendoza affectionatelycalls his “Hoggies.” They are responsible for keeping the QB upright and maximizing opportunities for Indiana’sskill players.

It was the firsttime since 1944 that an offensive lineman —typically overlooked and underappreciated —won MVP at the GranddaddyofThem All, andMendoza wasoverjoyed when heheard the news. With Indiana hoping to make more history in Monday night’sCollege FootballPlayofftitle gameagainst Miami, Mendoza and his teammates believe thesecrettothe Hoosiers’ success can be found in thetrenches —even though only oneplayer,left tackle Carter Smith,gets much buzz as an NFL prospect.

ball away much, just because they’vebeen efﬁcientupfront. Also, Ihave such great teammates, such great receivers, tight ends, running backs .the offensive line, Ijust get to be a point guard.”

able run.

“I would diefor thoseguys,” MendozasaidSaturday.“Those guys put their bodies on the line to protect myself or therunning backs every single play, anditmeanssomuch to not only havegreat skill and talent butalsogreat character It’s just such aspecial connection that we have with each other.” Mendoza hasthrown for3,349 yards, 41 touchdowns andonly six interceptions while completing 73%ofhis passes. He’s been praised for his accuracy anddecision-making, but he says it’sthe protection that makeshis success possible.

“Without those guys, I wouldn’t be able to do it. With them, I’m able to get through my entire progression,” Mendoza said.“Ithink that’s why my completion percentage has been so high, because I haven’treally had to throw the

Roman Hemby,who leads the Hoosiers with 1,060 rushing yards, cametoasimilar conclusion.

“The offensive line is really great,” Hemby said. “I feel like we wouldn’tbeinthis position without them, without them protecting Fernando,without them opening up holes to kind of make it easy for myself and Kaelon Black to run. Without them, Idon’tthink Iwould have thesuccess that I’m having.

Indiana (15-0) is seeking the program’sfirst nationaltitle, having dominatedits two CFP opponents by acombined score of 94-25. Meanwhile, Miami (13-2) squeaked into the playoff and knocked off Texas A&M, defending champ Ohio State andMississippi en route to the championship game —and the Hurricanes canthank astandoutdefense for their improb-

College Football Playoff staff predictions

Continued from page1C

Curt Cignetti, “I was tryingtoﬁgure out if the fan base was dead or just on life support.”

Who could blame them?

BeforeCignetti’sarrival to start the 2024 season, the Hoosiers had compiled 713 losses over 130-plus years of football.For some, buying seats for football wasa walletsqueezing requirement togain access to tickets for the basketball games coached by Bob Knight and astring of successors —amuch better team and better draw

Cignetti, whose resume looks like aDelta Airlines departures board, arrived with virtually zero fanfare, at least on anational level. Askeddifferent versionsofthe same question time and again at asigning-daynews conference in his ﬁrst season that surprised many for how good it was, Cignetti landed the punch that will end up on his tombstone: “It’spretty simple. Iwin. Google me.” In one way,the Indiana resurgence is aproduct of the new era of college football,inwhichplayers get paid and move freely betweenschools. Cignetti started this

Wilson Alexander Indiana31, Miami 20: Miami can keep itself withinstriking distance inside its home stadium because of howwell its defense has played throughout the College Football Playoff. It’s holding teamsto17 points per game in the CFP.But thisIndiana team is clickingonall cylinders,having just steamrolled Alabama and Oregon on itsway here. Who wouldhaveever thought the Hoosierswould winanational title in football? It’llhappen Mondaynight. Scott Rabalais Indiana25, Miami 17: Prepare, LSU fans, for endlesscomparisons of Indiana to the 2019 Tigers, because the Hoosiers aregoing to be national champions. Miami’s defensive frontwill keep FernandoMendoza from going nuts and Hurricanes RB Mark Fletcher, an underappreciated heroofthe CFP,willget his yards. Butthere’s been nothing to indicatethat Indiana will be denied its remarkablerun, especiallywhen Miami coachMarioCristobal makes some questionable in-game decision late to cost his team.

Koki Riley Indiana21-Miami 17: Miami has achancetopulloff the upset because of howgood the Hurricanes areonbothlines of scrimmage. After bullying TexasA&M, OhioState and OleMiss, Miami has shownthatitcan stand toe-to-toe with anyoffensiveordefensivefront in the country.But Indiana’splayupfront has been justasimpressive, and Fernando Mendoza is the superior quarterbackincomparison to Miami’s inconsistent signal caller, Carson Beck.

Reed Darcey Indiana27, Miami 20: This one feels likeacoronation. Fernando Mendoza justneeds to navigate the pressurethatthe Miami front can throw at him. If he does,then Indiana should win on the strength of adefense that can bottle up Mark Fletcher, tackle Malachi Toney in space andbait Carson Beck into an interception or two. Hoosierswin,closingthe last chapter on one of thebest storiesinthe historyofcollege football.

resurgence by bringing 13 players with him from his former job,at James Madison. In another way,thisisabout a coach commandeering aprogram and rebuilding it theold-fashioned way Quarterback Fernando Mendoza moved from Cal to Indiana last yearbecause “I felt like Coach Cignetti could help me getto where it thought Icould be as a quarterback.” Atwo-star recruit out of high school,hewon the Heisman Trophy this season. The Hoosiers, who call themselves the

“misﬁts,” have,atmost, two fourstar recruitsontheir roster “I’ve neverlooked at astarinmy life,” Cignetti said of the impreciseranking systemthat means nothing until those players put on pads. “Ifa guy can play hardand has the right stuffand the intangibles, we can work withhim and he’ll develop.” Indianadoesclaim theworld’s largest living alumni base, several thousand of whom are gobbling up what’sturning out to be potentially thetoughestticket ever for atitle game that will, ironically,

Miamihas an FBS-high 47 sacks,two morethan Indiana. Ahkeem Mesidor leads theteam with 15 1/2 tacklesfor loss, 10 1/2 sacksand four forced fumbles.RuebenBainJr. has13 tackles for loss, 8 1/2 sacks, an interception and aforced fumble. Coogan acknowledged the challenge ahead.

“It’s an elite front. Across the board, theirfront four is just extremely explosive,” Coogan said.“Certainly, youknow, just the caliber of players on the outside andthe inside —just across theboard, just extremely violent, twitchy, explosive, long, great with their hands, great at working an edge.”

For Indiana, ﬁnishing its season with achampionship will mean doing what it’sdone all year,evenagainsttraditional powerslike Alabama:winning thebattle in the trenches.

“It all starts up front with those guys,” offensive coordinatorMikeShanahansaid, “and we’regoing to need them to have abig game for us on Monday night.”

beplayed on Miami’shome ﬁeld. They also have Mark Cuban, who hasadded multiple millions to the effort.Indiana’sfootball budget hasgrown from $24 million to $61 million since 2021.

“Ittakes avillage andthere’s money,” Cignetti said. “But it’snot all about money.”

Same story, differentblueprint

To some extent,Miami would agree with that.

This is aprogram with deep, colorful roots. The 2018 ESPN documentary about the Notre DameMiami rivalry is called“Catholics vs. Convicts.” Notre Dame is the Catholic school.

Names from the‘80s and’90s Michael Irvin, Jimmy Johnson, Bernie Kosar andinfamous booster Nevin Shapiro —faded away to be replaced by essentially nothing. Not until aproduct of that ‘80s and’90sheyday, MarioCristobal, arrived in 2021 did things start looking up again for the ‘Canes.

“I thought we were agroup of guys who nobody believed in who changed history by playing with unbelievable effort,” Cristobal saidofhis oldteams. “It wasalittle wild, alittle edgy,but no one could question the brotherhood.” Like Indiana, the ‘Canes are a product of the new name-image-

likeness era in college football, combined withsome tough love from acoach whowas around long before that started.

“Absolutely zero,” Cristobal said when askedwhathechangedas acoach once the dollars started flowing and the players started moving.

“If youhavetochange the way youcoach because you’re afraid of the portal, you’re not doing it right to begin with,” he said. “You have to push people, be demanding but not demeaning, don’tcompromise. Idon’tbelieve that has to change.”

The biggest portalstoriesinvolving Miami are about players who came, not left.

Ayear ago, in two episodes that felt revolutionary at the timebut are now morelike business as usual, quarterback Carson Beck and defensive back XavierLucas left their old schools for Miami. Beck raised eyebrowsbecause he wasleaving Georgia —a perennialcontender— to playa ﬁfth season at aschool that hadn’tsniffed atitle in decades. The reported $4 million in NIL probably helped. Lucas became alitmus test of sorts whenhis old school, Wisconsin, suedMiami, alleging Cristobal’sstaffinduced the freshman into breaching his NIL contract with the Badgers.

AP PHOTO By BRyNN ANDERSON

Indiana running back Roman Hembycelebrates atouchdown against Oregon during the first half of the PeachBowlonJan. 9in Atlanta.

Making thedream REALITY

Rememberingthe activistsacrossLouisiana whocarried MLKJr.’s legacy forward

Before Martin Luther King Jr. becamea Civil Rightsicon with his likeness ﬁxed in stoneor bronze, he developed adeep afﬁnity for New Orleans—its food, andespecially its people

Is aromatherapybeneficial forsomeonewith Alzheimer’sdisease?

When King cametothe cityin thelate 1950s,hefounda network of locals working diligently,believing thatchangecould be built in churches and diningrooms, in whispered strategy,and in shared risks taken after nightfall.

As we observe the King holiday this week,weshould also remember the organizers, churchleaders andeveryday activists whose work mightnot carry King’siconic recognition, butwho nonetheless carried the CivilRights Movement forward In February 1957, Kingarrived at Central City’s New Zion BaptistChurch fresh from the triumph of the Montgomery bus boycott, joined by other Black ministers determinedtobuild on that momentum.

By the meeting’send, theyhad established the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. King

waselected president,while New Zion’spastor,Abraham Lincoln “A.L.” Davis, was named second vice president —apairing that reﬂected the movement’sreliance on strong local leadership. Davis worked closely with King to shape theSCLC’searly strategy,linking local churches across theSouth to push for national change through nonviolent protest. In New Orleans, Davis’

leadership extended beyond strategy.In1963, he led amarch on CityHall to protestsegregation and was later arrested during a sit-in. Beforehis deathin1978, he became New Orleans’ ﬁrst Black CityCouncil member sinceReconstruction. Davis was one of many Black ministerswhose local battles

Mattel adds autistic Barbie to doll line

D’INNOCENZIO

includes Barbies with Down syndrome, ablind Barbie, aBarbie and a Ken with vitiligo, and other models the toymakeradded to make its fashion dolls more inclusive. Mattel said it developedthe autistic doll overmorethan 18 months in partnershipwith the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, anonproﬁt organization that advocates for therights andbettermediarepresentation of people with autism. The goal:tocreate aBarbie that

reﬂected some of the ways autistic people may experience and process the world around them, accordingtoaMattel news release. Thatwas achallenge because autism encompasses abroad range of behaviors and difﬁcultiesthat vary widely in degree, andmanyofthe traits associated with the disorder arenot immediately visible, according to Noor Pervez,who is the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s community engagement manager andworked closely with Mattel on the Barbieprototype Likemany disabilities, “autism doesn’tlook any oneway,” Pervez said. “But we can try andshow some

The term “aromatherapy” originated in 1928 with RenéMaurice Gattefossé, aFrench chemist whodiscovered by accident that lavender oil had a healing effect on burns. However,the use of essential oils really dates back as faras the Egyptians, whoentombed their Pharaohs with jars of essential oils foruse in the afterlife. Essentially,aromatherapy is the use of aromatic plant oils, including essential oils, forpsychological and/or physical well-being. Sometimes the term can be misleading, since it is not necessarily the aroma of oils used that creates the desired effect, but rather adirect effect that the oils have on the body,i.e., contact with the lungs (breathing), or the skin (massage or body oils and lotions). Aging and Alzheimer’sordementia can diminish the olfactory sense; however,since adirect pharmacological effect of the oils is responsible forthe healing effects, adiminished sense of smell should not be a concern when considering aromatherapy Professor Elaine Perry with the Institute of Aging and Health in Newcastle conducted studies in the use of aromatherapy and found that all aromatherapy treatments forpsychiatric disorders and Alzheimer’sdisease and related dementia resulted in signiﬁcant beneﬁts, including reductions in agitation, sleeplessness, wandering and unsociable behavior

SomeofPerry’sﬁndings of the use of essential oils and lotions included:

n Lemon balm oil and lavender aroma increased functional abilities and communication and reduced difﬁcult behaviors;

n Lavender aroma (massaged lotion in the skin), signiﬁcantly reduced frequency or excessive motor behaviors; n Lemon balm lotion showed reductions in social withdrawal and an increase in constructive activities;

n Lavender,marjoram, patchouli and vetiver applied as acream or lotion increased alertness and scores on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Essential oils are most commonly inhaled and absorbed into the linings of the lungs and can also be applied directly to, and absorbed through, the skin. Care should be exercised when using and administering essential oils as only diluted oils should be directly applied to the skin. Additionally,since aromatherapy potentially affects all systems of the body,itisimperative to develop an awareness of whichessential oils do, or do not, have contraindications (something, as asymptom or condition, that makes aparticular treatment or procedure inadvisable) that interact with other medications.

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM THENEW ORLEANS PUBLICLIBRARyCITy ARCHIVES/SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Officials of the Kennedy-Johnson Voters League in 1960 are, from left, A. P. Tureaud, the Rev. AveryAlexander,Ellis Hull, Katie E. Whickam, unidentified and Jackson V. Acox. BYANNE

Tammy C. Barney

Certainfoods mayeasehangoversymptoms

Dear Doctors: My brother says the hangover foods that people swear by don’treallyhelp. Ihaveto disagree. When I’ve had too much to drink and am paying theprice the next day,afew tacos always make me feelbetter.Isthere any science behind either of our views on this?

Dr.Elizabeth Ko Dr.Eve Glazier ASK THE DOCTORS

Dear Reader: Would it surprise you to learn that you are bothright? To understand why,weneed to begin with the dreaded hangover. For anyone fortunate enough never to have had one, ahangover is aunique set of symptoms that result from drinking too much alcohol. It usually involvesnausea, headache, dry mouth, dizziness and fatigue. Rapid heartbeat, anxiety,low mood, disturbed sleep andincreased sensitivity tosound andlightare also possible. For some people, just aglass of wine can lead to arough morning after. Othersonlyfeel theeffects after anight of heavy drinking. Regardless of the amount of alcohol consumed, theunderlying culprits are thesame. Chief amongthem is acetaldehyde, atoxicbyproduct made by the liver as it metabolizes alcohol for removal from thebody.

ACTIVISTS

Continued from page1D

helped inform King’sbroader vision. In Baton Rouge, the Rev.Theodore Judson “T.J.”Jemison had already made history, leading the 1953 Baton Rougebus boycott. As King preparedfor Montgomery,itwas Jemison he turned to for guidance. In “Stride Toward Freedom,” published in 1958, King called Jemison’s“painstaking description of the Baton Rouge experience” an invaluable guide. Formore than ﬁve decades, Jemison shepherded his Mount Zion First BaptistChurch congregation, but it was his work as SCLC secretary that deepened his bond with King Beyond marches and meetings, King also relied on women whose professional networks became enginesofpolitical power.Kathleen “Katie” Whickam helped thousands of Black Americansgain the right to vote as abeautician.She served as president of the National Beauty Culturists’ League and co-founded theMetropolitan Women’sVotersLeague, nationalplatforms that brought her into King’scircle Black beauticiansoccupied arare position of independence in the Jim Crowera, historian Tiffany Gill notes, operating salons and schools beyondWhite control where Black women could speak freely and organize safely.Katie’sSchool of Beauty Culture and Barbering became one of those havens, allowingWhickamtomobilize thousands of Black voters.

Just as beauty shops and schools became organizing hubs, so too did informal spaces where activists gathered,planned and restored their spirits. WheneverKing came to New Orleans, he stopped at Dooky Chase’sRestaurant. Chef Leah Chase told WDSU-TV thatKing would dine in aprivate upstairs room, where he strategized with otheractivists while eating gumbo andshrimp or oyster po-boys.

“They would come here andeat after they went to jail, and Iwould say,‘Go take abath,’” Chase recalled. “I feel in some way in this restaurant, people changed the course of America.”

If Dooky Chase’snourished the movement’sbody,others preserved itsmemory. The Rev.Samson“Skip” Alexander used

THERAPY

Continued from page1D

Although theliver converts acetaldehydeintoharmless acetate in the end, that process takes time. When we drink alcohol faster than the liver can complete that conversion —about onedrink perhour —acetaldehydebuilds up. This contributestoinﬂammationinthe liver,pancreas, gastrointestinal tract and brain, thebiologicalbasis of hangoversymptoms. Alcohol is also adiuretic, adding to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Theselead to headache, fatigue anddizzinessthe next day Which brings us to thefood question. Your brother is correct that nothing you eat, whether before, during or after drinking, can speed up how fast theliver processes alcohol. Butyou are also correct that the right food

By JOHN BOSS

The Rev.T. J. Jemison, pastor of Mt.Zion Baptist Church, accompanies MaryBriscoe, left,and Sandra Ann Jones, twoSouthern University students released on bond after being jailed fortheirpartinsitdown demonstrations against segregated lunch counters in 1960.

hiscamera to capture King’slife —playful momentsatapool table, and the solemn griefofCoretta Scott King with her daughter at herhusband’s1968 funeral. Thoughthat image is often credited to Ebony photographer MonetaSleet Jr., Alexander was theonly person allowed inside with acamera, atestament to the trust he earned in the struggle

Together,leaders like Chase, Davis, Jemison,Whickam and Alexander formed thebackbone of amovement too often reduced to asingle name. They built networks, nurtured communities and risked livelihoods —and lives —toadvance justice. The civil rights movement was never thework of one man alone. It was forged in local struggle, sustained by collective courage, and carried forward by peoplewhose names deserve to stand alongside King’s.

Tammy C. Barney is an award-winning columnist and veteran journalistwhose work hasbeen shaped by alifelong connection to New Orleans. Agraduate of McDonogh No. 35, Loyola University,and Tulane University,she spent thebulk of hernewspaper career tellingstories at The Times-Picayune and The Orlando Sentinel.

Beekley Medical (www beekley.com) has recently developed aromatabs for use in clinical and longterm care settings and the pure essential oils andare placedonthe clothing on the individual’supperchest andthe effectiveness lasts up to eighthours.The lavender and lavender/sandalwood promotes relaxation, comfort andsleep andthe orange/peppermintuplifts, energizes, andcan soothe to give people thechance to makeinformed choices between conventional medicine and aromatherapy, based on reliable evidence.

Dana Territo is an Alzheimer’s advocate and author of “What My Grandchildren

and fluids can help ease the discomfort that follows. The tacos you crave hit the hangover food trifecta: salt, fatand protein. Salt helps retainfluids and replenish electrolytes. Fat slowsstomach emptying. Protein helps blood sugar levelsstay stable, which can dip after drinking alcohol. Otherfoods people have found to be helpful include eggs, which contain cysteine,anamino acid. Researchers have found this amino acid helps the liver process alcohol. Broth-based soups offer asuperfood boost of fluids, salt, minerals and other nutrients in a way the body can absorb easily Fruits, whichare already high in needed water,are also rich in antioxidants. These can help with the inflammation that comes with a

By The Associated Press

Today is Monday Jan. 19, the 19th day of 2026. There are 346 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Jan. 19, 1937, Howard Hughes set anew transcontinental speed record in his H-1 Racer aircraft, ﬂying from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey,in seven hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.

Also on this date:

In 1853, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Il trovatore” premiered in Rome.

In 1861, Georgia became theﬁfth state to secede from theUnion; it would join theConfederacy the following month.

In 1942, aGerman submarine sank the Canadian liner RMS Lady Hawkins off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, killing 251 peo-

DOLL

Continuedfrom page1D

of thewaysthatautism expresses itself.”

For example, the eyes of the new Barbie shift slightly to theside to represent how some people with autism sometimes avoid direct eye contact,hesaid The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gesturesthatsome autistic people use to process sensory informationortoexpress excitement, according to Mattel.

The development team debated whether to dress thedoll in atight or aloosefittingoutfit, Pervez said Some autisticpeople wear looseclothes because they are sensitive to the feel of fabricseams, while others wearfigure-hugging garments to give them asense of wheretheir bodies are, he said.

Theteam endedupchoos-

ple; 71 survived.

hangover.Berries are particularly high in antioxidants, and bananas will give youapotassium boost. And speaking of water,staying hydrated before, during and after drinking alcohol is also key Despiteaquest that dates back millennia, there is still no cure fora hangover. There remains onlyone waytopreventone,whichisnot to drink. The food youeat andbeverages youdrink can’t change how fast alcohol leaves your system Buttheymay helpease the landing. Sendyour questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla. edu, or write: Ask theDoctors c/oUCLA HealthSciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower held the ﬁrst televised presidential newsconference.

In 1966, Indira Gandhi waselected to her ﬁrst term as primeminister of India.

In 1987, H. GuyHunt becameAlabama’sﬁrst Republican governor since 1874 as he was sworn into ofﬁce, succeeding Democrat George C. Wallace.

In 2012, Rupert Murdoch’smedia empire apologized and agreed to cash payouts to 37 people whose telephones had been hacked by its tabloid press.

In 2024, Japan became the ﬁfth country to reach the moon when its unmanned spacecraft touched downonthe lunar surface with apinpoint landing. The milestone put

according to Mattel

Each doll comes with a pinkﬁnger clip ﬁdgetspinner,noise-canceling headphones and apinktablet modeledafter thedevices some autistic people who struggle to speak useto communicate.

Theadditionofthe autistic doll to the Barbie Fashionistas line also became an occasionfor Mattel to create adoll with facial features inspired by the company’semployees in India andmood boards reflecting arange of women with Indian backgrounds. Pervez said it was important to have the doll represent asegment of theautistic community that is generally underrepresented.

Mattelintroduced its ﬁrst doll with Down syndrome in 2023 and brought out aBarbie representing aperson with Type 1diabetes last summer.The Fashionistas also include aBarbie and a Ken with aprosthetic leg, anda Barbie with hearing aids, but the line also encompasses tall, petite and curvy

proud to introduce our ﬁrst autistic Barbie as part of that ongoing work,”Jamie Cygielman, Mattel’sglobal head of dolls,saidina statement. The doll was expected to be available at Mattel’s online shop and at Target storesstarting Mondayfor asuggested retail price of $11.87.Walmart storesare expected to start carrying thenew Barbie in March, Mattel said.

TheCenters forDisease Control and Prevention reported last year that the estimatedprevalenceof autism among 8-year-old childreninthe U.S. was1 in 31. The estimate from the CDC’sAutism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network said Black, Hispanic, Asianand Paciﬁc Islander children in theU.S.weremorelikely than white children to have adiagnosis, and the prevalence morethan three times higher amongboysthan girls.

FILEPHOTO

Japan in aclub previously occupied by the United States, the Soviet Union, India and China. Today’sbirthdays: Actor Tippi Hedren is 96. Actor-singer Michael Crawford is 84. Actor Shelley Fabares is 82. Country musician Dolly Parton is 80. Actor Katey Sagal is 72. Comedian Paul Rodriguez is 71. Basketball coach and commentator Jeff VanGundy is 64. Tennis Hall of Famer Stefan Edberg is 60. Actor Shawn Wayans is 55.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Turn up the volume and dance your way into the life you want to live.It's up to you to take advantage of opportunities. Discipline and ingenuity will help youcomplete your mission.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Turn your words into actions, and make things happen. Get fit, find your niche and discover new people, places andpossibilities. Romance is in the stars.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Set goals and work to reach them. Askexperts for guidance and use the information to learn and experiment. What you accomplish will boostyour confidence and encourage youtouse your strengths in rewarding ways.

ARIEs (March 21-April19) Lend ahelping hand. Do what you can to make adifference. Giving back will makeyou feel goodandbringyouincontactwithpeople you'll wanttoget to know better.Say no to temptation and excessive behavior

tAuRus (April 20-May20) Rely on your speed,accuracyandintelligence,andyou will come out on top.Implement domestic changes that give you the space you need to do thebest job possible. Choose apath andmarch forward.

GEMInI(May 21-June 20) Avoid letting anyone drain your energy. Focuson what you can do to keep up financially andprofessionally. Update your look to enhance your appeal.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Set your sights on whatgives you the most relief from stress. Don'twait forsomeone else to

step in and take charge; own the solution, process andresult. Whenopportunity arises, runtomeet it.

LEo(July 23-Aug. 22) Let your actions lead the way. Akindgesture can make adifference and change someone's life. Do your part, and the rewardswill be just as life-altering for you. Give-and-take is your ticket to better relationships and peace of mind.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Set acourse and forge ahead. Workyour magic at events that offer introductions to people who can give you somethingyou need. Be willing to go thedistance, meet demands and complete your mission.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) What you do will have more of an impact than what you say or acknowledge. Sizeupwhat's possible, set abudget and proceed with the changes that will bring the highest returns.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Pay attention to detail; map out apath that offers information, connects you with others and sparks your imagination. Ashorttrip or learning expedition will turninto an exciting journey.

sAGIttARIus(nov.23-Dec. 21) It's time to shake things up and to initiate change Procrastination will lead to trouble and regret. Set your sights on what interests you and head in that direction

Celebrity Ciphercryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, pastand present.Each letter in the cipher stands for another. toDAy'scLuE:W EQuALs V

CeLebrItY CIpher For better or For WorSe

SALLYForth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe AndGrIMM

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9 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.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

Bridge

By PHILLIPALDER

Phyllis Diller said, “We spend the first 12 months of ourchildren’slivesteaching them to walk and talk and the next 12 telling them to sit downand shut up.”

At the bridge table, some playersare scared of 12 —the numberoftricks needed for asmall slam. Others zoom that high whenever thereisthe faintest aroma of slam in the air. But the ideal is between those two extremes. This week, let’s study some of the factors for accurate slam bidding.

First, when two balanced hands face each other, combined point-count is a surprisingly reliable indicator. Some years ago, Iran acomputeranalysis. I gave the partnership’s hands no fivecard suit and no 4-4 fit. Ifound that when thetotalpoint-countwas33,sixno-trump wasafavorite;but when it was only 32, that slam was an underdog.

Here is an easy example forthe bidding, but not so simple in the play. How can South make six no-trump after West leads the club 10?

South’s two-no-trumprebid shows a balanced hand with 18, 19 or apoor 20 points. It is in principle forcing to game and does not deny four spades. South cannotriskanonforcingone-spaderebid with that strong ahand.

South has 11 top tricks:threespades, four hearts, two diamonds and two clubs.

wuzzles

The clubs might split 3-3, but thatis unlikely both mathematically and given the opening lead. However,the contract is assured if declarer takes trick one, unblocks dummy’s diamond ace-king, returnstohishandwith,say,aspade,and leads thediamondjack to drive outthe queen. The diamond 10 is trick 12. ©2026 by nEa, inc dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. Forexample: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previousanswers:

word game

InstRuctIons:

of “s,”

as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3.

or an “s” maynot be used. 4. proper

toDAy’sWoRD uPsHot: UP-shot: The finalresult; outcome.

Average mark 14 words

Time

Canyou find20ormore words in UPSHOT?

andfindme,

loCKhorNs

Take GodatHis Word.— G.E. Dean

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letter word from the letters in each row.add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer ken ken

InstructIons: 1 -Eachrow and each column must contain the numbers 1thorugh 4(easy) or 1through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages must combine using the given operation (in any order) to producethe targetnumbers in the top-left corners 3 -Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the numberinthe top-left corner.

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