Issuu

FearsoverBorderPatrolactivitylinger

Pace of arrests hasfallensharply

BY JAMES FINN and LARA NICHOLSON Staff writers

Saul Alcazar had arough De-

cember Business at the Kenner location of Cafetomas, his Hispanicrestaurant knownfor itsarepasand fruit juice, was cut in half after U.S. Border Patrol agentsﬂooded into the New Orleans area on Dec. 3. He closed hisSouth Carrollton Avenue location after his chef decamped to Texas. January started off better.Customers returned, and employees

came to work. And then on Jan 6, Border Patrol Commander-atLarge Gregory Bovino was spottedathis cafe’sdoorstep. Ever since, therestaurant has been a“ghost town,” Alcazar said. So it goesfor many New Orleans businesses andresidents alittle over amonth afterImmigration and Customs Enforcement agents surged into thearea. Whilesigns suggest that Catahoula Crunch, thefederal government’sname for its ICE-led south Louisiana operation, has largely ended, members ofthe region’simmigrant communitiessay that even

as businessesreopen andpeople fearful of being deported breathe asigh of relief, an undercurrent of anxiety remains

“It seems that thestorm is over alittlebit,” said Christian Pokorn, aNew Orleansconstruction ﬁrm owner who paused projects in December due to alabor shortage.

Federal agents have remained active in the New Orleans area in recentweeks. Still, thepace of arrests reported by authorities and immigrant rightsgroups has fallen sharplysince early December when Border Patrolofﬁcers wearingthe agency’s signature greenand-yellow tactical gear detained

STAFF

Cafetomas owner Saul Alcazar, center,stands in the middleofhis Kenner restaurant’sdiningroom at the peak of lunchtime on Thursday. Alcazar said before federal immigration sweeps in the area, it was normallyhard to find an open seat at thistime of day.

legacy

Events around NewOrleans on Monday celebrated Martin Luther King Jr.Day in its 40th year.A marchbegan at CongoSquare, travelingthrough Tremeand the7th Ward,makingseveral commemorativestops alongthe way, concluding with the annualEldersCommunity Meal at theTreme CommunityCenter. Volunteers also took part in theAll In DayofService

Ida recovery program to end

Billion-dollarinitiative established precedent, process

BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

More than four yearsafter HurricaneIda,Louisiana’s billion-dollarprogram to help rebuild storm victims’ homes will soon come to an end.

The state won$3.1 billionfrom thefederalgovernment to recover from aslewofhurricanes in 2020 and 2021, including Laura and Ida, twoofthe mostpowerfuleverto hit U.S. soil. About one-third of that went to Restore, the state’s keystone program to rebuild the homes of people who didn’thave adequate insurance or otherwise hadgapsinrebuilding.

Gina Campo,head of the Ofﬁce of CommunityDevelopment,said sheexpects theprogram to wind downthisyear,after delivering aidtoaround 13,000 people The program, which has stretched on foryears after hurricanes devastated the state, illustrates themyriadroadblocks and delays involved in distributing billions in disaster aid, many of them from federal government requirements. And it came as President Donald Trump administration’scontinuestodebatethe future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,withfederal ofﬁcials predicting states like Louisiana will be requiredtopickup moreofthe tab forfuture storms.

“We’velearned alot,” said state Rep. Jerome“Zee” Zeringue, RHouma, whochairs aHouse panel on disaster recovery.“We deﬁnitely shouldn’treplicate Restore, but Restore established aprecedent and aprocessthat we learned from.”

The long delays in getting money to people whoneed it largely stem from effortstoprevent fraud. Zeringue said those efforts make theprogrammoreaccountable, but that thestate can streamline the process next time.

Nearly 40,000 people submitted surveys seeking individual aid. But only afraction of themwill ultimately receive money to rebuild. Aftervetting applicants, the state eventually offered funding to about 15,000. Avariety of factors went into doling out the money,said Jeff Haley,deputy

PHOTO By CHRISGRANGER

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

ABOVE: Noah Jackson, 8, smiles as he holdsa banner near the front of the Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.FreedomMarchon Monday. TOP: The Rev. C.S.Gordon Jr pastor at NewZion Baptist Church, leads aprayerbythe Martin LutherKingJr. statue on ClaiborneAvenue.

ABOVE: Abrass band plays in the Freedom March.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

RIGHT: Volunteer Dominic Hogan picks up trash along afence on ClaraStreet

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Volunteer Lavonte Lucas, 25,right, paints the railings and bikeracks outside the Keller Community Center on NorthMagnolia Street on Monday.

See RECOVERY, page 4A

ä See PATROL, page 4A

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

‘60 Minutes’ airs report on Trump deportations

“60 Minutes” on Sunday aired its story about Trump administration deportations that was abruptly pulled from the newsmagazine’s lineup a month ago, a move that had triggered an internal battle about political pressure that spilled out into the open.

Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi made no reference to her dispute with CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss in the story about deportees who had been sent to El Salvador’s notoriously harsh CECOT prison. When the segment was struck from the Dec 21 episode on Weiss’ orders Alfonsi told her “60 Minutes” colleagues that it “was not an editorial decision, it was a political one.” Weiss had argued that the story did not sufﬁciently reﬂect the administration’s viewpoint or advance reporting that had been done by other news organizations earlier

The story shown Sunday included no on-camera interviews with Trump administration ofﬁcials. But it did include statements from the White House and Department of Homeland Security that were not part of what Alfonsi had used before her story was pulled. Some of the statements, which were carried in full on the “60 Minutes” website, were dated prior to Dec. 21

“Since November, ‘60 Minutes’ has made several attempts to interview key Trump administration ofﬁcials on camera about our story,” Alfonsi said. “They declined our requests.” Alfonsi did not immediately return a message Sunday

Death toll in Spanish train crash rises to 40 ADAMUZ, Spain Regional Spanish ofﬁcials said Monday that at least 40 people are confirmed dead in a high-speed rail collision the previous night in the country’s south when the tail end of a train jumped the track, causing another train speeding past in the opposite direction to derail. Juanma Moreno, the president of Andalusia, the southern Spanish region where the accident happened, confirmed the new death toll in an afternoon news conference. Efforts to recover the bodies from the two wrecked train cars continued, he added. The impact tossed the second train’s lead carriages off the track, sending them plummeting down a 13-foot slope Some bodies were found hundreds of feet from the crash site, Moreno said earlier in the day, describing the wreckage as a “mass of twisted metal” with bodies likely still to be found inside.

Authorities are also focusing on attending to hundreds of distraught family members and have asked for them to provide DNA samples to help identify victims.

Hackers target Iran state TV’s transmission DUBAI,UnitedArab Emirates Hackers disrupted Iranian state television satellite transmissions to air footage supporting the country’s exiled crown prince and calling on security forces to not “point your weapons at the people,” online video showed early Monday, the latest disruption to follow nationwide protests in the country

The hacking comes as the death toll in a crackdown by authorities that smothered the demonstrations reached at least 3,941 people, activists said. They fear the number will grow far higher as information leaks out of a country still gripped by the government’s decision to shut down the internet Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had his invitation to speak at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, withdrawn over the killings.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high between the United States and Iran over the crackdown after President Donald Trump drew two red lines for the Islamic Republic — the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran conducting mass executions in the wake of the demonstrations. A U.S. aircraft carrier which days earlier had been in the South China Sea, passed Singapore overnight to enter the Strait of Malacca — putting it on a route that could bring it to the Middle East.

Trump ties Greenland stance to not getting Peace Prize

Norway’s leader releases message from U.S. president

BY AAMER MADHANI, GEIR MOULSON and EMMA BURROWS Associated Press

NUUK, Greenland President Donald Trump linked his aggressive stance on Greenland to last year’s decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, telling Norway’s prime minister that he no longer felt “an obligation to think purely of Peace,” in a text message released on Monday

Trump’s message to Jonas Gahr Støre appears to ratchet up a standoff between Washington and its closest allies over his threats to take over Greenland, a self-governing territory of NATO member Denmark. On Saturday, Trump announced a 10% import tax starting in February on goods from eight nations that have rallied around Denmark and Greenland, including Norway

Those countries issued a forceful rebuke

Many longtime allies of the U.S remained resolute that Greenland was not for sale but encouraged Washington to discuss solutions. In a statement on social media, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc had “no interest to pick a ﬁght” but would “hold our ground.”

The White House has not ruled out taking control of the strategic Arctic island by force. Asked whether Trump could invade Greenland, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Monday that “you can’t leave anything out until the president himself has decided to leave anything out.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also sought to de-escalate tensions on Monday “I think this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion,” he said, adding that he did not believe military action would occur

In a sign of how tensions have increased in recent days, thousands of Greenlanders marched over the weekend in protest of any effort to take over their island. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post Monday that the tariff threats would not change their stance.

“We will not be pressured,” he wrote

Meanwhile, Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business,

minerals, energy, justice and equality, told The Associated Press that she was moved by the quick response of allies to the tariff threat and said it showed that countries realize “this is about more than Greenland.”

“I think a lot of countries are afraid that if they let Greenland go, what would be next?”

Trump’s Sunday message to Gahr Støre, released by the Norwegian government, read in part: “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

It concluded: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”

The Norwegian leader said Trump’s message was a reply to an earlier missive sent on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, in which they conveyed their opposition to the tariff announcement, pointed to a need to de-escalate, and proposed a telephone conversation among the three leaders.

“Norway’s position on Greenland is clear Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter,” the Norwegian leader said in a statement. “As regards the Nobel Peace Prize I have clearly explained, including to President Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.”

The Norwegian Nobel Committee is an independent body whose ﬁve members are appointed by the

Norwegian Parliament.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the president’s approach in Greenland during a brief Q&A with reporters in Davos, Switzerland, which is hosting the World Economic Forum meeting this week.

“I think it’s a complete canard that the president would be doing this because of the Nobel,” Bessent said, immediately after saying he did not “know anything about the president’s letter to Norway.”

Trump has openly coveted the peace prize, which the committee awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado last year Last week, Machado presented her Nobel medal to Trump, who said he planned to keep it, though the committee said the prize can’t be revoked, transferred or shared with others.

In his latest threat of tariffs, Trump indicated they would be retaliation for last week’s deployment of symbolic numbers of troops from the European countries to Greenland though he also suggested that he was using the tariffs as leverage to negotiate with Denmark.

European governments said that the troops traveled to the island to assess Arctic security, part of a response to Trump’s own concerns about interference from Russia and China.

They are now looking at setting up a more permanent military presence to help guarantee security in the Arctic region, a key demand of the United States, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said Monday

100 vehicles pile up in Michigan crash as snow sweeps across U.S.

By The Associated Press

HUDSONVILLE, Mich. — More than 100 vehicles smashed into each other or slid off the interstate in Michigan on Monday as snow fueled by the Great Lakes blanketed the state.

The massive pileup prompted the Michigan State Police to close both directions of Interstate 196 Monday morning just southwest of Grand Rapids as while officials worked to remove all the vehicles, including more than 30 semitrailer trucks.

The State Police said there were numerous injuries, but no deaths had been reported

Pedro Mata Jr said he could barely see the cars in front of him as the snow blew across the road while driving 20-25 mph before the crash. He was able to stop his pickup safely, but then decided to pull his truck off the road into the median to avoid being hit from behind

“It was a little scary just listening to everything, the bangs and booms behind you. I saw what was in front of me. I couldn’t see what was behind me exactly,” Mata said

The crash is just the latest impact of the major winter storm moving across the country The National Weather Service

issued warnings about either extremely cold temperatures or the potential for winter storms across several states starting in northern Minnesota and stretching south and east into Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

A day earlier, snow fell as far south as the Florida Panhandle and made it harder for football players to hang onto the ball during playoff games in Massachusetts and Chicago. Forecasters warned Monday that freezing temperatures are possible overnight into Tuesday across much of north-central Florida and southeast Georgia.

The Ottawa County Sheriff’s ofﬁce in Michigan said multiple crashes

and jackknifed semis were reported along with numerous cars that slid off the road. Stranded motorists were being bused to Hudsonville High School, where they could call for help or arrange a ride.

Officials expected the road to be closed for several hours during the cleanup.

One of the companies helping remove the stranded cars, Grand Valley Towing, sent more than a dozen of its trucks to the scene of the chain-reaction crash. Several towing companies responded in the brutally cold weather

“We’re trying to get as many vehicles out of there as quickly as possible, so we can get the road opened back up,” manager Jeff Westveld said.

Source: Fed chair to attend Cook case arguments

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON Federal Reserve

Chair Jerome Powell will attend the Supreme Court’s oral argument Wednesday in a case involving the attempted firing of Fed governor Lisa Cook, an unusual show of support by the central bank chair

The high court is considering whether President Donald Trump can ﬁre Cook, as he said he would do in late August, in an unprecedented attempt to remove one of the seven members of the Fed’s governing board. Powell plans to attend the high court’s Wednesday session, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity It’s a much more public show of support than the Fed chair has previously shown Cook But it follows Powell’s announcement last week that the Trump administration has sent subpoenas to the Fed, threatening an unprecedented criminal indictment of the Fed chair Powell appointed to the position by Trump in 2018 — appears to be casting off last year’s more subdued response to Trump’s repeated attacks on the central bank in favor of a more public confrontation.

Powell issued a video statement Jan. 11 condemning the subpoenas as “pretexts” for Trump’s efforts to force him to sharply cut the Fed’s key interest rate. Powell oversaw three rate cuts late last year, lowering the rate to about 3.6%, but Trump has argued it should be as low as 1%, a position few economists support. The Trump administration has accused Cook of mortgage fraud, an allegation that Cook has denied. No charges have been made against Cook. She sued to keep her job, and the Supreme Court Oct. 1 issued a brief order allowing her to stay on the board while they consider her case.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN

Danish soldiers disembark Sunday at the harbor in Nuuk, Greenland

IMAGE FROM WZZM VIDEO

Multiple cars are crashed Monday after a major wreck in Ottawa County, Mich., leading Michigan State Police to shut down an interstate

U.S. marks40thobservanceofMLK Dayamidtensions

BY TERRYTANG Associated Press

As communities across the country on Monday hosted parades, panels and service projects for the 40th federal observation of Martin Luther King Jr.Day,the political climate for some is more fraught with tensions than festive with reﬂection on the slain Black Americancivil rights icon’slegacy

In the year since Donald Trump’ssecond inauguration fell on King Day,the Republican president has adopted ascorched earth stance against diversity,equity and inclusion initiatives and targeted mostly Black-led cities for federal law enforcement operations, among other policies that many King admirers have criticized.

One year ago, Trump’s executive orders, “Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” and “Ending RadicalAnd Wasteful Government DEIPrograms and Preferencing,” accelerated arollback of civil rights and racial justice initiativesin federal agencies, corporations anduniversities. Last month, the National Park Service announced it will no longer offerfree admission to parks on King Day and Juneteenth, but instead on Flag Day and Trump’sbirthday

A.R. Bernard, founder,pastor and CEO of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, told an audience gatheredat King’shome church in Atlanta Sunday that the Trump administration is attempting to rewrite history

“Weare living in amoment where America is being tempted to forget the pain-

fultruth of its Black history Slavery being renamed as labor, segregation reduced to afootnote, racial terror explainedawayasexaggeration,” Bernardsaid, speaking at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. “Thisisirresponsible, historical revisionism.”

Urgent calls to unite against injustice were interspersed with energetic gospelatEbenezer, where King preached. Asense that civil and human rights are at stakeinfused thecomments by many speakers there Monday.

U.S.Sen.Raphael Warnock, aGeorgia Democrat and Ebenezer’ssenior pastor,invoked astoryabout King ﬁghting for the Voting Rights Act after Congress passed theCivilRightsAct. He urged the crowd to keep pushing against Trump’spolicies, sweeping immigration enforcement and what he described as attempts from the “Trump-Vance regime” to sowdivision. “They are trying to weaponize despair and convince

us thatweare at warwith one another,” Warnock said. Thefatal shooting this monthofanunarmed Minneapolis womaninher car by Immigration andCustoms Enforcement agents sent there to target thecity’sSomali immigrant population, as well as Trump recently decrying civilrightsasdiscrimination against White people, haveonlyintensiﬁed fears of aregression from the social progress King and many others advocated for Still, the concerns have not chilled many King holiday events planned this year Some conservative admirersofKing say the holiday should be areminder of the civil rights icon’s pleathat all people be judged by their character and not their skin color.Some Black advocacy groups, however,are vowing aday of resistanceand rallies nationwide. In arecent interview with The New York Times, Trump said he felt theCivil Rights Movement andthe reforms it helped usher in wereharm-

The political climate for some is more fraught with tensions than festivewith reflection during the 40thfederal observation of Martin Luther King Jr.Day ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

fultoWhite people,who “were very badlytreated.” Politicians and advocates say Trump’scomments arewhat are harmful,because they dismiss the hard work of King and othersthat helped notjust Black Americans but other groups, including women and the LGBTQ+ community “I think theCivil Rights Movement was oneof the things that made our countrysounique, that we haven’talwaysbeen perfect but we’ve always strived to be this moreperfect union, and that’swhatIthink the Civil Rights Movementrepresents,” Gov.Wes Moore, Maryland’sﬁrst Black governorand only thenation’s third elected Black governor,said last week in an interview with The Associated Press.

Maya Wiley,president and CEO of theLeadershipConference on Civil andHuman Rights, oneofthe nation’s oldest andlargestcivil rights coalitions, said the Trump administration’s priorities

makeclear it is activelytrying to erase the movement.

“From health care access and affordable housing to good paying jobsand union representation,” Wiley said, “things Dr.King made part of his clarion call for abeloved community are still at stakeand is even more so because (the administration)has dismantledthe very terms of government andthe norms of our culture.”

The White House did not respond to arequest forcomment.

In Washington Monday, hundreds of people marched along Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, braving cold weather to honor the civil rights leader.The parade began decades ago as part of the effort to establisha national holiday in King’shonor

Sam Ford, aretired broadcaster andmember of the Martin Luther King Jr.Day Parade Committee, helped bring the parade back in 2012.

“Wegot to continue to do this because not just of Dr King, but of what he stood for,” Ford said. “The struggle continues.”

Paradeparticipant Harold Hunter echoed that sentiment.

“It’snot just aWhite thing or Black thing. This is apeople thing,” he said.

The conservative Heritage Foundationthink tank encouraged the holiday’s focus to staysolely on King himself. Brenda Hafera, a foundation research fellow, urgedpeople to visit the Martin Luther King Jr.National Historical Park in Atlanta or reread his “I Have aDream” speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in

Washingtonnearly 63 years ago. Using the holiday as aplatform to rally andspeak about “anti-racism”and “critical race theory” actually rejects King’s ambition for the country,Hafera argued.

“I think efforts should be conducted in the spirit of whatMartin Luther King actually believedand whathe preached. And his vision was acolorblind society,right,” Hafera said. “He says very famously in his speech, don’t judge by the color of your skin, but the content of your character.”

The NAACP,the nation’s oldest civilright organization which had amyriad MLKDay events planned forMonday,asserted that the heightened fearsamong communitiesofcolor and in immigrant communities mean King Day observances must take adifferent tone. People will have to put their safety ﬁrst, even if their government isn’t, said Wisdom Cole, NAACP senior national director of advocacy

“As folks are using their constitutional right to protest and to speak out and stand up for what they believe in, we are being faced with violence.Weare faced with increased police andstate violence inﬂicted by the government,” Cole said. The Movement for Black Lives, acoalitionoforganizationsafﬁliated with the Black Lives Matter movement, had plannedits events under the banner “Reclaim MLK Day of Action.” Organizers planned demonstrations in Atlanta; Chicago; and Oakland, California,among other cities, over the weekend and Monday

Protecting worshippers’ rights urgedafter protesters interruptservice

BY GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO Associated Press

Several faith leaders called urgently for protecting the rights of worshippers while also expressing compassion for migrants after anti-immigration enforcement protesters disrupted aservice at aSouthern Baptist church in Minnesota.

About three dozen protesters entered the Cities Church in St. Paul during Sunday service, some walking right up to the pulpit, others loudly chanting “ICE out” and “Renee Good,” referring to a woman who was fatally shot on Jan. 7byanImmigration andCustomsEnforcement ofﬁcer in Minneapolis.

One of the church’spas-

tors, David Easterwood, leads the local ICE ﬁeld ofﬁce, and one of theleaders of theprotestand prominent local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong saidshe’s alsoan ordainedpastor.

The Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention called what happened “an unacceptabletrauma,” saying the service was “forced to end prematurely”asprotesters shouted “insults andaccusations at youth, children, and families.

“I believe we must be resolutein two areas: encouragingour churches to provide compassionate pastoralcare to these (migrant) families andstanding firm for the sanctity ofour housesofworship,” Trey Turner,who leads

the convention, said Monday. Cities Churchbelongs to the convention.

TheU.S.Departmentof Justice said it has opened a civil rightsinvestigation. The recent surgeinoperations in Minnesotahas pitted more than 2,000federalimmigration officers against community activists and protesters. TheTrump administration andMinnesota ofﬁcials have traded blame for the heightened tensions.

“Nocause —political or otherwise —justiﬁes the desecration of asacred space or the intimidation andtrauma inﬂicted on families gathered peacefully in the house of God,” Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, said in astate-

ment. “Whatoccurred was notprotest; it was lawless harassment.”

Jonathan Parnell, thepastor wholed the disrupted service, is amissionary with Ezell’sgroup andserves dozens of SouthernBaptist churchesinthe area. Cities Church,housedina Gothic-style,century-oldstone building next to acollege campus on one of the Twin Cities’ landmark boulevards, hasnot returned AP requests for comment.

Christians in theUnited States are divided on the moraland legal dilemmas

raised by immigration, including the presence of an estimated 11 millionpeople who are in the country illegally andthe spikeinillegal border crossingsand asylum requests during the Biden administration. Opinions differ between and within denominations on whether Christians must prioritize care forstrangers and neighbors or the immigration enforcement push in the name of security.White evangelicals tend to support strong enforcement, while Catholic leaders have spoken in favor of migrant rights.

The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. and has aconservative evangelical theology MilesMullin, the vicepresidentofthe Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of theSouthern Baptist Convention, said faith leaderscan andoftenhaveled protests on social issues, but those should never prevent others from worshipping.

“This is something that just shouldn’thappen in America,” Mullin said. “For Baptists, our worship services are sacred.”

BY JENNY BARCHFIELD and COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press

astatement posted on social media

Valentino

MILAN Valentino Garavani, the jet-set Italiandesigner whose high-glamour gowns —often in histrademark shadeof“Valentino red” —were fashion show staples for nearly half acentury,has died at home in Rome, his foundation announced Monday He was 93. “Valentino Garavani was not only aconstant guide and inspiration for all of us, but atrue source of light,creativity and vision, the foundationfounded by Valentino and his partner Giancarlo Giammetti said in

Universally known by his first name,Valentino was adored bygenerations of royals, ﬁrst ladies and movie stars, from Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts and Queen Raniaof Jordan,who swore thedesigner always made them look and feel their best. “I knowwhatwomen want,” he once remarked. “They want to be beautiful.”

Though Italian-born and despite maintaining his atelier in Rome, he mostly unveiled his collections in Paris, and spokeFrench with his Italian partner Giammetti, an entrepreneur Alessandro Michele, the

current creative director of theValentino fashion house, wroteinInstagram thathe continues to feel Valentino’s “gaze”asheworks on the nextcollection, whichwill be presentedMarch 12 in Rome,departing from the usualvenue of Paris. Michele remembered Valentino as “a man whoexpanded thelimits of thepossible” and possessing “a rare delicacy,with asilent rigorand alimitlesslove for beauty.”

Another of Valentino’s successors,Pierpaolo Piccoli, placed abroken heart emoji under theannouncement of his death.Former supermodel Cindy Crawford wrote that she was “heartbroken,”and called Valentino “a truemaster of his craft.”

PHOTO By JOSE LUIS MAGANA

dozens of people in home improvement store parking lots, on construction sites and along commercial corridors across the region.

Some local officials say they’ve been told that Border Patrol agents have been diverted to Minnesota and other areas. Union Migrante, an advocacy group that has closely tracked Border Patrol activity has not documented an arrest by the agency in the New Orleans area since Dec 13, when agents detained several construction workers in Slidell.

A DHS spokesperson did not respond Thursday to questions about the status of the Border Patrol-led operation in Louisiana, including requests for updated detention totals, detainees’ criminal histories and whether the agency would return in force.

The agency has identiﬁed the operation’s goal as detaining immigrants with criminal histories, though it has identiﬁed only a small fraction of detainees with wrongdoing in their backgrounds

“The Department of Homeland Security continues to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens across the New Orleans, Louisiana area during Operation Catahoula Crunch,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement Jan. 9. Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley, whose agency has worked with Border Patrol, said he was told last week that the operation was suspended while federal agents were deployed elsewhere.

Claude Kelly, the chief public defender for the New Orleans-based federal court district, was also told that the agency would scale back its Louisiana presence.

Border Patrol agents’ diminished role here appears to reﬂect the Trump administration’s use of “at large” operations to ramp up its deportation goals, effectively by leapfrogging groups of agents from one city to the next for a few weeks at a time. Agents have surged to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in recent days as protests erupt over immigration raids and an ICE agent’s fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen, Renee Good. Sometimes, those agents return. After raids in Chicago late last year Border Patrol leaders moved hundreds of agents to Char-

RECOVERY

Continued from page 1A

executive director at the community development ofﬁce Thousands of people filed duplicate surveys or applications. Others were renters who didn’t qualify And some never ﬁnished the grant process or decided to sell.

Kelvin Hill, the agency’s director of housing, said he expects all Restore projects to be finished by this September More than 3,000 people still have outstanding grants that are not yet complete.

Red tape By the time Restore wraps up, it will be about ﬁve years after Hurricane Ida struck southeast Louisiana.

Campo said the delays in the program were expected, and noted Louisiana’s pace is faster than some other states that received aid around the same time.

Congress didn’t even appropriate the money until 2022, she noted. Then the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development took months to formulate rules and post them. And once the state got access to the money, state ofﬁcials had to reach out to homeowners and vet applications to make sure federal cash would be used correctly

lotte, North Carolina, before sending some of them back to the Windy City weeks later

For now, though, the pause in Border Patrol’s largescale Louisiana operation has led school attendance in Jefferson Parish to creep back up, restaurants with Hispanic clientele or employees to reopen and work on some construction sites to resume.

It also has some people thinking about longer-term responses Rachel Taber, an organizer with Union Migrante, said she’s helping organize a slate of Hispanic candidates to run in the upcoming Kenner city elections and has launched voter registration drives to mobilize frustrated residents.

“I

Still, the operation’s ﬁrst frenetic weeks, in which agents pulled people from cars, cornered them on rooftops and went door-todoor in their neighborhood, have left scars.

“I know people who sheltered in place for a month and a half and they are shell-shocked,” Taber said.

“They are struggling to come out of the house, even though they can now.”

Fewer arrests Federal ofﬁcials initially set a goal for the Louisiana operation of 5,000 arrests across a swath of territory from St. Bernard Parish west to Baton Rouge and into Mississippi, accord-

“There are a lot of delays,” Campo said. “A lot of them don’t even accept their awards on time. We bend over backwards to get as many people completed as possible.”

Once the housing aid program wraps up, state officials said they intend to move the remaining money to other projects that are part of the $3 billion recovery package. For instance, the state is using several million dollars to build affordable housing in a bid to relieve homelessness in several southeast Louisiana parishes. The program includes a 12-unit project in New Orleans’ Little Woods neighborhood, a 30-unit building on the edge of downtown and projects on the northshore and in Baton Rouge. Plus, local governments across the state are still spending millions on infrastructure improvements. That program is also experiencing delays. New Orleans, for instance, has access to $33 million to build infrastructure and economic development projects, but has only spent $70,000 to date. Marvin McGraw spokesperson for the community development ofﬁce, said the state only approved the projects in late 2025 and that they require “extensive application, review, and approval process before major spending can occur.”

Slowing of federal aid

Paul Rainwater, a former FEMA head who now consults for states on disaster recovery, said the Restore program turned into the biggest disaster aid project Louisiana has undertaken since hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Restore began af-

ing to internal records reviewed by The Associated Press.

Two months later, the operation has netted just over 560 arrests, according to a tally McLaughlin provided earlier this month. Authorities said 36 of the people arrested had criminal backgrounds.

While the operation was underway protesters gathered in downtown New Orleans and followed Border Patrol convoys through Kenner, filming agents and using whistles to warn neighbors of their presence.

Kelly, the federal public defender, said the U.S Attorney’s Ofﬁce told him in November to brace for an inﬂux of defendants facing charges for assaulting federal agents during protests. That didn’t happen.

That could be in part due to what Kelly called “the Mardi Gras effect.”

“Locals here know how to behave in crowds,” Kelly said. “But even more so, local law enforcement know how to behave in crowds.”

On Jan. 7, around 24 hours after he was seen outside Cafetomas in Kenner, Bovino was in Minneapolis conducting immigration arrests and admonishing protesters.

ter the 2016 ﬂoods that inundated south Louisiana.

Rainwater said every time Congress appropriates disaster aid, the lawmakers add new language that states must ﬁgure out how to comply with.

He said it’s clear the Trump administration wants to move to reduce disaster costs to the federal government by shifting more of the burden to states. Such a move could cost Louisiana huge sums with hurricanes growing more powerful because of the effects of climate change.

A recent meeting of a FEMA review council was abruptly canceled in late 2025 and it’s not yet clear when the group will meet again. The council puts forth recommendations for FEMA.

Campo also said that it may soon become harder to get a federal disaster declaration in the first place, which would make it exceedingly difficult to win federal aid.

Louisiana will likely turn more toward relocation efforts as disasters worsen and people experience more severe ﬂooding and winds, Campo said. So far, many of the people eligible have been resistant to relocating, but her agency is working with local governments to target people who may be willing to move.

“Folks just don’t choose to do it,” she said. “We’re digging into that to see how in the future we can make that more of an acceptable option for them.”

State and local Republican ofﬁcials, including Conley and Gov Jeff Landry, have lauded the Louisiana operation.

Conley in a recent interview said he believes the operation has targeted undocumented immigrants with the “worst of the worst” criminal backgrounds. He also defended agents against accusations of racial profiling, saying they weren’t “just roaming the streets going for undocumented people.”

Yet some say recent immigration enforcement operations have been harmful.

In the St Bernard Parish town of Hopedale, residents are mourning Francisco Cerrato Cabrera, an undocumented 48-year-old oysterman who had lived in Louisiana for two decades and drowned a week before Christmas after leaping from a ﬁshing boat as U.S. Coast Guard

agents approached.

Friends said Cabrera feared being caught by immigration agents amid the ramped-up enforcement efforts.

And in a sign of the administration’s ongoing push, which has relied on agencies other than Border Patrol, Union Migrante this week reported that ICE agents had arrested two people after smashing their car windows in Kenner.

‘Significant distrust’

Pokorn, an Austrian immigrant who now makes sure to always carry his green card, said the Border Patrol sweeps created “significant distrust” among legal workers. He said his company only hires people with authorization to live and work in the country, but he paused projects in December because even workers with green cards and work permits were fearful of venturing out. Later, DHS would identify work-permit holders — peo-

ple applying for permanent status whom the federal government grants permission to work in the country while that they complete that process — as targets of its deportation campaign. Others have continued to stay home, still fearful of encountering immigration agents.

At the Conchita Lacayo Sulli Hispanic Resource Center in Kenner, three employees sat in an empty building Thursday waiting for mothers to arrive for a diaper giveaway A year ago, a line of people wrapped around the building for the same event, said manager Dinorah Cartagena. Only 13 people had shown up this week. The center has about 70 requests for diaper deliveries from families afraid to leave home, but no volunteers to deliver them.

“Everyone keeps calling and stuff,” Cartagena said. “Now we are getting a lot of calls that they need help paying electricity, water rent. But we don’t have that.”

Alcazar, the restaurant owner, is a U.S. citizen who moved to the country from Mexico when he was 10. He said he plans to leave his businesses to his collegeage daughter and move to Mexico later this year.

“I’ve never lived in Mexico completely, but you know what? As long as you have a peace of mind and you know that you’re not going to get harassed somehow, I think that’s better,” Alcazar said.

Staff writer Elyse Carmosino contributed to this report. James Finn covers federal law enforcement for The Times-Picayune | The Advocate. Email him at jﬁnn@theadvocate. com or contact him on Signal at jamesﬁnn.82. Lara Nicholson covers Jefferson Parish for The Times-Picayune | The Advocate. Email her at lnicholson@theadvocate. com.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Dinorah Cartagena, right, office manager for the Hispanic Resource Center in Kenner, helps a new mother sort through donated baby clothes on Thursday. Cartagena said since federal immigration sweeps began in that area, fewer people have been stopping by for food or other essentials.

Inequality, unease rising as elite Davos event opens

BY JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press

DAVOS, Switzerland Corporate chiefs and government leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump swarm into Davos, Switzerland, this week, joining an elite annual meeting that promotes dialogue and economic progress — even as a domineering tone from Washington has upended the global order and billionaires have reaped trillions in new wealth as the poor lag behind.

The World Economic Forum, the think tank whose four-day annual meeting opens Tuesday, has a stated motto of “improving the state of the world,” and this year’s theme is “A spirit of dialogue.” One question is whether Trump will speak with attendees or at them.

Nearly 3,000 attendees from the interlinked worlds of business, advocacy and policy will tackle issues including the growing gap between rich and poor; AI’s impact on jobs; concerns about geoeconomic conﬂict; tariffs that have rocked long-standing trade relationships; and an erosion of trust between communities and countries.

“It’s really going to be a discussion at a very important moment geopolitics is changing,” said Mirek Dušek, a forum managing director in charge of programming. “Some people think we’re in a transition. Some people think we’ve already entered a new era. But I think it’s undeniable that you are seeing a more competitive, more contested

landscape.” Trump’s third visit to Davos as president comes as U.S. allies worry about his ambition to take over Greenland, Latin America is grappling with his efforts to reap Venezuela’s oil, and his hardball tactics toward Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell have stirred concern among business leaders and lawmakers alike

Trump’s peacemaking credentials also will be on the table: An announcement looms about his “Board of Peace” for Gaza, and he and his administration are expected to have bilateral meetings in the warren of side rooms at the Congress Center. The U.S leader seems to revel in strolling through the Davos Congress Center and among executives who back his business-minded, moneymaking approach to politics. Critics will also be nearby. Trump has blown hot and cold recently with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, an invitee. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of Iran was set to speak, but his appearance was canceled. Iran’s leaders face U.S sanctions over their handling of recent protests, and organizers said Monday that “the tragic loss of civilian lives” means “it is not right” for the government to be represented. The two likeliest counterweights to Trump’s administration on the international scene — China and the European Union — get top billing on the ﬁrst day: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will speak Tuesday morning, right before

Vice Premier He Lifeng, China’s “economic czar” — as Dušek put it. The forum will be without its founder, Klaus Schwab, who hosted the first event in Davos 55 years ago focusing on business, only to see it since balloon into a catchall extravaganza. He stepped down in April. New co-chairs Larry Fink, the head of investment firm BlackRock, and Andre Hoffman, vice chair of pharmaceuticals ﬁrm Roche, are in charge.

This year will also mark the debut appearance of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, arguably the world’s most important tech leader today, among some 850 CEOs and chairs of global companies along with celebrities like Hollywood actor and safewater advocate Matt Damon.

The future of AI, its impact on business and work, and the prospects for artificial general intelligence will be key themes.

The presidents of Argentina, France, Indonesia, Syria and Ukraine will be among the dozens of national leaders on hand.

Leading public-relations ﬁrm Edelman reports in its annual trust barometer — launched a quarter-century ago and this year surveying nearly 34,000 people in 28 countries — that trade and recession fears have climbed to an all-time high, optimism is falling especially in developed countries, and “grievance” last year has morphed into broader “insularity.”

“People are retreating from dialogue and compromise, choosing the safety of

the familiar over the perceived risk of change,” said CEO Richard Edelman. “We favor nationalism over global connection and individual gain over joint progress. Our mentality has shifted from ‘we’ to ‘me.’”

The survey found that about two-thirds of respondents said their trust was concentrated toward CEOs of the companies that they work for, fellow citizens or neighbors, while nearly 70% believed institutional leaders — such as from business or government — deliberately mislead the public.

Oxfam, the world-renowned advocacy group, issued a report which showed that billionaire wealth rose by more than 16% last year three times faster than the past five-year average, to

more than $18 trillion. It drew on Forbes magazine data on the world’s richest people.

Oxfam said the $2.5 trillion rise in the wealth of billionaires last year would be enough to eradicate extreme poverty 26 times over Their wealth has risen by more than four-fifths since 2020, while nearly half the world’s population lives in poverty, the group said. The Trump administration has led a “pro-billionaire agenda,” the group said, through actions such as slashing taxes for the wealthiest, fostering the growth of AI-related stocks that help rich investors get richer, and thwarting efforts to tax giant companies.

The advocacy group wants more national efforts to reduce inequality higher taxes on the ultrarich to reduce their power, and greater limits on their ability to shape policy through lobbying. With such concerns ﬁltering through to policymakers, Trump, who is leading the biggest-ever U.S. delegation and will have about a halfdozen Cabinet secretaries in tow, is expected to discuss housing and affordability in his Davos speech on Wednesday As usual, protesters rallied over the weekend in and near Davos ahead of the event. Hundreds of marchers scaled an Alpine road up to the town on Saturday behind a banner in German that read “No Profit from War” and alongside a truck that bore a sign: World Economic Failure.

BY SAMY MAGDY and JULIA FRANKEL

Associated Press

Israel has been asked to join President Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace that will supervise the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, an Israeli ofﬁcial said Monday, while France is holding off accepting for now

It’s not known whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the offer, said the Israeli ofﬁcial who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a behindthe-scenes diplomatic matter Russia, Belarus, Slovenia Thailand and the European Union’s executive arm also were among the latest to receive invitations.

It’s unclear how many leaders have been asked to join the board, and the large number of invitations being sent out, including to countries that don’t get along, has raised questions about the board’s mandate and decision-making processes. Also unknown is Israel’s potential role on a board in charge of implementing the ceaseﬁre agreement that directly involves them.

A Trump reference in the invitation letters saying that the body would “embark on a

bold new approach to resolving global conﬂict” suggested it could act as a rival to the U.N. Security Council, the most powerful body of the global organization created in the wake of World War II. France, though, does not plan to join the Board of Peace “at this stage” despite receiving an invitation, a French ofﬁcial close to President Emmanuel Macron said Monday The issue is raising questions, particularly with regard to respect for the principles and structure of the United Nations, said the official, speaking anonymously in line with the French presidency’s customary practices.

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI accepted a spot Monday, becoming the ﬁrst Arab leader and at least the fifth world leader to join Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary and Argentina also have signed on.

Russian President Vladimir Putin received the invitation, and the Kremlin is now “studying the details” and will seek clarity of “all the nuances in contacts with the U.S., said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is ready to take part, according to the country’s Foreign Ministry The Thai Foreign Ministry

said it was invited and reviewing the details.

European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said that Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the commission, would be speaking to other EU leaders about Gaza. Gill didn’t say whether its invitation had been accepted, but that the commission wants “to contribute to a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conﬂict.”

Israel’s objections

Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday dismissed the Board of Peace as a raw deal for Israel and called for its dissolution.

“It is time to explain to the president that his plan is bad for the State of Israel and to cancel it,” Smotrich said “Gaza is ours, its future will affect our future more than anyone else’s. We will take responsibility for what happens there, impose military administration, and complete the mission.”

Smotrich, a hard-liner who opposed the Gaza ceaseﬁre, even suggested that Israel renew a full-scale offensive on the territory to destroy Hamas if it doesn’t abide by a “short ultimatum for real disarmament and exile.”

Netanyahu said later on Monday that while there are

differences with the U.S. about the composition of the advisory committee accompanying the next phase in Gaza, it would not harm his relationship with Trump. “There will not be Turkish

soldiers and Qatari soldiers in the (Gaza) Strip,” he said.

Netanyahu’s ofﬁce earlier said the formation of an executive board that will work to carry out the vision of the Board of Peace wasn’t coor-

dinated with the Israeli government and “is contrary to its policy” without clarifying its objections. Turkey, a key regional rival, is among those invited to join the committee.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARKUS SCHREIBER The logo of the World Economic Forum is displayed Sunday on a window of the Congress Center, where the annual meeting will take place, in Davos, Switzerland.

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LOUISIANA AT LARGE

Playingfor thehome crowd

Every now and then, the stars align and something akin to magic happens. Not ﬁreworks magic. Not headlinemagic. The quieter kind —the kind that sneaks up. There were moments Wednesday night at the Pete Maravich AssemblyCenter that felt like when the Kentucky Wildcats came to Baton Rouge to play the LSU Tigers. Years ago, Ilived in Lafayette and worked with Keler Williams Mitchell. When we ﬁrst met, she had two elementary-school-aged sons, Greg and Kam. We spent alot of time together working on projects as her sons grew up —the way kids do when the adults are busy working. Back then, basketball was already part of the picture, butitwasn’tthe whole story Greg was older and already stood out. Iwent to see him play in high school at Lafayette Christian Academy.Even backthen, he was somethingspecial. Kam, the younger brother,did what younger brothers do. He followed closely.Hewatched. He waited his turn. After games, he’d be on the side of the court, shooting and mimicking whatever he’d just seen his big brother do. Like Little Kam, as Iused to call thenow 6-foot, 8-inch young man back then, I’ve lovedbasketball since Iwas in elementary school. Iloved playing it. Ilove watching it now.Maybe that’s why Itend to notice what comes before and after the game, not just what happens during it how basketball stretchesacross years, families, cities and seasons. Greg Williams’ basketball path took him from LafayettetoSt. John’sinNew York City,then back to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and eventually to Denmark and Cyprus, where he plays professionally.Kam Williams graduated from Lafayette Christian Academy in 2024. He

ä See RISHER, page 3B

Rewardincreased in shooting

Search forsuspect in attack at DookyChase’s continues

BY JOSEPH CRANNEY Staff writer

Nineteen-year-old Kareem

Harriswas at his mother’shome in Treme on Friday afternoon when he texted Kia Simmons, hisoldest sister Did sheneed Harristopickup Simmons’ young daughter from school while Simmons wasstill at work, Harrisasked. He had forgotten to pick up his niece one day earlierthat week, so this

was hisway of making it up to his sister.

“This time, man, he did do that,” Simmons said Monday outside DookyChase’sRestaurant, whereHarriswas shotand killed later that night. “So that’smy last, favorite memory of him.”

NewOrleanspolice continued working Monday to identifythe gunman who alsohit three other patrons of the restaurant when he shotatHarris, whoﬂed into Dooky Chase’saftera foot chase.

Allofthe women survived. During anewsconference Mondaymorning, NewOrleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said police have not determined amotive. Butshe said thenatureofthe shooting suggests it was “retaliatory.” Harris’family said theybelievethe personwho killed him was part of agroup that had jumped Harrisatleastonce before.The family said they didn’t know the causeofthe dispute or

theidentityofthose in thegroup.

“It can’tberetaliation for anything,” Simmons said, noting her brother’s fun-lovingdisposition. Harris, who previously worked at DookyChase’s, practiced photography at Livingston Collegiate Academyand liked to play video games, she said. He was helping raise atoddler with a woman he knew,his family said. Kirkpatrick urged anyone with information about theshooting to come forward. AndDarlene Cusanza, president of Greater

ByWATERSHAKEN

8vehicles damagedin string of arsons

BYWILLIE SWETT Staffwriter

Afteralovely weekend hosting his business’ 10th annualKing Cake Festival and beneﬁt concert, Bywater Bakery co-owner AltonOsborn’sbarking dogs woke him up Mondaymorning to thesight of his delivery van in awall of ﬂames.

Osborn wondered, as he stood on his doorstep lookingatthe ﬁery chaos on Desire Street around 2:30 a.m., if he had beentargeted forsome reason.

Butthen Osbornrealized his delivery van wasnot theonly vehicle on ﬁre

Yes, his 2018 Dodge Caravan was on ﬁre. But next to it was another car on ﬁreonDesire Street. And anotherone nearby

Osborn’sdelivery van was one of eight vehicles that theNew Orleans Fire Department said were intentionally torched early Mondaymorning on Montegut,Dauphine and Desire streets in the Bywater neighborhood. The façade of atwo-story duplex on Dauphine wasalso damaged in aﬁre. The four residents escaped safely No injuries were reported, but the stringofarsons shocked and disturbed manyinthe neighborhood.For Osborn, the loss of thebusiness vehicle will be acutelyfelt. Like otherswhose vehicleswere damaged,hesaid he did not think his insurance would cover the loss.

Forabakery well known for Carnivalgoodies, including itscrawﬁshand boudin king cakes, this is the mostimportant time of year,Osborn said.

Proﬁts from thebusy Carnival seasonsustain the business for the restof theyear.“We’reamom-and-pop business. We are just getting by,” he said NewOrleans Mayor Helena Moreno said in astatementshe had told New Orleans Fire Department Superinten-

dent Roman Nelson to act with “extremeurgency”toapprehendany suspects, and said if necessary he should callinadditionalresources from state or federal partners

“I am gratefulthat no one wasinjuredorkilledbythe ﬁres,”Moreno said.

The New Orleans Police Department said that based on surveillance footageitisseeking apersonofinterest forquestioning in connection withthe arsons. Thepersonisnot currently wanted on criminal charges, police saidina statement.

The surveillancefootageshows someonewalking up to acar and pulling on thedoor handle,asiftocheck if it is unlocked

TheFireDepartment saidﬁreﬁghters initially responded to afire call on Montegut Street at 1:46 a.m. —the start of achain of events that spanned across theBywater,from Montegut to Dauphine to Desire. FredricKing, who livesonMontegut

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

NOLAPublicSchools and the Orleans Parish School Board’s “overly-optimistic”tax revenue projections were to blame for about half of the ﬁnancial shortfall that threatened the local school system last year,according to a report from the state Legislative Auditor’sOfﬁce. If the district had used better sales and property tax revenue projections and had rolledforward property tax millages before January insteadofdelaying theaction, the district likely would

BY DESIREESTENNETT Staff writer

BY WILLIESWETT Staff writer

STAFFPHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Acar damaged in astring of arsons is covered in ash Monday

Family Gras announces 2026 music lineup

Lady A and Gin Blossoms to perform

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

Jefferson Parish has released the lineup for this year’s Family Gras event, which will include Lady

REWARD

Continued from page 1B

New Orleans Crimestoppers, said the reward for information has been increased and now stands at $13,500.

Kirkpatrick said two of the gunshot victims are from Los Angeles and the other is from Lake Worth, Florida.

One of the women from Los Angeles was shot five times and remains in the intensive care unit after multiple surgeries, Kirkpatrick said The other woman from Los Angeles also remains hospitalized but is now considered stable, Kirkpatrick said.

The woman from Florida suffered a graze wound and has been released from the hospital, she said.

New Orleans Police Department Chief Nick Gernon, who is heading the investigation, said authorities, including the FBI, worked through the weekend to develop leads and review available surveillance footage.

But, authorities said Monday, they do not have a name of a suspect.

“We still need more tips,” Gernon said.

The brazen nature of the Friday night shootings shocked the community, and Kirkpatrick and Mayor Helena Moreno came to the scene to address the public. Both stressed that the incident appears to have been targeted at the victim, involving the restaurant only because he ran inside seeking safety

“Dooky Chase’s Restaurant has always been a place of gathering, culture, and care,” the Chase family said in a statement. “As a family rooted in faith and community, we lift up in prayer all those impacted by this random and tragic incident.”

Kirkpatrick, during her news

SHAKEN

Continued from page 1B

Street, said his wife woke him up around 1:45 a.m to tell him a car outside was on fire, its flames reaching nearly to the top of his house.

“I was half asleep,” King recalled later Monday His car was parked right in front of the vehicle that was on fire, so he hopped in it, and, with some fear, quickly moved it. His house and car were not damaged, he said. Meanwhile, Daniel Henry, a resident on Dauphine Street, said he woke up around 2 a.m. after seeing the flashing lights of the fire trucks. The duplex next to his home was on fire and across the street a car had turned into a “fireball.”

A, Gin Blossoms and Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone among the headliners. The annual music event, which is free and takes place at the Mardi Gras

Plaza across Veterans Memorial Boulevard from Lakeside Shopping Center, will be Feb. 6-7, the parish said Monday

The Feb. 6 lineup is Heartbreakers Jukebox, Karen Waldrup and Herman’s Hermits. The Feb. 7 lineup is Imag-

ination Movers, The Rocketmen, Uncle Kracker, Gin Blossoms and Lady A.

Two parades, Excalibur on Friday and Matt Hatters on Saturday will roll along Veterans Boulevard as well.

Started in 2007, Family Gras has anchored the ﬁrst

big weekend of Carnival along the Metairie parade route for years. The event is sponsored by LCMC Health and BMW, according to the parish.

BMW VIP Royal Passes are on sale and can be purchased through the Family Gras website.

conference, noted the “iconic” status of the restaurant and reiterated that authorities believe the shooter chased the victim into the restaurant and continued ﬁring. Kirkpatrick said she understands that people are fearful about getting involved, but said Crimestoppers tipsters remain anonymous.

“Let us know,” she said.

Tipsters can upload a photo or send video links at crimestoppersgno.org using the tip portal or download the free mobile app CS GNO Say it Here. The phone number to leave a tip is (504) 822-1111.

Staff writers Chad Calder and James Finn contributed to this story

Henry said the arsonists had attempted to burn his Kia, too, but the damage was not as clearly visible from the exterior Inside, though, the dashboard and glove compartment were melted and some things had been stolen. He said he was not sure if his vehicle was included in the eight reported by the Fire Department, but that he thought the car was a total loss.

Henry’s wife, Lauren, said “the Fire Department deserves a damned medal.” They responded quickly, put out the fires quickly, and were communicative throughout, she said. Over on Desire Street, Josh Comegys, said he woke up around 2:15 or 2:30 a.m. to the sound of popping. He got out of bed and could see flames through the window above his door He immediately moved his car, grabbed his dogs and fled down the block, where residents watched the firefighters work the scene The street smelled like charred,

burned rubber

“People were like, ‘What the f*** is going on. Is this end times?’ ” Comegys recalled.

Aftermath

Pedestrians in coats ambled about the Bywater on Monday the Martin Luther King Jr Day holiday, holding

warm coffees and gawking at the sight of a neighborhood littered with charred vehicles. On street corners, residents gathered to compare timelines, motivations and damage.

Meanwhile, in a backroom of the bustling Bywater Bakery, Osborn was almost in tears describing how grateful he was for the outpouring of support from community members.

At his bakery’s annual King Cake Festival on Saturday, musicians including Louis Michot of the Lost Bayou Ramblers and the cellist and folk musician Leyla McCalla had performed to help raise money for the New Orleans public radio channel WWNO. It was a stellar beneﬁt concert, Osborn said.

And now, since news of his burned vehicle spread, Osborn said many of those same musicians have been reaching out to ask him if he needs help. “We’ll have to do another beneﬁt,” Osborn said Michot told him. Staff writer Jason Willis contributed to this article.

Email Willie Swett at willie.swett@theadvocate. com.

Continued from page 1B

As part of the agreement, the parish was required to conduct a rate study and implement the ﬁndings. The study found that rates needed to be increased to maintain the infrastructure. The parish originally planned to increase the rates in January, but amid concerns from residents about sudden price hikes, Parish President Mike Cooper sent a letter to the state in December asking for an extension. That month, St. Tammany Parish Council member David Cougle also pushed a resolution seeking an extension Cougle said he has nearly 10,000 constituents who use the Cross Gates water system, one of the systems run by the parish’s utilities departments Residents who use 4,000 gallons of water and sewer a month from Cross Gates, for instance, will see their rates go from $72.60 to $126.80. Some parish water and sewer customers will see their rates double. St Tammany’s Department of Utilities, which previously provided water and sewer under the name Tammany Utilities, operates water systems around the parish. In total, the department has 16,000 water and sewer connections, which serve approximately 48,000 people, according to parish government spokesperson Michael Vinsanau. These changes will not affect customers of municipal water and sewer systems or the private water utilities, such as Magnolia Water Cooper said he was notiﬁed on Jan. 5 that the state had granted an extension to October

“I am happy the state approved our request,” Cooper said in a statement. He said he asked for the extension so the grant-funded projects could be completed by the time the rate increases kicked in.

At the Parish Council’s Jan. 8 meeting, council member Jeff Corbin introduced an ordinance that, if approved next month, would officially mean the rate increases start in October Corbin said he has heard complaints from some constituents and tried to explain to why the increases were necessary He said he told constituents that if they are on the Magnolia Water system, for instance, they would not only have to pay higher rates than the parish’s water system, but would also have to pay for the capital improvements and a profit line on top of that.

Cougle, on the other hand, said he plans to vote against Corbin’s ordinance.

“I do not think it’s fair for them to have such a massive increase, particularly at a time when a lot of people are struggling,” Cougle said in an email. But Corbin said he expects most council members to vote for the ordinance and for it to pass easily

Continued from page 1B

board,” Publisher Beverly McKenna told radio host Will Sutton on WBOK-1230

AM. “And after all these many years, a lot of people are not getting print. People are relying on the electronic media, their phones, on their computers.”

Also contributing to the decision was the longtime struggle to get enough advertising dollars to sustain their operation, McKenna said.

“The Black-owned media does not get the advertising that the White-owned media gets, despite the fact that we dominate in the marketplace (and) the percentage of the population is up here,” she said. McKenna said she will miss the print edition, and that she still isn’t sure that the shift is all positive, as the longer deadlines with a monthly print schedule allowed for more depth, more data and more nuance.

But longtime New Orleans Tribune Editor Anitra Brown, who also joined

the WBOK radio interview , said they will still be a forceful voice for the issues that Black New Orleanians face.

“I think what’s more important is some of the things that are just going to stay the same,” Brown said. “We are going to be the same voice that is going to be straightforward, clear, unapologetic, unfettered, speaking to, for and about the issues that impact Black New Orleans.

Wh at we’re moving toward doi ng is just to have more content, more frequently.”

The magazine will still print special issues and will continue to operate on its website at theneworleanstribune.com and on social media platforms.

Another local Blackowned publication in New Orleans, the Louisiana Weekly celebrated 100 years of its print edition last

year It was honored before the City Council in September

Publisher Renette DejoieHall, whose family started the paper a century ago, said at the council meeting that the paper would continue its print edition, work to grow its subscriber base and launch a fundraiser to digitize its archives.

Both the Tribune and the Louisiana Weekly declined to comment for this story

Email Desiree Stennett at desiree.stennett@ theadvocate.com.

Corbin said he has a mixed view on the extension. On one hand, he said it means the parish will not be building up a fund balance during the next nine months. That fund balance could be used to address other water and sewer infrastructure issues in other parts of the parish, he said. On the other hand, Corbin said he sees the benefits, since constituents will now have the time to better plan for the increases.

JAN. 18, 2026

3: 5-2-2

B. McKenna D. McKenna

STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER

Kia Simmons, 25, right, and family friend Michael Willis talk about her brother, Kareem Harris, on Monday while standing near Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, where Harris was shot and killed Friday.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

The window of a home is scorched Monday following a string of arsons in New Orleans.

The parents of Kareem Harris, left, watch and listen to the interview.

WilliamsonWednesday.

RISHER

from page1B

played at Tulane last year. This year,he’splaying for Kentucky

But this isn’tacolumn about recruitingortransfers or stats. It’sacolumn about84 people who drovetoBaton Rouge from Lafayetteon aweeknighttocheer for a young man they love —a young man they watched grow up. Eighty-four people. Not for achampionship.Not for aweekend trip. Just because it mattered. Inside the PMAC, the game unfolded the way college basketball games do —loud, fast, full of momentum swings. LSU played well. It felt, for most of the game, like they had it won. Then came the ﬁnal seconds. With 1.6secondsleft, LSU was up one point and Kentucky got the ball. Somehow,the Wildcats got the ball all the way down the court and scored at the buzzer.From one perspective, it was amiracle from another,anightmare.

Iknow what it feels like to win, and Iknow what it feels like to lose. My heart went out to the players and coaches on both sides. Mo-

AUDIT

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avoided $13 million of the shortfall, according to the auditor’sreport, which was requestedbyastatelegislator and published last month.

Still, an additional $15 million shortfall was likely unavoidable because sales and property tax revenues were “disappointingly low” in the city,according to the report, which offers apostmortem on the district’s funding crisis.

The $28 million overprojection, whichthe auditor said amounted to a$41 million shortfall because of how the shortfall impacted the district’sstate funding calculations, ﬁrst came to light in October 2024 and led to months of uncertainty for schools as district leaderstried to plug the funding gap.

The district has assumed responsibility for the projection errors, which occurred under former Superintendent Avis Williams, who resigned in November 2024. Thedistrict wasultimately able to pull from its reserve to cover most of the shortfall, evenasitsought funding from the city

The crisis also coincided with ashort-lived legal settlementbetween theboard and the city over alongrunning dispute regarding tax collection fees. That settlement, which would have offered a$20 million reprieve for the district, wasnixed by former Mayor LaToya Cantrell and has landed back in court.

Ed Seyler,director of economic advisory services for the state Legislative Auditor’sOfﬁce, said the over-

mentslike that don’tbelongsolely to the highlight reel. They belong to the people living insidethem —who will likely relive them for years to come, even after the details fade.

When theshotwent through thenet, the 84 people from Lafayette lost theirminds. They eventually made their way outside the chaos of the PMAC, where all of them waited for “Little Kam.”

TheKentucky players slowlytrickled out, carrying neatly packed, prepared postgame dinners. When Kam Williams emerged, family and friends ran to greet him. His mother presented himwithagiantbox of food she prepared smothered pork steaks, rice and gravy,along with hisgrandmother’s macand cheese. It’s his favorite meal and exactly what he had asked for.His mother also added in some Louisiana treats, including Billy’sboudin. Theheft of the Louisiana care package was unmistakable.Itrequired both of hisarms to carry it. That box was home and heart,made portable. These days, Kam Williamsisthe epitomeof cool. Hisdeep voice bears no resemblance to theone Iremember.But between thePMACand theKen-

arching recommendation stemming from the funding debaclewas that “the city and School Board could work together better.” NOLA Public Schoolsdid notrespondtoinquiries

Howithappened

District officials each spring give schoolsaprojectionoflocal salesand propertytax revenuesfor the upcoming fiscal year Schools usethosefigures to craft budgets for the following year,making stafﬁng and program decisions based on the money they expect to receiveeach month.

In March 2024, thedistrict created an “overlyoptimistic” projection, according to the report.

Actual revenues received in the ﬁscal year that began July 2024 were $28million lower than expected. An additional $13 million shortfall came from deferred revenue, funds the district sends to schools at the end of theﬁscalyear If the district had assumedproperty tax returns andsales tax growthwould be the same as they were before thepandemic, they wouldhave forecast $11 millionlessinrevenue. Instead, the districtprojected it would receive 100% of thepropertytax revenue it had billed and sales tax would grow by13%,ahistoricallyhighvalue, accordingtothe report.

“They werebasically assuming abest-case scenario forecast,” Seyler said, “but in many waysit turned out to be aworst-casescenario.”

Theboard also delayeda vote to “rollforward”tax mills until January2024, which delayed mailing of bills. Thatlikely attrib-

NewOrleans Area Deaths

Chan,Big Kuen

Duhon, Bernadine

Francis, Rosie NewOrleans

Charbonnet

Francis, Rosie Greenwood

Chan,Big Kuen River Parish RoselynnFuneral

Duhon, Bernadine

Obituaries

Chan,Big Kuen Chee

Duhon, Bernadine Schexnaydre

tucky bus, he greeted old coaches, oldfriends, mothers of oldfriends, cousins, aunts, uncles, ministers andhigh school administrators.

Then, he patiently posed forpictures with everyone whowantedone.Norushing. No eye-rolling. Just time and kindness. Watching him,I couldn’thelp but rememberwhenhewasn’t tall at all —whenhecame ﬁshing in my backyard, curious abouteverything, gentle by nature, already paying attention to the world around him. Wednesdaynight wasn’t KamWilliams’ best game. He did, however, come up with apivotalsteal and followeditwitha beautiful dunk —one of those moments that makes acrowd gasp before they cheer Kentucky came away with amiraclewin, and KamWilliams headed back to Kentuckywith aplate full of home and aheart that hadtohave been heavy with love.Not everyone gets to leavea gym that way Every nowand then, the stars align, and sports become something else entirely —a reminder of whoweare to one another, long after theﬁnalbuzzer sounds.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com

uted to $1.8 million less revenue, according to the report

Thetotal shortfallwas partiallyoffset by a$3.9 million payment in Novemberfrom the city to the board after aschool districtauditor found the city had underpaid the district in March 2024.

The boardremedied the error in March 2025 with an $18 millionallocation from thedistrict reserves and $7 million from theoperating budget,which meantpayments to schools would remain as promised through the year.Afew months later,the board agreed to payschoolsanother $12.5 million

What canbedone?

To avoid similarmiscalculations, theauditor recommended better data sharing and communication between the school district and the city

The report cites a10-year tabulation of taxable sales compiledbythe Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce and suggeststhatthe city of New Orleans could do the same. Any additional costs incurred with creating such reports could be considered in ongoing settlement negotiations in the lawsuit between the city and board over tax collection fees, the report states.

“AlthoughNOLA-PS could have had amore neutral (and moreaccurate) forecast by using information thatwas publicly availableorthatCNO did indeed provide,” the report states, “additional information could still be helpful to improve forecasting accuracy.”

Both the city andthe school district agreed with therecommendation.

BigKuenCheeChan, age92, passedaway peacefully on January15, 2026. Shewas born on De‐cember 20, 1933, in Pingan Village,Taishan,Guang‐dong,China,toFattYao Chee andKingFongChan. Shewas preceded in death by herparents,husband Hung Kirk Chan,and her sister,Big GimChee. Sheis survived by herthree chil‐dren:Miu Ying Chan (Yue Tong), YukShing Chan (LisaLaw), andWai Ying Chan (Michael Centineo). Shewas aproud grand‐mother to JasonTong, Joshua Tong,Jessica Tong FionaChan, Gigi Chan,and BrianChan; step-grand‐mother to MichaelCenti‐neo, Jr andDavid Centi‐neo(Kaitlynn);and step–great-grandmothertoJack A. Centineo.She is also survived by hersister, Bea Li Chee. BigKuenChee Chan wasanextraordinary womanwho overcame many obstaclesthrough‐out herlife. Sheworkedas achefatMaple Garden for over twenty years, where shewas knownfor her dedication andskill.She will be remembered forher strength,resilience,and devotion to herfamily. Rel‐atives andfriends arein‐vitedtovisit Greenwood FuneralHome, 5200 Canal Blvd NewOrleans,LA 70124, on Friday,January 23, 2026, starting at 9:30 a.m. Followed by prayersin theparlor. Theburialwill be private. We also invite youtoshare your thoughts,fondmemories, andcondolences online at www.greenwoodfh.com Your shared memories will help us celebrateBig Kuen’s life andkeep her memory alive.

Bernadine Ann Schexnaydre Duhon passedaway on January 16, 2026. Shewas anative of New Sarpy, LA andbornon September 4, 1933. She waspreceded in death by herhusbandof64years, NedJames Duhon; her daughter, Patricia Duhon Worrall; herparents, Nicholas andMelanie Schexnaydre;her siblings, AlbertSchexnaydre, OswaldSchexnaydre, Ethel Schexnaydre Tramonte, Roland Schexnaydre,Ralph Schexnaydre,Huey Schexnaydre

Sheissurvived by her children, Douglas Duhon Sr.(Gay), Stephanie Duhon Martin(TimothySr.), and Brent Duhon(Jody); her9 precious grandchildren, Timothy MartinJr., Jessica Martin Felder, Stephen Martin, RachelMartinWright,and RebeccaMartinTraxler, Douglas DuhonJr., Janelle DuhonJeanfreau,Shane Duhon, andHollyDuhon Perret

Bernadine wasalso the great grandmother of Kelly Carter,KurtSt. Martinand Adira Traxler,Jolene, Stevie, andJames Duhon, Wyattand Evelyn Duhon, andClara Perret,and great great grandmother of Wesley andEaston Carter Bernadine wasa loving motherand wife andenjoyed herfamily. Sheenjoyed membership with St CharlesParish Homemakers, theRed Hat Societyand Cytec Retiree's Club. Relativesand friends are invited to attenda Funeral Mass and Visitation on Wednesday, January21, 2026, at St Peter'sCatholic Church, 1550 LA 44, Reserve, LA 70084. Visitation will be held from8:30 -10:30 am. The Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 andintermentwill take place immediately at St.Peter's Catholic Mausoleum in Reserve,LA.

RosieWrightFrancis was born on December 16, 1936 to thelateDanieland ZerenaAntonio Wright in New Orleans, LA.She en‐tered into eternalreston Monday, January12, 2026 Wife of thelateCalvinJ Francis,Sr. Mother of CalvinJ.Francis,Jr.,Angela M.Francis andthe late Carl JohnFrancis.Mrs.Francis attended Dillard University, where shereceiveda BA DegreeinEducation and taughtinthe Orleans ParishPublicSchool Sys‐tem forover33years.Rela‐tives,friends;staff and employees of theOrleans ParishPublicSchool sys‐tem areinvited to attend the funeral. AMassof Christian burial honoring the life andlegacyofthe lateRosie Wright Francis willbeheldatCorpus Christi Catholic Church, 2022 St.Bernard Ave.,New Orleans,LA70116 on Thursday,January 22, 2026 at10am. IntermentSt. RochCemetery# 2, 1725 Music Street,New Orleans, LA70117. Visitation 9amin the church.Pleasesignon‐lineguestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet LabatGlapion, Directors (504) 581-4411

Continued

STAFF PHOTO By JANRISHER

More than 80 people drovetoBaton Rougefrom Lafayette to supportKentucky Wildcats playerKam

OUR VIEWS

La.tops thenation in road rage; we should work to reduce it

To drive on many Louisianaroads is to know frustration. To have to share them with other Louisiana drivers can pump adrenaline into that sentiment, turning it from everyday irritation into something much worse: road rage.

In Louisiana, roadrageisaseriousissue.In fact, for the second year in arow,Consumer Affairs has rated the state as theworst in the nation for road rage, adubious distinctionthat nonetheless will be unsurprisingfor many of us

The publication, which conductsresearch across aspectrum of consumer-focusedissues and products, studied dataonfatal crashes in which careless or reckless driving wasa factor, violations issued for dangerous drivingand trafﬁc incidents that involved gun violence. What they found was notencouraging

In Louisiana, approximately 57% of fatalaccidents were linked to aggressive or careless driving, the highestsuch rateinthe nation. Louisiana’s per capita numbers were alsothe nation’shighest

And the statehas the second-highestrateof trafﬁc violations issued for aggressiveorcareless driving and speeding. One bright spot, if it can be called that, is that Louisiana ranked 18th in therate of trafﬁc incidentsinvolving gunviolence per 100,000 people.

The states that rounded out theTop 5were, in order: New Mexico, Colorado, Arkansas and Montana.

As we stated above, these ﬁndingsare likely not asurprise. Louisiana canbeatough place to be amotorist. But we are more perplexed at the lack of public urgency to address theseissues. Louisiana already has some fairly tough laws on the books: Those convicted of reckless driving can spend up to 90 days in jail fora ﬁrst offense. Asubsequent convictioncan netthe offender six months, the Consumer Affairs report noted.

We suspect that these sortsofpenaltiesare rarely imposed, and that’s understandable. Most road rage incidentsare not likely criminal matters, thoughsome certainly endintragedy Efforts to reduce it, therefore, can’tbe solely throughthe threatoflengthyjail sentences Road rage is, however,aquality-of-life issue Reducing its occurrence is good forall of us We’d like to see amore robust education and information around this issue and thepotential harm it cancause. It also would behoove police at all levels to increase trafﬁc-enforcement deployment,especially on highway stretches where recklessness is rampant.

More importantly,it’suptous, Louisianadrivers,tosimply slow down anddecide to de-escalatetense confrontationsonthe road.To do so, experts suggest deciding toremain calm, physically distancing yourself from theother driver and reporting any problems when necessary Reducing Louisianans’ levels of roadragewill require some public or institutionaleffort. But largely,it’suptousto control ourselves. In this case, losing our No. 1rankingwould bea good thing.

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com. TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

OPINION

Immigration

wasalwayscomplex, even in thepast, even forEuropeans

Arecent writer from Port Allen asserted “facts” that we should consider when discussing themistreatment of immigrants. One assertion was that mostimmigrantsentered the United States through Ellis Island. Ellis Island opened in 1892, so from 1565, when the Spanish founded St.Augustine until then, immigrants from Europe entered the country at whatever ports accepted them. They followed no vetting process,and, in thecase of my Irish ancestors, some wereimmediately admitted to local hospitals with typhus, dysentery and other maladies.There was no legal inspection, no interview no detention and no exclusion. Irish immigrants who earned money in the U.S.sent part of their earnings back to their families:“theAmerican letter.” The same can be said for every nationality or ethnic group that has entered the country,including today’s. Such remittances aren’tagainst thelaw,and it would be tellingifthe

author’sancestors didn’tparticipate in the practice. The assertion that illegal immigrants(not acrimebut a civil violation) don’tpay local, state or federal income taxes avoids their payment of stateand local sales taxes or property taxes. The withholding of taxes belongs to theemployers who hire, knowing fully wellthat they may be undocumented. The contention that undocumented immigrants receive “health care, education, housing and other protections of the law free of charge” might also include the author’sneighbors, especially the protections of law.When the Acadianswere evicted from Nova Scotia andAcadia and entered the United States, none of the restrictions that we have today were in place. The author might consider that Native Americans looked upon our ancestors as he does these immigrants, as invaders.

MIKEFITZWILLIAM Picayune, Mississippi

Citizens sidelinedindebateoverdatacenters

Recently Caddo Parish Commissioner Ken Epperson hosted ameeting about placing adata center on what somecall the“wealthy side of town.”

Butmoving aproject across aZIP code does not change its impact. Extractive industry is either accountable to thepeople, or it isn’t.

Recently,the Shreveport CityCouncil unanimously approved aspecial use permit for adata center.Yet even after that vote, some pro-data center voices continue tospread false claims andinsinuations about the very people who raised concerns.

That should concern us all. If a project is truly safe, transparent and beneﬁcial, why the need to discredit community members after thedecision is made?

This behavior reveals adeeper issue. The questions raised about water use, electrical strain, tax incentives, environmental risk and long-term accountability were never fully answered. Smear tactics are not aresponse to those concerns; they are an attempt to silence dissent Louisianahas seen this before. Fence-linecommunities in the south-

ern part of the state werepromised jobsand progress. What followed was pollution, illness and abandonment. Those communities now serve as warnings —not models. North Louisiana should not repeat that history This momentisnot just about data centers. It reﬂects abroader pattern of rushed approvals and decisions madewithout meaningful public engagement —from school closures to industrial siting. Over time, this breedsapathy,not because people don’tcare, but because they are punished forcaring. At All Streets, All People and through theElla Jo Baker Movement School, we seek tohelp address the work of healing our communities without harming them further We do this,inpart, by ensuring people have thetools to analyze power and organize for our own protection.A unanimous vote does not end accountability.The call to action is simple: Stay engaged.

OMARI HO-SANG founder,All Streets, All People Shreveport

Greenlandaffair raises so many questionsfor Trump, Landry

Iread with great interest the article concerning President Donald Trump’sappointment of our illustrious governor as the envoy to promote our takeover of Greenland. My interest was in determining if Gov. Jeff Landry would have to give up his governorship by taking on a second public ofﬁce role, which Ibelieve Louisiana’sconstitution doesn’t allow.What really caught my eye wasLandry’sstatement that Trump had called him about taking on the position and Trump’squote asserting, “I didn’tcall him;hecalled me.” Either Landry or Trumpisaliar, braggadocious or forgetful. Any one of those qualities does not makefor good leadership. By the way,how does Trump’s desire to take over Greenland, a territory of one of our allies, differ from Xi Jinping’sdesire forTaiwan and Vladimir Putin’sdiabolical attacks on and annexation of parts of Ukraine? I’msure Xi and Putin can also use supposed security needs to justifythe takeover of their democratic neighbors, but that doesn’t makeitright; it is despotic.

ERINL.LEBLANC NewOrleans

LSUwomen’s basketball needs to getits sparkleback

The reasons whyLSU’s women’s basketball team lost somerecent games are varied: Notenough spinning, turning, twisting, bulldozing, etc.? Perhaps the reason is because Coach KimMulkey’sclothing lacks its funappeal. Suggestion: Get rid of the classic look, coach! Return to colorful, artistic threads.

KAREN POIRRIER Lutcher

Slightly less disgusting midterms

This year’spolitical struggle concerns control of alegislative branch that controls not much (presidentialismthrough executive orders predominates) or even itself (see its slapdash budgeting) Voters should be disgusted by the empty ritual of choosing every two years, from apool of potential legislatorswho do not seem to mind that they do not matter In the 2006, 2010, 2018 and 2022 off-year elections, voters ended an arrangement that theyfrequently forget is usually unfortunate: thepresident’sparty controlling both housesof Congress. Now,after 12 months with a president unconstrained byhis party’s supine congressional majorities, chastenedvoters might, come November restore asemblance of checks and balances: divided government. Party loyalty now eclipses legislators’ institutional pride. So, only divided government can make its Madisonian architecture the separation of powers; what writer Yuval Levin calls “the deliberate recalcitranceofour system of government” —work. Judging by recent decades of presidential politics, divided government would be representative government: It would represent the nation’s disposition. There has not been apresidential landslide since 1984, when Ronald Reagan defeated former vice president Walter Monday by 18 points. This was just 12 years after Richard M. Nixon defeated Sen. George McGovern by 23.2points,which occurred just eight yearsafter President Lyndon B. Johnson defeatedSen. Barry Goldwaterby 22.6 points.

dential candidatehas won more than Barack Obama’s53% of the 2008 vote.

George Will

In 1972, in the Democratic convention roll call of delegates nominating McGovern, the states were called in ascrambled order to prevent theinjustice of alphabetism, discrimination on the basis of placement in the alphabet. Thecountry,not being weird, decidedthe Democrats were.

Today, Democrats have pronoun fixations,and Republicans believewhatever the president purportstobelieve at the moment, including that trade deficits (present for 50 years) suddenly threaten the nation’s existence. Sothe parties’ craziness quotients arecomparable. This is one reason why this year’selections probably will again reflect electoral parity —anational shrug. Although midterm electionsare usually referendumson theincumbent president,and although hisnegatives exceed his positives generally,and on key issues (theeconomy immigration), a“blue wave” is unlikely

In the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats gained 40 seats. Just eight years later,sophisticated gerrymandering andthe rigidities of polarization, cause Erin Covey of theCook Political Report to note that only three House Republicansrepresent districts won in 2024 by Kamala Harris. Andjust 10 represent districtsthat Donald Trumpcarried by 5points or less.

In the 1980s, about two dozen states had asenator from each party.Today just three do (Maine, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin).

tism, areonly rhetorically,not actually, antagonistic. Julia R. Cartwright of theAmerican Institute for Economic Research notes that many self-designated conservatives —she calls them the New Right —have “mastered populism’ssimple moral drama.” Progressives have long inﬂamed ordinary political tussles by characterizing them with Manichean rhetoric: thewicked “oppressors” and thevirtuous “oppressed.” Now,faux conservatives are paying progressives thecompliment of plagiarism, celebrating the virtuous “people” against thecorrupt “elites.” Voters’ choice is between these binary moral dramas. Somechoice.

As Cartwright says, “Many of the New Right’s current policies would have been familiar to theLeft adecade ago: tariffs and industrial policy; ﬁxation on the trade deﬁcit as anational scoreboard; agrowing willingness to police speech in thename of public morality or national cohesion; and an eagerness to bend independent institutionstoexecutive will. This is apolitically marketable package because it translates frustration into concrete action: use thestate. The rhetoric is crisp, the villains are named, and the time horizon is now.”

For prudent voters and actual conservatives (andtheir congenial cousins, classical liberals), the proper time horizon is tomorrow. They are, Cartwright says, “less concerned withwho wields power today and more with designing constraints that minimizedamage when power is inevitably misused tomorrow.”

Is Greenland theway to go as icemelts?

Donald Trump andhis top lieutenants believe there is no such thing as climate change. Donald Trump andhis top lieutenants are worriedsick abouthow the melting of theArcticpolar icecap is opening anew Northwest Passage that is adeveloping national-security threat.

Oneofthe moreperplexing riddlesofthe age: How can there be an emerging sea routethrough theArcticthatposes adefense threat to theUnited States if there is no Arcticmelting that creates a fresh sea route?

Since 1984, the largestmargin of victorywas President BillClinton’s8.5 points over Sen. Bob Dole in 1996, and the average victorymargin has been just 4.6 points. Since 1988, nopresi-

The nation has sorted itself into apeculiar political stasis: ideological convergence during intensifying polarization.The rhetoricalferocity from each party’smost incandescent faction is disguising what has becomeapolitics of emulation.Traditional progressives, andthose conservatives who now are contemptuousoftraditional conserva-

This year,voters can produce the constraint of divided government. And can seed Congress with members of bothparties disgusted by what it has become.

Email George Will at georgewill@ washpost.com

Trump’sragemachine runs on distraction

Froma Harrop

Surely,Ihave plenty of company in wanting to jump off the Donald Trump distraction express. Rageisits fuel.A weekend isn’tshort enough to contain the demands on attention.Justthis last two-day break encountered: The cinematic ICE raids in Minneapolis Threats against Exxon for itsskepticism over Trump’splans forVenezuela. Astated willingnessto bombIran. His vow to take over Greenland “one way or another.” Apatently sham investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Angst over thesocial unrest in Minneapolis took centerstage with the fatal shootingof Renee Good thefocus of back-and-forth anger Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared that the ICE officer fired at Good out of self-defense: “I saw the tapes. Iknow what happened.”But she didn’t. An investigation of thetapes is still in progress. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey didn’tknow either,thoughheinsisted that Good was an innocent mother murdered in cold blood. “I’m biased becauseI got two eyes,” he said.“Anybody can see thesevideos. Anybody can see that this victim is not adomesticterrorist.” Experts in law enforcementkept sayingthatthey must waitfor an investigation before reaching for aconclusion. What happened could have been an ICE officer being run down or an ICE officer acting out of self-defense There’sanother interpretation of the tapes that might muddy the waters WasGood reallyjust asweet mother with stuffed animals in theback of her SUV?That ignoresthe possibilitythat she was invoking White privilege. You see her wife is holding thephone in theICE agent’sface and taunting him, “You wanna come at us?” Then there’s the part where Good refusesorders to get out of thecar.She smiles at the officer,under her halo of strawberry blonde hair,and says, “That’sfine, dude, I’m not mad at you.” Then she starts driving off. ICE critics swallow the presentation whole. They don’tsee the hintofmockery—anair of “you wouldn’tdosomething to anice White lady like me.” It would seem unlikely that aperson of color,male or female, and in alesser vehicle would have flipped off the police like that.

My twoeyesadded that scenario to the others. It didn’t follow that the ICE officer had to shoot Good, but informed lawenforcement opinion seems right: An investigation is in order Both sides on such emotional confrontationsensure Trump’scontrol of thenews. Trump needs Americansto keepfighting one another.The fight is theobjective. It’smoreimportantthan winning thefight. “I bring rage out,” Trumphas said. “I do bring rage out. Ialways have. Idon’t knowifthat’s an asset or liability,but whatever it is, Ido.” Trumphas conceded that enraging people is thesecret sauce in his political effectiveness.

After all, that is how he managed to put together aviolent attack on the

Capitol based on proven lies of astolen election. Sure, he’dpassed them off to his low-information followers, some mentally unbalanced, manywith rap sheets. Butthey were people whom he’d already pumped up over avariety of grievances. Some beefs were real, but thephony ones worked, too. Andhow easy inventing new conﬂictshas become now that seemingly everybody has avideo camera on their cellphones —and Trumpissupplying daily new “footage” for their social media feeds.

Alas,wecan’tdepend on aclever opposition to deny him thedramatic street scenes he gins up, directing attention away from what he doesn’t want spotlighted. Imean, who is talking about the Epstein ﬁles these days?

Froma is Harrop on X, @FromaHarrop.

Washington isn’ttaking on that question,whichwemight callthe Great Contradiction.But it does explain another mystery,stoked by the American adventureinVenezuela: Trump’s obsession withobtaining Greenland, nowcontrolledbyDenmark.

The stakes of wrestling withthe climate change/ national-security contradiction are high.

There’sthe forbiddenact of questioning the president’s viewonanything, especially his conviction globalwarming is a“hoax.” There’s the cost of ignoring thethreat, coming notonly from Russia, which sits as littleas2.4 miles from the U.S. across theBering Strait, butalso fromChina, which sits farfrom the Arcticand cannot— here comes another riddle —plausibly describe itself as an Arcticcountry theway Canada, Russia,and the Scandinaviancountries do.

Instead,China considers itselfa “near Arctic” power raising yetanother riddle.How closedotwo entities have to be to be “near?” China’sapparent answer: about 930 miles

It considers theArcticpart of its“Silk Road,” a metaphor morethana highway;the real Silk Road wasatraderoute between Chinaand theWest. One unavoidableconclusion, alongwiththe threat thatChinese naval vessels, including nuclear submarines, pose to theUnited States and Canada,isthatBeijing views theArcticaspartof efforts to create traderelations with, andmaybe militaryadvantageover, Europe.

Here’sthe contradiction writ large:Though defensesecretary Pete Hesgeth in Mayorderedthe endofPentagon “references to climate change and related subjects,” he also expressed support for “assessing weather-related impacts on operations, mitigating weather-related risks[or] conducting environmental assessments.”

It’s minus 8degrees FahrenheitinIqaliut,the capital of Canada’sNunavut territory,asthis is being written. So there’s notmuchofa Northwest Passage— the phrase comes from thesix-centuryoldfascination withasea lane from theAtlanticto thePaciﬁc,apreoccupation that bedazzledEuropean explorers in thecolonialperiod —toworry about, andwon’tbefor several months.

But militaryofﬁcialsinboth Canada andthe UnitedStates are worryingnow,especially because Chinawas abletosenda“research submarine”beneath theArcticOcean this summer. Nowanother riddle:Whatexactlywerethe Chinese researching? Very likely nothow foxesand ravensfeast on thecarrion remains frompolar bears’ feeding habits. Could they be examining whetherglobal warming provides them accesstoa potential staging area foranattack on NorthAmerica, especially giventhe sparse population in the area? (Nunavut hasapopulation of density of about one-tenth of aperson persquare mile. Wyoming, the least dense of the continental American states, is 600 times denser than that.)

Physicsand chemistry knownoequationsremotelylikethis:(Meltingice +increasing big-power activityinthe region) ÷climate-change denial= increased national-security threat.

At thesame time, Russia’sexpansionist impulses (see Ukraine,invasion of) only addtothe need for themilitary buildup that theUnited States and Canada are undertaking— even as thetwo countries spar over tariffs andasCanada, withits new burst of nationalism, is less and less amenable to American inﬂuenceand commerce. There may be no Kentucky bourbon beingsoldinCanadianliquor outlets, but there’snolack of interestincooperation withthe United States on Arcticdefense

The twocountries monitor Arcticmovements, particularlythe oceanographicsurvey ships and submarines that China have deployed, but their own national security isn’tthe only concern. Another: thepotential of China using theArcticfor swift passageofnaval battleships or submarines from Asia to Europe.

Urgencyover theArctichas come andgone many times.“Such interest is usually ephemeral, andmarked by clashes of interest between indigenouspeoples, non-indigenous settlers, external commercial interests, andgovernments,”according to an October report by theArcticInstitute’s Center forCircumpolar Security Studies. It’s oneofthe many regional hazards. “Getting sensors in place to see what is happening in our territory andthe approaches to ourterritory,”General Wayne Eyre, chiefofthe CanadianDefense Staff from 2021 to 2024, saidinaninterview, “is part of this.”

So,the Trump team insists, is an American Greenland.

EmailShribman at dshribman@post-gazette. com.

David Shribman

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREENIKHINSON

President Donald Trumpspeaks to reporters while in flight on Air Force OnetoJoint Base Andrews, Md.

SWEET16-0

Hoosiers complete championship campaign forthe ages

BY EDDIE PELLS AP national writer

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.— Fernando Mendoza bulldozedhis way into the end zone and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to putthe finishing touches on arags-to-riches story,anundefeated season and the national title. The Heisman Trophywinner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking,sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth and 4with 9:18 left that defined thisgame andthe

Hoosiers’season.

Indiana would not be denied.

“I had to go airborne,”Mendoza said.

“I would die for my team.”

Mendoza’sTDgaveturnaround artist Curt Cignetti’steam a10-point lead —barelyenough breathing room to hold off afrenzied charge by thehardhittingHurricanes, who bloodied Mendoza’slip early, then came to life late behind 112 yards and twoscores from running back Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.

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‘Anythingispossible’ nowincollege football afterIndiana’s climb

MIAMI GARDENS,Fla.— TwoIndiana fans looked at each other afew minutes before kickoff of thenational championship game.

“Canyou believe we’rehere?” one said. The other shook his head.

Can you believe it,either? That college football would get to aplace wherewhathappenedMonday night is possible?

Indiana hasbeen acollege football afterthought for most of its existence, aschool that cared more aboutbasketball than anything else. Its own

Wilson Alexander

fans thought they could only dream of success, but whatwas once unfathomable has become reality

Indiana footballwon its ﬁrst national championship by beating Miami 27-21, completing aturnaround that no onesaw coming twoyears ago. It beat ablueblood that has struggledtomeet expectationsfor most of the past two decades but still

ä See WILSON, page 3C

Former Saints coaches, playershelpswing NFLplayo

BYMATTHEWPARAS Staff writer

The New Orleans Saints did not make the playoffs this season, but there were reminders ofthe franchise across the divisional round.

This past weekendsaw anumber of former Saints —from coaches to players who were on the roster as recentlyasNovember —featured in big moments in the postseason, forbetter and worse.

Here’s alookat how former Saints swung the games. Sean Payton,Broncos coach

Let’sstart with the obvious. In his third season in Denver,the former Saints head coach has guided his new teamtothe AFC championship game thanks to a33-30 over-

time win over the BuffaloBills Payton has thechance to become the firstcoach towin the Super Bowl with two different teams, but first he’llhavetopull offone of the finest coaching jobs in his career with backupJarrettStidham at quarterback when Denver takes on the New EnglandPatriots on Sunday.Payton announced after Saturday’swin that quarterback Bo Nix suffered aseason-ending ankle injury.The Saintsreceived a2023 first-round pickand a2024 second-round pickinexchange for Paytonand a2024 third-round pick after he came out of retirement following their split in 2021. MalcolmRoach,Broncos DT Like in NewOrleans, Roach has proved to be an excellent rotational

defensivelineman.Thoughhe doesn’tstart, he can still make a huge impact,and he did just that against the Bills.The 27-year-old recorded 11/2 sacks andrecovered afumble on aturnover-heavyday for Buffalo. “Mydawg ROACH went feral yesterday!”Saints defensive end Cam Jordan tweeted. The Broncos signedRoach as a free agent in 2024 and then gave himathree-year extension worth up to $29.25 millioninNovember WilLutz, Broncoskicker Released in 2023 after losing a training camp competition against Blake Grupe,Lutz hasrebounded nicelyinDenver. He hitall fourof his ﬁeld goals in Saturday’svictory,

IN DI ANA MI AMI

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByMARTALAVANDIER

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza celebrates after scoring against Miami during the second half of theCollegeFootballPlayoff national championshipgame on MondayinMiami Gardens, Fla

Iowa breaks into top 10

Hawkeyes achieve highest ranking since Clark left; women’s top six remain unchanged

BY DOUG FEINBERG

AP basketball writer

Iowa cracked the top 10 for the ﬁrst time in two years and UConn remained the unanimous No. 1 choice in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll. The Hawkeyes last were ranked this high in the ﬁnal poll of Caitlin Clark’s senior year They had been as high as 11th a few times this season.

UConn received all 30 firstplace ballots from a national media panel as the top six teams in the poll were unchanged from a week earlier The Huskies have won 34 consecutive games dating back to last season UConn hosted former Big East rival Notre Dame late Monday; the Fighting Irish fell out of the poll this week No. 2 South Carolina and No. 3 UCLA were next. Texas remained fourth despite losing to South Carolina 68-65 last week. Vanderbilt and LSU were next while Michigan moved up a spot to seventh with Louisville, TCU and Iowa rounding out the top 10. Each team climbed one place after Kentucky lost to Mississippi State on Sunday The Wildcats fell four spots to 11th.

Soaring Blue Devils Duke vaulted back into the poll at No. 21 after winning its 10th consecutive game last week. The team was seventh in the preseason Top 25 before dropping six

of its first nine games including to LSU, to fall out. Duke has been on a hot streak over the last month to get back in the poll.

Rising Tigers

Princeton moved up to No. 20 this week, the team’s best ranking since the Tigers were 13th in the ﬁnal poll of 2015. They had a 13-game winning streak heading into Monday’s game against Harvard. The lone defeat on the season came against Maryland.

Falling Cyclones

Iowa State dropped out of the poll for the ﬁrst time this season after losing its ﬁfth consecutive game on Sunday The Cyclones were 10th on Dec. 22, but have steadily fallen down the rankings since.

Conference supremecy

The SEC has nine teams in the Top 25 for the second straight week. The Big Ten is next with seven as Washington re-entered

the poll this week and Illinois fell out. The Big 12 has ﬁve ranked teams after West Virginia returned to the rankings. The ACC has two while the Big East and Ivy League each have one.

Game of the week

No. 5 Vanderbilt at No. 2 South Carolina, Sunday The Commodores will put their undefeated SEC record on the line against the Gamecocks in a key SEC matchup. Vanderbilt is off to its best start in two decades.

Arizona unanimous No. 1 for ﬁrst

Clemson climbs four spots; North Carolina drops eight

BY JOHN MARSHALL

AP sportswriter

Arizona is the unanimous No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the first time. The Wildcats received all 61 votes from a media panel in Monday’s poll, a week after picking up all but one first-place vote. Arizona (18-0) won both of its games last week to remain among the three undefeated Division I teams and earn the program’s first unanimous No. 1 ranking — according to Sportradar — after Iowa State lost twice. The Cyclones, who received one first-place vote last week, dropped seven spots to No. 9 after their undefeated season ended. Arizona has been ranked No. 1 for six straight weeks, its longest run since eight straight in 201314 when the Wildcats opened 210. UConn, Michigan, Purdue and Duke rounded out the top five. No. 7 Nebraska (18-0) won both its games last week to remain undefeated and moved up a spot this week to notch its highest ranking ever No. 24 Saint Louis (17-1) is ranked for the first time since reaching No. 22 in 2021 after stretching its winning streak to 11 straight.

No. 25 Miami (Ohio) is ranked for the ﬁrst time since a threeweek stint in the AP Top 25 in 1998-99. The Red Hawks blew out Central Michigan on Tuesday, but needed overtime to beat Buffalo 105-102 on Saturday pulling it out on Pete Suder’s 3-pointer with just over a second remaining.

Rising/falling

No. 18 Clemson made the biggest move among teams already

in the poll, climbing four places with wins over Boston College and Miami Texas Tech moved up three places to No. 12 following wins over Utah and then-No. 11 BYU. No. 22 North Carolina had the week’s biggest drop, losing eight places after being swept by the ACC’s Bay Area schools No. 9 Iowa State lost seven spots following losses to two unranked teams, Kansas and Cincinnati. No. 15 Vanderbilt dropped five places after seeing its undefeated season come to an end with losses to Texas and No. 16 Florida.

In and out

No. 19 Kansas returned to the poll after being left out last week after handing Iowa State its ﬁrst loss and beating Baylor by 18. Saint Louis and Miami (Ohio) were the only other teams to join this week’s poll. Tennessee dropped out from No. 24 after blowing a 17-point lead in an 80-78 loss to Kentucky Utah State’s road loss to Grand Canyon knocked the Aggies out of the poll from No. 23. Seton Hall didn’t receive a single vote and dropped out of the poll from No. 25 after losses to UConn and Butler Conference watch Kansas’ return to the poll gives the Big 12 Conference a

nation’s best six ranked teams. The Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and ACC each have ﬁve ranked teams. The Big East, West Coast, Atlantic-10 and Mid-American conferences have one each.

Hafley, Dolphins reach agreement for coaching job

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins and Jeff Hafley have reached an agreement to make the former Boston College head coach and Packers defensive coordinator their coach, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Monday

Hafley replaces Mike McDaniel, who was fired after going 35-33 in four seasons. The Dolphins also fired longtime general manager Chris Grier during the season. Hafley, who spent two seasons in Green Bay, met with the Dolphins for a second interview earlier Monday before he was offered the job. He will rejoin new GM JonEric Sullivan in Miami.

The 46-year-old Haﬂey left his job at Boston College in 2024 to become defensive coordinator in Green Bay

Seahawks RB Charbonnet out for playoffs with injury SEATTLE Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet will miss the remainder of the playoffs with a knee injury that requires surgery coach Mike Macdonald said in a local radio interview on Monday Charbonnet injured his knee during Saturday night’s 41-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC divisional round. During the regular season, Charbonnet led the Seahawks with 12 rushing touchdowns, as well as added 730 yards, which trailed only Kenneth Walker III for the team lead.

Charbonnet became the first Seahawks running back since Marshawn Lynch in 2014 to rush for at least 10 touchdowns in a season

Falcons coach Stefanski will retain DC Ulbrich

ATLANTA Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been retained on new coach Kevin Stefanski’s staff, the team announced Monday The decision to keep Ulbrich came two days after Stefanski was named as the replacement for ﬁred coach Raheem Morris. Ulbrich carried the endorsement of Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who had said when Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot were ﬁred that he would recommend but not mandate the new coach keep the defensive coordinator

In Ulbrich’s ﬁrst season as defensive coordinator, the Falcons set a team record with 57 sacks, one year after ﬁnishing next-tolast in the league with 31.

No. 5 Vanderbilt women hold off No. 7 Michigan

NEWARK, N.J Freshman guard

Aubrey Galvan hit a late free throw and ﬁnished with 20 points as No. 5 Vanderbilt beat No. 7 Michigan 72-69 on Monday as part of a doubleheader played at the Prudential Center on Martin Luther King Jr Day Galvan was 7 of 14 from the ﬁeld and Mikayla Blakes and Justine Pissott, both New Jersey prep stars, scored 14 points apiece for Vanderbilt (19-0), which ran its season-opening winning steak to 19 games.

Syla Swords and Kendall Dudley each scored 16 points for Michigan (15-3). Olivia Olson added 14 points as the Wolverines had their fourgame winning streak halted. Vanderbilt leads the series against Michigan, 4-1.

Thunder guard Williams out with hamstring strain Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams has a right hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in a couple of weeks, a signiﬁcant loss for the defending NBA champions.

The 6-foot-6 Williams was named an All-Star last season for the ﬁrst time and was selected all-defensive second-team and All-NBA third-team. He is averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists this season and has helped the Thunder compile a league-best 35-8 record. He was hurt during the second quarter of Saturday’s 122-120 loss at Miami. The team said then that he had right

though he grabbed his right hamstring as he limped off the court. Ajay Mitchell likely will pick

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NICK ROHLMAN

owa guard

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NAM y. HUH

Nebraska forward Berke Buyuktuncel, top left, blocks a shot by Northwestern forward Tre Singleton, top right, during a game in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday.

CFPChampionship

THREEAND OUT: WILSON ALEXANDERGIVES HISTHREE TAKEAWAySFROMINDIANA’S SHININGMOMENT

1

INDIANA MAKES HISTORY

With the win, Indiana became the first FBS team to complete a16-0 season in the modernera, an accomplishment made possible by the expansion of the College Football Playoff twoyears ago.Theonlyother 16-0 teaminhigh-levelcollegefootballhistory was yale in 1894. North Dakota State also went 16-0 in 2019 in theFCS.The Hoosiers are notthe best team ever, but theywill have to be mentioned in the conversation now.

MENDOZA EARNS HIS MOMENT

Indiana controlled the entire first half to takea 10-0 lead, but Miami wouldnot go away.Itcut the deficit to one score threeseparate timesinthe second half, making it 24-21midwaythrough the fourth quarter.But Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza made several clutch plays. He hit wide receiver Charlie Becker on twoback-shoulder fades to move the chains,and he scoredIndiana’s final touchdown on a12-yard runonfourth down.

3

IT’S THE BIGTEN —AGAIN

cades of dominance by theSEC,the BigTen has asserted its control. Indiana followedMichigan (2023) and Ohio State (2024) to give the conference itsthird straight national championship.The win marked the first time since1940-42 that the Big Tenwon three titles in arow.The last time theSEC went three straight years without winning it all was 1999-2002. Howmuchlonger is thestreakgoing to last

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendozalookstopass against Miami during the first half of the CollegeFootballPlayoff national championshipgame on Mondayin Miami Gardens, Fla

Hemby2-5. MISSED FIELDGOALS_Miami,Davis 50.

Continued from page1C

The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the mostunlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana— acampus that endured anationleading 713 losses over130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived twoyears ago to embark on arevival for the ages.

“Took some chances, found a way.Let me tell you:Wewon the national championship at Indiana University.Itcan be done,” Cignetti said.

Indiana finished 16-0 by using the extra gamesafforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match aperfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894.

In aﬁtting bit of symmetry,this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’sbasketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.

That hasn’thappened since, and there’salready some thought that college football —inits evolving, money-soaked era —mightnot see ateam like this again, either Players like Mendoza —a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’scampus —certainly don’tcome around often.

Twofourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter,after Fletcher’ssecond touchdown carved the Hurricanes’ deﬁcit to

Continued from page1C

owns four national titles.Indiana had so many fans in the crowd of 67,227 that Miami got booed running out of the tunnel into its own home stadium.

“When you’ve got the right people in your organization —coaches and players —and you’ve got a plan and great leadership and they commit to getting better,anything is possible,” Indiana coachCurt Cignetti said. The win proved that college footballfundamentally has changed. Longtime bottom dwellers are rising up, and no one has done a better job than Indiana. Before the arrival of the transformative Cignetti, the Hoosiers never had adouble-digit win season. They entered this year with the most losses in Division Ihistory.They had not ﬁnished in the top5 of The Associated Press Top25 Poll since 1967. All of that has changed now.Indiana became the ﬁrst FBS team to go 16-0 in the modern era, afeat made possible by the expansion of the College Football Playoff two years ago.The only other 16-0 team in high-level college football history was Yale in 1894. In the FCS, North Dakota State also went 16-0 in 2019.

three, put Mendoza in position to shine.

The ﬁrst wasa19-yard completion to Charlie Becker on abackshoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came adecision and play that wins championships. Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth and4fromthe 12, but quicklycalled his second timeout. Theteam huddled on the ﬁeld and the coach drew up aquarterback draw,hopingthe Hurricanes would beina defensethey had shown before.

“Werolled the dice and said, ‘They’re going to be in it again’, and they were,’”Cignetti said. “We blocked it well, he broke atackle or two and got in the end zone.”

Notknown as arun-first guy, Mendoza slipped one tackle, then took ahit and spun around. He kept his feet, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out aready-made poster pic for atitle run straight from the movies.

Maybe they’ll call it “Hoosiers.”

Noneofthis would have happened at Indiana —atleast not like this —evenfive yearsago. Butdirect player compensation and the transfer portal transformed the sport, makingitpossiblefor anyone to compete. Indiana grabbed thenational titlethe same year that Vanderbilt won 10 games and Texas Tech won the Big 12 for the first time. It can happen quickly,too. Cignetti, 64,isthe first coach to

wina national championship in his ﬁrst or secondseason with a team since Gene Chizik at Auburn in 2010. Chizik had quarterback Cam Newton carrying his team Cignetti assembled aroster without aﬁve-star recruit and only two four-starprospects. He wasthe head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania adecade ago, and he brought the core of his team with him from James Madison. “Back when Iwas waxing the

staff table at IUP on Thanksgiving weekend and school was shutting down for theplayoffs,did Iever think something like this waspossible?” Cignetti said. “Probably not. Butifyou keep your nose down in life and youkeep working, anything is possible.” It took several gutsy calls.

Indiana controlled the first half to take a10-0 lead, but Miami kept coming back whenever the Hoosiers extended their lead. The Hurricanes pressured HeismanTrophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendozamore than he hadbeen in Indiana’sfirst two playoff games, sacking him three times. Mendoza threw only five incompletions combined in blowoutwins over Alabama and Oregon.Hecompletedjust 59% (16 of 27) of his passesfor 186 yards without atouchdownagainst Miami.

With Indiana leading 17-14 early in thefourth quarter,itfaced a fourth and 5from the Miami 37yard line. Cignetti went forit, and Mendoza completed aback shoulderfade to wide receiver Charlie Becker along the sideline. When thedrive stalled again fourplays later,Cignetti ran out his ﬁeld goal team on fourth and 4atthe 12 yard line.Itdidn’tfeel right, and he called timeout.

“Thatone tooksomethought,” Cignetti said. “Theywereinthe perfect coverage theplaybefore.

We bankedthatthey wouldbein it again.”

Mendoza ran aquarterback drawthatwill go down in college football history.Hebounced off one tackle as he picked up the ﬁrst down, spun around and extended the ball across the goal line when he dove toward the end zone. Four Miami defenders were closing in on him. Mendoza took ahit. His touchdownwas the last of the game.

“I would diefor those guys on the ﬁeld,” Mendoza said.

“Theydid exactly whatweexpected and talked about,” Miami defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor said. “It was just miscommunication.”

Miamiresponded with another touchdowndrive to narrow the scoreagain, but on the ensuing possession, Mendoza completed another back-shoulder throw to Becker on third and 7along the sideline.The 19-yard gain helped set up Indiana foraﬁeld goal, and Miami quarterback Carson Beck threw an interception with less than aminute lefttoend it. Red and white confetti burst onto the field. “Fernando” by ABBA playedoverthe loudspeakers. Indiana had won the national championship.

That maytake some getting used to, but there’snoreason to think it will be the only time somethingimprobable happens again.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByREBECCA BLACKWELL

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti smiles after theirwin against Miami in the CollegeFootballPlayoff national championship game on MondayinMiami Gardens, Fla

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By REBECCA BLACKWELL Miami quarterbackCarson Beck is sacked by Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game on MondayinMiami Gardens, Fla.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By LyNNE SLADKy

Sharing ‘DNA’

LSU assistant Patrick proud of friend, former player Golden at Florida

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

David Patrick didn’t hesitate to answer the call of one of his former players and a close friends.

Before the current LSU associate head coach embarked on his ﬁrst season leading Sacramento State in 2022, Todd Golden visited him. He sought advice on assembling a coaching staff after leaving San Francisco to take over at Florida.

“I shared about who would complement him,” Patrick said. “Ultimately, Todd made his right choices, but he deﬁnitely leaned on me on who he should talk to, who he should connect with in this region. Because when you come from the west coast, you know, it’s hard to adapt quickly in the southeast, where he’s never lived a long portion of his life.”

Golden’s coaching origins began during his playing days at St. Mary’s (2004-08). The California Catholic school with fewer than 3,000 enrollees was where he met Patrick, a St. Mary’s assistant (2006-10) and coaches who taught him what it takes to win games. Patrick watched the future national championship-winning coach go from a walk-on to starting point guard.

Patrick, 49, views Golden, 40, like a little brother Their friendship extends beyond the basketball court, with Patrick attending Golden’s wedding and Golden attending the birthday party of Patrick’s 1-yearold daughter.

Their bond will pause for a couple of hours when LSU (13-5, 1-4 SEC) plays Florida (13-5, 4-1) at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. This will be the third time they have competed against each other as coaches.

“He won’t be talking to me, and I won’t be talking to him game day,” Patrick said.

Patrick said competing against a close friend and a former player is tricky because he normally enjoys seeing others’ success. He also views the opportunity another way

“One, it means I’m getting older,” he said with a laugh. “Two, it means you been part of the right programs to see your former players or former colleagues go on to have success as a coach. As much as it sucks, it means that you’re keeping good company in your journey.”

Another connection Patrick has at Florida is associate head coach

Korey McCray, who was an assistant at LSU during the 2013-14 season that coincided with Patrick’s ﬁrst stint with the Tigers from 2012-16 under head coach

ä LSU at Florida, 6 P.M.TUESDAy ESPN2

Johnny Jones. Patrick and Golden come from the coaching tree of St Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett, who is in his 25th season with the Gaels.

The West Coast Conference program, which has gone to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, was an early adopter of using analytics to inform coaching decisions.

The advanced metrics frontier helped the staff decide on Golden as the starting point guard.

“The ‘Moneyball’ stats that everyone does now, back in the early 2000s, that was not en vogue,” Patrick said. “Coach would always say, ‘Man, Todd’s playing better than this guy, just doesn’t look the part.’ And so when we inserted him, our wins went up.”

During the 2007-08 season, St. Mary’s earned a victory against rival WCC powerhouse Gonzaga in the ﬁrst meeting of the regular season before making the NCAA Tournament. Golden, a senior, had 19 points and made all six of his 3-pointers in the 89-85 overtime win against Gonzaga.

“He was a guy that did more with less,” Patrick said of Golden.

“He looked exactly the same as he does now probably with less hair and a young baby face, going out there competing at a high level

So you could tell he was always going to be, probably a businessman before you thought coach because he’s very smart.

The pull toward coaching was helped by his competitive streak as someone who was “tougher than he looks” on the court, Patrick said The analytical approach Golden uses today is influenced by his and Patrick’s time with the Gaels The Florida coach’s ﬁrst assistant job at Columbia was under coach Kyle Smith, who was an assistant for Bennett at St. Mary’s (2001-10) and now leads Stanford.

When Patrick watches Florida, he sees the St. Mary’s “DNA.” He even has a good idea about who will be substituted after timeouts when he watches the Gators because he knows Golden’s values.

When their battle concludes, Patrick will continue cheering for his friend’s success.

“That’s what you coach for,” Patrick said. “Leave your players or your student-athletes better than you found them. It’s a blessing to be a piece of his life and still be involved in it. It’s great to see that the foundation laid by coach Bennett and our staff is set with him, and he’s put his own twist on what he’s learned.”

Richard making point clear for LSU, Mulkey

those actions.”

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

The

ﬁrst World team for the NBA All-Star Game is already looking loaded. And the fate of LeBron James’ record streak of All-Star selections will be decided by coaches, or perhaps even NBA commissioner Adam Silver Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama were among those announced Monday as starters for next month’s AllStar Game in Inglewood, California. They’re likely heading to the World team, which will take on two teams of U.S. players as part of yet another new format for the midseason showcase.

The NBA announced 10 starters, ﬁve from each conference. Golden State’s Stephen Curry, New York’s

Jalen Brunson, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey and Boston’s Jaylen Brown all are presumably headed to the U.S. squads that will play in the three-team, round-robin tournament on Feb. 15 all 12-minute mini-games, with the top two teams advancing to a 12-minute championship game.

“It’s still as special as the ﬁrst one was, honestly,” GilgeousAlexander said of the All-Star nod. “I grew up watching AllStar games as a kid, dreaming about playing in them. To be able to play in them will always have that same feeling.”

Starters were selected through a weighted formula, with fan voting counting for 50% of a player’s ranking; the votes of a 100-member panel of broadcasters and reporters counting for 25%; and voting by NBA players themselves counting for the remaining 25%.

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Before the LSU women’s basketball team beat Oklahoma on Sunday, someone asked associate head coach Bob Starkey whether he and the rest of coach Kim Mulkey’s staff knew that Jada Richard could play as well as she is now Starkey knew the answer He has for a while. When it comes to the new LSU lead point guard, what may not have been obvious to folks outside of the program was clear to those inside of it.

ä LSU at Texas A&M, 8 P.M.THURSDAy, SECN

“She’ s the type of player right now,” Starkey said, “th at we thought she was going to be.”

Last season, when Richard was a freshman she couldn’t get off the bench. Now Mulkey can’t take her off of the floor She’s become one of the No. 6 Tigers’ most indispensable players.

The sophomore from Opelousas is playing more than 30 minutes per game against SEC opponents. She logged a teamhigh 37 minutes Sunday in a 91-72 win over Oklahoma, tallying a career-high 21 points, ﬁve rebounds, three assists and two steals. LSU outscored the No. 16 Sooners by 20 points when she was in the game.

That kind of showing was routine for Richard when she was at Lafayette Christian. She was a Gatorade Louisiana player of the year, and she scored nearly 3,000 career points.

But because Richard is just 5-foot-7, and because she didn’t play AAU basketball on one of

the nation’s premier circuits, she ﬂew under the national recruiting radar

ESPN said she was only the 90th-best prospect in her class.

LSU didn’t mind. Mulkey and her staff made her their lone 2024 freshman signee anyway

“She was a very, very competitive defensive player in high school,” Starkey said, “and also quick off the bounce that could shoot the basketball. It was just a matter of her transferring that to the collegiate level.” Richard has notched at least 10 points in four of the ﬁve league contests the Tigers (17-2, 3-2 SEC) have played so far She hit that mark only twice last year, and neither was against SEC teams. This season, she needed only two conference matchups to tally more points (26) than she did in 16 SEC games last season.

A year later Richard has a much larger role She now can score at all three levels, as she showed against Oklahoma. She drained ﬂoaters around the rim, pull-up jumpers from the midrange and she even nailed a stepback 3-pointer in the ﬁrst quarter, which helped LSU climb out of an early nine-point hole.

Richard also drew the primary assignment of defending star freshman Aaliyah Chavez, who shot only 3 of 14 from the ﬁeld.

“I would say she did a great job of just controlling the tempo on defense,” Flau’jae Johnson said, “getting back in transition. We had a couple of lapses in transition, but overall, Jada controlled the pace. She really controlled the whole dynamic on defense, so I would say it was her really dictating what Oklahoma did on

That responsibility is an important part of the job description for Mulkey point guards. They’re in charge of defending the point of attack. They have to prevent opposing ballhandlers from dribble penetrating and drawing help defenders — something Richard can do because she has quick feet and a low center of gravity

“She has a voice on the ﬂoor now,” Starkey said. “She doesn’t have a problem saying something to Flau’jae or Mikaylah (Williams) or any of our players, in terms of getting them in the right place or telling them something that they need to do or some area they need to pick up upon.

“So that voice has been, I think, the biggest change.”

Richard’s emergence is especially notable because LSU has struggled for the last two seasons to ﬁnd someone whose skills ﬁt the role that Mulkey wants her point guards to play. Alexis Morris knew how to run the system, but she exhausted her eligibility after the Tigers’ national title run in 2023.

Hailey Van Lith wasn’t the right fit in 2023-24. Neither was Shayeann Day-Wilson or Last-Tear Poa or Mjracle Sheppard last season.

Some of them could move the ball, defend the point of attack or shoot off of the dribble.

But none of them could master all three of those skills the way Richard has this season, giving the Tigers the production from point guard they’ve been trying to ﬁnd for the past two seasons.

“She’s everything that we thought she was gonna be,” Starkey said.

Karr boys hoops returns to winning ways

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

The Edna Karr boys basketball team has more than doubled its win total from last year in what’s been a turnaround season for the Cougars.

After a disappointing sevenwin season, Karr is back on track this year as evidenced by a 16-5 record. The Cougars got off to an 11-0 start and have won three of their last ﬁve games against Rummel, Country Day and Booker T. Washington, all of which have winning records.

A deep rotation resulted in several different Karr players making an impact during a 45-34 road win over Booker T. Washington on Friday Five Karr players scored six or more points, and three others pulled down four or more rebounds.

“We have a number of guys that can do a lot of different things,” Karr coach Taurus Howard said. “That’s our goal offensively, we want to share the ball and have a balanced attack. It’s always a priority for us to play sound defense

and rebound the basketball. We want to do that every game.”

Juniors Delvin Jordan and Kahlil Fisher led Karr in scoring during Friday’s win, with Jordan scoring a team-high 10 points and Fisher adding eight. Junior Jamion Davis was the Cougars’ top scorer off the bench, ﬁnishing with seven points and four rebounds.

Karr senior guards Kaleb Williams and Kingston Harris also made an impact. Williams finished with seven points and two rebounds, with Harris adding six points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal.

“I just try to affect the game in any way possible that I can,” Harris said. “Try to get steals on defense, get my teammates open, get easy shots. We had a goal that we didn’t want (last year’s record) to happen this year Our work has been showing.”

Senior Kenvon Riley was among Karr’s top rebounders along with junior Tahj Turner, who was on the football team that’s won backto-back state championships. Senior John Martin made an impact on defense.

“John Martin did a solid job keeping the ball away from (Booker T. Washington) and keeping them off the boards,” Howard said. “That was real key throughout the course of the game.”

Prior to last year, Karr qualiﬁed for the postseason every year since 2014 and reached the state semifinals as recently as 2022.

The Cougars are currently No. 4 overall in the Division I select power ratings. Up next for Karr is a Tuesday road matchup against Hahnville before district play begins. The Cougars’ first district game is scheduled for Friday at home against John Curtis, who’s ranked No. 1 in Division I select.

“We had a good offseason and had some guys buy in to play Karr basketball,” Howard said. “As long as we show improvement every day, I’m happy with that. We’ve got a good group. Hopefully we’ll be in a good rhythm for district and when playoff time comes.”

Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU associate head coach David Patrick yells instructions against Southern Miss on Dec. 29 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center Patrick used to coach Florida head coach Todd Golden

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU guard Jada Richard moves the ball around Texas guard Jordan Lee in the third quarter on Jan. 11 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center

Saints personnel to play huge role in Senior Bowl

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

The New Orleans Saints will have a heavier presence than usual at this year’s Senior Bowl. Saints running backs coach Joel Thomas will serve as the head coach of the American team in the all-star exhibition game featuring players vying to be selected in the NFL draft. He’ll have a number of other Saints assistants working under him. Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien will serve as offensive coordinator while linebackers coach Peter Sirmon will coordinate the defense. Kyle Wilber, a special teams assistant to Phil Galiano, will be the special teams coordinator

In addition to the coordinator spots, Saints assistant defensive

backs coach Robert Blanton, college scouting coordinator Ziad Qubti and assistant to the head coach Mike Martinez will be part of Thomas’ staff on the American team Philadelphia Eagles defensive line coach Clint Hurtt will be the head coach of the National team.

The Senior Bowl, which prides itself as the unofﬁcial start of the draft, takes place Jan. 31 in Mobile, Alabama. In the lead-up to the game, the all-star event hosts three practices for prospects to compete and be watched by scouts, coaches and executives from NFL teams.

Thomas, Tolzien, Sirmon and Wilber all joined the Saints last year under head coach Kellen Moore.

“I’m honored to be chosen as the American Team head coach

for the 2026 Senior Bowl,” Thomas said in a statement. “This is the elite college football all-star game that has featured some of the top players in the sport as they look to take that next step in their careers. It gives players from schools of all sizes the opportunity to compete work under the tutelage of NFL coaches and receive great exposure to general managers, scouts and coaches.

“I had a great experience in Mobile in 2025 as the American Team offensive coordinator and look forward to getting to know and work with these outstanding young men throughout the week in making this a great experience for them.”

Email Matthew Paras at matt.paras@theadvocate.com

Bears expect bigger things ahead under head coach Johnson

BY ANDREW SELIGMAN AP sportswriter

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — There were all sorts of thoughts running through Caleb Williams’ mind as he drove home after the Chicago Bears’ gut-wrenching playoff exit.

One thing that jarred him was the realization that instead of reviewing video on Monday, he and his teammates would be clearing out their lockers. Williams also felt a strong sense of gratitude in the wake of the Bears’ 20-17 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round on Sunday night.

“To bring life, to bring joy, to bring excitement, to being a Chicago Bears fan, to be able to cheer for us,” Williams said Monday “I do take pride in it. It’s really cool, honestly, to be able to have those small things like that. Just being able to have the city behind you. You lose that game, you’re walking out of the game and the fans stand up and cheer and roar in a tough moment. It goes a long way.”

The Bears came a long way under first-year coach Ben Johnson They went 11-6 and won their first NFC North title since 2018 after finishing last a year ago and advanced in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years Along the way, they provided plenty of thrills.

Chicago pulled out an NFL-record seven wins when trailing in the ﬁnal two minutes of regulation, including a thriller against Green Bay in the wild-card round And on Sunday, it looked like the Bears might have one more rally in them.

Williams made an incredible touchdown throw in the closing seconds of regulation. But on his last pass of the game, a miscommunication with DJ Moore led to an interception. Matthew Stafford then drove the Rams into position for the winning field goal.

Instead of preparing for a trip to Seattle for the NFC championship game, Chicago turns its attention toward the offseason.

The Bears are in a far better place than they were a year ago.

Williams made big strides in his second season and first in Johnson’s system, passing for a franchise-record 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His accuracy remains an issue, and that’s something he plans to address in the offseason.

Williams completed 58.1% of his passes and ranked 24th among qualifying players. The only other quarterback below 60% was Tennessee’s Cam Ward at 59.8%.

“Was I too far forward? Was I too far back?” Williams said. “Was I not consistent enough with my footwork and did I lean off and fall off the mound, is what we call it? Things like that.”

The Bears don’t have to worry about their offensive line this offseason. That’s a big change from recent years.

General manager Ryan Poles rebuilt the interior of the line by trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and signing center Drew Dalman. He also drafted Ozzy Trapilo in the second round.

Thuney, acquired from Kansas City, was ﬁrst-team All-Pro for the third time Dalman earned his first Pro Bowl selection. Jackson started every game, and Trapilo emerged as the starting left tackle during the season. With Darnell Wright, a secondteam All-Pro, at right tackle, the Bears’ line was one of the league’s best.

All ﬁve players are under contract for next year

The Bears are bullish on their future. They believe they have the right coach and quarterback, and they can now entice free agents to join a winner

Bills ﬁre McDermott after latest playoff disappointment

BY JOHN WAWROW AP sportswriter

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y Sean Mc-

Dermott arrived in Buffalo in 2017, envisioning the day of looking out his office window and seeing a throng of fans celebrating a Super Bowl victory

That possibility ended Monday when McDermott was ﬁred by team owner Terry Pegula after a nine-year tenure in which the coach transformed the Bills into perennial contenders but fell short of reaching the Super Bowl.

The move came two days after a heart-wrenching 33-30 overtime loss at Denver in the divisional round of the playoffs.

“Sean helped change the mindset of this organization and was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team,” Pegula said. ”But I feel we are in need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organization the best opportunity to take our team to the next level.”

The new structure features general manager Brandon Beane being promoted to president of football operations. Beane will oversee his first coaching search since arriving in Buffalo ﬁve months after McDermott, who replaced Rex

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

including the 23-yarder that gave the Broncos the win in overtime.

Lutz spent his ﬁrst six seasons with the Saints.

Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Broncos WR Humphrey never was a star for New Orleans, but he was a useful role player The same role has emerged in Denver Despite a crucial drop early in Saturday’s game, Humphrey later caught a 29-yard touchdown to give the Broncos a 1710 lead in the ﬁrst half. He stepped up after wide receivers Pat Bryant (concussion) and Troy Franklin (hamstring) exited with injuries

Brandin Cooks, Bills WR Cooks asked for his release from

Ryan after two seasons in Buffalo.

Beane is expected to target an offensive-minded coach to spur an offense in which quarterback Josh Allen was too often asked to carry the burden.

Despite a seven-year playoff run and Allen setting many franchise passing and scoring records and earning MVP honors last season, the Bills advanced no further than the AFC championship game, which they lost both times to Kansas City in the 2020 and 2024 seasons Buffalo became the league’s ﬁrst team to win a playoff round in six consecutive years but not reach the Super Bowl.

McDermott was aware of the shortcomings and addressed them in August.

“We take a lot of pride in what we’ve done here. And nobody has more internal drive and internal expectations than I do, or we do. And very conﬁdent in who we are,” McDermott said.

“There’s one thing that remains We know what that is. But you can’t get there tomorrow.”

Tomorrow never came.

The Bills went 12-5 in the regular season and had their ﬁveyear run atop the AFC East end, ﬁnishing second behind the New England Patriots.

the Saints after the trade deadline in part because he was conﬁdent he could still contribute to a team in a meaningful way The Saints granted that request, and Cooks almost had his signature moment against the Broncos. But Cooks was on the wrong end of a controversial interception that saw Denver defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian rip the ball out of the wideout’s hands as he went to the ground, despite many arguing Cooks should have been down by contact. If it had been ruled a completion, Buffalo would have been in a great spot to kick a game-winning ﬁeld goal Instead, Denver went on to win.

Rashid Shaheed, Seahawks WR

The Shaheed trade has turned out to be a win-win for the Saints and Seahawks. New Orleans received a fourth- and fifth-round pick from Seattle, while the Seahawks

Each of Buffalo’s past three playoff losses have been decided by three points. And three of McDermott’s playoff losses

received a game-changer Shaheed opened Saturday’s lopsided win over the San Francisco 49ers with a 95-yard touchdown kickoff return, his third special-teams touchdown since joining Seattle. Shaheed’s latest score even caused a seismic spike, reminiscent of the 2011 “Beast Quake” Marshawn Lynch run that took place against the Saints.

Sheldon Rankins, Texans DT Rankins, a 2016 first-round pick who spent his first five seasons with the Saints, didn’t have quite the performance he did the previous week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he returned a fumble for a touchdown. But the 31-year-old defensive tackle was part of a line that kept the Texans competitive in their loss to the Patriots, despite an ugly showing from quarterback C.J. Stroud.

ended in overtime. That includes a 42-36 loss to Kansas City in the 2021 divisional round that’s become dubbed

Rankins had four tackles against New England.

Dennis Allen, Bears DC

Say what you want about Allen’s skills as a head coach, but the man can coach a defense. Utilizing a game plan that saw Chicago send a number of blitzes from the slot and edge, his defense was able to harass MVP candidate Matthew Stafford and the Rams. Los Angeles had trouble moving the ball for large parts of Sunday’s game But the Rams prevailed in overtime, kicking a game-winning ﬁeld goal to pull off a 20-17 victory D’Marco Jackson, Bears LB Jackson not only latched onto Chicago’s roster after he was cut this summer by the Saints but he also ended up in a starting role because of numerous injuries at linebacker Jackson played well when

“13 seconds” — the amount of time Patrick Mahomes had to complete two passes for 44 yards to set up Harrison Butker’s tying, 49-yard ﬁeld goal on the ﬁnal play of regulation. McDermott, otherwise, led a team that won 10 or more regular-season games over seven straight seasons.

He also was credited with guiding the Bills through some difficult moments. The worst came in January 2023 when safety Damar Hamlin nearly died after collapsing and needing to be resuscitated on the ﬁeld during a game at Cincinnati.

Hamlin was one of several current and former players to express their support for McDermott after his ﬁring. He posted a note on X referring to McDermott as “A True Leader of Men.” Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips described the ﬁring as “stupid honestly sickening.” Former center Eric Wood posted a note that read: “Sean is a great man and will be a great hire for another organization, and I hate we couldn’t get over the hump with him as HC in Buffalo.”

McDermott moved up the NFL ranks as a defensive specialist and was hired by Buffalo after six seasons as Carolina’s coordinator

given the opportunity even winning an NFC Defensive Player of the Week award during the season. He was again thrust into a starting role against the Rams, recording seven tackles.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Bears DB Gardner-Johnson, who spent his ﬁrst three seasons with the Saints, enjoyed a bit of a resurgence when he reunited with Allen this season. He thrived in the slot and was part of Allen’s blitz-heavy game plan against the Rams. Gardner-Johnson recorded four tackles and also had a key pass breakup on third down in overtime to prevent a game-winning touchdown Unfortunately for him and the Bears, the Rams then drilled a 42-yard ﬁeld goal for the win.

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DAVID ZALUBOWSKI

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott leaves the field after a game against the Denver Broncos on Wednesday in Denver.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

New Orleans Saints running backs coach Joel Thomas stands on the field during a minicamp practice in Metairie on June 10. Thomas will coach one of the teams in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 31.

Want to start the new year on the right foot?

Showing gratitude may help

BY MIRIAM FAUZIA

This new year, instead of picking up a habit that requires a fancy gym membership or new running shoes, what if you choose one that doesn’t cost anything at all?

Most of us show gratitude in passing, like when a barista hands over our coffee or a coworker does a small kindness. But what we may not know is how doing so affects our wellbeing and relationships.

“One thing that intrigues me about gratitude is we often think we are doing it for others, to make others feel good,” said Farnoosh Nouri, a clinical assistant professor of counseling at Southern Methodist University “In reality, what it does to our body, to our immune system, to our cardiovascular health is incredible.”

Bringing gratitude into focus comes at a time when more than 6 in 10 adults in the United States say societal division is a signiﬁcant source of stress in their lives. And half or more of adults say they feel isolated and left out or lack companionship often or some of the time. Here’s what research suggests about gratitude and practical ways to incorporate it in your life.

The origin of gratitude Gratitude is recognizing that something good has happened and attributing it to another person or, for some, a higher power.

“If you know someone is intending to help you or they are doing it for benevolent reasons because they care about you, you end up feeling more grateful,” said Jo-Ann Tsang, an associate professor of psychology at Baylor University “If you suspect someone got you a gift because they are trying to manipulate you or get something from you, then your gratitude is going to be a lot lower.” Tsang said gratitude may have arisen in human evolution to encourage reciprocity In 1971, evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers coined the term “reciprocal altruism” to explain why animals — especially those not related to each other — will help one another even when it comes at a cost. Applied to humans, Tsang said, the theory suggests gratitude may motivate us to return a favor, increasing the chances that both people beneﬁt.

Other research by social psychologist Sara Algoe suggests gratitude helps people find partners who are responsive to their needs, strengthening close relationships over time.

Work by scientists Martin Nowak and Sebastien Roch also links gratitude to a phenomenon called “upstream reciprocity” — when receiving help from one person makes someone more likely to be generous to someone else.

ä See GRATITUDE, page 2D

“We often think we are doing it for others, to make others feel good. In reality, what it does to our body, to our immune system, to our cardiovascular health is incredible.”

FARNOOSH NOURI, a clinical assistant professor of counseling at Southern Methodist University on gratitude

Meeting the moment

Ancient meditation practices find new

life in modern religious communities across America

BY LUIS ANDRES HENAO and DEEPA BHARATH Associated Press

On most Monday nights, the sanctuary of All Saints Episcopal Church with its vaulted ceilings, stone arches and stained-glass windows — seamlessly transforms into a space of quiet contemplation.

It’s in this Gothic Revival church in Pasadena, California, that Betty Cole, a longtime Zen practitioner and “card-carrying Episcopalian,” leads a weekly interfaith group in seated and walking meditation. The group has evolved into a “quiet fellowship” since she started it in 2001, Cole said.

“It’s mostly people who are really not very inspired by the liturgy, pomp and music of the church, but do enjoy the building, the quiet of the chapel and the sense of encouragement and accountability in that shared quiet,” she said.

Christian, Jewish and other religious congregations across America have in recent years been introducing meditation practices from Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism, or resurfacing ancient contemplative practices

in their own religious traditions, now adapted to the needs of a fastpaced, modern world.

While longtime practitioners like Cole say these contemplative practices are inherently spiritual or religious, they recognize that mental health and social beneﬁts are added attributes.

In some deeply religious spaces,

meditation has been disparaged as a gateway to the demonic; in some secular circles, it’s debunked as superstition. Skeptics raise concerns over cultural appropriation, particularly in cases where Eastern practices have been marketed as trendy self-improvement.

Betty Cole leads an interfaith meditation practice.

Participants meditate in silence during an interfaith meditation practice at All Saints Episcopal Church.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By WILLIAM LIANG

The All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, Calif., in 2025

People sit around a table with an orange tapestry gifted by Himalayan refugees, an incense bowl, flowers and a candle.

Participants form a circle to end an interfaith meditation practice.

The Dallas Morning News (TNS)

Otherpeople’stattoos:Noone askedyou

Dear Miss Manners: Iamstill not inured to the rampant trend of women tattooing their hands, feet, arms,backs and even faces. Idon’t believe at all that Iamoldfashioned, but defacing one’sbody willnever be attractive.

What am Itosay to a woman —“What apretty tattoo. It really enhances your daintyfeet”?

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Gentle reader: Andwhat sarcastic remark wouldyou like that lady to make while critically assessing your appearance?

Dear Miss Manners: Ilive in alarge city and take publictransportation almost daily.Iam80years old.The buses and trains have seats up front that are clearly

MEDITATION

Continued from page1D

But nationwide, more people —religious and non-religious —seem to be showing more interest in such practices. Increasingly, houses of worship are encouraging avariety of contemplative practices.

Ancientpractices

Voices chanting “Om”— asacred sound in several Eastern religions —blend with sounds of singing bowls,piano andother instruments at meditation held in an Ivy League university chapel. Arabbi leads virtual meditation and breath work whiledrawing from Jewish scriptures. In the sanctuary of aUnitarian Universalist congregation, agroup gatherstostudy Buddhist dharma andtobeenveloped in the meditative practice of asound bath. Across centuries, meditation has been common in Buddhism, where the goal is to become enlightened like the Buddha, and Hinduism, in which the ancient spiritual practice of yoga is rooted. Contemplative and meditative practicesinmanyreligions seek to ﬁnd adirect connection with God. That includes the Desert Fathers and Mothers —early Christian ascetics who followed a form of meditation focused on silence in theEgyptian desert. It also includes Kabbalistic and Hasidic meditation techniques in Jewish tradition, and the whirling dervishes in Suﬁsm, amystical movement withinIslam.

“The next resurgence that we’re seeing now,ispeople moving all the way out from saying,‘I’mgoing to practice areligious tradition’ into ‘I’m willing to do some of the practices that exist within those traditions,’ ” said Lodro Rinzler,a Buddhist teacher and author of “The Buddha Walks into a Bar.” For others, Rinzler said, it has helped rekindlea connection to their own religions and their ancient, lesser-known meditative practices.

“Some of the practices that have been spliced out and stand alone are now coming back under the umbrellas,” he said. “People are then being attracted to the traditions from which they’ve always been apart of.”

Rooted in Jewish tradition

That’sthe case of the Or HaLev —Center for Jewish Spirituality and Meditation. Launched in 2011 by Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels, it seeks to give people access to ameditation practice rooted in Jewish tradition

“We’re bringing Hasidic meditationsand understandings to acontemporary audience,” said JacobsonMaisels. “We’re also integrating that with Eastern traditions that have come from the West.”

Thesemeditative practices, he said, are less known, mainly becauseofthe effects of modernity and the Holocaust, which destroyed many communities and teachers who were preserving these traditions.

“AspartofJews’assimilation to the modern world, many parts of the mystical tradition got rejectedorcast aside becausethey were related to as unacceptable, irrational, not ﬁtting to the

marked for seniorsand people with disabilities. Butthey areoften ﬁlled with young people who appearquite ﬁt andhealthy They are also occupied by peoplewith babies or childreninlargestrollers that take upmultiple seats. Thebus driversdonothing to enforce the rules, and we seniors are left trudgingdown the bus aisle while the people in the seats smirk, look at their phonesand talk to each other Any suggestions? When traveling with ayoungchild, Iused to bring asmall collapsible stroller, which Ifolded upand put my child on my lap. No one does that where Ilive anymore.

Gentlereader: It was another Gentle Reader who once came up with the polite way to handle this situation. The idea is totarget a passenger who is young and unencumbered; approach them, smile and say,“Thank you so much for saving that seat for me.”

Miss Manners hates to encumber this delicious solution, but must add somecaveats. First,not all disabilities are clearly visible. There may be young people who are legitimately occupying those seats. Secondly,please grant some leeway to people with small children. It may not be easy tokeep control of acollapsible stroller,let alone a small child.

Dear Miss Manners: There is alovely couple in their30s in my com-

modern world,” he said “Kabbalah was the most dominant theologicalparadigm in Judaism. But after modernity, it really was pushed to theside,”hesaid. “Now it’sexperiencing, once again,a resurgence.”

Musicmeditation

Many have gatheredatthe Princeton UniversityChapel to attendmeditation events thatinclude chambermusic, breathwork and the chantingofmantras.

“The feedback I’ve mostly gotten is that peoplesay,‘I wanttodothat again.Idon’t know what happened, but Ifeel likewhatever happened, Ineed more of it,’ ” saidHope Littwin, acomposer who facilitates musical rituals for the meditations.

“People notice the mysterious quality and people feel changed byit,” said Littwin, whoispursuing herPh.D. in music composition at Princeton

The university’sGothic nondenominational chapel hosts concerts,weddings andinterfaith services throughout the academic year.

“People from differentreligions, and even people with no religion at all …connect to meditation becausemeditation taps us into something universal, something deeper than belief systems or doctrines,” said A.J. Alvarez, a meditation teacher Buddhism andUniversalism

Meditation also hasbecome acrucial part of spiritual life at All Souls NYC,a Unitarian Universalist congregation.

When the Rev. Pamela Patton, aUniversalist and Buddhist, began the Mindfulness, Meditation, Buddhism program in 2016, she was unsure how it would be received In adecade, though, it grewintoa communityof about800 members learningfromteachersofdifferent Buddhist lineages.

The Universalist religiousmovementwelcomes people with diverse spiritual beliefs. Regarding her program, Patton said, “It’s brought alot to our community.”

Rumi andyoga

Omid Saﬁ, aprofessor of religion at Duke University who conducts Sufi meditation tours andretreats, said he sees young Muslims practicing yoga, mindfulness and breathwork who arelooking to integrate them with their religious identity. That,he said,comes from therecognition that Islam has its own tradition that goes back over 1,000 yearsdeveloped in conversationwithHindu

and Buddhist traditions.

Saﬁ speaks of one fundamental Sufipractice of directing thebreath into the subtle centers of perception in the human body called “lataif” —similar to chakras in yoga —but withanimportantdifference.

“In the Sufi model, it’sa whirling model that whirls in your innerlandscapeand enters your heart,” he said. “It’snot about pure transcendence, but balancing earth and heaven.”

Meditation has historically notbeen done in mosques, but adjacent to them, perhaps with an Islamicteacher leading asession of poetry, music andmeditation, Saﬁ said. In the Suﬁ tradition, musicis“thesoundofthe movement of the celestial spheres,” he added. “Music is invisible,but youfeel it in the heart. Poetry speaks in asymbolic language. The spiritual experiences we have are thesameway.”

Contemplativepractices

SusanStabile, aspiritual directorwho leads meditation retreatsnationwide, saidCatholic parishes are seeing aresurgence in contemplativepractices, including meditation. Raised Catholic,Stabile became aBuddhistinher 20s and lived as anun for afew years in Asia. She returned to Catholicism after marrying and having children. Stabile says Buddhismhelpedher better understand her Christian faith.

“Some in the Catholic tradition are suspicious of some of these contemplative practicessuchasthe centering prayer,” she said, referring to asilent prayer developed in the 1970s by Catholic monastics as away to deepen a relationship withGod.

She saidthat’s because many Christians areunaware that earlyChristian hermitsdeveloped these practices.

“I didn’tknow it was in my own tradition,” she said. “No onehad ever told me about it.”

Stabile says she’sseeing more people wanting that deeper experienceand desiring to learnabout mysticism.

“Myhopeisthatmorepeoplewillallow themselves to be transformed,” she said. “Tolive more fully in creation and the image and likeness of God.”

Associated Pressreligion coverage receives support through the AP’scollaboration with The Conversation US, withfunding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solelyresponsible for this content

munitywho have gone through fertility struggles. They have just posted an online campaign with the goal of raising money to go towardadoption costs. Although Iunderstand their desire to have achild, Iﬁnd this very inappropriate.

I’ve seen jars looking fordonationsfor honeymoons, money to offset the cost of awedding, trips abroad and now adopting ababy!

Frankly,I am appalled.

Gentlereader: Indeed, begging thehumiliating last resource of desperatepeople —has now become commonplace among those who want help with their bills or luxuries they cannot afford. Not that Miss Manners considers having children aluxury.Itshould be available to all, but it is highly

expensive,and the enormous cost of adoptionfees (orfertility treatments) would be just the beginning. Will this couple go on to beg formoney forthe child care, education, medical attentionand other necessitiesthe child will require?

She can understand why people sympathize with this couple. But others have their own expenses, and cannot be expected to subsidize those who are presumably capable of managing their own lives.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.

By The Associated Press

Today is Tuesday

Jan. 20, the 20th day of 2026. There are 345 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Jan. 20, 1981, Iran released 52 Americans it had held hostage for 444 days, minutes after Ronald Reagan was sworninaspresident of the United States, succeeding Jimmy Carter

Also on this date:

In 1841, theisland of Hong Kong was ceded by China to Great Britain.It returned to Chinese control in July 1997.

In 1936, Britain’s King George Vdied after his physician injected the mortally ill monarch with morphine and cocaine to hasten his death. The king was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne

GRATITUDE

Continuedfrom page1D

Taken together,the body of gratitude research suggests that the emotion may have playedanimportant role in humansocial evolution and helps explain why it shows up across different cultures.

Grateful mind andbody Researchsuggeststhat expressing gratitude can beneﬁt thebody in several ways. In thebrain, it can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol— which maybelinked to less inflammation elsewhere in thebody —and boost feelgood chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin Gratitude may also strengthen the connections between different parts of the brain, Nouri said. That could matter for conditions suchasanxiety and depression, in which communication between brain regions involved in emotion regulationmay be disrupted. When apersonisthinking about gratitude, Nouri added, brain scans have shown increased activityinsuch areas. It’sunclear,however

11 months later to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wassworn in forhis second of four termsaspresident, becoming the ﬁrst chief executive to be inaugurated on Jan. 20; prior to the adoption of the 20th Amendmentin1933, presidential termsbegan on March 4.

In 1961, in his inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy urged Americans, “ask not what your country can do foryou ask what you can do for your country.”

In 1986, the United States observed the ﬁrst federal holiday in honor of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr In 2009, Democrat Barack Obamawas sworn in as the ﬁrst Black president of the United States.

whether practicing gratitudecan meaningfullyimprove mental health conditions. A2021 reviewof70 studiesfound that people whoreported higher levels of gratitude tendedtoreport lower levels of depression. But a2020 review of studies found gratitude-based interventions produced only small improvements in depression and anxiety,suggesting people should still pursue conventional treatments rather than focusing on gratitude alone. Other benefitsofgratitude include better cardiovascularhealth. A2022 study found that gratitude andoptimism were linked to adropinheartrate and blood pressure. Gratitude can even help oursleep.A2009 study found that gratefulpeople go to bed with fewerstressfulornegative thoughts thatkeepthemawake and with more calm,positive thoughtsthatmakeiteasier to fall asleep.

Tips on practicing gratitude Ready to show moregratitude in your life? Nouri and Tsang recommendthe following tips:

n Keep ajournal to write down whatyou’re grateful

for.This can help build a habitofseeing good things in your day-to-day

n Writealetter to someoneinyourlife saying why you’re grateful forthem andgiveittothem. “You not only get the awareness of whatyou’re grateful for, but because you’re giving it to someone else, you get to see their reaction,” Tsang said. “It strengthens your relationship.”

n If letter writing isn’t yourstyle, text three people you are grateful forand tell them whyyou are.

n Take adeep breath before expressing gratitude. This can help relax the mind and reduce stress, Nouri said.

n Don’tforce gratitude, especially in situations where you do not feel valuedorappreciated.“If your needs are not being metand you’re trying to address that by just being grateful, then that can also be an unhealthy thing,” Tsang said.

Miriam Fauzia is a sciencereporting fellow at TheDallas Morning News. Her fellowship is supported by the UniversityofTexas at Dallas. TheNewsmakes alleditorial decisions

In 2017, Republican Donald Trumpwas sworn in as the 45th president of the United States as protesters clashed with police blocks from the inaugural parade. Today’sbirthdays: Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin is 96. Olympic ﬁgure skating gold medalist Carol Heiss Jenkins is 86. Rock musician Paul Stanley (KISS)

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Start home improvementprojectsthatareconducive to the lifestyle you want to live. Whatever you desire, it's up to you to make it happen. Reach out and make plans with people you enjoy being around.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) An event that takes you to a new location will inspire you. The change to your surroundings will offer insight into how you can improveyourday-to-dayliving.Lookinto the possibilities and initiate change.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Think before you spend money. Pay attention to the cost of living and seek solutions to lower your overhead.Choosetodotheworkyourself instead of hiring someone to do something you can handle on your own.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) You may gravitate toward personal or professional change, but you must proceed carefully. Find out if there are any regulations or rules to address before you begin a project.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Cautionary measures will help you dodge scammers, users and abusers. Let your intuition, experience and intelligence ward off anyone trying to take advantage of you. Spending time with a loved one is favored.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Yourperspective will be out of whack. Hold off on making decisions involving investments, health and legal matters. Gather information and search for a simple solution.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) You'll have to juggle your time, money and personal needs

wisely to avoid falling behind. Refuse to let anyone monopolize your time by convincing you their journey is more important than yours.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) If you feel left out, do something about it. Socializing go better than you expect. The people you encounter will encourage you to explore new possibilities.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Don't let anger set in when action is required Let your emotions and intuition to lead the way, and surroundyourselfwithpeoplewhomake you think and inspire you to follow your creative dreams.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Tieuplooseends and prepare to move on. Venture out into your community, and you'll discover all sorts of opportunities to better and more efficiently use your skills and experience. You are overdue for a change.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Don't overlook the obvious Ignoring what you must do will slow you down, not help you excel. Deal with issues head-on so you can move forward freely. It's time to use your imagination.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Put more energy behind your ideas, and see what happens. Turn an opportunity into additional income or cut your overhead. Get rid of what you don't use or refocus your goals to suit your needs.

Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

cLuE: B EQuALs M

FAMILY CIrCUS

CeLebrItY

For better or For WorSe peAnUtS

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

RobertOrben, acomedywriter and occasional magician, said, “There are days whenittakes all you’ve gotjust to keep up with thelosers.”

At the bridge table, everyday you should be keeping up with—i.e., counting —yourlosers, even during the bidding. Takealook at today’s deal, which occurredinasocialgame.Howwouldyou critique the auction? North’sresponse of twono-trump was the Jacoby ForcingRaise, showing at least game-going valueswith four or morespades. South’s three-club rebid indicated asingleton or void in that suit.

First, although North’s hand has only nine high-cardpoints, withthree firstround controls,itisworthagame-force in spades. (Thehand has only seven losers: twospades, two diamonds and three clubs.) It is notnormal to start with the JacobyForcingRaise when having a short suit.

It is typicaltorespondwitha splinter bid, but North and South were treating afour-heart response as natural, not showing heart shortness and spade support. On this deal, though, twono-trump should have worked well because North heardthat his sidehad at mostone club loser, not the three he was initially worried about. Now he should have controlbid three diamonds or made afour-heart

splinter bid. North’s jump to four spades was discouraging. (Yes, he was worried that he had only nine points, but the auction had told him that his hand was worth far more.)

Sixspades made easily,Southtaking sixspades, fivediamonds and aheart ruffinthe dummy.

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

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four lettersbythe addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAy’sWoRD REALMs: RELMS:Kingdoms.

Averagemark18words

Time limit 25 minutes

Canyou find 22 or more wordsinREALMS?

yEstERDAy’sWoRD— uPsHot

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

God can forgiveyou too.

G.E. Dean

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard fillmore

dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

GramS Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer ken ken

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

Scrabble

roSe

LAND THAT CERTAINPAR‐CELORTRACT OF LAND, situated in theCityof NewOrleans,Parish of Orleans, Stateof Louisiana, in theTHIRD MUNICIPALDISTRICTin Section12, Groves 1and 2, NewOrleans LakeshoreLandCom‐pany Tract, andinaccor‐dancewithsurveymade by Wilton J. Dufrene, Land Surveyor,dated January31, 1974, resur‐veyedtolocateimprove‐ments, May6,1975, resurveyed andcertiﬁed correctApril 8, 1976, said parcel or tractoflandis composed of Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and5,inthatarea bounded by Hayne Boulevard, Lamb (Drive‐way) Road,Kuebel(Dri‐veway) Driveand Down‐

A.M. (CST). TheVirtual link canbe found below: Register in advancefor thismeeting: https://us06web.zoom us/meeting/register/V1o Z0RrMRqCnVt_QSOWpBg Afterregistering,you will receive aconﬁrmation email containing infor‐mationabout joiningthe meeting. TheDistrictreservesthe right to reject anyorall Responses to Requestfor Qualiﬁcationswhenever suchrejection is in its bestinterestinaccor‐dance with law. Thepro‐visions andrequirements ofthisadvertisement shall notbewaived.

Paul A. Lucius ExecutiveDirector of Procurement

en‐tities in

of thosecontracts TheBoard desiresto achieve, to thegreatest extent possible, commer‐cially

participationby EBEs.Byproviding

for EBEs,The

ingcontributingtothe

ensur‐inga broaderselection of competitivelypriced goodsand services Biddersshouldpresent a responsibleplanthat provides forparticipation of qualiﬁed EBEs.Bidders should clearlystate EBE participationgoals and theirplanfor implemen‐tation of thesamein theirbid.Bidders should also includeinformation relative to theparticipa‐tion levels Bidderhas managedonother prior projects

FIRSTINSERTION DATE: TUESDAY, JANUARY13, 2026 SECOND INSERTION DATE: TUESDAY, JANUARY20, 2026 THIRDINSERTION DATE : TUESDAY, JANUARY27, 2026 173501-jan13-20-27-3t $113.08 p g ness entities (“EBEs”) as deﬁnedinthe Board’s SmallBusinessOpportu‐nity Program.The Pro‐gram is arace- andgen‐der-neutralprogram in‐tended to provideaddi‐tional contractingand procurementopportuni‐ties forcertiﬁed

Participationshall be counted toward meeting thecontractgoals only by business entities cer‐tified designated in the Program. Thedirectpar‐ticipation goalcan be achieved throughdirect ownership, jointventure participation, owner/op‐erator agreements,or sublease agreements for operations.Participation shallinclude work oppor‐tunities in planning,de‐velopment, construction andoperation of thePro‐ject TheBoard acceptsthe followingcertifications: (1)the SLDBEprogram runbythe City of New Orleans, (2)the stateof Louisiana’sDepartment of Economic Develop‐ment’s SBEHudsonIni‐tiativeprogram,(3) The LouisianaUnified certifi‐cation Program, or (4) theFederal Smallbusi‐ness Enterprise Program Bids shallinclude evi‐denceofa currentcerti‐fication BIDSUBMISSION: PONO will accept electronic bids forthisProject until 11:30 a.m. CDTonFriday, January30, 2026 (the “Bid

y www.centralbidding.com Forany questionsrelat‐ingtothe electronic bid‐ding process, please call CentralBidding at 225810-4814.

BIDOPENING: Immedi‐atelyfollowing theBid Submission Deadline bids will be opened in ac‐cordance with thebid documents. PONO CONTACT:Respon‐dentsmustsubmitQues‐tionsinwriting

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF VACANCYON THE SEWERAGE &WATER BOARD OF NEWORLEANS ForCouncil District B The Sewerage andWater Board of NewOrleans an‐nounces aDeclaredVa‐cancy,effective Wednes‐day,November19, 2025 ofone (1)existingseat onits BoardofDirectors for CouncilDistrictB Pursuant to La.R.S 33:4071, theSewerage

et seq APPLICATIONPROCESS Formoreinformation and tobegin theapplication process, please visitour website at:https://www swbno.org/notices/vac ancydistrictb. Thedead‐linetoapplyis5:00p.m onJanuary 31, 2026. Con‐tact504-585-2190 or ProspectiveBoardMem‐berApplications@swbno. org with anyquestions 173690-JAN13-20-2T $110

be con‐sidered Biddersmustbesubmit‐ted electronically at www.centralbidding.com Forany questionsrelat‐ing to theelectronicbid‐dingprocess, please call Central Biddingat225810-4814. BIDOPENING:Immedi‐