The Acadiana Advocate 11-24-2025

Time for giving

Volunteers in Lafayette collect, assemble and distribute Thanksgiving meal baskets to those in need

Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department coordinated the city’s first Thanksgiving food drive Saturday For the event, named PARCsGiving, community members dropped off Thanksgiving-themed food items, which were then assembled by volunteers into meal kits and distributed Saturday at Girard Park Recreation Center

SEASONED GREETINGS

From starters to sweets, put a south La. spin on holiday dishes

BY JA’KORI MADISON

Staff writer

George Graham has spent most of his life in Louisiana kitchens. First in his family’s small-town restaurant in Bogalusa and later in two Cajun and Creole cookbooks and on his blog, Acadiana Table. With Thanksgiving approaching, Graham sees the holiday as a moment when family, culture and south Louisiana tradition meet on the table

“The holidays really tell the story of where we come from,” he said.

Even though Graham avoids the Cajun-versusCreole debate, he said he shares one comparison that seems to stick with people:

Slow-roasted

“This fresh ham roast is an unusual spin on ham that is a must-try recipe. I urge you to find a farmer or a butcher who can deliver a fresh ham roast for your dinner table.”

GEORGE GRAHAM, author and blogger ä See SEASONED, page 5A

Judges lining up for open Louisiana Supreme Court seat

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

The race to replace Justice Will Crain on the Louisiana Supreme Court has begun even before Crain has left the position to become a federal judge. Crain’s nomination by President Donald Trump was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday on a party-line vote, setting him up for final confirmation by the full Senate sometime soon.

In the meantime, five judges in Crain’s Supreme Court district along Interstate 12 are expressing varying degrees of interest in running for his seat after it becomes vacant.

The potential candidates so far are Judges Brian Abels, William Burris, Blair Edwards, Vincent Lobello and Britain Sledge.

Also expressing interest has been Christopher Walters, deputy executive counsel for Gov Jeff Landry, who played a key role in the election of the last justice elected to the state Supreme Court. The judges and Walters are all Republicans. Two judges mentioned as potential candidates for Crain’s seat said they have ruled out running. They are Allison Penzato, a judge on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, and Alan Black, a judge on the 22nd Judicial District Court.

Trump nominates Crain to federal court ä See JUDGES, page 5A

‘Go over there and win’

Childhood dream now a reality as Church Point cowboy heads to first National Finals Rodeo

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

Waylon Bourgeois is headed toward a dream he has carried since childhood: 10 nights in Las Vegas under the brightest lights in rodeo history at the National Finals Rodeo.

Growing up in Church Point, surrounded by horses, cattle and a family that lived by the saying “Live your life to the fullest,” Bourgeois learned early what it meant to ride hard, live fast and chase his dreams with everything he had. Guided by the do-what-you-love principle, he never felt pressured to follow a single path, he said. His childhood memories are a mix of racing dirt bikes, playing football and baseball, and, of course, rodeo.

Airlines cancel flights to Venezuela amid tensions

CARACAS International airlines increasingly canceled flights to Venezuela on Sunday after t he U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warned pilots to use caution when flying in the country’s airspace because of worsening security and heightened military activity

Marisela de Loaiza, president of the Airlines Association in Venezuela, told The Associated Press that six carriers have indefinitely suspended flights: TAP, LATAM, Avianca, Iberia, Gol and Caribbean. Turkish Airlines suspended flights from Nov 24 to 28 Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote Sunday on X that “there must be regular flights to all Latin American countries and from Latin America and the world.”

“Countries are not blocked, because blocking countries means blocking people, and that is a crime against humanity,” Petro added.

On Friday, the FAA warned pilots that unspecified threats “could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes” as well planes taking off and landing in the country and even aircraft on the ground.

The warning came as the Trump administration has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Houthi court sentences 17 people to death

CAIRO A Houthi-controlled court in Yemen’s capital convicted 17 people of spying for foreign governments and sentenced them to death in the latest development in a yearslong Houthi crackdown on local staff from foreign agencies.

The Specialized Criminal Court in Sanaa handed down the verdict on Saturday, according to the Houthi-run SABA news agency

The people convicted were part of “espionage cells within a spy network affiliated with the American, Israeli and Saudi intelligence,” said the court, which handed down a death sentence by firing squad in public.

The court also sentenced a man and a woman to 10 years in prison, while another defendant was acquitted.

Saturday’s verdict can be appealed, said Abdulbasit Ghazi, a lawyer representing some of the defendants who were convicted.

The defendants were accused of “spying with foreign countries in a state of enmity with Yemen during the 2024-2025 period,” SABA reported.

Prosecutors said the defendants collaborated with intelligence officers from Saudi Arabia, Britain and the United States, as well as Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, SABA reported.

Woman in 2014 Slender Man stabbing is missing MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin woman who admitted to nearly stabbing a classmate to death in 2014 to please the online horror character Slender Man is missing after she cut off an electronic monitoring device and left a group home, authorities said Sunday Madison police issued an alert Sunday for Morgan Geyser now 23, saying she was last seen around 8 p.m. Saturday with an adult acquaintance.

“If you see Geyser, please call 911,” the alert said, adding that she had cut off a “Department of Corrections monitoring bracelet.” Geyser was placed in a group home this year after being granted conditional release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. She was sent to the psychiatric institute in 2018 after pleading guilty to attempted firstdegree intentional homicide in a deal with prosecutors to avoid prison.

Geyser’s attorney, Tony Cotton, said Sunday that he did not know what happened with his client and urged Geyser to turn herself in.

“It’s in her best interest for her to turn herself in immediately and not continue with this course of action,” Cotton said in an Instagram video post where he addressed Geyser directly at times.

“We don’t know any of the facts about what happened or who might have assisted her.”

U.S., Kyiv report progress in talks

Scant details provided on discussions to end Russia-Ukraine war

BY MARK CARLSON, KATIE MARIE DAVIES and WILL WEISSERT

Associated Press

GENEVA — Top U.S and Ukrainian officials said Sunday they were making progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war but provided scant details as they discussed the American proposal to achieve peace despite concerns among many of Washington’s European allies that the plan was far too conciliatory to Moscow.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said high-stakes talks in Geneva were “very worthwhile” and constituted the most productive day in “a very long time” on larger efforts to end the fighting.

“I feel very optimistic that we can get something done,” Rubio said.

But he offered very little information on what was discussed, allowing only that discussions would continue on Monday and perhaps deeper into the week. He also suggested that Europe’s role and responsibilities as spelled out under the U.S peace plan might be separated from facets more directly involving the responsibilities of Russia and Ukraine.

And Rubio noted that any final product, once it’s ready, will still have to be presented to Moscow: “Obviously, the Russians get a vote here.”

Rubio’s attempt to strike such a positive tone while offering no evidence of a breakthrough constituted a more nuanced approach than Trump himself. Before talks even really began, the president blasted Ukraine for a lack of gratitude for U.S. military assistance, while shying away from criticizing Russia.

Trump has set a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to respond to the plan. But he also has suggested that could slide if there was proof of real progress and that the plan was not his final offer Rubio also undermined the idea that the deadline was looming, saying simply that officials want to see fighting stop as soon as possible.

Some American and European supporters of Ukraine have panned the plan as too favorable to Moscow Questions intensified after a bipartisan group of U.S. senators said Rubio told them Saturday that the plan had originated with Russia and was actually a “wish list” for Moscow, rather than a serious push for peace. The head of the Ukrainian delegation presidential chief of staff Andrii Yermak, also confirmed an initial session of talks had concluded and that a second meeting would soon take place.

“I want to confirm that we had a very productive first session with

the distinguished American delegation. We have made very good progress and are moving forward to a just and lasting peace,” he said.

“Very soon today the second meeting will take place, where we will continue to work on joint proposals with the engagement of our European partners. Final decisions will be taken by our Presidents.”

Before the meeting even began, however, Trump suggested he didn’t expect much.

He posted on his social media site that: “UKRAINE ‘LEADERSHIP’ HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA.”

After Trump’s post, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cheered U.S.-led efforts on security while also stressing that “the crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that it was Russia, and only Russia, that started this war.”

“Ukraine is grateful to the

United States, to every American heart, and personally to President Trump,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on Telegram, adding, We thank everyone in Europe.”

“It is important not to forget the main goal — to stop Russia’s war and prevent it from ever igniting again.”

The 28-point blueprint drawn up by the U.S. to end the nearly fouryear war has sparked alarm in Kyiv and European capitals. Zelenskyy has said his country could face a stark choice between standing up for its sovereign rights and preserving the American support it needs.

The proposal, originating from negotiations between Washington and Moscow, acquiesces to many Russian demands that Zelenskyy has categorically rejected on dozens of occasions, including giving up large pieces of territory

The Ukrainian leader has vowed that his people “will always defend” their home.

Israel says it killed senior Hezbollah official

Forces launch first strike in months on Beirut

BY FADI TAWIL and KAREEM CHEHAYEB Associated Press

HARET HREIK, Lebanon Israel on Sunday struck Lebanon’s capital for the first time since June, saying it killed Hezbollah’s chief of staff Haytham Tabtabai and warning the Iranbacked militant group not to rearm and rebuild a year after their latest war

The strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed five people and wounded 25 others, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.

Hezbollah confirmed Tabtabai’s death. Earlier it said the strike, launched almost exactly a year after a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war, threatened an escalation of attacks — just days before Pope Leo XIV

is scheduled to visit Lebanon on his first foreign trip.

“We will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and the state of Israel,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

The military instructed residents in northern Israel near the Lebanese border to continue with daily routines, indicating that it did not anticipate a military response from Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ac-

cused Tabtabai of leading Hezbollah’s efforts to rearm.

Israeli airstrikes over southern Lebanon have intensified in recent weeks while Israel and the United States have pressured Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah Israel asserts that the group is trying to rebuild its military capabilities.

The Lebanese government, which supports disarming Hezbollah, has denied those claims. It also says troops have deployed to the south but that its cash-

Mamdani stands by Trump criticism despite friendly Washington meeting

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani didn’t back down in an interview that aired Sunday from past criticism that President Donald Trump acted like a despot and a fascist after a surprisingly friendly White House meeting between the two men. The newly elected democratic socialist and the Republican president have fiercely criticized each other in the past. Trump called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” in a social media post following the incoming mayor’s election victory and Mamdani has said Trump

was attacking democracy Yet the two political foils emerged smiling after the meeting Friday and spoke of shared goals.

Pressed about his past criticism during a “Meet the Press” interview conducted Saturday, Mamdani said his views remained unchanged.

“Everything that I’ve said in the past, I continue to believe,” Mamdani said. “And that’s the thing that I think is important in our politics, is that we don’t shy away from where we have disagreements, but we understand what it is that brings us to that table, because I’m not coming into the Oval Office to make a point or make a stand. I’m

coming in there to deliver for New Yorkers.”

Trump had brushed aside Mamdani’s criticisms Friday and even jumped in on his defense several times. When a reporter asked if Mamdani stood by his comments that Trump is a fascist, Trump interjected before Mamdani could fully answer the question.

“That’s OK. You can just say yes. OK?” Trump said. “It’s easier It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.”

Asked about the fascist criticism on “Meet the Press,” Mamdani said, “That’s something that I’ve said in the past I say it today

strapped army needs more resources.

Hezbollah has not attacked Israel since the ceasefire began. In December, it fired a couple of rockets that landed on open territory near an Israeli military base and called it a “warning.” Tabtabai had been the apparent successor of Ibrahim Aqil, who was killed in September 2024 in Israeli attacks that wiped out much of Hezbollah’s senior leadership, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah. Tabtabai also had led Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Unit In 2016, the U.S. designated him as a terrorist, calling him a military leader who led Hezbollah’s special forces in Syria and Yemen, and it offered up to $5 million for information about him.

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NIGERIA

Pope callsfor releaseofkidnapped students,teachers

Some pupils escape

BY CHINEDU ASADU Associated Press

ABUJA, Nigeria— Fifty of the 303 schoolchildren abducted from aCatholic school in north-central Nigeria’sNiger state have escaped captivity and are now with theirfamilies, the school authoritysaid Sunday,asthe pope called for the immediate release of those still missing.

The schoolchildren, aged between 10 and 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday,accordingto theMostRev.Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state and the proprietor of the school.

Atotal of 253 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still being held by the kidnappers Yohanna said in astatement.

“Wewere able to ascertain this when we decided to contact and visit some parents,” he added.

Meanwhile, 38 worshippers kidnapped during a deadly church attack in central Nigeria’s Kwarastate

have regained their freedom, Kwara Gov.AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said in astatement.

Gunmen had attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara’sEruku town on Tuesday,killing two peopleand takingothers hostage. Nigeria’sPresident Bola Tinubu, in aseparatestatement,attributed the freedom of the worshippers to “the efforts of security agencies” without giving furtherdetails

Nigeria has been reeling from aspate of attacks in the past weeks, raising tension in the West African nation grappling with widespread insecurity

Five officers werealso killedinNigeria’snortheast region after gunmen ambushed atactical team responding to afarmer-herder conflict, policesaidonSunday. Twoother police officers sufferedinjuries

Theambush occurred on Saturday in Sabon Sara villagelocated in the Darazo area of Bauchi state, police spokesperson Ahmed Muhammed Wakil said in a statement. The Nigerstatepupils andstudents were seized

together with their teachers by gunmen who attacked the St.Mary’sSchool, aCatholic institution in Niger state’s remotePapiri community, on Friday

No group hasyet claimed responsibility for the abductionsand Nigerian authori-

tieshave not shared any update on rescue efforts.Itwas not immediately clear where theNiger statechildren were being heldorhow they managed to return home.

The Niger state school is located near amajor road linking the towns of Yelwa and

Mokwa, and is in aregion of Nigeria where armed gangs often operate out of vast forests that connect different states and conflict hot spots.

“As muchaswereceive the return of these 50 children that escaped with some sigh of relief, Iurge you all to con-

BRAZIL

BY GERALD IMRAY, MOGOMOTSI MAGOME and MICHELLE GUMEDE Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG The Group of 20 summit in South Africa ended Sunday with the glaring absence of the United States —the next country to lead the bloc —after the Trump administration boycotted the two days of talks involving leaders of the world’srichest and topdeveloping economies

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the summit in Johannesburg closed by banging awooden gavel on ablock like ajudge would, in aG20 tradition. The gavel would normally be handed overtothe leader of the next country to hold the rotating presidency,but no U.S. official was thereto receive it.

The world’sbiggest economy boycotted asummit meant to bring rich and developing nations together over President Donald Trump’sclaims that South Africa is violently persecuting its Afrikaner white minority

The White House said it intended in alast-minute decision for an official from its embassyinSouth Africa to attend theG20 handover But South Africa refused that, saying it was an insult for Ramaphosa to hand over to ajunior embassy official. In the end, no U.S. delegation was accredited for the summit, according to the South African Foreign Ministry South Africa saidthe handover would happen later, possibly at itsforeign ministry.Trump has said the U.S. will hold next year’s summit at his golf club in Doral, Florida.

“This gavelofthis G20 summit formally closes this summit and now moveson to the next president of the G20, which is the United States, where we shallsee each other again next year,”

Ramaphosa saidasheclosed thesummit, making no reference tothe U.S. absence in hisspeech.

The first G20 summit in Africa also brokewithtradition on Saturday byissuing aleaders’ declaration on the opening day of thetalks, when declarations usually come at the end of the summit.

The declaration wassignificant in that it cameinthe face of opposition fromthe U.S., which has for months been critical of aSouth African agenda for the group that largely focused on climatechange and global wealth inequality —focuses theTrumpadministration derided. Argentina saidit also opposed thedeclaration after Argentine President Javier Milei —a Trumpally —also skipped the summit. Other G20 nations, including China, Russia, France, Germany, theU.K Japan and Canada, backed the declaration,which called for more global attention on issues that specifically affect poor countries, such as the need for financial help for their recovery efforts after climate-related disasters, finding waystoeasetheir debt levelsand supporting their transitiontoclimatefriendlygreen energy sources.

“South Africa has used this presidency to place the priorities of Africa andthe Global South firmly at the heart of the G20 agenda,” Ramaphosa said After his speech, Ramaphosa was hugged and congratulatedbyother leaders for hosting asummit largely overshadowed by the U.S boycott, and he was heard in ahot-mic momentthat was not meant to be broadcast saying: “It was not easy.”

South Africa championed itsG20 declarationasavictoryfor thesummitand for internationalcooperationin theface of the Trumpadministration’s“America First” foreign policy.However,

G20 declarationsare general agreements by membercountriesthataren’t binding, and their long-term impact has been questioned.

Also, while the declaration included many of South Africa’spriorities, some concrete proposals didn’t make the document. There was no mention of anew international panel on wealth inequality, similar to the United Nations-appointed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which SouthAfrica and others had called for The G20 was formed in 1999 in response to the Asian financial crisis and is made up of 19 rich and developing economies, the European Union and theAfrican Union, but some have questioned itseffectiveness in helping solve the most prominent globalcrises, like the Russia-Ukraine war andtensionsinthe Middle East.

The 122-point Johannesburg declaration madejust onereference to Ukraine in ageneral callfor an endto global conflictsand the summit appeared to have made no difference to the nearly four-year war,evenasleadersorhigh-level delegations from allthe major European nations, the EU and Russia sat in thesameroom for the G20 gathering.

“Meeting for the first time on theAfrican continent marks an important milestone,” French President Emmanuel Macron said, but added the bloc was “struggling to have acommon standardongeopolitical crises.”

Still, some praised the summit as asignificant symbolic momentfor the G20.

“This is the first ever meeting of world leaders in history where the inequality emergency wasput at the center of the agenda,”said MaxLawson of Oxfam, the international nonprofit that works to alleviate global poverty.

tinue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims,” Yohanna said.

PopeLeo XIV calledfor the immediate release of the schoolchildren and staff of theschool, saying at the end of amass in St.Peter’s square on Sunday that he was “deeply saddened” by the incident.

“I feel great sorrow,especially forthe manygirls and boys who have been abducted and for their anguished families,” the pontiff said. “I makeaheartfeltappeal forthe immediate release of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate andtimely decisionstoensure theirrelease.”

School kidnappings have come to define insecurity in Africa’smost populous nation, and armed gangs often see schools as “strategic” targets to drawmoreattention. At least1,500 students havebeenseized in Nigeria since the famous kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls more than adecade ago, and many of the children were released only after ransoms were paid.

Bolsonarosays‘hallucinations’led himtoviolate anklemonitoring

BY MAURICIO SAVARESE ANDLUCASDUMPHREYS Associated Press

BRASILIA, Brazil On his first full day in jail, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro told ajudge on Sunday he hadviolated his ankle monitoring the day before at his house arrest because of anervous breakdown andhallucinations caused by achange in his medication

SupremeCourt Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the70-year-old leader’spreemptive jailing Saturdayfor he is considered aflight risk.Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison in September for attempting acouptoremain in thepresidency after his 2022 electoral defeat.

“(Bolsonaro) said he had

‘hallucinations’that there was some wire tap in the ankle monitoring, so he tried to uncover it,” assistantjudge Luciana Sorrentino said,as reported in aSupremeCourt documentpublishedonSundayshortly after heronline meeting withthe former president. Sorrentino addedthat Bolsonaro told her he “did not remember having abreakdown of this magnitude in another occasion,” and speculated it might have been caused by achange in his medication last week. He once againdenied that he intended to escape.

The document also says Bolsonaro also told the judge he hadn’t been sleeping well and was feeling “a certain paranoia”that stimulated his curiosity into opening the ankle monitor-

ing device.

“(Bolsonaro) said he was withhis daughter,his elder brother and an aide at his house and none of them saw what he was doing to the ankle monitoring,” the document says. “He said he startedtotouch it late at night and stopped around midnight.”

De Moraes received informationthatthe far-right leader’s ankle monitor was violated at 12:08 a.m.on Saturday.The arrest order camehours later Apanel of Brazil’sSupremeCourt ruledinSeptember that Bolsonaro tried to stage acoup and keep the presidencyafterhis defeat by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022.

On Monday,the samepanel willvoteonthe preemptive arrest order

ChicagoDHS crackdownleaveslawsuits, probes,anxiety

Residentswrestle with aftermath of immigration action

BY SOPHIA TAREEN and CHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press

CHICAGO Chicago has entered what many consider anew uneasy phase of a Trump administration immigration crackdown that has already led to thousandsof arrests.

While aU.S. Border Patrol commander known for leading intense and controversial surges movedontoNorth Carolina, federal agents are still arresting immigrants across the nation’sthirdlargest city and suburbs.

Agrowing number of lawsuits stemming from the crackdown are winding through the courts. Authorities are investigating agents’ actions, includinga fatal shooting. Activists say they are not letting their guard downincase things ramp up again, while many residents in the Democratic stronghold where few welcomed the crackdown remain anxious.

“I feel asense of paranoia overwhen they might be back,” said SantaniSilva,an employee at avintagestore in the predominantly Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen. “People are still afraid.”

For more than two months, the Chicago area was the focus of an aggressive operation led by Gregory Bovino, aBorder Patrol commander behind similar efforts in Los Angeles and soon Louisiana. Armed and masked agents used unmarked SUVs and helicopters throughout the city of 2.7 million and its suburbs to target suspected criminals and immigration violators. Arrests often led to intense standoffs with bystanders, from wealthy neighborhoods to working-class suburbs.

While the intensity has died down in the week since Bovino left,reports of arrests still pop up. Activists tracking immigration agents said they confirmed 142 daily sightings at the height of the operation last month. The number is nowroughly six aday

“It’snot over,” said Brandon Lee with the IllinoisCoalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. “I don’t think it will be over.”

Bearing the brunt of the operation has been Broadview, aChicago suburb of roughly 8,000 people that has housed

government about arrests.

“None of this hasquite added up,”said Ed Yohnka with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois,which has been involved in several lawsuits. “What was this all about?Whatdid thisserve? What did any of this do?”

The numberoflawsuits triggeredbythe crackdown is growing, including on agents’ use of force and conditions at the Broadview center.Inrecentdays, clergy membersfiled alawsuit against theTrumpadministration, alleging theywere being blocked fromministering inside afacility

and other bystanders, including dismissingcharges against awoman who was shot several times by aBorder Patrol agent last month. Meanwhile, federal agents are also under investigation in connectionwith the death of asuburbanman fatally shot by ICE agents during a traffic stop. Mexico’spresident hascalledfor athorough investigation,while ICE hassaiditdid not use excessive force.

38-year-old father who spent two decades in theU.S. was buried in the western Mexico state of Michoacan.

Many of the once bustling business corridors in the Chicago area’slargely immigrant communities that had quieted downwere seeing a buzz again with some street vendors slowly returning to their usual posts.

aU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center for years.

Protestsoutside thefacility have grown increasingly tense as federal agentsused chemical agentsthatarea neighborsfelt. Broadview police also launched three criminal investigationsinto federalagents’ tactics.

Community leaders took the unusualstep of declaring acivil emergencylastweek, after Bovino left the area, and moving public meetings online.

Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson saidthe community hasfacedbombthreats, deaththreatsand violentprotests because of the crackdown.

“I will notallowthreats of violence orintimidationto disrupt the essential functions of our government,” Thompson said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Securityhas touted more than 3,000 arrests, but the agency has provided details on only afew cases whereimmigrants without legal permissiontolive in the country alsohad acriminalhistory

TheTrumpadministration takes to social mediatopost photos of supposed violent criminals apprehended in immigration operations, but the federal government’s owndata paintsa different picture.

Of 614 immigrants arrested and detained in recent months around Chicago, only 16, less than 3%, had criminal records representing a“high public safety risk,” according to federal government data submitted to the court as part of a2022 consent decree aboutICE arrests. Those records included domestic battery and drunken driving.

Ajudge in the cases said hundreds of immigrant detaineesqualifytobereleased on bond, though an appealscourt has paused

Christmastree

retailersfindlotsto like at Pa.auction

BYMARK SCOLFORO Associated Press

MIFFLINBURG,Pa Christmas went on the auction block this week in Pennsylvania farm country, andthere was no shortage of bidders.

About 50,000 Christmas trees and enough wreaths, crafts andother seasonal items to fill an airplane hangarwerebought andsoldby lots and on consignmentat the annual two-day event put on at the Buffalo Valley Produce Auction in Mifflinburg.

Buyersfrom across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic were there to supply garden stores, corner lots and other retail outletsfor thecoming rush of customers eagerto bring home atree —most commonly aFraser fir —or to deck the halls with miles of greenery

Bundled-up buyers were out in chilly temperatures to hear auctioneers hawk boxes of ornaments, bunches of winterberry,cotton branches, icicle lights, grave blankets, redbowsand tree stands. It was nearly everything you would need for Christmas except the food and the presents.

Americans’Christmas tree buying habits have been evolvingfor many years

These dayshomes are less likely than in years past to have atree at all, andthose

that do have trees aremore likely to opt foranartificial tree over thenatural type, saidMarsha Gray with the Howell, Michigan-based Real Christmas Tree Board, anational trade group of Christmastreefarmers.

Cory Stephens wasback for asecond year at the auction after his customers raved about the holiday decor he purchased there last year for A.A. Co. Farm, Lawn &Garden,his store athreehour drive away in Pasadena, Maryland. He spent nearly $5,000 on Thursday “It’sincredible, it’schanged ourwhole world,” Stephens said. “If you know what you’re looking for, it’s very hard to beat the quality.” RyanMarshallspent about $8,000 on various decorations for resaleatWard’s Berry Farm inSharon, Massachusetts. Among his purchases were three skids of wreaths at $29 per wreath —and he expected to doublehis money. “The quality’sgood, and it’saplace that you can pick it out yourself,” he said.

Gray said hergroup’s research shows the main reasonpeople pick areal tree over an artificialtree“is the scent.They want the fresh scentofa realChristmas tree in their home.” Having children in thehouse also tends to correlate with pickinga farm-grown tree,she said.

their release. Attorneys say many morecases will follow as they getdetails from the

Federal prosecutors have also repeatedlydropped charges against protesters

An autopsy report,obtained recently by The Associated Press, showedSilverio Villegas González died of a gunshot wound fired at “close range”tohis neck.The death wasdeclared ahomicide.

In October,the body of the

CEMETERY PLOTS Sacrifice.CemeteryPlotfor 2inHoly Mary,MotherofGod Cemetery on JohnstonSt, Lafayette.Headstone incl.Valued$10,500. Will sacrifice for$5000.

PUBLIC NOTICE Advertisementfor Bids Notice is hereby given that sealed bids (one original)willbereceived by theLafayette Parish School System Purchas‐ingDepartment, located at 202 RueIberville, Lafayette,Louisiana 70508 andelectronicbids will be received at www centerlinebidconnect com. Delivery to any otherdepartmentother than thePurchasingDe‐partment is unaccept‐able andmay result in non-considerationofthe bid. Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m.,CST on December 18, 2025, for construction of thefol‐lowing projectasde‐scribedinthe Bidding Documentsand listed on theBid Form: BID# 26-26 Lafayette Parish School System Lafayette Elementary School -Waterproofing 1301 WUniversityAve Lafayette,LA70506 It is further understood andagreed that thework under this contract shall be completedwithin90 consecutivecalendar days of thedatespeci‐fied in theContractor a Notice to Proceed,sub‐ject to reimbursementto theowner of liquidated damagesinthe amount of Five HundredDollars ($500) perconsecutive calendar day. Bids will be publicly opened andreadaloud at theabove stated time anddateinthe Purchas‐ingConference Room of theLafayette Parish School System Central Office Building Complete BiddingDocu‐mentsfor this projectare beingdistributed in elec‐tronic form andmay be obtained withoutcharge andwithout depositfrom thePublicPlanRoom at www.centerlinebidco nnect.com.Printed copies arenot available from theOwner or Pro‐ject Designer but arrangements canbe made to obtain them through most repro‐graphic firms. Plan hold‐ersare responsiblefor theirown reproduction costs. Questionsabout this procedureshouldbe directed to:Centerline –Phone: 504-291-5738, emailbidconnect@ centerline.co. Each bidmustbeaccom‐panied by acertified check, cashier’scheck or BidBondusing the Owner’sformpayable to theLafayette Parish School System,the amount of whichshall be five percent(5%)ofthe amount of theproposed Base Bidplusall Alter‐nates. MoneyOrderswill notbeaccepted. Electronic bids maybe submittedonlineat www.centerlinebidco nnect.com.Inaccor‐dancewithLARS38: 2212.E(6),bidsfor this projectmay be submit‐tedelectronicallyvia up‐load to Centerline Bid Connect (www.centerl inebidconnect.com ). All biddocuments shall be uploaded by thedue date andtimestatedabove Questionsabout this pro‐cedure should be di‐rected to Centerline (phone 504-291-5738, email: bidconnect@centerline. co ). ABid bond will be required,per thecon‐tractdocuments,and should be uploaded with therestofthe required id f

q Bid Documents. If a scannedcopyofthe Bid Bond is uploaded,the original notarizedbid bond must be produced “on-demand” perthe Owner’srequest Thesuccessful Bidder shallberequiredtofur‐nish aPerformance and PaymentBondinan amount equalto100% of theContractonthe formsprovidedbythe School Boardand written in accordance with Louisianalaw Bids shallbeaccepted only from contractors whoare licensed by the LouisianaState Licensing Boardfor Contractorsfor theclassification of Building Construction.No bidmay be withdrawn f i d f f fi

Andrea Melendez, the owner of Pink Flores Bakery and Cafe, said she has seen an increase in sales this week after struggling for months.

“As anew business, Iwas abit scared when we saw sales drop,” she said. “But this week I’m feeling abit more hope that thingsmay get better.”

ownedbusinessesare

PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM Purchasing Department Advertisingdates:No‐vember 17, 2025 November 24,

December

166972-nov17-24-dec1-3t $131.94 y for aperiod of forty-five (45) days afterreceipt of bids,exceptunder the provisions of La.R.S 38:2214. AMandatory Pre-Bid Conferencewillbeheld at theLafayette Elemen‐tary School at 10:00 a.m. CST, December 4th, 2025. Emailquestions to hugh@mbsbgroup.com before noon CST, Decem‐ber11, 2025. Theowner reserved the righttorejectany andall bids forjustcause TheLafayette Parish School System strongly encourages thepartici‐pation of minority busi‐ness enterprisesinall contractsorprocure‐mentslet by theBoard for goodsand services h d ll

NOTICEOFPUBLIC

PUBLIC NOTICE LouisianaEconomicDe‐velopment’s requestfor Proposals forDeveloping and Executinga Strategic Marketing andCommuni‐cations Program for Louisiana Economic De‐velopment’s Opportunity Louisiana Campaign RFP#250-25-001, maybe obtainedbyvisitingthe LED website https:// www.opportunitylouisian a.gov/publicinformation/rfps-rfqsor byemailingChristina Oc‐

“A Creole feeds one family with three chickens, and a Cajun feeds three families with one chicken.”

To him, Creole cooking reflects New Orleans’ European influence, while Cajun food comes from rural south Louisiana and leans more on simpleness and flavor But, he said, those “two worlds come together” in Acadiana. Starting the spread

“These starters set the tone,” Graham said. “People know they’re in Acadiana.”

For Graham, the holiday meal starts way before the turkey makes it to the table. And in his family, that starter dish has always been his brother Jackie’s Spicy Creole shrimp dip, a appetizer he calls the most cherished in their family’s holiday lineup.

“It’s simple, but it has layers of flavor,” he said. The main ingredients in the dish are wild-caught Louisiana shrimp, horseradish, Creole mustard and hot sauce.

Another seasonal favorite is his crawfish and pumpkin bisque, a dish he reinterpreted after tasting something similar in Baton Rouge. He describes it as sweet, spicy and warming.

“When you bring pumpkin together with curry and cane molasses, the flavor becomes something deeper,” he said. “It just feels like fall.”

RODEO

Continued from page 1A

Rodeo wasn’t just an interest but a part of his family’s tradition. His father and uncles rode bareback through high school and college, with some even competing professionally “We did it all,” Bourgeois said. “My dad gave us the opportunity to try whatever we wanted.” His two older brothers eventually focused on baseball and football, leaving the bareback riding lane wide open for Waylon, which he says he stepped into without hesitation. His first real taste of bareback riding came during his sophomore year of

JUDGES

Continued from page 1A

The Supreme Court district covers Livingston, St. Tammany, Washington, Tangipahoa and St. Bernard parishes and a smidgen of Orleans Parish.

“It’s a heavily Republican district with a very suburban tilt to it centered along I-12,” said John Couvillon, a pollster and demographer in Baton Rouge.

Couvillon noted that Trump won the district with 73% when he ran for president in 2020 and 2024, and business owner Eddie Rispone, a Republican, won 58% of the district when he narrowly lost the 2019 governor’s race to John Bel Edwards.

Behind-the-scenes politics

Races for the seven-member Supreme Court typically become highly political, although much of the action usually takes place behind the scenes.

Crain quietly played a role in drawing the current lines when the state Legislature redistricted the Supreme Court in 2024, for the first time in 27 years. Political insiders said Crain pushed to take Jefferson Parish out of his Supreme Court district to eliminate possible challengers from there.

About half the voters in Crain’s district now live in St. Tammany Parish with most of the others living in Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes.

The current map for the Supreme Court is tilted to the right, with only two Democrats, Justice Piper Griffin of New Orleans and Justice John Michael Guidry of Baton Rouge. Chief Justice John Weimer

and spicy

Other appetizers that can be found on his holiday table include Cajun glazed chicken lollipops, which features an easy four-ingredient sauce that is sure to become a favorite, according to Graham, and Guinea gumbo, an oldschool Cajun classic from his latest cookbook, “Fresh From Louisiana: The Soul of Cajun and Creole Home Cooking.”

Bring on the meats

The centerpiece of Graham’s holiday table is a canebrined turkey, which is a recipe he’s refined over years of trial and error.

high school at a practice rodeo in Mississippi He slipped away to ride a few horses under the watch of his uncle and came home more hooked than ever, even though he returned with a broken wrist. It was also the moment he realized just how hard on the body bareback riding could be. Even the injury didn’t slow him down. “Once I got cleared, I went to my first high school rodeo,” Bourgeois said. “That was it. The rest is history.”

His determination earned him a rodeo scholarship to McNeese State University, where his talents and passion continued to grow His professional career officially began in 2022, but a major turning point came

is a political independent. In recent years, Supreme Court races have typically boiled down to one candidate backed by business groups, with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry playing the lead role, and another candidate backed by trial lawyers and the Baton Rouge-based Carmouche law firm, which sues oil and gas companies.

Landry played the lead role in the last election of a justice, when Cade Cole, an attorney and tax court judge in Lake Charles, was elected unopposed last year

Landry created the vacancy that Cole filled by encouraging then-Justice Jimmy Genovese to apply to be president of Northwestern State. The chair of the board that chose Genovese was a Landry appointee who shortened the selection process in a way that favored him. Scott Wilfong, a political consultant who has worked for Carmouche, said a recent poll of potential candidates for Crain’s seat gave no one more than 11% of the vote to any candidate. Wilfong polled 400 Republican and no-party voters. “The poll showed a wideopen race,” Wilfong said.

State Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, Livingston Parish President Randy Delatte, Washington Parish President Ryan Seal, Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor and Scott Perrilloux, the district attorney for Livingston, Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes, all said they have received calls from potential candidates.

Who are the candidates?

Of the potential candidates, Edwards and Burris have been the most active

For a shorter cook time, the fresh ham roast is the perfect combination of gingerkissed with a mustard-glazed sweetness.

“This fresh ham roast is an unusual spin on ham that is a must-try recipe,” Graham said. “I urge you to find a farmer or a butcher who can deliver a fresh ham roast for your dinner table.”

“The cane syrup gives it a South Louisiana twist,” he said. The turkey is brined overnight with aromatics such as lemon, parsley, and sage then is rubbed on the outside with seasoned butter “The brine keeps it moist, and the butter builds layers of flavor and gives you that crispy skin,” he said.

His list of rotating mains

also includes honey-herbed poussin chicken, French for a young spring chicken. Graham said this dish is what he calls “poultry perfection in the hands of a good Cajun cook.” And Graham’s beer-braised stuffed brisket is slow-cooked until tender, a common south Louisiana cooking technique. Instead of a wine-based braise, he said this recipe calls for something more Louisiana — beer

Sides to complete a meal

No Acadiana holiday table is complete without the sides. One of Graham’s favorites is Creole smothered green beans with andouille sausage, a dish he learned from a cook in Ville Platte.

It starts with bacon drippings, the holy trinity of onion, celery and green pepper, and smoked sausage. “It’s just canned Italian-cut green

and Cole Franks in a docuseries known as “Hell on Wheels,” which

beans smothered down in bacon and andouille,” he said. “Straightforward, smoky and perfect for Thanksgiving.”

Also essential to the menu is maque choux with shrimp, a dish with deep roots, according to Graham. He said the key to his take on maque choux is to use seasonally fresh ingredients like Louisiana shrimp, sweet corn off the cob, pure farm-fresh cream and quality butter

Other sides he recommends include seafood mac and cheese and Cajun cabbage casserole, a meaty side dish that builds on the flavor of cabbage smothered down in a smoky, spicy casserole.

“These dishes really show how people here build flavor from the ground up ingredient by ingredient,” he said.

Room for dessert

Graham said he doesn’t

followed the trio’s life on the road The experience was eye-opening, according to Bourgeois.

“Riding with Rocker and Cole really helped enhance what I already had in me,” he said. “I was physically strong, but I had to get there mentally Those guys helped me get there.”

By 2024, Bourgeois had earned more than $100,000 in ProRodeo competition, a total that would have secured an NFR qualification in many past seasons. But he finished 18th, just three spots shy of the cutoff. Determined not to miss another chance, he worked harder and committed fully mentally, physically and spiritually “I was always on a horse, doing something I love,”

consider himself a baker, but dessert still plays a major role at holiday gatherings. His standout is his donut bread pudding, made with Meche’s glazed donuts.

“It only takes six donuts,” he said “Molasses for depth, cinnamon and nutmeg for warmth, and half-and-half to bring it all together.”

Topped with warm bourbon cream sauce, it’s become his most crowd-pleasing ending to the meal.

Other favorites include pumpkin bread (when you slather butter on a slice of this hot pumpkin bread and take the first of many bites, you’ll know autumn has arrived) and bourbon pecan pie with a deep dark syrup set in a custard base that includes a smoky bourbon a flavor to the scent of toasted pecans in this iconic dish.

he said. “I love the cowboy perspective. I liked being around horses and cattle. I always knew I wanted to rodeo.”

The effort paid off. By the end of the 2025 season, Bourgeois secured 12th in the PRCA world standings, officially punching his ticket to his first National Finals Rodeo. As he prepares for the NFR, set for Dec. 4-13 in Las Vegas, Bourgeois said the feeling is equal parts excitement and purpose. “Now I know that I’m ready and I belong,” he said. “I’ve got one thing on my mind: Go over there and win.”

Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.

so far in trying to line up support. Both said they intend to run for Crain’s seat.

Edwards, 57, joined the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal a year ago after serving as a juvenile judge for 16 years for Tangipahoa, Livingston and St. Helena parishes. Her husband, Daniel, served as sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish for 20 years until his retirement in 2024, and her brother-in-law, John Bel Edwards, served as governor from 2016-24.

“I’ve somewhat laid the groundwork with the elected officials with the sheriffs and district attorneys,” she said.

Burris, 44, was elected as a district court judge serving St. Tammany and Washington parishes in 2017 and was reelected in 2020.

“I’m just getting ducks in a row to be ready to go,” Burris said.

Lobello, 55, has been a district court judge since 2020 and, like Burris, serves St. Tammany and Washington parishes.

“I’m considering running,” Lobello said. “I’ve been receiving and making phone calls.”

Abels, 56, was elected in 2019 as a district court judge serving Livingston, Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes.

“I’m strongly leaning toward it,” he said.

Sledge, 45, was elected as a Hammond city judge in 2022 for the 7th Ward, which covers Hammond south to Manchac. He handles misdemeanors and civil suits for less than $50,000.

Sledge said it’s premature to discuss his possible candidacy before Crain becomes a federal judge.

There is some legal uncertainty whether Burris, Lobello, Abels and Sledge would have to forego re-

election next year if they run for Crain’s seat.

Walters, 41, handled civil matters and criminal prosecutions in the Attorney General’s Office for eight plus years before moving onto the governor’s staff when Landry became governor He is seriously considering the race.

“I am speaking with conservative leaders from across the state and am encouraged by their support,” said Walters, who lives in Tangipahoa Parish.

Louisiana’s Supreme Court has the final say on state legal matters, although the justices hear about only 6% of the cases

appealed to them. The justices also handle discipline cases involving lawyers and judges and administer the court system.

The seven justices run for 10-year terms, with one up roughly every two years.

Whoever wins Crain’s seat next year would fill the final two years of his term and then have to run for reelection in 2028.

Qualifying for Crain’s seat is scheduled for February Under new rules approved by Landry and the Legislature last year, Supreme Court races are subject to the closed primary system. Under it, the first party primary would take place in May If no candidate won more than 50%, the top two finishers would compete in a second party primary in June. The winner of each party’s primary would face off next November, along with any no-party or third-party candidates who qualified for the race. This means that Crain’s successor might not be seated until after that November election. In the meantime, the Supreme Court would select a pro tempore justice to replace. If the court follows custom, it would choose a temporary justice recommended by Crain. Early speculation has centered on Penzato.

Manpleadsguiltyindeath of driver

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON

Staff writer

Brandon Jermaine Francisco, 39, pleadedguilty Nov. 13 in the death of aLafayette Parish woman who disappearedin2022, according to federal court documents.

Under theterms of the deal, Francisco will plead guilty to committing acarjacking resulting in Uber and Lyft driver Ella Goodie’sdeath. He will receivea life sentence; afederal judge still hastosign off on the deal.

In his guilty plea, federal prosecutors said Franciscoadmitted to carjacking Goodie, amother of twochildren.

Francisco admitted that while

Drought conditions fall on southwest Louisiana

Last measurable rain wasinlateOctober

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

After nearlyamonth without measurable rainfall,southwest Louisiana is experiencing droughtlike conditions.

While thesouthwestcorner of Calcasieu Parish and all of Cameron Parish are dealing with abnormally dry conditions, the remainder of Calcasieu is seeing moderate drought conditions, according to Thursday’sU.S Drought Monitor map. Historically, the impacts from dry conditions include an increase in grass fires. Moderate drought conditions canlead to reduced crop planting and yields andtoincreased fire risk,according to the Drought Monitor

The last measurable rain in the

ä See DROUGHT, page 4B

carjacking Goodie, he shot her several times then disposed of herbodybeforefleeingwiththe vehicle.

Goodie, 32, went missingon March 9, 2022, after driving a ride-hailclient, possibly Francisco, from LouisianatoTexas Francisco was arrested in Missouri on March 25, 2022, by U.S. marshals on awarrant from the Rapides ParishSheriff’s Office forfailure to appear in court in connection witha2018attempted murder case. The courtdatewas scheduledfor March9,the date Goodie was last seen.

Shortlyafter his arrest, authorities located Goodie’sAudi in St. Joseph, Missouri, andLouisiana StatePolice took over hercase,

which transitioned from amissing persontoa homicide on May 3, 2022.

Goodie’sfriends said she had been goingthrough arough patch financially and was looking for ways to bring in more income. Shestarted working as aride-hail driver shortly before her death.

Goodie’s disappearance gained national attention when CBS News in November 2022 published a”Dateline” story about her.

Francisco is in stateprison after pleading guilty in October 2024 to attemptedsecond-degree murder for a2018 shooting. He wassentencedto30years in prison.

Sentencing is setfor Jan. 27.

Newschoolofthought

Historic Lafayettebuilding begins transformation into communitycenter

JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer

“It takes avillage to raise achild. For this community,thisistheir village,”volunteer Richard Travers said.

Thevillage in question:the recently vacated TrumanEarlyChildhood Education Center.

Work officially began Saturday on transforming the campus into a space for events and conferences, recreational activitiesand affordable workspacefor localentrepreneurs.

CRIME BLOTTER Advocate staff reports

One man is dead and awoman is in critical conditionafter an apparent domestic dispute escalated to gunfire near East Gloria Switch Road and Evangeline Thruway on Saturday,the Lafayette Police Department said. Police saidthe two were in arelationship. Police said the man brandisheda firearm during averbal dispute and shot thewoman then himself at a home in the 100block of Gard Circle. Law enforcement was called at 1:23p.m. and arrived to find the man and awoman both suffering from gunshot wounds. Kevin Leblanc, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene,and the womanwas transported to a hospital, where she is listed as in critical condition, thePolice Department said.

The Police Department said it encourages victims of domestic violencenot to suffer in silence

ä See BLOTTER, page 4B

The school, which has stood on Clara Street in the north side of Lafayette since 1959, was purchased by SUN Community HousingDevelopment Organization from the Lafayette ParishSchoolSystem in August. It is set to become the SUN Community Centerwithaims to open to the public in early2027.

SUNCEO ChrisWilliamsfacilitated volunteers eagertobegin the process of turning the dilapidated but historic building into something theyhope will become afocal point for Lafayette’snorth side.

“The first phase is to getthe buildingand the property clean. Oncethat is completed, we’re going to start a fundraising campaign for renovations,” Williams said.

Members of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette chapterofthe AlphaPhi Alpha fraternity were alarge presence among the50orsovolunteers Saturday

“We’re always trying to be out there advocating good deedsand working in the community,”said Travers, who serves as thechapter adviser

“What we’re trying to do is instill that community-centered workethicinto these young men.”

Also presentwas LafayetteCity

Council member Elroy Broussard, whorepresents thedistrictwhere the buildingislocated. Broussard, who himself graduated from Trumanin 1966, is hopeful aboutwhatthe completed project will bring to asection of the city desperately in need of improvements

“I left over 50 years ago and the buildinghasn’t changedmuch since then,” Broussard said.“It’s nice to seethe building beingtransformed into something for the community,while also keeping the history alive.”

Williams hada similar aspiration

“Thiswillbethe onlyremaining

historical LPSSbuilding once J.W Faulk’sold building getsdemolished,” he said. “It’simportant we keep this building here and in use so that we don’tlosethat.”

Williams hopes that once renovations are completetohave the building placed on theNational Register of Historic Places. There are no setcosts for the renovations, but Williams estimates the figure will be around $2.5million. SUNanticipates beginning the fundraising processinearly 2026. Williamswillprovide an update on Saturday’sprogress at acommunity event open to the public at 6p.m

Witnessing ICE raid firsthand raises concern

My family immigrated to this country from Eastern Europe to escape persecution and enjoy abetter life in aland theyhad never seen. Their journey wasnot easy,but they worked incredibly hard peddling goods until they could own their ownstores. It’s unbelievable to think of what my great-grandparents wentthrough so my family could have afuture in this country

Many are still dreaming of coming to America to workhard and create abetter life for their families. Meanwhile, the news around immigration enforcementinthis country is sad,overwhelming and easy to tune out. Iadmit that some days Ishut out the news, stay in my bubble and focuson my life. However,that bubble burstafter Iwitnessed people being kidnapped in broad daylight While Iwas in the parking lotat Lowe’sinMetairie, my friendand Isaw men aggressively shoving people to the ground, and we realized we were witnessing an ICE raid. These supposedgovernment officials wore masks and shoved their victims into unmarked cars with Mississippi plates. Irepeatedly asked the masked men what agency they were with. They responded that they did nothave to tell me, while pulling their masks up higher

The New Orleans community cannot be OK with this. We must demand due process. Regardless of political leanings,weshare an obligation to stop people from being snatched off the street History tells us that without resistance, thisdoesn’tend here. If we say nothing and do nothing, this could soon verywellhappen to you or me. Now is the time to askyourself what you can doto make sure your actions match your values.

ANNA HERMAN Metairie

Religiousspeech must be protected

If ateacher were to display a poster in aclassroom that says, “Thou shaltnot steal,”theywould feel thefull weight of thestate come down upon them.

If, however,they wereinstead to displayaposterthatsaid, “Don’tsteal,” no problem

The difference is the very definition of freedom.

WILLIAM M. FAULKNER Slidell

LSU President Wade Rousse speaks during anewsconference alongsideExecutive Vice President James Dalton at the LSU Foundation buildingonNov.4

Rousse andDaltonthe rightchoices to leadLSU

Earlier this month,the LSUBoard of Supervisors made themonumental decision to hire Wade Rousseaspresident of the LSU Systemand James Dalton as executive vice presidentand chancellor of the campus in Baton Rouge. Iamconfident that these men, whoare both highly qualified and bring unique talents and skill sets to these roles, will lead Louisiana’sflagship universityto unparalleled heights.

As athree-time graduateofLSU who grew up aroundthe campus and knows what it truly means to bleed purple and gold, Iunderstand the anxietyand uncertaintythatmany of my fellow alumni and Tiger fans have felt over thepast few weeks as our institution hasseen tremendous changes

Forweeks, Ihave said that we need to let the selection process play out. LSU has been an unstoppable force for decades, and just as alargeship can endure stormy seas, our

flagship can endure through turbulent times. Now,wehave new captains at the helm, ready toguide us to places we never thought imaginable. Iwant to encourage every alumnus, student and fan toget involved with the great thingshappening at LSU and be apart of building abrighter future forthe university.

Itruly believe that with the selection of President Rousse and Executive Vice President Dalton, we have two leaders who deeply understand LSU’smission to serve thepeople of Louisiana, possess the vision to achieve long-term success and the drive to push our proud institution to winateverythingwedo.

Iamthrilled to see all that our university accomplishes —and as always, Geaux Tigers!

DIXON WALLACE MCMAKIN state representative, District68

Connecting ruralhospitals to networks should be apriority

Loyola hasno reason to shun Turning PointUSA chapter

Just as Iwas about to forgive my alma mater,Loyola University,for inviting the president of Planned Parenthood to give the address at the law school commencement a fewyears ago and presenting former Sen. Mary Landrieu an honor after she voted with Democrats on an abortion bill by sending them a donation, Iread the Oct. 29 article regarding the denial of official status of aTurning Point USAchapter at Loyola.

The newspaper reported “Loyola’sstudent government association denied astudent request to charter acampus chapter of Turning Point USA, citing alack of alignment between the Jesuit university’svalues and someof TPUSA’s positions.”

Ifind that statement without merit. Exactly what positions did the SGAhave in mind? Could they be that “God created man in his image, maleand female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27) or “Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes agrave offense.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2272) and “Since it must be treated from conception as aperson, the embryo must be defended...” (ibid, 2274)? Iwould like to know what evidence there is that Charlie Kirk madeanyone uncomfortable because of his or her race.

Charlie Kirk’sTPUSA wants young people to dialogue on issues of the day.Universities should allow students to hear different sides of issues. Kirk promoted Christianity,following Jesus Christ. He encouraged young people to get married and have children. He challenged students to get involved in the issues of the day.Patriotism is avirtue he promoted. He advocated capitalism, love of our Constitution and treasuring our form of government.

Loyola University,dothe right thing, give TPUSA official status. PATRICIA ARNOLD Slidell

OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name and the writer’scity of residence.The Advocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com. TO SEND US ALETTER SCAN HERE

As 33 Louisianarural hospitals teeter on the brinkofclosure, patientstraveling hours for specialized care face an invisible barrier: arrivingasmedical ghosts. When rural Louisianans seek emergency cardiac care in New Orleans or cancer treatment in Baton Rouge, their complete medical histories —diagnoses, medications, dangerous drug allergies andprior treatments —sit locked in disconnectedcomputer systemsmiles away Louisiana faces the second-highest per capita rate of at-risk ruralhospitals in America. But the connectivitycrisis is even worse than theclosure crisis: Only 7ofthese 33 hospitals participate in Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs), meaning79% will have patient records trapped in disconnectedsystemswhen they close. Nearly 60% of rural hospitals nationwide cannot electronically exchange health information with outsideproviders, compared to just 15% of urban facilities. When arural patient from Coushatta or Mamou arrives at aBaton Rouge emergency room, doctors often start from scratch, reordering expensive imaging, risking dangerous drug interactions and delaying time-

sensitive treatments. Medical errors from incomplete patient information cause an estimated 80,000 deaths annually,with rural patientsdisproportionately affected.

The solution exists. QHINs already connect thousands of health care providers nationwide, withquery volume growing 21% monthly to reach 66 million queries by March 2025. Implementation costs run $50,000-$150,000 per facility. Through theRural Health Transformation Program,Louisianawill receive at least $500 million over five years. Connecting all 33 vulnerable hospitals would cost just $1.65 million to$4.95 million —less than 1% of available funding. New Mexico achieved 89% information exchange rates within 18 months by tyingfunding to QHIN participation.

Louisiana’srural healthequity requires morethan keeping facilities open —itdemands digital infrastructurethat works equally well for all communities.

AMY DOMANGUE

Metairie master’sinpublic health degree candidate from Harvard

We need abetter remedy when Congress refusestowork

In his commentary “Anchor’s ouster speaks volumes,” columnist Will Sutton attributesMichelle Miller’sdeparture to “White conservative, Republican values having a grave impact on news media.”

However,available datasuggestsa differentexplanation. Pew Research’s2024–2025 review found that only 63% of Americans say they get their news from television even

occasionally,and an even smaller share regularly watch morning shows —39% of whom are age 65 or older.Overall, network news audiences have been steadily declining, suggesting that such departures are likely driven by economic factors rather than political influence.

MARTHA SMITH Mandeville

Kudos to Christine Dill Forrest forher letter,“Trust in government eroding —for good reason.” But she leftout akey problem of our current situation. While Congress refused to do its job, our congressmen werebeing paid. While social service budgets were going unfunded, Congress was collecting its salaries. While air travel safety was being jeopardized and our soldiers were going unpaid, Congress was getting paid to sit on its hands. Congress is supposed to be acenter of debate and compromise, and it is needed to keep the president in check. My advice? Cut off salaries but require them to sit in their chambers until they finally decide to do the job we elected them to do. Then, fire them all. Find aseemingly honest person and vote her/him into office. If that person does not know how to do the job, fire them and find another candidate.

Thank you, Christine, forarticulating our biggest national problem LOU SOILEAU Rayne

TURKEY DAY

JoeAlford, Baton Rouge

Nice! We received 719 entriesinthisweek’sCartoon Caption Contest. From gatorbites to alligator shoes, thesewerecleverand deliciouslyfunny! Our winnersentinagreat punchline that brought it all back to Louisiana.Well played, everyone As always, when we have duplicate entries, and we always do,wepick the earliestsent in Happy Thanksgiving! Walt

MARTHA STARNES,KENNER: “This is my first Thanksgiving …iseveryone always this nervous?”

DAVID M. PRADOS,METAIRIE: “Thatmust be Turkey alaKelly,roasted and done.”

SUSAN NEWKIRK, LAFAYETTE: “I am so thankful that no one has thought of gatorduck-en yet.Amen.

THOMAS McNULTY,SLIDELL: “I don’t mean to be snappish, but Ihopethat’s notGator Bites.

GARYSTEWART,BATON ROUGE: “If that’s cousin Al in there, there’sgoing to be trouble.”

SCOTT SIMONSON, HARAHAN: “Pass me aleg…. No, your leg!”

BRAD WESTON, POLK,FLA.: “I know what you’re all thinking —how did my stuffing turnout so fabulous?”

ERNEST GREMILLION,TALLAHASSEE, FLA.: “I sure hope Troy Landry didn’t pick the main course.”

JEFFERYL.HARTZHEIM, FUQUAYVARINA, N.C.: “Just so youall know… I wore my stretchyhide.”

DAVID A. BLANCHET,LAFAYETTE: “Eat up! Ilovemyguests stuffed after Thanksgiving dinner.”

EDWARD LASCELLE, PINEVILLE: “Grampa,are those newalligator shoes you’re wearing?”

STUART CLARK, LAFAYETTE: “y’all mentionedleftovers.What the heck is a leftover?”

BOBUSSERY, NEWORLEANS: “But Ijust hadturkey,though alot rarer.”

ERIN PLAUCHÉ, NEWORLEANS: “That better not be one of my cousins in a sauce piquant under there!”

VANCE LEVESQUE, NEWORLEANS: “EveryThanksgiving, I’m so glad my tailis toobig forthe oven!!”

MARIANO HINOJOSA, BATONROUGE: “I’m so hungry Icouldeat ahost, err, horse.

D. SABRIO, METAIRIE: “Don’tput your elbows on the table. It’sbeen aweek since my last meal.”

STEPHEN R. BARRY, NEWORLEANS: “See ya later… turkey.”

MICHELE STARNES,KENNER: “I canhelp carve, but results mayvary.”

TOMWAFER, BATONROUGE: “Pass me thefootballcoach, please.”

ANTHONY CHRISTIAN CINQUEMANO, NEWORLEANS: “you guyseat turtles too!”

MILES MURPHY (AGE 11), BATON ROUGE: “Can somebodypass me the old man?”

DEEDEMONTLUZIN, NEWORLEANS: “I gotpromoted fromthe kiddytable because theysaidy’all are more tasty.”

JIM WILLIAMSON, MANDEVILLE: “Thank youfor the turkey.Now,what are youfolks eating?”

RAYAUTREY,MORGANCITY: “OK! Iknow Ididn’t getaninvitation, but who’sgoing to makemeleave?”

CORKYWILLHITE, NEW ORLEANS: “1 stuffed turkey +6 stuffed humans =avery happygator.”

LYNN WISMAR, KENNER: “Amazing! you guyscelebrate Thanksgiving just likeus: Eatabird –makeamess –takeanap!”

Airportfeudturns into politicalwar

COLUMBIA,S.C. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina hasmade several names for herself —some of which can’t be printed —inpart by rejecting the bless-your-heart paradigm of thepolite Southern belle in favor of the congresswoman’sapparentlymore profane personality In 1999, she was the first female to graduate from The Citadel’s Corps of Cadets. She was the first femaleRepublican elected to Congress from South Carolina Polls show her in adead heat in the Republican gubernatorial primaryrace with Lt. Gov.Pamela Evette, aself-made millionaire who served twoterms alongside retiring Gov.HenryMcMaster Evette has been an unfailingly loyal supporter of President DonaldTrump —a necessity in this state —whereas Mace has run hot and cold. An Evette political ad, titled “Never Trump Nancy,” features Mace saying shedoesn’t believe Trump has afuture in the GOP.The ad also saysMace hosted afundraiser for Republican Trump critic and former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney This raises Mace’sstatus in my eyes, butshe has predictably changedher tune on Trump. Though she hascalled herself “Trump in high heels,” Trump once referred to her as “crazy Nancy Mace.” Lately,Mace has become apopular villain on social media. She can’tseem to stop immersing herself in embarrassing confrontations and highlighting them against her best interest. Last month, she becameembroiledin adispute with law enforcement officers at Charleston International Airport. Mace was running late for her flight and called ahead to request officers meet her at her silver BMW uponher arrival and escort her quicklytoher gate. A

misunderstanding apparently about the color of thecar resulted in officersnot meeting her and, in ahuff not seen since Hurricane Hugo blew through, Mace marched towardthe Transportation SecurityAdministrationcheckpoint,where she was stopped.

Video footage shows Mace talking to TSA agents as airport policeapproach her.Whatever transpired next unleashed arage in Mace thatwould get most of us arrested. “Inappropriate and profane” washow the nice officers described her behaviorintheir reports.

Mace reportedly said theofficers were “f****** incompetent,” and “this is no waytotreataf****** U.S. representative.” Mace claimed airport security would never treat Sen. TimScott, R-S.C., this way,which is true because Scott, whose disposition is so sunny Earthhas beenknowntocircle him, would never behave as Mace did. This is pureparanoia. Sure, we’retalking about South Carolina, where politicians might challenge each other to a duel— but they haven’tbeen known to recruit airport cops to hassle elected officials.

Abefuddled Scott promptly defended airportsecurityofficers. Fellow Sen. Lindsey Graham of SouthCarolina postedhis support for ScottonX,while also managing to mentionthe $40 million he hasdirected to Charleston Countyfor airportimprovements.

Macefired back, challenging the manhoodofboth senators and exclaiming that “REAL MEN PROTECT WOMEN.” Then things started getting really weird. As of aweek ago, Mace had posted onlinemorethan 100 times in her own defense.She is now talking about adefamation suit against American Airlines

and CharlestonInternational Airport for trying to ruin her reputation. In aposton X, she even threatened South Carolina AttorneyGeneral AlanWilson, who is alsoacandidate in the Republican gubernatorial primary

Though Mace is plainly her own worst enemy,some perspective might be useful. When you’re in thepublic eye, criticismispartofthe bargain. But social media has made random,anonymous verbal mob assaultsroutine. Insults are especially nasty towardwomen. You shrug themoff, but over timethese ambushes accumulateand congeal into something globular and frightening, like an alien occupation of the psyche that taunts and nibbles away at the human host. Without astrong, healthy ego, it’s ashort trip to paranoia, self-doubt and emotional dysfunction

The easiest pathfor Mace weeks ago was asimple apology that would have won her praise and votes:“I’m sorry, Iwas out of sorts, pleaseforgive me.” We’reall messessometimes,and most people will forgive othersgiven half a chance. Instead, Mace escalated. “They” are trying to takeher down, she insists, becauseshe’sworking for “YOU.” Mace has no idea how unhinged she sounds to the Piggly Wiggly checkout line. Honestly,Ifeel sorry for Mace. She’s solid on some issues Icareabout —animal welfare, for one —but she has acted out toomany times to be seriously consideredfor governor.Voterssee through the dramaand recognize Mace for what she is: apublic servant of worth and accomplishment, who desperately needs abreak from the pressures of public office.

Email Kathleen Parker at kathleenparker@washpost.com.

Former first lady Michelle Obama says America is not ready forafemale president. In aseries of recent interviews promoting her new book, Michelle Obama points to the losses of KamalaHarris and Hillary Clinton as evidence of what she regards as sexism Recall that similar things wereonce said about John F. Kennedy,that America was not ready foraCatholic president. More recently somesaid America wasn’t ready foraBlack president. And yet in 2008, 43% of White voters voted for Barack Obama. In 2012, it was39%. Michelle Obama’scomments continue the focus on identity politics, rather than the substance of one’sideas and policies. What difference does it make(to quote Hillary Clinton in adifferent context) about one’srace or gender? Harris lost not because she is awoman, but because somethought she could not articulate what she believed in a language they could understand. Clinton lost because somefound her “unlikeable.” Michelle Obamaisfrom amiddle-class background anyone might find admirable, even enviable. She grew up in atwo-parent home. AGoogle search notes that “After excelling in public schools, she earned a sociology and African American studies degree from Princeton University and alaw degree from Harvard Law School. She then becamealawyer in Chicago, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama, before dedicating her career to public service in roles at Chicago City Hall and the University of Chicago.”

One might think with such aresume she would be praising anation that gave her the opportunity to rise to such ahigh level. Instead, recall her comment after her husband waselected president: “For the first timeinmyadult lifetime, Iamreally proud of my country.And not just because Barack has done well, but because Ithink people are hungry forchange. And Ihave been desperate to see our country moving in that direction.”

How sad is that —for her,not forher country? She seemstohave chips on both shoulders. She is always criticizing someone or something, but to what end?

Women hold morepolitical offices in America than ever before. Someare strong and competent conservatives. Others are drowning in the sewer of identity politics. AWall Street Journal editorial quotes Seattle mayor-elect Katie Wilson: “I will appoint acabinet of exceptional leaders whose lived experiences reflect the diversity of Seattle’sBlack, Indigenous, Asian and Pacific Islander,Latinx/ Hispanic, and People of Color communities as wellasthat of women, immigrants and refugees, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, people of all faith traditions, and residents from every socioeconomic background.”

Notice the absence of any reference to capabilities or policies. This is the dead end of identity politics.

Japan recently elected the country’sfirst female primeminister,who seemspopular and competent. Being female, though, does not mean women are necessarily better at leading nations than men.The female former primeminister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has been sentenced to death in absentia (she fled to India after her ouster) by aspecial court forher role in the killing of 1,400 protesters whoparticipated in nationwide demonstrations last year

This isn’treally about gender and race. When aBlack or female Republican is running foroffice against awoman whois White, female and aDemocrat (I give you the recent election forgovernor in Virginia), liberal, Black and female Democrats mostly vote forthe White women.

ANew York Post letter writer said this about Harris: “Weare not ready to vote foracandidate whodid not winone presidential primary.Weare not ready to vote foranindividual whowas selected for the vice presidency based on identity,not qualifications. We are not ready to vote for acandidate appointed by former President Joe Biden.”

Afemale presidential candidate with the policies of the late British PrimeMinister Margaret Thatcher would likely get support from mostconservative Republicans. Iwould be among them.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditorstribpub. com.

Thousands at risk of being homeless again in N.O.

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

A new federal policy could spur widespread evictions of formerly homeless people across Louisiana, disrupting yearslong efforts in New Orleans and elsewhere to close encampments and permanently house the state’s most vulnerable.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development this month issued new rules that will redirect much of the tens of millions of dollars in grants that have been used to permanently house formerly homeless people in Louisiana. The state’s share of those grants totaled $93 million last year, but next year parishes must shrink permanent housing programs in favor of temporary housing and other assistance, and they could see their overall awards decrease.

The move is a departure from a long-standing federal approach to homelessness, called “Housing First.” President Donald Trump’s HUD argues that the Housing First program has incentivized “never-ending government dependency.”

“Our philosophy for addressing the homelessness crisis will now define success not by dollars spent or housing units filled, but by how many people achieve long-term self-sufficiency and recovery,” said HUD Secretary Scott Turner in a statement this month

The Louisiana Housing Corp., which manages 42% of the state’s share of the funds, didn’t return a request for comment this week. But

DROUGHT

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Lake Charles area was just over 2 inches Oct. 25-28, according to Lake Charles meteorologist Andrew Tingler, of the National Weather Service. So far in November Lake Charles has received only traces of rain. Two inches is on par

BLOTTER

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and to contact 911 if assistance is needed.

Lafayette man jailed after welfare check

A Lafayette man was booked into the Lafayette

housing advocates and officials in the New Orleans area said the change could force at least 2,630 more people back onto the streets in New Orleans and Jefferson parishes, hurting them, the city’s business climate and the lived experience of other residents and visitors.

“It would be terrible for the quality of life of every person in our community,” said Martha Kegel, the head of UNITY of Greater New Orleans, an umbrella services organization that manages the funding award for New Orleans and Jefferson parishes.

Directors of local shelters, who could receive some of the cash that had been going to landlords under the new rules, say that while shelters would benefit from more money their success will be limited if residents can’t move out into subsidized housing.

The reduction in permanent housing options could create “bottlenecks” and “strain our operations,” said Rheneisha Robertson, director of youth shelter Covenant House New Orleans.

Permanent vs. transitional

Some 5,600 Louisiana formerly homeless residents live in housing subsidized by HUD, and about 3,400 of them live in apartments in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. The New Orleans area received $38.7 million through the program last year. Last year the state spent roughly 80% of the HUD award on people’s rent payments, subsidies called “permanent supportive housing” that have no expiration date. That sort of housing is designed for people with disabilities who have experienced long-term or repeated episodes of homelessness.

But under the new guid-

with the amount of rainfall across the region, which averaged 1 to 4 inches over the past 30 days, according to the Weather Service.

“These amounts are roughly 25% to 50% of normal,” the statement reads.

“Therefore, well below normal to below normal precipitation has occurred in widespread fashion across the region over the past 30 days.”

However, the region on

Parish Jail on drug offenses and several warrants following a welfare check, officials said Patrol deputies responded to Cornelius Alexander’s residence in the 200 block of Bopamo Lane on a welfare check. While conducting the welfare check, circumstances led to patrol deputies to contact narcotics agents for

ance, state and local leaders may only spend a third of the feds’ cash on that sort of housing. They must spend the rest on temporary or transitional housing, such as shelters, and on programs that provide substance use treatment and mental health services.

The new rules also decrease the portion of funds that states receive automatically from 90% to 30%, meaning that parishes that don’t meet HUD’s requirements could see up to 70% of their total requested funds go to other places.

Studies have repeatedly shown that permanent supportive housing, which also allows residents to access mental health treatment, is the most effective solution for chronic homelessness.

People in transitional housing, meanwhile, typically get into stable long-term housing more slowly, and are less likely to remain housed.

In 2024, New Orleans-area homeless services providers spent $21.6 million of their cash on permanent housing, and about $13 million on programs that subsidize rent temporarily, for up to one year

This year, city officials and homeless services organizations expect to have to tell landlords that they can no longer cover rent payments for over 2,600 tenants.

For Fields’ office, the federal cuts could come on top of cuts recommended by city officials as New Orleans battles its own financial problems, including a $160 million deficit this year and the need to repay a $125 million emergency loan by June 30, 2026.

Though Mayor-elect Helena Moreno has yet to finalize her 2026 budget, Cantrell’s proposed budget for next year called for slashing Fields’ budget from $3.6 mil-

Friday experienced a cold front, which is expected to bring light to moderate rain possibly between 0.01 and 0.25 inches.

“A second, stronger front will move across the region at the start of the week, bringing more rain,” the statement reads “Rainfall totals with the second system are expected to be around 0.50 to 1 inches of rain. Neither system will be a drought

a search warrant of the residence

The search warrant yielded 572 grams of methamphetamine, 85 grams of cocaine and 60 grams of marijuana, officials said. Alexander, 36, was booked on counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine cocaine and marijuana.

lion to $700,000. The City Council, which must approve a budget by Dec. 1, will take its cues from Moreno, who didn’t respond to a request for comment

The board that governs the French Quarter and manages a sales tax that in part funds services that aid the homeless, also recently declined to renew rental subsidies in its budget, instead electing to fund behavioral health outreach workers, a handful of beds at the city’s low barrier shelter, and a housing case manager

Local officials react

A Cantrell spokesperson said the administration “is working with local and state partners to determine a path forward to continue providing services for our most vulnerable residents.”

“You’re going to see people starting to come back into homelessness at a rapid pace,” added Nathaniel Fields, the director of Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s Office of Homeless Services. “You’re going to see mothers and children sleeping in cars. You’ll see people try to set up again under bridges.”

Fields said he separately anticipates a monthslong gap between when the current housing funding runs out and when the new, reduced pool of funds arrive, since HUD issued its rules months later than normal this year. Current funding is expected to begin expiring in January, he said That means even people who may continue to be housed under the program could lose their housing for a time.

Council member Lesli Harris, who has helped lead the city’s housing effort, said in a statement last week that “permanent supportive housing is one of the most effective tools we have to keep people housed, reduce

buster but will help alleviate impacts across the region.”

Temperatures are expected to be above normal for the next several weeks and rainfall is expected to be below normal for the same time period.

“Drought conditions are expected to persist and expand across southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana,” the statement reads.

reliance on emergency services, and support long-term stability.”

U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, DNew Orleans, also blasted the change in a recent statement, saying that the Trump administration is “putting thousands of vulnerable Americans at risk — including New Orleans residents who could lose their homes and supportive services that have helped families get on their feet.”

‘I really do need it’

The federal government’s shift could mean more money available in New Orleans for shelter services. Many of the city’s shelters are consistently running at capacity, with 970 people sleeping in shelters on a given night.

Ed Carlson, whose agency runs the city’s Low Barrier Shelter, said that while he would welcome additional funding, the lack of existing mental health and drug treatment programs that HUD is now prioritizing would make it difficult to quickly redirect funds toward those efforts.

“If you want to do that, that’s fine, but there should be a plan of how you transition,” said Carlson. The change could potentially mean more financial support for the city and the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority’s planned transitional homeless shelter in the Tulane and Gravier area. That $8 million facility is about three years from completion and would serve between 44 and 63 people, under current plans. Residents would have private living spaces and access to social workers, job and education referrals and mental health treatment.

And it’s not as though

the city’s existing effort to house residents and clear downtown homeless encampments has escaped criticism. Officials conceived the transitional shelter after acknowledging they were failing to provide proper case management and treatment services, and they in turn were causing people who had been housed to fall back into homelessness.

Local and state officials have blasted UNITY in particular for the slow pace in housing residents.

State Rep. Alonzo Knox, D-New Orleans, said that the new HUD rules “may cause more harm than help.” But he also said the city’s existing work has failed to require “participation in treatment, case management or job search.”

Elected officials’ opinions aside, at least one man who has benefited from the subsidies in the past year said he’s worried about how policy changes will affect him. Elijah Baker, who experiences mental and physical health problems, moved into his apartment in Algiers in 2024 after living on the street for three years.

“I’m just getting my medication back in and my appointments back in. And I feel good knowing that I do have a place to come at least try to get some rest, try to get my feet back on the ground,” said Baker If the subsidy was cut, he would be devastated, he said.

“I really do need it at this time in my life,” said Baker “I’d be at a loss for words and a loss for what to do.”

Email Sophie Kasakove at sophie.kasakove@ theadvocate.com.

REALITY CHECK SPORTS

Saints bury themselves in avalanche of errors, fall to heated rival Falcons

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Coming off a bye and having put together their best performance of the year the last time they took the field, the New Orleans Saints hoped to set the stage for a strong finish to what has been a rough 2025 season. Instead, New Orleans looked like the same struggling team it has been for much of the season, burying itself in its own mistakes in a 24-10 loss to an Atlanta Falcons team that entered Sunday with a five-game losing streak

The Saints (2-9) drove the ball deep in Falcons territory three times, including two possessions that

made it all the way to the 1-yard line. Those possessions resulted in three points. There was the 75-yard kick return by Mason Tipton in the first quarter that set New Orleans up with the ball at Atlanta’s 16-yard line. The three ensuing plays lost seven yards, and Blake Grupe missed a field goal wide right from 38 yards.

There was the opening drive of the second half, when New Orleans put together what had been its best drive of the day, until things bogged down inside the Falcons’ 10-yard line. Having already missed a pair of scoring opportunities, the Saints opted to go for it on fourth and goal from the 1, and Taysom Hill’s pass was batted down at the line.

Finally, there was what happened late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, when the Saints converted a pair of fourth downs to keep a lengthy drive alive, only to once again stall out at the 1-yard line when a snap sailed over Hill’s head on third and goal. Hill recovered the ball and threw it away, but was penalized for intentional grounding, making the Saints settle for a field goal.

Put another way, the Saints punted only twice in their first seven possessions and had three points to show for it, with two missed field goals, one fumble and a turnover on downs.

Making his first start at home, rookie quarterback

6

1 p.m. Baylor vs. Creighton TRUTV

1:30

2:30 p.m. Kansas vs. Notre Dame TNT

3:30 p.m. Temple vs. UC-San Diego ESPNU

3:30

4

5

5

Verstappen’s 5th F1 title within reach

Norris, Piastri disqualified in Las Vegas

BY JENNA FRYER Associated Press

LAS VEGAS A fifth consecutive Formula 1 championship is within Max Verstappen’s reach following the disqualifications of contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after Saturday night’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Verstappen won the event for the second time in three years to close the gap on Norris to just 42 points with two races remaining. But three hours after the race concluded, the FIA summoned McLaren to see the stewards for failing inspection.

The measured thickness on the skid wear on the McLarens failed to meet the minimum thickness requirements Skid wear is the wear on the protective plank on the underside of the cars, and Lewis Hamilton was disqualified for the same infraction earlier this year

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said the infraction stemmed from the cars bottoming out during the race at levels they did not do during practice — leading to excessive contact with the ground. Stella said the damage to both cars was “accidental” and that “the FIA noted the breach was unintentional, there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations, and mitigating circumstances also existed.”

He also apologized to Norris and Piastri.

“We apologize to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their championship campaigns after two strong performances from them all weekend,” Stella said. “While this outcome is extremely disappointing, we remain fully focused on the last two races of the season.”

The DQs made for a wild swing in the standings as both Norris and Piastri were stripped of all points earned in Las Vegas. Norris went from 30 points up on Piastri and 42 points up on Verstappen to just

24 points up on Verstappen and Piastri, who holds the tie-breaker for second in the standings based on his win total.

Verstappen has won the last two races in Qatar, where F1 races next week, and four of the last five at Abu Dhabi, where the season will end Dec. 7. It’s an incredible comeback for the Dutchman, who seemed out of contention over the summer Even after winning Las Vegas for the second time in three years, Verstappen wasn’t thinking about the championship.

“I mean, it’s still a big gap. But, you know, we always try to just maximize everything that we’ve got,” he said three hours before the McLarens were called to see the FIA. “ This weekend, that was first. The upcoming weekends we’ll again try to win the race. And at the end of Abu Dhabi, we’ll see where we end up.”

Verstappen was by far the biggest winner in Las Vegas, an event he hated before he’d ever turned in a lap. He won for the second time in four races, second time in three years of the Las Vegas Grand Prix

as the four-time reigning Formula 1 champion continued to claw his way back into the title picture with a Saturday night victory on the streets of Las Vegas.

His displeasure with the event has stemmed from the bright spotlight promoters place on celebrities and parties instead of the actual competition. But when it comes time to get in the car, no matter how Verstappen feels about the event, he seems to excel.

“Some people like more show added. Some people like different kinds of tracks as a fan also,” he said. “I also have my opinions about what I like. Some weekends I like more than others. I still like to be in Vegas, but I’m personally less of a showman. I’m not really into that probably But I get it, you know, it’s part of the calendar If you’re in Vegas, it needs to be like this.”

Las Vegas was the 69th victory of Verstappen’s career It was his eighth consecutive podium, F1record eighth win in the United States, and he beat points leader Norris by more than 20 seconds. Verstappen started second but

took control of the race in the very first turn when Norris made an aggressive move to cut in front of him at the start but wound up sliding wide of the turn in his McLaren.

“I let Max have a win,” Norris lamented. “Let him go. Let him have a nice race. I just braked too late. It was my (mess) up.”

Verstappen moved to the lead and George Russell darted past Norris into second.

It was the 150th career start for Norris, which tied the McLaren record with David Coulthard. He will become McLaren’s most tenured driver next week in Qatar with his 151th start.

But after his slip in the first turn, Norris found himself stuck back in third, and teammate Piastri fared no better as the Australian lost two spots on the start to drop from fifth to seventh. The two McLaren drivers have swapped the lead in the driver standings all season.

Norris finished second before the disqualification and Russell was third Russell moved to second.

‘Worst’ season continues for Hamilton

BY MARK ANDERSON Associated Press

LAS VEGAS Lewis Hamilton had every reason to feel good about the effort he put in Saturday night, but as a seven-time Formula 1 champion, his bar is too high for moral victories.

So even though he quickly moved from the back of the pack in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, even rising to fifth midway through the 50-lap race, Hamilton took little solace in finishing eighth. It was, no matter how he got there, another loss.

“I feel terrible. Terrible,” Hamilton said. “It’s been the worst season for me ever No matter how much I try, it just keeps getting worse.” He crossed the line in 10th but gained two positions when Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified.

“Lewis had a great start from (20th position), recovering very well,” team principal Fred Vasseur said.

Hamilton came into the weekend looking for answers after his hyped move from Mercedes to Ferrari fell well short of expectations in the English driver’s first season with the team. He hasn’t won this season, nor has teammate Charles Leclerc, which drew the ire of Ferrari executive chairman John Elkann after an especially disappointing race two weeks ago when both drivers failed to finish the Brazilian Grand Prix.

“It’s important that our drivers focus on driving and talk less,”

Elkann said. Ferrari dropped from second to fourth in the constructors’ standings in Brazil, where the team remains with two events to go after Las Vegas. The series moves on to Qatar and then finishes in the United Arab Emirates.

“Now there are still two races to go and our target is still to try and win a race before the end of the season,” Vasseur said. Elkann couldn’t have been pleased by the way the Las Vegas race began for Hamilton. He qualified Friday night in 20th and last place. Hamilton wound up starting 19th after Yuki Tsunoda was found to have made modifications when none were allowed.

“That was a really disappointing qualifying session,” Hamilton

said shortly afterward. “After (practice session No. 3), I felt we had good pace in the car but the wet conditions didn’t work in our favor today Visibility was poor and we were unfortunate to be hampered by a few yellow flags, which meant I couldn’t put a proper lap together in my last three attempts.”

Hamilton’s disappointing results have even sparked speculation whether the 40-year-old should retire. With seven titles, he is tied with Michael Schumacher for the record, and Hamilton is first in victories (105) and podium appearances (202). Hamilton was especially dominant between 2017 and 2020, winning four championships in a row, the last three

Thitikul wins another $4M prize at Tour Championship

NAPLES, Fla. — Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand capped off her best year with the biggest cash prize in women’s golf, holding off an early challenge from Pajaree Anannarukarn and closing with a 4-under 68 to win the CME Group Tour Championship by four shots Sunday for another $4 million payoff.

Thitikul won for the third time this year on the LPGA Tour and one last birdie on the final hole at Tiburon Golf Club gave her the lowest scoring average in tour history

Thitikul started with a six-shot lead over Nelly Korda, the American she replaced at No. 1 in the women’s world ranking this year

The victory assured her winning LPGA player of the year and the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average, the two biggest awards in women’s golf.

Ohtani’s bat from historic season sells for $300K

LAGUNA NIGUEL Calif. — A bat used by Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani to hit five home runs during the 2024 season, when he became the first major league player to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases, was sold at auction for $300,000.

The second home run ball Ohtani hit out of Dodger Stadium during his historic performance in Game 4 of this season’s National League Championship Season went for $270,000.

The items were among those sold at SCP Auctions’ fall premier sale that closed Saturday Two home run balls hit by the Dodgers in Game 7 of their World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays also sold.

Italy victorious at Davis Cup for third straight year

BOLOGNA, Italy Italy remains the king of the Davis Cup — and didn’t even need Jannik Sinner this time. Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli were the stars for the Italians without the absent Sinner, both winning their singles matches to earn an unassailable 2-0 lead over Spain in the final on Sunday It’s a fourth Davis Cup title for Italy and a third in a row The last nation to win three straight titles was the United States, which won five on the bounce from 1968-72.

The second-ranked Sinner, who led Italy to men’s tennis biggest team trophy the past two years, opted out of playing this week, preferring to prepare for next season instead. No. 8-ranked Lorenzo Musetti wasn’t playing, either Spain was also without its star player, top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz.

Rangers, Mets agree on Semien-Nimmo trade

seasons ending with 11 victories each.

It’s greatest-ever stuff, a conversation in which Hamilton firmly planted himself.

But then it all began to fall apart after what would have been a record eighth championship at the season-ending 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton was primed to win the race, but a series of controversial events helped hand the victory to Max Verstappen, who hasn’t let go of the title since in winning the past four Mercedes and Hamilton protested the Abu Dhabi result to no avail.

Whether that result got into his head or there were other factors at play, Hamilton hasn’t been the same since. The driver who has posted six double-digit win seasons failed to cross the finish line first in 2022 and 2023. He finally broke through with wins last year in England and Belgium but finished seventh in the standings, actually a step back from third in 2023. That also was his final season at Mercedes, and moving to Ferrari presented hopes of reigniting his career It just hasn’t happened.

Beyond failing to win a race this year, Hamilton has not even made the top three or taken a pole position. He has just one pole over the past four years. No wonder Hamilton even on a night when he got more out of the car than expected, was still searching for answers.

“I’m trying everything. Everything,” Hamilton said. “In and out of the car.”

ARLINGTON,Texas The Texas Rangers and the Mets have agreed on a trade that would send Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien to New York in exchange for outfielder Brandon Nimmo.

Nimmo, who has played all 10 of his big-league seasons with the Mets, just completed the third season of the $162 million, eight-year contract he got after becoming a free agent for the first time after the 2022 season. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter is due annual salaries of $20.25 million each season through 2030.

Semien has three seasons and $72 million remaining on the $175 million, seven-year contract he signed with the Rangers in December 2021. The 35-year-old Semien won his second Gold Glove this season, even though he missed the final 51/2 weeks of the season.

Dallas Wings again win WNBA draft lottery

The Dallas Wings won the WNBA draft lottery for the second consecutive season on Sunday night.

The Wings, who drafted Paige Bueckers No. 1 last year, had a 42% chance to secure the top pick again.

“This is a integral piece, a core piece,” Dallas general manager Curt Miller said. “In recent draft classes you see what consecutive No. 1’s can do.”

Earlier this month, the Wings hired longtime college coach Jose Fernandez to lead the franchise.

“Exciting times with our young core and new facilities and new coach,” Miller said. “Great moment.”

PRO FOOTBALL

Chiefs rally from 11-point deficit to beat Colts

By The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes threw for a season-high 352 yards while rallying the Kansas City Chiefs from an 11-point deficit, their defense forced the Indianapolis Colts to go threeand-out on its final four possessions, and Harrison Butker banged through his fifth field goal of the game from 27 yards to give Kansas City a 23-20 victory that just might have kept its playoff hopes alive

“All five of our losses felt like this game, where there were plays we could make and we didn’t,” Mahomes said afterward.

“You can talk about it all day, but until you prove it, it doesn’t. We proved today we could make the plays.”

Kareem Hunt ran 30 times for 104 yards and a score Rashee Rice caught eight passes for 141 yards including two important ones on the tying drive in regulation and another in OT to set up Butker’s field goal. And their defense held the league’s No. 1 offense to just 255 yards, easily the Colts’ worst output all season.

“The part I liked the best was the support the guys gave each other,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Nobody flinched Nobody was hanging their head. It wasn’t happening. They came out and they played and they did it when it counted.”

Now, the Chiefs (6-5) have some life heading into a short week. They visit Dallas on Thanksgiving Day

JAGUARS 27, CARDINALS 24: In Glendale, Arizona, Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes, Cam Little kicked a 52-yard field goal in overtime and the Jacksonville Jaguars overcame a turnover-filled performance to beat the Arizona Cardinals.

Jacksonville got the ball first

in overtime and after a promising drive stalled, Little made his kick with 7:46 left. Earlier this season, he set an NFL record with a 68-yarder.

Arizona had a chance to tie or win, but Jacoby Brissett’s fourthdown heave to Xavier Weaver fell incomplete The Cardinals elected to go for it on fourth instead of attempting a 60-yard field goal.

SEAHAWKS 30, TITANS 24: In Nashville, Tennessee, Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks bounced back quite nicely from their first road loss this season.

Darnold threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns and the Seahawks beat the Tennessee Titans for their fifth win in six games.

BEARS 31, STEELERS 28: In Chicago, Caleb Williams threw for three touchdowns and Chicago beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in a matchup

of division leaders.

Aaron Rodgers, the Bears’ old nemesis, was sidelined with a broken left wrist He wore a brace when he practiced Friday but the Steelers (6-5) went with Mason Rudolph in his place and fell into a first-place tie with Baltimore in the AFC North.

PACKERS 23, VIKINGS 6: In Green Bay, Wisconsin, Emanuel Wilson always believed he could make it in the NFL even while he was breaking into the league as an undrafted free agent from Division II Fort Valley State.

Wilson rushed for a career-high 107 yards and two touchdowns while filling in for the injured Josh Jacobs to back up a dominating performance from Green Bay’s defense as the Packers trounced the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings (4-7) hadn’t finished

McCaffrey’s dual-threat ability transforms

BY JOSH DUBOW AP pro football writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers had a productive offense under coach Kyle Shanahan for a while when the team made the big deal to acquire Christian McCaffrey from Carolina three years ago. The addition of one of the NFL’s best dual-threat backs ever elevated that offense to another level that will be on display for the Panthers (6-5) when they face the 49ers (7-4) on Monday night for the first time since that trade in 2022.

ä Panthers at 49ers, 7:15 P.M. MONDAy ESPN

“Just seeing how our offense has evolved since getting Christian, the things that we’ve done here the last th ree years that we ne ver did just because of the ability of Christian and what he can do in the pass game,” star tight end George Kittle said. “It’s pretty incredible. Just seeing the evolution of our offense has been really cool.” When the Niners acquired McCaffrey for four draft picks in what he described as a “bittersweet” trade in October 2022, the team was in a bit of a rut on offense, ranking 10th in the league in yards per play and 19th in scoring. San Francisco moved into the top five in both categories once McCaffrey stepped into the starting lineup in his second game, when he pulled off the rare feat of running for a touchdown, catching a TD pass and throwing for a score in a win over the Rams.

“We knew it would be exciting to get a player like him,” Shanahan said. “Since we got him, I think players evolve offenses. Always when you get certain types of players, that’s when offenses change. You always want to attack defenses and stuff and there’s only so many ways to do it, but when you get different types of players, offenses expand, and I think he’s changed our offense since he’s gotten here.” McCaffrey has done that by being at least as big of a threat as a receiver whether on routes out

the 49ers’ offense

of the backfield or when lined up wide or in the slot, as he is as a runner McCaffrey, the son of former NFL star receiver Ed McCaffrey, takes great pride in his receiving ability even if he never officially played wide receiver

“It was always something that I worked on my whole life,” he said.

“I always played running back. I never played receiver, but I was fortunate enough to be on teams, even in little league, where they would throw the ball to me. And so it was kind of always a natural thing and I enjoyed doing it. It was another way to get the ball in my hands.”

McCaffrey helped lead the 49ers to the NFC title game his first season. The Niners then made the Super Bowl the following year when he led the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 TDs on the way to being selected AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year

His 2024 season was derailed by injuries but McCaffrey is back in good form this season, leading the NFL with 1,439 yards from scrimmage as he is on pace for another season with 1,000 yards rushing and receiving.

“A guy like Christian who is an unbelievable running back, but then he’s also a really good receiver So, who do you dedicate to him?” asked 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. “A lot of times you’re having to dedicate

a linebacker to him. I’ve said it a long time ago that it’s starting to catch up a little bit, but I felt like the evolution of the running back far outpaced the evolution of the linebacker.”

McCaffrey is one of five players ever with at least 5,000 yards rushing and receiving and has set an NFL record with 17 career games with at least one TD run and one TD catch. He leads the NFL this season with 1,439 yards from scrimmage and ranks tied for second with 11 TDs. He ranks second in the league with 74 catches, ninth with 732 yards receiving and his 80 first downs rushing and receiving are tied for the most by any player through 11 games since Arian Foster had 91 in 2010. That should put a major stress on a Carolina defense that will be without linebackers Trevin Wallace and Christian Rozeboom.

“You do have to respect the variety of routes that Christian McCaffrey can run from the backfield and split out,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said “He’s got a pretty developed route tree out there. From a run game standpoint, it’s going to require just good team fits, good team football and rallying to tackle. We know he can make moves and make miss at times, so we respect all those things, but again, it’s going to come down to our fundamental execution.”

carries.

LIONS 34, GIANTS 27: In Detroit, Jahmyr Gibbs ran for a 69-yard touchdown on the first snap of overtime and had a career-high 264 yards from scrimmage along with three scores, lifting the Detroit Lions to a much-needed win over the New York Giants.

Giants coach Mike Kafka went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 6 with his slumping team leading by three points, instead of kicking a short field goal that would have forced Detroit to score a touchdown. Winston threw an incomplete pass to Theo Johnson to end a 14-play, 86-yard drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock.

COWBOYS 24, EAGLES 21: In Arlington, Texas, Brandon Aubrey kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired after Dak Prescott rallied Dallas from a 21-point deficit and Dallas beat Philadelphia in a mistake-filled thriller

a half with as few as 4 yards of total offense since at least 1991, which is as far back as Sportradar’s research goes on the subject.

RAVENS 23, JETS 10: In Baltimore, Maryland, Derrick Henry scored two third-quarter touchdowns and the Ravens recovered from a sleepy first half to beat the New York Jets for their fifth straight victory Baltimore has gone from 1-5 to 6-5, and Pittsburgh’s loss to Chicago left the Ravens in a firstplace tie with the Steelers in the AFC North. It wasn’t a terribly convincing performance by the Ravens, who have struggled to beat the Browns and Jets (2-9) the past two weekends. Lamar Jackson went 13 of 23 for 153 yards and didn’t look as mobile as usual after dealing with knee and ankle issues recently Henry was held to 64 yards on 21

The Cowboys (5-5-1) converted on their third tiebreaking chance of the fourth quarter to extend Prescott’s home winning streak against NFC East opponents to 19 in their first game at AT&T Stadium since the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.

BR OW NS 24, R AIDERS 1 0 LAS VEGAS: In Las Vegas, Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders passed for 209 yards and a touchdown in his NFL starting debut and Myles Garrett had three of Cleveland’s 10 sacks in a victory over Las Vegas, the fifth straight loss for the Raiders.

The Browns (3-8) ended a threegame skid while starting their 42nd quarterback since the franchise’s return in 1999. Sanders replaced fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who’s in the concussion protocol, and ended a 17-game losing streak by Cleveland QBs making their first start.

BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter

CINCINNATI Drake Maye passed for 294 yards and a touchdown

Marcus Jones returned an interception 33 yards for a score and the AFC-leading New England Patriots rallied from an early 10-point deficit and extended their winning streak to nine with a 26-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday

Hunter Henry had a careerhigh 115 receiving yards, including a 28-yard TD catch, on seven receptions, for New England (102) which has won at least nine straight for the first time since 2015. But the Patriots fell behind 10-0 early in the second quarter before rallying. It was their first doubledigit deficit since the second half of their opener against Las Vegas.

Andy Borregales’ 52-yard field goal, his fourth of the day, gave the Patriots a 26-20 lead with 1:51 remaining.

Joe Flacco drove Cincinnati to the New England 26, but a fourthdown pass with 18 seconds remaining intended for Mike Gesicki was incomplete. Cincinnati (3-8) has dropped eight of nine since quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury

in a Week 2 win against Jacksonville. Burrow practiced this week and is expected to return for the Thanksgiving night game at Baltimore.

Ja’Marr Chase, who came in leading the league with 79 receptions, served a one-game suspension for spitting on Pittsburgh’s Jalen Ramsey last week. The Bengals also lost Tee Higgins, who suffered a concussion with 4:50 remaining. Flacco completed 19 of 37 passes for 183 yards with a touchdown to Mitchell Tinsley and interception. Chase Brown had 19 carries for 107 yards.

Geno Stone returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown for the Bengals. Evan McPherson kicked two field goals, including a team-record 63-yarder on the last play of the first half.

Maye completed 22 of 35 passes, including his TD throw to Henry who had his third career 100yard receiving game — during the second quarter that got the Patriots within 10-7. New England then took the lead on the Bengals’ ensuing series when Jones jumped Flacco’s pass attempt in the flat intended for Tajh Brooks and easily scored It was the second pick-6 of Jones’ career with both coming against the Bengals.

FALCONS 24, SAINTS 10

Former TE Graham honored at game

9-70, Johnson 6-46, Neal 5-43, Vele 3-37, Tipton 3-22, Kamara 2-4, Pettis 1-14, Stoll 1-7. PUNT RETURNS—Atlanta, Agnew 1-5. New Orleans, Pettis 3-10. KICKOFF RETURNS—Atlanta, Agnew 2-74, Drummond 1-25. New Orleans, Tipton 1-75, Pettis 2-48. TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS—Atlanta, Alford

9-1-0, Elliss 7-2-0, Deablo 6-2-0, Bates 6-1-0, Hughes 6-0-0, Watts 5-1-0, Terrell 3-0-0, Dorlus 2-2-1.5, Onyemata 2-1-0, Street 1-4-0, Floyd 1-2-0, Pearce 1-1-1.5, Orhorhoro 1-0-1, Walker 1-0-1, R.Harrison 1-0-0, L.London 1-0-0, Ebiketie 0-1-0. New Orleans, D.Davis 6-5-0, Taylor 5-1-0, Sanker 4-3-0, Reid 3-4-0, Stalbird 2-1-1, Jordan 2-0-1, McKinstry 2-0-0, Rumph 2-0-0, C.Young 1-3-1, Stutsman 1-2-0, Bresee 1-1-0, Werner 1-1-0, Godchaux 1-0-0 Riley 1-0-0, Shepherd 0-2-0, Bullard 0-1-0, Granderson 0-1-0, Williams 0-1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS—Atlanta, Watts 1-0. New Orleans, Reid 1-49. MISSED FIELD GOALS—New Orleans, Grupe

Tyler Shough finished 30-for-43 for 243 yards and an interception — which came on his final throw of the game on a fourth-and-7 deep shot. New Orleans had some nice moments defensively and was responsible for the only touchdown of the game, but they were unable to fully shut down an Atlanta offense that was without its starting quarterback and best receiver Falcons backup Kirk Cousins effectively put the game on ice after the Saints’ last failure at the 1-yard line. He converted a second and 23 with a dump off to Bijan Robinson that turned into a 32-yard gain, then found former Tulane wide receiver Darnell Mooney in single coverage on a post route for a 49-yard score on the next play Robinson capped the drive off with a 2-point conversion to give Atlanta a 24-10 lead with 11:12 remaining in the game. Safety Justin Reid provided the lone momentum swing in the Saints’ favor in the

when he corralled a tipped Cousins pass and returned it 49

BY LUKE JOHNSON AND MATTHEW PARAS Staff writers

Just like old times, moments before kickoff, Jimmy Graham raised a fist in the air and got the New Orleans Saints fans into a frenzy right before kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons by leading the Who Dat Chant. Graham, who was honored as the team’s Legend of the Game Sunday and served as guest captain, always relishes a chance to come back to the place that he will always consider home.

“I became a man in this city,” Graham said. “I grew in this city I learned football in this city. Everything I have in my life, truly, is because of the New Orleans Saints and this city.”

Graham spoke to reporters a couple of hours before the game.

He walked into the team’s press room, just across the hall from his old locker room, alongside team owner Gayle Benson, team president Dennis Lauscha general manager Mickey Loomis and senior vice president of football operations Khai

Harley

And one other, of course: Drew Brees was there for Graham, too.

Graham became emotional when asked what it meant to him to have Brees who served as

the color commentator for Sunday’s Saints-Falcons game on the FOX broadcast — in the room.

“Drew is like a brother to me, and I always wish I had more time with him, because of what could have happened,” Graham said.

There was a time Brees and Graham formed one of the NFL’s most lethal duos. One of the NFL’s most precise and prolific passers had the ultimate matchup machine at his disposal, a 6-foot-7 former basketball player who quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s premier pass catchers.

When Graham wrapped up his second season, his star was already fully realized: 99 catches, 1,310 yards, 11 touchdowns. It was the start of one of the greatest four-year runs by any tight end in NFL history, before a contract dispute dissolved the relationship between Graham and the Saints for eight seasons.

It’s funny for Graham to think about that now that his playing career is done. He arrived to the Saints as an extremely raw prospect who effectively had to learn how to play the game after spending only one season as a college football player at the University of Miami.

He chuckled, recalling the first time he stepped into a huddle with Brees and the rest of the Saints’

collection of impressive talent.

“And he said something that sounded like Spanish to me, and he said it so quickly,” Graham said. “I just looked at him in his eyes like a deer, because I had no idea about these rules, no idea about these words. And he tells me, ‘Just do a 10-yard out and get open.’ I did, and he threw me the ball.”

Kamara leaves early

With 2:25 remaining in the first quarter Alvin Kamara caught a short pass near the sideline and went down awkwardly when his former teammate, Falcons linebacker Kaden Ellis, wrapped him up in a tackle.

Kamara went into the blue injury tent on the Saints sideline for an evaluation and briefly looked OK, standing on the Saints’ sideline with his helmet on. But he never returned to the game.

The Saints running back exited during the first half to the locker room for further evaluation, and as the second half began, he was officially ruled out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury

Kamara finished the game with three carries for 11 yards and two catches for 4 yards.

New Orleans went into the game with only two active running

backs — Kamara and rookie Devin Neal. Neal handled the majority of the workload for the remainder of the game, {span style=”boxsizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;”}while Taysom{/span} Hill pitched in with a few running back snaps.

No Fuaga

Taliese Fuaga practiced twice on a limited basis in the lead-up to Sunday’s game as he looked to return from an ankle injury

But ultimately he couldn’t go. Fuaga, the Saints’ normal starting right tackle, missed his second straight game because of the ailment, and the Saints will have to wait another week to see if he can make his return to the field.

Without Fuaga, the Saints again started Asim Richards — the swing tackle that they acquired from the Dallas Cowboys in late August.

Fuaga entered the weekend listed as questionable Coach Kellen Moore said Friday that the team would have to see how Fuaga would respond closer to the game. The 2024 first-round pick has missed a total of three games this season. In addition to his ankle issue, Fuaga dealt with a knee and back injury that kept him out of a Week 3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Oregon is back in thetop five

BY ERIC OLSON AP collegefootball writer

Oregon returned to thetop five of The Associated Press Top25 college football poll Sunday, fiveAtlantic Coast Conference teams were ranked for the second time this season and Georgia Tech took the biggest fall after its second loss in three games.

OhioState, Indiana and Texas

A&M remained the top three teams for asixth straight week, and Georgia was No. 4for the second week in arow Oregon jumped over idle Mississippi to No. 5, its highestranking since it was No. 3inthe Oct. 5poll. The Ducks strengthened theirCollegeFootball Playoff resume with a15-pointvictory over then-No. 16 Southern California, extending their winning streak to five games. Mississippi was followed by Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Alabama.

Ohio State is No. 1for a13th straight week going into its game at No.15Michigan.The Buckeyes received 58 first-place votes and were 53 points ahead of Indiana, which was listed first on seven voters’ballots. Texas

A&Mgot theremaining firstplace vote. Miami, which beat Virginia Tech by 17 points on the road, moved up aspottoNo. 13 and was the highest-rankedoffive ACC teams. Virginia climbed twospotstoNo. 17.Georgia Tech,beaten 42-28 at home by Pittsburgh, dropped eight rungs to No. 23. Pittsburgh, which has three losses, was one spot behind the twoloss Yellow Jackets. No. 25 SMU re-entered the poll for the first time since Sept. 2. No. 20 James Madison of the Sun Belt Conferenceremained the highest-ranked Group ofFive

team in the AP poll. The Dukes, up onespot from aweekago,came from behind to beat Washington State24-20.

No.21North Texas of the AmericanConference was one spot ahead of Tulane. The Green Wave were the onlyGroup of Five teamin theCFP selection committee’srankings last week, at No. 24.

Rivalryweekawaits

AfterarelativelycalmWeek 13, rivalry week awaits and offers the final opportunityfor contenderstomakeacase for the CFP. Texas A&M and Georgia look to punch theirtickets to Atlanta for the SEC championship game

with wins againstin-state foes Texas and GeorgiaTech.

In the Big Ten, Michigan hosts No.1OhioState. Awin by the Wolverines couldbeenough for them to earn an at-large bid, but it’safeat no teamhas accomplished this season. Virginia aims to clinch an ACC Championship gameappearance with awin against VirginiaTech, and SMUhopes for the same outcomeagainst Cal. The door opens if either team loses, and eyes will turn to Miami vs. Pitt. Michigan benefits from USC’s loss Michigan beat Maryland 45-20 this week, while USC dropped 42-27 to Oregon.

Quietweekend leaves topofweek13pollintact

The combination helped move the Wolverines up anotch to fourth in theBig Ten, behind Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon. USC fell to fifth.

Michigan also moved up three spots in the AP Top25, coming in at No. 15.The Wolverines await rival Ohio State. Awin against the reigning National Champions and playoff front-runners could carry an under-the-radar Michigan team to the College Football Playoff.

Michigan has won their past four against the Buckeyes. Utah dropstoNo. 14

Utah fell one spot in the rankings to No. 14 after narrowly escapinganupset loss to Kansas

State on Saturday night.

The Utes scored two touchdowns and notched an interception in the final three minutes of the game to overcome a10-point deficit and win it 51-47.

Utah was the second team out of the 12-team CFP bracket in Tuesday’srankings. Thecommittee ranked theUtes No.12, butthe projected fourth and fifth highest-ranked conference winners —Miami and Tulane —took over the No. 11 and 12 seeds.

Five ACCteams crackthe rankings

Five ACC teams arefeatured in the AP Top25this week, which added SMU and Pitt to the rankings.

At No. 13, Miami holds the the ACC’stop spot, while Virginia trails at No. 17. Georgia Tech fell to No.23, Pitt ranksNo. 24 and SMU rounds out the rankings at No. 25. Wins by SMUand Pitt knocked Houston and Missouri out of the rankings.MissourilosttoOklahoma andHouston dropped to TCU.

FloridaState keeping coachNorvell,who vows to make changes

Week 13 of the college football season happened to be the least eventful slate of the year.Three of the top six teams didn’t even play (Indiana, Texas Tech and Georgia), and the only team in my top 10 that faced a ranked opponent was Oregon As aresult, Imade aton of changes to the bottom of my poll based on some notable results in the ACC and Big 12, but otherwise kept mostlytruetowhat Ihad last week.

Here’s my AP Top25pollfollowing Week 13 of the college football season.

My AP Top25 poll afterWeek13 1. Indiana, 2. Texas A&M, 3. Ohio State, 4. Georgia, 5. Texas Tech, 6. Oklahoma, 7. OleMiss, 8. Alabama, 9. NotreDame, 10. Oregon, 11. BYU, 12. Utah, 13. Miami, 14. Texas, 15. Southern Cal, 16. Vanderbilt, 17. Tennessee, 18. Michigan, 19. SMU, 20. Pittsburgh, 21. Missouri, 22. Arizona State, 23. Arizona, 24. Washington, 25. Iowa Just missed: Virginia, Louisville, Georgia Tech, North Texas

Smallchanges to top15

Reflective of the quiet week, I made only two changestomytop 15. Iflipped Oklahoma and OleMiss and slidUSC down two spots after losing to Oregon. Nothingelse felt worth changing, although Iconsidered slidingOregonupasaresult of its big win. Ikept the Ducks where they’re at because IthinkNotre Dame’s wins have been slightly more impressive on the whole.

Why move Oklahoma past Ole Miss despite the Rebels beating the Sooners earlier in the year? The answer comes down to the Sooners’ superior slate of victories, amargin that greweven more this week when Oklahoma took down Missouri at home. Oklahoma holds wins over Michigan, Alabama, Missouri and Tennessee, and though Ole Miss has one fewer defeat and beatthe Sooners,its next best win is over Tulane. It would alsobeeasier to argue for the Rebels if they had been consistently blowing out their inferior competition, but

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables walks the sidelineduring agame against AlabamaonSaturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

close winsoverWashington State, LSU, Kentucky,Arkansas and even Floridadisplay how relatively fragile their resume is. USCdroppingfrom No. 13 to No. 15 has less to dowith the loss this week than it does with Texas andMiami holding more impressive victories than the Trojans. I still chose USC over Vanderbilt because Iprefer theTrojans’ top wins(aconvincinghomewin over Michiganand ahome win against Iowa) over Vanderbilt’s(aclose home win against Missouriand a home winover LSU)

SMU, Pittsjumpintotop 20

SMU’sresounding win over Louisville this week, when combinedwith its victory over Miami earlier,gives the Mustangs the best resumeamong ACC teams notnamed Miami. They already have three losses, but Iwouldn’t consider anyofthemtobeparticularlyembarrassing.Baylor is on the vergeofmaking abowl game, TCU beat Houstontoearnits seventh win last night and Wake Forestis8-3. Pittsburgh does have areally bad defeattoWest Virginia, but thePanthers’ resume outside of that looks alot better after taking down GeorgiaTech convincingly on theroad this week. Alopsided

loss to Notre Dame last week showed that their ceiling is pretty low,but Ilike how they’ve easily taken down everyone besides Louisville in their ACC schedule. Both Pittsburgh andSMU hold better wins than anything Missouri —the team right behind them —has accomplished this season

Othernotes

The last five spotsinmypoll were Frankensteined together Missouri stayed above Arizona State on thestrength of beating Mississippi Stateeasily.The Sun Devils’ loss to the Bulldogs really hurt themwhenI compared ASU’sresume with Missouri’s Arizona followed ASUafter takingdown Baylor with ease this week. TheWildcats lack awin over arankedteam —ASU’s win over TexasTech is better than anything Arizona hasdone, even though the Red Raiders were without theirstarting QB —but they took BYU to double overtime and onlylost to Houstonby three. They clearly deserve a spot in thepoll. Washington and Iowa earned thelast two spotsafter the Huskies bounced back from their loss to Wisconsin withadominant road win over UCLA, and Iowa squeaked past Michigan State.

FSUhas struggled sincebeating Alabamainseason opener

BY MARK LONG AP sportswriter

Florida State is keeping coach Mike Norvell foratleast another season. With support from school administrators, Norvell haspledged to make “fundamental changes” to meet the program’s championship standard.

“Coach Norvell embraces our support in that process andagrees that successmust be achieved,” school president Dr.Richard McCullough said Sunday in astatement. “He continues to demonstrate an unwavering belief in this program’sfuture,and so do we.”

McCulloughsaidthe decision“reflects aunified commitment to competing in the rapidly evolving landscape of college football, while maintainingcontinuity within the program.”

Florida State (5-6) has lost 13 of its last 16 AtlanticCoach Conference games, including a21-11 disappointment at N.C. State on Friday that dropped Norvell’srecord to 7-17 sincewinning the ACC in 2023. It’sbeen asudden slide for a guywho deftlyworkedthe transfer portal earlyinhis six-year tenurebeforeother programscaught up but repeatedly failedtodevelop talent or find aquarterback. Norvelltooka paycut andretooled his staff after last year’s 2-10 debacle, adding Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator and Tony White as defensive coordinator The moveslooked impressive when the Seminoles upset then-No. 8Alabama in the season opener ButFSU (5-6, 2-6 ACC) has struggled since, andNorvell missedonconsecutive portal QBs in DJ Uiagalelei and Thomas Castellanos. The Seminoles would have owed Norvell abuyout of nearly $54 million had they fired him, andthey would have entered a crowded coachingsearchthatappears to have limited options and

high prices.

“This program has been built on belief, sacrifice and putting the team first,” Norvell said in astatement. “Thatset of valueshas always guided my actions, and those of our players. Thedriving motivation behind this is to make certain that we are doing everything properly to obtain and retain elite players, add critical pieces, and sustain long-term success.

“I love Florida State, and Iam fully committed to this program and our shared goals.”

Norvell is 38-33 with the Seminoles, including 22-26 in conference play FSU won the league with dynamic quarterback Jordan Travis and future first-round NFL draft pick Jared Verse in 2023. The Seminoles were notably snubbed for theCollegeFootball Playoff that season after Travis’ season-ending leg injury It was aturning point for the program “Wewill address performance deficienciesinthe program,” FSU Board of Trustees ChairmanPeter Collins said. “These deficiencies may include structuralchangestothe very large and complex program FSU football has become, and these areas are where we will focus and invest.”

Why top teams are joining Players Era tournament

BY MARK ANDERSON

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS

The Players Era bold-

ly announced its intentions last year to be the premier early season college basketball tournament destination, guaranteeing at least $1 million in name, image and likeness money to each of the eight participating teams.

Now in its second year, the Players Era that begins Monday is undeniably the place to be, having blown by the Maui Invitational and other such events with a field loaded with teams that could be playing deep into March.

Half of the 18-team field is in The Associated Press poll, including No 2 Houston and No. 7 Michigan The inaugural women’s field is smaller in numbers, but three of the four schools — No. 2 South Carolina, No. 3 UCLA and No. 4 Texas are in the top four of the AP Top 25.

“You look at the teams in this field, and it’s high level everywhere you turn,” Michigan men’s coach Dusty May said. “Every night is a challenge. Testing ourselves early to see where we are will be rewarding.”

The Houston men’s team is back for the second year in a row, and the Cougars’ decision to play in last year’s inaugural event persuaded other teams to commit. Houston went on to play for the national championship, coming within a possession of cutting down the nets.

Why are the Cougars back in Las Vegas? It’s pretty simple.

“They’re giving us $1 million,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “That’s why we’re there, and I would say that’s why all the

teams are there. We didn’t sign up for this to have a tournament where we could play each other

We signed up for this because they re giving us $1 million. If they decided to put a court down at some vacant lot and they’d give us $1 million, I’d go play there, too.

“It saves us from having to go ask somebody else for the money

There is a thing called donor fatigue.”

For organizers, the key was backing up their promises that they could pay the teams while at the same time not breaking the

bank. They won’t release financial details, but event co-founder and former AND1 CEO Seth Berger said organizers “are really happy with” where the tournament stands from a financial standpoint.

“I think the most important thing that the teams had to know from last year that, one, Players Era could operate a first-class event and we did,” Berger said. “The second thing was the promises that we made to the athletes that we were going to bring guaranteed NIL opportunities and actually fulfill the obligations and pay the kids for the NIL activations were going to

PREP REPORT

4

12

6

(11-0)

Parish (7-5) at

Grove (10-2) at No. 3

(9-2)

7 Loreauville (9-3) at No. 2 Sterlington (9-2) Nonselect Division IV No. 9 Jonesboro-Hodge (9-3) at No. 1 Haynesville (11-0) No. 5 Logansport (9-3) at No. 4 Jeanerette (10-1) No. 6 North Iberville (10-2) at No. 3 South Plaquemines (8-2)

be true.”

He said not only have teams bought in, but so have their supporters, with ticket sales seven times higher than last year

“They’re insanely amazing,” Berger said. “I literally am not overstating it.”

The Maui Invitational was for many years the prime destination for such events, and there would have been a time in the not-too-distant past that a team wouldn’t have dreamed of backing out.

But that’s what UNLV did in February. The Runnin’ Rebels went from playing in paradise to staying

home on “the ninth island,” a title given to Las Vegas because of the heavy influx of Hawaiians.

Teams certainly don’t go to Maui for the money It often is a net loss for those making the trip, but the payoff is the tropical experience and competing in a field full of ranked teams. This year, No. 25 N.C. State is ranked in this year’s eight-team field that begins play Monday, and Southern California is the only other team even receiving votes.

Attempts to reach an official at the Maui Invitational for comment were unsuccessful.

Like Maui, Las Vegas can sell the atmosphere to teams as well as the money and the strength of the field.

“Man, I’m super excited,” Michigan preseason All-American Yaxel Lendeborg said. “Just being able to play in Vegas in general is amazing. It’s like playing in New York.”

Las Vegas will use two venues MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena — that are about a five-minute drive apart on the Strip.

The men’s part of the event begins with prescheduled games Monday and Tuesday On Wednesday, the championship and thirdplace game will take place, with other teams competing in consolation games that day and on Thanksgiving.

The women play two semifinals Wednesday, with the title and consolation games on Thursday

“I think everybody looked at this week when it came out and went, ‘Whoa, what an opportunity,’ ” UCLA women’s coach Cori Close said. “I don’t have to work very hard to motivate (her players).”

No. 7 East Feliciana (9-3) at No. 2 Mangham (9-2)

SCOREBOARD

1-3 0-0 3, Newell 0-1 0-0 0, Toppin 0-0 0-0 0, Houstan 1-1 0-0 3, Kennard 2-6 2-2 8, Krejci 7-10 0-0 21. Totals 42-91 14-19 115. NEW ORLEANS (98) Bey 6-12 5-6 18, Murphy III 6-16 3-4 19, Queen 6-14 8-8 20, Fears 5-13 1-2 11, Peavy 2-7 0-0 4 Looney 1-2 0-0 2, Missi 1-3 0-0 2, Alvarado 3-5

0-0 8, Hawkins 2-7 0-0 5, McGowens 3-5 3-4 9 Totals 35-84 20-24 98. Atlanta21353227—115 New Orleans25212428—98 3-Point Goals—Atlanta 17-46 (Krejci 7-10 Johnson 2-4, Kennard 2-5, Alexander-Walker 2-6, Porzingis 2-6, Houstan 1-1, Gueye 1-3, Newell 0-1, Daniels 0-4, Risacher 0-6), New Orleans 8-27 (Murphy III 4-10, Alvarado 2-3, Hawkins 1-2, Bey 1-5, Fears 0-1, Looney 0-1, Queen 0-2, Peavy 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Atlanta 42 (Johnson 11), New Orleans 48 (Bey 11). Assists—Atlanta 28 (Johnson 9), New Orleans 21 (Bey 5). Total Fouls—Atlanta 20, New Orleans 17. A—18,397 (16,867)

College basketball

Women’s state schedule

Saturday’s games Southeastern 76, East Texas A&M 71 McNeese 106, LSUA 33 Jacksonville State 65, UNO 62 Southern Miss 86, Nicholls 60 Campbell 67, Grambling 51 Sunday’s games UCLA 88, Southern 37 UL-Monroe 62, Lamar 47 Louisiana Tech 93, Stephen F. Austin 66 Monday’s games McNeese vs. West Virignia, at Nassau, Bahamas, 12:30 p.m. Northwestern State vs. Virginia, at Destin, FL, 7:30 p.m.

Men’s state schedule

Saturday’s games Oklahoma State 95, Nicholls 81 Morehead State 83, UL-Monroe 80

Sunday’s games

East Tennessee State 97, UL-Monroe 55 Tulane vs. Boston College or Davidson, n

vs. George Washington, n

South Dakota St.-New Hampshire-winner, 1 p.m. Quarterfinals North Dakota St.-Southeastern La.-Illinois St.-winner vs. UC Davis-Rhode Island-Central Conn. St.-winner, TBA Lehigh-Villanova-Harvard-winner vs. Tarleton St.-Tennessee Tech-North Dakotawinner, TBA Montana St.-Youngstown St.-Yale-winner vs. SFA-Abilene Christian-Lamar Universitywinner, TBA Mercer-South Dakota-Drake-winner vs. Montana-South Dakota St.-New Hampshirewinner, TBA Semifinals North Dakota St.-Southeastern La.-Illinois St.-UC Davis-Rhode Island-Central Conn. St.-winner vs. Lehigh-Villanova-HarvardTarleton St.-Tennessee Tech-North Dakota-

Howcan Imusterasense of gratitude as acaregiveramidthe arduous journey of Alzheimer’sdisease?

Slime, Battleship and TrivialPursuit join

BY CAROLYN THOMPSON Associated Press

Slime, that gooey, sticky and often-homemade plaything, was enshrined intothe National Toy Hall of Fame on Thursdayalong withperennial bestselling games Battleship andTrivial Pursuit

Each year,the Hall of Fame recognizestoys that have inspired creativeplayacross generations, cullingits finalists fromamong thousands of nominees sent in online Voting by thepublic and apanel of expertsdecides which playthings willbeinducted.

Milton Bradley’sBattleship, a strategy game that challenges players to strikeanopponent’s warships, and Trivial Pursuit, which tests players’ knowledge in categories like geography and sports, have each sold morethan 100 million copies over several

BY JONATHAN J. COOPER and DARLENE SUPERVILLE

decades,accordingtothe Hall of Fame.

Battleship started as apenciland-paper game in the1930s, but it was Milton Bradley’s1967 plastic editionwith fold-up stations and model ships that becameahit with the public. Its popularity crested when Universal Pictures and Hasbro, which nowownsMilton Bradley,released the 2012 movie, “Battleship,” looselybased on the game.Battleship was also among

thefirst board games tobecomputerized in 1979, according to the Hall of Fame, and now thereare numerous electronic versions. TrivialPursuitlets players compete aloneorinteams as they maneuver around aboardanswering trivia questions in exchange for wedges in agame piece. Canadian journalists Chris Haney and Scott Abbott came up with thegamein

ä See HALLOFFAME, page 8C

For some caregivers, it is difficult to invoke gratitude, to have athankful spirit during the journey of Alzheimer’s disease with aloved one. And, combined with the seemingly endless disasters and devastations, and things knownand unknowntous, these life’s difficulties pull us into often disordered lives and makeit nearly impossible to see how we’re supposed to have feelings of gratefulness as Thanksgiving nears. It is normal to have some form of guilt or shamefor not feeling the emotion of thankfulness. The day-to-day responsibilities of caring fora loved one with Alzheimer’sare overwhelming and stressful, and feelings of gratitude, most often, are the last thoughts on the caregiver’smind at the end of the day

Acknowledging and journaling these feelings will help the emotions flow and also help in identifying the areas that need healing. Additionally,writing, naming and embracing all these emotions can bring new perspectives, and the caregiver might see many aspects of his or her situations that are blessings —ones to be thankful for Hope and gratitude can spring through the recognition of these blessings in addition to providing the endurance and encouragement through the worst of caregiving times. Great blessings are often released through acceptance; acceptance of the loved one’s disease and its progression and acceptance that lifewill never be the same, though still purposeful, nonetheless.

Finding particular meaning in caring forthat loved one with Alzheimer’sand then appreciating the personal growth that comes from being strong in the wake of this difficult journey can help the caregiver on the road to feeling grateful and offering thanks foreach momentofthe day with his or her loved one.

Discoverthat gratitude happens in the joy of the present moment. Yes, life is not the same, but have you noticed your loved one’ssmile lately?

Have you cherished that touch, aglimmer in the eyes, the spontaneous laughter,orperhaps a familiar melody sung together?

Finding those small moments of joy in everyday living and meaningful activities can create new relationships with family members and friends and generate alasting bond between the caregiver and the care receiver.And those moments that seemed so completely insignificant afew months ago can suddenly become simple joys. Little things can emerge that offer hope and aspirit of gratefulness.

In this season of Thanksgiving, amid great challenges with the Alzheimer’sjourney,and other lifedifficulties, we can

Speech-languagetherapyhelpful forreceptive aphasia

Dear Doctors: Isuffered astroke about ayear ago and havecompleted outpatient rehab. Ihave been having aproblem understanding speakers at an event. Ihear the sounds but can’tunderstand all the words. Do you know if this is common? Is there any therapy or exercises that can help? Dear reader: Thecondition you have described is known as receptive aphasia. Also called Wernicke’saphasia, it affects the ability to comprehend, and sometimesto produce, spoken or writtenlanguage. Receptive aphasia is estimated to occur in between 20% and 40% of people whohave sufferedanischemic stroke. This is astroke in which aclot, air bubble or fragment of debris slows or blocks blood flow to thebrain. Other possible causes include non-stroke brain injuries and cer-

Dr.Elizabeth Ko

Dr.Eve Glazier ASK THE DOCTORS

tain neurologicaldisorders, but these are less common. Receptive aphasia can develop when an interruptionofblood flow damagestissues in aspecificarea of the brain. Known as Wernicke’sarea, it is located toward the back of the left side of thebrain,near the auditory cortex.This region is key to helping us process andunderstand spoken and written language. Wernicke’sarea is essentially the

brain’stranslation center,where therandom sounds of speech are decoded and transformed into meaningful language.

People livingwith receptive aphasia may benefit from aform of treatment known as speechlanguage therapy.It’sdesigned to help improve or regain theability to understand and use spoken and written language. This form of rehab works by retraining the brain through exercises that focus on language drills, repetition, question-and-answer practice and guided conversation. Therapists often incorporate drawings, photos,videos and other visual aids. The goal is to improve comprehension and strengthen communication skills. While speech-language therapy can be effective, the results are highly individual. Outcomes de-

Difficultiescooking forone

pend on the location of abrain injury and the extent of damage to thetissues of Wernicke’sarea.

The person’sage, as well as their overall health, can also influence success. So can the frequency and intensity of the therapy.Studies show this therapy is mosteffectivewhen practiced intensively, between 20 and 50 hours total.

That includes sessions with a therapist and practice at home.

And, as with anyrecovery process, support is important from family,friends and health care professionals. People whohave someoneinvested in their recovery,even clinical staff, tend to makemore progress than those who try to do it alone.

To engage in this type of therapy,you’ll want to workwith aspeech-language pathologist. They will assess your condition,

By The Associated Press

design apersonalized treatment plan, oversee your sessions and track your progress. Speech-language therapy has been shownto be effective even when delivered remotely.Soifyou can’tfind an experienced therapist nearby,you can explore virtual options. Receptive aphasia can have aprofound effect on quality of life, but with skilled therapy and steady support, manypeople makemeaningful progress. We hope you’re able to connect with atherapist who’sthe right fit for you.

Send yourquestions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla. edu, or write: Ask theDoctors, c/oUCLA HealthSciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite 1450, Los Angeles CA, 90024.

Supportyourlocal libraries

Dear Heloise: Iam102 years of age and live by myself. Cooking for one is difficult. Ihave containersthat hold aserving of mac and cheese, sliced roastand gravy,meat sauce, etc. One pound of ground meat pats out to five or six patties. Iplace them on acookie sheet to freeze, then put them in abaggie for future use. I spreadhamburger buns on sheet, and when they’re individually frozen, Ireturn them to the bag and put them back in the freezer.One cup of cooked rice can be divided into serving amounts and placed in appropriate-sized baggies. These are just afew ways to have ready-to-warm-andserve meals. Itruly save money and leftoverfood to my advantage. Thanks for your informative column. Ruth B.,via email

HALL OF FAME

Continued from page7C

1979 and eventually sold the rights to Hasbro. Frequently updated, specialty versions have emerged for young players, baby boomers and other segments and an online daily quiz keeps players engaged, chief curator Chris Bensch said.

Slime’sappeal is more about squish than skill It was introduced commercially in 1976 and has beenmanufactured under various brand names, but it is even more accessible as a do-it-yourself project. The internet offers avariety of recipes using ingredients like baking soda, glue and contact lens solution.

“Though slime continues to carry icky connotations to slugs and swamps —all part of the fun forsome —the

ROCKWELL

Continued from page7C

“I can’ttell you how personally thrilled Iamthat the White House Historical Association preserved this piece of White House history,” said Anita McBride, who sits on the association’s board of directors. The White House Historical Association’swinning bid was $5.8 million. Its total cost to reclaim the art, including the buyer’spremium paid to the auction house,was $7.25million

The price tag is by far the most ever paid by the association, which holds avast collection of art, furniture and other items as part of itsmission to help the White House collectand display artifacts that represent American his-

GRATITUDE

Continued from page7C

Dear Heloise: The Friends of theSpringfieldGreene County Library in Missouri hastwo major book sales each year When Iwas there for thelast one, they had about20local yearbooks that were set outfor purchase. People need to check in with and support theirlocal libraries, or we are going to lose them. —Ann, via email

Cookingfor two

Dear Heloise: My husband is aceliac and avegetarian. Iamneither of those things,soIhave tocook separate meals for us. I

don’tlike cooking,but one of us needs to do it,and it’s easier for me. My husband does many other household and outside jobs that Ido not do.

To solve theproblem of having to makeseparate meals andmydisliking to cook, Icook my meals and makethem intoTVdinners. Iusually keep about seven different kinds of meals in thefreezer for myself. This way,Ican have what Ilike quickly and not have to be cooking all the time.

Icook one or two recipes for him each week. Ialways keep atray of fresh, cutup vegetables and fruits available. It works for us. Thanks for your column. I read it every day —Carol B., via email

Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

ATrivialPursuitgameis displayedatthe ToyFair in New york’s Javits Center in 2023.

toy offers meaningful play,” curator Michelle ParnettDwyer said, adding that it’s also used forstress relief andbuilding motor skills. Thehonorees will beon permanent displayatthe Hall of Fame inside The Strong National Museum of Play inRochester,New York.

tory and culture. BeforeFriday, the most the association had paidfor an artifact was $1.5 million for“The Builders,” by African American artist Jacob Lawrence, in 2007, McBride said. Thatwork depictshardworking men in orange,red andbrowntones, and hangs in the White House Green Room

The sketches are Rockwell’sonlyknown collection of four interrelatedpaintings thatheconceived to tell a story,according to Heritage Auctions, the Dallas-based auctionhouse that soldthem Theseries was created in 1943 andpublished in the SaturdayEvening Post. Theassociation will share more “about thefuture of this significant andhistoric work,” its president, Stewart McLaurin, said in astatement

This year’s inducteeswere voted in over other nominees including the games Catan and Connect Four, the Spirographdrawing device, the “StarWars” lightsaber, Furby andTickleMeElmo. They also beat outclassics including scooters,cornhole and snow

“Welook forward to utilizing this acquisition to teach White House history for generations to come,” he said.

Matthew Costello, the association’schiefeducation officer,told The Associated Press in atelephone interview this week that officials haddiscussedputting the sketches on display at The People’sHouse:AWhite House Experience. The association opened the interactive White House education center in September 2024. The White House Historical Association wascreated in 1961 by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy to help preserve themuseum quality of theinterior of theWhite House andeducate thepublic. It is anonprofit, nonpartisanorganization that receives no government funding.

focus on the blessings of being acare giverand acare receiver,for it is reciprocal at best. Perhaps American poet Maya Angelousums up gratitude best in one of her many quotes: “The ship of my life mayormay not be sailingoncalmand amiable seas. Thechallenging days ofmyexistence may or may not bebrightand promising. Stormyorsunny days,glorious orlonely nights, Imaintain an attitudeofgratitude.IfI insist on beingpessimistic, there is always tomorrow.TodayI am blessed.”

Dana Territo is an Alzheimer’s advocate and author of “What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer’s Disease.” She hosts“The Memory Whisperer.” Emailher at thememorywhisperer@ gmail.com.

Today is Monday, Nov.24, the 328th day of 2025. There are 37 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Nov.24, 1963, Jack Ruby shot and mortally wounded Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy,inascene captured on live television.

Also on this date:

In 1859, Britishnaturalist Charles Darwin published “Onthe Origin of Species,” which explained his theory of evolution by meansof natural selection.

In 1865, Mississippi becamethe first Southern state to enact laws that came to be known as “Black Codes” aimed at limiting the rightsofnewly freed Blacks;other states of the former Confederacy soon followed.

In 1971, ahijacker calling himself “Dan Cooper” (but who becamepopularly known as “D.B. Cooper”) parachuted from aNorth-

west Orient Airlines 727 over the Pacific Northwest after receiving $200,000 in ransom;his fate remains unknown.

In 1974, the bone fragments of a3.2 million-yearold hominid were discovered by scientists in Ethiopia; the skeletal remains were nicknamed“Lucy.”

In 1991, Queen singer Freddie Mercury died in London at age 45 of AIDSrelated pneumonia.

In 2014, it was announced that agrand jury in St. Louis County,Missouri, had decided against indicting Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown; the decision enraged protesters who set fire to buildings and cars and looted businesses in the area where Brown had been fatally shot.

In 2017, aterrorist attack on amosque in Egypt’sSinai Peninsula killed at least 235 people. The attack was ascribed by authorities to a local Islamic State affiliate.

In 2021, three White men were convicted of murder

in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery,the Black man whowas running through aGeorgia subdivision in February 2020 when they chased and shot him In 2023, Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering Black man George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate and seriously injured at afederal prison in Arizona. He was subsequently transferred to another prison. Today’sbirthdays: Basketball HallofFamer Oscar Robertson is 87. Former NFLCommissioner Paul Tagliabue is 85. Rock drummer Pete Best is 84. ActorcomedianBilly Connolly is 83. BasketballHallof Famer andformer Detroit mayor DaveBing is 82. BasketballHallofFame coach Rudy Tomjanovich is 77. FilmmakerEmir

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Make domestic adjustments that offer freedom to pursue exciting avenues. It's OK to be different and to take the road less traveled. Be true to yourself.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Proceed with a passionate and positive attitude, and you will gain momentum, support and a chance to demonstrate your potential. Someone you encounter will interest you personally.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay attention to money, expiration dates and keeping your personal documents current. Be good to yourself, live within your means and enjoy life's simple pleasures.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Get in the game, share your thoughts and engage in your community. Do all the above with a positiveattitudeandasmileonyourface,and something good will transpire.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Think twice before you react to something. Situations may not be as they appear. Offering support and a positive response will help you navigate your way to the truth and justice.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) The sky is the limit when you put your mind to achievingyourgoals.Partnershipsandcreative pursuits look promising and enriching. A change will spark your interest.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Listen, absorb and change what's necessary to keep the peace and to ensure you get to finish

what you start. How you navigate your way through situations will determine your success.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Interacting will play a crucial role in determining how muchyouaccomplishandhowmuchhelp you receive. Utilize your charm, knowledge and networking skills to enhance your confidence and foster leadership.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Immerse yourself in events that challenge you in positive ways.Leavenotimeorroomforself-pity. Trust your instincts and act on them.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Speak up and deal with unfinished business. Social or networking events can lead to opportunities and a deeper understanding of who you are and how to achieve your goals. LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Keep your head down, your heart protected and your mind on what you want to achieve. Trust your ability to adapt quickly, your intuition to pick up on unsavory interactions and your innate charm to counteract negativity.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Letting your leadershipqualitiesshinewillencourage opportunities. Partnerships look promising. Education will lead to increased income.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, Inc., dist.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers1 to 9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Saturday’s PuzzleAnswer

By PHILLIP ALDER

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the cocreatorsof“South Park,” wrote thisline for that show: “Sometimes what’s right isn’t as important as what’s profitable.”

At thebridge table, usually what is right will be profitable. In this deal, South is in four spades. West leads the heart queen. How shoulddeclarer plan theplay? Did West have amoreprofitable lead?

Note South’s two-heart rebid. Do not miss theopportunity to show amajor. Northrebid twospades because he had a maximumminimum;ifSouthwasstrong enough to bida third time, North’s hand would be worth game. Then, when South didcontinue with three diamonds, North mentioned his heartfeature.

Southstarts with fivelosers: two hearts and three diamonds. He has nine winners: sixspades,two hearts and one club. Thereare various chances for a 10th trick: hearts might be 3-3, but that is unlikely, especially given the opening lead; or East might have thediamond ace-king. (Even if diamonds are3-3, declarer will probablyloseone heart andthree diamonds.) More profitable, though,istorememberthatanytimeyou can get aruff in the shorter trumphand, it is probably the right line of play.

Declarer should take the first trick on theboard, discard adiamond on theclub ace, and continue with another heart. If East couldruff, Southwould probably fail. Here, though, East follows.Declarer wins with hisace and leads another heart

wuzzles

When back in his hand, South ruffs his last heart with dummy’s spade queen. Then he should silently thankWestfor not finding atrumplead.

©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

EachWuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying,

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” suchas“bats” or “dies,” are notallowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may notbeused. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are notallowed.

toDAy’s WoRD LuXuRIEs: LUK-shuh-rees: Indulgences.

Average mark 13 words Time limit 20 minutes

Can you find 17 or more words in LUXURIES?

sAtuRDAy’s WoRD —WonDERs

sonde sone sore sowed sower sown sword swore sworn

today’s thought

“And it shallcome to pass afterward, that Iwill pour outmy spirit on allflesh;and your sons and your daughtersshall prophesy, your oldmen shalldream dreams, youryoung men shallsee visions:” Joel 2:28