The Times-Picayune 12-10-2025

NEWTULANE COACHHALL SAYS HE IS RIGHT CHOICE 1C

FARFROMNORMAL

French Quarterrestaurants arein

make-or-breakmodeafter disruptive year

BY IAN McNULTY Staffwriter

It wasn’tjust the consecutive days of double shifts Juan Contrerashad to pull at his Mexican restaurant,ElGato Negro, making up forstaffwho were staying home, fearful of beingcaughtupin federal immigration sweeps. Butthatexhausting stretch was the last straw

This week, Contrerasdecided to temporarily close the French Market location of his popular eatery,likely until the new year

His restaurants in Gretna and Lakeview remain open. But in the French Quarter business disruptions fromthe “Catahoula Crunch” crackdown by U.S. Immigration

INSIDE

ä N.O. Catholics receiveMass dispensation amidimmigration sweeps Page 6A

ä Border Patrol operations begin in Baton Rouge region Page 7A

ä Attendancedrops in NewOrleans-area schools. Page 1B

and Customs Enforcementand Border Patrol are hittingdifferently

“After all this, we just needed to takea little break and start the new year fresh,” Contreras said.

“All this” is ayear that has brought immense challenges for manyrestaurants

and barsinthe city’shistoriccore and tourism hub.

It is leading up to what could be aconsequential finish for French Quarter hospitalitybusinesses, depending on how the final weeks through Christmas and New Year’splay out.

Many hopes arepinned for astrong turnout of New Orleanians pursuing local traditions in the neighborhood, tourists turning up and an influx of business around the Allstate Sugar Bowl after a vexing 2025.

Theyear beganwith the terrorist attack on BourbonStreet early on Jan. 1, casting apall over the French Quarter in what is

ä See NORMAL, page 6A

Demolition of DeGaulle Manorfaces

Algierscommunity frustrated over stalled progressofwork

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

For the past two years,cityleaders have made promisestotear down the decrepit abandoned apartments in Algiers known as DeGaulle Manor

Those promises seemed close to fulfillment when officials in October celebratedthe building’s pending demolition as heavymachinery droned in the background.

But at aNew Orleans City Council committee meeting Monday, leaders with MayorLaToya Cantrell’sadministration said the city can no longer pay the vendor to do the job given its financial problems. Funding for thedemo was also not included in Mayorelect Helena Moreno’s$1.6 billion

budgetthe City Council passed Dec. 1. On topofthat, officials said, the city owes the contractor more than $1 million for asbestos removal workthe firm alreadycompleted —money that, according to Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Brandye DeLarge, was never included in the 2025 budget.

“Myoffice never received arequest to route abudgetordinance

Louisiana yanksa Medicaid contract

330,000 people pushed to otherplans

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Louisiana has halted acontract with United Healthcare to provide Medicaid coverage for roughly 333,000 people in Louisiana, less than amonth before next year’s agreement wasset to take effect. People on the United Healthcare planwill be redistributedtoother plans, the Louisiana Department of Health said.

“The immediate impact is the chaosand confusion.”

SEN. GERALD BOUDREAUX, D-Lafayette

“LDH will beginthe transition process of moving your Medicaid members to othercontracted Medicaid Managed Care Plans fora January 1, 2026 effective date,” Medicaid Director Seth Gold wrote to United in aletter dated Dec. 2. “Weexpect United to continue to abidebyall of the terms of its current contract withLDH through the expiration date. We also expect your full cooperationwithtransitioning your members to their new Medicaid Managed Care Plans.”

Some state leaderssaid they wereconcernedthe abrupt change could cause confusion or disruptions for the thousands of people who rely on that Medicaid health plan, like requiring them to find new doctors.

“The immediate impact is the chaos andconfusion,”saidSen Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette, alongtime member of the Senate health committee. He also sits on thebudgetoversight committee that approves the contracts.

The letterfromthe Health Department didnot providea reasonfor the decision, but Attorney

ä See MEDICAID, page 9A

Abulldozer clears underbrush fromaround the abandoned DeGaulle Manor in October

Shooting in Kentucky leaves 1 dead, 1 hurt

FRANKFORT Ky One student was killed and another was critically wounded in a shooting at a residence hall at Kentucky State University on Tuesday, and a suspect who is not a student at the school has been arrested, officials said.

The shooting happened around 3 p.m. and was an “isolated incident,” Scott Tracy, assistant chief of police for Frankfort, said during a news conference Tuesday evening. Tracy said police swiftly responded to the shooting.

Frankfort police said Jacob Lee Bard was booked into jail on murder and first-degree assault charges in connection with the shooting. Police said Bard is from Evansville, Indiana, which is about 150 miles west of Frankfort One student who was shot at the residence hall, Whitney M. Young Jr Hall, is in critical condition but is stable, according to the university The school is not immediately releasing the names of the students.

Classes, final exams and campus activities at the university have been canceled for the rest of the week, according to the school

San Diego approves $30 million settlement

SAN DIEGO The San Diego City Council on Tuesday approved a $30 million payment to the family of a 16-year-old killed by police in one of the largest such settlements in U.S. history

The settlement exceeds the $27 million the city of Minneapolis agreed to pay the family of George Floyd, whose May 2020 murder by a police officer who knelt on his neck sparked a nationwide racial reckoning Surveillance and body-worn camera footage from Jan. 28 showed Konoa Wilson running away from someone who pulled a gun and fired at him in a downtown train station. As he exited the station, Wilson encountered San Diego Police Officer Daniel Gold. In the lawsuit against the city and Gold, the family alleged the officer “instantly, without any warning,” fired two shots at Wilson as he ran by striking him in the upper body. The lawsuit identified Wilson as Black The lawsuit said Gold did not announce he was a police officer until after shooting him in the back. It said Wilson was running past the officer “in an attempt to get to a place of safety.”

TV producer on ‘Most Wanted’ list for fraud

SANTA ANA, Calif. — The former head of a California company that produced true crime TV shows has been added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list, years after being charged with portraying herself as an heiress to get millions of dollars from lenders. Mary Carole McDonnell, 73, is believed to be in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the FBI said Friday McDonnell is the former chief executive at Bellum Entertainment LLC, based in Burbank, California, which produced shows such as “It Takes a Killer” and “I Married a Murderer.”

Bellum was having financial problems in 2017 McDonnell was able to get a $14.7 million loan from a bank after falsely claiming she was related to the founders of McDonnell Douglas, a leading aviation and aerospace company, and had $28 million in a trust account, according to court documents.

“It is alleged that McDonnell also defrauded additional financial institutions in a similar fashion, with an estimated loss of over $15 million,” the FBI said.

A grand jury indicted McDonnell in 2018 on charges of fraud and identity theft. She has not been found.

CORRECTIONS

A story Monday misstated the total cost of renovations to the Algiers Ferry Terminal. The renovations will cost $26 million. Another story Monday misattributed comments made by communications director Monet Brignac-Sullivan.

The Times-Picayune regrets the errors.

Zelenskyy reaffirms refusal to cede land

BY PAOLO SANTALUCIA and ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press

ROME Ukrainian President Volodymyr

Zelenskyy has reaffirmed his strong refusal to cede any territory, resisting U.S. pressure for painful concessions to Russia as he moved ahead Tuesday to rally more European support for his country “Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, don’t want to give up anything. That’s what we are fighting for,” Zelenskyy told reporters in a WhatsApp chat late Monday

“Do we consider ceding any territories? According to the law we don’t have such right,” he said. “According to Ukraine’s law, our constitution, international law, and to be frank, we don’t have a moral right either.”

In an interview with Politico released Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Zelenskyy to accept the U.S. proposal that Ukraine cede territory to Russia arguing Moscow has the “upper hand” in its nearly 4-year-old invasion, and that Zelenskyy’s government must “play ball.”

Zelenskyy met in Rome with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, discussing the progress of the peace process, her office said. They emphasized the importance of U.S. and European unity and of solutions “that will have repercussions on the continent’s security,” the statement said.

They also discussed “developing robust security guarantees to prevent future aggression and maintaining pressure on Russia to join the negotiating table in good faith,” it said.

Earlier, Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, a papal residence outside Rome. The Vatican said Leo reiterated the need for continuing dialogue and “expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace.”

The Holy See has tried to stay neutral in the war while offering solidarity and assistance to what it calls the “martyred” people of Ukraine. Leo has met three times with Zelenskyy and has spoken by telephone at least once with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for a ceasefire and urging Moscow to make gestures promoting peace.

On Monday, Zelenskyy held talks in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to strengthen Ukraine’s hand amid mounting impatience from Trump. U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the Trump administration’s peace proposal.

A major sticking point is the suggestion that Kyiv must give up control of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine to Russia, which occupies most but not all of the territory Ukraine and its Europe-

an allies firmly resist the idea of handing over land.

“You know a lot of people are dying,” Trump told Politico on Monday, claiming that other Ukrainian officials that he identified only as Zelenskyy’s “lieutenants, his top people” agree with the U.S. administration.

Other than Zelenskyy’s comments Monday, Ukrainian negotiators have said little in public about the content of the U.S. proposal or their attitude toward it

Speaking to reporters again Tuesday on WhatsApp, Zelenskyy said three documents were being discussed with American and European partners a 20-point framework document that is constantly changing, a document on security guarantees and a document about Ukraine’s recovery.

Zelenskyy told reporters that Ukraine’s updated version of the proposal would be given to the U.S. on Wednesday Russia, Trump said, is too powerful for Ukraine to continue fighting.

“I give the people of Ukraine and the military of Ukraine tremendous credit for the, you know, bravery and for the fighting and all of that,” he said. “But you know, at some point, size will win, generally.”

Trump also repeated his call for Ukraine to hold a presidential election even though martial law doesn’t allow it and Zelenskyy, elected in 2019, had his five-year term extended because of the war Trump’s position on Ukraine’s failure to hold an election mirrors frequent statements on the subject by Putin.

Responding to Trump’s remarks, Zelenskyy asked for help from the U.S. and possibly Europe “to ensure security for the elections” and suggested that Ukraine could be ready to hold balloting in 60 to 90 days. In past comments, Zelenskyy has declined to hold elections until a ceasefire is declared and martial law lifted, and Ukrainians have largely supported that decision.

Court questions limits

on political party spending in federal elections

Conservative justices appear to back drive to overturn precedent

BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON Conservative Supreme Court justices on Tuesday appeared to back a Republican-led drive that would erase limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates for Congress and president and overturn a quarter-century-old decision.

A day after the justices indicated they would reverse a 90-year-old precedent limiting the president’s power to fire independent agency heads, the court took up a 2001 decision that upheld a provision of federal election law that is more than 50 years old

The lawsuit, which originated in Ohio, includes Vice President JD Vance, who joined in the Republican challenge to the limits when he was a senator from Ohio

The arguments touched on whether Vance would run for president in 2028, and whether his plans should figure in the outcome.

The case is the latest in which the conservative majority could upend congressionally enacted limits on raising and spending money to influence elections.

The court’s 2010 Citizens United decision opened the door to unlimited independent spending in federal elections.

Two hours of arguments showed entrenched divisions between the liberal and conservative justices over campaign finance restrictions.

“Every time we interfere with the congressional design, we make matters worse,” said Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a dissenter in Citizens United and the court’s other campaign money cases.

By contrast, Justice Samuel Alito, a member of the Citizens United majority, described the decision as “much maligned, I think unfairly maligned.” The effect of the decision was to ”level the playing field,” Alito said, by expanding the right to spend freely that had previously belonged only to media companies.

The limits on party spending stem from a desire to prevent large donors from skirting caps on individual contributions to a candidate by directing unlimited sums to the party, with the understanding that the money will be spent on behalf of the candidate.

The Republican committees for House and Senate candidates filed the lawsuit in Ohio in 2022, joined by Vance and thenRep. Steve Chabot.

The court should cast a skeptical eye on the limits because they are “at war” with recent high court decisions, lawyer Noel Francisco said, representing Republican interests. The Federal Election Commission, which changed its view on the issue after Trump took office, also argued that the limits should be struck down.

Democrats are calling on the court to uphold the law, even though there is wide agreement that the spending limits have hurt political parties in an era of unlimited spending by other organizations.

“That’s the real source of the disadvantage, right?” Justice Brett Kavanaugh said. “You can give huge money to the outside group, but you can’t give huge money to the party And so the parties are very much weakened compared to the outside group.”

Alito, Kavanaugh and Justice Clarence Thomas all voiced skepticism about the limits, while the three liberal justices signaled they would vote to uphold them.

The other three members of the court either said nothing during the arguments or not enough to indicate how they might vote.

Pope insists on Europe role in Ukraine peace

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

ROME Pope Leo XIV insisted Tuesday that Europe must have a role in any Ukraine peace deal and criticized what he said was the Trump administration’s effort to “break apart” the long-standing U.S.-European alliance.

Leo spoke to reporters after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is on another tour to rally European support for Kyiv The American pope said they discussed the need for a ceasefire and the Vatican’s efforts to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities.

Leo was asked about the U.S. peace proposal and the seeming sidelining of European powers in the process. Speaking as he left his vacation home in Castel Gandolfo, Leo insisted that Europe’s role was crucial to any deal.

“Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic, given the war is in Europe,” he said. “Guarantees are also being sought for security today and in the future. Europe must be part of this, and unfortunately not everyone understands this, but I think there is a great opportunity for European leaders to unite and seek a solution together.”

Zelenskyy has said there are three documents in the peace agreement being discussed with U.S. and European partners, a framework document of 20 points, a second document with security guarantees, and a third document about Ukraine’s recovery Leo was asked about the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine but appeared to respond to a broader question about the Trump administration’s views on the U.S.-Europe alliance. Just last week, the Trump administration released its U.S. national security strategy, which questions the U.S.-European alliance and stresses a desire to improve U.S.Russia relations. Leo said what he had read would “make a huge change in what was for many many years a true alliance between Europe and the United States.” Additionally, some comments by U.S President Donald Trump suggest an effort “trying to break apart what I think needs to be an alliance today and in the future.”

While some people in the United States may agree with that effort, “I think many others would see things in a different way,” Leo said.

The Holy See has tried to remain neutral in Russia’s war while offering solidarity and concrete assistance to what it calls the “martyred” people of Ukraine.

Speech on affordabilityturns into list of grievances

Trumpevent in Pa intended to be about fighting inflation

BY MARC LEVY and JOSH BOAK Associated Press

MOUNT POCONO,Pa. On the road in Pennsylvania on Tuesday,President Donald Trump tried to emphasize his focus on combating inflation, yet the issue that has damaged his popularitycouldn’t quite command his full attention. The president toldthe crowd gathered at acasinoand resort in Mount Pocono that inflation was no longer aproblem and that Democrats had used the term“affordability” as a“hoax”tohurt his reputation. But his remarks weaved wildly to includegrievances he first raised behindclosed doors in his first term in 2018 andlater denied saying —asking why the U.S. doesn’thave more immigrants from Scandinavia.

“Why is it we only take people from s***hole countries, right?” Trump said onstage. “Why can’t we have some people from Norway,Sweden, just afew?”

Trump said he objected to taking immigrants from “hellholes like Afghanistan, Haiti,Somalia and many other countries.” He added for emphasis that those places “are adisaster,right? Filthy,dirty, disgusting, ridden with crime.”

Tuesday’s gatheringinthe swing state— andinacompetitive House district —was an officialWhite House event, yet it seemed more like one of hissignature campaign rallies that his chief of staff said he would hold regularlyahead of next year’smidterms. But instead of being held in an arena that could draw severalthousand attendees, it was held in aconference center ballroom at theMount AiryCasino Resort in Mount Pocono, asmall town of about 3,000 residents.

Followingdismal results for Republicans in last month’soffcycleelections, the White House

has sought to convince voters that theeconomy will emerge stronger next year and that any anxieties over inflation have nothing to do with Trump.

He displayed achart comparing price increases under his predecessor, Joe Biden, to prices under his ownwatch, but theinflationratehas only climbedsince he announced broad tariffs in April and left many Americans worried about their grocery, utilityand housing bills.

“I have no higherpriority than making America affordable again,” Trump said. “They caused thehigh prices and we’re bringing

them down.”

As the president spoke,his party’spolitical vulnerabilities were further seenasMiami voters chose Eileen Higgins to be their first Democraticmayor in nearly 30 years. Higgins defeated the Trump-endorsed Republican Emilio Gonzalez.

The president’sreception in the county hosting his Tuesday rally showed he could still appeal to the base, but it wasunabletosettle questions of whetherhecould hold togetherhis 2024 coalition. MonroeCounty flipped to Trumplast year after having backed Biden in 2020, helping the Republican win the swing state of Pennsylvania andreturn to theWhiteHouse after afour-year hiatus. As home to the PoconoMountains, thecounty has largely relied on tourism for skiing, hiking, hunting and other activities as asource of jobs. Its proximity to New York City —under twohours by car has alsoattractedpeople seeking moreaffordable housing. Butwhatseems undeniable —even to Trumpsupporters in MonroeCounty— is that inflation seemstobehere to stay LouHeddy,a retiredmaintenance mechanic who voted for Trump last year,saidhe’snoticed in thepast month alone thathis and his wife’sgrocerybills have risen from $175 to $200, and he’snot sure Trump can bring food prices down.

“Once the prices get up forfood, theydon’t ever come back down. That’sjustthe wayIfeel.I don’t know how the hell he would do it,” said Heddy,72. But Suzanne Vena, aDemocratic voter,blames Trump’stariffs for making life more expensive,as she struggles with rising bills for food, rent and electricity on afixed income. She remembersTrump saying that he would stop inflation.

“That’swhatwewereoriginally told,” said Vena, 66. “Did Ibelieve it? That’sanother question. Idid not.”

NickRiley,38, said he’scutting back on luxuries, like going out to eat, as he absorbs higherbills for food and electricityand is having ahard timefinding agood deal on a used car.Riley voted forTrumpin 2020, but he sat outthe 2024 election and plans to do so again next year

“We’re all broke. It doesn’tmatterwhetheryou supportRepublicans or support Democrats,” Riley said. “We’re all broke, and we’re all feeling it.”

The challenge forTrump is how to address the concerns of voters aboutthe economy while simultaneously claiming that the economy is enjoying ahistoric boom Asked on aPolitico podcast how he’d rate the economy,Trump leaned into grade inflationbyanswering “A-plus,” only to then amend his answer to “A-plus-plusplus-plus-plus.”

Raul Malo,60, Grammy-winning frontman of TheMavericks,dies

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK Raul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of the genredefying, Grammy-winningband The Mavericks, has died. He was 60. Malo died Monday night, his wife, Betty Malo, posted on his Facebook page. He had been battling cancer.The frontman of The Mavericks had documented his health journeyonsocial media since he disclosed in June 2024 that he wasreceivingtreatment for colon cancer. In September 2025, Malo said on Instagram that he wasbattling LMD, or leptomeningeal disease,

arare complication when cancer spreads to membranes thatsurround the brain andspinal cord.

Malo left home in Nashville, Tennessee, toseek treatmentin Houston, keeping his fans updated alonghis health journey

“He was called to do another gig —thistimeinthe sky—and he’s flying high like an eagle,” Betty Malo wrote. “No one embodied life and love, joy and passion, family, friends, music, and adventure the way our beloved Raul did. Now he will look down on us with allthat heavenwill allow,lighting theway and reminding us to savorevery moment.”

Born Raul FranciscoMartínez-

Malo Jr.inMiami to Cubanparents,heco-founded The Mavericks in 1989 with drummerPaulDeakin andbass guitarist Robert Reynolds. Their self-titled debut album was released the following year on the independent, Miami-based label Y&T Music.

Some call the band alt-country Others describe it as Americana, roots, Latin, Tejano or swing. It’s all of the above andmore,drivenby songs written by Malo, his expansive guitarstyle and his broad vocal range,froma soaring, velvety baritone to operatichigh notes. His musical prowess was in the blend, also incorporating rock, traditional country and surf. In the

earlydays in Miami, The Mavericks played punk and rock clubs to get their sound out there.

“I grew up in ahousehold where we listened to all kinds of music,” Malo said in a2020 NPRinterview “I just remember it wasacelebration of all these cultures.”

In 2002,Malo released an allSpanish album forchildren, “el Cancionero de la Familia Volume 1,” featuring vocals from his sister,Carol, wife, Betty,and mother, Norma, along with other guests.

The band has taken on various iterations over the years as some memberscame and went. The Mavericks also disbanded acouple of times. Maloput outadozen or so

solo albumsand collaboration projectsaswell, includinghis instrumental “Say Less,” “You’re Only Lonely” and “Sinners &Saints.”

The Mavericks released their 13thstudio album, “Moon &Stars,” in 2024. Between that and their debut, the band received aGrammy, twoCountry Music Association awards and three Academy of Country Music Awards. Raulhas aBMI award forsongwriting, for “All YouEverDoIs Bring Me Down,” and was nominated forseveral solo Grammys. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Betty; sons Dino, Victor, and Max, mother Norma and sister Carol.

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Hegseth weighing release of boat strike video

BY STEPHEN GROVES and LISA MASCARO Associated Press

WASHINGTON Defense Secretary

Pete Hegseth told congressional leaders Tuesday that he was still weighing whether to release the full video of an attack on an alleged drug boat that killed two survivors, even as he faced intensifying demands from Congress for disclosure.

Hegseth provided a classified briefing for congressional leaders alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top national security officials Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that when he asked the defense secretary whether he would allow every member of Congress to view the video of the attack from September, Hegseth’s response was: “We have to study it.”

Separately Tuesday the U.S Navy admiral who is retiring early from command of the campaign to destroy vessels allegedly carrying drugs near Venezuela spoke to key lawmakers overseeing the U.S. military The classified video call between Adm. Alvin Holsey, who will be retiring from U.S. Southern Command in the coming days, and the GOP chair and ranking Democrat of the Senate Armed Services Committee represented another determined step by lawmakers to get answers about the operation.

Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declined to discuss the specifics of the call, but described Holsey as a “great public servant.” He also said that the Pentagon is weighing whether releasing the video would disclose classified information.

In its annual defense authorization bill, which was crafted by both Republicans and Democrats, Congress is demanding that the Pentagon turn over unedited video of the strikes, as well as the orders authorizing the attacks The legislation threatens to withhold a quarter of Hegseth’s travel budget if he refuses.

“There is a growing demand that everyone get a right in the Senate to see it,” said Sen Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

But lawmakers are demanding a full accounting from the Department of Defense on the strikes that killed two people who were clinging to the wreckage of an initial strike. Legal experts say that action may have violated the laws governing the use of deadly military force. The situation has awakened the Republican-controlled Congress to its oversight role after months of frustration about the trickle of information from the Pentagon. Schumer described the briefing as “very unsatisfying” and added that “Democrats and Republicans had a right to see it, wanted to see it, and should see it.”

He added that Holsey answered

the senators’ questions but also said that “there are still many questions to be answered.” Reed later added that Holsey did not give a reason for his retirement other than saying it was a personal decision.

Lawmakers are trying to understand the purpose and parameters of President Donald Trump’s campaign, which has struck 22 boats and killed at least 87 people since it started in September

Trump has also been making threats against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, sending a fleet of warships near the South American country, including the largest U.S. aircraft carrier

On Tuesday, the U.S. military flew a pair of fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela in what appears to be the closest American warplanes have come to the country’s airspace since the start of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign.

Holsey became the leader of U.S. Southern Command just over one year ago, but in October, Hegseth announced that Holsey would be retiring early from his post. As commander of U.S. forces in the region, Holsey oversaw a command structure that has in recent years been mostly focused on building stability and cooperation across much of the region.

Trump’s drug boat campaign, however, has added a new, deadly dynamic to its mission. Rather than trying to interdict drug-carrying vessels, as forces like the U.S. Coast Guard have traditionally done, the Trump administration

asserts that the drugs and drugsmugglers are posing a direct threat to American lives. Officials say they are applying the same rules as the global war on terror to kill drug smugglers.

Trump this week justified the strike by claiming that the two suspected drug smugglers were trying to right the part of the boat after it had capsized in the initial attack However, Adm Frank “Mitch” Bradley the special operations commander who ordered the second strike, told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing last week that he ordered the second strike to ensure that the cocaine in the boat could not be picked up later by cartel members.

The entire House Armed Services Committee will also hear from Bradley next week, said Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the panel.

“We need an all-member briefing for the House of Representatives,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told The Associated Press.

For the last several months, the Trump administration has brandished videos of the strikes — black and white footage of boats exploding into flames — on social media.

Sen. Mark Warner the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called it a “little strange” for officials to now claim that full, unedited video of the strike is classified and cannot be released even to members of Congress. He and other Democrats also say that the logic underpinning the entire operation is deeply problematic.

“They are using expensive, exquisite American military capabilities to kill people who are the equivalent of corner dealers,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.

Lawmakers are also questioning what intelligence the military is using to determine whether the boats’ cargo is headed for the U.S. As they have looked closer at the Sept. 2 strike, lawmakers learned that the destroyed boat was heading south at the time of the attack and that military intelligence showed it was headed toward another vessel that was bound for Suriname.

Still, it remains to be seen whether the Republican-controlled Congress will push back on the Trump administration’s campaign. Many have so far stood behind it, but worry is also growing about the prospect of war.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton, missed the classified briefing — the only leader to do so, according to two people familiar with the private session who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Johnson’s absence was notable from the speaker, who is second in line of succession to the president, especially as Congress is expected to have the final say on the military’s use of the nation’s war powers. A group of senators — three Democrats and one Republican — is also preparing to force a vote on legislation as soon as next week that would halt Trump’s ability to use military force against Venezuela directly without congressional approval.

Trump threatened to veto defense act over base names

Speaker

Johnson removed language from bill, rep says

BY JOHN M. DONNELLY CQ-Roll Call (TNS)

WASHINGTON White House officials told lawmakers in recent days that the president would veto the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act if Congress did not delete House- and Senate-passed language ensuring U.S. military bases do not bear names associated with Confederate officers, the sponsor of one of those provisions said Monday

The Trump administration also told senior lawmakers the president would veto the NDAA over its collective bargaining protections for Pentagon civilians, a knowledgeable source said Monday

The provisions on the Confederacy that were a part of both the House and Senate bills were retained in the compromise NDAA that was agreed upon by Republican and Democratic Armed Services leaders and was recently sent to congressional leaders for finishing touches, knowledgeable sources said So too were the collective bargaining provisions, they said.

But Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, did as Trump wished and removed both sets of provisions in the last days of talks over the final NDAA text, which was finalized Sunday, lawmakers confirmed on Monday

Army base names

On the Civil War issue, Trump had vetoed the fiscal 2021 NDAA over its creation of a commission to rename military facilities and assets that have borne the names of Confederate officers or otherwise paid homage to the Confederacy Congress overrode that veto.

Nine major Army bases were renamed in 2023 using the commission’s recommendations.

But this year the Trump administration undid the commission’s work

The White House veto threats in recent days, which have not previously been reported, show the Confederacy issue still matters to Trump, not to mention the subject of control over the federal civilian workforce.

“The President’s threat to veto the bill over this amendment as he has done before only proves that the President and this administration aim to politicize and demoralize every servicemember who chooses to put their life on the line while serving their country,” Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash., the author of the House provision on base names, said via email.

“Speaker Johnson and the President killed my bipartisan amendment that passed in committee — at the last minute. They are choosing to honor Confederate traitors, who fought to uphold the institution of slavery and lost a war, rather than supporting our servicemem-

bers — 40% of whom are people of color.”

The White House, asked last week if it would veto the NDAA if it contained the provisions requiring that the commission’s non-Confederate names be used, referred a reporter to statements of administration policy on the House and Senate NDAAs that expressed “strong” opposition to the provisions but did not threaten a veto.

A Johnson spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment on whether the speaker had removed the base-naming provision at the White House’s request.

Bipartisan votes

Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moved to change the names of nine Army bases that two years before had seen their nameschangedinaccordance with commission recommendations back to their former Confederate homages.

Hegseth said, though, that the names now would be honoring non-Confederate military heroes who happened to share last names with the Confederates.

For example, Fort Gordon in Georgia was renamed Fort Eisenhower in 2023, but this past June the base name reverted to Fort Gordon this time, Hegseth said, in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Master Sergeant Gary Gordon.

Eight other bases followed similar patterns. Their formerly Confederate-aligned names, now restored in indi-

rect fashion, are: Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Hood, Fort Lee, Fort Pickett, Fort Polk and Fort Rucker

The GOP majority Armed Services Committees in both chambers voted earlier this year for NDAAs that would restore in whole or in part the Naming Commission’s recommendations.

The House Armed Services Committee adopted an amendment to its NDAA by

Strickland to require all the base names to change to the commission’s recommendations.

The Senate’s version included language backed by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., to restore the bases in Virginia — Forts A.P Hill, Lee and Pickett — to the names chosen by the commission. Both provisions made it into the final measure, lawmakers said.

Rep. Adam Smith, DWash., the ranking member

of the House Armed Services Committee, expressed concern in a statement Monday about “how a number of issues were handled by the Speaker and the White House during final negotiations, disregarding input from committees of jurisdiction and forcing in provisions without four-corner agreement,” which he said “goes against the longstanding tradition of the NDAA negotiations process.”

Senate to vote on Cassidy’s health proposal

Republicans push back on tax credit extension

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON U.S Senate

leaders said Tuesday the chamber will vote Thursday on U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy’s health care legislation, calling it the Republican response to a Democratic proposal to extend tax credits that 24.3 million working Americans and small businesses — nearly 300,000 of whom live in Louisiana — use to buy health insurance. The legislation, which was officially released Tuesday, is cosponsored by Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, and Sen. Mike Crapo R-Idaho.

Cassidy chairs the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee and Crapo chairs the Senate Finance Committee, the two panels that oversee the Affordable Care Act.

Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Monday that he favored the Cassidy-Crapo proposal as the Republicans’ entrée into the extension debate.

The subsidies, which go directly from the federal government to insurance companies, expire Dec. 31 — meaning people who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace will have to pay the policy’s entire amount. That would cause their premiums to double, on average, beginning in three weeks on Jan 1.

Cassidy

Thune promised Democratic senators a vote on extending for three years the tax credits that are designed to cover the gap between what insurance companies charge for their policies and what people can afford to pay on their own. A vote on the Cassidy-Crapo legislation will be teed up as soon as the Democratic vote finishes.

The Cassidy-Crapo measure wouldn’t extend the tax credits. Instead, the bill proposes giving the money that had gone to insurance companies as subsidies to pay policy premiums, directly to beneficiaries in the form of a health savings account

that could be used solely for medical expenses.

Cassidy said people could decide on their own if they want to use the money to buy the more expensive policy with lower deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses or purchase a less-expensive policy and use the savings to pay for the higher deductibles and expenses when care is sought.

“Instead of 100% of this money going to insurance companies, let’s give it to patients,” Cassidy said Tuesday “By giving them an account that they control, we give them the power We make health care affordable again.”

Cassidy said the legislation requires policy prices to decrease by 11% over the next few years.

The proposals need 60 votes to succeed. Fifty-three Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the Democrats sit in the Senate. Senators are expected to vote along party lines, so neither the Democratic nor the Republican measure is expected to succeed.

If one does attract 60 votes, the instrument will head to the House, whose

Texas launches plan to open chapters of Turning Point USA in every high school

BY JADEN EDISON

The Texas Tribune

Texas has launched a partnership with Turning Point USA to create chapters of the right-wing organization on every high school campus in the state

Gov Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov Dan Patrick and Turning Point USA Senior Director Josh Thifault revealed the initiative during a news conference at the Governor’s Mansion on Monday They did not outline any plans that would require schools to initiate the clubs, but Abbott said that he expects “meaningful disciplinary action” to take place against “any stoppage of TPUSA in the great state of Texas.”

“Let me be clear: Any school that stands in the way of a Club America program in their school should be reported immediately to the Texas Education Agency,” the governor said, referring to the name of the high school clubs.

The announcement comes after Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who stood behind Abbott at Monday’s gathering, privately met with Thifault in early November to discuss expanding the organization’s presence in the state’s schools, which was first reported by The Texas Tribune. Four days after that meeting, Patrick said he would commit $1 million in campaign funds to help bring the project to fruition Turning Point USA was founded by Charlie Kirk, the late right-wing activist who was often praised by conservatives as a champion of free speech and criticized for comments that many other Americans found hateful. Kirk was killed in early September while speaking on a college campus in Utah Kirk’s organization has traditionally operated on college campuses, promoting itself as a hub for young people committed to conservative values. The group is also known for having created a so-called professor watchlist, which allows users to search for educators perceived as supporting and promoting liberal viewpoints in the classroom. Turning Point’s work has at times caused tension, particularly among students and faculty members who have reported being harassed because of the negative spotlight placed on them by the organization.

The group’s “Club America” chapters, meanwhile, operate in high schools. The clubs aim to “build strong networks, spearhead impactful initiatives, help students register to vote, and inspire meaningful conversations about the foundations of a free society,” ac-

cording to their website. Turning Point organizers say they have received

tens of thousands of new inquiries about starting local chapters since Kirk’s death.

Republican-majority members are trying to come up with their own version to compete with the Democratic three-year extension.

Democratic insistence that the Republican-dominated House and Senate extend the tax credits led to the historically long federal government shutdown a few weeks ago.

Republicans have spent the last 15 years trying to scuttle the Affordable Care

Act and have portrayed the extension as a Democratic effort to cover up skyrocketing insurance costs.

The tax credits were enhanced during the COVID pandemic as people returned to work, often for employers who didn’t offer insurance. Though these beneficiaries no longer qualified for Medicaid, they still couldn’t afford the policies on the private market.

Democrats don’t disagree

that costs have risen but argue that changes required by Republicans and the courts diminished the effectiveness of plan. They agreed that changes are necessary but wanted the extension to avoid people suffering while Congress leans into a health care debate.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.

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NewOrleans Catholicsreceive Mass dispensation

ment actions” felt by NewOrleansarea Catholicswithimmigrant backgrounds.

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

The Archdiocese of New Orleans is allowing Catholics whoare fearful of leavingtheir homes to miss Mass while U.S. Border Patrol agents fanout across thecityin thesecondweekofanimmigration enforcement operation. Archbishop Gregory Aymond granted the dispensation for Catholics who are “rightfully afraid to participate in Mass” due to the sweeps. The dispensation will be valid “until the individual Catholic determines it is safe to attend Mass again or this dispensation is revoked or amended,” Aymond said in aletter Monday to New Orleans’ Catholic clergy

Aymond’sletter described “real fear and anxietyinthe wakeofan increase in immigration enforce-

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typically abusy time.

In February,coverage of Super Bowl LIX beautifully showcased French Quarter scenes to anational audience, and the mega event wasaboon for some businesses.

Andinawelcome respite, hurricane season was aquiet one this year

But with thearrival of fall, a massive roadwork projectbegan in the French Quarter,makingconstruction zonesout of numerous blocks and intersections on St. PeterStreet nearJackson Square and Decatur Street near theFrench Market, reducing access to many businesses to sidewalk footpaths. Thatwork, which is replacing aged underground waterand gas lines, is expectedtolastfor months more.

Now,the year’send is approaching with new pressure from the Border Patrol’simmigration crackdown in New Orleans. Like El Gato Negro,manyrestaurants areoperating with diminished staff as people stay home.

“It’s people with visas,documented people, even citizens, they don’twant to go out andget harassed,” Contreras said.

New Orleans is now also expectingafresh deployment of the National Guard at some point in December,likely to include avisible presenceinthe high-profile

“Let me first assure themofmy prayerfulsupport in the face of these challengingtimes,”Aymond wrote. “I implore all people of faith and goodwill to join me in prayer for our families and our community and ask on behalf of ourimmigrant families and communities that we workfor real justice and asystem that protects and preserves the dignity of the human person and families regardless of where they live or from where they come.”

Aymond’sletter marks at least the second dispensation issued by aCatholic church leader in south Louisiana due to anxiety among worshippers of immigration sweeps. Baton Rouge BishopMichael Duca issued aletter late last week that dispensed fearful Catholicsfromattending Mass during immigration enforcement operations. Priests in Baton Rouge read theletter aloudatMasses over the weekend

“Theseexpulsions areaffect-

ing not only our Catholic Hispanic brothers and sisters but also refugees and immigrantsofall denominations fromother nations who form therich tapestry of our local communities,” Duca wrote. “These are ourneighbors, co-workers, and parishioners.”

ForCatholics,missing Mass withoutsufficient reason is usually considered agrave sin.

But individualCatholic churches in New Orleans have also sought to assure their congregantsthatit’s OK for them not to show up if they fear immigration agents.

It is relatively rare for church leaders in Louisiana, adevoutly Catholic state, to issue widespread dispensations. Those in recent historyinclude bishops tellingCatholicstheycould missMass during the height of the COVID-19 publichealthcrisis if they feared for their health, along withinstances aftersomehurricanes that would makeitunsafe for people to leave their homes.

Pope Leo XIV has in recent interviews also called for “deep reflection” about the treatment of

French Quarter. Some in the restaurantsector see the deployment as aneededbolstering forlocal law enforcement; others fear heavilyarmed military personnel will heighten tensions in an area where people come to let their hair down.

Together,it’sexacerbating worriesfor restaurants thathave been struggling to carry on, especially nearthe construction zones.

Like El GatoNegro, theFrench Quarter breakfast restaurant Toast has locationsinother neigh-

borhoods.Businesshas been off at all of them since thestartofthe immigration actions in December, said proprietor CaraBenson.

“Last week was like the worst week since August at all the businesses,” she said. “People are unhappy; they’re just not going out as much.”

At theDecatur Street location, thedrop-off in businesshit with thestartofroadwork outside its doors this fall, Benson said.

“Normally we’rebusy start-

migrantsinthe U.S.

“Wehave to look forways of treating people humanely,treating people with the dignity that they have,” said the pope, whowas born in Chicago. “If people are in theUnited States illegally,there are ways to treat that. There are courts; there’sasystem of justice.”

Amidthe Border Patrol operation, immigrants in and around NewOrleans have describedfeeling fearful of venturing out.

School absences in Hispanic enclaves have spiked. Some restaurants have struggledtoschedule staff. Attendance at Spanish-language church services have plummeted, according to churchleaders and parishioners.

Oneundocumentedwoman originally from Guatemala, who worships at aCatholic church and asked to remain anonymous becauseshe fears retaliation, said in an interview lastweek that she has not left her NewOrleans home for three weeks because she fears being picked up by federal agents.

The woman haslivedinthe city since 2001, and said she later

ing in October and that continues throughDecember and into spring, but this year hasnot been normal at all,” Benson said.

The final weeksofthe year are acrucialtimeinthe annual business cycle forlocal restaurants. That’s especiallytrueinthe French Quarter,where restaurants playhost to holiday parties and family outings.

“It caps off the year,” said Steve Pettus, managing partner of local restaurant group Dickie Brennan &Co. “There’s adifferent feel in thestreets. People are out to have fun, and you’re joining the party.”

Holiday decor nowdecks the dining rooms at Tableau, one of thegroup’srestaurants, while just outside,the construction fencing on St. Peter Street presses in close, making the sidewalk anarrow alley andpartially blocking the large restaurantfrom adjacent Jackson Square.

Pettus, however,remains upbeat for the season andfor theFrench Quarter’slonger-term prospects.

“Localswho haven’tbeen frequenting (the French Quarter) are missing it now,” he said. “They wanttobepart of it again; there’s an excitement that onlyexists in the French Quarter. There’s amagic ingredient to it, and you’re seeing the next generation embracing theneighborhood.”

Others in thethickofthe construction areas are changing up tactics to hang on.

Alfred Singleton, chef/owner of Café SbisarestaurantonDecatur

worked to rebuild and clean homes after Hurricane Katrina. She has also worked for years as ahouse cleaner,but has not worked since Border Patrol’sarrival.

Her husband, who typically works construction, has also been staying home.

Aymondhas said he will retire following the resolution of a yearslong legal dispute between the archdiocese and hundreds of survivors of clergysex abuse.On Monday,afederal judge approved alandmark $230 million settlementinthat dispute.

Once Aymondretires, Coadjutor Archbishop James Checchio will take his place. The pope appointed Checchio as coadjutorinSeptember

Asked Tuesday whether Checchio,too, would support adispensation in the event of continued federal immigration raids, a spokesperson forthe archdiocese, Sarah McDonald, said “there is no definitive timeline forArchbishop Aymond’s retirement as of yet, so it really is amoot point at this time.”

Street,istrying to draw more private events and holiday functions to its historic rooms.

“You need to be adestination for people, because right now it’shard for people to even see your business if they’re walking across the street,” he said.

Similarly,Santos, alate-night bar and music club on Decatur Street, has been opening earlierand packing its schedule with concerts and dance parties, trying to give more people areason to visit, said owner Benji Lee.

“We’regetting support frompeople whoare aware of the situation, but it’snot ideal to say the least,” Lee said. “Inthe end, we’re working twice as hard forless sales.” Afew blocks past the Decatur Street construction, at the Cuban bar and restaurant Manolito, managing partner Konrad Kantor has been finding waystocut costs and also boost business, like adding weekend lunch service.

But Kantor is also among those enthused by the proliferation of modern restaurants and bars in the French Quarter,and he thinks locals will be impressedifthey haven’texplored in awhile.

“I’vebeen runningaround the Quarter since Iwas ateenager,and there’smore cool local stuffhere now than ever,” he said. “The concernishow can local places make it through whatever this downturn is and survive.”

Email Ian McNultyat imcnulty@theadvocate.com.

Border Patrol spottedinsweepsinBRregion

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

Border Patrol agents have started detaining people in the capital region aweek after the start of the “CatahoulaCrunch” immigration enforcement operationthat sent hundreds of federal agentstothe New Orleans region.

At least two people were detained Tuesday by several federal agents near a food truck in Walker. Agents were also seen detainingat least one person in front of agroup of children as they waited for the school bus Tuesday morning at aDenham Springs trailer park, according to eyewitnesses and videos of the incidents.

The detainments mark the first reported sightingsof U.S. Border Patrol agents in the greater Baton Rouge area after the launch of the south Louisiana immigration operation in New Orleans.

The immigration sweeps in Louisiana havecome after similar raids in Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina, in recent months.

No end date has been announced for the large-scale immigrationoperationin Louisiana, which could also extend more broadly.Planning documents ahead of the operation said federal agents planned to detain 5,000 people stretching from Baton Rouge to Mississippi.

U.S.Department of Homeland Security officials did notrespond by thetimeof publication to arequest for thenumberofpeopledetained in the area on Tuesday.Sofar,they also have not released afull tally of thosedetainedinNew Orleans and have said they’ve made dozens of arrests.

Witnesses said they saw agents driving around Denham Springs neighborhoods within the past few days near Bass Pro Shops

At least seven Border Patrol agents detained Candido Cano Castro, 19,and Cristal

Cano Castro, 21, around noon Tuesday in front of the Sabor ALaMexicana food truck in Walker,according to eyewitnesses.

Agents bashedthe front windows of acar while detaining the pair,said Mayra Moreno, the owner of the food truck, who recorded the incident Moreno saidmultiple cars and agentscame to detain the pair

“They werehurting them alot,” Morenosaid Chunks ofthe car window, shards of glass, blood stains andthe carwere left in the wake of theraid near the food truck Moreno, friendsand residents from the Pannu Mobile Home Park next door,where the pair lived, cleaned up the scene afterward and looked for the pair’spapers in the broken car.

“That’sthe first time they come over here in this area,” said Herlinda Barajas, who worksat Envios Jalisco, a convenience store nextto the taco truck

Residents of Plantation Oaks TrailerPark, whichis right outside the East Baton Rouge Parish linein DenhamSprings,also said they witnessed several Border Patrol agents detain aman Tuesday morning

Several masked agents in at least five cars drove into the trailer park around 8a.m., whileatleast adozen children were waiting for the school bus, according to eyewitnesses andvideos.

Kelly Griffith, aPlantation Oaks resident who was waitingfor theschool bus with her6-year-old granddaughter,saw the vehicles quicklyapproach the trailer park, sirens blaring, asthey chased an air-conditioning work truck intothe neighborhood.

Griffithsaidshe watched agents detain aHispanic man and alleged thatthey beat him up after grabbing himfrom the truckinfront of thechildren

“These kids literally hadto runout of the way,” Griffith said. “They werecrying; they were terrified.”

Griffithand otherresidentssaid they believed the man hadlegal immigration status and documentation to proveit. Accordingto residents andvideos, ahelicopter flew around the area for about an hour after the detainment

Kevin Melton, another Plantation Oaksresident, said he witnessedthe detainment but does notbelieve the man lived in the trailer park.

“Itall happenedright in front of me. I’veseen thebeating. I’ve seen him slammed on the ground,” Melton said. “His face was thefirst thing that hit the ground.”

Melton works at alocal J&J Construction site and said that in the past week, many workers have been too scared tocome to work.

Livingston ParishSheriff’s OfficespokespersonLori Steele said theoffice had not heard anything aboutthe reportedPlantationOaks incident.

Until Tuesday,Border Patrol agents were mostly stationedinKenner, home to thehighest number of immigrants in the state.DHS has touted some arrests in theNew Orleansregion of people with criminal histories,but thevastmajority of those arrested in Chicago and Charlotte had no criminal records.

Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.

MEDICAID

General Liz Murrill said it was aresult of an ongoing legal battle with United Healthcare over aseparate issue related to its management of pharmacy benefits for the state.

“This is very simple Iexpect acompany that makes millions of dollars off the state to comply with our laws to remain eligible forthatcontract,” Murrill said Tuesday AUnited Healthcare spokesperson disputed Murrill’sclaims, but acknowledged it waslosing the contract.

“Weremain committed to workingwiththe Louisiana DepartmentofHealth through this transition,” the company’s statement said.

“Wevalue thelongstanding relationship with the State of Louisiana that has allowed us to provide access to high quality care and coverage to more than 300,000 Medicaid members.”

Six companies provide health insurance to about 1.4 million people as part of Louisiana’sMedicaid program.

The United Healthcare contract is the second largest. The plan served 333,246 plan members as of Nov.1,and the contract for the upcoming 2026 calen-

DELAYS

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to place aline-item appropriation for this in the budget,” she said. Such requests typically come from the mayor or the involvedcitydepartment, she added.

Aspokesperson for Moreno said on Tuesday that themayor-elect“is working with (council member) Freddie King to find apath for demolition.” King represents the area. But as they heard news of yet another delay in the process, with few answers about when the city might actually fund the work, some who live and work in Algiers on Monday cried foul.

“Weget excited when we hear it’sgoing to be torn down, and then when we don’tsee the action behind it, it’salittle bit frustrating,” said Greg Ravey,the CEO of Heroes of New Orleans, a nonprofit that serves families and is headquartered near the blightedproperty Losers in thecity’sbudget

The about-face showcases losing interests as the city moves forward to correct a financial crisisthat became fully evident in October when the Legislative Auditor’sOffice pegged New Orleans as having a$160 million deficit this fiscal year The council, with Moreno, itsvicepresident,leading the charge, got approvalto sell $125 million in shortterm revenue loans to remedy that challenge and other payroll problems. To fix the budget and avoid a$222 mil-

dar year was projected to be worth about $4.2 billion, according to theHealthDepartment.

Three-yearcontracts for allsix companies end on Dec. 31. On Nov. 20,state HealthDepartment officialsasked lawmakers to approve aone-yearextension for 2026 —including for United Healthcare.

“This is the fourthyear of an expected five-year contract,”Health Secretary BruceGreenstein said during ahearing on the request.

Greensteinatthe time told lawmakers that state health officials felt “very good” and had undergone akind of reset with“our plans and their leadership to have atrue partnership.”

Therewas no mention thatany of thecontracts would not be extended,and Tuesday’s news surprised many lawmakers.

“Wehad no idea there was any problems with renewals,” said Boudreaux.

The contract change was first reported by the Louisiana Illuminator

The department earlier this month was also prepared to end its Medicaid contractwith Aetna,which is owned by health giant CVS.Inanearlyidentical Dec. 2letter,Gold informed thecompany it would not be renewing its Medicaidcontractexpiring at the end of the year and would tran-

liondeficit next year,Moreno is enacting $150million in cuts to city departments and once-per-pay-period furloughsfor about14% of the city’sworkforce, some 700 employees.

Othercash to balancethe budget will come in part from owed reimbursements and redirected federal grants.

The shift announced Mondayalsofrustrates alongdelayed process that first began in March2024afterthe Cantrell administration announced plans to demolish the former 450-unit complex as part of the city’s“Dirty Dozen” demolition listof high-profile blighted properties across thecity. Under thecity’srules, officials can pay to demolish abuilding andcharge propertyowners later for the trouble.

Despite attempts to stave off demolition by the registered agent of the company that owns the building, Josh Bruno, the city issued an emergency demolition permit forthe property in June 2024,citing“imminent danger of collapse” conditions

Movement has stalled repeatedlysince then over contract disputes,includingwhen thecity’sinitial contract with demolition company Durr Heavy Constructionended “duetoa changeinscopeofwork and unexpected asbestos abatementcosts,” according to Cantrell’sadministration.

Hope for the long-awaited demolition seemed to pick up steam in October after Cantrell administration officials announced anew agreement withRobert

sitionmembers to other healthplans

The Aetna plan covers 157,730 people, and itsoneyear agreement is worth about$1.9 billion, according to theHealth Department.

ButinastatementTuesday, healthofficials announcedthey now planto renewthe agreement with Aetna.

On Dec. 2, Murrill sent aletter to thedepartment saying United Healthcare had failed to cooperate with thestate’s“pharmacy benefit management oversight.” Pharmacy benefit managers negotiate drug prices between drugmakers and large institutions.

She said the statehad asked United Healthcare to provide copies of its subcontracts with its pharmacy benefit manager,OptumRx. Thecompany in 2022 only provided “partialand largely redacted materials,” Murrill said, which prompted alawsuit that year,which is ongoing.

“Because United has been outofcontractual compliance since at least fall 2021, has failed to provide complete, unredacted access to necessary documentsand data, and hasnot submittedacredibleplantocure thesesystemic deficiencies, it is theopinion of the AttorneyGeneral that United is not eligible for an extension or renewal,” Murrill wrote to the HealthDepartment

Wolfe Constructiontoclear

asbestos and demolish two and ahalf of the site’s remaining 12 buildings before theend of this year

“Wedon’t have time for delays. We don’thave time for‘maybe’ —you see what that gives you,”King said at anews conference calledto toutthe demolition.

Back payowed

On Monday,however,firm representatives said the city owes back pay for asbestos abatement completed under thenew agreement and that it could not move forward with demolitionwork without clarity they will be paid.

“We’re reluctant until we know thosefunds are there andthatwecan be paid,” said Robert Wolfe, who added that local Disadvantaged BusinessEnterprise contractors whoperformed the workare especially in need of funds owed. In August, thecouncil, at Moreno’s urging, passedrulesaimed at compelling the city to pay its contractors andsubcontractors on time.

Demolishing theproperty has been apriorityfor King andcommunity members who say thearea is ahotbed for crime and neglect —including drug use, overgrown trees,illegal tire dumping and multiple shootings that have occurred there over theyears.

“This is another example of Algiers being treated less than other parts of the city. We have alarge piece of blight that the city contracted to demolish and they pulled therug out from underneath us,”hesaidina Tuesday phone call.

earlier this month.

United Healthcare in a statementsaid it “hasalwaysmaintained compliance with Louisiana law andour Medicaid contract andhavebeenconsistently responsive to the State’srequest fordata records and documentation.”

“Wewill continue to demonstrate ourcompliance with the state,” thecompany said.

Murrill raised similar concerns with Aetna, which is part of theCVS family of companies thatinclude apharmacy benefits manager.The state has multiple active lawsuits against CVS over allegationsthat it distorted the drug market and drove up prescription drug costs.

But theattorneygeneral said Monday that CVSwas engaged in settlement talks with Louisiana.

In astatement Tuesday, CVS said, “Weare operating business as usualin supportofour members and provider relationships.

We thank LDH for their collaboration.”

Louisiana health officials on Tuesday did not respond to questions abouthow the impending endtoUnited Healthcare’sMedicaid contract will impact members who have healthinsurance through thatplan.

However,state legislators raisedthatquestion.

“Thetiming of it couldn’t be at amore inconvenient time,” said Boudreaux, noting thatthe decision camewith just weeks left in December.“Health care is complicated and people don’tunderstandit, and when we have more variablestoit, that furthercomplicates it.”

Boudreaux said there’s arisk that someone who switches insurers will no longer be coveredbythe doctors and health care providers theyare already seeing.

“That’sreality —that there are gonna be some where they’re not covered,” he said.

State leaders need to makesure that Medicaid patients who have been on the UnitedHealthcare plan will stillbeabletobeseen by their doctors, he said.

Senate health committee Chair state Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, saidheand insurance committee Chair state Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, are considering holding ajoint hearing about “the termination of these contracts andthe potential impacts.”

“Politics aside, as alegislator and as chairman of the Senate Health andWelfare Committee, my foremost responsibilityisprotecting the health andsafetyofall Louisiana residents,” McMath said.

“I want to assure those who maybeaffected,the Legislature will work within its limited authority to prevent disruptions in access to health careservices, and thatensuring continuity of care will remainour top priority,” he said.

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Accused killer’s to-do list, plans released

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers argue to bar evidence found in backpack

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

NEW YORK Pluck eyebrows. Buy less conspicuous shoes. Take a bus or a train west toward Cincinnati and St. Louis. Move around late at night. Stay away from surveillance cameras.

A to-do list and travel plans found during Luigi Mangione’s arrest and revealed in court this week shed new light on the steps he may have taken — or planned to take — to avoid capture after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killing last year

“Keep momentum, FBI slower overnight,” said one note. “Change hat, shoes, pluck eyebrows,” said another

The notes, including a handdrawn map and tactics for surviving on the lam, were shown on Monday at a pretrial hearing as Mangione’s bid to prevent prosecutors from using evidence seized during his Dec. 9, 2024, arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Excerpts of body-worn camera footage of the arrest, previously unseen by the press or the public, were released on Tuesday Police said they discovered the notes in Mangione’s backpack, along with a 9 mm handgun that prosecutors said matches the one used to kill Thompson five days earlier; a loaded gun magazine and silencer; and a notebook in similar handwriting which he purportedly described his intent to “wack” a health insurance executive

Mangione’s lawyers haven’t disputed the authenticity of the notes or the provenance of the gun, pocket knife, fake ID, driver’s license, passport, credit cards, AirPods, protein bar travel toothpaste, flash drives and other items seized from him and his backpack. But they argue that anything found in the bag should be barred because police didn’t have a search warrant and lacked the grounds to justify a warrantless

search. Prosecutors contend the search was legal — officers said they were checking for a bomb and that police eventually obtained a warrant.

The notes, along with other evidence highlighted at the pretrial hearing, underscore that Mangione’s stop in Altoona, a city of about 44,000 people about 230 miles west of Manhattan, was only meant to be temporary

One note said to check for “red eyes” from Pittsburgh to Columbus, Ohio, or partway to Cincinnati (“get off early,” it reads). The map drawn below shows lines linking those cities, as well as other possible destinations, including Detroit, Indianapolis and St. Louis. Thompson, 50, was killed as he walked to a Manhattan hotel for his company’s investor conference on Dec. 4, 2024. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting him from behind and then fleeing the area. Over the next hours and days, police released photos of a suspect first showing him in a mask and hooded coat and then his face and thick

eyebrows. Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to state and federal murder charges. The pretrial hearing, which resumes for a sixth day on Thursday, applies only to the state case. His lawyers are making a similar push to exclude the evidence from his federal case, where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty

Among the notes revealed this week was one with a heading “12/5” and a starred entry that said: “buy black shoes (white stripes too distinctive).”

Another also written in to-do list style, suggested spending more than three hours away from surveillance cameras and using different modes of transportation to “Break CAM continuity” and avoid tracking. Below that, it said: “check reports for current situation,” a possible reference to news reports about the search for Thompson’s killer According to prosecutors, Mangione fled to Newark, New Jersey, immediately after the shooting and took a train to Philadelphia. Among the evidence shown at the pretrial hearing was a Philadelphia transit pass purchased at 1:06 p.m. a little more than six hours after the shooting — and a ticket for a Greyhound

bus, booked under the name Sam Dawson, leaving Philadelphia at 6:30 p.m. and arriving in Pittsburgh at 11:55 p.m.

A note with the heading “12/8” lists a number of tasks, including an apparent trip to Best Buy to purchase a digital camera and accessories, “hot meal + water bottles,” and “trash bag(s).” Under “12/9,” the day of Mangione’s arrest, the note lists tasks including “Sheetz,” an Altoona-based convenience store chain, “masks” and “AAA bats.” Under “Future TO DO,” it listed “intel checkin” and “survival kit.”

Mangione had a Sheetz hoagie in his backpack when he was arrested, along with a loaf of Italian bread from a local deli, according to police officers testifying Monday and Tuesday It had been raining, and the bag and items inside it were wet, the officers said. They were heard on body-worn camera footage played in court theorizing that Mangione had gotten soaked walking from the city’s bus station.

Police responded to the McDonald’s after a manager called 911 to relay concerns from customers who thought that Mangione, eating breakfast in a back corner, resembled the man wanted for killing Thompson. On the call, played in court, the manager could be heard saying that because Mangione was wearing a medical mask, she could only see his eyebrows and that she searched online for a photo of the suspect for comparison.

Altoona Police Officer Stephen Fox testified on Tuesday that Mangione, the Ivy League-educated scion of a wealthy Maryland family, expressed concern for the 911 caller’s well-being. Fox said Mangione asked if police had planned on releasing her name, which they didn’t The officer recalled him saying: “It would be bad for her” and “there would be a lot of people that would be upset.”

At another point, Fox said, a shackled Mangione stumbled while trying to keep up with the brisk-moving officer Fox said he apologized and said, “I forgot you were shackled.”

He said Mangione responded: “It’s OK, I’m going to have to get used to it.”

BY DAVID MATTHEWS New york Daily News (TNS)

LOS ANGELES Jubilant Sykes, a renowned opera and gospel singer who was also a Grammy nominee, was stabbed to death inside his Los Angeles-area home on Monday He was 71 years old.

His 31-year-old son, Micah Sykes, has since been arrested and booked by the Santa Monica Police Department on suspicion of homicide. Police in Santa Monica responded to a home around 9:20 p.m. Monday following a report of an assault in progress. Upon arriving to the scene, officers entered the home and located the older Sykes suffering from “critical injuries consistent with a stabbing,” police said in a news release Tuesday

Sykes was pronounced dead at the scene, while his son, who was found inside the residence, was taken into custody without incident. A weapon recovered at the scene and other evidence are currently being processed by forensic specialists.

The probable murder remains under investigation but appears to be an isolated incident. Authorities have not released any details on a possible motive.

Micah Sykes remained in custody Tuesday on $2 million bail, according on online jail records. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Thursday A baritone, Sykes performed in many of the world’s biggest venues during his heralded career, including Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera and the Apollo Theater in New York City, as well as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and several international stages. He “collaborated with such artists as Julie Andrews, Terence Blanchard, John Beasley, Renée Fleming, Josh Groban, Christopher Parkening, Patrice Rushen, Carlos Santana, Jennifer Warren and Brian Wilson,” according to a biography on his website.

NOLA.COM/BIZ

PepsiCo to cut prices, eliminate products

PepsiCo plans to cut prices and eliminate some of its products under a deal with an activist investor announced Monday

The Purchase, New York-based company, which makes Cheetos, Tostitos and other Frito-Lay products as well as beverages, said it will cut nearly 20% of its product offerings by early next year. PepsiCo said it will use the savings to invest in marketing and improved value for consumers. It didn’t disclose which products or how much it would cut prices.

PepsiCo said it also plans to accelerate the introduction of new offerings with simpler and more functional ingredients, including Doritos Protein and Simply NKD Cheetos and Doritos, which contain no artificial flavors or colors. The company also recently introduced a prebiotic version of its signature cola.

PepsiCo is making the changes after prodding from Elliott Investment Management, which took a $4 billion stake in the company in September In a letter to PepsiCo’s board, Elliott said the company is being hurt by a lack of strategic clarity, decelerating growth and eroding profitability in its North American food and beverage businesses.

U.S. stocks stable ahead of Reserve meeting

NEW YORK U.S. stocks largely held in place on Tuesday as Wall Street waits to hear what the Federal Reserve will say Wednesday about where interest rates are heading.

JPMorgan Chase was the heaviest weight on the market after a top executive, Marianne Lake, said the bank’s expenses could rise to $105 billion next year. That would be up 9% from an estimated $95.9 billion in expenses this year, though Lake also said JPMorgan Chase is “feeling pretty good about the underlying financial health of the borrowers in our portfolio.” Its stock fell 4.7%.

Another drop came from Toll Brothers, which lost 2.4% after the homebuilder reported weaker results for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

CEO Douglas Yearley Jr said demand for new homes remains soft across many markets, and he talked about “affordability pressures” that could be affecting potential homebuyers.

One big factor in that affordability question is mortgage rates. They’re cheaper than they were at the start of the year, though they perked up a bit after October. That’s largely because of questions in the bond market about how much more the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate.

The widespread expectation is that the Fed will cut interest rates Wednesday afternoon, which would be the third such easing of the year Lower interest rates can give the economy and prices for investments a boost, though the downside is they can worsen inflation.

Oreo adds zero-sugar cookie options

Mondelez said Tuesday that Oreo Zero Sugar and Oreo Double Stuf Zero Sugar will go on sale in the U.S. in January They’re a permanent addition to the company’s Oreo lineup.

It’s the first time Mondelez has sold sugar-free Oreos in the U.S. They’re already sold in Europe and China, the company said.

Mondelez said consumers are increasingly seeking what it calls “mindful indulgence,” and the new Oreos will fill an existing gap in the market for sugar-free sandwich cookies. Others have also noted the trend toward healthier snacks. In a report earlier this year, the market research company Circana found that a majority of Americans are seeking out snacks they consider “good for them.”

Snack giant Mondelez said it spent four years developing nosugar Oreos so it could ensure the cookies still tasted like the originals. For sweetening, the Oreos contain maltitol, a type of sugar alcohol that’s also found in some fruits and vegetables; polydextrose, a soluble fiber; sucralose, a sweetener derived from sugar; and acesulfame potassium, a synthetic sweetener.

Fossil fuel references removed from EPA site

Scientists criticize agency’s climate change webpage

BY SETH BORENSTEIN AP science writer

WASHINGTON The Environmental Protection Agency has removed any mention of fossil fuels the main driver of global warming — from its popular online page explaining the causes of climate change. Now it only mentions natural phenomena, even though scientists calculate that nearly all of the warming is due to human activity

Sometime in the past few days or weeks, EPA altered some but not all of its climate change webpages, de-emphasizing and even deleting references to the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, which scientists say is the overwhelming cause of climate change. The website’s causes of climate change page mentions changes in Earth’s orbit, solar activity Earth’s reflectivity volcanoes and natural carbon dioxide changes, but not the burning of fossil fuels. Seven scientists and three former EPA officials tell The Associated Press that this is misleading and harmful.

“Now it is completely wrong,” said University of California climate scientist Daniel Swain, who also noted that impacts, risks and indicators of climate change on the EPA site are now broken links “This was a tool that I know for a fact that a lot of educators used and a lot of people. It was actually one of the best designed easy access climate change information websites for the U.S.”

Earlier this year, the Trump administration removed the national climate assessment from government websites.

“It is outrageous that our government is hiding information and lying,” said former Obama National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief and Oregon State oceanographer Jane Lubchenco.

“People have a right to know the truth about the things that affect their health and safety, and the government has a responsibility to tell the truth.”

An October version of the same EPA page, saved by the internet Wayback Machine, said: “Since the Industrial Revolution, human activ-

The Environmental Protection Agency has removed any mention of fossil fuels — the main driver of global warming — from its popular online page explaining the causes of climate change.

ities have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which has changed the earth’s climate. Natural processes, such as changes in the sun’s energy and volcanic eruptions, also affect the Earth’s climate. However, they do not explain the warming that we have observed over the last century.”

That now reads: “Natural processes are always influencing the earth’s climate and can explain climate changes prior to the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s. However, recent climate changes cannot be explained by natural causes alone.”

“Unlike the previous administration, the Trump EPA is focused on protecting human health and the environment while Powering the Great American Comeback, not left-wing political agendas,” said Brigit Hirsch, EPA spokesperson, in an email. “As such, this agency no longer takes marching orders from the climate cult. Plus, for all the pearl-clutchers out there, the website is archived and available to the public.”

Clicking on “explore climate change resources” on the EPA archived website leads to an error message that says: “This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it.”

Democratic EPA chief Gina McCarthy blasted current EPA chief Lee Zeldin, calling him “a wolf in

sheep’s clothing, actively spiking any attempt to protect our health, well-being and precious natural resources.”

Nearly 100% of the warming the world is now experiencing is from human activity, and without that, the Earth would be cooling and dropping in temperatures until the Industrial Revolution, Swain and other scientists said. The EPA listed natural causes “might be causing a very tiny amount of warming or cooling at the moment,” he said.

Marcia McNutt, a geophysicist and president of the National Academy of Sciences, said that there is consensus among experts from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, or NASEM, on the causes of climate change.

“Numerous NASEM reports from the nation’s leading scientists confirm that the climate is changing as a result of human activities,” McNutt said. “Even the EPA acknowledges that natural causes cannot explain the current changes in climate. It is important that the public be presented with all of the facts.”

Former EPA climate adviser Jeremy Symons, now a senior adviser for Environmental Protection Network of former EPA officials, said: Ignoring fossil fuel pollution as the driving force behind the climate changes we have seen in our lifetime is like pretending cigarettes don’t cause lung cancer.”

Judge overturns wind energy block

BY MATTHEW DALY and JENNIFER MCDERMOTT Associated Press

WASHINGTON A federal judge on Monday struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects, saying the effort to halt virtually all leasing of wind farms on federal lands and waters was “arbitrary and capricious” and violates U.S. law

Judge Patti Saris of the U.S District Court for the District of Massachusetts, vacated Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order blocking wind energy projects and declared it unlawful.

Saris ruled in favor of a coalition of state attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, that challenged Trump’s Day One order that paused leasing and permitting for wind energy projects.

Trump has been hostile to renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, and prioritizes fossil fuels to produce electricity

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell hailed the ruling as a victory for green jobs and renewable energy

“Massachusetts has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into offshore wind, and today, we successfully protected those important investments from the Trump administration’s unlawful order,” Campbell said in a statement

James said she was grateful the court stepped in “to block the administration’s reckless and unlawful crusade against clean energy.”

ASSOCIATED

Judge Patti Saris, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, vacated the Trump administration’s Jan. 20 executive order blocking wind energy projects and declared it unlawful.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said Monday night that offshore wind projects were given unfair, preferential treatment during the Biden administration while the rest of the energy industry was hindered by burdensome regulations.

“President Trump has ended Joe Biden’s war on American energy and unleashed America’s energy dominance to protect our economic and national security,” Rogers said in a statement to The Associated Press.

The coalition that opposed Trump’s order argued that Trump doesn’t have the authority to halt project permitting, and that doing

so jeopardizes the states’ economies, energy mix, public health and climate goals.

States in the coalition say they’ve invested hundreds of millions of dollars collectively to develop wind energy and even more on upgrading transmission lines to bring wind energy to the electrical grid.

The government argued that the states’ claims amount to nothing more than a policy disagreement over preferences for wind versus fossil fuel energy development that is outside the federal court’s jurisdiction. Justice Department lawyer Michael Robertson said in court that the wind order paused permitting, but didn’t halt it, while Interior Secretary Doug Burgum reviews the environmental impact of wind projects.

The executive order said there were “alleged legal deficiencies underlying the federal government’s leasing and permitting” of wind projects under the Biden administration.

A previous judge in the case allowed it to proceed against Burgum, but dismissed an action against Trump and other Cabinet secretaries. Judge William Young allowed the states to proceed with claims that blocking permits for wind energy projects violates the Administrative Procedure Act, which outlines a detailed process for enacting regulations, but not the Constitution.

Wind is the United States’ largest source of renewable energy, providing about 10% of the electricity generated in the nation, according to the American Clean Power Association.

Trump OKs Nvidia sales to China

BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON President

Donald Trump said Monday that he would allow Nvidia to sell an advanced type of computer chip used in the development of artificial intelligence to “approved customers” in China.

There have been concerns about allowing advanced computer chips to be sold to China as it could help the country better compete against the U.S. in building out AI capabilities, but there has also been a desire to develop the AI ecosystem with American companies such as chipmaker Nvidia

The chip, known as the H200, is not Nvidia’s most advanced product. Those chips, called Blackwell and the upcoming Rubin, were not part of what Trump approved.

Trump said on social media that he had informed China’s leader Xi Jinping about his decision and “President Xi responded positively!”

“This policy will support American Jobs, strengthen U.S. Manufacturing, and benefit American Taxpayers,” Trump said in his post.

Nvidia said in a statement that it applauded Trump’s decision, saying the choice would support domestic manufacturing and that by allowing the Commerce Department to vet commercial customers it would “strike a thoughtful balance” on economic and national security priorities.

But a group of Democratic senators objected to the chip sales.

“Access to these chips would give China’s military transformational technology to make its weapons more lethal, carry out more effective cyberattacks against American businesses and critical infrastructure, and strengthen their economic and manufacturing sector,” said the statement.

The group included Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Michael Bennet of Colorado and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan.

The senators noted that Chinese AI company DeepSeek recently said the lack of access to advanced American-designed chip was their biggest challenge in competing with U.S. companies involved in AI. Trump said the Commerce Department was “finalizing the details” for other chipmakers such as AMD and Intel to sell their technologies abroad.

The approval of the licenses to sell Nvidia H200 chips reflects the increasing power and close relationship that the company’s founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, enjoys with the president. But there have been concerns that China will find ways to use the chips to develop its own AI products in ways that could pose national security risks for the U.S., a primary concern of the Biden administration that sought to limit exports.

TwoofTrump’s peacedeals at risk as fighting surges

BY MATTHEW LEE AP diplomatic writer

WASHINGTON At least two of several agreements aimed at ending global conflicts that President DonaldTrump hashailedas evidence of his negotiating prowess are in trouble and at risk of collapsing.

Lessthan aweek after Congo and Rwanda signed adeal in Trump’spresence in Washington meant to halt fighting in eastern Congo and less than two months after he witnessed Cambodia and Thailand sign aceasefire pact in Malaysia to end their borderconflict, fighting has surged in both places.

The developments have caused international alarm that on Tuesday resulted in urgent calls to halt the renewed violence from countries involved in the African Great Lakes region and from U.S. SecretaryofState

Marco Rubio. In each case, the statementsurged thecombatants to live up to their commitmentsinthe deals that Trump has touted in part as the rationale for casting himself as the“president of peace.”

Violence flaringinCongo

Ajointstatementreleased by theInternational Contact Groupfor theGreat Lakes expressed “profound concern” over the situation in Congo’sSouth Kivu region, where newdeadlyviolence blamed on theRwandanbackedM23 militia group has exploded in recent days.

“The ICG urges the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to immediately halt their offensive operations in eastern DRC, in particularinSouth Kivu, and calls on the RDF towithdrawfromeastern DRC and on M23 to return to its posi-

tions” as stipulated in multiple agreementsthat culminated in the signing of adeal in Washington on Thursday with Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

The White House had touted it as a“historic”agreement brokered by Trump following monthslong peace efforts by the U.S. and its partners, including theAfrican Union and Qatar,finalizinganearlier deal signed in June.

“It’sa great dayfor Africa, agreat day for the world,” Trumpsaidthen. He added, “Today,we’re succeeding where so manyothers have failed.”

The Great Lakes contact group —which includes Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and the European Union urgedall sides“to uphold

Canada’s ambassador to U.S. will resign before review of free tradeagreement

BY ROBGILLIES Associated Press

TORONTO— Canada’sambas-

sador to the U.S. for the last six years said Tuesday she’s resigningnextyearasthe two major trading partners plan to review the free trade agreement.

Ambassador Kirsten Hillman said in aletteritisthe right time to put in place someone who will oversee talks about the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that is up for review in 2026.

CanadianPrime Minister Mark Carney said Hillman “prepared the foundations for Canada in the upcoming review”ofthe agreement.

Carney noted she’sone of the longest-serving ambassadors to the United States in Canada’shistory Former Canadian Prime

Minister JustinTrudeau appointed Hillmanin2017. Shewas thefirstwoman appointed to therole. Hillman helped lead the tradenegotiations during U.S. President Donald Trump’sfirst term and worked with U.S. and Chinese officialstowin therelease of two Canadians detained in China. DominicLeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, andHillman had been leading trade talkswith U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer U.S. Ambassador to Canada PeteHoekstrasaidonsocial media that Hillman has been an “awesome and wellrespected” contributor to the U.S.-Canada relationship. Trump endedtrade talks with Carney in October after

the Ontario provincialgovernment ranananti-tariff advertisement in theU.S., which upsetthe U.S. president.That followed aspring of acrimony,since abated, over Trump’sinsistence that Canada should become the 51st U.S.state.

Asked this weekwhen tradetalks would resume, Trumpsaid, “we’ll see.”

Canada is one of the most trade-dependentcountries in theworld,and more than 75% of Canada’sexportsgo to the U.S. Most exports to the U.S. are exempted by theUSMCA tradeagreement butthatdealisupfor review Carney aims to double non-U.S. trade over the next decade.

About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well.

their commitments” under the deal signed last week and“immediately deescalate thesituation.”

TheState Department, using an acronym for the Democratic Republic of Congo,saidthe U.S.“is deeply concerned by the ongoingviolenceineastern DRC, driving displacement and inflicting suffering on countless families.”

“The Trump administration continuestoadvance its diplomatic engagement on this important issue, working to ensure the full implementation of the recently signed agreements andrestorestabilityonthe ground,”itsaid. “Weare workingclosely with regional partnerstouphold the commitments made and reinforce theceasefire.”

Thai-Cambodian border

In aseparate statement, Rubio said the U.S.iscon-

cerned by an uptickin fightingbetween Cambodia and Thailand along their contested border,justover amonth after thetwo countries signed an agreement in Malaysia that was pushed forbyTrump.

“Westrongly urge theimmediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and forboth sides to return to the de-escalatory measures outlined in the October 26 Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords,” Rubio said in astatement.

The Cambodia-Thailand deal has been faltering for weeks, but took abig hit whenfighting broke out following aweekendskirmish in whichtwo Thai soldiers were injured. Five days of fighting since has left dozens dead on both sides and forced the evacuationof over 100,000 civilians.

Asenior Trumpadministrationofficial, whowas not

authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity,said the president expected Thailand and Cambodia as well as Rwanda and Congo to “honor their commitments” to halt the violence. Theofficialsays the administration is monitoring the situation in Congo closelyand that Trump has told both sidesheisexpecting “immediate results.” Trump has repeatedly citedseven or eightagreements, including these two, as proof of his successin ending conflicts, although another one —aninternationally endorsed plan to end theIsrael-Hamas war in Gaza —isstill unfinalized and in limbo with sporadic fighting continuing while acritical second phase remains awork in progress. His efforts to halt the fighting between Russia and Ukraine have so farproven unsuccessful.

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Student attendance drops amid sweeps

Some parents seek assurance of children’s safety

BY PATRICK WALL, ELYSE CARMOSINO and MARIE FAZIO Staff writers

Student absences at schools in the New Orleans region spiked last week as U.S. Border Patrol agents launched sweeps in the area, with teachers saying that some parents in immigrant communities are keeping kids home out of fear of what might happen if they venture out. In the Jefferson Parish school system, which has the largest Hispanic population of any Louisiana district, about 5,400 students — or nearly 12% of the total were

absent the day after the immigration crackdown started, according to data provided by the district. Thursday’s absenteeism rate was more than twice the district’s typical rate of about 5% this school year

Attendance fell even more sharply at schools with large

shares of students still learning English a group that includes many immigrants. At the 20 Jefferson Parish schools with the most English learners, the average attendance rate Thursday was 80%, about 16 percentage points below the schools’ pre-December average. More students than usual also were missing from New Orleans’ public schools

CHRISTMAS KISS

N.O. leaders share outlook on city’s future

Panelists strike hopeful note at Times-Picayune forum

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Cities with growing populations have two things in common, according to Mayor-elect Helena Moreno: good city services and plentiful job opportunities.

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Tape disputes measure’s legality as financial control issue escalates

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

“That’s what our real focus has to be right now if we want to have a prosperous 20 years,” Moreno said Tuesday at a forum on the future of New Orleans hosted by The TimesPicayune. “Hyperfocused on making it easier to live here (and) doing all possible to bring in more jobs,” she said. Moreno has her work cut out

for her The New Orleans area has topped the list of fastestshrinking large metros in the United States for two years in a row And when she takes over as mayor on Jan. 12, Moreno will inherit a City Hall reeling from budget cuts.

Despite the city’s challenges, Tuesday’s forum, which also included City Council President JP Morrell, Orleans Parish District

Attorney Jason Williams and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc. Michael Hecht, struck a hopeful note about New Orleans’ future.

“I haven’t heard this level of optimism in the city in many many years,” Hecht said. “There’s a sense that we’re on the rise.” Moreno said her campaign promise of improving basic city services won’t be stymied by the nearly $150 million in spending cuts in next year’s budget, adding that the city’s difficulties filling potholes and fixing streetlights had more to do with poor

ä See LEADERS, page 2B

St. Tammany council targets coroner’s funds

gave the parish broad control over Tape’s finances. Tape, in turn, argued he could not be required to give the parish money given his separate ongoing constitutional challenge

to the 2024 law In response to the parish’s April filing, Judge Reginald T. Badeaux ruled that the 2024 law required the Coroner’s Office to turn over the funds from property taxes, according to James Hartman, a spokesperson for Tape’s office. The Coroner’s Office has appealed Badeaux’s decision and the case is before the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal. The constitutional challenge is a separate legal case and is on-

network. At InspireNOLA, which educates about 4,000 students, an average of 86% of students attended school last week 6 percentage points lower than the same time last year, according to the network.

At four smaller charter school operators that provided attendance data, which collectively educate about 6,500 students more than 1 in 5 students did not show up to school after the immigration sweeps started That put the attendance rate below 80% at those networks, where typical rates are above 90%. At a fifth network, attendance fell below 90%.

While an exact count of the number of students who missed school was not available, Sharon Latten Clark, a state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member who also leads Sophie B. Wright High School in New Orleans, said during a state board meeting Tuesday that attendance has been down by about 15% across schools in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish.

“Students who are afraid

FENTANYL

Continued from page 1B

of being picked up by ICE agents are not coming to school,” she said in a statement. “This will impact attendance across the state.”

In a statement, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said federal agents are enforcing the nation’s immigration laws and are not raiding schools or arresting children.

“Those blaming ICE or Border Patrol for low attendance at schools are creating a climate of fear and smearing law enforcement,” spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said. Keeping them home

The overall attendance picture is still incomplete, as some New Orleans charter school operators have not publicly released any attendance data. The increase in absences could also be related in part to last week’s rainy weather and a post-Thanksgiving attendance slump, school leaders said.

“Attendance can fluctuate for many reasons,” KIPP New Orleans spokesperson Ashley Daniels-Hall said in a statement, “but our priority is consistent: supporting families and helping students stay engaged and on track.”

saw its number of deaths cut in half.

The steep drop in fentanyl deaths in the region mirrors national trends. Overdose deaths dropped nationally by 24% in the 12 months ending in September 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

In St. Tammany Parish, the number of people who died from fentanyl overdoses was 120 just two years ago, and has since dropped to 36. The data for each of the three parishes came from local coroners’ offices, officials said Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Orleans Division described the progress as stemming from a three-tiered strategy: a sweeping national effort by federal agents to disrupt cartel-fueled drug trafficking; regional partnerships between the DEA and local agencies; and efforts by local prosecutors to enforce stiffer penalties for those caught distributing fentanyl. That approach has turned the tide on a story that “for too long has been one of overwhelming loss,” Hofer said in a news conference Monday Federal officials have connected the progress to regional success in dismantling drug cartels. WDSU-TV reported last month that a DEA-led probe has yielded seizures of $10 million in assets and 20 kilos of fentanyl, plus other drugs, since January.

On Monday Hofer declined to comment further on that probe’s progress. But he said that both the percentage of pills containing lethal quantities of fentanyl and the purity of the drugs seized by law enforcement have decreased over the same period that overdose deaths have fallen.

Diminished overdoses locally are also likely part of a broader, national trend that experts have struggled to explain.

Public health and addiction experts have linked a nationwide drop in drug overdose deaths to

ST. TAMMANY

Continued from page 1B

going in state district court, Hartman said.

Tape has also argued he cannot be required to hand over the $14 million because it was not from property tax revenue, but rather self-generated from grants and fees and not owed to the parish. Perhaps with Tape’s distinction of the different revenue sources in mind, the parish’s ordinance specifically calls for Tape to hand over all money “from any source.”

Cooper said in a statement that the new ordinance put Tape’s office in “alignment with the other coroner’s offices in Louisiana with regard to managing finances.

Tape, meanwhile, called the ordinance “unlawful” and a “desperate moneygrab” in a news release on Tuesday, claiming it only

Still, the preliminary data aligns with school attendance drops in other cities where federal agents have deployed this year as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. And local educators, advocates and students said that it appears to confirm their experience in schools, where they’ve seen how the high-profile arrests of people accused of being in the country illegally has driven many immigrant parents to stay home and keep their children out of school.

“They’re scared,” said Kayleisha Watkins, a senior at Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School in Kenner a New Orleans suburb with a large Hispanic community

“Even the ones that are legal,” Watkins said about her classmates’ parents, “they’re just keeping them home because they’re scared.”

After U.S. Border Patrol sweeps in Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina, student absences shot up. In Charlotte, about 30,000 students missed school the day after an initial wave of arrests, dropping districtwide attendance to 79%, down from a 93% average.

Kimberly Lichtenberger, an English language teacher at Bridgedale Elementary in Metairie, told the Jefferson Parish School Board during a meeting last week that she’s worried students could face consequences for staying home. Under state policy students who miss more than 15 school days cannot advance to the next grade.

Educators also worry that students’ learning and their mental health could suffer if they miss too much school during the immigration crackdown.

“When you have children who can’t come to school because they don’t feel that it’s safe, there’s learning loss,” said Jennie Moctezuma, a former New Orleans school administrator who volunteers with the immigrant advocacy group Unión Migrante.

Before the Border Patrol arrived on Dec. 3, school leaders in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish tried to forestall a major attendance decline by assuring families that their children would be safe at school. While saying they will comply with the law, they also promised to protect students’ privacy and only allow federal agents onto campus if they

have proper warrants.

But as videos circulate showing federal agents on residential streets and patrolling in unmarked cars, some parents aren’t letting their children out of sight.

“Parents literally called me and said their kids are not coming back until all this is over,” said an English language coordinator at a New Orleans school who asked to remain anonymous because of fear his school could see additional enforcement actions.

He estimated that about half of his Hispanic students stayed home last week.

Frightened families

In recent days, federal agents have detained dozens of people at restaurants and job sites across the New Orleans region.

Rosamund Looney, a master teacher at William Hart Elementary School in Gretna, asked the Jefferson Parish School Board to work with schools to support families who are wary of sending their kids.

“Families have been calling, messaging, emailing to ask if their students will be safe at school and en route to school and on the way back to school,” Looney told

the board.

Some parents have kept their children at home with them, while others have asked friends to escort their kids to and from school, said several educators and immigrant advocates.

At Kenner’s A.C. Alexander Elementary School, where about two-thirds of students are Hispanic, Paola Ardon has been picking up her friend’s 7-yearold son when she takes her own daughter to school. She said simply walking her son to Ardon’s car seems to frighten her friend.

“She’s looking around, making sure there’s no strange cars on the street,” Ardon said, adding that her friend also gets anxious at pickup time. “She texts me, ‘Are you at school? Is everything OK?’”

Like other Bonnabel High School students, sophomore Cooper Smicch said he saw many empty seats last week. Smicch said his classmates are worried about their parents or friends being detained and deported.

“They just be taking anyone,” he said “I’m just scared for my friends.”

Email Patrick Wall at patrick.wall@theadvocate. com.

to a portrait of her son,

in October from a fentanyl-related overdose, as she and

left, whose son, Nicholas, also died from an accidental overdose in January 2024, listen during a Monday news conference in Metairie. Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement officials said efforts to reduce overdose deaths are working, with three area parishes seeing declines.

many potential factors, including the widespread public health response of the COVID-19 pandemic and signs that the ingredients in street fentanyl have weakened, along with law enforcement efforts. They’ve also cited increased access to naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdose effects and became available over-the-counter in 2023.

Fentanyl had ravaged communities across Louisiana for several years leading up to time frame in which officials on Monday noted reduced overdose deaths, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

From New Orleans to Shreve-

would lead to further litigation. The St. Tammany Parish Council was among those calling on Tape to resign in 2024 in the wake of media reports that revealed he was indicted on child sexual assault charges in New Mexico two decades ago. The charges were ultimately dropped and Tape has maintained his innocence. The state Legislature passed the 2024 law amid the controversy around Tape. A recall effort to force Tape out of office failed last year, but tensions have remained between the coroner and parish officials. On top of all that, the expiration of the coroner’s dedicated property tax in 2024 may make it harder for the parish to pay for the Coroner’s Office in the coming years. The parish is already struggling to pay for other state-mandated costs like the District Attorney’s Office, judges and jail.

port, communities have grappled with widespread loss inflicted by the potent synthetic opioid. The losses have had ripple effects, with increased numbers of children being born with opioid dependence and overdose becoming the leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum women in the state.

Louisiana state lawmakers have responded to the epidemic by passing punitive new laws, including one that made dealing fentanyl punishable by up to life in prison — a push that faced criticism from some public health experts.

At the DEA’s field office Monday in Metairie, prosecutors from

LEADERS

Continued from page 1B

management than lack of money Moreno said she instructed City Council member Joe Giarrusso,whomshehastapped to be her chief administrative officer, to organize a regular meeting of City Hall leaders and outside stakeholders to coordinate on infrastructure projects. At Tuesday’s forum, she asked Hecht, who led the city’s Super Bowl preparation and serves on Moreno’s transition team, to participate. He agreed.

Morenosaidshe’salsolaserfocused on “creating as much opportunity as possible” in New Orleans so residents don’t have to leave to find jobs. In an interview after the forum, Moreno singled out Houston as an example of a prosperous city that’s on her radar

Hecht reeled off a string of

Louisiana’s 21st and 22nd judicial districts described how they have sought to punish people who deal fentanyl that leads to fatal overdoses with even an even tougher charge: second-degree murder

“We have about a dozen individuals pending trial right now in St. Tammany for murder charges, because you know what you’re doing,” said 22nd Judicial District Attorney Collin Sims.

Another task force member, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker, described working with prosecutors on “alternative measures” to stem overdose deaths.

For instance, Sticker said, his office has worked to allow some Tan-

projects that he thinks hold the most promise for economic development in New Orleans. Those included Tulane University’s plan to turn Charity Hospital into a new research center; the redevelopment of the former naval base in the Bywater into affordable housing and startup incubator; and the long-delayed River District project, which aims to create a new neighborhood on 47 acres of land owned by the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center but was thrown into turmoil in October when the consortium leading the development pulled out.

Hecht also highlighted the Port of New Orleans’ planned container ship terminal in St. Bernard Parish, which he said will attract new distribution, manufacturing and logistics firms to New Orleans East. Hecht was tapped by Gov Jeff Landry to shepherd that project. Hecht said it’s refreshing to have an incoming mayor that

gipahoa Parish Prison detainees struggling with substance use to bond out of jail on the condition they check into rehab facilities. Hofer noted how fentanyl, which is synthetically produced in labs, presents a threat to drug agents distinct from other narcotics that rely on a growing season such as heroin.

For Hammond couple Monique and Chris Massi, its threat struck home this fall. Their son, Jacob Massi, an avid fisherman and New Orleans Saints fan, died of an overdose on Oct. 5. He was 28.

“He had a future, and that was stolen from him,” Monique Massi said.

has the “ability to tell a story and create a vision of what the future of the city looks like.”

Williams, for his part, said city leaders need to develop a “public wellness strategy” that addresses the root causes of crime, adding that “police and prosecutors is not what make us safe.”

“We cannot have a safer city if we’re just talking about putting people in jail and prosecuting,” Moreno agreed. “We have to invest in prevention.”

Williams, a longtime Moreno ally, said the mayor-elect’s decision to appoint former New Orleans Police Department Chief Michael Harrison as deputy mayor overseeing public safety is a “game changer.” He also lauded Moreno’s decision to tap Dr Jennifer Avegno, the city’s Health Department director, to serve as deputy mayor overseeing health and human services.

Morrell, who is entering his

second term, said the council will approve an amendment to the Home Rule Charter to present to voters in the spring that would put more guardrails on how mayors can spend money, adding that the city’s budgeting process is “functionally dysfunctional.”

“The groundwork that will be laid during this administration and this council is to really create a New Orleans structurally that operates differently than its operated in the last 50, 60 years,” Morrell said.

Aleman Sr., Larry Broom,Nebeha Brown, Joyce Chandler,Elizabeth Dulitz,Rosalie Frey,Amy Gaubert,Bobbie GautreauxJr.,Joseph Glynn, Walter Guerin,Shaquille Harris,Charles Jeandron, Morris Krucks,Margaret Landrum,John Pizani,Jo

Rabalais,James

Schmitt, Joan

Steeg, Shirley

Tortorich, Larry

EJefferson

Garden of Memories

Aleman Sr., Larry

NewOrleans

Charbonnet

Guerin,Shaquille

DW Rhodes Brown, Joyce Greenwood

Rabalais,James

Schmitt, Joan

Lake Lawn Metairie

Dulitz,Rosalie

GautreauxJr.,Joseph

Steeg, Shirley

Tortorich, Larry

River Parish

leans, LA.Larry wasthe beloved sonofthe late Lewis E. Aleman andthe lateGertrudeGuess Ale‐man.Hesharedhis child‐hood with hisbrothers, the lateLewis Aleman,Jr.,the lateDonaldAleman, RonaldAleman, andthe lateMichael Aleman,who willfondlyrememberhim for hisunwaveringlove and support. Larry'sfamily was thecornerstone of his life, andhetookgreat pride in hisroleasa family man.His children,Renee AlemanBrockhaus andher husband Van, andLarry Aleman, Jr.and hiswife Kelli,willremembertheir fatherasa guidinglight and asourceofendless en‐couragement.The legacy ofLarry's kind spirit and loveoflifeiscarried on through hisgrandchildren, Kayla,Tyler,Austin, Riley Jackson,Kambry, and Chandler, and hisgreatgrandchildren,Kylo, Kins‐ley,and Hazlie.Eachof themwas asourceofim‐mense joyfor Larry, andhe was aconstantpresencein their lives, sharingintheir triumphsand offering comfort in timesofneed Larry's adventurousspirit was evidentinhis passion for flying.Asanairplane pilot,hespent countless hours in theskies above Southeast Louisianaand the Gulf of America, ex‐pertlypilotingamphibious planes. Hislovefor avia‐tionwas matchedbyhis enthusiasmfor sports cars, boats, fishing, and hunting—intereststhathe often shared with friends and family members. Larry's presence wasa comfort to many,and his absence will be deeply felt byhis nieces,nephews, cousins,and themany friends he made through‐out hislife. As we bid farewelltoLarry Eugene Aleman, Sr., we celebratea lifewell-lived—a life filled withlove, laughter,and the joy of shared experiences. Larry's spirit will forever soar, much like theplanes hesoskillfully flew,inthe heartsofthose who loved him.Relatives andfriends are invitedtoattend the visitation at Garden of MemoriesFuneralHome and Cemetery,4900 Airline Dr. Metairie,La. 70001 on Thursday,December11, 2025 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am with aService startingat 11:00 am.Inter‐mentwillbeimmediately thereafter.

Millet-Guidry Broom,NebehaHaddad

Jeandron, Morris St Tammany

Honaker

Broom,Nebeha West Bank

DavisMortuary

Harris,Charles

Mothe

Pizani,Jo

Robinson FH

Gaubert,Bobbie

Obituaries

Aleman Sr., Larry Eugene Larry Eugene Aleman, Sr.,aged82, acherished fa‐ther, grandfather, greatgrandfather,and brother, passedawaypeacefullyon December4,2025, in Slidell, Louisiana.BornonJanuary 22, 1943, in NewOrleans Louisiana. Born in New Or‐

Nebeha Haddad Broom, age 93,ofSlidell,LA, passedawayonSunday, December7,2025. Shewas precededindeath by her husband,EarlD.Broom; her parents, PhillipN.Had‐dad,Sr.,and MarieGazel Haddad; andher sixsib‐lings,VioletHaddad Moore, Jeanette Haddad McDaniel, AdeleHaddad Owens,NellHaddad Parker, andPhillip Haddad Jr. Nebeha is survived by her four daughters, Carol Broom Faciane(Brandon), Robin Broom Day(Brad), Kim Broom Bosenberg (Bob),and Mary Broom Gressaffa (Scot);nine grandchildren,BrittneyFa‐ciane,Brandon Faciane (Lynda),AshleyDay Landry (Mark),Bradley Day(Lau‐

ren),Brett Bosenberg (McKenzie), KatieGres‐saffa Olivier(Connor),Alli‐son Gressaffa, Sydney Gressaffa, andZachary Gressaffa, as well as seven great-grandchildren.She is alsosurvivedbyher sister, Liz HaddadFogg. AlifelongresidentofSlidell, Louisiana,Nebehaat‐tendedSoutheastern Louisiana University and Moler Beauty College. She was theowner/operator of the HouseofBeautyfor 48 years.She wasanactive parishioner of OurLadyof Lourdes Catholic Church and wasa recipientofthe prestigious OrderofSt. Louis Medallionfor her dedicationand serviceto the church.She wasalso chairperson of theHospi‐talityand WelcomeCom‐mitteefor 50 yearsand was the firstrecipient of the Womanofthe Year award at OurLadyofLour‐des.Nebehaparticipated inmanyother localclubs and organizations. Shewas a Past Presidentofthe Slidell Jaycee Janes, a charter member of Xi Gamma Lamda, aformer memberofthe Slidell Women’s CivicClub, the Ozone Camellia Club,and the KreweofPerseus.She looked forwardtoher weekly bridge club gather‐ings, card games, andtrips tothe casino.She was deeply admiredbyher familyand friendsfor her get-up-and-go spunk to the veryend.Relatives and friends areinvited to at‐tenda visitation on Thurs‐day,December11, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.,at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Slidell. AMassof Christian Burial will begin at11:00 a.m. Intermentto followinForestLawn Cemetery. Please visit www.honakerforestlawn. comtosignguestbook ArrangementsbyHonaker FuneralHome, Inc.,Slidell, LA.

Brown, JoyceNell With sadnessweshare the passingofJoyce Nell Brown, on Monday,Novem‐ber 24, 2025. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.comto viewservice information, signonlineguestbook, sendflowersand share condolences

Chandler,Elizabeth Savoie

ElizabethChandler, beloved wife, mother, daughter, niece, sister and aunt passed peacefully at home November 30, 2025, after a courageous battle with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Lizwas born on June 11, 1968, in Houma, LA and she brought light and warmth to everyone she met.She married theloveofher life JimChandler, in 1998 and they builta beautiful life based on faith, family and kindness.Liz is the devoted mother of their daughterAllie Chandler, whom she adores!

Lizispreceded in death by her father Jimmy Savoie, maternal grandparents Millie and Clifford

Ecuyer and sister-in-law

Heather Savoie. She is survivedbyher mother Sandra Savoie, aunt Pam Ecuyer (Ardell Fink), husband Jim Chandler, daughterAllie Chandler, brother Michael Savoie,brother-inlawBobby Chandler (Donna), sister-in-law Kim ChandlerBrown (Ross) and nieces and nephews Elyse Savoie and Ella Savoie, Nicholas Ecuyer, Brooke ChandlerCosby(Sam) and Brett Chandler(Lauren), Kaylie Brown and Lindsey Brown, all of whom brought greatjoy to her life Lizgraduated in 1986 from VandebiltCatholic HighinHouma, LA and in 1990 withaBachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, degree in Marketing fromLoyola University NewOrleans. She started working at a youngage in thefamily restaurant in Houma, Savoie's Louisiana Cooking.Aftergraduating from Loyola, she begana successfulcareer in theinsurance industry as Senior Claims Adjuster, first with St Paul Fireand Marine and then with Travelers Insurance. In 2007, Liz made acareer shift to become stay at home Mom to daughter Allie, which is a decisionthat she cherished! She served on several PTOgroupsatAllie's schoolsand as ateacher's assistant with theSt Charles Borromeo Church CCD program Lizloved cooking,going to thetheater, movies, plays and concerts. She enjoyed socializing with family and friends, she always litupthe room, and she never met astranger. She wasproud of her 31 years of continuous sobrietyand theopportunitiesit gaveher to carry themessageofhopetocountless otherwomen. It provided thefoundation forher life welllived,and thelifelong friendshipsmadeonthat journey were joys of her life! We would like to invite family and friendstoSt. CharlesBorromeo Church, 13396 RiverRd. Destrehan, LA on FridayDecember 12, 2025. Visitationwillbegin at 9:30am and aMemorial Mass willfollowat 11:30am. Interment at Greenwood CemeteryinNew Orleans, LA immediately following theservices In lieu of flowers,please considerdonating to the Ochsner CancerInstitute NewOrleans at giving. ochsner.org

Rosalie K. Dulitz, 85, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by lovedones, on December 8, 2025. Born in St.Louis, Rosalie wasthe beloveddaughter of thelateSarah andthe lateHyman Kresteel Rosalie's legacy enduresinthe countless lives she touched andthe communityshe helped nurture. Shegenerouslysharedher gifts with NCJW's Let'sTell aStory program, where

herstorytellingbrought joytogenerationsofchildren Rosalie is survivedby herfourchildrenand their spouses: Harold (Katie) Dulitz, Felicia (Steve) Cohen,Lewis (Cheryl) Dulitz, andKaren (Steve) Kedem; and by herbeloved grandchildren: Sara, Alexander, Eva, Maya, Dean,Harvey, and Sammy; brother- and sister-in-law, Lester andCharlene.She wasprecededindeathby herdevoted husband, Harris, and by herbrother Ben The familywishestoextend theirgratitude to her wonderfulcaregivers and dear friends Donationsmay be made in herhonor to Chabad of

On September 18, 1972

Amy Elizabeth Frey was born to Chad Dennis Frey andSusan Alice Kramer Frey. She passed away on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 at West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero, LA at the age of 53 years, 2 months, and 13 days. She was the granddaughter of the late Orland Frey, Sr., the late Mildred LandryFrey, thelate Alvin Kramer, and the late Sedonia Adams Kramer.She was the niece of the late Cheryl Doiron Bergeron (the late Raymond), Orland Frey,Jr. (Beverly), JoanKramer Hennegan (the late Timothy),and Terry Kramer Breaud. She was the sister of Brenton Prescott (Dawn) and the aunt of Cassandra, Brady Morgan, and Haley Prescott. She was also survived by cousins Rowdy Hennegan, Kristi Hennegan Copous (David), Michael Hennegan, Justin Breaud (Kerry), and Candace Breaud, and host of other relatives and friends.

New Orleans or a charity of your choice. James(Kaci)Dove, Kayla (Richard) Haas,Brittany Dove, Amanda (Fred) LaRue,Frank “Buddy” Adolph, III, Erron(Patty) Holland,Jr.,and Brock (Megan) Holland. Bobbie alsoleftbehindgreatgrandchildren DerekCoon Dylan Coon,AudreyWolfe, OliviaWolfe,Lucas Burns, EdwardKirby III, Henry Kirby,JordenSavoie, Jay‐den Dove,BentlyDove, MacyHass, DamonHass, LeviGoings, IsaacGoings, Izzy Goings,Layla Goings, and Alex LaRuetocherish her memory,aswellas manynieces, nephews, and otherrelatives.Inad‐ditiontothe relatives named above, Bobbie touched thelives of many and thereare countless people, usuallyfriends of her children or grandchil‐dren, who also called her Granny.” Before moving to Buras,Louisiana,Bobbie was born and raised in Jonesville, Louisiana. She never meta stranger and for yearsshe couldbe found in Bobbie’sBeauty ShopinBuras stylinghair. In addition to hergiftfor hairdressing, Bobbie was a regularchurch goerand for many yearswas an ac‐tivememberofthe Buras Community Christmas Choir.Visitationwillbe heldfrom9:30a.m.until 11:00 a.m. at OurLadyof Perpetual Help (OLPH) Catholic Church locatedat 8968 Hwy.23, BelleChasse LA, on Thursday,December 11, 2025. Funeralservices willfollowat11:00 a.m.The family wouldliketo thank HeartofHospice and RobinsonFuneralHomefor their loving care andsup‐port. In lieu of flowers, the familywould appreciate yourkindness, thoughts & prayers during this time Funeralplanningentrusted toRobinsonFamilyFuneral Home(504) 208-2119. For onlinecondolences,please visit www.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com.

She was adevoted member of the Westbank Cathedral/God's House for almost 40 years. She wasa member of the youth group, sign choir, and the adult choir. She participated in the Rejoice Production, Jazz Fest, Gretna Fest, and multiple other events. Amy was avolunteer at West Jefferson Hospital and agreeteratSam's Club amongstother various jobs. She will always be remembered by her bright smileand contagious laughter. She brought sunshine wherever she went. In lieu of flowers, please consider adonation in Amy's name to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org); Spina Bifida Louisiana, PO Box 1346, Kenner, LA 70063 (sblouisiana.org); or the Schriever Lion's Club, 1559 W. Main St., Schriever,LA 70395. Avisitation will be held at Westside/Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, located at 5101 Westbank Expressway, Marrero, LA 70072, on Thursday, December 11, 2025, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The funeral service willbeheld at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park in Gretna

Gaubert, Bobbie Jean Spinks Coon

BobbieJeanSpinks

Coon Gaubert, age87, was calledhometoher heav‐enlyfatheronFridayDe‐cember5,2025,inBelle Chasse,Louisiana sur‐rounded by herlovingfam‐ily followinga long strug‐gle with illness. Sheissur‐vived by herdevoted hus‐bandofthe last 15 years, Rufus “Bob”Gaubert,with whomshe hadmanyad‐ventureswhich included eloping to LasVegas,trav‐elingtoEurope, andtravel‐ing extensivelyintheir RV Bobbiewas thedaughter ofWalterBeard Spinks,Sr. and PaulineSpinks, step‐daughterofLucille Spinks, sisterofWalter“Sonny” Spinks, Jr., andthe wife of firsthusband HenryDavid Coon,all of whomprede‐ceasedher.Bobbiewas the motherofDouglas (Tammy-deceased,Jill) Coon,Michael (Sachiraya) Coon,Paula (Harold) Dove the late Samuel Coon, stepmotherofDaleAnn (Frankie) Adolph,Bobbie NellGaubert (Erron,Sr.-de‐ceased) Holland, andthe lateRufus “Junior” Gaubert,Jr. Shewas the beloved grandmother/ stepgrandmother of James Coon,Davide(Jessica) Coon,the late Kyra Coon Tayler(James) Burns, Leigh Ann (Edward) Kirby, Baiden Dove,DesneyArmes,

Glynn,Walter Robert'W'

Walter"W" Robert Glynn Jr age92, went to Heaven on Thursday December 4, 2025. He was anativeofNew Orleans, LA,a former resident of Metairie, LA and arecent resident of Mandeville, LA

familykindlyrequeststhat attendees wear lightblue, white andsilver. Please signonlineguestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504)581 4411.

GautreauxJr.,Joseph K. 'Joe'

Joseph K. Gautreaux, Jr aged84, passedaway peacefullyonDecember 6th,2025, shortlyafter makinghimself laughat one of hisown jokes. Known as Joetofriends and as Kirbytofamily, he was born in New Orleans, LAonDecember24, 1940 toJosephK.Gautreaux,Sr. and Lorraine Wild Gautreaux.After servicein the LouisianaNational Guard,heworkedinthe aerospace and computer manufacturing industry until hisretirementinearly 2000s. He wasprecededin death by hisbeloved wife of51years,Linda Selhofer Gautreaux,aswellashis parents andbrother LawrenceL.Gautreaux.He issurvivedbyhis children Michael Gautreaux(Jo) and Lisa Clulee (Dean),his fourgrandchildren,Cather‐ine Lyerly (Robert),Made‐lineBrence(Cameron) Joshua Clulee and Emily Clulee, hissister, Mary Kay Zahn(William), nephew, David Zahn (Shade), and grand-nephew, Fletcher Hewillberememberedfor enjoyingcompany of his friends andfamily, telling verycorny jokes, fishing, shootingthe breeze and tinkering with various tasks to keep hishands and mind occupied.The familyrequeststhatevery‐one who knew himtry to rememberhis gregarious natureand generous spirit thatisthe best memorial ofall.A privatefamilyen‐tombmentservice will be carried outata laterdate. In lieu of flowers, please consider adonationin Joseph’smemorytothe American HeartAssocia‐tion, www.heart.org.To viewand sign theonline guest book,pleasevisit LakeLawnMetairie.com

Belovedhusband of JosephineLoCoco Glynn for72½ years. Father of PaulaGlynn Dickson(Jack) and Karen Glynn Stroud (Charlie).Grandfatherof JanLousteau (Greg), Parker Hillery (Corin), Jeremy Stroud and Christopher Stroud (Ashley).Great grandfather of Aaron, Harrison, Graham, Andrew, Isabelle, Kayden,Cameron, Reese, Isaac and Caleb.Son of thelate WalterGlynn Sr. and Thelma Rodriguez Glynn Mr. Glynn was aUS Army Veteran of the Korean War.Heretired fromthe phonecompany after 40 years of employment and was aparishionerofSt. Edward The ConfessorChurch and St. Mary Magdalen Church. Mr. Glynn enjoyed travelling with his wife, they saw theworld together.He was avery active athlete, an avid skier and fantastic ping pong player.Most of allhewas atremendous family man and loved spending timewithhis wife, children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren Relatives and friends of thefamily are invitedtoattend thevisitationatLeitzEagan Funeral Home,4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd Metairie,LA70006 on Friday, December 12, 2025 beginning at 9:00 AM with aFuneralMass to follow at 11:00 AM in Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home's chapel. Fond memories and expressions of condolences may be shared at www.leit zeaganfuneralhome.com.

Guerin,Shaquille O’Neal

ShaquilleO’NealGuerin was born on March31, 1990, in Metairie,LAand passedawayonThursday, November27, 2025. Mr Guerinwas aresidentof Ponchatoula,LAatthe timeofhis passing. He is lovinglysurvivedbyhis de‐voted wife,Roxanne Guerin; children,Kajion Guerin, Nevaeh Guerin and Samya Guerin;mother, Lor‐raine Baggett Guerin;fa‐ther, KeithGuerin(Tamara Guerin);maternalgrand‐mother, AgnesCrawford; paternalgrandmother Jeannette Guerin;maternal grandfather,SamuelCraw‐ford; maternal great-un‐cles, AllenBaggett and Ester Baggett; aunt, Trenise Thomas;siblings, EdriceRefuge(Maureen Refuge),Suzette Alston (WilliamAlston),Shane Ruth(BlairRuth),Darius Guerinand Romelo Styles Heisprecededindeath by his stepfather,Ervin Styles and paternal grandfather, Anthony Guerin.A Funeral service honoring thelifeof the late ShaquilleO'Neal Guerinwillbeheldat Mount Hermon Baptist Church,3512 US -90, Avon‐daleLA70094 on Friday, December12, 2025 at 11 am, concluding at 12:12 pm. IntermentRestlawn ParkCemeteryand Mau‐soleum, 3540 US-90, Avon‐dale, LA 70094 andwillcon‐clude at 1pm. Visitation 9 aminthe church.Tohonor Shaquille’smemory, the

CharlesOtisHarrisen‐tered eternalrestonSatur‐day,November22, 2025, at the ageof65. He wasa na‐tiveand resident of New Orleans,LA. Charleswas a graduateofWalterL Cohen Senior High School and he wasemployedwith E.C.ColleyWarehouse Cor‐poration. He wasthe founder of DevastationSo‐cialand Pleasure Club Beloved husband of Vanessa A. Harris.Devoted fatherofMichelle Manuel Johnson,Charles Arm‐strong, ShequithaDemond Smith,Aneka Armstrong, SergioScott, CharlesOtis HarrisWaters, Freddrica MikePolk, ChristopherWa‐ters, Damion J. Azore, RoseanD.Harris, andChar‐nessa V. Harris.Son of the lateEarlHarrisand Carrie Rollins.Grandsonofthe lateIsraelRollins,Sr. and Viola Rollins. Brotherof Joyce James, Charlene Dixon,Barbara Rogers,and Erpsy Livas; he waspre‐ceded in deathby3 broth‐ers and3 sisters. Charles alsosurvivedby26grand‐children, anda host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.Relatives and friends of thefamily, also employees of E. C. Colly Warehouse Corp., and members of Devastation Socialand Pleasure Club are invitedtoattend the Celebration of Life at St Stephen MissionaryBap‐tistChurch,1738 L. B. LandryAve.New Orleans, LAonThursday,December 11, 2025, at 10:00a.m. Pas‐tor Norman Francis, host pastor; Pastor Derrick Beaulieu, officiating. Visi‐tationwillbegin at 8:30a.m.until servicetime atthe church.Interment: Mt. Olivet Cemetery-New Orleans,LA. Arrangements byDavis Mortuary Service, 230 Monroe St Gretna,LA. Toviewand sign theguest‐book,pleasegotowww davismortuaryservice.com. Face MasksAre Recom‐mended.

Morris "Mickey

Jeandron passedaway on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at theage of 86. He was born in Thibodaux, grew up in Lockport, and resided in LaPlace since 1971.

Mickey had agift for bringing laughter intoany room. He was known for his jokes, stories, and goofy sense of humorthat he shared with family, friends, and anyone he met.Heproudly served in theUnited States Navy aboardanaircraftcarrier. After his service, he spent his careerwith DeltaAir Lines,where airplanes became both his workand his passion. He also helda lifelong affectionfor Chevrolet cars, alove

passed downfromhis father,who owneda Chevrolet dealership Though he enjoyed many things in life, nothing meantmoretohim than hisfamily. Hisgrandchildren were trulyhis whole world. He wasthe belovedhusbandof67yearstohis bride,Janice Marie Jeandron.Loving father of Gary Paul Jeandron (Susan), Timothy Michael Jeandron (Tina), Daniel Brian Jeandron (Marci), LaurenJeandronJacob (Anthony), andthe late KeithAnthony Jeandron He wasthe proud grandfather of Jennifer Naquin(Joe), Joshua Jeandron (Alyssa), Jared Jeandron (Whitney), Haley Jeandron,Elise Jeandron, Jake Jeandron,Mia Jeandron,Olivia Jacob, Luke Jacob,Cindy Hogan, andJaniceJeandron. He wasalso blessed with ten great-grandchildren

Sonofthe lateMorris Jeandron and Zelia Porter Jeandron,heissurvived by hissiblings Doris Beaudean (Byron) and Jean DeCuir,and preceded in death by David Jeandron,Patricia Reynolds (Buddy), and Carol Parks (Bobby). He is also survived by many nieces andnephews.

Relativesand friends are invited to attendthe Funeral Service at Ascension of OurLord Catholic Church,1900 GreenwoodDr., LaPlace LA,onSaturday, December 13, 2025. Visitation willbe held at thechurch from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., with theFuneral Mass immediately followingat10:00 a.m. IntermentinSt. John Memorial Gardens Cemetery

Arrangements by MilletGuidry Funeral Home. To share memories or condolences, please visit www.milletguidry.com.

Oh,Mandy, you came and you gave without taking...Margaret Amanda "Mandy" Krucks departed this life in thearms of her mother, Judge Margaret Alfonso, and herAunt Carlene at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Herbeloved Daddy Cono waswaiting for herinHeaven with open arms

Mandy was born with multiple health issues, and it took avillagetoget her to age 45. Margaret would like to thankthatwonderfuland loving village:Dr. Harriet Murphy,Colodia Stewart, Marie Johnston, Dimple Breazeale, the Killegrews, the incredible staff at Magnolia CommunityServices; and last,but notleast,her lovinggrandparents, Carland Tommye Alfonso.

Mandy was so blessed to have Ochsner physician SaraFernandez,MD, come into herlife. Dr.Fernandez began caringfor Mandy,

andeventually, everyone in Mandy's orbit. Margaret wouldalso like to recognize theextraordinary care andcompetence of the medical team at NeuroICU Ochsner, in particular Dr. Michael Pepper whotried so hard to save Mandy Mandy enjoyed music, dancing,"PBS KIDS" and playing with Mardi Gras beads. Shewas aproud recipient of aCertificate of Completion from Gulfport High School. Herspecial ed teacher,CherylYork, remained in contactwith Margaret andMandy throughout Mandy's lifetime. Special Ed teachers reallyare so special.

Margaret wouldliketo thank herChanceryCourt family, especially Jill,and Jeannieand theFriends of CourtVolunteers, notonly for theirlove andprayers for Mandy,but also for theirdedication andcompassion for all children.

Margaret also wishes to thankher belovedGHS Class of '68 for theirfriendship andsupport.Unlike many moms for theClass of '68, Margaret neverhad to confront heryoungster sneaking acigaretteat15, tryingtobuy a6-packof beer at 16, crawling outof awindow in themiddle of thenight, or getting drafted.Mandy wasthe perfect child.

Mandy wasprecededin death by herloving stepfather,ConoA.CarannaII andher grandparents. Mandy wasanonlychild andanonlygrandchild Sheissurvived by her mother; heraunt, Carlene Alfonso andhusband WalterKetchings; herstepsister,Katie Caranna Kravette andhusbandEric; andConoCarannaIII and wife Sue. Mandy is also survived by herlifelong friends, Judy andAndy Sawyer andBonnie Blackledge.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Mandy's memory to Magnolia Community ServicesNew VanFund. Magnolia is a501(c)(3) nonprofitserving adults with disabilities.

Magnolia Community Services, Inc. 100 Central AvenueJefferson, LA 70121 504-733-2874

Afuneral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025, at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 1726 15th Street, Gulfport,MSwith Pastor Tony Karnesofficiating Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is honored to serve the Alfonsofamily.

loved by allwho knew him, minus some ex-girlfriends. Even then, he could win them over eventually. It is amazing that so many people liked him because he actually liked dogs more than he liked people. He was the best dad anyone could ever ask for and would give anything to the people that he loved.

JD was born in Houston, Texas on January 16, 1945 to Leonard and Bonnie Landrum. He moved to Galena Park, TX with his parents and two sisters Frankie and Billie in 1949

He finished out his school years in Conroe, TX. He began selling real estate after he graduated high school. He grew up using his nickname "Danny", because he didn't like the name John as everyone else had that name. His first bartending job was at the Shamrock Hotel in Houston, even though he didn't know how to make drinks. Needless to say, he learned on the job.

On his first trip to New Orleans he thought, "I never knew aplace likethis could even legally exist." He traveled back and forth afew times between Houston and New Orleans and eventually in his thirties, he visited New Orleans and never ended up leaving. He received checks in the mail from his real estate earnings in Texas and when those ran out and he didn't havea girlfriend or afriend's couch to sleep on, he spent the night on park benches in Jackson Square or in Pirate's Alley. He eventually landed ajob as abartenderand worked in hotels and barrooms and also got his real estate license in Louisiana. He worked as abartenderfor JohnnyWhite whoended up being a mentor figure in JD'slife.

JD endedupbeing the realtor for Johnny White and sold him the property at 720 Bourbon. JD was a savvy agent and knew the real estate market. When interest rates were high in the '80s and prices were low, he knew that eventually the rates would come down, and Johnny White could refinance. JD would run underground poker games above Johnny White's to make cash on the side as well.

JD eventually rented that corner property on Bourbon and Orleans and opened up what became the only local bar on Bourbon, Johnny White's SportsBar, aka "The Bar That Never Closed". The Sports Bar became ahub for the locals that lived and worked in the Quarter and people would stop by for adrink aftertheir shift or to watch Jeopardy or to play the poker machine. It became ameeting ground for regulars. During Katrina it became asafe haven for folks as well. The city enacted atwo o'clock curfew, but true to its nickname the Sports Bar never closed. The bartenders just closed the shutters at 2am, but if you walked by you could stillhear the music jumping and the conversation flowing from behind those shutters. It became a drop-off location for the National Guard to dispense water and meals as well. It was abeacon of le bon temps, during atime when New Orleans didn't look or feel like New Orleans.

JD evacuated for the storm, but once the phone lines got back up and he heard that the bartenders kept the bar open he told them, "Keep it open. I'm coming!" The roads to New Orleans were closed at thattime,but he heard if you were acontractor the

National Guard would let you into the city. Sooo,he posedasa contractor. He bought atrailer, hitchedit to his truck, andfilledit with lumber, supplies, and water and sure enough they let him through. Word got out about the bar in New Orleans that didn't close and JD was interviewed and featured in local,national,and international news. JD knewthat keeping theSports Bar open was bigger than himself and bigger thanthe bar. It was asignthat the spirit of New Orleans can't be broken, that the city would survive,and thatthe goodtimes wouldkeepon rolling!

JD purchased MRB on St. Philipand eventually turned it into asports bar as well. It also becamea dog-friendly spot forthe locals to get food, drinka pony, and watch agame He purchased the Blue Nile on Frenchmen before Frenchmenbecame what it is today. He had alot of foresight and wasalways looking to expand"his empire."

JD was acontinual prankster.Heloved telling stories, especially about how his 3-leggedboxer, JW, got hisleg taken by a gator.The thingwas you never knewifhewas pulling your legornot,because thecraziest things did happen to him like when that same 3-legged dog swamacross achannel to agoatfarmand chasedand killed one. The farmjusthappenedtobe owned by acouncilman of the town that JD was trying to openabar in JD had one son, Lance, with his then wife,Anne Pautler.JDwas aproud fatherand one of the first trips after the hospitalwas to Johnny White's on St Peter to show off.JDspent countless hours with his son;fishing and crabbing in Grand Isle, picking blackberriesbythe railroad tracks with the dogs, playingbaseball in Lakeview, riding bikes in Bucktown,orgoing to Astroworld in Houston.

JD thought the world of his daughter-in-law, Aarti Inamdar, andwas aproud grandfather (paw-paw) to Vinay and Leela Landrum. He wouldalsolove to show them off at the bar too Somethings justnever change. In his last decade,JDenjoyedhis retirement by spending time at the camp and taking friends and family out fishing, which most of the time just ended up being boat rides as not alot of fish wereactually caught. He lovedbeing surrounded by nature and visitingthe dog park in Slidell.Hewillberemembered as agenerous man, agreat friend, akind brother and uncle, and a lovingfather and grandfather

Ihope this obituary honors his great life,the contributions he made to the

community, and theimpact he had on people's lives. Thank youfor taking thetime to read Amemorial service will be held at HonakerFuneral Home in Slidell, LA on Friday December 12thfrom 9-11am.

Asecond line willstart at theoriginalJohnny White's Sports Bar at 720 Bourbon St.inNew Orleans at 2pmonSaturday December 13thand an ensuing celebration of life will continue at MRB at 515 St. Philip.Dogsare welcome. No bubbles allowed In lieu of flowers,the family requests adonation be madetothe Northshore Humane Society,which just recently suffered afire in one of their kennels, https://www.northshorehu mane.org.

Jo AnnPizanipeacefully entered onto eternalrest onThursday,December4 2025 at theage of 86. Jo Ann is thebeloved daugh‐ter of thelateElwin Gilbert Pizaniand thelateMildred Brown Pizani.She is the lovingand devotedmother ofKirtlin PeterDurapau, Elwin Durapau(Daughterin-law, Shelly Jasper)and the late Calvin “Polo” Dura‐pau andthe late Katina Evangile Durapau. Loving Grandmother of Harley Marie Whalen,Elwin Dura‐pau,Jr. andGarrett Landyn Arb.Great Grandmotherof NevaehMarie Whalen Mykaela RaeWhalen, Ayran Franks,Ellah Louis Whalen andMerrieJayne Whalen.Sisterofthe late BrendaParria(Sister-inlaw of thelateLou Parria). JoAnn is thelovingAunt of Lou Parria,Jr.,Gavin Parria, Jenna Parria Caminita LesaParriaand thelateKip Parriaand thelate Michelle Parria.JoAnn al‐wayswelcomedeveryone intoher home with open arms. Shenever consid‐eredanyonea stranger and made sure to feed all who visited. Herpassions includedgardening,cook‐ing andcherishingmo‐ments with herkidsand grandkids.Familyand friends areinvited to at‐tendthe Visitation at MOTHE FUNERALHOME, 2100 Westbank Express‐way,Harvey, Louisianaon Friday, December 12, 2025 from11:30AM until 1:30PM FuneralServiceswillbe held at thefuneral home

on Friday at 1:30PM.Inter‐mentwillbeinSt. Piux X Mausoleum,Crown Point, Louisiana.The familyin‐vites youtoshare thoughts, fond memories and condolencesonlineat mothefunerals.com

Rabalais,James Joseph

JamesJosephRabalais (Jimmy, Jim-Bob) born De‐cember29, 1934, in NewOr‐leans,Louisiana passed awayonDecember2,2025 athomeinDenham Springs,Louisiana.Pre‐ceded in deathbyhis par‐entsWilliam (Willie) J. Ra‐balais, andLucille Bowers Rabalais. Preceded in death by his firstwifeCar‐ole Piazza Rabalais,and secondwifeJeanLipps Burke-Rabalais. Preceded indeath by hischildren Kim Rabalais McCants, and James J. Rabalais Jr.Sur‐vived by hisgrandchildren EricMcCants (Victoria),Fe‐licia McCantsGonzalez (Michael),and Chad Mc‐Cants (Crystal). Great Grandchildren Johnathon Scardina, Carole Scardina Catherine McCants, Seth Scardina, BraedenMc‐Cants,Michael Gonzalez Jr, Elizabeth McCants, and HaileighMcCants.James willberememberedfor his loveoffood, fishing, danc‐ing,traveling,and hisoverall love of life with special enjoyment spending time withhis familyand friends. Memorialserviceswillbe heldatGreenwood Funeral Homeat5200 CanalBlvd., New Orleans, La 70124 on MondayDecember15, 2025, with Visitation from 10:00AM until servicetime at11:00 AM.Interment will immediatelyfollowat Greenwood Cemetery.A Reception will be held after the burial in Greenwood FuneralHome’sBoulevard Room

Joan Cuccia Schmitt was born in St.Alphonsus Church parish within the soundsofSt. Mary’s As‐sumptionChurch bell tower in theIrish Channel onMarch 1, 1939, to her beloved mother,Althea TastetCuccia, anddevoted father, FrancisJ.Cuccia, who both preceded herin death.She passedon peacefully to herHeavenly Fatherwithfamilynearon December3,2025. Sheis survivedbyher loving hus‐bandof65plusyears, Arthur L. Schmitt, Sr.Joan attended Redemptorist HighSchool where shewas a cheerleader. Shegradu‐atedasclass salutatorian and wasvoted Most Ideal Girlbythe classof1957, as wellasQueen of Aries(The Rams).Itwas at Redemp‐toristwhere shemet the loveofher life,Arthur,ata RHS Christmasdance their freshmanyear. Sixyears later,onDecember26, 1959, they were marriedat St. AlphonsusChurch,and the twobecameone.Be‐ginning in December of 1960, Joan gave birthto and nurtured their five children. Shewas their strongest advocate.Joan becamea homemakerand headcheerleader forall her children andgrandchil‐dren,watchingthemgrow

spirituallyand academi‐cally,and beingpresent at every sporting event, school activity,play, dance revue,award ceremony and graduation.She espe‐cially enjoyedher puzzlemakingsessionswiththe kidsand grandkids. Start‐ing in 2022, shewas blessedwith five great grandchildren,the joys of her life.Expecting asixth a greatgranddaughter,she was entrustedwiththe baby’snameand kept it a secretfromthe entire fam‐ily.Joanwas very trustwor‐thy in that way! Joan’s worklifebegan while in highschoolwitha secre‐tarialjob at HouseholdFi‐nance.She then took on her most importantjob as a homemakeruntil herlast child startedschool.At thattime, shebegan aca‐reer as theExecutive As‐sistant to thePostmaster ofNew Orleans. She workedwithfourdifferent postmasters untilher re‐tirement. Shewentonto holdpart-time positions withTrueTitle,p-l-a-i-d inc,and ParisFinds until her passing. Formany years Joan wasonthe committee forthe RHS Alumnifundraisers.She assisted in organizingher Class of ’57class reunions and helped organize her ladies’ lunchgroup meet‐ingsthatshe looked for‐wardtoevery othermonth Joanand Arthur also thor‐oughlyenjoyed thecom‐panionshipand friendships oftheir breakfastgroup, who mettwice aweek Joanenjoyed traveling, es‐peciallythe 30 yearsof going annually with theex‐tendedfamilytoCallaway Gardens,where everyone looked forwardtoher meal ofcrawfish delicacy.So many memories were

JEROME L. ROBINSON AND PERRILYNALEXIS-HARRIS, OWNERS

9611 HIGHWAY23, BELLE CHASSE,LOUISIANA 20 minutesfromdowntownNew Orleansand half ablock northofBelle Chasse NavalAir

Featherweight Scooter

OPINION

OUR VIEWS

Newface, same story on La. public health leadership

Louisiana has anew face of public health, but unfortunately,itlooks like more of the same. Gov.Jeff Landry appointed Dr.Evelyn Griffin to be the state’ssurgeon general this week after Dr.Ralph Abraham departed for ajob at theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.

An OB-GYN in Baton Rouge, Griffin, like Abraham, has been avocal skeptic about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. We suspect that is her primary qualification for the job. While the announcementofher appointment mentions her work on maternal mortality,a grave problem in our state, the governor’soffice gave few details and did not make Griffin available for an interview

Fromher resume, though, we can see that she ticks all the boxes on hot-button issues. In 2021, she testified beforeastate Senate committee in favor of aban on medical interventions for transgender youth. She serves on the CDC’sAdvisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP,which, despiteanuproar from the medical community, voted last week to end the recommendation that all children receive the Hepatitis Bvaccine.

At atime when the effects of cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies are still to be felt, there are many serious challenges facing our health care system in Louisiana, especially in rural areas. We wish we could say with confidence that our public health system had serious people at the helm who are ready to respond to these challenges. But this surgeon general pick seems driven more by the same, tired old debates, rather than aforwardlooking vision.

When Abraham became the first person to hold the newly created position of surgeon general in Louisiana in 2024, we expressed concern that he was anoted vaccine skeptic who had recommended the unproven drug ivermectin to treat COVID.

So it was no surprise when Abraham disparaged the state’sresponsetoCOVID before a House committee shortly after being named. It was no surprise when it was announced that the Louisiana Department of Health would end mass vaccination efforts.

It was no surprise when flu and RSV cases spiked. It was no surprise when hospitalswent on alert this springfor cases of measles, adisease once thought eradicated in this country It was no surprise that thestate’s child vaccinationrates continued toslip, and in some parishes are now below the threshold for herd immunity

And now,itisnosurprise that Abraham has been tapped to be second in command at the CDC, which itself is being remade by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.tofollow an anti-vaccine and even anti-science agenda.

It is perhaps Abraham’sreward for sticking to the well-worn script. But Louisiana needs more than aregurgitation of stalerhetoric. It needs arobust public healthadvocateprepared to address some of the nation’sworst health care outcomes. All we can say is we hope Griffin surprises us.

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

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

Weforgetour historywhen we mistreat immigrants

People came from all over theworld. Thank you, Ken Burns, for reminding us thatthe colonies became aliving experiment in government.

Iamsoproud of being an American. However,Idonot like what my country is doing with immigrants today

My hope is to give themafair chance to become documented. The crimerate among migrants is lessthan therate among average citizens Giving themafair chance means helping themtobecomecitizens. The Trump administration wantsto give priority to White South Africans, and not all fit in that category. Who are theseimmigrants the pres-

ent administration is fighting to deport? They are part of thefabric of our society. They help us build our houses; they pick our crops; they staff our hotels; they tend our elderly and infirm. They arepartofour America. Do we send them back to where they came from? Or do we offer to give themachance to stay,becomevetted, perhaps become citizens, so they are given the chance to call this great country home?

Please, my friends and neighbors, help to do what is right and American for those being dealt with as criminals.

BETSY KYLEBURKE NewOrleans

We continue to letdomesticviolencesurvivors down

Ihad to leave thecityIlove because the systemfailed me. For six years, Ilived in terrorofa person determined topunish me for leaving our relationship. When the protection order that had kept me safe eventually expired, therewas no meaningful protection left

Leaving New Orleans broke my heart. As Ipacked glitteryshoes, sequined outfitsand feather boas into boxes —things that only make sense in the Gulf South —Ikept wondering: How will Irebuild?

Ithink about New Orleans every single day. Astory from afriend who visited or afew barsofbrass music, all of it feels like missing someone you love but cannot see. Becauseit’sa place Ican never return. This is what it looks like when asystemfails domestic violence survivors.

Ajudge granted me aprotection order.The police, however,often said there was nothing theycould do.

“I’msosorry,ma’am,” Iheardagain

and again.

“Yes,theyshouldn’thave followed you, but theynever gotout of the car.”

And all the while Iwas working as asocial worker,helping families navigate systems that Imyself couldn’t rely on to keep me alive.How do you protect your clientswhen you cannot protect yourself?

For six years, Ichose silence, only because theretaliation was so relentless thatspeaking out felt unsafe. Iam asocial worker,trained to navigate complex systems. And even Icould notnavigate our legal system well enough to protect myself. Whathappens to victims who don’thave the money,the time, the resources or the emotional stamina to fight asystem built on technicalities and loopholes? We have to do better. This starts by raising awarenessofsystems that aren’tworking.

KAYTEE GILLIS Michigan

Health care coverage should focusonall

Ifollow the newspaper’sOpinion section.

Why has themainstream media not honestly presented the facts on health care costs? There are over 300 million residentsinthe U.S.,not just the24 million on Obamacare.

Why not provide graphics on normal privatehealth insurance costs vs. Obamacare subsidizedcosts with deductibles of both?

Afamily of four on private insur-

ance pays upwards of $2,000 per month for thesame coverage Obamacare participants get forbelow $250.

Agraphic of the subsidies’ amount per income range would clarify the need for help for all people, not just the 24 million on Obamacare, which is the root of the problem

Does the newspaper have the courage to publish this information?

ROBERT WEILER Destrehan

Columnisttotally missed why Mamdani’s message resonates

How the newspaper continues to allow Quin Hillyer to spew arevisionist narrative of social commentary is beyond comprehension. In his opinion piece published on Nov.16, he claims Zohran Mamdani to be a “nearly-radically Islamic, essentially proto-socialist.” Beyond Hillyer’s basic hatred forany worldview that isn’this own, it should go with basic comprehension that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being Muslim.Asthe fastest-growing religion in the world, millions would agree.

Hillyer continues to flamethe fire of alarmism forthe boogeyman of “help thy fellow neighbor,” by attempting to demonize socialist ideals. His failed landing? Mamdani identifies proudly as ademocratic socialist.

Congratulations to Hillyer forgoing on to reject the sad existence of Nick Fuentes. However,before he writes another piece, maybe Hillyer should examine how his basic lack of understanding of how the fundamental foundation of U.S. ideals is rooted in asystem of suppression that continues to disenfranchise individuals whowere never apart of our Founding Fathers’ definitions of aperson. He goes on to attack ayounger generation untimely fedupwith the economy his generation has leftthem —but particularly young White men whohestates whine about how tough their lives are. Never once does Hillyer take the time to self-reflect that his writing contributes to the samerise in Christian nationalism he claims is too extreme forhis views.

Hillyer’sviewsare centered on a “pick yourself up by the bootstraps” mentality that is an absolute myth constructed by Hillyer’sgeneration, whoinherited massive economic wealth but voted foreconomically oppressive systemsthat are eliminating the middle class as we know it, preventing these youth from accessing the samebountiful economic opportunities he inherited. No wonder the kids are fedup.

CAITLIN SHEEHAN NewOrleans

Boat attack should angerAmericans

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to be awar criminal. Without a war.Aninteresting achievement.

George Will

In 1967, novelist Gwyn Griffin published aWorld WarIInovel, “An Operational Necessity,” that 58 years lateris again pertinent. According to the laws of war,survivors ofa sunk ship cannotbeattacked. But aGerman submarine captain, after sinkingaFrenchship, orders the machine-gunning of the ship’screw, lest their survival endanger his menbyrevealing where his boat is operating. In the book’s dramatic climax, a postwar tribunal examinesthe German commander’smoral calculus. No operational necessity justified Hegseth’sdefacto order to kill two survivors clinging to the wreckage of oneofthe supposed drug boatsobliterated by U.S. forces near Venezuela. His orderwas reportedbyThe Washington Post from two sources (“The order was to kill everybody,” one said), and has not been explicitly deniedbyHegseth. President Donald Trump says Hegseth told him that he (Hegseth)“said he did not say that.” If Trump is telling the truth about Hegseth,and Hegseth is telling the truth to Trump, it is strange that (per the Post report) the commander of the boat-destroying operation said he ordered the attack on the survivors to comply with Hegseth’s order

Forty-four days after the survivors were killed, the four-star admiral who headed the U.S. Southern Command announced that he would be leaving that position just ayear into what is usually athree-year stint. He did notsay why Inferences are, however,permitted. The killing of the survivors by this moral slum of an administration should nauseate Americans. Anationincapable of shame is dangerous,not least to itself. As the recent “peace plan” for Ukraine demonstrated.

Marco Rubio, who is secretary of state and Trump’snationalsecurity adviser,seemed to be neitherwhenthe president released his 28-point plan for Ukraine’sdismemberment. The plan was cobbled together by Trump administration and Russian officials, with no Ukrainians participating.Itreads like a

wish-list letterfromVladimir Putin to SantaClaus: Ukraine to cedeland that Russia hasfailed to capture in almost fouryearsof aggression; Russia to have avetooverNATO’scomposition, peacekeeping forces in Ukraine and the size of Ukraine’sarmed forces.And more. Rubio, whose well-known versatility of convictions is perhaps not infinite, told some of his alarmed former Senatecolleagues thatthe plan was just an opening gambit from Russia —although Trump demanded that Ukraine accept it within days. SouthDakotaRepublican Sen. Mike Rounds, apreciseand measured speaker,reported that, in a conference call with abipartisan group of senators, Rubio said theplan was aRussian proposal: “He made it very clear to us that we arethe recipients of aproposal that was delivered to one of ourrepresentatives.Itisnot our recommendation. It is not our peace plan.” Hourslater,however,Rubio reversed himself, saying on social media that the UnitedStates “authored” the plan. The administration’sfloundering might reflect more than itscharacteristic incompetence. In adarkening world, systemicweaknesses of prosperous democraciesare becoming clearer

Harvardsociologist Daniel Bell’s1976 book, “TheCultural Contradictions of Capitalism,” argued that capitalism’s successundermines capitalism’smoral andbehavioral prerequisites. Affluence producesa culture of present-mindedness and laxity; this undermines thrift,

industriousness, discipline and thedeferral of gratification.

Today’scultural contradictions of democracy are: Majorities vote themselvesgovernment benefitsfunded by deficits, which conscript the wealth of future generations who will inherit the national debt.Entitlements crowd out provisions for national security. And an anesthetizingdependency on government produces an inward-turning obliviousnesstoexternal dangers, and a flinching from hard truths.

Twoweeks ago, the chief of staff of the French army said: “Wehave the know-how,and we have theeconomic and demographic strengthtodissuade the regime in Moscow.What we are lacking …isthe spirit which accepts thatwewill have to sufferifwe are to protect what we are. If our country waversbecauseitisnot ready to lose its children …ortosuffer economically because thepriorityhas to be military production, then we areindeed at risk.” Putin has surely savored theFrench recoil from thesewords.And he has noticed that, concerning Ukraine and the attacks on boats near Venezuela, the Trumpadministration cannot keep its stories straight.This probably is for reasons Sir Walter Scottunderstood: “Oh, what atangled web we weave,/ when first we practise to deceive!” Americans arethe deceived.

Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com.

Closingthe door on immigration? Notyet.

Can the United States comeupwith an immigration policy that will prove sustainable? Twowriterswhom I respect and take delight in reading, despite their widely differing views, Tyler Cowen, who favors more immigration, and Christopher Caldwell, who favors less, have their doubts. Both, incidentally,are writing forThe Free Press, Bari Weiss’ eclectic startup They are writing at atime when President Donald Trump’sexecutive branch is splashily and aggressively enforcing supposedlyunenforceable immigration laws, and Congress still has Trumpish Republican majorities. Illegal immigration hasbeen reduced toward zero, and the political stars seem in alignment, at least theoretically, for reductions in legal immigration as well. But that seems unlikely. And not just because of timidity of lawmakers but because the two writers take too mechanical aview of mass immigration. For people don’t uproot themselves and head for unfamiliar lands for just marginal economic gain

Europe hasmade itself an afterthought

In the contentionover the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, the Europeans are in their accustomed role —carping from the sidelines. Not only can the once-great European powers no longerdictate the fate of far-flung parts of the world, theycan’t even dictate the endofa war involving aEuropean country whose fate theydeem crucialtotheir own future.

We’re alongway from the British controlling about aquarterofthe globe’s territory in the early 20th century; alongway from British and French diplomats, Mark Sykes and François GeorgesPicot respectively,drawing the lines in 1916 to divide up the OttomanEmpire;alongway from Napoleon sitting with Tsar Alexander in Tilsit in 1807 andrearranging the map of Europe Francewas once so diplomatically central thatthere aredozensofTreatiesofParis, whether in 1259 (between King Louis IX of Franceand King Henry III of England) or in 1951 (setting up the European Coal and Steel Community).

Now,Francescurriesaround with its European counterparts to react to whatever the American president is doing.

It’sgottensobad that some European analysts speak of apotential “scramble for Europe,” or attempts by richer, more powerful outside countriestoinfluence the course of Europe

The late conservative commentatorCharles Krauthammer maintained of the U.S., “decline is achoice.”

This isn’tquite right with regard to Europe, whose great powers were kneecapped by the cataclysms of the early 20th century.France bore the brunt of World WarI,suffering 1.4 million dead and4.3 millionwounded and aruinous economiccost.

As for Britain, stretched to the max, it got steadily eclipsedinpower andinfluencebythe United StatesasWorld WarIIprogressed. The less said aboutGermany’srole in all this, of course,the better And thenthe European colonial empires inevitably dissolved.

Michael Barone

In my 2013 book, “Shaping Our Nation: How Surges of Migration TransformedAmerica andIts Politics,” I argued that the unusual phenomenon of mass migration only occurs when large numbers of people are pursuing dreams or escaping nightmares. Cowen, amarket-friendly economist, sees it differently.Lookingback,he thinks that America had “a fine policy” before2016, “keep(ing) borders nominally restricted but allow(ing) immigration, both legal and illegal, to become increasinglyattractivetopeople around the world.” Mordantly, he adds, “I call this ‘asymptotically approaching open borders.”’

To which voters, as he points out, react negatively as they do to mention of an explicit open-borders policy. They’refearful that some largeproportion of the 95% of human beingswho don’tlive in the U.S. would like to come here. The 1965 Immigration and National-

ity Act imposed limits, for the first time, on immigration from Latin America, andfew Mexicans arrived in the stagflationary 1970s. But mass chain migration to Ronald Reagan’ssunny California began in the 1980s and crested in the2000s as banks, incentivized to loan to Hispanics, issued $300,000 mortgages to borrowers with no money down, no W-2s, no assets. That led to the2007 housing market collapse, which turned immigrants’ dreams of unloading their houses for $600,000 into bankruptcy nightmares. Netmigration from Mexico turned negative for adecade, andthe Biden-era surge of illegal immigrants came not so much from Mexicans but from Central Americansand assorted others, crossing Mexico to be welcomed acrossthe Rio Grande. The Trumpadministration’ssuccess in border and internal enforcement will, for atime, disincentivize illegal migration by turningwould-be migrants’ dreams into nightmares.

While Cowen thinks that’scruel, Caldwell hails it as astep toward “America’sthird great slammingofthe Golden Door.” The first, he dates from 1775 to 1815. Butthose were mostly wartime years —the American Revolution up through 1783, theworld war between revolutionaryand Napoleonic France and parliamentaryand commercial Britain for all but one year from 1793 to 1815.

Thesecondstarted with passage of theImmigration Act of 1924, which virtually eliminated immigration from eastern andsouthern Europe, dominant in the Ellis Island era (1892-1914, 191924). Butthe law’seffect was limited. It blocked several million migrants in the prosperous 1920s but very few (though, tragically,some refugees) in thedepression 1930s, when there was little migration, internal or international. And world war,in1939-45, as it hadin1914-18, cutimmigration toessentially zero. The1924 law remained in effect till

1965 and limited postwar immigration from Italy and Greece, but many prewar immigrants from those countries returned home, and many southern Europeans postwar headed to newly prosperous northern Europe. Andof course, there was no substantial postwar immigration from Eastern Europe, behind theIron Curtain.

Caldwell credits the“pause” in immigration following 1924 for encouraging assimilation into an American mainstream Butthat was furthered more by the sudden appearance of mass media —radio, movies, television —and by World WarII, which put 16 million men in anation of 131 million into the military, puttingliterally in uniform Americansofall origins.

They partook of acommon popular culture transmitted by universal media and established anational consensus that dismantled the separate segregation system established and maintained in the South for 75 years. That,perhaps as much as changes in the 1965 law, may have madethe dream of life in the United States seem achievable to millionsinLatin America and Asia during thegreat immigration surge in thequarter-century from 1982 to 2007. If theforces of assimilation were not as strong in those years as they were in the 1940s military or the New York City public schools acentury ago, that’s somethingtoworkonnow

In themeantime, it’sanexaggeration to say that America is closing its doors when it swears in about 800,000 new American citizens every year.There are arguments for changing our legal immigration system to prioritize highskill migrants, as well as toreduce or (as Iwould prefer) increase thetotal flow of immigrants. Butthere are limits on what the law can do when, despiteeconomic incentives, people only take the unusual step of uprooting themselves to pursue dreams or escape nightmares

Michael Barone is on X, @MichaelBarone.

So,Europe wasgoing to be diminishedcomparedtoits glory days. Its current fecklessness, though, hasindeed been achoice, borne of strategic fantasy and economic incompetence.

Strong militaries were deemed as athing of the past, or something unnecessary as long as Uncle Sam wasaround. The Brits, for instance, arehard-pressed to maintain a 73,000-strong army,and the size of its oncestoriedsurface fleet is at ahistoric low. Europe imagined itself “a diplomatic superpower,”but haslearned to regretthat“soft power” notbacked up by hard powerisoflimitedutility

Both the Nobel Committeeand Amnesty Internationalhaveconsiderable soft power,too, but no onepaysattention to them regarding high-level geopolitical questions.

Economically,the EU “regulatory superpower” hashobbled growth —over the last 30 yearsWestern European labor productivity declinedfrom95% of the U.S. level to 80% —while Europe’s commitment to “net zero” greenhouse emissions has driven insane energy priorities.

Yearsinto the Ukraine war,Europe is still dependent on gasimports from Russia

None of this means that the U.S. should go outofits way to give Europe the back of its hand. Whatever its otherfailings, Europe has collectively givenUkraine more aidthanthe United States, andwas justifiably furious at the initial28-point Ukraine proposal. That plan hadthe embattled country handing over to Moscow strategically important territory that is still in Ukrainianhands; agreeing to alimit on the size of its military; and the U.S. taking currently frozen Russianassets in Europe to rebuild Ukraine (getting 50% of any profits) andtopursue joint investment projects with Russia

Negotiations with the Ukrainians have reportedly produced amorereasonable version, but it is Washingtonand Moscow that matter most here

The analyst Robert Kagan famously wrote yearsago that, in their divergent approaches to the world, “Americans are from Mars and Europeansare from Venus.” Having long outsourced powerpoliticstoMars, it turns out thatVenus haslimited influence even in her ownbackyard.

Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry.

made there, anddon’t for‐get many eventful camping and amusementparktrips Joanisalsosurvivedby her belovedchildren, Dionne SchmittDaigle(Ar‐mand),ArthurL.Schmitt, Jr. (Donna), Warren F. Schmitt (Brandi), Jeanne Schmitt Bergeron (Michael),and JeffreyM Schmitt (Ursula);her amazing grandchildren, Peryn E. Schmitt, Armand P.Daigle, III (Elizabeth), Blake A. Schmitt, Dr.Julia DaigleLee (Jonathan), Emily Daigle Zamjahn (Tyler),CourtneyR Schmitt (Aaron), Mark Sal‐vadore(Sacha),JoelM Bergeron(Ali),DaneD Schmitt,Jonah N. Schmitt, and Mischa A. Bodin; her adorablegreat-grandchil‐dren, MilesSalvadore,Ilia LaGraize, Eloise andNora Daigle, MicahLee, andun‐bornBabyGirlZamjahn; her oneand only dear sis‐ter,JeanCucciaHand, and brother-in-law, G. Patrick Hand, Jr.; herniece,Stacey HandSerro (Tony/Harrison Hayden, Heston), and nephews,G.Patrick Hand III (Kim/Evan, Ryan)and Timothy F. Hand (Katie/Olivia,Ben); her brother-in-law, J. Martin Schmitt;her many “grand‐doggers”; anda host of cousins,nieces, nephews, and friends. In addition to her parents, Joan waspre‐deceasedbyher dear mother-in-law,Hildred MartinSchmitt,her sistersin-law, Rita SchmittRoc‐caforteand Lynn Berrill Schmitt,her brother-inlaw,Francis B. Roccaforte, and herdearfriends Au‐dreyand FrankNeumann A celebrationofa beautiful wifeand wonderfullifewill beheldonSaturday, De‐cember13, 2025,atSt. Mary’sAssumption Church at2030 ConstanceStreet (corner of JosephineSt), New Orleans, LA,withvisi‐tationfrom8:30amto 11:15 am.Masswillfollow at11:30 am.Directlyafter mass, intermentwillbein Greenwood Cemetery.A gathering of familyand friends will be held in the Boulevard Room at Green‐wood FuneralHome. If you would like,pleasewear yourfestive,colorful, holi‐day attire forthiscelebra‐tionofJoan. In lieu of flow‐ers,the familyasks that you please make adona‐tiontothe charityofyour choiceinJoan’smemory. Wealsoinviteyou to share yourthoughts, fond memo‐ries, andcondolences on‐lineatwww.greenwoodfh com.Yoursharedmemo‐ries will help us celebrate

Steeg, Shirley Rosenzweig

ShirleyRosenzweig Steeg, 98, diedonFriday, December5,2025,in Austin, Texas. She was bornonJanuary 9, 1927, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the daughter of Morris and RoseRosenzweig. Sheis predeceased byher husband SamuelAaronSteeg and siblings Marx Rosenzweig, IrwinRoss, and Helen Greenberg.She is survivedbyher daughtersJudy Steeg Simkin, Susan Steegand wife SarahCalvert, and grandson Ross EmanuelSimkin. Shirley livedinNew Orleans for her first 78 years. She was confirmed at Temple Sinaiin1941and graduated from Eleanor McMain High School in 1943.She married Samin 1947,and they spent 62 wonderful years together before his death. Their life together as nativeNew Orleanians endedwhen Hurricane Katrinadevastatedthe city in 2005.They wereabletosafelyevacuatebefore the storm hit. They movedtoAustin, Texas, whereone of their daughters lived. Shirleybegan acareer in public service, retiring from the Veterans Administrationasasenior claims examiner in the Adjudication Division. Shirley and Samtraveled extensively during both her working and retirement years, especially enjoying tripstoLondon for theatrical productions. Shewas an avid reader and an excellent bridge and MahJonng player. Shevolunteered at Longue Vue Gardens and worked on fundraisersbenefiting the Audubon Zoo. Shirley was known for her graciousness, congeniality, and kindness. She

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always had asmileonher face and aquick wit. She was activeuntil theend of her life thanks to thewonderful people who nurturedher when she moved intomemory care at Maravilla at theDomain. Her family is grateful for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers,the family requests that memorial contributions be madetothe AntiDefamationLeague, Temple Sinai, theMultiple Sclerosis Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

Agraveside service will be held on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 11:00 A. M. at Hebrew Rest Cemetery #3, 2003 PelopidasStreet, New Orleans.

Tortorich,LarryJohn

Larry John Tortorich, retired Commander, United States Navy,passed away peacefully at his home in Metairie on December 5, 2025, surrounded by his family.Hewas 68 years old. Born in NewOrleans, Larry was thelovingson of thelate UrsulaSmith Tortorich and Charles J. Tortorich, Jr.Heissurvived by his belovedwife of 34 years, Susan Casey Tortorich; his children Lt Michael Tortorich (Lucy), John Tortorich (Isabelle), and Annelise Tortorich (Tyler); and hissister,Julie Ann Tortorich. Larry graduated from St. Louis King of France Elementary School (1971), ArchbishopRummel HighSchool (1975), and Tulane University (1979). He laterearneda Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from theNaval War Collegein Newport, Rhode Island (2001). Larryproudly served in theUnitedStates Navy, dedicating more than twodecades to aviation maintenance,intelligence operations, and fleet

Why you need dental insurance in retirement.

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 Shop forcoverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits.Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’tpay for dental care.1 That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meanttocover everything.That means if you wantprotection, you need to purchaseindividualinsurance.

Early detection canprevent small problems from becoming expensive ones. The best way to preventlarge dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkupstwiceayear

Previous dental work canwear out.

Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t takeyour dental health forgranted. In fact, your odds of havingadental problem only go up as you age.2

Treatmentisexpensive— especially the servicespeopleover 50 often need. Consider these national average costs of treatment. $222 fora checkup $190 fora filling $1,213 fora crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be areal burden, especially if you’re on afixed income.

readiness across the globe. Over thecourse of his distinguished career, he served withmultiple squadrons and commands, bothafloat and ashore. His assignments included H-53 "VOD SQUAD" at NAF Sigonella, Sicily;Foreign Counter-Intelligence at OP009 in Washington, DC;the "TASKMASTERS" of HS-10 at NASNorth Island, California; USS Midway (CV -41) in Yokosuka, Japan; the"CLANSMEN"ofVA-46 embarked in USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67); Light Attack Wing 1; Carrier Air Wing 6embarked in USS Forrestal (CV-59); Carrier AirWing 17 embarked in USS Saratoga(CV-60); the USDAO/US Embassy NAPROinMelbourne, Australia; NAS Jacksonville,Florida; the Tomahawk Cruise Missile Project, NAVAIR PEO(CU), PMA-280 at Patuxent River, Maryland; and theNATEC Southern LiaisonOffice in NewOrleans. Larry completed multiple deploymentsaboard U.S. aircraft carriersthroughout the WesternPacific, MediterraneanSea, Indian Ocean, RedSea, and Adriatic Sea. Hisserviceincluded participation in OperationErnest Will, OperationDesert Shield, OperationDesert Storm, and numerous contingency operations. Hisawardsincludethe Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), theNavy Commendation Medal (two awards), theNavy Achievement Medal,and various campaignand unit decorations. He was DAWIALevel II certified in ProgramManagement, Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) qualified, and amember of the Navy's Acquisition Professional Community. He was adedicated Sailor atrusted shipmate, and a man who served hiscountrywithhonor, courage, and commitment. Followinghis 24-yearNavy career, Larrycontinuedhis servicetothe nation throughhis workwith the Department of Homeland Security. For 15 years, he served as aField Intelligence Officer for Louisiana and Mississippi, applying his operational knowledge and analytical skilltoprotect communities and support national security. Alongside his HomelandSecuritywork, Larry servedasanAdjunct Professorinthe Homeland Security StudiesMaster's Program at Tulane i i h h i

University, where he inspiredstudents withhis real-world experienceand steady presence.Hewas a recipient of theJohnPercy Dyer Award forteaching, oneofthe program'shighest honors. Outside of his professional life, Larry was aman of warmth,humor, anddeep affection for the people andplaceshe loved. AtrueNew Orleanian,heenjoyed Mardi Gras,cherished goodfood, andwas an enthusiastic cook known for hiscreativity in the kitchen. Hisquick wit and sense of humor brought laughtertoall whoknew him. An avidSaintsfan Larry held season tickets for manyyearsand took great joyincheering on his team. He was happiest when spending time with hischildrenand supporting them in all their variousactivities. Larry volunteered for manyyearsasa coachatLakeshore Playground andwas active with theScouts, giving generouslyofhis time to help guideand mentor young people. Larry hada lifelonglove of animals. Hisdogs —Emma, Rufus, Coco, Lucy —and his belovedduck, Quackie, broughthim tremendous joythroughoutthe years. He also maintaineda turtle sanctuary in hisbackyard, caringfor rescuedturtles andproviding them asafe home. He also valuedquiet reflection and spiritual renewal, spendingtimeon h

retreatatManresa, where thestillnessand tradition of theplace held special meaningfor him. He enjoyed fishingand gardening, simple pastimesthat broughthim peaceand satisfaction. Aboveall, Larry carried thequiet pride of aman whoserved hisnation faithfullyand stood watch so others couldsleep in peace. His legacyenduresinevery life he touched, both in and outofuniform.Fair winds andfollowing seas, Shipmate .wehave the watch.Relatives and friends are invited to attend servicesfor Larry on Friday, December 12, 2025 held at Lake LawnMetairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd.New Orleans, LA. Visitationwill be from11:00AM until the Mass begins at 1:00PM Inurnmentwillfollow in MetairieCemetery

fora

Saints defense improving fast under DC Staley

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Brandon Staley loves the “silent tape.”

ä Panthers at Saints

3:25

The silent tape, or the All-22 copy of each game, tells the truth. It provides the entire picture, angles of what can’t be captured on the broadcast. And there’s no commentary to influence the New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator, not that he’d be tempted in the first place. The answers Staley needs are right there, ready to watch. Lately, for those bothering to watch, the silent tape is sending a clear message: His defense has improved vastly

The unit is far from perfect, but it is approaching top-10 territory in a number of categories — and already broken through at a few spots. After holding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 3 of 13 on third down in Sunday’s upset win the Saints rank sixth (35.5%) in thirddown defense. That’s 15 spots better, and six percentage points lower, than they ranked a year ago. The defense is now 12th in yards allowed per game, sixth in passing yards allowed per game and tied for 11th in expected points

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

Wilson focusing on bowl, not his LSU future

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

LSU interim coach Frank Wilson has had conversations about his future with new

Lane Kiffin, but he does not expect clarity until after the Texas Bowl. LSU plays No. 21 Houston on Dec 27 inside NRG Stadium in Houston and Kiffin said last week in his introductory news conference that Wilson will serve as the interim coach through the bowl game Wilson has expressed a desire to stay at LSU.

“We’ve had conversations, and for me and for coach Kiffin, it’s let’s play this game on the 27th and we’ll go into those details later,” Wilson said Tuesday “We just want to finish what we’ve started with this football team, give them our undivided attention before transition happens.

“Until then, nothing will necessarily happen in that regard. There will be opportunity there Where that lies, I’m not sure.

See LSU, page 4C

NO APOLOGIES

New Tulane coach Hall projects confidence in face of skepticism

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

Will Hall is not the surefire, home-run hire that Jon Sumrall was two years ago as the Tulane football coach. No one could have been.

The similarities between the two, though, start with the confidence they projected in their introductory news conferences with the Green Wave.

Two days short of two years from Sumrall’s opening salvo in New Orleans, Hall, 45, was unapologetic Tuesday for not being the fans’ top preference to take over a program that will face Ole Miss on Dec. 20 in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

“I know I wasn’t the first choice for some people in here, but I can promise you this — I am the best choice and the right choice for this place at this time,” he said in front

10 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocked shots.

of an audience at the Glazer Family Center connected to Yulman Stadium. “The power of belief is so strong. I believe in me, and I believe in Tulane, and I believe in these players, and I believe in where we’re going.”

Sumrall talked openly about reaching the CFP in December 2023 when no one expected it. Hall, whom Sumrall hired as the Tulane passing game coordinator this year, doubled down on that prediction now that Sumrall turned his bold statement into a reality on his way to the coaching job at Florida.

“Sometimes when you promote from within, there’s a feeling of aw, let’s hug each other and hold hands and be all loveydovey and everybody feels good about it,” Hall said. “That’s not what this is. This is about one thing winning. I was promoted

ä See TULANE, page 4C

I know I wasn’t the first choice for some people in here, but I can promise you this — I am the best choice and the right choice for this place at this time.”

WILL HALL,Tulane football coach

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

Derik Queen turns 21 in less than three weeks. Players his age aren’t supposed to be this good this soon. They aren’t supposed to put up numbers like the ones he put up Monday night at the Smoothie King Center Queen finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocked shots in a 135-132 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

“It means a lot,” Queen said. “Pretty good for a person who didn’t have a preseason and was hurt A lot of people doubted. I even had a little bit of doubt myself with my first time being injured and how things have been going this season.” Games like this one should remove any doubt about the guy Joe Dumars traded up for in

“He played his a** off tonight,” teammate DeAndre Jordan said. Queen filled up the stat sheet in a way that few have. Only LeBron James, Luka Doncic, De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama have recorded a 30-point triple-double before their 21st birthday Queen is the first center with a 30-point triple-double as a rookie because Wembanyama’s came in his second season. Queen’s came in just the 25th game of the season. Queen is also the first player to have a 30-point triple-double with four blocked shots since 1973-74 when the league first began keeping track of blocked shots. (Yeah, Wilt Chamberlain probably did it before then.)

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8p.m. Canada vs. U.S. NHLN NBA

6:30 p.m. NBACup: Phoenix at OKC Prime

9p.m.NBA Cup: SanAntonioatLakers Prime NHL

6:30 p.m.N.y.Rangers at ChicagoTNT,TRUTV

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ColtssignRivers, 44,topracticesquad

BY MICHAEL MAROT Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS The Indianapolis Colts bolstered their injury-depleted quarterbackcorpsTuesday by bringing 44-year-oldPhilipRivers out of retirement and signing him to the practicesquad, aperson with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.

QB retiredafter 2020 season,helping Indy with depthatposition AP

Themove comes less than 24 hours after Colts coach Shane Steichen confirmed Indy’sstarter, Daniel Jones, would missthe rest of this season after tearing his rightAchillestendonand backup Riley Leonard injured his right knee during Sunday’sloss at Jacksonville.

Rivers hasn’ttaken asnapsince finishing his career with aplayoff loss following the Colts’ 2020 season. That was the last time Indy (8-5) made the postseason. The eight-time Pro Bowler announced hisretirementinJanuary 2021 and has been coaching St. Michael High School in Fairhope, Alabama, ever since.

But it’snot clear how longitwill take Rivers to learn Indy’s playbook —orwork his way into game shape —asthe reeling Colts try to snap athree-game losing streak next weekend at Seattle (10-3)

“Things happen, wacky stuff has happenedinthis league, your depth gets tested, your resolve gets tested as you get thrown into some adversity as aunit, as acoaching staff, as aposition group,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said, declining to

FormerChargersquarterback Philip Riverswatches warmups beforea game between theChargers and the DenverBroncos on Dec.10, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. Rivers cameout of retirement and wassigned to the injury-depleted Indianapolis Colts practice squad this week.

takespecific questions about Rivers. “We’vebeen through some fire out there, but our coaching staff’s excited to draw aplan up andteach it.”

Neither Steichen norplayers were made available because the Colts typically take Tuesday off. Rivers rejoinsateam desperately tryingto rebound from its worst stretch of the season,four lossesinfive games. The result: Indy has fallenout of the race for the AFC’stop seed andistied for second in the AFC South with Houston(8-5),one game behind divisionleader Jacksonville (9-4). Rivers ranked among theNFL’s career leaders in yards passing with63,440, 421touchdown passes and 12 4,000-yard seasons when he retired and was asemifinalist in his first year of eligibility for thePro Football Hall of Fame last month.

So,the questionis, how much does Rivers have left in thetank?

In his first and only season with Indy,itappeared his arm strength already was diminishedthough he masterfully navigated the Colts through aseason unlike any other —playing in front of emptyor sparsely-populatedstadiums because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also unclear is whether the Colts will need him this weekend. Jones was having acareer year and had entered the midseason MVP discussionbut hadstruggled over the last five games. He also played through alower left leg injurythat impeded his mobility during each of Indy’slast three losses. Then Sunday,hecrumpledto thegroundand grabbedtoward his lower right leg on aplay he did not takeahit. He slammed his helmet intothe ground before

limping off thefield. Jones later returned to the rainy sideline in a protective walking boot.

“He’ll have surgery within the week,” Steichen said Monday “Obviously,just really feel for him, just an unfortunatesituation. The work he puts in, the grind, a team captain for us. One of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around. Just praying foraspeedy recovery for him.”

Leonarddid asolid job in relief of Jones,going 18 of 29 for 145 yards and one interceptioninhis most extensive action sinceNotre Dame lostlastyear’snational championshipgame. When he reported to theteam headquarters Monday, they found out Leonard also had been hurt during the game.

The orbital bone injury to Anthony Richardson, the No.4draft pickin2023, only compounded theproblem. He still has not been activated from injured reserve to practice, and SteichensaidMonday he did not expect Richardson’sstatustochange this week, either That left the Colts with only oneotheroption—veteran Brett Rypien,who hasnot been elevated from thepractice squad to the activeroster since he wassigned in mid-October —ifLeonardcan’t play this weekend.

So theyadded Rivers,who was with theSan Diego/LosAngeles Chargers when Steichen was servingasthe team’squarterbacks coachand interimoffensive coordinator.Oddly,Leonard played prepball at adifferent high school in Fairhope. And now all three will be working together to try to help Indy turn things around as it enters a brutal final four-gamestretch to salvage itsplayoffhopes.

Stefanski, Reid make head-scratching, late-gamecalls

Browns,Chiefslose closegames after questionable play callsinfourthquarter

BY ARNIE STAPLETON Associated Press

Kevin Stefanski has seen enough of Shedeur Sandersto make the fifth-round rookie the Cleveland Browns’starting quarterback over the final month of another lost season.

Analysis

The question is whether Sanders will be under center for the biggest moments down the stretch. He wasonthe sideline Sunday when theBrowns were going for atwo-point conversion to tie their game against Tennessee with aminute remaining after Sanders had just engineered hisfourth touchdown drive and thrown for nearly 400 yards.

Sanders rallied the Browns (310) from a31-17 deficit with two late touchdowns, but after running it in for a7-yard touchdown, he fumbled the exchange from backupcenter LukeWypler, who had replaced starter EthanPocic (Achilles) in the third quarter

Sanders didn’tevenget the chance to atone for that after throwinga7-yard touchdown pass to Harold Fannin withjust over aminute remaining to pull the Browns to 31-29 as Stefanski decided on aWildcat formation for the potential tying two-point conversion. Running back Quinshon Judkins took the direct snap but mishandled the ball and failed to pitchit to wide receiver Gage Larvadain on an end around. Judkins ran backward andlaunched apass across the field to Larvadain that was batted away as theTitans held on for their second win of the season. Stefanski, the Browns’ sixthyear head coach, took responsibility for the failed two-point play at the end, but he didn’texplain why he chose to run the Wildcat with the game on the line rather than leaving in Sanders, who threwfor three touchdowns and ran for another in his best game of the three

TitansquarterbackCam Ward, left, and BrownsQBShedeur Sanders greet each other after theirgame on SundayinCleveland. Brownscoach Kevin Stefanski opted nottouse Sanders on atwo-point conversion withjust more thanaminute to go after Sanders had rallied the Browns from 14 points down to within two.

he’sstarted Sanders, who fell to the fifth round inthe draft after being projected as atop Day 1pick, threw for 364 yards, the second most by arookiequarterback picked144th overallorlater since1966. Jacksonville’sGardner Minshew,the 178th pick in 2019, passedfor 374 yards against Carolina.

Sanders also joinedformer LSU standout and Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow as theonlyrookieQBs with at least 350 passingyards, threetouchdownpasses anda rushing score in agame.

But with the game on theline, Sanders was on the sideline.

“I would wishI would always have theball in my hand, but that’snot what football is,” Sanders said.“Iknowwepracticed something, and we executed it in practice, and we just didn’tseem to this day.So, Iwould never go against, you know, kind of like what the call was or anything.”

Stefanski’s two-pointdecisions weren’t the only head-scratchers in Week 14. One of the biggest blunders came from the league’swinningestactiveheadcoach,Kan-

sas City’sAndy Reid,who went foritonfourth-and-1fromthe Chiefs’31inagame that was tied at 10 with just under 11 minutes remaining.

Patrick Mahomes’ pass to Rashee Rice was incomplete and theHouston Texans got theball already in field-goal range.They scored ago-aheadtouchdown, andthe Chiefs couldn’trecover in a20-10 loss thatdethroned the reigning nine-timechamps in the AFC West.

“I was confident we could”convert, Reidsaid. “I thought it was an opportunity.Iwas wrongin hindsight.Itwas wrong. We’ve been pretty good on fourthdowns. Imessed that one up. Reid was actually playing the odds.

TheChiefs were the13th team since 2000 togofor it on fourth down inside theirown 35 in the fourth quarter of atied game. Others were 8for 12, with the Bucs the last to do it in the 2023 opener againstthe Vikings with aconversion thatled to agamewinning field goal. Their 10 pointsmarked the Chiefs’ lowest output at Arrow-

Philliestokeepslugger

Schwarber on 5-year deal

Kyle Schwarber is going back to Philadelphia, agreeing to a$150 million, five-year contract withthe Phillies, aperson familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday

Schwarber is coming off aterrific season with the Phillies, setting career-highs with an NL-best 56 homers anda major league-high 132 RBIs. He also scored acareer-high 111runswhile leadingthe club to its second straight NL East title. Schwarber’s23homersagainst left-handed pitching set amajorleague recordfor alefty batter passing Stan Musial(1949) and Matt Olson (2021) at 22. Schwarber finished second in the NL MVP race behind Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. The 32-year-old Schwarber rejected a$22,025,000 qualifying offerfrom PhiladelphiainNovember

Philliesextend manager Thomson through 2027

The Philadelphia Phillies signed managerRob Thomsontoaoneyear contract extensionthrough the2027 season after he ledthe team to four straight trips to the playoffs

The 62-year-old Thomson guided the Phillies to the 2022 World Series and the 2023 National League Championship Series, and led them in 2024and 2025 to NL East titles

The Phillieswere eliminated in four games by the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL DivisionSeries.

Thomson has led the Phillies to the second-most wins (346) and second-best winning percentage (.580) amongall teams in MLB, behind only the Dodgers (368 wins, .616). He replaced Joe Girardi as Phillies manager on June 3, 2022.

DodgerssignMets closer Diaz to $69M contract

Closer Edwin Díaz has agreed to a$69 million, three-year contract with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, aperson familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. Díaz’sagreement includes deferred payments by the Dodgers, whoalready owed $1.051 billion in deferred paytoeight playersfrom 2028-46.

Athree-time All-Star who turns 32 on March 22, Díaz joins aDodgersbullpenthatstruggledlast season, causing the team to shift rookie starterRoki Sasaki to closer in the postseason. Los Angeles relievers had a4.27 ERA. Díaz had28saves in 31 chances last season witha 6-3recordand 1.63 ERAfor theNew York Mets He struck out 98 in 661/3 innings.

Steelersthink

WR Metcalf will play on Monday night

Abrief hospital visit won’tkeep Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf fromplaying next weekagainst Miami.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Metcalfwas hit in theabdomen at some point during Pittsburgh’s 27-22 victory in Baltimore on Sundayand remained behind when the issue persisted after Metcalf wastreated with over-the-counter remedies during the game.

Metcalf finished with season highs in receptions (seven) and yards (148) as Pittsburgh regained control of the AFC North.

head Stadiumwith Mahomes undercenter

So, the Chiefs (6-7) will not win a10th straight AFC West title. After reaching the Super Bowl five times in thepast six years, winning threetimes, they’ll need to winout andget alot of help just to reach the playoffs.

The Denver Broncos (11-2), winners of 10 straight, weren’t in acelebratory mood —atleast not publicly —after the Chiefs were eliminated from AFC West contention

“Everything right nowhas that ‘work in progress’ sign,” Broncos coach Sean PaytonsaidMonday.

“I recognizethe question in that theChiefs’ loss last night eliminated them from winning the division, and yet we have astretch here with some real good football teams coming in andfocusing on what we can do to win thedivision. The Chargers are very much aliveinthat battle.”

The Chargers beat theslumping Philadelphia Eagles 22-19 Monday night to stay two games behind the Broncos, whom they playintheirregular-season finale in Denvernext month.

Tomlin said Metcalf is “moving in the right direction,” and he doesn’tanticipate theissuejeopardizing Metcalf’s availability when the Steelerstry to win their 23rd straight homeMonday night game.

Messi honored as MLS’ firstback-to-backMVP

Inter Miamistar Lionel Messi is the unquestioned force in Major League Soccer right now,ona run like nobody else the league has ever seen.

The38-year-old Argentine star and captain of the MLS Cup champions has become the first back-toback MVPinMLS history,asthe honor wasannounced Tuesday The back-to-back MVPs represent another first for Messi in what seems like anever-ending list of his career accomplishments and was widely expected,almost assumed after he had aleague-best 29 goalsalong with 19 assists during the regular season.

He also becomes just the second two-time MVP the league has ever seen, joining Preki, thewinnerof the award in 1997 and 2003.

The Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Chicago White Sox won Major League Baseball’s amateur draft lottery Tuesday and will have the top selection for the first time since taking Harold Baines in 1977.

Coming off a 102-loss season, Chicago had the highest odds to win the weighted lottery at 27.73%. The White Sox will have the No. 1 selection for the third time when the draft starts on July 11 in Philadelphia ahead of the All-Star Game.

Baines became a six-time All-Star and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. Chicago selected first baseman Danny Goodwin with the top pick in 1971, and he played in parts of seven major-league seasons.

some of the top names,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said in an interview on MLB Network. “It looks like, at the top of the draft, that it’s a really impressive one.

“But on top of that, when you look at the pool space that you’re given and a chance to really walk away from a draft class and do some damage, bring in some real talent. I’m just excited for our fan base and the people that are working for the Chicago White Sox.” UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is currently projected as the top selection, followed by Fort Worth Christian High School shortstop Grady Emerson.

Tampa Bay will pick second, followed by Minnesota, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore, the Athletics, Atlanta and Colorado.

BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter

PHILADELPHIA Jalen Hurts

had five turnovers that doomed the Eagles against the Chargers as many turnovers as losses for the Super Bowl champs this season — that raised the panic level in Philly to “break glass and insert the backup QB” levels.

The more the Eagles flounder offensively, the more questions are raised about Hurts and why he’s been largely ineffective this season only months after he earned Super Bowl MVP honors. While embattled offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has absorbed his share of criticism for the anemic point totals, the blame finger suddenly has shifted to Hurts and his inability to lead the offense to any kind of explosive output. The Eagles have failed to score more than 21 points in five straight games, their longest stretch since 2005.

“We’ve got to go out there and put it together,” Hurts said. “The we, I look at it as it’s ‘I’ and it starts with me It starts with me and how I play, how I lead. That’s my ability to go out there and

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

added per play — a stat that measures efficiency

What’s even more apparent is the Saints may bend but the defense doesn’t break often.

Slow starts remain a significant issue for New Orleans as the black and gold has allowed opening-drive touchdowns in four of the last five games, bringing its total to a league-high eight such scores. But as the season has progressed, the Saints have started to do a much better job of holding teams to field goals when they reach scoring territory In the last four games, the Saints have allowed nine field goals compared to just six touchdowns. The latter is tied with the Miami Dolphins — winners of four straight — for the fewest touchdowns allowed in the league during that span.

“Not all 3-10 (records) look the same,” linebacker Demario Davis said. “What I mean by that is nobody wants to be in adversity but you can either lay down in those times or you can show up. And I think if you look at how we play the game defensively what it shows is you would not think you’re looking at a 3-10 defense.” There are many reasons behind New Orleans’ growth. Rookies such as safety Quincy Riley and Jonas Sanker are starting to benefit from their heavy amount of reps The defense, as a whole has gotten more comfortable with Stal-

figure it out.”

The Eagles (8-5) are fortunate the rest of the NFC East is in such dire straits that even three straight losses haven’t toppled them from first place.

Hurts may have topped the short list of worst starts of his career in the 22-19 overtime loss at Los Angeles on Monday Hurts threw four interceptions and lost a fumble — improbably, he had one of each on the same play — and his last pick was the fatal one.

Hurts threw deep to Jahan Dotson in double coverage only to have safety Tony Jefferson keep his feet in bounds and make the interception at the 1-yard line on the game-ending play

“I didn’t play well enough,” Hurts said. “Too many turnovers. Lots of opportunities, especially when we get on the other side of the 50, and I wasn’t able to get us in the box.”

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni stuck by Patullo and gave him public votes of confidence even as outside pressure mounted to make a change. As much as Philly sports fans love a backup QB — often with good reason, such as Nick Foles and his Super Bowl win — it

seems improbable Sirianni would bench Hurts for Tanner McKee.

Hurts has thrown five interceptions in the last two games after he threw just one in the first 11 games. He has only three touchdown passes (none against the Chargers) in the last three games after throwing as many as seven combined in consecutive October games against the Giants and Vikings. The Eagles will go as far as Hurts will take them, and as much as the Super Bowl win means to the franchise, the team is on the brink of their second collapse in three seasons. The Eagles started 10-1 in 2023 before they lost three straight and five of six overall down the stretch and were bounced in their lone playoff game. Sirianni and Hurts have talked about lessons learned — everything from tamping down hubris at the fast start to staying together and focused on small details and vowed they would not be repeated.

The Eagles still have a division title, a possible home playoff game and, yes, even a shot at the Super Bowl ahead — even if questions about Hurts grow louder

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Sants defensive coordinator Brandon Staley greets defensive end Jonathan Bullard before a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept 7 at the Caesars Superdome.

ey’s scheme, which relies on a lot of zone to prevent opposing offenses from going over the top. And players and coaches have said they’ve improved after facing many of the league’s top teams early on But the Saints’ turnaround also centers around a mindset.

“One thing about our defense is we keep coming back,” cornerback Alontae Taylor said. “Our number is called and we go out there and play.”

Stats to know

9.4%: The Saints are also much better at limiting explosive plays this season. The Saints have allowed explosives to happen on only 9.4% of their plays, the eighth-best mark in football. Last year, the Saints ranked 23rd at 11.7%.

28: Chase Young has played in only eight games, but he leads the Saints in pressures with 28, according to Next Gen Stats The defensive end’s strong play

is another reason New Orleans has gotten better over the course of the season. He missed the first five weeks with a calf injury

4%: According to The Athletic’s projected draft order, the Saints now have a 4% chance of landing the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft after upsetting the Buccaneers. The Saints will take wins where they can get them, however Up next

It’s a rematch with the Carolina Panthers.

The Saints have another chance to play spoiler as Carolina (7-6) is now tied with Tampa Bay for the NFC South lead. The Panthers have had two impressive wins since their humiliating loss to New Orleans last month. Bryce Young threw for 448 yards against the Atlanta Falcons and then helped pull off an upset over the Los Angeles Rams.

The Saints last swept the Panthers in 2023.

Baines represented the White Sox on stage for the lottery at baseball’s winter meetings.

“I’m still learning more and more about the draft. I’m getting familiar with

MLB and the players’ association established the lottery in the March 2022 collective bargaining agreement. The union pushed for the innovation to encourage teams to compete for wins rather than trade off players at the deadline in an attempt to get a higher draft

choice. Pittsburgh won the lottery the first year and chose right-hander Paul Skenes, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner, out of LSU. Cleveland went first in 2024 and selected second baseman Travis Bazzana, and Washington picked shortstop Eli Willits in July Colorado, the Los Angeles Angels and Washington were not eligible for this lottery. The Rockies, a big league-worst 43-119, were excluded because a team can’t receive a lottery pick in three consecutive years. The Angels and Nationals were blocked because teams that receive revenuesharing money can’t get a lottery pick in two straight years. After the White Sox, Minnesota had the second-highest odds of the top pick at 22.18%, followed by Pittsburgh (16.81%), Baltimore (9.24%) and the Athletics (6.55%).

QUEEN

Continued from page 1C

to win Rookie of the Year behind only Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) and Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets). Not bad for a player selected with the 13th pick.

It is only fitting that another rookie that some doubted (New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough) was sitting courtside Monday night witnessing his first Pelicans game. It’s early, but both Queen and Shough look like they could be on their way to becoming the faces of their respective franchises.

Queen showed some of everything, scoring at will while also getting his teammates open looks and rebounding.

“That was impressive,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said. “I

don’t know how to say it other than that. It was a special performance on his part to make plays, pass the ball create for others and get to the rim. He made timely plays, too. In clutch moments, for him to have that poise at this young age is special. You don’t see that too often.”

Even more impressive is that Queen’s big night came despite a slow start. His stats at halftime were four points, six rebounds and three assists.

Then he got going, scoring 21 points to go with four rebounds and five assists in the third quarter

“I started off with a dunk and that got me going,” Queen said “Everything was just flowing.”

It also helped that he got some lectures from veteran teammates Jordan and Kevon Looney

“There was no excuse why he can’t do that the whole

game,” Jordan said “I think that’s the next challenge for him. Being able to turn that motor on from the tip to start the game. It’s just growth. But he played amazing in the second half.”

Queen shot 11 of 15 from the floor One of his few misses came on the final shot he took as he missed a 3-pointer with seven seconds left that would have given the Pelicans a lead. As Queen walked to the other end of the court after the miss, he dropped his head. Jose Alvarado walked up to him, put his hand on Queen’s chin and picked his head up. The missed shot was about the only thing that went wrong for Queen on this night.

“I wanted that shot to go in,” Queen said. “The next one is definitely going to go in.”

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Still smarting, Notre Dame AD calls for 16-team CFP

BY MICHAEL MAROT AP sportswriter

Notre Dame athletic director

Pete Bevacqua thinks there’s a simple solution to politicking for College Football Playoff spots — expansion.

He was still upset Tuesday about the selection committee’s decision to bypass the Fighting Irish from the 12-team playoff field and the ACC’s public campaigning to get full-time league member Miami a spot. He then called a 16-team format the perfect number “It should be 16 teams in my opinion, with five automatic qualifiers

and 11 at-large teams,” Bevacqua said, fielding questions for nearly 40 minutes. “What I like about 16 is it creates more opportunity, more narratives around schools and yet it preserves the integrity and importance of the regular season.”

Bevacqua did not back off the complaints that have permeated the college football world ever since Sunday’s selections were revealed.

He still thinks the committee should be more transparent with its selection process to ensure schools, coaches, players and fans know how decisions are made and where they actually stand in the rankings.

He also reiterated the notion the ACC’s actions have created “real damage” with Notre Dame. But two days after Notre Dame decided to skip the bowl season all together, he also tempered his words.

“I would tell you, at this point, we haven’t given all that a ton of thought,” Bevacqua said when asked what he expects the ACC to do next. “Are we looking for an apology? Quite frankly I don’t think an apology does much of anything or unwinds what has happened. But we’ll, at the right time, sit down with the ACC leadership and I think hopefully have a very

Vanderbilt tries to quantify QB Pavia’s worth to program

BY TERESA M. WALKER AP sportswriter

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Clark Lea can’t

tick off all of the statistics Diego Pavia piled up while leading the Vanderbilt Commodores to their best season ever as the quarterback put himself all over the program’s record books.

Defining what Pavia means to the Commodores is much simpler

“This guy deserves all the attention, all the credit, all the accolades that are coming his way because he has been such an important part of the heartbeat of our team,” Lea said. Pavia has gone from unrecruited out of high school to junior college, New Mexico State and finally Vanderbilt in 2024 through the transfer portal to become the first Heisman Trophy finalist for the charter Southeastern Conference program. Brash and confident to the point of cockiness, Pavia is the guy rival fans hate and begrudgingly respect while the Commodores and their faithful couldn’t love him more.

“I just feel like I’m a chip on the shoulder guy,” Pavia said.

Generously listed as 6 feet tall, Pavia led Vanderbilt to its first 10win season along with six SEC wins. That includes four wins over ranked programs, including three in the top

TULANE

Continued from page 1C

because I have the best chance to win here right now I fully expect to be in here next year celebrating another CFP selection show.”

The outside skepticism comes from recent history Sumrall arrived off back-to-back Sun Belt Conference championships at Troy in his first two years as a head coach. Hall, from Amory, Mississippi, returned for his second stint as a Tulane assistant this past spring after being fired midway through 2024 at Southern Mississippi with a 14-30 record as the head coach.

In a search that hit a speed bump when LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker decided to stay with the Tigers rather than accept an offer from Tulane, Hall beat out everyone else after an impressive opening interview

“His passion was just evident,” said athletic director David Harris, who was the primary decision-maker with assistance from Tulane chief operating officer Patrick Norton and deputy athletic director Justin Schemmel.

“The fact he knew and understood what it meant to win here, that he cared very deeply for our student-

15 when the game was played, and a No. 9 ranking that was Vanderbilt’s highest in The Associated Press Top 25 poll since 1937.

The two losses came on the road to ranked opponents.

Pavia made quite the impression on Texas coach Steve Sarkisian after a three-point loss to his Longhorns.

Sarkisian said Pavia has a knack for making plays at critical moments and deserves all the praise he gets.

“One thing about playing quarterback, it’s not always about the passes you throw. It’s not always about the runs you made,” Sarkisian said.

“It’s about instilling belief in teammates, and instilling belief in your organization, and instilling belief in your fan base. Diego Pavia has done that for that program.”

Cornerback Martel Hight said

Pavia walked into Vanderbilt with so much confidence that it spread “throughout the entire program.”

Pavia ranks second nationally with 334.8 yards of total offense per game and third averaging 9.39 yards per pass attempt. He threw for 3,192 yards while completing 71.2% of his passes, and he led the SEC with 27 touchdown passes. He also led Vanderbilt with 826 yards rushing and nine more TDs.

He became the first Vanderbilt player with at least 300 yards pass-

athletes, that he is an excellent recruiter, we understood he was the exact right person for this position.”

Hall overcame his failure at Southern Miss because of his track record everywhere else. During his two years as the Tulane offensive coordinator under former coach Willie Fritz, the Wave averaged the third-most points and the third-most yards in school history (2019), then upped its scoring average the following season (2020). He recruited record-setting quarterback Michael Pratt, who started for him in 2020 as a true freshman and led the Wave to the American Conference championship two years later

Earlier in Hall’s career, he went 25-11 as the coach at Division II West Alabama from 2011-13 and 31-9 at Division II West Georgia from 2014-16.

“What happened at Southern Miss was certainly something we paid attention to, but it wasn’t a disqualifying factor,” Harris said.

“It was something we needed him to answer for, and he did answer for it. We were satisfied with what he shared with us.”

Neither Harris nor Hall would go into specifics about what went wrong for him at Southern Miss, but Hall gave what he admitted openly was a vague explanation.

“I’ve got to be me,” he said. “Be-

frank, honest, productive conversation. But that time is not now

“All things can be healed. I’m not going to be overly dramatic here, right? But it strained the relationship.”

Bevacqua said he was texting with ACC commissioner Jim Phillips last week after the conference began what he considered a second round of campaigning on behalf of Miami.

The league had been clear it was in steady communication with the CFP committee, supplying data that made the case for its teams leading up to the selection show

The ESPN-partnered ACC Network also repeatedly showed a re-

LSU

Continued from page 1C

But the priority is our current football team.”

Now in his second stint at LSU, Wilson has been the running backs coach for the past four seasons, and he was promoted to interim head coach after the firing of Brian Kelly Wilson worked on Kiffin’s staff as the wide receivers coach at Tennessee in 2009.

Kiffin already has put most of the LSU offensive staff in place, but it still has an opening for a running backs coach. It’s unclear whether Wilson will be retained in that capacity Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith coached with Kiffin for eight of the past nine seasons, but he has not yet followed him to LSU.

Wilson said the offensive coaches that finished the season with LSU will coach the team through the Texas Bowl, even though they are not expected to be retained.

play of the season-opening Notre Dame-Miami game last week — including four times on Thursday’s schedule and five more Friday Miami won the game 27-24 on a last-second field goal, a head-tohead result that clearly had an impact on how the final teams were chosen.

“I charged the committee members to go back and watch that game,” CFP selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek said.

“We got some interesting debate on what that game looked like. With that in mind, we gave Miami the nod over Notre Dame into that 10 spot.”

4, and he had to push through the end of the regular season. He did not play against Western Kentucky, but he returned to start a week later against Oklahoma. Delane, a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, is projected as a first-round NFL draft pick. Nussmeier did not play the last three games after aggravating an abdominal injury, Wilson previously said. Without him, sophomore quarterback Michael Van Buren is expected to make his fourth straight start.

Weeks returned from a broken ankle to play in the last two games of the regular season, but he has been dealing with ankle pain all season. There are ongoing conversations about Weeks’ future at LSU with one more season of eligibility remaining. LSU players are also beginning to enter the transfer portal. Wilson said sophomore defensive lineman Ahmad Breaux will play in the Texas Bowl before he enters the portal.

ing and at least 100 yards rushing in the same game with 377 yards passing and 112 yards rushing in a win over Auburn.

Then he became the first SEC player since 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels to throw for more than 250 yards and run for at least 150 in a 45-24 rout of then-No. 18 Tennessee. Pavia threw for 268 yards and ran for a career-high 165 yards in that win.

“Diego Pavia is a great quarterback, we knew that coming into this game,” Tennessee linebacker Jeremiah Telander said.

This season, his impact went beyond the games themselves.

Vanderbilt sold out six home games, hosted a rare visit from ESPN’s “College GameDay” and had people at games from comedian and podcaster Theo Von to actress, producer and writer Reese Witherspoon.

Pavia also has worked to ensure the Commodores can build on this season, helping Vanderbilt flip five-star quarterback Jared Curtis from his verbal commitment to Georgia. Curtis signed with the Commodores last week.

Lea hopes that Pavia isn’t hurt in Heisman voting by Vanderbilt not playing in the Southeastern Conference title game or missing the CFP

“I’ve done it before, so it’s not totally strange for me, individually,” Wilson said of coaching through the bowl game without clarity “There’s a 2025 football team that I’ve been a part of — we’ve been a part of — since inception, the beginning of the season, that has one more game to finish. That’s very natural for us. Because of my relationship with coach Kiff, it allows us to have smooth transition, interaction in the building.”

Texas Bowl roster

LSU will be without several starters in the Texas Bowl.

Wilson said Tuesday that cornerback Mansoor Delane, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and linebacker Whit Weeks will not play because of injuries.

Wide receiver Aaron Anderson‘s status is in doubt, and center Braelin Moore has a chance to play. Defensive end Jack Pyburn and others may opt out, Wilson said, but that has not been finalized.

“We are in discussion with some of those veteran players who may opt out,” Wilson said. “We’re anticipating having the lion’s share of our team in quantity and in quality to be able to participate.”

LSU begins practicing for the bowl Thursday Delane has played through a core muscle injury since Week

ing me works. It’s worked everywhere else I’ve been, so I will be unapologetically me every minute of every day.”

Being himself certainly won over the Tulane players. Harris recounted how a bunch of them went to his office unannounced and made the case for Hall’s promo-

tion, praising him for 30 minutes.

“That was powerful,” Harris said. “It was not just because he’s a great coach and not even because they liked him as a person, but they talked about how he challenged them to be the best versions of themselves. It really caught my attention that he was finding a way

“I think we’ll have the guys that we finished the season with,” Wilson said. “We’re still working through it. We have a couple of young guys that have entered the portal. Some will play Some may not, necessarily.”

Perkins to the NFL?

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins accepted an invitation to the EastWest Shrine Bowl, the game announced Tuesday morning, another indication that he will enter the 2026 NFL Draft. Perkins has one more year of eligibility as a redshirt junior after suffering a torn ACL four games into the 2024 season, but he was also honored on LSU’s senior night last month.

Though players can back out of postseason showcases after accepting an invitation, they cannot return to school if they play in the game. Perkins has not formally announced his plans as of Tuesday Often playing the Star position, which is a hybrid linebacker/ safety role, Perkins has recorded 56 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, one forced fumble and seven quarterback hurries this season. After coming to LSU as a fivestar recruit in the 2022 class, Perkins said he intended to leave for the NFL in three years. His plan changed because of the injury, but he returned to LSU this year with the intention of turning pro after the season.

to show love as well as to challenge them. It’s rare you have a coach who finds that balance.”

As passing game coordinator, Hall spent his time in the receivers’ meeting room Anthony Brown-Stephens, a redshirt junior wideout with 35 catches for 466 yards, expects few defections to the transfer portal after Hall’s promotion.

“He loves the players and we love him,” Brown-Stephens said. “When they announced it, it was surreal. He’s going to bring the grit. He’s going to bring us another playoff run. He’s going to bring it all.”

How many coaches Hall retains from the current staff is unclear He said he would not call plays but would run his offense, which will be a pro-style system similar to what Tulane has now with a little more tempo added.

“I knew I’d be a head coach again,” he said. “I believe that’s what God put me on this Earth to do. I’m blessed to be here right now I also feel like I deserve to be here right now for everything I’ve been through.”

He offered a final reply to anyone who envisioned another name as coach a week ago.

“Pete Carroll was USC’s fourth choice when they hired him,” he said. “Everybody there is pretty excited (about what he did).”

The Purple Knights are back in the state final for the first time since 1979.

PURPLE PRIDE

St.Aug players, coachesfeelalumnisupport in return

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

St. Augustine defensive line

coach Matt Brown played on the2000 St. Augustine team that reached the state semifinals and came up short against West MonroeatTad Gormley Stadium.

Back in that stadium Friday for another semifinal against John Curtis, Brown watched from near the 40-yard line on the far side of the field from where thePurple Knightswould get one last chance to reach the end zone.

“I just heard the stadium erupt,” Brown said about the moment quarterback Vashaun Coulon threw the winning touchdown pass to Derrick Bennett as time expired for a31-29 victory

“And the tears just started flowing down my eyes.” Brown went on to say he considered himself“alegacykid” and that his “whole familywent to St. Aug.”

“Myfather is no longer here,and Iwas thinking about thosefolks who would say,‘Man, Ijustwant to see St. Aug back in the Dome.’ ” Notsince 1979 has St. Aug reached the statefinal, andthe LHSAA Division Iselectstate championship game Saturday againstEdnaKarratthe Caesars Superdome will be the first chance since then for the Purple Knights to claim afourth LHSAA state championship.

Brown, 40, will be among the tens of thousands of alumni in the Dome andbeyondwho have waited alifetime for this moment.

“Guys that Iplayedwithcalling on my phone, and so many people down on the field embracing each other,” Brown said. “It was a magical moment. Ijust kind of sat thereand took it allin. Just kind of looked around and you know, there was apoint where Ididn’t think Iwould ever see it.”

St. Augustine assistant principal Darren Dixon quarterbacked the last St. Augustine team to reach the state finals, and “I just hadso many talks with Coach,” Brown said. “Justpeoplelike that,who this means so much to. That’swhy Idoit. Idoitfor them and for the kids.”

That sentiment is not lost on the players Coulon, the quarterback who threw the winning touchdown pass for the Robert Valdezcoached team, also recognized the significanceofthe moment

“It’sbig for all the alumni,”

Dodgerssuperstar Ohtani ties record with fourth AP nod

Duplantis finishes second

in

voting for Male Athleteofyear

BY BETH HARRIS Associated Press

PASADENA, Calif. Shohei Ohtani is catching up with morelegends.

The baseball superstarends 2025 by winning The Associated PressMale Athlete of the Year for thefourth time, tying him with Lance Armstrong, LeBron James andTiger Woodsfor most among male honorees.

National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, he pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and hitthree home runs to earn MVP honors. He said it washis greatest gameinacareer full of incredible feats.

“Ifyou think about it in termsof asingle game, I’d say that’sprobably true,” he said. “It wasacrucial game in the postseason, and I personally feel Iplayed quite well in that game.”

Doeshesurprise himself?

to Dome

GormleyStadium. Football state championships At CaesarsSuperdome Thursday Division IV nonselect: No. 1Haynesville (130) vs.No. 2Mangham (11-2), noon Division IV select: No. 2Riverside (11-1)vs. No. 5Ascension Catholic (11-2),3:30 p.m. Division III select: No. 5Dunham (12-1) vs No. 6Calvary Baptist (12-1),7 p.m. Friday Division II nonselect: No. 1North Desoto (13-0) vs.No. 2Iowa(13-0), noon Division III nonselect: No. 1Jena (12-1) vs No. 2Sterlington (11-2), 3:30 p.m. Division II select: No. 1St. Charles (12-1)vs. No. 7Shaw(9-4), 7p.m. Saturday Division Inonselect: No. 1Ruston (11-2)vs. No. 14 Ouachita Parish (10-4), noon Division Iselect: No. 1Edna Karr (13-0) vs No. 3St. Augustine (12-1), 3:30 p.m.

Coulon said.“They deserve it. They’ve been waitingfor this opportunity,and we’re just blessed to be able to have thechanceto give it to them.Theypourso much into us.It’stimetogive back to them.”

Ty Dominique, aUL-signed defensive lineman, sat on thebench so he couldconsoleanother player on defense after Curtis scored atouchdown to take alead with less than aminute remaining.

“I was like, ‘Just relax. The game is not over yet. We still got 39 seconds left,’ ”Dominiquesaid. “Then all of asudden, Iheard the crowd screaming and Isee Vashaunrunning to thesideline “Tears just started flowing. We worked so hard for this. Dreams are comingtrueright here.”

Againsttop-seeded Karr (13-0), No. 3St. Augustine (12-1) will face ateam that is riding a26-game winningstreakthatincludeslast season’s53-8 drubbing of Alexandriainthe state title game.

Karr beat St. Aug 42-21 when theteam last met Oct. 3atMorris F.X. Jeff Sr.Stadium in Algiers. In that game, Karr stopped St Augonfourth down at the 1-yard line anddrove 99 yards to make it athree-score game in the third quarter

The title gamewill feature an explosiveSt. Augustine offense on ateam that averages 44 points per gameagainst astoutKarr defense thatfeatures LSU commitments Richard Anderson (defensive line) and Aiden Hall (safety) among the 15 Division Icollege signees at the school.

The last state finals appearance for St.Augustine came against NewIberiaina game played at UL’s Cajun Field, one year after St. Aug beat Jesuit at the Dome in the game that inspired the idea for theLHSAA to hold all championshipsthere —a customthat began in 1981.

Now riding an eight-gamewinning streak and going back to the Domefor achampionship, excitement for football at St.Aug is at its highest point in decades.

“It’sbeena lotofnoise talking about,‘Oh,we’re in the state championship,’ and alot of people arerooting for us,” Dominique said. “But at thesame time, we gottokeep alevel head going into the game. That’swhat Itell my teammates.But everybody is excited, you know,with St. Aug in thestate championship.”

ContactChristopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com

Pacers coachCarlisleclosing in

BY TIM REYNOLDS Associated Press

Abig moment in NBA coaching history is looming.Itmight happen Friday.Maybe on Sunday.Maybe sometime next week. But it’sgoing to happen, and it’sgoing to be something the likes of which the league won’tsee again for at least afew years. Rick Carlisle is going toget his 1,000th career win as acoach It should be amomenttosavor, although Carlisle —the Indiana coach who is now 999-878 in his career —typically doesn’twant much fanfare directed his way.He’ll becomethe 11th NBA coachtoreach that milestone, joining Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens Jerry Sloan, Pat Riley,George Karl,

Doc Rivers, Phil Jackson, Larry Brown and Rick Adelman. With the exception of Rivers, who is still coaching,they’re all in theBasketball Hall of Fame

“It was atough game. Great to win it,”Carlisle said Monday night after Indianaheld off Sacramento 116-105. “We’ve got some time to practice this week,sowe’ll make the best of that. And, moretough gamescoming.”

He sounded the same —focused, direct, matter-of-fact —after a gamebetween twosub-.500 clubs as hedid last season when the Pacers were contending for atitle.

Gettingtothe 1,000-win mark is a capper to a2025 worth savoring for Carlisle,who took the Pacers to the NBA Finals before they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7.

That was thegame in which point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles, an injury that meanshe won’t playthis season.The Pacers went from one win shy of aworld title to beinga team in the throes of areloading season, justlike that. The lineup this season is verydifferent. Carlisleisn’t. He evolves, sure, but he doesn’tchange.

“I can’tsay enough about him and the respect Ihave for him,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said during the 2025finals. “I think the whole is better than the sumofthe parts. Almost consistently across every year he’sever coached, the team is better than their sum. Ithink that’sareflection of him. His teams play aclear identity,stay in character through all the ups and downs.

“Receiving this awardmultiple times is something truly special,” Ohtani said in Japaneseinanexclusive interview with the AP Ohtanireceived 29 of 47 votes in balloting amongsports journalists from theAPand its members after his two-way dominance culminated in arepeat World Series title for his Los AngelesDodgers —delivering perhaps the greatest singlegame individualperformancein sports historyalong the way.He previouslywon the award in 2024, hisfirstseasonwiththe Dodgers, and in 2023 and 2021, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

TheAPhonor hasbeengivenout since 1931. Multisport standout

BabeDidrikson Zaharias won six times over the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, themost by aman or woman Ohtani’s latest win brokeatie with Michael Jordan, who along with Woods, he followed while growing up in Japan.

“Last year,I said Iwanted to win this award again, and Iwill work hard so that Ican winitagain next year as well,” he said.

Swedish-American pole vaulter andLafayette native Mondo Duplantis, who wonhis third consecutive world title and hasset theworld record14times, including four times in 2025, was second withfive votes in balloting announced Tuesday.Carlos Alcaraz, theworld’s top-ranked tennis player whowon titlesatthe Frenchand U.S. Opens, wasthird with four The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Wednesday Two-waysupremacy

Ohtani, 31, has shown remarkable consistency sincejoining the Los Angeles Dodgers on athen-record $700 million, 10-year contract in December 2023.

He wonhis fourth career Most Valuable Player award (second withthe Dodgers) by unanimous vote, the first player in major league history to do so.

This year,heposted a1.014 OPS and hit 55 home runs. Returning to the moundfor thefirsttimesince 2023, he had a2.87 ERA and 62 strikeoutsin47innings in 14 starts.

Ohtani saved his best for the postseason. In Game 4ofthe

“Well, yes, there are times when Ifeel thatway about myself, and of course thereare timeswhenI think I’m notgood enough,” he said, “so Isuppose athletes experience both kinds of feelings.”

Anotheryear, anotherring

Ohtani showed he’shuman in Game 7ofthe WorldSeries.He singled in the first inning and then took the mound on short rest, but he struggled with his command. He gave up athree-run homer to Toronto’sBoBichette alongwith five hits in 21/3 innings.

But he and the Dodgers raised a secondstraight World Series trophy after outlasting the Blue Jays in the most scintillating Series in recent memory.

“Shohei obviously has the weight of the world on his shoulders as far as expectations, being probably the face of baseball, certainly when you’re talking about the world,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Game 7. “It’sjust really special what he’s done. Just agreat person and agreat competitor.”

Ohtani’spresence has been transformative forMLB’s global reach.Game 7ofthis World Series averaged 13.1 million viewers in Japan, the most-watched World Series game on asingle network there ever,and 51 million watched worldwide to makeitthe mostviewed sinceGame 7ofthe 1991 World Series. Howdoeshedoit?

“I think the higher your goals are, themore you have to do, and the moreyou wanttodo,” he said. “Ifyou’re satisfied with where you are now,I don’tthinkit’spossible to achieve your goals without putting in the effort. So, setting goals high is what Ibelieve is mostimportant.”

The Dodgers carefully managed Ohtani’sreturn to pitching this year by gradually increasing his workload after rehabbing from elbow surgery in September 2023.

“Whenitcomes to feelingnervous,being on themound definitelymakes me more tense,” he said. “It’saposition where you can single-handedly ruin agame, and at the same time,it’salso aposition where you can contribute to awin. So, in my mind, Ifeel that being a pitcher is truly aspecial role.”

1,000 career wins

BY IANMcNULTY | Staff writer

It’sthe time of year when schedules get tight, but the desire to reconnect with friends for festive cheer ishigh.

Youwant to go somewhere nice, but casual would be easier,maybe with no reservations or something looser than aconventional dinner

Here’sone answer: the sidekick spot.

Around the city,anumber of high-end and highly popular restaurants offer adifferent experience with casual, spin-offs or outposts right next door, or sometimes under thesame roof. Here are five examples fit for the season.

Each of these is a destination in its own right, and can also give you ataste of the personality and quality of the original restaurant with easier access. Fine restaurantsoffer easier, more

BY IAN McNULTY Staff writer

Avegno n 1726 Soniat St (504) 899-7397

Though less than ayear old, Avegno feels like it’sbeen here forever.It’sthe kind of place you might stay longer than you intended to, as well.

It’sthe sister loungetoGautreau’s, thatUptown dining mainstay,now in anew era with newowners.Just next door (andconnected by the kitchen), Avegno is apicture of easy elegance and purrs with understated luxury Tryitfor cocktailsorwine (including aspecialty in half bottles, ahandy flex for shorter visits) andfor amenu of cheese anddips,caviarand oysters,and more substantialfarefromGautreau’skitchen.

Of special interest this time of year,Avegno has a“late-night happy hour,” running 8p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday,with discountsoncocktails, half bottles and deals on snacks and wines by theglass. Anytimeduring theholidays, Avegno also has special wine and spirits tasting flights and pours of hard-to-find allocated bourbons (of theVan Winkle variety)

BoulignyTavern n 3641 Magazine St (504) 891-1810

Thelounge next to JohnHarris’ bistro Lilette can feel like acocktailparty in prog-

ress, especially this time of year whenthe clientele maybedressed up from leaving just such functions.

Youcan assembleafulldinner, butthe menu of fancy snacks and upscalesmall platesisbestsuitedtonoshing over cocktails while soaking in the mid-century modern atmosphere.

The turntable spinning vinyl of various vintages adds asonictexture to theroom. The cocktail list carries asubtle Spanish twist —like the martini Madrileño with a touch of sherry and the gin and tonic in abig wineglass with aromatics and grapefruit.

Weddingfee woes

Dear Readers: We’ve received hundreds of letters concerning weddings where the bride and groom want to charge people to attend. Apparently,this is now a trend in America where the happy couple want to have the wedding of their dreams but can’tafford alavish celebration. The reaction from the public was more than Ihad expected, but below are afew of theresponseswereceived. —Heloise Weddingfees

presumptuous andtremendously rude. If alavish wedding is what they want, they should start saving for it as young asthey can. —Mary, in TheVillages, Florida More on edding fees

Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: Ihate lavish weddings. They’re usually too loud, too crowded and too expensive. Askingpeopletopay to seethis kind ofspectacleisstressful for family and friends, especially if moneyistightasitisfor most peoplethese days —Sarah M., in Lansing,Michigan

Dear Heloise: Iread your letter this morning about couples who want to charge their gueststoattend. No way,nohow! It’stotally

Send ahint to heloise@heloise. com.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Wednesday,Dec. 10, the 344th day of 2025. There are 21 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Dec. 10, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first American to win aNobel Prize, winningthe Nobel Peace Prize for helping to negotiate peace in the Russo-Japanese War.

Also on this date:

In 1861, the Confederacy admitted Kentucky as it recognized apro-Southern shadow state governmentthat was actingwithout the authority of the pro-Union government in Frankfort.

In 1898, atreaty was signed in Paris officially ending the Spanish-American War.

In 1964, Martin Luther King Jr.received his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, saying he accepted it “with an abiding faith in America and an audacious faith in the future of mankind.”

In 1967, singer Otis Redding, 26, and six others were killed when their planecrashed into a Wisconsin lake; trumpeter Ben Cauley,amember of the group the Bar-Kays, was the only survivor In 1994, Yasser Arafat, Shi-

mon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to advance theMiddleEast peace process.

In 2007, former Vice President Al Gore accepted the Nobel Peace Prize with acalltoconfront human-caused climate change and stop waging war on theenvironment In 2021, atwo-day outbreakof tornadoes in theU.S. Midwest and South killed more than 90 people across five states, including77inKentucky.The National Weather Service recordedmore than 40 twisters Dec. 10 and Dec. 11.

In 2022, Morocco became the first African country to reach theWorld Cup semifinals by beatingPortugal 1-0.

Today’sbirthdays: Actor Fionnula Flanagan is 84. Actor-singer Gloria Loring is 79. Republican Sen. John Boozman of Arkansasis75.

Actor Susan Dey is 73. Jazz musician Diane Schuur is 72. Actordirector KennethBranaghis65. Actor NiaPeeples is 64.TVchef Bobby Flayis61. Rock musician Meg White (TheWhite Stripes) is 51. Actor Emmanuelle Chriqui is 50. Actor Raven-Symone is 40. Actor/singer Teyana Tayloris 35. Actor Kiki Layne is 34. Cyclist Jonas Vingegaard is 29.

HOT&SOUL

one chef’s Filipinoroots.

Andthe main act wasbeefstroganoff, direct from home-cookedmeal memories of the other chef’s American childhood.

When Isaw acocktail made withbeet-infused vodka and a bit of sparkling wine, Iknew this “borscht and bubbles” would be its pairing.

The cocktaillist is just as eclectic as the food and, it turnsout, just as carefully prepared.

Hot &Soul opened over the summer right next to the Tulane Avenue location of Trader Joe’s, which debuted to much fanfareshortly afterward.

Ipointout this significant landmark because it’sotherwise easy to miss Hot&Soul. It’s asingle shotgun house near where Banks Street ends, an address that was once home to Fharmacy,amuchmissedand also eclectic restaurant Youshould not miss this new one. Afar-out diner

Through the window, youcan see the bright branding of Trader Joe’sand the frenzied parking lot around it.Inside, it feels like you’re eating at afar-out diner built in acottage with slapdash decor and awarm welcome.

It’srun by Christy Samoy and Mike Hampton,apairoflong-tenured pros in the local hospitality businessnow doing their own thing. They left for astint and eventually opened an earlierfirst edition of Hot &Soul in Fort Lauderdale before returning to theNew Orleans scene. Pieces of their collective resume, from Vega Tapas and RioMar in the old days, to Cane &Table and Curemore recently,are evident in their style here.

Thedishes are all over the map, but with aunifying thread of vivid, refreshingly different flavors. It reminds me fondly of the old Mondo, Susan Spicer’sformer restaurant in Lakeview

Return of Manchego toast

I’venot yetbrought myself to try the bacon-wrapped hot dog or the Carlino, a“loose meat”sandwich, amiddle America oddity somewhere between burger and sloppy Joe.

ButI canreport happilythat Hot &Soul has brought back a dish Imiss from the old Mimi’s in theMarigny.Hamptonwas in the kitchen as Mimi’swas taking shape back in the day,and this is hissomewhat-updatedversion of the Manchego toast that was alatenight standby there.

Thebread is better now, with a deep, dark crust standing up to the Manchego and sherry cream sauce that drapes over piles of mushrooms.

The vegan curry bowlisawhole bouquetofcrunch in different tones.

Andkeep an eyeonthe specials list because, yes, even in arestaurant this small with amenucovering as muchground as it does, these chefs still want to makespecials. It might be gumbo one day, and maybe yucca mofongo with pork neck broth the next.

Youmight get one like Ihad earlier this year,with squid ink noodles curled around bits of tuna conserva.

Filipino flavor,cocktails

Samoy taps her Filipino family heritage to bring abadly-needed dose of this cuisine to the menu. Getthe chicken adobo and the lumpia and pair these with agimlet made with tart calamansi citrus fruit, and you have an all-star Filipino meal

Iamrooting foracoldfront if fornothing else than to warm myself again with that beef stroganoff, served with afork and spoon, because the knife is unnecessary to flake apart the tender short ribs and build alittlebundle around the egg noodles they’re making in-house.

Check out thehappyhour(called “halfy hour,” 3:30 p.m.to6 p.m Monday-Saturday),withhalf-off drink specials and $5 tapas-style snacks. That might be enough to align the schedule of your next grocery run.

Nolan SOCIETY

n All Aboard!

“The LooooooveBoat,” the familiar refrain that greeted viewers as each episode of thepopular TV series by that truncated name began, underscored thethemefor therecent Academy of the Sacred Heart Auction. The fictive crew members of thecruise ship MS Pacific Princess, such as Capt. Merrill Stubing, found real-life costumed counterparts at ASH’saqueous ado. Auction attendees channeled such lauded episodes as “Hidden Treasure” (theevent was afundraiser) and “Picture from thePast” for apresent-day rendition. And revelry.

Launching “Love Boat,” thethematic take, was apatron party at theshowplace homeof Lauren and Matt Rosendahl. On the hedge outside thehome, red lighting created an initial effect, as did balloons, while aballoon cascade of red, black and goldfell from the home’sfront door.Another cascade, which added the colors of blue and pink to the red and gold, framed asmall building on the expansive lawn, where half thehobnobbers congregated, many in costume. Inside theballoon framework was asign with “Love Boat” on awhitebackground. Atall, nearby palmtree was illuminated.

In keepingwith thenautical motif, acutout “boat” with underneath “waves” was positioned on the grass with an anchor anda captain’swheel as decorative accessories. Life-ringsincolors of red and white, and also blueand white, floated atop the rectangular pool. In the pool house, gueststrekked to the Hub, that area’sbar.Manyfolksthen stationed themselves for quaffing andconversation at various stand-up tables, which were covered in redcloth and centered with mintjulep cups holding blue andwhite hydrangeas inserted with tiny flags (stating donationsby Michael and RobynnBeck), small lamps and “LoveBoat” pins in blue and red. From the lawn, the “Boat”brigadeentered thehome via abroad set of stairs on the side of the house. Awaitingwithinwas apirogue filled withsushi, thanks to Ricky Toy and Mikimoto, as well as PalateNew Orleans nibbles,and drinks in “Love Boat”plastic cups. Lots of partakers sported captain’s hats to toptheir yacht-rock looks. Themainevent continued on theschool’scampus in the Nims FineArtsCenter and its open floorplan. CasinoNight games wereahuge draw,aswere the 300-plus auction items. More attractions were theallure of mahjong andthe Mrs. Gretchen Kane Party,a sign-up for 40 people. It bore thename of thehead of school and partyattendee. Raffle attentionturned to thediamondpendant donated by Béjé Fine Jewelry and won by LaurenGambel. Mikimoto Sushi and SAGE Diningcatered Thetop “crew” names were eventchair couples Megand Will Baldwin, Lauren and KenFlower, and Meredith and Jonathan Garrett;patron party hostsLauren and MattRosendahl; and boardoftrustees chair Graham Ralston with Adele,analumna, as were scores. Noted, too, were Rosalind and Peter Wilson,Aubreyand AlanSchlanker,Liz and HenryHefler,Katie and Eric Hoffman, Amanda and LukeKay,Caroline and AlexPlocki,Rae and JoeDempsey,Susan and Josh Gunn, Heatherand Angelo Phillip, Mark andMichelle Montiel and theabove Becks.Tomention afew of the party passengers. Of course, there had to be music and the named group was thematically on target: WhereY’acht. Their call to thedancefloor allowed theparty pack to make their own setofwaves.

n Historyand Heritage

Thejoint Fall Dinner of theAztecClub of 1847 and Order of the Crown of Charlemagne unfolded in the Wine Room of Galatoire’s Restaurant. Looking back two centuries, male descendants of officers of the U.S Army formed the Aztec Club in Mexico City at the conclusion of the Mexican War.

“It is the second oldest continuous hereditary societyinthe United States.”

The Orderofthe CrownofCharlemagne was organized in the U.S. in 1939 and is an independent patriotic and lineal society named in honorofEmperor Charles the Great (742-814),known as Charlemagne

During the cocktail hour,Aztec Club members convened on the restaurant’s wrought iron balcony, where they received club cufflinks from new president Douglass Mather

PACES& PLACES

n Hailing honorees!

The University of New Orleans held its Homer L. HittDistinguished Alumni Gala, “powered by Entergy,” in the United States Freedom Pavilion:The Boeing Center of the National WWI Museum. The headliner honorees were Kimberly S. Cook-Nelson,’94,’97 &’99, the Homer L. HittDistinguished Alumna of the Year; and Edgar “Dook” Chase IV, ’09, the Norma Jane Sabiston Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year Around of cocktails preceded the seating and dinner service of baby iceberg wedge salad, beef short ribs, and miniature dessert bites withbrownie andlemon meringue as favorites. Opening remarks came from Nerolie S. Rayson,executive director,UNO Alumni Association; special guest emcee Mark Romig, ’78; MichaelD.Jackson, ’01, Alumni Association president; and University of New OrleansPresident KathyE.Johnson,Ph.D

The awards presentationfollowed. In addition to Kimberly S. Cook-Nelson, executivevice president and COO at Entergy,and Dook Chase, executive chef and operator of his family’sDooky Chase’srestaurant, which wasrecognized on Nov.3bythe Michelin Guide as aprestigiousBib Gourmand awardee, there werefive moreUNO 2025 laureates. They,and thecolleges where they studied, were Kansas City ChiefsCFO Daniel L. Crumb,’87, the Henry Bernstein College of Business Administration; retired from alifelong career with the federal government (General Services Administration) HenryJ.Singer, ’69, the Dr.Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering; Neo-Conceptualist movement artist, writer and Yale professor Peter Halley, ’78, the College of Liberal Arts and Education; and retired President and CEO of Eurofins Analytical Laboratories John M. Reuther ’76, the College of Sciences. Privateer Athletics Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Wayne B. Harer, 1972-73, whose career is real estate, played baseball at UNO and later professionally with the Red Sox and Yankees.

An additional award, thePresident’sMedallion, was given to Percy“MasterP”Miller It was awarded to an individual from outside UNO’s direct employment whoperforms extraordinary service to theuniversity.All proceeds from the event support student scholarships. Thanks tapped ahost of sponsors to achieve arecord fundraising goal that will increase the scholarship endowments to morethan $2 million.

Topnames were numerous and included Richard Foran with president Johnson, former U.S. Sen. MaryLandrieu, Dr Nick and Beth Mueller, and DottieBelletto,sister of the late Norma Jane Sabiston. Former honorees and their guests were above Mark Romig with David Briggs, Clancy DuBos with Margo, Susan O. Hess, Dr TimRyan with Louise Schreiner, JoeRaspanti with Donna, DonaldLandry with MaryPat, Jim Letten,Newell Normand with Shawn Bridgewater, Julie Stokes with Larry,Bill Chauvin with Jane Mentz,TomKitchen with Connie and Jim Tucker with Marisol. Attendee David Carney III,’20, will succeed Mike Jackson as president of the UNO AlumniAssociation. Abrace of Annies, Ms. Juttner and Ms. Sergi, are the respective past president and current treasurer.The additional board members are Laurence Alexander, J.D., Ph.D., WilliamBerg,Brandan Bonds, Roxanne Craven-Avila, Quinn Eubanks, HaileyLynnFretz, Paula Pettavino,Ph.D., Mark Reimonenq, EugeneSeroka,Christan Smith, and Joseph Washington.

Gratitude for the success of the evening wasabundant. Special thanks also acknowledged artist/honoree Peter Halley forthe artwork magnets as event gifts; the UNO Ambassadors;and musicians from the UNO Jazz Studies Program fortheir scintillating assistance.

“Tim”Mabee, of Sarasota Springs, New York.All enjoyed passed appetizers and sipped Veuve Clicquot Champagne, complimentsof David Gooch and spouse Julie. Once the formalities began, secretary William “Bill” Allerton welcomed guests andintroduced president TimMabee. Treasurer Max Maxwell (with Margaret)acknowledged assistanttreasurer Carlo Capomazza and Rosemonde and thanked them

for spearheading the event for a dozen years. The latter couple also provided thetable arrangements of fall-col-

SIDEKICK

Continued from page1D

TheWineBar at Emeril’s n 800 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 5989393

The new Emeril’sisatasting menu tour de force, cuisineasan art and aperformance, and now the peak NewOrleans fine dining experience. But the Wine Bar gives apeek at the new era in amoreaccessible and affordable format.

The bar is attachedtothe dining room (now with its own entrance on Julia Street), and has its own a la carte menu from which you can ordersnacks or build an extraordinary meal.

The cocktails, wine, serviceand food all share the refinement underlying the big show of the tasting menu. Don’tmiss the duck-fried rice,tuna tartare,the stunning gumbo or the barbecue shrimp, a directline to earlier Emeril’s.

It’sexpensive, but in linewith visiting conventional high-end restaurants. And acaveat on reservations: walk-ins are accepted, but a reservation is agood idea to assure you get aspot.

Le PetitBleu n 1427 Washington Ave., (504) 2071343

Le Petit Bleu is avignette of Commander’sPalace flavor and flair writ small, and gone casual. In acute-as-pie building next to the Garden District landmark (in matching “bleu”), it can be aplace for aquick yet decadent crepe for breakfast or an easy lunch.

Youcan settle in to oneofthe tables along the banquette and convince yourself that the appropriate hour has arrived for aglass of wine. And if you have ahankering for Commander’sPalace turtle soup, you can get abowl herewithout making reservations or dressing up.

Ilike to leave with acoffee,hitch an elbow on one of the counters built around thecolumn supports

outsideand takeinthe view of the historicLafayette Cemetery No. 1 across thestreet —aneasy taste of the good life while looking at a reminder of how short it can be.

Cochon Butcher n 930 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 5887675

Initially,thisfelt like thebutcher shop extension of Donald Link’s modern Cajunrestaurant Cochon, with asideline in sandwiches. The butcher shop program is very much alive and well, making it agreat spot for special dishes to bringhomefor theholidays (jambalaya-stuffedchickens, duck confit and other meatyfinds)

But Butcherhas grown intoits own restaurant, expanding witha muchlarger bar, outdoor seating andthe feel of aclubhouse for loversofCajunmeat and the Italian salumi. Some meatplateswithpickles and afew sandwiches are anice spread for afew people to share.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Be clear regarding your expectations to avoid disappointment. Communication requires thought, detail and verification to ensure you get the most out of each encounter today.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Your situation is looking up. Let go of the past and what holds you back, and embrace what excites you most. Distance yourself from confinement and people who want to suppress you.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Address matters that are clouding your vision. Once you clear a path, you'll recognize the possibilities. A domestic change is overdue and will offer peace of mind, mental stimulation and profitable prospects.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Research, educate and check out your options. A change of scenery will offer insight into the possibilities. Map out a plan that won't jeopardize your finances but will provide an affordable and sustainable future.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Put your energy where it counts. Learn and hone skills through repetition. If you take shortcuts you'll cheat yourself and are unlikely to achieve the results you desire.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Consider sticking close to home and doing things that make your life easier. Sometimes it's best to put yourself first. Address what others want head-on and take care of your needs.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Impulsive choices will cost you. It's the result, not the

process, that requires your undivided attention. Stop looking for instant gratification when persistence is necessary to reach your goal.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Discipline and novel plans will help you conquer what you set out to do. Common sense will bring higher returns if you are patient. Put your energy into planning, building, promotion and getting things done.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) It's what you do that will make a difference. Participation is the name of the game; stop talking and start doing. Be a leader and start a movement, and your gestures will pave the way.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) You can make a difference if you pitch in and help. Go where the action is and do your part The people you meet will enrich your life. Be clear about what you are willing to do and put up with. LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) You know what you must do, so stop procrastinating and start the process. Research, expand your knowledge and engage in activities that will make a difference.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Channel your energy into something creative you wish to pursue. Exploration, expansion and experience will all play a part in how you advance and move into a new phase or lifestyle.

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. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of thesudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

By PHILLIP ALDER

Andre Maurois, a French author who was born Emile Salomon Wilhelm Herzog and died in 1967, said, “Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.”

Themeaningofresponder’sfirst-round bid in today’s deal is not known by some of my students. I have mentioned it a few times,butperhapsitisforgottenbecause it comes up rarely.

After opener bids one of a major and the next player makes a takeout double, a response of two no-trump guarantees at least four-card support for partner’s suit and game-invitational or better values (at most eight losers).

In borderline cases, this gives the opener space to make a help-suit gametry at the three-level (which would be impossible after a three-heart limit raise if the intervenor had passed). This use of two no-trump also permits a jump raise tothreeheartstoshowfour-cardsupport and a weaker hand, which responder hopes will effectively inconvenience the opponents. Finally, if responder has a big balanced hand, he starts with a redouble. Against four hearts, West leads the diamond queen. How should South plan the play?

Declarer should see that he might lose one trick in each suit. If he takes the first trick and plays a trump, West wins with his ace and returns a diamond, condemning South to defeat. Instead, declarer should lead his club at trick two. East wins and plays back a diamond,

Each

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be

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

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

ken ken

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

WiShinG Well

in theareas where these proposed activities are planned. No impacts tothe floodplainare an‐ticipated becausethe proposedactivitiesin‐volve therehabilitation ofexistingresidential buildings in primarily drained andlevee pro‐tectedareas.Comments may be submittedtothe Jefferson Parish Depart‐mentofCommunity De‐velopment until 4:30 p.m. Friday, December 26th, 2025. No choice limiting deci‐sions or otheractions willbetaken before the end of this commentpe‐riod. StephanieBrumfield, Di‐rector JeffersonParishDepart‐mentofCommunity De‐velopment 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard,Suite 605 Jefferson, LA,70123 Phone: (504) 736-6262 Fax: (504)736-6425 ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE In accordance with provi‐sions of theAmerican withDisabilitiesAct AmendmentsAct of 2008 asamended,Jefferson Parishshall notdiscrimi‐nateagainst individuals withdisabilitiesonthe basis of disability in its services, programsorac‐tivities. If yourequire auxiliary aidsordevices,orother reasonableaccommoda‐tionunder theADA AmendmentsAct,please submityourrequest to the ADACoordinatorat least forty-eight (48) hours in advanceoras soon as practical. Asev‐enty-two(72) hour ad‐vancednoticeisrequired torequest Certified ASL interpreters. ADACoordinator/ De‐partmentofCitizensAf‐fairs 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd Suite 403 Jefferson, LA 70123 (504) 736-6094 barry.sprague@ jeffparish.gov LouisianaRelay Services TTYServices: Dial 711 or 800-846-5277 https://hamiltonrelay com/louisiana/index. html CynthiaLee Sheng Parish President 169678-DEC10-1T $83.67

p the hours of 9:00 A.M. and5:00P.M Monday throughFriday. LORA W. JOHNSON, LMMC,MMC CLERKOFCOUNCIL PUBLICATIONDATES: December 8and 10, 2025 NOCP 8812 169660-dec8-10-2t $26.38

p p vided inRuleF of the SupplementalRules for Certain Admiraltyand MaritimeClaimsofthe Federal RulesofCivil Pro‐cedure, with theClerk of the United States District Court,Eastern District of Louisiana,500 Poydras Street,New Orleans, La 70130 andmustserve a copythereof on counsel for CenacTowingCo., L.L.C.onorbeforethe 5th day of March, 2026, or be defaulted If anyclaimantdesires tocontest either the right to exonerationfrom

y Note:The pay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 26

THELAW OF‐FICES OF HER‐SCHEL C. AD‐COCK, JR.,L.L.C (225)756-0373 DENNISF.WIG‐GINS, JR

Civil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onJanuary 15, 2026, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: 4524 PERLITAST

LA70122

LOT18-ASQUARE9B 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1373524 PARISH OAKS SUBDIVISION WRIT AMOUNT:

$121,501.17

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty days thereafter

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 12/10/2025 & 1/14/2026 DEC10-JAN142T $90

2025-7104

Byvirtueof a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onJanuary 15, 2026, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: ACERTAIN TRACT OR PAR‐CEL OF LAND, AND ALLOFTHE RIGHTS, WAYS, SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐NANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGING OR IN ANYWISEAP‐PERTAINING, SITUATED IN THE THIRDDIS‐TRICT OF THE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, STATE OFLOUISIANA IN ABLOCK BOUNDED BY TRAFALGAR STREET, GENTILLY ROAD BEAUVOIR STREET ANDDE SAIXBOULE‐VARDAND FOR REFERENCE SUCH PORTION OFGROUNDIS REFERREDTOAS LOT 13B7 ON A PLATBY

13B7, 13B8, 13B9, AND 13B10”, DATED AUGUST 8, 2016, APPROVED AU‐GUST18, 2016, FILED FOR RECORDON SEPTEMBER 14,2016 AT CIN 605857, N.A. 2016 37150. SAID LOT 13B7HAV‐INGBEENPART OFA RESUBDIVISION, ASURVEYOF WHICHWAS PREPAREDBY GILBER, KELLY& COUTURIE,INC., ENTITLED “FORTINTRACT THIRD DISTRICT, A RESUBDIVI‐SIONOF LOT13B INTO LOTS13B1, 13B2, 13B4, 13B5AND 24’ ACCESS SERVITUDE”, DATED OCTOBER5, 2015, APPROVED FEBRUARY23, 2016, FILEDFOR RECORDON MARCH 21,2016, AT CIN 595404, N.A. 2016 11192. THE SAIDLOT 13B7 HAVINGSUCH MEASURE‐MENTSAND DI‐MENSIONSAS DESCRIBED ON THE AFORESAID SURVEYOF RECORD

WRIT AMOUNT: $445,346.43

Order. No Per‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans RB 14

LAWOFFICESOF HERSCHELC ADCOCK, JR. LLC 225 756 0373

DENNISF.WIG‐GINS, JR

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 12/10/2025 & 1/14/2026

DEC10-JAN142T

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No:

GILBERT KELLY& COU‐TURIE,INC EN‐TITLED“FORTIN TRACT,THIRD DISTRICT, A RESUBDIVISION OF LOT13B5 INTO LOT13B6,

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter. Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified CheckorMoney

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1632 34 NORTH ROCHEBLAVE STREET, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTER EN‐TITLED: U.S. BANKTRUST NATIONALAS‐SOCIATION,NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UAL CAPACITY,BUT SOLELYAS TRUSTEE OF LSF9MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUSTVERSUS KEISHAHALES CI

Case No: 2024-8990 By virtue of a PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 3129 TRAFALGAR ST, CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, IN THE MATTEREN‐TITLED: LAKE‐VIEWLOANSER‐VICING, LLC VERSUSRYAN ANTHONY BERGERON A/K/ARYANA BERGERON A/K/ARYAN BERGERON

Proceedingsofthe Regular Meeting of the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission (GNOEC}, Wednesday,October 8, 2025, 10 AM, South Shore conference room, Metairie, Louisiana 70002 Call to Order Chairman TimCoulon called the meeting to order at 10:01 AM. Roll Call Commissioners Present: TimCoulon,Chairman; Ralph Cox, Jr Vice Chairman; Justin Clinton, Secretary; and Donald Sharp, Assistant Secretary Treasurer.Absent: James Tucker Treasurer.Quorum achieved. Others Attending: Carlton Dufrechou, Melissa Phillpott, Robert Graham, Mike Kelly,Eileen Barthe’, Michelle Carlisle, Branden Fos, Geene Daby,Nicholette Bagley,Grayson Crespo, GNOEC; Cary Bourgeois, GEC; Gavin Gillen, All South; Terri Dupre, Meyer; Craig Watson, Blue Williams; and Johanna Lambert and Chris Lemieux, Reiss-Lemieux. Minutes Mr.Sharp movedtoaccept the minutes of the September GNOEC meeting. Mr.Cox seconded. Chairman Coulon, Mr Cox, Mr.Clinton, and Mr.Sharp voted in favor of the motion. Chairman’sRemarks Chairman Coulon announced that Sergeant Tryone Banks had recently retired and recognizedSgt. Banks for his 29 years of selfless service to our commuters and to the GNOEC. Mr.Coulon noted that the Request for Proposals

authorizes the General Manager to execute all legal documents to ratify theassignment, amendthe Contract,and authorize the replacementand upgrades to theGNOEC’s toll booth fiber optic cablingtotaling$68,236.44 by Contractor.

Chairman Coulon, Mr.Cox, Mr.Clinton, and Mr.Sharpvoted in favor of the motion.

Safety Bay IncidentAhead Signage, GNOEC Project No. 214, GNOEC Resolution No. 2025-25: On amotion by Mr.Cox, seconded by Mr.Clinton:Based upon therecommendation of the GNOEC staff, theGeneral Manager is herebyauthorized to execute the Project Memorandumfor theproject titled Safety Bay Incident Ahead Signageand theConsulting Engineers are authorized to design andadvertisethe project Chairman Coulon, Mr.Cox, Mr.Clinton, and Mr.Sharpvoted in favor of the motion.

Executive Session,GNOEC Resolution No. 2025-25: On a motion by Mr.Clinton,seconded by Mr.Cox: TheGNOEC adopts this resolution authorizingthe Commissioners enter into executivesessionpursuanttoLa. R.S. 42:17(A) (2) to discuss thecases entitled JB James Construction,LLC v. Greater New OrleansExpressway Commission, 22nd JDC, 2023-10543 and2025-10155, Division H. Chairman Coulon Mr.Cox, Mr.Clinton,and Mr.Sharp voted in favorofthe motion. Executivesession began at 10:20 AM and concluded at 10:34 AM. Mr.Coulonnoted that no actionsweretaken during the executive session.

Closing/Next Meeting Chairman Coulon asked if therewas any further business or comments. Therebeing none, Mr.Cox moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr.Sharpseconded. All concurred and themeeting adjourned at 10:40 AM. The next regular GNOEC meetingis tentatively scheduled forDecember10, 2025, location to be announced.

TimCoulon Chairman Proceedings of the Planning Session of theGreater New Orleans ExpresswayCommission (GNOEC) Thursday,October 30, 2025, 10 AM, South Shore conference room, Metairie,Louisiana 70002

Call to Order Chairman TimCoulon called thesession to orderat10:01 AM.

Attending CommissionersPresent:Tim Coulon,Chairman;Ralph Cox, Jr Vice Chairman;James Tucker,Treasurer; Justin Clinton, Secretary; and Donald Sharp, AssistantSecretary Treasurer Others Attending:Carlton Dufrechou, Melissa Phillpott, Robert Graham, Thea Andras,Mike Kelly,Eileen Barthe’, GNOEC; Mr.Shane Guidry, representing Governor Landry; and Craig Watson, Blue Williams.

Opening Chairman Coulon opened themeeting remindingall attending of theGNOEC’s missiontomake all

was to review existing operations and to identify potential enhancements forthe future. Mr

y Writ of Seizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: ACERTAIN LOT OFGROUND, TO‐GETHERWITH ALL THEBUILD‐INGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALL THERIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐LEGES,SERVI‐TUDES, ANDADVAN‐TAGES THERE‐UNTOBELONG‐INGORINANY‐WISEAPPER‐TAINING, SITUATED IN THE THIRDDIS‐TRICT OF THE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, PARISH OF ORLEANS, STATE OFLOUISIANA IN SQUARE NO 1195, BOUNDED BY ROCHEBLAVE, ONZAGA,TONTI AND LAPEY‐ROUSE STREETS, WHICHSAIDLOT MEASURES THIRTY TWO FEET FRONTON ROCHEBLAVE STREET,THE SAMEWIDTH IN THE REAR BY ADEPTH OF ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVEFEET BE‐TWEEN EQUAL AND

PARALLEL LINES;WHICH SAIDLOT AD‐JOINS THELOT FORMING THE CORNEROF ONZAGA AND ROCHEBLAVE STREETS, AND BEGINSATA DISTANCEOF THRITYONE FEET,SIX INCHES AND FOURLINES FROMSAID CORNEROFON‐ZAGAAND ROCHEBLAVE STREETS. ALLAS MOREFULLY DE‐SCRIBED ON SURVEYBY GILBERT KELLY& COU‐TURIE,INC DATED JANUARY 2,2002, ACOPY OFWHICH IS ANNEXED HERETO AND MADEA PART HEREOF. WRIT AMOUNT: $138,968.37

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING. SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 20 LAWOFFICESOF HERSCHEL C.

Dufrechou outlined theagenda Current Investigations Electronic/Open Road Tolling: TheGNOEC’snew toll system will have the ability to continue tag andcash/credit card tollingorconverttoAll Electronic Tolling(AET)/Open Road Tolling in thefuture. Seven companies have expressed interest in submittingproposals. Anticipated budget is $6M. AET has positives and negatives Apositive couldbea slight reduction in personnel expenses and slightly faster entry ontothe south bridge. Primary negative is thepotential forasignificant revenue loss(25%) due to increased slippage (nonpaymentoftolls fromcamera billing).Incremental approach was recommended beginning with installingthe new system andattemptingtoincrease tag use. Additional TagOnly Lane: During morningcommuting hours, toll booth lanes 1, 3, and 4 operateasTag/Cash/Credit Cardand lanes 2and 5operate as Tagonly. Lane5 closes after commuting (11 AM). To facilitate tag commuters entering thebridge, staffproposed changing lane4 to Tagonly mode during morning commutes. Lanes 1 and 3would remainTag/Cash/Credit Card. The proposal may induce moreuse of Tags which would enhance operations. Suggested timelinetoimplement is 60 days. Alert Messaging: Commutersare notified of incidents on the Causeway via themultiple messageboards on thebridge, text messaging to commuters enrolled in theAlert system, and the1700 AM trafficradio. Currently, just under10,000 commuters areenrolled in theAlert system.System enrollees select theperiodsthey wish to receive messages (typically their commuting times).Incidents occurring beyond that period arenot transmitted to thoseenrollees. Suggestions were to investigate geofencinginorder to override selected times and to enhance enrollment via outreach on message boardsand in toll tag stores. Carltonwill also contact the Regional Planning Commission (RPC) about relaying our alert messages on theLADOTD’s110 and112 Message Boards Commuter Comments: Thirty-four responses werereceived fromour recent messagetocommutersasking their opinions. Comments/ recommendationsincluded:greater enforcement of speed limitsand speed cameras (13), no hands-on phone use/ texting(12), more enforcement

ADCOCK,JR. LLC (225) 7560373

COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER1724 EAGLE ST,CITY OFNEW OR‐LEANS IN THEMATTER ENTITLED: TRU‐ISTBANKVER‐SUS RONALD NAVARRE AND JOYCELYN SHAMBURG NAVARRE AKAJOCELYN SHAMBURG BUJOLNAVARRE AKA JOYCELYN SHAMBURG BUJOLNAVARRE

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-659

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trictofthe City

y on December 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon the following described prop‐ertytowit: ONECERTAIN LOT OF GROUND, TOGETHERWITH ALL THEBUILD‐INGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THERON AND ALL THERIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐LEGES,SERVI‐TUDES, ADVANTAGES ANDPRESCRIP‐TIONS (BOTH LIBERATIVEAND ACQUISITIVE) THEREUNTOBE‐LONGING OR IN ANYWISE AP‐PERTAINING, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF ORLEANS, CITYOFNEW ORLEANS,STATE OFLOUISIANA, IN SQUARE NO.232, BOUNDEDBY EAGLE,GENERAL OGDEN,GREEN AND HICKORY STREETS; WHICHSAID PORTIONOF GROUNDCOM‐MENCESATA DISTANCEOF 201 FEET FROM THE CORNER OF EAGLEAND GREEN STREETS, AND MEASURES THENCE39FEET FRONT ON EAGLE STREET,SAME IN WIDTHINTHE REAR, BY A DEPTH OF 100 FEET BETWEEN EQUAL ANDPARALLEL LINES;SUBJECT TORESTRIC‐TIONS,SERVI‐TUDES, RIGHTS OFWAY ANDOUTSTAND‐INGMINERAL RIGHTSOF RECORDAF‐FECTING THE PROPERTY.

WRIT AMOUNT:

$55,319.33

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter

Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 23 DEAN MORRIS, LLC 318 388 1440 ASHLEY E. MOR‐RIS

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPSL NUMBER 4542 CEISE AVENUE, CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, IN THE MATTEREN‐TITLED: LAKE‐VIEWLOANSER‐VICING, LLC VERSUSTIGA BRYANT

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-5822 By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floorofthe Civil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: THAT CERTAIN PIECE OR POR‐TIONOF GROUND, TO‐GETHERWITH ALL THEBUILD‐INGS ANDIMPROVE‐MENTS THEREON, ALL THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐LEGES,SERVI‐TUDES APPURTE‐NANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING, SITUATED IN THE THIRDDIS‐TRICT OF THE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS,IN CERSISESUBDI‐VISION,WHICH SAID LOTISDES‐IGNATEDASLOT NO. 21, IS LO‐CATED IN THEWEST SIDEOFCERISE AVENUEOFSAID SUBDIVISION IN THE SQUARE CERISE AVENUE,GRANT STREET, PROP‐ERTYOFJOSEPH GASTAUER,

WIDTHINTHE REAR, BY A DEPTH IN THE WESTERLY DI‐RECTION OF THESAIDGAS‐TAUER PROP‐ERTYOF94FEET BETWEEN EQUALAND PARALLELLINES, ALL IN ACCOR‐DANCE WITH THE PLAN OF SURVEYMADE BYF.C GAN‐DOLFO,JR., SSURVEYOR, DATEDJULY23, 1954, REVISED DECEMBER8 1954, ACERTI‐FIEDCOPY OF WHICHSUR‐VEY IS AT‐TACHEDTOAN ACT OF SALE BY JOHNF.CERISE, CO.,INC., TO HIBERNIA NATIONAL HOMESTEADAS‐SOCIATON, PASSEDBEFORE CHESTER J. FORD,NOTARY PUBLIC,DATED NOVEMBER11, 955. ALLAS MOREFULLY SHOWN ON THESURVEYOF JULIANJ CARAZO, L.S., DATED NOVEM‐BER 9, 1985, COPYOFWHICH IS ANNEXEDTO COB 803, PAGE 634.

WRIT AMOUNT:

$142,500.71

Seized in the above suit TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 15 LAWOFFICESOF HERSCHELC ADCOCK, JR., LLC 225 7560373 COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 318 LAKEMARINA AV, APT116, CITYOF NEWORLEANS, IN THEMATTER ENTITLLED:MID‐FIRST BANK VERSUSBRAD STEPHEN BUCK‐NER

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-5827

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floorofthe Civil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onJanuary 15 2026, at 12:00 o'clock noon the following described prop‐ertytowit: THAT CERTAIN CONDOMINIUM UNIT 116 OF PIER8 CONDO‐MINIUMS,CRE‐ATEDBYAN ACTBEFORE HENRY J. O'CON‐NOR, JR.,NO‐

COB635, FOLIO 222, OF THE CONVEYANCE RECORDSFOR THE PARISH OF OR‐LEANS,STATE OFLOUISIANA; SUBJECT TO RE‐STRICTIONS, SERVITUDES, RIGHTS OF WAY AND OUTSTAND‐INGMINERAL RIGHTSOF RECORD AFFECTINGTHE PROPERTY.

WRIT AMOUNT:

$71,913.97

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter.

Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 12 DEAN MORRIS, LLC 318 388 1440 CANDACEA COURTEAU

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 12/10/2025 & 1/14/2026 DEC10-JAN142T

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2016 FELICIANA ST CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, IN THE MATTER EN‐TITLED: MMG REO VI 2, LLC VERSUSTHE CLARK FIRM, LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-6897

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onJanuary 15, 2026, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: ACERTAIN LOT OFGROUND, TO‐GETHERWITH ALL THEBUILD‐INGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, SITU‐ATEDINTHE THIRD DISTRICT OFTHE CITY OF NEW

ORLEANS, DES‐IGNATEDBYTHE LETTER"S",IN SQUARE1011 THEREOF BOUNDEDBY MONTEGUT JOHNSON, FELI‐CIANA AND GALVEZ STREETS, ON A SURVEYBYD.G RICKETTS,C.E., DATED AUGUST 23, 1920, AC‐CORDING TO WHICHSURVEY, SAIDLOT MEASURES 31 FEET FRONTON FELICIANA STREET,BYA DEPTH OF 117 FEET BETWEEN EQUALAND PARALLELLINES ACCORDINGTO SURVEYBY GILBER& KELLY, SURVEYORS, DATEDMAY 7, 1949, BLUE PRINT OF WHICHISAN‐NEXED TO ACT PASSED BEFORE DAVIDL HERMAN, NO‐TARYPUBLIC ONOCTOBER 19, 1950, BEINGAN ACT OF SALE BY MRS ADA AUGUS‐TINE, DIVORCED WIFEOFRALPH COLETOCO‐LUMBIA HOMESTEADAS‐SOCIATION SAID LOTISDES‐IGNATEDBYTHE SAMELETTER, HAS THE SAME BOUND‐ARIES ANDMEA‐SUREMENTS AS HEREINABOVE SET FORTH, AND BEGINS AT A DISTANCEOF 124 FEET 2 INCHES 5LINES FROMTHE COMER OF FELICIANAAND NORTH JOHN‐SON STREETS. THE ABOVE MENTIONED SURVEY OF GILBERT& KELLY,SURVEY‐ORS,DATED MAY 7, 1949, HAS BEEN RE‐CERTIFIED CORRECTON MARCH 7, 1953, AND ABLUE PRINT COPY OF SAMEISAT‐TACHEDTO ACTPASSEDBE‐FOREHARRY R. CABRAL, JR., NOTARYPUBLIC ONMARCH 19, 1953. ANDACCORD‐INGTOSURVEY MADEBYE.L EUSTIS& SONS, C.E.& SURVEY‐ORS DATEDMAY 21, 1959, COPY OF WHICHISAN‐NEXED TO ACT PASSEDBEFORE DAVID L. HERMAN,NO‐TARYPUBLIC, ONJUNE4,1959, AND REINSPEC‐TIONMADEBY E.L EUSTIS &SONS, C.E.& SURVEY‐ORS,DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 1963, COPY OF WHICH IS ANNEXEDTO ACT PASSEDBE‐FOREHARRY HERNAN, NO‐TARYPUBLIC, DATED OCTOBER8, 1963, SAID LOT S" IS SITUATED IN THESAME DISTRICTAND SQUARE, ANDHAS THE SAMEMEA‐SUREMENTS ANDBOUND‐ARIES AS ABOVE SET FORTH, AND COMMENCES AT A DISTANCE OF 124 FEET 2 INCHES 5LINES (TITLE MEA‐

*Public Notice*

SUREMENT), 124 FEET 2 INCHES 4LINES (ACTUAL MEA‐SUREMENT)

ANDALSOAC‐CORDING TO A SURVEYMADE BYGILBERT, KELLY & COUTERIE, INC. S& E, DATED MARCH 10, 1977, SAIDLOT IS SIT‐UATED IN THE SAMEDISTRICT AND SQUARE AND HAS THESAME MEASURE‐MENTS, BOUND‐ARIES ANDDI‐MENSIONSAS ABOVESET FORTH,AND COMMENCES AT A DISTANCE OF 124'2"5'"FROM THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH JOHNSON AND FELICIANA STREETS.

MUNICIPAL ADRESS: 2016 FELICIANA STREET,NEW ORLEANS,LA 70117

WRIT AMOUNT: $218,724.13

Seized in the above suit TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter. Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans RB 24 NEWMAN, MATHIS,BRADY & SPEDALE, APLC504 837 9040 WAYNEA.MAIO‐RANA, JR.

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 12/10/2025 & 1/14/2026 DEC10-JAN142T

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1306 S. GENOISST, CITY OFNEW ORLEANS, IN THE MATTER EN‐TITLED: PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION VERSUS EARL JOHNSON,III, GLENDA JOHNSON, AND EARLL.JOHN‐SON,JRA/K/A EARLJOHNSON, JR

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-6284

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rected to me by

As apolitical subdivision of the StateofLouisiana, and pursuant to La. R.S. 34:3, the BoardofCommissioners of the PortofNew Orleans will hold Regular Monthly meetingsfor calendar year 2026 at the PortofNew Orleans Administration Building, located at 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA,70130. Meetings will convene at 1:30pm, unless otherwise specified. The following meeting dates aresubject to change, and all meeting agendas shallbenoticed in accordance with La. R.S. 42:19:

Thursday,January 22nd, 2026

Thursday,February 26th, 2026

Thursday,March 26th, 2026

Thursday,April 23rd, 2026

Thursday,May 21st, 2026

Thursday,June 25th, 2026

Thursday,July 23rd, 2026

Thursday,August 27th, 2026

Thursday,September 24th, 2026

Thursday,October 22nd, 2026

Thursday,November 19th, 2026

Thursday,December 17th, 2026

169661-592474-dec 10-1t

$48.51

theHonorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: 1306 SGENOIS STNEW OR‐LEANS,LA70125 LOTS 9& 10SQUARE143 6THMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1397000 WRIT AMOUNT: $85,854.69

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 5 LAWOFFICESOF HERSCHELC ADCOCK, JR. LLC (225) 756-0373 DENNISF.WIG‐GINS, JR., TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t $90

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER2435 PACEBOULE‐VARDAND 2800 SANDRA DRIVE, THISCITY, IN THE MATTER EN‐TITLED: LBC2 TRUST,ASAS‐SIGNEEFROM FIRST SOUTHWESTERN FINANCIAL SER‐VICES,LLC VER‐SUS LIFE CEN‐TER FULL GOSPELBAP‐TISTCATHE‐DRAL, BISHOP J. DOU‐GLASWILEY AND LISA V. WILEY

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2021-6462

By virtue of a WritofFieri Fa‐ciasdirectedto mebythe Hon‐orableJudgesof Civil District Court forthe ParishofOr‐leans,inthe above entitled cause, Iwill pro‐d ll b

p ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon the following described prop‐ertytowit: 2435 PACE BOULEVARD AND2800 SAN‐DRA DRIVENEW ORLEANS,LA 70114

LOTS:1,2,3,4-A 4-B,4-C,AND 4D,SQUARE: 25 FIFTHMUNICI‐PAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1340996 WRIT AMOUNT: $1,452,710.71

Seized in the above suit TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING. SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 3 THECOHNLAW FIRM, LLC225769-0858 BARTLEYP BOURGEOIS TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t $90

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER2019 CARNOTSTREET, THISCITY, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED: CITY OF NEW ORLEANS VERSUSBRUCE ALLENYOUNG‐BLOOD,TORRI YOUNGBLOOD, ANDBRIDGETT YOUNGBLOOD WILSON CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-7986

By virtue of a WritofFieri Fa‐ciasdirectedto mebythe Hon‐orableJudgesof Civil District Court forthe ParishofOr‐leans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, thefollowing d ib d

TARY PUBLIC DATED MAY5, 1981, REGISTERED JUNE 9, 1981,IN COB 773J,FOLIO 486 OF THECON‐VEYANCE RECORDS FORTHE PARISH OFORLEANS, STATE OF LOUISIANA CON‐SISTING OF CONDOMINIUM UNIT 116 TO‐GETHERWITH ITSAPPUR‐TENANT1.0524% INTEREST IN THE COMMON ELEMENTS AS DESIGNATED ANDSHOWN ON THE PLAN OF WALKER& AVERY,INC., DATEDAPRIL 25, 1980, REVISED AUGUST12, 1980 AND MAY1,1981 ANNEXEDAS EXHIBITA 1TO THE DECLARA‐TIONOFCON‐DOMINIUMRE‐FERREDTO HEREINABOVE WHICHSAIDDE‐CLARATION AF‐FECTS THEIM‐MOVABLE PROP‐ERTYAND IMPROVEMENTS THEREONSITU‐ATEDAND MORE FULLY DE‐SCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: ACERTAIN PIECE OR POR‐TIONOF GROUND, SITU‐ATEDINTHE STATE OF LOUISIANA, PARISH OF OR‐LEANS,SEV‐ENTHDISTRICT, WEST END TRACT, DESIGNATED AS LOT 56 A, BEING BOUNDED BY NORTH LAKE AVENUE, RE‐GENT STREET,WEST ROBERTE.LEE BLVD. ANDTHE HAZEURTRACT, AND IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBEDAS FOLLOWS: COMMENCESAT THE INTERSEC‐TIONOFTHE SOUTHERLY RIGHTOFWAY LINEOF NORTHLAKE AVENUEAND THE WESTERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINEOFREGENT STREET PROCEED THENCE IN A WESTERLY DI‐RECTION ADIS‐TANCE OF 764.95' FEET TO A POINT,THE POINT OF BE‐GINNING;CON‐TINUE THENCE ALONG SAID LINEOFNORTH LAKE AVENUE STILL IN A WESTERLY DI‐RECTION,A DIS‐TANCE OF 257.13' TO A POINT ON THEEAST‐ERLYLINEOF THE HAZEUR TRACT,THENCE IN ASOUTHERLY DIRECTIONA DISTANCEOF 257.92 FEET TO A POINT;THENCE IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTIONOF 242.22' FEET TO A POINT THENCEINA NORTHERLY DI‐RECTION A DISTANCE OF 27.96'TOA POINT;THENCE IN ANORTH‐EASTERLYDI‐RECTION A DISTANCE OF 60.83'FEETTOA POINT;THENCE IN ANORTHERLY DIRECTION A DISTANCE OF 140' FEET TO A POINT,THENCE IN ANORTHERLY DIRECTION A DISTANCE OF 106.55' FEET TO THE POINTOF BEGINNING,ALL ASMOREFULLY SHOWNONA SURVEYOF WALKER& AVERY,INC DATED APRIL25, 980 REVISED AUGUST 12,1980 & MAY1,1981 TOGETHERWITH A SERVITUDE OF PASSAGE OVER PARCELSC 1 AND B2 IN FAVOR OF FOR‐MER LOT56 (NOWA PART OFLOT 56 A) CREATEDBY ACT BEFORE IVY A.SMITH,JR., NOTARYPUBLIC, DATED APRIL24, 1960, REGISTERED IN

g describedprop‐ertytowit:

2109 CARNOT ST NEW ORLEANS, LA70122 SQUARE 3460, LOT B THIRDMUNICI‐PAL DISTRICT ACQ MIN:1435175 WRIT AMOUNT: $11,705.91

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING. SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

BT 2 CITY OF NEW ORLEANS 504658-4346 CHARMAINEL MARCHAND

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t $97

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER1522 GORDON STREET,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED: CITY OF NEW ORLEANS VERSUSLYDIA CHAPITAL JOSEPH,ALLI‐SON L. CHAPI‐TAL, JR SHARON CHAPITALGRIF‐FIN,KAREN L. CHAPITAL, ELEANORM CHAPITAL, GARY CHAPITAL, OR HIS SUCCESSORS, HEIRS, ANDAS‐SIGNS,ERICD CHAPITAL, KEN‐NETHS.CHAPI‐TAL,SHAUN E. CHAPITAL, JAMAR C. CHAPITAL, AND RAPHAEL CHAPITAL CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-10715

By virtue of a WritofFieri Fa‐ciasdirectedto mebythe Hon‐orableJudgesof Civil District Court forthe ParishofOr‐leans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon,

*Public Notice* As apolitical subdivision of the State of Louisiana,and pursuant to La.R.S. 33:4530, the NewOrleansPublic BeltRailroadCommission for the Port of NewOrleanswill hold RegularMonthly meetings for calendar year 2026 at the Port of NewOrleansAdministration Building, located at 1350 Port of NewOrleansPlace, NewOrleans, LA, 70130. Meetings will convene at 1:30pm, unless otherwise specified. The following meeting dates aresubject to change,and allmeeting agendas shall be noticed in accordance with La.R.S. 42:19: Thursday, January 22nd, 2026

Thursday, February 26th, 2026 Thursday, March 26th, 2026 Thursday, April 23rd, 2026

Thursday, May 21st, 2026 Thursday, June 25th, 2026 Thursday, July 23rd, 2026 Thursday, August 27th, 2026

Thursday, September 24th, 2026 Thursday, October22nd, 2026 Thursday, November19th, 2026 Thursday, December 17th, 2026

169668-592523-dec 10-1t

$48.51

THE RECORDS OF THE PARISH OF ORLEANS OF THE STATEOF LOUISIANA.

24. ONE CERTAIN PARCELORLOT OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON AND ALL THE RIGHTS OFWAY,PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDE AND APPURTENANCES HEREUNTO BELONGING ORINANYWISE

APPERTAINING, SITUATEDINTHE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS,STATEOF LOUISIANA IN SQUARE 235, WHICH SQUARE IS BOUNDED BY HOLLYGROVE, COHN, HAMILTON, AND HICKORYSTREETS, DESIGNATED AS LOT23 ON ASURVEY MADE BY SZS CONSULTANTS INC., DATED AUGUST 9, 2006 AND ACCORDING THERETO, SAID PIECE OFGROUND COMMENCESAT ADISTANCE OF 150 FEET FROMTHE CORNEROF HICKORY AND HAMILTON STREETS AND MEASURESTHIRTY FEETFRONT ON HAMILTON SAMEWIDTHINTHE REAR, BY ADEPTHOF150 FEET

BETWEEN EQUAL AND PARALLELLINES

IPROVEMENTS THEREON BEAR MUNICIPAL NUMBER1821 HAMILTON STREET.BEING THE SAME PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS BY VIRTUE OF ATAX SALE DEED DATED AUGUST15, 1985, AND RECORDEDATNANO. 616239, CIN #616239 OF THERECORDS OF THE PARISH OF ORLEANS OF THE STATEOFLOUISIANA.

25. ONE CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL THEBUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALL THE RIGHTS,WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDESAND APPURTENANCES THEREUNTO BELONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING,SITUATED IN THESEVENTH DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS STATEOFLOUISIANA, IN SQUARE232, WHICH SQUARE IS BOUNDED BY HICKORY, EAGLE,GREEN, AND GEN. OGDEN STREETS, DESIGNATED AS LOT 14 ON ASURVEY MADE BY SZS CONSULTANTS INC., DATED AUGUST 9, 2006, AND ACCORDING THERETO,SAID LOT MEASURES60’ FRONT ON HICKORYSTREET BY 1210’6”. IMPROVEMENTS THEREON BEAR THE MUNICIPAL NUMBER8834 HICKORYSTREET.BEING THE SAME PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY

LA LOT 10,SQUARE 597, THIRDMUNICI‐PAL DISTRICT ACQCIN:741939 AND 748989

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -100% CASHATTHE MOMENTOFAD‐JUDICATION

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter

Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 1 CITY OF NEW ORLEANS 504658-4346 DEISHA LA‐GARDE

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t $97

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1437 PAULINE STREET,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED: FLAG BOY PROPER‐TIES, LLCVER‐SUS WYOMIA P. TURNERAND JAMES K. TURNER

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2023-11243

By virtue of a Court Orderdi‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction onthe ground

Note:The pay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

BD 21 JONAHFREED‐MAN LAW, LLC 504-475-8075 JONAHFREED‐MAN

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025

nov5-dec 10-2t $90

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1205 SAINT CHARLES AVENUE, THIS CITY,INTHE MATTERENTI‐TLED: FIDELITY BANKVERSUS TEXAS ROY TROTTIER

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-198

of adjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 19 GRAHAM,ARCE‐NEAUX &ALLEN LLC 504-5228256 LOUISG.ARCE‐NEAUX

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025& 12/10/2025

nov5-dec 10-2t $90

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER505 CONSTANCE ST CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, IN THE MATTEREN‐TITLED: GULF COAST BANK AND TRUSTVER‐SUS CBAHOME BUILDERSINC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-2984

THE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS BY VIRTUE OF ATAX SALE DEED

DATED MARCH24, 1992 ANDRECORDED AT NA NO 92-7641, CIN #49699 OF THE RECORDS OF THEPARISHOFORLEANSOFTHE ST ATEOFLOUISIANA.

26. ONE CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL THEBUILDINGS ANDIMPROVEMENTSTHEREON ANDALL THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES AND APPURTENANCES THEREUNTOBELONGINGORINANYWISE APPERTAINING, SITUATEDINTHE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF THE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, STATEOFLOUISIANA, IN SQUARE 262, WHICHSQUARE IS BOUNDED BY EAGLE, MONROE, SPRUCE ANDCOHNSTREETS, DESIGNATED AS LOT 20 ON ASURVEY MADE BY SZS CONSULTANTSINC.,DATED AUGUST 9, 2006, AND ACCORDING THERETO, SAIDLOT MEASURES 30 FEET FRONT ON EAGLE STREET,BYADEPTH OF 120 FEET BETWEEN EQUAL AND PARALLEL LINES. IMPROVEMENTS THEREON BEAR THEMUNICIPALNUMBER 1909-11 EAGLE STREET.BEING THESAMEPROPERTY ACQUIRED BY THECITY OF NEWORLEANS BY VIRTUEOFATAX SALE DEED DATED APRIL30, 1993 ANDRECORDED AT NA NO.97-42194, CIN #147248 OF THE RECORDS OF THEPARISHOFORLEANSOFTHE STATEOFLOUISIANA.

27. ONE CERTAIN LOTORPARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL THEBUILDINGS ANDIMPROVEMENTSTHEREON, ANDALL THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES AND APPURTENANCES THEREUNTO BELONGINGORINANYWISE APPERTAINING, SITUATED IN THEFOURTHDISTRICT OF THECITY OF NEWORLEANS, STATEOFLOUISIANA, IN SQUARE 419, WHICH SQUARE IS BOUNDED BY S. DERBIGNY,S.ROMAN,SECOND ANDTHIRDSTREETS, DESIGNATED AS LOT 10 ON ASURVEY MADE BY SZS CONSULTANTSINC.,DATED AUGUST 9, 2006, AND ACCORDING THERETO, SAIDLOT MEASURES 30 FEET,4 INCHES, 4LINESFRONT ON S. ROMAN STREET,30FEET,3INCHES, 6LINES IN WIDTH IN THEREAR, BY ADEPTH OF 138 FEET;3INCHES, 6-1/2 LINES.

p thebalance withinthirty daysthereafter.

Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 17 NEWMAN, MATHIS,BRADY & SPEDALE, APLC504-8379040 WAYNEA.MAIO‐RANA, JR

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025

nov5-dec 10-2t $90

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2331 LAPEYROUSE STREET,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED: U.S. BANKTRUST COMPANY,NA‐TIONALASSOCI‐ATION,AS TRUSTEE FOR VELOCITY COM‐MERCIAL CAPI‐TAL LOAN TRUST 2024-1 VERSUSALL PRO INVEST‐MENTS,L.L.C

j to make ade‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter. Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 13 MCCABE LAW FIRM, LLC504782-3436 RYAN M. MC‐CABE

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025

nov5-dec 10-2t $90

p at themoment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter. Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 11 GRAHAM,ARCE‐NEAUX &ALLEN LLC 504-5228256 FOERSTNERG MEYER

WRIT AMOUNT:

$113,049.74

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

$156,704.83

Seizedinthe above suit TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

RB 8 THELAW OF‐FICES OF HER‐SCHEL C. AD‐COCK, JR.,L.L.C (225) 756-0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 6 LAWOFFICESOF HERSCHELC ADCOCK, JR. LLC (225) 756-0373 DENNISF.WIG‐GINSJR.

floorofthe Civil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: 1437 PAULINEST NEWORLEANS,

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floorofthe Civil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: 1205 ST CHARLES AV NEW ORLEANS, LA70130 LOT: X, B, C, 3-A, 3-B,4-A &X, SQUARE: 213 FIRSTMUNICI‐PAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1401400 WRIT AMOUNT: $132,676.01

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: 3505 CON‐STANCESTNEW ORLEANS,LA 70115

LOT14ASQUARE213 6THMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1400376 WRIT AMOUNT: $734,610.64

Seized in the above suit

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-5766

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: 2331 LAPEY‐ROUSE ST NEW ORLEANS,LA 70119 LOT: B-1, SQUARE: 1195 THIRDMUNICI‐PAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1427204 WRIT AMOUNT: $205,445.40

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 639 PINESTREET, THISCITY, IN THE MATTERENTI‐TLED: HANCOCK WHITNEYBANK VERSUSHAYDEN GRASS WAGAR A/K/A HAYDEN ELIZABETH WEEMS, INDI‐VIDUALLYAND ASADMINIS‐TRATOROFTHE SUCCESSSION OF ERIC DAVID WEEMS, DE‐CEASED

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-5366

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t $90

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t $90

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER4825 CAMELIA STREET,THIS CITY, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED: NATION‐STARMORT‐GAGELLC VER‐SUS LENNETTA M.FORTE A/K/A LENNETTA FORTE

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t $93

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon the following described prop‐ertytowit: 639PINEST NEW ORLEANS, LA70118 LOT: 11, SQUARE: 71 SIXTHMUNICI‐PAL DISTRICT ACQ MIN:1393097 WRIT AMOUNT: $393,300.00

Seized in the above suit TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser at themoment

TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price,and h b l

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment of adjudication k d

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. The purchaser h

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 3957 ANNUNICATION ST,CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, IN THE MATTER EN‐TITLED: NATION‐STARMORT‐GAGELLC VER‐SUS ANNIEL SPEARSOVER‐TON A/K/AANNIEL SPEARSA/K/A ANNIESPEARS A/K/A ANNIEL OVERTON A/K/A ANNIEOVERTON A/K/A ANNIE SPEARS OVER‐TON A/K/A ANNIES.OVER‐TON CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-9520 By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon the following described prop‐ertytowit: 3957 ANNUNICA‐TIONSTNEW ORLEANS,LA 70115 LOT7 -SQUARE 150 6THMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 944374

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-6850

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: 4825 CAMELIA ST#27 NEWOR‐LEANS,LA70126 LOTS:29-30, SQUARE: 14 THIRDMUNICI‐PAL DISTRICT ACQ MIN:1278834 PLUM ORCHARD SUBDIVISION WRIT AMOUNT:

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER10N OAKRIDGECT, CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, IN THE MATTER EN‐TITLED: PENNY‐MAC LOAN SER‐VICES,LLC VER‐SUS BRIAN TROTTER CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-6158 By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: ONECERTAIN LOT OF GROUND, TOGETHERWITH ALL THEBUILD‐INGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, SITU‐ATEDINTHE PARISHOFOR‐LEANS,STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THE THIRDMU‐NICIPAL DIS‐TRICT THEREOF, BEINGA POR‐

TION OF SECTION 5OF THE LAKRATT TRACT,FOR‐MERLY THENEW ORLEANS LAKESHORE LAND COMPANY SUBDIVISION, ANDCOMPRIS‐INGPARTOF ORIGINAL GROVE17, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITHA PLAN OF RESUBDIVISION BY UNIVERSAL ENGINEERS, INC. WALTER S. STONE,SUR‐VEYOR,AP‐PROVEDBYTHE CITYPLANNING COMMISSION ON APRIL22, 1976, AND RECORDED IN COB743, FOLIO 53, THE LOT IS SITUATED IN WHAT IS NOWDWSIG‐NATED AS OAK RIDGE SUBDIVI‐SION, ANDSIAD LOT IS DESIG‐NATED AS FOLLOWS: LOT6 ADJOINS LOT5 AND MEASURES THENCE50FEET FRONT ON N. OAK RIDGECOURT, 50.01 FEET IN WIDTH IN THE REAR, BY A DEPTHON THE SIDELINE NEARESTTO BULLARD AV‐ENUEOF116.04 FEET,AND A DEPTH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE LINE OF 115.60 FEET.AC‐CORDING TO SURVEYMADE BYUNIVERSAL ENGINEERS, INC.,DATED MAY 30, 1977, SAIDLOT BEARS THE SAME LO‐CATION, DESIGNATION ANDMEASURE‐MENTS ASS ABOVE SET FORTH,AND LOT 6 COMMENCES AT ADISTANCE OF256.70 FEET FROM THECOR‐

NEROFNORTH OAK RIDGE COURT ANDBULLARD AVENUE, ANDIS LOCATED IN THE SQUARE BOUNDEDBY NORTH OAK RIDGECOURT, BULLARD AV‐ENUE, CURRAN RAODAND EAST OAK RIDGE COURT SIDE ACCORDINGTO THE SURVEY BY GILBERT,KELLY AND COUTURIE, INC.,DATED NOVEMBER 11, 2003 ANDAT‐TACHEDTOCIN 271501 OF THE RECORDS OF ORLEANS PARISH,SAID LOT 6HAS THE SAMELOCA‐TION, DESIGNA‐TIONAND MEA‐SUREMENTS AS SETFORTH ABOVE;SUBJECT TORESTRIC‐TIONS,SERVI‐TUDES,RIGHT OFWAY ANDOUTSTAND‐INGMINERAL RIGHTSOF RECORDAF‐FECTING THE PROPERTY. WRIT AMOUNT: $136,687.20 Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans RB 16 DEAN MORRIS, LLC 318 388 1440 ASHLEY E. MOR‐RIS

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t

1STST, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THE MATTEREN‐TITLED: FIRST AMERICAN BANK AND TRUST VERSUS THE MOUNT SALEM MIS‐SIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEW ORLEANS CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-28

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floorofthe Civil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onJanuary 15 2026, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: 2800 1STST NEW ORLEANS, LA70113 LOTX-1SQUARE390 4THMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1432353 WRIT AMOUNT: $265,325.07

Seized in the above suit TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

1/14/2026

DEC 10-JAN 142T $90

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER5708 WILTONDR, CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, IN THE MATTEREN‐TITLED: LA CAPI‐TOL FEDERAL CREDITUNION VERSUSMORRIS E.JAMES,SR. ANDCLEO ROBINSON JAMES CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-11365 By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onJanuary 15, 2026, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: 5708 WILTON DR NEW ORLEANS, LA70122 LOT22- SQUARE 2 3RD MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1295560 BURBABKGAR‐DENSSUBDIVI‐SION WRIT AMOUNT: $68,370.97

BUILDING

Susan Hutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 28 WHITLOWLAW FIRM, LLC

SHARON S. WHITLOW

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 12/10/2025 & 1/14/2026

DEC10-JAN142T $89

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1919 EAGLE STREET THISCITY, IN THE MATTERENTI‐TLED: PENNY‐MAC LOAN SER‐VICES,LLC VER‐SUS JASON CHRISTOPHER EDWINNELSON, INDIVIDUALLY, ANDINHIS CA‐PACITYASAD‐MINISTRATOR OF THESUCCES‐SIONOFDAWN KATHERINE MACEY WRIGHT,SHANE ROBERTNEL‐SON,CAMILLE KATHERINE JOYCENELSON, AND AMANDA DAWNEVELYN WRIGHT

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-1139

WRIT AMOUNT:

$98,100.13

Seized in the above suit TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter. Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 27

THELAW OF‐FICES OF HER‐SCHEL C. AD‐COCK, JR.,L.L.C (225) 756-0373

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 12/10/2025 & 1/14/2026

DEC10-JAN142T $94

g Loyola Avenue inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onJanuary 15, 2026, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: 4556-58 LAFON DRNEW OR‐LEANS,LA70126 LOT43- SQUARE 5 3RD MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 964294 ACADEMYPARK SUBDIVISION WRIT AMOUNT: $216,045.27

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter. Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

OR LE AN S CaseNo: 2025-3479

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onJanuary 15, 2026, at 12:00 o'clock noon the following described prop‐ertytowit: 5223 N. ROBERT‐SON ST,5234 N. CLAIBORNE AV, 5231 N. ROBERT‐SON ST NEWOR‐LEANS,LA70117 LOTS 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12SQUARE678 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1428617 WRIT AMOUNT: $256,361.46

TIONAL ASSOCI‐ATION,NOT IN ITSINDIVIDUAL CAPACITYBUT SOLELYAS TRUSTEE FOR CHESTERROAD FUNDING TRUST VERSUSPALLAS NIKE, LLCAND PATRICIA MATTHEWS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-5752

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2800

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans RB 23 NEWMAN, MATHIS,BRADY & SPEDALE, APLC504-8379040 WAYNEA.MAIO‐RANA

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 12/10/2025&

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue, inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onJanuary 15 2026, at 12:00 o'clock noon the following described prop‐ertytowit: 1919 EAGLEST NEW ORLEANS, LA70118 LOT: 17, SQUARE: 262 SEVENTHMU‐NICIPAL DIS‐TRICT ACQMIN: 1286689

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBERS455658LAFON DR, CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, IN THE MATTER EN‐TITLED: MORT‐GAGEASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLCF/K/A RE‐VERSE MORT‐GAGE SOLUTIONS, INC. VERSUSTHE UN‐OPENEDSUC‐CESSION PATRI‐CIA A. PARKER (A/KA PATRICIA PARKER)

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-5480

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

RB 4 LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP 504831-7726 EMILYA MUELLER

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 12/10/2025 & 1/14/2026

DEC10-JAN142T $92

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING.

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans RB 25 NEWMAN, MATHIS,BRADY & SPEDALE, APLC504-8379040 WAYNEA.MAIO‐RANA, JR

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building,421 l

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTION OF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBERS5223 N.ROBERTSON ST, 5234 N. CLAIBORNEAV, & 5231 N. ROBERTSON ST CITYOFNEW ORLEANS,IN THE MATTER EN‐TITLED: FAIR‐PORT ASSETMANAGE‐MENTII, LLC VERSUSNEW PHILIPPIANS MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 12/10/2025 & 1/14/2026

DEC10-JAN142T $94

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF

PUBLIC NOTICESALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT U.S. BANK TRUSTNA‐

By virtue of a WritofSeizure and Sale di‐rectedtomeby the Honorable JudgesofCivil DistrictCourt for theParishof Orleans,inthe above entitled cause,I will pro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, onthe ground floor of theCivil DistrictCourt Building, 421 LoyolaAvenue inthe FirstDis‐trict of theCity onDecember 11, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon, the following described prop‐ertytowit: TWOCERTAIN PORTIONSOF GROUND, TO‐GETHERWITH ALL THEUILD‐INGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALL OF THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐NANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGING OR IN ANYWISEAP‐PERTAINING, SITUATED IN THE THIRDDIS‐TRICT OF THE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, STATE OFLOUISIANA, IN THESUBDIVI‐SIONOFLOTS4 AND 5OFTHE SUBDIVISIONOF GROVES7 AND 8 OFSECTION 5, OFTHE NEWOR‐LEANS LAKESHORE LAND COMPANY TRACT,INTHE SQUARE BOUNDEDBY UNITY DRIVE, CURRAN BOULEVARD ANDJAHNCKE ROAD, WHICH SAIDLOT OF GROUNDARE DESIGNATEDBY THENOS.27& 28, ADJOIN EACH OTHER AND MEASURE EACH 40FEET FRONT ON UNITYDRIVE, THE SAME IN WIDTH IN THE REAR, BY A DEPTH OF 120 FEET BETWEEN

EQUALAND PARALLEL LINES; LOTNO. 27FORMS THE CORNEROF UNITY DRIVE AND CURRAAN BOULEVARD, ALLACCORDING TOA SKETCH OF SURVEYBY ERROLE KELLY, SURVEY‐ORS,DATED JANUARY 18 1966, UPDATED AND RECERTI‐FIEDONJULY 15,1967; SUB‐JECTTORE‐STRICTIONS, SERVITUDES, RIGHTS OF WAY AND OUTSTANDING MINERAL RIGHTS OF RECORDAF‐FECTING THE PROPERTY. WRIT AMOUNT: $195,276.95

Seized in the above suit, TERMS -CASH. Thepurchaser atthe moment ofadjudication tomakea de‐posit of tenper‐centofthe pur‐chase price, and the balance withinthirty daysthereafter Note: Thepay‐mentmustbe Cash, Cashier's Check,Certified Check or Money Order.NoPer‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS AND TEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING. SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans GH 12 DEAN MORRIS, LLC 318388 1440 ASHLEY E. MOR‐RIS

TheN.O.Advo‐cateDate (s): 11/5/2025 & 12/10/2025 nov5-dec 10-2t $140

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