| BY CHAD CALDER | Staff writer |
Good morning, and thanks for joining us. Here are some of today's top headlines. Hecker dies: Lawrence Hecker, the 93-year-old retired Catholic priest who pleaded guilty this month to raping a boy in a New Orleans church gym five decades ago, has died in prison. Hecker, who was accused of molesting multiple juveniles during the decades he served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, died of natural causes on Thursday, just days after he began serving his life sentence. Poet Wolfe has the story. Sales flat: Holiday shopping this year was about even with 2023 in the New Orleans area, though some stores got a year-end lift from the influx of Taylor Swift fans in October. Rich Collins has the details. 'Company all day long': In our latest installment of Timeless Treasures, Missy Wilkinson sits down with Yvonne LaFleur, who has spent more than five decades making hats, fitting brides and customizing suits at her eponymous Hampson Street boutique. Check back throughout the day for more news, entertainment and sports from The Times-Picayune. Chad | 