| By DREW BROACH | Staff writer |
Here are some of our top stories on the last day of the year. In his final months in office, Gov. John Bel Edwards has been shortening the prison sentences of criminals at a pace that Louisiana has not seen since the 1980s. Our 6-part series on guardians of New Orleans' unique heritage concludes with a look at a professorial and unfailingly pleasant musician known for performing, preserving and perpetuating traditional jazz. Back in March, the New Orleans Saints signed quarterback Derek Carr to an eye-popping four-year contract worth $150 million, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Baker Mayfield to a lowly one-year deal for $4 million. Sports columnist Jeff Duncan explains which team got the better bargain. Check out all the latest news, sports and entertainment coverage from The Times-Picayune. - Drew. | 