Pope Leo says everyone can be a good Samaritan

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To love one’s neighbor—whom Jesus identifies as anyone who has need of us—is within everyone’s reach, Pope Leo wrote in his message for the 34th World Day of the Sick. This day is observed by the Church on February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

“The pain that moves us to compassion is not the pain of a stranger; it is the pain of a member of our own body, to whom Christ, our head, commands us to attend, for the good of all,” the pope emphasized in the message released on January 20.

The theme chosen for the 2026 observance is inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan and Pope Francis’ encyclical on human fraternity, *Fratelli Tutti*. Titled, **“The compassion of the Samaritan: Loving by bearing the pain of the other,”** the message focuses on the importance of encountering and listening to others, being moved by compassion, and loving God through concrete action in solidarity with others.

While traditionally addressed to Catholic health care and pastoral workers, this year’s message is offered to everyone. Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, explained at a Vatican news conference on January 20 that “we’re one body, one humanity of brothers and sisters, and when someone’s sick and suffering, all the other categories which tend to divide fade away into insignificance.”

When asked about how people in the United States should best respond to violence toward immigrants, Cardinal Czerny admitted, “I don’t know what to say about the larger picture,” but advised focusing on “the underview,” or what can and should be done on the ground.

“There are many situations in which the individual Christian, the individual citizen, can extend their hand or lend their support. And that’s extremely important,” he said. “I suppose we could all hope that those many gestures, many Samaritan gestures, can also translate into better politics.”

The Catholic “struggle for justice,” Cardinal Czerny told Catholic News Service, gains “its real depth and its real meaning” from daily lived experiences helping real people. Advocacy work, for example, should “evolve out of real experience.”

He explained, “When, let’s say, your visits to the sick reveal, for example, the injustice of inaccessibility to health care, well then you take it up as an issue, but on the basis of your lived and indeed pastoral and Christian experience.”

The Good Samaritan parable shows that “we are all in a position to respond” to anyone in need. Cardinal Czerny reflected, “And the mystery, which you can discover whether you are a Christian or not, is that by responding, in a sense, your own suffering is also addressed.”

He added, “Since the major suffering for so many today, young and not so young, is loneliness and hopelessness, by worrying about it less and reaching out to someone who needs you, you will discover that there’s more life than you imagined.”

In his message, Pope Leo concluded, “To serve one’s neighbor is to love God through deeds.”

He further explained that the “true meaning of loving ourselves” involves “setting aside any attempt to base our self-esteem or sense of dignity on worldly stereotypes such as success, career, status or family background and recovering our proper place before God and neighbor.”

“I genuinely hope that our Christian lifestyle will always reflect this fraternal, ‘Samaritan’ spirit—one that is welcoming, courageous, committed and supportive, rooted in our union with God and our faith in Jesus Christ,” Pope Leo wrote.

“Enkindled by this divine love, we will surely be able to give of ourselves for the good of all who suffer, especially our brothers and sisters who are sick, elderly or afflicted,” he affirmed.
https://themiscellany.org/pope-leo-says-everyone-can-be-good-samaritan

Lindenhurst’s Burmeister triple threat pushing to new heights in more ways than one

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It’s triple-double trouble when Lindenhurst point guard Emma Burmeister takes the court. The Cortland-bound standout, one of triplets whose two brothers are also pursuing college athletics, has left Bulldogs fans barking with a legacy for the ages — boasting the most points scored since the 1980s.

“Having such a strong family that I come from has helped me out socially and on the basketball court,” Burmeister told The Post of her brothers Alex and Jacob. “They’re actually at every single game.”

The four-year varsity player set her senior season ablaze by becoming Lindenhurst’s second all-time points scorer with close to 1,200 and counting, with three games to go.

“She’s been coming to my open gym since she was in seventh grade. I knew then she was going to be a great player, going to be one of the greatest ones we had,” said coach Gregory Flynn. “I’m going to miss her. I don’t know what I’m going to do without her next year, to be honest.”

Burmeister’s “legendary” point-scoring tally will finish only behind former Duke player Monika Kost, who notched 1,448 points in 1987. Recently, Emma overtook 2016 graduate Alexis Perdue as the second all-time leader.

“Around the end of my sophomore year, I was around 500–600 points. I was like, ‘You know what? This is something I want to do, and I want to accomplish in high school,’” Burmeister said.

Flynn quickly noticed her dedication and improvement. “Everything that I’ve always asked her to work on, she’s come back and improved,” he said. “She’s lefty. She needed to get a better right hand, so she came back the next year with a better right hand. She needed to get a better handle, so the next year, she came back with a better handle.”

### Three Ball and Family Competition

As Burmeister kicked into another gear as an upperclassman, so did her brothers Alex and Jacob, who are speedy wideouts on the football team. Emma, who plays lacrosse in the spring like Alex, keeps her fall season open to see her brothers on the gridiron each week.

“In the stands, I’m explaining everything that just happened to my mom and to my friends,” she said. “I just want to see them succeed, and I want them to do well. I would hate missing that.”

Alex, a long-pole defender, will play at Geneseo next season, while Jacob is currently evaluating some college football offers.

“It’s always been competitive since we were young,” said Emma, who plays attack in lacrosse and often trains with Alex. “Everything’s a competition, playing basketball in my driveway, basically doing anything you could think of.”

The friendly rivalry among the trio stops at the final whistle, as the Burmeisters are an inseparable bunch who’ve contributed significantly to one another’s success.

“This newfound independence that I’ll have in college, that’s going to be difficult. I’ve never walked into school by myself. I’ve always shared a birthday,” she said. “I’ve never had to do anything on my own, really, because they’re always there to be my other two halves.”

### No Isolation at Cortland

Emma won’t be leaving the nest entirely, though, as her new college coach, Colleen Ames, is a familiar figure to Burmeister and Bulldogs basketball.

“A funny thing about the Cortland coach is that she played under Flynn, and she graduated from here,” Burmeister said. “She’s come and watched me play in the past, but not in terms of recruiting me, just as a fan.”

Flynn, who had Ames as his assistant coach for years in AAU ball, is confident that the two will hit it off.

“I think it’ll ease the transition into college for her in terms of basketball-wise,” he said. “Coach Ames is very connected with her team.”

And the player-coach duo has more in common than sporting Lindenhurst green and white.

“We’re both so competitive and passionate about the game,” Burmeister said. “She’s really intense. I’m really excited to go play for her.”
https://nypost.com/2026/01/29/sports/lindenhursts-burmeister-triple-threat-pushing-to-new-heights/

Department of Homeland Security purchased large warehouse in West Valley, reports say

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PHOENIX — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly purchased a large warehouse in the West Valley last week.

According to azcentral.com, Maricopa County property records show that DHS bought a 418,400-square-foot warehouse located off Sweetwater Avenue and Dysart Road for more than $70 million in cash on January 23. The Rockefeller Group was the seller, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was also named in the sale.

Notably, a “For Sale or Lease” sign was visible on the exterior of the warehouse as recently as January 20, but it disappeared just three days later.

### Has DHS Commented on the West Valley Warehouse?

So far, DHS has not spoken publicly about what it plans to do with the warehouse. However, an unidentified ICE spokesperson told azcentral.com via email on January 26 that the agency is “actively working to expand detention space,” though there are no new detention centers to announce at this time.

The spokesperson added that ICE has new funding available to expand detention space, thanks to the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

### Background: ICE’s Expanding Detention Efforts

In December, The Washington Post reported that ICE is attempting to speed up deportations by creating a “deliberate feeder system.” Under this plan, new detainees would be booked into processing sites before being moved to one of several large warehouses, where they would be staged for deportation.

Each warehouse is reportedly capable of holding between 5,000 and 10,000 people. One of these warehouses was expected to be located in Arizona, which aligns with reports of the recent purchase in the West Valley.
https://ktar.com/immigration/dhs-purchased-west-valley-warehouse/5814231/

Seeing stars with Stellar Vista at Fredonia Public Library

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Friends from Orderville, Kanab, and Fredonia gathered on Wednesday, January 14, at the Fredonia Public Library for an exciting evening focused on the science of light. Eric and Michael from Stellar Vista Observatory led the event, sharing their knowledge in a presentation designed for youth but interesting enough to engage both children and adults.

During the session, we explored the spectrum of colors present in different types of light. Eric provided special cards that allowed us to see the light in unique ways, and we experimented by looking through these cards at various bulbs that Michael had brought from home. The kids learned how to graph and compare the presence of different colors and described the appearance of the bands of light they observed.

As the night progressed, we moved outside to measure the light in the night sky from various spots around the parking lot. We learned that these measurements can help determine the health of the night sky. Not only is it beautiful to see a starry sky, but a healthy night sky is essential for many animals.

The darkest spot we measured registered just over 20 on the scale, where the darkest possible measurement is 23—so we’re doing quite well! We ended the evening by viewing Saturn and Orion’s Belt through telescopes while enjoying a cup of hot cocoa.

A big thank you to Stellar Vista Observatory for providing such a fun and educational experience. We will host this event again on February 12 at 6 p.m., and we hope you will join us!
https://www.sunews.net/post/seeing-stars-with-stellar-vista-at-fredonia-public-library

Garriques, Galeta lead the charge as No. 17 Phillipsburg dominates — Wrestling recap

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State qualifiers Owen Garriques and Gavin Galeta secured pins for Phillipsburg as the Stateliners defeated Bridgewater-Raritan 53-24 in Bridgewater. Ranked No. 17 in the NJ.com statewide Top 20, Phillipsburg advanced a step closer to clinching the Skyland Conference Delaware Division crown with this significant win.

With a current record of 7-4 overall and 3-0 in the division, Phillipsburg can secure the division title outright with a victory against Immaculata on February 4. The Stateliners have been dominant in recent years, boasting an 18-match winning streak within the division and capturing four consecutive division crowns.

In the match against Bridgewater-Raritan, Phillipsburg won a 9-5 bout split and recorded seven pins. Alongside Garriques and Galeta, Zack Swingle (106 lbs), Massimo Gonzalez (138 lbs), Kevin Buonocore (190 lbs), Ian Jankowski (215 lbs), and Ben Ellis (285 lbs) also notched pins for Phillipsburg.

Bridgewater-Raritan’s pins came from Andrew Adell (113 lbs), Carmine Vella (157 lbs), and Matthew McCann (165 lbs). McCann improved his impressive season record to 23-2 with his pin.

The upcoming match at Immaculata will be crucial for Phillipsburg as they aim to continue their dominance in the division.
https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2026/01/garriques-galeta-lead-the-charge-as-no-17-phillipsburg-dominates-wrestling-recap.html

From Cold to Colder

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South Florida is currently positioned between cold fronts. The first front passed through late on Monday, pushing out the warmth and humidity that had been building for days. As a result, we’re now experiencing a stretch of chilly nights with lows in the 40s and 50s, followed by pleasant afternoons with highs near 70 degrees.

Tuesday brought a good amount of sunshine, which was quite beneficial. However, cloud coverage will increase on Wednesday, accompanied by patchy rain bands. We’ll also have to contend with gusty breezes due to distant high pressure.

As the week progresses, attention turns to a future cold front developing from an area of low pressure over the northern Gulf waters. Although the low will remain to our north, it will drive an unusually strong front into Florida. Behind this boundary, a significant chill will spread, bringing what could be considered very “rare air” for South Florida this weekend.

Could it break record cold temperatures? It’s possible, especially as we enter the month of February. South Florida is likely to be under cold weather advisories—stay tuned for specific alerts and timing. Currently, the coldest mornings are expected next Sunday and Monday.

What makes this system particularly impactful is the forecasted drop in lows into the 30s, with highs reaching only the 50s. To put this in perspective, the National Weather Service recently noted that the last time Miami temperatures fell to 39 degrees or lower was back in December 2010.

Stay prepared and keep an eye on local forecasts as this chilly spell approaches.
https://wsvn.com/weather-blog/from-cold-to-colder/

‘American Idol’ Sings With Best Debut In Four Years

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American Idol’s Move to Monday Night Pays Off with Biggest Season Debut in Four Years

American Idol’s shift to a new night appears to have paid off handsomely. The ABC talent contest scored its biggest season debut in four years, drawing 5.9 million total viewers and earning a 0.54 share among adults aged 18-49, according to Nielsen’s live+same day ratings. This marks a significant increase from last year’s 4.49 million viewers and 0.45 share.

This premiere was the show’s strongest since Season 20 in 2022. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, with judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood, American Idol previously aired on Sunday nights but moved to Mondays for this season.

During the ratings reveal, ABC took a subtle jab at NBC’s The Voice. The Disney-owned network highlighted that Idol outperformed The Voice’s premiere in its nine-season run on ABC and “surged past” The Voice’s fall average. However, ABC’s comparison was made against The Voice’s seasonal average rather than its premiere numbers.

Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick spoke to Deadline earlier this month about the scheduling strategy, saying, “The beginning of the year is awards season and a lot of these award shows are on Sunday nights. You’re up against the Grammys and the Super Bowl. Let’s see what happens on Monday.”

Clearly, ABC is enjoying a ratings boost for its flagship linear entertainment shows such as American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. Highlighting its growing engagement, Idol received more than double the votes during its finale last season compared to previous years.

This season, American Idol is also experimenting with live social media voting for the first time, becoming the first entertainment show to implement this feature.

Last night’s premiere featured notable performances including Jesse Findling, who has a stutter and sang Benson Boone’s “In The Stars,” and Khloe Grace, who performed “Forever 13” — a song written about Aubreigh Wyatt, a 13-year-old girl who tragically died by suicide in 2023. Carrie Underwood was visibly moved to tears by Grace’s performance, underscoring the emotional impact of the moment.

With these developments, American Idol continues to secure its position as a top-rated and culturally relevant talent competition on network television.
https://deadline.com/2026/01/american-idol-ratings-best-debut-4-years-1236699359/

How Item-Level Supply Chain Data Protects Food Safety and Reduces Waste

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Every global supply chain faces constant pressures from economic shifts, tariffs, and logistics challenges. However, disruptions in the food supply chain carry unique consequences. They don’t just impact bottom lines — they can lead to food insecurity, price spikes, widespread waste, and even create uncertainty about food safety. A single delay or temperature spike can result in spoiled produce, unsafe products, or empty shelves.

In the U.S. alone, food travels an average of 1,500 miles before reaching consumers, and every mile introduces risks. Managing this complexity requires more than just traditional tracking methods. Without accurate, item-level data, grocers and suppliers are forced to operate in the dark, making it difficult to respond quickly to potential disruptions.

### The Data Accuracy Gap in Food Supply Chains

A 2025 survey conducted by Impinj of supply chain leaders in the food and grocery sectors validated this challenge. While 90% of respondents believe their organization is equipped to drive accurate supply chain visibility, only one-third actually have a consistent, 360-degree, real-time view. This data accuracy gap makes it difficult to anticipate issues or respond quickly when disruptions occur — and it comes with a serious cost.

### Closing the Data Accuracy Gap with Item-Level Visibility

To manage these challenges, many organizations are turning to item-level visibility technologies such as RAIN RFID, which have become increasingly present across food supply chains.

Unlike traditional barcodes that require manual line-of-sight scanning, RAIN RFID tags can be attached to or embedded in packaging and read in bulk. Employees can count thousands of items in seconds and generate rapid inventory reports, increasing the likelihood of identifying errors before they become problems.

Major food retailers are already seeing results. Chipotle, for example, has adopted RFID to track food shipments to its 3,300 restaurants, while Kroger plans to deploy it enterprise-wide to support its omnichannel purchase strategy and improve inventory accuracy.

Technology like RAIN RFID isn’t just a tool — it’s a foundation for proactive management. More precise item-level information unlocks several opportunities for grocers, including more targeted recalls, optimized inventory, and minimized waste. With this level of visibility, grocers can move from reacting to problems to strategically managing them, whether responding to a major recall or reducing everyday waste.

### Food Safety and the Cost of Blind Spots

Food safety has always been a top priority for grocers, especially as regulations evolve. Last year, the FDA postponed the compliance date for its Food Traceability Rule — a decision supported by many in the industry grappling with supply chain complexity. But delayed compliance requirements don’t eliminate risk.

Recalls are expensive, time-sensitive, and widely disruptive. They illustrate how data blind spots can escalate risks quickly. In Q3 2025, the FDA logged 145 food recalls — its second-highest quarterly total since 2020.

When grocers lack item-level visibility, even a single recall can trigger massive over-removal of products. Without knowing exactly which pallets or shipments are affected, or where those items are located on shelves, retailers may be forced to discard entire batches of product — including items that are safe.

This over-removal not only amplifies financial losses but also undermines consumer trust and increases waste.

However, item-level visibility technologies like RAIN RFID enable retailers to gain a detailed record of each product’s journey — from supplier to shipment to shelf. In the event of a recall, RAIN RFID can help brands remove only the affected items, reducing unnecessary food waste.

### The Billions Lost to Everyday Waste

Routine spoilage and waste drain billions from grocery operations. Managing perishables across departments is inherently complex, and visibility gaps only make it worse.

ReFED, a U.S.-based nonprofit committed to reducing food loss and waste, estimated that the cost of surplus and wasted food for businesses and consumers reached a staggering $473 billion in 2022 alone.

Last year, grocery and supply chain leaders felt the impact. According to Impinj’s 2026 report, 75% cited waste reduction as a major challenge, and respondents estimated losing an average of $79 million annually to food waste and spoilage.

Addressing these challenges requires more than just better forecasting. It demands item-level visibility into every product’s journey throughout the supply chain.

RAIN RFID offers a practical way to close these visibility gaps, helping grocers track inventory and optimize it before it goes to waste.

### Building a Smarter Food Supply Chain

While the food supply chain faces time-sensitive challenges and heavy regulation, innovative technologies are making it easier to manage operations, improve efficiency, and build resilience.

By leveraging item-level visibility through RAIN RFID, grocers and suppliers can close the data accuracy gap, create smart solutions for food safety, and reduce waste.

The result is a smarter, more reliable food system that reduces losses and enables grocers to focus on delivering streamlined customer experiences.

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### Related Articles

– Over the past six months, we have published a series of articles on many practical aspects of managing Listeria in food plants. This last article is a summary along with links to each of the articles in the series.
– Edition 10 strengthens audit credibility, reinforces foundational food safety controls, and supports greater confidence in certification outcomes across the supply chain.
– FDA encourages eligible food importers to take advantage of this extended application window to apply for FY2027 VQIP benefits.
– An investigation discovered recalled infant formula continued to be found on store shelves — for over three weeks in one case, in over 175 locations across 36 states.
– Ideagen’s CEO explains why binary outcomes and high stakes make compliance ideal for autonomous AI.
– Agentic AI deployment will enable FDA staff to further advance the use of AI to assist with more complex tasks, such as meeting management, pre-market reviews, review validation, post-market surveillance, inspections and compliance, and administrative functions.

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https://foodsafetytech.com/feature_article/how-item-level-supply-chain-data-protects-food-safety-and-reduces-waste/

California Democrats urge government shutdown after ICE agents kill Minnesota nurse

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California Legislative Democrats Urge Congressional Colleagues to Shut Down Federal Government Over Immigration Enforcement Shooting

California legislative Democrats are calling on their congressional colleagues to shut down the federal government and block further funding to immigration enforcement agencies following a fatal shooting of a civilian by federal agents in Minnesota over the weekend.

At least 50 Democratic state senators and assemblymembers—more than half of the party’s caucus—condemned the killing of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident and Veterans Affairs intensive care nurse, who was shot and killed on Saturday by federal immigration enforcement agents.

Unified in solidarity with Minnesota and other cities targeted by federal law enforcement, the lawmakers criticized what they described as the Trump administration’s militarization of American cities, with some members visibly emotional as they spoke out.

### Filibuster Threat Looms Over Bipartisan Spending Package

The incident comes as the previously bipartisan spending package—funding the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security—awaits a vote in the U.S. Senate. An increasing number of Democrats have vowed to filibuster the bill.

However, California lawmakers warned that Senate Democrats, many representing battleground states, might cave and provide Republicans the votes needed to pass the measure to President Donald Trump’s desk.

“This message is for Sen. Chuck Schumer,” said Assemblymember Liz Ortega, Democrat of Hayward. “Do your job. Stand for something. Don’t fold again.”

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Democrat of Salinas, echoed these sentiments, calling on Schumer to “step aside” if he cannot maintain unity within his caucus.

### Calls for Republican Voices of Conscience

Rivas also directed a message to Republican lawmakers: “We need you to speak out. You cannot watch these videos coming out of Minneapolis, Minn. and think that this is acceptable. We need your voice, we need your solidarity, and standing up for American values.”

### Second Amendment and Accountability Debated

In light of reports that Pretti was carrying a permitted weapon, Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez of Los Angeles referenced a 2018 tweet from the late Charlie Kirk: “The Second Amendment wasn’t for hunting or self-protection, but to ensure that free people can defend themselves if, god forbid, government became tyrannical and turned against its citizens.”

Gonzalez questioned, “What do you call a masked agent killing people in the street? What do you call children being taken from families?”

He noted that the National Rifle Association had condemned premature conclusions about the shooting as “dangerous and wrong.”

“Even the NRA is calling out the dangerous ignorance of federal officials trying to excuse the killing of Alex Pretti,” Gonzalez said. “When even staunch defenders of the Second Amendment recognize the need for accountability, we must listen.”

### California Republicans Respond

So far, California Republicans have primarily targeted their criticism at Democrats. Republican legislative leaders deferred to other caucus members for comment.

Senator Tony Strickland, Republican of Huntington Beach, accused Democratic officials of creating unsafe conditions for both agents and civilians through “sanctuary” policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents. He argued these policies put civilians like Pretti in risky situations where they feel compelled to monitor officers.

“Stop the rhetoric that ICE agents are Gestapo, that they’re secret police, that they’re Nazis,” stated Assemblymember James Gallagher of Chico, a former Republican Assembly leader and candidate for a special congressional election. “This type of rhetoric is helping to contribute to the chaotic environment in places like Minnesota.”

Gallagher called Pretti’s death “a terrible thing” and demanded an independent investigation and accountability.

### New Legislation Proposed to Increase ICE Oversight

In response to the shooting, some lawmakers plan to introduce new measures limiting the power of federal agents operating in California.

“Certainly this is a frustrating situation because so much of the power and the authority here is in the hands of the federal government in Washington, D.C., but that doesn’t mean that the answer for us is to do nothing,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Democrat of Encino.

Gabriel intends to introduce a bill requiring the California attorney general to conduct independent investigations into any shootings by federal immigration enforcement agents in the state—an extension of existing law applied to state and local agencies.

Gabriel will also co-author legislation with Assemblymember Juan Carrillo that aims to ban federal immigration enforcement agencies from using state resources to facilitate their operations, including staging equipment and personnel on state property.

“We have to use every tool at our disposal, every lawful opportunity that we have to use our power, our authority to think of all of the different ways that we can push back,” Gabriel stated.

### Senate Bill 747 to Allow Civil Rights Lawsuits Against Federal Agents

Also scheduled for a vote this week in the California Senate is Senate Bill 747, co-authored by Senator Aisha Wahab of Hayward and Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco. The bill would empower Californians to sue federal agents for civil rights violations.

This bill builds upon Wiener’s measure from last year banning federal immigration enforcement agents from wearing masks—a law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Wiener emphasized that the legislation transcends partisan politics. “This is really about everyone’s rights under any federal administration,” he told CalMatters on Monday. “Local and state law enforcement are already subject to civil rights liability if they violate someone’s rights, and federal agents effectively are not. This is simply seeking to apply the same standards for all law enforcement.”

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The ongoing debate highlights deep divisions over immigration enforcement and police accountability, with California lawmakers actively seeking ways to hold federal agents responsible while urging a halt to federal funding until reforms are implemented.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/01/california-legislature-minnesota-response/

Area Girls Basketball: Parker, WDC knock down Trojans

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Sebeka — Lily Parker scored a career-high 23 points to power the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines to an 81-30 Park Region Conference victory over the Sebeka Trojans Saturday, Jan. 24.

Parker was dominant in the first half, scoring 16 of her game-high points as Wadena-Deer Creek (WDC) jumped to a commanding 43-9 lead at halftime. Ashley Pavek contributed 13 points, followed by Jada Dykhoff’s 11. Kennedy Ness and Payton Gravelle each added nine points to help secure the win.

With the victory, WDC improved to 8-1 in the conference and secured its fifth consecutive win.

**Final Score:**
Sebeka 9 | 21 | — 30
Wadena-Deer Creek 43 | 38 | — 81

**Sebeka Scorers:**
– Bella Connor – 8
– Taylor Johnson – 3
– Vyolette Lysne – 10
– Emma Ness – 4
– Kourtney Warmbold – 4
– Kyla Watson – 1

**Wadena-Deer Creek Scorers:**
– Braelyn Becker
– Jada Dykhoff – 11
– Kennedy Ness – 9
– Karlee Sweere – 7
– Tori Mallak – 7
– Eva Pulver – 2
– Ashley Pavek – 13
– Lily Parker – 23
– Payton Gravelle – 9

**Conference Record:** 8-1
**Overall Record:** 11-4

WDC will next face New York Mills at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

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*Brainerd Dispatch*
Covering news, weather, sports, and community stories from central Minnesota. Stay connected and informed with local journalism that matters. Visit brainerddispatch.com for more details.
https://www.brainerddispatch.com/sports/prep/area-girls-basketball-138