| By Bob Warren | Deputy metro editor
Alaska shooting, New Orleans impact: Very interesting story from our New Orleans crime and courts team today. The lead detective in the fatal shooting of former Saints player Will Smith moved to Alaska to become a state trooper. But after he was shot in the line of duty in August, some local court watchers are wondering how his recovery might impact the retrial in a few months of the man who killed Smith.
Former lawman pleads guilty: In October, former St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain was convicted of child sex crimes that will put him behind bars for the rest of his life. This morning, the longtime "tough-on-crime" sheriff pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges. Sara Pagones and Marie Fazio tell us how the cases are related.
'She brought life to everything': Jonshel Alexander, who as a 12-year-old played a supporting role in the Academy Award-nominated movie “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” was fatally shot in New Orleans over the weekend. Missy Wilkinson talked to the 22-year-old woman's family.
All politics is national? Louisiana politics has always had its own, uh, flavor. But lately, columnist Stephanie Grace writes, it’s becoming a lot more like Washington, D.C.
It's lit: New Orleans loves to dress up nicely for the holidays. Last night, the switch was flipped at one of favorite spots and 112,000 sparkling lights sparked to life in the lobby of the Roosevelt New Orleans hotel. Photographer Chris Granger was there to capture the magic.
Hope you enjoyed the Lunch Line. Thanks for taking a break with us today. BW | 
