Louisiana
Monroe-area high school football schedules for the 2024 season
Ruston’s Jerrod Baugh gets an ice bath
Ruston’s Jerrod Baugh gets an ice bath after his team’s victory over Zachary to advance to the Superdome.
Jimmy Watson, Shreveport Times
Expect a number of feisty contests when the 2024 Louisiana High School Athletic Association football season kicks off Sept. 6 across Northeast Louisiana.
The Monroe area boasted three state champions last fall and two additional semifinalists with at last that many expecting the same finish this fall.
Ruston High, which completed an undefeated season (14-0), returns a bundle of talent for coach Jerrod Baugh, which has a team seeking a third consecutive trip to the Louisiana Superdome. Tulane commitment Josh Brantley, uncommitted Power 5 recruit Aidan Anding and Louisiana Tech commit Zheric Hill give Bearcat fans plenty to smile about.
Union Parish (10-4) also won a state title in Non-Select Division III and Oak Grove compiled an 12-2 record to win Non-Select Division IV. Semifinal finishes came from Sterlington (11-2) in Non-Select Division III and Ouachita Christian (11-2) in Select Division IV.
OAK GROVE WINS: VIDEO: Oak Grove 62 Haynesville 36: Tigers win fourth state championship in five seasons
ALL-AREA FOOTBALL: Meet The News-Star’s All-Area high school football team for 2023
UNION PARISH WINS: Highlights from Union Parish’s 36-35 win over St. James for the Non-select D-3 state title
Jimmy covers Louisiana sports him for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
Here’s a look at the 2024 schedules for Monroe area football teams:
Class 5A
West Monroe
Sept. 6 vs. Huntington
Sept. 13 Open
Sept. 20 at North DeSoto
Sept. 27 at Catholic B.R.
Oct. 4 vs. Scotlandville
Oct. 11 at Alexandria
Oct. 18 at Ouachita Parish
Oct. 25 vs. Pineville
Nov. 1 at Neville
Nov. 8 vs. Ruston
Ruston
Sept. 6 vs. Acadiana
Sept. 13 vs. Cabot, AR
Sept. 20 at Longview
Sept. 28 vs. Midland Legacy
Oct. 5 vs. Stephenville
Oct. 11 at Ouachita Parish
Oct. 18 vs. Neville
Oct. 25 at Alexandria
Nov. 1 vs. Pineville
Nov. 8 at West Monroe
Ouachita Parish
Sept. 6 at Captain Shreve
Sept. 13 at Wossman
Sept. 20 vs. Sterlington
Sept. 27 Open
Oct. 4 vs. Franklin Parish
Oct. 11 vs. Ruston
Oct. 18 vs. West Monroe
Oct. 25 at Neville
Nov. 1 vs. Alexandria
Nov. 8 at Pineville
West Ouachita
Sept. 6 vs. Richwood
Sept. 13 vs. Jonesboro-Hodge
Sept. 20 at Winnfield
Sept. 27 at Sterlington
Oct. 4 vs. Caldwell Parish
Oct. 11 at Franklin Parish
Oct. 18 vs. Tioga
Oct. 25 at Wossman
Nov. 1 at Peabody
Nov. 8 vs. Grant
Class 4A
Neville
Sept. 6 at Evangel Christian
Sept. 13 at Southside
Sept. 20 vs. Holmes County Central
Sept. 27 vs. St. Thomas More
Oct. 4 at Sterlington
Oct. 11 vs. Pineville
Oct. 18 at Ruston
Oct. 25 vs. Ouachita Parish
Nov. 1 vs. West Monroe
Nov. 8 at Alexandria
Bastrop
Sept. 6 vs. Wossman
Sept. 13 vs. Booker T. Washington
Sept. 20 at Rayville
Sept. 27 vs. Frederick
Oct. 4 vs. General Trass
Oct. 11 at Green Oaks
Oct. 18 at Carroll
Oct. 25 vs. Sterlington
Nov. 1 at Richwood
Nov. 8 vs. North Webster
Franklin Parish
Sept. 6 at West Jefferson
Sept. 13 vs. St. Frederick
Sept. 20 vs. Calvary Baptist
Sept. 26 at Caldwell Parish
Oct. 4 at Ouachita Parish
Oct. 11 vs. West Ouachita
Oct. 18 at Peabody
Oct. 25 vs. Grant
Nov. 1 vs. Wossman
Nov. 8 at Tioga
Class 3A
Sterlington
Sept. 6 vs. Tioga
Sept. 13 at Rayville
Sept. 20 at Ouachita Parish
Sept. 27 vs. West Ouachita
Oct. 4 vs. Neville
Oct. 11 at Richwood
Oct. 18 vs. North Webster
Oct. 25 at Bastrop
Nov. 1 vs. Carroll
Nov. 7 at Union Parish
Union Parish
Sept. 6 at Union Parish
Sept. 13 vs. Alexandria
Sept. 20 at Airline
Sept. 27 at Green Oaks
Oct. 4 vs. Homer
Oct. 11 at North Caddo
Oct. 18 vs. Calvary Baptist
Oct. 25 at D’Arbonne Woods Charter
Nov. 1 vs. Magnolia School of Excellence
Nov. 7 vs. Sterlington
Carroll
Sept. 6 at Parkway
Sept. 13 Open
Sept. 20 vs. Arcadia
Sept. 27 at General Trass
Oct. 4 at Wossman
Oct. 11 at North Webster
Oct. 18 vs. Bastrop
Oct. 25 Open
Nov. 1 at Sterlington
Nov. 8 vs. Richwood
Richwood
Aug. 30 vs. Oak Grove
Sept. 6 at West Ouachita
Sept. 13 vs. Mangham
Sept. 20 vs. Wossman
Sept. 27 at Tioga
Oct. 4 Open
Oct. 11 vs. Sterlington
Oct. 18 at Lake Arthur
Oct. 25 at North Webster
Nov. 1 vs. Bastrop
Nov. 8 at Carroll
Wossman
Sept. 6 at Bastrop
Sept. 13 vs. Ouachita Parish
Sept. 20 at Richwood
Sept. 27 at Iowa
Oct. 4 vs. Carroll
Oct. 11 vs. Tioga
Oct. 18 at Grant
Oct. 25 vs. West Ouachita
Nov. 1 at Franklin Parish
Nov. 8 vs. Peabody
Class 2A
Mangham
Sept. 6 at Jena
Sept. 13 at Richwood
Sept. 20 vs. Caldwell Parish
Sept. 27 vs. Beekman Charter
Oct. 4 at Madison
Oct. 11 vs. Ferriday
Oct. 18 vs. Oak Grove
Oct. 25 at Ouachita Christian
Nov. 1 vs. Rayville
Nov. 8 at Delhi Charter
Ferriday
Sept. 6 at Vidalia
Sept. 13 at Block
Sept. 20 vs. Delta Charter
Sept. 27 vs. Delhi Charter
Oct. 4 at Beekman Charter
Oct. 11 at Mangham
Oct. 18 vs. Madison
Oct. 24 at Oak Grove
Nov. 1 vs. Ouachita Christian
Nov. 8 at Rayville
General Trass
Sept. 6 vs. Rayville
Sept. 13 vs. Ouachita Christian
Sept. 20 at Madison
Sept. 27 vs. Carroll
Oct. 4 at Bastrop
Oct. 10 at Tensas
Oct. 18 vs. Block
Oct. 25 at Delta Charter
Nov. 1 vs. St. Frederick
Nov. 8 at Delhi
Rayville
Sept. 6 at General Trass
Sept. 13 vs. Sterlington
Sept. 20 vs. Bastrop
Sept. 27 at Oak Grove
Oct. 4 at Ouachita Christian
Oct. 11 vs. Madison
Oct. 17 vs. Delhi Charter
Oct. 25 vs. Beekman Charter
Nov. 1 at Mangham
Nov. 8 vs. Ferriday
Delhi Charter
Sept. 6 Cedar Creek
Sept. 13 at Lakeview
Sept. 20 vs. Jonesboro-Hodge
Sept. 27 at Ferriday
Oct. 4 vs. Oak Grove
Oct. 11 at Ouachita Christian
Oct. 17 at Rayville
Oct. 24 Open
Nov. 1 at Beekman Charter
Nov. 8 vs. Mangham
Vidalia
Aug. 30 at West Ouachita
Sept. 6 vs. Ferriday
Sept. 13 at Delta Charter
Sept. 20 at Block
Sept. 27 at Grant
Oct. 4 vs. Delhi
Oct. 11 at Buckeye
Oct. 18 vs. Jena
Oct. 25 vs. Marksville
Nov. 1 at Bunkie
Nov. 8 vs. Caldwell Parish
Beekman Charter
Aug. 30 at Bastrop
Sept. 6 at Delhi
Sept. 13 vs. Tensas
Sept. 19 vs. Lincoln Preparatory School
Sept. 27 at Mangham
Oct. 4 vs. Ferriday
Oct. 11 at Oak Grove
Oct. 18 vs. Ouachita Christian
Oct. 25 at Rayville
Nov. 1 vs. Delhi Charter
Nov. 8 at Madison
Madison Parish
Sept. 6 at Ringgold
Sept. 13 at Fontainebleau
Sept. 20 vs. General Trass
Sept. 26 vs. Ouachita Christian
Oct. 4 vs. Mangham
Oct. 11 at Rayville
Oct. 18 at Ferriday
Oct. 24 Open
Nov. 1 vs. Oak Grove
Nov. 8 vs. Beekman Charter
D’Arbonne Woods Charter
Sept. 6 vs. Lincoln Preparatory School
Sept. 13 vs. Bearden, AR
Sept. 20 at Grant
Sept. 27 at Calvary Baptist
Oct. 4 vs. Green Oaks
Oct. 11 at Magnolia School of Excellence
Oct. 18 vs. North Caddo
Oct. 25 vs. Union Parish
Nov. 1 Open TBA
Nov. 8 at Homer
Class 1A
Ouachita Christian
Aug. 30 at Cedar Creek
Sept. 6 at Caldwell Parish
Sept. 13 at General Trass
Sept. 20 vs. Delhi
Sept. 26 at Madison
Oct. 4 vs. Rayville
Oct. 11 vs. Delhi Charter
Oct. 18 at Beekman Charter
Oct. 25 vs. Mangham
Nov. 1 at Ferriday
Nov. 7 vs. Oak Grove
Oak Grove
Aug. 30 at Richwood
Sept. 6 at Calvary Baptist
Sept. 13 vs. Crossett
Sept. 20 vs. Red River
Sept. 27 vs. Rayville
Oct. 4 at Delhi Charter
Oct. 11 vs. Beekman Charter
Oct. 18 at Mangham
Oct. 24 vs. Ferriday
Nov. 1 at Madison
Nov. 7 at Ouachita Christian
St. Frederick
Sept. 5 vs. Loyola College Prep
Sept. 13 at Franklin Parish
Sept. 20 vs. Jena
Sept. 27 at Bastrop
Oct. 4 vs. St. Mary’s
Oct. 11 vs. Block
Oct. 18 at Delhi
Oct. 25 vs. Tensas
Nov. 1 at General Trass
Nov. 7 vs. Delta Charter
Cedar Creek
Aug. 30 vs. Ouachita Christian
Sept. 6 at Delhi Charter
Sept. 13 vs. Delhi
Sept. 20 vs. Loyola Prep
Sept. 27 at Glenbrook
Oct. 11 at Plain Dealing
Oct. 18 vs. Haynesville
Oct. 25 at Lincoln Prep
Nov. 1 vs. Arcadia
Nov. 8 vs. Jonesboro-Hodge
Delhi
Sept. 6 vs. Beekman Charter
Sept. 13 at Cedar Creek
Sept. 20 at Ouachita Christian
Sept. 27 at Southern Lab
Oct. 4 at Vidalia
Oct. 11 at Delta Charter
Oct. 18 vs. St. Frederick
Oct. 26 at Block
Nov. 1 vs. Tensas
Nov. 8 vs. General Trass
River Oaks
Aug. 16 at Porter’s Chapel Academy
Aug. 23 vs. Magnolia
Aug. 30 at Tensas
Sept. 6 vs. Claiborne Academy
Sept. 13 vs. Franklin Academy
Sept. 20 at Prairie View Academy
Sept. 27 vs. Riverdale Academy
Oct. 4 vs Union Christian Academy
Oct. 11 at Briarfield Academy
Oct. 18 at Tallulah Academy
Tensas Parish
Sept. 6 at Plain Dealing
Sept. 13 at Beekman Charter
Sept. 20 vs. Ringgold
Sept. 27 vs. Montgomery
Oct. 4 at Northwood-Lena
Oct. 10 vs. General Trass
Oct. 18 vs. Delta Charter
Oct. 25 at St. Frederick
Nov. 1 vs. Delhi
Nov. 8 at Block
Delta Charter
Sept. 6 at LaSalle
Sept. 13 vs. Vidalia
Sept. 20 at Ferriday
Sept. 27 TBD
Oct. 3 vs. Cedar Creek
Oct. 11 vs. Delhi
Oct. 18 at Tensas
Oct. 25 vs. General Trass
Nov. 1 vs. Block
Nov. 7 at St. Frederick
Lincoln Prep
Sept. 6 at D’Arbonne Woods Charter
Sept. 13 vs. Magnolia School of Excellence
Sept. 19 at Beekman Charter
Sept. 26 at Jonesboro-Hodge
Oct. 4 at Haynesville
Oct. 11 vs. Ringgold
Oct. 18 vs. Glenbrook
Oct. 25 vs. Cedar Creek
Nov. 1 at Plain Dealing
Nov. 8 vs. Arcadia
Louisiana
Federal appeals court upholds Texas’ Ten Commandments law. What does it mean for Louisiana?
A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a Texas law requiring public schools to post the Ten Commandments, just weeks after the same court allowed a similar Louisiana law to take effect.
A majority of judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas’ law, which is nearly identical to Louisiana’s, is constitutional and does not violate students’ religious freedom. In February, the court lifted an injunction on Louisiana’s law, which cleared schools to put up the posters, but the judges said it was too early to rule on that law’s constitutionality.
Tuesday’s ruling could bode well for Louisiana’s law if it eventually returns to the 5th Circuit, considered the country’s most conservative federal court of appeals.
In their majority opinion, the judges rejected the argument that posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms would pressure students to honor the biblical mandates or adopt particular beliefs.
“To plaintiffs, merely exposing children to religious language is enough to make the displays engines of coercive indoctrination. We disagree,” the majority wrote about the Texas law, known as S.B. 10. A minority of the court’s active judges dissented.
Even though Tuesday’s ruling only addressed the Texas case, defenders of Louisiana’s legislation celebrated it as a victory. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said the 5th Circuit’s argument in upholding Texas’ law was identical to the one Louisiana made in defense of its law.
“Our law clearly was always constitutional,” she posted on X, “and I am grateful that the Fifth Circuit has now definitively agreed with us.”
Louisiana’s Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law in 2024, which requires all public K-12 schools and colleges to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. A group of parents quickly challenged the law in court, and a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that stopped the state from enforcing the law.
In February, the 5th Circuit reversed the lower court’s decision, saying it had been premature to block the law before it took effect. The judges said they could not rule on the law’s constitutionality before seeing how it played out in schools.
But in the case of Texas’ law, which that state’s Republican-led Legislature passed in 2025, the court did rule on the merits.
Rejecting arguments made by attorneys for the Texas families who challenged the law, the 5th Circuit majority said that requiring public schools to post the Ten Commandments does not amount to the government endorsing a particular religion, which the U.S. Constitution forbids. The law also does not impose religious beliefs on students, the judges wrote.
“As noted, S.B. 10 authorizes no religious instruction and gives teachers no license to contradict children’s religious beliefs (or their parents’),” the majority opinion says. “No child is made to recite the Commandments, believe them, or affirm their divine origin.”
The Texas families were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, with the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP serving as pro bono counsel. The same groups, including Louisiana’s ACLU chapter, represented the Louisiana families.
In a statement Tuesday, the organizations said they are “extremely disappointed” by the 5th Circuit’s ruling, adding that they expect to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction,” the groups said. “This decision tramples those rights.”
Louisiana
Gaining momentum: Louisiana climbs to No. 3 in the South for job growth
Nearly all major industries in Louisiana added jobs over the past year, signaling momentum for a stronger future, according to a recent report from Leaders for a Better Louisiana.
The organizat…
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Louisiana
8 children killed after domestic dispute in Shreveport
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Police say a man shot and killed eight children, including seven of his own, following a domestic dispute in Shreveport.
The incident took place early Sunday morning, April 19, on West 79th Street in the Cedar Grove neighborhood. According to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office, the victims included three boys and five girls, aged between three and 11-years-old. Seven of the children were siblings, while one was a cousin. Two adult females were also injured, including one who was shot at a home located in the 500 block of Harrison Street.
One of the adults was inside the home on West 79th Street when the children were killed. She managed to escape through a window with two of the children and reached the roof. The woman jumped down with one of the children. Unfortunately, the other child did not manage to escape. Police later found his body on the roof with a gunshot wound. The surviving child was taken to the hospital with a broken leg.
The children were identified by their mothers as Jayla (age 3), Shayla (age 5), Kayla (age 6), Layla (age 7), Markaydon (age 10), Sariahh (age 11), Khedarrion (age 6), and Braylon (age 5).
Authorities say the suspect and father of the victims, Shamar Elkins, was the only person who fired shots that led to the juveniles’ deaths.
Authorities noted that Elkins stole a vehicle near West 79th Street after he shot the victims. He was pursued by patrol officers into Bossier Parish, where they discharged their weapons and fatally shot him on Brompton Lane. Louisiana State Police will take over the investigation involving the officers.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux expressed his thoughts on the matter, saying, “We have a hurting community. We have hurting families. We have hurting police officers, coroner’s personnel, fire department, sheriff people, and this affects the entire community. We all mourn with these families. I ask, it’s a Sunday morning. I ask all of you who are, who are listening, who might be able to. Pray at your services this morning for not just this family, for all the victims, for the victims who are at the hospital, and for the Cedar Grove community and for the community at large.”
Attorney General Liz Murrill also commented on the tragic shooting, stating, “Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating this tragic situation. We do not yet know all the details, but I am deeply saddened by the senseless loss of life. I’m praying for the victims and their family members in the wake of this devastating violence.”
According to the Director of Strategy and Communications, Mary Nash-Wood, two of the children attended Summer Grove, and at least four attended Linwood Charter School.
The police have not determined a motive. More updates will be provided as the information becomes available.
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