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Chandler Fields accounts for 3 TDs; Louisiana bowl eligible with 52-21 rout of ULM

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Chandler Fields accounts for 3 TDs; Louisiana bowl eligible with 52-21 rout of ULM


LAFAYETTE – Chandler Fields rushed for a touchdown, tossed a pair of TDs, and completed his final 15 passes to set the school single-game completion percentage record as the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns scored 28 unanswered points to earn a convincing 52-21 Sun Belt Conference victory over ULM in the regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday at Cajun Field.

Louisiana (6-6, 3-5 SBC) became one of the nation’s best 12 SBC schools to become bowl-eligible after scoring the most points in a game at home against ULM (2-10, 0-8 SBC) in the 58-game series. The Ragin’ Cajuns 31-point margin of victory was the second-largest in school history following a 41-7 win in 1954.

The win for Louisiana, who became bowl-eligible for the school-record sixth straight year, marked the final game played in Cajun Field’s current configuration. The game marked the 288th in the 52-year-old facility with the West side portion of the stadium – the press box, upper deck, and original seating in the lower bowl – slated to be torn down beginning in mid-December.

Replacing the structure in time for the 2025 season will be a state-of-the-art facility that contains the following: 34 suites, 40 loge boxes, 524 club seats, five lower bowl sections with chairback seating and modern and enhanced amenities for all fans.

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Fields finished 18-for-20 overall through the air for 246 yards and TD passes of 24 and 28 yards to Neal Johnson. The Metairie, Louisiana native, broke Levi Lewis’ single-game, school record (86.7 percent) previously set against Coastal Carolina in 2019.

The signal-caller directed Louisiana on a nine-play, 50-yard scoring drive on its opening possession, capping off the drive with a 5-yard scoring run around the left side. Zylan Perry added a 3-yard scoring run before Kenneth Almendares’ 24-yard field goal gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a 17-7 lead with 9:41 remaining in the first half.

ULM, which dropped its 10th straight game after a 2-0 start, closed to within 17-14 after Dylan Howell scooped up a Louisiana fumble and scored from 24 yards out before the Ragin’ Cajuns scored twice in the final 2:51 of the half to take a 31-14 lead at the break.

Jacob Kibodi capped an 11-play, 86-yard drive for Louisiana with a 3-yard scoring run to give Louisiana a 24-14 lead before Jalen Clark’s interception at midfield set up Fields’ 24-yard scoring pass to Johnson with 32 seconds remaining in the half.

Johnson, who caught three passes for 67 yards, gave Louisiana a 38-14 lead with 13:20 remaining in the third quarter after his 28-yard scoring grab capped a four-play, 49-yard drive.

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Freshman Bill Davis added the first of a pair of rushing touchdowns for Louisiana, scoring on a 10-yard run in the third quarter before plunging in from 2 yards out in the final minute. The former Riverside Academy product led Louisiana on the ground with 109 yards on 14 carries.

Clark led Louisiana on the defensive side with a team-high eight tackles with K.C. Ossai adding seven. Tyler Guidry and Jordan Lawson each recorded a pair of sacks for the Ragin’ Cajuns while Caleb Anderson thwarted a Warhawk scoring drive with an interception.

Louisiana finished with 476 yards of total offense, including 230 on the ground. The Ragin’ Cajuns held ULM to 239 yards of total offense in the game with the Warhawks managing 86 yards in the air. Jiya Wright finished 6-for-10 for 66 yards with an interception for ULM with Blake Murphy finishing 3-for-10 with an interception and a fourth-quarter scoring pass to Alred Luke.

Bennett Galloway led ULM on the ground with 87 yards on 16 carries while Max Harris produced a game-high 10 stops.





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Louisiana

Letters: State should invest in training mental health providers

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Letters: State should invest in training mental health providers


Most of Louisiana is classified as a mental health professional shortage area, leaving countless families — especially children —without access to critical mental health services. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, over half of children in Louisiana who experience mental health challenges do not receive the care they need. This is a staggering number given that this study estimates that 30.3% of children ages 3-17 have at least one emotional, developmental or behavioral health disorder. This unmet need has far-reaching consequences, affecting school performance, family stability and community safety.

Addressing this gap starts with investing in higher education programs that train the mental health professionals our state desperately needs. Universities such as the University of Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana Tech University, Grambling State University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, McNeese State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of New Orleans, University of Holy Cross, Tulane University, Nicholls State University, LSU and others play a vital role in preparing skilled counselors, psychologists and social workers.

However, the current capacity of mental health training programs is not sufficient to meet the growing demand. We are facing another potential budget shortfall in Louisiana that could impact higher education. Without adequate funding and resources, these programs may struggle to equip students with the expertise and experience required to enter the workforce.

Investing in these programs is not just about addressing today’s challenges — it is about safeguarding the future of Louisiana. By increasing the number of trained mental health professionals, we can improve outcomes for children and families, reduce the strain on emergency services and foster healthier, more resilient communities.

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It is time to prioritize the mental health of our state by supporting higher education programs that make a difference. Together, we can build a brighter, healthier future.

MATTHEW THORNTON

chief executive officer, Center for Children and Families, Inc.

 



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Stabbing death reported at Louisiana prison

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Stabbing death reported at Louisiana prison


(KTAL/KMSS) – A dispute that resulted in an inmate’s death is under investigation at a Louisiana state prison, according to the Department of Corrections.

DOC Director of Communications Ken Pastorick said the incident happened at Southern Correctional Center in Tallulah, Louisiana, and caused the death of Teldric Boyd, 31.

A new release said that around 3:25 a.m. on Monday, Boyd was allegedly stabbed in the neck with a shank by fellow inmate Austin Dean, 33. Correctional center staff is said to have immediately responded and rendered first aid, and then Boyd was brought to a local hospital, where he died at 5 a.m.

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Madison Parish Sheriff’s detectives booked Dean, who they say admitted to stabbing Boyd after an argument the two men had Sunday night.

Boyd was serving a 14-year sentence for various convictions, including racketeering, aggravated battery, two counts of a felon in possession of a firearm, and drug offenses in Rapides Parish.

Dean was serving a 25-year sentence for manslaughter in Rapides Parish and a five-year sentence for aggravated assault on a peace officer; those sentences are to run consecutively.

The investigation is ongoing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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50 Cent Faces Opposition From Louisiana Senator After Buying More Property In Downtown Shreveport

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50 Cent Faces Opposition From Louisiana Senator After Buying More Property In Downtown Shreveport


50 Cent is at odds with one Louisiana lawmaker who’s taking issue with his growing real estate in Shreveport.

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Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s growing real estate portfolio in Shreveport, Louisiana, is facing resistance from a state lawmaker urging city leaders to exercise greater caution when selling or leasing city-owned property.

The hip-hop mogul responded to a recent news article that revealed Louisiana state Sen. Sam Jenkins Jr.’s concerns about him buying more property in Downtown Shreveport after he bought three new properties last week.

“Sam Jenkins must not want things to turn around in Shreveport,” 50 Cent captioned an Instagram post. “Who would not do a deal to wait for a imaginary deal to come 😳? Or maybe he lacks faith in me. What do you think?”

Jenkins is expressing serious concerns about an excessive concentration of city assets being controlled by a single entity, particularly 50 Cent and his expanding G-Unit Studio empire. Since May, the rapper has invested over $3.7 million in cash to acquire 10 privately owned buildings and vacant lots in Shreveport, located on Texas Street, Spring Street, and Commerce Street.

Last week, 50 Cent added three new properties, including leases on Millennium Studios, the former Expo Hall/Stageworks, and interest in the Red River entertainment District under the Texas Street Bridge. While the Millennium Studios deal “has been made and should be honored,” Jenkins, a Democrat, told The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate, he is urging the city to “pump the brakes a little bit. Let’s try to see what else is out there.”

“I’m just simply saying, let’s just be careful how far we go and begin to look at some performances based upon what we’ve already pledged or promised to do,” Jenkins said.

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In October, Jenkins wrote to Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux outlining his concerns. He also expressed a willingness to meet with 50 Cent to discuss strategies for improving Shreveport’s economic future.

However, 50 Cent took to Instagram again to let Jenkins know he doesn’t like his “tone” and is not interested in meeting with him to discuss his continued investment in Shreveport.

“I don’t understand why this man thinks I would come talk to him after he set this tone,” the rapper wrote. “Don’t hold your breath buddy. 😆”

The “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” rapper followed up with another Instagram post aimed at Jenkins where he declared his plans to stay in Shreveport.

“Tell Sam I said, whether he like it or not, I’m coming to Shreveport LOL 👀ALL ROADS LEAD TO SHREVEPORT 🎥,” he wrote.

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