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Heimerman earns LSWA All-Louisiana Women’s Coach of the Year, NSU represented in 13 events

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Heimerman earns LSWA All-Louisiana Women’s Coach of the Year, NSU represented in 13 events


NATCHITOCHES, La. (KALB) – Leading the Northwestern State women’s track and field team to a pair of Southland Conference titles, including its first ever outdoor conference championship, earned head coach Mike Heimerman the LSWA All-Louisiana Women’s Coach of the Year, which was announced Saturday.

Heimerman, who fell one vote shy of taking home the All-Louisiana Coach of the Year last season, led a total of 16 women’s athletes or relay teams that made the outdoor All-Conference, including four on the first team and seven more on the second team.

In the past two years, he has led the NSU women to two indoor team titles and the first outdoor team title in program history this season, as well as a second-place finish.

In addition to Heimerman’s superlative honor, NSU also captured 12 spots in individual events and one each on all four relay teams.

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Zachaeus Beard, Sanaria Butler and Djimon Gumbs all earned spots on the All-Louisiana team in multiple individual events.

NSU placed the most athletes on the All-Louisiana team outside of LSU.

Beard, who reached the semifinals in the 100-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic trials, grabs a spot on the second team in the 200-meter dash and third team in the 100.

To earn a second team selection in the 200, he clocked a 20.48 at the SLC Outdoor meet to capture the silver.

In his signature event, the First Team All-American ran an impressive 10.03—adjusted for wind—at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout to win the event and post the best time in the conference this season.

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Beard also was a member of both relay teams, which both earned second team spots, only behind LSU.

In the 4×100, the quartet of Beard, Cyrus Jacobs, Keontae Gaines and Mikkel Johansson collected a spot at nationals in Oregon on the strength of a 39.25 at regionals in Kentucky and also earned them a spot on the All-Louisiana Second Team.

Beard, Jacobs, Desmond Duncan and Jaysaun Smith also made the second team in the men’s 4×400 relay team, clocking a 3:08.27 at the conference championships.

Like Beard, Sanaria Butler also made the team in multiple individual events as well as both relay teams.

She ran a school-record 52.09 at the NCAA East Regionals in the 400-meter dash, which earned her a spot on the second team.

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Butler collected a spot on the third team in the long jump, posting a 20-5.25 at the Bobcat Invitational.

The sensational sophomore also led the NSU women’s 4×400 relay team to a Second Team All-American selection and spot on Second Team All-Louisiana. The team of Butler, Maygan Shaw, Tranasia Jones and Vanessa Balde smashed the school record, running a 3:29.22 to earn a spot at nationals and a spot on the All-Louisiana team.

Butler, along with Shaw, Balde and Lynell Washington collected a spot on the second team in the 4×100 relay after running a 44.43 in front of the home crowd at the Leon Johnson Invitational.

Gumbs’ record-breaking season earned him a pair of first team honors, including one of two NSU athletes to make the first team, which he did in the shot put.

In the event, Gumbs tossed a school-record 66-7 at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout, which earned him the top spot in the conference and the state this season.

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Not only did he post a terrific performance at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout in the shot put, he did so in the discus as well at the meet.

Gumbs claimed a third team selection in the discus, tossing a 186-3.

The NSU athlete other than Gumbs to earn a first team selection is senior pole vaulter Madison Brown, who cleared 13-4.25 at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout.

She is joined on the team by friend and teammate Annemarie Broussard, who claimed third in the pole vault, clearing 12-11.5, also recorded at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout.

Joining Butler as an NSU athlete on the All-Louisiana team in the 400 is Shaw, who clocked a 52.59 at the Leon Johnson Invitational on the home track.

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Gumbs was not the only member of his family to make the team, as he was joined by twin brother Diamante Gumbs in the discus.

Diamante earned some bragging rights, as he claimed second team to Djimon’s third team in the discus. Diamante launched a 195-2 at the NCAA East Regional in Kentucky, which punched his ticket to Eugene and nationals.

On the women’s side, Kaitlyn Washington also made All-Louisiana in the discus, earning third place with a toss of 170-2 at the LSU Alumni Gold.

In the shot put, Shakera Williams placed second in the state, thrilling the home crowd at the Leon Johnson Invitational, tossing a 48-11.5.

LSU either won or tied eight of the 10 superlative awards, including all five on the men’s side.

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All-Louisiana Superlatives

  • MEN
    • Track – Godson Oghenebrume, LSU
    • Field – Claudio Romero, LSU
      Freshman – Jaiden Reid, LSU
    • Newcomer – Myles Thomas, LSU
    • Coach – (TIE) – Yhann Plummer, Xavier; Dennis Shaver LSU 
  • WOMEN
    • Track – Brianna Lyston, LSU
    • Field – Eunice Ilunga Mbuyi, ULM
      Freshman – Tima Godbless, LSU
    • Newcomer – Estel Valeanu, LSU
  • Coach – Mike Heimerman, Northwestern State 
    • The complete list of best times in the 2024 Outdoor season: 
  • 100 Meters (MEN)
    • Oghenebrume, Godson/LSU/Jr./9.99/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Fleming, Da’Marcus/LSU/Sr./10.03/LSU Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
    • Beard, Zachaeus/Northwestern State/Sr./10.03/Corky-Crofoot Shootout/April 26, 2024 
  • 100 Meters (WOMEN)
    • Lyston, Brianna/LSU/So./10.84/LSU Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
    • Davies, Thelma/LSU/Sr./10.92/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
    • Godbless, Tima/LSU/Fr./11.03/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024 
  • 200 Meters (MEN)
    • Fleming, Da’Marcus/LSU/Sr./20.42/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Beard, Zachaeus/Northwestern St./Sr./20.48/SLC Outdoors/April 20, 2024
    • Reid, Jaiden/LSU/Fr./20.51/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • 200 Meters (Women)
    • Davies, Thelma/LSU/Sr./22.17/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Lyston, Brianna/LSU/So./22.31/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Godbless, Tima/LSU/Fr./22.63/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024 
  • 400 Meters (MEN)
    • Bedell, Dillon/LSU/Jr./45.30/Tom Jones Memorial/April 12, 2024
    • Jones, Javed/Louisiana/Sr./46.17/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Burrell, Sean/LSU/Sr./46.19/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024 
  • 400 Meters (WOMEN)
    • Onojuvwevwo, Ella/LSU/So./50.57/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Butler, Sanaria/Northwestern St./So./52.09/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
    • Shaw, Maygan/Northwestern St./Jr./52.59/Johnson NSU Invitational/April 12, 2024 
  • 800 Meters (MEN)
    • Swanson, Mats/LSU/So./1:48.78/LSU Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
    • Travis, Isiah/LSU/Sr./1:48.81/LSU Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
    • Martin, Alex/McNeese State/Fr./1:49.07/Carl Kight Invitational/April 11, 2024 
  • 800 Meters (WOMEN)
    • Rose, Michaela/LSU/Jr./1:58.37/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
    • Bangel Batres, Lorena/LSU/Sr./2:03.00/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
    • Monk, Montana/LSU/So./2:05.81/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024 
  • 1500 Meters (MEN)
    • Langley, Rhen/LSU/Fr./3:43.72/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
    • Kunin, Illia/Tulane/Jr./3:44.97/Bran Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
    • El-Fadi, Omer/McNeese/Jr./3:45.71/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024 
  • 1500 Meters (WOMEN)
    • Rangel Batres, Lorena/LSU/Sr./4:09.06/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
    • Rose, Michaela/LSU/Jr./4:18.88/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
    • Hardy, Callie/LSU/Jr./4:20.26/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024 
  • 5000 Meters (MEN)
    • Kunin, Illia/Tulane/Jr./13:46.94/Raleigh Relays/March 28, 2024
    • Jennings, Jack/Tulane/Sr./14:03.01/Wake Forest Invitational/April 19, 2024
    • Pardo, Evan/New Orleans/So./14:17.67/Texas Relays/March 29, 2024 
  • 5000 Meters (WOMEN)
    • Chesnut, Ella/LSU/So./16:11.49/Brian Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
    • Vaquera, Paula/Tulane/So./16:20.79/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
    • Diaz, Danna/Tulane/Sr./16:34.18/Raleigh Relays/March 28, 2024 
  • 10,000 Meters (MEN)
    • Jennings, Jack/Tulane/Jr./28:28.72/Raleigh Relays/March 28, 2024
    • Adkins, Ryan/Tulane/Gr./29:55.12/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
    • Kimutai, Gilbert/McNeese/Jr./31:08.11/Southland Championships/May 9, 2024 
  • 10,000 Meters (WOMEN)
    • Chesnut, Ella/LSU/So./32:46.56/Raleigh Relays/March 28, 2024
    • Spalitta, Brooke/Louisiana/So./37:16.91/Victor Lopez Classic/March 21, 2024
    • DeKay, Rebecca/New Orleans/40:08.73/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • 100 Hurdles (WOMEN)
    • Armstrong, Alia/LSU/Sr./12.66/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Phillips, Leah/LSU/Sr./12.71/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
    • Bellamy, Shani’a/LSU/Sr./12.77/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024 
  • 110 Hurdles (MEN)
    • Stern, Jahiem/LSU/So./13.38/NCAA East Regional/May 22, 2024
    • Sophia, Matthew/LSU/So./13.37/NCAA Championship/June 5, 2024
    • Adesola, John/Jr./New Orleans/13.56/NCAA Championships/June 5, 2024 
  • 400 Hurdles (MEN)
    • Burrell, Sean/LSU/Sr./49.44/NCAA East Regional/May 24, 2024
    • Jones, Javed/Louisiana/Sr./49.44/NCAA East Regional/May 24, 2024
    • Powell, Jaden/McNeese/Jr./51.32/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • 400 Hurdles (WOMEN)
    • Bellamy, Shani’a/LSU/Sr./55.71/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
    • Phillips, Leah/LSU/Sr./56.50/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
    • White, Garriel/LSU/Jr./56.88/Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024 
  • 3000 Steeplechase (MEN)
    • Peyton Chiasson/Louisiana/Jr./9:07.95/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Kimaiyo, Kevin/McNeese/So./9:37.80/Southland Championships/May 9, 2024
    • Wong, Mason/Tulane/Gr./9:40.97/East Coast Relays/April 26, 2024 
  • 3000 Steeplechase (WOMEN)
    • Hardy, Callie/LSU/Jr./10:29.37/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Barcenas, Jeny/McNeese/So./10:30.48/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
    • Pascoa, Marta/McNeese/Jr./10:43.68/Texas Relays/March 27, 2004 
  • 4X100 Relay (MEN)LSU/Myles Thomas, Marcus Fleming, Jaiden Reid, Godson Oghenebrume/38.19/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Northwestern State/Zachaeus Beard, Cyrus Jacobs, Keontae’ Gaines, Mikkel Johansson/39.25/NCAA East Regional/May 24, 2024
    • Louisiana/Trejun Jones, Zakhy Munro, Floyd Pond, Jamhad Booth/39.31/Tiger Track Classic/April 20, 2024 
  • 4X100 Relay (WOMEN)
    • LSU/Brianna Lyston, Thelma Davies, Leah Phillips, Tima Godbless/42.49/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Northwestern State/Maygan Shaw, Sanaria Butler, Vanessa Balde, Lynell Washington/44.43/Johnson NSU Invitational/April 12, 2024
    • Louisiana/Amairi Ashford, Ta’La Spates, Kennedy London, Mari Robinson/44.71/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • 4X400 Relay (MEN)LSU/Sean Burrell, Salim Epps, Shakeem McKay, Dillon Bedell/3:01.28/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Northwestern St./Desmond Duncan, Cyrus Jacobs, Zachaeus Beard, Jaysaun Smith/3:08.27/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Louisiana/Antoni Hoyte-Small, Javed Jones, Darrius Charles, Jarell Joseph/3:08.75/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • 4X400 Relay (WOMEN)
    • LSU/Ella Onojuvwewo, Shani’a Bellamy, Michaela Rose, Garriel White/3:26.55/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
    • Northwestern St./Maygan Shaw, Sanaria Butler, Tranasia Jones, Vanessa Balde/3:29.22/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
    • Louisiana Tech/Jamara Patterson, Joy Usenbor, Saran Kouyate, Jenaia Williams/3:37.99/C-USA Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • High Jump (MEN)
    • Chadenga, Kuda/LSU/Jr./7-3.25/Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
    • Stevic, Slavko/SE Louisiana/Sr./7-2.25/Louisiana Classic/March 15, 2024
    • Smith, Roman/Southern/Jr./7-1.75/SWAC Outdoors/May 2, 2024 
  • High Jump (WOMEN)
    • Smalls, Morgan/LSU/Sr./6-0.5/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
    • Famous, Sakari/McNeese/Sr./5-11.5/Southland Championships/May 9, 2024
    • Williams, A’reil/Louisiana Tech/Fr./5-9.25/C-USA Outdoors/May 10, 2024
    • Washington, Kennedy/Louisiana/Sr./5-9.25/Johnson NSU Invitational/April 12, 2024
    • Veal, Alaysha/Louisiana/Fr./5-9.25/Johnson NSU Invitational/April 12, 2024 
  • Pole Vault (MEN)
    • Domingue, Beau/LSU/So./17-0.75/Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
    • Aime, Kameron/LSU/Sr./16-8.75/Hurricane Invitational/March 15, 2024
    • Russell, Nick/Louisiana/Sr./16-5.5/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • Pole Vault (WOMEN)
    • Brown, Madison/Northwestern St./Sr./13-4.25/Corky-Crofoot Shootout/April 26, 2024
    • Duplantis, Johanna/LSU/Sr./13-1.5/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
    • Broussard, Annemarie/Northwestern St./Sr./12-11.5/Corky-Crofoot Shootout/April 26, 2024 
  • Long Jump (MEN)
    • Murphy, Christopher/New Orleans/Jr./25-4.75/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Bullock, Ji’eem/LSU/Sr./25-2/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
    • Lambert, Lawrence/Grambling/So./25-2/Southern Invitational/May 10, 2024 
  • Long Jump (WOMEN)
    • Small, Morgan/LSU/Sr./21-6.75/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
    • Ilunga Mbuyi, Eunice/ULM/Jr./20-6.25/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Butler, Sanaria/Northwestern State/So./20-5.25/Mt. SAC Relays/April 17, 2024 
  • Triple Jump (MEN)
    • Nelson, Jeremy/Louisiana/So./52-10.75/NCAA East Regional/May 24, 2024
    • Alexander, Seth/Xavier/Sr./50-9.25/NAIA Nationals/May 24, 2024
    • Hamilton, Lance/SE Louisiana/Jr./50-8.25/Texas Relays/March 27, 2024 
  • Triple Jump (WOMEN)
    • Ilunga Mbuyi, Eunice/ULM/Jr./43-10.5/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Smalls, Morgan/LSU/Sr./43-2.5/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
    • Fingers, Taylor/LSU/Fr./42-6/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • Shot Put (MEN)
    • Gumbs, Djimon/Northwestern St./Sr./66-7/Corky-Crofoot Shootout/April 26, 2024
    • Meyer, John/LSU/Sr./64-7/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Francis, Marcus/McNeese/59-10.5/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • Shot Put (WOMEN)
    • Valeanu, Estel/LSU/Sr./52-6.75/LSU Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
    • Williams, Shakera/Northwestern St./Jr./48-11.5/NSU Invitational/April 12, 2024
    • Russell, Jaslyn/McNeese/So./47-5.75/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • Discus (MEN)
    • Romero, Claudio/LSU/Sr./220-9/LSU Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
    • Gumbs, Diamante/Northwestern St./Sr./195-2/NCAA East Regional/May 24, 2024Gumbs, Djimon/Northwestern St./Sr./186-3/Corky-Crofoot Shootout/April 26, 2024 
  • Discus (WOMEN)
    • Valeanu, Estel/LSU/Sr./188-9/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
    • Hines, Kimola/Louisiana/Jr./171-1/Crimson Tide Invitational/April 5, 2024
    • Washington, Kaitlyn/Northwestern St./So./170-2/LSU Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024 
  • Hammer (MEN)
    • Webb, Terrell/SE Louisiana/Sr./213-11/Talley Invitational/March 23, 2024
    • Witte, Johnathan/LSU/Jr./200-11/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
    • Visser, Gerrit/SE Louisiana/Jr./196-2/Southern Miss Invitational/March 29, 2024 
  • Hammer (WOMEN)
    • Lee, Mariah/McNeese/Sr./193-5/Warhawk Classic/April 26, 2024
    • Murray, Lily/Louisiana/Fr./189-11/Talley Invitational/March 23, 2024
    • Valeanu, Estel/LSU/Sr./188-1/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • Javelin (MEN)
    • Lawrence, Will/LSU/Jr./245-4/Jones Memorial/April 12, 2024
    • Larriviere, Jack/LSU/So./234-11/LSU Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
    • Rimes, Jackson/LSU/Jr./233-8/Hurricane Invitational/March 15, 2024 
  • Javelin (WOMEN)
    • Spooner, Trinity/LSU/Fr./181-3/LSU Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
    • Guillory, Alexis/LSU/Fr./164-9/Hurricane Invitational/March 15, 2024
    • Beard, Blanche/McNeese/Sr./164-5/Texas Relays/March 27, 2024 
  • Heptathlon (WOMEN)
    • Raud-Gumiel, Claudine/ULM/Jr./5496/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Talley, Morgan/McNeese/Sr./5204/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Walls, Taylor/Louisiana/Sr./5189/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024 
  • Decathlon (MEN)
    • Bovo, Federico/Louisiana/Fr./6830/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
    • Holland, Aiden/LA Tech/Jr./5420/C-USA Outdoors/May 11, 2024

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Louisiana

How a sinkhole caused a whirlpool and formed Louisiana’s deepest lake

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4 hours ago

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March 11, 2026

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How a sinkhole caused a whirlpool and formed Louisiana’s deepest lake


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While Louisiana’s largest lake, the Toledo Bend Reservoir, spans 1,200 miles of shoreline, the state’s deepest lake only spans 1,125 acres.

Lake Peigneur is the deepest lake in Louisiana, with a depth measuring approximately 200 feet.

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Lake Peigneur is a brackish lake, meaning it contains saltwater but has less salinity than seawater, located in New Iberia Parish in South Louisiana.

How did Lake Peigneur become the deepest lake in Louisiana?

Lake Peigneur was not always considered the deepest lake in Louisiana, as it was only a 10-foot-deep freshwater lake 40 years ago.

On Nov. 20, 1980, an oil rig crew was attempting to free a 14-inch drill bit when they heard popping noises and the rig began to tilt. Shortly after the crew abandoned the rig and headed for shore, the crew watched the 150-foot oil rig disappear into the 10-foot-deep lake.

Soon, a whirlpool formed in place of the oil rig. The whirlpool grew rapidly until it was able to suck up nearby boats, barges, trees, a house and half an island.

At the same location of the oil drilling site, there was also a salt mine, and when the whirlpool formed after the oil rig collapsed, the mine began to fill with water. As the whirlpool grew, water was able to enter the mine at such a force that it caused a geyser to spew out of the mine’s opening for hours until the lake was drained.

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After the lake was emptied, the Delcambre Canal began to flow backward, marking the only time in history that the Gulf of Mexico flowed into the continental U.S. This backflow continued until the entire mine and lake were filled with water, except now the lake was filled with saltwater, according to an article published on Louisiana Tech Digital Commons.

Can you swim in Lake Peigneur?

Before the oil rig and salt mine accident, Lake Peigneur was a popular spot for fishing and recreational activities. However, since the lake is almost entirely surrounded by private property, visitors will have to enter the nearby Rip Van Winkle Gardens in order to get a closer look, according to Atlas Obscura.

While there are no reports indicating the lake is unsafe, the lake is not exactly developed for public access. However, there are things to do around Lake Peigneur, like visiting Rip Van Winkle Gardens on Jefferson Island, or visiting Avery Island to tour the Tabasco Factory.

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Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com



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Louisiana

Officials confirm Pensacola Beach residue is algae, not oil from Louisiana spill

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16 hours ago

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March 10, 2026

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Officials confirm Pensacola Beach residue is algae, not oil from Louisiana spill


PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. — A local fisherman raised concerns about the substance now coating Opal Beach, citing a recent oil spill off the coast of Louisiana.

WEAR News went to officials with the Gulf Islands National Seashore and Escambia County to find out the cause.

They say it’s not related to an oil spill, but is in fact algae.

The Marine Resources Division says they can understand beachgoers’ concerns, and hope to raise awareness.

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“You don’t even want to get near it because it’s so gooey and sticky,” local fisherman Larry Grossman said. “It was accumulating on my beach cart wheels yesterday, and it felt like an oil product.”

Grossman messaged WEAR News on Monday after noticing something brown and oozy in the sand. He says it started showing up by Fort Pickens and stretched down to Opal Beach.

Grossman said a park service employee told him it could be oil from a recent spill in Louisiana. So he took a message to social media, sparking some reactions and raising questions.

“it certainly didn’t seem like an algae bloom because I was in the water, I caught a fish and I put some water in the cooler to keep my fish cool and it almost looked like oil in it,” Grossman said. “I know some people think it’s an algae bloom, but it certainly smelled and felt and looked like oil.”

A Gulf Islands National Seashore spokesperson confirmed to WEAR News on Tuesday that the substance is algae.

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WEAR News crews were at the beach as officials with the Escambia County Marines Resources Division came out take samples.

“What I found here washed up on the beach is some algae — filamentous algae, single celled algae — that washed ashore in some onshore winds,” said Robert Turpin, Escambia County Marines Resources Division manager. “This is the spring season, so with additional sunlight, our plants, they grow in warmer waters, with plenty of sunlight.”

Turpin says this algae is not harmful.

He also addressed the concerns that this could be oil, saying he’s familiar with what oil spills look like.

He says he appreciates when people like Grossman raise the concerns.

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“The last thing in the world we want is something to gain traction on social media that is faults in nature that could harm our tourism,” Turpin said. “Our tourism is very important to our economy, and we want to give the right information out to the public so we all enjoy the beaches and enjoy them safely.”

Turpin says if you see something or suspect something may be harmful on the beach, avoid it and contact Escambia County Marine Resources.



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Louisiana

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry calls for amendment for teacher pay raises

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1 day ago

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March 10, 2026

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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry calls for amendment for teacher pay raises


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  • Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry proposed a constitutional amendment for permanent teacher pay raises.
  • Landry’s address also supported an eventual elimination of the state income tax.
  • The governor’s budget includes an $82 million increase for corrections services following recent tough-on-crime laws.
  • Landry advocated for doubling the funding for his LA Gator school choice program.

BATON ROUGE — Gov. Jeff Landry advocated for a constitutional amendment that would create a permanent teacher pay raise as well as an eventual elimination of the state income tax in an opening address to the Louisiana Legislature on Monday.

Landry pushed for the passage of Proposed Amendment 3 on the May 2026 ballot to free up money for teacher pay raises.

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He said the amendment would pay down longstanding debt within the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana and enable the state to afford a permanent increase in teacher income. The proposed increases are $2,250 for teachers and $1,125 for support staff.

“With a ‘yes’ vote, we can strengthen the retirement system, improve their take-home pay, and guess what? We can do it without raising taxes,” Landry said.

A bill proposing the elimination of the state income tax, which takes in about $4 billion annually, was pre-filed earlier in the year by Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City. Where the money will come from to supplement the loss is currently unclear.

McCormick said in an interview with the LSU Manship School News Service that to encourage more young adults to stay in Louisiana, “we need to do away with the state income tax.”

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“This is a conversation piece that hopefully we can figure out where to make cuts in the government so we can get the people their money back,” McCormick said.

But Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said at a luncheon at the Baton Rouge Press Club that if the Legislature “can be disciplined” this session, residents could anticipate a 0.5% decrease in state income tax during next year’s session. He also said bigger tax cuts have to be planned over a longer budget cycle.

Within education changes, Landry commended the placing of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, approved by the Louisiana Supreme Court in a decision handed down last week.

“You have staked the flag of morality by recognizing that the Ten Commandments are not a bad way to live your life,” Landry said. “Students who don’t read them will likely read the criminal code.”

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Landry’s budget proposed an $82 million increase for corrections services following 2024 tough-on-crime legislation that eliminated parole and probation, increased sentencing and encouraged harsher punishments.

Landry directed his criticism toward the New Orleans criminal justice system, which he feels is lacking accountability, especially in courtrooms.

“Judges hold enormous power, but they are not social workers with a gavel,” he said. “They are the final gatekeepers of public safety.”

The Orleans Parish criminal justice system relies on state and local funding stemming from revenues from fees imposed on those arrested, according to the Vera Institute. Landry said the state spends twice as much on the Orleans system as it does in East Baton Rouge Parish, the largest parish in the state.

“Being special does not mean being exempt from accountability,” Landry said.

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Overall, Landry pushed for fewer and different ideas compared to the sweeping agenda he laid out at the start of previous legislative sessions. Henry mentioned at the Baton Rouge Press Club that the governor would like for this session to be a “member-driven session instead of an administrative session.”

Landry spoke only in general terms about his proposal for more funding for LA Gator, his program to let parents use state money to send their children to private schools.

“We must find a path so that the hard-earned money of parents follow their child to the education of their choice,” he said.

He has proposed doubling funding for the LA Gator program from $44 million a year to $88.2 million. The likelihood of this occurring is yet to be seen, as prominent lawmakers such as Sen. Henry are hesitant to approve an increase in funding.

Landry similarly did not mention carbon capture projects, despite the issue gaining traction from affected parish residents and lawmakers.

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House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, told the Baton Rouge Press Club last week that 22 bills have been filed in the House that he would consider “anti-carbon capture.”

Landry also cited data centers and other giant industrial development projects and touted his administration’s success in bringing more jobs to Louisiana and in helping to lower insurance premiums over the past year.

“May we continue to employ courage over comfort, and if we do, there is really no limit to what we can do for Louisiana,” Landry said.



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