BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A former Louisiana state trooper argues that the state government owes him more than $200,000 in attorneys fees he spent defending himself against criminal charges related to his time on the force.

Former Trooper Jacob Brown racked up a $210,813.40 legal fee after hiring lawyers to defend him, according to a complaint filed in the 19th Judicial District earlier this month.

According to the Associated Press (AP), Brown, who patrolled in north Louisiana, was involved in 23 use-of-force incident between 2015 and 2021. Nineteen of those incidents targeted Black people, the AP reported.

In one case involving the violent arrest of a Black motorist, Brown told fellow troopers “it warms my heart knowing we could educate that young man.”

In 2021, he resigned after being arrested for hitting a Black man 18 times in the head with a flashlight. Last year, a federal jury acquitted Brown of violating the civil rights of the man. The incident, captured on video, left the man with a broken jaw and ribs. Brown said the blows were used as “pain compliance” as he tried to detain the motorist, the AP reported.

A state charge brought against Brown in the 5th Judicial District tied to yet another matter was also dismissed, according to Brown’s lawsuit.

Attorney Russell Woodard Jr. represents Brown. In the lawsuit seeking reimbursement, Woodard cites state law which allows for law enforcement officers to collect reimbursement for attorney fees in criminal cases where the crime occurred while the suspect was working on behalf of the state and the incident did not end with a conviction.

The law also requires that the officer be “acting in good faith” at the time.

Brown attorney says his client was indeed acting in good faith during the incidents that landed him in court.

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The number of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen’s in non-U.S. markets more than doubled from 500 to nearly 1,300 between 2017 and 2024, resulting in over $1 billion in international systemwide sales this year.

Recent expansions into New Zealand and Costa Rica helped fuel sales in international markets, Joshua Kobza, CEO of Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, explained during the RBI Quarter 2 2024 earnings call on August 8.

The unit in New Zealand is predicted to generate $6 million in annual sales, while the July 2024 opening in Costa Rica resulted in almost 1,800 transactions in the first day. In June, RBI finalized the acquisition of Popeyes China in order to expand into that market.

Popeyes is also expected to continue to see strong growth in the UK, India and France, as well as move into Kuwait and Bahrain through an agreement with Tanmiah Food Company.

“We’ve got some big markets that are starting to get to relevant scale,” said Kobza. “Places that I mentioned like Spain, the UK, India, those are starting to ramp up their development pace, but we’re opening some new markets as well. And I would say the results of those new markets have been really encouraging. So all that are kind of the projects that we’re working on for 2025.”

Look for future international expansion to come for the chicken foodservice brand, Kobza said.

“While Popeyes is having a lot of early success in many markets around the world, we know it can do so much more,” he added.

In other chicken foodservice news:

·        Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken added spicy wings to its menus, available in orders of six, 12 or 20.

·         Chick-fil-A is bringing back their Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich, now featuring a spicy option.

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