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Louisiana House committee alters, advances congressional map with 2nd Black district  – Louisiana Illuminator

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Louisiana House committee alters, advances congressional map with 2nd Black district  – Louisiana Illuminator


A Louisiana legislative committee advanced a congressional redistricting plan Thursday with two majority-Black districts after making substantial changes to the original version of the proposal. 

The House and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the Senate Bill 8 by Sen. Glen Womack, R-Harrisonburg, on a 14-1 vote after adopting the amendments without objection. The alterations include splitting East Baton Rouge parish into three congressional districts, which led to the lone vote against the bill from Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge. 

Rep. Les Farnum, R-Sulphur, brought forward the amendments, saying his primary goal was to keep Calcasieu Parish in a single congressional district. In order to do so, he had to take voters from East Baton Rouge Parish and move them into the 3rd Congressional District, currently held by St. Landry Parish-based U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins. 

A congressional redistricting proposal put forward by Rep. Les Farnum, R-Sulphur, and Sen. Glen Womack, R-Harrisonburg

If the amended plan is enacted, Higgins would represent voters in the heart of the Capital City, including parts of the Garden District and neighborhoods around the LSU lakes. 

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The shape of the new majority-Black 6th Congressional District is largely maintained, slashing diagonally across the center of the state from Caddo Parish to a section of East Baton Rouge Parish. Farnum’s revisions make the new 6th District less compact but slightly increases its Black population along with the count in the 2nd District, which is already majority Black. 

Farnum’s plan received substantial pushback from Marcelle, who objected to Farnum keeping his home parish in a single district while carving up East Baton Rouge Parish and the 3rd, 6th and 5th districts, the latter represented by U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Monroe. 

“I’m not voting for any map that has Baton Rouge split three ways because that’s insane. It’s insane,” Marcelle said. 

Marcelle briefly left the committee room and was not present to object to the adoption of the amendments, although she later said she had intended to object.  

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The committee later rejected amendments Marcelle put forward that plaintiffs in the lawsuit Robinson v. Landry prefer. They have sued to block the implementation of a congressional district map the legislature approved in 2022 that has only one majority-Black district. U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick, an appointee of former President Barack Obama who is presiding over the case, has given lawmakers until Jan. 31 to redraw the lines to comply with the Voting Rights Act.

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In December, judges with the 5th Circuit denied an appeal from Republican state officials, the defendants in the lawsuit before Dick, to end the case. The U.S. Supreme Court had previously declined to intervene in the matter. 

If the legislature approves a congressional map before its special session ends Tuesday, the Robinson plaintiffs have the option of accepting it and letting it become law. If they reject the new boundaries, the map would replace the one being litigated. If the legislature does not approve a map, a trial on the merits of the 2022 version will occur, which would likely result in Dick redrawing the boundaries. 

Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, D-Baton Rouge, is among the Black voters who are plaintiffs in the case. He said the Farnum amendment was unnecessary but feels his fellow plaintiffs would support the plan if the two majority-Black districts meet Voting Rights Act standards. 

Some Republicans have encouraged lawmakers to reject a map with two majority-Black districts, including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and former state Sen. Sharon Hewitt, who chaired the Senate committee in 2022 that advanced the single Black district congressional plan. Both have suggested the federal court trial for the map from two years ago should move forward, potentially leading to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.  

Reluctant Republicans in the legislature are moving forward with Womack’s map because it has support from Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, who has urged lawmakers to approve a map with two majority-Black districts. 

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A spokesperson for Landry has not yet responded when asked whether Landry will support the map with Farnum’s amendments. Womack did not oppose the changes. 

The Farnum amendments are the result of private negotiations that Womack said included Democratic Sens. Gary Carter of New Orleans and Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge, although Womack said Fields opposed splitting East Baton Rouge into three districts. Fields is widely believed to be considering a run for the new majority-Black seat in Congress. 

The amendments were given to committee members late Thursday afternoon, more than five hours after the panel was scheduled to begin debate on Womack’s bill. 

The lack of public notice on significant amendments — and the significant delay in debate posed by their drafting — presented an additional transparency problem on top of those already present in the rushed eight-day special session.

Steven Procopio, president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, said a litany of factors lead to minimal public input and a lack of transparency. 

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Not only were there no prefiled bills for the session, which would give the public an opportunity to consider the legislation before it is taken up, Procopio noted Landry gave no indication during his campaign for governor that he would ask the legislature to consider other election policy issues during the nine-day session. Most notably, he failed to mention his push to switch Louisiana to closed partisan primary elections. 

“You have bills that are released in less than 24 hours before committee,” Procopio said. “You’re trying to get it done quickly. Citizens can’t make it (to the Capitol) because there’s an ice storm.” 

“There’s a whole lot of transparency concerns,” he added.



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Louisiana

Duck hunters hope cold fronts will save first split

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4 hours ago

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November 16, 2024

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Duck hunters hope cold fronts will save first split


Last week’s midweek cold front, and another even colder front predicted this week, could save Louisiana’s first split of the 60-day duck season.

With the West Zone — it covers our state’s entire coast — entering its second full week and East Zone’s wild waterfowlers getting their first shots this weekend, two cold fronts are a blessing.

A double stroke of good luck is both fronts brought and are predicted to bring much-needed rain, maybe too much in some places, but water to quench what was left of that October drought.

From the first West Zone reports, it appears only a handful of isolated spots held enough migrating birds to give hunters enough opportunity after that Nov. 9 opening day.

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The first day’s take was good enough for most coastal hunters, but the second and third days left them wanting. Only a few, and somewhat small, locations in Grand Chenier and Little Chenier in the southwestern parishes and spots on the eastern side of the Mississippi River south of Buras held enough bluewing teal, pintails and gray ducks for hunters after opening day.

The southwestern marshes had to wait for rice-field hunters to chase birds their way, which meant seeing a few birds near sunrise and more birds later in the morning for those willing to wait out the lull in the action.

The take more than verified Wildlife and Fisheries’ Waterfowl Study Group survey, an aerial counting that showed Louisiana was holding a record low number of ducks for a November survey — ever!

The 510,000 ducks spread among 11 species is, according to study leader Jason Olszak, “12.7% lower than last November’s record low of 584,000 and is 37% lower than the most recent five-year average (809,000), and 58% lower than the most recent 10-year average (1.2 million).”

The survey showed increases only in bluewing teal and pintail from 12 months ago, but did not show a count of 107,000 black-bellied whistling ducks, a species that’s increased its numbers dramatically during the past four years in our state.

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All it not lost. Midwest states like Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri have temperatures dipping below freezing for the first time this year, and that’s usually enough to chase south the last remaining teal, grays, pintail, shovelers and ringneck ducks to increase the number of birds pushing south into Louisiana.

One surprising number in November’s survey was the number of ducks in the Little River Basin, a place identified as Catahoula Lake in past years. The 119,000 ducks seen in the basin is big uptick from past years and gives East Zone hunters a leg up on what usually is a sparse first split.

A reminder: The East Zone’s first split runs through Dec. 1. West Zone hunters have a Dec. 8 first-split final day.

Red snapper

Charterboat operations with federal for-hire permits will get another chance to take red snapper this year.

Federal fisheries folks announced charters in all five Gulf States will open a second season Monday and remain open through Dec. 31.

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That’s because during the federal charters’ special 88-day season (it closed Aug. 28) the feds estimated landings to be 2,193,710 pounds in an annual allotment of 3,076,322 pounds whole weight. That leaves 882,612 pounds on the table, enough federal fisheries managers say can extend a season through the end of the year.

Private recreational anglers and charterboats under state permits continue to have a closed or limited seasons under each of the five state’s allowed red snapper frameworks.

Louisiana private and state-chartered fishermen continue to have a closed season on the take of red snapper.

Closures

Recent heavy rains forced Wildlife and Fisheries to close the deer season in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area, and the closure of Blount Road on the Richard Yancey WMA.

Both are popular deer and small-game hunting areas. Maurepas Swamp (112,615 acres) is between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and takes in parts of Ascension, Livingston, St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes.

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Richard Yancey is located 35 miles south of Ferriday. The agency said Blount Road, a major access route, will have to be inspected and repaired before it can be reopened to hunters.



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Court narrows ruling barring display of Ten Commandments in Louisiana schools

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12 hours ago

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November 16, 2024

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Court narrows ruling barring display of Ten Commandments in Louisiana schools


A federal appeals court in New Orleans on Friday temporarily limited the scope of a ruling that Louisiana’s law requiring public schools to post the Ten Commandments in all classrooms next year is unconstitutional.

US district judge John deGravelles’ ruling that the law is unconstitutional remains in effect under the order from the fifth US circuit court of appeals. However, the appellate court temporarily blocked a part of the ruling that requires state education officials to notify public schools statewide that the law has been struck down.

State attorneys said in an emergency stay motion filed on Wednesday that deGravelles’ finding that the commandments posting requirement is unconstitutional only affects five local school systems that are defendants in the case. They said deGravelles overstepped his authority when he ordered that schools in all 72 districts tbe notified of his finding. They asked that the notification requirement be paused immediately while they appeal all of deGravelles’ order. That broader appeal was filed later on Friday night.

Friday’s fifth circuit order was a temporary “administrative stay” granted in response to the state’s emergency request. The order may be altered or lifted as the appeal progresses. Judges Jerry Smith, nominated to the court by Ronald Reagan, and Kurt Engelhardt, nominated by Donald Trump, voted to grant the stay in a one-sentence order. A footnote said Judge James Graves, nominated by Barack Obama, would have denied the stay.

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Louisiana’s attorney general, Liz Murrill, celebrated the ruling in a Friday evening social media post.

“I look forward to immediately working with all of our school boards who are not involved in this lawsuit to implement the law soon,” she wrote.

The law specifies a version of the Ten Commandments must be posted in all Louisiana classrooms at public K-12 schools and universities by 1 January. It was passed by the Republican-dominated state legislature this year and signed by the Republican governor, Jeff Landry, in June.

DeGravelles ruled on Tuesday that the law was “overtly religious” and “unconstitutional on its face”. He said state superintendent of education, Cade Brumley, and the state education board – both of them defendants in the lawsuit – can take no steps to implement the law. And he told them to notify all school boards that it has been found unconstitutional.

Murrill, a Republican ally of Landry, said the state disagrees with the entire ruling. However, she said the notification requirement created an immediate problem because it will confuse school systems where, the state contends, the law remains in effect.

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How to Watch Louisiana vs. South Alabama: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – November 16, 2024

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19 hours ago

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November 16, 2024

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How to Watch Louisiana vs. South Alabama: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – November 16, 2024


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Star player Terrance Carter and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (8-1) face the South Alabama Jaguars (4-5) on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET, at Cajun Field.

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You’ll want to check out ESPN+ for the upcoming matchup featuring the Ragin’ Cajuns and Jaguars.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

Ace Bailey drops 17 points and 6 rebounds in his Rutgers debut | FOX Hoops Player Highlight

Check out star freshman Ace Bailey’s Rutgers Scarlet Knights debut in which he dropped 17 points and 6 rebounds in a win against the Monmouth Hawks.

Learn more about the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and the South Alabama Jaguars.

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How to Watch Louisiana vs. South Alabama

  • When: Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 7 p.m. ET
  • Location: Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana
  • Live Box Score: FOX Sports

Read More About This Game

  • Louisiana vs. South Alabama Predictions

Louisiana vs. South Alabama: Head to Head

  • Over the past two matchups against South Alabama, Louisiana has collected one win and zero ties.
  • The Ragin’ Cajuns have covered two times in those games while not outscoring the point total once.
  • South Alabama has put up 10 fewer points than Louisiana in their past two games.

Louisiana’s 2024 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
8/31/2024 vs. Grambling State W 40-10
9/7/2024 at Kennesaw State W 34-10
9/21/2024 vs. Tulane L 41-33
9/28/2024 at Wake Forest W 41-38
10/5/2024 at Southern Miss W 23-13
10/12/2024 vs. Appalachian State W 34-24
10/19/2024 at Coastal Carolina W 34-24
10/29/2024 at Texas State W 23-17
11/9/2024 vs. Arkansas State W 55-19
11/16/2024 vs. South Alabama –
11/23/2024 vs. Troy –
11/30/2024 at Louisiana-Monroe –

Louisiana 2024 Stats & Insights

  • On the offensive side of the ball, Louisiana has been a top-25 unit, ranking 11th-best in the FBS by compiling 457.1 yards per game. The defense ranks 40th (335.4 yards allowed per game).
  • Louisiana ranks 32nd in passing yards this year (266.8 per game), but has been shining on the other side of the ball, ranking 17th-best in the FBS with 173 passing yards allowed per game.
  • The Ragin’ Cajuns own the 38th-ranked defense this season (21.8 points allowed per game), and they’ve been better offensively, ranking 24th-best with 35.2 points per game.
  • The Ragin’ Cajuns rank 33rd in run offense (190.3 rushing yards per game) and 89th in run defense (162.4 rushing yards allowed per game) this season.
  • Louisiana owns the eighth-best offense this season in terms of third-down efficiency (50% third-down conversion rate), but ranks 14th-worst on the defensive side of the ball (45.9% third-down percentage).
  • The Ragin’ Cajuns have the 17th-best turnover margin in college football at +8, forcing 12 turnovers (69th in the FBS) while turning it over four times (second in the FBS).

Louisiana 2024 Key Players

Name Position Stats
Ben Wooldridge QB 2,301 YDS (68.5%) / 17 TD / 4 INT
190 RUSH YDS / 5 RUSH TD / 21.1 RUSH YPG
Elijah Davis RB 585 YDS / 5 TD / 65 YPG / 6 YPC
9 REC / 86 REC YDS / 1 REC TD / 10.8 REC YPG
Terrance Carter TE 35 REC / 558 YDS / 4 TD / 62 YPG
Lance LeGendre WR 27 REC / 515 YDS / 4 TD / 57.2 YPG
K.C. Ossai LB 76 TKL / 2 TFL / 0.5 SACK
Tyrone Lewis DB 42 TKL / 0 TFL / 0.5 SACK / 4 INT
Tyree Skipper DB 35 TKL / 0 TFL / 4 INT / 4 PD
Carmycah Glass LB 51 TKL / 3 TFL / 0.5 SACK

South Alabama’s 2024 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
8/31/2024 vs. North Texas L 52-38
9/7/2024 at Ohio L 27-20
9/12/2024 vs. Northwestern State W 87-10
9/19/2024 at Appalachian State W 48-14
9/28/2024 at LSU L 42-10
10/5/2024 at Arkansas State L 18-16
10/15/2024 vs. Troy W 25-9
10/26/2024 vs. Louisiana-Monroe W 46-17
11/2/2024 vs. Georgia Southern L 34-30
11/16/2024 at Louisiana –
11/23/2024 at Southern Miss –
11/29/2024 vs. Texas State –

South Alabama 2024 Stats & Insights

  • South Alabama’s offense has been leading the way for the team, as it ranks 14th-best in the FBS with 455.2 total yards per contest. In terms of defense, it is ceding 394.4 total yards per game, which ranks 98th.
  • South Alabama ranks 51st in passing yards per game (242.8), but it has been worse on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 12th-worst in the FBS with 264.2 passing yards allowed per contest.
  • The Jaguars’ defense ranks 69th in the FBS with 24.8 points given up per game, but they’ve been lifted up by their offense, which ranks 20th-best by generating 35.6 points per game.
  • The Jaguars’ rushing attack has been paving the way for the team, as they rank 17th-best in the FBS with 212.4 rushing yards per game. In terms of defense, they are ceding 130.2 rushing yards per game, which ranks 47th.
  • South Alabama ranks 54th in the FBS with a 42.1% third-down conversion rate on offense, and 58th with a 37.4% third-down percentage allowed on defense.
  • The Jaguars have excelled in terms of turnovers, as their turnover margin of +8 ranks 17th-best in the FBS, with 14 forced turnovers (48th in the nation) and six turnovers committed (fifth in the nation).

South Alabama 2024 Key Players

Name Position Stats
Gio Lopez QB 1,891 YDS (65.4%) / 14 TD / 2 INT
393 RUSH YDS / 4 RUSH TD / 43.7 RUSH YPG
Da’Marion Bothwell RB 609 YDS / 10 TD / 67.7 YPG / 6.8 YPC
12 REC / 83 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 11.9 REC YPG
Jamaal Pritchett WR 62 REC / 770 YDS / 7 TD / 85.6 YPG
Kentrel Bullock RB 606 YDS / 5 TD / 67.3 YPG / 5.9 YPC
12 REC / 116 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 12.9 REC YPG
Blayne Myrick LB 66 TKL / 4 TFL / 1 SACK
Jaden Voisin DB 41 TKL / 1 TFL / 3 INT / 3 PD
Jordan Scruggs DB 47 TKL / 3 TFL / 1 INT / 1 PD
Courtney McBride LB 27 TKL / 5 TFL / 4 SACK

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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