No. 13 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns defeated Princeton for the second time in two days, 2-1, clinching a spot in the Lafayette Regional championship against Baylor.
The Ragin’ Cajuns started sophomore Chloe Riassetto in the circle for the second time in as many days against the Tigers, and she was great once again pitching a complete eight innings with just four hits allowed, one strikeout, no walks and one run allowed.
MORE: Louisiana softball advances to Lafayette Regional semifinals after defeating Princeton on Friday
Advertisement
MORE: UL-Lafayette softball: scouting report for the Lafayette Regional in the NCAA Tournament
Louisiana began its scoring in the second inning with a bases loaded sac fly from sophomore catcher Victoria Valdez, bringing in a run and giving the Ragin’ Cajuns an early 1-0 lead.
The Tigers responded right away with a two-out single to center field to tie the game at one at the bottom of the third inning.
There was no scoring from either team until the eighth inning where junior Alexa Langeliers began the inning with a triple, which then led to a sacrifice fly from Cecelia Vazquez to give the Rajun’ Cajuns the 2-1 win.
Advertisement
With tonight’s win, Louisiana advances to the Lafayette Regional final where they will face Baylor in a rematch of Saturday’s matchup where the Bears mercy ruled the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Since it is double elimination, Louisiana must win two games against the Bears to be Lafayette Regional champions, while the Bears need to win just once to be the champions.
The time for the championship is to be determined.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced Tuesday that Louisiana was one of the few states chosen for a $134 million rare earth element initiative in a move that would give the U.S. more independence from China, Reuters reports.
ElementUSA has been awarded about $67 million for a rare earth refining facility projected to cost $850 million in St. John the Baptist Parish to ramp up its production of core material for military vehicles, naval ships and aircrafts.
Louisiana’s rare earth element initiatives are aimed at relocating the critical American minerals supply chain for electric vehicles, renewable energy and national defense. The minerals include bauxite residue, which is a waste product from aluminium production. The plant is expected to produce roughly 150-1,000 metric tons of rare earths annually.
Advertisement
Oklahoma was also chosen to receive grant money for a refining facility in Tulsa.
A Department of Homeland Security watchdog report revealed that staff members at an ICE detention center in Louisiana used a prohibited chokehold to “gain control” of a person being held there and stabbed another in the hand with a pen when an officer could not close the door to a housing unit.
The newly released findings about Winn Correctional Center in central Louisiana follow the DHS inspector general’s review of video of the use-of-force incidents as part of an unannounced facility inspection. The report, which was published on the DHS website, also noted that the officer who stabbed the detainee with a pen was disciplined.
FORSUBSCRIBERS
Why an ICE detention center in New Jersey has sparked protests
02:55
Staff members failed to maintain safe and sanitary conditions, the report says, noting leaking vents and ceilings with insulation falling through. Staff members used napkins and Styrofoam containers to collect the water from the leaks, according to the report.
Scrutiny of conditions inside ICE detention centers that house more than 60,000 detainees has been growing.
Advertisement
Earlier Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended his agency’s detention standards on Capitol Hill amid complaints about ICE’s Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. That center has been the site of frequent protests.
Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-N.Y., accused Mullin of leaving detainees without food or medical care.
Mullin rejected the claims. “You can say all you want, but don’t accuse me of something that’s not accurate,” he said.
The inspector general made nine recommendations, ranging from environmental health and safety standards to proper handling of use-of-force incidents and maintaining food service standards.
ICE is working to address all of the issues, including by providing additional staff training, a spokesperson for the agency said.
Advertisement
“These minor infractions included failing to provide detainees exercise equipment, record keeping errors and leaking vents. Another infraction included providing a shared computer for legal research that would allow other detainees to see other detainees’ case information,” the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for DHS said the report shows that the facility complies with detention standards.
“ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens,” the spokesperson said.
Winn Correctional is one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country, housing more than 1,500 men. It opened in 1990, and ICE took it over from the state in 2019.
The report was produced after an unannounced inspection by the DHS inspector general, whose office recently got an infusion of $20 million and plans to boost its inspections from four to six per year to potentially as many as 40 to 60.
Advertisement
ICE lists 70% of the 1,500 detainees at Winn as having “No ICE threat level,” meaning they do not have violent criminal histories.
Winn is an hour north of Alexandria, which is one of four hubs for ICE deportation flights around the country.
METAIRIE, La. (WVUE) – Louisiana insurance officials will hold a press conference Wednesday to acknowledge the retirement of bonds issued after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple and Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation leadership will provide an update on the state-backed insurer as hurricane season begins.
The press conference is scheduled for 1 p.m.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.
