Louisiana
Louisiana state senator takes aim at gun-free zones around UL Lafayette • Louisiana Illuminator
State Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, is picking a fight with the University of Louisiana Lafayette over its new off-campus gun-free zones. He believes the designated areas could lead to a lawsuit that he foresees ending firearm restrictions entirely at all schools.
Miguez is a competitive marksman who has made a name for himself in the Legislature by carrying bills to loosen gun restrictions. He’s taken issue with the university for declaring gun-free zones at a museum it operates in downtown Lafayette and at two hotels where it is housing students because its on-campus dorms are at capacity.
The gun-free zone’s radius around the museum would make it a crime to carry a firearm in most of downtown.
Miguez has asked Attorney General Liz Murrill to issue an opinion regarding the university’s position that the three sites be kept gun-free.
In an interview Friday with conservative radio talk show host Moon Griffon, Miguez said ULL’s stance could spur gun rights advocates to file a lawsuit, which he speculated could result in Louisiana’s law prohibiting guns on or near school property being struck down as unconstitutional.
The university’s announcement last week that its campus police would patrol and enforce a 1,000-foot gun-free school zone around the UL Lafayette Science Museum became a source of contention with the Acadiana senator, who believes it would be a violation of state law.
“[Lafayette Consolidated Government and the University of Louisiana Lafayette] together are making a decision to violate citizens [sic] civil rights through resuming enforcement of their position that the Lafaytte [sic] Science Museum is ‘school property’ in order to accomplish their goal of making downtown Lafayette a gun free zone,” Miguez posted Friday on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.
“To add insult to injury, ULL is now also declaring contracted private hotels used for student housing as ‘school property’ to trigger more gun free zones across Lafayette Parish,” Miguez added.
Miguez did not respond to a request for comment for this report.
Louisiana’s law prohibiting firearms in school zones defines a school as “any public or private elementary, secondary, high school, or vocational-technical school, college or university.” It defines a campus as all facilities and property within the boundary of the school property.
@LCGTweets and @ULLafayette together are making a decision to violate citizens civil rights through resuming enforcement of their position that the Lafaytte Science Museum is “school property” in order to accomplish their goal of making downtown Lafayette a gun free zone.
To… https://t.co/1u8s9BRUMV
— Blake Miguez (@BlakeMiguezLA) August 23, 2024
The two hotels ULL is using for overflow student housing are exclusively rented to the university, meaning no other guests are staying on the property. One of the hotels is within the gun-free zone of the Episcopal School of Acadiana, university spokesman Eric Maron said.
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Murrill has previously posted online that she does not believe the museum to qualify as a gun-free zone, but she has not weighed in regarding the two hotels.
The university has not yet responded to questions about their legal reasoning for defining the hotels as gun-free zones.
In his letter to Murrill requesting an opinion, Miguez raised concerns that the university’s stance could lead to a slippery slope.
“Situations could arise where a school might assert that its ‘campus’ is anywhere where school business takes place,” Miguez wrote. “This could be a privately owned field where LSU conducts an anthropological dig, a convention center rented by Tulane to host a scientific conference, or a golf course where the university president regularly plays with potential donors.”
Louisiana law allows public officials to request opinions from the attorney general, who usually responds within 30 days. In July, Murrill issued 12 opinions, which are position statements that do not have the force of law but can influence government decision making.
Louisiana
Top 25 Louisiana High School Football Rankings (11/27/2024)
Here is a look at the Top 25 Louisiana High School Football Rankings heading into the quarterfinal round of the LHSAA football playoffs:
Playoff Seed: No. 1 (Division I select) Up next: Against No. 8 St. Thomas More (8-3)
The Cougars defeated No. 17 Huntington, 56-6. LSU receiver commit TaRon Francis had six catches for 175 yards and two scores, according to Andrew Valenti of The New Orleans Advocate. Junior quarterback John Johnson passed for 324 yards. Daejawn Smith and Oliver Mitchell each caught a TD pass. The Cougars’ defense and special teams each tacked on a TD.
Power Rating: No. 2 (Division I select) Up next: Against No. 10 C.E Byrd (9-3)
The Trojans defeated No. 18 Evangel Christian, 49-6. LSU running back commit J.T. Lindsey rushed for 220 yards and four TDs, according to John Marcase of The Shreveport Bossier Advocate. The Trojans held Evangel to negative rushing yards and intercepted quarterback Peyton Houston three times.
Playoff seed: No. 1 (Division I nonselect) Up next: Against No. 24 Chalmette (9-3)
The Tigers defeated No. 16 Covington, 44-13. UL Ragin’ Cajuns commit Cam Riley had multiple interceptions, according to Jake Martin of The Ouachita Citizen. Jaylon Nichols (15 carries, 109 yards) scored three touchdowns. Sophomore QB Parker Robinson was 14 for 14 passing.
Playoff seed: No. 3 (Division I nonselect) Up next: Against No. 6 Southside (9-2)
The Bearcats defeated No. 14 Zachary, 42-21. Jordan Hayes ran for two touchdowns – one from 70 yards – and caught a TD pass from Tulane QB commit Joshua Brantley, who also ran for a score, according to T. Scott Boatright of The Baton Rouge Advocate. Brantley threw a TD pass to Darius James. It was the third straight year the teams met in the postseason with Ruston winning all three.
Playoff seed: No. 4 (Division I select) Up next: Against No. 5 Archbishop Rummel (9-2)
The Bears defeated No. 13 East Jefferson, 42-0. Rylan Parker ran for 105 yards and two TDs, according to Terry Robinson of The Baton Rouge Advocate. Jayden Miles added a rushing score. Baylor Graves threw a 66-yard TD pass to Amari Clayton as Catholic scored all of its points in the first half.
Playoff seed: No. 2 (Division I nonselect) Up next: Against No. 10 Destrehan (9-3)
The Vikings defeated No. 18 Westgate, 42-16. QB Ben Taylor ran for a score and passed for two, and DJ Allen ran for two TDs, according to Roy Lang of The Shreveport Bossier Advocate. LSU commit Kenny Darby caught eight passes for 135 yards and a TD. Senior receiver Jarvis Davis left the game with an injury.
Playoff seed: No. 4 (Division I nonselect) Up next: Against No. 21 West Monroe (7-5)
The Wildcats defeated No. 13 West Ouachita, 45-20. Nicholls State QB commit Jackson Firmin ran for a score, and sophomore Marvin Joseph ran for another, according to William Weathers of Geaux Preps. The Central defense forced three turnovers. Joseph finished with 117 yards on 13 carries. Linebacker KD Mays returned a fumble for a TD.
Playoff seed: No. 1 (Division II select) Up next: Against No. 8 John F. Kennedy (7-4)
The Eagles defeated No. 16 Loranger, 49-14. Michigan commit Jasper Parker ran for 109 yards on 12 carries with four TDs, according to Darrell Williams of The New Orleans Advocate. Mason Wilson threw a 54-yard TD pass to Jacob Washington (also a Michigan pledge). Shaw’s opponent this week, John F. Kennedy, only lost one game on the field (to St. Paul’s).
Playoff seed: No. 8 (Division I select) Up next: At No. 1 Edna Karr (10-0)
The Cougars defeated No. 9 St. Augustine, 28-27. Senior defensive back Gavin Duplechin blocked an extra point to seal the win, according to Eric Narcisse of The Acadiana Advocate. Quarterback Cole Bergeron completed 8 of 14 passes for 104 yards and two TDs to John Avery Barton (four catches for 72 yards). Gabe Mocek and Carter Melancon combined to carry 39 times for 214 yards. Mocek ran for two scores.
Playoff seed: No. 6 (Division I select) Up next: Against No. 19 John Curtis Christian (6-5)
The Rebels defeated No. 11 Jesuit, 31-23. Junior QB Alex Munoz completed 14 of 15 passes for 169 yards with a TD to tight end Jack Purser. Munoz is 84 of 120 on the year with 1,272 yards and 13 TDs with no interceptions. Doug E Viltz rushed for 82 yards on 24 carries with two TDs. Nick Celestine caught three passes for 36 yards, according to Kevin Foote of The Acadiana Advocate. Munoz, Viltz and Cason Evans have combined for over 2,000 yards rushing.
Playoff seed: No. 5 (Division I select) Up next: At No. 4 Catholic-BR (10-0)
The Raiders defeated No. 12 McDonogh 35, 50-25. Norman Taylor ran for 177 yards on 17 carries with four TDs, according to Chris Dabe of The New Orleans Advocate. The Raiders will face Catholic-BR in the postseason for the sixth time in seven seasons. QB Generald Buggage was 7 of 9 passing for 132 yards with a rushing touchdown.
Playoff seed: No. 19 (Division I select) Up next: At No. 6 Teurlings Catholic (10-1)
The Patriots defeated No. 3 Acadiana, 28-27. QB Reggie Johnson threw the game-winning TD pass to freshman Jarvis Stevenson, according to Nick Fontenot of The Acadiana Advocate. The Patriots totaled 363 yards rushing and averaged 13 yards per carry, according to Chris Dabe of The New Orleans Advocate. Johnson ran for 169 yards on 10 carries with two scores. Jacobi Boudreaux added 138 yards on eight carries.
Playoff seed: No. 3 (Division I select) Up next: Season complete
The Rams lost to No. 19 John Curtis, 28-27. Jonah Gauthier ran for 164 yards on 27 carries with three TDs. Tayden Collins added 103 yards on 12 carries. Caden DiBetta ran for a score. Gauthier and Collins combined to score 24 rushing TDs on the year.
Playoff seed: No. 6 (Division I nonselect) Up next: At No. 3 Ruston (9-2)
The Sharks defeated No. 22 Walker, 47-0. The Sharks notched 18 first downs to Walker’s six. Ramon Singleton ran for 136 yards and two TDs on 15 carries. Justin Williams added 84 yards on 16 carries with two scores. Singleton added two catches for 31 yards and a score. QB Parker Dies threw for a TD and ran for another. Dies, Singleton and QB Cruz Holden combined to complete 4 of 5 passes for 82 yards and a score.
Playoff seed: No. 10 (Division I nonselect) Up next: At No. 2 Airline (11-0)
The Wildcats defeated No. 7 Northwood-Shreveport, 63-21. Malachi Dabney scored five TDs, according to Lori Lyons of The Shreveport Bossier Journal. Jabari Mack and Greg Wilfred each caught a TD pass, and LSU receiver commit Phillip Wright ran for a score. The Wildcats have won seven straight games with QB Jackson Fields back in the lineup. Destrehan will be making back-to-back trips to the Shreveport-Bossier area.
Playoff seed: No. 14 (Division II nonselect) Up next: At No. 6 Plaquemine (11-1)
The Tigers defeated No. 3 Jennings, 30-19. Senior tailback D’Shaun Ford ran for 265 yards and two TDs. The Tigers’ losses were to Teurlings Catholic, Alexandria and Zachary. Opelousas led the undefeated Trojans by two scores early.
Playoff seed: No. 18 (Division II nonselect) Up next: At No. 7 North DeSoto (9-3)
The Bulldogs defeated No. 2 Lutfcher, 49-41. Diesel Solari completed 13 of 21 passes for 206 yards and three TDs. Braylon Calais ran for 113 yards on 15 carries with two TDs. Solari added 96 yards rushing and two TDs on 15 carries. Ellis Stewart totaled 104 yards and a TD on six touches. Brent Gordon and Jermaine Davis combined to catch five passes for 102 yards and two TDs.
Playoff seed: No. 5 (Division III select) Up next: at No. 4 Jewel Sumner (10-1)
The Panthers defeated No. 12 Amite, 39-14. QB Dillon Compton threw three first-half TD passes for Cain Milligan, according to Fast Break ENT. Compton was 10 of 15 passing for 195 yards and four TDs, according to LaMar Gafford of Cenla Preps. He also ran for a score. Zion Lee rushed for 94 yards on 16 carries. Jateren Gaines added 92 yards on 12 carries with two TDs.
Playoff seed: No. 10 (Division I select) Up next: At No. 2 Alexandria (11-0)
The Yellow Jackets defeated No. 7 St. Paul’s, 37-15. Desmond Simmons ran for 167 yards on 30 carries with a TD, according to Joseph Halm of The New Orleans Advocate. QB Harrison Ayres completed 5 of 6 passes for 82 yards and added 30 yards rushing and two scores on eight carries.
Playoff seed: No. 21 (Division I nonselect) Up next: At No. 4 Central-BR (10-1)
The Rebels pulled off their second upset by defeating No. 5 Mandeville, 20-9. Ranaldrick Myles and Kedrian McNeal combined for 209 yards rushing on 28 carries with two TDs, according to Dave Woodall of The New Orleans Advocate. QB Ryder Dejean completed 3 of 6 passes for 37 yards.
Playoff seed: No. 1 (Division III select) Up next: Against No. 9 Lafayette Christian (6-6)
The Tigers defeated No. 16 Parkview Baptist, 42-0. Sophomore QB Elijah Haven accounted for 406 yards and four TDs, according to Patrick Wright of The Baton Rouge Advocate. Trevor Haman caught seven passes for 128 yards and two TDs.
Playoff seed: No. 7 (Division II nonselect) Up next: Against No. 18 Cecilia (9-3)
The Griffins defeated No. 10 Belle Chasse, 38-14. Cole Cory continued to shine since his return from injury, catching two TD passes and returning a kick 56 yards, according to Lee Hiller of The Shreveport Bossier Advocate. Luke Delafield was 15 of 20 passing for 205 yards. Kenny Thomas ran for 107 yards on 23 carries with two TDs. Cory finished with seven receptions for 114 yards.
Playoff seed: No. 5 (Division II select) Up next: Against No. 13 Istrouma (9-3)
The Chargers defeated No. 12 St. Charles Catholic, 34-20. Tylan Johnson was 10 of 13 passing for 125 yards and two TDs, according to Charles Salzer of The Baton Rouge Advocate. Alfred McKnight ran for 180 yards and two TDs. Madison Prep, which led 21-0 at halftime, takes on Istrouma in a matchup of north Baton Rouge schools whose campuses are separated by 2.1 miles.
Playoff seed: No. 2 (Division II nonselect) Up next: Season complete
The Bulldogs lost to No. 18 Cecilia, 49-41. Trenton Chaney ran for 194 yards and three TDs on 24 carries, according to Reed Darcey of The Baton Rouge Advocate. QB Zach Jenkins rushed for 118 yards on 25 carries with three TDs. He passed for 75 yards and didn’t throw an interception this season.
Playoff seed: No. 1 (Division IV select) Up next: Against No. 8 St. Edmund (10-1)
The Eagles defeated No. 16 Westminster Christian-Opelousas, 47-17. QB Jonathan Dartez ran for 199 yards and had a hand in six TDs. The senior has rushed for 2,119 yards and 34 TDs on 239 carries with 1,360 yards passing (19 TDs, two INT).
Louisiana
Heart of Louisiana: Saving boats
LOCKPORT, La. (WVUE) – A museum in downtown Lockport was bustling with activity 12 years ago, with people teaching and learning the art of boat-building.
Historic boats were on display in the front, and new boats were being built in the workshop out back, as generations of Cajun families passed down their traditions and knowledge. But then, three years ago, it all was put on hold when Hurricane Ida severely damaged the museum.
Now, efforts are underway to relocate and relaunch the boat museum and workshop at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, as Dave McNamara shows in the Heart of Louisiana.
For more, visit the Heart of Louisiana archive here.
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Louisiana
FBI seeking Louisiana victims of sports memorabilia, cannabis dispensary scheme
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Lufkin Resident Agency in Lufkin, Texas, is seeking to identify potential victims of Matthew “Matt” Jess Thrash the agency said in a press release Tuesday night.
Thrash was recently indicted in the Eastern District of Texas on federal wire fraud and money laundering violations.
The FBI believes he primarily targeted individuals between 2012 and 2024 through several fraudulent investment schemes. These schemes included establishing a fake sports management company, a fake sports memorabilia store, and fraudulent stock sales in cannabis dispensaries. It is believed that Thrash targeted individuals in Las Vegas, NV; Shreveport, LA; Lake Charles, LA; Tampa, FL, and throughout Texas.
If someone is a victim of Thrash or has information relevant to this investigation and has not spoken with law enforcement in Lufkin, Texas, they can complete and submit this short form at https://www.fbi.gov.
“Mr. Thrash used and employed various fraudulent schemes to obtain money from others. A critical component of his schemes was presenting himself as a successful businessman with lucrative investment opportunities. Individuals should not be embarrassed if they invested in one of his schemes. We encourage you to come forward so that you can receive assistance and help us hold him accountable in a court of law,” said FBI Dallas Acting Special Agent in Charge P. J. O’Brien.
If you know of someone who Thrash has victimized, please encourage them to complete and submit the form on the webpage.
The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law. Criminal charges are merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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