Louisiana
Louisiana Tech University recognized for efforts to protect student free speech
RUSTON, La. (KNOE) – The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) gave Louisiana Tech University a “green light” rating, making it one of only two universities in Louisiana and one of 65 institutions nationwide to receive such recognition from the organization.
A green light rating means FIRE has found no written policies that have serious potential to threaten student free speech practices.
Louisiana Tech had a red light rating only one year ago during the summer of 2023, but that quickly changed after FIRE notified the university of what an analysis of its policies found. That winter, Louisiana Tech moved to a yellow light rating when it removed a sexual misconduct provision from its student handbook. FIRE and Louisiana Tech continued to work together and have revised 11 policies in the first quarter of 2024.
“Louisiana Tech, with its commitment to sharing knowledge, expanding ideas, and pursuing discovery, must also provide an environment that upholds free expression in its broadest sense,” said Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson. “A culture of inquiry and informed argument generates lasting ideas. We appreciate FIRE’s partnership in evaluating our policies to ensure we can meet this ideal we have for our community at large.”
Changes to Louisiana Tech policies include allowing students to decorate their rooms with no restrictions on the content of decorations and allowing student organizations to display signs in university buildings regardless of viewpoints unless the sign violates the law or other university policies. The university also has a bulletin board where students can post without prior approval.
“The ability to post without administrative approval in at least one area on campus is absolutely critical to a healthy campus climate for free expression,” said FIRE Senior Program Officer Mary Griffin. “At a time when other institutions are sharply limiting student expression by censoring unpopular views, Tech’s policy revisions signal to its community that its campus is a place to engage in robust dialogue on the issues of the day.”
FIRE and the University of Louisiana System, which Louisiana Tech is a part of, have worked together for two years to protect students’ free speech. FIRE works with other universities nationwide, free of charge, to revise policies to ensure institutions meet First Amendment standards.
For more information about FIRE and what the organization does, contact FIRE’s campus Policy Reform team at speechcodes@thefire.org.
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MONROE, La. (KNOE) – A West Carroll nurse is proving determination and flexibility can open doors. Her path to becoming a flight nurse started in northeast Louisiana.
For Baylee Norsworthy, Louisiana Delta Community College was more than a stop along the way—it was the foundation of her nursing career.
After not being accepted into a registered nursing program right out of high school, LDCC (Lake Providence and Tallulah) gave her a different path forward. It allowed her to enter the workforce, build hands-on experience and keep progressing. That step-by-step approach helped Norsworthy grow from a practical nurse into an emergency room nurse, and eventually into a flight nurse.
“At first, I was defeated but then, it was instilled in me that all these things, all these hardships, all these sad stories are stepping stones, some you have jump real high, some you just take baby steps. I took a baby step and it ended up being a huge leap for me,” said Baylee Norsworthy, Acadian flight nurse.
“They have really helped me get to where I am today, just giving me the option to start as an LPN, to grow and to continue my journey has just been great,” Norsworthy said.
LDCC is expanding its practical nursing program to two new locations in hopes to create more nurses like Baylee. Applications are open now for those locations.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
Louisiana’s U.S. Senate campaign was stuck Tuesday in a debate about debates.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, fighting for his political life against two formidable Republican opponents, rejected a debate invitation issued last week by conservative radio talk show host Moon Griffon, who has nicknamed the senator “Psycho Bill.”
Griffon said his program offers the best forum for conservatives to hear from candidates in advance of the May 18 party primary.
Treasurer John Fleming and U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow have agreed to the debate, which Griffon said would take place in his Lafayette radio station studio from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on April 28. Griffon appears on affiliates throughout Louisiana.
Meanwhile, Letlow has yet to accept Cassidy’s challenge from March 6 that she agree to three televised debates. Two TV networks have offered to host the events.
“Day 18: What is Liberal Letlow Hiding?” read a headline in a press release issued by Cassidy’s campaign staff on Tuesday. “Louisiana voters are still waiting for an answer. This would be Letlow’s first real debate opportunity in a competitive statewide race, and instead of stepping up, she continues to avoid the spotlight.”
The Letlow campaign did not respond to a request for an interview with her on Tuesday.
Is talk radio the right venue?
Answering a question in a call with Louisiana reporters, Cassidy said a debate on Griffon’s radio network wouldn’t attract a big enough audience.
“Anyone with a lick of sense, unless they’re promoting their own show, understands that a primetime TV station is where we should be,” Cassidy said. “You want the maximal opportunity for the people on that debate to explain their position.”
Griffon on his program Tuesday ridiculed Cassidy’s view.
“Most people will watch it later in the day, later in the night,” Griffon said in his trademark Cajun growl. “Cassidy doesn’t understand that at all.”
On Monday, Griffon pledged to treat Cassidy fairly, saying he wouldn’t ask any “gotcha” questions.
But on Tuesday, Griffon blasted Cassidy, saying of Letlow and Fleming, “Compared to him, they are super great…. We will have two candidates here to talk about the issues.”
Griffon went on to complain that Cassidy appeared on his show for years until the radio host lit into him for voting to convict Trump on impeachment charges for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. The vote led Griffon to brand Cassidy as “Psycho Bill.”
Griffon said 1,915 days have passed since Cassidy has been on his show.
Cassidy said Fleming and Letlow would have a home field advantage on Griffon’s program. He said the host does not raise questions about Letlow’s failure to report individual stock trades more than a year late. Cassidy and a super PAC supporting him have pounded Letlow on this issue.
During commercial breaks, listeners heard ads for Letlow and Fleming but none from Cassidy.
Letlow’s ad repeatedly noted that President Donald Trump has endorsed her in the Senate race.
Fleming’s ad describes how he worked his way through college, became a doctor for the Navy and then opened a general practice, has operated businesses, was elected to Congress and worked for the first Trump administration.
On a daily basis, Griffon rails against liberals and Democrats and praises Trump. He also sometimes criticizes Republicans, including then-Gov. Bobby Jindal and Gov. Jeff Landry for, in his view, straying from the conservative line.
Frustrated that Cassidy won’t agree to appear with Letlow and Fleming, Griffon upped the ante on Tuesday, calling on Cassidy to debate him one on one.
On Monday, Jim Engster, who hosts the biggest talk radio program in Baton Rouge — one that is not openly partisan or ideological — offered to host a debate.
Speaking of Griffon, Engster added, “He is a partisan. Because of that, I think Cassidy would be out of his mind to go on that show.”
Engster then noted that Cassidy rejected calls that he debate his opponents during his 2020 reelection campaign.
The senator probably would not debate his Democratic opponent in November if he wins the Republican primary, Engster predicted. Cassidy would probably be heavily favored in that election against either Nick Albares, Jamie Davis or Gary Crockett.
TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. (WVUE) – Liuzza Family Farm is more than 7,000 miles from Iran, but the war in the region is still hitting home in Tangipahoa Parish.
The farm says the sharp rise in diesel prices is forcing it to conserve fuel and rethink future plans as energy costs climb. AAA listed Louisiana’s average diesel price at $5.009 a gallon on March 24, up from $4.735 a week earlier and $3.251 a month earlier.
“This is not a speed bump. This is a roadblock because fuel drives our whole production. Everything we do, every tractor uses diesel. Every truck uses diesel or gasoline,” said Joey Liuzza, co-owner of Liuzza Family Farm.
Joey Liuzza and his wife, Nichole, started their farm in 2022. They say farming is a constant balancing act, but right now, fuel costs are at the top of the list.
The farm usually spends between $3,000 and $5,000 a month on diesel. The Liuzzas estimate the higher cost of energy will raise the cost of producing strawberries and vegetables by 15% to 25% in the coming months.
“We do appreciate all the business we get from our local consumers, and we hope that they find a couple extra dollars in their budget for us,” said Nichole Liuzza, co-owner of Liuzza Family Farm.
Read more: Louisiana’s LNG industry could help fill natural gas gap amid war with Iran
The price pressure goes beyond diesel. The Associated Press reported that farmers across the United States are bracing for higher fertilizer prices and possible shortages because shipping disruptions tied to the Iran war are affecting supply.
AP also reported that the Strait of Hormuz has become a major pressure point in the conflict, with shipping traffic and energy flows disrupted as the war escalated. More than one-fifth of the world’s oil typically moves through that waterway.
Liuzza Family Farm says it is also dealing with rising fertilizer costs as those global disruptions ripple into Louisiana.
“Our crops are planted. Our planting is done. Our prices have been set. So, there’s no way for a farmer to go back and say, hey, we need you to pay more because of fuel costs,” Joey Liuzza said.
The farm said adding an energy surcharge, like some restaurants once did with eggs, is not a realistic option.
“In a perfect world if every farmer would say, we’re putting on a fuel surcharge, then the customers would pay it. The customers are about the bottom-line price and whoever is the cheapest that’s who gets the business,” Liuzza said.
The Liuzzas said they had hoped to expand next year, but those plans could be delayed if energy prices remain high.
“We’re still a fairly new farm, and it will be a significant hit on us. We really need to crunch the numbers and buckle down and see are we going to be able to expand next year,” Nichole Liuzza said.
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