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Louisiana’s MAGA governor went on 'weeklong jaunt' in Europe while hurricane hit his state

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Louisiana’s MAGA governor went on 'weeklong jaunt' in Europe while hurricane hit his state


While Hurricane Beryl crossed into Louisiana as a tropical storm, Republican Governor Jeff Landry was on vacation in Europe, according to a new report.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based newspaper the Advocate reported Friday that Landry and his wife, Sharon were on a “weeklong jaunt” through Croatia, Greece and Italy when Beryl hit Louisiana, killing one person and damaging homes and businesses and leaving thousands without power. Beryl — which hit southeast Texas as a category 1 hurricane earlier this month, later moved east into the Bayou State and caused coastal flooding and wind speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour. A 31 year-old woman in Benton, Louisiana was killed when a tree fell on her home.

“All the governors I’m familiar with made a business to be around during hurricane season, especially when there was one in the Gulf,” Terry Ryder — who was an attorney for three former Louisiana governors — told the Advocate. “They were always completely engaged before, during and after a storm or a serious threat of a storm. You would not have seen them way out of the country.”

READ MORE: Experts alarmed as Louisiana gov gives himself control of state ethics board he’s in dispute with

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While Landry reportedly told Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser (R) about his European vacation in advance, he notably did not make a public announcement. Nungesser told the Advocate that he doesn’t “sleep during a hurricane ever since Katrina,” in reference to the 2005 storm that killed more than 1,500 Louisiana residents. He added that it was a “tough call” for Landry to decide postponing his vacation in light of the hurricane as it was approaching from the Caribbean.

“So many of them don’t affect us,” he said. “But if becomes a major threat, you have to be in a position to come back.”

Landry’s press secretary, Kate Kelly, told the publication via text message that the characterization of her boss as absent during a major emergency was unfair, and that Landry was plugged in with state emergency response officials throughout his vacation.

“It was not much of a vacation as he sprang into action with multiple calls a day with the FEMA director, local leaders, GOHSEP [Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness], & State Police in order to monitor Hurricane Beryl,” Kelly said. “He issued a disaster declaration for affected parishes on July 9 and requested a Federal Emergency Disaster Declaration on July 10. Gov. Landry always puts Louisiana and her people first, and it’s disingenuous for this paper to try and imply otherwise — solely for clickbait.”

READ MORE: Ten Commandments governor declares no church-state separation in rough Fox News interview

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Michael Steele, who is a spokesperson for GOHSEP, told the paper that “there was never a moment when the governor was out of communication” with emergency responders.

“GOHSEP was never activated beyond the first level of activation,” he said.

Landry’s European trip had reportedly been postponed more than once: The Covid-19 pandemic initially scuttled his plans to visit the continent, followed by the death of his mother-in-law and the 2023 gubernatorial race.

Click here to read the Advocate’s report in its entirety (subscription required).

READ MORE: Facts GOP gov should’ve looked up before signing Ten Commandments bill: constitutional lawyer

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Third inmate who escaped from southern Louisiana jail captured, officials say

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Third inmate who escaped from southern Louisiana jail captured, officials say


The last of two inmates who had been on the run since escaping from a jail in the southern Louisiana city of Opelousas earlier this month has been caught, officials said Friday. A third inmate who was also part of the escape died by suicide after being caught by police, authorities previously said.

Keith Anthony Eli II, 24, was taken into custody in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said in a news release. Opelousas is located about 25 miles north of Lafayette.

Guidroz said Eli was captured by narcotics detectives and a SWAT team thanks to a tip.  

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At the time of his escape, Eli was held on an attempted second-degree murder charge.

The three men had escaped the St. Landry Parish Jail on Dec. 3 by removing concrete blocks from an upper wall area, Guidroz said at the time.

Authorities said the inmates then used sheets and other materials to scale the exterior wall, climb onto a first-floor roof and lower themselves to the ground, Guidroz said.

Escapee Jonathan Joseph, 24, was captured on Dec. 5. He is in custody on multiple charges, including first-degree rape.

Joseph Harrington, 26, faced several felony charges, including home invasion. On Dec. 4, one day after the escape, he was recognized by a tipster while pushing a black e-bike. Police found the e-bike at a neighboring home and heard a gunshot while trying to coax him to leave the building. He had shot himself with a hunting rifle, Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux said by telephone to The Associated Press. 

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The escape came more than seven months after 10 inmates broke out of a New Orleans jail. All ten of since been captured.  



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MS Goon Squad victim arrested on drug, gun charges in Louisiana. Bond set

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MS Goon Squad victim arrested on drug, gun charges in Louisiana. Bond set


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  • Eddie Terrell Parker, a victim in the “Goon Squad” case, was arrested in Louisiana on multiple charges.
  • Parker was stopped for traffic violations and allegedly found with several narcotics and at least one firearm.
  • The charges include possession with intent to distribute several drugs and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
  • Parker and another man previously settled a $400 million lawsuit against Rankin County after being tortured by former officers.

Eddie Terrell Parker, one of two men who settled a civil lawsuit against Rankin County and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department in the “Goon Squad” case, was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 17, and is being held in a northeast Louisiana jail on multiple charges.

Louisiana State Police Senior Trooper Ryan Davis confirmed details of the incident to the Clarion Ledger via phone call on Friday, Dec. 19.

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Davis said Parker was traveling east on Interstate 20 in Madison Parish, Louisiana, when a trooper observed Parker committing “multiple traffic violations.” Davis said the trooper conducted a traffic stop, identified themselves and explained the reason for the stop.

Parker was allegedly found in possession of multiple narcotics, along with at least one firearm.

Parker was booked around 8 p.m. Wednesday into the Madison Parish Detention Center in Tallulah, Louisiana, on the following charges, as stated by Davis:

  • Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
  • Possession of ecstasy with intent to distribute
  • Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute
  • Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance
  • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Details about the quantity of narcotics found in Parker’s possession were not immediately available.

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Davis told the Clarion Ledger that Parker received a $205,250 bond after appearing before a judge.

Parker, along with another man named Michael Jenkins, was tortured and abused on Jan. 24, 2023, at a home in Braxton, at the hands of six former law enforcement officers who called themselves “The Goon Squad.” Parker and Jenkins filed a lawsuit in June 2023 against Rankin County and Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey.

Each of the six former Mississippi law enforcement officers involved in the incident are serving prison time for state and federal charges. Those officers were identified as former Rankin County deputies Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke, and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield.

Court documents show U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III issued an order on April 30 dismissing a $400 million lawsuit brought by Jenkins and Parker, saying that the two men had reached a settlement with the county and Bailey. Jenkins and Parker sought compensatory damages, punitive damages, interest and other costs.

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According to court records, the case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. However, the order stated that if any party fails to comply with settlement terms, any aggrieved party may reopen the matter for enforcement of the settlement.

Jason Dare, legal counsel for the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, stated the settlement agreement totaled to $2.5 million. According to Dare, the settlement was not an admission of guilt on the county’s or the sheriff’s department’s part.

Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.



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Port of South Louisiana welcomes new leadership

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Port of South Louisiana welcomes new leadership


Julia Fisher-Cormier. (Courtesy)



The Port of South Louisiana on Thursday announced that Julia Fisher-Cormier has been selected as its new executive director.

The announcement follows a national search and a unanimous vote of a…


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