Louisiana
New U.S. attorney for Middle District of Louisiana increases indictments by 200%
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Kurt Wall, the newly appointed US Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, said his focus is attacking violent crime, eliminating cartels, and enforcing immigration law, in line with the Trump Administration.
“The cartels have their tentacles all across this country, and just because we are in Baton Rouge and not in New York or Miami does not mean we are not affected by them,” Wall said.
Part of his job is to defend the federal government in wrongful detention cases. Wall said when authorities arrest dangerous individuals with warrants, they will also detain others found at the scene who are in the country illegally.
“They are not leaving them, they are going to get swept up too, whether you think that’s a good thing or bad thing, it’s not for me to comment on, but that’s what is happening,” Wall said.
Recent prosecutions and increased activity
The Middle District Court sentenced five people connected to a large-scale cocaine and heroin trafficking ring based out of East Baton Rouge Parish on Wednesday.
“We’re going to put our foot to the pedal and go after them hard,” Wall said.
In his first 60 days, Wall’s office has increased indictments by 200% compared to a similar time frame last year. Some of that increase has come from immigration enforcement.
“Previous administrations weren’t quite as strict when it came to those coming across our border and who was going to get detained — this administration has put an emphasis on that — they are detaining more people, so consequently we are going to get more petitions from people claiming they have been detained illegally,” Wall said.
Wall is serving a four-year term for the Middle District.
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Louisiana
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
A motorcyclist is recovering after a West Monroe crash involving an 18-wheeler, while Chevron won a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling shifting a major coastal lawsuit back to lower courts. Ouachita deputies arrested a suspect and recovered more than a dozen guns, Mississippi passed a new school social-media safety requirement, and Louisiana’s House advanced a unanimous state budget. A new recovery center opened, and multiple weekend events are underway across northeast Louisiana, plus national updates include stock-market stress guidance, a Ford F-150 recall, Spirit Airlines uncertainty, and tax-refund tips.
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