Louisiana
ODU women struggle after hot start, fall at home to Louisiana
NORFOLK — Jaylyn James dropped in 13 of her 16 points during the second half, including four free throws in the final 75 seconds, to lift Louisiana to a 66-61 victory over the Old Dominion women’s basketball team Thursday night before 1,745 at Chartway Arena.
Ashlyn Jones was fouled as she sank a bucket late in the third quarter, and her ensuing free throw gave the Ragin’ Cajuns (5-6, 1-1 Sun Belt Conference) a 45-42 lead they would never relinquish. They converted 13 of 17 from the free-throw line over the final five-plus minutes to hold off any semblance of an ODU comeback in a back-and-forth evening that had 11 lead changes and four ties.
“What we’re normally known for is our defense, and tonight it just seemed like we were doing some things that were uncharacteristic of us,” said Monarchs coach DeLisha Milton-Jones, whose team allowed Louisiana to shoot 48% from the floor. “We were undisciplined in many areas tonight and it showed forth in a big way. They had big scoring quarters.”
After ODU jumped to an 18-7 first-quarter lead, Louisiana whittled away, scoring 21 points in both the second and fourth quarters.
“I felt like that’s when we played our best defense,” Milton-Jones said of her team’s effort in the opening stanza. “But then we fell apart as the game progressed.”
ODU senior point guard Jordan McLaughlin had seven of her game-high 22 points in the opening quarter, while fellow guards Mimi McCollister and Kaye Clark chipped in five and four points, respectively.
“I think the clear advantage we had was our ability to get in the paint, whether it was from our guard play or pounding the ball inside through our post play, ” Milton-Jones said. “For some reason, we went away from that and we weren’t attacking as much as we did initially,”
It’s the third time this season McLaughlin has scored 22, matching her point totals against William & Mary and Florida Gulf Coast.
Tamera Johnson scored 20 points to lead Louisiana, which splashed in 6 of 14 from beyond the 3-point arc. James was 3 of 4 from long distance.
“You’ve got to tip your hat to them,” Milton-Jones said. “They came on the road in a gym that people usually leave from with a loss and they had a gutsy win.”
The Monarchs (9-3, 1-1) got off to slow starts after breaks, going scoreless for almost five minutes to begin the second quarter and a little more than three minutes after halftime. They next host Southern Mississippi at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Louisiana
‘One suicide is too many;’ Man runs across Louisiana to raise awareness for veteran, teen suicide
La. (KPLC) – A run across Louisiana has come to an end, but the conversation it sparked is far from over.
Jeremy Adams, a Louisiana veteran who served in Afghanistan, completed the run to raise money for a public high school while drawing attention to veteran and teen suicide.
The run began Friday, Dec. 18 at the Texas state line at Bon Weir and stretched more than 100 miles across the state, ending in Natchez, Mississippi.
“Finished around 10 o’clock last night (Dec. 21) in Natchez. I got a police escort by the Vidalia Police Department over the river bridge,” Adams said.
Adams says the run was not easy and hopes this inspires others to keep moving forward, no matter what battle they may be facing.
“I was tired. I ran at night. My feet are hurting; I got screws in my feet. I kept moving forward; I didn’t quit. That’s what I wanted to teach veterans and kids (contemplating) suicide, don’t quit. There’s somebody out there that cares. Don’t end the story before God gives you a chance to show you his plans,” he said.
Adams says the run raised money for East Beauregard High School, the school that Adams says gave him a second family.
“In 2017, a good friend of mine there died of a drug overdose, and that’s what got me running. I quit drinking that year, quit smoking the following May, and then I decided to start running,” Adams said.
Adams is a veteran himself and has overcome his own battles with drug and alcohol addiction, which led him to be interested in running.
“In 2011, the Lord changed everything. I got wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. It shattered both my heel bones. They said it was a 50% chance I would walk again,” he said.
Although the run is over, Adams says the mission continues, urging people to talk, listen, and take action.
“One suicide is too many; there are gentlemen out there who went to battle, saw combat, and came home and still see that combat on a daily basis. If they need help, reach out and get help,” Adams said.
Adams says all proceeds from the run will go toward supporting students at East Beauregard High School.
If you’d like to donate to Adams’ cause, you can do so through his GoFundMe.
Copyright 2025 KPLC. All rights reserved.
Louisiana
Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis arrested on DWI count, State Police say
Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis was arrested on a count of driving while intoxicated over the weekend, a Louisiana State Police spokesperson said.
Lewis, 33, was arrested in West Baton Rouge Parish, officials said.
It is the West Baton Rouge Parish jail’s policy to not book first-offense DWI offenders, therefore Lewis was not held.
First offense DWI is a misdemeanor charge.
State police said Lewis was initially stopped for driving without headlights.
In a statement, Lewis said he “will be working with lawyers to contest the charge.”
“I have great respect for the men and women who serve our community in law enforcement, and I believe everyone, myself included, is accountable to the law,” he said. “I appreciate the professionalism shown during the encounter.”
Lewis said he understands “the gravity of the situation” and why the community is concerned.
“As I always have, I plan to remain accountable through both my words and my actions, not just through my words,” he said in the statement. “My hope is that our focus remains on the consistent, good work we have accomplished advocating for Louisiana’s citizens.”
The five-member Public Service Commission regulates utilities in Louisiana, like electricity, water, gas and some telecommunications. Lewis’ district covers majority-Black communities stretching from New Orleans up to West Baton Rouge Parish.
Lewis, a Democrat, is the first openly gay person elected to state office in Louisiana. Since ousting longtime commissioner Lambert Boissiere III in a 2022 election, he has been a prominent critic of Entergy and other utilities.
Lewis is also a frequent foe of Gov. Jeff Landry. In February, the PSC board voted to remove him from his role as vice chair after he called Landry an “a**hole” on the social media app X in response to a post Landry made mocking a transgender Department of Health Official in former President Joe Biden’s administration. Lewis argued he was being held to a different standard because he is Black.
Trump says he has ‘no problem’ informing Congress of Venezuela attacks
President Donald Trump said he has ‘no problem’ informing Congress of future attacks regarding Venezuela.
President Donald Trump announced Sunday he is appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as the special envoy to Greenland.
In a Truth Social post on Dec. 21, Trump said “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World,”
It was not clear whether Landry, who became governor in January 2024, would need to step down to assume this role.
Green Line back open after closure to replace 1800s beams – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets: Recap and final score
Where Seattle Seahawks’ No. 1 seed odds stand after Week 16
Navy jet climbed 8,000 feet after pilots ejected before crashing into San Diego Bay
Milwaukee neighbors finally see massive leaf pile cleanup after months
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
20% of NYC mayor-elect Mamdani transition appointees have anti-Zionist ties: ADL
Exclusive: Former MEP Kaili doubles down on ‘Belgiangate’
‘Music makes everything better’: A Texas doctor spins vinyl to give patients relief
Video: Who Is Trying to Replace Planned Parenthood?
Comer summons Minnesota officials as House probes massive social services fraud
-
Iowa1 week agoAddy Brown motivated to step up in Audi Crooks’ absence vs. UNI
-
Iowa1 week agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Maine7 days agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
Maryland1 week agoFrigid temperatures to start the week in Maryland
-
New Mexico6 days agoFamily clarifies why they believe missing New Mexico man is dead
-
South Dakota1 week agoNature: Snow in South Dakota
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago‘Love being a pedo’: Metro Detroit doctor, attorney, therapist accused in web of child porn chats
-
Health1 week ago‘Aggressive’ new flu variant sweeps globe as doctors warn of severe symptoms