Louisiana
Settlement offers nearly $9M to Louisiana nursing home residents kept in warehouse during hurricane

NEW ORLEANS — Some of the elderly residents of seven Louisiana nursing homes who were sent in 2021 to ride out Hurricane Ida in a crowded, ill-equipped warehouse are being offered shares of a nearly $9 million settlement after they sued.
Retired state judge William “Rusty” Knight told The Times-Picayune of New Orleans that all the 427 former residents who filed legal claims are being sent letters outlining the proposed settlement. Knight said amounts differ based on patients’ individual circumstances.
People who don’t contest the amount offered can expect to receive money within a few weeks. A hearing for those who want to fight the settlement will be held in January.
“It’s been a longer road getting here than we wanted it to be,” Knight said. “Nobody’s getting what they should. quite frankly, because there’s not enough money.”
Bob Dean Jr., 70, owned seven nursing homes in New Orleans and southeast Louisiana. As Ida approached, Dean moved hundreds of residents into a building in the town of Independence, roughly 70 miles (110 kilometers) northwest of New Orleans.
Authorities said conditions at the warehouse deteriorated rapidly after the powerful storm hit on Aug. 29, 2021. They found ill and elderly bedridden people on mattresses on the wet floor, some crying for help, some lying in their own waste. Civil suits against Dean’s corporation said the ceiling leaked and toilets overflowed at the sweltering warehouse, and there was too little food and water.
Within days after the storm hit, the state reported the deaths of seven of the evacuees, five of them classified as storm-related.
By the time Dean was arrested on state charges in June 2022, he had lost state licenses and federal funding for his nursing homes. Dean pleaded no contest to 15 criminal counts in July and was sentenced to three years of probation, paying $258,000 in restitution and more than $1 million as a penalty.
Last month, Dean agreed to pay $8.2 million to the federal government to settle allegations that he misused assets and income from four nursing homes whose loans were insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Prosecutors say he funneled nursing home money to his personal bank accounts, using the money to buy antiques, guns and cars.
But Dean also faced civil lawsuits or legal claims from 427 of the 843 patients who were taken to Independence, or their surviving relatives. Many of the plaintiffs and their lawyers have suggested Dean was hiding other assets.
“There’s no true justice after what my clients endured,” attorney Matthew Hemmer, who represents hundreds of nursing home victims, told WVUE-TV.
Knight said he knows of 165 of Dean’s former residents who have died since the evacuation, and he said he expects to learn more people have died as responses to the settlement offer are returned.

Louisiana
LDWF Announces Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman Deer Hunt for Novice Hunters

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is now accepting applications for the Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman (B-BOW) Deer Hunt, scheduled for Jan. 9–11, 2026, at Floy McElroy Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
This hunt is for novice deer hunters only who have attended a previous Becoming an Outdoors Woman Workshop, and is designed to provide hands-on learning and real-world experience in a supportive environment.
The lottery application will remain open through Nov. 30, 2025. The drawing will be held on Dec. 1, 2025, and successful applicants will be notified by email.
To apply, visit:
https://louisianaoutdoors.com/lottery-applications
Eligibility Requirements
The Beyond BOW Deer Hunt is intended for individuals new to deer hunting. To qualify, applicants must:
- Have attended a previous Becoming an Outdoors Woman Workshop
- Be a novice deer hunter, defined as someone who has harvested no more than two deer or other big game animals (elk, antelope, bear, moose, etc.) in their lifetime
- Not have previously attended a Louisiana BBOW deer hunt or harvested a deer during that event
- Be Hunter Education certified
About Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman (B-BOW)
LDWF’s Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman program builds upon the foundation of the traditional Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshops. These advanced, hands-on experiences allow participants to apply and strengthen skills learned during BOW weekends, while receiving guidance from supportive instructors in real-world outdoor settings.
Beyond BOW workshops are ideal for women who:
- Want to gain more confidence and independence in outdoor skills
- Are seeking new outdoor challenges and experiences
- Have completed a BOW workshop and are ready for the next step
- Enjoy learning alongside like-minded outdoor enthusiasts
Workshops are kept intentionally small to provide a safe, educational, and encouraging environment that emphasizes personal growth, safety, and skill development.
Applicable fees will be assessed when applying for the lottery.
To learn more or to apply, visit:
https://louisianaoutdoors.com/lottery-applications
Contact:
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Becoming an Outdoors Woman Program
Email: BOW@wlf.la.gov
Website: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/beyond-bow
About Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation’s 2025 Conservation Raffle:
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation (LAWFF), in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), is hosting its inaugural raffle. Supporting ongoing LDWF conservation efforts, the raffle offers outdoor enthusiasts and conservation supporters of Louisiana the chance to win a brand-new Chevy Silverado from your Super Chevy Dealers, valued at $60,000.
Proceeds directly benefit programs led by LDWF, including habitat restoration, wildlife and fisheries research, public access enhancements, and education initiatives.
To purchase your ticket, visit: https://www.lawff.org/la-conservation-raffle.
Open to legal residents of the U.S. who are 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited. Contest ends 1/8/26. Click here to view the official rules page.
Louisiana
Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds, Prediction, Pick

Week 9 of the college football season kicks off on Tuesday night with a Conference USA battle between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
The Hilltoppers come into Tuesday looking to get back in the win column after losing 25-6 to FIU last week. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak and dropped them to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in CUSA.
The Bulldogs are also looking to bounce back from a loss after they fell to Kennessaw State 35-7 two weeks ago. The loss was their first in the CUSA and dropped them to 4-2 overall.
Stream Louisiana Tech vs. Western Kentucky
If you’re looking to get back in the swing of football season and need some betting advice for Tuesday’s matchup in Rustin, we’ve got you covered. Here are the latest odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM.
Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky game odds:
All college football odds via BetMGM
- Spread: Louisiana Tech -3.5 (-115), Western Kentucky +3.5 (-1105)
- Money Line: Louisiana Tech NL, Western Kentucky NL
- Over-Under: Over 50.5 (-110), Under 50.5 (-110)
Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky prediction, pick:
Both of these teams were stymied in their last game and are desperate for a win on Tuesday night. They both are hoping to stay near the top of the conference, but a loss would likely drop them out of the hunt. Maverick McIvor has been good at quarterback for the Hilltoppers this year and he could be the x-factor. He did throw three interceptions in this last game, but he bounces back and gives Western Kentucky a huge road win.
Prediction: Western Kentucky 31, Louisiana 23
Best Bet: Western Kentucky +3.5, Over 50.5
Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky channel, start time, streaming:
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel: CBS Sports Network
Live Stream: Paramount+
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.
Louisiana
These were the winning architects and projects at the 2025 AIA Louisiana’s Design Awards

The transformation of a 200-year-old cottage into a museum, a project to put a performance pavilion in a public park and the renovation of a Romanesque university hall were all recognized recently by the Louisiana chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
The 2025 AIA LA Design Awards were presented at the annual AIA Louisiana Conference of Architecture in Lake Charles.
Judges selected six Merit Awards, two Honor Awards and one Members’ Choice Award out of 62 entries reviewed by a jury of nationally recognized architects.
Winners included five firms based in New Orleans, one based in Baton Rouge and from Lafayette. A pair of New Orleans-based architects also came away with individual awards.
- RHH Architecture, of Baton Rouge, won the Members’ Choice Award for The Retreat at Quarters Lake, a grief and bereavement care facility arranged in a a protective configuration. Anchored by a butterfly garden at its center, the inward-facing design and pitched roofs help deflect sound and bring natural light into a tranquil setting. The winner of the Members’ Choice Award is voted on by all of AIA Louisiana’s membership.
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