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Supreme Court’s ruling on student debt unpends some Louisianans’ budgets: ‘It’s demoralizing’

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Supreme Court’s ruling on student debt unpends some Louisianans’ budgets: ‘It’s demoralizing’


Taylor Gonsoulin and her husband got married six months ago, and they’re already scrambling to redo their budget.

Gonsoulin, a 26-year-old occupational therapist from Metairie, said she took out about $60,000 in loans for the Master’s program in occupational therapy at LSU-New Orleans. When President Joe Biden announced his plan to forgive federal student loan debt, she was set to have $10,000 in debt removed.

“My husband was like ‘we can use that ten grand for certain things that we’ll need,’ kind of expecting to have a little bit more cushion than we did,” she said — things like updating the aging air conditioning units in their home.

Then the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to overturn Biden’s plan, saying he overstepped his executive authority in forgiving the loans. Now Gonsoulin said she and her husband have to rely on good fortune to maintain air conditioning over the hot summer months.

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“We definitely budgeted that into our financial plan when we got married only six months ago and that is not an easy amount of money to just whip up,” she said. “So that’s how it affected us and we’re just hoping that we can at least make it through this summer without it being a big issue.”

Gonsoulin is one of the roughly 600,000 people in Louisiana who the Biden Adminisration says would have seen debts erased. More than 400,000 of them were eligible for the maximum $20,000 in loan forgiveness, the White House said. 

Both Biden’s plan and the court ruling overturning it have been highly controversial.

“Putting crippling debt back on the American people after they were finally able to plan their lives without it is cruel and un-American,” Rep. Troy Carter, a Democrat from New Orleans said in the wake of the ruling. “The federal government regularly forgives the debt of businesses, industries, and even small countries. Our students deserve the same.”

Others, however, say dropping repayments was unfair to taxpayers and, as Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy put it on Twitter, “forcing Americans who paid their debt or chose not to go to school to foot bills for people who haven’t paid back their personal loans.”

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For those paying back the loans, it has been a seesaw.

“It’s demoralizing”

Pablo Zavala, a 40-year-old assistant professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at Loyola University, said the Supreme Court ruling will make him responsible for an extra $200 a month in loan payments.

“Financially, it hasn’t affected me yet. But mentally, of course it’s demoralizing,” he said. “It’s very, very demoralizing. I’m supposed to be self-sufficient. I’m supposed to already be a professional man. I’m 40 years old.”

Zavala said he generally relied on student loan forgiveness to pay bills, though he’s still “barely scraping by.”



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Pablo Zavala poses at his home in the St. Claude neighborhood of New Orleans, La., Friday, July 7, 2023. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)

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“I’m afraid that I’m barely gonna have anything left for anything else,” he said. “That’s not gas. That’s not food, that’s not bills.”

After coming to the United States from Mexico in third grade, Zavala is now a U.S. citizen and makes a trip back to Mexico to visit his family every two years.

Adding loan repayments to his other expenses, Zavala said he’s afraid he won’t get to see his family even once every other year.

“If I got to spend $200 or whatever a month more, I’m afraid that I’m not going to be able to see them,” he said. “Even every two years.”

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Louisiana universities respond

Baton Rouge Community College Chancellor Willie Smith said he is “on the fence” about the Supreme Court ruling and understands the decision, but was disappointed for the individuals and families who could benefit from being relieved of significant loan debt.

“I know it’s the right thing to do, but I’m also disappointed that there was not relief for those students who are still trying to adjust,” he said. “There are families that are still suffering post-pandemic and families who are still trying to find a job.

Smith said he thinks more Louisiana students could view community colleges as an increasingly attractive option considering the current cost of higher education and student loan payments. He said about 30% of BRCC students take out loans, usually for help with living expenses and not tuition or fees.

“The jobs are there, we just need to make sure they can afford the training and programming that we have at all our colleges — but certainly the community colleges,” Smith said.

University of New Orleans spokesman Adam Norris said financial aid offices are prepared to assist students seeking guidance about repaying their loans or future student borrowing.

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“There are a lot of resources available to borrowers who need assistance with repayment options or default prevention measures should they run into economic hardships and cannot afford repayment,” he said. “With the high interest rates on student loans at this time, we will see students faced with higher debt to complete their degrees.”

Norris said UNO offers exit counseling to consult students on how to make plans for repaying their loans.

“Students who graduate, leave school or fall below half-time enrollment are required to complete exit counseling to ensure they understand their loan obligations and prepare for repayment,” he said. “The U.S. Department of Education and UNO’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships go over the current available repayment plans and the students decide which is best for them.”

Mike Strecker, assistant vice president of news and media relations at Tulane, said the university will point students toward federal student aid resources as the loans considered for forgiveness were federal loans.

“We continue to support our students and alumni impacted by this decision by directing them to the official Federal Student Aid website and recommending that students and alumni consider Income Driven Repayment plans for repayment of their student loans,” he said.

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Staff writer Mark Ballard contributed to this report.





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Who Is The 25-year-old Louisiana Mayor Allegedly Caught Up In Drug Trafficking Ring?

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Who Is The 25-year-old Louisiana Mayor Allegedly Caught Up In Drug Trafficking Ring?


Scandal is sweeping one small Louisiana city after its own mayor was arrested on serious offenses. Tyrin Truong was elected mayor of Bogalusa, La. in 2022. Now, he’s been charged in connection to an alleged drug trafficking ring, according to police.

At the young age of 23, Truong made history when he was elected mayor. According to NOLA.com, the Bogalusa native won by ousting the city’s incumbent, Wendy O’Quin Perrette, to become Bogalusa’s youngest ever mayor and one of youngest mayors in Louisiana history.

The democratic nominee began his political career interning for U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay in Missouri, where he graduated from college. After moving back home to Bogalusa, Truong threw his name in the mayoral pool and won with 56 percent of the vote, NOLA.com reported.

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But ironically, soon after he becoming mayor and even pushing for increased police presence in his city, the now 25-year-old finds himself on the wrong side of the law.

The Alleged Crimes and Arrest

The Louisiana State Police Narcotics/Violent Crime Task Force began an investigation into an alleged drug trafficking organization in April 2024, according to CBS News. In their investigation, the task force discovered the organization was responsible for distributing opioids, marijuana, other THC products, and MDMA, and they were allegedly using social media to run the whole show.

According to officials, money made from these drug sales were allegedly used to purchase guns, some of which were even used in violent crimes across the city. After authorities uncovered the operation, arrest warrants for seven individuals were issued, including for Mayor Truong.

“We have zero tolerance for wrongdoing, especially, from public officials,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement.

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Tyrin Truong charged in connection to a drug trafficking ring operating out of Bogalusa, La.
Photo: Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office

On Tuesday, Jan. 7, Truong was taken into custody and charged with transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, unauthorized use of a moveable, and soliciting for prostitutes, according to jail records. 

Records show he was released on $150,000 bond. After his release, Truong took to social media to thank his supporters and declare his innocence. He wrote on Facebook “If you think I ran a drug operation (and all those other accusations), you’re sadly mistaken. Those who know me, KNOW me and I’ll let God and my attorney handle the rest!”

The other six suspects face charges of transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses. Three of them have been charged with conspiracy to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance. Another one faces an additional charge of distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance, according to Louisiana State Police.

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In a statement, District Attorney Collin Sims said “We are going to continue to invest time and resources into helping the citizens of Bogalusa. We are not finished.”



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Louisiana Tech defeats Liberty 79-74

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Louisiana Tech defeats Liberty 79-74


Associated Press

RUSTON, La. (AP) — Sean Newman Jr.’s 27 points helped Louisiana Tech defeat Liberty 79-74 on Saturday night.

Newman added eight assists for the Bulldogs (13-4, 2-2 Conference USA). Daniel Batcho added 24 points while going 6 of 10 and 12 of 15 from the free-throw line while he also had 12 rebounds and three blocks. Amaree Abram had 13 points and shot 4 for 10, including 3 for 5 from beyond the arc.

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Taelon Peter led the Flames (14-3, 2-2) in scoring, finishing with 33 points. Liberty also got 13 points and six rebounds from Jay Maughmer. Zach Cleveland also had 11 points and four assists.

Newman scored 12 points in the first half and Louisiana Tech went into the break trailing 34-27. Newman scored 15 points down the stretch in the second half to help lead Louisiana Tech to a five-point victory.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Shortened teal season tops proposed hunting seasons

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Shortened teal season tops proposed hunting seasons


There was drama Tuesday in what usually is a drama-less January Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting.

January’s meeting focused on the agency’s Wildlife Division announcing the proposed dates and other usually minor alterations for the next hunting season.

Ducks, namely teal, provided the eye-opening lead-in to that staff’s presentation.

This year, the special September teal season will be nine days — Sept. 20-28 — not the 16 days hunters have had for nearly two decades.

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The reason comes from the 2024 Waterfowl Breeding Count survey, an estimate conducted on breeding grounds in the north-central United States, the Canadian prairielands and in Alaska.

The count on bluewing teal came in at 4.599 million, just below the 4.7 million needed to allow Louisiana hunters a 16-day season. The bluewing count has declined during the past three surveys from 6.485 million in 2022 to 5.25 million in 2023.

So, what usually are calendar adjustments from the previous hunting seasons turned out to stand only for resident game — deer, squirrel, rabbit and quail seasons.

And for the second year, the West Zone waterfowl season took another turn. In 2024, some West Zone hunters banded together to ask the commission to extend their duck season to the last day, Jan. 31, allowed in the federal waterfowl framework.

They got their wish last year, but not this time.

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Commission member Kevin Segrera, who was later voted to chair the commission this year, offered an amendment calling for an extra early end to the West Zone duck season. His amendment, passed unanimously and has a Nov. 1-30 first split followed by a Dec. 13-Jan. 18 second split. The current West Zone season has three splits.

Other proposed changes included:

  • Adding a two-day special weekends for Youth (Nov. 8-9) and honorably discharged veterans (Jan. 30-31) to the East Waterfowl Zone;
  • Changing to a four-per-season limit (2 antlered/2 antlerless) deer in Deer Area 4 where the limit had been three for a season;
  • Removing physically challenged hunter blinds on Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area and the Floy McElroy WMA (for lack of use) and establishes a similar blind one on the Sandy Hollow WMA;
  • Moving to allow dogs only on Wildlife and Fisheries’ WMA camping areas;
  • Setting a 2 p.m. curfew on waterfowl hunting and a rule prohibiting mud boats and air-cooled vessels and all other nighttime activities on the Biloxi Marsh WMA, and a rule requiring all fish on the WMA to be taken by rod and reel;
  • Opening the 2026 turkey seasons on Good Friday, which adds an extra day to the seasons in all three turkey hunting areas;
  • And, opening U.S. 11 to all-hours access to the Pearl River WMA.

Newly elected vice chairman Andy Brister offered an amendment to allow hunters 65 and older to use any legal firearm to take deer during the primitive firearm season, a move that mimics the allowance for hunters 17 and younger.

Another offering came regarding the opening of the dove season. Federal regulations allow Louisiana to open the dove season Sept. 1, which, this year, is a Monday. Wildlife Division spokesman Jeff Duguay said previous surveys showed hunters preferred a full weekend to open this season, which, this year, falls Sept. 6-7. Duguay said another survey is in the offing and said the commission staff will work to compile the results for either the Feb. 6 or March 6 commission meetings.

For the full 2025-2026 hunting season’s notice, go to the agency’s website: wlf.louisiana.gov/resources/category/commission-action-items.

Duguay said the public can expect a Zoom meeting in February to discuss the seasons and take public comment.

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Comments will be taken during the Feb. 6 and March 6 meetings. March 6 is the deadline to make comments mailed to: Jeffrey Duguay, LDWF Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA, 70898-9000 or e-mail: jduguay@wlf.la.gov.



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