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The biggest question in Louisiana politics for months had been whether President Trump would endorse U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow to be Louisiana’s next senator over Sen. Bill Cassidy or stay neutral.

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The biggest question in Louisiana politics for months had been whether President Trump would endorse U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow to be Louisiana’s next senator over Sen. Bill Cassidy or stay neutral.








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Congresswoman Julia Letlow at the City Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, October 21, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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President Donald Trump’s endorsement Saturday night of U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow to be Louisiana’s next senator has dramatically shaken up a race where Sen. Bill Cassidy already had four major Republican challengers, political insiders said Sunday. 

Trump’s decision makes it likely that Letlow will formally enter the race in the coming days and adds to the headwinds that Cassidy was facing to win a third six-year term. 

For months, given the president’s dominant role in Republican politics, the biggest question in Louisiana politics has been whether Trump would endorse Letlow, one of Cassidy’s already-announced challengers or stay neutral in the race. Letlow has been expected to get in only if Trump endorsed her. 

Trump’s decision indicates that he has not forgiven Cassidy for voting to convict the president on impeachment charges for instigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by his supporters. Cassidy has tried to offset that by being a steadfast supporter of Trump since he began his second term a year ago and has said lately that the president would stay out of the race. 

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“I don’t understand the president’s deal,” said Eddie Rispone, a Baton Rouge business owner and major Republican fundraiser who was nearly elected governor in 2019 and is supporting Cassidy. “I think it’s pretty ridiculous. You have a great guy making a difference. He chairs a major committee and is on the Finance Committee. She’s obviously a smart person, but she’s not even a seasoned congresswoman. It doesn’t make sense to me. They’re all running on one vote he made on impeachment.” 

If Letlow does indeed announce her candidacy, Cassidy’s challengers – state treasurer John Fleming, state Sen. Blake Miguez, state Rep. Julie Emerson and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta – must then decide whether to stay in the race. 

Cassidy also faces that decision, although he has a massive fund-raising advantage over his Republican opponents and Letlow, at least at this point. His campaign said it has $11 million in cash, while a supportive super PAC, Louisiana Freedom Fund, had another $2.4 million on hand as of July 30, when it last reported to the FEC. 

The decision on whether any candidate will run must come soon because qualifying for the race occurs from Feb. 11 to 13. The closed party primary is on May 16, and, under new election rules, the top two finishers would vie for the Republican nomination on June 27 to face the top Democrat in the fall. 

People who spoke to Cassidy on Sunday said he has no plans to get out. 

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“I’m proudly running for re-election as a principled conservative who gets things done for the people of Louisiana,” Cassidy said in a statement Saturday evening. “I am confident I will win if Congresswoman Letlow decides to run.” 

Scrambling Louisiana politics 

Letlow’s likely entry into the race also will scramble Louisiana politics because of the number of elected officials who have been eyeing her House seat if she jumped into the Senate campaign. 

In the minds of many political analysts, Trump’s endorsement makes Letlow a formidable candidate. 

Formerly a senior official at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, she has been elected to the House three times but ran the first time only because her husband Luke died from COVID in December 2020 just after winning the seat. Last year, she moved from northeast Louisiana to Baton Rouge with her two small children. 

In December, Letlow, 44, got engaged at the White House to Kevin Ainsworth, a Baton Rouge lawyer and lobbyist. 

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Trump called them up to the stage to congratulate them and in his Truth Social post Saturday night wrote, “Should she decide to enter this Race, Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement.” 

She’s in an enviable position, said Scott Wilfong, a Republican campaign operative. 

“Now it’s perfect timing for her to come in and say I can’t ignore the call from the greatest president of our lifetime and the people from the greatest state in the country,” said Wilfong. “The race may be over. How do you beat the person endorsed by Trump? She has a compelling life story. She lost her husband. I’m just objectively talking. She will be a super candidate.”  

Letlow had been expected to announce her plans by Jan. 28, when Washington Mardi Gras – an annual extravaganza with parties and fund-raisers for Louisiana’s political world – kicks off. 

“It’s going to make an interesting line of conversation in Washington Mardi Gras, with the buzz that’s always there,” said Rodney Alexander, a lobbyist who formerly held Letlow’s congressional seat. “There are always a lot of influential people in business and politics together there at one time.” 

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 A surprise announcement 

Republican insiders have been complaining privately for weeks about Letlow’s inaction over whether to run for a full third term in the House or give up that seat and challenge Cassidy, as qualifying the Senate and congressional races grew closer and closer. 

Rumors heated up during the Christmas holidays that she would take on Cassidy but that talk died down. 

It was not a big topic of discussion Friday night when Gov. Jeff Landry held a reception at the Governor’s Mansion for members of the Republican State Central Committee, said two people who attended – nor at the committee’s quarterly meeting on Saturday in Baton Rouge. 

That Trump announced the decision Saturday night caught most people by surprise. 

Landry, Fleming, Miguez and Emerson were all attending an annual fund-raising gala for Louisiana Right to Life at Le Pavillion in Lafayette when news broke. Word spread like wildfire in the room. (Cassidy had attended the group’s gala event in New Orleans the night before.) 

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Some heavyweights still back Cassidy 

 Trump’s endorsement came as an odd juxtaposition to a major fundraiser Cassidy held at the Baton Rouge Renaissance Hotel, where Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota was the star attraction. 

Cassidy’s team said he raised $650,000 that night, his campaign said. 

Rispone introduced Cassidy to the big crowd. Other heavy-hitters who showed their support for Cassidy were Baton Rouge business owner Lane Grigsby, Baton Rouge trial attorney Gordon McKernan and state Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie. 

“It does not change my support [of Cassidy],” Henry said Sunday, referring to Trump’s endorsement. 

Richard Lipsey, another Baton Rouge business owner and major fundraiser, echoed Henry’s statement. 

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Cassidy “has done a lot for the state and our country. He’s made a fabulous public servant for many years,” Lipsey said, adding that he also is a fan of Letlow. 

James Davison, a major business owner and donor in Ruston, said he had thought Trump would stay neutral. 

“I like her a lot and am close to her,” Davison said and added, “I think Cassidy has done a lot of us. I’m alright either way. I hate to see two Republicans running against each other who are strong.”  

On Sunday, Fleming said in a text that he’s staying in the race and that polls show him thumping Cassidy head-to-head in a Republican Party runoff.  

Miguez and Emerson have both been touting themselves as young MAGA warriors. They didn’t respond to texts on Sunday. 

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Skrmetta hasn’t raised any money, leading to doubts that he’ll actually qualify. But on Sunday he said he is about to hold his first fund-raiser. 

Kathy Seiden, a first-term St. Tammany Parish council member, announced in October that she’s also challenging Cassidy. 

Three little-known Democrats have said they plan to run as well. 

If Letlow runs for the Senate, that will create a wide-open race for her 5th Congressional District, which was based in northeast Louisiana when Letlow was first elected in 2021 but has been reconfigured and now includes the Florida Parishes and predominantly White precincts in Baton Rouge. 

State Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, on Sunday said he would run, while state Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, texted an advertising logo he has already designed for his campaign. 

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State Sen. Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe, state Rep. Daryl Deshotel, R-Hessmer, and state Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monroe, all said on Sunday they are considering the race. 



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Louisiana Lottery Mega Millions results for April 14, 2026

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The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at April 14, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 14 drawing

17-21-24-57-69, Mega Ball: 12

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.

By mail, follow these instructions:

  1. Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
  2. Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
  3. Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
  4. Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.

Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:

Louisiana Lottery Headquarters

555 Laurel Street

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Baton Rouge, LA 70801

To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:

555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.

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When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
  • Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Louisiana’s public universities could break with longstanding accreditor. Here’s why.

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Louisiana’s public universities could break with longstanding accreditor. Here’s why.


As higher education bureaucracy comes under scrutiny nationally, Louisiana’s public universities might soon be allowed to seek alternatives to the accreditor that has evaluated institutions in the state for over a century.

The potential change comes as some conservative leaders like President Donald Trump and Gov. Jeff Landry criticize excess spending in higher education and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Some administrators say, however, that the problems with accreditation lie less with DEI and more with the inefficiency of a geography-based system.

Senate Bill 304 would permit public universities to break with their longstanding accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACS. The bill follows the recommendations of a task force Landry created last year to review accreditation in the state and consider membership in the newly founded Commission for Public Higher Education.

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At the time he created the task force, Landry said CPHE could be “an alternative to the out-of-touch accreditation system” and that “this task force will ensure Louisiana’s public universities move away from DEI-driven mandates and toward a system rooted in merit-based achievement.”

That alarmed some faculty and higher education advocates, who feared it would impose a political agenda on the accreditation process.

Now, as the Legislature considers SB304, supporters are talking less about political motives. Instead, they say the current system of regional accreditors is obsolete — and that accreditors need to focus more on how universities can operate efficiently.

Cameron Howell, senior adviser at the newly founded commission, urged the public to review its educational standards, which he says are in line with common higher education practices.

“I think what you’ll see is a small-C conservative approach to achieve efficiencies, to lower costs and to make for a process that is less burdensome,” he said.

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“That, I don’t think, is about politics,” he added.

And some state and federal leaders say it might no longer make sense to have regional accreditors. Instead, they argue the organizations should be focused on the type of institution — in this case, public universities.

“We moved from geography, everybody being SACS, to having a broader ability if they are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed.

Why does accreditation matter?

Accreditation is the process of evaluating schools to ensure they meet acceptable education standards. Universities that are not accredited by an approved organization cannot receive federal financial aid dollars.

The Southern Association of Colleges accredits 41 institutions in Louisiana and hundreds more throughout the South, according to February 2026 organizational data. LSU has held continuous accreditation from the organization since 1913.

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The association did not respond to a request for comment.

Though the bill under consideration in the Legislature does not mention the Commission for Public Higher Education specifically, it comes up frequently when the bill is discussed. Landry’s task force also recommended Louisiana join and gain a board seat on the organization.

The commission was launched in 2025 by institutions in six southern states: the State University System of Florida, the University System of Georgia, the University of North Carolina System, the University of South Carolina System, the Texas A&M University System and the University of Tennessee System.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis heralded the commission when it was unveiled in June last year as “an alternative that will break the ideological stronghold” and end “the activist-controlled accreditation monopoly.”

The organization itself does not claim a political ideology. Howell said its standards adhere to conventional norms in the higher education sector.

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He said the commission’s goal is to save universities money in the accreditation process and maximize efficiency, which he argued the commission can achieve by specializing in working with public institutions.

“Having a regional approach to something made sense operationally and economically,” Howell said. “We work in a world now where travel and communication are easier to bridge over long distances and where we can go about devising accreditation on the basis of public mission.”

Higher education standards

President Donald Trump made overhauling higher education bureaucracy a focus of his education department, issuing an executive order in April 2025 that urged increased competition in the accreditation sphere, prioritization of intellectual diversity among faculty and lower costs for students.

Louisiana’s accreditation reform will align with both Trump and Landry’s interests, Reed said.

SB304 “was a result of the governor’s executive order saying we want to support the Trump administration’s interest in broadening competition around accreditors,” Reed said.

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Though sometimes juxtaposed politically, SACS and CPHE do not contain references to politics in their accreditation standards (in CPHE’s case, draft accreditation standards, as the commission is not yet formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education).

They share criteria on institutional integrity, sound finances and a commitment to “continuous improvement.” Both include references to academic freedom, though CPHE goes a step further to include a standard for “intellectual diversity.”

The proposed law mandates that universities must be accredited through an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, so Louisiana’s institutions would need to maintain their SACS accreditation for the time being even if it passes.

CPHE plans to finalize its application by summer 2027, Howell said, with the timeline for approval then set by the U.S. Department of Education.



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Louisiana State Police investigating deadly hit-and-run involving bicyclist

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Louisiana State Police investigating deadly hit-and-run involving bicyclist


Louisiana State Police investigating deadly hit-and-run involving bicyclist

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THE DRAFT STARTS AT 6:00. ALL RIGHT. ALSO WARM. TURNING TO WEATHER NOW A LIVE LOOK OUTSIDE ON YOUR MONDAY. WARM AND BREEZY. A COUPLE OF CLOUDS OUT THERE, BUT OVERALL A BEAUTIFUL START TO THE WORKWEEK. YEAH AND NO RAIN. LET’S GET STRAIGHT TO WDSU FIRST WARNING WEATHER METEOROLOGIST JIM SIREN. IT’S GOING TO BE PRETTY NICE ALL WEEK. YES IT IS. WE MAY SEE A COUPLE OF SPOTTY SHOWERS AS WE LOOK A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, BUT MAYBE I’M OVERPLAYING THAT CHANCE FOR RAIN JUST BECAUSE WE NEED THE RAIN. HOWEVER, AS WE LOOK FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A COLD FRONT, BUT WE HAVE A REAL GOOD CHANCE FOR RAIN, I THINK. BUT THAT’S IN THE EXTENDED EXTENDED FORECAST RIGHT NOW. SHORT TERM THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD. PONTCHARTRAIN CONSERVANCY CAMERA SHOWING US MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND WITH THE SUNSHINE, WE’VE MADE IT TO THE MID 80S IN A COUPLE OF SPOTS. 85 BOGALUSA WE’RE AT 83 IN BATON ROUGE, 81 THE CURRENT TEMPERATURE IN SLIDELL. I ACTUALLY OVERHEARD A COWORKER SAY, IT’S KIND OF HOT TODAY AND I GUESS 85 DEGREES IF YOU’RE WORKING IN THE YARD. YEAH, THAT’S KIND OF HOT WINDS RIGHT NOW AT ABOUT TEN, 12, 15MPH. SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS BECOMING A BIT MORE SOUTHERLY BY MIDWEEK. THAT WILL BRING US A LITTLE MORE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE. THE DEW POINT TEMPERATURE IS GOING TO COME UP. WE’VE EVEN SEEN SOME WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 20MPH HERE OVER THE LAST HALF HOUR OR SO. SO A BREEZY DAY TODAY, A BREEZY DAY TOMORROW. OFFICIALLY RIGHT NOW AT LOUIS ARMSTRONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WINDS BECOMING SOUTHERLY AT ABOUT 13 WITH A DEW POINT OF 61. THAT DEW POINT LIKELY COMING UP JUST A LITTLE BIT BY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. IN THE SHORT TERM THOUGH, LET’S ENJOY THE NICE BREEZY WEATHER CLOUDS INCREASING TO THE WEST OF US, BUT IT’S REALLY HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE THAT’S GOING TO BRING US THE SOUTH TO SOUTHEASTERLY WIND TODAY, BECOMING MORE SOUTHERLY BY WEDNESDAY. THAT’S WHEN WE COULD SEE A FEW SPOTTY SHOWERS. BUT THE REAL THING THAT’S GOING TO CHANGE OUR WEATHER A LITTLE BIT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A COLD FRONT THAT’S GOING TO BE HERE THIS WEEKEND. WILL IT HOLD TOGETHER AS OF RIGHT NOW? I THINK SO. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS US THIS. A LOT OF DRY AIR THAT’S GOING TO BE MOVING IN. SO TOMORROW I THINK IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER DAY WITH PLENTY OF SUNSHINE. ANY CLOUD COVER, JUST LOW LEVEL CUMULUS CLOUDS THAT REALLY WON’T BUILD INTO ANYTHING. LET’S GO HOUR BY HOUR. AND FIRST OF ALL, SHOW YOU THE EVENING WALK AROUND THE BLOCK AFTER DINNER. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO BE IN THE LOW 70S ON THE NORTH SHORE. ACTUALLY LOW 70S, JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE. CLOUD COVER, VERY LIMITED. STILL A LITTLE BIT BREEZY TOMORROW MORNING, BUT RATHER THAN THE 50S, WE WOKE UP IN THE 50S OVER THE WEEKEND. NOW WE’RE GOING TO BE IN THE LOW 60S ON THE NORTH SHORE, MID TO UPPER 60S IN THE METRO. A TOUCH MUGGY, BUT THAT BREEZE STILL AT ABOUT 5 TO 10MPH. TOMORROW, ANOTHER MOSTLY SUNNY DAY WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE IN THE LOW TO MID 80S. BOGALUSA. LOOKS LIKE YOU’LL GET TO THE MID 80S AGAIN TOMORROW. NOW HERE COMES THE CHANGE ON WEDNESDAY. AND GRANTED, IT’S NOT A MAJOR CHANGE, BUT HERE’S A SOUTHERLY WIND. SO THIS MODEL IS ACTUALLY PICKING UP ON 1 OR 2 SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. I THINK THIS MODEL MAY BE A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE, BUT IN THE AFTERNOON A FEW MORE SHOWERS. WE’RE PUTTING A 20% CHANCE FOR SHOWERS IN THE FORECAST ON WEDNESDAY AS WELL AS THURSDAY. IF YOU SEE A SHOWER, COUNT YOURSELF AS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES AND YOU’LL NOTICE THAT THOSE SHOWERS SHOULD BE VERY, VERY LIGHT AT BEST. SLIGHTLY BETTER CHANCE FOR RAIN THIS WEEKEND. LET’S TRACK THIS COLD FRONT. SATURDAY, 7 A.M. GETTING CLOSER TO US BY 7 P.M. CLOUDS STARTING TO INCREASE JUST A LITTLE BIT. IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THIS FRONT IS GOING TO BRING US A LOT OF RAIN IN 24 HOURS AGO, I THOUGHT THE FRONT WAS GOING TO WASH OUT BEFORE IT GOT HERE. NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE FRONT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE IT. WE’LL PUT ABOUT A 20 TO 30% CHANCE FOR SHOWERS IN THE FORECAST ON SUNDAY. THIS MODEL REALLY DOESN’T HAVE MUCH SIGNIFICANT RAIN AT ALL, BUT THE FRONT SHOULD MAKE IT THROUGH. SO BY THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK, THINGS GETTING A LITTLE BIT COOLER, A LITTLE BIT DRIER FOR US, A LITTLE LESS HUMID AS WELL. SO YOUR FORECAST FOR THIS EVENING CALLING FOR MAINLY CLEAR SKIES, A LITTLE BIT MUGGY, TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW 60S ON THE NORTH SHORE MID TO UPPER 60S ELSEWHERE. TOMORROW WE’LL DO IT AGAIN A LOT LIKE TODAY. MOSTLY SUNNY, BREEZY AND WARM, 83 TO 86 FOR THE AFTERNOON HIGH. THERE’S THAT 20% CHANCE FOR SHOWERS ONCE WE GET TO WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. VERY SPOTTY SHOWERS AT BEST. COLD FRONT SHOULD BE MOVING THROUGH SUNDAY, MAYBE LATE MORNING EARLY AFTERNOON. SO BY LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON WE’LL NOTICE THE HUMIDITY DROPPING JUST A LITTLE BIT. I THINK THINGS ARE LOOKING GREAT FOR FRENCH QUARTER FEST. JUST BE PREPARED, YOU KNOW, TO GET THOSE $2 DISPOSABLE RAIN PONCHOS PUT IN YOUR BACK POCKET. IF YOU SEE ONE OF THE SHOWERS ON SUNDAY, IT’S NOT GOING TO LAST ALL THAT LONG. AND THEN WE’RE COOLER AND DRIER AND VERY PLEASANT ON MONDAY. A MUCH BETTER CHANCE FOR RAIN IN OUR EXTENDED EXTENDED FORECAST,

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Louisiana State Police investigating deadly hit-and-run involving bicyclist

Updated: 9:31 PM CDT Apr 13, 2026

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A Folsom man was killed in a hit-and-run in St. Tammany over the weekend.Louisiana State Police say Rodrigo Ornelas Jr., 24, of Folsom, was riding his bike on Sunday morning around 12:30 a.m. on LA Highway 40 at Blackwell Cemetery Road. At the same time, an unknown dark-colored sedan or small SUV was traveling east on LA Highway 40, struck Ornelas Jr., and left the scene.Police say the area was poorly lit and that he was not wearing a helmet but was dressed in light-colored clothing. Ornelas sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment, where he later died. According to troopers, they have determined that the bicycle was equipped with reflectors but was not equipped with lights. The crash remains under investigation.

A Folsom man was killed in a hit-and-run in St. Tammany over the weekend.

Louisiana State Police say Rodrigo Ornelas Jr., 24, of Folsom, was riding his bike on Sunday morning around 12:30 a.m. on LA Highway 40 at Blackwell Cemetery Road.

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At the same time, an unknown dark-colored sedan or small SUV was traveling east on LA Highway 40, struck Ornelas Jr., and left the scene.

Police say the area was poorly lit and that he was not wearing a helmet but was dressed in light-colored clothing.

Ornelas sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment, where he later died.

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According to troopers, they have determined that the bicycle was equipped with reflectors but was not equipped with lights.

The crash remains under investigation.

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