The LSU Board of Supervisors votes to add former women’s basketball coach Sue Gunter’s name to Dale Brown court at the PMAC. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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After blocking a Twitter user from her account, Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson faces a lawsuit. Brooke Thorington explains.
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The LSU Board of Supervisors voted today to rename the Dale Brown Court at the Maravich Assembly Center; adding former women’s basketball coach Sue Gunter’s name. Both coaches won over 400 games at LSU. Former Lady Tiger Delia Taylor urged the Board members to vote for the name change
Critics of the vote say by adding Gunter’s name to the court, they are taking away an honor from Coach Brown, who led the Tigers to two Finals Fours. Former LSU baseball and basketball player Ben McDonald suggested to the board to name the practice facility or the scoreboard after Gunter
Freelance writer Jeffrey Marx of Baton Rouge based on his own investigating reporting, political pressure has resulted in several Board members changing their minds and now wanting to add Gunter’s name to the court…
In September 2021, the LSU Board of Supervisors rejected a proposal to have the court named after both Brown and Gunter.
No one at the Board spoke on why there’s been a change of heart, but board member James Williams rejected the idea that someone is twisting their arm
Governor John Bel Edwards told the USA Today Network that Gunter’s accomplishments are worthy enough to have her name on the court too.
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Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson faces a lawsuit after blocking a Twitter user from commenting on her page. Tulane First Amendment Law Clinic Director Katie Schwartzmann says the courts consider the internet a public forum and when a public official blocks a constituent from commenting it’s a First Amendment violation.
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Schwartzmann says the goal of the lawsuit is the prevent censorship of these types of discussions in the future.
In addition to the plaintiff, Schwartzmann says other users have also claimed that Senator Jackson has blocked them.
As a public official, Scwartzmann says Jackson signed up for debate and dialogue when she ran for office and over the past five years in similar cases, the precedent has been set that social media is a public forum and blocking a user from a public official’s page is a First Amendment violation.
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Jackson released a comment that free speech is not a blank check and that no public official nor any internet user should be subjected to bullying or abusive language. She also said her Twitter account shows no record of the plaintiff by name.
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A Jefferson Parish lawmaker has filed legislation that would crack down on thieves who break into people’s cars, by stiffening their minimum sentence. Metairie Republican state Representative Laurie Schlegel says her House Bill 16 would impose stiffer penalties on persons who commit a string of burglaries or any burglary within a mile of any fair, festival, entertainment or sports event or parade…:
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Schlegel brings the bill as the number of motor vehicle burglaries grows statewide, but especially in cities like New Orleans. At a recent Pelicans game, as many as 30 cars and trucks were broken into while folks were watching the event. She says there’s a real danger involved in such cases…:
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Current law calls for sentencing of zero-to-12 years. Schlegel says her bill would add mandatory jail time with a conviction…:
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Schlegel says convicted auto burglars would be assured of at least a year behind bars, which may be a sufficient deterrent. Her bill will be debated in the regular legislation session, which begins April 10th.
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Kansas City Chiefs cornerback and Minden native, L’Jarius Sneed is expected to play in his second Super Bowl Sunday. Sneed’s Minden High School Coach Spencer Heard says watching the big game is even more fun when you have a personal connection.
The former LA Tech star has a knee injury but is expected to play.
Despite playing in the professional ranks, Heard says Sneed visits the Webster Parish city often to see family and friends and also spends time with elementary students in Minden.
Heard remembers Sneed fondly and says he started coaching at Minden during Sneed’s sophomore year. He says Sneed’s talent was clear and that he played both defense and offense in high school.
Sneed is one of five former Louisiana high school players playing in Super Bowl LVII (57). Chiefs’ safety Justin Reid played for Dutchtown High in Geismer, and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire went to Catholic High in Baton Rouge. Eagles running back Boston Scott played at Zachary High and wide receiver DeVonta Smith attended Amite High School