Former president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Stephen Waguespack is the fifth Republican to join the governor’s race. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Former LSU basketball coach Will Wade is back in coaching as he’s the new head coach at McNeese. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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Republican and former president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Stephen Waguespack is also running for governor. As the fifth Republican to join the race, Waguespack says he wants to make changes so more residents will choose to stay and thrive in Louisiana versus moving out of state.
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49-year-old Waguespack, who also served as a top aide for former Governor Bobby Jindal, says he wants to stop the brain drain. He says his knowledge and experience with business and industry will be a top priority for the governor’s office to provide better-paying jobs for residents.
The father of three says another key to keeping residents is to reduce crime. He says if Louisianans feel safe and have better-paying jobs they’ll stay, and the better quality of life will attract more to the state. Even though the field is crowded with Republicans Waguespack says it’s not an issue for his candidacy.
Qualifying for the October 14th primary election is Aug. 8th through the 10th.
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A 24-year-old female was arrested in Metairie after stealing a state trooper’s vehicle over the weekend. Louisiana State Police along with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office pursued and apprehended Bethany Holmes of Marksville. State Trooper Kate Stegall says Holmes stole the vehicle while a trooper was investigating a traffic accident.
The police unit was stolen near the intersection of Veterans Boulevard and Clearview Parkway. Stegall says Holmes hit several vehicles during the police pursuit.
Holmes was charged with two counts of hit and run and single counts of aggravated flight from an officer, theft of a motor vehicle, simple criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, theft of a firearm, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and aggravated battery, and driving without wearing a seatbelt.
The investigation is ongoing.
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Former LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade was introduced today as the new head coach of the McNeese Cowboys. LSU fired Wade a year ago after the NCAA alleged he helped supply impressible cash payments to recruits and their families. Wade is excited for the chance to turn around a program in an area of the state still in hurricane recovery…
Wade takes over a program that went 11-and-23 this past season. The 23 losses were the most ever for a McNeese basketball team. Wade is predicting at least 23 wins next season…
Wade re-energized a dormant LSU men’s basketball program team when he was hired in 2017. In five seasons in Baton Rouge, held the Tigers to an SEC regular season championship and LSU made three trips to the NCAA Tournament. Wade is looking to bring excitement to McNeese basketball and they’ll do it in a way that southwest Louisiana can be proud of…
McNeese State A-D Heath Schroyer believes Wade is the best man to fix Cowboys basketball. Schroyer and Wade used to be college coaches at different schools in Tennessee and have known each other for several years.
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A 28-year-old woman and her two daughters, one seven and the other eight drowned Sunday afternoon in Cameron Parish in the Gulf off Long Beach Road. Sheriff Ron Johnson says they received a call from campers in the area who saw a three-year-old boy wandering alone.
The victim’s nine-year-old son was pulled from the water and is listed in stable condition. Johnson says the water was extremely rough Sunday afternoon and rocks in the area made conditions even more dangerous.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard, local fire department, and ambulance district all assisted in recovery efforts.
Johnson reminds families to be extremely cautious when swimming in moving waters because conditions can change quickly and even trained swimmers can find themselves in a perilous situation. He says it’s not the first time it’s happened.
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He says the family was originally from Mississippi but moved to Beaumont, Texas for the father’s job. Their identities have not been released.