How does the US Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action for college admissions impact Louisiana? Brooke Thorington has more.
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The Essence Festival of Culture is underway in New Orleans beginning today through July 3 and tourism is expected to reach high numbers again this year. Teiko Foxx has more…
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The US Supreme Court made a landmark ruling today, ending affirmative action for college admissions. University of Louisiana system president Dr. Jim Henderson says in Louisiana schools use objective admissions criteria based on high school GPA, core curriculum, and standardized test scores.
The cases concerned admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. The organization Students for Fair Admissions argued that Harvard’s race-conscious admissions policy violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act which bans discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. Henderson says the ruling impacts schools like Harvard and UNC because they are both highly selective institutions.
Henderson says the UL system has intentional interventions in place to ensure students succeed regardless of their background.
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And while several individuals and institutions have issued statements decrying the decision, Henderson says he understands those positions are more based on our political culture war.
Nine states already ban affirmative action, Florida is the only state in the southeast that does.
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There’s a party going down in the Big Easy this weekend. The 29th Annual Essence Festival of Culture, the nation’s largest music festival, kicks off today through July 3. New Orleans and Company Senior Vice President of Communications Kelly Schulz says the importance of this event is big…
The festival expects tens of thousands of visitors for one of the largest celebrations of Black art and culture in the country. Hotel occupancy rates in 2022 were hovering at 93 percent in and near downtown, according to an informal survey by New Orleans & Co. Schultz says numbers are still holding strong.
Last year’s festival had a $327 million impact on the city’s economy. Schultz says local businesses are anticipating an increase in customers around the city. She says with big luminaries and celebrities in the city, attendance is expected to increase over the weekend.
Visit neworleans.com or download the Essence Festival app for a line-up of festivities.
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McNeese broke ground on a new press box for Cowboy Stadium today. Much of southwest Louisiana was devastated by Hurricanes Delta and Laura in 2020. The former press box like much of the Lake Charles area sustained significant damages and a complete overhaul was required. Now, three years later, Director of Facilities Kevin Martin says they’ve completed the long process to organize funding from 4 separate sources and get the project underway…
The updated box is set to be over 28,000 square feet and extends the goal line to the goal line. The state-of-the-art facility will boast 25 suites and a 17-hundred-square-foot sky club and an open patio area that Martin says will allow it to function as more than just a press box…
For the Lake Charles area though, Martin says this project is about more than just a football stadium. Recovery from Hurricane Laura has taken longer than expected for many, including the university, but Martin says the new box will be a return of a local landmark and symbol of progress for many in the area…
The box is expected to open for the 2025 season.