Former US Representative Joseph Cao (Gow) has entered the race for the US Senate seat that will vacated by David Vitter. Eight well-known candidates are now in the race. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says fundraising may be the defining factor in this race because so many candidates are competing for limited funds in the state.
Cross says some of the candidates may have to self-fund.
The special legislative session must end next Wednesday and lawmakers are still at odds over the best way to address the 940-million dollar deficit for this fiscal year. The full House is expected to take up bills Thursday when they convene at 1pm.
Former Saints safety Darren Sharper has reached a new plea deal in his federal drug and rape case. The agreement comes two weeks after U.S. District Judge Triche Milazzo rejected a prior plea deal. Sharper’s sentencing was set for Thursday but will take place June 16. A hearing for the new plea agreement will be March 17.
One person was killed and three others were injured in a two-vehicle crash last night near the Roanoke community in Jefferson Davis parish. Sgt. James Anderson with Louisiana State Police says none of the adults involved in the accident were wearing seat belts. Anderson says the crash was the result of 24-year-old Kayla Laborde failing to stop at a stop sign.
25-year-old Kevin Daigle of Elton was pronounced dead at a Lafayette hospital. A two-year-old in one of the vehicles was restrained and received moderate injuries.
Louisiana’s iconic black bear, the original teddy bear, will be removed from the endangered species list next week, according to Louisiana Gannett. The ceremony to formally remove the bear from the list will be held at the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge. During the 1950s the Louisiana black bear population was fewer than 100, but that number has grown to upwards of 1000 bears.