A ULM political science professor says Governor Edwards’ meeting today with Prettiness Trump to talk criminal justice reform is good politics. Matt Doyle has more.
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Tonight’s game against the Jags will be a chance for some little known Saints training camp players to possibly leave a mark, and make the team. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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Authorities say a mother and her one-year-old son are dead after being struck by a drunk driver. Connor Ferrill has the story
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Governor John Bel Edwards visit with President Donald Trump today in New Jersey is turning heads in a political environment that’s becoming sharply divided along partisan lines. Edwards will discuss criminal justice reform with the president, who’s reportedly interested in pursuing a federal push for similar changes. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says it’s a savvy move.
Edwards is facing an uphill battle for re-election in 2019 as a Democrat in a deep red state. At the moment Mr. Trump has sky high approval ratings amongst Republican voters, but Stockley says if Edwards thinks talking with the president will help sway Louisiana GOP voters, he’ll probably be disappointed.
While maintaining his relationship with Trump may lead to more federal assistance, it likely won’t go over well with his Democratic base that nationally has rallied around anti-Trump sentiment. Between his meetings with Trump, and a recent 15-week abortion ban, Stockley says Edwards will need to be careful not to alienate Democratic voters.
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The Saints take on the Jaguars tonight in Jacksonville for the first preseason game of the year. You won’t see much of Drew Brees, or the other stars, but Saints Analyst Mike Detillier says it’s a chance for some unheralded players to make a name for themselves. Guys like backup QB Taysom Hill, who Detillier says could be the guy to back up Drew if he works on one thing…
With running back Mark Ingram suspended for the first four games, the Saints are desperate for a wingman to super star Alvin Kamara. Detillier says this could be a chance for veterans like Shane Vareen and Terrance West to claim the spot, but says keep an eye on Louisiana Tech rookie Boston Scott, a guy who could make some noise in Florida tonight.
It’s a chance for rookie first round pick Marcus Davenport to get some real game time in after a rough start to training camp. The saints traded a first round pick to move up and select the athletically gifted, but raw pass rusher, hoping he could make a splash early, but early result indicate that’s probably not going to be the case. Detillier says maybe getting thrown into the fire is just what the rookie needs.
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State Police say 22-year-old Abbie Sinitiere (sin-eh-tear-E) of Franklin and her one-year-old son are dead after they were hit by an alleged drunk driver in Iberia Parish. Master Trooper Brooks David (DAH-veed) says investigators believe Dylan Leblanc of Youngsville was impaired when he lost control of his 2004 Chevy Silverado on US-90 Tuesday night…
The collision killed Sinitiere and her one-year-old son Max, both were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say three other juveniles in Sinitiere’s vehicle sustained critical injuries. David says the accident is a tragedy…
David says once Leblanc recovers from his injuries he will immediately be facing a number of charges…
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Governor John Bel Edwards announced the state is investing in four new facilities in the Louisiana Community College system, three in New Orleans, and one in Lake Charles. The Lake Charles SOWELA facility will focus on Culinary, Gaming, and Hospitality services, industries that President of the Louisiana Community and Technical College system President Monty Sullivan says are increasing… technical.
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New Orleans will be home to new facilities as well, with campuses in the downtown districts and across the river in Algiers. Sullivan says the new health and nursing building in downtown New Orleans will produce large amounts of students ready to take on a health care industry in New Orleans in desperate need of workers.
The New Orleans campuses alone will have a combined 60 million dollars on funding from state and private entities. Sullivan says the substantial private investment is a testament to how bad those businesses want to give locals a job, if they have the right skills.