Senator Bill Cassidy faces his first reelection effort with Democrat and Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins his biggest threat on tomorrow’s ballot. Matt Doyle has more.
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Louisiana State Police has a new Superintendent, 25 year LSP vet Lamar Davis. Matt Doyle has the story.
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LSU’s Law School and Innocence Project New Orleans receive a Department of Justice grant to establish a Wrongful Conviction Clinic. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Senator Bill Cassidy is up for another six-year term in the Senate on the Tuesday ballot facing 14 challengers headlined by the Democratic Mayor of Shreveport Adrian Perkins.
Cassidy says if given another term he’ll focus on reducing healthcare costs, improving the VA, and passing a substantial infrastructure package that would spur construction across the state.
Cassidy won the seat in 2014, defeating incumbent three-term Democrat Mary Landrieu 56-44.
But Perkins says Louisianans need a leader in D.C. who will prioritize COVID-related issues like reinstating federal unemployment benefits and winning aid for struggling local governments.
Perkins, a Harvard grad, became the youngest mayor in Shreveport history when he won in 2018. It was also his first foray into politics.
The Democrat has hammered Cassidy for his vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act early in the Trump presidency.
Cassidy, a doctor, doesn’t regret his vote for repealing what he called the “Unaffordable Care Act”. He says middle-class families can’t pay Obamacare premiums, but even so, he’s worked to fix that…
Limited polling show Perkins as the top Democrat in the race with Baton Rouge activist Antoine Pierce in 3rd. A potential run-off would be held on December 5th if no candidate wins over 50 percent.
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State Police Captain Lamar Davis has been promoted to LSP Superintendent, replacing Col. Kevin Reeves who retired after three years running the department. Governor John Bel Edwards says Davis is a 25 year LSP vet who has worked a lot of different jobs in the department.
Reeves is ending a 30-year career with State Police. Edwards says this retirement has been planned for about a year and is not related to the ongoing investigation into the May 2019 death of Ronald Greene, a black man who died while in State Police custody. Green’s family alleges he had been brutalized by officers leading to his death.
Edwards, a former paratrooper, says he’s a fan of Davis’ military background.
Davis also has an undergrad and master’s degree from Southern University.
Edwards says it’s a tough time for anyone to step into the position but Davis has his confidence and approval.
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A department of Justice grant to the LSU Law Center and Innocence Project New Orleans will establish a Wrongful Conviction Clinic at the school. Assistant Dean of Experiential Education Robert Lancaster says the half a million grant will allow students to learn about the causes and remedies of wrongful convictions and procedures.
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Lancaster says the Clinic will allow IPNO to expand its capacity to review cases, locate evidence, and conduct DNA testing. It will also allow LSU Law students to gain practical experience.
Lancaster says the goal is to enroll six to eight law students, each semester in the program.
As of October 2020, IPNO has already assisted in the exoneration or freeing of 36 innocent individuals who’ve spent a combined total of more than 873 years in prison.
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The Saints won their fourth straight last night pulling off a hard-fought victory in Chicago by beating the Bears 26-23 in overtime on a Wil Lutz 35-yard field goal. It was redemption for Lutz, who missed a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter, his first miss of the season…
Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns on a windy night. Alvin Kamara had 163 total yards and the defense sacked Nick Foles five times and intercepted him once. During the Saints’ four-game winning streak, each victory has been by six points or less. Safety Malcolm Jenkins says they knew they would have to grind this victory out…
The Saints are 5-2 and tied with Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South. The Buccaneers visit the Giants tonight and host New Orleans next Sunday night.
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The Ragin Cajuns rolled up a season-high 614 yards of offense in a 44-34 win over Texas State. Quarterback Levi Lewis threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns and Trey Ragas rushed for 131 yards and three scores. Coach Billy Napier says the offense needed to play well after giving up a season-high 34 points
Louisiana Tech ended a two-game losing streak on Saturday with a wild 37-34 double-overtime victory over UAB. The Bulldogs trailed by two touchdowns entering the fourth quarter and tied the game with 10 seconds left and won the contest on a 35-yard field goal by Jacob Barnes. Coach Skip Holtz says it was a strange game, but a big win…
Tech travels to Denton on Saturday to face North Texas.
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There is a lot to dissect following LSU’s embarrassing 48-11 loss to Auburn on Saturday. The offense could only rush for 32 yards and Freshman quarterback TJ Finley struggled in his first road start as he threw two interceptions and also fumbled which led to an Auburn touchdown. Coach Ed Orgeron you can’t pin this loss on Finley or Max Johnson who threw one touchdown pass in mop-up duty…
LSU’s defense struggled again on Saturday allowing Auburn quarterback Bo Nix to throw for 300 yards and three TDs. The War Eagles also rushed for 206 yards and LSU’s defense failed to record a sack. With the Tigers off this Saturday could they make a decision with defensive coordinator Bo Pelini? Orgeron says do not expect any midseason coaching changes…
LSU’s next game is November 14th against second-ranked Alabama. Linebacker Jabril Cox says they can’t dwell on this loss…