News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

DOJ voluntarily dismisses half-century old Louisiana desegregation case | Louisiana

Published

2 months ago

April 29, 2025

www.thecentersquare.com – By Emilee Calametti | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-29 16:19:00

(The Center Square) — After over 50 years, an open desegregation case against Plaquemines Parish School Board filed by the U.S. Department of Justice was dismissed by efforts from Attorney General Liz Murrill and other representatives.

“After half a century of silence, the United States Department of Justice has dismissed the school desegregation case it filed against the Plaquemines Parish School Board back in 1966,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill. “Members of my solicitor general team recently met with representatives from the DOJ to express my and Governor Landry’s interest in starting to close out all of their remaining desegregation cases in Louisiana.”

The first-term GOP attorney general said the decision shows the recognition of the Plaquemines Parish School Board “operating “one system of schools” with no “effects of past discrimination” — and it has done so voluntarily without the need for court intervention.”

A vote was called April 17 by the school board to request assistance from the state Attorney General’s Office. The case dismissal was deemed historic by Board President Niko Tesvich and Superintendent Dr. Shelley Ritz Board. According to the news release, the dismissal was done voluntarily by the DOJ.

Gov. Jeff Landry thanked the President and many others in his statement.

“Thank you, President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, and their great team at USDOJ for ending this decades-long legal battle,” said Landry.

According to Landry, federal judges have set and imposed unnecessary requirements, costing schools and children millions of dollars. He is working to close other desegregation cases throughout the state as well.

The decision is an important step forward to Murrill when it comes to school boards across the state. She intends to work with other schools in similar cases to “put them in the past.”

“Louisiana got its act together decades ago, and it is past time to acknowledge how far we have come. America is back, and this Department of Justice is making sure the Civil Rights Division is correcting wrongs from the past and working for all Americans,” said Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Civil Rights Division for the United States Department of Justice.

Emilee Ruth Calametti serves as staff reporter for The Center Square covering the Northwestern Louisiana region. She holds her M.A. in English from Georgia State University and soon, an additional M.A. in Journalism from New York University. Emilee has bylines in DIG Magazine, Houstonia Magazine, Bookstr, inRegister, The Click News, and the Virginia Woolf Miscellany. She is a Louisiana native with over seven years of journalism experience.

The post DOJ voluntarily dismisses half-century old Louisiana desegregation case | Louisiana appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

The article primarily reports on the dismissal of a long-standing desegregation case involving the Plaquemines Parish School Board, highlighting statements from Republican officials such as Attorney General Liz Murrill and Governor Jeff Landry. The tone and language of the article lean towards a favorable portrayal of these GOP figures and their efforts to resolve the case, including positive framing of the Department of Justice’s decision and quotes that emphasize progress and fiscal responsibility. This framing suggests a Center-Right bias, as it aligns with conservative themes of reducing federal intervention and celebrating local governance autonomy, without overtly criticizing or endorsing opposing viewpoints. The article focuses on the actions and perspectives of the GOP officials involved rather than offering an explicitly balanced or critical examination, thus reflecting a Center-Right ideological stance rather than strict neutrality.

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts in Diddy trial but is told to keep deliberating

Published

6 hours ago

July 1, 2025

Staff Editor

wgno.com – MICHAEL R. SISAK, LARRY NEUMEISTER and JENNIFER PELTZ, Associated Press – 2025-07-01 16:29:00

SUMMARY: In Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial, the jury reached a partial verdict on four of five counts but remains deadlocked on the top racketeering conspiracy charge. After two days of deliberation, the judge encouraged jurors to continue. The conspiracy charge, under the RICO Act, involves determining if Combs ran a criminal enterprise and committed offenses like kidnapping. Jurors requested key testimony from Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie and another witness concerning abuse allegations. Combs denies charges, claiming prosecutors are criminalizing his lifestyle. Conviction could mean 15 years to a life term. The trial continues amid intense scrutiny of evidence and jury deliberations.

Read the full article

The post Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts in Diddy trial but is told to keep deliberating appeared first on wgno.com

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Morning Forecast – Monday, June 30th

Published

2 days ago

June 30, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – KTVE – 2025-06-30 09:01:57

SUMMARY: A warm, moist airmass persists with daytime heating and upper-level disturbances causing patchy storms late afternoons and evenings. A front arriving tomorrow may bring more scattered showers and thunderstorms. Cooler temperatures might briefly dip to the lower 90s on Wednesday, but heat will return by the Fourth of July, reaching mid to upper 90s with heat indices in the mid triple digits late week. Rain chances decrease by July 4th due to strengthening ridging aloft. Elevated dew points in the 70s and prolonged dangerous heat increase heat stress risk, urging precautions like altering outdoor plans and recognizing heat illness symptoms.

Conditions have not changed much. A very warm and moist airmass still remains in place. Daytime heating, abundant moisture, and upper-level disturbances will allow for more patchy storms late afternoon into the evening hours. A front will approach tomorrow when more scattered showers and t-storms are possible. There is a brief opportunity for cooler temperatures to drop to the lower 90’s on Wednesday. Then, we are back to the mid and pushing upper 90’s by the end of the week on the 4th. Rain chance will subsidize by the 4th and over the weekend, but heat indices will push into the mid triple digits late week.

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Chance of downpours today, hazy skies

Published

2 days ago

June 30, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – KSAT 12 – 2025-06-30 05:09:16

SUMMARY: A chance of scattered afternoon downpours continues today with hazy skies caused by Saharan dust lingering through Wednesday. Moisture from the remnants of Tropical Depression Barry in Mexico and Tropical Storm Filosy in the Pacific is feeding rain chances in Texas. Expect daily spotty showers and storms, mostly in the afternoons, with rain chances around 20-30% through Thursday. Temperatures will be warm but not extreme, ranging from low 90s to mid-90s by Independence Day. Thursday and the Fourth of July will be partly cloudy, humid, and have much lower chances of rain. No hail or flooding is expected this week.