Tag Archives: Louisiana

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: John Raymond, a Slidell pastor who was accused of taping the mouths of three students at the Christian school he oversaw and beating another child, has been formally charged with four counts of cruelty to juveniles by the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Raymond, who in addition to being pastor of New Horizon church in …

Baton Rouge’s CBS affiliate reports: A Baton Rouge mother has a week to make an unthinkable decision – carry her baby to term even though she says doctors tell her it will not survive or find another state where she can have an abortion. “It’s hard knowing that I’m carrying it to bury it,” said Nancy Davis, who is 13 …

The Hill reports: A librarian in Louisiana filed a lawsuit against two men and a conservative organization, alleging they defamed her when they attacked her for supporting the teaching of books involving the LGBTQ community. Amanda Jones, a middle school librarian and the president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians, alleged in the lawsuit that a “public campaign” against …

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: Two professional dominatrices accused of a sexual tryst with a priest on the altar of Pearl River Catholic church in 2020 have each pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge of institutional vandalism and won’t serve jail time, according to court records. But Melissa Cheng and Mindy Dixon will have to come back to 22nd …

New Orleans’ CBS affiliate reports: Louisiana’s Bond Commission agreed to withhold a $39 million line of credit to the Sewerage & Water Board New Orleans due to the city’s defiance of the state’s abortion ban “trigger law.” Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry [photo] said he would push for funding to be withheld to the city after the New Orleans City …

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: A former youth program minister at First Baptist Church in Covington pleaded guilty in 22nd Judicial District Court on Monday to felony second-degree battery and a misdemeanor count of sexual battery, both stemming from the abuse of a girl who belonged to the church youth group in the early 2000s. Darrell Jay English, 50, could …

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports: The Louisiana House approved two anti-abortion bills that restricts access to abortions in preparation for the expected U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade after nearly half a century. One bill criminalizes selling abortion pills through the mail. The second measure would immediately close all abortion clinics, criminalize most pregnancy termination actions, and …

New Orleans’ Fox affiliate reports: A former Jesuit priest and non-profit director has been arrested a second time for sex crimes allegations, jail records show. Stephen Sauer is accused of taking lewd photos and videos of unconscious men and sexually abusing at least one victim. Sauer was removed from his position with the Arc of Greater New Orleans, an agency …

New Orleans’ NBC News affiliate reports: Louisiana women who have abortions will not be pressed with criminal charges according to a revision of House Bill 813, that was discussed by lawmakers Thursday. The House passed an amendment 65 to 26, replacing the controversial bill. House Bill 813 by north Louisiana Representative Danny McCormick [photo] passed favorably out of committee by …

The Louisiana Illuminator reports: Conservatives in the Louisiana House of Representatives turned to a seldom used procedure Tuesday to bring a controversial education proposal back from the dead. The so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation from Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, failed to advance from the House Education Committee a week ago. Three Republicans joined Democrats in opposition in a 4-7 vote. …

The Lafayette Daily Advertiser reports: A Louisiana pastor and headmaster of a Christian school who is also a member of the sate Republican Party governing board has been arrested for a second time on juvenile cruelty charges. John Raymond, 60, pastor of New Horizon Church in Slidell and founder of Lakeside Christian Academy, is an elected member of the Louisiana …

The Lafayette Daily Advertiser reports: A Louisiana legislative committee on Wednesday advanced a bill to make abortion a crime of homicide in which the mother or those assisting her in terminating the pregnancy can be charged. The measure cleared the House Appropriations Committee on a 7-2 vote despite at least one of the representatives voting in favor acknowledging the bill …

The Louisiana Advertiser reports: Louisiana’s version of legislation to bar classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity, described as a “Don’t Say Gay” bill by opponents, was killed in the House Education Committee Tuesday. A similar bill in Florida has sparked a high-stakes, viral feud between Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a supporter of the legislation in his state, and …

New Orleans’ ABC News affiliate reports: The headmaster of Lakeside Christian School in Slidell has been arrested on three counts of child cruelty for allegedly taping shut the mouth of three of his students. Pastor John Raymond, 60, is accused of bringing three students, who were said to be talking too much in class, to his office on March 18. …

CNN reports: Search and rescue teams were combing through debris and damaged neighborhoods in the New Orleans area overnight after a tornado slammed the region Tuesday. A tornado touched down in the Lower Ninth Ward and New Orleans East communities just before 8 p.m., New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell said in a statement. One person was killed in the hard-hit …

Baton Rouge’s ABC News affiliate reports: The bill, submitted by Representative Dodie Horton, would “prohibit discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in K-8 classes and keep instructors from discussing their own sexual orientation or gender identity with students in grades K-12. “I wasn’t aware of the need [for this legislation] until I looked at some things on Twitter and …

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: New Orleans health director Dr. Jennifer Avegno decided not to ride as queen of Krewe du Vieux next month after unspecified threats that caused her to be concerned for her personal safety and the safety of krewe members, she wrote in a letter to the krewe. On Monday, Krewe du Vieux reported that Avegno, head …

The Associated Press reports: A Louisiana pastor’s lawsuit over Gov. John Bel Edwards’ past COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings was rejected for a second time Wednesday by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson in Baton Rouge said the lawsuit by Tony Spell seeking an order blocking the restrictions is moot because the restrictions expired long ago. And Jackson …

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: A Kentucky man is under federal investigation after he allegedly barged into a Jefferson Parish public school’s virtual classroom lesson, hurled violent and racist insults at fifth graders, and posted an online video of the intrusion last year. Fifth-grade students of Laureate Academy Charter School in Harvey were taking a virtual lesson via Zoom on …

The Daily Beast reports: Christopher Key, the leader of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine group “Vaccine Police,” said Wednesday he’s going to take the law into his own hands, pledging to conduct a citizen’s arrest of Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. “I am the vaccine police,” Key said on Clay Clark’s daily show. “We have shut down pharmacists. We have shut down …