Author: Imported Author 1980807

A Vidalia man has been charged in connection with an intentionally set vehicle fire. Investigators determined that the March 30 incident was deliberately set, leading to charges against 48-year-old Keon Moore. The charges include criminal mischief, insurance fraud, and obstruction.

The University of New Orleans has officially transitioned into the LSU system and is now known as LSU New Orleans. Interim Chancellor Jeanette Weiland said the move positions the institution to reclaim its role as the public research university for the New Orleans region. She emphasized the school’s academic quality, affordability, and goal of recruiting, retaining, and graduating more local students who plan to remain in the metro area.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced that the State Workforce Investment Board has approved a state policy framework to guide Mississippi’s review and recommendation process for workforce Pell Grant programs. The new federal program will allow eligible Pell Grant recipients to use federal aid for approved short‑term workforce education programs offered by participating institutions. These programs may be as short as eight weeks and must prepare students for high‑skill, high‑wage, or in‑demand jobs. Students must meet federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements, enroll at a participating institution, and be accepted into an approved short‑term program.

Following a ruling by the Louisiana Supreme Court, the first‑degree murder conviction of Jimmy Duncan, a West Monroe man, has been thrown out. Prosecutors originally relied on evidence that has since been discredited in the case involving the 1993 death of 23‑month‑old Haley Olivo. Duncan has said the child became unconscious after he briefly stepped away from a bathtub. His legal team notes that if prosecutors pursue a lesser charge such as negligent homicide, Duncan has already served nearly three times the maximum sentence for that offense. Prosecutors have one year to begin any new trial.

The Mississippi River at Natchez‑Vidalia is at 39.62 feet and rising.

A portion of Franklin Street between North Pearl and North Commerce will be closed for most of the day today. The closure is in place to allow a crane to operate at the Wade House. The street is expected to reopen around 2 p.m.

With the closed party primaries complete, the race for the U.S. Senate in Louisiana has entered the general election phase. Analysts say Julia Letlow is in a strong position against Jamie Davis, though Letlow says she is not assuming an advantage. She says her message will remain consistent as she now campaigns to all voters, emphasizing that the seat belongs to the people and that she intends to listen to them first.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol is preparing for its annual Fourth of July enforcement period, scheduled for July 3 through July 5. Troopers will increase patrols, conduct checkpoints, watch for impaired and distracted driving, and assist motorists as needed. MHP reports that traffic is already increasing and expects heavy travel during the holiday weekend.

Baton Rouge officials are planning a large-scale search of the Baton Rouge North Landfill to locate the remains of a missing 15-year-old. The search will focus on a half‑acre area within the 400‑acre landfill and is scheduled to begin July 13. The FBI is assisting in planning the operation. Searchers will work by hand while wearing fully insulated hazardous‑materials gear. Officials say the effort could take several weeks.

The Mississippi River at Natchez is at 39.34 feet and rising.

Three of four suspects are in custody following the theft of a 2002 Dodge Ram from the Natchez Farmers Market. The truck, owned by Patrick Vigilant, was stolen around 10 a.m. Saturday. Three juveniles have been arrested, and law enforcement continues searching for a fourth suspect. Several stolen guns were recovered from the vehicle after one was thrown from the truck during a police chase around 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Officers recovered that weapon.

Louisiana voters selected their nominees for the U.S. Senate. Julia Letlow secured the Republican nomination, defeating John Fleming by nearly 15 points, aided by an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Letlow noted in her victory remarks that she learned from her late husband, Luke, to remember that the seat belongs to the people and to listen to them first. She will face Democrat Jamie Davis, who won his party’s nomination over Gary Crockett. Davis said his campaign has grown into a movement.

A new Mississippi law taking effect Wednesday authorizes the state’s top law enforcement agency to create a list of all immigrants living in the state without legal status. The law directs the agency to share information on individuals suspected of violating laws with state and local authorities. It does not require or prohibit sharing the database with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The upcoming implementation has raised concerns among immigrant communities who fear the information could be used in alignment with federal efforts to deport individuals lacking legal approval to reside in the country.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry used his line-item veto authority to remove $12 million from three budget bills, striking 78 projects. According to Melinda Delotte with the Public Affairs Research Council, most vetoed projects were in Democratic districts, with about half located in New Orleans. Additional vetoes affected areas including Caddo Parish, Lake Charles, and Monroe. Landry typically issues letters explaining his veto decisions, but Delotte noted that no explanations were provided in this case, leaving observers unsure of his reasoning.

The Mississippi River at Natchez, Louisiana, is at 39.09 feet and rising.

Citizen tips helped the Adams County Sheriff’s Office locate three of the five suspects on its Most Wanted list. The arrests occurred within two hours of the list being released. Two suspects remain at large.

Lawmakers from both political parties are working together on national legislation to reclassify crawfish processors. Congressmen Clay Higgins, Troy Carter, and Cleo Fields are sponsoring the Craw Act, which would place crawfish processing under the H-2A agricultural guest worker program. According to the Louisiana Farm Bureau, the H-2A program is uncapped, unlike the H-2B program for non‑agricultural workers. Supporters of the bill say the change is needed because domestic workers show little interest in crawfish processing jobs.

Former Mississippi State Senator Philip Moran and his son Alan were sentenced this week on bribery and conspiracy charges. A Hancock County Circuit Court judge issued each a 15‑year sentence for bribery and a five‑year sentence for conspiracy, to be served consecutively. Philip Moran must serve 12 years in prison, with the rest on post‑release supervision. Alan Moran was ordered to serve 10 years in prison, with the remainder on post‑release supervision. His sentence will run consecutively to the 12‑year sentence he is already serving for child exploitation. Alan Moran is a former Diamondhead councilman.

Louisiana voters will learn tomorrow who will advance to the general election for the U.S. Senate race. What was initially expected to be an easy win for Julia Letlow on the Republican side has become more competitive. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross notes that low turnout, expected to be around 15 percent, could benefit candidate John Fleming. Cross says voter interest dropped significantly once Bill Cassidy was no longer on the ballot. On the Democratic side, he says Jamie Davis appears likely to secure the nomination over Gary Crockett.

The Mississippi River at Natchez Vidiange is at 37.80 feet and rising.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports that a man was arrested on multiple drug‑related and other charges following a vehicle chase on Monday. Deputies initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Gregory Hammett when he fled, leading officers through the Liberty Road area. During the pursuit, law enforcement observed Hammett throwing items from the vehicle, including a plastic bag and what appeared to be a handgun. After the chase ended, a search of the vehicle uncovered multiple empty marijuana packaging materials and handgun ammunition. Hammett was arrested and charged with felony fleeing or eluding a law enforcement officer, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle, and tampering with physical evidence. Authorities say he was on parole for an Adams County aggravated assault conviction at the time of his arrest.

In St. Tammany Parish, Randy Smith pled guilty to attacking a critic at a Madisonville restaurant and has resigned as sheriff. He entered guilty pleas to second‑degree battery, a felony, and disturbing the peace by public intoxication, a misdemeanor. As part of the agreement, Smith’s felony charge may be reduced if he completes an 18‑month intensive treatment program. Prosecutors said the resignation allows the sheriff’s office to move forward in an orderly manner.

The Mississippi Poison Control Center has launched a dedicated medical cannabis hotline in response to the growth of Mississippi’s medical cannabis program. The hotline is free, confidential, and available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. It connects callers with trained poison specialists who can provide guidance on symptoms, dosing questions, side effects, drug interactions, and accidental exposures. Officials noted that calls related to non‑medical cannabis exposures had been increasing prior to the creation of the hotline.

Planned Parenthood is returning to Louisiana, with the first clinic reopening this fall in New Orleans. The facility will provide contraception, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, and general wellness services. The clinic will not offer abortion services because the procedure is illegal in Louisiana. Planned Parenthood officials said they can assist patients with travel to clinics in states where abortion is legal.

The Mississippi River at Natchez‑Vidalia is recorded at 37.51 feet and rising.