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  • Louisiana Man Says Fatal Campus Shooting Began As Play Fight

    Louisiana Man Says Fatal Campus Shooting Began As Play Fight

    NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A man accused of fatally shooting a 19-year-old on a Louisiana college campus said he and the victim had been “play fighting.”

    Court records obtained by news outlets say 20-year-old Andrew Gant confessed to killing Jace Scott on Sunday at a business incubator at Southern University New Orleans.

    Documents say Gant told police he and Scott had pointed guns at each other when Gant got scared and shot him. He’s charged with negligent homicide and obstruction of justice.

    Witnesses told police the men had similar confrontations before, but all said they thought the shooting was accidental.

    News outlets report Gant is a Delgado Community College student. A Southern University spokeswoman said the men weren’t students there and added the incubator building is often rented out.

  • New Orleans hotel group announces purchase of historic Dunleith

    New Orleans hotel group announces purchase of historic Dunleith

    NATCHEZ — One of New Orleans’ largest hotel owners announced it has purchased the historic Natchez mansion Dunleith.

    The J Collection announced the purchase of the Natchez landmark in a news release Monday afternoon.

    “We are honored to become the new stewards of Dunleith,” J Collection Principal Joe Jaeger said. “This property has important historical significance to the community of Natchez, and we look forward to being a part of the historic community.”

    Natchez-based United Mississippi Bank has owned Dunleith since it foreclosed on the property after the former owner filed for bankruptcy.

    UMB CEO Adrian Sandel said Monday’s sale to Jaeger is good news for the community and expressed confidence in the new owners.

    “It will be a great thing for Natchez,” Sandel said. “It will be first-class.”

    Sandel said being able to announce the sale is a “big relief.”

    “We never wanted to be in the situation of owning the property. We were simply trying to maintain the property the best we could until we found the right owner,” Sandel.

    The J Collection represents 18 locally-owned and operated hotels in New Orleans and southeast Louisiana. J Collection properties include Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Dauphine Orleans, The Whitney Hotel, Hotel Mazarin, Hotel Le Marias, New Orleans Courtyard and the Crowne Plaza at the New Orleans Airport.

    Nottoway Plantation and Resort joined the collection in 2019 as the largest operating antebellum mansion in the South.

    Jaeger is also constructing a 200-room Sheraton Refuge Resort and Conference Center in Flowood, renovating a 60-room hotel in Covington, Louisiana, and developing a 40-room boutique hotel on Canal Street in New Orleans. All three properties are expected to open in 2020.

    J Collection plans to reopen Dunleith as an inn, restaurant, event venue and conference center, following restoration and repair of certain elements of the property. An official reopening date has not been determined, but an announcement is planned for the near future.

    Jaeger’s long-term friends and associates, Mike Blattner and Randy Waesche, are partners in the project. Blattner owns and resides at the historic house Cherokee on High Street.

    “Having Mike, a resident of Natchez as a partner will help ensure the property is operated under the standard of quality and hospitality that is expected of a J Collection property,” Jaeger said.

    United Mississippi Bank took possession of the historic mansion and restaurant after it foreclosed on the property in 2019, one year after Louisiana businessman Michael Allen Worley filed personal bankruptcy in January 2018, citing more than $107 million in debt, with just more than $80 million in assets.

    In April 2019, UMB announced the property was under contract with Louisiana film producer Jake Seal. Three months later, Seal backed out of the deal citing health-related issues with the family.

    UMB presented the project to J Collection based on the brand’s commitment to preserving historic properties and its experience in real estate, hospitality and community relations, the news release said.

    J Collection said employees at the time of the closure in 2019 will have the first opportunity to apply for positions before the company opens jobs to the public.

    Unfilled positions will be posted for a community job fair with dates still be determined.

    Information from: The Natchez Democrat

    By Ben Hillyer

  • 46,000 Kicked Off Louisiana Medicaid Rolls For Ineligibility

    46,000 Kicked Off Louisiana Medicaid Rolls For Ineligibility

    BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — More than 46,000 people lost their Medicaid coverage this month, because they didn’t respond to letters warning they didn’t appear eligible for the government-financed insurance.

    The removals came as the state health department resumed a process that automatically kicks people off Medicaid if they don’t respond to annual renewal information requests.

    Enrollees had until Oct. 31 to maintain coverage if they could prove eligibility.

    The agency said in October that an estimated 82,000 letters would be sent to Medicaid patients. But the health department said 52,000 letters actually went out. No explanation for the discrepancy was given.

    Department spokesman Robert Johannessen says during the same four-month period in 2018, more than 71,000 people lost Medicaid coverage for not providing renewal information. The department exempted children from automatic removal this time.

  • Chief: Officer Fired, Arrested On Crystal Meth Possession

    Chief: Officer Fired, Arrested On Crystal Meth Possession

    WESTLAKE, La. (AP) — Authorities in Louisiana say a police officer has been arrested and accused of possessing crystal meth.

    News outlets report 39-year-old Westlake Police Senior Cpl. Jason O’Rourke was charged Thursday with malfeasance, possession of a Schedule II drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

    Police Chief Chris Wilrye says narcotics detectives received a tip that O’Rourke was possibly using and distributing crystal meth.

    Detectives corroborated the tip and obtained a warrant to search O’Rourke’s home. Detectives say crystal meth and other drug paraphernalia were found during the search.

    Wilrye says O’Rourke was fired immediately after his arrest.

    O’Rourke worked for the Westlake Police Department for 10 years. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney who can comment on his behalf.

  • 2 Indicted, Accused Of Burning Child With Scalding Water

    2 Indicted, Accused Of Burning Child With Scalding Water

    PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — Two Mississippians accused of pouring hot water on a 12-year-old boy have been indicted on felony charges of child abuse and neglect.

    The Sun Herald of Biloxi reports Tiffany Therese Brown and Michael Blackburn Jr. also are accused of not getting the child medical care for the burns caused by the scalding water. Details about the abuse weren’t initially released when the pair was arrested in 2017. Blackburn was 19 years old at the time. Brown was 46.

    Authorities said the abuse happened between August 2016 and August 2017 at a Pascagoula apartment the two shared. The connection between the three is unclear, as is how the case was brought to the attention of law enforcement.

  • Press Release from ACSO: Suspect in Saturday morning shooting turns self in.

    Press Release from ACSO: Suspect in Saturday morning shooting turns self in.

  • Federal Inmate In Louisiana Sentenced In Staff Member Attack

    Federal Inmate In Louisiana Sentenced In Staff Member Attack

    ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) — A federal inmate in Louisiana has been sentenced to additional time for assaulting a staff member in a prison kitchen.

    U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph says 38-year-old Brandon L. Jones was sentenced to seven more years in prison on Friday for assaulting a federal officer at the U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock.

    A Justice Department statement says Jones was an inmate there when he attacked the staff member in a kitchen area, slamming her into a table and throwing her to the floor.

    The statement says the woman suffered multiple injuries and underwent surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in her thumb.

    News outlets report Jones pleaded guilty in August. He is currently serving more than 15 years for drug possession.

    The FBI and U.S. Bureau of Prisons investigated.

  • Lutz’s Kick Lifts Saints To Dramatic 34-31 Win Over Panthers

    Lutz’s Kick Lifts Saints To Dramatic 34-31 Win Over Panthers

    NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints quarterback Drew Brees, receiver Michael Thomas and kicker Wil Lutz celebrated a decisive string of late-game successes that put New Orleans on the cusp of a third straight NFC South crown.

    The Carolina Panthers could only lament the first-and-goal they squandered just moments earlier in a third straight loss that has placed their playoff prospects in jeopardy.

    Lutz kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired, and New Orleans beat Carolina 34-31 on Sunday to take a four-game lead in the NFC South with five games left.

    “It’s exciting. It’s butterflies. But also, it’s confidence,” said Brees, who led the Saints from their own 14-yard line with 1:51 left to the Carolina 15 with 3 seconds remaining. “It’s unity. You feel like everybody knows the challenge ahead. Everybody knows what we need to do in order to accomplish whatever it is we need to accomplish to go win the game. Everybody just kind of locks in and goes.”

    Lutz’s second game-winning kick this season capped a contest filled with late momentum shifts and critical errors — none bigger than Carolina kicker Joey Slye’s missed field goal from 28 yards with 2 minutes left.

    Carolina trailed from early in the first quarter until 9:23 remained in the fourth quarter, when D.J. Moore reached up with his right hand to corral a fourth-and-goal pass in the back of the end zone to tie it at 31.

    Soon after, Panthers safety Eric Reid stuffed Alvin Kamara on fourth-and-1 from the New Orleans 45. That set up a dramatic sequence in which Carolina coach Ron Rivera successfully challenged officials’ decision not to call pass interference on a third-down incomplete pass, giving Carolina a first down on the 3 with 2:21 left.

    Christian McCaffrey’s run was stuffed, Kyle Allen threw incomplete on second down and Allen was sacked on third down by Marcus Davenport, setting the stage for the end of a difficult day for Slye, who’d also missed two extra-point kicks.

    “I feel terrible,” Slye said. “We needed this win.”

    Brees finished 30 of 39 for 311 yards and three touchdowns, but also was intercepted by Tre Boston, a play that helped Carolina come back in the fourth quarter. Michael Thomas had 10 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown for New Orleans (9-2), including receptions of 14 and 24 yards on the game-winning drive.

    “We work that situation week in and week out and it always comes up to benefit us,” Thomas said of the Saints’ hurry-up offense. “I’m just grateful for not cheating the preparation.”

    Allen passed for 256 yards and three TDs for Carolina (5-6), which saw its playoff hopes pushed to the brink.

    “It is incredibly frustrating,” Allen said. “Some weeks it’s been offense, some weeks it’s been defense. We’ve just got to put it together and play a complete game.”

    McCaffrey had 133 yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage on a balance of runs and receptions. Moore had six catches for 126 yards and two TDs, the first a 51-yarder.

    Saints tight end Jared Cook had six catches for 99 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown, and running back Latavius Murray scored the game’s first TD on a 26-yard run.

    PENALTIES AND REVIEWS

    New Orleans’ second touchdown, a 13-yard pass to Tre’Quan Smith, was set up by a muffed punt that was initially ruled to have been first touched by New Orleans. Saints coach Sean Payton challenged, and replay showed the ball hit Carolina’s Rashaan Gaulden first, giving New Orleans the ball on the Panthers 27, where J.T. Gray had recovered it.

    That was Payton’s second challenge of the first 10 minutes after he’d lost a challenge of an offensive pass interference call against Cook.

    Payton was among those lobbying for a 2019 rule change to allow review of pass interference after a missed call cost the Saints in last season’s NFC title game.

    “I don’t know that it’s exactly what we discussed where we are today with it. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s not,” Payton said. “But we’ve got to be able to adjust.”

    Carolina’s second TD capped a 17-play drive that appeared to have stalled on Davis’ third-down sack, but defensive end Cameron Jordan was called for unnecessary roughness.

    Jordan said he had not heard a whistle and was trying to punch the ball loose from Allen.

    Carolina’s game-tying TD in the fourth quarter came shortly after a pass interference call against safety Marcus Williams on a long pass in the back of the end zone.

    POINT-AFTER FAILURES

    Carolina got no extra points after its first three TDs. In addition to Slye’s two misses, the Panthers attempted to pass for a 2-point conversion after their second TD, but it was broken up.

    INJURIES

    Panthers: Defensive tackle Dontari Poe appeared to hurt his left leg in the first half. Guard Greg Van Roten also had an apparent left leg injury in the first half. Reid rolled his left ankle in the third quarter but returned to the game.

    Saints: Left tackle Terron Armstead left in the first half with an apparent leg injury. The Saints already were without left guard Andrus Peat, who normally slides over to tackle when Armstead is out, so Patrick Omameh subbed in at tackle next to guard Nick Easton, who was filling in at left guard.

    UP NEXT

    Panthers: Host Washington on Sunday as they try to snap a three-game skid.

    Saints: Visit Atlanta on Thursday night with a chance to lock up the NFC South.

    ___

    More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

  • Worker Hurt In New Orleans Hotel Collapse May Be Deported

    Worker Hurt In New Orleans Hotel Collapse May Be Deported

    NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A construction worker hurt in the collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel construction site in New Orleans may be deported to Honduras as soon as Monday.

    Delmer Joel Ramirez Palma was arrested by immigration authorities two days after the Oct. 12 collapse that killed three people and injured dozens more, according to The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. An order for his deportation had already been issued in 2016. He’s currently being held at an immigration facility at the Alexandria International Airport in central Louisiana.

    Advocates and attorneys say Ramirez Palma’s deportation would complicate the federal investigation into the collapse. He had spoken out about unsafe conditions and his deportation could silence other workers and witnesses who are in the country without proper documentation.

    “I am sure the Hispanic workers there don’t want to cooperate for the same reason. They are scared the same thing that happened to Joel can happen to them,” Ramirez Palma’s wife said in a press call last week.

    A New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice attorney, Mary Yanik, said they believe immigration authorities planned to deport Ramirez Palma on Monday.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Bryan Cox declined to detail possible deportation plans, citing security reasons.

    Ramirez Palma was arrested while fishing in the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge. Federal wildlife agents asked for his fishing license and identification before summoning Border Patrol officers.

    Cox said the arrest wasn’t related to Ramirez Palma speaking out about the job site, but he sees how it could deter others from coming forward. He blamed this fear on advocacy groups and critics making “outrageously irresponsible” claims about the arrest being retaliatory.

    A lawsuit by Ramirez Palma and four other injured workers says the project’s developers and construction firms caused the collapse by using inadequate materials and supports.

    Ramirez Palma’s wife said he’s worked in the area for nearly two decades and had complained before the collapse that the concrete floors were sagging, forcing him to double and triple-check measurements in the imbalanced building.

    His immigration attorney, Homero Lopez Jr., says Ramirez Palma’s arrest and detainment caused him to miss a scheduled surgery for a serious eye issue.

    ___

    Information from: The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, http://www.nola.com

  • Mississippi Sheriff: 2 Bodies Discovered Along Rural Road

    Mississippi Sheriff: 2 Bodies Discovered Along Rural Road

    SENATOBIA, Miss. (AP) — A sheriff’s office in Mississippi is investigating what happened to two men who were found dead along a rural stretch of road over the weekend.

    Tate County Sheriff Brad Lance told news outlets a driver discovered the two bodies early Sunday morning in a small community in the northwest part of the state, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Oxford. Investigators say both men had multiple gunshot wounds. WHBQ-TV reports Lance said it appears the bodies were dumped there. News outlets report deputies think the victims were in their early 20s.

    Authorities haven’t identified the victims or any suspects.