Sunday Brunch

By Julie O’Donoghue | Senior Reporter

On this day in 1927, American sculptor Gutzon Borglum began work on Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The monument was finished by Borglum’s son, Lincoln, in 1941.

By Piper Hutchinson

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and her counterparts in Arkansas and Alabama announced Wednesday they are suing three Democratic-led states over laws that grant immunity to doctors who prescribe abortion-inducing medication to people in states where it is illegal. 

By Julie O’Donoghue

In Louisiana, candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House races in the 5th and 6th districts mostly said they would not support changing the level of federal funding states receive after a disaster. But Democrats and Republicans are divided on whether massive staffing cuts at FEMA under Trump should be reversed.

By Piper Hutchinson

LSU will be made a Distinguished Military College, a newly revived federal designation that offers graduates of its Reserve Officer Training Corps program priority in becoming a commissioned military officer, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced last week.

Louisiana lawmakers increased the amount of public money the state will spend on college sports championships, rodeos and other entertainment events in this fiscal year to at least $12.1 million in direct support. State budget documents show spending was previously set at $10.4 million.  

Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson said he plans to relocate to Florida after he retires in December to continue his career as an educator by homeschooling his grandkids. Henderson announced last month he intends to leave the leadership role at the Ruston campus at the end of the calendar year due to health concerns. 

State Sen. Blake Miguez’s official domicile is in New Iberia, according to an opinion released by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office. In practical terms, her staff determined Miguez’s primary residence is located outside the 6th Congressional District, where he is currently running for office.

A bipartisan measure to overhaul the college sports landscape got a step closer to becoming law this week. The bill would set a national framework for college athletes’ compensation, provide certain antitrust protections to the NCAA, establish a five-year eligibility timeline for athletes and bar professional athletes from competing in college athletics.

U.S. Senate Republicans did not gain any support this week from Democrats as they attempted to advance a bill that mashed together two hot-button midterm issues: requiring voter ID in federal elections and limiting stock trading for members of Congress.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., bungled an attack against former special counsel Jack Smith this week by mixing up the names of the Atlanta Hawks and Iowa Hawkeyes basketball teams. Schmitt alleged Smith had attended an Atlanta Hawks basketball game when Smith had attended a University of Maryland Terrapins game.

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