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Some La. leaders back Trump plan to close Education Dept. “I have always suggested that the department should not exist. I trust people in Louisiana to make decisions based on the educational needs of the state of Louisiana.” CADE BRUMLEy, Louisiana Superintendent of Education
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE
Move could have impact on federal funds for Louisiana BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
As President Donald Trump seeks to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, some of Louisiana’s top education officials say they are eager to bid the agency adieu. Echoing Republicans who have long opposed the Cabinet-level federal agency’s existence, Louisiana education leaders see the department as inefficient and an example
of federal overreach, arguing that school policies should be left to states and local communities. “I have always suggested that the department should not exist,” Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said in an interview Thursday. “I trust people in Louisiana to make decisions based on the educational needs of the state of Louisiana.” After repeatedly calling for the Education Department’s elimina-
tion, reports this week said Trump is preparing to issue an executive order instructing his newly confirmed education secretary, Linda McMahon, to shut down the agency. In an interview Friday, McMahon said Trump “certainly intends” to sign an order, but did not say when. Abolishing the department and shifting some of its functions to other agencies could reduce
of his life on death row over the 1996 abduction, rape and execution-style killing of Mary “Molly” Elliott in rural Jessie Hoffman Jr., who is scheduled St. Tammany Parish. He appeared in to become the first person Louisiana court in Baton Rouge on Friday in an puts to death using nitrogen gas, testi- orange jumpsuit, one hand shackled fied in federal court on Friday to ask and surrounded by security guards. Hoffman recently filed a lawsuit that the state find another way. Hoffman, 46, has spent the majority against the state, alleging that the plan Staff writer
Arrest made in hazing death
Two more suspects sought in case involving Southern student BY QUINN COFFMAN and MATT BRUCE Staff writers
to use nitrogen hypoxia to execute him on March 18 constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the U.S. Constitution. Louisiana Middle District Chief Judge Shelly Dick, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, is
Baton Rouge police said they are preparing warrants to arrest two additional suspects in connection with last week’s hazing death of Southern University junior engineering student Caleb Wilson, 20. Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr. said during a Friday news conference that the two suspects are expected to turn themselves in. “Additional warrants can’t be ruled out,” Morse told reporters, noting it remains an “active, ongoing” investigation involving his department and the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office with cooperation from Southern University. Late Thursday, former Southern University student Caleb McCray, 23, surrendered to Baton Rouge police. McCray’s attorney said in a statement Friday his client is innocent. McCray marked the first arrest tied to the fatal Omega Psi Phi fraternity hazing ritual Morse said occurred Feb. 27 in a warehouse at 3412 Woodcrest Drive. McCray was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish jail Thursday night on one count each of manslaughter and hazing. McCray made his initial court appearance Friday afternoon, where his bond was set at $100,000, his attorney said. “I maintain my client’s innocence and urge the public to withhold rushing to judgment until all
ä See INMATE, page 5A
ä See HAZING, page 4A
ä See EDUCATION, page 4A
Inmate challenges nitrogen gas usage BY ANDREA GALLO
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Baton Rouge Chief of Police Thomas Morse Jr. speaks to the media during a news conference Friday regarding the hazing death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson.
Texas Rep. Green censured by House for disrupting Trump’s speech N.O. native only 28th member ever punished BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON — The Republican majority in the U.S. House on Thursday censured Democratic Rep. Al Green, a New Orleans native who represents parts of Houston, for interrupting President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress and the nation. Green is only the 28th member censured in the 236-year history of the House. But he is the third, all Democrats, chastised since 2023, when the Republicans regained control of the
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House. Now, the right-wing Republican House Freedom Caucus is looking to oust Green from his committee assignments as further punishment. During the Tuesday night speech, Trump said that the nation had overwhelmingly elected him. Trump did win a majority of the electoral and popular votes. But he only polled 1.5% more votes than former Vice President Kamala Harris out of the 152.3 million cast. Green jumped up, shook the cane he uses to help him walk and shouted: “You have no mandate.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton, ordered Green to sit down and Green refused. Johnson had Green re-
moved from the chamber. No Republicans opposed the resolution to censure Green — including all four GOP members in Louisiana’s congressional delegation — in the 224-198 vote. Ten Democrats joined the Republicans. Both Democratic members in the state’s delegation supported Green by voting against the resolution. A censured member is supposed to stand contritely in front of the podium while the Speaker of the House reads aloud a resolution describing the chamber’s displeasure. But Democratic members joined Green in the well and sang “We Shall
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, shouts as President Donald ä See GREEN, page 5A Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.
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12TH yEAR, NO. 208