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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
W e d n e s d ay, M a r c h 26, 2025
‘DREAMS FULFILLED IN THE FULLEST’ Longtime senator J. Bennett Johnston dies at 92
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Fewer La. students seeking college aid State ends FAFSA requirement for graduates
BY PATRICK WALL
Staff writer
Once a national leader in getting students to apply for college financial aid, Louisiana has plummeted in the rankings this year and is the only state to see a decline in aid applications this cycle, according to the latest federal data. The number of Louisiana students who have submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid this school year is down 12% compared with the same period last year, according to federal data compiled by the National College Attainment Network. By contrast, applications are up 14% nationwide, and every state except Louisiana has seen a year-over-year increase. The sharp drop comes after the state board of education repealed a policy last year that had required high school seniors to complete the FAFSA, apply for an in-state Taylor Opportunity Program for Students scholarship, or request an exemption in order to graduate. Experts warn that college enrollment could dip if more students don’t complete the FAFSA, which unlocks federal loans and grants, including Pell grants for low-income students, and is often crucial for helping fami-
ä See AID, page 9A
J. Bennett Johnston served in the U.S. Senate for 24 years before retiring in 1996.
FILE PHOTO By G. ANDREW BOyD
He was not considered flashy, but got things done, lawmakers say BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
J. Bennett Johnston, a pro-business Democrat who during 24 years in the U.S. Senate steadfastly defended Louisiana’s oil and gas interests and worked in a bipartisan fashion to win congressional funding for infrastructure projects throughout the state, died Tuesday. He was 92 and had been living in Sperryville, Virginia, outside of Washington. Johnston was overshadowed during much of his career by flashier politicians in Louisiana during an era where populist Democrats dominated. He didn’t rouse crowds with table-thumping speeches. Instead, Johnston cultivated relationships with Republicans and other Democrats in Washington, D.C., at a time when working across party lines
got things done. Johnston had a lowkey and friendly style that served him as he became an effective advocate for his moderate-to-conservative views and for Louisiana’s interests. During more than 30 years in elected office, Johnston’s two biggest moments in the spotlight came in 1971, when he fell just short of winning the governor’s race, and in 1990, when he won reelection to the Senate over the surprisingly strong candidacy of David Duke. The loss in the governor’s race came at the hands of Edwin Edwards, but it ended up benefiting Johnston because it gave him enough political strength the next year to challenge veteran Sen. Allen Ellender, who was 81. Ellender died during the campaign, and Johnston won easily.
Rapper with gang ties visits BR school
Attorney general criticizes video that includes students
BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer
FILE PHOTO
J. Bennett Johnston celebrates with supporters during his 1971 campaign for governor. He was defeated by Edwin ä See JOHNSTON, page 10A Edwards.
A TikTok video of a local rapper’s recent visit to his former Baton Rouge middle school has prompted an East Baton Rouge Parish school district human resources investigation after drawing harsh criticism from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. Rapper Realbleeda, whose birth name is David Catherine, stopped by Park Forest Middle School on Friday to hand out snacks and donate a PlayStation 5 to the magnet school’s e-sports program. During the visit, the 22-year-old rapper
ä See RAPPER, page 9A
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