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M o n d ay, M a r c h 31, 2025
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ELECTION 2025
Political foes, Landry allies united against amendments 60% of Louisiana voters rejected constitution changes
BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer
STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Deborah Harris, Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries permitted wildlife rehabilitator for East Baton Rouge, feeds a baby raccoon with a syringe at her home rehabilitation building on Tuesday.
WILDLIFE
SUPPORT
La. rehabilitators, veterinarians experience an influx of animals this time of year
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
About a dozen animals around the room watch as Deborah Harris fills a thin syringe with kitten milk replacement to feed her newest additions: four newborn raccoons. She has to do this five times a day and throughout the night for several days until the three-week-old raccoons can start suckling a bottle on their own. “It’s just like baby care,” the Baton Rouge wildlife rehabilitator said. In a room at her house with a “Raccoon Crossing” sign above it, Harris is caring for young raccoons and opossums, a beaver, a skunk and five turtles — as well as the four newborns. These baby raccoons were found in an attic separated from their mother, so Harris stepped in to fill that role. The intense feeding schedule is a testament to her dedication to animals — and also that not just anyone can take care of stranded baby animals. As spring arrives in Louisiana,
John and Betty Chenier talk about the recent cuts to two U.S. Department of Agriculture programs. The programs contributed to at least half of their business. STAFF PHOTO By STEPHEN MARCANTEL
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Deborah Harris pets her only male turtle at her home rehabilitation building on Tuesday.
“The biggest thing that we really want to hone in on and tell people is that mom is going to be so much better at taking care of the baby than we are. Their chances of surviving are so much higher if they’re with mom instead of us.” KIMBERLy BOyKIN, assistant professor of wildlife medicine and surgery
litters of wild baby animals will, as well. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries wildlife rehabilitators and local veterinarians experience an influx of animals during this time. These animal experts recommend leaving the babies’ care to their mothers or the professionals. Harris, who has been rehabilitating animals in Louisiana for nearly 24 years, said if you find an uninjured baby animal, you should leave it for a few hours before taking action because chances are the mom could be nearby. “First and foremost, try to reach a wildlife rehabber. Unfortunately, there are not many of us, and it can be hard to make contact,” Harris said. If an animal is injured, that’s when you should reach out to a veterinarian. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine expects an increase in animals during every spring, said Kimberly Boykin, assistant professor of wildlife medicine and surgery.
ä See WILDLIFE, page 4A
Louisiana voters decisively shut down four constitutional amendments Saturday, handing Gov. Jeff Landry and Republican supermajorities in the Legislature one of their first major political setbacks. The Legislature passed all four proposals by two-thirds majority votes. Then Landry crisscrossed the state stumping in particular for Amendment 2, a revision to Article VII of the Louisiana Constitution that governs state finances. He promoted it as a pivotal piece to an expansive package of tax policy reforms he championed during a November special session. Yet every amendment, which ä Voters in failed by similarly large margins, Lafayette was rejected by over 60% of voters. deal blow “It’s clear from the stunning to 2 tax repudiation of all four of these amendments that the governor and renewals. the Legislature, at least in this case, PAGE 1B are out of step with the vast majority of people who voted,” said Pearson Cross, a professor of Louisiana and American politics at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. When it became clear that Amendment 2 was going to fail, Landry issued a statement attributing the loss to liberal billionaire George Soros. “Soros and far left liberals poured millions into Louisiana with propaganda and outright lies about Amendment 2,” the statement said. “We realize how hard positive change can be to implement in a state that is conditioned for failure.” Through a spokesperson, Landry declined to comment further Sunday and did not answer questions seeking evidence for his claims about Soros and out-of-state spending.
ä See AMENDMENTS, page 4A
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Louisiana voters decisively shut down four constitutional amendments Saturday, handing Gov. Jeff Landry and Republican supermajorities in the Legislature one of their first major political setbacks.
State’s farmers react to end of USDA programs Cuts end aid to food banks, schools
“My husband said once, when the pecan trees start to sprout, that’s how you really know when winter is over,” she said laughing. “No other superstitious stuff, just BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL that one.” Staff writer She returned to her inspection Betty Chenier started up her of tomatoes, garlic and onions, side-by-side on an early spring day strawberries and sweet potatoes. at her small farm in Opelousas. She But this year, her crops look more drove past large greenhouses and bare than usual, she said. “We usually have all this planted, rows of crops. She inspected her recent plantings and then pointed ä See FARMERS, page 4A to a pecan tree in the distance.
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