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T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
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T u e s d ay, J u ly 1, 2025
$2.00X
New bridge for BR delayed again ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
Sen. John Kennedy, R-Madisonville, speaks to reporters Monday as Republicans begin a push to advance President Donald Trump’s tax breaks and spending cuts package.
GOP works to shore up support on spending bill White House pushes Senate to ‘get the job done’ BY LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press
STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
The Interstate 10 bridge over the Mississippi River is one of two crossings in Baton Rouge. Construction of a third bridge is facing more delays.
Review process pushed back BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
The construction of another Mississippi River bridge south of Baton Rouge continues to face significant hurdles. Completed studies are raising more questions about the proposed bridge, delaying the environmental review process at the same time as a group of Iberville landowners vocally opposes a potential bridge cor-
ridor that threatens an old-growth cypress forest. When they came before the exasperated commissioners of the Capital Area Road and Bridge District, project leaders announced that the review under the National Environmental Policy Act will likely occur later than planned. Now the review process will likely be initiated sometime in late summer, rather than the July 11 start that was originally scheduled. The answer to when a new bridge could be operational continues to shift. The most recent estimate — given in April — is 2033. “It’s just something always delay-
ing the project,” Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle said at a district meeting Monday. “And here we are again.” If completed, the bridge would be a third crossing point for the Mississippi River in the Baton Rouge area. The three potential placements for the bridge are located in Iberville Parish. The bridge is estimated to cost $2 billion, with just under $400 million accounted for, according to Christina Brignac, project manager with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
ä See BRIDGE, page 5A
WASHINGTON — The Senate’s long day of voting churned into the evening Monday, with Republican leaders grasping for ways to shore up support for President Donald Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts while fending off proposed amendments from Democrats who oppose the package and are trying to defeat it. The outcome was not yet in sight. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., acknowledged the Republicans are “figuring out how to get to the end game.” And House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, signaled the potential problems the Senate package could face when it is eventually sent back to his chamber for a final round of voting, which was expected later this week, ahead of Trump’s Fourth of July deadline. “I have prevailed upon my Senate colleagues to please, please, please keep it as close to the House product as possible,” said Johnson, as he left the Capitol around dinnertime. House Republicans had already passed their version last month. It’s a pivotal moment for the Republicans, who have control of Congress and are racing to wrap
ä See SUPPORT, page 6A
EBR could halt residential woody waste pickup at end of year BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer
East Baton Rouge Parish workers are collecting residents’ large piles of woody waste as a courtesy, but that won’t continue next year as the resources to do so run out. After an agreement with Republic Services expired in 2023, the previous mayoral adminis-
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tration entered a new agreement with Richard’s Disposal Inc. for yard waste pickup. But the new agreement leaves out bulk woody waste. Since then, the city-parish has voluntarily collected this category of waste, said William Daniel, assistant chief administrative officer for Mayor-President Sid Edwards. Daniel said the city-parish’s De-
partment of Public Works workers will no longer be able to handle this debris next year, though Edwards’ team is looking for a solution. The inherited contract ends in 2030 and does not include limitless out-of-cart disposal, though Richards’ Disposal will pick up smaller piles of organic debris less than 5 feet long and no more than 6 inches in diameter.
Separate from the city-parish’s services, residents may pay Richard’s Disposal to pick up large piles of debris. Garbage collection remains a hot issue in Louisiana. In 2023, East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council members voted to increase garbage and recycling fees by more than 50% to keep twice-a-week trash collection.
Business ......................7A Commentary ................5B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................6D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................4B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-5D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
WE’LL BE THERE
every step of the way.
At the start of 2025, Donaldsonville residents complained that Republic Services was in violation of its contract with the city. A bill recently signed into law by Gov. Jeff Landry caused uproar in New Orleans, as it will take away the mayor’s authority to enter emergency sanitation contracts and give them to a state-created board.
101ST yEAR, NO. 1