ADVOCATE THE
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
|
W e d n e s d ay, J u ly 2, 2025
$2.00X
Trump’s spending bill passes Senate Bill. House expected OneTheBigbillBeautiful passed the Senate on a of 51 to 50, with Vice Presito take up measure vote dent JD Vance casting the vote that broke the tie. Wednesday All Democrats voted no, along
with three Republicans: Rand Paul, of Kentucky; Thom Tillis, of North Carolina; and Susan Collins, Staff writer of Maine. Both Sen. Bill Cassidy, of Baton WASHINGTON — Louisiana’s U.S. senators voted Tuesday with their Rouge, and Sen. John N. Kennedy, Republican Party colleagues to of Madisonville, approved keepnarrowly pass President Donald ing the bill, which encompasses Trump’s flagship legislation, the Trump’s domestic agenda, on track
BY MARK BALLARD
“We keep taxes low, cut taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security, extend the Child Tax Credit, fix our broken education system, support our military, secure our border, and build a business environment that creates better paying jobs — especially in Louisiana.” SEN. BILL CASSIDy, R-Baton Rouge
to be enacted July 4. Cassidy said after the vote, “We keep taxes low, cut taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security, extend the Child Tax Credit, fix our
broken education system, support our military, secure our border, and build a business environment that creates better paying jobs — especially in Louisiana.”
Among its dozens of facets, the bill increases spending on border security, including completing a wall along the Mexican border, on military armaments, and extends tax breaks and creates new ones for income from tips and overtime. Those expenses are partially paid for with spending reductions for health care, nutrition and green energy programs. The legislation now heads to the U.S. House for confirmation of or
ä See SENATE, page 7A
Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart dies at 90
Massive global broadcast ministry plagued by scandal in mid-1980s Staff report
The Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, who built one of the nation’s biggest broadcast ministries in the 1980s from his Baton Rouge headquarters, died Tuesday. Swaggart, who went into cardiac arrest on Father’s Day, was 90 years old. Once called “the most charismatic televangelist of the 20th century,” by 1986, he was the country’s top-rated TV preacher. But two widely publicized incidents involving Swaggart and prostitutes threatened to derail the ministry. His televised confession to the first encounter — “I have sinned” — was seen across the country. At its peak, his Jimmy Swaggart Telecast was being broadcast by upward of 200 television stations and watched by two million households. His thriving church complex on Bluebonnet Boulevard consisted of more than a dozen buildings, including dormitories, television production studios and warehouses to handle the bundles of mail that came into the ministry every day.
The Rev. Jimmy Swaggart preaches at his Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge in February 1987. Four decades later, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries still operates out of Baton Rouge, offering a 24-hour TV network of current services and other programs, a nationwide radio network of 75 stations, the K-12 Family Christian Academy and
a Bible college. “Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ. Today was the day he has sung about for decades. He met his
STAFF FILE PHOTO By STEPHAN SAVOIA
beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory. At the same time, we rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day,” the church posted on Swaggart’s Facebook page. “He was not just a preacher — he was a worshipper, a warrior, and a
witness to the grace and mercy of God.” Gov. Jeff Landry on Tuesday issued a statement: “Rest in peace to Rev. Jimmy Swaggart. He devoted much of his life
Man arrested months after school lockdown Suspect accused of threatening to shoot students
BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer
The man arrested Saturday in connection with aggressively confronting students inside Woodlawn Middle School last year and threatening to shoot them was picked up on a routine warrant check 14 months after his actions put the school on temporary lockdown, according to police. Elijah Morris, 24, was taken into custody by East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies responding to a disturbance call at a local Super 8 motel. Deputies then discovered an outstanding arrest warrant signed by a judge six days after the March 11, 2024, incident at Woodlawn. Elijah Christopher, a school resource officer who filed an affidavit for arrest after the incident,
WEATHER HIGH 92 LOW 74 PAGE 8B
worked full time as a correctional officer with the Sheriff’s Office. He has since been fired and arrested in connection with beating an inmate on the job, and is also accused in a federal lawsuit of raping a female inmate. It’s unclear why it took so long for Morris to be arrested for the threats at the school, which occurred while he was already on probation for stealing a car. “When a school within the East Baton Rouge Parish school system goes under lockdown, the first step is to immediately contact the School Drug Task Force. This team is trained to respond swiftly to potential threats on or near school campuses,” said Taylor Gast, a spokesperson for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. “The task force works in coordination with school administrators and district security to determine the appropriate level of response.” Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokesperson for the East Baton Rouge
ä See ARRESTED, page 7A
ä See SWAGGART, page 6A
La. passes cellphone restrictions for drivers In-hand usage made illegal under new law BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
FILE PHOTO
A new state law makes it illegal to talk, text, be on social media, look at photos or generally use any app if you are holding your cellphone while driving.
Business ......................3B Commentary ................7B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................2B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
Starting in August, handheld phone use while driving will be illegal in Louisiana. “You’re still allowed to use it hands-free, but we don’t want you to have your phone in your hand while you’re in motion while you’re driving,” said Rep. Brian Glorioso, R-Slidell, who sponsored the bill that was recently signed into law. That means it will be against the law to talk, text, be on social media, look at photos, or generally use any app if you are holding your phone while driving, and you could get a
ä See DRIVERS, page 6A
101ST yEAR, NO. 2