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Charlie Kirk killing suspect arrested 22-year-old Utah man had become ‘more political,’ governor says The arrest marked a BY ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, JESSE BEDAYN and HANNAH SCHOENBAUM major break in a case Associated Press
Tyler Robinson
OREM, Utah — A 22-year-old Utah man who was arrested and booked on murder charges in the assassination of Charlie Kirk held deep disdain for the conservative activist’s provocative viewpoints and indicated to a family member that he was responsible for the shooting, authorities said Friday.
cer Cox said at a news conference. The Republican governor cited as evidence that shocked the country engravings on bullet casings found in the and raised fresh alarms rifle that authorities believe was used in about political violence in the attack, as well as chat app messages a deeply polarized United attributed to the suspect that a roommate States. shared with law enforcement. Tyler Robinson had The governor credited Robinson’s famKirk become “more political” ily with helping turn him over to authoriin the run-up to the shooting and men- ties. tioned during a dinner with family that ä See SUSPECT, page 7A Kirk would be visiting Utah, Gov. Spen-
Cantrell’s former bodyguard Vappie pleads not guilty
ä Southern law
professor’s social media post probed.
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ä Utah’s governor urges Americans to find ‘off-ramp’ from political violence. PAGE 7A
Police budget up $3.7M at flood agency
But superintendent says he’s saved authority ‘millions’ BY ALEX LUBBEN | Staff writer The police chief at New Orleans’ flood protection authority says he has saved the agency “millions upon millions” of dollars, but records show he plans to sharply increase spending on policing this year, including for a fleet of new vehicles. The agency’s police budget has increased by $3.7 million, according to records. Before Joshua Rondeno’s arrival as chief in July 2024, the agency budgeted $8 million for police. This year, it plans to spend nearly $12 million. Rondeno and other agency Rondeno leaders say the spending is long overdue. It is needed, they say, to professionalize its police force, whose officers were previously required to use their personal firearms, among other issues. But it comes with state legislators and government watchdog groups questioning changes at the agency, including a major pay increase for Rondeno. Included in the budget are funds for a new police drone and 16 new vehicles, including an
ä See AGENCY, page 5A
STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
Jeffrey Vappie, center, the former New Orleans Police Department bodyguard for Mayor LaToya Cantrell, walks from the Hale Boggs Federal Building courthouse in New Orleans, where he pleaded not guilty to fresh corruption charges on Friday.
Indictment charges conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements BY JAMES FINN | Staff writer Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s former police bodyguard mounted a fiery defense Friday against new federal corruption charges, with his defense attorney calling the retired cop “collateral damage” in the government’s lengthy investigation into the city’s top elected official. Prosecutors secured an 18-count indictment of Cantrell and former officer Jeffrey Vappie on Aug. 15, charging them with conspiracy, wire fraud and false statements. The 44Cantrell page document alleges that the pair spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on romantic vacations and then schemed to conceal their illicit relationship. On Friday, before Vappie pleaded not guilty before a federal judge, his lawyers — both veteran white collar defense attorneys and former federal prosecutors — said the feds are going
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sonal conduct,” attorney Shaun Clarke said on the courthouse steps. “They are not federal crimes. Jeff will walk into court today with his head held high. And he will plead not guilty, because he is not guilty of the crimes charged.” Before the superseding indictment was returned last month, Vappie already faced wire fraud and false statement counts that prosecutors secured against him last summer. It took over a year for the grand jury to charge Cantrell, too, for her alleged role in the same scheme. His denial of the new counts means both Vappie and the mayor will likely STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE face long court battles as they try to beat the charges. Cantrell pleaded not Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan guilty on Wednesday. Ginsberg and Nicholas Moses leave Vappie wore a blue suit and sunglassthe Hale Boggs Federal Building es as he walked into the Hale Boggs courthouse in New Orleans on Friday. Federal Building on Poydras Street shortly before 10 a.m. Friday, flanked after their client for a strictly personal by his lawyers. Former U.S. Attorney Harry Rosenmatter. “Contrary to the U.S. Attorney’s berg said his client “respects this rhetoric, what the government has ä See VAPPIE, page 4A charged Jeff with are matters of per-
La.’s first carbon capture well gets approval Residents question long-term impacts of industry BY DAVID J. MITCHELL | Staff writer Louisiana has authorized the construction of its first carbon capture and storage well, opening the way to a new industry that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial plants, but which has drawn serious concerns from residents who question its long-term impacts. The order from the state Department of Energy and Natural Resources comes more than a year and a half after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted it authority to permit wells for the technology, which injects highpressure carbon dioxide in a near liquid state into formations deep underground. Issued based on well drilling, seismic
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ä See WELL, page 4A
13TH yEAR, NO. 32