LSU FOOTBALL Tigers get Ole Miss, Arkansas, Texas A&M as permanent opponents THE
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T u e s d ay, s e p T e m b e r 23, 2025
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UL enrolls largest freshman class ever
Online program sees significant growth
overall enrollment grow compared with last year. The school welcomed 3,214 firsttime freshmen for fall 2025, a nearly 5% increase over last year, the university said in a news release Monday afternoon. Its overall enrollment grew to 19,723 students, nearly 3% more when compared with last fall. Of BY ASHLEY WHITE those enrolled in the university, Staff writer about 16,000 are degree-seeking The University of Louisiana students. The other more than at Lafayette enrolled its largest 3,600 students are enrolled in freshman class in history and saw training courses, professional and
UL FALL 2025 ENROLLMENT First-time freshmen
3,214 Up 5% over last year
continuing education programs, and seeking certifications. “Students and families are choosing the university because it offers a combination of excellent academics, a fun and sup-
cording to historical data on the university’s website. In fall 2016, Overall enrollment the total enrollment was 17,519. Enrollment slowly decreased and dipped to 15,219 in fall 2022. It rose in 2023 and 2024. The freshman class, expected Up 3% over last year to graduate in 2029, is made up of students from 448 high schools portive environment, and top-tier who hold a mean cumulative high research opportunities,” said De- school GPA of 3.59 and a composite Wayne Bowie, vice president for ACT score of about 25, according to the school. enrollment management. This is one of UL’s largest total ä See ENROLLS, page 4A enrollments in about 10 years, ac-
19,723
Louisiana is set to slash testing for high schoolers ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN
President Donald Trump speaks Monday at the White House as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz listen.
Trump pushes unproven ties between Tylenol, autism New evidence not provided; vaccine concerns also raised
BY ALI SWENSON and AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press
at least three state exams. But they will cut down on mandatory testing. “Through doing this,” said state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley, “we will have significantly reduced the amount of time that students are taking standardized tests in the state of Louisiana and provided more time for instruction.” The proposed high school changes, which the state Board of Elementary
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday used the platform of the presidency to promote unproven ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism without giving new evidence. Speaking from the White House, Trump said women should not take acetaminophen, also known by the brand name Tylenol, “during the entire pregnancy.” He said the Food and Drug Administration would begin notifying doctors that the use of acetaminophen “can be associated” with an increased risk of autism, but did not immediately provide any medical evidence for the FDA’s new recommendation. Trump also raised unfounded concerns about vaccines contributing to rising rates of autism, which affects 1 in 31 U.S. children today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that at Trump’s urging he is launching an “all-agency” effort to identify all causes of autism, involving the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, the CDC and the Centers for Medicare
ä See TESTING, page 4A
ä See AUTISM, page 6A
STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
Beginning in 2028, high school students in Louisiana will see the number of mandatory state tests they take decrease from six to four.
State-mandated exams will drop from six to four beginning in 2028 BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
Here’s a math problem that Louisiana high schoolers might enjoy solving: Six mandatory state tests minus two. Beginning in 2028, high schoolers will take one comprehensive test in math and one in English, down from two tests in each subject, state Department of Education officials said. The civics and biology tests will con-
tinue, for a total of four state tests instead of six. The comprehensive English assessment will replace separate English I and English II end-of-course exams, while the math assessment will replace separate Algebra I and geometry tests. Students will take both comprehensive tests in 10th grade. The changes will not affect Louisiana’s graduation requirements, which require high schoolers to pass
Supreme Court to decide president’s power to shape agencies Overturning of 90-year-old ruling possible
panding President Donald Trump’s power to shape independent agencies by overturning a nearly century-old decision limiting when presidents can fire board members. In a 6-3 decision, the high court also allowed the Republican presiBY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press dent to carry out the firing of Rebecca Slaughter, a Democratic WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court member of the Federal Trade said Monday it will consider ex- Commission, while the case plays
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out. It’s the latest high-profile firing the court has allowed in recent months, signaling the conservative majority could be poised to overturn or narrow a 1935 Supreme Court decision that found commissioners can only be removed for misconduct or neglect of duty. The majority has previously indicated that the president likely has
the power to remove board members at will, with some exceptions, because those agencies exercise executive power. They have suggested the Federal Reserve might be different, however, a prospect expected to be tested by the case of fired Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Justice Elena Kagan, joined by Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji
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Brown Jackson, dissented from the decision allowing Slaughter’s firing. It comes after similar decisions affecting three other independent agencies. “Congress, as everyone agrees, prohibited each of those presidential removals,” Kagan wrote. “Yet the majority, stay order by stay
ä See COURT, page 6A
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