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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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Feds probe BR housing project It’s the second known investigation by FBI, others
BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer
STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER
Randy Smith, pastor of Crossbrand Cowboy Church, right, leads a moment of prayer and reflection recently in the corral as bull riders get ready to ride before worship services in Loranger.
COWBOY CHURCHES ROPE IN WORSHIPPERS
As religious services evolve, pastor leans into rodeo roots BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer
LORANGER — Before he stands at a pulpit, before he wears a microphone, before he delivers a sermon, Pastor Randy Smith of Crossbrand Cowboy Church leads a prayer behind the rodeo arena. Just after 2 p.m. Sunday, a hush comes over the arena as Smith prays that God protect the men and boys about to ride. That God watch over them. That God lead them into church at 4 p.m. “Amen,” the men murmur. This is how services start at Crossbrand — with the creak of a gate, the clang of a bell and a warning: “Fire in the hole!” Then a bull bursts out of a pen, kicking up dust, a rider atop its back for five seconds. For the next hour, Smith will be out there with them, penning bulls, straddling gates and hoping that a few of these men who have never before attended church might find their way to the back pew. It’s the hope of hundreds of cowboy churches across the South. Since they began popping up in Louisiana’s rural reaches a decade or more ago, the churches have ushered folks into their barnlike buildings, adorned with
The FBI and other federal authorities are investigating a Baton Rouge housing project that cost more than $450,000 to rehab three small homes, issuing a grand jury subpoena in July and meeting with top officials in Mayor-President Sid Edwards’ office, records show. It’s the second known federal probe into government-funded housing projects in East Baton Rouge Parish since last May. Emails obtained via a public records request show meeting plans and communication between Baton Rouge’s Office of Community Development Director Kelly LeDuff and FBI agents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s inspector general in March. In multiple messages, LeDuff and investigators discussed developer Jason Hughes’ housing development project. Beginning in 2022, Hughes received roughly $450,000 to remodel three small homes — one under 1,000 square feet, the other two under 700 square feet — on Central Road in Baton Rouge. LeDuff said Monday he didn’t know if the probe targets former City Hall staffers or Hughes, but stressed that Edwards’ team is not under investigation. “It’s pretty well-documented that the previous administration was contacted about issues,” LeDuff said. “We all know that it was here prior
ä See PROBE, page 6A
A member of Crossbrand Cowboy Church rides a bull before worship services. hay bales and horseshoes, with a “come as you are” message. The lack of a dress code, steeple or formal denomination hints at how Christianity is evolving in corners of this country. T-shirts, ball caps and boots are welcomed, though on a
ä See CHURCH, page 6A
STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
Three homes developed by Jason Hughes’ Hughes Consultant Group on Central Road are the subject of a federal investigation.
Louisiana is set to cut back on testing for high schoolers BY PATRICK WALL
ers will take one comprehensive test in math and one in English, down from two tests in each subHere’s a math problem that Loui- ject, state Department of Educasiana high schoolers might enjoy tion officials said. The civics and solving: Six mandatory state tests biology tests will continue, for a minus two. total of four state tests instead of Beginning in 2028, high school- six. Staff writer
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The changes will not affect Louisiana’s graduation requirements, which require high schoolers to pass at least three state exams. But they will cut down on mandatory testing. “Through doing this,” said state Superintendent of Education Cade
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The comprehensive English assessment will replace separate English I and English II end-ofcourse exams, while the math assessment will replace separate Algebra I and geometry tests. Students will take both comprehensive tests in 10th grade.
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.”
ä See TESTING, page 7A
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