ADVOCATE THE
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
|
F r i d ay, O c t O b e r 17, 2025
$2.00X
Tightened security set for LSU games
Landry calls for special session
Supreme Court case may affect election schedule BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
home matchup against Texas A&M on Oct. 25. “The governor is very engaged with this,” said LSU Board of Supervisors Chair Scott Ballard, who confirmed the two had been in direct talks about beefing up security before Thursday’s news conference. Hours after LSU’s announcement, Southern University said it also would be tightening campus security ahead of the school’s homecoming game this weekend.
Gov. Jeff Landry on Thursday called for a special legislative session to begin on Oct. 23 to adjust next year’s election schedule — because of a legal challenge to Louisiana’s voting map for Congress. But exactly what lawmakers will try to do remains unclear, in part because stringent election rules limit the changes that the Secretary of State’s Office can allow them to make. Whatever change s l e g i s l a t o r s Landry agree on will likely have broad implications in determining which areas of Congress the six members of the U.S. House will represent. “We’re waiting for legislation from the Governor’s Office since he issued the call,” said Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie. “He hasn’t articulated yet which dates and what changes he wants. Once we have that, then we can begin the bill drafting for the session.” Landry’s call, which establishes what issues legislators can consider in the session, contains a single item: “to legislate relative to the election code, election dates, election deadlines, and election plans for the 2026 election cycle, and to provide for the funding thereof, if necessary.” It does not ask legislators to redraw the congressional map on a contingency basis, as Landry had wanted them to do. “We don’t want the Supreme
ä See SECURITY, page 8A
ä See SESSION, page 9A
STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
Law enforcement officers monitor tailgating crowds before kickoff between LSU and Louisiana Tech on Sept. 6. LSU has announced a stricter set of security measures after an increase in campus violence on game days.
Southern also reviewing protocols BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer
In response to what officials say is an increase in campus violence during Tigers football games, LSU announced Thursday a stricter set of game day security measures for the remainder of the season,
including the closure of a popular tailgating spot and prohibiting drivers without parking permits access to Highland Road. The crackdown comes after a shooting on campus sent two people to the hospital during last week’s game against South Carolina. Police also say a man accidentally shot himself before the game just outside the stadium, while another shooting occurred outside the Law Center during LSU’s previous home game against the University of Florida. On Monday, Gov. Jeff Landry ordered increased security ahead of LSU’s next
Louisiana Senate race already attracting millions of dollars Cassidy leads in fundraising
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
There’s more than a year until Louisiana elects its next U.S. senator, but millions of dollars in campaign contributions are already pouring in. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge,
WEATHER HIGH 88 LOW 68 PAGE 8B
is facing a crowded field of fellow Republicans in the state’s new closed primary system, in which GOP candidates will all face off in an election to decide which single Republican will be on the ballot in November. Campaign finance data shows Cassidy has $9.5 million in the bank, by far the most of any candidate in the race. But two other candidates, state Sen. Blake Miguez and Louisiana Treasurer John
“It’s kind of amazing that this money is being spent in a state which is obviously going to elect a Republican senator. I don’t know of any viable Democrat who would get in and make this a race.”
money is being spent in a state which is obviously going to elect a Republican senator,” he said. “I don’t know of any viable Democrat who would get in and make this a race.” JIM KITCHENS, political pollster No Democrat has yet filed to run for the seat; party leaders have Fleming, each have more than $2 thy given that money is typically said they are still recruiting one. a crucial factor when two parties Democratic former Gov. John Bel million. Veteran political pollster Jim are vying for political control, like Edwards announced this week that Kitchens said the fundraising at in swing state races. ä See SENATE, page 9A “It’s kind of amazing that this this point in the race is notewor-
Business ......................3B Commentary ................7B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
101ST yEAR, NO. 109
A Gift That Goes The Distance GOLF VANS DONATION The Southern University Golf Women’s and Men’s Golf team pictured with Irving Matthews (center), Chloe Ajodha, Salma lbrahim, Elizabeth Lenton, Lauryn Leonard, Ouincy Leonard, Isaiah Gold, Nyles Williams, and Joshua Bradlely.