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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
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W e d n e s d ay, a p r i l 22, 2026
RAPTOR REHAB
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2026 LEGISLATURE
Concerns raised over college search bill Sponsor says he plans to address transparency questions
BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer
STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON
A red-tailed hawk named Harry looks at second-year veterinary student Holly Casper at the raptor rehab on April 12 at LSU.
LSU vet team returns injured birds of prey to the wild
A Louisiana state lawmaker says he plans to amend his bill that would have kept records secret about who is applying to college executive positions, proposing a change that would instead require universities to disclose some finalists amid concerns over transparency in hiring top officials. Sen. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, drafted the bill, House Bill 289, to keep the identities of applicants to top college positions secret, and it had drawn concerns from groups that push for academic freedom and college transparency. He said it’s hard to lure candidates to ap- Abraham ply for top jobs without the promise of secrecy. The bill also gives wide leeway over which positions it would affect, saying it’s “including but not limited to” university presidents, chancellors, senior vice chancellors and athletic coaches. After an interview with The Times-Picayune | The Advocate this week, Abraham acknowledged the transparency concerns and said he plans to amend the bill during a Thursday committee hearing, with changes to require
ä See SEARCH, page 8A
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
‘Undecided’ leads in crowded race to fill Letlow’s seat
The red-tailed hawk that was missing an eye screeched in its enclosure as it waited for its prey to appear. The prey came flying through the air, a rigid, dead mouse that barely had time to hit the gravel before the hawk snatched it up and swallowed it whole. Even with limited depth perception, the hawk named Harry was precise. Still, Harry’s hunting skills wouldn’t be up to par in the wild, competing with other raptors for food. His permanent home is with LSU Raptor Rehabilitation, an extension of the Wildlife Hospital off Skip Bertman Drive that prepares injured carnivorous birds to return to their natural habitats. “He could not be released with one eye being removed, because hawks rely on sight,” said Abigail Gunby, a second-year veterinary student at LSU and one of Harry’s caretakers. “It’s theorized that they can see a blade of grass from a football field away.” LSU’s raptor rehab houses six birds of prey, which are cared for full-time and trained for educational
BY TYLER BRIDGES
Staff writer
Dexter, an eastern screech owl, is one of the program’s educational birds due to injuries that ä See RAPTOR, page 5A make him unable to fly.
Only one thing is clear in the race where four major Republican candidates are campaigning to win a conservative-oriented congressional district that stretches from Baton Rouge to Monroe. “Undecided” enjoys a wide lead with less than a month before the May 16 primary. State Sen. Blake Miguez has President Donald Trump’s endorsement, the most money in the bank (thanks to a big personal loan) and a small lead in at least one independent
ä See RACE, page 6A
Police make arrests in 2022 killing of child 3-year-old fatally shot while asleep at home BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer
After four years and nine days, police have made two arrests in the killing of 3-year-old Devin Page Jr., who was shot while sleeping in his crib at home. Devin died April 12, 2022, after a stray bullet went through his bedroom wall around 11 p.m., striking him in the head and killing him instantly. Devin’s
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house was not the intended target, according to police. At a news conference on Tuesday, Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse said arrest warrants were issued on April 17 for two people in connection with his murder. The boys mother, grandmother and other family members attended the event. “I’m encouraging you not to give up. It took four years, but let me tell you, it feels just like it happened on that day. To get that report that two of them had been apprehended — for that we can begin to build,” said Cathy Toliver, Devin’s grandmother. Morse said that after four years, he
couldn’t wait to share the news with Cathy Toliver and Devin’s mother, Tye Toliver. The police chief said he visited their home the evening after the arrest to “finally bring them a start of closure and a small sense of relief.” Jayden Davis, 22, was located in California and was arrested Monday on a count of first-degree murder. He will be extradited to Baton Rouge and booked into the parish prison. Davis was previously convicted in Baton Rouge of possession of marijuana and illegal carrying of weapons in 2021. The second individual was a juvenile
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
A tear runs down Tye Toliver’s cheek as her mother, Cathy Toliver, hugs her while Police Chief Thomas Morse announces the arrest of two suspects in the 2022 fatal ä See ARRESTS, page 5A shooting of Tye’s son, 3-year-old Devin Page Jr., on Tuesday.
Business ......................3B Commentary ................7B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................5B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
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