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Political battles factor in redistricting Lawmakers tweak congressional maps based on colleagues’ addresses
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
In public, the debate over redrawing Louisiana’s congressional map centers on big-picture political questions, like how many majority-Black districts there should be and how Republicans can secure another seat in Congress. But behind closed doors, state
lawmakers are also wrestling with 2026 how to draw districts that help — LEGISLATURE or hurt — some of their colleagues’ chances to climb the political ladder. “Reapportionment is personal, ä La. could close primaries to persnickety and political,” said Jay unaffiliated voters. PAGE 7A Dardenne, a veteran of Louisiana politics who was on the legislative committee that handles redistrictThis year, redistricting is pering in the 1990s and 2000s. sonal because some legislators
are contemplating congressional bids, Dardenne said. And it’s persnickety because of the detail and difficulty that goes into actually drawing the lines — and the risk of getting “people’s dander up” if those districts run afoul of their preferences, he said. “The end result can be an offensive one or a defensive one, depending on what you’re trying
‘I’m so lucky to be alive’
to do,” Dardenne said of the linedrawing process. “You can make sure somebody is in a particular district or you can make sure somebody is out of a particular district.” Current lawmakers are generally loath to publicly discuss internal debates about district lines. But former lawmakers say it’s often one of the fiercest fights in politics. “There’s nothing more dear to
ä See POLITICAL, page 7A
Financial plan for LSU arena elusive Agency says state funding ‘not off the table’
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards fist bumps Donnie Guillory, a survivor of the Mall of Louisiana shooting, during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Louisiana on Tuesday.
Mall shooting victim returning to routines, attends torch run BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer
Every week, Donnie Guillory went to the Mall of Louisiana, stopping in at stores to say hi to his favorite workers. That’s what he was doing on April 23 when gunfire broke out in the crowded mall food court, killing a teenager from Youngsville, Martha Odom, and wounding Guillory and four others. By Wednesday, Guillory — a Special Olympics athlete — had recovered enough to attend the Law Enforcement Torch Run hosted by Special Olympics Louisiana. When asked about the shooting, he had
a simple message: “I’m so lucky to be alive.” Although he was unable to run in the race this year and wore a large cast covering his entire left arm, Guillory showed up to support his friends and ride in the police escort vehicle. “It means a lot to him to be able to interact with his friends,” his father, Charles Guillory, said. “That’s what he’s missed the most, not being able to see his friends.” After the torch run, 28 days after the horrific tragedy, Donnie Guillory was heading back to the mall once again. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office sent him with a team of officers to show
their support. “That’s his social activity. He goes and visits everybody at the stores so they all know him,” Carla Guillory, his mother, said. His first stop? GameStop to pick up some new video games. His parents were out at an appointment the day of the mall shooting and decided to stop by Macy’s to escape the brutal late April heat at the same time as Donnie Guillory was having his usual food court lunch with his aide. “We were by the main door in the Macy’s when we heard gunshots,” Charles
ä See ALIVE, page 8A
For the past two years, LSU and local officials have been pursuing a public-private partnership to build a new sports and entertainment arena in Baton Rouge. A special taxing district was created, a company was chosen as a finalist to head the project, schematics showing what it might look like were released, and various details about who would foot the bill for the proposed around $400 million arena were made public. Yet a final financial plan remains elusive. Earlier this week, LSU system President Wade Rousse acknowledged the university is exploring new options for how to raise the money. After a shaky past year for the project — the CEO of the Oak View Group, the sole finalist to build the arena, was charged with bid-rigging for a similar project in Texas, and a lawsuit was filed over whether economic districts tied to the arena can levy taxes without voter approval — one potential funding source that has emerged is Louisiana Economic Development. Reached Tuesday, LED spokesperson Emma Wagner said an allocation to the arena is not currently in the agency’s budget, but it is “not off the table.” The Oak View Group declined to comment on the recent developments. But Rousse hinted at a possible path forward with state
ä See ARENA, page 7A
U.S. indicts former leader of Cuba Charges stem from 1996 downing of civilian planes
downing of civilian planes flown by Miami-based exiles as the Trump administration escalated pressure on the island’s socialist government. The indictment accuses Castro of ordering the shootdown of two BY JOSHUA GOODMAN small planes operated by the exand ALANNA DURKIN RICHER ile group Brothers to the Rescue. Associated Press Castro, who turns 95 next month, MIAMI — Federal prosecutors on was Cuba’s defense minister at the Wednesday announced criminal time. The charges, which were secharges against former Cuban cretly filed by a grand jury in April, President Raúl Castro in the 1996 included murder and destruction
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of an airplane. Five Cuban military pilots were also charged. “For nearly 30 years, the families of four murdered Americans have waited for justice,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in Miami at a ceremony coinciding with Cuban independence day to honor those killed. “They were unarmed civilians and were flying humanitarian missions for the rescue and protection of people
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
Former Cuban President Raúl Castro speaks at an event in Santiago, ä See CUBA, page 8A Cuba, in 2024.
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