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Winner of Democrat primary will make history Davis or Crockett will be first Black U.S. Senate campaign finalist in La. since Reconstruction
BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
A crane moves a vibration hammer into position recently on a steel pillar to be driven into the ground to build the foundation for the new May Street bridge during a phase of the University Lakes restoration project in Baton Rouge.
One of two men who grew up in rural northeast Louisiana will make history Saturday by becoming the first Black U.S. Senate campaign finalist in Louisiana since Reconstruction. Jamie Davis, a farmer from tiny Tensas Parish, is vying for the Democratic Party Senate nomination on Saturday against Gary Crockett, a business owner in New Orleans who is originally from Madison Crockett Parish. Davis is heavily favored in the runoff. He nearly captured the May 16 primary outright, has far more money than Crockett, has a full campaign staff — unlike Crockett — and has endorsements Davis from the Louisiana Democratic Party and New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming are competing Saturday for the Republican Senate nomination in a separate party primary.
ä See SENATE, page 3A
Court: La. man can’t sue prison staff Central pastor accused of Rastafarian’s dreadlocks forcibly shaved in 2021 BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON — Though sympathetic that his religious rights had been violated when his dreadlocks were shaved, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday morning that a Louisiana inmate can’t sue prison officials for monetary damages. A 6-3 majority agreed that the federal law intended to protect the
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Damon Landor, of New Orleans, to hold financially responsible state prison officials who violated his rights. “I am disappointed but not defeated,” Landor said in a statement. “What happened to me violated my faith and my dignity. I will continue pursuing accountability. What happened to me PROVIDED PHOTOS should not happen to anyone else.” Chief Justice John Roberts, and Damon Landor’s dreadlocks were Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence forcibly cut at Raymond Laborde Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett KaCorrectional Center in 2021. vanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — all of whom were nominated by religious rights of inmates does not ä See DREADLOCKS, page 4A include language that would allow
attacking neighbor’s son BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer
The Rev. Tony Spell, the Central pastor best known for holding church services during the COVID-19 pandemic, was arrested and booked Tuesday on one count of second-degree battery after police said he beat up his neighbor’s 20-year-old son and sent him to the hospital. The neighbor, Scott Sherwin, and Spell have been in an ongoing feud since 2020 when Spell
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sued Sherwin for installing surveillance cameras at his home, which is directly across the street f r o m S p e l l ’s Life Tabernacle Spell Church at 9323 Hooper Road. Spell claimed that Sherwin installed them to keep tabs on Spell.
ä See PASTOR, page 3A
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