AGP Executive Report

Education Budget Clash: A Louisiana Senate committee advanced the state budget after cutting a $43.5 million school voucher expansion (LA GATOR) and removing a proposed public-school per-student increase, citing a $104 million drop in the next-year revenue forecast. Memorial Day Travel Pressure: AAA expects a record Memorial Day travel surge, with TSA screening about 18.3 million passengers over the weekend—smooth operations, but higher costs and busy airports still in the mix. Local Sports & Events: Shreveport-Bossier is gearing up for the 2026 Red River Rumble powerboat return, while Mudbug Madness keeps the crawfish-and-music weekend rolling in Shreveport. Culture & Community: Loyola New Orleans’ longtime president, Rev. James Carter, has died at 98, marking the end of an era for the university and the city. International Watch: U.S. envoy Jeff Landry says Washington needs to “put its footprint back on Greenland,” as the Greenland visit and U.S. base talk continues to draw attention.

Redistricting Fight: A Louisiana House committee advanced a new congressional map that keeps five Republican-leaning districts and one Democratic-leaning district, but civil rights groups and prominent Black leaders say it weakens Black voting power—opponents warned the changes are more than “tweaks” as the plan moves parts of parishes between districts. NAACP Push: The NAACP’s “Out of Bounds” campaign is urging Black athletes at public universities in several Southern states, including Louisiana, to boycott certain college sports programs tied to states facing voting-rights backlash. Local Government: New Orleans lawmakers voted to stash an expected $100 million from the Caesars lease into a dedicated fund to rebuild the city’s emergency reserve. Travel Watch: Memorial Day travel is kicking off with higher gas prices in Louisiana, but many trips are already locked in. Sports & Culture: LSU softball heads into a tough Alabama Super Regional, while New Orleans is also dealing with rain-related traffic light failures as the city rolls out repairs.

Mystery in Duson: Police helped wrangle a loose emu found wandering city streets, and the Lafayette Animal Shelter says the owner still hasn’t been identified. Memorial Day plans: New Orleans-area observances are set across the metro, including ceremonies in Orleans, Jefferson, and Kenner. Local schools, big wins: A New Orleans student with perfect senior attendance just won a 2026 Toyota Corolla LE, with the school board covering first-year car insurance and helping with taxes/registration. LSU football shake-up: Lane Kiffin officially added Ed Orgeron back to the staff as a special assistant to recruiting and defense. Sports & entertainment: Blues Fest is expanding with a car show, and Shia LaBeouf has been formally charged in a Mardi Gras bar altercation. Business note: Morales Beverage Group says it will distribute Red Eye Louie’s across Texas, California, Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina.

Greenland Push: US envoy Jeff Landry says Washington must “put its footprint back on Greenland,” arguing the island “needs the US” as he tours Nuuk and talks up independence and new bases. LSU Football: Lane Kiffin is bringing back Ed Orgeron as a special assistant for recruiting and defense—another big shake-up in Baton Rouge’s 2026 rebuild. Politics—Trump’s Purge: Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie lost his GOP primary to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein, adding to the pattern of incumbents getting knocked out. Voting Rights Fight: A fresh legal challenge targets South Carolina’s rushed congressional map process, while national debate keeps heating up over voting access. Sports—Local & National: UL baseball vs Coastal Carolina hit a rain delay in the Sun Belt tourney; LSU baseball advanced in the SEC Tournament; and the NBA named All-Rookie teams with New Orleans’ Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen earning spots. Public Safety: A car crash into an Algiers restaurant shut it down early, with no serious injuries reported.

NFL Draft Talk, But Make It Personal: Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti joked with GM Eric DeCosta at the team’s offseason meeting—then asked for a pick, setting up a reminder that owners still meddle, just with smiles. Super Bowl Shuffle: The NFL voted to bring the 2030 Super Bowl to Nashville and the Titans’ new Nissan Stadium, giving the city a long runway to get it right. Politics, Redistricting Pressure: A new analysis argues mid-decade redistricting is “breaking representative democracy,” while Democrats and GOP leaders clash over a $1.776B settlement fund and what it means for Trump’s allies. College Sports Boycott Push: Hakeem Jeffries backed the NAACP’s call for athletes to boycott schools in states tied to voting-rights rollbacks—Louisiana is on the list. Local Sports Spotlight: Louisiana baseball kept rolling in the Sun Belt tourney with a run-rule win over Marshall and now faces Coastal Carolina. Weekend What-To-Do: Gonzales’ Jambalaya Festival kicks off May 21-24, plus New Orleans has Live After Five, Soul Food Festival, and Authors Row.

Trump’s GOP purge: President Trump endorsed Texas AG Ken Paxton in the GOP Senate runoff, and the same playbook is still reshaping races—Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie just lost his primary to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein, another reminder that loyalty to Trump is becoming the price of admission. Iran war powers: In Washington, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy joined a small group of Republicans to advance a Senate measure pushing Trump to end the Iran war, a rare break after Cassidy’s own primary loss. Local public safety funding: Louisiana lawmakers are weighing bills to create new revenue streams to help police departments buy bulletproof vests. NAACP boycott push: The NAACP launched “Out of Bounds,” urging Black athletes and fans to withhold support from major public universities in Southern states tied to redistricting fights. Sports: Louisiana baseball rolled past Marshall 11-1 in the Sun Belt tournament opener, while Southeastern hired Willem Kelson as an assistant coach. Food recall: Kroger recalled certain seasoned croutons over possible Salmonella risk.

Louisiana Politics: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow in Louisiana’s GOP U.S. Senate runoff, setting up a June 27 showdown with Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming after Letlow finished first and incumbent Bill Cassidy fell short. National GOP Power Play: The same Trump-style pressure is hitting other states too—Trump endorsed Texas AG Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in a GOP runoff, while Cassidy says he has “no regrets” about his impeachment vote even after losing his seat. Voting Rights Backlash: The NAACP launched an “Out of Bounds” boycott urging Black athletes and fans to withhold support from public university sports programs in states it says are weakening Black voting power—Louisiana is on the list. Public Safety: In the Baton Rouge area, 60 registered sex offenders were arrested in an internet sex-crimes operation. Science & Energy: The U.S. Department of Energy fast-tracked advanced nuclear reactors by creating a new environmental review shortcut.

Pelicans Hire: New Orleans made it official—Jamahl Mosley is the new head coach on a five-year deal, after Orlando fired him following a tough first-round exit. GOP Power Test: In Kentucky, Rep. Thomas Massie faces a Trump-backed challenger in a high-stakes primary, with Trump ratcheting up attacks as the party’s loyalty test plays out. Voting Rights Fallout: Louisiana’s recall push is heating up, with petition lines forming for a governor/AG recall effort that needs signatures from 20% of active registered voters. Education & Safety: Ascension Parish is rolling out clear backpack rules for 2026-27, tied to campus weapons-detection plans. Local Sports: The Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team heads to the Sun Belt Tournament after knocking off the conference’s top team—but still missed a first-round bye. International Drama: Greenland’s prime minister told Trump’s envoy self-determination is “non-negotiable,” rejecting any idea of a deal.

LHSAA x Sugar Bowl: Louisiana’s high school sports power move is official—LHSAA says the Sugar Bowl will become the exclusive title sponsor of all state championship events starting July 1, with branding and a football “Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Prep Classic” name. Students of the Year: The Louisiana Department of Education named the 2026 Students of the Year—Sanil Savita Thorat (elementary), plus middle and high school honorees—celebrating academics, leadership, service, and character. Special Olympics in Hammond: Special Olympics Louisiana and Mississippi team up for the 2026 State Summer Games at SLU May 22–24, with 500+ athletes and Unified Partners. Pelicans hire Mosley: New Orleans is moving fast—Jamahl Mosley is set to be the next head coach after Orlando’s dismissal, ending interim coach James Borrego’s permanent-job hopes. Politics shake-up: Louisiana voters rejected Sen. Bill Cassidy’s third-term bid in the GOP primary, setting up a runoff between Julia Letlow and John Fleming. Greenland standoff: Gov. Jeff Landry’s Greenland trip as Trump envoy comes as leaders repeat the “not for sale” line on self-determination.

Louisiana Politics: Bill Cassidy’s GOP comeback attempt collapsed in the Saturday primary—he finished third and is out, while Trump-backed Julia Letlow and John Fleming head to a June 27 runoff. The message from party voters was blunt: Cassidy’s 2021 vote to convict Trump still cost him. Runoff Watch: In the Democratic Senate primary, a separate race is headed to a runoff after fewer than 300 votes separated the top contenders, with a recount still possible. Local Life: Crews rushed to fix a “major” 16-inch water main break in Metairie that flooded Farnham Place and briefly knocked down water pressure. Sports: LSU softball punched its ticket to Super Regionals, and the NCAA bracket is now set with LSU set to face Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Culture & Community: New Orleans’ FamiLee Day drew thousands to the UNO lakefront with food, music, and family activities.

Louisiana Politics: Sen. Bill Cassidy’s political comeback ended Saturday—he lost the GOP Senate primary and won’t even reach a runoff. Trump’s Revenge Tour: Trump immediately framed it as payback for Cassidy’s 2021 vote to convict him, and now is pushing the same loyalty test on other Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie. Runoff Race: Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming advanced to a June 27 runoff after Letlow led with about 44.8% and Fleming about 28.3%, leaving Cassidy around 24.7%. Local Life & Culture: Malco is back with $3 midweek movie tickets for animated classics, with proceeds benefiting children’s hospitals. Arts & Entertainment: New Orleans’ French Quarter businesses are rallying for “Defend Decatur” on May 24 as construction drags on. Sports: LSU’s 2026 home slate highlights big tests vs Clemson, Alabama, and Texas.

Louisiana GOP Shake-Up: President Trump’s endorsement helped Rep. Julia Letlow oust Sen. Bill Cassidy in Saturday’s Republican Senate primary—Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming will now meet in a June 27 runoff after Cassidy failed to reach the 50% mark. Local Power Moves: In Kenner, Mayor Michael Glaser narrowly won a second term, and Orleans Parish voters picked new Civil and Criminal Court judges. Sports & Community: A new $9.6 million youth baseball/softball complex opened in Shreveport with eight fields, and Louisiana’s Cajuns closed the regular season with a 3-2 win over Coastal Carolina. Big Weekend Buzz: Napoleon Solo won the 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park, while the NBA MVP is set to be announced Sunday.

Louisiana Politics: President Trump’s push to purge “disloyal” Republicans hits a key test Saturday in Louisiana’s GOP Senate primary, where he’s backing Rep. Julia Letlow against Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump after Jan. 6 and now faces a likely runoff if no one tops 50%. Local Sports: LSU baseball is trying to avoid a sweep in its regular-season finale vs. Florida at Alex Box Stadium after being run-ruled Friday and sitting on the edge of missing the NCAA Tournament. College Baseball: UL’s Ragin’ Cajuns also need a bounce-back in the rubber match against No. 20 Coastal Carolina after going scoreless in Game 2 to tie the series. NFL Buzz: The league’s 2026 schedule is out, with Louisiana fans getting plenty of Saints-related headlines as matchups and primetime spots roll in. Arts & Community: Baton Rouge Symphony just announced its 2026-27 season, “From Darkness to Light,” with concerts built around big anniversaries and themes of hope and perseverance.

Louisiana Water Patrol Rules: A new bill could tighten when Louisiana officers can stop boats for safety checks, requiring a clear reason like unsafe operation or impairment instead of routine inspections—boaters say those stops can catch real problems, but lawmakers argue it’s time for limits. New Orleans East Cleanup: More than 60,000 illegally dumped tires have been removed from New Orleans East over five years, with DOTD pointing to cameras and ongoing cleanup as dumping hotspots cluster near major road corridors. Election Confusion Fallout: Louisiana’s May 16 election changes are drawing backlash, with Sen. Bill Cassidy saying the updates caused confusion and disenfranchisement. Sports—LSU Baseball: LSU’s season took another hit as Florida run-ruled the Tigers 11-1, shutting down the lineup and pushing the Cajuns/LSU baseball storylines into must-win territory. NBA MVP Countdown: The NBA MVP will be announced Sunday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokic the finalists.

LSU Baseball: The Tigers dropped their series opener to Florida 11-8 in Baton Rouge, with Steven Milam going 3-for-5 and hitting a homer; LSU hosts Florida again tonight. Louisiana Politics: The state Senate approved a new congressional map that would eliminate one of Louisiana’s two majority-Black districts, setting up more House action and fallout after the Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s prior House map. Abortion Access: The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily restored nationwide telehealth access for the abortion pill mifepristone while Louisiana’s lawsuit continues. Transportation Law: A Louisiana bill to end the vehicle brake tag sticker requirement cleared the Senate, replacing it with a $6 QR code sticker. Sports Schedule Buzz: The NFL’s 2026 slate is out, including a Wednesday season opener and major holiday games—plus Steelers’ first-ever regular-season game in France vs. the Saints. Local Entertainment: New Orleans food influencer Keith Lee is bringing his first FamiLee Day Festival to the UNO Lakefront Festival Grounds.

NFL Schedule Frenzy: The league dropped the full 2026 slate, and it’s already packed with must-watch moments—Monday Night Football kicks off Sept. 14 with Chiefs-Broncos, and the Seahawks start their title defense Sept. 9 vs. the Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch. Local Sports: LSU’s final SEC series opener didn’t go its way—Florida jumped out early and beat the Tigers 11-8, leaving LSU needing a near-miracle run to stay in NCAA postseason talk. Politics & Power in Louisiana: The Louisiana Senate advanced a new congressional map that would eliminate one majority-Black district, setting up a fresh fight over redistricting and voting power. Global Watch: Trump wrapped up his Beijing trip with Xi, while warning he’s “not going to be much more patient” with Iran as tensions simmer near the Strait of Hormuz. Weekend Picks: If you’re looking for something fun, LSU baseball continues its Florida series, and Preakness weekend is set for a full 14-horse field at Laurel.