District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on January 6, 2025 

TERRY M. CARSON, JR.: Defendant entered guilty plea misdemeanor domestic abuse battery 1st offense. Sentence – serve 6 months suspended, 2 years unsupervised probation, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

LEE GIBSON COLLIER: Defendant entered guilty plea attempted possession of firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies. Sentence – serve 7.5 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, 7.5 years suspended and placed on 3 years supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections.

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on January 9, 2025 

AUBREYANA C. PERKINS: Defendant entered guilty plea DWI 1st offense. Imposition of sentence deferred, supervised probation with Winn Parish Probation Office 24 months, pay fine, court cost probation fee and fee to Office of Public Defender and ordered to satisfactorily complete 16 hours community service, drug and substance and driver improvement programs. 

MICHELLE McCORD WEBRE: Defendant entered guilty plea DWI 1st offense. Imposition of sentence deferred, placed on 24 months probation with Winn Parish Probation Office, pay fine, court cost, fee to Office of Public Defender and probation fee and ordered to satisfactorily complete 16 hours community service, drug and substance abuse and driver improvement programs. 

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on January 14, 2025 

JARON RYAN CARPENTER: Defendant entered guilty plea possession of or dealing in firearms with obliterated numbers or marks. Sentence – imposition of sentence deferred and placed on probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections 3 years. 

JASHAWN DUANE LATCHIE: Defendant entered Alford plea possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance more than 2 grams less than 28 grams. Sentence – serve 2 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, consecutive. 

ALICIA DAWN LOWE: Defendant entered guilty plea possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance less than 2 grams. Sentence – serve 2 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, execution of 2 years jail sentence suspended and placed on supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections 2 years. 

CHRISTOPHER M. ONCALE: Defendant entered guilty plea to illegal possession of stolen things more than $1000 but less than $5000. Sentence – serve 2 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, consecutive. 

MARTIN EUGENE ROBERTS, SR.: Defendant entered guilty plea to possession of marijuana less than 14 grams. Imposition of sentence suspended and placed on probation 2 years, pay fine, court cost, probation fee and fee to Office of Public Defender. 

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on February 3, 2025 

NANCY ELIZABETH HAYES: Defendant entered guilty plea possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance between 2 grams & 28 grams. Imposition of sentence deferred and defendant placed on 3 years supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. 

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on February 4, 2025 

SHELLEY R. FORD: Defendant entered guilty plea identity theft and sentenced to serve 2.5 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, consecutive. 

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on February 6, 2025 

JOHNE DIXIE CARTER, JR.: Defendant previously entered guilty plea operating a vehicle while intoxicated – second offense. Sentence – serve 6 months in Winn Parish Jail, 6 months suspended, placed on supervised probation with Winn Parish Probation Office 24 months, pay fine, court cost and supervision fee, complete drug and substance abuse and driver improvement programs. 

JOSHUA CODY MORGAN: Defendant entered guilty plea DWI. Imposition of sentence deferred and placed on supervised probation with Winn Parish Probation Office 24 months, pay fine, court cost and probation fee, complete 16 hours community service, drug and substance abuse and driver improvement programs. 

DAMARION ANTHONY ROBINSON: Defendant entered guilty plea sale, distribution or possession of legend drug without prescription. Imposition of sentence deferred, placed on 2 years probation with Winn Parish Probation Office, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

JAYLYN SIDNEY TYLER: Defendant entered guilty plea possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance. Sentence deferred and placed on 2 years probation with Winn Parish Probation Office, pay fine, court cost and probation fee. 

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on February 7, 2025 

JAMAAN CRAWFORD: Defendant entered guilty plea misdemeanor simple flight. Sentence – 6 months in the custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, consecutive. 

ZION DESHURN EDWARDS: Defendant entered guilty plea battery of a correctional officer and simple battery. Sentence battery of a correctional officer serve 1 year without hard labor in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff. Sentence simple battery 6 months in custody of Winn Parish Sheriff, concurrent. 

JESSICA LEANN MALONE: Defendant entered guilty plea criminal mischief. Imposition of sentence suspended, 2 years probation, pay fine, court cost, probation fee, fee to Office of Public Defender and prosecution fee. 

VICTORIA CHRISTINE RAMSEY: Defendant entered guilty plea operating a vehicle while intoxicated 1st offense under the influence of a CDS. Imposition of sentence deferred, supervised probation 24 months, pay fine, court cost, fee to Office of Public Defender, probation fee, 16 hours community service, complete drug and substance abuse and driver improvement program. 

CARLY JO SEPULVADO: Defendant entered guilty plea possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance. Sentence – serve 5 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, execution of 5 years suspended and placed on supervised probation with Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections 3 years. 

EARNEST C. SMITH: Defendant entered guilty plea possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance. Sentence – serve 2 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, consecutive. 

RALPH DAVID TURNER, JR.: Defendant entered guilty plea identity theft and criminal trespass. Sentence on identity theft serve 6 months, consecutive. Sentence on criminal trespass 30 days, consecutive. 

 

District Attorney Chris Nevils reports the following action was taken in Eighth Judicial District Court on February 11, 2025 

CODY NEAL SANDIDGE: Defendant entered guilty plea possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance. Sentenced to 2 1/2 years at hard labor in custody of Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, consecutive. 

---

---

How can you combine a night of home-cooked wild game dishes and enthralling stories of hunting adventures with the amazing redemptive message of Christ Jesus?  Winnfield First Baptist tackled that challenge through their annual Wild Game & Seafood Banquet that over 90 attended February 23 in their hunting-themed gym.

The event, more correctly, was the first return of the traditionally annual event but that run was interrupted by the COVID years, Pastor Jerry Pipes explained as he introduced friend, outdoorsman and 23-year pastor of First Baptist Haughton, Gevan Spinney.  He noted his sports program “The Way It Was” is partnered with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and viewers are directed at the conclusion to a website, endthehunt.org.  There, a message of salvation has seen 1,000 commitments for Jesus.

He told the crowd of young and old alike that when Moses asked the Lord in Psalm 90, “So teach us to number our days,” it wasn’t literally to count that number but rather to value them.  “The yesterdays of life have the possibility of changing tomorrow.”

Spinney detailed weekends in the woods when everything went right.  There were also those when everything went wrong.  “But no matter what happens, God will bless you when you least expect it.”

He also noted that sometimes, life hits a “pause button” when you’re moving in one direction.  He suggested that COVID might have been one such pause.  “But God gets your attention.  You move from what you’re been doing to realize what is really important.  A pause can change your life, or that of someone else.”

Spinney had talked about his high school days and how skipping class one day had led to him hearing the Gospel of Jesus for the first time, a day that changed his life.  He wove that message of salvation within a fascinating fabric of hunting stories that night and offered the opportunity of life with Christ to the men and boys in that upstairs room.  “A day to change your tomorrow.”

Dr. Jerry Pipes observed at the event’s conclusion that “we had an amazing crowd, considering very difficult weather conditions.  Which says to me there is a great hunger for the coming together of men, food, a message, hunting stories and faith.”

---

Flu has hit hard in Winn schools and the WSHS basketball team was not exempted from the blight as the Tigers went on the road for their final district regular season game against Many with three of their players out with the flu.  Only nine dressed out for the game.

“But it was a nice win on the road,” concluded coach Allen Tew. The Tigers scored a decisive win over the opposing Tigers, 70-55.

The final outcome seemed to be no doubt from the start as Winnfield doubled Many’s scoring in each of the first three periods until the start of the fourth period when, already leading 59-28, they took the foot off the accelerator and coasted to their 70-55 win.

Leading the Tiger offense was Ja’Ven Jackson with 21 points including his one 3-point try plus pulling down 11 rebounds.  Jaylon Jackson’s numbers were also impressive, scoring 18 points, including one 3-pointer, 6 assists and 4 steals.

Craig St. Cyr put 9 points on the board, consisting of 3 of the 7 that he launched from 3-point range, and had 7 assists.  Kendrick Davenport also scored 9, one of those being a 3.  Germany King added 7 to the team score, including a 3.  

Damascus Lewis put 4 on the board while also pulling down 4 rebounds and providing 3 assists with 2 blocks.  Lathan Street hit 2 points on the night while providing 2 offensive rebounds and 2 defensive rebounds.  Jaidyn Rainwater made a defensive rebound while Detavius Howard grabbed an offensive rebound.

Three Many Tigers scored in double digits in their loss.  Cameron Medlock has 14, Jakolby Jones had 12 and a third player had 10.

---

“Winn Main Street” is excited to present the Inaugural Uncle Earl’s Hot Dog Trials on Saturday, March 15. It will serve as a Kick-off event for the annual Uncle Earl’s Hog Dog Trials which takes place the following week, Monday, March 17 through Sunday, March 23. 

Uncle Earl’s Hot Dog Trials will be a hot dog eating contest in which participants will have 10 minutes to devour as many hot dogs as possible.  The Main Street Committee has adopted the same rules used in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest that takes place on Coney Island, NY. 

Entries will be limited to 10 contestants for each of the following 4 categories: 

Children age 12-15 ($10 entry fee; Winner takes home a custom Championship Hot Dog Belt). Youth age 16-18 ($25 entry fee; Winner takes home a custom Championship Hot Dog Chain). Local Business Representatives ($25 entry fee; Winner gets their name and business etched in history on the perpetual custom made Hot Dog Trials Trophy. Not to mention bragging rights). Open Round 18+ years ($25 entry fee; Winner takes home a check presented by Winn Main Street for $500).

Rules are as follows: Eligibility: Except in Children’s & Youth categories, participants must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Participants below the age of 18 will be required to provide parental consent. Competition Duration: Contest lasts for 10 minutes. Eating Method: Contestants must eat by hand—no utensils allowed. Hot Dog and Bun Requirement: Each hot dog and its bun must be consumed together to count as one unit. Time Limit: Contestants have 10 minutes to eat as many hot dogs and buns as possible. Tie-Breaking Procedure: In case of a tie, a 5-hot-dog eat-off is held. If still tied, a sudden-death eat-off begins where the first contestant to eat one more hot dog wins. Judging: The number of hot dogs and buns eaten is counted by official judges, who are present at the event. Disqualification: Participants may be disqualified for violating any rules, including the use of assistance, excessive mess, or failing to eat the hot dog and bun together. Vomiting results in an automatic disqualification.

In addition to the Hot Dog Eating Contest, there will be a Poster Making Contest as well. The winner will be announced at the event and will receive a cash prize. These are due by March 7. Students should turn in their poster in the office of their respective schools. Other participants can email a picture of their poster to winnmainstreet@gmail.com. The poster must include “1st Annual Hot Dog Trials” and “Saturday, March 15th, 11am @ The Stump.”  Those who email entries must bring their original poster to the event. 

The event will take place in downtown Winnfield in the area known as “The Stump” on March 15 from 11 am to 2 p.m. “The Stump” is the area between the Winnfield Post Office and the Pea Patch Gallery & Cafe. The best way to find “The Stump” is to enter the address for the post office located at 201 S Bevill St, Winnfield, LA 71483. To sign up you can use the QR Code provided or follow Winn Main Street on Facebook where we will provide a link. Check in and payment will be done from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. You must be checked in and paid prior to 11 a.m. Cash or checks payable to “Winn Main Street” are the only forms of payment accepted. If you are under the age of 18, you will need a parental guardian present at check in. 

Any and all proceeds from the contest will be used by Winn Main Street for the betterment of downtown Winnfield. Having events such as these brings attention to and foot traffic through downtown Winnfield which at one time was bustling with activity. The committee’s hope is that by showing increased interest from the community to the downtown area, this annual event will not only attract people downtown but it will also contribute to the ability of the Winn Main Street Committee to apply for grants. If selected for certain grants, it could play a major role in the aesthetics and revitalization of the downtown area.  

Any questions, please contact 318-332-0160. 

School Board committee action was quiet Monday, with the most significant discussion centering on possible tax calls for the Winnfield and Calvin school districts later this year.  That matter will come before the full board at its March 3 meeting.

Supt. Al Simmons explained that under the state guidelines, there would be an absence of details including project descriptions and millage amounts at this point in the process.  Those would be developed if plans move forward.  However, to meet election deadlines, this paperwork has to be launched early.

Informal discussions around the table in prior sessions indicated that some members are looking toward building improvements for Calvin and a sports complex for Winnfield.  More detail will be available if the plans advance.

Joe Lynn Browning asked if those in the Atlanta district would vote.  Simmons replied that they are not included now.  If, like the Dodson and Sikes districts become Consolidated District 11, Winnfield and Atlanta could combine at some point.  But that would require a separate election process.

Also looking ahead to Monday, the board will view transfer of the old Brister one-room schoolhouse property in the Sikes area to the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation.  Simmons advised the committee that the board in 2010 donated that property to a local Friends of Brister Schoolhouse.  However, courthouse records still show that property as belonging to the Winn school district and apparently those within the “Friends” 501c(3) group feel the Trust could best maintain the historic site.

Another property discussed is the old Principal’s House site in Dodson.  It does not touch the DHS property, Browning said, and the house has been gone for 30 years.  He said the small property would have little value.  Simmons said it could not be donated but would have to be sold though bid process.

---

In their monthly tradition, members of the Kiwanis Club of Winnfield brought smiles to young students  by going to schools across the parish to recognize “Terrific Kids” in grades kindergarten through Grade 4 for the month of January.  Recipients are shown below:

---

Despite frequent rains and recent equipment repairs, the parish road crew is doing its best to keep up with road maintenance, the Police Jury heard at its February 18 meeting from Supt. Perry Holmes and Asst Supt. Paul Hodnett.

Before he began his report, however, Holmes thanked the jury for its support of his activities over the past two years as he served as president of the Louisiana Parish Engineers & Supervisors Association.  During that time, Holmes kept jurors updated on the association’s activities including a meeting here.  He noted that the group went from “nearly bankrupt” when he took over to now having some $85,000 in the bank.  After serving twice as president, he’s now qualified as a “permanent member.”

In his report, Holmes said there had been “rain every time you turned around” with roads washing out.  Between these rains, road graders got out to flatten out the roads.  Added to the rain was the fact that there was a problem with one grader as well as another with one bobtail truck.  To compensate, he shut down the pothole truck for a few days.  

Good news came with the report that a new batch of culverts has arrived so the culvert issues discussed in January have been taken care of.  “We’re getting the backlog caught up.”

Hodnett gave the jurors an update on equipment and tractors as the road crew is getting ready for the arrival of spring weather.

The lawmakers agreed to appoint Mrs. Ethel Howell to the Winn Parish Library Board for a 5-year term, replacing Dr. Jerry Williams.  They also appointed Mrs. Robin Cooper to the Library Board for a 5-year term to replace Mrs. Marcia Huddleston.

They voted to enter into an intergovernmental agreement between the Jury and the Winnfield City Fire Department as well as one with the Winn Parish Fire District #3.  President Frank McLaren explained that the measures are needed as the departments work to get radios through the Office of Emergency Preparedness.

Stanley Garrett added an item which the jury approved, assisting the Village of Calvin.  Mayor Jeff Canerday requested the assistance in trimming excess limbs in Calvin with a side boom bush hog tractor on Poole Street between 1st and 2nd streets, as well as the entirety of 1st street leading into the back of Calvin High School.

Secretary/treasurer Karen Tyler advised the members that the public hearing held just prior to their regular session is the process required to apply for the state Community Development Block Grant program.  Winn did not qualify for the past two years because prior years’ CDBG projects were still in the works.  Those should be complete before the 2026/2027 funding round as the parish hopes for help with the West Winn Water System.

She also said her office received an email earlier that day giving an update on a $1.4 million grant to purchase backup generators for key sites around the parish.  “We’re still waiting but I’m excited.”

---

Mt Grace for Women on Deer Pen Road won the support of the Winn Parish Police Jury in the form of a resolution concerning new construction of affordable housing, following a presentation by director Jessica Arcement and Mindy Still.

Arcement told the lawmakers that they were seeking the support of the jury as Mt Grace Adult & Teen Challenge pursues a grant for barndominium-style housing. to replace the current residential cabins.  “We’re grateful for what we have but an update is needed.”  The new construction would allow the center to grow from 32 residents to 38.

“Mt Grace for Women is the training center for women in the organization of Louisiana Adult and Teen Challenge,” Arcement explained . “We are located in Winn Parish and enjoy serving our area. LAATC is an inpatient treatment program for men and women struggling with life controlling issues. We have 8 centers in Louisiana.

“A lot of people in Winnfield think ‘Mt Grace’ is our thrift store in town. And while that is the name of our store, Mt Grace is actually the program that our store provides for. Every time you shop there, you’re giving to our program and helping us to remain a tuition-free. There’s no monthly fee to stay here so it helps us remain tuition-free. It enables us to never have to turn anyone away who can’t afford to get help. 

“We also have our cafe in Dodson that our Men’s center runs and we have a food trailer our women’s center runs, called Grace Wins. It will be opening in front of Mt Grace Thrift Store in March.  Our heart is to continue to serve Winn Parish at our local centers, Mt Grace for Women in Winnfield and Mt Grace for Men in Dodson. 

“We also want to do it with excellence and to always have the ability to improve our campuses and improve our programs. We’re grateful to our community and their willingness to always help us accomplish that.”

Jurors Author Robinson and Frank McLaren each made positive comments about the benefit of the Adult & Teen Challenge program within the community.  “It impacts lives.”

---

Gov. Jeff Landry visited Northwestern State University on Feb. 25 to meet with community officials, legislators and leaders in business, industry, education and economic development to address the pending closure of the International Paper mill in Campti and its projected negative impact for Natchitoches Parish. 

“There is no one who understands the economic impact of the loss of these jobs more than me,” Landry said, referencing the closure of multiple Fruit of the Loom facilities in south Louisiana in the 1990s and early 2000s. “It’s not only the jobs that are leaving the Campti facility, but the downstream effect of what it does to the small businesses that are attached. While I don’t have all the answers today, I can tell you that we will continue to work towards building economic opportunities throughout central and north Louisiana.”

“I think that the greatest opportunity that we have for economic development is actually central and northern Louisiana,” he said, referencing the selection of Richland Parish as the site of Meta’s $10 billion artificial intelligence data center.

The governor said a proposed constitutional amendment on the March 29 ballot to reform the state’s tax code could open new opportunities to bring jobs to north and central Louisiana. He has also tasked higher education administrators with shaping Louisiana’s universities and community college systems to support jobs and industry.

“I think it’s evident from the governor’s remarks that his intention is clearly to bring the full force of the government to do whatever we can do to mitigate the reality of this decision by IP,” said Susan Bourgeois, secretary of the Department of Louisiana Economic Development. “One of the things I started out talking about in my role was that we really had to take the whole of government approach to economic development. It’s not just a government solution to the challenges or the opportunities that we face. It really does have to be the private sector, the education sector, the public sector, all of us pulling on the same rope.”

Bourgeois said her office is currently working with five active wood-related projects in north Louisiana.

“We’ve announced 21 wood-related projects in the last seven years that our team is now going to focus on seeing about placement of employees, placement of product and how we can redeploy some of the Louisiana resources that were used at the Campti facility in those projects,” Bourgeois said.

Susie Schowen, secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, said she has engaged a rapid response team, the team that responds to layoffs, who can offer services specifically for IP workers.

“The IP workers are getting services in career counseling, envisioning where their career could go and how to connect with training. We can help offset the cost of that training with the focus of getting people jobs right here in this area.”

“We want to do as much as we can to backfill, to give back, what the closure is going to cause,” Landry said. “We will work as hard as we can and the good news is you’ve got other areas of the state that are performing, and a high tide has a tendency to lift all boats. We are focused on this area, not only Natchitoches but the central and north Louisiana area. We are hyper focused on opportunity because I think that there are opportunities out there.”

Landry said there are companies around the country and around the world are looking for investments in the U.S., which aligns with President Donald Trump’s agenda to boost American manufacturing.

“Right now, that is being driven primarily by the president’s agenda and we want to be able to capture as much of that as we can. You see this great team and we have worked hard and I don’t know anyone who isn’t trying to soften the impact,” he said.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission has resources available at laworks.net/. Information on the Louisiana office of Economic Development is available at opportunitylouisiana.gov/.

---

Echoing Winston Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech that ushered in the Cold War and framed the geo-political landscape, Vice President J.D. Vance just delivered a speech in Munich, Germany that I believe will be viewed as historic. 

In the speech, VP Vance robustly reinforced to that group of snobby, Leftist elites what many of us simply consider to be core national values. Specifically, Vance issued a clarion call to world leaders to end both mass illegal migration as well as the brutal political censorship that suppresses reporting on this issue and many other crucial public policy issues, which has created an ‘Iron Curtain’ barring free speech throughout Europe. 

He stated, ‘if you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you.”  Wow, I thought.  He is making the argument for America First to all the “free” nations of the world.  It reminded me of President Reagan demanding that Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev “tear down this wall.”  It again reminded me of Winston Churchill during World War II exhorting the British people to stand firm against tyranny and the Nazi menace and to ‘never surrender.”

Unconcerned with gentle diplomacy VP Vance emphasized that suppression of, and attacks on, free speech are the biggest security threats of all.  He singled out examples of censorship that included raids and arrests for so-called “hate speech” as well as broad social media restrictions generally. (Recall Elon Musk being threatened with a criminal indictment for “hate speech” simply because he allowed an address by President Trump to be viewed worldwide on his X platform).  

Vance made clear that the Trump Administration will defend free speech rights and will not engage with countries that don’t support traditional democratic values.  He described how national leaders are usually focused on “external threats” to the security of their countries.  However, Vance contended, the greatest threat is not Russia or China but “the threat from within” represented by the abandonment of fundamental European values which are “values shared with the United States of America.”

He also conceded America’s faults saying ““… I will admit that sometimes the loudest voices for censorship have come, not from within Europe, but from within my own country,” targeting the censorship that took place during the Biden Administration when officials “threatened and bullied social media companies to censor so-called misinformation” including denials that COVID-19 came from a laboratory in Wuhan, China.  

Vance also underscored the sea change that has occurred with the 2024 election. “Just as the Biden Administration seemed desperate to silence people from speaking their minds, so the Trump administration will do precisely the opposite.” 

Again, Wow.  That is leadership!

Vance highlighted examples of political censorship “where EU-commissioned commissars warned citizens that they intend to shut down social media during times of civil unrest the moment they spot what they judge as quote, ‘hateful content.’” 

He directly called out Germany, stating German police forces raided the homes of citizens suspected of posting anti-feminist comments. These raids were justified, Vance stated, under the claim they were “combatting misogyny on the internet.”

Regarding Sweden, Vance described a conviction involving a Christian activist who participated in “Quran burnings that resulted in his friend’s murder.” Vance then read the judge’s ruling which stated, “Sweden’s laws to supposedly protect free expression, do not in fact grant a free pass to do or say anything without risking offending the group that holds that belief.”  If that’s so then Sweden doesn’t actually protect freedom of speech. 

Vance recalled an event from two years prior where an individual was arrested for silently praying outside of an abortion clinic.  “After British police spotted him and demanded to know what he was praying for … he replied simply that it was on the behalf of his unborn son he and his former girlfriend had aborted years before.”  He was fined over 9,000 pounds, the BBC reported in 2024.

Vance asserted that “you cannot win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents or putting them in jail, whether that’s the leader of the opposition, a humble Christian praying in her own home, or a journalist trying to report the news.”

In retrospect, I’m not even sure VP Vance’s intended audience was the often weak and risk-averse world leaders in that conference room.  I think it was the people of Europe he was speaking to and what a message of hope it is for them.

Royal Alexander

---

Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced new voter list maintenance data sharing agreements with Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas. These agreements will help ensure the further accuracy of Louisiana’s voter rolls by detecting duplicate registrations within neighboring states.

“I am thankful to Secretary Nelson of Texas, Secretary Watson of Mississippi, former Secretary Thurston and current Secretary Jester of Arkansas for working with our office to help keep our voter list accurate and up-to-date,” Secretary Landry said. “Election integrity is my highest priority as Louisiana’s Secretary of State. These agreements underscore how focused my office is on maintaining safe and secure elections, while also safeguarding voters’ sensitive data.”

Secretary Landry previously announced a similar agreement with Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen in July 2024.

---

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

---

---