SUMMARY: In a multi-agency drug investigation in New Orleans, four individuals were arrested and over 13,000 tapentadol pills seized. The Louisiana State Police began investigating in October 2024 after discovering drugs shipped from abroad. The investigation revealed that Bahiyyah Shabazz, a USPS mail carrier, coordinated deliveries with Lerone Hines. During arrests in January, detectives seized firearms and additional drugs, including psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana. The suspects face multiple charges related to drug distribution and firearm possession. The total number of intercepted drug packages continues to rise, furthering the crackdown on the distribution network.

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SUMMARY: Genevie Alexander, newly crowned Miss Wash Parish and a member of the Northeast Louisiana Music Association, shares her excitement about giving back to her community. Her focus is on supporting local talent and making a difference through her involvement. The Music Association is currently running a promotion where winners can receive tickets to their Music Awards and a Gambino’s king cake. Genevie reflects on how pageantry, especially after the loss of her mother, has become a transformative experience, allowing her to connect with others in the community. She continues to engage with local events, appreciating the talent and spirit of her parish.

Louisiana Living: NELA Music Association

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UNO lays off staff amid budget crisis

by Piper Hutchinson, Louisiana Illuminator
January 30, 2025

Approximately 30 University of New Orleans employees have been laid off amid the university’s $10 million budget shortfall. 

The layoffs will generate a savings of $1.9 million for the university, UNO chief financial officer Edwin Litolff said in an interview with the Illuminator. 

The university has already taken significant steps to address the budget shortfall, including furloughing 290 employees and consolidating administrators. 

No further layoffs or furloughs are planned at this time, Litolff said. Faculty will be offered the opportunity for voluntary furlough, he added. The university is prohibited from requiring faculty to be furloughed. 

Litolff said the university will consider what further cuts need to be made once spring enrollment is processed and financial aid is dispersed. 

UNO’s attempts to rightsize its spending come after nearly two decades of declining enrollment. Its student numbers have struggled to recover since the failure of federal levees after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  

The school had an enrollment of around 17,000 before Katrina, with an immediate drop to around 6,000. For the fall 2024 semester, its total student body was 6,488. 

Exiting the crisis will come down to the university’s ability to enroll and retain students.

Hard budget times for the state during Gov. Bobby Jindal’s two terms in office, from 2008-16, led to significant cuts for higher education, one of two large portions of Louisiana’s budget unprotected in state law. Those cuts switched the burden of funding public colleges and universities from the state to students, leading to significant tuition hikes.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.