December 2019

In the winter of Jesse’s life

As winter approaches, I find myself contemplating the impending death of my Great Pyrenees dog, Jesse – as magnificent an animal as I’ve known. Jesse’s 14 now, elderly for a dog of his size, with ragged, thinning fur. He’s hard of hearing, finding it difficult to get to his feet at times, but still charismatic in his quiet way, still fearless, still on the job.

Instant classic

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Bulldog Bites

As fans and players were swarming the field at Jerry Simmons Stadium after the exciting 38-37 nail-biting win over the Sterlington Panthers, I overheard Brian Parker say that this game was an instant classic. I knew right then what the title of this week’s Bulldog Bites would be. The packed house that witnessed this game will talk about it for years to come. I don’t think I breathed easy until the clock was at :00.

Federal court hears felon voting rights case in Mississippi

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court hears arguments Tuesday on the constitutionality of Mississippi laws that permanently bar certain felons from voting unless they can get their rights restored through what advocates say is a difficult process.

Six convicted felons are pushing to have their voting rights restored through a lawsuit filed in federal court in Mississippi. They have argued that the restrictions imposed in 1890 were designed to “permanently disenfranchise black voters.”

Wayne James Gary

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Wayne James Gary, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, at the age of 74.

He was a retired roustabout with Mobil Oil, a resident of Plaquemine and a native of Hathaway.

Visitation was held at Wilbert Funeral Home in Plaquemine on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. until a Rite of Christian burial at 2:30 p.m., conducted by Deacon Michael Tramel.

Interment followed in Grace Memorial Park in Plaquemine.

US, China struggle to defuse trade conflict

WASHINGTON (AP) — Businesses and investors have been nervously monitoring U.S.-China trade talks for months, hoping the world’s two biggest economies can de-escalate their trade war and restore some predictability to global commerce.

President Donald Trump delivered another setback to the optimists Tuesday, saying he was willing to wait until after the 2020 elections to close a deal with Beijing.

Student, officer hurt in second Wisconsin high school shooting

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — An armed student confronted a school resource officer at a Wisconsin high school Tuesday morning and both were wounded, police said, in the second such shooting at a school in the state in as many days.

The latest shooting happened at Oshkosh West High School just after 9 a.m., Oshkosh police spokeswoman Katherine Mann said at a news briefing. The student and the officer were taken to hospitals, but no one else was injured in the shooting, Mann said.

Workers fired from Google plan federal labor complaint

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Four workers fired from Google last week are planning to file a federal labor complaint against the company, claiming it unfairly retaliated against them for organizing workers around social causes.

The former employees said Tuesday they are preparing to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board this week. All four were fired Nov. 25 for what Google said were violations of its data security policy.

STATE BRIEFS

Senator pleads not guilty to lying to US agency

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana state senator has pleaded not guilty to making false statements to a federal agency about his New Orleans rental property.

News outlets report Sen. Wesley Bishop entered his plea on Monday at his first court appearance.

Undefeated Crowley slips past Dogs 66-63

Still wrapped up in the semifinals of the Class 3A state football playoffs, the Jennings Bulldogs stepped on the hardwood and gave undefeated Crowley High School all they wanted Monday night. However, in the end, Crowley had just enough firepower to claim a hard-fought 66-63 win over Jennings at Gaudet Gymnasium.

The Dogs came into the contest 1-0 after defeating Church Point to open the season, while the Gents had destroyed just about everyone they faced in 2019.

‘Burreaux’ solidifies himself as Heisman front-runner

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(AP) - The theme of rivalry week, at least as it pertains to NFL Draft QB Stock Watch, is that all but one of the quarterbacks on this list didn’t have a lot to do; the offense either leaned on the running game or the defense – or both – to secure an easy win. The notable exception, of course, is LSU’s Joe Burrow, who needed just three quarters to break one record and tie another on his way to a likely Heisman Trophy and a few months after that, the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.