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Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mayor-President Edwards launches ‘Pray for the Parish' initiative in Baton Rouge
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — In a heartfelt call for unity and safety, Mayor-President Sid Edwards has launched a new community-wide initiative titled 'Pray for the Parish'—aimed at bringing East Baton Rouge Parish together through prayer and reflection. The inaugural event kicked off on Thursday at the Raising Cane's River Center in downtown Baton Rouge, aligning with the National Day of Prayer. The gathering featured local leaders, residents, and clergy uniting in prayer for the parish's safety and future. Mayor Edwards addressed a somber reality facing the city: while the summer break offers youth a time for rest and recreation, it also poses a risk for increased violence. 'We're going to keep not only our young people but all of the people of the parish safe,' Edwards told attendees. Reflecting on his past as a football coach, Edwards shared an emotional statement. 'I was counting touchdowns as a coach, he said. 'Now I'm counting bodies. It keeps me up at night—I worry about it, especially our young people.' This marks Edwards' fourth month in office. According to data from the City of Baton Rouge, homicides are currently down 23% compared to the same time last year. Still, Edwards emphasized that gun violence remains a critical issue. 'You know, people talk about a murder problem—yeah, we do. But there's a bullet problem too. Too many guns out there,' said Edwards. 'Pray for the Parish' is set to become a quarterly event, with gatherings planned every three months to continue fostering community connection and collaboration. Former Baton Rouge Police Chief Jeff LeDuff echoed the initiative's mission, stating, 'If we can pray together, we can also get out here and address the crime problems together.' Looking ahead, the Mayor's Office plans to roll out 10 to 12 youth engagement programs this summer, and local service members will be deployed to patrol neighborhoods in an effort to minimize crime and increase visibility. Through 'Pray for the Parish,' Mayor Edwards hopes to spark not just spiritual healing, but lasting action. Advocates rally at Louisiana Capitol for the homeless Baton Rouge native crowned Miss Louisiana's Teen 2025 Mayor-President Edwards launches 'Pray for the Parish' initiative in Baton Rouge Tim Cook says Trump tariffs could cost Apple more than $900M in June quarter Feeding America CEO addresses rising hunger crisis in US Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Once a Tiger, always a Tiger': Hundreds remember late Bentonville High School principal
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Hundreds of friends, family, students — both past and present — and staff attended late Bentonville High School principal Jack Loyd's celebration of life at Arend Arts Center on Tuesday. There were tears shed, but Loyd's eulogy — delivered by Scott Passmore and Bentonville athletics director Chris Hutchens — brought their fair share of laughs as well, remembering the stories that put smiles on their faces, like the time Loyd wanted to rent a live tiger to have down on the field during the Tigers' Homecoming football game. Bentonville High School principal dies of illness 'He was told, 'No,' for obvious reasons. 'A tiger at a football stadium with 6- or 8,000 people, not a great idea, Mr. Loyd,'' Passmore said, adding that Loyd opted to, instead, put Bentonville's tiger mascot on the back of his Harley Davidson and lead the football team on the field before the game. 'He gets so excited; he throttles out before the door's completely open and almost decapitated that poor mascot.' Hutchens, who said he met Loyd when he was a 22-year-old intern at Walton Junior High School in 1996, told a story about the time Loyd signed the two and a few others up for a softball tournament in Fayetteville. 'The first game was delayed for about 30 minutes due to the arrival of our opponent,' Hutchens said. 'Once the Hooters National Team arrived from their delayed flight and scored 30 runs in the top of the first, I was pretty sure that Jack signed us up in the wrong division.' Passmore also shared a few other things that Loyd loved, including top-10 lists, fishing, golfing, karaoke, would-you-rather hypotheticals, iced tea and food — both cooking and eating. 'Jack could eat wings, oysters, Jack could take down a two-pound cowboy-cut steak,' Passmore said. 'He was the only guy I knew that we could go to lunch at the Wingstop, and he could manage to spend $50.' Most of all, though, Loyd loved his family. 'There's absolutely zero doubt how much Jack cared for you,' Hutchens said. 'The life that was crafted by Jack was his pride and joy. Jack loved his family.' Hutchens and Passmore were preceded by Peyton Bolling, a senior at Bentonville High School and Miss America's Teen 2025, who read Scripture before sharing her memories of Loyd always greeting students at the front door of the school and lending a listening ear to their needs. 'Mr. Loyd was more than just a principal,' Bolling said. 'He was a mentor, a leader and a true friend to all. Our Bentonville Tiger community is hurting. We feel a sense of loss as we walk these halls the past few days, but we are also reminded that we are stronger because of his guidance and his lessons he's imparted.' The love that Loyd's students had for him was reciprocated. 'Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. Mr. Loyd lived a life of service,' Hutchens said. 'Most of us here have no doubt that Jack had black and gold in his veins.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
