Louisiana high school athletes and fans will see some familiar championship events in new locations beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association recently announced that its boys basketball, powerlifting and wrestling state championships will move to different venues as part of an effort to enhance the championship experience for students, schools and spectators.

One of the biggest changes affects the Boys Basketball State Championships, commonly known as Marsh Madness. Beginning in March 2027, the tournament will be held at the CAJUNDOME in Lafayette. The event has been hosted at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles since 2014. The move returns the championship to the CAJUNDOME for the first time in more than 15 years.

Powerlifting will also have a new home beginning in 2027. The State Powerlifting Championships will relocate to the West Monroe Sports & Events Complex after spending the past two years in Kenner. The larger venue is expected to provide additional space for athletes, equipment, spectators and event operations as participation in the sport continues to grow.

Wrestling fans will see the state championships move back to south Louisiana. Starting with the 2027 championships, the event will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The tournament has spent the past several years in Bossier City and will now return to the New Orleans area, where organizers believe the location can better accommodate the sport’s continued growth.

LHSAA officials said the venue changes are part of a broader effort to improve championship events and provide memorable experiences for student-athletes across the state. The announcement also reflects the organization’s partnership with the Sugar Bowl, which recently became the title sponsor of LHSAA state championship events.

The new sites are expected to offer upgraded facilities, increased capacity and improved accessibility for schools and fans traveling from around Louisiana.

We have a lot of things going on over the next few weeks, so we are including a calendar for the month of June, as well as a listing and a description of the different activities. We hope that all of you will take advantage of some of the events that will be going on at the library.

One of the biggest changes for the library starts with the library being open on Saturday, June 6. We will
be open on Saturdays from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. That gives our patrons some extra hours to visit the library each week.

On Fridays, June 5 and June 12, Storytime will begin at 10:00 am for children and parents or grandparents. Our Summer Reading Program will start at the end of June, so Ms. Sims will be telling the children and adults all about it so they can be prepared.

We will also be open on Saturday, June 13, from 9:00 to 1:00, for some extra hours.

On Wednesday, June 10, our highly popular Bingo will begin at 1:00. At our last meeting, there were about 30 people here, and we all had a great time. There were some light refreshments, and all the winners had their choice of different prizes. We invite everyone to come for the June games to enjoy the fun!

On Tuesday, June 16, the representative from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) will be at the library to help people as young as 14 to 24 with the Out-of-School Youth Program and the WIOA Youth Program which include such things as job skills, work experience, tutoring, and other skills necessary to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce. There is also a CDL training program for those 21 years of age or older. Anyone who is in the 14 to 24 age bracket and needs help finding a job or preparing for a career should stop by the library on June 16, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

If you have a teenager at home or a grandchild who might be interested in these programs, bring them to the library to find out what might be available.

On Wednesday, June 17, our genealogy group meets at 10:00 am. Even if someone has never been to this group before, all interested people are welcome. Anyone who has a laptop may bring it, or we have a few laptops here at the library that can be used if needed. Mrs. Linda Young, one of our librarians, as well Dr. Virginia Webb, a local genealogist, will be available to help anyone who needs it.

On Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20, the library will be closed in honor of the Juneteenth holiday.

On Tuesday, June 23, at 2:00 pm, there will be a presentation from Ms. Erin Staub of the Louisiana Wild Society about native plants in our area of Louisiana. All people who enjoy gardening, who are interested in learning about our local plants, or who are Master Gardeners are invited to attend this presentation. There will be a question and answer session at the end. On Friday, June 26, Storytime will begin at 10:00 am. Remember the library will be open on Saturday, June 27 from 9:00 to 1:00.

Our Summer Reading Program will officially begin at 2:00 pm on the afternoon of Monday, June 29. The program will be presented by Harvey Rabbit, a favorite of children of all ages for many years. There will be music and lots of laughter, so bring your children and grandchildren to join in the fun. Remember, the library will be open on Saturday, June 27, for those who need a little extra time to check out books or movies or magazines.

On Tuesday, June 30, Ms. Elizabeth Martin of the LSU Agricultural Center will be at the library to share information with adults about “Roots and Recipes.” She will discuss the different kinds of plants whose roots are edible, and the ways that they can be prepared to eat. Everyone is invited to attend.

More information on each of these events can be found on the library website at redriverparishlibrary.org. When you get to the website, click on the word Calendar. When the calendar appears, click on the date you want to know about, and the information about that date will appear to the left of the calendar. If you have any trouble using the website, call the library at (318) 932-5614.

Shared by the Red River Parish Library

First Methodist Church Coushatta will host a special summer craft camp July 14-16 for girls entering second through fifth grade.

Led by the ladies of Sewing God’s Love, the camp will give participants the opportunity to learn basic sewing and needlework skills while creating crafts celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

Camp hours will be from 9 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. each day, and all supplies will be provided.

Registration is required through the church’s Google form. Space is limited to 30 participants.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pvYQLNtWZXWzR8tIHimRNtwOXAi8s179QnVpufBZqJA/viewform?ts=6a0e6544&edit_requested=true

Eighty-two years ago this week, thousands of young men stepped onto landing craft and headed toward the coast of France, knowing many would never return home.

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched what became known as D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in military history. More than 150,000 American, British, Canadian, and Allied troops crossed the English Channel and landed on five beaches along the Normandy coast in German-occupied France.

The operation, officially called Operation Overlord, marked the beginning of the Allied effort to liberate Western Europe from Nazi control during World War II.

The invasion began before dawn. Paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines while warships bombarded German defenses along the coast. As the first waves of soldiers approached the beaches, they faced heavy gunfire, mines, obstacles, and difficult terrain.

One of the most well-known landing sites was Omaha Beach, where American forces suffered significant casualties while fighting to secure a foothold on the shoreline. Despite the challenges, Allied troops continued advancing throughout the day, gradually overcoming German defenses.

By nightfall, the invasion force had established positions along the Normandy coast. The success of D-Day allowed additional troops, vehicles, supplies, and equipment to pour into France in the weeks that followed. Less than a year later, Germany surrendered, bringing the war in Europe to an end.

For many Americans, D-Day remains a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and determination. The young men who stormed the beaches were farmers, factory workers, students, and small-town residents who answered the call to serve their country during one of history’s most difficult times.

Today, as the number of surviving World War II veterans continues to decline, the anniversary of D-Day serves as a reminder of the price paid for freedom. Communities across the nation pause each year to honor those who participated in the invasion and to remember the sacrifices made by what is often called the Greatest Generation.

Their actions on June 6, 1944, helped change the course of history and remain one of the defining moments of the twentieth century.

Right now, the world of tournament bass fishing has reached a crossroads. If the powers that be (tournament organizations) do not address the key issues that have created this massive drop in tournament participation, the entire bass fishing industry is on the verge of collapse.

Now this may sound a little harsh, and maybe a little overblown, but the time has come to save an industry that needs saving. Bass tournaments, no matter how you look at them, are a necessary avenue for product invention and promotion.

This is how the fishing industry gets the word out about a new lure, or any product related to bass fishing. No other group has the power of promotion more than tournament anglers all across the country, and even around the world, simply by word of mouth.

Look at Japan and how this crisis has impacted the bass fishing community. Nobody has been more creative and responsible for new lures and techniques than the Japanese. They have sent their best anglers to America for the sole purpose of promoting their market and the products they produce.

How have they done it? By winning tournaments here in America. It seems like every year a new Japanese angler arrives on one of the high-level tours and has an immediate impact either by winning or finishing very high in every tournament.

But getting back to the problem at hand, why has tournament participation dropped like the stock market crash of 1929? It hasn’t just fallen off a little, it has plummeted! Anglers have literally walked away overnight with zero signs of them coming back.

So how can we fix the problem? First, we must recognize the problem before we can figure out how to correct it. It’s similar to an alcoholic’s dilemma; they have to realize they have a problem before they can fix it.

Anglers leaving the sport they’ve loved so much basically started right after the COVID 19 pandemic. But during this time tournament participation was high with most events running full fields of 200 boats or more. Today those same events are drawing less than 100 boats while others have lost over two-thirds of their participation.

Also boat sales during COVID exploded to the point that there were one-year waiting lists for all major bass boat brands. Manufacturers struggled to build bass boats fast enough to satisfy the demand.

So, what happened after COVID and why did tournament anglers load their high dollar bass boats and go home, never to return? Well, there’s only one thing that’s had a major impact on the bass fishing world – the invention of Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS)! Bingo!

This hit the bass fishing market like nothing else ever has. Just like American politics, it has also divided us as consumers! Not just a little bit either; anglers around the country continue to argue over the negative impact FFS has placed on our bass fisheries. Some issues have been substantiated, and others are now considered myths.

Most anglers will agree that forward-facing sonar has been a tremendous invention that has totally changed the bass fishing world. But the true anglers who are considered to be purist believe that this new technology has no place in bass tournaments.

The PGA Tour has faced similar technology issues lately with better golf clubs and golf balls that are flying farther than ever before. These adjustments have caused major concerns for the PGA Tour and even have resulted in some golf courses becoming obsolete, or at least, not suitable for pro tournaments.

So, the PGA Tour decided to implement new restrictions on manufacturers and how far golf balls can fly. They did this for the good of sport and the future of the sport. Maybe B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing (MLF) need to take a page from the PGA Tour.

Let’s take away FFS for all bass tournament competitions and get back to using acquired skills anglers need to have in order to compete at the highest level. You don’t have to eliminate it totally; allow anglers to use it for practice only. But it has no place on the professional level and should be banned on tournament day.

The biggest concern at this time is with the lower entry-level tournaments like the BFL’s, Toyota Series and the Bassmaster Opens. Is it too late to make changes or eliminate FFS for tournaments on the lower levels?

Not really. Every year tournament organizations make changes to their rules, and this would be no different. I just hope the powers that be (B.A.S.S. and MLF) wake up and do the right thing for 2027 in order to save a dying industry — tournament bass fishing!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

If there is one holiday almost everyone can get behind, it might just be National Donut Day.

Today, Friday, June 5, is National Donut Day. While many people see it as a great excuse to enjoy a glazed, chocolate-covered, or jelly-filled treat, the day actually has a meaningful history.

National Donut Day was established in 1938 by The Salvation Army to honor the women known as the “Donut Lassies.” During World War I, these volunteers served fresh donuts and offered comfort to American soldiers stationed overseas. What began as a simple act of kindness grew into a tradition that continues nearly a century later.

Of course, around here, donuts have long been more than just a sweet snack. They’ve been part of early mornings before school, quick stops on the way to work, fishing trips at daylight, and coffee conversations among friends. A box of donuts has a way of bringing people together, whether it’s at the office, the ballpark, or around the kitchen table.

Americans consume billions of donuts each year, and while flavors and toppings have changed over time, the popularity of the classic treat remains as strong as ever.

So today, consider treating yourself to a donut—or maybe even two. After all, some holidays are meant to be enjoyed one bite at a time.

Happy National Donut Day!

Bingo at the Ashland Fire Station June 6 at 5pm. Each game wins a prize. Proceeds support the Ashland Fire Department.

The 2nd Annual LSU AgCenter Hay Day is June 11 at Dodson Ranch in Coushatta. RSVP by contacting the Red River Parish Extension Office at 318.932.4342.

Red River Man Church will be June 11 at 6pm at The Shop. Speaker is Bro. Dominic Mowrer, Pastor of United BC in Campti. Free burgers from Petersen’s Pit Stop. 

Red River Parish Extension Office will hold Wellness Wednesday June 17 at noon. The topic will be Hydration. To register visit https://tinyurl.com/yutdeb98. 

Fairview Baptist Church will host a 50th Anniversary Celebration Service July 12 from 10am-12pm. Guest speaker is Dr. Drew Landry. A meal will be served following morning service.

The 10th Annual Balloons over DeSoto will be held Sun July 12 from 4-10pm at the C.E. “Rusty” Williams Airport in Grand Cane. Gates open at 4pm. Balloons enter the airport & tethered balloons rides begin at 7:30pm. The balloon glow is scheduled for 8:30pm followed by fireworks at 9:15pm. Gates close at 10pm.

The Red River Crusade & Concert is scheduled for July 19-22 at the Red River High School gym. Doors open at 5:30pm. Service begins at 6:30pm. Each night will include a free meal, live worship music by Jason Lovins Band and a powerful message from Luke Hockenjos, founder of Give ’em Jesus. Everyone is invited to attend. All ages welcome.

Teachers are eligible to receive a FREE windowsill greenhouse kit and a seed bundle after completing a Louisiana Farm to School survey from the LSU AgCenter. Take the survey at https://tinyurl.com/farm2school26. Kits are available in limited supply.

Harry Connick Jr will be the halftime show at the New Orleans Saints Home Opener in Sept.

According to recent reports, Louisiana is facing a critical shortage of certified teachers with over 1,100 positions unfilled in the state.

Lucille Anderson Thomas Henry
December 24, 1926 — May 25, 2026
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 7, 2026 at 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home in Shreveport. Interment will follow at Saint Paul Baptist Church Cemetery, 6373 Hwy 783, in Coushatta.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order June 2 creating what he calls a bipartisan task force to develop a permanent funding source for teacher and school support worker pay raises through changes to the state’s Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), the formula that funds public education.

The proposal would redirect approximately $168 million within the MFP to continue the current $2,000 teacher stipend and $1,000 support staff stipend for the 2026-27 school year. The move follows voters’ rejection of Constitutional Amendment 3 in May, which would have created a permanent funding source for educator pay raises.

While teachers generally support maintaining the stipends, educators and school leaders are questioning how the plan will affect local school districts. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter has said educators still have significant questions about where the money will come from and what impact funding shifts could have on schools.

In northwest Louisiana, school officials are closely monitoring the proposal. Red River Parish Superintendent Alison Strong said the district has long prioritized employee compensation and currently ranks among the state’s top-paying school systems.

“Red River Parish has always made employee compensation a top priority,” Strong said. “Every teacher and employee in the school system deserves competitive wages, and we work each day to make that happen.”

However, Strong expressed concern about using existing MFP dollars to fund the state mandate.

“What is not good is the possibility of cutting or reallocating the MFP to fund this specific mandate,” she said. “There is no way that this will not directly or indirectly impact student services in the future.”

Education officials across Louisiana have warned that diverting MFP funds toward salaries could create pressure on district budgets that rely on those dollars for transportation, maintenance, utilities, technology, and other operational needs. The concern may be especially significant in larger districts such as Caddo and DeSoto parishes, where payroll costs are substantially higher.

For now, local school boards are waiting for details on how the proposed changes would be implemented and whether individual districts could see funding reductions as a result.

BATON ROUGE, La. – The nearly three-month 2026 Regular Legislative Session adjourned today, after legislators approved a $47 billion balanced budget that prioritizes attracting private industry to create new higher-paying jobs in Louisiana, improving the state’s roads and infrastructure, investing in K-12 education and paying down state debt. 

From the state’s $12.5 billion in State General Fund dollars alone, lawmakers voted to spend $4 billion on K-12 education (fully funding the Minimum Foundation Program) and $1.3 billion on higher education – together, representing close to half of all State General Fund dollars.  Education funding approved includes $420 million for early childhood education and $30 million for tutoring programs.  In the final days of the legislative session, legislators worked with Governor Jeff Landry to provide a legislative path that can fund teacher stipends again in the coming year, and created a task force expected to recommend a more permanent teacher pay solution going forward.

Lawmakers approved spending more than $360 million in economic development initiatives to attract better jobs for Louisianans, including $75 million in incentives for companies that pay higher-than-average wages, $50 million in business site readiness funding, and $139 million for businesses to retain and recruit employees. 

The legislature made additional investments, above the annual Capital Outlay bill, in road and infrastructure improvementstotaling more than $500 million; approximately $33 million in rate increases for Medicaid home and community-based services for disabled individuals; and $144 million in surplus payments to LASERS to specifically pay down additional state retirement debt.

“We are at a unique point in Louisiana’s history right now, building on two years of tax reform work that has already attracted more than $100 billion in new private industry investments heading into Louisiana,” said Senate President Cameron Henry.  “Look at the budget we passed, and you will see our priorities include modernizing our educational systems, creating better workforce training programs and improving our roads and infrastructure.  We are readying our state to meet the opportunities that will literally be life-changing for our people.”

Before both chambers gaveled to a close, lawmakers had created a new congressional district map to elect U. S. House members from Louisiana, removed the vehicle inspection sticker requirement for all but five parishes, steered $50 million more to Louisiana’s fortified roof grant program next year, provided more protections for minors online; and strengthened protections against hazing on college campuses. 

“I’m proud of the work our members did together this session.  From education and health to crime and the courts, we tackled some controversial issues this year to be sure, and it wasn’t always easy,” said House Speaker Phillip DeVillier. “Throughout this process, one belief we all share is the desire to serve our constituents and to create better opportunities for Louisiana families.”

Legislators considered more than 2,500 legislative instruments over the 85 calendar days allowed in a regular legislative session, and sent more than 900 bills to the governor’s desk for his approval.

Additional legislation that received final passage included:

• scheduling this year’s U.S. House congressional elections to be held as an open primary election on November 3, 2026, with a general election on December 12, 2026 (qualifying period August 5-7, 2026);
• opening up TOPS-Tech tuition assistance awards to potentially include more students, including certain part-time students and veterans;
• enhancing the penalty for using marijuana within 2,000 feet of a school zone;
• authorizing Homelessness Court programs, approving minimum standards for homelessness service providers;
• strengthening criminal penalties for obstruction of worship services; and
• creating the first-ever recreational alligator hunting season in Louisiana.

For more information on legislation passed during the 2026 Regular Session, the public can log onto www.legis.la.gov to search for bills and watch live streams of committee room and floor debate.  Additionally, the legislative mobile phone app, LALEGE, can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play.

The Red River Parish School Board will receive bids for price quotations on the following:

Milk, Bread, and Meat and Select Spices for a period beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.

And Request for Proposals for Food Products for a period beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.  

Invitation to bid and proposals, general instructions, and specifications can be obtained at the Red River Parish School Board Office, School Food Service Department, 100 Bulldog Drive, Coushatta, Louisiana 71019, Telephone Number (318) 271-3144 or e-mail Katie Bethard at kbethard@rrbulldogs.com.  Deadline for submission and opening of the bids will be held at 10:00 a.m., Moday, June 15, 2026 at the Red River Parish School Board Office, School Food Service Department located at 100 Bulldog Drive.  Bidding vendors do not need to be present at the opening in order to qualify.  Formal awarding of Milk and Juice Products, Bread and Bread Products, and Pest Control bids will be done at the next regular Red River Parish School Board Meeting in the Red River Parish School Board Meeting Room, 100 Bulldog Drive, Coushatta, Louisiana 71019.

The public is invited to attend bid openings.

The Red River Parish School Board, School Food Service Program is funded with 98% federal funds for a total of approximately $990,000.00

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

I’ve been pondering one of life’s great mysteries: what happened to hats? Real hats. The kind men used to wear when they went to work, went to town, or went anywhere except the shower. Once upon a time, a man wouldn’t leave the house without a fedora, a trilby, or something with a brim wide enough to shade half the county. Now the only folks still wearing real hats are cowboys—and even they take them off indoors, which is more than I can say for the baseball‑cap crowd at Walmart.

I watch Perry Mason before bed most nights. Not for the suspense—there isn’t any. We all know Perry’s client didn’t do it. I watch to see how much the world has changed. In the 1957 episodes, everybody wears a hat. Even Perry. The only hatless soul is Paul Drake, the detective, who apparently needed full cranial ventilation to solve crimes. And have you noticed? Nobody has a television in their living room. They’re sitting around talking to each other like it’s normal. Wild times.

Do y’all know what happened to hats? Should we start a new fad here in Ruston? On second thought, no. I’d rather someone start a movement to make neckties disappear. That’s the one part of my calling I’ve never understood. Why wrap a decorative noose around my neck and cut off blood flow to my already overworked brain? I’m trying to preach the gospel, not pass out in the pulpit. Someone please start a necktie revolt. I’ll sign the petition.

And while we’re talking about things that vanished—what happened to CB radios? That was the first social media. You could make friends for a solid five miles. Longer if you were driving 55 on the interstate, which we all were back then, unless we weren’t, which is why we needed the CB in the first place. “Breaker one‑nine, where’s Smokey hiding?” Then radar detectors came along and CBs went the way of the eight‑track.

Some things I’m glad disappeared. Felt boards in church. I never trusted those things. One wrong move and Moses would fall off Mount Sinai. Typewriters? Good riddance. I used more liquid paper than ribbon. I’m surprised they didn’t sell it by the gallon.

But here’s something I hope doesn’t vanish: you.

So go to church on Sunday—before someone starts wondering what happened to you.

According to a report from WalletHub and based on new data set to be released Friday by the Federal Reserve, credit card debt will decrease by $61 billion.

Lucille Anderson Thomas Henry
December 24, 1926 — May 25, 2026
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 7, 2026 at 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home in Shreveport. Interment will follow at Saint Paul Baptist Church Cemetery, 6373 Hwy 783, in Coushatta.

Recent earthquake activity in and around Red River Parish was part of a state oversight hearing held May 26 by the Louisiana House Select Committee on Homeland Security.

The hearing included discussion of the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster, with Red River Parish being one of the main areas of concern. Scientists, academic experts, and state officials shared early information about the recent seismic activity and discussed what may be needed to better understand and monitor future events.

State Representative Charles “Chuck” Owen, who represents Louisiana House District 30, said the hearing showed that Louisiana needs to continue paying close attention to the issue. Owen noted that while earthquakes do happen in Louisiana from time to time, the recent activity in Northwest Louisiana has been more significant than usual.

Red River Parish became a focus earlier this year after a magnitude 4.9 earthquake was recorded in March. The quake was felt by many residents and brought attention to the need for more information about what caused the activity and whether additional monitoring may be needed.

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy has also been involved in reviewing the tremors, along with the Red River Office of Emergency Preparedness and the U.S. Geological Survey. State officials have reported multiple earthquakes in the area since late 2025, including several tremors recorded over a short period of time.

The recent activity has led to discussion of creating an Earthquake Task Force to study seismic activity in Red River and nearby parishes. The proposed task force would look at monitoring needs, possible causes, and ways Louisiana can be better prepared for future events.

For Red River Parish residents, the hearing shows that the recent earthquakes are being taken seriously at the state level. While many questions remain, lawmakers and experts are continuing to look for answers and ways to strengthen Louisiana’s response to unusual seismic activity.

By Alan Wooten | May 28, 2026

(The Center Square) – Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988, Kentucky since 1992, Louisiana and North Carolina since 2008.

Respectively, outgoing Republican Sens. John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell, Dr. Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis are accused of being of the party in name only, and a fair number from their party are glad to see them go. In three of the four races in November, their departure won’t matter too much for their party because the state leans Republican.

But for purplish North Carolina, the Grand Old Party has an imposing rally to complete to keep the streak. Republican Michael Whatley, notable as the leader of the Republican National Convention handpicked to get Donald Trump back in the White House, trails Democrat Roy Cooper in fundraising, polls and increasingly important as the clock ticks, name recognition.

“A failed governor, Roy Cooper spent eight years releasing violent criminals into North Carolina’s communities, drove up costs for working families, and deserted thousands of victims devastated by Hurricane Helene,” said Executive Director Alex Latcham of the Senate Leadership Fund after $71 million from $342 million went to the North Carolina race. “By contrast, Michael Whatley is a successful entrepreneur and strong ally of President Trump who always puts North Carolina’s families first.”

The dollars of the pivotal super political action committee are expected to eventually be spent in Texas; Cornyn lost his primary to state Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday. McConnell’s Kentucky and Cassidy’s Louisiana are strong Republican grounds, with May 19 primary winner Andy Barr and June 27 runoff survivor Julia Letlow or John Fleming, respectively, expected to win in November.

The four departing Republicans voted plenty with the party. Ultimately, they were unwanted by second-term Republican President Donald Trump.

Tillis drew the mercurial leader’s ire as one of two holdouts on a reconciliation bill last June. He’s also been a thorn in confirmation committee work, and even back to the first term. Still, he carried a 9-0 record in 23 years of political elections, notably flipping his seat in 2014 from the late Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan.

“It’s not a hard choice,” he said of being done with partisan gridlock of Washington and saying he would not seek reelection.

Party battle wounds are many.

Cornyn’s “Trump’s time has passed him by” line three years ago was never forgotten. Even still, Paxton didn’t get the presidential endorsement against him until May 19 – a week ahead of the runoff with early voting already ongoing. Cornyn also supports the filibuster rule, criticized the 2017 firing of FBI Director James Comey and defended Special Counsel Robert Mueller regarding a Russian investigation.

Five years have passed since Cassidy voted to convict Trump in the impeachment trial after the events of Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol.

“Bill’s loss was predictable, and Bill knew it,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., in published reports, adding he respected him for running anyway.

Cassidy even labored diligently to navigate the waters. For example, as a physician he questioned Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s stance on vaccines yet still delivered a confirmation vote. Cassidy has chaired the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, adding even more impact to his vote.

For Tillis, he and Trump had different views on Medicaid and tax policy. His blocks or holding out until late on nominees, such as federal prosecutor Ed Martin or War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth, were another division, as was speculation on controlling Greenland. Tillis also didn’t like the rhetoric on what did or did not happen Jan. 6, 2021.

Collectively, the four were generally reliable votes as Republicans and in many occasion gave support to the president. Just not always.

And in 14 weeks, absentee ballots go into the mail in North Carolina ahead of Nov. 3 Election Day. Without a doubt, a Cooper win would definitely mark another “nay” vote to the Trump agenda.

The Senate today is 53 Republicans, 47 Democrats and two independents caucusing with the minority party. Thirty-five Senate seats will be decided – two of which are special elections.

Forecasts have it close – prediction markets favoring 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans and one too close to call; the renowned website 270towin says consensus is four too close to call, 50 Republicans and 46 Democrats.

Tough as any metric for Whatley, aside from what money pours in for each campaign, is polls asking about favorability or recognition. In the Carolina Journal poll this month, 52.7% either have no opinion (19.3%) or say they have not heard (33.4%) of Whatley. That’s great disparity from Cooper’s 11.7% combined for no opinion (8%) or never heard of him (3.7%).

“Roy Cooper’s double-digit lead over Michael Whatley is real – but it’s not just a generic midterm backlash,” said Donald Bryson, CEO of the John Locke Foundation and publisher of Carolina Journal. “Cooper’s 24 years of statewide name recognition is a massive advantage that no challenger can easily overcome. At the same time, Republicans are fighting headwinds: President Trump’s approval is underwater, while a majority of North Carolinians say the country is on the wrong track. That combination makes this Senate race even more difficult for the party in the White House.”

Whatley is arriving at his first public office election. His work has been hailed at the national level. On the ground, his campaign is nearing a sweep of stumping in all 100 counties. Wednesday, he was in the coastal Pender County community of Hampstead celebrating “250 years of American exceptionalism and strength.”

Cooper, a career politician, has six statewide victories (two for governor, four for attorney general) in his 13-0 ledger inclusive of state Senate and House of Representatives races he began five decades ago in the 1980s.

According to Federal Elections Commission information, Cooper’s cash on hand at the end of the first quarter March 31 was $18.4 million. Whatley was at $2.5 million.

Earlier this month, twice in five days Cooper’s poll lead on Whatley increased. Carolina Forward had it 49%-42% with margin of error +/- 3.3%; Carolina Journal had it 49.8%-38.7% with margin of error +/- 4%. Sampling for each was within the first 11 days of the month.

“If you’re a Republican candidate running in a competitive race in North Carolina this year, these are tough results,” said Rebekah Whilden, executive director of Carolina Forward. “The evidence is piling up, between polling results like these as well as in special elections around the country, that the voters do not like what they’re seeing and demanding a course correction.”

The president was fine with losing Cornyn, McConnell, Cassidy and Tillis. He firmly believed Whatley can win the state where he’s triumphed three times.

Election Day is five months from Tuesday. North Carolina voters get ballots in 14 weeks.

So, while it’s not the left field sun at Yankee Stadium, Yogi Berra’s famous line applies: “It gets late early out there.”

• VIP Suite – $650 (includes $500 donation to the Demons Unlimited Foundation)
  Includes access to fully catered suites at Turpin Stadium along with upgraded parking based on donor level.
• Chairbacks – $125
• Military/Senior Citizen – $115
• Faculty/Staff – $85 (Sections D, E, H and I)
• Young Alumni – $85 (ages 30 and under)
• General Admission – $70
  General admission tickets provide access to any bleacher seat in Turpin Stadium on either sideline or the upper deck.