Governor Landry slams LSU athletics director: 'I'm tired of rewarding failure … and leaving taxpayers to pay the bill'
Plus — Bossier City weekend: Coffee and classic cars, trick or treat, a spicy challenge, and a Christmas parade.
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Bossier City forecast
🌤️ Today High: 65°F | Wind: NW 5–10 mph 💧 Rain: 0% | ☁️ Partly Cloudy
🌕 Tonight Low: 42°F | Wind: NW → calm 💧 Rain: 0% | 🌌 Clear Skies
☀️ Friday High: 68°F | Wind: calm → N 5 mph 💧 Rain: 0% | ☀️ Sunny
Beyond Bossier
Trump cuts China tariffs after promises from Xi on rare earths, soybeans
What is ‘ghost tapping?’ Warning for all debit, credit card users
Sports
Ed Orgeron open to LSU return, reflects on Brian Kelly firing, SEC coaching vacancies
Jerry Jones on LB struggles, trade possibility, Trevon Diggs, more
Governor Landry slams LSU athletics director: ‘I’m tired of rewarding failure … and leaving taxpayers to pay the bill’
Gov. Jeff Landry blasted LSU’s athletic leadership for negotiating what he termed was an overly generous contract for the head football coach that was fired on Sunday.
The governor expressed his frustration with LSU Athletics but singled out Athletics Director Scott Woodward for the 10-year $100 million contract that brought Brian Kelly to LSU from Notre Dame in 2021.
Kelly coached less than four years at LSU.
‘I’ll let Donald Trump select the next coach before I let [Woodward] do it’
“I can tell you right now, Scott is not selecting the next coach. Hell, I’ll let Donald Trump select the next coach before I let him do it,” Landry said.
He later said, “we are going to make sure the next coach is successful because I am tired of rewarding failure in this country, and leaving taxpayers to pay the bill.”
Kelly’s buyout is still under negotiation, but it is believed to initially be $53 million, the second-largest buyout in football history. The largest, $77 million, went to fired Texas A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher in 2023. Fisher’s first contract was signed off by Woodward when he was athletic director at Texas A&M. That called for $75 million over 10 years, but after Woodward came to LSU in 2019, Texas A&M extended the contract for $95 million over 10 years in 2021.
Efforts to reach the LSU Athletic Department, Woodward and LSU for comment were unsuccessful.
Landry says he was not involved in Kelly’s firing
Landry called a press conference Wednesday to address expiring SNAP food benefits in November, but passionately switched topics to LSU football after a reporter asked about his role in Kelly’s firing.
The governor said he was not involved in the firing decision, but he held a meeting at the Governor’s Mansion on Sunday night to review the “legalities” of the termination and to discuss who would pay the buyout.
Landry said his role “is about the fiscal effect of firing a coach under a terrible contract.”
Landry also criticized the agents who represent prominent sports figures, like Woodward, Kelly and Fisher.
“You know what’s interesting?” asked the governor. “If I’m not mistaken Woodward’s agent, Kelly’s agent, the Texas A&M — they’re all the same agent. This is ridiculous. Lawyers would be disbarred for the ways these agents act and the way they’re able to represent. It’s really time for the NCAA to put on some guardrails in college sports.”
LSU ticket prices rise while the team loses
On top of the Kelly contract, Landry also pointed out his distaste towards LSU’s decision to raise ticket prices for next year after the football team had lost two of the last three games.
Landry assured that the LSU Board of Supervisors will establish a committee to select the next LSU football coach.
In the past, the board has had an outsized role in LSU athletics. In 2019, board leaders insisted on hiring Woodward, a Baton Rouge native and LSU alumnus. At a private meeting at a Baton Rouge restaurant, former LSU board chair James Williams wrote Woodward’s starting salary on a cocktail napkin and handed it to then-LSU President F. King Alexander. Alexander said that board members told him he needed to fire former LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva and hire Woodward.
Woodward has hired two successful coaches who have since won national championships for LSU: LSU Women’s Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey and LSU Baseball Coach Jay Johnson.
— By Kylah Babin, AnnMarie Bedard and Veronica Camenzuli/LSU Manship News Service
Louisiana Legislature approves $150 million for SNAP funding
The Louisiana Legislature allocated $150 million Wednesday to temporarily fund SNAP food benefits in November because the federal government shutdown could cut off benefits to 800,000 Louisiana residents beginning Saturday. The money will be transferred from the Louisiana Department of Health’s budget.
The Senate also passed a resolution urging the federal government to refund the state the $150 million.
After the Legislature adjourned, Gov. Jeff Landry complimented the House and the Senate and said that a surplus in the state government “gives us the opportunity to act with compassion and reason.” The Republican governor sharply criticized Democratic leadership in Washington for breaking down the social safety net some people need.
“We have to take care of our most vulnerable people,” Landry said.
More than two dozen Democrat attorneys general and governors have sued the federal government in Massachusetts federal court over Washington’s withholding of SNAP benefit funding. The case is based on previous government shutdowns, in which SNAP funding was continued with money from an emergency contingency fund in Washington.
“I think that it is outrageous that the federal government is holding food money hostage,” said Sen. Valarie Hodges, R-Livingston.
The only objection to the calls for reimbursement across both chambers came from Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe. Morris disapproved of the Senate’s resolution, saying it was not the state’s responsibility to “bail out” the federal government.
“It’s really pretty ridiculous that we are in some respects being forced to try to bail out the largest source of wealth in the world.”
“It’s really pretty ridiculous that we are in some respects being forced to try to bail out the largest source of wealth in the world and that has ever been in the world,” Morris said. He said the state funding sets a “bad precedent” of the federal government forcing program funding to states.
A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday.
— By Courtney Bell, Avery White and Sheridan White/LSU Manship News Service
Bossier City weekend: Coffee and classic cars, trick or treat, a spicy challenge, and a Christmas parade
Saturday morning will be all about coffee and classic cars. Enjoy the craftsmanship and nostalgia of classic cars, meet fellow enthusiasts, and enjoy a morning filled with the aroma of coffee. It’s all happening at Coffee on the Red, 100 Greenacres Blvd, Saturday, beginning at 8 am.
The Bossier City Farmers Market will host a free Trick-or-Treat for kids Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes, trick-or-treat with the vendors, and enjoy candy and kids’ activities. The Bossier Farmers Market takes place year-round, every Saturday morning (from April to the end of November) at the Pierre Bossier Mall. You’ll find dozens of vendors and food trucks.
At 10 am Saturday, the East Bank Plaza will launch its first Spicy Food Truck Challenge. Ten local food trucks will bring forward their own spicy creations in a battle for 1) The Best Tasting, 2) The Hottest, 3) The Most Creative, and 4) The Slow Burn spicy food item. Each truck will offer a Hot Pepper Challenge option under $10 in addition to their regular, non-spicy menu! Plus, there will be live music by Jester, playing 90’s rock and grunge, with a mix of blues, 80’s rock, and more.
And once again, the Louisiana Boardwalk is kicking off the holiday season early with its annual Christmas Parade. Saturday, November 1, at 4 pm, come enjoy the magic with us at the parade featuring the Bass Pro Shops Santa, followed by refreshments and Santa lighting the tree at Bass Pro Shops.
Bossier City town hall scheduled for Shady Grove, District 1
Cliff Smith, Bossier City Councilmember for District 3 will be hosting a second town hall meeting on Monday, November 3rd at the Shady Grove Community Center at 6:00 pm.
“This will be a time for you, the citizens, to ask questions to your local officials and learn about things that are happening in our community and our city,” Smith said in a social media post.
Members of the city council, the city administration, and the City’s police and fire departments will be on hand to answer questions and address concerns.
Bossier City events calendar
Live music in Bossier City and other notable events in the area for your free time consideration. If you would like to add an event to the Bossier City free time calendar, send the details to email@bossiernow.com.
November 20: ZZ Top at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
November 23: Joe Bonamassa at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
November 29: Little River Band, Live! Event Center
December 12: Jiaoying Summers at the Live! Casino and Hotel. Get ready for a night of fearless, dark, and laugh-out-loud comedy from a global sensation with over 1 billion views online! You’ve seen her viral “Uber Karen” sketch and hilarious English name roasts — now catch her live on her “What Specie Are You?” tour!
February 20: Rascal Flatts at the BGA.
April 10: Cody Johnson brings his “Leather Deluxe Tour” to the Brookshire Grocery Arena. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 7, at 10 am.
Bossier news: Independent, conflict-of-interest-free news coverage
BossierNow’s mission is to provide independent, conflict-of-interest-free news coverage of Bossier City and Bossier Parish. We welcome your input, press releases, and news tips at email@bossiernow.com.
