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Edwards' Admin Chief Dardenne Fined $3,000 for Late Campaign Reports

2024-12-10

The Louisiana Board of Ethics took significant actions regarding campaign finance reports. Jay Dardenne, a longtime elected official and Gov. John Bel Edwards' commissioner of administration, was fined $3,000 for filing four reports months after their deadlines. Dardenne, who also held other offices like lieutenant governor and secretary of state, initially faced a $12,000 fine but it was reduced to $3,000 after his personal apology at the Friday meeting. He admitted to not having an excuse for the late filings and said he had gotten into the habit of filing annually in previous years. These four reports were related to his political action committee, JAY PAC, and were supposed to be submitted during 2023. Dardenne made small campaign contributions from this account for state elections. He is a Republican and donated between $250 and $500 to several candidates. The fine for missing a PAC campaign reporting deadline was $200 per day for up to 15 days, reaching a maximum of $3,000. Dardenne's four reports were 75 to 162 days late. He set up JAY PAC during his 2015 gubernatorial bid and said he hadn't used it much recently, with no more than $7,600 in it last year. He recently drained the PAC by making charitable donations and plans to close it by the end of the year.The ethics board also fined two state senators for not submitting their PAC campaign finance reports on time. Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, was fined $1,000 for filing a campaign finance report 33 days late in 2019. The board reduced his penalty from $3,000 as his former accountant took responsibility, saying he was locked out of his files. Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, was fined $500 for filing his LA PAC report 15 days late in 2023. The board cut his fine to $500 as he explained that his new accountant was unfamiliar with PAC deadlines while caring for a sick parent who was also his business partner.

Louisiana Ethics Board's Impact on Campaign Finance

Jay Dardenne's Campaign Finance Missteps

1: Jay Dardenne's case highlights the importance of timely filing of campaign finance reports. As a prominent elected official, his actions set an example for others. The fact that he initially faced a large fine but was able to have it reduced through his apology shows the board's consideration. It also emphasizes the need for officials to be more diligent in their reporting. 2: Dardenne's habit of filing annually instead of on time shows a lack of awareness or discipline. This incident serves as a reminder that even those in high positions must adhere to the rules and regulations governing campaign finance. It could potentially lead to a re-evaluation of reporting processes and increased oversight.

Senators' Late Filings and Their Explanations

1: The cases of Sen. Kirk Talbot and Sen. Jay Luneau demonstrate the diverse reasons for late filing of PAC campaign finance reports. Talbot's former accountant's mistake and Luneau's new accountant's unfamiliarity with deadlines both highlight the potential for human error in the process. It also shows the need for better communication and coordination between accountants and their clients. 2: The fact that both senators were able to have their fines reduced shows the board's willingness to consider extenuating circumstances. However, it also raises questions about the adequacy of the current reporting system and whether more safeguards are needed to prevent such late filings in the future.

As of this very moment, PSVR2 is available for purchase at a discounted price of $349.99 until January 2 across various retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Amazon. I myself have just made a purchase through PlayStation Direct, specifically the Horizon: Call of the Mountain bundle. This standalone PSVR2 unit also comes with the same price tag of $349.99. In a rather odd situation, if you already own a copy of Call of the Mountain but no virtual reality unit to play it on, that route might be an option. I'd even encourage you to write a detailed think piece about how you ended up in such a peculiar predicament.

Why the Wait to Buy PSVR2?

It's been almost two years since its initial release, and I'm finally giving in and buying a PSVR2. The original Horizon bundle was priced at an astonishing $600, which in my view is an exorbitant amount for a piece of proprietary hardware that I still see as a somewhat quirky novelty. The first PSVR, which Sony sent me for review a long time ago, now sits abandoned in a drawer, tangled with inconvenient cords and motion controllers. The clunky processing unit is also in there, a sort of cursed thing.Over the past few years, I've definitely felt the urge to take my PSVR out of its entertainment center tomb. I have a decent collection of VR games on my PlayStation account, some of which I haven't even played yet. But the thought of dragging out all those cords and setting everything up again seems like a heavy burden for this Forbes blogger. It's one of those first-world problems that we often encounter - the inconvenience of dealing with cumbersome tech installation.

Streamlined PSVR2 vs. PSVR

From what I can see, PSVR2 is much more streamlined compared to its predecessor. This time, there's only a single USB-C cable to handle, and the jerry-rigged camera nonsense of the PS4 headset is a thing of the past. I kick myself for not grabbing one of the free PS5 camera adapters when they were still available on Sony's website last month. Now, if I want to use my old PSVR on my PS5/PS5 Pro or boot up my old PS4 Pro, I'll probably have to buy an adapter from Amazon. Interestingly, one of the reviews for the third-party Amazon adapter claims it's 'better than the second coming of Jesus Christ', which is quite a claim.

Software Compatibility and Future Prospects

PSVR's walled software garden initially scared me away due to the glaring lack of backward compatibility. It still seems unacceptable to me. However, with the price of PSVR2 now almost halved, it's a bit easier to accept. It's the promise of Metro Awakening and Behemoth that have finally convinced me to take the plunge at $349.99. I'm also looking forward to trying out Call of the Mountain.Sony stopped manufacturing PSVR2 back in March 2024, supposedly to clear out excess stocked units. The holiday sale seems to be a continuation of this clearance process, and it remains to be seen if production will start up again. New games are gradually making their way to the platform, albeit at a slow pace. It's a perfect time to take advantage of the lower prices, similar to when Circuit City was going out of business in the early 2000s. I managed to get some great deals on Dreamcast games back then.The recent addition of hand-tracking is another significant development. It could be part of Sony's gradual move towards a completely controller-free PSVR2 experience. Most VR is likely to head in this direction eventually, so it's good to see such a forward-thinking update. Additionally, the recently released PC adapter opens up Steam's VR library for play on PSVR2. In the future, I might consider getting one of these adapters.We'll have to wait and see where Sony takes PSVR2 in the coming year. Virtual reality still has a long way to go in terms of mainstream acceptance, but I'm happy to invest some Christmas cash to explore the current generation of PlayStation headset immersion.Did anyone else manage to get a PSVR2 during the sale? I'd be curious to know. Once I receive the hardware, I'll share my impressions. I hope I don't get motion sick and end up vomiting a jolly stream of fruitcake and eggnog onto the local church's nativity scene. That Amazon reviewer wouldn't be happy with me. I don't want to disappoint him.

Sault Ste. Marie has always been a place that holds a special place in the hearts of athletes. From basketball to baseball, everyone dreams of having a home where they can showcase their skills. Over the past year, the Sault Ste. Marie athletic program faced a challenge as it didn't have a dedicated conference to call its own. But now, the wait is over as the Blue Devils are set to once again call the Big North Conference home.

Why the Big North Conference is the Perfect Fit

The Sault Athletic Director, Pat Bennin, had a clear vision when it came to finding a conference that would suit their needs. "We started looking at avenues of where we wanted to go and we thought the Big North was the perfect fit for us," he said. By reaching out to athletic directors and superintendents, they began the process of joining the BNC.In November, Sault Area Public Schools officially announced their intention to join the BNC in the fall of 2025. This move not only brings back a sense of belonging but also provides an opportunity for the teams to compete at a higher level.

History of the Sault in the Big North Conference

The Sault has a rich history with the Big North Conference. They were an original member from 1997 to 2004 and now, they are making a comeback. This time, they will be competing in a variety of sports including baseball, basketball, cross country, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track, volleyball, and wrestling.For years, the Sault has been competing against BNC teams in every sport. This familiarity with the conference makes the transition seamless. As Bennin said, "It seemed like an easy fit considering we play them in a lot. We play them in basketball, play in baseball and softball and we're already in a conference with them for football. It just seemed like a logical way to get our sports in a conference."

The Rivalry with Petoskey

One of the teams the Blue Devils meet more than anyone in the BNC is Petoskey. An easy drive up or down I-75 makes their matchups even more exciting. Now, with the Sault joining the league, these games will have a little extra on the line.Petoskey Athletic Director Joel Dohm is excited about the new competition. "It is great to have the Sault joining the league. We compete with them in just about every sport each year, now we will be making them league contests. It is hard for larger schools here in the North to find a spot to be with schools their same size, so this is a natural fit for both them and the rest of the BNC."

Enrollment and Size Comparisons

While the Sault will be the smallest school within the league, the margin isn't that great. With a 2024-25 enrollment of 802, they are not far behind Petoskey's 834 and Cadillac's 836. Traverse City West is the largest within the league at 1,428, followed by TC Central with 1,302; Alpena with 1,040; and Gaylord with 907.Larger doesn't always mean better, as was evident during the 2022-23 girls basketball season. The Sault girls completed a 10-0 season against BNC teams as non-league or postseason opponents. This shows that size doesn't determine success on the court.

The Benefits of Joining the Conference

Bennin is confident that the move to the Big North Conference will benefit his teams in the long run. "We'll be able to compete. It's high school sports, so you go through ups and downs with all your sports. Everyone is looking forward to the challenge of competing in a conference. Over this last year, not having it, that's probably the one thing I've heard over and over again is, 'Boy, it'd be nice to have a conference to play for.' It just allows you to motivate your kids throughout the year, where as just playing for the tournament is a little different. The competition is going to better us down the road for all our sports."The Sault will continue to compete as an independent throughout the winter 2024-25 season and spring of 2025. But the excitement of being part of a conference is already in the air.Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny.