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SPORNO: Tyrann Mathieu's Bulging Muscles at 2013 NFL Combine

Blond mohawk? Check! Flawless complexion? Check! Bulging and humungous muscles? Yassss!

Introducing Tyrann Mathieu: Former Louisiana State star cornerback and Heisman Trophy finalist ... YouTube sensation known as the "Honey Badger"... bad boy par excellence .. and the full frontal muscleboy whose "junk" Media Take Out described as "about as long as and thick as a football."

AFTER THE JUMP  more images of Tyrann Mathieu at the supremely sporno-tastic 2013 NFL Scouting Combine ...

Louisiana Private School Voucher Program Ruled Unconstitutional

Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal's private school voucher program was dealt a significant blow on Friday. Louisiana District Court Judge Tim Kelley ruled the state's "diversion of funds" set aside for public education is unconstitutional, reports the Times-Picayune.

"Today's ruling is wrong headed and a travesty for parents across Louisiana who want nothing more than for their children to have an equal opportunity at receiving a great education," [said Jindal] ... Louisiana Superintendent John White also issued a statement saying, "We strongly disagree with the ruling. We are optimistic this decision will be reversed on appeal."

The suit was brought by Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT), Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE), Louisiana School Boards Association and 43 local school boards. LFT Public Relations Director Les Landon told NOLA.com he felt very emotional after the ruling. "This is a win for all of the children of Louisiana -- and for the taxpayers," he said Friday afternoon after the ruling.

The voucher program also faces federal challenges, reports Reuters.

[Last] week, a federal judge in New Orleans ruled that the program had the potential to disrupt the region's court-ordered efforts to desegregate public schools. The judge issued a temporary injunction halting the use of vouchers in Tangipahoa Parish over concern that the program was siphoning off state dollars needed to implement the desegregation plan.

While that ruling just applied to the one parish, at least 30 other school districts in Louisiana are under desegregation orders; opponents of the voucher program have said they will bring similar federal court cases in those districts.

The approximately 5,000 students currently receiving vouchers will be able to "continue attending their private schools pending appeal", according to officials.

Note that Jindal says the vouchers will allow students to "receive a great education." Once upon a time our state governments were supposed to ensure that public schools had the resources to provide a "great" education. Interesting.

VIDEO: Madonna Booed in New Orleans After Endorsing Obama

Madonna was loudly booed after endorsing President Obama's re-election at a Saturday concert in New Orleans.

"Who's registered to vote," the MDNA singer asked. Much of the crowd applauded Madonna's remark but there were many audible and loud boos."I don't care who you vote for as long as you vote for Obama. Seriously, I don't care who you vote for," she added. "Do not take this privilege for granted. Go vote."

Who knew that Republicans were Madonna fans? The N'awlins homocons must be overjoyed with the fantastic job that Bush did during Hurricane Katrina. Or maybe it's ... something else.

The boos are heard after 2:30. Watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

Supreme Ct Declines to Hear Birth Certificate Appeal in Gay Adoption

Very dissapointing.The Supreme Court has declined to hear the case of a gay California couple who sought to have both of their names listed on their adopted son's birth certificate. The case was considered a "significant test" on the rights of gay couples who adopt a child.

The San Diego couple legally adopted a 1 year-old boy from Shreveport, Louisiana, in 2006. The adoption was later finalized in New York state, where the couple was then residing, reports CNN.

The justices rejected the California couple's appeal Tuesday without comment. The couple claims that Louisiana, where the child was born, has an unconstitutional policy against adoption by unmarried partners. The state used that policy to justify naming only one of them on an amended birth certificate. The men, Oren Adar and Mickey Ray Smith, argue gay couples have a due process right to be listed on such certificates as joint custodial parents. A federal appeals court ruled against the couple earlier this year.

Darlene Smith, Louisiana's registrar of vital records and statistics, refused their request. She took the position that the term "adoptive parents" in the applicable section of state law applies only to married parents, because in Louisiana, only married couples may jointly adopt a child.

Louisiana state officials argued they did not refuse to recognize the New York adoption decree, and had offered to list one of the parents on the official amended birth certificate. But Adar and Smith insisted both of them should be named.

A favorable ruling in the case was expected to have broad implications in the current legal battle over same sex marriage that is winding its way through the state and federal courts. But the case "did not raise the basic question" of whether same-sex couples have the legal right to adopt, reports the SCOTUS Blog.

Rather, the issue was whether they have a right to equal treatment with married non-gay couples in having both parents’ names listed on the child’s birth certificate. The case also was considered an important case on the meaning of the Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause, because of the sharply narrow scope given to that Clause by the Fifth Circuit Court.

The case was spearheaded by Lambda Legal.

"By denying this writ, the Supreme Court is leaving untouched a dangerous Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling," said Kenneth D. Upton, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney. "That carves out an exception to the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution and to the uniformly recognized respect for judgments that states have come to rely upon. This decision leaves adopted children and their parents vulnerable in their interactions with officials from other states."

The case is  Adar v. Smith.

Louisiana House Rejects Expanding Anti-Bullying Law by 43-54 Vote

An ugly day for equality in Louisiana. The Louisiana House of Representatives soundly rejected expanding the state's anti-bullying law to protect "sexual orientation, gender [and] gender identity" among other categories. Sadly, many members used the opportunities to gay-bash.

The bill was introduced by State Rep. Austin Badon. The House first stripped the enumerated protected categories, a move that was vigorously opposed by "Badon and others, most of them black Democrats who.... defend[ed] gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students as worthy of protection," reported the Times Picayune. After stripping the enumerated provisions, the bill was rejected by a 43-54 vote.

The Rev. Gene Mills, head of the Family Forum, distributed handouts that dubbed the bill the "Homosexual Bullying Bill" and urged representatives to spike it because it "creates winners and losers, penalizes thought and perceived motives not actions and introduces sexual politics into the classroom." [...]

Over Badon's objection, Rep. John Bel Edwards, D-Amite, a supporter of the bill, won a vote to strip the list of characteristics from the proposal. "We're not going to come with an exhaustive list," Edwards said. "So it's better not to have the list and just say, 'You're not going to do it, period.'" Edwards also said removing the language would satisfy objections to the bill.

Badon and others, most of them black Democrats, disputed the negative characterizations of the bill, noting the broad scope of the committee version but also defending gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students as worthy of protection. "No matter what you think, you have gay and lesbian members of your community," Badon said. He later added, " ... They are human beings, too. God created them, too. And you don't have the right to decide whether their lifestyle is wrong or right."

Badon is from New Orleans and is one of the leaders of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. Email your thanks to Rep. Austin Badon HERE.

Several Republicans voted for the final version and several Democrats "from rural districts joined the mostly GOP-majority in opposition," reports the Times-Picayune.

"What's it going to take to represent the people in this state, all of them?" Love that quote. Looking for video and will post when available.

 

SPORNO: Ron Artest Flexes His Guns for Chris Paul

IMAGES: AP Photo

Lakers forward Ron Artest flexes his guns to New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul after scoring last night. Not sure was that supposed to weird out Chris—or possibly mesmerize him—but the Los Angeles defeated New Orleans 98-80 to advance to the next round.

Ron Ron was last seen in the Lakers' tolerance video and shirtless and in "sexy boxer shorts" on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Chris Paul is comforted AFTER THE JUMP ...

Creepy Anti-Gay Rev. Grant Storms Arrested for J/O in Public Park

The notoriously anti-gay fundamentalist New Orleans pastor who railed against Southern Decadence ... has been arrested by police for masturbating in public.

Detectives arrested Rev. Grant Storms "masturbating in his van, which was parked near the carousel and playground" and in full view of children, reports the Times-Picayune.

The first woman told deputies she was taking her children to the playground and parked next to the van. ... The occupant was "looking at the playground area that contained children playing, with his zipper down...," the report said. The woman noted that he was masturbating and quickly ushered her children out of her car.

She told a second woman, who walked to the van and also spotted the man masturbating, the report said. The second witness told deputies that the driver saw her and tried to conceal the zipper area of his pants with his hand. The two women flagged down a park employee who notified the Sheriff's Office. The employee detained the man, later identified as Storms, until deputies arrived.

The defense: "Storms told deputies he was having lunch at the park when he decided to urinate using a bottle instead of the restroom, the report said."

The pervy pastor has obsessively focused on alleged "indecency" of Southern Decadence, adds the Times-Picayune.

He is especially known for arming followers with bullhorns, Bibles and picket signs to protest Southern Decadence, the three-day gay festival held in the French Quarter during Labor Day weekend. Storms grabbed national attention in 2003 with his failed attempts to shut down what Southern Decadence organizer Chuck Robinson called a peaceful festival that celebrates gay and alternative lifestyles.

Storms was booked on obscenity charges. The pastor was released on $5000 bond and faces up to six months behind bars.

And this final note: "Relatives who spoke with WDSU Monday evening said Storms had been on a downward spiral of late.'My feelings would be... yes, I saw it coming,' said Kim Lafferty, Storms' sister-in-law."

Fantasia to Lip Synch in "Mahalia" Biopic, Jackson's Voice Will Be Used

Grammy Award winning R&B singer Fantasia Barrino has been signed to portray gospel legend Mahalia Jackson in a biopic. Except Fantasia won't be singing—Mahalia will, reports The Times Picayune.

Producer Dave LaCour Simien, whose Los Angeles-based Double Dutch Productions is behind "Mahalia!," said the production has acquired the rights to 18 of Jackson's songs for the film -- all of which have been remastered -- and that Barrino will be lip-synching to those original recordings. It's not a knock on Barrino's voice. Rather, it's an effort to make the film as true-to-life as possible, Simien said. "I really wanted to be authentic," he said. "We wanted to make sure if we do it, we do it right."

"Mahalia!"—which will be based on the 1993 book "Got To Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel," and which has the blessing of the Jackson estate—will recount Jackson's impoverished upbringing in New Orleans and her rise to prominence as an American music icon as well as a civil-rights activist.

"We envision this film as a black woman's 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' a colorful rags-to-riches story of a great talent who achieves enormous success and survives personal tragedy," the film's producers say in a synopsis on their "Mahalia!" web page.

If they're using Mahalia Jackson's incredible vocals, what is the point in casting a singer? If that's the case, Kimberly Elise could have owned this role. Sissy Spacek won the Academy Award for Coal Miner's Daughter—she did her own singing btw—but comparing Fantasia's acting skills to Spacek is a bit much.

Anxious to hear your thoughts. Flame away if you disagree.

Hearing for Accused Killer of N.O. "Bounce" Rapper Messy Mya

A prelimary trial date has been ordered for the New Orleans man accused of fatally shooting internet sensation Messy Mya. Twenty-four-year-old  Jason Baptiste Hamilton is being held in lieu of $300,000 bond at the Orleans Parish Prison, records show. Hamilton is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on January 13.

Hamilton is accused of the November 14 slaying of 22-year-old Anthony M. Barre who became an internet celebrity as the acid-tongued comedian and "sissy bounce rapper" Messy Mya. Barre was gunned down while getting into his car in the 7th Ward. A photo of Barre's blood-splattered body—"and someone [holding] a cell phone just inches from his face—went viral across the internet only moments after his death. "Sissy bounce" refers to gay, transgender, lesbian or bisexual rappers who perform New Orleans’ signature hip-hop style known as "bounce."

Days after Barre's murder, Hamilton reportedly threatened to kill a student at Delgado Community College and boasted about having murdered Messy Mya, reports the Times Picayune.

Three days after Barre's death, Hamilton went to Delgado's campus at 615 City Park Ave. and approached a woman enrolled in classes. He allegedly threatened to shoot and kill her because she refused to shake his hand. He then allegedly told her that he had just killed Messy Mya.

Both campus police and city homicide detectives were called to investigate. A campus police officer stopped Hamilton and performed a routine check for outstanding arrest warrants. When the campus officer found none, she escorted Hamilton off campus. Meanwhile, homicide detective Kevin Burns met the student whose life was threatened. The student told Burns there was video of her encounter with Hamilton. Burns viewed the footage and noted that Hamilton's appearance was similar to a description of the gunman in Barre's slaying that was provided to investigators by eyewitnesses. Court filings do not specify the type of device that captured the video.

Hamilton was arrested on November 20 after visiting a hospital in neighboring Jefferson Parish. Hamilton's mother is quoted as saying that he was bipolar and had previously taken the anti-psychotic prescription medication Risperdal, reports NOLA.com.

Authorities have not offered a motive for Barre's murder. If convicted of second-degree murder, Hamilton faces a mandatory life sentence in prison.

Thanks LISA C. MOORE at REDBONE PRESS!

NYT on Sotomayor's Argument for Louisiana Inmate's HIV Appeal

Last year, the Supreme Court "turned down thousands of appeals, almost always without comment." Of the seven opinions written in 2010 regarding why the Court did not hear a case, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote three—more than any other justice—and all concerned the rights of criminal defendants, reports The New York Times. "The most telling one involved a Louisiana prisoner infected with H.I.V. No other justice chose to join it."

The prisoner, Anthony C. Pitre, had stopped taking his H.I.V. medicine to protest his transfer from one facility to another. Prison officials responded by forcing him to perform hard labor in 100-degree heat. That punishment twice sent Mr. Pitre to the emergency room.

The lower courts had no sympathy for Mr. Pitre’s complaints, saying he had brought his troubles on himself. Justice Sotomayor saw things differently. "Pitre’s decision to refuse medication may have been foolish and likely caused a significant part of his pain," she wrote. "But that decision does not give prison officials license to exacerbate Pitre’s condition further as a means of punishing or coercing him — just as a prisoner’s disruptive conduct does not permit prison officials to punish the prisoner by handcuffing him to a hitching post."

R20 first mentioned Pitre's appeal in October.

Sotomayor's four-page dissent is very moving. Read the full opinion (pdf) HERE.

The Times notes that Sotomayor is becoming the "voice" of the Court's liberal wing: "Sotomayor has completely dispelled the fear on the left that her background as a prosecutor would align her with the court’s more conservative members on criminal justice issues. And she has displayed a quality — call it what you will — that is alert to the humanity of the people whose cases make their way to the Supreme Court."

Sounds like it was a wise decision to appoint "the wise Latina".

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Sotomayor Says Court Should Hear Inmate's HIV Appeal