Ramon Antonio Vargas
@RVargasWrites
Followers
10,277
Following
3,680
Media
471
Statuses
21,890
Weekend editor, The Guardian US. | ramon.vargas @guardian .co.uk. Previously: Times-Picayune (2008-13); New Orleans Advocate (2013-19); T-P | TNOA (2019-22).
New Orleans, LA
Joined July 2009
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
Rayssa
• 385123 Tweets
#BelgianGP
• 148717 Tweets
#พรชีวันep2
• 124690 Tweets
Lewis
• 116425 Tweets
Russell
• 93919 Tweets
朝倉未来
• 76771 Tweets
Perez
• 75855 Tweets
柔道決勝
• 48406 Tweets
Ferrari
• 46070 Tweets
阿部一二三
• 35704 Tweets
#HappyKeigoDay
• 33030 Tweets
#祝26歳_景瑚に鼓動がずっとRush
• 28783 Tweets
Serbia
• 27576 Tweets
Piastri
• 27128 Tweets
RIDDLE
• 22558 Tweets
スケボー
• 22034 Tweets
Embiid
• 20500 Tweets
Ángela Ruiz
• 20253 Tweets
景瑚くん
• 17929 Tweets
여자 양궁
• 17669 Tweets
女子バレー
• 17439 Tweets
Booker
• 15556 Tweets
Alejandra Valencia
• 13593 Tweets
Kaizer Chiefs
• 11993 Tweets
巻頭カラー
• 11212 Tweets
Mercedes 1-2
• 10935 Tweets
Ana Paula Vázquez
• 10200 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
It’s official – my book Family, Gangsters & Champions: Boxer Tony Canzoneri’s Life & World is one of the best new boxing biographies in 2024 [] and one of the best books one a professional boxer ever [].
7
8
20
Tom Dempsey, the historic New Orleans Saints placekicker, died tonight after a battle with the novel coronavirus. He was 73.
On the kicker who overcame astronomical odds to set what was once thought to be a virtually unbeatable record |
116
1K
2K
The coroner's office today told me that popular New Orleans bounce deejay Black N Mild died having tested positive for the new coronavirus.
@KeithSpera
takes a look at the 44-year-old man who was taken from this community by the disease. |
54
2K
2K
Some good news to end the day.
Mark Frilot -- the 45-year-old Kenner lawyer who was hospitalized and put on a ventilator last month after contracting the new coronavirus -- was discharged from the hospital and is home recovering, his wife says. |
13
106
979
Saints cornerback P.J. Williams arrested on drunk-driving allegations in New Orleans |
177
333
766
A woman went up to Jefferson Parish workers repairing a water main wrecked by Hurricane Ida, began calling them 'f-----g n-----s' and demanded they be arrested.
Then, she twice hit a Sheriff's Office deputy with her car when another deputy shot her dead |
142
488
773
An Ochsner nurse anesthetist contracted coronavirus, healed after a hellish week -- and charged right back to the front lines of the pandemic.
As he says, 'I can't let down my coworkers. My patients need me.'
Alex Wheatley's battle with COVID-19 👇
22
140
599
Today is my last day at The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate. I am grateful for the 14+ years I’ve spent working with so many people here, but particularly for
@marthacarr
,
@GordonRussell1
and
@PKovacs7
for giving me a career more rewarding than my wildest dreams.
90
17
530
New Orleans bounce rapper 'GameOva Reedy' arrested in St. Bernard Parish child desertion case |
38
308
395
On April 8, I will be joining The
@guardian
US as the weekend editor. Thank you to this legendary organization for the opportunity. I look forward to joining my new colleagues and thriving alongside them. I’ll remain based in NOLA though my day to day will change drastically.
Today is my last day at The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate. I am grateful for the 14+ years I’ve spent working with so many people here, but particularly for
@marthacarr
,
@GordonRussell1
and
@PKovacs7
for giving me a career more rewarding than my wildest dreams.
90
17
530
73
19
399
Portia Pollock, 60, was stabbed to death outside her home in New Orleans' 7th Ward this morning by a man who stole her car. Her niece remembers her as 'an all-around beautiful person ... who gave so much more than she took.' |
36
189
393
There’s a spent brass bullet casing next to this orange triangle, about 40 yards away from the front entrance of Jefferson Gun Outlet in Metairie, a gun store and indoor shooting range.
41
115
312
Ronald Gasser found guilty of manslaughter after fatally shooting Joe McKnight, jury finds |
13
306
312
Officer at center of Odell Beckham Jr. butt-slap case says he resisted urge to punch player, decided against on the spot-arrest due to 'jovial' atmosphere of the locker room.
More from the complaint |
176
162
318
Mac McCall of New Orleans was offered $400k to drop a case against a local wealthy Catholic who had molested McCall when he was a child. McCall stayed the course, got the deacon convicted -- and has now secured what is believed to be one of the largest individual settlements ...
12
54
297
Louisiana Crimefighters, an influential crime victims advocate association, just gave the
@guardian
this award for stories that we published on stories exposing new details about the New Orleans Catholic archdiocese clerical abuse crisis. Thank you, Crimefighters.
29
24
292
Significant traumatic injuries to the soft tissue of the neck. Consistent with asphyxia. Keeven Robinson's cause of death will be that. The manner of death is homicide
8
239
262
'This is a dark hour.'
With
@brynstole
- What's going in tomorrow's paper about NOPD's admission today that officers, without permission and without reporting it up the chain of command initially, fired rubber balls at protesters on the CCC last week. |
19
219
280
NOPD has booked a suspect in the Jan. 10 killing of UL student Lee Long Jr. around the corner from some popular Uptown bars |
3
100
274
Forty-eight years ago, a New Orleans teenager told his Catholic high school that a priest who worked there had raped him. Nothing happened until the priest's indictment yesterday, after a group of the priest's other victims, their lawyers and advocates, and even the press ...
8
76
266
Clocking out for today and off tomorrow. Before I went, I wanted to share a thought with y'all.
10
31
258
A cousin of Robinson's says it is true that he had asthma. But adds: 'i don't care what you say. Nobody deserves to die in the street.'
The man dead following today's incident was named Keeven Robinson, according to people who said they were close to his family.
1
0
1
3
79
233
A former New Orleans police officer who saved a 12-year-old boy who shot himself in the chest before the child grew up to become rap superstar Lil Wayne has died.
The ex-officer's death brings to a close a layered, complicated episode of music history |
6
79
234
He also drove Lil Wayne to the hospital when the artist -- then a 12-year-old boy -- accidentally shot himself in the chest in 1994. A colleague of Balancier was in the backseat cradling the wounded child, then known as Dwayne Carter Jr.
5
76
239
After priest Lawrence Hecker admitted he was a serial child molester, the Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans allowed him to receive an honorary title straight from the Vatican.
It ignored a recommendation to remove Hecker from the priesthood altogether, setting the stage...
5
104
239
San Diego jury decides
#Saints
quarterback Drew Brees is owed $6.1 million in damages in jeweler lawsuit, reports says |
5
48
232
After 3 victims were pronounced dead following tonight's shooting on South Claiborne Avenue, paramedics took 3 other victims to the hospital. The remaining 4 victims took private rides to the hospital, New Orleans EMS said. Conditions of the wounded not available. Total shot: 10
15
189
210
A live view of the current draft of my Sunday story that is due in 2.5 hours.
26
3
235
NOPD Chief says 2 individuals in hooded sweatshirt opened fire on crowd on South Claiborne Avenue. 1 with a long gun, 1 with a handgun. 'Appeared to have fired indiscriminately'
7
219
194
More than 300 clergymen working for the Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans have been accused of abuse. The organization considers a quarter of them to be credibly accused.
14
85
211
Joe McKnight was employed at a local mental health center but was in touch w/the Vikings about an NFL comeback, his brother Jonathan told me
2
178
199
In the span of a few days, the Roman Catholic diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, has excommunicated a man who resigned as a deacon after a priest with whom he served pleaded guilty to molesting his (the deacon's) altar boy son. |
11
93
206
The plot thickens in that one of the women is an adult-film actress who can also be hired as a dominatrix, and a social media account associated with that woman said last week that she was heading to New Orleans to 'defile a house of God.'
The priest and 2 women were booked.
A Pearl River priest was arrested last week on accusations that a person passing by the clergyman's church saw him having sex with two women atop the altar, according to courts records |
43
71
127
29
89
205
The CDC reported Friday that Mardi Gras likely accelerated the spread of COVID-19 across New Orleans and Louisiana.
But the agency's report conceded that it didn't advise large event organizers to consider canceling until 2-plus weeks after Fat Tuesday. |
17
135
186
'It could happen to anybody': Kenner lawyer, 45, in critical care with coronavirus, wife says.
A flu misdiagnosis plays a central role in this local COVID-19 saga |
18
184
175
Welcome back to hell, everyone. I hope you enjoyed your time away.
There are now 2⃣ disturbances being tracked by NHC forecasters. One of the systems is in the Gulf.
What we know ⤵
4
34
40
14
40
185
I asked an NOPD spokesman whether there were any arrests. "No arrests."
I asked him to address whether rubber bullets were fired: "No rubber bullets were fired. Only tear gas was deployed."
I know protesters report the contrary.
20
72
166
In 1999, New Orleans priest Lawrence Hecker confessed to abusing multiple children, was sent off to a psychiatric evaluation and was diagnosed to be a pedophile.
His superiors sent him back to work, allowed him to retire, and he was never charged. |
13
115
166
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans is the target of Louisiana state troopers targeting child sex trafficking.
A search warrant troopers recently served on the church describes molester priests giving children gifts marking them as prey for other priests.
17
81
168
A Roman Catholic priest invited to work in Texas and then New Orleans by New Orleans archbishop Gregory Aymond has been arrested in Florida on allegations of possessing child abuse imagery.
12
95
162
Statement from Will Smith's widow and Cardell Hayes shooting victim, Racquel Smith
6
91
140
The $6.1 million verdict that jurors in San Diego awarded New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees over his jewelry lawsuit has ballooned to nearly $9 million |
5
44
138
One year after husband Tom's death,
@Saints
and
@PelicansNBA
owner Gayle Benson has proven to be a steady hand |
2
21
141
New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson's family wants to add a third floor housing a theater to their Garden District mansion. But this week, the city's historic landmarks commission said not so fast. |
23
42
145
JP Sheriff Joe Lopinto: four detectives have been read their rights and they cooperated with the investigation into the homicide of Keeven Robinson, who died during an arrest last week.
6
96
129
Hundreds of clergy abusers are at the center of the New Orleans Catholic archdiocese's bankruptcy case. Almost none of them have faced a consequence as harsh as an attorney who represents nearly 90 victims -- and was hit with a $400,000 fine.
5
83
146
A particularly painful day for my family. He was at our Thanksgiving and Christmas tables virtually every year since I met him as a rookie in 2008.
He absolutely lived for this profession. His last words to me were telling me to correct a typo in a story. I'll miss you, Eggman.
11
12
150
The NAIA national title is coming home after 77 years. Loyola University New Orleans men’s basketball. National champions once again. 71-56 over Talladega
1
37
135
The slain victims in tonight's shooting on South Claiborne Avenue were two men and one women. No names released. Seven others were wounded.
2
93
126
A flag for celebrating the record breaking pass is the most NFL thing ever
7
42
135
I regret so much that the window closed for the pre-storm evacuation plan you shared with me, and that post-storm you were unable to get somewhere that could offer you a reprieve from the hellacious conditions,
@LauraBergerol
. Rest in peace.
Officials have stopped short of saying whether NOLA photographer Laura Bergerol is one of 8 people to die as a result of heat after Ida knocked power out here.
But Bergerol is the same age and gender as those listed in connection with 1 of those deaths. |
8
50
76
10
35
132
The longtime director of two infamously abusive Catholic archdioceses in the New Orleans area had a history of abuse allegations that had never previously been known - until today's piece in the
@guardian
concluding our series on the NOLA archdiocese's acrimonious bankruptcy.
6
51
132
Tonight, a week after blocks-long lines and for the first time since I can’t remember when, I drove right up to a pump at the Texaco at West Napoleon and Clearview in Metairie and filled up.
5
10
133
For the first time, as the criminal investigation into systemic child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in New Orleans intensifies, the city's archdiocese has been ordered to turn over every abuse-related document in its possession to police. |
10
40
134
Of the 7 victims who survived tonight's shooting, 1 was in criticial condition and in surgery, NOPD Chief Michael Harrison said. The other 6 are not believed to have life-threatening wounds, Harrison said.
0
82
119
New Orleans Saints player David Onyemata completes diversion program, won't be prosecuted in marijuana case from earlier this year |
1
24
124
A Pearl River priest was arrested last week on accusations that a person passing by the clergyman's church saw him having sex with two women atop the altar, according to courts records |
43
71
127
The brother of builder Jose Ponce, who died in the Oct. 12 Hard Rock Hotel collapse and was recovered yesterday, has one request.
Consider building a park at the site and dedicate it to Ponce and his dead co-workers.
'No more hotels,' he said. |
8
50
121
The customer was headed to target practice, a relative of his told us. The customer killed 2 people, before being killed himself in a quintuple shooting that left 2 others wounded.
Gun ranges generally prohibit people from carrying loaded weapons in the lobby.
Detectives are examining the possibility that the deadly shootout at Jefferson Gun Outlet may have started when a customer who carried in a pistol with an extended magazine argued with store staff who told him to unload.
With
@katyreckdahl
|
20
44
65
22
67
118
#Saints
quarterback Drew Brees takes witness stand, accuses jeweler of using their friendship to scam millions from him |
12
50
106
This is true.
@nick_underhill
once dropped everything to accompany me to a Subway where I interviewed a guy who I was pretty sure had murdered someone -- and was later convicted of that killing. Nick pretended to eat while I did the interview and made sure I wasn't abducted.
@nick_underhill
Nick’s an even better dude than
#SaintsTwitter
realizes. For showing me the ropes, for the thousands of texts, for all the trips and all the stories and all the conversations and all the laughs and for the time I nearly broke my shin in London: There’s not enough I can say
3
0
33
3
14
119
This is NOPD’s newly-minted, 2nd-in-command Chief Deputy Superintendent John Thomas. Mentions his 7 yrs. in agency’s Public Integrity Bureau
A commander from NOPD out here now trying to talk to protesters over a loudspeaker. “We feel ashamed for what this officer did to tarnish the badge.” Calls Minneapolis officer “a criminal with a badge.”
12
245
742
1
39
123
.
@LoyolaWolfPack
men’s basketball team (NAIA) just beat UNO (NCAA) by 8 points. I’ve been terrified to jinx it but I’ll come out now and say it could be a special, special year on Freret Street. Go out and see the best college basketball team in the city if you can.
3
36
122
Obviously, our report on Lawrence Hecker's 8.5-hour deposition that the church has fought for years to keep hidden is lengthy. But
@davidhammerWWL
and I pulled out some key portions of it here, along with some extra observations. |
10
60
122
Point of clarity: While Superdome police officers are not members of the New Orleans Police Department, they are officers who are commissioned by the state of Louisiana and have arrest powers.
32
37
115
England's Wycombe Wanderers Football Club recently stood on the brink of insolvency.
Then, Rob Couhig - the ex-candidate for NOLA mayor - bought them. They've since collected their most famous victory and suddenly are one rung below the
@premierleague
. |
10
28
118
For Garrett Hartley, a fall came after his
#Saints
heroics the last time the team made the NFC title game nine years ago. But he got through it with help from some friends. |
8
39
114
Joe McKnight's accused killer's prior arrest was for road rage at same corner where McKnight was fatally shot |
11
250
104
NOPD strips homicide sergeant of police powers after social media posts calling protesters 'animals' and saying he would shoot or run over protesters if necessary.
NOPD says it 'stands committed to holding officers accountable.'
With
@dougmaccash
|
4
71
108
It is astonishing to see Hurricane Ida's eye just west of New Orleans still categorized at a four, but
@CJohnFranklin
just gave a clear reason why. Landfall in Louisiana is not like landfall in other places. It's gone over lots of open marsh that is fueling the storm, he said.
1
41
111
And our
@hugolowell
drills down on an Alabama lawmaker's email which potentially reveals what conduct by lawmakers he feared might be criminal amid the fallout from the deadly January 6 attack on the Capitol |
2
39
106
New Orleans EMS confirms two people fell off a second-story balcony at the corner of St. Charles and Marengo.
15
103
106
The gunman is one of the three killed at Jefferson Gun Outlet. He was killed in a shootout with customers/employees after killing two people himself, JPSO says.
5
59
108
With one of my last dispatches from the pre-Ida era, let me treat you to the story of
@BrysonByrd_
, who was out on a food run this week when he jumped into Bayou St. John and rescued a man who had accidentally driven into the water |
6
80
107
Ex-No Limit rapper Mac Phipps today was paroled from a manslaughter conviction that's kept him locked up for half his life.
'Thank you for this opportunity,' he says. |
1
84
104
Buddy I have news for you I won letters for being on the bowling team and junior ROTC.
7
2
107
The corner where this shooting occurred was the site of at least 2 killings in the case of notorious Central City crime boss Telly Hankton. Hankton was convicted of killing one man at this corner; a witness in that case was killed shortly after Hankton's sentencing.
After 3 victims were pronounced dead following tonight's shooting on South Claiborne Avenue, paramedics took 3 other victims to the hospital. The remaining 4 victims took private rides to the hospital, New Orleans EMS said. Conditions of the wounded not available. Total shot: 10
15
189
210
10
73
95
I've never been shy about doing this, so here goes.
The first person I saw report on the situation Donald Rouse Sr. just issued a statement on was
@LamarWhiteJr
.
2
11
107
Per
@JeffDuncan_
and
@LeeZurik
, the Saints and Pelicans must be sold after owner Gayle Benson's death.
She intends to take the billions of dollars in proceeds generated by that sale and donate them to charitable causes across the New Orleans area. |
11
48
105
One person walked in from out the store and killed two people inside. A combination of customers and employees in the store then exchanged gunfire with the gunman. One more killed and two more wounded.
A total of three killed and two wounded during a shootout that began inside Jefferson Gun Outlet and spilled outside, Sheriff Joe Lopinto says.
6
45
76
8
74
101
The
@PressClubNOLA
2021 awards haul with
@davidhammerWWL
:
-best print breaking news piece (with
@spagonesadvocat
)
-Bill Rainey Memorial Award (with Pagones)
-Best investigative print piece.
News. Partners.
10
2
104
Gratefully rejoining my colleagues
@NOLAnews
tomorrow after some time off to help them continue documenting an unbelievably difficult year.
4
0
104
Former Hot Boys rapper BG is facing a possible return to federal prison after officials allege that he violated the terms of his supervised release by performing a concert alongside Lil Boosie and making a video with Gucci Mane without court permission.
9
102
101
Cardell Hayes: Not guilty of criminal damage. Guilty of attempted manslaughter. Guilty of manslaughter.
4
391
97
These men tonight join the greatest teams in New Orleans sports history. There’s the ‘45 Loyola team that won this title. There’s the 2009 New Orleans Saints. And there’s these guys, coached by
@StacyHollowell
. Full stop.
#GeauxPack
. This night is y’all’s for all of time
1
28
101
Months into the pandemic when I didn’t believe in anything anymore, Loyola New Orleans AD
@BDSIMPSON9
(second from left) said the men’s basketball team would bring home a title within the next two seasons. Doesn’t sound so crazy tonight. Congrats
@LoyolaWolfPack
.
3
9
97
The privilege was all mine.
A little Pendleton to celebrate the 2020 Louisiana Press Association Award for best investigative story of the year with
@RVargasAdvocate
@WWLTV
3
2
79
11
2
98
He 'had a lot more living to do': Family mourns 1st person in Louisiana to die from coronavirus |
4
43
92
.
@LoyolaWolfPack
men’s basketball is in a national final for the first time since 1945. The ‘Pack won that one. Here’s hoping for another banner tomorrow.
#GeauxPack
1
24
96
A group of Louisiana state troopers, including one who is the lead investigator on the rape and kidnapping case pending against retired New Orleans priest Lawrence Hecker, has been in the Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans headquarters for the past half hour.
7
40
93
Strangely, at the top of my mind is the "Satan is alive" text message sent by a prominent New Orleans-area Catholic leader which referred to me and one of the attorneys who represented the plaintiffs on the losing side Friday. But I'm not sure if there's a reason for that.
5
16
92
... paid out during his city's decades-old clerical abuse crisis. McCall told me and
@davidhammerWWL
yesterday that the outcome of his case shows survivors like him 'can speak up, and we can have some kind of healing,' despite how daunting it can feel. |
3
17
93
Yesterday's standoff with protesters on I-10 was perhaps NOPD's most visible display of its years-old commitment to 'de-escalation.'
Some believe many more agencies should follow suit. Some don't buy it's genuine. Some say it was a risky concession. |
10
29
93
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputy who slammed a Black woman's head on the pavement with a cellphone recording has been named in 9 excessive force lawsuit.
That appears to be the most of any deputy employed by the JPSO. With
@RichardAWebster
. |
14
90
90
Thanh Truong,
@thanh412
, is leaving WWL-TV soon. But audiences won't go long without hearing from him.
He and his wife Anna Christie are launching a true-crime podcast, whose 1st season is aimed at solving the mysterious 1982 death of a NOLA teen. |
5
20
89
Once, I got so mad he wouldn't let me use the word 'penis' to describe where a guy wearing only a sock at a naked bike ride wore the sock. He told me to get over it and provoked me into yelling the worst thing I've ever yelled in a newsroom: 'No, Bruce, I will fight for penis.'
@RVargasAdvocate
When I'd let him know that a story of mine was in and ready to be edited, he'd generally respond, deadpan, along the lines of, "Wonderful. I'm sure the world can't wait to read it." There was no problem keeping one's ego in check when Bruce was on deck.
0
0
29
4
2
93
Plan is for Gayle Benson to succeed Tom Benson as Saints, Pelicans owner |
4
61
87
Some of the 40 or so people trapped on Grand Isle in the wake of Hurricane Ida gave a thumbs up gesture to a helicopter crew checking on them from overhead, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said Monday. |
1
34
89
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto on
@WWLAMFM
says he sent a helicopter crew that made visual contact with trapped in Grand Isle following Hurricane Ida. The crew got thumbs up from those on the ground, who are trying to clear the roadway onto the island.
3
27
93